Liquid-cooled reservoir for a starter battery in the engine compartment

Abstract

Liquid-cooled container (11) for a battery (14) of a vehicle (19) with an internal combustion engine (18), wherein the open-topped container (11) has a rectangular enclosure consisting of four side walls and a base plate, the enclosure being formed as a hollow body made of a thermally conductive material and allowing coolant to flow through it, the container (11) having at least one coolant inlet connection (12) and at least one coolant outlet connection (13), wherein an interior space enclosed by the container (11) is shaped to accommodate the battery (14) in a form-fitting manner, the liquid-cooled container (11) being to be arranged in an engine compartment and being designed to dissipate waste heat generated by the internal combustion engine (18) and its components during operation of the vehicle (19) by means of the coolant flowing in its enclosure.and• immediately after the end of operation, to absorb waste heat in the engine compartment through the coolant contained in the enclosure, wherein aluminium is chosen as the thermally conductive material, wherein each outer surface of the container (11) has a smoothly polished, radiation-reflecting surface.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid-cooled container which is used to hold a battery that needs to be protected from engine heat.

[0002] Lead-acid batteries, which are particularly heavy, are traditionally used as starter batteries for combustion engines. Lithium-ion starter batteries, which have a relatively high mass, are helpful for weight reduction in vehicle optimization. Due to their lower mass, they have long been used in motorsports or were previously reserved for premium vehicles. More recently, lithium-ion batteries have also become available as retrofit kits for production vehicles.

[0003] Lithium-ion batteries have a disadvantage compared to lead-acid batteries: they cover a narrower thermal operating range and degrade chemically more quickly when exposed to excessive heat. This significantly reduces their lifespan. Since starter batteries are typically located near the engine, they are likely to be affected by heat from the engine compartment in a combustion engine.

[0004] In US patent 7,427,156 B2, a traction battery is housed in an open-topped aluminum casing. The aluminum casing, formed from a single sheet of metal on the sides, has a fluid channel in its base connected to a heat exchange system, intended to provide temperature management for the battery.

[0005] German patent application DE 10 2017 128 876 A1 discloses a housing for an electric motor or a battery, which is made of aluminum and has at least one coolant channel. The coolant channel is connected to a cooling system for air conditioning the passenger compartment.

[0006] The Chinese document CN 113352943A describes a thermal management system for an electric vehicle, in which a single heat exchanger through which a coolant flows is used to cool a battery and to cool a cooling air which is intended to cool a passenger compartment.

[0007] Against this background, an object of the present invention is to provide a device that prevents thermal damage to a battery located near an internal combustion engine. In particular, after the end of a journey, when the vehicle systems / cooling systems are switched off, but the engine continues to produce waste heat while cooling, the battery should not be damaged. Furthermore, a use of the device is claimed.

[0008] To solve the aforementioned problem, a liquid-cooled container for a vehicle battery with an internal combustion engine is proposed. The container, which is open at the top, has a rectangular enclosure consisting of four side walls and a base plate. The enclosure is a hollow body made of a thermally conductive material and is permeable to coolant. The container has at least one coolant inlet and at least one coolant outlet. An interior space enclosed by the container is shaped to accommodate the battery. The liquid-cooled container is located, or is to be located, in an engine compartment and is designed accordingly. • to dissipate waste heat generated by the combustion engine and its components during vehicle operation by means of the coolant flowing in its conversion, and • to absorb waste heat in the engine compartment immediately after the end of operation through the coolant in the conversion.

[0009] The interior, designed to fit the installed or to-be-installed battery, advantageously enables thermal contact with the battery. This allows the coolant-flushed enclosure to dissipate heat from the battery, which may have been transferred, for example, through thermal radiation from the engine compartment to an upper area not covered by the container according to the invention, or which may have been generated by the battery's own use.

[0010] The liquid-cooled container according to the invention also advantageously protects the battery located within it from overheating when the vehicle is parked after a drive, but the combustion engine and its components are still hot and subsequently contribute to the waste heat in the engine compartment. The container, and in particular the coolant present in its enclosure, absorbs the waste heat transferred by thermal radiation and thus protects the battery. This further advantageously increases the battery's service life.

[0011] In one embodiment of the liquid-cooled container according to the invention, aluminum is chosen as the thermally conductive material. The aluminum, cooled by the coolant during operation, also contributes to absorbing heat from the engine compartment and protecting the battery after operation has ended.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the liquid-cooled container according to the invention, each outer surface of the container has a smoothly polished, radiation-reflecting surface.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the liquid-cooled container according to the invention, the battery to be accommodated is a lithium-ion starter battery.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the liquid-cooled container according to the invention, a piping system for coolant supply runs through the entire wall of the container.

[0015] In a further developed embodiment of the liquid-cooled container according to the invention, the coolant flowing through the enclosure is part of the vehicle's air conditioning system. The coolant is thus connected to an air conditioning compressor and is cooled by it during driving.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the liquid-cooled container according to the invention, the coolant flowing through the enclosure has a high specific heat capacity.

[0017] Furthermore, the use of a liquid-cooled container according to the invention for housing a lithium-ion starter battery in a vehicle with an internal combustion engine is claimed.

[0018] Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawing.

[0019] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without leaving the scope of the present invention.

[0020] The figures are described in a coherent and comprehensive manner; identical components are assigned the same reference symbols. Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows an arrangement of an embodiment of the liquid-cooled container according to the invention in a vehicle. Fig. Figure 2 shows in perspective the design of the liquid-cooled container according to the invention.

[0021] In Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows an arrangement 10 of an embodiment of the liquid-cooled container 11 according to the invention in a vehicle 19 near its internal combustion engine 18 and its components. A battery 14 is inserted into the liquid-cooled container 11. The battery 14 serves, for example, to start the internal combustion engine 18. The liquid-cooled container 11 is connected to the vehicle 19's air conditioning system via a coolant inlet connection 12 and a coolant outlet connection 13. The flow of coolant through the container is designed such that no heat build-up can occur that would damage the battery.

[0022] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the design of the liquid-cooled container 11 according to the invention. The wall of the container 11 is selected with a suitable thickness to provide sufficient cooled (aluminum) mass and coolant present in the piping system of the wall, through which waste heat or residual heat from the combustion engine (reference numeral 18 in Figure 2) is dissipated. Fig. 1) and its components after the journey has ended, thus preventing or allowing the battery 14 to overheat. Reference symbol list 10 Arrangement scheme 11 Liquid-cooled container 12 Coolant inlet connection 13 Coolant outlet connection 14 batteries 18 Internal combustion engine and its components 19 vehicles 20 cooling containers with battery QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 7427156 B2

[0004] DE 102017128876 A1

[0005] CN 113352943 A

[0006]

Claims

[1] Liquid-cooled container (11) for a battery (14) of a vehicle (19) with an internal combustion engine (18), wherein the container (11) which is not closed at the top has a rectangular wall consisting of four side walls and a base plate, wherein the wall is formed as a hollow body made of a thermally conductive material and through which coolant can flow, wherein the container (11) has at least one coolant inlet connection (12) and at least one coolant outlet connection (13), wherein an interior space enclosed by the container (11) is shaped in accordance with the battery (14) to be accommodated in a form-fitting manner, wherein the liquid-cooled container (11) is to be arranged in an engine compartment and is designed to • during operation of the vehicle (19), to dissipate waste heat generated by the internal combustion engine (18) and its components by means of the coolant flowing in its enclosure, and • Immediately after the end of operation, waste heat is absorbed in the engine compartment by the coolant in the enclosure. [2] Liquid-cooled container (11) according to claim 1, wherein aluminum is selected as the thermally conductive material. [3] Liquid-cooled container (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a respective outer side of the container (11) has a smoothly polished, radiation-reflecting surface. [4] Liquid-cooled container (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the battery (14) to be accommodated is a lithium-ion starter battery. [5] Liquid-cooled container (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a conduit system for conducting the coolant passes through the entire enclosure. [6] Liquid-cooled container (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coolant flowing through the enclosure is part of an air conditioning system of the vehicle (19). [7] Liquid-cooled container (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coolant flowing through the wall has a high specific heat capacity. [8] Use of a container (11) according to one of claims 1 to 7 for accommodating a lithium-ion starter battery in a vehicle (19) with an internal combustion engine (18).

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