Radiator assembly

Abstract

A heat sink assembly includes: a heat sink having a plurality of flow paths integrally molded along an internal length direction by extrusion molding, spaces between the flow paths forming a solid portion, first and second surface openings of both end portions in the length direction, the two end parts of the flow path are separated from the first surface and the second surface; and end plugs that respectively close open first and second surfaces of both end portions of the heat sink, in which the first surface is provided with an inlet through which the coolant flows in and an outlet through which the coolant flows out, and in which the second surface forms a return path of the coolant.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a heat sink assembly mounted to a bottom surface of a battery pack having a plurality of secondary batteries to facilitate heat dissipation of the battery pack.

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0071942, filed on Jun. 2, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries can be recharged repeatedly, and due to their potential in small size and large capacity, they have been extensively researched and developed in recent years. The demand for electric vehicles and energy storage systems is increasing due to technological development and the need for mobile devices and environmental protection, and the demand for secondary batteries as energy sources is increasing rapidly.

[0004] Secondary batteries are classified into button-type batteries, cylindrical batteries, square batteries, and pouch-type batteries according to the shape of the battery case. In a secondary battery, an electrode assembly mounted inside the battery case is a chargeable and dischargeable power generation device including a stacked structure of electrodes and separators.

[0005] Since secondary batteries need to be used continuously for a long time, the heat generated during the charging and discharging process needs to be effectively controlled. If the secondary battery is not properly cooled, the temperature rise will cause the current to increase, and the increase in current will cause the temperature to rise, causing a chain reaction, and finally leading to the catastrophic condition of thermal runaway.

[0006] In order to effectively release the heat generated by the secondary battery, a radiator (also called a cooling plate) through which a coolant flows is widely used. The radiator is mounted on the bottom surface of a group of secondary batteries (e.g., a battery pack in which a plurality of secondary batteries are mounted), and performs a cooling function by absorbing the heat generated inside the battery pack with a coolant and releasing it to the outside.

[0007] The radiator can be divided into a brazed radiator and an extruded radiator according to its structure or manufacturing method. The brazed radiator is a structure in which two plates are brazed together to form a flow path with a high degree of freedom in flow path design, but has disadvantages in structural rigidity due to material degradation. On the other hand, the extruded radiator manufactured as a continuum by extrusion molding has advantages in structural rigidity, but has the disadvantage of only being able to achieve a straight flow path, resulting in a large number of ports, so the pipes used for connection occupy space. Summary of the invention

[0008] Technical issues

[0009] The present disclosure aims to provide a radiator assembly which is an extruded radiator and does not require a separate pipe for forming a flow path, thereby occupying a smaller space, and can reduce the number of components through a simplified flow path configuration, thereby increasing the pressure difference and uniformly guiding the flow rate of the coolant flowing in multiple flow paths.

[0010] However, the technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and those skilled in the art can clearly understand other problems not mentioned according to the following description of the present disclosure.

[0011] Technical Solution

[0012] The present disclosure relates to a radiator assembly, comprising: a radiator having a plurality of flow paths integrally formed along an internal length direction by extrusion molding, wherein the spaces between the plurality of flow paths form a solid portion, the first surface and the second surface of the two ends in the length direction are open, and the two ends of the flow paths are spaced apart from the first surface and the second surface; and an end plug, which respectively closes the first surface and the second surface of the openings at the two ends of the radiator, wherein the first surface is provided with an inlet for coolant to flow in and an outlet for coolant to flow out, and wherein the second surface forms a reflux path for the coolant.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an inflow path connected to the inlet is provided in a central region of the radiator, and the outlet is provided in a pair such that outflow paths connected to the outlet are provided on both sides of the inflow path.

[0014] The end plug may include an inlet plug that closes a first surface of the inflow path, a pair of outlet plugs that close a first surface of the outflow path, and a return plug that closes a second surface of the return path.

[0015] Meanwhile, the spacing distance between the plurality of outflow paths and the first surface may gradually decrease as the plurality of outflow paths are closer to the outlet.

[0016] For example, the spacing distance between the plurality of outflow paths and the first surface may decrease linearly as the plurality of outflow paths get closer to the outlet.

[0017] The spacing distance between the return path and the second surface may be constant.

[0018] A plurality of outflow paths, wherein a pressure loss acting on the coolant flowing to each of the plurality of outflow paths through the return path of the second surface is proportional to the total length of the outflow paths, thereby making the flow rate of the coolant flowing through each outflow path uniform.

[0019] In addition, an enlarged solid portion may be provided between the inflow path and the outflow path adjacent to the inflow path.

[0020] The battery pack structure may be mechanically coupled to the enlarged solid portion.

[0021] In addition, the cross-sectional area of ​​the space between the inlet plug and the inflow path in the inner length direction may be larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the inflow path in the length direction.

[0022] Furthermore, the coolant flowing out from each of the pair of outlets may be joined into one flow path by the pipe member.

[0023] Beneficial Effects

[0024] The radiator assembly of the embodiment of the present disclosure having the configuration as described above has excellent structural rigidity because the radiator is manufactured as a continuous body by extrusion molding, and at the same time, it may include a cooling channel that is divided into an inlet and an outlet by performing machining on both ends in the length direction of the flow path integrally molded in the radiator, and the opening surface is closed with an end plug.

[0025] Therefore, although the radiator assembly of the embodiment of the present disclosure has an extruded radiator as a basic frame that is beneficial to structural rigidity, it does not require a separate pipe for forming a flow path and occupies a smaller space, so the pressure difference can be improved by reducing the number of components with a simplified flow path configuration, and stable cooling performance can be obtained over the entire heat dissipation area by uniformly guiding the flow of the coolant flowing in multiple flow paths.

[0026] However, technical effects that can be obtained by the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and those skilled in the art can clearly understand other effects that are not mentioned according to the following description of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Since the drawings attached to this specification illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and are used to facilitate understanding of the technical concept of the present disclosure and the following detailed description of the present disclosure, the present disclosure should not be restrictively interpreted based on the drawings.

[0028] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a heat sink assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Exploded perspective view of the heat sink assembly.

[0030] Figure 3 It is a diagram showing the structure of the heat sink in detail.

[0031] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Magnified view of section "A".

[0032] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 Magnified view of part "B".

[0033] Figure 6 It is shown Figure 1 Diagram of the overall coolant flow in the radiator assembly.

[0034] Figure 7 is shown with Figure 1 A diagram of an example of a heat sink assembly incorporated into a battery pack structure.

[0035] Figure 8 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a pair of outlets connected to each other by a duct member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The present disclosure may have various modifications and various embodiments, and thus, specific embodiments thereof will be described in detail below.

[0037] However, it will be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments, and includes all modifications, equivalents, or replacements within the spirit and technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0038] The terms "include", "comprising" and "having" used in this document indicate the presence of the features, quantities, steps, actions, parts or components described in their specifications or combinations, and it should be understood that the presence or possibility of adding one or more other features, quantities, steps, actions, parts, components or combinations thereof are not precluded.

[0039] In addition, in the present disclosure, when one part of a layer, film, region, plate, etc. is set to be located "on" another part, this includes not only the case where one part is "directly" set "on" another part, but also the case where another part is interposed therebetween. Conversely, when one part of a layer, film, region, plate, etc. is set to be located "below" another part, this includes not only the case where one part is "directly" set "below" another part, but also the case where another part is interposed therebetween. In addition, in the present specification, "on" includes not only the case where it is set on the upper part, but also the case where it is set on the lower part.

[0040] The present disclosure relates to a radiator assembly, comprising: a radiator having a plurality of flow paths integrally formed along an internal length direction by extrusion molding, wherein the spaces between the flow paths form a solid portion; a first surface and a second surface at two ends in the length direction are open, and the two ends of the flow path are spaced apart from the first surface and the second surface; and an end plug, which respectively closes the first surface and the second surface of the openings at the two ends of the radiator, wherein the first surface is provided with an inlet for coolant to flow in and an outlet for coolant to flow out, and wherein the second surface forms a reflux path for the coolant.

[0041] The radiator assembly of the embodiment of the present disclosure having the above-mentioned configuration is manufactured as a continuous body by extrusion molding to have excellent structural rigidity, and includes a cooling channel that is divided into an inlet and an outlet by performing machining on both ends in the length direction of the flow path integrally molded in the radiator, and the opening surface is closed with an end plug.

[0042] Therefore, although the radiator assembly of the embodiment of the present disclosure has an extruded radiator as a basic frame that is beneficial to structural rigidity, it does not require a separate pipe for forming a flow path and occupies a smaller space, so the pressure difference can be improved by reducing the number of components through a simplified flow path configuration.

[0043] Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of the heat sink assembly 10 according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For reference, the front, rear, up, down, left and right directions used to indicate relative positions in the following description are for understanding the present disclosure, and unless otherwise specifically stated, refer to the directions shown in the drawings.

[0044] [First embodiment]

[0045] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a heat sink assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the heat sink assembly, and Figure 3 It is a diagram showing the structure of the heat sink in detail.

[0046] The heat sink assembly 10 of the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a heat sink 100 manufactured by extrusion molding and a plurality of end plugs 200. The open surfaces of the heat sink 100 are surfaces of the two end portions in the length direction L. For the convenience of description, the two open surfaces will be referred to as the first surface 130 and the second surface 140, respectively. Here, the length direction L is defined as the extrusion molding direction of the heat sink 100 (in other words, the direction in which the plurality of flow paths 110 formed as the hollow portion extend), and the width direction W is defined as the direction in which the plurality of flow paths 110 are spaced apart on a plane and is orthogonal to the length direction L.

[0047] The heat sink 100 is manufactured as an extrusion piece in which a plurality of flow paths 110 are integrally formed along the inner length direction L by extrusion molding. The plurality of flow paths 110 for the coolant to flow are hollow parts formed along the length direction L, and the spaces between the flow paths 110 form a solid part 120. Due to the characteristics of extrusion molding, the first surface 130 and the second surface 140 of both ends of the heat sink 100 in the length direction L are open.

[0048] exist Figure 3, the structure of the flow path 110 is shown in more detail. A plurality of flow paths 110 extend in the length direction L between the first surface 130 and the second surface 140, and their ends are spaced apart from the first surface 130 and the second surface 140 by a predetermined distance. The spacing distance between the flow path 110 and the first surface 130 and the second surface 140 can be freely designed by cutting processing to remove the flow path 110 as a hollow portion and the solid portion 120 between the flow paths 110. In addition, by removing the flow path 110 and the solid portion 120 between them together, a depth for inserting the end plug 200 is obtained.

[0049] The end plug 200 respectively closes the first surface 130 and the second surface 140 of the openings of the two ends of the heat sink 100. The end plug 200 has a thickness and a width suitable for being inserted into the openings on the first surface 130 and the second surface 140 of the heat sink 100. The end plug 200 inserted into the heat sink 100 can be sealed and joined by welding (e.g., friction stir welding). When the welding depth of the friction stir welding performed on the upper and lower surfaces of the heat sink 100 makes them overlap each other, the sealing is completed by forming welding surfaces on the upper side, the lower side, the left side, and the right side of the end plug 200.

[0050] Since the plurality of flow paths 110 extend in the length direction L and the first surface 130 and the second surface 140 are sealed with the end plug 200, the heat sink assembly 10 can be configured to enable the coolant to flow through the entire heat transfer area of ​​the heat sink assembly 10 by appropriately selecting the positions of the ports 300 for the coolant to flow in and out. The present disclosure includes an inlet 310 for the coolant to flow in and an outlet 320 for the coolant to flow out on the first surface 130, and the port 300 is arranged so that the second surface 140 is formed with a return path 116 for the coolant without a separate port.

[0051] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Magnified view of section "A". Figure 3 , wherein the inflow path 112 connected to the inlet 310 is provided in the central area of ​​the heat sink 100, a pair of outlets 320 are provided, and the outflow paths 114 connected to the outlets 320 are provided on both sides of the inflow path 112 in the width direction W. In the illustrated embodiment, two inflow paths 112 are provided, and the terminals of the inflow paths 112 are connected to the return paths 116 extending along the second surface 140, and the return paths 116 are connected to the outflow paths 114 on both sides.

[0052] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the end plug 200 that closes the first surface 130 includes an inlet plug 210 that closes the first surface 130 of the inflow path 112 and a pair of outlet plugs 220 that close the first surface 130 of the outflow path 114. A specific space is formed between the inlet plug 210 and the inflow path 112, and the inlet 310 is disposed in the space. Therefore, the coolant flowing into the inlet 310 fills the space on the upstream side of the inflow path 112, and then is divided into each inflow path 112 and flows uniformly. Similarly, the outlet 320 is disposed between the outlet plug 220 and the outflow path 114.

[0053] In addition, the cross-sectional area of ​​the space between the inlet plug 210 and the inflow path 112 in the inner length direction L may be greater than the total cross-sectional area of ​​the inflow path 112 in the length direction L. The space between the inlet plug 210 and the inflow path 112 forms a storage space, and the flow of the coolant introduced into the plurality of inflow paths 112 may be uniform and smooth.

[0054] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 The enlarged view of the "B" portion of FIG. 1 shows the return path 116, the second surface 140 of the heat sink 100 is closed with the return plug 230, and the terminals of each flow path 110 (in other words, the terminals of each flow path 110 facing the second surface 140) are also spaced apart from the return plug 230 by a predetermined spacing distance, and the space formed thereby forms the return path 116. The return path 116 can be formed by the flow path 110 having a constant spacing distance from the second surface 140, in other words, without significantly changing the cross-sectional area.

[0055] On the other hand, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, one end of each outflow path 114 directly connected to the outlet 320 may be formed differently from the inflow path 112 or the return path 116. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the spacing distances between the plurality of outflow paths 114 and the first surface 130 may gradually decrease as they are closer to the outlet 320. For example, the spacing distances between the plurality of outflow paths 114 and the first surface 130 may linearly decrease as they are closer to the outlet 320.

[0056] Compared with the flow area formed by the inflow path 112 and the return path 116, the radiator assembly 10 of the embodiment of the present disclosure has a large flow area occupied by the outflow path 114. This is to significantly reduce the flow velocity of the outflow path 114 when the coolant flows in the radiator 100, so that the heat can be transferred for a sufficient time. In a different aspect, the flow distribution of the coolant is also most affected by the outflow path 114.

[0057] Due to the characteristics of the fluid, the closer the outflow path 114 is to the inflow path 112, the lower the pressure loss before the coolant flows in, and therefore, the closer the outflow path 114 is to the inflow path 112, the more coolant tends to be introduced. Therefore, in the radiator assembly 10 shown, the outflow path 114 near the center tends to gather coolant, which leads to reduced heat transfer performance in the peripheral area. If the cooling performance of the radiator assembly 10 varies according to the area, local high heat areas are more likely to occur, which has an adverse effect on the performance of the battery pack. This deviation in cooling performance can be solved by guiding the coolant to flow through each outflow path 114 at a uniform rate.

[0058] Figure 6 It is shown Figure 1 FIG. 1 is an overall coolant flow diagram in a radiator assembly of FIG. As described above, the plurality of outflow paths 114 have a shape in which the spacing distance between the plurality of outflow paths 114 and the first surface 130 becomes gradually shorter as the outflow paths 114 get closer to the outlet 320. In other words, the length of each of the plurality of outflow paths 114 gradually becomes longer as it gets closer to the outlet 320 (in other words, as it gets closer to the inflow path 112). In each outflow path 114, the pressure loss acting on the coolant is proportional to the length of each outflow path 114 that forms a boundary layer with the fluid. Therefore, since the pressure loss acting on the coolant flowing into each outflow path 114 through the return path 116 of the second surface 140 is proportional to the total length of the outflow path 114, the flow rate of the coolant gradually increases toward the outflow path 114 on the outer side, and therefore, when the outflow path 114 is closer to the inflow path 112, the characteristic of introducing more coolant is offset, thereby making the flow rate of the coolant flowing through each outflow path 114 uniform.

[0059] As described above, the radiator assembly 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure enables the coolant to flow through the entire area of ​​the radiator 100 at a uniform flow rate, thereby exhibiting uniform cooling characteristics without being concentrated in a specific area.

[0060] [Second embodiment]

[0061] Figure 7 is shown with Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example of a battery pack structure incorporating a heat sink assembly. Figures 1 to 5 , an enlarged solid portion 122 is provided between the inflow path 112 and the outflow path 114 adjacent to the inflow path 112. Here, the enlarged solid portion 122 refers to a solid portion 122 having a larger width than, for example, the solid portion 120 including the space between the flow paths 110. For example, the enlarged solid portion 122 may be formed by forming a solid portion having a space skipping the width of about one flow path between the inflow path 112 and the outflow path 114.

[0062] like Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the flow path 110 is formed to span almost the entire heat sink 100, so in order to combine the heat sink assembly 10 of the embodiment of the present disclosure with the battery pack, it is necessary to provide a combination structure that can maintain sufficient mechanical strength without damaging the flow path 110. To this end, the expanded solid portion 122 is provided along the central length direction L of the heat sink assembly 10.

[0063] For example, Figure 7 As shown, a plurality of screw holes 124 may be processed along the enlarged solid portion 122, and above the screw holes 124, the battery pack structure (eg, the center frame 400) may be securely coupled to the radiator assembly 10 by bolts 410 that cooperate with the screw holes 124.

[0064] Figure 8 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a pair of outlets connected to each other by a duct member.

[0065] The present disclosure includes two outlets 320 in the flow path structure. Therefore, two external pipes connected to the outlets 320 are required, but by connecting a pair of outlets 320 and a pipe member 330 in the shape of the letter "Y" or "T", as shown in FIG. Figure 8 As shown, the coolant flowing into the two flow paths can be merged into one flow path. By combining the two outlets 320 into one pipe member 330, the external pipe structure of the radiator assembly 10 is further simplified.

[0066] As described above, the present disclosure has been described in more detail through the drawings and embodiments. However, since the configuration described in the drawings or embodiments described herein is only one embodiment of the present disclosure and does not represent the entire technical spirit of the present disclosure, it should be understood that when submitting this application, the present disclosure covers various equivalents, modifications and alternatives.

[0067] [Description of Reference Numerals]

[0068] 10: Radiator assembly

[0069] 100: Radiator

[0070] 110: Flow Path

[0071] 112: Inflow path

[0072] 114: Outflow path

[0073] 116: Return path

[0074] 120: Solid part

[0075] 122: Expand the solid part

[0076] 124: Screw hole

[0077] 130: First surface

[0078] 140: Second surface

[0079] 200: End plug

[0080] 210: Entrance plug

[0081] 220: Exit plug

[0082] 230: Backflow plug

[0083] 300: Port

[0084] 310: Entrance

[0085] 320: Exit

[0086] 330: Pipeline components

[0087] 400: Battery pack structure

[0088] 410: Bolt

[0089] L: length direction

[0090] W: Width direction

Claims

1. A radiator assembly, comprising: A heat sink having a plurality of flow paths integrally formed along an inner length direction by extrusion molding, wherein spaces between the flow paths form a solid portion, a first surface and a second surface of two ends in the length direction are open, and two ends of the flow paths are spaced apart from the first surface and the second surface; as well as end plugs, the end plugs respectively closing the first surface and the second surface of the openings at the two ends of the radiator, The first surface is provided with an inlet for coolant to flow in and an outlet for coolant to flow out. The second surface forms a return path for the coolant.

2. The heat sink assembly according to claim 1, wherein: An inflow path connected to the inlet is provided in a central region of the radiator, The outlet is provided in pair so that the outflow paths connected to the outlet are provided on both sides of the inflow path.

3. The heat sink assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The end plug includes an inlet plug that closes a first surface of the inflow path; a pair of outlet plugs that close the first surface of the outflow path; and A return plug is provided to close the second surface of the return path.

4. The heat sink assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The interval distances between the plurality of outflow paths and the first surface gradually decrease as the outflow paths are closer to the outlet.

5. The heat sink assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The spacing distance between the plurality of outflow paths and the first surface decreases linearly as the plurality of outflow paths are closer to the outlet.

6. The heat sink assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The interval distance between the return path and the second surface is constant.

7. The heat sink assembly according to claim 6, wherein: wherein the pressure loss acting on the coolant flowing to the plurality of outflow paths through the return path of the second surface is proportional to the total length of the outflow paths, Thereby, the flow rate of the coolant flowing through each of the outflow paths is made uniform.

8. The heat sink assembly according to claim 2, wherein: An enlarged solid portion is provided between the inflow path and the outflow path adjacent to the inflow path.

9. The heat sink assembly according to claim 8, wherein: The enlarged solid portion is mechanically coupled to a battery pack structure.

10. The heat sink assembly according to claim 3, wherein: A cross-sectional area of ​​a space between the inlet plug and the inflow path in an inner length direction is larger than a cross-sectional area of ​​the inflow path in the length direction.

11. The heat sink assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The coolants flowing out from the pair of outlets merge into one flow path through the pipe member.

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