Battery Pack Thermal Management System

Abstract

A battery pack management system that enhances a temperature equalization function includes: a battery pack including a thermally conductive housing; a vapor chamber module including an evaporation surface and a condensation surface, the evaporation surface being thermally conductively connected to a corresponding region of the thermally conductive housing, and between the evaporation surface and the condensation surface, two-phase flow heat transfer can be performed in one direction in the heat transfer direction from the evaporation surface to the condensation surface; and a phase change material module including a container and a phase change material, the container being thermally conductively connected to the condensation surface and housing the phase change material.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to thermal management systems, and more particularly to battery pack thermal management systems. [Background technology]

[0002] Since the general phase-change material thermal management system does not have a sufficient temperature equalization effect during high-speed charging and discharging, it is necessary to propose a new thermal management system to enhance the temperature equalization function. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] One embodiment of the present invention provides a battery pack management system with enhanced temperature equalization function, comprising: a battery pack including a conductive housing; a vapor chamber module including an evaporation surface and a condensation surface, the evaporation surface being thermally conductively connected to a corresponding region of the thermally conductive housing, and capable of unidirectional two-phase flow heat transfer between the evaporation surface and the condensation surface in a heat transfer direction from the evaporation surface to the condensation surface; and a phase change material module including a container and a phase change material, the container being thermally conductively connected to the condensation surface and containing the phase change material, the phase change material containing latent heat when a phase change occurs, the heat transfer direction being parallel to the ground, the phase change material being heatable by the two-phase flow heat transfer, the phase change material being in the heat transfer direction when a phase change occurs, and the heat transfer being mainly by conduction and assisted by convection. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0004] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a top view of a thermal management system applied to a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a top view of a thermal management system applied to a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. Four sides of the battery pack 1 are thermally connected to a first evaporation surface of a first vapor chamber module 2. The second vapor chamber module 3 and the first vapor chamber module 2 are arranged in parallel with a first gap 5 formed therebetween. A first phase change material module 6 is arranged in the first gap 5. The third vapor chamber module 4 and the second vapor chamber module 3 are arranged in parallel with a second gap 7 formed therebetween. A second phase change material module 8 is arranged in the first gap 7. Being thermally connected refers to two substances being tightly bonded to each other to exchange heat, and may be bonded to each other or may be connected in a separable manner.

[0006] In one embodiment, the battery pack 1 has a thermally conductive housing made of aluminum, and any surface of the thermally conductive housing may be thermally conductively connected to one or more first vapor chambers. The first vapor chamber module 2 includes a first vapor chamber and a support plate. One surface of the support plate is thermally conductively connected to the evaporation surface of the first vapor chamber using a thermal interface material, and the other surface is thermally conductively connected to a corresponding region of the thermally conductive housing using a thermal interface material. In one embodiment, the heat treatment system has a group of support columns that serve as a support skeleton, and the support plate is fixed to the support columns. In one embodiment, the support plate is thermally conductively connected to the multiple first vapor chambers.

[0007] The first vapor chamber has an evaporation surface and a condensation surface parallel to each other, and in a direction from the evaporation surface toward the condensation surface, two-phase heat transfer including a liquid phase and a gas phase can be performed away from the battery pack. In one embodiment, the heat transfer direction of the two-phase flow is parallel to the ground. In one embodiment, the thermal conductivity of the vapor chamber can reach 4533 W / mK by two-phase heat transfer. In one embodiment, the condensation surfaces of the multiple first vapor chambers constitute the condensation surface of the first vapor chamber module 2, and the evaporation surface of the first vapor chamber is thermally connected to multiple support plates.

[0008] In one embodiment, an abnormality occurs in the battery pack, causing a high-power heat generation phenomenon in a small area of ​​the thermal conduction housing, and the high-power heat flow in the small area is converted into a low-power heat flow through the two-phase flow heat transfer process of the first vapor chamber module 2, and is output uniformly over a large area from the condensation surface. In one embodiment, the first vapor chamber module 2 may function as a heat transfer rectifier to temporarily block the latent heat of the first phase change material from the battery pack 1.

[0009] In one embodiment, the first phase change material module 6 includes a first container of aluminum metal housing containing a first phase change material therein. In one embodiment, the first phase change material is a paraffin wax composite with a melting point of 45° C., which transitions from a solid phase to a liquid phase, and during this phase change, absorbs a large amount of first latent heat with a large heat transfer force and only a slight increase in temperature. In one embodiment, a paraffin composite with a phase change temperature of 45° C. can absorb nearly 200 Joules of heat per gram.

[0010] In one embodiment, the paraffin composite is doped with a nano or micrometer material having high thermal conductivity, the paraffin composite is infused into a structure formed from a metal foam, a plurality of thermally conductive fins are disposed in the first container, or a combination of the above methods are used to increase the melting rate of the paraffin composite. In one embodiment, the first container is a container that includes a capsule case of a polymer material immersed in a liquid and enclosed in another thermally conductive container. The first container is thermally conductively connected to the first condensing surface via the liquid, such as water, and the other thermally conductive container.

[0011] In one embodiment, when the first phase change material is molten, the solid-liquid interface is approximately straight from top to bottom, and heat transfer through the first phase change material is primarily conduction assisted by convection in a two-phase heat transfer direction. In one embodiment, the outward heat transfer distance of the first phase change material is less than 1 cm, and a substantially straight solid-liquid interface is created when the phase change occurs.

[0012] In one embodiment, the thermal management means adopted in the system converts the heat generated by the thermally conductive housing of the battery pack 1 from a small area of ​​high-power heat flow into a low-power heat flow through two-phase heat transfer, which is uniformly output over a large area from the condensation surface, uniformly heats the first phase change material to a phase change state through the first container, and transfers the abnormal heat generated by the battery pack to the first phase change material, which absorbs it as latent heat, thereby achieving the purpose of lowering the temperature of the battery pack 1. The heat transfer efficiency of the two-phase heat transfer can exceed that of metal by more than 10 times, which can achieve the effects of accelerating the melting of the first phase change material, reducing the impact of the first container caused by volume expansion, and strengthening the protection of the first container.

[0013] In one embodiment, the second vapor chamber module 3 is similar to the first vapor chamber module 2, except that the two-phase flow heat transfer of the second vapor chamber module can release the first latent heat from the first phase change material and step away from the battery pack 1. Also, the second evaporation surface of the second vapor chamber module 3 is thermally conductively connected to the first container, and the second condensation surface is thermally conductively connected to the second container of the first phase change material module 8. In one embodiment, the second vapor chamber module 3 can accelerate the hardening of the first phase change material, so that the first phase change material can quickly return to the initial state of the phase change.

[0014] In one embodiment, the second phase change material module 8 is similar to the first phase change material module 6, except that the melting point of the second phase change material is lower than that of the first phase change material, e.g., 40° C. Through the second container, the second phase change material can absorb the second latent heat by utilizing two-phase flow heat transfer in the second vapor chamber. In one embodiment, the top layer of the second phase change material begins to melt before the top layer of the first phase change material is completely melted.

[0015] In one embodiment, the third vapor chamber module 4 is substantially similar to the second vapor chamber module 3, except that the two-phase flow heat transfer of the third vapor chamber can release the second latent heat from the second phase change material and has no threat of heating the battery pack 1. Also, the third evaporation surface of the third vapor chamber module 4 is thermally conductively connected to the second container.

[0016] In one embodiment, the four sides of the battery pack 1 and the first evaporation surface of the first vapor chamber module 2 are thermally connected. The second vapor chamber module 3 and the first vapor chamber module 2 are arranged in parallel with a first gap 5 formed therebetween. A first phase change material module 6 is arranged within the first gap 5. The second phase change material module 8 and the second condensation surface of the second vapor chamber module 3 are thermally connected.

[0017] In one embodiment, the four sides of the battery pack 1 are thermally connected to the first evaporation surface of the first vapor chamber module 2. The second vapor chamber module 3 and the first vapor chamber module 2 are arranged in parallel with a first gap 5 formed therebetween. A first phase change material module 6 is arranged within the first gap 5.

[0018] In one embodiment, the four sides of the battery pack 1 are thermally connected to a first evaporation surface of the first vapor chamber module 2. The first phase change material module 6 is thermally connected to a first condensation surface of the first vapor chamber module 2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0019] <The present invention> 1 battery pack, 2 first vapor chamber module, 3. Second vapor chamber module, 4. Third vapor chamber module, 5 First Gap, 6 a first phase change material module; 7 Second Gap, 8 a second phase change material module;

Claims

1. A battery pack thermal management system, a battery pack including a thermally conductive housing; a vapor chamber module including an evaporation surface and a condensation surface, the evaporation surface being thermally conductively connected to a corresponding region of the thermally conductive housing, and between the evaporation surface and the condensation surface, two-phase heat transfer can be performed in one direction in a heat transfer direction from the evaporation surface to the condensation surface; a phase change material module including a container and a phase change material, the container being thermally connected to the condensation surface and containing the phase change material, the phase change material including a latent heat when a phase change occurs; Including, the heat transfer direction is parallel to the ground; the phase change material is heatable by the two-phase flow heat transfer; When the phase change material is molten, heat transfer is predominantly by conduction and assisted by convection. system.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vapor chamber module includes a vapor chamber and a support plate, the vapor chamber and the support plate being thermally connected.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the phase change material comprises a nano- or micrometer thermally conductive material.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the phase change material comprises a metal foam.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the container includes thermally conductive fins.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a metal housing.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a polymeric capsule case.

8. A battery pack thermal management system, A battery pack; a first vapor chamber module including a first evaporation surface and a first condensation surface, the first evaporation surface being thermally conductively connected to the battery pack, and a first two-phase flow heat transfer can be performed between the first evaporation surface and the first condensation surface in one direction from the first evaporation surface to the first condensation surface; a second vapor chamber module including a second evaporation surface and a second condensation surface, the second vapor chamber module being disposed in parallel with the first vapor chamber module to form a gap, the second vapor chamber module being capable of performing a second two-phase flow heat transfer in one direction from the second evaporation surface to the second condensation surface between the second evaporation surface and the second condensation surface; a phase change material module disposed within the gap, the phase change material module including a container and a phase change material, the container being thermally conductively connected to the first condensation surface and the second evaporation surface, respectively, and containing the phase change material, the phase change material including a latent heat upon a phase change; Including, The phase change material can absorb the latent heat through the first two-phase flow heat transfer and release the latent heat to the outside through the second two-phase flow heat transfer. Battery pack thermal management system.

9. A battery pack thermal management system, A battery pack; a first vapor chamber module including a first evaporation surface and a first condensation surface, the first evaporation surface being thermally conductively connected to the battery pack, and a first two-phase flow heat transfer can be performed between the first evaporation surface and the first condensation surface in one direction from the first evaporation surface to the first condensation surface; a second vapor chamber module including a second evaporation surface and a second condensation surface, the second vapor chamber module being disposed in parallel with the first vapor chamber module to form a gap, the second vapor chamber module being capable of performing a second two-phase flow heat transfer in one direction from the second evaporation surface to the second condensation surface between the second evaporation surface and the second condensation surface; a first phase change material module disposed within the gap, the first container being thermally conductively connected to the first condensation surface and the second evaporation surface, the first container containing the first phase change material, the first phase change material comprising a first latent heat upon a first phase change; a second phase change material module including a second container and a second phase change material, the second container being thermally connected to the second condensation surface and containing the second phase change material, the second phase change material including a second latent heat upon a second phase change; Including, a first melting point of the first phase change material is higher than a second melting point of the second phase change material; Battery pack thermal management system.

10. A battery pack thermal management system, A battery pack; a first vapor chamber module including a first evaporation surface and a first condensation surface, the first evaporation surface being thermally conductively connected to the battery pack, and a first two-phase flow heat transfer can be performed between the first evaporation surface and the first condensation surface in one direction from the first evaporation surface to the first condensation surface; a second vapor chamber module including a second evaporation surface and a second condensation surface, the second vapor chamber module being disposed in parallel with the first vapor chamber module to form a first gap, wherein a second two-phase flow heat transfer can be performed in one direction between the second evaporation surface and the second condensation surface from the second evaporation surface to the second condensation surface; a third vapor chamber module including a third evaporation surface and a third condensation surface, the third vapor chamber module being disposed in parallel with the second vapor chamber module to form a second gap, wherein a third two-phase flow heat transfer can be performed in one direction between the third evaporation surface and the third condensation surface from the third evaporation surface to the third condensation surface; a first phase change material module disposed within the first gap, the first container being thermally conductively connected to the first condensation surface and the second evaporation surface, respectively, and housing the first phase change material, the first phase change material comprising a first latent heat upon a first phase change; a second phase change material module disposed within the second gap and including the second container and the second phase change material, the second container being thermally conductively connected to the second condensation surface and the third evaporation surface, respectively, and containing the second phase change material, the second phase change material including a second latent heat upon a second phase change; Including, a first melting point of the first phase change material is higher than a second melting point of the second phase change material; Battery pack thermal management system.

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