Vehicle Cab Layout With Horizontal Radiator for Fuel Cell Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cooling systems face challenges in efficiently cooling fuel cell stacks due to limited space and increased size constraints, which can compromise vehicle performance and durability, and may require changes to vehicle architecture or violate regulatory dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle cab arrangement with a horizontally extending cooling radiator placed between the cabin and the fuel cell stack, allowing for efficient cooling without altering the existing vehicle architecture, and optionally tilted up to 15 degrees for improved airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the cooling radiator is placed vertically in the front of the vehicle, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the available height is limited by ground clearance and cabin floor
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling radiator is reoriented from a vertical arrangement to a horizontal arrangement, changing the dimension in which the radiator operates. This allows the radiator to utilize the depth dimension of the vehicle front rather than competing for height, thereby resolving the contradiction between cooling efficiency and available height.
2Temperature
If the size of the cooling radiator is increased to provide additional cooling capacity, then the cooling performance is improved, but the vehicle dimensions may violate maximum allowable size regulations
Solution Approach 1:
By orienting the cooling radiator horizontally rather than vertically, the design utilizes the available depth dimension within the vehicle's front end. This allows for an increased radiator surface area and thus improved cooling capacity without increasing the vehicle's height or length, thereby complying with maximum allowable size regulations.
3Ease of manufacture
If the cooling radiator is placed horizontally below the cabin, then the vehicle architecture remains unchanged, but the cooling capacity for the fuel cell stack is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The design merges the cooling functions for both the combustion engine and the fuel cell stack into a single horizontally oriented cooling radiator. This consolidated radiator provides sufficient cooling capacity for both heat-generating components simultaneously, maintaining ease of manufacture and vehicle architecture compatibility while addressing the insufficient cooling capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables effective cooling of the fuel cell stack while maintaining the vehicle's original dimensions, ensuring performance and durability without violating size regulations.
Implementation Method 1
Outside air is directed over, or through, the cooling radiator to lower the temperature of the liquid coolant
Implementation Method 2
the cooling medium to absorb heat from the fuel cell stack
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided vehicle cab arrangement (110d, 110e). The vehicle cab arrangement (110d, 110e) comprises a cabin (120) for housing a human driver of a vehicle. The vehicle cab arrangement (110d, 110e) comprises a horizontally extending fuel cell stack (160). The fuel cell stack (160) is placed vertically below the cabin (120). The vehicle cab arrangement (110d, 110e) comprises a horizontally extending cooling radiator (170). The cooling radiator (170) is placed between the cabin (120) and the fuel cell stack (160). There is also provided a vehicle (100d, 100e) comprising such a vehicle cab arrangement (110d, 110e).