Air conditioning device and rail vehicle

Abstract

The application discloses an air conditioning device and a rail vehicle, relates to the technical field of rail vehicles, and comprises a heat exchange fan and a waste heat recovery loop, wherein the waste heat recovery loop comprises a first waste heat exchanger, a filter, a working medium pump, a second waste heat exchanger and an expansion water tank; the first waste heat exchanger, the filter, the working medium pump and the second waste heat exchanger are sequentially connected in series and form a circulating loop; the first waste heat exchanger is used for heat exchange with cooling liquid of a hydrogen fuel cell; and the heat exchange fan is used for driving airflow to flow through the second waste heat exchanger to realize heating and then enter a passenger compartment, so as to meet the winter heating demand of the rail vehicle. The air conditioning device disclosed by the application can effectively recover waste heat generated by the hydrogen fuel cell through the integrated waste heat recovery loop, on the one hand, significantly improves the comprehensive energy utilization efficiency of the hydrogen fuel cell, and on the other hand, can replace a traditional electric heater to meet the heating demand in winter, thereby greatly reducing the energy consumption of the rail vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of rail vehicle technology, and more specifically, to an air conditioning unit and a rail vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, winter heating in rail vehicles generally relies on high-power electric heaters within the air conditioning system. The high-load operation of these heaters significantly increases the vehicle's total energy consumption, directly driving up operating costs. Simultaneously, this concentrated demand for high-power electricity also puts enormous pressure on the vehicle's auxiliary power supply system, potentially affecting the normal operation of other auxiliary equipment and even becoming a bottleneck limiting vehicle performance.

[0003] Therefore, how to effectively reduce the heating energy consumption of rail vehicles and alleviate their power supply burden has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of this application is to provide an air conditioning device to effectively reduce the heating energy consumption of rail vehicles and alleviate their power supply burden.

[0005] Another object of this application is to provide a rail vehicle including the aforementioned air conditioning unit.

[0006] An air conditioning unit, comprising:

[0007] Heat exchanger;

[0008] The waste heat recovery loop includes a first waste heat exchanger, a filter, a working fluid pump, a second waste heat exchanger, and an expansion tank. The first waste heat exchanger, the filter, the working fluid pump, and the second waste heat exchanger are connected in series via connecting pipes to form a circulation loop. In the circulation loop, the heat exchange working fluid flows from the working fluid pump towards the second waste heat exchanger. The first waste heat exchanger is used to exchange heat with the coolant of the hydrogen fuel cell, and the heat exchange fan is used to drive the airflow through the second waste heat exchanger. The water inlet of the expansion tank is connected to the outlet of the working fluid pump and the inlet of the filter via a connecting pipe, and the water outlet of the expansion tank is connected to the outlet of the filter and the inlet of the working fluid pump via a connecting pipe.

[0009] In some embodiments, a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor are provided on the circulation loop, and the first temperature sensor is located at the inlet of the second waste heat exchanger, and the second temperature sensor is located at the outlet of the second waste heat exchanger.

[0010] And / or, the circulation loop is provided with a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor, the first pressure sensor is located at the inlet of the second waste heat exchanger, and the second pressure sensor is located at the outlet of the second waste heat exchanger.

[0011] In some embodiments, a first ball valve and a second ball valve are provided on the circulation loop. The first ball valve is connected in series between the first waste heat exchanger and the filter through the connecting pipe, and the second ball valve is connected in series between the second waste heat exchanger and the first waste heat exchanger through the connecting pipe.

[0012] In some embodiments, an exhaust valve is provided on the circulation loop, and the exhaust valve is located at the highest point of the circulation loop.

[0013] In some embodiments, a safety valve is provided on the circulation loop, and the safety valve is connected in series between the working fluid pump and the second waste heat exchanger through the connecting pipeline.

[0014] In some embodiments, the inlet of the second waste heat exchanger is connected to the working fluid pump, and the outlet of the second waste heat exchanger is connected to the first waste heat exchanger.

[0015] In the vertical direction, the inlet of the second waste heat exchanger is lower than the outlet of the second waste heat exchanger.

[0016] In some embodiments, the filter is a Y-type filter.

[0017] In some embodiments, the first waste heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger, and the second waste heat exchanger is a microchannel heat exchanger.

[0018] In some embodiments, at least one of the connecting pipes has a bend for realizing pipe reversal.

[0019] A rail vehicle, comprising:

[0020] Hydrogen fuel cells;

[0021] The air conditioning device described in any of the preceding claims, wherein the coolant of the hydrogen fuel cell exchanges heat in the first waste heat exchanger.

[0022] The air conditioning device provided in this application includes a heat exchange fan and a waste heat recovery loop. The waste heat recovery loop includes a first waste heat exchanger, a filter, a working fluid pump, a second waste heat exchanger, and an expansion tank. The first waste heat exchanger, filter, working fluid pump, and second waste heat exchanger are connected in series via connecting pipes to form a circulation loop. The first waste heat exchanger is used for heat exchange with the coolant of the hydrogen fuel cell. The heat exchange fan drives airflow through the second waste heat exchanger to heat the airflow and provide heating. Within the circulation loop, the working fluid flows from the working fluid pump towards the second waste heat exchanger. After absorbing heat from the coolant of the hydrogen fuel cell at the first waste heat exchanger, the working fluid is filtered and then pumped to the second waste heat exchanger. At the second waste heat exchanger, the working fluid transfers heat to the mixed air flowing through it before re-entering the first waste heat exchanger to complete the cycle. The heated mixed air is then blown into the passenger compartment by the heat exchange fan to meet the winter heating needs of the rail vehicle. The expansion tank's inlet and outlet are both connected to the circulation loop. Specifically, the inlet is connected to the outlet of the working fluid pump and the inlet of the filter, ensuring that each replenished heat exchange medium is filtered before entering the circulation loop, effectively intercepting impurities and preventing damage to components such as the working fluid pump. The outlet is connected to the outlet of the filter and the inlet of the working fluid pump, providing a stable inlet pressure for the pump, reducing the risk of cavitation caused by pressure fluctuations, and ensuring long-term stable operation. The expansion tank is typically pre-filled with approximately two-thirds of its volume of heat exchange medium, with one-third reserved for expansion space. When temperature changes in the circulation loop cause thermal expansion and contraction of the heat exchange medium, this expansion space effectively accommodates or compensates for the heat exchange medium, thus smoothing pressure fluctuations throughout the circulation loop and acting as a safety buffer.

[0023] Compared to existing technologies, the air conditioning device provided in this application integrates a waste heat recovery circuit that can exchange heat with the coolant of the hydrogen fuel cell. This waste heat recovery circuit can effectively recover the waste heat generated by the hydrogen fuel cell, which significantly improves the overall energy utilization efficiency of the hydrogen fuel cell on the one hand, and can replace the traditional electric heater to meet heating needs in winter, thereby greatly reducing the energy consumption of rail vehicles.

[0024] The rail vehicle provided in this application includes a hydrogen fuel cell and the aforementioned air conditioning device. The coolant of the hydrogen fuel cell exchanges heat in the first waste heat exchanger. Since it includes the aforementioned air conditioning device, it also has the aforementioned structure and beneficial effects. Other structures refer to the prior art and will not be described in detail here. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of the air conditioning device disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the air conditioning device disclosed in the embodiments of this application.

[0028] Among them, 100 is the heat exchange fan, 200 is the first waste heat exchanger, 201 is the first ball valve, 202 is the second ball valve, 300 is the filter, 400 is the working fluid pump, 500 is the second waste heat exchanger, 501 is the first temperature sensor, 502 is the second temperature sensor, 503 is the first pressure sensor, 504 is the second pressure sensor, 600 is the expansion tank, 601 is the water inlet, 602 is the water outlet, 700 is the exhaust valve, 701 is the safety valve, 800 is the connecting pipeline, and 900 is the cooling system. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The core of this application is to disclose an air conditioning device that can effectively reduce the heating energy consumption of rail vehicles and alleviate their power supply burden.

[0030] Another key aspect of this application is the disclosure of a rail vehicle that includes the aforementioned air conditioning unit.

[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the embodiments shown below do not limit the scope of the utility model as described in the claims. Additionally, the complete contents of the structures represented in the embodiments below are not limited to those necessary for the solution of the utility model as described in the claims. It should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to the utility model are shown in the drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other.

[0032] For hydrogen-powered rail vehicles, the electrochemical efficiency of their hydrogen fuel cells is approximately 50%, meaning that nearly half of the energy is lost as waste heat, resulting in energy waste. Simultaneously, winter heating for rail vehicles consumes a significant amount of electricity, increasing the burden on the auxiliary power supply system. To address this issue, this application discloses an air conditioning device integrating a waste heat recovery loop. This loop exchanges heat with the coolant in the hydrogen fuel cell, recovering the waste heat generated by the fuel cell and using it as a heat source for winter heating. This application utilizes heat energy that would otherwise be wasted, significantly reducing the heating energy consumption of rail vehicles and effectively alleviating their power supply burden.

[0033] Specifically, in combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 The air conditioning device disclosed in this application includes a heat exchange fan 100 and a waste heat recovery circuit. The waste heat recovery circuit includes a first waste heat exchanger 200, a filter 300, a working fluid pump 400, a second waste heat exchanger 500, and an expansion tank 600. The first waste heat exchanger 200, the filter 300, the working fluid pump 400, and the second waste heat exchanger 500 are connected in series through a connecting pipe 800 to form a circulation loop. The first waste heat exchanger 200 is used for heat exchange with the coolant of the hydrogen fuel cell, and the heat exchange fan 100 is used to drive the gas... The airflow is heated by passing through the second waste heat exchanger 500 to provide heating. Within the circulation loop, the heat exchange medium flows from the working medium pump 400 towards the second waste heat exchanger 500. After absorbing heat from the coolant in the hydrogen fuel cell at the first waste heat exchanger 200, the medium is filtered by the filter 300 and then pumped by the working medium pump 400 to the second waste heat exchanger 500. At the second waste heat exchanger 500, the medium transfers heat to the mixed air flowing through it before re-entering the first waste heat exchanger 200 to complete the cycle. The heated mixed air is then blown into the passenger compartment by the heat exchange fan 100 to meet the winter heating needs of the rail vehicle.

[0034] The expansion tank 600 has a water inlet 601 and a water outlet 602 that are both connected to the circulation loop. Specifically, the water inlet 601 is connected to the connecting pipe 800 between the outlet of the working fluid pump 400 and the inlet of the filter 300, thus ensuring that each replenished heat exchange working fluid is filtered by the filter 300 after entering the circulation loop, effectively intercepting impurities and preventing them from damaging components such as the working fluid pump 400. The water outlet 602 is connected to the connecting pipe 800 between the outlet of the filter 300 and the inlet of the working fluid pump 400, thus providing a stable inlet pressure for the working fluid pump 400, reducing the risk of cavitation caused by pressure fluctuations, and ensuring the long-term stable operation of the working fluid pump 400. The expansion tank 600 is usually pre-filled with heat exchange medium to about two-thirds of its volume, and one-third of its volume is reserved for expansion space. When temperature changes occur in the circulation loop, causing the heat exchange medium to expand or contract, this expansion space can effectively contain or compensate for the heat exchange medium, thereby smoothing the pressure fluctuations of the entire circulation loop and playing a safety buffering role.

[0035] Compared to existing technologies, the air conditioning device disclosed in this application integrates a waste heat recovery circuit that can exchange heat with the coolant of the hydrogen fuel cell. This waste heat recovery circuit can effectively recover the waste heat generated by the hydrogen fuel cell, which significantly improves the overall energy utilization efficiency of the hydrogen fuel cell. In addition, it can replace the traditional electric heater to meet heating needs in winter, thereby greatly reducing the energy consumption of rail vehicles.

[0036] In some embodiments disclosed in this application, a first temperature sensor 501 and a second temperature sensor 502 are provided on the circulation loop. The first temperature sensor 501 is located at the inlet of the second waste heat exchanger 500, and the second temperature sensor 502 is located at the outlet of the second waste heat exchanger 500. By setting the first temperature sensor 501 and the second temperature sensor 502 at the inlet and outlet of the second waste heat exchanger 500 respectively, the temperature difference change of the heat exchange medium at the second waste heat exchanger 500 can be monitored in real time. This temperature data can be fed back to the control terminal in real time to calculate the actual heat exchange and compare it with the set value. Based on the calculation result, the control terminal dynamically adjusts parameters such as the speed of the working medium pump 400, the speed of the heat exchange fan 100, and the opening degree of the control valve on the circulation loop, thereby realizing precise closed-loop control of the heating temperature and ensuring the efficient and stable operation of the air conditioning unit.

[0037] Similarly, to achieve comprehensive monitoring and coordinated control of the entire waste heat recovery loop, a third temperature sensor and a fourth temperature sensor can be installed at the inlet and outlet of the first waste heat exchanger 200, respectively. The third and fourth temperature sensors, together with the first temperature sensor 501 and the second temperature sensor 502, form a complete monitoring network, enabling the control end to accurately grasp the working fluid state and heat distribution in each stage of the heat exchange process, thereby optimizing the utilization efficiency of the entire waste heat recovery loop.

[0038] In some embodiments, a first pressure sensor 503 and a second pressure sensor 504 are provided on the circulation loop. The first pressure sensor 503 is located at the inlet of the second waste heat exchanger 500, and the second pressure sensor 504 is located at the outlet of the second waste heat exchanger 500. By setting the first pressure sensor 503 and the second pressure sensor 504 at the inlet and outlet of the second waste heat exchanger 500 respectively, real-time pressure data can be monitored and fed back to the control terminal for precise calculation and automatic adjustment of the speed of the working fluid pump 400 and the opening degree of each valve, thereby stabilizing the pressure of the circulation loop. Similarly, a third pressure sensor and a fourth pressure sensor can be set at the inlet and outlet of the first waste heat exchanger 200 respectively, thereby constructing a multi-point pressure monitoring network to jointly reflect the pressure distribution and flow resistance of the entire circulation loop. The control terminal can perform comprehensive calculations based on this to more accurately adjust the speed of the working fluid pump 400, ensuring that both the first waste heat exchanger 200 and the second waste heat exchanger 500 operate under the designed optimal conditions.

[0039] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, a first ball valve 201 and a second ball valve 202 are provided on the circulation loop. The first ball valve 201 is connected in series between the first waste heat exchanger 200 and the filter 300 via a connecting pipe 800, and the second ball valve 202 is connected in series between the second waste heat exchanger 500 and the first waste heat exchanger 200 via a connecting pipe 800. When maintenance or replacement of the first waste heat exchanger 200 is required, the first ball valve 201 and the second ball valve 202 can be quickly closed to effectively isolate it from the circulation loop, ensuring safe maintenance without draining the heat exchange medium from the entire circulation loop. Simultaneously, the first ball valve 201 and the second ball valve 202 can also be used to regulate the pipeline flow or for emergency shut-off, thereby enhancing the controllability and safety of the entire waste heat recovery loop. Similarly, a third ball valve and a fourth ball valve can be respectively installed at the inlet and outlet of the second waste heat exchanger 500, thereby enabling rapid isolation and maintenance of the second waste heat exchanger 500 through the third and fourth ball valves.

[0040] To ensure the safe operation of the waste heat recovery loop, an exhaust valve 700 is installed at the highest point of the loop. When the gas accumulation in the loop reaches a set threshold, the exhaust valve 700 will automatically open to release the gas, thereby effectively preventing air bubbles from obstructing the flow of the heat exchange medium and avoiding insufficient heat exchange. At the same time, it can prevent gas from entering the working medium pump 400 and causing cavitation, thus ensuring the stable operation of the loop.

[0041] Combination Figure 1 To ensure the safety of the waste heat recovery loop, a safety valve 701 is connected in series between the working fluid pump 400 and the second waste heat exchanger 500 via a connecting pipe 800. The outlet of the working fluid pump 400 is usually the point of highest pressure in the circulation loop. The safety valve 701, located at this position, ensures that if the pressure in the circulation loop exceeds the safety threshold, the safety valve 701 can quickly and automatically open to release pressure and discharge the heat exchange working fluid, thus ensuring the stable operation of the entire waste heat recovery loop.

[0042] The inlet of the second waste heat exchanger 500 is connected to the working fluid pump 400, and the outlet of the second waste heat exchanger 500 is connected to the first waste heat exchanger 200. To ensure heat exchange efficiency, the inlet of the second waste heat exchanger 500 is lower than its outlet in the vertical direction. This allows the working fluid to flow into the second waste heat exchanger 500 in a bottom-in, top-out manner. This arrangement facilitates the discharge of accumulated gas from the top of the second waste heat exchanger 500, effectively improving heat exchange efficiency and preventing "short-circuiting" of the working fluid due to gas stagnation. The first waste heat exchanger 200 can also be arranged with the working fluid in a bottom-in, top-out manner.

[0043] The filter 300 mentioned above can be a Y-type filter. The Y-type filter has a simple structure and low resistance, and can effectively remove suspended particles and mechanical impurities in the heat exchange medium, thus achieving reliable pre-protection for the working medium pump 400.

[0044] In some embodiments, the first waste heat exchanger 200 may be a plate heat exchanger, taking advantage of its robust structure and high pressure resistance to stably absorb high-temperature and high-pressure waste heat. The second waste heat exchanger 500 may be a microchannel heat exchanger, which has high heat transfer efficiency and a compact structure, enabling deep recovery of waste heat. The coordinated operation of the plate heat exchanger and the microchannel heat exchanger ensures the overall waste heat recovery efficiency of the waste heat recovery loop.

[0045] At least one of the above-mentioned connecting pipes 800 has a bend to achieve pipe turning. The bend adopts a large radius of curvature design to achieve smooth flow of heat exchange medium, reduce local resistance loss during turning, and effectively suppress the generation of eddies and the entrainment of bubbles, so as to ensure smooth and efficient flow of heat exchange medium.

[0046] The rail vehicle disclosed in this application includes a hydrogen fuel cell and the aforementioned air conditioning device. The coolant of the hydrogen fuel cell exchanges heat in the first waste heat exchanger 200. Since it includes the aforementioned air conditioning device, it also possesses the aforementioned structure and beneficial effects. Other structures refer to the prior art and will not be described in detail here. Specifically, the cooling system 900 of the hydrogen fuel cell is connected to the first waste heat exchanger 200, and together they form a heat exchange loop. In this heat exchange loop, after the coolant absorbs the heat generated by the hydrogen fuel cell, it flows through the first waste heat exchanger 200 to transfer the heat to the waste heat recovery loop, thereby achieving effective cooling of the hydrogen fuel cell and recovery and utilization of the heat from the hydrogen fuel cell.

[0047] The terms "first" and "second," etc., used in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order, and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units may include steps or units not listed, but rather steps or units not listed. Additionally, in the description of embodiments in this application, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0048] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Specific technical means in some embodiments may be incorporated, in whole or in part, into another embodiment unless explicitly excluded by another embodiment. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An air conditioning device, characterized in that, include: Heat exchanger (100); The waste heat recovery loop includes a first waste heat exchanger (200), a filter (300), a working fluid pump (400), a second waste heat exchanger (500), and an expansion tank (600). The first waste heat exchanger (200), the filter (300), the working fluid pump (400), and the second waste heat exchanger (500) are connected in series via a connecting pipe (800) to form a circulation loop. In the circulation loop, the heat exchange working fluid flows from the working fluid pump (400) towards the second waste heat exchanger (500). A waste heat exchanger (200) is used to exchange heat with the coolant of the hydrogen fuel cell, and the heat exchange fan (100) is used to drive the airflow through the second waste heat exchanger (500); the water inlet (601) of the expansion tank (600) is connected to the connecting pipe (800) between the outlet of the working fluid pump (400) and the inlet of the filter (300), and the water outlet (602) of the expansion tank (600) is connected to the connecting pipe (800) between the outlet of the filter (300) and the inlet of the working fluid pump (400).

2. The air conditioning device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The circulation loop is provided with a first temperature sensor (501) and a second temperature sensor (502), with the first temperature sensor (501) located at the inlet of the second waste heat exchanger (500) and the second temperature sensor (502) located at the outlet of the second waste heat exchanger (500). And / or, a first pressure sensor (503) and a second pressure sensor (504) are provided on the circulation loop, the first pressure sensor (503) is provided at the inlet of the second waste heat exchanger (500), and the second pressure sensor (504) is provided at the outlet of the second waste heat exchanger (500).

3. The air conditioning device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The circulation loop is provided with a first ball valve (201) and a second ball valve (202). The first ball valve (201) is connected in series between the first waste heat exchanger (200) and the filter (300) through the connecting pipe (800). The second ball valve (202) is connected in series between the second waste heat exchanger (500) and the first waste heat exchanger (200) through the connecting pipe (800).

4. The air conditioning device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, An exhaust valve (700) is provided on the circulation loop, and the exhaust valve (700) is located at the highest point of the circulation loop.

5. The air conditioning device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A safety valve (701) is provided on the circulation loop, and the safety valve (701) is connected in series between the working fluid pump (400) and the second waste heat exchanger (500) through the connecting pipeline (800).

6. The air conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The inlet of the second waste heat exchanger (500) is connected to the working fluid pump (400), and the outlet of the second waste heat exchanger (500) is connected to the first waste heat exchanger (200). In the vertical direction, the inlet of the second waste heat exchanger (500) is lower than the outlet of the second waste heat exchanger (500).

7. The air conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The filter (300) is a Y-type filter (300).

8. The air conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The first waste heat exchanger (200) is a plate heat exchanger, and the second waste heat exchanger (500) is a microchannel heat exchanger.

9. The air conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the connecting pipes (800) has a bend for realizing pipe turning.

10. A rail vehicle, characterized in that, include: Hydrogen fuel cells; The air conditioning device as described in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the coolant of the hydrogen fuel cell exchanges heat in the first waste heat exchanger (200).

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