Immersion Type Battery Cooling Box

Abstract

To provide an immersion type battery cooling box that improves the temperature uniformity inside the cooling box and enhances the cooling effect of a battery pack. [Solution] The immersion-type battery cooling box comprises a box body 1, a battery pack 2, coolant, and a cooling coil 3. The coolant is filled inside the box and has the property of decreasing density as the temperature rises, immersing the battery pack and circulating around it. The cooling coil is immersed in the coolant and connected to an external circulation cooling system. Subcritical carbon dioxide is used as the circulating medium, and the coolant is cooled by its phase transition. The temperature difference between the carbon dioxide at the inlet and outlet is maintained within 1°C, reducing the temperature difference throughout the coolant and achieving uniform cooling, greatly improving cooling efficiency and temperature stability.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of cooling, and in particular to an immersion type battery cooling box. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, mainstream lithium battery packs use a bottom liquid cooling plate structure for heat dissipation. This conventional structure realizes heat exchange only at the bottom, resulting in a significant temperature difference between the top and bottom of the cells inside the battery box. This uneven temperature distribution problem adversely affects the stability of the cells and even shortens their lifespan. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides an immersion-type battery cooling box that improves the temperature uniformity within the cooling box and enhances the cooling effect of the battery pack.

[0004] The present invention provides an immersion-type battery cooling box, which includes a box body, a battery pack, a coolant, and a cooling coil. The box body is filled with the coolant, and the density of the coolant decreases with increasing temperature within the upper and lower limits of the operating temperature. The battery pack is immersed in the coolant, and the coolant can circulate around the battery pack during the cooling process. The cooling coil is immersed in the coolant and connected to an external circulating cooling system, which is used to continuously supply and recover the circulating medium to the cooling coil. The circulating medium in the cooling coil is subcritical carbon dioxide, and the phase transition of the subcritical carbon dioxide is used to cool the coolant.

[0005] Preferably, the cooling coils are provided in the center or on both sides of the box body.

[0006] Preferably, the cooling coils are provided at the center and both sides of the box body.

[0007] Preferably, a plurality of battery packs are provided within the box body, and the cooling coils are provided between two adjacent battery packs and on a side wall of the box body.

[0008] Preferably, a partition plate is provided between the cooling coil and the battery pack, a gap is provided between the partition plate and the bottom plate of the box body, and the height of the partition plate is lower than the height of the coolant surface.

[0009] Preferably, the battery pack is fixed to the bottom of the box body by a mounting bracket, and the mounting bracket includes end plates attached to both ends of the battery pack and fixedly connected to the bottom plate of the box body, vertical positioning mechanisms attached to both sides of the battery pack and having bent portions on the top and bottom surfaces of each battery, and a horizontal positioning mechanism bound to the periphery of the battery pack.

[0010] Preferably, the longitudinal positioning mechanism is a plastic positioning member and the lateral positioning mechanism is a fastening steel belt.

[0011] Preferably, the plastic positioning member is provided with a groove, and the fastening steel belts on both sides of the battery pack are fitted into the groove.

[0012] Preferably, four battery packs are arranged in parallel within the box body, five or three cooling coils are provided, and the battery pack is located between two cooling coils.

[0013] Preferably, the carbon dioxide inlet and outlet of the cooling coil are provided on both sides of the box body.

[0014] Preferably, the cooling coil is fixed to the bottom plate of the box body by a coil fixing seat, and the coil fixing seat includes a support rod and two fixing plates, each located on either side of the support rod and removably connected to the support rod, and the fixing plates are provided with through holes for the cooling coil to pass through.

[0015] Preferably, the cooling coil is formed by bending a single continuous pipe three-dimensionally.

[0016] Preferably, the inlet and outlet of the cooling coil are provided in the box body walls at both ends of the box body, the cooling coil penetrates the box body walls at both ends of the box body and is connected to connectors, and the cooling coil and the box body wall are hermetically connected.

[0017] Preferably, the coolant is a hydrocarbon coolant or a silicone oil.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following technical advantages:

[0019] The cooling coil uses subcritical carbon dioxide as the cooling medium, and the cooling efficiency can be improved by using the cooling medium's phase transition method. The medium circulating within the coil is subcritical liquid carbon dioxide, and the principle of heat absorption due to carbon dioxide's phase transition is used to remove heat from the cooling liquid inside the box body. During the carbon dioxide phase transition, the temperature difference between the carbon dioxide at the inlet and the carbon dioxide at the outlet can be maintained within 1°C, reducing the temperature difference of the cooling liquid immersed in the box body and improving cooling efficiency.

[0020] During transportation of the immersion-type battery cooling box, the coil fixing member can effectively absorb vibration energy and reduce lateral displacement caused by external impacts or internal liquid flow. The battery pack is designed with a vertical positioning member for vertical positioning, and the vertical positioning member and battery pack are integrally assembled by the horizontal positioning member. When the battery box vibrates up and down, the vertical positioning member distributes the vertical vibration force of the battery module to the horizontal positioning member, preventing the battery from falling off due to vibration. The vertical positioning member also prevents direct contact between the cooling coil and the battery surface, improving the overall insulation effect.

[0021] The cooling coil's carbon dioxide inlet and outlet are located on both sides of the box body, avoiding the area where the positive and negative electrodes of the front battery module are connected, thereby avoiding the risk of electrical conductivity caused by contact between the coil and the positive and negative electrodes. Even if the box body is accidentally bumped or subjected to external impact during transportation or use, this double-sided structure effectively prevents direct contact between the cooling coil and the positive and negative copper busbars on the end plates of the box body. This design consideration not only ensures the system's tightness, but more importantly, it fundamentally prevents electrical leakage accidents that may result from metal-to-metal contact, greatly improving the safety and reliability of the entire system. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] In order to more clearly describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the following will briefly describe the drawings used in the description of the embodiments. Of course, the drawings in the following description are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can derive other drawings based on these drawings without any creative efforts. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of Example 1. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of the first embodiment with the box body removed. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of the cooling coil of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a plastic positioning member according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of three cooling coils. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of Example 2. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a structural schematic diagram of a cooling coil according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a side view of the cooling coil of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, the following will describe in detail specific embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings in the specification. In the following description, many specific details are set forth in order to fully understand the present invention, but the present invention can also be implemented in a manner different from that described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention, so the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0024] The term "one embodiment" or "embodiment" as referred to herein refers to a particular feature, structure, or characteristic that may be included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. The phrase "in one embodiment" used in different places in this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments.

[0025] Example 1 As shown in Figures 1 to 4, this is an immersion-type battery cooling box that includes a box body 1 and a box cover (not shown). The box body is filled with a coolant, which can be a hydrocarbon coolant or silicone oil. The battery packs 2 are immersed in the coolant and fixed to the bottom plate of the box body 1 with mounting brackets 22. Four battery packs 2 are arranged in parallel horizontally within the box body, and two battery packs 2 are connected vertically to form a row. Each battery pack 2 comprises an array of batteries 21; in this embodiment, 13 batteries 21 are arranged. Cooling coils 3 are provided between two adjacent battery packs 2 and between the battery packs on both sides and the side walls of the box body. The cooling coils 3 are fixed to the bottom plate of the box body 1 with fixing members 31. In this embodiment, five cooling coils are provided, each formed by bending a single continuous pipe into a three-dimensional shape (three cooling coils may be used in another embodiment). The inlet and outlet of the cooling coil 3 are located on both sides of the box body wall, and the cooling coil 3 penetrates the box body wall at both ends and is connected to a connector, so that the cooling coil and the box body wall are hermetically connected. The inlet and outlet of the cooling coil 3 are located on both sides of the box body wall at both ends of the box body.

[0026] Specifically, the mounting bracket 22 includes end plates 23 attached to both ends of the battery pack 2, plastic positioning members 24, and fastening steel belts 25. A connecting rod (or connecting pipe) is welded to the box body 1, and the end plates 23 are fixed to the connecting rods with bolts. The plastic positioning members 24 are attached to both sides of the battery pack and have bent portions 241 on the upper and lower surfaces of each battery. The bent portion on the upper surface holds the battery and prevents it from moving upward, while the bent portion on the lower surface lifts the battery and creates a gap between it and the lower surface, thereby providing insulation and allowing the passage of coolant. The fastening steel belts 25 are bound around the periphery of the battery pack 2. The plastic positioning members 24 have grooves into which the fastening steel belts 25 can be fitted.

[0027] The cooling coil 3 is inserted into the gap of the battery pack 2, and the coolant immersed inside naturally flows upward as its temperature rises, passing through the cooling coil 3 and forming a micro-circulation heat exchange process around its exterior. Utilizing the principle of heat absorption by CO2 phase transition, the temperature of the CO2 flowing inside the cooling coil 3 is maintained uniformly, thereby maintaining a constant temperature for the coolant immersed throughout the entire box body 1. At the same time, the cooling coil 3 adopts a multi-layer folded layout, which increases the heat exchange area outside the cooling coil, improves heat exchange efficiency, ensures uniform heat dissipation even when the batteries are densely arranged, and reliably supports stable cell operation.

[0028] The fixing member 31 is made of a high-strength, corrosion-resistant material, and the fixing member 31 and the bottom plate of the box body 1 can be designed to be detachably connected, ensuring reliability and facilitating installation, removal, and maintenance. During battery pack transportation, the fixing member 31 effectively absorbs vibration energy and reduces lateral displacement of the cooling coil caused by external impact or internal fluid flow. The plastic positioning member and the battery pack fastening steel belt are integrally assembled. When the lithium battery box vibrates up and down, the plastic positioning member distributes the vertical vibration force of the battery module to the fastening steel belt, preventing the battery from falling off due to vibration. The plastic positioning member also prevents direct contact between the cooling coil and the battery surface, improving the overall insulation effect.

[0029] The inlet and outlet of the cooling coil 3 are located on both sides of the box body wall at both ends of the box body, and this structure with the inlet and outlet on both sides effectively prevents direct contact between the cooling coil and the positive and negative copper bus bars on the end plates of the box body, even if the battery box body is accidentally bumped or subjected to external impact during transportation or use. This design consideration not only ensures the sealing of the system, but more importantly, it fundamentally prevents leakage accidents that may result from metal contact, greatly improving the safety and reliability of the entire system.

[0030] Example 2 As shown in Figures 7 to 9, the immersion type battery pack cooling box includes a box body 100 and a box cover (not shown). The box cover is used to cover and fit onto the box body 100. The box body 100 is filled with a coolant whose density decreases with increasing temperature within the upper and lower limits of the operating temperature. In this embodiment, a hydrocarbon coolant is used. The battery pack 200 is immersed in a coolant, and the coolant can circulate around the battery pack 200 when cooling the battery pack 200. A cooling coil 300 is provided in the center of the box body, and the cooling coil 300 is fixed to the bottom of the box body 100 by a coil fixing base 310. Partition plates 320 are provided between the cooling coil 300 and the battery packs 200 on both sides, and the two partition plates 320 are used to isolate the cooling coil 300 from the battery packs 200, and a coolant flow path is formed between the two partition plates 320. A gap of 10 to 20 mm in height is provided between the partition plate 320 and the bottom plate of the box body 100, and the height of the partition plate 320 is lower than the height of the coolant level, with the height difference being 10 to 20 mm. The cooling coil 300 is connected to an external circulating cooling system, and the circulating medium in the cooling coil 300 is subcritical carbon dioxide. Utilizing the principle of heat absorption by the phase transition of carbon dioxide, the coolant removes heat and maintains a constant temperature during the phase transition, fundamentally reducing the temperature difference between the battery packs and solving the problem of large temperature differences in the conventional method of dissipating heat from the bottom. The cooling coils are uniformly distributed in the central region of the box body 100, and the multiple battery packs 4 are regularly arranged and electrically connected to each other to form a battery module. Taking advantage of the spatial advantage of the maximum spacing between the battery packs, sufficient contact between the high-temperature coolant and the cooling coils is ensured, and the coolant flows downward through the gaps in the cooling coils after cooling, effectively preventing local heat accumulation.In addition, a spatial three-dimensional coil structure is adopted, and a partition plate is added between the cooling coil and the battery module to guide the heat on the battery surface so that it tends to flow up and down, avoiding flow from side to side and promoting the natural flow of the coolant within the box body, further improving the adequacy and efficiency of cooling and achieving uniform heat exchange across the entire area compared to the limitations of conventional single-surface heat dissipation.

[0031] Specifically, the coil fixing base 310 includes a support rod 311 and two fixing plates 312, which are located on either side of the support rod 311 and connected to the support rod 311 via bolts, and the fixing plates 312 are provided with through holes for the cooling coil 300 to pass through. The fixing plates 312 support the cooling coil 300 and are positioned by the through holes.

[0032] Specifically, the cooling coil 300 is made by bending a single continuous copper tube three-dimensionally into a three-dimensional spiral structure, with the bent portion being inclined. Typically, the gap between battery modules is very limited, and conventional coils occupy a large amount of horizontal space, making them prone to interfering with surrounding components. The three-dimensional spiral structure significantly reduces the horizontal width, perfectly meeting the installation needs of modules in narrow gaps and avoiding space waste.

[0033] Specifically, the inlet and outlet of the cooling coil 300 are provided in the box body walls at both ends of the box body 1, the cooling coil penetrates the box body walls at both ends of the box body and is connected to a connector, and the cooling coil and the box body wall are hermetically connected.

[0034] Specifically, the inlet and outlet of the cooling coil 300 are mounted on independent plug-in panels, and are further connected to the box body through the plug-in panels, which makes it easy to install and remove.

[0035] This invention has a wide range of applicability. When applied to applications other than battery boxes (PCS, data center systems, etc.), the cooling coil structure can be integrated into the box body of the corresponding electronic component, and heat dissipation circulation can be achieved using the coolant filled in the box body. This solves the problem that traditional heat dissipation methods are limited in their application scenarios, and provides a stable, efficient, and convenient heat dissipation solution for various electronic systems.

[0036] The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical solution of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, it is naturally understood by those skilled in the art that modifications or substitutions to the technical solution of the present invention are possible, and such modifications or substitutions shall be included in the scope of the utility model claims of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. an immersion type battery cooling box comprising: a box body, a battery pack, a coolant, and a cooling coil; the box body is filled with the coolant; the density of the coolant decreases with increasing temperature within upper and lower limit operating temperature ranges; the battery pack is immersed in the coolant, and the coolant can circulate around the battery pack in the process of cooling the battery pack; the cooling coil is immersed in the coolant and connected to an externally connected circulating cooling system, which is used to continuously supply and recover a circulating medium to the cooling coil; the circulating medium in the cooling coil is subcritical carbon dioxide, and the phase transition of the subcritical carbon dioxide is used to cool the coolant.

2. 2. The immersion-type battery cooling box according to claim 1, wherein the cooling coil is installed at the center or both sides of the box body.

3. 2. The immersion-type battery cooling box according to claim 1, wherein the cooling coils are installed at the center and both sides of the box body.

4. 2. The immersion-type battery cooling box according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of battery packs are provided in the box body, and the cooling coils are provided between two adjacent battery packs and on a side wall of the box body.

5. 5. The immersion-type battery cooling box according to claim 1, wherein a partition plate is provided between the cooling coil and the battery pack, a gap is provided between the partition plate and the bottom plate of the box body, and the height of the partition plate is lower than the height of the coolant surface.

6. 2. The immersion-type battery cooling box according to claim 1, wherein the battery packs are fixed to the bottom of the box body by mounting brackets, the mounting brackets including: end plates attached to both ends of the battery packs and fixedly connected to the bottom plate of the box body; vertical positioning mechanisms attached to both sides of the battery packs and having bent portions on the top and bottom surfaces of each battery; and horizontal positioning mechanisms bound around the battery packs.

7. 7. The immersion-type battery cooling box according to claim 6, wherein the vertical positioning mechanism is a plastic positioning member, and the horizontal positioning mechanism is a fastening steel belt.

8. 8. The immersion-type battery cooling box according to claim 7, wherein the plastic positioning member is provided with a groove, and fastening steel belts on both sides of the battery pack are fitted into the groove.

9. 2. The immersion-type battery cooling box according to claim 1, wherein four battery packs are arranged in parallel within the box body, five or three cooling coils are provided, and the battery pack is located between two cooling coils.

10. 2. The immersion-type battery cooling box according to claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide inlet and outlet of the cooling coil are provided on both sides of the box body.

11. 2. The immersion-type battery cooling box according to claim 1, wherein the cooling coil is fixed to the bottom plate of the box body by a coil fixing seat, the coil fixing seat including a support rod and two fixing plates, the two fixing plates being respectively located on both sides of the support rod and being respectively detachably connected to the support rod, and the fixing plates are provided with through-holes through which the cooling coil passes.

12. 2. The immersion type battery cooling box according to claim 1, wherein the cooling coil is formed by bending a single continuous pipe three-dimensionally.

13. 2. The immersion-type battery cooling box according to claim 1, wherein the inlet and outlet of the cooling coil are provided in the box body walls at both ends of the box body, the cooling coil penetrates the box body walls at both ends of the box body and is connected to connectors, and the cooling coil and the box body wall are hermetically connected.

14. 2. The immersion type battery cooling box according to claim 1, wherein the cooling liquid is a hydrocarbon cooling liquid or silicone oil.

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