Cooling device for power battery and power battery

Abstract

The application discloses a cooling device for a power battery and the power battery. The cooling device comprises multiple transverse cooling pipelines and multiple longitudinal cooling pipelines. The multiple transverse cooling pipelines are arranged in sequence in the longitudinal direction, and each transverse cooling pipeline extends along a wavy broken line in the transverse direction. The multiple longitudinal cooling pipelines are arranged in sequence in the transverse direction, and each longitudinal cooling pipeline extends along a wavy broken line in the longitudinal direction. The multiple transverse cooling pipelines and the multiple longitudinal cooling pipelines are arranged in a staggered manner perpendicularly to each other, multiple mounting cavities are formed at the overlapping positions of each transverse cooling pipeline and each longitudinal cooling pipeline, and each mounting cavity is used for accommodating a power battery cell. Therefore, the pipeline structure of the multiple transverse cooling pipelines and the multiple longitudinal cooling pipelines, in which the mounting cavities are formed, can surround the outer surface of the battery cell accommodated in the mounting cavity, so that the heat generated by the battery cell can be transmitted to the pipeline structure. The heat dissipation performance and the carrying capacity of the power battery can be improved, and the energy density is high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of power battery technology, and in particular to a cooling device for power batteries and a power battery. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the power battery cells in mass-produced vehicles are mainly divided into prismatic cells and cylindrical cells. Prismatic cells are more densely packed than cylindrical cells, making it easier to achieve higher space utilization. However, with such dense cell packing, the arrangement of heat dissipation pipes becomes more difficult, significantly reducing the heat dissipation performance of the power battery and consequently affecting the performance and lifespan of the battery pack. Furthermore, to improve battery energy density, power batteries are developing towards CTP (Cell To Pack), CTB (Cell To Body), and CTC (Cell To Chassis) technologies. With the elimination of modules, the cells are directly integrated into the battery pack casing. When the battery pack needs to bear loads, the cells also need to bear the load directly, or gaps need to be created between the cells and the casing. Therefore, the structural mechanical performance of the battery pack is receiving increasing attention, and the load-bearing capacity of the battery pack casing and internal structure has become an important factor to consider in battery pack design.

[0003] The cooling system of a power battery is a crucial component of its thermal management system, used to cool and dissipate heat from the battery cells. It primarily consists of cooling pipes installed inside the battery pack. These pipes are filled with coolant to exchange heat with the cells, and thermally conductive material is placed between the surface of the cooling pipes and the cells or modules to reduce thermal resistance and improve heat transfer efficiency. However, existing power battery cooling systems have relatively weak load-bearing capacity, are prone to deformation and damage, and cannot simultaneously achieve both adequate heat dissipation and sufficient overall battery energy density.

[0004] For example, common power batteries typically have cooling pipes located on the battery pack casing. However, the coolant in these pipes cannot flow to all surfaces of the cells, resulting in ineffective cooling. Heat accumulated during operation cannot be dissipated promptly, increasing internal resistance and exacerbating cell heating, creating a vicious cycle that negatively impacts vehicle performance and battery pack lifespan. Furthermore, when cells are densely packed, insulation materials are needed between adjacent cells to prevent heat transfer, complicating the battery pack structure and reducing space utilization.

[0005] To improve battery heat dissipation, a conventional approach is to incorporate multiple cooling pipes within the battery pack, wrapping them around the surface of each cell as much as possible. Existing cooling devices employ a braided approach, interlacing the cooling pipes around the sides of each cell to allow coolant flow around them. While this method improves heat dissipation, the inherent thickness of each cooling pipe, coupled with the need to allow space between cells for the interlacing, results in a less compact cell layout and reduced battery energy density. With low energy density, maintaining vehicle range requires increasing battery volume to boost capacity, but this also increases the vehicle's load, impacting handling and hindering the layout of internal components. Furthermore, power batteries with cooling pipes arranged in the above manner typically have weak load-bearing capacity. This is partly because the cooling pipes cover a small area of ​​the battery cells, and partly because, for ease of installation, multiple cooling pipes need to be made of relatively soft materials with a certain degree of deformation capacity, resulting in limited load-bearing capacity. Moreover, to improve heat exchange efficiency, the walls of the cooling pipes are generally thin, further weakening the structural strength of the battery cooling system. Therefore, when the power battery is subjected to external impact (such as a vehicle being struck in a traffic accident, or being squeezed or trampled during battery production), the direct force-bearing surface of the battery cells is large, the buffering effect of the cooling pipes is insignificant, and the cooling pipes are easily damaged or deformed under external forces, failing to protect the battery cells.

[0006] In summary, existing power battery cooling devices have weak load-bearing capacity and cannot simultaneously achieve both heat dissipation capacity and battery energy density. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problem that existing power battery cooling devices have weak load-bearing capacity and cannot simultaneously achieve both heat dissipation capacity and battery energy density. This invention provides a cooling device and a power battery for power batteries. The cooling device can improve the battery's load-bearing capacity and heat dissipation efficiency, while also achieving a higher energy density.

[0008] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention discloses a cooling device for a power battery, comprising multiple transverse cooling pipes and multiple longitudinal cooling pipes. The transverse cooling pipes are arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction, and each transverse cooling pipe extends along a wavy, zigzag line in the transverse direction. Similarly, the multiple longitudinal cooling pipes are arranged sequentially along the transverse direction, and each longitudinal cooling pipe extends along a wavy, zigzag line in the longitudinal direction.

[0009] The system comprises multiple horizontal cooling pipes and multiple vertical cooling pipes arranged perpendicularly to each other. Furthermore, multiple mounting cavities are formed at the overlaps of the horizontal and vertical cooling pipes. Each mounting cavity houses a battery cell, ensuring that the pipe structure with mounting cavities within the horizontal and vertical cooling pipes surrounds the outer surface of the battery cell housed within that cavity, thereby transferring heat generated by the battery cell to the pipe structure.

[0010] Using the above technical solution, the cooling pipes not only surround each cell but also cover its top and bottom surfaces, allowing for simultaneous heat dissipation from all six sides, resulting in greater efficiency. The tightly arranged, crisscrossing cooling pipes enclose each cell within an independent mounting cavity, with the surrounding pipes providing support and protection. Because the corrugated structures of the transverse and longitudinal cooling pipes match each other, each cooling pipe operates independently, facilitating installation and allowing the use of rigid materials with high load-bearing capacity. When the battery is impacted or compressed, the multiple cooling pipes exposed outside each cell collectively form a larger stress-bearing surface, dispersing the external force and reducing the force on each individual cooling pipe, thus minimizing deformation or damage. The impact force is transmitted between the multiple cooling pipes, buffering the cells; therefore, the overall load-bearing capacity of the battery is significantly improved.

[0011] Because both the horizontal and vertical cooling pipes have a wavy structure and interlock with each other through an alternating arrangement, the horizontal and vertical cooling pipes can avoid tangling with each other. Only a single cooling pipe needs to be reserved between the cells, making the overall battery layout more compact and improving energy density.

[0012] In addition, the cooling pipes between adjacent cells can block heat exchange between cells, eliminating the need to fill the cells with heat insulation material, further improving space utilization and increasing the energy density of the battery.

[0013] According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of transverse cooling pipes and the plurality of longitudinal cooling pipes has a plurality of peaks and a plurality of troughs. Adjacent peaks and troughs are connected by sidewalls, and the plurality of peaks of each transverse cooling pipe corresponds one-to-one with the plurality of troughs of each longitudinal cooling pipe. A corresponding set of peaks and troughs, along with the sidewalls located on both sides of the peak and the sidewalls located on both sides of the trough, surround to form a mounting cavity.

[0014] Using the above scheme, the mounting cavity is formed by a peak, a trough, and side walls on both sides of the peak and the trough. The peaks and troughs of the transverse cooling pipes and the longitudinal cooling pipes correspond one-to-one. The cooling pipes can cover the outer surface of each cell by utilizing only the shape characteristics of the transverse cooling pipes and the longitudinal cooling pipes, and avoid the transverse cooling pipes and the longitudinal cooling pipes from tangling with each other.

[0015] According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, the multiple troughs of each transverse cooling pipe correspond to the multiple peaks of adjacent transverse cooling pipes, and the multiple troughs of each longitudinal cooling pipe correspond to the multiple peaks of adjacent longitudinal cooling pipes.

[0016] By adopting the above scheme, multiple horizontal cooling pipes are arranged in a staggered manner, and multiple vertical cooling pipes are arranged in a staggered manner, so as to achieve a one-to-one correspondence between each peak of each horizontal cooling pipe and each trough of each vertical cooling pipe.

[0017] According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, the wall thickness of the sidewalls located on both sides of each wave crest is greater than the wall thickness of the wave crest. The wall thickness of the sidewalls located on both sides of each wave trough is greater than the wall thickness of the wave trough. The sidewalls on both sides of the wave crests and troughs can be used to resist the impact of external forces in the lateral and longitudinal directions, and play a supporting role in the vertical direction, preventing objects above the battery from directly squeezing the cell. Appropriately increasing the wall thickness of the sidewalls can strengthen the structural strength of the cooling pipes, improve the load-bearing capacity of the battery, and enhance the protection of the cell.

[0018] According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, each transverse cooling pipe adopts a split structure, so that the multiple peaks and multiple troughs of each transverse cooling pipe can be separated from each other, which facilitates the installation of cooling pipes and battery cells.

[0019] According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, each lateral cooling pipe includes an upper cooling pipe and a lower cooling pipe. The upper cooling pipe forms multiple peaks and includes multiple upper pipe sections spaced apart. The lower cooling pipe forms multiple troughs and includes multiple lower pipe sections spaced apart.

[0020] The system consists of multiple upper pipe sections that are interspersed with multiple lower pipe sections, with the upper pipe sections located above the lower pipe sections. The tops of the upper pipe sections, away from the adjacent lower pipe sections, form wave crests, while the bottoms of the lower pipe sections, away from the adjacent upper pipe sections, form wave troughs.

[0021] Using the above scheme, when assembling the battery, multiple longitudinal cooling pipes can be arranged first, and each battery cell can be installed in the cavity formed by the crests, troughs and sidewalls of the longitudinal cooling pipes. Then, the upper sections of the upper cooling pipes in the transverse cooling pipes are inserted above the corresponding battery cells, and the lower sections of the lower cooling pipes are inserted below the corresponding battery cells, so that each upper section, each lower section and the longitudinal cooling pipes around the corresponding battery cell form a complete mounting cavity. Finally, the connection between the upper cooling pipes and the lower cooling pipes is sealed.

[0022] According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of transverse cooling pipes and the plurality of longitudinal cooling pipes is configured as a flat tubular structure, with internal coolant flow channels for coolant circulation. Each cooling pipe is flat and has a small overall thickness, reducing the distance between adjacent cells, improving space utilization, and thus increasing battery energy density.

[0023] According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of transverse cooling pipes and the plurality of longitudinal cooling pipes has a square wave structure. The crests, troughs, and sidewalls of the cooling pipes are completely in contact with the surface of the square battery cell, which can increase the heat exchange area and enhance the cooling effect. Each of the plurality of transverse cooling pipes and the plurality of longitudinal cooling pipes is made of a rigid material, which has a stronger load-bearing capacity and enhances the protection of the battery cell.

[0024] The present invention also discloses a power battery, comprising multiple battery cells and a cooling device as described in any of the above embodiments. Each of the multiple battery cells is installed in a corresponding mounting cavity in the cooling device, which enables the power battery to have strong load-bearing capacity, heat dissipation effect, and high energy density.

[0025] According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, the power battery includes a plurality of connecting pieces and a plurality of lead-out pieces, wherein each connecting piece and each lead-out piece is located in the gap between each cell and the pipeline structure surrounding the cell, and each cell is connected to the battery management system and external circuitry through the connecting pieces and the lead-out pieces. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the longitudinal cooling pipeline in the cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of longitudinal cooling pipes in the cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the longitudinal cooling pipes and the battery cell in the cooling device of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 5 This is an assembly diagram of the cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 6 This is an exploded structural diagram of the transverse cooling pipe in the cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the transverse cooling pipe in the cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Cross-sectional view along the AA direction;

[0034] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the power battery according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the cell connection of the power battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0037] 100: Cooling device;

[0038] 1: Horizontal cooling pipe; 10A: One end; 10B: The other end;

[0039] 11: Crest; 12: Trough; 13: Sidewall;

[0040] 14: Upper cooling pipes; 141: Upper pipe section; 142: Top; 143: Upper sidewall;

[0041] 15: Lower cooling pipe; 151: Lower pipe section; 152: Bottom; 153: Lower sidewall;

[0042] 2: Longitudinal cooling piping; 20A: One end; 20B: The other end;

[0043] 21: Crest; 22: Trough; 23: Sidewall;

[0044] 3: Installation cavity;

[0045] 200: Power battery;

[0046] 4: Battery cells;

[0047] 41: Connecting piece; 42: Lead-out piece;

[0048] 5: Gap; 6: Shell;

[0049] 71: Liquid inlet pipe; 72: Liquid inlet channel;

[0050] 81: Drainage pipe; 82: Drainage channel;

[0051] 9: Radiator;

[0052] x: vertical; y: horizontal; z: vertical; d1: wall thickness; d2: wall thickness. Detailed Implementation

[0053] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. Although the description of the present invention is presented in conjunction with preferred embodiments, this does not mean that the features of the invention are limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, the purpose of describing the invention in conjunction with embodiments is to cover other options or modifications that may be derived based on the claims of the present invention. To provide a deep understanding of the invention, many specific details will be included in the following description. The invention may also be implemented without using these details. Furthermore, to avoid confusion or obscuring the focus of the invention, some specific details will be omitted in the description. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0054] It should be noted that in this specification, similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0055] In the description of this embodiment, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "bottom", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship that the product of the invention is usually placed in during use. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0056] The terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0057] In the description of this embodiment, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set up," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this embodiment based on the specific circumstances.

[0058] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0059] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides a cooling device 100 for a power battery 200, including a plurality of transverse cooling pipes 1 and a plurality of longitudinal cooling pipes 2. The plurality of transverse cooling pipes 1 are arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction x, and each transverse cooling pipe 1 extends along a wavy line in the transverse direction y. The plurality of longitudinal cooling pipes 2 are arranged sequentially along the transverse direction y, and each longitudinal cooling pipe 2 extends along a wavy line in the longitudinal direction x.

[0061] In this configuration, multiple transverse cooling pipes 1 and multiple longitudinal cooling pipes 2 are arranged perpendicularly and alternately. Furthermore, multiple mounting cavities 3 are formed at the overlaps of the transverse cooling pipes 1 and the longitudinal cooling pipes 2. Each mounting cavity 3 is used to accommodate the battery cell 4 of the power battery 200, such that the pipe structure with mounting cavities 3 in the transverse and longitudinal cooling pipes 1 and 2 can surround the outer surface of the battery cell 4 housed within the mounting cavity 3, thereby transferring the heat generated by the battery cell 4 to the pipe structure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the number of transverse cooling pipes 1 and longitudinal cooling pipes 2 is determined according to the number and arrangement of the battery cells 4.

[0062] The piping structure surrounding the mounting cavity 3 not only encircles each cell 4 on all sides but also covers the upper and lower surfaces of each cell 4, allowing for simultaneous heat dissipation from all six sides for greater efficiency. The tightly arranged, crisscrossing cooling pipes enclose each cell 4 within its independent mounting cavity 3, with the surrounding pipes providing support and protection. Because the corrugated structures of the transverse cooling pipes 1 and longitudinal cooling pipes 2 are perfectly aligned, each cooling pipe operates independently, facilitating installation and allowing the use of rigid materials with high load-bearing capacity. When the battery is impacted or compressed, the multiple cooling pipes exposed outside each cell 4 collectively form a larger stress-bearing surface, dispersing the external force and reducing the force on each cooling pipe, thus minimizing deformation or damage. The impact force is transmitted between the multiple cooling pipes, buffering the cell 4 and significantly improving the overall load-bearing capacity of the battery. Because both the transverse cooling pipe 1 and the longitudinal cooling pipe 2 have a wavy structure and interlock in a staggered arrangement, the transverse (y) and longitudinal (x) cooling pipes can avoid entanglement. Only a single cooling pipe needs to be reserved between cells 4, making the overall battery layout more compact and improving energy density. Furthermore, the cooling pipes between adjacent cells 4 can block heat exchange between them, eliminating the need for insulating material between cells 4, further improving space utilization and increasing battery energy density.

[0063] In one embodiment, a thermally conductive material is filled between the battery cell 4 and the piping structure surrounding the mounting cavity 3, so that the heat emitted by the battery cell 4 can be quickly transferred to the coolant in the piping structure.

[0064] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the longitudinal cooling pipeline in the cooling device of this invention.

[0065] like Figures 1-2 As shown, in one embodiment, each transverse cooling pipe 1 has multiple peaks 11 and multiple troughs 12, with adjacent peaks 11 and troughs 12 connected by sidewalls 13. Similarly, each longitudinal cooling pipe 2 has multiple peaks 21 and multiple troughs 22, with adjacent peaks 21 and troughs 22 connected by sidewalls 23. The multiple peaks 11 of each transverse cooling pipe 1 correspond one-to-one with the multiple troughs 22 of each longitudinal cooling pipe 2, and a corresponding set of peaks 11 and troughs 22, along with the sidewalls 13 on both sides of the peak 11 and the sidewalls 23 on both sides of the trough 22, surround to form a mounting cavity 3. Similarly, the multiple troughs 12 of each transverse cooling pipe 1 correspond one-to-one with the multiple peaks 21 of each longitudinal cooling pipe 2, and a corresponding set of troughs 12 and peaks 21, along with the sidewalls 13 on both sides of the trough 12 and the sidewalls 23 on both sides of the peak 21, surround to form a mounting cavity 3.

[0066] An mounting cavity 3 is formed by a crest 11, a trough 22, and sidewalls 13 on both sides of the crest 11 and sidewalls 23 on both sides of the trough 22. Alternatively, an mounting cavity 3 is formed by a crest 21, a trough 12, and sidewalls 23 on both sides of the crest 21 and sidewalls 13 on both sides of the trough 12. The cooling pipes can cover the outer surface of each cell 4 using only the shape characteristics of the transverse cooling pipes 1 and the longitudinal cooling pipes 2, and the entanglement between the transverse cooling pipes 1 and the longitudinal cooling pipes 2 is avoided.

[0067] Those skilled in the art will understand that the number of peaks 11 and troughs 12 in the transverse cooling pipe 1, and the number of peaks 21 and troughs 22 in the longitudinal cooling pipe 2, are determined based on the number of battery cells 4. The sum of the number of peaks 11 and troughs 12 in each transverse cooling pipe 1 is the same as the number of battery cells 4 in each horizontal row, and the sum of the number of peaks 21 and troughs 22 in each longitudinal cooling pipe 2 is the same as the number of battery cells 4 in each column.

[0068] Please see Figures 3-4 , Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of longitudinal cooling pipes in the cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the longitudinal cooling pipes and the battery cell in the cooling device of this embodiment of the invention.

[0069] like Figure 1 , Figures 3-4 As shown, in one embodiment, the multiple troughs 12 of the transverse cooling pipe 1 correspond to the multiple peaks 11 of adjacent transverse cooling pipe 1, and the multiple troughs 22 of the longitudinal cooling pipe 2 correspond to the multiple peaks 21 of adjacent longitudinal cooling pipe 2. Alternatively, it can be understood that the multiple transverse cooling pipes 1 are arranged in a staggered manner (i.e., the peaks are staggered), and the multiple longitudinal cooling pipes 2 are arranged in a staggered manner (i.e., the peaks are staggered). The overall arrangement of the transverse cooling pipes 1 provides space for the arrangement of the longitudinal cooling pipes 2, thereby achieving a one-to-one correspondence between each peak 11 of each transverse cooling pipe 1 and each trough 22 of each longitudinal cooling pipe 2.

[0070] Please see Figures 5-8 , Figure 5 This is an assembly diagram of the cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is an exploded structural diagram of the transverse cooling pipe in the cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the transverse cooling pipe in the cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 for Figure 7 Cross-sectional view along the AA direction.

[0071] like Figures 5-6As shown, in one embodiment, each transverse cooling pipe 1 adopts a split structure, so that the multiple peaks 11 and multiple troughs 12 of each transverse cooling pipe 1 can be separated from each other.

[0072] Those skilled in the art will understand that the horizontal cooling pipe 1 adopts a split structure to facilitate the installation of the cooling pipe and the battery cell 4. In an alternative embodiment, the vertical cooling pipe 2 can also adopt a split structure, so that the peak 21 of the vertical cooling pipe 2 (see...) Figure 2 ) and trough 22 (see Figure 2 They can be separated from each other.

[0073] like Figures 5-7 As shown, in one embodiment, each lateral cooling pipe 1 includes an upper cooling pipe 14 and a lower cooling pipe 15. The upper cooling pipe 14 forms multiple peaks 11 and includes multiple upper pipe sections 141 spaced apart. The lower cooling pipe 15 forms multiple troughs 12 and includes multiple lower pipe sections 151 spaced apart.

[0074] like Figure 7 As shown, multiple upper pipe sections 141 and multiple lower pipe sections 151 are interleaved and connected, and the multiple upper pipe sections 141 are located above the multiple lower pipe sections 151. The top 142 of each upper pipe section 141 away from the connected lower pipe section 151 forms a crest 11, and the bottom 152 of each lower pipe section 151 away from the connected upper pipe section 141 forms a trough 12.

[0075] like Figures 6-8 As shown, in one embodiment, the upper pipe section 141 includes a top 142 and upper sidewalls 143 located on both sides of the top 142, and the lower pipe section 151 includes a bottom 152 and lower sidewalls 153 located on both sides of the bottom 152. Adjacent upper sidewalls 143 and lower sidewalls 153 are connected to form a sidewall 13, such that multiple upper pipe sections 141 and multiple lower pipe sections 151 are connected in an alternating manner to form a transverse cooling pipe 1.

[0076] like Figure 8 As shown, in one embodiment, the width of the upper sidewall 143 is smaller than the width of the lower sidewall 153, allowing the lower end of the upper sidewall 143 to be inserted into the pipe structure of the lower sidewall 153. Sealant is applied to the junction of the upper sidewall 143 and the lower sidewall 153 to ensure the sealing performance of the transverse cooling pipe 1. In an alternative embodiment, the upper end of the lower sidewall 153 may also be inserted into the pipe structure of the upper sidewall 143.

[0077] In one embodiment, each upper tube segment 141 and each lower tube segment 151 are bonded to the surface of the corresponding battery cell 4 to improve the firmness of the connection between each upper tube segment 141 and each lower tube segment 151 and the battery cell 4.

[0078] like Figures 5-8 As shown, in one embodiment, the battery assembly sequence is as follows: First, multiple longitudinal cooling pipes 2 are arranged in a staggered manner, and each battery cell 4 is installed in the cavity formed by the peaks 21, troughs 22, and sidewalls 23 of the longitudinal cooling pipes 2. Then, each upper pipe segment 141 in the transverse cooling pipe 1 is inserted above the corresponding battery cell 4, and each lower pipe segment 151 is inserted below the corresponding battery cell 4, so that the upper sidewall 143 of the upper pipe segment 141 is inserted into the pipe structure of the corresponding lower sidewall 153. Then, each upper pipe segment 141 and each lower pipe segment 151 are bonded to the surface of each battery cell 4, so that each upper pipe segment 141, each lower pipe segment 151, and the longitudinal cooling pipes 2 around the corresponding battery cell 4 form a complete mounting cavity 3 (see Figure 1 Finally, apply sealant to the joint between the upper pipe section 141 and the lower pipe section 151.

[0079] like Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the wall thickness of the sidewall 13 located on both sides of the crest 11 and trough 12 of the transverse cooling pipe 1 is greater than the wall thickness of the crest 11 or trough 12, and the wall thickness of the sidewall 23 located on both sides of the crest 21 and trough 22 of the longitudinal cooling pipe 2 is greater than the wall thickness of the crest 21 or trough 22. For example, as Figures 7-8 As shown, the wall thickness d1 of the upper sidewall 143 is greater than the wall thickness of the corresponding crest 11, and the wall thickness d2 of the lower sidewall 153 is greater than the wall thickness of the corresponding trough 12. Alternatively, it can be understood that the wall thickness of the sidewall 13, which is formed by the upper sidewall 143 and the lower sidewall 153, is greater than the wall thickness of the crest 11 and the trough 12.

[0080] Sidewalls 13 and 23 can resist the impact of external forces in the horizontal (y) and vertical (x) directions, and provide support in the vertical (z) direction, preventing objects above the battery from directly squeezing the cell 4. Appropriately increasing the wall thickness of sidewalls 13 and 23 can strengthen the structural strength of the cooling pipes, improve the battery's load-bearing capacity, and enhance the protection of the cell 4.

[0081] like Figures 1-8 As shown, in one embodiment, each of the multiple lateral cooling pipes 1 and multiple longitudinal cooling pipes 2 is configured as a flat tubular structure with internal coolant channels for coolant flow. Each cooling pipe is flat and has a small overall thickness, reducing the distance between adjacent cells 4, improving space utilization, and thus increasing battery energy density.

[0082] In one embodiment, each of the plurality of transverse cooling pipes 1 and the plurality of longitudinal cooling pipes 2 has a square wave structure. The peaks 11, troughs 12, and sidewalls 13 of the cooling pipes are fully in contact with the surface of the square battery cell 4, which increases the heat exchange area and enhances the cooling effect. Furthermore, each cooling pipe is made of a rigid material, which has a stronger load-bearing capacity and improves the protection of the battery cell 4. For example, the rigid material can be metal or the like.

[0083] In one embodiment, the width of the transverse cooling pipe 1 and the width of the longitudinal cooling pipe 2 are the same as the width of the battery cell 4. Then, the outer surface of the battery cell 4 is completely covered by the cooling pipe outside the mounting cavity 3 where it is located, and the outer surface of the battery cell 4 as a whole exchanges heat with the cooling pipe to achieve the best heat dissipation effect.

[0084] Please see Figure 9 , Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the power battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] like Figure 9 As shown, embodiments of the present invention also provide a power battery 200, including a plurality of battery cells 4 and a cooling device 100 as described in any of the above embodiments. Each of the plurality of battery cells 4 is mounted in a corresponding mounting cavity 3 in the cooling device 100 (see...). Figure 1 Within the battery, the power battery 200 can have strong load-bearing capacity, heat dissipation effect and high energy density.

[0086] like Figure 9 As shown, in one embodiment, the power battery 200 includes a housing 6 for accommodating the cooling device 100 and the battery cell 4. The housing 6 is provided with an inlet channel 72 and a drain channel 82. One end 10A of each transverse cooling pipe 1 and one end 20A of each longitudinal cooling pipe 2 are respectively connected to the inlet channel 72. The other end 10B of each transverse cooling pipe 1 and the other end 20B of each longitudinal cooling pipe 2 are respectively connected to the drain channel 82. Furthermore, the inlet channel 72 is connected to the outlet of the radiator 9 in the vehicle's thermal management system via an inlet pipe 71, and the drain channel 82 is connected to the inlet of the radiator 9 via a drain pipe 81. This allows the coolant to enter the inlet channel 72 inside the power battery 200 through the inlet pipe 71, and then flow into each of the transverse cooling pipes 1 and each of the longitudinal cooling pipes 2. The coolant flows from one end 10A to the other end 10B of each transverse cooling pipe 1, and from one end 20A to the other end 20B of each longitudinal cooling pipe 2. During the flow, the coolant cools and dissipates heat from the battery cell 4, and finally collects in the drain channel 82, and then enters the radiator 9 through the drain pipe 81 for cooling and temperature reduction.

[0087] Please see Figure 10 , Figure 10This is a schematic diagram of the cell connection of the power battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0088] In one embodiment, the power battery 200 includes a plurality of connecting pieces 41 and a plurality of lead-out pieces 42, the connecting pieces 41 and the lead-out pieces 42 being located in the gap 5 between each cell 4 and the tubing structure surrounding the cell 4 (see [link]). Figure 2 Within the battery cell 4, each cell 4 is connected to the internal circuitry, external circuitry, and battery management system via a connecting piece 41 and a lead-out piece 42. In one embodiment, the connecting piece 41 is connected between the positive and negative terminals of each cell 4 to connect the cells 4 in series or parallel, and current is transmitted between the cells 4 through the connecting piece 41. The lead-out piece 42 is disposed on the positive and negative terminals of some cells to connect each cell 4 to the battery management system and external circuitry.

[0089] Those skilled in the art will understand that the number of connecting pieces 41 and lead-out pieces 42 is based on the circuit configuration of the power battery 200.

[0090] In one embodiment, the space between the connecting tabs 41 and lead-out tabs 42 surrounding each battery cell 4 and the piping structure surrounding the battery cell 4 is filled with a thermally conductive insulating material. The connecting tabs 41 and lead-out tabs 42 are fixedly connected to the cooling pipes surrounding the battery cell 4 by the thermally conductive insulating material. This not only improves the strength of the connection between the cooling pipes and the battery cell 4, but also accelerates the heat exchange efficiency. If a single battery cell 4 leaks current, the thermally conductive insulating material can also prevent the cooling pipes from conducting electricity and damaging the overall circuit. In one embodiment, the thermally conductive insulating material is thermally conductive insulating silicone.

[0091] While the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the above description is a further detailed explanation of the invention in conjunction with specific embodiments, and should not be construed as limiting the specific implementation of the invention to these descriptions. Various changes in form and detail can be made by those skilled in the art, including several simple deductions or substitutions, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A cooling device for a power battery, characterized in that, The cooling device includes: Multiple transverse cooling pipes are arranged longitudinally, and each transverse cooling pipe extends along a wavy zigzag line in the transverse direction. Multiple longitudinal cooling pipes are arranged in sequence along the transverse direction, and each of the multiple longitudinal cooling pipes extends along a wavy zigzag line in the longitudinal direction; The plurality of transverse cooling pipes and the plurality of longitudinal cooling pipes are arranged perpendicularly to each other, and a plurality of mounting cavities are formed at the overlap of each of the transverse cooling pipes and the longitudinal cooling pipes. Each of the plurality of mounting cavities is used to accommodate the battery cell of the power battery, so that the pipe structure in the plurality of transverse cooling pipes and the plurality of longitudinal cooling pipes with each mounting cavity can surround the outer surface of the battery cell accommodated in the mounting cavity, so as to transfer the heat generated by the battery cell to the pipe structure.

2. The cooling device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the plurality of transverse cooling pipes and the plurality of longitudinal cooling pipes has a plurality of peaks and a plurality of troughs. Adjacent peaks and troughs are connected by sidewalls. The plurality of peaks of each transverse cooling pipe and the plurality of troughs of each longitudinal cooling pipe are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. A corresponding set of peaks and troughs, as well as the sidewalls on both sides of the peak and the sidewalls on both sides of the trough, surround to form a mounting cavity.

3. The cooling device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The plurality of troughs of each of the transverse cooling pipes correspond to the plurality of peaks of the adjacent transverse cooling pipes, and the plurality of troughs of each of the longitudinal cooling pipes correspond to the plurality of peaks of the adjacent longitudinal cooling pipes.

4. The cooling device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The wall thickness of the sidewalls located on both sides of each wave crest is greater than the wall thickness of that wave crest, and the wall thickness of the sidewalls located on both sides of each wave trough is greater than the wall thickness of that wave trough.

5. The cooling device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the transverse cooling pipes adopts a split structure, which allows the multiple peaks and multiple troughs of each transverse cooling pipe to be separated from each other.

6. The cooling device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the aforementioned transverse cooling pipes includes: The upper cooling pipe forms the multiple wave peaks and includes multiple upper pipe sections arranged at intervals; The lower cooling pipe forms the multiple troughs and includes multiple lower pipe sections spaced apart. The plurality of upper pipe sections and the plurality of lower pipe sections are interleaved and connected, with the plurality of upper pipe sections located above the plurality of lower pipe sections. The top of each upper pipe section away from the connected lower pipe section forms the wave crest, and the bottom of each lower pipe section away from the connected upper pipe section forms the wave trough.

7. The cooling device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the plurality of transverse cooling pipes and the plurality of longitudinal cooling pipes is configured as a flat tubular structure, with internal coolant channels for coolant flow.

8. The cooling device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, Each of the plurality of transverse cooling pipes and the plurality of longitudinal cooling pipes has a square wave structure; Each of the plurality of transverse cooling pipes and the plurality of longitudinal cooling pipes is made of a rigid material.

9. A power battery comprising multiple cells, characterized in that, It also includes a cooling device as described in any one of claims 1-8, wherein each of the plurality of battery cells is installed in the corresponding mounting cavity of the cooling device.

10. The power battery as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The power battery includes multiple connecting pieces and multiple lead-out pieces, with each connecting piece and each lead-out piece located within the gap between each battery cell and the pipeline structure surrounding the battery cell.

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