Intermediate cell cooling device, battery module and cooling equipment for battery module

Abstract

The invention relates to an intermediate cell cooling device (10) for arrangement in a gap (16) between two cells (14) arranged adjacent to each other in a stacking direction (x), comprising: a first side wall (18) having a first outer side (18a) for arrangement on a first cell side (14b); a second side wall (20) opposite the first side wall in the first direction and having a second outer side surface (20a) for arrangement on a second cell side surface (14a); and a heating device (24) designed as a heating layer (24) for heating the intermediate cell cooling device. At least one cooling channel (30a, 30b) through which a coolant can flow in the first direction between the first side wall and the second side wall is designed as part of a central intermediate cell cooling region (12) of the intermediate cell cooling device, and the heating layer is designed to heat the coolant (32) located in the at least one cooling channel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an intermediate cell cooling device, which is used to be arranged in a gap between two cells arranged adjacent to each other in a stacking direction of a cell stack, wherein a part of the intermediate cell cooling device is a central intermediate cell cooling area, and when the intermediate cell cooling device is arranged in the gap, the part is completely located within the gap. Here, the intermediate cell cooling device includes: a first side wall having a first outer side surface, the first outer side surface being used to be arranged on a first cell side surface relative to one of two adjacent cells; a second side wall opposite to the first side wall in a first direction, the second side wall having a second outer side surface, the second outer side surface being used to be arranged on a second cell side surface relative to the other of the two adjacent cells; a heating device designed as a heating layer for heating the intermediate cell cooling device. In addition, the present invention also relates to a battery module and a cooling device / system for a battery module. Background Art

[0002] Battery modules, for example for high-voltage batteries in motor vehicles, can consist of a plurality of cells forming a cell stack. Usually, the cells of such a cell stack are cooled by a cooling device which is designed as a cooling plate to which only one side of the cell stack is connected. However, this only allows for one-sided cooling of the cells and, moreover, cooling on the side of the cell with a very small area.

[0003] DE 21 2019 000 290U1 describes a thermal management system for a vehicle, which has an energy storage system including a plurality of rechargeable battery cells, wherein the thermal management system comprises a circulation loop for a first volume flow of a heat transfer fluid for cooling or heating the battery and a plurality of battery heat exchangers arranged in the circulation loop, wherein each of the battery heat exchangers is in thermal contact with one or more of the battery cells, wherein each of the battery heat exchangers has: an internal fluid flow channel and a plurality of fluid openings (including an inlet and an outlet of the internal fluid flow channel); an electric heating element, which is integrated into the first battery heat exchanger of the plurality of battery heat exchangers, so as to heat the heat transfer fluid in such a way that the heat transfer fluid flows through the internal fluid flow channel of the first heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can be designed as a cold plate heat exchanger, which comprises a flat plate, which as an outer side defines a plane, on which a plurality of battery cells and / or battery modules are stacked.

[0004] However, if the temperature control element is arranged in the interspaces between the battery cells, the battery cells can be effectively temperature controlled, since the temperature control element can in this case be in contact with the side surface of the battery cells having the largest area.

[0005] To this end, WO 2012 / 120 090 A1 describes an electrical energy storage device having a battery module, which has a plurality of single cells arranged in a stacked manner between two outer end plates, wherein at least one single cell is arranged in a single module. It is provided that a preferably flexible electric heating element is arranged between at least two single cells, preferably between two single modules. The electric heating element can be designed as a flexible heating film, which is surrounded by a cooling plate made of sheet material as a cooling element, which is folded around the heating element, wherein the cooling element and the heating element are bonded to each other and connected to each other in a form-fitting manner. This should avoid cooling channels with complicated coolant connections and structural space. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate cell cooler, a battery module and a cooling device which are able to control the temperature of the cells in the most efficient way possible and at the same time in an energy-saving manner.

[0007] This object is achieved by an intermediate cell cooling device, a battery module and a cooling device having the features according to the respective independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are given by the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0008] The intermediate cell cooling device according to the present invention is designed to be arranged in the gap between two cells arranged adjacent to each other in the stacking direction of the cell stack, wherein a part of the intermediate cell cooling device is the central intermediate cell cooling area, and when the intermediate cell cooling device is arranged in the gap, the part is completely located within the gap. The intermediate cell cooling device comprises: a first side wall having a first outer side surface, which is used to be arranged on the side surface of the first cell relative to one of the two adjacent cells; a second side wall opposite to the first side wall in the first direction, which has a second outer side surface, which is used to be arranged on the side surface of the second cell relative to the other of the two adjacent cells; a heating device designed as a heating layer for heating the intermediate cell cooling device. Here, between the first side wall and the second side wall in the first direction, at least one cooling channel through which the coolant can flow is designed as a part of the central intermediate cell cooling area, and the heating layer is designed to heat the coolant located in at least one cooling channel.

[0009] Therefore, in order to cool and / or heat the battery cell, the intermediate battery cell cooling device can be advantageously traversed by a coolant. In particular, for cooling purposes, this allows significantly more effective cooling than, for example, purely passive cooling by means of a cooling plate that cannot be traversed by a coolant. Therefore, heat can be significantly more effectively transported away by the side walls of the intermediate battery cell cooling device. At the same time, the heating layer can provide energy-saving and rapid heating of the battery cell, because the heat is locally generated at the location where it is needed to heat the battery cell, i.e., near the battery cell itself. Therefore, the heating layer can advantageously heat the side walls of the intermediate battery cell cooling device and the coolant located in at least one cooling channel, thereby also providing a particularly even heat distribution on the intermediate battery cell cooling device, especially in the central intermediate battery cell cooling area. In addition, a liquid coolant, such as a water-based coolant, can be used as a coolant, so that in addition, through its very high heat capacity, a portion of the heat generated by the heating layer can be stored and discharged over a longer period of time, which can also heat the adjacent battery cell sides more evenly, more uniformly and more economically. Furthermore, by integrating cooling channels between the side walls through which a coolant can flow, the heating effect of the heating layer can be additionally controlled by controlling the coolant flow through the cooling channels, as will be explained in detail below. For example, when the heating layer is activated, the flow through the cooling channels can be reduced or switched off in order to maintain the heat generated by the heating layer in a targeted manner in the middle cell cooling region and to dissipate it to the cells, while at the same time, by activating the flow, a rapid switch to cooling operation can be made in order to dissipate the heat to be dissipated from the cells as quickly as possible.

[0010] The heating device is preferably an electrical heating device. Furthermore, the heating device can have electrical connections in order to energize the heating layer. The heating layer can include, for example, heating wires which are arranged on a support element or embedded in such a support element or planar heating elements which can be charged with voltage in order to generate a heating current. In this case, the connection for the heating device can be arranged outside the intermediate cell cooling region.

[0011] In addition, the two side walls are also part of the central intermediate cell cooling area at least for the most part or completely. In addition, the intermediate cell cooling device can optionally include a fluid connection part in order to supply coolant to at least one cooling channel and to lead the coolant out of the cooling channel again after flowing through the cooling channel. However, the intermediate cell cooling device can also be designed as an intermediate cell cooling device that can be open for flow through. For this purpose, the intermediate cell cooling device can be configured with high cooling channel ends on two end sides that are opposite each other along a second direction, in particular perpendicular to the first direction, for example over the entire height of the gap or at least over most of the height of the gap. Therefore, the two side walls can have a spacing relative to each other in the first direction in order to construct at least one cooling channel, and for example in the third direction on the top side and the bottom side relative to each other or connected to each other, and in the second direction are not sealed or not connected.

[0012] If the intermediate cell cooling section is conventionally arranged between two cells, the first side wall preferably flatly abuts the first cell side surface with its first outer side surface, and the second outer side surface of the second side wall flatly abuts the second cell side surface. Here, the dimensions of the first side wall and the second side wall in the second direction and the third direction can basically correspond to the dimensions of the first cell side surface or the second cell side surface. Therefore, basically the entire adjacent cell side surface can be cooled or heated.

[0013] In addition, the side walls can be designed as relatively thin walls, for example with a wall thickness of a few millimeters or less than 1 millimeter. As a result, the side walls can be flexibly formed and / or even provided in the form of a film. As a result, the side walls can be perfectly attached to the adjacent battery cell sides. As a result, the thermal resistance between the intermediate battery cell cooling device and the adjacent battery cells is reduced. If the intermediate battery cell cooling device is arranged in the battery cell stack in a conventional manner, the stacking direction corresponds to the first direction.

[0014] In another very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the heating layer is designed as a first side wall and / or a second side wall; and / or the heating layer is integrated into the first side wall and / or the second side wall. This saves additional components for providing the heating layer, because the heating layer can be provided by the first side wall and / or the second side wall itself. In other words, the first and / or the second side wall can be designed as a heating wall and thus provide a heating layer. In principle, it is sufficient here that only one of the two side walls is designed as such a heating wall, i.e. comprises a heating layer or a heating layer. However, it is also conceivable that the intermediate cell cooling device has two heating layers, one of which is integrated into the first side wall and the other into the second side wall.

[0015] In this case, the heating layer also preferably extends over the entire first side wall and / or the second side wall. In other words, when the heating layer is integrated into the first side wall and / or the second side wall, the heating structures of the heating layer, which can be loaded with current for heating purposes, should extend substantially over the entire side wall in question. Accordingly, the heating structures can be evenly distributed over the side wall in question, so that the side wall can be heated substantially evenly by the heating layer.

[0016] In another advantageous design of the present invention, the intermediate cell cooling device has an intermediate wall, which is arranged between the first side wall and the second side wall in a first direction, wherein the heating layer is designed as an intermediate wall and / or is part of the intermediate wall. This situation is a particularly advantageous design of the present invention, because this intermediate wall, which is also provided in addition to the first side wall and the second side wall, can also assume additional functions, as described in detail later. In addition, "the heating layer is integrated into this intermediate wall or this intermediate wall is designed as a heating wall" to achieve more uniform heating of two adjacent cells. If the heating layer is integrated into only one side wall, for example, the cell side of the cell that is adjacent to this side wall is heated more strongly than the cell side adjacent to the opposite side wall. The additional intermediate wall can heat the two cells adjacent to the intermediate cell cooling device more evenly and distribute the heat more evenly to the two side walls.

[0017] In principle, it is also conceivable that such an intermediate wall is arranged on the inside in direct contact with one of the two side walls. However, it is very advantageous if the intermediate wall is arranged as centrally as possible between the first side wall and the second side wall in the first direction. In this case, the average spacing of the intermediate wall from the first side wall is correspondingly equal to the average spacing of the intermediate wall from the second side wall. The average spacing is formed when the intermediate wall has no constant spacing from the first side wall or the second side wall. However, the intermediate wall can also be designed to be flat and arranged at a constant spacing from the first side wall and from the second side wall, wherein the spacing from the first side wall and from the second side wall is preferably the same or as close to the same as possible.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the heating layer extends perpendicularly to the first direction over most of the length and width of the central middle cell cooling region and preferably over the entire length and width of the central middle cell cooling region. This is advantageous if the heating layer is integrated into the first side wall and / or the second side wall and the heating layer is provided via the middle wall. This allows particularly uniform heating to be provided over the entire length and width, in particular over the entire cross section of the middle cell cooling device perpendicular to the first direction.

[0019] In another advantageous design of the present invention, the intermediate cell cooling device comprises at least one supporting element in the central intermediate cell cooling area, which is arranged in a contacting manner on one side on the first inner side of the first side wall opposite to the first outer side of the first side wall, and on the other side on the second inner side of the second side wall opposite to the second outer side of the second side wall, so that the first side wall is partially supported on the second side wall. This design is particularly advantageous in the following case, that is, the first side wall and the second side wall are designed to be thin-walled and flexible. It can be advantageously avoided that the intermediate cell cooling device and in particular at least one cooling channel will not or will not be very strongly compressed by the pressing force applied to the intermediate cell cooling device by the battery cell. The battery cell stack is usually clamped by means of a clamping device, whereby a certain pressing force of the battery cell adjacent to the intermediate cell cooling device on the intermediate cell cooling device will occur. In addition, the battery cell bulges during its service life and bulges and retracts cyclically during each charging process and discharging process. Now advantageously, this expansion force can also be at least partially intercepted by at least one supporting element. In this case, the intermediate cell cooling device can also include a plurality of such support elements. Such support elements can be arranged, for example, distributed in the inner cavity in a point-like manner, i.e. in the area between the two side walls, for example according to a uniform pattern or also in the form of support rods extending perpendicularly to the first direction. In addition, at least one support element can be designed at least partially flexibly or elastically in order to achieve a certain flexibility of the intermediate cell cooling device, which is advantageous for the above-mentioned expansion compensation.

[0020] Advantageously, the at least one supporting element can therefore ensure that a certain flow cross section of the center cell cooling device or of the cooling channels integrated therein is ensured even in the event of very strong expansion forces.

[0021] In this case, a special embodiment of the invention provides that at least one supporting element is provided by the intermediate wall. In other words, the intermediate wall can assume the above-mentioned supporting function of the at least one supporting element. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate supporting element. It is accordingly advantageous if the intermediate wall is not only designed as a film, but also has a certain rigidity in order to assume this supporting function.

[0022] Here, another advantageous design of the present invention provides that the intermediate wall has a first wall side and a second wall side opposite to the first wall side in a first direction, wherein the spacing between the first wall side and the second wall side defines the wall thickness of the intermediate wall, wherein the first wall side and / or the second wall side are configured with a surface geometry different from the plane, the first wall side partially contacts the first inner side, and the second wall side partially contacts the second inner side, in particular wherein the intermediate wall has a substantially constant wall thickness in the central intermediate cell cooling region. The intermediate wall is, for example, geometrically shaped in such a way that the intermediate wall alternately rests on the first side wall and the second side wall, for example similar to a corrugated sheet. As a result, the above-mentioned supporting function can be integrated into the intermediate wall in a particularly advantageous manner. In addition, a flow channel defined by the intermediate wall can be formed thereby. For example, the intermediate wall can divide the spatial area between the two side walls into two partitions, namely, a first partition between the first side wall and the intermediate wall and a second partition between the second side wall and the intermediate wall, wherein these partitions can be divided into other sub-areas by the geometric structure of the intermediate wall, for example, the first partition is divided into a plurality of first sub-areas, which are first cooling channels through which the coolant can flow, and the second partition is divided into a plurality of second sub-areas, which are second cooling channels through which the coolant can flow. Here, the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel can be completely fluidly separated from each other, at least in the central middle battery cell cooling area, or the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel can also be fluidically connected to each other. In addition, the intermediate wall can also be constructed with an opening, such as a certain hole pattern, so that the coolant can flow through the intermediate wall. As a result, the first partition and the second partition are fluidically connected to each other.

[0023] The contact areas between the individual wall side surfaces and the inner side surfaces of the side walls can be designed, for example, in a point-shaped manner, or in a circular manner, or in a linear manner, in particular in the form of lines running parallel to one another.

[0024] In order to achieve this, there are different possibilities for the geometrical configuration of the intermediate wall, as explained in detail below. For example, the intermediate wall can have a plurality of projections and recesses along a first direction with reference to an imaginary center plane perpendicular to the first direction. This can also involve linear projections and recesses. This means that the intermediate wall can be configured in such a way that the projections and recesses alternate in the direction of the intermediate wall along the second direction and also along the third direction. However, the intermediate wall can also be configured in such a way that the projections and recesses alternate only along the second direction or only along the third direction, wherein the cross section of the intermediate wall, for example perpendicular to the second direction or perpendicular to the third direction, in this case always remains constant or has a constant or identical geometry.

[0025] According to another very advantageous design of the present invention, the intermediate wall is wavy in shape. Therefore, the intermediate wall has a wavy structure. Here, the wavy structure can be used for the first wall side as well as the second wall side. As mentioned above, it is preferred that the wall thickness of the intermediate wall is substantially constant in the central intermediate cell cooling area. Therefore, the first wall side and the second wall side can be constructed with complementary wavy structures accordingly. This means that a protrusion is arranged on the first wall side at this location, and a recess is arranged on the corresponding second wall side, and vice versa. The significant advantage of the wavy direction is that a certain elasticity can be provided in the first direction at the same time through this geometric structure. This is very conducive to achieving the above-mentioned support function and a certain expansion compensation.

[0026] According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate wall extends in a zigzag shape. Therefore, the intermediate wall can be constructed similarly to the wave-shaped course, with the difference that the contact area with the corresponding inner side of the first side wall and the second side wall is designed as the tip of the wall extending in a zigzag shape, instead of being designed as a rounded portion as in the case of the wave-shaped course.

[0027] In another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate wall extends in a meandering shape, and the contact surface with the first inner side surface and the second inner side surface can be designed to be slightly widened accordingly.

[0028] In principle, the described geometrical configurations can also be combined in the same intermediate wall in that, for example, different regions of the intermediate wall are configured with different such configurations. Preferably, however, the intermediate wall is designed with a consistent configuration, which enables a more uniform temperature distribution and simpler manufacture.

[0029] The side walls and the middle wall can be made of any material in principle. The heating device includes at least one electrical conductor, because it is preferably designed as an electrical heating device. The electrical conductor can be embedded in a corresponding wall structure or plate structure, in particular a supporting material, which can be selected arbitrarily, for example, a metal material and / or a plastic material. Preferably, the side walls are made of a metal material, because this enables particularly good heat conduction. Preferably, due to the good thermal conductivity, the side walls are made of aluminum, but structures made of other materials or material combinations can also be considered. Accordingly, the side walls can also be called sheet materials. The side walls and / or the middle wall can be bonded and / or welded to each other, for example in the edge area or in the connection area between the middle wall and the two side walls in the central middle cell cooling area, and / or joined by other methods.

[0030] The heating layer can be controlled by applying a voltage. In this case, the heating device heats up and its heat is transferred to the outer plate on the one hand through a direct connection with the side wall and on the other hand through an indirect path via a cooling fluid.

[0031] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a battery module having an intermediate cell cooling device according to the present invention or one of its embodiments.

[0032] According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the battery module comprises a cell stack including at least two cells arranged adjacent to each other in a stacking direction, wherein an intermediate cell cooling device is arranged in a gap between the two cells.

[0033] Here, such a battery cell stack can also have more than two battery cells. These battery cells can also be arranged side by side in the stacking direction. A gap is provided between each two battery cells arranged adjacent to each other in the stacking direction of such a battery cell stack, in which gap such an intermediate battery cell cooling device can be arranged.

[0034] The battery cell is preferably designed as a bag-shaped battery cell or a prismatic battery cell. In addition, the battery cell can be designed as a lithium-ion battery cell.

[0035] Furthermore, the invention relates to a battery, in particular a high-voltage battery for a motor vehicle, which can have one or more of the battery modules according to the invention or one of their embodiments.

[0036] A motor vehicle having such a battery module according to the invention or one of its embodiments is also to be regarded as belonging to the present invention.

[0037] In addition, the present invention also relates to a cooling device for a battery module, wherein the cooling device has an intermediate cell cooling device according to the present invention or one of its designs. In addition, the cooling device can also include a plurality of such intermediate cell cooling devices.

[0038] According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device has a control device for controlling the coolant flow through the intermediate cell cooling device and for controlling the heating device, wherein the control device is designed to control the coolant flow and the heating device in such a way that when the heating device is in an activated heating state, the intermediate cell cooling device is not circulated by coolant or is circulated to a reduced extent. This makes it possible that the heat generated by the heating device is not immediately carried away by the coolant flow. This allows the adjacent cells to be heated more effectively.

[0039] The cooling device can also include a cooling channel in which a coolant, preferably a liquid coolant, can circulate and circulate during operation. In addition, the cooling device can also include other cooling devices in addition to the intermediate cell cooling device. In addition, the cooling device can have at least one coolant pump for conveying the coolant through the cooling channel. By activating the pump, it can be achieved that the intermediate cell cooling device is circulated by means of the coolant. If, on the other hand, the heating device is activated, the coolant pump can be deactivated by actuation by the control device, or at least its pump power can be reduced.

[0040] The control device may have a data processing device or a processor device, which is configured to perform the corresponding cooling method. To this end, the processor device may have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (field programmable gate array) and / or at least one DSP (digital signal processor). As a microprocessor, in particular, a CPU (central processing unit), a GPU (graphics processing unit) or an NPU (neural network processing unit) can be used respectively. In addition, the processor device may have a program code, which is configured to perform an embodiment of the cooling method according to the present invention when running through the processor device. The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device. The processor device can be based on at least one circuit board and / or at least one SoC (system on chip), for example.

[0041] The present invention also includes improvements of the battery module according to the invention and of the cooling device according to the invention, which have the features already described in conjunction with the improvements of the intermediate cell cooling device according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding improvements of the battery module according to the invention and of the cooling device according to the invention are not described here.

[0042] The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a car, in particular as a passenger car or a commercial vehicle, or as a bus or a motorcycle.

[0043] The invention also includes combinations of features of the described embodiments. Therefore, the invention also includes implementations which each have a combination of features of a plurality of the described embodiments, as long as these embodiments are not described as mutually exclusive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The embodiments of the present invention are described below. As shown in the figure:

[0045] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view showing an intermediate battery cell cooling device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 2 An embodiment of the present invention is shown Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of an intermediate cell cooling device in FIG.

[0047] Figure 3 An embodiment of the present invention is shown Figure 2 A detailed view of a schematic cross-sectional view of an intermediate cell cooling arrangement in FIG.

[0048] Figure 4 A schematic cross-sectional view showing an intermediate battery core cooling device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 5 A schematic cross-sectional view showing another intermediate battery cell cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 6 A schematic cross-sectional view showing an intermediate battery core cooling device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing a battery module in a top view during cooling of the battery cells by means of an intermediate battery cell cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0052] Figure 8 An embodiment of the present invention is shown Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the battery module in heating operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the embodiments, the described components of the embodiments are respectively individual features of the present invention that can be regarded as independent of each other, and these features also improve the present invention independently of each other. Therefore, the present disclosure should also include feature combinations that are different from the illustrated embodiment feature combinations. In addition, the embodiments may also be supplemented by other features in the already described features of the present invention.

[0054] In the figures, the same reference numerals respectively denote elements with the same function.

[0055] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an intermediate cell cooling device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Here, the intermediate cell cooling device 10 has a central intermediate cell cooling region 12, which is arranged between two cells 14 in the intermediate cell cooling device 10 in a conventional manner (see Figure 7 ) is arranged in the gaps 16 between these cells 14 (see Figure 7 ). In this example, the intermediate cell cooling device 10 has two side walls 18, 20, between which an intermediate wall 22 is arranged. The side walls 18, 20 are preferably designed as flat plates, but in principle can be formed from any material. In this example, the intermediate cell cooling device 10 also includes a heating device in the form of a heating layer 24, which is also provided by the intermediate wall 22. In other words, the intermediate wall 22 is designed as a heating device or a heating layer 24. In addition, in this example, the intermediate wall 22 is designed in a corrugated manner. This means that it has a corrugated structure.

[0056] Figure 2 Shown here Figure 1 Schematic cross-sectional view of the intermediate battery cell cooling device 10 in FIG. Figure 3 Show again Figure 2 Detailed schematic view of the cross-section in FIG. Figures 1 to 3 .

[0057] Here, the first side wall 18 has an outer side 18a and an inner side 18b. The second side wall 20 also has an outer side 20a and an inner side 20b. The intermediate wall 22 also includes a first wall side 22a and an opposite second wall side 22b. The wavy structure of the intermediate wall 22 forms a projection 26a and a recess 26b of the intermediate wall pointing in the x direction. The area of ​​the projection 26a of the intermediate wall 22 is also a connection area 28a for connecting the intermediate wall 22 and the inner side 18b of the first side wall, and the recess 26b is also a connection area 28b for connecting the side wall 22 to the inner side 20b of the second side wall 20. Here, the side walls 18, 20 and the intermediate wall 22 can be bonded or welded to each other at these connection areas 28a, 28b or joined by other methods. Through this structure, a plurality of first cooling channels 30a between the intermediate wall 22 and the first side wall 18 and a plurality of second cooling channels 30b between the intermediate wall 22 and the second side wall 20 are formed between the two side walls 18 and 20. In this example, the cooling channels 30a and 30b extend in parallel with each other and in the y direction. Therefore, the cooling channels 30a and 30b can be advantageously traversed by the coolant 32, such as in Figure 3 As shown in . If the heating layer 24 integrated into the intermediate wall 22 is activated, heat 34a, 34b is discharged through it and transferred to the adjacent cell side of the battery cell 14 via the side walls 18, 20. In this example, there are two transfer paths, namely: a first path, through which heat 34a is transferred and the first path passes from the intermediate wall 22 directly via one of the side walls 18, 20 to the cell side; and a second transfer path, through which heat 34b is transferred and the second transfer path passes from the intermediate wall 22 via the coolant 32 and one of the side walls 18, 20 to the adjacent cell side. In order to heat the heating layer 24, a heating voltage is applied to the heating layer. This is achieved by two electrical connections 36, which can also be part of the intermediate cell cooling device 10. However, these two electrical connections are located outside the central intermediate cell cooling area 12.

[0058] Therefore, the heating structure 26 is preferably arranged between the two outer plates 18, 20 and is preferably designed as a corrugated structure. This simultaneously enables a good thermal connection with the fluid 32 and the two outer sides 18a, 20a, an expansion of the heating surface and a definition of the required flow cross section. In other words, the intermediate wall 22 can in this case simultaneously serve as a supporting element 38 by its corrugated structure in order to support the two side walls 18, 20 relative to each other and thus always ensure the minimum cross section through which the cooling channels 30a, 30b can flow. By means of the non-flat design of the intermediate wall 22, the heating surface provided by the surface, i.e. the first wall side 22a and the second wall side 22b, can be advantageously enlarged.

[0059] However, many other possible configurations of the heating layer 24 are also conceivable, as described below according to Figures 4 to 6 As described.

[0060] Figures 4 to 6 Here, schematic cross-sectional views of the intermediate cell cooling device 10 according to various other embodiments of the present invention are shown respectively. Figure 4 In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the heating device 24 is again integrated into the intermediate wall 22, but in this example, the intermediate wall 22 is designed as a flat wall, which is substantially at the same distance from the first side wall 18 and the second side wall 20, i.e., in the center of the first side wall 18 and the second side wall 20 in the x-direction shown. In addition, the intermediate cell cooling device 10 is designed as described above. In order to support the two side walls 18, 20 relative to each other, the intermediate cell cooling device 10 also includes lateral spacers 40, which are arranged in the z-direction shown in the corresponding edge region between the two side walls 18, 20. The centrally arranged heating element 24 provided by the intermediate wall 22 can heat the two side walls 18, 20 in a particularly uniform manner.

[0061] exist Figure 5 In the example shown in , the intermediate wall 22 with the integrated heating structure 24 is arranged eccentrically relative to the first side wall 18 and the second side wall 20 and can be arranged, for example, directly on one of the two side walls, here the first side wall 18. Here, a supporting element 40 is also provided at the edge in the z direction in order to ensure a certain minimum distance between the two side walls 18, 20.

[0062] According to Figure 6 In the example shown in , the intermediate cell cooling device 10 does not include an intermediate wall. Instead, in this example, the heating layer 24 is integrated into one of the two side walls 18, 20, in this case the first side wall 18. In other words, in this example the side wall 18 itself can be designed as a heating wall 24. In this example, a supporting element 40 is also provided, which is arranged between the side walls 18, 20 in two edge regions of the side walls 18, 20 that are opposite in the z direction.

[0063] The end sides 10a, 10b of the center cell cooling device 10 that are opposite in the y direction shown can be designed to be open. In other words, the cooling channels 30a, 30b are designed to be unsealed on these end sides 10a, 10b. This allows the coolant 32 to flow through the center cell cooling device 10 in an open manner. The same also applies to Figures 4 to 6 Alternatively, the end sides 10a, 10b can also be designed to be sealed, and the intermediate cell cooling device 10 can additionally have a coolant input connection and a coolant discharge connection to input coolant into the cooling channels 30a, 30b or to discharge coolant therefrom.

[0064] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a battery module 42 is shown in a top view from above in the z-direction shown. The battery module 42 has a cell stack 44, which in turn includes a plurality of cells 14 arranged side by side in a stacking direction, wherein the stacking direction corresponds to the x-direction shown. A gap 16 is provided between each two cells 14 arranged adjacent to each other, in which an intermediate cell cooling device 10 is arranged. In this case, each cell 14 has two cell side faces 14a, 14b that are opposite to each other in the x-direction. In this case, one of the two cell side faces 14a, 14b is adjacent to the corresponding side walls 18, 20 of the intermediate cell cooling device 10, in particular in a planar manner. In this example, the intermediate cell cooling device 10 is used in the cooling operation of a cooling device 46 that includes the intermediate cell cooling device. The cooling device 46 can, for example, include a housing 48 through which a coolant 32 can flow, which housing can also be part of the battery module 42, and in which the cell stack 44 is arranged. The housing 48 can be designed to be fluid-tight accordingly. In this example, the electrodes of the battery cell 14 are located at the top in the z direction, and the cooling device 46 can be designed so that only the lower part of the housing 48 is flowed through by the coolant 32 in the z direction, so that the electrodes cannot contact the coolant 32. Alternatively, for example, when the coolant 32 is a gas or a non-conductive liquid coolant 32, the entire housing 48 can also be flowed through.

[0065] Furthermore, the cooling device 46 comprises a coolant input connection 50 and a coolant discharge connection 52. The corresponding coolant flow 32', shown here by an arrow, can be input into the cooling device 46 via the input connection 50, and the corresponding coolant flow 32' can be discharged from the discharge connection 52. In the example shown, the corresponding heating device 24 of the corresponding intermediate cell cooling device 10 is in a deactivated state. Therefore, in this example, the cell 14 is to be cooled by means of the coolant 32. The cell 14 accordingly discharges heat 54 to the coolant 32 flowing through the cooling channels 30a, 30b of the intermediate cell cooling device 10. The coolant 32 heated in this way is discharged through the discharge connection 52.

[0066] Figure 8 Shows heating operation Figure 7 The battery module 42 can be configured as follows: Figure 7 In this example, the battery cells 14 are heated by means of the corresponding intermediate battery cell cooling device 10. In this state, the corresponding heating device 24 of the corresponding intermediate battery cell cooling device 10 is energized via its corresponding connection 36 and thus generates heat. The heating structure 24 dissipates the heat 34 to the battery cells 14 as described above.

[0067] For more efficient heating, it is further provided that the cooling device 46 reduces or completely shuts off the coolant flow 32 supplied to the supply connection 50 in heating operation relative to the coolant flow in cooling operation. Thus, in the "battery heating" operating state, as in Figure 8 As shown in , the volume flow through the battery system 42 or through the individual intermediate cell cooling units 10 is preferably significantly reduced or completely shut off in order to reduce heat losses into the cooling system and peripherals.

[0068] When heating, the heating structure 24 dissipates heat 34 directly to the outer plates 18 , 20 or the cooling fluid 32 and thereby heats the battery cells 14 .

[0069] In general, these examples show how an intermediate cell cooler with an integrated heating structure can be provided by the present invention. The cooling power and heating power can be improved by combining the intermediate cell cooling plate with the heating structure in the component. In this way, the heat loss into the cooling circuit system components and peripherals is minimized. The performance of the battery cell, in particular the lithium-ion battery cell, decreases in a temperature range of less than 25°C. This causes in conventional battery systems that the full power cannot be immediately called up during vehicle operation at low temperatures. Moreover, when charging, the battery cell does not use the maximum possible power in a low temperature range of less than 25°C. This in turn leads to longer charging times in conventional battery systems. Now, the present invention and its embodiments can advantageously achieve, in particular when necessary, for example when the battery cell temperature is in a temperature range of less than 25°C, to effectively and energy-efficiently heat the battery system. By integrating the heating structure directly into the intermediate cell cooling device, heat losses in the cooling circuit system components and the resulting unintentional discharge of heating power to the environment can be avoided or minimized.

Claims

1. An intermediate cell cooling device (10), the intermediate cell cooling device being used to be arranged in a gap (16) between two cells (14) arranged adjacent to each other along a stacking direction (x) of a cell stack (44), wherein: A portion (12) of the intermediate cell cooling device (10) is a central intermediate cell cooling area (12), and when the intermediate cell cooling device (10) is arranged in the gap (16), the portion is completely located within the gap (16), wherein the intermediate cell cooling device (10) comprises: - a first side wall (18) having a first outer side surface (18a) for being arranged on a first battery cell side surface (14b) of one of two battery cells (14) adjacent to each other; - a second side wall (20) opposite to the first side wall (18) in the first direction (x), the second side wall having a second outer side surface (20a) for being arranged on a second battery cell side surface (14a) relative to the other battery cell of two battery cells (14) adjacent to each other; a heating device (24) designed as a heating layer (24) for heating the intermediate cell cooling device (10), It is characterized in that At least one cooling channel (30a, 30b) through which a coolant can flow is designed as a part of a central intermediate cell cooling region (12) between a first side wall (18) and a second side wall (20) in a first direction (x), and a heating layer (24) is designed to heat a coolant (32) located in at least one cooling channel (30a, 30b).

2. The intermediate cell cooling device (10) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The heating layer (24) is designed as the first side wall (18) and / or the second side wall (20); and / or the heating layer is integrated into the first side wall (18) and / or the second side wall (20).

3. An intermediate cell cooling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The intermediate cell cooling device (10) has an intermediate wall (22), which is arranged between a first side wall (18) and a second side wall (20) in a first direction (x), wherein the heating layer (24) is designed as the intermediate wall (22) and / or is a part of the intermediate wall (22).

4. An intermediate cell cooling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The heating layer (24) extends perpendicular to the first direction (x) across most of the length and width of the central middle cell cooling region (12) and preferably across the entire length and width of the central middle cell cooling region (12).

5. An intermediate cell cooling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The intermediate cell cooling device (10) includes at least one supporting element (38) in a central intermediate cell cooling region (12), wherein the at least one supporting element is arranged in a contact manner on one side on a first inner side surface (18b) of a first side wall (18) opposite to a first outer side surface (18a) of the first side wall (18), and on the other side on a second inner side surface (20b) of a second side wall (20) opposite to a second outer side surface (20a) of the second side wall (20), so that the first side wall (18) is locally supported on the second side wall (20).

6. An intermediate cell cooling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The at least one supporting element (38) is provided by the intermediate wall (22).

7. An intermediate cell cooling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The intermediate wall (22) has a first wall side (22a) and a second wall side (22b) opposite to the first wall side (22a) in a first direction (x), wherein the spacing between the first wall side (22a) and the second wall side (22b) defines the wall thickness of the intermediate wall (22), wherein the first wall side (22a) and / or the second wall side (22b) are constructed with a surface geometry different from the plane, the first wall side (22a) is partially in contact with the first inner side (18b), and the second wall side (22b) is partially in contact with the second inner side (20b), and in particular, the intermediate wall (22) has a substantially constant wall thickness in the central intermediate cell cooling area (12).

8. An intermediate cell cooling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that Intermediate wall (22) A plurality of protrusions (26a) and recesses (26b) are provided along a first direction (x) based on an imaginary center plane perpendicular to the first direction (x); and / or is wavy; and / or extends in a zigzag pattern; and / or Extends in a zigzag shape.

9. A battery module (42), comprising: An intermediate cell cooling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims; A battery cell stack (44) comprises at least two battery cells (14) arranged adjacent to each other along a stacking direction (x), wherein an intermediate battery cell cooling device (10) is arranged in a gap (16) between the two battery cells (14).

10. A cooling device (46) for a battery module (42), wherein: The cooling device (46) comprises: an intermediate cell cooling device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8; a control device for controlling a coolant flow (32', 32") passing through the intermediate cell cooling device (10) and for controlling a heating device (24), wherein the control device is designed to control the coolant flow (32', 32") and the heating device (24) in the following manner, namely, when the heating device (24) is in an activated heating state, the intermediate cell cooling device (10) is not flowed through by the coolant (32).

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