Phase change liquid cooling coupling battery thermal management device based on TPMS structure

Abstract

The invention discloses a TPMS structure-based phase change liquid cooling coupling battery thermal management device, and relates to the technical field of battery thermal management, the TPMS structure-based phase change liquid cooling coupling battery thermal management device comprises a plurality of battery packs, a battery box body, a first liquid cooling pipeline, a second liquid cooling pipeline and a plurality of cooling plates; the battery packs and the cooling plates are sequentially arranged in the battery box body at intervals; the cooling plate comprises a plate core and a shell, the plate core of a three-period minimum curved surface structure is arranged in the shell, and a liquid cooling area and a phase change cooling area which are isolated from each other are defined by the plate core and the shell. The liquid cooling area is communicated with a liquid cooling inlet and a liquid cooling outlet of the shell to form a liquid cooling channel, and is communicated with an external liquid cooling circulating device through a first liquid cooling pipeline and a second liquid cooling pipeline to realize liquid cooling; and a phase-change material is injected into the phase-change cooling area to realize phase-change cooling. According to the invention, the plate core with a small specific surface area and a three-period extremely-small curved surface structure is adopted to manufacture the cooling plate, so that effective coupling of liquid cooling and phase change cooling is realized, and high heat exchange efficiency and good temperature uniformity can be realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of battery thermal management, and in particular to a phase-change liquid-cooled coupled battery thermal management device based on a TPMS structure. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of electric vehicles and new energy devices, battery technology has become an indispensable part of modern life. Lithium-ion batteries, in particular, are widely used in various fields due to their high energy density, long cycle life and relatively low self-discharge rate. However, batteries generate heat during the charging and discharging process. If not effectively managed, it will cause the temperature to rise, affect battery performance, and may even cause safety accidents.

[0003] Battery thermal management equipment is a crucial component in new energy vehicles, energy storage systems and other battery applications. Its main function is to ensure that the battery operates within the optimal temperature range, thereby improving battery performance, extending battery life, and ensuring safety. With the growing demand for high-performance and high-safety batteries, the market urgently needs a more efficient, economical and adaptable battery thermal management solution. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to design a battery thermal management device with excellent heat dissipation and temperature consistency. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, the present invention proposes a phase change liquid cooling coupled battery thermal management device based on the TPMS (Triply Periodic Minimal Surface) structure, and adopts a plate core with a three-periodic minimal surface structure with a small specific surface area to make a cooling plate, thereby realizing the effective coupling of liquid cooling and phase change cooling, solving the shortcomings of poor heat dissipation performance and unstable temperature of traditional battery thermal management equipment, and improving the performance and safety of the battery pack.

[0005] A phase-change liquid-cooled coupled battery thermal management device based on a TPMS structure, comprising a plurality of battery packs and a battery box, characterized in that it also comprises a first liquid cooling pipe, a second liquid cooling pipe and a plurality of cooling plates; the cooling plates and the battery packs are sequentially arranged in the battery box at intervals;

[0006] The cooling plate comprises a plate core, a shell, a liquid cooling inlet and a liquid cooling outlet;

[0007] The shell is a hollow structure, the plate core is arranged in the shell, and the liquid cooling inlet and the liquid cooling outlet are arranged on the shell; the plate core adopts a three-period minimal surface structure; the plate core and the shell enclose a liquid cooling area and a phase change cooling area for filling a phase change material; the liquid cooling area and the phase change cooling area are separated from each other;

[0008] The liquid cooling area is connected to the liquid cooling inlet and the liquid cooling outlet to form a liquid cooling channel of the cooling plate; the liquid cooling inlets of all cooling plates are connected to the first liquid cooling pipe, and the liquid cooling outlets of all cooling plates are connected to the second liquid cooling pipe; the port of the first liquid cooling pipe and the port of the second liquid cooling pipe are respectively connected to two ports of an external liquid cooling circulation device to realize the circulation of the coolant.

[0009] Preferably, the surface implicit equation of the cell of the three-periodic minimal surface structure is:

[0010]

[0011] Among them, sin is the trigonometric sine function, cos is the trigonometric cosine function, x, y, z are the coordinates of each surface point in the Cartesian coordinate system, and l is the cell length of the three-periodic minimal surface.

[0012] Preferably, the thickness of the core is equal to the length of the three-periodic minimal surface cell.

[0013] Preferably, the volume fraction of the three-periodic minimal surface structure is designed using a gradient.

[0014] Preferably, it also includes a control module; a temperature sensor is arranged on the outer surface of the battery pack; a second pressure sensor is arranged on the second liquid cooling pipe; a first pressure sensor and a flow controller are arranged on the first liquid cooling pipe; the control module receives signals from the temperature sensor, the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, and controls the flow controller.

[0015] Preferably, thermally conductive silica gel is coated between the contact surface between the battery pack and the cooling plate.

[0016] Preferably, the battery box is made of aluminum alloy and adopts a frame structure.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] (1) The plate core of the cooling plate of the present invention adopts a three-period minimal surface sheet structure, which has a smooth and continuous curved surface structure and a large specific surface area. It reduces the pressure drop of the liquid in the fluid channel while providing efficient heat exchange. The heat generated by the battery pack is absorbed by the phase change material, and efficient heat exchange is formed through the three-period minimal surface and liquid cooling, so that the battery pack is quickly cooled, and it has efficient heat dissipation performance.

[0019] (2) The device of the present invention adopts an energy-saving strategy. When the battery pack is charging and discharging at low power, the battery pack temperature is low and the heat generation is small, and passive cooling of phase change material cooling is performed without additional energy consumption; when the battery pack is in a high-power charging and discharging condition, liquid cooling is started in combination with phase change material cooling for rapid cooling. This strategy can greatly reduce energy consumption and improve the working efficiency of the battery pack.

[0020] (3) The present invention adopts a technology that combines liquid cooling with phase change cooling, combining the advantages of the two cooling methods. The cooling effect of the phase change material reduces the temperature difference during the liquid cooling process, and at the same time uses liquid cooling to solve the problem of the phase change material continuing to dissipate heat after reaching thermal saturation. This coupling mechanism of liquid cooling and phase change cooling not only improves the thermal management efficiency, but also effectively reduces the temperature difference between battery modules, and has excellent temperature stability, thereby optimizing the performance of the battery pack and extending its service life. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings;

[0022] Figure 1 A three-dimensional diagram showing the overall structure of a phase-change liquid-cooled coupled battery thermal management device based on a TPMS structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 An exploded view of the overall structure of a phase-change liquid-cooled coupled battery thermal management device based on a TPMS structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 An exploded view of a cooling plate of a phase-change liquid-cooled coupled battery thermal management device based on a TPMS structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a cooling plate of a phase-change liquid-cooled coupled battery thermal management device based on a TPMS structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 The schematic diagram of the TPMS structure and gradient change of the phase-change liquid-cooled coupled battery thermal management device based on the TPMS structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; the upper part of the figure is a schematic diagram of the TPMS structure (the local enlarged part is a cell); the lower part of the figure is a schematic diagram of the gradient change of the TPMS structure;

[0027] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the plate core structure of the phase change liquid cooling coupled battery thermal management device based on the TPMS structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the division of the region within the core of a phase-change liquid-cooled coupled battery thermal management device based on the TPMS structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure numbers: 1. battery case; 2. battery pack; 3. cooling plate; 31. plate core; 32. outer shell; 33. liquid cooling inlet; 34. liquid cooling outlet; 34. liquid cooling area; 35. phase change cooling area; 4. first liquid cooling pipe; 5. second liquid cooling pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The present invention is further described below through specific implementation modes.

[0031] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the orientations or positional relationships indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "middle", etc. are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0032] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a phase change liquid-cooled coupled battery thermal management device based on a TPMS structure includes a battery box 1, a plurality of battery packs 2, a plurality of cooling plates 3, a first liquid cooling pipe 4 and a second liquid cooling pipe 5.

[0033] In this embodiment, the battery pack 2 and the cooling plate 3 are both rectangular plate structures. The battery pack 2 and the cooling plate 3 are placed vertically, and each cooling plate 3 is arranged between two battery packs 2. The contact surface between the battery pack 2 and the cooling plate 3 is coated with thermal conductive silicone. All the cooling plates 3 and battery packs 2 arranged closely are arranged in a battery box 1. The battery box 1 is a rectangular frame structure made of aluminum alloy. The battery box 1 provides fixation and protection for the battery pack 2, while ensuring a certain load-bearing capacity.

[0034] See also Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the cooling plate 3 includes a shell 32 and a plate core 31, and a liquid cooling inlet 33 and a liquid cooling outlet 34 arranged on the shell 32. The shell 32 is made of aluminum alloy.

[0035] The plate core 31 of the cooling plate is a three-periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structure, which is manufactured by 3D printing. The sheet structure has a smooth surface and excellent fluidity and heat transfer performance. This embodiment further designs the volume fraction gradient of the three-periodic minimal surface structure of the plate core 31, which can reduce the temperature difference of the liquid flow direction span in the cooling plate and improve the stability of the cooling system. The gradient change of the three-periodic minimal surface structure can be seen in Figure 5 shown.

[0036] The surface implicit equation of the three-periodic minimal surface cell is:

[0037]

[0038] Among them, sin is the trigonometric sine function, cos is the trigonometric cosine function, x, y, z are the coordinates of each surface point in the Cartesian coordinate system, and l is the cell length of the three-periodic minimal surface.

[0039] In this embodiment, the thickness of the board core 31 is equal to the length of a cell of the three-periodic minimal surface. This design allows the board core 31 to have independent dual channels, while minimizing the distance between the battery packs 2 and improving space utilization.

[0040] The plate core 31 is arranged inside the shell 32 , and the contact surface between the plate core 31 and the shell 32 is fixed and sealed by an adhesive. The plate core 31 and the shell 32 of the cooling plate 3 are enclosed to form two liquid cooling areas 34 and phase change cooling areas 35 separated from each other.

[0041] In this embodiment, each cooling plate 3 is provided with a liquid cooling inlet 33 at the upper end of the front side, and a liquid cooling outlet 34 is provided at the lower end of the side. The liquid cooling inlet 33 and the liquid cooling outlet 34 are respectively connected to the liquid cooling area 34 inside the cooling plate 3 to form a liquid cooling channel of the cooling plate 3; the liquid cooling inlets 33 of all cooling plates 3 are connected to the first liquid cooling pipe 4, and the liquid cooling outlets 34 of all cooling plates 3 are connected to the second liquid cooling pipe 5. The ports of the first liquid cooling pipe 4 and the second liquid cooling pipe 5 are respectively connected to the two ports of the external liquid cooling circulation device to form a circulating flow of the coolant. The liquid cooling inlets 33 of all cooling plates 3 are connected to the first liquid cooling pipe 4 to ensure the consistency of the coolant temperature at the inlet of each cooling plate 3.

[0042] Specifically, the front side and rear side of the plate core 31 are not in direct contact with the front inner side and rear inner side of the cooling plate 3 respectively, and the gap between them is part of the phase change cooling area 35 that is connected as a whole, so that the phase change material can first receive the heat transferred from the battery pack 2 through the wall of the cooling plate 3. The left side and right side of the plate core 31 are in direct contact with the inner left side and inner right side of the outer shell 32 respectively, and are fixed and sealed by adhesive. Figure 6 As shown, a partition is provided where the shell 32 is not in direct contact with the core 31, specifically, the liquid cooling channel section of the front side and rear side of the core 31, and the phase change cooling area section of the top and bottom surfaces, so as to separate the coolant and the phase change material. The liquid cooling inlet 33 and the liquid cooling outlet 34 are square pipes provided in the shell 3, and the square pipe is connected to the liquid cooling channel of the contact surface of the core 3 by opening a hole, and the partition of the phase change cooling area section of the contact surface with the core 3 is fixed and sealed by an adhesive.

[0043] The phase change material is filled in the phase change cooling area 35 in the housing 32. The phase change material is filled in the following manner: firstly, the phase change material is heated to a liquid state and the housing 32 of the cooling plate 3 is heated to above the liquid phase temperature, and then the phase change material is quickly poured into the phase change material filling area until the areas on both sides and 90% of the TPMS channels in the middle of the phase change cooling area are filled.

[0044] After the phase change material is filled in the cooling plate 3 and the coolant begins to flow, the internal cross section of the cooling plate 3 is as follows: Figure 7 At the same time, the cooling plate 3 has certain shock absorption and impact resistance performance for the overall battery device due to the phase change material filled inside and the three-period minimal curved surface structure of the plate core 31.

[0045] In this embodiment, a temperature sensor is provided on the outer surface of the battery pack 2, a first pressure sensor is installed on the first liquid cooling pipe 4, and a second pressure sensor and a flow controller are installed on the second liquid cooling pipe 5. The flow controller can control opening and closing, or control the size of the opening, so as to control the flow of the coolant flowing into the first liquid cooling pipe. A control module is also included, which is used to receive signals from the temperature sensor, the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, and control the flow controller and the external liquid cooling circulation device, and the external liquid cooling circulation device can adjust the power to adjust the parameters of the coolant flow.

[0046] Different cooling strategies are used for different battery operating conditions to achieve energy saving. When the battery pack 2 is in a low-power charge and discharge state, the liquid cooling system is turned off, and the heat is dissipated by phase change material cooling alone. When the battery pack 2 is in a high-power charge and discharge state, the temperature signal of the temperature sensor triggers the liquid cooling system to work, realizing the combined heat dissipation of the battery pack 2 by liquid cooling and phase change cooling. The specific steps are as follows:

[0047] S1, set the temperature threshold and coolant pressure value;

[0048] S2, the control module obtains in real time the temperature value of the temperature sensor, the pressure value of the first pressure sensor, and the pressure value of the second pressure sensor;

[0049] S3, when the temperature value obtained by the temperature sensor is lower than the set temperature threshold, the control module controls the flow controller to close and controls the external liquid cooling circulation device to close;

[0050] S4, when the temperature value of the temperature sensor obtained is higher than the set temperature threshold, the control module controls the flow controller to turn on and adjusts the power of the external liquid cooling circulation device so that the pressure value of the first pressure sensor reaches the set coolant pressure value;

[0051] S5, if the temperature value of the temperature sensor continues to rise, the control module controls the flow controller to increase the caliber, and at the same time adjusts the power of the external liquid cooling circulation device so that the pressure value of the second pressure sensor reaches the set coolant pressure value until the temperature value of the temperature sensor stabilizes.

[0052] The plate core 31 of the cooling plate 3 of the embodiment of the present invention adopts a three-period minimal surface sheet structure, has a smooth and continuous curved surface structure and a large specific surface area, reduces the pressure drop of the liquid in the fluid channel while providing efficient heat exchange, and the heat generated by the battery pack 2 is absorbed by the phase change material, and efficient heat exchange is formed through the three-period minimal surface and liquid cooling, so that the battery pack 2 is quickly cooled down, and has efficient heat dissipation performance.

[0053] The device of the embodiment of the present invention adopts an energy-saving strategy. When the battery pack 2 is charged and discharged at low power, the battery pack 2 has a low temperature and generates little heat. A passive cooling strategy of phase change material cooling is implemented without additional energy consumption. When the battery pack 2 is in a high-power charge and discharge condition, liquid cooling is started in combination with phase change material cooling for rapid cooling. This strategy can greatly reduce energy consumption and improve battery working efficiency.

[0054] The embodiment of the present invention adopts a technology combining liquid cooling and phase change material cooling, integrating the advantages of the two cooling methods, reducing the temperature difference in the liquid cooling process through the cooling effect of the phase change material, and solving the problem of the phase change material continuing to dissipate heat after reaching thermal saturation with the help of liquid cooling. This coupling mechanism not only improves the thermal management efficiency, but also effectively reduces the temperature difference between battery modules, and has excellent temperature stability, thereby optimizing the performance of the battery pack 2 and extending its service life.

[0055] The above is only a specific implementation of the present invention, but the design concept of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any non-substantial changes to the present invention using this concept shall be deemed as an infringement of the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A phase change liquid cooling coupled battery thermal management device based on TPMS structure, comprising a plurality of battery packs and a battery box, characterized in that: It also includes a first liquid cooling pipe, a second liquid cooling pipe and a plurality of cooling plates; the cooling plates and the battery packs are sequentially arranged in the battery box at intervals; The cooling plate comprises a plate core, a shell, a liquid cooling inlet and a liquid cooling outlet; The shell is a hollow structure, the plate core is arranged in the shell, and the liquid cooling inlet and the liquid cooling outlet are arranged on the shell; the plate core adopts a three-period minimal surface structure; the plate core and the shell enclose a liquid cooling area and a phase change cooling area for filling a phase change material; the liquid cooling area and the phase change cooling area are separated from each other; The liquid cooling area is connected to the liquid cooling inlet and the liquid cooling outlet to form a liquid cooling channel of the cooling plate; the liquid cooling inlets of all cooling plates are connected to the first liquid cooling pipe, and the liquid cooling outlets of all cooling plates are connected to the second liquid cooling pipe; the port of the first liquid cooling pipe and the port of the second liquid cooling pipe are respectively connected to two ports of an external liquid cooling circulation device to realize the circulation of the coolant.

2. The phase change liquid cooling coupled battery thermal management device based on the TPMS structure according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The surface implicit equation of the cell of the three-periodic minimal surface structure is: Among them, sin is the trigonometric sine function, cos is the trigonometric cosine function, x, y, z are the coordinates of each surface point in the Cartesian coordinate system, and l is the cell length of the three-periodic minimal surface.

3. The phase change liquid cooling coupled battery thermal management device based on the TPMS structure according to claim 2 is characterized in that: The thickness of the core is equal to the length of the three-periodic minimal surface cell.

4. The phase change liquid cooling coupled battery thermal management device based on the TPMS structure according to claim 2 is characterized in that: The volume fraction of the three-periodic minimal surface structure is designed using a gradient.

5. The phase change liquid cooling coupled battery thermal management device based on the TPMS structure according to claim 1 is characterized in that: It also includes a control module; a temperature sensor is arranged on the outer surface of the battery pack; a second pressure sensor is arranged on the second liquid cooling pipe; a first pressure sensor and a flow controller are arranged on the first liquid cooling pipe; the control module receives signals from the temperature sensor, the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, and controls the flow controller.

6. The phase change liquid cooling coupled battery thermal management device based on the TPMS structure according to claim 1 is characterized in that: Thermally conductive silica gel is coated between the contact surfaces of the battery pack and the cooling plate.

7. The phase change liquid cooling coupled battery thermal management device based on the TPMS structure according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The battery box is made of aluminum alloy and adopts a frame structure.

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