Liquid cold plate, thermal management system, and battery module

Abstract

The application discloses a liquid cooling plate, a thermal management system and a battery module. The liquid cooling plate comprises a plastic bottom plate and a plastic cover plate. The plastic bottom plate is provided with a containing groove. The plastic bottom plate is provided with a liquid inlet structure and a liquid outlet structure which are communicated with the containing groove. The plastic cover plate is sealingly connected with the plastic bottom plate and covers the containing groove to form a cooling flow channel. Compared with the traditional metal liquid cooling plate, the application greatly reduces the weight and meets the lightweight demand of the battery system and the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of thermal management technology for battery modules, and more particularly to a liquid cooling plate, a thermal management system, and a battery module. Background Technology

[0002] During the operation of a battery module, the battery cells continuously generate a large amount of heat. If this heat cannot be dissipated in time, it will significantly affect the charging and discharging efficiency, cycle life, and safety performance of the battery module. To solve this heat dissipation problem, the industry commonly uses liquid cooling plates for active cooling of the batteries. Currently, most mainstream liquid cooling plates are made of aluminum as the base material, manufactured through stamping or profile processing.

[0003] Aluminum liquid cooling plates are relatively heavy due to the high density of aluminum, which is detrimental to the lightweight design of battery systems. Furthermore, aluminum liquid cooling plates require additional welding of components such as water nozzles and sealing strips, increasing process steps and costs. Inconsistent welding quality and component mismatches can also lead to decreased sealing of the liquid cooling plate, resulting in coolant leakage risks that affect the stability of the heat dissipation system and the safe operation of the battery module. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a liquid cooling plate, a thermal management system, and a battery module to at least partially solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, according to a first aspect of this application, a liquid-cooled plate is provided, comprising: A plastic base plate forms a receiving groove, and the plastic base plate is provided with a liquid inlet structure and a liquid outlet structure communicating with the receiving groove; a plastic cover plate is sealed to the plastic base plate and covers the receiving groove to form a cooling flow channel. Compared with traditional metal liquid cooling plates, the weight is significantly reduced, which is suitable for the lightweight requirements of battery systems and vehicles.

[0006] Optionally, the liquid inlet structure and the liquid outlet structure are integrally injection molded with the plastic base plate; And / or, the bottom of the receiving groove on the plastic base plate is provided with multiple thinning zones arranged in a matrix. This eliminates the need for separate processing and assembly of pipe fittings and the base plate, improving production efficiency and reducing processing costs. The thinning zones reduce the weight of the plastic base plate, ensuring its structural strength while also reducing its weight.

[0007] Optionally, a limiting protrusion is provided on the side wall of the receiving groove on the plastic base plate, and the plastic cover plate is at least partially located within the receiving groove, with the limiting protrusion abutting against the side edge of the plastic cover plate. The rigid contact between the limiting protrusion and the side edge of the plastic cover plate provides stable lateral support, ensuring that the assembled plastic cover plate will not move within the receiving groove.

[0008] Optionally, a plurality of the limiting protrusions are spaced apart along the circumference of the receiving groove. Lateral support is provided around the plastic cover to restrict movement of the plastic cover in the length and width directions.

[0009] Optionally, the plastic cover plate has a stepped surface on the side facing away from the plastic base plate. The stepped surface is arranged along the circumference of the plastic cover plate. A glue groove is formed between the plastic cover plate and the plastic base plate. The glue groove is arranged along the circumference of the plastic cover plate. The stepped surface is located at the bottom of the glue groove. The glue groove is filled with sealant. The sealant seals and connects the plastic cover plate and the plastic base plate. And / or, the plastic cover plate and the plastic base plate are integrally welded by ultrasonic welding. This improves the reliability and sealing of the connection between the plastic cover plate and the plastic base plate.

[0010] Optionally, a protrusion is located near the edge on the side of the plastic cover facing the plastic base plate. This protrusion is circumferentially arranged along the plastic cover and abuts against the bottom of the receiving groove. Controlling the height of the cooling channel ensures uniform coolant flow within the channel, guaranteeing stable heat dissipation efficiency. Optionally, the plastic cover plate has a plurality of raised ribs on the side facing the plastic base plate, the raised ribs extending along a first direction, and the plurality of raised ribs being spaced apart along a second direction.

[0011] Optionally, the raised rib contacts the bottom of the receiving groove, dividing the space enclosed by the plastic cover plate and the plastic base plate to form multiple interconnected cooling channels. The contact between the raised rib and the bottom of the groove not only separates the channels but also forms a multi-point support structure, enhancing the deformation resistance of the liquid cooling plate.

[0012] According to a second aspect of this application, a thermal management system is provided, including the liquid cooling plate described above.

[0013] According to a third aspect of this application, a battery module is also provided, including the thermal management system described above.

[0014] The liquid cooling plate, thermal management system, and electric gear module of this application embodiment utilize plastic materials to fabricate the plastic base plate and plastic cover plate, significantly reducing weight compared to traditional metal liquid cooling plates, thus meeting the lightweight requirements of battery systems and vehicles. The plastic base plate and plastic cover plate are easy to process and have controllable costs, facilitating mass production and effectively controlling the manufacturing cost of the liquid cooling plate, thereby improving product cost-effectiveness.

[0015] Other features and advantages of this application will be described in detail in the following detailed description section. Attached Figure Description To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] To gain a more complete understanding of this application and its beneficial effects, the following description will be provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals in the following description denote the same parts.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the liquid cooling plate provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the liquid cooling plate provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the plastic base plate of the liquid cooling plate provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 4 yes Figure 3 An enlarged schematic diagram of part A in the middle; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the plastic top plate of the liquid cooling plate provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 6 This is a partial schematic diagram of the liquid cooling plate provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 7 yes Figure 6 BB cross-sectional view.

[0018] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 100. Liquid cooling plate; 110. Plastic base plate; 111. Receiving groove; 112. Thinning area; 113. Limiting protrusion; 120. Plastic cover plate; 121. Stepped surface; 122. Protrusion; 123. Rib; 130. Cooling channel; 140. Liquid inlet structure; 150. Liquid outlet structure; 160. Glue tank; 170. Sealing glue; X, width direction; Y, length direction. Detailed Implementation

[0019] 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 them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the protection scope of this application.

[0020] See Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 This application provides a liquid cooling plate 100 for thermal management of battery packs or individual cells. The liquid cooling plate 100 includes a plastic base plate 110 and a plastic cover plate 120. The plastic base plate 110 and the plastic cover plate 120 are made of plastic materials that are resistant to coolant corrosion and high-temperature deformation, such as ABS, ABS+PC, or PC. Compared with traditional metal liquid cooling plates 100, plastic materials have lower density, lower weight, better corrosion resistance, reduce the risk of electrochemical corrosion with the battery casing, and have a longer service life. The plastic base plate 110 has a receiving groove 111, and the plastic base plate 110 is provided with a liquid inlet structure 140 and a liquid outlet structure 150 communicating with the receiving groove 111. The plastic base plate 110 can be manufactured by injection molding, and the plastic base plate 110 is a rectangular plate. The size of the plastic base plate 110 can be flexibly adjusted according to the battery size. The receiving groove is a rectangular recess formed in the plastic base plate 110, and the corresponding plastic cover plate 120 is a rectangular plate structure. The plastic cover plate 120 is sealed to the plastic base plate 110, covering the receiving groove 111 to form a cooling channel 130. The liquid inlet structure 140 and the liquid outlet structure 150 are disposed on the side of the plastic base plate 110 away from the plastic cover plate 120, near the end of the plastic base plate 110. The liquid coolant forms a liquid cooling circulation within the liquid cooling plate 100 through the liquid inlet structure 140, the cooling channel 130, and the liquid outlet structure 150, which can quickly dissipate heat in a short time. This effectively controls the operating temperature of the battery pack or individual cells, avoids overheating affecting battery performance or causing safety risks, and ensures the effectiveness of battery thermal management.

[0021] In this embodiment, the base plate and cover plate are made of plastic, which significantly reduces weight compared to the traditional metal liquid cooling plate 100, meeting the lightweight requirements of battery systems and vehicles. Plastic processing is easy and cost-controllable, facilitating mass production and effectively controlling the manufacturing cost of the liquid cooling plate 100, thus improving the product's cost-effectiveness.

[0022] In some embodiments, see Figure 2 The liquid inlet structure 140 and liquid outlet structure 150 are injection molded integrally with the plastic base plate 110. The liquid inlet structure 140 and liquid outlet structure 150 are made of the same material as the plastic base plate 110, such as ABS material. The liquid inlet structure 140 and liquid outlet structure 150 are in the shape of pipe joints, connecting to an external liquid cooler via pipelines for quick docking.

[0023] In this embodiment, the liquid inlet structure 140 and the liquid outlet structure 150 are integrally injection molded with the plastic base plate 110, eliminating the need for separate processing and assembly of the pipe fittings and the base plate, thus improving production efficiency and reducing processing costs. Furthermore, the sealing structure between the liquid inlet structure 140 and the liquid outlet structure 150 and the plastic base plate 110 is omitted, saving material input and providing a good sealing effect for the liquid cooling plate 100.

[0024] In some embodiments, see Figure 2 The bottom of the receiving groove 111 on the plastic base plate 110 is provided with multiple thinning zones 112 arranged in an array. The bottom of the groove is provided with raised ribs 123 arranged in a grid pattern to form the thinning zones 112. Understandably, the wall thickness of the receiving groove 111 in the thinning zone 112 is smaller than the wall thickness of the receiving groove 111 in other areas. The raised ribs 123 structure increases the structural strength of the plastic base plate 110, while the thinning zones 112 reduce the weight of the plastic base plate 110, thus ensuring both structural strength and weight control of the plastic base plate 110.

[0025] In some embodiments, see Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 A limiting protrusion 113 is provided on the side wall of the receiving groove 111 on the plastic base plate 110. The bottom surface of the limiting protrusion 113 is flush with the bottom of the receiving groove 111 on the plastic pad. The limiting protrusion 113 is an integrated structure on the side wall of the receiving groove 111 on the plastic base plate 110, and can be formed simultaneously with the base plate and the receiving groove 111 through injection molding. The plastic cover plate 120 is at least partially located within the receiving groove 111, and the limiting protrusion 113 abuts against the side edge of the plastic cover plate 120. Through the rigid contact between the limiting protrusion 113 and the side edge of the plastic cover plate 120, stable lateral support is provided for the plastic cover plate 120, ensuring that the assembled plastic cover plate 120 will not move in the receiving groove 111.

[0026] In some embodiments, see Figure 3 and Figure 4 Multiple limiting protrusions 113 are spaced apart along the circumference of the receiving groove 111. For example, the receiving groove 111 is a rectangular groove, with two limiting protrusions 113 spaced apart on the two side walls extending along the width direction X of the receiving groove 111, and multiple limiting protrusions 113 spaced apart on the two side walls extending along the length direction Y of the receiving groove 111, with the multiple limiting protrusions 113 being equally spaced. Lateral support is provided around the plastic cover plate 120 to restrict the movement of the plastic cover plate 120 along the length direction Y and the width direction X. While the multiple limiting protrusions 113 form limiting support, the temporary space is small and will not affect the space of the receiving groove 111.

[0027] In some embodiments, see Figure 6 and Figure 7A stepped surface 121 is provided on the side of the plastic cover plate 120 opposite to the plastic base plate 110, and the stepped surface 121 is arranged circumferentially around the plastic cover plate 120. A glue groove 160 is formed between the plastic cover plate 120 and the plastic base plate 110, and the glue groove 160 is arranged circumferentially around the plastic cover plate 120, with the stepped surface 121 located at the bottom of the glue groove 160. The glue groove 160 is filled with sealant 170, and the sealant 170 seals the connection between the plastic cover plate 120 and the plastic base plate 110.

[0028] In this embodiment, the glue groove 160 provided around the plastic cover plate 120 provides a dedicated space for the sealant 170, preventing glue from overflowing or unevenly distributed; the stepped surface 121 serves as the bottom of the glue groove 160, which can precisely control the glue filling thickness, ensuring that the glue is evenly filled between the cover plate and the bottom plate, forming a continuous and complete sealant layer, which greatly reduces the risk of coolant leakage from the joint.

[0029] In some embodiments, see Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 The plastic cover plate 120 has a protrusion 122 near the edge on the side facing the plastic base plate 110. The protrusion 122 is arranged circumferentially along the plastic cover plate 120 and abuts against the bottom of the receiving groove 111.

[0030] In the embodiments of this application, see Figure 6 and Figure 7 The protrusion 122 is arranged circumferentially along the plastic cover plate 120 and abuts against the bottom of the receiving groove 111. It can serve as a height reference for the plastic cover plate 120 and the plastic base plate 110, controlling the height of the cooling channel 130, ensuring uniform flow rate of coolant in the channel, and guaranteeing stable heat dissipation efficiency. When the plastic cover plate 120 is subjected to external pressure, it is transmitted to the plastic base plate 110 through the protrusion 122, avoiding pressure concentration on the sealant layer between the cover plate and the base plate, preventing the sealant from deforming or breaking due to excessive compression, and ensuring sealing performance.

[0031] In some embodiments, see Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 The plastic cover plate 120 has multiple raised ribs 123 on the side facing the plastic base plate 110. The raised ribs 123 extend along a first direction and are spaced apart along a second direction. The raised ribs 123 are elongated protrusions. The multiple raised ribs 123 extend along the length direction Y of the plastic cover plate 120 and are spaced apart at equal intervals along the width direction X of the plastic cover plate 120.

[0032] In this embodiment, the raised ribs 123 on the plastic cover 120 enhance its resistance to bending and deformation, preventing the central area of ​​the cover from sinking due to coolant circulation pressure or external impact. This ensures the cooling channel 130 remains at a stable height, does not affect the normal flow of coolant, and guarantees reliable heat dissipation. While enhancing the strength of the cover, there is no need to increase its overall thickness or weight, thus balancing lightweight design and strength.

[0033] Furthermore, the protruding ribs 123 extend into the cooling channel 130, which can guide and turbulent the flowing coolant, directing it to flow along a predetermined path and avoiding local stagnation. This breaks the laminar flow state of the coolant, promotes heat exchange, and improves thermal management efficiency.

[0034] In some embodiments, see Figure 6 and Figure 7 The protruding ribs 123 on the plastic cover plate 120 contact the bottom of the mounting groove on the plastic base plate 110, dividing the space enclosed by the plastic cover plate 120 and the plastic base plate 110 to form multiple interconnected cooling channels 130.

[0035] The raised ribs 123 on the plastic cover plate 120 are in close contact with the bottom of the receiving groove 111 on the plastic base plate 110, precisely dividing the area enclosed by the cover plate and the base plate into two interconnected cooling channels 130. One cooling channel 130 is connected to the liquid inlet structure 140, serving as the inflow path for the coolant; the other cooling channel 130 is connected to the liquid outlet structure 150, serving as the outflow path for the coolant. Simultaneously, the raised ribs 123 can further subdivide each cooling channel 130 into multiple sub-channels extending along the length direction Y, forming a multi-level flow channel system of "main channel + branch sub-channels." This optimizes the flow field distribution and improves heat dissipation uniformity.

[0036] The coolant needs to flow through the inlet channel, sub-channel, and outlet channel in sequence, significantly increasing the path length compared to a single flow channel. This prolongs the heat exchange time with the battery and enhances the convective heat transfer effect. The contact between the rib 123 and the bottom of the tank not only separates the flow channels but also forms a multi-point support structure, enhancing the deformation resistance of the liquid cooling plate 100.

[0037] In some embodiments, see Figure 6 and Figure 7 The raised ribs 123 on the plastic cover plate 120 are aligned and in contact with the raised ribs 123 on the plastic base plate 110 that form the thinning area 112. The raised ribs 123 support the plastic cover plate 120, resulting in a large contact area between the plastic cover plate 120 and the plastic base plate 110, good support effect, and reduced deformation and bending of the plastic cover plate 120.

[0038] In some embodiments, see Figure 6 and Figure 7The plastic cover 120 is located within the receiving groove 111, and the side of the plastic cover 120 facing away from the receiving groove 111 is on the same plane as the top surface of the plastic base plate 110. The shared top surface design of the plastic cover 120 and the plastic base plate 110 makes the top profile of the liquid cooling plate 100 a flat support surface, which is beneficial for battery assembly. The weight of the battery can be evenly distributed to the plastic base plate 110 and the plastic cover 120, avoiding localized stress concentration caused by protrusions and protecting the battery and the liquid cooling plate 100.

[0039] In some embodiments, the plastic cover plate 120 and the plastic base plate 110 are integrally welded using ultrasonic welding. Ultrasonic welding uses high-frequency vibration to fuse the contact surfaces of the plastic cover plate 120 and the plastic base plate 110 together, forming a seamless, integrated structure. Compared to traditional mechanical connections, this completely eliminates gaps, significantly reducing the risk of leakage and providing a reliable, sealed environment for liquid cooling circulation. The dual sealing effect of welding and sealant further enhances the sealing performance.

[0040] In some embodiments, see Figure 7 The thickness of the liquid cooling plate 100 is H, where 3.5mm ≤ H ≤ 4.5mm. The value of H can be 3.5mm, 3.8mm, 4.0mm, 4.2mm, 4.5mm, or other unlisted values. Compared to aluminum cold plates, for the same heat dissipation area, the liquid cooling plate 100 weighs one-quarter less and reduces costs by one-quarter.

[0041] According to the second aspect of this disclosure, see Figures 1 to 7 A thermal management system is provided, including the liquid cooling plate 100 of any of the above-described embodiments. This thermal management system possesses all the beneficial effects of the liquid cooling plate 100 described above, which will not be elaborated further in this disclosure.

[0042] According to the second aspect of this disclosure, see Figures 1 to 7 A battery module is provided, including the aforementioned thermal management system. The protective properties of this battery module possess all the beneficial effects of the aforementioned thermal management system, which will not be elaborated further herein.

[0043] In some embodiments, the battery module includes a battery housing mounted on a liquid cooling plate 100, with a thermally conductive agent filling the space between the liquid cooling plate 100 and the battery housing. The thermally conductive agent fills the tiny gap between the liquid cooling plate 100 and the battery housing, allowing heat from the battery housing to be quickly transferred to the liquid cooling plate 100, shortening the heat dissipation response time and preventing heat accumulation inside the housing. The thermally conductive agent can be an elastic thermally conductive material, forming a flexible buffer layer between the battery housing and the liquid cooling plate 100. Vibration and impact are absorbed by the thermally conductive agent, reducing component wear or loosening caused by rigid contact, while preventing vibration from disrupting the thermal contact between the two, thus balancing structural protection and heat dissipation stability.

[0044] In the description of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0045] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0046] The embodiments, implementation methods, and related technical features of this application can be combined and substituted for each other without conflict.

[0047] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application in any way. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of this application without departing from the scope of the technical solution of this application shall still fall within the scope of the technical solution of this application.

Claims

1. A liquid-cooled plate (100), characterized in that, include: A plastic base plate (110) is formed with a receiving groove (111), and the plastic base plate (110) is provided with a liquid inlet structure (140) and a liquid outlet structure (150) communicating with the receiving groove (111); A plastic cover plate (120) is sealed to the plastic base plate (110) and covers the receiving groove (111) to form a cooling channel (130).

2. The liquid-cooled plate (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid inlet structure (140) and the liquid outlet structure (150) are integrally injection molded with the plastic base plate (110); And / or, the bottom of the receiving groove (111) on the plastic base plate (110) is provided with a plurality of thinning zones (112) arranged in a matrix.

3. The liquid-cooled plate (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plastic base plate (110) has a limiting protrusion (113) on the side wall of the receiving groove (111), and the plastic cover plate (120) is at least partially located in the receiving groove (111), with the limiting protrusion (113) abutting against the side of the plastic cover plate (120).

4. The liquid-cooled plate (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that, Along the circumference of the receiving groove (111), a plurality of the limiting protrusions (113) are spaced apart.

5. The liquid-cooled plate (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plastic cover plate (120) has a stepped surface (121) on the side facing away from the plastic base plate (110). The stepped surface (121) is arranged around the circumference of the plastic cover plate (120). A glue groove (160) is formed between the plastic cover plate (120) and the plastic base plate (110). The glue groove (160) is arranged around the circumference of the plastic cover plate (120). The stepped surface (121) is located at the bottom of the glue groove (160). The glue groove (160) is filled with sealant (170). The sealant (170) seals and connects the plastic cover plate (120) and the plastic base plate (110). And / or, the plastic cover plate (120) and the plastic base plate (110) are integrally welded by ultrasonic welding.

6. The liquid-cooled plate (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The plastic cover plate (120) has a protrusion (122) near the edge on one side of the plastic base plate (110). The protrusion (122) is arranged circumferentially along the plastic cover plate (120) and abuts against the bottom of the receiving groove (111).

7. The liquid-cooled plate (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The plastic cover plate (120) has a plurality of raised ribs (123) on the side facing the plastic base plate (110). The raised ribs (123) extend along a first direction, and the plurality of raised ribs (123) are spaced apart along a second direction.

8. The liquid-cooled plate (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The rib (123) contacts the bottom of the receiving groove (111), dividing the space enclosed by the plastic cover plate (120) and the plastic base plate (110) to form multiple interconnected cooling channels (130).

9. A thermal management system, characterized in that, Includes the liquid cooling plate (100) as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A battery module, characterized in that, Includes the thermal management system as described in claim 9.

Images