Replacement cartridge

Abstract

To provide a replacement cartridge for air purification and drying which can prevent inflow of dirt and water from a surrounding area and concurrently prevent inflow of volatile oil components into a peripheral environment.SOLUTION: The invention provides a replacement cartridge (1) for air purification and drying which has a housing (2). In the housing (2), a first passage (3), having a filter device (4) and a dryer (5), and a second passage (6), having a hydrocarbon adsorption device (7) and extending in an opposite direction of the first passage (3), extend. Additionally, the invention provides an extension tank (8) having the replacement cartridge (1).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a replacement cartridge and an expansion tank of a dielectric cooling fluid having such a replacement cartridge. Additionally, the present invention relates to a cooling system for a battery pack having such an expansion tank, and to an electric vehicle having a battery pack and such a cooling system. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to control modern electric vehicles as efficiently as possible, it is necessary to control the energy storage device, such as the vehicle battery, in a suitable temperature range. For this purpose, cooling or heating of the vehicle battery depending on the ambient temperature is required. In this respect, too, so-called dielectric coolants are used to achieve as efficient cooling of the vehicle battery as possible, which, due to their insulating properties, allow for example direct contact with the energy storage cells to be cooled. In order to enable a long-term use of this coolant, it is additionally necessary to limit the water content of this coolant to a minimum or to a predefined limit value. This is very difficult when the electric vehicle is moved in very different temperature ranges, in which the coolant, for example the cooling oil, undergoes corresponding volume changes. In particular, in open systems, it must be ensured that not only dirt but also water is not taken in from the surroundings. At the same time, however, it must be ensured that easily volatile components of the cooling oil, such as hydrocarbons, do not enter the surrounding environment. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] To this end, drying devices, filter devices and also adsorption devices such as activated carbon filters are used, but the drawback of these devices is that they must be separately installed in a suitable expansion tank of the electrical coolant and controlled via a suitable valve device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The present invention therefore addresses the problem of presenting a replacement cartridge which in particular overcomes this drawback known from the prior art.

[0005] According to the invention, this problem is solved through the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0006] The invention is based on the general idea of ​​a replacement cartridge with an integrated filter device, a drying device and also a hydrocarbon adsorber. The replacement cartridge according to the invention serves for cleaning and drying (conditioning) the air and has a housing in which not only a first flow path with the filter device and the drying device but also a second flow path directed opposite to the first flow path with the hydrocarbon adsorber extends via a screw closure. Such a replacement cartridge can be screwed relatively easily into an expansion tank of a dielectric coolant of a cooling system for a battery device, preventing contaminants present in the surrounding environment from entering the coolant through the integrated filter device. Via the drying device, the moisture content of the air entering the expansion tank from the surrounding environment, for example due to a volume change depending on the temperature, can be suppressed or reduced to a predefined upper limit value, as a result of which it is reliably prevented that a too high moisture content would impair the functioning of the coolant or even that the coolant would become conductive under certain conditions, which could in the worst case lead to a short circuit. Thus, the first flow path leads from the surrounding environment to the expansion tank, while the second flow path leads from the expansion tank to the surrounding environment. In the second flow path, a hydrocarbon adsorption device is arranged which adsorbs easily volatile hydrocarbon contents, thereby preventing them from entering the surrounding environment. Between the replacement cartridge and the expansion tank, obviously, a valve device, in particular a check valve, is additionally arranged, which allows in the first flow path only a flow from the surrounding environment to the expansion tank and in the second flow path only a flow from the expansion tank to the surrounding environment. The replacement cartridge according to the invention makes it relatively easy to combine all components which up to now have been formed separately from one another under certain conditions, which considerably simplifies the maintenance of the cooling system of the battery arrangement.

[0007] In an advantageous further development of the replacement cartridge according to the invention, the replacement cartridge has an internal thread at the inlet of the second flow passage for screwing into an expansion tank for the coolant, and the hydrocarbon adsorber is arranged coaxially with the axis of the replacement cartridge. This may allow for a simple installation of the replacement cartridge on the expansion tank and also for a simple unscrewing of the replacement cartridge, resulting in a very simple replacement. Since the second flow passage runs coaxially through the replacement cartridge, it can be arranged in such a way that the installation space is optimized. The hydrocarbon adsorber comprises, for example, activated carbon, which is not only cost-effective but can also be regenerated at the same time.

[0008] In a further advantageous embodiment of the replacement cartridge according to the invention, the filter device is designed as a pleated star, which coaxially surrounds the hydrocarbon adsorber. Such pleated star shapes are well known for filtering purposes and provide a relatively large surface for filtering, for example, dirt particles. The dryer also coaxially surrounds the hydrocarbon adsorber and the filter device. Thus, air flowing along a first flow path from the surrounding environment to the expansion tank first flows through the filter device, where, for example, pollutants are removed. Following this, the air flows through the dryer, where the moisture content is suppressed. Due to the coaxial arrangement of the filter device and the dryer, flow paths extending as known in conventional filter devices can be realized.

[0009] In a further advantageous embodiment of the replacement cartridge according to the invention, the drying device comprises a molecular sieve, which may for example comprise a synthetic zeolite or other material, which has a high adsorption capacity for gases, vapours or dissolved substances of a defined molecular size.

[0010] In practice, the housing of the replacement cartridge comprises a cover and a base. In the cover of the housing, a first opening is arranged, while in the base, a laterally arranged second opening and a centrally arranged third opening are provided. The first flow passage runs from the first opening to the second opening, while the second flow passage runs from the third opening to the first opening. This allows the third opening, and therefore the inlet of the second flow passage, to be arranged on the threaded stem of the replacement cartridge, as a result of which undesired leakage, especially of hydrocarbons, into the surrounding environment can be avoided.

[0011] In a further preferred embodiment of the replacement cartridge according to the invention, a humidity sensor is arranged on the drying side of the drying device, which makes it possible, for example, to detect the humidity of the air flowing into the expansion tank of the dielectric cooling liquid and, when exceeded, to generate a corresponding warning signal calling for the replacement of the replacement cartridge. Additionally or alternatively, a hydrocarbon sensor can be arranged in the area of ​​the hydrocarbon adsorber, in particular in the second flow path and on the outlet side of the hydrocarbon adsorber. This makes it possible to monitor the adsorption capacity of the hydrocarbon adsorber and, when a predefined upper limit value of the hydrocarbons at the outlet of the hydrocarbon adsorber is exceeded, to generate a corresponding warning signal calling for the replacement of the replacement cartridge as well.

[0012] Furthermore, the invention is based on the general idea presented of an expansion tank of a dielectric cooling liquid with a replacement cartridge as described in the previous paragraph. Between the expansion tank and the replacement cartridge, a first check valve is arranged, which opens from the surrounding environment to the expansion tank, and a second check valve is arranged, which opens from the expansion tank to the hydrocarbon adsorber. The first check valve opens only when there is a certain pressure difference between the interior of the expansion tank and the surrounding environment. This may be the case, for example, when the volume of the dielectric cooling liquid decreases at lower temperatures, which creates a negative pressure in the expansion tank and finally opens the first check valve so that air is drawn from the surrounding environment into the expansion tank by the first flow path through the filter device and the drying device. In contrast, when the temperature increases, the volume of the dielectric cooling liquid increases, which opens the second check valve from a certain overpressure in the expansion tank, thus discharging air from the expansion tank through the second flow path and the hydrocarbon adsorber to the surrounding environment. When the air flowing out of the expansion tank flows through the hydrocarbon adsorber, the hydrocarbons still present in the air are deposited on the activated carbon of the hydrocarbon adsorber, and as a result, environmental pollution of hydrocarbons can be prevented or at least reduced.

[0013] In effect, the first and second check valves are arranged in the expansion tank. This provides a great advantage that when replacing a replacement cartridge, for example due to the load of the hydrocarbon adsorber, only the replacement cartridge needs to be discarded and the two check valves can continue to be reused. Alternatively, and purely theoretically, it is also conceivable that the first and second check valves are arranged in the replacement cartridge.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the expansion tank according to the invention, a connection with an external thread is arranged on the expansion tank and the second check valve is arranged in the connection. In this case, the replacement cartridge has an internal thread formed complementary to the external thread arranged on the connection, via which the replacement cartridge can be screwed to the expansion tank. The hydrocarbon adsorber is arranged coaxially with the axis of the replacement cartridge and with the connection of the expansion tank. Such an expansion tank offers the great advantage that the second check valve remains intact on the expansion tank even when the replacement cartridge is unscrewed. As an alternative, a connection with an internal thread can also be arranged on the expansion tank according to the invention and the second check valve is arranged in the connection. In this case, the replacement cartridge has an external thread formed complementary to the internal thread arranged on the connection, via which the replacement cartridge can be screwed to the expansion tank.

[0015] Also, as an alternative to a threaded connection, a bayonet or clip-on connection may be provided for securing the replacement cartridge to the expansion tank.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the expansion tank according to the invention, the housing of the replacement cartridge comprises a rim, which, when the replacement cartridge is placed in the expansion tank, is arranged in a tight fit against the expansion tank and, together with the housing of the replacement cartridge and the expansion tank, defines a vent space which is connected to the drying side of the drying device via a second opening in the housing of the replacement cartridge and to the interior of the expansion tank via the first non-return valve. When the replacement cartridge is attached to the expansion tank, the rim of the replacement cartridge is thus arranged like the expansion tank, as a result of which a vent space appears which is closed to the outside. This offers the great advantage of allowing the replacement cartridge to be connected to the interior of the expansion tank via the first flow path, regardless of the final rotational position of the replacement cartridge. In particular, there is no need to align the second opening of the replacement cartridge with the associated opening of the expansion tank.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention is based on the general idea of ​​equipping a battery arrangement with an expansion tank as described in the previous paragraph with a cooling system. Such a cooling system can be installed, for example, in an electric vehicle. This makes it possible to prevent undesirable ingress of water and dirt from the surrounding environment into the expansion tank as well as undesirable egress of hydrocarbons from the expansion tank into the surrounding environment. By integrating the filter device, the drying device and the hydrocarbon adsorption device in the replacement cartridge, relatively simple maintenance can additionally be performed through simple exchange of the replacement cartridge. This can be realized particularly cost-effectively if the first and second non-return valves are arranged in the expansion tank.

[0018] In addition to the replacement cartridges and expansion tanks, protection is claimed for the corresponding use of similar replacement cartridges and expansion tanks in cooling systems or electric vehicles.

[0019] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated figures.

[0020] It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and those described below may not only be used in their respective described combinations, but may also be used in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, parts of higher level units mentioned above or further named below, such as separately designed equipment, devices, arrangements, may form separate elements of this unit or may be integral regions or parts of this unit, even when shown as different in the drawings.

[0021] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view through a possible embodiment of a replacement cartridge according to the invention placed in an expansion tank according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] According to Fig. 1, a replacement cartridge 1 according to the invention for cleaning and drying air comprises a housing 2 in which a first flow channel 3 is arranged with a filter device 4, in particular a ring filter, and a drying device 5. Likewise, a second flow channel 6 is provided which runs opposite to the first flow channel 3 and has a hydrocarbon adsorber 7. For the sake of clarity, only the left-hand half of the replacement cartridge 1 according to Fig. 1 is shown.

[0024] The replacement cartridge 1 may in particular be screwed and placed in an expansion tank 8 of, for example, a dielectric cooling fluid 9, and such an expansion tank 8 with the replacement cartridge 1 screwed into the expansion tank 8 may be utilized or used, for example, in a cooling system 10 of a battery pack 33 in an electric vehicle 11.

[0025] At the inlet 12 of the second flow passage 6, the replacement cartridge 1 has an internal thread 13 for screwing into the expansion tank 8, the hydrocarbon adsorber 7 being arranged coaxially with the axis 14 of the replacement cartridge 1, which axis 14 simultaneously represents the axis of the screw. The expansion tank 8 has an external thread 15 complementary to the internal thread 13 of the connection 16, as a result of which the replacement cartridge 1 can be relatively easily attached to the expansion tank 8 by simple screwing.

[0026] Alternatively to this, a connection 16 with an internal thread can also be arranged on the expansion tank 8 according to the invention, and the second check valve 26 is arranged in the connection 16. In this case, the replacement cartridge 1 has an external thread formed complementary to the internal thread arranged on the connection 16, and the replacement cartridge 1 can be screwed onto the expansion tank 8 via the connection 16. Also, as an alternative to a screw connection, a bayonet connection or a clip-on connection (not shown) can be provided for fixing the replacement cartridge 1 to the expansion tank 8. Independently of the respective connection mechanism, a quick and easy replacement of the replacement cartridge 1 and a reliable prevention of undesired leakage of hydrocarbons are made possible.

[0027] The filter device 4 can be formed as a pleated star coaxially surrounding the hydrocarbon adsorber 7, resulting in a relatively large filtering area in a relatively small installation space. This allows, in particular, a low flow resistance and a high filtering capacity to be maintained. The dryer 5 coaxially surrounds the hydrocarbon adsorber 7 and in this case also the filter device 4, so that the air 18 flowing from the surrounding environment 17 via the first flow passage 3 through the replacement cartridge 1 flows first through the filter device 4 and then through the dryer 5, so that the air 18 is first cleaned of pollutants in the filter device 4 and then cleaned of the moisture it contains in the dryer 5. For this purpose, the dryer 5 can comprise, for example, a molecular sieve, in particular a zeolite.

[0028] The housing 2 of the replacement cartridge 1 has a cover 19 and a base 20, which may be formed separately and connectable to each other, or alternatively may be formed integrally. A first opening 21 is arranged in the cover 19, while a second opening 22 is arranged in the base 20. In addition, a third opening 23 is provided in the center of the base 20. The first flow path 3 extends from the first opening 21 to the second opening 22, while the second flow path 6 extends from the third opening 23 to the first opening 21.

[0029] The exchange between the interior 24 of the expansion tank 8 and the surrounding environment 17 usually only occurs when it is required, in particular due to a volume change of the dielectric cooling liquid 9 due to a temperature change, for example. However, to prevent uncontrolled exchange, a first check valve 25 and a second check valve 26 are provided, the first check valve opening from the surrounding environment 17 to the interior 24 of the expansion tank 8, while the second check valve 26 opens in the opposite direction. To open the first check valve 25 and / or the second check valve 26, a corresponding overpressure or underpressure is required.

[0030] 1 in more detail, it is clear that both the first check valve 25 and the second check valve 26 are arranged in the expansion tank 8, as a result of which replacement of the replacement cartridge 1 is easily possible and can be produced cost-effectively. Purely theoretically, an alternative embodiment in which the first check valve 25 and the second check valve 26 are arranged in the replacement cartridge 1 is obviously also envisaged.

[0031] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the second check valve 26 is disposed in the connection 16 .

[0032] The housing 2 of the replacement cartridge 1 has a rim 27, which is placed in close contact with the expansion tank 8 when the replacement cartridge 1 is placed in the expansion tank 8, and defines a ventilation space 28 together with the housing 2 of the replacement cartridge 1 and the expansion tank 8 or the housing of the expansion tank 8. The ventilation space 28 is connected to the drying side 29 of the drying device 5 via the second opening 22 in the housing 2 of the replacement cartridge 1, and is connected to the interior 24 of the expansion tank 8 via the first check valve 25. The rim 27 thus makes it possible to define the ventilation space 28 and to connect the second opening 22 and the first check valve 25 regardless of the angle of rotation.

[0033] A humidity sensor 30 may additionally be arranged in the dry side 29 in the replacement cartridge 1, which detects the moisture content of the air supplied to the expansion tank 8. Simultaneously or alternatively, a hydrocarbon sensor 32 may be arranged in the region of the hydrocarbon adsorber 7, in particular at the outlet 31 of the hydrocarbon adsorber 7, which detects the hydrocarbon content of the air supplied from the surrounding environment 17. For example, a warning signal for replacing the replacement cartridge 1 may be generated when the humidity sensor 30 outputs a signal indicating that the moisture content is too high. By way of analogy, such a warning signal may also be generated if hydrocarbons are detected by the hydrocarbon sensor 32, provided that the detected hydrocarbon content exceeds a predefined limit value.

[0034] With the replacement cartridge 1 according to the invention and the expansion tank 8 according to the invention, the dielectric cooling liquid 9 can be effectively protected against dirt and excess moisture, while the surrounding environment 17 can be effectively protected against undesired leakage of easily volatile contents, such as, for example, hydrocarbons, from the expansion tank 8. In particular, by arranging the two check valves 25, 26 in the expansion tank 8, the expansion tank 8 is reliably closed even if the replacement cartridge 1 is removed. A particular advantage of this system is that the check valves 25, 26 can continue to be used, in particular when replacing the replacement cartridge 1.

Claims

1. A replacement cartridge (1) for air purification and drying, having a housing (2), A replacement cartridge having a housing (2) containing a first channel (3) with a filter device (4) and a drying device (5), and a second channel (6) extending to the opposite side from the first channel (3) containing a hydrocarbon adsorption device (7).

2. At the inlet (12) of the second flow path (6), the replacement cartridge (1) is provided with an internal screw thread (13) that is screwed to the expansion tank (8) of the dielectric coolant (9), The replacement cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydrocarbon adsorption device (7) is arranged coaxially with the shaft (14) of the replacement cartridge (1).

3. The filter device (4) is formed as a pleated star shape that coaxially surrounds the hydrocarbon adsorption device (7), The replacement cartridge according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that the drying device (5) coaxially surrounds the hydrocarbon adsorption device (7) and the filter device (4).

4. The hydrocarbon adsorption apparatus (7) is equipped with activated carbon and / or a hydrocarbon sensor, and / or The replacement cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the drying apparatus (5) comprises a molecular sieve.

5. The replacement cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (2) comprises a cover (19) having a first opening (21) and a base (20) having a second opening (22) on the side and a third opening (23) located in the center.

6. The first flow path (3) extends from the first opening (21) to the second opening (22), The replacement cartridge according to claim 5, characterized in that the second flow path (6) extends from the third opening (23) to the first opening (21).

7. The replacement cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the humidity sensor (30) is located on the drying side (29) of the drying device (5).

8. The replacement cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that a hydrocarbon sensor (32) is arranged within the region of the hydrocarbon adsorption device (7).

9. An expansion tank (8) for dielectric coolant (9), Having the replacement cartridge (1) described in claim 1, It has a first check valve (25) that opens from the surrounding environment (17) to the expansion tank (8), An expansion tank characterized by having a second check valve (26) that opens from the expansion tank (8) to the hydrocarbon adsorption device (7).

10. The first check valve (25) and the second check valve (26) are located in the expansion tank (8). The expansion tank according to claim 9, characterized in that the first check valve (25) and the second check valve (26) are arranged in the replacement cartridge (1).

11. The expansion tank (8) is provided with a connecting portion (16) having an external screw thread (15), and the second check valve (26) is located within the connecting portion (16). The expansion tank according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the hydrocarbon adsorption device (7) is arranged coaxially with the shaft (14) of the replacement cartridge (1) and the connection portion (16) of the expansion tank (8).

12. The housing (2) of the replacement cartridge (1) is equipped with a rim (27), The rim (27) is positioned in close contact with the expansion tank (8) when the replacement cartridge (1) is placed in the expansion tank (8), and together with the housing (2) and the expansion tank (8) of the replacement cartridge (1), it partitions the ventilation space (28). The expansion tank according to claim 9, characterized in that the ventilation space (28) is connected to the drying side (29) of the drying device (5) via a second opening (22) in the housing (2) of the replacement cartridge (1), and is connected to the inside (24) of the expansion tank (8) via the first check valve (25).

13. A cooling system (10) for a battery device (33) having an expanded tank as described in claim 9.

14. An electric vehicle (11) having a battery device (33) and a cooling system (10) according to claim 13 for cooling the battery device (33).

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