Fuel cell vehicle thermal management system and method for managing fuel cell thermal loads
The present disclosure provides a method of managing thermal loads in a fuel cell vehicle. The method may comprise heating a fuel cell coolant of a fuel cell coolant loop utilizing waste heat from a fuel cell to form a heated fuel cell coolant, heating a battery coolant of a battery coolant loop utilizing waste heat from a battery to form a heated battery coolant, heating a refrigerant of a battery refrigeration loop by exchanging heat with the heated battery coolant, and superheating the refrigerant of the battery refrigeration loop by exchanging heat with the heated fuel cell coolant.
1. A method of managing thermal loads in a fuel cell vehicle, the method comprising:
heating a fuel cell coolant of a fuel cell coolant loop utilizing waste heat from a fuel cell to form a heated fuel cell coolant;
heating a battery coolant of a battery coolant loop utilizing waste heat from a battery to form a heated battery coolant;
heating a refrigerant of a battery refrigeration loop by exchanging heat with the heated battery coolant; and
superheating the refrigerant of the battery refrigeration loop by exchanging heat with the heated fuel cell coolant.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising compressing the refrigerant of the battery refrigeration loop after superheating the refrigerant.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising condensing the refrigerant of the battery refrigeration loop after compressing the refrigerant.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising expanding the refrigerant of the battery refrigeration loop after condensing the refrigerant.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant of the battery refrigeration loop is superheated after the battery refrigerant is heated by exchanging heat with the heated battery coolant.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein superheating the refrigerant of the battery refrigeration loop comprises directing the heated fuel cell coolant through a bypass valve to a superheating heat exchanger configured to facilitate heat transfer from the heated fuel cell coolant to the refrigerant.
7. A method of utilizing waste heat from a fuel cell, the method comprising:
absorbing waste heat from the fuel cell utilizing a coolant passing through a fuel cell coolant loop;
passing the coolant through a superheating heat exchanger thermally coupled between the fuel cell coolant loop and a battery refrigeration loop;
exchanging heat between the coolant and a refrigerant of the battery refrigeration loop in the superheating heat exchanger to increase a temperature of the refrigerant; and
compressing the refrigerant in a compressor thermally coupled to the superheating heat exchanger.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising absorbing waste heat from a battery utilizing a coolant passing through a battery coolant loop.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the battery coolant loop comprises a chiller, a first radiator, a first pump, a first bypass valve, and a first expansion tank.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the fuel cell coolant loop comprises a second radiator, a second pump, a second bypass valve, and a second expansion tank.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the battery refrigeration loop comprises a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the battery, the first radiator, the chiller, the first pump, the first bypass valve, and the first expansion tank are thermally and fluidly coupled via a battery coolant line.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the fuel cell, the second radiator, the second pump, the second bypass valve, and the second expansion tank are thermally and fluidly coupled via a fuel cell coolant line.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the superheating heat exchanger, the chiller, the compressor, the condenser, and the expansion valve are thermally and fluidly coupled via a battery refrigerant line.