Interface for cooling plate coolant manifold.

Abstract

Interface for a cooling fluid collector of a cooling plate. Interface (1) for a cooling fluid collector (2) of a cooling plate (3), the interface (1) comprising a first main face (FP11) intended to be connected to a cooling fluid collector (2), and a second main face (FP12) intended to be connected to a cooling plate (3) having at least two passages (31, 33) for circulation of a cooling fluid, the second main face (FP12) comprising at least two holes (101, 103) of different geometries respectively allowing circulation of cooling fluid between the cooling fluid collector (2) and each of the at least two passages (31, 33) of the cooling plate (3). Figure for the abstract: 4

Description

Title of the invention: Interface for cooling plate coolant collector.

[0001] The invention relates to an interface for a cooling plate coolant manifold. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a cooling plate equipped with such an interface. The invention further relates to a thermal management system for a battery comprising such an interface or such an assembly. The invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with such an interface, such an assembly or such a thermal management system.

[0002] In the automotive industry, the reuse of existing parts contributes to strategies for reducing the cost of designing and producing new vehicle models.

[0003] This is particularly the case for coolant collectors used to create a circulation of coolant in the cooling plates, or water plates, of electric batteries. The use of so-called "standard" water collectors, i.e. common to several vehicle models, must not, however, be to the detriment of the thermal management of the battery. Indeed, the thermal management needs of the battery may differ from one vehicle to another and the use of a standard coolant collector must not limit the consideration of these differences.

[0004] Document CN109728381A discloses a method for designing a water plate using fluid passage sections adjusted so as to concentrate the flow in the regions of the plate where the heat dissipation requirements are greatest. This solution makes it possible to use the same water plate, and therefore the same water collector, to meet different thermal management requirements.

[0005] However, this solution has drawbacks. In particular, such a plate does not allow adaptation to the thermal management needs of all batteries. Some batteries may require the use of a different water plate, in particular a water plate of different dimensions. This device therefore does not meet the adaptation needs necessary to be able to use a standard water collector.

[0006] The aim of the invention is to provide a device which overcomes the above drawbacks and improves the devices known from the prior art. In particular, the invention makes it possible to produce a device which is simple and reliable and which makes it possible to use a standard water collector with different water plates while optimizing the thermal management of the battery.

[0007] For this purpose, the invention relates to an interface for a cooling fluid collector. construction of a cooling plate, the interface comprising - a first main face intended to be connected to a cooling fluid collector, and - a second main face intended to be connected to a cooling plate having at least two circulation corridors for a cooling fluid, the second main face comprising at least two holes of different geometries respectively allowing circulation of cooling fluid between the cooling fluid collector and each of the at least two corridors of the cooling plate.

[0008] In one embodiment, the interface is intended to be connected to a cooling plate arranged near one face of a battery for its cooling, said face of a battery comprising at least a first and a second zone such that the temperature of the first zone is significantly higher than the temperature of the second zone when the battery is in operation, the cooling plate having at least two circulation corridors for a cooling fluid, a first corridor among the at least two corridors being closest to the first zone, and a second corridor among the at least two corridors being closest to the second zone, the first and the second corridor each being supplied with cooling fluid via two separate holes among the at least two holes of different geometries, and the hole that supplies the first corridor with cooling fluid has a larger cross-sectional area than the hole that supplies the second corridor with cooling fluid.

[0009] In one embodiment, the interface is intended to be connected to a cooling plate upstream or downstream of a cooling plate relative to a direction of circulation of a cooling fluid in a cooling plate.

[0010] In one embodiment, the interface is made of aluminum.

[0011] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising: - at least one interface according to the invention, - two water collectors, and - a cooling plate.

[0012] In a first embodiment of the assembly, the cooling plate being intended to cool a battery comprising at least one battery module, the at least one battery module being of given length X, the cooling plate includes Y cooling fluid circulation corridors and the Y lanes of the cooling plate are spaced from each other by a distance X / (Y+1).

[0013] In the first embodiment of the assembly, the at least one interface may have Y holes.

[0014] The invention also relates to a thermal management system for an electric battery comprising at least one interface according to the invention or an assembly according to the invention.

[0015] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising an electric battery and a thermal management system according to the invention.

[0016] The attached drawing represents, by way of example, an embodiment of an interface for a water collector according to the invention, an embodiment of an assembly comprising a cooling plate equipped with an interface according to the invention and an embodiment of a thermal management system for a battery comprising such an interface or such an assembly.

[0017] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents an embodiment of a motor vehicle equipped of an interface for a water collector according to the invention.

[0018] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] shows an embodiment of a cooling plate.

[0019] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] shows an embodiment of a standard water collector.

[0020] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents an embodiment of a standard water collector equipped with a water collector interface.

[0021] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] illustrates the cooling fluid flow rates obtained respectively in each of the corridors of a cooling plate successively of an interface 1 according to a first and a second embodiment.

[0022] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] illustrates an embodiment of a water collector interface.

[0023] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] represents a first and a second distribution of the temperature of the cooling plate obtained respectively by equipping the water collector with an interface according to a first and a second embodiment.

[0024] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a graph representing all the simulations carried out to calibrate interface 1.

[0025] An embodiment of a motor vehicle 10 according to the invention is described below with reference to [Fig.l]. The motor vehicle 10 is an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle or a utility vehicle.

[0026] The motor vehicle 10 is equipped with a battery 5 according to the invention, of the Lithium or Li-ion type. The battery 5 could also be a so-called all-solid battery or solid electrolyte battery. The battery 5 comprises several battery modules 51, the modules 51 comprising Li-ion battery cells 511.

[0027] The motor vehicle 10 is also equipped with a system 4 for thermal management of a battery comprising the elements necessary for the implementation of a cir- coolant circulation near the battery modules 51.

[0028] In one embodiment, the system 4 comprises the following elements: - a cooling plate 3 advantageously placed in contact with or near the battery modules 51, - two water collectors 2, or coolant collectors, - a 41 pump, - a cooling means 42, - a circuit 43 connecting the pump 41, the cooling means 42 and the plate 3.

[0029] In the remainder of the document, the terms “collector” or “water collector” are used to designate a cooling fluid collector. Similarly, the terms “plate” or “cooling plate” are used to designate a water plate or a cooling fluid plate, or a cooling liquid plate.

[0030] Thus the system 4 allows circulation of the cooling fluid in a cooling direction 44. The pump 41 creates a movement of the cooling fluid, in particular between - a point A located between the pump 41 and the plate 3, upstream of the plate 3 relative to the direction of circulation 44 of the cooling fluid, and - a point B located between the plate 3 and the cooling means 42, downstream of the plate 3 relative to the direction of circulation 44 of the cooling fluid.

[0031] Between point A and point B, the cooling fluid passes through the plate 3, thus circulating near the battery modules 51 for their cooling. The temperature of the cooling fluid measured at point B is therefore substantially higher than the temperature of the cooling fluid measured at point A.

[0032] Downstream of point B, the fluid is then cooled by the cooling means 42, which may be, for example, a circuit in which Freon gas circulates, in particular a coil wound around the refrigerated portion of the circuit 43, for its cooling.

[0033] The pump 41 makes it possible to adjust the flow rate of the cooling fluid circulating in the circuit 43. The flow rate of the fluid notably conditions the quantity of heat transfer between the battery modules and the cooling fluid.

[0034] An embodiment of a cooling plate is described in [Fig.2]. The cooling plate 3 is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped of length L31, width L32 and height H, having: - two opposite rectangular main faces FP31, FP32, with dimensions L31xL32, one of the main faces FP31, FP32 being intended to be placed near or in contact with the battery modules 51, - two side faces FL31, FL33, with dimensions L31xH, and - two side faces FL32, FL34, with dimensions L32xH, the side face FL32 being located upstream of the side face FL34 relative to the direction of circulation 44 of the cooling fluid.

[0035] In this embodiment, the plate 3 has eight rectilinear corridors 31 to 38 of length L31 allowing the cooling fluid to circulate inside the cooling plate, from the lateral face FL32, called the inlet face, to the lateral face FL34, called the outlet face. The eight corridors thus create eight distinct fluid flows in the cooling plate.

[0036] In one embodiment, the corridors 31 to 38 of the cooling plate 3 are produced by extrusion, and are commonly called “multi-port extruded conduits”. Other embodiments of the corridors are conceivable, for example by molding.

[0037] In order to allow the circulation of the cooling fluid in the plate 3, the circuit 43 is advantageously connected to the plate 3 via two water collectors 2. In particular, the inlet face FL32 and the outlet face FL34 are respectively connected (directly or indirectly) to a first and a second collector.

[0038] [Fig. 3] represents an embodiment of a water collector 2. The water collector comprises an end 23 in the form of a pipe allowing its connection to the circuit 43, and a wide open end 24 of preferably elongated shape, allowing its connection in particular to one of the inlet or outlet faces FL32, FL34 of the plate 3.

[0039] In the embodiment of the invention illustrated by [Fig.4], at least one of the two collectors is further equipped with a collector interface 1, the interface being interposed between the collector and the cooling plate 3.

[0040] The interface for collector 1 is a hollow part; its envelope is a rectangular parallelepiped whose length and width fit the dimensions of the open end 24 of the water collector 2. The interface 1 has a first and a second main face FP11, FP12 and four lateral faces.

[0041] The interface 1 may be made of aluminum. In one embodiment, its length may be 250 millimeters, its width may be between 30 and 40 millimeters and its thickness may be 5 millimeters. The dimensions and shape of the interface 1 may vary depending on the dimensions and shape of the collector 2 and the plate 3.

[0042] The first main face FP11 of the interface 1 is intended to be connected to the water collector 2. In one embodiment, it has a wide opening 01, advantageously adjusted to the dimensions of the wide open end 24 of the collector 2. Thus, when the opening 01 of the interface 1 is fixed facing the opening 24 of the manifold 2, all of the coolant entering manifold 2 via end 23 is collected by interface 1.

[0043] The second main face FP12 is intended to be connected to the cooling plate 3. The second main face FP12 has at least two holes 101, 102 for the passage of the cooling fluid. It is intended to be fixed to one of the inlet or outlet lateral faces FL32, FL34 of the cooling plate 3. Advantageously, when the second main face FP12 is fixed to one of the inlet or outlet lateral faces FL32, FL34 of the plate 3, the at least two holes 101, 102 are located respectively opposite at least a first and a second corridor of the plate 3.

[0044] Thus, when the second main face FP12 of the interface 1 is hermetically fixed to the lateral inlet face FL32 of the plate 3, all of the cooling fluid entering the interface 1 via the opening 01 is distributed between the at least two corridors located opposite the at least two holes 101, 102. In other words, the cooling fluid - enters the collector 2 via the pipe-shaped end 23, - crosses collector 2 and interface 1, - enters at least two corridors of the cooling plate via the at least two holes 101, 102.

[0045] Similarly, when the second main face FP12 of the interface 1 is hermetically fixed to the outlet side face FL34 of the plate 3, all of the cooling fluid entering the interface 1 via the at least two holes 101, 102 converges towards the opening 01 located opposite the wide open end 24 of the collector 2. In other words, the cooling fluid - exits the cooling plate 3 via the at least two holes placed opposite at least two corridors of the plate 3, - crosses interface 1, then - crosses collector 2 to exit, via end 23, into circuit 43.

[0046] The interface 1 therefore makes it possible to connect a water collector 2 to a cooling plate 3, without the water collector and the plate having been specifically designed to operate together. Indeed, the geometric shape of the interface 1, in particular the geometric shape of its main faces FP11, FP12, can easily be adapted to allow the circulation of a cooling fluid between a given water collector and a given cooling plate.

[0047] Furthermore, the interface makes it possible to adapt the circulation of the fluid to the spatial distribution of the heat generated by the battery modules 51, without requiring any modification to the water collector 2 or the plate 3. The adaptation of the circulation of the cooling fluid aims to homogenize the temperature of the battery to limit temperature peaks in given areas of the battery.

[0048] For this purpose, at least two holes 101, 103 of the interface 1 may be of different geometries. For a cooling plate having N corridors, an interface 1 according to the invention may have between 2 and N holes, at least two holes among the N being of different geometries and each of the holes being arranged opposite a separate corridor of the cooling plate 3.

[0049] For example, in the embodiment represented by [Fig.6], the interface 1 has 8 holes, 101 to 108, such that the holes 101, 102, 108 located at the ends of the interface 1 have a diameter greater than the holes 103 to 107 located in the central part of the interface, in particular the diameter of the circular holes 101, 102, 108 is 6 millimeters and that of the circular holes 103 to 107 is 4 millimeters.

[0050] The interface 1 represented by [Fig.6] can be used upstream and / or downstream of the plate 3 represented by [Fig.2]. In this embodiment, the interface 1 provides a hole for each lane of the plate 3, the holes 101 to 108 respectively supplying the lanes 31 to 38 of the plate. Due to their diameter greater than that of the other holes of the interface, the holes 101, 102, 108 generate a greater flow of cooling fluid in the lanes 31, 32 and 38, relative to the other lanes 33 to 37 of the plate 3.

[0051] The interface 1 according to the invention thus makes it possible to independently calibrate the flow rate of fluid in each corridor of the cooling plate in order to optimize the cooling of the battery modules 51. In other words, the diameter of each of the holes of the interface is calculated in order to adjust, in each corridor of the cooling plate, the flow rate of cooling fluid which will make it possible to reduce and homogenize the temperature of the battery.

[0052] Figures 5 and 7 illustrate the effect of an interface 1 according to the invention through two embodiments of the interface 1, - an initial embodiment Mod_i, before optimization of the diameter of the interface holes, - a final embodiment Mod_f, after optimization of the diameter of the interface holes.

[0053] [Fig.5] illustrates the cooling fluid flow rates (in kilograms per hour) obtained respectively in each of the eight corridors 31 to 38 of a cooling plate 3 equipped successively with an interface 1 according to the initial embodiment Mod_i, then with an interface 1 according to the final embodiment Mod_f.

[0054] In the initial embodiment Mod_i, the values ​​of the initial flow rates Dl_i to D8_i are between 100 and 140 kg / h, the flow rates Dl_i to D3_i being between 100 and 120 kg / h and the flow rates D4_i to D8_i being between 120 and 140 kg / h.

[0055] In the final embodiment Mod_f, the values ​​of the final flow rates Dl_f to D8_f are between 90 and 175 kg / h, the flow rates D3_f to D7_f being between 90 and 110 kg / h and the flow rates Dl_f, D2_f and D8_f being between 140 and 175 kg / h.

[0056] In the example of [Fig.5], we observe that an interface 1 according to the final embodiment Mod_f imposes a flow rate in the lateral corridors 31, 32 and 38 which is 50% higher than the flow rate of the other corridors 33 to 37. In addition, the maximum flow rate in the final embodiment Mod_f is 50% higher than the maximum flow rate in the initial embodiment Mod_i.

[0057] [Fig.7] illustrates the effect of an interface 1 according to the invention on thermal management of the battery. Indeed, views VI and V2 respectively represent a first and a second distribution of the temperature of the cooling plate obtained by equipping the water collector 2 with an interface 1 according to the initial embodiment Mod_i, then according to the final embodiment Mod_f.

[0058] The first view VI, with use of an interface 1 according to the initial embodiment Mod_i, highlights two zones 301_i, 302_i whose temperature is significantly higher than the rest of the plate 3. The second view V2, with use of an interface 1 according to the final embodiment Mod_f, shows that these same two zones 301_f, 302_f have a temperature closer to that of the center of the plate 3.

[0059] The invention therefore makes it possible to improve the performance of the cooling plate by adjusting the geometry of the holes in the interface. The improvement is observed according to two indicators, the maximum temperature Tmax_i, Tmax_f measured on the plate 3 and the thermal resistance coefficient Rth_i, Rth_f of the plate, which indicates the capacity of a material (here the plate) to prevent heat from passing through it. Between the initial embodiment Mod_i and the final embodiment Mod_f, these two parameters are significantly improved: - the maximum temperature measured in the final mode Tmax_f (29.5°C) is approximately two degrees lower than the maximum temperature measured in the initial mode Tmax_i (31.2°C), - the thermal resistance measured in the final mode (Rth_f = 8.103 K / W) is lowered by 10% compared to the thermal resistance measured in the initial mode (Rth_i = 9.103 K / W).

[0060] Thus, the implementation of the invention requires determining an optimal configuration of the interface 1 - that is to say the number, the position and the geometry of the holes arranged on the second main face FP12 of the interface 1 - as a function of the geometry of the cooling plate 3 and the spatial distribution of the heat generated by the battery modules 51.

[0061] For example, for an interface according to the invention, comprising at least two holes of different geometries 101, 103, intended to be connected to a cooling plate arrangement arranged near a face of a battery for its cooling, if the face of the battery comprises at least a first and a second zone such that the temperature of the first zone is significantly higher than the temperature of the second zone when the battery is in operation, and if the cooling plate has at least two corridors 31, 33 for circulation of a cooling fluid, a first corridor among the at least two corridors 31, 33 being closest to the first zone, and a second corridor among the at least two corridors 31, 33 being closest to the second zone, the first and the second corridor each being supplied with cooling fluid via two distinct holes among the at least two holes 101, 103 of different geometries, then, in one embodiment,the hole that supplies the first corridor with cooling fluid will have a larger cross-sectional area than the hole that supplies the second corridor with cooling fluid, the cross-sectional area being measured perpendicular to the direction of flow of the cooling fluid.

[0062] In order to determine an optimal configuration of the interface 1, numerous configurations of the interface 1 (number, position and geometry of the holes of the interface) are simulated by 3D calculation software. For each given configuration of the interface, the software determines the spatial distribution of the temperature of the battery, and in particular the maximum temperature reached at the hottest point of the battery.

[0063] Graph G1 of [Fig.8] is a representation of all the simulations carried out to calibrate interface 1 represented by [Fig.6], each point of graph G1 representing a simulation. The abscissa axis represents the permeability of the assembly constituted by interface 1 and plate 3, expressed in mm2. The higher the permeability, the lower the power required to operate pump 41. Thus, a point located on the right side of the graph represents an interface 1 which will require less energy to power pump 41 than a point located on the left side of the graph.

[0064] The ordinate axis represents the maximum temperature reached in a zone of the battery.

[0065] Point Mod_i represents, for example, a configuration of interface 1 generating a permeability of 74 mm2 and a maximum temperature of 32.1°C in a given zone of the battery. The configuration corresponding to point Mod_i is located in high temperature and permeability values. In other words, in the embodiment associated with point Mod_i, the use of interface 1 does not require a significant surplus of energy at the pump 41; however, the thermal regulation of the battery is not optimal.

[0066] Conversely, point Mod_l represents a configuration of interface 1 generating a permeability of 60 mm2 and a maximum temperature of 30.1°C in a zone battery data. The configuration corresponding to point Mod_l is located in low temperature and permeability values. In other words, in the embodiment associated with point Mod_l, the thermal regulation of the battery is optimal, however the use of interface 1 requires additional energy at the pump 41.

[0067] Intermediate embodiments, for example located in an optimal zone Zl, make it possible to regulate the temperature of the battery while minimizing the impact of the interface 1 in terms of overconsumption of energy for the operation of the pump 41. The embodiment Mod_f was chosen in the optimal zone ZL

[0068] In the example illustrated by graph Gl, the optimal zone is determined by a plateau corresponding to a set of simulations for which the maximum temperature of the battery remains constant while the permeability of interface 1 decreases. In alternative embodiments, the optimization of interface 1 could take into account other criteria.

[0069] Following the process of optimizing the design of interface 1 by 3D simulation, the configuration chosen for interface 1 (number, position and geometry of the holes in the interface) is easily and quickly achievable.

[0070] The process of optimizing the cooling of the battery 5 is therefore partly based on the design of the interface 1. The simplicity of design and production of the interface 1 makes it possible to modify this part until late in the life of the project, which provides flexibility for the design of the other elements of the system 4, in particular the cooling plate 3 or the collector 2.

[0071] Finally, the interface 1 according to the invention allows both - to connect a standard water collector 2 to a cooling plate 3, the dimensions and number of lanes of the plate being variable, and - to optimize the circulation of the coolant in said plate 3 to guarantee an optimal spatial distribution of the temperature of the battery, - to keep the possibility of optimizing battery cooling until late in the vehicle development process.

[0072] The invention also relates to an assembly consisting of the interface 1 and a generic cooling plate.

[0073] In one embodiment, the generic cooling plate could be designed so that its dimensions are determined based on the dimensions of the battery 5 to be cooled.

[0074] For example, for a battery comprising one or more battery modules 51, each battery module 51 being of length X, the associated generic plate could be a plate comprising Y lanes extending along the length of the module, the Y lanes being spaced apart from each other by a distance X / (Y+1).

[0075] The interface 1 associated with the plate would then have Y holes whose geometry would be optimized according to the spatial distribution of the temperature of the battery.

[0076] In total, the interface 1 alone or in association with a generic plate makes it possible to simplify the development process and to reduce the development costs of the motor vehicle 10.

[0077] Throughout this description, the term "water" has sometimes been used instead of "coolant" to express the same concept, because coolants often have an aqueous base.

Claims

Claims

1. Set (6) comprising - at least one interface (1) for a cooling fluid collector (2) of a cooling plate (3), - two water collectors (2), and - a cooling plate (3), the at least one interface (1) comprising • a first main face (FP11) intended to be connected to a cooling fluid collector (2), and • a second main face (FP12) intended to be connected to a cooling plate (3) having at least two passages (31, 33) for circulation of a cooling fluid, the second main face (FP12) comprising at least two holes (101, 103) of different geometries respectively allowing circulation of cooling fluid between the cooling fluid collector (2) and each of the at least two passages (31, 33) of the cooling plate (3), the interface (1) being intended to be connected to a cooling plate arranged near one face of a battery (5) for its cooling, said face of a battery comprising at least a first and a second zone such that the temperature of the first zone is significantly higher than the temperature of the second zone when the battery is in operation, the cooling plate having at least two corridors (31, 33) for circulating a cooling fluid, a first corridor among the at least two corridors (31, 33) being closest to the first zone, and a second corridor among the at least two corridors (31, 33) being closest to the second zone, the first and the second corridor each being supplied with cooling fluid via two separate holes among the at least two holes (101, 103) of different geometries, the hole which feeds the first corridor with cooling fluid having a larger cross-sectional area than the hole which feeds the second cooling fluid corridor.

2. Assembly (6) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the interface (1) is intended to be connected to a cooling plate (3) upstream or downstream of a cooling plate relative to a direction of circulation (44) of a cooling fluid in a cooling plate.

3. Assembly (6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interface (1) is made of aluminum.

4. Assembly (6) according to one of the preceding claims, the cooling plate (3) being intended to cool a battery (5) comprising at least one battery module (51), the at least one battery module being of given length X, characterized in that the cooling plate (3) comprises Y cooling fluid circulation corridors and in that the Y corridors of the cooling plate (3) are spaced from each other by a distance X / (Y+1).

5. Assembly (6) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the at least one interface (1) has Y holes.

6. System (4) for thermal management of an electric battery (5) comprising an assembly (6) according to one of the preceding claims.

7. Motor vehicle (10) comprising an electric battery (5) and a thermal management system (4) according to the preceding claim.

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