Battery pack, battery pack heat exchange system and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of vehicles, and provides a battery pack, a battery pack heat exchange system and a vehicle. The battery pack comprises a shell and a battery cell module, a separator is arranged in the shell and divides the internal space of the shell into an overflow cavity and a heat exchange cavity which are distributed up and down, the overflow cavity is located above the heat exchange cavity, the heat exchange cavity is filled with a heat exchange medium, and the battery cell module is immersed in the heat exchange medium; an overflow channel is arranged between the overflow cavity and the heat exchange cavity, the overflow cavity and the heat exchange cavity are communicated through the overflow channel, and the shell is provided with an overflow outlet communicated with the overflow cavity and a medium inlet and a medium outlet communicated with the heat exchange cavity. According to the battery pack provided by the invention, the overflow cavity and the heat exchange cavity are formed in the shell, that is, the requirements of temperature adjustment of the battery cell module and expansion and backflow liquid supplement of the heat exchange medium can be met at the same time in the same shell, so that external pipelines of the battery pack can be reduced, the arrangement difficulty of a whole vehicle can be reduced, the integration level can be improved, and the whole vehicle can be compactly arranged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of vehicle technology, and more particularly to a battery pack, a battery pack heat exchange system, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Immersion liquid cooling technology is a technique that completely immerses the power battery module in a liquid medium for power battery temperature control, offering higher heat exchange efficiency and better temperature uniformity. In an immersion heat exchange system, the heat exchange medium forms a separate heat exchange loop within the vehicle structure. An expansion tank is installed in this loop to absorb the expanded heat exchange medium during battery heat dissipation and to provide replenishment during battery heating. As new energy vehicles become increasingly integrated and compact in design, the space available for the heat exchange system, including the expansion tank and heat exchange loop, is becoming increasingly limited, making layout challenging due to the constraints of pipe length within the loop. Utility Model Content

[0003] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, or at least partially solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides a battery pack, a battery pack heat exchange system, and a vehicle.

[0004] The first aspect of this application provides a battery pack, including a housing and a cell module. The housing has a partition inside, which divides the internal space of the housing into an overflow cavity and a heat exchange cavity distributed vertically, with the overflow cavity located above the heat exchange cavity. The heat exchange cavity is filled with a heat exchange medium, and the cell module is immersed in the heat exchange medium.

[0005] An overflow channel is provided between the overflow cavity and the heat exchange cavity and they are connected through the overflow channel. The shell is provided with an overflow outlet that connects to the overflow cavity, and a medium inlet and a medium outlet that connect to the heat exchange cavity.

[0006] The battery pack provided in this application includes a housing and a cell module. A heat exchange medium can be introduced into the heat exchange chamber through a medium inlet. The cell module is located in the heat exchange chamber and is immersed in the heat exchange medium. The heat exchange medium in the heat exchange chamber can exchange heat with the cell module to ensure the performance and life of the cell module. During the process of the heat exchange medium absorbing heat from the cell module and expanding, the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange chamber can gradually enter the overflow chamber through the overflow channel to avoid the pressure in the heat exchange chamber increasing. At the same time, when it is necessary to heat the cell module, the overflow chamber can also be used to achieve the effect of liquid return. In this application, both the overflow chamber and the heat exchange chamber are formed inside the housing. That is, the temperature regulation of the cell module and the expansion and liquid return of the heat exchange medium can be met simultaneously within the same housing. Thus, there is no need to set up an expansion tank, which can reduce the external piping of the battery pack, reduce the difficulty of vehicle layout, improve integration, make the vehicle layout compact, and reduce the weight of the vehicle.

[0007] In some embodiments, an overflow pipe is installed on the separator to connect the heat exchange chamber and the overflow chamber. The overflow channel is the internal channel of the overflow pipe, and the pipe opening of the overflow pipe located in the overflow chamber is suspended relative to the bottom wall of the overflow chamber.

[0008] Based on the above embodiments, when the heat exchange medium expands, the liquid level rises to the port of the overflow pipe near the heat exchange chamber. The heat exchange medium can then enter the overflow chamber through the overflow pipe. The suspended port of the overflow pipe within the overflow chamber prevents the heat exchange medium in the overflow chamber from flowing back into the heat exchange chamber. In other words, when overflow occurs, the overflow pipe acts as a directional flow guide structure, precisely controlling the overflow path and avoiding pressure fluctuations caused by disordered flow of the heat exchange medium. When the port of the overflow pipe within the overflow chamber is higher than the liquid level of the heat exchange medium in the overflow chamber, the overflow process can be formed as a unidirectional flow of the heat exchange medium, preventing backflow and reducing the risk of leakage.

[0009] In some embodiments, the separator has an overflow hole that extends vertically, and the overflow hole forms the overflow channel.

[0010] Based on the above embodiments, an overflow hole is provided on the separator, which extends vertically and forms an overflow channel. In other words, an overflow hole can be directly formed on the separator, with the inner wall of the overflow hole forming an overflow channel. When the heat exchange medium expands, and the liquid level exceeds the height of the overflow hole, the heat exchange medium can flow into the overflow chamber through the overflow hole to avoid excessive pressure in the heat exchange chamber. During heat exchange, the heat exchange medium can directly flow back through the overflow hole to achieve a replenishment effect. This application directly utilizes an opening process to form an overflow hole on the separator, reducing manufacturing costs and assembly complexity.

[0011] In some embodiments, a flow channel is formed on the upper surface of the separator, and the overflow outlet is connected to the flow channel.

[0012] Based on the above embodiments, the guide channel can be flexibly matched with the overflow channel and overflow outlet to adapt to different overflow path requirements. When the heat exchange medium expands due to heat absorption and enters the overflow cavity through the overflow channel, the liquid heat exchange medium will first fall onto the bottom wall of the overflow cavity. The upper surface of the separator forms the bottom wall of the overflow cavity, and the liquid heat exchange medium can enter the guide channel. The guide channel can concentrate the overflowed heat exchange medium and guide it to the overflow outlet along the guide channel, which can prevent the liquid heat exchange medium from spreading or stagnating in the overflow cavity in a disorderly manner.

[0013] In some embodiments, the bottom wall of the guide channel is inclined, and the overflow outlet is connected to the lower end of the guide channel.

[0014] Based on the above embodiments, the overflow outlet is located at a lower position at the inclined end of the guide channel. After the heat exchange medium overflows into the overflow cavity and enters the guide channel, it is guided by the bottom wall of the inclined channel and can naturally flow towards the lower overflow outlet by gravity. Without additional power, the heat exchange medium can automatically collect and be discharged. Furthermore, the low-position design of the overflow outlet ensures that the heat exchange medium in the overflow cavity is completely emptied, reducing dead zone residue.

[0015] In some embodiments, the inner wall of the heat exchange cavity and the outer wall of the battery cell module are spaced apart, and a medium flow channel is formed between the inner wall of the heat exchange cavity and the outer wall of the battery cell module, and the overflow channel is connected to the medium flow channel.

[0016] Based on the above embodiments, when the battery cell module is confined between the top and bottom walls of the heat exchange chamber, the medium flow channel is arranged around the battery cell module. After the heat exchange medium is filled in from the medium inlet, it flows around the battery cell module along the medium flow channel, which can fully exchange heat with the battery cell module, improve heat exchange efficiency, and avoid local temperature unevenness. Furthermore, the overflow channel is connected to the medium flow channel, that is, the inlet end of the overflow channel extends to the top of the medium flow channel and is directly connected to the medium flow channel, which can ensure that the expanded heat exchange medium is preferentially discharged through the overflow channel, preventing excessive pressure in the heat exchange chamber.

[0017] A second aspect of this application provides a battery pack heat exchange system, including a heat exchange device and a battery pack as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein one end of the heat exchange device is connected to the medium inlet of the battery pack, and the other end is connected to the medium outlet and the overflow outlet of the battery pack.

[0018] The battery pack heat exchange system provided in this application delivers a heat exchange medium from the medium outlet to the heat exchange device for heat exchange (which can be heating or cooling as needed). After heat exchange, the heat exchange medium can be re-injected into the heat exchange chamber through the medium inlet. A circulation loop is formed between the heat exchange device and the battery pack to allow the heat exchange medium to circulate. At the same time, the pipeline between the heat exchange device and the battery pack can form a separate loop to avoid mixing and contamination with other media, thereby improving system stability.

[0019] In some embodiments, the battery pack heat exchange system further includes a pump body, the medium outlet and the overflow outlet are both connected to the inlet of the pump body, and the heat exchange device is connected to the medium inlet and the outlet of the pump body.

[0020] Based on the above embodiments, the pipelines of the medium outlet and the overflow outlet are connected to the pump inlet after they merge. The pump outlet is connected to the heat exchange device. The pump can simultaneously extract the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange chamber and the expansion medium in the overflow chamber. After the heat exchange medium and the expansion medium are mixed, they are transported to the heat exchange device for heat exchange. Under the power of the pump, the unidirectional circulation of the heat exchange medium can be maintained.

[0021] A third aspect of this application provides a vehicle including a battery pack heat exchange system as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0022] The vehicle provided in this application integrates the overflow chamber and heat exchange chamber of the battery pack into the same housing. There is no need to install an expansion tank on the vehicle. The housing can simultaneously meet the needs of temperature regulation of the battery cell module and expansion and reflux replenishment of the heat exchange medium. When arranging the vehicle, the original layout space of the battery pack and the existing cooling system on the vehicle can be used. This can reduce additional space occupation while meeting the temperature control requirements of the battery cell module and ensuring the integration of the vehicle.

[0023] In some embodiments, the heat exchange device is a vehicle's air conditioning system.

[0024] Based on the above embodiments, the heat exchange effect of the heat exchange medium within the battery pack can be achieved without the need for a separate heat exchange device. The vehicle's existing air conditioning system can be directly utilized, saving overall vehicle layout space and cost, and meeting the integrated and lightweight design requirements of new energy vehicles. The heat exchange medium, after being heated by the air conditioning system, can enter the heat exchange chamber through the medium inlet and, after exchanging heat with the battery cell module, can return to the air conditioning system for further heat exchange, thus recycling the heat exchange medium. The air conditioning system and the battery pack heat exchange system work together to reduce energy consumption and lower costs. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack according to an embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a top view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Schematic sectional view along the middle AA direction;

[0030] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Cross-sectional view along the middle BB direction;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a battery pack according to an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack heat exchange system according to an embodiment of this application.

[0033] In the diagram: 1. Battery pack; 11. Housing; 111. Separator; 112. Overflow chamber; 113. Heat exchange chamber; 114. Overflow channel; 115. Overflow outlet; 116. Medium inlet; 117. Medium outlet; 118. Guide channel; 119. Medium flow channel; 12. Battery cell module; 2. Heat exchange device; 3. Pump body. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To better understand the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application, the solution of this application will be further described below. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in these embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0035] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of this application, but this application may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein; obviously, the embodiments in the specification are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0036] The following detailed description uses specific embodiments to illustrate the battery pack, battery pack heat exchange system, and vehicle:

[0037] Reference Figures 1 to 6 As shown, some embodiments of this application provide a battery pack 1, which includes a housing 11 and a cell module 12.

[0038] The housing 11 has a partition 111 inside, which divides the internal space of the housing 11 into an overflow cavity 112 and a heat exchange cavity 113 distributed vertically. The overflow cavity 112 is located above the heat exchange cavity 113. The heat exchange cavity 113 is filled with a heat exchange medium, and the battery cell module 12 is immersed in the heat exchange medium.

[0039] An overflow channel 114 is provided between the overflow chamber 112 and the heat exchange chamber 113 and is connected through the overflow channel 114. The heat generated by the battery cell module 12 during operation is absorbed by the heat exchange medium. After the heat exchange medium expands due to heat, it enters the overflow chamber 112 through the overflow channel 114. When the surrounding environment is cold and the battery cell module 12 needs to be heated, the heat exchange medium in the overflow chamber 112 can also be replenished and flowed back into the heat exchange chamber 113. The housing 11 is provided with an overflow outlet 115 that connects to the overflow chamber 112, and a medium inlet 116 and a medium outlet 117 that connect to the heat exchange chamber 113.

[0040] In practice, heat exchange medium is introduced into the heat exchange chamber 113 through the medium inlet 116. The battery cell module 12 is located in the heat exchange chamber 113 and immersed in the heat exchange medium. The heat exchange medium in the heat exchange chamber 113 can exchange heat with the battery cell module 12 to ensure the performance and lifespan of the battery cell module 12. During the process of the heat exchange medium absorbing heat from the battery cell module 12 and expanding, the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange chamber 113 can gradually enter the overflow chamber 112 through the overflow channel 114 to avoid pressure buildup in the heat exchange chamber 113. The force is increased. At the same time, when the cell module 12 needs to be heated, the overflow cavity 112 can also be used to achieve the effect of recirculation and replenishment. The overflow cavity 112 and the heat exchange cavity 113 of this application are both formed inside the housing 11. That is, the temperature regulation of the cell module 12 and the expansion and recirculation of the heat exchange medium can be met simultaneously inside the same housing 11. In this way, there is no need to set up an expansion tank, which can reduce the external pipelines of the battery pack 1, reduce the difficulty of vehicle layout, improve integration, make the vehicle layout compact, and reduce the weight of the vehicle.

[0041] It should be noted that the heat exchange medium is a liquid medium, which can diffuse evenly into the overflow cavity 112 and the heat exchange cavity 113 on its own, so as to avoid excessive concentration of the heat exchange medium in the overflow cavity 112 and the heat exchange cavity 113, which would cause blockage.

[0042] Specifically, the partition 111 is formed as a flat plate structure and is installed laterally inside the housing 11 to divide the housing 11 into upper and lower layers. The upper layer is the overflow cavity 112, and the lower layer is the heat exchange cavity 113. Furthermore, the edge of the partition 111 is sealed to the inner wall of the housing 11 to ensure that the overflow cavity 112 is isolated from the heat exchange cavity 113, and the expanding heat exchange medium can only flow from the overflow channel 114 into the overflow cavity 112.

[0043] It should be noted that the initial state of the overflow cavity 112 is an empty cavity or filled with a small amount of gas. It is connected to the heat exchange cavity 113 through the overflow channel 114. When an overflow occurs, the overflow cavity 112 can maintain a pressure balance with the outside of the shell 11 through the overflow outlet 115, thereby ensuring the overflow.

[0044] Furthermore, the overflow cavity 112 and the heat exchange cavity 113 are each formed as independent sealed cavities. The overflow cavity 112 and the heat exchange cavity 113 are connected only through the overflow channel 114. The overflow cavity 112 is connected to the outside of the shell 11 only through the overflow outlet 115. The heat exchange cavity 113 is connected to the outside of the shell 11 only through the medium inlet 116 and the medium outlet 117.

[0045] Understandably, during the cooling of the battery cell module 12, the heat exchange medium flows through the housing 11 into the heat exchange chamber 113 via the medium inlet 116. Part of the heat exchange medium overflows into the overflow chamber 112 via the overflow channel 114. The heat exchange medium entering the overflow chamber 112 can be discharged through the overflow outlet 115. The heat exchange medium remaining in the heat exchange chamber 113 absorbs heat from the battery cell module 12 and is discharged through the medium outlet 117. With the combined action of the battery pack 1 and the heat exchange device 2, the cooled heat exchange medium can re-enter the heat exchange chamber 113 to achieve circulation.

[0046] In a specific implementation, the medium inlet 116 can be located on the side wall of the heat exchange chamber 113 for connecting to the liquid supply pipeline of the external heat exchange device 2, the medium outlet 117 can be located on the side wall of the heat exchange chamber 113 for connecting to the liquid return pipeline of the external heat exchange device 2, and the overflow outlet 115 can be located on the side wall of the overflow chamber 112 for connecting to the pump body 3 or the liquid return pipeline of the external heat exchange device 2 via a pipeline.

[0047] The external heat exchange device 2 can extract the high-temperature heat exchange medium after absorbing heat through the medium outlet 117 and the overflow outlet 115. After heat exchange in the heat exchange device 2, the heat exchange medium is reinjected into the heat exchange chamber 113 through the medium inlet 116 to form a cycle and ensure the heat dissipation efficiency of the battery pack 1.

[0048] Reference Figure 3 As shown, the height of the heat exchange chamber 113 is adapted to the height of the battery cell module 12, and the heat exchange medium is in contact with the outer surface of the battery cell module 12 to exchange heat, which can avoid occupying too much space in the height direction.

[0049] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 3 As shown, an overflow pipe connecting the heat exchange chamber 113 and the overflow chamber 112 is installed on the separator 111. The overflow channel 114 is the internal channel of the overflow pipe. The pipe opening of the overflow pipe in the overflow chamber 112 is suspended relative to the bottom wall of the overflow chamber 112.

[0050] Understandably, when the heat exchange medium expands, the liquid level rises to the port of the overflow pipe near the heat exchange chamber 113. The heat exchange medium can then enter the overflow chamber 112 through the overflow pipe. The suspended port of the overflow pipe within the overflow chamber 112 prevents the heat exchange medium in the overflow chamber 112 from flowing back into the heat exchange chamber 113. In other words, when the port of the overflow pipe within the overflow chamber 112 is higher than the liquid level of the heat exchange medium in the overflow chamber 112, the overflow process can be formed as a unidirectional flow of the heat exchange medium, which can avoid backflow and reduce the risk of leakage.

[0051] Specifically, the overflow pipe is installed vertically or at an angle so that the top opening of the overflow pipe is spaced apart from the bottom wall of the overflow chamber 112, thus allowing the opening of the overflow pipe to be suspended. When overflow occurs, the overflow pipe can act as a directional flow guiding structure to precisely control the overflow path and avoid pressure fluctuations caused by disordered flow of the heat exchange medium.

[0052] In other embodiments, the partition 111 has an overflow hole extending vertically, forming an overflow channel 114. That is, an overflow hole can be directly formed on the partition 111, with the inner wall of the overflow hole forming the overflow channel 114. When the heat exchange medium expands, if the liquid level exceeds the height of the overflow hole, the heat exchange medium can flow into the overflow chamber 112 through the overflow hole to avoid excessive pressure in the heat exchange chamber 113. During heat exchange, the heat exchange medium can directly flow back through the overflow hole to achieve a replenishment effect. This application directly utilizes an opening process to form an overflow hole on the partition 111, reducing manufacturing costs and assembly complexity.

[0053] Specifically, the overflow holes can be circular or rectangular through holes opened on the partition 111, with a diameter between 5 and 20 mm. Multiple overflow holes are evenly distributed or concentrated on the surface of the partition 111. The heat exchange medium overflowing into the overflow cavity 112 can be guided on the surface of the partition 111 without overflow holes so that it can eventually be discharged from the overflow cavity 112. The porous design can disperse the overflow pressure and reduce local stress concentration in the heat exchange cavity 113.

[0054] It should be noted that other structures can be provided on the separator 111 to form the overflow channel 114. This application does not limit this and can be set according to actual needs.

[0055] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, a guide groove 118 is formed on the upper surface of the separator 111, and the overflow outlet 115 is connected to the guide groove 118. Specifically, when the heat exchange medium expands due to heat absorption and enters the overflow cavity 112 through the overflow channel 114 (such as an overflow pipe or overflow hole), the liquid heat exchange medium will first fall onto the bottom wall of the overflow cavity 112. The upper surface of the separator 111 forms the bottom wall of the overflow cavity 112, and the liquid heat exchange medium can enter the guide groove 118. The guide groove 118 can concentrate the overflowed heat exchange medium and guide it to the overflow outlet 115 along the guide groove 118, which can prevent the liquid heat exchange medium from spreading or stagnating disorderly in the overflow cavity 112.

[0056] In practice, the overflow outlet 115 is connected to the pump body 3 or the return pipeline of the external heat exchange device 2 through a pipeline. The heat exchange medium collected by the guide channel 118 can be transported to the heat exchange device 2 for heat exchange, thus completing the circulation and recovery of the heat exchange medium and the pressure release.

[0057] For example, the guide channel 118 is a groove structure formed on the upper surface of the partition 111. The starting end of the guide channel 118 can be located directly opposite the overflow channel 114, and the end extends to the overflow outlet 115, thus forming a continuous heat exchange medium guiding path. Of course, the starting end of the guide channel 118 can also be located at the end where the partition 111 and the inner wall of the shell 11 are connected. The overflow outlet 115 is formed on the side wall of the shell 11. The heat exchange medium overflowing into the overflow cavity 112 can gradually diffuse into the guide channel 118 on the upper surface of the partition 111, and then be discharged through the overflow outlet 115.

[0058] It should be noted that the guide channel 118 can be flexibly matched with the overflow pipe or overflow hole and the overflow outlet 115 to adapt to different overflow path requirements, and this application does not limit it.

[0059] Continue to refer to Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, in a specific implementation, the bottom wall of the guide channel 118 is inclined, and the overflow outlet 115 is connected to the lower end of the guide channel 118. That is, the overflow outlet 115 is located at the lower position of the inclined end of the guide channel 118. After the heat exchange medium overflowing into the overflow cavity 112 enters the guide channel 118, it is guided by the inclined bottom wall of the channel and can flow naturally to the lower overflow outlet 115 by gravity. Without additional power, the heat exchange medium can automatically gather and be discharged.

[0060] Furthermore, the low-position design of the overflow outlet 115 ensures that the heat exchange medium in the overflow cavity 112 is completely emptied, reducing dead zone residue. The inclination angle of the bottom wall of the guide channel 118 can be specifically set according to actual needs to optimize the flow rate of the heat exchange medium, avoiding liquid stagnation due to insufficient slope or turbulence caused by excessive slope, thus ensuring evacuation efficiency.

[0061] Specifically, the bottom wall of the guide channel 118 is designed to gradually slope towards the heat exchange chamber 113 from the starting end (the end near the overflow channel 114) to the end end (the end near the overflow outlet 115).

[0062] Reference Figure 3As shown, a flow guide trough 118 is formed at the junction of the bottom wall (i.e., the upper surface of the partition 111) and the side wall (i.e., the inner wall surface of the housing 11) of the overflow cavity 112. Specifically, the flow guide trough 118 is formed at the end of the partition 111. Furthermore, in the direction from the inside of the housing 11 towards the outside of the housing 11, the partition 111 is gradually inclined towards the heat exchange cavity 113, thus forming the flow guide trough 118 on the upper surface of the partition 111. The overflow outlet 115 is located at the lower end of the flow guide trough 118 facing the heat exchange cavity 113. In other words, the flow guide trough 118 is formed by the inclined arrangement of at least a portion of the partition 111, allowing the upper surface of the partition 111 to guide the flow of the heat exchange medium within the overflow cavity 112.

[0063] Of course, the guide channel 118 can also be formed in other ways, and this application does not limit it, so that the bottom wall of the guide channel 118 can be inclined so that the heat exchange medium can be guided by the inclined bottom wall and flow naturally to the overflow outlet 115 at a lower position and be discharged by gravity.

[0064] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the inner wall of the heat exchange cavity 113 and the outer wall of the battery module 12 are spaced apart, and a medium flow channel 119 is formed between the inner wall of the heat exchange cavity 113 and the outer wall of the battery module 12. That is, when the battery module 12 is confined between the top wall and the bottom wall of the heat exchange cavity 113, the medium flow channel 119 is arranged around the battery module 12. After the heat exchange medium is filled in from the medium inlet 116, it flows around the battery module 12 along the medium flow channel 119, which can fully exchange heat with the battery module 12, improve the heat exchange efficiency, and avoid local temperature unevenness.

[0065] Meanwhile, medium channels are also formed between the top wall of the heat exchange cavity 113 and the top wall of the battery cell module 12, and between the bottom wall of the heat exchange cavity 113 and the bottom wall of the battery cell module 12, to exchange heat between the top and bottom walls of the battery cell module 12 and further ensure heat dissipation efficiency. Specifically, the medium channels can be formed as gap structures.

[0066] Furthermore, the overflow channel 114 is connected to the medium flow channel 119, that is, the inlet end of the overflow channel 114 extends to the top of the medium flow channel 119 and is directly connected to the medium flow channel 119, which can ensure that the expanded heat exchange medium is discharged preferentially through the overflow channel 114 to prevent excessive pressure in the heat exchange chamber 113.

[0067] Specifically, the medium inlet 116 and the medium outlet 117 are respectively located on opposite side walls of the shell 11. During the process of the heat exchange medium flowing from the medium inlet 116 to the medium outlet 117, it can be ensured that the heat exchange medium flows fully in the medium flow channel 119 to fully absorb the heat at different positions of the battery cell module 12. It can also ensure that there is sufficient direct contact area between the heat exchange medium and the battery cell module 12, so as to achieve more efficient heat transfer and heat exchange and ensure heat dissipation effect.

[0068] In practice, the shell 11 is formed into a cuboid structure, and the medium inlet 116 and the medium outlet 117 are respectively formed on opposite sides of the shell 11 along the length direction or along the width direction.

[0069] Of course, the medium inlet 116 and the medium outlet 117 can also be formed on the same side wall of the housing 11, or on adjacent side walls respectively, or on the bottom wall of the housing 11. This application does not limit this and can be set according to actual needs, as long as it does not affect the installation space of other components on the vehicle.

[0070] In some embodiments, the housing 11 includes a housing body and a housing cover, the housing cover being disposed on the housing body, and the housing cover and the housing body together enclose a sealed space, and a separator 111 is disposed on the housing body to separate the sealed space into an overflow chamber 112 and a heat exchange chamber 113.

[0071] The shell body and the shell cover are fixedly connected, and a sealing ring can be provided between the shell body and the shell cover to ensure the sealing performance of the overflow chamber 112 and the heat exchange chamber 113. Specifically, a flange structure is formed on the shell body, and the shell cover is fixedly connected to the flange structure on the shell body. The sealing ring is pressed between the shell cover and the flange structure. Through the setting of the flange structure, sufficient contact area can be ensured between the shell body and the sealing ring, as well as between the shell cover and the sealing ring, thereby ensuring that the shell 11 has sufficient sealing effect and preventing leakage of heat exchange medium.

[0072] Other embodiments of this application provide a battery pack heat exchange system, including a heat exchange device 2 and a battery pack 1 as described in any of the above embodiments. The battery pack heat exchange system provided in this application, because it includes the battery pack 1 of any of the above embodiments, has the beneficial effects of the battery pack 1 of any of the above embodiments, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0073] One end of the heat exchanger 2 is connected to the medium inlet 116 of the battery pack 1, and the other end is connected to the medium outlet 117 and overflow outlet 115 of the battery pack 1. That is, the heat exchange medium is sent from the medium outlet 117 to the heat exchanger 2 for heat exchange (which can be heating or cooling as needed). After heat exchange, the heat exchange medium can be reinjected into the heat exchange chamber 113 through the medium inlet 116. A circulation loop is formed between the heat exchanger 2 and the battery pack 1 to allow the heat exchange medium to circulate. At the same time, the pipeline between the heat exchanger 2 and the battery pack 1 can form a separate loop. That is, one end of the heat exchanger 2 is connected to the medium inlet 116 of the battery pack 1 through a pipeline structure, and the other end is connected to the medium outlet 117 and overflow outlet 115 of the battery pack 1 through a pipeline structure. A sealed circulation loop is formed between the heat exchanger 2, the battery pack 1, and the pipeline structure, which can avoid mixing and contamination with the medium of other devices (such as heat exchangers in air conditioning systems) and improve system stability.

[0074] Reference Figure 6 As shown, the battery pack heat exchange system also includes a pump body 3, a medium outlet 117 and an overflow outlet 115, all of which are connected to the inlet of the pump body 3. The heat exchange device 2 is connected to the medium inlet 116 and the outlet of the pump body 3.

[0075] In practice, the pipelines of medium outlet 117 and overflow outlet 115 are connected to the inlet of pump body 3 after they merge. The outlet of pump body 3 is connected to heat exchange device 2. Pump body 3 can simultaneously extract the heat exchange medium in heat exchange chamber 113 and the expansion medium in overflow chamber 112. The heat exchange medium and expansion medium are mixed and then transported to heat exchange device 2 for heat exchange. Under the power of pump body 3, the unidirectional circulation of heat exchange medium can be maintained to prevent backflow of heat exchange medium.

[0076] Specifically, by adjusting the circulating power provided by pump body 3, the medium flow rate can be adjusted to control the temperature of battery pack 1 within a reasonable range as needed. In other words, by controlling the rotation speed of pump body 3 through the controller, the heat exchange effect of battery pack 1 can be automatically controlled, reducing energy consumption.

[0077] Further embodiments of this application provide a vehicle including a battery pack heat exchange system as described in any of the above embodiments. The vehicle provided in this application, because it includes the battery pack heat exchange system of any of the above embodiments, possesses the beneficial effects of the battery pack heat exchange system of any of the above embodiments, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0078] In practice, the overflow chamber 112 and the heat exchange chamber 113 of the battery pack 1 are both integrated inside the same housing 11. There is no need to set up an expansion tank on the vehicle. The housing 11 can simultaneously meet the needs of temperature regulation of the cell module 12 and expansion and reflux replenishment of the heat exchange medium. When arranging the vehicle, the original layout space of the battery pack 1 and the existing refrigeration system on the vehicle can be used to meet the temperature control requirements of the cell module 12 while reducing additional space occupation and ensuring vehicle integration.

[0079] Specifically, the heat exchange device 2 is the vehicle's air conditioning system. This means that the heating or cooling of the heat exchange medium within the battery pack 1 does not require a separate heat exchange device 2; the vehicle's existing air conditioning system can be used directly, saving space and cost in the vehicle layout and meeting the integrated and lightweight design requirements of new energy vehicles. The heat exchange medium, after being heated by the air conditioning system, can enter the heat exchange chamber 113 through the medium inlet 116 and, after exchanging heat with the battery cell module 12, can return to the air conditioning system for further heat exchange, thus recycling the heat exchange medium. The air conditioning system and the battery pack heat exchange system work together to reduce energy consumption and lower costs.

[0080] The air conditioning refrigeration equipment chiller can be used to provide a low-temperature heat exchange medium for the battery pack 1. The heat exchange medium is adjusted to the required temperature through absorption or compression refrigeration technology. Then, the heat exchange medium is transported to the housing 11 of the battery pack 1 through the pipeline between the heat exchange device 2 and the battery pack 1 to achieve the cooling effect of the battery pack 1.

[0081] Of course, the heat exchange device 2 can also be other heat exchange equipment of the vehicle. This application does not limit this and can be set according to actual needs.

[0082] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element.

[0083] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to these embodiments, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A battery pack, characterized in that, The device includes a housing (11) and a battery module (12). The housing (11) has a partition (111) inside, which divides the internal space of the housing (11) into an overflow cavity (112) and a heat exchange cavity (113) distributed vertically. The overflow cavity (112) is located above the heat exchange cavity (113). The heat exchange cavity (113) is filled with a heat exchange medium, and the battery module (12) is immersed in the heat exchange medium. An overflow channel (114) is provided between the overflow chamber (112) and the heat exchange chamber (113) and is connected through the overflow channel (114). The shell (11) is provided with an overflow outlet (115) connecting the overflow chamber (112) and a medium inlet (116) and a medium outlet (117) connecting the heat exchange chamber (113).

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, An overflow pipe is installed on the separator (111) to connect the heat exchange chamber (113) and the overflow chamber (112). The overflow channel (114) is the internal channel of the overflow pipe. The pipe opening of the overflow pipe located in the overflow chamber (112) is suspended relative to the bottom wall of the overflow chamber (112).

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The separator (111) has an overflow hole that extends in the vertical direction, and the overflow hole forms the overflow channel (114).

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper surface of the separator (111) is formed with a guide groove (118), and the overflow outlet (115) is connected to the guide groove (118).

5. The battery pack according to claim 4, characterized in that, The bottom wall of the guide channel (118) is inclined, and the overflow outlet (115) is connected to the lower end of the guide channel (118).

6. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the heat exchange cavity (113) and the outer wall of the battery cell module (12) are spaced apart, and a medium flow channel (119) is formed between the inner wall of the heat exchange cavity (113) and the outer wall of the battery cell module (12), and the overflow channel (114) is connected to the medium flow channel (119).

7. A battery pack heat exchange system, characterized in that, Includes a heat exchange device (2) and a battery pack (1) as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein one end of the heat exchange device (2) is connected to the medium inlet (116) of the battery pack (1), and the other end is connected to the medium outlet (117) and the overflow outlet (115) of the battery pack (1).

8. The battery pack heat exchange system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The battery pack heat exchange system also includes a pump body (3), the medium outlet (117) and the overflow outlet (115) are both connected to the inlet of the pump body (3), and the heat exchange device (2) is connected to the medium inlet (116) and the outlet of the pump body (3).

9. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the battery pack heat exchange system as described in claim 7 or 8.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that, The heat exchange device (2) is the vehicle's air conditioning system.

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