Tray for accommodating heat-dissipating components

Abstract

The invention relates to a tray (1) designed to accommodate a component capable of releasing heat during its operation, in particular said component being an electrochemical energy storage module, comprising: a bottom wall (2) designed to accommodate said component; -at least one side wall (7) attached to the bottom wall and comprising in particular an inner plate (8) and an outer plate (9) assembled together so as to form at least one heat transfer fluid flow channel, said side wall having a periphery provided with at least one folding corner (12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pallet arranged to accommodate components capable of releasing heat during operation thereof. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a pallet.

[0002] The invention relates in particular to a tray for cooling at least one electrochemical storage module, in particular for use in the automotive sector. Background Art

[0003] Electrochemical storage modules, i.e. battery modules for electric or hybrid vehicles, must be kept as close as possible to the temperature required for optimal operation. For this purpose, temperature regulation devices are used to cool or heat the modules in order to keep them at the desired temperature. In particular, the temperature regulation device has a tray arranged to accommodate the battery modules. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention aims to simplify the design and manufacture of the compartment, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost.

[0005] The invention therefore proposes a tray arranged to accommodate a component capable of releasing heat during its operation, in particular an electrochemical energy storage module, the tray comprising:

[0006] - a bottom wall arranged to accommodate the components,

[0007] - at least one side wall, fixed to the bottom wall and comprising in particular an inner plate and an outer plate assembled together so as to form at least one heat transfer fluid circulation channel, the side wall having a perimeter provided with at least one folded corner.

[0008] According to the present invention, the side wall can be continuous at one or more corners of its perimeter, which is different from the side wall formed by multiple panels assembled at the corners. Therefore, the present invention provides a better seal because at least some corners of the perimeter are not formed by joint lines that may have sealing defects.

[0009] Furthermore, for the manufacture of the side walls, the invention makes it possible to use fewer elements to be assembled, which makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing costs of the pallet.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the fold corners are substantially rounded.

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, the side wall has a height measured in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall, and the folded corner extends over the entire height of the side wall.

[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, the side wall has a closed perimeter and includes a junction line along which the side wall is closed upon itself.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the joining line is a straight line and extends over the entire height of the side wall.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, the joining line is a welding line connecting two adjoining edges of the side wall.

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, the perimeter of the side wall is substantially rectangular with three rounded folded corners and one corner formed by a join line.

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, the side wall has an extension defining an inner wall within the perimeter of the side wall.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the inner wall extends between two locations of the component to be cooled. Therefore, one or more channels in the inner wall are used to cool the components on both sides of the inner wall.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the inner wall is substantially flat, in particular extending between two opposite edges of the periphery of the side wall.

[0019] According to one aspect of the invention, the side wall has two extensions defining two inner walls adjacent to each other within the perimeter of the side wall.

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, the assembly plates of the side walls are made of metal, in particular of aluminum.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the inner and outer panels of the side wall are assembled together by welding, brazing or bonding.

[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, the inner panel faces the inner side of the pallet and the outer panel faces the outer side of the pallet.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the outer plate has a plurality of recessed areas forming the one or more heat transfer fluid flow channels.

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, the outer plate has flat joining areas, in particular between the recessed areas, which are arranged to press against the inner plate in order to form one or more heat transfer fluid flow channels.

[0025] According to one aspect of the invention, the folding corners of the side walls correspond to the folding corners of the inner and outer panels.

[0026] According to one aspect of the invention, the bottom wall has at least two plates, which form one or more heat transfer fluid flow channels between each other.

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the inner face of the bottom wall is flat.Therefore, the contact surface between the component and the bottom wall is maximized, so that the heat exchange between the bottom wall and the component is optimized.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the bottom wall has an inner plate and an outer plate, the inner plate including an inner surface on which components can be placed, and the outer plate together with the inner plate forming one or more heat transfer fluid flow channels.

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the side wall is welded or brazed to the bottom wall.

[0030] According to one aspect of the present invention, the welding method is MIG (Metal Inert Gas)-MAG (Metal Active Gas) welding.

[0031] As a variant, the welding method is laser welding.

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the tray includes a weld between the side walls and the bottom wall.

[0033] According to one aspect of the invention, the weld extends over the entire circumference of the side wall or over a portion of this circumference.

[0034] According to one aspect of the invention, the tray comprises a seal, in particular a resin-based seal, extending along a joining line between the side wall and the bottom wall.

[0035] According to one aspect of the invention, the side walls or the bottom wall comprise at least one fluid inlet or outlet hole in order to allow an external fluid supply or collection tube to be connected to one or more channels present in these walls.

[0036] According to one aspect of the invention, the side walls and / or the bottom wall comprise heat transfer fluid circulation channels arranged to allow countercurrent flow (or counterflow), ie the channels have at least two parallel adjacent sections with opposite flow directions.

[0037] According to one aspect of the invention, the tray comprises a cover arranged to be fixed to the side wall.

[0038] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising at least one component, in particular at least one electrochemical energy storage module, and a tray as described above, arranged to exchange heat with the component placed on the bottom wall of the tray.

[0039] Another subject of the invention is a method for producing a tray arranged to accommodate components capable of releasing heat during their operation, in particular electrochemical energy storage modules, comprising the following steps:

[0040] - providing a bottom wall arranged to accommodate said components;

[0041] a folded double plate structure, in particular made of metal, to form a side wall comprising an inner plate and an outer plate, the inner plate and the outer plate together forming at least one heat transfer fluid circulation channel, the fold corresponding to the corner of the periphery of the side wall,

[0042] - Fasten the side walls to the bottom wall.

[0043] According to one aspect of the present invention, the method comprises the following steps:

[0044] - Heating the double sheet structure before the folding step.

[0045] Once heated, deformation so as to fold the double sheet structure may be easier.

[0046] According to one aspect of the invention, the double plate structure is heated in a furnace.

[0047] According to one aspect of the invention, the double plate structure is folded upon contact with a mandrel, in particular a cylindrical mandrel, so as to form one or more rounded corners.

[0048] According to one aspect of the invention, a double sheet structure is wrapped around a mandrel and simultaneously stretched to limit extrusion of the channels.

[0049] According to one aspect of the invention, the double plate structure is folded at a plurality of locations to form an extension defining an inner wall within the perimeter of the side wall. For example, the double plate structure is folded at at least 5 locations to form at least 5 rounded corners.

[0050] According to one aspect of the invention, the heat transfer fluid is a refrigerant fluid, in particular a fluid selected from the refrigerant fluids R134a, R1234yf and R744, or glycol water.

[0051] According to one aspect of the invention, the heat transfer fluid itself is cooled by an evaporative exchanger (called chiller) connected to the vehicle's air conditioning circuit.

[0052] According to one aspect of the invention, the component is an electrochemical energy storage module selected from lithium-ion, lithium-air, lithium-polymer, lithium-sulfur, lithium-metal, sodium-ion, sodium-air, potassium-ion, magnesium-ion or zinc-air type battery modules.

[0053] According to one aspect of the invention, the component is a fuel cell.

[0054] The component can be an electrochemical energy storage module, in particular a battery module, comprising one or more battery cells, which are in particular accommodated in a housing. The tray can accommodate one or more modules. The modules can be arranged in a row or in parallel rows in the tray. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent on reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0056] Figure 1 A perspective view schematically and partially showing a pallet according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 2 Schematically shows Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a tray in FIG.

[0058] Figure 3 Schematically shows Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of a bottom wall of a tray in;

[0059] Figure 4 The mandrel is schematically shown, with the side walls being folded when they come into contact with the mandrel.

[0060] Figure 5 A top view of a module according to another embodiment of the invention is schematically and partially shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] Hereinafter, in the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same elements or components.

[0062] Figure 1 A perspective view of a tray 1 is shown, the tray 1 being arranged to receive a component 50 placed on the flat inner face 3 of the bottom wall 2 of the tray 1 .

[0063] The tray 1 further comprises a cover 4 which is arranged to be fixed to a side wall 7 of the tray 1 .

[0064] Each component 50 is an electrochemical energy storage module.

[0065] The electrochemical energy storage module is selected from lithium ion, lithium air, lithium polymer, lithium sulfur, lithium metal, sodium ion, sodium air, potassium ion, magnesium ion or zinc air type battery modules.

[0066] In the example described, the tray 1 can accommodate two rows of six modules, so that a total of twelve modules are accommodated in the tray 1. Each module can be fixed in the tray 1 using fixing elements, such as screws (not shown). Each module has a rectangular perimeter.

[0067] The side wall 7 is fixed to the bottom wall 2, and as Figure 2 As shown, the heat transfer device comprises an inner plate 8 and an outer plate 9 , which are assembled together to form a heat transfer fluid flow channel 10 .

[0068] The inner plate 8 faces the inner side of the pallet 1 , and the outer plate 9 faces the outer side of the pallet 1 .

[0069] The side wall 7 has a periphery 11 provided with three folded corners 12 .

[0070] Each fold corner 12 is substantially rounded.

[0071] The side wall 7 has a height H measured in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall, and the folded corner extends over the entire height H of the side wall 7 .

[0072] The periphery 11 is closed and comprises a joining line 14 along which the side wall 7 is closed on itself.

[0073] The joining line 14 is a straight line and extends over the entire height H of the side wall 7 . The joining line 14 is a welding line connecting two adjoining edges 15 of the side wall 7 .

[0074] The periphery 11 of the side wall 7 is thus substantially rectangular with three rounded folded corners 12 and one corner 16 formed by the joining line 14 .

[0075] The assembly plates 8 and 9 of the side wall 7 are made of metal, in this case aluminum. The assembly is done by welding, brazing or bonding.

[0076] The outer plate 9 has a plurality of recessed areas 17 forming the heat transfer fluid flow channels 10 .

[0077] The outer plate 9 has flat joining areas 19 , in particular between the recessed areas 17 , which are arranged to press against the inner plate 8 in order to form heat transfer fluid flow channels 10 .

[0078] Each folding corner 12 of the side wall 7 corresponds to a folding corner of the inner panel 8 and the outer panel 9 .

[0079] Similarly, if Figure 3 As shown, the bottom wall 3 has two plates 20 and 21 which form a plurality of heat transfer fluid flow channels 22 between each other.

[0080] The inner face of the bottom wall 2 is flat. Thus, the contact surface between the component 50 and the bottom wall 2 is maximized, so that the heat exchange between the bottom wall 2 and the component 50 is optimized.

[0081] Therefore, the inner plate 20 comprises an inner face 24 on which the component 50 is laid, and the outer plate 21 together with the inner plate 20 forms a heat transfer fluid flow channel 22 .

[0082] The side wall 7 is welded to the bottom wall 2 by MIG (metal inert gas) welding.

[0083] The tray 1 thus comprises welds 25 between the side walls 7 and the bottom wall 2. These welds 25 extend discontinuously over the entire perimeter at the base of the side walls 7.

[0084] The tray 1 also comprises a seal 26 based on resin, for example mastic, which extends inside the tray 1 along the joining line between the side wall 7 and the bottom wall 2 .

[0085] The side wall 7 includes a fluid inlet or outlet opening 27, Figure 1 Only one of them is shown in the figure, in order to allow an external fluid supply or collection pipe to be connected to the channel 10 present in this side wall 7.

[0086] An assembly 60 is thus formed, which comprises the electrochemical energy storage modules 50 and the tray 1 which is arranged to exchange heat with these modules 50 placed on the bottom wall 2 .

[0087] The method for manufacturing the tray 1 comprises the following steps:

[0088] - providing a bottom wall 2;

[0089] - Folding double plate structure 30 (see Figure 4 ) so as to form the side wall 7, each fold corresponding to a corner 12 of the periphery of the side wall 7,

[0090] - The side wall 7 thus formed is fastened to the bottom wall 2 .

[0091] Prior to the folding step, the double sheet structure 30 is heated, for example in an oven.

[0092] The double plate structure 30 is folded when in contact with the cylindrical mandrel 31 so as to form the rounded corners 12. Preferably, the double plate structure 30 is wrapped around the mandrel 31 and stretched at the same time so as to limit the squeezing of the channel 10.

[0093] The heat transfer fluid is a refrigerant fluid, in particular a fluid selected from the refrigerant fluids R134a, R1234yf and R744, or glycol water.

[0094] The heat transfer fluid itself is cooled by an evaporative exchanger (called chiller) connected to the vehicle's air conditioning circuit.

[0095] Figure 5 Another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0096] In this example, the double plate structure 40 is folded to form an extension 41 defining an inner wall 42 within the perimeter of the side wall 43. The double plate structure 40 is folded at five locations to form five rounded corners 44.

[0097] The inner wall 42 is substantially centrally located so as to divide the interior of the tray into two volumes 45 and 46. As a variant, this inner wall 42 could be positioned in a different manner, for example in an eccentric manner.

Claims

1. A tray (1) arranged to accommodate a component capable of releasing heat during its operation, in particular an electrochemical energy storage module (50), the tray comprising: - a bottom wall (2) arranged to accommodate said components; - at least one side wall (7) fixed to the bottom wall and comprising in particular an inner plate (8) and an outer plate (9) assembled together so as to form at least one heat transfer fluid circulation channel (10), the side wall having a perimeter provided with at least one folded corner (12).

2. The pallet according to claim 1, wherein: The folding corner (12) is substantially rounded.

3. A pallet according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein: The side wall (7) has a height (H) measured in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall (2), and the folding corner extends over the entire height of the side wall (7).

4. A pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The side wall has a closed periphery and comprises a joining line (14) along which the side wall (7) is closed on itself.

5. A pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The side wall has an extension (41) defining an inner wall (42) within the perimeter of the side wall.

6. A pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The assembly plates (8, 9) of the side wall (7) are made of metal, in particular aluminum.

7. A pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The bottom wall (2) has at least two plates (20, 21) which form one or more heat transfer fluid flow channels (22) between each other.

8. A pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The tray includes a weld (26) between the side walls and the bottom wall.

9. A pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The tray comprises a seal (25) extending along a junction line between the side wall (7) and the bottom wall (2).

10. An assembly (60) comprising at least one component (50), in particular at least one electrochemical energy storage module, and a tray (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the tray (1) being arranged to exchange heat with the component placed on the bottom wall of the tray.

11. A method for manufacturing a tray (1) arranged to accommodate a component capable of releasing heat during its operation, in particular an electrochemical energy storage module, the method comprising the following steps: - providing a bottom wall (2) arranged to accommodate said components; - a folded double plate structure (30), in particular made of metal, so as to form a side wall comprising an inner plate and an outer plate, said inner plate and said outer plate together forming at least one heat transfer fluid circulation channel, said fold corresponding to a corner of the periphery of said side wall, - Fixing the side wall (7) to the bottom wall.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising the steps of: - Heating the double sheet structure (30) prior to the folding step.

13. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein: The double plate structure (30) is folded upon contact with a mandrel (31), in particular having a cylindrical shape, so as to form the one or more rounded corners.

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