Battery module radiator of new energy automobile

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of radiators, in particular to a new energy automobile battery module radiator which comprises an upper end cover, a lower end cover, a liquid cooling plate and a plurality of vapor chambers. The plurality of batteries are arranged in parallel between the upper end cover and the lower end cover, and a vapor chamber is arranged between every two adjacent batteries; the vapor chamber comprises a first plate body and a second plate body, the first plate body is located on the upper end face of the battery, and the second plate body is located on the side face of the battery. The liquid cooling plate is located on the first plate body of the vapor chamber. According to the battery module radiator of the new energy automobile, the liquid cooling plate is matched with the plurality of vapor chambers, so that when the battery module radiator is used, the vapor chambers can uniformly heat batteries through which cooling liquid passes in sequence, and the temperature consistency among different batteries is improved. And for the battery in contact with the same soaking plate, the first plate body and the second plate body of the soaking plate are used for soaking the upper end surface and the side surface of the battery respectively, so that the soaking area can be increased, and the service life of the battery module is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of radiator technology, and more specifically to a radiator for a battery module in a new energy vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry, lithium batteries, with their advantages of high energy density and long cycle life, have become the core power source for electric and hybrid vehicles. In practical applications, a large number of lithium battery cells are connected in series and parallel to form battery modules, densely arranged in a small space, leading to increasingly prominent heat dissipation problems. During long-term high-current charging and discharging, battery modules rapidly generate a large amount of heat. If this heat cannot be effectively dissipated in time, the temperature inside the battery pack will continue to rise, which will not only reduce the charging and discharging efficiency and cycle life of the battery, but may also cause battery smoke, thermal runaway, or even combustion and explosion, seriously threatening vehicle driving safety and the lives of passengers.

[0003] Traditional heat dissipation mechanisms generally employ water cooling, which involves placing liquid cooling plates at the top, bottom, or sides of the battery module. Coolant is then introduced into the channels within these plates, using heat exchange to remove the heat generated by the battery. However, existing liquid cooling plates typically have straight or U-shaped internal coolant channels, resulting in unidirectional flow of the coolant. The coolant at the front of the channel is at a lower temperature, exhibiting good heat exchange with the corresponding battery portion and quickly reducing its temperature. As the coolant continues to flow, its temperature gradually increases after absorbing heat, leading to a significant decrease in heat exchange efficiency at the rear of the channel. This results in poorer heat dissipation for the corresponding battery portion, ultimately causing significant temperature differences between different locations within the battery module. Consequently, overall heat dissipation uniformity is poor, the overall cooling effect is less than ideal, and it can even reduce battery life. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a battery module radiator for new energy vehicles to solve the problem that the existing coolant flows in a unidirectional manner in the flow channel, resulting in large temperature differences between different locations of the battery in the battery module.

[0005] The present invention provides a battery module radiator for a new energy vehicle, which adopts the following technical solution: A battery module radiator for a new energy vehicle is used to dissipate heat from multiple batteries in a battery module, including an upper end cover, a lower end cover, a liquid cooling plate, and multiple heat spreaders; multiple batteries are arranged side by side between the upper end cover and the lower end cover along a first direction, the first direction being horizontal; a heat spreader is provided between every two adjacent batteries; the heat spreader includes a first plate body and a second plate body, the first plate body being located on the upper end surface of the battery, and the second plate body being located on the side surface of the battery; the liquid cooling plate is located on the heat spreader and covers the first plate body of all the heat spreaders, and the liquid cooling plate contains flowing coolant.

[0006] Furthermore, the first plate and the second plate are separated by bending a heat-spreading plate.

[0007] Furthermore, the liquid cooling plate has a flow channel with a U-shaped structure; the liquid cooling plate has an inlet and an outlet, which are located at opposite ends of the flow channel on the same side and are both connected to the flow channel.

[0008] Furthermore, the first plate and the second plate are made of copper. The interior of the first plate and the second plate are hollow and under negative pressure. The first plate and the second plate are equipped with a liquid-absorbing core with a capillary structure. The first plate and the second plate are filled with a working fluid, which is a liquid with thermal conductivity.

[0009] Furthermore, the working fluid is pure water, ethylene glycol, or acetone.

[0010] Furthermore, the heat spreader has a rectangular structure and is inclined on the battery. The liquid inlet and liquid outlet are arranged sequentially in the second direction, which is horizontal and perpendicular to the first direction. The end of the second plate near the liquid inlet in the second direction is called the first end, and the end of the second plate near the liquid outlet in the second direction is called the second end. The first end is located above the second end.

[0011] Furthermore, both the first plate and the second plate are trapezoidal structures; and in the first plate, the two bottom edges of the first plate are arranged sequentially in the second direction, and the length of the bottom edge near the liquid inlet in the second direction is greater than the length of the bottom edge near the liquid outlet in the second direction; in the second plate, the two bottom edges of the second plate are arranged sequentially in the second direction, and the length of the bottom edge near the liquid inlet in the second direction is less than the length of the bottom edge near the liquid outlet in the second direction.

[0012] Furthermore, two connecting ports are provided on the upper end cover, which are connected to the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet respectively.

[0013] Furthermore, a pusher is provided inside the first plate, which can cause the working fluid inside the first plate to flow to the second plate.

[0014] Furthermore, the pushing component includes an elastic plate, which is arranged along the second direction. One end of the elastic plate is fixedly installed in the body of the first plate, and the elastic plate is in contact with the inner wall surface of the first plate.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The battery module heat sink for new energy vehicles of this invention, through the combination of a liquid cooling plate and multiple heat spreaders, allows for uniform heating of the batteries through which the coolant passes during use, reducing the temperature difference between batteries within the battery module and improving temperature consistency among different batteries. Furthermore, for batteries in contact with the same heat spreader, the first and second plates of the heat spreader uniformly heat the upper and side surfaces of the battery, respectively, increasing the heat spreader area. When the battery heats up, the heat generated is transferred to the first and second plates of the heat spreader for uniform heating, and finally dissipated through the liquid cooling plate, quickly removing heat from the battery, preventing heat accumulation, and improving temperature consistency at different locations on the battery. This effectively prevents battery performance degradation or thermal runaway risks caused by uneven temperature, extending the service life of the battery module.

[0016] Furthermore, the heat spreader is bent and distributed on both the upper and side surfaces of the battery. This not only increases the heat spreader area between the heat spreader and the battery, but also allows the gas generated by evaporation in the second plate to diffuse and then condense in the first plate. Through the capillary action of the wick and gravity-assisted descent, the gas quickly flows back to the second plate, improving the working fluid circulation efficiency, preventing the phase change cycle from being interrupted, and thus ensuring heat spreader efficiency. In addition, the heat released after condensation in the first plate can be quickly carried away by the liquid cooling plate, completing the phase change cycle of evaporation, diffusion, condensation, and reflux, continuously removing battery heat and ensuring heat exchange efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0017] 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, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of a battery module heat sink for a new energy vehicle according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of a battery module heat sink for a new energy vehicle according to the present invention, with the top cover removed. Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the overall structure of an embodiment of a battery module heat sink for a new energy vehicle according to the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an embodiment of a battery module heat sink for a new energy vehicle according to the present invention; Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of point A in the middle; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a battery and a heat sink, representing an embodiment of a battery module heat sink for a new energy vehicle according to the present invention. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of an elastic plate according to another embodiment of a battery module heat sink for a new energy vehicle of the present invention; Figure 8 for Figure 7 Enlarged view of point B in the middle.

[0019] In the diagram: 100, battery module; 110, battery; 200, upper cover; 201, connecting port; 300, lower cover; 400, liquid cooling plate; 401, liquid inlet; 402, liquid outlet; 410, flow channel; 500, heat spreader; 510, first plate; 511, third end; 512, fourth end; 520, second plate; 521, first end; 522, second end; 530, elastic plate. Detailed Implementation

[0020] 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, and 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.

[0021] An embodiment of a battery module heat sink for a new energy vehicle according to the present invention, such as... Figures 1 to 6 As shown.

[0022] A heat sink for a battery module in a new energy vehicle is provided for dissipating heat from multiple batteries 110 within a battery module 100. The heat sink includes an upper cover 200, a lower cover 300, a liquid cooling plate 400, and multiple heat spreaders 500. The upper cover 200 and the lower cover 300 are fixedly connected. The battery 110 has a rectangular structure, and multiple batteries 110 are arranged side-by-side between the upper cover 200 and the lower cover 300 along a first direction, which is horizontal. A heat spreader 500 is provided between every two adjacent batteries 110. The heat spreader 500 includes a first plate 510 and a second plate 520, which are separated by bending the heat spreader 500. The first plate 510 is located on the upper surface of the battery 110, and the second plate 520 is located on the side of the battery 110. The liquid cooling plate 400 is located on the heat exchange plate 500 and covers the first plate body 510 of all heat exchange plates 500, and the liquid cooling plate 400 has flowing coolant inside.

[0023] Specifically, the liquid cooling plate 400 has a flow channel 410, which has a U-shaped structure. The liquid cooling plate 400 has an inlet 401 and an outlet 402, which are located at opposite ends on the same side of the flow channel 410 and are both connected to the flow channel 410. The upper end cover 200 has two connecting ports 201, which are connected to the inlet 401 and the outlet 402, respectively. Both connecting ports 201 are connected to an external circulating liquid pump. The circulating liquid pump is used to supply coolant to the connecting ports 201 connected to the inlet 401, so that the coolant can enter the flow channel 410 from the inlet 401 side and be discharged from the outlet 402 after passing through the flow channel 410. The coolant flowing out of the outlet 402 will return to the circulating liquid pump for recycling through the connecting ports 201 connected to it.

[0024] The first plate 510 and the second plate 520 are made of copper. Both plates are hollow and under negative pressure. A liquid-absorbing core with a capillary structure is installed inside each plate. The first plate 510 and the second plate 520 are filled with a working fluid, which is a thermally conductive liquid, specifically pure water, ethylene glycol, or acetone. The end face of the first plate 510 closest to the battery 110 is called the first end face, and the end face of the first plate 510 closest to the liquid cooling plate 400 is called the second end face. The liquid-absorbing core is arranged parallel to the first and second end faces. Multiple support columns are installed inside the first plate 510 and the second plate 520, perpendicular to the first and second end faces, to support the first plate 510 and the second plate 520.

[0025] This embodiment utilizes a liquid cooling plate 400 and multiple heat spreaders 500 in conjunction. During use, the heat spreaders 500 can evenly heat the batteries 110 through which the coolant passes, reducing the temperature difference between the batteries 110 within the battery module 100 and improving temperature consistency among different batteries 110. Furthermore, for batteries 110 in contact with the same heat spreader 500, the first plate 510 and the second plate 520 of the heat spreader 500 evenly heat the upper and side surfaces of the battery 110, respectively, increasing the heat spreader area. When a battery 110 heats up, the heat generated is transferred to the first plate 510 and the second plate 520 of the heat spreader 500 for even heating, and finally dissipates heat through the liquid cooling plate 400, quickly removing heat from the battery 110 and preventing heat accumulation. This improves temperature consistency at different locations on the battery 110, effectively preventing performance degradation or thermal runaway risks caused by uneven temperature, and extending the lifespan of the battery module 100.

[0026] Specifically, after heat is transferred to the first plate 510, it is transferred to the liquid cooling plate 400, where the coolant in the liquid cooling plate 400 rapidly exchanges heat with the first plate 510 of the heat spreader 500. After the heat is transferred to the second plate 520, it undergoes heat equalization with the first plate 510, making the second plate 520 a relatively hot zone and the first plate 510 a relatively cold zone. At this time, the working fluid in the second plate 520 will evaporate upon heating, rapidly expanding into a gaseous state, and then quickly filling the entire shell of the heat spreader 500. When the gas reaches the first plate 510, it will condense and release heat, which is carried away by the liquid cooling plate 400. The condensed working fluid flows back through the wick, and further, with gravity assistance, it flows back, improving the heat equalization efficiency. This allows the condensed working fluid to return to the second plate 520, evaporate and absorb heat, and this cycle continues.

[0027] Furthermore, the heat spreader 500 is bent and distributed on both the upper and side surfaces of the battery 110. This not only increases the heat spreader area between the battery 110 and the heat spreader, but also allows the gas generated by evaporation in the second plate 520 to diffuse and then condense in the first plate 510. Through the capillary action of the liquid wick and gravity-assisted descent, the gas quickly flows back to the second plate 520, improving the working fluid circulation efficiency, preventing the phase change cycle from being interrupted, and thus ensuring the heat spreader efficiency. In addition, the heat released after condensation in the first plate 510 can be quickly carried away by the liquid cooling plate 400, completing the phase change cycle of evaporation, diffusion, condensation, and reflux, continuously removing heat from the battery 110 to ensure heat exchange efficiency.

[0028] In a further embodiment, the heat spreader 500 has a rectangular structure and is inclined on the battery 110. The liquid inlet 401 and the liquid outlet 402 are arranged sequentially in a second direction, which is horizontal and perpendicular to the first direction. The end of the second plate 520 near the liquid inlet 401 in the second direction is called the first end 521, and the end of the second plate 520 near the liquid outlet 402 in the second direction is called the second end 522. The first end 521 is located above the second end 522.

[0029] Furthermore, both the first plate 510 and the second plate 520 are trapezoidal structures. In the first plate 510, its two bottom edges are sequentially arranged in the second direction, and the length of the bottom edge closer to the inlet 401 in the second direction is greater than the length of the bottom edge closer to the outlet 402 in the second direction. In the second plate 520, its two bottom edges are sequentially arranged in the second direction, and the length of the bottom edge closer to the inlet 401 in the second direction is less than the length of the bottom edge closer to the outlet 402 in the second direction.

[0030] In this embodiment, the heat spreader 500 is tilted on the battery 110, with the first end 521 positioned above the second end 522. During use, the tilt of the heat spreader 500 accelerates the flow of the working fluid towards the second end 522, improving the heat spreader efficiency for the battery 110 on the second end 522 side of the heat spreader 500. The gas evaporated by the second plate 520 fills the inner cavity of the heat spreader 500 and reaches the location of the first plate 510. For ease of explanation, the end of the first plate 510 near the inlet 401 in the second direction is referred to as the third end 511, and the end of the first plate 510 near the outlet 402 in the second direction is referred to as the fourth end 512. When the coolant flows along the flow channel 410, the third end 511 side of the first plate 510 contacts the coolant first, resulting in a lower coolant temperature and better heat dissipation. The battery 110 on the second end 522 side contacts the coolant later, causing the coolant temperature to gradually increase and the heat dissipation effect to deteriorate. Therefore, after the evaporated gas arrives at the first plate 510, the third end 511 of the first plate 510 will serve as the main condensation area, causing the evaporated gas to condense and release heat, and transfer heat with the liquid cooling plate 400 to accelerate heat dissipation. Afterwards, the working liquid condensed at the third end 511 will flow through the wick to the first end 521 of the second plate 520, and then flow from the first end 521 to the second end 522, with the second end 522 of the second plate 520 serving as the main evaporation area. This cycle ensures normal operation of heat homogenization and heat exchange, improving the stability of the battery 110 during operation.

[0031] Furthermore, each heat spreader 500 is in contact with two batteries 110 simultaneously. The two batteries 110 are arranged side by side in the second direction, with one battery 110 positioned closer to the liquid inlet 401 in the second direction and the other battery 110 positioned closer to the liquid outlet 402 in the second direction.

[0032] By having each heat spreader 500 contact two batteries simultaneously, the heat spreader 500 can heat the two batteries 110 evenly, balancing the temperature difference between the two batteries 110 and improving the temperature uniformity of the batteries 110.

[0033] See Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown. In another possible embodiment, a pusher is provided inside the first plate 510, which can cause the working fluid inside the first plate 510 to flow towards the second plate 520.

[0034] The pushing component includes an elastic plate 530, which is arranged along the second direction. One end of the elastic plate 530 is fixedly installed inside the first plate 510, and the elastic plate 530 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the first plate 510.

[0035] Specifically, there are two liquid-absorbing cores, which are respectively attached to the first end face and the second end face. The liquid-absorbing core attached to the first end face only covers the second plate 520, and the elastic plate 530 is in contact with the first end face.

[0036] In this embodiment, by setting up an elastic plate 530, the battery 110 is arranged in such a way that, in the direction of vehicle travel, the first plate 510 is located in front of the second plate 520. The side closer to the front of the vehicle in the direction of travel is called the front, and the side farther from the front is called the rear. During vehicle travel, the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle will cause the elastic plate 530 to swing continuously, pushing the working fluid inside the first plate 510 and causing the working fluid to flow from the first plate 510 to the second plate 520, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

[0037] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery module radiator of a new energy vehicle, used for radiating a plurality of batteries in a battery module, characterized in that: The application relates to a battery cooling device, which comprises an upper end cover, a lower end cover, a liquid cooling plate and a plurality of heat plates; a plurality of batteries are arranged side by side between the upper end cover and the lower end cover along a first direction, the first direction being a horizontal direction; one heat plate is arranged between every two adjacent batteries; the heat plate comprises a first plate body and a second plate body, the first plate body is located on the upper end surface of the battery, and the second plate body is located on the side surface of the battery; the liquid cooling plate is located on the heat plate and covers the first plate bodies of all the heat plates, and the liquid cooling plate has flowing cooling liquid.

2. The battery module radiator of a new energy vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first plate body and the second plate body are separated by bending the heat plate.

3. The battery module radiator of a new energy vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: A flow channel is formed in the liquid cooling plate, the flow channel is in a U-shaped structure; an inlet and an outlet are formed in the liquid cooling plate, the inlet and the outlet are located at two ends on the same side of the flow channel and are in communication with the flow channel.

4. The battery module radiator of a new energy vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first plate body and the second plate body are made of copper, the first plate body and the second plate body are hollow and have negative pressure, a liquid absorbing core is arranged in the first plate body and the second plate body, the liquid absorbing core has a capillary structure; and the first plate body and the second plate body are filled with working liquid, the working liquid is a liquid with heat conduction performance.

5. The battery module heat sink of claim 4, wherein: The working liquid is pure water, ethylene glycol or acetone.

6. The battery module radiator of a new energy vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that: The heat plate is in a rectangular structure and is arranged obliquely on the battery, the inlet and the outlet are sequentially arranged in a second direction, the second direction is horizontal and perpendicular to the first direction, one end of the second plate body close to the inlet in the second direction is referred to as a first end, and one end of the second plate body close to the outlet in the second direction is referred to as a second end, the first end is located above the second end.

7. The battery module heat sink of claim 6, wherein: The first plate body and the second plate body are both in a trapezoidal structure; in the first plate body, two bottom edges of the first plate body are sequentially arranged in the second direction, and the length of the bottom edge close to the inlet in the second direction is greater than the length of the bottom edge close to the outlet in the second direction; in the second plate body, two bottom edges of the second plate body are sequentially arranged in the second direction, and the length of the bottom edge close to the inlet in the second direction is smaller than the length of the bottom edge close to the outlet in the second direction.

8. The battery module radiator of a new energy vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that: Two communication openings are formed in the upper end cover, the two communication openings are in communication with the inlet and the outlet respectively.

9. The battery module heat sink of claim 4, wherein: A pushing member is arranged in the first plate body, the pushing member can promote the working liquid in the first plate body to flow to the side of the second plate body.

10. The battery module heat sink of claim 9, wherein: The pushing member comprises an elastic plate, the elastic plate is arranged in the second direction, one end of the elastic plate is fixedly installed in the first plate body, and the elastic plate is in contact with the inner wall surface of the first plate body.

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