Liquid cooling plate and battery pack

Abstract

The utility model relates to a liquid cooling plate and a battery pack. The liquid cooling plate comprises a first water gap, a second water gap, a first drainage channel, a second drainage channel and a plurality of sub-channels. The first drainage channel is communicated with the first water opening. The second drainage channel is communicated with the second water opening. And the plurality of sub-runners are independently communicated between the first drainage channel and the second drainage channel. The length of the first drainage channel between each sub-runner and the first water gap is the first drainage length of the sub-runner, the length of the second drainage channel between each sub-runner and the second water gap is the second drainage length of the sub-runner, and the larger the sum of the first drainage length and the second drainage length is, the smaller the flow resistance of the sub-runners is. According to the technical scheme, the temperature distribution uniformity of the battery module can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a liquid cooling plate and a battery pack. Background Art

[0002] In order to keep the battery pack working within a suitable temperature range and improve the service life and performance of the battery pack, most existing battery packs are equipped with liquid cooling plates to control the temperature of the battery modules in the battery pack. During the heat exchange between the liquid cooling plate and the battery module, if the heat exchange of the battery module is uneven and the temperature difference between different areas of the battery module is large, the performance of the battery module will be greatly reduced. Therefore, it is necessary to design a liquid cooling plate to improve the temperature uniformity of the battery module. Utility Model Content

[0003] Based on this, the present application provides a liquid cooling plate and a battery pack, which can make the temperature distribution of the battery module more uniform.

[0004] In a first aspect, the present application provides a liquid cooling plate, comprising:

[0005] The first water inlet and the second water inlet;

[0006] a first drainage channel, connected to the first water inlet;

[0007] a second drainage channel, connected to the second water outlet;

[0008] A plurality of branch flow channels independently connected between the first flow channel and the second flow channel; the length of the first flow channel between each of the branch flow channels and the first water inlet is the first drainage length of the branch flow channel, and the length of the second flow channel between each of the branch flow channels and the second water inlet is the second drainage length of the branch flow channel;

[0009] The larger the sum of the first drainage length and the second drainage length is, the smaller the flow resistance of the flow branch channel is.

[0010] In some embodiments, the flow channel includes at least a first flow channel and a second flow channel, and the flow resistance of the first flow channel is smaller than the flow resistance of the second flow channel;

[0011] The first flow branch channel includes a plurality of inclined flow channels arranged obliquely relative to the first flow guide channel, and the inclined flow channels are sequentially arranged at intervals along the extension direction of the first flow guide channel;

[0012] Each of the inclined flow channels is independently connected to the first drainage channel and the second drainage channel.

[0013] In some embodiments, each of the inclined flow channels is inclined toward an end of the first drainage channel away from the first water outlet.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first branch flow channel further includes an intermediate flow channel, and the intermediate flow channel is connected between adjacent inclined flow channels.

[0015] In some embodiments, the first branch channel also includes a straight channel located on the same side of all the inclined flow channels, the straight channel is connected between the first drainage channel and the second drainage channel, and at least part of the inclined flow channels is connected to the first drainage channel via the straight channel.

[0016] In some embodiments, the second branch flow channel extends from the first drainage channel in a circuitous manner to the second drainage channel.

[0017] In some embodiments, the second branch flow channel includes a plurality of parallel flow channel segments arranged side by side and connected in sequence, and the drainage directions of each two adjacent parallel flow channel segments are opposite;

[0018] Each of the parallel flow channel sections is composed of a plurality of parallel drainage branches.

[0019] In some embodiments, the longer the first drainage channel is, the longer the second drainage channel is;

[0020] And / or, the first drainage channel extends linearly along a first direction; and the plurality of branch flow channels with increasing lengths of the first drainage channel are arranged in sequence along the extending direction of the first drainage channel.

[0021] In some embodiments, the first drainage channel is arranged in the middle area of ​​the liquid cooling plate, the second drainage channel includes an edge channel, the edge channel is arranged in the edge area of ​​the liquid cooling plate, and the branch channel is arranged in the area of ​​the liquid cooling plate between the first drainage channel and the edge channel.

[0022] In some embodiments, the edge flow channel includes a first branch flow channel and a second branch flow channel, both of which are independently connected to the second water outlet, and the second branch flow channel is located at the periphery of the first branch flow channel and is directly connected to the first drainage channel;

[0023] Among all the flow channels, the flow channel with the smallest flow resistance is the last flow channel, part of the flow channel of the last flow channel is connected between the first flow channel and the first branch flow channel, and the other part of the flow channel is connected between the first flow channel and the second branch flow channel;

[0024] The remaining flow channels except the last flow channel are all connected between the first drainage channel and the first branch flow channel.

[0025] In some embodiments, the liquid cooling plate is provided with a water inlet and outlet area at a middle position of one end in the extending direction of the first drainage channel, and the first water inlet and the second water inlet are both located in the water inlet and outlet area;

[0026] The second flow channel further includes a confluence channel, and the confluence channel is connected between the second water outlet and the edge flow channel.

[0027] In some embodiments, the liquid cooling plate further includes a third drainage channel, wherein the third drainage channel is disposed at the periphery of the second drainage channel and is connected to the first water inlet and the second water inlet.

[0028] In some embodiments, the liquid cooling plate includes two independent groups of liquid cooling channels, each group of the liquid cooling channels includes the first flow channel, the second flow channel and a plurality of the branch flow channels; all the branch flow channels and the second flow channel of each group of the liquid cooling channels are arranged on the same side of the first flow channel;

[0029] The two groups of liquid cooling channels are arranged symmetrically with respect to the extension direction of the first guide channel.

[0030] In some embodiments, the liquid cooling plate also includes a flow direction switching module, which includes a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet and a switching structure; the switching structure is used to switch the liquid inlet to be connected to one of the first water inlet and the second water inlet, and the liquid outlet is connected to the other.

[0031] In a second aspect, the present application provides a battery pack, comprising:

[0032] Box;

[0033] The liquid cooling plate as described in the above embodiment is enclosed with the box body to form a receiving space; and

[0034] The battery module is arranged in the accommodating space and is connected to the liquid cooling plate for heat exchange.

[0035] In some embodiments, the battery pack further includes a high-voltage box located in the accommodation space, the liquid cooling plate further includes a third drainage channel, and the high-voltage box is connected to the third drainage channel for heat exchange.

[0036] In some embodiments, the liquid cooling plate includes a flow direction switching module, and the flow direction switching module is located outside the box.

[0037] In some embodiments, a heat insulating material is disposed between the battery module and the casing.

[0038] For the above-mentioned liquid cooling plate and battery pack, the larger the flow length of the shunt channel, the smaller its flow resistance. The smaller the flow resistance, the faster the flow rate of the heat exchange medium in the shunt channel, and the more heat exchange medium content flowing through the shunt channel per unit time. Compared with the shunt channel with a short flow length, the shunt channel with a long flow length can flow more heat exchange medium, which makes up for the shortcoming that the heat exchange capacity of the heat exchange medium flowing in it is weak due to the long flow length, so that the overall heat exchange capacity of each shunt channel with different flow lengths can be basically the same. In this way, the heat exchange efficiency of each shunt channel is basically the same, so that the liquid cooling plate can perform relatively uniform heat exchange with multiple refined areas corresponding to each shunt channel of the battery module, which is beneficial to improve the uniformity of temperature distribution of the battery module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments below. The accompanying drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments and are not to be considered as limiting the present application. Moreover, the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to represent the same components. In the drawings:

[0040] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the internal flow channel of the liquid cooling plate in some embodiments.

[0041] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of heat exchange medium flow direction of the liquid cooling plate under high temperature conditions.

[0042] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of the heat exchange medium flow direction of the liquid cooling plate under low temperature conditions.

[0043] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the battery pack of some embodiments.

[0044] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Exploded view of the battery pack shown.

[0045] The reference numerals in the specific implementation manner are as follows:

[0046] 100, battery pack; 20, box; 30, battery module; 40, high-voltage box; 50, thermal pad;

[0047] 10, liquid cooling plate; F, first direction; S1, first water inlet; S2, second water inlet; Q, water inlet and outlet area; 10A, liquid cooling channel;

[0048] 11. The first drainage channel;

[0049] 12, second flow channel; 12c, edge flow channel; c1, first branch flow channel; c2, second branch flow channel; 12d, confluence channel;

[0050] 13. Diversion channel;

[0051] 13a, first branch channel; a1, inclined channel; a2, middle channel; a3, straight channel;

[0052] 13b, second branch channel; b1, parallel channel section; b11, diversion branch channel; b2, transition branch channel;

[0053] 14. The third drainage channel;

[0054] 15. Flow direction switching module; 15e. Liquid inlet; 15f. Liquid outlet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] In order to make the above-mentioned purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present application are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following description, many specific details are set forth to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without violating the connotation of the present application, so the present application is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0056] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that terms such as “center”, “longitudinal”, “lateral”, “length”, “width”, “thickness”, “up”, “down”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inside”, “outside”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, “axial”, “radial”, “circumferential”, etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, if any, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0057] In addition, if present, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of this application, "plurality" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0058] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, if any, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise clearly defined. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0059] In the present application, if it appears, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature “above” or “below” a second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, a first feature “above”, “above” and “above” a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature “below”, “below” and “below” a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0060] It should be noted that, if present, when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be a central element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be a central element at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be the only implementation method.

[0061] Please refer to Figure 1 , and combined with Figure 5 The liquid cooling plate 10 provided in the embodiment of the present application includes a first water inlet S1, a second water inlet S2, a first drainage channel 11, a second drainage channel 12 and a plurality of branch channels 13. The first drainage channel 11 is connected to the first water inlet S1. The second drainage channel 12 is connected to the second water inlet S2. A plurality of branch channels 13 are independently connected between the first drainage channel 11 and the second drainage channel 12. The length of the first drainage channel 11 between each branch channel 13 and the first water inlet S1 is the first drainage length of the branch channel 13, and the length of the second drainage channel 12 between each branch channel 13 and the second water inlet S2 is the second drainage length of the branch channel 13. The greater the sum of the first drainage length and the second drainage length, the smaller the flow resistance of the branch channel 13.

[0062] The first water inlet S1 and the second water inlet S2 serve as the inlet and outlet for the heat exchange medium to enter and exit the liquid cooling plate 10. When one of them serves as the inlet, the other serves as the outlet. Taking the first water inlet S1 as the inlet and the second water inlet S2 as the outlet as an example, the heat exchange medium can first enter the first drainage channel 11 through the first water inlet S1, then enter each branch channel 13, and then enter the second drainage channel 12 through each branch channel 13, and finally flow back to the second water inlet S2. In this process, the heat exchange medium exchanges heat with the battery module 30 disposed on the liquid cooling plate 10 through the liquid cooling plate 10.

[0063] The first guide channel 11 and the second guide channel 12 are used to guide the heat exchange medium to enter and exit the branch channel 13 . The branch channel 13 plays a major role in heat exchange and occupies a relatively large area on the liquid cooling plate 10 .

[0064] The sum of the first drainage length and the second drainage length of the branch channel 13 is called the drainage length of the branch channel 13. It can be understood that there are at least two branch channels 13 with different drainage lengths, and the larger the drainage length of the branch channel 13, the smaller its flow resistance.

[0065] The flow resistance of the branch channel 13 refers to the resistance encountered by the heat exchange medium when flowing through the branch channel 13. The greater the flow resistance, the slower the flow rate of the heat exchange medium. There are many factors that affect the flow resistance of the branch channel 13, which can be designed from aspects such as the flow channel length, flow channel flow area, and flow channel path shape of the branch channel 13. Those skilled in the art can perform diversified designs based on common knowledge and conventional means to obtain branch channels 13 with different flow resistances. The specific forms of the branch channel 13 are not exhaustively listed in the embodiments of this application.

[0066] When the drainage length of the shunt channel 13 is longer, the more heat exchange amount the heat exchange medium consumes when flowing through the first drainage channel 11 and the second drainage channel 12, and the less heat exchange amount the heat exchange medium generates between the battery module 30 when flowing through the shunt channel 13. If the flow resistance of the shunt channels 13 with different drainage lengths is the same, the heat exchange efficiency of each shunt channel 13 will be different, resulting in uneven temperature distribution between different areas of the battery module 30 exchanging heat with different shunt channels 13, which is not conducive to the uniformity of the temperature distribution of the battery module 30.

[0067] In the above-mentioned liquid cooling plate 10, the larger the flow length of the branch channel 13, the smaller its flow resistance. The smaller the flow resistance, the faster the flow velocity of the heat exchange medium in the branch channel 13, and the more heat exchange medium content flowing through the branch channel 13 per unit time. Compared with the branch channel 13 with a small flow length, the branch channel 13 with a long flow length can flow more heat exchange medium, which makes up for the shortcoming that the heat exchange capacity of the heat exchange medium flowing therein is weak due to the long flow length, so that the overall heat exchange capacity of each branch channel 13 with different flow lengths can be basically the same.

[0068] In this way, the heat exchange efficiency of each branch channel 13 is substantially the same, so that the liquid cooling plate 10 can perform relatively uniform heat exchange with multiple subdivided areas of the battery module 30 corresponding to each branch channel 13, which is beneficial to improving the uniformity of temperature distribution of the battery module 30.

[0069] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 The flow channel 13 at least includes a first flow channel 13a and a second flow channel 13b, and the flow resistance of the first flow channel 13a is smaller than the flow resistance of the second flow channel 13b. The first flow channel 13a includes a plurality of inclined flow channels a1 arranged obliquely relative to the first flow channel 11, and each inclined flow channel a1 is arranged in sequence and spaced along the extension direction of the first flow channel 11. Each inclined flow channel a1 independently connects the first flow channel 11 and the second flow channel 12.

[0070] The first drainage channel 11 can extend in a straight line direction or a curved line direction, which is not specifically limited. Each inclined channel a1 is arranged obliquely relative to the first drainage channel 11, which means that the extending direction of the inclined channel a1 is arranged at an acute angle to the extending direction of the first drainage channel 11. The inclined channel a1 usually extends in a straight line. Multiple inclined channels a1 are usually, but not limited to, arranged parallel to each other.

[0071] Taking the first flow channel 11 as a reference, the inclined flow channel a1 arranged obliquely can achieve flow coverage with fewer bends, and obtain a branch flow channel 13 with small flow resistance. Moreover, the projection of the inclined flow channel a1 arranged obliquely can fall on a larger number of battery cells, and each inclined flow channel a1 can exchange heat with a larger number of battery cells, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the second branch flow channel 13b. Secondly, each inclined flow channel a1 can independently guide the independent flow of the heat exchange medium, which can reduce the flow resistance of the second branch flow channel 13b.

[0072] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 Each inclined flow channel a1 is inclined toward one end of the first guide channel 11 away from the first water outlet S1.

[0073] That is, in the extending direction of the first guide channel 11 , each inclined channel a1 is inclined toward a direction away from the first water inlet S1 .

[0074] At this time, no matter the first water inlet S1 or the second water inlet S2 is used as the inlet, the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the inclined flow channel a1 conforms to the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the first diversion channel 11, and when the heat exchange medium flows from the first diversion channel 11 into the first branch channel 13a or from the first branch channel 13a into the first diversion channel 11, the reversing resistance is relatively small, which helps to speed up the flow of the heat exchange medium in the first branch channel 13a and further reduce the flow resistance of the first branch channel 13a.

[0075] Further to the embodiments, refer to Figure 1The first branch flow channel 13a also includes an intermediate flow channel a2, and the intermediate flow channel a2 is connected between each adjacent inclined flow channel a1.

[0076] An intermediate flow channel a2 is arranged between each inclined flow channel a1. When the liquid cooling plate 10 is impacted by external force and part of the inclined flow channels a1 are blocked, the heat exchange medium can be guided to other unblocked inclined flow channels a1 through the intermediate flow channel a2. This not only improves the impact resistance of the liquid cooling plate 10, but also ensures the drainage capacity of the second branch flow channel 13b, thereby reducing the flow channel resistance of the heat exchange medium.

[0077] Specifically, 1 to 2 intermediate flow channels a2 can be arranged between each two adjacent inclined flow channels a1, and can be flexibly arranged according to the specific length of the inclined flow channels a1. Generally, the number of intermediate flow channels a2 should not be too large, because too many intermediate flow channels a2 will produce curved flow channels that are not conducive to reducing the flow resistance of the second branch flow channel 13b.

[0078] Further to the embodiments, refer to Figure 1 The first branch flow channel 13a also includes a straight flow channel a3 located on the same side of all the inclined flow channels a1, the straight flow channel a3 is connected between the first drainage channel 11 and the second drainage channel 12, and at least part of the inclined flow channels a1 is connected to the first drainage channel 11 via the straight flow channel a3.

[0079] The direct flow channel a3 is a flow channel extending in a straight line. In a specific embodiment, the direct flow channel a3 is vertically connected between the first drainage channel 11 and the second drainage channel 12. The direct flow channel a3 is linearly connected between the first drainage channel 11 and the second drainage channel 12, and the flow resistance of the heat exchange medium is small. In addition, at least part of the inclined flow channel a1 is connected to the first drainage channel 11 via a straight channel, which is convenient for arranging as many inclined flow channels a1 as possible in a local area, improving the heat exchange capacity of the local area, and making the heat exchange more uniform.

[0080] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 The second branch flow channel 13 b extends from the first drainage channel 11 to the second drainage channel 12 in a circuitous manner.

[0081] That is, the second branch flow channel 13b is extended in a zigzag manner, and the heat exchange medium needs to bend and change direction multiple times when flowing along the second branch flow channel 13b. In this way, the second branch flow channel 13b can have a larger flow resistance.

[0082] Specifically in the embodiment, the second branch flow channel 13b includes a plurality of parallel flow channel segments b1 arranged side by side and connected in sequence, and the drainage directions of every two adjacent parallel flow channel segments b1 are opposite.

[0083] In order to make the drainage directions of the parallel flow channel segments b1 opposite, the inlet ends of the two adjacent parallel flow channel segments b1 are arranged at different ends, and the outlet ends of the parallel flow channel segments b1 are arranged at different ends.

[0084] In actual application, the heat exchange medium passes through each parallel flow channel section b1 in sequence, and when the parallel flow channel section b1 is switched, the heat exchange medium changes its flow direction. In this way, the heat exchange medium stays in the first branch flow channel 13a for a longer time, and the flow resistance of the first branch flow channel 13a is larger.

[0085] It should be noted that reference Figure 1 A transition branch channel b2 is provided between each parallel flow channel section b1 to connect each parallel flow channel section b1 in series.

[0086] Further to the embodiments, refer to Figure 1 Each parallel flow channel segment b1 is composed of a plurality of parallel drainage branches b11.

[0087] That is, a plurality of parallel drainage branches b11 are provided in the same parallel flow channel section b1, and the drainage directions of the drainage branches b11 are substantially the same.

[0088] At this time, each parallel flow channel segment b1 independently drains through multiple drainage branches b11, which can not only provide the flow capacity of the parallel flow channel segment b1, but also appropriately reduce the flow resistance of the parallel flow channel segment b1, so that the flow resistance of the second branch channel 13b is within an appropriate range.

[0089] In a specific embodiment, the second branch flow channel 13b includes a first parallel flow channel section and a second parallel flow channel section, and the drainage directions of the first parallel flow channel section and the second parallel flow channel section are opposite. The first parallel flow channel section and the second parallel flow channel section are connected via a transition branch b2, and the first parallel flow channel section is connected to the first flow channel 11 through another transition branch b2, and the second parallel flow channel section is connected to the second flow channel 12 through another transition branch b2.

[0090] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 The longer the first drainage branch channel 13 is, the longer the second drainage length is.

[0091] The smaller the flow resistance of the branch channel 13, the larger the first drainage length and the second drainage length thereof. Specifically, the first drainage length of the first branch channel 13a is greater than the second drainage length of the second branch channel 13b, and the second drainage length of the first branch channel 13a is greater than the second drainage length of the second branch channel 13b.

[0092] In this way, when laying out the first water inlet S1 and the second water inlet S2 , the two can be arranged adjacent to each other, so that the pipeline layout of the liquid cooling plate 10 can be optimized.

[0093] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 The first drainage channel 11 extends linearly along the first direction F, and a plurality of first drainage branch channels 13 with increasing lengths are arranged in sequence along the extending direction of the first drainage channel 11 .

[0094] That is, the plurality of branch channels 13 are sequentially arranged along the extension direction of the first drainage channel 11, and the first drainage length of each branch channel 13 increases sequentially from the direction away from the first water inlet S1. At this time, the first drainage channel 11 arranged in a straight line has a small flow resistance, which can reduce the heat consumption of the heat exchange medium when it flows through the first drainage channel 11, and improve the energy utilization rate of the heat exchange medium. Moreover, the layout of each branch channel 13 is simple.

[0095] The plurality of branch flow channels 13 sequentially arranged along the extension direction of the first flow channel 11 may be arranged on the same side of the first flow channel 11 or on two different sides.

[0096] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 , and combined with Figure 2 and Figure 3 The first drainage channel 11 is arranged in the middle area of ​​the liquid cooling plate 10, the second drainage channel 12 includes an edge channel 12c, the edge channel 12c is arranged in the edge area of ​​the liquid cooling plate 10, and the branch channel 13 is arranged in the area of ​​the liquid cooling plate 10 between the first drainage channel 11 and the edge channel 12c.

[0097] The shunt channel 13 is arranged in the middle area of ​​the liquid cooling plate 10 between the first drain channel 11 and the edge channel 12c. Usually, the first drain channel 11 is arranged in the middle area of ​​the liquid cooling plate 10. In actual application, the edge channel 12c is used for heat exchange contact with the edge area of ​​the battery module 30, and the first drain channel 11 and the shunt channel 13 are used for heat exchange contact with the middle area of ​​the battery module 30.

[0098] When the battery pack 100 is in a high temperature condition, refer to Figure 2 The heat exchange medium can flow in from the first water inlet S1 and flow out from the second water inlet S2. The heat exchange medium first passes through the first drainage channel 11 and the branch channel 13 to exchange heat with the middle area of ​​the battery module 30, and then flows through the edge channel 12c to exchange heat with the edge area of ​​the battery module 30. In this way, the flow direction of the heat exchange medium adapts to the situation where the temperature of the middle area of ​​the battery module 30 is higher than the temperature of the edge area under high temperature conditions, so that the temperature distribution of the battery module 30 can be more uniform.

[0099] When the battery pack 100 is in a low temperature condition, refer to Figure 3The heat exchange medium can flow in from the second water inlet S2 and flow out from the first water inlet S1. The heat exchange medium first passes through the edge flow channel 12c of the edge area to exchange heat with the edge area of ​​the battery module 30, and then flows through each branch channel 13 and the first drainage channel 11 to exchange heat with the middle area of ​​the battery module 30. In this way, the flow direction of the heat exchange medium adapts to the situation that the temperature of the edge area of ​​the battery module 30 is lower than the temperature of the middle area under low temperature conditions, so that the temperature distribution of the battery module 30 can be more uniform.

[0100] At this time, the liquid cooling plate 10 can be used to preferentially heat different areas of the battery module 30 according to different operating conditions of the battery pack 100, so that the temperature of the battery module 30 can be more uniform.

[0101] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 , the edge flow channel 12c includes a first branch flow channel c1 and a second branch flow channel c2, both of which are independently connected to the second water inlet S2. The second branch flow channel c2 is located at the periphery of the first branch flow channel c1 and is directly connected to the first flow channel 11. Among all the flow channels, the flow channel 13 with the smallest flow resistance is the last flow channel. Part of the flow of the last flow channel is connected between the first flow channel 11 and the first flow channel 13a, and the other part of the flow channel is connected between the first flow channel 11 and the second flow channel. The remaining flow channels 13 except the last flow channel are all connected between the first flow channel 11 and the first branch flow channel c1.

[0102] First, the edge flow channel 12 c includes two independent branch flow channels, which can increase the flow channel area covered by the edge flow channel 12 c and increase the range of the edge area of ​​the battery module 30 cooled by the edge flow channel 12 c.

[0103] Secondly, part of the flow channels in the last branch flow channel are connected to the first branch flow channel c1, and the other part of the flow channels are connected to the second branch flow channel c2, which can reduce the flow resistance of the last branch flow channel, improve the heat exchange efficiency of the last branch flow channel, and improve the flow capacity of the last branch flow channel.

[0104] In addition, since the second branch flow channel c2 is arranged at the periphery of the first branch flow channel c1, and the remaining branch flow channels 13 are connected between the first flow channel 11 and the first branch flow channel c1, the layout of the remaining branch flow channels 13 can be simplified. Since the second branch flow channel c2 is directly connected to the first flow channel 11, the length of the second branch flow channel c2 can be longer than the length of the first branch flow channel c1, and the extra length of the second branch flow channel c2 can be arranged at the edge area on the different side of the liquid cooling plate 10 from the first branch flow channel c1, thereby increasing the heat exchange range of the liquid cooling plate 10.

[0105] Specifically in one embodiment, the first branch channel 13a serves as the last branch channel, and a partially inclined channel a1 of the first branch channel 13a is connected between the first guide channel 11 and the first branch channel c1, and another partially inclined channel a1 of the first branch channel 13a is connected between the first guide channel 11 and the second branch channel c2.

[0106] In some embodiments, in combination Figure 1 and Figure 5 The liquid cooling plate 10 is provided with a water inlet and outlet area Q at the middle position of one end in the extending direction of the first drainage channel 11, and the first water inlet S1 and the second water inlet S2 are both located in the water inlet and outlet area Q. The second drainage channel 12 further includes a confluence channel 12d, which is connected between the second water inlet S2 and the edge channel 12c.

[0107] The confluence channel 12d is used to connect the edge channel 12c with the second water port S2 located in the middle, so as to arrange the first water port S1 and the second water port S2 in the water inlet and outlet area Q, which is more convenient for the layout of the pipelines of the liquid cooling plate 10.

[0108] The confluence channel 12d may be arranged at a position close to the middle area of ​​the liquid cooling plate 10, or may be arranged at a position close to the edge area of ​​the liquid cooling plate 10.

[0109] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 , and combined with Figure 4 The liquid cooling plate 10 further includes a third drainage channel 14 , which is disposed at the periphery of the second drainage channel 12 and is connected to the first water inlet S1 and the second water inlet S2 .

[0110] The third drainage channel 14 may be a straight extension, a curved extension, etc. The specific structure of the third drainage channel 14 is not limited. The third drainage channel 14 is usually arranged at the edge area of ​​the liquid cooling plate 10, and is located in a different area of ​​the liquid cooling channel 10A formed by the first drainage channel 11, the second drainage channel 12 and the branch channel 13.

[0111] Specifically, the third drainage channel 14 is connected to the confluence channel 12d. In this way, the third drainage channel 14 can be connected to the first water inlet S1 and the second water inlet S2, and the layout of the third drainage channel 14 is flexible. Of course, the third drainage channel 14 can also be independently connected to the first water inlet S1 and the second water inlet S2.

[0112] In actual application, the third drainage channel 14 is used for heat exchange connection with the high-voltage box 40 on the battery pack 100, so that the liquid cooling plate 10 can not only cool the battery module 30, but also cool the high-voltage box 40. The utilization rate of the liquid cooling plate 10 is high, and the high-voltage box 40 can dissipate heat better, thereby increasing the service life of the components in the high-voltage box 40.

[0113] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 The liquid cooling plate 10 includes two independent groups of liquid cooling channels 10A, each group of liquid cooling channels 10A includes a first drainage channel 11, a second drainage channel 12 and a plurality of branch channels 13, all the branch channels and the second drainage channels 12 of each group of liquid cooling channels 10A are arranged on the same side of the corresponding first drainage channel 11, and the two groups of liquid cooling channels 10A are symmetrically arranged relative to the extension direction of the first drainage channel 11.

[0114] Specifically, the first flow channel 11 extends linearly along the first direction F, and the two groups of liquid-cooling channels 10A are symmetrically arranged relative to a symmetry center line Z parallel to the first west direction.

[0115] In this way, by independently circulating heat exchange medium in the two groups of liquid cooling channels 10A, the replacement of the heat exchange medium in the liquid cooling plate 10 can be accelerated, and the heat exchange efficiency of the liquid cooling plate 10 to the battery module 30 can be improved. Moreover, the symmetrically arranged liquid cooling channels 10A are not only beautiful, but also have a symmetrical heat exchange effect, which helps to improve the uniformity of the temperature distribution of the battery module 30.

[0116] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 The liquid cooling plate 10 further includes a flow direction switching module 15, which includes a liquid inlet 15e, a liquid outlet 15f and a switching structure. The switching structure is used to switch the liquid inlet 15e to communicate with one of the first water inlet S1 and the second water inlet S2, and the liquid outlet 15f to communicate with the other.

[0117] When the first water inlet S1 and the second water inlet S2 are arranged in the water inlet and outlet area Q, the flow direction switching module 15 can be installed in the water inlet and outlet area Q.

[0118] The switching structure of the flow direction switching module can switch the liquid inlet 15e to be connected to either the first water inlet S1 or the second water inlet S2, and the liquid outlet 15f to be connected to the other one. That is, under the control of the switching structure, the heat exchange medium can choose to enter from the first water inlet S1 and flow out from the second water inlet S2, or the heat exchange medium can choose to enter from the second water inlet S2 and flow out from the first water inlet S1.

[0119] In actual application, under high temperature conditions, the switching structure controls the liquid inlet 15e to be connected to the first water port S1, and the liquid outlet 15f to be connected to the second water port S2, and the heat exchange medium preferentially flows through the first drainage channel 11 and the branch channel 13, and cools the middle area of ​​the battery module 30. Under low temperature conditions, the switching structure controls the liquid inlet 15e to be connected to the second water port S2, and the liquid outlet 15f to be connected to the first water port S1, and the heat exchange medium preferentially flows through the second drainage channel 12, and heats the edge area of ​​the battery module 30.

[0120] In this way, under the control of the switching structure, heat can be exchanged preferentially in different areas of the battery module 30 according to different operating conditions of the battery pack 100, so that the temperature of the battery module 30 can be more evenly distributed under various operating conditions.

[0121] It should be noted that the switching structure in the flow direction switching module 15 can switch the liquid inlet 15e and the liquid outlet 15f between the first water inlet S1 and the second water inlet S2. The specific structure can also be designed by those skilled in the art based on conventional means, for example, by referring to the valve body structure of a four-way valve. The specific structure of the flow direction module is not given as an example in the embodiment of the present application. The liquid inlet 15e can be a liquid inlet pipeline interface, and the liquid outlet 15f can be a liquid outlet pipeline interface.

[0122] In addition, the present application embodiment also provides a battery pack 100, referring to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , including a box body 20, the liquid cooling plate 10 in the above embodiment and a battery module 30. The liquid cooling plate 10 and the box body 20 are enclosed to form a receiving space. The battery module 30 is arranged in the receiving space and is connected to the liquid cooling plate 10 for heat exchange.

[0123] The box body 20 can be made of metal, plastic, etc. The liquid cooling plate 10 can be used as the bottom plate of the box body 20, and the box body 20 can also be independently provided with a bottom plate. The battery module 30 usually includes a plurality of battery cells, and each battery cell is connected in parallel, in series, or mixed. The battery cell is the smallest unit for electrochemical reaction in the battery pack 100, and usually includes a shell, an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, etc. The electrode assembly and the electrolyte are arranged in the shell. The electrode assembly usually includes a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet and a diaphragm, and the diaphragm is electrically isolated between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet. Please refer to the prior art for the specific structure of the positive electrode sheet, the negative electrode sheet and the diaphragm. The electrode assembly can be wound or laminated. The battery cell can be rectangular, cylindrical, etc.

[0124] The battery pack 100 exchanges heat with the battery mold through the liquid cooling plate 10 in the above embodiment, and has all the beneficial effects in the above embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.

[0125] In some embodiments, reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 , combined with Figure 1 The battery pack 100 further includes a high-voltage box 40 located in the accommodation space, and the liquid cooling plate 10 further includes a third drainage channel 14 , and the high-voltage box 40 is thermally connected to the third drainage channel 14 .

[0126] The high-voltage box 40 is a high-voltage power supply control and protection unit in the battery pack 100. It electrically connects high-voltage components through busbars and wiring harnesses, provides the battery pack 100 with functions such as charge and discharge control, high-voltage component power-on control, circuit overload and short-circuit protection, high-voltage sampling, low-voltage control, and battery temperature regulation, etc., to protect and monitor the operation of the high-voltage system. The high-voltage box 40 is a conventional component in the battery pack 100, and its specific structure is not described in detail here.

[0127] When the components in the high-pressure box 40 are powered on, they will generate heat. At this time, the third drainage channel 14 on the liquid cooling plate 10 can be used to cool the high-pressure box 40, thereby expanding the application range of the liquid cooling plate 10 and improving the utilization rate of the heat exchange medium.

[0128] The battery module 30 and the liquid cooling plate 10 as well as the high voltage box 40 and the liquid cooling plate 10 may be bonded and fixed by means of a thermal pad 50 .

[0129] In some embodiments, the liquid cooling plate 10 includes a flow direction switching module 15, and the flow direction switching module 15 is located outside the box 20. In this way, the liquid inlet pipeline and the liquid outlet pipeline can be connected to the flow direction switching module 15 outside the box 20 (i.e., outside the battery pack 100), so as to achieve the dry-wet separation effect of the battery pack 100, avoid safety accidents caused by liquid leakage, and improve the reliability and safety of the entire system.

[0130] In some embodiments, a heat insulating material is provided between the battery module 30 and the box 20. The heat insulating material may be heat insulating plastic, heat insulating cotton, etc. Filling the installation gap between the battery module 30 and the box 20 with the heat insulating material can reduce energy loss and improve the working efficiency of the battery pack 100.

[0131] The technical features of the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0132] The above-mentioned embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present application, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the present application. It should be pointed out that, for a person of ordinary skill in the art, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. A liquid cooling plate, characterized in that: include: The first water inlet and the second water inlet; a first drainage channel, connected to the first water inlet; a second drainage channel, connected to the second water outlet; A plurality of branch flow channels independently connected between the first flow channel and the second flow channel; the length of the first flow channel between each of the branch flow channels and the first water inlet is the first drainage length of the branch flow channel, and the length of the second flow channel between each of the branch flow channels and the second water inlet is the second drainage length of the branch flow channel; The larger the sum of the first drainage length and the second drainage length is, the smaller the flow resistance of the flow branch channel is.

2. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow channel at least includes a first flow channel and a second flow channel, and the flow resistance of the first flow channel is smaller than the flow resistance of the second flow channel; The first flow branch channel includes a plurality of inclined flow channels arranged obliquely relative to the first flow guide channel, and the inclined flow channels are sequentially arranged at intervals along the extension direction of the first flow guide channel; Each of the inclined flow channels is independently connected to the first drainage channel and the second drainage channel.

3. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each of the inclined flow channels is arranged to be inclined toward an end of the first drainage channel away from the first water outlet.

4. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first branch flow channel also includes an intermediate flow channel, and each of the adjacent inclined flow channels is connected to the intermediate flow channel; The first branch flow channel also includes a straight flow channel located on the same side of all the inclined flow channels, the straight flow channel is connected between the first drainage channel and the second drainage channel, and at least part of the inclined flow channels is connected to the first drainage channel via the straight flow channel.

5. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second branch flow channel extends in a circuitous manner from the first drainage channel to the second drainage channel.

6. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 5, characterized in that: The second branch flow channel comprises a plurality of parallel flow channel sections arranged side by side and connected in sequence, and the drainage directions of each two adjacent parallel flow channel sections are opposite; Each of the parallel flow channel sections is composed of a plurality of parallel drainage branches.

7. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The longer the first drainage is, the longer the second drainage is. And / or, the first drainage channel extends linearly along a first direction; and the plurality of branch flow channels with increasing lengths of the first drainage channel are arranged in sequence along the extending direction of the first drainage channel.

8. The liquid cooling plate according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The first drainage channel is arranged in the middle area of ​​the liquid cooling plate, the second drainage channel includes an edge channel, the edge channel is arranged in the edge area of ​​the liquid cooling plate, and the branch channel is arranged in the area of ​​the liquid cooling plate between the first drainage channel and the edge channel.

9. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 8, characterized in that: The edge flow channel includes a first branch flow channel and a second branch flow channel, both of which are independently connected to the second water outlet, and the second branch flow channel is located at the periphery of the first branch flow channel and is directly connected to the first drainage channel; Among all the flow channels, the flow channel with the smallest flow resistance is the last flow channel, part of the flow channel of the last flow channel is connected between the first flow channel and the first branch flow channel, and the other part of the flow channel is connected between the first flow channel and the second branch flow channel; The remaining flow channels except the last flow channel are all connected between the first drainage channel and the first branch flow channel.

10. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 8, characterized in that: The liquid cooling plate is provided with a water inlet and outlet area at a middle position of one end in the extending direction of the first drainage channel, and the first water inlet and the second water inlet are both located in the water inlet and outlet area; The second flow channel further includes a confluence channel, and the confluence channel is connected between the second water outlet and the edge flow channel.

11. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 8, characterized in that: The liquid cooling plate further includes a third drainage channel, which is disposed at the periphery of the second drainage channel and is connected to the first water inlet and the second water inlet.

12. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 8, characterized in that: The liquid cooling plate comprises two groups of liquid cooling channels which are independent of each other, and each group of the liquid cooling channels comprises the first flow guide channel, the second flow guide channel and a plurality of the branch flow channels; All the branch channels and the second flow guide channels of each group of the liquid-cooling flow channels are arranged on the same side of the first flow guide channels; The two groups of liquid cooling channels are arranged symmetrically with respect to the extension direction of the first guide channel.

13. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid cooling plate also includes a flow direction switching module, which includes a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet and a switching structure; the switching structure is used to switch the liquid inlet to be connected to one of the first water inlet and the second water inlet, and the liquid outlet is connected to the other.

14. A battery pack, characterized in that: include: Box; The liquid cooling plate according to any one of claims 1 to 13, enclosed with the box body to form a receiving space; and The battery module is arranged in the accommodating space and is connected to the liquid cooling plate for heat exchange.

15. The battery pack according to claim 14, characterized in that: The battery pack further includes a high-voltage box located in the accommodation space, the liquid cooling plate further includes a third drainage channel, and the high-voltage box is heat-exchange connected to the third drainage channel; and / or, The liquid cooling plate comprises a flow direction switching module, and the flow direction switching module is located outside the box; and / or, A heat insulating material is arranged between the battery module and the box.

Images