Thermal management system and vehicle having at least one such thermal management system

Abstract

In a thermal management system (200) comprising a closed system of a temperature control circuit (100) of a vehicle (300) in which a temperature control medium can flow or is flowing, the temperature control circuit (100) comprising at least one first sub-circuit (101) for temperature control of a battery (106), such as a power battery, the invention relates to a temperature control system (100) comprising at least one electronic component (107), at least one second sub-circuit (102) for controlling the temperature of the at least one electronic component (107), and at least one third sub-circuit (103) comprising at least one heat exchanger (108) for absorbing and / or releasing heat from the ambient air and for transferring heat into and / or out of a temperature control medium, wherein the sub-circuits comprise a feed flow and a return flow (111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121), respectively, the thermal management system (200) comprising at least one thermal management module (1). The latter comprises at least one supporting structural component (10), on which at least one component (2, 3) for the temperature-controlled medium supply and at least one component (4, 5, 80) for the mass flow regulation can be arranged or integrated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a thermal management system for regulating the mass flow of a temperature control medium in a closed system of a temperature control circuit of a vehicle, wherein the temperature control circuit comprises at least one first subcircuit for temperature control of a battery, at least one second subcircuit for temperature control of at least one electronic component, and at least one third subcircuit comprising at least one heat exchanger for absorbing heat from and / or releasing heat to ambient air and for transferring heat in and / or from the temperature control medium, wherein the subcircuits respectively comprise a supply flow and a return flow, and a vehicle having at least one such thermal management system. Background Art

[0002] In modern vehicles, especially electric and hybrid vehicles, more and more electronic control components, such as electric regulating valves, electric regulating pumps, a large number of sensors, etc., are arranged along fluid circuits or temperature control circuits (such as the cooling circuit of the vehicle). This brings the advantage of thermal management on demand and optimized driving conditions, which supports driving comfort on the one hand and range optimization on the other hand. The temperature control medium used runs in a closed system of the vehicle's temperature control circuit. Such a temperature control circuit includes at least one first subcircuit for temperature control of the power battery, at least one second subcircuit for temperature control of at least one electronic component, and at least one third subcircuit containing a heat exchanger, which is used to absorb heat from the ambient air of the vehicle and release heat to it, and of course also flows through the temperature control medium, so as to achieve heat transfer to the temperature control medium and heat transfer from the temperature control medium to the ambient air through the heat exchanger. Through the third subcircuit, the air conditioning comfort of the vehicle interior or the cockpit can also be adjusted. Each subcircuit has a supply flow and a return flow.

[0003] For example, DE102020206268A1 discloses a thermal management system for a battery of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle is in particular an electric vehicle, a battery electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle, the system comprising a control unit, a first coolant circuit, wherein the first coolant circuit comprises a battery, a cooler and a first pump, and a second coolant circuit, wherein the second coolant circuit comprises an electric heater, a heater heat exchanger and a second pump, the first and second coolant circuits being coupled to each other in heat or thermal fluid via a coupling device. The control unit is designed to be able to adjust the performance of the first pump and the second pump to meet the requirements of thermal management. As can be seen from the literature of this prior art, the complexity of such a thermal management system having multiple cooling circuits, which contains multiple components such as pumps, batteries, electric heaters, etc., and the cooling circuits are interconnected and nested with each other.

[0004] To solve this problem, DE102021102473A1 proposes a thermal management module for a cooling system of a vehicle with an electric drive system, the module having a module housing with a plurality of coolant interfaces, wherein the coolant interface has a first coolant interface, a second coolant interface and a third coolant interface, and a regulating valve for controlling the flow of fluid between the coolant interfaces is provided in the module housing. The thermal management module has a first connecting pipe for transmitting coolant, wherein the first connecting pipe fluidically connects the first coolant interface with the second coolant interface. However, according to the prior art DE102021102473A1, the thermal management module is very complex and expensive, and is constructed in the form of a 9 / x-way valve for regulating the flow of the cooling medium in different branches of the cooling system. Inside the module housing of the thermal management module according to the prior art, an internal space is formed, in which a regulating valve designed as a rotary slide valve is arranged. Through the regulating valve, the coupling of the fluid through-flow between the various coolant interfaces can be switched and interrupted. For this purpose, the regulating valve has a valve chamber with valve chamber openings which can be aligned with the corresponding coolant connections so that at least two coolant connections can be connected together in a fluid-through manner via the valve chamber. This proves to be disadvantageous not only due to the complexity of the thermal management module, but also because the thermal management module is designed for a specific application and cannot be multifunctional or universal. This leads to a relatively small number of thermal management modules manufactured in this way, and therefore to a relatively high cost of such thermal management modules. Due to the complexity of the design of the thermal management module, it is also relatively prone to errors. Summary of the invention

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a thermal management system, comprising a closed system of a temperature control circuit of a vehicle, in which a temperature control medium can flow or is flowing, wherein the temperature control circuit comprises at least three sub-circuits, and to provide a vehicle having at least one such thermal management system, thereby overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and centrally realizing the coupling and connection of the sub-circuits and the transport of the temperature control medium.

[0006] The object of the thermal management system according to the preamble of claim 1 is achieved in that the thermal management system comprises at least one thermal management module, which comprises at least one load-bearing structural component, on which at least at least one component for conveying a temperature control medium and at least one component for mass flow control can be arranged or is arranged or integrated. For a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, a battery electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, the object is achieved in that the vehicle comprises at least one such thermal management system. Further developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

[0007] Therefore, a thermal management system is proposed, which includes at least one thermal management module. The thermal management module includes at least one load-bearing structural component, on which at least one component for conveying a temperature control medium and at least one component for regulating the mass flow of a temperature control medium can be arranged or has been arranged, for example, a coolant as a temperature control medium, or these components can be or have been integrated therein. The thermal management module or at least one of its load-bearing structural components preferably fluidically connects at least two sub-circuits of a temperature control circuit together, and particularly preferably connects three sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit. The supply and return flows of at least two, in particular at least three sub-circuits can be fluidically connected or have been connected via the thermal management module. A sub-circuit is generally understood to be a closed circuit, so that, for example, there is no short circuit to other sub-circuits, and the thermal management module can be connected or has been connected via the supply and return flows.

[0008] At least one component for conveying a temperature control medium and at least one component for regulating a mass flow rate can be standard components and therefore are not specially manufactured like the special valve according to DE102021102473A1, so the cost of such a thermal management module can be significantly lower than the prior art. The very complex special valve constructed according to the prior art only replaces the function of a conventional standard valve, but does not integrate it, which is different from the existing thermal management modules. It also does not include components for conveying a temperature control medium, such as a pump device or a sensor device, which is different from the existing thermal management modules. With the existing thermal management module, the complexity of the valve function is not increased, but conventional standard components, in particular standard valves, can be arranged on or inside its load-bearing structural components.

[0009] Unlike DE102020206268A1, the existing thermal management system includes at least one thermal management module, in which sub-circuits can be coupled, and components for temperature control medium delivery and mass flow regulation and at least one sensor device when necessary can be arranged or have been arranged at, on or inside its load-bearing structural component. Therefore, the thermal management module or at least one of its load-bearing structural components includes a fluid connection path, in particular a fluid channel, for fluid connection to the sub-circuit that can be connected to the module or the load-bearing structural component and at least one component for temperature control medium delivery and at least one component for mass flow regulation. The supply and return flow of the sub-circuit are preferably connected or connectable to the thermal management module or its load-bearing structural component, respectively. Therefore, the thermal management module with at least one load-bearing structural component can centrally realize the coupling of at least three sub-circuits through the internal fluid path or fluid channel of the load-bearing structural component, the connection of the sub-circuit through at least one mass flow regulation component installed at, in or on it, and the temperature control medium delivery through at least one temperature control medium delivery component installed at, in or on it. The at least one component for mass flow control and the at least one component for temperature control medium delivery can be common standard components, which are installed at, in or on at least one load-bearing structural component. Therefore, the load-bearing structural component provides a structure for mounting these standard components.

[0010] At least one component for conveying a temperature control medium, in particular at least two components for conveying a temperature control medium, and at least two components for conveying a mass flow rate can be arranged as a component of a thermal management module for conveying a temperature control medium and regulating a mass flow rate. For example, such a component of the thermal management module for conveying a temperature control medium is designed as a pump device for conveying a temperature control medium, and such a component for regulating the mass flow rate of the temperature control medium is particularly designed as a valve. The thermal management module or its load-bearing structural component preferably includes at least one pump device for conveying a temperature control medium and at least two valves for regulating the mass flow rate of the temperature control medium, in particular at least two pump devices for conveying a temperature control medium and at least two valves for regulating the mass flow rate of the temperature control medium. At least two valves can preferably be designed as standard valves, so they are relatively low in cost. The standard valve here particularly refers to a 2 / 2-way valve, a 3 / 2-way valve, a 3 / 3-way valve, a 4 / 2-way valve or a 4 / 3-way valve. Arranging one or two pump devices for conveying temperature control medium and two valves for regulating the mass flow of temperature control medium as components of the thermal management module arranged on or in the load-bearing structural component of the thermal management module can be particularly used to regulate the mass flow of temperature control medium in three sub-circuits of the vehicle temperature control circuit, and the vehicle is particularly an electric vehicle, a battery electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, and therefore particularly includes a power battery. The temperature control circuit of such a vehicle includes at least one first sub-circuit for temperature control of the battery or power battery of the vehicle. It also includes at least one second sub-circuit for temperature control of at least one electronic component, such as power electronics, one or more control devices, inverters, chargers, and possibly electric motors, which can also use thermal oil as a temperature control medium in a separate sub-circuit, or other electronic components that need or should be temperature controlled, wherein such other electronic components do not include other electrical components, such as electric heaters. It will be arranged in a separate sub-circuit. The temperature control circuit also includes at least one third sub-circuit, which includes a heat exchanger for absorbing heat from and / or releasing heat to the ambient air surrounding the vehicle, and adjusting the air conditioning comfort inside the vehicle or in the cabin. The absorbed and / or released heat is transferred to or extracted from the temperature control medium. Therefore, the heat exchanger of at least one third sub-circuit is particularly arranged at the front end of the vehicle and is fluidly connected to the thermal management module or its load-bearing structural component through the third sub-circuit. The first sub-circuit of the battery or power battery of the vehicle is also fluidly connected to the thermal management module or its load-bearing structural component, and the second sub-circuit is used to control the temperature of electronic components, such as power electronic devices. The temperature control medium flowing through the sub-circuit can be a coolant, such as cooling water, in particular cooling water containing antifreeze.

[0011] The thermal management module preferably connects at least two sub-circuits, in particular three sub-circuits, of the temperature control circuit together by fluid, wherein the supply and return flows of the at least two sub-circuits can be connected or are already connected by the thermal management module. In the case of only two sub-circuits, only one valve and one pump device can be provided; in the case of more than two sub-circuits, multiple valves and pump devices can be provided, in particular in the case of three sub-circuits, two valves and two pump devices can be provided. The at least two valves are used to adjust the corresponding mass flow of the temperature control medium so that the temperature control medium of the corresponding temperature control is delivered to the respective sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit by at least one pump device, which is also arranged or mounted on the thermal management module or at least one of its supporting structural components.

[0012] The load-bearing structural component of the thermal management module is preferably plate-shaped and / or substantially flat. Thus, on the one hand, a space-saving design of the load-bearing structural component can be achieved, and on the other hand, a stable flexural rigidity design can be achieved at the same time. At least one component for conveying a temperature control medium and at least one component for mass flow regulation can be arranged approximately parallel to each other or already arranged on a plate-shaped and / or substantially flat load-bearing structural component. In this case, in particular at least one or two pump devices and in particular at least two valves can be arranged approximately parallel to each other on or in the load-bearing structural component. Approximately parallel pointing refers in particular to the drive axes of at least one component for conveying a temperature control medium and at least one component for mass flow regulation, which can be arranged or already arranged approximately parallel to each other and approximately perpendicular to the component relative to the load-bearing structural component. In the case of a valve, the drive axis can be understood as the drive hub or shaft of an actuator or a rotor or a rotary piston of a valve, and in the case of a pump device, the drive axis is understood as the drive shaft of the pump device. Due to the approximately parallel orientation of the drive axes of the components to be mounted on the load-bearing structural component of the thermal management module (component for mass flow control and component for conveying a temperature control medium), it is relatively simple to mount at least one pump device as a component for conveying a temperature control medium and at least two valves or standard valves as components for mass flow control of a temperature control medium on the load-bearing structural component of the thermal management module. This can be achieved starting from one side with approximately the same orientation of the drive axes of the components mounted on the load-bearing structural component, namely the at least one pump device and the at least two valves.

[0013] It is further advantageous that the load-bearing structural component comprises at least one fluid path, in particular at least one fluid channel, for fluidly connecting components arranged on or in the load-bearing structural component, i.e., for fluidly connecting at least one component for conveying a temperature control medium and at least one component for regulating the mass flow of the temperature control medium, and also for fluidly connecting at least two components for regulating the mass flow of the temperature control medium.

[0014] Furthermore, the load-bearing structural component preferably has fluid connections for connecting the supply and return of the subcircuits of the temperature control circuit, wherein these fluid connections are fluidically connected to at least one fluid path, in particular a fluid channel in and / or on the structural component. Thus, the supply and return of the subcircuits of the temperature control circuit of the vehicle can be connected at the fluid connections, so that the temperature control medium can enter the at least one fluid path in or on the load-bearing structural component of the thermal management module via the fluid connections.

[0015] The fluid connection device at, on or in the load-bearing structural component can also preferably be fluidically connected or connected to at least one component for conveying a temperature control medium and at least one component for mass flow control. At least one component for conveying a temperature control medium, such as a pump device, and at least one component for mass flow control of a temperature control medium, in particular at least two valves or standard valves, are preferably arranged in or on the load-bearing structural component along at least one fluid path, in particular at least one fluid channel. Therefore, the fluid connection device that is fluidically connected to at least one fluid path in or on the load-bearing structural component is also fluidically connected to at least one pump device and at least two valves as components.

[0016] Since at least three sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit of the vehicle are fluidly connected to the thermal management module through their fluid connection devices, after the sub-circuits are connected, the fluid connection devices are also fluidly connected to the heat exchangers and / or heat sources and / or heat sinks of the respective sub-circuits, and thus correspond to these fluids. As mentioned above, at least three sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit include heat exchangers and / or heat sources and / or heat sinks, which are used to heat or cool the temperature control medium when flowing through the respective sub-circuits.

[0017] By means of the thermal management module, for example, four sub-circuits of a temperature control circuit of a vehicle can be fluidly connected together, wherein the four sub-circuits include heat exchangers and / or temperature control devices or heat sources and / or heat sinks. It is further advantageous that the thermal management module can be fluidly connected or coupled to five sub-circuits of a temperature control circuit of a vehicle, wherein the five sub-circuits include heat exchangers and / or temperature control devices or heat sources and / or heat sinks. Furthermore, a fluid connection of the thermal management module to more than five sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit of the vehicle is also possible. The number of fluid connection devices of the thermal management module can be adjusted according to the number of sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit of the vehicle to be connected.

[0018] It is further advantageous that the load-bearing structural component is at least partially designed in a grid-like manner. Therefore, thermal decoupling of individual regions of the load-bearing structural component from other adjacent regions can be achieved, because little or almost no heat is transferred through the individual grid-like parts of the load-bearing structural component. Other regions of the load-bearing structural component can be thermally coupled in a targeted manner, in which, for example, the grid-like structure of the load-bearing structural component is not provided. In known thermal management modules, a fully enclosed plastic injection molding geometry is usually designed. Therefore, a relatively large projected area is generated relative to the component volume, which inevitably leads to the need for a group of injection molding machines capable of manufacturing such large components when manufacturing such thermal management modules. A large area will lead to an increase in the clamping force of the machine, resulting in high investment costs and, therefore, high component costs. In contrast, according to the load-bearing structural component of the present invention, the non-fluid functional area is advantageously designed in a grid-like manner. Therefore, compared with the prior art, the size of the injection molding machine used to manufacture the thermal management module or its load-bearing structural component can also be reduced. Similarly, compared with the large-volume injection molding geometry of the prior art, the material usage when manufacturing the injection-molded load-bearing structural component of the thermal management module can be reduced, and the deformation of the component can also be reduced.

[0019] The thermal management module is usually arranged in the engine compartment of the vehicle. The at least one load-bearing structural component is preferably integrated horizontally into the engine compartment, in particular close to the underside of the hood of the vehicle. This results in easy access to the fluid connections of the thermal management module, so that the media lines of the subcircuits of the temperature control circuit can be easily connected to these devices. However, different arrangements of the thermal management module or of at least one of its load-bearing structural components in the vehicle are also possible, for example vertical or other arrangements.

[0020] By means of a thermal management module or its load-bearing structural component, at least one component for conveying a temperature control medium, i.e. at least one pump device, and at least one component for regulating the mass flow of the temperature control medium, in particular at least two valves or standard valves, can be concentrated on or inside the load-bearing structural component of the thermal management module. In the thermal management module or its load-bearing structural component, a complex control of the mass flow of the temperature control medium, in particular the coolant, can be achieved using at least one pump device and at least two valves or standard valves in the form of standard components. This significantly reduces costs compared to the prior art. The media pipelines of the various sub-circuits of the vehicle temperature control circuit, such as the coolant circuit, can be simply installed on the fluid connection device on the load-bearing structural component. The various components for conveying the temperature control medium and regulating the mass flow of the temperature control medium can be directly connected without the need for additional pipelines, thereby reducing the number of pipelines or media pipelines compared to the prior art. Since at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium and at least one component for mass flow regulation are arranged on or inside the load-bearing structural component and are fluidly connected to at least one fluid path in or on the load-bearing structural component, it is not necessary to arrange other media pipelines in the area of ​​the thermal management module. Via the thermal management module, three to five heat exchangers or temperature control components or temperature control devices can be connected by connecting a corresponding number of sub-circuits of the vehicle's temperature control circuit.

[0021] The thermal management module can be used to couple or separate subcircuits of a temperature control circuit, wherein all components arranged on the thermal management module or integrated in its load-bearing structural component, which serve for the conveyance of a temperature control medium or for the mass flow control of a temperature control medium, can be fluidically connected to one another or are connected or flow-connected. Flow-connected means that a plurality of subcircuits can have a common fluid flow. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to explain the present invention in more detail, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These drawings are as follows:

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the principle of a first embodiment of a thermal management system according to the present invention, wherein the thermal management system has a temperature control circuit with three sub-circuits and a thermal management module according to the present invention,

[0024] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the principle of a second embodiment of a thermal management system according to the present invention, wherein the thermal management system has a temperature control loop with five sub-loops and a thermal management module according to the present invention,

[0025] Figure 3 is a top view of a first embodiment of a thermal management system according to the invention, the thermal management system having two pump devices and two valves,

[0026] Figure 4 is a second embodiment of the thermal management system according to the invention, which has two pump devices and two valves, wherein the pump devices and the valves are arranged in two submodules of the thermal management module which are not fluidically connected,

[0027] Figure 5 is a top view of a distributor for distributing a temperature control medium in a thermal management module according to the present invention, the thermal management module having one inlet and two outlets,

[0028] Figure 6 is a bottom view of a third embodiment of a thermal management module according to the invention, the thermal management module having two pump devices,

[0029] Figure 7 is a top view of a fourth embodiment of a thermal management module according to the invention, the thermal management module having two pump devices,

[0030] Figure 8 is a partial top view of a thermal management module according to the invention in the region of three fluid connections,

[0031] Fig. 9 is a top view of another embodiment of a thermal management module according to the present invention,

[0032] Fig.10 is a top view of another embodiment of a thermal management module according to the invention, the thermal management module having two pump devices and two valves, and

[0033] Fig.11 is a schematic top view of a vehicle having a thermal management system according to the present invention, the thermal management system having a temperature control circuit with a plurality of sub-circuits and a thermal management module according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Figure 1 1 shows a schematic diagram of the principle of a thermal management system 200, having a temperature control loop 100 and three sub-loops, namely a first sub-loop 101 for temperature control of a battery 106 or a power battery 106 or a corresponding battery system, a second sub-loop 102 for temperature control of an electronic component 107, and a third sub-loop 103, which includes a heat exchanger 108 in the front area of ​​a vehicle 300 (see Fig.11), for absorbing heat from the ambient air and releasing it to the ambient air, or transferring heat from the ambient air to the temperature control medium flowing through the third sub-circuit 103, and releasing heat from it to the ambient air. Therefore, this third sub-circuit 103 is a comfort circuit, because it is used for air conditioning inside the vehicle, while the first sub-circuit 101 is used for temperature control of the battery or power battery 106 of the vehicle 300, and the second sub-circuit 102 is used for temperature control of at least one electronic component 107. In order to temperature control the interior of the vehicle 300, a so-called HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit) can be installed behind the ventilation baffle of the vehicle dashboard, which basically includes at least two heat exchangers. One of them is a heater heat exchanger, through which cooling water, especially cooling water heated in winter, flows. This heater heat exchanger is usually connected to the comfort circuit, i.e. the third sub-circuit 103. The air provided to the interior of the vehicle or the outside or ambient air flows through the ventilation of the heater heat exchanger and is heated. The heat for the cooling water can be provided by waste heat from various vehicle components, but the heat generated in a battery electric vehicle (BEV) is usually insufficient, or by a heat exchanger of a PTC heater 206 or a heat pump 205, such as Figure 2 As shown, this means the reverse operation of the refrigeration circuit or the supply of the required heat via the hot side of the refrigeration circuit. In addition, a refrigeration circuit evaporator can be arranged which is suitable for cooling the air in the same way. In addition, a third heat exchanger can be provided. Such a heat exchanger can be a heat exchanger of a heat pump, which supplies the heat. Alternatively, the heat can be transferred directly to the air or the heat can be supplied by the cooling circuit and then transferred to the air.

[0035] The PTC heater 206 mentioned above is not a PTC heat exchanger, and only provides heat through electrical energy and transfers it to the cooling water as a temperature control medium. The position of these additional electric heat sources in the sub-circuit can be relatively freely selected. For example, it can be arranged in the comfort circuit, that is, the third sub-circuit 103, or in an independent circuit connected through the thermal management module 1. Such a PTC heater 206 can be installed at any position in the coolant system, but is not part of the refrigerant circuit.

[0036] The evaporator mentioned earlier is a component of the refrigerant circuit in which the refrigerant evaporates. During this process, heat is absorbed by the refrigerant. The evaporator can heat the airflow in the HVAC unit.

[0037] The chiller 204 is another heat exchanger besides the evaporator of the refrigerant circuit, located on the so-called cold side of the refrigerant circuit. The chiller 204 is usually arranged in parallel with the evaporator, and in series if necessary. The chiller 204 cools a component or other temperature control medium, such as cooling water, is not arranged in the HVAC unit, and does not cool the airflow.

[0038] Therefore, two to three or even more heat sources and heat sinks may be integrated into each sub-loop, and thus may also be integrated or separately arranged in the temperature control loop 100 . Figure 1 , the number of minimum sub-circuits 101, 102 and 103 of a temperature control loop 100 for regulating the temperature of a vehicle component is shown, Figure 2 Three further sub-loops 104, 105, 109 are shown.

[0039] according to Figure 1 , all sub-circuits 101, 102 and 103 of the temperature control circuit 100 are fluidically connected to the thermal management module 1. This means that the respective supply flows 110, 112, 114 and the respective return flows 111, 113, 115 of the three sub-circuits 101, 102, 103 are fluidically connected to the thermal management module 1. Through the thermal management module 1, these individual sub-circuits 101, 102 and 103 can be fluidically connected or separated from each other. For this purpose, the thermal management module 1 includes at least one pump device and at least two valves. This will be explained in detail below. Figure 1 As shown, all three sub-circuits 101 , 102 , 103 are closed. Therefore, there is no short circuit between them. The respective supply and outflow flows 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 of the three sub-circuits 101 , 102 , 103 are fluidly connected to the thermal management module 1 .

[0040] exist Figure 2 In the embodiment, the temperature control loop 100 includes five sub-loops, of which three sub-loops 101, 102 and 103 correspond to Figure 1 As shown in . In addition to these, the temperature control loop 100 also includes a fourth sub-loop, which uses a cooler 204 as an interface with the air-conditioning refrigeration loop, a fifth sub-loop 105, which uses a heat exchanger or a heat pump 205 as an interface with the refrigeration loop, and a sixth sub-loop 109, which includes a heat source, in particular a PTC heater 206. The PTC heater 206 and the sixth sub-loop 109 can be separately configured to interface with the heat pump or heat exchanger of the fifth sub-loop 105 as an interface with the refrigeration loop, or the two can be connected in series or in parallel. In addition, the PTC heater 206 can in principle be incorporated into the third sub-loop 103. In any case, in Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the embodiment, each sub-loop 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 109 is indicated by a dotted line and may include or incorporate other components. Therefore, the PTC heater 206 may be integrated into the fifth sub-loop 105 or the third sub-loop 103.

[0041] The second sub-circuit 102 can be used as an electronic component 107, including various types of components, which are connected individually, selectively, in series or in parallel. Figure 2 Four different types of electronic components are indicated, namely, power electronic devices 207 as heat exchangers, which are integrated in the second sub-circuit 102 as an example here, or motors 208 or inverters 209 as heat exchangers, or chargers 210 that are also heat exchangers, or other electronic components 107 indicated by example by block 211. Therefore, all these electronic components 107 are heat exchangers that can transfer heat to the second sub-circuit 102 of the temperature control circuit 100. Other electronic components can also be set, but their cooling may not be necessary or reasonable. PTC heaters are basically such components. Therefore, the electronic components 107 referred to here refer only to those components that generate huge heat and therefore need to be cooled. Similarly, the heat input into the temperature control medium, such as cooling water, can also be used elsewhere. Therefore, the electronic components 107 include power electronic devices 207, control devices, inverters 209, and chargers 210. In addition, the motor 208 also needs cooling, but usually not directly through the coolant, but through the (first) coolant cooling another second coolant independent of the first coolant, such as thermal oil. Therefore, the cooling of the motor 208 occurs indirectly.

[0042] Each sub-circuit 104, 105 and 109 also has a supply flow and a return flow. Figure 2 116 to 121, wherein the supply flow is referenced by 116, 118, 120 and the return flow is referenced by 117, 119 and 121. The cooler 204 and the heat pump 205 or the heat exchanger can also be individually or selectively arranged in series or in parallel. Figure 2 204 , 205 and 206 are present in these sub-circuits.

[0043] Figure 3A top view of a thermal management module 1 according to the invention is shown as a schematic diagram of the principle. The thermal management module 1 comprises two pump devices 2, 3 and two valves 4, 5. These are interconnected via fluid channels 20, 21, 30, 31, 40, 41, 50 and are fluidly connected to fluid connection devices 6, 7, 8, 9. Thus, the first pump device 2 is connected to the valve 4 via the fluid channel 21, the valve 4 is connected to the valve 5 via the fluid channel 41, and the second pump device 3 is fluidly connected to the valve 5 via the fluid channel 31. All components of the two pump devices 2, 3 and valves 4, 5 and all fluid channels 20, 21, 30, 31, 40, 41, 50 are arranged on the load-bearing structural component 10 of the thermal management module 1. In this embodiment variant, the load-bearing structural component 10 is approximately U-shaped, but it can also have other shapes. Due to the U-shape of the load-bearing structural component 10, a thermal and possibly acoustic decoupling can be achieved in the region of the gap 11 between the two legs 12, 13 of the U-shaped load-bearing structural component 10, and also a possibility of movement can be achieved, so that the influence of the load on the load-bearing structural component 10 can be compensated. The thermal and acoustic decoupling makes it possible to separate the two legs 12, 13 equipped with pump devices 2, 3 from each other thermally, so that at least mutual thermal influences are reduced. However, the individual pump devices 2 and 3 with their corresponding valves 4, 5 and the two valves 4, 5 are connected to each other in terms of fluid.

[0044] Fastening points 14, 15, 16, here in the form of fastening tabs, are arranged on the outside of the load-bearing structural component 10 of the thermal management module 1. The fastening points 14, 15, 16 or fastening tabs are used to fasten the load-bearing structural component 10 of the thermal management module 1 in a vehicle, for example in the engine compartment of the vehicle.

[0045] Figure 4 Another embodiment of the thermal management module 1 is shown in . The supporting structural component here has no gap 11 and is therefore not U-shaped, but rather presents a roughly rectangular shape in the top view, on which the two pump devices 2, 3 and the two valves 4, 5 are again arranged. However, in this embodiment variant, there is no provision for connecting the two valves 4, 5 to each other in the thermal management module 1 or on its supporting structural component 10. The fluid connection is only provided between the respective pump device 2 or 3 and its respective corresponding valve 4, 5. The valve 4 is fluidically connected to the fluid connection device 18 via another fluid channel 42, and the valve 5 is fluidically connected to the fluid connection device 19 via another fluid channel 51. Therefore, Figure 4The illustrated implementation variant of the thermal management module 1 comprises two submodules 1a and 1b, wherein the submodule 1a comprises a first pump device 2 and a valve 4 assembly, as well as corresponding fluid channels 20, 21, 40, 42 and corresponding fluid connection devices 6, 7, 18, and the second submodule 1b of the thermal management module 1 comprises a second pump device 3 and a valve 5 assembly, as well as fluid channels 30, 31, 50, 51 and fluid connection devices 8, 9, 19 connected to these fluids.

[0046] and Figure 3 The embodiments are different, in accordance with Figure 4 In the embodiment of the thermal management module 1, the four fixing points 14, 15, 16, 17 are also provided in the form of fixing plates. The number of fixing points for fixing the load-bearing structural component 10 in the vehicle can be adjusted according to the specific application. In principle, three fixing points may be sufficient in many cases.

[0047] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a distributor 60 or T-junction as part of a thermal management module 1 is shown. The distributor 60 has a schematic inlet 61 and two outlets 62, 63. The two outlets 62, 63 are fluidically connected to the inlet via respective fluid channels 64, 65. Such fluid connections for distributing the temperature control medium in the thermal management module 1 can also be provided on or in its load-bearing structural component 10.

[0048] Figures 6 to 10 Different embodiment variants of the thermal management module 1 are shown, each of which has a grid-like region 70 in the region of the load-bearing structural component 10 of the thermal management module 1 . Figure 6 In the embodiment variant shown, the grid-like area 70 of the load-bearing structural component 10 is very large. Fig. 9 The two implementation variants differ in the number of fluid connections and therefore also the number of valves. Fig. 9 In the embodiment of the invention, the number of fluid connection devices 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 is significantly greater than Figure 6 The number of fluid connection devices 6, 7, 8, 9 in FIG. This shows that any number of fluid connection devices can be used as a component of the thermal management module 1 in combination with standard valves and standard pump devices. Figure 6 and Fig. 9 The two embodiments of the present invention each comprise two pump devices 2, 3, Figure 6 The embodiment comprises only two valves 4, 5, and Fig. 9 The embodiment comprises three valves 4, 5, 80. Fig. 9In the embodiment, more fluid channels 175 and 180 are provided, which respectively connect the fluid connecting devices 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 or 6, 7, 8, 9 to each other, or to the pump devices 2, 3 and valves 4, 5, 80.

[0049] exist Figure 7 In this embodiment variant, the grid area 70 of the thermal management module 1 is designed to be smaller. In this embodiment variant, the two pump devices 2, 3 are integrated as components or fluid components of the thermal management module in its supporting structural component 10. In this embodiment variant, at least one valve 4 or 5 is also arranged in or on the supporting structural component 10.

[0050] Thermal decoupling can be achieved by the mesh area 70, because the crossbeams 71 and the openings 72 defined by the crossbeams 71 lead to corresponding thermal decoupling. Figure 4 Compared to a full-surface design of the central load-bearing structural component 10 , the grid region 70 proves to be advantageous because the risk of crack formation under load stress is significantly reduced when the grid region 70 is provided.

[0051] like Figure 7 As shown, the drive axes, in particular the drive shafts 25 , 35 and 45 , 55 of the actuators (not shown) of the pump devices 2 , 3 and valves 4 and 5 are all approximately parallel to each other and are arranged approximately perpendicularly relative to the load-bearing structural component 10 of the thermal management module 1 .

[0052] Figure 8 1 shows a portion of a load-bearing structural component 10, which is located in the region of three fluid connections 90, 91, 92, wherein another fluid connection 93 is arranged perpendicularly to the fluid connection in the region of a fluid channel 93 leading to the fluid connection 91. This shows that the fluid connection can be arranged not only in one plane, but also perpendicularly to the plane. Figure 6 and Fig.10 As shown, the fluid connection device ( Figure 6 The fluid connection device 9 and Fig.10 The fluid connection device 94) can also be arranged at an angle of 90° away from the plane of the load-bearing structural component 10. Fig.10 As shown, the electrical connectors 22, 32 of the two pump devices 2, 3 can be arranged on top thereof in a conventional manner. Thus, the pump devices 2, 3 can be supplied with power without any problems via at least one electrical connection line. Furthermore, the electrical connection line can be integrated into the thermal management module 1 or at least arranged thereon.

[0053] Fig.11A top view of a vehicle 300 is schematically shown, which includes two front wheels 301, two rear wheels 302, a front vehicle area 303 with a heat exchanger 108 and an inverter 209, a cooler 204 and a temperature control medium tank 212, such as a coolant tank, in the area of ​​one front wheel 301, a PTC heater 206 in the area of ​​the other front wheel 301, a thermal management module 1 of the thermal management system 200 at the transition from the front vehicle area 303 to the middle vehicle area 304, a battery 106 in the middle vehicle area 304, and an electric motor 208 and its power electronics 207 and a charger 210 in the rear vehicle area 305. It can be seen that a plurality of fluid pipelines of the various sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit 100 of the vehicle 300 extend between the thermal management module 1 and the various vehicle components mentioned above. Two pump devices 2, 3 and two valves 4, 5 are installed on the thermal management module 1 for conveying the temperature control medium and regulating the mass flow of the temperature control medium in the various sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit 100.

[0054] The support component 10 of the thermal management module 1 is designed as an injection molded part in the embodiment variant shown in the figures, so that any embodiment variant can be produced economically. Independent of the application-specific optimized shape of the support component 10, the support component 10 can then be assembled with the corresponding fluid components (such as pump devices and valves or standard pump devices and standard valves) in an advantageously simple manner from one side.

[0055] In addition to the thermal management system embodiments described above and shown in the figures, including at least one thermal management module, which includes at least one load-bearing structural component, on which at least one component for temperature control medium transportation and at least one component for mass flow regulation can be arranged or arranged or integrated, many other systems can also be formed, in particular any combination of these features, wherein the thermal management module or its load-bearing structural component is respectively used to create a structure for installing conventional standard components (i.e., standard valves and standard pump devices).

[0056] Reference Numbers List

[0057] 1 Thermal Management Module

[0058] 1a Submodule

[0059] 1b Submodule

[0060] 2. First pump unit

[0061] 3 Second pump unit

[0062] 4 Valves

[0063] 5. Valve

[0064] 6 Fluid connections

[0065] 7 Fluid connections

[0066] 8 Fluid connections

[0067] 9 Fluid connections

[0068] 10 Load-bearing structural components

[0069] 11 Gap

[0070] 12 First Leg

[0071] 13. Second Leg

[0072] 14 Fixed points

[0073] 15 Fixed point

[0074] 16 Fixed position

[0075] 17 Fixed position

[0076] 18 Fluid connection device

[0077] 19 Fluid connection device

[0078] 20 Fluid Channels

[0079] 21 Fluid Channel

[0080] 22 Electrical connector

[0081] 25 Drive axis

[0082] 30 Fluid Channels

[0083] 31 Fluid Channel

[0084] 32 Electrical connector

[0085] 35 Drive shaft

[0086] 40 Fluid Channels

[0087] 41 Fluid Channel

[0088] 42 Fluid Channels

[0089] 45 Drive shaft

[0090] 50 Fluid Channels

[0091] 51 Fluid Channel

[0092] 55 Drive shaft

[0093] 60 Distributor

[0094] 61 Entrance

[0095] 62 Exit

[0096] 63 Exit

[0097] 64 Fluid Channels

[0098] 65 Fluid Channel

[0099] 70 Grid Area

[0100] 71 Beam

[0101] 72 Opening

[0102] 80 valve

[0103] 90 Fluid connection device

[0104] 91 Fluid connection device

[0105] 92 Fluid connection device

[0106] 93 Fluid Channel

[0107] 94 Fluid connection device

[0108] 100 Temperature control circuit

[0109] 101 First Sub-circuit

[0110] 102 Second sub-circuit

[0111] 103 The third subcircuit

[0112] 104 The fourth subcircuit

[0113] 105 The Fifth Subcircuit

[0114] 106 Batteries / Power Batteries

[0115] 107 Electronic components

[0116] 108 Heat exchanger

[0117] 109 Sixth Subcircuit

[0118] 110 101 flow supply

[0119] 111 101 Reflux

[0120] 112 102 supply flow

[0121] 113 102 Reflux

[0122] 114 103 flow

[0123] 115 103 Reflux

[0124] 116 104 supply flow

[0125] 117 104 Reflux

[0126] 118 105 supply flow

[0127] 119 105 Reflux

[0128] 120 109 flow

[0129] 121 109 Reflux

[0130] 160 Fluid connection device

[0131] 161 Fluid connection device

[0132] 162 Fluid connection device

[0133] 163 Fluid connection device

[0134] 164 Fluid connection device

[0135] 165 Fluid connection device

[0136] 166 Fluid connection device

[0137] 167 Fluid connection device

[0138] 168 Fluid connection device

[0139] 169 Fluid connection device

[0140] 170 Fluid connection device

[0141] 171 Fluid connection device

[0142] 175 Fluid Channel

[0143] 180 Fluid Channel

[0144] 200 Thermal Management System

[0145] 204 Cooler

[0146] 205 Heat Pump

[0147] 206 PTC Heater

[0148] 207 Power Electronics

[0149] 208 Electric Motor

[0150] 209 Inverter

[0151] 210 Charger

[0152] 211 Other electronic components

[0153] 212 Temperature control medium tank / coolant tank

[0154] 300 vehicles

[0155] 301 Front wheel

[0156] 302 rear wheel

[0157] 303 Front vehicle area

[0158] 304 Central Vehicle Area

[0159] 305 Rear vehicle area

Claims

1. A thermal management system (200), comprising a closed system of a temperature control circuit (100) of a vehicle (300), wherein a temperature control medium can flow or is flowing in the temperature control circuit, wherein the temperature control circuit (100) comprises at least one first sub-circuit (101) for temperature control of a battery (106), such as a power battery, at least one second sub-circuit (102) for temperature control of at least one electronic component (107), and at least one third sub-circuit (103) comprising at least one heat exchanger (108) for absorbing heat from ambient air and / or releasing heat to the ambient air, and transferring heat to and / or from the temperature control medium, wherein: The sub-circuits respectively include supply flow and return flow (111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121), characterized in that the thermal management system (200) includes at least one thermal management module (1), the thermal management module includes at least one load-bearing structural component (10), and at least one component (2, 3) for conveying a temperature control medium and at least one component (4, 5, 80) for mass flow regulation can be arranged or has been arranged or integrated on the load-bearing structural component.

2. The thermal management system (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The components of the thermal management module (1) for conveying the temperature control medium and regulating the mass flow rate, in particular at least two components for conveying the temperature control medium and at least two components for conveying the mass flow rate, include at least one pump device (2, 3) for conveying the temperature control medium and at least two valves (4, 5, 80) for regulating the mass flow rate of the temperature control medium, in particular at least two pump devices (2, 3) for conveying the temperature control medium and at least two valves (4, 5, 80) for regulating the mass flow rate of the temperature control medium.

3. The thermal management system (200) according to claim 2, characterized in that: At least two of the valves (4, 5, 80) are standard valves, in particular at least one 2 / 2-way valve, 3 / 2-way valve, 3 / 3-way valve, 4 / 2-way valve, 4 / 3-way valve is provided as a standard valve.

4. The thermal management system (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The thermal management module (1) fluidically connects at least two of the sub-circuits (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 109) of the temperature control circuit (100), wherein the supply flow and the return flow (111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121) of at least two of the sub-circuits (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 109) can be fluidically connected or are already connected together through the thermal management module (1).

5. The thermal management system (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The supporting structural component (10) of the thermal management module (1) is designed to be plate-shaped and / or substantially flat, wherein at least one of the components for conveying the temperature control medium and at least one of the components for mass flow regulation can be arranged approximately parallel to each other or are already arranged on the supporting structural component (10).

6. The thermal management system (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The drive axes (25, 35, 45) of at least one of the components (2, 3) for conveying the temperature control medium and at least one of the components (4, 5, 80) for mass flow regulation arranged on the load-bearing structural component (10) of the thermal management module (1) are arranged approximately parallel to each other and approximately perpendicular to the load-bearing structural component relative to the load-bearing structural component (10).

7. The thermal management system (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The load-bearing structural component (10) of the thermal management module (1) comprises at least one fluid path, in particular at least one fluid channel (40, 41, 42, 50, 51, 64, 65, 93, 175, 180), for fluidly connecting at least one component (2, 3) for conveying the temperature control medium and at least one component (4, 5, 80) for mass flow regulation on or inside the load-bearing structural component (10).

8. The thermal management system (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The load-bearing structural component (10) of the thermal management module (1) has a fluid connection device (6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, 90, 91, 92, 94, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171) for connecting the supply and return flows (111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121) of the sub-circuits (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 109) of the temperature control circuit (100).

9. The thermal management system (200) according to claim 8, characterized in that: The fluid connection device (6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, 90, 91, 92, 94, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171) can be fluidically connected or connected to at least one of the components (2, 3) for conveying the temperature control medium and at least one of the components (4, 5, 80) for mass flow regulation on or inside the load-bearing structural component (10) of the thermal management module (1).

10. The thermal management system (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The load-bearing structural component (10) of the thermal management module (1) is at least partially designed in a grid shape.

11. A vehicle (300), in particular an electric vehicle, a battery electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, characterized in that The vehicle (300) comprises at least one thermal management system (200) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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