Temperature control device for an energy storage device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a temperature control device (1) for an energy storage (2), in particular for a motor vehicle, having a first circuit (4), a first heat transfer unit (5) and an energy storage (2) to be temperature-controlled arranged in the first circuit and connected to each other in a heat transfer manner via a first heat transfer medium (6); having a second circuit (7), a second heat transfer unit (8) and the first heat transfer unit (5) arranged in the second circuit and connected to each other in a heat transfer manner via a second heat transfer medium (9); a predetermined break site (12) and / or a predetermined bending site (13) are arranged in at least one pipeline (10) of the first circuit (4) and / or at least one pipeline (11) of the second circuit (7), and the flow of the first heat transfer medium and / or the second heat transfer medium in their respective associated circuits is interrupted under a predetermined force action (14). In this way, the risk of generating explosive gases or fires is at least reduced.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a temperature control device for an energy storage device, in particular for an energy storage device in a motor vehicle. The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, which has an energy storage device and a temperature control device for temperature control, in particular for cooling, of the energy storage device. Background Art

[0002] In order to be able to increase the efficiency of motor vehicles, in particular electric vehicles, it is necessary to operate their energy storage devices in an optimal temperature window, for which purpose temperature control devices are usually used, by means of which the energy storage devices can be cooled or (if necessary) heated.

[0003] In order to again achieve particularly effective temperature control of the energy storage device, it can be provided that the individual energy storage device cells of the energy storage device are in direct contact with a heat transfer medium (for example a dielectric fluid). Here, a dielectric heat transfer medium is required to avoid short circuits. Here, for example, oil can be used as the dielectric fluid, which is temperature-controlled in a heat transfer unit participating in another circuit via a conventional coolant cooler. Such a coolant cooler contains an aqueous heat transfer medium, in particular an ethylene glycol-water mixture. However, in the event of an accident in a motor vehicle (for example an electric vehicle) equipped with a directly cooled energy storage device, it must be absolutely avoided that the aqueous heat transfer medium present in the coolant cooler circuit mixes with the dielectric heat transfer medium used for directly cooling or controlling the temperature of the electrical energy storage device, otherwise it may happen that when the aqueous heat transfer medium penetrates into the directly cooled or temperature-controlled energy storage device, explosive gases (HHO) may be generated by electrolysis, thus causing the vehicle to catch fire. However, disadvantageously, this cannot be completely excluded in common motor vehicles, in particular in common electric vehicles. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide improved or at least alternative embodiments for the temperature control device, which embodiments particularly overcome the disadvantages known from the prior art.

[0005] The present invention is based on the following general idea: in the event of a collision, by simply providing at least one predetermined breaking site and / or at least one predetermined bending site, the circuit of the heat transfer medium is interrupted, thereby particularly effectively preventing the undesired entry of the water-containing heat transfer medium into the directly cooled energy storage. The temperature control device for an energy storage according to the present invention has a first circuit, in which a first heat transfer unit and the energy storage to be temperature-controlled are arranged and are connected to each other in a heat transfer manner via a first heat transfer medium. The temperature control device also has a second circuit, in which a second heat transfer unit (such as a coolant cooler) and the first heat transfer unit are arranged and are connected to each other in a heat transfer manner via a second heat transfer medium. A predetermined breaking site / predetermined bending site according to the present invention is provided in at least one pipeline of the first circuit and / or at least one pipeline of the second circuit, and the predetermined breaking site / predetermined bending site interrupts the flow of the first heat transfer medium and / or the second heat transfer medium in their respective associated circuits under the action of a predetermined force, but in any case prevents the second heat transfer medium from entering the energy storage.

[0006] In this way, it is possible to prevent, in a relatively simple manner, the direct contact of the water-containing heat transfer medium caused by a collision with the energy storage unit of the energy storage, and the associated generation of explosive gases and vehicle fires that may occur under certain conditions. Such a predetermined breaking site or predetermined bending site can be relatively easily installed in a suitable position with an extremely small installation space requirement, so that in the event of a vehicle collision (such as in the case of a frontal impact), these predetermined breaking sites or predetermined bending sites can be easily triggered to block the corresponding circuit (in which these predetermined breaking sites or predetermined bending sites are arranged) by bending or to leak by breaking. By using the predetermined breaking site or predetermined bending site, it is possible to prevent, in a collision accident, particularly in the region of the first heat transfer unit, the second heat transfer medium from contacting the first heat transfer medium, thereby preventing the second heat transfer medium from being transported to the energy storage via the first circuit and generating explosive gases or fires there under certain conditions.

[0007] In fact, the first heat transfer unit is an oil cooler. The first heat transfer medium is usually a dielectric fluid, especially oil, which is absolutely necessary in the case of directly cooling the energy storage, in which case the energy storage unit of the energy storage is directly immersed in the first heat transfer medium.

[0008] In an advantageous further refinement of the temperature control device according to the invention, the second heat transfer unit is a coolant cooler. Such coolant coolers are typically present in motor vehicles with internal combustion engines, but also in hybrid or fully electric vehicles, where a conductive fluid (usually an ethylene glycol-water mixture) is cooled in the second heat transfer unit. However, via such a coolant cooler, not only can the heat transfer medium in the first circuit and thus the energy storage be temperature-controlled (in particular cooled) indirectly via the first heat transfer unit, but it is also possible to arrange additional heat transfer units in the second circuit, such as a refrigerant cooler of an air conditioning system. Nowadays, coolant coolers are known in a variety of embodiments and have been tested over the years, achieving a relatively high cooling power with a relatively small installation space requirement.

[0009] Here, it is clearly possible to provide a heating device in at least the first circuit via which the first heat transfer medium flowing in the first circuit and the energy storage through which it passes can be heated in order to be able to keep the energy storage (especially at lower external temperatures) within an optimally operating temperature window.

[0010] In fact, the predetermined break site includes a material thinning. Such a material thinning presents a weak point which, under the forces caused by a collision, due to its reduced cross-section compared to the rest of the cross-section, breaks and thus interrupts the flow of the first heat transfer medium in the first circuit or the flow of the second heat transfer medium in the second circuit. In terms of production technology, such a material thinning can be manufactured relatively easily, for example by means of a corresponding pipeline produced by plastic injection molding.

[0011] In another advantageous embodiment of the temperature control device according to the invention, the predetermined bending site includes a constriction, a notch or a predetermined bend. The predetermined bending site offers significant advantages over the predetermined break site, namely that in the event of a collision, the predetermined bending site only bends and thus prevents the flow of the heat transfer medium flowing in the circuit, but prevents the heat transfer medium from spilling into the environment, which is different from the predetermined break site. Even a non-exhaustive list of possible embodiments of the predetermined bending site gives an idea of the many embodiments conceivable here, where, for the reasons mentioned above, such a predetermined bending site is in principle preferred compared to the predetermined break site.

[0012] In fact, the energy storage includes an energy storage unit in direct contact with a first heat transfer medium. To enable particularly efficient cooling (i.e., direct cooling in particular), it is generally preferred to supply a cooling fluid (in particular a dielectric fluid) directly to the energy storage unit, because in this case the heat transfer and thus also the cooling power compared to indirect cooling (e.g., via a heat transfer plate) are significantly improved. In this way, it is easier to keep the energy storage within the temperature window that is optimal for its operation. However, in the case where the energy storage unit is in direct contact with the first heat transfer medium, direct cooling requires the use of a dielectric fluid, because otherwise a short circuit would occur.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention is based on the general idea of equipping a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, with an energy storage having such a temperature control device according to the foregoing paragraph for temperature control of the energy storage. Here, the motor vehicle according to the invention offers a great advantage in that in the event of an accident, there is no mixing of a conductive fluid (such as an ethylene glycol-water mixture) and a dielectric fluid (such as oil), so that there is no direct contact between the energy storage unit and the ethylene glycol-water mixture, thereby in particular preventing the generation of explosive gases and, under certain conditions, also preventing the vehicle from catching fire. By means of a predetermined breaking site or a predetermined bending site, it is possible to avoid direct contact between the second heat transfer medium (such as a water-containing coolant) and the energy storage unit in a relatively simple manner.

[0014] Other important features and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from the drawings and the associated description of the drawings according to the drawings.

[0015] It should be understood that, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the features mentioned above and still to be described below can be used not only in the combinations presented separately, but also in other combinations or individually. Description of the Drawings

[0016] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and described in more detail below, where the same reference numerals denote the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0017] Are schematically shown respectively:

[0018] Figure 1 A temperature control device of an energy storage according to the present invention is shown in its normal state having a predetermined bending site and a predetermined breaking site,

[0019] Figure 2 Is shown as Figure 1 But after a collision, having a bent predetermined bending site and a broken predetermined breaking site. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0020] According to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , a temperature control device 1 for an energy storage 2 (especially in an electric vehicle 3) according to the invention comprises a first circuit 4, a first heat transfer unit 5, and the energy storage 2 to be temperature-controlled is arranged in the first circuit and is connected to each other in a heat transfer manner via a first heat transfer medium 6. A second circuit 7 is also provided, and a second heat transfer unit 8 (especially a coolant cooler) and the first heat transfer unit 5 are arranged in the second circuit and are connected to each other in a heat transfer manner via a second heat transfer medium 9. Here, the heat transfer between the first heat transfer medium 6 (such as a dielectric fluid, especially oil) flowing in the first circuit 4 and the second heat transfer medium 9 (such as an ethylene glycol-water mixture) flowing in the second circuit 7 takes place in the first heat transfer unit 5.

[0021] According to the invention, a predetermined breaking site 12 and / or a predetermined bending site 13 are arranged in at least one pipeline 10 of the first circuit 4 and / or at least one pipeline 11 of the second circuit 7 at this time, which, under a predetermined force action 14 (see Figure 2 ), the predetermined breaking site and / or the predetermined bending site interrupt the flow of the first heat transfer medium 6 and / or the second heat transfer medium 9 in the respective associated circuits 4, 7.

[0022] According to Figure 1 , the predetermined breaking site 12 is arranged in the pipeline 10 of the first circuit 4, and the predetermined bending site 13 is arranged in the pipeline 11 of the second circuit 7. It is obviously conceivable here that such a predetermined breaking site 12 can be arranged in the pipeline 11 instead of the predetermined bending site 13, or such a predetermined bending site 13 can be arranged in the pipeline 10 instead of the predetermined breaking site 12.

[0023] The energy storage 2 has an energy storage unit 15 in direct contact with the first heat transfer medium 6 (such as oil), whereby, compared with indirect cooling, for example via a heat transfer plate, particularly effective cooling of the energy storage 2 can be achieved.

[0024] In order to be able to produce improved cooling of the energy storage 2, the first circuit 4 is coupled to the second circuit 7 in a heat transfer manner via the first heat transfer unit 5, such that the coolant cooler or generally the second heat transfer unit 8 causes cooling of the first heat transfer medium 6 via the first heat transfer unit 5, and the first heat transfer unit can be set, for example, as an oil cooler. Particularly advantageously, via the coolant cooler, temperature control, especially cooling, can also be performed on other assemblies of the electric vehicle 3 (such as the refrigerant cooler of the air conditioner or the transmission oil cooler).

[0025] In the event of a vehicle collision (such as in a rear-end collision), the force action 14 (seeFigure 2 ) then acts on the front end of the electric vehicle 3, and then, for example, the second heat transfer unit 8 (i.e., the coolant cooler) arranged at the front side can be pushed. In theory, this can lead to damage to the first heat transfer unit 5, so that in the worst case, the second heat transfer medium 9, which is usually aqueous, mixes with the dielectric first heat transfer medium 6 in the first heat transfer unit 5, so that the aqueous second heat transfer medium 9 can then enter the energy storage device 2 and the energy storage unit 15, which can in turn lead to the generation of explosive gases there and a vehicle fire or short circuit under certain conditions.

[0026] In order to avoid this situation or at least reduce the risk in this regard, a predetermined breaking point 12 or a predetermined bending point 13 is provided, which breaks or bends under the action of a predetermined force 14 (for example, in the event of an accident), thereby preventing the two heat transfer media 9 and 6 from mixing and the second heat transfer medium 9 from direct contact with the energy storage unit 15.

[0027] The predetermined breaking point 12 can be configured, for example, as a material thinning portion or a brittle expansion portion, which breaks when subjected to a predetermined force, whereby the dielectric fluid (i.e., the first heat transfer medium 6) no longer flows or flows only briefly in the first circuit 4. The predetermined breaking point 12 can be arranged either in the supply line of the first heat transfer unit 5 or in the discharge line from the first heat transfer unit.

[0028] Here, the predetermined bending point 13 can be configured, for example, as a constriction, a notch, or a predetermined bend and arranged in the supply line or discharge line of the first heat exchange unit 5. In theory, it is also conceivable to arrange it directly at the first heat exchange unit 5 or at the second heat exchange unit 8. The advantage of the predetermined bending point 13 is that it bends under a predetermined force 14 and blocks the further flow of the second heat transfer medium 9 in the second circuit 7, or, when arranged in the first circuit 4, blocks the flow of the first heat transfer medium 6 flowing therein, but prevents leakage of the respective heat transfer media 9, 6, as would be expected with a predetermined breaking point.

[0029] At least one pipeline 10 in the first circuit 4 and / or at least one pipeline 11 in the second circuit 7 can be formed from plastic or metal, thereby making it relatively easy to form the predetermined breaking point 12 or the predetermined bending point 13. Such a predetermined breaking point 12 or predetermined bending point 13 can also be inserted into the pipelines 10, 11 as a prefabricated component.

[0030] By using the temperature control device 1 according to the present invention and a motor vehicle (in particular an electric vehicle 3) according to the present invention, in the event of a vehicle collision, damage such as short circuits, generation of explosive gases or even vehicle fires can be prevented, or at least the risk thereof can be reduced.

Claims

1. A temperature control device (1) for an energy storage device (2), the temperature control device: - having a first circuit (4), a first heat transfer unit (5) and an energy storage device (2) to be temperature-controlled are arranged in the first circuit and are connected to each other in a heat transfer manner via a first heat transfer medium (6), - having a second circuit (7), a second heat transfer unit (8) and the first heat transfer unit (5) are arranged in the second circuit and are connected to each other in a heat transfer manner via a second heat transfer medium (9), - wherein a predetermined bending portion (13) is arranged in at least one pipeline (10) of the first circuit (4) and / or at least one pipeline (11) of the second circuit (7), and the predetermined bending portion interrupts the flow of the first heat transfer medium (6) and / or the second heat transfer medium (9) in their respective associated circuits (4, 7) under a predetermined force action (14).

2. The temperature control device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that wherein the first heat transfer unit (5) is an oil cooler.

3. The temperature control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first heat transfer medium (6) is a dielectric fluid.

4. The temperature control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the second heat transfer unit (8) is a coolant radiator.

5. The temperature control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second heat transfer medium (9) is a conductive fluid.

6. The temperature control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the predetermined bending portion (13) includes a constriction, a notch or a predetermined bend.

7. The temperature control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one pipeline (10) in the first circuit (4) and / or at least one pipeline (11) in the second circuit (7) is formed of plastic or metal.

8. The temperature control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the energy storage device (2) includes an energy storage unit (15) in direct contact with the first heat transfer medium (6).

9. The temperature control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the temperature control device (1) is for a motor vehicle.

10. The temperature control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, a predetermined fracture portion (12) is arranged in at least one pipeline (10) of the first circuit (4) and / or at least one pipeline (11) of the second circuit (7), and the predetermined fracture portion interrupts the flow of the first heat transfer medium (6) and / or the second heat transfer medium (9) in their respective associated circuits (4, 7) under a predetermined force action (14).

11. The temperature control device according to claim 3, characterized in that, the dielectric fluid is oil.

12. The temperature control device according to claim 5, characterized in that, the conductive fluid is an ethylene glycol - water mixture.

13. The temperature control device according to claim 10, characterized in that the predetermined fracture portion (12) includes a material thinning portion.

14. A motor vehicle having an energy storage device (2) and a temperature control device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the temperature control device being used for temperature control of the energy storage device.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, characterized in that the motor vehicle is an electric vehicle (3).

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