Cooling module

Abstract

To provide a cooling module with reduced pressure loss. [Solution] The cooling module 100 comprises a pump 2 for pressurizing a fluid F, and a manifold 1 having at least one fluid passage L through which the fluid F flows. The manifold 1 has a discharge section 13 from which the fluid F from the pump 2 is discharged, a flow path connection chamber 14 connected to the upstream side in the fluid flow direction of the fluid passage L, and a connecting passage 15 that connects the discharge section 13 and the flow path connection chamber 14.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling module.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, cooling water has been used to cool motors, batteries, etc. provided in vehicles such as electric vehicles. As a technique related to cooling using such cooling water, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1 whose citation is shown below.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a cooling module. This cooling module includes a manifold composed of a plurality of housings having joints with each other. The manifold has a plurality of flow paths and a plurality of reserve chambers formed across at least two of the plurality of housings.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the cooling module described in Patent Document 1, the flow of the coolant flowing through the flow path is controlled by a water pump. However, the coolant discharged from the pump is configured to hit the wall of the housing. Therefore, due to the pressure loss, the flow rate of the cooling water is insufficient with respect to the intended flow rate of the cooling water, so it is necessary to increase the output of the pump. Therefore, it causes an increase in the size and cost of the cooling module, and there is room for improvement.

[0006] Therefore, a cooling module with reduced pressure loss is required.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The characteristic configuration of the cooling module according to the present invention is that it comprises a pump for pressurizing a fluid and a manifold having at least one fluid passage through which the fluid flows, wherein the manifold has a discharge section from which the fluid is discharged from the pump, a flow path connection chamber connected to the upstream side in the fluid flow direction of the fluid passage, and a connecting passage connecting the discharge section and the flow path connection chamber.

[0008] With this configuration, fluid from the pump can be circulated to the flow path connection section via a connecting passage. Therefore, by setting the flow path cross-sectional area and the shape of the flow path cross-section in the connecting passage according to the amount of fluid discharged from the pump, for example, a cooling module can be realized with a simple configuration and with reduced pressure loss. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a disassembled perspective view of the cooling module. [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing the configuration of the pump and its vicinity. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the relationship between the pump, the connecting path, and the flow path connection chamber. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The cooling module according to the present invention is configured to reduce the pressure loss of the coolant. The cooling module 100 of this embodiment will be described below. However, the cooling module 100 is not limited to the following embodiment and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0011] [Cooling Module] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the cooling module 100. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the pump 2 and its vicinity. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 2. The cooling module 100 is installed in electric vehicles (hereinafter referred to as "electric vehicles") that run on electricity. Examples of electric vehicles include hybrid vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV), battery vehicles (BEV), and fuel cell vehicles (FCEV).

[0012] The cooling module 100 constitutes part of a cooling system (not shown) that cools the vehicle drive system (e.g., inverter / motor) and battery, which are mounted on an electric vehicle. The cooling system includes a radiator, chiller, auxiliary equipment such as the pump 2 and valve 3 shown in Figure 1, and a fluid passage L through which a fluid F (see Figure 2) for cooling the devices to be cooled flows. The auxiliary equipment and the devices to be cooled (inverter / motor, battery, etc.) are connected via the fluid passage L. The fluid F is a cooling fluid such as long-life coolant (LLC). However, the fluid F is not limited to a cooling fluid such as long-life coolant (LLC), and may also be an insulating oil such as paraffin, a refrigerant such as hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), or hydrofluoroolefin (HFO).

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the cooling module 100 comprises a manifold 1, a pump 2, and a valve 3. In this embodiment, there are two pumps 2 and two valves 3, and the manifold 1, the two pumps 2, and the two valves 3 are integrated into one unit. The pumps 2 are electrically powered water pumps, and their configuration is substantially the same except for the position in which they are mounted on the manifold 1. The valves 3, as shown in Figure 1, are rotary valves and consist of an actuator 31 that generates power when electricity is supplied, and a valve body 32 that rotates when power is transmitted from the actuator 31.

[0014] [Manifold] The manifold 1 is box-shaped and, as shown in Figures 1-3, has at least one fluid passage L through which fluid F flows. The manifold 1 has a first housing 1A and a second housing 1B made of resin. The manifold 1 is constructed by joining the first housing 1A and the second housing 1B together by welding or the like. The fluid passage L is formed by grooves, holes, etc., formed in at least one of the first housing 1A and the second housing 1B. In this embodiment, one fluid passage L corresponds to a third passage L3 through which fluid F from the passage connection chamber 14, which will be described later, flows.

[0015] 〔pump〕 Pump 2 pumps fluid F so that it can be circulated within the fluid channel L. In the following, the part of the fluid channel L upstream of pump 2 will be referred to as the "first channel L1" (see Figure 2), and the part downstream of pump 2 will be referred to as the "second channel L2" (see Figure 3).

[0016] As shown in Figure 2, the pump 2 has an electric motor 21 that generates power when electricity is supplied, and an impeller 22 that rotates due to the power from the electric motor 21.

[0017] The electric motor 21 includes a stator 211 that generates a magnetic flux when power is supplied, a rotor 212 that rotates around the rotation axis AX as a result of the magnetic flux generated by the stator 211, and a motor cover 213 that houses the stator 211 and the rotor 212. In the following explanation, the direction along the rotation axis AX will be referred to as the "X direction," and within the X direction, the direction from the electric motor 21 toward the impeller 22 will be referred to as the "X1 direction," and the opposite direction will be referred to as the "X2 direction."

[0018] The electric motor 21 (stator 211, rotor 212, and motor cover 213) is mounted on a mounting surface 1E (see FIG. 2) provided on the outer wall 1G of the manifold 1 in the X1 direction by fastening members such as bolts. The mounting surface 1E is a plane orthogonal to the X direction and is a part of the outer wall 1G of the manifold 1. Therefore, only the electric motor 21 of the pump 2 is provided outside the manifold 1.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the manifold 1 also serves as part of the pump 2. As described above, in this embodiment, two pumps 2 are mounted on the manifold 1, but the configurations of the portions of the manifold 1 where the two pumps 2 are mounted are substantially the same. For this reason, hereinafter, one end (end in the X2 direction) of the manifold 1 will be taken as an example for explanation.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the manifold 1 has a suction port 11 (suction port of the pump 2) which is a connection port with the first flow path L1, a volute chamber 12 communicating with the suction port 11, a discharge portion 13 communicating with the volute chamber 12, a flow path connection chamber 14, and a communication path 15. The suction port 11, the volute chamber 12, and the discharge portion 13 are provided (formed) in the X1 direction (inside the manifold 1) from the mounting surface 1E.

[0021] The suction port 11 is circular when viewed in the X direction, and the axis of the suction port 11 is parallel to the X direction. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the suction port 11 faces, in the X direction, a portion (hereinafter referred to as "valve housing 1C") of the first housing 1A that houses the valve 3 (valve body 32). Thereby, the pressure loss of the fluid F can be reduced. Also, it is possible to avoid the configuration of the fluid flow path L (first flow path L1) between the valve 3 and the suction port 11 from becoming complicated.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the volute chamber 12 is circular with the suction port 11 as the center when viewed along the X direction, and its diameter increases (the inner diameter becomes larger) as it goes in the X2 direction. As shown in FIG. 2, an impeller 22 is rotatably arranged in the volute chamber 12. In the present embodiment, the impeller 22 rotates counterclockwise when viewed along the X1 direction. Thereby, the fluid F is sucked from the first flow path L1 into the volute chamber 12 through the suction port 11. The fluid F flowing into the volute chamber 12 swirls (swirls counterclockwise when viewed along the X1 direction) along with the rotation of the impeller 22 and then flows to the discharge part 13.

[0023] The discharge part 13 discharges the fluid F from the pump 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge part 13 is provided on the downstream side of the volute chamber 12 in the flow direction of the fluid F (the rotation direction of the impeller 22). The fluid F from the volute chamber 12 flows into the discharge part 13, and this fluid F is discharged from the discharge part 13. The discharge part 13 communicates with a communication path 15 provided in the manifold 1. That is, the fluid F discharged from the discharge part 13 flows through the communication path 15.

[0024] The communication path 15 communicates the discharge part 13 and the flow path connection chamber 14. As described above, the fluid F flows into the communication path 15 from the discharge part 13. A flow path connection chamber 14 is provided on the downstream side of the communication path 15, and the fluid F flowing through the communication path 15 flows into the flow path connection chamber 14. Hereinafter, the part where the fluid F flows into the communication path 15 from the discharge part 13 is referred to as the inlet 15A, and the part where the fluid F flows out of the communication path 15 into the flow path connection chamber 14 is referred to as the outlet 15B. Note that the inlet 15A substantially corresponds to the same part as the discharge part 13. The axis of the outlet 15B is orthogonal to the axis of the suction port 11. Hereinafter, the direction along the axis of the outlet 15B is referred to as the "Z direction", and the direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Z direction is referred to as the "Y direction".

[0025] The communication path 15 has a flow path cross-sectional area that gradually widens from the upstream side to the downstream side in the flow direction of the fluid F. The flow path cross-sectional area is the area of the surface orthogonal to the Z direction in the communication path 15 extending along the Z direction. The upstream side in the flow direction of the fluid F means the inlet 15A side, and the downstream side in the flow direction of the fluid F means the outlet 15B side.

[0026] In this embodiment, the connecting passage 15 has a circular flow path cross-section extending from the upstream side to the downstream side. The flow path cross-section is the shape of the plane perpendicular to the Z direction in the connecting passage 15 that extends along the Z direction. Therefore, the connecting passage 15 extends along the Z direction and widens in diameter as it moves from the inlet 15A to the outlet 15B (the inner diameter increases as it moves toward the Z1 direction). In other words, the connecting passage 15 is formed such that the flow path cross-sectional area increases as it moves from the inlet 15A to the outlet 15B. In this embodiment, the flow path cross-sectional area at the discharge section 13 (inlet 15A) is smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area upstream of the fluid F in the flow direction at the discharge section 13 (inlet 15A) in the second flow path L2.

[0027] The fluid F that flows from the vortex chamber 12 through the discharge section 13 (inlet 15A) into the connecting passage 15 is discharged into the flow path connection chamber 14 via the outlet 15B. Hereinafter, the direction in the Z direction that is aligned with the direction in which the fluid F (main flow of fluid F) is discharged from the outlet 15B will be referred to as the "Z1 direction," and the opposite direction will be referred to as the "Z2 direction."

[0028] [Flow path connection chamber] The flow path connection chamber 14 is connected to the upstream side in the flow direction of the fluid F in the third flow path L3 (an example of a "fluid flow path L"). Fluid F that has flowed out from the outlet 15B flows into the flow path connection chamber 14.

[0029] The flow path connection chamber 14 is in communication with the connecting passage 15 (outlet 15B) and also with the third flow path L3. In other words, the flow path connection chamber 14 connects the second flow path L2 and the third flow path L3. Therefore, the flow path connection chamber 14 is provided between the second flow path L2 and the third flow path L3.

[0030] In this embodiment, the flow path connection chamber 14 is substantially rectangular in shape, and when viewed along the X direction, it is substantially rectangular in shape with the Y direction as the longitudinal direction.

[0031] The flow path connection chamber 14 has an inlet 141 that communicates with the connecting passage 15 (outlet 15B), and an outlet 142 that communicates with the third flow path L3. Fluid F that flows into the flow path connection chamber 14 via the outlet 15B and the inlet 141 flows to the third flow path L3 via the outlet 142.

[0032] The inlet 141 and outlet 142 are spaced apart from each other in the Y direction. The direction from the inlet 141 to the outlet 142 in the Y direction is referred to as the "Y1 direction," and the opposite direction is referred to as the "Y2 direction."

[0033] The axis of the inlet 141 is parallel to the Z direction, and the axes of the outlet 142 and the third flow path L3 are parallel to the X direction. In other words, the axis of the outlet 142 is perpendicular to the axis direction of the inlet 141 (outlet 15B) and parallel to the axis of the suction port 11.

[0034] The flow path connection chamber 14 is provided as a buffer (extra capacity space) to allow the fluid F discharged from the pump 2 to flow smoothly into the third flow path L3, and has a sufficient volume so as not to affect the pressure loss of the fluid F. In this embodiment, the flow path connection chamber 14 has a larger flowable space (flow path cross-sectional area) than the third flow path L3. Furthermore, the flow path connection chamber 14 has a flow path cross-sectional area larger than the maximum flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting passage 15.

[0035] The flow path connection chamber 14 is configured such that the distance from the inlet 141 communicating with the connecting passage 15 in the flow path connection chamber 14 to the wall portion 143 facing the inlet 141 along the direction of fluid F inflow in the flow path connection chamber 14 is longer than the length along the axis of the connecting passage 15. The inlet 141 communicating with the connecting passage 15 in the flow path connection chamber 14 is the outlet 15B, which is the downstream end of the connecting passage 15. The wall portion 143 facing the inlet 141 along the direction of fluid F inflow in the flow path connection chamber 14 is the wall portion in front of the wall portion where the inlet 141 is provided, among the walls that make up the flow path connection chamber 14, which is roughly rectangular in shape.

[0036] Therefore, the flow path connection chamber 14 is configured such that the distance from the inlet 141 to the wall portion (wall portion 143) in front of the wall portion provided with the inlet 141 among the wall portions constituting the flow path connection chamber 14 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape is longer than the length along the axis of the communication path 15. That is, the flow path connection chamber 14 is configured such that the distance between the inlet 141 and the wall portion 143 is longer than the length along the axis of the communication path 15.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3, and shows the relationship between the pump 2, the communication path 15, and the flow path connection chamber 14. The communication path 15 and the flow path connection chamber 14 are provided in the manifold 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the inlet 15A of the communication path 15 is connected to the discharge portion 13 of the pump 2, and the outlet 15B of the communication path 15 is connected to the inlet 141 of the flow path connection chamber 14. The communication path 15 corresponds to the second flow path L2, and the third flow path L3 is provided at the outlet 142 of the flow path connection chamber 14. A wall portion 143 is provided at a portion of the flow path connection chamber 14 facing the inlet 141.

[0038] The communication path 15 is configured in a conical shape with a gradually increasing diameter. Thereby, the flow velocity of the fluid F flowing through the communication path 15 is reduced, and the pressure loss can be reduced. Also, the cross-section of the flow path is circular, and the pressure loss can be reduced in this regard as well. Furthermore, the connection chamber length B, which is the length from the inlet 141 to the wall portion 143 of the flow path connection chamber 14, is configured to be longer than the communication path length A, which is the length along the axis of the communication path 15. That is, it is configured in a state where the relationship A < B holds. Thereby, the flow velocity of the fluid F flowing into the flow path connection chamber 14 from the communication path 15 when reaching the wall portion 143 can be slowed down, and the generation (influence) of the pressure loss caused by the collision between the fluid F discharged from the pump 2 and the fluid F turned back when hitting the wall portion 143 can be suppressed. Thus, according to the cooling module 100, it becomes possible to reduce the pressure loss.

[0039] [Other Embodiments]

[0040] Next, other embodiments of the cooling module 100 will be described.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting passage 15 was described as gradually widening from the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction of fluid F flow. However, the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting passage 15 may be uniform from the upstream side to the downstream side of the connecting passage 15.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the connecting passage 15 was described as having a circular cross-section from the upstream side to the downstream side. However, the cross-section of the connecting passage 15 may have a shape other than a circle from the upstream side to the downstream side (for example, a polygon), or it may be oval-shaped.

[0043] In the above embodiment, it was explained that the distance from the inlet 141 communicating with the connecting passage 15 in the flow path connection chamber 14 to the wall portion 143 facing the inlet 141 along the direction of fluid F inflow in the flow path connection chamber 14 (connection chamber length B) is longer than the length along the axis of the connecting passage 15 (connecting passage length A). However, the connection chamber length B may be equal to the connecting passage length A, or it may be shorter than the connecting passage length A.

[0044] [Summary of the above embodiment] The following describes the overview of the cooling module 100 as explained above.

[0045] (1) The cooling module 100 comprises a pump 2 for pressurizing a fluid F and a manifold 1 having at least one fluid passage L through which the fluid F flows, the manifold 1 having a discharge section 13 from which the fluid F is discharged from the pump 2, a flow path connection chamber 14 connected to the upstream side in the flow direction of the fluid F in the fluid passage L, and a connecting passage 15 that connects the discharge section 13 and the flow path connection chamber 14.

[0046] With this configuration, the fluid F from the pump 2 can be circulated to the flow path connection chamber 14 via the connecting passage 15. Therefore, by setting the flow path cross-sectional area and the shape of the flow path cross-section in the connecting passage 15 according to the amount of fluid F discharged from the pump 2, for example, a cooling module 100 can be realized with a simple configuration and with reduced pressure loss.

[0047] (2) In the cooling module 100 described in (1), it is preferable that the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting passage 15 gradually widens from the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction of fluid F flow.

[0048] According to this configuration, the flow velocity of the fluid F flowing through the communication passage 15 is reduced, thereby reducing pressure loss in the communication passage 15.

[0049] In the cooling module 100 described in (3)(2), the connecting passage 15 preferably has a circular cross-section extending from the upstream side to the downstream side.

[0050] According to this configuration, the communication passage 15 can be made in a conical shape. Therefore, the pressure loss in the communication passage 15 can be further reduced.

[0051] (4) In the cooling module 100 described in any of (1) to (3), it is preferable that the distance from the inlet 141 communicating with the connecting passage 15 in the flow path connection chamber 14 to the wall portion 143 facing the inlet 141 along the direction of fluid F inflow in the flow path connection chamber 14 is longer than the length along the axis of the connecting passage 15.

[0052] This configuration allows for a reduction in the flow velocity of the fluid F that flows from the connecting passage 15 into the flow path connection chamber 14 when it reaches the wall portion 143. It also suppresses the occurrence (effect) of pressure loss caused by the collision between the fluid F discharged from the pump 2 and the fluid F that has turned back after hitting the wall portion 143. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the pressure loss in the flow path connection chamber 14. [Industrial applicability]

[0053] The technology described herein can be used in the cooling module 100. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1: Manifold, 2: Pump, 13: Discharge section, 14: Flow path connection chamber, 15: Connecting passage, 141: Inlet, 143: Wall section, F: Fluid, L: Fluid flow path

Claims

1. A pump that pressurizes and delivers fluid, A manifold having at least one fluid passage through which the aforementioned fluid flows, The aforementioned manifold is A discharge section from which the fluid is discharged from the pump, A flow path connection chamber connected to the upstream side in the fluid flow direction in the fluid flow path, A connecting passage that connects the discharge section and the flow path connection chamber, A cooling module having a cooling module.

2. The cooling module according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting passage gradually widens from the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction of fluid flow.

3. The cooling module according to claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting passage is circular in shape from the upstream side to the downstream side.

4. The cooling module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the distance from the inlet communicating with the connecting passage in the flow path connection chamber to the wall portion facing the inlet along the direction of fluid inflow in the flow path connection chamber is longer than the length along the axis of the connecting passage.

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