Apparatus and method for an oil-cooled battery management system for a high-voltage battery

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for cooling a battery management system, wherein the battery management system, BMS, has a plurality of electrical components arranged within a BMS housing, wherein the BMS housing has at least one BMS coolant inflow interface for a coolant inflow passage and at least one BMS coolant outflow interface for a coolant outflow passage, and wherein at least one electrical component within the BMS housing is at least partially flushed by a dielectric coolant. Furthermore, a high-voltage battery is disclosed, which has a battery management system and a plurality of battery modules arranged side by side, wherein each battery module has at least one coolant inflow interface for a coolant inflow passage on at least one module housing side. Furthermore, the high-voltage battery has a hollow path which is connected to the battery management system and to the arrangement of battery modules in a media-tight manner. A method is also claimed, by means of which a battery management system is cooled by means of the device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device for cooling a battery management system of a high-voltage battery, in which the battery management system is filled with a dielectric medium. Furthermore, protection is claimed for a method by which the battery management system is cooled using the device. Background Art

[0002] During the charging and discharging process, the battery cells in an electric vehicle's traction battery generate heat, which can damage the battery. Therefore, to ensure a long service life for the battery cells, they must be cooled. According to prior art, this cooling can be achieved using a separate cooling system with a coolant. For example, the cooling system's cooling lines can be thermally connected to the battery cells using thermally conductive paste.

[0003] In addition to the heating that occurs in the battery cells during operation, for example, while the electric vehicle is driving (discharging) or when charging the battery, heat also occurs in the battery management system. Especially with high system power, active cooling is necessary to dissipate the waste heat and prevent damage or malfunctions in the battery management system. However, in many applications, the battery management system is either not actively cooled or is in only superficial contact with a cooling plate through which the coolant flows.

[0004] In Chinese document CN 108461681 A, battery cells and a battery management system are arranged on a cooling plate through which coolant flows.

[0005] US 2014 / 0178721 A1 proposes integrating a battery cell unit and a battery management unit into a common structure, wherein a coolant circulates inside the structure.

[0006] Document DE 10 2019 209 155 A1 relates to an energy storage assembly having a temperature control device for cooling or heating at least one energy storage device having two electronic battery conductors. The temperature control device can spray at least one battery conductor with a dielectric temperature control liquid. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide a device for cooling a battery management system that takes into account the increased requirements for dissipating waste heat from high-voltage batteries in the battery management system. This should require minimal installation space and weight. Furthermore, a corresponding method for cooling the battery management system using this device should be provided.

[0008] The above object is achieved by a device having the features of the following item 1, a high-voltage battery having the features of the following item 4, and a method having the features of the following item 11. Further advantages and configurations of the present invention result from the following items 2-3, 5-10, and 12-13.

[0009] 1. A device for cooling a battery management system, wherein the battery management system (BMS) has a plurality of electrical components arranged in a BMS housing, wherein the BMS housing has at least one BMS coolant inlet interface for a coolant inlet passage and at least one BMS coolant outlet interface for a coolant outlet passage, and wherein at least one electrical component in the BMS housing is at least partially flushed with a dielectric coolant.

[0010] 2. The device according to item 1 above, wherein at least one electrical component is selected from the following list: a contactor, an integrated circuit board, a power connector, an electrical connection to at least one battery module.

[0011] 3. The device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the battery management system is connected to a cooling circuit of the electric traction system.

[0012] 4. A high-voltage battery having a battery management system according to item 1 or 2 above, wherein the high-voltage battery has a plurality of battery modules arranged side by side, wherein each battery module has a module housing, two pole connection terminals, at least one energy storage cell arranged in the module housing, and a direct battery circulation portion with a dielectric coolant, wherein each battery module has at least one coolant inlet interface for a coolant inlet passage on at least one module housing side, and has a coolant outflow opening for a coolant outflow passage on the module housing cover, and there are also two pole connection terminals on the module housing cover, in the high-voltage battery, the order of the coolant inflow passages having a first coolant inflow passage and a last coolant inflow passage is determined by arranging the battery modules side by side, wherein the battery module and the last coolant inflow passage constitute an end side as the end of the arrangement, wherein the battery management system is arranged on the end side, and wherein the high-voltage battery is connected to a cooling system.

[0013] 5. A high-voltage battery according to item 4 above, wherein the at least one BMS coolant inlet interface is configured to form a coolant interface directly connected to the coolant inlet part of the cooling system, wherein the dielectric coolant flows from the coolant interface to the corresponding coolant inlet interface of the battery module.

[0014] 6. A high-voltage battery according to item 4 or 5 above, wherein the at least one BMS coolant outflow interface is configured to form a return interface directly connected to the coolant return portion to the cooling system, wherein the dielectric coolant flows from the corresponding coolant outflow interface of the battery module to the return interface.

[0015] 7. A high-voltage battery according to item 4 above, wherein the high-voltage battery additionally has a hollow path sealedly connected to the arrangement medium of the battery management system and the battery modules, wherein the path is designed to surround the at least one BMS coolant inlet interface and all coolant outlet openings and the pole connection ends of the battery modules extending therein, wherein the path is configured to receive the coolant flowing out of the coolant outlet openings along the battery modules arranged side by side and guide it to the at least one BMS coolant inlet interface of the battery management system located on the end side.

[0016] 8. The high-voltage battery according to item 7 above, wherein the battery management system is connected to the battery module via a bus bar extending inside the path, whereby a coolant circulates through the bus bar.

[0017] 9. A high-voltage battery according to item 7 or 8 above, wherein all coolant inlet interfaces of the battery modules are connected to a coolant distributor having a single coolant inlet, and wherein at least one BMS coolant outflow interface is configured as a coolant outlet, thereby forming a closed cooling system.

[0018] 10. The high-voltage battery according to any one of items 7 to 9 above, wherein the BMS housing, all module housings, and the path are constituted by the entire housing.

[0019] 11. A method for arranging a cooling device for a battery management system, in which the battery management system, i.e., BMS, has a plurality of electrical components arranged in a BMS housing, wherein at least one BMS coolant inlet interface for a coolant inlet passage and at least one BMS coolant outlet interface for a coolant outlet passage are formed on the BMS housing, and wherein at least one electrical component in the BMS housing is at least partially flushed with a dielectric coolant.

[0020] 12. The method according to item 11 above, wherein the battery management system is arranged in a high-voltage battery, wherein the high-voltage battery has a plurality of battery modules arranged side by side, wherein each battery module has a module housing, two pole connection terminals, at least one energy storage cell arranged in the module housing, and a direct battery circulation portion with a dielectric coolant, wherein each battery module has at least one coolant inlet interface for a coolant inlet passage on at least one module housing side, and a coolant outflow opening for a coolant outflow passage on a module housing cover, and two pole connection terminals are also present on the module housing cover, in the high-voltage battery, the order of the coolant inflow passages having a first coolant inflow passage and a last coolant inflow passage is determined by arranging the battery modules side by side, wherein the battery module and the last coolant inflow passage constitute an end side as the end of the arrangement, wherein the battery management system is arranged on the end side, and wherein the battery management system is connected to a cooling system connected to the high-voltage battery.

[0021] 13. A method according to item 12 above, wherein the high-voltage battery additionally has a hollow path sealedly connected to the arrangement medium of the battery management system and the battery modules, wherein the path surrounds the at least one BMS coolant inlet interface and all coolant outlet openings and the pole connection ends of the battery modules extending therein, wherein the path receives the coolant flowing out of the coolant outlet openings along the battery modules arranged side by side and guides it to the at least one BMS coolant inlet interface of the battery management system located on the end side.

[0022] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, a device for cooling a battery management system is proposed. The battery management system, referred to by those skilled in the art as a BMS, includes a plurality of electrical components arranged within a BMS housing. The BMS housing has at least one BMS coolant inlet connection for a coolant inflow passage and at least one BMS coolant outlet connection for a coolant outflow passage. At least one electrical component within the BMS housing is at least partially flushed with a dielectric coolant.

[0023] The dielectric coolant, for example, consists of purified oil free of conductive impurities. According to the present invention, direct flushing of at least some of the electrical components within the BMS with the dielectric coolant advantageously results in higher cooling power or performance. This is achieved, for example, by improving cooling performance compared to prior art methods of connecting the BMS to a cooling plate using thermally conductive paste. Consequently, waste heat generated during BMS operation is dissipated directly to the corresponding electrical components generating heat, without first having to dissipate heat through undesirable diffusion to the cooling plate (which could also negatively impact other BMS components).

[0024] In a design variant of the device according to the application, the at least one electrical component is selected from the following list: contactor, integrated circuit board, power supply connector, electrical connection to the at least one battery module. The electrical connection to the at least one battery module is formed, for example, by the pole connection and / or the busbar.

[0025] In a further design variant of the device according to the application, the battery management system is connected to a cooling circuit of an electric traction system. The electric traction system is, for example, a drive of an electrically powered vehicle or of a hybrid vehicle which is at least partially electrically powered.

[0026] In a preferred design variant of the device according to the application, the battery management system has at least two coolant interfaces for the dielectric coolant. Thereby, the coolant is advantageously supplied to the battery management system at at least two spatially separated locations from one another, which contributes to a more efficient flow of the coolant through the battery management system and also a better heat conduction associated therewith in the battery management system. In a particularly preferred design variant of the device according to the application, the at least two coolant interfaces are arranged on opposite sides of the BMS housing, in particular at a position of the BMS housing which is most distant from the BMS coolant outflow interface, which contributes to a particularly advantageous flow of the coolant through the BMS housing.

[0027] A further aspect of the application relates to a high-voltage battery having the aforementioned battery management system. The high-voltage battery has a plurality of battery modules arranged side by side, wherein each battery module has a module housing, two pole connections, at least one energy storage cell arranged in the module housing and a direct battery circulation with dielectric coolant. Each battery module has at least one coolant inflow interface for a coolant inflow passage on at least one module housing side and a coolant outflow opening for a coolant outflow passage on a module housing cover, on which two pole connections are also present. The sequence of the coolant inflow passages having a first coolant inflow passage and a last coolant inflow passage is determined by the battery modules being arranged side by side, wherein the battery module with the last coolant inflow passage constitutes an end side as an end of the arrangement. The battery management system is arranged on the end side. The high-voltage battery is connected to a cooling system.

[0028] The cooling system comprises, for example, a cooler ventilated with cooling air and a coolant pump. The cooling air is formed, for example, by the driving wind of a driving electrically powered vehicle.

[0029] According to the application, at least one energy storage cell arranged in the module housing is directly flushed with dielectric coolant, which advantageously has a higher cooling power and, in particular, a higher cooling efficiency compared to a heat dissipation only by means of cooling plates connected by surface contact. A higher cooling power is achieved inside the battery management system and inside each module housing by the device according to the application, which advantageously ensures a fast charging of the high-voltage battery, wherein a fast charging generally leads to a higher waste heat compared to a relatively slow charging, for example due to a low voltage value.

[0030] In a first design variant of the high-voltage battery according to the application, the at least one BMS coolant inflow interface is configured to constitute a coolant interface directly connected to a coolant inflow of the cooling system. From the coolant interface, the dielectric coolant flows to the respective coolant inflow interface of the battery modules.

[0031] In a second design variant of the high-voltage battery according to the application, the at least one BMS coolant outflow interface is configured to constitute a return flow interface directly connected to a coolant return flow to the cooling system. From the respective coolant outflow interface of the battery modules, the dielectric coolant flows to the return flow interface.

[0032] By means of the first design variant of the high-voltage battery according to the application and / or the second design variant of the high-voltage battery according to the application, the battery management system is advantageously integrated in the coolant circuit of the high-voltage battery. Thereby, the battery management system is advantageously spared additional cooling devices, for example a separate cooling system.

[0033] In a further design variant of the high-voltage battery according to the application, the high-voltage battery additionally has a hollow path sealingly connected to the battery management system and to the arrangement medium of the battery modules. The path is designed to surround the at least one BMS coolant inflow interface and all coolant outflow openings and the pole connection ends of the battery modules extending therein. The path is configured to receive the coolant flowing out of the coolant outflow openings along the side-by-side arranged battery modules and to guide it to the at least one BMS coolant inflow interface of the battery management system located at the end side.

[0034] By means of the arrangement of the path according to the application, the battery management system is flowed through by the same coolant as the side-by-side arranged battery modules, which advantageously spares the battery management system additional cooling devices and has the effect of reducing costs and reducing the installation space.

[0035] Similarly, with the third embodiment of the high-voltage battery according to the present invention, the battery management system is only marginally integrated into the high-voltage battery's coolant circuit. Advantageously, cooler coolant from the cooler, which for physical reasons has a higher heat absorption capacity, flows first through the battery module array, thereby more efficiently removing heat from the energy storage cells and without loading the battery management system. Only then does the battery management system receive coolant, already heated by the waste heat from the battery modules. This ensures that, for example, relatively little waste heat is generated in the battery management system compared to the battery modules when viewed together.

[0036] In another embodiment of the high-voltage battery according to the present invention, the battery management system is connected to the battery modules via busbars extending within the path, so that coolant flows around the busbars.

[0037] In another embodiment of the high-voltage battery according to the present invention, all coolant inlet ports of the battery modules are connected to a coolant distributor having a single coolant inlet. The at least one BMS coolant outlet port is configured as a coolant outlet, thereby forming a closed cooling system.

[0038] In yet another embodiment of the high-voltage battery according to the invention, the BMS housing, all module housings and paths are formed by the entire housing.

[0039] Furthermore, a method for arranging a cooling device for a battery management system is claimed, wherein the battery management system (BMS) has a plurality of electrical components arranged in a BMS housing. At least one BMS coolant inlet connection for a coolant inlet passage and at least one BMS coolant outlet connection for a coolant outlet passage are formed on the BMS housing. Coolant is flushed through the at least one electrical component at least partially within the BMS housing, wherein a dielectric coolant is supplied to the battery management system via the at least one BMS coolant inlet connection and discharged again via the at least one BMS coolant outlet connection.

[0040] In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, a battery management system is arranged in a high-voltage battery. The high-voltage battery has a plurality of battery modules arranged side by side, each battery module having a module housing, two pole connections, at least one energy storage cell arranged in the module housing, and a direct battery circulation section with a dielectric coolant. Each battery module has at least one coolant inlet connection for a coolant inlet passage on at least one module housing side, and a coolant outflow opening for a coolant outflow passage on the module housing cover, on which two pole connections are also present. The order of the coolant inflow passages having a first coolant inflow passage and a last coolant inflow passage is determined by arranging the battery modules side by side, wherein the battery module and the last coolant inflow passage form an end side as the end of the arrangement. The battery management system is arranged on this end side. The battery management system is connected to a cooling system connected to the high-voltage battery.

[0041] In another embodiment of the method according to the present invention, the high-voltage battery additionally has a hollow path that is sealedly connected to the battery management system and the arrangement of the battery modules. The path surrounds the at least one BMS coolant inlet connection and all coolant outlet openings, as well as the battery module terminal connections extending therethrough. The path receives coolant flowing out of the coolant outlet openings along the battery modules arranged side by side and directs it to the at least one BMS coolant inlet connection of the battery management system located at the end.

[0042] Further advantages and embodiments of the present invention are apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings.

[0043] It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The drawings will be described generally and generally, with like components being associated with like reference numerals.

[0045] Figure 1 The flow paths are schematically illustrated in a top view of an embodiment of a high-voltage battery according to the invention.

[0046] Figure 2 A schematic side sectional view of a configuration of a high-voltage battery according to the invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] exist Figure 1In FIG. 1 , a top view 100 of a high-voltage battery according to the present invention schematically illustrates the flow paths. The high-voltage battery includes a plurality of battery modules 110 arranged side by side in the positive direction of the x-axis 101. Each of these battery modules has a right-hand coolant inlet connection 111 (on the positive side of the y-axis 102) and a left-hand coolant inlet connection 112 (on the negative side of the y-axis 102). A battery management system (BMS) 120 is arranged at the ends of the array of battery modules 110 and the topmost or last coolant inlet channels 111, 112 along the x-axis 101. The battery management system 120 has a right-hand BMS coolant outlet connection 121 and a left-hand BMS coolant outlet connection 122, respectively, relative to the positive and negative sides of the y-axis 102. A path 130 is located above the array of battery modules 110 and the battery management system 120, which surrounds the upper coolant outlet openings of the battery modules 110 and the BMS coolant inlet connections of the battery management system 120 in a media-tight manner. The coolant flows via coolant inlet connections 111 , 112 in a coolant flow direction 140 through the corresponding battery modules, each surrounding at least one energy storage cell, into path 130 and from there via battery management system 120 to BMS coolant outlet connections 121 , 122 .

[0048] exist Figure 2 , a side cross-sectional view 200 of a high-voltage battery design according to the present invention is schematically shown. In the positive direction of the z-axis 203, above the battery module 110 and the battery management system 120, a path lower portion 232 is arranged above the battery module 110 and the battery management system 120, with a seal 234 located therebetween. Thus, while still using the seal 233, the path upper portion 231 and the path lower portion 232 are connected in a medium-tight manner. The path upper portion 231 and the path lower portion 232 constitute Figure 1 Path 130. In the cavity formed by the path upper portion 231 and the path lower portion 232, the coolant circulates toward the battery module 110 and the busbar 250 that leads to the pole connection 251 of the battery management system 120 and is electrically connected to each other.

[0049] List of Reference Numerals

[0050] 100 Top view of flow direction

[0051] 101 x-axis

[0052] 102 y-axis

[0053] 110 battery modules

[0054] 111 Right coolant inlet port

[0055] 112 Left coolant inlet port

[0056] 120 battery management system

[0057] 121 right side BMS coolant out interface

[0058] 122 left side BMS coolant out interface

[0059] 130 path

[0060] 140 flow direction of coolant

[0061] 200 side cross-sectional view of cooling assembly

[0062] 203 z-axis

[0063] 231 path upper portion

[0064] 232 path lower portion

[0065] 233 seal between path upper portion and path lower portion

[0066] 234 seal between path lower portion and placed part

[0067] 250 busbar

[0068] 251 pole connection end

Claims

1. A high-voltage battery having a battery management system (120), wherein the high-voltage battery has a plurality of battery modules (110) arranged side by side, wherein each battery module (110) has a module housing, two pole connections (251), at least one energy storage cell arranged in the module housing, and a direct battery circulation portion with a dielectric coolant, wherein each battery module (110) has at least one coolant inlet interface (111, 112) for a coolant inlet passage on at least one module housing side and a coolant outflow opening for a coolant outflow passage on the module housing cover, the module housing cover also having two pole connections (251), in the high-voltage battery, the sequence of the coolant inlet interfaces (111, 112) having a first coolant inlet interface and a last coolant inlet interface is determined by arranging the battery modules (110) side by side, wherein the battery module (110) and the last coolant inlet interface form an end side as an end of the arrangement, wherein the battery management system (120) is arranged on the end side, and wherein the high-voltage battery is connected to a cooling system; The battery management system (120), i.e., BMS, has a plurality of electrical components arranged in a BMS housing, wherein the BMS housing has at least one coolant inlet interface for a coolant inlet passage and at least two coolant outlet interfaces for a coolant outlet passage, the at least two coolant outlet interfaces (121, 122) being arranged on opposite sides of the BMS housing, and wherein at least one electrical component in the BMS housing is at least partially flushed by a dielectric coolant.

2. The high-voltage battery according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical component is selected from the following list: a contactor, an integrated circuit board, a power connector, an electrical connection to at least one battery module.

3. The high-voltage battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery management system (120) is connected to a cooling circuit of an electric traction system.

4. The high-voltage battery according to claim 1 , wherein at least one coolant inlet interface in the battery management system is configured to form a coolant interface that is directly connected to a coolant inlet of a cooling system, wherein a dielectric coolant flows from the coolant interface to a corresponding coolant inlet interface of the battery module.

5. A high-voltage battery according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least two coolant outflow interfaces in the battery management system are configured to form a return interface that is directly connected to a coolant return to the cooling system, wherein the dielectric coolant flows from the corresponding coolant outflow interface of the battery module (110) to the return interface.

6. A high-voltage battery according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the high-voltage battery additionally has a hollow path (130) that is sealedly connected to the arrangement medium of the battery management system (120) and the battery modules (110), wherein the path (130) is designed to surround the at least one coolant inlet interface and all coolant outlet openings and the pole connection ends (251) of the battery modules (110) extending therein, wherein the path (130) is configured to receive coolant flowing out of the coolant outlet openings along the battery modules (110) arranged side by side and guide it to the at least one coolant inlet interface of the battery management system (120) located on the end side.

7. The high-voltage battery according to claim 6, wherein the battery management system (120) is connected to the battery module (110) via a busbar (250) extending inside the path (130), whereby a coolant circulates around the busbar (250).

8. The high-voltage battery according to claim 6, wherein all coolant inlet connections of the battery module (110) are connected to a coolant distributor having a single coolant inlet, and wherein the at least two coolant outlet connections (121, 122) are designed as coolant outlets, thereby forming a closed cooling system.

9. The high-voltage battery according to claim 6, wherein the BMS housing, all module housings and the path (130) are formed by the entire housing.

10. A method for arranging a high-voltage battery with a battery management system (120) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein the battery management system, i.e., BMS, has a cooling device and has a plurality of electrical components arranged in a BMS housing, wherein at least one coolant inlet interface for a coolant inlet passage and at least two coolant outlet interfaces (121, 122) for a coolant outlet passage are formed on the BMS housing, the at least two coolant outlet interfaces (121, 122) being arranged on opposite sides of the BMS housing, and wherein at least one electrical component in the BMS housing is at least partially flushed with a dielectric coolant.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the high-voltage battery additionally has a hollow path (130) which is connected to the arrangement medium of the battery management system (120) and the battery modules (110) in a sealed manner, wherein the path (130) surrounds the at least one coolant inlet interface and all coolant outlet openings and the pole connection ends (251) of the battery modules (110) extending therein, wherein the path (130) receives the coolant flowing out of the coolant outlet opening along the battery modules (110) arranged side by side and guides it to the at least one coolant inlet interface of the battery management system (120) located on the end side.

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