Cooling liquid flow direction conversion device and liquid cooling system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a cooling liquid flow direction conversion device and a liquid cooling system, and relates to the technical field of battery cooling, the device comprises a first three-way pipeline, the first three-way pipeline comprises an inflow main pipeline, a first branch pipeline and a second branch pipeline, the inflow main pipeline is connected with a liquid outlet of a water cooling machine, the first branch pipeline is connected with a first port of to-be-cooled equipment, and the second branch pipeline is connected with a second port of the to-be-cooled equipment; the second branch pipeline is connected with a second port of the to-be-cooled equipment; the second three-way pipeline comprises a main outflow pipeline, a third branch pipeline and a fourth branch pipeline, the main outflow pipeline is connected with a liquid return opening of the water cooling machine, the third branch pipeline is connected with a second port of the equipment to be cooled, and the fourth branch pipeline is connected with a first port of the equipment to be cooled; and the reversing structure is arranged on the first three-way pipeline and the second three-way pipeline. Through the pipelines and the reversing structures arranged on the pipelines, switching of the flowing direction of the cooling liquid is achieved, the regional temperature difference in the to-be-cooled equipment is reduced, and the cooling effect is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery cooling technology, and in particular to a coolant flow direction conversion device and a liquid cooling system. Background Technology

[0002] In the new energy battery industry, water chillers are crucial equipment in battery testing systems, primarily used to provide efficient heat dissipation and precise temperature control for battery packs during testing. As battery pack capacity and size continue to increase, the uniformity of heat dissipation within the battery pack has become a significant factor affecting battery performance, testing accuracy, and lifespan.

[0003] Currently, most mainstream water-cooled systems employ a unidirectional flow method, where the coolant flows through the battery pack along a fixed path in a single direction. While this unidirectional cooling method is structurally simple, it has gradually revealed significant shortcomings when dealing with large battery packs: due to the unidirectional flow of the coolant, the area near the coolant inlet experiences better cooling and lower temperatures, while areas farther from the inlet experience poorer cooling and relatively higher temperatures. This results in uneven heat dissipation and significant temperature differences within large battery packs, failing to meet the temperature uniformity requirements of battery performance testing.

[0004] The information disclosed in this background section is included only to enhance the understanding of the context of this disclosure, and therefore may contain information that does not constitute relevant technology currently known to those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0005] This application provides a coolant flow direction conversion device and a liquid cooling system to solve the problem of uneven heat dissipation and significant regional temperature differences inside a large battery pack caused by a single coolant flow direction.

[0006] The technical solution adopted in this application is as follows:

[0007] In a first aspect, this application provides a coolant flow direction switching device, comprising:

[0008] The first tee pipe includes an inflow main pipe, a first branch pipe, and a second branch pipe. The inflow main pipe is used to connect to the liquid outlet of the water chiller, the first branch pipe is used to connect to the first port of the equipment to be cooled, and the second branch pipe is used to connect to the second port of the equipment to be cooled.

[0009] The second three-way pipe includes an outflow main pipe, a third branch pipe and a fourth branch pipe. The outflow main pipe is used to connect to the return port of the water chiller, the third branch pipe is used to connect to the second port of the equipment to be cooled, and the fourth branch pipe is used to connect to the first port of the equipment to be cooled.

[0010] A reversing structure is installed on the first tee pipe and the second tee pipe, used to simultaneously select the first branch pipe and the third branch pipe, or simultaneously select the second branch pipe and the fourth branch pipe.

[0011] This application utilizes a first three-way pipe, a second three-way pipe, and a switchable reversing structure on the first and second three-way pipes to achieve switching of the coolant flow direction. For example, when the first branch pipe and the third branch pipe are simultaneously connected, the coolant flows out from the outlet of the water chiller, sequentially flows through the main inlet pipe and the first branch pipe, then flows into the first port of the equipment to be cooled, and flows out from the second port of the equipment to be cooled, then sequentially flows through the third branch pipe and the main outlet pipe, and finally flows back to the return port of the water chiller. When the second branch pipe and the fourth branch pipe are simultaneously connected, the coolant flows out from the outlet of the water chiller, sequentially flows through the main inlet pipe and the second branch pipe, then flows into the second port of the equipment to be cooled, and flows out from the first port of the equipment to be cooled, then sequentially flows through the fourth branch pipe and the main outlet pipe, and finally flows back to the return port of the water chiller. This allows for the switching of coolant flow direction during the cooling process, effectively reducing regional temperature differences within large battery packs, significantly improving the uniformity of coolant distribution within the battery pack, thereby enhancing the accuracy and reliability of battery testing and extending battery life.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one alternative implementation, the commutation structure includes:

[0013] The first valve structure is installed on the first tee pipe and is used to select one of the first branch pipe and the second branch pipe to be connected to the main inflow pipe;

[0014] The second valve structure is installed on the second three-way pipe and is used to select one of the third branch pipe or the fourth branch pipe to connect with the main outflow pipe.

[0015] This application achieves flexible switching and precise control of the coolant inlet and outlet pipelines by setting valve structures in the first and second three-way pipelines respectively. This makes the flow direction conversion device simple in structure, convenient to operate, and highly reliable, further optimizing the stability and practicality of coolant flow direction conversion.

[0016] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one optional implementation, the first valve structure is a first three-way valve, which is connected to the main inflow pipeline, the first branch pipeline, and the second branch pipeline.

[0017] This application sets the first valve structure as a first three-way valve, allowing the main inflow pipeline to flexibly switch between being connected to the first branch pipeline and being connected to the second branch pipeline, effectively simplifying the pipeline layout and improving the overall reliability and maintainability of the system.

[0018] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one alternative implementation, the first three-way valve is an electrically operated three-way ball valve.

[0019] This application adopts an electric three-way ball valve as the first three-way valve, which can automatically and accurately realize pipeline switching, with fast response speed and high control accuracy, further improving the system's intelligence level, ease of operation and operational stability, reducing manual operation costs, and facilitating remote control and automated management.

[0020] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one optional implementation, the second valve structure is a second three-way valve, which is connected to the main outflow pipeline, the third branch pipeline and the fourth branch pipeline respectively.

[0021] This application sets the second valve structure as a second three-way valve, allowing the main outflow pipeline to flexibly switch between being connected to the third branch pipeline and the fourth branch pipeline, effectively simplifying the pipeline layout and improving the overall reliability and maintainability of the system.

[0022] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one alternative implementation, the second three-way valve is an electrically operated three-way ball valve.

[0023] This application adopts an electric three-way ball valve as the second three-way valve, which can automatically and accurately realize pipeline switching, with fast response speed and high control accuracy, further improving the system's intelligence level, ease of operation and operational stability, reducing manual operation costs, and facilitating remote control and automated management.

[0024] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one alternative implementation, the first valve structure includes:

[0025] The first two-way solenoid valve is installed on the first branch pipeline and is used to control the opening and closing of the first branch pipeline;

[0026] The second two-way solenoid valve is installed on the second branch pipeline and is used to control the opening and closing of the second branch pipeline.

[0027] This application, by setting a first two-way solenoid valve and a second two-way solenoid valve in the first branch pipeline and the second branch pipeline respectively, can independently and accurately control the on / off state of each branch pipeline. It has a fast response speed and high control accuracy, further improving the flexibility and automation of the system, facilitating remote operation and automatic control, effectively reducing the complexity of manual operation, and improving the operational stability and reliability of the system.

[0028] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one alternative implementation, the second valve structure includes:

[0029] The third two-way solenoid valve is installed on the third branch pipeline and is used to control the opening and closing of the third branch pipeline;

[0030] The fourth two-way solenoid valve is installed on the fourth branch pipeline and is used to control the opening and closing of the fourth branch pipeline.

[0031] This application, by setting a third two-way solenoid valve and a fourth two-way solenoid valve in the third branch pipeline and the fourth branch pipeline respectively, can independently and accurately control the on / off state of each branch pipeline. It has a fast response speed and high control accuracy, further improving the flexibility and automation of the system, facilitating remote operation and automatic control, effectively reducing the complexity of manual operation, and improving the operational stability and reliability of the system.

[0032] Secondly, this application also provides a liquid cooling system. The liquid cooling system includes a water chiller, the equipment to be cooled, and a coolant flow direction switching device as described in the first aspect or any optional implementation thereof.

[0033] This application, by incorporating a coolant flow direction switching device in the first aspect or any of the optional implementations of the first aspect into the liquid cooling system, can flexibly switch the coolant flow direction according to the actual operating requirements of the equipment to be cooled, realize rapid adjustment of the coolant flow path, improve the heat dissipation efficiency and temperature control accuracy of the liquid cooling system for the equipment to be cooled, and ensure that the equipment to be cooled can work stably and reliably under different operating conditions, thereby improving the overall adaptability and operational safety of the liquid cooling system.

[0034] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one alternative implementation, the device to be cooled is a battery pack.

[0035] This application, by applying the provided liquid cooling system to battery pack cooling, enables more precise control of the coolant flow direction and flow rate, and rapid response to the heat dissipation needs of the battery pack under different operating conditions. This effectively improves the temperature control accuracy and stability of the battery pack, ensures safe battery operation, and extends its service life.

[0036] For more detailed information on the implementation of liquid cooling systems, please refer to the description of any of the implementation methods in the first aspect above.

[0037] Based on the implementation methods provided in the above aspects, this application can be further combined to provide more implementation methods.

[0038] Other advantages, objectives and features of this application will be partly apparent from the description below, and partly understood by those skilled in the art through study and practice of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0039] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or related technologies, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below only show some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other implementation methods can be derived from the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0040] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a liquid cooling system including a coolant flow direction conversion device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0041] It should be noted that, in this application, the terms "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that something is being described as an example, illustration, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design solutions. Specifically, the use of terms such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner.

[0042] The term "and / or" as used in this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. The terms "first," "second," and other ordinal terms used in this application may be used to describe various constituent elements, but these constituent elements are not limited by these terms. The purpose of using these terms is solely to distinguish one constituent element from others and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. For example, without departing from the scope of this application, a first constituent element may be named a second constituent element, and similarly, a second constituent element may be named a first constituent element.

[0043] Each circuit or other component may be described or referred to as "for" performing one or more tasks. In this context, "for" is used to imply a structure by indicating that the circuit / component includes a structure (e.g., a circuit system) that performs one or more tasks during operation. Therefore, even when the specified circuit / component is currently inoperable (e.g., not turned on), it can still be referred to as "for performing that task." Circuits / components used with the term "for" include hardware, such as circuits that perform operations.

[0044] Before introducing the embodiments of this application, the background technology involved in this application will be introduced first.

[0045] In the new energy battery industry, water chillers are crucial equipment in battery testing systems, primarily used for heat dissipation and temperature control of battery packs. Existing water cooling systems typically employ a unidirectional flow of coolant, which is simple in structure. However, as battery packs increase in size, unidirectional flow leads to uneven heat dissipation and significant temperature differences within the battery pack, making it difficult to meet the temperature uniformity requirements of battery performance testing.

[0046] In summary, existing technologies suffer from uneven heat dissipation and significant regional temperature differences within large battery packs due to the unidirectional flow of coolant.

[0047] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a coolant flow direction conversion device and a liquid cooling system, which can solve the problems of uneven heat dissipation and significant regional temperature differences inside large battery packs caused by the single coolant flow direction in existing solutions.

[0048] It is understood that the coolant flow direction switching device provided in this application allows the coolant flow direction to be switched, thereby realizing the interchange of the coolant inlet and outlet of the equipment to be cooled.

[0049] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a liquid cooling system including a coolant flow direction conversion device is shown in an embodiment of this application.

[0050] like Figure 1 As shown, the liquid cooling system includes a water chiller, a device to be cooled, an external circulation pump for driving the circulation of coolant, and a coolant flow direction conversion device. The coolant flow direction conversion device includes a first three-way pipe 10, a second three-way pipe 20, and a reversing structure 30.

[0051] The first tee pipe 10 includes an inflow main pipe 100, a first branch pipe 101, and a second branch pipe 102. The second tee pipe 20 includes an outflow main pipe 200, a third branch pipe 201, and a fourth branch pipe 202. The reversing structure 30 is disposed on the first tee pipe 10 and the second tee pipe 20.

[0052] The main inflow pipe 100 is used to connect to the outlet of the water chiller; the first branch pipe 101 is used to connect to the first port of the equipment to be cooled; the second branch pipe 102 is used to connect to the second port of the equipment to be cooled; the main outflow pipe 200 is used to connect to the return port of the water chiller; the third branch pipe 201 is used to connect to the second port of the equipment to be cooled; and the fourth branch pipe 202 is used to connect to the first port of the equipment to be cooled; the reversing structure 30 is used to simultaneously connect the first branch pipe 101 and the third branch pipe 201, or simultaneously connect the second branch pipe 102 and the fourth branch pipe 202.

[0053] It is worth noting that the term "selection" here is intended to emphasize that a specific branch pipeline allows liquid flow. For example, a specific branch pipeline can be opened up internally or connected to other connected objects by a switching structure 30 (such as a valve or directional valve), while other branch pipelines are closed, so that liquid can only flow through the selected branch pipeline.

[0054] For example, the simultaneous selection of the first branch pipe 101 and the third branch pipe 201 by the reversing structure 30 means that: the first branch pipe 101 is connected to the inflow main pipe 100 and also to the equipment to be cooled; the third branch pipe 201 is connected to the outflow main pipe 200 and also to the equipment to be cooled; at the same time, the second branch pipe 102 is not connected to the inflow main pipe 100 or to the equipment to be cooled, and the fourth branch pipe 202 is not connected to the outflow main pipe 200 or to the equipment to be cooled. At this time, the coolant in the water chiller flows out from the outlet, passes sequentially through the inflow main pipe 100 and the first branch pipe 101, flows into the first port of the equipment to be cooled, then flows out from the second port of the equipment to be cooled and sequentially passes through the third branch pipe 201 and the outflow main pipe 200, thus flowing back to the return port of the water chiller, forming a complete circulation path.

[0055] Correspondingly, the simultaneous selection of the second branch pipe 102 and the fourth branch pipe 202 by the reversing structure 30 means that: the second branch pipe 102 is connected to the inflow main pipe 100 and also to the equipment to be cooled; the fourth branch pipe 202 is connected to the outflow main pipe 200 and also to the equipment to be cooled. Meanwhile, the first branch pipe 101 is not connected to the inflow main pipe 100 or to the equipment to be cooled, and the third branch pipe 201 is not connected to the outflow main pipe 200 or to the equipment to be cooled. At this time, the coolant in the water chiller flows out from the outlet, passes sequentially through the inflow main pipe 100 and the second branch pipe 102, flows into the second port of the equipment to be cooled, then flows out from the first port of the equipment to be cooled and sequentially passes through the fourth branch pipe 202 and the outflow main pipe 200, thus flowing back to the return port of the water chiller, forming a complete circulation path, but the flow direction is opposite to the aforementioned circulation path.

[0056] In other words, this application achieves the switching of coolant circulation paths through the reversing structure 30, two main pipelines, and four branch pipelines, realizing the reversal of coolant flow direction. This allows for dynamic changes in the flow direction of coolant inside the equipment without altering the pipe connections. This alternating process avoids problems such as uneven heat dissipation and significant regional temperature differences caused by a fixed single flow direction, thereby improving the equipment's heat dissipation efficiency and extending its service life.

[0057] In some embodiments, the reversing structure 30 includes a first valve structure 301 disposed on the first tee pipe 10 and a second valve structure 302 disposed on the second tee pipe 20, wherein the first valve structure 301 is used to selectively connect the main inflow pipe 100 to one of the two branch pipes (first branch pipe 101 and second branch pipe 102), while simultaneously closing the other branch pipe to ensure that the coolant can only flow to the equipment to be cooled through the selected path.

[0058] Correspondingly, the second valve structure 302 is used to selectively connect the main outlet pipeline 200 to one of the two branch pipelines (the third branch pipeline 201 and the fourth branch pipeline 202) while simultaneously closing the other branch pipeline, so as to ensure that the coolant can only flow from the equipment to be cooled to the main outlet pipeline 200 through the selected path, and then back to the water chiller.

[0059] In some embodiments, the first valve structure 301 may be a first three-way valve, which has three connection ports connected to the main inflow pipeline 100, the first branch pipeline 101, and the second branch pipeline 102, respectively. By controlling the conduction state of the first three-way valve, the main inflow pipeline 100 can be selectively connected to either the first branch pipeline 101 or the second branch pipeline 102, thereby realizing the switching and control of the flow path of the coolant into the equipment to be cooled.

[0060] In some embodiments, the first three-way valve may be an electrically operated three-way ball valve. The three-way ball valve is switched by an electric actuator to achieve selective connection between the main inflow pipeline 100 and the first branch pipeline 101 or the second branch pipeline 102, thereby facilitating precise control of the coolant flow path.

[0061] In some embodiments, the second valve structure 302 may be a second three-way valve, which has three connection ports connected to the main outlet pipe 200, the third branch pipe 201, and the fourth branch pipe 202, respectively. By controlling the conduction state of the second three-way valve, the main outlet pipe 200 can be selectively connected to the third branch pipe 201 or the fourth branch pipe 202, thereby realizing the switching and control of the flow path of coolant flowing out of the equipment to be cooled and returning to the return port of the water chiller.

[0062] In some embodiments, the second three-way valve may be an electrically operated three-way ball valve. The three-way ball valve is switched by an electric actuator to achieve selective connection between the main outlet pipeline 200 and the third branch pipeline 201 or the fourth branch pipeline 202, thereby facilitating precise control of the coolant flow path.

[0063] In some embodiments, the first valve structure 301 includes a first two-way solenoid valve disposed on the first branch pipe 101 and a second two-way solenoid valve disposed on the second branch pipe 102. The first two-way solenoid valve controls the opening and closing of the first branch pipe 101, and the second two-way solenoid valve controls the opening and closing of the second branch pipe 102. It is understood that by controlling the opening and closing states of the first and second two-way solenoid valves respectively, precise control of the flow between the main inflow pipe 100 and the first and second branch pipes 101 and 102 can be achieved.

[0064] In some embodiments, the second valve structure 302 includes a third two-way solenoid valve disposed on the third branch pipe 201 and a fourth two-way solenoid valve disposed on the fourth branch pipe 202. The third two-way solenoid valve controls the on / off state of the third branch pipe 201, and the fourth two-way solenoid valve controls the on / off state of the fourth branch pipe 202. It is understood that by controlling the opening and closing states of the third and fourth two-way solenoid valves respectively, precise control of the flow between the main outlet pipe 200 and the third and fourth branch pipes 201 and 202 can be achieved.

[0065] In this way, by combining two independently controlled two-way solenoid valves, it is possible to conveniently and flexibly achieve fluid diversion control, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

[0066] Based on the same technical concept, this application also provides a liquid cooling system, which includes a water chiller, the equipment to be cooled, and the coolant flow direction conversion device described in any of the above embodiments. This design enables the entire liquid cooling system to possess high flexibility and precise control capabilities, allowing for rapid adjustment of the coolant flow direction and flow distribution according to actual cooling needs, thereby avoiding uneven heat dissipation and improving overall heat dissipation efficiency.

[0067] In some embodiments, the device to be cooled is a battery pack. It is understood that the liquid cooling system technology solution in this application is not only applicable to general equipment cooling, but also specifically for cooling battery packs. For example, in the field of new energy vehicles, power battery packs generate a large amount of heat during charging and discharging, requiring timely heat dissipation to ensure safety and performance. Utilizing the coolant flow conversion device described in this application, the flow of coolant into the battery pack can be flexibly controlled for uniform heat dissipation, thereby effectively controlling battery temperature and improving battery safety and lifespan. It should be noted that the order of description of the embodiments in this application is not intended to limit the priority of the embodiments.

[0068] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this application and in its specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application.

[0069] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the term "connected" or "linked" in this application includes not only directly connecting two entities, but also indirectly connecting them through other entities that have beneficial improvement effects.

[0070] The embodiments of this application have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The specific embodiments described above are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can make many forms under the guidance of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of protection of the claims. All equivalent transformations made under the inventive concept of this application using the content of this application's specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A coolant flow direction conversion device, characterized in that, The device includes: The first three-way pipeline includes a main inflow pipeline, a first branch pipeline, and a second branch pipeline. The main inflow pipeline is used to connect to the liquid outlet of the water chiller, the first branch pipeline is used to connect to the first port of the equipment to be cooled, and the second branch pipeline is used to connect to the second port of the equipment to be cooled. The second three-way pipe includes an outflow main pipe, a third branch pipe and a fourth branch pipe. The outflow main pipe is used to connect to the return port of the water chiller, the third branch pipe is used to connect to the second port of the equipment to be cooled, and the fourth branch pipe is used to connect to the first port of the equipment to be cooled. A reversing structure is provided on the first tee pipe and the second tee pipe, for simultaneously selecting the first branch pipe and the third branch pipe, or simultaneously selecting the second branch pipe and the fourth branch pipe.

2. The coolant flow direction conversion device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The commutation structure includes: A first valve structure is installed on the first three-way pipe, used to select one of the first branch pipe and the second branch pipe to be connected to the main inflow pipe; The second valve structure is installed on the second three-way pipe and is used to select one of the third branch pipe and the fourth branch pipe to connect with the main outflow pipe.

3. The coolant flow direction conversion device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first valve structure is a first three-way valve, which is connected to the main inflow pipeline, the first branch pipeline and the second branch pipeline respectively.

4. The coolant flow direction conversion device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first three-way valve is an electric three-way ball valve.

5. The coolant flow direction conversion device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second valve structure is a second three-way valve, which is connected to the main outflow pipeline, the third branch pipeline and the fourth branch pipeline respectively.

6. The coolant flow direction conversion device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second three-way valve is an electric three-way ball valve.

7. The coolant flow direction conversion device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first valve structure includes: The first two-way solenoid valve is installed on the first branch pipeline and is used to control the opening and closing of the first branch pipeline; The second two-way solenoid valve is installed on the second branch pipeline and is used to control the opening and closing of the second branch pipeline.

8. The coolant flow direction conversion device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second valve structure includes: The third two-way solenoid valve is installed on the third branch pipeline and is used to control the opening and closing of the third branch pipeline; The fourth two-way solenoid valve is installed on the fourth branch pipeline and is used to control the opening and closing of the fourth branch pipeline.

9. A liquid cooling system, characterized in that, It includes a water chiller, the equipment to be cooled, and the coolant flow direction conversion device as described in any one of claims 1-8.

10. The liquid cooling system according to claim 9, characterized in that, The device to be cooled is a battery pack.

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