Battery heat management structure and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model discloses a battery thermal management structure and a vehicle, the battery thermal management structure mainly comprises a box body for bearing a battery, the box body comprises a bottom plate, at least two medium flow channels are arranged in the bottom plate, and media in the two adjacent medium flow channels flow in opposite directions; the bottom plate further comprises a heat preservation layer which is a vacuum layer and arranged on the side, away from the interior of the box body, of the medium flow channel. According to the utility model, through the reverse flowing design of media in the two adjacent medium flow channels in the bottom plate, more uniform temperature distribution can be realized through heat transfer of the adjacent medium flow channels; the vacuum heat preservation layer is arranged on the side, away from the interior of the box body, of the medium flow channel, external heat can be effectively prevented from entering the interior of the box body, meanwhile, internal heat loss is prevented, the battery is kept running in a relatively stable temperature environment, the use efficiency of the battery is improved, and the service life of the battery is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery equipment technology, and in particular to a battery thermal management structure and vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] A power battery is a battery pack that provides power to new energy vehicles. It is usually composed of multiple battery cells connected in series or parallel. To ensure the smooth operation of the power battery, a thermal management system needs to be installed around it to cool, heat, and insulate the battery, allowing it to operate within the designed temperature range and improving battery performance and lifespan. However, current thermal management systems for batteries have poor insulation performance. In low-temperature environments, the battery needs to be continuously heated, increasing heat consumption. At the same time, due to the combined effects of cold plate design, cell arrangement, and casing insulation performance, the heat transfer resistance distribution of the cells is uneven, which affects the temperature uniformity of the power battery and impacts battery life and safety.

[0003] Therefore, how to improve the uniformity and effectiveness of the thermal management process of power batteries is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of this application is to provide a battery thermal management structure to improve the uniformity and effectiveness of the thermal management process of a power battery.

[0005] Another objective of this application is to provide a vehicle incorporating the aforementioned battery thermal management structure.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0007] A battery thermal management structure includes a housing for supporting a battery. The housing includes a bottom plate with at least two medium flow channels formed therein, and the medium in two adjacent medium flow channels flows in opposite directions. The bottom plate also includes a heat insulation layer, which is a vacuum layer and is disposed on the side of the medium flow channels away from the interior of the housing.

[0008] Preferably, in the above-described battery thermal management structure, the housing further includes a side panel, which is an L-shaped structure and is fixedly connected to the bottom plate from opposite sides. The side panel away from the interior of the housing is also provided with the insulation layer.

[0009] Preferably, in the above-described battery thermal management structure, the side plate includes a docking area located on the same plane as the base plate, and at least two medium flow channels are provided in the docking area, and the medium in the two medium flow channels on both sides of the docking position of the docking area and the base plate flows in opposite directions.

[0010] Preferably, in the above-described battery thermal management structure, the housing further includes a first end plate and a second end plate, the first end plate and the second end plate being disposed at both ends of the flow direction of the medium flow channel and fixedly connected to the bottom plate;

[0011] The first end plate includes a water inlet manifold and a water return manifold arranged in layers, and a flow guiding sealing gasket is sandwiched between the first end plate and the bottom plate. The bottom of the water inlet manifold is connected to the water inlet and is connected to a portion of the medium flow channel through the water inlet guide cavity on the flow guiding sealing gasket. The bottom of the water return manifold is connected to the water return inlet and is connected to another portion of the medium flow channel through the water return guide cavity on the flow guiding sealing gasket.

[0012] Preferably, in the above-mentioned battery thermal management structure, the flow-guiding sealing gasket is made of fluororubber and is interference-fitted into the first end plate.

[0013] Preferably, in the above-mentioned battery thermal management structure, the insulation layer is a plurality of independently arranged vacuum chambers, and the vacuum chambers are provided with vacuum valve cores for connecting to a vacuum pump.

[0014] Preferably, in the above-described battery thermal management structure, the medium flow channels on the base plate are straight flow channels and are provided in an even number.

[0015] Preferably, in the above-mentioned battery thermal management structure, the cross-section of the medium flow channel is rectangular, with a cross-sectional length of 64mm-66mm and a cross-sectional length of 2mm-4mm.

[0016] Preferably, in the above-mentioned battery thermal management structure, the outer wall of the vacuum cavity is covered with a nano-aerogel composite material with a thickness of not less than 2 mm.

[0017] A vehicle includes a battery, the outer periphery of which is provided with a battery thermal management structure as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0018] As can be seen from the above technical solution, the battery thermal management structure provided in this application includes a housing that carries the battery. The housing includes a base plate to provide a support structure for the battery. A medium flow channel is provided in the base plate for the thermal management medium to pass through, thereby realizing the heating or cooling action of the battery. At least two medium flow channels are provided, and the medium in the two adjacent medium flow channels flows in opposite directions. During the battery thermal management process, the two adjacent medium flow channels can perform alternating thermal management on the battery surface. That is, in the cross-sectional direction of the medium flow channel, the heat transfer of the medium to the battery will be carried out alternately, so that the temperature gradient on the battery surface is more uniform, and it will not be a unidirectional temperature gradient that decays along the length of the medium flow channel as in the existing unidirectional flow channels. At the same time, a vacuum insulation layer is provided on the side of the medium flow channel away from the inside of the housing, so that most of the heat transfer of the medium in the medium flow channel can act on the battery inside the housing, thereby reducing the heat exchange between the medium in the medium flow channel and the external air environment, improving the heat exchange efficiency of the medium, and improving the battery's service life and thermal management stability. Attached Figure Description

[0019] 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, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the housing structure of the battery thermal management structure provided in this disclosure;

[0021] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Perspective diagram of the assembly structure;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the side plate and the bottom plate;

[0023] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the first end plate and the flow guiding sealing gasket;

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the first end plate;

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure after the first end plate and the flow guiding sealing gasket are assembled.

[0027] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure around the first end plate.

[0028] Among them, 10-box body; 20-bottom plate; 210-medium flow channel; 220-insulation layer; 2210-vacuum chamber; 2220-vacuum valve core; 30-side plate; 310-connection area; 40-first end plate; 410-inlet manifold; 420-inlet; 430-return manifold; 440-return port; 50-second end plate; 60-flow guiding sealing gasket; 610-inlet flow guiding chamber; 620-return flow guiding chamber. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The core of this application is to disclose a battery thermal management structure to improve the uniformity and effectiveness of the thermal management process of power batteries.

[0030] Another objective of this application is to provide a vehicle incorporating the aforementioned battery thermal management structure.

[0031] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the embodiments shown below do not limit the scope of the utility model described in the claims. Additionally, the complete content of the structures represented in the following embodiments is not limited to those necessary for the solution of the utility model described in the claims.

[0032] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this utility model provides a battery thermal management structure, which mainly includes a housing 10 for supporting and protecting the battery. The housing 10 includes a base plate 20, and the base plate 20 is designed with a unique medium flow channel 210 structure. Specifically, the medium flow channel 210 is used for the passage of heat exchange medium, and at least two such channels are provided on the base plate 20, while the medium in adjacent medium flow channels 210 flows in opposite directions. For ease of explanation, as shown... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the flow direction of the medium in the medium flow channel 210 is defined as the first direction. In the first direction, the temperature of the medium in a single medium flow channel 210 changes linearly. Since the flow directions of the medium in adjacent channels of a single medium flow channel 210 are opposite, the temperature change trends of the medium in two adjacent medium flow channels 210 are opposite. When the temperature of the medium in a single medium flow channel 210 is lower, the higher-temperature medium in the adjacent channels can transfer heat to it, thereby improving the temperature uniformity of the overall structure of the base plate 20 in the first direction. Compared to the commonly used unidirectional flow channels, the base plate 20 provided in this embodiment of the invention has a more stable and uniform thermal management effect in the first direction, reducing the risk of excessively high or low local temperatures in the battery.

[0033] Based on the aforementioned structure, a thermal insulation layer 220 is also provided on the base plate 20. This thermal insulation layer 220 is a vacuum layer, which achieves its thermal insulation effect by essentially isolating heat conduction and heat convection through its internal vacuum environment. Simultaneously, the thermal insulation layer 220 is located on the side of the medium flow channel 210 away from the interior of the housing 10. The thermal insulation effect of the vacuum layer effectively reduces heat transfer from the outside of the housing 10 to the inside, or from the inside to the outside. In battery thermal management, the thermal insulation layer 220 ensures a more stable medium temperature inside the housing 10, preventing fluctuations in the external ambient temperature from interfering with battery temperature control. In cold winters, when the internal battery is heated and insulated through the medium flow channel 210, the vacuum thermal insulation layer 220 prevents the low temperature outside the housing 10 from rapidly conducting to the battery's surroundings, thus preventing the battery from malfunctioning due to excessively low temperatures.

[0034] It should be noted that the base plate 20 located at the bottom of the battery can be a single piece manufactured as a single unit, or multiple pieces can be assembled and fixed together to meet the load-bearing requirements of the battery and facilitate structural extension for different vehicle models. Furthermore, depending on the battery configuration requirements of different vehicle models, the base plate 20 can also be configured as one or two pieces in the vertical direction to achieve combined protection and thermal management of the battery's bottom, or top and bottom.

[0035] Furthermore, to improve the temperature control effect of the battery thermal management structure, in some embodiments of this utility model, the housing 10 also includes side plates 30. The side plates 30 are used to protect the battery from both sides of the base plate 20 and assist in achieving battery thermal management. Specifically, the plates adopt an L-shaped cross-section in the first direction, so that the side plates 30 can be fixedly connected to the base plate 20 from opposite sides, forming a relatively enclosed space in the housing 10, providing a stable bearing environment for the battery. The design of the L-shaped side plates 30 not only enhances the overall structural strength of the housing 10, but also provides more space and convenience for battery installation and fixation. When installing multi-layer batteries, the L-shaped side plates 30 can also serve as a support structure to ensure the stable placement of the battery within the housing 10, while also preventing the battery from shifting due to bumps during vehicle operation.

[0036] Meanwhile, the side panel 30 also has an insulation layer 220 on its side away from the interior of the housing 10. Similar to the insulation layer 220 of the bottom plate 20, the insulation layer 220 on the side panel 30 is also a vacuum layer, further reducing heat transfer along the side wall of the housing 10. During battery thermal management, the presence of the insulation layer 220 on the side panel 30 increases the vacuum insulation area around the battery, effectively preventing the influence of the external ambient temperature on the internal temperature of the housing 10, while also reducing heat loss from the inside of the housing 10, thus improving the battery's thermal management effect and lifespan.

[0037] To further optimize the above technical solution, in some embodiments of this utility model, the side plate 30, based on the L-shaped structure, is specially designed with a docking area 310 at its connection with the bottom plate 20. Specifically, the docking area 310 is located in the same plane as the side plate 30 and the bottom plate 20, so that the connection between the side plate 30 and the bottom plate 20 is tighter and more stable. That is, the side plate 30 and the bottom plate 20 have a contact area in the same plane. When welding and fixing the side plate 30 and the bottom plate 20, the operator can perform welding in a single plane, which can reduce the welding difficulty and improve the welding quality, thereby enhancing the overall structural strength of the box 10. Meanwhile, a medium flow channel 210 is also provided in the docking area 310 to cooperate with the medium flow channel 210 in the base plate 20 to achieve thermal management of the battery inside the housing 10. At least two medium flow channels 210 are provided in the docking area 310. Similar to the medium flow channel 210 in the base plate 20, the medium flow channel 210 in the docking area 310 also adopts a reverse flow design. That is, the medium in the two channels on both sides of the docking position of the docking area 310 and the base plate 20 flows in opposite directions, so that the docking area 310 and the base plate 20 have the same thermal management effect, further improving the heat exchange efficiency of the battery thermal management structure.

[0038] During battery operation and heat dissipation, heat is transferred from the battery surface to the surroundings, and the medium flow channels 210 in the side plate 30 and the bottom plate 20 can quickly remove this heat. By setting the reverse flow medium flow channels 210 in the docking area 310, heat can be more effectively transferred and dispersed in the connection area between the side plate 30 and the bottom plate 20, avoiding local heat accumulation.

[0039] To ensure the smooth flow of the medium in the medium flow channel 210, such as Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments of this utility model, the housing 10 further includes a first end plate 40 and a second end plate 50. Specifically, the first end plate 40 and the second end plate 50 are disposed at both ends of the medium flow channel 210 in a first direction, and the first end plate 40 and the second end plate 50 have cavity structures inside for medium convergence. Both the first end plate 40 and the second end plate 50 are fixedly connected to the bottom plate 20, and the first end plate 40 is used for the supply and collection of the medium, such as... Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the first end plate 40 has a layered inlet manifold 410 and a return manifold 430 inside. The bottom of the inlet manifold 410 is connected to the inlet 420 so that the inlet manifold 410 can receive the supplied medium. At the same time, a flow guiding sealing gasket 60 is sandwiched between the first end plate 40 and the bottom plate 20. Figures 6-8As shown, the water inlet manifold 410 on the first end plate 40 is connected to part of the medium flow channel 210 through the water inlet guide cavity 610 on the guide sealing gasket 60, and is isolated from other medium flow channels 210. It should be noted that the medium flow channel 210 connected to the water inlet manifold 410 is the water inlet flow channel, and its spacing is set to meet the design requirement that the medium flows in reverse between the subsequent adjacent medium flow channels 210.

[0040] Correspondingly, the bottom of the return water manifold 430 is connected to the return water port 440 to discharge the return medium. At the same time, the return water manifold 430 is connected to another part of the medium flow channel 210 through the return water guide cavity 620 on the guide sealing gasket 60, so as to cooperate with the medium flow channel 210 connected to the inlet water manifold 410 to satisfy the reverse flow of the medium in the adjacent medium flow channel 210 on the bottom plate 20.

[0041] It should be noted that the second end plate 50 is located on one side of the bottom plate 20. It can be provided with only a single cavity structure to connect each medium flow channel 210, so that the medium converges after passing through the bottom of the battery and enters each medium flow channel 210 connected to the return water confluence cavity 430 to realize the circulation of the medium. Similarly, the second end plate 50 can also be provided with multiple isolated cavity structures. Each cavity only needs to connect a set of medium flow channels 210 with opposite internal medium flow directions. It can more precisely realize the flow guidance of the medium and improve the accuracy of the battery thermal management structure in the thermal management process.

[0042] It should be further explained that, in order to balance the structural strength and lightweight requirements of the battery thermal management structure, in some embodiments of this utility model, the bottom plate 20, side plate 30, first end plate 40 and second end plate 50 of the housing 10 are all made of 6063-T5 aluminum alloy profiles. At the same time, the areas on the bottom plate 20 and side plate 30 that need to be provided with medium flow channels 210 and heat insulation layers 220 are made by hot extrusion process. The wall thickness of the above profiles is 2.9mm-3.1mm, and preferably 3mm to improve the uniformity of the structure in each area.

[0043] Furthermore, the flow-guiding sealing gasket 60, positioned between the first end plate 40 and the bottom plate 20, serves a dual function of sealing and guiding flow. It effectively prevents leakage of the medium between the flow channel and the manifold, while also ensuring the stability of the medium's flow direction and flow rate. This ensures that the medium enters each medium flow channel 210 according to design requirements. Through the unique design of the end plate and the flow-guiding sealing gasket 60, the battery thermal management structure achieves efficient medium circulation and heat exchange, ensuring that the battery remains within a suitable temperature range during operation. It should be noted that in some embodiments of this invention, the flow-guiding sealing gasket 60 in the battery thermal management structure is made of fluororubber. Fluororubber is a high-performance polymer material with excellent heat resistance, chemical corrosion resistance, and sealing performance. This allows the flow-guiding sealing gasket 60 to maintain stable performance in high-temperature and chemical media environments, ensuring a tight seal between the medium flow channel 210 and the manifold.

[0044] Furthermore, it should be noted that the flow guiding gasket 60 is installed in the first end plate 40 by interference fit. It achieves a tight connection and seal through a certain interference amount. The flow guiding gasket 60 made of fluororubber can effectively prevent the leakage of the medium by interference fit into the first end plate 40. At the same time, it can also ensure that the flow guiding gasket 60 will not be displaced or loosened during operation. This not only improves the sealing performance and reliability of the battery thermal management structure, but also extends the service life of the flow guiding gasket 60.

[0045] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments of this invention, the insulation layer 220 is composed of multiple independently arranged vacuum chambers 2210, thereby giving the insulation layer 220 better insulation performance and flexibility. The insulation principle of the vacuum chamber 2210 is based on its internal vacuum environment. Since there is almost no heat conduction and heat convection in a vacuum, heat transfer can be effectively reduced. Compared with a single vacuum layer, multiple independent vacuum chambers 2210 can further improve the insulation performance. The multiple vacuum chambers 2210 act independently and can avoid the failure of the entire insulation layer 220 due to local damage.

[0046] Furthermore, each vacuum chamber 2210 is equipped with a vacuum valve core 2220, which is used to connect to a vacuum pump. This allows for convenient evacuation of the vacuum chamber 2210, ensuring that the vacuum level within the chamber remains at a suitable level. The independently configured vacuum chambers 2210 and the vacuum valve cores 2220 on each chamber not only improve the insulation performance of the insulation layer 220 but also facilitate its maintenance and replacement. During prolonged use, if the vacuum level within a vacuum chamber 2210 gradually decreases due to minor leaks, the corresponding vacuum chamber 2210 can be evacuated promptly via the vacuum valve core 2220 to restore the performance of the insulation layer 220.

[0047] It should be noted that, under different operating conditions, the vacuum valve core 2220 can be used to perform primary vacuuming and deep vacuuming operations. For primary vacuuming, a rotary vane vacuum pump can be used to pump the vacuum chamber 2210 to a vacuum level of 10 Pa, while for deep vacuuming, a molecular pump can be used to pump the vacuum level in the vacuum chamber 2210 to below 1 Pa.

[0048] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this utility model, the medium flow channels 210 on the base plate 20 are straight-line channels, and the number of medium flow channels 210 is set to an even number. It should be noted that the design of straight flow channels makes the flow of medium within the channels smoother, reduces flow resistance, and thus improves heat exchange efficiency. Compared with curved or broken-line flow channels, the processing technology of straight flow channels is relatively simple, which can reduce production costs while ensuring the accuracy and quality of the flow channels. Setting an even number of medium flow channels 210 can better realize the reverse flow of the medium, so that the reverse-flowing medium flow channels 210 are set in pairs, further improving the uniformity of the temperature gradient on the surface of the base plate 20. In addition, it should be noted that the design of an even number of flow channels can also make the layout of the flow channels more symmetrical and uniform, thereby improving the overall performance and stability of the battery thermal management structure.

[0049] Based on the above embodiments, the medium flow channel 210 of the battery thermal management structure has a specific rectangular cross-sectional structure. Specifically, the length of the cross-sectional structure of the medium flow channel 210 is 64mm-66mm and the width is 2mm-4mm, so that the medium flow channel 210 has sufficient flow area to accommodate more medium and improve heat exchange efficiency. For the medium flow channel 210 with the above cross-sectional structure, the internal medium flow velocity is controlled at 0.5m / s-1.5m / s to avoid blockage problems caused by excessive flow resistance. At the same time, the rectangular cross-sectional flow channel is also easy to process and manufacture, which can ensure the accuracy and quality of the flow channel.

[0050] To enhance the insulation effect of the insulation layer 220 on the interior of the housing 10, in some embodiments of this invention, the outer wall of the vacuum cavity 2210 of the battery thermal management structure is covered with a nano-aerogel composite material. Nano-aerogel is a material with ultra-low density and high porosity, exhibiting excellent thermal insulation properties. Covering the outer wall of the vacuum cavity 2210 with the nano-aerogel composite material further improves the insulation effect of the insulation layer 220 and reduces heat transfer. Furthermore, the thickness of the nano-aerogel composite material is not less than 2 mm to ensure the stability of its insulation performance.

[0051] Furthermore, this utility model embodiment also provides a vehicle, which includes a battery, and the vehicle has a battery thermal management structure provided in any of the above embodiments disposed on the outer periphery of the battery. It should be noted that, since the battery thermal management structure has the above-mentioned technical effects, the vehicle also has the above-mentioned technical effects, which will not be repeated here.

[0052] The terms "first," "second," "left side," and "right side," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units may not be defined in the listed steps or units, but may include steps or units not listed.

[0053] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use 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 the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A battery thermal management structure, characterized in that, The device includes a housing for carrying batteries. The housing includes a bottom plate with at least two medium flow channels inside the bottom plate, and the medium in the two adjacent medium flow channels flows in opposite directions. The bottom plate also includes a heat insulation layer, which is a vacuum layer and is located on the side of the medium flow channels away from the interior of the housing.

2. The battery thermal management structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The enclosure also includes side panels, which are L-shaped and fixedly connected to the bottom plate from opposite sides. The insulation layer is also provided on the side of the side panel away from the interior of the enclosure.

3. The battery thermal management structure as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The side plate includes a docking area located on the same plane as the bottom plate. At least two medium flow channels are provided in the docking area, and the medium in the two medium flow channels on both sides of the docking position of the docking area and the bottom plate flows in opposite directions.

4. The battery thermal management structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The housing also includes a first end plate and a second end plate, which are disposed at both ends of the flow direction of the medium flow channel and are fixedly connected to the bottom plate. The first end plate includes a water inlet manifold and a water return manifold arranged in layers, and a flow guiding sealing gasket is sandwiched between the first end plate and the bottom plate. The bottom of the water inlet manifold is connected to the water inlet and is connected to a portion of the medium flow channel through the water inlet guide cavity on the flow guiding sealing gasket. The bottom of the water return manifold is connected to the water return inlet and is connected to another portion of the medium flow channel through the water return guide cavity on the flow guiding sealing gasket.

5. The battery thermal management structure as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The flow-guiding sealing gasket is made of fluororubber and is interference-fitted into the first end plate.

6. The battery thermal management structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The insulation layer consists of multiple independently configured vacuum chambers, and each vacuum chamber is equipped with a vacuum valve core for connecting a vacuum pump.

7. The battery thermal management structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The medium flow channels on the base plate are straight channels and are provided in an even number.

8. The battery thermal management structure as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The cross-section of the medium flow channel is rectangular, with a cross-sectional length of 64mm-66mm and a cross-sectional length of 2mm-4mm.

9. The battery thermal management structure as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The outer wall of the vacuum chamber is covered with a nano-aerogel composite material with a thickness of not less than 2 mm.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes a battery, wherein the outer periphery of the battery is provided with a battery thermal management structure as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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