Cooling arrangement of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

Abstract

Cooling arrangement of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one electrically conductive, heat-emitting component (12), a cooling circuit (20) through which a dielectric coolant flows, which directly flows around or through the heat-emitting component (12) to cool the heat-emitting component (12), wherein the cooling circuit (20) has a switchable flow path (44) with a particulate filter (48), wherein the switchable flow path (44) has a shut-off valve (46) adjustable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the particulate filter (48) is integrated into the shut-off valve (46) and is designed such that in an open position of the shut-off valve (46) the particles contained in the dielectric coolant flowing through the shut-off valve (46) are filtered out, and wherein the cooling circuit (20) additionally has an operating particulate filter (26).

Description

The invention relates to a cooling arrangement of a motor vehicle, with at least one heat-emitting component and a cooling circuit through which a dielectric coolant flows, which flows around or directly around the heat-emitting component to cool the heat-emitting component, wherein the cooling circuit has a switchable flow path with a particle filter. Such a heat-generating component could be, for example, a high-voltage component of an electric vehicle, in particular a high-voltage battery or a traction battery, which must be cooled due to the heat generated during operation. For instance, the high-voltage battery has several battery cells that heat up during operation and must be cooled to prevent premature failure, such as excessive aging. To dissipate the heat from the heat-generating component as directly and therefore as quickly as possible, the component is directly surrounded and / or permeated by a coolant circulating through a cooling circuit. In a high-voltage battery, the coolant flows directly around the heating battery cells, thus dissipating the heat directly from the cells. To ensure the direct flow around the heat-generating component, i.e.,In order to allow flow around at least one battery cell in a high-voltage battery, which has electrically conductive, non-insulated elements or is connected to electrically conductive, non-insulated elements, the coolant is designed as a dielectric coolant. Despite the dielectric properties of the coolant, it can become so contaminated that the dissolved particles, especially metal particles, cause it to conduct electricity. This can lead to damage or premature failure of the heat-dissipating component. The coolant can even be contaminated with electrically conductive particles before the heat-dissipating component and the cooling circuit are actually in operation. For example, DE 10 2018 202 501 A1 discloses a cooling circuit for a battery which has a bypass flow path with a particle filter that can be switched on via two 3 / 2-way valves, allowing the particles dissolved in the coolant to be filtered out as needed. Furthermore, DE 10 2005 006 881 A1 discloses a valve-filter combination unit. The object of the invention is to provide a cooling arrangement in which a defect in a component to be cooled by the dielectric coolant due to contamination of the coolant, in particular due to contamination of the coolant that has already occurred before the actual operation of the cooling arrangement, can be avoided simply, reliably and without affecting the operation of the cooling circuit. The problem is solved by the features of claim 1. According to the invention, the flow path has a shut-off valve adjustable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the particle filter is integrated into the shut-off valve, such that in an open position of the shut-off valve the particles contained in the dielectric coolant through which the shut-off valve flows are filtered out. The cooling circuit includes an operational particulate filter. Preferably, the cooling circuit also includes an operational drying unit. The operational particulate filter and / or the operational drying unit are preferably arranged upstream of the heat-dissipating component in the direction of flow of the dielectric coolant. The operational particulate filter and / or the operational drying unit serve to filter particles from the dielectric coolant and to dry the dielectric coolant during operation of the cooling circuit and the cooling arrangement. The particulate filter and / or the drying unit provided at the shut-off valve serve only to filter particles from the dielectric coolant and to dry the dielectric coolant in a special condition, for example, in the event of particularly high contamination of the coolant or when the cooling circuit is being filled with coolant.During normal operation of the cooling arrangement, the filtering of particles from the dielectric coolant and / or the drying of the dielectric coolant is carried out exclusively by the operating particle filter and / or the operating drying unit. In its simplest form, the particulate filter is a perforated plate with multiple openings of a predefined diameter. The coolant flows through the perforated plate, and particles larger than the diameter of the openings are filtered out. The perforated plate can be positioned within the flow cross-section of the shut-off valve. Alternatively, the filter can also be an open-cell foam, such as open-cell polyurethane foam. The shut-off valve thus performs several functions: on the one hand, it controls the flow through the flow path, and on the other hand, it filters the dielectric coolant when open (i.e., when the flow path is activated). In the closed position, the flow pad is inactive and therefore not subjected to coolant flow. When the shut-off valve is open, the particle filter removes particles dissolved in the dielectric coolant, particularly electrically conductive particles, thereby reliably preventing the dielectric coolant from becoming electrically conductive. This prevents damage to the electrically conductive, heat-emitting component, as the coolant flows directly around at least one electrically conductive, non-insulated element. Because the particle filter is integrated into the shut-off valve, no additional or separate particle filter, which would increase the installation space, is required. Preferably, the shut-off valve includes, in addition to the particle filter, a drying unit for drying the dielectric coolant. The drying unit can also remove electrically conductive liquids mixed with the dielectric coolant. In particular, water containing electrically conductive components can be removed from the dielectric coolant. In a preferred embodiment, the shut-off valve is manually adjusted from the closed position to the open position exclusively for filling and / or maintenance of the cooling circuit. Outside of filling and / or maintenance, the shut-off valve is in the closed position. Thus, the shut-off valve is only adjusted to the open position for filling and / or maintenance of the cooling circuit. During filling, particularly during initial filling, the particle filter serves to filter out particles released during the flow through the cooling circuit, especially the heat-dissipating component. Such particles can adhere to the components of the cooling circuit and the heat-dissipating component from the assembly and manufacturing process. During an initial flow through the cooling circuit and the heat-dissipating component, these particles are carried along by the dielectric coolant.Without the particulate filter, the coolant would already be contaminated with particles and / or liquids before the cooling circuit and heat-emitting component even begin to operate. The particulate filter and / or the drying unit reliably remove these manufacturing-related contaminants during the filling of the cooling circuit. Preferably, a further component is provided, wherein the heat-emitting component and the further component are arranged in different flow paths adjustable by a valve device, wherein the different flow paths can be adjusted via the valve device during maintenance and / or filling such that either the heat-emitting component or the further component is permeated by the dielectric coolant. This allows, in a first valve position of the valve device, the contamination caused by the heat-emitting component to be removed, and in a second valve position of the valve device, the contamination caused by the further component to be removed.The valve positions mentioned above can be switched sequentially during filling and / or maintenance, so that the dielectric coolant flows through the different flow paths one after the other. This prevents coolant contaminated by one component from flowing through and potentially contaminating another component. Preferably, the heat-emitting component is a high-voltage component. In a preferred embodiment, the heat-emitting component is a high-voltage battery or a traction battery of an electric vehicle, which has several battery cells, wherein the battery cells are directly exposed to the dielectric coolant. In particular, such a battery has a high risk of contamination due to assembly and / or manufacturing. The problem is also solved by a motor vehicle with a cooling arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8. An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a cooling arrangement of a motor vehicle in normal operation, Fig. 2 shows the cooling arrangement from Fig. 1 in a first filling flow, and Fig. 3 shows the cooling arrangement from Fig. 1 in a second filling flow. Figures 1, 2, and 3 show a cooling arrangement 10 of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle. The cooling arrangement 10 comprises a heat-dissipating component 12 and a cooling circuit 20. The heat-dissipating component 12 is, in particular, a traction battery 13, which has a plurality of battery cells 131. The cooling arrangement 10 also comprises a further component 14 through which the coolant of the cooling circuit 20 flows. During operation of the electric vehicle, and thus of the traction battery 13, the battery cells 131 of the traction battery 13, as well as other electrically conductive components, heat up and therefore require cooling. Cooling is achieved by a coolant flowing through the cooling circuit 20, which passes through the traction battery 13. This allows the heat generated during operation to be absorbed and dissipated by the coolant from the battery cells 131 and other components of the traction battery 13. The coolant is a dielectric coolant, meaning that the battery cells 131 and the other electrically conductive components can be directly exposed to the coolant without requiring or having any electrical insulation. Separate electrical insulation of the battery cells 131 and the other electrically conductive components is unnecessary due to the electrically non-conductive, i.e., dielectric, nature of the coolant. The cooling circuit 20 comprises a pump 22 for circulating the coolant through the cooling circuit 20, a heat exchanger 24, an operating cleaning unit 25 with an operating particulate filter 26 and an operating drying unit 28, and a valve assembly with two valves 301, 302. The traction battery 13 is arranged downstream of the operating cleaning unit 25 in the direction of coolant flow. The operating particulate filter 26 and the operating drying unit 28 serve to clean the coolant during operation of the cooling arrangement. The cooling circuit 20 is thermally connected to a refrigerant circuit 32 (not further explained) via the heat exchanger 24, allowing the heat absorbed by the coolant to be transferred to the refrigerant circuit 32. The two valves 301, 302 serve to adjust different flow paths 40, 42, 43, 44 of the cooling circuit 20. The cooling circuit 20 comprises flow paths 40, 42, 43 that are adjustable during operation, as well as a flow path 44 that can be activated during maintenance or filling. The traction battery 13 and the cleaning unit 25, which includes the operating particulate filter 26 and the operating drying unit 28, are located in a first flow path 40. The second flow path 42 contains the additional component 14, through which the coolant flows. A third flow path 43 serves as a bypass flow path when the coolant is not to circulate through the first flow path 40. A fourth flow path 44, which can be switched on in the event of maintenance or filling, comprises a shut-off valve 46 and an expansion tank 52. Fig. 1 shows the normal operation of the cooling circuit 20 or the cooling arrangement 10, wherein the valves 301, 302 are connected such that the coolant flows through the first flow path 40 and the second flow path 42, thereby causing heat transfer between the coolant and the traction battery 13, the further component 14, and the refrigerant circuit 32. The valves 301, 302 can also be connected such that the coolant flows either through the traction battery 13 or the further component 14, so that heat transfer only occurs between the coolant and the traction battery 13 or between the coolant and the component 14. During maintenance and filling, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the fourth flow path 44 is activated by adjusting the valve 302 and the shut-off valve 46 to an open position, so that the coolant also flows through the fourth flow path 44. A particle filter 48 and a drying unit 50 are integrated into the shut-off valve 46 and are activated by moving the shut-off valve 46 to the open position, meaning the coolant flows through them. During filling, particularly during the initial filling of the cooling circuit 20 with the coolant, the particle filter 48 and the drying unit 50 serve to filter out the particles that are dissolved and carried along by the coolant during the flow through the cooling circuit 20, the traction battery 13, and the other component 14, and to absorb the moisture absorbed during the flow through the cooling circuit 20. Such particles can adhere to the components of the cooling circuit 20, the traction battery 13, and the component 14 from the assembly and manufacturing processes, and are carried along by the dielectric coolant during the initial flow through the cooling circuit 20. Without the particle filter 48 and the drying unit 50, the coolant would already be contaminated before the cooling arrangement 10 was even operational, potentially impairing the coolant's dielectric properties from the outset. On the other hand, the operating particle filter 26 could already be partially clogged by manufacturing-related particles carried along by the coolant, and a particle-clogged operating particle filter 26 would represent an undesirable, increased flow resistance. The particle filter 48 and the drying unit 50 reliably remove these manufacturing-related contaminants during the filling of the cooling circuit 20, so that the operating particle filter 26 and the operating drying unit 28 serve exclusively for drying and particle filtration during the actual operation of the cooling circuit 20.The cooling circuit 20 is filled, for example, via a coolant connection 54, which is provided on the expansion tank 52. The filling of the cooling circuit 20 takes place in two stages, with the first stage shown in Fig. 2 and the second stage shown in Fig. 3. In the first stage, the valves 301 and 302 are connected such that the first flow path 40 and the fourth flow path 44 are opened, causing the particles present in the traction battery 13 to be carried along by the coolant and filtered out by the particulate filter 48. The coolant flow direction is such that, during the first pass, the operating particulate filter 26 is not exposed to coolant contaminated by the particles from the traction battery 13. In the second stage, the valves 301 and 302 are connected such that the second flow path 42 and the third flow path 43 are opened, causing the particles present in component 14 to be carried along by the coolant and filtered out by the particulate filter 48.In this case, the traction battery 13 and the operating particulate filter 26 are not subjected to a flow of coolant, as the coolant is routed past the traction battery 13 via the third flow path 43.

Claims

Cooling arrangement of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one electrically conductive, heat-emitting component (12), a cooling circuit (20) through which a dielectric coolant flows, which directly flows around or through the heat-emitting component (12) to cool the heat-emitting component (12), wherein the cooling circuit (20) has a switchable flow path (44) with a particulate filter (48), characterized in that the switchable flow path (44) has a shut-off valve (46) adjustable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the particulate filter (48) is integrated into the shut-off valve (46) and is designed such that in an open position of the shut-off valve (46) the particles contained in the dielectric coolant flowing through the shut-off valve (46) are filtered out, and wherein the cooling circuit (20) additionally has an operating particulate filter (26). Cooling arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the shut-off valve (46) has a drying unit (50) for drying the dielectric coolant. Cooling arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cooling circuit (20) has an operating drying unit (28). Cooling arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating particle filter (26) and / or the operating drying unit (28) are arranged in the flow direction of the dielectric coolant upstream of the heat-emitting component (12). Cooling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shut-off valve (46) can be manually adjusted from the closed position to the open position exclusively for filling and / or maintenance of the cooling circuit (20) and is adjusted to the closed position outside of filling and / or maintenance. Cooling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further component (14) is provided, wherein the heat-emitting component (12) and the further component (14) are arranged in different flow paths (40, 42) adjustable by a valve device, wherein the different flow paths (40, 42) can be adjusted via the valve device during maintenance and / or filling such that either the heat-emitting component (12) or the further component (14) is supplied with the dielectric coolant. Cooling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat-emitting component (12) is a high-voltage component. Cooling arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the heat-emitting component (12) is a traction battery (13) which has several battery cells (131), wherein the battery cells (131) are directly surrounded by the dielectric coolant. Motor vehicle with a cooling arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8.

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