Liquid-cooled heat sink and lithium battery module including the liquid-cooled heat sink

Abstract

To provide a liquid-cooling heat dissipation plate and a lithium battery module containing the same.SOLUTION: A liquid-cooling heat dissipation plate includes two heat dissipation members, at least one liquid inlet and at least one liquid outlet. The heat dissipation member has a rectangular plate body having an inner surface and oppositely an outer surface. At three edges of the inner surface, a U-shaped frame with a predetermined height is provided and on the inner surface, a plurality of heat dissipation columns is provided. A height of an intermediate frame of the U-shaped frame is about twice as large as both side frames, and a height of the heat dissipation column is equal to or less than the height of both the side frames of the U-shaped frame. The liquid-cooling heat dissipation plate is formed by joining and then welding one of the two heat dissipation members with each other in such a manner that the inner surfaces face to each other, resulting in formation of a liquid-flow chamber. The at least one liquid inlet is connected to an external conduit to allow a cooling fluid to enter the liquid-flow chamber, and the at least one liquid outlet is connected to the external conduit to allow the cooling fluid to exit the liquid-flow chamber, wherein the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet are arranged at the same side or different side of the liquid-cooling heat dissipation plate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid-cooled heat sink, particularly to a liquid-cooled heat sink that can be used in a lithium battery module. The present invention further relates to a lithium battery module including the liquid-cooled heat sink.

Background Art

[0002] According to research related to lithium batteries, the performance in aspects such as voltage, energy density, charge-discharge efficiency, and cycle life has been improved, and lithium batteries occupy an extremely important strategic position in the applications to daily mobile devices, electric vehicles, and even large-scale energy storage systems. Due to the continuous development of the materials and structures of lithium batteries, the energy density of the batteries has been continuously increasing, and a large amount of thermal energy is generated by a relatively large charge-discharge current.

[0003] In a lithium battery module, thousands or even tens of thousands of lithium battery units are closely arranged in a limited small space such as the chassis of a vehicle. During the charge-discharge process, lithium batteries generate heat rapidly and in large quantities, and due to poor heat dissipation efficiency, the heat quantity is likely to accumulate, rapidly increasing the temperature of the entire lithium battery module and causing safety problems.

[0004] Due to its characteristics, a lithium battery is limited to a narrow optimal operating temperature range (about 15°C to 40°C). When the temperature is too low, the output of the battery decreases, and when the temperature is too high, an accelerated heat dissipation reaction may cause corrosion of the lithium battery materials and deterioration of the battery, and further may cause safety problems such as thermal runaway.

[0005] In addition to maintaining the lithium battery unit within its optimal operating range, a greater challenge is the need to maintain the entire lithium battery module, or each individual sub-module that makes up the module, within its optimal operating range. Currently, commonly used thermal management systems for lithium battery modules include air cooling, indirect liquid cooling, direct liquid cooling or immersion cooling, phase change cooling, heat pipe or vapor chamber cooling, and combinations of the above methods. However, for commercial applications, considering factors such as cost, safety, heat dissipation capacity, weight, and installation space, only passive heat dissipation methods such as air cooling and liquid cooling are widely applied to heat dissipation in lithium battery modules, for example, in electric vehicles. However, compared to conventional air cooling technology, the thermal conductivity of liquid is at least 25 times that of air, and the heat that can be carried away by the same volume of liquid is nearly 3000 times that of the same volume of air. Because lithium battery units in lithium battery modules are typically tightly packed together, the efficiency of air cooling is gradually becoming insufficient to cope with the tightly packed, high-energy-density lithium battery modules. However, liquid cooling, due to the large heat capacity of its coolant, offers significantly better heat dissipation efficiency than air cooling.

[0006] A typical liquid-cooled heat dissipation device or system refers to indirect liquid-cooled heat dissipation, which primarily involves circulating a coolant within pipes or flow paths of a heat dissipation device that are in direct contact with the lithium battery unit or lithium battery module, thereby dissipating the heat generated by the lithium battery to the outside of the module. Therefore, in terms of structural design, liquid-cooled heat dissipation devices must consider not only the effectiveness and temperature uniformity of heat dissipation between lithium battery units within the lithium battery module, but also strict safety measures to prevent coolant leakage.

[0007] Lithium battery units in typical lithium battery modules include cylindrical, prismatic, and plate-shaped (or sheet-shaped) components. For lithium battery modules composed of cylindrical lithium battery cells, taking Tesla electric vehicles as an example, the liquid cooling system used dissipates heat using two curved sheet-shaped liquid cooling plates. These two curved sheet-shaped liquid cooling plates have a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet at each end, and are used to inject refrigerant for heat exchange and removal. The two curved sheet-shaped liquid cooling plates meander along the contours of the closely spaced cylindrical lithium battery units, making close contact with the upper and lower halves of each unit. The liquid cooling plate in contact with the upper half of the battery and the liquid cooling plate in contact with the lower half of the battery have opposite directions of coolant flow to reduce the temperature difference across the refrigerant flow path.

[0008] In the case of modules composed of rectangular or plate-shaped battery units, the most common liquid cooling heat dissipation method involves placing several liquid cooling plates on each surface of the entire module and removing heat from the module by exchanging heat with the coolant flowing through the liquid cooling plates. Heat can be dissipated between each battery unit using heat conductive plates or liquid cooling tubes, reducing the overall weight and cost of the lithium battery module. The liquid cooling plates used in such arrangements must have a certain degree of rigidity, be resistant to deformation and damage, and have good cooling efficiency. For example, Patent Document CN111630708A discloses a cooling member for a battery module comprising an upper plate, a lower plate, and a support member installed between the upper and lower plates. In this patent, after the upper and lower plates are joined, a accommodating space for arranging the support member is formed between them. The support member increases the rigidity of the entire cooling member, supports the upper and lower plates, and prevents deformation under external forces. The support member forms a coolant flow path with a recess by extrusion molding. While designing the flow path of the support members can increase the rigidity and heat dissipation efficiency of the cooling member, increasing the number of support members means a considerable increase in the overall weight of the cooling member compared to a typical two-plate cooling system, which is detrimental to the trend towards weight reduction in electric vehicles. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 111630708 Specification [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] To address the problems of rigidity, heat dissipation efficiency, overall weight, and safety that arise when applying the above-mentioned conventional liquid-cooled heat sinks (or devices / systems) to lithium battery modules, the present invention provides a liquid-cooled heat sink usable in lithium battery modules, in which a heat dissipation member is manufactured by directly integrally molding a metal sheet (e.g., magnesium alloy or aluminum alloy), and two heat dissipation members are joined to each other in a corresponding manner to form a liquid-cooled heat sink having a liquid flow chamber. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The heat dissipation member can be manufactured using general conventional methods such as stamping or extrusion, or by forging. The liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate provided by the present invention increases the heat dissipation area and improves heat dissipation efficiency by forming multiple heat dissipation columns on the inner surface of the heat dissipation member. When two heat dissipation members are joined to form a liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate, these heat dissipation columns are distributed within the liquid flow chamber of the liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate. Therefore, after the outer surface of the liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate comes into contact with a heat source, the high thermal conductivity of the metal quickly conducts and disperses heat to these heat dissipation columns, and heat exchange is performed by the cooling liquid flowing through these heat dissipation columns, allowing the heat to be rapidly removed. Compared with a general liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate without heat dissipation columns, the liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate provided by the present invention has a larger total heat dissipation area due to the heat dissipation columns present in the liquid flow chamber, and can significantly improve heat dissipation efficiency by coming into contact with the cooling liquid and performing heat exchange. Simultaneously, when two heat dissipation members are joined in a corresponding manner to form a liquid-cooled heat sink, the heat dissipation columns of the two heat dissipation members come into contact with each other and can act as support members. Having many support members (heat dissipation columns) in the liquid flow chamber gives the liquid-cooled heat sink relatively strong impact resistance, preventing deformation and damage. Furthermore, the liquid-cooled heat sink of the present invention is welded using laser fusion of identical materials, further strengthening the welded area and preventing it from easily breaking due to external impact and causing coolant leakage. Therefore, compared to liquid-cooled heat sinks for general lithium battery modules, the liquid-cooled heat sink of the present invention has higher heat dissipation efficiency and deformation and breakage resistance, and offers higher safety when applied to heat dissipation in lithium battery modules.

[0012] The liquid-cooled heat sink available for use in lithium battery modules provided by the present invention is manufactured by directly integrally molding a metal sheet / block into a heat dissipation member having heat dissipation columns. Two heat dissipation members are joined so that the heat dissipation columns correspond to (or touch each other), forming a liquid-cooled heat sink with many heat dissipation columns distributed within the liquid flow chamber. The heat dissipation columns are distributed on both inner surfaces of the liquid flow chamber and are directly immersed in the cooling liquid to perform heat exchange, thereby achieving the objective of accelerating heat dissipation. With this heat dissipation column structure design, both sides of the liquid-cooled heat sink that contact the heat source have relatively large heat exchange areas, and the heat source on both sides of the liquid-cooled heat sink is quickly conducted to the heat dissipation columns of each heat dissipation member by rapid heat conduction, exchanging heat with the cooling liquid and achieving rapid heat dissipation. Compared to a hollow liquid-cooled heat sink without a heat dissipation column, the liquid-cooled heat sink of the present invention has a larger total heat dissipation area, and since the heat dissipation area of ​​the heat dissipation column is directly immersed in the cooling liquid, the heat dissipation efficiency is further increased.

[0013] Based on one embodiment of the present invention, a liquid-cooled heat sink for use in a lithium battery module is provided, comprising at least two heat dissipation members, at least one liquid inlet, and at least one liquid outlet. The heat dissipation members have a rectangular plate body including an inner surface and opposing outer surfaces. A U-shaped frame of appropriate height is provided on three sides around the inner surface, and a plurality of heat dissipation columns are provided on the inner surface. The height of the intermediate frame of the U-shaped frame is about twice the height of the frames on both sides, and the height of the heat dissipation columns is less than or equal to the height of the frames on both sides of the U-shaped frame. The liquid-cooled heat sink for use in a lithium battery module of the present invention is formed by joining two heat dissipation members together so that their inner surfaces face each other and then welding them, and the intermediate frame of the U-shaped frame of one heat dissipation member is joined to the opening of the U-shaped frame of the other heat dissipation member, forming a liquid-cooled heat sink having a liquid flow chamber. The entire structure, including the heat dissipation columns and U-shaped frame of the heat dissipation members, is manufactured by integrally molding a metal sheet. The liquid-cooled heat sink has at least one liquid inlet connected to an external conduit for supplying cooling liquid to a liquid flow chamber, and at least one liquid outlet connected to an external conduit for discharging the cooling liquid from the liquid flow chamber, and the liquid inlet and liquid outlet are installed on the same side or different sides of the liquid-cooled heat sink.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the entire structure of the heat dissipation member includes a heat dissipation column and a U-shaped frame, and is manufactured by integrally molding a metal sheet, wherein the metal sheet is a magnesium alloy or an aluminum alloy.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid-cooled heat sink is formed by joining two heat dissipation members so that their inner surfaces face each other, and then by laser welding.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid flow chamber further includes at least one guide plate.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid-cooled heat sink is used for heat dissipation of a plate-shaped or sheet-shaped lithium battery module, and the liquid-cooled heat sink has a plate structure with a length of approximately 250 to 600 mm, a width of approximately 150 to 450 mm, and a thickness of approximately 10 to 30 mm.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the cooling liquid is water.

[0019] Based on one embodiment of the present invention, a lithium battery module is provided comprising a plurality of liquid-cooled heat sinks and a plurality of sheet-shaped or plate-shaped lithium batteries, wherein the liquid-cooled heat sinks are alternately arranged between the plurality of sheet-shaped or plate-shaped lithium batteries.

[0020] A lithium battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes at least one sheet-shaped or plate-shaped lithium battery between two adjacent liquid-cooled heat sinks.

[0021] A lithium battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes two sheet-shaped or plate-shaped lithium batteries between two adjacent liquid-cooled heat sinks. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] The liquid-cooled heat sink that can be used in the lithium battery module of the present invention can fabricate the heat dissipation member by a manufacturing method of integrally forming a metal sheet. It can not only increase the total heat dissipation area of the liquid-cooled heat sink, but also improve the heat conduction efficiency and heat diffusion efficiency, and can have higher rigidity and deformation resistance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] It is an explanatory diagram of the structure of the liquid-cooled heat sink and the heat dissipation member according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is an explanatory diagram of the upper surface structure of the heat dissipation member in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is an explanatory diagram of the upper surface perspective structure of the first embodiment of the liquid-cooled heat sink of the present invention obtained from the heat dissipation member in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is an explanatory diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the first embodiment of the liquid-cooled heat sink in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is an explanatory diagram of the upper surface structure of the heat dissipation member in the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is an explanatory diagram of the upper surface perspective structure of the second embodiment of the liquid-cooled heat sink of the present invention manufactured from the heat dissipation member in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] It is an explanatory diagram of the upper surface structure of the heat dissipation member in the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] It is an explanatory diagram of the upper surface perspective structure of the third embodiment of the liquid-cooled heat sink of the present invention manufactured from the heat dissipation member in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] It is an embodiment of the flow guide plate used in the liquid-cooled heat sink of the present invention. The upper figure is a perspective view, and the lower figure is a top view. [Figure 10] It is an explanatory diagram of the upper surface structure of the structure of the heat dissipation member in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] It is an explanatory diagram of the upper surface perspective structure of the fourth embodiment of the liquid-cooled heat sink of the present invention obtained from the heat dissipation member in FIG. 10. [Figure 12] It is an explanatory diagram of a lithium battery module including an embodiment of the liquid-cooled heat sink of the present invention. [Figure 13]This is an explanatory diagram of a lithium battery module of another embodiment including a liquid-cooled heat sink of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0024] The following describes embodiments of a liquid-cooled heat sink usable in a lithium battery module of the present invention with reference to the relevant drawings, although the sizes and proportions of the components in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced for clarity and convenience of the drawing description. In the following description and / or claims, the technical terms used should be interpreted in the conventional sense commonly used by those skilled in the art, and for ease of understanding, the same components in the following embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals. The term “about” as used herein generally means that the actual value is within ±10%, 5%, 1%, or 0.5% of a particular value or range. The term “about” here means that the actual value falls within the acceptable standard error of the mean, as determined by the perception of those skilled in the art. Except for embodiments or unless otherwise specified, the ranges, quantities, numerical values ​​and percentages used herein can be understood as being modified by “about.” Thus, unless otherwise specified, the numerical values ​​or parameters disclosed herein and in the appended claims are approximations and may be modified as necessary.

[0025] In this specification, terms such as "top," "bottom," "front," "back," "left," "right," "top," "bottom," "inside," and "outside," which indicate the orientation or positional relationship of components, are used merely to facilitate the explanation of the apparatus of the present invention and to simplify the explanation. They do not illustrate or imply that the apparatus or components must have a specific orientation or must be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limitations on the present invention.

[0026] Figures 1 to 4 are explanatory diagrams of a liquid-cooled heat sink 10 usable in a lithium battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figures, the liquid-cooled heat sink 10 of the present invention includes at least two heat dissipation members 100 having exactly the same structure, and the heat dissipation member 100 has a rectangular plate body 101 including an inner surface 1011 and opposing outer surfaces 1012. A U-shaped frame 102 of appropriate height is provided on three sides around the inner surface 1011, and a plurality of heat dissipation columns 103 are provided on the inner surface 1011. The height of the intermediate frame 1021 of the U-shaped frame 102 is about twice the height of the side frames 1022, and the height of the heat dissipation columns 103 is less than or equal to the height of the side frames 1022 of the U-shaped frame 102. In this embodiment, the liquid-cooled heat sink 10 of the present invention is formed by joining two heat dissipation members 100 having exactly the same structure so that their inner surfaces 1011 face each other, then welding them together, and joining the intermediate frame 1021 of the U-shaped frame 102 of one heat dissipation member to the opening of the U-shaped frame 102 of the other heat dissipation member 100, thereby forming a liquid-cooled heat sink having a liquid flow chamber L. Here, the entire structure including the heat dissipation column 103 and the U-shaped frame 102 of the heat dissipation member 100 is manufactured by integrally molding a metal sheet (for example, a magnesium alloy or an aluminum alloy). The liquid-cooled heat sink 10 of the present invention further includes at least one liquid inlet 105 for connecting an external conduit for introducing cooling liquid into the liquid flow chamber L, and at least one liquid outlet 106 for connecting an external conduit for releasing cooling liquid from the liquid flow chamber L, wherein the liquid inlet 105 and the liquid outlet 106 can be installed on the same side or different sides of the liquid-cooled heat sink 10, respectively. After the cooling liquid enters the liquid flow chamber L, it flows through multiple heat dissipation columns 103 distributed within the liquid flow chamber L to perform heat exchange. Subsequently, the temperature of the cooling liquid, having absorbed the heat source, rises and it flows out through the drain port 106. Through an external conduit connected to the drain port 106, the cooling liquid, having absorbed the heat source, is transported to a heat dissipation device to dissipate heat, its temperature decreases, and the cooled cooling liquid is transported again through another external conduit and reinjected into the liquid flow chamber L via the liquid inlet 105. This cycle achieves the heat dissipation effect of the liquid-cooled heat sink.

[0027] To explain further, referring to Figures 1 to 3, in this embodiment, when manufacturing the heat dissipation member 100, at least one connector opening 104 can be installed in the intermediate frame 1021 of the U-shaped frame 102 beforehand. Then, two heat dissipation members 100 having the same structure are joined together to form a liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate 10. After that, the connector openings 104 become the liquid inlet 105 and the liquid outlet 106 of the liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate 10, and can be connected to an external conduit via a connector 200. In this embodiment, the liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate 10 is formed by joining together heat dissipation members 100 having the same structure. Each heat dissipation member 100 has one connector opening 104, and its position is located in the middle of the intermediate frame 1021. After the two heat dissipation members 100 are joined to each other to form a liquid-cooled heat sink 10, one connector opening 104 of one heat dissipation member 100 becomes a liquid inlet 105, and one connector opening 104 of the other heat dissipation member 100 becomes a liquid drain port 106, with the liquid inlet 105 and the liquid drain port 106 located on opposite sides (i.e., different sides) of the liquid-cooled heat sink 10.

[0028] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the liquid-cooled heat sink 20 in the second embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of liquid inlet ports 105 and a plurality of liquid outlet ports 106, with the plurality of liquid inlet ports 105 located on the opposite side of the plurality of liquid outlet ports 106. Further explanation, referring to Figure 5, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the liquid-cooled heat sink 20 is constructed by joining two heat dissipation member 110 pieces having the same structure, and the intermediate frame 1021 of the U-shaped frame 102 of the heat dissipation member 110 has a plurality of connector openings 104. The number of connector openings 104 described in this embodiment is four, but is not limited to this, and is evenly distributed on the intermediate frame 1021. Therefore, after joining two heat dissipation members 110 to form a liquid-cooled heat sink 20, the four connector openings 104 of one heat dissipation member 110 are used as four liquid inlet ports 105, and four external conduits are further connected via connectors 200, allowing cooling liquid to be injected into the liquid flow chamber L of the liquid-cooled heat sink 20 through these four external conduits. The four connector openings 104 of the other heat dissipation member 110 are used as four liquid drain ports 106, and four external conduits are further connected via connectors 200, allowing the cooling liquid flowing through the liquid flow chamber L to flow out into the external conduits through these four liquid drain ports 106, thereby enabling heat dissipation and circulation. In the liquid-cooled heat sink 20 of this embodiment, the four liquid inlet ports 105 are located on the opposite side of the four liquid drain ports 106. Furthermore, since the liquid-cooled heat sink 20 of this embodiment has four liquid inlet ports 105 and four liquid outlet ports 106, the volume of cooling liquid injected into and out of the liquid flow chamber L per unit time is larger compared to the liquid-cooled heat sink 10 which has one liquid inlet port 105 and one liquid outlet port 106, and the efficiency of liquid cooling and heat dissipation is relatively improved.

[0029] Referring to Figures 7 to 9, the liquid-cooled heat sink 30 of the third embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of liquid inlets 105 and a plurality of liquid outlets 106. These plurality of liquid inlets 105 are located on the same side as these plurality of liquid outlets 106. At the same time, the liquid-cooled heat sink 30 further has a single elongated sheet-like guide plate 300 within the liquid flow chamber L, located between these plurality of liquid inlets 105 and these plurality of liquid outlets 106. This guide plate allows the cooling liquid injected from the liquid inlets 105 to flow out to a relatively distant location, preventing the cooling liquid injected into the liquid flow chamber L from being directly discharged from the liquid outlets 106 and affecting the heat dissipation efficiency. The shape and number of the guide plates 300 can be designed according to the needs of the actual application. For example, the number of guide plates 300 may be one, two, three, four, five, or six. To further explain, referring to Figure 7, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the liquid-cooled heat sink 30 is formed by joining one heat dissipation member 120 and the other heat dissipation member 130. Here, the intermediate frame 1021 of the U-shaped frame 102 of the heat dissipation member 120 does not have connector openings 104. In contrast, the intermediate frame 1021 of the U-shaped frame 102 of the heat dissipation member 130 is provided with a plurality of connector openings 104. In this embodiment, there are six connector openings 104, which are evenly distributed on the intermediate frame 1021. When the heat dissipation members 120 and 130 are joined together to form the liquid-cooled heat sink 30, three of the six connector openings 104 located on one side can be designated as liquid supply ports 105, and the remaining three located on the other side can be designated as liquid drain ports 106. Simultaneously, as shown in Figure 7, a long, sheet-like flow guide plate 300 is further installed between the three liquid inlets 105 and the three drain ports. The flow guide plate 300 guides the direction of the flow of the cooling liquid flowing into the liquid flow chamber L from the three liquid inlets 105, preventing turbulence from forming in the liquid flow chamber L and allowing it to flow smoothly out through the three drain ports 106. In this embodiment, the shape of the flow guide plate 300 is an O-shaped, long sheet, as shown in Figure 9, and it can be fixed inside the liquid flow chamber L by covering the multiple heat dissipation columns 103 inside the liquid flow chamber L.

[0030] Referring to Figures 10 and 11, the liquid-cooled heat sink 40 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of liquid inlets 105 and a plurality of liquid outlets 106, the plurality of liquid inlets 105 located on the opposite side of the plurality of liquid outlets 106 and each located approximately diagonally opposite the liquid-cooled heat sink 40. The liquid flow chamber L of the liquid-cooled heat sink 40 in this embodiment further has a plurality of elongated sheet-like guide plates 300, the guide plates 300 located between the plurality of liquid inlets 105 and the plurality of liquid outlets 106. To further explain, referring to Figure 10, the fourth embodiment of the present invention is formed by joining one heat dissipation member 140 and the other heat dissipation member 150. Here, the difference between the heat dissipation member 140 and the heat dissipation member 150 is that their connector openings 104 are located on the left and right halves of the intermediate frame 1021 of the U-shaped frame 102, respectively. Therefore, after joining the heat dissipation member 140 and the heat dissipation member 150 to form the liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate 40, their connector openings 104 are located on opposite sides of the liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate 40, approximately diagonally opposite each other, as shown in Figure 11. In this embodiment, two guide plates 300 are also installed in the liquid flow chamber L to guide the flow direction of the cooling liquid flowing into the liquid flow chamber L, increasing the flow path, thereby increasing the residence time of the cooling liquid in the liquid flow chamber L and improving the heat dissipation efficiency.

[0031] The positions and number of connector openings 104 and flow guide plates 300 in each of the above embodiments can be adjusted according to the actual application, and each embodiment illustrates the content of the present invention and should not be considered a limitation on the liquid-cooled heat sink for which the present invention claims protection. For example, the liquid inlet 105 and the liquid outlet 106 may be provided on the same side or different sides of the liquid-cooled heat sink, and the number of liquid inlet 105 and liquid outlet 106 may be one, two, three, or four, and each liquid inlet 105 and liquid outlet 106 may be provided on the same side, partially on the same side, or both on different sides. Furthermore, as shown in each of the embodiments described above, the connector opening 104 is pre-provided on the intermediate frame 1021 of the heat dissipation members (heat dissipation members 100, 110, 130, 140, 150, etc.). Two heat dissipation members (heat dissipation members 120, etc.) that do not have the connector opening 104 pre-installed are joined to a liquid-cooled heat sink, and then the opening is made according to the requirements of the actual application.

[0032] In any embodiment described above, in the liquid-cooled heat sink (liquid-cooled heat sink 10, 20, 30, 40) of the present invention, the entire structure including the heat dissipation column 103 and the U-shaped frame of the heat dissipation member (heat dissipation member 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150) is integrally molded from a metal sheet / block, and the metal sheet / block is made of a magnesium alloy or an aluminum alloy.

[0033] In one of the above embodiments, the liquid-cooled heat sink of the present invention is formed by joining two heat dissipation members so that their inner surfaces 1011 face each other, and then welding them by laser welding. Laser welding is a processing method that uses a focused laser beam to quickly weld two objects of the same or different materials together. By using a high-energy laser to focus on a minute area between the two objects, the two objects can be quickly welded together, reducing the thermal influence on the objects being joined. Therefore, in order to avoid affecting the physical properties such as thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the heat dissipation members due to the relatively large cooling region during welding in conventional welding, the laser welding method is selected to join the heat dissipation members. In addition, unlike general welding, laser welding can weld objects of the same material together without using other dissimilar solder, and can maintain physical properties such as rigidity, thermal conductivity, and thermal diffusivity. Due to these properties, when the liquid-cooled heat sink of the present invention is used for heat dissipation in a lithium battery module, it can have significantly superior characteristics compared to other similar products. For example, when the liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate of the present invention is used for heat dissipation in a lithium battery module, it is less likely to deform or break at the welded parts when subjected to external impact, thus providing high safety.

[0034] In one embodiment, the liquid-cooled heat sink of the present invention (liquid-cooled heat sinks 10, 20, 30, 40; hereinafter, 10 will be described simply as an exemplary example) is used for heat dissipation of plate-shaped or sheet-shaped lithium battery modules. To maintain effective heat dissipation while matching the size design of the lithium battery module, the liquid-cooled heat sink 10 of the present invention is a plate structure with a length of approximately 250 to 600 mm, a width of approximately 150 to 450 mm, and a thickness of approximately 10 to 30 mm, and can be placed between plate-shaped or sheet-shaped lithium batteries 500.

[0035] In one embodiment, the liquid-cooled heat sinks of the present invention (liquid-cooled heat sinks 10, 20, 30, 40) use water as the cooling liquid, particularly softened water, to avoid the formation of limescale after long-term use. In other embodiments, an antifreeze (e.g., ethylene glycol) is added to the cooling liquid depending on the actual application conditions to prevent the cooling liquid from solidifying and becoming ineffective when the ambient temperature is below zero degrees Celsius.

[0036] Figures 12 and 13 are explanatory diagrams of a lithium battery module (S100, S200) according to one embodiment of the present invention, and include a liquid-cooled heat sink of any one embodiment of the present invention (the drawings illustrate a liquid-cooled heat sink 10 as a typical example). In one embodiment, the lithium battery module (S100, S200) of the present invention includes a plurality of liquid-cooled heat sinks 10 of any one embodiment and a plurality of sheet-shaped or plate-shaped lithium batteries 500, and the liquid-cooled heat sinks 10 are alternately installed between the plurality of sheet-shaped or plate-shaped lithium batteries 500. In any one embodiment, the lithium battery module (S100, S200) includes at least one sheet-shaped or plate-shaped lithium battery 500 between two adjacent liquid-cooled heat sinks 10.

[0037] In any embodiment, the lithium battery module (S200) described in the present invention includes two sheet-shaped or plate-shaped lithium batteries 500 between two adjacent liquid-cooled heat sinks 10. As described above, the liquid-cooled heat sinks (liquid-cooled heat sinks 10, 20, 30, 40) of the present invention have many heat dissipation columns 103 in the liquid flow chamber L, and have a significantly larger heat dissipation area compared to other cooling heat sinks, enabling more efficient heat exchange with the cooling liquid. At the same time, multiple liquid inlets 105 and multiple liquid outlets 106 can be designed according to the actual application situation to increase the flow of the cooling liquid and achieve a faster heat dissipation effect. Therefore, even when two sheet-shaped or plate-shaped lithium batteries are included between two adjacent liquid-cooled heat sinks 10, the temperature of the lithium battery module S200 can be maintained at the operating temperature, and the total weight of the lithium battery module S200 is reduced.

[0038] Naturally, the embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the present invention. Equal modifications or changes made based on the liquid-cooled heat sinks or lithium battery modules including liquid-cooled heat sinks of the above embodiments should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0039] Furthermore, the liquid-cooled heat sink usable in the lithium battery module of the present invention is manufactured by integrally molding a metal sheet to produce the heat dissipation component, which not only increases the total heat dissipation area of ​​the liquid-cooled heat sink but also improves the heat conduction efficiency and heat diffusion efficiency, resulting in higher rigidity and deformation resistance. In terms of heat dissipation efficiency, durability, and reliability, it is superior to general liquid-cooled heat dissipation devices. Overall, the liquid-cooled heat sink used in the lithium battery module of the present invention has the following advantages. 1. The liquid-cooled heat sink has many heat dissipation columns inside, resulting in high structural rigidity, allowing for a thinner design, making it less prone to breakage, and providing high safety. 2. It has a significantly larger heat dissipation and heat exchange area, resulting in better heat dissipation efficiency. 3. Because laser welding produces a uniform weld, the strength of the welded area is stronger than that of general low-temperature solder welding, making it less prone to breakage and thus safer than solder welding. 4. The heat dissipation area is larger than that of a typical liquid-cooled heat sink with flow channels, and the presence and distribution of the heat dissipation column increases the movement and mixing of the cooling liquid, resulting in a more uniform temperature distribution of the cooling liquid than that of a liquid-cooled heat sink with flow channels, and thus reducing the overall temperature difference of the heat dissipation device.

[0040] This invention surpasses the prior art, reliably achieves the desired effect, is not easily conceivable by those skilled in the art, possesses inventiveness and practicality, and clearly meets the requirements for a patent claim. Therefore, in accordance with the law, we have filed a patent application and sincerely request that your office grant a patent for this invention.

[0041] The foregoing is merely illustrative and not limiting. Any other equivalent modifications or changes that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be included in the claims set forth below. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 10 Liquid cooling heat sink 20 Liquid cooling heat sink 30 Liquid-cooled heat sink 40 Liquid-cooled heat sink 100 Heat dissipation component 110 Heat dissipation component 120 Heat dissipation component 130 Heat dissipation component 140 Heat dissipation components 150 Heat dissipation components 101 Rectangular plate 1011 Inner self 1012 Exterior 102 U-shaped frame 1021 Intermediate Frame 1022 Double-sided frame 103 Heat dissipation column 104 Connector opening 105 Liquid supply port 106 Drain port 200 connectors 300 Current guide plate 500 Sheet-shaped or plate-shaped lithium batteries S100 Lithium Battery Module S200 Lithium Battery Module L liquid flow chamber

Claims

1. A liquid-cooled heat sink comprising two heat dissipation members, at least one liquid inlet, and at least one liquid outlet, The heat dissipation member has a rectangular plate body including an inner surface and opposing outer surfaces, a U-shaped frame of appropriate height is provided on three sides around the inner surface, and a plurality of heat dissipation columns are provided on the inner surface, the height of the intermediate frame of the U-shaped frame is approximately twice the height of the frames on both sides, and the height of the heat dissipation columns is less than or equal to the height of the frames on both sides of the U-shaped frame, the liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate is formed by joining two of the heat dissipation members so that their inner surfaces face each other and the plurality of heat dissipation columns abut each other, and then welding them together, the intermediate frame of the U-shaped frame of one of the heat dissipation members is joined to the opening of the U-shaped frame of the other heat dissipation member, forming the liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate having a liquid flow chamber, and the entire structure including the heat dissipation columns and the U-shaped frame of the heat dissipation member is a structure integrally molded from a metal sheet / block. The aforementioned liquid inlet is connected to an external pipeline to allow cooling liquid to flow into the liquid flow chamber. The aforementioned drain port is connected to an external pipeline to allow the cooling liquid to flow out of the liquid flow chamber. A liquid-cooled heat sink, wherein the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet are installed on the same side or different sides of the liquid-cooled heat sink.

2. The liquid-cooled heat sink according to claim 1, wherein the metal sheet / block is a magnesium alloy or an aluminum alloy.

3. The liquid-cooled heat sink is formed by laser welding after joining two heat dissipation members so that their inner surfaces face each other, according to claim 1.

4. The liquid flow chamber further comprises at least one guide plate, according to claim 1.

5. A liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate according to claim 1, which is used for heat dissipation of a plate-shaped or sheet-shaped lithium battery module, and wherein the liquid-cooled heat dissipation plate has a length of approximately 250 to 600 mm, a width of approximately 150 to 450 mm, and a thickness of approximately 10 to 30 mm.

6. The liquid-cooled heat sink according to claim 1, wherein the cooling liquid is water.

7. A lithium battery module comprising a plurality of liquid-cooled heat sinks according to claim 1 and a plurality of sheet-shaped or plate-shaped lithium batteries, wherein the liquid-cooled heat sinks are alternately arranged between the plurality of sheet-shaped or plate-shaped lithium batteries.

8. The lithium battery module according to claim 7, comprising at least one sheet-shaped or plate-shaped lithium battery between two adjacent liquid-cooled heat sinks.

9. The lithium battery module according to claim 7, comprising two sheet-shaped or plate-shaped lithium batteries between two adjacent liquid-cooled heat sinks.

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