Battery pack thermal management device, battery pack, and vehicle

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of batteries, and provides a battery pack thermal management device, a battery pack, and a vehicle. The battery pack thermal management device comprises a housing; the housing comprises at least two thermal management plates and a frame; among the at least two thermal management plates, one thermal management plate is located at the top end of the frame and connected to the frame, and the other thermal management plate is located at the bottom end of the frame and connected to the frame. An accommodation cavity is defined by the inner wall of the frame and the thermal management plates located at the two ends of the frame, the accommodation cavity is used for accommodating battery cells, and the thermal management plates located at the two ends of the frame are attached to two ends of the battery cells, respectively. A flow channel is formed in each thermal management plate, and the thermal management plate cools or heats the battery cells by means of a medium in the flow channel. According to the technical solution, the two thermal management plates are respectively attached to the top end and the bottom end of the battery cells, a flow channel is formed in each thermal management plate, and the battery cells are cooled or heated by means of the medium in the flow channel; the flow channels do not occupy the battery cell area, thereby increasing the battery capacity of the battery pack, and there is no need to provide joints between water pipes, thereby reducing the risk of medium leakage.

Description

Battery pack thermal management device, battery pack and vehicle

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on December 29, 2023, with application number 202311872799.9 and application name “Battery Pack Thermal Management Device, Battery Pack and Vehicle”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a battery pack thermal management device, a battery pack and a vehicle. Background Art

[0004] With the rapid development of the new energy electric vehicle industry, the driving range of electric vehicles is getting longer and longer, and the charging time is getting shorter and shorter. As a result, the battery capacity of the battery packs in electric vehicles is getting larger and larger, and the charging speed is getting faster and faster, which puts higher requirements on the thermal management of the battery packs.

[0005] The battery pack thermal management device includes a shell and a cooling plate and water pipe arranged inside the shell. The water pipe is arranged in the battery cell area and the bottom cooling plate area. The flow of the medium in the water pipe removes the heat generated by the battery cell or heats the battery cell.

[0006] However, the battery capacity of the battery pack in the above-mentioned battery pack thermal management device is limited, and the medium is easily leaked into the battery cells. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention provides a battery pack thermal management device, a battery pack and a vehicle, which are used to solve the problems in the above-mentioned related art that the battery capacity of the battery pack is limited and the medium is easily leaked into the battery cell.

[0008] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a battery pack thermal management device, comprising a housing, the housing comprising at least two thermal management plates and a frame, wherein one of the at least two thermal management plates is located at the top of the frame and connected to the frame, and the other is located at the bottom of the frame and connected to the frame. The inner wall of the frame and the thermal management plates located at both ends of the frame form a receiving cavity, which is used to accommodate battery cells, and the thermal management plates located at both ends of the frame are respectively attached to the two ends of the battery cells. Each thermal management plate has a flow channel, and the thermal management plate cools or heats the battery cells through the medium in the flow channel.

[0009] The battery pack thermal management device provided in the embodiment of the present application is configured such that the thermal management plates located at both ends of the frame are bonded to both ends of the battery cell, respectively, so that the thermal management plates located at both ends of the frame can exchange heat with the battery cell by bonding to both ends of the battery cell, including cooling the battery cell and heating the battery cell. By having a flow channel in the thermal management plate, the thermal management plate cools or heats the battery cell through the medium in the flow channel, thus avoiding the flow channel occupying the battery cell space. The thermal management plate exchanges heat with the battery cell through the medium in the flow channel, cooling or heating the battery cell, thereby achieving thermal management of the battery pack, avoiding the arrangement of water pipes in the battery cell area to occupy the battery cell space, resulting in a small battery pack capacity, and avoiding the accidental occurrence of medium flowing into the battery cell due to cracking of the water pipe during a vehicle collision.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the battery pack thermal management device further includes a converter, and the thermal management plates are each configured with a cooling mode and a heating mode. The converter is configured to switch between the cooling mode and the heating mode by controlling the flow direction of the medium in the flow channel.

[0011] By controlling the flow direction of the medium in the flow channel through a converter to switch between the cooling mode and the heating mode, the battery cell can be cooled and heated, and the temperature distribution in each area of ​​the battery cell can be uniform, avoiding excessive temperature differences in the battery cells.

[0012] In a possible implementation, the flow channel includes at least two sub-flow channels, and the flow directions of the media in the at least two sub-flow channels are opposite.

[0013] By providing at least two sub-flow channels, the temperature distribution of each area of ​​the battery cell can be made uniform, thereby better achieving thermal management of the battery cell.

[0014] In one possible implementation, each sub-channel includes a first interface, a second interface, an inner channel, an outer channel, and an end channel. One of the first interface and the second interface is used to input a medium into the sub-channel, and the other is used to output the medium from the sub-channel. Each inner channel is located in the center of the thermal management plate, and each outer channel is located at the edge of the thermal management plate. The first interface is connected to the first end of the inner channel, the second end of the inner channel is connected to the first end of the end channel, the second end of the end channel is connected to the first end of the outer channel, and the second end of the outer channel is connected to the second interface.

[0015] By allowing the medium to flow through the inner flow channel and then into the outer flow channel in the cooling mode, and allowing the medium to flow through the outer flow channel and then into the inner flow channel in the heating mode, excessive temperature difference of the battery cell can be avoided, thereby protecting the battery cell.

[0016] In a possible implementation, each sub-channel further includes a connecting channel, the second interface is close to the first interface, a first end of the connecting channel is communicated with the external channel, and a second end of the connecting channel is communicated with the second interface.

[0017] By setting up a connecting channel, when the thermal management plate is in cooling mode, the medium can take away the heat in the middle of the battery cell and then flow through the outside of the battery cell. While cooling the external battery cell, part of the heat in the medium is dissipated outward, the temperature of the medium is reduced, and then flowing into the connecting flow channel can achieve a better cooling effect.

[0018] In a possible implementation, each inner flow channel and each outer flow channel includes a plurality of parallel flow channels.

[0019] By arranging the inner flow channel and each outer flow channel to include a plurality of parallel flow channels, heat exchange is made more sufficient and the cooling or heating effect is better.

[0020] In a possible implementation, each inner flow channel and each outer flow channel includes four parallel flow channels.

[0021] By arranging each inner flow channel and each outer flow channel to include four parallel flow channels, the requirements for the power source for driving the flow of the medium can be reduced while ensuring the heat exchange efficiency, thereby reducing costs.

[0022] In a possible implementation, when the heat management plate is in a cooling mode, the first interface is an inlet and the second interface is an outlet. When the heat management plate is in a heating mode, the first interface is an outlet and the second interface is an inlet.

[0023] By setting the first interface as the inlet and the second interface as the outlet when the thermal management plate is in cooling mode, and setting the first interface as the outlet and the second interface as the inlet when the thermal management plate is in heating mode, the switching between heating and cooling modes can be improved. In cooling mode, the medium flows through the inner flow channel and then into the outer flow channel, while in heating mode, the medium flows through the outer flow channel and then into the inner flow channel, thus achieving uniform temperature distribution of the battery cells and avoiding excessive temperature differences between the battery cells.

[0024] In a possible implementation, the thermal management plates located at both ends of the frame are bonded to both ends of the battery cell through a thermally conductive structural adhesive.

[0025] This can make the heat exchange efficiency between the thermal management plate and the battery cell higher.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the heat management plate is an aluminum profile plate having multiple cavities therein, with blocking plates arranged between the cavities to form flow channels. Alternatively, the heat management plate is made by a stamping process.

[0027] By using an aluminum profile for the thermal management plate, processing difficulty can be reduced, thereby lowering costs. Furthermore, the aluminum surface has strong oxidation resistance and good corrosion resistance, which can extend the service life of the thermal management plate. By making the thermal management plate through a stamping process, the processing difficulty of the thermal management plate can be further simplified, thereby reducing costs and enhancing product strength.

[0028] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a battery pack comprising a battery cell and a battery pack thermal management device according to any of the above items, wherein the battery cell is located in a receiving cavity in the battery pack thermal management device, and the top and bottom ends of the battery cell are respectively attached to the thermal management plates located at both ends of the frame in the battery pack thermal management device.

[0029] By installing the aforementioned battery pack thermal management device within the battery pack, the cell-accommodating cavity within the battery pack is freed from the flow channel, increasing the overall battery capacity of the battery pack. Furthermore, by integrating the upper cover with the thermal management plate, and the lower cover with the thermal management plate, the weight of the battery pack is reduced. The sidewalls of the flow channel within the thermal management system enhance the overall structural strength of the battery pack. Furthermore, there is no need for water pipes or other piping, nor are there any connectors required to connect them, further saving costs.

[0030] In a third aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle comprising a vehicle body and a battery pack thermal management device as described in any one of the first aspects above.

[0031] The vehicle in the embodiment of the present application is provided with the battery pack thermal management device of the first aspect mentioned above. Since the battery pack thermal management device sets a flow channel in the thermal management plate, the thermal management plate cools down or heats up the battery cell through the medium in the flow channel, thus avoiding the flow channel occupying the battery cell space. In other words, more battery cells can be arranged in the same space, thereby increasing the capacity of the battery pack, improving the vehicle's endurance, and improving the user experience. In addition, by setting the thermal management plate to exchange heat with the medium in the flow channel and cooling or heating up the battery cell, the thermal management of the battery pack is achieved, avoiding the arrangement of water pipes in the battery cell area to occupy the battery cell space, resulting in a small battery pack capacity, and avoiding the accidental occurrence of the medium flowing into the battery cell due to the rupture of the water pipe during a vehicle collision. The safety factor of the vehicle is improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0033] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a battery pack thermal management device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of an exploded structure of a battery pack thermal management device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] FIG3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a thermal management plate in a thermal management device for a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention in a cooling mode;

[0036] FIG4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a thermal management plate in a thermal management device for a battery pack provided by an embodiment of the present invention in a temperature rising mode.

[0037] Explanation of the accompanying drawings: 100-shell; 110-thermal management plate; 110a-upper thermal management plate; 110b-lower thermal management plate; 111-blocking plate; 120-frame; 121-annular body; 122-cross beam; 123-vertical beam; 124-first connecting part; 125-second connecting part; 126-third connecting part; 127-fourth connecting part; 130-accommodating chamber; 140-flow channel; 141-sub-flow channel; 142-first interface; 143-second interface; 144-inner flow channel; 145-outer flow channel; 146-end flow channel; 147-connecting flow channel; 148-parallel flow channel; 200-battery cell; 300-thermal conductive structural adhesive. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The battery pack's capacity is limited because, in related art, water pipes or other conduits are placed in the cell area, taking up a significant amount of space. This reduces the space available for the cells and limits the overall capacity of the battery pack. The battery pack's dielectric easily leaks into the cells because, in related art, water pipes or other conduits are placed in the cell area and connected to each other via connectors. After a vehicle collision, these connectors can easily break or the conduits can crack, allowing the dielectric in the pipes or other conduits to leak into the cells, causing a short circuit.

[0039] In response to the above technical problems, embodiments of the present invention provide a battery pack thermal management device, a battery pack, and a vehicle. The device includes at least two thermal management plates in a shell. The two thermal management plates at both ends of the shell form a receiving cavity for accommodating battery cells with the inner wall of the shell. The two thermal management plates at both ends of the shell are respectively attached to the top and bottom ends of the battery cells, and the thermal management plates have flow channels, which cool or heat the battery cells through the medium in the flow channels. Arranging the flow channels in the thermal management plates avoids the flow channels occupying the battery cell area, thereby increasing the number of battery cells and improving the overall battery capacity of the battery pack. Arranging the flow channels in the thermal management plates and cooling or heating the battery cells through the medium in the flow channels eliminates the need for connecting joints between water pipes or other pipes, thereby reducing the risk of medium leakage and saving costs.

[0040] In order to make the above-mentioned purposes, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0041] Referring to Figures 1 and 2 , an embodiment of the present invention provides a battery pack thermal management device, including a housing 100. Housing 100 is the main structure of the battery pack thermal management device, used to support the device and protect the battery cells 200 within the device. Housing 100 can be made of aluminum alloy, stainless steel, or other materials. To ensure the strength and weight requirements of the battery pack thermal management device, housing 100 is typically made of aluminum alloy.

[0042] The housing 100 includes at least two thermal management plates 110 and a frame 120. The thermal management plates 110 are used to thermally manage the battery cells 200. Thermal management includes cooling the battery cells 200 and heating the battery cells 200. For example, when the battery pack is rapidly charging, the temperature of the battery cells 200 rises rapidly. To prevent the battery cells 200 from being damaged by excessive temperature, the temperature of the battery cells 200 needs to be lowered. Thermal management refers to cooling the battery cells 200. Alternatively, when the battery pack is charging in winter or other low-temperature environments, the battery pack cannot charge due to the low ambient temperature, and the temperature of the battery cells 200 needs to be increased. Thermal management refers to heating the battery cells 200.

[0043] At least two thermal management plates 110 refer to the number of thermal management plates 110 in the housing 100, which can be two, three, or more. For ease of description, referring to Figures 1 and 2, the housing 100 includes two thermal management plates 110 as an example. The thermal management plate 110 located at the top of the frame 120 is defined as the upper thermal management plate 110a, and the thermal management plate 110 located at the bottom of the frame 120 is defined as the lower thermal management plate 110b. As shown in Figure 1, the upper thermal management plate 110a is located at the top of the frame 120 and is connected to the frame 120, for example, by threaded connection. The upper thermal management plate 110a serves as the upper cover of the housing 100. While providing thermal management for the battery cells 200, it also enhances the overall strength of the battery pack thermal management device and protects the battery cells 200. The lower thermal management plate 110b is located at the bottom of the frame 120 and is connected to the frame 120, for example, by threaded connection. The lower thermal management plate 110 b is the lower cover of the housing 100 . While performing thermal management on the battery cells 200 , it also enhances the overall strength of the thermal management device of the battery pack and protects the battery cells 200 .

[0044] The frame 120 is the main structure of the housing 100 and is used to connect the upper thermal management plate 110a and the lower thermal management plate 110b. As shown in Figure 1, the frame 120 may include an annular body 121, a crossbeam 122, and a vertical beam 123. The annular body 121 includes a first connecting portion 124, a second connecting portion 125, a third connecting portion 126, and a fourth connecting portion 127, which are connected end to end. The first connecting portion 124 and the third connecting portion 126 are arranged opposite each other, and the second connecting portion 125 and the fourth connecting portion 127 are arranged opposite each other. The ends of the crossbeam 122 are connected to the middle of the first connecting portion 124 and the middle of the third connecting portion 126, respectively. The ends of the vertical beam 123 are connected to the middle of the second connecting portion 125 and the middle of the fourth connecting portion 127, respectively. Both the crossbeam 122 and the vertical beam 123 are provided with threaded holes for connecting the upper thermal management plate 110a and the lower thermal management plate 110b. The horizontal beam 122 and the vertical beam 123 are provided to enhance the structural strength of the frame 120 and the housing 100 .

[0045] The inner wall of the frame 120, the upper thermal management plate 110a, and the lower thermal management plate 110b form a housing cavity 130. This cavity 130 is a hollow structure for accommodating the battery cells. The space within cavity 130 serves as the placement area for the battery cells 200. The upper thermal management plate 110a mates with the top of the battery cells 200, while the lower thermal management plate 110b mates with the bottom of the battery cells 200. It should be noted that "mate" can refer to direct contact between the two, or indirect contact between the two, or through glue, tape, or the like.

[0046] It should be noted that when the number of the heat management plates 110 is greater than two, the heat management plates 110 may be attached to the side surfaces of the battery cells 200 .

[0047] As shown in Figures 3 and 4 , each thermal management plate 110 has a flow channel 140 within it. A medium flows through the flow channel 140 . The medium is used to cool or heat the battery cells 200. The medium can be water, ethylene glycol, oil, air, etc. The medium flows through the flow channel 140 to exchange heat with the battery cells 200, thereby cooling or heating the battery cells 200.

[0048] The present application provides a battery pack thermal management device. The inner wall of a frame 120, an upper thermal management plate 110a, and a lower thermal management plate 110b define a housing 130 for accommodating a battery cell 200. The upper thermal management plate 110a and the lower thermal management plate 110b are respectively attached to the top and bottom ends of the battery cell 200. Each of the upper and lower thermal management plates 110a and 110b includes flow channels 140. The flow of a medium within the flow channels 140 exchanges heat with the top and bottom ends of the battery cell 200, thereby cooling or heating the battery cell 200. Because the upper and lower thermal management plates 110a and 110b serve as the upper and lower covers of the housing 100, respectively, providing flow channels 140 therein, rather than placing water pipes or other conduits within the housing 130, reduces the overall weight of the battery pack thermal management device, increases the space available for arranging the battery cell 200, and thereby increases the overall battery capacity of the battery pack. In addition, there is no need to set up joints for connecting water pipes or other pipes, which reduces the risk of medium leakage.

[0049] In some embodiments, the battery pack thermal management device further includes a converter, which is used to switch the working mode of the thermal management plate 110. The thermal management plate 110 is provided with a cooling mode and a heating mode. The cooling mode is used to cool the battery cell 200. For example, when the battery cell 200 is in a fast charging state and the temperature of the battery cell 200 rises rapidly, the converter switches the thermal management plate 110 to the cooling mode. In the cooling mode, after the medium is input from the middle of the flow channel 140 in the thermal management plate 110, the medium flows to the outside of the flow channel 140. Since the heat in the middle of the battery cell 200 is higher than the heat outside the battery cell 200, the medium is input from the middle of the flow channel 140, quickly taking away the heat in the middle of the battery cell 200, and the temperature in the middle of the battery cell 200 is quickly reduced, thereby balancing the temperature of each area of ​​the battery cell 200 and avoiding excessive temperature differences in the battery cell 200.

[0050] The heating mode is used to heat the battery cell 200. For example, when the battery cell 200 is charged in winter or other low-temperature environments, the charging speed is slow due to the low ambient temperature. Alternatively, when the vehicle is in winter or other low-temperature environments, the discharge rate of the battery cell 200 is low, making it difficult for the vehicle to accelerate. The converter is required to switch the thermal management plate 110 to the heating mode. In the heating mode, after the medium is input from the outside of the flow channel 140 in the thermal management plate 110, the medium flows to the middle of the flow channel 140. Since the heat outside the battery cell 200 is lower than the heat in the middle of the battery cell, the medium is input from the outside of the flow channel 140, increasing the heat outside the battery cell 200. The temperature outside the battery cell 200 rises rapidly, thereby balancing the temperature of each area of ​​the battery cell 200 and avoiding excessive temperature differences in the battery cell 200.

[0051] The converter is used to switch between cooling mode and heating mode by controlling the flow direction of the medium in the flow channel 140. In cooling mode, the medium is input from the middle of the flow channel 140 and flows to the outside of the flow channel 140. In heating mode, the medium is input from the outside of the flow channel 140 and flows to the middle of the flow channel 140, thereby preventing excessive temperature differences caused by uneven temperature distribution in different areas of the battery cell 200.

[0052] 3 and 4 , in some embodiments, the flow channel 140 includes at least two sub-flow channels 141 , with the media flowing in opposite directions within at least the two sub-flow channels 141 . For example, as shown in FIG3 and FIG4 , there are two sub-flow channels 141 , with the first sub-flow channel 141 located at the rear of the thermal management plate 110 and the second sub-flow channel 141 located at the front of the thermal management plate 110 . As shown in FIG3 , when the thermal management plate 110 is in cooling mode, the media in the first sub-flow channel 141 flows from the middle of the thermal management plate 110 toward the rear of the thermal management plate 110 , while the media in the second sub-flow channel 141 flows from the middle of the second sub-flow channel 141 toward the front of the thermal management plate 110 . This ensures uniform temperature distribution across all regions of the battery cell 200 in cooling mode, preventing significant temperature differences.

[0053] As shown in Figure 4, when the thermal management plate 110 is in the heating mode, the medium in the first sub-channel 141 flows from the rear of the thermal management plate 110 to the center of the thermal management plate 110, while the medium in the second sub-channel 141 flows from the front of the second sub-channel 141 to the center of the thermal management plate 110. This ensures uniform temperature distribution across all regions of the battery cell 200 in the heating mode, preventing significant temperature differences.

[0054] 3 and 4 , in some embodiments, each sub-channel 141 includes a first port 142, a second port 143, an inner channel 144, an outer channel 145, and an end channel 146. One of the first port 142 and the second port 143 is used to input a medium into the sub-channel 141, and the other is used to output the medium from the sub-channel 141. For example, when the thermal management plate 110 is in a cooling mode, the first port 142 is used to input a medium into the sub-channel 141, and the second port 143 is used to output the medium from the sub-channel 141. When the thermal management plate 110 is in a heating mode, the second port 143 is used to input a medium into the sub-channel 141, and the first port 142 is used to output the medium from the sub-channel 141.

[0055] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each inner flow channel 144 is located in the middle of the heat management plate 110, and each outer flow channel is located at the edge of the heat management plate 110. Taking the number of sub-channels 141 as two as an example, the inner flow channels 144 in the first sub-channel 141 and the second sub-channel 141 are both located in the middle of the heat management plate 110, the outer flow channel 145 in the first sub-channel 141 is located at the rear of the heat management plate 110, and the outer flow channel 145 in the second sub-channel 141 is located at the front of the heat management plate 110.

[0056] The first interface 142 is connected to the first end of the inner flow channel 144, the second end of the inner flow channel 144 is connected to the first end of the end flow channel 146, the second end of the end flow channel 146 is connected to the first end of the outer flow channel 145, and the second end of the outer flow channel 145 is connected to the second interface. As shown in Figure 3, when the heat management plate 110 is in the cooling mode, the medium enters the inner flow channel 144 through the first interface 142, and then flows through the end flow channel 146 and the outer flow channel 145 in sequence before flowing out from the second interface 143, so that the medium flows through the inner flow channel 144 first and then flows through the outer flow channel 145, so that the internal temperature of the battery cell 200 is reduced first, thereby avoiding excessive temperature difference in the battery cell 200.

[0057] As shown in Figure 4, when the thermal management plate 110 is in the heating mode, the medium flows into the outer flow channel 145 through the second interface 143, and then flows out from the first interface 142 through the end flow channel 146 and the inner flow channel 144 in sequence, so that the medium first flows through the outer flow channel 145 and then flows through the inner flow channel 144, so that the external temperature of the battery cell 200 is reduced first, thereby avoiding excessive temperature difference of the battery cell 200.

[0058] 3 and 4 , in some embodiments, each sub-channel 141 further includes a connecting channel 147 , a first end of the connecting channel 147 being connected to the outer channel 145 , a second end of the connecting channel 147 being connected to the second interface 143 , the connecting channel 147 being located between the outer channel 145 and the inner channel 144 , and the medium flowing out of the outer channel. With this arrangement, when the thermal management plate 110 is in cooling mode, the medium flows from the first interface 142 into the inner channel 144 and then flows through the end channel 146 , the outer channel 145 and the connecting channel 147 in sequence before flowing out through the second interface 143 . After taking away the heat from the middle of the battery cell 200 , the medium flows through the outside of the battery cell 200 . While cooling the outer battery cell 200 , part of the heat in the medium is dissipated outwards , the temperature of the medium is reduced, and then the medium flows into the connecting channel 147 , which can achieve a better cooling effect and make the temperature distribution of each area of ​​the battery cell uniform.

[0059] 3 and 4 , in some embodiments, each inner flow channel 144 and outer flow channel 145 includes multiple parallel flow channels 148 , each of which is divided by partitions to increase heat exchange efficiency. Each inner flow channel 144 and outer flow channel 145 can include four parallel flow channels 148 . If the number of parallel flow channels 148 is too small, the efficiency of heat exchange between the medium and the battery cell 200 is low, resulting in an increase in the temperature difference between different parts of the battery cell 200 . If the number of parallel flow channels 148 is too large, the requirements for the power source for driving the flow of the medium, such as a water pump, are too high, increasing costs.

[0060] In the above embodiment, when the heat management plate 110 is in the cooling mode, the first interface 142 serves as an inlet, through which the medium enters the sub-channel 141, and the second interface 143 serves as an outlet, through which the medium flows out of the sub-channel 141. When the heat management plate 110 is in the heating mode, the first interface 142 serves as an outlet, through which the medium flows out of the sub-channel 141, and the second interface 143 serves as an inlet, through which the medium enters the sub-channel 141.

[0061] Referring to FIG2 , in some embodiments, the thermal management plates 110 located at both ends of the frame 120 are bonded to both ends of the battery cell 200 via thermally conductive structural adhesive 300 . The thermal management plates 110 located at both ends of the frame 120 are respectively an upper thermal management plate 110 a and a lower thermal management plate 110 b . The upper thermal management plate 110 a is bonded to the top of the battery cell 200 via thermally conductive structural adhesive 300 , thereby bonding to the top of the battery cell 200 . The lower thermal management plate 110 b is bonded to the bottom of the battery cell 200 via thermally conductive structural adhesive 300 , thereby bonding to the bottom of the battery cell 200 . This improves heat exchange.

[0062] In some embodiments, the thermal management plate 110 is an aluminum profile plate, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The aluminum profile plate has multiple cavities inside, which can be used for medium flow. A blocking plate 111 is arranged between each cavity to form a flow channel 140. Since the material of the aluminum profile is usually a six-series aluminum alloy, compared with stamping aluminum sheet metal to form the thermal management plate 110 and the flow channel 140, it has low cost and high strength.

[0063] The present application also provides a battery pack, including a battery cell 200 and a battery pack thermal management device according to any of the above items. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the battery cell 200 is located in the accommodating cavity 130, and the top and bottom ends of the battery cell 200 are respectively attached to the thermal management plates 110 located at both ends of the frame 120. In the battery pack provided by the present application, the area of ​​the accommodating cavity 130 where the battery cell 200 is arranged is not occupied by the flow channel 140, thereby increasing the overall battery capacity of the battery pack, and integrating the upper cover with the upper thermal management plate 110a, and the lower cover with the lower thermal management plate 110b, thereby reducing the types of battery packs and enhancing the overall structural strength of the battery pack through the side walls of the flow channel in the thermal management. In addition, there is no need to arrange water pipes or other pipelines, as well as joints for connecting water pipes or other pipelines, which further saves costs.

[0064] The present application also provides a vehicle, which may include a vehicle body and the battery pack thermal management device in any of the above embodiments.

[0065] Alternatively, the present application further provides a vehicle comprising a vehicle body and the above-mentioned battery pack. The battery pack may include the battery pack thermal management device of any of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0066] The vehicle in the embodiment of the present application is provided with the above-mentioned battery pack thermal management device. Since the battery pack thermal management device sets a flow channel in the thermal management plate, the thermal management plate cools down or heats up the battery cell through the medium in the flow channel, thereby avoiding the flow channel occupying the battery cell space. In other words, more battery cells can be arranged in the same space. When the battery pack thermal management device is set on the vehicle, the capacity of the battery pack can be increased, thereby improving the vehicle's endurance and user experience. In addition, by allowing the medium in the flow channel set by the thermal management plate to exchange heat with the battery cell, the battery cell is cooled or heated, thereby achieving thermal management of the battery pack, avoiding the small battery pack capacity caused by arranging water pipes in the battery cell area to occupy the battery cell space, and avoiding the accidental occurrence of the medium flowing into the battery cell due to the rupture of the water pipe when the vehicle collides. The safety factor of the vehicle is improved.

[0067] The various embodiments or implementation methods in this specification are described in a progressive manner. Each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments, and the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referenced to each other.

[0068] It should be noted that phrases such as "in a specific implementation," "in some embodiments," "in this embodiment," and "exemplarily" mentioned in the specification indicate that the described embodiment may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in conjunction with an embodiment, it is within the knowledge of those skilled in the art to implement such feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments, whether explicitly described or not.

[0069] In general, terms should be understood, at least in part, based on the context in which they are used. For example, as used herein, the term "one or more" can be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in the singular sense, or can be used to describe a combination of features, structures, or characteristics in the plural sense, depending at least in part on the context. Similarly, terms such as "a," "an," or "the" can also be understood to convey either singular or plural usage, depending at least in part on the context.

[0070] It should be readily understood that “on,” “above,” and “over” in this disclosure should be interpreted in the broadest manner, such that “on” means not only “directly on something,” but also includes “on something” with intervening features or layers therebetween, and “above” or “over” includes not only the meaning of “above” or “over,” but also includes “above” or “over” with no intervening features or layers therebetween (i.e., directly on something).

[0071] Additionally, spatially relative terms, such as "below," "beneath," "beneath," "above," and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe the relationship of one element or feature relative to other elements or features as shown in the figures. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The device may be in other orientations (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0072] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A battery pack thermal management device, characterized in that, Comprising: A housing, the housing comprising at least two heat management plates and a frame, one of the at least two heat management plates being located at the top of the frame and connected to the frame, and the other being located at the bottom of the frame and connected to the frame; The inner wall of the frame and the heat management plates at both ends of the frame enclose a receiving cavity for accommodating the battery cells, and the heat management plates at both ends of the frame are respectively in contact with both ends of the battery cells; Each heat management plate has a flow channel, and the heat management plate cools or heats the battery cells through the medium in the flow channel.

2. The battery pack thermal management device according to claim 1, wherein The battery pack heat management device further comprises a converter, and the heat management plates are all provided with a cooling mode and a heating mode; The converter is used to switch the cooling mode and the heating mode by controlling the flow direction of the medium in the flow channel.

3. The battery pack thermal management device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flow channel comprises at least two sub-flow channels, and the flow directions of the medium in at least two sub-flow channels are opposite.

4. The battery pack thermal management device according to claim 3, wherein Each sub-flow channel comprises a first interface, a second interface, an inner flow channel, an outer flow channel and an end flow channel; One of the first interface and the second interface is used to input the medium into the sub-flow channel, and the other is used to output the medium from the sub-flow channel; Each of the inner flow channels is located in the middle of the heat management plate, and each of the outer flow channels is located at the edge of the heat management plate; The first interface is communicated with the first end of the inner flow channel, the second end of the inner flow channel is communicated with the first end of the end flow channel, the second end of the end flow channel is communicated with the first end of the outer flow channel, and the second end of the outer flow channel is communicated with the second interface.

5. The battery pack thermal management device according to claim 4, wherein Each sub-flow channel further comprises a connecting flow channel, and the second interface is close to the first interface; The first end of the connecting flow channel is communicated with the outer flow channel, and the second end of the connecting flow channel is communicated with the second interface.

6. The battery pack thermal management device according to claim 5, wherein, Each of the inner flow channels and each of the outer flow channels comprises a plurality of parallel flow channels.

7. The battery pack thermal management device according to claim 6, characterized in that, Each of the inner flow channels and each of the outer flow channels comprises four parallel flow channels.

8. The battery pack thermal management device according to any one of claims 4-7, characterized in that When the heat management plate is in the cooling mode, the first interface is the inlet and the second interface is the outlet; When the heat management plate is in the heating mode, the first interface is the outlet and the second interface is the inlet.

9. The battery pack thermal management device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The heat management plates at both ends of the frame are respectively in contact with both ends of the battery cells through a thermally conductive structural adhesive.

10. The battery pack thermal management device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The heat management plate is an aluminum profile plate, and the aluminum profile plate has a plurality of cavities inside, and the flow channel is formed by arranging blocking plates between the cavities; Alternatively, the heat management plate is made by a stamping process.

11. A battery pack, characterized in that, Comprising a battery cell and the battery pack heat management device according to any one of claims 1-10, the battery cell is located in the receiving cavity of the battery pack heat management device, and the top and bottom of the battery cell are respectively in contact with the heat management plates at both ends of the frame in the battery pack heat management device.

12. A vehicle, characterized in that, Comprising a vehicle body and the battery pack heat management device according to any one of the above claims 1-10.

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