Fuel Cell Vehicle Dual Cooling Control for Uneven Heat Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell vehicles face challenges in maintaining optimal temperature control due to the disparity in temperature management requirements between the fuel cell and external air, leading to increased cooling demands and limited space for cooling modules, especially when cooling multiple components like the motor, power electronics, and automatic transmission.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell vehicle with dual cooling units and a temperature regulator that includes condensers/evaporators, compressors, expansion valves, and 3-way valves, controlled by a controller to adjust the operation of these components based on temperature differentials, allowing one unit to act as a condenser or evaporator to optimize cooling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the same cooling module as that of the internal combustion engine is applied to the fuel cell, then the cooling system size can be reduced, but cooling performance is reduced due to the small temperature difference between fuel cell management temperature and outside air temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a variable capacity compressor that can dynamically adjust its cooling capacity based on the temperature difference between the fuel cell and outside air. When the temperature difference is small, the compressor increases its capacity to maintain adequate cooling performance, and when the temperature difference is large, it reduces capacity to match the lower cooling demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters of the cooling module by adjusting the compressor capacity according to temperature conditions. This allows the same physical cooling module to adapt its performance characteristics to different thermal environments, resolving the contradiction between size and performance.
2Reliability
If the number and size of cooling modules are increased to cool multiple parts, then cooling performance is improved, but the space occupied by the cooling system increases to about three to four times that in an internal combustion engine vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional cooling system where a single cooling module with variable capacity serves multiple cooling purposes. The system can adjust its capacity to handle different thermal loads from various components (fuel cell, motor, power electronics, transmission) without requiring separate dedicated cooling modules for each component, thereby reducing overall system space while maintaining adequate cooling performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The variable capacity compressor dynamically adjusts its output to match the actual cooling demand of different components at different operating conditions, allowing one cooling module to effectively replace multiple fixed-capacity modules and reduce the total space required.
3Reliability
If a variable capacity compressor is used to adjust cooling capacity based on temperature difference, then cooling performance is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a feedback control mechanism where a sensor detects the temperature difference between the fuel cell and outside air, and this information is fed back to the controller which adjusts the variable capacity compressor accordingly. This automated feedback loop optimizes cooling performance while managing the complexity through intelligent control rather than mechanical complexity.
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
Enhances cooling performance by dynamically adjusting the operation of cooling units to match the heat generation needs of different components, reducing the size and number of cooling modules required while maintaining efficient temperature regulation.
Implementation Method 1
a first condenser/evaporator configured to absorb heat from air to be supplied to the first radiator or emit heat to the air
Implementation Method 2
a first condenser/evaporator configured to absorb heat from air to be supplied to the first radiator or emit heat to the air
Implementation Method 3
a compressor disposed between the first condenser/evaporator and the second condenser/evaporator
Implementation Method 4
at least one expansion valve disposed between the first condenser/evaporator and the second condenser/evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a fuel cell vehicle and a method of controlling the temperature thereof. The fuel cell vehicle includes a first cooling unit configured to cool a first device, a second cooling unit configured to cool a second device, and a temperature regulator configured to lower the temperature of one of the first and second cooling units and to increase the temperature of the other of the first and second cooling units. The first device and the second device have different degrees of heat generation.