Side-Mounted Heat Exchanger Layout for Fuel Cell Vehicle Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell systems for commercial vehicles face challenges in securing both mountability and cooling performance due to limited space below the cab, making it difficult to install large radiators that provide sufficient cooling.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device for fuel cell vehicles that includes a hydrogen gas reservoir and heat exchanger installed outside the vehicle width direction, utilizing dead spaces to accommodate larger heat exchangers, with an outside air guide and fan to enhance cooling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the radiator is installed below the cab to cool the fuel cell, then the cooling function is provided, but the mounting space is limited and insufficient for large radiators achieving sufficient cooling performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the radiator from the conventional location below the cab to the side of the hydrogen storage tank, utilizing the lateral space along the vehicle width direction. This dimensional relocation provides sufficient mounting area for a large radiator while maintaining effective cooling of the fuel cell system.
2Reliability
If a large radiator is installed to achieve sufficient cooling performance, then the cooling ability is improved, but the mounting space requirement increases which is difficult to secure below the cab
Solution Approach 1:
The radiator is positioned along the hydrogen storage tank in the vehicle width direction, utilizing previously underutilized lateral space. This allows installation of a large radiator with sufficient cooling capacity without complicating the overall vehicle space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The side region along the hydrogen storage tank serves dual purposes: it accommodates the radiator for cooling the fuel cell system while simultaneously utilizing the existing structural space around the hydrogen storage tank, thereby achieving multi-functionality in space utilization.
3Productivity
If the radiator is installed below the cab with other components, then the space utilization is optimized, but the cooling performance is insufficient due to limited radiator size
Solution Approach 1:
The radiator is relocated from the vertical space below the cab to the lateral space along the hydrogen storage tank. This dimensional change provides sufficient area for a large radiator while maintaining efficient use of available vehicle space, thereby achieving both good space utilization and adequate cooling performance.
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 solution ensures both mountability and improved cooling performance by allowing direct introduction of oncoming wind to the heat exchanger, increasing heat exchange efficiency, and enabling independent cooling of multiple components, thus enhancing the reliability of the fuel cell vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger that is installed outside in the vehicle width direction of the hydrogen gas reservoir and along the hydrogen gas reservoir, and that exchanges heat between outside air and coolant configured to cool at least the fuel cell
Implementation Method 2
the outside air guide may include a fan that generates a flow of the outside air that passes through the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device (1) for a fuel cell vehicle (2) that includes a cab (21) and a chassis frame (22) and that drives a motor (24) for traveling with electric power of a fuel cell (23) includes a hydrogen gas reservoir (3) and a heat exchanger (4). The hydrogen gas reservoir (3) is installed on a rear side of the cab (21) and outside in a vehicle width direction (D2) of the chassis frame (22), and stores hydrogen gas to be supplied to the fuel cell (23). The heat exchanger (4) is installed outside in the vehicle width direction (D2) of the hydrogen gas reservoir (3) and along the hydrogen gas reservoir (3), and exchanges heat between outside air and coolant (41) configured to cool at least the fuel cell (23).