Integrated thermal management system for electrochemical reaction device

By recovering and reusing the waste heat generated by the electrochemical reaction device through an integrated thermal management system, the problem of heat loss in the photovoltaic-water electrolysis hydrogen production-fuel cell system is solved, achieving efficient energy utilization and stable operation of the device.

CN224262319UActive Publication Date: 2026-05-19SHANGHAI ELECTRICGROUP CORP
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
SHANGHAI ELECTRICGROUP CORP
Filing Date
2025-04-23
Publication Date
2026-05-19

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing photovoltaic-water electrolysis hydrogen production-fuel cell systems suffer from significant heat loss, resulting in low energy utilization.

Method used

Design an integrated thermal management system, including a liquid storage tank, heat exchanger, water pump, temperature sensor and controller. It is connected to an electrochemical reaction device through pipelines to realize the recovery and reuse of waste heat. The high-efficiency heat exchanger is used to exchange heat with the hot liquid and transport it to the liquid storage tank. Temperature is controlled by a cold medium input unit.

Benefits of technology

This effectively avoids waste heat loss, enables centralized storage and reuse of heat, greatly improves energy utilization, reduces energy waste, and ensures stable operation of the electrochemical reactor within the optimal temperature range.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The utility model provides a comprehensive thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device, and relates to the technical field of energy recovery. The system comprises a liquid storage tank, a plurality of electrochemical reaction devices and a cold medium input unit, a first heat exchanger is arranged between the liquid storage tank and each reaction device and connected through a first fluid pipeline and a second fluid pipeline to form a circulating heat exchange loop. The cold medium input unit is composed of a water pump, a second heat exchanger, a temperature sensor and a proportional valve, installed on the second pipeline and used for adjusting the flow and temperature of a cooling medium. The controller dynamically regulates and controls the water pump, the proportional valve and the heat exchanger according to the cooling requirement of the reaction device, and accurate temperature control is ensured. The system can recover waste heat generated by the electrochemical reaction device, exchanges heat through the efficient heat exchanger and conveys the waste heat to the liquid storage tank, the energy utilization rate is remarkably increased, and energy loss is reduced.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of energy recovery technology, and in particular to a comprehensive thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrogen fuel cells operate through electrochemical reactions, rather than combustion, and therefore do not release pollutants such as carbon oxides (COx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), or dust; they only produce water and heat. If hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources (such as photovoltaic panels) through water electrolysis, then the conversion process of "photovoltaics-water electrolysis for hydrogen production-hydrogen storage-fuel cell" will not produce any harmful emissions. This represents a zero-carbon solution for hydrogen production, storage, and utilization, and has broad prospects for development and application.

[0003] However, in the process of photovoltaic-water electrolysis hydrogen production-hydrogen storage-fuel cell, the efficiency of conventional water electrolysis hydrogen production is about 70%, and the power generation efficiency of conventional fuel cell systems is about 42%. This results in a low energy utilization rate of the entire conversion process, only about 30%, and there is also a heat loss problem of up to about 70%. Utility Model Content

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this disclosure is to overcome the defects of large heat loss in the photovoltaic-electrolysis hydrogen production-hydrogen storage-fuel cell process in the prior art, and to provide a comprehensive thermal management system for electrochemical reaction devices.

[0005] This disclosure solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solution:

[0006] This disclosure provides an integrated thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device, including a liquid storage tank and at least two electrochemical reaction devices. A first heat exchanger is provided between the liquid storage tank and each of the electrochemical reaction devices, and the liquid storage tank is connected to the first heat exchanger through a pipeline.

[0007] The pipeline includes a first fluid pipeline and a second fluid pipeline. The hot outlet of the first heat exchanger is connected to the liquid inlet of the liquid storage tank through the first fluid pipeline, and the cold inlet of the first heat exchanger is connected to the liquid outlet of the liquid storage tank through the second fluid pipeline.

[0008] The hot outlet of the electrochemical reaction device is connected to the hot inlet of the first heat exchanger, and the cold inlet of the electrochemical reaction device is connected to the cold outlet of the first heat exchanger.

[0009] The integrated thermal management system further includes a cold medium input unit, which includes a water pump, a second heat exchanger, and a first temperature sensor. The water pump, the second heat exchanger, and the first temperature sensor are sequentially arranged on a second fluid pipeline along the direction from the liquid storage tank toward the first heat exchanger.

[0010] The second heat exchanger includes a cold medium inlet and a cold medium outlet connected together. The cold medium inlet is connected to the second fluid pipeline, and the cold medium outlet is also provided with a proportional valve.

[0011] The cold medium input unit also includes a controller, which is electrically connected to the water pump, the proportional valve, the second heat exchanger and the first temperature sensor. The controller is used to receive the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor and to control the water pump, the proportional valve and the second heat exchanger.

[0012] In this scheme, waste heat generated by the electrochemical reactor is recovered through a comprehensive thermal management system. A high-efficiency heat exchanger is used to exchange heat with the hot liquid generated from the electrochemical reactor and transport it to a storage tank. This not only effectively avoids waste heat loss but also achieves centralized storage and reuse of heat, greatly improving energy utilization and reducing energy waste.

[0013] Optionally, the integrated thermal management system further includes a third fluid pipeline connected to the cold medium outlet of the second heat exchanger, and the third fluid pipeline is connected to the liquid storage tank.

[0014] Optionally, the proportional valve is disposed on the third fluid conduit.

[0015] Optionally, the integrated thermal management system further includes a heater, which is electrically connected to the controller, and the controller is used to control the heater to heat the medium in the second fluid pipeline.

[0016] Optionally, the heater is disposed between the water pump and the second heat exchanger.

[0017] Optionally, the integrated thermal management system further includes a flow meter electrically connected to the controller, the flow meter being used to detect the flow rate of the medium in the second fluid pipeline.

[0018] Optionally, the flow meter is disposed between the water pump and the second heat exchanger.

[0019] Optionally, the integrated thermal management system further includes a second temperature sensor and a third temperature sensor;

[0020] The second temperature sensor is located at the cold outlet of the first heat exchanger and is electrically connected to the controller. The second temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the medium flowing out from the cold outlet of the first heat exchanger.

[0021] The third temperature sensor is installed in the liquid storage tank and is electrically connected to the controller. The third temperature sensor is used to detect the real-time temperature of the medium in the liquid storage tank.

[0022] Through the above technical solution, this application can obtain accurate temperature data of the medium at the cold side outlet of the first heat exchanger in real time, avoiding the decrease in operating efficiency of the electrochemical reaction device due to temperature deviation; at the same time, through dynamic monitoring of the internal temperature of the storage tank, the heat balance control of the heat storage medium and the cold medium input unit can be realized, preventing system thermal shock caused by sudden temperature changes in the storage tank.

[0023] Optionally, the first heat exchanger is a mainplate heat exchanger.

[0024] Optionally, the electrochemical reaction device is a water electrolysis hydrogen production device or a fuel cell device.

[0025] Through the above technical solution, this application realizes the recovery and utilization of waste heat from water electrolysis hydrogen production device and fuel cell device, effectively improving the overall energy utilization rate of the system, while ensuring that different electrochemical reaction devices operate stably within their respective optimal temperature ranges.

[0026] The positive and progressive effects of this disclosure are as follows:

[0027] This disclosure utilizes a comprehensive thermal management system to recover waste heat generated by electrochemical reaction devices, namely water electrolysis hydrogen production devices and / or fuel cell devices. A high-efficiency heat exchanger is used to exchange heat with the hydrothermal fluid generated from the water electrolysis hydrogen production devices and / or fuel cell devices and transport it to a storage tank. This not only effectively avoids waste heat loss but also achieves centralized storage and reuse of heat, greatly improving energy utilization efficiency and reducing energy waste.

[0028] Furthermore, in this scheme, the high-temperature heat storage medium is mixed with the cold medium and then absorbs heat again through the first heat exchanger before entering the electrochemical device. This achieves precise control on the one hand and ensures that the input temperature meets the requirements on the other. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the specific internal structure of an integrated thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device provided in Embodiment 1 of this disclosure;

[0030] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the specific internal structure of an integrated thermal management system that simultaneously includes a water electrolysis hydrogen production device and a fuel cell device, as provided in Embodiment 1 of this disclosure.

[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart of a control method for an integrated thermal management system based on an electrochemical reaction device according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure;

[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of an integrated thermal management system that simultaneously connects a water electrolysis hydrogen production device and a fuel cell device, as provided in Embodiment 1 of this disclosure.

[0033] Figure label:

[0034] Electrochemical reaction device 1

[0035] Electrolysis water hydrogen production device 101

[0036] Fuel cell device 102

[0037] Liquid tank 2

[0038] Controller 3

[0039] First heat exchanger 401

[0040] Second heat exchanger 402

[0041] First temperature sensor 5

[0042] Second temperature sensor 6

[0043] Third temperature sensor 7

[0044] Water pump 8

[0045] Heater 9

[0046] Proportional valve 10

[0047] Flowmeter 11

[0048] First Pipeline 12

[0049] Second Pipeline 13

[0050] Third Pipeline 14

[0051] Fourth Pipeline 15

[0052] First fluid pipeline 16

[0053] Second fluid pipeline 17 Detailed Implementation

[0054] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this disclosure, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0055] It should be noted that if this embodiment involves directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0056] Furthermore, if this embodiment involves descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. If the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed in this disclosure.

[0057] Example 1

[0058] Please see Figure 1 This embodiment provides a comprehensive thermal management system for electrochemical reaction device 1. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a comprehensive thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device 1 provided in Embodiment 1 of this disclosure, specifically as follows: Figure 1As shown, the integrated thermal management system includes a liquid storage tank 2 and at least two electrochemical reaction devices 1. A first heat exchanger 401 is provided between the liquid storage tank 2 and each electrochemical reaction device 1. The liquid storage tank 2 is connected to the first heat exchanger 401 through a pipeline. The pipeline includes a first fluid pipeline 16 and a second fluid pipeline 17. The hot outlet of the first heat exchanger 401 is connected to the liquid inlet of the liquid storage tank 2 through the first fluid pipeline 16, and the cold inlet of the first heat exchanger 401 is connected to the liquid outlet of the liquid storage tank 2 through the second fluid pipeline 17. The hot outlet of the electrochemical reaction device 1 is connected to the hot inlet of the first heat exchanger 401, and the cold inlet of the electrochemical reaction device 1 is connected to the cold outlet of the first heat exchanger 401. The integrated thermal management system also includes a cold medium input unit. The medium input unit includes a water pump 8, a second heat exchanger 402, and a first temperature sensor 5. The water pump 8, the second heat exchanger 402, and the first temperature sensor 5 are sequentially arranged on the second fluid pipeline 17 along the direction from the liquid storage tank 2 toward the first heat exchanger 401. The second heat exchanger 402 includes a cold medium inlet and a cold medium outlet. The cold medium inlet is connected to the second fluid pipeline 17, and the cold medium outlet is also equipped with a proportional valve 10. The cold medium input unit also includes a controller 3, which is electrically connected to the water pump 8, the proportional valve 10, the second heat exchanger 402, and the first temperature sensor 5. The controller 3 is used to receive the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 5 and to control the water pump 8, the proportional valve 10, and the second heat exchanger 402. The controller 3 can generate control commands based on a computer program to control the water pump 8, the proportional valve 10, and the second heat exchanger 402. The computer program is a conventional technique well-known to those skilled in the art, and the scope of protection of this application does not cover the computer program itself.

[0059] In this scheme, waste heat generated by the electrochemical reactor 1 is recovered through an integrated thermal management system. A high-efficiency heat exchanger is used to exchange heat with the hot liquid generated from the electrochemical reactor 1 and transport it to the storage tank 2. This not only effectively avoids waste heat loss but also achieves centralized storage and reuse of heat, greatly improving energy utilization and reducing energy waste.

[0060] In this embodiment, the integrated thermal management system further includes a third fluid pipeline connected to the cold medium outlet of the second heat exchanger 402. The third fluid pipeline is connected to the liquid storage tank 2, and a proportional valve 10 is installed on the third fluid pipeline. Specifically, the second heat exchanger 402 can be a temperature-controlled heat exchanger, which adjusts the cold medium input temperature in conjunction with the proportional valve 10. The cold medium input unit is a composite module that includes flow regulation and temperature control functions. Specifically, precise control of the medium flow rate can be achieved through the coordinated action of the water pump 8 and the proportional valve 10. The water pump 8 can be a variable frequency water pump 8. The first temperature sensor 5 is used to monitor the temperature of the liquid entering the first heat exchanger 401 in the second fluid pipeline 17 in real time, providing a feedback signal to the controller 3. The proportional valve 10 is a valve assembly used to adjust the mixing ratio of the cold medium and the recovered heat energy. Specifically, an electric regulating valve can be used to achieve flow distribution control.

[0061] Specifically, the medium output from the storage tank 2 enters the cold inlet of the first heat exchanger 401 through the second fluid pipe 17, while the high-temperature medium generated by the electrochemical reaction device 1 enters the first heat exchanger 401 through the hot inlet. During the heat exchange process, the heat of the high-temperature medium is transferred to the cold-side medium, and the cooled high-temperature medium flows into the storage tank 2 through the first fluid pipe 16 for storage. After absorbing heat, the cold-side medium enters the electrochemical reaction device 1 from the cold outlet of the first heat exchanger 401, completing the cooling cycle. When it is necessary to adjust the temperature of the medium input to the electrochemical reaction device 1, the controller 3, based on the real-time temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 5, adjusts the heat exchange intensity of the second heat exchanger 402 and the opening of the proportional valve 10 to change the mixing ratio of the cold medium and the medium output from the storage tank 2. At the same time, the flow parameters of the water pump 8 are dynamically adjusted to meet the cooling requirements under different operating conditions, thus forming a closed-loop temperature control mechanism.

[0062] This scheme achieves efficient recovery and reuse of waste heat from the electrochemical reactor 1. A multi-stage heat exchange structure converts the originally lost heat energy into usable hot water output. The dynamic adjustment function of the cold medium input unit ensures stable temperature of the inlet medium for different devices, avoiding a decrease in device efficiency due to temperature fluctuations.

[0063] In this embodiment, the integrated thermal management system further includes a heater 9, which is disposed between the water pump 8 and the second heat exchanger 402; the heater 9 is electrically connected to the controller 3, which is used to control the heater 9 to heat the medium in the second fluid pipeline 17; the integrated thermal management system further includes a flow meter 11, which is disposed between the water pump 8 and the second heat exchanger 402; the flow meter 11 is electrically connected to the controller 3, and the flow meter 11 is used to detect the flow rate of the medium in the second fluid pipeline 17.

[0064] Specifically, the medium flowing from the storage tank 2 flows into the second fluid pipe 17, and mixes with the cold medium input from the outside into the second heat exchanger 402 before flowing out. The proportional valve 10 adjusts the flow rate of the externally input cold medium according to temperature control requirements. When the temperature of the medium in the storage tank 2 is lower than the set threshold, the heater 9 is activated to heat the medium, ensuring that the temperature of the medium entering the electrochemical reaction device 1 is stable. The flow meter 11 monitors the medium flow rate in the second fluid pipe 17 in real time and feeds the data back to the controller 3. The controller 3 achieves closed-loop flow control by adjusting the power of the water pump 8, so that the cold medium supply accurately matches the heat load changes of the electrochemical reaction device 1.

[0065] Through the above technical solution, this application solves the problem of energy waste caused by a single cold medium distribution path, overcomes the system operation obstacles caused by insufficient medium temperature in low-temperature environments, realizes dynamic and precise adjustment of flow control, and effectively improves the waste heat recovery efficiency and operating condition adaptability of the thermal management system.

[0066] In this embodiment, the integrated thermal management system further includes a second temperature sensor 6 and a third temperature sensor 7. The second temperature sensor 6 is disposed at the cold outlet of the first heat exchanger 401 and is electrically connected to the controller 3. The second temperature sensor 6 is used to detect the temperature of the medium flowing out from the cold outlet of the first heat exchanger 401. The third temperature sensor 7 is disposed in the liquid storage tank 2 and is electrically connected to the controller 3. The third temperature sensor 7 is used to detect the real-time temperature of the medium in the liquid storage tank 2.

[0067] Specifically, during the operation of the electrochemical reaction device 1, the second temperature sensor 6 collects the temperature of the cold medium flowing from the cold outlet of the first heat exchanger 401 to the electrochemical reaction device 1 in real time. When the temperature deviates from the set range, the controller 3 adjusts the opening of the proportional valve 10 to mix the cold medium processed by the second heat exchanger 402 with the high-temperature medium in the storage tank 2 in a proportional manner, ensuring that the temperature of the medium in the electrochemical reaction device 1 remains stable within the preset range. At the same time, the third temperature sensor 7 continuously monitors the temperature fluctuation of the medium in the storage tank 2. When the temperature is detected to be too low, the controller 3 activates the heater 9 to heat the medium output from the storage tank 2 and flowing into the second fluid pipeline 17.

[0068] Through the above technical solution, this application can obtain accurate temperature data of the medium at the cold side outlet of the first heat exchanger 401 in real time, avoiding the decrease in operating efficiency of the electrochemical reaction device 1 due to temperature deviation; at the same time, through dynamic monitoring of the internal temperature of the liquid storage tank 2, the heat balance control of the heat storage medium and the cold medium input unit can be realized, preventing system thermal shock caused by sudden temperature changes in the liquid storage tank 2.

[0069] In this embodiment, the electrochemical reaction device 1 is either an electrolysis water hydrogen production device 101 or a fuel cell device 102. The electrochemical reaction device 1 may also include both an electrolysis water hydrogen production device 101 and a fuel cell device 102.

[0070] Specifically, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the specific internal structure of an integrated thermal management system that simultaneously includes a water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 and a fuel cell device 102, as provided in Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. Figure 2 As shown, a first heat exchanger 401 is respectively installed between the water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 and the fuel cell device 102 and the storage tank 2. The hot outlet of the first heat exchanger 401 is connected to the liquid inlet of the storage tank 2 through a first fluid pipe 16, and the cold inlet of the first heat exchanger 401 is connected to the liquid outlet of the storage tank 2 through a second fluid pipe 17. The hot outlet of the water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 and the corresponding hot inlet of the first heat exchanger 401 are connected through a first pipe 12, and the cold inlet of the water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 and the cold outlet of the first heat exchanger 401 are connected through a second pipe 13. The hot outlet of the fuel cell device 102 and the corresponding hot inlet of the first heat exchanger 401 are connected through a third pipe 14, and the cold inlet of the fuel cell device 102 and the cold outlet of the first heat exchanger 401 are connected through a fourth pipe 15. When the water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 and the fuel cell device 102 are present simultaneously, the integrated thermal management system includes a water pump 8, a flow meter 11, a heater 9, a second heat exchanger 402, a first temperature sensor 5, a proportional valve 10, and a second temperature sensor 6 corresponding to the water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101, and also includes a water pump 8, a flow meter 11, a heater 9, a second heat exchanger 402, a first temperature sensor 5, a proportional valve 10, and a second temperature sensor 6 corresponding to the fuel cell device 102. These components are arranged symmetrically.

[0071] The electrolysis hydrogen production unit 101 operates in a temperature range of 50°C to 80°C. The fuel cell unit 102 operates in a temperature range of 60°C to 90°C. The thermal characteristics of these two units work synergistically with the liquid storage tank 2 and the dual-fluid pipeline structure in the thermal management system to achieve gradient utilization of heat by matching the waste heat recovery requirements of different temperature ranges.

[0072] Specifically, the high-temperature medium generated during the operation of the water electrolysis hydrogen production unit 101 enters the storage tank 2 through the first fluid pipeline 16, while the cold medium input unit adjusts the medium temperature in the second fluid pipeline 17 according to preset temperature requirements. Similarly, the waste heat generated by the fuel cell unit 102 is transported to the storage tank 2 through an independent pipeline, and the proportional valve 10 in the cold medium input unit controls the mixing ratio of the cold medium and the high-temperature medium returning to the storage tank 2 according to the real-time temperature signal. The thermal management system dynamically adjusts the flow rate and temperature compensation strategy of the cold-side inlet medium for the two devices within their different operating temperature ranges through the controller 3, ensuring that the waste heat recovery process is synchronized with the reaction temperature control, and guaranteeing that the device operates under optimal conditions.

[0073] Through the above technical solution, this application realizes the recovery and utilization of waste heat from the water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 and the fuel cell device 102, effectively improving the overall energy utilization rate of the system, while ensuring that different electrochemical reaction devices 1 operate stably within their respective optimal temperature ranges.

[0074] Please see Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart of a control method for an integrated thermal management system based on an electrochemical reaction device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. Specifically, as shown... Figure 3 As shown, this control method is applied to the integrated thermal management system described above, and the method includes:

[0075] S1: Input the high-temperature medium generated by the electrochemical reaction device 1 into the storage tank 2;

[0076] S2: Controller 3 distributes the high-temperature medium in storage tank 2 according to the heat demand;

[0077] S3: The cold medium input unit controls the distribution ratio and distribution method of the cold medium entering the cold medium inlet of the second heat exchanger 402 and the high temperature medium flowing from the liquid storage tank 2 into the second fluid pipeline 17 according to the target temperature of the reaction medium required by the electrochemical reaction device 1. The target temperature of the reaction medium is the temperature of the reaction medium entering the electrochemical reaction device 1 from the cold outlet of the first heat exchanger 401.

[0078] This also includes controlling the heat exchange between the high-temperature medium generated in step S1 and the reaction medium formed in step S3, with the cold medium input unit adjusting the temperature of the reaction medium entering the cold inlet of the first heat exchanger 401 according to the target temperature of the reaction medium. The electrochemical reaction device 1 may simultaneously include a water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 and a fuel cell device 102. The controller 3 can generate control commands based on a computer program to achieve control. The computer program is a conventional technique well-known to those skilled in the art, and the scope of protection of this application does not cover the computer program itself.

[0079] Specifically, after the storage tank 2 collects the high-temperature medium generated by each electrochemical reaction device 1 (i.e., after the storage tank 2 collects the high-temperature medium generated by the water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 and the fuel cell device 102 respectively), the controller 3 determines the distribution scheme of the high-temperature water based on the real-time temperature data of the storage tank 2. A portion of the recovered hot water is remixed with cold water and used as the reaction medium for the electrochemical reaction device 1, while the excess hot water is output for use in industrial parks, residential heating, etc. The cold medium input unit calculates the cold-side inlet temperature setpoint based on the target temperature and controls the external cold medium injection amount by adjusting the proportional valve 10. Simultaneously, combined with the heat exchange effect of the second heat exchanger 402, the mixed medium temperature reaches the set range. During this process, the cold medium and the high-temperature medium exchange heat within the second heat exchanger 402, forming a medium flow with a temperature gradient matched. For example, when the electrochemical reaction device 1 requires an increase in inlet temperature, the controller 3 will reduce the proportion of cold medium and activate the heater 9 to compensate for temperature deviations, ensuring a stable cold outlet temperature of the heat exchanger.

[0080] This solution effectively resolves the waste heat recovery conflict caused by the temperature difference between the water electrolysis hydrogen production unit 101 and the fuel cell system, achieving independent inlet temperature control for both units under different operating conditions. Through a secondary heat exchange process using hot and cold media, the consumption of external cold sources is reduced, improving the stability of the thermal management system under varying ambient temperatures. Furthermore, the dynamic distribution mechanism avoids heat loss caused by the accumulation of high-temperature media in the storage tank 2, ensuring synchronized optimization of heat recovery efficiency and the operating efficiency of the electrochemical reaction unit 1.

[0081] In this embodiment, step S3 includes:

[0082] S31: Determine the target temperature of the reaction medium entering electrochemical reaction device 1;

[0083] S32: Determine the temperature of the reaction medium entering the cold inlet of the first heat exchanger 401 based on the target temperature of the reaction medium;

[0084] S33: Detect the temperature of the medium in the storage tank 2 and the flow rate of the medium flowing into the second fluid pipe 17;

[0085] S34: Adjust the flow rate of the cold medium entering the cold medium inlet of the second heat exchanger 402 based on the temperature of the reaction medium entering the cold inlet of the first heat exchanger 401.

[0086] The target temperature is determined by setting a temperature range that meets the thermal management requirements of the electrochemical reaction device 1 based on its operating conditions. This can be achieved through preset parameters in the controller 3 or by receiving feedback from sensors. The temperature of the medium in the storage tank 2 is monitored in real time by a temperature sensor, which can be either a surface-mounted or immersion-type temperature sensor. The flow rate of the cold medium is adjusted dynamically by a proportional valve 10 to change the mixing ratio of the cold and hot media. This can be achieved through a closed-loop control using an electric regulating valve in conjunction with a flow meter 11.

[0087] Specifically, during the operation of the electrochemical reaction device 1, the target temperature of the reaction medium entering the device is first determined based on its operating status. If the electrochemical reaction device 1 is a water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101, the target temperature range of the reaction medium entering the device 101 needs to be [50℃-80℃]; if the electrochemical reaction device 1 is a fuel cell device 102, the target temperature range of the reaction medium entering the fuel cell device 102 needs to be [60℃-90℃]. Then, based on this target temperature, the required temperature value of the cold side inlet of the first heat exchanger 401 is calculated in reverse. This calculation process needs to consider the heat transfer efficiency of the heat exchanger and the specific heat capacity parameters of the medium. Subsequently, the system synchronously collects the real-time temperature of the hot medium in the storage tank 2 and the medium flow rate data of the second fluid pipeline 17. The opening of the cold medium branch is adjusted by the proportional valve 10 to change the mixing ratio of the hot and cold media, so that the temperature of the medium entering the cold side inlet of the first heat exchanger 401 reaches the calculated value. This adjustment process uses a PID control algorithm, which dynamically adjusts the opening state of the regulating valve by comparing the deviation between the set temperature and the actual measured value in real time.

[0088] In this scheme, the above control method significantly improves the response speed and control accuracy of the waste heat recovery system, enabling the electrochemical reaction device 1 to maintain efficient and stable operation under different load conditions.

[0089] In this embodiment, in step S33: if the temperature of the medium in the storage tank 2 is detected to be lower than the preset temperature, the heater 9 is controlled to heat the medium entering the second heat exchanger 402.

[0090] Specifically, when the temperature of the recovered medium in the storage tank 2 is lower than a preset value, the temperature sensor transmits a signal to the controller 3, which then activates the heater 9 to heat the medium in the second fluid pipeline 17. The heated medium exchanges heat with the external cold medium in the second heat exchanger 402, bringing the temperature of the medium entering the cold side inlet of the first heat exchanger 401 to the target value. This process is achieved through closed-loop control. When the temperature of the storage tank 2 rises above the preset threshold, the heater 9 automatically reduces its power or stops working, thus ensuring heat exchange efficiency while avoiding excessive energy consumption.

[0091] Through the above technical solution, this application can dynamically compensate for the temperature drop caused by insufficient heat source in the liquid storage tank 2, and ensure that the temperature of the medium entering the first heat exchanger 401 always meets the temperature range that can ensure the normal operation of the electrochemical reaction device 1.

[0092] The following example illustrates the adjustment scheme described above. First, the temperature of the medium in the storage tank 2 and the target temperature of the reaction medium required by the electrochemical reaction device 1 are determined. If the temperature difference between the two is small, and the target temperature of the reaction medium is greater than the temperature of the medium in the storage tank 2, then the controller 3 will control the cold medium inlet of the second heat exchanger 402 to not input cold medium. At the same time, it will also control the heater 9 to heat the high-temperature medium flowing from the storage tank 2 into the second fluid pipe 17. If the temperature difference between the two is small, and the target temperature of the reaction medium is less than the temperature of the medium in the storage tank 2, then the controller 3 will control the cold medium inlet of the second heat exchanger 402 to input a small amount of cold medium. In this case, there is relatively more high-temperature medium and relatively less cold medium, achieving the effect of adjusting the medium temperature. If the two temperatures are equal, then the heater 9 will not heat the high-temperature medium, and the second heat exchanger 402 can also not input cold medium. If the temperature of the medium in storage tank 2 differs significantly from the target temperature of the reaction medium required by electrochemical reaction device 1—for example, if the target temperature of the reaction medium is much higher than the temperature of the medium in storage tank 2, and the difference exceeds 10°C—then controller 3 will control heater 9 to heat the medium output from storage tank 2. Conversely, if the target temperature of the reaction medium is much lower than the temperature of the medium in storage tank 2, and the difference exceeds 10°C, controller 3 will increase the flow rate of the cold medium at the inlet of the second heat exchanger 402 to ensure that the high-temperature medium output from storage tank 2 can be cooled. The specific flow rate of the input cold medium depends on the actual target temperature of the reaction medium and the temperature of the medium in storage tank 2.

[0093] In this embodiment, the electrochemical reaction device 1 includes an electrolytic water hydrogen production device 101 and a fuel cell device 102; step S2 includes:

[0094] S21: Detect the target temperature of the reaction medium entering the water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 and the target temperature of the reaction medium entering the fuel cell device 102;

[0095] S22: Determine the flow rate of the medium flowing from the storage tank 2 into the corresponding electrochemical reaction device 1 based on the target temperature of the reaction medium in the water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 and the target temperature of the reaction medium entering the fuel cell device 102.

[0096] Specifically, when the water electrolysis hydrogen production unit 101 and the fuel cell unit 102 are operating synchronously, the setpoints of the cooling medium inlet temperature for both units are first obtained through temperature sensors, with the setpoint temperature range for the water electrolysis hydrogen production unit 101 being lower than that for the fuel cell unit 102. When the target temperature of the water electrolysis hydrogen production unit 101 is detected to be in the range of 50℃-80℃, while the target temperature of the fuel cell unit 102 is detected to be in the range of 60℃-90℃, the controller 3 converts the temperature difference between the two units into a flow distribution coefficient. This coefficient is used to calculate the volume ratio of the high-temperature medium flowing from the storage tank 2 to the two systems. By adjusting the speed of the water pump 8 and the valve opening of the corresponding pipeline, the flow rate of the medium flowing to the water electrolysis hydrogen production unit 101 is made less than the flow rate of the medium flowing to the fuel cell unit 102, thereby achieving optimized distribution of the heat medium while meeting different temperature requirements.

[0097] For example, when the water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 and the fuel cell device 102 are operating synchronously, the electrochemical reaction efficiency of both is highest when the water temperature of the water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 is 50°C and the water temperature of the fuel cell device 102 is 60°C. If the temperature of the high-temperature medium in the storage tank 2 is 70°C, the controller 3 needs to control the flow rate of the cold medium at the inlet of the second heat exchanger 402 corresponding to the water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 to be relatively large. This flow rate should be greater than the flow rate of the cold medium at the inlet of the second heat exchanger 402 corresponding to the fuel cell device 102. At the same time, the controller 3 can also adjust the speed of the water pump 8 corresponding to the water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 to slow down, so as to slow down the flow rate of the high-temperature medium flowing out of the storage tank 2. This ensures that the temperature of the high-temperature medium in the storage tank 2 drops from 70°C to a temperature that is easy to adjust, ensuring that the high-temperature medium, after being mixed with the cold medium through the second heat exchanger 402, obtains a range that can be ultimately adjusted to 50°C. At the same time, it saves the amount of high-temperature medium used, so that the excess high-temperature water can be used for external output.

[0098] Through the above technical solution, this application can dynamically adjust the distribution ratio of the heat medium flow from the storage tank 2 to the two systems according to the actual operating temperature requirements of the water electrolysis hydrogen production device 101 and the fuel cell device 102, thus solving the problem of low energy distribution efficiency caused by the difference in thermal management requirements of different electrochemical reaction devices 1, and effectively improving the overall energy efficiency of the heat recovery system.

[0099] The following two specific examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the integrated thermal management system. Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of an integrated thermal management system that simultaneously connects an electrolytic water hydrogen production device and a fuel cell device, as provided in Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. The roof area of ​​a certain building is 57m*21m≈1200㎡, the power of the photovoltaic system installed on the roof is 0.088*1200≈105kW, the power consumption for electrolytic water hydrogen production is 5kW / standard cubic meter, the hydrogen production rate is 20 standard cubic meters / hour, a 3 cubic meter gas storage tank is used, the hydrogen consumption of the fuel cell is 20 standard cubic meters / hour, and the designed fuel cell system is 30kW.

[0100] In the photovoltaic-water electrolysis hydrogen production-hydrogen storage-fuel cell conversion process, the rooftop photovoltaic system converts the voltage to the DC voltage level required for water electrolysis hydrogen production via a transformer module. The voltage is then connected to the hydrogen production power supply in the water electrolysis hydrogen production device via a cable. The water electrolysis hydrogen production device then produces qualified hydrogen through an electrolysis cell, separation and purification device. The hydrogen enters the hydrogen storage tank through pipelines, and then enters the fuel cell device through pipelines and a hydrogen pressure regulating valve to generate electricity.

[0101] The thermal management system includes an electrolytic water hydrogen production unit and a fuel cell unit. It also includes two mainboard heat exchangers 1 and 2; two variable frequency water pumps P1 and P2; temperature sensors T1 to T5; proportional valves V1 and V2; heaters H1 and H2; temperature-controlled heat exchangers HE1 and HE2; water flow meters FM1 and FM2; a storage tank; and a controller. The electrolytic water hydrogen production unit and the fuel cell unit are connected to the storage tank and other devices via primary side pipelines. The controller controls the inlet temperatures T4 and T5 of the cooling medium for the electrolytic water hydrogen production unit and the fuel cell unit, maintaining their normal operation and converting waste heat into hot water for external output from the storage tank.

[0102] Under rated operating conditions, the heat dissipation requirement of a 20 cubic meter / hour electrolytic cell is 28kW (electrolytic cell system efficiency 68.8%, electrolytic cell power input 112kW, system power consumption 10kW). The required inlet temperature T4 is 80℃, the return water temperature is 85℃, and the hot side flow rate is 80L / min. The cold side inlet temperature T1 is controlled at 25℃ (both cooling and heating will cause power loss, so T1 is taken as the tap water replenishment temperature of the storage tank), the cold outlet temperature is 75℃, the flow rate is 7L / min, and the calculated heat generation is 25kW.

[0103] Under rated operating conditions, a 30kW fuel cell requires a heat dissipation of 35kW (fuel cell system efficiency 50%, total fuel cell output 70kW, system self-power consumption 5kW, and net fuel cell power output 30kW). The required inlet temperature T5 is 70℃, the return water temperature is 78℃, and the hot side flow rate is 60L / min. The cold side inlet temperature T2 is controlled at 25℃ (both cooling and heating will generate energy consumption, so T2 is taken as the tap water replenishment temperature of the storage tank), the cold outlet temperature is 65℃, the flow rate is 11L / min, and the calculated heat generation is 31kW.

[0104] Under traditional rated operating conditions, the heat required by the electrolyzer and fuel cell is dissipated into the environment, and the system efficiency is 68.8% × 50% = 34.4%. With this heat recovery scheme, the system efficiency is (112-28+25) / (112+10)×(30+31) / (70) = 77%.

[0105] Therefore, by adopting this heat recovery scheme, the efficiency of the thermal management system increased from 34.4% to 77%.

[0106] While specific embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, those skilled in the art should understand that these are merely illustrative examples, and the scope of protection of this disclosure is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of this disclosure, but all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A comprehensive thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device, characterized in that, The device includes a liquid storage tank and at least two electrochemical reaction devices. A first heat exchanger is provided between the liquid storage tank and each of the electrochemical reaction devices. The liquid storage tank is connected to the first heat exchanger through a pipeline. The pipeline includes a first fluid pipeline and a second fluid pipeline. The hot outlet of the first heat exchanger is connected to the liquid inlet of the liquid storage tank through the first fluid pipeline, and the cold inlet of the first heat exchanger is connected to the liquid outlet of the liquid storage tank through the second fluid pipeline. The hot outlet of the electrochemical reaction device is connected to the hot inlet of the first heat exchanger, and the cold inlet of the electrochemical reaction device is connected to the cold outlet of the first heat exchanger. The integrated thermal management system further includes a cold medium input unit, which includes a water pump, a second heat exchanger, and a first temperature sensor. The water pump, the second heat exchanger, and the first temperature sensor are sequentially arranged on a second fluid pipeline along the direction from the liquid storage tank toward the first heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger includes a cold medium inlet and a cold medium outlet connected together. The cold medium inlet is connected to the second fluid pipeline, and the cold medium outlet is also provided with a proportional valve. The cold medium input unit also includes a controller, which is electrically connected to the water pump, the proportional valve, the second heat exchanger and the first temperature sensor. The controller is used to receive the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor and to control the water pump, the proportional valve and the second heat exchanger.

2. The integrated thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The integrated thermal management system also includes a third fluid pipeline connected to the cold medium outlet of the second heat exchanger, and the third fluid pipeline is connected to the liquid storage tank.

3. The integrated thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The proportional valve is installed on the third fluid pipeline.

4. The integrated thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The integrated thermal management system also includes a heater, which is electrically connected to the controller. The controller is used to control the heater to heat the medium in the second fluid pipeline.

5. The integrated thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The heater is disposed between the water pump and the second heat exchanger.

6. The integrated thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The integrated thermal management system also includes a flow meter, which is electrically connected to the controller and is used to detect the flow rate of the medium in the second fluid pipeline.

7. The integrated thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The flow meter is positioned between the water pump and the second heat exchanger.

8. The integrated thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The integrated thermal management system also includes a second temperature sensor and a third temperature sensor; The second temperature sensor is located at the cold outlet of the first heat exchanger and is electrically connected to the controller. The second temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the medium flowing out from the cold outlet of the first heat exchanger. The third temperature sensor is installed in the liquid storage tank and is electrically connected to the controller. The third temperature sensor is used to detect the real-time temperature of the medium in the liquid storage tank.

9. The integrated thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first heat exchanger is a mainplate heat exchanger.

10. The integrated thermal management system for an electrochemical reaction device as described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The electrochemical reaction device is either a water electrolysis hydrogen production device or a fuel cell device.