Thermal management unit, control method, test system and test method

Abstract

The invention provides a thermal management unit, a control method, a test system and a test method, and relates to the technical field of thermal management, and the thermal management unit is used for carrying out thermal management on a to-be-tested battery, and comprises a first box body which is provided with a first liquid outlet end and is configured to store a first liquid medium; the second box body is provided with a first liquid inlet end, a second liquid outlet end and a second liquid inlet end, the second liquid outlet end is connected with one end of the battery to be detected, the second liquid inlet end is connected with the other end of the battery to be detected, and the first liquid inlet end is connected with the first liquid outlet end and is configured to receive a first liquid medium from the first liquid outlet end; the storage unit is configured to store a second liquid medium and receive the second liquid medium from the other end of the battery to be tested, and the second liquid medium is at least one part of the first liquid medium; and the first valve is connected between the first liquid outlet end and the first liquid inlet end, and is configured to be opened in response to the opening instruction and closed under the condition that the volume of the second liquid medium in the second box body reaches the preset volume.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of thermal management technology, and in particular to a thermal management unit and control method, a test system and a test method. Background Art

[0002] Before putting batteries into production, they must be tested using a thermal management unit in a simulated operating environment to determine their thermal management indicators (e.g., the maximum battery temperature during charging and the maximum temperature change during charging). Based on these thermal management indicators in the simulated environment, R&D personnel can estimate whether the battery's performance meets the requirements under production conditions. If so, the battery can be put into production. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In related technologies, the volume of the liquid medium in the thermal management unit in the working environment is much smaller than that in the simulated environment. In this case, the thermal management indicators in the simulated environment cannot accurately reflect the impact of the liquid medium volume in the working environment on the battery performance. Consequently, it is impossible to accurately estimate whether the battery performance in the working environment meets the requirements. As a result, the evaluated batteries may perform poorly after being put into use in the working environment.

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the embodiments of the present disclosure propose the following solutions.

[0005] According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a thermal management unit is provided for performing thermal management on a battery to be tested, comprising: a first tank having a first liquid outlet, configured to store a first liquid medium; a second tank having a first liquid inlet, a second liquid outlet, and a second liquid inlet, wherein the first liquid inlet is connected to the first liquid outlet and is configured to receive the first liquid medium from the first liquid outlet, the second liquid outlet is connected to one end of the battery to be tested, and the second liquid inlet is connected to the other end of the battery to be tested, and is configured to store a second liquid medium and receive the second liquid medium from the other end of the battery to be tested, wherein the second liquid medium is at least a part of the first liquid medium; a first valve is connected between the first liquid outlet and the first liquid inlet, and is configured to open in response to an opening instruction, and to close when the volume of the second liquid medium in the second tank reaches a preset volume.

[0006] In some embodiments, the thermal management unit also includes a heat exchange device, one end of the heat exchange device is connected to the second liquid outlet, and the other end of the heat exchange device is connected to one end of the battery to be tested, and is configured to cool the second liquid medium from the second liquid outlet in response to a cooling instruction for the battery to be tested, and to heat the second liquid medium from the second liquid outlet in response to a heating instruction for the battery to be tested.

[0007] In some embodiments, the cooling instruction carries a target cooling power, and the heating instruction carries a target heating power. The heat exchange device is configured to perform the cooling at the target cooling power in response to the cooling instruction, and to perform the heating at the target heating power in response to the heating instruction.

[0008] In some embodiments, the heat exchange device includes: a cooler configured to perform the cooling at the target cooling power in response to the temperature reduction instruction; and a heater configured to perform the heating at the target heating power in response to the temperature increase instruction.

[0009] In some embodiments, the cooling instruction carries a first target flow rate, and the heating instruction carries a second target flow rate. The thermal management unit also includes: a pump, connected between the second liquid outlet and one end of the battery to be tested, and configured to respond to the cooling instruction to deliver the second liquid medium to one end of the battery to be tested at a first opening degree, and respond to the heating instruction to deliver the second liquid medium to one end of the battery to be tested at a second opening degree, wherein, at the first opening degree, the delivered flow rate is the first target flow rate, and at the second opening degree, the delivered flow rate is the second target flow rate.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first box body also has a third liquid inlet end, and the thermal management unit also includes: a second valve, having a first end, a second end and a third end, the first end being connected to the other end of the battery to be tested, the second end being connected to the second liquid inlet end, and the third end being connected to the third liquid inlet end, and being configured to switch from a first state to a second state in response to a recovery instruction instructing the recovery of the second liquid medium, wherein, in the first state, the first end is connected to the second end, and the first end is not connected to the third end, and in the second state, the first end is connected to the third end, and the first end is not connected to the second end.

[0011] In some embodiments, the thermal management unit further includes: a pressure vessel storing gas, configured to release the gas to the second tank in response to the recovery instruction.

[0012] In some embodiments, the gas outlet valve of the pressure vessel is connected between the first valve and the first liquid inlet end.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first valve is configured to close when the level of the second liquid medium in the second tank reaches a first preset level.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first box includes a first detection device configured to detect the height of the first liquid medium in the first box; the second box includes a second detection device configured to detect the height of the second liquid medium in the second box.

[0015] In some embodiments, the thermal management unit also includes a controller, which is configured to issue the opening instruction in response to the user's opening request; issue a closing instruction when the height of the second liquid medium in the second box reaches a first preset height; issue a cooling instruction or a heating instruction when the battery to be tested requires heat exchange; issue a recycling instruction in response to the user's recycling request; and remind to stop adding the first liquid medium to the first box when the height of the first liquid medium in the first box reaches a second preset height.

[0016] According to another aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a test system is provided, comprising: the thermal management unit described in any one of the above embodiments; a battery charging and discharging device, configured to charge the battery to be tested when the battery to be tested needs to be charged, and to serve as the object of discharge of the battery to be tested when the battery to be tested is discharged; a first switch, connected between an external power supply and the thermal management unit, configured to close in response to a first power supply instruction so that the external power supply supplies power to the thermal management unit, and to disconnect in response to a first power-off instruction so that the external power supply stops supplying power to the thermal management unit; a second switch, connected between the battery charging and discharging device and the thermal management unit, configured to close in response to a second power supply instruction so that the power supply device supplies power to the thermal management unit, and to disconnect in response to a second power-off instruction so that the power supply device stops supplying power to the thermal management unit, the power supply device being the battery charging and discharging device or the battery to be tested, wherein the first switch and the second switch are not closed at the same time.

[0017] According to another aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a control method for a thermal management unit is provided, which is used to control the thermal management unit according to any one of the above embodiments, and the control method includes: issuing an opening instruction in response to a user's opening request; issuing a closing instruction when the height of the second liquid medium in the second box reaches the first preset height; issuing a cooling instruction or a heating instruction when the battery to be tested requires heat exchange; issuing a recycling instruction in response to a user's recycling request; and reminding the user to stop adding the first liquid medium to the first box when the height of the first liquid medium in the first box reaches the second preset height.

[0018] According to another aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a testing method is provided, which is used for the testing system described in any one of the above embodiments, and the testing method includes: when the battery to be tested needs to be charged, controlling the battery charging and discharging device to charge the battery to be tested; when the battery to be tested is discharged, controlling the battery charging and discharging device to serve as the object of discharge of the battery to be tested; when the external power supply is required to supply power to the thermal management unit, issuing the first power supply instruction; when the external power supply is required to stop supplying power to the thermal management unit, issuing the first power-off instruction; when the power supply device is required to supply power to the thermal management unit, issuing the second power supply instruction; when the power supply device is required to stop supplying power to the thermal management unit, issuing the second power-off instruction.

[0019] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device is provided, comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, configured to execute the control method described in any one of the above embodiments or the test method described in any one of the above embodiments based on instructions stored in the memory.

[0020] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, by opening and closing the first valve, the second box can receive a preset volume of liquid medium from the first box, and the thermal management unit can use the preset volume of liquid medium to perform thermal management on the battery to be tested. Therefore, the thermal management indicators in the simulated environment can accurately reflect the impact of the preset volume of liquid medium on the performance of the battery to be tested, thereby accurately estimating whether the performance of the battery to be tested in the working environment meets the requirements, which helps to improve the performance of the battery to be tested in the working environment.

[0021] The technical solution of the present disclosure is further described in detail below through the accompanying drawings and examples. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present disclosure. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a thermal management unit according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a thermal management unit according to other embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a test system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 4 It is a flow chart of a control method of a thermal management unit according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 5 4 is a flowchart of a testing method of a testing system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0031] Unless specifically stated otherwise, the relative arrangement of components and steps, the numerical expressions and numerical values ​​set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0032] At the same time, it should be understood that for the convenience of description, the sizes of the various parts shown in the drawings are not necessarily drawn according to the actual proportional relationship.

[0033] Technologies, methods, and equipment known to ordinary technicians in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, the technologies, methods, and equipment should be considered part of the specification.

[0034] In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not limiting. Therefore, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values.

[0035] It should be noted that like reference numerals and letters refer to like items in the following figures, and therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it need not be further discussed in subsequent figures.

[0036] In addition, in the description of the present disclosure, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or order. Similarly, although operations are depicted in a particular order in the accompanying drawings, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in a sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed to achieve the desired result. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing can be advantageous.

[0037] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a thermal management unit according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0038] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, a thermal management unit 100 for thermally managing a battery under test includes a first box 101 , a second box 102 and a first valve 103 .

[0039] Here, the first housing 101 has a first liquid outlet 1011. The first housing 101 is configured to store a first liquid medium, for example, water.

[0040] The second housing 102 has a first liquid inlet 1021, a second liquid outlet 1022, and a second liquid inlet 1023. The first liquid inlet 1021 is connected to the first liquid outlet 1011, the second liquid outlet 1022 is connected to one end 201 of the battery under test 200, and the second liquid inlet 1023 is connected to the other end 202 of the battery under test 200.

[0041] The first liquid inlet 1021 is configured to receive a first liquid medium from the first liquid outlet 1011 , and the second box 102 is configured to store a second liquid medium and receive a second liquid medium from the other end 202 of the battery under test 200 , wherein the second liquid medium is at least a portion of the first liquid medium.

[0042] That is, the second box 102 receives the first liquid medium from the first box 101 as the second liquid medium stored in itself, and the second liquid medium in the second box 102 is used as the liquid medium for heat exchange with the battery under test 200 during the thermal management test.

[0043] In some embodiments, the battery to be tested is a power battery of a vehicle.

[0044] The first valve 103 is connected between the first liquid outlet 1011 and the first liquid inlet 1021. The first valve 103 is configured to open in response to an opening instruction and close when the volume of the second liquid medium in the second tank 102 reaches a preset volume. For example, the first valve 103 is a stop valve.

[0045] In some embodiments, the preset volume is the volume of the liquid medium actually used in the working environment to perform thermal management on the battery under test 200. For example, the preset volume is the volume of the liquid medium used to perform thermal management on the power battery in a vehicle, that is, the battery under test 200 is the power battery of the vehicle.

[0046] It should be understood that when the first valve 103 is open, the first liquid medium in the first tank 101 will flow to the second tank 102 ; when the first valve 103 is closed, the first liquid medium in the first tank 101 will not flow to the second tank 102 .

[0047] In the above embodiment, by opening and closing the first valve, the second box can receive a preset volume of liquid medium from the first box, and the thermal management unit can use the preset volume of liquid medium to perform thermal management on the battery to be tested. Then, the thermal management indicators under the simulated environment can accurately reflect the impact of the preset volume of liquid medium on the performance of the battery to be tested, thereby accurately estimating whether the performance of the battery to be tested in the working environment meets the requirements, which helps to improve the performance of the battery to be tested in the working environment.

[0048] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a thermal management unit according to other embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0049] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 As shown, the first housing 101 of the thermal management unit 100' further has a third liquid inlet end 1013. The thermal management unit 100' further includes a second valve 104 having a first end 1041, a second end 1042, and a third end 1043. For example, the second valve 104 is a three-way valve.

[0050] Here, the first end 1041 is connected to the other end 202 of the battery under test 200, the second end 1042 is connected to the second liquid inlet end 1023, and the third end 1043 is connected to the third liquid inlet end 1013. The second valve 104 is configured to switch from the first state to the second state in response to a recovery instruction instructing to recover the second liquid medium.

[0051] Specifically, in the first state, the first end 1041 is connected to the second end 1042, and the first end 1041 is not connected to the third end 1043; in the second state, the first end 1041 is connected to the third end 1043, and the first end 1041 is not connected to the second end 1042.

[0052] That is, when the second valve 104 is in the first state, the second liquid medium in the second box 102 is circulated for thermal management testing of the battery 200 to be tested; when the second valve 104 is in the second state, the second liquid medium in the second box 102 and the second liquid medium remaining between the second liquid outlet end 1022 and the first end 104 will be recovered into the first box 101.

[0053] For example, the second liquid medium remaining between the second liquid outlet 1022 and the first end 1041 includes the second liquid medium remaining in the battery under test 200. It should be understood that the second liquid medium mainly remains in the battery under test 200, and the second liquid medium remaining between the second end 1042 and the second liquid inlet 1023 can be ignored.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the second valve switches from the first state to the second state, and the second liquid medium can be recovered into the first box, so that the second box can again receive a preset volume of liquid medium for other batteries to be tested from the first box, thereby using a single thermal management unit to perform thermal management tests on multiple batteries to be tested, reducing the testing cost of the thermal management test.

[0055] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 As shown, the thermal management unit 100' further includes a pressure vessel 105 storing gas. The pressure vessel 105 is configured to release the gas to the second tank 102 in response to a recovery instruction.

[0056] In some embodiments, the pressure container 105 has a gas outlet valve (not shown) configured to open in response to a recovery instruction so that the pressure container 105 releases gas into the second tank 102 .

[0057] In the above embodiment, the gas released from the pressure vessel can push the second liquid medium, thereby accelerating the recovery rate of the second liquid medium to the first tank, thereby improving the recovery efficiency.

[0058] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 As shown, the gas outlet valve of the pressure container is connected between the first valve 103 and the first liquid inlet end 1021.

[0059] In this way, the gas released from the pressure vessel can enter the second box from the first liquid inlet end, and then the second liquid medium in the second box and the second liquid medium remaining between the second liquid outlet end and the first end can be quickly recovered to the first box, thereby recovering the second liquid medium more completely and improving the recovery efficiency.

[0060] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 As shown, the thermal management unit 100' further includes a heat exchange device 106. Here, one end of the heat exchange device 106 is connected to the second liquid outlet 1022, and the other end of the heat exchange device is connected to one end 201 of the battery under test 200.

[0061] The heat exchange device 106 is configured to cool the second liquid medium from the second liquid outlet 1022 in response to a temperature reduction instruction for the battery under test 200 , and to heat the second liquid medium from the second liquid outlet 1022 in response to a temperature increase instruction for the battery under test 200 .

[0062] In some embodiments, the heat exchange device 106 cools the second liquid medium at a rated cooling power in response to a temperature reduction instruction; and heats the second liquid medium at a rated heating power in response to a temperature increase instruction.

[0063] In the above embodiment, in response to a cooling instruction or a heating instruction, the heat exchange device can perform corresponding operations on the second liquid medium from the second liquid outlet so that the second liquid medium cools or heats the battery to be tested, thereby achieving a thermal management test on the battery to be tested.

[0064] In the related art, the cooling power of the thermal management unit in the working environment is much smaller than that in the simulation environment. Similarly, the heating power of the thermal management unit in the working environment is much smaller than that in the simulation environment.

[0065] In this case, the thermal management indicators in the simulated environment cannot accurately reflect the impact of the cooling and heating power of the thermal management unit in the working environment on the battery performance, and thus cannot accurately estimate whether the battery performance in the working environment meets the requirements, resulting in poor performance of the battery in the working environment. Based on this, the present disclosure also proposes the following technical solutions.

[0066] In some embodiments, the temperature reduction instruction carries a target cooling power, and the temperature increase instruction carries a target heating power. The heat exchange device 106 is configured to perform cooling at the target cooling power in response to the temperature reduction instruction, and to perform heating at the target heating power in response to the temperature increase instruction.

[0067] That is, the heat exchange device 106 can adjust its own cooling power based on the target cooling power, and adjust its own heating power based on the target heating power.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the heat exchange power of the heat exchange device can be adjusted, and thus the thermal management indicators in the simulated environment can accurately reflect the impact of the cooling power and heating power of the thermal management unit in the working environment on the performance of the battery, thereby accurately estimating whether the performance of the battery to be tested in the working environment meets the requirements, which helps to improve the performance of the battery to be tested in the working environment.

[0069] Next, in conjunction with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a specific method of adjusting the heat exchange power of the heat exchange device is introduced.

[0070] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 As shown, the heat exchange device 106 includes a cooler 1061 and a heater 1062 .

[0071] Here, the cooler 1061 is configured to perform cooling at a target cooling power in response to a temperature drop instruction.

[0072] The heater 1062 is configured to perform heating at a target heating power in response to a temperature increase instruction.

[0073] In some embodiments, the cooler 1061 performs cooling at a first electrical power, and the heater 1062 performs heating at a second electrical power. Here, at the first electrical power, the cooling power of the cooler 1061 is the target cooling power included in the temperature reduction instruction, and at the second electrical power, the heating power of the heater 1062 is the target heating power included in the temperature increase instruction.

[0074] For example, the first electric power or the second electric power may be achieved by adjusting the voltage and / or the current.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the cooler performs cooling at a target cooling power, and the heater performs heating at a target heating power, that is, the second liquid medium can be processed using a separate heat exchange device, so that the second liquid medium can be quickly cooled or heated, thereby improving the processing efficiency of the second liquid medium.

[0076] In the related art, the flow rate of the liquid medium of the thermal management unit in the working environment is much smaller than the flow rate of the liquid medium of the thermal management unit in the simulation environment.

[0077] In this case, the thermal management indicators in the simulated environment cannot accurately reflect the impact of the flow rate of the liquid medium of the thermal management unit in the working environment on the battery performance, and thus cannot accurately estimate whether the battery performance in the working environment meets the requirements, resulting in poor performance of the battery in the working environment. Based on this, the present disclosure also proposes the following technical solutions.

[0078] In some embodiments, the temperature reduction instruction carries a first target flow rate, and the temperature increase instruction carries a second target flow rate.

[0079] like Figure 2 As shown, the thermal management unit 100' further includes a pump 107 connected between the second liquid outlet 1022 and the one end 201 of the battery under test 200. The pump 107 is configured to deliver the second liquid medium to the one end 201 of the battery under test 200 at a first opening in response to a temperature reduction instruction, and to deliver the second liquid medium to the one end 201 of the battery under test 200 at a second opening in response to a temperature increase instruction.

[0080] Here, at the first opening degree, the flow rate delivered by the pump 107 is the first target flow rate, and at the second opening degree, the flow rate delivered by the pump 107 is the second target flow rate. For example, the opening degree of the pump 107 is controlled by a solenoid valve.

[0081] In some embodiments, one end of the pump 107 is connected to an end of the heat exchange device 106 away from the second liquid outlet 1022 , and the other end of the pump 107 is connected to one end 201 of the battery to be tested 200 .

[0082] In some implementation methods, the temperature reduction instruction carries not only the target cooling power but also the first target flow rate; the temperature reduction instruction carries not only the target heating power but also the second target flow rate.

[0083] In the above embodiment, the flow rate of the liquid medium of the thermal management unit can be adjusted, and thus the thermal management index in the simulated environment can accurately reflect the impact of the flow rate of the liquid medium of the thermal management unit in the working environment on the performance of the battery, thereby accurately estimating whether the performance of the battery to be tested in the working environment meets the requirements, which helps to improve the performance of the battery to be tested in the working environment.

[0084] In some embodiments, as Figure 2As shown, the thermal management unit 100' further includes a flow meter 108 connected between one end 201 of the battery under test 200 and the second liquid outlet 1022. The flow meter is configured to detect and report the flow rate of the second liquid medium flowing to the one end 201 of the battery under test 200. For example, if the battery under test 200 has a built-in battery management system (BMS), the flow meter 108 reports the flow rate to the BMS of the battery under test 200 via a controller area network (CAN) message. For another example, if the battery under test 200 does not have a built-in BMS and the thermal management unit 100' is controlled by a controller, the flow meter 108 reports the flow rate to the controller.

[0085] In this way, the flow rate measured by the flow meter can determine whether the pump is operating normally, which helps to monitor whether the thermal management unit is operating normally.

[0086] In some embodiments, the first valve 103 is configured to close when the level of the second liquid medium in the second tank 102 reaches a first preset level.

[0087] In some embodiments, the first preset height is calculated based on the preset volume and the bottom area of ​​the second box 102. For example, if the second box 102 is a rectangular parallelepiped, the preset volume and the bottom area of ​​the second box 102 can be substituted into the volume formula to calculate the first preset height.

[0088] In the above embodiment, the first valve closes when the level of the second liquid medium in the second tank reaches a first preset height. This allows the second tank to accurately store the preset volume of liquid medium, thereby more accurately reflecting the effect of the preset volume of liquid medium on the performance of the battery under test, helping to further improve the performance of the battery under test in an operating environment.

[0089] In some embodiments, the first tank 101 includes a first detection device configured to detect the height of the first liquid medium in the first tank 101. For example, the first detection device is a liquid level sensor.

[0090] In some embodiments, the first tank body 101 further has a liquid infusion port 1012. For example, a user can add the first liquid medium into the first tank body through the liquid infusion port 1012.

[0091] In the above embodiment, the height of the liquid medium in the first box can be detected by the first detection device, which helps the user understand the volume of the liquid medium in the first box and thus replenish or stop replenishing the liquid in time.

[0092] In some embodiments, the second tank 102 includes a second detection device. The second detection device is configured to detect the level of the second liquid medium in the second tank 102. For example, the second detection device is a liquid level sensor. Based on the detection result of the second detection device, the first valve can be closed or kept open, thereby accurately storing a predetermined volume of the liquid medium in the second tank.

[0093] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 As shown, the thermal management unit 100' further includes a third valve 109 having a fourth end 1091, a fifth end 1092, and a sixth end 1093. For example, the third valve 109 is a three-way valve.

[0094] Here, the fourth terminal 1091 is connected to the second liquid outlet 1022, the fifth terminal 1092 is connected to the terminal 201 of the battery under test 200, and the sixth terminal 1093 is connected to a collection container (not shown). The first valve 103 is configured to open in response to a drain instruction instructing the discharge of the first liquid medium and the second liquid medium; the third valve 109 is configured to switch from the third state to the fourth state in response to a drain instruction instructing the discharge of the second liquid medium.

[0095] Specifically, in the third state, the fourth end 1091 is connected to the fifth end 1092, and the fourth end 1091 is not connected to the sixth end 1093; in the fourth state, the fourth end 1091 is connected to the sixth end 1093, and the fourth end 1091 is not connected to the fifth end 1092.

[0096] That is, when the first valve 103 is closed and the third valve 109 is in the third state, the second liquid medium in the second tank 102 is circulated for thermal management testing of the battery 200 to be tested; when the first valve 103 is open and the third valve 109 is in the fourth state, the first liquid medium in the first tank 101 and the second liquid medium in the second tank 102 will be discharged into the collection container.

[0097] In the above embodiment, through the cooperation of the first valve and the third valve, the liquid medium in the first box and the second box can be discharged when the thermal management test is completed, thereby reducing the corrosion of the liquid medium to the first box and the second box, and extending the service life of the first box and the second box.

[0098] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 As shown, a fourth valve 2011 and a fifth valve 2021 are provided between the battery to be tested 200 and the thermal management unit 100 ′.

[0099] Here, one end of the fourth valve 2011 is connected to one end 201 of the battery to be tested 200, and the other end of the fourth valve 2011 is connected to the second liquid outlet 1022; one end of the fifth valve 2021 is connected to the other end 202 of the battery to be tested 200, and the other end of the fifth valve 2021 is connected to the second liquid inlet 1023.

[0100] When the thermal management unit 100' needs to perform a thermal management test on the battery under test 200, the fourth valve 211 and the fifth valve 221 are opened; when the thermal management unit 100' does not need to perform a thermal management test on the battery under test 200, the fourth valve 211 and the fifth valve 221 are closed. This completely isolates the thermal management unit from the battery under test, eliminating the need to shut down the entire thermal management unit when replacing the battery under test with another one. This reduces downtime and helps improve the efficiency of thermal management testing.

[0101] In some embodiments, the thermal management unit 100 ′ further includes a controller.

[0102] The controller is configured to issue an opening instruction in response to a user's opening request; issue a closing instruction when the height of the second liquid medium in the second box reaches a first preset height; issue a cooling instruction or a heating instruction when the battery to be tested requires heat exchange; issue a recycling instruction in response to a user's recycling request; and remind the user to stop adding the first liquid medium to the first box when the height of the first liquid medium in the first box reaches a second preset height.

[0103] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to issue a discharge instruction in response to a user's request to discharge the first liquid medium and the second liquid medium.

[0104] In the above embodiment, the controller sends a variety of instructions to the thermal management unit, which can cause the thermal management unit to perform operations corresponding to the instructions, thereby achieving thermal management testing of the battery to be tested.

[0105] The present disclosure also proposes a testing system.

[0106] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a test system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0107] In some embodiments, as Figure 3 As shown, the test system includes a thermal management unit (thermal management unit 100 and thermal management unit 100') of any of the above embodiments, a battery charging and discharging device 300, a first switch 301 connected between an external power source 400 and the thermal management unit 100 (100'), and a second switch 302 connected between the battery charging and discharging device 300 and the thermal management unit 100 (100'). For example, the external power source 400 is a power distribution cabinet.

[0108] The battery charging and discharging device 300 is configured to charge the battery under test 200 when the battery under test 200 needs to be charged, and to serve as a discharge target of the battery under test 200 when the battery under test 200 is discharging.

[0109] The first switch 301 is configured to close in response to a first power supply instruction so that the external power supply 400 supplies power to the thermal management unit 100 (100'), and to open in response to a first power off instruction so that the external power supply 400 stops supplying power to the thermal management unit 100 (100').

[0110] The second switch 302 is configured to close in response to a second power supply instruction, so that the power supply device supplies power to the thermal management unit 100 (100'), and to open in response to a second power-off instruction, so that the power supply device stops supplying power to the thermal management unit 100 (100'). Here, the power supply device is the battery charging and discharging device 300 or the battery under test 200, and the first switch 301 and the second switch 302 are not closed at the same time.

[0111] That is, at a certain moment, the thermal management unit 100 ( 100 ′) is only powered by one of the external power supply 400 , the battery charging and discharging device 300 , and the battery under test 200 , but not by multiple of the three at the same time.

[0112] In the above embodiment, through the cooperation between the first switch and the second switch, a variety of power supply modes of the thermal management unit can be provided to the test system, and then with the help of the test system, the thermal management indicators of the battery to be tested under different power supply modes of the thermal management unit can be obtained, which helps R&D personnel to more comprehensively estimate the performance of the battery to be tested.

[0113] Next, combine Figure 3 The specific structure of the test system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is introduced.

[0114] In some embodiments, as Figure 3 As shown, the external power source 400 is connected to the battery charging and discharging device 300 and the thermal management unit 100 ( 100 ′) via the third switch 303 .

[0115] In some embodiments, the battery charging and discharging device 300 is configured to convert the AC power of the external power source 400 into DC power for charging the battery under test 200. For example, the battery charging and discharging device 300 includes an AC-DC converter.

[0116] Here, the third switch 303 is configured to be closed when the test system needs to be started, and to be opened when the test system needs to be shut down. In this way, the start and shut down of the test system can be controlled as a whole through the third switch, which is convenient for operators to manage.

[0117] In some embodiments, the battery charging and discharging device 300 has a first interface 3001 and a second interface 3002 , the battery to be tested 200 has a third interface 203 and a fourth interface 204 , the thermal management unit 100 ( 100 ′) has a fifth interface 1001 and a sixth interface 1002 , and the second switch 302 includes a first sub-switch 3021 and a second sub-switch 3022 .

[0118] The first interface 3001 is connected to the third interface 203 via a cable, the second interface 3002 is connected to the fourth interface 204 via a cable, the fifth interface 1001 is connected to the M1 node between the first interface 3001 and the third interface 203 via the first sub-switch 3021, and the sixth interface 1002 is connected to the M2 node between the second interface 3002 and the fourth interface 204 via the second sub-switch 3022.

[0119] A current detection device A1 is provided between the fourth interface 204 and the node M2 ​​, a current detection device A2 is provided between the node M2 ​​and the second interface 3002 , and a current detection device A3 is provided between the node M1 and the fifth interface 1001 .

[0120] As some embodiments, when the battery charging and discharging device 300 supplies power to the battery under test 200, the second interface 3002 is the positive pole and the first interface 3001 is the negative pole; when the battery under test 200 discharges to the battery charging and discharging device 300, the fourth interface 204 is the positive pole and the third interface 203 is the negative pole.

[0121] When the battery 200 to be tested is in a charging state, A1 can detect the actual charging current of the battery 200 to be tested (the corresponding electric energy is recorded as E1), A2 can detect the actual discharge current of the battery charging and discharging device 300 (the corresponding electric energy is recorded as E2), and A3 can detect the current flowing from the battery charging and discharging device 300 to the thermal management unit 100 (100') (the corresponding electric energy is recorded as E3).

[0122] When the battery charging and discharging device 300 supplies power to the battery under test 200 and the external power supply 400 supplies power to the thermal management unit 100 (100'), E1=E2; when the battery charging and discharging device 300 supplies power to the battery under test 200 and supplies power to the thermal management unit 100 (100') at the same time, E1=E2-E3.

[0123] When the battery 200 to be tested is in a discharging state, A1 can detect the actual discharge current of the battery 200 to be tested (the corresponding electric energy is recorded as E4), A2 can detect the current flowing from the battery 200 to the battery charging and discharging device 300 (the corresponding electric energy is recorded as E5), and A3 can detect the current flowing from the battery 200 to the thermal management unit 100 (100') (the corresponding electric energy is recorded as E6).

[0124] When the battery under test 200 discharges to the battery charge and discharge device 300 and the external power supply 400 supplies power to the thermal management unit 100 (100'), E4=E5; when the battery under test 200 discharges to the battery charge and discharge device 300 and supplies power to the thermal management unit 100 (100') at the same time, E4=E5+E6.

[0125] In this case, without considering the electric energy consumed by the thermal management unit 100 (100'), the charge and discharge energy efficiency η1 = E4 / E2*100%; considering the electric energy consumed by the thermal management unit 100 (100'), the charge and discharge energy efficiency η2 = E5 / E1*100%

[0126] As some implementation methods, E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, and E6 may be calculated by the ampere-hour integration method.

[0127] In the above embodiment, through the coordination between the first switch and the second switch and the detection of the current detection device, the impact of the consumption of the thermal management unit can be considered when calculating the charge and discharge energy efficiency of the battery to be tested, thereby accurately calculating the charge and discharge energy efficiency of the battery to be tested.

[0128] The present disclosure also proposes a control method for controlling a thermal management unit according to any one of the above embodiments. Figure 3 As shown, the control method is executed by a controller 500. For example, the controller 500 is a host computer.

[0129] Figure 4 It is a flow chart of a control method of a thermal management unit according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0130] In step 402, in response to a user's opening request, an opening instruction is issued.

[0131] In step 404 , when the height of the second liquid medium in the second tank 102 reaches a first preset height, a closing instruction is issued.

[0132] In step 406 , when the battery under test 200 requires heat exchange, a temperature reduction instruction or a temperature increase instruction is issued.

[0133] In step 408, in response to the user's recycling request, a recycling instruction is issued.

[0134] In step 410 , when the height of the first liquid medium in the first tank 101 reaches a second preset height, the user is reminded to stop adding the first liquid medium to the first tank 101 .

[0135] In some embodiments, the discharge instruction is issued in response to a user request to discharge the first liquid medium and the second liquid medium.

[0136] In the above embodiment, by issuing a variety of instructions to the thermal management unit, the thermal management unit can be made to perform operations corresponding to the instructions, thereby achieving thermal management testing of the battery to be tested.

[0137] The present disclosure also proposes a testing method for the testing system of any one of the above embodiments. Figure 5 4 is a flowchart of a testing method of a testing system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0138] In step 502 , when the battery under test 200 needs to be charged, the battery charging and discharging device 300 is controlled to charge the battery under test 200 .

[0139] In step 504 , when the battery under test 200 is discharging, the battery charging and discharging device 300 is controlled to serve as the discharge target of the battery under test 200 .

[0140] In step 506 , when the external power source 400 is required to supply power to the thermal management unit 100 ( 100 ′), a first power supply instruction is issued.

[0141] In step 508 , when the external power source 400 is required to stop supplying power to the thermal management unit 100 ( 100 ′), a first power-off instruction is issued.

[0142] In step 510 , when the power supply device is required to supply power to the thermal management unit 100 ( 100 ′), a second power supply instruction is issued.

[0143] In step 512 , when the power supply device is required to stop supplying power to the thermal management unit 100 ( 100 ′), a second power-off instruction is issued.

[0144] In the above embodiment, by issuing instructions to control the power supply mode of the thermal management unit, the thermal management indicators of the battery to be tested under different power supply modes of the thermal management unit can be obtained with the help of the test system, which helps R&D personnel to more comprehensively estimate the performance of the battery to be tested.

[0145] Each embodiment in this specification is described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from the other embodiments. Reference can be made to the descriptions of the identical or similar parts between the various embodiments. For the device embodiments, since they are essentially identical to the method embodiments, their descriptions are relatively simple. For relevant parts, reference can be made to the descriptions of the method embodiments.

[0146] Figure 6 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some implementation manners, the electronic device 600 is a controller of any of the above embodiments.

[0147] like Figure 6 As shown, the electronic device 600 includes a memory 601 and a processor 602 coupled to the memory 601 , and the processor 602 is configured to execute the control method or test method of any one of the aforementioned embodiments based on instructions stored in the memory 601 .

[0148] The memory 601 may include, for example, a system memory, a fixed non-volatile storage medium, etc. The system memory may store, for example, an operating system, application programs, a boot loader, and other programs.

[0149] In some embodiments, when the battery to be tested has a built-in battery management system (BMS), the electronic device 600 may receive a message signal from the BMS to determine whether to supply power to the thermal management unit.

[0150] As some implementation methods, when it is determined that power is to be supplied to the thermal management unit, the electronic device 600 may control an external power supply or a power supply device to supply power to the thermal management unit based on a preset rule.

[0151] For example, the preset rule is that when the thermal management unit needs power and the battery under test needs to be charged, the battery charging and discharging device supplies power to the thermal management unit. For another example, the preset rule is that when the thermal management unit needs power and the battery under test needs to be discharged, the battery under test supplies power to the thermal management unit.

[0152] In some embodiments, when the battery to be tested does not have a built-in battery management system (BMS), the electronic device 600 may determine whether to supply power to the thermal management unit 100 based on battery parameters.

[0153] In some embodiments, the battery parameter includes the current battery temperature. For example, if the current temperature of the battery under test is greater than a preset value, the electronic device 600 determines to supply power to the thermal management unit to perform a thermal management test on the battery under test. This allows thermal management testing to be provided even for batteries under test that lack a BMS.

[0154] Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0155] In some embodiments, as Figure 7 As shown, electronic device 600' may further include an input / output interface 603, a network interface 604, a storage interface 605, and the like. The input / output interface 603, the network interface 604, and the storage interface 605, as well as the memory 601 and the processor 602, may be connected, for example, via a bus 606. The input / output interface 603 provides a connection interface for input / output devices such as a display, mouse, keyboard, and touch screen. The network interface 604 provides a connection interface for various networked devices. The storage interface 605 provides a connection interface for external storage devices such as SD cards and USB flash drives.

[0156] Thus far, various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail. To avoid obscuring the concept of the present disclosure, some details known in the art have not been described. Based on the above description, those skilled in the art can fully understand how to implement the technical solutions disclosed herein.

[0157] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present disclosure may be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Thus, the present disclosure may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware. Furthermore, the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable, non-transitory storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0158] The present disclosure is described with reference to flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more blocks in the block diagram can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device generate the functions for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart. Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in a block or multiple blocks.

[0159] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to work in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture comprising an instruction device, which implements the process Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0160] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operational steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device for implementing the process. Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A step that specifies a function in one or more boxes.

[0161] Although some specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail through examples, those skilled in the art will understand that the above examples are for illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments may be modified or some technical features may be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A thermal management unit for thermally managing a battery under test, comprising: A first box body has a first liquid outlet end and is configured to store a first liquid medium; a second housing having a first liquid inlet end, a second liquid outlet end, and a second liquid inlet end, wherein the first liquid inlet end is connected to the first liquid outlet end and is configured to receive a first liquid medium from the first liquid outlet end, the second liquid outlet end is connected to one end of the battery to be tested, and the second liquid inlet end is connected to the other end of the battery to be tested and is configured to store a second liquid medium and receive the second liquid medium from the other end of the battery to be tested, wherein the second liquid medium is at least a portion of the first liquid medium; The first valve is connected between the first liquid outlet and the first liquid inlet, and is configured to open in response to an opening instruction and close when the volume of the second liquid medium in the second tank reaches a preset volume.

2. The thermal management unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a heat exchange device, one end of which is connected to the second liquid outlet, and the other end of which is connected to one end of the battery to be tested, and is configured to cool the second liquid medium from the second liquid outlet in response to a cooling instruction for the battery to be tested, and to heat the second liquid medium from the second liquid outlet in response to a heating instruction for the battery to be tested.

3. The thermal management unit according to claim 2, wherein: The temperature reduction instruction carries a target cooling power, and the temperature increase instruction carries a target heating power. The heat exchange device is configured to perform the cooling at the target cooling power in response to the temperature reduction instruction, and to perform the heating at the target heating power in response to the temperature increase instruction.

4. The thermal management unit according to claim 3, wherein: The heat exchange device comprises: a cooler configured to perform the cooling at the target cooling power in response to the temperature reduction instruction; The heater is configured to perform the heating at the target heating power in response to the temperature increase instruction.

5. The thermal management unit according to claim 2, wherein: The cooling instruction carries a first target flow rate, the heating instruction carries a second target flow rate, and the thermal management unit further includes: a pump connected between the second liquid outlet and one end of the battery to be tested, and configured to deliver the second liquid medium to the one end of the battery to be tested at a first opening in response to the cooling instruction, and to deliver the second liquid medium to the one end of the battery to be tested at a second opening in response to the heating instruction, Wherein, at the first opening degree, the delivered flow rate is the first target flow rate, and at the second opening degree, the delivered flow rate is the second target flow rate.

6. The thermal management unit according to claim 1, wherein: The first box further has a third liquid inlet end, and the thermal management unit further includes: The second valve has a first end, a second end and a third end, wherein the first end is connected to the other end of the battery to be tested, the second end is connected to the second liquid inlet end, and the third end is connected to the third liquid inlet end. The second valve is configured to switch from a first state to a second state in response to a recovery instruction instructing to recover the second liquid medium, wherein, in the first state, the first end is connected to the second end and the first end is not connected to the third end, and in the second state, the first end is connected to the third end and the first end is not connected to the second end.

7. The thermal management unit according to claim 6, further comprising: The pressure container storing gas is configured to release the gas to the second tank in response to the recovery instruction.

8. The thermal management unit according to claim 7, wherein: The gas outlet valve of the pressure container is connected between the first valve and the first liquid inlet end.

9. The thermal management unit according to claim 1, wherein: The first valve is configured to close when the level of the second liquid medium in the second tank reaches a first preset level.

10. The thermal management unit according to claim 9, wherein: The first housing includes a first detection device configured to detect a height of a first liquid medium in the first housing; The second tank includes a second detection device configured to detect a height of a second liquid medium in the second tank.

11. The thermal management unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a controller configured to: In response to a user's opening request, issuing the opening instruction; When the height of the second liquid medium in the second box reaches a first preset height, issuing a closing instruction; When the battery under test requires heat exchange, issuing a temperature reduction instruction or a temperature increase instruction; issuing a recycling instruction in response to a user's recycling request; and When the height of the first liquid medium in the first box reaches a second preset height, a reminder is given to stop adding the first liquid medium into the first box.

12. A testing system comprising: The thermal management unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11; a battery charging and discharging device, configured to charge the battery to be tested when the battery to be tested needs to be charged, and to serve as a discharge target for the battery to be tested when the battery to be tested is discharged; a first switch connected between the external power supply and the thermal management unit, and configured to close in response to a first power supply instruction so that the external power supply supplies power to the thermal management unit, and to open in response to a first power-off instruction so that the external power supply stops supplying power to the thermal management unit; a second switch connected between the battery charging and discharging device and the thermal management unit, and configured to close in response to a second power supply instruction so that the power supply device supplies power to the thermal management unit, and to open in response to a second power-off instruction so that the power supply device stops supplying power to the thermal management unit, wherein the power supply device is the battery charging and discharging device or the battery to be tested; The first switch and the second switch are not closed at the same time.

13. A control method for a thermal management unit, for controlling the thermal management unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the control method comprising: In response to a user's opening request, issuing the opening instruction; When the height of the second liquid medium in the second box reaches the first preset height, issuing a closing instruction; When the battery under test requires heat exchange, issuing a temperature reduction instruction or a temperature increase instruction; issuing a recycling instruction in response to a user's recycling request; and When the height of the first liquid medium in the first box reaches the second preset height, the user is reminded to stop adding the first liquid medium into the first box.

14. A testing method, used in the testing system according to claim 12, the testing method comprising: When the battery to be tested needs to be charged, controlling the battery charging and discharging device to charge the battery to be tested; When the battery to be tested is discharging, controlling the battery charging and discharging device to be the object of discharging the battery to be tested; When the external power supply is required to supply power to the thermal management unit, issuing the first power supply instruction; When the external power supply is required to stop supplying power to the thermal management unit, issuing the first power-off instruction; issuing the second power supply instruction when the power supply device is required to supply power to the thermal management unit; When the power supply device is required to stop supplying power to the thermal management unit, the second power-off instruction is issued.

15. An electronic device comprising: Memory; as well as A processor coupled to the memory is configured to execute the control method according to claim 13 or the testing method according to claim 14 based on instructions stored in the memory.

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