Fuel Cell Wire Cooling Control for High-Current Heat Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Non-vehicle fuel cell systems, such as construction machinery, face challenges with low load terminal voltage specifications leading to high heat generation and rapid current changes, affecting performance due to excessive heat in power supply wires.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell system with a cooling line and pump system that adjusts based on wire temperature, using a controller to manage the number of rotations of a pump and cooling fan to effectively manage heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high current is used in output terminal wire for power conversion device, then power delivery capability is improved, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cooling water as an intermediary substance to transfer heat away from the wire. The cooling water flows through a cooling passage surrounding the wire, absorbing excess heat and preventing temperature rise that would otherwise limit current capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic cooling system where cooling water is pumped through passages to remove heat. This hydraulic approach enables efficient heat transfer from the high-current wire without requiring changes to the electrical design
2Temperature
If cooling water flow rate is increased, then wire cooling effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the cooling water flow rate based on real-time wire temperature measurements. The pump adjusts its operation to provide just enough cooling to maintain wire temperature within acceptable limits, avoiding excessive energy consumption while ensuring adequate cooling
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensors to monitor wire temperature and feeds this information back to the pump controller. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the pump to adjust cooling water flow rate dynamically, optimizing the balance between cooling effectiveness and energy consumption
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
The system efficiently manages heat in power supply wires, improving performance and safety by optimizing cooling based on wire temperature changes.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling line through which cooling water passing through a plurality of electronic parts circulates and in which a wire for supplying power to the plurality of electronic parts is disposed
Implementation Method 2
a pump that is connected to the cooling line and pumps the cooling water
Implementation Method 3
a cooling fan that cools the cooling water
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
According to an embodiment disclosed herein, a fuel cell system includes a cooling line through which cooling water passing through a plurality of electronic parts circulates and in which a wire for supplying power to the plurality of electronic parts is disposed, a pump that is connected to the cooling line and pumps the cooling water, a cooling fan that cools the cooling water, and a controller that determines a control mode based on a temperature of the wire and controls the number of rotations of the pump and the number of rotations of the cooling fan based on the control mode.