Thermal management system for fuel cell vehicle

• US 10,468,693 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2017
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Jang, Junho, Nam, Dong Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Chandler, Kaity V
• Application Number:
  US15/624,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20180233753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04037 Electrical heating
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04052 Storage of heat in the fuel cell system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04074 Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04216 characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04291 Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems H01M8/04119 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0432 Temperature; Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04335 of cathode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04373 of auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04708 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle may include a fuel cell stack, a solid-state hydrogen storage device, and a hydrogen supply pipe, wherein the fuel cell stack receives hydrogen and air configured to generate electricity and discharge water, wherein the solid-state hydrogen storage device includes a first container accommodating a solid-state hydrogen storage material, a second container accommodating a thermochemical thermal energy storage material, a third container accommodating a heat transfer medium, and pipes connected to the first container, the second container, and the third container to circulate the heat transfer medium, and wherein the hydrogen supply pipe is connected to the first container and the fuel cell stack.

Claims

1. A thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle, comprising:

a fuel cell stack configured to receive hydrogen and air to generate electricity and to discharge water;

a solid-state hydrogen storage device configured to include a first container accommodating a solid-state hydrogen storage material comprising a hydride or a hydrogen storage alloy, a second container accommodating a thermochemical thermal energy storage material;

wherein the second container is configured to receive water and wherein the thermochemical thermal energy storage material comprises a metal hydroxide, a third container accommodating a heat transfer medium, and pipes connected to the first container, the second container, and the third container such that the pipes circulate the heat transfer medium amongst the first container and the second container and the third container; and

a hydrogen supply pipe configured to be connected to the first container and the fuel cell stack.

2. The thermal management system for the fuel cell vehicle of claim 1, wherein the solid-state hydrogen storage material includes a material that generates heat while occluding hydrogen and discharges hydrogen while receiving heat, and the thermochemical thermal energy storage material generates heat while water is supplied, and is separated into a metal oxide and water and stores heat energy during receiving heat.

3. The thermal management system for the fuel cell vehicle of claim 2, wherein the heat transfer medium transfers heat of the first container to the second container while occluding the hydrogen of the solid-state hydrogen storage material, and transfers heat of the second container to the first container while water is supplied to the thermochemical thermal energy storage material.

4. The thermal management system for the fuel cell vehicle of claim 2, wherein

the solid-state hydrogen storage material includes at least one of a complex metal hydride, a metal hydride, a chemical hydride, and a hydrogen storage alloy.

5. The thermal management system for the fuel cell vehicle of claim 2, wherein

the thermochemical thermal energy storage material includes at least one of Mg(OH)2, Ca(OH)2, Be(OH)2, Mn(OH)2, Ni(OH)2, and Zn(OH)2.

6. The thermal management system for the fuel cell vehicle of claim 5, wherein

the solid-state hydrogen storage device includes

a fourth container accommodating the water,

a water supply pipe and a water discharge pipe connected to the fourth container and the second container, and

a first valve provided at the water discharge pipe.

7. The thermal management system for the fuel cell vehicle of claim 6, wherein

the first valve includes an inlet port, a first outlet port connected to the fourth container, and a second outlet port connected to an outside of the solid-state hydrogen storage device.

8. The thermal management system for the fuel cell vehicle of claim 6, further comprising

a water supply pipe configured to be connected to the fuel cell stack and the fourth container, and

a third valve configured to be provided at the water supply pipe.

9. The thermal management system for the fuel cell vehicle of claim 8, wherein

the third valve includes one inlet port, a fifth outlet port connected to the fourth container, and a sixth outlet port connected to an outside of the solid-state hydrogen storage device.

10. The thermal management system for the fuel cell vehicle of claim 1, wherein

the solid-state hydrogen storage device includes an auxiliary heater that supplies heat to at least one of the first container and the second container.