Medium heating device and vehicle

Abstract

Disclosed are a medium heating device and a vehicle. The medium heating device comprises: a housing, having an accommodating cavity, wherein a first liquid pipe and a second liquid pipe are provided on the housing; and a first flow channel and a second flow channel, accommodated in the accommodating cavity. The housing has a second direction y, and the first flow channel and the second flow channel are stacked in the second direction y; and in the second direction y, a first heating element is stacked on the side of the first flow channel distant from the second flow channel, and a second heating element is stacked on the side of the second flow channel distant from the first flow channel. The technical solution that the two flow channels and the two heating elements are stacked is used in the present application, a larger heat dissipation area is achieved, the size of a water tank is reduced while the heating power is increased, and the present invention can be adapted to a wider range of vehicle models.

Description

Medium heating device and automobile

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on October 16, 2023, with application number 202311331779.0 and application name “Medium Heating Device and Automobile”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to, but is not limited to, the technical field of electric heating devices, and in particular to a medium heating device and a vehicle. Background Art

[0003] The car liquid heater heats the car's circulating medium (such as antifreeze, etc.) and transfers the heat directly to the car's radiator, defroster and battery, providing a heat source for low-temperature starting of the car and heating the cabin.

[0004] Commercially available automotive fluid heaters typically use thick-film or positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistors as heating elements. While thick-film devices offer higher heat conversion rates than PTC thermistors, their heating and heat dissipation capabilities are lower. Heating the same volume of liquid to the same temperature requires a larger area of ​​thick-film. Consequently, automotive fluid heaters using thick-film devices occupy a larger interior volume than those using PTC thermistors.

[0005] Application Contents

[0006] The embodiments of the present application provide a medium heating device and a vehicle, which, through a double-layer flow channel and a double-layer heating element coordinated with the double-layer flow channel, can expand the heating area, increase the heating power, and reduce the overall volume at the same time.

[0007] The embodiments of this application disclose the following technical solutions:

[0008] The embodiment of the present application provides a medium heating device, comprising:

[0009] A housing having a receiving cavity, wherein a first liquid pipe and a second liquid pipe are provided on the housing;

[0010] a first flow channel and a second flow channel, the first flow channel and the second flow channel being accommodated in the accommodating chamber; the housing having a second direction y, the first flow channel and the second flow channel being stacked along the second direction y; the first flow channel including a first liquid inlet end and a first liquid outlet end, the second flow channel including a second liquid inlet end and a second liquid outlet end, the first liquid inlet end and the second liquid inlet end being adjacent to each other and connected to the first liquid pipe; the first liquid outlet end and the second liquid outlet end being adjacent to each other and connected to the second liquid pipe; liquid flowing into the first liquid pipe is then separated to the first liquid inlet end and the second liquid inlet end, and liquid flowing out of the first liquid outlet end and the second liquid outlet end are then merged and flow out of the second liquid pipe;

[0011] a first heating element and a second heating element, wherein in the second direction y, the first heating element is stacked on a side of the first flow channel away from the second flow channel, and the second heating element is stacked on a side of the second flow channel away from the first flow channel;

[0012] A controller is installed on one side of the shell, and includes a housing and a circuit board arranged in the housing. The housing and the shell are an integrated structure, and the circuit board is electrically connected to the first heating element and the second heating element.

[0013] Optionally, the first heating element and the second heating element are thick film heating elements.

[0014] Optionally, the housing further comprises a flow channel plate disposed in the accommodating cavity; in the second direction y, the flow channel plate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, the first surface being provided with a first guide groove, and the second surface being provided with a second guide groove;

[0015] The medium heating device further includes: a first sealing plate and a second sealing plate, wherein the first sealing plate is disposed on the first surface and the first sealing plate and the first guide groove are arranged to form the first flow channel, and the second sealing plate is disposed on the second surface and the second sealing plate and the second guide groove are arranged to form the second flow channel;

[0016] The first heating element is arranged on a side of the first sealing plate away from the first flow channel, and the second heating element is arranged on a side of the second sealing plate away from the second flow channel.

[0017] Optionally, a first window is provided on the flow channel plate near the first liquid pipe, the first window penetrates the flow channel plate along the second direction y, and the first window connects the first flow channel and the second flow channel;

[0018] A second window is provided on the flow channel plate near the second liquid pipe. The second window penetrates the flow channel plate along the second direction y. The second window connects the first flow channel and the second flow channel.

[0019] Optionally, the first guide groove and the second guide groove are groove-shaped structures that bend back and forth between the first liquid pipe and the second liquid pipe.

[0020] Optionally, the flow channel plate is provided with a mixing hole, and the mixing hole communicates with the first guide groove and the second guide groove.

[0021] Optionally, a plurality of ribs are respectively provided in the first guide groove and the second guide groove.

[0022] Optionally, the ribs are configured as at least one of triangular ribs and trapezoidal ribs.

[0023] Optionally, the controller further includes a high-voltage connector, a low-voltage connector, and a power supply interface mounted on the circuit board and exposed from the housing, and the power supply interface is electrically connected to the first heating element.

[0024] Optionally, the flow channel plate has a through hole, the through hole passes through the flow channel plate along the second direction y, and the through hole is isolated from the first flow channel and the second flow channel;

[0025] A wiring harness is provided at one end of the first heating element away from the power supply interface. The wiring harness passes through the through hole and electrically connects the first heating element and the second heating element.

[0026] An embodiment of the present application provides a car, comprising the above-mentioned medium heating device. Beneficial effects

[0027] This application utilizes a stacked dual flow channel and dual heating element technology, resulting in a larger heat dissipation area, increasing heating power while reducing the volume of the water tank, making it compatible with a wider range of vehicle models. At the same flow rate, the flow resistance of the dual-layer flow channel is less than that of a single-layer flow channel, better matching the flow resistance requirements of various OEMs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a medium heating device provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of an exploded structure of a water tank in a medium heating device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a medium heating device according to an embodiment of the present application after the first cover plate is removed;

[0031] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of a medium heating device according to an embodiment of the present application after the second cover plate is removed;

[0032] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of an outer shell and a housing in a medium heating device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a housing in a medium heating device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of a housing in a medium heating device according to an embodiment of the present application from another perspective;

[0035] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of a controller in a medium heating device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] FIG9 is a bottom view of a controller in a medium heating device according to an embodiment of the present application with a bottom cover removed;

[0037] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of a first guide groove in a medium heating device according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0038] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of fins in a medium heating device according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0039] FIG12 is a schematic structural diagram of a mixing hole in a medium heating device according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0040] In the figure: 10-water tank; 100-shell; 101-first liquid pipe; 102-second liquid pipe; 103-flow channel plate; 104-through hole; 105-second through-opening; 106-rib; 107-mixing hole; 110-first guide groove; 111-first liquid inlet end; 112-first liquid outlet end; 120-second guide groove; 121-second liquid inlet end; 122-second liquid outlet end; 131-first window; 132-second window; 210-first sealing plate; 220-second sealing plate; 310-first heating element; 320-second heating element; 301-wiring harness; 20-controller; 21-high voltage connector; 22-low voltage connector; 23-power supply interface; 24-circuit board; 25-shell; 251-first through-opening.

[0041] Implementation Methods of the Application

[0042] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and beneficial effects of this application more clear, the following further describes this application in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods. It should be understood that the specific implementation methods described in this specification are only for the purpose of explaining this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0043] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, Figures 1 and 2 respectively show a schematic structural diagram and an exploded structural diagram of a medium heating device in one embodiment of the present application. The medium heating device provided in one embodiment of the present application includes a water tank 10 and a controller 20. The water tank 10 includes a first liquid pipe 101 and a second liquid pipe 102, which are used for the inflow and outflow of liquid, respectively. The water tank 10 has a first direction x, a second direction y, and a third direction z that are mutually perpendicular. The water tank 10 also includes a first flow channel and a second flow channel that enable the liquid flowing into the water tank 10 to flow in parallel and synchronously. The first flow channel and the second flow channel are stacked along the second direction y. The first flow channel and the second flow channel are independent of each other. As shown in Figure 6, the first flow channel includes a first liquid inlet end 111 for liquid inlet and a first liquid outlet end 112 for liquid outlet; the second flow channel includes a second liquid inlet end 121 for liquid inlet and a second liquid outlet end 122 for liquid outlet. After the liquid flows into the first liquid pipe 101, it is divided into the first flow channel and the second flow channel. The liquid converges and flows out from the second liquid pipe 102 together. The first flow channel is provided with a first heating element 310, and the second flow channel is provided with a second heating element 320. The first heating element 310 is arranged on one side of the water tank 10 in the second direction y, and the second heating element 320 is arranged on the other side of the water tank 10 in the second direction y. The first heating element 310 covers the first flow channel, and the second heating element 320 covers the area through which the second flow channel flows, so as to heat the liquid in the first flow channel and the second flow channel. The controller 20 is electrically connected to the first heating element 310 and the second heating element 320 in the water tank 10. The controller 20 supplies power to the first heating element 310 and the second heating element 320 while controlling the working status of the first heating element 310 and the second heating element 320.

[0044] The present application utilizes a stacked dual flow channel and dual heating element technology, resulting in a larger heat dissipation area, increasing heating power while reducing the volume of the water tank 10, making it compatible with a wider range of vehicle models. At the same flow rate, the flow resistance of the dual-layer flow channel is lower than that of the single-layer flow channel, better matching the flow resistance requirements of various OEMs.

[0045] 2, 3, and 4, in some embodiments, the water tank 10 includes a housing 100, a first sealing plate 210, a second sealing plate 220, a first heating element 310, a second heating element 320, a first cover plate 410, and a second cover plate 420. The water tank 10 has a first open surface and a second open surface opposite each other along a second direction y. The first cover plate 410 is disposed on the first open surface, and the second cover plate 420 is disposed on the second open surface. The housing 100, the first cover plate 410, and the second cover plate 420 enclose a receiving cavity. The water tank 10 is provided with a first liquid pipe 101 and a second liquid pipe 102 at an end away from the controller 20. The plane in which the first direction x and the third direction z lie is a first plane. The housing 100 includes a flow channel plate 103 extending along the first plane. The flow channel plate 103 has a first surface and a second surface facing each other in the second direction y. A first guide groove 110 and a second guide groove 120 are provided on the first and second surfaces of the flow channel plate 103. The first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120 both connect to the first liquid pipe 101 and the second liquid pipe 102. The first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120 are arranged in a serpentine shape on the flow channel plate 103. First windows 131 are provided at the ends of the first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120 near the first liquid pipe 101, connecting the first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120. The first windows 131 extend through the flow channel plate 103 in the second direction y, so that liquid entering from the first liquid pipe 101 is diverted to the first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120 at the first windows 131. The first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120 are provided with a second window 132 at the end near the second liquid pipe 102 to connect the first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120. The second window 132 passes through the flow channel plate 103 along the second direction y, so that the liquid guided by the first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120 converges at the second window 132 and then flows out of the water tank 10 from the second liquid pipe 102.

[0046] In this embodiment, the first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120 are both groove-shaped structures that bend back and forth between the first liquid pipe 101 and the second liquid pipe 102. Optionally, other bending shapes can be set according to actual needs and are not specifically limited here.

[0047] Exemplarily, in some embodiments, referring to FIG10 , the first guide groove 110 may also be bent back and forth in a serpentine shape from the first liquid inlet end 111 to the first liquid outlet end 112, and the first guide groove 110 may be a bilaterally symmetrical structure on the first surface. It is understandable that the second guide groove 120 may also be configured to be bent back and forth in a serpentine shape. In this embodiment, the first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120 are mirror-symmetrical along the first plane where the flow channel plate 103 is located. Optionally, the first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120 may also be configured to be a non-mirror-image stacked structure according to actual needs, which is not specifically limited here.

[0048] The first sealing plate 210 and the second sealing plate 220 are respectively arranged at positions corresponding to the first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120. The first sealing plate 210 is attached to and fixedly connected to the first surface and the second surface of the flow channel plate 103, so that the first guide groove 110 and the first sealing plate 210 are enclosed to form a first flow channel, and the second sealing plate 220 is attached to and fixedly connected to the second surface, so that the second guide groove 120 and the second sealing plate 220 are enclosed to form a second flow channel. The extension direction of the first flow channel and the second flow channel are both parallel to the first surface or the second surface. The first sealing plate 210 and the second sealing plate 220 are not only adjacent to the first flow channel and the second flow channel respectively, but also abut against the flow channel plate 103, so that heat can not only be directly transferred to the liquid in the first flow channel or the second flow channel through the first sealing plate 210 or the second sealing plate 220, but also indirectly heated by transferring heat to the flow channel plate 103 and then to the liquid in the first flow channel or the second flow channel, thereby improving heating efficiency.

[0049] In some embodiments, referring to FIG12 , the flow channel plate 103 further defines a mixing hole 107 that connects the first guide groove 110 to the second guide groove 120. In this embodiment, multiple mixing holes 107 are provided, and the plurality of mixing holes 107 are distributed along the extension direction of the first guide groove 110. The mixing holes 107 facilitate mixing flow between the first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120, thereby reducing flow resistance and balancing the temperature uniformity of the water flow in the first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120.

[0050] 6 and 7 , a plurality of ribs 106 are provided in the first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120 . The plurality of ribs 106 are distributed near the bends in the first guide groove 110 and the second guide groove 120 .

[0051] The fins 106 are triangular wing vortex generators, or triangular ribs, that generate longitudinal vortices with the axis of rotation as the mainstream flow direction. Based on the principles of heat transfer, these ribs can disrupt the temperature boundary layer, enhance convective heat transfer, reduce the surface temperature of the first heating element 310 and the second heating element 320, and improve heating performance. Furthermore, the housing 100 is made of metal. Preferably, the housing 100 is made of aluminum alloy, which has the advantages of good thermal conductivity, ease of machining, low processing cost, and high strength.

[0052] In some embodiments, referring to FIG11 , the ribs 106 may also be configured as trapezoidal ribs. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the ribs 106 may also include a plurality of triangular ribs or a plurality of trapezoidal ribs. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the ribs 106 may also be configured as ribs of other shapes, such as wavy ribs, which will not be described in detail here.

[0053] As shown in FIG8 and FIG9 , FIG8 and FIG9 respectively show a structural schematic diagram and a bottom view of a controller 20 in an automobile liquid heater proposed in an embodiment of the present application.

[0054] The controller 20 includes a housing 25, a circuit board 24 disposed within the housing 25, and a high-voltage connector 21, a low-voltage connector 22, and a power supply interface 23 mounted on the circuit board 24 and exposed from the housing 25, forming an external conductive circuit for external control signals, a low-voltage control power supply, and a high-voltage load power supply. Specifically, the power supply interface 23 is electrically connected to the first heating element 310 and the second heating element 320, the high-voltage connector 21 serves as a power supply connector for the first heating element 310 and the second heating element 320, and the low-voltage connector 22 provides low-voltage power to the circuit board 24 and receives external signals. For example, the high-voltage connector 21 is connected to the battery, and the low-voltage connector 22 is connected to the battery management system (BMS) or the hybrid vehicle control unit (HCU).

[0055] The first heating element 310 is located on the side of the first sealing plate 210 away from the first flow channel, and the second heating element 320 is located on the side of the second sealing plate 220 away from the second flow channel. Both the first heating element 310 and the second heating element 320 are thick-film heating elements. These thick-film heating elements are created using a thick-film screen printing process. An insulating dielectric, a heating resistor, a conductor, and an insulating protective layer are printed on the first sealing plate 210 or the second sealing plate 220, followed by high-temperature sintering to form the thick-film heating elements.

[0056] The power supply interface 23 is fixedly mounted on the circuit board 24. The power supply interface 23 extends toward the water tank 10, sequentially passing through the first opening 251 of the outer shell 25 of the controller 20 and the second opening 105 at the bottom of the housing 100, thereby entering the space between the first sealing plate 210 and the first cover plate 410. The power supply interface 23 is electrically connected to the first heating element 310. The first heating element 310 is provided with a wiring harness 301 extending toward the second heating element 320 at one end away from the controller 20. The wiring harness 301 passes through a through hole 104 that passes through the flow channel plate 103 along the second direction y. The wiring harness 301 is electrically connected to the second heating element 320, so that the first heating element 310 and the second heating element 320 are connected in series. The controller 20 supplies power to the first heating element 310 and the second heating element 320 through the power supply interface 23 and the wiring harness 301.

[0057] Furthermore, as shown in FIG5 , the housing 25 of the controller 20 and the housing 100 are integrally formed. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the housing 25 of the controller 20 and the housing 100 are integrally formed. In other embodiments, depending on different requirements, the housing 25 of the controller and the housing 100 may also be separate structures, which is not specifically limited herein.

[0058] Specifically, the power supply interface 23 has four parallel terminals, the wiring harness 301 has four parallel sub-wires, the first heating element 310 and the second heating element 320 each have two heating elements, each terminal and each sub-wire corresponds one-to-one to and is electrically connected to a heating element in the first heating element 310 and the second heating element 320, and the heating elements in the first heating element 310 or the second heating element 320 are in a parallel relationship, so that when some heating elements fail and do not work, the heating elements on the non-faulty lines can still work normally. In this embodiment, the power supply interface 23 has four terminals and the wiring harness 301 has four parallel sub-wires. Optionally, a corresponding number of terminals and sub-wires can also be set according to the number of heating elements in the first heating element 310 and the second heating element 320, which is not specifically limited here.

[0059] The first cover plate 410 is arranged on the first open surface of the shell 100, and the second cover plate 420 is arranged on the second open surface of the shell 100. There is a certain gap between the first cover plate 410 and the first heating element 310 on the first sealing plate 210, and there is a certain gap between the second cover plate 420 and the second heating element 320 to avoid the first cover plate 410 or the second cover plate 420 from contacting the heating element and dissipating heat to the outside of the water tank 10, thereby reducing the heating efficiency of the present application.

[0060] Specifically, when the engine, battery, or air conditioner requires heat, the BMS or HCU sends an operating signal to the controller 20 to start the operation of the first and second heating elements 310 and 320. The battery supplies power, causing the first and second heating elements 310 and 320 to convert electrical energy into heat. Liquid flows from the external waterway through the first liquid pipe 101, splits at the first window 131, and then enters the first and second flow channels. During this process, the liquid absorbs heat from the first and second heating elements 310 and 320, then converges at the second window 132 and flows out of the second liquid pipe 102, entering the external waterway. Heat is transferred to the engine, air conditioner, or battery via the liquid, thereby meeting the thermal management requirements of the cockpit.

[0061] The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0062] The above-described embodiments merely represent several implementation methods of the present application. While the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that a person skilled in the art could make numerous variations and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present application, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present patent application shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A medium heating device, comprising: A housing having a receiving cavity, wherein a first liquid pipe and a second liquid pipe are provided on the housing; A first flow channel and a second flow channel, the first flow channel and the second flow channel are accommodated in the accommodating chamber; the shell has a second direction y, the first flow channel and the second flow channel are stacked along the second direction y; the first flow channel includes a first liquid inlet end and a first liquid outlet end, the second flow channel includes a second liquid inlet end and a second liquid outlet end, the first liquid inlet end and the second liquid inlet end are adjacent to each other and are connected to the first liquid pipe; the first liquid outlet end and the second liquid outlet end are adjacent to each other and are connected to the second liquid pipe; after the liquid flows into the first liquid pipe, it is divided into the first liquid inlet end and the second liquid inlet end, and after the liquid flows out from the first liquid outlet end and the second liquid outlet end, it converges and flows out from the second liquid pipe; A first heating element and a second heating element, in the second direction y, the first heating element is stacked on a side of the first flow channel away from the second flow channel, and the second heating element is stacked on a side of the second flow channel away from the first flow channel; A controller is installed on one side of the shell, and the controller includes a shell and a circuit board arranged in the shell, the shell and the shell are an integrated structure, and the circuit board is electrically connected to the first heating element and the second heating element.

2. The medium heating device according to claim 1, wherein: The first heating element and the second heating element are thick film heating elements.

3. The medium heating device according to claim 1, wherein: The housing further comprises a flow channel plate, which is arranged in the accommodating cavity; in the second direction y, the flow channel plate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, the first surface is provided with a first guide groove, and the second surface is provided with a second guide groove; The medium heating device further comprises: a first sealing plate and a second sealing plate, wherein the first sealing plate is arranged on the first surface, and the first sealing plate and the first guide groove are arranged to form the first flow channel, and the second sealing plate is arranged on the second surface, and the second sealing plate and the second guide groove are arranged to form the second flow channel; The first heating element is disposed on a side of the first sealing plate away from the first flow channel, and the second heating element is disposed on a side of the second sealing plate away from the second flow channel.

4. The medium heating device according to claim 3, wherein: A first window is provided at a position of the flow channel plate close to the first liquid pipe, the first window penetrates the flow channel plate along the second direction y, and the first window connects the first flow channel and the second flow channel; A second window is provided at a position of the flow channel plate close to the second liquid pipe. The second window penetrates the flow channel plate along the second direction y. The second window connects the first flow channel and the second flow channel.

5. The medium heating device according to claim 3, wherein: The first guide groove and the second guide groove are respectively groove-shaped structures that bend back and forth between the first liquid pipe and the second liquid pipe.

6. The medium heating device according to claim 3, wherein: The flow channel plate is provided with a mixing hole, and the mixing hole is connected with the first guide groove and the second guide groove.

7. The medium heating device according to claim 3, wherein: A plurality of ribs are respectively disposed in the first guide groove and the second guide groove.

8. The medium heating device according to claim 7, wherein: The ribs are configured as at least one of triangular ribs and trapezoidal ribs.

9. The medium heating device according to claim 3, wherein: The controller further includes a high voltage connector, a low voltage connector and a power supply interface which are mounted on the circuit board and exposed from the housing, and the power supply interface is electrically connected to the first heating element.

10. The medium heating device according to claim 9, wherein: The flow channel plate has a through hole, the through hole penetrates the flow channel plate along the second direction y, the through hole is isolated from the first flow channel, and the through hole is isolated from the second flow channel; A wiring harness is provided at one end of the first heating element away from the power supply interface. The wiring harness passes through the through hole and electrically connects the first heating element and the second heating element.

11. An automobile, comprising the medium heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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