Power battery cooling device, power battery assembly, thermal management system and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model discloses a power battery cooling device, a power battery assembly, a thermal management system and a vehicle, the power battery cooling device comprises a liquid cooling assembly and a refrigerant direct cooling assembly, the liquid cooling assembly comprises a left cooling plate, a right cooling plate, a front end cooling plate and a rear cooling plate, the left cold plate, the right cold plate, the front end cold plate and the rear cold plate are enclosed to form a frame body for placing a battery cell, liquid cooling runners are respectively arranged in the left cold plate, the right cold plate, the front end cold plate and the rear cold plate, the refrigerant direct cooling assembly is connected to the bottom of the liquid cooling assembly, and a direct cooling runner is arranged on the refrigerant direct cooling assembly; according to the cooling device, a liquid cooling mode and a direct cooling mode are combined, the side face of the battery cell is cooled through liquid cooling, the bottom face of the battery cell is cooled through the refrigerant direct cooling assembly, the cooling efficiency of the battery can be rapidly improved, the service life of the battery is prolonged, and the use safety of the battery is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of power battery cooling, and in particular to a power battery cooling device, a power battery assembly, a thermal management system, and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] The temperature of the battery and the uniformity of the temperature field have a decisive influence on the performance, life and safety of the battery. The high-temperature cold zone setting generally includes air cooling, liquid cooling, refrigerant direct cooling, phase change material cooling or heat pipe cooling. In the current battery thermal management scheme of hybrid vehicles, liquid cooling or refrigerant direct cooling is generally used to reduce the temperature difference of the battery itself and ensure that the battery temperature is within a reasonable range.

[0003] Liquid cooling makes full use of the high thermal conductivity and high specific heat capacity of ethylene glycol aqueous solution to remove heat from the battery cell through a water cooling plate, thereby achieving the purpose of cooling the battery. Liquid cooling technology is mature, but the equipment is heavy and bulky, and the cost is high.

[0004] Refrigerant direct cooling is to make full use of the refrigerant in the air conditioning system and introduce the refrigerant into the battery evaporator to achieve the purpose of cooling the power battery. The equipment of refrigerant direct cooling is small in size, low in weight and cost, but the battery evaporator temperature equalization design is difficult and the system logic is relatively complex.

[0005] It can be seen that the existing technology still needs to be improved and enhanced. Utility Model Content

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned deficiencies in the prior art, the purpose of the present application is to provide a battery cooling device, a power battery assembly, a thermal management system and a vehicle, aiming to improve the cooling effect of the vehicle power battery.

[0007] In order to achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0008] On the one hand, the present application discloses a power battery cooling device, including a liquid cooling component and a refrigerant direct cooling component, the liquid cooling component includes a left cold plate, a right cold plate, a front cold plate and a rear cold plate, the left cold plate, the right cold plate, the front cold plate and the rear cold plate enclose a frame for placing battery cells, and the left cold plate, the right cold plate, the front cold plate and the rear cold plate are respectively provided with liquid cooling channels; the refrigerant direct cooling component is connected to the bottom of the liquid cooling component, and the refrigerant direct cooling component is provided with a direct cooling channel. In the above, the liquid cooling component and the refrigerant direct cooling component are combined, the side of the power battery is cooled by the liquid cooling component, and the bottom of the power battery is cooled by the refrigerant direct cooling component, so that the cooling efficiency of the battery can be quickly improved.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present application, the refrigerant direct cooling component includes a temperature equalizing plate, a harmonica tube, a front collector and a rear collector, the temperature equalizing plate is arranged opposite to the liquid cooling component; the harmonica tube is connected to the side of the temperature equalizing plate facing away from the liquid cooling component, and the direct cooling flow channel is arranged in the harmonica tube; the front collector is connected to the end of the harmonica tube close to the front cold plate; the rear collector is connected to the end of the harmonica tube close to the rear cold plate. The harmonica tube is light in weight and simple in structure, which can reduce the cost of the refrigerant direct cooling component; the temperature equalizing plate is arranged on the harmonica tube, so that the heat of the power battery can be more evenly dispersed in the harmonica tube, improving the uniformity of power battery cooling, thereby improving battery efficiency.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present application, a plurality of direct cooling flow channels are arranged in the harmonica tube, and the flow directions of the refrigerant in two adjacent direct cooling flow channels are opposite. A front collecting chamber is arranged in the front direct flow tube, and a rear collecting chamber is arranged on the rear collecting tube. The two adjacent direct cooling flow channels are connected through the front collecting chamber or the rear collecting chamber, which can extend the flow trajectory of the refrigerant in the harmonica tube and improve the thermal efficiency of the refrigerant.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present application, the front header and the rear header are arranged in sections along the axial direction, two adjacent sections of the front header or the rear header are sealed and connected by a plug, and two adjacent direct cooling channels are connected through the same section of the front header cavity or the rear header cavity. The front header and the rear header are arranged in sections, which is easy to disassemble and assemble, reducing the difficulty and cost of maintenance.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present application, the refrigerant direct cooling assembly further includes a refrigerant inlet pipe and a refrigerant outlet pipe, wherein the refrigerant inlet pipe is connected to the axial middle position of the front header or the rear header, and the refrigerant outlet pipe is connected to both sides of the axial direction of the front header or the rear header. When the power battery is working, the middle position is not easy to dissipate heat, so the temperature is relatively high. The refrigerant flows into the middle of the inlet pipe through the middle position of the front header or the rear header, so that the middle position of the battery with a higher temperature can be cooled quickly, thereby improving the cooling efficiency.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present application, the refrigerant direct cooling assembly further includes a connecting pipe, the connecting pipe is connected to the two outermost direct cooling channels in the front header or the rear header, the refrigerant outlet pipe is connected to the outermost direct cooling channel in the rear header or the front header, and the refrigerant inlet pipe and the refrigerant outlet pipe are connected to the same end of the refrigerant direct cooling assembly. The connecting pipe connects the direct cooling channels on both sides of the harmonica pipe, so that the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet can be arranged at the same end of the refrigerant direct cooling assembly, which is more conducive to the structural arrangement of the cooling device.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present application, the liquid cooling component also includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, and the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet are arranged on one of the left cold plate, the right cold plate, the front cold plate and the rear cold plate; the liquid cooling channels on the left cold plate, the front cold plate, the right cold plate and the rear cold plate are connected, so that only one coolant inlet and one coolant outlet need to be arranged on the liquid cooling component, which simplifies the structure of the device and improves the utilization rate of the coolant.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present application, the distance from the coolant inlet to the coolant outlet is greater than the distance between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet, so as to ensure that the coolant flows through the left cold plate, the front cold plate, the right cold plate and the rear cold plate before being discharged from the coolant outlet of the liquid cooling component, thereby ensuring the utilization rate of the coolant.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present application, sealing rings are provided at the connections between the liquid cooling channels on two adjacent ones of the left cold plate, the front cold plate, the right cold plate and the rear cold plate to enhance the air tightness of the connections between the liquid cooling channels and prevent leakage of the coolant.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present application, the liquid cooling assembly further comprises a rear end plate, the rear end plate being connected to a side of the rear cold plate away from the front cold plate, and the two ends of the rear end plate being respectively connected to the left cold plate and the right cold plate. The rear end plate can limit the left cold plate, the right cold plate and the rear cold plate to ensure the structural stability of the cooling device.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present application, first step areas are respectively provided at both ends of the front cold plate, and the first step areas extend along the height of the front cold plate; second step areas are respectively provided at both ends of the rear plate, and the second step areas extend along the height of the rear plate; third step areas are respectively provided at both ends of the left cold plate, and the third step areas extend along the two ends of the left cold plate; fourth step areas are respectively provided at both ends of the right cold plate, and the fourth step areas extend along the height direction of the right cold plate; the first step area and the third step area, the first step area and the fourth step area, the second step area and the third step area, and the second step area and the fourth step area are respectively spaced to form a cooling component installation area, and the cooling component installation area can be used to install a cooling component when the left cold plate, the right cold plate, the front cold plate and the rear cold plate are connected to cool the sealing ring. The left cold plate, the right cold plate, the front cold plate and the rear cold plate are connected by laser welding. During laser welding, high temperature may be generated, causing the sealing rings at the connections of the interconnected liquid cooling channels to melt, thereby losing the sealing performance. By connecting a cooling element to the cooling element installation area, part of the heat generated by laser welding can be taken away during welding, thereby avoiding high-temperature melting of the sealing ring.

[0019] In some embodiments of the present application, the liquid cooling assembly further includes a cover plate, and four cover plates are provided. The four cover plates are respectively connected to the cooling component installation area and are respectively connected to two adjacent ones of the left cold plate, the front cold plate, the right cold plate, and the rear cold plate. The cover plate can fill the cooling component installation area, and the connection between two adjacent ones of the left cold plate, the front cold plate, the rear cold plate, and the right cold plate is tighter, thereby improving the integrity of the cooling device.

[0020] On the other hand, the present application also provides a power battery assembly, including a battery cooling device and a battery cell as described in any of the above items, wherein at least one battery cell is configured and arranged in the frame of the battery cooling device. When the power battery is working, its side can quickly exchange heat with the liquid cooling component, and its bottom can quickly exchange heat with the refrigerant direct cooling component, and the cooling efficiency is high.

[0021] On the other hand, the present application also provides a thermal management system, including an air conditioning system and a power battery heat exchange system, the air conditioning system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a heat exchanger, the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator are connected in series to form a circulation loop, and the heat exchanger and the condenser are arranged in parallel; the power battery heat exchange system includes the power battery assembly as described above, a direct cooling circuit and a liquid cooling circuit, the direct cooling circuit is connected to the direct cooling channel, one end of the direct cooling circuit is connected between the condenser and the evaporator, and the other end of the direct cooling circuit is connected to the coolant inlet end or the coolant outlet end of the compressor, the liquid cooling circuit is connected to the liquid cooling channel, and the liquid cooling circuit is connected to the heat exchanger. In the above, the refrigerant in the air conditioning system is introduced into the direct cooling channel of the battery cooling device through the direct cooling circuit to quickly cool the bottom of the power battery; after the coolant in the liquid cooling assembly enters the heat exchanger through the liquid cooling circuit, it exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the air conditioning system and then returns to the power battery to cool the power battery, so that the temperature of the power battery assembly is maintained within the normal working range.

[0022] On the other hand, the present application also provides a vehicle, including the thermal management system as described above. When the vehicle is running normally, the temperature of the power battery can be maintained at a normal level, the battery has a long service life, and high working safety.

[0023] Beneficial effects:

[0024] The power battery cooling device provided in the present application is provided with a liquid cooling component and a refrigerant direct cooling component. The liquid cooling component includes a front cold plate, a right cold plate, a rear cold plate and a left cold plate, and liquid cooling channels are provided in the front cold plate, the right cold plate, the rear cold plate and the left cold plate, so that the sides of the battery can be liquid-cooled. By connecting the refrigerant direct cooling component to the bottom of the liquid cooling component and providing a direct cooling channel in the refrigerant direct cooling component, the bottom of the battery with a higher temperature can be directly cooled, thereby quickly improving the cooling effect of the battery, maintaining the battery temperature within a stable working range, and thereby increasing the battery life.

[0025] On the other hand, the present application provides a power battery assembly in which the sides and bottom of the battery cells can be cooled simultaneously, with high cooling efficiency.

[0026] On the other hand, the thermal management system provided in the present application couples the air-conditioning system and the power battery heat exchange system, which can make full use of the air-conditioning refrigerant and the power battery for direct cooling, as well as heat exchange between the air-conditioning refrigerant and the coolant in the liquid cooling component, and the coolant then enters the battery assembly to cool the battery cells.

[0027] On the other hand, the present application provides a vehicle including the above-mentioned thermal management system. When the vehicle is running, the temperature of the power battery can be maintained within a normal range, the battery has a long service life, and is highly safe to use. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a power battery cooling device provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an exploded view of a power battery cooling device according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0030] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of a front collecting pipe provided for an embodiment of the application.

[0031] Figure 4 An axial cross-sectional view of a rear header provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Figure 5 A schematic structural diagram of a front-end cold plate provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0033] Figure 6 A schematic structural diagram of a rear end plate provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0034] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the partial structure of a left cold plate provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0035] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the partial structure of a right cold plate provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0036] Fig. 9 A schematic structural diagram of a cooling component installation area provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0037] Fig.10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cooling element installation area after connecting a cooling element provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0038] Fig.11 A schematic diagram of the flow trajectory of the coolant in a liquid cooling assembly provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0039] Fig.12 A schematic diagram of the flow trajectory of the refrigerant in a refrigerant direct cooling component provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0040] Fig.13 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery assembly provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0041] Fig.14 A schematic diagram of the cooling effect of a liquid cooling assembly provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0042] Fig.15 A schematic diagram of the cooling effect of a refrigerant direct cooling component provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0043] Fig.16 A schematic diagram of battery cell temperature distribution under a simulation test provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0044] Fig.17 This is a schematic diagram of the maximum and minimum temperatures of a battery cell changing with time under a simulation test provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0045] Description of main component symbols:

[0046] 100. Battery cooling device; 200. Battery cell; 300. Flexible circuit board bracket;

[0047] 1. Liquid cooling assembly; 11. Left cold plate; 111. Third step area; 12. Right cold plate; 121. Fourth step area; 13. Front cold plate; 131. First step area; 14. Rear cold plate; 101. Frame; 110. Liquid cooling channel; 15. Cooling liquid inlet; 16. Cooling liquid outlet; 17. Sealing ring; 18. Rear plate; 181. Second step area; 19. Cooling element installation area; 010. Cover plate; 011. Cooling element;

[0048] 2. Refrigerant direct cooling assembly; 210. Direct cooling flow channel; 21. Harmonica tube; 22. Temperature equalizing plate; 23. Front collecting pipe; 231. Front collecting cavity; 24. Rear collecting pipe; 241. Rear collecting cavity; 25. Plug; 26. Refrigerant inlet pipe; 27. Refrigerant outlet pipe; 28. Connecting pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] The present application provides a power battery cooling device 100, a power battery assembly, a thermal management system and a vehicle. To make the purpose, technical solution and effect of the present application clearer and more specific, the present application is further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and are not used to limit the present application.

[0050] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", etc. indicate orientations or positional relationships 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, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, and a specific orientation structure and operation, and therefore, cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application. In addition, "first" and "second" are only for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more.

[0051] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" 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, an electrical connection, or mutual communication; 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. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0052] With the development of the new energy vehicle industry, the battery capacity and number of battery modules used in electric vehicles are gradually increasing, and the heat released by the battery pack during operation is also increasing, which places higher and higher performance requirements on the battery pack cooling technology. To this end, the present application provides a hybrid cooling technology for power batteries.

[0053] The present application provides a vehicle, which may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The thermal management system of the vehicle couples a battery thermal management system with an air conditioning system, and the battery thermal management system adopts a hybrid cooling technology, which greatly improves the cooling efficiency of the battery.

[0054] For details, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The power battery cooling device 100 provided in the present application includes a liquid cooling component 1 and a refrigerant direct cooling component 2. The liquid cooling component 1 includes a left cold plate 11, a right cold plate 12, a front cold plate 13 and a rear cold plate 14. The left cold plate 11, the right cold plate 12, the front cold plate 13 and the rear cold plate 14 enclose a frame 101 for placing the battery cell 200, and the left cold plate 11, the right cold plate 12, the front cold plate 13 and the rear cold plate 14 are respectively provided with liquid cooling channels 110, so that the side of the battery cell 200 can be cooled by liquid cooling; the refrigerant direct cooling component 2 is connected to the bottom of the liquid cooling component 1, and the refrigerant direct cooling component 2 is provided with a direct cooling channel 210, which can directly exchange heat with the bottom of the battery. Generally, when a power battery is working, the internal temperature is higher and the temperature on the side is lower because the internal part of the battery is not easy to dissipate heat. In the above, the liquid cooling component 1 and the refrigerant direct cooling component 2 are combined. The liquid cooling component 1 is used to cool the side of the power battery with a lower temperature rise, and the refrigerant direct cooling component 2 is used to cool the bottom of the power battery with a higher temperature rise, which can quickly improve the cooling efficiency of the battery.

[0055] The left cold plate 11, the right cold plate 12, the front cold plate 13 and the rear cold plate 14 are formed by extrusion of profiles, with simple process and good integrity. The left cold plate 11 and the right cold plate 12 are respectively welded to the front cold plate 13 and the rear cold plate 14, and the connection stability is good.

[0056] like Figure 2As shown, the refrigerant direct cooling component 2 includes a temperature equalizing plate 22, a harmonica tube 21, a front collecting pipe 23 and a rear collecting pipe 24. The temperature equalizing plate 22 is arranged on the side of the refrigerant direct cooling component 2 close to the liquid cooling component 1; the harmonica tube 21 is connected to the side of the temperature equalizing plate 22 facing away from the liquid cooling component 1, and is connected to the temperature equalizing plate 22 by welding, so that heat transfer between the temperature equalizing plate 22 and the harmonica tube 21 can be better, and the direct cooling flow channel 210 is arranged in the harmonica tube 21, extending along the length direction of the harmonica tube 21 to both ends of the harmonica tube 21, to ensure the cooling effect of the refrigerant in the harmonica tube 21 on the battery cell 200. The front collector 23 is connected to one end of the harmonica tube 21 near the front cold plate 13; the rear collector 24 is connected to one end of the harmonica tube 21 near the rear cold plate 14. Through the front collector 23 and the rear collector 24, different direct cooling channels 210 in the harmonica tube 21 can be connected together, which can simplify the setting of the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet. The harmonica tube 21 is light in weight and simple in structure, which can reduce the cost of the refrigerant direct cooling component 2; the temperature plate 22 can quickly transfer and diffuse the heat accumulated on the surface of the battery cell 200 to the entire surface of the temperature plate 22, thereby promoting the dissipation of heat. The temperature plate 22 is set on the harmonica tube 21, so that the heat of the power battery can be more evenly dispersed in the harmonica tube 21, improving the uniformity of the power battery cooling, thereby improving the battery efficiency.

[0057] like Fig.12 As shown, a plurality of direct cooling channels 210 are provided in the harmonica tube 21, and the plurality of direct cooling channels 210 are arranged in parallel, and the flow directions of the refrigerant in two adjacent direct cooling channels 210 are opposite, a front manifold 231 is provided in the front direct flow tube, and a rear manifold 241 is provided on the rear manifold 24, and the two adjacent direct cooling channels 210 are connected through the front manifold 231 and the rear manifold 241. That is, the direct cooling channels 210 on the harmonica tube 21 are staggered and connected, which prolongs the flow trajectory of the refrigerant in the harmonica tube 21 and improves the thermal efficiency of the refrigerant.

[0058] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the front header 23 and the rear header 24 are arranged in sections along the axial direction, and the two adjacent sections of the front header 23 or the rear header 24 are sealed and connected by a plug 25, and the two adjacent direct cooling channels 210 are connected through the same section of the front header cavity 231 or the rear header cavity 241. The sectioned arrangement shortens the length of the front header 23 and the rear header 24, makes it easy to disassemble and assemble, and reduces the difficulty and cost of maintenance.

[0059] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Fig.12As shown, the refrigerant direct cooling assembly 2 further includes a refrigerant inlet pipe 26 and a refrigerant outlet pipe 27. The refrigerant inlet pipe 26 is connected to the axial middle position of the front header 23 or the rear header 24, and the refrigerant outlet pipe 27 is connected to the axial sides of the front header 23 or the rear header 24. In the above, the refrigerant flows from the middle of the harmonica pipe 21 to both sides. When the power battery is working, the middle position is not easy to dissipate heat, so the temperature is relatively high. The refrigerant flows into the middle of the harmonica pipe 21 through the middle position of the front header 23 or the rear header 24, so that the middle position of the battery with a higher temperature can be quickly cooled down, the cooling efficiency is improved, and the thermal efficiency of the refrigerant can be improved.

[0060] like Figure 3 and Fig.12 As shown, the refrigerant direct cooling assembly 2 further includes a connecting pipe 28, which is connected to the two outermost direct cooling channels 210 in the front header 23 or the rear header 24, and the refrigerant outlet pipe 27 is connected to the outermost direct cooling channel 210 in the rear header 24 or the front header 23, and the refrigerant inlet pipe 26 and the refrigerant outlet pipe 27 are connected to the same end of the refrigerant direct cooling assembly 2. The connecting pipe 28 connects the direct cooling channels 210 located on both outer sides of the harmonica pipe 21, so that the refrigerant inlet pipe 26 and the refrigerant outlet pipe 27 can be arranged at the same end of the refrigerant direct cooling assembly 2, and the structural arrangement of the cooling device is optimized, so that the refrigerant inlet pipe 26 and the refrigerant outlet pipe 27 and the coolant inlet and coolant outlet 16 of the liquid cooling assembly 1 can be distributed at different ends of the cooling assembly, and will not interfere with each other.

[0061] like Figure 2 As shown, the liquid cooling assembly 1 also includes a coolant inlet 15 and a coolant outlet 16, and the coolant inlet 15 and the coolant outlet 16 are arranged on one of the left cold plate 11, the right cold plate 12, the front cold plate 13 and the rear cold plate 14; the liquid cooling channels 110 on the left cold plate 11, the front cold plate 13, the right cold plate 12 and the rear cold plate 14 are connected, so that only one coolant inlet 15 and one coolant outlet 16 need to be arranged on the liquid cooling assembly 1, which simplifies the structure of the device and improves the utilization rate of the coolant. Generally, the coolant inlet 15 and the coolant outlet 16 are arranged on the same side cold plate, which is more convenient for the arrangement of the structure, and can shorten the distance between the coolant inlet 15 and the coolant outlet, so that the liquid cooling channel 110 can cover more area of ​​the battery cell 200, thereby improving the cooling effect of the liquid cooling assembly 1.

[0062] Furthermore, one or more cooling channels can be set on the left cold plate 11, the front cold plate 13, the right cold plate 12 and the rear cold plate 14, and the cooling channels on different side cold plates are connected one by one to form one or more flow paths from the coolant inlet 15 to the coolant outlet 16.

[0063] like Fig.11As shown, Fig.11 Schematic diagram of the flow trajectory of the coolant in the liquid cooling component 1. The distance from the coolant inlet to the coolant outlet 16 is greater than the distance between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet 16. It is ensured that the coolant flows through the left cold plate 11, the front cold plate 13, the right cold plate 12 and the rear cold plate 14 before being discharged from the coolant outlet 16 of the liquid cooling component 1, thereby ensuring the utilization rate of the coolant.

[0064] like Figure 2 As shown, a sealing ring 17 is provided at the connection between the adjacent liquid cooling channels 110 of the left cold plate 11, the front cold plate 13, the right cold plate 12 and the rear cold plate 14 to enhance the air tightness of the connection between each liquid cooling channel 110 and prevent leakage of the coolant. Specifically, grooves are provided at the positions where the sealing ring 17 is installed on the left cold plate 11, the front cold plate 13, the right cold plate 12 and the rear cold plate 14. The sealing ring 17 is embedded in the two corresponding grooves to seal the two connected liquid cooling channels 110.

[0065] The liquid cooling assembly 1 further includes a rear end plate 18, which is connected to a side of the rear cold plate 14 away from the front cold plate 13, and the two ends of the rear end plate 18 are respectively connected to the left cold plate 11 and the right cold plate 12. The rear end plate 18 is welded to the rear cold plate 14, and the rear end plate 18 can limit the left cold plate 11, the right cold plate 12 and the rear cold plate 14 to ensure the structural stability of the cooling device.

[0066] like Figures 5 to 10As shown, the two ends of the front cold plate 13 are respectively provided with a first step area 131, and the first step area 131 extends along the height of the front cold plate 13; the two ends of the rear plate 18 are respectively provided with a second step area 181, and the second step area 181 extends along the height of the rear plate 18; the two ends of the left cold plate 11 are respectively provided with a third step area 111, and the third step area 111 extends along the two ends of the left cold plate 11; the two ends of the right cold plate 12 are respectively provided with a fourth step area 121, and the fourth step area 121 extends along the right cold plate 12 The cooling element installation area 19 is formed by spacing between the first step area 131 and the third step area 111, between the first step area 131 and the fourth step area 121, between the second step area 181 and the third step area 111, and between the second step area 181 and the fourth step area 121. The cooling element installation area 19 can be used to install the cooling element 011 when the left cold plate 11, the right cold plate 12, the front cold plate 13 and the rear cold plate 14 are connected to cool the sealing ring 17. The adjacent two of the left cold plate 11, the right cold plate 12, the front cold plate 13 and the rear cold plate 14 are connected by laser welding. The laser welding temperature is as high as an instantaneous temperature of more than 500°C, while the sealing ring 17 is resistant to a temperature of less than 300°C. During laser welding, the high temperature generated may cause the sealing ring 17 to melt, thereby losing the sealing performance. By connecting the cooling member 011 to the cooling member installation area 19, the cooling effect of the cooling member 011 can take away part of the heat generated by the laser welding during welding, thereby preventing the sealing ring 17 from melting at high temperature.

[0067] Exemplarily, the cooling element 011 includes a cooling water pipeline and a cooling circulation device, the cooling water pipeline is installed on the cooling element installation area 19 through a clamp, and is connected to the cooling circulation device, so that the cooling water cools the sealing ring 17 to avoid failure of the sealing performance of the sealing ring 17. After welding, the cooling element 011 can be removed from the cooling device of the present application.

[0068] like Figure 1 and 2 As shown, the liquid cooling assembly 1 further includes a cover plate 010, and four cover plates 010 are provided. The four cover plates 010 are respectively covered on the cooling element installation area 19, and are respectively connected to two adjacent ones of the left cold plate 11, the front cold plate 13, the right cold plate 12, and the rear plate 18. The cover plate 010 can be connected to the first step area 131 on the front cold plate 13, the second step area 181 on the rear plate 18, the third step area 111 on the left cold plate 11, and the fourth step area 121 on the right cold plate 12, filling the cooling element installation area 19, making the connection between the adjacent two of the left cold plate 11, the front cold plate 13, the rear plate 18, and the right cold plate 12 tighter, thereby improving the integrity of the cooling device.

[0069] The bottom of the left cold plate 11 and the right cold plate 12 are provided with flanges protruding toward the frame 101, and the edge of the refrigerant direct cooling component 2 is connected to the flange, which increases the contact area between the refrigerant direct cooling component 2 and the left cold plate 11 and the right cold plate 12, thereby improving the connection stability.

[0070] like Fig.13 As shown, on the other hand, the present application also provides a power battery assembly, including a power battery cooling device 100, a battery cell 200, a flexible circuit board bracket 300 and a flexible circuit board as described in any of the above items, at least one battery cell 200 is configured and arranged in a frame 101 of the battery cooling device 100, the flexible circuit board bracket 300 is fixed on the power battery cooling device 100, the flexible circuit board is fixed on the flexible circuit board bracket 300, and is electrically connected to the battery cell 200. The bottom of the battery cell 200 is in contact with the temperature equalizing plate 22 of the refrigerant direct cooling component 2, and the heat inside the battery cell 200 can be quickly dispersed to the entire surface of the temperature equalizing plate 22, so that the harmonica tube 21 in contact with the temperature equalizing plate 22 can quickly exchange heat with the temperature equalizing plate 22, thereby achieving rapid cooling of the battery cell 200; in addition, the surrounding surfaces of the battery cell 200 can be cooled by the liquid cooling component 1; through the joint action of the liquid cooling component 1 and the refrigerant direct cooling component 2, the cooling efficiency of the battery cell 200 is improved, and the cost and weight of the equipment can be reduced.

[0071] The installation process of the power battery assembly of this application is:

[0072] Place the battery cell 200 on the fixture plane;

[0073] Adjust the axial distance between the front cold plate 13, the rear cold plate 14 and the rear cold plate 18 so that the front cold plate 13 and the rear cold plate 14 clamp the battery cell 200;

[0074] Apply structural glue to the side of the battery cell 200, and also apply structural glue to the side of the left cold plate 11 and the right cold plate 12 facing the battery cell, and place the left cold plate 11 and the right cold plate 12 close to the corresponding side of the battery cell 200;

[0075] The front cold plate 13 is connected with the left cold plate 11 and the right cold plate 12 by laser welding, the left cold plate 11 is connected with the rear cold plate 14 and the rear end plate 18, and the right cold plate 12 is connected with the rear cold plate 14 and the rear end plate 18;

[0076] Finally, the flexible circuit board bracket 300 is welded to the cooling device, so that the cooling device, the flexible circuit board and the battery cell 200 form an integral module.

[0077] Below, a simulation test is conducted on the power battery assembly provided in the present application to further illustrate the applicability and practical value of the present application.

[0078] Multiple power battery modules were set up respectively, coolant was introduced into the liquid cooling channel 110 of the module, refrigerant was introduced into the direct cooling channel 210, and the flow rates in the liquid cooling channel 110 and the direct cooling channel 210 of each module were measured respectively. The test results showed that the flow uniformity deviation of the liquid cooling channel 110 in each module was 1.8%, meeting the requirement of ≦20%; the flow uniformity deviation of the direct cooling channel 210 in each module was 1.1%, meeting the requirement of ≦20%.

[0079] like Fig.14 and 15 As shown, Fig.14 This is a schematic diagram of the cooling effect of the liquid cooling component 1 provided in this application. Fig.15 This is a schematic diagram of the cooling effect of the refrigerant direct cooling component 2 provided in this application. Fig.14 It can be obtained that the total pressure drop of the liquid cooling channel 110 between each module is 5.907 kPa, which meets the requirement of ≦30 kPa. Fig.15 It can be seen that the total pressure drop of the direct cooling channel 210 between the modules is 3.75 kPa, which meets the requirement of ≦30 kPa.

[0080] like Fig.16 and Fig.17 As shown, Fig.16 This is a schematic diagram of the temperature distribution of the battery cell 200 under the power battery module endurance working condition simulation test. Fig.17 Schematic diagram of the maximum and minimum temperatures of the battery cell 200 changing with time during the power battery module endurance condition simulation test. Fig.16 and Fig.17 It can be seen that the maximum temperature of the power battery cooling device 100 of the present application is 35.1°C when working, and the temperature difference is within 5°C, which is much lower than the industry requirements of the maximum temperature ≤50°C and the temperature difference ≤8°C. Therefore, the cooling effect of the power battery cooling device 100 disclosed in the present application is significant, which is obviously beyond the industry requirements.

[0081] On the other hand, the present application also provides a thermal management system, including an air conditioning system and a power battery heat exchange system, the air conditioning system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a heat exchanger, the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator are connected in series to form a circulation loop, and the heat exchanger and the condenser are arranged in parallel; the power battery heat exchange system includes a power battery assembly as described above, a direct cooling circuit and a liquid cooling circuit, the direct cooling circuit is connected to the direct cooling channel 210, one end of the direct cooling circuit is connected between the condenser and the evaporator, and the other end of the direct cooling circuit is connected to the coolant inlet end or the coolant outlet 16 end of the compressor, the liquid cooling circuit is connected to the liquid cooling channel 110, and the liquid cooling circuit is connected to the heat exchanger. In the above, the refrigerant in the air conditioning system is introduced into the direct cooling channel 210 of the battery cooling device 100 through the direct cooling circuit to quickly cool the bottom of the power battery; after the coolant in the liquid cooling component 1 enters the heat exchanger through the liquid cooling circuit, it exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the air conditioning system and then returns to the power battery to cool the power battery, so that the temperature of the power battery assembly is maintained within a normal working range.

[0082] On the other hand, the present application also provides a vehicle, including the above thermal management system. When the vehicle is running normally, the temperature of the power battery can be maintained at a normal level, the battery has a long service life, and high working safety.

[0083] In summary, the present application provides a left cold plate, a right cold plate, a front cold plate and a rear cold plate that can enclose a frame to accommodate battery cells, and provides liquid cooling channels in the left cold plate, the right cold plate, the front cold plate and the rear cold plate, so that the sides of the battery can be liquid-cooled, and a refrigerant direct cooling component including a direct cooling channel is provided at the bottom of the liquid cooling component, so that the bottom of the battery cell can be directly cooled. Through the action of the temperature equalizing plate on the refrigerant direct cooling component, the heat of the battery cell can be quickly distributed to the entire surface of the temperature equalizing plate, thereby improving the heat dissipation effect. In the above, by coupling the two cooling methods, the cooling effect can be greatly improved, thereby improving the service life and safety of the battery.

[0084] By setting a cooling element installation area at the connection between two adjacent side cold plates of the liquid cooling assembly, the cooling element can be connected when welding the two adjacent side cold plates, thereby avoiding failure of the sealing effect of the sealing ring connecting the liquid cooling channel on the two adjacent side cold plates.

[0085] It is understandable that those skilled in the art can make equivalent substitutions or changes based on the technical solution and application concept of the present application, and all these changes or substitutions should fall within the protection scope of the claims attached to the present application.

Claims

1. A power battery cooling device, characterized in that: include: A liquid cooling assembly, comprising a left cold plate, a right cold plate, a front cold plate and a rear cold plate, wherein the left cold plate, the right cold plate, the front cold plate and the rear cold plate are enclosed to form a frame for placing battery cells, and liquid cooling channels are respectively provided in the left cold plate, the right cold plate, the front cold plate and the rear cold plate; The refrigerant direct cooling component is connected to the bottom of the liquid cooling component, and a direct cooling flow channel is arranged on the refrigerant direct cooling component.

2. The power battery cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The refrigerant direct cooling component comprises: A temperature homogenizing plate, arranged opposite to the liquid cooling component; A harmonica tube connected to a side of the temperature homogenizing plate facing away from the liquid cooling assembly, wherein the direct cooling channel is disposed in the harmonica tube; A front header connected to one end of the harmonica pipe close to the front cold plate; A rear collecting pipe is connected to one end of the harmonica pipe close to the rear cold plate.

3. The power battery cooling device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A plurality of direct cooling channels are arranged in the harmonica tube, and the flow directions of the refrigerants in two adjacent direct cooling channels are opposite. A front collecting cavity is arranged in the front collecting tube, and a rear collecting cavity is arranged on the rear collecting tube. The two adjacent direct cooling channels are connected through the front collecting cavity or the rear collecting cavity.

4. The power battery cooling device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The front collecting tube and the rear collecting tube are arranged in sections along the axial direction, two adjacent sections of the front collecting tube or the rear collecting tube are sealed and connected by a plug, and two adjacent direct cooling channels are connected through the same section of the front collecting cavity or the rear collecting cavity.

5. The power battery cooling device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The refrigerant direct cooling component also includes: A refrigerant inlet pipe connected to the axial middle of the front header or the rear header; The refrigerant outlet pipe is connected to both sides of the front header or the rear header in the axial direction.

6. The power battery cooling device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The refrigerant direct cooling component also includes: A connecting pipe is connected to the two outermost direct cooling channels in the front header or the rear header, the refrigerant outlet pipe is connected to the outermost direct cooling channel in the rear header or the front header, and the refrigerant inlet pipe and the refrigerant outlet pipe are connected to the same end of the refrigerant direct cooling component.

7. The power battery cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid cooling assembly also includes: A coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, wherein the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet are arranged on one of the left cold plate, the right cold plate, the front cold plate and the rear cold plate; and the liquid cooling channels on the left cold plate, the front cold plate, the right cold plate and the rear cold plate are connected.

8. The power battery cooling device according to claim 7, characterized in that: A distance along which the coolant flows from the coolant inlet to the coolant outlet is greater than a distance between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet.

9. The power battery cooling device according to claim 7, characterized in that: A sealing ring is provided at the connection between the liquid cooling channels on two adjacent ones of the left cold plate, the front cold plate, the right cold plate and the rear cold plate.

10. The power battery cooling device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The liquid cooling assembly also includes: The rear end plate is connected to a side of the rear cold plate away from the front cold plate, and two ends of the rear end plate are respectively connected to the left cold plate and the right cold plate.

11. The power battery cooling device according to claim 10, characterized in that: The two ends of the front end cold plate are respectively provided with a first step area, the first step area extends along the height of the front end cold plate; the two ends of the rear end plate are respectively provided with a second step area, the second step area extends along the height of the rear end plate; the two ends of the left cold plate are respectively provided with a third step area, the third step area extends along the two ends of the left cold plate, and the two ends of the right cold plate are respectively provided with a fourth step area, the fourth step area extends along the height direction of the right cold plate, and the first step area and the third step area, the first step area and the fourth step area, the second step area and the third step area, and the second step area and the fourth step area are respectively arranged at intervals to form a cooling component installation area, and the cooling component installation area can be used to install a cooling component when the left cold plate, the right cold plate, the front end cold plate and the rear cold plate are connected, so as to cool the sealing ring.

12. The power battery cooling device according to claim 11, characterized in that: The liquid cooling assembly also includes: There are four cover plates, which are respectively connected to the cooling component installation area and are respectively connected to the left cold plate, the front cold plate, the right cold plate and two adjacent ones of the rear cold plate.

13. A power battery assembly, characterized in that: include: The battery cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 12; At least one battery cell is provided and arranged in the frame of the battery cooling device.

14. A thermal management system, characterized in that: include: An air conditioning system, the air conditioning system comprising a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a heat exchanger, the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator are connected in series to form a circulation loop, and the heat exchanger and the condenser are arranged in parallel; A power battery heat exchange system, comprising a power battery assembly, a direct cooling circuit and a liquid cooling circuit as described in claim 13, wherein the direct cooling circuit is connected to the direct cooling channel, one end of the direct cooling circuit is connected between the condenser and the evaporator, and the other end of the direct cooling circuit is connected to the coolant inlet or the coolant outlet of the compressor, the liquid cooling circuit is connected to the liquid cooling channel, and the liquid cooling circuit is connected to the heat exchanger.

15. A vehicle, characterized in that: Comprising the thermal management system of claim 14.

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