Ship Hybrid Power Thermal Circuit for Fuel Cell Warm-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal management systems for new energy ships with composite energy power systems face inefficiencies due to the need for external electric heaters, limited space, and ineffective utilization of waste heat, particularly in marine environments where temperature fluctuations are greater than on land, leading to slow fuel cell heating and potential icing issues.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system with a seawater heat exchange circuit, internal combustion engine thermal management circuit, and power battery thermal management circuit, utilizing seawater for cooling and waste heat from internal combustion engines to assist fuel cell and battery systems, with adjustable coolant flow and temperature control through electromagnetic valves and water pumps, and incorporating heat exchangers and electric heaters to quickly reach target temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If external electric heaters are used to heat fuel cell systems, then the fuel cell can reach working temperature, but the available space on the ship is reduced and the overall efficiency is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating function into the existing thermal management system by utilizing waste heat from the internal combustion engine through a heat exchanger network. This combines the cooling function (seawater heat exchange) and heating function (waste heat recovery) into an integrated system, eliminating the need for separate external electric heaters and reducing space occupation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat from the internal combustion engine into a beneficial resource for heating the fuel cell system. The waste heat that would otherwise be discharged to the environment is now utilized to maintain fuel cell operating temperature, improving overall system efficiency and eliminating the need for additional heating equipment.
2Productivity
If the fuel cell system is heated quickly to reach working temperature, then the driving range is extended, but the system complexity increases due to additional heating requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes continuous heat exchange between the internal combustion engine cooling system and the fuel cell thermal management system. The heat exchanger continuously transfers waste heat to the fuel cell coolant, maintaining steady heating without requiring intermittent or complex heating control mechanisms, thus extending driving range without proportionally increasing system complexity.
3Loss of energy
If waste heat is not effectively utilized, then the system design is simpler, but the overall efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the thermal management system multi-functional by enabling it to simultaneously perform cooling (through seawater heat exchange) and heating (through waste heat recovery from the internal combustion engine). This single integrated system serves multiple purposes, improving energy efficiency without requiring entirely separate cooling and heating systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes its own internal waste heat resources to meet the heating requirements of the fuel cell system, making the system self-sufficient. The internal combustion engine's waste heat automatically serves the heating function through the heat exchanger network, reducing the need for external energy inputs and improving overall 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
Improves energy utilization efficiency by effectively dissipating heat, reducing electric heater consumption, and enhancing fuel cell performance, while preventing low-temperature failures and maintaining optimal operating temperatures across different environments and modes of operation.
Implementation Method 1
a seawater heat exchange circuit, an internal combustion engine thermal management circuit, a hydrogen fuel cell thermal management circuit, a power battery and accessories thermal management circuit. The seawater heat exchange circuit configured to dissipate heat by exchanging heat with the internal combustion engine thermal management circuit, the hydrogen fuel cell thermal management circuit, and the power battery and accessories thermal management circuit
Implementation Method 2
The internal combustion engine thermal management circuit is configured to control the internal combustion engine to operate at a suitable temperature and provide heat for heating other circuits
Implementation Method 3
The hydrogen fuel cell thermal management circuit is configured to maintain the hydrogen fuel cell at a suitable temperature and is used to assist in the heat dissipation of the internal combustion engine thermal management circuit and to increase the temperature of the power battery and accessories thermal management circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system of a ship composite energy power system and a control method thereof are provided, including a thermal management circuit, which includes a seawater heat exchange circuit, an internal combustion engine thermal management circuit, a hydrogen fuel cell thermal management circuit, and a power battery and accessories thermal management circuit. It provides a thermal management control strategy for composite energy of internal combustion engine, fuel cell, and power battery; the various circuits can be independently adjusted; the heat dissipation effect is obvious, and the temperature of each cooling circuit can be better controlled; the energy utilization rate can be improved; the heat can be transferred to the other subsystems, and the heat dissipation area can be enlarged; and the fuel cell circuit can be elevated to the temperature by the heat exchanger and the electric heater, and it can reach the target working temperature more quickly.