Integrated battery cooling system

Abstract

The present invention provides an integrated battery cooling system. The system includes a housing having a high-voltage battery and a secondary battery therein and an inlet port and an outlet port formed on the outside of the housing to receive and discharge cooling water. A cooling channel is formed through which cooling water from the inlet port flows, and the cooling channel transfers heat from the high-voltage battery. A cooling module receives cooling water discharged from the cooling channel, transfers heat from the secondary battery, and then cools the secondary battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an integrated battery cooling system which effectively cools a battery structure formed by integrating a high-voltage battery and a 12V auxiliary battery, thereby being applicable to a hybrid vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Typically, a representative hybrid electric vehicle / plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV / PHEV) of an environmentally friendly vehicle is generally equipped with a gasoline or diesel engine and a motor (the motor can generate electricity using power from the engine, and can assist the power from the engine when the motor is operated by power stored in a battery, etc.). In the related art, the motor is also used as a power source for environmentally friendly vehicles, and thus, a high-voltage battery with a large capacitance and an auxiliary battery that is charged by converting the voltage from the high-voltage battery into a low voltage are typically used. The auxiliary battery or secondary battery is used to start the engine and supply power to various electronic devices in the vehicle.

[0003] In the related art, the high-voltage battery and the auxiliary battery are independent, but recently a structure in which the high-voltage battery and the auxiliary battery are both provided in one housing has been proposed. In any case, the high-voltage battery and the auxiliary battery are cooled by air or water to remove the heat generated by the battery core. Accordingly, when the cooling structure is applied to the packaging of the high-voltage battery and the auxiliary battery, the commercial value of the battery for the vehicle needs to be improved by maximizing the cooling efficiency with a minimized packaging volume.

[0004] The above description provided as the related art of the present application is only used to help understand the background technology of the present invention and should not be understood as being included in the related art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention is directed to providing an integrated battery cooling system that can effectively reduce manufacturing costs and packaging volume, and effectively cool batteries through a cooling module (using cooling water from a cooling channel for cooling a high-voltage battery to indirectly and secondarily cool a secondary battery).

[0006] According to various aspects of the present invention, an integrated battery cooling system may include: a housing, a cooling channel, and a cooling module, wherein the housing has a high-voltage battery and a secondary battery installed therein, and has an inlet port and an outlet port on the outside of the housing to receive and discharge cooling water; a cooling channel is formed to allow cooling water from the inlet port to flow through the inside of the cooling channel, and is configured to transfer heat from the high-voltage battery; and the cooling module is configured to receive cooling water discharged from the cooling channel, transfer heat from the secondary battery, and cool the secondary battery.

[0007] Specifically, the cooling module may include: a cooling block and a cooling plate, the cooling block forming a chamber, disposed in front of the secondary battery, and having an inlet configured to receive cooling water from a cooling channel and an outlet configured to discharge the cooling water in the cooling block to an outlet port; the cooling plate extending from the cooling block to transfer heat at the side of the secondary battery. A plurality of high-voltage batteries are provided and are spaced apart from each other on both sides of the housing, and the secondary battery is provided between the high-voltage batteries.

[0008] The cooling block may include an inlet on each of its two sides and an outlet on one side. The inlet port and the outlet port may be formed on the front side of the housing. The first passage may connect the inlet port and the inlet of the cooling channel to each other, the second passage may connect the outlet of the cooling channel and the inlet of the cooling block to each other, and the third passage may connect the outlet of the cooling block and the outlet port to each other. The cooling module may further include a cooling fin formed in a plate shape, an end of the cooling fin being between the cooling plate and the side of the secondary battery, made of a thermally conductive material, and the cooling fin extending orthogonally from the end through the secondary battery.

[0009] The secondary battery may include: a battery core, a battery case and a battery cover, wherein the battery case covers the top and bottom of the battery core; the battery cover is fixed to the battery case to cover both sides of the battery core, includes an insertion groove on the outside, the end of the cooling fin is located in the insertion groove, and has an orifice in the middle of the battery cover, and the cooling fin can be inserted into the orifice. The battery cover may be made of a thermal interface material. A plurality of cooling fins may be provided and alternately stacked with the battery core in the front-to-back direction of the secondary battery.

[0010] According to the integrated battery cooling system having the above structure, the growth of the overall packaging volume and weight of the structure of the high-voltage battery and the secondary battery in the integrated module can be minimized, and the high-voltage battery and the secondary battery can be effectively cooled. Furthermore, the packaging structure of the high-voltage battery, the secondary battery and the cooling module is optimized to simplify the heat transfer path and improve the cooling performance, thereby preventing the pressure difference from increasing. Since the high-voltage battery is mainly cooled by cooling water and the secondary battery is secondarily cooled, the cooling performance of the high-voltage battery can be prevented from decreasing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent through the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an integrated battery cooling system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2is a schematic diagram showing a lower portion of an integrated battery cooling system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an assembly of a secondary battery and a cooling module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0015] Figure 4 According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 The cross-sectional view obtained along line AA is shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] It should be understood that the term "vehicle" or "vehicle-like" or other similar terms used herein generally include motor vehicles, such as passenger vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, ships including various boats, vessels, aircraft, etc., and include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from non-petroleum energy sources). As mentioned herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle with two or more power sources, such as both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles.

[0017] The terms used herein are only used for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms "one", "an" and "the" are intended to also include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Further understandably, when the words "include" and / or "comprise" are used in this specification, the stated features, values, steps, operations, elements and / or components exist, but the presence or additional presence of one or more other features, values, steps, operations, elements, components and / or combinations thereof are not excluded. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more related enumeration items.

[0018] Hereinafter, an integrated battery cooling system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an integrated battery cooling system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a lower portion of an integrated battery cooling system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2The integrated battery cooling system of the present invention may include: a housing 10, a cooling channel 20, and a cooling module 30, wherein the housing 10 has a high-voltage battery 1 and a secondary battery 3 (e.g., an auxiliary battery), and has an inlet port 12 and an outlet port 14 outside the housing to receive and discharge cooling water; the cooling water flows from the inlet port 12 through the cooling channel 20 and transfers the heat of the high-voltage battery 1; the cooling module 30 is configured to receive the cooling water discharged from the cooling channel 20, transfer the heat of the secondary battery 3, and cool the secondary battery 3.

[0021] Since the engine and motor installed in the hybrid electric vehicle / plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV / PHEV) are used as power sources, a high voltage is required to operate the drive motor or the hybrid starter generator (HSG), and the high voltage is provided by the high voltage battery 1. However, when an excessively high voltage is supplied to an electronic device that operates at a low voltage installed together with the drive motor and the HSG in the vehicle, the electronic device malfunctions, and thus the high voltage of the high voltage battery 1 needs to be converted into a low voltage.

[0022] Further, the secondary battery 3 may be configured to store a low voltage current converted from the high voltage of the high voltage battery 1 (via a low voltage DC-DC converter (LDC) (not shown), and transmit the current to electronic devices within the vehicle. Typically, the secondary battery 3 may be a 12V lithium battery, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, in the related art, typically, the high voltage battery and the secondary battery are disposed in different packages or housings within the vehicle. However, the present invention proposes a structure in which the high voltage battery 1 and the secondary battery 3 are formed in a module of one housing 10, and both the high voltage battery 1 and the secondary battery 3 are cooled in the housing 10.

[0023] In addition, an inlet port 12 configured to receive cooling water and an outlet port 14 configured to discharge cooling water may be formed on the outside of the housing 10 to cool the high-voltage battery 1 and the secondary battery 3 with cooling water. The inlet port 12 may be configured to receive cooling water from a water pump in the vehicle. The cooling channel 20 may be formed in a plate shape that covers the bottom of the high-voltage battery 1 and circulates cooling water from the inlet port 12 of the housing 10 through a channel therein, thereby cooling the high-voltage battery 1. The cooling channel 20 may be made of a material having high thermal conductivity to maximize cooling efficiency.

[0024] The secondary battery 3 may be indirectly cooled by the cooling module 30, that is, the cooling module 30 may be configured to cool the secondary battery 3 using cooling water received from the cooling channel 20. The secondary battery 3 generates a low voltage relative to the high voltage battery 1, and thus generates less heat than the high voltage battery 1. According to the present invention, the cooling water first cools the high voltage battery 1 and then cools the secondary battery 3, thereby preventing a decrease in the cooling efficiency of the high voltage battery 1. Further, the cooling water used to cool the high voltage battery 1 may be reused to cool the secondary battery 3, thereby eliminating the structure connected to the water pump to cool the secondary battery 3, and reducing the overall packaging volume and manufacturing cost.

[0025] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a secondary battery and a cooling module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The cooling module 30 may be configured to perform heat exchange with the secondary battery 3 by receiving cooling water from the cooling channel 20. Specifically, the cooling module 30 may include: a cooling block 32 formed with a chamber, disposed in front of the secondary battery 3 (e.g., formed between the housing and the secondary battery), and having an inlet 33 configured to receive cooling water from the cooling channel 20 and an outlet 34 configured to discharge the cooling water to the outlet port 14; and a cooling plate 36 extending from the cooling block 32 to transfer heat at the side of the secondary battery 3.

[0026] The cooling module 30 may include a cooling block 32, which is a chamber into which cooling water can flow in / out, and a cooling plate 36, which extends from the cooling block 32 to transfer heat from the side of the secondary battery 3. Generally, the surface area of ​​the top and bottom of the secondary battery 3 is larger than the surface area of ​​its sides, and the side of the secondary battery 3 can be cooled by the low-temperature cooling plate 36, thereby increasing the packaging volume or weight less than that of the cooling channel type. Since the above-mentioned low temperature represents the temperature of the cooling water after cooling the high-voltage battery (cooler operation), it can be changed according to the load of the high-voltage battery current or the temperature around the vehicle. As an example, under normal circumstances, the low temperature may generally be 10 to 25°C.

[0027] In the cooling channel type, the cooling channel includes a channel for circulating cooling water and has a preset thickness to cool the secondary battery 3. However, in the present invention, since the cooling water does not circulate in the cooling plate 36, the thickness can be minimized, and thus, the volume, weight, and cost of the present invention can be reduced compared to the cooling channel type cooling structure. According to the present invention, instead of circulating cooling water in the cooling plate 36, the cooling block 32 is an independent chamber for circulating cooling water, which can be used for heat exchange with the cooling plate 36, so that the cooling plate 36 can be kept at a low temperature by the cooling water. Therefore, according to the cooling module 30, although the secondary battery 3 is cooled by water, the increased packaging volume, weight, and cost can be minimized, thereby improving the commercial value of the vehicle.

[0028] like Figure 3 As shown, the cooling plate 36 can be arranged so that its first side is positioned at the rear end of the cooling block 32, and its second side can transfer heat at the side of the secondary battery 3, but the contact portion between the cooling plate 36 and the cooling block 32 can be changed as needed. Figure 1 and Figure 2 , a plurality of high-voltage batteries 1 may be provided and positioned on both sides of the housing 1 , a predetermined gap is formed between the high-voltage batteries 1 and the housing, and the secondary battery 3 may be provided between the high-voltage batteries 1 .

[0029] Further, the cooling block 32 may include an inlet 33 on each of both sides thereof and an outlet 34 on one side thereof. The inlet port 12 and the outlet port 14 may be formed on the front side of the housing 10, and the first passage 16 may connect the inlet port 12 with the inlet of the cooling channel 20, the second passage 17 may connect the outlet of the cooling channel 20 with the inlet 33, and the third passage 18 may connect the outlet 34 with the outlet port 14. In other words, in the housing 10, the high voltage battery 1 may be disposed on both sides of the secondary battery 3, the cooling block 32 may be disposed in front of the secondary battery 3, and the cooling plate 36 extending from the cooling block 32 may be disposed on the side of the secondary battery 3.

[0030] In addition, the cooling water can cool the high voltage battery 1 and the secondary battery 3 by flowing through the inlet port 12 of the housing 10, the first passage 16, the cooling channel 20, the second passage 17, the inlet 33 and the outlet 34 of the cooling block 32, the third passage 18, and the outlet port 14. Assuming that the inlet port 12 and the outlet port 14 are formed on the front side of the housing 10, and the inlet and the outlet for receiving and discharging the cooling water are formed on the front side of the cooling channel 20, the lengths of the first passage 16, the second passage 17, and the third passage 18 can be minimized, and thus, the weight and the packaging volume of the integrated battery cooling system can be minimized.

[0031] Figure 4 is Figure 3 The cross-section taken along line AA is shown in . Figure 4 The cooling module 30 may further include a cooling fin 38 formed in a plate shape, one end of the cooling fin 38 is disposed between the cooling plate 36 and the side of the secondary battery 3, the cooling fin 38 is made of a heat conductive material, and extends orthogonally from the end through the secondary battery. In other words, the cooling fin 38 may be configured to transfer heat to the cooling plate 36, and may be disposed to pass through the secondary battery 3 to improve the cooling performance of the secondary battery 3 through the cooling module 30.

[0032] The secondary battery 3 may include a battery core 9, a battery case 5, and a battery cover 7, wherein the battery case 5 covers the top and bottom of the battery core 9; the battery cover 7 is fixed to the battery case 5, covers both sides of the battery core 9, has an insertion groove 8 on the outer side, the first end and the second end of the cooling fin 38 are located in the insertion groove 8, and has an aperture in the middle of the battery cover 7 into which the cooling fin 38 can be inserted. In other words, the battery cover 7 covering both sides of the battery core 9 may be provided on the secondary battery 3 to fix the cooling fin 38 provided to pass through the secondary battery 3 laterally.

[0033] Specifically, the insertion groove 8 may be formed on the outside of the battery cover 7 so that one end of the plate-shaped cooling fin 38 is located in the insertion groove 8, and the cooling fin 38 is fixed to the secondary battery 3. In addition, the cooling fin 38 may be formed in an I-shape. The battery cover 7 may be made of a thermal interface material. Accordingly, the battery cover 7 may be cooled by heat exchange with the cooling plate 36, so that the side of the secondary battery 3 may be cooled, and the cooling performance of the battery core 9 may be improved. Further, a plurality of cooling fins 38 may be provided and alternately stacked with the battery core 9 in the front-rear direction of the secondary battery 3. Accordingly, the stacked battery core 9 may be cooled more smoothly by the cooling fins 38.

[0034] According to the integrated battery cooling system having the above structure, the packaging volume and weight growth of the structure of the high-voltage battery and the secondary battery in the integrated module can be minimized, and the high-voltage battery and the secondary battery can be effectively cooled. Further, the packaging structure of the high-voltage battery, the secondary battery and the cooling module is optimized to simplify the heat transfer path and improve the cooling performance, thereby preventing the pressure difference from increasing. Since the high-voltage battery is mainly cooled by cooling water and then the secondary battery is secondarily cooled, the cooling performance of the high-voltage battery can be prevented from decreasing.

[0035] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the specific forms shown in the accompanying drawings, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention as described in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An integrated battery cooling system, comprising: a housing having a high voltage battery and a secondary battery therein and having an inlet port and an outlet port disposed outside the housing to receive and discharge cooling water; a cooling passage through which cooling water from the inlet port flows and which is configured to transfer heat of the high voltage battery; as well as a cooling module configured to receive cooling water discharged from the cooling channel, transfer heat of the sub-battery, and cool the sub-battery; Wherein, the cooling module comprises: a cooling block formed with a chamber, disposed in front of the secondary battery, and having an inlet configured to receive cooling water from the cooling channel and an outlet configured to discharge the cooling water in the cooling block to the outlet port; and a cooling plate extending from the cooling block to transfer heat to the sides of the secondary battery; wherein a plurality of high-voltage batteries are arranged at intervals on both sides of the housing, and the secondary battery is arranged between the plurality of high-voltage batteries; The inlet is disposed on each of two sides of the cooling block, and the outlet is disposed on one side of the cooling block; The inlet port and the outlet port are formed on the front side of the housing; The cooling channel has a first passage, a second passage and a third passage; The first passage connects the inlet port and the inlet of the cooling channel to each other, the second passage connects the outlet of the cooling channel and the inlet of the cooling block to each other, and the third passage connects the outlet of the cooling block and the outlet port to each other, so that the cooling water first cools the high-voltage battery and then cools the secondary battery.

2. The integrated battery cooling system according to claim 1, wherein: The cooling module further includes a cooling fin formed in a plate shape, an end of the cooling fin is between the cooling plate and a side of the secondary battery, the cooling fin is made of a thermally conductive material, and the cooling fin orthogonally extends from the end through the secondary battery.

3. The integrated battery cooling system according to claim 2, wherein: The secondary battery comprises: Battery cells; a battery case covering the top and bottom of the battery cell; and A battery cover is fixed to the battery housing to cover both sides of the battery core, the battery cover has an insertion groove, one end of the cooling fin is located in the insertion groove, and an orifice is provided in the middle of the battery cover, and the cooling fin is inserted into the orifice.

4. The integrated battery cooling system according to claim 3, wherein: The battery cover is made of thermal interface material.

5. The integrated battery cooling system according to claim 3, wherein: A plurality of cooling fins are alternately stacked with the battery cells in a front-rear direction of the secondary battery.

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