A test oven

Abstract

The application discloses a test oven, which comprises an oven body, a first fan and a second fan. The oven body is provided with a containing cavity. The oven body comprises a first side and a second side arranged oppositely. The first side is provided with a first air inlet and a second air outlet. The second side is provided with a first air outlet and a second air inlet. The first fan is connected with the oven body and arranged at the first air inlet, and used for sending air from outside to the containing cavity. The second fan is connected with the oven body and arranged at the second air inlet, and used for sending air from outside to the containing cavity. The application aims to solve the technical problem of how to improve the uniformity of the test temperature in each area of the oven.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery testing technology, and in particular to a test chamber. Background Technology

[0002] With the widespread application of batteries in new energy vehicles, energy storage systems, and the electronics industry, battery cells typically undergo rigorous electrical performance testing before leaving the factory to evaluate key parameters such as charge / discharge performance, internal resistance, and capacity retention. During testing, battery cells need to operate under specific temperature conditions for extended periods; therefore, temperature-controlled battery cell testing chambers are widely used to provide a stable and uniform testing environment.

[0003] In the existing technology, the most common structure of the temperature chamber is a single-sided air outlet and single-sided air return duct design. That is, a fan is set on one side of the temperature chamber, and the fan blows cold / hot air out from that side, through the inside of the chamber, and then out through the return air vent on the other side. This design structure is relatively simple, has low manufacturing cost, and is easy to arrange air ducts and control systems. Therefore, it is widely used in battery cell testing equipment.

[0004] However, the single-sided airflow pattern has significant drawbacks in practical applications. Areas closer to the air outlet receive the initial airflow, resulting in rapid temperature regulation and high heat exchange efficiency. Conversely, areas farther from the outlet experience reduced airflow, leading to slower temperature regulation and weaker heat dissipation or heating. This uneven heat distribution causes temperature differences in different locations within the battery cell under the same operating conditions, consequently leading to deviations in charge / discharge characteristic test results.

[0005] Therefore, optimizing the air duct structure inside the temperature chamber, improving the uniformity of internal airflow distribution and heat exchange, and thus enhancing the consistency of the cell testing environment has become an urgent technical problem to be solved in cell testing equipment. Utility Model Content

[0006] One objective of this application is to provide a test chamber that addresses the technical problem of how to improve the uniformity of test temperatures in different areas within the chamber.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides a solution as follows: a test chamber, the test chamber comprising a chamber body with an opening for a receiving cavity, the chamber body including a first side and a second side disposed opposite to each other, the first side having a first air inlet and a second air outlet, and the second side having a first air outlet and a second air inlet; a first fan connected to the chamber body and disposed at the first air inlet for supplying air from the outside to the receiving cavity; and a second fan connected to the chamber body and disposed at the second air inlet for supplying air from the outside to the receiving cavity.

[0008] Optionally, the opening area of ​​the first air inlet is equal to the opening area of ​​the second air inlet, and the opening area of ​​the first air outlet is equal to the opening area of ​​the second air outlet.

[0009] Optionally, the test chamber also includes a control unit configured to control the first fan and the second fan to operate alternately or synchronously.

[0010] Optionally, during alternating operation, the first or second fan runs for t seconds, then shuts down and switches to start the other, where 60≤t≤120.

[0011] Optionally, the projection of the first air inlet toward the second air inlet coincides with the second air inlet; the projection of the first air outlet toward the second air outlet coincides with the second air outlet.

[0012] Optionally, the minimum distance between the edge of the first air inlet and the edge of the second air outlet is d1, and the distance between the center of the first air inlet and the center of the second air outlet is d2, satisfying the relationship: 0≤d1≤0.5d2.

[0013] Optionally, the projection of the first air inlet toward the first air outlet falls into the first air outlet; the projection of the second air inlet toward the second air outlet falls into the second air outlet.

[0014] Optionally, the minimum distance between the edge of the first air inlet and the edge of the second air outlet is d1, and the distance between the center of the first air inlet and the center of the second air outlet is d2, satisfying the relationship: 0.5d2≤d1≤0.8d2.

[0015] Optionally, the test chamber also includes an air guide plate, which is disposed within the accommodating cavity and arranged around the first air inlet and / or the second air inlet to guide the airflow to the first air outlet or the second air outlet.

[0016] Optionally, the test chamber also includes a dustproof net, which is connected to the chamber body and covers the first and second air outlets.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows:

[0018] Compared to existing technologies where test chambers typically employ a single-sided air intake and exhaust structure, resulting in uneven heat dissipation within the chamber and consequently differences in temperature control across different areas and poor consistency in test data, this application addresses this issue by setting up a first and a second fan arranged in opposite directions, with air inlets and outlets on both sides of the chamber. This creates two airflow paths with opposite directions and symmetrical structures. The paths, angles, and diffusion of the two airflows within the space are essentially the same. Even if only one fan operates at a time, different areas within the chamber can sequentially obtain similar airflow conditions during cyclical rotation, thereby effectively mitigating temperature gradients and ensuring the consistency of the controlled environment for each cell area. 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 the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is an overall schematic diagram of a test chamber provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a test chamber provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another test chamber provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another test chamber provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0024] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0025] 10. Housing; 11. Receiving cavity; 12. First side; 121. First air inlet; 122. Second air outlet; 13. Second side; 131. Second air inlet; 132. First air outlet; 20. First fan; 30. Second fan; 40. Air guide plate; 50. Dustproof net. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0027] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0028] It should also be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or may be connected to an intermediary component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or indirectly connected to the other component through an intermediary component.

[0029] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 This is an overall schematic diagram of a test chamber provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a test chamber provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0030] This application provides a test chamber to improve upon existing test chambers, addressing issues such as uneven airflow and significant differences in heat exchange efficiency, thereby enhancing temperature uniformity and consistency of test results across different areas within the chamber. This test chamber is suitable for conducting electrical performance tests on devices such as battery cells under controlled conditions.

[0031] The test chamber includes a housing 10, a first fan 20, and a second fan 30. The housing 10 has an internal cavity 11 for housing the battery cell under test. The cavity 11 is a relatively enclosed structure to reduce interference from the external environment on the internal temperature field during testing. The housing 10 includes a first side 12 and a second side 13, which are positioned opposite each other, corresponding to the left-right or front-back direction of the chamber, respectively. The first side 12 has a first air inlet 121 and a second air outlet 122, while the second side 13 has a first air outlet 132 and a second air inlet 131.

[0032] To achieve bidirectional air supply, the first fan 20 is installed on the first side 12 and sealed to the first air inlet 121, for sending external air or temperature-controlled air into the housing 11 through the first air inlet 121; the second fan 30 is installed on the second side 13 and sealed to the second air inlet 131, for sending air from the second side 13 into the housing 10, forming another airflow path opposite to the direction of action of the first fan 20.

[0033] In this embodiment, by symmetrically arranging two sets of air inlets and outlets, when the two fans work alternately or in coordination, an alternating or opposing airflow pattern can be achieved, so that the cold air forms a relative airflow path inside the receiving cavity 11, thereby avoiding the difference in heat dissipation effect on a single path and reducing the temperature gradient.

[0034] Compared to traditional structures with only one side for air supply and return, this embodiment arranges air inlets and outlets and independent fans on opposite sides, with two sets of airflow paths complementing each other. This effectively avoids the problem of poor heat dissipation or heat accumulation in some battery cells due to their distance from the air outlets. At the same time, it also improves the flexibility of airflow adjustment and allows for targeted temperature control based on the distribution area of ​​the battery cells, ultimately achieving a more uniform temperature distribution throughout the entire testing chamber.

[0035] In some optimized embodiments, in order to further improve the temperature uniformity of various areas inside the test chamber, the air inlet and outlet are designed symmetrically based on the dual-sided airflow channel structure. That is, a first air inlet 121 and a second air inlet 131 are provided with equal opening areas, and a first air outlet 132 and a second air outlet 122 are provided with equal opening areas.

[0036] Specifically, the first air inlet 121 and the second air inlet 131 maintain consistency in opening size, shape, and air guiding angle. For example, both adopt a circular opening structure, are arranged horizontally, and have rounded edges to reduce flow resistance and wind noise interference. Correspondingly, the first air outlet 132 and the second air outlet 122 also adopt a structure with consistent size and shape.

[0037] In this embodiment, at the structural level, the equal-area structure facilitates the synchronization and balance of the fan's airflow output, ensuring that the airflow paths on both sides have consistent ventilation cross-sections and equivalent flow resistance, thus providing the necessary guarantee for the system to form a symmetrical and balanced bidirectional airflow path. Simultaneously, when the system operates in a fixed-speed mode, it naturally maintains the mirror symmetry of the airflow field within the accommodating cavity 11, thereby preventing hot or cold air from stagnating or short-circuiting on one side, causing localized temperature shifts.

[0038] As one implementation method, in some embodiments, the test chamber also includes a control unit configured to control the first fan 20 and the second fan 30 to operate alternately or synchronously in a preset mode, so as to further improve the uniformity of temperature distribution inside the chamber.

[0039] The control unit may include a microcontroller, a power management module, a fan drive module, and a communication interface module, used to regulate parameters such as the start / stop status, operating time, and wind speed level of the first fan 20 and the second fan 30. The control unit can achieve real-time monitoring and feedback adjustment of the temperature distribution in different test areas through data interaction with multiple temperature sensors inside the temperature chamber.

[0040] In alternating operation mode, the control unit controls the first fan 20 and the second fan 30 to start and stop alternately at a set time period, thereby causing the airflow direction to periodically reverse. This operation mode can effectively break the temperature gradient problem under a single state, promote the full mixing of hot and cold air in different directions, and significantly improve the airflow and heat exchange uniformity inside the chamber.

[0041] In synchronous operation mode, the first fan 20 and the second fan 30 are working simultaneously, respectively supplying air into the housing 10 through their corresponding air inlets and exhausting air from the opposite air outlets. At this time, two parallel and opposite airflow paths will be formed inside the housing 10, flowing through the containment cavity 11 in opposite directions. The airflows do not directly collide inside, but rather cover different areas, achieving parallel coverage and compensatory heat dissipation of the entire test space. The cells located in the coverage areas of different airflow paths can obtain similar heat exchange conditions, which helps to improve the temperature uniformity of the entire space and reduce heat dissipation dead zones caused by local weak flow or airflow obstruction.

[0042] In addition, the control unit can also support mode switching, such as automatically selecting alternating or synchronous operation modes according to different working conditions, or dynamically adjusting the fan operating frequency and timing based on real-time temperature difference data, forming a regulation system with feedback closed-loop characteristics.

[0043] Furthermore, in some embodiments, in order to achieve a more stable and efficient airflow switching effect in the alternating operation mode, the control unit sets a switching period parameter t for the fan operation, that is: the first fan 20 or the second fan 30 runs for t seconds and then automatically shuts down, and the control unit switches to start the fan on the other side to continue running, thereby realizing alternating air supply. Preferably, the value of the switching period t is in the range of 60 seconds to 120 seconds (60≤t≤120).

[0044] If the switching period t is set too short (e.g., much less than 60 seconds), although the wind direction changes frequently, the airflow is switched before it has formed a stable distribution within the box 10, which can easily cause chaotic wind field, low heat exchange efficiency, and even local temperature fluctuations.

[0045] If the switching period t is set too long (e.g., more than 120 seconds), although the airflow path is stable, under the continuous effect of unilateral air supply, the area near the air outlet is in the main airflow path for a long time and the temperature is low, while the area far away has heat accumulation, which cannot effectively alleviate the problem of temperature difference distribution within the path.

[0046] In this embodiment, within an alternating cycle of 60–120 seconds, the airflow is ensured to fully expand during each round of air delivery, effectively removing internal heat. Simultaneously, the airflow direction is promptly altered after switching, breaking the directional distribution of the heat field and enhancing the overall airflow's turbulence and mixing efficiency. In practical applications, the control unit can automatically adjust this switching cycle through a preset program or dynamically adjust the t-value based on data feedback from within the housing 10. For example, when the temperature difference in a certain area is too large, the system can appropriately shorten the current fan's operating time and increase the switching frequency; when the internal temperature distribution has become relatively uniform, the operating time can be extended to reduce switching interference, thereby achieving a good balance between temperature uniformity and system stability.

[0047] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a test chamber provided in an embodiment of this application. In some optimized embodiments, the structure of the chamber 10 is optimized for the alternating operation mode of the fans, and a strict symmetrical correspondence is adopted to improve temperature uniformity. Specifically, the projection of the first air inlet 121 toward the second air inlet 131 coincides with the second air inlet 131, and the projection of the first air outlet 132 toward the second air outlet 122 also coincides with the second air outlet 122.

[0048] If the central axis of the housing 10 is taken as the symmetry reference plane, the first air inlet 121 and the second air inlet 131 are consistent in the left and right directions, the up and down directions, and their air intake guide angles, and the projections of their central axes on the symmetry plane are completely coincident. Similarly, the first air outlet 132 and the second air outlet 122 are also strictly symmetrical in shape, size and position, so that no matter which side the fan delivers air from, the path, speed distribution and coverage of the airflow inside the housing 10 are highly consistent.

[0049] In this embodiment, the layout structure is mainly designed for the alternating operation of the first fan 20 and the second fan 30. During alternating operation, the airflow path inside the housing 10 will periodically reverse with the switching of the fans. If the air inlet and outlet are structurally asymmetrical or misaligned, it is easy to cause differences in the length of the airflow path, the distribution of flow resistance, or the coverage area when the two fans are running, which will lead to inconsistent heat exchange capacity and weaken the uniformity adjustment effect of alternating air supply. This embodiment achieves strict alignment in the structure, so that the airflow path, angle, and diffusion pattern of the two fans are as consistent as possible in space when they are running, thereby constructing a mirror thermal field cycle in the time dimension. Even if only one fan is running at a time, different areas inside the housing 10 can obtain similar airflow conditions in the periodic rotation, effectively achieving dynamic equilibrium of the temperature field.

[0050] Furthermore, based on the above embodiments, considering that the air inlet and air outlet are not perfectly aligned and have a certain relative offset, in some optimized embodiments, the distance between the air inlet and air outlet is further limited. Specifically, the minimum distance between the edge of the first air inlet 121 and the edge of the second air outlet 122 is d1, and the distance between the center of the first air inlet 121 and the center of the second air outlet 122 is d2. The two distances satisfy the following relationship: 0 ≤ d1 ≤ 0.5d2.

[0051] Since the air inlet and outlet are not perfectly aligned, their respective airflow paths exhibit a certain degree of inclination. In this embodiment, by limiting the minimum edge distance d1 between the first air inlet 121 and the second air outlet 122, interference between the air inlets and outlets of the two paths is avoided. At the same time, by setting a center distance d2 and limiting the upper limit of d1 to half of it, the straightness of the airflow path and the stability of the airflow are improved, reducing airflow stratification or circumvention caused by path deflection.

[0052] Additionally, please see Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another test chamber provided in an embodiment of this application. In some embodiments, a different structural layout is adopted. In this layout, the projection of the first air inlet 121 toward the first air outlet 132 falls within the area of ​​the first air outlet 132, that is, the two are in a roughly opposite position in space; similarly, the projection of the second air inlet 131 toward the second air outlet 122 also falls within the second air outlet 122, forming another corresponding airflow path.

[0053] From a structural perspective, the interior of enclosure 10 forms two straight, parallel, and oppositely oriented airflow paths. Its geometric structure is highly symmetrical, the paths are balanced, and the airflow direction is clearly defined. This layout is compatible with both alternating and synchronous operation modes. In alternating operation mode, the two airflow paths are activated independently, alternating airflow to achieve thermal field switching and balancing over time. In synchronous operation mode, two fans operate simultaneously, with airflow entering from both sides and penetrating enclosure 10 in opposite directions, forming a symmetrical airflow system that is structurally parallel and functionally complementary. This is suitable for large-scale testing scenarios with high heat loads or requiring rapid heat exchange.

[0054] Meanwhile, since each set of air inlets and corresponding air outlets maintains projection overlap, the path direction is naturally aligned. There is no need to deflect or guide the airflow through duct bends or flow guide structures. After entering the receiving cavity 11, the airflow can move steadily along a nearly straight path, greatly reducing flow loss, turbulence interference and heat exchange lag.

[0055] Furthermore, based on the above embodiments, in some optimized embodiments, the minimum distance between the edge of the first air inlet 121 and the edge of the second air outlet 122 is set to d1, and the distance between the center of the first air inlet 121 and the center of the second air outlet 122 is set to d2, and the two satisfy the following constraint relationship: 0.5d2≤d1≤0.8d2.

[0056] On the one hand, when the first air inlet 121 and the second air outlet 122 are too close in space (e.g., d1 < 0.5d2), the two opposing airflow paths may create obvious converging zones or backflow zones in the center or boundary area of ​​the cavity. This strong interference will cause the airflow velocity to drop significantly, forming a low-speed dead zone or vortex zone, which will lead to a sharp drop in local heat exchange efficiency and cause heat accumulation.

[0057] On the other hand, if the distance between the first air inlet 121 and the second air outlet 122 is set too large (e.g., d1>0.8d2), the spatial separation between the two airflow paths will be too high, resulting in the areas covered by the two airflow paths inside the housing 10 being too far apart. In the alternating operation mode, the spatial area acted by each airflow path is almost completely independent, with no overlap or intersection between them, thus failing to achieve the complementary effect of the two airflow paths, resulting in the inability to obtain equivalent airflow conditions and reducing the consistency between the test areas.

[0058] In this embodiment, by setting the above-mentioned spacing restriction relationship, the two opposing airflow paths are neither too close to each other in space to avoid violent collision, nor too far apart to avoid weakening the complementary effect of the two airflow paths, thereby improving the consistency of airflow conditions in different areas.

[0059] Please see Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another test chamber provided in an embodiment of this application. In some optimized embodiments, the test chamber further includes an air guide plate 40 to further improve the directionality of airflow within the chamber. The air guide plate 40 is disposed in the internal area of ​​the receiving cavity 11, arranged around the first air inlet 121 and / or the second air inlet 131. Its main function is to effectively guide the airflow that has just entered the chamber 10, directing it to flow in a predetermined direction to the corresponding first air outlet 132 or second air outlet 122, thereby stabilizing the airflow path, suppressing turbulence, and improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0060] The air guide plate 40 can adopt various structural forms, such as flat, curved, or angled structures, and can be flexibly configured according to the internal space layout of the housing 10. Its installation method is usually to fix it to the wall adjacent to the air inlet, forming a partially enclosing airflow guiding area around the air inlet. Furthermore, the air guide plate 40 can be a replaceable or adjustable angle structure to flexibly control the direction of airflow entering the main air duct.

[0061] Additionally, in some embodiments, the test chamber also includes a dustproof net 50 structure. This dustproof net 50 is connected to the chamber body 10 and is installed on the outside of the first air outlet 132 and the second air outlet 122 to prevent particulate impurities, lint, dust, and other foreign objects from entering the containment cavity 11 and affecting the test environment.

[0062] The dust filter 50 typically employs a structure such as metal wire mesh, stainless steel woven mesh, or high-strength plastic grille, with its mesh size optimized according to the target filtration level. Preferably, the dust filter 50 is made of a material with high ventilation rate, low pressure drop, and strong corrosion resistance, ensuring filtration effectiveness while minimizing impact on airflow efficiency. The dust filter 50 is installed on the outer shell of the housing 10 using screws, clips, or magnetic attachment, facilitating regular disassembly and cleaning maintenance.

[0063] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this application is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0064] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the content of this application's specification and drawings under the concept of this application, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A test chamber, characterized in that, include: The housing has a receiving cavity. The housing includes a first side and a second side that are arranged opposite to each other. The first side has a first air inlet and a second air outlet, and the second side has a first air outlet and a second air inlet. A first fan is connected to the housing and located at the first air inlet, used to supply air from the outside to the receiving cavity; The second fan is connected to the housing and located at the second air inlet, and is used to supply air from the outside to the receiving cavity.

2. The test chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The opening area of ​​the first air inlet is equal to the opening area of ​​the second air inlet, and the opening area of ​​the first air outlet is equal to the opening area of ​​the second air outlet.

3. The test chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The test chamber also includes a control unit, which is configured to control the first fan and the second fan to operate alternately or synchronously.

4. The test chamber according to claim 3, characterized in that, When operating alternately, the first or second fan runs for t seconds and then shuts down and switches to start the other, where 60≤t≤120.

5. The test chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The projection of the first air inlet toward the second air inlet coincides with the second air inlet; the projection of the first air outlet toward the second air outlet coincides with the second air outlet.

6. The test chamber according to claim 5, characterized in that, The minimum distance between the edge of the first air inlet and the edge of the second air outlet is d1, and the distance between the center of the first air inlet and the center of the second air outlet is d2, satisfying the relationship: 0≤d1≤0.5d2.

7. The test chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The projection of the first air inlet toward the first air outlet falls into the first air outlet; the projection of the second air inlet toward the second air outlet falls into the second air outlet.

8. The test chamber according to claim 7, characterized in that, The minimum distance between the edge of the first air inlet and the edge of the second air outlet is d1, and the distance between the center of the first air inlet and the center of the second air outlet is d2, satisfying the relationship: 0.5d2≤d1≤0.8d2.

9. The test chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The test chamber also includes an air guide plate, which is disposed in the accommodating cavity and arranged around the first air inlet and / or the second air inlet, for guiding the airflow to the first air outlet or the second air outlet.

10. The test chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The test chamber also includes a dustproof net, which is connected to the chamber body and covers the first air outlet and the second air outlet.

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