Patent Description:
Numerous components on a vehicle generate heat in performing their intended functions. Accordingly, cooling systems are provided. The cooling systems might typically comprise a heat-dissipating component, hereinafter referred to as a cooling radiator, and a cooling circuit. The cooling circuit is typically filled with a circulating liquid coolant By means of the cooling circuit, the liquid coolant is directed past the heat-generating components and the cooling radiator in order for excess heat as generated by the heat-generating components to be transferred to the cooling radiator. Outside air is directed over, or through, the cooling radiator to lower the temperature of the liquid coolant and the liquid coolant is then re-directed to the heat-generating component. Cooling systems are typically designed with a single cooling radiator, centrally located in a frontward portion of the vehicle.

Typically, trucks, but also other types of vehicles, have the cooling radiators placed in the front of the vehicle in a vertical position. In this position, the available height for the cooling radiator is limited by the ground clearance and the lower floor of the cabin housing the human driver of the vehicle. The available width is limited by the cab suspension and steering gear, and also by the placement of the pedals (brake, accelerator) inside the cabin. The depth of the cooling radiator is also limited, as thicker cooling radiator give more air resistance, thus causing the cooling efficiency to be reduced.

Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), also denoted fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), are a type of electric vehicle that uses a fuel cell, sometimes in combination with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power its onboard electric motor. Fuel cells in vehicles generate electricity generally using oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen. The performance and durability (i.e., life span) of fuel cells is more temperature sensitive than fuel used by combustion engines.

As the existing cooling capacity for the combustion engine will be needed for cooling of the batteries, electrical motors, electrical motor drivers as well as for high voltage electronics, additional cooling capacity is required for ensuring the performance and durability of the vehicle as a whole.

One option is to increase the size, or volume, of the available space in the vehicle for housing an additional cooling system. However, this could cause the available size, or volume, for cargo etc. to be reduced if the total size, or volume, of the vehicle is not to be increased.

Another option is therefore to increase the overall size, or volume, of the vehicle to make ample room for an additional cooling system. However, this could result in that the vehicle does no longer comply with regulations in terms of maximum allowable size.

<CIT> relates to heat recovery systems and a fuel cell vehicle. In <FIG> is illustrated an embodiment of such a heat recovery system.

<CIT> relates to a gas consumption system, a fuel cell system and a vehicle equipped with any such system. A fuel cell vehicle is illustrated in in <FIG>.

<CIT> relates to a system for cooling at least one unit of a vehicle.

Hence, there is still a need for improvements with respect to provision of cooling systems in vehicles.

An object of embodiments herein is to provide a cooling system, in terms of a cooling radiator, in a vehicle cab arrangement where the above issues are avoided, or at least mitigated or reduced.

According to a first aspect there is presented a vehicle cab arrangement. The vehicle cab arrangement comprises a cabin for housing a human driver of a vehicle. The vehicle cab arrangement comprises a horizontally extending fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack is placed vertically below the cabin. The vehicle cab arrangement comprises a horizontally extending cooling radiator. The cooling radiator is placed between the cabin and the fuel cell stack.

According to second aspect there is provided a vehicle comprising such a vehicle cab arrangement.

Advantageously, a vehicle cab arrangement with such a placement of the cooling radiator avoids the issues noted above.

Advantageously, this placement of the cooling radiator enables efficient cooling of the fuel cell stack.

Advantageously, this placement of the cooling radiator does not require any change of the existing vehicle architecture.

In some embodiments, the cooling radiator is placed to be horizontally extending within an angle of inclination of at most <NUM> degrees, preferably at most <NUM> degrees.

In some embodiments, the cooling radiator has an inlet for receiving an airflow for providing cooling to the cooling radiator and an outlet for exhausting the airflow as heated when passing through the cooling radiator.

In some embodiments, the vehicle cab arrangement further comprises a cooling circuit filled with a cooling medium, wherein the cooling circuit is arranged relative the fuel cell stack for the cooling medium to absorb heat from the fuel cell stack, and the cooling radiator is arranged relative the cooling circuit for cooling the cooling medium.

In some embodiments, the fuel cell stack and the cooling radiator are provided in a sandwich arrangement.

Further embodiments, aspects, and examples, relating to the vehicle cab arrangement will be disclosed in the following description and in the dependent claims.

Further advantages and advantageous features of the herein disclosed embodiments are disclosed in the following description and in the dependent claims.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle cab arrangement 110a of a vehicle 100a according to a first example. <FIG> gives an examples of a vehicle 100a having a combustion engine <NUM>. The combustion engine <NUM> is cooled by a vertically extending cooling radiator <NUM> that forms part of a cooling system. One illustrative example of how the cooling radiator <NUM> might be arranged to cool the combustion engine <NUM> will now be disclosed. In some examples, the cooling radiator <NUM> is connected to a cooling circuit, such as one or more channels, running through the combustion engine <NUM> and a cylinder head, through which a cooling medium, such as a cooling liquid, is pumped. This cooling medium might be water or a mixture of water and antifreeze in proportions appropriate to the climate. The antifreeze itself could be ethylene glycol or propylene glycol (with a small amount of corrosion inhibitor). A series of galleries might be cast into the engine block and cylinder head, surrounding the combustion chambers with a circulating cooling medium to carry away heat. The cooling radiator <NUM> might comprise a plurality of small tubes equipped with a honeycomb of fins to dissipate heat rapidly and is arranged to receive, and cool, the cooling medium as heated by the combustion engine <NUM>. The cooling medium might be circulated by natural convection or a pump. In the latter case, the amount of circulation might be adaptively controlled. For example, a thermostat can be provided to control the temperature of the combustion engine <NUM> by varying the speed at which the cooling medium is circulated through the cooling circuit. In turn, the cooling radiator <NUM> might be cooled by a fan arranged to draw cool air through the cooling radiator <NUM>. In this way the cooling radiator <NUM> transfers heat from the cooling medium to the air outside, thereby cooling the cooling medium, which in turn cools the combustion engine <NUM>.

As noted above, there is still a need for improvements with respect to provision of cooling systems in vehicles, especially for FCVs or FCEVs where the onboard electric motor of the vehicle is powered by a fuel cell stack. To illustrate his, reference will in turn be made to <FIG> and <FIG> illustrating vehicle cab arrangements 100b, 100c of a vehicle 100b, 100c according to further examples. In both these figures, an electric motor <NUM> of the vehicle 100b, 100c is powered by a fuel cell stack <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle cab arrangement 110b of a vehicle 100b according to a second example. According to this example, the hood of the cab is horizontally extended so as to provide room for an extra cooling radiator 140a. However, as noted above, this could result in that the vehicle 100b does no longer comply with regulations in terms of maximum allowable size. Alternatively, the overall length of the vehicle 100b must be made shorter. This, in turn, could cause the available size, or volume, for cargo etc. to be reduced. In addition, the cooling radiator 140a, when arranged as in <FIG>, might be inadequate to efficiently cool the fuel cell stack <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle cab arrangement 110c of a vehicle 100c according to a third example. According to this example, an extra cooling radiator 140a is arranged to fit inside the existing vehicle architecture. In the example of <FIG>, the extra cooling radiator 140a is arranged adjacent the existing cooling radiator <NUM>. However, since space is limited, this might possibly cause the size of the existing cooling radiator <NUM> to be reduced. This in order for both cooling radiators <NUM>, 140a to fit inside the existing vehicle architecture. Additionally, the cooling radiator 140a, when arranged as in <FIG>, might be inadequate to efficiently cool the fuel cell stack <NUM>.

One particular object of the herein disclosed embodiments is to arrange what above is referred to as an additional cooling system in a vehicle, such as vehicle 100a of <FIG>, to efficiently cool a fuel cell stack <NUM> and without having to change the vehicle architecture.

Reference is now made to <FIG> which is schematic diagram illustrating vehicle cab arrangement 110d of a vehicle 100d according to an embodiment.

The vehicle cab arrangement 110d comprises a cabin <NUM> for housing a human driver of the vehicle 100d. The vehicle cab arrangement 110d comprises a horizontally extending fuel cell stack <NUM>. The fuel cell stack <NUM> is placed vertically below the cabin <NUM>. The vehicle cab arrangement 110d therefore comprises a horizontally extending cooling radiator <NUM>. The cooling radiator <NUM> is placed between the cabin <NUM> and the fuel cell stack <NUM>.

The disclosed vehicle cab arrangement 110d thus allows the cooling radiator <NUM> to be placed in the available space in between the fuel cell stack <NUM> and the underside of the cabin floor. In addition to the vertically extending cooling radiator <NUM>, a horizontally extending cooling radiator <NUM> can thus be provided in between the fuel cell stack <NUM> and the underside of the cabin floor. The fuel cell stack <NUM> thus forms a lower limit for the vertical extension of the cooling radiator <NUM> whereas the underside of the cabin floor forms an upper limit for the vertical extension of the cooling radiator <NUM>.

This placement of the cooling radiator <NUM> does not require any change of the existing vehicle architecture.

In some examples the cooling radiator <NUM> is sandwiches with the fuel cell stack <NUM>. That is, in some embodiments, the fuel cell stack <NUM> and the cooling radiator <NUM> are provided in a sandwich arrangement.

Aspects of the placement of the cooling radiator <NUM> will now be disclosed with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle cab arrangement 110e of a vehicle 100e according to an embodiment. The vehicle cab arrangement 110e is similar to the vehicle cab arrangement 110d and thus comprises a cabin <NUM> for housing a human driver of the vehicle 100d. The vehicle cab arrangement 110e comprises a horizontally extending fuel cell stack <NUM>. The fuel cell stack <NUM> is placed vertically below the cabin <NUM>. The vehicle cab arrangement 110e therefore comprises a horizontally extending cooling radiator <NUM>. The cooling radiator <NUM> is placed between the cabin <NUM> and the fuel cell stack <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a vehicle cab arrangement 110e where the cooling radiator <NUM> is tilted at most ± <NUM> degrees (with respect to the horizontal axis). This is in comparison to <FIG> where the cooling radiator <NUM> is placed to be horizontally extending along the horizontal axis. In <FIG> the cooling radiator <NUM> is placed at an angle of inclination α ≠ <NUM> with respect to the horizontal axis. In particular, in some embodiments, the cooling radiator <NUM> is placed to be horizontally extending within an angle of inclination α of at most <NUM> degrees, preferably at most <NUM> degrees. The placement of the cooling radiator <NUM> is thus predominantly horizontal (deviating at most ±<NUM> or ±<NUM> from the horizontal axis).

Further embodiments, aspects, and examples of the vehicle cab arrangements 110d, 110e will be disclosed hereinafter with continued reference to <FIG> and <FIG> and with parallel reference to <FIG> illustrates the cooling radiator <NUM> (and also the fuel cell stack <NUM>) according to embodiments.

Aspects of the cooling radiator <NUM> will now be disclosed.

In some examples, the cooling radiator <NUM> is configured to receive cool air and to exhaust heated air. In particular, in some embodiments, the cooling radiator <NUM> has an intel <NUM> and an outlet <NUM>. The intel <NUM> is arranged for receiving an airflow (represented by arrow 220a in <FIG>). The airflow provides cooling to the cooling radiator <NUM>. Since the cooling radiator <NUM> is arranged to absorb heat from the fuel cell stack <NUM>, the airflow becomes heated when passing through the cooling radiator <NUM>. The outlet <NUM> is arranged for exhausting the airflow 220b as heated when passing through the cooling radiator <NUM>.

Aspects of the inlet <NUM> will now be disclosed.

In some examples, cool air enters the cooling radiator <NUM> via the intel <NUM> at the bottom of the cooling radiator <NUM>. That is, in some embodiments, the intel <NUM> is placed on a vertically downwards facing surface of the cooling radiator <NUM>.

In some examples guiding means <NUM> are provided to help guiding the airflow (represented by arrow 220a in <FIG>) into the cooling radiator <NUM>. In particular, in some embodiments, the intel <NUM> comprises first guiding means <NUM> for guiding cool air from outside of the vehicle cab arrangement 110d, 110e to the cooling radiator <NUM>. The first guiding means <NUM> might be a first deflector.

Aspects of the outlet <NUM> will now be disclosed.

In some examples, heated air exits the cooling radiator <NUM> via the outlet <NUM> at the top of the cooling radiator <NUM>. That is, in some embodiments, the outlet <NUM> is placed on a vertically upwards facing surface of the cooling radiator <NUM>.

Alternatively, cool air enters the cooling radiator <NUM> via the intel <NUM> at the bottom of the cooling radiator <NUM> and heated air exits the cooling radiator <NUM> via the outlet <NUM> at the top of the cooling radiator <NUM>. The following examples are applicable regardless if the cool air enters at the top or the bottom of the cooling radiator <NUM>.

In some examples guiding means <NUM> are provided to help guiding the airflow 220b out from the cooling radiator <NUM>. In particular, in some embodiments, the outlet <NUM> comprises second guiding means <NUM> for guiding heated air from the cooling radiator <NUM> to outside of the vehicle cab arrangement 110d, 110e. The second guiding means <NUM> might be a second deflector.

Deflectors can thus be added on the lower side and/or the upper side of the cooling radiator <NUM> to help guiding the airflow through the cooling radiator <NUM>.

Further aspects of how to cool the fuel cell stack <NUM> will now be disclosed.

In some examples, a cooling circuit <NUM> is arranged to surround fuel cell stack <NUM>. Further, the cooling circuit <NUM> might pass through the cooling radiator <NUM> such that a cooling medium in the cooling circuit <NUM> is heated by the fuel cell stack <NUM> and cooled by the cooling radiator <NUM>. That is, in some embodiments, the vehicle cab arrangement 110d, 110e further comprises a cooling circuit <NUM> filled with a cooling medium. The cooling circuit <NUM> is arranged relative the fuel cell stack <NUM> for the cooling medium to absorb heat from the fuel cell stack <NUM>. The cooling radiator <NUM> is arranged relative the cooling circuit <NUM> for cooling the cooling medium. The cooling medium might in the cooling circuit <NUM> be circulated by natural convection or by a pump <NUM>, or a combination thereof. Circulation of the cooling medium is in <FIG> illustrated by arrows inside the cooling circuit <NUM>.

The herein disclosed vehicle cab arrangement 110d, 110e could be part of a vehicle 100d, 100e. Hence, in some aspects, there is also provided vehicle 100d, 100e that comprises a vehicle cab arrangement 110d, 110e as herein disclosed. There could be different types of vehicles 100d, 100e where the herein disclosed vehicle cab arrangement 110d, 110e can be provided. In some non-limiting examples, the vehicle 100d, 100e is any of: a truck, a bus, a piece of construction equipment, a personal vehicle.

Claim 1:
A vehicle cab arrangement (110d, 110e), the vehicle cab arrangement (110d, 110e) comprising:
- a cabin (<NUM>) for housing a human driver of a vehicle (100d, 100e);
- a horizontally extending fuel cell stack (<NUM>), the fuel cell stack (<NUM>) being placed vertically below the cabin (<NUM>); and characterized by
- a horizontally extending cooling radiator (<NUM>), the cooling radiator (<NUM>) being placed between the cabin (<NUM>) and the fuel cell stack (<NUM>).