Centralised temperature management module of a battery system

Abstract

The invention relates to a centralised temperature management module (1), comprising: electromechanical components with fluidic function, including at least an electromagnetic valve (4) and a pump (3); channels (23) for the circulation of cooling liquid produced in a support plate (2) of the components with fluidic function; and a controller (6) for managing the operation of the components with fluidic function, for which the support plate (2) includes an upper cover (21), provided with housings for receiving mechanical parts (3b, 4b) of the electromechanical components with fluidic function, and a lower cover (22), the circulation channels (23) being made between the lower cover and the upper cover, at least partially recessed in the lower cover on the side facing the upper cover, the module including a printed circuit (60) carrying electronics of the controller (6) arranged between the lower cover (22) and the upper cover (21), the printed circuit including extensions (61) that bypass the circulation channels (22), provided with connection tracks and equipped with first electrical connectors (62, 63) passing through openings (26) of the upper cover (21), the first electrical connectors being intended to receive first complementary electrical connectors (71, 73) derived from the electromechanical components with fluidic function (3, 4).

Description

Description Title: CENTRALIZED BATTERY SYSTEM TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT MODULE Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of centralized temperature and cooling management modules (coolant hub in English) for battery systems, in particular electric vehicle battery systems. Prior art

[0002] Centralized battery temperature and cooling management modules generally comprise: a. electromechanical components with a fluidic function, also called actuators, comprising one or more multi-way solenoid valves, one or more pumps, at least one degassing tank; b. coolant circulation channels made in a support plate for said equipment; and, c. a controller box for managing the operation of said solenoid valves and pumps.

[0003] These devices thus comprise an electrical and electronic part and a hydraulic part. The hydraulic part comprises the channels in the support plate and a mechanical part of the actuators, which are inserted into the support plate to join the channels, the electrical and electronic part comprising the controller box and the electronic / electrical part of the actuators, the latter being located on an end part of the actuators located opposite the mechanical part inserted into the support plate.

[0004] An example of such a centralized module is given in document CN216467248 U. In this document the controller box is arranged on the support plate, the electromechanical actuators comprise an electronic control part located in the upper part of the actuator relative to a lower part of the actuator fixed on said support plate provided with channels and electrical cables connect said electronic part of the actuators to the controller box, said electronic parts and said box comprising connectors for connecting said cables.

[0005] In this device, the wiring between the controller box and the actuators is therefore visible, takes up space and must be done wire by wire on the connectors.

[0006] Furthermore, the cooling of the controller, although better than if the controller were placed in a case and separated from the support plate, is not optimal. Technical problem

[0007] Greater compactness, better management of actuator wiring and optimized cooling of the controller. Description of the invention

[0008] In view of this situation, the present disclosure proposes a centralized temperature management module comprising: a. electromechanical components with fluidic function, comprising at least one electromagnetic valve, and at least one pump, b. coolant circulation channels produced in a support plate for said components with fluidic function, and; c.a controller for managing the operation of said fluidic function components, for which said support plate comprises an upper cover provided with housings for receiving mechanical parts of said electromechanical components with fluidic function and a lower cover, the circulation channels being made between the lower cover and the upper cover, the module comprising a printed circuit carrying electronics of the controller arranged between said lower cover and upper cover, said printed circuit comprising extensions bypassing the circulation channels, provided with connection tracks and provided with first electrical connectors passing through. openings in the upper cover, said first electrical connectors being intended to receive first complementary electrical connectors from said electromechanical components with fluidic function. According to this embodiment, the computer is protected between the upper cover and the lower cover of the plate and the electromechanical components have their electrical part connected to the computer by tracks in the plate and connectors coming out of the plate and not by an external harness which must be wired manually.

[0009] Said printed circuit may comprise a second electrical connector for receiving a second complementary electrical connector for supplying power to the controller and for connection with a computer for controlling the controller, said second electrical connector passing through the upper cover of the board through an opening.

[0010] The module may further comprise a degassing tank configured to allow the heat transfer fluid to undergo degassing making it possible to separate a gas, in particular air present in the heat transfer fluid, from the heat transfer fluid.

[0011] Furthermore, said tank can be mounted on the support plate in a removable manner.

[0012] The degassing tank may in particular comprise at least one fixing member configured to cooperate by snap-fastening with a complementary fixing member of the support plate to secure said tank to said plate in a removable manner.

[0013] The support plate has a seat with a support face on which the degassing tank rests. This means the tank is positioned stably on the module.

[0014] Said support face may be provided with a fluid connection orifice connecting a channel of the support plate with an interior volume of the degassing tank. The connection orifice at the level of the plate constitutes an additional fixing member for the tank.

[0015] The degassing tank may include a fluid connection end piece, in particular made in one piece with the rest of the degassing tank, and configured to engage in the fluid connection orifice of the seat of the plate. support. When fixing the tank to the plate, the fluid connection can then be made automatically.

[0016] The present disclosure further proposes an electromechanical component with a fluidic function configured to cooperate with the module described above, provided with a body of parallelepiped or cylindrical shape and comprising a distal end provided with an electrical control circuit and a proximal end provided with a mechanical member in a housing intended to cooperate with at least one channel of the module, which comprises an interface device running along a wall of said body between said distal end and said proximal end, said interface device including electrical conductors connecting said electrical control circuit on the distal end side of said component to a said first complementary electrical connector terminating the interface device on the proximal end side of said component.

[0017] Said component may comprise a third electrical connector at its distal end, said third electrical connector comprising connection pins connected to the electrical control circuit arranged in a housing of said distal end and the interface device may be attached to said component and comprise a third complementary electrical connector connecting to the third electrical connector, electrical connections connecting said third complementary electrical connector to the first complementary electrical connector of said interface device.

[0018] According to an alternative embodiment, the interface device is integrated into said component and comprises conductive tracks connecting a printed circuit arranged in a housing of the distal end of the component and carrying the control electronics of said component, connecting the third complementary electrical connector to the first complementary electrical connector terminating the interface device on the proximal end side of said component.

[0019] The fluid-function electromechanical components of the present disclosure are simple to implement and do not require an electrical connection harness. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description below of non-limiting exemplary embodiments, and on analyzing the appended drawings, in which:

[0021] [Fig. 1] shows a perspective view of an exemplary module according to the present disclosure;

[0022] [Fig.2] shows an exploded top view of the module of Figure 1;

[0023] [Fig.3] shows an exploded view of the bottom of the module of Figure 1;

[0024] [Fig.4] shows a detail of the module of Figure 1;

[0025] [Fig.5] shows the module of figure 1 in perspective from below with its tank dismantled;

[0026] [Fig.6] shows the module of Figure 5 in top view. Description of the embodiments

[0027] The following drawings and description contain elements which may not only serve to better understand the present invention, but also contribute to its definition, where appropriate.

[0028] Reference is now made to Figure 1 which represents a centralized module 1 for temperature management and cooling of batteries.

[0029] The module 1 is provided with electromechanical components with a fluidic function, also called actuators, consisting here of a multi-way solenoid valve 3 and two pumps, as well as a degassing tank 5. These elements are arranged on a support plate 2 and comprise a proximal end, containing a mechanical device such as a possibly multi-way valve or a turbine, received in housings 25 of the plate as shown in FIG. 2. The mechanical devices of the actuators act on the circulation of the coolant contained in one or more coolant circulation channels 23 made in the support plate 2 by openings 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0030] The circulation channels 23 are produced between an upper cover 21 and a lower cover 22 of the plate 2 at least partly hollow on the upper cover side in the lower cover.

[0031] According to the example, the module also comprises a degassing tank 5 arranged on the plate 2 and connected to at least one of said channels 23.

[0032] The module 1 comprises a controller 6 for managing the operation of said actuators, this controller providing in particular the control current for said actuators. In the context of the present disclosure, the management controller 6 is produced on a printed circuit 60 arranged between an upper cover 21 of the plate, provided with housings for receiving mechanical parts 3b, 4b of said actuators, and a lower cover 22 of the plate.

[0033] According to figures 2 and 3, the printed circuit comprises extensions 61 bypassing the circulation channels 23 and provided with connection tracks for connecting the printed circuit with first electrical connectors 62, 63 which pass through openings 26, 26' of the upper cover 21. According to figure 3 in particular, the extensions 61 of the printed circuit are housed in a bulge 22a of the lower cover 22 just as the electronic card of the management controller 6 is received in a housing 22b of this lower cover 22.

[0034] The bases 62 emerging from the openings 26 receive the connections 71 of the pumps 4, the base 63 emerging from the opening 26' receives the connections of the electromagnetic valve (or solenoid valve) and the base 64 on the printed circuit passing through the opening 28 receives a power cable for the module and its electromechanical components with fluidic function.

[0035] Thus, all the electrical connection bases for the electromechanical components with fluidic function are found on the face of the plate receiving these components.

[0036] The first electrical connectors are intended to receive first complementary electrical connectors 71, 73 from said actuators 3, 4 to connect the controller 6 to the control electronics of the solenoid valves 4 and the pump 3 as will be seen later.

[0037] The positioning of the controller between the lower and upper covers of the board 2 on the one hand protects it and on the other hand allows the entire mass of the board to be used to cool the controller and the transistors, IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) or other switching components arranged on the controller and intended to provide the electrical power supply for the actuators. Furthermore, the use of extensions of the printed circuit which bypass the channels or conduits 23 avoids using wires or cables running above the module. It should be noted that the connectors 62, 63 can be sockets with male or female contacts to which complementary connectors are connected, for example plugs provided with contacts of the opposite gender to the contacts of the sockets.

[0038] According to the example, the printed circuit 60 comprises a second electrical connector 64 for receiving a second complementary electrical connector for supplying power to the controller and for connection with a control computer of the controller, not shown, of known type.

[0039] According to the example shown, the second electrical connector also passes through the upper cover 21 of the board through an opening 28, thus making the connection of the module centralized on the board.

[0040] As seen in Figure 2, the lower cover 22 may include a hollow housing 24 to receive the components of the controller 6 arranged under the printed circuit 60.

[0041] As known in the prior art, gaskets arranged between the top cover and the bottom cover around the locations of the channels 23 are provided to prevent coolant leakage. In addition, layers of insulating varnish or insulating sheets may be arranged on and under the printed circuit and its extensions to electrically insulate it from the covers.

[0042] Alternatively, the lower 22 and upper 21 covers can be assembled by welding. In this case, the weld bead runs around the perimeter of the channels 23. The weld bead then replaces the seals and prevents leaks.

[0043] The present disclosure also provides fluid-function electromechanical components, also called actuators, configured to cooperate with the module described previously. These components here consist of a solenoid valve or electromagnetic valve 3, for example an 8-way valve and pumps 4. The pumps 4 have a parallelepiped-shaped body while the valve has a cylindrical body without this being limiting. The pumps comprise a distal end 4a provided with an electrical control circuit 41, an example of which is shown diagrammatically in Figure 4 and a proximal end 4b provided with a mechanical pumping member, for example a turbine of known type not shown, in a housing 42 of the body 4, intended to pump the liquid between a first channel of the module and a second channel of the module or a pipe connected to the module. The electromagnetic valve comprises on its distal end an electromechanical control module 3a managing its positions.

[0044] Unlike the actuators of the prior art which comprise an electrical connection base at their distal end for connecting a plug of an electrical harness, in the present disclosure the actuators are provided with connection means brought close to their proximal end to interface directly with the connectors 62, 63 coming out of the plate.

[0045] The actuators 3, 4 of the present disclosure comprise for this purpose an interface device 72 running along a wall of said body between said distal end and said proximal end, said interface device including electrical conductors connecting their electrical control circuit present in their distal end 3a, 4a to a said first complementary electrical connector 71, 73, for example a plug terminating the interface device 72 on the proximal end side of said actuator and plugging into a first connector 62, 63 of the plate, for example a base, in a direction parallel to the axis of insertion of the actuator 3, 4 in its housing 25 on the plate. In the case where the connector on the plate side is a base, said complementary connector is a plug plugging into said base when the actuator, for example a pump 4, is received in its housing 25 visible in FIG. 2 and fixed on the plate 2.A solution with a plug coming out of the board and a socket in the interface device remains possible of course.

[0046] According to the example shown in Figure 4, the interface device 72 is attached to said actuator and comprises a third complementary electrical connector 74 of a third connector 42 on the actuator side, said third connector 42 in the form of a base here comprising connection pins 43 connected to said electrical control circuit 41 arranged in a housing of said distal end 4a of the actuator, the third complementary electrical connector 7

[0047] consisting of a plug comprising female contacts receiving said pins.

[0048] According to an alternative embodiment, the interface device 72 is integrated into said actuator and comprises conductive tracks, for example a flexible circuit directly connecting the printed circuit 41 arranged in the housing of said distal end of the actuator and carrying the control electronics of said actuator to the first complementary connector constituted here by the plug 71.

[0049] In both embodiments, the connection of the controller with the actuator electronics is greatly facilitated since it is done automatically when the actuator is fixed on the plate. In addition, no flying leads or electrical harnesses are required, which reduces the cost of the module, reduces its manufacturing and assembly time and makes it easier to handle.

[0050] Figures 5 and 6 show more precisely the degassing tank 5 configured to allow the heat transfer fluid to undergo degassing to separate a gas, in particular air, present in the heat transfer fluid. This tank is mounted on the plate 2 in a removable manner and comprises for this purpose, as shown in Figure 6, at least one snap-fastening member 52, 52a configured to cooperate by snap-fastening with a complementary snap-fastening member 54 on a support 53 secured to the plate 2. This support 53 may be part of the plate, 2 for example of the lower cover 22 or, as a variant, be a separate part assembled with the plate.

[0051] According to the example shown, two snap-fastening members in the form of tabs 52 provided with hooking clips 52a received in housings 54 are produced. The reservoir is connected to the fluid circuit of the plate by an end piece 51 received in a fluid connection orifice 29 communicating a channel of the support plate with an interior volume of the degassing tank 5.

[0052] The support 53 forms a support face for the reservoir above the fluid connection orifice 29, the two tabs 52 and the end piece 51 providing a triangular attachment of the reservoir to said support face for better stability of the attachment of the reservoir to the module.

[0053] The degassing tank removes air bubbles from the heat transfer fluid before it enters the cooling circuit. This ensures the cooling circuit operates properly.

[0054] The tank assembly 5 is designed to facilitate maintenance of the module because the tank can be disassembled, separated from the support for a maintenance operation, for example in order to change the heat transfer fluid of the thermal management module.

[0055] The module of the present disclosure is therefore designed to group together several fluidic functions of equipment such as a heat pump. According to the example, the module groups together the degassing tank function and the function of supporting additional fluidic functions.

[0056] The module of the present disclosure makes it possible in particular to avoid the need for additional tubing or pipes to fluidically connect different components together and for electrical harnesses to connect the actuators to the computer. The fluid connections are made directly by channels formed on the support and the electrical connections by the conductive tracks in the thickness of the plate and the connectors emerging from the plate. In addition, the electrical wiring is reduced.

[0057] This reduces the manufacturing and installation costs of this module.

[0058] Likewise, the module of the present disclosure is compact, which reduces the space occupied by the assembly and its overall size. In the case of a heat pump, for example, the module described makes it possible to reduce the size of all of its components, in particular the various heat transfer fluid circuits.

[0059] In particular, the assembly according to the invention forms a compact module which is part of the heat pump.

[0060] The invention is not limited to the examples described above, only by way of example, but it encompasses all the variants that a person skilled in the art may envisage within the framework of the protection defined by the claims and in particular the module may comprise more than two pumps and more than one solenoid valve, the printed circuit carrying the controller comprising in this case additional connectors emerging from additional openings in the board.

Claims

Claims

1. Centralized temperature management module (1) comprising: a. electromechanical components with fluidic function, comprising at least one electromagnetic valve (4), and at least one pump (3), b. channels (23) for circulating coolant produced in a support plate (2) of said components with fluidic function, and; c. a controller (6) for managing the operation of said components with fluidic function, for which said support plate (2) comprises an upper cover (21) provided with housings for receiving mechanical parts (3b, 4b) of said electromechanical components with fluidic function and a lower cover (22), the circulation channels (23) being produced between the lower cover and the upper cover, characterized in that it comprises a printed circuit (60) carrying electronics of the controller (6) arranged between said lower cover (22) and upper cover (21),said printed circuit comprising extensions (61) bypassing the circulation channels (22), provided with connection tracks and fitted with first electrical connectors (62, 63) passing through openings (26, 26') of the upper cover (21), said first electrical connectors being intended to receive first complementary electrical connectors (71, 73) coming from said electromechanical components with fluidic function (3, 4).

2. Module according to claim 1 for which said printed circuit (60) comprises a second electrical connector (64) for receiving a second complementary electrical connector for supplying power to the controller and for connection with a computer for controlling the controller,said second electrical connector passing through the upper cover (21) of the plate through an opening (28).

3. Module according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising a degassing tank (5) configured to allow the heat transfer fluid to undergo degassing making it possible to separate a gas, in particular air present in the heat transfer fluid, from the heat transfer fluid; said tank (5) being mounted on the support plate (2) in a removable manner.,

4. Module according to claim 3 in which the degassing tank (5) comprises at least one fixing member (52, 52a) configured to cooperate by snap-fastening with a complementary fixing member (54) of the support plate to secure said tank with said plate in a removable manner.

5. Module according to claim 3 or 4, for which the support plate comprises a seat provided with a bearing face (53) on which the degassing tank (5) rests.

6. Module according to claim 5, for which the bearing face (53) is provided with a fluid connection orifice (29) communicating a channel of the support plate with an interior volume of the degassing tank (5).

7. Module according to claim 6, in which the degassing tank (5) comprises a fluid connection end piece (51), in particular made in one piece with the rest of the degassing tank, and configured to engage in the fluid connection orifice (29) of the seat of the support plate.

8. Electromechanical component with fluidic function (3, 4) configured to cooperate with the module of any one of the preceding claims, provided with a body of parallelepiped or cylindrical shape and comprising a distal end (3a, 4a) provided with an electrical control circuit (41) and a proximal end provided with a mechanical member in a housing (42) intended to cooperate with at least one channel of the module, characterized in that it comprises an interface device running along a wall of said body between said distal end and said proximal end, said interface device including electrical conductors connecting said electrical control circuit (41) on the distal end side of said component (3, 4) to a said first complementary electrical connector (71) terminating the interface device on the proximal end side of said component.

9. Electromechanical component with fluidic function according to claim 8 for which said component comprises a third electrical connector (42) at its distal end, said third electrical connector comprising connection pins (43) connected to the circuit.

10. electromechanical component with fluidic function according to claim 8 for which the interface device (72) is integrated into said component and comprises conductive tracks connecting a printed circuit arranged in a housing of the distal end (3a, 4a) of the component and carrying the control electronics of said component, connecting the third complementary electrical connector (74) to the first complementary electrical connector (71) terminating the interface device on the proximal end side of said component.

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