Temperature control assembly for controlling temperature of components of especially battery-electric powered vehicle

Abstract

To provide a temperature control assembly for controlling the temperature of components of a battery-electric powered vehicle.SOLUTION: A temperature control assembly 20 comprises a temperature control circuit 21. In the temperature control circuit, a temperature control medium T can circulate, and a battery 24 is arranged which is a component 22 to be subjected to temperature control, and thereby heat can be transmitted between the component and the temperature control medium. The battery has a battery housing 28 in which a plurality of battery cells 29 are arranged through which the temperature control medium circulates and which are subjected to temperature control. The temperature control circuit further comprises: a pressure feed device 23 for driving the temperature control medium in the temperature control circuit; a heat exchanger 25 through which the temperature control medium circulates; and a storage container 1 for temporarily storing the temperature control medium. The storage container comprises a housing 2 that surrounds a housing inner chamber 3 for allowing the temperature control medium to circulate and housing the temperature control medium. A molded body 11 formed of foamed material through which the temperature control medium circulates is arranged in the housing inner chamber 3 of the storage container.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a temperature regulation assembly for regulating the temperature of components, particularly in battery-electric vehicles.

[0002] Components of a battery-electric vehicle that generate waste heat during operation, such as the battery for propelling the vehicle, may be arranged in a temperature-regulating circuit and immersion-cooled with a temperature-regulating medium, such as oil, circulating in the temperature-regulating circuit. This means that the components to be temperature-regulated can be directly circulated by the temperature-regulating medium. Such a storage container can store the temperature-regulating medium to compensate for temperature-induced volumetric expansion of the temperature-regulating circuit. Furthermore, if the volume of the temperature-regulating medium expands due to temperature throughout the entire temperature-regulating circuit, a storage container that is not completely filled with the temperature-regulating medium may function as a compensation volume. In this case, the air present in the storage container may be compressed by the expanding temperature-regulating medium.

[0003] A disadvantage of such a temperature control circuit with a storage container is that the temperature control medium present in the storage container "sloshes back and forth" during lateral acceleration or external forces that accelerate the storage container, due to external forces acting on the storage container when the vehicle is turning a corner, or similar. However, due to the movement and bubbling of the temperature control medium in the storage container, there is a risk that the air present in the storage container and acting as a compensation volume will reach an outlet in the storage container housing originally intended for the temperature control medium to exit and exit the storage container via this outlet. This significantly reduces the efficiency of the temperature control. Furthermore, there is a risk of damage to individual components of the temperature control circuit due to the air escaping from the storage container and circulating in the temperature control circuit together with the temperature control medium. In particular, there is a risk of damage or even destruction of the pumping device, typically in the form of a fluid or oil pump, arranged in the temperature control circuit due to the air present in the temperature control medium. There is also a risk of at least partial overheating of the battery.

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide improved embodiments for a temperature adjustment assembly, a temperature adjustment circuit and a storage container for temporarily storing a temperature adjustment medium, in which the risk of undesired movement of the temperature adjustment medium within the storage container in the sense of the aforementioned "reciprocating sloshing" is at least reduced.

[0005] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0006] The basic idea of the present invention is therefore to arrange a molding made of an open-cell foam material in the housing interior of the storage container, through which a temperature-regulating medium can flow. This foam molding forms a large number of individual fluid channels through which the temperature-regulating medium can flow, and the temperature-regulating medium is distributed among these channels as it flows through the molding. This fluid distribution at least largely prevents the above-mentioned "sloshing" of the temperature-regulating medium when subjected to acceleration.

[0007] This also prevents undesirable air movements or flows within the storage container, which could result in the air escaping from the storage container due to the movement of the temperature-control medium within the storage container. This prevents damage to components arranged in the temperature-control circuit through which the temperature-control medium flows, as well as the storage container, due to the air present in the temperature-control circuit in addition to the temperature-control medium. This applies in particular to existing pumping devices for pumping the temperature-control medium within the temperature-control circuit, which are known to be particularly sensitive to damage from the air present in the temperature-control circuit. The foam molding thus increases the operational safety of the entire temperature-control circuit.

[0008] Specifically, the temperature adjustment assembly according to the present invention includes a temperature adjustment circuit through which a temperature adjustment medium can circulate, a component to be temperature-adjusted is disposed within the temperature adjustment circuit, and heat can be transferred between the component and the temperature adjustment medium. The temperature adjustment medium may be, in particular, oil. Mineral oil, such as that commercially available under the designation "Mobil Elite 701," is particularly considered as the temperature adjustment medium or oil for the temperature adjustment circuit. The temperature adjustment assembly further includes a pumping device for driving the temperature adjustment medium within the temperature adjustment circuit. The temperature adjustment assembly further includes a storage container disposed within the temperature adjustment circuit for temporarily storing the temperature adjustment medium. The storage container further includes a housing surrounding a housing interior for containing the temperature adjustment medium, through which the temperature adjustment medium can flow. The storage container further includes a fluid inlet disposed on the housing and having an inlet opening for introducing the temperature adjustment medium into the housing interior, and a fluid outlet disposed on the housing and having an outlet opening for discharging the temperature adjustment medium after it has flowed through the housing interior. According to the invention, at least one of the aforementioned molded bodies made of open-cell foam material, through which a temperature-regulating medium can flow, is arranged in the housing interior of the storage container.

[0009] Particularly preferably, the foam material may comprise or consist of polyurethane, which is commercially available and therefore inexpensive to provide. Furthermore, polyurethane is easy to process, so that the geometric shape of the molded body can be easily adapted to the geometry of the housing interior of the storage container in which the molded body is to be placed.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the volume density of the compact is up to 3%. This ensures that the compact has a sufficient volume for the temperature adjustment medium to flow through. This prevents an excessive decrease in the fluid pressure of the temperature adjustment medium due to the flow of the compact.

[0011] In an advantageous refinement of the temperature control assembly according to the invention, the housing comprises at least one separating wall that divides the housing interior into a first sub-chamber and at least one second sub-chamber. Particularly preferably, the separating wall extends along the direction of gravity when the storage container is in its preferred operating position. The at least one separating wall and the resulting division of the housing interior into at least two sub-chambers not only divide the overall volume of the housing interior, but also, in addition to the shaped bodies essential to the invention, prevent the aforementioned undesired movement of the temperature control medium present in each sub-chamber in the sense of "sloshing." In this refinement, a shaped body made of foam material is arranged in at least one, and preferably in each, of the formed sub-chambers.

[0012] In another preferred embodiment, the shaped body may extend over at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, and most preferably at least 90% of the volume of the housing interior or partial chamber, and particularly preferably over the entire housing interior or its volume.

[0013] Particularly preferably, the component to be temperature-regulated can be or comprise an electric battery, in particular of a motor vehicle, or can be or comprise a fuel cell system with at least one fuel cell, which can alternatively also be a stationary fuel cell system that is part of the motor vehicle.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the component to be temperature-controlled is arranged in a temperature-control circuit so that it can be directly circulated by a temperature-control medium. This type of temperature control or cooling is known as "immersion cooling", and allows for a particularly efficient transfer of heat between the temperature-control medium and the component.

[0015] According to an advantageous refinement, the shaped body is supported on at least one housing wall of the housing, preferably on two opposing housing walls of the housing. Alternatively or additionally, in this refinement, the shaped body can be supported on at least one separating wall of the storage container, preferably on two opposing housing walls of the storage container. In this way, it can be ensured that the shaped body is held stably in the housing interior even in the event of external forces, in particular in the form of mechanical impacts or collisions.

[0016] According to a further advantageous refinement, the inlet opening is arranged in a first housing wall of the housing. Furthermore, in this refinement, the outlet opening is arranged in a second housing wall of the housing opposite the first housing wall. In this refinement, in the preferred use position of the storage container relative to the direction of gravity, the first housing wall forms the upper surface of the housing, and the second housing wall forms the lower surface of the housing. This ensures that air, which is lighter than the temperature-regulating medium and therefore located above the temperature-regulating medium in the housing interior, is prevented from reaching the temperature-regulating circuit via the outlet. This is prevented by the molded body, which is important for the present invention, even in the event of external forces in the form of mechanical impacts or collisions or accelerations of the storage container, which may occur when the storage container or a temperature-regulating assembly including the storage container is used in a vehicle.

[0017] A further embodiment of the storage situation according to the invention has therefore proven particularly advantageous, in which, in the preferred use position of the storage container with respect to the direction of gravity, the first housing wall forms the upper surface of the housing and the second housing wall forms the lower surface of the housing, thereby ensuring that the air, which is lighter than the temperature-regulating medium and therefore arranged above the temperature-regulating medium in the housing interior, is prevented from reaching the temperature-regulating circuit via the outlet.

[0018] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the drawings and the corresponding description of the drawings based on the drawings.

[0019] Naturally, the features mentioned above and those further described below can be used not only in the combinations described respectively, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in detail in the following description, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical elements. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of an example of a temperature adjustment assembly according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic exemplary cross-sectional view of a storage container of the temperature regulation assembly of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic view showing a molded body made of foam material separately.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of an example of a temperature regulation assembly 20 according to the present invention. The temperature regulation assembly 20 includes a temperature regulation circuit 21, through which a temperature regulation medium T circulates during operation of the temperature regulation assembly 20. A component 22 to be temperature-regulated is arranged within the temperature regulation circuit 21, allowing heat to be transferred between the component 22 and the temperature regulation medium T. In this way, the component 22 can be temperature-regulated, i.e., cooled. For example, the component 22 to be temperature-regulated can be an electric battery 24 of a battery-powered vehicle. However, the component 22 to be temperature-regulated can also be a fuel cell system with one or more fuel cells. In an exemplary scenario, as shown in FIG. 1, the component 22 to be temperature-regulated, i.e., a battery 24, is arranged within the temperature regulation circuit 21 so that it can be directly circulated by the temperature regulation medium T. For this purpose, the battery 24 can have a battery housing 28 in which a plurality of battery cells 29 to be temperature-regulated are arranged, through which the temperature regulation medium T can flow. Therefore, the temperature-regulating medium T flowing through the battery housing 28 can absorb heat from the battery cell 29 when the battery cell 29 should be cooled, or can release heat to the battery cell 29 when the battery cell 29 should be heated.

[0023] Furthermore, the temperature regulation assembly 20 comprises a pumping device 23 for driving the temperature regulation medium T in the temperature regulation circuit 21. This pumping device may be, for example, a fluid pump or an oil pump.

[0024] Furthermore, a heat exchanger 25 may be arranged in the temperature regulation circuit 21, through which the temperature regulation medium T can flow. This heat exchanger 25 may also be fluidically separated from the temperature regulation medium T and only flowed by a further fluid which may be thermally coupled to the temperature regulation medium T inside the heat exchanger 25. In this way, heat can be transferred from the temperature regulation medium T to the fluid F in order to cool the temperature regulation medium T, or conversely, heat can be transferred from the fluid F to the temperature regulation medium T when it is desired to heat the temperature regulation medium T.

[0025] 1, the temperature regulation assembly 20 further comprises a storage container 1 arranged in the temperature regulation circuit 21 for temporarily storing the temperature regulation medium T. This storage container 1 may also function as a compensation container 1.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the storage container 1 in a separate cross-sectional view. The storage container 1 thus comprises a housing 2 enclosing a housing interior 3 through which a temperature-regulating medium T can flow and for temporarily storing the temperature-regulating medium T. Furthermore, the storage container 1 comprises a fluid inlet 5 having an inlet opening 4 arranged on the housing 2 for introducing the temperature-regulating medium T into the housing interior 3, and a fluid outlet 7 having an outlet opening 6 arranged on the housing 2 for removing the temperature-regulating medium T after it has flowed through the housing interior 3. The inlet opening 4 is arranged in a first housing wall 15a of the housing 2. The outlet opening 6 is arranged in a second housing wall 15b of the housing 2 opposite the first housing wall 15a. FIG. 2 shows the storage container 1 in its preferred position for use. In this illustrated use position, the first housing wall 15a of the storage container 1 forms an upper surface 16 of the housing 2 and the second housing wall 15b forms a lower surface 17 of the housing 2 with respect to the direction of gravity G.

[0027] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the temperature-regulating medium T is located in the lower region of the housing interior 3 due to gravity. In the illustrated use position, air L may be arranged in the housing interior 3 above the temperature-regulating medium T as a compensation volume (see FIG. 1). This air L may be compressed by the temperature-regulating medium T when the temperature-regulating medium T expands, for example, due to temperature. To ensure that the air L remains in the housing interior 3 of the storage container 1 and does not reach the temperature-regulating circuit 21 via the outlet 6, the outlet 6 is arranged on the underside 17 of the housing 2. Correspondingly, as shown in FIG. 2, a tube piece 8 may protrude from the inlet opening 4 or the fluid inlet 5 into the housing interior 3, via which the temperature-regulating medium T is supplied to a region 9 of the housing interior 3 that is located below the air L and is filled with the temperature-regulating medium T.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, at least one foamed body 11, through which the temperature-regulating medium T can flow, is arranged in the housing interior 3 of the storage container 1 and is shown separately in Figure 3 for clarity. The foamed body 11 may be made of polyurethane, for example. In this example, the volume density of the foamed body 11 is at most 3%.

[0029] 2, the housing 2 has two separating walls 12a, 12b that divide the housing interior 3 into first, second, and third partial chambers 3a, 3b, and 3c. These separating walls 12a, 12b extend from the upper surface 16 to the lower surface 17, respectively, along a vertical direction V of the storage container 1, which extends parallel to the direction of gravity. The separating walls 12a, 12b and the resulting division of the housing interior 3 into three mutually separated partial chambers 3a, 3b, and 3c additionally prevent undesired movement of the temperature-regulating medium T in the housing interior 3, in the sense of "sloshing," relative to the shaped body 11.

[0030] Preferably, both separation walls 12a, 12b are integrally molded with housing 2, as shown, meaning that both separation walls 12a, 12b and housing 2 are formed as one piece from the same uniform material. To ensure that all of the temperature-regulating medium T present in storage container 1 is also used to circulate through temperature-regulating circuit 21, both separation walls 12a, 12b may each have a through-hole 13 at an appropriate location, through which first partial chamber 3a may be fluidly connected to second partial chamber 3b, or through which second partial chamber 3b may be fluidly connected to third partial chamber 3c. Second separation wall 12b may also have a through-hole 14, through which air L present in second partial chamber 3b may be fluidly connected to air L present in third partial chamber 3c.

[0031] In this example, molded bodies 11 are arranged in all three partial chambers 3a, 3b, 3c. In a variant of this example, the arrangement of foam bodies 11 can be omitted in one or two of the three partial chambers 3a, 3b, 3c. In this example, each molded body 11 can extend over at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, particularly preferably at least 90% of the internal volume V1, V2, V3 of the partial chamber 3a, 3b, 3c in which it is arranged.

[0032] In a simplified variant of the storage container 1, the provision of the separating walls 12a, 12b and the associated division of the housing interior 3 into the first, second and third partial chambers 3a, 3b, 3c may be omitted.

Claims

1. A temperature regulation assembly (20) for regulating the temperature of at least a component (22) of a vehicle, particularly a battery-electric vehicle, comprising: a temperature regulation circuit (21) in which a temperature regulation medium (T) can circulate and in which at least one component (22) to be temperature-regulated is arranged, thereby enabling heat transfer between the component (22) and the temperature regulation medium; a pumping device (23) for driving the temperature adjustment medium (T) in the temperature adjustment circuit (21); a storage vessel (1), in particular a compensation vessel (1a), arranged in the temperature regulation circuit (21) for temporarily storing the temperature regulation medium (T); The storage container (1) comprises: a housing (2) surrounding a housing inner chamber (3) for accommodating the temperature adjustment medium (T), through which the temperature adjustment medium (T) can flow; a fluid inlet (5) arranged in the housing (2) and having an inlet opening (4) for introducing the temperature adjustment medium (T) into the housing interior (3); and a fluid outlet (7) arranged in the housing (2) and having an outlet opening (6) for discharging the temperature adjustment medium after it has flowed through the housing interior (3); at least one molded body (11) made of an open-cell foam material, arranged in the housing interior (3), through which the temperature-regulating medium (T) can flow; A temperature regulation assembly comprising:

2. 10. The temperature regulating assembly of claim 1, wherein the foam material includes or is polyurethane.

3. 3. A temperature regulation assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the volume density of the shaped body (11) is at most 3%.

4. The housing (2) comprises at least one separating wall (12a, 12b) dividing the housing inner chamber (3) into a first partial chamber (3a) and at least one second partial chamber (3b, 3c); A molded body (11) made of a foam material is arranged in at least one, preferably each, of the formed partial chambers (3a, 3b, 3c).

4. A temperature regulation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the temperature regulation assembly comprises:

5. The molded body (11) is configured to reduce the internal volume (V) of the housing internal chamber (3) or the partial chambers (3a, 3b, 3c). １ , V ２ , V ３ 5. The temperature regulation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the temperature regulation assembly extends over at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, most preferably at least 90% of the total surface area of the thermally regulated electrode.

6. 6. A temperature regulation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the component (22) to be temperature regulated is or comprises an electric battery (24), in particular of a motor vehicle, or is or comprises a fuel cell system with at least one fuel cell.

7. 7. The temperature control assembly according to claim 1, wherein the component (22) to be temperature controlled is arranged in the temperature control circuit (21) so that the temperature control medium (T) can directly circulate therearound.

8. 8. The temperature regulation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the molded body (11) is supported on at least one housing wall (15c, 15d) of the housing (2) and / or on at least one separating wall (3a, 3b) of the storage container (1).

9. the inlet opening (4) is arranged in a first housing wall (15a) of the housing (2), and the outlet opening (6) is arranged in a second housing wall (15b) of the housing (2) opposite the first housing wall (15a); In the preferred use position of the storage container (1) relative to the direction of gravity (G), the first housing wall (15a) forms the upper surface (16) of the housing (2) and the second housing wall (15b) forms the lower surface (17) of the housing (2).

9. A temperature regulation assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises:

10. 10. The temperature regulation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inlet opening (4) is arranged in a first housing wall (15a) of the housing (2) and the outlet opening (6) is arranged in a second housing wall (15b) of the housing (2) opposite the first housing wall (15a).

11. 11. A temperature regulation assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that in the preferred use position of the storage container (1) relative to the direction of gravity (G), the first housing wall (15a) forms the upper surface (16) of the housing (2) and the second housing wall (15b) forms the lower surface (17) of the housing (2).

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