Heat exchange device and thermal management system

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of heat exchangers, in particular to a heat exchange device and a heat management system. The heat exchange device comprises a first shell, a second shell, a first heat exchange pipe, a second heat exchange pipe and a first heating piece; the first shell is provided with a liquid inlet connector, a liquid inlet cavity, a liquid outlet connector and a liquid outlet cavity; the liquid inlet connector is connected with the outside of the liquid inlet cavity; the liquid outlet connector is connected with the outside of the liquid outlet cavity; the second shell is provided with a communication cavity; the first heat exchange pipe is connected with the first shell and the second shell; the first heat exchange pipe is connected with the liquid inlet cavity and the communication cavity; the second heat exchange pipe is connected with the first shell and the second shell; the second heat exchange pipe is connected with the liquid outlet cavity and the communication cavity; and the first heating piece is arranged in the communication cavity. Through the above mode, the heating power of the heating device on the medium fluid flowing into the liquid inlet cavity is reduced, the volume of the heating device is reduced, and then the volume of the heat management device is reduced, the heat loss of the medium fluid flowing from the heating device to the heat exchange device is reduced, the air flow temperature after flowing through the heat exchange device is more uniform, and the heat exchange efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of heat exchanger technology, and more particularly to a heat exchange device and thermal management system. Background Technology

[0002] Electric vehicles require thermal management for an increasing number of components. In addition to traditional passenger compartment thermal management (passenger compartment cooling, heating, dehumidification, and defogging), battery temperature management (battery heating or cooling) is also necessary, as are the drive motor and high-power components. Pure electric vehicles do not have the waste heat of an engine, and require a new heat source for heating in winter. This necessitates the use of PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heating elements for electric heating or a thermal management system.

[0003] When the thermal management system requires a large heat load, the design power of the PTC heater also needs to be increased accordingly, and the volume of the PTC heater needs to be increased accordingly, resulting in an increase in the volume of the thermal management system, which is not conducive to the miniaturization and lightweighting of electric vehicles. Utility Model Content

[0004] The embodiments of this application aim to provide a heat exchange device and a thermal management system, so as to at least improve the problem of the large size of the thermal management system.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a heat exchange device, the heat exchange device comprising a first shell, a second shell, a first heat exchange tube, a second heat exchange tube, and a first heating element; the first shell is provided with an inlet connector, an inlet chamber, an outlet connector, and an outlet chamber, the inlet connector communicating the inlet chamber to the outside, and the outlet connector communicating the outlet chamber to the outside; the second shell is provided with a communicating cavity; the first heat exchange tube connects the first shell and the second shell, and the first heat exchange tube communicates the inlet chamber with the communicating cavity; the second heat exchange tube connects the first shell and the second shell, and the second heat exchange tube communicates the outlet chamber with the communicating cavity; the first heating element is disposed in the communicating cavity.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first shell and the second shell are spaced apart along a first direction; the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube both extend along the first direction; along a second direction, the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube are spaced apart; the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube are spaced apart and communicate with the communicating cavity of the second shell along the second direction; wherein the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0007] In some embodiments, the communicating cavity includes a first part and a second part that are interconnected, the first part and the second part being arranged along the second direction, the first part being connected to the first heat exchange tube, and the second part being connected to the second heat exchange tube; the first heating element is in the shape of an elongated strip extending along the second direction, one end of the first heating element being located in the first part, and the other end of the first heating element being located in the second part.

[0008] In some embodiments, the number of the first heating elements is multiple, and the multiple first heating elements are arranged in the communicating cavity along the first direction and / or the third direction; wherein the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first shell includes a first cylindrical portion, a first cover plate, and a partition plate. The first cylindrical portion has an opening at one end along the first direction, and the first cover plate covers the opening of the first cylindrical portion. The inner wall of the first cylindrical portion is provided with a insertion groove extending along the first direction. Two insertion grooves are arranged opposite each other along a third direction. The two ends of the partition plate along the third direction are respectively inserted into the two insertion grooves. The two ends of the partition plate along the first direction are respectively sealed against the bottom wall of the first cylindrical portion along the first direction and the first cover plate. The two ends of the partition plate along the third direction are respectively sealed into the two insertion grooves to divide the cavity formed by the first cylindrical portion and the first cover plate into a liquid inlet chamber and a liquid outlet chamber. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0010] In some embodiments, the inlet connector and the outlet connector are disposed on one side of the first housing along a third direction, and the inlet connector and the outlet connector are spaced apart along the second direction; wherein the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0011] In some embodiments, there are multiple first heat exchange tubes, each of which connects the liquid inlet chamber to the communicating chamber, and the multiple first heat exchange tubes are arranged at intervals along the second direction.

[0012] In some embodiments, there are multiple second heat exchange tubes, each of which connects the liquid outlet chamber to the communicating chamber, and the multiple second heat exchange tubes are arranged at intervals along the second direction.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first shell includes a first cylindrical portion and a first cover plate. One end of the first cylindrical portion has an opening, and the first cover plate covers the opening of the first cylindrical portion. The first cover plate has at least two first connection ports. One end of the first heat exchange tube is sealed to the edge of one of the first connection ports, and one end of the second heat exchange tube is sealed to the edge of the other first connection port.

[0014] In some embodiments, the second shell includes a second cylindrical portion and a second cover plate. One end of the second cylindrical portion has an opening, and the second cover plate covers the opening of the second cylindrical portion. The second cover plate has at least two second connection ports. The other end of the first heat exchange tube is sealed to the edge of one of the second connection ports, and the other end of the second heat exchange tube is sealed to the edge of the other second connection port.

[0015] In some embodiments, the heat exchange device further includes a second heating element disposed in the liquid inlet chamber.

[0016] In some embodiments, the liquid inlet connector extends along a third direction, the second heating element is elongated, and the second heating element extends along a direction perpendicular to the third direction; a plurality of second heating elements are arranged along the third direction, and / or, at least two second heating elements are respectively disposed on both sides of the liquid inlet connector along a direction perpendicular to the third direction.

[0017] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a thermal management system, which includes a heat exchange device as described in any embodiment of the first aspect.

[0018] The heat exchange device and thermal management system of this application embodiment connect the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube through the connecting cavity of the second shell, so that the liquid inlet chamber and the liquid outlet chamber can be located in the first shell, which facilitates the connection between the heat exchange device and the heating device of the thermal management device.

[0019] The first heating element is located in the connecting cavity and can heat the medium fluid inside the connecting cavity, reducing the heating power of the heating device for the medium fluid flowing into the inlet cavity, thus reducing the size of the heating device and consequently the size of the thermal management device. Furthermore, the temperature of the medium fluid output from the heating device is reduced, decreasing the heat loss of the medium fluid flowing from the heating device to the heat exchange device.

[0020] The medium fluid flows through the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube in sequence. By heating the medium fluid in the connecting cavity, the temperature of the medium fluid flowing through the second heat exchange tube is increased, making the temperature of the medium fluid flowing through the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube more consistent, and making the outlet air temperature after the airflow passes through the heat exchange device more uniform.

[0021] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, specific embodiments of this application are given below. Attached Figure Description

[0022] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements having the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the heat exchange device according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a heat exchange device according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a heat exchange device according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first shell according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the first cylindrical portion according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second shell in an embodiment of this application.

[0024] The reference numerals in the detailed embodiments are as follows: 100. Heat exchange device; 1. First shell; 11. Liquid inlet chamber; 12. Liquid outlet chamber; 13. Liquid inlet connector; 14. Liquid outlet connector; 15. First cylindrical body; 151. Insertion groove; 16. First cover plate; 161. First connection port; 17. Partition plate; 2. Second shell; 21. Communicating cavity; 211. First part; 212. Second part; 22. Second cylindrical part; 23. Second cover plate; 231. Second connecting port; 3. First heat exchange tube; 4. Second heat exchange tube; 5. First heating element; 6. Second heating element; 7. Connecting component; 71. Reinforcing rib; X, first direction; Y, second direction; Z, third direction. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To facilitate understanding of this application, the following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, will provide a more detailed account. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application. It should be noted that when an element is described as "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element, or there may be one or more intervening elements between them.

[0026] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and foregoing description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0027] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "length", "bottom", "inner" and "outer" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application.

[0028] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used to define components merely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, these terms have no special meaning and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

[0029] The term "and / or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of this application described below may be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0030] Firstly, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 This application provides a heat exchange device 100, which includes a first shell 1, a second shell 2, a first heat exchange tube 3, and a second heat exchange tube 4. The first shell 1 has an inlet chamber 11 and an outlet chamber 12. The second shell 2 has a connecting chamber 21. The first heat exchange tube 3 connects the first shell 1 and the second shell 2, and the first heat exchange tube 3 connects the inlet chamber 11 and the connecting chamber 21. The second heat exchange tube 4 connects the first shell 1 and the second shell 2, and the second heat exchange tube 4 connects the outlet chamber 12 and the connecting chamber 21. The inlet chamber 11 is used for the introduction of a medium fluid, which flows sequentially through the inlet chamber 11, the first heat exchange tube 3, the connecting chamber 21, the second heat exchange tube 4, and the outlet chamber 12. The first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 are used for heat exchange. For example, when the medium fluid is a hot fluid, heat is transferred to the outside of the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 through the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 to achieve heat exchange; when the medium fluid is a cold fluid, heat is transferred to the medium fluid inside the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 through the outside of the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 to achieve heat exchange.

[0031] Hot fluid refers to fluid whose temperature is higher than the temperature outside the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4, or higher than the ambient temperature, or fluid heated at room temperature, such as fluid heated by the heating device of the thermal management system; cold fluid refers to fluid whose temperature is lower than the temperature outside the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4, or lower than the ambient temperature, or fluid cooled at room temperature.

[0032] The heat exchange device 100 is used to exchange heat with external air, for example, by airflow passing over the surfaces of the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4, thereby heating or cooling the airflow. When the airflow blows into the carriage, it can heat or cool the air inside the carriage, improving passenger comfort.

[0033] By dividing the heat exchange tube into a first heat exchange tube 3 and a second heat exchange tube 4, and connecting them through the communicating cavity 21 of the second shell 2, the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 can be arranged side by side. In this way, the liquid inlet cavity 11 and the liquid outlet cavity 12 can both be located in the first shell 1, and the pipes can both be connected to the first shell 1, which facilitates the connection between the heat exchange device 100 and the heating device of the thermal management device.

[0034] It should be noted that in the relevant technology, the thermal management system includes a heat exchange device 100 and a heating device. The heating device heats the medium fluid before introducing it into the liquid inlet chamber 11. The heating device typically includes a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heating element. When the thermal management system requires a large heat load, such as in winter, the heating device needs higher power to heat the medium fluid. Therefore, the design power of the heating device needs to be increased accordingly, and the volume of the heating device needs to be enlarged, resulting in a larger thermal management system volume, which is detrimental to vehicle miniaturization and weight reduction. This is especially true for electric vehicles, which do not have an engine to provide heat; the heat mainly relies on the heating device. The heating device needs to be even larger, further hindering the miniaturization and weight reduction of electric vehicles.

[0035] In the embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The heat exchanger 100 also includes a first heating element 5, which is disposed in the communicating cavity 21. The first heating element 5 can heat the medium fluid within the communicating cavity 21, reducing the heating power required by the heating device for the medium fluid flowing into the inlet cavity 11, thus reducing the size of the heating device and consequently the size of the thermal management device. Furthermore, the temperature of the medium fluid output from the heating device is reduced, decreasing the heat loss of the medium fluid flowing from the heating device to the heat exchanger 100.

[0036] It should be noted that the medium fluid flows sequentially through the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4. In this embodiment, by heating the medium fluid in the connecting cavity 21, the temperature of the medium fluid flowing through the second heat exchange tube 4 is increased, making the temperature of the medium fluid flowing through the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 more consistent, and making the outlet air temperature after the airflow flows through the heat exchange device 100 more uniform.

[0037] For the first shell 1 mentioned above, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The first shell 1 is elongated, with an inlet chamber 11 and an outlet chamber 12 arranged along its length. Optionally, the first shell 1 is a thin-walled shell of uniform thickness, for example, with a shell thickness of 1mm, 2mm, or 3mm. Optionally, the first shell 1 is made of metal, such as stainless steel, copper, or aluminum alloy. Optionally, the first shell 1 is mirror-symmetrical along its length.

[0038] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 The first housing 1 is provided with an inlet connector 13 and an outlet connector 14. The inlet connector 13 connects the inlet chamber 11 to the outside, and the outlet connector 14 connects the outlet chamber 12 to the outside. The inlet connector 13 and the outlet connector 14 are used to connect to pipelines, so as to facilitate the connection of pipelines to the inlet chamber 11 and the outlet chamber 12.

[0039] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 are both connected to the same side of the first shell 1. Specifically, the first shell 1 and the second shell 2 are arranged at intervals along the first direction X; the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 both extend along the first direction X; along the second direction Y, the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 are arranged at intervals; the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 are connected to the communicating cavity of the second shell 2 at intervals along the second direction Y; wherein the first direction X and the second direction Y are perpendicular to each other. The first shell 1, the second shell 2, the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 form a loop-shaped flow channel, shortening the length of the heat exchange device 100.

[0040] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 The inlet connector 13 and the outlet connector 14 are located on one side of the first housing 1 along the third direction Z, and are spaced apart along the second direction Y. The first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z are perpendicular to each other. The inlet connector 13 and the outlet connector 14 are located on the same side of the first housing 1 for easy pipe connection. It can be understood that in the above embodiment, the inlet chamber 11 and the outlet chamber 12 are arranged along the second direction Y, so that the inlet connector 13 and the outlet connector 14 are spaced apart along the second direction Y, and the inlet connector 13 and the outlet connector 14 can be respectively connected to the cavity walls of the inlet chamber 11 and the outlet chamber 12.

[0041] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The first shell 1 includes a first cylindrical portion 15 and a first cover plate 16. One end of the first cylindrical portion 15 has an opening, and the first cover plate 16 covers the opening of the first cylindrical portion 15. The first shell 1 is assembled from the first cylindrical portion 15 and the first cover plate 16, reducing the production cost of the first shell 1. Optionally, the first cylindrical portion 15 and the first cover plate 16 are welded together.

[0042] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The first cover plate 16 is provided with at least two first connection ports 161. One end of the first heat exchange tube 3 is sealed to the edge of one first connection port 161, and one end of the second heat exchange tube 4 is sealed to the edge of the other first connection port 161. The first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 can be inserted into the first connection ports 161, facilitating communication between the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 and the liquid inlet chamber 11 and the liquid outlet chamber 12 respectively, thereby enhancing the sealing effect. Optionally, the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 are welded to the edge of the first connection port 161 of the first shell 1.

[0043] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 5 The first shell 1 also includes a partition 17. The inner wall of the first cylindrical portion 15 is provided with insertion grooves 151 extending along a first direction X. Two insertion grooves 151 are arranged opposite each other along a third direction Z. The two ends of the partition 17 along the third direction Z are respectively inserted into the two insertion grooves 151. The two ends of the partition 17 along the first direction X respectively seal against the bottom wall of the first cylindrical portion 15 along the first direction X and the first cover plate 16. The two ends of the partition 17 along the third direction Z are respectively sealed and inserted into the two insertion grooves 151 to divide the cavity formed by the first cylindrical portion 15 and the first cover plate 16 into a liquid inlet chamber 11 and a liquid outlet chamber 12. The partition 17 can be interference-fitted with the insertion grooves 151 to achieve a sealed insertion between the partition 17 and the insertion grooves 151. Sealant can be provided between the partition 17 and the inner wall of the first cylindrical portion 15 to enhance the sealing effect. The first cover plate 16 can be configured to apply pressure to the partition plate 17, so that the bottom wall of the first cylinder portion 15 along the first direction X cooperates with the first cover plate 16 to clamp the partition plate 17, thereby achieving a sealed connection between the two ends of the partition plate 17 along the first direction X and the first cylinder portion 15 and the first cover plate 16 respectively. A sealant can be provided between the partition plate 17 and the inner wall of the first cylinder portion 15 and the inner wall of the first cover plate 16 to enhance the sealing effect.

[0044] For the second shell 2 mentioned above, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2The second shell 2 is elongated. Optionally, the second shell 2 is a thin-walled shell of uniform thickness, for example, with a shell thickness of 1mm, 2mm, or 3mm. Optionally, the second shell 2 is made of metal, such as stainless steel, copper, or aluminum alloy. Optionally, the second shell 2 is mirror-symmetrical along its length.

[0045] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 The communicating cavity 21 includes a first part 211 and a second part 212 that are interconnected. The first part 211 and the second part 212 are arranged along the second direction Y. The first part 211 is connected to the first heat exchange tube 3, and the second part 212 is connected to the second heat exchange tube 4. The two ends of the first heating element 5 are located in the first part 211 and the second part 212, respectively. By positioning the two ends of the first heating element 5 in the first part 211 and the second part 212, the medium fluid will be heated during both its flow out of the first heat exchange tube 3 and its flow into the second heat exchange tube 4, thereby enhancing the heating effect on the medium fluid.

[0046] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 The second shell 2 includes a second cylindrical portion 22 and a second cover plate 23. One end of the second cylindrical portion 22 has an opening, and the second cover plate 23 covers the opening of the second cylindrical portion 22. The second cover plate 23 has at least two second connection ports 231. The other end of the first heat exchange tube 3 is sealed to the edge of one of the second connection ports 231, and the other end of the second heat exchange tube 4 is sealed to the edge of the other second connection port 231. The second shell 2 is assembled from the second cylindrical portion 22 and the second cover plate 23, reducing the production cost of the second shell 2. Optionally, the second cylindrical portion 22 and the second cover plate 23 are welded together. The first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 can be inserted into the second connection ports 231, facilitating communication between the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 and the communicating cavity 21, enhancing the sealing effect. Optionally, the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 are welded to the edge of the second connection port 231 of the second shell 2.

[0047] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 The first heating element 5 is a long strip extending along the second direction Y. One end of the first heating element 5 is located in the first part 211, and the other end of the first heating element 5 is located in the second part 212. Thus, the direction of the medium fluid flowing in the communicating cavity 21 is parallel to the extension direction of the first heating element 5, reducing the resistance of the first heating element 5 to the medium fluid.

[0048] For the first heat exchange tube 3 mentioned above, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2The first heat exchange tube 3 is flat. This increases the contact area between the first heat exchange tube 3 and the fluid medium, as well as the contact area between the first heat exchange tube 3 and the air, thus enhancing the heat exchange effect. Optionally, the first heat exchange tube 3 is made of a metal material, such as copper, aluminum alloy, or stainless steel, which has a high thermal conductivity and further enhances the heat exchange effect. Optionally, both ends of the first heat exchange tube 3 are welded to the first shell 1 and the second shell 2, respectively.

[0049] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The number of first heat exchange tubes 3 is multiple, and each of the multiple first heat exchange tubes 3 connects the liquid inlet chamber 11 to the connecting chamber 21. By setting multiple first heat exchange tubes 3, the heat exchange effect is enhanced. Optionally, the multiple first heat exchange tubes 3 are arranged at intervals along the second direction Y.

[0050] For the second heat exchange tube 4 mentioned above, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The second heat exchange tube 4 is flat. This increases the contact area between the second heat exchange tube 4 and the fluid medium, as well as the contact area between the second heat exchange tube 4 and the air, thus enhancing the heat exchange effect. Optionally, the second heat exchange tube 4 is made of a metal material, such as copper, aluminum alloy, or stainless steel, which has a high thermal conductivity and further enhances the heat exchange effect. Optionally, both ends of the second heat exchange tube 4 are welded to the first shell 1 and the second shell 2, respectively.

[0051] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 There are multiple second heat exchange tubes 4, and each of the multiple second heat exchange tubes 4 connects the liquid outlet chamber 12 to the connecting chamber 21. By setting multiple second heat exchange tubes 4, the heat exchange effect is enhanced. Optionally, the multiple second heat exchange tubes 4 are arranged at intervals along the second direction Y.

[0052] The first heating element 5 described above is used to convert electrical energy into heat energy to heat the medium fluid. Exemplarily, the first heating element 5 includes an MCH (Metal Ceramics Heater, alumina ceramic heating element). The MCH employs a co-firing technology of tungsten or molybdenum-manganese slurry with a ceramic body, possessing characteristics such as high temperature resistance (sintering at 1600℃), rapid heating (reaching 600℃ in 20 seconds), high thermal efficiency (saving 20%–30% more energy per unit of heat compared to PTC), and environmental safety (compliant with EU RoHS standards). Its surface insulation withstand voltage reaches 4500V, leakage current <0.5mA, and there is no power attenuation; thermal uniformity is ≥50W / cm². It does not contain harmful substances such as lead and mercury, supports linear temperature control, and is suitable for scenarios requiring precise temperature control.

[0053] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3The number of first heating elements 5 is multiple, and multiple first heating elements 5 are disposed in the communicating cavity 21. By providing multiple first heating elements 5, it is beneficial to increase the heating power of the heat exchange device 100 on the medium fluid.

[0054] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 Multiple first heating elements 5 are arranged in the communicating cavity 21 along the third direction Z. These multiple first heating elements may also be arranged along the first direction X, or simultaneously arranged in a matrix along both the first direction X and the third direction Z, i.e., multiple first heating elements 5 are arranged in the communicating cavity 21 along the first direction X and / or the third direction Z.

[0055] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 The heat exchanger 100 also includes a second heating element 6, which is disposed in the liquid inlet chamber 11. The second heating element 6 can heat the medium fluid in the liquid inlet chamber 11, reducing the heating power of the heating device on the medium fluid flowing into the liquid inlet chamber 11, thus reducing the size of the heating device and consequently the size of the thermal management device. Furthermore, the temperature of the medium fluid output from the heating device is reduced, decreasing the heat loss of the medium fluid flowing from the heating device to the heat exchanger 100.

[0056] The second heating element 6 described above is used to convert electrical energy into heat energy to heat the medium fluid. Exemplarily, the second heating element 6 includes an MCH.

[0057] In some embodiments, there are multiple second heating elements 6 disposed in the liquid inlet chamber 11. By providing multiple second heating elements 6, the heating power of the heat exchange device 100 on the medium fluid is increased.

[0058] In some embodiments, the liquid inlet connector 13 extends along a third direction Z, and the second heating element 6 is elongated and extends in a direction perpendicular to the third direction Z. For example, please refer to... Figure 2 The second heating element 6 extends along the second direction Y; or the second heating element 6 extends along the first direction X. The second heating element 6 is perpendicular to the flow direction of the medium fluid flowing into the liquid inlet connector 13, increasing the flow resistance of the medium fluid and increasing the contact time between the medium fluid and the second heating element 6.

[0059] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 Multiple second heating elements 6 are arranged along the third direction Z. The gap between the liquid inlet connector 13 and the inner wall of the liquid inlet chamber 11 is small along the third direction Z, and the second heating elements 6 are arranged along the third direction Z to make full use of the gap between the liquid inlet connector 13 and the inner wall of the liquid inlet chamber 11.

[0060] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2At least two second heating elements 6 are respectively disposed on both sides of the liquid inlet connector 13 along a direction perpendicular to the third direction Z. For example, please refer to... Figure 2 The liquid inlet connector 13 is provided with a second heating element 6 on both sides along the first direction X, making full use of the gap on both sides of the liquid inlet connector 13.

[0061] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The heat exchanger 100 also includes a connector 7, with its two ends connected to the first shell 1 and the second shell 2, respectively. This improves the connection strength between the first shell 1 and the second shell 2, and enhances the overall strength of the heat exchanger 100. Optionally, the connector 7 is made of metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum alloy. Optionally, the connector 7 is welded to the first shell 1 and the second shell 2.

[0062] In some embodiments, there are two connectors 7, arranged along the second direction Y, on opposite sides of the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4. The first shell 1, the second shell 2, and the two connectors 7 are connected to form a frame structure. The first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 are disposed within the frame structure, which helps to protect the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4, reduces the stress on the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4, improves the problem of bending and damage of the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 due to stress, and improves the problem of connection breakage between the first heat exchange tube 3 and the second heat exchange tube 4 and the first shell 1 and the second shell 2.

[0063] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The connector 7 is provided with reinforcing ribs 71 along its length to enhance its bending strength.

[0064] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a thermal management system (not shown), which includes a heat exchange device 100 as described in any embodiment of the first aspect. It is understood that the thermal management system may include a heating device (not shown) to heat the medium fluid flowing into the heat exchange device 100. By heating the medium fluid in the communicating cavity 21 through the first heating device, and / or by heating the medium fluid in the inlet cavity 11, the heating power of the heating device on the medium fluid flowing into the inlet cavity 11 is reduced, thereby reducing the size of the heating device and consequently reducing the size of the thermal management device. Furthermore, the temperature of the medium fluid output by the heating device is reduced, decreasing the heat loss of the medium fluid flowing from the heating device to the heat exchange device 100.

[0065] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a vehicle (not shown) including a thermal management system as described in the second aspect. By employing the aforementioned thermal management system, the vehicle's space occupancy is reduced, which is beneficial for vehicle miniaturization and weight reduction. Especially when the vehicle is an electric vehicle, there is no engine to provide heat, and the heat mainly relies on the heating device. The use of the heat exchange device 100 of this application embodiment makes the size of the heating device even more significantly reduced, which is even more beneficial for vehicle miniaturization and weight reduction.

[0066] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not to limit them; under the concept of this application, the technical features of the above embodiments or different embodiments can also be combined, the steps can be implemented in any order, and there are many other variations of different aspects of this application as described above, which are not provided in detail for the sake of brevity; although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A heat exchange device, characterized in that, include: The first shell is provided with a liquid inlet connector, a liquid inlet chamber, a liquid outlet connector, and a liquid outlet chamber. The liquid inlet connector connects the liquid inlet chamber to the outside, and the liquid outlet connector connects the liquid outlet chamber to the outside. The second shell has a communicating cavity; The first heat exchange tube connects the first shell and the second shell, and connects the liquid inlet chamber to the communicating chamber. The second heat exchange tube connects the first shell and the second shell, and connects the liquid outlet chamber to the communicating chamber. A first heating element is disposed in the communicating cavity.

2. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first shell and the second shell are arranged at intervals along a first direction; Both the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube extend along the first direction; Along the second direction, the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube are arranged at intervals; The first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube are spaced apart along the second direction and communicate with the communicating cavity of the second shell; Wherein, the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

3. The heat exchange device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The communicating cavity includes a first part and a second part that are interconnected, the first part and the second part are arranged along the second direction, the first part is connected to the first heat exchange tube, and the second part is connected to the second heat exchange tube; The first heating element is a long strip extending along the second direction, with one end of the first heating element located in the first part and the other end of the first heating element located in the second part.

4. The heat exchange device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The number of the first heating elements is multiple, and the multiple first heating elements are arranged in the communicating cavity along the first direction and / or a third direction; Wherein, the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

5. The heat exchange device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first shell includes a first cylindrical part, a first cover plate and a partition plate. The first cylindrical part has an opening at one end along the first direction, and the first cover plate covers the opening of the first cylindrical part. The inner wall of the first cylindrical part is provided with a insertion groove extending along the first direction. The two insertion grooves are arranged opposite each other along a third direction. The two ends of the partition along the third direction are respectively inserted into the two insertion grooves. The partition plate is sealed and abutted against the bottom wall of the first cylindrical part and the first cover plate along the first direction at both ends along the first direction, respectively; the partition plate is sealed and inserted into the two insertion slots at both ends along the third direction, so as to divide the cavity formed by the first cylindrical part and the first cover plate into a liquid inlet cavity and a liquid outlet cavity. Wherein, the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

6. The heat exchange device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inlet connector and the outlet connector are located on one side of the first housing along the third direction, and the inlet connector and the outlet connector are spaced apart along the second direction; Wherein, the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

7. The heat exchange device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The number of first heat exchange tubes is multiple, and each of the multiple first heat exchange tubes connects the liquid inlet chamber to the communicating chamber. The multiple first heat exchange tubes are arranged at intervals along the second direction. And / or, the number of the second heat exchange tubes is multiple, and each of the multiple second heat exchange tubes connects the liquid outlet chamber to the communicating chamber, and the multiple second heat exchange tubes are arranged at intervals along the second direction.

8. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first shell includes a first cylindrical part and a first cover plate. One end of the first cylindrical part has an opening. The first cover plate covers the opening of the first cylindrical part. The first cover plate has at least two first connection ports. One end of the first heat exchange tube is sealed to the edge of one of the first connection ports. One end of the second heat exchange tube is sealed to the edge of the other first connection port. And / or, the second shell includes a second cylindrical portion and a second cover plate, one end of the second cylindrical portion has an opening, the second cover plate covers the opening of the second cylindrical portion, the second cover plate has at least two second connection ports, the other end of the first heat exchange tube is sealed to the edge of one of the second connection ports, and the other end of the second heat exchange tube is sealed to the edge of the other second connection port.

9. The heat exchange device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The heat exchange device further includes a second heating element, which is disposed in the liquid inlet chamber.

10. The heat exchange device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The liquid inlet connector extends along a third direction, and the second heating element is elongated and extends along a direction perpendicular to the third direction. Multiple second heating elements are arranged along the third direction, and / or at least two second heating elements are respectively disposed on both sides of the liquid inlet connector along a direction perpendicular to the third direction.

11. A thermal management system, characterized in that, Includes the heat exchange device as described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

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