An immersion battery thermal management system and its implementation method

Abstract

This invention discloses an immersion battery thermal management system and its implementation method, including a battery, a cylindrical outer shell with an internal battery pack, and a spiral tube liquid flow channel surrounding the battery pack. The cylindrical outer shell is sealed at both ends by flanges, forming a closed cavity filled with coolant. The flanges are respectively provided with an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, and a wiring port. The spiral tube liquid flow channel is immersed in the coolant, with its outer edge directly contacting the inner wall of the cylindrical outer shell, and its inner edge serving as the placement space for the battery pack. The battery pack consists of several individual batteries connected in series and parallel, each individual battery being coated with a sealant layer. The battery thermal management system utilizes convective heat transfer to achieve heat transfer between the battery and the external environment. This invention improves the cooling effect of the power battery by using convective heat transfer, differing from traditional large-scale immersion liquid cooling devices, and emphasizing lightweight design in power battery design.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery thermal management technology, specifically to an immersion battery thermal management system and its implementation method. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the main battery thermal management technologies used in the industry include air cooling, liquid cooling, phase change material cooling, and heat pipe cooling. Among these, air cooling and liquid cooling have developed the fastest and are quite mature, already applied in many power battery-related industries. Although air cooling can control battery temperature to some extent, with the continuous increase in battery energy density requirements, the heat generated also rises sharply, and air cooling can no longer meet the temperature control requirements. Liquid cooling allows the power battery to be in direct contact with the coolant, absorbing the heat generated by the battery through convection heat transfer, effectively controlling the battery temperature even at high battery energy densities. Immersion cooling technology, as one of the liquid cooling methods, has developed rapidly due to its good cooling performance and high safety.

[0003] Immersion cooling can be categorized into single-phase immersion cooling and two-phase immersion cooling based on whether the cooling medium undergoes a phase change. In two-phase cooling, the coolant undergoes a phase change during battery heat release, utilizing the phase change to absorb heat and improve heat transfer efficiency. However, the pressure changes during the phase change, placing certain requirements on the container, and the coolant can also be contaminated due to the phase change. Single-phase cooling does not rely on a phase change, relying solely on convection heat transfer to cool the battery. It requires a high boiling point for the coolant, and its heat transfer efficiency is lower than that of two-phase cooling. However, coolant evaporation and loss are easier to control, and the equipment requirements are relatively lower. It is evident that both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. To improve the cooling performance of immersion cooling technology, strengthening the coolant flow channel structure is an effective and reasonable measure. Therefore, this application proposes a lightweight immersion battery thermal management system using a spiral rod-type liquid flow channel and its implementation method. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings and deficiencies of the prior art and provide an immersion battery thermal management system and its implementation method, which solves the problems mentioned in the background art by setting up a spiral tube liquid flow channel.

[0005] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0006] An immersion battery thermal management system includes a battery, a cylindrical outer shell housing the battery pack, and a spiral tube liquid flow channel surrounding the battery pack. The cylindrical outer shell is sealed at both ends by flanges, forming a closed cavity filled with coolant. The flanges are respectively provided with an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, and a wiring port. The spiral tube liquid flow channel is immersed in the coolant, with its outer edge in direct contact with the inner wall of the cylindrical outer shell, and its inner edge serving as the placement space for the battery pack. The battery pack consists of several individual batteries connected in series and parallel, each individual battery being coated with a sealant layer. The battery thermal management system utilizes convective heat transfer to achieve heat exchange between the battery and the external environment.

[0007] Furthermore, the spiral tube liquid flow channel is filled with coolant. By changing the flow path of the coolant in the spiral tube liquid flow channel, centrifugal force is generated to form a secondary flow, which disturbs the coolant in the columnar shell, thereby destroying the liquid boundary layer formed between the coolant and the battery surface, thus enhancing convective heat transfer.

[0008] Furthermore, the spiral tube liquid flow channel is a flat spiral rod, and the cylindrical space on its inner edge provides support for the battery. The left and right ends of the spiral tube liquid flow channel are respectively connected to the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe.

[0009] Furthermore, the individual cells of the battery pack are connected in series and parallel in sequence, and the left and right ends are connected to the wiring port through wires to output electrical energy.

[0010] Furthermore, the flange head is assembled with the cylindrical shell by sealing bolts, and a sealing gasket is provided between the flange head and the sealing bolts.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment, the coolant inside the cylindrical shell and the coolant in the spiral tube flow channel are low-viscosity, high-boiling-point, and non-volatile electronic fluorinated liquids.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment, the cylindrical shell and the spiral tube fluid flow channel are made of a metal material with good heat resistance, strong corrosion resistance and a large coefficient of thermal expansion, specifically aluminum or copper.

[0013] This invention also provides a method for implementing an immersion battery thermal management system, comprising: the battery thermal management system having a plurality of individual batteries connected in series to form a battery pack, each individual battery being wrapped with a layer of sealant coating, immersed in coolant in a cylindrical shell and placed in the space within the inner edge of a spiral tube liquid flow channel; when the battery pack operates in a high-temperature environment, a large amount of heat is generated during the battery charging and discharging process, causing the temperature of the battery pack to rise continuously, and the heat generated by the battery pack is transferred to the coolant inside the cylindrical shell, where the coolant absorbs the battery heat; secondly, by changing the flow path of the coolant in the spiral tube liquid flow channel, centrifugal force is generated to form a secondary flow, disturbing the coolant in the cylindrical shell, thereby destroying the liquid boundary layer formed between the coolant and the battery surface, thereby enhancing convective heat transfer, and finally, the coolant in the spiral tube liquid flow channel flows out from the outlet, thereby carrying the heat out of the thermal management system; in addition, when operating in a cold winter environment, the temperature of the working fluid in the spiral tube liquid flow channel can be changed to allow the battery to maintain suitable operating conditions.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0015] This invention utilizes a spiral tube liquid flow channel encased around the battery pack. This channel is immersed in coolant, with its outer edge directly contacting the inner wall of the cylindrical outer shell. The inner edge serves as the placement space for the battery pack, and each individual battery cell is surrounded by a sealant coating. The battery thermal management system employs convective heat transfer to achieve heat exchange between the battery and the external environment. This invention utilizes fluid heat transfer, achieving battery cooling through direct contact between the coolant and the power battery. The spiral tube liquid flow channel generates centrifugal force in the flowing coolant, creating a secondary flow and increasing coolant turbulence. This disrupts the liquid boundary layer formed by the coolant's flow on the power battery surface, enhancing convective heat transfer and ultimately improving the cooling effect of the power battery. Furthermore, this invention differs from traditional large-scale immersion liquid cooling devices, emphasizing lightweight design in the power battery design. By using a flat spiral tube liquid flow channel with a cylindrical space on its inner edge to support the battery, the system structure is simplified, significantly reducing system construction costs. The battery module structure is compact, easy to install, and simple in design. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the immersion battery thermal management system proposed in this invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal spiral tube channel of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the screw channel of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the connection of the immersion battery thermal management system proposed in this invention;

[0020] In the diagram: 1. Columnar outer shell; 2. Spiral tube liquid flow channel; 3. Battery pack; 4. Liquid outlet pipe; 5. Wiring port; 6. Sealing bolt; 7. Flange end cap; 8. Liquid inlet pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0022] Please see Figure 1-4 This embodiment provides a technical solution:

[0023] An immersion battery thermal management system includes a battery, a cylindrical outer shell 1 housing a built-in battery pack 3, and a spiral tube liquid flow channel 2 surrounding the battery pack 3. The cylindrical outer shell 1 is sealed at both ends by flange heads 7, forming a closed cavity filled with coolant. The flange heads 7 are respectively provided with an inlet pipe 8, an outlet pipe 4, and a wiring port 5. The spiral tube liquid flow channel 2 is immersed in the coolant, with its outer edge directly contacting the inner wall of the cylindrical outer shell 1, and its inner edge serving as the placement space for the battery pack 3. The battery pack 3 is composed of several individual batteries connected in series and parallel, each individual battery being coated with a layer of sealant. The battery thermal management system utilizes convective heat transfer to achieve heat exchange between the battery and the external environment.

[0024] This embodiment features a spiral tube liquid flow channel 2 encased around the battery pack 3. The spiral tube liquid flow channel 2 is immersed in coolant, and its outer edge directly contacts the inner wall of the cylindrical outer shell 1. The inner edge serves as the placement space for the battery pack 3. Each individual battery cell is surrounded by a layer of sealant coating. The battery thermal management system utilizes convective heat transfer to achieve heat transfer between the battery and the external environment. This embodiment utilizes convective heat transfer, achieving battery cooling through direct contact heat transfer between the coolant and the power battery. The spiral tube liquid flow channel causes the flowing coolant to generate… Centrifugal force creates a secondary flow, increasing the disturbance of the coolant and thus disrupting the liquid boundary layer formed by the coolant flow on the surface of the power battery, thereby enhancing convective heat transfer and ultimately improving the cooling effect of the power battery. Secondly, this embodiment differs from traditional large-scale immersion liquid cooling devices, emphasizing lightweight design in the power battery design. By setting the spiral tube liquid flow channel 2 as a flat spiral rod, the cylindrical space on its inner edge provides support for the battery, simplifying the system structure and greatly reducing the cost of system construction. The battery module structure is compact, easy to install, and simple in structure.

[0025] This embodiment employs convective heat transfer. Specifically, the spiral tube liquid flow channel 2 is filled with coolant. By altering the flow path of the coolant within the spiral tube liquid flow channel 2, centrifugal force is generated, forming a secondary flow that disrupts the coolant within the cylindrical shell 1. This disrupts the liquid boundary layer between the coolant and the battery surface, thereby enhancing convective heat transfer. In this embodiment, coolant is filled in both the cylindrical shell and the spiral tube liquid flow channel 2. The two coolants are of the same material but are not in the same space. The coolant in the spiral tube liquid flow channel 2 acts as a fluid, flowing from the inlet pipe 8 to the outlet pipe 4, thus disturbing the coolant within the cylindrical shell and forming convective heat transfer. In addition to the flow of coolant within the spiral tube liquid flow channel 2, changing the temperature of the working fluid within the spiral tube liquid flow channel 2 can also achieve the effect of convective heat transfer.

[0026] In this embodiment, the spiral tube liquid flow channel 2 is a flat spiral rod, and the cylindrical space on its inner edge provides support for the battery. The left and right ends of the spiral tube liquid flow channel 2 are respectively connected to the inlet pipe 8 and the outlet pipe 4. The spiral tube liquid flow channel 2 in this embodiment is set as a flat spiral rod for two purposes: first, to increase the contact area between the coolant in the cylindrical shell 1 and the battery pack 3, thereby enhancing the heat dissipation effect; second, the inner cylindrical space can provide support for the battery pack 3, simplifying the system structure and greatly reducing the cost of system construction, thus achieving a lightweight thermal management system.

[0027] To ensure the power battery module can operate normally under thermal management conditions, the individual cells of the battery pack 3 are connected in series and parallel in sequence, and the left and right ends are connected to the wiring port 5 through wires to output electrical energy. In this embodiment, to solve the problem of electrical insulation between the coolant and the battery, each individual cell is wrapped with an extremely thin layer of silicone sealant coating mixed with boron nitride. In addition, the positive and negative poles of the battery pack 3 are placed in the same direction as the length of the outer casing.

[0028] To further ensure the sealing effect of this embodiment, the flange head 7 is assembled with the cylindrical shell by the sealing bolts 6, and a sealing gasket is provided between the flange head 7 and the sealing bolts 6. In addition, the cylindrical shell of this embodiment is a detachable closed cavity. When the system equipment is used for a long time, impurities will inevitably remain in the flow channel, causing liquid flow blockage or accelerating the corrosion of the spiral plate, thereby reducing the heat exchange performance of the system equipment. Therefore, the cylindrical shell 1 can be disassembled to clean or replace the pipes inside the cavity.

[0029] In order to improve the heat dissipation efficiency and temperature control effect of the power battery module, the coolant in the cylindrical shell 1 and the coolant in the spiral tube liquid flow channel 2 are low viscosity, high boiling point and non-volatile electronic fluorinated liquids.

[0030] To improve the service life of the system equipment, the cylindrical shell and the spiral tube liquid flow channel 2 are made of metal materials with good heat resistance, strong corrosion resistance and large coefficient of thermal expansion, specifically aluminum or copper.

[0031] Based on the above technical solutions, this embodiment also provides a method for implementing an immersion battery thermal management system, including:

[0032] The battery thermal management system comprises several individual batteries connected in series to form a battery pack 3. Each individual battery is coated with a sealant layer and immersed in coolant within a cylindrical outer shell 1, placed within the space of the inner edge of a spiral tube liquid flow channel 2. When the battery pack 3 operates in a high-temperature environment, the large amount of heat generated during the charging and discharging process causes the temperature of the battery pack 3 to rise continuously. This heat is transferred to the coolant inside the cylindrical outer shell 1, where the coolant absorbs the battery heat. Furthermore, by altering the flow path of the coolant within the spiral tube liquid flow channel 2, centrifugal force is generated to create a secondary flow, disrupting the coolant within the cylindrical outer shell 1 and thus breaking the liquid boundary layer between the coolant and the battery surface. This enhances convective heat transfer. Finally, the coolant flows out of the outlet from the spiral tube liquid flow channel 2, carrying the heat out of the thermal management system. Additionally, in cold winter environments, the temperature of the working fluid within the spiral tube liquid flow channel 2 can be adjusted to maintain suitable operating conditions for the battery.

[0033] The above are preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above content. Any changes, modifications, substitutions, combinations, or simplifications made without departing from the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be considered equivalent substitutions and shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An immersion battery thermal management system, comprising a battery, characterized in that, It also includes a cylindrical outer shell with a built-in battery pack and a spiral tube liquid flow channel wrapped around the battery pack; the cylindrical outer shell is sealed at both ends by flange heads, forming a closed cavity filled with coolant, and the flange heads are respectively provided with inlet pipes and outlet pipes, as well as wiring ports; the spiral tube liquid flow channel is immersed in coolant, and its outer edge is in direct contact with the inner wall of the cylindrical outer shell, with the inner edge serving as the placement space for the battery pack; the battery pack is composed of several individual cells connected in series and parallel, and each individual cell is wrapped with a layer of silicone sealant coating mixed with boron nitride; the battery thermal management system utilizes convective heat transfer to achieve heat transfer between the battery and the external environment, thereby achieving heat exchange; the left and right ends of the spiral tube liquid flow channel are respectively connected to the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe; The cylindrical outer shell is a cylindrical outer shell; The spiral tube liquid flow channel is filled with coolant. By changing the flow path of the coolant in the spiral tube liquid flow channel, centrifugal force is generated to form a secondary flow, which disturbs the coolant in the columnar shell, thereby destroying the liquid boundary layer formed between the coolant and the battery surface, and thus enhancing convective heat transfer.

2. The immersion battery thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spiral tube fluid flow channel is a flat spiral rod, and the cylindrical space on its inner edge provides support for the battery.

3. The immersion battery thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The individual cells of the battery pack are connected in series and parallel in sequence, and the left and right ends are connected to the terminal through wires to output electrical energy.

4. The immersion battery thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flange head is assembled with the cylindrical outer shell by sealing bolts, and a sealing gasket is provided between the flange head and the sealing bolts.

5. The immersion battery thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The coolant inside the cylindrical shell and the coolant in the spiral tube flow channel are low-viscosity, high-boiling-point, and non-volatile electronic fluorinated liquids.

6. The immersion battery thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cylindrical outer shell and the spiral tube liquid flow channel are made of metal materials with good heat resistance, strong corrosion resistance and large coefficient of thermal expansion, specifically aluminum or copper.

7. A method for implementing the battery thermal management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, include: The battery thermal management system comprises several individual batteries connected in series to form a battery pack. Each individual battery is coated with a sealant layer and immersed in coolant within a cylindrical outer shell, placed within the space of the inner edge of a spiral tube flow channel. When the battery pack operates in a high-temperature environment, the large amount of heat generated during charging and discharging causes the battery pack temperature to rise continuously. This heat is transferred to the coolant inside the cylindrical outer shell, where the coolant absorbs the battery heat. Furthermore, by altering the flow path of the coolant within the spiral tube flow channel, centrifugal force is generated, creating a secondary flow that disrupts the coolant within the cylindrical outer shell. This disrupts the liquid boundary layer between the coolant and the battery surface, enhancing convective heat transfer. Finally, the coolant flows out of the outlet through the spiral tube flow channel, carrying the heat out of the thermal management system. Additionally, in cold winter environments, the temperature of the working fluid within the spiral tube flow channel can be adjusted to maintain suitable operating conditions for the battery.

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