Fuel Cell Cooling Loop With Buffer Tanks for Peak Heat Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell cooling systems are oversized to handle high-load situations, leading to increased costs and space requirements, while still needing to efficiently manage heat during both normal and high-load operations.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with a recirculating cooling medium flow line featuring two buffer tanks and a heat exchanger configuration that allows for the buildup and distribution of cooled cooling medium, enabling efficient cooling during high-load situations without the need for excessive pump capacity or space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cooling system is oversized to handle high-load situations, then the cooling capability during high-load operation is improved, but the system size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system pre-cools the cooling medium during low-load operation and stores it in a buffer tank, so that when high-load operation occurs, the pre-cooled medium is already available for immediate use, eliminating the need for an oversized cooling system
Solution Approach 2:
A buffer tank is introduced as an intermediary component to store pre-cooled cooling medium. This buffer tank acts as a mediator between the cooling medium and the heat exchanger, allowing the system to handle high-load situations without requiring the cooling system to be continuously oversized
2Reliability
If the cooling system is oversized to handle high-load situations, then the cooling capability during high-load operation is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling of the cooling medium during low-load operation and stores it in a buffer tank, enabling the use of a smaller, less expensive cooling system that can still handle high-load situations by utilizing the pre-cooled stored medium
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer tank serves as an intermediary that stores pre-cooled cooling medium, allowing the system to avoid the high cost of an oversized cooling system while still providing adequate cooling during high-load operation
3Reliability
If a higher mass flow rate of coolant is used during high-load operation, then the cooling effectiveness is improved, but the pump capacity and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-cools the cooling medium and stores it in a buffer tank during low-load operation, so that during high-load operation, the pre-cooled medium can be circulated without requiring excessive pump capacity to achieve the necessary cooling effect
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 allows for effective cooling of fuel cell assemblies during high-load operations while minimizing system size and cost, by utilizing buffer tanks to store cooled medium for redistribution during peak demand, thus optimizing energy use and reducing overall system size.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger for cooling of the cooling medium
Implementation Method 2
The first cooling medium buffer tank is arranged upstream the first heat exchanger so as to allow collection, storing and discharge of cooling medium
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system for cooling of a fuel cell assembly, includes a cooling loop for recirculation of a cooling medium, a cooling medium flow line comprising a first cooling medium buffer tank, a first heat exchanger for cooling of the cooling medium, and a second cooling medium buffer tank. The first cooling medium buffer tank is arranged upstream the first heat exchanger so as to allow collection, storing and discharge of cooling medium before it reaches the first heat exchanger. The second cooling medium buffer tank is arranged downstream of the first heat exchanger so as to allow collection, storing and discharge of cooling medium that has passed through and been cooled in the first heat exchanger.