A battery thermal management system

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery thermal management system, comprising: a battery case and a battery module; wherein the battery case has a cavity, and the battery module is located in the cavity; the battery module comprises a battery core assembly and a heat spreader assembly, wherein the battery core assembly comprises a plurality of stacked battery cores, and at least one side of the battery core assembly has a heat conducting surface; the heat spreader assembly comprises a heat spreader portion and a heat conducting portion, and heat conduction is provided between the heat conducting surface on the side of the battery core assembly and the heat spreader portion; heat conduction is provided between the heat conducting portion and the bottom of the battery core assembly and the battery case, respectively, and the heat spreader assembly comprises at least one heat pipe, a portion of each heat pipe is arranged in the heat spreader portion, and another portion is arranged in the heat conducting portion, so as to conduct heat between the heat spreader portion and the heat conducting portion. The battery thermal management system provided by the present invention can achieve heat balance between battery cores and improve the service life of the battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of batteries, and in particular to a battery thermal management system. Background Art

[0002] With the development of society, batteries, as a new energy source, have received widespread attention from all walks of life. A battery refers to a cup, tank or other container or part of a composite container that contains electrolyte solution and metal electrodes to generate current. It is a device that can convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Batteries require a special thermal management system to help them operate within the optimal temperature range.

[0003] In the existing battery thermal management, a heat conducting sheet is usually set between the battery cells. The two sides of the heat conducting sheet are bent and connected to the heating plate and the coolant respectively. However, due to the individual differences between battery cells (such as differences in charge and discharge path resistance, inconsistent state of charge, inconsistent voltage, etc.), inconsistent heat dissipation environment, etc., during use, the temperature difference between each battery cell will become larger and larger, and the heat between each battery cell will be unbalanced. Long-term use will damage the performance of the battery and affect the battery life. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention provides a battery thermal management system, which can achieve heat balance between battery cores and improve the service life of the battery.

[0005] The present invention provides a battery thermal management system, comprising: a battery box and a battery module; wherein:

[0006] The battery box has a cavity, and the battery module is located in the cavity;

[0007] The battery module includes a battery core assembly and a heat spreader assembly, the battery core assembly includes a plurality of stacked battery cores, at least one side of the battery core assembly has a heat conducting surface; the heat spreader assembly includes a heat spreader portion and a heat conducting portion, heat conduction is conducted between the heat conducting surface of the side of the battery core assembly and the heat spreader portion; heat conduction is conducted between the heat conducting portion and the bottom of the battery core assembly and the battery case, respectively, the heat spreader assembly includes at least one heat pipe, a portion of each heat pipe is arranged on the heat spreader portion, and the other portion is arranged on the heat conducting portion, so as to conduct heat between the heat spreader portion and the heat conducting portion.

[0008] Optionally, the heat conduction modes between the heat-conducting surface and the heat-averaging portion, between the heat-conducting portion and the bottom of the battery core assembly, and between the heat-conducting portion and the battery case include one or more of the following: direct contact, connection through a heat-conducting medium.

[0009] Optionally, the battery core assembly further includes a plurality of heat-conducting plates, wherein the heat-conducting plates are located between two adjacent battery cores, and the heat-conducting plates include a first heat-conducting portion and a second heat-conducting portion that are interconnected, wherein the first heat-conducting portion and the two battery cores adjacent to the heat-conducting plate are heat-conducting, and the second heat-conducting portion is exposed on the side of the battery core and forms the heat-conducting surface.

[0010] Optionally, the heat spreader assembly further comprises an L-shaped plate body, one side of the L-shaped plate body constituting a heat spreader portion, and the other side of the L-shaped plate body constituting a heat conduction portion, and the plurality of heat pipes are embedded in the L-shaped plate body and connected between the heat spreader portion and the heat conduction portion.

[0011] Optionally, a hollow frame is provided between the heat spreader assembly and the battery core assembly, the side of the hollow frame is fixedly connected to the battery core assembly, and the L-shaped plate body is fixedly connected to the hollow frame.

[0012] Optionally, the heat spreader assembly also includes a frame, the cross-section of the frame includes a straight section and two bent sections located at both ends of the straight section and bent relative to the straight section, and the multiple heat pipes are located inside the shape enclosed by the straight section and the bent sections.

[0013] Optionally, the frame and the battery core assembly are fixedly connected by screws.

[0014] Optionally, a heating device and / or a cooling device is also provided on the battery case, and the heating device and / or the cooling device conducts heat with the heat conducting part of the heat spreader assembly. The heating device is used to transfer external heat to the battery core assembly, and the cooling device is used to extract heat from the battery core assembly.

[0015] Optionally, a passage for circulating a fluid heat exchange medium is arranged on the battery box.

[0016] Optionally, there are multiple battery modules, and a heat equalizing device is further provided on the battery box, the heat equalizing device includes multiple heat pipes, and the heat equalizing device is used to transfer heat between the multiple battery modules to balance the temperatures of the multiple battery modules.

[0017] The present invention provides a battery thermal management system, which includes a battery case and a battery module; wherein the battery case has a cavity, and the battery module is located in the cavity; the battery module includes a battery core assembly and a heat spreader assembly, wherein the battery core assembly includes a plurality of stacked battery cores, and at least one side of the battery core assembly has a heat conducting surface; the heat spreader assembly includes a heat spreader portion and a heat conducting portion, and heat conduction is provided between the heat conducting surface on the side of the battery core assembly and the heat spreader portion; heat conduction is provided between the heat conducting portion and the bottom of the battery core assembly and the battery case, respectively, and the heat spreader assembly includes at least one heat pipe, a portion of each heat pipe is arranged on the heat spreader portion, and the other portion is arranged on the heat conducting portion, so as to conduct heat between the heat spreader portion and the heat conducting portion. Since there is heat conduction between the heat-conducting surface on the side of the battery core assembly and the heat-saturating part of the heat-saturating plate assembly, and there is heat conduction between the heat-conducting part of the heat-saturating plate assembly and the bottom of the battery core assembly and the battery case respectively, a part of each heat pipe in the heat-saturating plate assembly is arranged in the heat-saturating part, and the other part is arranged in the heat-conducting part, so as to conduct heat between the heat-saturating part and the heat-conducting part, thereby maintaining heat balance between each battery core, improving battery performance, and delaying battery service life. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative labor.

[0019] Figure 1a A schematic diagram of a battery thermal management system provided by the present invention;

[0020] Figure 1b This is an exploded diagram of the battery thermal management system;

[0021] Figure 2 for Figure 1b An exploded view of the battery cell assembly;

[0022] Figure 3 for Figure 1b Another exploded view of the battery cell assembly;

[0023] Figure 4 for Figure 1b Another exploded view of the battery cell assembly;

[0024] Figure 5a-5g It is the structural form diagram of the heat conducting plate body;

[0025] Figure 6a-6c is a schematic diagram of the slotted structure of the frame;

[0026] Figure 7afor Figure 1b A schematic diagram of the structure of a heat sink assembly;

[0027] Figure 7b for Figure 1b Another structural schematic diagram of the middle heat plate assembly;

[0028] Figure 8a A side view of a vapor chamber assembly;

[0029] Figure 8b is another side view of the vapor chamber assembly;

[0030] Figure 9a-9h Schematic diagrams of several structures of the heat sink assembly;

[0031] Figure 10a-Figure 10d A schematic diagram of the placement of a heat source or a cold source;

[0032] Fig.11 It is a structural schematic diagram of arranging a heat exchange passage on the bottom shell;

[0033] Figure 12a-Figure 12c Schematic diagrams of several structures in which a heat spreader and a heat conducting plate are provided for the lower shell of the battery box;

[0034] Figure 13a-Figure 13c A schematic diagram of a fluid medium passage formed by a heat spreader and a heat conducting plate of a battery box;

[0035] Fig.14 Another schematic diagram of a fluid medium passage formed by a heat spreader and a heat conducting plate of a battery box;

[0036] Fig.15 yes Fig.14 Schematic diagram of the distribution of heat pipes on the central heat spreader.

[0037] Description of reference numerals:

[0038] 1-battery box; 2-upper shell; 3-lower shell;

[0039] 4-battery module; 5-battery core assembly; 6-battery core;

[0040] 7-top cover; 8-subframe; 9-heat conducting plate body;

[0041] 10-first heat conducting part; 11-second heat conducting part; 12-frame;

[0042] 13- slot; 14- heat conducting surface; 15- heat sink assembly;

[0043] 16-heat equalizing part; 17-heat conducting part; 18-L-shaped plate;

[0044] 19-frame; 20-heat pipe; 22-heat source and / or cold source;

[0045] 23-heat exchange passage; 24-inlet; 25-outlet;

[0046] 26-heat sink; 27-heat conducting plate; 28-heat pipe;

[0047] 29-groove; 30-fluid medium passage; 31-frame. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0049] Before describing the specific embodiments of the present invention, some basic concepts are explained first:

[0050] (1) Battery module: refers to a complete component that can be placed on the lower shell of the battery box.

[0051] (2) Battery cell assembly: refers to the components in the battery module that are wrapped by the outer heat spreader assembly, wherein the battery cell assembly includes a plurality of stacked battery cells, and components such as partitions and cover plates between the battery cells.

[0052] (3) Temperature balance or uniform heating: refers to the mutual transfer of heat between components to reduce temperature differences and achieve regional balance. Those skilled in the art will understand that this does not mean that the temperatures of the components are strictly equal.

[0053] (4) Thermal contact: refers to heat conduction between two heat transfer components, including direct close contact heat conduction and indirect heat conduction, where there is a heat conduction part between the two heat transfer components and the heat conduction between the heat conduction component and the two components is close contact.

[0054] The battery thermal management system provided in the embodiment of the present invention is applied to the battery. Since the battery will generate a large amount of heat during operation, causing the battery temperature to rise, which will affect the performance of the battery, the battery usually needs a special thermal management system to help dissipate the heat of the battery so that it can operate within the optimal temperature range. In the prior art, a heat conductive sheet is usually arranged between the battery cells, and the two sides of the heat conductive sheet are bent and respectively connected to the heating plate and the coolant. However, due to individual differences between battery cells and inconsistent heat dissipation environments, during use, the temperature difference between each battery cell will become larger and larger, and the heat between each battery cell will be unbalanced. Long-term use will damage the performance of the battery, thereby affecting the service life of the battery.

[0055] Taking these situations into consideration, an embodiment of the present invention proposes a battery thermal management system, which includes a battery case and a battery module; wherein the battery case has a cavity, and the battery module is located in the cavity; the battery module includes a battery core assembly and a heat spreader assembly, the battery core assembly includes a plurality of stacked battery cores, and at least one side of the battery core assembly has a heat conducting surface; the heat spreader assembly includes a heat spreader portion and a heat conducting portion, and heat conduction is provided between the heat conducting surface on the side of the battery core assembly and the heat spreader portion; heat conduction is provided between the heat conducting portion and the bottom of the battery core assembly and the battery case, respectively, and the heat spreader assembly includes at least one heat pipe, a portion of each heat pipe is arranged in the heat spreader portion, and the other portion is arranged in the heat conducting portion, so as to conduct heat between the heat spreader portion and the heat conducting portion. Since there is heat conduction between the heat-conducting surface on the side of the battery core assembly and the heat-saturating part of the heat-saturating plate assembly, and there is heat conduction between the heat-conducting part of the heat-saturating plate assembly and the bottom of the battery core assembly and the battery case respectively, a part of each heat pipe in the heat-saturating plate assembly is arranged in the heat-saturating part, and the other part is arranged in the heat-conducting part, so as to conduct heat between the heat-saturating part and the heat-conducting part, thereby maintaining heat balance between each battery core, improving battery performance, and delaying battery service life.

[0056] Figure 1a A schematic diagram of a battery thermal management system provided by the present invention, Figure 1b This is an exploded diagram of the battery thermal management system. Figure 1a and Figure 1bAs shown, the battery thermal management system provided by the embodiment of the present invention includes a battery case 1 and a battery module 4; wherein the battery case 1 has a cavity, and the battery module 4 is located in the cavity; the battery module 4 includes a battery core assembly 5 and a heat spreader assembly 15, the battery core assembly 5 includes a plurality of stacked battery cores 6, and at least one side of the battery core assembly 5 has a heat conducting surface 14; the heat spreader assembly 15 includes a heat spreader portion 16 and a heat conducting portion 17, and heat conduction is provided between the heat conducting surface 14 on the side of the battery core assembly 5 and the heat spreader portion 16; the heat conducting portion 17 is heat conducted with the bottom of the battery core assembly 5 and the battery case 1 respectively, and the heat spreader assembly 15 includes at least one heat pipe 20, a portion of each heat pipe 20 is arranged in the heat spreader portion 16, and the other portion is arranged in the heat conducting portion 17, so as to conduct heat between the heat spreader portion 16 and the heat conducting portion 17.

[0057] Specifically, the battery case 1 includes an upper shell 2 and a lower shell 3, wherein the upper shell 2 and the lower shell 3 form a cavity, and a plurality of battery modules 4 separated from each other are arranged in the lower shell 3. The bottom of the battery module 4 is in thermal contact with the lower shell 3 of the battery case 1, and the heat spreader assembly 15 of the battery module 4 includes a heat spreader 16 and a heat conducting portion 17, the heat spreader 16 is in thermal contact with the heat conducting surface 14 on the side of the battery core assembly 5, and the heat conducting portion 17 is in thermal contact with the bottom of the battery core assembly 5 and the lower shell 3 of the battery case 1, so as to balance the heat between the battery cores 6 through the heat spreader 16 and the heat conducting portion 17 of the heat spreader assembly 15.

[0058] In addition, the heat spreader assembly 15 includes at least one heat pipe 20, a portion of each heat pipe is arranged in the heat spreader portion 16, and the other portion is arranged in the heat conduction portion 17. In this way, the heat spreader and heat conduction characteristics of the heat pipe 20 can be utilized to achieve heat spread between the battery cells 6 and heat exchange between the battery module and the outside world.

[0059] Optionally, the heat conduction modes between the heat conducting surface 14 and the heat averaging portion 16 , between the heat conducting portion 17 and the bottom of the battery core assembly 5 , and between the heat conducting portion 17 and the battery case 1 include one or more of the following: direct contact, connection through a heat conducting medium.

[0060] Specifically, between the heat-conducting surface 14 and the heat-averaging part 16, between the heat-conducting part 17 and the bottom of the battery core assembly 5, and between the heat-conducting part 17 and the battery case 1, there can be direct close-contact heat conduction, or heat conduction through a heat-conducting medium, that is, indirect heat conduction, wherein the heat-conducting medium can be, for example, thermal grease, thermal silica gel, graphite gasket, soft silica gel thermal pad or phase change thermal conductive material, etc.

[0061] In addition, if Figure 1b As shown, a frame 31 is further provided on the outside of the battery core assembly 5 , the middle of the frame 31 is a hollow structure, and the edge of the frame 31 is fixedly connected to the edge of the battery core assembly 5 by screws, thereby pressing the battery core 6 .

[0062] Furthermore, a thermally conductive gasket may be provided between the heat spreader assembly 15 and the heat conductive surface 14 outside the battery core assembly 5 to achieve heat exchange between the battery core assembly 5 and the outside, so that the battery operates within a reasonable temperature range.

[0063] A battery thermal management system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a battery case and a battery module; wherein the battery case has a cavity, and the battery module is located in the cavity; the battery module comprises a battery core assembly and a heat spreader assembly, wherein the battery core assembly comprises a plurality of stacked battery cores, and at least one side of the battery core assembly has a heat conducting surface; the heat spreader assembly comprises a heat spreader portion and a heat conducting portion, and heat conduction is provided between the heat conducting surface on the side of the battery core assembly and the heat spreader portion; heat conduction is provided between the heat conducting portion and the bottom of the battery core assembly and the battery case, respectively, and the heat spreader assembly comprises at least one heat pipe, and a portion of each heat pipe is arranged in the heat spreader portion, and another portion is arranged in the heat conducting portion, so as to conduct heat between the heat spreader portion and the heat conducting portion. Since there is heat conduction between the heat conducting surface on the side of the battery core assembly and the heat-saturating part of the heat-saturating plate assembly, and there is heat conduction between the heat-saturating plate assembly and the bottom of the battery core assembly and the battery box, a part of each heat pipe in the heat-saturating plate assembly is arranged in the heat-saturating part, and the other part is arranged in the heat-conducting part, so as to utilize the heat-saturating and heat-conducting characteristics of the heat pipe, and conduct heat between the heat-saturating part and the heat-conducting part, so as to achieve heat-saturating between the battery cores and heat exchange between the battery module and the outside world, so as to maintain heat balance between the battery cores, improve the performance of the battery, and delay the service life of the battery. In addition, since the heat-conducting part is in thermal contact with the bottom of the battery core assembly and the lower shell of the battery box, the volume of the entire battery module is reduced, and the space of the battery box is effectively utilized.

[0064] The following describes various specific implementations of the battery module 4, battery core assembly 5, heat spreader assembly 15, and battery box 1 involved in the battery thermal management system. The design of specific components in the following implementations can be applied individually or in any combination. Figure 1a or Figure 1b In the battery thermal management structure shown, it can replace components with the same function; it can also be used as a separate component or in any combination in other battery thermal management systems.

[0065] Figure 2 for Figure 1b An exploded view of the battery cell assembly. Figure 2 As shown, the battery core assembly 5 also includes a plurality of heat-conducting plates 9, which are located between two adjacent battery cores 6. The heat-conducting plate 9 includes a first heat-conducting portion 10 and a second heat-conducting portion 11 that are interconnected. The first heat-conducting portion 10 and the two battery cores 6 adjacent to the heat-conducting plate 9 conduct heat, and the second heat-conducting portion 11 is exposed on the side of the battery core 6 to form a heat-conducting surface.

[0066] Specifically, the battery core assembly 5 includes a plurality of stacked battery cores 6, the upper part of the plurality of battery cores 6 has a top cover plate 7, a heat conducting plate body 9 is arranged between two adjacent battery cores 6, and the heat conducting plate body 9 includes a first heat conducting portion 10 and a second heat conducting portion 11, the first heat conducting portion 10 is in thermal contact with the battery core 6, and the second heat conducting portion 11 is exposed to the side of the battery core 6 and is bent relative to the first heat conducting portion 10, thereby forming a heat conducting surface 14 on the side of the battery core assembly 5. In addition, the heat conducting plate body 9 can be a porous plate, a graphite sheet, a heat conducting fin, or a heat pipe plate formed by combining a plurality of heat pipes and a plate, etc.

[0067] Figure 3 for Figure 1b Another exploded view of the battery cell assembly. Figure 3 As shown, the battery core assembly 5 also includes a plurality of frames 12, wherein the frames 12 are located between two adjacent battery cores 6, and at least one side of the frames 12 has a groove 13, the heat conducting plate body 9 is located in the groove, the first heat conducting portion 10 of the heat conducting plate body 9 is located in the frame 12 and is in thermal contact with two battery cores 6 adjacent to the heat conducting plate body 9, and the second heat conducting portion 11 is located outside the frame and is bent relative to the first heat conducting portion 10, thereby forming a heat conducting surface 14 on the side of the battery core assembly 5.

[0068] The heat conducting plate body may also be a porous plate, a graphite sheet, a heat exchange fin, a heat pipe plate formed by combining a plurality of heat pipes and a plate, etc. When made of a material that is easy to bend, such as a porous plate or a heat exchange fin, the following method may be used for production: the heat conducting plate body is placed in the slot of the frame, and then bent to form a first heat conducting portion and a second heat conducting portion; or one end is first bent to form the second heat conducting portion, and then placed in the frame, and when both sides of the frame have the second heat conducting portion, the other end of the heat conducting plate body is bent to form the second heat conducting portion.

[0069] Figure 4 for Figure 1b Another exploded view of the battery cell assembly. Figure 4As shown, the battery core assembly 5 includes a plurality of stacked battery cores 6, a plurality of frames 12 and a top cover plate 7, wherein a frame 12 is arranged between each two adjacent battery cores 6, and each frame 12 has a slot 13 on its side, and each slot 13 is correspondingly provided with a heat conducting plate 9, and the heat conducting plate 9 is placed in the slot, and the heat conducting plate 9 includes a first heat conducting portion 10 and a second heat conducting portion 11, the first heat conducting portion 10 is located in the frame 12, and is in thermal contact with two battery cores 6 adjacent to the frame 12, and the second heat conducting portion 11 is located outside the frame 12, and the first heat conducting portions 10 of the plurality of heat conducting plates 9 in each layer of the frame are seamlessly spliced ​​or have gaps. With this design, the deformation of the heat conducting plates, especially the fins, between the battery cores caused by the temperature change of the battery core can be effectively dispersed, and in addition, the battery core can be locally heated as needed, thereby improving the flexibility of battery thermal management.

[0070] Optionally, the areas of the multiple first heat conducting parts 10 in the frame 12 may be the same or different.

[0071] In this embodiment, since a heat-conducting plate is provided between two adjacent battery cores, heat distribution between the battery cores can be achieved.

[0072] Furthermore, for Figure 2-Figure 4 The heat conducting plate body described in the above, the structure of the first heat conducting part and the second heat conducting part, except Figure 2-Figure 4 In addition to the structure shown in FIG. Figure 5a-5g FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a heat-conducting plate body, wherein the second heat-conducting portion 11 can extend outward from the frame along the plane direction of the first heat-conducting portion 10, as shown in FIG. Figure 5a In the embodiment, the second heat conducting portion 11 extends along one side of the first heat conducting portion 10, as shown in FIG. Figure 5b In the embodiment, the second heat conducting part 11 extends along both sides of the first heat conducting part 10. In this case, the heat conducting surface 14 outside the battery core assembly 5 is formed by the surface of the second heat conducting part 11. In addition, as a more general form, the second heat conducting part 11 and the first heat conducting part 10 are not on the same plane. Figure 5c In the embodiment, the second heat conducting portion 11 is perpendicular to the first heat conducting portion 10, and the extension directions of the two sides are the same; Figure 5d The second heat conducting portion 11 is perpendicular to the first heat conducting portion 10, and the extension directions of the two sides are different; Figure 5e The second heat conducting portion 11 is perpendicular to the first heat conducting portion 10, and the extension directions of the two sides are the same; Figure 5f In the embodiment, the second heat-conducting portion 11 has an arc-shaped structure, the surface of which constitutes the heat-conducting surface 14 outside the battery core assembly 5, and the tubular heat exchange structure can be accommodated in the arc-shaped structure; Figure 5g In the embodiment, the second heat conducting part 11 has a radial structure, and its surface constitutes a heat conducting surface 14 outside the battery core assembly 5 .

[0073] Of course, the above implementation modes are all examples, and various other possible shapes also belong to the protection scope of the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the structures of the first heat conducting part and the second heat conducting part can be selected according to actual conditions. The embodiments of the present invention do not limit the specific structural forms of the first heat conducting part and the second heat conducting part.

[0074] Since the first heat conducting part and the second heat conducting part can be designed in various structural forms, the appropriate structures of the first heat conducting part and the second heat conducting part can be selected according to actual needs to evenly distribute heat on the battery core, thereby improving the flexibility of battery thermal management.

[0075] In addition, for Figure 2-Figure 4 The heat conducting plate body described in the invention may have a first heat conducting portion and a second heat conducting portion made of different materials or having different thicknesses. Optionally, the first heat conducting portion and the second heat conducting portion have the same structure, but may also have different structures, for example, the first heat conducting portion may have a porous plate structure, a solid plate structure, or a heat pipe plate structure combining a plurality of heat pipes with a plate, and the second heat conducting portion may have a porous plate structure, a solid plate structure, or a heat pipe plate structure combining a plurality of heat pipes with a plate.

[0076] Furthermore, for Figure 3 and Figure 4 The slots in the frame described in Figure 3 and Figure 4 In addition to the structure shown in FIG. Figure 6a-6c is a schematic diagram of the slotted structure of the frame, such as Figure 6a A slot 13 may be formed at the upper or lower portion of the side wall of the frame 12. Figure 6b In the embodiment, a slot 13 is provided in the middle of the side wall of the frame 12; Figure 6c In the embodiment, the frame 12 is composed of two upper and lower sub-frames 8 , and the slot 13 is located between the two sub-frames 8 .

[0077] Figure 7a for Figure 1b A schematic diagram of the structure of the heat sink assembly. Figure 7b for Figure 1b Another schematic diagram of the structure of the heat plate assembly. Figure 7a-Figure 7b As shown, the heat spreader assembly 15 also includes an L-shaped plate body 18 , one side of the L-shaped plate body 18 constitutes the heat spreader portion 16 , and the other side constitutes the heat conduction portion 17 . A plurality of heat pipes 20 are embedded in the L-shaped plate body 18 and connected between the heat spreader portion 16 and the heat conduction portion 17 .

[0078] In addition, if Figure 1b , Figure 7a and Figure 7bAs shown, a hollow frame 31 is provided between the heat spreader assembly 15 and the battery core assembly 5 , the side of the hollow frame 31 is fixedly connected to the battery core assembly 5 , and the L-shaped plate body 18 is fixedly connected to the hollow frame 31 .

[0079] Specifically, Figure 7a-Figure 7b As shown, the heat spreader assembly 15 includes an L-shaped plate body 18 and a plurality of heat pipes 20, wherein the plurality of heat pipes 20 are embedded in the L-shaped plate body 18, a portion of the L-shaped plate body 18 constitutes a heat spreader portion 16, and another portion constitutes a heat conduction portion 17, and at least a portion of each heat pipe 20 is located in the portion of the L-shaped plate body 18 constituting the heat spreader portion 16, for example: Figure 7a In the embodiment, the entire section of the heat pipe 20 is located in the heat-spreading portion 16 , and the L-shaped plate body 18 of the heat-spreading plate assembly 15 is fixedly connected to the hollow frame outside the battery core assembly 5 . Figure 7b In the embodiment, one section of the heat pipe 20 is located in the heat-spreading portion 17 , and another section is located in the heat-conducting portion 17 . The L-shaped plate body 18 of the heat-spreading plate assembly 15 is fixedly connected to the hollow frame outside the battery core assembly 5 .

[0080] In addition, the L-shaped plate 18 is made of a heat conductive material.

[0081] Further, Figure 8a A side view of the vapor chamber assembly. Figure 8b is another side view of the heat spreader assembly, such as Figure 8a-8b As shown, the heat sink assembly 15 also includes a frame 19, the cross section of the frame 19 includes a straight section and two bent sections located at both ends of the straight section and bent relative to the straight section, and multiple heat pipes 20 are located inside the shape surrounded by the straight section and the bent section.

[0082] Specifically, the structure of the vapor chamber assembly 15 may also be formed in the form of a combination of a frame and a heat pipe, that is, the hollow frame outside the battery core assembly 5 is formed on the vapor chamber assembly 15 and is arranged on the outside of the heat pipe 20. Figure 8a-8b As shown, the vapor chamber assembly 15 includes a frame 19 and a plurality of heat pipes 20 , wherein the frame 19 has a side surface, and each heat pipe 20 is located on the inner side of the frame 19 and is in thermal contact with the heat conducting surface 14 on the side surface of the battery core assembly 5 .

[0083] In addition, the frame 19 also includes at least one bent section located at both ends of the straight section and bent relative to the straight section, that is, the top surface and / or bottom surface of the frame 19, and the top surface or the bottom surface constitutes the heat conducting portion 17 of the vapor chamber assembly 15. Since the hollow frame and the heat pipe are both arranged on the vapor chamber assembly 15, it is no longer necessary to arrange a plate body, which can effectively reduce the weight of the vapor chamber assembly 15. In addition, part or all of the structure of the frame 19 can be made of lightweight materials such as plastic or resin, which can further reduce the weight of the vapor chamber assembly 15.

[0084] Further, in Figure 8a In the embodiment, the entire section of the heat pipe 20 is located in the recessed portion on the side of the frame 19, so that the heat conducting portion 17 of the vapor chamber assembly 15 and the heat pipe 20 conduct heat transfer, thereby achieving heat exchange with the outside. Figure 8b In the embodiment, the frame 19 is also provided with a top surface and a bottom surface, a section of the heat pipe 20 is located in the concave portion of the side surface of the frame, and a section passes through the bend of the bottom surface of the frame to form the heat conducting portion 17 of the bottom surface. It can be understood that this section of the heat pipe of the heat conducting portion 17 can also be directly on the upper part of the bottom surface of the frame without passing through the frame.

[0085] In a possible implementation, the frame 19 and the battery core assembly 5 are fixedly connected by screws.

[0086] Specifically, the top and bottom surfaces of the frame 19 are fixed to the top and bottom of the battery cell assembly by bolts, respectively, so as to compress the battery cell assembly. In this way, the frame itself not only carries the heat pipe, realizes the heat distribution and heat conduction of the battery cell assembly, but also plays the role of compressing the battery cell assembly, which not only greatly reduces the volume of the battery module, but also can realize the fastening of the battery core without the need for additional straps or pull rods.

[0087] for Figure 7a-Figure 7b and Figure 8a-8b The structure of the heat spreader assembly shown can be in various forms to form a heat spreader portion and a heat conducting portion, and its structure can be used to cooperate with the battery cell assembly. In general, the following arrangement can effectively reduce the volume of the battery module: the heat spreader portion is in thermal contact with the heat conducting surface, and the heat conducting portion is located in the space extending from the top and / or bottom of the battery cell assembly along the side of the battery cell assembly, that is, the projection of the heat conducting portion in the vertical direction of the top and / or bottom of the battery cell assembly is all located in the top and / or bottom of the battery cell assembly. Specifically, Figure 9a-9h Schematic diagrams of several structures of heat sink assemblies. Figure 9a In the embodiment, the heat spreader assembly 15 is L-shaped and wraps the battery core assembly 5 from one side; Figure 9b In the embodiment, the heat spreader assembly 15 is L-shaped and wraps the battery cell assembly 5 from multiple sides; Fig.9c In the figure, the heat spreader assembly 15 is concave and wraps the battery cell assembly 5 from multiple sides, and the bottom surface of the heat spreader assembly 15 is an uninterrupted plane. Those skilled in the art can understand that for the above three structural forms, the side of the heat spreader assembly is the heat spreader part, and the bottom surface is the heat conduction part, which is mainly used for placing the battery cell assembly on the lower shell of the battery case, and an external heat source or cold source is provided on the lower shell, so that the external heat is transferred to the battery cell assembly through the heat spreader assembly or the heat of the battery cell assembly is exported outward. In addition, this design makes the bottom of the battery module have a smaller area, thereby reducing the occupied area of ​​the battery module and facilitating the arrangement of more battery modules in the battery case.

[0088] Obviously, the heat conducting part can also be arranged on the upper part of the battery core assembly, or on both the upper part and the lower part, and it is not necessary to be limited to external heat exchange only from the lower shell of the battery box. Figure 9d -The structures of several heat sink assemblies shown in Figure f are also applicable.

[0089] exist Figure 9d In the embodiment, the heat spreader assembly 15 is in the shape of a square bracket "[" and wraps the battery cell assembly 5 from one side; Fig.9e In the embodiment, the heat spreader assembly 15 is in the shape of a square bracket "[" and wraps the battery cell assembly 5 from multiple sides; Figure 9d-9e In the structural form, the heat spreader assembly has both a top surface and a bottom surface, and the top surface and the bottom surface are respectively fixed to the top and bottom of the battery cell assembly by bolts, thereby pressing the battery cell assembly. Figure 9f In the embodiment, the heat spreader assembly 15 wraps the battery cell assembly 5 from multiple sides, the lower part is connected as a whole, and the upper part presses the top of the battery cell assembly 5. Figure 9f , bolts can be set only on the upper part of the battery core assembly to cooperate with the bottom surface to achieve the compression of the battery core assembly. In short, the above method can not only achieve heat distribution and heat conduction of the battery core assembly, but also play a role in compressing the battery core assembly. In this way, the volume of the battery module is greatly reduced, and the battery core can be fixed without additional straps or pull rods.

[0090] above Figure 9a-9f In the embodiment, the heat conducting portion of the heat spreader assembly extends on a different plane from the heat spreader portion. In the specific implementation process, as long as the projections of the heat conducting portion in the vertical direction on the top and / or bottom of the battery cell assembly are all located within the top and / or bottom of the battery cell assembly, the volume of the battery module can be reduced.

[0091] Figure 9g-9h The heat conducting part and the heat soaking part extend on the same plane, and the vertical projection of the heat conducting part of the heat soaking plate assembly just forms the outer periphery of the top and / or bottom of the battery core assembly. Figure 9g In the embodiment, the heat conducting parts of the heat spreader assembly 15 on both sides of the battery core assembly 5 extend upward along the heat spreader. With such a design, no bending is required when arranging the heat pipe, which reduces the cost and improves the heat exchange efficiency. If the battery core assembly needs to be compressed, an extended plate can be set on the side of the heat spreader assembly and fixed to the battery core assembly with bolts. Figure 9h In the embodiment, the heat conducting parts of the heat spreader assemblies on both sides of the battery core assembly extend in different directions.

[0092] In addition, for external heat sources and cold sources, the battery module needs to dissipate the heat of the battery core assembly to the outside or absorb heat from the outside through the heat spreader assembly. Usually, since the heat conducting portion of the heat spreader assembly is located at the bottom of the battery module, the heat source and / or cold source will be arranged on the lower shell of the battery box 1. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the heat source or cold source can also be set at other locations depending on the position of the heat conducting portion of the heat spreader assembly.

[0093] because Figure 9a-9f In the embodiment, the heat conducting portion 17 of the heat spreader assembly 15 is parallel to at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the battery cell assembly 5. At this time, the heat source and / or the cold source can be arranged between the top and / or the bottom of the battery cell assembly 5 and the corresponding heat conducting portion of the heat spreader assembly, or the heat conducting portion of the heat spreader assembly is in thermal contact with the top and / or the bottom of the battery cell assembly, and the heat source and / or the cold source is arranged on the outside of the heat conducting portion of the heat spreader assembly.

[0094] Figure 10a-Figure 10d A schematic diagram of the placement of heat sources or cold sources, such as Fig.10a As shown, Fig.9e Taking the arrangement of the vapor chamber assembly as an example, the heat source and / or cold source 22 is arranged below the entire vapor chamber assembly 15, specifically, arranged outside the heat conducting portion 17 of the vapor chamber assembly; and Fig.10b Eight positions AH are shown, that is, the heat source and / or cold source 22 can be arranged at at least one of the above eight positions, among which the four positions AD are on the outside of the heat conducting part of the heat spreader assembly, and the four positions EG are between the heat conducting part of the heat spreader assembly and the top or bottom of the battery core assembly.

[0095] for Figure 9g In the structure of the vapor chamber assembly, the heat source and / or the cold source 22 can be arranged between the heat conducting parts of the vapor chamber assembly on both sides, such as Fig.10c As shown, in this way, the heat source and / or cold source 22 can be an integral component with the battery module, and the heat source and / or cold source 22 can be a fluid medium flow pipeline, and the inlet and outlet of the fluid medium are set on the heat source and / or cold source 22, and the external fluid medium is directly connected when needed, and installation and replacement are very convenient. In addition, by setting a control valve at the inlet or outlet, precise thermal management control can be achieved.

[0096] Fig.10d It shows Figure 9h A placement method for the heat source and / or cold source of the battery module in the embodiment of the present invention, wherein the heat source and / or cold source 22 can be arranged at different positions and respectively in thermal contact with the heat spreader assemblies on both sides of the battery core assembly to achieve separate control of the heating and cooling of the battery core assembly.

[0097] In a possible design, a heating device and / or a cooling device is also provided on the battery case 1, and the heating device and / or the cooling device conducts heat with the heat conducting portion 17 of the heat spreader assembly 15. The heating device is used to transfer external heat to the battery cell assembly 5, and the cooling device is used to extract heat from the battery cell assembly 15.

[0098] Specifically, for the battery case 1, a plurality of mutually separated battery modules 4 are arranged on the lower shell, the bottom of the battery module 4 is in thermal contact with the lower shell of the battery case 1, and a plurality of heat pipes and heating devices and / or cooling devices are arranged on the lower shell.

[0099] Among them, the heating device and / or the cooling device conduct heat with the heat conducting part of the heat spreader assembly, the heating device includes a fluid medium passage and / or adopts an electric heating device, and the cooling device includes a fluid medium passage and / or a heat sink. Since both the heating device and the cooling device can include a fluid medium passage, the heating device and the cooling device can share the fluid medium passage, and realize the switching of heating or cooling according to the temperature of the heat exchange fluid medium in the passage; or the heating device and the cooling device can also use separate fluid medium passages respectively. In the specific implementation process, for the fluid medium passage, it can be realized by arranging a heat exchange tube on the lower shell and / or by arranging a through groove on the lower shell.

[0100] In addition, the fluid medium passage has an inlet and an outlet, and the heat exchange fluid medium enters from the inlet and flows out from the outlet. The passage adopts the following design according to the distribution of battery modules carried on the lower shell: for areas where battery modules are concentrated, the fluid medium passages are densely distributed or the passage cross-sectional area is large; conversely, the fluid medium passages are relatively less densely distributed or the passage cross-sectional area is small. In this way, by utilizing the structure of the fluid medium passage, heat equalization and heat exchange of multiple battery modules can be achieved simultaneously.

[0101] Since a heating device and / or a cooling device is provided on the battery case, and the heating device and / or the cooling device conducts heat with the heat conducting part of the heat spreader assembly, the external heat is transferred to the battery core assembly, or the heat of the battery core assembly is exported, so as to realize heat exchange between the battery module and the outside world.

[0102] Furthermore, in a possible implementation, the lower shell of the battery box not only has to bear the function of heat exchange, but also has to bear the heat distribution between the battery modules arranged thereon. According to the density distribution of the heat exchange medium passage or the change of the cross-sectional area, the lower shell can have both of the above functions. Fig.11 The schematic diagram of the structure of arranging the heat exchange path on the bottom shell is as follows: Fig.11As shown, the heat exchange passage 23 includes an inlet 24 and an outlet 25, which are arranged along the edge of the bottom shell to form a series passage. In the middle of the passage, multiple parallel passages are arranged according to the arrangement positions of the battery modules. In the area with higher heat generation, the pipes of the parallel passages are bent, thereby extending the residence time of the fluid medium and improving the heat exchange efficiency relative to other areas, thereby realizing the heat equalization and heat exchange functions of the bottom shell.

[0103] In another implementation, there are multiple battery modules, and a heat equalizing device is further provided on the battery box. The heat equalizing device includes multiple heat pipes and is used to transfer heat between the multiple battery modules to balance the temperatures of the multiple battery modules.

[0104] Specifically, the lower shell may also be provided with a separate heat equalizing device and a heat conducting device to achieve the above-mentioned heat equalizing and heat exchanging functions, wherein the heat equalizing device may be, for example, a heat equalizing plate, and the heat conducting device may be, for example, a heat conducting plate. Figure 12a-12c Schematic diagrams of several structures for setting a heat spreader and a heat conducting plate for the lower shell of the battery box, such as Figure 12a-12c As shown, the lower housing includes a heat spreader 26 and a heat conducting plate 27, the heat spreader 26 is arranged on the upper part of the heat conducting plate 27, the heat spreader 26 includes a plurality of heat pipes 28, and the heat pipes 28 are arranged on the heat spreader 26, and the arrangement of the heat pipes 28 may include one or more of the following three ways: close to the inner side of the heat spreader 26, that is, close to the side of the battery assembly module (such as Fig.12a ), close to the outer side of the heat spreader 26, that is, the side away from the battery assembly module (such as Figure 12b ), or embedded in the heat spreader 26 (such as Fig.12c ), through the heat pipe 28, the temperature of the heat spreader 26 is evenly distributed.

[0105] In addition, the heat conducting plate 27 may be disposed on the other side of the heat spreader 26 , and a heating device and / or a cooling device may be arranged on the heat conducting plate 27 .

[0106] It should be noted that in Figure 12a-12c In the figure, the example of the heat spreader 26 being placed on the heat conductive plate 27 is used for explanation. There may be other implementations, such as the heat spreader 26 wrapping the heat conductive plate 27, the heat conductive plate 27 wrapping the heat spreader 26, or the heat conductive plate 27 being arranged on the heat spreader 26, etc. In short, a portion of the heat spreader 26 or the heat conductive plate 27 is in thermal contact with the heat conductive portion of the heat spreader assembly of the battery module, and the other portion has a contact surface with the heat conductive plate or the heat spreader.

[0107] Furthermore, when the lower shell of the battery box includes a soaking plate 26 and a heat conducting plate 27, the soaking plate 26 uses a heat pipe 28 for soaking, and a heating device and / or a cooling device is arranged on the heat conducting plate 27. The most common form of the heating or cooling device is a fluid medium passage, and the formation of the fluid medium passage can usually be achieved by arranging a through groove or a heat exchange tube on the heat conducting plate. Since the soaking plate and the heat conducting plate have a mutual contact surface, the mutual contact surface can be used to form the fluid medium passage.

[0108] Figure 13a-Figure 13c A schematic diagram of a fluid medium passage formed by a heat spreader and a heat conducting plate of a battery box. Figure 13a-Figure 13c In the example, how to form a fluid medium passage when the vapor chamber is on top of the heat conducting plate is used to illustrate the method. The method of forming a fluid medium passage when the vapor chamber and the heat conducting plate have other structural forms is similar to that when the vapor chamber is on top of the heat conducting plate, and will not be described in detail here. Fig.13a In the embodiment, a plurality of grooves 29 are provided on the bottom surface of the heat spreader 26, which are combined with the top surface of the heat conducting plate 27 to form a fluid medium passage; Fig.13b In the embodiment, a plurality of grooves 29 are provided on the top surface of the heat conducting plate 27 to form a fluid medium passage with the bottom surface of the heat spreader 26; Fig.13c In the embodiment, a plurality of corresponding grooves 29 are formed on the contact surfaces of the heat conducting plate 27 and the heat spreader plate 26, respectively, thereby forming a fluid medium passage together.

[0109] Fig.14 Another schematic diagram of the fluid medium passage formed by the heat spreader and the heat conducting plate of the battery box. Fig.14 As shown, the gaps between the multiple heat pipes 28 on the heat spreader 26 are used to form a fluid medium passage 30. The heat pipes 28 are protrudingly arranged at the bottom of the heat spreader 26 and are sealed and connected to the top of the heat conducting plate 27. The gaps between the heat pipes 28 allow the fluid medium to flow. Fig.15 yes Fig.14 Schematic diagram of the distribution of heat pipes on the heat spreader, such as Fig.15 As shown, the fluid medium passage 30 formed by the heat pipe 28 has an inlet and an outlet. Of course, for the above-mentioned manner, the arrangement of the heat pipe 28 is regular, and those skilled in the art can understand that it can be set to other forms according to actual needs.

[0110] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery thermal management system, characterized in that: include: Battery box and battery module; wherein, The battery box has a cavity, and the battery module is located in the cavity; The battery module includes a battery core assembly and a heat spreader assembly, wherein the battery core assembly includes a plurality of stacked battery cores, and at least one side of the battery core assembly has a heat conducting surface; the heat spreader assembly includes a heat spreader portion and a heat conducting portion, and heat conduction is conducted between the heat conducting surface of the side of the battery core assembly and the heat spreader portion; heat conduction is conducted between the heat conducting portion and the bottom of the battery core assembly and the battery box, respectively, and the heat spreader assembly includes at least one heat pipe, a portion of each heat pipe is arranged on the heat spreader portion, and the other portion is arranged on the heat conducting portion, so as to conduct heat between the heat spreader portion and the heat conducting portion; The battery case is also provided with a heating device and / or a cooling device, the heating device and / or the cooling device are heat-conducted with the heat-conducting part of the heat spreader assembly, the heating device is used to transfer external heat to the battery core assembly, and the cooling device is used to extract the heat of the battery core assembly; the heating device and / or the cooling device comprises a heat exchange passage for circulating a fluid heat exchange medium, the heat exchange passage comprises an inlet and an outlet, the heat exchange passage is arranged along the edge of the bottom shell to form a series passage, in the middle of the passage, according to the arrangement position of the battery module, a plurality of parallel passages are respectively arranged, and in the area where the heat generation of the battery module is relatively large, the pipes of the parallel passages are bent; The heat spreader assembly also includes a frame, the cross-section of the frame includes a straight section and two bent sections respectively located at both ends of the straight section and bent relative to the straight section, the heat pipe is located on the inner side of the shape surrounded by the straight section and the bent section, the two bent sections are respectively located on the top and bottom surfaces of the frame, and the frame is fixedly connected to the battery core assembly by screws.

2. The battery thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heat conduction modes between the heat-conducting surface and the heat-averaging portion, between the heat-conducting portion and the bottom of the battery core assembly, and between the heat-conducting portion and the battery box include one or more of the following: direct contact and connection through a heat-conducting medium.

3. The battery thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery core assembly also includes a plurality of heat-conducting plates, each of which is located between two adjacent battery cores. The heat-conducting plate includes a first heat-conducting portion and a second heat-conducting portion that are interconnected. The first heat-conducting portion and the two battery cores adjacent to the heat-conducting plate are heat-conducting, and the second heat-conducting portion is exposed on the side of the battery core and forms the heat-conducting surface.

4. The battery thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top surface and the bottom surface of the frame are respectively fixed to the top and the bottom of the battery core assembly by bolts.

5. The battery thermal management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: There are multiple battery modules, and a heat equalizing device is also provided on the battery box. The heat equalizing device includes multiple heat pipes and is used to transfer heat between the multiple battery modules to balance the temperatures of the multiple battery modules.

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