Heat exchange assembly, case body, battery and electrical apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a heat exchange assembly, a case body, a battery and an electrical apparatus. The heat exchange assembly comprises a heat exchange piece, a current collecting piece and a sleeve; the heat exchange piece is provided with a flow channel extending in a first direction, the current collecting piece being arranged at the two ends of the heat exchange piece in the first direction; the current collecting piece is provided with fluid inlets / outlets, the fluid inlets / outlets leading to the flow channel; the sleeve is mutually sleeved on at least one of the heat exchange piece and the current collecting piece, and is connected to the heat exchange piece and the current collecting piece. The heat exchange assembly provided by the present application helps to improve the connection strength of the current collecting piece and the heat exchange piece and the overall structural strength of the heat exchange assembly, thereby helping to improve the reliability of batteries.

Description

Heat exchange components, boxes, batteries and electrical devices

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410008740.3, filed on January 3, 2024, entitled “Heat exchange component, box, battery and electrical device,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly, to a heat exchange assembly, a box, a battery, and an electrical device. Background Art

[0004] Batteries are widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, electric bicycles, electric cars, electric airplanes, electric boats, electric toy cars, electric toy boats, electric toy planes, and power tools. Battery cells can include nickel-cadmium battery cells, nickel-metal hydride battery cells, lithium-ion battery cells, and secondary alkaline zinc-manganese battery cells.

[0005] In the development of battery technology, in addition to improving the performance of batteries, how to improve the reliability of batteries is also an issue that cannot be ignored. Therefore, how to improve the reliability of batteries is a technical issue that needs continuous improvement in battery technology.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The embodiments of the present application provide a heat exchange assembly, a housing, a battery, and an electrical device, which can improve the reliability of the battery.

[0008] In the first aspect, the heat exchange assembly provided in the embodiment of the present application includes a heat exchanger, a collecting member and a sleeve; the heat exchanger has a flow channel extending along a first direction; the collecting member is arranged at both ends of the heat exchanger along the first direction, and the collecting member has a fluid inlet and outlet, which are connected to the flow channel; the sleeve is mutually nested with at least one of the heat exchanger and the collecting member, and connects the heat exchanger and the collecting member.

[0009] The heat exchange assembly provided in the embodiment of the present application is beneficial to improving the connection strength between the current collecting part and the heat exchange part, and is beneficial to improving the overall structural strength of the heat exchange assembly by arranging a sleeve that is mutually nested with at least one of the current collecting part and the heat exchange part. This is beneficial to reducing the risk of leakage of the flow medium due to failure of the connection between the current collecting part and the heat exchange part, and improving the reliability of the heat exchange assembly. When the heat exchange assembly is used in a battery, it is beneficial to improve the reliability of the heat exchange between the heat exchange assembly and the battery cell, and thus is beneficial to improving the reliability of the battery.

[0010] In some embodiments, the sleeve includes a first sub-sleeve and a second sub-sleeve. The first sub-sleeve is nested with the end of the heat exchange member along the first direction, and the second sub-sleeve is nested with the end of the current collecting member facing the heat exchange member. The first sub-sleeve and the second sub-sleeve are interconnected. This further improves the connection strength between the current collecting member and the heat exchange member, thereby improving the overall structural strength of the heat exchange assembly. When the heat exchange assembly is used in a battery, it further improves the reliability of heat exchange between the heat exchange assembly and the battery cells, thereby further improving the reliability of the battery.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first and second sub-sleeves are each made of plastic and are injection molded, and the first and second sub-sleeves are welded together. This helps reduce the overall weight of the heat exchange assembly and, when used in a battery, helps increase the battery's energy density. It also helps reduce the manufacturing complexity of the first and second sub-sleeves, facilitating a simplified production process for the first and second sub-sleeves. The welded connection between the first and second sub-sleeves helps improve the connection strength between the first and second sub-sleeves, further enhancing the overall structural strength of the heat exchange assembly.

[0012] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the second sub-sleeve is sleeved on the outer circumference of the first sub-sleeve, thereby improving the connection strength between the first sub-sleeve and the second sub-sleeve, thereby improving the connection strength between the heat exchange element and the current collecting element, and further improving the overall structural strength of the heat exchange assembly.

[0013] In some embodiments, the second sub-sleeve has a slot on the side facing the current collecting member, and the end of the current collecting member facing the second sub-sleeve is accommodated in the slot. This helps to improve the connection strength between the second sub-sleeve and the current collecting member, thereby improving the overall structural strength of the heat exchange assembly.

[0014] In some embodiments, the heat exchange element has multiple flow channels spaced apart. The first sub-sleeve includes a sleeve portion and a reinforcement portion. The reinforcement portion and the sleeve portion enclose a plurality of through-holes, and the plurality of through-holes are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of flow channels. This helps improve the structural strength of the first sub-sleeve and, in turn, the strength of the connection between the heat exchange element and the first sub-sleeve.

[0015] In some embodiments, the first sub-sleeve and the heat exchange member are made of different materials and are adhesively connected to the heat exchange member, and / or the second sub-sleeve and the current collector are made of different materials and are adhesively connected to the current collector. Such an arrangement is beneficial for improving the structural strength of the heat exchange assembly, and facilitates the connection of the first sub-sleeve to the heat exchange member and the sealing connection between the first sub-sleeve and the heat exchange member, and / or facilitates the connection of the second sub-sleeve to the current collector and the sealing connection between the second sub-sleeve and the current collector.

[0016] In some embodiments, the flow channel includes a first flow channel, a second flow channel, and a third flow channel spaced apart from each other. The collector at one end of the heat exchanger includes a first guide channel and a second guide channel that are isolated from each other. The first guide channel connects the fluid inlet and outlet with the first flow channel, and the second guide channel connects the third flow channel with the adjacent second flow channel. The collector at the other end of the heat exchanger includes a third guide channel and a fourth guide channel that are isolated from each other. The third guide channel connects the third flow channel with the fluid inlet and outlet, and the fourth guide channel connects the first flow channel with the adjacent second flow channel, so that the first flow channel, the second flow channel, and the third flow channel are connected in series. When the heat exchange assembly is used in a battery, the fluid medium flows through the first flow channel, the second flow channel, and the third flow channel in sequence, facilitating sufficient heat exchange between the fluid medium and the battery cells, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency between the fluid medium and the battery cells and reducing the amount of fluid medium used.

[0017] In some embodiments, the heat exchange assembly further includes a blocking member, and the flow channel includes an alternative flow channel. The blocking members are disposed at both ends of the heat exchange element along the first direction to block the alternative flow channel. This advantageously improves the connection strength between the current collector and the heat exchange element, while also enhancing the heat exchange efficiency between the heat exchange assembly and the battery cells and improving the utilization rate of the flow medium. Furthermore, the blocking of the alternative flow channel by the blocking member further enhances the connection strength between the current collector and the heat exchange element, thereby improving the overall structural strength of the heat exchange assembly.

[0018] In some embodiments, the blocking piece and the sleeve are integrally injection molded, which is beneficial for improving the connection strength between the blocking piece and the sleeve and simplifying the production process of the blocking piece and the sleeve.

[0019] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a box body, comprising a heat exchange assembly as in the embodiment of the first aspect.

[0020] The box provided in the embodiment of the present application has the same technical effect as the heat exchange component provided in any of the above embodiments, and is not described in detail here.

[0021] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery, comprising a housing and a battery cell according to the embodiment of the second aspect; the battery cell is accommodated in the housing, and the heat exchange element is in contact with the battery cell and is used for heat exchange with the battery cell.

[0022] The battery provided in the embodiment of the present application has the same technical effects as the box provided in the above embodiment, and thus will not be described in detail here.

[0023] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electrical device, comprising a battery as in the embodiment of the third aspect, the battery being used to provide electrical energy.

[0024] The electrical device provided in the embodiment of the present application has the same technical effects as the battery provided in the embodiment of the present application, and thus will not be described in detail here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the drawings without creative work.

[0026] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0027] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of an explosion of a battery provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0028] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery module in a battery provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of an explosion of a battery cell in a battery provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0030] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of a heat exchange assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] FIG6 is a front view of a heat exchange assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] FIG7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure along AA in FIG6 ;

[0033] FIG8 is a partial enlarged view of point B in FIG7;

[0034] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a second sub-sleeve in a heat exchange assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of a first sub-sleeve in a heat exchange assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a heat exchange assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of another heat exchange assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] FIG13 is a partial structural diagram of another heat exchange component provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0039] In the drawings, the drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0040] Description of reference numerals:

[0041] 1. Vehicle; 1a. Motor; 1b. Controller;

[0042] 10. Battery; 11. Box; 111. First box portion; 112. Second box portion;

[0043] 20. Battery module;

[0044] 30. Battery cell; 31. Housing; 31a. Accommodation cavity; 311. Housing body; 311a. Opening; 312. End cap; 32. Electrode assembly;

[0045] 40. Heat exchange assembly; 41. Heat exchange element; 411. Flow channel; 411a. First flow channel; 411b. Second flow channel; 411c. Third flow channel; 411d. Alternative flow channel; 42. Flow collector; 42a. Fluid inlet and outlet; 42b. First flow guide channel; 42c. Second flow guide channel; 42d. Third flow guide channel; 42e. Fourth flow guide channel; 43. Sleeve; 431. First sub-sleeve; 431a. Through hole; 4311. Sleeve portion; 4312. Reinforcement portion; 432. Second sub-sleeve; 432a. Slot; 44. Blocking member;

[0046] X, first direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] The following detailed description of the embodiments of the present application is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples. The following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings are used to illustrate the principles of the present application, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present application, that is, the present application is not limited to the described embodiments.

[0048] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means more than two; the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating directions or positional relationships, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on this application. In addition, the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. "Vertical" is not strictly perpendicular, but is within the allowable error range. "Parallel" is not strictly parallel, but is within the allowable error range.

[0049] References to "embodiments" in this application mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application may be combined with other embodiments.

[0050] It should also be noted that, in the description of this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "connected" should be understood broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediary. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0051] In this application, battery cells may include lithium-ion secondary battery cells, lithium-ion primary battery cells, lithium-sulfur battery cells, sodium-lithium-ion battery cells, sodium-ion battery cells, or magnesium-ion battery cells, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit this. Battery cells may be cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or other shapes, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit this. Battery cells are generally divided into three types based on the packaging method: cylindrical battery cells, prismatic battery cells, and soft-pack battery cells, and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0052] The battery referred to in the embodiments of this application refers to a single physical module that includes one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery referred to in this application may include a battery module or a battery pack. A battery generally includes a casing that encloses one or more battery cells. The casing prevents liquids or other foreign matter from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

[0053] A battery cell includes an electrode assembly and an electrolyte. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, and a separator. A battery cell primarily operates by the movement of metal ions between the positive and negative electrode sheets. The positive electrode sheet includes a positive current collector and a positive active material layer. The positive active material layer is coated on the surface of the positive current collector. The positive current collector includes a positive current collector portion and a positive protrusion protruding from the positive current collector portion. The positive current collector portion is coated with the positive active material layer. At least a portion of the positive protrusion portion is not coated with the positive active material layer. The positive protrusion portion serves as a positive electrode tab. Taking a lithium-ion battery as an example, the material of the positive current collector can be aluminum. The positive active material layer includes a positive active material. The positive active material can be lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, or lithium manganese oxide, among others. The negative electrode sheet includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer, and the negative electrode active material layer is coated on the surface of the negative electrode current collector; the negative electrode current collector includes a negative electrode current collecting portion and a negative electrode protrusion protruding from the negative electrode current collecting portion, the negative electrode current collecting portion is coated with the negative electrode active material layer, and at least part of the negative electrode protrusion is not coated with the negative electrode active material layer, and the negative electrode protrusion serves as a negative electrode tab. The material of the negative electrode current collector can be copper, and the negative electrode active material layer includes a negative electrode active material, and the negative electrode active material can be carbon or silicon, etc. In order to ensure that a large current passes without melting, the number of positive electrode tabs is multiple and stacked together, and the number of negative electrode tabs is multiple and stacked together. The material of the separator can be PP (polypropylene, polypropylene) or PE (polyethylene, polyethylene), etc. In addition, the electrode assembly can be a wound structure or a laminated structure, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0054] Battery cells inevitably generate heat during cycling. When operating in extremely cold environments, they need to be heated at the beginning of operation to keep them operating at a reasonable temperature. Batteries typically exchange heat with the battery cells through a low- or high-temperature fluid flowing through a heat exchange assembly, cooling or heating the battery cells and keeping them operating within an appropriate temperature range.

[0055] However, in the related art, the connection strength of the connection points of the related structures in the heat exchange assembly is low. During the use of the heat exchange assembly, the connection points of the related structures are prone to cracking and other problems, which can easily cause the flow medium inside the heat exchange assembly to flow out, making it impossible to heat or cool the battery cells, causing the operating temperature of the battery cells to be too low or too high, thus seriously affecting the reliability of the battery.

[0056] Based on this, the inventors improved the structure of the heat exchange assembly. The technical solution described in the embodiments of this application is applicable to the heat exchange assembly, a box including the heat exchange assembly, a battery using the box, and an electrical device using the battery.

[0057] The heat exchange assembly provided in the embodiments of the present application utilizes a sleeve that is nested with at least one of a heat exchanger and a current collector. This sleeve connects the heat exchanger and current collector, allowing the flow channel of the heat exchanger to communicate with the fluid inlet and fluid outlet of the current collector. This helps increase the connection strength between the current collector and the heat exchanger, reduces the risk of cracking at the connection, and thus improves the overall structural strength of the heat exchange assembly, reduces the risk of fluid leakage during operation, and thus improves the reliability of the battery.

[0058] Electrical devices may include vehicles, mobile phones, portable devices, laptop computers, ships, spacecraft, electric toys, and electric tools, etc. Vehicles may include fuel vehicles, gas vehicles, or new energy vehicles. New energy vehicles may include pure electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, or extended-range vehicles, etc. Spacecraft include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc. Electric toys include fixed or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc. Electric tools include metal cutting electric tools, grinding electric tools, assembly electric tools, and railway electric tools, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, impact drills, concrete vibrators, and electric planers, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not impose any special restrictions on the above-mentioned electrical devices.

[0059] For the convenience of description, the following embodiments are described by taking a vehicle as an example of an electrical device.

[0060] As shown in FIG1 , a battery 10 is provided inside a vehicle 1. The battery 10 may be provided at the bottom, head, or tail of the vehicle 1. The battery 10 may be used to power the vehicle 1, for example, the battery 10 may serve as an operating power source for the vehicle 1.

[0061] The vehicle 1 may further include a controller 1b and a motor 1a. The controller 1b is used to control the battery 10 to supply power to the motor 1a, for example, to meet the power requirements of the vehicle 1 during starting, navigation, and driving.

[0062] In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 10 can not only serve as the operating power source of the vehicle 1, but also serve as the driving power source of the vehicle 1, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1.

[0063] 2 , the battery 10 includes battery cells (not shown in FIG2 ) and a housing 11 for accommodating the battery cells.

[0064] The housing 11 is used to accommodate battery cells, and the housing 11 can have various structural forms. In some embodiments, the housing 11 can include a first housing portion 111 and a second housing portion 112. The first housing portion 111 and the second housing portion 112 cover each other. The first housing portion 111 and the second housing portion 112 together define a storage space for accommodating battery cells. The second housing portion 112 can be a hollow structure with one end open. The first housing portion 111 is a plate-shaped structure, and the first housing portion 111 covers the open side of the second housing portion 112 to form the housing 11 with a storage space. The first housing portion 111 and the second housing portion 112 can also both be hollow structures with one side open. The open side of the first housing portion 111 covers the open side of the second housing portion 112 to form a housing with a storage space. Of course, the first housing portion 111 and the second housing portion 112 can have various shapes, such as a cylinder, a rectangular parallelepiped, etc.

[0065] In order to improve the sealing performance after the first box body 111 and the second box body 112 are connected, a sealing member, such as a sealant, a sealing ring, etc., may be further provided between the first box body 111 and the second box body 112 .

[0066] Assuming that the first box portion 111 covers the second box portion 112 , the first box portion 111 can also be referred to as an upper box cover, and the second box portion 112 can also be referred to as a lower box.

[0067] In the battery 10, there can be one or more battery cells. If there are multiple battery cells, they can be connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection. A hybrid connection refers to a combination of series and parallel connections. Multiple battery cells can be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection, and then the entire battery module 20 is housed within the housing. Alternatively, multiple battery cells can be first connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection to form a battery module 20. Multiple battery modules 20 are then connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection to form a single unit, which is then housed within the housing 11.

[0068] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG3 , which is a schematic diagram of the structure of the battery module 20 shown in FIG2 , the battery module 20 includes multiple battery cells 30 . The multiple battery cells 30 are first connected in series, parallel, or in series to form the battery module 20 . The multiple battery modules 20 are then connected in series, parallel, or in series to form a single unit, which is then housed within the housing 11 .

[0069] In some embodiments, the multiple battery cells 30 in the battery module 20 may be electrically connected via a busbar component to achieve parallel connection, series connection, or mixed connection of the multiple battery cells 30 in the battery module 20 .

[0070] Please refer to Figure 4, which is an exploded view of the battery cell 30 shown in Figure 3. The battery cell 30 provided in the embodiment of the present application includes an electrode assembly 32 and a housing 31. The housing 31 has a receiving cavity, and the electrode assembly 32 is received in the receiving cavity.

[0071] In some embodiments, the outer shell 31 may include a shell body 311 and an end cover 312, wherein the shell body 311 is a hollow structure with an opening on one side, and the end cover 312 covers the opening 311a of the shell body 311 and forms a sealed connection to form a sealed space for accommodating the electrode assembly 32 and the electrolyte.

[0072] When assembling the battery cell 30 , the electrode assembly 32 may be placed into the shell body 311 , the end cap 312 may be placed over the opening of the shell body 311 , and the electrolyte may be injected into the shell body 311 through the electrolyte injection port on the end cap 312 .

[0073] In some embodiments, the housing 31 may also be used to contain electrolyte, such as electrolyte solution. The housing 31 may have various structural forms.

[0074] The shell body 311 can have a variety of shapes, such as a cylinder, a rectangular parallelepiped, etc. The shape of the shell body 311 can be determined based on the specific shape of the electrode assembly 32. For example, if the electrode assembly 32 has a cylindrical structure, the shell body 311 can also be a cylindrical structure. If the electrode assembly 32 has a rectangular parallelepiped structure, the shell body 311 can also be a rectangular parallelepiped structure. In Figure 4, for example, the shell body 311 and the electrode assembly 32 are both rectangular parallelepiped structures.

[0075] The shell body 311 can be made of a variety of materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, etc., and the embodiment of the present application does not impose any special restrictions on this.

[0076] There may be one or more electrode assemblies 32 housed in the shell body 311. In FIG4 , there are two electrode assemblies 32 housed in the shell body 311.

[0077] As shown in Figures 5 to 8, a heat exchange assembly 40 according to an embodiment of the present application includes a heat exchange element 41, a flow collector 42, and a sleeve 43. The heat exchange element 41 has a flow channel 411 extending along a first direction X. The flow collector 42 is disposed at both ends of the heat exchange element 41 along the first direction X. The flow collector 42 has a fluid inlet and outlet 42a that communicate with the flow channel 411. The sleeve 43 is nested with at least one of the heat exchange element 41 and the flow collector 42, connecting the heat exchange element 41 and the flow collector 42.

[0078] The heat exchange element 41 has a flow channel 411 extending along the first direction X. Optionally, the heat exchange element 41 can be provided with one, two or more flow channels 411 extending along the first direction X as needed. The flow channels 411 can be isolated from each other, and the structural type of the collecting member 42 can be reasonably set to achieve mutual series connection or parallel connection of the multiple flow channels 411 of the heat exchange element 41. Of course, it is also possible to achieve that some of the multiple flow channels 411 in the heat exchange element 41 are connected in series, and the other part are connected in parallel. The specific setting can be made according to actual needs.

[0079] The flow collector 42 has a fluid inlet and outlet 42a. The flow collector 42 can be provided at both ends of the heat exchange element 41 along the first direction X. In this case, the heat exchange assembly 40 can include two flow collectors 42, each provided at both ends of the heat exchange element 41 along the first direction X. The two flow collectors 42 at both ends of the heat exchange element 41 each have a fluid inlet and outlet 42a. The flow channel 411 connects the fluid inlet and outlet 42a of the flow collector 42 along the first direction X. If the heat exchange element 41 has one flow channel 411, the ends of the flow channel 411 along the first direction X are respectively connected to the fluid inlet and outlet 42a. If the heat exchange element 41 has multiple flow channels 411, depending on whether the multiple flow channels 411 are connected in series or in parallel, the ends of the single flow channel 411 can be directly connected to the two fluid inlet and outlet 42a, or two flow channels 411 can be provided to connect to the two fluid inlet and outlet 42a.

[0080] It is understandable that, according to actual needs, one of the fluid inlets and outlets 42a of the fluid collecting member 42 at both ends of the heat exchange member 41 can be configured to be used for the inflow of the fluid medium and the other for the outflow of the fluid medium.

[0081] The sleeve 43 is mutually nested with at least one of the heat exchanger 41 and the current collecting member 42. Optionally, the sleeve 43 can be mutually nested only with the heat exchanger 41, or the sleeve 43 can be mutually nested only with the current collecting member 42. Alternatively, the sleeve 43 can be mutually nested with both the heat exchanger 41 and the current collecting member 42.

[0082] In an embodiment where the sleeve 43 is nested with both the heat exchange member 41 and the current collecting member 42, the portions of the sleeve 43 that are nested with the current collecting member 42 and the heat exchange member 41 can be integrally formed, or the portions of the sleeve 43 that are nested with the current collecting member 42 and the heat exchange member 41 can be separately formed and connected to each other.

[0083] The sleeve 43 and the current collecting part 42 are mutually sleeved, and the sleeve 43 can be set to be sleeved on the inner wall of the current collecting part 42, or the sleeve 43 can be set to be sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the current collecting part 42. Similarly, the sleeve 43 and the heat exchange part 41 are mutually sleeved, and the sleeve 43 can be set to be sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the current collecting part 42, or the current collecting part 42 can be set to be sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the sleeve 43.

[0084] The sleeve 43 connects the heat exchange member 41 and the flow collecting member 42 , and the flow collecting member 42 and the heat exchange member 41 can be connected to each other through the sleeve 43 to achieve communication between the flow channel 411 and the fluid inlet and outlet 42 a .

[0085] The mutual arrangement of the sleeve 43 and the current collecting member 42 can increase the structural strength of the mutual arrangement portion 4311 of the current collecting member 42 and the sleeve 43. Similarly, the mutual arrangement of the sleeve 43 and the heat exchange member 41 can increase the structural strength of the mutual arrangement portion 4311 of the heat exchange member 41 and the sleeve 43. Therefore, the mutual arrangement of the sleeve 43 and either the current collecting member 42 or the heat exchange member 41 is beneficial to increasing the connection strength between the current collecting member 42 and the heat exchange member 41.

[0086] When the heat exchange assembly 40 is applied to the battery 10 , the low-temperature or high-temperature fluid medium flowing through the heat exchange element 41 can exchange heat with the battery cells 30 of the battery 10 to cool or heat the battery cells 30 .

[0087] Therefore, the heat exchange assembly 40 provided in the embodiment of the present application is beneficial to improving the connection strength between the current collecting part 42 and the heat exchange part 41 by setting the sleeve 43 and at least one of the current collecting part 42 and the heat exchange part 41, and is beneficial to improving the overall structural strength of the heat exchange assembly 40. In this way, it is beneficial to reduce the risk of leakage of the flow medium due to failure of the connection between the current collecting part 42 and the heat exchange part 41, and improve the reliability of the heat exchange assembly 40. When the heat exchange assembly 40 is applied to the battery 10, it is beneficial to improve the reliability of the heat exchange between the heat exchange assembly 40 and the battery cell 30, and thus help improve the reliability of the battery 10.

[0088] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, in some embodiments, the sleeve 43 includes a first sub-sleeve 431 and a second sub-sleeve 432. The first sub-sleeve 431 and the end of the heat exchange member 41 along the first direction X are mutually nested, and the second sub-sleeve 432 and the end of the current collecting member 42 facing the heat exchange member 41 are mutually nested. The first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432 are connected to each other.

[0089] The sleeve 43 includes a first sub-sleeve 431 and a second sub-sleeve 432 . The first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432 can be formed by injection molding, casting, machining or the like.

[0090] The first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432 are connected to each other. Optionally, the first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432 can be integrally formed, or the first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432 can be formed separately and then connected to each other.

[0091] The first sub-sleeve 431 and the end portion of the heat exchange element 41 along the first direction X are mutually sleeved. Optionally, the first sub-sleeve 431 can be sleeved on the outer circumference of the heat exchange element 41, or the end portion of the heat exchange element 41 along the first direction X can be sleeved on the outer circumference of the first sub-sleeve 431. Similarly, the second sub-sleeve 432 can be sleeved on the outer circumference of the end of the current collecting element 42 facing the heat exchange element 41, or the end of the current collecting element 42 facing the heat exchange element 41 can be sleeved on the outer circumference of the second sub-sleeve 432.

[0092] The first sub-sleeve 431 can be connected to the heat exchanger 41 directly, or sealed by bonding or sealing. Similarly, the second sub-sleeve 432 can be connected to the current collecting member 42 directly, or sealed by sealing or bonding.

[0093] The first sub-sleeve 431 and the end of the heat exchange member 41 along the first direction X are arranged to be nested with each other, and the second sub-sleeve 432 and the end of the current collecting member 42 facing the heat exchange member 41 are arranged to be nested with each other, and the first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432 are arranged to be connected to each other, which is beneficial to further improve the connection strength between the current collecting member 42 and the heat exchange member 41, and thus improve the overall structural strength of the heat exchange assembly 40. When the heat exchange assembly 40 is applied to the battery 10, it is beneficial to further improve the reliability of heat exchange between the heat exchange assembly 40 and the battery cell 30, so as to further improve the reliability performance of the battery 10.

[0094] In some embodiments, the materials of the first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432 respectively include plastics and are respectively molded by an injection molding process. The first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432 are welded together.

[0095] Plastic is lightweight, so the first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432 are both made of plastic, which helps reduce the overall weight of the heat exchange assembly 40. When the heat exchange assembly 40 is used in a battery 10, it helps improve the energy density of the battery 10. Separately molding the first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432 through an injection molding process reduces the manufacturing complexity of the first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432, simplifies the production process for the first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432, and reduces the production cost of the heat exchange assembly 40. Welding the first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432 together improves the connection strength between the first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432, further enhancing the overall structural strength of the heat exchange assembly 40.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , in some embodiments, at least a portion of the second sub-sleeve 432 is sleeved on the outer circumference of the first sub-sleeve 431 .

[0097] This is beneficial to improving the connection strength between the first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432 , thereby improving the connection strength between the heat exchange member 41 and the current collecting member 42 , and further improving the overall structural strength of the heat exchange assembly 40 .

[0098] As shown in Figures 5, 7, 8 and 9, in some embodiments, the second sub-sleeve 432 has a slot 432a on one side facing the current collecting member 42, and one end of the current collecting member 42 facing the second sub-sleeve 432 is accommodated in the slot 432a.

[0099] Optionally, the slots 432 a of the second sub-sleeve 432 may be annular or arc-shaped, that is, the slots 432 a may be arranged around the periphery of the current collecting member 42 , or may be arranged at intervals on the circumference of the current collecting member 42 .

[0100] The end of the current collecting member 42 facing the second sub-sleeve 432 is arranged to be accommodated in the slot 432a, so that the current collecting member 42 can be snapped into the slot 432a, or the current collecting member 42 is loosely fitted in the slot 432a.

[0101] By providing a slot 432a on the side of the second sub-sleeve 432 facing the current collecting part 42, and arranging one end of the current collecting part 42 facing the second sub-sleeve 432 to be accommodated in the slot 432a, it is beneficial to improve the connection strength between the second sub-sleeve 432 and the current collecting part 42, and further beneficial to improve the overall structural strength of the heat exchange assembly 40.

[0102] It is understood that the first sub-sleeve 431 and the heat exchange element 41 can be made of the same or different materials. In embodiments where the first sub-sleeve 431 and the heat exchange element 41 are made of the same material, they can be connected by welding, bonding, or other means. In embodiments where the first sub-sleeve 431 and the heat exchange element 41 are made of different materials, the first sub-sleeve 431 and the heat exchange element 41 can be connected by bonding or other means. Similarly, the second sub-sleeve 432 and the current collecting member 42 can be made of the same or different materials.

[0103] Optionally, the first sub-sleeve 431 may be annular, or the first sub-sleeve 431 may include an annular structure and reinforcing ribs formed in the annular structure.

[0104] As shown in Figures 5 and 10, in some embodiments, the heat exchange element 41 has a plurality of flow channels 411 arranged at intervals, and the first sub-sleeve 431 includes a sleeve portion 4311 and a reinforcement portion 4312. The reinforcement portion 4312 and the sleeve portion 4311 are enclosed to form a plurality of through holes 431a, and the plurality of through holes 431a are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of flow channels 411.

[0105] In this way, the multiple through holes 431a will not block the flow channel 411 of the heat exchanger 41, and the first sub-sleeve 431 includes a sleeve U-coin and a reinforcement part 4312, which is beneficial to improve the structural strength of the first sub-sleeve 431, and further improve the connection strength between the heat exchanger 41 and the first sub-sleeve 431.

[0106] In some embodiments, the first sub-sleeve 431 and the heat exchange element 41 are made of different materials, and the first sub-sleeve 431 is bonded to the heat exchange element 41 .

[0107] Since the first sub-sleeve 431 and the heat exchanger 41 are made of different materials, the specific materials of the first sub-sleeve 431 and the heat exchanger 41 can be set as needed to improve the structural strength of the first sub-sleeve 431 and the heat exchanger 41 while facilitating their separate manufacturing. For example, the first sub-sleeve 431 can be made of plastic, while the heat exchanger 41 can be made of aluminum. This helps improve the structural strength of the heat exchanger 41, and the first sub-sleeve 431 can be produced through an injection molding process, simplifying the production process of the first sub-sleeve 431.

[0108] Since the materials of the first sub-sleeve 431 and the heat exchanger 41 are different, the first sub-sleeve 431 is adhesively connected to the heat exchanger 41. While improving the connection reliability between the first sub-sleeve 431 and the heat exchanger 41, the adhesive glue is arranged around the first sub-sleeve 431 and the heat exchanger 41. The adhesive glue also has a certain sealing effect, which facilitates the sealed connection between the first sub-sleeve 431 and the heat exchanger 41.

[0109] In some embodiments, the second sub-sleeve 432 and the current collecting member 42 are made of different materials, and the second sub-sleeve 432 is adhesively connected to the current collecting member 42 .

[0110] Since the second sub-sleeve 432 and the current collecting member 42 are made of different materials, the specific materials of the second sub-sleeve 432 and the current collecting member 42 can be set as needed to improve the structural strength of the second sub-sleeve 432 and the heat exchange member 41 while also facilitating their separate manufacturing. For example, the second sub-sleeve 432 can be made of plastic, while the current collecting member 42 can be made of aluminum. This improves the structural strength of the current collecting member 42, and the second sub-sleeve 432 can be produced through an injection molding process, simplifying the production process of the second sub-sleeve 432.

[0111] Since the materials of the second sub-sleeve 432 and the current collecting part 42 are different, the second sub-sleeve 432 is adhesively connected to the current collecting part 42. While improving the connection reliability between the second sub-sleeve 432 and the current collecting part 42, the adhesive is arranged around the second sub-sleeve 432 and the current collecting part 42. The adhesive also has a certain sealing effect, which facilitates the sealed connection between the second sub-sleeve 432 and the current collecting part 42.

[0112] As shown in Figure 7, in some embodiments, the flow channel 411 includes a first flow channel 411a, a second flow channel 411b and a third flow channel 411c that are spaced apart from each other. The collecting member 42 at one end of the heat exchange member 41 includes a first guide channel 42b and a second guide channel 42c that are isolated from each other. The first guide channel 42b connects the fluid inlet and outlet 42a and the first flow channel 411a, and the second guide channel 42c connects the adjacent second flow channel 411b and the third flow channel 411c; the collecting member 42 at the other end of the heat exchange member 41 includes a third guide channel 42d and a fourth guide channel 42e that are isolated from each other. The third guide channel 42d connects the third flow channel 411c and the fluid inlet and outlet 42a, and the fourth guide channel 42e connects the adjacent first flow channel 411a and the second flow channel 411b, so that the first flow channel 411a, the second flow channel 411b and the third flow channel 411c are connected in series.

[0113] The flow channel 411 includes a first flow channel 411a, a second flow channel 411b, and a third flow channel 411c, and the first flow channel 411a, the second flow channel 411b, and the third flow channel 411c are connected in series. Optionally, the heat exchange element 41 may have one second flow channel 411b or multiple second flow channels 411b. The first flow channel 411a, the second flow channel 411b, and the third flow channel 411c of the flow channel 411 are connected in series. The flow channel 411 may also have other flow channels 411 that are not connected in series with the first flow channel 411a, the second flow channel 411b, or the third flow channel 411c.

[0114] It is understandable that when the flow channel 411 has multiple second flow channels 411b, in order to achieve serial connection of the multiple second flow channels 411b, additional second guide channels 42c and fourth guide channels 42e are required to achieve serial connection of the multiple second flow channels 411b.

[0115] In this configuration, the current collecting member 42 is provided with a first flow channel 42b, a second flow channel 42c, a third flow channel 42d, and a fourth flow channel 42e, thereby connecting the first flow channel 411a, the second flow channel 411b, and the third flow channel 411c in series. When the heat exchange assembly 40 is used in the battery 10, the fluid medium flows through the first flow channel 411a, the second flow channel 411b, and the third flow channel 411c in sequence, facilitating sufficient heat exchange between the fluid medium and the battery cell 30, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency between the fluid medium and the battery cell 30 and reducing the amount of fluid medium used.

[0116] As shown in Figures 7, 11, 12 and 13, in some embodiments, the heat exchange component 40 further includes a blocking member 44, the flow channel 411 includes an alternative flow channel 411d, and the blocking member 44 is provided at both ends of the heat exchange component 41 along the first direction X to block the alternative flow channel 411d.

[0117] After the heat exchanger 41 is manufactured, a portion of the multiple flow channels 411 can be selectively used to flow the fluid medium, depending on the relative position of the heat exchanger 41 and the battery cells 30, to maximize the heat exchange efficiency between the battery cells 30 and the heat exchanger 41. For alternative flow channels 411d, which do not have corresponding flow channels 411 for the battery cells 30 or have relatively densely distributed flow channels 411, these alternative flow channels 411d can be blocked by providing a blocking member 44 to prevent the fluid medium from flowing through these alternative flow channels 411d. This not only improves the connection strength between the current collector 42 and the heat exchanger 41, but also improves the heat exchange efficiency between the heat exchange assembly 40 and the battery cells 30 and the utilization rate of the fluid medium. Furthermore, the blocking of the alternative flow channels 411d by the blocking member 44 improves the connection strength between the current collector 42 and the heat exchanger 41, thereby enhancing the overall structural strength of the heat exchanger 40.

[0118] As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 , in some embodiments, the blocking member 44 and the sleeve 43 are integrally injection molded.

[0119] In this way, the materials of the blocking member 44 and the sleeve 43 both include plastics, and are integrally injection-molded using corresponding molds.

[0120] In the embodiment where the sleeve 43 includes a first sub-sleeve 431 and a second sub-sleeve 432 , the blocking piece 44 can be integrally formed with the first sub-sleeve 431 , as shown in FIG13 ; or, the blocking piece 44 can also be integrally formed with the second sub-sleeve 432 , as shown in FIG12 .

[0121] Providing the blocking piece 44 and the sleeve 43 to be integrally injection-molded is beneficial to improving the connection strength between the blocking piece 44 and the sleeve 43 and simplifying the production process of the blocking piece 44 and the sleeve 43 .

[0122] The housing 11 provided according to an embodiment of the present application includes the heat exchange assembly 40 provided in any of the above embodiments.

[0123] The box body 11 provided in the embodiment of the present application includes the heat exchange component 40 provided in any of the above embodiments, and thus has the same technical effects, which will not be described in detail here.

[0124] The battery 10 provided according to the embodiment of the present application includes the box body 11 and the battery cell 30 provided in the above embodiment. The battery cell 30 is accommodated in the box body 11. The heat exchange element 41 is in contact with the battery cell 30 and is used for heat exchange with the battery cell 30.

[0125] The battery 10 provided in the embodiment of the present application has the same technical effects as the box 11 provided in the embodiment of the present application, and will not be described in detail here.

[0126] The electrical device provided in the embodiment of the present application includes the battery 10 provided in the above embodiment, and the battery 10 is used to provide electrical energy.

[0127] The electric device provided in the embodiment of the present application has the same technical effects as the battery 10 provided in the above embodiment, and thus will not be described in detail here.

[0128] As shown in Figures 5 to 13, in some embodiments, the heat exchange assembly 40 provided in the embodiments of the present application includes a heat exchange element 41, a flow collector 42, a sleeve 43, and a sealing element 44. The heat exchange element 41 has a flow channel 411 extending along a first direction X. The flow collector 42 is disposed at both ends of the heat exchange element 41 along the first direction X. The flow collector 42 has a fluid inlet and outlet 42a, which are in communication with the flow channel 411. The sleeve 43 includes a first sub-sleeve 431 and a second sub-sleeve 432. The first sub-sleeve 431 is nested with the end of the heat exchange element 41 along the first direction X, and the second sub-sleeve 432 is nested with the end of the flow collector 42 facing the heat exchange element 41. The first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432 are each made of plastic and are injection molded. The first sub-sleeve 431 and the second sub-sleeve 432 are welded together. The second sub-sleeve 432 has a slot 432a on the side facing the current collecting member 42, and the end of the current collecting member 42 facing the second sub-sleeve 432 is accommodated in the slot 432a. The heat exchanger 41 has multiple flow channels 411 spaced apart from each other. The heat exchanger 41 includes a tube body and an isolator disposed within the cover body. Adjacent flow channels 411 are separated by the isolator. The first sub-sleeve 431 has through holes 431a corresponding one-to-one to the multiple flow channels 411. The heat exchanger 41 is made of aluminum, and the current collecting member 42 is made of aluminum. The first sub-sleeve 431 is bonded to the heat exchanger 41, and the second sub-sleeve 432 is bonded to the current collecting member 42. The flow channels 411 include a first flow channel 411a, a second flow channel 411b, a third flow channel 411c, and an alternative flow channel 411d, which are spaced apart from each other. The flow collector 42 at one end of the heat exchanger 41 includes a first flow channel 42b and a second flow channel 42c, which are isolated from each other. The first flow channel 42b connects the fluid inlet and outlet 42a with the first flow channel 411a, and the second flow channel 42c connects the third flow channel 411c with the adjacent second flow channel 411b. The flow collector 42 at the other end of the heat exchanger 41 includes a third flow channel 42d and a fourth flow channel 42e, which are isolated from each other. The third flow channel 42d connects the third flow channel 411c with the fluid inlet and outlet 42a, and the fourth flow channel 42e connects the first flow channel 411a with the adjacent second flow channel 411b, thereby connecting the first flow channel 411a, the second flow channel 411b, and the third flow channel 411c in series. A blocking member 44 is provided at both ends of the heat exchanger 41 along the first direction X to block the alternative flow channel 411d.

[0129] The heat exchange assembly 40 provided in the embodiment of the present application is beneficial to improving the connection strength between the current collecting part 42 and the heat exchange part 41 by arranging a sleeve 43 and being mutually nested with at least one of the current collecting part 42 and the heat exchange part 41, and is beneficial to improving the overall structural strength of the heat exchange assembly 40. In this way, it is beneficial to reduce the risk of leakage of the flow medium due to failure of the connection between the current collecting part 42 and the heat exchange part 41, and improve the reliability of the heat exchange assembly 40. When the heat exchange assembly 40 is applied to the battery 10, it is beneficial to improve the reliability of the heat exchange between the heat exchange assembly 40 and the battery cell 30, and further improve the reliability of the battery 10.

[0130] It should be noted that, unless there is any conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other.

[0131] 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 of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A heat exchange component, comprising: A heat exchange element having a flow channel extending in a first direction; A manifold provided at two ends of the heat exchange element along the first direction, the manifold having fluid inlets and outlets that communicate with the flow channel; A sleeve that is sleeved with at least one of the heat exchange element and the manifold and connects the heat exchange element and the manifold.

2. The heat exchange component according to claim 1, wherein, The sleeve includes a first sub-sleeve and a second sub-sleeve. The first sub-sleeve is sleeved with an end of the heat exchange element along the first direction, and the second sub-sleeve is sleeved with an end of the manifold facing the heat exchange element. The first sub-sleeve and the second sub-sleeve are connected to each other.

3. The heat exchange component according to claim 2, wherein, The materials of the first sub-sleeve and the second sub-sleeve respectively include plastics and are respectively formed by an injection molding process. The first sub-sleeve and the second sub-sleeve are connected by welding.

4. The heat exchange component according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, At least a part of the second sub-sleeve is sleeved on the outer peripheral side of the first sub-sleeve.

5. The heat exchange component according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein, The second sub-sleeve has a card slot on a side facing the manifold, and an end of the manifold facing the second sub-sleeve is received in the card slot.

6. The heat exchange component according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein, The heat exchange element has a plurality of spaced-apart flow channels. The first sub-sleeve includes a sleeved portion and a reinforcing portion. The reinforcing portion and the sleeved portion enclose a plurality of through holes, and the plurality of through holes correspond to the plurality of flow channels one by one.

7. The heat exchange component according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein, The materials of the first sub-sleeve and the heat exchange element are different, and the first sub-sleeve is adhesively connected to the heat exchange element, and / or the materials of the second sub-sleeve and the manifold are different, and the second sub-sleeve is adhesively connected to the manifold.

8. The heat exchange component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The flow channel includes a first flow channel, a second flow channel, and a third flow channel that are spaced apart from each other. The manifold at one end of the heat exchange element includes a first diversion channel and a second diversion channel that are isolated from each other. The first diversion channel communicates the fluid inlet and outlet and the first flow channel, and the second diversion channel communicates the third flow channel and the adjacent second flow channel; The manifold at the other end of the heat exchange element includes a third diversion channel and a fourth diversion channel that are isolated from each other. The third diversion channel communicates the third flow channel and the fluid inlet and outlet, and the fourth diversion channel communicates the first flow channel and the adjacent second flow channel, so that the first flow channel, the second flow channel, and the third flow channel are connected in series.

9. The heat exchange component according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The heat exchange component further includes a plugging member. The flow channel includes an alternative flow channel. The plugging member is provided at two ends of the heat exchange element along the first direction to plug the alternative flow channel.

10. The heat exchange component according to claim 9, wherein, The plugging member is integrally injection-molded with the sleeve.

11. A box body, comprising the heat exchange component according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A battery, comprising: The box body according to claim 11; A battery cell accommodated in the box body. The heat exchange element is in contact with the battery cell and is used for heat exchange with the battery cell.

13. An electrical device, comprising the battery according to claim 12, wherein the battery is used for providing electrical energy.

Images