Current collector, heat exchanger, battery pack and vehicle

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of vehicles, and discloses a current collector, a heat exchanger, a battery pack and a vehicle, the current collector comprises a current collector body, a first pipeline joint and a second pipeline joint, the current collector body is internally provided with a first cavity and a second cavity at an interval along a first direction; the first cavity is divided into a first sub-cavity, a second sub-cavity and a third sub-cavity in the second direction, the first sub-cavity and the third sub-cavity are both communicated with the second cavity, the current collector body is further provided with a first inserting groove allowing the heat exchange structure to be inserted therein, and the first sub-cavity, the second sub-cavity and the third sub-cavity are communicated with different heat exchange runners of the heat exchange structure through the first inserting groove; the first pipeline joint is communicated with the second sub-cavity; the second pipeline joint is communicated with the second cavity; the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The current collector is simple in structure, small in occupied space and low in assembly difficulty, and the heat exchanger, the battery pack and the vehicle comprising the current collector are high in space utilization rate and low in cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vehicle technology, and in particular to a current collector, a heat exchanger, a battery pack and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] As the core power supply component of electric vehicles, the battery pack determines the vehicle's driving range, cost, service life, safety, maintainability and other key indicators. In order to effectively dissipate heat from the battery pack, a heat exchanger is usually required. In order to achieve the circulation of the fluid medium in the heat exchanger, the flow direction of the fluid medium in the heat exchanger is also different in different heat exchange channels. In order to connect the same heat exchange channel with external heat exchange equipment, refer to Figure 1 As shown, in the related art, at least three pipe joints need to be set on the collector of the heat exchanger. If the three pipe joints are matched with three pipes, a large space is occupied by the battery pack, the space utilization rate of the battery pack is reduced, which is not conducive to the integration of the whole pack, resulting in increased costs; if the three pipe joints are matched with two pipes, a three-way structure needs to be added to connect two of the pipe joints, which is prone to over-positioning, resulting in increased difficulty in assembly, and the required pipe length is long, which will further increase the cost. Summary of the invention

[0003] One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a current collector to solve the problem of a large number of pipe joints and a large space occupied while ensuring the circulation of the fluid medium. The second object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger to solve the problem of a large space occupied and high assembly difficulty. The third object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack to solve the problem of low space utilization and increased cost. The fourth object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle to solve the problem of high manufacturing cost.

[0004] To achieve this object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] In the first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a current collector, including a current collector body, a first pipe joint and a second pipe joint, wherein a first cavity and a second cavity are arranged at intervals along a first direction inside the current collector body, and the first cavity is divided into a first sub-cavity, a second sub-cavity and a third sub-cavity along a second direction, and the first sub-cavity and the third sub-cavity are both connected to the second cavity, and a first slot for inserting a heat exchange structure is also provided on the current collector body, and the first sub-cavity, the second sub-cavity and the third sub-cavity are connected to different heat exchange channels of the heat exchange structure through the first slot; the first pipe joint is connected to the second sub-cavity; the second pipe joint is connected to the second cavity; the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

[0006] In one embodiment, the current collector body includes a collecting tube, a first separator and a second separator, the first separator is arranged inside the collecting tube to divide the internal space of the collecting tube into the first cavity and the second cavity, two second separators are arranged in the first cavity at intervals along the second direction to divide the first cavity into the first sub-cavity, the second sub-cavity and the third sub-cavity, and the collecting tube and the first separator are extruded as one piece.

[0007] In one embodiment, the current collecting tube is opened at two opposite ends along the second direction, and the current collecting body further includes blocking covers, and two blocking covers are respectively sealed at the openings of the current collecting tube.

[0008] In one embodiment, the second separator is in the shape of a sheet, and two second slots are provided on the manifold along the second direction at intervals, and two second separators are respectively inserted into the two second slots.

[0009] In one embodiment, the second separator includes a separator body, a first limiting portion and a second limiting portion, and the separator body is configured as a plate-like structure with the same cross-sectional shape as the first cavity, the first limiting portion is located on the side of the separator body facing away from the first slot, and the second limiting portion is located on the side of the separator body facing the first slot.

[0010] In one embodiment, four first slots are provided, two of which are connected to the second sub-cavity, and the other two first slots are connected to the first sub-cavity and the third sub-cavity, respectively.

[0011] In one embodiment, the first pipe connector passes through the second cavity along the first direction and communicates with the second sub-cavity, and the second pipe connector extends along the first direction away from the current collector body.

[0012] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a heat exchanger, comprising a first current collector, a second current collector and a heat exchange structure, wherein the first current collector is connected to a first end of the heat exchange structure along a third direction, the second current collector is connected to a second end of the heat exchange structure along the third direction, the first current collector is any of the current collectors described in the above embodiments, and the third direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

[0013] In one embodiment, the heat exchange structure is located on a side of the battery core provided with an explosion-proof valve, and the heat exchange structure includes an avoidance portion, and an orthographic projection of the avoidance portion toward the battery core covers the explosion-proof valve.

[0014] In one embodiment, the heat exchange structure includes a plurality of heat exchange tubes spaced apart along the second direction, the plurality of heat exchange tubes are arranged one-to-one corresponding to the plurality of first slots, and a heat exchange channel is formed inside the heat exchange tube that passes through both ends of the heat exchange tube along the third direction.

[0015] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a battery pack, comprising a first heat exchanger and a battery cell module, wherein the first heat exchanger is disposed on one side of the battery cell module for exchanging heat with the battery cell module, and the first heat exchanger adopts any of the heat exchangers described in the above embodiments.

[0016] In one embodiment, the battery pack also includes a second heat exchanger, and the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are respectively arranged on different sides of the battery cell module, and the first heat exchanger is connected to the second heat exchanger through a liquid supply pipeline and a return pipeline, the first end of the liquid supply pipeline is connected to the outlet of the second heat exchanger, the second end of the liquid supply pipeline is connected to one of the first pipeline joint and the second pipeline joint, the first end of the return pipeline is connected to the inlet connection of the second heat exchanger, and the second end of the return pipeline is connected to the other of the first pipeline joint and the second pipeline joint.

[0017] In one embodiment, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are disposed on both sides of the battery cell module along the first direction, and the first direction is perpendicular to the third direction.

[0018] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle, comprising a chassis and the battery pack described in the above embodiment, wherein the battery pack is mounted on the chassis.

[0019] Beneficial effects of the present invention:

[0020] The current collector proposed by the present invention integrates the pipelines that play a converging or diverting role into the second cavity of the current collector, which reduces the number of required pipeline joints and simplifies the structure. The heat exchanger including the current collector occupies a small space and has low assembly difficulty. The battery pack including the heat exchanger has reduced complexity of the pipelines used, and the space utilization of the battery pack is high. The vehicle including the battery pack has low manufacturing cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heat exchanger in the related art;

[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a heat exchanger in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a first current collector in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4is a cross-sectional view of a first current collector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the current collector body in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the flow path of the fluid medium in the heat exchanger in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a second separator in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery pack in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the battery cell module in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Fig.10 Schematic diagram of the connection structure of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] In the figure:

[0032] 100, first heat exchanger; 110, first current collector; 111, current collector body; 1111, current collecting tube; 1112, plugging cover; 1113, first partition; 1114, second partition; 11141, first position limiting portion; 11142, second position limiting portion; 11143, second partition body; 112, first pipeline joint; 113, second pipeline joint; 120, second current collector; 130, heat exchange structure; a, first cavity; a1, first sub-cavity; a2, second sub-cavity; a3, third sub-cavity; b, second cavity; c, first through hole; d, second through hole; e, third through hole; f, first slot; g, second slot; h, connecting port; i, avoidance portion;

[0033] 200, a second heat exchanger;

[0034] 300, battery module; 310, battery cell; 311, pole; 312, explosion-proof valve;

[0035] 400, liquid supply pipeline;

[0036] 500. Return line. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It is to be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention, rather than to limit the present invention. It should also be noted that, for ease of description, only parts related to the present invention, rather than all structures, are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0038] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected", "connected", and "fixed" 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 a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0039] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include that the first and second features are in direct contact, or may include that the first and second features are not in direct contact but are in contact through another feature between them. Moreover, a first feature being "above", "above" and "above" a second feature includes that the first feature is directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below", "below" and "below" a second feature includes that the first feature is directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0040] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper", "lower", "right", etc., directions or positional relationships are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of description and simplification of operation, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish in the description and have no special meaning.

[0041] In an embodiment of the present invention, a heat exchanger is proposed, which can utilize a fluid medium to perform heat exchange with a heat exchange element. The heat exchange element includes, but is not limited to, a battery pack of an electric vehicle, and may also be, for example, a chip of an electric drive or other functional device of an electric vehicle. It is only necessary to adaptively modify the size and shape of the heat exchanger according to the size of the heat exchange element, which is within the protection scope of the present invention. The fluid medium can be either a gas or a liquid, such as water or air. Moreover, the fluid medium can be either a refrigeration medium or a heating medium, and the fluid medium introduced into the heat exchanger can be adjusted according to the actual application environment.

[0042] refer to Figure 2-Figure 10 As shown, the heat exchanger includes a current collector and a heat exchange structure 130, and the heat exchange structure 130 includes a heat exchange structure 130 along a third direction ( Figure 2 and Figure 3 The heat exchange flow channels extend in the second direction ( Figure 2 and Figure 3The heat exchange structure 130 is distributed in the Y direction, and two current collectors are provided, namely a first current collector 110 and a second current collector 120, wherein the first current collector 110 is connected to a first end of the heat exchange structure 130 along the third direction, and the second current collector 120 is connected to a second end of the heat exchange structure 130 along the third direction. The first current collector 110 includes a current collector body 111, a first pipe joint 112 and a second pipe joint 113, wherein the first cavity a and the second cavity b are arranged in the first direction at intervals inside the current collector body 111, and the first cavity a is divided into a first sub-cavity a1, a second sub-cavity a2 and a third sub-cavity a3 which are not directly connected to each other along the second direction. The current collector body 111 is also provided with a first slot f for inserting the heat exchange structure 130, and the first sub-cavity a1, the second sub-cavity a2 and the third sub-cavity a3 are connected to different heat exchange channels of the heat exchange structure 130 through the first slot f, and the first sub-cavity a1 and the third sub-cavity a3 are both connected to the second cavity b, the first pipe joint 112 is connected to the second sub-cavity a2, and the second pipe joint 113 is connected to the second cavity b. The second direction is perpendicular to the third direction and the first direction. It should be emphasized that the first direction can be perpendicular to the third direction or the same as the direction indicated by the third direction, which mainly depends on the limitation of the space used to install the heat exchanger.

[0043] The first sub-chamber a1 and the third sub-chamber a3 are connected to each other through the second cavity b in the collector of the above-mentioned heat exchanger, so that the heat exchange flow channels in the heat exchange structure 130 respectively connected to the first sub-chamber a1 and the third sub-chamber a3 are connected. At this time, the second cavity b assumes the function of diversion or confluence. It is only necessary to connect the first pipe joint 112 connected to the second sub-chamber a2 and the second pipe joint 113 connected to the second cavity b to the two pipes respectively to realize the circulation of the fluid medium. Compared with the use of three pipe joints to realize the circulation of the fluid medium in the related art, it not only reduces the manufacturing cost and the occupied space, but also because it is no longer restricted by the three-way structure, the length of the pipeline connected to the second pipe joint 113 can be appropriately increased, further absorbing the tolerance and avoiding over-constraint caused by large tolerance.

[0044] It can be understood that, of the two pipes used to connect the first pipe joint 112 and the second pipe joint 113, one is used to provide fluid medium to the heat exchanger, and the other is used for the reflux of the fluid medium. For the convenience of description, the pipe for providing fluid medium to the heat exchanger is defined as the liquid supply pipe 400, and the pipe for the reflux of the fluid medium is defined as the reflux pipe 500. One of the first pipe joint 112 and the second pipe joint 113 is connected to the reflux pipe 500, and the other is connected to the liquid supply pipe 400, that is, the second pipe joint 113 can be connected to both the reflux pipe 500 and the liquid supply pipe 400. Taking the connection of the second pipe joint 113 and the reflux pipe 500 as an example, the second cavity b plays a converging role. Of course, if the second pipe joint 113 is connected to the liquid supply pipe 400, the second cavity b plays a diverting role.

[0045] In an embodiment of the present invention, a battery pack is also proposed, including a battery cell module 300 and a first heat exchanger 100, wherein the battery cell module 300 includes a plurality of rows of battery cell groups spaced apart along a second direction, and each row of battery cell groups includes a plurality of battery cells 310 arranged along a third direction, and the first heat exchanger 100 uses the heat exchanger in the above embodiment to dissipate heat for the battery cell group. It is understandable that the first heat exchanger 100 can be arranged on the side of the battery cell module 300, on the bottom of the battery cell module 300, or on the top of the battery cell module 300. Moreover, when the fluid medium introduced into the heat exchanger is replaced with a heating medium, the heat exchanger can also be used to heat the battery cell module 300. As for whether the heat exchanger is used to heat or cool the battery cell module 300, it can be adjusted according to the actual application environment.

[0046] In one embodiment, the heat exchanger is disposed on the top surface of the battery cell module 300 to dissipate heat from the top surface of the battery cell module 300. The battery cell module 300 includes multiple columns of battery cell groups, and any column of battery cell groups includes multiple battery cells 310. Two poles 311 (positive pole 311 and negative pole 311) are disposed on the top of the battery cell 310, and an explosion-proof valve 312 is disposed between the two poles 311. Based on this, the heat exchange structure 130 also includes an avoidance portion i, and the orthographic projection of the avoidance portion i toward the battery cell 310 covers the explosion-proof valve 312. The avoidance portion i can avoid the explosion-proof valve 312 while also providing a venting channel for the explosion-proof valve 312 to prevent the explosion-proof valve 312 from failing.

[0047] Optionally, the heat exchange structure 130 may adopt an integrally formed heat exchange plate, wherein a plurality of heat exchange channels are arranged at intervals along the second direction inside the heat exchange plate, and the position of the heat exchange plate corresponding to the heat exchange channel extends toward the first collector 110 to form a protruding plug-in portion, which is used to be plugged in and matched with the plurality of first slots f one by one. At the same time, the heat exchange plate is also provided with an avoidance hole, which serves as an avoidance portion i, and is used to avoid the explosion-proof valve 312. It is understandable that the heat exchange channel can be arranged on both sides of the avoidance hole along the second direction, or can be on the same straight line with the avoidance hole along the third direction but not connected to the avoidance hole.

[0048] Alternatively, the heat exchange structure 130 is divided and includes a plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged at intervals along the second direction, the plurality of heat exchange tubes are arranged one by one with the plurality of first slots f, a heat exchange flow channel is formed inside the heat exchange tube along the third direction and passes through both ends of the heat exchange tube, each heat exchange tube corresponds to a pole 311 of a column of battery cells 310, and at this time, there is a gap between adjacent heat exchange tubes, and the gap serves as an avoidance portion i for avoiding the explosion-proof valve 312. Compared with an integrally formed heat exchange plate, the heat exchange tubes arranged separately can reduce the weight of the heat exchange structure 130, reduce the weight of the entire battery pack, reduce the manufacturing cost of the battery pack, and are simple to process.

[0049] In order to improve the temperature uniformity when the heat exchange structure 130 cools the battery cell 310, the flow direction of the fluid medium in the two heat exchange channels corresponding to the two rows of poles 311 in the same column of battery cell groups is opposite, so that the poles 311 at the head and tail ends of the two rows of poles 311 in the same column of battery cell groups can maintain approximately the same temperature. On this basis, in order to adapt to the structure of the first current collector 110, the heat exchange structure 130 has four heat exchange channels, corresponding to the four columns of poles 311 in the two columns of battery cell groups, respectively. When the entire heat exchanger is above the battery cell module 300, the four heat exchange channels are respectively in contact with the four columns of poles 311.

[0050] Taking the heat exchange structure 130 including heat exchange tubes as an example, the heat exchange structure 130 has four heat exchange tubes, and the four heat exchange tubes are divided into two groups along the second direction. The two groups of heat exchange tubes can form two circulation paths for the flow of fluid medium under the cooperation of the first current collector 110 and the second current collector 120, which are respectively used to cool the poles 311 of the two columns of battery cell groups. For the convenience of description, the two heat exchange tubes in the same group of heat exchange tubes are defined as the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube according to the different flow directions of the fluid medium in the heat exchange flow channel. The two second heat exchange tubes in the two groups of heat exchange tubes are arranged adjacent to each other, and the two first heat exchange tubes in the two groups of heat exchange tubes are located on the relatively outer sides of the two second heat exchange tubes. Correspondingly, four first slots f are provided on the first current collector 110, of which two first slots f are connected to the second sub-cavity a2, and the other two first slots f are respectively connected to the first sub-cavity a1 and the third sub-cavity a3, the two first heat exchange tubes are respectively inserted into the first sub-cavity a1 and the third sub-cavity a3 through the two first slots f, and the two second heat exchange tubes are inserted into the second sub-cavity a2 through the two first slots f.

[0051] refer to Figure 6 As shown, taking the connection between the second pipe joint 113 and the return pipe 500 as an example, at this time, the fluid medium flows through the liquid supply pipe 400 and the first pipe joint 112 in sequence and enters the second sub-cavity a2, and then respectively enters the two second heat exchange tubes connected to the second sub-cavity a2 and flows to the second collector 120, and after passing through the second collector 120, flows back to the first sub-cavity a1 and the third sub-cavity a3 from the two first heat exchange tubes on the relatively outer sides, and then flows into the second pipe joint 113 through the second cavity b connected to the first sub-cavity a1 and the third sub-cavity a3, and then flows into the return pipe 500, so as to realize the circulation of the fluid medium.

[0052] In one embodiment, in order to improve the flow uniformity and further improve the temperature uniformity effect of the heat exchanger, the first pipe joint 112 and the second pipe joint 113 are symmetrically arranged on the current collector body 111, and the lengths of the first sub-cavity a1 and the third sub-cavity a3 along the second direction are the same, and are both smaller than the second sub-cavity a2. At this time, the distance lengths of the two circulation paths are the same.

[0053] refer to Figure 3-Figure 5 As shown, the first pipe joint 112 and the second pipe joint 113 are arranged on the same side of the current collector body 111. Specifically, the first pipe joint 112 passes through the second cavity b and communicates with the second sub-cavity a2, while the second pipe joint 113 communicates with the second cavity b and its projection falls on the second sub-cavity a2, that is, the first pipe joint 112 and the second pipe joint 113 are extended along the first direction, specifically, the second pipe joint 113 extends along the first direction away from the current collector body 111.

[0054] More specifically, the current collector body 111 is provided with a first through hole c and a second through hole d for inserting the first pipe joint 112 and the second pipe joint 113 into the second cavity b, respectively. At the same time, the current collector body 111 is also provided with a third through hole e for inserting the first pipe joint 112 into the second sub-cavity a2. The apertures of the first through hole c and the second through hole d are the same, and the aperture of the third through hole e can be the same as that of the first through hole c, or different from that of the first through hole c, which is determined by the outer diameter of the first pipe joint 112. In order to limit the length of the first pipe joint 112 and the second pipe joint 113 inserted into the current collector body 111, the outer walls of the first pipe joint 112 and the second pipe joint 113 are both provided with step surfaces, which can abut against the outer wall of the current collector body 111, thereby playing a role in limiting the first pipe joint 112 and the second pipe joint 113. With the step surface as a dividing surface, one end of the first pipe connector 112 and the second pipe connector 113 are exposed outside the current collector body 111 for connection with the corresponding pipe, and the other end is inserted into the current collector body 111 to communicate with the second sub-cavity a2 or the second cavity b. At the same time, the setting of the step surface also helps the first pipe connector 112 and the second pipe connector 113 to be coaxial with the first through hole c and the second through hole d, respectively.

[0055] Optionally, the first pipe connector 112 and the second pipe connector 113 are made of 3003 aluminum and are brazed to the current collector body 111. The ends of the first pipe connector 112 and the second pipe connector 113 located outside the current collector body 111 are cylindrical structures with a smooth exterior, and can be connected to the corresponding liquid supply pipe 400 or the return pipe 500 through the third pipe connector and the fourth pipe connector respectively. The first pipe connector 112 and the third pipe connector, the second pipe connector 113 and the fourth pipe connector are male connectors and female connectors that cooperate with each other, or the ends of the first pipe connector 112 and the second pipe connector 113 exposed to the current collector body 111 are set in a fir knot shape, and the corresponding pipes can be directly fixed on the first pipe connector 112 and the second pipe connector 113 with sealing rings.

[0056] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the collector body 111 includes a collecting tube 1111, a first separator 1113 and a second separator 1114. The first separator 1113 is arranged inside the collecting tube 1111 to separate the collecting tube 1111 into a first cavity a and a second cavity b distributed along a first direction. The length of the first separator 1113 along the second direction is less than the length of the collecting tube 1111 along the second direction. The end faces of the first separator 1113 and the end faces of the collecting tube 1111 along the second direction are at a certain distance and the distances are equal to form a connecting port h connecting the second cavity b. Two second separators 1114 are arranged in the first cavity a at intervals along the second direction, thereby dividing the first cavity a into a first sub-cavity a1, a second sub-cavity a2 and a third sub-cavity a3. Obviously, the first sub-cavity a1 and the third sub-cavity a3 located at the opposite ends of the first cavity a are connected to the second cavity b through the connecting port h.

[0057] In one embodiment, the manifold 1111 and the first separator 1113 are formed by integral extrusion of 3003 aluminum alloy by a mold. Compared with separate processing and subsequent connection, the structure is not only simple but also has high structural strength, and can withstand the impact of the fluid medium and extend the service life. The second separator 1114 is plugged and matched with the manifold 1111. Specifically, the second separator 1114 is in the form of a sheet, and the manifold 1111 is provided with two second slots g connected to the first cavity a at intervals along the second direction. The second separator 1114 is inserted into the second slot g to separate the first cavity a. The second separator 1114 is also made of 3003 aluminum alloy. The difference is that the wall thickness of the manifold 1111 and the thickness of the first separator 1113 are between 1-2 mm, while the thickness of the second separator 1114 is between 1.5-2 mm, and the width of the second slot g is consistent with the thickness of the second separator 1114.

[0058] In one embodiment, the current collecting tube 1111 is open at two opposite ends along the second direction, and the current collecting body 111 further includes a plugging cover 1112, which plugs the two openings of the current collecting tube 1111. Specifically, the current collecting tube 1111 can be a square tube structure or a round tube structure.

[0059] In other embodiments, after the manifold 1111 and the first separator 1113 are integrally extruded, the manifold 1111 can be closed by bending both ends of the manifold 1111 along the second direction.

[0060] In one embodiment, the second separator 1114 is configured as a T-shaped structure, including a separator body 11143, a first stopper 11141 and a second stopper 11142, wherein the separator body 11143 is configured as a plate-shaped structure having the same cross-sectional shape as the first cavity a, and the first stopper 11141 and the second stopper 11142 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the separator body 11143. When the second separator 1114 is plugged into the manifold 1111, the first stopper 11141 and the second stopper 11142 can both abut against the tube wall of the manifold 1111, thereby achieving positioning of the second separator 1114 when plugged into the manifold 1111, and preventing the first stopper 11141 and the second stopper 11142 from being deformed due to excessive force when inserted into the second slot g, thereby affecting the partitioning effect between the first sub-cavity a1, the second sub-cavity a2 and the third sub-cavity a3.

[0061] Specifically, the first limiting portion 11141 is located on the side of the partition body 11143 facing away from the first slot f, and the second limiting portion 11142 is located on the side of the partition body 11143 facing the first slot f. At least the width of the first limiting portion 11141 along the third direction is not greater than the wall thickness of the collecting tube 1111 to avoid increasing the space occupied by the collector in the third direction.

[0062] Based on the brazing connection between the heat exchange structure 130 and the current collector, the thickness of the side wall of the current collector 1111 facing the first slot f is greater than the thickness of the other parts of the current collector 1111 to achieve brazing. Therefore, the width of the second limiter 11142 along the third direction is also greater than the width of the first limiter 11141 along the third direction.

[0063] In one embodiment, the width of the second limiting portion 11142 along the third direction is equal to the thickness of the side wall where the first slot f in the manifold 1111 is located, and the width of the first limiting portion 11141 along the third direction is equal to the thickness of the side wall of the manifold 1111 facing away from the heat exchange structure 130 .

[0064] In one embodiment, the plugging cover 1112 is configured as a structure with a T-shaped cross section. The plugging cover 1112 includes a main body and a raised portion. The raised portion can be inserted into the collecting pipe 1111 to perform a sealing function.

[0065] When the current collector body 111 is processed, after the collecting tube 1111 and the first separator 1113 are extruded and formed as a whole, in order to connect the first sub-cavity a1 with the second cavity b and the third sub-cavity a3 with the second cavity b, the two ends of the first separator 1113 along the second direction are cut so that there is a distance between the end faces of the first separator 1113 and the end faces of the collecting tube 1111. Then, holes are punched or cut on the collecting tube 1111 and the first separator 1113 to form a first through hole c, a second through hole d, a third through hole e, a first slot f and a second slot g. The two second separators 1114 can be inserted into the two second slots g respectively, thereby dividing the first cavity a into the first sub-cavity a1, the second sub-cavity a2 and the third sub-cavity a3. Finally, the plugging cover 1112 is inserted into the collecting tube 1111, and the current collector body 111 is formed.

[0066] It should be noted that in order to improve the sealing and structural stability of the current collector body 111, after the current collector body 111 is assembled with the first pipe joint 112, the second pipe joint 113 and the heat exchange structure 130, it is necessary to braze the second separator 1114 and the collecting tube 1111, the plugging cover 1112 and the collecting tube 1111, the first pipe joint 112 and the collecting tube 1111, and the second pipe joint 113 and the collecting tube 1111. Based on this, a 4-series aluminum alloy coating is also attached to the surface of the second separator 1114 for brazing.

[0067] Based on the structure of the first current collector 110, the second current collector 120 can adopt any structural structure in the prior art that matches it. For example, the second current collector 120 is a tubular structure with both ends blocked. Four first slots f are arranged at intervals in the second direction on the second current collector 120, and the third slots correspond to each other. After the fluid medium flows into the second current collector 120 from the heat exchange structure 130, it can be divided or merged under the fluid pressure of the fluid medium itself, and there is no need to separate the second current collector 120.

[0068] In one embodiment, the battery pack further includes a second heat exchanger 200, and the first heat exchanger 100 and the second heat exchanger 200 are respectively arranged on different sides of the battery cell module 300. The second heat exchanger 200 uses any possible heat exchange device in the prior art to cooperate with the first heat exchanger 100 to form a complete circulation path for the flowing medium. For example, the second heat exchanger 200 can use a flow channel plate with a heat exchange flow channel arranged inside.

[0069] Taking a battery pack having three first heat exchangers 100 as an example, any first heat exchanger 100 is connected to the second heat exchanger 200 through a liquid supply line 400 and a return line 500, the first end of the liquid supply line 400 is connected to the outlet of the second heat exchanger 200, the second end of the liquid supply line 400 is connected to one of the first line connector 112 and the second line connector 113, the first end of the return line 500 is connected to the inlet of the second heat exchanger 200, the second end of the return line is connected to the other of the first line connector 112 and the second line connector 113, and only one second heat exchanger 200 can be set.

[0070] It is understandable that in order to shorten the length of the liquid supply pipeline 400 and the return pipeline 500 connecting the first heat exchanger 100 and the second heat exchanger 200, reduce the occupied space and reduce the cost, the first pipeline joint 112 and the second pipeline joint 113 are extended toward the second heat exchanger 200, that is, the first heat exchanger 100 and the second heat exchanger 200 are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the battery module 300 along the first direction. Figure 2 Neutralization Figure 3 The Z direction in the figure is perpendicular to the second direction and the third direction. At this time, the heat exchange structure 130 and the first cavity a are at the same height in the Z direction, and the space occupied by the second cavity b in the Z direction is within the height range of the battery cell 310, that is, the setting of the second cavity b does not increase the height compared to the heat exchanger in the prior art.

[0071] Specifically, based on the setting that the heat exchanger is used to dissipate heat for two rows of battery cell groups, the length (second direction) of the current collector body 111 is set between 200-300 mm, specifically set according to the size of the battery cell group, the width (third direction) is set between 10-30 mm, preferably 20 mm, the height (first direction) is preferably 9 mm, and the inner cavity height of the first cavity a and the second cavity b (the first direction perpendicular to the third direction and the second direction) is set between 3-5 mm, preferably 3 mm. The length of the first separator 1113 along the second direction is 20-40 mm shorter than the length of the collector 1111 along the second direction, that is, the length of the connecting port h between the first sub-cavity a1 and the second cavity b and the connecting port h between the third sub-cavity a3 and the second cavity b along the second direction is 10-20 mm.

[0072] The battery pack occupies a small space and has a high space utilization rate.

[0073] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a vehicle, including the above-mentioned battery pack and a chassis, the battery pack is installed on the chassis, and the vehicle also has the advantages of the above-mentioned battery pack, which will not be described in detail here. In addition, the vehicle saves the use of pipe joints and pipes, and has a low manufacturing cost.

[0074] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, various obvious changes, readjustments and substitutions can be made without departing from the protection scope of the present invention. It is not necessary and impossible to list all the embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A current collector, characterized in that include: A current collector body, wherein a first cavity and a second cavity are arranged in the interior of the current collector body at intervals along a first direction, the first cavity is divided into a first sub-cavity, a second sub-cavity and a third sub-cavity along a second direction, the first sub-cavity and the third sub-cavity are both connected to the second cavity, and a first slot for inserting a heat exchange structure is further arranged on the current collector body, and the first sub-cavity, the second sub-cavity and the third sub-cavity are connected to different heat exchange channels of the heat exchange structure through the first slot; a first pipeline connector, communicating with the second sub-cavity; a second pipe joint, connected to the second cavity; The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

2. The current collector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The current collector body includes a collecting tube, a first separator and a second separator. The first separator is arranged inside the collecting tube to divide the internal space of the collecting tube into the first cavity and the second cavity. Two second separators are arranged in the first cavity at intervals along the second direction to divide the first cavity into the first sub-cavity, the second sub-cavity and the third sub-cavity. The collecting tube and the first separator are extruded as a whole.

3. The current collector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The current collecting pipe is opened at two opposite ends along the second direction, and the current collecting body further comprises blocking covers, and two blocking covers are respectively sealed at the openings of the current collecting pipe.

4. The current collector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second separator is in sheet shape, and two second slots are provided on the manifold along the second direction at intervals, and two second separators are respectively inserted into the two second slots.

5. The current collector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The second separator includes a first limiting portion and a second limiting portion of a separator body. The separator body is configured as a plate-like structure with the same cross-sectional shape as the first cavity. The first limiting portion is located on the side of the separator body facing away from the first slot, and the second limiting portion is located on the side of the separator body facing the first slot.

6. The current collector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: There are four first slots, two of which are connected to the second sub-cavity, and the other two are connected to the first sub-cavity and the third sub-cavity respectively.

7. The current collector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The first pipe connector passes through the second cavity along the first direction and is communicated with the second sub-cavity, and the second pipe connector extends along the first direction away from the current collector body.

8. A heat exchanger, comprising a first current collector, a second current collector and a heat exchange structure, wherein the first current collector is connected to a first end of the heat exchange structure along a third direction, and the second current collector is connected to a second end of the heat exchange structure along the third direction, characterized in that: The first current collector is the current collector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and the third direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

9. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, characterized in that The heat exchange structure is located at a side of the battery core where the explosion-proof valve is provided. The heat exchange structure comprises an avoidance portion, and the orthographic projection of the avoidance portion toward the battery core covers the explosion-proof valve.

10. The heat exchanger according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that: The heat exchange structure includes a plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged at intervals along the second direction, the plurality of heat exchange tubes are arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of first slots, and the heat exchange flow channel is formed inside the heat exchange tube and passes through both ends of the heat exchange tube along the third direction.

11. A battery pack, comprising a first heat exchanger and a battery cell module, wherein the first heat exchanger is disposed on one side of the battery cell module and is used for exchanging heat with the battery cell module, and is characterized in that: The first heat exchanger is the heat exchanger according to any one of claims 8 to 10.

12. The battery pack according to claim 11, characterized in that: It also includes a second heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are respectively arranged on different sides of the battery cell module, and the first heat exchanger is connected to the second heat exchanger through a liquid supply pipeline and a return pipeline, the liquid supply pipeline is connected to one of the first pipeline joint and the second pipeline joint, and the return pipeline is connected to the other of the first pipeline joint and the second pipeline joint.

13. The battery pack according to claim 12, characterized in that: The first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the battery core module along the first direction, and the first direction is perpendicular to the third direction.

14. A vehicle, characterized in that It comprises a chassis and a battery pack as described in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the battery pack is mounted on the chassis.

Images