Compensation container and battery cooling system

Abstract

The invention relates to a compensation container (1) for a battery cooling system (3), comprising a container housing (4) made of plastic having a first shell (5) and a second shell (6) connected thereto, a first receptacle (7) being formed in the first shell (5) and / or in the second shell (6), a dryer cartridge (8), the invention relates to a compensation container (1) having a first receptacle (7) in which a dryer cartridge is accommodated in a form-fitting manner, having a first valve (9) via which air (2) enters the surroundings from the compensation container (1) in the event of an overpressure in the compensation container (1), and having a second valve (10) via which air (2) enters the surroundings from the compensation container (1) 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 second valve. In this way, a cost-effective 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 case 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 a traction battery also includes a compensation container in which air is stored as a compensation cushion for the temperature-induced volume change of the coolant. The coolant expands due to temperature increase, and if the resulting overpressure cannot be discharged, this can lead to a high pressure load in the compensation container and may damage the compensation container and thus needs to be avoided. For this reason, this type of compensation container typically has a connection to the environment so that, if necessary, the pressure difference caused by temperature can be reduced by blowing air into the environment. If the coolant cools, the coolant contracts, and as a result, a negative pressure is generated in the compensation container, which causes fresh air to be sucked in from the environment. In order to prohibit or at least reduce the introduction of undesired 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 during the suction process and absorbs moisture and dries the sucked-in fresh air here.

[0004] However, the disadvantage of this type of dryer cartridge is that these dryer cartridges have a housing made of sheet metal and are thus not only heavy but also relatively expensive. In addition, threaded joints must be provided through which the dryer cartridges are screwed onto the compensation container. This type of threaded joint made of sheet metal is also expensive. 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 general concept that, unlike what has been common hitherto, a dryer drum having a housing made of sheet metal is not constructed and the dryer drum is arranged on a container housing of a compensation container, especially a compensation container for air in a battery cooling system, via a threaded joint that requires heavy and thus also expensive manufacturing. Instead, the container housing of the compensation container for air or for the coolant of a battery cooling system is constructed as a cost-effective double-shell plastic housing and the dryer cartridge is integrated as an insert into this plastic housing. Here, the compensation container serves to buffer the air volume resulting from the volume change caused by temperature, especially of the cooling medium, especially oil. Here, the compensation container for a battery cooling system, especially for air, according to the present invention has the aforementioned container housing made of plastic, which has a first shell and a second shell sealingly connected thereto. Here, a first receiving portion is constructed in the first shell and / or in the second shell, and the aforementioned dryer cartridge is received in a form-fitting manner in the first receiving portion, and the dryer cartridge is provided with a desiccant, such as zeolite or silica gel. Furthermore, a first valve and a second valve are provided. In the case of overpressure in the compensation container, air can be blown out of the compensation container into the environment via the first valve. In the case of negative pressure in the compensation container, fresh air can be sucked into the compensation container from the environment via the second valve. The term "fresh air" can / should be understood here as ambient air. By constructing the container housing of the compensation container in a double-shell manner, which has a dryer cartridge arranged therein and is preferably replaceable, a container housing of the compensation container that is very cost-effective overall can be achieved. At the same time, an assembly advantage is created because it is only necessary to insert the dryer cartridge, constructed as an insert, into the first receiving portion of the first and / or second shell in a form-fitting manner and then to connect the two shells of the container housing to each other sealingly. Thereby, a protected arrangement of the dryer cartridge in the container housing during its service life can also be achieved. Thereby, the hitherto necessary production of the container housing and the subsequent installation of the dryer drum can be completely eliminated. Here, the production of the compensation container according to the present invention can be carried out especially even automatically because, due to the inner contour of the first receiving portion that is substantially complementary to the outer contour of the dryer cartridge, the dryer cartridge can be inserted into the first receiving portion in a form-fitting manner without the need for a worker. By arranging not only the first valve but also the second valve on the container housing, these two valves can also be replaced together during the regular replacement of the dryer cartridge and thus during the regular replacement of the container housing. Thereby, for example, clogging of these valves due to long-term use can be reliably avoided.

[0008] In an advantageous refinement of the compensating container according to the invention, a second receiving part is configured in the first housing and / or in the second housing, in which an activated carbon cartridge is received in a form-fitting manner. Here, an activated carbon cartridge of this type can receive harmful substances, such as hydrocarbons, so that in the case of overpressure in the compensating container, air is blown out via the activated carbon cartridge and the blown-out air is thus cleaned and the blowing out of hydrocarbons can be avoided. By receiving the activated carbon cartridge in a form-fitting manner in the second receiving part of the first and / or second housing, the activated carbon cartridge can also be placed, preferably automatically, into the second receiving part in a similar manner to the dryer cartridge before the two housings are connected to each other. Thereby, a protected arrangement of the dryer cartridge in the container housing can also be achieved.

[0009] In an advantageous refinement of the compensating container according to the invention, a first valve is arranged in the intermediate wall that separates the second receiving part from the interior space of the container housing. Here, air is usually arranged in the interior space of the container housing, and depending on the temperature of the coolant, this air is loaded with pressure or negative pressure by the expansion or contraction of the coolant. By arranging the first valve in the intermediate wall that separates the second receiving part from the interior space of the container housing, a direct assignment of the first valve to the second receiving part can be achieved. Of course, downstream of the second receiving part, an outward opening is provided in the wall of the container housing for exchange with the environment.

[0010] Here, a second valve is arranged in the outer wall of the container housing, wherein the outer wall on which the second valve is arranged separates the first receiving part from the environment. Thus, in the case of negative pressure in the container housing or in the compensating container, fresh air is sucked in from the environment via the second valve and the first receiving part in which the dryer cartridge is arranged. Therefore, the fresh air sucked in from the environment is sucked through the desiccant of the dryer cartridge and is dried here, whereby in particular the entry of moisture and / or water into the compensating container can be prevented. Excessive humidity can make the coolant conductive, which in adverse cases, especially in the case of immersion cooling, can lead to a short circuit.

[0011] Here, the described second valve can also be configured as a double valve, which can also enable air to be blown out from the container housing into the environment.

[0012] In a particularly preferred embodiment, a spring is provided in the first or second receiving part, which pre-tightens the dryer cartridge or the activated carbon cartridge against the container housing. By means of a spring of this type, a reliable and orientation-fixed arrangement of the dryer cartridge in the first receiving part can be achieved, and a reliable and orientation-fixed arrangement of the activated carbon cartridge in the second receiving part can be achieved, wherein the spring pre-tensioning simultaneously prevents the dryer cartridge and / or the activated carbon cartridge from generating rattling noises during operation, which are perceived as disturbing, for example. A spring of this type can be configured, for example, as a cost-effective helical spring, wherein the helical spring for pre-tightening the dryer cartridge can be arranged in the first receiving part in such a way that it surrounds the second valve in the outer wall of the container housing and is thus fixed by the second valve. The spring pre-tensioning also compresses the dryer granules or the activated carbon, so that the dryer granules or the activated carbon do not have any room for movement and will wear out.

[0013] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the compensation container according to the invention, the first shell and / or the second shell is configured as a plastic injection molding. Here, configuring the first shell and / or the second shell as a plastic injection molding offers the following major advantages: The container housing and the compensation container can be manufactured not only with high quality but also cost-effectively.

[0014] Suitably, the first shell and the second shell are welded to each other. In the case of configuring the two shells as plastic injection moldings, it is suitable to weld the two shells to each other for a sealed connection of the two shells. Alternatively, of course, it is also possible to consider gluing the two shells to each other. As a further alternative, purely theoretically, it is possible to consider connecting the two shells to each other via a clip connection or a screw connection, which offers the following major advantage: The container housing can be opened for replacing the dryer cartridge or the activated carbon cartridge, and the container housing can be used again after replacing the dryer cartridge or the activated carbon cartridge. In this case, a seal should also be inserted between the two shells.

[0015] In another advantageous embodiment of the compensation container according to the invention, the first shell and / or the second shell is made of polyoxymethylene (POM). POM is a partially crystalline thermoplastic with high mechanical strength and stiffness and, in addition, high wear resistance and low hygroscopicity, which is particularly advantageous especially when used for the compensation container according to the invention, since in this case, water storage or moisture absorption increases the conductivity of the dielectric coolant. Polyketone is also suitable as a material for the first and / or second shell. In order to further increase the mechanical strength and wear resistance here, the plastic can have glass fibers, especially 25% glass fibers, and can in particular be configured as POM GF-25.

[0016] Furthermore, the present invention is based on the following general concept: equipping the battery cooling system with the compensation container described in the above paragraphs, and thereby transferring the advantages described with respect to the compensation container to the battery cooling system. Specifically, the advantage of the battery cooling system equipped with the compensation container according to the present invention lies in cost-effective manufacturing, wherein, in order to regularly replace the dryer cartridge and / or the activated carbon cartridge, only the compensation container needs to be replaced.

[0017] Other important features and advantages of the present invention result from the dependent claims, the drawings, and the associated description of the drawings.

[0018] It should be understood that the features mentioned above and those to be described below can be used not only in the combinations given respectively, 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 regions or sections that form the unit as a whole, even if this is shown otherwise in the drawings.

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components. Description of the Drawings

[0020] The drawings schematically show respectively:

[0021] Figure 1 A view of the compensation container according to the present invention of the battery cooling system according to the present invention,

[0022] Figure 2 As shown Figure 1 A schematic view shown, but in another angle,

[0023] Figure 3 An internal view of the compensation container according to the present invention,

[0024] Figure 4 An internal view of a compensation container for air that does not belong to the present invention. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0025] According to Figures 1 to 3 , the compensation container 1 for the air 2 of the battery cooling system 3 according to the present invention has a container housing 4 made of plastic, which container housing has a first shell 5 and a second shell 6 connected thereto. Here, in the first shell 5 and / or in the second shell 6, a first receiving portion 7 is provided or configured (see Figure 3) In the first receiving part, a dryer cartridge 8 is arranged in a form-fitting manner. A desiccant (not shown in more detail) is arranged in the dryer cartridge 8. Furthermore, the compensation container 1 according to the invention has a first valve 9. In the case where there is overpressure in the compensation container 1, air 2 can be blown out of the compensation container 1 into the environment via this first valve. In the case where there is negative pressure in the compensation container 1, fresh air 2a enters the compensation container 1 from the environment via a second valve 10.

[0026] In addition, a second receiving part 11 is formed in the first housing 5 and / or the second housing 6, and an activated carbon cartridge 12 is received in a form-fitting manner in this second receiving part. Thus, the shown compensation container 1 has a container housing 4, which has two receiving parts 7, 11 arranged therein, and a dryer cartridge 8 or an activated carbon cartridge 12 is arranged in the receiving parts. Thus, in the case where there is overpressure in the compensation container 1, air 2 flows out into the environment through the first valve 9 and the activated carbon cartridge 12 arranged in the second receiving part 11. For this purpose, for example, the second valve 10 can be configured as a double valve and can thus also blow air 2 out of the compensation container 1 into the environment. By blowing air 2 through the activated carbon cartridge 12, harmful substances, especially hydrocarbons, can be reliably blocked. Here, fresh air 2a is sucked into the compensation container 1 from the environment via the second valve 10 and the dryer cartridge 8, and the sucked fresh air 2a is dried in this dryer cartridge.

[0027] Here, the first valve 9 is arranged in an intermediate wall 13, which separates the second receiving part 11 from the interior space 16 of the container housing 4. Here, the second valve 10 is arranged in the outer wall of the container housing 4. The second valve can also be configured as a double valve, i.e., a valve permeable in two directions. The outer wall separates the first receiving part 7 from the environment. Of course, the previously described second valve 10 and an additional overpressure valve can also be arranged in the outer wall of the container housing 4, and air 2 is blown out of the compensation container 1 into the environment via this additional overpressure valve.

[0028] If we continue to observe Figure 3 , it can be seen that springs 14 are respectively provided on the dryer cartridge 8 and on the activated carbon cartridge 12. The springs pre-tension the dryer cartridge 8 against the container housing 4 and also pre-tension the activated carbon cartridge 12 against the container housing 4 (specifically against the intermediate wall 13 here). By means of the two springs 14, vibration-free and thus rattle-free (klapperfrei) fixation of the dryer cartridge 8 and the activated carbon cartridge 12 in the respective receiving parts 7, 11 can be achieved. Thereby, an improved user comfort can be achieved especially due to less noise generation.

[0029] Here, the first housing 5 and / or the second housing 6 can be configured as plastic injection-molded parts, whereby not only high-quality manufacturing can be achieved, but also cost-effective manufacturing can be achieved. Here, the two housings 5, 6 can be welded or glued to each other. Purely theoretically, it is also conceivable that the two housings 5, 6 are connected to each other via a clip connection or a screw connection, which offers the following great advantage: The container housing 4 can be opened in order to replace the dryer cartridge 8 or the activated carbon cartridge 12, and the container housing can be used again after replacing the dryer cartridge 8 or the activated carbon cartridge 12.

[0030] Here, the first housing 5 and / or the second housing 6 can be made of polyoxymethylene (POM), that is, made of a plastic with high strength and low hygroscopicity. This is very advantageous especially for the compensation container 1 for the air 2 of the battery cooling system 3. In order to further increase the strength and wear resistance of the container housing 4 here, the plastics of the two housings 5, 6 can be reinforced with fibers, especially glass fibers.

[0031] All in all, by means of the compensation container 1 according to the invention and the battery cooling system 3 according to the invention, a solution that is extremely cost-effective compared to a dryer drum with a sheet metal housing can be achieved.

[0032] Now, hereinafter, an embodiment of the compensation container 1' that does not belong to the present invention should also be briefly described, where Figure 4 the same reference numerals are used for the same components, but each with an apostrophe. Figure 4 According to

[0033] the Figure 4 , the compensation container 1' that does not belong to the present invention has a container housing 4' made of aluminum, which also has a dryer cartridge 8' and an activated carbon cartridge 12'. A first valve 9' is arranged in the region of the activated carbon cartridge 12' such that in the case of overpressure in the container housing 4', air 2' can be blown out into the environment via the first valve 9' and the activated carbon cartridge 12'. In the case of negative pressure in the container housing 4', fresh air 2a' can be sucked in from the environment via a second valve 10'. Here, the sucked fresh air 2a' flows through the dryer cartridge 8'.

[0034] In Figure 4In [the relevant context], the container housing 4' is at least partially configured as an aluminum extrusion profile, wherein the aluminum extrusion profile is sealed at the longitudinal end sides by two end caps 15', which are also made of aluminum. The end caps 15' are fastened to the container housing 4' in a releasable manner, for example, so that the replacement of the dryer cartridge 8' and / or the activated carbon cartridge 12' can be achieved by removing the end caps 15' and reinstalling the end caps 15' afterwards without replacing the container housing 4'. The dryer cartridge 8' or the activated carbon cartridge 12' can be pre-tensioned against the container housing 4' via a corresponding spring 14' and thus held without rattling noise.

Claims

1. A compensating container (1) for a battery cooling system (3), the compensating tank has a tank housing (4) made of plastic, the tank housing having a first shell (5) and a second shell (6) connected to the first shell, -in, A first receiving portion (7) is formed in the first shell (5) and / or in the second shell (6), the compensating container has a dryer box (8) which is received in the first receiving part (7) in a form-fitting manner, the compensating container has a first valve (9) through which air (2) passes from the compensating container (1) into the environment in the event of an excess pressure in the compensating container (1), The compensating container has a second valve (10) through which fresh air (2a) from the environment enters the compensating container (1) when a negative pressure is present in the compensating container (1).

2. The compensating container according to claim 1, It is characterized in that - a second receiving portion (11) is formed in the first shell (5) and / or in the second shell (6), An activated carbon cartridge (12) is received in the second receiving portion (11) in a form-fitting manner.

3. The compensating container according to claim 2, It is characterized in that The first valve (9) is arranged in an intermediate wall (13) which separates the second receiving portion (11) from an interior space (16) of the container housing (4).

4. The compensating container according to claim 2 or 3, It is characterized in that A spring (14) is provided, which pre-tightens the dryer box (8) or the activated carbon box (12) against the container housing (4).

5. The compensating container according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The first shell (5) and / or the second shell (6) are designed as plastic injection-molded parts.

6. The compensating container according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The first shell (5) and the second shell (6) are welded, clamped, screwed or bonded to each other.

7. The compensating container according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The first shell (5) and / or the second shell (6) are made of polyoxymethylene (POM) or of polyketone.

8. The compensating container according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The first shell (5) and / or the second shell (6) comprises glass fibers, in particular a 25% glass fiber content in the plastic.

9. The compensating container according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The second valve (10) is arranged in an outer wall of the container housing (4), which separates the first receptacle (7) from the environment.

10. A battery cooling system (3) having a compensating container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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