Functional module of a thermal management device for a motor vehicle powered by a fuel cell.

Abstract

The invention relates to a functional module (1) for a thermal management device for a motor vehicle, the functional module (1) comprising a receptacle (2) and a control valve (3), the receptacle being in particular intended to house a filter, the receptacle (3) being in direct fluidic connection with the control valve (3), said functional module further comprising an assembly means arranged at the interface of the receptacle (2) and the control valve (3) such that the control valve (3) is assembled to the receptacle (2) in a reversible manner. Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Functional module of a thermal management device for a motor vehicle powered by a fuel cell. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a functional module of a thermal management device of a motor vehicle, as well as a thermal management device. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising the functional module or the thermal management device. State of the prior art

[0002] Motor vehicles are generally provided with an engine compartment accommodating a powertrain of the vehicle, in particular an electric powertrain connected to an energy storage device. The engine compartment is a technical volume of the vehicle in which various functional components of the vehicle are also located, such as a battery and / or fluid reservoirs, as well as a thermal management device for these functional components. New technologies are emerging in the management of a vehicle's electrical energy, notably by resorting to the transformation of gaseous energy into electrical energy. For example, the addition of new functional components dedicated to the operation of a fuel cell placed in the engine compartment further limits the space available for the integration of new functions, such as the thermal management of the powertrain powered by the fuel cell. Presentation of the invention

[0003] The aim of the invention is to provide a functional module of a thermal management device of a motor vehicle remedying the above drawbacks and improving the size of the cooling circuits known from the prior art.

[0004] More specifically, a first object of the invention is a functional module intended for a thermal management device for a motor vehicle comprising an electrically powered powertrain. A second object of the invention relates to a thermal management device comprising the functional module. A third object of the invention relates to a vehicle comprising the functional module or the thermal management device. Summary of the invention

[0005] The functional module which is the subject of the invention may comprise the characteristics following taken individually or in combination with each other: - it comprises a receptacle and a regulating valve, the receptacle being intended in particular to house a filter, the receptacle being in direct fluid relation with the regulating valve; - it comprises an assembly means arranged at the interface of the receptacle and the control valve such that the control valve is assembled to the receptacle in a reversible manner; - the assembly means comprises a collar of the regulating valve, the collar defining a threaded base making it possible to close by screwing an opening of the receptacle, the opening being in particular located at a top end portion of the receptacle, the opening making it possible in particular to place the filter; - the regulating valve is a thermostatic valve, in particular a self-contained valve comprising a wax; - it includes a filter, in particular a cylindrical filter; - the opening, in particular of cylindrical section, makes it possible to place the filter inside the receptacle, in particular during a module maintenance operation; - the filter is a deionizing filter.

[0006] The invention also relates to a thermal management device for a motor vehicle, the device comprising an energy transformation system, in particular a fuel cell, a flow circuit for a heat transfer fluid comprising the functional module having at least one of the aforementioned characteristics. The thermal management device comprises a main heat exchange loop, a cooling branch, the control valve being intended for the operation of the thermal management device in a temperature increase mode or in a fuel cell cooling mode.

[0007] According to other features, the thermal management device may comprise the following characteristics taken separately or in combination with each other: - the regulating valve comprises a connection flange, for the fluid inlet, connected to the fuel cell, in particular to an outlet flange of the fuel cell, a fluid outlet connected to the receptacle, a connection flange connected to a cooling case, in particular to an inlet flange of a radiator, and / or to an inlet flange of an air heater intended for heating the passenger compartment of the vehicle; - the receptacle comprises a fluid inlet connected to an outlet of the control valve, another fluid inlet connected to the cooling case, in particular to an outlet flange of the radiator, a fluid outlet connected to the fuel cell, in particular to an inlet flange of the fuel cell; - it includes a pump, in particular an electric pump, connected to the outlet flange of the fuel cell; - the air heater is arranged in a second cooling branch fluidly connected to a tapping point of the flow circuit of the main loop, the tapping point being located in particular between the outlet flange of the fuel cell and the pump.

[0008] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular of the type of a vehicle comprising an electric powertrain, characterized in that it comprises a functional module having the aforementioned characteristics, or a thermal management device having the aforementioned characteristics. Presentation of figures

[0009] These objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be explained in detail in the following description of a particular embodiment made without limitation in relation to the attached figures among which: - [Fig.l] is an exploded perspective view of the functional module according to one embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] is a schematic view of the assembled functional module, according to the invention; - [Fig. 3] represents a thermal management device for a fuel cell, in which the functional module of Figures 1 and 2 is arranged; - [Fig.4] represents the device of [Fig.3] in a fuel cell temperature increase configuration; - [Fig.5] represents the device of [Fig.4] in a fuel cell cooling configuration Detailed description

[0010] [Fig.l] represents the constituent elements of the functional module 1 of the invention, in the sense that it comprises a receptacle 2, a regulating valve 3, a filter (not shown) being included inside the receptacle. inside which a filter is placed. The receptacle 2 acts as a means of fixing the functional module 1, in that it comprises at least one fixing interface 25 which is intended to connect the functional module 1 to the structure of the vehicle, in particular to a fixing plate assembled at the level of a suspension cup (not shown). The use of an anti-vibration filter, for example of the rubber shim type, can be used in order to limit the transmission of vibrations from the functional module 1 to the body of the vehicle. The receptacle 2 is preferably of cylindrical section, so that the filter which is intended to be placed inside the receptacle has an approximately tubular shape.

[0011] The assembled functional module 1 is a part that can be disassembled for servicing and / or maintenance purposes, so that it is made possible to separate the regulating valve 3 from the receptacle 2, given that the regulating valve 3 is attached to the receptacle 2 by a reversible fixing means, which is preferably of the screw type. The control valve 3 is tightly assembled to the receptacle 2 by means of a seal (not shown) arranged at the interface of the control valve 3 and the receptacle 2.

[0012] [Fig. 2] represents the functional module 1 assembled with in the upper part, the regulating valve 3, in the lower part the receptacle 2. The regulating valve 3 comprises in the lower part a threaded collar 31 which is intended to cooperate by complementarity of shape with a top end edge 21 of the receptacle comprising a complementary thread, such that the receptacle 2 is assembled by screwing to the regulating valve 3. The control valve 3 comprises connecting flanges 32, 34 and 35 projecting from the valve. The connecting flange 32 is axial and substantially perpendicular to the other connecting flanges 34 and 35 which extend substantially radially. The control valve 3 further comprises an internal tube 33 which extends through a fluid inlet 22 of the receptacle 2. Preferably, the internal tube 33 is coaxial with the filter disposed inside the receptacle 2, extending partly through the top end edge 21. The operating module 1 is thus of compact design and does not require an external pipe fluidically connecting the control valve 3 to the receptacle 2 containing the filter. The receptacle 2 comprises a deionizing filter through which the heat transfer fluid is able to circulate. According to a preferred embodiment, the filtration means is crimped into the receptacle 2 such that the latter can be described as a filter receptacle. Since the filter may be of the deionizing type, receptacle 2 may be referred to as a deionizing filter receptacle.

[0013] The receptacle 2 comprises connection flanges 23, 24 as well as an opening which delimits said fluid inlet 22. One of the connection flanges 23 extends substantially radially or tangentially to the receptacle 2. The other of the connection flanges 24 is arranged at a lower end portion, opposite the junction zone of the control valve 3 to the receptacle 2. The inlet 22 and the connection flange 23 define fluid inlets opening into a collecting chamber of the receptacle 2, which is respectively delimited by the external face of the cylindrical deionizing filter housed inside the receptacle 2, and by the inner face of receptacle 2. The connection flange 24 is in fluidic relation with an interior portion of the cylindrical deionizing filter.

[0014] The receptacle 2 further comprises fixing interfaces 25, at least one of which is intended for fixing the functional module 1 to a support structure, in particular an element of the vehicle body. Preferably, the body element on which the functional module 1 is fixed via the receptacle 2 is a suspension cup (not shown).

[0015] Preferably, the filter is a deionizing filter which is made from cationic and anionic resins in order to attract negatively charged ions. The cationic resin contains a sulfonic acid group in order to attract positively charged ions in the heat transfer fluid, and to release an equivalent quantity of hydrogen ions. The anionic resin, for its part, contains an ammonium group pre-charged with hydroxide ions in order to attract negatively charged ions, and to release an equivalent quantity of hydroxide. The hydrogen and hydroxide ions then combined together form deionized water, which is required for the operation of the fuel cell. Subsequently, the thermal management device 10 will be described in which the functional module 1 is arranged in particular, with reference to [Fig.3] for its architecture, to [Fig.4] for the circulation of the heat transfer fluid in heating mode or temperature increase of the fuel cell, and to [Fig.5] for the circulation of the heat transfer fluid in cooling mode of the fuel cell.

[0016] The thermal management device 10 for a motor vehicle comprises an energy transformation system 11, which notably comprises a fuel cell 110, a flow circuit 12 for a heat transfer fluid notably comprising the functional module and the energy transformation system.

[0017] [Fig. 3] therefore represents the thermal management device 10 comprising a cooling case 40, a fuel cell 110, an electric type pump 60, an air heater 50 intended for heating the passenger compartment of the vehicle, all of the components being connected together by pipes forming loops or branches for circulating heat transfer fluid. The device 10 further comprises the functional module 1 as previously presented making it possible to fluidically connect certain of these components together according to its operating state between an open operating mode or a closed operating mode. The regulating valve 3 is preferably autonomous, but according to an alternative embodiment, it could be controlled by a control unit. According to a preferred embodiment, the pump 60 is an electric pump.

[0018] According to the preferred embodiment, it is of the thermostatic type, and comprises a wax with state change depending on the temperature of the heat transfer fluid. The functional module 1 is self-controlled, in the sense that the control valve 3 allows either the valve 3 to be kept in the closed state in order to cause the heat transfer fluid circulating inside an energy transformation system 11 to heat or raise the temperature, or the valve 3 to be opened in order to cool the heat transfer fluid.

[0019] The control valve 3 makes it possible to configure the thermal management device 10 in heating mode or in cooling mode of the energy transformation system IL.

[0020] The energy transformation system 11 comprises a fuel cell 110 which must be maintained at a predefined operating temperature in order to obtain optimized efficiency.

[0021] It is for this purpose that the thermal management device 10 comprises a main loop B1 visible in [Fig.4], a cooling branch B2, a passenger compartment heating branch B3, the branches B2 and B3 being visible in [Fig.5], The main loop B1 allows, depending on the state of the control valve 3, either the heating of the fuel cell 110 or the cooling of the latter, in this case the branches B2 and B3 are fluidically connected in parallel with the loop

[0022] The heating loop B1 comprises the fuel cell 110, the pump 60 and the functional module 1 in series, fluidically connected by heat transfer fluid circulation branches.

[0023] The fuel cell 110 comprises connection flanges, in particular an inlet flange 111 and an outlet flange 112, connected respectively to the functional module 1 and to the pump 60, in particular to the inlet of the pump 60. The outlet of the pump 60 is connected to the functional module 1 via a connection flange 32 which, with regard to the direction of flow of the heat transfer fluid in the main loop B1, can be described as a fluid inlet flange. The receptacle 2 of the functional module 1 is connected to the inlet flange 111 of the fuel cell 110. The main loop B1 thus comprises in series the fuel cell 110, the pump 60 and the functional module 1.

[0024] In [Fig. 5], the cooling branch B2 is shown, which comprises the cooling case 40, more particularly a radiator comprising connection flanges, in particular an inlet flange 41 for the heat transfer fluid to be cooled, and an outlet flange 42. The inlet flange 41 is connected by a pipe to a connection flange 34 of the regulating valve 3. The outlet flange 42 is connected by a pipe to a connection flange 23 of the receptacle 2, such a flange being intended for the entry into the receptacle 2 of the cooled fluid to be filtered and / or deionized.

[0025] The passenger compartment heating branch B3 can be described as the second branch of cooling due to the fact that the heating of the passenger compartment is carried out by a transfer of calories from the heat transfer fluid to the air pulsed to the passenger compartment to be heated, that is to say a cooling of the heat transfer fluid circulating through the air heater 50. Branch B3 comprises an upstream portion, comparable to an inlet portion, connecting the inlet of the air heater 50 to the connection flange 35 from which the heat transfer fluid leaves the control valve 2. Branch B3 comprises a downstream portion, comparable to an outlet portion connecting the outlet of the air heater 50 to a tapping point P located either at the inlet of the pump 60 or at the outlet flange 112 of the fuel cell 110.

[0026] The cooling branches B2 and heating the passenger compartment B3 respectively allow the heat transfer fluid to be cooled by a heat exchange with the ambient air circulating in the engine compartment of the vehicle, and the heat transfer fluid to be cooled by the air intended for the passenger compartment in order to heat the latter.

[0027] When the control valve 3 is in the closed state, the heat transfer fluid circulates only through the deionizing filter before reaching the fuel cell 110. The main loop B1 is then intended for heating or raising the temperature of the fuel cell 110 in the sense that the heat transfer fluid does not pass through any component intended to lower its temperature. Due to the absence of cooling of the heat transfer liquid, the temperature of the fuel cell 110 rises progressively during its operation, in particular up to a predefined nominal value from which the efficiency of the fuel cell is optimal. As soon as this predefined nominal temperature value is reached, the regulating valve 3 switches from the closed state to the open state, thereby causing the circulation of the heat transfer fluid through the cooling case 40 and the air heater 50.

[0028] The calibration of the regulating valve 3, in particular by means of the wax which it contains, is subject to the nominal operating temperature value of the fuel cell. When the control valve 3 is in the open state, the heat transfer fluid circulates through the cooling branch B2 comprising the radiator of the cooling case 40. At the same time, the heat transfer fluid circulates through the second cooling branch B3, leaving the connection flange 35 then joining the tapping point P of the main loop Bl. Whatever the state of the control valve 3 of the functional module 1, the circulation of the heat transfer fluid via the pump 60 causes the heat transfer fluid to pass through the deionizing filter before the latter, now treated, circulates through the fuel cell 110.

[0029] The functional module 1 is remarkable in that it makes it possible to reduce the number of lines fluidically connecting the control valve to the deionizing filter. This promotes the integration of the fuel cell cooling circuit inside the front compartment of the vehicle in which the fuel cell is located. By nature more compact, the fuel cell thermal management device can be integrated into a smaller volume, which contributes to improving the vehicle's living space due to a more compact engine compartment.

Claims

Claims

1. Functional module (1) intended for a thermal management device (10) for a motor vehicle, characterized in that the functional module (1) comprises a receptacle (2) and a control valve (3), the receptacle being in particular intended to house a filter, the receptacle (3) being in direct fluidic relation with the control valve (3), and in that said functional module comprises an assembly means arranged at the interface of the receptacle (2) and the control valve (3) such that the control valve (3) is assembled to the receptacle (2) in a reversible manner.

2. Module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the assembly means comprises a collar (31) of the regulating valve (3), the collar (31) defining a threaded base making it possible to close by screwing an opening of the receptacle (2), the opening being in particular located at the level of a top end portion (21) of the receptacle, the opening in particular making it possible to place the filter.

3. Module (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the regulating valve (3) is a thermostatic valve, in particular an autonomous valve comprising a wax.

4. Module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a filter, in particular a cylindrical filter, and in that the opening, in particular of cylindrical section, makes it possible to place the filter inside the receptacle during a maintenance operation of the module.

5. Module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter is a deionizing filter.

6. Thermal management device (10) for a motor vehicle, the device comprising an energy transformation system (11), in particular a fuel cell (110), a flow circuit (12) for a heat transfer fluid comprising the functional module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a main heat exchange loop (B1), a cooling branch (B2), the control valve (3) being intended for the operation of the thermal management device according to a temperature increase mode or according to a fuel cell cooling mode.

7. Thermal management device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control valve (3) comprises a connection flange (32), for the inlet of the fluid (32), connected to the fuel cell (110), in particular to an outlet flange (112) of the fuel cell, a fluid outlet (33) connected to the receptacle (2), a connection flange (34) connected to a cooling case (40), in particular to an inlet flange (41) of a radiator, and / or to an inlet flange (51) of an air heater (50) intended for heating the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

8. Thermal management device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the receptacle (2) comprises a fluid inlet (22) connected to an outlet (33) of the control valve (3), another fluid inlet (23) connected to the cooling case (40), in particular to an outlet flange (42) of the radiator, a fluid outlet (24) connected to the fuel cell (110), in particular to an inlet flange (111) of the fuel cell.

9. Thermal management device (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a pump (60), in particular an electric pump, connected to the outlet flange (112) of the fuel cell, and in that the air heater (50) is arranged in a second cooling branch (B3) fluidically connected to a tapping point (P) of the flow circuit (12) of the main loop (B1), the tapping point (P) being in particular located between the outlet flange (112) of the fuel cell and the pump (60).

10. Vehicle, in particular of the type of a vehicle comprising an electric powertrain, characterized in that it comprises a functional module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, or a thermal management device (10) according to one of claims 6 to 9.

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