An internal heat exchanger for a stack module

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of internal heat exchanger for electric pile module, to solve the technical problem that the existing electric pile internal heat exchanger is multiple dependent on single heat transfer fluid circulation heat dissipation, when electric pile local cell heat concentration, the heat transfer rate of heat transfer fluid is difficult to match instantaneous heat production intensity, easy to cause heat accumulation to form local overheating, including shell, the inside of shell is equipped with equipment groove, the inside of shell around equipment groove is equipped with around heat exchange groove, the inside of shell between adjacent equipment groove is equipped with sandwich heat exchange groove, the inside bottom of sandwich heat exchange groove is equipped with two baffle, the utility model is melted by phase change material fast absorption of heat, to realize instantaneous cooling, effectively avoid the problem that heat transfer fluid is not timely heat dissipation, simultaneously, when phase change material melts, volume expansion, push inner piston block to lift lifting frame, synchronously drive outer piston block to move up, expand sandwich heat exchange groove two sides fluid flow cross section, accelerate heat transfer fluid circulation, significantly improve the heat dissipation efficiency of local overheating area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of heat exchanger technology, specifically to an internal heat exchanger for an electric stack module. Background Technology

[0002] Fuel cell stack modules are core power units in the new energy field. During operation, they continuously generate heat. If this heat cannot be dissipated evenly and promptly, it can lead to internal temperature imbalances and localized overheating, thereby affecting reaction efficiency, shortening the lifespan of core components, and even posing safety hazards. Therefore, efficient internal heat exchange is crucial for ensuring the stable operation of fuel cell stack modules.

[0003] Existing fuel cell stack internal heat exchangers mostly rely on a single heat exchange fluid circulation for heat dissipation. When localized cell heating is concentrated, the heat exchange rate of the heat exchange fluid is difficult to match the instantaneous heat generation intensity, easily leading to heat accumulation and localized overheating. This makes it difficult to meet the precise temperature control requirements of fuel cell stack modules under complex heating scenarios, affecting the operational stability of the fuel cell stack and the lifespan of core components. To address this, a new technical solution is proposed. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology, adapt to the needs of reality, and provide an internal heat exchanger for fuel cell modules. This solves the technical problem that existing internal heat exchangers for fuel cell modules mostly rely on a single heat exchange fluid for heat dissipation. When the local cells of the fuel cell generate concentrated heat, the heat exchange rate of the heat exchange fluid is difficult to match the instantaneous heat generation intensity, which easily leads to heat accumulation and local overheating.

[0005] To achieve the purpose of this utility model, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows: an internal heat exchanger for an electric stack module is designed, including a shell, an equipment slot is provided on the inner side of the shell, a surrounding heat exchange slot is provided inside the shell surrounding the equipment slot, a sandwich heat exchange slot is provided inside the shell between adjacent equipment slots, two partitions are provided on the bottom inner side of the sandwich heat exchange slot, and a phase change material is filled between the two partitions, and a lifting frame is provided on the inner side of the sandwich heat exchange slot above the partitions, and the lifting frame is fixedly connected to the top inner side of the sandwich heat exchange slot by a spring.

[0006] In this scheme, the phase change material in the sandwich heat exchange tank is used to quickly absorb heat and melt, thereby achieving instantaneous cooling and effectively avoiding the problem of untimely heat dissipation of the heat exchange fluid. At the same time, the phase change material expands in volume when it melts, pushing the inner piston block to lift the lifting frame, and simultaneously driving the outer piston block to move upward, expanding the fluid flow cross section on both sides of the sandwich heat exchange tank, accelerating the circulation of the heat exchange fluid, and significantly improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the local overheated area.

[0007] Preferably, an inner piston block is fixedly connected to the center of the bottom of the lifting frame, and outer piston blocks are fixedly connected to the left and right sides of the bottom of the lifting frame. The inner piston block is located between two partitions and fits against the partitions, and the outer piston block fits against the partitions and the inner sidewall of the sandwich heat exchange tank.

[0008] In practical applications, the phase change material absorbs heat and melts, expanding in volume. This pushes the inner piston block, causing the lifting frame to move upwards, simultaneously raising the outer piston block to expand the fluid channel. No external power is required, quickly alleviating localized overheating, providing timely response and dynamically improving heat dissipation efficiency, making it suitable for scenarios with fluctuating heating in fuel cell stacks.

[0009] Preferably, the surrounding heat exchange trough and the sandwich heat exchange trough are connected, and the bottom of the sandwich heat exchange trough is provided with a plurality of baffles, which are located between the partition and the inner sidewall of the sandwich heat exchange trough.

[0010] In practical applications, the two heat exchange tanks are connected to form a fluid circulation, which controls the overall temperature of the tanks, while the sandwich tanks dissipate local heat in a targeted manner. The baffles can disturb the fluid and break the laminar flow, which not only ensures uniform heat exchange but also improves the heat transfer coefficient, avoids local heat accumulation, and ensures stable operation.

[0011] Preferably, a ventilation slot is provided inside the outer casing on the right side of the equipment slot, and a heat exchange cylinder and a storage box are provided inside the ventilation slot.

[0012] In practical applications, airflow is introduced through the vents and flows through the ventilation slots to provide air cooling for the heat exchange cylinder; the storage box stores auxiliary heat exchange fluid to support subsequent heat exchange. No additional cooling components are required; passive air cooling establishes a low-temperature foundation, reducing energy consumption. At the same time, the compact layout adapts to the internal space of the fuel cell stack, making it highly practical.

[0013] Preferably, the heat exchange cylinder has a central groove that runs through the front and back, and the inner side of the heat exchange cylinder has an inner spiral groove and an outer spiral groove.

[0014] In practical applications, the double helical groove increases the heat exchange area, the high-temperature and low-temperature fluids flow in opposite directions to enhance heat exchange, and the central groove allows airflow to pass through, further removing heat from the cylinder wall, resulting in a significant improvement in heat exchange efficiency and ensuring rapid cooling and circulation of the fluid.

[0015] Preferably, the two ends of the outer spiral groove are connected to the surrounding heat exchange groove through pipes, and the two ends of the inner spiral groove are connected to the storage box through pipes. A first micro water pump is provided on the surface of the pipe between the outer spiral groove and the surrounding heat exchange groove, and a second micro water pump is provided on the surface of the pipe between the inner spiral groove and the storage box.

[0016] In practical applications, pump one drives the high-temperature fluid into the outer spiral groove, while pump two delivers the low-temperature auxiliary fluid into the inner spiral groove, precisely driving the dual-fluid circulation. This ensures continuous and efficient heat exchange, and the pump speed can be adjusted according to heat dissipation requirements, adapting to different operating conditions of the fuel cell stack and offering high flexibility.

[0017] Preferably, the outer shell surfaces on both the front and rear sides of the ventilation slot are provided with ventilation openings for carrying filters, and the outer wall of the storage box is provided with a number of heat sinks, with the outer ends of the heat sinks located on the outer side of the outer shell.

[0018] In practical applications, the filter screen blocks dust from entering and prevents dust accumulation on components, while the heat sink increases the heat dissipation area of ​​the storage box, accelerating cooling. This ensures cleanliness of heat exchange, improves the cooling efficiency of the auxiliary fluid, reduces maintenance frequency, extends the service life of the device, and meets the requirements for long-term stable operation.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: 1. This utility model, through the coordinated layout of the surrounding heat exchange tank and the sandwich heat exchange tank, targets areas with concentrated local heat generation. It utilizes the phase change material inside the sandwich heat exchange tank to rapidly absorb heat and melt, thereby achieving instantaneous cooling and effectively avoiding the problem of untimely heat dissipation of the heat exchange fluid. At the same time, the phase change material expands in volume when it melts, pushing the inner piston block to lift the lifting frame, which in turn drives the outer piston block to move upward, expanding the fluid flow cross section on both sides of the sandwich heat exchange tank, accelerating the circulation of the heat exchange fluid, and significantly improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the local overheated area.

[0020] 2. This invention constructs a multi-layered heat exchange system through ventilation slots, a heat exchange cylinder, and a storage box. The heat exchange fluid, after absorbing heat, is transported by a first-stage micro-pump to the outer spiral groove of the heat exchange cylinder, where it undergoes air cooling under the influence of airflow introduced through the ventilation openings. Simultaneously, a second-stage micro-pump drives auxiliary fluid within the storage box to flow through the inner spiral groove, forming a reverse heat exchange with the fluid in the outer spiral groove, thus doubly enhancing the heat dissipation effect. Heat sinks on the outer wall of the storage box further assist in dissipating heat, ensuring the heat exchange fluid quickly returns to a low-temperature state and guaranteeing stable and efficient heat exchange for the entire fuel cell module. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is an external schematic diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the heat exchange cylinder of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the sandwich heat exchanger of this utility model; In the diagram: 1. Outer shell; 11. Ventilation opening; 12. Equipment slot; 13. Ventilation slot; 2. Circular heat exchange slot; 3. Sandwich heat exchange slot; 31. Baffle; 32. Partition plate; 33. Phase change material; 4. Spring; 5. Lifting frame; 51. Outer piston block; 52. Inner piston block; 6. Heat exchange cylinder; 61. Outer spiral groove; 62. Inner spiral groove; 63. Central slot; 7. No. 1 micro water pump; 8. No. 2 micro water pump; 9. Storage box; 10. Heat sink. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments: Example 1: An internal heat exchanger for a fuel cell stack module, see [link to example]. Figures 1 to 4 The device includes an outer shell 1, an equipment slot 12 on the inner side of the outer shell 1, a surrounding heat exchange slot 2 around the inside of the outer shell 1 surrounding the equipment slot 12, a sandwich heat exchange slot 3 between adjacent equipment slots 12, two partitions 32 on the bottom inner side of the sandwich heat exchange slot 3, and phase change material 33 filled between the two partitions 32, a lifting frame 5 on the inner side of the sandwich heat exchange slot 3 above the partitions 32, the lifting frame 5 and the top inner side of the sandwich heat exchange slot 3 are fixedly connected by a spring 4, an inner piston block 52 is fixedly connected to the center of the bottom of the lifting frame 5, and outer piston blocks 51 are fixedly connected to the left and right sides of the bottom of the lifting frame 5, the inner piston block 52 is located between the two partitions 32 and fits against the partitions 32, and the outer piston block 51 fits against the partitions 32 and the inner wall of the sandwich heat exchange slot 3.

[0023] In the above technical solution, the battery cells of the fuel cell stack module are installed in the equipment tank 12. During operation, the heat exchange fluid surrounding the heat exchange tank 2 continuously removes heat from the surrounding area of ​​the equipment tank 12. When the battery cells in a certain area heat up, the phase change material 33 between the partitions 32 quickly absorbs heat and melts, effectively avoiding the problem of insufficient heat dissipation of the heat exchange fluid. At the same time, the volume expands, pushing the inner piston block 52 upward, and driving the lifting frame 5 to move upward along the inner wall of the sandwich heat exchange tank 3, which expands the cross-section of the fluid channels on both sides of the partitions 32, accelerates the flow of heat exchange fluid, accelerates the circulation of heat exchange fluid, and significantly improves the heat dissipation efficiency of the local overheated area. When the heat dissipation weakens, the phase change material 33 solidifies and shrinks, the spring 4 resets and pulls the lifting frame 5 downward, and the fluid channel returns to its initial state.

[0024] It is worth noting that, such as Figure 3 As shown, the surrounding heat exchange tank 2 and the sandwich heat exchange tank 3 are connected. Several baffles 31 are provided at the bottom of the sandwich heat exchange tank 3, located between the partition plate 32 and the inner wall of the sandwich heat exchange tank 3. The surrounding heat exchange tank 2 and the sandwich heat exchange tank 3 form a closed fluid loop, allowing the heat exchange fluid to circulate between them, achieving coordinated heat dissipation of the entire stack and its localized areas. The surrounding heat exchange tank 2 is responsible for overall temperature control of the periphery of the equipment tank 12, while the sandwich heat exchange tank 3 focuses on localized heat generation between adjacent cells. The baffles 31 can disturb the flowing fluid, breaking the laminar boundary layer and increasing the heat transfer coefficient between the fluid and the tank wall. This ensures overall heat exchange uniformity while avoiding the risk of localized flow channel blockage, thus improving the operational stability of the device.

[0025] In one optional embodiment, a ventilation slot 13 is provided inside the outer casing 1 on the right side of the equipment slot 12. A heat exchange cylinder 6 and a storage box 9 are located inside the ventilation slot 13. Ventilation openings 11 carrying filters are provided on the front and rear surfaces of the outer casing 1. Several heat sinks 10 are provided on the outer wall of the storage box 9, with the outer ends of the heat sinks 10 located outside the outer casing 1. The ventilation slot 13 communicates with the outside through the front and rear ventilation openings 11, allowing natural wind or airflow from the fuel cell cooling fan to pass through the ventilation slot 13, providing air cooling for the heat exchange cylinder 6 and the storage box 9. The storage box 9 stores auxiliary heat exchange fluid. Its outer wall heat sinks 10 are made of aluminum alloy, which has a high thermal conductivity, increasing the contact area with the airflow and quickly dissipating the heat from the auxiliary fluid, maintaining the auxiliary fluid at a low temperature. This structure constructs a dual passive heat dissipation structure of air cooling and heat sinks 10, eliminating the need for additional cooling components. This lays a low-temperature foundation for subsequent fluid heat exchange while reducing the energy consumption and complexity of the device.

[0026] Specifically, such as Figure 3 As shown, the heat exchange cylinder 6 is made of metal to facilitate heat dissipation. The center of the inner side of the heat exchange cylinder 6 is provided with a central groove 63 that runs through the front and back. The inner side of the heat exchange cylinder 6 is provided with an inner spiral groove 62 and an outer spiral groove 61. The two ends of the outer spiral groove 61 are connected to the surrounding heat exchange groove 2 through pipes, and the two ends of the inner spiral groove 62 are connected to the storage box 9 through pipes. A first micro water pump 7 is provided on the surface of the pipe between the outer spiral groove 61 and the surrounding heat exchange groove 2, and a second micro water pump 8 is provided on the surface of the pipe between the inner spiral groove 62 and the storage box 9.

[0027] In the above technical solution, a first micro water pump 7 drives the high-temperature heat exchange fluid, after absorbing heat from the fuel cell stack, to flow from the surrounding heat exchange groove 2 into the outer spiral groove 61 of the heat exchange cylinder 6; simultaneously, a second micro water pump 8 drives the low-temperature auxiliary fluid in the storage box 9 into the inner spiral groove 62 of the heat exchange cylinder 6. The double spiral grooves are arranged in opposite directions, allowing for efficient heat exchange between the high-temperature and low-temperature fluids through the metal wall of the heat exchange cylinder 6; the high-temperature fluid transfers heat to the low-temperature auxiliary fluid, and after its temperature decreases, it flows back to the surrounding heat exchange groove 2 for reuse; the heat-absorbing auxiliary fluid flows back to the storage box 9, is cooled by the heat sink 10, and then participates in heat exchange again. The central groove 63 of the heat exchange cylinder 6 allows airflow to pass through, further carrying away the heat transferred to the cylinder wall by the double spiral grooves, enhancing the heat exchange effect. This double spiral groove structure significantly increases the heat exchange area, and the fluid forms turbulence when flowing within the spiral grooves, avoiding localized temperature increases and ensuring heat exchange uniformity.

[0028] It is worth mentioning that the phase change material 33 is a low-melting-point material, such as paraffin-expanded graphite composite material with a melting point of around 65 to 75 degrees Celsius. It can quickly absorb localized concentrated heat, has good chemical stability, does not react chemically with the material of the separator 32, and has a long service life. The selection of this type of phase change material 33 is suitable for the normal operating temperature range of the fuel cell stack module, and can also meet the local instantaneous heat dissipation requirements through its high latent heat characteristics, saving internal space of the sandwich heat exchange tank 3 and adapting to the compact design of the fuel cell stack.

[0029] It should be noted that this utility model focuses on optimizing the internal heat dissipation of the fuel cell stack module and does not involve any structural or functional modifications to specific equipment such as the fuel cell or current collector. The dimensions of the equipment slot 12 are designed according to the mainstream fuel cell stack and electrolyzer stack cell installation standards in the industry, and can be directly adapted to existing specification cells without adjusting the stack's own assembly structure. The layout of the heat exchange slot 2 and the sandwich heat exchange slot 3 inside the outer shell 1 is set around the periphery of the equipment slot 12 and the adjacent gaps, without occupying the installation and operation space of the core components of the fuel cell stack, which meets the design requirements of compact fuel cell stack modules in reality. Moreover, the melting point of the phase change material 33 and the cross-sectional dimensions of the heat exchange fluid channel are matched with the conventional operating temperature and heat dissipation flow requirements of the fuel cell stack. The overall structure does not interfere with the original working mechanism of the fuel cell stack, and can accurately enhance heat dissipation. Its adaptability and rationality are in line with the actual production application scenario.

[0030] In addition, all components designed in this utility model are general standard parts or components known to those skilled in the art. Their structure and principle can be known to those skilled in the art through technical manuals or conventional experimental methods. Those skilled in the art can fully implement them, so there is no need to elaborate. The content protected by this utility model does not involve improvements to the internal structure and method.

[0031] The embodiments disclosed herein are preferred embodiments, but are not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can readily grasp the spirit of this utility model based on the above embodiments and make different extensions and variations. However, as long as they do not depart from the spirit of this utility model, they are all within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. An internal heat exchanger for a fuel cell stack module, comprising a housing (1), characterized in that, The inner side of the outer shell (1) is provided with an equipment slot (12). The inner side of the outer shell (1) surrounding the equipment slot (12) is provided with a surrounding heat exchange slot (2). The inner side of the outer shell (1) between adjacent equipment slots (12) is provided with a sandwich heat exchange slot (3). The inner bottom of the sandwich heat exchange slot (3) is provided with two partitions (32), and the space between the two partitions (32) is filled with phase change material (33). The inner side of the sandwich heat exchange slot (3) above the partitions (32) is provided with a lifting frame (5). The lifting frame (5) is fixedly connected to the inner top of the sandwich heat exchange slot (3) by a spring (4).

2. The internal heat exchanger for a fuel cell stack module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, An inner piston block (52) is fixedly connected to the center of the bottom of the lifting frame (5), and an outer piston block (51) is fixedly connected to the left and right sides of the bottom of the lifting frame (5). The inner piston block (52) is located between two partitions (32) and is in contact with the partitions (32). The outer piston block (51) is in contact with the partitions (32) and the inner wall of the sandwich heat exchange tank (3).

3. An internal heat exchanger for a fuel cell stack module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The surrounding heat exchange groove (2) and the sandwich heat exchange groove (3) are connected. The bottom of the sandwich heat exchange groove (3) is provided with several baffles (31), which are located between the partition plate (32) and the inner wall of the sandwich heat exchange groove (3).

4. An internal heat exchanger for a fuel cell stack module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The outer shell (1) on the right side of the equipment slot (12) is provided with a ventilation slot (13), and the inner side of the ventilation slot (13) is provided with a heat exchange cylinder (6) and a storage box (9).

5. An internal heat exchanger for a fuel cell stack module as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The heat exchange cylinder (6) has a central groove (63) that runs through the front and back, and an inner spiral groove (62) and an outer spiral groove (61) on its inner side.

6. An internal heat exchanger for a fuel cell stack module as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The two ends of the outer spiral groove (61) are connected to the surrounding heat exchange groove (2) through pipes, and the two ends of the inner spiral groove (62) are connected to the storage box (9) through pipes. A first micro water pump (7) is provided on the surface of the pipe between the outer spiral groove (61) and the surrounding heat exchange groove (2), and a second micro water pump (8) is provided on the surface of the pipe between the inner spiral groove (62) and the storage box (9).

7. An internal heat exchanger for a fuel cell stack module as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The ventilation slot (13) has ventilation openings (11) for carrying filters on the surface of the outer shell (1) on both the front and rear sides. The outer wall of the storage box (9) is provided with several heat sinks (10), and the outer ends of the heat sinks (10) are located on the outside of the outer shell (1).

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