Compensation container and battery cooling system

Abstract

To provide a compensation container including a dryer device, and a battery cooling system including the compensation container.SOLUTION: A compensation container (1) for a battery cooling system (3) includes: a container housing (4); and a dryer device (8) including a dryer housing (11), a dryer insert (18) arranged in the dryer housing (11), and a dryer housing cover (19) closing the dryer housing (11). The container housing (4) and the dryer housing (11) are made in one piece and connected to each other in a communicating manner. The dryer housing cover (19) can be closely placed on the dryer housing from a second direction (20). A first direction (7) extends orthogonally to the second direction (20).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a compensation container provided with a dryer device and a battery cooling system provided with the compensation container.

[0002] Electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles are attracting increasing attention from consumers based on environmental considerations and are becoming more widespread on the road accordingly. In this case, in order to be able to improve both the driving range and performance of such electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, it is targeted to keep the traction battery of such electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles within an optimal temperature window with respect to this traction battery. For this purpose, in a well-known form, a temperature control device, particularly a cooling device, is used.

[0003] In this case, such a battery cooling system, particularly for cooling a traction battery, also includes a compensation container in which air is held internally as a compensation cushion for volume changes of the cooling medium due to temperature. The cooling medium expands due to temperature rise, but this expansion should be avoided because if the positive pressure generated here cannot be released, it will cause a high pressure load on the compensation container and may damage the compensation container in some cases. For this reason, such a compensation container usually has a connection to the surroundings, whereby the pressure difference due to temperature can be reduced in some cases through the blowing out of air to the surroundings. Here, in order to prevent or at least reduce the undesirable emission of hydrocarbon compounds to the surroundings, an adsorbent arranged separately from the compensation container can be provided so that the air blown out to the surroundings flows through it. When the cooling medium is cooled and contracts, thereby generating a negative pressure in the compensation container, this results in the suction of fresh air from the surroundings. Conventionally, a dryer cartridge has been provided to prevent or at least reduce the undesirable introduction of moisture into the cooling medium at this time. In this dryer cartridge, a desiccant is arranged to allow the fresh air sucked in from the surroundings during the suction process to flow through it and absorb moisture to dry the sucked-in fresh air.

[0004] However, the known compensation container has the drawback that it is relatively time-consuming and thus also expensive to manufacture and maintain.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention addresses the problem of providing an improved or at least one alternative embodiment of a compensation container that can overcome the drawbacks known from the prior art.

[0006] This problem is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1 according to the present invention. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] The present invention is based on the overall idea that a dryer device of a compensation container of a battery cooling system is arranged laterally to a container housing, where at least one dryer housing is integrally formed with the container housing, in particular with a housing trough of the container housing, and can be opened laterally, so that it can be manufactured at low cost together with the container housing, in particular the housing trough of the container housing, and at the same time the dryer insert can be more easily equipped. By the lateral approach to the dryer device, maintenance can be significantly facilitated, especially when the compensation container is incorporated in a motor vehicle. The compensation container for a battery cooling system according to the present invention comprises a plastic container housing having a housing trough and at least one cover placed on the housing trough from a first direction and closely connected to the housing trough. Further, a dryer device is provided, which comprises a plastic dryer housing, a dryer insert arranged in the dryer housing, and a dryer housing cover for closing the dryer housing, where the container housing, in particular the housing trough of the container housing and the dryer housing are integrally formed and communicatively connected to each other, and the dryer housing cover can be closely placed on the dryer housing from a second direction. Specifically, this means that the housing trough and the dryer housing are formed as an integral component combined together, and the cover can be placed on the housing trough and the dryer housing cover can be placed on the dryer housing. In this case, the first direction extends orthogonally to the second direction. When positive pressure prevails in the compensation container, air reaches from the compensation container to the surroundings via a first valve, while when negative pressure prevails in the compensation container, fresh air reaches from the surroundings into the compensation container via a second valve. The concept of "fresh air" is understood as ambient air in this case.This enables the container housing, particularly the housing tank of the container housing and the dryer housing, to be manufactured in a common plastic injection molding process, making it possible to manufacture at low cost. Moreover, particularly during maintenance of the compensation container assembled in an automobile, the desiccant can be relatively easily installed in the dryer device. Further, by welding the dryer housing cover, the desiccant can be compressed simultaneously. This can reduce the load on the surface to which pressure is applied and thus on the weld seam portion. In other embodiments, the load is similarly reduced for the seal surface or joint surface to which pressure is applied.

[0008] In an advantageous development of the compensation container according to the invention, the dryer device has a desiccant arranged in a first air-permeable bag, or has a shape-stable drying body consisting of a sintered or extruded or injection-molded desiccant, or has a dryer insert configured as a dryer cartridge with the desiccant arranged inside. When the desiccant is arranged in the first air-permeable bag, particularly simple shape adaptation and thus utilization of the angled structural space can be achieved. The shape-stable drying body is particularly easy to handle. In this case, the shape-stable drying body can be adapted to the inner contour of the dryer housing with respect to its outer contour, thereby achieving optimal space utilization and avoiding undesirable bypass flows. The dryer insert configured as a dryer cartridge offers the advantage of easy handling.

[0009] Preferably, the first bag is formed of a fabric, particularly a polyester fabric or a polyamide fabric. Polyester is lightweight and does not absorb moisture, so moisture absorption is performed solely by the desiccant. Forming the bag from a polyester fabric further provides the advantages of high strength, good processability and weldability, and high air permeability. The use of polyamide offers advantages such as high durability and tear strength, as well as high elasticity and long life.

[0010] Preferably, the desiccant is arranged as a bulk material within a first bag. This allows the desiccant to optimally conform to the inner contour of the dryer housing and be held within the dryer housing in a position-fixed state by shape engagement. Also, according to this embodiment, it is possible to avoid manufacturing errors that may cause an undesirable bypass flow in a rigid housing.

[0011] In another advantageous embodiment, the desiccant comprises silica gel or zeolite. Silica gel is a colorless silicon dioxide with a consistency ranging from gel-like to rubbery and even solid. Silica gel has a large internal surface area (about 600 m 2 / g) and strongly attracts moisture. Zeolite can absorb about 20% of its own weight in moisture, generating heat in the process, which can further assist in drying. The use of zeolite provides a strong dehumidifying effect even at low humidity, while silica gel has high water absorption and is more inexpensive.

[0012] In a particularly preferred embodiment, a spring for applying a preload to the first bag is provided. Through this spring, a secure and position-fixed arrangement of the desiccant within the dryer housing can be achieved. At the same time, the preload of the spring prevents the desiccant from generating noise that may be perceived as a fault during operation, for example. Here, the spring can be formed, for example, as a low-cost coil spring. Also, the preload prevents the crushing of the desiccant arranged as a loose bulk material within the first bag during operation. Further, the preload also ensures that the desiccant or the bag abuts so as to surround the dryer housing, so that the air to be dried is forced to pass through the desiccant and does not pass by the side of the desiccant.

[0013] In another advantageous embodiment, an adsorber is provided which comprises a plastic adsorber housing, an activated carbon insert containing activated carbon disposed therein, and an adsorber housing cover for closing the adsorber housing. The adsorber can be configured, for example, as an HC adsorber. In this case, the container housing, in particular the housing tank of the container housing, and the adsorber housing are integrally formed and communicatively connected to each other, whereby the container housing, in particular the housing tank of the container housing, can be manufactured together with the dryer housing and the adsorber housing in a common low-cost plastic injection molding process. In this case, the adsorber housing cover can be tightly placed on the adsorber housing from a second direction, whereby maintenance of the adsorber and the dryer device is possible from the same direction.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the compensating container according to the invention, the activated carbon of the adsorber is disposed within a second air-permeable bag. By means of the activated carbon disposed within the second air-permeable bag, it is possible to achieve an even simpler shape adaptation and also to utilize an angled structural space. Furthermore, an undesired bypass flow can be avoided.

[0015] Preferably also, the second bag is also formed from a fabric, in particular a polyester fabric or a polyamide fabric. Thereby, the advantages described in particular in relation to the first bag made of polyester can also be achieved for the second bag.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment, a spring for preloading the second bag and thus the activated carbon is provided. By means of the spring, a secure and position-fixed arrangement of the activated carbon within the adsorber housing can be achieved, in which case the preload of the spring simultaneously prevents the action of the activated carbon from being lost, for example, by being crushed during operation.

[0017] Preferably, at least one cover is welded or clipped or screwed or glued to the housing tank. Additionally or alternatively, the dryer housing cover may be welded or clipped or screwed or glued to the dryer housing, or the adsorbent housing cover may be welded or clipped or screwed or glued to the adsorbent housing. In this case, the detachable connection between the dryer housing cover and the dryer housing or between the adsorbent housing cover and the adsorbent housing provides an advantage when the replacement of the desiccant or activated carbon is required depending on the conditions.

[0018] Advantageously, the dryer housing cover and the adsorbent housing cover are integrally formed, particularly as an integral plastic injection molded member. Thereby, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and furthermore, the installation and maintenance can be easily performed.

[0019] Preferably, at least one of the following components, namely, the cover, the housing tank, the dryer housing cover, the dryer housing, the adsorbent housing cover, the adsorbent housing, is formed from polyoxymethylene (POM) or polyketone. POM is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic resin having high mechanical strength and rigidity, as well as high wear resistance and low hygroscopicity, which is extremely advantageous particularly when used in the compensation container according to the present invention. This is because in this case, water storage or hygroscopicity increases the conductivity of the dielectric cooling medium. Alternatively, polyketone may be used as the plastic. Polyketone (PK) is a high-performance thermoplastic polymer having high impact resistance, low abrasion, good solvent resistance and low water absorption. Also, polyketone has high environmental compatibility. In this case, in order to further enhance the mechanical strength and wear resistance, the plastic may contain glass fibers, particularly 25% glass fibers, and may be particularly formed as POM GF-25.

[0020] The present invention further relates to the general idea of equipping a battery cooling system with the compensation container described in the preceding paragraph, thereby transferring the advantages described for this compensation container to the battery cooling system. Specifically, the advantages of the battery cooling system equipped with the compensation container according to the present invention lie in low-cost manufacturing and ease of maintenance.

[0021] Other important features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, the drawings, and the description of the drawings based on the accompanying drawings.

[0022] It is obvious that the above-described features and the features described hereinafter can be used not only in the described combinations but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the above-described components and the components described hereinafter, which are separately described as a higher-level aggregation such as a device, equipment, or unit, may form this separately described component or component of the aggregation even if they are shown differently in the drawings, or may be an integrated area or section of this aggregation.

[0023] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated and will be described in more detail in the following description. In this case, the same reference numerals are related to the same, or similar, or functionally identical components.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

[0025] Corresponding to FIGS. 1 to 6, the compensation container 1 according to the present invention for the air 2 of the battery cooling system 3 according to the present invention has a plastic container housing 4 including a housing tank 5 and two covers 6 placed on the housing tank 5 from the first direction 7 and closely connected to the housing tank 5. In this case, the two covers 6 can be integrally formed, thereby forming a common one cover 6 covering the housing tank 5. Further, the compensation container 1 has a dryer device 8 including a plastic dryer housing 11, a dryer insert 18 disposed inside the dryer housing 11, and a dryer housing cover 19 closing the dryer housing 11. Here, the container housing 4, particularly the housing tank 5 of the container housing 4 and the dryer housing 11, are integrally formed and communicatively connected to each other. In this case, the dryer housing cover 19 can be closely placed on the dryer housing 11 from the second direction 20, where the first direction 7 extends orthogonally to the second direction 20. Thereby, the container housing 4, particularly the housing tank 5 of the container housing 4 and the dryer housing 11, can be manufactured, for example, in a common plastic injection molding process, which not only enables low-cost manufacturing but also, particularly during maintenance of the compensation container 1 assembled in an automobile, the dryer insert 18 and the desiccant 21 contained therein can be relatively easily equipped in the dryer device 8.

[0026] In this case, the dryer device 8 preferably has a desiccant 21 disposed in a first air-permeable bag 15, but alternatively may have a shape-stable drying body 17 made of a sintered or extruded or injection-molded desiccant 21. Here, although two embodiments are also shown in FIG. 4, it is obvious that these are only alternatively applicable.

[0027] When observing FIG. 4, it can be seen from this figure that a dryer device 8 in which the first bag 15 is formed from a fabric, in particular a polyester fabric or a polyamide fabric, can be discerned. Of course, other materials resistant to the cooling medium in the battery cooling system 3 are also conceivable here. The desiccant 21 can be arranged as a bulk material, for example in the form of bead-shaped silica gel or zeolite, inside the first bag 15. Thereby, the outer contour of the dryer insert 18 can be optimally adapted to the inner contour of the dryer housing 11, thereby enabling reliable accommodation by form fit. By the accommodation by form fit, it is also possible to avoid an undesired bypass flow of the freshly inhaled fresh air 2a in particular.

[0028] Furthermore, the desiccant 21 used in the shape-stable drying body 17 can also have silica gel or zeolite. Here, correspondingly to FIG. 4, a shape-stable drying body 17 consisting of compressed or sintered or extruded or injection-molded desiccant 21 can have an outer contour that is complementary to the inner contour of the dryer housing 11 and thus also avoids an undesired bypass flow of the freshly inhaled fresh air 2a. The shape-stable drying body 17 can omit an additional housing, for example the first bag 15, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs.

[0029] The compensation container 1 according to the invention can further have an adsorber 12 comprising an adsorber housing 22 made of plastic, an adsorbent insert 23 arranged inside and containing activated carbon 25, and an adsorber housing cover 24 closing the adsorber housing 22.

[0030] The adsorber housing cover 24 can be provided with an opening 27, and when a positive pressure correspondingly occurs, air 2 can be blown out to the surroundings through the opening 27.

[0031] In this case, the container housing 4, particularly the housing tank 5 of the container housing 4 and the adsorbent housing 22, are integrally formed and communicate with each other and are interconnected, whereby the container housing 4 can be manufactured together with the dryer housing 11 and the adsorbent housing 22 in a common low-cost plastic injection molding process. At this time, the adsorbent housing cover 24 can similarly be closely placed on the adsorbent housing 22 from the second direction 20, whereby maintenance of the adsorbent 12 and the dryer device 8 can be performed from the same direction, here from the second direction 20.

[0032] The dryer housing cover 19 and the adsorbent housing cover 24 can be integrally formed, particularly as an integral plastic injection molded member, which reduces manufacturing costs and facilitates handling. Alternatively, the dryer housing cover 19 and the adsorbent housing cover 24 may be formed separately from each other.

[0033] The activated carbon insert 23 or the activated carbon 25 of the adsorbent 12 can be arranged in the air-permeable second bag 26.

[0034] When a positive pressure exists in the compensation container 1 via the first valve 9, the air 2 can reach from the compensation container 1 to the surroundings, where the air 2 can flow through the adsorbent 12 for cleaning. By blowing out the air 2 through the adsorbent 12, it is possible to reliably suppress particularly harmful substances, such as hydrocarbons. When a negative pressure prevails in the compensation container 1, fresh air 2a can be sucked into the compensation container 1 from the surroundings via the second valve 10. In this case, the battery cooling system 3 is communicatively connected to the compensation container 1 via a connection part 28, such as a quick connector. In this case, the suction of fresh air 2a from the surroundings into the compensation container 1 is performed via the second valve 10 and the dryer device 8 that dries the sucked fresh air 2a.

[0035] In this case, the first valve 9 is arranged on an intermediate wall 13 that separates the adsorbent 12 from the inner chamber 16 of the container housing 4. In this case, the second valve 10 is arranged on the outer wall of the container housing 4. Naturally, on the outer wall of the container housing 4, the above-mentioned second valve 10 and another pressure relief valve may be arranged, and the air 2 is blown out from the compensation container 1 to the surroundings through the other pressure relief valve.

[0036] Upon further observing FIGS. 5 and 6, it can be seen that a spring 14' is arranged on the adsorbent 12, and the spring 14' applies a preload to the adsorbent 12 or the activated carbon 25 with respect to the container housing 4, specifically with respect to the intermediate wall 13 here. Due to the spring 14', a fixed state of the adsorbent 12 without vibration and thus without rocking can be achieved. Thereby, based on less noise generation, the user comfort can be improved especially, and furthermore, the crushing of the activated carbon 25 in the activated carbon insert 23 can be prevented.

[0037] Here, the container housing 4, that is, the container tank 5 and / or the cover 6, as well as the dryer housing 11, the dryer housing cover 19, the adsorbent housing 22, and the adsorbent housing cover 24 can also be formed as plastic injection molding members, which not only enables high-value manufacturing in terms of quality but also enables low-cost manufacturing.

[0038] At least one cover 6 can be welded or clip-fixed or screwed or glued to the housing tank 5. Additionally or alternatively, the dryer housing cover 19 can be welded or clip-fixed or screwed or glued to the dryer housing 11, and / or the adsorber housing cover 24 can be welded or clip-fixed or screwed or glued to the adsorber housing 22. In particular, the clip connection or screw connection provides the great advantage that the dryer housing 11 or the adsorber housing 22 can be opened for the replacement of the dryer insert 18 or the activated carbon insert 23, and the dryer housing 11 or the adsorber housing 22 can continue to be used after the replacement of the dryer insert 18 or the activated carbon insert 23.

[0039] Furthermore, at least one of the following components, namely the cover 6, the housing tank 5, the dryer housing cover 19, the dryer housing 11, the adsorber housing cover 24, the adsorber housing 22, can be formed from polyoxymethylene (POM) or polyketone, i.e., from a plastic having high strength and low hygroscopicity, which is extremely advantageous especially for the compensation container 1 for the air 2 of the battery cooling system 3. In this case, the plastic may further have glass fibers in order to be able to further improve both the strength and the wear resistance of the container housing 4, and in particular, the plastic can have a glass fiber component of 25% in the plastic.

[0040] In particular, with the compensation container 1 according to the present invention and the battery cooling system 3 according to the present invention, a solution that is extremely cost-effective and optimized in terms of structural space can be obtained.

Claims

1. A compensation container (1) for a battery cooling system (3), comprising: A container housing (4) made of plastic, comprising a housing tank (5) and at least one cover (6) placed on the housing tank (5) from a first direction (7) and tightly connected to the housing tank (5), A dryer apparatus (8) comprising a plastic dryer housing (11), a dryer insert (18) disposed within the dryer housing (11), and a dryer housing cover (19) for closing the dryer housing (11), The container housing (4) and the dryer housing (11) are integrally formed and connected to each other in communication; The dryer housing cover (19) is capable of being closely placed on the dryer housing (11) from a second direction (20); The first direction (7) extends perpendicular to the second direction (20). A dryer device (8); a first valve (9) allowing air (2) to reach the environment from the compensation vessel (1) when a positive pressure prevails in the compensation vessel (1); a second valve (10) for allowing fresh air (2a) to reach the compensation vessel (1) from the surroundings when a negative pressure prevails in the compensation vessel (1); The compensation vessel (1).

2. the dryer device (8) comprises a desiccant (21) disposed within an air-permeable first bag (15); or the dryer device (8) has a form-stable drying body (17) consisting of a sintered or extruded or injection-molded desiccant (21), or The dryer insert (18) is configured as a dryer cartridge having a desiccant (21) disposed therein. The compensation container according to claim 1.

3. the first bag (15) is made of a woven fabric, in particular a woven polyester fabric or a woven polyamide fabric, The compensation container according to claim 2.

4. The desiccant (21) is disposed in the first bag (15) as a bulk material. The compensation container according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The desiccant (21) comprises silica gel or zeolite. A compensation vessel according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. A spring (14) is provided to preload the desiccant (21) in the first bag (15) or in the dryer cartridge. A compensation vessel according to any one of claims 2 to 5.

7. An adsorber (12) is provided that includes a plastic adsorber housing (22), an activated carbon insert (23) that includes activated carbon (25) disposed therein, and an adsorber housing cover (24) that closes the adsorber housing (22), The container housing (4) and the adsorbent housing (22) are integrally formed and connected to each other in communication; The adsorbent housing cover (24) can be placed closely on the adsorbent housing (22) from the second direction (20). A compensation vessel according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The activated carbon (25) of the adsorbent (12) is disposed in an air-permeable second bag (26). The compensation container according to claim 7.

9. a spring (14') is provided to preload the second bag (26) and further the activated carbon (25) disposed within the second bag (26); The compensation container according to claim 8.

10. At least one cover (6) is welded or clipped or screwed or glued to the housing tank (5), and / or the dryer housing cover (19) is welded or clipped or screwed or glued to the dryer housing (11), and / or The adsorbent housing cover (24) is welded or clipped or screwed or glued to the adsorbent housing (22); Compensation vessel according to any one of claims 6 to 9.

11. the dryer housing cover (19) and the adsorber housing cover (24) are formed in one piece, in particular as a one-piece plastic injection-molded part; Compensation vessel according to any one of claims 6 to 10.

12. At least one of the following components is formed from polyoxymethylene (POM) or polyketone: cover (6), housing tank (5), dryer housing cover (19), dryer housing (11), adsorbent housing cover (24), adsorbent housing (22); A compensation vessel according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The plastic contains glass fibers, in particular a glass fiber content of 25% in the plastic. Compensation vessel according to any one of claims 6 to 12.

14. A battery cooling system (3) comprising a compensation container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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