Thermal management system and control method thereof, battery pack and electric equipment

Abstract

The invention provides a heat management system and a control method thereof, a battery pack and electric equipment, the heat management system comprises a plurality of heat exchange assemblies, and at least part of the heat exchange assemblies comprise a plurality of heat exchange units; the multiple heat exchange assemblies are connected in series, and the multiple heat exchange units are connected in parallel. Or the multiple heat exchange assemblies are connected in parallel, and the multiple heat exchange units are connected in series. Through series-parallel combination of the heat exchange assemblies and the heat exchange units, partial series connection and partial parallel connection of the heat exchange units are achieved, too large system flow resistance and too large heat exchange effect difference during full series connection are avoided, insufficient flow distribution during full parallel connection is avoided, the heat exchange medium circulation efficiency can be improved, and the temperature difference can be reduced; and efficient heat dissipation and temperature control of the battery pack are realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of batteries, and particularly to a thermal management system and its control method, a battery pack, and an electrical device. Background Art

[0002] In the thermal management system of a battery pack, the design of the liquid cooling pipeline is a key link to achieve effective heat dissipation and temperature control of the battery modules. When the battery pack includes multiple battery modules, corresponding liquid cooling plates are usually configured for each module, and these liquid cooling plates are connected in series or in parallel through the liquid cooling pipeline to achieve effective heat management.

[0003] However, when these liquid cooling plates are connected in series through the liquid cooling pipeline, the flow resistance of the entire system will increase significantly, resulting in low circulation efficiency of the heat exchange medium. At the same time, since the heat exchange medium flows through each liquid cooling plate in turn from upstream to downstream, there will be a significant difference in the heat exchange effect between the upstream liquid cooling plate and the downstream liquid cooling plate, thereby increasing the temperature difference between the battery modules and affecting the battery performance and life. When these liquid cooling plates are connected in parallel through the liquid cooling pipeline, since the total flow rate is distributed to each independent liquid cooling plate, the flow rate in a single liquid cooling plate is insufficient, which in turn causes an increase in the temperature difference inside a single battery module. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present invention provide a thermal management system and its control method, a battery pack, and an electrical device, which can improve the circulation efficiency of the heat exchange medium and reduce the temperature difference to at least partially solve the above technical problems.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a thermal management system, including a plurality of heat exchange components, and at least some of the heat exchange components include a plurality of heat exchange units;

[0006] Wherein, the plurality of heat exchange components are connected in series, and a plurality of the heat exchange units in the heat exchange components including the plurality of heat exchange units are connected in parallel; or, the plurality of heat exchange components are connected in parallel, and a plurality of the heat exchange units in the heat exchange components including the plurality of heat exchange units are connected in series.

[0007] In one embodiment, the thermal management system further includes:

[0008] A pipeline, the pipeline having a total liquid inlet, a total liquid outlet, a first communication port, and a second communication port, and both ends of the plurality of heat exchange components are respectively communicated with the first communication port and the second communication port; and,

[0009] A flow direction switching device is provided in the pipeline. When the flow direction switching device is in the first state, it connects the total liquid inlet and the first communication port, and connects the second communication port and the total liquid outlet. When the flow direction switching device is in the second state, it connects the total liquid inlet and the second communication port, and connects the first communication port and the total liquid outlet.

[0010] In one embodiment, the flow direction switching device includes a four-way valve, and the four interfaces of the four-way valve are respectively connected to the total liquid inlet, the total liquid outlet, the first communication port, and the second communication port.

[0011] In one embodiment, at least two heat exchange assemblies are provided, and each heat exchange unit has two liquid passing ports that communicate with each other;

[0012] The pipeline includes two liquid collecting pipe groups, and the two liquid collecting pipe groups are arranged corresponding to the two heat exchange assemblies. Each liquid collecting pipe group includes a first liquid collecting pipe and a second liquid collecting pipe. The first liquid collecting pipe has a first liquid collecting port and a plurality of first shunt ports, and the second liquid collecting pipe has a second liquid collecting port and a plurality of second shunt ports;

[0013] The two first liquid collecting ports are respectively connected to the first communication port and the second communication port, the second liquid collecting ports in the two liquid collecting pipe groups are connected to each other, and the two liquid passing ports of each heat exchange unit in the same heat exchange assembly are respectively connected to the first shunt port and the second shunt port in the same liquid collecting pipe group.

[0014] In one embodiment, the two heat exchange assemblies are arranged along a first direction, and the plurality of heat exchange units in each heat exchange assembly are arranged along a second direction, and the first direction and the second direction intersect;

[0015] Both the first liquid collecting pipe and the second liquid collecting pipe extend along the second direction.

[0016] In one embodiment, in the second direction, the first liquid collecting port is arranged in the middle of the first liquid collecting pipe; and / or, the second liquid collecting port is arranged in the middle of the second liquid collecting pipe.

[0017] In one embodiment, the two liquid collecting pipe groups are arranged along the second direction, and the first liquid collecting pipe and the second liquid collecting pipe in each liquid collecting pipe group are arranged along the second direction.

[0018] In one embodiment, in the second direction, the two first liquid collecting pipes are located between the two second liquid collecting pipes, or the two second liquid collecting pipes are located between the two first liquid collecting pipes.

[0019] In one embodiment, each of the second liquid collecting pipes is provided with a plurality of second liquid collecting ports, and the plurality of second liquid collecting ports are uniformly arranged on the second liquid collecting pipe along the extending direction of the second liquid collecting pipe. The pipeline further includes a plurality of connecting pipes, and two ends of each connecting pipe are respectively connected to two of the second liquid collecting ports in two of the second liquid collecting pipes.

[0020] In one embodiment, the heat exchange unit includes a liquid cooling plate, and the liquid cooling plate has a liquid passage for a heat exchange medium to flow through.

[0021] In one embodiment, the thermal management system further includes:

[0022] a temperature detection device for detecting the temperature of the battery module; and,

[0023] a control device respectively connected to the temperature detection device and the flow direction switching device, and configured to control the operation of the flow direction switching device according to the detection result of the temperature detection device.

[0024] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a control method for a thermal management system. Based on the above thermal management system, the control method of the thermal management system includes:

[0025] acquiring the temperatures of two battery modules that exchange heat with two serially connected heat exchange units;

[0026] when the difference between the two temperatures reaches a preset value, changing the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the thermal management system.

[0027] In one embodiment, a plurality of the heat exchange components are connected in series, and a plurality of the heat exchange units in the heat exchange component including a plurality of the heat exchange units are connected in parallel. The control method of the thermal management system further includes:

[0028] acquiring the temperatures of a plurality of battery modules that exchange heat with a plurality of heat exchange units in each heat exchange component, and forming multiple groups of temperatures respectively corresponding to the plurality of heat exchange components;

[0029] acquiring the average value of each group of temperatures;

[0030] when the difference between the average values of at least two groups of temperatures reaches a preset value, changing the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the thermal management system.

[0031] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a battery pack, including:

[0032] a plurality of battery modules;

[0033] and the thermal management system as described in any one of the above, and the heat exchange unit exchanges heat with the battery module.

[0034] Fourthly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an electrical device, including the battery pack as described above.

[0035] Advantages of the embodiment of the present invention:

[0036] In the embodiment of the present invention, the thermal management system includes multiple heat exchange components, and at least some of the heat exchange components contain multiple heat exchange units, and two unique setting methods are formed through the series-parallel combination of the heat exchange components and the heat exchange units. In the first setting, the heat exchange components are connected in series, and the heat exchange medium flows through each heat exchange component in sequence, effectively solving the problem of insufficient distribution of the heat exchange medium in a single heat exchange component caused by parallel connection. The heat exchange units in the heat exchange component are connected in parallel, and this design increases the flow path of the heat exchange medium, reduces the overall flow resistance of the system, and at the same time reduces the difference in heat exchange effects between different heat exchange units in the heat exchange component caused by series connection. In the second setting, the heat exchange components are connected in parallel, and the heat exchange medium can flow through multiple heat exchange components simultaneously, thereby greatly reducing the overall flow resistance of the system and effectively alleviating the difference in heat exchange effects between different heat exchange components caused by series connection. At the same time, the heat exchange units in the heat exchange component are connected in series, and this design avoids the problem of insufficient heat exchange medium flow in a single heat exchange unit caused by parallel connection. In summary, through the series-parallel combination of the heat exchange components and the heat exchange units, partial series and partial parallel of the heat exchange units are realized. This connection method effectively avoids the excessive system flow resistance and heat exchange effect difference caused by all-series connection, and solves the problem of insufficient flow distribution in all-parallel connection. In this way, the circulation efficiency of the heat exchange medium can be improved, the temperature difference can be reduced, and efficient heat dissipation and temperature control of the battery pack can be achieved. Description of the Drawings

[0037] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the following drawings are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0038] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the principle of the thermal management system provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a schematic diagram of the principle of the thermal management system in another state in;

[0040] Figure 3 is a top view schematic diagram of the battery pack provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 4 is Figure 3Schematic perspective view of a partial structure of the battery pack therein;

[0042] Figure 5 is Figure 4 Enlarged schematic view of partial A therein;

[0043] Figure 6 is Figure 3 Top view schematic of a partial structure of the thermal management system therein;

[0044] Figure 7 is Figure 6 Schematic perspective view of a partial structure of the thermal management system therein;

[0045] Figure 8 is the first process schematic diagram of the control method of the thermal management system provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 9 is the second process schematic diagram of the control method of the thermal management system provided by the embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Reference numerals:

[0048] 1000, battery pack; 100, thermal management system; 1, heat exchange component; 11, heat exchange unit; 111, liquid passing port; 2, pipeline; 21, total liquid inlet; 22, total liquid outlet; 23, first communication port; 24, second communication port; 25, liquid collecting pipe group; 251, first liquid collecting pipe; 2511, first liquid collecting port; 2512, first shunt port; 252, second liquid collecting pipe; 2521, second liquid collecting port; 2522, second shunt port; 26, connecting pipe; 27, shunt pipe; 3, flow direction switching device; 31, four-way valve; 200, battery module. Detailed implementation manners

[0049] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without making creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present invention. In addition, it should be understood that the specific implementation manners described herein are only used to illustrate and explain the present invention, and are not used to limit the present invention. In the present invention, unless otherwise stated, the orientation words such as "upper" and "lower" usually refer to the upper and lower in the actual use or working state of the device, specifically the drawing direction in the accompanying drawings; and "inner" and "outer" refer to the outline of the device.

[0050] This application proposes a thermal management system, Figure 1 and Figure 2 are some embodiments of this application.

[0051] Please refer to Figure 1 or Figure 2 In some embodiments of the present application, the thermal management system 100 includes a plurality of heat exchange components 1, and at least some of the heat exchange components 1 include a plurality of heat exchange units 11; wherein, the plurality of heat exchange components 1 are connected in series, and the plurality of heat exchange units 11 in the heat exchange component 1 including the plurality of heat exchange units 11 are connected in parallel (as Figure 1 or Figure 2 shown); alternatively, the plurality of heat exchange components 1 are connected in parallel, and the plurality of heat exchange units 11 in the heat exchange component 1 including the plurality of heat exchange units 11 are connected in series.

[0052] In the technical solution of the present application, the thermal management system 100 includes a plurality of heat exchange components 1, at least some of the heat exchange components 1 contain a plurality of heat exchange units 11, and two unique setting methods are formed through the series-parallel combination of the heat exchange components 1 and the heat exchange units 11. In the first setting, the heat exchange components 1 are connected in series, and the heat exchange medium flows through each heat exchange component 1 in sequence, effectively solving the problem of insufficient distribution of the heat exchange medium in a single heat exchange component 1 caused by parallel connection. The heat exchange units 11 in the heat exchange component 1 are connected in parallel. This design increases the flow path of the heat exchange medium, reduces the overall flow resistance of the system, and at the same time reduces the difference in heat exchange effect between different heat exchange units 11 in the heat exchange component 1 caused by series connection. In the second setting, the heat exchange components 1 are connected in parallel, and the heat exchange medium can flow through a plurality of heat exchange components 1 at the same time, thereby greatly reducing the overall flow resistance of the system and effectively alleviating the difference in heat exchange effect between different heat exchange components 1 caused by series connection. At the same time, the heat exchange units 11 in the heat exchange component 1 are connected in series. This design avoids the problem of insufficient heat exchange medium flow in a single heat exchange unit 1 caused by parallel connection. In summary, through the series-parallel combination of the heat exchange components 1 and the heat exchange units 11, partial series and partial parallel connection of the heat exchange units 11 are realized. This connection method effectively avoids the excessive system flow resistance and heat exchange effect difference caused by full series connection, and solves the problem of insufficient flow distribution during full parallel connection. In this way, the circulation efficiency of the heat exchange medium can be improved, the temperature difference can be reduced, and efficient heat dissipation and temperature control of the battery pack 1000 can be achieved.

[0053] In some embodiments, each heat exchange component 1 includes a plurality of heat exchange units 11, and the number of heat exchange units 11 in each heat exchange component 1 is the same. In these embodiments, each heat exchange component 1 includes a plurality of heat exchange units 11, and the number of heat exchange units 11 in each heat exchange component 1 is the same. If the heat exchange components 1 are connected in parallel, the heat exchange units 11 within each heat exchange component 1 are connected in series, and the number of heat exchange units 11 in each heat exchange component 1 is the same. As long as the flow rate entering each heat exchange component 1 is uniform, the flow rate of all heat exchange units 11 can be ensured to be consistent. This means that by ensuring that each parallel-connected heat exchange component 1 receives an equal amount of heat exchange medium, the flow rate consistency among the heat exchange units 11 connected in series within each heat exchange component 1 can be achieved, thereby avoiding the problem of uneven heat dissipation caused by insufficient flow rate in a single heat exchange unit 11 and improving the thermal management efficiency and temperature consistency of the entire system. On the other hand, if the heat exchange components 1 are connected in series, the heat exchange units 11 within each heat exchange component 1 are connected in parallel, and the number of heat exchange units 11 in each heat exchange component 1 is the same. As long as the flow rate is uniform when each heat exchange component 1 is divided into each heat exchange unit 11, the flow rate of all heat exchange units 11 can be ensured to be consistent. This indicates that in the case where the heat exchange components 1 are connected in series, by optimizing the design of the internal flow splitting mechanism of each heat exchange component 1 to ensure that the flow rate of the heat exchange medium allocated to each parallel-connected heat exchange unit 11 is the same, the occurrence of local overheating can be effectively prevented, and the overall heat dissipation performance and stability of the system can be improved. Thus, whether through external (entering each heat exchange component 1) or internal (between the heat exchange units 11 within the heat exchange component 1) flow control, it is to ensure that all heat exchange units 11 can obtain sufficient heat exchange medium to achieve the best heat dissipation effect and temperature balance, ultimately realizing the efficient heat dissipation and temperature control of the battery pack 1000. In addition, the consistency of the number of heat exchange units 11 makes the above-mentioned uniform flow control easier to achieve.

[0054] In some embodiments, see Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the thermal management system 100 further includes a pipeline 2 and a flow direction switching device 3. The pipeline 2 has a total liquid inlet 21, a total liquid outlet 22, a first communication port 23, and a second communication port 24. Both ends of a plurality of heat exchange components 1 are respectively communicated with the first communication port 23 and the second communication port 24. That is to say, the first communication port 23 and the second communication port 24 are respectively communicated with both ends of a plurality of heat exchange components 1 connected in series (as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 ), or the first communication port 23 is respectively communicated with one end of a plurality of heat exchange components 1 connected in parallel, and the second communication port 24 is respectively communicated with the other end of a plurality of heat exchange components 1 connected in parallel; the flow direction switching device 3 is arranged in the pipeline 2. When the flow direction switching device 3 is in the first state, it communicates the total liquid inlet 21 and the first communication port 23, and communicates the second communication port 24 and the total liquid outlet 22 (see Figure 1), when the flow direction switching device 3 is in the second state, the total liquid inlet 21 and the second communication port 24 are connected, and the first communication port 23 and the total liquid outlet 22 are connected (see Figure 2 ). In these embodiments, the total liquid inlet 21 is responsible for introducing the heat exchange medium into the entire thermal management system 100, ensuring that the heat exchange medium can flow through each heat exchange component 1 according to a predetermined path, thereby achieving effective heat dissipation of the battery module 200, and the total liquid outlet 22 is used to discharge the heat exchange medium after heat exchange from the system to complete a cycle. Through the total liquid inlet 21 and the total liquid outlet 22, the heat exchange medium can continue to circulate in the system, take away heat, maintain the temperature of the battery module 200 within an appropriate range, and ensure the normal operation of the system. The first connecting port 23 and the second connecting port 24 are respectively connected to the two ends of the plurality of heat exchange components 1 connected in series, or the first connecting port 23 is respectively connected to one end of the plurality of heat exchange components 1 connected in parallel, and the second connecting port 24 is respectively connected to the other end of the plurality of heat exchange components 1 connected in parallel (without affecting the series-parallel connection of the plurality of heat exchange components 1). This design cooperates with the flow direction switching device 3 to realize the upstream and downstream position switching of the heat exchange component 1 or the heat exchange unit 11, that is, when the heat exchange components 1 are connected in series and the heat exchange units 11 are connected in parallel, the heat exchange component 1 originally located upstream can be changed to downstream through the flow direction switching (such as self Figure 1 Switch to Figure 2 When the heat exchange assembly 1 is connected in parallel and the heat exchange units 11 are connected in series, the heat exchange unit 11 originally located in the upstream can be switched to the downstream. In this way, whether it is through the upstream and downstream switching of the heat exchange assembly 1 or the upstream and downstream switching of the heat exchange unit 11 itself, the heat exchange unit 11 can change its position to avoid the problem of poor heat exchange effect due to being in the downstream all the time. By adjusting the upstream and downstream positions of each heat exchange assembly 1 and the heat exchange unit 11 regularly or as needed, each heat exchange unit 11 can have the opportunity to be in a more effective cooling position, thereby achieving a more uniform heat exchange effect, improving the efficiency and reliability of the entire thermal management system 100, and extending the service life of the heat exchange assembly 1 and the battery module 200.

[0055] The present application does not limit the type of the flow direction switching device 3. For example, the flow direction switching device 3 can adopt a combination of an electric three-way valve and a one-way valve, and the switching of the fluid flow direction is achieved through the joint action of components such as the electric three-way valve, the one-way valve and the solenoid valve.

[0056] In some embodiments, see Figure 1 and Figure 2, the flow direction switching device 3 includes a four-way valve 31, and the four interfaces of the four-way valve 31 are respectively communicated with the total liquid inlet 21, the total liquid outlet 22, the first communication port 23 and the second communication port 24. In these embodiments, the four interfaces of the four-way valve 31 are respectively communicated with the total liquid inlet 21, the total liquid outlet 22, the first communication port 23 and the second communication port 24. By adjusting the flow direction of the heat exchange medium through the four-way valve 31, compared with using multiple three-way ball valves or other combination methods, the four-way valve 31 can complete all necessary flow path conversions within a single valve, without the need for complex multi-valve combinations. This design significantly reduces the number of connection points of the pipeline 2, thereby simplifying the pipeline layout of the entire system, reducing the leakage risk caused by too many connection points, and at the same time improving the overall reliability of the system. The four-way valve 31 usually only needs one operation to complete the switching of the flow direction, while using multiple groups of three-way ball valves requires multiple adjustments, which not only increases the complexity of the operation but also may lead to operation errors. In contrast, the four-way valve 31 can quickly change the flow direction of the cooling medium, improving the response speed and adaptability of the system. In addition, the single four-way valve 31 has a simple structure, low failure rate, and is more convenient and fast to maintain. Compared with the complex multi-valve combination system, the maintenance cost of the four-way valve 31 is lower, reducing the maintenance workload and cost during long-term operation. In summary, using the four-way valve 31 as the flow direction switching device 3 can significantly simplify the pipeline design, be easy to operate, enhance the flexibility of the system, and reduce the maintenance cost, thereby improving the overall performance and maintainability of the system.

[0057] In some embodiments, see Figures 5 to 7, there are at least two heat exchange components 1, and each heat exchange unit 11 has two liquid ports 111 that communicate with each other; the pipeline 2 includes two liquid collecting pipe groups 25, and the two liquid collecting pipe groups 25 are arranged corresponding to the two heat exchange components 1. Each liquid collecting pipe group 25 includes a first liquid collecting pipe 251 and a second liquid collecting pipe 252. The first liquid collecting pipe 251 has a first liquid collecting port 2511 and a plurality of first shunt ports 2512, and the second liquid collecting pipe 252 has a second liquid collecting port 2521 and a plurality of second shunt ports 2522; the two first liquid collecting ports 2511 are respectively communicated with the first communication port 23 and the second communication port 24, and the second liquid collecting ports 2521 in the two liquid collecting pipe groups 25 communicate with each other. The two liquid ports 111 of each heat exchange unit 11 in the same heat exchange component 1 are respectively communicated with the first shunt port 2512 and the second shunt port 2522 in the same liquid collecting pipe group 25. In these examples, through the two liquid collecting pipe groups 25, the series connection of the two heat exchange components 1 and the parallel connection of the multiple heat exchange units 11 in each heat exchange component 1 are realized. Specifically, taking the case where the total liquid inlet 21 is communicated with the second communication port 24, and the first communication port 23 is communicated with the total liquid outlet 22 as an example, after the heat exchange medium enters the system from the total liquid inlet 21, it sequentially passes through the second communication port 24 and a first liquid collecting port 2511, and enters the first liquid collecting pipe 251 in a liquid collecting pipe group 25. Subsequently, the heat exchange medium is shunted to the multiple heat exchange units 11 in the corresponding heat exchange component 1 through the plurality of first shunt ports 2512 of the first liquid collecting pipe 251. After heat exchange, the heat exchange medium is respectively collected into the second liquid collecting pipe 252 in the liquid collecting pipe group 25 through the plurality of second shunt ports 2522, and flows into the second liquid collecting pipe 252 of another liquid collecting pipe group 25 through the mutually communicated second liquid collecting ports 2521. After entering another liquid collecting pipe group 25, the heat exchange medium is shunted to multiple heat exchange units 11 again through the plurality of second shunt ports 2522 of the second liquid collecting pipe 252, and finally is collected through the plurality of first shunt ports 2512 of the first liquid collecting pipe 251 of the liquid collecting pipe group 25, and flows to the first communication port 23 through the first liquid collecting port 2511, and finally flows out from the total liquid outlet 22. Through this design of the liquid collecting pipe group 25, the orderly flow of the heat exchange medium between the two heat exchange components 1 and the uniform distribution within each heat exchange component 1 are realized.

[0058] In some examples, see Figure 6 and Figure 7, the pipeline 2 further includes a plurality of shunt pipes 27. Two liquid passing ports 111 of each heat exchange unit 11 are respectively communicated with a first shunt port 2512 and a second shunt port 2522 in the same liquid collecting pipe group 25 through two shunt pipes 27. Specifically, the heat exchange medium flows into the heat exchange unit 11 from the first shunt port 2512 of the first liquid collecting pipe 251 through the shunt pipe 27 from one liquid passing port 111. After heat exchange, it then flows out from the other liquid passing port 111 of the heat exchange unit 11 and flows to the second shunt port 2522 of the second liquid collecting pipe 252 through another shunt pipe 27. This design connects the heat exchange unit 11 with the liquid collecting pipe group 25 through the shunt pipe 27, ensuring that the heat exchange medium can be accurately distributed to each heat exchange unit 11 and efficiently collected and returned after heat exchange.

[0059] In some embodiments, see Figure 6 and Figure 7 , the two heat exchange assemblies 1 are arranged along a first direction, and a plurality of heat exchange units 11 in each heat exchange assembly 1 are arranged along a second direction, and the first direction intersects the second direction; both the first liquid collecting pipe 251 and the second liquid collecting pipe 252 extend along the second direction. In these embodiments, the two heat exchange assemblies 1 are arranged along the first direction, and a plurality of heat exchange units 11 in each heat exchange assembly 1 are arranged along the second direction, and the first direction intersects the second direction. This layout makes the arrangement of the heat exchange assemblies 1 and the heat exchange units 11 more reasonable, can make full use of the limited space, and improve the compactness of the system. At the same time, since the liquid collecting pipes extend along the second direction, which is consistent with the arrangement direction of the heat exchange units 11, this helps to simplify the pipeline connection, reduce the bending and length of the pipeline 2, thereby reducing the flow resistance and improving the flow efficiency of the heat exchange medium. In addition, this arrangement is also beneficial to the maintenance and repair of the system because the layout of the heat exchange units 11 and the liquid collecting pipes is more regular, facilitating the inspection and maintenance work of the operators. In some examples, the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular, and this perpendicular arrangement can achieve the effective use of space and the simple design of the pipeline. In some other examples, the first direction and the second direction are obliquely intersecting, that is, an angle other than 90 degrees is formed between the two.

[0060] In some embodiments, see Figure 6 and Figure 7, in the second direction, the first liquid collection port 2511 is provided in the middle of the first liquid collection pipe 251; and / or, the second liquid collection port 2521 is provided in the middle of the second liquid collection pipe 252. In these embodiments, in the second direction, the first liquid collection port 2511 is provided in the middle of the first liquid collection pipe 251; and / or, the second liquid collection port 2521 is provided in the middle of the second liquid collection pipe 252. This design enables the heat exchange medium to be more evenly distributed to each heat exchange unit 11, and also helps to more efficiently collect the heat exchange medium after heat exchange. By arranging the liquid collection port (the first liquid collection port 2511 or the second liquid collection port 2521) in the middle of the liquid collection pipe (the first liquid collection pipe 251 or the second liquid collection pipe 252), the flow distance of the heat exchange medium in the liquid collection pipe when flowing towards the shunt port (the first shunt port 2512 or the second shunt port 2522) can be reduced, the flow resistance can be lowered, and the thermal management efficiency of the system can be improved. At the same time, this layout can further optimize the parallel connection effect of the heat exchange units 11, ensure that each heat exchange unit 11 can obtain a relatively uniform flow rate, and thus improve the heat exchange performance and temperature uniformity of the entire system.

[0061] In some embodiments, see Figure 6 and Figure 7 , two sets of liquid collection pipes 25 are arranged along the second direction, and the first liquid collection pipe 251 and the second liquid collection pipe 252 in each set of liquid collection pipes 25 are arranged along the second direction. In these embodiments, two sets of liquid collection pipes 25 are arranged along the second direction, and the first liquid collection pipe 251 and the second liquid collection pipe 252 in each set of liquid collection pipes 25 are also arranged along the second direction. This layout makes the structure of the entire thermal management system 100 more regular and compact, facilitating efficient heat exchange in a limited space. By arranging the sets of liquid collection pipes 25 along the second direction, it can be ensured that the path of the heat exchange medium when entering and leaving the heat exchange assembly 1 is smoother, reducing unnecessary detours and resistance, thereby improving the flow efficiency of the system. At the same time, this arrangement is also beneficial to simplifying the pipeline connection, reducing the system complexity, and improving the reliability and maintainability of the system.

[0062] In some embodiments, see Figure 6 and Figure 7, in the second direction, two first liquid collecting pipes 251 are located between two second liquid collecting pipes 252, or two second liquid collecting pipes 252 are located between two first liquid collecting pipes 251. In these embodiments, the two second liquid collecting pipes 252 are used for the mutual connection between the liquid collecting pipe groups 25, and the two first liquid collecting pipes 251 are used for the connection between the liquid collecting pipe group 25 and the first communication port 23 and the second communication port 24. In the second direction, two first liquid collecting pipes 251 are located between two second liquid collecting pipes 252, or two second liquid collecting pipes 252 are located between two first liquid collecting pipes 251, and the flow splitting and collecting paths of the heat exchange medium in the two liquid collecting pipe groups 25 are more symmetric and balanced, thereby reducing the problem of uneven flow distribution caused by asymmetric flow channels. This design not only ensures that each heat exchange unit 11 can obtain a relatively uniform heat exchange medium flow rate, but also reduces the flow resistance of the heat exchange medium in the liquid collecting pipe, improves the overall circulation efficiency of the system. In addition, through the symmetric layout, the system structure is more compact, saves space, simplifies the pipeline 2 design, reduces the leakage risk, and is convenient for installation and maintenance. Finally, this arrangement helps to achieve more efficient heat dissipation performance and temperature consistency, providing a reliable, stable and easy-to-maintain thermal management system 100 for the battery pack 1000, ensuring the safety and long-life operation of the battery.

[0063] In some embodiments, see Figure 6 and Figure 7 , each second liquid collecting pipe 252 is provided with a plurality of second liquid collecting ports 2521 (two are schematically shown in the figure), and the pipeline 2 further includes a plurality of connecting pipes 26 (two are schematically shown in the figure). The two ends of each connecting pipe 26 are respectively connected to two second liquid collecting ports 2521 in the two second liquid collecting pipes 252. In these embodiments, the connecting pipes 26 connect the two second liquid collecting pipes 252 to realize the series connection of the two heat exchange components 1. It can be understood that one connecting pipe 26 can also complete this function, but this may cause the flow path of the heat exchange medium to be too concentrated, which may cause problems such as too high local flow resistance and potential decrease in heat dissipation efficiency. Therefore, by providing a plurality of connecting pipes 26, the two ends of each connecting pipe 26 are respectively connected to two second liquid collecting ports 2521 in the two second liquid collecting pipes 252, so that there are multiple connecting paths between the two liquid collecting pipes, reducing the overall flow resistance inside the system, reducing the pressure loss caused by the over-concentration of the flow path, and improving the circulation efficiency of the heat exchange medium.

[0064] In some examples, see Figure 6 and Figure 7, multiple second liquid collection ports 2521 are evenly distributed along the extending direction of the second liquid collection pipe 252. This design enables more balanced communication between the two second liquid collection pipes 252, ensuring that the heat exchange medium can flow efficiently between the two heat exchange components 1. By connecting the communication pipes 26 through the evenly distributed second liquid collection ports 2521, it can effectively avoid the over-concentration of the flow path of the heat exchange medium, reduce the local flow resistance problem, thereby improving the overall heat dissipation efficiency and temperature consistency of the system, and enhancing the reliability and stability of the system.

[0065] In some embodiments, the heat exchange unit 11 includes a liquid cooling plate, and the liquid cooling plate has a liquid channel for the heat exchange medium to flow through. In these embodiments, the heat exchange unit 11 includes a liquid cooling plate, and the liquid cooling plate allows the liquid heat exchange medium to flow through through the internal liquid channel design, thereby having an effective heat exchange capacity.

[0066] This application does not specifically limit the operation of the flow direction switching device 3. In some embodiments, the flow direction switching device 3 is configured to automatically switch the flow direction once after a preset time period. This timing switching mechanism ensures that the flow path of the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange component 1 can be periodically changed, thereby achieving a more uniform heat distribution and a more efficient heat dissipation effect. In this way, the system can actively optimize the heat exchange process without relying on real-time temperature feedback, improving the overall performance and reliability of the system. For example, the flow direction switching device 3 is switched once every 5 minutes.

[0067] In some embodiments, the thermal management system 100 further includes a temperature detection device and a control device. The temperature detection device is used to detect the temperature of the battery module 200; the control device is respectively connected to the temperature detection device and the flow direction switching device 3, and is used to control the operation of the flow direction switching device 3 according to the detection result of the temperature detection device. In these embodiments, the control device is respectively connected to the temperature detection device and the flow direction switching device 3, and is used to control the operation of the flow direction switching device 3 according to the detection result of the temperature detection device. This design enables the thermal management system 100 to dynamically adjust the flow direction of the heat exchange medium according to the actual temperature condition of the battery module 200, thereby achieving more accurate and efficient temperature control. For example, when the temperature of a certain battery module 200 is relatively high, the control device can switch the flow direction to make the heat exchange medium flow through a path that can better cool the heat exchange unit 11 for that battery module 200, thereby quickly reducing the temperature of that battery module 200. This intelligent control method not only improves the adaptability and flexibility of the system, but also enhances the reliability and stability of the system, ensuring that the battery module 200 is always within an appropriate working temperature range and extending its service life.

[0068] In some examples, there are at least two temperature detection devices, which are respectively used to detect the temperatures of two battery modules 200. These two battery modules 200 respectively exchange heat with two heat exchange units 11 in two different heat exchange assemblies 1, and these two heat exchange assemblies 1 are connected in series. When the temperature difference between the two battery modules 200 detected by these two temperature detection devices reaches a preset value, the control device will trigger the flow direction switching device 3 to switch the flow direction once, so as to switch the upstream and downstream positions of the two heat exchange assemblies 1. This design can dynamically adjust the flow direction of the heat exchange medium according to the actual temperature difference of the battery modules 200, optimize the heat exchange effect, and ensure the temperature uniformity of the battery modules 200.

[0069] In some examples, the temperature detection device includes two groups. The two groups of temperature detection devices respectively detect two groups of battery modules 200. The two groups of battery modules 200 respectively exchange heat with two groups of heat exchange assemblies 1. Each group of temperature detection devices includes multiple temperature detection devices, which respectively detect the temperatures of the individual battery modules 200 in the corresponding group of battery modules 200. By processing the temperature data of each group of battery modules 200 (including calculating the average value, median, weighted average or other statistical methods), the overall temperature of the corresponding group of battery modules 200 is obtained. When the overall temperature difference between the two groups of battery modules 200 reaches a preset value, the control device will trigger the flow direction switching device 3 to switch the flow direction once, so as to switch the upstream and downstream positions of the two heat exchange assemblies 1. This design can more comprehensively reflect the temperature state of the battery modules 200 through multi-point temperature detection and comprehensive processing, so as to achieve more accurate flow direction control. Taking the example that there are a total of eighteen battery modules 200, divided into two groups, with each group containing nine battery modules 200, these two groups of battery modules 200 respectively exchange heat with two groups of heat exchange assemblies 1. Each group of heat exchange assemblies 1 contains nine heat exchange units 11, and each battery module 200 exchanges heat with one heat exchange unit 11 correspondingly. Each group of temperature detection devices includes at least nine temperature detection devices, which respectively detect the temperatures of the individual battery modules 200 in the corresponding group of battery modules 200. By processing the temperature data of each group of battery modules 200, such as calculating the average value, the overall temperature of the corresponding group of battery modules 200 is obtained. Specifically, for each group of battery modules 200, the temperature values of the nine battery modules 200 are added together and then divided by nine to obtain the average temperature of the corresponding group of battery modules 200. When the average temperature difference between the two groups of battery modules 200 reaches a preset value (such as 3 °C), the control device will trigger the flow direction switching device 3 to switch the flow direction once, so as to switch the upstream and downstream positions of the two heat exchange assemblies 1.

[0070] In some embodiments, a single battery module 200 is provided with a plurality of temperature detection devices to respectively detect the temperatures at multiple positions of the battery module 200. When the temperature difference at multiple positions of the battery module 200 reaches a preset value, it is determined that the internal temperature difference of the battery module 200 is too large and the cooling effect is poor. At this time, the control device will trigger the operation of the flow direction switching device 3, so that the heat exchange unit 11 for exchanging heat with the battery module 200 is located upstream of the heat exchange medium flow path to improve the temperature difference of the battery module 200. This design can dynamically adjust the temperature non-uniformity inside a single battery module 200, optimize the local heat exchange effect, and ensure the overall performance and lifespan of the battery module 200.

[0071] See Figure 8 , the present application also proposes a control method for the thermal management system 100. Based on the above thermal management system 100, the control method of the thermal management system 100 includes:

[0072] S100: Obtain the temperatures of two battery modules 200 that exchange heat with two series-connected heat exchange units 11;

[0073] S200: When the difference between the two temperatures reaches a preset value, change the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the thermal management system 100.

[0074] In these embodiments, the series-parallel combinations of the heat exchange assemblies 1 and the heat exchange units 11 form two setting modes. The first setting mode is that multiple heat exchange assemblies 1 are connected in series, and multiple heat exchange units 11 included in each heat exchange assembly 1 are connected in parallel. For this setting, two serially connected heat exchange units 11 refer to two heat exchange units 11 located in different heat exchange assemblies 1. They achieve an overall series flow through the series relationship between the heat exchange assemblies 1. Specifically, the heat exchange medium first flows through multiple parallel heat exchange units 11 in one heat exchange assembly 1, and then enters multiple parallel heat exchange units 11 in another heat exchange assembly 1. Overall, two heat exchange units 11 located in different heat exchange assemblies 1 are in series. The second setting mode is that multiple heat exchange assemblies 1 are connected in parallel, and multiple heat exchange units 11 included in each heat exchange assembly 1 are connected in series. For this setting, two serially connected heat exchange units 11 refer to two heat exchange units 11 through which the heat exchange medium flows sequentially inside the same heat exchange assembly 1. The two serially connected heat exchange units 11 are located upstream and downstream of the heat exchange medium flow path. The heat exchange unit 11 located upstream has a good heat exchange effect, and the heat exchange unit 11 located downstream has a poor heat exchange effect. By obtaining the temperatures of two battery modules 200 that exchange heat with two serially connected heat exchange units 11, when the difference between these two temperatures reaches a preset value, it indicates that the temperature difference has reached an unacceptable range. At this time, by changing the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the thermal management system 100, the upstream and downstream positions of the two serially connected heat exchange units 11 in the heat exchange medium flow path can be changed, so that the originally downstream heat exchange unit 11 is in a more effective upstream heat exchange position, thereby achieving a more uniform heat exchange effect, improving the efficiency and reliability of the entire thermal management system 100, and extending the service life of the heat exchange assembly 1 and the battery module 200. There can be various ways to change the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the thermal management system 100. In some examples, the thermal management system 100 includes a flow direction switching device 3, and the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the thermal management system 100 is changed by switching the flow direction switching device 3 between the first state and the second state. In other examples, the thermal management system 100 has two inlets and outlets, and each inlet and outlet is equipped with a liquid pump. By switching the operating states of these two liquid pumps, the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the thermal management system 100 can be changed.

[0075] See Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 9 In some embodiments, multiple heat exchange assemblies 1 are connected in series, and multiple heat exchange units 11 included in the heat exchange assembly 1 including multiple heat exchange units 11 are connected in parallel. The control method of the thermal management system 100 further includes:

[0076] S110: Obtain the temperatures of multiple battery modules 200 that exchange heat with multiple heat exchange units 11 in each heat exchange component 1, and form multiple groups of temperatures corresponding to the multiple heat exchange components 1 respectively.

[0077] S120: Obtain the average value of each group of temperatures.

[0078] S210: When the difference between the average values of at least two groups of temperatures reaches a preset value, change the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the thermal management system 100.

[0079] In these embodiments, the multiple heat exchange components 1 are connected in series, while the multiple heat exchange units 11 included in each heat exchange component 1 are connected in parallel. The thermal management system 100 designed in this way adopts a specific control method to optimize its performance. The specific steps are as follows: First, the system obtains the temperatures of multiple battery modules 200 that exchange heat with multiple heat exchange units 11 in each heat exchange component 1, and forms multiple groups of temperature data corresponding to each heat exchange component 1 respectively. For example, if there are two heat exchange components 1 and each heat exchange component 1 has nine heat exchange units 11, then there will be two groups of temperature data, each corresponding to one heat exchange component 1. Then, each group of temperature data is processed to calculate the average temperature of each group of battery modules 200. Specifically, it is to add up the temperature values of all battery modules 200 in each group and then divide by the number of battery modules 200 in that group to obtain the average temperature of that group. When the difference between the average values of at least two groups of temperatures reaches a preset threshold (such as 3°C), the thermal management system 100 will automatically change the flow direction of the heat exchange medium. This mechanism can effectively balance the temperature differences between different heat exchange components 1 and ensure the temperature uniformity of the system. Taking a specific example, assume there are two heat exchange components 1, and each component contains nine parallel heat exchange units 11. Each heat exchange unit 11 exchanges heat with a battery module 200, so a total of eighteen battery modules 200 are involved, divided into two groups, with nine battery modules 200 in each group. The system first obtains the temperature data of these two groups of battery modules 200, and then calculates the average temperature of each group of battery modules 200. If it is found that the average temperature difference between the two groups of battery modules 200 reaches 3°C, the system will change the flow direction of the heat exchange medium by triggering the flow direction switching device 3 to change its state, or closing the liquid pump at one inlet and outlet and opening the liquid pump at the other inlet and outlet, etc. This adjustment can redistribute the heat, move the originally downstream heat exchange component 1 to the upstream position, thereby improving its heat exchange efficiency and ensuring the stability and efficiency of the system. In this way, the thermal management system 100 not only improves the accuracy of temperature monitoring, but also realizes the dynamic adjustment function based on actual temperature feedback, thereby enhancing the performance and reliability of the overall system.

[0080] The present application also provides a battery pack 1000. The battery pack 1000 includes a thermal management system 100, and the structure of the thermal management system 100 is as described above. Since the battery pack 1000 adopts all the technical solutions of the above-mentioned embodiments, it has at least the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above-mentioned embodiments, which will not be elaborated herein one by one.

[0081] The present application also provides an electrical device. The electrical device includes a battery pack 1000, and the structure of the battery pack 1000 is as described above. Since the electrical device adopts all the technical solutions of the above-mentioned embodiments, it has at least the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above-mentioned embodiments, which will not be elaborated herein one by one.

[0082] The electrical device may be a vehicle, an energy storage power supply, a consumer electronic device, a medical device, or a smart city, etc., and the present disclosure does not make specific limitations thereto.

[0083] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. Specific examples are used herein to illustrate the principles and implementation manners of the present invention. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only used to help understand the method and its core idea of the present invention; at the same time, for those skilled in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation manners and application scopes. In summary, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

Claims

1. A thermal management system, characterized in that, It includes multiple heat exchange components, and at least part of the heat exchange components include multiple heat exchange units; Among them, the multiple heat exchange components are connected in series, and the multiple heat exchange units in the heat exchange component including the multiple heat exchange units are connected in parallel; or, the multiple heat exchange components are connected in parallel, and the multiple heat exchange units in the heat exchange component including the multiple heat exchange units are connected in series.

2. The thermal management system according to claim 1, wherein The thermal management system further includes: A pipeline, the pipeline has a total liquid inlet, a total liquid outlet, a first communication port and a second communication port, and both ends of the multiple heat exchange components are respectively communicated with the first communication port and the second communication port; and, A flow direction switching device is arranged in the pipeline. When the flow direction switching device is in the first state, it communicates the total liquid inlet and the first communication port, and communicates the second communication port and the total liquid outlet. When the flow direction switching device is in the second state, it communicates the total liquid inlet and the second communication port, and communicates the first communication port and the total liquid outlet.

3. The thermal management system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The flow direction switching device includes a four-way valve, and the four interfaces of the four-way valve are respectively communicated with the total liquid inlet, the total liquid outlet, the first communication port and the second communication port.

4. The thermal management system according to claim 2, wherein There are at least two heat exchange components, and each heat exchange unit has two liquid passing ports that communicate with each other; The pipeline includes two collector pipe groups, which are arranged corresponding to the two heat exchange components. Each collector pipe group includes a first collector pipe and a second collector pipe. The first collector pipe has a first liquid collecting port and multiple first shunt ports, and the second collector pipe has a second liquid collecting port and multiple second shunt ports; The two first liquid collecting ports are respectively communicated with the first communication port and the second communication port, the second liquid collecting ports in the two collector pipe groups are communicated with each other, and the two liquid passing ports of each heat exchange unit in the same heat exchange component are respectively communicated with the first shunt port and the second shunt port in the same collector pipe group.

5. The thermal management system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The two heat exchange components are arranged along a first direction, and the multiple heat exchange units in each heat exchange component are arranged along a second direction, and the first direction intersects with the second direction; Both the first collector pipe and the second collector pipe extend along the second direction.

6. The thermal management system according to claim 5, characterized in that, In the second direction, the first liquid collecting port is arranged in the middle of the first collector pipe; and / or, the second liquid collecting port is arranged in the middle of the second collector pipe.

7. The thermal management system according to claim 5, wherein The two collector pipe groups are arranged along the second direction, and the first collector pipe and the second collector pipe in each collector pipe group are arranged along the second direction.

8. The thermal management system according to claim 7, wherein, In the second direction, the two first collector pipes are located between the two second collector pipes, or the two second collector pipes are located between the two first collector pipes.

9. The thermal management system according to claim 4, wherein Each second collector pipe is provided with multiple second liquid collecting ports, and the multiple second liquid collecting ports are evenly arranged on the second collector pipe along the extension direction of the second collector pipe. The pipeline further includes multiple connecting pipes, and both ends of each connecting pipe are respectively communicated with two second liquid collecting ports in the two second collector pipes.

10. The thermal management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The heat exchange unit includes a liquid cooling plate, and the liquid cooling plate has a liquid passage for flowing through a heat exchange medium.

11. The thermal management system according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that, The thermal management system further includes: a temperature detection device for detecting the temperature of the battery module; and, a control device respectively connected to the temperature detection device and the flow direction switching device, and configured to control the operation of the flow direction switching device according to the detection result of the temperature detection device.

12. A control method for a thermal management system, based on the thermal management system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, The control method of the thermal management system includes: obtaining the temperatures of two battery modules that exchange heat with two serially connected heat exchange units; when the difference between the two temperatures reaches a preset value, changing the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the thermal management system.

13. The control method of the thermal management system according to claim 12, wherein A plurality of the heat exchange components are connected in series, and a plurality of the heat exchange units in the heat exchange component including a plurality of the heat exchange units are connected in parallel. The control method of the thermal management system further includes: obtaining the temperatures of a plurality of battery modules that exchange heat with a plurality of heat exchange units in each heat exchange component, and forming multiple groups of temperatures respectively corresponding to the plurality of heat exchange components; obtaining the average value of each group of temperatures; when the difference between the average values of at least two groups of temperatures reaches a preset value, changing the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the thermal management system.

14. A battery pack, characterized in that, including: a plurality of battery modules; and, the thermal management system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the heat exchange unit exchanges heat with the battery module.

15. An electrical device, characterized in that, including the battery pack according to claim 14.

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