vehicle
The vehicle's manifold-based coolant circulation system addresses high-load driving coolant temperature rises, ensuring efficient cooling without enlarging radiators, thus improving design freedom and cost-efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
- Filing Date
- 2023-02-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-26
AI Technical Summary
In vehicles with fuel cell stacks, high-load driving conditions lead to increased coolant temperature, necessitating larger radiators which complicates vehicle design and increases costs.
A vehicle design incorporating a manifold with integrated cooling passages that circulates coolant through fuel cell stacks, utilizing the manifold's temperature to cool the coolant, supplemented by a control system to manage coolant flow rates.
Effectively cools the coolant during high-load driving, preventing the need for enlarged radiators and enhancing vehicle design flexibility while reducing costs.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle.
Background Art
[0002] Patent Document 1 below describes a vehicle equipped with a hydrogen gas tank storing high-pressure hydrogen gas and a fuel cell system that generates electric power through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.
Prior Art Document
Patent Document
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] In vehicles such as sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and trailers equipped with a fuel cell stack, for example, during high-load driving such as towing driving or towing uphill driving, the load on the fuel cell stack increases, and the temperature of the coolant tends to rise. In order to ensure the performance of the radiator that cools the coolant and suppress the temperature rise of the coolant, it is necessary to increase the size of the radiator. However, when the radiator is enlarged, it becomes difficult to accommodate the radiator in the vehicle body, or the constraints on vehicle design increase, which becomes a factor in increasing the cost of the vehicle.
[0005] The present disclosure provides a vehicle capable of suppressing the temperature rise of the coolant during high-load driving of a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell stack and suppressing the enlargement of the radiator.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle comprising: a fuel cell stack; a radiator for cooling a coolant circulated through the fuel cell stack; a plurality of gas tanks filled with hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell stack; a manifold connecting the openings of each of the plurality of gas tanks; and a cooling passage provided in the manifold for circulating the coolant. [Effects of the Invention]
[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a vehicle that can suppress the rise in coolant temperature during high-load driving of a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell stack, thereby suppressing the need to enlarge the radiator. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0008] [Figure 1] Side views of multiple gas tanks illustrating embodiments of the vehicle relating to this disclosure. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram showing the flow of coolant in the vehicle related to this disclosure. [Figure 3] A cross-sectional view of the manifold connection point to which the gas tank shown in Figure 1 is connected. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the vehicle according to this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010] Figure 1 is a side view of a plurality of gas tanks 3 showing an embodiment of the vehicle according to this disclosure. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of coolant LLC in the vehicle of this embodiment. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connection part of the manifold 4 to which each of the plurality of gas tanks 3 in Figure 1 is connected, and is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III in Figure 1. Note that the cross-section of the manifold 4 shown in Figure 2 corresponds to the cross-section along the line II-II in Figure 1.
[0011] The vehicle of this embodiment is, for example, a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack 1, and is a vehicle such as a sports utility vehicle (SUV) or trailer, which is expected to be subjected to high-load driving including towing and towing uphill driving. During high-load driving of such a vehicle, the load on the fuel cell stack 1 increases compared to normal driving, and the temperature of the coolant LLC that cools the fuel cell stack 1 tends to rise.
[0012] The vehicle of this embodiment includes, for example, a fuel cell stack 1, a radiator 2, a plurality of gas tanks 3, a manifold 4, and a cooling passage 5. The vehicle of this embodiment may also include, for example, a circulation passage 6, a control valve 7, a temperature sensor 8, an electric water pump 9, and a control device 10.
[0013] The fuel cell stack 1 generates electricity by reacting hydrogen H2 supplied from multiple gas tanks 3 via a manifold 4 with oxygen contained in air supplied through an air passage (not shown in the diagram). The radiator 2 cools the coolant LLC circulated to the fuel cell stack 1. Each of the multiple gas tanks 3 is filled with high-pressure hydrogen H2 supplied to the fuel cell stack 1.
[0014] As shown in Figure 3, the manifold 4 connects the openings 3a of each of the multiple gas tanks 3. The manifold 4 has, for example, multiple connecting parts that connect the openings 3a of each of the gas tanks 3. Each connecting part of the manifold 4 has, for example, a communication passage 4a that communicates with the internal space of the gas tank 3. The manifold 4 also has gas flow paths 4b that communicate with the multiple communication passages 4a.
[0015] The gas flow path 4b is provided inside the manifold 4 so as to penetrate the manifold 4 longitudinally, for example, from an opening provided at one end of the manifold 4 in the longitudinal direction to a connecting passage 4a located at the other end of the manifold 4 in the longitudinal direction. Hydrogen H2 filled in multiple gas tanks 3 connected to multiple connecting sections of the manifold 4 flows into the gas flow path 4b via the connecting passage 4a of each connecting section and is supplied to the fuel cell stack 1 via the gas flow path 4b.
[0016] The cooling passage 5 is provided in the manifold 4 to circulate the coolant LLC. The cooling passage 5 is provided, for example, on both sides of the gas passage 4b that extends from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction of the manifold 4, penetrating the manifold 4 longitudinally. Alternatively, the cooling passage 5 is provided inside the manifold 4 along the entire length of the gas passage 4b, reciprocating between the longitudinal ends of the manifold 4. Note that the cooling passage 5 does not necessarily have to be provided inside the manifold 4; for example, it may be provided adjacent to the outside of the manifold 4 in a heat-conductively contacting manner with the manifold 4.
[0017] The cooling passage 5 has, for example, an inlet and an outlet, a forward passage and a return passage, and a return section. The inlet and outlet of the cooling passage 5 open on both sides of the opening of the gas passage 4b, which is provided at one end of the manifold 4 in the longitudinal direction. The forward passage of the cooling passage 5 penetrates the manifold 4 longitudinally from the inlet of the cooling passage 5, which opens at one end of the manifold 4 in the longitudinal direction, to the other end of the manifold 4 in the longitudinal direction, and is provided along the gas passage 4b.
[0018] The return path of the cooling channel 5 is provided along the gas channel 4b, penetrating the manifold 4 longitudinally from one end of the manifold 4 where the outlet of the cooling channel 5 is located to the other end of the manifold 4 opposite to the outlet of the cooling channel 5. The return section of the cooling channel 5 connects the forward and return paths of the cooling channel 5 at the other end of the manifold 4 opposite to the longitudinal end of the manifold 4 where the inlet and outlet of the cooling channel 5 are located.
[0019] The circulation passage 6 circulates the coolant LLC through, for example, the fuel cell stack 1, the radiator 2, and the cooling passage 5. Further, the circulation passage 6 may have a bypass passage between the fuel cell stack 1 and the manifold 4, for example, for adjusting the pressure loss.
[0020] The control valve 7 is provided in the circulation passage 6, for example, and adjusts the flow rate of the coolant LLC flowing through the fuel cell stack 1 and the flow rate of the coolant LLC flowing through the cooling passage 5, respectively. The control valve 7 is, for example, a three-way valve provided at a branch of the circulation passage 6. By controlling the opening degree of the control valve 7, the flow rate of the coolant LLC flowing into the cooling passage 5 of the manifold 4 and the flow rate of the coolant LLC flowing into the fuel cell stack 1 can be controlled, respectively. Note that the control valve 7 is not limited to a three-way valve and may be a flow rate control valve provided in the circulation passage 6.
[0021] The temperature sensor 8 detects the temperature of the fuel cell stack 1, for example, and outputs the detected temperature to the control device 10. The electric water pump 9 is provided in the circulation passage 6, for example, and pumps the coolant LLC to circulate it in the circulation passage 6. The control device 10 performs feedback control on the opening degree of the control valve 7 based on the temperature of the fuel cell stack 1 detected by the temperature sensor 8. Further, the control device 10 may control the discharge flow rate of the electric water pump 9 provided in the circulation passage 6 based on the temperature of the fuel cell stack 1 detected by the temperature sensor 8, for example.
[0022] Hereinafter, the operation of the vehicle of the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described.
[0023] As described above, the vehicle of the present embodiment includes the fuel cell stack 1, the radiator 2 that cools the coolant LLC circulated through the fuel cell stack 1, and a plurality of gas tanks 3 filled with hydrogen H2 supplied to the fuel cell stack 1. Further, the vehicle of the present embodiment includes a manifold 4 that connects the openings 3a of each of the plurality of gas tanks 3, and a cooling passage 5 provided in the manifold 4 through which the coolant LLC flows.
[0024] With such a configuration, when the vehicle of this embodiment is under high-load running, such as towing running or towing uphill running, the load on the fuel cell stack 1 becomes higher compared to normal running, and the temperature of the coolant LLC tends to rise. However, when the vehicle is under high-load running, the flow rate of hydrogen H2 supplied from the plurality of gas tanks 3 to the fuel cell stack 1 increases.
[0025] As a result, the high-pressure hydrogen H2 released from each gas tank 3 increases, and the hydrogen H2 that adiabatically expands during the process of passing through the manifold 4 connecting the openings 3a of each gas tank 3 increases. Thereby, the temperature of the manifold 4 is lower than during normal running of the vehicle, and the coolant LLC flowing through the cooling flow path 5 is cooled by the manifold 4 with the reduced temperature.
[0026] That is, when the vehicle is under high-load running, the fuel cell stack 1 is cooled and the coolant LLC with a temperature higher than during normal running is circulated through the cooling flow path 5, and the coolant LLC can be cooled not only by the radiator 2 but also in the manifold 4. Therefore, according to the vehicle of this embodiment, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the coolant LLC during high-load running of the vehicle equipped with the fuel cell stack 1, suppress the enlargement of the radiator 2, improve the freedom of the vehicle body space and vehicle design of the vehicle, and reduce the cost.
[0027] Further, the vehicle of this embodiment further includes a control valve 7. The control valve 7 is provided in a circulation flow path 6 that circulates the coolant LLC through the fuel cell stack 1, the radiator 2, and the cooling flow path 5, and adjusts the flow rate of the coolant LLC flowing through the fuel cell stack 1 and the flow rate of the coolant LLC flowing through the cooling flow path 5.
[0028] With this configuration, according to the vehicle of this embodiment, for example, when the vehicle is running under high load, the control valve 7 can increase the flow rate of coolant LLC circulating through the cooling passage 5 compared to normal running. As a result, the coolant LLC, whose temperature has risen compared to normal running due to cooling the fuel cell stack 1 under high load, can be efficiently cooled by the manifold 4, whose temperature is lower than during normal running.
[0029] Furthermore, the vehicle of this embodiment further includes a temperature sensor 8 for detecting the temperature of the fuel cell stack 1, and a control device 10 that provides feedback control of the opening degree of the control valve 7 based on the temperature of the fuel cell stack 1 detected by the temperature sensor 8.
[0030] With this configuration, the control device 10 can, for example, when the detected temperature of the fuel cell stack 1 exceeds the target temperature, control the opening of the control valve 7 based on the difference between the detected temperature and the target temperature, thereby increasing the flow rate of coolant LLC through the cooling channel 5. As a result, the coolant LLC, which has risen in temperature compared to normal operation due to the cooling of the high-load fuel cell stack 1, can be efficiently cooled by the manifold 4, which is at a lower temperature than during normal operation.
[0031] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a vehicle that can suppress the temperature rise of the coolant LLC during high-load driving of a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell stack 1, thereby suppressing the need to enlarge the radiator 2.
[0032] While embodiments of the vehicle relating to this disclosure have been described in detail above using drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and any design changes, etc., that do not deviate from the gist of this disclosure are also included in this disclosure. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0033] 1 Fuel cell stack 2 radiators 3 gas tanks 3a opening 4 Manifold 5 Cooling channel 6 Circulation channels 7 Control valve 8. Temperature sensor 10 Control device H2 Hydrogen LLC Coolant
Claims
1. Fuel cell stack and A radiator for cooling the coolant circulating through the fuel cell stack, Multiple gas tanks filled with hydrogen gas supplied to the fuel cell stack, The system includes a manifold connected to the opening of each of the aforementioned gas tanks, The aforementioned plurality of gas tanks are connected to the manifold along the longitudinal direction of the manifold, The manifold is provided with a gas passage through which hydrogen gas from the gas tank flows and a cooling passage through which the coolant flows. The gas passage is connected to each of the gas tanks and is formed along the longitudinal direction of the manifold so that hydrogen gas from the gas tanks flows to an opening provided at one end of the manifold. The vehicle is characterized in that the cooling passage has an inlet and outlet for the coolant at one end of the manifold, the cooling passage penetrates the manifold in the longitudinal direction of the manifold along the gas passage, and folds back at the other end of the manifold so that the coolant reciprocates between one end of the manifold and the other end of the manifold.
2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a control valve provided in the fuel cell stack, the radiator, and the circulation channel for circulating the coolant through the cooling channel, which adjusts the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the fuel cell stack and the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the cooling channel.
3. A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the fuel cell stack, The vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a control device that provides feedback control of the opening degree of the control valve based on the temperature of the fuel cell stack detected by the temperature sensor.