ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electric vehicles, and more particularly to the field of safety linked to the use of these electric vehicles.

[0002] Particularly in order to respond to current climate challenges, so-called electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. vehicles which run, at least partially, on electric energy, are in full development.

[0003] Such vehicles thus comprise an at least partially electric powertrain and are equipped with an electrical energy storage device configured to store electrical energy and to return it to the engine in order to run the latter.

[0004] These electrical energy storage devices typically comprise a plurality of electrical energy storage cells housed in a protective casing. During the charging phases of these electrical energy storage cells, the latter tend to heat up. However, excessively high temperatures risk damaging these electrical energy storage cells.

[0005] In order to limit the risk of damage to these storage cells due to excessive temperature rise, the housing may include, in addition to these storage cells, a cooling device, and for example a heat exchanger in contact with which the storage cells are arranged and in which circulates a cooling fluid suitable for capturing calories from these storage cells and thus cooling them in order to preserve them.

[0006] Despite these precautions, incidents may occur and in particular, it is possible that one of the storage cells catches fire, for example due to a manufacturing defect in the cell in question, due to a short circuit in the storage cells or due to a vehicle accident, or due to a failure of the cooling device. Such a fire outbreak presents the risk of generating thermal runaway in the electrical storage device, i.e. a spread of the fire from one storage cell to another, then from the storage device to the vehicle. It is therefore essential to provide systems capable of detecting and extinguishing any fire outbreak that could occur during use of the vehicle, whether during the driving phase or during the charging phase of the cells of the storage device. Such systems are known from documents US 2019 / 077276 A1, US 2016 / 172727 A1 and EP 2546904 A1.

[0007] The present invention falls within this context and aims to resolve this problem by proposing a system for releasing a fluid into an electrical energy storage device, the system being adapted to detect the start of a fire within the housing housing the electrical energy storage cells and to smother this start of fire.

[0008] An object of the present invention thus relates to an electrical energy storage device intended for a vehicle, comprising at least one housing in which are housed at least one electrical energy storage cell and at least one heat exchanger configured to carry out a heat exchange between a cooling fluid adapted to circulate in the at least one heat exchanger and the electrical energy storage cell(s). According to the invention, the heat exchanger comprises at least one cooling fluid release member configured to release the cooling fluid into the housing.

[0009] According to the invention, the cooling fluid circulates in the heat exchanger at a pressure sufficient to allow it to be released sufficiently quickly in the event of a fire. For example, a pressure of 200 bar allows a sufficiently rapid release to completely flood the electrical energy storage cells housed in the housing of the electrical energy storage device. In addition, a quantity of cooling fluid capable of being released by the cooling fluid release member is at least sufficient to flood the electrical energy storage cells. In other words, this quantity of cooling fluid, as well as the pressure at which this cooling fluid circulates in the heat exchanger, are sufficient to, at least, cover the electrical energy storage cells, thus preventing any risk of fire.

[0010] According to the invention, the cooling fluid release member comprises at least one closure device configured to break, at least partially, at a temperature above 150°C and / or at a pressure above 200 Bars. According to the invention, the cooling fluid release member comprises at least one head and at least one body, the body comprising at least a first part by which it is made integral, by screwing, with the heat exchanger and at least a second modular part attached to the first part and in which the closure device is arranged.

[0011] The heat exchanger according to the invention is assembled by brazing, that is to say that the elements which constitute this heat exchanger are brazed together. Such brazing is carried out at very high temperatures, of the order of 600°C. As previously mentioned, the device for closing off the cooling fluid release member is configured to break, at least partially, when the temperature in the housing of the electrical energy storage device increases, following a fire. In other words, this closing device is configured to break, at least partially, at a temperature of around 150°C and it is therefore appropriate to attach it to the heat exchanger, after the latter has been brazed. According to an example of the present invention, the cooling fluid release member is screwed onto this heat exchanger.For example, a thread may be provided on the first part of the body of this release member and a corresponding tapping may be provided on the heat exchanger. The modular aspect of the second part of the body of the coolant release member advantageously makes it possible to replace only this second part, for example after a fire has caused the closure device carried by this second part to break.

[0012] For example, the sealing device may take the form of a membrane adapted to tear when a predetermined pressure is applied to it or to melt when it is heated to a predetermined temperature. For example, one or more notches forming as many rupture incipients may be provided in this membrane so as to allow the latter to rupture when sufficient pressure is applied to it. Alternatively, the membrane may have different thicknesses, and in particular a central part of the membrane may have a thickness less than the rest of the membrane so that this central part ruptures when sufficient pressure and / or temperature is applied to it. Advantageously, these predetermined pressure and temperature correspond to the pressure and temperature reached in the housing of the electrical energy storage device in the event of a fire.In other words, the present invention allows a release of a cooling fluid within the housing as soon as a fire is detected or as soon as the conditions for triggering a fire are met.

[0013] According to a feature of the present invention, the heat exchanger comprises at least two manifolds extending in a substantially transverse direction and between which extend at least two cooling fluid circulation conduits fluidically connected to each manifold, the cooling fluid release member being arranged at a transverse end of at least one of the manifolds. A conduit is said to be fluidically connected to a manifold when an opening allows the passage of cooling fluid from the manifold to the conduit or vice versa.More specifically, the heat exchanger comprises at least one inlet manifold configured to distribute the cooling fluid in the cooling fluid circulation ducts and at least one outlet manifold configured to collect the cooling fluid after it has captured the calories from the electrical energy storage cells, the cooling fluid release member being able to be arranged indifferently on the inlet manifold and / or on the outlet manifold.

[0014] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger comprises at least one intermediate collector arranged between the two collector boxes, parallel to these two collector boxes, at least one cooling fluid release member being arranged at one end of this intermediate collector. First circulation conduits are arranged between one collector box and the intermediate collector and second circulation conduits are arranged between the other collector box and the intermediate collector. Advantageously, this at least one intermediate collector is arranged at an equal distance from the two collector boxes.

[0015] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of intermediate collectors arranged between the two collector boxes. Advantageously, these intermediate collectors are aligned along a straight line parallel to a main extension straight line of at least one of the collector boxes, these intermediate collectors being arranged equidistant from the two collector boxes.

[0016] According to a characteristic of the present invention, the at least one cooling fluid release member extends along a main extension axis parallel to a main extension direction of the at least one manifold on which this at least one cooling fluid release member is arranged. According to another characteristic of the present invention, the at least one cooling fluid release member extends along a main extension axis intersecting a main extension direction of the at least one manifold on which this at least one cooling fluid release member is arranged. Advantageously, the main extension axis of the cooling fluid release member may be perpendicular to the main extension direction of the at least one manifold concerned.It is understood that these characteristics are compatible with each other, that is to say that a heat exchanger comprising on the one hand at least one cooling fluid release member whose main extension axis extends parallel to the main extension direction of the manifold which carries it and on the other hand at least one other cooling fluid release member whose main extension axis intersects the main extension direction of the manifold which carries it is also covered by the present invention.

[0017] According to the invention, the cooling fluid is a fluid composed mainly of carbon dioxide. In any event, this cooling fluid is chosen on the one hand for its capacity to capture, transport and release calories, and on the other hand for its capacity not to participate in the excitation and propagation of the fire within the enclosure.In other words, it is understood that the fluid composed mainly of carbon dioxide serves both as a cooling fluid when it circulates in the heat exchanger, that is to say that it is then configured to capture calories from the electrical energy storage cells of the electrical energy storage device in order to cool the latter, and also as an extinguishing fluid, that is to say a fluid capable of smothering the start of a fire, in particular by being projected into the housing at a high flow rate to almost instantly fill the volume defined by the housing and remove the oxygen present capable of promoting the spread of the fire.

[0018] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle, comprising at least one electrical energy storage device as previously described. Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and several exemplary embodiments given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended schematic drawings on the other hand, in which: [ Fig. 1 ] illustrates, schematically, seen in cross-section, an electrical energy storage device according to the present invention; [ Fig. 2 ] illustrates, schematically and in perspective, a member for releasing a cooling fluid intended to be integrated into an electrical energy storage device according to the invention; [ Fig. 3 ] illustrates, schematically, seen in a longitudinal section, the cooling fluid release member illustrated in the figure 2 , this release member being shown integrated in a collector box of a heat exchanger of the electrical energy storage device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 4 ] illustrates, schematically, seen from above, the electrical energy storage device according to the first exemplary embodiment, a housing of this electrical energy storage device being represented in a longitudinal section to make visible the elements housed in this housing; [ Fig. 5 ] illustrates, schematically, seen from above, the electrical energy storage device according to a second exemplary embodiment, a housing of this electrical energy storage device being represented in a longitudinal section to make visible the elements housed in this housing; [ Fig. 6 ] illustrates, schematically, seen from above, the electrical energy storage device according to a third exemplary embodiment, a housing of this electrical energy storage device being represented in a longitudinal section to make visible the elements housed in this housing; [ Fig. 7 ] illustrates, schematically, seen from above, the electrical energy storage device according to a variant of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a housing of this electrical energy storage device being shown in a longitudinal section to make the elements housed in this housing visible.

[0019] The features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be conceived comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0020] In the figures, the names longitudinal, vertical, transverse, left, right, above, below refer to the orientation of the trihedrons L, V, T. In this reference, a longitudinal axis L represents a longitudinal direction, a transverse axis T represents a transverse direction, and a vertical axis V represents a vertical direction of the object considered. In the description which follows the terms "electrical energy storage" and "storage" will be used without distinction, a transverse section will correspond to a section made along a transverse and vertical plane, that is to say a plane in which the transverse axis T and the vertical axis V of the trihedron are inscribed and a "longitudinal" section will correspond to a section made along a longitudinal and transverse plane, that is to say a plane in which the longitudinal axis L and the transverse axis T of the illustrated trihedron are inscribed.

[0021] There figure 1 thus illustrates, seen in a cross-section, an electrical energy storage device 100 according to the invention. As shown, this storage device 100 comprises at least one housing 110 which houses at least one, advantageously a plurality, of electrical energy storage cells 120 and at least one heat exchanger 130 dedicated to the thermal treatment of the storage cells 120. Optionally, the storage device 100 according to the invention may comprise several heat exchangers, each dedicated to the thermal treatment of one or more storage cells 120.

[0022] The heat exchanger 130 comprises at least two manifolds 132, 133 - for example illustrated in the figures 4 à 7 - between which extends at least one conduit 131 in which a cooling fluid is capable of circulating. According to the illustrated example, the heat exchanger 130 comprises a plurality of conduits 131. Each of these conduits opens onto one of the manifolds and a fluid communication is arranged between the conduits and the manifolds so that the cooling fluid can circulate throughout the heat exchanger. More particularly, the heat exchanger 130 comprises an inlet manifold configured to distribute the cooling fluid in the conduits 131 and an outlet manifold configured to collect the cooling fluid once the heat exchange with the storage cells 120 has taken place.

[0023] The storage cells 120 are arranged in contact with the heat exchanger 130, or at least in the direct vicinity, and more particularly in contact with the conduits 131 in which the cooling fluid circulates. If necessary, a thermal paste can be interposed between the storage cells and the conduits 131. During use, these storage cells 120 tend to heat up, and this phenomenon worsens during the so-called "charging" phases, that is to say when these storage cells 120 store the electrical energy that they are intended to store. Such temperature increases are not desirable since they can cause irreversible damage to these storage cells 120. Thus, when these storage cells 120 heat up, the cooling fluid that circulates in these conduits 131 is configured to capture calories from these storage cells 120 so as to cool the latter.

[0024] The heat exchanger 130 is furthermore arranged on a cooling fluid circuit - not illustrated here - by means of which the cooling fluid discharges, in an area remote from the storage cells, the calories thus captured so that it is again able to capture the calories from the storage cells 120 once it returns to the conduits 131 of the heat exchanger 130. The cooling fluid circuit can, without departing from the context of the invention, either be entirely included in the housing or extend partly outside the housing so that the area remote from the storage cells is outside the housing.

[0025] According to the invention, this cooling fluid is a non-flammable fluid suitable for exchanging calories with the storage cells 120. For example, this cooling fluid is composed, for the most part, of carbon dioxide.

[0026] The heat exchanger 130 is thus arranged, on the one hand in contact with the storage cells 120, and, on the other hand, in direct or indirect contact with a bottom wall 111 of the housing 110. In other words, this heat exchanger 130 can be arranged directly in contact with this bottom wall 111 or, alternatively, a support element can be interposed between the bottom wall 111 of the housing 110 and the heat exchanger 130. Optionally, this support element can be configured to exert a vertical pressure, that is to say a pressure which is exerted parallel to the vertical axis V of the trihedron illustrated, on the bottom wall 111, so as to press the heat exchanger 130 against the storage cells 120 in order to optimize the heat exchange which takes place between the cooling fluid which circulates in the heat exchanger 130 and these storage cells 120.

[0027] According to the invention, at least one of the collector boxes of the heat exchanger 130 comprises a release member 140 for the cooling fluid, for example illustrated in the figures 2 And 3. In the remainder of the description, the terms “cooling fluid release member” and “release member” will be used without distinction. “Cooling fluid release member 140” means a member configured to allow the cooling fluid circulating in the heat exchanger 130 to escape from this heat exchanger under certain predetermined conditions. According to the invention, the release member 140 is more particularly configured to allow a release of the cooling fluid into the housing of the storage device when a temperature or a pressure within this housing exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Advantageously, this threshold value is determined so that the fluid is released in the event of a fire starting within one of the storage cells housed in said housing.It is understood that this release of fluid allows the storage cells to be flooded so that the fire is quickly smothered, thus limiting the potential damage that it could cause by spreading. In other words, a quantity of cooling fluid circulating in the heat exchanger and capable of being released into the housing by the at least one cooling fluid release member is at least sufficient to cover the storage cells 120. It is also understood that the pressure of the cooling fluid in the heat exchanger is chosen to allow this release of the cooling fluid throughout the housing. For example, the cooling fluid thus circulates at a pressure of between 25 and 132 Bars.

[0028] THE figures 2 And 3 thus illustrate an example of the embodiment of such a cooling fluid release member, the figure 2 being a perspective view of this cooling fluid release member and the figure 3 being a sectional view of this cooling fluid release member integrated in a manifold 132 of the heat exchanger 130. It is understood that this is only an exemplary embodiment and that any other cooling fluid release member 140 having the same functionalities as those described below is conceivable without departing from the context of the present invention.

[0029] According to the illustrated example, the release member 140 takes the general form of a screw, that is to say that it extends mainly along a main extension axis X and that it comprises at least one head 141 and a body 142 aligned one after the other along the main extension axis X. A thread 143 is provided on the body 142 so as to allow its mounting, in this case by screwing, on at least one of the manifolds 132 of the heat exchanger, said manifold 132 being equipped with a corresponding thread. It is understood that any other means of mounting this release member 140 on the heat exchanger is conceivable without departing from the context of the present invention. The body 142 has a cylindrical, or substantially cylindrical, shape, open at its two ends.A first end 144 of the body 142 is thus in communication with a hollow body 149 delimited by the head 141 of the release member 140 and a second end 145 of this body 142 opens onto an environment external to this release member 140 via an orifice 146.

[0030] According to the invention, this release member 140 is intended to be mounted on the heat exchanger by the second end 145 of the body 142. In other words, the cooling fluid FR which circulates in the heat exchanger is able to reach the body 142 of the release member 140 via the orifice 146 formed in this second end 145 of the body 142, then to reach the head 141 of the release member 140, and more particularly the hollow body 149 delimited by this head 141, by the first end 144 of the body 142. At least one hole 147, advantageously a plurality of holes 147, is formed in the head 141 of the release member 140, this (these) hole(s) being configured to allow the release of the cooling fluid outside the heat exchanger, that is, when the release member 140 is mounted on the corresponding collector box 132, in the housing of the electrical energy storage device.

[0031] It is therefore understood that the cooling fluid is capable, under certain conditions and in particular that a fluid communication exists between the manifold and the internal volume of the body 142 of the release member, of leaving the manifold of the heat exchanger in which it circulates to join, first of all, the body 142 of the release member 140, then the hollow body 149 delimited by the head 141 of this release member 140 and finally the enclosure of the housing of the storage device. Again, it is understood that in conditions of use at normal temperatures and pressures, the closure device 150 prevents the cooling fluid from joining the hollow body 149 delimited by the head 141 of the release member 140, this cooling fluid then circulating exclusively in the heat exchanger and in the cooling fluid circuit which carries this heat exchanger.

[0032] In order to prevent any leakage of coolant, a sealing device 148 - for example illustrated in the figure 2 - is optionally interposed between the heat exchanger, and more particularly, between one of the collector boxes of this heat exchanger, and the second end 145 of the body 142 of the release member 140. In other words, this sealing device 148 extends around a periphery of the orifice 146 formed in the second end 145 of the body 142.

[0033] As previously mentioned, the release member 140 is more particularly configured to allow the release of the cooling fluid when the pressure and / or the temperature within the housing exceeds a predetermined threshold value. As illustrated in the figure 3 , the release member 140 comprises a closure device 150 arranged in the body 142 of the release member 140, downstream of the orifice 146 relative to a direction of circulation of the cooling fluid FR in this release member 140, this closure device 150 being configured to authorize the passage of cooling fluid FR only when the temperature and / or the pressure in the housing exceeds the threshold value.

[0034] According to the illustrated example, this sealing device 150 takes the form of a membrane 151 which has at least one notch 152 which forms an incipient rupture. In other words, this membrane 151 is thus weakened at the level of this at least one notch 152 so that, when sufficient pressure is applied to this membrane 150, it tears, then releasing the cooling fluid FR into the housing of the storage device.

[0035] Alternatively, the membrane may be provided with a thickness calculated so that it tears when sufficient pressure is applied to it. According to yet another alternative, this membrane may be made of a material which melts from a certain temperature, advantageously the predetermined threshold value.

[0036] The body 142 of this release member 140 more particularly comprises at least a first part 154 on which the thread is arranged and at least a second part 155 carrying the closure device 150. Thus, as illustrated, the first part 154 of the body 142 extends from the head 141 of the release member 140, to the closure device 150 and the second part 155 of the body 142 extends from the closure device 150, which is part of this second part 155 of the body 142, to the orifice 146 which participates in forming the second end 145 of this body 142. Advantageously, such an embodiment in two distinct parts makes it easier to replace the closure device 150 after it has been torn.It is understood that in the event of breakage of the closure device 150, the release member 140 can be unscrewed from the collector box 132 which carries it so that the second part 155 of the body 142 can be removed and replaced by another second part 155, new, that is to say a second part 155 comprising an integral closure device 150.

[0037] It follows from the above that the closure device 150 is, according to the example illustrated here, arranged close to the second end 145 of the body 142 of the release member 140, that is to say closer to this second end 145 of the body 142 than to the head 141 of this release member 140.

[0038] THE figures 4 à 7 illustrate different examples and variant embodiments of the storage device according to the invention which differ from each other in particular by the positioning and orientation of the release member 140 relative to the heat exchanger 130. These figures illustrate more particularly the electrical energy storage device 100, seen from above, and in which the housing 110 is shown seen in a longitudinal section in order to make the heat exchanger 130 as well as the storage cells 120 of this storage device 100 visible. According to the examples illustrated here, the electrical energy storage device 100 comprises six electrical energy storage cells 120 distributed over two rows. In other words, these storage cells are aligned, three by three, along two parallel transverse axes.It is understood that this is only an exemplary embodiment and that it may be provided that the electrical energy storage device 100 comprises a lower or higher number of storage cells 120 without departing from the context of the present invention.

[0039] As previously mentioned, the heat exchanger 130 comprises an inlet manifold 132, an outlet manifold 133 and a plurality of conduits 131 in which the cooling fluid circulates and which extend between the inlet manifold 132 and the outlet manifold 133. As illustrated, the inlet manifold 132 and the outlet manifold 133 extend, respectively, along a main extension line D parallel to the transverse axis T of the illustrated trihedron. For example, the heat exchanger 130 may comprise at least one cooling fluid release member 140 arranged at a transverse end of one of the manifolds 132, 133. Advantageously, the heat exchanger 130 comprises a plurality of cooling fluid release members 140, distributed at each of the transverse ends 134, 135, 136, 137 of these manifolds 132, 133.

[0040] In the event of a fire starting in one of the electrical energy storage cells 120, a pressure and / or a temperature in the housing 110 increases suddenly. As previously mentioned, such an increase in the pressure and / or the temperature within the housing causes a rupture of the closure device arranged in the release member 140 closest to the start of the fire, that is to say in the release member 140 which undergoes the greatest change in temperature / pressure. This results in a filling of the housing 110, in an area around this release member 140, and therefore around the storage cell 120 in which the start of the fire occurs. According to the invention, the release of cooling fluid continues until the housing 110 is completely, or almost completely, filled with cooling fluid.Advantageously, the invention thus makes it possible to release the cooling fluid composed mainly of carbon dioxide, quickly and as close as possible to the start of the fire, thus ensuring rapid smothering of the start of the fire, that is to say, thus rapidly cutting off the supply of oxygen to the level of this start of the fire, which prevents its spread.

[0041] According to a first example of realization illustrated on the figure 4 , the heat exchanger 130 comprises four release members 140 for the cooling fluid. Thus, according to this first exemplary embodiment, a first release member 140 is arranged at a first transverse end 134 of the inlet manifold 132, a second release member 140 is arranged at a second transverse end 135 of the inlet manifold 132, a third release member 140 is arranged at a first transverse end 136 of the outlet manifold 133 and a fourth release member 140 is arranged at a second transverse end 137 of the outlet manifold 133. According to the example illustrated here, the main extension axis X of each release member 140 coincides with the main extension line D of the manifold 132, 133 which carries the release member 140 concerned.

[0042] The second and third examples of embodiment illustrated, respectively, on the figures 5 And 6 differ from the first embodiment in that the heat exchanger 130 comprises at least one intermediate collector 138 arranged substantially equidistant from the inlet manifold 132 and the outlet manifold 133. As shown, this at least one intermediate collector 138 is positioned between a first row 121 of three storage cells 120 and a second row 122 of three storage cells 120. In other words, this at least one intermediate collector 138 is positioned substantially in a center of the storage device 100. Advantageously, this at least one intermediate collector 138 is equipped with at least one, advantageously at least two, release members 140 for the cooling fluid.

[0043] According to the second example of realization illustrated on the figure 5 , the heat exchanger 130 comprises a single intermediate collector 138 equipped with two release members 140 respectively arranged at each of the transverse ends of this intermediate collector 138. According to the illustrated example, it is noted that this intermediate collector 138 is identical, or substantially identical to the collector boxes 132, 133 distributed at the longitudinal ends of the heat exchanger 130 with the sole exception that conduits 131 are fluidically connected to the intermediate collector 138 on either side thereof. In other words, this intermediate collector 138 extends mainly along a main extension line D' parallel to the transverse axis T of the illustrated trihedron and has a shape and dimensions equivalent or substantially equivalent to the shape and dimension of the collector boxes 132, 133.It is understood that this is only an exemplary embodiment and that this intermediate collector 138 could be different without departing from the context of the present invention insofar as it comprises at least one cooling fluid release member which has the characteristics described above.

[0044] According to the third example of realization illustrated on the figure 6 , the heat exchanger 130 comprises three intermediate collectors 135 aligned along a transverse straight line D", that is to say a straight line parallel to the transverse axis T, and each of the intermediate collectors is equipped with two release members 140, distributed at the two transverse ends of each of these intermediate collectors 135. Again, this is only an exemplary embodiment and it may be provided that a different number of cooling fluid release members is distributed on each intermediate collector, and that the heat exchanger comprises a different number of intermediate collectors without departing from the context of the present invention.

[0045] It is noted that according to the examples of realization illustrated on the figures 5 And 6, the main extension axis X of each release member 140 is coincident with the main extension line D' of the intermediate collector 138 or with the transverse direction D" along which the intermediate collectors carrying these release members 140 are aligned.

[0046] There figure 7 illustrates a variant of the first exemplary embodiment. This variant differs from the first exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figure 4 in the orientation of the release members 140 of the cooling fluid. Thus, according to the three exemplary embodiments which have just been described, the release members 140 are arranged at the transverse ends of the manifolds 132, 133 / intermediate manifolds 138 and extend, for the most part, parallel to the transverse axis T. In other words, the release members 140 are arranged so that the cooling fluid is caused to pass through these members in a transverse direction substantially in the extension of the corresponding manifold. According to the variant illustrated in the figure 7 , it is understood that these release members 140 are also arranged near the transverse ends of the collector boxes 132, 133, that is to say closer to the transverse ends of these collector boxes than to a center of the latter but that the orientation of these release members differ in that they extend parallel to the vertical axis V. In other words, the main extension axis X of each release member 140 is secant, advantageously perpendicular, to the main extension direction D of the collector boxes 132, 133. The operating principle of the cooling fluid release members 140 according to this variant is identical to that described previously.

[0047] Advantageously, this variant embodiment can also be transposed to the second and third embodiment examples illustrated in the figures 5 And 6, that is to say that, according to the invention, the main extension axis X of each release member 140 is transverse, advantageously perpendicular, to the main extension line of the single intermediate collector or to the transverse direction along which the intermediate collectors are aligned.

[0048] According to another variant of the first embodiment not illustrated here, the cooling fluid release members are arranged at a distance from the transverse ends, for example closer to a center of the manifold which carries them than to any of these transverse ends. The remainder of the description which has just been given with reference to the figure 7 applies mutatis mutandis to this other variant not illustrated.

[0049] It is understood from reading the above that the present invention provides a simple and inexpensive means for managing fires that may occur in electrical energy storage devices in electric or hybrid vehicles equipped with such devices, and more particularly for smothering such a fire, thereby improving the safety of users of the vehicle concerned and also the safety of other users who share the road with these vehicles.

[0050] The invention is not, however, limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated herein. The invention is defined by the subject matter of the appended claims.

[0051] In particular, the number, shape and arrangement of the coolant release members may be modified without harming the invention to the extent that they fulfill the functionalities described in this document.

Claims

1. Electrical energy storage device (100) for a vehicle, comprising at least one casing (110) in which are housed at least one electrical energy storage cell (120) and at least one heat exchanger (130) configured to operate a heat exchange between a cooling fluid adapted to circulate in the at least one heat exchanger (130) and the electrical energy storage cell(s) (120), characterized in that the heat exchanger (130) comprises at least one cooling fluid release member (140) configured to release the cooling fluid into the casing (110) and in that the cooling fluid release member (140) comprises at least one obturation device (150) configured to rupture, at least partially, at a temperature higher than 150°C and / or at a pressure higher than 200 Bars and comprises at least one head (141) and at least one body (142), the body (142) comprising at least a first part (154) by which it is made integral, by screwing, with the heat exchanger (130) and at least a second modular part (155) attached to the first part (154) and in which the obturation device (150) is arranged.

2. Electrical energy storage device (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the heat exchanger (130) comprises at least two collecting boxes (132, 133) extending along a transverse direction and between which extend at least two cooling fluid circulation conduits (131) fluidically connected to each collecting box, the cooling fluid release member (140) being arranged at a transverse end (134, 135, 136, 137) of at least one of the collecting boxes (132, 133).

3. Electrical energy storage device (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the heat exchanger (130) comprises at least one intermediate manifold (138) arranged between the two collecting boxes (132, 133), parallel to these two collecting boxes, at least one cooling fluid release member (140) being arranged at one end of this intermediate manifold (138).

4. Electrical energy storage device (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the heat exchanger (130) comprises a plurality of intermediate manifolds (138) arranged between the two collecting boxes (132, 133).

5. Electrical energy storage device (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, in which the at least one cooling fluid release member (140) extends along a main extension axis (X) parallel to a main extension direction (D) of the at least one collecting box (132, 133) on which this at least one cooling fluid release member (140) is arranged.

6. Electrical energy storage device (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the at least one cooling fluid release member (140) extends along a main extension axis (D) intersecting a main extension direction (D) of the at least one collecting box (132, 133) on which this at least one cooling fluid release member (140) is arranged.

7. Electrical energy storage device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the cooling fluid is a fluid mainly composed of carbon dioxide.

8. Motor vehicle, comprising at least one electrical energy storage device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.