Cooling structure and structure

Abstract

This cooling structure comprises an outer wrapping material provided with an inflow port and an outflow port for a refrigerant, and an inner core material disposed inside the outer wrapping material, wherein: the inner core material has an undulating shape dividing a flow passage for the refrigerant into a plurality of parts; the undulating shape of the inner core material is configured to be elastically deformable; and concave portion bottom surfaces and convex portion top surfaces of the inner core material are not welded to the outer wrapping material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cooling structure and a structure.

Background Art

[0002] In fields such as electronic devices such as smartphones and personal computers, and battery modules mounted on electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, etc., technologies incorporating water-cooled coolers, heat pipes, etc. as heat dissipation measures are known. Also, in power semiconductor modules made of silicon carbide, etc., measures using cooling plates, heat sinks, etc. have been proposed for heat dissipation.

[0003] For example, vehicles equipped with motors such as hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles are equipped with driving means for driving the motors. The driving means is composed of a power module including a plurality of power semiconductors such as IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor), electronic components such as capacitors, and busbars for electrically joining these electronic components. When driving the motor, a large current may flow through the power semiconductors, capacitors, etc., and the busbars joining these electronic components. In this case, since the driving means generates heat due to switching loss, resistance loss, etc., it is desirable to efficiently cool the driving means. Also, it is desirable to efficiently cool the heat generated from the battery module mounted on the vehicle.

[0004] Examples of the cooling structure include a structure having a structure made of a metal with high thermal conductivity, such as having a core material of an aluminum cooling fin. However, due to being made of metal, it has weight, and since it is arranged on the object to be cooled by welding or the like, a certain thickness is required and it is difficult to make it thinner.

[0005] Therefore, from the perspective of weight reduction and the like, a cooling structure has been proposed in which an outer packaging material and an inner core material are constituted by a laminate material in which a metal heat transfer layer is laminated with a resin layer, and a refrigerant is circulated through a flow path partitioned by the inner core material (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The heat exchanger of Patent Document 1 is described as being able to achieve sufficient thinning because it is manufactured by heat-sealing a laminate material having a heat-sealing layer. Further, in the heat exchanger described in Patent Document 1, it is described that the laminate materials as the outer packaging material and the inner core material can easily change in shape and size, so that the degree of freedom in design increases and the versatility improves.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] Although the heat exchanger described in Patent Document 1 has the above advantages, a technique for further improving the heat exchange efficiency is desired. In view of such a situation, the present disclosure relates to providing a cooling structure and a structure excellent in heat exchange efficiency.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The means for solving the above problems include the following aspects. <1> An outer packaging material provided with an inlet and an outlet for a refrigerant, and an inner core material disposed inside the outer packaging material, wherein the inner core material has a concavo-convex shape that partitions a plurality of flow paths for the refrigerant, the concavo-convex shape of the inner core material is configured to be elastically deformable, and a bottom surface of a concave portion and a top surface of a convex portion of the inner core material are not welded to the outer packaging material. A cooling structure. <2> The cooling structure according to <1>, wherein the inner core material is composed of at least one selected from the group consisting of iron, stainless steel, and resin. <3> The cooling structure according to <1> or <2>, further comprising a restraint member that restrains the position of a part of the inner core material. <4> A structure having the cooling structure according to any one of <1> to <3> and a body to be cooled provided on the cooling structure.

Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, a cooling structure and a structure excellent in heat exchange efficiency are provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the following embodiments. In the following embodiments, the components (including element steps, etc.) are not essential unless otherwise specified. The same applies to numerical values and their ranges, which do not limit the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0012] When describing the embodiments in the present disclosure with reference to the drawings, the configuration of the embodiments is not limited to the configuration shown in the drawings. Also, the sizes of the members in each drawing are conceptual, and the relative size relationships between the members are not limited thereto. Further, in each drawing, members having substantially the same function are given the same reference numeral throughout the drawings, and duplicate descriptions are omitted. In the present disclosure, the term "layer" includes not only the case where it is formed over the entire area when observing the area where the layer exists, but also the case where it is formed only in a part of the area. In the present disclosure, the term "lamination" indicates laminating layers, and two or more layers may be joined, or two or more layers may be detachable.

[0013] <Cooling structure> The cooling structure of the present disclosure includes an outer wrapper provided with a refrigerant inlet and an outlet, and a core material disposed inside the outer wrapper. The core material has an uneven shape that partitions a plurality of refrigerant flow paths, the uneven shape of the core material is configured to be elastically deformable, and the bottom surface of the concave portion and the top surface of the convex portion of the core material are not welded to the outer wrapper.

[0014] In the present disclosure, the core material that partitions the refrigerant flow path has an uneven shape that is elastically deformable, and the bottom surface of the concave portion and the top surface of the convex portion are not welded to the outer wrapper. Thus, when the cooling structure is pressed against the object to be cooled, which is a heat-generating body, the uneven shape can be deformed according to the pressure from the pressing direction. As a result, the cooling structure can be deformed along the shape of the object to be cooled, and the contact area of the cooling structure with respect to the object to be cooled increases, and the heat exchange efficiency is improved. Also, since the uneven shape of the core material is configured to be elastically deformable, even when the object to be cooled swells or shrinks due to a temperature change, the cooling structure can be deformed following the shape change.

[0015] Hereinafter, the cooling structure of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the aspects described in the drawings.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of a cooling structure 100 according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The cooling structure 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a refrigerant inlet 10 and an outlet 20, and is entirely covered with an outer wrapping material 30.

[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cooling structure 100 of FIG. 1 separated into individual components. The outer wrapping material 30 is composed of an upper outer wrapping material 30A and a lower outer wrapping material 30B. In the present disclosure, the terms "upper" and "lower" are used in accordance with the up and down directions in the drawings, but they may be reversed. The material of the outer wrapping material is not particularly limited, but it is preferably a metal from the viewpoint of thermal conductivity. Examples of the outer wrapping material include aluminum foil, stainless steel foil, nickel foil, plated copper foil, clad metal of nickel foil and copper foil, etc. From the viewpoints of thermal conductivity, cost, etc., aluminum foil is preferred.

[0018] In one aspect, the outer wrapping material may have a resin layer on one or both surfaces of the metal. When a resin layer is provided inside the outer wrapping material, the occurrence of corrosion due to the refrigerant is likely to be suppressed. Also, when a resin layer is provided outside the outer wrapping material, insulation can be achieved. The metal and the resin layer may be laminated to form a laminate material. Another layer may or may not be provided between the metal layer and the inner resin layer. From the viewpoints of thermal conductivity, cost, etc., it may not be necessary to provide a resin layer on the surface of the metal. In the cooling structure of the present disclosure, since the core material is not fused to the outer wrapping material, the resin layer of the outer wrapping material is not an essential configuration.

[0019] The thickness of the outer wrapping material is not particularly limited. From the viewpoints of strength and thermal conductivity, the thickness of the outer wrapping material is preferably 4 μm or more, more preferably 6 μm or more, and even more preferably 8 μm or more. From the viewpoints of thinning and deformability, the thickness of the outer wrapping material is preferably 300 μm or less, more preferably 200 μm or less, and even more preferably 100 μm or less. From such viewpoints, the thickness of the outer wrapping material is preferably 4 μm to 300 μm, more preferably 6 μm to 200 μm, and even more preferably 8 μm to 100 μm.

[0020] The upper outer package 30A is provided with holes for penetrating the joint pipes as the refrigerant inlet 10 and the joint pipes as the refrigerant outlet 20. And, from the viewpoint of fixing the joint pipes and the assembly property, the joint pipe of the refrigerant inlet 10 is provided as a part of the header portion 12, and the joint pipe of the refrigerant outlet 20 is provided as a part of the footer portion 22 which is preferably provided as a part of the footer portion. The joint pipe of the refrigerant inlet 10 may be integrally formed with the header portion 22 and the joint pipe of the refrigerant outlet 20 may be integrally formed with the footer portion 22 as well.

[0021] In the cooling structure 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the direction of the joint pipe extends outward in the thickness direction of the cooling structure 100, but the direction of the joint pipe is not limited thereto. For example, the joint pipe may extend outward in the plane direction of the cooling structure 100. Also, the directions of the joint pipe of the inlet 10 and the joint pipe of the outlet 20 may be different.

[0022] The inner core 4 22 0 is disposed inside the outer package so as to partition the flow path of the refrigerant flowing from the header portion 12 to the footer portion into a plurality. Then, the periphery of the upper outer package 30A and the lower outer package 30B is closed and sealed.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the inner core 40 in one aspect of the present disclosure. The inner core 40 has an uneven shape and has a plurality of convex portions 42 and a plurality of concave portions 44. The top surface of the convex portion 42 is not fused to the upper outer package 30A. Also, the bottom surface of the concave portion 44 is not fused to the lower outer package 30B. Referring to FIG. 4, the deformation of the cooling structure 100 will be described.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the width direction of the cooling structure 100. FIG. 4(A) is a view showing a state where no external force is applied to the cooling structure 100, and (B) is a view showing a state where an external force is applied. FIG. 4(B) shows the case where an external force is applied from the upper outer packaging material 30A side. As shown in FIG. 4(B), when an external force is applied from the outer packaging material 30A side, the uneven shape of the inner core material 40 expands in the width direction, and the height of the unevenness decreases. The outer packaging material 30A side deforms along the height of the unevenness due to the external force. Therefore, the thickness B of the cooling structure 100 when the external force is applied is smaller than the thickness A of the cooling structure 100 before the external force is applied.

[0025] Since the uneven shape of the inner core material 40 is elastically deformable, when the external force disappears or is reduced, the height of the unevenness changes in the direction of returning to the original state, the height of the unevenness increases, and the thickness of the cooling structure 100 increases. In this way, the cooling structure 100 is deformed by an external force, and the cooling structure can follow and deform according to the shape and shape change of the object to be cooled.

[0026] The allowable change range of the height of the unevenness can be adjusted by the difference W between the inner side distance W1 of the outer packaging material in the width direction and the length W2 of the inner core material 40. The difference W is preferably set appropriately according to the member, shape, installation location, etc. of the object to be cooled.

[0027] Since the inner core material 40 may be displaced within the outer packaging material, it may have a restraining member that restrains the position of a part of the inner core material 40. As the restraining member, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a protrusion 50 provided on at least one of the header part 12 and the footer part 22 The protrusion 50 extends from the header part 12 or the footer part 22 to the inner core material 40, and by inserting the protrusion 50 into the concave or convex part of the inner core material 40, the displacement of the inner core material 40 in the width direction can be suppressed.

[0028] The header part 12 or the footer part 22 The protrusion 50 of is preferably provided at the central part in the width direction of the cooling structure 100. The central part in the width direction has the smallest deformation movement distance when the unevenness is deformed by an external force, and fixing the inner core material 40 at this position hardly hinders the deformation of the unevenness.

[0029] When the thickness of the cooling structure 100 is reduced by applying an external force, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the side surface of the outer wrapping material is deformed. Since the refrigerant flows inside the outer wrapping material, it is preferable that the side surface of the outer wrapping material is inclined so that the angle formed with the lower surface of the outer wrapping material 30B becomes an acute angle so that the side surface of the outer wrapping material deforms outward.

[0030] The inner core material is not limited in material as long as the uneven shape can be elastically deformed. For example, the inner core material is preferably composed of at least one selected from the group consisting of metals such as iron and stainless steel and resins, and from the viewpoint of suppressing the occurrence of corrosion by the refrigerant, it is preferably composed of at least one selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and resins. In one aspect, the inner core material may be one in which a metal layer such as iron or stainless steel is coated with resin. When the inner core material is one in which a metal layer is coated with resin, another layer may or may not be provided between the metal layer and the resin. From the viewpoint of cost, the metal may not be coated with resin. There may also be an aspect in which the inner core material is not coated with resin. From the viewpoints of cost and the like, one preferable aspect is that the inner core material is composed of stainless steel.

[0031] The uneven shape of the inner core material may be formed into a corrugated shape by corrugating or pleating, or may be provided with unevenness by embossing. When the inner core material is made of resin, the uneven shape may be formed by vacuum molding.

[0032] The cross-sectional shape of the refrigerant flow path partitioned by the uneven shape of the inner core material may be a semi-circular shape; a semi-elliptical shape; a polygonal shape such as a triangle, a quadrilateral, or a pentagon; an irregular shape; a combination of these, etc. The plurality of unevennesses may be arranged regularly or irregularly. Examples of irregular arrangements include those in which the period of the unevenness is not uniform. In the case of a regular arrangement, the period of the concave portion and the period of the convex portion may be the same or different.

[0033] The height of the unevenness of the inner core material is not particularly limited. From the perspective of sufficiently securing the refrigerant flow path, it may be 0.1 mm or more, 5 mm or more, or 10 mm or more in a state where no external pressure is applied. From the perspective of thinning, the height of the unevenness of the inner core material may be 50 mm or less, 40 mm or less, or 30 mm or less in a state where no external pressure is applied. From such a perspective, the height of the unevenness of the inner core material may be 0.1 mm to 50 mm, 5 mm to 40 mm, or 10 mm to 30 mm in a state where no external pressure is applied. In the present disclosure, the height of the unevenness of the inner core material is the distance from the top of the convex part to the bottom of the concave part.

[0034] Refrigerant flows through the flow paths partitioned into a plurality by the uneven shape of the inner core material. The type of refrigerant is not particularly limited. Examples of the refrigerant include liquids such as water and organic solvents, and gases such as air. The water used as the refrigerant may contain components such as antifreeze.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a modified example of the cooling structure, and shows the inside when the upper outer packaging material 30A is removed. In the cooling structure 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerant inlet 10 and the outlet 20 are provided at the respective end portions (front end portion, rear end portion) in the length direction. On the other hand, in the cooling structure 110 of FIG. 6, both the refrigerant inlet 10 and the outlet 20 are provided at one end portion. In the cooling structure 110 of FIG. 6, a joint pipe for the refrigerant inlet 10 and a joint pipe for the outlet 20 are provided in the header portion 12.

[0036] In the cooling structure 110 of FIG. 6, as shown by the arrow F in the figure, the refrigerant flowing from the refrigerant inlet 10 of the header portion 12 makes a U-turn at the footer portion 22 to reverse the direction and returns to the refrigerant outlet 20 of the header portion 12.

[0037] In FIG. 6, the refrigerant makes one round trip in the length direction, but it may be made to make one and a half round trips. In this case, the refrigerant inlet 10 may be provided in the header portion 12, and the outlet 20 may be provided in the footer portion 22. The number of round trips of the refrigerant may be further increased. When the refrigerant is reciprocated in the longitudinal direction, it is preferable to provide a partition between the flow path on the forward side and the flow path on the return side.

[0038] As yet another further form, not only one but also a plurality of inlets 10 and outlets 20 may be provided.

[0039] The cooling structure of the present disclosure can be widely used for cooling a heat generating body. For example, it can be used for cooling electronic devices such as smartphones and personal computers, battery modules, power semiconductor modules, etc. mounted on electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, etc. It is effective for cooling battery modules, power semiconductor modules, etc.

[0040] <Structure> The structure of the present disclosure includes the aforementioned cooling structure of the present disclosure and a body to be cooled provided on the cooling structure. Examples of the body to be cooled as a heat generating body include electronic devices such as smartphones and personal computers, battery modules, power semiconductor modules, etc. mounted on electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, etc. The body to be cooled may be provided on either the outer packaging material 30A side or the outer packaging material 30B side of the cooling structure 100, or may be provided on both sides.

[0041] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-061119 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. All documents, patent applications, and technical standards described in this specification are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual document, patent application, and technical standard were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0042] 10 Inlet of refrigerant 20 Outlet of refrigerant 30, 30A, 30B Outer packaging material 40 Inner core material 42 Protrusion 44 Recess 50 Protruding portion 100 Cooling structure

Claims

1. An outer packaging material provided with an inlet and an outlet for a refrigerant, and a core material disposed inside the outer packaging material, wherein the core material has a concavo-convex shape that partitions the flow path of the refrigerant into a plurality of paths, the concavo-convex shape of the core material is configured to be elastically deformable, the bottom surface of the concave portion and the top surface of the convex portion of the core material are not welded to the outer packaging material, and a cooling structure further comprising a restraint member that restrains the position of a part of the core material.

2. The cooling structure according to claim 1, wherein, in the width direction of the cooling structure, there is a difference between the inner-side distance W1 of the outer packaging material and the length W2 of the core material in a state where no external force is applied from the thickness direction of the cooling structure.

3. The cooling structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the core material is composed of at least one selected from the group consisting of iron, stainless steel, and resin.

4. A structure having the cooling structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and a body to be cooled provided on the cooling structure.

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