A cooler including two substantially parallel flow chambers and three substantially parallel plates

Abstract

The objective is to create an improved cooler for a battery module. The cooler (10) includes two substantially parallel flow chambers and three substantially parallel plates (12, 14), two of which form a substantially planar structure from the outside of the cooler, and an intermediate plate (12) inserted between the two planar plates (14) is configured to allow a fluid flow (C) to enter the cooler and then be split into a plurality of flows (A, B), preferably actively flowing on one of the two sides of the cooler (10), but always simultaneously on both sides.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooler including two substantially parallel flow chambers and three substantially parallel plates.

Background Art

[0002] Conventional battery coolers are composed of two substantially parallel plates, one of which is essentially flat and is provided to directly contact the battery module to cool the module. The other plate generally defines a flow channel for cooling water or refrigerant and is generally mechanically coupled to the previously mentioned plate by soldering. One or more inlets can be further provided to improve heat dissipation.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] In such a background, the present invention aims to create an improved cooler for a battery module.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] The present invention is solved by the means described in claim 1.

[0005] Accordingly, the cooler includes two substantially parallel flow chambers and three substantially parallel plates, and two of the outer plates are formed to form a substantially planar structure at least from the outside and to make good direct contact with the battery module to be cooled.

[0006] The cooler further includes an intermediate plate between two plates, and the intermediate plate is formed such that after the fluid flow enters the cooler, preferably immediately after the inlet, i.e., it is divided into a plurality of flows from near the inlet. Thus, the flow is always provided on both sides of the cooler, i.e., both sides of the parallel flow chamber, but the active flow is preferably provided on one of the two sides of the cooler.

[0007] By means of two parallel flow chambers, one or more battery modules can be arranged to some extent on both sides of the cooler, increasing the packing density within the battery housing. According to the present invention, the intermediate plate generally defining the flow channel can be essentially used for both side flow chambers so as to ensure an efficient structure. At the same time, heat dissipation can be ensured, and the cooler according to the present invention has excellent adaptability to various types and numbers of battery modules. It is stated that three plates can be mechanically connected to each other in a suitable manner for the sake of completion, especially soldered, to obtain a cooler with high overall strength. This is related to the resistance to internal pressure and all resistances to external mechanical stresses that may occur, for example, during connection to the battery module in the assembly process. The two-layer structure of the cooler can provide suitable flow channels on both sides of the cooler, optimizing the temperature distribution and heat dissipation on both sides of the cooler. At the same time, as will be described in detail below, the measures for dividing the flow between the two parallel flow chambers can be provided in a simple manner through a simple structure.

[0008] To enhance the completion degree, a filler material may be provided between the cooler and one or more battery modules for unavoidable gaps that may be generated due to tolerances. The cooler can also be connected to the vehicle's cooling system. The cooler according to the present invention also exhibits a low pressure loss as described above, and shows high strength and low temperature difference on the external surface area of the cooler.

[0009] Accordingly, the cooler advantageously meets the requirements regarding resistance to stresses such as vibrations or module assemblies. This can be adjusted according to the system and customer requirements.

[0010] Preferred further developments are described in the appended claims.

[0011] The structures and shapes formed in the intermediate plate to induce the described flow splitting are such that circular holes, long holes, slits and / or suitable stamping shapes are currently preferred. These can be introduced into the plate in an efficient manner during the forming process and can be applied to parameters such as output, mass flow, fluid type, etc. respectively.

[0012] Preferably, at least one external plate includes at least one inlet and / or outlet. This essentially provides a connection means for the vehicle's fluid system and can be designed independently of the respective sealing and connector concepts used. In principle, the connections can be formed on both sides of the cooler and on each of the three plates.

[0013] At the same time, the thickness of at least one plate has the advantage that it can be reduced to 0.5 mm or less without significantly reducing the strength. The plate thicknesses can differ from each other according to the manufacturing process and each requirement.

[0014] As a result of the initial simulations in relation to the flow shape, it has been found that meandering and / or U - shaped are advantageous. Since the meander can be relatively complex, it can be specially adjusted to meet the requirements.

[0015] In relation to the mechanical internal pressure resistance of the cooler, it is currently preferred to be able to resist the internal pressure corresponding to the maximum operating pressure of existing refrigerants (R134a and R1234yf) in order to form a particularly stable cooler. This value can be achieved in particular by connecting the plates to each other at multiple points or connecting them in parallel to multiple flow channels to minimize the free span area between the plates. Then, even when the thickness of the plate is 0.5 mm or less, the internal pressure resistance can be ensured.

[0016] If necessary, the intermediate plate can be completely flat with the outer plate or offset inward from at least one of them.

[0017] Cooling water coolers and direct refrigerant evaporators are currently preferred fields of use for the cooler according to the present invention.

[0018] In relation to the plate thickness described above, currently a minimum ratio of less than 55% of the plate thickness between the intermediate plate and at least one outer plate is preferred. However, three plates of the same thickness or plates with a thickness ratio greater than 55% can also be used.

[0019] For the channel structure according to the present invention, it is further advantageous that the ratio between the channel width and the plate thickness is greater than 9.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the cooler (10) according to the present invention is essentially composed of one intermediate plate (12) and two outer plates (14). All the plates are typically and substantially rectangular, and the outer plates (14) are substantially flat at least from their outer sides. The intermediate plate (12) includes structures described in detail below to form flow channels on both sides of the intermediate plate (12), that is, towards both outer side plates (14). In the detailed description, the intermediate plate and the rear outer plate further include inlets and outlets indicated by X in the drawings, which are described in more detail below and can be adjusted according to customer specifications.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the cooler (10) according to the present invention can be arranged in a sandwich-like manner between two battery modules (16), and these can be efficiently cooled in a preferred manner.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing in detail how the ribs (18) are formed on the intermediate plate (12) to separate individual flow channels from each other, and how the slits (20) are formed at one upstream stage of each rib (18) to divide the inflowing cooling water indicated by arrow C into the side cooling water flow A towards the viewer and the side cooling water flow B away from the viewer. As will be described in more detail below, the slits (20) formed substantially transversely to the flow direction in the example can be oriented at other angles, oriented substantially parallel to the flow direction, or configured as openings without a special longitudinal extension. Also, instead of or in addition to the slits at the start of the ribs (18), one or more openings enabling cooling water flow can be provided on the opposite side of the intermediate plate (12) in the intermediate plate (12).

[0024] FIG. 4 corresponds substantially to FIG. 1, with additional meanders provided in the flow channels, and the inlet (22) and outlet (24) of the cooler are shown in more detail in FIG. 4b in the form of large circular openings. As shown in the upper left of FIG. 4a, the outlet can be provided, for example, in the upper outer plate of FIG. 4, and the inlet can be provided in the other outer plate. From FIG. 4c, it is clear that the intermediate plate (12) provided with the leave (18) is joined to the outer plate (14) to define flow channels parallel to each other.

[0025] FIG. 5a illustrates how the slit (20) at the start of the leave (18) can be oriented substantially parallel to the flow direction, and how the leave (18) can be provided with such slits (20) over its additional course with slits (20) extending transversely to the flow direction. The slit (20) parallel to the flow direction and one or more transverse slits (20) can all be omitted, leaving only one or more transverse slits (20) or only the slit (20) parallel to the flow direction.

[0026] As is particularly clear in the left region of FIG. 5b, one or more such slits (20) can be formed as openings without a special longitudinal extension, in particular as circular openings, opposite the longitudinal extension of the leave (18) and / or at a position corresponding to its side. Similar to the slit (20) shown in FIG. 3 and / or the inlet (22) and outlet (24) shown in FIG. 4b, a larger, substantially circular opening can be provided at the start of the leave.

[0027] This is shown in FIG. 5e, where the inlet (22) and outlet (24) are additionally shown. In FIG. 5e, there is a relatively large opening (20) at the start of the leave (18), which is clearly essentially the same width as the leave (18). The illustrated opening (20) is generally substantially circular. "A" indicates the cooling water flow of the leave (18) and its surroundings.

[0028] As can be clearly seen from FIG. 5c, one or more slits that are essentially transverse to the flow direction can be wider than those shown in FIG. 5a and can thus be formed into essentially long holes. Finally, FIG. 5b illustrates an embodiment in which the leave (18) is connected to the peripheral plate material by an individual step or bridge (24) such that the slit (20) is formed, so to speak, around the leave (18), and the slit is interrupted only by the bridge (24), and a substantially single U-shaped end of the slit is clearly shown in FIG. 5b.

[0029] For example, as can be clearly seen from FIGS. 1 and 4, the leave can be substantially straight so as to be able to separate a plurality of flow channels that are substantially parallel to each other in section from each other.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0030] 10 Cooler 12 Intermediate Plate 14 Outer Plate 16 Battery Module 18 Leave 20 Slit, Opening 22 Inlet 24 Bridge, Outlet

Claims

1. In a cooler (10) having two substantially parallel flow chambers, two outer plates (14) of three substantially parallel plates (12, 14) form a substantially planar structure from the outside of the cooler, and after being inserted between the two outer plates (14) and entering the cooler, a fluid flow (C) is formed to be divided into a plurality of flows (A, B), including an intermediate plate (12) that flows actively on one of the two sides of the cooler (10) but is formed to always flow on both sides simultaneously. The cooler (10) is characterized in that the fluid flow (C) is divided into a plurality of flows (A, B) so as to flow in the same direction on both sides of the intermediate plate (12) through a circular hole, a long hole, a slit (20) and / or a stamping shape formed in the upstream stage of the intermediate plate (12).

2. The cooler (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least one outer plate (14) includes at least one inlet (22) and / or outlet (24).

3. The cooler (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thickness of at least one plate (12, 14) is at most 0.5 mm.

4. The cooler (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fluid is guided through the cooler (10) in a meandering and / or U-shaped manner.

5. The cooler (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, having a mechanical internal pressure resistance corresponding to the maximum operating pressure of a conventional refrigerant.

6. The cooler (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the intermediate plate (12) is completely flat with the outer plate (14) or is offset inward from at least one of them.

7. The cooler (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, provided as a cooling water cooler or a direct refrigerant evaporator for cooling.

8. The cooler (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the minimum ratio between the plate thickness of the intermediate plate (12) and the plate thickness of the at least one outer plate (14) is less than 55%.

9. The cooler (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the ratio between the channel width and the plate thickness is greater than 9.

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