A battery power distribution assembly, a battery pack, and a vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a battery power distribution assembly, a battery pack and a vehicle, the battery power distribution assembly comprising a battery power distribution unit and a cooling assembly, the battery power distribution unit comprising at least one heat generating element; the cooling assembly comprising a cold plate, an inner part of the cold plate being formed with a cavity, the cavity being filled with a cooling liquid, the cold plate being formed with a through hole in communication with the cavity, a partial area of each heat generating element being in contact with the cooling liquid in the cavity through the through hole. By directly contacting the heat generating element with the cooling liquid, the heat transfer path is significantly shortened, the interface thermal resistance is reduced, and the heat can be timely taken away, so that the heat can be more quickly and effectively conducted away from the heat generating element, thereby reducing the overall temperature of the battery pack and avoiding the influence of overheating on the performance and service life of the battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of vehicle technology, and more particularly to a battery power distribution assembly, a battery pack, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] In existing battery pack thermal management technologies, heat-generating components such as relays, fuses, and copper busbars often employ indirect heat dissipation via cold plates. The cooling medium typically carries away heat through the cold plate first, then transfers it to the heat source via the casing or thermal interface layer. This results in a long heat transfer path and high interfacial thermal resistance, leading to limited heat dissipation efficiency and impacting battery pack performance. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To overcome the problems existing in related technologies, this disclosure provides a battery power distribution assembly, a battery pack, and a vehicle.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a battery power distribution assembly is provided, including a battery power distribution unit and a cooling assembly, wherein the battery power distribution unit includes at least one heating element; The cooling assembly includes a cold plate with a cavity inside, the cavity being filled with coolant, and a through hole communicating with the cavity on the cold plate. A portion of each heating element contacts the coolant located in the cavity through the through hole.

[0005] By directly contacting the heating element with the coolant, the heat transfer path is significantly shortened and the interfacial thermal resistance is reduced. A portion of the heating element is directly immersed in or in contact with the coolant, ensuring that heat can be carried away in a timely manner and preventing heat accumulation inside the heating element. This improves the heat dissipation effect. Compared with the indirect heat dissipation method using a cold plate in the prior art, this direct contact cooling can more quickly and effectively remove heat from the heating element, thereby reducing the overall temperature of the battery pack and preventing overheating from affecting the battery's performance and lifespan.

[0006] Furthermore, compared with the indirect contact heat dissipation scheme in related technologies, this disclosure introduces the coolant into the housing of the power distribution unit, which simplifies the complex process of thermal pad arrangement and pressure installation in traditional battery pack thermal management, reduces the reliance on external thermal auxiliary materials (such as thermal adhesive), facilitates the lightweight integration of the battery power distribution assembly, and improves space utilization.

[0007] Furthermore, because the coolant in this disclosure can directly dissipate heat from the heat-generating elements, it also helps to achieve better cooling effect with the same cooling medium flow rate, or to reduce the requirement for cooling medium flow rate while achieving the same cooling effect.

[0008] In some possible implementations, the heating element includes a body and a heat dissipation terminal connected to the body, the heat dissipation terminal being inserted into the through hole and in contact with the coolant.

[0009] By setting heat dissipation terminals connected to the main body and making the heat dissipation terminals contact the coolant, heat dissipation of the main body can be achieved while avoiding direct contact between the main body and the coolant. This prevents the coolant from seeping into the main body and causing damage or short circuits, thereby improving the stability and service life of the main body during the heat dissipation process.

[0010] Furthermore, when connecting the heat dissipation terminal to the main body, the heat dissipation terminal can be connected to the core heat dissipation area or the main heat dissipation area of ​​the main body, thereby further improving the heat dissipation efficiency and effect of the main body.

[0011] In some possible implementations, the battery power distribution assembly further includes a sealing portion disposed within the through hole and sealingly connected between the outer wall of the heat dissipation terminal and the inner wall of the through hole.

[0012] By providing a sealing part between the outer wall of the heat dissipation terminal and the inner wall of the through hole, the gap between the heat dissipation terminal and the through hole can be effectively sealed, preventing coolant from seeping into the body through the gap during the heat dissipation process of the body through the heat dissipation terminal, thus avoiding interference or disruption to the normal operation of the body.

[0013] In some possible implementations, the end of each heat dissipation terminal facing away from the body is located in the same plane.

[0014] Setting multiple heat dissipation terminals at a high degree of uniformity facilitates the simultaneous coverage and heat exchange of multiple heat sources by the coolant. This reduces cooling differences between different heat-generating components and avoids uneven local heat exchange caused by inconsistent terminal positions, thereby improving the overall consistency of heat dissipation and temperature uniformity.

[0015] Meanwhile, having multiple heat dissipation terminals in the same plane simplifies the heat exchange path of the coolant flow, allowing the coolant to exchange heat with each heat dissipation terminal on a relatively stable contact interface. This not only helps improve heat dissipation efficiency but also reduces the probability of local hot spots forming, enabling the battery power distribution assembly to maintain a more stable temperature rise under continuous operation or high load conditions.

[0016] In some possible implementations, each of the heat dissipation terminals is at least partially immersed in coolant located within the cavity.

[0017] By ensuring that the heat dissipation terminals are effectively immersed in the coolant, the direct contact area between the terminals and the coolant can be significantly increased, improving the heat exchange efficiency of the terminals and shortening the heat conduction path. This maximizes the heat exchange potential of direct liquid cooling, further improving the efficiency and stability of heat transfer from the heat-generating element to the coolant, and avoiding the decrease in heat dissipation efficiency due to poor contact or liquid level fluctuations. This enhances the thermal management reliability of the entire battery power distribution assembly under continuous high load operation.

[0018] In some possible implementations, the heat dissipation terminal includes a connecting portion and at least two heat dissipation portions, with a gap between adjacent heat dissipation portions, each heat dissipation portion being connected to one end of the connecting portion, and the end of the connecting portion facing away from the heat dissipation portion being connected to the heat-generating element.

[0019] By incorporating a connecting portion and at least two heat dissipation portions within the heat dissipation terminal, with gaps between adjacent heat dissipation portions, the outer surface of the heat dissipation terminal is no longer a single flat structure but forms multiple heat exchange surfaces in contact with the coolant. This allows the coolant to simultaneously act on multiple heat dissipation surface areas, expanding the heat exchange contact area and improving the efficiency of heat transfer from the heat-generating element to the coolant. Furthermore, the rapid heat transfer along the connecting portion to each heat dissipation portion and simultaneous release into the coolant through multiple heat dissipation surfaces also helps improve the uniformity of heat dissipation, reducing the risk of single-point overheating, thereby improving the battery power distribution assembly's temperature rise control capability and operational stability under high load conditions.

[0020] Furthermore, by setting gaps between adjacent heat dissipation sections, the coolant can directly contact the side and inner areas of the connection section and each heat dissipation section when flowing through the gaps, shortening the heat transfer path between the coolant and the internal area of ​​the heat dissipation terminal, and enhancing local turbulence and heat exchange effects.

[0021] In some possible implementations, the outer surface area of ​​the heat dissipation terminal of the heating element located within the cavity is proportional to the heat dissipation of the heating element.

[0022] Components with high heat dissipation will be configured with larger heat dissipation terminal surface areas, while components with low heat dissipation will have smaller surface areas, so that the heat dissipation capacity of each component is precisely matched with the actual heat dissipation requirements.

[0023] In this way, for high-heat-generating components, sufficient surface area ensures adequate heat exchange capacity and prevents excessive temperature rise. For low-heat-generating components, excessive cooling due to excessive heat dissipation area will not cause unnecessary temperature fluctuations or heat loss, thus improving overall energy efficiency. This avoids the problem of excessive or insufficient heat dissipation capacity caused by using a uniform heat dissipation area for all heat-generating components, making the cooling intensity of each heat-generating component closer to its actual heat load, reducing local insufficient cooling or cooling redundancy. This not only improves the utilization efficiency of cooling resources, but also helps to improve the temperature uniformity between different heat-generating components, further improving the adaptability, heat dissipation efficiency and long-term stability of the battery power distribution assembly.

[0024] In some possible implementations, the cold plate is further provided with a liquid inlet channel and a liquid outlet channel, which are respectively connected to the cavity.

[0025] In this way, the low-temperature coolant can flow into the cavity through the inlet channel. After exchanging heat with multiple heat dissipation terminals and absorbing heat from multiple heat-generating elements, it becomes high-temperature coolant and flows out of the cavity. After flowing out of the cavity, the coolant is cooled and dissipated in the radiator and then becomes low-temperature coolant again and flows into the cavity, thus realizing the circulation and heat dissipation of the heat-generating elements.

[0026] In some possible implementations, the cold plate includes an upper plate and a lower plate, the upper plate covering the lower plate, and the upper plate and the lower plate forming the cavity, the upper plate having a through hole extending along its own thickness direction, and the body being disposed on the side of the upper plate away from the lower plate.

[0027] By forming a cavity containing coolant between the upper and lower plates, after the main body is transferred to the upper plate, the distance between the heat dissipation terminals connected to the main body and the cavity is shortened, thereby further shortening the heat dissipation path of the main body and improving the heat dissipation effect.

[0028] In some possible implementations, the battery power distribution assembly further includes a sealing assembly that is sealingly connected between the upper plate and the lower plate.

[0029] By setting a sealing component between the upper and lower plates, the cavity can be effectively sealed, preventing the coolant inside the cavity from seeping or leaking out from the connection between the upper and lower plates, which would affect the stable operation of the battery power distribution unit.

[0030] In some possible implementations, a sealing ring groove is provided on the side of the upper plate near the lower plate or on the side of the lower plate near the upper plate, and the sealing assembly includes a first sealing element disposed within the sealing ring groove.

[0031] By setting a sealing ring groove on the upper or lower plate and precisely placing the first seal within it, a reliable and stable annular sealing structure is formed. This ensures that the coolant contained in the internal cavity of the battery power distribution assembly can be effectively and permanently sealed within the design area, completely preventing the risk of coolant leakage to the external environment. This ensures the long-term stable operation of the liquid cooling system, prevents the decrease in cooling efficiency or corrosion of external components due to leakage, and avoids safety hazards caused by coolant leakage, significantly improving the safety and reliability of the entire battery power distribution assembly.

[0032] In some possible implementations, the sealing assembly further includes at least one second seal protruding from the area enclosed by the sealing ring groove and sealingly connected to the upper plate and the lower plate, respectively.

[0033] In addition to providing additional local sealing to ensure the liquid tightness of specific structures (such as support columns, partitions, etc.) that may exist inside the cavity, the second seals also have a dual function of support and positioning. By forming support points inside the first seal, they can effectively prevent minor deformations or displacements between the upper and lower plates caused by internal coolant pressure or external forces, thereby improving the rigidity and stability of the entire battery power distribution assembly structure.

[0034] In some possible implementations, the upper plate includes a mounting plate and a side panel formed on one side of the mounting plate. The mounting plate, the side panel, and the lower plate together enclose the cavity, and the heat dissipation terminal of each of the heating elements passes through the mounting plate.

[0035] The upper plate includes a mounting plate and a side panel formed on one side of the mounting plate, so that the upper plate itself forms a shell structure with an opening on one side. The mounting plate, the side panel and the lower plate together enclose a cavity, which can provide a relatively independent and complete space for the coolant. This facilitates the stable arrangement of the cooling medium in the cavity, and also provides a structural basis for the heat dissipation terminals of the heat-generating elements to pass through the mounting plate and directly contact the coolant.

[0036] Furthermore, since the heat dissipation terminals are all mounted on the mounting plate, the heat from the heating element can directly enter the coolant in the cavity from one side of the mounting plate. Compared with the indirect heat transfer through the outer wall of the shell or additional heat-conducting components, the heat path is shorter and there are fewer heat transfer interfaces, thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency.

[0037] In addition, the side panels enclose and support the cavity, which helps maintain the stable shape of the coolant area and reduces the impact of uneven coolant distribution on heat dissipation.

[0038] In some possible implementations, the upper plate further includes an annular flange formed at one end of the side panel away from the mounting plate and surrounding the outer periphery of the side panel in a circumferential direction, with the lower plate overlapping the annular flange.

[0039] By setting an annular flange at the end of the side panel away from the mounting plate and having the lower plate overlap the annular flange, the contact area between the lower plate and the upper plate can be increased, which helps to improve the overall sealing effect of the cavity and reduce the risk of coolant leakage.

[0040] In addition, the annular flange provides better support and positioning for the lower plate, making it easier to control the assembly position of the lower and upper plates and reduce uneven gaps or local pressure caused by assembly deviations. This not only enhances sealing reliability but also improves the structural stability of the cooling components, ensuring that the coolant in the cavity remains in an effective working state for a long time, thereby guaranteeing continuous and stable heat dissipation performance.

[0041] In some possible implementations, the heating element includes at least one of a connector, a relay, a fuse, a shunt, and a copper busbar.

[0042] Since these components are typically arranged centrally in the power distribution assembly, multiple heat-generating components can be simultaneously cooled by coolant within the same cavity, simplifying the cooling circuit and assembly process. Furthermore, the heat dissipation of different heat-generating components can be designed with different external surface areas for the heat dissipation terminals based on their heat dissipation characteristics, ensuring that each heat-generating component receives a matched heat dissipation capacity. This results in a more balanced overall temperature distribution and improves the thermal management performance of the battery power distribution assembly.

[0043] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a battery pack including the battery power distribution assembly described above.

[0044] A third aspect of this disclosure provides a vehicle including the battery power distribution assembly or the battery pack described above.

[0045] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this disclosure may include the following beneficial effects: By directly contacting the heating element with the coolant, the heat transfer path is significantly shortened and the interfacial thermal resistance is reduced. A portion of the heating element is directly immersed in or in contact with the coolant, ensuring that heat can be carried away in a timely manner and preventing heat accumulation inside the heating element. This improves the heat dissipation effect. Compared with the indirect heat dissipation method using a cold plate in the prior art, this direct contact cooling can more quickly and effectively remove heat from the heating element, thereby reducing the overall temperature of the battery pack and preventing overheating from affecting the battery's performance and lifespan.

[0046] Furthermore, compared with the indirect contact heat dissipation scheme in related technologies, this disclosure introduces the coolant into the housing of the power distribution unit, which simplifies the complex process of thermal pad arrangement and pressure installation in traditional battery pack thermal management, reduces the reliance on external thermal auxiliary materials (such as thermal adhesive), facilitates the lightweight integration of the battery power distribution assembly, and improves space utilization.

[0047] Furthermore, because the coolant in this disclosure can directly dissipate heat from the heat-generating elements, it also helps to achieve better cooling effect with the same cooling medium flow rate, or to reduce the requirement for cooling medium flow rate while achieving the same cooling effect.

[0048] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0049] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.

[0050] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a battery power distribution assembly according to an exemplary embodiment; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An enlarged view of part A; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a battery power distribution assembly according to another exemplary embodiment; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of a battery power distribution assembly shown according to yet another exemplary embodiment.

[0051] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures 100-Battery power distribution assembly; 10-Battery power distribution unit; 12-Heating element; 120-Body; 13-Heat dissipation terminal; 130-Connection part; 131-Heat dissipation part; 132-Gap; 20-Cooling component; 200-Cold plate; 21-Upper plate; 210-Sealing ring groove; 211-Mounting plate; 212-Side plate; 213-Annular flange; 214-Through hole; 22-Lower plate; 220-Cavity; 231-Inlet channel; 232-Outlet channel; 30-Sealing component; 31-First seal; 32-Second seal. Detailed Implementation

[0052] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numerals in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this disclosure as detailed in the appended claims. Specific embodiments of this disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative and explanatory purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0053] In this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, directional terms are used only for the convenience of describing the disclosure and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or a specific orientation construction and operation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the disclosure. For example, directional terms in this scheme are defined based on the actual use state of the vehicle, and "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours of the corresponding components. In addition, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used to distinguish one element from another and do not have sequentiality or importance.

[0054] In the description of this disclosure, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "joining," "attaching," "installing," "connecting," "linking," "fixing," etc., used in the embodiments of this disclosure should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms herein according to the specific circumstances.

[0055] As mentioned above, the relevant technologies suffer from low efficiency in cooling the battery pack. Based on this, refer to... Figures 1 to 4 As shown, according to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a battery power distribution assembly 100 is provided, including a battery power distribution unit 10 and a cooling assembly 20. The battery power distribution unit 10 includes at least one heating element 12. The cooling assembly 20 includes a cold plate 200, a cavity 220 is formed inside the cold plate 200, the cavity 220 is filled with coolant, and a through hole 214 communicating with the cavity 220 is formed on the cold plate 200. A portion of each heating element 12 is in contact with the coolant located in the cavity 220 through the through hole 214.

[0056] By directly contacting the heating element 12 with the coolant, the heat transfer path is significantly shortened and the interfacial thermal resistance is reduced. A portion of the heating element 12 is directly immersed in or in contact with the coolant, ensuring that heat can be carried away in a timely manner and preventing heat accumulation inside the heating element 12. This improves the heat dissipation effect. Compared with the indirect heat dissipation method of the cold plate 200 in the prior art, this direct contact cooling can conduct heat away from the heating element 12 more quickly and effectively, thereby reducing the overall temperature of the battery pack and preventing overheating from affecting the battery's performance and lifespan.

[0057] Furthermore, compared with the indirect contact heat dissipation scheme in related technologies, this disclosure introduces the coolant into the housing of the power distribution unit, which simplifies the complex process of thermal pad arrangement and pressure installation in traditional battery pack thermal management, reduces the reliance on external thermal auxiliary materials (such as thermal adhesive), facilitates the lightweight integration of the battery power distribution assembly 100, and improves space utilization.

[0058] Furthermore, because the coolant in this disclosure can directly dissipate heat from the heat-generating elements, it also helps to achieve better cooling effect with the same cooling medium flow rate, or to reduce the requirement for cooling medium flow rate while achieving the same cooling effect.

[0059] The heating element 12 may include a body 120 and a heat dissipation terminal 13 connected to the body 120. The heat dissipation terminal 13 is inserted into the through hole 214 and is in contact with the coolant.

[0060] By setting a heat dissipation terminal 13 connected to the main body 120 and making the heat dissipation terminal 13 in contact with the coolant, it is possible to dissipate heat from the main body 120 while avoiding direct contact between the main body 120 and the coolant. This prevents the coolant from entering the interior of the main body 120 and causing damage or short circuits, thereby improving the stability and service life of the main body 120 during the heat dissipation process.

[0061] Furthermore, when connecting the heat dissipation terminal 13 to the body 120, the heat dissipation terminal 13 can be connected to the core heat dissipation area or the main heat dissipation area of ​​the body 120, thereby further improving the heat dissipation efficiency and heat dissipation effect of the body 120.

[0062] In some possible implementations, the battery power distribution assembly 100 further includes a sealing portion disposed within the through hole 214 and sealed between the outer wall of the heat dissipation terminal 13 and the inner wall of the through hole 214.

[0063] By providing a sealing part between the outer wall of the heat dissipation terminal 13 and the inner wall of the through hole 214, the gap between the heat dissipation terminal 13 and the through hole 214 can be effectively sealed, preventing coolant from seeping into the body through the gap during the heat dissipation process of the body 120 through the heat dissipation terminal 13, thus avoiding interference or disruption to the normal operation of the body 120.

[0064] In some possible implementations, the end of the heat dissipation terminal 13 of each heat-generating element 12 facing away from the body 120 is located in the same plane. Setting the ends of multiple heat dissipation terminals 13 to be at the same height facilitates the simultaneous coverage and heat exchange of multiple heat sources by the coolant, thereby reducing the cooling difference between different heat-generating elements 12, avoiding uneven local heat exchange caused by inconsistent terminal positions, and thus improving the consistency of overall heat dissipation and temperature uniformity.

[0065] Meanwhile, the fact that multiple heat dissipation terminals 13 are located in the same plane helps to simplify the heat exchange path when the coolant flows, allowing the coolant to exchange heat with each heat dissipation terminal 13 on a relatively stable contact interface. This not only helps to improve heat dissipation efficiency, but also reduces the probability of local hot spots forming, enabling the battery power distribution assembly 100 to maintain a more stable temperature rise under continuous operation or high load conditions.

[0066] To improve the stable and continuous contact between the heat dissipation terminal 13 and the coolant, in some possible embodiments, the heat dissipation terminal 13 of each heat-generating element 12 is at least partially immersed in the coolant located in the cavity 220. By ensuring that the heat dissipation terminal 13 is effectively immersed in the coolant, the direct contact area between the terminal and the coolant can be significantly increased, the heat exchange efficiency of the terminal can be improved, and the heat conduction path can be shortened, thereby maximizing the heat exchange potential of direct liquid cooling as much as possible. This further improves the efficiency and stability of heat transfer from the heat-generating element 12 to the coolant, and avoids the decrease in heat dissipation efficiency due to poor contact or liquid level fluctuations, thereby enhancing the thermal management reliability of the entire battery power distribution assembly 100 under continuous high load operation.

[0067] In other embodiments provided in this disclosure, such as Figure 3 As shown, the end of the heat dissipation terminal 13 can also be flush with the inner wall of the cavity 220. In this way, on the one hand, the space occupied by the heat dissipation terminal 13 in the cavity 220 can be reduced, so that the amount of coolant stored in the cavity 220 can be increased as much as possible under the condition of a certain space. On the other hand, it can also avoid the heat dissipation terminal 13 extending into the cavity 220 from disturbing or interfering with the flow of coolant in the cavity 220, so that the coolant can circulate more efficiently in the cavity 220.

[0068] To further improve heat exchange efficiency and effect, in one exemplary embodiment provided in this disclosure, and in some possible embodiments, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the heat dissipation terminal 13 may include a connecting portion 130 and at least two heat dissipation portions 131. A gap 132 exists between adjacent heat dissipation portions 131. Each heat dissipation portion 131 is connected to one end of the connecting portion 130, and the end of the connecting portion 130 facing away from the heat dissipation portion 131 is connected to the heating element 12. By providing the connecting portion 130 and at least two heat dissipation portions 131 in the heat dissipation terminal 13, and with a gap 132 between adjacent heat dissipation portions 131, the outer surface of the heat dissipation terminal 13 is no longer a single flat structure, but forms multiple heat exchange surfaces in contact with the coolant. This allows the coolant to act simultaneously on the surfaces of multiple heat dissipation portions 131, expanding the heat exchange contact area and improving the efficiency of heat transfer from the heating element 12 to the coolant. Furthermore, the heat is quickly transferred along the connecting portion 130 to each heat dissipation portion 131 and simultaneously released into the coolant through multiple heat dissipation surfaces, which also helps improve the uniformity of heat dissipation, reduces the risk of single-point overheating, and thus improves the temperature rise control capability and operational stability of the battery power distribution assembly 100 under high load conditions.

[0069] Furthermore, by providing a gap 132 between adjacent heat dissipation sections 131, the coolant can directly contact the side and inner areas of the connecting section 130 and each heat dissipation section 131 when flowing through the gap 132, thereby shortening the heat transfer path between the coolant and the internal area of ​​the heat dissipation terminal 13 and enhancing the local turbulence and heat exchange effect.

[0070] In the specific embodiments provided in this disclosure, such as Figure 4 As shown, the aforementioned multiple heat dissipation sections 131 can also be arranged in a divergent manner toward the interior of the cavity, so that the multiple heat dissipation sections 131 can exchange heat with the coolant in a larger area of ​​the cavity 220 as much as possible, thereby reducing the problem of mutual interference between adjacent heat dissipation sections 131 due to their close proximity during the heat exchange process.

[0071] In another embodiment provided in this disclosure, the heat dissipation terminal 13 may also be formed into any shape that can increase the contact area with the coolant, such as honeycomb or spiral, and this disclosure does not limit it.

[0072] In some possible implementations, the outer surface area of ​​the heat dissipation terminal 13 located within the cavity 220 of the heating element 12 is proportional to the heat dissipation of the heating element 12. Heating elements 12 with larger heat dissipation will be configured with larger heat dissipation terminal 13 surface areas, while elements with smaller heat dissipation will have smaller surface areas, so that the heat dissipation capacity of each heating element 12 is precisely matched with the actual heat dissipation requirements.

[0073] In this way, for the high-heat-generating element 12, the sufficient surface area ensures adequate heat exchange capacity and prevents excessive temperature rise. For the low-heat-generating element 12, it will not be over-cooled due to excessive heat dissipation area, causing unnecessary temperature fluctuations or heat loss, thus improving overall energy efficiency. This avoids the problem of excessive or insufficient heat dissipation capacity caused by using a uniform heat dissipation area for all heat-generating elements 12, making the cooling intensity of each heat-generating element 12 closer to its actual heat load, reducing local insufficient cooling or cooling redundancy. This not only improves the utilization efficiency of cooling resources, but also helps to improve the temperature uniformity between different heat-generating elements 12, further improving the adaptability, heat dissipation efficiency and long-term stability of the battery power distribution assembly 100.

[0074] To achieve continuous heat dissipation for the aforementioned heat-generating element 12, in one embodiment provided in this disclosure, the cold plate 200 may also be provided with an inlet channel 231 and an outlet channel 232, which are respectively connected to the cavity 220. In this way, low-temperature coolant can flow into the cavity 220 through the inlet channel 231, exchange heat with multiple heat dissipation terminals 13 and absorb heat from multiple heat-generating elements 12, and then become high-temperature coolant flowing out of the cavity 220. After flowing out of the cavity 220, the coolant is cooled and dissipated in the radiator and then becomes low-temperature coolant again flowing into the cavity 220, thereby achieving cyclic heat dissipation for the heat-generating element 12.

[0075] In this disclosure, the cooling assembly 20 may further include a circulation pump (not shown) and the aforementioned radiator (not shown).

[0076] In some possible implementations, the cold plate 200 includes an upper plate 21 and a lower plate 22, with the upper plate 21 covering the lower plate 22 and the upper plate 21 and the lower plate 22 forming a cavity 220. A through hole 214 is formed on the upper plate 21 along its own thickness direction, and the body 120 is disposed on the side of the upper plate 21 away from the lower plate 22.

[0077] The upper plate 21 and the lower plate 22 form a cavity 220 containing coolant. After the main body 120 is installed on the upper plate 21, the heat dissipation terminal 13 connected to the main body 120 has a shorter distance from the cavity 220, thereby further shortening the heat dissipation path of the main body 120 and improving the heat dissipation effect.

[0078] In some possible implementations, the battery power distribution assembly 100 may further include a sealing component 30, which is sealingly connected between the upper plate 21 and the lower plate 22. By providing the sealing component 30 between the upper plate 21 and the lower plate 22, the cavity 220 can be effectively sealed, preventing coolant in the cavity 220 from seeping or leaking from the connection between the upper plate 21 and the lower plate 22, thus affecting the stable operation of the battery power distribution unit 10.

[0079] In one exemplary embodiment provided in this disclosure, a sealing ring groove 210 is provided on the side of the upper plate 21 near the lower plate 22 or on the side of the lower plate 22 near the upper plate 21. The sealing assembly 30 includes a first sealing element 31, which is disposed within the sealing ring groove 210. By providing the sealing ring groove 210 on the upper plate 21 or the lower plate 22 and precisely placing the first sealing element 31 therein, a reliable and stable annular sealing structure is formed. This ensures that the coolant contained in the internal cavity 220 of the battery power distribution assembly 100 can be effectively and permanently sealed within the designed area, completely preventing the risk of coolant leakage to the external environment. This ensures the long-term stable operation of the liquid cooling system, prevents the decrease in cooling efficiency or corrosion of external components due to leakage, and avoids safety hazards caused by coolant leakage, significantly improving the safety and reliability of the entire battery power distribution assembly 100.

[0080] In some possible embodiments, the sealing assembly 30 further includes at least one second seal 32, which protrudes from the area enclosed by the sealing ring groove 210 and is sealed to the upper plate 21 and the lower plate 22, respectively. In addition to providing additional local sealing to ensure the liquid tightness of any specific structures (such as support columns, partitions, etc.) that may exist inside the cavity 220, the second seals 32 also serve a dual function of support and positioning. By forming support points inside the first seal 31, they can effectively prevent minor deformations or displacements between the lower plate 22 and the upper plate 21 caused by internal coolant pressure or external forces, thereby improving the rigidity and stability of the entire battery power distribution assembly 100 structure.

[0081] It should be noted that, in one embodiment provided in this disclosure, the first sealing element 31 and the second sealing element 32 mentioned above can both be sealant; or, in other embodiments provided in this disclosure, the first sealing element 31 and the second sealing element 32 can also be a sealing gasket or a sealing ring.

[0082] This disclosure does not limit the specific shape of the upper plate 21. For example, in an exemplary embodiment provided in this disclosure, the upper plate 21 may include a mounting plate 211 and a side plate 212 formed on one side of the mounting plate 211. The mounting plate 211, the side plate 212, and the lower plate 22 together enclose a cavity 220, and the heat dissipation terminal 13 of each heating element 12 passes through the mounting plate 211. The upper plate 21 includes a mounting plate 211 and a side plate 212 formed on one side of the mounting plate 211, so that the upper plate 21 itself forms a shell structure with an opening on one side, and the cavity 220 is formed by the mounting plate 211, the side plate 212, and the lower plate 22. This provides a relatively independent and complete space for the coolant, which facilitates the stable arrangement of the cooling medium in the cavity 220. It also provides a structural basis for the heat dissipation terminal 13 of the heating element 12 to pass through the mounting plate 211 and directly contact the coolant.

[0083] Furthermore, since the heat dissipation terminals 13 are all installed on the mounting plate 211, the heat from the heating element 12 can directly enter the coolant in the cavity 220 from one side of the mounting plate 211. Compared with the indirect heat transfer through the outer wall of the housing or additional heat-conducting components, the heat path is shorter and there are fewer heat transfer interfaces, thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency.

[0084] In addition, the side panel 212 encloses and supports the cavity 220, which helps to maintain the stable shape of the coolant area and reduce the impact of uneven coolant distribution on heat dissipation.

[0085] In some possible embodiments, the upper plate 21 may further include an annular flange 213, which is formed at one end of the side plate 212 away from the mounting plate 211 and is arranged around the outer periphery of the side plate 212 in the circumferential direction. The lower plate 22 overlaps the annular flange 213. By providing an annular flange 213 at one end of the side plate 212 away from the mounting plate 211 and having the lower plate 22 overlap the annular flange 213, the contact area between the lower plate 22 and the upper plate 21 can be increased, thereby improving the overall sealing effect of the cavity 220 and reducing the risk of coolant leakage.

[0086] In addition, the annular flange 213 provides better support and positioning for the lower plate 22, making it easier to control the assembly position of the lower plate 22 and the upper plate 21, reducing uneven gap 132 or local pressure caused by assembly deviation. This not only enhances sealing reliability but also improves the structural stability of the cooling assembly 20, ensuring that the coolant in the cavity 220 remains in an effective working state for a long time, thereby ensuring continuous and stable heat dissipation performance.

[0087] Furthermore, in the embodiment mentioned above where a first sealing member 31 is provided between the upper plate 21 and the lower plate 22, the sealing ring groove 210 can be formed on the annular flange 213, and the first sealing member 31 can be provided between the annular flange 213 and the lower plate 22.

[0088] This disclosure does not limit the type of the aforementioned heating element 12, and it can be any element capable of generating heat during operation. For example, in one exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the heating element 12 may include at least one of a connector, relay, fuse, shunt, and copper busbar. Since these elements are typically arranged centrally in the power distribution assembly, multiple heating elements 12 can be simultaneously cooled by the coolant within the same cavity 220, simplifying the cooling circuit and assembly process. Simultaneously, the heat dissipation of different heating elements 12 can be designed according to their heating characteristics, with the outer surface area of ​​the heat dissipation terminal 13 designed accordingly, so that each heating element 12 can obtain a matched heat dissipation capacity, resulting in a more balanced overall temperature distribution and thus improving the thermal management performance of the battery power distribution assembly 100.

[0089] This disclosure does not limit the specific type of coolant mentioned above. It should be noted that it can be a material with insulating properties to prevent the coolant from short-circuiting or leaking electricity with the heat dissipation terminal 13 and the heat-generating element 12.

[0090] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a battery pack including the battery power distribution assembly 100 as described above. The battery pack provided by this disclosure has all the beneficial effects of the battery power distribution assembly 100 described above, which will not be described in detail here.

[0091] A third aspect of this disclosure provides a vehicle including the battery power distribution assembly 100 as described above or the battery pack as described above. Similarly, the vehicle provided by this disclosure has all the beneficial effects of the aforementioned battery power distribution assembly and battery pack, which will not be described in detail here.

[0092] Furthermore, this disclosure does not limit the type of vehicle; it can be any vehicle suitable for using the battery power distribution assembly and battery pack. For example, the vehicle can be a sedan, truck, van, or other similar vehicle, or a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle (range-extended electric vehicle), etc.

[0093] The preferred embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the specific details of the above embodiments. Within the scope of the technical concept of this disclosure, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solutions of this disclosure, and these simple modifications all fall within the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0094] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, this disclosure will not describe the various possible combinations separately.

[0095] Furthermore, various different embodiments of this disclosure can be combined in any way, as long as they do not violate the spirit of this disclosure, they should also be regarded as the content disclosed in this disclosure.

Claims

1. A battery power distribution assembly, characterized in that, It includes a battery power distribution unit and a cooling assembly, wherein the battery power distribution unit includes at least one heating element; The cooling assembly includes a cold plate with a cavity inside, the cavity being filled with coolant, and a through hole communicating with the cavity on the cold plate. A portion of each heating element contacts the coolant located in the cavity through the through hole.

2. The battery power distribution assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heating element includes a body and a heat dissipation terminal connected to the body. The heat dissipation terminal is inserted into the through hole and is in contact with the coolant.

3. The battery power distribution assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The battery power distribution assembly also includes a sealing part, which is disposed in the through hole and is sealed between the outer wall of the heat dissipation terminal and the inner wall of the through hole.

4. The battery power distribution assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the heat dissipation terminals is located on the same plane at the end opposite to the body.

5. The battery power distribution assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the heat dissipation terminals is at least partially immersed in coolant located within the cavity.

6. The battery power distribution assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The heat dissipation terminal includes a connecting portion and at least two heat dissipation portions, with a gap between adjacent heat dissipation portions. Each heat dissipation portion is connected to one end of the connecting portion, and the end of the connecting portion facing away from the heat dissipation portion is connected to the heating element.

7. The battery power distribution assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer surface area of ​​the heat dissipation terminal of the heating element located in the cavity is proportional to the heat dissipation of the heating element.

8. The battery power distribution assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cold plate is also provided with a liquid inlet channel and a liquid outlet channel, which are respectively connected to the cavity.

9. The battery power distribution assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cold plate includes an upper plate and a lower plate. The upper plate covers the lower plate, and the upper plate and the lower plate enclose the cavity. The upper plate has a through hole extending along its own thickness direction. The body is disposed on the side of the upper plate away from the lower plate.

10. The battery power distribution assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that, The battery power distribution assembly also includes a sealing component, which is sealed between the upper plate and the lower plate.

11. The battery power distribution assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that, A sealing ring groove is provided on the side of the upper plate near the lower plate or on the side of the lower plate near the upper plate. The sealing assembly includes a first sealing element, which is disposed in the sealing ring groove.

12. The battery power distribution assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that, The sealing assembly further includes at least one second seal, which protrudes from the area enclosed by the sealing ring groove and is sealed to the upper plate and the lower plate respectively.

13. The battery power distribution assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that, The upper plate includes a mounting plate and a side panel formed on one side of the mounting plate. The mounting plate, the side panel, and the lower plate together enclose the cavity. The heat dissipation terminal of each heating element passes through the mounting plate.

14. The battery power distribution assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that, The upper plate also includes an annular flange, which is formed at one end of the side panel away from the mounting plate and is arranged around the outer periphery of the side panel along the circumferential direction. The lower plate overlaps the annular flange.

15. The battery power distribution assembly according to any one of claims 1-14, characterized in that, The heating element includes at least one of a connector, a relay, a fuse, a shunt, and a copper busbar.

16. A battery pack, characterized in that, Includes the battery power distribution assembly according to any one of claims 1-15.

17. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the battery power distribution assembly according to any one of claims 1-15 or the battery pack according to claim 16.

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