Fuel Cell Radiator Cooling With Condensed Water Spray Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling systems for fuel cell vehicles are inadequate due to the mismatch in temperature management requirements between internal combustion engines and fuel cells, necessitating additional devices or increased energy consumption to enhance cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the controlled spraying of condensed water generated by the fuel cell as cooling water to a radiator, with adjustments based on recovery and evaporation efficiency, using a controller to optimize the spray amount.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If condensed water is sprayed to the radiator for cooling, then evaporative cooling efficiency is improved, but water waste increases when spray amount is not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The controller receives feedback signals from the temperature sensor monitoring radiator temperature and the water amount sensor monitoring condensed water availability. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts the spray amount control signal to the nozzle, optimizing the spray amount in real-time to achieve effective cooling while minimizing water waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray amount is made dynamic rather than fixed. The controller continuously adjusts the spray amount control signal based on real-time temperature conditions and water availability, allowing the system to adapt to varying cooling demands and water supply conditions, thereby optimizing both cooling efficiency and water utilization.
2Temperature
If additional cooling devices are mounted to enhance cooling performance, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The condensed water spray system serves multiple functions: it provides evaporative cooling to the radiator, utilizes waste heat from the exhaust manifold to evaporate the sprayed water enhancing cooling efficiency, and recycles the sprayed water through the exhaust flow. This multi-functionality improves cooling performance without requiring separate dedicated cooling devices, thereby avoiding increased system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system merges the condensed water spray mechanism with the existing exhaust system. The spray nozzle is positioned to utilize exhaust flow for water evaporation and recycling, combining two functions (cooling and exhaust utilization) into a integrated system that enhances cooling performance without adding independent complex cooling infrastructure.
3Temperature
If larger amount of condensed water is sprayed to maximize cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of spray amount dynamically based on real-time temperature sensor feedback and water amount sensor data. Rather than maintaining a constant high spray rate, the controller adjusts the spray amount control signal to match actual cooling demands, optimizing the balance between cooling efficiency and energy consumption for water pumping.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray operation is conducted in a periodic or pulsed manner rather than continuously at maximum rate. The controller periodically adjusts the spray amount based on temperature thresholds and cooling demands, allowing the system to achieve effective cooling while reducing average energy consumption compared to continuous maximum-rate spraying.
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
Maximizes evaporative cooling efficiency by minimizing water waste and optimizing spray amounts based on vehicle conditions, ensuring effective cooling without excess energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
spraying the cooling water to the radiator... evaporative cooling efficiency... spraying condensed water, generated as a by-product from a fuel cell, as cooling water to a radiator
Data Source
AI summary
In a fuel cell vehicle and a method of cooling the fuel cell vehicle by spraying condensed water, generated as a by-product from a fuel cell, as cooling water to a radiator, the method includes spraying the cooling water to the radiator, storing the spray amount of the cooling water upon the controller's determining that the cooling water cools the radiator to a maximum extent, and adjusting the spray amount of the cooling water according to the recovery amount of the cooling water sprayed to the radiator upon the controller's determining that the cooling water does not cool the radiator to a maximum extent.