A gas removal joint and a power cooling system for a passenger car

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of vehicle thermal management, and more particularly to a degassing joint and a passenger vehicle power cooling system, the degassing joint comprising a joint body, a gas collection cavity, a hydrophobic microporous membrane, an exhaust valve and a liquid recovery channel. The joint body is provided with an inlet, an outlet and a main flow channel; the gas collection cavity is in communication with the joint body, and the hydrophobic microporous membrane is arranged at the joint to separate the gas collection cavity and the main flow channel; the exhaust valve is arranged at the top of the gas collection cavity; and the liquid recovery channel is in communication with the bottom of the gas collection cavity and the main flow channel. The present application integrates the gas-liquid separation function in the joint, does not need an independent expansion water tank, realizes efficient online exhaust by using the hydrophobic microporous membrane, and automatically guides back the accumulated liquid through the liquid recovery channel, so that the structure is compact, the exhaust efficiency is high, and the system is stable and reliable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of vehicle thermal management, and more particularly to a degassing connector and a bus power cooling system. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the power cooling systems of new energy buses generally use liquid cooling circulation for heat dissipation. To remove the gas mixed in during the coolant circulation process, the conventional practice is to install an independent expansion tank at the highest point of the cooling system. This expansion tank is connected to the cooling system through pipes, and relies on gravity to allow the gas to rise naturally into the tank to achieve gas-liquid separation. At the same time, the tank also serves the function of storing and replenishing coolant.

[0003] However, existing bus power cooling systems suffer from technical problems such as low exhaust efficiency, strong dependence on pipeline layout, and inability to effectively remove gas from the middle of the circulation pipeline. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a degassing connector and a bus power cooling system to solve the technical problems of low exhaust efficiency, strong dependence on pipeline layout, and inability to effectively remove gas in the middle of the circulating pipeline in the existing bus power cooling system.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a degassing connector, applied to a bus power cooling system, comprising: The connector body has an inlet and an outlet for connecting cooling pipes, and a main channel is formed inside; An air collection chamber is provided on the connector body and is connected to the interior of the connector body; A hydrophobic microporous membrane is installed at the connection between the gas collection chamber and the connector body, and separates the inner cavity of the gas collection chamber from the main channel. An exhaust valve, installed at the top of the gas collection chamber, is used to discharge gas; The liquid recovery channel has its inlet connected to the bottom of the gas collection chamber and its outlet connected to the main channel of the connector body.

[0006] Furthermore, the liquid recovery channel includes: A guide tube, one end of which is connected to the bottom of the gas collection chamber, and the other end of which is connected to the connector body; A pressure-limiting check valve is installed on the guide pipe and is used to open when the pressure in the gas collection chamber reaches a preset value, so that the liquid flows back to the main channel.

[0007] Furthermore, the bottom of the gas collection chamber is provided with a connector leakage hole, and the connector body is provided with a connector guide hole. The liquid recovery channel connects the gas collection chamber and the main channel through the connector leakage hole and the connector guide hole.

[0008] Furthermore, the hydrophobic microporous membrane has a sheet-like structure, and its edges are sealed to the inner wall of the gas collection cavity or the inner wall of the connection hole of the connector body.

[0009] Furthermore, the hydrophobic microporous membrane is an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane or a hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride membrane.

[0010] Furthermore, the gas collection chamber and the connector body are integrally formed or fixedly connected.

[0011] Secondly, the present invention also provides a bus power cooling system, including cooling pipes and a degassing connector as described above, wherein the degassing connector is connected in series in the cooling pipes.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a degassing connector, including a connector body, a gas collecting chamber, an exhaust valve, and a liquid recovery channel; the connector body has an inlet and an outlet for connecting cooling pipes, and a main flow channel is formed inside; the gas collecting chamber is disposed on the connector body and communicates with the interior of the connector body; a hydrophobic microporous membrane is installed at the connection between the gas collecting chamber and the connector body, separating the inner cavity of the gas collecting chamber from the main flow channel; an exhaust valve is installed at the top of the gas collecting chamber for discharging gas; the liquid recovery channel has its inlet connected to the bottom of the gas collecting chamber and its outlet connected to the main flow channel of the connector body; by integrating the gas collecting chamber, the hydrophobic microporous membrane, the exhaust valve, and the liquid recovery channel onto the connector body, gas-liquid degassing is achieved. The separation function is integrated with the standard pipe fitting structure, eliminating the need for a separate expansion tank at the highest point of the cooling system and freeing it from dependence on pipe layout. Utilizing the selective permeability of hydrophobic microporous membranes to gas and liquid, gas can be separated and discharged in real time and efficiently as the coolant flows through the fitting, significantly improving exhaust efficiency and effectively preventing gas accumulation in the middle of the circulation pipe. At the same time, by setting a liquid recovery channel that connects to the bottom of the gas collection chamber and returns to the main flow channel, any small amount of liquid that may accumulate in the gas collection chamber can be automatically guided back to the system, avoiding coolant loss and ensuring the reliability of the system seal and the stability of the cooling medium. Thus, a highly efficient online degassing function is achieved with a compact structure. Attached Figure Description

[0013] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the degassing connector provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the hydrophobic microporous membrane, the joint leakage hole, and the joint flow guiding hole in the degassing joint provided in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure label: 100. Connector body; 110. Connector leakage hole; 120. Connector flow guide hole; 200. Gas collection chamber; 300. Hydrophobic microporous membrane; 400. Exhaust valve; 500. Flow guide tube; 600. Pressure limiting check valve. Detailed Implementation

[0016] 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, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0017] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0018] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0019] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product is in use. These terms are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0020] Furthermore, terms such as "horizontal," "vertical," and "sag" do not imply that components must be absolutely horizontal or suspended, but rather that they can be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" simply means that its direction is more horizontal relative to "vertical," and does not mean that the structure must be completely horizontal, but can be slightly tilted.

[0021] In the description of this invention, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0022] The following detailed description of some embodiments of the present invention is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features can be combined with each other.

[0023] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 This invention provides a degassing connector for use in a bus power cooling system. The degassing connector includes a connector body 100, a gas collecting chamber 200, a hydrophobic microporous membrane 300, an exhaust valve 400, and a liquid recovery channel.

[0024] The connector body 100 is the main structure of the degassing connector, featuring inlet and outlet for connecting cooling pipes, and internally forming a main channel for coolant flow. The material of the connector body 100 can be selected according to specific operating conditions; for example, aluminum alloy can be used for lightweighting, stainless steel for high strength requirements, or engineering plastics (such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), etc.) for insulation and low cost. The inlet and outlet of the connector body 100 are typically designed as tubular structures compatible with the cooling pipes, and can be sealed to the cooling pipes using methods such as plug-in, threaded, or flanged connections.

[0025] A gas collecting chamber 200 is disposed on the connector body 100 and communicates with the interior of the connector body 100. The gas collecting chamber 200 serves as a container for collecting gas separated from the coolant. The gas collecting chamber 200 and the connector body 100 can be integrally molded (such as integral injection molding or casting) to improve structural strength and sealing performance, or they can be fixedly connected (such as welding, threaded connection, or snap-fit) to facilitate processing and assembly.

[0026] A hydrophobic microporous membrane 300 is installed at the connection between the gas collecting chamber 200 and the connector body 100, separating the inner cavity of the gas collecting chamber 200 from the main flow channel. The hydrophobic microporous membrane 300 has a sheet-like structure, and its edges are sealed to the inner wall of the gas collecting chamber 200 or the inner wall of the connection hole of the connector body 100 to ensure reliable gas-liquid separation. This membrane has micron- or nano-sized pores, allowing gas molecules to pass through while utilizing its superhydrophobic properties to block the penetration of liquid coolant. The hydrophobic microporous membrane 300 is preferably made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) or hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), both materials possessing excellent hydrophobic properties, chemical stability, and mechanical strength. The ePTFE membrane has a porosity of over 70%, with an adjustable pore size between 0.1 and 3 micrometers, and PTFE itself has low surface energy; the PVDF superhydrophobic membrane has a contact angle of up to 161°, high porosity, and good gas flux. During installation, the edges of the diaphragm can be statically sealed with fluororubber or silicone rubber O-rings that are resistant to coolant, or a reliable seal can be formed with the joint housing by means of ultrasonic welding, hot melt welding, etc., to prevent liquid from seeping into the gas collection chamber 200 from the edge of the diaphragm.

[0027] An exhaust valve 400 is installed at the top of the gas collecting chamber 200 to discharge accumulated gas within the chamber. The exhaust valve 400 is preferably a pressure-cap type exhaust valve with a preset opening pressure value. When the gas pressure in the gas collecting chamber 200 accumulates to a certain value, the valve automatically opens, discharging the gas to the outside atmosphere; after venting, the pressure drops, and the valve automatically closes to prevent external impurities from entering or coolant from leaking. The opening pressure of the exhaust valve 400 can be set according to the actual operating conditions of the system, generally within the range of 0.4-0.8 MPa, to ensure that gas can be discharged in a timely manner without causing excessive back pressure on the system.

[0028] The inlet of the liquid recovery channel is connected to the bottom of the gas collecting chamber 200, and its outlet is connected to the main channel of the connector body 100. Under special circumstances (such as system pressure fluctuations, minor defects in the hydrophobic microporous membrane 300, or decreased membrane performance after long-term use), a very small amount of liquid may pass through the hydrophobic microporous membrane 300 and enter the gas collecting chamber 200, or condensate may form within the gas collecting chamber 200 due to temperature changes. This accumulated liquid will occupy the effective volume of the gas collecting chamber 200, affecting exhaust efficiency, and may even be ejected with the gas when the exhaust valve 400 is opened, resulting in coolant loss. The function of the liquid recovery channel is to promptly guide this accumulated liquid back to the cooling system.

[0029] Specifically, the liquid recovery channel includes a guide pipe 500 and a pressure-limiting one-way valve 600. One end of the guide pipe 500 is connected to the bottom of the gas collecting chamber 200, and the other end is connected to the connector body 100. The pressure-limiting one-way valve 600 is installed on the guide pipe 500 and is used to open when the pressure in the gas collecting chamber 200 reaches a preset value, allowing the liquid to flow back to the main channel. In this embodiment, the bottom of the gas collecting chamber 200 is provided with a connector seepage hole 110, and the connector body 100 is provided with a connector guide hole 120. The liquid recovery channel connects the gas collecting chamber 200 and the main channel through the connector seepage hole 110 and the connector guide hole 120. The guide pipe 500 is connected between the connector seepage hole 110 and the connector guide hole 120, and the pressure-limiting one-way valve 600 is installed on the guide pipe 500. The opening pressure of the pressure-limiting check valve 600 needs to be lower than the opening pressure of the exhaust valve 400. The advantage of this design is that when liquid accumulates in the gas collecting chamber 200, as the gas pressure increases, the pressure-limiting check valve 600 will open before the exhaust valve 400, allowing the liquid to preferentially flow back to the main channel through the guide pipe 500. After the liquid is discharged, the pressure in the gas collecting chamber 200 decreases, and the pressure-limiting check valve 600 closes. If gas is still present, and the pressure continues to rise to the opening pressure of the exhaust valve 400, the exhaust valve 400 will open to discharge the gas. This design ensures that when gas is discharged from the system, the liquid in the gas collecting chamber 200 has already flowed back to the cooling system, effectively preventing coolant loss.

[0030] To further improve separation efficiency and reliability, this embodiment can also incorporate a flow guiding structure within the main channel of the connector body 100. For example, in the internal chamber of the connector body 100, on the liquid side of the hydrophobic microporous membrane 300, flow guiding ribs or blades can be designed to generate slight turbulence in the flowing coolant, preventing bubbles from stagnating on the membrane surface and also preventing contaminants in the coolant from depositing on the membrane surface, ensuring continuous fluid flow across the membrane surface and maintaining membrane permeability. Furthermore, the volume of the gas collecting chamber 200 should not be too large to reduce the response time of gas discharge; a small amount of drying material (such as molecular sieves) can also be placed inside the gas collecting chamber 200 to absorb any trace amounts of water vapor that may permeate, ensuring the dryness of the discharged gas.

[0031] The working principle of the degassing connector of the present invention is as follows: When coolant containing air bubbles flows into the main channel from the inlet of the connector body 100, the gas-liquid mixture flows through the liquid side of the hydrophobic microporous membrane 300. Due to the superhydrophobic properties and micron-sized pores of the hydrophobic microporous membrane 300, the liquid coolant cannot pass through the membrane layer, while gas molecules can freely diffuse through the membrane pores into the gas collecting chamber 200. The separated gas gradually accumulates in the gas collecting chamber 200, forming a certain pressure. When the pressure in the gas collecting chamber 200 reaches the opening pressure of the pressure limiting check valve 600, any trace amount of liquid (if any) that may exist in the gas collecting chamber 200 first flows back to the main channel through the guide pipe 500; when the pressure continues to rise to the opening pressure of the exhaust valve 400, the exhaust valve 400 automatically opens, venting the gas to the outside atmosphere. After venting, the pressure drops, the exhaust valve 400 closes, and one exhaust cycle is completed. The entire separation and venting process is carried out in real time and continuously during the coolant circulation process, without the need for additional power input or changes to the pipeline layout.

[0032] The present invention also provides a bus power cooling system, including cooling pipes and the aforementioned degassing connector, which is connected in series in the cooling pipes. By integrating the degassing connector into an appropriate location in the cooling pipes (not limited to the highest point of the system), the problems of low exhaust efficiency and strong dependence on pipe layout of traditional expansion tanks can be effectively solved, gas accumulation in the middle of the circulation pipes can be prevented, and the heat dissipation efficiency and reliability of the cooling system can be improved.

[0033] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A degassing connector, used in a bus power cooling system, characterized in that, include: The connector body has an inlet and an outlet for connecting cooling pipes, and a main channel is formed inside; An air collection chamber is provided on the connector body and is connected to the interior of the connector body; A hydrophobic microporous membrane is installed at the connection between the gas collection chamber and the connector body, and separates the inner cavity of the gas collection chamber from the main channel. An exhaust valve, installed at the top of the gas collection chamber, is used to discharge gas; The liquid recovery channel has its inlet connected to the bottom of the gas collection chamber and its outlet connected to the main channel of the connector body.

2. The degassing connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid recovery channel includes: A guide tube, one end of which is connected to the bottom of the gas collection chamber, and the other end of which is connected to the connector body; A pressure-limiting check valve is installed on the guide pipe and is used to open when the pressure in the gas collection chamber reaches a preset value, so that the liquid flows back to the main channel.

3. The degassing connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the gas collection chamber is provided with a connector leakage hole, and the connector body is provided with a connector guide hole. The liquid recovery channel connects the gas collection chamber and the main channel through the connector leakage hole and the connector guide hole.

4. A degassing connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hydrophobic microporous membrane has a sheet-like structure, and its edges are sealed to the inner wall of the gas collection cavity or the inner wall of the connection hole of the connector body.

5. A degassing connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hydrophobic microporous membrane is an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane or a hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride membrane.

6. A degassing connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gas collection chamber and the connector body are either integrally formed or fixedly connected.

7. A bus power cooling system, characterized in that, It includes cooling pipes and a degassing connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, the degassing connector being connected in series in the cooling pipes.

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