Heat exchange device, heat exchange apparatus, thermal management system and control method thereof, vehicle

Abstract

A heat exchange device (4), a heat exchange equipment (110), a heat management system (100) and a control method thereof, and a vehicle. The heat exchange device (4) comprises a shell (410) and a partition plate (420) arranged in the shell (410), the partition plate (420) separates the shell (410) into a first cavity (411) and a second cavity (412), the outer wall of the side away from the second cavity (412) of the first cavity (411) is used for heat contact with an element to be heat exchanged, the first cavity (411) is provided with a first inlet (4111) and a first outlet (4112); the second cavity (412) is provided with a second inlet (4121) and a second outlet (4122), a first sealing element (4123) for opening or closing the second inlet (4121) is arranged at the second inlet (4121), and a second sealing element (4124) for opening or closing the second outlet (4122) is arranged at the second outlet (4122).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of heat exchange technology, and in particular to a heat exchange device, heat exchange equipment, thermal management system and its control method, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, environmental pollution and energy shortages have accelerated the development and utilization of green and renewable energy. New energy vehicles, with their advantages of low pollution, low noise, and high energy efficiency, have become a research hotspot in the automotive industry. Currently, the power batteries used in new energy vehicles are mainly lithium-ion batteries. The efficiency, lifespan, and stability of lithium-ion batteries are greatly affected by temperature. Specifically, low temperatures lead to decreased battery charging and discharging efficiency, increased heat generation, and lithium plating on the negative electrode, causing irreversible capacity loss. High temperatures, on the other hand, accelerate battery aging, and exceeding a certain temperature may lead to safety accidents such as thermal runaway. Therefore, to improve battery performance and safety, thermal management is necessary. Existing thermal management methods may achieve either heat dissipation or insulation of the battery; however, they cannot simultaneously meet both thermal management requirements, thus failing to achieve satisfactory thermal management results. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a heat exchange device, heat exchange equipment, thermal management system and control method thereof, and vehicle, to meet the heat exchange or insulation requirements of the heat exchange element and improve the performance and safety of the heat exchange element.

[0004] In a first aspect, this application provides a heat exchange device, which may include a housing and a partition plate. The partition plate is disposed within the housing and divides the housing into a first cavity and a second cavity. The outer wall of the first cavity, away from the second cavity, is available for thermal contact with the heat exchange element, and the first cavity may be provided with a first inlet and a first outlet. The second cavity may be provided with a second inlet and a second outlet. The second inlet may be provided with a first seal, and the second outlet may be provided with a second seal. The first seal can be used to open or close the second inlet, and the second seal can be used to open or close the second outlet.

[0005] In the above scheme, the first chamber can dissipate heat or heat the heat exchange element by circulating a heat exchange medium. The second chamber has two states: a ventilation state where the first seal opens the second inlet and the second seal opens the second outlet; and a closed state where the first seal closes the second inlet and the second seal closes the second outlet. In the ventilation state, the second chamber can also dissipate heat or heat the heat exchange element by circulating a heat exchange medium. In the closed state, it can isolate the heat exchange element from the outside air, thereby reducing the impact of high or low temperatures on the heat exchange element and achieving a heat insulation effect. Therefore, the heat exchange device provided in this application can simultaneously meet the heat exchange or heat insulation needs of the heat exchange element, improving the performance and safety of the heat exchange element.

[0006] In some possible implementations, the second inlet and the second outlet can be arranged opposite each other to increase the flow rate of the heat exchange medium inside the second cavity under ventilation conditions, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency between the second cavity and the heat exchange element to be exchanged.

[0007] In some possible implementations, the partition plate has multiple ribs on the side facing the second cavity, with the ends of the ribs facing away from the partition plate spaced apart from the inner wall of the second cavity away from the first cavity. The ribs enhance the strength and rigidity of the heat exchange device and also help increase the effective contact area between the second cavity and the heat exchange medium, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the second cavity.

[0008] In a specific configuration, the ribs can extend along the direction from the second inlet to the second outlet to reduce obstruction to the flow of the heat exchange medium, so that the heat exchange medium can maintain smooth and efficient flow in the second cavity.

[0009] In addition, at least one end of the ribs facing away from the partition can be provided with a heat insulation component. The heat insulation component can be supported between the corresponding rib and the inner wall of the second cavity, so as to further improve the structural strength of the heat exchange device without affecting the heat insulation performance of the second cavity in the closed state.

[0010] For example, the materials of the thermal insulation components include, but are not limited to, mica, polystyrene, polyurethane, etc.

[0011] In some possible implementations, a first sealing ring may be provided at the end of the second inlet. When the first seal closes the second inlet, the first sealing ring can be squeezed between the first seal and the end of the second inlet to reduce the risk of air leakage at the second inlet and improve the sealing effect of the second cavity in the closed state.

[0012] Similarly, a second sealing ring may be provided at the end of the second outlet. When the second seal closes the second outlet, the second sealing ring can be squeezed between the end of the second seal and the second outlet to reduce the risk of air leakage at the second outlet and further improve the sealing effect of the second cavity in the closed state.

[0013] In some possible implementations, the housing may be provided with a vacuum exhaust port that communicates with the second cavity. When the second cavity is in a closed state, the air inside the second cavity can be discharged through the vacuum exhaust port, making the second cavity a vacuum cavity, thereby improving the heat preservation effect of the second cavity.

[0014] In some possible implementations, a first heat insulation layer may be provided on the inner wall of the second cavity on the side away from the first cavity. The first heat insulation layer can reduce heat transfer between the second cavity and the external environment, thereby helping to improve the heat preservation effect of the second cavity. Exemplarily, the material of the first heat insulation layer includes, but is not limited to, aluminum foil, aerogel, polyurethane foam, etc.

[0015] Similarly, a second heat insulation layer may be provided on the outer wall of the second cavity away from the first cavity to further reduce heat transfer between the second cavity and the external environment. For example, the material of the second heat insulation layer may include, but is not limited to, aerogel, polyurethane foam, etc.

[0016] In some possible implementations, the first seal can be rotatably mounted on the heat exchanger via a shaft, so that the second inlet can be opened or closed when the first seal rotates about the shaft. Similarly, the second seal can also be rotatably mounted on the heat exchanger via a shaft to open or close the second outlet when it rotates about the shaft.

[0017] In some possible implementations, the heat exchange medium flowing in the first cavity can be a coolant, that is, the first cavity can be a coolant containment cavity; the heat exchange medium flowing inside the second cavity in the ventilated state can be air, that is, the second cavity can be an air cavity.

[0018] Secondly, this application also provides a heat exchange device, which may include a heat exchange device in any possible implementation of the first aspect of the application, wherein the driving component may be connected to the first seal and the second seal respectively to drive the first seal to open or close the second inlet and to drive the second seal to open or close the second outlet, thereby reducing the difficulty of switching the second cavity between the ventilation state and the closed state.

[0019] In specific configurations, the first seal and the second seal can be driven by the same driving component, or they can be driven by separate driving components, or the first seal and the second seal can be driven by multiple driving components, in order to improve the driving reliability of the first seal and the second seal.

[0020] Thirdly, this application also provides a thermal management system, which may include a compressor, a condenser, a cooler, an expansion valve, a circulating pump, and the heat exchange equipment provided in the second aspect. The cooler includes a first flow channel and a second flow channel that are isolated from each other. Specifically, the compressor outlet is connected to the condenser inlet, the condenser outlet is connected to the inlet of the first flow channel via the expansion valve, and the outlet of the first flow channel is connected to the compressor inlet to form a first circulation loop. Additionally, the circulating pump outlet is connected to the first inlet of the first chamber, the first outlet of the first chamber is connected to the inlet of the second flow channel, and the outlet of the second flow channel is connected to the circulating pump inlet to form a second circulation loop. Using these two circulation loops, heat dissipation can be achieved through the first chamber for the heat exchange element. By switching the second chamber between a ventilated state and a closed state, the heat exchange or insulation requirements of the heat exchange element under different temperature conditions can be met.

[0021] In some possible implementations, the second cavity is provided with a vacuum exhaust port. In this case, the thermal management system may also include a vacuum pump, the suction port of which can be connected to the vacuum exhaust port. The vacuum pump can be used to extract air from the second cavity when the first seal closes the second inlet and the second seal closes the second outlet, so as to improve the heat preservation effect of the second cavity in the closed state.

[0022] In some possible implementations, the thermal management system may further include a temperature detection device and a controller. The temperature detection device can be used to detect the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element. The controller is electrically connected to the compressor, the circulating pump, the drive component, and the temperature detection device, respectively. When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within a first temperature range, the controller can control the compressor and the circulating pump to shut down, and control the drive component to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet, thereby adjusting the second cavity to a closed state. The heat exchange device is used to keep the heat exchange element in a suitable temperature range.

[0023] In some other possible implementations, the controller can also be used to control the compressor and circulating pump to shut down when the temperature of the heat exchange element is within a first temperature range and the ambient temperature is less than a first temperature threshold, and to control the drive component to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet, thereby adjusting the second cavity to a closed state. At this time, due to the low ambient temperature, by adjusting the second cavity to a closed state, the heat exchange element can be thermally isolated from the outside air, reducing the adverse effects of the low ambient temperature on the heat exchange element; or

[0024] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range, and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold and less than or equal to the second temperature threshold, the compressor and circulating pump are shut down, and the drive component is controlled to open the second inlet and the second outlet of the first seal, adjusting the second cavity to a ventilation state. Under these conditions, the ambient temperature is not significantly different from the temperature of the heat exchange element; therefore, adjusting the second cavity to a ventilation state helps to maintain the heat exchange element within its suitable temperature range.

[0025] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold, the compressor and circulation pump are turned on, and the drive component is driven to close the second inlet and the second outlet, thus adjusting the second cavity to a closed state. Under these conditions, since the ambient temperature is high, liquid cooling can be used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element. At the same time, by adjusting the second cavity to a closed state, the heat exchange element can be thermally isolated from the outside air, reducing the adverse effects of high ambient temperature on the heat exchange element.

[0026] In some possible implementations, the controller can also be used to control the compressor and circulating pump to shut down when the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is greater than or equal to a temperature difference threshold. It also controls the drive component to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and the second seal to open the second outlet, adjusting the second cavity to a ventilation state. Under these conditions, the temperature of the heat exchange element is relatively low, while the ambient temperature is significantly higher than the temperature of the heat exchange element. Therefore, the second cavity can be adjusted to a ventilation state to utilize a natural heat source to heat the heat exchange element; or

[0027] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is less than the aforementioned temperature difference threshold, the control drive component drives the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet, adjusting the second cavity to a closed state. Under this condition, the temperature of the heat exchange element is relatively low, while the ambient temperature is relatively close to the temperature of the heat exchange element. Therefore, by adjusting the second cavity to a closed state, the heat exchange element can be thermally isolated from the outside air, reducing the impact of the low ambient temperature on the heat exchange element.

[0028] The second temperature range is the temperature range in which the temperature value is less than the minimum value in the first temperature range.

[0029] In some embodiments, the thermal management system may further include a heater connected between the first cavity and the second flow channel. The controller may also be electrically connected to the heater. When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is less than a temperature difference threshold, the controller may also control the compressor to shut down while simultaneously controlling the circulating pump and the heater to turn on, using the heater to heat the heat exchange element so that it can operate normally.

[0030] In some possible implementations, the controller can also be used to control the compressor and circulating pump to start when the temperature of the heat exchange element is within a third temperature range and the ambient temperature is less than the aforementioned first temperature threshold. The controller also controls the drive component to open the second inlet and the second outlet of the first seal, adjusting the second cavity to a ventilation state. Under these conditions, the temperature of the heat exchange element is relatively high, while the ambient temperature is relatively low. Therefore, a combined liquid cooling and air cooling mode can be used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element, fully utilizing the natural cold source. This reduces the energy consumption of the thermal management system while achieving heat dissipation for the heat exchange element; or

[0031] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the third temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, the controller can control the compressor and the circulation pump to start, and control the drive component to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet, thereby adjusting the second cavity to a closed state. Under these conditions, the ambient temperature is relatively high, so the second cavity can be adjusted to a closed state to thermally isolate the heat exchange element from the outside air. At the same time, the compressor and the circulation pump are started, and the liquid cooling mode is used alone to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element to achieve a better heat dissipation effect.

[0032] The third temperature range is the temperature range in which the temperature value is greater than the maximum value in the first temperature range.

[0033] In some possible implementations, the thermal management system may also include a vacuum gauge for detecting the vacuum level within the second chamber. The controller may also be electrically connected to the vacuum gauge to control the vacuum pump to shut down when the drive component closes the second inlet by driving the first seal and the second outlet by driving the second seal, and the vacuum level within the second chamber is greater than or equal to a vacuum level threshold, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the vacuum pump.

[0034] In some possible implementations, the thermal management system may also include a first vacuum valve and a second vacuum valve. The first vacuum valve is connected between the vacuum pump's intake port and the vacuum exhaust port, and the second vacuum valve is connected between the vacuum pump's intake port and the vehicle's vacuum booster. In this way, the thermal management system and the vehicle's vacuum-assisted braking system can reuse the same vacuum pump, thereby helping to reduce the overall cost of the vehicle.

[0035] Fourthly, this application also provides a thermal management system, which may include an air-cooled radiator, a circulating pump, and the heat exchange equipment provided in the second aspect. The outlet of the circulating pump is connected to the first inlet of the first cavity, the first outlet of the first cavity is connected to the inlet of the air-cooled radiator, and the outlet of the air-cooled radiator is connected to the inlet of the circulating pump. In this solution, the cooling of the coolant in the first cavity can be achieved by utilizing the inherent characteristics of the air-cooled radiator, thereby simplifying the structure of the thermal management system.

[0036] In some possible implementations, a fan can also be installed at the air-cooled radiator to increase the airflow rate across the surface of the air-cooled radiator, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the air-cooled radiator.

[0037] Fifthly, this application also provides a control method for a thermal management system, used to control the thermal management system described in the third aspect above, the control method comprising:

[0038] Obtain the temperature of the heat exchange element and the ambient temperature;

[0039] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range and the ambient temperature is less than the first temperature threshold, the compressor and circulating pump are shut down, and the drive component is controlled to close the second inlet by the first seal and close the second outlet by the second seal. Under these conditions, the ambient temperature is not significantly different from the temperature of the heat exchange element. Therefore, by adjusting the second cavity to a ventilated state, it helps to keep the heat exchange element within its suitable temperature range; or

[0040] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range, and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold and less than or equal to the second temperature threshold, the compressor and circulating pump are shut down, and the drive component is controlled to open the second inlet by the first seal and open the second outlet by the second seal. Under these conditions, due to the high ambient temperature, liquid cooling can be used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element. Simultaneously, by adjusting the second cavity to a closed state, the heat exchange element can be thermally isolated from the outside air, reducing the adverse effects of high ambient temperature on the heat exchange element; or

[0041] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold, the control drive component drives the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet. Under these conditions, since the ambient temperature is high, liquid cooling mode can be used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element. At the same time, by adjusting the second cavity to a closed state, the heat exchange element can be thermally isolated from the outside air, reducing the adverse effects of high ambient temperature on the heat exchange element.

[0042] In some possible implementations, the above control methods may further include:

[0043] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is greater than or equal to the temperature difference threshold, the compressor and circulating pump are shut down, and the drive component is controlled to open the second inlet by the first seal and open the second outlet by the second seal. Under these conditions, the temperature of the heat exchange element is relatively low, while the ambient temperature is significantly higher than the temperature of the heat exchange element. Therefore, the second cavity can be adjusted to a ventilation state to heat the heat exchange element using a natural heat source; or

[0044] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is less than the temperature difference threshold, the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet. Under these conditions, the temperature of the heat exchange element is relatively low, and the ambient temperature is relatively close to the temperature of the heat exchange element. Therefore, by adjusting the second cavity to a closed state, the heat exchange element can be thermally isolated from the outside air, reducing the impact of the low ambient temperature on the heat exchange element.

[0045] The second temperature range is the range where the temperature value is less than the minimum temperature value in the first temperature range.

[0046] In some possible implementations, when the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is less than a temperature difference threshold, the above control method may further include:

[0047] The compressor is shut down, while the circulating pump and heater are turned on to heat the heat exchange element, enabling it to operate normally.

[0048] In some possible implementations, the above control methods may further include:

[0049] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the third temperature range and the ambient temperature is below the first temperature threshold, the compressor and circulating pump are started, and the drive component is controlled to open the second inlet and the second outlet of the first seal. Under these conditions, the temperature of the heat exchange element is relatively high, while the ambient temperature is relatively low. Therefore, a combined liquid cooling and air cooling mode can be used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element, making full use of the natural cold source. While achieving heat dissipation from the heat exchange element, the energy consumption of the thermal management system can be reduced; or

[0050] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the third temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, the compressor and circulation pump are turned on, and the drive component is driven to close the second inlet and the second outlet. Under these conditions, the ambient temperature is relatively high, so the second cavity can be adjusted to a closed state to thermally isolate the heat exchange element from the outside air. At the same time, the compressor and circulation pump are turned on, and the liquid cooling mode is used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element to achieve a better heat dissipation effect.

[0051] The third temperature range is the range where the temperature value is greater than the maximum temperature value in the first temperature range.

[0052] In some possible implementations, when the thermal management system further includes a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump's suction port is connected to the vacuum exhaust port of the second chamber. In this case, the above control method may further include:

[0053] When the driving component drives the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet, the vacuum pump is turned on to extract air from the second chamber and improve the heat preservation effect of the second chamber in the closed state.

[0054] Sixthly, this application also provides a control device for a thermal management system, used to control the thermal management system in the aforementioned third aspect, the control device comprising:

[0055] The communication unit is used to acquire the temperature of the heat exchange element and the ambient temperature.

[0056] The processing unit is configured to, when the temperature of the heat exchange element is within a first temperature range and the ambient temperature is less than a first temperature threshold, control the compressor and circulating pump to shut down, and control the drive component to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet. Under these conditions, the ambient temperature is not significantly different from the temperature of the heat exchange element; therefore, by adjusting the second cavity to a ventilation state, it helps to maintain the heat exchange element within its suitable temperature range.

[0057] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range, and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold and less than or equal to the second temperature threshold, the compressor and circulating pump are shut down, and the drive component is controlled to open the second inlet by the first seal and open the second outlet by the second seal. Under these conditions, due to the high ambient temperature, liquid cooling can be used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element. Simultaneously, by adjusting the second cavity to a closed state, the heat exchange element can be thermally isolated from the outside air, reducing the adverse effects of high ambient temperature on the heat exchange element; or

[0058] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold, the control drive component drives the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet. Under these conditions, since the ambient temperature is high, liquid cooling mode can be used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element. At the same time, by adjusting the second cavity to a closed state, the heat exchange element can be thermally isolated from the outside air, reducing the adverse effects of high ambient temperature on the heat exchange element.

[0059] In some possible implementations, the processing unit may also be used for:

[0060] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is greater than or equal to the temperature difference threshold, the compressor and circulating pump are shut down, and the drive component is controlled to open the second inlet by the first seal and open the second outlet by the second seal. Under these conditions, the temperature of the heat exchange element is relatively low, while the ambient temperature is significantly higher than the temperature of the heat exchange element. Therefore, the second cavity can be adjusted to a ventilation state to heat the heat exchange element using a natural heat source; or

[0061] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is less than the temperature difference threshold, the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet. Under these conditions, the temperature of the heat exchange element is relatively low, and the ambient temperature is relatively close to the temperature of the heat exchange element. Therefore, by adjusting the second cavity to a closed state, the heat exchange element can be thermally isolated from the outside air, reducing the impact of the low ambient temperature on the heat exchange element.

[0062] The second temperature range is the range where the temperature value is less than the minimum temperature value in the first temperature range.

[0063] In some possible implementations, when the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is less than a temperature difference threshold, the processing unit can also be used for:

[0064] The compressor is shut down, while the circulating pump and heater are turned on to heat the heat exchange element, enabling it to operate normally.

[0065] In some possible implementations, the processing unit may also be used for:

[0066] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the third temperature range and the ambient temperature is below the first temperature threshold, the compressor and circulating pump are started, and the drive component is controlled to open the second inlet and the second outlet of the first seal. Under these conditions, the temperature of the heat exchange element is relatively high, while the ambient temperature is relatively low. Therefore, a combined liquid cooling and air cooling mode can be used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element, making full use of the natural cold source. While achieving heat dissipation from the heat exchange element, the energy consumption of the thermal management system can be reduced; or

[0067] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the third temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, the compressor and circulation pump are turned on, and the drive component is driven to close the second inlet and the second outlet. Under these conditions, the ambient temperature is relatively high, so the second cavity can be adjusted to a closed state to thermally isolate the heat exchange element from the outside air. At the same time, the compressor and circulation pump are turned on, and the liquid cooling mode is used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element to achieve a better heat dissipation effect.

[0068] The third temperature range is the range where the temperature value is greater than the maximum temperature value in the first temperature range.

[0069] In some possible implementations, when the thermal management system also includes a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump's suction port is connected to the vacuum exhaust port of the second chamber. In this case, the processing unit can also be used for:

[0070] When the driving component drives the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet, the vacuum pump is turned on to extract air from the second chamber and improve the heat preservation effect of the second chamber in the closed state.

[0071] In a seventh aspect, this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to implement the method provided in the fifth aspect above.

[0072] Eighthly, this application also provides a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to implement the method provided in the fifth aspect above.

[0073] Ninthly, this application also provides a vehicle that may include a heat exchange element and the thermal management system provided in the third aspect above. The thermal management system can be used to exchange heat with the heat exchange element and can meet the heat insulation requirements of the heat exchange element, thereby improving the performance and safety of the heat exchange element.

[0074] In some possible implementations, the heat exchange element can specifically be the heat exchange element of a vehicle. Attached Figure Description

[0075] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the vehicle structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0076] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the assembly state of the heat exchange device and the heat exchange element provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0077] Figure 3 for Figure 2 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the heat exchange device and the heat exchange element in the assembled state.

[0078] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the heat exchange device shown;

[0079] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another heat exchange device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0080] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of another heat exchange device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0081] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle;

[0082] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the heat exchange device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0083] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a thermal management system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0084] Figure 10This is a schematic diagram of another thermal management system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0085] Figure 11 A control principle diagram of the thermal management system provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0086] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of another thermal management system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0087] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of another thermal management system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0088] Figure 14 A flowchart of a control method for a thermal management system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0089] Figure 15 A flowchart illustrating another control method for the thermal management system provided in this application embodiment;

[0090] Figure 16 A flowchart illustrating another control method for the thermal management system provided in this application embodiment;

[0091] Figure 17 A schematic diagram of the structure of a computing device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0092] Figure label:

[0093] 1-Battery pack; 2-Powertrain system; 3-Drive wheels; 4-Heat exchange device; 5-Drive components;

[0094] 410 - Shell; 411 - First cavity; 4111 - First inlet; 4112 - First outlet; 412 - Second cavity;

[0095] 4121 - Second inlet; 4122 - Second outlet; 4123 - First seal; 4124 - Second seal;

[0096] 4125 - Vacuum exhaust port; 4126 - First insulation layer; 4127 - Second insulation layer; 4128 - Vacuum gauge interface; 420 - Partition;

[0097] 421 - Rib plate; 422 - Thermal insulation component; 110 - Heat exchange equipment; 120 - Compressor; 130 - Condenser; 140 - Cooler;

[0098] 141 - First flow channel; 142 - Second flow channel; 150 - Expansion valve; 160 - Circulation pump; 170 - Heater; 180 - Vacuum pump;

[0099] 181-First vacuum valve; 182-Second vacuum valve; 190-Vacuum gauge; 1100-Air-cooled radiator; 1101-Fan;

[0100] 1000 - Computing device; 1110 - Processor; 1120 - Memory; 1130 - Communication interface; 1140 - Bus. Detailed Implementation

[0101] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The same reference numerals in the figures denote the same or similar structures, and therefore repeated descriptions of them will be omitted. The terms expressing position and direction described in the embodiments of this application are illustrative based on the accompanying drawings, but changes can be made as needed, and all such changes are included within the scope of protection of this application. The accompanying drawings of the embodiments of this application are for illustrating relative positional relationships only and do not represent actual scale.

[0102] It should be noted that specific details are set forth in the following description to facilitate understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar extensions without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0103] In recent years, environmental pollution and energy shortages have accelerated the development and utilization of green and renewable energy. Developing new energy vehicles, represented by electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, is a crucial measure for achieving energy conservation, emission reduction, and pollution control. Electric vehicles, by replacing internal combustion engines with electric motors, not only achieve zero emissions, low noise, and no pollution, but also significantly conserve dwindling petroleum resources. Hybrid vehicles, on the other hand, utilize both electric motors and internal combustion engines for power, combining the advantages of long driving range and high performance of engine-driven vehicles with the benefits of low noise and zero pollution from electric motors. With the increasing maturity and development of power battery technology, electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are destined to become the main trend in the future development of the automotive industry.

[0104] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the vehicle structure provided in an embodiment of this application. (Reference) Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle may include, but is not limited to, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. The vehicle may include a battery pack 1, a powertrain system 2, and drive wheels 3. The battery pack 1 can serve as the power source of the vehicle, providing electrical energy to the powertrain system 2. The powertrain system 2 is connected to the drive wheels 3 and can be used to convert the electrical energy of the battery pack 1 into driving force and transmit it to the drive wheels 3 to drive the vehicle.

[0105] The battery pack 1 in vehicles is currently mostly composed of lithium-ion batteries. The efficiency, lifespan, and stability of lithium-ion batteries are greatly affected by temperature. For example, low temperatures can lead to a decrease in the charging and discharging efficiency of battery pack 1, an increase in heat generation, and lithium plating on the negative electrode, causing irreversible capacity loss. High temperatures, on the other hand, can accelerate the aging of battery pack 1, and exceeding a certain temperature can even cause safety accidents such as thermal runaway. Therefore, in order to improve the performance and safety of battery pack 1, thermal management can be implemented.

[0106] Currently, mainstream battery pack thermal management systems generally employ a liquid cooling / liquid heating approach. This involves placing heat exchange devices with internal flow channels at the bottom or top of the battery pack, and cooling or heating the battery pack by introducing low-temperature or high-temperature media through these channels. Furthermore, the surface of the battery pack is typically covered with thermal insulation material to reduce the impact of external high or low temperatures. However, this thermal management method cannot simultaneously address the heat dissipation and insulation requirements of the battery pack under different environmental conditions. For example, in high-temperature or extremely cold environments, it is desirable for the battery pack to have excellent insulation performance to reduce the heat exchange efficiency between the environment and the battery cells, thereby reducing the probability of the battery pack's temperature deviating from its optimal range due to ambient temperature. Conversely, when the battery pack temperature is high (e.g., after fast charging) and the ambient temperature is low, good insulation may hinder heat dissipation, leading to increased energy consumption of the heat exchange devices.

[0107] To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides a heat exchange device and a thermal management system using the heat exchange device, so as to take into account the heat exchange or insulation requirements of the battery pack under different environmental conditions, thereby improving the performance and safety of the battery pack. The heat exchange device and thermal management system will be described below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0108] refer to Figure 2 As shown, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the assembly state of a heat exchange device and a heat exchange element according to an embodiment of this application. In this embodiment, the heat exchange device 4 can be disposed on one side of the heat exchange element and in thermally conductive contact with it to facilitate heat exchange or insulation. Exemplarily, the heat exchange element can be a vehicle battery pack 1, or other components requiring heat exchange or insulation; this application does not impose specific limitations. Therefore, the heat exchange device provided in this embodiment can be used in the automotive field as well as other fields involving heat exchange; this application also does not impose specific limitations. The following embodiments primarily use a battery pack 1 as an example of the heat exchange element.

[0109] Please refer to the above. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, Figure 3 for Figure 2The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the heat exchange device and the element to be exchanged in the assembled state. Figure 4 for Figure 2 The diagram shows the structure of the heat exchange device. The heat exchange device 4 may include a housing 410 and a partition 420 disposed within the housing 410, which divides the housing 410 into two cavities: a first cavity 411 and a second cavity 412. The first cavity 411 is provided with a first inlet 4111 and a first outlet 4112, and the second cavity 412 is provided with a second inlet 4121 and a second outlet 4122, so that the heat exchange medium can flow within the first cavity 411 and the second cavity 412 to exchange heat with the battery pack 1.

[0110] The heat exchange medium flowing within the first cavity 411 can be a coolant, meaning the first cavity 411 can be a coolant containment cavity. In this case, the outer wall of the first cavity 411 away from the second cavity 412 can directly or indirectly conduct heat with the battery pack 1. The coolant can enter the first cavity 411 through the first inlet 4111, undergoing convective heat exchange with the wall of the first cavity 411, and then flowing out through the first outlet 4112. Simultaneously, the first cavity 411 can also exchange heat with the battery pack 1 through heat conduction, thereby further transferring the cooling or heating energy of the coolant to the battery pack 1, achieving a cooling or heating effect on the battery pack 1.

[0111] A coolant flow channel may be provided inside the first cavity 411. One end of the coolant flow channel is connected to the first inlet 4111, and the other end is connected to the first outlet 4112. Exemplarily, in some embodiments, the coolant flow channel may be distributed in a serpentine or spiral shape. When the coolant flows in the coolant flow channel, it can uniformly transfer the cold or heat it carries to the first cavity 411, and then uniformly transfer it to the battery pack 1 through the first cavity 411, so as to improve the heat dissipation or heating effect of the battery pack 1.

[0112] In some other embodiments, the first cavity 411 may also be provided with a first collecting cavity and a second collecting cavity, with the first inlet 4111 communicating with the first collecting cavity and the first outlet 4112 communicating with the second collecting cavity. In this case, there can be multiple coolant channels, arranged side-by-side between the first and second collecting cavities. The first collecting cavity has a first branch port corresponding to the position of each coolant channel, and the second collecting cavity has a second branch port corresponding to the position of each coolant channel. The two ends of each coolant channel are connected to the corresponding first and second branch ports, respectively. Thus, coolant can enter the first collecting cavity through the first inlet 4111, and then flow into each coolant channel through the first branch port of the first collecting cavity to uniformly exchange heat with the wall of the first cavity 411. It then flows into the second collecting cavity through the second branch ports and finally exits through the first outlet 4112.

[0113] In the embodiments of this application, the number of first inlet 4111 and first outlet 4112 may each be one or more, and the number of the two may be the same or different. This application does not impose any restrictions on this. Figure 4 The diagram shows a case where there is one first inlet 4111 and one first outlet 4112. (See reference...) Figure 5 As shown, Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another heat exchange device provided in an embodiment of this application. The figure shows a case where there are two first inlets 4111 and two first outlets 4112. The two first inlets 4111 and the two first outlets 4112 can be respectively arranged on opposite sides of the first cavity 411 to facilitate communication with the first and second collection chambers on both sides. By increasing the number of first inlets 4111 and first outlets 4112, it is helpful to increase the flow velocity of the coolant in the first cavity 411, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange device 4.

[0114] Please refer to this again. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment, the second cavity 412 and the battery pack 1 are separated by the first cavity 411, thus forming an indirect thermal contact between the second cavity 412 and the battery pack 1. In one implementation, the heat exchange medium flowing in the second cavity 412 can be air, in which case the second cavity 412 is an air cavity. A first seal 4123 can be provided at the second inlet, and a second seal 4124 can be provided at the second outlet. The first seal 4123 can be used to open or close the second inlet, and the second seal 4124 can be used to open or close the second outlet. Exemplarily, the first seal 4123 and the second seal 4124 can be sealing plates. Optionally, the first seal 4123 can be rotatably mounted on the heat exchange device 4 via a rotating shaft, and the second inlet can be opened or closed when the first seal 4123 rotates around the rotating shaft. Alternatively, a slide rail can be provided at the position of the heat exchange device 4 corresponding to the second inlet, so that the first seal 4123 is slidably mounted on the slide rail, and the second inlet is opened or closed when sliding along the slide rail. Similarly, the second seal 4124 can also be installed on the heat exchange device 4 by rotation or sliding, which will not be described in detail here.

[0115] When the first seal 4123 opens the second inlet and the second seal 4124 opens the second outlet, the second cavity 412 is in a ventilated state. Air from the bottom of the vehicle can enter the second cavity 412 through the second inlet, where it undergoes convective heat exchange with the walls of the second cavity 412, and then exits through the second outlet. At the same time, the second cavity 412 can also indirectly exchange heat with the battery pack 1 through the first cavity 411, further transferring the cold or heat of the air to the battery pack 1, achieving a cooling or heating effect on the battery pack 1. When the first seal 4123 closes the second inlet and the second seal 4124 closes the second outlet, the second cavity 412 is in a closed state. At this time, the second cavity 412 can form a sealed cavity. Utilizing the low thermal conductivity of air, the second cavity 412 can, to a certain extent, thermally insulate the battery pack 1 from the outside air, thereby reducing the impact of high or low temperatures on the battery pack 1 under certain operating conditions and achieving a heat preservation effect on the battery pack 1.

[0116] In some embodiments, the second inlet and the second outlet may be respectively located on opposite sides of the second cavity 412, or it can be understood that the second inlet and the second outlet are located opposite each other. This helps to improve the airflow speed of the second cavity 412 in the ventilated state, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency between the second cavity 412 and the battery pack 1.

[0117] In addition, multiple ribs 421 may be provided on the side of the partition 420 facing the interior of the second cavity 412. The end of the rib 421 away from the partition 420 is spaced apart from the inner wall of the second cavity 412 away from the first cavity 411, that is, there may be a certain gap between the end of the rib 421 and the inner wall of the second cavity 412. These ribs 421 can serve as reinforcing ribs to enhance the strength and rigidity of the heat exchange device 4, reducing the possibility of bending of the heat exchange device 4 and affecting its thermal contact with the battery pack 1. On the other hand, the arrangement of the ribs 421 can also increase the effective contact area between the second cavity 412 and the air, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency between the second cavity 412 and the air, thus further improving the heat exchange effect of the heat exchange device 4. In one implementation, multiple ribs 421 may extend in the direction from the second inlet to the second outlet, that is, in the direction of air flow within the second cavity 412, to reduce obstruction to air flow and enable air to flow smoothly and efficiently within the second cavity 412.

[0118] To improve the sealing effect of the second cavity 412 in the closed state, a first sealing ring can be provided at the end of the second inlet. When the first seal 4123 closes the second inlet, the first sealing ring can be squeezed between the first seal 4123 and the end of the second inlet, reducing the risk of air leakage at the second inlet. Similarly, a second sealing ring can be provided at the end of the second outlet. When the second seal 4124 closes the second outlet, the second sealing ring can be squeezed between the second seal 4124 and the end of the second outlet, reducing the risk of air leakage at the second outlet.

[0119] In some embodiments, the second cavity 412 may also be provided with a vacuum exhaust port 4125. When the second cavity 412 is in a closed state, the air inside the second cavity 412 can be exhausted through the vacuum exhaust port 4125, making the second cavity 412 a vacuum cavity. It should be understood that the thermal conductivity of air decreases as the degree of vacuum increases. Therefore, evacuating the second cavity 412 to a vacuum state can further improve the heat preservation effect of the second cavity 412 and reduce the impact of external high or low temperatures on the battery pack 1.

[0120] When specifically setting the vacuum exhaust port 4125, it can be directly set on the side wall of the second cavity 412 away from the first cavity 411, or, as can be referred to Figure 4 As shown, the vacuum exhaust port 4125 is located on the side wall of the first cavity 411 away from the second cavity 412. In this case, an extension tube can be provided in the housing 410, and one end of the extension tube is connected to the vacuum exhaust port 4125, and the other end extends through the first cavity 411 and into the second cavity 412 to connect the second cavity 412 with the vacuum exhaust port 4125.

[0121] Please refer to the above. Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, Figure 6 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of another heat exchange device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 7 for Figure 6 A partial enlarged view at point A. In this embodiment, a thermal insulation component 422 may be provided at the end of the rib 421 facing away from the partition 420. The material of the thermal insulation component 422 includes, but is not limited to, mica, polystyrene, polyurethane, etc. The thermal insulation component 422 is supported between the rib 421 and the inner wall of the second cavity 412, which can further improve the structural strength of the heat exchange device 4 without affecting the thermal insulation performance of the second cavity 412 in the closed state. The thermal insulation component 422 can be provided in a one-to-one correspondence with each rib 421, or it can be provided between one or some of the ribs 421 and the inner wall of the second cavity 412. This application does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0122] Furthermore, a first heat insulation layer 4126 may be provided on the inner wall of the second cavity 412 away from the first cavity 411. The material of the first heat insulation layer 4126 includes, but is not limited to, aluminum foil, aerogel, polyurethane foam, etc. When the second cavity 412 is closed, the first heat insulation layer 4126 can reduce heat transfer between the second cavity 412 and the external environment, and reduce the thermal conductivity of the second cavity 412 in its thickness direction, thereby helping to improve the heat preservation effect of the second cavity 412. Similarly, a second heat insulation layer 4127 may also be provided on the outer wall of the second cavity 412 away from the first cavity 411 to further reduce heat transfer between the second cavity 412 and the external environment. For example, the material of the second heat insulation layer 4127 includes, but is not limited to, aerogel, polyurethane foam, etc.

[0123] As can be seen from the above description, the heat exchange device 4 provided in this embodiment can switch the second cavity 412 between a ventilated state and a closed state by adjusting the opening or closing state of the second inlet and the second outlet, thereby meeting the heat exchange or insulation requirements of the battery pack under different environmental conditions and improving the performance and safety of the battery pack. For example, when the temperature of the battery pack is high and the ambient temperature is low, the second cavity 412 can be adjusted to a ventilated state to dissipate heat from the battery pack using a natural cold source, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the heat exchange device 4 while achieving heat dissipation for the battery pack. When the battery pack is within a suitable temperature range, but the ambient temperature is low or high, the second cavity 412 can be adjusted to a closed state to reduce the influence of the external ambient temperature on the battery pack and achieve the insulation effect on the battery pack.

[0124] refer to Figure 8 As shown, this application embodiment also provides a heat exchange device 110 including the above-mentioned heat exchange device. The heat exchange device 110 may also include a driving component 5. The driving component 5 can be used to drive the first seal 4123 to open or close the second inlet, and drive the second seal 4124 to open or close the second outlet, so as to reduce the difficulty of switching the second cavity between the ventilation state and the closed state.

[0125] For example, when the first seal 4123 is rotatably mounted on the heat exchanger 4 via a rotating shaft, the output shaft of the drive component 5 can be driven to rotate synchronously with the rotating shaft, thereby opening or closing the second inlet. When the first seal 4123 is slidably mounted on the heat exchanger 4, the heat exchanger 4 may also include transmission components such as lead screws, gears, and racks that can convert rotational motion into linear motion. The output shaft of the drive component 5 can be driven to rotate with the first seal 4123 via such transmission components, thereby driving the first seal 4123 to open or close the second inlet during sliding. The transmission connection method between the drive component 5 and the second seal 4124 can be set with reference to the first seal 4123, and will not be described in detail here.

[0126] In the embodiments of this application, the first seal 4123 and the second seal 4124 can be driven by the same driving component 5, or they can be driven separately by separate driving components 5. Alternatively, multiple driving components can be configured for each seal. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG8, the first seal 4123 and the second seal 4124 are driven by two driving components 5 respectively, which helps to improve the driving reliability of the first seal 4123 and the second seal 4124. The driving component 5 may include two independent parts for driving the first seal 4123 and the second seal 4124 respectively, or it may be a single driving component that drives both the first seal 4123 and the second seal 4124 simultaneously.

[0127] Based on the heat exchange equipment provided in the above embodiments, this application also provides a thermal management system 100, see reference. Figure 9 As shown, Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a thermal management system provided in an embodiment of this application. In this embodiment, in addition to the heat exchange device 110, the thermal management system may also include a compressor 120, a condenser 130, a cooler 140, an expansion valve 150, and a circulating pump 160. The cooler 140 may be a dual-channel heat exchanger, such as a plate heat exchanger, which may include a first channel 141 and a second channel 142, which are isolated from each other but capable of heat exchange.

[0128] Please refer to the above. Figure 8 and Figure 9In a specific configuration, the outlet of compressor 120 can be connected to the inlet of condenser 130, and the outlet of condenser 130 can be connected to the inlet of the first flow channel 141 of cooler 140 via expansion valve 150. The outlet of the first flow channel 141 of cooler 140 can be connected to the inlet of compressor 120. In this case, compressor 120, condenser 130, expansion valve 150, and the first flow channel 141 of cooler 140 can be sequentially connected to form a first circulation loop. Additionally, the outlet of circulation pump 160 can be connected to the first inlet 4111 of the first chamber, and the first outlet 4112 of the first chamber can be connected to the inlet of the second flow channel 142 of cooler 140. The outlet of the second flow channel 142 of cooler 140 can be connected to the inlet of circulation pump 160. In this case, circulation pump 160, the first chamber 411 of heat exchanger 4, and the second flow channel 142 of cooler 140 can be sequentially connected to form a second circulation loop. For example, the working fluid in the first circulation loop can be a refrigerant, such as R134a, R1234yf, or R744, and the heat exchange medium in the second circulation loop can be a coolant, such as an aqueous solution of ethylene glycol.

[0129] In some embodiments, the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop can work together to dissipate heat from the battery pack 1. At this time, the thermal management system 100 is in liquid cooling mode. The compressor 120 drives the coolant to circulate in the first circulation loop. The refrigerant evaporates and exchanges heat with the high-temperature coolant in the first flow channel 141 and the second flow channel 142 of the cooler 140. After that, the temperature rises and it becomes a low-pressure gas. The heated gaseous coolant enters the compressor 120 and is compressed into a high-temperature and high-pressure gas. Then it enters the condenser 130 and condenses and exchanges heat with the external environment in the condenser 130, becoming a low-temperature and high-pressure liquid. Then it passes through the expansion valve 150 for throttling and expansion, and rapidly cools down to become a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid. Then it enters the first flow channel 141 of the cooler 140 again and exchanges heat with the high-temperature coolant in the second flow channel 142 to complete one cycle. Meanwhile, the circulating pump 160 also drives the coolant to circulate in the second circulation loop. The high-temperature coolant in the second flow channel 142 of the cooler 140 exchanges heat with the low-temperature refrigerant in the first flow channel 141 to cool down. Then, driven by the circulating pump 160, it enters the first chamber 411 of the heat exchange device 4 to exchange heat with the battery pack 1 through evaporation. After absorbing the heat from the battery pack 1, its temperature rises. Then, it enters the second flow channel 142 of the cooler 140 again to exchange heat with the low-temperature refrigerant in the first flow channel 141. The battery pack 1 cools down by transferring heat to the heat exchange device 4.

[0130] In some other embodiments, the thermal management system 100 can also utilize a natural cold source to dissipate heat from the battery pack 1, that is, the thermal management system 100 can dissipate heat from the battery pack 1 in air-cooled mode. In this case, the second cavity 412 can be adjusted to a ventilation state, while the compressor 120 and the circulation pump 160 are turned off, causing the first and second circulation loops to stop operating. Air from the bottom of the vehicle can enter the second cavity 412 and exchange heat with the walls of the second cavity 412 via convection. The second cavity 412 can also indirectly exchange heat with the battery pack 1 through the first cavity 411, further transferring the cooling energy of the air to the battery pack 1, thereby cooling the battery pack 1.

[0131] Of course, in other embodiments, the thermal management system 100 can also use a combination of liquid cooling and air cooling to dissipate heat from the battery pack. For example, when the temperature of the battery pack 1 is relatively high, and the ambient temperature is lower than the temperature of the coolant entering the first cavity 411, the second cavity 412 can be adjusted to a ventilation state, and the compressor 120 and the circulation pump 160 can be turned on at the same time. At this time, because the ambient temperature is low, the heat exchange device 4 can enhance the heat dissipation effect on the battery pack 1, and the energy consumption of the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop can be reduced.

[0132] The thermal management system 100 can not only dissipate heat from the battery pack 1, but also maintain and heat it. The heat maintenance function is achieved by adjusting the second cavity 412 to a sealed state, while the heating function is achieved by setting a heater 170 in the second circulation loop. In one implementation, the heater 170 can be connected between the first cavity 411 and the second flow channel 142 of the cooler 140. When the temperature of the battery pack 1 is low, the compressor 120 can be turned off, and the circulation pump 160 and heater 170 can be turned on. At this time, the first circulation loop stops operating, and the circulation pump 160 drives the coolant to circulate in the second circulation loop. The second flow channel 142 of the cooler 140 acts as a passage. After the low-temperature coolant is heated in the heater 170, it enters the first cavity 411 of the heat exchange device 4 under the drive of the circulation pump 160, where it condenses and exchanges heat with the battery pack 1, transferring heat to the battery pack 1. Then, it re-enters the heater 170 for further heating. Simultaneously, the battery pack 1 is heated by absorbing heat from the coolant.

[0133] Understandably, when the battery pack 1 is at a low temperature but the ambient temperature is high, the thermal management system 100 can also heat the battery pack 1 using a natural heat source. At this time, the second chamber 412 can be adjusted to a ventilation state, while the compressor 120 and circulation pump 160 are turned off, stopping the operation of the first and second circulation loops. Air from the bottom of the vehicle can enter the second chamber 412 and exchange heat with its walls via convection. The second chamber 412 can then indirectly exchange heat with the battery pack 1 through the first chamber 411, further transferring the heat from the air to the battery pack 1, thus heating the battery pack 1.

[0134] As mentioned earlier, when the battery pack 1 is within a suitable temperature range, but the ambient temperature is low or high, the second chamber 412 can be adjusted to a closed state, allowing the heat exchange device 4 to achieve the heat preservation effect on the battery pack 1. Furthermore, to improve the heat preservation effect, the second chamber 412 can be evacuated to a vacuum state through the vacuum exhaust port 4125 provided with the second chamber 412. (See also...) Figure 8 and Figure 10 , Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of another thermal management system provided in an embodiment of this application. The thermal management system may also include a vacuum pump 180, the air extraction port of which may be connected to the vacuum exhaust port 4125 of the second cavity 412, so as to extract air from the second cavity 412 when the second cavity 412 is in a closed state.

[0135] In some possible embodiments, the thermal management system 100 may further include a vacuum gauge 190, which can be used to detect the vacuum level within the second cavity 412. In this case, a vacuum gauge interface 4128 communicating with the second cavity 412 can be provided on the housing 410, and the vacuum gauge 190 can be installed at this interface 4128. Similar to the vacuum exhaust port 4125, the vacuum gauge interface 4128 can be directly located on the side wall of the second cavity 412 opposite to the first cavity 411, or it can be located on the side wall of the first cavity 411 opposite to the second cavity 412, and connected to the second cavity 412 via an extension tube penetrating the first cavity 411. By providing the vacuum gauge 190, the vacuum level of the second cavity 412 in a closed state can be detected in real time, thereby adjusting the start / stop state of the vacuum pump 180 according to the vacuum level within the second cavity 412.

[0136] Figure 11 A control principle diagram of the thermal management system provided in an embodiment of this application. (See also...) Figure 10 and Figure 11As shown in the embodiments of this application, the thermal management system 100 may further include a controller and a temperature detection device. The temperature detection device can be used to detect the ambient temperature and the temperature of the battery pack 1. The controller can be connected to the compressor 120, the circulating pump 160, the expansion valve 150, the vacuum pump 180, the vacuum gauge 190, the drive component 5, and the temperature detection device respectively, to adjust the working state of each component according to the ambient temperature and the temperature of the battery pack 1, thereby regulating the working mode of the thermal management system 100. In one implementation, the compressor 120, the circulating pump 160, the expansion valve 150, the vacuum pump 180, the vacuum gauge 190, the drive component 5, and the temperature detection device can be connected to the controller via a local interconnect network (LIN) bus or a controller area network (CAN) bus to achieve mutual communication. In addition, the controller of the thermal management system 100 can also be connected to other controllers via the vehicle bus, such as the vehicle control unit (VCU), domain controller, on-board computer, or on-board communication box, to achieve communication with other controllers of the vehicle. This bus can be an Ethernet bus or a CAN bus, etc.

[0137] In this embodiment, the temperature of the battery pack 1 can be divided into three temperature ranges: a first temperature range, a second temperature range, and a third temperature range. The first temperature range is the most suitable temperature range for the battery pack 1, or the optimal temperature range where the battery pack 1 can maintain excellent performance. For example, the first temperature range can be between 20°C and 35°C. The second temperature range is the temperature range where the temperature value is less than the minimum value within the first temperature range. For example, the second temperature range can be the range where the temperature value is less than 20°C. The third temperature range is the temperature range where the temperature value is greater than the maximum value within the first temperature range. For example, the third temperature range can be the range where the temperature value is greater than 35°C. Please refer again... Figure 8 and Figure 10 The following section will explain the different operating modes of the thermal management system 100 when the battery pack is within the above temperature ranges, taking into account the ambient temperature.

[0138] When the temperature of battery pack 1 is within a suitable first temperature range, two control modes can be adopted: one that does not consider the ambient temperature, and the other that combines the ambient temperature to implement different control strategies. First, let's explain the case where the ambient temperature is not considered. In this case, since battery pack 1 is already within its suitable temperature range, the controller can control the compressor 120 and the circulation pump 160 to shut down, and control the drive component 5 to drive the first seal 4123 to close the second inlet and the second seal 4124 to close the second outlet, adjusting the second cavity 412 to a closed state. The heat exchange device 4 is used to keep the battery pack 1 warm, so that the battery pack 1 continues to be maintained within its suitable temperature range.

[0139] In addition, when the second cavity 412 is in a closed state, the controller can also control the vacuum pump 180 to turn on, drawing the second cavity 412 into a vacuum state to improve the heat preservation effect of the second cavity 412. When the vacuum degree in the second cavity 412 is greater than or equal to the vacuum degree threshold, the vacuum pump 180 is controlled to turn off. The vacuum degree threshold can be set according to the heat preservation requirements of the battery pack 1 or experience, and this application does not impose specific restrictions on it. In the following operating modes, when the second cavity 412 is in a closed state, the vacuum degree of the second cavity 412 can be controlled according to the above logic, and will not be repeated here.

[0140] Taking ambient temperature into account, when the temperature of battery pack 1 is within a first temperature range and the ambient temperature is lower than a first temperature threshold, the controller can shut down the compressor 120 and the circulation pump 160, and control the drive component 5 to drive the first seal 4123 to close the second inlet and the second seal 4124 to close the second outlet, thus adjusting the second cavity 412 to a closed state. The first temperature threshold may not exceed the minimum value within the first temperature range; for example, the first temperature threshold may be 20°C or below. At this time, due to the low ambient temperature, by adjusting the second cavity 412 to a closed state, the battery pack 1 can be thermally isolated from the outside air, reducing the adverse effects of low ambient temperature on the battery pack 1.

[0141] When the temperature of battery pack 1 is within a first temperature range, and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to a first temperature threshold and less than or equal to a second temperature threshold, the controller can shut down compressor 120 and circulation pump 160, and control drive component 5 to drive first seal 4123 to open the second inlet and second seal 4124 to open the second outlet, thus adjusting the second cavity 412 to a ventilation state. The second temperature threshold may not exceed the maximum value within the first temperature range; for example, the second temperature threshold may be 35°C or below. Under these conditions, the ambient temperature is not significantly different from the temperature of battery pack 1, therefore, adjusting the second cavity 412 to a ventilation state helps maintain battery pack 1 within its suitable temperature range.

[0142] When the temperature of battery pack 1 is within the first temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold, the controller can control the compressor 120 and the circulation pump 160 to start, and control the drive component 5 to drive the first seal 4123 to close the second inlet and the second seal 4124 to close the second outlet, thus adjusting the second cavity 412 to a closed state. Under these conditions, since the ambient temperature is high, liquid cooling can be used to dissipate heat from battery pack 1. At the same time, by adjusting the second cavity 412 to a closed state, battery pack 1 can be thermally isolated from the outside air, reducing the adverse effects of high ambient temperature on battery pack 1.

[0143] When the temperature of battery pack 1 is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the battery pack temperature is greater than or equal to the temperature difference threshold, the controller can control the compressor 120 and the circulation pump 160 to shut down, and control the drive component 5 to drive the first seal 4123 to open the second inlet and the second seal 4124 to open the second outlet, thus adjusting the second cavity 412 to a ventilation state. The temperature difference threshold can be determined based on the temperature control requirements of battery pack 1 or experience; this application does not impose any restrictions on it. For example, in this embodiment, the temperature difference threshold can be 2°C. Under these conditions, the temperature of battery pack 1 is relatively low, while the ambient temperature is significantly higher than the temperature of battery pack 1. Therefore, the second cavity 412 can be adjusted to a ventilation state, utilizing a natural heat source to heat battery pack 1.

[0144] When the temperature of battery pack 1 is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the battery pack temperature is less than the aforementioned temperature difference threshold, the controller can control the drive component 5 to drive the first seal 4123 to close the second inlet and the second seal 4124 to close the second outlet, thus adjusting the second cavity 412 to a closed state. Under these conditions, the temperature of battery pack 1 is relatively low, while the ambient temperature is relatively close to the temperature of battery pack 1. Therefore, by adjusting the second cavity 412 to a closed state, battery pack 1 can be thermally isolated from the outside air, reducing the impact of low ambient temperature on battery pack 1. If the temperature of battery pack 1 is too low at this time, the controller can control the compressor 120 to shut down, while simultaneously controlling the circulation pump 160 and the heater 170 to turn on, using the heater 170 to heat battery pack 1 so that battery pack 1 can operate normally.

[0145] When the temperature of battery pack 1 is within the third temperature range and the ambient temperature is lower than the aforementioned first temperature threshold, the controller can control the compressor 120 and the circulation pump 160 to start, and control the drive component 5 to drive the first seal 4123 to open the second inlet and the second seal 4124 to open the second outlet, adjusting the second cavity 412 to a ventilation state. Under these conditions, the temperature of battery pack 1 is relatively high, while the ambient temperature is relatively low. Therefore, a combined liquid cooling and air cooling mode can be used to dissipate heat from battery pack 1, making full use of natural cold sources. While achieving heat dissipation for battery pack 1, the energy consumption of the thermal management system 100 can be reduced.

[0146] When the temperature of battery pack 1 is within the third temperature range, and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the aforementioned first temperature threshold, the controller can control the compressor 120 and the circulation pump 160 to start, and control the drive component 5 to drive the first seal 4123 to close the second inlet, and drive the second seal 4124 to close the second outlet, thus adjusting the second cavity 412 to a closed state. Under these conditions, the ambient temperature is relatively high, so the second cavity 412 can be adjusted to a closed state to thermally isolate battery pack 1 from the outside air. At the same time, the compressor 120 and the circulation pump 160 are turned on, and liquid cooling mode is used alone to dissipate heat from battery pack 1, thereby achieving a better heat dissipation effect.

[0147] refer to Figure 12 As shown, Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of another thermal management system provided in an embodiment of this application. In this embodiment, the thermal management system may further include a first vacuum valve 181 and a second vacuum valve 182. The first vacuum valve 181 can be connected between the suction port of the vacuum pump 180 and the vacuum exhaust port 4125 of the second chamber, and the second vacuum valve 182 can be connected between the exhaust port of the vacuum pump 180 and the vehicle's vacuum booster pump. That is, the thermal management system 100 and the vehicle's vacuum booster braking system in this embodiment can reuse the same vacuum pump 180. The suction circuit of the thermal management system 100 is connected in parallel with the suction circuit of the braking system, and vacuum valves are set in the two suction circuits respectively to control the suction circuits, thereby helping to reduce the overall vehicle cost.

[0148] refer to Figure 13 As shown, Figure 13This is a schematic diagram of another thermal management system provided in this application embodiment. Unlike the previous embodiments, in this embodiment, the liquid cooling mode of the thermal management system 100 no longer uses compressor refrigeration, but instead uses an air-cooled radiator 1100. In addition to the air-cooled radiator 1100 and the heat exchange device 110, the thermal management system 100 may also include a circulating pump 160. Specifically, the outlet of the circulating pump 160 can be connected to the first inlet 4111 of the first cavity, the first outlet 4112 of the first cavity can be connected to the inlet of the air-cooled radiator 1100, and the outlet of the air-cooled radiator 1100 can be connected to the inlet of the circulating pump 160. Thus, the circulating pump 160, the first cavity of the heat exchange device 4, and the air-cooled radiator 1100 can be sequentially connected to form a circulating loop, where the heat exchange medium can be a coolant.

[0149] When cooling the battery pack 1, the circulation pump 160 drives the coolant to circulate in the aforementioned circulation loop. The high-temperature coolant flowing out of the first chamber of the heat exchange device 4 enters the air-cooled radiator 1100 and can directly exchange heat with the air flowing over the surface of the air-cooled radiator 1100 to achieve cooling. The cooled coolant then re-enters the first chamber to exchange heat with the battery pack 1 through evaporation. This cycle repeats continuously, thus achieving continuous cooling of the battery pack 1. This design eliminates the need for a separate first circulation loop, utilizing the inherent characteristics of the air-cooled radiator 1100 to dissipate coolant heat, thereby simplifying the structure of the thermal management system 100.

[0150] In some embodiments, a fan 1101 may also be provided at the air-cooled radiator 1100 to increase the airflow rate across the surface of the air-cooled radiator 1100, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the air-cooled radiator 1100.

[0151] Similar to the previous embodiments, this embodiment can also achieve heating of the battery pack by setting a heater 170. In one implementation, the heater 170 can be connected between the first cavity and the air-cooled radiator 1100. When the temperature of the battery pack 1 is low, the fan 1101 can be turned off, and the circulation pump 160 and the heater 170 can be turned on. The circulation pump 160 drives the coolant to circulate in the loop. At this time, the air-cooled radiator 1100 is only a passage. After the low temperature coolant is heated in the heater 170, it enters the first cavity of the heat exchange device 4 under the drive of the circulation pump 160, and exchanges heat with the battery pack 1 to transfer heat to the battery pack 1. Then it enters the heater 170 again for heating. At the same time, the battery pack 1 is heated by absorbing the heat of the coolant.

[0152] Alternatively, embodiments of this application may also include a controller and a temperature detection device to adjust the operating states of the aforementioned components based on the ambient temperature and the battery pack temperature, thereby regulating the operating mode of the thermal management system. The specific control logic can be set with reference to the foregoing embodiments, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0153] Based on the same technical concept, this application also provides a control method for a thermal management system, wherein the structure of the thermal management system can be referred to the description in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here. Reference Figure 14 As shown, the control method may include the following steps:

[0154] Step S101: Obtain the temperature of the heat exchange element and the ambient temperature;

[0155] Step S102: Determine whether the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range. If so, proceed to steps S1021-S1023.

[0156] Step S1021: When the ambient temperature is less than the first temperature threshold, control the compressor and the circulating pump to shut down, and control the drive component to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and drive the second seal to close the second outlet;

[0157] Step S1022: When the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold and less than or equal to the second temperature threshold, control the compressor and the circulating pump to shut down, and control the drive component to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and drive the second seal to open the second outlet.

[0158] Step S1023: When the ambient temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold, the control drive component drives the first seal to close the second inlet and drives the second seal to close the second outlet.

[0159] The heat exchange element can be a vehicle's battery pack, or other components requiring heat dissipation or insulation; this application does not impose specific limitations on this. The first temperature range is a suitable temperature range for the heat exchange element; for example, this first temperature range can be between 20°C and 35°C. The first temperature threshold may not exceed the minimum value within the first temperature range; for example, the first temperature threshold may be 20°C or below. The second temperature threshold may not exceed the maximum value within the first temperature range; for example, the second temperature threshold may be 35°C or below.

[0160] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range and the ambient temperature is low, adjusting the second chamber to a closed state can thermally isolate the heat exchange element from the outside air, reducing the adverse effects of low ambient temperature on the heat exchange element. When the ambient temperature is not much different from the temperature of the heat exchange element, adjusting the second chamber to a ventilated state helps to keep the heat exchange element within its suitable temperature range. When the ambient temperature is high, liquid cooling can be used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element, and by adjusting the second chamber to a closed state, thermal isolation can be achieved between the heat exchange element and the outside air, reducing the adverse effects of high ambient temperature on the heat exchange element.

[0161] In addition, when the second chamber is in a closed state, the vacuum pump can be turned on to evacuate the second chamber to improve its insulation effect. When the vacuum level in the second chamber is greater than or equal to the vacuum threshold, the vacuum pump is turned off. The vacuum threshold can be set according to the insulation requirements of the heat exchange element or based on experience; this application does not impose specific limitations on it. In the following control modes, when the second chamber is in a closed state, the vacuum level of the second chamber can be controlled according to the above method, and will not be repeated here.

[0162] refer to Figure 15 As shown, after performing step S101, the above control method may further include:

[0163] Step S103: Determine whether the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range. If so, proceed with steps S1031-S1032.

[0164] Step S1031: When the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is greater than or equal to the temperature difference threshold, control the compressor and the circulating pump to shut down, and control the drive component to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and drive the second seal to open the second outlet.

[0165] Step S1032: When the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is less than the temperature difference threshold, control the drive component to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and drive the second seal to close the second outlet.

[0166] The second temperature range is a temperature range where the temperature value is less than the minimum value within the first temperature range. For example, the second temperature range can be a range where the temperature value is less than 20°C. Within this range, the temperature of the heat exchange element is relatively low. When the ambient temperature is significantly higher than the temperature of the heat exchange element, the second cavity can be adjusted to a ventilated state to heat the heat exchange element using a natural heat source. When the ambient temperature is close to the temperature of the heat exchange element, the second cavity can be adjusted to a closed state to thermally isolate the heat exchange element from the outside air, reducing the impact of the low ambient temperature on the heat exchange element.

[0167] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is too low, step S1032 above may further include:

[0168] The compressor is shut down, while the circulating pump and heater are turned on to heat the heat exchange element, enabling it to operate normally.

[0169] refer to Figure 16 As shown, after performing step S101, the above control method may further include:

[0170] Step S104: Determine whether the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the third temperature range. If so, proceed with steps S1041-S1042.

[0171] Step S1041: When the ambient temperature is less than the first temperature threshold, control the compressor and the circulating pump to start, and control the drive component to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and drive the second seal to open the second outlet.

[0172] Step S1042: When the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, control the compressor and the circulating pump to start, and control the drive component to drive the first seal to close the second inlet, and drive the second seal to close the second outlet.

[0173] The third temperature range is defined as the temperature range where the temperature value is greater than the maximum value within the first temperature range. For example, the third temperature range can be a range where the temperature value is greater than 35°C. Within this range, the temperature of the heat exchange element is relatively high. When the ambient temperature is relatively low, a combined liquid cooling and air cooling mode can be used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element, making full use of natural cold sources. This reduces the energy consumption of the thermal management system while achieving heat dissipation for the heat exchange element. When the ambient temperature is relatively high, the second chamber can be closed to thermally isolate the heat exchange element from the outside air. Simultaneously, the compressor and circulation pump can be turned on, and liquid cooling can be used alone to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element, achieving a better heat dissipation effect.

[0174] Based on the same technical concept, this application also provides a control device for a thermal management system, wherein the structure of the thermal management system can be referred to the description in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here. The control device may include a communication unit and a processing unit, wherein:

[0175] The communication unit is used to acquire the temperature of the heat exchange element and the ambient temperature;

[0176] The processing unit is configured to, when the temperature of the heat exchange element is within a first temperature range and the ambient temperature is less than a first temperature threshold, control the compressor and circulation pump to shut down, and control the drive component to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet. Alternatively, when the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold and less than or equal to a second temperature threshold, control the compressor and circulation pump to shut down, and control the drive component to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and the second seal to open the second outlet. Alternatively, when the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold, control the drive component to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet.

[0177] The heat exchange element can be a vehicle's battery pack, or other components requiring heat dissipation or insulation; this application does not impose specific limitations on this. The first temperature range is a suitable temperature range for the heat exchange element; for example, this first temperature range can be between 20°C and 35°C. The first temperature threshold may not exceed the minimum value within the first temperature range; for example, the first temperature threshold may be 20°C or below. The second temperature threshold may not exceed the maximum value within the first temperature range; for example, the second temperature threshold may be 35°C or below.

[0178] When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range and the ambient temperature is low, adjusting the second chamber to a closed state can thermally isolate the heat exchange element from the outside air, reducing the adverse effects of low ambient temperature on the heat exchange element. When the ambient temperature is not much different from the temperature of the heat exchange element, adjusting the second chamber to a ventilated state helps to keep the heat exchange element within its suitable temperature range. When the ambient temperature is high, liquid cooling can be used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element, and by adjusting the second chamber to a closed state, thermal isolation can be achieved between the heat exchange element and the outside air, reducing the adverse effects of high ambient temperature on the heat exchange element.

[0179] In addition, when the second chamber is in a closed state, the processing unit can also be used to control the vacuum pump to turn on, evacuate the second chamber to a vacuum state, so as to improve the heat preservation effect of the second chamber, and control the vacuum pump to turn off when the vacuum degree in the second chamber is greater than or equal to the vacuum degree threshold.

[0180] In some embodiments, the processing unit can also be configured to, when the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is greater than or equal to a temperature difference threshold, control the compressor and the circulating pump to shut down, and control the drive component to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and the second seal to open the second outlet. Alternatively, when the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is less than a temperature difference threshold, control the drive component to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet.

[0181] The second temperature range is defined as a temperature range where the temperature value is less than the minimum value within the first temperature range. For example, the second temperature range could be a range where the temperature value is less than 20°C. Within this range, the temperature of the heat exchange element is relatively low. When the ambient temperature is significantly higher than the temperature of the heat exchange element, the second chamber can be adjusted to a ventilated state to heat the heat exchange element using a natural heat source. When the ambient temperature is close to the temperature of the heat exchange element, the second chamber can be adjusted to a closed state to thermally isolate the heat exchange element from the outside air, reducing the impact of the low ambient temperature on the heat exchange element. Furthermore, when the temperature of the heat exchange element is too low, the processing unit can also control the compressor to shut down while simultaneously controlling the circulating pump and heater to turn on, using the heater to heat the heat exchange element and ensure its normal operation.

[0182] In some embodiments, the processing unit can also be used to control the compressor and circulating pump to start when the temperature of the heat exchange element is within a third temperature range and the ambient temperature is less than a first temperature threshold, and to control the driving component to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and the second seal to open the second outlet. Alternatively, when the temperature of the heat exchange element is within a third temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, the processing unit can control the compressor and circulating pump to start, and to control the driving component to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet.

[0183] The third temperature range is defined as the temperature range where the temperature value is greater than the maximum value within the first temperature range. For example, the third temperature range can be a range where the temperature value is greater than 35°C. Within this range, the temperature of the heat exchange element is relatively high. When the ambient temperature is relatively low, a combined liquid cooling and air cooling mode can be used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element, making full use of natural cold sources. This reduces the energy consumption of the thermal management system while achieving heat dissipation for the heat exchange element. When the ambient temperature is relatively high, the second chamber can be closed to thermally isolate the heat exchange element from the outside air. Simultaneously, the compressor and circulation pump can be turned on, and liquid cooling can be used alone to dissipate heat from the heat exchange element, achieving a better heat dissipation effect.

[0184] refer to Figure 17 As shown, based on the same technical concept, this application also provides a computing device 1000. The computing device 1000 can be a chip or a chip system. Optionally, in this application embodiment, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0185] The computing device 1000 may include at least one processor 1110 coupled to a memory. Optionally, the memory may be located within the device, integrated with the processor, or located outside the device. For example, the computing device 1000 may also include at least one memory 1120. The memory 1120 stores computer programs, configuration information, computer programs or instructions, and / or data necessary for implementing any of the above embodiments; the processor 1110 may execute the computer programs stored in the memory 1120 to perform the methods in any of the above embodiments.

[0186] The computing device 1000 may also include a communication interface 1130, through which the computing device 1000 can interact with other devices. For example, the communication interface 1130 may be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module, pin, or other type of communication interface. When the computing device 1000 is a chip-based device or circuit, the communication interface 1130 in the device 1100 may also be an input / output circuit, capable of inputting information (or receiving information) and outputting information (or sending information). The processor may be an integrated processor, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, or a logic circuit, and the processor can determine the output information based on the input information.

[0187] The coupling in this embodiment is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which can be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, used for information exchange between devices, units, or modules. The processor 1110 may operate in conjunction with the memory 1120 and the communication interface 1130. This embodiment does not limit the specific connection medium between the processor 1110, the memory 1120, and the communication interface 1130.

[0188] Optional, see Figure 17 The processor 1110, memory 1120, and communication interface 1130 are interconnected via bus 1140. Bus 1140 can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, etc. The bus can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of representation, Figure 17The bus is represented by a single thick line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0189] In the embodiments of this application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components, capable of implementing or executing the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams of the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods in the embodiments of this application can be directly manifested as being executed by a hardware processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor.

[0190] In the embodiments of this application, the memory can be non-volatile memory, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), or it can be volatile memory, such as random-access memory (RAM). Memory is any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures, and accessible by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory in the embodiments of this application can also be a circuit or any other device capable of implementing storage functions, used to store program instructions and / or data.

[0191] In one possible implementation, the computing device 1000 can be applied to a transmitting end. Specifically, the computing device 1000 can be a transmitting end or an apparatus capable of supporting the transmitting end and implementing the functions of the transmitting end in any of the above embodiments. The memory 1120 stores the necessary computer programs, computer programs or instructions and / or data for implementing the functions of the transmitting end in any of the above embodiments. The processor 1110 can execute the computer programs stored in the memory 1120 to complete the methods executed by the transmitting end in any of the above embodiments. Applied to the transmitting end, the communication interface in the computing device 1000 can be used to interact with the receiving end, such as sending information to the receiving end.

[0192] In another possible implementation, the computing device 1000 can be applied to a receiving end. Specifically, the computing device 1000 can be a receiving end or an apparatus capable of supporting the receiving end and implementing the functions of the receiving end in any of the above embodiments. The memory 1120 stores the necessary computer programs, computer programs or instructions and / or data for implementing the functions of the receiving end in any of the above embodiments. The processor 1110 can execute the computer programs stored in the memory 1120 to complete the methods executed by the receiving end in any of the above embodiments. Applied to the receiving end, the communication interface in the computing device 1000 can be used to interact with the sending end, such as receiving information from the sending end.

[0193] Since the computing device 1000 provided in this embodiment can be applied to the sending end to complete the method executed by the sending end, or applied to the receiving end to complete the method executed by the receiving end, the technical effects it can achieve can be referred to the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0194] Based on the above embodiments, this application also provides a computer program that, when run on a computer, enables the computer to perform... Figures 14 to 16 The method provided in the illustrated embodiments.

[0195] Based on the above embodiments, this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform... Figures 14 to 16 The method provided in the illustrated embodiments. The storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a computer. For example, but not limited to, a computer-readable medium can include RAM, read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage media, or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code having an instruction or data structure form and accessible to a computer.

[0196] The technical solutions provided in this application can be implemented, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, they can be implemented, in whole or in part, in the form of a computer program product. A computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the flow or function according to the embodiments of this application is generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, an access network device, a terminal device, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., digital video discs (DVDs)), or semiconductor media, etc.

[0197] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A heat exchange device, characterized in that, The device includes a housing and a partition disposed within the housing, the partition dividing the housing into a first cavity and a second cavity. The first cavity is formed by the inner wall of the housing and one side surface of the partition, and the second cavity is formed by the inner wall of the housing and the other side surface of the partition, wherein: The outer wall of the first cavity away from the second cavity is used for thermal contact with the heat exchange element to be exchanged, and the first cavity is provided with a first inlet and a first outlet; The second cavity is provided with a second inlet and a second outlet. The second inlet is provided with a first seal for opening or closing the second inlet, and the second outlet is provided with a second seal for opening or closing the second outlet.

2. The heat exchange device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second inlet is positioned opposite the second outlet.

3. The heat exchange device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The partition is provided with a plurality of ribs extending toward the second cavity, and the end of the ribs opposite to the partition is spaced apart from the inner wall of the second cavity on the side away from the first cavity.

4. The heat exchange device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The rib extends in the direction from the second inlet to the second outlet.

5. The heat exchange device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, At least a portion of the ribs are provided with a thermal insulation member at the end opposite to the partition, and the thermal insulation member is supported between the ribs and the inner wall of the second cavity.

6. The heat exchange device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The second inlet is provided with a first sealing ring at its end. When the first seal closes the second inlet, the first sealing ring can be pressed between the first seal and the end of the second inlet; and / or, The end of the second outlet is provided with a second sealing ring. When the second seal closes the second outlet, the second sealing ring can be squeezed between the second seal and the end of the second outlet.

7. The heat exchange device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The housing is provided with a vacuum exhaust port that communicates with the second cavity.

8. The heat exchange device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The inner wall of the second cavity away from the first cavity is provided with a first heat insulation layer; and / or, the outer wall of the second cavity away from the first cavity is provided with a second heat insulation layer.

9. The heat exchange device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first seal is rotatably mounted on the heat exchanger; and / or, the second seal is rotatably mounted on the heat exchanger plate.

10. The heat exchange device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first cavity is a coolant containment cavity, and the second cavity is an air cavity.

11. A heat exchange device, characterized in that, The device includes a drive component and a heat exchange apparatus as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the drive component is pulsatorically connected to the first seal and the second seal respectively, and the drive component is used to drive the first seal to open or close the second inlet and to drive the second seal to open or close the second outlet.

12. A thermal management system, characterized in that, Includes a compressor, condenser, cooler, expansion valve, circulating pump, and heat exchange device as described in claim 11, wherein the cooler includes a first flow channel and a second flow channel isolated from each other, wherein: The compressor outlet is connected to the condenser inlet, the condenser outlet is connected to the inlet of the first flow channel via the expansion valve, and the first flow channel outlet is connected to the compressor inlet. The outlet of the circulating pump is connected to the first inlet of the first cavity, the first outlet of the first cavity is connected to the inlet of the second flow channel, and the outlet of the second flow channel is connected to the inlet of the circulating pump.

13. The thermal management system as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The second cavity is provided with a vacuum exhaust port; The thermal management system further includes a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump's suction port being connected to the vacuum exhaust port, the vacuum pump being used to extract air from the second cavity when the first seal closes the second inlet and the second seal closes the second outlet.

14. The thermal management system as described in claim 13, characterized in that, It also includes a temperature detection device and a controller. The temperature detection device is used to detect the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element. The controller is electrically connected to the compressor, the circulating pump, the drive component, and the temperature detection device, respectively, and is used for: When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to shut down, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet.

15. The thermal management system as described in claim 13, characterized in that, It also includes a temperature detection device and a controller. The temperature detection device is used to detect the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element. The controller is electrically connected to the compressor, the circulating pump, the drive component, and the temperature detection device, respectively, and is used for: When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within a first temperature range and the ambient temperature is less than a first temperature threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to shut down, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet; or When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range, and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold and less than or equal to the second temperature threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to shut down, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and drive the second seal to open the second outlet. or When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to start, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and drive the second seal to close the second outlet.

16. The thermal management system as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The controller is also used for: When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is greater than or equal to the temperature difference threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to shut down, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and drive the second seal to open the second outlet. or When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is less than the temperature difference threshold, the driving component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and drive the second seal to close the second outlet. The second temperature range is the range in which the temperature value is less than the minimum temperature value in the first temperature range.

17. The thermal management system as described in claim 16, characterized in that, It also includes a heater, which is connected between the first cavity and the second flow channel; The controller is also electrically connected to the heater. When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is less than the temperature difference threshold, the controller is further configured to: The compressor is shut down, and the circulating pump and heater are turned on.

18. The thermal management system according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that, The controller is also used for: When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the third temperature range and the ambient temperature is less than the first temperature threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to start, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and drive the second seal to open the second outlet. or When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the third temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to start, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and drive the second seal to close the second outlet. The third temperature range is the range in which the temperature value is greater than the maximum temperature value in the first temperature range.

19. The thermal management system according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that, The thermal management system also includes a vacuum gauge, which is used to detect the vacuum level inside the second cavity; The controller is also electrically connected to the vacuum pump and the vacuum gauge, for the purpose of: When the driving component drives the first seal to close the second inlet and drives the second seal to close the second outlet, and the vacuum level in the second cavity is greater than or equal to the vacuum level threshold, the vacuum pump is controlled to shut down.

20. The thermal management system according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that, It also includes a first vacuum valve and a second vacuum valve. The first vacuum valve is connected between the suction port of the vacuum pump and the vacuum exhaust port, and the second vacuum valve can be connected between the suction port of the vacuum pump and the vacuum booster of the vehicle.

21. A thermal management system, characterized in that, It includes an air-cooled radiator, a circulating pump, and the heat exchange device as described in claim 11, wherein the outlet of the circulating pump is connected to the first inlet of the first cavity, the first outlet of the first cavity is connected to the inlet of the air-cooled radiator, and the outlet of the air-cooled radiator is connected to the inlet of the circulating pump.

22. A control method for a thermal management system, characterized in that, The control method for controlling the thermal management system as described in any one of claims 12 to 20 includes: Obtain the temperature of the heat exchange element and the ambient temperature; When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within a first temperature range and the ambient temperature is less than a first temperature threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to shut down, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet; or When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within a first temperature range, and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold and less than or equal to the second temperature threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to shut down, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and the second seal to open the second outlet; or When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold, the driving component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and drive the second seal to close the second outlet.

23. The control method as described in claim 22, characterized in that, Also includes: When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is greater than or equal to the temperature difference threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to shut down, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and drive the second seal to open the second outlet. or When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is less than the temperature difference threshold, the driving component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and drive the second seal to close the second outlet. The second temperature range is the range in which the temperature value is less than the minimum temperature value in the first temperature range.

24. The control method as described in claim 23, characterized in that, The thermal management system further includes a heater connected between the first flow channel and the second flow channel. When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is less than the temperature difference threshold, the control method further includes: The compressor is shut down, and the circulating pump and heater are turned on.

25. The control method according to any one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that, Also includes: When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the third temperature range and the ambient temperature is less than the first temperature threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to start, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and drive the second seal to open the second outlet. or When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the third temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to start, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and drive the second seal to close the second outlet. The third temperature range is the range in which the temperature value is greater than the maximum temperature value in the first temperature range.

26. The control method according to any one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that, The thermal management system also includes a vacuum pump, the suction port of which is connected to the vacuum exhaust port of the second cavity; The control method further includes: When the driving component drives the first seal to close the second inlet and drives the second seal to close the second outlet, the vacuum pump is controlled to start.

27. A control device for a thermal management system, characterized in that, For controlling the thermal management system as described in any one of claims 12 to 20, the control device comprises: A communication unit is used to acquire the temperature of the heat exchange element and the ambient temperature; Processing unit, used for: When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within a first temperature range and the ambient temperature is less than a first temperature threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to shut down, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and the second seal to close the second outlet; or When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range, and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold and less than or equal to the second temperature threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to shut down, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and the second seal to open the second outlet; or When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the first temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold, the driving component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and drive the second seal to close the second outlet.

28. The control device as claimed in claim 27, characterized in that, The processing unit is also used for: When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is greater than or equal to the temperature difference threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to shut down, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and drive the second seal to open the second outlet. or When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is less than the temperature difference threshold, the driving component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and drive the second seal to close the second outlet. The second temperature range is the range in which the temperature value is less than the minimum temperature value in the first temperature range.

29. The control device as claimed in claim 28, characterized in that, The thermal management system further includes a heater connected between the first flow channel and the second flow channel. When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the second temperature range, and the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the heat exchange element is less than the temperature difference threshold, the processing unit is further configured to: The compressor is shut down, and the circulating pump and heater are turned on.

30. The control device according to any one of claims 27 to 29, characterized in that, The processing unit is also used for: When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the third temperature range and the ambient temperature is less than the first temperature threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to start, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to open the second inlet and drive the second seal to open the second outlet. or When the temperature of the heat exchange element is within the third temperature range and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, the compressor and the circulating pump are controlled to start, and the drive component is controlled to drive the first seal to close the second inlet and drive the second seal to close the second outlet. The third temperature range is the range in which the temperature value is greater than the maximum temperature value in the first temperature range.

31. The control device according to any one of claims 27 to 29, characterized in that, The thermal management system also includes a vacuum pump, the suction port of which is connected to the vacuum exhaust port of the second cavity; The processing unit is also used for: When the driving component drives the first seal to close the second inlet and drives the second seal to close the second outlet, the vacuum pump is controlled to start.

32. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 22 to 26.

33. A computer program, characterized in that, Includes instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 22 to 26.

34. A vehicle, characterized in that, It includes a heat exchange element and a thermal management system as described in any one of claims 12 to 21, wherein the thermal management system is used to exchange heat on the heat exchange element.

35. The vehicle as claimed in claim 34, characterized in that, The heat exchange element is the vehicle's battery pack.

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