Housing for a high-voltage storage device of a motor vehicle and high-voltage storage device

Abstract

The invention relates to a housing (11) for a high-voltage storage device of a motor vehicle, wherein the housing (11) is configured to accommodate a cell pack (15) of battery cells (16) and has a housing cover (12) which is designed to be arranged facing a vehicle interior (17) of the motor vehicle (50), wherein the housing cover (12) forms a channel structure (20) through which a cooling fluid (F) can flow.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a housing for a high-voltage storage device of a motor vehicle, wherein the housing is configured to accommodate a cell pack of battery cells and has a housing cover which can be arranged facing the interior of the motor vehicle, the housing cover forming a channel structure. The invention further relates to a high-voltage storage device for a motor vehicle with such a housing.

[0002] High-voltage storage systems, also known as traction batteries or accumulators, are used to provide electrical energy for powering electric vehicles. The performance and lifespan of lithium-ion batteries are temperature-dependent. In current high-voltage storage systems for electric vehicles, battery cells are cooled and / or heated, for example, by means of cooling coils with coolant between, on, or beneath the battery cells; heat-conducting plates connected to liquid cooling between, on, or beneath the battery cells; or liquid-immersed battery cells in the form of "immersion cooling" or "immersion heating."

[0003] To protect battery cells from external stresses acting on the high-voltage storage system, stiffening measures such as transverse or longitudinal reinforcements in the form of profiles are used, arranged within the vehicle battery housing. However, the use of such stiffening structures in a high-voltage storage system can reduce the pack capacity and thus the potential energy density.

[0004] Against this background, an object of the invention is to improve a high-voltage storage device for a motor vehicle. In particular, a housing for a high-voltage storage device of a motor vehicle is to be improved in such a way as to enable improved temperature management and / or improved protection against stresses from outside the high-voltage storage device.

[0005] This problem is solved by a housing for a high-voltage storage device of a motor vehicle with the features of claim 1 and a high-voltage storage device for a motor vehicle with the features of claim 9. The dependent claims relate to advantageous further developments of the invention.

[0006] According to a first aspect, a housing for a high-voltage storage device of a motor vehicle is specified, wherein the housing is configured to accommodate a cell pack of battery cells and has a housing cover which can be arranged facing a vehicle interior of the motor vehicle, wherein the housing cover forms a channel structure through which a cooling fluid can flow by means of at least one structural element.

[0007] Because the housing cover allows a cooling fluid to flow through it via the channel structure, a heat transfer surface can be formed, particularly within an interior bounded by the housing and / or the battery cells or cell packing. This surface can be used to transfer thermal energy from the battery cells to the cooling fluid. This results in a cooling effect on the battery cells, thereby increasing their performance and / or lifespan.

[0008] According to another aspect, a high-voltage storage device for a motor vehicle is specified, comprising a housing as described herein and a cell pack of battery cells housed within the housing, wherein the cell pack is in thermally conductive contact with the housing cover. This allows thermal energy to be absorbed from the battery cells and dissipated by means of the cooling fluid flowing in the housing cover.

[0009] A high-voltage storage system is, in particular, an energy storage device or traction battery for a motor vehicle, comprising multiple battery cells. The housing of the high-voltage storage system defines an interior space in which the battery cells are housed or arranged. Cylindrical and / or prismatic battery cells are primarily used, which can be provided in packing arrangements or cell packs. A cylindrical battery cell, for example, has a circular cross-section and a longitudinal axis perpendicular to it. In a vehicle installation, the high-voltage storage system and / or the cylindrical battery cells are arranged such that the longitudinal axes of the battery cells are parallel to a vehicle vertical. The housing interior can have a substantially cuboid geometry, bounded by the housing walls.The housing, for example, has a trough-shaped housing cover and / or a trough-shaped housing tray, which together can enclose the interior. The housing, the housing cover, and / or the housing tray can have side walls, with (each) two of the side walls being arranged opposite each other in a transverse direction when installed in a motor vehicle. When installed in a motor vehicle, the housing of the high-voltage storage unit is arranged such that the housing cover faces the vehicle interior, while the housing tray faces the surroundings or a surface.

[0010] The invention is based, among other things, on the idea of ​​placing cooling structures, which are intended for the efficient operation of a high-voltage storage system, within the housing of the high-voltage storage system. For this purpose, it is proposed to design a housing cover of the high-voltage storage system as a flow-through heat exchanger and to provide a channel structure in the housing cover so that a cooling fluid flowing in the channel structure can be in thermal contact with at least one battery cell of the cell pack in order to transfer heat from the at least one battery cell to the coolant flowing in the housing cover and thus dissipate it. The channel structure can be designed to guide the fluid or to have or form a number of cooling fluid channels through which a pre-tempered cooling fluid can flow to enable heat transfer between the battery cells and the housing cover.The channel structure can be multi-flow, in particular with a plurality of cooling fluid channels of equal volume, and can have a distribution device with a supply channel or inlet and a discharge channel or outlet, wherein the supply channel is configured to supply a feeder of the channel structure with cooling fluid and the discharge channel is configured to carry away cooling fluid from a return of the channel structure.

[0011] The channel structure in the housing cover can be formed by means of at least one structural element, in particular in the form of a sandwich structure, wherein, for example, at least one structural element is arranged between two, in particular thin and / or solid, outer layers (housing cover plates). To form the channel structure, the at least one structural element can be configured to delimit or define at least one cooling fluid channel along its flow direction. In addition to enabling fluid flow via the channel structure, this allows the at least one structural element or the sandwich structure to improve the flexural stiffness and / or strength of the housing cover, particularly at low weight.

[0012] In one embodiment, the housing cover can be arranged adjacent to a cell pack of battery cells that can be accommodated by the housing. The housing cover, or more specifically its heat exchange surface facing the interior of the housing, can be arranged on the battery cells, or conversely, the battery cells can be arranged on the housing cover, such that heat conduction can occur through mechanical contact. The housing cover can be attached to the battery cells by means of a thermally conductive paste or layer, or bonded to them.

[0013] In one embodiment, the cell packing is arranged within the housing such that the end faces of the battery cells, which have recessed cell terminals, face away from the housing cover. This allows those end faces of the battery cells with a substantially flat surface to abut the housing cover, thereby maximizing the heat transfer surface between the battery cells and the housing cover and facilitating heat dissipation. Furthermore, this arrangement allows a cell contacting device, which is typically located at the recessed cell terminals, to be positioned at a distance from or opposite the housing cover, thus enabling particularly direct heat transfer between the surfaces of the battery cells and the housing cover, thereby improving temperature management for the battery cells and / or the high-voltage storage system.

[0014] In one embodiment, the at least one structural element is designed to at least partially absorb a force or load acting on the housing from the outside and / or to distribute the force or load over a predetermined area. This allows the housing cover to be used for mechanical stabilization of the high-voltage storage device. The structural element can have a predetermined wall thickness and can form at least one wall for the channel structure to delimit at least one fluid channel. The structural element can be configured to mechanically stabilize a thermally active area to allow reduced deformation within the high-voltage storage device, particularly in one direction along a vehicle vertical. This can, in particular, reduce overloads and the contribution of the housing to the system's thermal stability.The stiffness of the high-voltage storage system in relation to the overall system stiffness of a motor vehicle can be increased in order to extend the service life of the high-voltage storage system or the high-voltage storage module.

[0015] In one embodiment, the housing cover has an outer housing cover plate and an inner housing cover plate, and the at least one structural element is arranged between the outer and inner housing cover plates. This allows a sandwich structure to be formed in which, firstly, the formation of a channel structure by means of the at least one structural element enables the flow of cooling fluid through the housing cover, and secondly, the bending stiffness of the housing cover is increased by means of the at least one structural element, which defines a distance between the inner and outer housing cover plates. Furthermore, shocks and / or vibrations can be absorbed by means of the at least one structural element, thereby making the housing cover resilient and resistant to external influences.

[0016] The structural element can, for example, be designed as a (sheet metal) plate with a corrugated or beaded profile. Such a corrugated structure can contribute to the stiffness and / or strength of the housing cover and promote load distribution within the housing cover when subjected to a load or force, particularly a locally limited one. Furthermore, the corrugations or beads can form, especially parallel, cooling fluid channels for the channel structure, which can be closed by the inner and outer housing cover plates. Here, the corrugations or beads can, for example, have a trapezoidal cross-section to utilize structural and / or manufacturing advantages. In other embodiments, the channel structure or the cooling fluid channels for the channel structure can be formed by means of several structural elements designed as strips or profiles.

[0017] In one embodiment, the at least one structural element is configured to form an acute angle with the outer housing cover plate and / or the inner housing cover plate. An acute angle is defined as an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°, and can in particular be between 30° and 60° or 45°, thereby improving the load-bearing capacity and / or stability of the structural element or the housing cover. By appropriately selecting such an acute angle, a resistance to a predetermined load level can be achieved to prevent damage to the cooling channels formed by the structural element.

[0018] In one embodiment, the inner housing cover plate exhibits greater structural strength than the outer housing cover plate. Here, structural strength refers in particular to the ability of a material, or of the inner and outer housing cover plates, to withstand external loads and / or forces without suffering structural damage and / or losing integrity. Specifically, this determines resistance to deformation, fracture, and / or failure. Therefore, if a maximum load is exceeded, outward failure may be favored; that is, if the housing cover is damaged, leakage of the cooling fluid to the outside is more likely than leakage of the cooling fluid into a housing interior containing sensitive and / or short-circuit-prone electrical components.electronic components, such as battery cells and / or a cell contacting device, may be or are arranged.

[0019] In one embodiment, the channel structure forms at least one cooling fluid channel. Several cooling fluid channels can be arranged in parallel, particularly by means of a structural element designed as a corrugated profile. The at least one cooling fluid channel is provided in the housing cover or the high-voltage storage unit such that, in a typical installation in a motor vehicle, it is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The channel structure can form a supply and a return flow for the cooling fluid by means of its fluid channels, with adjacent channels being alternately assigned to the supply or the return flow, resulting in an alternating fluid flow arrangement. A collecting device or similar component can be located at one longitudinal end of the cooling fluid channels.A diverter plenum must be designed to receive coolant from the supply line and transfer it to the return line. The channel structure can be connected to, or be connected to, a coolant circuit of the vehicle, for example, by means of a suitable supply channel or inlet and / or outlet channel.

[0020] In one embodiment, the at least one cooling fluid channel has a substantially trapezoidal cross-section. Such a trapezoidal cross-section can be achieved, for example, by inclined the structural element or the channel walls formed by the structural element, which separate the fluid channels, in order to increase mechanical stability. This allows for a space-saving arrangement of several cooling fluid channels side by side to form a channel structure, since the cross-sections of adjacent cooling fluid channels can alternately align, while simultaneously improving the structural strength of the housing cover or the channel structure.

[0021] According to a further aspect, a motor vehicle is specified, comprising at least one housing and / or one high-voltage storage device as described herein, whereby the effects and / or advantages described herein can be utilized by means of such a motor vehicle. Furthermore, a housing cover is proposed, which is designed for use in a housing and / or high-voltage storage device as described herein.

[0022] Further advantages and application possibilities of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the figures. Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention comprising a high-voltage storage device according to the invention. Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a high-voltage storage device according to the invention, comprising a housing according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Fig. Figure 3 shows a further schematic representation of the embodiment of a housing according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Fig. Figure 4 shows a further schematic representation of the embodiment of a housing according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Fig. Figure 5 shows a further schematic representation of the embodiment of a housing according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0023] Fig. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a motor vehicle 50 with a high-voltage storage device 10 for a motor vehicle 50 according to the present disclosure in a schematic sectional view in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0024] The motor vehicle 50 has a high-voltage storage unit 10 in its underbody area, which comprises a housing 11 with a housing cover 12 and a housing tray 13. The housing 11 encloses or delimits an interior space 14 in which a cell pack 15 of battery cells 16 is arranged. The battery cells 16 are received in the high-voltage storage unit 10 or its housing 11 such that flat sides or flat walls of the battery cells 16 abut the housing cover 12. In the present embodiment, end faces of the battery cells 16, which have recessed cell terminals 116 for electrical contact, are arranged facing away from the housing cover 12 or a vehicle interior 17. At least the cell terminals 116 are electrically connected to one another by means of a cell contacting device 117.The end faces of the battery cells 16 or the cell pack 15 opposite the cell terminals 116 are in thermally conductive contact with the housing cover 12 or are adjacent to the housing cover 12 in order to enable heat transfer between the battery cells 16 and the housing cover 12.

[0025] The housing cover 12 is arranged facing the vehicle interior 17 of the motor vehicle 10 and forms a channel structure (not shown) through which a cooling fluid F can flow by means of a structural element (not shown here). The channel structure can, for example, be supplied with cooling fluid via a coolant circuit 51 of the motor vehicle 50. The structural element and the channel structure are used in connection with the Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5 explained in more detail.

[0026] Fig. Figure 2 shows an enlarged detail view of the high-voltage storage unit 10. Fig. 1 in a sectional view along a transverse direction of the vehicle.

[0027] Here it can be seen that the cell pack 15, containing battery cells 16, is adjacent to the housing cover 12 or is attached to the housing cover 12 by means of an adhesive bond, in particular a thermally conductive one, thereby allowing heat from the battery cells 16 to be transferred to the cooling fluid F, which can flow in the channel structure 20 of the housing cover 12. The channel structure 20 is formed by means of a structural element 21, which is designed as a plate element with wave- or corrugated recesses extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. These corrugations or recesses are each closed by an outer housing cover plate 121, facing the vehicle interior 17 and away from the housing interior 14, and an inner housing cover plate 122, facing the housing interior 14, so that parallel cooling fluid channels 22a, 22b are formed.

[0028] Here, first cooling fluid channels 22a can form a supply flow for the cooling fluid F, and second cooling fluid channels 22b a return flow for the cooling fluid F. In the present figure, the flow direction of the cooling fluid F in the channel structure 20 or the cooling fluid channels 22a, 22b is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. This allows for cooling of the battery cells 16 and thus increases the performance and / or service life of the battery cells 16 and / or the high-voltage storage device 10.

[0029] By means of the structural element 21, a stiffening of at least one area of ​​the housing cover 12 can be made possible, in particular against a load input from above or from the direction of the vehicle interior 17, wherein in an area of ​​the housing cover 12 adjacent laterally to the structural element 21 an additional stiffening is lacking, which can improve the absorption of a load input from a lateral direction.

[0030] Fig. Figure 3 shows an enlarged section of the high-voltage storage unit 10. Fig. 2.

[0031] The structural element 21 forms an acute angle α with the outer housing cover plate 121. For the sake of clarity, further angles have been omitted from the illustration, although it is clear from the drawing that such an angle α is also, or can be, formed between the structural element 21 and the inner housing cover plate 122. This gives the cross-sections of the cooling fluid channels 22a, 22b a trapezoidal shape, thus enabling a space-saving, adjacent arrangement of the cooling fluid channels 22a, 22b.

[0032] Furthermore, this inclined position allows the structural element 21 to be designed to at least partially absorb an external load or force L acting on the housing and / or (as indicated by the arrows) to distribute it over a larger area of ​​the structural element 21 or the housing cover 12, in order to provide protection for the battery cells 16 or the cell pack 15. The inner housing cover plate 122 may be designed to have greater structural strength than the outer housing cover plate 121, so that in the event of a failure of the housing cover 12, the cooling fluid F can be released to the outside, thus preventing it from penetrating the interior of the housing 14.

[0033] Fig. Figure 4 shows another representation of the high-voltage storage unit 10. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 in a perspective view.

[0034] It can be seen that when a force L acts on the housing cover 12, a load distribution can occur, in particular by means of the structural element 21, in a longitudinal direction or in the flow direction of the cooling fluid channels 22a, 22b. This allows for increased structural strength of the housing 11 and thus improved resistance of the high-voltage storage device 10, especially against loads from the vehicle interior 17.

[0035] The cooling fluid F can flow in the first cooling fluid channels 22a in a first direction and in the second cooling fluid channels 22b in a second direction opposite to the first direction, thereby forming a forward and a return flow for the cooling fluid F in order to improve heat removal from the battery cells 16 and the cell packing 15, respectively.

[0036] Fig. Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a housing cover 12 of the housing 11 or high-voltage storage device 10 from the preceding Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. 4 in a schematic sectional view.

[0037] The channel structure 20 formed by means of the structural element 21 can be seen here, wherein a supply line 23 is formed by means of first cooling fluid channels 22a and a return line 24 for the cooling fluid F is formed by means of second cooling fluid channels 22b. A supply to the channel structure 20 can be provided by means of an inlet 25 and / or a discharge of heated cooling fluid F can be provided by means of an outlet 26, each of which can be connected to a coolant circuit 51 of the motor vehicle 50 in order to provide a cooling effect on the battery cells 16 or the cell pack 15. REFERENCE MARK LIST 10 high-voltage storage units 11 cases 12 Case covers 13 Housing tray 14 Interior of the housing 15 cell pack 16 battery cells 17 Vehicle interior 20 Channel structure 21 Structural element 22a first cooling fluid channel 22b second cooling fluid channel 23 preliminary round 24 return 25 inflows 26 Procedure 50 motor vehicles 51 Coolant circuit 116 detached, formed cell terminals 117 Cell contacting device 121 outer housing cover plate 122 inner housing cover plate α acute angle F Cooling fluid L force

Claims

[1] Housing (11) for a high-voltage storage device of a motor vehicle, wherein the housing (11) is configured to accommodate a cell pack (15) of battery cells (16) and has a housing cover (12) which can be arranged facing a vehicle interior (17) of the motor vehicle (50), wherein the housing cover (12) forms a channel structure (20) through which a cooling fluid (F) can flow by means of at least one structural element (21). [2] Housing (11) according to the preceding claim, wherein the housing cover (12) can be arranged adjacent to a cell pack (15) of battery cells (16) that can be received by the housing (11). [3] Housing (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one structural element (21) is designed to at least partially absorb a force (L) acting from the outside on the housing (12). [4] Housing (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing cover (12) has an outer housing cover plate (121) and an inner housing cover plate (122) and the at least one structural element (21) is arranged between the outer housing cover plate (121) and the inner housing cover plate (122). [5] Housing (11) according to the preceding claim, wherein the at least one structural element (21) is configured to form an acute angle (α) with the outer housing cover plate (121) and / or the inner housing cover plate (122). [6] Housing (11) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the inner housing cover plate (122) has a greater structural strength than the outer housing cover plate (121). [7] Housing (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the channel structure (22) forms at least one cooling fluid channel (22a, 22b). [8] Housing (11) according to the preceding claim, wherein the at least one cooling fluid channel (22a, 22b) has a substantially trapezoidal cross-section. [9] High-voltage storage device (10) for a motor vehicle (50), comprising a housing (11) according to one of the preceding claims and a cell pack (15) of battery cells (16) received by a housing (11), wherein the cell pack (15) is in thermally conductive contact with the housing cover (12). [10] High-voltage storage device (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the cell packing (15) is arranged inside the housing (11) such that end faces of the battery cells (16), which have offset cell terminals (116), are arranged facing away from the housing cover (12).

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