Cold Plate Coolant Manifold Interface

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interface (1) of a coolant manifold (2) of a cooling plate (3), the interface (1) comprising a first main surface (FP11) configured to be connected to the coolant manifold (2) and a second main surface (FP12) configured to be connected to a cooling plate (3) having at least two flow paths (31, 33) for circulating a coolant, the second main surface (FP12) comprising at least two holes (101, 103) of different geometric shapes each allowing the circulation of the coolant between the coolant manifold (2) and each of the at least two flow paths (31, 33) of the cooling plate (3).

Description

Summary of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling plate coolant manifold interface. The present invention also relates to an assembly comprising a cooling plate equipped with such an interface. The present invention further relates to a thermal management system of a battery comprising such an interface or such an assembly. The present 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 components serves a strategy aimed at reducing the design and production costs of new vehicle models.

[0003] This is especially true for the coolant manifolds used to circulate coolant to the battery's cooling or water plates. However, the use of a water manifold that is referred to as "standard," i.e., common to many vehicle models, should not be done at the expense of battery thermal management. In particular, battery thermal management requirements may vary from vehicle to vehicle, and the use of a standard coolant manifold should not limit consideration of these differences.

[0004] Document CN109728381A discloses a method to design water plates with customized fluid passage cross-sections that concentrate the flow in the areas of the plate where the heat dissipation requirements are greatest. This solution allows the same water plate, and therefore the same water manifold, to be used to meet different thermal management requirements.

[0005] However, this solution has drawbacks. In particular, such plates cannot be customized to fit the thermal management requirements of every battery. A particular battery may require the use of different water plates, especially water plates of different dimensions. Thus, this device does not meet the customization requirements necessary to allow the use of standard water manifolds.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a device that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks and improves on those known from the prior art. In particular, the present invention makes it possible to create a device that is simple, reliable and allows the use of standard water manifolds with different water plates while at the same time optimizing the thermal management of the battery.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a cooling plate coolant manifold interface, the interface comprising: a first major surface configured to be connected to a coolant manifold; and a second major surface configured to be connected to a cooling plate having at least two passages for circulating a coolant, the second major surface including at least two holes of different geometric shapes each allowing the coolant to circulate between the coolant manifold and each of the at least two passages of the cooling plate.

[0008] In one embodiment, the interface is configured to be connected to a cooling plate positioned near a face of the battery to cool the battery; the surface of the battery comprises at least a first zone and a second zone, such that during operation of the battery, the temperature of the first zone is significantly greater than the temperature of the second zone; the cooling plate has at least two passages for circulating a coolant, a first passage of the at least two passages being closest to a first zone and a second passage of the at least two passages being closest to a second zone, the first and second passages being each supplied with the coolant via two separate holes of the at least two holes having different geometric shapes; The hole supplying coolant to the first passage has a larger cross-sectional area than the hole supplying coolant to the second passage.

[0009] In one embodiment, the interface is configured to connect to the cooling plate on the upstream or downstream side of the cooling plate relative to a direction of circulation of coolant in the cooling plate.

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

[0011] The present invention also provides at least an interface according to the invention; Two water manifolds; Cooling plate and The present invention relates to an assembly comprising:

[0012] In a first embodiment of the assembly, the cooling plate is configured to cool a battery comprising at least one battery module, the at least one battery module being of a given length X; The cooling plate has Y coolant circulation passages; The Y passages of the cooling plate are spaced apart from each other by a distance X / (Y+1).

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

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

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

[0016] The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, an embodiment of a water manifold interface 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 of a battery comprising such an interface or such an assembly. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an embodiment of a vehicle equipped with a water manifold interface according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a cooling plate. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a standard water manifold. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a standard water manifold equipped with a water manifold interface. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 shows the coolant flow rates obtained in each passage of the cooling plate of the interface 1 according to a first embodiment and then according to a second embodiment, respectively. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a water manifold interface. [Figure 7] 4A-4C show first and second cooling plate temperature distributions obtained by equipping the water manifold with an interface according to the first and second embodiments, respectively; [Figure 8] 1 is a graph showing all of the simulations carried out to calibrate interface 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] An embodiment of a motor vehicle 10 according to the invention will now be described with reference to Figure 1. The motor vehicle 10 is an electric or hybrid type motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car or utility vehicle.

[0019] The vehicle 10 is equipped with a battery 5 according to the invention, of the lithium or lithium-ion type. The battery 5 may also be of the so-called all-solid-state or solid electrolyte type. The battery 5 comprises several battery modules 51, the modules 51 comprising lithium-ion battery cells 511.

[0020] The vehicle 10 is also equipped with a battery thermal management system 4 that includes the necessary elements to circulate a coolant in the vicinity of the battery module 51 .

[0021] In one embodiment, system 4 comprises: Advantageously, a cooling plate 3 arranged in contact with or in the vicinity of the battery module 51; Two water manifolds 2 or coolant manifolds, A pump 41; Cooling means 42; A pump 41, a cooling means 42, and a circuit 43 connecting the plate 3; Equipped with.

[0022] In the remainder of this document, the terms "manifold" or "water manifold" are used to refer to a coolant manifold. Similarly, the terms "plate" or "cooling plate" are used to refer to a water plate, or a coolant plate, or a liquid coolant plate.

[0023] In this way, the system 4 allows the coolant to circulate in a cooling direction 44. The pump 41 pumps the coolant in particular a point A between the pump 41 and the plate 3, upstream of the plate 3 with respect to the direction of circulation 44 of the coolant; A point B between the plate 3 and the cooling means 42 and downstream of the plate 3 with respect to the direction of circulation 44 of the coolant; Move between.

[0024] Between points A and B, the coolant passes through the plate 3 and thus circulates near the battery module 51 to cool it. Thus, the coolant temperature measured at point B is significantly higher than the coolant temperature measured at point A.

[0025] Downstream of point B, the fluid is then cooled by cooling means 42, which may for example be a circuit in which freon gas circulates, in particular in the form of a serpentine coil wound around the cooled part of circuit 43, for cooling circuit 43. Pump 41 is able to regulate the flow rate of the coolant circulating through circuit 43. The fluid flow rate affects, among other things, the amount of heat transfer between the battery modules and the coolant.

[0026] One embodiment of the cooling plate is depicted in Figure 2. The cooling plate 3 is of rectangular parallelepiped shape with length L31, width L32 and height H, and has the following: two opposing rectangular main surfaces FP31, FP32 of dimensions L31 x L32, one configured to be placed adjacent to or in contact with the battery module 51; The two sides FL31, FL33, and the Two side surfaces FL32, FL34 of dimensions L32×H, with side surface FL32 being placed upstream of side surface FL34 with respect to circulation direction 44 of the coolant.

[0027] In this embodiment, the plate 3 has eight straight passages 31-38 of length L31 that allow the coolant to circulate inside the cooling plate from a side FL32 called the inlet face to a side FL34 called the outlet face. In this way, the eight passages create eight separate fluid flows within the cooling plate.

[0028] In one embodiment, the passages 31-38 in the cooling plate 3 are created by extrusion and are commonly referred to as “multi-port extruded channels.” Other embodiments of the passages are conceivable, for example using casting.

[0029] To enable the coolant to circulate through the plates 3, the circuit 43 is advantageously connected to the plates 3 via two water manifolds 2. In particular, the inlet face FL32 and the outlet face FL34 are connected (directly or indirectly) to the first and second manifolds, respectively.

[0030] 3 shows an embodiment of the water manifold 2. The water manifold comprises a pipe-shaped end 23 adapted to be connected to a circuit 43 and a wide open end 24, preferably of elongated shape, adapted in particular to be connected to one of the inlet or outlet faces FL32, FL34 of the plate 3.

[0031] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, at least one of the two manifolds is further equipped with a manifold interface 1 , which is interposed between the manifold and a cooling plate 3 .

[0032] The manifold interface 1 is a hollow part with a rectangular outline having a length and width that match the dimensions of the open end 24 of the water manifold 2. The interface 1 has first and second main faces FP11, FP12 and four side faces.

[0033] The interface 1 may be made of aluminum. In one embodiment, its length may be 250 millimeters, its width may be 30-40 millimeters, and its thickness may be 5 millimeters. The size and shape of the interface 1 may vary according to the size and shape of the manifold 2 and the plate 3.

[0034] A first main surface FP11 of the interface 1 is configured to be connected to a water manifold 2. In one embodiment, it has a wide opening O1, advantageously matching the dimensions of the wide open end 24 of the manifold 2. In this way, the opening O1 of the interface 1 is fixed facing the opening 24 of the manifold 2, and any coolant entering the manifold 2 via the end 23 is collected by the interface 1.

[0035] The second main face FP12 is configured to be connected to the cooling plate 3. The second main face FP12 has at least two holes 101, 102 through which a coolant passes. The second main face is configured to be fixed to one of the inlet or outlet sides FL32, FL34 of the cooling plate 3. Advantageously, when the second main face FP12 is fixed to one of the inlet or outlet sides FL32, FL34 of the plate 3, the at least two holes 101, 102 face at least the first and second passages of the plate 3, respectively.

[0036] Thus, when the second main face FP12 of the interface 1 is sealed and fixed to the inlet side FL32 of the plate 3, all the coolant entering the interface 1 through the opening O1 is distributed between the at least two passages that are placed facing the at least two holes 101, 102. In other words, the coolant It enters the manifold 2 via a pipe-shaped end 23, Passing through manifold 2 and interface 1, At least two passages in the cooling plate enter through at least two holes 101, 102.

[0037] Similarly, when the second major surface FP12 of the interface 1 is sealed and fixed to the outlet side FL34 of the plate 3, all of the coolant entering the interface 1 through the at least two holes 101, 102 will converge towards the opening O1 that sits facing the wide open end 24 of the manifold 2. In other words, the coolant exiting the cooling plate 3 through at least two holes mounted facing the at least two passages of the plate 3; Through interface 1, then It passes through manifold 2 and re-emerges in circuit 43 via end 23 .

[0038] Thus, interface 1 allows a water manifold 2 to be connected to a cooling plate 3 without the water manifold and cooling plate having to be specifically designed to work together. In particular, the geometry of interface 1, and in particular the geometry of its main faces FP11, FP12, can be easily adapted to allow coolant to circulate between a given water manifold and a given cooling plate.

[0039] Additionally, the interface allows the fluid circulation to be adapted to match the spatial distribution of heat generated by the battery modules 51 without requiring modifications to the water manifold 2 or plates 3. The purpose of adapting the coolant circulation to match is to make the battery temperature more uniform in order to limit temperature spikes in a given zone of the battery.

[0040] For this purpose, at least two holes 101, 103 of the interface 1 may have different geometric shapes. In the case of a cooling plate with N passages, the interface 1 according to the invention may have 2 to N holes, at least two of the N holes having different geometric shapes, the holes being each positioned facing a separate passage of the cooling plate 3.

[0041] For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the interface 1 has eight holes 101-108, whereby the holes 101, 102, 108 located at the ends of the interface 1 are of larger diameter than the holes 103-107 located in the center of the interface, in particular the circular holes 101, 102, 108 have a diameter of 6 millimeters and the circular holes 103-107 have a diameter of 4 millimeters.

[0042] The interface 1 shown in Figure 6 may be used upstream and / or downstream of the plate 3 shown in Figure 2. In this embodiment, the interface 1 provides one hole for each passage of the plate 3, with holes 101-108 respectively feeding passages 31-38 of the plate. As their diameter is larger than the other holes in the interface, holes 101, 102, 108 generate a higher coolant flow rate in passages 31, 32 and 38 than in the other passages 33-37 of the plate 3.

[0043] In this way, the interface 1 according to the present invention allows for independent calibration of the fluid flow rate in each passage of the cooling plate to optimize the cooling of the battery modules 51. In other words, the diameter of each of the interface holes is calculated to adjust the coolant flow rate in each passage of the cooling plate to enable the battery temperature to be reduced and made more uniform.

[0044] Figures 5 and 7 are First embodiment Mod_i before optimizing the interface hole diameter, The final embodiment Mod_f after optimizing the interface hole diameter The effect of the interface 1 according to the present invention is shown through two embodiments of the interface 1.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows the respective coolant flow rates (in kilograms per hour) obtained in each of the eight passages 31 to 38 of a cooling plate 3 equipped with an interface 1 according to the first embodiment Mod_i followed by an interface 1 according to the last embodiment Mod_f.

[0046] In the first embodiment Mod_i, the initial flow rates D1_i to D8_i are comprised between 100 and 140 kg / hour, the flow rates D1_i to D3_i are comprised between 100 and 120 kg / hour, and the flow rates D4_i to D8_i are comprised between 120 and 140 kg / hour.

[0047] In the last embodiment Mod_f, the final flow rates D1_f to D8_f are comprised between 90 and 175 kg / hour, the flow rates D3_f to D7_f are comprised between 90 and 110 kg / hour, and the flow rates D1_f, D2_f and D8_f are comprised between 140 and 175 kg / hour.

[0048] In the example of Figure 5 it can be seen that the interface 1 according to the last embodiment Mod_f provides a flow rate in the lateral passages 31, 32 and 38 that is 50% higher than the flow rates in the other passages 33 to 37. In addition, the maximum flow rate in the last embodiment Mod_f is 50% higher than the maximum flow rate in the first embodiment Mod_i.

[0049] Figure 7 shows the effect of the interface 1 according to the invention on the thermal management of a battery. In particular, Figures V1 and V2 show respectively the first and second cooling plate temperature distributions, which are obtained by equipping the water manifold 2 with the interface 1 according to the first embodiment Mod_i and then according to the last embodiment Mod_f.

[0050] The first diagram V1 uses an interface 1 according to the first embodiment Mod_i and reveals two zones 301_i, 302_i whose temperature is significantly higher than the rest of the plate 3. The second diagram V2 uses an interface 1 according to the last embodiment Mod_f and reveals that these same two zones 301_f, 302_f have a temperature closer to that of the center of the plate 3.

[0051] The invention therefore makes it possible to improve the performance of the cooling plate by adjusting the geometry of the holes of the interface. The improvement can be seen through two indicators: the maximum temperature Tmax_i, Tmax_f measured on the plate 3, and the thermal resistance coefficients Rth_i, Rth_f of the plate, which indicate the ability of the material (in this example the plate) to prevent the passage of heat. These two parameters are significantly improved between the first embodiment Mod_i and the last embodiment Mod_f. The maximum temperature Tmax_f (29.5° C.) measured in the last embodiment is approximately 2° C. lower than the temperature Tmax_i (31.2° C.) measured in the first embodiment. The thermal resistance measured in the last embodiment (Rth_f = 8.10 -3 K / W) is the thermal resistance measured in the first embodiment (Rth_i=9.10 -3 K / W) is 10% lower.

[0052] In this way, the realization of the present invention entails determining the optimal configuration of the interface 1, i.e. the number, position and geometry of the holes to be arranged on the second main surface FP12 of the interface 1, according to the geometry of the cooling plate 3 and the spatial distribution of the heat generated by the battery module 51.

[0053] For example, an interface according to the invention, comprising at least two holes 101, 103 of different geometric shapes and configured to be connected to a cooling plate placed adjacent to the face of the battery in order to cool it, if the surface of the battery comprises at least a first zone and a second zone, such that the temperature of the first zone is significantly higher than the temperature of the second zone during operation of the battery; Also, if the cooling plate has at least two passages 31, 33 for circulating a coolant, a first passage of the at least two passages 31, 33 being closest to a first zone and a second passage of the at least two passages 31, 33 being closest to a second zone, and the first and second passages are respectively supplied with coolant via two separate holes of the at least two holes 101, 103 of different geometric shapes, In one embodiment, the holes supplying coolant to the first passageway will have a larger cross-sectional area (measured perpendicular to the direction of coolant flow) than the holes supplying coolant to the second passageway.

[0054] To determine the optimal configuration of the interface 1, numerous configurations of the interface 1 (number, location, and geometry of holes in the interface) are simulated using 3-D computational software. For each given configuration of the interface, the software determines the spatial distribution of the battery temperature, in particular the maximum temperature at which the hottest point of the battery is reached.

[0055] Graph G1 in Fig. 8 represents all the simulations carried out to calibrate the interface 1 shown in Fig. 6, with each point on graph G1 representing one simulation. The horizontal axis represents the transmission in mm of the assembly consisting of the interface 1 and the plate 3. 2 The higher the permeability, the lower the power required to operate the pump 41. Thus, points on the right part of the graph represent interfaces 1 that require less energy to power the pump 41 than points on the left part of the graph. The vertical axis represents the maximum temperature reached in a certain zone of the battery.

[0056] Point Mod_i may be, for example, 74 mm 2 1 represents a configuration of interface 1 that produces a permeability of 100 Å and a maximum temperature of 32.1° C. The configuration corresponding to point Mod_i is within the high values ​​of temperature and permeability. In other words, in the embodiment associated with point Mod_i, the thermal regulation of the battery is not optimal, but use of interface 1 does not require significant additional energy in pump 41.

[0057] In contrast, point Mod_1 is 60 mm away from the battery in a given zone. 2 1 represents a configuration of interface 1 that produces a permeability of 100 Å and a maximum temperature of 30.1° C. The configuration corresponding to point Mod_1 is within the low values ​​of temperature and permeability. In other words, in the embodiment associated with point Mod_1, use of interface 1 requires additional energy in pump 41, but the thermal regulation of the battery is optimal.

[0058] An intermediate embodiment, e.g., in the optimum zone Z1, can regulate the battery temperature while minimizing the impact that the interface 1 has in terms of additional energy consumption for operating the pump 41. The embodiment Mod_f is selected from within the optimum zone Z1.

[0059] In the example shown in graph G1, the optimum zone is determined by a plateau corresponding to a series of simulations in which the maximum battery temperature remains constant while the permeability of Interface 1 decreases. In alternative embodiments, optimization of Interface 1 may take other criteria into account.

[0060] Following the process of optimizing the design of the interface 1 by 3-D simulation, the configuration adopted by the interface 1 (number, location and geometry of holes in the interface) can be quickly and easily generated.

[0061] The process of optimizing the cooling of the battery 5 therefore depends, in part, on the design of the interface 1. The simplicity of designing and creating the interface 1 means that this component does not need to be modified until later in the life of the project, allowing flexibility in the design of other parts of the system 4, particularly the cooling plate 3 or manifold 2.

[0062] Finally, the interface 1 according to the invention comprises: The size and number of passages in the plate can be varied, allowing a standard water manifold 2 to be connected to the cooling plate 3, while at the same time It makes it possible to optimize the circulation of the coolant in the plate 3 so as to ensure an optimal spatial distribution of the battery temperature, and at the same time This allows the possibility of optimizing battery cooling to be maintained until later in the vehicle development process.

[0063] The invention also relates to an assembly consisting of an interface 1 and a general cooling plate.

[0064] In one embodiment, a generic cooling plate can be designed such that its dimensions are determined according to the size of the battery 5 to be cooled.

[0065] For example, for a battery comprising one or more battery modules 51, each battery module 51 having a length X, the associated generic plate may be a plate with Y passages extending along the length of the module, the Y passages being spaced apart from one another by a distance X / (Y+1).

[0066] Thereby, the interface 1 associated with the plate has Y holes whose geometry is optimized according to the spatial distribution of the battery temperature. Overall, the interface 1, alone or in combination with a common plate, makes it possible to simplify the development process of the vehicle 10 and reduce the costs of development.

[0067] Throughout this specification, the term "water" may be used instead of "coolant" to refer to the same concept, given that coolants are often water-based.

Claims

1. A cooling plate (3) to coolant manifold (2) interface (1), comprising: a first main surface (FP11) configured to be connected to a coolant manifold (2); a second main surface (FP12) configured to be connected to a cooling plate (3) having at least two passages (31, 33) for circulating a coolant, the second main surface (FP12) comprising at least two holes (101, 103) of different geometric shapes, each of which allows a coolant to circulate between the coolant manifold (2) and each of the at least two passages (31, 33) of the cooling plate (3); An interface (1).

2. An interface (1) configured to be connected to a cooling plate positioned near a face of a battery (5) for cooling the battery (5), the surface of the battery comprises at least a first zone and a second zone, such that the temperature of the first zone is significantly higher than the temperature of the second zone during operation of the battery; the cooling plate has at least two passages (31, 33) for circulating a coolant, a first passage of the at least two passages (31, 33) being closest to the first zone and a second passage of the at least two passages (31, 33) being closest to the second zone, the first and second passages being supplied with the coolant via two separate holes of the at least two holes (101, 103) having different geometric shapes, respectively; 2. An interface (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the holes supplying the first passage with coolant have a larger cross-sectional area than the holes supplying the second passage with coolant.

3. 3. An interface (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is adapted to be connected to a cooling plate (3) upstream or downstream of the cooling plate with respect to the direction of circulation (44) of the coolant in the cooling plate.

4. An interface (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is made of aluminium.

5. At least one interface (1) according to claim 1 or 2, Two water manifolds (2); Cooling plate (3) and An assembly (6).

6. 6. The assembly (6) according to claim 5, characterized in that the cooling plate (3) is configured to cool a battery (5) comprising at least one battery module (51), the at least one battery module being of a given length X, the cooling plate (3) comprising Y coolant circulation passages, and the Y passages of the cooling plate (3) being spaced apart from one another by a distance X / (Y+1).

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

8. A system (4) for the thermal management of a battery (5) comprising at least an interface (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

9. A motor vehicle (10) comprising a battery (5) and a thermal management system (4) according to claim 8.

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