Battery module liquid cooling plate

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of battery modules, in particular to a battery module liquid cooling plate which comprises a liquid cooling plate body, the top end of the liquid cooling plate body is provided with multiple groups of flow channel areas, the top end of the liquid cooling plate body is provided with liquid inlet flow channels, liquid outlet flow channels and switching flow channels which are located in the flow channel areas, and the liquid inlet flow channels and the liquid outlet flow channels are designed in parallel. The liquid inlet flow channel and the liquid outlet flow channel are communicated with each other through a switching flow channel, and a liquid inlet strip-shaped pipe and a liquid outlet strip-shaped pipe are fixedly mounted on one side of the bottom end of the liquid cooling plate body. Through the design of the N-in and N-out flow channels below the modules, the narrow and long complex design of the flow channels is avoided, the flow resistance of each cavity is effectively reduced, the power of a matched water cooling unit is reduced, the cost is reduced and the efficiency is improved in a disguised manner, and cooling liquid flowing into the heat dissipation flow channels below the modules is in a low-temperature state without heat exchange, so that the heat dissipation efficiency is improved. The cooling of the module far away from the liquid inlet pipe side is prevented from being influenced, the battery temperature difference is small, and the service life of the battery pack can be prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery module technology, and in particular to a liquid cooling plate for a battery module. Background Technology

[0002] Battery modules are typically equipped with external liquid cooling plates for cooling. However, the traditional cooling plate structure cannot form corresponding pipeline loops with each module. For example, in the case of four rows of battery modules, the coolant cannot simultaneously act on the bottom of all four rows. The coolant must flow through one row of battery modules, exchange heat with that module, and then continue flowing through the pipeline loops that are in contact with the remaining battery modules. This results in the coolant temperature in the pipes of the remaining cooling loops not being the initial low temperature coolant. The cooling effect of the modules near the coolant inlet is better than that of the modules near the outlet. The cooling effect is poor and uneven, so the temperature difference of the entire battery pack will be larger, and the overall temperature rise will be higher. The temperature rise directly affects the battery life. At the same time, due to the excessive length of the pipeline and the need to consider temperature uniformity, the overall flow resistance is relatively large. Therefore, a high-power water cooling unit must be selected to match the cooling system. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a liquid cooling plate for battery modules. By arranging flow channels under each module, a pipeline layout of N inlets and N outlets is formed with the corresponding number of modules. This allows the coolant to act directly on the underside of each module, resulting in a smaller temperature difference in the battery pack, lower temperature rise, and lower flow resistance of the cooling plate. This solves the problems of poor and uneven cooling effect, excessively long pipelines, and high overall flow resistance mentioned above.

[0004] This invention provides a liquid cooling plate for a battery module, comprising a liquid cooling plate body. The top of the liquid cooling plate body has multiple flow channel areas. The top of the liquid cooling plate body has an inlet flow channel, an outlet flow channel, and a transition flow channel located within the flow channel areas. The inlet flow channel and the outlet flow channel are designed parallel to each other and are interconnected through the transition flow channel. An inlet strip tube and an outlet strip tube are fixedly installed on one side of the bottom of the liquid cooling plate body. The bottom of the liquid cooling plate body has a first through hole and a second through hole respectively communicating with the interior of the inlet flow channel and the outlet flow channel. An auxiliary through hole is provided on the inner wall of the inlet strip tube and the outlet strip tube near the liquid cooling plate body. The first through hole communicates with the interior of the inlet strip tube through the auxiliary through hole, and the second through hole communicates with the interior of the outlet strip tube through the auxiliary through hole. The inlet tube and the outlet tube are fixedly installed on one side of the bottom of the liquid cooling plate body. The inlet tube extends into the inlet flow channel, and the outlet tube extends into the outlet flow channel.

[0005] Preferably, one end of the liquid inlet channel is provided with a bent channel, and the first through hole is located at the bent channel.

[0006] Preferably, heat insulation strips are fixedly installed at the connection points between the liquid inlet strip and the liquid outlet strip and the liquid cooling plate body.

[0007] Preferably, both the inlet and outlet strips are designed with an opening on the side closest to the liquid cooling plate body.

[0008] Preferably, a base plate is fixedly installed at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate body, the liquid inlet channel, the liquid outlet channel and the transfer channel are all grooved and form a heat exchange cavity with the base plate, and the liquid inlet strip tube, the liquid outlet strip tube, the liquid inlet tube and the liquid outlet tube are all fixedly installed on one side of the base plate.

[0009] Preferably, the cross-sections at the two ends of the liquid inlet channel are not equal.

[0010] Preferably, the liquid cooling plate body includes multiple sub-plates, the flow channel area is disposed on the sub-plates, and two adjacent sub-plates are fixedly connected to form the liquid cooling plate body.

[0011] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention have the following advantages compared with the prior art: 1. The structure provided by this invention, through the N-in-N-out flow channel design under the module, avoids the narrow and complex design of the flow channel, effectively reduces the flow resistance of each cavity, efficiently performs heat exchange between the coolant and the battery pack, and can reduce the power of the matching water-cooling unit, thereby indirectly reducing costs and increasing efficiency; it allows the coolant to act directly on the bottom of each module, and the coolant flowing into the heat dissipation channel under each module is in a low-temperature state without heat exchange, avoiding the cooling of modules located far from the inlet pipe from being affected, accelerating the heat exchange rate, making the temperature difference of the battery pack smaller, the temperature rise lower, and extending the service life of the entire battery pack.

[0012] 2. The structure provided by the present invention can extend the length of the end of the liquid inlet channel near the edge of the liquid cooling plate body by bending the flow channel, so that the liquid cooling plate body located on the side of the liquid inlet pipe and the liquid outlet pipe also has a good heat exchange effect, thereby expanding the effective area of ​​the overall heat exchange flow channel and improving the heat exchange effect.

[0013] 3. The structure provided by the present invention, by setting heat insulation strips at the connection between the inlet strip pipe and the outlet strip pipe and the liquid cooling plate body, can avoid heat exchange between the coolant inside the inlet strip pipe and the coolant inside the outlet flow channel that has undergone heat exchange, and can also avoid heat exchange between the coolant inside the outlet strip pipe that has undergone heat exchange and the coolant inside the inlet flow channel. This further reduces the influence of the low-temperature coolant that has not undergone heat exchange on the high-temperature coolant that has undergone heat exchange, ensures the uniformity of cooling and temperature reduction of each part of the liquid cooling plate body, and thus reduces the thermal difference value of each part of the liquid cooling plate body.

[0014] 4. The structure provided by the present invention eliminates the need for the process of opening auxiliary through holes on one side of the liquid inlet strip tube and the liquid outlet strip tube by designing them as open, thus reducing the manufacturing difficulty; and by combining the substrate with the grooved liquid inlet channel, liquid outlet channel and transfer channel, the processing and manufacturing steps are reduced.

[0015] 5. The structure provided by this invention, with N inlets and N outlets, allows the flow channel cross-section to be designed as a variable cross-section / equal cross-section flow channel cavity, which facilitates the liquid cooling plate body to better adapt to various heat dissipation requirements. The area with high heat generation is designed as a large cross-section flow channel to facilitate heat dissipation; the area with low heat generation is designed as a relatively small cross-section. While ensuring heat dissipation, heat dissipation can be reasonably distributed, further facilitating the expansion effect of the liquid cooling plate.

[0016] 6. The structure provided by this invention adjusts the flow channel below each module into several cavity flow channels, that is, adjusts the overall flow channel into several parallel and interconnected flow channels. It is not necessary to process the entire liquid cooling plate at the same time. Several flow channels can be processed in steps, which greatly reduces the mold size required for cold plate processing and manufacturing, that is, greatly reduces mold cost. If the liquid cooling plate is made by stamping process, the tonnage of the stamping machine required is also reduced accordingly, forming a low-cost cold plate with high manufacturability. When the liquid cooling plate body is composed of multiple sub-plates fixedly connected, when processing liquid cooling plates of different widths, multiple sub-plates can be fixedly combined into liquid cooling plates of different widths. In this case, there is no need to change the mold, improving adaptability. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a diagram of the internal structure of the liquid cooling plate. Figure 3 This is a diagram of the bottom structure of the liquid cooling plate body; Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the second embodiment of the liquid cooling plate body; Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the third embodiment of the liquid cooling plate body.

[0020] 1. Liquid cooling plate body; 11. Flow channel area; 111. Sub-plate; 2. Liquid inlet flow channel; 21. Liquid outlet flow channel; 22. Transfer flow channel; 3. Substrate; 31. Liquid inlet strip tube; 32. Liquid outlet strip tube; 4. First through hole; 41. Second through hole; 42. Liquid inlet pipe; 43. Liquid outlet pipe; 5. Bent flow channel. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] Various embodiments of the present invention may exist in the form of a range. It should be understood that the description in the form of a range is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as a rigid limitation on the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it should be considered that the range description has specifically disclosed all possible sub-ranges and single numerical values ​​within that range. For example, it should be considered that the range description from 1 to 6 has specifically disclosed sub-ranges, such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6, etc., and single numbers within the range, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, regardless of the range. In addition, whenever a numerical range is indicated in the present invention, it means including any referenced number (fraction or integer) within the indicated range. Unless otherwise specifically stated, all raw materials, reagents, instruments, and equipment used in the present invention can be purchased commercially or prepared using existing equipment.

[0023] In this invention, unless otherwise stated, directional terms such as "upper" and "lower" specifically refer to the orientation of the figures in the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in this invention, the terms "comprising," "including," etc., mean "including but not limited to." In this invention, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. In this invention, "and / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist; for example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. A and B can be singular or plural. In this invention, "at least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "At least one," "at least one of the following," or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of a single item or a plural item. For example, "at least one of a, b, or c" or "at least one of a, b, and c" can both mean: a, b, c, ab (i.e., a and b), ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be a single or multiple.

[0024] Example 1: like Figure 1-3 As shown, a liquid cooling plate for a battery module includes a liquid cooling plate body 1. The top of the liquid cooling plate body 1 has multiple flow channel areas 11. The top of the liquid cooling plate body 1 has an inlet flow channel 2, an outlet flow channel 21, and a transition flow channel 22 located within the flow channel areas 11. The inlet flow channel 2 and the outlet flow channel 21 are designed parallel to each other and are interconnected through the transition flow channel 22. An inlet strip tube 31 and an outlet strip tube 32 are fixedly installed on one side of the bottom end of the liquid cooling plate body 1. The bottom end of the liquid cooling plate body 1 has openings respectively connected to the inlet flow channel 21 and the outlet flow channel 32. The liquid inlet tube 31 and the liquid outlet tube 32 are connected by a first through hole 4 and a second through hole 41. The inner walls of the liquid inlet tube 31 and the liquid outlet tube 32 near the liquid cooling plate body 1 are provided with auxiliary through holes. The first through hole 4 is connected to the inside of the liquid inlet tube 31 through the auxiliary through hole, and the second through hole 41 is connected to the inside of the liquid outlet tube 32 through the auxiliary through hole. The liquid inlet tube 42 and the liquid outlet tube 43 are fixedly installed on one side of the bottom end of the liquid cooling plate body 1. The liquid inlet tube 42 extends into the inside of the liquid inlet tube 2, and the liquid outlet tube 43 extends into the inside of the liquid outlet tube 21.

[0025] like Figure 1-3 As shown: One end of the liquid inlet channel 2 is provided with a bent channel 5, and the first through hole 4 is located at the bent channel 5.

[0026] Specifically, the length of the end of the liquid inlet channel 2 near the edge of the liquid cooling plate body 1 can be extended, so that the liquid cooling plate body 1 located on the side of the liquid inlet pipe 42 and the liquid outlet pipe 43 also has a good heat exchange effect, thereby expanding the effective area of ​​the overall heat exchange channel and improving the heat exchange effect.

[0027] like Figure 1-3 As shown: Insulation strips are fixedly installed at the connection points between the liquid inlet strip 31 and the liquid outlet strip 32 and the liquid cooling plate body 1.

[0028] Specifically: to avoid heat exchange between the coolant inside the inlet strip 31 and the coolant inside the outlet channel 21 that has already undergone heat exchange, and also to avoid heat exchange between the coolant inside the outlet strip 32 that has already undergone heat exchange and the coolant inside the inlet channel 2.

[0029] like Figure 1-3 As shown: Both the liquid inlet strip 31 and the liquid outlet strip 32 have an open design on the side near the liquid cooling plate body 1.

[0030] Specifically, the process of opening auxiliary through holes on one side of the liquid inlet strip 31 and the liquid outlet strip 32 is eliminated, reducing the manufacturing difficulty.

[0031] like Figure 1-4 As shown: the cross-sections at the two ends of the liquid inlet channel 2 are not equal.

[0032] Specifically: N inlet and N outlet, the flow channel cross-section can be designed as a variable cross-section / equal cross-section flow channel cavity, so that the liquid cooling plate body 1 can better adapt to various heat dissipation requirements. The area with high heat generation is designed as a large cross-section flow channel to facilitate heat dissipation; the area with low heat generation is designed as a relatively small cross-section. While ensuring heat dissipation, heat dissipation can be reasonably distributed, which further facilitates the expansion effect of the liquid cooling plate.

[0033] Example 2: like Figure 4 As shown: A base plate 3 is fixedly installed at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate body 1. The liquid inlet channel 2, the liquid outlet channel 21 and the transfer channel 22 are all grooved and form a heat exchange cavity with the base plate 3. The liquid inlet strip tube 31, the liquid outlet strip tube 32, the liquid inlet tube 42 and the liquid outlet tube 43 are all fixedly installed on one side of the base plate 3.

[0034] Specifically, by combining the substrate 3 with the grooved liquid inlet channel 2, the liquid outlet channel 21 and the transfer channel 22, the processing and manufacturing steps are reduced.

[0035] Example 3: like Figure 5 As shown: The liquid cooling plate body 1 includes multiple sub-plates 111, and the flow channel area 11 is disposed on the sub-plate 111. Two adjacent sub-plates 111 are fixedly connected to form the liquid cooling plate body 1.

[0036] Specifically: Multiple sub-plates 111 constitute the liquid cooling plate body 1, which can be expanded into multiple liquid cooling plates with different numbers of flow channels without changing the mold specifications, making it convenient to process liquid cooling plates of different widths.

[0037] Operating principle: During the operation of the battery pack, the coolant flows into the inlet channel 2 inside the liquid cooling plate through the inlet pipe 42, flows through the transfer channel 22 and the outlet channel 21, and flows out through the outlet pipe 43. The coolant in the inlet channel 2 flows into the inlet channel 2 in the remaining channel area 11 through the first through hole 4 and the inlet strip pipe 31. The coolant in the outlet channel 21 in the remaining channel area 11 flows into the outlet pipe 43 through the first through hole 41 and the outlet strip pipe 32, so that heat exchange is realized with each battery module on the surface of the liquid cooling plate body 1 in the aforementioned channels.

[0038] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined in this invention may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed in this invention.

Claims

1. A liquid cooling plate for a battery module, comprising a liquid cooling plate body (1), characterized in that: The top of the liquid cooling plate body (1) is provided with multiple flow channel areas (11). The top of the liquid cooling plate body (1) is provided with an inlet flow channel (2), an outlet flow channel (21) and a transfer flow channel (22) located inside the flow channel area (11). The inlet flow channel (2) and the outlet flow channel (21) are designed to be parallel. The inlet flow channel (2) and the outlet flow channel (21) are interconnected through the transfer flow channel (22). An inlet strip tube (31) and an outlet strip tube (32) are fixedly installed on one side of the bottom end of the liquid cooling plate body (1). The bottom end of the liquid cooling plate body (1) is provided with openings respectively connected to the inlet flow channel (2) and the outlet flow channel (21). The first through hole (4) and the second through hole (41) are internally connected. The liquid inlet strip tube (31) and the liquid outlet strip tube (32) are both provided with auxiliary through holes on the inner wall of the side of the liquid cooling plate body (1) near the liquid cooling plate body (1). The first through hole (4) is connected to the inside of the liquid inlet strip tube (31) through the auxiliary through hole. The second through hole (41) is connected to the inside of the liquid outlet strip tube (32) through the auxiliary through hole. The liquid inlet tube (42) and the liquid outlet tube (43) are fixedly installed on one side of the bottom end of the liquid cooling plate body (1). The liquid inlet tube (42) extends into the inside of the liquid inlet channel (2), and the liquid outlet tube (43) extends into the inside of the liquid outlet channel (21).

2. The liquid cooling plate for a battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid inlet channel (2) has a bent channel (5) at one end, and the first through hole (4) is located at the bent channel (5).

3. A liquid cooling plate for a battery module according to claim 2, characterized in that: Insulating strips are fixedly installed at the connection points between the liquid inlet strip (31) and the liquid outlet strip (32) and the liquid cooling plate body (1).

4. A liquid cooling plate for a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: Both the liquid inlet strip (31) and the liquid outlet strip (32) have an open design on the side near the liquid cooling plate body (1).

5. A liquid cooling plate for a battery module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The liquid cooling plate body (1) is fixedly mounted on a base plate (3). The liquid inlet channel (2), liquid outlet channel (21) and transfer channel (22) are all grooved and form a heat exchange cavity with the base plate (3). The liquid inlet strip tube (31), liquid outlet strip tube (32), liquid inlet tube (42) and liquid outlet tube (43) are all fixedly mounted on one side of the base plate (3).

6. A liquid cooling plate for a battery module according to claim 5, characterized in that: The cross-sections at the two ends of the liquid inlet channel (2) are not equal.

7. A liquid cooling plate for a battery module according to claim 5, characterized in that: The liquid cooling plate body (1) includes multiple sub-plates (111), the flow channel area (11) is disposed on the sub-plate (111), and two adjacent sub-plates (111) are fixedly connected to form the liquid cooling plate body (1).

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