Compensation container

Abstract

The invention relates to a compensation container (1) for a battery cooling system (3), comprising: a container housing (5); a replaceable dryer insert (6) having a housing (8) and a desiccant (7) arranged in the housing; a cover (9) which can be connected to the container housing (5) and in which the dryer insert (6) is at least partially received; a valve device (11) and / or a diaphragm (12), via which air (2) enters from the compensation container (1) into the environment in the event of an overpressure in the compensation container (1), and via which air (2) enters from the compensation container (1) into the environment in the event of a negative pressure in the compensation container (1), fresh air (2a) enters the compensation container (1) from the environment via the valve device and / or the diaphragm. In this way, an environmentally friendly embodiment can be achieved.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a compensation container for a battery cooling system. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a battery cooling system having such a compensation container. Background Art

[0002] Due to environmental considerations, electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles are increasingly attracting the attention of consumers and are accordingly becoming increasingly common on the roads. In order to increase the range and efficiency of such electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, it is sought to keep the traction battery of such an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle within the optimal temperature window for the traction battery. For this purpose, temperature control devices, in particular cooling devices, are used in a known manner. Here, in order to achieve particularly efficient cooling, so-called immersion cooling is also used, in which a dielectric, i.e., non-conductive, coolant flushes around the individual battery cells of the traction battery.

[0003] Here, such a battery cooling system for cooling, in particular for cooling a traction battery, also includes a compensation container in which air is stored as a compensation pad for the temperature-induced volume change of the coolant. However, the coolant present in the compensation container expands due to temperature increase, and in the absence of leakage, the resulting overpressure may cause a high pressure load in the compensation container and may damage the compensation container and therefore needs to be avoided. For this reason, this type of compensation container usually has a connection to the environment so that the temperature-induced pressure difference can be reduced if necessary. If the coolant cools, the coolant contracts, thereby creating a negative pressure in the compensation container, which causes fresh air to be sucked in from the environment. In order to prevent or at least reduce the introduction of unwanted moisture into the coolant, so-called dryer cartridges have been provided hitherto, in which a desiccant is arranged and through which the fresh air sucked in from the environment flows and absorbs moisture and dries the sucked-in fresh air here.

[0004] However, in the case of this type of dryer cartridge, it is disadvantageous that these dryer cartridges have a housing made of sheet metal with a desiccant arranged therein, and are thus not only heavy, but also require a relatively complex connection to the plastic container housing of the compensation container. In addition, the processing of the sheet metal and the raw sheet metal are expensive, and constructing the dryer cartridge as a disposable part is problematic from an environmental point of view. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the present invention studies the following problem: to provide an improved or at least an alternative embodiment for the compensation container, by means of which the disadvantages known from the prior art can be overcome.

[0006] According to the present invention, this problem is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] The present invention is based on the following general concept: constructing a replaceable dryer plug, which has a housing and a desiccant arranged therein, but does not have a thread through which the dryer plug is screwed onto the container housing of the compensation container. The housing is in particular a plastic housing, a housing made of non-woven fabric or a natural fiber housing, so that overall a weight-optimized and significantly more advantageous solution in terms of connection can be found, because the dryer plug is now held via a cover, which can be connected to, in particular tightened with, the container housing of the compensation container. Here, the compensation container for the air in the battery cooling system has the aforementioned container housing and a replaceable dryer plug, which has a housing and a desiccant arranged therein. In addition, the compensation container has a cover, which can be connected to, in particular tightened with, the container housing, and the dryer plug is at least partially received in the cover. Here, the compensation container is used to buffer the air volume generated due to the temperature-induced volume change of the cooling medium, in particular oil. Therefore, the fixing of the dryer plug on the container housing of the compensation container for the air in the battery cooling system is no longer achieved by a metal nipple, which can only be made heavy, but via a cover, which can be used for all dryer plugs during the service life of the compensation container. Thereby, the amount of waste generated when replacing the dryer plug can be reduced. In addition, the compensation container has a valve device and / or a diaphragm. In the case of overpressure in the compensation container, air enters the environment from the compensation container via the valve device and / or the diaphragm, and in the case of negative pressure in the compensation container, fresh air enters the compensation container from the environment via the valve device and / or the diaphragm. Here, when there is negative pressure in the compensation container, the inhalation of fresh air of course passes through the desiccant of the dryer plug in order to reliably prevent the unwanted introduction of moisture into the compensation container and into the dielectric coolant stored therein. Excessive humidity of the dielectric coolant may make the coolant conductive, which may lead to a short circuit. The compensation container according to the present invention enables the use of a dryer plug, which has a significantly lighter housing, in particular a plastic housing, a housing made of non-woven fabric or a natural fiber housing, because the dryer plug itself can have a relatively thin and thus light housing, which only has the task of receiving the desiccant arranged therein. The cover, which is preferably constructed of plastic like the container housing of the compensation container, is a so-called life component, which needs to be used throughout the service life of the compensation container and, unlike the dryer plug, does not need to be replaced. With the compensation container according to the present invention, the amount of waste generated when replacing the dryer plug can also be reduced, because the dryer plug does not have a relatively heavy housing made of metal, in particular made of sheet metal, as has been the case hitherto.Overall, the dryer insert can also be constructed more cost - effectively because the housing used, especially a plastic housing, a housing made of non - woven fabric or a natural fiber housing, can be manufactured significantly more easily and thus more cost - effectively. The sheet metal housing used hitherto can be dispensed with, which especially also requires connecting geometries, such as metal screw connections, for screwing the hitherto existing dryer drum with the sheet metal housing onto the container housing.

[0008] In another advantageous embodiment of the compensation container according to the invention, the dryer insert has an activated carbon area. Here, the activated carbon area can bind harmful substances, especially hydrocarbons, such that in the case of overpressure in the compensation container, the blowing out of air is generally effected via the activated carbon area of the dryer insert, whereby the blown - out air is cleaned. This type of activated carbon area with activated carbon is already well - known and is especially used, for example, in the field of fuel filters.

[0009] In another advantageous embodiment of the solution according to the invention, the valve device and / or the diaphragm are constructed and arranged such that in the case of overpressure in the compensation container, air enters the environment via the activated carbon area, and in the case of negative pressure in the compensation container, fresh air enters the compensation container from the environment through the desiccant. Thereby, the inhaled fresh air can be dried and the blown - out air can be cleaned. Alternatively, it can also be considered that the valve device and / or the diaphragm are constructed and arranged such that in the case of overpressure in the compensation container, air enters the environment via the activated carbon area and the desiccant, and in the case of negative pressure in the compensation container, fresh air enters the compensation container from the environment through the desiccant and the activated carbon area. Thus, in this case, the activated carbon area and the desiccant are not connected in parallel but in series, such that cleaning and drying are carried out not only when fresh air is inhaled from the environment but also when air is blown out into the environment. In addition, by the series connection of the desiccant and the activated carbon area, active drying of the desiccant and cleaning of the activated carbon area can be achieved. For example, if, in the case of overpressure in the compensation container, dry air is blown out through the activated carbon area and the desiccant, harmful substances, such as hydrocarbons, are blocked in the activated carbon area, but the desiccant is dried again and thus regenerated due to the dry air flowing through the desiccant. In the case of negative pressure in the compensation container, the activated carbon area is flushed and thus cleaned with fresh air / ambient air from the environment.

[0010] In another advantageous embodiment of the compensation container according to the invention, the desiccant and / or the activated carbon area is delimited by a non-woven layer. Such a non-woven layer, on the one hand, enables a clear separation between the desiccant and the activated carbon, and on the other hand, enables an almost unhindered air flow-through. Thus, compared to a grid made of plastic, for example, the flow resistance is significantly reduced. Of course, the housing of the dryer insert can also be formed by such a non-woven layer.

[0011] In another preferred embodiment of the compensation container according to the invention, the valve device and / or the diaphragm is arranged on the dryer insert or on the compensation container. In the case where the valve device or the diaphragm is arranged on the compensation container, the following great advantage arises: The valve device or the diaphragm can be retained as a lifetime component on the compensation container or on the container housing of the compensation container, so that the dryer insert, which only has its housing and the desiccant arranged therein, needs to be removed or replaced. In the case where the valve device or the diaphragm is arranged on the dryer insert, the following advantage arises again: These components are also replaced regularly, thereby, in particular, preventing functional failures caused by blockages of the valve device or the diaphragm due to prolonged use.

[0012] Suitably, the valve device has a two-way penetrable double valve or has an overpressure valve and a negative pressure valve arranged separately relative to the overpressure valve, and the overpressure valve and the negative pressure valve are configured as simple check valves. Configuring the valve device as a two-way penetrable double valve provides the following great advantage: It is configured in an optimized manner in terms of structural space compared to two individual (check) valves. The two individual valves in turn provide the following great advantage: Relatively simple check valves can be selected for this purpose, which are more cost-effective compared to the two-way penetrable double valve.

[0013] In another advantageous embodiment of the compensation container according to the invention, the cover is screwed onto the container housing. For this purpose, the cover has an external thread, and the container housing has an internal thread configured to be complementary to the external thread, or vice versa, thereby enabling the replacement of the dryer insert arranged at least partially in the cover relatively simply. For this purpose, it is only necessary to unscrew the cover from the container housing of the compensation container, take out the dryer insert or replace it with a new dryer insert, and then screw the cover together with the new dryer insert back onto the container housing of the compensation container. Here, a relatively simple and cost-effective O-ring seal can be used for sealing.

[0014] Alternatively, of course it is also possible to consider that the cover part is not screwed into the container housing or screwed onto the container housing by means of a thread, but is fastened in / on the container housing via a plurality of screws. The sealing is achieved by means of a formed seal (Formdichtung). Here, the cover part and the dryer insert do not have to be round, but can also be implemented rectangularly.

[0015] Advantageously, the dryer insert is configured cylindrically and has a cylindrically shaped region with a desiccant and an activated carbon region, which cylindrically adjoins the cylindrically shaped region in the axial direction. Thus, in this case, the region for the desiccant and the activated carbon region are connected in series and are flowed through in sequence. Alternatively, it is also possible to consider that the dryer insert has an annular cylindrically shaped region for the desiccant and a cylindrically shaped activated carbon region arranged therein. This type of variant can be coupled with two separate valves, which ensure that the blowing of air from the compensation container to the environment takes place via the activated carbon region and the suction takes place via the desiccant.

[0016] Furthermore, a diaphragm is arranged in the container housing, which is configured to be penetrable in two directions and can be arranged outside the dryer insert in the flow direction. This type of diaphragm, while blocking, for example, dust particles, not only allows fresh air to flow from the environment into the compensation container, but also allows air to be blown from the compensation container into the environment. Thereby, in particular, pre-filtration of the fresh air inhaled from the environment by the diaphragm can be achieved.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment of the compensation container according to the invention, a spring is provided, which pre-tightens the dryer insert against the container housing. This type of spring, for example a simple helical spring, ensures that the dryer insert is held in the cover part or on the container housing in a reliable and in particular also rattle-free manner and at the same time ensures a reliable seat (Sitz).

[0018] Advantageously, the container housing and the cover part are made of plastic. This offers the great advantage that there is no need to manufacture threads on sheet metal components, which are relatively difficult and complex to manufacture, but instead, for example, an external thread can be manufactured on the cover part and an internally threaded part complementary to the external thread can be manufactured on the container housing during a simple plastic injection molding process.

[0019] Furthermore, the present invention is based on the following general concept: equipping the battery cooling system with a compensation container according to the above paragraphs, and thereby transferring the advantages described with respect to the compensation container to the battery cooling system. Specifically, this relates to the advantages of a dryer plug with reduced weight and the avoidance of waste, since in the compensation container according to the invention, the actual housing of the dryer plug is now formed by the cover member. This housing, especially a plastic housing, a housing made of non-woven fabric or a natural fiber housing, is only used to fix the desiccant or the activated carbon arranged therein, and accordingly, can be constructed not only thin-walled, but also cost-effectively, environmentally friendly and lightly. In particular, the hitherto metal-structured housing of the dryer plug can also be dispensed with. By means of a cover member that at least partially receives the dryer plug and can be connected, especially screwed, to the container housing of the compensation container, the relatively complex and thus only difficult and expensive to manufacture connection geometry on the dryer plug can be omitted.

[0020] Other important features and advantages of the present invention result from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description of the drawings.

[0021] It should be understood that the features mentioned above and those to be described below can be used not only in the correspondingly given combinations, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the framework of the present invention. The separately marked components mentioned above and still to be mentioned below of the superior unit (such as a device, equipment or component) can form separate members or parts of the unit or can be integral regions or sections of the unit, even if this is shown otherwise in the drawings.

[0022] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below, where the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] The drawings schematically show respectively:

[0024] Figure 1 showing a cross-sectional view of a compensation container according to the present invention in the region of the dryer plug,

[0025] Figure 2 showing as Figure 1 shown, but from a different perspective, a schematic view,

[0026] Figure 3 showing a cross-sectional view of a possible configuration of the dryer plug,

[0027] Figure 4 showing a cross-sectional view of a compensation container according to the present invention in the region of the dryer plug,

[0028] Figure 5 shows, as Figure 4 shown, but in the case of different valve devices. Detailed description

[0029] According to Figure 1 、 2 and 4 and 5, the compensation container 1 according to the invention in the battery cooling system 3, especially in an electric vehicle 4, has a container housing 5 and a replaceable dryer insert 6, which has a desiccant 7 (see also Figure 3 ). The dryer insert 6 has a housing 8, especially a plastic housing, a housing made of non-woven fabric or a natural fiber housing, which delimits a space for the desiccant 7 to be arranged therein. In addition, a cover 9 is provided, which is made of plastic like the container housing 5 and is connected to the container housing 5, for example, via a screw connection 10 (see Figure 1 、 2 and 4 and 5). Here, the dryer insert 6 is at least partially received in the cover 9, so that the cover 9 forms a reusable outer housing for the dryer insert 6. Thereby, it is possible to construct the dryer insert 6 as follows: The dryer insert has a relatively thin and weight-optimized housing 8, especially a plastic housing, a housing made of non-woven fabric or a natural fiber housing, instead of having a relatively thick sheet metal housing as before. In addition, especially constructing it as a natural fiber housing offers a particularly environmentally friendly major advantage.

[0030] For this purpose, the cover 9 has an external thread, and the container housing 5 has an internally threaded construction complementary thereto, or vice versa, whereby the replacement of the dryer insert 6 at least partially arranged in the cover 9 can be achieved relatively simply. For this purpose, it is only necessary to unscrew the cover 9 from the container housing 5 of the compensation container 1, and remove the dryer insert 6 or replace it with a new dryer insert 6, and then screw the cover 9 together with the new dryer insert 6 back onto the container housing 5 of the compensation container 1. Alternatively, of course, it can also be considered that the cover 9 is not connected to the container housing 5 by means of the screw connection 10, but is fastened in / on the container housing 5 via a plurality of screws. In this case, the cover 9 and the dryer insert 6 do not have to be round, but can also be implemented rectangularly.

[0031] In addition, a valve device 11 and / or a diaphragm 12 are provided, through which air 2 can enter the environment from the compensation container 1 in the case of overpressure in the compensation container 1, and fresh air 2a can enter the compensation container 1 from the environment through the valve device and / or the diaphragm in the case of negative pressure in the compensation container 1. In particular, dirt particles can be blocked through the diaphragm 12, whereby contamination of the dielectric coolant in the compensation container 1 can be avoided.

[0032] If we further observe Figures 3 to 5 If we look at the dryer insert 6 of FIG. 1 , it can be seen that the dryer insert has a region with a desiccant 7 and an activated carbon region 13 which is filled with activated carbon, wherein this type of activated carbon helps to block harmful substances, such as hydrocarbons, in the air 2 to be blown out.

[0033] The valve device 11 can be configured, for example, as a double valve 11a which is permeable in two directions, as in the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 4 As shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the valve device 11 can of course also have an overpressure valve 11b and a negative pressure valve 11c, as shown in Figure 5 In this case, the valve device 11 can be opened, for example, at an overpressure or underpressure of ±0.4 bar.

[0034] The valve device 11 or the diaphragm 12 can be designed and arranged in such a way that, in the case of an overpressure in the compensation container 1, the air 2 enters the environment exclusively via the activated carbon region 13, and in the case of an underpressure in the compensation container, the fresh air 2a enters the compensation container 1 from the environment exclusively via the desiccant 7, as in accordance with Figure 5 In this case, the desiccant 7 and the activated carbon region 13 are connected in parallel with each other. Alternatively, of course, a series connection of the activated carbon region 13 and the desiccant 7 is also conceivable, such as according to Figure 3 and 4 As shown, in this case, the valve device 11 and / or the membrane 12 can be designed and arranged in such a way that, when there is an overpressure in the compensation container 1, the air 2 enters the environment via the activated carbon area 13 and the desiccant 7, and when there is a negative pressure in the compensation container 1, fresh air 2a enters the compensation container 1 from the environment through the desiccant 7 and the activated carbon area 13. This provides the following great advantage: when the relatively dry air 2 is blown out of the compensation container 1 into the environment, the desiccant 7 can be dehumidified and thus regenerated. At the same time, the outflowing air 2 also flows through the activated carbon area 13, thereby blocking hydrocarbons, for example. The partition between the desiccant 7 and the activated carbon area 13 or the at least partial enclosure of the desiccant 7 and / or the activated carbon area 13 can be realized by a nonwoven layer 14, which, on the one hand, not only securely holds the activated carbon in the activated carbon area 13, but also the desiccant 7 in the dryer insert 6 in their position, and on the other hand has a low flow resistance.

[0035] If we observe the dryer insert 6 according to Figure 3 In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , it can be seen that the desiccant 7 and the activated carbon region 13 are connected in series and both are substantially cylindrical in shape. This also applies similarly to the embodiment according to FIG. Figure 4Embodiments. If one observes the embodiment according to Figure 5 it can be seen that the desiccant 7 is configured in an annular cylindrical shape and surrounds the cylindrically configured activated carbon region 13. Here, when there is overpressure in the compensation container 1, the flow-through of the dryer insert 6 according to Figure 5 takes place via the open overpressure valve 11b, the activated carbon region 13, and the diaphragm 12 into the environment. When there is negative pressure in the compensation container 1, fresh air 2a is sucked in from the environment through the diaphragm 12, the desiccant 7, and the negative pressure valve 11c.

[0036] Here, the spring 15 fixes the dryer insert 6 in the cover part 9 and pre-tightens the dryer insert 6 against the container housing 5.

[0037] Generally, the valve device 11 and the diaphragm 12 can be arranged on the dryer insert 6, as shown according to Figure 3 wherein it is also conceivable that the diaphragm 12 is arranged on the cover part 9 and the valve device 11 is arranged on the container housing 5, as shown according to Figure 4 and 5 the embodiments show. It is also conceivable that the valve device 11 is arranged on the cover part 9.

[0038] Here, preferably, the cover part 9 and the container housing 5 are made of plastic, especially even of the same plastic. In order to seal between the cover part 9 and the container housing 5, an O-ring seal 16 can be provided in the region of the screw connection 10. Such an O-ring seal is cost-effective and can seal significantly more simply compared to the extrusion flat gaskets used in the dryer cartridges used hitherto. Another O-ring seal 16a can be provided, as shown according to Figure 4 and 5 if the valve device 11 has an overpressure valve 11b and a negative pressure valve 11c, as shown according to Figure 5 shows.

[0039] In summary, by means of the compensation container 1 according to the invention and the battery cooling system 3 according to the invention, resource consumption can be significantly reduced, because the dryer insert 6 no longer has a relatively heavy housing made of sheet metal as hitherto, but only still has a relatively thin and weight-optimized housing 8, in particular a plastic housing, a housing made of non-woven fabric or a natural fiber housing. Now, the cover 9 assumes the actual housing function and, as a long-life component, is not replaced together with the dryer insert 6 when the dryer insert 6 is replaced regularly. At the same time, in the case of the compensation container 1 according to the invention, the relatively laborious and complex and thus also expensive production of a threaded joint (Gewindenippel) from sheet metal is dispensed with, because the dryer insert 6 is no longer screwed directly to the container housing 5 of the compensation container 1. By dispensing with the housing made of sheet metal, the hitherto existing corrosion problems can also be solved.

Claims

1. A compensating container (1) for a battery cooling system (3), comprising: - container housing (5); - a replaceable dryer insert (6) having a housing (8) and a desiccant (7) arranged in the housing; a cover (9) which is connectable to the container housing (5) and in which the dryer insert (6) is at least partially received; - a valve device (11) and / or a diaphragm (12), through which, when an overpressure exists in the compensating container (1), air (2) enters the environment from the compensating container (1) via the valve device and / or the diaphragm, and, when an underpressure exists in the compensating container (1), fresh air (2a) enters the compensating container (1) from the environment via the valve device and / or the diaphragm.

2. The compensating container according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The dryer insert (6) has an activated carbon region (13).

3. The compensating container according to claim 2, It is characterized in that - the valve device (11) and / or the membrane (12) are designed and arranged in such a way that, when an overpressure is present in the compensation container (1), air (2) passes into the environment via the activated carbon region (13), and, when an underpressure is present in the compensation container (1), fresh air (2a) passes from the environment into the compensation container (1) via the desiccant (7), or - The valve device (11) and / or the diaphragm (12) are constructed and arranged in such a way that, when an overpressure exists in the compensation container (1), air (2) enters the environment via the activated carbon area (13) and the desiccant (7), and, when an underpressure exists in the compensation container (1), fresh air (2a) enters the compensation container (1) from the environment via the desiccant (7) and the activated carbon area (13).

4. The compensating container according to claim 2 or 3, It is characterized in that The desiccant (7) and / or the activated carbon region (13) are bounded by a nonwoven layer (14) and / or the housing (8) comprises a nonwoven layer (14).

5. The compensating container according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The valve device (11) and / or the membrane (12) are arranged on the dryer insert (6) or on the compensating container (1).

6. The compensating container according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The valve device (11) has a double valve (11a) which is permeable in two directions or has an overpressure valve (11b) and a negative pressure valve (11c).

7. The compensating container according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The cover (9) is screwed to the container shell (5).

8. The compensating container according to any one of claims 2 to 7, It is characterized in that The dryer insert (6) is cylindrical and has an activated carbon region (13) adjoining in the axial direction and also cylindrical, or The dryer insert (6) is of annular cylindrical design and has an internal activated carbon region (13) of cylindrical design.

9. The compensating container according to claim 1, It is characterized in that A spring (15) is provided which preloads the dryer insert (6) against the container housing (5).

10. The compensating container according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The container housing (5) and the cover (9) are made of plastic, in particular of the same plastic.

11. The compensating container according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The housing (8) is designed as a plastic housing, as a housing made of a nonwoven fabric or as a natural fiber housing. 12 . A battery cooling system ( 2 ) having a compensating container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 .

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