Liquid cooling plate for cooling battery module and battery module

Abstract

The utility model discloses a liquid cooling plate for cooling a battery module, which comprises a bottom plate provided with a pressing area and an exhaust hole, the exhaust hole penetrates through the bottom plate, and gas can be exhausted along the exhaust hole by pressing the pressing area; and the liquid cooling channel is laid on the bottom plate and is used for allowing a cooling liquid to pass through so as to cool the battery module. By adopting the technical scheme, redundant air between the liquid cooling plate and the battery cell can be exhausted, so that the liquid cooling plate is tightly attached to the battery cell, the thermal resistance is reduced, and the heat exchange effect is improved. The utility model further discloses a battery module which comprises the liquid cooling plate. By adopting the technical scheme, the liquid cooling effect on the battery cell can be improved, so that the performance of the battery cell is improved, and the service life of the battery cell is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of battery module cooling technology, specifically relating to a liquid cooling plate for cooling a battery module and a battery module. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, the electric vehicle industry has developed rapidly. As the main power source of electric vehicles, the stability of the battery pack directly affects the reliability and safety of the entire vehicle. Generally speaking, electric vehicles with high-rate charging and discharging capabilities mostly use liquid cooling systems in their battery packs. These systems can effectively dissipate the heat generated during high-rate charging and discharging, ensuring efficient, stable, and safe operation of both the battery pack and the electric vehicle. Currently, to achieve high energy density design requirements, the internal structure of the battery pack is particularly compact. Liquid cooling plates are often placed on the top or side of the battery cells to improve space utilization while ensuring the high efficiency of the liquid cooling system.

[0003] However, regarding the liquid cooling plate placed on top of the battery cell (attached to the top of the battery cell with thermally conductive adhesive), a problem easily arises during the installation process: the middle area bulges upwards. This causes a significant amount of air to remain trapped between the liquid cooling plate, the thermally conductive adhesive, and the battery cell, resulting in a higher thermal resistance in the heat transfer path from the battery cell to the liquid cooling plate. This limits the cooling capacity of the liquid cooling plate to some extent and may even cause abnormal temperatures in localized areas of the battery cell. Therefore, improvements to the liquid cooling plate are needed to solve these technical problems. Utility Model Content

[0004] The present invention provides the following technical solutions to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] This utility model provides a liquid cooling plate for cooling battery modules, comprising:

[0006] The base plate is equipped with a pressing area and an exhaust hole. The exhaust hole runs through the base plate, and gas can be discharged through the exhaust hole by pressing the pressing area.

[0007] Liquid cooling channels, laid on the base plate, are used to allow coolant to pass through and cool the battery modules.

[0008] By adopting the above technical solution, excess air between the liquid cooling plate and the battery cell can be discharged, thereby ensuring that the liquid cooling plate is in close contact with the battery cell, reducing thermal resistance and improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0009] Optionally, the liquid cooling channel is composed of multiple interconnected flow channels. The liquid cooling channel is tortuous and winding. The multiple flow channels are arranged opposite each other along the width direction of the liquid cooling plate and extend along the length direction of the liquid cooling plate. The pressing area is located between two adjacent flow channels along the width direction.

[0010] Optionally, the vent is located between two adjacent flow channels along the width direction, and the vent is located outside the pressing area.

[0011] Optional, multi-stage flow channels include:

[0012] The first flow channel includes the first curved section, which is a part of the first flow channel;

[0013] The second flow channel is arranged adjacent to the first flow channel in the width direction and includes a second curved section, which is a part of the second flow channel.

[0014] The first curved section and the second curved section are arranged opposite each other in the width direction, with one of them being recessed relative to the other, and the area enclosed by the first curved section and the second curved section forms a pressing area.

[0015] Optionally, the gap between the first flow channel and the second flow channel along the width direction shall not exceed half the width of the first flow channel and the second flow channel.

[0016] Optionally, the battery module has a first end plate and a second end plate at both ends along the length of the liquid cooling plate. The liquid cooling plate has a first fixing position and a second fixing position at both ends along the length of the liquid cooling plate. One end of the liquid cooling plate is fixed to the first end plate through the first fixing position, and the other end of the liquid cooling plate is fixed to the second end plate through the second fixing position. The pressing area is located between the first fixing position and the second fixing position along the length of the liquid cooling plate.

[0017] Optionally, there are at least three pressing areas, including a first pressing area, a second pressing area and a third pressing area. The first pressing area and the second pressing area are arranged opposite each other along the width direction of the liquid cooling plate, and the second pressing area and the third pressing area are arranged opposite each other along the length direction of the liquid cooling plate.

[0018] This utility model also provides a battery module, which includes the liquid cooling plate in the above embodiments.

[0019] By adopting the above technical solution, the liquid cooling effect of the battery cell can be improved, thereby improving the performance of the battery cell and extending its service life.

[0020] Optionally, the battery module has a top surface and a side surface, with the battery module's terminals located on the side surface and the liquid cooling plate located on the top surface. The battery module also includes a bracket, which is located on the liquid cooling plate. The bracket contains a battery management system, which is used to monitor and manage the operating status of the battery module.

[0021] Optionally, insulation cotton is also provided between the bracket and the liquid cooling plate. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This diagram shows a structural schematic of a battery cell in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the structure of the liquid cooling plate in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0024] Figure 3 This diagram illustrates the structure of the liquid cooling plate in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0025] Figure 4 This diagram illustrates the structure of the liquid cooling plate in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 ;

[0026] Figure 5 This diagram shows an exploded view of the battery module in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0027] Figure 6 This diagram shows an exploded view of the battery module in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0028] Figure 7 An exploded view of the battery module is shown in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] (Symbol Explanation)

[0030] 1-Battery module, 1.1-Top surface, 1.2-Side surface, 2-Liquid cooling plate, 3-Bottom plate, 4-Pressing area, 5-Exhaust hole, 6-Liquid cooling channel, 7-Flow channel, 7.1-First flow channel section, 7.1.1-First curved section, 7.2-Second flow channel section, 7.2.1-Second curved section, 8-End plate, 8.1-First end plate, 8.2-Second end plate, 9-Fixing position, 9.1-First fixing position, 9.2-Second fixing position 10-Pole post, 11-Bracket, 12-Insulation cotton, 13-Battery cell, 14-Separator, 15-Intermediate partition, 16-Epoxy board, 17-Process hole, 18-Counterhead screw, 19-Thermal conductive structural adhesive, 20-Nut, 21-Bottom aluminum plate, 22-Raised structure, 23-Inlet, 24-Outlet, 25-Screw, 26-Flow channel plate, 27-Large flat plate, Y-Width direction, X-Length direction, d-Gap. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of this utility model. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this utility model from the content disclosed in this specification. Although the description of this utility model will be presented in conjunction with preferred embodiments, this does not mean that the features of this utility model are limited to this embodiment. On the contrary, the purpose of describing the utility model in conjunction with the embodiments is to cover other options or modifications that may be derived based on the claims of this utility model. To provide a deep understanding of this utility model, many specific details will be included in the following description. This utility model may also be implemented without using these details. Furthermore, to avoid confusion or obscuring the focus of this utility model, some specific details will be omitted in the description. It should be noted that, without conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this utility model can be combined with each other.

[0032] The terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0033] It should be noted that in this specification, similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0034] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the embodiments of this utility model will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] Due to manufacturing tolerances, liquid cooling plates may have surface irregularities. Therefore, even with a tight contact between the liquid cooling plate and the battery module, tiny gaps may remain when the liquid cooling plate is placed on top of the battery module. These gaps can trap air, which impairs heat transfer. To address this, the liquid cooling plate is often bonded to the top of the battery module using thermally conductive adhesive. This adhesive effectively fills these gaps, ensuring better thermal contact and improving heat transfer efficiency.

[0036] However, to ensure good thermal contact, significant pressure is often applied to the liquid cooling plate during installation. If the pressure is uneven, or if the liquid cooling plate shifts during installation, certain areas, especially the central area, may bulge upwards, forming protrusions. These protrusions can create excessive air gaps between the liquid cooling plate and the battery module. If this air is not expelled promptly, it increases the thermal resistance along the heat transfer path from the battery cell to the liquid cooling plate, worsening the cooling effect and potentially causing localized temperature anomalies in the battery cell. This can lead to decreased cell performance or even damage. Therefore, this invention provides the following technical solution to address these problems.

[0037] like Figures 1-2 As shown, this utility model provides a liquid cooling plate 2 for cooling a battery module 1, the liquid cooling plate 2 comprising:

[0038] The base plate 3 is provided with a pressing area 4 and an exhaust hole 5. The exhaust hole 5 passes through the base plate 3. By pressing the pressing area 4, gas can be discharged along the exhaust hole 5.

[0039] The liquid cooling channel 6 is laid on the base plate 3 and is used to allow coolant to pass through in order to cool the battery module 1.

[0040] This utility model provides an exhaust hole 5 and a pressing area 4 on the base plate 3. This allows the operator to simply press the pressing area 4 during installation to expel excess air between the liquid cooling plate 2 and the battery module 1 through the exhaust hole 5, thereby ensuring that the liquid cooling plate 2 is in close contact with the battery module 1, improving the thermal conductivity of the thermally conductive structural adhesive, and thus improving the heat exchange capacity of the liquid cooling plate 2.

[0041] Specifically, such as Figures 1-2 As shown, during installation, the pressing area 4 can be pressed to expel excess air between the liquid cooling plate 2 and the battery cell 13 through the exhaust hole 5, thereby ensuring that the liquid cooling plate 2 is in close contact with the battery cell 13. This allows the heat generated by the battery cell 13 during charging and discharging to be conducted through the top surface of the battery cell 13 to the thermally conductive structural adhesive 19, and then directly transferred to the liquid cooling plate 2. Since the coolant (such as water, ethylene glycol aqueous solution, etc.) flows continuously in the liquid cooling channel 6, it can continuously absorb the heat on the liquid cooling plate 2, thereby carrying away the heat generated by the battery cell 13.

[0042] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 As shown, the liquid cooling channel 6 is composed of multiple interconnected flow channels 7. The liquid cooling channel 6 is meandering and tortuous, and the multiple flow channels 7 are along the width direction of the liquid cooling plate 2 (e.g., Figure 2 The liquid cooling plate 2 is positioned relative to the Y-direction and along its length (e.g., along the Y-direction). Figure 2 Extending in the X direction, the pressing area 4 is located between two adjacent flow channels 7 along the width direction Y. Designing the liquid cooling channel 6 into a tortuous shape helps to increase the flow path length of the coolant and prolong the residence time of the coolant in the liquid cooling plate 2, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency. Based on this, the present invention sets the pressing area 4 between two adjacent flow channels 7 along the width direction Y, which can provide a suitable pressing area 4 without shortening the flow path length, that is, under the premise of ensuring a good cooling effect, thereby ensuring that the liquid cooling plate 2 can be tightly attached to the surface of the cell 13, reducing thermal resistance and improving the heat exchange effect.

[0043] Furthermore, continue to refer to Figure 2The vent 5 is located between two adjacent flow channels 7 along the width direction Y, and is located outside the pressing area 4. This arrangement prevents the vent 5 from being blocked during the pressing of the pressing area 4, thus ensuring that air is discharged in a timely manner.

[0044] Furthermore, continue to refer to Figure 2 The multi-section flow channel 7 includes:

[0045] The first flow channel 7.1 includes the first curved section 7.1.1, which is a part of the first flow channel 7.1.

[0046] The second flow channel 7.2 is disposed adjacent to the first flow channel 7.1 along the width direction Y, and includes a second curved portion 7.2.1, which is a part of the second flow channel 7.2;

[0047] The first curved portion 7.1.1 and the second curved portion 7.2.1 are arranged opposite each other in the width direction Y, with one of them being recessed relative to the other. The area enclosed by the first curved portion 7.1.1 and the second curved portion 7.2.1 forms the pressing area 4. This arrangement allows for a more uniform distribution of pressure during installation. In other words, by pressing the pressing area 4, the pressure on the liquid cooling plate 2 can be made more uniform, thereby improving the fit between the liquid cooling plate 2 and the battery cell 13 and reducing thermal resistance.

[0048] Furthermore, referring to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The gap d between the first flow channel 7.1 and the second flow channel 7.2 along the width direction Y does not exceed half the width of the first flow channel 7.1 and the second flow channel 7.2. This setting allows for a larger pressing area without affecting the liquid cooling effect, thus facilitating pressing by the operator.

[0049] Specifically, combined with Figure 4 The liquid cooling plate 2 can be composed of a large flat plate 27, a flow channel plate 26, several screws 25, an inlet 23, and an outlet 24. The screws 25 on the liquid cooling plate 2 are first spot-welded to the four protruding structures 22 of the flow channel plate 26. Then, the flow channel plate 26, inlet 23, outlet 24, and large flat plate 27 are brazed together. By dividing the liquid cooling plate 2 into a large flat plate 27 (base plate) and a flow channel plate 26, a modular design can be achieved, facilitating production and maintenance. Using screws 25 to fix the large flat plate 27 and the flow channel plate 26 makes the assembly and disassembly of the liquid cooling plate 2 more convenient, facilitating maintenance and replacement. The design of the inlet 24 and outlet 25 allows for precise control of the coolant flow rate, which can be adjusted according to the actual heat generation of the battery cell 13, optimizing the cooling effect.

[0050] Furthermore, continue to refer to Figure 2 and Figure 5The battery module 1 has a first end plate 8.1 and a second end plate 8.2 at both ends along the length direction X. The liquid cooling plate 2 has a first fixing position 9.1 and a second fixing position 9.2 at both ends along the length direction X. One end of the liquid cooling plate 2 is fixed to the first end plate 8.1 through the first fixing position 9.1, and the other end of the liquid cooling plate 2 is fixed to the second end plate 8.2 through the second fixing position 9.2 (the liquid cooling plate 2 is fixed to the end plate 8 through the fixing position 9). The pressing area 4 is located between the first fixing position 9.1 and the second fixing position 9.2 along the length direction X. Since the middle area of ​​the liquid cooling plate 2 is prone to protrusion during installation, the pressing area 4 is set between the first fixing position 9.1 and the second fixing position 9.2 along the length direction X. By pressing the pressing area 4, the operator can solve the problem of high thermal resistance caused by the protrusion. Specifically, during the installation of the liquid cooling plate 2, a tooling device is first used to press down the pressing area 4. Then, the liquid cooling plate 2 (with thermally conductive structural adhesive applied to the bottom) is installed on the first end plate 8.1 and end plate 8.2 using the surrounding fixing positions 9. After the thermally conductive structural adhesive 19 has cured, the tooling device is released. This operation avoids bulging in the middle area of ​​the liquid cooling plate 2 and prevents large gaps between the liquid cooling plate 2 and the battery cell 13, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the liquid cooling plate 2. Furthermore, the liquid cooling plate 2 is also provided with process holes 17, which can be two in number. The process holes 17 not only facilitate precise positioning of the liquid cooling plate 2 during installation for rapid assembly, but also facilitate subsequent spraying.

[0051] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 An epoxy board 16 is bonded between the left-end battery cell 13 and the first end plate 8.1, and between the right-end battery cell 13 and the second end plate 8.2. The epoxy board 16 has good electrical insulation properties, and bonding it between the battery cell 13 and the end plate 8 can prevent short circuits between the battery cell 13 and the end plate 8, ensuring the electrical safety of the system. In addition, it can also play a role in shock absorption and buffering, protecting the battery cell from damage. Then, the liquid cooling plate 2 is fixed to the first end plate 8.1 and the second end plate 8.2 with several countersunk screws 18, and the bottom support aluminum plate 21 is fixed to the first end plate 8.1 and the second end plate 8.2 with several countersunk screws.

[0052] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 As shown, there are at least three pressing areas 4, including a first pressing area 4.1, a second pressing area 4.2, and a third pressing area 4.3. The first pressing area 4.1 and the second pressing area 4.2 are arranged opposite each other along the width direction Y of the liquid cooling plate 2, and the second pressing area 4.2 and the third pressing area 4.3 are arranged opposite each other along the length direction X of the liquid cooling plate 2. This arrangement not only facilitates the operator in pressing the pressing areas 4, but also ensures that the pressure on the liquid cooling plate 2 is relatively uniform, thereby effectively avoiding the problems of uneven force leading to bulges and high thermal resistance.

[0053] This utility model also provides a battery module 1, which includes the liquid cooling plate 2 in the above embodiments.

[0054] By adopting the above technical solution, the liquid cooling effect of the battery cell can be improved, thereby improving the performance of the battery cell and extending its service life.

[0055] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1 and Figure 7 The battery module 1 has a top surface 1.1 and a side surface 1.2. The terminal posts 10 of the battery module 1 are located on the side surface 1.2, and the liquid cooling plate 2 is located on the top surface 1.1. The battery module 1 also includes a bracket 11, which is mounted on the liquid cooling plate 2. The bracket 11 houses a battery management system (BMS), which is used to monitor and manage the operating status of the battery module. Placing the liquid cooling plate 2 on the top surface of the battery module 1 gives the bracket 11 a load-bearing capacity, thus increasing the functionality of the battery module. The bracket 11 can be fixed to the liquid cooling plate 2 with several nuts.

[0056] Furthermore, the two rows of cells 13 are separated by a middle partition 15, and the cells 13 in the same row are separated by a number of spacers 14. The spacers 14 and partitions 15 can effectively prevent heat transfer between cells 13. Thus, if a cell 13 experiences thermal runaway, the spacers 14 and partitions 15 can prevent heat from spreading rapidly to other cells 13, thereby limiting the spread of thermal runaway and improving the safety of the battery system.

[0057] Furthermore, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the bracket 11 is fixed to the liquid cooling plate 2 by several nuts 20, and insulation cotton 12 is provided between the bracket 11 and the liquid cooling plate 2. This arrangement serves as a buffer, preventing direct hard contact between the bracket 11 and the liquid cooling plate 2. The insulation cotton 12 can be pasted onto the liquid cooling plate 2. The insulation cotton 12 has notches to avoid protrusions on the liquid cooling plate 2, and also prevents the external environment from affecting the cooling capacity of the liquid cooling plate 2. Furthermore, insulation cotton 12 is pasted under the bottom aluminum plate, thereby improving the heat preservation capacity of the battery module 1.

[0058] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the above description is a further detailed explanation of the present invention in conjunction with specific embodiments, and should not be construed as limiting the specific implementation of the present invention to these descriptions. Those skilled in the art can make various changes in form and detail, including some simple deductions or substitutions, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A liquid cooling plate for cooling battery modules, characterized in that, include: The base plate is provided with a pressing area and an exhaust hole. The exhaust hole passes through the base plate, and gas can be discharged along the exhaust hole by pressing the pressing area. A liquid cooling channel, laid on the base plate, is used for the passage of coolant to cool the battery module.

2. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid cooling channel is composed of multiple interconnected flow channels. The liquid cooling channel is meandering and tortuous. The multiple flow channels are arranged opposite each other along the width direction of the liquid cooling plate and extend along the length direction of the liquid cooling plate. The pressing area is located between two adjacent flow channels along the width direction.

3. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 2, characterized in that, The vent is located between two adjacent flow channels along the width direction, and the vent is located outside the pressing area.

4. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 2, characterized in that, The multiple flow channels include: The first flow channel includes a first curved section, which is a part of the first flow channel; The second flow channel is disposed adjacent to the first flow channel along the width direction and includes a second curved portion, which is a part of the second flow channel. The first curved portion and the second curved portion are disposed opposite each other in the width direction, with one of them being recessed relative to the other, and the area enclosed by the first curved portion and the second curved portion forms the pressing area.

5. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 4, characterized in that, The gap between the first flow channel and the second flow channel along the width direction does not exceed half the width of the first flow channel and the second flow channel.

6. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery module is provided with a first end plate and a second end plate at both ends along the length direction of the liquid cooling plate. The liquid cooling plate is provided with a first fixing position and a second fixing position at both ends along the length direction. One end of the liquid cooling plate is fixed to the first end plate through the first fixing position, and the other end of the liquid cooling plate is fixed to the second end plate through the second fixing position. The pressing area is located between the first fixing position and the second fixing position along the length direction.

7. The liquid cooling plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressing area is at least three, including a first pressing area, a second pressing area and a third pressing area. The first pressing area and the second pressing area are arranged opposite to each other along the width direction of the liquid cooling plate, and the second pressing area and the third pressing area are arranged opposite to each other along the length direction of the liquid cooling plate.

8. A battery module, characterized in that, The battery module includes the liquid cooling plate according to any one of claims 1-7.

9. The battery module according to claim 8, characterized in that, The battery module has a top surface and a side surface. The terminal posts of the battery module are located on the side surface, and the liquid cooling plate is located on the top surface. The battery module also includes a bracket, which is located on the liquid cooling plate. A battery management system is installed inside the bracket. The battery management system is used to monitor and manage the operating status of the battery module.

10. The battery module according to claim 9, characterized in that, Insulation cotton is also provided between the bracket and the liquid cooling plate.

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