Gas-liquid separation joint, expansion kettle, thermal management system and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model discloses a gas-liquid separation joint, expansion kettle, thermal management system and vehicle, the gas-liquid separation joint includes: a first pipe portion, the first pipe portion extends along the first direction and includes a first pipe section, a cylindrical section, a conical section and a second pipe section that are connected in sequence, one end of the first pipe section away from the cylindrical section is provided with a first interface, and the other end is provided with a second interface; a second interface is formed at one end of the second pipe section away from the conical section; the second pipe part extends in the second direction and communicates with the cylindrical section, a third connector is formed in the end, away from the cylindrical section, of the second pipe part, and at least the inner wall extending face of the part, close to the cylindrical section, of the second pipe part is tangent to the arc-shaped inner wall of the cylindrical section; and the third pipe part is arranged in the first pipe section and extends to the cylindrical section in the first direction. The expansion kettle and the cooling loop of the thermal management system can be arranged in parallel, the connecting structure of the expansion kettle and the cooling loop can be simplified, and the connecting reliability of the expansion kettle and the cooling loop is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of gas-liquid separation, in particular to a gas-liquid separation joint, an expansion water kettle, a thermal management system and a vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] In recent years, new energy vehicles have developed by leaps and bounds. In the field of electric vehicles, the thermal management system, as the temperature control system of the electric vehicle, plays an irreplaceable important role. The current thermal management system of the electric vehicle has multiple cooling liquid circuits, and the circuit is relatively complex. Usually, each cooling circuit is provided with an expansion water kettle. The main function of the expansion water kettle is to supplement liquid and exhaust air for the cooling circuit. The expansion water kettle and the cooling circuit generally include two connection modes of series connection and parallel connection. Since the parallel connection mode has more outstanding advantages, the expansion water kettle is usually connected with the cooling circuit in parallel. The number of adapters and pipelines required between the expansion water kettle and the cooling circuit is relatively large, which leads to a relatively complex connection structure of the expansion water kettle and the cooling circuit, occupies a large space, and affects the installation reliability of the expansion water kettle. CONTENT OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The embodiments of the present application provide a gas-liquid separation joint, an expansion water kettle, a thermal management system and a vehicle, which can effectively simplify the connection structure of the expansion water kettle and the cooling circuit, and improve the installation reliability of the expansion water kettle.

[0004] In a first aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a gas-liquid separation joint, comprising: a first pipe part extending along a first direction, and comprising a first pipe segment, a cylindrical segment, a conical segment and a second pipe segment connected in sequence, a first interface being formed at one end of the first pipe segment away from the cylindrical segment, and a second interface being formed at one end of the second pipe segment away from the conical segment; a second pipe part extending along a second direction and communicating with the cylindrical segment, one end of the second pipe part away from the cylindrical segment being provided with a third interface, and the second pipe part being provided with a side pipe wall away from the central axis of the first pipe part, an extension surface of the side pipe wall being tangent to an arc-shaped inner wall of the cylindrical segment; and a third pipe part provided in the first pipe segment and extending along the first direction to the cylindrical segment.

[0005] In the above technical solution, the gas-liquid separation joint with the above structure can be used to connect the expansion water kettle and the cooling circuit of the thermal management system in parallel. By setting the first pipe part to include the first pipe segment, the cylindrical segment, the conical segment and the second pipe segment connected in sequence, and by setting the extension surface of the side pipe wall of the second pipe part to be tangent to the arc-shaped inner wall of the cylindrical segment, the gas-liquid separation joint can realize gas-liquid separation by cyclone separation, and has good gas-liquid separation effect. Moreover, the gas-liquid separation joint with the above structure can also simplify the connection structure of the expansion water kettle and the cooling circuit, can reduce the number of parts, improve the connection reliability of the expansion water kettle and the cooling circuit, and can also reduce the cost and save the space.

[0006] In some embodiments of the present application, the inner wall of the conical section is provided with a spoiler structure. In this technical solution, when the cooling liquid flows through the conical section, the spoiler structure can play a spoiler effect on the passing cooling liquid, causing the cooling liquid to experience turbulent flow phenomenon, which is conducive to expelling the gas bubbles from the cooling liquid and improving the gas-liquid separation effect, and can also slow down the flow rate of the cooling liquid, thereby providing a longer time for the separation of gas bubbles and cooling liquid, which can further improve the gas-liquid separation effect.

[0007] In some embodiments of the present application, the spoiler structure includes a plurality of protruding portions, and the plurality of protruding portions are provided with at least two groups around the first direction, and each group of protruding portions is provided with at least two protruding portions along the first direction. In the above technical solution, by setting the spoiler structure to include a plurality of protruding portions, the structure of the spoiler structure can be relatively simple, and it is easy to manufacture on the surface of the conical section. By arranging the plurality of protruding portions in the above manner, the contact position between the protruding portions and the cooling liquid can be increased, thereby increasing the frequency of turbulence, which is conducive to improving the gas-liquid separation effect of the cooling liquid.

[0008] In some embodiments of the present application, the second pipe portion includes a first portion and a second portion connected together, the first portion is provided with a third interface, the second portion is connected to the cylindrical section, and the cross section of the second portion on a cross section perpendicular to the second direction is rectangular. In the above technical solution, the cross section of the second portion on a cross section perpendicular to the second direction is rectangular, so that the second portion has a larger pipe opening, which can increase the flow of the cooling liquid and improve the gas-liquid separation efficiency. Moreover, the pipe wall of the second portion with the above shape is a straight wall, which is easier to realize that the extension surface of the side pipe wall is tangent to the arc-shaped inner wall of the cylindrical section, so that the cooling liquid can form a rotational flow along the arc-shaped inner wall after entering the cylindrical section, which is conducive to realizing the gas-liquid separation of the cooling liquid in the first pipe portion.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present application, the cylindrical section has a first straight wall connected to the first pipe section, the second portion has a second straight wall close to the first pipe section, and the second straight wall is coplanar with the first straight wall. In this technical solution, the above structure can increase the flow distance of the gas-liquid mixed cooling liquid inside the first pipe portion as much as possible under the condition that the size of the gas-liquid separation joint is relatively fixed. The cooling liquid can have more time for gas-liquid separation, thereby improving the gas-liquid separation effect. Moreover, the top wall of the cylindrical section and the second portion are both straight walls, which is conducive to processing and manufacturing, and can reduce the manufacturing difficulty and cost.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present application, a through hole is formed between the second part and the cylindrical segment, the through hole has a rim portion close to the conical segment, the distance between the rim portion and the second flat wall in the first direction is L, and the size of the cylindrical segment in the first direction is H, where L≥1 / 2H. In the above technical solution, by setting the distance between the rim portion and the second flat wall in the first direction and the size of the cylindrical segment in the first direction within the above range, the through hole can have a larger size, which can increase the flow of the cooling liquid entering the cylindrical segment from the second pipe portion, facilitate the circulation of the cooling liquid, and improve the gas-liquid separation effect.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present application, the gas-liquid separation joint includes a plurality of partitions arranged between the first pipe segment and the third pipe portion, and the plurality of partitions are arranged at intervals around the first direction. In the above technical solution, the partitions can connect the first pipe segment and the third pipe portion, improve the connection reliability between the first pipe segment and the third pipe portion, and easily arrange the third pipe portion in the first pipe segment. The partitions can also form a liquid supplement flow channel together with the first pipe segment and the third pipe portion, the cooling liquid in the liquid storage container can enter the first pipe portion along the liquid supplement flow channel to supplement the cooling circuit, and the gas in the first pipe portion that cannot be discharged from the third pipe portion can also be discharged from the liquid supplement flow channel.

[0012] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide an expansion water tank, which includes: a liquid storage container having a liquid outlet; and any one of the gas-liquid separation joints as described above, which is in communication with the liquid outlet through the third interface.

[0013] In a third aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide an expansion water tank, which includes: a liquid storage container having a bottom wall; a first pipe portion integrally formed with the bottom wall and extending in a first direction, the first pipe portion including a first pipe segment, a cylindrical segment, a conical segment, and a second pipe segment connected in sequence, a first interface being formed at an end of the first pipe segment away from the cylindrical segment, and a second interface being formed at an end of the second pipe segment away from the conical segment; a second pipe portion extending in a second direction and communicating with the cylindrical segment, an end of the second pipe portion away from the cylindrical segment forming a third interface, and an inner wall of at least a portion of the second pipe portion close to the cylindrical segment being tangent to an arc-shaped inner wall of the cylindrical segment; and a third pipe portion arranged in the first pipe segment and extending in the first direction to the cylindrical segment.

[0014] In the technical solution, the first pipe part, the second pipe part and the third pipe part are integrated with the liquid storage container, which can reduce the number of components, improve the assembly efficiency, reduce the risk of stress concentration or weak links at the connection part, and improve the structural strength of the expansion water bottle as a whole. The first pipe part, the second pipe part and the third pipe part are connected in parallel with the cooling circuit in the above structure, which can simplify the connection structure between the expansion water bottle and the cooling circuit, reduce the number of components, improve the connection reliability of the expansion water bottle and the cooling circuit, and reduce the cost and save the space.

[0015] In a fourth aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a thermal management system, comprising the expansion water bottle as described above. In the technical solution, the expansion water bottle can be used to separate gas and liquid in the cooling circuit, reduce the risk of cavitation, improve the stability of system pressure, improve the heat dissipation efficiency, and thus improve the reliability of the thermal management system.

[0016] In a fifth aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a vehicle, comprising the thermal management system as described above. In the technical solution, the thermal management system has high reliability, and thus the use of the thermal management system can improve the thermal management reliability of the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed in the embodiments. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present application, and therefore should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can also be obtained without creative labor.

[0018] Figure 1 The structural schematic diagram of the vehicle provided by some embodiments of the present application is shown in the figure.

[0019] Figure 2 The partial structural schematic diagram of the thermal management system provided by some embodiments of the present application is shown in the figure.

[0020] Figure 3 The three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the gas-liquid separation joint provided by some embodiments of the present application is shown in the figure.

[0021] Figure 4 The internal three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the gas-liquid separation joint provided by some embodiments of the present application is shown in the figure.

[0022] Figure 5 The front view of the gas-liquid separation joint provided by some embodiments of the present application is shown in the figure.

[0023] Figure 6 The Figure 5 The sectional view along A-A is shown in the figure.

[0024] Figure 7 A top view of a gas-liquid separation joint provided for some embodiments of the present application;

[0025] Figure 8 Provided for Figure 7 A sectional view along B-B;

[0026] Figure 9 A structural schematic view of an expansion water kettle provided for some embodiments of the present application;

[0027] Figure 10 A structural schematic view of an expansion water kettle provided for another embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 11 A sectional view of the internal structure of an expansion water kettle provided for another embodiment of the present application.

[0029] Icon:

[0030] 10. A gas-liquid separation joint;

[0031] 11. A first pipe portion;

[0032] 111. A first pipe segment; 111a, a first interface; 112, a cylindrical segment; 1121, an arc-shaped inner wall; 1122, a first flat wall; 113, a conical segment; 114, a second pipe segment; 114a, a second interface;

[0033] 12. A second pipe portion;

[0034] 12a, a third interface; 121, a first portion; 122, a second portion; 1221, a side pipe wall; 1222, a second flat wall;

[0035] 13. A third pipe portion;

[0036] 14. A turbulence structure; 141, a protruding portion;

[0037] 15. A through hole; 15a, a rim portion;

[0038] 16. A partition plate;

[0039] 100. An expansion water kettle; 20, a liquid storage container; 20a, a liquid outlet; 201, a bottom wall; 20b, a liquid injection port; 30, a cover plate;

[0040] 200. A thermal management system; 210, a cooling loop;

[0041] 1000. A vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some but not all of the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art without creative work fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0043] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in the present application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present application belongs; the terms used in the present application are only for the purpose of describing the specific embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application; the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of the present application and the above description of drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The terms "first", "second" and the like in the specification and claims of the present application or the above description of drawings are used to distinguish different objects, and are not intended to describe a particular order or primary and secondary relationship.

[0044] In the present application, the phrase "embodiment" means that the specific features, structures or properties described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The phrase appears at various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it mutually exclusive or alternative to other embodiments.

[0045] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "mount", "connect", "connection", "attach" should be understood broadly, for example, it can be fixed connection, or detachable connection, or integrally connected; it can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or the internal communication of two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0046] In the present application, the term "and / or" is only a description of the association relationship between the associated objects, which means that there can be three kinds of relationships, for example, A and / or B can represent the existence of A alone, the existence of A and B together, and the existence of B alone. In addition, the character " / " in the present application generally represents an "or" relationship between the front and rear associated objects.

[0047] In the embodiments of the present application, the same reference signs represent the same parts, and for the sake of brevity, detailed description of the same parts is omitted in different embodiments. It should be understood that the thickness, length and width of various components in the embodiments of the present application shown in the drawings, and the overall thickness, length and width of the integrated device are only exemplary and should not constitute any limitation on the present application.

[0048] "Multiple" appearing in the present application refers to more than two (including two).

[0049] In recent years, new energy vehicles have made a leap in development. In the field of electric vehicles, power batteries, as the power source of electric vehicles, play an irreplaceable important role. The current thermal management system of electric vehicles has multiple cooling liquid circuits, and the circuit is relatively complex. Usually, each cooling circuit is configured with an expansion water pot. The main function of the expansion water pot is to supplement the liquid and exhaust the cooling circuit. The expansion water pot and the cooling circuit generally include two connection modes of series and parallel. However, the series mode has the problems of large noise, large flow resistance, and large heat loss. The advantage is that the exhaust is fast. Although the parallel mode is relatively slow, the noise is small, the flow resistance is small, and the heat loss is small. Therefore, the expansion water pot and the cooling circuit are usually connected in parallel, but the number of adapters and pipes required between the expansion water pot and the cooling circuit is relatively large, which leads to a relatively complex connection structure of the expansion water pot and the cooling circuit, and a relatively large space occupation, affecting the installation reliability of the expansion water pot.

[0050] In the general thermal management system of electric vehicles, in order to connect the expansion water pot in parallel in the cooling circuit, the expansion water pot and the cooling circuit need to use a liquid supplement pipe, a liquid supplement tee joint, an exhaust tee joint, an exhaust pipe, and a corresponding fastening clamp when connected in parallel. Therefore, the connection structure of the expansion water pot and the cooling circuit is relatively complex, and the length of the exhaust pipe is also relatively long, which will lead to a relatively large space occupation, thereby increasing the cost, and the risk of failure of the relatively complex connection structure is also relatively high, which will also affect the installation reliability of the expansion water pot.

[0051] Based on the above considerations, in order to solve the problem of a relatively complex connection structure of the expansion water pot and the cooling circuit affecting the installation reliability, the applicant designs a gas-liquid separation joint, which includes a first pipe part, a second pipe part and a third pipe part. The first pipe part extends along a first direction and includes a first pipe segment, a cylindrical segment, a conical segment and a second pipe segment connected in sequence. The first pipe segment forms a first interface at one end away from the cylindrical segment. The second pipe segment forms a second interface at one end away from the conical segment. The second pipe part extends along a second direction and communicates with the cylindrical segment. The second pipe part forms a third interface at one end away from the cylindrical segment. The second pipe part is provided with a side pipe wall away from the central axis of the first pipe part. The extension surface of the side pipe wall is tangent to the arc-shaped inner wall of the cylindrical segment. The third pipe part is provided in the first pipe segment and extends along the first direction to the cylindrical segment.

[0052] In the gas-liquid separation joint of the structure, the gas-liquid separation joint can be connected in parallel between the expansion water tank and the cooling circuit of the thermal management system, the first pipe part is provided with the first pipe section, the cylindrical section, the conical section and the second pipe section connected in sequence, the second pipe part is provided with the side pipe wall away from the central axis of the first pipe part, and the extension surface of the side pipe wall is tangent to the arc-shaped inner wall of the cylindrical section, so that the gas-liquid separation joint can realize gas-liquid separation through cyclone separation, and has good gas-liquid separation effect. Moreover, the gas-liquid separation joint can simplify the connection structure of the expansion water tank and the cooling circuit, reduce the number of parts, improve the connection reliability of the expansion water tank and the cooling circuit, and reduce the cost and save the space.

[0053] The gas-liquid separation joint disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be used in a thermal management system, a hydraulic system, an oil and gas exploration and transportation system, an aerospace and fuel system, etc.

[0054] The embodiments of the present application provide an expansion water tank using a gas-liquid separation joint, and a thermal management system using the expansion water tank, which can be applied to a vehicle. The thermal management system can include but is not limited to air conditioning thermal management, battery thermal management, electric drive thermal management, electric control thermal management, etc. The vehicle can be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle can be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or a range extended vehicle, etc.

[0055] The following embodiments are described by taking a vehicle 1000 of an embodiment of the present application as an example for convenience of description.

[0056] Referring to Figure 1 , Figure 1 The vehicle 1000 provided by some embodiments of the present application is shown in a structural schematic diagram. The vehicle 1000 can be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle can be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or a range extended vehicle, etc. The vehicle 1000 is provided with a battery, which can be arranged at the bottom, the head or the tail of the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 is also provided with a thermal management system 200, which can include air conditioning thermal management, battery thermal management, electric drive thermal management, electric control thermal management, etc., for controlling the temperature of components such as air conditioner, battery, electric drive or electric control.

[0057] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 The thermal management system 200 provided by some embodiments of the present application is shown in a partial structural schematic diagram. The thermal management system 200 can include a plurality of cooling circuits 210, and the cooling circuit 210 is provided with an expansion water tank 100. The expansion water tank 100 includes a liquid storage container 20 and a gas-liquid separation joint 10. The liquid storage container 20 can function as an exhaust and liquid supplement, and can be connected to the cooling circuit 210 through the gas-liquid separation joint 10.

[0058] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to Figure 3 , the present application provides a gas-liquid separation joint 10, comprising a first pipe part 11, a second pipe part 12 and a third pipe part 13, the first pipe part 11 extends along a first direction X and comprises a first pipe segment 111, a cylindrical segment 112, a conical segment 113 and a second pipe segment 114 connected in sequence, the first pipe segment 111 is formed with a first interface 111a at an end away from the cylindrical segment 112, the second pipe segment 114 is formed with a second interface 114a at an end away from the conical segment 113; the second pipe part 12 extends along a second direction Y and communicates with the cylindrical segment 112, an end of the second pipe part 12 away from the cylindrical segment 112 is formed with a third interface 12a, the second pipe part 12 is provided with a side pipe wall 1221 away from the central axis of the first pipe part 11, an extension surface of the side pipe wall 1221 is tangent to an arc-shaped inner wall 1121 of the cylindrical segment 112; the third pipe part 13 is arranged in the first pipe segment 111 and extends along the first direction X to the cylindrical segment 112.

[0059] The first pipe part 11, the second pipe part 12 and the third pipe part 13 can refer to components in a tubular structure, which can be but are not limited to metal materials or non-metal materials, wherein the metal materials can be but are not limited to cast iron, carbon steel, stainless steel, etc., and the non-metal materials can be but are not limited to plastic, ceramic, etc. The cylindrical segment 112 can refer to a cylindrical part of the first pipe part 11. The conical segment 113 can refer to a conical part of the first pipe part 11. The cross-sectional shape of the first pipe segment 111 and the second pipe segment 114 can be but is not limited to a circular shape, a rectangular shape, etc.

[0060] The first interface 111a, the second interface 114a and the third interface 12a can refer to connecting ports for connecting external pipelines or other components. Exemplarily, the first interface 111a can be connected to a liquid storage container 20, the second interface 114a can serve as an outlet and be connected to a cooling circuit 210, and the third interface 12a can serve as an inlet and be connected to the cooling circuit 210.

[0061] The first direction X and the second direction Y can refer to two directions arranged at an angle, whereby the first pipe part 11 and the second pipe part 12 can be arranged at an angle and can be but are not limited to 90 degrees, 100 degrees, 120 degrees, etc. Referring to Figure 4 , the first direction X can be a left-right direction, and the second direction Y can be an up-down direction.

[0062] The second pipe portion 12 can be a straight pipe, and the cross section of the second pipe portion 12 in the cross section perpendicular to the first direction X is always equal along the first direction X. For example, the second pipe portion 12 is a straight pipe with a circular or rectangular cross section. In this case, the side wall of the second pipe portion 12 away from the central axis of the first pipe portion 11 is the side pipe wall 1221, and the side pipe wall 1221 is an arc-shaped wall or a flat wall. Thus, the extension surface of the inner wall of the second pipe portion 12 is tangent to the arc-shaped inner wall 1121 of the cylindrical segment 112. The second pipe portion 12 can also be a pipe with different cross section sizes along the first direction X. For example, referring to Figure 6 , the second pipe portion 12 is a circular pipe at one part and a square pipe at another part. In this case, the side wall of the second pipe portion 12 away from the central axis of the first pipe portion 11 is the side pipe wall 1221, and the side pipe wall 1221 can be an arc-shaped wall or a flat wall. That is, the liquid outlet direction of the pipe opening of the second pipe portion 12 is tangent to the arc-shaped inner wall 1121 of the cylindrical segment 112.

[0063] In the above technical solution, referring to Figures 2 to 4 , the gas-liquid separation joint 10 can form an expansion water bottle 100 with the liquid storage container 20. The liquid storage container 20 can be connected in parallel with the cooling circuit 210 of the thermal management system 200 through the gas-liquid separation joint 10. When the gas-liquid mixed cooling liquid enters the second pipe portion 12 from the third interface 12a, the cooling liquid makes a downward circular motion along the arc-shaped inner wall 1121 of the cylindrical segment 112 and generates a centrifugal force due to the side pipe wall 1221 of the second pipe portion 12 away from the central axis of the first pipe portion 11, and the extension surface of the side pipe wall 1221 is tangent to the arc-shaped inner wall 1121 of the cylindrical segment 112. Thus, the cooling liquid can be thrown to the arc-shaped inner wall 1121 of the cylindrical segment 112, and the cooling liquid forms a downward spiral motion in the first pipe portion 11 under the action of its own gravity. When passing through the conical segment 113, the gas in the cooling liquid is squeezed by the liquid to form an upward inner vortex and is collected in the center of the first pipe portion 11, thereby realizing gas-liquid separation. The gas can enter the liquid storage container 20 through the third pipe portion 13, and the cooling liquid can enter the cooling circuit 210 through the third interface 12a.

[0064] Since the liquid storage container 20 is in communication with the first pipe segment 111, the liquid in the liquid storage container 20 can flow along the first pipe portion 11, thereby supplementing the cooling liquid of the cooling circuit 210.

[0065] In the technical solution, the gas-liquid separation joint 10 with the above structure can be arranged in parallel with the cooling circuit 210 of the thermal management system 200 and the expansion water tank 100, the first pipe part 11 is arranged to include the first pipe segment 111, the cylindrical segment 112, the conical segment 113 and the second pipe segment 114 connected in sequence, the second pipe part 12 is provided with the side pipe wall 1221 away from the central axis of the first pipe part 11, and the extension surface of the side pipe wall 1221 is tangent to the arc-shaped inner wall 1121 of the cylindrical segment 112, so that the gas-liquid separation joint 10 can realize gas-liquid separation by cyclone separation, and has good gas-liquid separation effect. Moreover, the gas-liquid separation joint 10 with the above structure can also simplify the connection structure of the expansion water tank 100 and the cooling circuit 210, for example, a plurality of pipe joints, connecting pipes and corresponding clamps required for connecting the expansion water tank and the cooling circuit in the related art can be saved, so that the number of parts can be reduced, the connection reliability of the expansion water tank 100 and the cooling circuit 210 can be improved, and the cost and space can be saved.

[0066] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to Figure 4 and Figure 6 the inner wall of the conical segment 113 is provided with the turbulence structure 14.

[0067] The turbulence structure 14 can be a structure that can interfere with the flow of the cooling liquid to change the flow direction of the cooling liquid, which can be but is not limited to a corrugated structure, a channel structure, a rib structure or a porous structure, etc.

[0068] In the technical solution, when the cooling liquid flows through the conical segment 113, the turbulence structure 14 can interfere with the passing cooling liquid, causing the cooling liquid to become turbulent, which is conducive to expelling the gas bubbles from the cooling liquid and improving the gas-liquid separation effect, and can also slow down the flow rate of the cooling liquid, thereby providing a longer time for the separation of the gas bubbles and the cooling liquid, and further improving the gas-liquid separation effect.

[0069] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to Figure 4 the turbulence structure 14 includes a plurality of protruding parts 141. The protruding part 141 can be a structure protruding from the surface of the conical segment 113. The protruding part 141 can be but is not limited to a conical shape, a circular truncated cone shape, etc.

[0070] In the technical solution, by arranging the turbulence structure 14 to include a plurality of protruding parts 141, the structure of the turbulence structure 14 can be relatively simple and easy to manufacture on the surface of the conical segment 113, thereby reducing the manufacturing difficulty.

[0071] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to Figure 4 the plurality of protruding parts 141 are provided with at least two groups around the first direction X, and each group of protruding parts 141 is provided with at least two along the first direction X.

[0072] In the technical solution, the multiple protruding portions 141 are arranged in the above manner, so that the contact positions of the protruding portions 141 and the cooling liquid are increased, the turbulence frequency is increased, and the gas-liquid separation effect of the cooling liquid is improved.

[0073] In some embodiments of the present application, with reference to Figure 4 , the protruding portion 141 is configured in a circular shape. The protruding portion 141 in this shape is simple in structure and easy to manufacture.

[0074] In some embodiments of the present application, with reference to Figures 4 to 8 , the second pipe portion 12 includes a first portion 121 and a second portion 122 connected to each other, the first portion 121 is provided with the third interface 12a, and the second portion 122 is connected to the cylindrical segment 112. The cross section of the second portion 122 on a cross section perpendicular to the second direction Y is in a rectangular shape.

[0075] It can be understood that the second pipe portion 12 can be composed of two portions in different shapes, i.e., the first portion 121 and the second portion 122. The second portion 122 is connected to the cylindrical segment 112 and is in a rectangular pipe shape, for example, the second portion 122 can be a pipe with a square or rectangular cross section, and the side pipe wall 1221 is formed on the second portion 122. The cross section of the first portion 121 can be, but is not limited to, a circular shape, a rectangular shape, or a semicircular shape, and the like, which is not specifically limited here.

[0076] In the technical solution, the cross section of the second portion 122 on a cross section perpendicular to the second direction Y is in a rectangular shape. Thus, the second portion 122 has a larger pipe opening, the flow of the cooling liquid is increased, the gas-liquid separation efficiency is improved, and the pipe wall of the second portion 122 in the above shape is a flat wall, which is more conducive to the tangency of the extension surface of the side pipe wall 1221 and the arc-shaped inner wall 1121 of the cylindrical segment 112. Thus, the cooling liquid can form a rotational flow along the arc-shaped inner wall 1121 after entering the cylindrical segment 112, which is conducive to the gas-liquid separation of the cooling liquid in the first pipe portion 11.

[0077] In some embodiments of the present application, the cross section of the first portion 121 on a cross section perpendicular to the second direction Y is in a circular shape. It can be understood that the first portion 121 is in a circular pipe structure. The first portion 121 in this structure can make the end of the second pipe portion 12 in a regular circular pipe shape, which is convenient for connection with a circular pipe of the cooling circuit 210, has good universality, and can be flexibly adapted to most cooling circuits 210.

[0078] In some embodiments of the present application, with reference to Figure 4 , Figure 7 and Figure 8The cylindrical segment 112 has a first flat wall 1122 connected to the first pipe segment 111, and the second portion 122 has a second flat wall 1222 close to the first pipe segment 111, and the second flat wall 1222 is coplanar with the first flat wall 1122.

[0079] Exemplarily, referring to Figure 4 and Figure 8 , the first flat wall 1122 is a top wall of the cylindrical segment 112, and the second flat wall 1222 is also a top wall of the second portion 122, so that the second portion 122 can be arranged close to the top of the cylindrical segment 112, which can increase the distance from the second flat wall 1222 to the bottom of the conical segment 113, increase the flow distance of the gas-liquid mixed cooling liquid inside the first pipe portion 11, and further enable the cooling liquid to have a longer gas-liquid separation time, which is beneficial to discharge more gas and improve the gas-liquid separation effect.

[0080] In the above technical solution, the structure can increase the flow distance of the gas-liquid mixed cooling liquid inside the first pipe portion 11 as much as possible under the condition that the size of the gas-liquid separation joint 10 is relatively fixed, the cooling liquid can have more time for gas-liquid separation, and the gas-liquid separation effect is improved. Moreover, the top walls of the cylindrical segment 112 and the second portion 122 are flat walls, which is also beneficial to processing and manufacturing, and can reduce manufacturing difficulty and cost.

[0081] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to Figure 4 and Figure 8 , a through hole 15 is formed between the second portion 122 and the cylindrical segment 112, the through hole 15 has a rim portion 15a close to the conical segment 113, and the distance between the rim portion 15a and the second flat wall 1222 in the first direction X is L, and the size of the cylindrical segment 112 in the first direction X is H, wherein L≥1 / 2H.

[0082] In the above technical solution, by setting the distance between the rim portion 15a and the second flat wall 1222 in the first direction X and the size of the cylindrical segment 112 in the first direction X within the above range, the through hole 15 can have a larger size, which can increase the cooling liquid flow of the second pipe portion 12 into the cylindrical segment 112, which is beneficial to accelerate the flow of the cooling liquid and improve the gas-liquid separation effect.

[0083] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the gas-liquid separation joint 10 further comprises a plurality of partitions 16 arranged between the first pipe segment 111 and the third pipe portion 13, and the plurality of partitions 16 are arranged at intervals around the first direction X.

[0084] In the above technical solution, the baffle 16 serves to connect the first pipe section 111 and the third pipe section 13, improving the connection reliability between them. It also facilitates the placement of the third pipe section 13 within the first pipe section 111. Furthermore, the baffle 16, together with the first pipe section 111 and the third pipe section 13, forms a replenishment channel. Coolant inside the liquid storage container 20 can enter the first pipe section 11 along this replenishment channel to replenish the cooling circuit 210. Additionally, gas that cannot exit from the third pipe section 13 within the first pipe section 11 can also be discharged through the replenishment channel.

[0085] In some embodiments of this application, the first tube 11 and the second tube 12 are integrally formed. This approach can improve the overall consistency of the first tube 11 and the second tube 12, reduce the risk of stress concentration or weak points at the connection, improve the structural strength and reliability of the gas-liquid separation joint 10, and also reduce the number of parts, reduce assembly steps, and improve production efficiency.

[0086] In some embodiments of this application, the third tube 13 and the second tube 12 are integrally formed. This approach can improve the overall consistency of the third tube 13 and the second tube 12, reduce the risk of stress concentration or weak points at the connection, improve the structural strength and reliability of the gas-liquid separation joint 10, and also reduce the number of parts, reduce assembly steps, and improve production efficiency.

[0087] Reference Figure 9 This application provides an expansion tank 100, which includes a liquid storage container 20 and a gas-liquid separation connector 10. The liquid storage container 20 has a liquid outlet 20a. The gas-liquid separation connector 10 is the same as the gas-liquid separation connector 10 in any of the preceding embodiments. The gas-liquid separation connector 10 is connected to the liquid outlet 20a through a third interface 12a.

[0088] The liquid storage container 20 can refer to a container that serves to release air and replenish liquid, and can be, but is not limited to, a jug structure, a box structure, etc. For example, the liquid storage container 20 can be a liquid storage jug or a liquid storage tank. The liquid storage container 20 can be, but is not limited to, square, cylindrical, spherical, etc. The liquid storage container 20 can be partially provided with a transparent viewing window or can be made entirely of transparent material. The liquid storage container 20 can also be made of, but is not limited to, metallic or non-metallic materials. For example, metallic materials can be, but are not limited to, stainless steel, iron, or aluminum, and non-metallic materials can be, but are not limited to, plastic, etc.

[0089] The liquid outlet 20a can refer to the connection port between the liquid storage container 20 and the gas-liquid separation connector 10, and can be used to replenish liquid to the cooling circuit 210 or to exhaust gas.

[0090] In the technical scheme, the gas-liquid separation joint 10 can ensure parallel connection between the liquid storage container 20 and the cooling loop 210, simplify the connection structure, reduce the number of components, and lower the cost, and the relatively simple connection structure can improve the connection reliability of the liquid storage container 20 and the cooling loop 210.

[0091] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to Figure 9 , the liquid storage container 20 is provided with a liquid filling port 20b, and a cover plate 30 is arranged on the liquid filling port 20b. The liquid filling port 20b can be used to supplement the cooling liquid in the liquid storage container 20, and the cover plate 30 can be used to close or open the liquid filling port 20b.

[0092] Referring to Figure 10 and Figure 11 , the present application provides an expansion kettle 100, which comprises a liquid storage container 20, a first pipe part 11, a second pipe part 12, and a third pipe part 13. The liquid storage container 20 has a bottom wall 201. The first pipe part 11 is integrally formed with the bottom wall and extends along a first direction X. The first pipe part 11 comprises a first pipe segment 111, a cylindrical segment 112, a conical segment 113, and a second pipe segment 114 connected in sequence. The first pipe segment 111 is formed with a first interface 111a at an end away from the cylindrical segment 112. The second pipe segment 114 is formed with a second interface 114a at an end away from the conical segment 113. The second pipe part 12 extends along a second direction Y and communicates with the cylindrical segment 112. An end of the second pipe part 12 away from the cylindrical segment 112 is formed with a third interface 12a. An inner wall extension of at least a portion of the second pipe part 12 close to the cylindrical segment 112 is tangent to an arc-shaped inner wall 1121 of the cylindrical segment 112. The third pipe part 13 is arranged in the first pipe segment 111 and extends along the first direction X to the cylindrical segment 112.

[0093] In the technical scheme, the first pipe part 11, the second pipe part 12, and the third pipe part 13 are integrated with the liquid storage container 20, which can reduce the number of components, improve the assembly efficiency, reduce the risk of stress concentration or weak links at the connection part, and improve the overall structural strength of the expansion kettle 100. The first pipe part 11, the second pipe part 12, and the third pipe part 13 are connected in parallel with the cooling loop 210, which can simplify the connection structure between the expansion kettle 100 and the cooling loop 210, reduce the number of components, improve the connection reliability of the expansion kettle 100 and the cooling loop 210, lower the cost, and save space.

[0094] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to Figure 11 , the first pipe segment 111 is located in the liquid storage container 20, and the cylindrical segment 112, the conical segment 113, and the second pipe segment 114 are located outside the liquid storage container 20. This scheme can improve the connection strength and reliability of the first pipe part 11 and the bottom wall 201.

[0095] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to Figure 11 , the third pipe portion 13 extends to the liquid storage container 20 outside the first pipe section 111. In the above technical solution, the third pipe portion 13 is used to discharge the separated gas in the first pipe portion 11 into the liquid storage container 20. Since the third pipe portion 13 has a large length in the liquid storage container 20, the gas can be discharged to a higher position, which can reduce the interference between the cooling liquid and the gas during liquid supplementing, and can improve the smoothness of gas discharge and the smoothness of liquid supplementing.

[0096] The present application provides a thermal management system 200, comprising the expansion water kettle 100 according to any one of the preceding embodiments.

[0097] In the above technical solution, the expansion water kettle 100 can be used to better separate gas and liquid in the cooling circuit 210, reduce the risk of cavitation, improve the stability of system pressure, and improve the heat dissipation efficiency, thereby improving the reliability of the thermal management system 200.

[0098] The present application provides a vehicle 1000, comprising the thermal management system 200 according to the preceding embodiments.

[0099] In the above technical solution, since the thermal management system 200 has high reliability, the thermal management reliability of the vehicle 1000 can be improved by using the thermal management system 200.

[0100] The following describes a specific embodiment of the gas-liquid separation joint 10 in combination with Figure 3 and Figure 4 .

[0101] A gas-liquid separation joint 10 comprises a first pipe portion 11, a second pipe portion 12 and a third pipe portion 13. The first pipe portion 11 extends along a first direction X and comprises a first pipe section 111, a cylindrical section 112, a conical section 113 and a second pipe section 114 connected in sequence. The first pipe section 111 is formed with a first interface 111a at an end away from the cylindrical section 112. The second pipe section 114 is formed with a second interface 114a at an end away from the conical section 113. The second pipe portion 12 extends along a second direction Y and communicates with the cylindrical section 112. The second pipe portion 12 is formed with a third interface 12a at an end away from the cylindrical section 112. The second pipe portion 12 is provided with a side pipe wall 1221 away from the central axis of the first pipe portion 11. The extension surface of the side pipe wall 1221 is tangent to the arc-shaped inner wall 1121 of the cylindrical section 112. The third pipe portion 13 is arranged in the first pipe section 111 and extends along the first direction X to the cylindrical section 112.

[0102] The inner wall of the conical section 113 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 141, and the plurality of protrusions 141 are provided with at least two groups around the first direction X, and each group of protrusions 141 is provided with at least two protrusions along the first direction X.

[0103] The second pipe section 12 includes a first part 121 and a second part 122 connected to each other, the first part 121 is provided with a third interface 12a, and the second part 122 is connected to the cylindrical section 112, and the cross section of the second part 122 on a cross section perpendicular to the second direction Y is rectangular. The cross section of the first part 121 on a cross section perpendicular to the second direction Y is circular.

[0104] The gas-liquid separation joint 10 further includes a plurality of partitions 16 provided between the first pipe section 111 and the third pipe section 13, and the plurality of partitions 16 are provided at intervals around the first direction X. The partitions 16 can also form a liquid supplement flow channel together with the first pipe section 111 and the third pipe section 13.

[0105] In the gas-liquid separation joint 10 with the above structure, the liquid inlet of the second pipe section 12 is tangent to the arc-shaped inner wall 1121 of the cylindrical section 112 of the first pipe section 11, the gas-liquid mixed cooling liquid enters the cylindrical section 112 tangentially from the liquid inlet, changes from linear motion to circular motion, is thrown to the arc-shaped inner wall 1121 under the action of centrifugal force, and flows downward along the arc-shaped inner wall 1121 in a spiral shape toward the conical section 113 under the action of gravity. The diameter of the conical section 113 continuously decreases in the flow direction, the gas is squeezed by the liquid to form an upward inner vortex, which is collected in the center, and then discharged through the third pipe section 13 above, and the liquid is discharged through the liquid outlet below. The inner wall surface of the conical section 113 is provided with a plurality of protruding disturbance points, which improve the gas-liquid separation effect.

[0106] The first pipe section 111 further forms a liquid supplement flow channel around the third pipe section 13, which realizes the liquid supplement function, and the gas-liquid that is not discharged around the third pipe section 13 can be discharged from the liquid supplement flow channel.

[0107] It should be noted that the embodiments in the present application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other without conflict. The above is only the preferred embodiments of the present application and is not used to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, all the embodiments and optional embodiments of the present application can be combined to form new technical solutions if not specifically stated. All the technical features and optional technical features of the present application can be combined to form new technical solutions if not specifically stated. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A gas-liquid separation junction, characterized by, The gas-liquid separation joint comprises: a first pipe section extending in a first direction and comprising a first pipe segment, a cylindrical segment, a conical segment and a second pipe segment connected in sequence, a first interface being formed at one end of the first pipe segment away from the cylindrical segment, and a second interface being formed at one end of the second pipe segment away from the conical segment; a second pipe section extending in a second direction and communicating with the cylindrical segment, a third interface being formed at one end of the second pipe section away from the cylindrical segment, and a side pipe wall of the second pipe section being away from a central axis of the first pipe section, an extension surface of the side pipe wall being tangent to an arc-shaped inner wall of the cylindrical segment; a third pipe section arranged in the first pipe segment and extending in the first direction to the cylindrical segment.

2. The gas-liquid separation junction of claim 1, wherein, The inner wall of the conical segment is provided with a spoiler structure.

3. The gas-liquid separation junction of claim 2, wherein, The spoiler structure comprises a plurality of protruding portions, and each group of the protruding portions is provided with at least two protruding portions in the first direction.

4. The gas-liquid separation junction of claim 1, wherein, The second pipe section comprises a first part and a second part connected in sequence, the first part is provided with the third interface, and the second part is connected to the cylindrical segment, and a cross section of the second part in a cross section perpendicular to the second direction is rectangular.

5. The gas-liquid separation junction of claim 4, wherein, The cylindrical segment has a first flat wall connected to the first pipe segment, and the second part has a second flat wall close to the first pipe segment, and the second flat wall is coplanar with the first flat wall.

6. The gas-liquid separation junction of claim 5, wherein, A through opening is formed between the second part and the cylindrical segment, the through opening has a rim portion close to the conical segment, and in the first direction, a distance between the rim portion and the second flat wall is L, and a size of the cylindrical segment is H, wherein L≥1 / 2H.

7. The gas-liquid separation junction of claim 1, wherein, The gas-liquid separation joint comprises a plurality of baffles arranged between the first pipe segment and the third pipe section.

8. An inflation water bottle characterized by, The gas-liquid separation joint comprises: a liquid storage container having a liquid outlet; the gas-liquid separation joint according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and the gas-liquid separation joint is communicated with the liquid outlet through the third interface.

9. An inflation water bottle characterized by, The gas-liquid separation joint comprises: a liquid storage container having a bottom wall; a first pipe section integrally formed with the bottom wall and extending in a first direction, the first pipe section comprising a first pipe segment, a cylindrical segment, a conical segment and a second pipe segment connected in sequence, a first interface being formed at one end of the first pipe segment away from the cylindrical segment, and a second interface being formed at the other end of the second pipe segment away from the conical segment; a second pipe section extending in a second direction and communicating with the cylindrical segment, a third interface being formed at one end of the second pipe section away from the cylindrical segment, and an extension surface of an inner wall of at least a portion of the second pipe section close to the cylindrical segment being tangent to an arc-shaped inner wall of the cylindrical segment; a third pipe section arranged in the first pipe segment and extending in the first direction to the cylindrical segment.

10. A thermal management system characterized by, The gas-liquid separation joint comprises:

11. A vehicle characterized by comprising: the expansion kettle according to claim 9. The gas-liquid separation joint comprises: the thermal management system according to claim 10.

Images