A columnar lithium-ion battery pack immersion cooling device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a columnar lithium-ion battery pack immersion cooling device, which relates to the technical field of battery heat exchange, and solves the problems of large environmental impact, large volume, low heat exchange efficiency, uneven battery temperature drop, and high cost of the battery cooling device. In the present invention, the baffle plates are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the middle baffle; a part of the baffle plates are connected to the upper end cover, and the other part is connected to the lower end cover; the left baffle is connected to the left ends of the uppermost and lowermost baffle plates, and the right baffle is connected to the right ends of the uppermost and lowermost baffle plates; the middle baffle divides the interior of the right baffle into two parts, and is provided with a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet; a number of columnar batteries are arranged between several baffle plates, and the columnar batteries pass through the middle baffle and are connected to the upper end cover and the lower end cover. The present invention completely immerses the battery body in the coolant, improving the uniformity of battery heat exchange and reducing the occurrence of local hot spots in the battery; the serpentine flow channel makes the fluid flow velocity increase under the action of centrifugal force at the bend, improving the heat exchange effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of battery heat exchange, and particularly to an immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack. Background Art

[0002] With the gradual popularization of electric vehicles in the market, electric vehicles are gradually entering thousands of households. An electric vehicle battery cooling device is a device for reducing the temperature of an automotive battery. When an electric vehicle is operating, the battery will generate a certain amount of heat. If the battery heat is not dissipated in time, the battery will be severely affected in a high-temperature environment, such as shortening the battery life, affecting battery charging, and endurance. Therefore, some measures must be taken to cool the battery to ensure its normal operating temperature.

[0003] Air cooling (wind cooling), indirect liquid cooling, and phase change material (PCM) cooling are currently the three mainstream cooling methods on the market. The cooling efficiency of air-cooled batteries is relatively low, and the cooling effect is greatly affected by the environment. In a high-humidity environment, dew will appear on the surface of the battery, which will eventually lead to battery failure; in a high-temperature environment, the cooling effect of the battery is also not good. The cooling efficiency of indirect liquid cooling is affected by the cold plate material and its thermal conductivity. Since the cold plate is in direct contact with the battery, this will increase the volume of the battery pack, increase the space for placing the battery, and increase the cost. In the phase change material cooling technology, the phase change material can absorb the heat released by the battery, but the maximum temperature during battery operation depends to a large extent on the phase change temperature and thermal conductivity of the PCM. However, the thermal conductivity of the PCM is often very low, which limits the use of phase change material cooling.

[0004] The Chinese patent with the publication number CN112490537A discloses "Immersion Cooling Mechanism for Lithium-Ion Batteries and Lithium-Ion Battery Modules". It consists of a sealed container formed by multiple wall panels and a cooling circulation device. There is a cooling cavity filled with a cooling medium inside the sealed container, and there are mounting positions for fixing lithium-ion batteries in the cavity. The lithium-ion batteries are fixed on the mounting positions, and the battery bodies are wrapped by the cooling medium. The cooling medium circulates to cool the lithium-ion batteries. Compared with the prior art, this device can reduce the usage amount of the cooling medium and extend the service life of the cooling medium. However, in this device, all the lithium-ion batteries are immersed in the cooling medium. If the battery body leaks and makes the cooling medium conductive, it may cause safety problems such as corrosion and short circuit. Moreover, the device does not have good sealing performance, and the sealing of the cooling medium is not well demonstrated. If the cooling medium leaks, it will greatly increase the maintenance cost of the device. The Chinese patent with the publication number CN117996273A discloses "Immersion Cooling Battery Box". Its battery components are installed in the accommodation cavity inside the box body. There are flow channels for the cooling medium between every two adjacent batteries, and there are also flow channels around, at the top, and at the bottom. The liquid inlet is connected to the side flow channel, and the liquid outlet is connected to the top flow channel and the bottom flow channel. Cooling is carried out through the flow of the cooling medium in the flow channels. Since this device cools the batteries by establishing flow channels on the batteries, the uniformity of battery heat dissipation is not very good, and there will be a situation where the temperature of some local batteries is higher than that of the batteries at the flow channels, and the heat dissipation effect is not very ideal. In summary, how to design a device with good sealing performance and uniform cooling of the battery body is the key issue currently concerned by battery heat dissipation devices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to solve the problems of the existing battery cooling devices mentioned above, such as being greatly affected by the environment, large in structural volume, low in heat exchange efficiency, uneven in battery cooling, and high in manufacturing and installation costs, the present invention hereby provides a columnar lithium-ion battery pack immersion cooling device. The present invention completely immerses the battery body in the coolant, improving the uniformity of battery heat exchange and reducing the occurrence of local hot spots in the battery; by means of several baffle plates, the flow channel is designed to be serpentine, and the fluid is affected by the centrifugal force at the bend, resulting in an increase in flow velocity, thereby improving the heat exchange effect.

[0006] The present invention provides an immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack, which specifically includes an upper end cover, a lower end cover, a plurality of baffle plates, an intermediate baffle, a left baffle and a right baffle; the plurality of baffle plates are divided into two parts and symmetrically arranged on both surfaces of the intermediate baffle; one part of the baffle plates is connected to the upper end cover, and the other part of the baffle plates is connected to the lower end cover; a left baffle and a right baffle are arranged between the upper end cover and the lower end cover; the left baffle and the right baffle are respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the intermediate baffle; the left baffle is connected to the left ends of the uppermost and lowermost baffle plates among the plurality of baffle plates, and the right baffle is connected to the right ends of the uppermost and lowermost baffle plates among the plurality of baffle plates; the intermediate baffle divides the interior of the right baffle into two parts, and a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet are respectively formed on the two parts; a plurality of columnar batteries are arranged between the plurality of baffle plates, and the columnar batteries pass through the intermediate baffle and are respectively connected to the upper end cover and the lower end cover.

[0007] Furthermore, the left baffle and the right baffle are in a C-shaped structure.

[0008] Furthermore, the liquid outlet and the liquid inlet are arranged at the diagonal positions at both ends of the right baffle.

[0009] Furthermore, a plurality of through holes are provided on the upper end cover and the lower end cover, and the tabs of the columnar battery pass through the through holes.

[0010] Furthermore, the baffle plate is in a serpentine structure.

[0011] Furthermore, the columnar battery is arranged on the inner concave side of the arc of the serpentine structure of the baffle plate.

[0012] Furthermore, clamping grooves are provided on the upper end cover and the lower end cover, and the ends of the columnar battery are connected to the clamping grooves.

[0013] Furthermore, a sealing ring is arranged between the clamping groove and the columnar battery.

[0014] Furthermore, a plurality of mounting holes are provided on the intermediate baffle, and the columnar battery passes through the mounting holes; a sealing ring is arranged between the columnar battery and the mounting holes.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack according to the present invention are as follows:

[0016] (1) The immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack according to the present invention overcomes the problems of the existing battery cooling device being greatly affected by the environment, having a large structural volume, low heat exchange efficiency, uneven battery temperature drop, and high manufacturing and installation costs. By immersing the columnar battery body in the coolant, a more uniform heat distribution is achieved, and the occurrence of local hot spots is reduced; the tabs at both ends of the battery pass through the through holes provided on the upper end cover and the lower end cover, which not only helps to prevent the battery from leaking and polluting the coolant, but also facilitates wiring.

[0017] (2) In the immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack of the present invention, the baffle is of a serpentine structure, and a number of parallelly arranged baffles form a serpentine flow channel. The coolant is subjected to the action of centrifugal force at the bend, thereby increasing the flow rate, impacting the battery at a greater flow rate, further strengthening heat transfer, and making the battery cooling effect more obvious;

[0018] (3) In the immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack of the present invention, by disposing the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet at the diagonal positions of the right baffle, it is beneficial to balance the pressure and more effectively avoid the problem that the coolant flowing into the cooling device causes uneven heat dissipation of the battery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The drawings forming a part of this application are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The schematic embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute an improper limitation to the present invention.

[0020] In the drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic three-dimensional structure diagram of an immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 is a bottom view of an immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic structure diagram of the upper end cover, baffle, left baffle and right baffle of an immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 is a schematic structure diagram of the lower end cover and baffle of an immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 is a schematic structure diagram of the intermediate baffle of an immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 is a schematic structure diagram of the card slot of an immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 7 is a schematic structure diagram of the sealing ring of an immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack of the present invention;

[0028] Wherein: 1 - upper end cover, 2 - lower end cover, 3 - tab, 4 - baffle, 5 - liquid outlet, 6 - intermediate baffle, 7 - liquid inlet, 8 - left baffle, 9 - right baffle, 10 - sealing ring, 11 - flow port. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative work belong to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. It is 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 should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are only used for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0031] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the terms "installation", "connection", and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the communication inside two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific situations.

[0032] In addition, the technical features involved in different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0033] Specific Embodiment 1: Refer to Figures 1-7 Specifically illustrate this embodiment. A columnar lithium-ion battery pack immersion cooling device described in this embodiment specifically includes an upper end cover 1, a lower end cover 2, a plurality of baffle plates 4, an intermediate baffle 6, a left baffle 8, and a right baffle 9; the plurality of baffle plates 4 are divided into two parts and symmetrically arranged on both surfaces of the intermediate baffle 6, and the plurality of baffle plates 4 are parallel to each other; one part of the baffle plates 4 is connected to the upper end cover 1, and the other part of the baffle plates 4 is connected to the lower end cover 2; a left baffle 8 and a right baffle 9 are arranged between the upper end cover 1 and the lower end cover 2; the left baffle 8 and the right baffle 9 are respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the intermediate baffle 6; the left baffle 8 is connected to the left ends of the uppermost and lowermost baffle plates 4 among the plurality of baffle plates 4, and the right baffle 9 is connected to the right ends of the uppermost and lowermost baffle plates 4 among the plurality of baffle plates 4, as Figures 1-3As shown in the figure; the middle baffle 6 divides the interior of the right baffle 9 into two parts, and a liquid outlet 5 and a liquid inlet 7 are respectively provided on the two parts; a number of columnar batteries are arranged between several baffle plates 4, and the columnar batteries pass through the middle baffle 6 and are respectively connected to the upper end cover 1 and the lower end cover 2.

[0034] The left baffle 8 and the right baffle 9 are in a U-shaped structure, and the open sides of the U-shaped structures of the left baffle 8 and the right baffle 9 face each other; the open sides of the U-shaped structure of the left baffle 8 are respectively connected to the left ends of the uppermost and lowermost baffle plates 4 among several baffle plates 4, and the open sides of the U-shaped structure of the right baffle 9 are respectively connected to the right ends of the uppermost and lowermost baffle plates 4 among several baffle plates 4, cooperating with the upper end cover 1 and the lower end cover 2 to form the cavity of the cooling device; the middle baffle 6 divides the entire cavity into upper and lower parts, extending the flow path of the coolant.

[0035] The liquid outlet 5 and the liquid inlet 7 are arranged at the diagonal positions at both ends of the right baffle 9, the liquid inlet 7 is close to the lower end cover 2, and the liquid outlet 5 is close to the upper end cover 1, which is beneficial to balancing the pressure.

[0036] A number of through holes are provided on the upper end cover 1 and the lower end cover 2, and the tabs 3 of the columnar battery pass through the through holes to prevent the battery from leaking and polluting the coolant.

[0037] The baffle plate 4 is in a serpentine structure, and two adjacent baffle plates 4 form a serpentine flow path. The columnar battery is arranged on the inner concave side of the arc of the serpentine structure of the baffle plate 4.

[0038] The upper end cover 1 and the lower end cover 2 are provided with clamping grooves, and the ends of the columnar battery are connected to the clamping grooves, thereby fixing the position of the battery; the diameter of the clamping groove is slightly larger than the diameter of the battery. A sealing ring 10 is arranged between the clamping groove and the columnar battery.

[0039] A number of mounting holes are provided on the middle baffle 6, and the columnar battery passes through the mounting holes; a sealing ring 10 is arranged between the columnar battery and the mounting holes.

[0040] The specific working principle of the immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack according to the present invention is as follows:

[0041] The coolant enters the immersion cooling device from the liquid inlet 7, and flows into the upper part of the lower end cover 2 through the flow port 11 between the baffle plates 4. Since the baffle plates 4 are laid on the lower end cover 2 in the form of a serpentine plate, when the coolant flows between the serpentine baffle plates 4, a greater flow velocity will be generated under the action of centrifugal force to impact the battery body, which can better help the battery dissipate heat. When the cooling liquid level slowly rises and touches the middle baffle 6, since the middle baffle 6 is closely connected to the right baffle 9 and there is a certain gap between the left baffle 8, the coolant will only slowly flow into the upper part from the left gap. As the coolant is slowly introduced, the liquid level continues to rise and then fills the entire immersion cooling device. The heat generated by the battery during operation is transferred to the coolant by heat transfer. When the liquid rises to touch the liquid outlet 5, finally the coolant will be discharged from the liquid outlet 5 to enter the external circulation system for recirculation, significantly improving the heat dissipation efficiency.

[0042] Summarizing the above embodiments, an immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack according to the present invention overcomes the problems of the existing battery cooling device being greatly affected by the environment, having a large structural volume, low heat exchange efficiency, uneven battery temperature drop, and high manufacturing and installation costs. By immersing the columnar battery body in the coolant, a more uniform heat distribution is achieved, and the occurrence of local hot spots is reduced; the pole ears 3 at both ends of the battery pass through the through holes provided on the upper end cover 1 and the lower end cover 2, which not only helps prevent the battery from leaking and polluting the coolant, but also facilitates wiring; for the immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack according to the present invention, the baffle plate 4 is of a serpentine structure, and a plurality of parallel baffle plates 4 form a serpentine flow channel. The coolant is affected by centrifugal force at the bend, thereby increasing the flow velocity and impacting the battery at a greater flow velocity, further strengthening heat transfer and making the battery temperature drop more obvious; for the immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack according to the present invention, by placing the liquid inlet 7 and the liquid outlet 5 at the diagonal positions of the right baffle 9, it is beneficial to balance the pressure and more effectively avoid the problem of uneven battery heat dissipation caused by the coolant flowing into the cooling device.

[0043] In the specific embodiments described above, the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the present invention have been further described in detail. It should be understood that the above are only specific embodiments of the present invention and are not used to limit the invention. It can also be a reasonable combination of the features described in the above embodiments. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack, characterized in that: It includes an upper end cover (1), a lower end cover (2), several baffle plates (4), an intermediate baffle (6), a left baffle (8) and a right baffle (9); the several baffle plates (4) are divided into two parts and symmetrically arranged on both surfaces of the intermediate baffle (6); one part of the baffle plates (4) is connected to the upper end cover (1), and the other part of the baffle plates (4) is connected to the lower end cover (2); a left baffle (8) and a right baffle (9) are arranged between the upper end cover (1) and the lower end cover (2); the left baffle (8) and the right baffle (9) are respectively arranged on the left side and the right side of the intermediate baffle (6); the left baffle (8) is connected to the left ends of the uppermost and lowermost baffle plates (4) among the several baffle plates (4), and the right baffle (9) is connected to the right ends of the uppermost and lowermost baffle plates (4) among the several baffle plates (4); the intermediate baffle (6) divides the interior of the right baffle (9) into two parts, and a liquid outlet (5) and a liquid inlet (7) are respectively formed on the two parts; several columnar batteries are arranged between the several baffle plates (4), and the columnar batteries pass through the intermediate baffle (6) and are respectively connected to the upper end cover (1) and the lower end cover (2); The baffle plate (4) is of a serpentine structure, and two adjacent baffle plates (4) form a serpentine flow channel; the columnar battery is arranged on the arc concave side of the serpentine structure of the baffle plate (4); The liquid outlet (5) and the liquid inlet (7) are arranged at the diagonal positions at both ends of the right baffle (9), the liquid inlet (7) is close to the lower end cover (2), and the liquid outlet (5) is close to the upper end cover (1).

2. The immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The left baffle (8) and the right baffle (9) are of a U-shaped structure.

3. The immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that: Several through holes are provided on the upper end cover (1) and the lower end cover (2), and the electrode tabs (3) of the columnar battery pass through the through holes.

4. The immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that: Card slots are provided on the upper end cover (1) and the lower end cover (2), and the ends of the columnar battery are connected to the card slots.

5. The immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack according to claim 4, characterized in that: A sealing ring (10) is arranged between the card slot and the columnar battery.

6. The immersion cooling device for a columnar lithium-ion battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that: Several mounting holes are provided on the intermediate baffle (6), and the columnar battery passes through the mounting holes; a sealing ring (10) is arranged between the columnar battery and the mounting holes.

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