A high-efficiency battery cooling plate, liquid cooling assembly, and battery pack for use with cylindrical battery cells.

Abstract

This patent relates to the field of chemical battery cooling plate technology, and discloses a high-efficiency battery cooling plate for cylindrical battery cells. The plate includes a main body with several slots for accommodating cylindrical batteries. Each slot has a fluid chamber located inside the main body on its outer edge. The main body also has a liquid supply path for supplying liquid to the fluid chamber and a liquid return path for returning liquid to the fluid chamber. The top of the outer edge of the slot has a protrusion, and the bottom of the outer edge has a groove matching the shape of the protrusion. This battery cooling plate improves the heat dissipation efficiency of the cylindrical battery cells, serves as a cell support, and provides shock absorption and anti-explosion protection for the cylindrical battery cells.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This patent relates to the field of chemical battery cold plate technology, and particularly to the field of battery cold plates for thermal management of cylindrical batteries. Background Technology

[0002] Driven by people's demands for travel and enhanced user experience, automotive consumers are increasingly demanding faster vehicle acceleration, shorter battery charging times, longer driving ranges, and worry-free cold starts in winter. This places higher demands on battery packs, requiring higher energy density, greater safety, superior heat dissipation, and rapid heating in low temperatures. Currently, the core component of thermal management for cylindrical battery cells—the battery cold plate—is typically a serpentine tube cold plate. This serpentine cold plate is positioned between adjacent cells, and heat exchange occurs locally between the cold plate and the cells through the contacting cylindrical surfaces.

[0003] The existing structural methods have drawbacks:

[0004] Traditionally, cold plates are used between battery cells. For example, the cold plate for cylindrical battery cells used in a certain car model adopts a serpentine extension shape, as shown in Chinese patent: Battery Water Cooling Plate (CN107171037B). The disadvantages and shortcomings of this type of cold plate are as follows:

[0005] 1. The contact between the cylindrical battery cell and the cold plate is only a partial arc, failing to achieve full cylindrical surface contact. The contact area is too small, resulting in weak heat exchange efficiency and slow system feedback.

[0006] 2. The battery cold plate has a single flow channel and a single internal working medium, which limits its temperature regulation characteristics.

[0007] 3. Cylindrical battery cells require a special mounting bracket for fixing.

[0008] 4. When the cell diameter is too large, and the heat exchange needs to be increased, the heat in the middle of the cell cannot be adjusted quickly and differentiated. Summary of the Invention

[0009] To address the aforementioned issues, this invention proposes a high-efficiency battery cooling plate for cylindrical battery cells. This cooling plate can improve the heat dissipation efficiency of cylindrical battery cells, serve as a cell support, and provide shock absorption and anti-explosion protection for cylindrical battery cells.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0011] In the first technical solution, a high-efficiency battery cold plate for cylindrical cells includes a main board body. The main board body is provided with a plurality of slots for accommodating cylindrical cells. The outer edge of each slot has a fluid chamber disposed inside the main board body. The main board body also has a liquid supply path disposed inside the main board body for supplying liquid to the fluid chamber and a liquid return path disposed inside the main board body for returning liquid to the fluid chamber.

[0012] In the first technical solution, preferably, the top of the outer edge of the slot has a plugging protrusion, and the bottom of the outer edge of the slot has a plugging groove that matches the shape of the plugging protrusion.

[0013] In the first technical solution, preferably, the motherboard body is a split structure consisting of an upper plate and a lower plate. The top surface of the upper plate is provided with a plug-in protrusion at the outer edge of the corresponding slot, and the bottom of the lower plate is provided with a plug-in groove at the outer edge of the corresponding slot.

[0014] In the first technical solution, preferably, the upper plate includes an upper plate main extension plate, the main extension plate is bent upward at the corresponding slot to form an annular first bending portion, the first bending portion extends horizontally on the side away from the upper plate main extension plate, the end of the first bending portion away from the upper plate main extension plate is bent upward to form an annular first extension portion, the top surface of the first extension portion also has an annular second extension portion formed by bending, and the outer diameter of the second extension portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the first extension portion, and an annular step structure is formed at the transition between the first extension portion and the second extension portion.

[0015] In the first technical solution, preferably, the lower plate includes a lower plate main extension plate, the lower plate main extension plate is bent downward at the corresponding slot to form an annular third extension, the end of the third extension away from the lower plate main extension plate is bent inward to form an annular second bend, the end of the second bend away from the third extension is bent upward to form an annular fourth extension, the end of the fourth extension away from the second bend is bent inward to form a third bend, and the end of the third bend away from the fourth extension is bent upward to form a fifth extension;

[0016] When the upper plate and the lower plate are assembled, a portion of the outer ring surface of the fifth extension of the lower plate is sealed to a portion of the outer ring surface of the first extension, so that the first bend, the third extension, the second bend, the fourth extension, the third bend, and a portion of the fifth extension form a fluid chamber.

[0017] In the first technical solution, preferably, the difference between the inner diameter of the fourth extension and the inner diameter of the fifth extension is equal to twice the thickness of the second extension.

[0018] In the first technical solution, preferably, the motherboard body has multiple upper and lower boards, and the multiple lower boards are stacked and connected or set up separately.

[0019] In the first technical solution, as a preferred embodiment, the slots are in several groups, and each group of slots has several slots, so that the motherboard body is provided with an array of slots.

[0020] In each group of slots, the fluid chambers of multiple slots are sequentially connected through connecting pipes provided inside the motherboard body;

[0021] The main body is also provided with a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, a liquid distribution pipe connecting the liquid inlet and multiple sets of slots to the fluid chamber, and a liquid collection pipe connecting the liquid outlet and multiple sets of slots to the fluid chamber.

[0022] In the second technical solution, the liquid cooling assembly uses multiple matching cylindrical high-efficiency battery cold plates as described in the first technical solution. When the multiple battery cold plates are stacked vertically, the insertion protrusion of the lower battery cold plate is inserted into the insertion groove of the upper battery cold plate, so that the two adjacent battery cold plates are assembled with each other through the insertion protrusion and the insertion groove.

[0023] In the third technical solution, the battery pack uses the liquid cooling components as in the second technical solution.

[0024] The beneficial effects of using this invention are:

[0025] 1. The cold plate of this battery adopts an annular slot, and a fluid chamber is set outside the slot, so that the heat exchange surface of the cold plate covers 100% of the outer wall of the cylindrical cell, resulting in high heat exchange efficiency.

[0026] 2. Due to its structural design, when multiple battery cold plates are stacked to form a stacked structure, each battery cold plate can be equipped with a separate heat transfer medium. Multiple battery cold plates can achieve independent operation of multiple channels. In some schemes, different heat transfer media can be introduced into different layers of battery cold plates. Cooling or heating schemes of heat transfer media can be independently designed according to the operating status and operating characteristics of cylindrical batteries.

[0027] 3. The stacked battery cooling plate has a single component but strong adaptability, allowing for the selection of multiple layers of cells as needed; for other battery specifications, only the size of the slot needs to be changed to achieve rapid design of the battery cooling plate.

[0028] 4. The battery cold plate, which uses a ring-shaped enclosure to fix the cylindrical battery, can be used directly as a battery support without the need for an external support.

[0029] 5. Because the battery cold plate adopts a layered design of upper and lower plates, its fluid chamber is formed by bending metal plates. Since the metal plates have good collapse resistance, when a collision occurs, the adjacent batteries are squeezed with great force. The collapse of the metal plates can achieve a certain shock absorption effect, thus preventing fire and explosion. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is an axial side view of the high-efficiency battery cold plate for cylindrical cells that is used in conjunction with the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a top view of the high-efficiency battery cooling plate for cylindrical cells that is used in conjunction with the present invention.

[0032] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view along plane AA.

[0033] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of part B in the middle.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the two main body panels joined together.

[0035] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a possible modified embodiment of the high-efficiency battery cold plate for cylindrical cells that is used in conjunction with the present invention.

[0036] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a second, potentially modified embodiment of the high-efficiency battery cooling plate for cylindrical cells that is compatible with the present invention.

[0037] The reference numerals in the figures include:

[0038] 10-Main board body, 11-Upper board, 111-Upper board main extension board, 112-First bend, 113-First extension, 114-Second extension, 12-Lower board, 121-Lower board main extension board, 122-Third extension, 123-Second bend, 124-Fourth extension, 125-Third bend, 126-Fifth extension, 13-Distribution pipe, 14-Liquid cooling ring, 15-Connecting pipe body, 16-Collection pipe, 20-Liquid inlet, 30-Liquid outlet, 40-Slot; 10A-First main board body, 10B-Second main board body; M-Fluid chamber. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this technical solution clearer, the following detailed description, in conjunction with specific embodiments, further illustrates this technical solution. It should be understood that these descriptions are merely exemplary and not intended to limit the scope of this technical solution.

[0040] Example 1

[0041] In this embodiment, the battery cooling plate is water-cooled. In other embodiments, the cooling water can be replaced by other cooling media, cooling fluids, etc.

[0042] like Figures 1-5As shown, this embodiment proposes a high-efficiency battery cold plate for cylindrical cells, including a main board body 10. The main board body 10 is provided with a plurality of slots 40 for accommodating cylindrical cells. The outer edge of each slot 40 has a fluid chamber M disposed inside the main board body 10. The main board body 10 also has a liquid supply channel disposed inside the main board body 10 for supplying liquid to the fluid chamber M, and a liquid return channel disposed inside the main board body 10 for returning liquid to the fluid chamber M.

[0043] Specifically, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, there are several groups of slots 40, and each group of slots 40 has several slots 40, so that the motherboard body 10 has an array of slots 40. In each group of slots 40, the fluid chambers M of multiple slots 40 are sequentially connected through connecting pipes 15 provided inside the motherboard body 10. The motherboard body 10 is also provided with an inlet 20, an outlet 30, a distribution pipe 13 connecting the inlet 20 and the fluid chambers M of multiple groups of slots 40, and a distribution pipe 13 connecting the outlet 30 and the fluid chambers M of multiple groups of slots 40. There are 4 battery cold plates. Taking a battery cooling plate as an example, the main board 10 has an inlet 20 on one side and an outlet 30 on the other. The main board 10 is rectangular and has 6 sets of slots 40. Each set of slots 40 includes 12 slots 40 units arranged in a straight line. The outer edge of the slots 40 has a liquid cooling ring 14. The inside of the liquid cooling ring 14 is a fluid chamber M set inside the main board 10. In the same set of slots 40, two adjacent slots 40 are connected by a connecting pipe 15 set inside the main board 10, so that the fluid chambers M inside the 12 slots 40 in each set of slots 40 are connected in sequence. The inlet 20 and the 6 sets of slots 40 are connected by a distribution pipe 13. Similarly, the outlet 30 and the end of the 6 sets of slots 40 are also connected by another distribution pipe 13.

[0044] After the coolant enters the motherboard body 10 through the inlet 20, it is divided by the front distribution pipe 13 and enters the fluid chambers M in the six slots 40. The coolant exchanges heat with the cylindrical battery in the slot 40 through the solid structure of the liquid cooling ring 14 in the fluid chamber M. Finally, the coolant is collected by the rear collection pipe 16 and discharged from the outlet 30.

[0045] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, the top of the outer edge of the slot 40 has a plugging protrusion, and the bottom of the outer edge of the slot 40 has a plugging groove that matches the shape of the plugging protrusion.

[0046] Specifically, the motherboard body 10 is a split structure consisting of an upper plate 11 and a lower plate 12. The top surface of the upper plate 11 is provided with a plug-in protrusion corresponding to the outer edge of the slot 40, and the bottom of the lower plate 12 is provided with a plug-in groove corresponding to the outer edge of the slot 40.

[0047] The upper plate includes an upper plate main extension plate 111. The main extension plate is bent upward at the slot 40 to form an annular first bending portion 112. The first bending portion 112 extends horizontally away from the upper plate main extension plate 111. The end of the first bending portion 112 away from the upper plate main extension plate 111 is bent upward to form an annular first extension portion 113. The top surface of the first extension portion 113 also has an annular second extension portion 114 formed by bending. The outer diameter of the second extension portion 114 is smaller than the outer diameter of the first extension portion 113. The transition between the first extension portion 113 and the second extension portion 114 forms an annular step structure.

[0048] The lower plate 12 includes a lower plate main extension plate 121. The lower plate main extension plate 121 is bent downward at the slot 40 to form an annular third extension 122. The end of the third extension 122 away from the lower plate main extension plate 121 is bent inward to form an annular second bend 123. The end of the second bend 123 away from the third extension 122 is bent upward to form an annular fourth extension 124. The end of the fourth extension 124 away from the second bend 123 is bent inward to form a third bend 125. The end of the third bend 125 away from the fourth extension 124 is bent upward to form a fifth extension 126.

[0049] After the upper plate 11 and the lower plate 12 are assembled, a portion of the outer ring surface of the fifth extension 126 of the lower plate 12 is sealed to a portion of the outer ring surface of the first extension 113, so that the first bend 112, the third extension 122, the second bend 123, the fourth extension 124, the third bend 125 and the portion of the fifth extension 126 form a fluid chamber M.

[0050] In this embodiment, the transition between the second bend 123 and the fourth extension 124 is an arc transition. The difference between the inner diameter of the fourth extension 124 and the inner diameter of the fifth extension 126 is equal to twice the thickness of the second extension 114.

[0051] like Figure 5As shown, taking two battery cold plates as an example, when the upper first main board 10A and the lower second main board 10B are assembled, the second extension 114 at the top of the lower second main board 10B is inserted into the inner ring surface of the fourth extension 124 of the first main board 10A. At this time, the outer ring surface of the second extension 114 at the top of the lower second main board 10B abuts against the inner ring of the fourth extension 124 of the first main board 10A. When the first main board 10A and the second main board 10B are assembled, the second extension 114 of the second main board 10B can be guided by the connecting arc ring surface of the second bend 123 and the fourth extension 124, and guided into the inner ring surface of the fourth extension 124.

[0052] Additionally, it should be noted that the fifth extension 126 serves as the main plate material of the closed fluid chamber M. It can be connected to the inner ring surface of the first extension 113 by welding. When the first main body 10A and the second main body 10B are assembled, the exposed parts of the whole, such as the first bending part 112, the third extension 122, the second bending part 123, and other connecting points or extended surfaces, are all arc-shaped surfaces or arc-shaped transitions to avoid the outer surface of the liquid cooling ring 14 near the slot 40 having sharp angles.

[0053] The above-described Embodiment 1 is one embodiment of a battery cold plate. In other embodiments, the battery cold plate can also be non-assembled. For example, when the battery cold plate is stacked, a connection method in which the first main body 10A and the second main body 10B are welded and fixed at the contact point can be used to ensure stability and overall strength.

[0054] When multiple battery cold plates are used together, a single cooling medium can be used on one layer of the cold plate, meaning different cooling media can be used on multiple cold plates. For example, a cooling medium with a higher induction coefficient can be used in the middle of a cylindrical battery. Furthermore, different driving units can be used to generate different flow rates for the cooling media.

[0055] Because the battery cold plate adopts a layered design with an upper plate 11 and a lower plate 12, and its fluid chamber M is formed by bending a metal sheet, the metal sheet has good collapsibility. When a collision occurs, the adjacent batteries are subjected to high compressive strength, and the collapse of the metal sheet can achieve a certain shock absorption effect, thus preventing fire and explosion. In this embodiment, the main body 10 is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, which has the advantages of good thermal conductivity, light weight, and good collapsibility.

[0056] It should also be noted that the liquid collecting pipe 16, the liquid distributing pipe 13, and the connecting pipe body 15 can all be formed by splicing the upper plate 11 and the lower plate 12 to form a flow channel. Since the structure of the liquid collecting pipe 16, the liquid distributing pipe 13, and the connecting pipe body 15 is relatively simple, there is no need to elaborate on them.

[0057] Example 2

[0058] In this embodiment, the liquid cooling assembly uses multiple high-efficiency battery cold plates with matching cylindrical cells as shown in Embodiment 1. When the multiple battery cold plates are stacked vertically, the insertion protrusion of the lower battery cold plate is inserted into the insertion groove of the upper battery cold plate, so that the two adjacent battery cold plates are assembled with each other through the insertion protrusion and the insertion groove. The multiple battery cold plates can be stacked or spaced apart, and can be fixed by welding when multiple battery cold plates are stacked.

[0059] In addition, this embodiment also proposes a battery pack that uses the liquid cooling components described above.

[0060] Example 3

[0061] The battery cold plate in this embodiment is based on the battery cold plate in embodiment 1. This embodiment adjusts the assembly structure of the battery cold plate in embodiment 1 as follows: the main body consists of an upper plate 11 and multiple lower plates 12, and the multiple lower plates 12 are stacked and connected or set up separately.

[0062] like Figure 6 As shown, in this embodiment, the battery cooling plate can be a combination of one upper plate 11 and multiple lower plates 12, wherein the fifth extension 126 of the lower plate 12 is inserted into the outer ring surface of the fourth extension 124 of the upper lower plate 12, and then the upper lower plate 12 and the lower lower plate 12 are welded together to form a fluid chamber M.

[0063] like Figure 7 As shown, in some cases, such as when the heat generation in the middle of the battery is relatively small, it is not necessary to set up a battery cold plate to provide heat dissipation. In such cases, some of the lower plate 12 can be removed from the middle part of the battery where the heat generation is relatively small, so that the battery cold plate is set in a middle-spaced manner.

[0064] The above content is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, many changes can be made in the specific implementation and application scope based on the ideas of the present invention. As long as these changes do not depart from the concept of the present invention, they all fall within the protection scope of this patent.

Claims

1. A high-efficiency battery cooling plate for use with cylindrical battery cells, characterized in that: The device includes a motherboard body with several slots for accommodating cylindrical batteries. Each slot has a fluid chamber located inside the motherboard body on its outer edge. The motherboard body also has a liquid supply path for supplying liquid to the fluid chamber and a liquid return path for returning liquid to the fluid chamber. The top of the outer edge of the slot has a plug-in protrusion, and the bottom of the outer edge of the slot has a plug-in groove that matches the shape of the plug-in protrusion. The motherboard body is a split structure consisting of an upper plate and a lower plate. The top surface of the upper plate is provided with a plug-in protrusion at the outer edge of the corresponding slot, and the bottom of the lower plate is provided with a plug-in groove at the outer edge of the corresponding slot. The upper plate includes an upper plate main extension plate. The main extension plate is bent upward at the slot to form an annular first bending portion. The first bending portion extends horizontally on the side away from the upper plate main extension plate. The end of the first bending portion away from the upper plate main extension plate is bent upward to form an annular first extension portion. The top surface of the first extension portion also has an annular second extension portion formed by bending. The outer diameter of the second extension portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the first extension portion. The transition between the first extension portion and the second extension portion forms an annular step structure. The lower plate includes a lower plate main extension plate. The lower plate main extension plate is bent downward at the corresponding slot to form an annular third extension. The end of the third extension away from the lower plate main extension plate is bent inward to form an annular second bend. The end of the second bend away from the third extension is bent upward to form an annular fourth extension. The end of the fourth extension away from the second bend is bent inward to form a third bend. The end of the third bend away from the fourth extension is bent upward to form a fifth extension. When the upper plate and the lower plate are assembled, a portion of the outer ring surface of the fifth extension of the lower plate is sealed to a portion of the outer ring surface of the first extension, so that the first bend, the third extension, the second bend, the fourth extension, the third bend and the portion of the fifth extension form a fluid chamber. The difference between the inner diameter of the fourth extension and the inner diameter of the fifth extension is equal to twice the thickness of the second extension; The slots are in several groups, and each group of slots has several slots, so that the slots are arranged in an array on the motherboard body; in each group of slots, the fluid chambers of multiple slots are connected in sequence through connecting pipes provided inside the motherboard body; the motherboard body is also provided with an inlet, an outlet, a liquid distribution pipe connecting the inlet and the fluid chambers of multiple groups of slots, and a liquid collection pipe connecting the outlet and the fluid chambers of multiple groups of slots.

2. The matching cylindrical high-efficiency battery cold plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main board consists of multiple upper and lower boards, with the lower boards stacked and connected or arranged separately.

3. A liquid cooling assembly, using multiple matching cylindrical high-efficiency battery cold plates as described in any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: When multiple battery cold plates are stacked vertically, in two adjacent battery cold plates, the insertion protrusion of the lower battery cold plate is inserted into the insertion groove of the upper battery cold plate, so that the two adjacent battery cold plates are assembled with each other through the insertion protrusion and the insertion groove.

4. A battery pack, characterized in that: Use the liquid cooling assembly as described in claim 3.

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