Thermal management system and vehicle comprising at least one such thermal management system

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermal management system (200) comprising a closed system of a temperature-control circuit (100) of a vehicle (300) in which a temperature-control medium flows or can flow, wherein the temperature-control circuit (100) comprises at least one first sub-circuit (101) for controlling the temperature of a battery (106), such as a traction battery, at least one second sub-circuit (102) for controlling the temperature of at least one electronic component (107), and at least one third sub-circuit (103) with at least one heat exchanger (108) which is used to absorb heat from the ambient air and / or dissipate heat into same and to transfer heat into and / or from the temperature-control medium, wherein each of the sub-circuits comprises feed lines and return lines (111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121), and the thermal management system (200) comprises at least one thermal management module (1). The latter comprises the at least one supporting structural component (10) on which or into which at least one component (2, 3) for conveying the temperature-control medium and at least one component (4, 5, 80) for controlling the mass flow are arranged, can be arranged, or are integrated.

Description

[0001] Thermal management system and vehicle with at least one such

[0002] The invention relates to a thermal management system for regulating mass flows of a temperature control medium in a closed system of a temperature control circuit of a vehicle, wherein the temperature control circuit comprises at least a first sub-circuit for temperature control of a battery, at least a second sub-circuit for temperature control of at least one electronic component and at least a third sub-circuit, comprising at least one heat exchanger which serves to absorb heat from ambient air and / or release heat to this and to transfer heat into the temperature control medium and / or from this, wherein the sub-circuits each comprise supply and return lines, as well as a vehicle with at least one thermal management module.

[0003] In today's vehicles, especially electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, more and more electronically controlled components, such as electrically adjustable control valves, electrically adjustable pumps, a multitude of sensors, etc., are arranged along the vehicle's fluid circuits or temperature control circuits, such as cooling circuits. This results in the advantage of demand-based and driving-condition-optimized thermal management, which supports both driving comfort and range optimization. The temperature control medium used in each case is carried in a closed system of a vehicle's temperature control circuit.Such a temperature control circuit comprises at least a first sub-circuit, which serves to control the temperature of a traction battery, at least a second sub-circuit, which serves to control the temperature of at least one electronic component, and at least a third sub-circuit, which comprises a heat exchanger, which serves to absorb heat from the ambient air of the vehicle and to release heat to it. Of course, the temperature control medium also flows through this heat exchanger, so that heat can be transferred into the temperature control medium and from there to the ambient air through the heat exchanger. The climate comfort for the interior or cabin of a vehicle can also be regulated via the third sub-circuit. Each of the sub-circuits has a supply line and a return line.For example, DE 10 2020 206 268 A1 discloses a thermal management system for a battery of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, a battery-electric vehicle, or a hybrid electric vehicle. The system comprises a control unit, a first coolant circuit, the first coolant circuit having a battery, a chiller, and a first pump, and a second coolant circuit, the second coolant circuit having an electric auxiliary heater, a heating heat exchanger, and a second pump. The first and second coolant circuits are thermally or thermally fluidically coupled to one another via a coupling device. The control unit is designed such that the outputs of the first pump and the second pump are regulated to meet the thermal management requirements.This prior art document demonstrates the complexity of such a thermal management system with multiple cooling circuits comprising a number of components, such as pumps, batteries, electric heaters, etc., wherein the cooling circuits are coupled and nested within each other.

[0004] To solve this problem, DE 10 2021 102 473 A1 proposes a thermal management module for a cooling system for a motor vehicle with an electric drive system. The module comprises a module housing with a plurality of cooling fluid connections. The cooling fluid connections comprise a first cooling fluid connection, a second cooling fluid connection, and a third cooling fluid connection. A control valve arranged in the module housing is provided for controlling a fluid flow between the cooling fluid connections. The thermal management module comprises a first connecting line for conducting cooling fluid, the first connecting line fluidly connecting the first cooling fluid connection to the second cooling fluid connection.However, the thermal management module according to this prior art of DE 10 2021 102 473 A1 is very complex and elaborate, and thus expensive, in the form of a 9 / x directional control valve for regulating the cooling medium in various branches of the cooling system. Inside the module housing of the thermal management module according to this prior art, an interior space is formed in which a control valve designed as a rotary slide valve is arranged. By means of the control valve, a fluid-communicating coupling between the individual cooling fluid connections can be switched on and off. For this purpose, the control valve has valve chambers with valve chamber openings that can be aligned with the corresponding cooling fluid connections, so that at least two cooling fluid connections can be fluidly connected to one another via a valve chamber.This proves to be disadvantageous not only due to the complexity of this thermal management module, but also because it is designed for a specific application and is not versatile or universally applicable. This leads to a comparatively low number of thermal management modules manufactured in this way, and accordingly to the comparatively high costs of such a thermal management module. Due to the complexity of the design of this thermal management module, it is also relatively error-prone.

[0005] The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a thermal management system comprising a closed system of a temperature control circuit of a vehicle in which temperature control medium can flow or flows, wherein the temperature control circuit comprises at least three partial circuits, as well as a vehicle with at least one such thermal management system in which the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art are overcome and a coupling and interconnection of the partial circuits and a temperature control medium feed can be carried out centrally.

[0006] The object is achieved for a thermal management system according to the preamble of claim 1 in that the thermal management system comprises at least one thermal management module, which comprises at least one supporting structural component on which at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium and at least one component for mass flow control can be arranged or is arranged or integrated into the latter. For a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, battery-electric vehicle, or hybrid vehicle, the object is achieved in that the vehicle comprises at least one such thermal management system. Further developments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0007] This creates a thermal management system that includes at least one thermal management module. The thermal management module includes at least one supporting structural component on which at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium and at least one component for controlling the mass flow of the temperature control medium, such as, for example, coolant as the temperature control medium, can be arranged or are arranged, or into which these components can be or are integrated. The thermal management module or its at least one supporting structural component preferably fluidically connects at least two of the sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit to one another, particularly preferably three sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit. The supply and return lines of the at least two, in particular the at least three, sub-circuits are connected via the

[0008] Thermal management modules are fluidically interconnected or connected to one another. The term "subcircuits" refers primarily to those that are self-contained, meaning, for example, that there is no short circuit to another subcircuit, and that can be or are connected to the thermal management module via a supply and return line.

[0009] The at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium and also the at least one component for mass flow control can be standard components, thus not custom-made, as is the case with the special valve according to DE 10 2021 102 473 A1, so that the costs for such a thermal management module can be significantly reduced compared to the prior art. The very complex special valve according to this prior art merely replaces the function of conventional standard valves, but does not combine them, unlike the present thermal management module. It also does not include components for conveying the temperature control medium, such as pumping devices or sensor devices, unlike the present

[0010] Thermal management module. This thermal management module does not increase the complexity of the valve function; instead, standard components, particularly standard valves, can be arranged on, at, or in the supporting structural component.

[0011] In contrast to DE 10 2020 206 268 A1, the present thermal management system comprises at least one thermal management module, within which the sub-circuits can be coupled, and on, at, or in the supporting structural component of which components for conveying the temperature control medium and for controlling the mass flow, and optionally at least one sensor device, can be arranged or are arranged. The thermal management module or its at least one supporting structural component thus comprises fluidic connection paths, in particular fluid channels, for fluidically connecting the sub-circuits, which can be connected thereto, as well as at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium and at least one component for controlling the mass flow. The supply and return lines of the sub-circuits can each preferably be connected or are connected to the thermal management module or its supporting structural component.The thermal management module with its at least one supporting structural component thus enables a centralized coupling of the at least three sub-circuits via the internal fluid paths or fluid channels of the supporting structural component, an interconnection of the sub-circuits by the at least one component for mass flow control arranged on, at, or in this, and a temperature control medium conveyance by the at least one component for temperature control arranged on, at, or in this. The at least one component for mass flow control and the at least one component for temperature control medium conveyance can be conventional standard components that are attached to, at, or in the at least one supporting structural component. The supporting structural component thus provides a structure for attaching these standard components.

[0012] At least one component for conveying the temperature control medium, in particular at least two components for conveying the temperature control medium, and at least two components for conveying the mass flow can be provided as components of the thermal management module for conveying the temperature control medium. Such a component of the thermal management module for conveying the temperature control medium is designed, for example, as a pump device for conveying the temperature control medium, and such a component for mass flow control of the temperature control medium is designed, in particular, as a valve. The thermal management module or its supporting structural component advantageously comprises at least one pump device for conveying the temperature control medium and at least two valves for regulating the mass flows of the temperature control medium, in particular at least two pump devices for conveying the temperature control medium and at least two valves for regulating the mass flows of the temperature control medium.The at least two valves can advantageously be designed as standard valves, so that they are comparatively cost-effective. A standard valve is understood here to mean, in particular, a 2 / 2-way valve, a 3 / 2-way valve, a 3 / 3-way valve, a 4 / 2-way valve or a 4 / 3-way valve. The provision of one or two pumping devices for conveying the temperature control medium and two valves for regulating the mass flows of the temperature control medium as components of the thermal management module, which are arranged on or in the supporting structural component of the thermal management module, can in particular serve to regulate the temperature control medium mass flows in three sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit of a vehicle, which is in particular an electric vehicle, battery-electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle, and thus in particular comprises a traction battery. The temperature control circuit of such a vehicle comprises the at least one first sub-circuit for temperature control of the battery orTraction battery of the vehicle. It further comprises at least one second sub-circuit for controlling the temperature of at least one electronic component, such as the power electronics, one or more control units, an inverter, a charger, possibly an electric motor, which can also be arranged in a separate sub-circuit with a thermal oil as the temperature control medium, or other electronic components that must or should be temperature-controlled. In this case, such other electronic components do not include other electrical components, such as an electric auxiliary heater. This would be arranged in a separate sub-circuit. The temperature control circuit further comprises at least one third sub-circuit, which includes a heat exchanger that serves to absorb heat from the ambient air surrounding the vehicle and / or to release it to it and also to regulate the climate comfort in the interior or cabin of a vehicle.The absorbed and / or released heat is transferred to the temperature control medium or removed from the temperature control medium. Such a heat exchanger of the at least one third sub-circuit is thus arranged in particular at the front end of a vehicle and is fluidically connected via the third sub-circuit to the thermal management module or its supporting structural component. The first sub-circuit for temperature control of the battery or traction battery of the vehicle is also fluidically connected to the thermal management module or its supporting structural component, as is the second sub-circuit for temperature control of the electronic components, such as the power electronics. The temperature control medium that is conveyed or flows in the sub-circuits can be, for example, coolant, e.g. cooling water, in particular cooling water with antifreeze.

[0013] The thermal management module preferably fluidically connects at least two of the sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit, in particular three sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit, with the supply and return lines of the at least two sub-circuits being or being fluidly connectable to one another via the thermal management module. With only two sub-circuits, only one valve and one pumping device may be provided; with more than two sub-circuits, more than one valve and one pumping device may be provided, in particular with three sub-circuits, two valves and two pumping devices may be provided. The at least two valves serve to regulate the corresponding mass flows of the temperature control medium, so that appropriately tempered temperature control medium can be pumped into the respective sub-circuit of the temperature control circuit via the at least one pumping device, which is also arranged on or in the thermal management module or its at least one supporting structural component.

[0014] The supporting structural component of the thermal management module is advantageously plate-like and / or substantially flat. This enables a space-saving design of the supporting structural component on the one hand, and a stable, rigid design on the other. The at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium and the at least one component for mass flow control can be arranged on the plate-like and / or substantially flat supporting structural component in an approximately parallel alignment to one another. In this case, the at least one or two pumping devices and the at least two valves in particular can be arranged on or in the supporting structural component in an approximately identical alignment to one another, thus aligned approximately parallel to one another.The approximately parallel alignment refers in particular to the drive axes of the at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium and of the at least one component for mass flow control, which can be arranged or are arranged approximately parallel to one another and, in relation to the supporting structural component, approximately perpendicular to the latter. In the case of the valve, the drive axes are understood to mean a drive hub or shaft of an actuator or rotor or rotary piston of the valve, and in the case of a pumping device, the drive shaft thereof. Due to the approximately parallel alignment of the drive axes of the components to be arranged on the supporting structural component of the thermal management module (component(s) for mass flow control and component(s) for conveying the temperature control medium), it is comparatively easy to equip the supporting structural component of the thermal management module with the at least one pumping device as a component for conveying the temperature control medium and the at least two valves orStandard valves are possible as components for mass flow control of the temperature control medium. These can be installed from one side in approximately the same orientation as the respective drive axes of the components to be arranged on the supporting structural component, thus the at least one pumping device and the at least two valves.

[0015] Further advantageously, the supporting structural component comprises at least one fluid path, in particular at least one fluid channel, for fluidically connecting the components arranged on or within the supporting structural component, i.e. for fluidically connecting the at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium and the at least one component for controlling the mass flow of the temperature control medium, and also for fluidically connecting the at least two components for controlling the mass flow of the temperature control medium to one another.

[0016] Furthermore, the supporting structural component advantageously has fluid connection devices for connecting the supply and return lines of the partial circuits of the temperature control circuit, wherein the fluid connection devices are fluidically connected to the at least one fluid path, in particular a fluid channel, within and / or on the supporting structural component. This makes it possible to connect the supply and return lines of the partial circuits of the vehicle's temperature control circuit to the fluid connection devices, so that the temperature control medium can reach the at least one fluid path inside or on the supporting structural component of the thermal management module via the fluid connection devices.

[0017] The fluid connection devices on, on, or within the supporting structural component can also advantageously be fluidly connectable or connected to the at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium and the at least one component for mass flow control. The at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium, such as a pumping device, and the at least one component for mass flow control of the temperature control medium, i.e., in particular, the at least two valves or standard valves, are advantageously arranged along the at least one fluid path, in particular the at least one fluid channel, within or on the supporting structural component.Accordingly, the fluid connection devices which are fluidically connected to the at least one fluid path within the load-bearing structural component or on the latter are also fluidically connected to the at least one pumping device and the at least two valves as components.

[0018] Since the at least three subcircuits of a vehicle's temperature control circuit are fluidically connected to the thermal management module via its fluid connection devices, the fluid connection devices are thus also fluidically connected to the heat exchangers and / or heat sources and / or heat sinks of the individual subcircuits after the subcircuits have been connected, thus fluidically corresponding with them. As already mentioned above, the at least three subcircuits of the temperature control circuit comprise heat exchangers and / or heat sources and / or heat sinks, which lead to either heating or cooling of the temperature control medium as it flows through the respective subcircuit.

[0019] For example, four sub-circuits of a vehicle's temperature control circuit can be fluidically coupled to one another via the thermal management module, wherein the four sub-circuits comprise heat exchangers and / or temperature control devices or heat sources and / or heat sinks. Further advantageously, the thermal management module can be fluidically connected or coupled to five sub-circuits of a vehicle's temperature control circuit, wherein the five sub-circuits comprise heat exchangers and / or temperature control devices or heat sources and / or heat sinks. Furthermore, a fluidic connection of the thermal management module to more than five sub-circuits of a vehicle's temperature control circuit is of course also possible. The number of fluid connection devices of the thermal management module can be adapted accordingly to the number of sub-circuits of a vehicle's temperature control circuit to be connected to it.

[0020] Furthermore, the load-bearing structural component is advantageously designed at least partially in a lattice shape. This enables thermal decoupling of individual regions of the load-bearing structural component from other adjacent regions, since little or hardly any heat is / can be transferred via the respective lattice-shaped section of the load-bearing structural component. Other regions of the load-bearing structural component can be thermally coupled in a targeted manner, in which case, for example, no lattice-shaped design of the load-bearing structural component is provided in these regions. In known thermal management modules, fully closed plastic injection molding geometries are usually provided. This results in a relatively large projected area in relation to the component volume, which inevitably leads to an injection molding machine park in the production of such a thermal management module that must be capable of manufacturing such large components.Large surfaces lead to large clamping forces of the machine and thus to high investment costs and, accordingly, also to high component costs. In the load-bearing structural component according to the invention, in contrast, areas that are not intended to fulfill fluidic functions are advantageously formed in a grid-like manner. This also allows the dimensions of a corresponding injection molding machine for producing the thermal management module or its load-bearing structural component to be reduced compared to the prior art. Likewise, the material used in the production of an injection-molded load-bearing structural component of the thermal management module can be reduced compared to the prior art, and the warpage of the component can also be reduced compared to the large-volume injection molding geometries of the prior art.

[0021] The thermal management module is typically located in the engine compartment of a vehicle. The at least one supporting structural component is advantageously integrated approximately horizontally into the engine compartment, particularly close to the vehicle's hood. This ensures that the fluid connection devices of the thermal management module are easily accessible, allowing media lines of the temperature control circuit's subcircuits to be connected to them without any problems. Alternatively, however, a different arrangement of the thermal management module or its at least one supporting structural component in the vehicle is also possible, such as a vertical or other arrangement.

[0022] The thermal management module or its supporting structural component thus allows the at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium, i.e., the at least one pumping device, and the at least one component for controlling the mass flow of the temperature control medium, thus in particular the at least two valves or standard valves, to be bundled on or in the supporting structural component of the thermal management module. Complex control of the mass flows of temperature control medium, in particular coolant, is possible within the thermal management module or its supporting structural component using standard components in the form of the at least one pumping device and the at least two valves or standard valves. This leads to a significant cost reduction compared to the prior art.Media lines of the individual sub-circuits of a vehicle's temperature control circuit, such as a coolant circuit, can be easily mounted on the fluid connection devices on the load-bearing structural component. The individual components for conveying the temperature control medium and for regulating the mass flow of the temperature control medium can be directly connected to one another without the need for an additional line, so that the number of lines or media lines can be reduced compared to the prior art. Since the at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium and the at least one component for regulating the mass flow are arranged on or within the load-bearing structural component and are fluidically connected to the at least one fluid path within or on the load-bearing structural component, it is not necessary to provide additional media lines in the area of ​​the thermal management module for this purpose.For example, three to five heat exchangers or temperature control components or temperature control devices can be connected via the thermal management module by connecting a corresponding number of sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit of a vehicle.

[0023] The thermal management module allows subcircuits of the temperature control circuit to be coupled or separated. All components arranged on the thermal management module or integrated into its supporting structural component, which serve to convey the temperature control medium or regulate the mass flow of the temperature control medium, are fluidically interconnected, connected, or fluidically interconnected. Fluidically interconnected means that multiple subcircuits can share a common fluid flow.

[0024] To further explain the invention, exemplary embodiments are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. These show:

[0025] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a thermal management system according to the invention with a temperature control circuit with three sub-circuits and a thermal management module according to the invention,

[0026] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a thermal management system according to the invention with a temperature control circuit with five sub-circuits and a thermal management module according to the invention,

[0027] Figure 3 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a thermal management module according to the invention with two pumping devices and two valves,

[0028] Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a thermal management module according to the invention with two pumping devices and two valves, which are arranged in two sub-modules of the thermal management module that are not fluidically connected to one another,

[0029] Figure 5 is a plan view of a distributor piece for distributing a temperature control medium within a thermal management module according to the invention with one inlet and two outlets,

[0030] Figure 6 is a bottom view of a third embodiment of a thermal management module according to the invention with two pumping devices,

[0031] Figure 7 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a thermal management module according to the invention with two pumping devices,

[0032] Figure 8 is a plan view of a section of a thermal management module according to the invention in the area of ​​three fluid connection devices,

[0033] Figure 9 is a plan view of a further embodiment of a thermal management module according to the invention,

[0034] Figure 10 is a plan view of a further embodiment of a thermal management module according to the invention with two pumping devices and two valves, and.

[0035] Figure 11 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle with a thermal management system according to the invention, having a temperature control circuit with multiple sub-circuits, and a thermal management module according to the invention. Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a thermal management system 200 with a temperature control circuit 100 with three sub-circuits, namely a first sub-circuit 101, which serves to temperature control a battery 106 or traction battery 106 or a corresponding battery system, a second sub-circuit 102, which serves to temperature control electronic components 107, and a third sub-circuit 103, which comprises a heat exchanger 108 in a front region of a vehicle 300 (see Figure 11), which serves to absorb heat from the ambient air and release heat to it, or to transfer the heat from the ambient air into the temperature control medium, which flows through the third sub-circuit 103, and from there to release heat to the ambient air.This third sub-circuit 103 is thus the comfort circuit, as it serves to air-condition the interior of the vehicle, while the first sub-circuit 101 serves to regulate the temperature of the battery or traction battery 106 of the vehicle 300, and the second sub-circuit 102 serves to regulate the temperature of at least one electronic component 107. To regulate the temperature of the interior of the vehicle 300, a so-called HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning Unit) can be used behind ventilation flaps in the vehicle's dashboard. This unit essentially contains at least two heat exchangers. Firstly, this is a heating heat exchanger through which cooling water, in particular cooling water heated in winter, is passed. This heating heat exchanger is usually coupled to the comfort circuit, i.e., to the third sub-circuit 103. The air intended for the interior, or outside or ambient air, flows through the heating heat exchanger by ventilation and is heated in the process.The heat for the cooling water can be provided by waste heat from various vehicle components, although the amount of heat lost in a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) is usually insufficient. It can also be provided by a PTC auxiliary heater 206 or by a heat exchanger of a heat pump 205, as indicated in Figure 2, which means operating a refrigeration circuit in reverse mode or supplying the required heat through the hot side of a refrigeration circuit. Furthermore, an evaporator of the refrigeration circuit can be arranged there, which is suitable for cooling air using the same process. A third heat exchanger can also be provided. This can be a heat exchanger of a heat pump that provides heat. Alternatively, heat can be transferred directly to the air, or heat can be provided to the refrigeration circuit, from which heat is transferred to the air.

[0036] The aforementioned PTC auxiliary heater 206, which is not a PTC heat exchanger, merely provides heat with the aid of electrical energy, which it transfers to the cooling water as a temperature control medium. The position of this additional electrical heat source in the sub-circuits can be chosen relatively arbitrarily. For example, it can be arranged in the comfort circuit, i.e., the third sub-circuit 103, or in a separate circuit that is activated via the thermal management module 1. While such a PTC auxiliary heater 206 can be arranged anywhere in the coolant system, it is not part of a refrigerant circuit.

[0037] The evaporator mentioned above is a component of the refrigerant circuit in which refrigerant evaporates. In the process, heat is absorbed by the refrigerant. The evaporator can heat an air stream in the HVAC unit.

[0038] A chiller 204 is an additional heat exchanger located on the so-called cold side of the refrigerant circuit, in addition to the evaporator. The chiller 204 is usually arranged parallel to the evaporator, or in series if necessary. The chiller 204 cools a component or another temperature control medium, such as cooling water. It is not located in the HVAC unit and does not cool an air stream.

[0039] Thus, two to three or even more heat sources and heat sinks can be integrated into the individual subcircuits and thus also into the temperature control circuit 100, or arranged separately. Figure 1 thus shows the minimum scope of subcircuits 101, 102, and 103 of such a temperature control circuit 100 of a vehicle for controlling the temperature of its components; Figure 2 shows three further subcircuits 104, 105, 109.

[0040] All sub-circuits 101, 102 and 103 of the temperature control circuit 100 according to Figure 1 are fluidically connected to a thermal management module 1. This means that both the respective supply lines 110, 112, 114 of the three sub-circuits 101, 102, 103 and their respective return lines 111, 113, 115 are each fluidically connected to the thermal management module 1. These individual sub-circuits 101, 102 and 103 can be fluidically connected to one another or separated from one another via the thermal management module 1. For this purpose, the thermal management module 1 comprises at least one pump device and at least two valves. This will be discussed in more detail below. All three sub-circuits 101, 102, 103 are self-contained, as can be seen from Figure 1. There is therefore no short circuit between them. The respective supply and return lines 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 of the three sub-circuits 101, 102, 103 are fluidically connected to the thermal management module 1.

[0041] In Figure 2, the temperature control circuit 100 comprises five sub-circuits, the three sub-circuits 101, 102 and 103 correspond to those shown in Figure 1. In addition to these, the temperature control circuit 100 also comprises a fourth sub-circuit, which comprises the chiller 204 as an interface to a refrigeration circuit of an air conditioning system, a fifth sub-circuit 105 with a heat exchanger or the heat pump 205 as an interface to a refrigeration circuit, and a sixth sub-circuit 109, which comprises a heat generator, in particular the PTC auxiliary heater 206. The PTC auxiliary heater 206 and thus the sixth sub-circuit 109 can be provided separately from the fifth sub-circuit 105 with the heat pump or the heat exchanger as an interface to the refrigeration circuit, or both can be connected in series or in parallel. Furthermore, it is fundamentally possible for the PTC auxiliary heater 206 to be included in the third sub-circuit 103.In any case, in Figures 1 and 2, dashed lines in the individual subcircuits 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 109 indicate that additional components are contained therein or can be incorporated there. Accordingly, the PTC auxiliary heater 206 can be integrated into the fifth subcircuit 105 or also into the third subcircuit 103.

[0042] The second sub-circuit 102 can comprise various types of components as electronic components 107, connected individually, selectively, in series, or in parallel. Four different types of electronic components are indicated here in Figure 2 by way of example: power electronics 207 as a heat exchanger, which is integrated here, for example, into the second sub-circuit 102, or an electric motor 208 or an inverter 209 as a heat exchanger, or a charger 210, also as a heat exchanger, or further electronic components 107, which are indicated by way of example by box 211. All of these electronic components 107 are thus each heat exchangers that can dissipate heat into the second sub-circuit 102 of the temperature control circuit 100. Further electronic components can also be provided, although their cooling would not be necessary or advisable. The PTC auxiliary heater also fundamentally represents such a component.Electronic components 107 are therefore understood here only to mean those that generate enormous heat output and therefore require cooling. Likewise, the heat coupled into the temperature control medium, such as cooling water, can also be used elsewhere. The electronic components 107 therefore include power electronics 207, control units, inverter 209, and charger 210. Furthermore, the electric motor 208 must also be cooled; however, this is generally not done directly via the coolant; rather, the (then first) coolant cools a second coolant independent of the first coolant, such as a thermal oil. Thus, indirect cooling of the electric motor 208 takes place.

[0043] Each of the sub-circuits 104, 105, and 109 also has a supply line and a return line. These can also be seen in Figure 2 and are designated there by reference numerals 116 to 121, with the supply lines being designated by reference numerals 116, 118, and 120, and the return lines by reference numerals 117, 119, and 121. The chiller 204 and the heat pump 205, or the heat exchanger, can also be provided individually or selectively, in series, or even in parallel. Depending on the configuration, fewer sub-circuits than shown in Figure 2 can be provided, with the corresponding number of components 204, 205, and 206 present in these sub-circuits.

[0044] Figure 3 shows a plan view of a thermal management module 1 according to the invention as a schematic diagram. The thermal management module 1 comprises two pumping devices 2, 3 and two valves 4, 5. These are fluidically connected to one another and to fluid connection devices 6, 7, 8, 9 via fluid channels 20, 21, 30, 31, 40, 41, 50. The first pumping device 2 is thus fluidically connected to the valve 4 via the fluid channel 21, the valve 4 is connected to the valve 5 via the fluid channel 41, and the second pumping device 3 is connected to the valve 5 via the fluid channel 31. All components of the two pumping devices 2, 3 and the valves 4, 5 as well as all fluid channels 20, 21, 30, 31, 40, 41, 50 are arranged on a supporting structural component 10 of the thermal management module 1. In this embodiment, the supporting structural component 10 is approximately U-shaped, but may also have a different shape.The U-shape of the load-bearing structural component 10 allows for thermal and, if necessary, acoustic decoupling in the area of ​​the gap 11 between the two legs 12, 13 of the U-shaped load-bearing structural component 10, as well as for movement, thus enabling the ability to compensate for loads acting on the load-bearing structural component 10. The thermal and acoustic decoupling makes it possible, on the one hand, for the two legs 12, 13, equipped with the two pumping devices 2, 3, to be thermally separated from one another, thus at least reducing their mutual thermal influence. However, the respective pumping devices 2 and 3 are fluidically connected to their associated valves 4, 5, and the two valves 4, 5 are fluidly connected to one another.

[0045] On the outside of the supporting structural component 10 of the thermal management module 1, fastening points 14, 15, 16 are arranged, here in the form of fastening tabs. The fastening points 14, 15, 16, respectively.

[0046] Fastening tabs are used to fasten the supporting structural component 10 of the thermal management module 1 in a vehicle, for example in the engine compartment of a vehicle.

[0047] Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the thermal management module 1. The two pump devices 2, 3 and the two valves 4, 5 are again arranged on its supporting structural component, which here is designed without the gap 11, i.e. not U-shaped, but has an approximately rectangular shape in plan view. However, in this embodiment variant, there is no connection between the two valves 4, 5 within the thermal management module 1 or on its supporting structural component 10. A fluidic connection is provided only between the respective pump device 2 or 3 and the respective valve 4, 5 assigned to it. Accordingly, the valve 4 is fluidically connected to a fluid connection device 18 via a further fluid channel 42, and the valve 5 is fluidically connected to a fluid connection device 19 via a further fluid channel 51.In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the thermal management module 1 therefore comprises two sub-modules 1 a and 1 b, wherein the sub-module 1 a comprises the components of the first pumping device 2 and the valve 4 with the correspondingly associated fluid channels 20, 21, 40, 42 and the corresponding fluid connection devices 6, 7, 18, while the second sub-module 1 b of the thermal management module 1 comprises the components of the second pumping device 3 and the valve 5 with the associated fluid channels 30, 31, 50, 51 and the fluid connection devices 8, 9, 19 fluidically connected thereto.

[0048] In contrast to the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the embodiment of the thermal management module 1 shown in Figure 4 provides four fastening points 14, 15, 16, 17, each in the form of fastening tabs. The number of fastening points for attaching the load-bearing structural component 10 in a vehicle can depend on the specific application, although in principle, three fastening points may be sufficient in many cases.

[0049] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of a distributor piece 60 or T-piece as part of the thermal management module 1. The distributor piece 60 has a sketched inlet 61 and two outlets 62, 63. The two outlets 62, 63 are fluidically connected to the inlet by a respective fluid channel 64, 65. Such fluidic connections for distributing temperature control medium within the thermal management module 1 can also be provided on the module or in its supporting structural component 10 or on its supporting structural component 10. Figures 6 to 10 show various embodiments of the thermal management module 1, each of which has grid-shaped regions 70 in the region of the respective supporting structural component 10 of the thermal management module 1. In the embodiment according to Figure 6, a very large grid-shaped area 70 of the load-bearing structural component 10 is provided, as is the case in Figure 9.The two design variants differ, among other things, in the different number of fluid connection devices and, accordingly, also valves. The number of fluid connection devices 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 is significantly greater in the design according to Figure 9 than the number of fluid connection devices 6, 7, 8, 9 in the design according to Figure 6. This shows that any number of fluid connection devices can be provided in combination with standard valves and standard pump devices as components of the thermal management module 1. Both design variants according to Figures 6 and 9 each comprise two pump devices 2, 3; the design according to Figure 6 only comprises two valves 4, 5, but the design according to Figure 9 comprises three valves 4, 5, 80.

[0050] Accordingly, more fluid channels 175 and 180, which respectively connect the fluid connection devices 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 and 6, 7, 8, 9 to each other or to the pump devices 2, 3 and the valves 4, 5, 80, are provided in the embodiment variant according to Figure 9.

[0051] The grid-shaped region 70 is smaller in the embodiment of the thermal management module 1 shown in Figure 7. In this embodiment, too, two pumping devices 2, 3 are integrated as components or fluid components of the thermal management module into its supporting structural component 10. In this embodiment, too, at least one valve 4 or 5 is also arranged in or on the supporting structural component 10.

[0052] The lattice-shaped regions 70 can provide thermal decoupling, since the webs 71 and the openings 72 defined by the webs 71 lead to such a corresponding thermal decoupling. Furthermore, the lattice-shaped regions 70 prove advantageous compared to the full-surface design of the load-bearing structural component 10 according to Figure 4, since the risk of crack formation under load is significantly lower when the lattice-shaped regions 70 are provided.

[0053] As can be clearly seen in particular from Figure 7, drive axes, more precisely the drive shafts 25, 35 and 45, 55, of the pump devices 2, 3 arranged on the supporting structural component 10 of the thermal management module 1 and of the actuator (not shown) of the valves 4 and 5 are arranged approximately parallel to one another and, with respect to the supporting structural component 10, approximately perpendicular to the latter.

[0054] Figure 8 shows a section of the load-bearing structural component 10 in the region of three fluid connection devices 90, 91, 92, wherein a further fluid connection device 93 is arranged perpendicular to the fluid connection device 91 in the region of the fluid channel 93 leading to it. This shows that the fluid connection devices can be arranged not only in a plane, but also perpendicular to this. As can also be seen from Figures 6 and Figure 10, the fluid connection devices, in Figure 6 the fluid connection device 9 and in Figure 10 the fluid connection device 94, can also be arranged at an angle other than 90° to the plane of the load-bearing structural component 10. As can also be seen from Figure 10, electrical connectors 22, 32 of the two pump devices 2, 3 can be arranged in the usual way on their upper side.It is thus easily possible to supply the pumping devices 2, 3 with electrical power via at least one electrical connecting line. Furthermore, it is possible to integrate electrical connecting lines into the thermal management module 1 or at least arrange them on it.

[0055] Figure 11 shows a sketch of a plan view of the vehicle 300, which comprises two front wheels 301, two rear wheels 302, a front vehicle area 303 with heat exchanger 108 and inverter 209, in the area of ​​one front wheel 301 chiller 204 and a temperature control medium tank 212, e.g. coolant tank, in the area of ​​the other front wheel 301 the PTC auxiliary heater 206, in the transition from the front vehicle area 303 to a middle vehicle area 304 the thermal management module 1 of the thermal management system 200, in the middle vehicle area 304 the battery 106 and in the rear vehicle area 305 the electric motor 208 with the power electronics 207 and the charger 210. As can be seen, a number of fluid lines of the individual sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit 100 of the vehicle 300 extend between the thermal management module 1 and the individual vehicle components mentioned above.The thermal management module 1 accommodates two pumping devices 2, 3 and two valves 4, 5 for conveying the temperature control medium and for regulating the mass flows of temperature control medium in the individual sub-circuits of the temperature control circuit 100.

[0056] The supporting structural component 10 of the thermal management module 1 is designed as an injection-molded part in the embodiments shown in the figures, allowing any desired design variants to be manufactured cost-effectively. Equipping the supporting structural component 10 with the corresponding fluid components in the form of pumping devices and valves or standard pumping devices and standard valves can subsequently be carried out advantageously and easily from one side, regardless of the application-specific optimized shape of the supporting structural component 10.

[0057] In addition to the embodiments of thermal management systems described above and shown in the figures, comprising at least one thermal management module, which includes at least one supporting structural component on which at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium and at least one component for mass flow control can be arranged or is arranged or integrated into it, numerous further embodiments can be formed, in particular any desired combinations of the individual features thereof, wherein the thermal management module or its supporting structural component each serves to create a structure for attaching conventional standard components, i.e., standard valves and standard pumping devices. List of reference symbols

[0058] 1 thermal management module

[0059] 1a sub-module

[0060] 1 b sub-module

[0061] 2 first pumping device

[0062] 3 second pumping device

[0063] 4 valve

[0064] 5 Valve

[0065] 6 Fluid connection device

[0066] 7 Fluid connection device

[0067] 8 Fluid connection device

[0068] 9 Fluid connection device

[0069] 10 load-bearing structural component

[0070] 11 gap

[0071] 12 first leg

[0072] 13 second leg

[0073] 14 Attachment point

[0074] 15 Attachment point

[0075] 16 Attachment point

[0076] 17 Attachment point

[0077] 18 Fluid connection device

[0078] 19 Fluid connection device

[0079] 20 fluid channel

[0080] 21 Fluid channel

[0081] 22 electrical connectors

[0082] 25 Drive shaft

[0083] 30 fluid channel

[0084] 31 Fluid channel

[0085] 32 electrical connectors

[0086] 35 Drive shaft

[0087] 40 fluid channel

[0088] 41 Fluid channel

[0089] 42 Fluid channel drive shaft Fluid channel Fluid channel drive shaft distributor inlet outlet outlet fluid channel fluid channel grid-shaped area web opening valve

[0090] Fluid connection device Fluid connection device Fluid connection device Fluid channel

[0091] Fluid connection device temperature control circuit 1 first sub-circuit second sub-circuit third sub-circuit fourth sub-circuit fifth sub-circuit 6 Battery / traction battery 7 Electronic component 8 Heat exchanger 9 sixth sub-circuit 0 Supply from 101 1 Return from 101 2 Supply from 102 3 Return from 102 4 Supply from 103 Return from 103

[0092] Lead time of 104

[0093] Return of 104

[0094] Lead of 105

[0095] Return of 105

[0096] Lead time of 109

[0097] Return of 109

[0098] Fluid connection device

[0099] Fluid connection device

[0100] Fluid connection device

[0101] Fluid connection device

[0102] Fluid connection device

[0103] Fluid connection device

[0104] Fluid connection device

[0105] Fluid connection device

[0106] Fluid connection device

[0107] Fluid connection device

[0108] Fluid connection device

[0109] Fluid connection device

[0110] Fluid channel

[0111] Fluid channel

[0112] Thermal management system

[0113] Chiller

[0114] heat pump

[0115] PTC auxiliary heater

[0116] Power electronics

[0117] electric motor

[0118] Inverter

[0119] Charger other electronic components

[0120] Tempering medium tank / coolant tank

[0121] vehicle

[0122] front wheel

[0123] Rear wheel front vehicle area middle vehicle area rear vehicle area

Claims

Claims Thermal management system (200), comprising a closed system of a temperature control circuit (100) of a vehicle (300), in which temperature control medium can flow or flows, wherein the temperature control circuit (100) has at least a first sub-circuit (101) for temperature control of a battery (106), such as a traction battery, at least a second sub-circuit (102) for temperature control of at least one electronic component (107) and at least a third sub-circuit (103), comprising at least one heat exchanger (108) which serves to absorb heat from ambient air and / or release heat to the ambient air and to transfer heat into the temperature control medium and / or from the latter, wherein the partial circuits each comprise supply and return lines (111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121), characterized in that the thermal management system (200) comprises at least one thermal management module (1) which comprises at least one supporting structural component (10) on which at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium (2, 3) and at least one component for controlling the mass flow (4, 5, 80) can be arranged or are arranged or are integrated into the latter.Thermal management system (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the components of the thermal management module (1) for conveying the temperature control medium and for regulating the mass flow, in particular at least two components for conveying the temperature control medium and at least two components for conveying the mass flow, comprise at least one pump device (2, 3) for conveying the temperature control medium and at least two valves (4, 5, 80) for regulating the mass flows of the temperature control medium, in particular at least two pump devices (2, 3) for conveying the temperature control medium and at least two valves (4, 5, 80) for regulating the mass flows of the temperature control medium. Thermal management system (200) according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least two valves (4, 5, 80) are standard valves, in particular at least one 2 / 2-way valve, 3 / 2-way valve, 3 / 3-way valve, 4 / 2-way valve, 4 / 3-way valve is provided as the standard valve. Thermal management system (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermal management module (1) has at least two partial circuits (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 109) of the temperature control circuit (100) are fluidically connected to one another, wherein the supply and return lines (111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121) of the at least two partial circuits (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 109) are or can be fluidically connected to one another via the thermal management module (1). Thermal management system (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting structural component (10) of the thermal management module (1) is plate-like and / or substantially flat, wherein the at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium and the at least one component for controlling the mass flow are or can be arranged on the supporting structural component (10) aligned approximately parallel to one another. Thermal management system (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Drive axes (25, 35, 45) of the at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium (2, 3) and at least one component for controlling the mass flow (4, 5, 80) arranged on the supporting structural component (10) of the thermal management module (1) are arranged approximately parallel to one another and are arranged approximately perpendicular to the supporting structural component (10) with respect to the latter. Thermal management system (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting structural component (10) of the thermal management module (1) comprises at least one fluid path, in particular at least one fluid channel (40, 41, 42, 50, 51, 64, 65, 93, 175, 180), for fluidically connecting the at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium (2, 3) and the at least one component for controlling the mass flow (4, 5, 80) on or within the supporting structural component (10).Thermal management system (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting structural component (10) of the thermal management module (1) has fluid connection devices (6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, 90, 91, 92, 94, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171) for connecting the supply and return lines (111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121) of the partial circuits (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 109) of the Temperature control circuit (100). Thermal management system (200) according to claim 8, characterized in that the fluid connection devices (6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, 90, 91, 92, 94, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171) on or within the supporting structural component (10) of the thermal management module (1) are fluidly connectable or connected to the at least one component for conveying the temperature control medium (2, 3) and the at least one component for controlling the mass flow (4, 5, 80). Thermal management system (200) according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the supporting structural component (10) of the thermal management module (1) is at least partially lattice-shaped. Vehicle (300), in particular electric vehicle, battery-electric Vehicle or hybrid vehicle, characterized in that the vehicle (300) comprises at least one thermal management system (200) according to one of the preceding claims.

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