Fuel Cell Cooling System Flow Rate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fuel cell-equipped vehicles, utilizing waste heat as a heat source for temperature control can lead to excessive cooling of the coolant, resulting in reduced fuel cell efficiency due to overcooled coolant temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with a switching unit and controller that manages flow rates and heat discharge to prevent temperature drops by setting the ratio of coolant flow rates or heat discharge limits, ensuring the coolant temperature remains within optimal ranges for fuel cell efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the coolant flows through the heater core to utilize waste heat for temperature control, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the coolant temperature drops excessively causing fuel cell efficiency reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between connected and disconnected states based on operating conditions. The switching unit changes the flow path configuration dynamically, allowing the coolant to either flow through the heater core (connected state) or bypass it (disconnected state), thereby adapting to different thermal conditions and preventing excessive temperature drops that would harm fuel cell efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The controller changes the flow rate parameter by switching between connected and disconnected states. In the connected state, the coolant flow rate through the heater core is controlled to optimize heat recovery. In the disconnected state, the coolant bypasses the heater core to maintain higher temperature. This parameter change allows the system to balance waste heat utilization with fuel cell temperature requirements
2Productivity
If the coolant flow rate through the air conditioning circuit is increased, then the heating performance is improved, but the coolant temperature decline increases causing fuel cell efficiency reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic switching to adjust the coolant flow path based on heating demands. When high heating performance is needed, the switching unit connects the coolant flow through the air conditioning circuit. When fuel cell temperature maintenance is prioritized, the system switches to the disconnected state, allowing the coolant to bypass the air conditioning circuit and maintain higher temperature for fuel cell efficiency
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 approach effectively limits temperature declines in the coolant, maintaining fuel cell efficiency and minimizing variations in internal temperature distribution, thereby preventing efficiency reductions.
Implementation Method 1
an air conditioning circuit configured to circulate the coolant medium, the air conditioning circuit having a heat exchanger to execute heat exchange between the coolant medium and air to be sent to a room
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system is provided. The cooling system includes: a fuel cell; a cooling circuit configured to circulate a coolant medium to cool the fuel cell; an air conditioning circuit configured to circulate the coolant medium, the air conditioning circuit having a heat exchanger to execute heat exchange between the coolant medium and air to be sent to a room; a switching unit configured to switch between a connected state and a disconnected state; and a controller configured to control operation of the cooling system, wherein when the controller switches a state of the cooling system from the disconnected state to the connected state, irrespective of conditions in the cooling system, the controller executes operation of the cooling system in a flow rate control mode whereby the ratio (L1/L2) of a first flow rate (L1) to a second flow rate (L2) is set to or above a prescribed value, wherein the first flow rate (L1) represents the flow rate of the coolant medium flowing through the cooling circuit, and the second flow rate (L2) represents the flow rate of the coolant medium flowing through the air conditioning circuit.