Filter-dryer unit for filtering and drying a liquid, and immersion cooling system for an electrically powered vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filter-dryer device (1) for filtering and drying a liquid, in particular an oil filter, comprising a housing (2) that defines a housing volume (3) through which the liquid can flow, a filter element (4) arranged in the housing volume (3) of the housing (2) and through which the liquid can flow for filtering the liquid, and a drying device (5) arranged in the housing volume (3) of the housing (2) and through which the liquid can flow for drying the liquid. The drying device (5) comprises a dryer housing (6) that defines a dryer housing volume (7) in which a desiccant (8) for drying the liquid is contained in bulk. Essential to the invention is that the filter-dryer device includes a desiccant compaction device (9) configured for compacting the desiccant (8) contained in the dryer housing (6).The invention relates in particular to an immersion cooling system for an electrically powered vehicle.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a filter-dryer device for filtering and drying a liquid, comprising a housing that defines a volume through which the liquid flows. The filter-dryer device has a filter element arranged within the housing volume, through which the liquid flows, for filtering the liquid, and a drying device also arranged within the housing volume, through which the liquid flows. The drying device, in turn, has a dryer housing that defines a dryer volume in which a desiccant for drying the liquid is contained in bulk. The invention relates in particular to an immersion cooling system for an electrically powered vehicle with at least one such filter-dryer device.

[0002] A filter-dryer device of the type mentioned above is described in German patent application DE 10 2019 122 034 A1. The known filter-dryer device is integrated into a circuit of a thermal management module and is designed to separate foreign particles and dissolved or entrained free water from a liquid circulating in the circuit. This free water can damage components integrated into the circuit, particularly through corrosion, or cause electrical short circuits. For this purpose, the filter-dryer device is equipped with a flow-through filter element for separating foreign particles and a flow-through drying unit. This drying unit binds dissolved or entrained water in the liquid by means of a desiccant stored in the drying unit, for example, by adsorption.The process of removing water from the liquid is also referred to as "drying the liquid" in the relevant professional circles.

[0003] In conventional filter-dryer systems, and filter-dryer systems in general, the water absorption capacity of the drying unit—that is, the amount of water it can absorb—is limited primarily by the volume of desiccant stored within the system and the desiccant's water storage capacity. For example, the water storage capacity of commercially available desiccants is typically up to 40%, meaning that a given desiccant can absorb up to 40% of its own weight in water. Therefore, the expected service life of the filter-dryer system depends significantly on the volume of desiccant stored and its water storage capacity.

[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved, or at least an alternative, filter-dryer device for filtering and drying a liquid compared to the known filter-dryer device. In particular, the service life of the filter-dryer device and / or the water absorption capacity of the drying unit of the filter-dryer device are to be improved. Furthermore, an attempt is made to provide an advantageous immersion cooling system for a vehicle.

[0005] In the present invention, this problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0006] To solve this problem, the invention proposes that the filter-dryer device for filtering and drying a liquid, in particular an oil filter, with the features mentioned above, further comprises a desiccant compaction device configured to compact the desiccant contained in the dryer housing. The desiccant compaction device is specifically configured to compact the desiccant contained in the dryer housing. The invention recognizes that this measure increases the bulk density of the desiccant and, consequently, allows a larger volume of desiccant to be stored in the dryer housing than previously possible. Furthermore, compaction ensures that the desiccant stored in the drying device is fixed in place, preventing it from moving around uncontrollably within the dryer housing.This means that the drying unit's ability to absorb water from the liquid is independent of the filter-dryer's installation position and operating condition. As a result, the drying unit's water absorption capacity is increased and its service life is improved.

[0007] The desiccant in question is water-absorbing, meaning it can absorb, or bind, water. Examples of desiccant include zeolite, silica gel, or siliceous gel. Furthermore, the desiccant is typically in powdery, granular, lumpy, or spherical form, allowing it to be arranged as a bulk material within the dryer housing. A preferred bulk density for the desiccant is between 700 g / L and 750 g / L, where g represents the weight of the desiccant in grams and L the volume of the desiccant in liters. It should be noted that the term "bulk material" more appropriately means "in the manner of a bulk material."

[0008] The liquid in question can be a coolant, preferably a dielectric coolant, and in particular a dielectric liquid mixture. It is understood that other liquids can also be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0009] The term "compacting" is understood here as the process of compacting a fill.

[0010] Advantageously, the liquid may be arranged to flow through the housing volume in a single direction from an inlet to an outlet. The dryer housing of the drying unit is pot-shaped, defines a central axis, and has a pot opening. Furthermore, the filter element is cylindrical. It is also provided that the drying unit and the filter element are arranged sequentially with respect to the flow direction, with the pot opening of the dryer housing and an end face of the filter element opposite each other.The desiccant compaction device comprises a first element that is inserted at least partially or completely into the dryer housing volume, tightly seals the dryer housing's pot opening for the desiccant, and is slidably mounted on the dryer housing along the drying unit's central axis. The desiccant compaction device also comprises a second element located on the end face of the filter element. Furthermore, the desiccant compaction device includes a spring element positioned between the first and second elements. This spring element is supported by both elements and biases the first element in a longitudinal direction opposite to the flow direction and parallel to the drying unit's central axis, applying pressure to the desiccant contained within the dryer housing.The fact that the drying unit and the filter element are arranged "succession" with respect to the flow direction can be understood as being arranged "one after the other at a distance from each other." In particular, the drying unit can be arranged upstream of the filter element with respect to the flow direction. This allows for optimal flushing of the drying unit. Alternatively, the drying unit can be arranged downstream of the filter element. Furthermore, the drying unit can be arranged coaxially with respect to a housing center axis of the filter-dryer unit, where the drying unit center axis and the housing center axis are identical.Furthermore, the filter element can be arranged coaxially with respect to the housing center axis of the filter-dryer unit, wherein the filter element center axis and the housing center axis are identical. In the embodiment proposed here, the compaction of the desiccant is achieved by pressing the first element onto the desiccant with a force determined by the spring element. The spring element is supported on one side by the first element and on the other side by the second element, which is arranged on the filter element. The drying unit and / or the filter element can, in turn, be supported by the housing of the filter-dryer unit.

[0011] Furthermore, the spring element can be a compression spring. This compression spring is advantageously a circular cylindrical compression spring. This provides a cost-effective and mass-producible embodiment for the spring element, thus enabling the filter-dryer unit to be supplied inexpensively.

[0012] It may further be provided that the first element has or is formed by a pressure plate that is at least partially permeable to the liquid and impermeable to the desiccant. The pressure plate may be fully inserted into the dryer housing volume, tightly sealing the dryer housing's pot opening for the desiccant and oriented transversely to the drying unit's central axis. The pressure plate may have one or more flow-through openings spanned by a mesh that is permeable to the liquid and impermeable to the desiccant. In particular, the pressure plate may have radially extending webs with respect to the drying unit's central axis and / or circumferential webs extending around the drying unit's central axis.The webs and / or circumferential webs between them define one or more of the aforementioned flow-through openings. This allows the liquid to flow through the pressure plate while the desiccant is retained in the drying unit. The sieve fabric can, for example, have a preferred mesh size of 800 µm.

[0013] Furthermore, the second element may be provided with or form an end disk, the end disk being tightly connected to a filter body of the filter element. In this context, the end disk may have a circumferential edge projecting radially beyond the filter body with respect to the filter element's central axis, and the filter element may be loosely supported by the circumferential edge of the end disk against an inner surface of the filter-dryer housing. This allows for easy alignment, particularly centering, of the filter element with respect to the filter-dryer housing.

[0014] Furthermore, it is advantageous for the filter element to be a cylindrical ring filter element with an outer and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a central interior space of the ring filter element that has two opposing axial openings. The filter body can be designed as a star-shaped filter. The end plate of the second element can also tightly seal one axial opening of the central interior space of the ring filter element. This ensures that, during operation of the filter-dryer system, liquid flows completely through the filter body of the filter element. It is also advantageous for the filter element to have a further end plate opposite the second element, located on another end face of the filter element. This further end plate can also be tightly connected to the filter body.In the event that the filter element is designed as a ring filter element, it may be advantageous for the filter element to have an inner frame that is arranged in the central interior of the ring filter element and supports the filter body from the radial inside.

[0015] Advantageously, the spring element can be fixed to the first element, and the second element can have a receptacle for the spring element into which the spring element is at least partially immersed. The drying device can be aligned or positioned relative to the filter element transversely to the drying device's central axis, and in particular, can be centered or is centered by, and especially exclusively, the engagement of the spring element and the receptacle. Alternatively, the filter-dryer device can be configured with the spring element fixed to the second element, and the first element can have a receptacle for the spring element into which the spring element is at least partially immersed.The drying device can be aligned or positioned relative to the filter element transversely to the drying device's central axis, and in particular centered or positioned, by, and especially exclusively, the engagement of the spring element and the receptacle. This provides two advantageous embodiments of the invention in which, by means of the desiccant compaction device, a positional alignment, in particular centering, of the drying device relative to the filter element is additionally achieved. A lock-and-key principle is implemented in that the spring element engages in the receptacle, which functions as a lock, like a key.Preferably, the drying device can be centered with respect to the filter element, whereby a filter element center axis of the filter element and the drying device center axis of the drying device and expediently a housing center axis of the housing of the filter-dryer device coincide.

[0016] The recess can be formed by a trough-like indentation. This indentation can be located on the end plate of the second element or on the pressure plate of the first element. In particular, the indentation can be located centrally on the pressure plate. Furthermore, the indentation can be located centrally on the end plate. The term "central" here expediently refers to the geometric center of the pressure plate or the geometric center of the end plate. The term "central" expediently means "centered." If the filter element is formed by the ring filter element discussed above, the indentation of the end plate can be located, at least partially, within the central interior of the ring filter element, thus providing a compact embodiment of the filter-dryer device.

[0017] To secure the filter element, particularly when implemented as a compression spring, against lateral buckling, the first or second element may be provided with a guide boss on which the spring element is arranged and guided. Advantageously, the guide boss and the spring element are jointly immersed, at least partially, in the aforementioned recess of the first element or the recess of the second element. In both embodiments, at least a section of the spring element may be provided that it surrounds an outer surface of the guide boss in contact with it. In other words, the spring element is mounted, at least partially, on the guide boss so that it is located on an outer surface of the guide boss.

[0018] The guide dome can have one or more guide dome flow-through windows spanned by a mesh fabric permeable to liquid and impermeable to desiccant. The guide dome can have axial longitudinal struts and / or circumferential struts extending around the central axis of the drying device, with the longitudinal struts and / or the circumferential struts defining one or more of the guide dome flow-through windows between them. The mesh fabric can, for example, have a preferred mesh size of 800 µm. This allows liquid to flow through the guide dome flow-through windows while the desiccant is retained in the drying device.

[0019] It is advantageous if the guide dome is formed by a hollow cylindrical body and arranged on the pressure plate of the first element or on the end plate of the second element. The guide dome can, in particular, be arranged centrally on the pressure plate. Furthermore, the guide dome can, in particular, be arranged centrally on the end plate. The term "central" here advantageously refers to the geometric center of the pressure plate or the end plate. The term "central" advantageously means "centered."

[0020] In particular, the drying housing of the drying device may have a base oriented transversely to the central axis of the drying device, permeable to the liquid at least partially and impermeable to the desiccant, and a circumferential wall projecting axially from the base with respect to the central axis of the drying device, permeable to the liquid at least partially and impermeable to the desiccant. Advantageously, a guide device is provided on the inner side of the circumferential wall for the slidable mounting of the first element. The first element, in particular the pressure plate, can be guided along the longitudinal axis by means of the guide device. The inner side of the circumferential wall is advantageously oriented in the direction of the central axis of the drying device.

[0021] Furthermore, the base of the dryer housing may be provided with one or more bottom flow-through openings spanned by a mesh fabric permeable to liquid but impermeable to desiccant. The base may have radially extending bottom ribs and / or circumferential bottom ribs extending around the central axis of the drying unit, with the bottom ribs and / or the circumferential bottom ribs defining one or more of the said bottom flow-through openings. The mesh fabric may, for example, have a preferred mesh size of 800 µm. This allows liquid to flow axially through the bottom flow-through openings while the desiccant is retained within the drying unit.

[0022] Furthermore, the circumferential wall of the dryer housing can have one or more jacket flow-through openings spanned by a mesh fabric permeable to liquid but impermeable to desiccant. The circumferential wall can have axial longitudinal struts and / or circumferential struts extending around the central axis, with the longitudinal struts and / or the circumferential struts defining one or more of the aforementioned jacket flow-through openings between them. The mesh fabric can, for example, have a preferred mesh size of 800 µm. This allows liquid to flow radially through the jacket flow-through openings while the desiccant is retained within the drying unit.

[0023] Furthermore, the guide device may have raised, strip-shaped rails on the inside of the circumferential wall, and guide grooves complementary to the rails may be provided on a sealing edge of the pressure plate of the first element associated with the circumferential wall. The rails can engage in the guide grooves of the pressure plate, allowing the pressure plate to be guided in a rotationally secure sliding manner along the longitudinal direction of the drying unit on the dryer housing. The rails enable the pressure plate to be guided with relatively low friction and rotationally secure relative to the dryer housing about the drying unit's central axis. Furthermore, the rails may be arranged on the inside of the circumferential wall in a circumferential direction evenly distributed around the drying unit's central axis and / or parallel to each other and to the drying unit's central axis.

[0024] In an alternative embodiment, raised projections, spaced evenly apart, can be provided on the sealing edge of the pressure plate of the first element. These projections engage in longitudinal grooves provided on the inside of the circumferential wall of the dryer housing. This also allows for relatively low-friction and rotationally secure guidance of the pressure plate relative to the dryer housing.

[0025] Furthermore, it can be provided that the rails each have a rail end section adjacent to the pot opening, each of which has a rail end lug. It is provided that the rail end lugs each have a stop surface facing the bottom of the drying unit housing and oriented transversely, in particular vertically, with respect to the drying unit's central axis, against which the pressure plate of the first element can mechanically abut. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the rail end lugs each have an entry surface facing the pot opening and angled with respect to the drying unit's central axis, over which the pressure plate of the first element can be moved into the dryer housing.The stop surfaces of the rail end lugs provide fall-out protection for the pressure plate, preventing it from being unintentionally removed during maintenance or installation of the filter-dryer unit and allowing the desiccant to fall out of the dryer housing. Furthermore, the entry surface of the rail end lugs facilitates the installation of the pressure plate on the dryer housing.

[0026] Furthermore, it can be provided that the drying unit is arranged upstream of the filter element with respect to the flow direction. Alternatively, the filter element can be arranged upstream of the drying unit with respect to the flow direction. This allows for a fluid-mechanically favorable flow pattern through the filter-dryer unit.

[0027] According to a further fundamental concept of the invention, an immersion cooling system for an electrically powered vehicle is proposed. The immersion cooling system comprises a traction battery with energy storage cells and a cooling circuit in which a liquid circulates. The energy storage cells of the traction battery are fluidically integrated into the cooling circuit and directly surrounded by the liquid, so that during operation of the immersion cooling system, direct heat transfer from the energy storage cells to the liquid is achieved. The immersion cooling system further comprises at least one filter-dryer device designed according to the preceding description, which is fluidly integrated into the cooling circuit, so that the liquid can be filtered and dried during operation of the immersion cooling system.

[0028] In summary, the present invention preferably relates to a filter-dryer device for filtering and drying a liquid, in particular an oil filter, comprising a housing that defines a housing volume through which the liquid can flow, a filter element arranged in the housing volume through which the liquid can flow for filtering the liquid, and a drying device arranged in the housing volume through which the liquid can flow for drying the liquid. The drying device comprises a dryer housing that defines a dryer housing volume in which a desiccant for drying the liquid is contained in bulk. Essential to the invention is that the filter-dryer device includes a desiccant compaction device configured for compacting the desiccant contained in the dryer housing.The invention relates in particular to an immersion cooling system for an electrically powered vehicle.

[0029] Further important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0030] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without leaving the scope of the present invention.

[0031] A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and explained in more detail in the following description, wherein identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

[0032] It shows the Fig. 1 A preferred embodiment of the filter-dryer device according to the invention in a schematic sectional view.

[0033] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a filter-dryer assembly, designated by reference numeral 1, for filtering and drying a liquid, which may, for example, be integrated into a cooling circuit (not illustrated) of an immersion cooling system (also not illustrated) for an electric vehicle. The liquid circulating through the cooling circuit, here, for example, a dielectric coolant, carries foreign particles as well as dissolved or free water during operation. In particular, the entrained water can lead to long-term damage such as corrosion to the components fluidly integrated into the cooling circuit. The filter-dryer assembly 1 is therefore specifically designed to dry the coolant.

[0034] The filter-dryer unit 1 has a hollow cylindrical, two-part housing 2, which extends along a housing center axis 20 indicated by a dashed line. The housing 2 defines a housing volume 3 through which the liquid flows in a flow direction 10, indicated by an arrow, from an inlet 11 of the housing 2 to an outlet 12 of the housing 2. The housing 2 is designed in two parts and has a cup-shaped upper housing part 2a, symmetrical and coaxial with respect to the housing center axis 20, and a cup-shaped lower housing part 2b, symmetrical and coaxial with respect to the housing center axis 20. The upper housing part 2a has a housing base 2a1 extending transversely to the housing center axis 20 and a circumferential housing wall 2a2 projecting perpendicularly from the housing base 2a1.On the side of the housing top circumferential wall 2a2 facing away from the housing top base 2a1, a circumferential housing top flange 2a3 is provided, extending transversely to the housing center axis 20, which defines an opening 2a4 on the inside of the housing top. The housing bottom 2b has a housing bottom 2b1 extending transversely to the housing center axis 20 and a circumferential housing bottom wall 2b2 projecting perpendicularly from the housing bottom 2b1. On the side of the housing bottom circumferential wall 2b2 facing away from the housing bottom 2b1, a circumferential housing bottom flange 2b3 is provided, extending transversely to the housing center axis 20, which defines an opening 2b4 on the inside of the housing bottom and is designed to be complementary to the housing top flange 2a3 of the housing top 2a. Furthermore, as described in . Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the upper housing part 2a and the lower housing part 2b are arranged opposite each other in the direction of the housing's central axis 20, with the upper housing part flange 2a3 of the upper housing part 2a and the lower housing part flange 2b3 of the lower housing part 2b being arranged close together, so that the housing volume 3 is sealed from the surroundings 1a of the filter-dryer unit 1. The inlet 11 of the housing 2, which in this case is formed by a hollow cylindrical tube, is positioned centrally on the upper housing part base 2a1 of the upper housing part 2a, is integrally arranged on the upper housing part base 2a1 of the upper housing part 2a, and is coaxially aligned with respect to the housing's central axis 20.The outlet 12 of the housing 2, which in this case is also formed by a hollow cylindrical tube, is centrally positioned on the housing base 2b1 of the housing lower part 2b, is integrally arranged on the housing base 2b1 of the housing lower part 2b, and is coaxially aligned with respect to the housing's central axis 20. The inlet 11 and the outlet 12 point in parallel but opposite directions, so that the filter-dryer unit 1 can be integrated relatively easily into the cooling circuit of the immersion cooling system.

[0035] The filter-dryer unit 1 has a filter element 4, arranged in the housing volume 3 of the housing 2, through which the liquid flows. The filter element 4 is designed to filter the liquid and defines a filter element center axis 21. The filter element 4 is supported on the base 2b1 of the lower housing section 2b and is arranged coaxially in the housing 2, so that the filter element center axis 21 and the housing center axis 20 are identical. Fig. As can be seen from Figure 1, the filter element 4 is implemented as a cylindrical ring filter element comprising a hollow cylindrical filter body 26. The filter body 26 has an outer shell surface 26a radially on its outer side and an inner shell surface 26b radially on its inner side, opposite the outer shell surface 26a. The outer shell surface 26a serves as the inflow surface and is loaded with liquid during operation of the filter-dryer unit 1. The inner shell surface 26b defines a central interior space 29. An inner frame 32 is provided in the central interior space 29, which supports the filter body 26 from the inside. The central interior space 29 has two axial openings 30, 31 opposite each other in the direction of the filter element's central axis 21. The first axial opening 30 is located on a first end face 15a of the filter element 4, and the second axial opening 31 is located on a second end face 15b of the filter element 4.

[0036] The filter-dryer unit 1 further comprises a drying device 5, through which the liquid flows, arranged in the housing volume 3 of the housing 2 in the flow direction 10 upstream of the filter element 4. The drying device 5 is designed to dry the liquid. It has a pot-shaped dryer housing 6 with a pot opening 14, defines a drying device central axis 13, and delimits a dryer housing volume 7 in which a water-absorbing, powdery, granular, lumpy, or spherical desiccant 8, in particular zeolite, silica gel, or silica gel, is arranged as a bed for drying the liquid. A preferred bulk density of the desiccant 8 is in the range of 700 g / L to 750 g / L, where g denotes the weight of the desiccant 8 in grams and L denotes the volume of the desiccant 8 in liters.In this context, the term "drying the liquid" refers to the separation of water from the liquid. The drying device 5 is mounted coaxially in the housing 2, such that the drying device's center axis 13 and the housing's center axis 20 are identical.

[0037] According to Fig. 1 The drying device 5 and the filter element 4 are arranged consecutively with respect to the flow direction 10, i.e. in series, wherein the pot opening 14 of the dryer housing 6 and the first end face 15a of the filter element 4 are opposite each other at a distance.

[0038] To improve the service life of the filter-dryer unit 1 and / or the water absorption capacity of the drying unit 5 of the filter-dryer unit 1, the invention provides that the filter-dryer unit 1 has a desiccant compaction device 9, which is designed to compact the desiccant 8 contained in the dryer housing 6. The invention recognizes that compacting the desiccant 8 contained in the dryer housing 6 increases the bulk density of the desiccant 8 and, consequently, allows a larger volume of desiccant 8 to be stored in the dryer housing 6 than previously possible. Furthermore, compacting the desiccant 8 ensures that the desiccant 8 stored in the drying unit 5 is fixed in place, preventing it from moving around uncontrollably within the dryer housing 6.As a result, the water absorption capacity of the drying unit 5 is increased and the service life of the filter-dryer unit 2 is improved.

[0039] The proposed desiccant compaction device 9 has several elements 16, 18, 19 which work together to effect said compaction of the desiccant 8.

[0040] The first element 16 has a pressure plate 22, which is at least partially permeable to the liquid and impermeable to the desiccant 8, and is oriented transversely with respect to the central axis 13 of the drying device. The pressure plate 22 is fully inserted into the dryer housing volume 7 of the dryer housing 6 and tightly seals the pot opening 14 of the dryer housing 6 for the desiccant 8. The first element 16 is slidably mounted on the dryer housing 6 along the central axis 13 of the drying device, so that it can be adjusted towards the desiccant 8 in a longitudinal direction 17 parallel to the central axis 13 of the drying device. The pressure plate 22 may have one or more flow-through openings 22a, which are spanned by a screen fabric 44 that is permeable to the liquid and impermeable to the desiccant 8. The screen fabric 44 may, for example, have a preferred mesh size of 800 µm.

[0041] A second element 18 is formed by an end disk 24 oriented transversely with respect to the central axis 13 of the drying device. This end disk 24 is provided on the end face 15a of the filter element 4 and is tightly connected to the filter body 26 of the filter element 4. The end disk 24 has a circumferential disc edge 27 that projects radially beyond the filter body 26 with respect to the central axis 21 of the filter element 4. This edge allows the end disk 24 to rest loosely against an inner surface 28 of the housing 2 of the filter-dryer device 1. This facilitates easy alignment, particularly centering, of the filter element 4 with respect to the housing 2 of the filter-dryer device 1. Furthermore, the end disk 24 tightly seals the first axial opening 30 of the central interior 29 of the filter element 4.

[0042] A third element of the desiccant compaction device 9, designated here as filter element 19, is axially connected between the first element 16 and the second element 18 with respect to the housing's central axis 20, bearing contact on the first element 16 on one side and on the second element 18 on the other. The filter element 19 is configured to bias the first element 16 in the longitudinal direction 17, opposite to the flow direction 10 and parallel to the drying device's central axis 13, onto the desiccant 8 contained in the dryer housing 6. The filter element 19 is designed as a compression spring.

[0043] The compaction of the desiccant 8 is achieved by pressing the first element 16 onto the desiccant 8 in the longitudinal direction 17 with a force determined by the spring element 19. The drying device 5 and the filter element 4, in turn, bear against the housing 2 of the filter-dryer unit 1.

[0044] It should be further explained that the drying housing 6 of the drying device 5 has a housing base 38 oriented transversely to the central axis 13 of the drying device, which is at least partially permeable to the liquid and impermeable to the desiccant 8. In addition, the drying housing 6 has a circumferential wall 39 projecting axially away from the housing base 38 with respect to the central axis 13 of the drying device, which is at least partially permeable to the liquid and impermeable to the desiccant 8.

[0045] The base 38 of the housing and the circumferential wall 39 enclose the dryer housing volume 7 of the dryer housing 6. A guide device 41 is provided on an inner surface 40 of the circumferential wall 39 for the slidable mounting of the first element 16 or the pressure plate 22.

[0046] The base 38 of the dryer housing 6 has one or more bottom flow-through openings 42, which are spanned by a screen fabric 44 that is permeable to liquid and impermeable to desiccant 8. Similarly, the circumferential wall 39 of the dryer housing 6 has one or more shell flow-through openings 43, which are spanned by a screen fabric 44 that is permeable to liquid and impermeable to desiccant. The circumferential wall 39 has axial longitudinal struts 39a and circumferential struts 39b extending around the central axis 13 of the drying unit, which are connected to one another and define one or more of the aforementioned shell flow-through openings 43 between them. The screen fabric 44 can, for example, have a preferred mesh size of 800 µm. This allows liquid to flow axially and radially through the dryer housing 6, while the desiccant is retained in the drying unit 6.

[0047] The guide device 41 of the dryer housing 6 has a set of rails 45 on its inner surface 40. These rails are raised above the inner surface 40 of the circumferential wall 39, are uniformly spaced from one another in the circumferential direction around the central axis 13 of the drying unit, are aligned parallel to one another, and are strip-shaped. Furthermore, guide grooves, designed to be complementary to the rails 45, are provided on a sealing edge 51 of the pressure plate 22 of the first element 16, which is associated with the circumferential wall 39. To enable the pressure plate 22 to be guided relatively smoothly and without rotation in the longitudinal direction 17 with respect to the central axis 13 of the drying unit relative to the dryer housing 6 by means of the guide device 41, the rails 45 are designed to engage in the guide grooves of the pressure plate 22.

[0048] The rails 45 each have a rail end section 47 adjacent to the pot opening 14, each of which has a rail end lug 48. The rail end lugs 48 each have a stop surface 49 facing the housing base 38 of the drying device 5 and oriented transversely, in particular vertically, with respect to the central axis 13 of the drying device, against which the pressure disc 22 can mechanically abut. Furthermore, in Fig. 1 can be seen that the rail end lugs 48 each have an inlet surface 50 pointing towards the pot opening 14 and tilted at an angle with respect to the drying device central axis 13, over which the pressure disc 22 can be moved relatively easily into the dryer housing 6 during the assembly of the pressure disc 22.

[0049] In Fig. Figure 1 further shows that a guide dome 36, formed by a hollow cylinder, is arranged centrally on the pressure plate 22 of the first element 16 for the spring element 19. The guide dome 36 projects perpendicularly from the pressure plate 22 and extends through the pot opening 14. It is also evident that the guide dome 36 has several guide dome flow-through openings 36a, which are also spanned by a mesh 44 that is permeable to liquids but impermeable to desiccants. At least one section of the spring element 19 is fitted over the guide dome 36, so that the spring element 19 encloses an outer surface of the guide dome 36 in contact with it. This prevents, in particular, the spring element 19 from buckling laterally.

[0050] According to Fig.It is further provided that the spring element 19 is fixedly attached to the first element 16, for example to the pressure plate 22 and / or to the outer surface of the guide dome 36. Furthermore, the second element 18 is equipped with a receptacle 33 for the spring element 19, into which the spring element 19 and the guide dome 36 are axially immersed, at least partially. The drying device 5 can be aligned, and in particular centered, relative to the filter element 19 transversely to the drying device's central axis 13 by, and in particular exclusively, by the engagement of the spring element 19 and the receptacle 33. This additionally achieves a positional alignment, and in particular centering, of the drying device 5 relative to the filter element 4 by means of the desiccant compaction device 9. The receptacle 33 is formed by a trough-like recess 34, which is arranged centrally on the end disk 24 of the second element 18. 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] DE 10 2019 122 034 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Filter-dryer device (1) for filtering and drying a liquid, in particular an oil filter, comprising - a housing (2) that limits a housing volume (3) through which the liquid can flow, - a filter element (4) arranged in the housing volume (3) of the housing (2), through which the liquid can flow, for filtering the liquid, - a drying device (5) arranged in the housing volume (3) of the housing (2), through which the liquid flows, for drying the liquid, - wherein the drying device (5) has a dryer housing (6) which defines a dryer housing volume (7) in which a desiccant (8) is included in bulk for drying the liquid, characterized by , that - the filter-dryer assembly (1) includes a desiccant compaction device (9) designed to compact the desiccant (8) received in the dryer housing (6). [2] Filter-dryer device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that - the liquid flows in a flow direction (10) from an inlet (11) of the housing (2) to an outlet (12) of the housing (2) through the housing volume (3), - the dryer housing (6) of the drying device (5) is pot-shaped, defines a drying device central axis (13) and has a pot opening (14), - the filter element (4) is cylindrical in shape, - the drying device (5) and the filter element (4) are arranged successively with respect to the flow direction (10), wherein the pot opening (14) of the dryer housing (6) and an end face (15a) of the filter element (4) are opposite each other, - the desiccant compaction device (9) has a first element (16) which is inserted at least partially or completely into the dryer housing volume (7) of the dryer housing (6), tightly seals the pot opening (14) of the dryer housing (6) for the desiccant (8) and is slidably mounted on the dryer housing (6) along the central axis (13) of the drying device, - the desiccant compaction device (9) has a second element (18) which is arranged on the end face (15a) of the filter element (4), - wherein the desiccant compacting device (9) has a spring element (19) connected between the first element (16) and the second element (18), which is supported on the first element (16) and on the second element (18) and biases the first element (16) in a longitudinal direction (17) opposite to the flow direction (10) and parallel to the central axis (13) of the drying device onto the desiccant (8) received in the dryer housing (6). [3] Filter-dryer device (1) according to claim 2, characterized by , that - the spring element (19) is a compression spring. [4] Filter-dryer device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by , that - the first element (16) has or is formed by a pressure disk (22) that is at least partially permeable to the liquid and impermeable to the desiccant (8), - wherein the pressure disc (22) is fully inserted into the dryer housing volume (7) of the dryer housing (6), the pot opening (14) of the dryer housing (6) for the desiccant (8) is tightly sealed and is aligned transversely with respect to the drying device central axis (13). [5] Filter-dryer device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by , that - the second element (18) has or forms an end disk (24), - the end disk (24) is tightly connected to a filter body (26) of the filter element (4). [6] Filter-dryer device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by , that - the spring element (19) is fixed in place on the first element (16), - the second element (18) has a receptacle (33) for the spring element (19) into which the spring element (19) is immersed at least partially, - the drying device (5) can be aligned or aligned relative to the filter element (19) transversely to the drying device central axis (13) by the spring element (19) and the receptacle (33) engaging with each other. [7] Filter-dryer device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by , that - the spring element (19) is fixed to the second element (18), - the first element (16) has a receptacle (33) for the spring element (19) into which the spring element (19) is immersed at least partially, - the drying device (5) can be aligned or aligned relative to the filter element (19) transversely to the drying device central axis (13) by the spring element (19) and the receptacle (33) engaging with each other. [8] Filter-dryer device (1) according to claim 4 or 5 in conjunction with claim 6 or 7, characterized by , that - the inlet (33) is formed by a trough-like recess (34), - the return (34) is arranged on the end disk (24) of the second element (18) or on the pressure disk (22) of the first element (16). [9] Filter-dryer device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized by , that - the first element (16) or the second element (18) has a guide dome (36) on which the spring element (19) is arranged and guided. [10] Filter-dryer device (1) according to claim 9 in conjunction with claim 4 or 5, characterized by , that - the guide dome (36) is formed by a hollow cylinder body and is arranged on the pressure disk (22) of the first element (16) or on the end disk (24) of the second element (18). [11] Filter-dryer device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterized by , that - the drying housing (6) of the drying device (5) has a housing base (38) oriented transversely to the central axis (13) of the drying device, which is at least partially permeable to the liquid and impermeable to the desiccant (8), and a circumferential wall (39) projecting axially away from the housing base (38) with respect to the central axis (13) of the drying device, which is at least partially permeable to the liquid and impermeable to the desiccant (8), - wherein a guide device (41) is provided on an inner side (40) of the circumferential wall (39) for the sliding support of the first element (16). [12] Filter-dryer device (1) according to claim 11 and in conjunction with claim 4, characterized by , that - the guide device (41) has raised and strip-shaped rails (45) on the inside (40) of the circumferential wall (39), - guide grooves designed complementary to the rails (45) are provided on a sealing edge (51) of the pressure disc (22) of the first element (16) assigned to one of the circumferential walls (39), - the rails (45) engage in the guide grooves of the pressure plate (22) so that the pressure plate (22) can be guided on the dryer housing (6) in the longitudinal direction (17) of the drying device (5) in a rotationally secure sliding manner. [13] Filter-dryer device (1) according to claim 12, characterized by , that - the rails (45) each have a rail end section (47) adjacent to the pot opening (14), each of which has a rail end lug (48), - the rail end lugs (48) each have a stop surface (49) pointing towards the housing base (38) of the drying device (5) and oriented transversely with respect to the central axis (13) of the drying device, against which the pressure disc (22) of the first element (16) can mechanically abut, and / or - the rail end lugs (48) each have an inlet surface (50) pointing towards the pot opening (14) and tilted at an angle with respect to the drying device central axis (13), over which the pressure disc (22) of the first element (16) can be moved into the dryer housing (6). [14] Filter-dryer device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 13, characterized by , that - the drying device (5) is arranged upstream of the filter element (4) with respect to the flow direction (10), or - the filter element (4) is arranged upstream of the drying device (5) with respect to the flow direction (10). [15] Immersion cooling system for an electrically powered vehicle, - with a traction battery with energy storage cells, - with a cooling circuit in which fluid circulates, - wherein the energy storage cells of the traction battery are fluidically integrated into the cooling circuit and directly surrounded by the liquid, so that in operation of the immersion cooling system a direct heat transfer from the energy storage cells to the liquid is realized, - with at least one filter-dryer device (1) designed according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 14 and fluidically integrated into the cooling circuit, so that liquid can be filtered and dried during operation of the immersion cooling system.

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