Thermal regulation device for cooling an electrical energy storage member

Abstract

The present invention relates to a thermal regulation device (1) for cooling an energy storage member (6), comprising a first stage (10) and a second stage (12), the first stage (10) comprising a first support plate (18) and a first distribution plate. According to the invention, the thermal regulation device (1) comprises at least one additional plate (38) positioned against the first support plate (18) and delimiting at least one duct for circulation of the cooling fluid (40), the first stage (10) and the second stage (12) being in fluidic communication via the additional plate (38) and a connection means (50).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: THERMAL CONTROL DEVICE FOR COOLING AN ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of thermal regulation devices and more particularly to the means implemented to regulate the temperature of electrical energy storage devices fitted to vehicles.

[0004] It is now known to equip electric, thermal or hybrid vehicles with electrical energy storage units allowing an electrical supply to the various elements of the vehicle. These electrical energy storage units are generally composed of electrical energy storage cells positioned in a battery pack.

[0005] During vehicle operation, battery packs can release a significant amount of heat and therefore be subject to temperature increases that can, in some cases, cause damage or even destruction. Therefore, their cooling is essential to keep them in good condition and thus ensure the reliability, autonomy and performance of the vehicle. Furthermore, the operation of battery packs can be less efficient in low temperatures, as the electrical or electronic components equipping these battery packs then need time to warm up before operating at full capacity.

[0006] To do this, one or more thermal regulation devices intended to regulate the temperature of the battery packs are implemented to ensure the heating and / or cooling functions of the electrical or electronic components inside these battery packs and thus optimize the operation of the different components.

[0007] These thermal regulation devices are generally traversed by a thermal regulation fluid which can, depending on the needs, either absorb the heat emitted by each battery pack in order to cool it, or provide heat if the temperature of the battery pack is insufficient for its proper functioning. The thermal regulation devices can consist, for example, of a flat plate on which a stamped plate is affixed so as to form, between the flat plate and reliefs formed in the stamped plate, channels intended to be traversed by the thermal regulation fluid.This type of thermal regulation device generally extends over the entire surface formed by the corresponding battery pack, and the plate is arranged in the battery pack so that each of the storage cells can be positioned against the plate, so that the thermal regulation fluid circulating in the channels of the thermal regulation device is able to exchange calories with all of the electrical energy storage cells.

[0008] Car manufacturers are currently seeking to deliver more powerful electric or hybrid vehicles with increased electric range. To achieve this, more and more battery packs, and / or larger battery packs, are being installed in these electric or hybrid vehicles.

[0009] In this way, the electrical energy storage cells of the same battery pack can be distributed over two levels of this battery pack, so as to optimize the space required for installing the battery pack within the vehicle it equips.

[0010] It is then necessary to circulate the thermal regulation fluid within these two stages, for example a first stage and a second stage. However, it is possible that the thermoregulatory properties of the thermal regulation fluid are reduced if this cooling fluid circulates within the thermal regulation device so that it cools the electrical energy storage cells arranged on the first stage before cooling the electrical energy storage cells arranged on the first stage, or vice versa. It is understood that such circulation of the thermal regulation fluid, to successively cool the two stages, would cause excessive heating of the thermal regulation fluid which would reduce its thermoregulatory properties at the time when it must regulate the temperature of the electrical energy storage cells arranged on the second stage.

[0011] The present invention aims to overcome this drawback by proposing a thermal regulation device which makes it possible to cool a first stage and a second stage of the same battery pack by means of a single closed cooling fluid circuit, which allows the circulation of the thermal regulation fluid within the first stage without this fluid being used to cool the electrical energy storage cells of this first stage, thus allowing optimal cooling of the electrical energy storage cells of the second stage.

[0012] The main subject of the present invention is thus a thermal regulation device for cooling an energy storage member by a cooling fluid, comprising a first stage configured to be in contact with a first portion of the energy storage member and a second stage configured to be in contact with a second portion of the energy storage member, the second stage being at least partly offset relative to the first stage in a vertical stacking direction, the first stage comprising a first support plate and a first distribution plate, the first support plate having a first face intended to be in contact with the energy storage member and a second face opposite this first face, the first distribution plate being in contact with this second face and being locally deformed so as to delimit channels for circulation of the cooling fluid.According to the invention, the thermal regulation device comprises at least one additional plate positioned against the first face of the first support plate and delimiting at least one cooling fluid circulation conduit, the first stage and the second stage being in fluid communication via the additional plate and a connection means.

[0013] The thermal regulation device according to the invention is intended to cool an energy storage member, for example a battery pack of a motor vehicle. Such an energy storage member comprises electrical energy storage cells, which here constitute a first portion and a second portion of the energy storage member. These two portions are respectively arranged, within the thermal regulation device, on a first thermal regulation stage and a second thermal regulation stage which are in fluid communication; it is understood here that the first stage and the second stage are crossed by the same cooling fluid. These first and second stages are here offset in a vertical stacking direction, the second stage being superimposed on the first stage in this direction.

[0014] The second stage may have a similar structure with a second support plate and a second distribution plate.

[0015] Each of the stages comprises a substantially planar support plate and a locally deformed distribution plate, which create between them channels for circulation of the cooling fluid in order to cool the corresponding stage of the thermal regulation device. According to the invention, the support plate of the first stage, or first support plate, is furthermore positioned against an additional plate, which, like the distribution plate, is locally deformed. The first support plate and the additional plate define between them conduits for circulation of the cooling fluid. These conduits for circulation of the cooling fluid, which therefore belong to the first stage, allow circulation of the cooling fluid within this first stage without it being used for cooling the electrical energy storage cells which are arranged on this first stage.These circulation ducts consist of a fluid supply duct, which helps bring the cooling fluid to the second stage, and a fluid discharge duct, which helps evacuate the cooling fluid from the thermal regulation device.

[0016] The additional plate is arranged on a portion of the first support plate that is devoid of electrical energy storage cells. It thus constitutes a bypass circuit for the cooling fluid within the first stage relative to the distribution plate of this first stage, or first distribution plate. The additional plate helps to ensure fluid communication between the first stage and the second stage in the sense that the cooling fluid that circulates within the cooling fluid circulation conduits of the additional plate, i.e. within the first stage, is subsequently intended to circulate within the second stage and therefore to cool the electrical energy storage cells of the second stage.The additional plate is in fluid communication with a connection means which participates in circulating cooling fluid from the first stage to the second stage, and vice versa from the second stage to the first stage.

[0017] The thermal regulation device according to the invention thus makes it possible to ensure that the entire energy storage member with which it is equipped is correctly cooled. Without this additional plate, the connection means would be connected to the cooling fluid circulation channels and the cooling fluid arriving at the second stage would be too heated after having carried out regulation of the first portion of the electrical storage member arranged on the first stage, and it could not ensure optimal cooling of the second portion of this electrical storage member arranged on the second stage.

[0018] According to another characteristic of the invention, the connection means comprises two vertical tubes. The additional plate is configured to communicate with the connection means so that the latter is located at the right of the cooling fluid supply of the second stage and can take the form of straight rigid tubes.

[0019] One of the tubes forms a second stage coolant supply tube and the other of the tubes forms a second stage exhaust tube.

[0020] According to a characteristic of the invention, the tubes are arranged between the first support plate and the second stage.

[0021] According to another characteristic of the invention, the tubes are arranged between the additional plate and the second stage.

[0022] This solution may be preferred when the tubes cannot be placed inside the casing, in order to facilitate peripheral sealing between the support plate and the structural frame.

[0023] It is understood here that there are several embodiments of the present invention, which differ from each other by the connection of the connection means on the first stage, namely a connection directly on the additional plate and the cooling fluid circulation conduit that it helps to form or an indirect connection via a bypass channel formed on the first stage and linking the additional plate to the connection means.

[0024] According to one characteristic, the additional plate has a first end and a second end opposite in a main direction of extension of the additional plate, at least one first end being arranged against the first support plate opposite at least one proximal orifice formed in the first support plate, the additional plate communicating through this proximal orifice with a proximal bypass channel formed by a protuberance of the first distribution plate and forming a bypass of the cooling fluid circulation channels.

[0025] The orifice provided in the first support plate allows the cooling fluid to pass from one side of the first support plate to the other. More precisely, the cooling fluid is caused to pass through the first support plate to circulate firstly opposite one face of this first support plate and the first distribution plate and secondly opposite another face of the first support plate and the additional plate, and vice versa.

[0026] According to a characteristic of the invention, the additional plate is in fluid communication at its second end with the second stage and the connection means via at least one distal bypass channel formed by a protuberance of the first distribution plate, a first end of which covers one of the orifices which is covered on the other side of the first support plate by the additional plate, the connection means also opening into the bypass channel at a second end of the latter.

[0027] It is understood that such a characteristic corresponds in particular to the embodiment for which the tubes connect the first support plate and the second support plate.

[0028] According to an alternative characteristic of the invention, the additional plate is in direct fluid communication with the connection means via two perforations made in the second end of the additional plate, in a face of the additional plate opposite the first support plate.

[0029] Thus, in this particular embodiment the cooling fluid can circulate between a circulation conduit, arranged within the additional plate, and the connection means without using a bypass channel to do so.

[0030] According to one feature, the additional plate comprises two cooling fluid circulation ducts, extending in the vicinity of each other in a central position of the first stage and including a cooling fluid supply duct and a cooling fluid discharge duct.

[0031] These two circulation ducts are of the same dimensions and parallel to each other. They allow the coolant to be conveyed from one end of the additional plate to the other; more precisely, the coolant supply duct allows the coolant to circulate from the first end to the second end, and conversely the coolant discharge duct allows its circulation from the second end to the first.

[0032] In some alternative embodiments, they are offset to one side.

[0033] According to an alternative characteristic of the invention, the additional plate is formed of two distinct parts including a first additional plate and a second additional plate extending along opposing edges of the first support plate.

[0034] This is an alternative embodiment, in which the thermal regulation device comprises two separate additional plates arranged at a distance from each other to provide fluid communication between the first stage and the second stage. These two additional plates are symmetrical with respect to each other along a plane passing through a middle of the thermal regulation device. They follow the contours of the first support plate; it is thus understood that they are arranged on the first face at the periphery of this support plate, along opposing edges of this support plate. In other words, a first additional plate extends in particular along a lateral edge of the support plate and the second additional plate extends in particular along an opposite lateral edge, where appropriate parallel, of the support plate.

[0035] According to another characteristic of the invention, the first additional plate and the second additional plate each comprise a cooling fluid circulation duct, the cooling fluid circulation duct of the first additional plate being a cooling fluid supply duct and the cooling fluid circulation duct of the second additional plate being a cooling fluid discharge duct.

[0036] It is thus understood that the first additional plate is responsible for supplying the second stage with cooling fluid, while the second additional plate allows this cooling fluid to be evacuated once it has regulated the temperature of the second portion of the energy storage member associated with this second stage.

[0037] According to a characteristic of the invention, the cooling fluid circulation conduits delimited by the additional plate have a constant fluid passage section from a first end of the additional plate to the second end of the additional plate, this section being measured in a plane perpendicular to the main elongation direction of the additional plate.

[0038] According to one feature, the fluid passage section of the cooling fluid circulation conduits delimited by the additional plate is identical to a fluid passage section of the cooling fluid circulation channels arranged within the first stage between the first support plate and the first distribution plate. This constant section helps to ensure a similar cooling fluid flow rate for the circulation of fluid within the first stage and that within the second stage of the thermal regulation device, and therefore helps to ensure uniform thermal regulation of the energy storage member regardless of the stage considered. According to one feature, the plates forming the first stage and the second stage and the additional plate are made of the same material.

[0039] Such an identity of materials facilitates the manufacture of the thermal regulation device according to the invention.

[0040] According to a characteristic of the invention, the plates forming the first stage and the second stage and the additional plate are made of aluminum.

[0041] The plates of the thermal regulation device can be assembled by brazing. If necessary, the aluminum is covered with a material to facilitate this brazing.

[0042] According to one feature, the plates forming the first stage and the second stage and the additional plate are made of a composite material.

[0043] This composite material meets environmental requirements by having a reduced carbon footprint compared to aluminum. It also has a reduced mass. The composite material can be combined with plastic, for example.

[0044] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0045] [Fig. i] illustrates, schematically and in perspective view, a thermal regulation device according to the invention, with two regulation stages, according to a first embodiment;

[0046] [Fig. 2] illustrates, schematically, the thermal regulation device of figure 1 from another perspective angle making the underside of the device visible;

[0047] [Fig. 3] illustrates, schematically, a thermal regulation device according to a second embodiment, according to a perspective view similar to that of figure 1;

[0048] [Fig. 4] illustrates, schematically, a thermal regulation device according to a third embodiment, in top view; [Fig. 5] illustrates, schematically, the thermal regulation device of figures 1 and 2 according to a viewing angle making visible an additional plate and a connection means for fluid communication between the two stages of the thermal regulation device;

[0049] [Fig. 6] illustrates, schematically, the additional plate of the thermal regulation device of figures 1 and 2 according to a sectional view making visible the fluid communication between a conduit delimited by the additional plate and a bypass channel, via an orifice formed in a support plate of the first stage;

[0050] [Fig. 7] illustrates, schematically, a means of connecting the thermal regulation device of Figure 3;

[0051] [Fig. 8] illustrates, schematically, the connection means of figure 7 according to a sectional view;

[0052] [Fig. 9] illustrates, schematically, a means of connecting the thermal regulation device of Figure 4 in a perspective view.

[0053] 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 and / or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0054] In the figures, elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0055] In the following detailed description, the terms "longitudinal", "transverse" and "vertical" refer to the orientation of the thermal regulation device according to the invention. A longitudinal direction corresponds to a main extension direction of this thermal regulation device, this longitudinal direction being parallel to a longitudinal axis L of a reference frame L, V, T illustrated in the figures. A vertical direction corresponds to a stacking direction of the first stage and the second stage, this vertical direction being parallel to a vertical axis V of the reference frame L, V, T and this vertical axis V being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Finally, a transverse direction corresponds to a direction parallel to a transverse axis T of the reference frame L, V, T, this transverse axis T being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and to the vertical axis V.

[0056] Furthermore, in the present description the term "cooling fluid" may refer to any heat transfer, refrigerant, thermal regulation, dielectric or two-phase fluid, provided that this fluid, liquid or gaseous, has the effect of cooling or heating electrical energy storage devices.

[0057] Figures 1 and 2 thus illustrate, schematically, a thermal regulation device 1 according to the invention according to a first embodiment, respectively according to a top view and a bottom view. The thermal regulation device 1 extends mainly in an extension direction which corresponds to a longitudinal direction, from a first longitudinal end 2 to a second longitudinal end 4.

[0058] The thermal regulation device 1 is intended to equip a vehicle, for example a motor vehicle, in order to regulate a temperature of an energy storage member 6 of this vehicle using a cooling fluid. The energy storage member 6 is for example composed of several electrical energy storage cells 8 intended to be cooled or heated using the cooling fluid. The energy storage member 6 comprises different levels of electrical energy storage cells, offset from each other in a vertical direction, that is to say perpendicular to the ground on which the vehicle equipped with the thermal regulation device 1 rests, in particular to integrate a maximum of electrical energy storage cells in a defined space requirement of the motor vehicle.

[0059] In this context, the thermal regulation device 1 has a first stage 10 and a second stage 12, on which the electrical energy storage cells 8 are distributed. The first stage 10 and the second stage 12 are superimposed in a vertical stacking direction E. Here, the term "superimposed" means that the second stage 12 is arranged above the first stage 10 in this vertical stacking direction E. As particularly visible in FIG. 1, the second stage 12 has smaller dimensions than the first stage 10, so that it receives a smaller number of electrical energy storage cells 8. The second stage 12 is thus offset relative to the first stage 10 in the longitudinal direction, in the sense that unlike this first stage 10, it does not extend from the first longitudinal end 2 of the thermal regulation device 1 to its second longitudinal end 4.

[0060] The electrical energy storage cells 8 of the energy storage member 6 are divided into two portions 14, 16, including a first portion 14 and a second portion 16. The first portion 14 of the energy storage member 6 is arranged on the first stage 10 while its second portion 16 is arranged on the second stage 12. The electrical energy storage cells 8 forming the first portion 14 are distributed on the first stage 10 of the thermal regulation device 1 from its first longitudinal end 2 to its second longitudinal end 4, in two substantially symmetrical rows along a longitudinal-vertical plane. The electrical energy storage cells 8 forming the second portion 16 may be distributed on the second stage 12 in an equivalent configuration, without this being limiting of the present embodiment.

[0061] The thermal regulation of the first and second portions 14, 16 of the energy storage member 6, and more particularly their cooling, is ensured by the circulation of a cooling fluid within the thermal regulation device 1. The first stage 10 and the second stage 12 comprise for this purpose a support plate and a distribution plate each. The first stage 10 thus has a first support plate 18 and a first distribution plate 20, the second stage 12 comprising a second support plate 22 and a second distribution plate 24.

[0062] The first support plate 18 comprises a first face 26 and a second face 28 opposite each other along the vertical stacking direction E. The first face 26 is in contact with the electrical energy storage cells 8 of the first portion 14, while the second face 28 is opposite the first distribution plate 20. The two faces 26, 28 of the first support plate 18 are substantially flat, i.e. they do not have any roughness. Conversely, the first distribution plate 20 is locally deformed so that it has a network of protrusions which move away from the first support plate 18.These protuberances of the first distribution plate 20 define, between them and the second face 28 of the first support plate 18, cooling fluid circulation channels 30 within which the cooling fluid circulates for the thermal regulation of the first portion 14 of the electrical energy storage cells 8 associated with the first stage 10. These cooling fluid circulation channels 30 of the first distribution plate 20 are particularly visible in FIG. 2.

[0063] Similarly, the second support plate 22 comprises a first surface 32 and a second surface 34 opposite each other along the vertical stacking direction E. The first surface 32 is in contact with the electrical energy storage cells 8 of the second portion 16, while the second surface 34 is opposite the second distribution plate 24. The two surfaces 32, 34 of the second support plate 22 are substantially flat, i.e. they have no roughness. Conversely, the second distribution plate 24 is locally deformed to form, between the second distribution plate and the second surface 34 of the second support plate, other cooling fluid circulation channels within which this cooling fluid circulates, this time for the thermal regulation of the second portion 16 of the electrical energy storage cells 8 associated with the second stage 12.In Figure 2, the cooling fluid circulation channels of the second distribution plate 24 are masked by the electrical energy storage cells 8 of the first stage 10.

[0064] In order to convey the cooling fluid to the thermal regulation device 1 and to evacuate it from the latter, the thermal regulation device 1 has connection end pieces 36. These connection end pieces 36 are arranged at the first longitudinal end 2 of the thermal regulation device 1, that is to say its end not covered by the second stage 12. The thermal regulation device 1 here comprises a connection end piece 36 corresponding to a cooling fluid inlet and a connection end piece 36 corresponding to a cooling fluid outlet. In the example illustrated, these connection end pieces 36 are arranged on a portion of the first longitudinal end 2 which corresponds to a longitudinal protrusion 37.The connecting end pieces are each arranged opposite a hole formed in the support plate to communicate respectively with a supply branch 301 and a discharge branch 302 connected to the cooling fluid circulation channels 30 within the first stage 10. At least a portion of the cooling fluid arriving in the thermal regulation device passes successively through a first connecting end piece 36, the supply branch 301, the network of cooling fluid circulation channels 30 within the first stage 10, then through the discharge branch 302 to be discharged from the thermal regulation device via the second connecting end piece 36.

[0065] In some embodiments, the first support plate 18 is planar.

[0066] According to the invention, the thermal regulation device 1 comprises at least one additional plate 38 and a connection means which make it possible to divert a portion of the cooling fluid arriving in the thermal regulation device to direct it towards the second stage of this thermal regulation device.

[0067] The additional plate 38 is arranged on the first support plate 18 on its first face 26, that is to say opposite the first distribution plate 20. Like this first distribution plate 20, the additional plate 38 is locally deformed and has protuberances which define between them and the first face 26 of the first support plate 18 at least one cooling fluid circulation conduit 40.

[0068] The additional plate 38, in particular associated with the connection means 50 which will be described below, allows fluid communication between the first stage 10 and the second stage 12. More precisely, this additional plate 38 allows the passage of a portion of the cooling fluid from the first stage 10 to the second stage 12 without the temperature of this cooling fluid arriving in the second stage 12 being completely modified by the prior thermal regulation of the first portion 14 of the energy storage member 6 arranged on this first stage 10. It is understood that the additional plate 38 constitutes a bypass for the cooling fluid relative to the first distribution plate 20 before being conveyed to the second distribution plate 24.

[0069] The additional plate 38 and the plates also forming the first stage, namely the first support plate 18 and the first distribution plate 20, can advantageously be made of the same material. Such a same material can, according to variants of the present invention, be aluminum or a composite material, for example made from plastic.

[0070] In the figures, the additional plate 38 and the associated connection means are shown according to different embodiments. Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 thus correspond to a first embodiment, Figures 3, 7 and 8 to a second embodiment and finally Figures 4 and 9 to a third embodiment. These embodiments will now be described successively.

[0071] The additional plate 38 according to the first embodiment extends from the first longitudinal end 2 of the thermal regulation device 1 to its second longitudinal end 4. It is arranged substantially in the middle of the first support plate 18 along the longitudinal direction, that is to say along a longitudinal-vertical plane which divides the thermal regulation device 1 into two symmetrical parts. It is thus understood that the additional plate 38 is arranged between the two rows of electrical energy storage cells 8 constituting the first portion 14.

[0072] Still according to this first embodiment, the additional plate 38 has a first end 42 arranged in the vicinity of the first longitudinal end 2 of the thermal regulation device 1 and a second end 44 opposite this first end 42 and which is therefore in the vicinity of the second longitudinal end 4 of this thermal regulation device 1. The additional plate 38 is here substantially rectilinear from its first end 42 to its second end 44.

[0073] As particularly visible in Figure 6, the additional plate 38 comprises two cooling fluid circulation ducts 40. More particularly, the additional plate 38 comprises, as these cooling fluid circulation ducts 40, a cooling fluid supply duct 40A and a cooling fluid discharge duct 40B. The cooling fluid supply duct 40A and the cooling fluid discharge duct 40B have passage sections, that is to say surfaces measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, which are identical to each other and constant from one end to the other of the additional plate.Such a section of the cooling fluid circulation conduits 40 may advantageously be identical to a section of the cooling fluid circulation channels 30 formed within the first stage 10 and / or within the second stage 12.

[0074] The cooling fluid circulates within these two cooling fluid supply and discharge conduits 40A, 40B in two opposite directions. The first end 42 of the additional plate 38 is for this purpose arranged at the first longitudinal end 2 of the thermal regulation device 1 so that the cooling fluid supply conduit 40A faces, in the longitudinal direction, the connection end piece 36 which corresponds to a cooling fluid inlet within the thermal regulation device 1, and the cooling fluid discharge conduit 40B faces, in the longitudinal direction, the connection end piece 36 which is a cooling fluid outlet.

[0075] The coolant supply duct 40A and the coolant discharge duct 40B are not, however, directly connected to the connection end pieces 36. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the coolant circulates between a connection end piece 36 and the coolant supply duct 40A via a first proximal bypass channel 46, diverging from the supply branch 301, and between the coolant discharge duct 40B and a connection end piece 36 via a second proximal bypass channel 46, converging towards the discharge branch 302. These proximal bypass channels 46 are, as for the coolant circulation channels 30, formed by protuberances of the first distribution plate 20.They make it possible to form a parallel circuit in which a portion of the cooling fluid circulates diverted from the cooling fluid circulation channels 30 associated with the first stage 10. In other words, when cooling fluid is conveyed to the first distribution plate 20, a portion of this fluid is intended to circulate in the cooling fluid circulation channels 30 of the first stage 10 while another portion is intended to use these proximal bypass channels 36 to be conveyed to the additional plate 38 then to the second stage 12.Once the fluid has circulated within the second stage and recovered or transferred calories to the second portion 16 of the energy storage member 6, the diverted portion of cooling fluid is reinjected into the cooling fluid circulation channels just before opening onto the connection end piece 36 corresponding to the cooling fluid outlet end piece.

[0076] In order to allow the passage of cooling fluid through the first support plate 18 to pass from the circulation channels 30, between the second face 28 of the first support plate 18 and the first distribution plate 20, to a circulation duct 40, between the first face 26 of the first support plate and the additional plate 38, and in order to allow the passage in the opposite direction from a circulation duct to the circulation channels 30, the first support plate 18 has proximal orifices 48 which pass right through it, that is to say opening out equally well on its first face 26 as on its second face 28.These proximal orifices 48 are provided in the first support plate 18, at the first end 42 of the additional plate 38, so that a proximal orifice 48 opens into the cooling fluid supply duct 40A and a proximal orifice 48 opens into the cooling fluid discharge duct 40B. Such proximal orifices 48 are in particular shown schematically in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

[0077] Still according to the first embodiment, the second end 44 of the additional plate 38, which is the one facing the second longitudinal end 4 of the thermal regulation device 1, is arranged under the second stage 12. The additional plate 38 is fluidically connected to this second stage 12 by means of a connection means, particularly visible in FIGS. 2 and 5. Such a connection means here takes the form of two tubes 50 which are rigid and straight. These tubes 50 are vertical, that is to say substantially perpendicular to both the first stage 10 and the second stage 12. The tubes 50 are here arranged between the first support plate 18, and in particular the first face 26 of this first support plate, and the second support plate 22.These tubes 50 comprise a first tube 50A and a second tube 50B, the first tube 50A being arranged opposite, in the longitudinal direction, the cooling fluid supply duct 40A while the second tube 50B is arranged opposite the cooling fluid discharge duct 40B in this longitudinal direction. It is understood that the first tube 50A participates in supplying cooling fluid to the second stage, and here to the circulation channels arranged between the second support plate 22 and the second distribution plate 24, from the cooling fluid circulating within the additional plate 38 and more particularly from its cooling fluid supply duct 40A, the second tube 50B being for its part intended for the discharge of the cooling fluid from the second stage 12 via the cooling fluid discharge duct 40B.

[0078] In this first embodiment, and as mentioned for the connection tips 36, the tubes 50 do not open directly into the additional plate 38. The cooling fluid, to pass from the conduits delimited by the additional plate 38 to these tubes 50, thus uses distal bypass channels 47, formed by protuberances of the first distribution plate 20 like the proximal bypass channels 46 arranged at the first end 42. A distal bypass channel 47 fluidly connects the cooling fluid supply conduit 40A and the first tube 50A and a distal bypass channel 47 fluidly connects the cooling fluid discharge conduit 40B and the second tube 50B.

[0079] To enable this fluid communication, each distal bypass channel 47 extends between a distal orifice 49, provided in the first support plate 18 between the second end 44 of the additional plate and a corresponding distal bypass channel, and a connection orifice 51, provided in the first support plate 18 between the tube 50A, 50B and the corresponding distal bypass channel. The distal orifices 49 and the connection orifices 51 are shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, and the distal orifices are notably visible in the sectional view of FIG. 6. It is understood that, like the proximal orifices 48 arranged in the vicinity of the first end 42 of the additional plate, these distal orifices 49 and these connection orifices allow the passage of cooling fluid from one side to the other of the first support plate 18.

[0080] The distal bypass channels 47 of the second end 44 are connected to the tubes 50 at a projection 52 of the first support plate 18, in which the distal orifices are therefore made here. This projection 52 is opposite, in the vertical stacking direction E, a tongue 54 of the second support plate 22 which extends cantilevered from the second stage 12 to be in line with the projection 52. It is understood that the protrusion 37, the projection 52 and the tongue 54 make it possible to arrange the connection end pieces and the connection tubes at the periphery of the stages of the thermal regulation device so as not to reduce the heat exchange surface with the energy storage member 6.

[0081] The tab 54 is pierced with two through holes, not shown in the figures, each allowing the communication of cooling fluid channels of the second stage with one of the first and second tubes 50A, 50B. For this purpose, covers 58, as visible in FIG. 1, are configured to guide the cooling fluid, with a function similar to that of the bypass channels 46, 47 of the first distribution plate 20, in that they each allow the passage of the cooling fluid from one face 26 to the other face 28 of the support plate 18 of the first stage 10 or from one surface 32 to the other surface 34 of the support plate 22 of the second stage 12.

[0082] It is understood from the above that the cooling fluid, to circulate within the second stage 12, enters the thermal regulation device 1 via the connection end piece 36 which corresponds to an inlet at the first longitudinal end 2 of the thermal regulation device 1. The cooling fluid circulates through the supply branch 301 then a portion of this cooling fluid circulates in one of the proximal bypass channels 46 and passes through one of the proximal orifices 48 of the first support plate 18 to open into the cooling fluid supply conduit 40A of the additional plate 38.The cooling fluid present in this supply duct 40A can then circulate within the first stage 10 without being affected by the cooling of the electrical energy storage cells 8 arranged within this first stage 10, such cooling being carried out in parallel by the part of the cooling fluid not diverted in the proximal bypass channel previously mentioned and circulating within the cooling fluid circulation channels 30 delimited between the first support plate 18 and the first distribution plate 20. When it arrives at the second end 44 of the additional plate 38, the cooling fluid present in this supply duct 40A passes through one of the distal orifices 49 of the first support plate 18 so as to circulate in one of the distal bypass channels 47.This distal bypass channel 47 opens into the first tube 50A which helps to form the connection means between the first stage 10 and the second stage 12. Within this second stage 12, the cooling fluid circulates as close as possible to the second portion 16 of the energy storage member 6, here between the second support plate 22 and the second distribution plate 24, in order to cool this second portion 16 of the energy storage member 6.

[0083] The cooling fluid is then discharged from the second stage via the second tube 50B, passing for this purpose through one of the through holes provided in the tongue 54. After passing through the first support plate 18, the cooling fluid circulates in the distal bypass channel 47, opposite the second face 28 of the first support plate 18, to the cooling fluid discharge conduit 40B of the additional plate 38, which it joins via the other distal orifice 49 provided in the first support plate 18. The cooling fluid then circulates along the first face 26 of the first support plate 18, within the additional plate 38 from its second end 44 to its first end 42, then passes into the other proximal bypass channel 46 located at this first end 42 via the other proximal orifice 48.It can then reach the connection tip 36 dedicated to the outlet and thus leave the thermal regulation device 1.

[0084] The second embodiment of the present invention will now be described, this second embodiment being illustrated in Figures 3, 7 and 8. The thermal regulation device i according to the second embodiment differs from the thermal regulation device i according to the first embodiment in that the connection means, in the form of the tubes 50 fluidly connecting the first stage 10 and the second stage 12, is no longer arranged in the vicinity of the second longitudinal end 4 of the thermal regulation device 1. Thus and as particularly visible in Figure 3, these tubes 50 are arranged among the electrical energy storage cells 8 between the first longitudinal end 2 and the second longitudinal end 4, within a central zone 60 of the thermal regulation device 1.This central zone 60 is not illustrated here equidistant from the first and second longitudinal ends 2, 4 but closer to the second longitudinal end 4, but it is understood that other arrangements of the tubes 50 between the first longitudinal end 2 and the second longitudinal end 4 are possible. The arrangement of the tubes 50 is conditioned by the longitudinal dimension of the second stage 12, these tubes 50 extending vertically and opening out in the vicinity of a longitudinal end of this second stage 12.

[0085] In this second embodiment, due to the particular arrangement of the tubes 50, the additional plate 38 has a dimension measured along the longitudinal direction which is reduced compared to that of the additional plate 38 of the first embodiment. This additional plate 38 extends here from the first longitudinal end 2, where its first end 42 is located, to the tubes 50, where its second end 44 is located.

[0086] As can be seen in particular in Figures 3 and 7, the tongue 54 is no longer cantilevered opposite the projection 52 in the vertical stacking direction E; it is now oriented towards the first longitudinal end 2 of the thermal regulation device 1 so that it overhangs the additional plate 38 and more precisely its second end 44.

[0087] The thermal regulation device 1 according to the second embodiment also differs from the first embodiment in that the tubes 50 are directly connected to the additional plate 38. In other words, the tubes 50 are arranged between the second stage 2 and this additional plate 38, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 7 and 8. The tubes 50 open into the additional plate 38 via perforations 62 made in this additional plate 38. The additional plate 38 has more precisely a perforation 62 made on its coolant supply duct 40A and a perforation 62 made on its coolant discharge duct 40B, as illustrated in FIG. 8.The perforation 62 disposed on the coolant supply duct 40A is connected to the first tube 50A, while the perforation 62 disposed on the coolant discharge duct 40B is connected to the second tube 50B. Due to these perforations 62, the coolant circulates directly from the circulation ducts 40 formed in the additional plate 38 to the tubes of the connection means 50 without needing to pass through the first support plate 18 to circulate in a bypass channel. The distal orifices and distal bypass channels of the first embodiment are thus absent from the thermal regulation device according to the second embodiment.With this exception, the circulation of the cooling fluid within the thermal regulation device, from one connection end piece to the other with a portion of the cooling fluid diverted through the additional plate to supply the second stage, remains the same as that described for the first embodiment.

[0088] The third embodiment will now be described with respect to Figures 4 and 9. In this third embodiment, the thermal regulation device 1 comprises a first additional plate 38A and a second additional plate 38B. These first and second additional plates 38A, 38B each extend on the periphery of the first support plate 18 and no longer centrally as was the case in the first two embodiments. The first additional plate 38A and second additional plate 38B are symmetrical along the longitudinal-vertical plane which divides the thermal regulation device 1 into two substantially equal parts.

[0089] Unlike the first and second embodiments, the additional plates 38A, 38B of the third embodiment comprise only a single cooling fluid circulation conduit 40. Thus, the first additional plate 38A delimits a cooling fluid supply conduit 40A while the second additional plate 38B delimits a cooling fluid discharge conduit 40B. It is therefore understood that the first additional plate 38A has the role of conveying the cooling fluid to the second stage 12, the second additional plate 38B being dedicated to its discharge once it has cooled the electrical energy storage cells 8 arranged on this second stage 12.

[0090] These additional plates 38A, 38B are thus not rectilinear as for the first two embodiments, but they have bends at substantially right angles so as to follow the contours of the first support plate 18 which is rectangular and in particular its corners. Each of the additional plates 38A, 38B thus comprises a first portion extending along the first longitudinal end 2 of the thermal regulation device 1, a second portion extending along the second longitudinal end 4, and a third portion connecting these first and second portions and extending in the longitudinal direction.

[0091] The other characteristics described for the first embodiment, and in particular those of these characteristics which relate to the connection means, apply to this third embodiment as long as they are not incompatible therewith. For example and as visible in Figure 9, in this third embodiment the connection means is indeed arranged at the second longitudinal end 4 of the thermal regulation device 1 and the tubes 50 which constitute it are arranged opposite the first and second additional plates 38A, 38B, with the first tube 50A opposite the first additional plate 38A and the second tube 50B opposite the second additional plate 38B. The first tube 50A and the second tube 50B each open into a distal bypass channel 47 allowing them to be fluidically connected respectively to the first additional plate 38A and to the second additional plate 38B.

[0092] The present invention thus proposes a thermal regulation device capable of cooling a first stage and a second stage of the same energy storage member with the same closed circuit of cooling fluid, the presence of an additional plate attached to a face of the first stage making it possible to divert a portion of the cooling fluid and direct it towards the second stage without its temperature being adversely modified by heat exchange with cells of an energy storage member during its circulation along the first stage. The present invention cannot, however, be limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated here and it also extends to any equivalent means and configuration as well as to any technically operative combination of such means.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Thermal regulation device (1) for cooling an energy storage element (6) by a cooling fluid, comprising a first stage (10) configured to be in contact with a first portion (14) of the energy storage element (6) and a second stage (12) configured to be in contact with a second portion (16) of the energy storage element (6), the second stage (12) being at least partially offset from the first stage (10) along a vertical stacking direction (E), the first stage (10) comprising a first support plate (18) and a first distribution plate (20), the first support plate (18) having a first face (26) intended to be in contact with the energy storage element (6) and a second face (28) opposite this first face (26),the first distribution plate (20) being in contact with this second face (28) and being locally deformed so as to delimit channels for the circulation of the cooling fluid (30), the thermal regulation device (1) being characterized in that it comprises at least one additional plate (38) positioned against the first face (26) of the first support plate (18) and delimiting at least one circulation duct for the cooling fluid (40), the first stage (10) and the second stage (12) being in fluidic communication via the additional plate (38) and a connection means (50).

2. Thermal regulation device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the connection means comprises two vertical tubes (50, 50A, 50B).

3. Thermal regulation device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the tubes (50, 50A, 50B) are arranged between the first support plate (18) and the second stage (12).

4. Thermal regulation device (1) according to claim 2, in which the tubes (50, 50A, 50B) are arranged between the additional plate (38) and the second stage (12).

5. Thermal regulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the additional plate (38) has a first end (42) and a second end (44) opposite along a principal extension direction of the additional plate (38), at least one first end (42) being disposed against the first support plate (18) opposite at least one proximal orifice (48) provided in the first support plate (18), the additional plate (38) communicating through this proximal orifice with a proximal bypass channel (46) formed by a protrusion of the first distribution plate (20) and forming a bypass of the cooling fluid circulation channels (30).

6. Thermal regulation device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the additional plate (38) is in fluidic communication at its second end (44) with the second stage (12) and the connection means (50) via at least one distal bypass channel (47) formed by a protrusion of the first distribution plate (20) the first end of which covers one of the orifices (49) of the support plate (18) which is covered on the other side of the first support plate (18) by the additional plate (38), the connection means (50) also opening into the distal bypass channel (47) at a second end of the latter.

7. Thermal regulation device (1) according to claim 5, in which the additional plate (38) is in direct fluidic communication at its second end with the connection means (50) via at least one, preferably two perforations (62) provided in the second end (44) of the additional plate, in a face of the additional plate opposite the first support plate (18).

8. Thermal control device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the additional plate (38) comprises two cooling fluid circulation conduits (40), extending in the vicinity of each other, preferably in a central position of the first stage (10), and among which a cooling fluid supply conduit (40A) and a cooling fluid discharge conduit (40B).

9. Thermal regulation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the additional plate is formed of two distinct parts, including a first additional plate (38 A) and a second additional plate (38 B) extending along edges opposite the first support plate (18). io. Thermal regulation device (i) according to the preceding claim, wherein the fluid passage section of the cooling fluid circulation ducts (40) delimited by the additional plate (38) is identical to a fluid passage section of the cooling fluid circulation channels (30) provided within the first stage between the first support plate (18) and the first distribution plate (20).

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