Fuel Cell Freight Vehicle Radiator Placement for Shorter Coolant Piping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Freight vehicles equipped with fuel cells face challenges in efficiently utilizing limited space for mounting fuel cell system components, particularly the radiator, which affects heat exchange efficiency and increases the risk of coolant pipe damage due to excessive length.
Innovation Solution
The radiator is installed in a storage portion between the vehicle cabin and the loading space, allowing for improved air flow and reduced pipe length, with a fan system for enhanced heat exchange and leakage management, and a temperature sensor for optimized cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the radiator is installed in the limited space below the vehicle cabin, then the space utilization is improved, but the heat exchange efficiency with coolant deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The radiator is repositioned from the traditional engine compartment location to the storage portion between the vehicle cabin and loading space, utilizing unused vertical and lateral dimensions. This spatial reconfiguration allows the radiator to access fresh air from the rear of the vehicle while maintaining compact overall dimensions, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency without compromising space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage portion acts as an intermediary space that facilitates optimal radiator placement. By utilizing this intermediate zone between the cabin and loading area, the radiator gains access to unrestricted air flow paths while maintaining close proximity to the fuel cell through efficiently routed coolant pipes.
2Temperature
If the radiator is installed away from the fuel cell, then the heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the coolant pipe length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant piping system is designed with locally optimized pathways that route coolant efficiently from the fuel cell to the radiator and back. The pipes are configured to minimize length and resistance by following the vehicle's structural contours and utilizing existing space corridors, ensuring that even with the radiator's relocated position, the pipe length and flow resistance remain within acceptable limits.
3Volume of moving object
If the vehicle width is reduced, then the space utilization is improved, but the radiator installation space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The radiator design utilizes the vertical dimension and depth of the storage portion rather than relying solely on width. By configuring the radiator to extend vertically and utilize the depth available between the cabin and loading space, the system achieves adequate heat exchange surface area while maintaining a compact width that optimizes overall vehicle space utilization.
4Reliability
If the coolant pipe length is reduced, then the pipe durability is improved, but the radiator placement flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant piping is routed through locally optimized pathways that minimize total length while adapting to the radiator's position in the storage portion. The pipe routing follows the vehicle's structural framework and utilizes existing cable trays or structural channels, achieving both short pipe length for durability and placement flexibility by leveraging the modular nature of the storage portion design.
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 enhances heat exchange efficiency, reduces the vehicle's width, minimizes heat transfer to the cabin, and effectively manages fuel gas leakage, thereby improving the overall performance and safety of the fuel cell system.
Implementation Method 1
a radiator installed in the storage portion and configured to perform heat exchange between air and a coolant that is supplied to the fuel cell
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange between air and a coolant
Implementation Method 3
heat exchange between air and a coolant
Implementation Method 4
since air can flow in the storage portion through the radiator, diffusion of the fuel gas that has leaked in the storage portion can be promoted
Data Source
AI summary
A freight vehicle has a loading space, on which freight is loaded, rearward of a vehicle cabin in which an occupant rides. The freight vehicle includes a fuel cell mounted below the vehicle cabin and functioning as an electric power source, a storage portion disposed between the vehicle cabin and the loading space, and a tank disposed in the storage portion and stores fuel gas that is supplied to the fuel cell, and a radiator installed in the storage portion and performs heat exchange between air and a coolant that is supplied to the fuel cell.