Heat exchange member, battery, and electrical device

Abstract

A heat exchange member (100), a battery (1000), and an electrical device. The heat exchange member (100) comprises: a plurality of connecting tubes (10), arranged at intervals; a current collector (20), having an inlet (201) and an outlet (202), wherein the inlet (201) is used for inputting a medium, the outlet (202) is used for outputting a medium, the current collector (20) is connected to and communicated with each connecting tube (10), the current collector (20) and the plurality of connecting tubes (10) jointly form a plurality of liquid flow paths arranged in parallel, and each liquid flow path extends from the inlet (201) to the outlet (202); and a reinforcing member (30), provided on the current collector (20) and configured to enhance the strength of the current collector (20).

Description

Heat exchangers, batteries and electrical devices

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application number "202420286809.4" filed by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. on February 6, 2024. The entire contents of the above Chinese patent application are hereby incorporated into this application by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a heat exchange component, a battery, and an electrical device. Background Art

[0004] The structural strength of heat exchangers has a significant impact on their service life and the risk of airtight failure. Therefore, how to effectively improve the structural strength of heat exchangers has become a research and development focus in this field.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The embodiments of the present application provide a heat exchange element, a battery, and an electrical device, which improve the overall structural strength of the heat exchange element and thereby improve the reliability of the battery and the electrical device.

[0007] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a heat exchange component, comprising: a plurality of connecting tubes arranged at intervals; a current collector having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being used to input a medium, the outlet being used to output a medium, the current collector being connected and communicated with each connecting tube, the current collector and the plurality of connecting tubes together forming a plurality of liquid flow paths arranged in parallel, each liquid flow path being from the inlet to the outlet; a reinforcement member being arranged on the current collector and configured to enhance the strength of the current collector.

[0008] In the above technical solution, by providing a reinforcement member that can enhance the strength of the current collector, the current collector is less likely to deform, collapse, and other problems during assembly and use, thereby reducing the risk of airtight failure and improving the overall structural strength and service life of the heat exchange component.

[0009] In some embodiments, both the current collector and the connecting tube are connected to the reinforcement member.

[0010] In the above technical solution, the reinforcement member can enhance the strength of the current collector and the connecting tube. Furthermore, compared to the current collector, the reinforcement member has a more flexible structural design, making it easier to connect to the connecting tube, improving connection reliability and sealing. Therefore, the reinforcement member connecting the connecting tube and the current collector helps reduce the risk of connection seal failure of the connecting tube.

[0011] In some embodiments, the reinforcement member is disposed outside the current collector, and at least a portion of the reinforcement member is in contact with the outer surface of the current collector.

[0012] In the above technical solution, the reinforcement is arranged outside the current collector, which facilitates the assembly of the reinforcement and the current collector and is not affected by the internal space size of the current collector; and by at least part of the reinforcement being bonded to the outer surface of the current collector, the overall thickness of the bonding area can be increased, thereby effectively improving the strength.

[0013] In some embodiments, the current collector is provided with a first opening, the reinforcement is provided with a second opening opposite to the first opening, the periphery of the second opening is provided with a connecting flange, the connecting tube is passed through the first opening and the second opening, and the connecting tube is connected to the inner circumference of the connecting flange.

[0014] In the above technical solution, by providing the connection flange, the contact area between the reinforcement and the connection pipe, such as the welding area, can be increased, thereby improving the connection reliability and sealing reliability.

[0015] In some embodiments, the connecting flange is passed through the first opening.

[0016] In the above technical solution, the connecting flange is passed through the first opening to reduce the occupied space in the thickness direction of the plate, and improve the strength reinforcement effect of the reinforcement on the collector, especially the strength near the first opening; and the connecting flange can separate the wall surface of the first opening from the connecting tube, which is not easy to form a weak sealing area.

[0017] In some embodiments, the outer peripheral surface of the connecting flange is in contact with the wall surface of the reinforcement member forming the first opening.

[0018] In the above technical solution, the connecting flange has a better effect of improving the wall strength near the first opening, and facilitates the connection between the connecting flange and the wall forming the first opening, such as welding, to further improve the sealing effect.

[0019] In some embodiments, the connecting tube includes a connected main body section and a connecting section. In a direction perpendicular to the penetration direction of the second opening, the size of the connecting section is smaller than the size of the main body section. The connecting section is passed through the first opening and the second opening, and the outer peripheral surface of the connecting section is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the connecting flange.

[0020] In the above technical solution, a stepped surface is formed at the junction of the main and connecting sections. Specifically, a portion of the main section's end surface facing the connecting section is connected to the connecting section, while another portion forms a stepped surface. This stepped surface limits the maximum dimension of the connecting tube for insertion into the first and second openings, enabling the connecting section to be inserted into the first and second openings and connected to the connecting flange, while allowing the main section to be positioned outside the openings. This not only reduces obstruction to the flow of the medium within the current collector but also allows the main section of the connecting tube to provide sufficient heat exchange area.

[0021] In some embodiments, the main body segment abuts against a surface of the reinforcement member facing away from the current collector.

[0022] In the above technical solution, not only is the plug-in size of the connecting pipe limited, but also a connection such as welding can be formed between the main body section and the reinforcement to further improve the connection strength.

[0023] In some embodiments, a joint is provided at the inlet and / or outlet, the reinforcement is provided with a through hole opposite to the inlet and / or outlet, and the joint passes through the through hole and communicates with the inlet or outlet.

[0024] In the above technical solution, the joint is passed through the through hole and connected to the inlet or outlet, so that the reinforcement and the joint are matched. The reinforcement can strengthen the strength of the joint and the connection strength between the joint and the current collector, which is beneficial to improve the sealing of the connection between the joint and the current collector and reduce the risk of sealing failure.

[0025] In some embodiments, a first limiting protrusion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connector, and the first limiting protrusion is abutted against the side of the edge of the inlet or outlet facing away from the reinforcement; and / or, a second limiting protrusion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connector, and the second limiting protrusion is abutted against the side of the edge of the through hole facing away from the current collector.

[0026] In the above technical solution, the first limiting protrusion and the second limiting protrusion can limit the insertion size of the joint during assembly, realize joint positioning, and also improve the strength of the connection between the joint and the collector, making the overall connection more reliable and the sealing and positioning more stable.

[0027] In some embodiments, the current collector has adjacent first and second side walls, and the reinforcement includes a first plate body and a second plate body, wherein the first side wall cooperates with the connecting tube and fits with the first plate body, and the second side wall cooperates with the joint and fits with the second plate body.

[0028] In the above technical solution, the connecting pipe and the joint are respectively connected to the two adjacent side walls of the current collector. This simplifies the connection of pipes on the same side wall of the current collector, reduces the risk of structural interference, and minimizes the impact on the strength of the current collector. The first plate and the second plate are respectively bonded to the two adjacent side surfaces of the current collector, which further improves the strength of the current collector and facilitates the assembly of the reinforcement member and the current collector.

[0029] In some embodiments, the reinforcement member is a one-piece member; or, the first plate body and the second plate body are separate members.

[0030] In the above technical solution, the overall structural strength of the integrated reinforcement is better, thereby further improving the strength of the current collector. The split first and second plates can be processed independently, and the first opening on the first plate and the inlet and outlet on the second plate can also be processed independently, without affecting each other's processing accuracy, which helps reduce processing difficulty. In addition, the alignment accuracy of the first and second openings, and the alignment accuracy of the inlet or outlet with the through-hole can be independently controlled, which helps reduce processing and assembly difficulties and avoids the problem of machining errors causing the first opening to align with the second opening, while the inlet and the through-hole cannot be aligned.

[0031] In some embodiments, the reinforcement further includes a third plate connected to an edge of the first plate away from the second plate, and the current collector has a third sidewall opposite to the second sidewall, and the third plate is in contact with the third sidewall.

[0032] In the above technical solution, the third plate body is connected to the first plate body to form an L-shaped structure. In the embodiment in which the first plate body is connected to the second plate body, the first plate body, the second plate body and the third plate body form a U-shaped structure, which further improves the overall strength of the reinforcement and further improves the effect of improving the strength of the collector.

[0033] In some embodiments, the reinforcement is disposed outside the current collector and is provided with a mounting flange extending away from the current collector, and the mounting flange is used for mounting the heat exchange component.

[0034] In the above technical solution, the installation flange not only improves the strength of the reinforcement, but also integrates the installation function into the reinforcement, reduces the number of parts on the heat exchanger, and makes the structure simpler.

[0035] In some embodiments, the current collector and / or the connecting tube are welded to the reinforcement.

[0036] In the above technical solution, the welding connection not only has good reliability but also is easier to achieve sealing.

[0037] In some embodiments, the reinforcement includes a substrate and a solder layer disposed on a surface of the substrate, and the current collector and / or the connecting tube are welded to the solder layer.

[0038] In the above technical solution, the substrate can be made of a material with a certain strength to achieve a good structural reinforcement effect, and the solder layer can achieve a good welding effect with the current collector and the connecting tube, thereby improving the sealing effect.

[0039] In some embodiments, the current collector includes a first current collecting component, the first current collecting component is provided with an inlet and an outlet, the connecting tube is bent and extended and both ends of the connecting tube are connected to the first current collecting component, wherein one end of the connecting tube is connected to the inlet and the other end is connected to the outlet to form a liquid flow path.

[0040] In the above technical solution, both ends of the connecting pipe are connected to the first collecting component, so that the first collecting component integrates the diversion and confluence functions, and the inlet and outlet are integrated, which reduces the number of collecting components, simplifies the structure of the collecting body, and facilitates the centralized arrangement of the inlet and outlet connecting pipelines between the heat exchange component and the outside, making the structure more compact.

[0041] In some embodiments, the current collector includes a first current collecting component and a second current collecting component, two ends of the connecting pipe are connected to and communicate with the first current collecting component and the second current collecting component respectively, and at least one of the first current collecting component and the second current collecting component is provided with a reinforcement.

[0042] In the above technical solution, the two ends of the connecting tube are respectively connected to the first current collector and the second current collector, which makes the position arrangement between the multiple connecting tubes easier, and the structure and extension path design of the connecting tubes are also more flexible and changeable.

[0043] In some embodiments, the inlet and the outlet are provided on the first current collecting component, and at least the first current collecting component is provided with a reinforcement.

[0044] In this technical solution, the inlet and outlet are integrated into the same first current collector, allowing for centralized placement of the heat exchanger and external inlet and outlet piping, resulting in a more compact structure. The first current collector is also equipped with a reinforcement member, which enhances the structural strength of the first current collector, where piping connections are more complex. This improves the reliability of the first current collector's piping connections, such as at joints, and effectively reduces the risk of seal failure.

[0045] In some embodiments, the reinforcement member provided on the first current collecting component and the reinforcement member provided on the second current collecting component have the same or different structures.

[0046] In the above technical solution, reinforcements with the same structure can be formed as universal parts to reduce production costs; reinforcements with different structures can adopt targeted structural designs to better match the current collector.

[0047] In some embodiments, the multiple connecting tubes include a first connecting tube and a second connecting tube, the medium in the first connecting tube flows from the first flow collecting component to the second flow collecting component, and the medium in the second connecting tube flows from the second flow collecting component to the first flow collecting component. The number of first connecting tubes and second connecting tubes is equal, and the second flow collecting component connects the first connecting tube and the second connecting tube in series to form two liquid flow paths.

[0048] In the above technical solution, the medium flow directions of the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe are opposite, one of which is a liquid inlet pipe and the other is a liquid outlet pipe; the number of first connecting pipes and second connecting pipes is equal, so that the liquid inlet and liquid outlet are balanced, the liquid in the heat exchange element flows smoothly, and the problem of excessive local pressure is not easy to occur.

[0049] In some embodiments, the first flow collecting component is provided with a socket, and the heat exchange component further includes a partition, which is inserted into the socket, and the partition extends into the first flow collecting component and divides the space inside the first flow collecting component into an inlet channel and an outlet channel, the inlet is connected to the inlet channel, and the outlet is connected to the outlet channel.

[0050] In the above technical solution, the provision of a separator allows the first current collecting component to function both as a liquid inlet and outlet, without interfering with each other. Furthermore, the separator is inserted into the first current collecting component via a socket, facilitating assembly. The socket also secures the separator in a fixed position, preventing it from moving and affecting the spatial separation effect. By using the separator for separation, the first current collecting component can be eliminated from its separation function, resulting in a simpler structure and easier processing and molding.

[0051] In some embodiments, the reinforcement member at least partially covers the socket.

[0052] In the above technical solution, the reinforcement member is able to shield the connection structure between the separator and the current collector at the socket, thereby reducing the risk of sealing failure at the connection.

[0053] In some embodiments, both ends of the current collector have channel openings, and the heat exchange component further includes a cover that seals the channel openings.

[0054] In the above technical solution, both ends of the current collector have channel openings, which are sealed by covers, so that the current collector itself is generally formed into a through tubular structure, which is easier to shape.

[0055] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a battery comprising the above-mentioned heat exchange element.

[0056] In some embodiments, the battery further includes: a box assembly and a battery assembly, the box assembly includes an integrally stamped box body, the box body includes a bottom wall and a surrounding wall, the battery assembly is disposed in the box body, and the battery assembly includes multiple battery cells.

[0057] In the above technical solution, because the bottom wall and surrounding wall of the box body are integrally stamped, the joint between the bottom wall and the surrounding wall does not need to be sealed, ensuring a good seal. This prevents muddy water from seeping into the box body through the joint and affecting the battery assembly, thereby improving battery reliability. Furthermore, the integrally stamped box body does not require splicing, which can improve production efficiency.

[0058] In some embodiments, the battery includes a thermostat, which includes at least one of a first thermostat, a second thermostat and a third thermostat, and at least one of the first thermostat, the second thermostat and the third thermostat forms a heat exchanger, wherein the first thermostat is arranged outside the box body and is in contact with the outer wall of the box body; the second thermostat is arranged in the box assembly and is located between the battery assembly and the box assembly; the third thermostat is arranged in the box assembly and is located between two adjacent battery cells.

[0059] In the above technical solution, the battery cells may generate heat during operation, or need to be heated in a low-temperature environment to keep the battery cells within an appropriate temperature range. By providing a thermostat, the temperature of the battery cells can be regulated, thereby improving the stability of the battery cells and increasing the battery life.

[0060] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides an electrical device including the above-mentioned battery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0062] FIG2 is an exploded view of a battery provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0063] 3 and 4 are schematic structural diagrams of heat exchange elements provided in some embodiments of the present application at different angles;

[0064] FIG5 is an exploded view of a heat exchange element provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0065] FIG6 is an enlarged structural diagram of the circled area A in FIG5 ;

[0066] FIG7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a heat exchange element provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0067] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of a reinforcement member provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0068] FIG9 is a cross-sectional view of a plate of a reinforcement member provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0069] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a heat exchange element provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0070] FIG11 is an enlarged structural diagram of the circle B in FIG10 ;

[0071] FIG12 is a schematic structural diagram of a separator provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0072] FIG13 is a cross-sectional view of a heat exchange element at a separator provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0073] FIG14 is a schematic structural diagram of a heat exchange element provided in other embodiments of the present application;

[0074] FIG15 is an exploded view of a heat exchange element provided in some other embodiments of the present application;

[0075] FIG16 is a partial cross-sectional view of a battery provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0076] FIG17 is an exploded view of a portion of a battery provided by some embodiments of the present application;

[0077] FIG18 is an assembly diagram of partial components of a battery provided in some embodiments of the present application.

[0078] Reference Signs: Vehicle 1; Battery 1000; Controller 2000; Motor 3000; Battery Assembly 200; Battery Cell 210; Box Assembly 300; Box Body 310; Surrounding Wall 312; Box Cover 320; Expansion Beam 330; Bottom Guard Plate 340; Heat Exchanger 100; First Temperature Control Component 110; Second Temperature Control Component 120; Third Temperature Control Component 130; Connecting Pipe 10; Main Body Section 11; Connecting Section 12; First Connecting Pipe 13; Second Connecting Pipe 14; Current Collector 20; Inlet 201; Outlet 202; First Opening 203; Socket 204; Channel Opening 205; First Side Wall 21; Second Side Wall 22; Third Side Wall 23; First Current Collecting Component 24; Second Current Collecting Component 25; Reinforcement member 30; second opening 301; through hole 302; first plate 31; second plate 32; third plate 33; connecting flange 34; mounting flange 35; substrate 36; solder layer 37; joint 40; second limiting protrusion 41; separator 50; cover 60; first direction X; second direction Y; third direction Z. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0079] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are 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 efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0080] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meanings as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used in the specification of this application are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit this application. The terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. The terms "first" and "second" in the specification and claims of this application or the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order or a primary-secondary relationship.

[0081] 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.

[0082] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "connected," and "attached" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they may refer to direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediate medium, or internal connections between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.

[0083] The term "and / or" in this application simply describes an association between related objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this application generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0084] In the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals represent the same components, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components in different embodiments are omitted. It should be understood that the thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the various components in the embodiments of this application, as well as the overall thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the integrated device shown in the drawings are merely illustrative and should not constitute any limitation on this application.

[0085] The term "plurality" used in this application refers to two or more (including two).

[0086] Currently, market developments indicate that power batteries are becoming increasingly widely used. They are not only used in energy storage systems such as hydropower, thermal, wind, and solar power plants, but are also widely used in electric vehicles like electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric vehicles, as well as in military equipment and aerospace. As power battery applications continue to expand, market demand is also growing.

[0087] It is understood that the temperature environment within the battery is affected by external weather conditions. The battery cells within the battery need to be within a certain temperature range during operation. When the temperature within the battery exceeds or falls below this range, the stability and performance of the battery will be significantly affected. For example, in hot weather, the battery cells need to be cooled and dissipated to keep the temperature within the required range. In cold weather, the battery cells need to be heated to keep the temperature within the required range.

[0088] Heat exchange components can be used to circulate heat exchange media and perform heat exchange with components to be exchanged, such as batteries, so that the heat or cold of the heat exchange medium is transferred to the components to be exchanged, realizing heat exchange with the components to be exchanged, thereby heating or cooling the components to be exchanged, achieving temperature regulation, and allowing the components to be exchanged to be in a more suitable temperature range.

[0089] The structural strength of heat exchange components significantly impacts their service life and the risk of airtight failure. For example, in battery applications, weak structural strength can lead to insufficient pressure-bearing capacity. External forces such as the weight of the battery assembly, the expansion of battery cells, and external impacts can easily cause structural deformation and damage, leading to airtight failure, reduced heat transfer capacity, and even leakage of the heat exchange medium. Therefore, improving the structural strength of heat exchange components has become a key research and development area in this field.

[0090] In some related technologies, the strength of the heat exchanger is improved by increasing the thickness of the plate, which makes the processing of structures such as holes on the heat exchanger more difficult, and limits the processing of small-sized structures such as holes, thereby increasing processing costs.

[0091] Based on this, the present application proposes a heat exchange component comprising: a plurality of connecting tubes, a current collector, and a reinforcement member. The plurality of connecting tubes are arranged at intervals. The current collector has an inlet and an outlet, the inlet for inputting a medium, and the outlet for outputting a medium. The current collector is connected to and communicates with each connecting tube, and the current collector and the plurality of connecting tubes together form a plurality of liquid flow paths arranged in parallel, each liquid flow path running from an inlet to an outlet. The reinforcement member is disposed on the current collector and is configured to enhance the strength of the current collector.

[0092] In the heat exchanger of the above-mentioned structure, by providing a reinforcement member that can strengthen the strength of the current collector, the current collector is less likely to deform, collapse, and other problems during assembly and use, thereby reducing the risk of airtight failure and improving the overall structural strength and service life of the heat exchanger.

[0093] The heat exchanger disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be used in electrical devices that use batteries as power sources or various energy storage systems that use batteries as energy storage elements. The electrical devices can be, but are not limited to, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, electric toys, power tools, battery-powered vehicles, electric cars, ships, spacecraft, and the like. Among them, electric toys can include fixed or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, and the like, and spacecraft can include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, and the like.

[0094] For the convenience of description, the following embodiments are described by taking a vehicle 1 as an example of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0095] Referring to Figure 1, Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle 1 provided in some embodiments of the present application. The vehicle 1 can be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle. The new energy vehicle can be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or an extended-range vehicle, etc. A battery 1000 is provided inside the vehicle 1, and the battery 1000 can be provided at the bottom, head or tail of the vehicle 1. The battery 1000 can be used to power the vehicle 1. For example, the battery 1000 can serve as an operating power source for the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 can also include a controller 2000 and a motor 3000. The controller 2000 is used to control the battery 1000 to power the motor 3000, for example, for starting, navigating and operating power requirements of the vehicle 1 during driving.

[0096] In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 1000 can serve not only as an operating power source for the vehicle 1 , but also as a driving power source for the vehicle 1 , replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1 .

[0097] Referring to Figure 2, Figure 2 is an exploded view of the battery 1000 of some embodiments of the present application. The battery 1000 includes a case assembly 300, a battery cell 210 and a heat exchange element 100. The case assembly 300 has a receiving cavity, and the battery cell 210 is received in the receiving cavity of the case assembly 300. The heat exchange element 100 can be arranged between the battery cell 210 and the case assembly 300, or between adjacent battery cells 210.

[0098] The housing assembly 300 is used to provide storage space for the battery cells 210. The housing assembly 300 can have various structures. In some embodiments, the housing assembly 300 can include a first portion (e.g., the housing body 310 described below) and a second portion (e.g., the housing cover 320 described below). The first and second portions overlap, and together they define a storage space for the battery cells 210. The second portion can be a hollow structure with one end open, and the first portion can be a plate-like structure. The first portion overlaps the open side of the second portion, so that the first and second portions together define the storage space. Alternatively, both the first and second portions can be hollow structures with one end open, with the open side of the first portion overlapping the open side of the second portion. Of course, the housing assembly 300 formed by the first and second portions can have various shapes, such as a cylinder, a rectangular parallelepiped, etc. Optionally, in some embodiments, the housing assembly 300 also includes a bottom guard plate 340, which is located on the underside of the housing body 310 to further enhance the bearing strength and impact resistance of the bottom of the housing body 310. The bottom guard plate 340 may be made of various materials, including but not limited to copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, etc.

[0099] In the battery 1000, there may be multiple battery cells 210, and the multiple battery cells 210 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection. A hybrid connection refers to a combination of series and parallel connections among the multiple battery cells 210. The multiple battery cells 210 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection, and then the entire battery cell 210 may be housed within the housing assembly 300. Of course, the battery 1000 may also be a battery module formed by first connecting multiple battery cells 210 in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection, and then the multiple battery modules are further connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection to form an entire battery cell, which is then housed within the housing assembly 300. The battery 1000 may also include other structures, such as a busbar assembly for electrically connecting the multiple battery cells 210.

[0100] Each battery cell 210 may be a secondary battery or a primary battery, a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery, but is not limited thereto. The battery cell 210 may be cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or in other shapes.

[0101] In the battery 1000, the heat exchange element 100 can be disposed between the multiple battery cells 210 and the top wall of the housing assembly 300, between the multiple battery cells 210 and the bottom wall of the housing assembly 300, between the bottom wall of the housing assembly 300 and the bottom guard plate 340, or between two adjacent battery cells 210, thereby providing heat exchange for the multiple battery cells 210. In some embodiments, the heat exchange element 100 can include a connecting tube 10 and a current collector 20. The connecting tube 10 is connected to the current collector 20 and can be a flat tube, a round tube, a harmonica tube, or other shaped tube. The current collector 20 can be a rectangular tube, a round tube, or other shaped tube.

[0102] Hereinafter, a heat exchange element 100 according to an embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0103] Please refer to Figures 3-6. Figures 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams of the heat exchange element 100 according to some embodiments of the present application from different angles. Figure 5 is an exploded view of the heat exchange element 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. Figure 6 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the structure of the circled area A in Figure 5. The heat exchange element 100 includes: multiple connecting tubes 10, a current collector 20, and a reinforcement member 30.

[0104] Specifically, multiple connecting tubes 10 are arranged at intervals. A current collector 20 has an inlet 201 and an outlet 202. Inlet 201 is for inputting a medium, and outlet 202 is for outputting a medium. The current collector 20 is connected to and communicates with each connecting tube 10. Together, the current collector 20 and the multiple connecting tubes 10 form multiple parallel liquid flow paths, each of which runs from inlet 201 to outlet 202. A reinforcement member 30 is provided on the current collector 20 and is configured to strengthen the current collector 20.

[0105] The connecting tube 10 is a tubular structure capable of allowing the flow of a medium and defining a flow path for the medium, such as a circular tube, rectangular tube, elliptical tube, or harmonica tube. The connecting tube 10 can extend along a straight line, an arc, or a combination of these shapes. The connecting tube 10 can be made of a material with excellent thermal conductivity, such as a metal, specifically aluminum or copper. For example, the connecting tube 10 can be an aluminum tube.

[0106] The multiple connecting tubes 10 are arranged at intervals, which means that the channels in the connecting tubes 10 are not directly connected, but are all connected to the current collector 20. The connecting tubes 10 can form a certain gap in space or can contact each other, which is within the scope of protection of this application.

[0107] The current collector 20 defines a channel for the flow of the medium and enables the heat exchange element 100 to communicate with the external medium through the inlet 201 and outlet 202. The current collector 20 can include a tubular structure, such as a circular tube, a rectangular tube, or an elliptical tube. The current collector 20 can be made of a material with excellent thermal conductivity or a material with high structural strength, such as metal, specifically aluminum or stainless steel.

[0108] The current collector 20 is connected to and communicates with each connecting tube 10. Together, the current collector 20 and the multiple connecting tubes 10 form multiple parallel liquid flow paths, each of which runs from an inlet 201 to an outlet 202. Each liquid flow path can flow from an inlet 201 through a single connecting tube 10 to an outlet 202, or from an inlet 201 through at least two connecting tubes 10 in sequence to an outlet 202. The current collector 20 can divert the medium flowing into the inlet 201 into multiple liquid flow paths and converge the media in these multiple flow paths, simplifying the connection of the heat exchanger 100 to external piping.

[0109] In the present application, the forming process of the connecting tube 10 and the current collector 20 is not limited, for example, they can be extruded or formed by sheet metal bending and fixed by welding, etc.

[0110] The reinforcement member 30 can be made of a material with a certain strength, such as stainless steel, composite materials, or multilayer materials. The structure of the reinforcement member 30 can be flexibly configured according to actual conditions. For example, the reinforcement member 30 can include a plate body that is bonded to the current collector 20, thereby increasing the overall plate thickness through bonding to improve structural strength; for example, the reinforcement member 30 can include a support structure disposed within the current collector 20 and supporting the opposite side walls of the current collector 20, thereby improving structural strength through support; etc.

[0111] The location of the reinforcement member 30 can be flexibly set according to actual conditions. For example, the reinforcement member 30 can be set inside the current collector 20; or the reinforcement member 30 can be set outside the current collector 20 to facilitate the assembly of the reinforcement member 30 and the current collector 20, and to facilitate the connection of the reinforcement member 30 to the connecting tube 10. The reinforcement member 30 and the current collector 20 can be connected by welding, screwing, etc.

[0112] Compared to the connecting tube 10, the current collector 20, which acts as a current collector, experiences higher pressure, has more complex piping connections, and requires higher strength. The reinforcement 30 strengthens the current collector 20, enhancing the overall structural strength of the heat exchanger 100. This makes the current collector 20 less likely to deform, collapse, or rupture during use, and reduces the connection between the current collector 20 and the connecting tube 10 from failing, thereby extending the service life of the heat exchanger 100.

[0113] According to the heat exchanger 100 of the embodiment of the present application, by providing a reinforcement member 30 that can strengthen the strength of the current collector 20, the current collector 20 is less likely to deform, collapse, and other problems during assembly and use, thereby reducing the risk of airtight failure and improving the overall structural strength and service life of the heat exchanger 100.

[0114] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 7, which is a partial cross-sectional view of the heat exchanger 100 provided in some embodiments of the present application. The current collector 20 and the connecting tube 10 are both connected to the reinforcement 30. The current collector 20 is connected to the reinforcement 30 so that the reinforcement 30 can strengthen the strength of the current collector 20. The connection between the connecting tube 10 and the reinforcement 30 can strengthen the structural strength of the connecting tube 10. Moreover, compared with the current collector 20, the structural design of the reinforcement 30 is more flexible, so it is easier to achieve connection with the connecting tube 10, improve the connection reliability and sealing, so the reinforcement 30 connects the connecting tube 10 and the current collector 20, which is beneficial to reduce the risk of connection seal failure of the connecting tube 10.

[0115] Methods for connecting the connecting tube 10 to the reinforcement 30 include, but are not limited to, welding and threading. For example, in some embodiments, at least one of the current collector 20 and the connecting tube 10 is welded to the reinforcement 30. Welding not only improves reliability but also facilitates sealing. In embodiments where the current collector 20 and the connecting tube 10 are separately welded to the reinforcement 30, the connecting tube 10 and the current collector 20 are not directly welded. This reduces restrictions on the thickness, material, and structure of the current collector 20, thereby reducing molding costs.

[0116] In some specific embodiments, as shown in Figure 9, which is a cross-sectional view of a plate of a reinforcement 30 provided in some embodiments of the present application, the reinforcement 30 includes a substrate 36 and a solder layer 37 provided on the surface of the substrate 36, and at least one of the current collector 20 and the connecting tube 10 is welded to the solder layer 37.

[0117] The base material 36 can be made of a material with a certain strength, such as stainless steel or aluminum. The solder layer 37 is a layer of material with a lower melting point than the base material 36, which prevents the base material 36 from melting and deforming during welding. In some specific embodiments, the base material 36 is a tertiary aluminum alloy with a melting point of approximately 610°C, and the solder layer 37 is a quaternary aluminum alloy with a melting point of approximately 580°C. During brazing, the connecting tube 10 is connected to the reinforcement member 30. During the brazing process, the solder layer 37 melts and connects to the connecting tube 10, while the base material 36 maintains its shape, providing a good reinforcement effect.

[0118] According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG. 3-FIG . 4 and FIG. 7 , the reinforcement 30 is disposed outside the current collector 20 , and at least a portion of the reinforcement 30 is in contact with the outer surface of the current collector 20 .

[0119] The reinforcement 30 is arranged outside the current collector 20, which facilitates the assembly of the reinforcement 30 and the current collector 20 and is not affected by the internal space size of the current collector 20; and by at least part of the reinforcement 30 being bonded to the outer surface of the current collector 20, the overall thickness of the bonding area can be increased, thereby effectively improving the strength.

[0120] In some specific embodiments, the reinforcement member 30 is formed into a non-enclosed structure in the circumferential direction of the current collector 20, that is, it does not form a tubular structure, which facilitates the assembly of the current collector 20 and the reinforcement member 30. For example, the reinforcement member 30 can be attached to one side of the current collector 20, and the reinforcement member 30 generally forms a straight-line structure; or the reinforcement member 30 can be attached to both sides of the current collector 20, and the reinforcement member 30 generally forms an L-shaped structure; or the reinforcement member 30 can be attached to three sides of the current collector 20, and the reinforcement member 30 generally forms a U-shaped structure, which can reduce the difficulty of assembling the current collector 20 and the reinforcement member 30.

[0121] According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown in Figures 6-8 , the current collector 20 has a first opening 203, the reinforcement member 30 has a second opening 301 opposite the first opening 203, and the second opening 301 has a connecting flange 34 around its periphery. The connecting tube 10 is inserted through the first opening 203 and the second opening 301, and is connected to the inner circumferential surface of the connecting flange 34.

[0122] The first opening 203 and the second opening 301 can be formed by a process such as stamping. The shapes of the first opening 203 and the second opening 301 can be the same or different, as long as they can accommodate the connecting pipe 10. The connecting flange 34 can be integrally formed on the reinforcement member 30 by stamping, welding, or other methods. The provision of the connecting flange 34 increases the contact area between the reinforcement member 30 and the connecting pipe 10, such as the welding area, thereby improving connection and sealing reliability.

[0123] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG7 , the connecting flange 34 is disposed through the first opening 203. For example, if the reinforcement member 30 is disposed outside the current collector 20, the connecting flange 34 may be disposed inwardly through the first opening 203; or if the reinforcement member 30 is disposed outside the current collector 20, the connecting flange 34 may be disposed outwardly through the first opening 203.

[0124] The connecting flange 34 passing through the first opening 203 can reduce the occupied space in the thickness direction of the plate and improve the strength reinforcing effect of the reinforcement 30 on the collector 20, especially the strength near the first opening 203; and the connecting flange 34 can separate the wall surface of the first opening 203 from the connecting tube 10, and it is not easy to form a weak sealing area.

[0125] The connecting flange 34 may contact or be spaced apart from the wall of the first opening 203. In some specific embodiments, as shown in FIG7 , the outer peripheral surface of the connecting flange 34 is in contact with the wall of the reinforcement member 30 forming the first opening 203. The connecting flange 34 can effectively strengthen the wall near the first opening 203 and facilitate connection, such as welding, between the connecting flange 34 and the wall forming the first opening 203, further improving the sealing effect.

[0126] In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG7 , the connecting tube 10 includes a main body section 11 and a connecting section 12. In a direction perpendicular to the direction through which the second opening 301 extends (the third direction Z or the second direction Y shown in FIG7 ), the connecting section 12 is smaller than the main body section 11. The connecting section 12 extends through the first opening 203 and the second opening 301, and the outer circumference of the connecting section 12 is connected to the inner circumference of the connecting flange 34.

[0127] A stepped surface is formed at the junction of the main body section 11 and the connecting section 12. Specifically, a portion of the end surface of the main body section 11 facing the connecting section 12 is connected to the connecting section 12, while the other portion forms a stepped surface. This stepped surface limits the maximum dimension of the connecting tube 10 for insertion into the first opening 203 and the second opening 301, allowing the connecting section 12 to be inserted into the first opening and the second opening 301 and connected to the connecting flange 34. This allows the main body section 11 to be positioned outside the openings, reducing obstruction to the flow of the medium within the current collector 20 and allowing the main body section 11 of the connecting tube 10 to provide sufficient heat exchange area.

[0128] For example, the main section 11 can abut against the surface of the reinforcement 30 facing away from the current collector 20, which not only limits the plug-in size of the connecting tube 10, but also allows a connection such as welding to be formed between the main section 11 and the reinforcement 30 to further improve the connection strength.

[0129] According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown in Figures 3 to 7, at least one of the inlet 201 and the outlet 202 is provided with a joint 40, the reinforcement 30 is provided with a through hole 302 opposite to at least one of the inlet 201 and the outlet 202, and the joint 40 is passed through the through hole 302 and is connected to the inlet 201 or the outlet 202.

[0130] The connector 40 may be a round tube, square tube, threaded tube, or the like. The connector 40 may be made of, but is not limited to, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, or other materials with a certain degree of hardness. The connector 40 may be formed by, but is not limited to, extrusion, stamping, or the like. The connector 40 may be used to connect the heat exchanger 100 to an external device. For example, in the thermal management system of the vehicle 1, the connector 40 may connect the heat exchanger 100 to other piping in the thermal management system.

[0131] The connector 40 provided at the inlet 201 is inserted through the corresponding through-hole 302 and communicates with the inlet 201; the connector 40 provided at the outlet 202 is inserted through the corresponding through-hole 302 and communicates with the outlet 202. For example, the connector 40 may be inserted through the through-hole 302 and the inlet 201; or, for another example, the connector 40 may be inserted through the through-hole 302, and the end surface of the connector 40 may be connected to the surface of the side wall of the current collector 20 forming the inlet 201. All of these are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0132] The joint 40 is passed through the through hole 302 and connected to the inlet 201 or the outlet 202, so that the reinforcement 30 and the joint 40 are matched. The reinforcement 30 can strengthen the strength of the joint 40 and the connection strength between the joint 40 and the current collector 20, which is beneficial to improve the sealing of the connection between the joint 40 and the current collector 20 and reduce the risk of sealing failure.

[0133] In some embodiments, a first positioning protrusion is provided on the outer circumference of the connector 40. The first positioning protrusion abuts against the edge of the inlet 201 or outlet 202 facing away from the reinforcement member 30. Specifically, the first positioning protrusion of the connector 40 provided at the inlet 201 abuts against the edge of the inlet 201, and the first positioning protrusion of the connector 40 provided at the outlet 202 abuts against the edge of the outlet 202. The first positioning protrusion can limit the insertion size of the connector 40 into the corresponding inlet 201 or outlet 202, thereby ensuring the positioning of the connector 40. Furthermore, the first positioning protrusion can also improve the strength of the connection between the connector 40 and the current collector 20.

[0134] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG7 , a second position-limiting protrusion 41 is provided on the outer circumference of the connector 40. The second position-limiting protrusion 41 abuts against the edge of the through-hole 302 facing away from the current collector 20. The second position-limiting protrusion 41 can limit the insertion size of the connector 40 into the corresponding through-hole 302, thereby achieving positioning of the connector 40 and improving the strength of the connection between the connector 40 and the reinforcement 30.

[0135] In addition, in an embodiment where the reinforcement 30 is arranged outside the current collector 20, as shown in Figure 7, the first limiting protrusion limits the insertion size of the connector 40 during assembly, and the second limiting protrusion 41 prevents the connector 40 from being pulled out and separated from the current collector 20 and the reinforcement 30. The first limiting protrusion and the second limiting protrusion 41 cooperate to achieve two-way limiting in the plug-in direction of the connector 40, making the overall connection more reliable and the sealing and positioning more stable.

[0136] The first and second limiting protrusions 41 can be formed as stepped structures or raised structures by cutting, stamping, riveting, or other processes, and this application does not impose any special restrictions on this. In the example shown in Figure 7, the first limiting protrusion is a flared flange formed by radially outward deformation of the end of the connector 40, and the second limiting protrusion 41 is a stepped structure formed by cutting the outer peripheral surface of the connector 40. This simple processing method is conducive to reducing production costs.

[0137] According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, the current collector 20 has adjacent first and second side walls 21 and 22, and the reinforcement 30 includes a first plate 31 and a second plate 32. The first side wall 21 cooperates with the connecting tube 10 and fits the first plate 31, and the second side wall 22 cooperates with the connector 40 and fits the second plate 32.

[0138] For example, the first side wall 21 is provided with a first opening 203, the first plate body 31 is provided with a second opening 301, the first plate body 31 is attached to the inner side or outer side of the first side wall 21, and the connecting pipe 10 is passed through the first opening 203 and the second opening 301; the second side wall 22 is provided with an inlet 201 or an outlet 202, the second plate body 32 is provided with a through hole 302, the second plate body 32 is attached to the inner side or outer side of the second side wall 22, and the connector 40 is passed through the through hole 302 and the corresponding inlet 201 or outlet 202.

[0139] The connecting tube 10 and the connector 40 are respectively connected to two adjacent side walls of the current collector 20. This simplifies piping connections on the same side wall of the current collector 20, reduces the likelihood of structural interference, and minimizes the impact on the strength of the current collector 20. The first plate 31 and the second plate 32 are respectively attached to two adjacent side surfaces of the current collector 20, further improving the strength of the current collector 20 and facilitating easier assembly of the reinforcement 30 and the current collector 20.

[0140] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 6-8 , the reinforcement member 30 is a single piece. For example, the first plate 31 and the second plate 32 are integrally formed into an L-shape. In embodiments where the reinforcement member 30 includes other structures, the other structures can be integrally formed with the first and second plates 31, 32. This provides enhanced overall structural strength for the reinforcement member 30, thereby further improving the strength of the current collector 20.

[0141] In other embodiments, please refer to Figures 14 and 15. Figure 14 is a schematic structural diagram of the heat exchanger 100 provided in other embodiments of the present application; Figure 15 is an exploded view of the heat exchanger 100 provided in other embodiments of the present application. The first plate 31 and the second plate 32 are separate parts. The first plate 31 and the second plate 32 can be processed independently, and the first opening 203 on the first plate 31 and the inlet 201 and outlet 202 on the second plate 32 can also be processed independently. The processing accuracy does not affect each other, which is conducive to reducing the processing difficulty. In addition, the alignment accuracy of the first opening 203 and the second opening 301, and the alignment accuracy of the inlet 201 or outlet 202 and the through hole 302 can be independently controlled, which is conducive to reducing the processing difficulty and assembly difficulty, and avoiding the problem of the first opening 203 being aligned with the second opening 301 and the inlet 201 and the through hole 302 being unable to be aligned due to processing errors.

[0142] In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in Figures 7-8, 14 and 15, the reinforcement 30 also includes a third plate body 33, which is connected to the edge of the first plate body 31 away from the second plate body 32, and the current collector 20 has a third side wall 23 opposite to the second side wall 22, and the third plate body 33 is in contact with the third side wall 23.

[0143] The current collector 20 may have four side walls as shown in FIG7 , or may have five, six, or more side walls, wherein three adjacent side walls form a first side wall 21, a second side wall 22, and a third side wall 23. The third plate 33 is bonded to the third side wall 23 to increase the mating area between the current collector 20 and the reinforcement 30, thereby improving connection reliability and overall strength.

[0144] In addition, the third plate body 33 is connected to the first plate body 31 to form an L-shaped structure. In the embodiment in which the first plate body 31 is connected to the second plate body 32, the first plate body 31, the second plate body 32 and the third plate body 33 form a U-shaped structure, which further improves the overall strength of the reinforcement 30 and further improves the effect of improving the strength of the collector 20.

[0145] According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 , the reinforcement 30 is disposed outside the current collector 20 and is provided with a mounting flange 35 extending away from the current collector 20 . The mounting flange 35 is used for mounting the heat exchange element 100 .

[0146] For example, as shown in FIG5 , the mounting flange 35 is provided on the second plate 32 of the reinforcement member 30 and extends upward relative to the second plate 32 to extend away from the current collector 20. The mounting flange 35 is used to install the heat exchange element 100. That is, the heat exchange element 100 can be installed in the device in which it is used through the mounting flange 35. For example, in an embodiment where the heat exchange element 100 is used in a battery 1000, the mounting flange 35 can be connected to other structures of the battery 1000 through fasteners, welding, etc. Specifically, the mounting flange 35 can be connected to the side beams of the box assembly 300 of the battery 1000 or the partition beams within the box assembly 300.

[0147] The installation flange 35 not only improves the strength of the reinforcement 30, but also integrates the installation function into the reinforcement 30, reduces the number of parts on the heat exchange element 100, and makes the structure simpler.

[0148] In some embodiments of the present application, the current collector 20 includes a first current collecting component 24, which is provided with an inlet 201 and an outlet 202. The connecting tube 10 bends and extends, and both ends of the connecting tube 10 are connected to the first current collecting component 24. One end of the connecting tube 10 is connected to the inlet 201, and the other end of the connecting tube 10 is connected to the outlet 202, forming a liquid flow path.

[0149] The connecting tube 10 may be a U-shaped tube, a serpentine tube, a meandering tube or a tube extending along any other path. The starting end and the ending end of the extending path of the connecting tube 10 form the two ends of the connecting tube 10 .

[0150] Both ends of the connecting pipe 10 are connected to the first collecting component 24, so that the first collecting component 24 integrates the functions of diversion and convergence, and the inlet 201 and the outlet 202 are integrated, which reduces the number of collecting components, simplifies the structure of the collecting body 20, and facilitates the centralized arrangement of the inlet and outlet connecting pipes of the heat exchange component 100 and the outside, making the structure more compact.

[0151] In other embodiments of the present application, as shown in Figures 3-5, the current collector 20 includes a first current collecting component 24 and a second current collecting component 25. The two ends of the connecting pipe 10 are connected to and communicate with the first current collecting component 24 and the second current collecting component 25, respectively, and at least one of the first current collecting component 24 and the second current collecting component 25 is provided with a reinforcement 30.

[0152] The connecting pipe 10 can be a straight pipe, or a U-shaped pipe, a serpentine pipe, a meandering pipe or a pipe extending along any other path. The starting end and the end end of the extending path of the connecting pipe 10 form the two ends of the connecting pipe 10 .

[0153] The two ends of the connecting tube 10 are respectively connected to the first current collector 20 and the second current collector 20, which makes it easier to arrange the positions of the multiple connecting tubes 10. The structure and extension path design of the connecting tube 10 are also more flexible and changeable. For example, multiple straight tubes can be connected in series and in parallel. Multiple connecting tubes 10 can be connected in parallel, or some of the connecting tubes 10 can be connected in series to form a liquid flow path and then connected in parallel with other liquid flow paths.

[0154] At least one of the first current collector 20 and the second current collector 20 is provided with a reinforcement 30 , which can improve the structural strength of the current collector 20 . In the embodiment where both the first current collector 20 and the second current collector 20 are provided with reinforcement 30 , the overall strength of the current collector 20 is higher.

[0155] In some embodiments, the inlet 201 and the outlet 202 can be respectively provided in the first collecting component 24 and the second collecting component 25 so that the liquid in the plurality of connecting tubes 10 flows in the same direction. The structures of the first collecting component 24 and the second collecting component 25 are simpler and no liquid reversal is required.

[0156] In other embodiments, as shown in Figures 3-6, the inlet 201 and the outlet 202 are provided in the first flow collecting component 24, and at least the first flow collecting component 24 is provided with a reinforcement member 30. Thus, as indicated by the arrows in the figures, after the medium flows into the first flow collecting component 24 through the inlet 201, it flows to the second flow collecting component 25 through a portion of the connecting pipe 10, flows along the second flow collecting component 25 to another portion of the connecting pipe 10 to achieve reversal, and then flows back to the first flow collecting component 24 through the other portion of the connecting pipe 10 to flow out through the outlet 202 of the first flow collecting component 24.

[0157] The inlet 201 and outlet 202 are integrated into the same first fluid collector 24, allowing for centralized placement of the inlet and outlet piping connecting the heat exchanger 100 to the outside world, resulting in a more compact structure. The first fluid collector 20 is provided with a reinforcement member 30, which enhances the structural strength of the first fluid collector 20, which has more complex piping connections. This improves the reliability of the first fluid collector 20's piping connections, such as at the connector 40, and effectively reduces the risk of seal failure.

[0158] The reinforcement members 30 provided on the first current collecting component 24 and the reinforcement members 30 provided on the second current collecting component 25 can have the same or different structures. Reinforcements 30 with the same structure can be made into a universal component to reduce production costs; reinforcement members 30 with different structures can adopt targeted structural designs to better match the current collector 20.

[0159] For example, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the mounting flange 35 may be provided only on the reinforcement 30 connected to the first current collecting component 24, or may be provided on two reinforcements 30; for example, in an embodiment in which the inlet 201 and the outlet 202 are integrated in the first current collecting component 24, the through hole 302 may be provided only on the reinforcement 30 of the first current collecting component 24; in an embodiment in which the inlet 201 and the outlet 202 are respectively provided in the first current collecting component 24 and the second current collecting component 25, the reinforcements 30 of the first current collecting component 24 and the second current collecting component 25 may both be provided with the through hole 302.

[0160] In some embodiments, the reinforcement member 30 includes a first plate 31, a second plate 32, and a third plate 33, each of which is in contact with three adjacent side surfaces of the current collector 20, as shown in Figures 6-8 . The second plate 32 and the third plate 33 are located on either side of the first plate 31, and the first plate 31 is connected to the connecting tube 10. The second plate 32 of the reinforcement member 30 provided on the first current collecting component 24 is provided with two through-holes 302, and the inlet 201 and the outlet 202 are respectively opposite the two through-holes 302.

[0161] According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG3 , the plurality of connecting tubes 10 include first connecting tubes 13 and second connecting tubes 14. The medium in the first connecting tubes 13 flows from the first flow collecting component 24 to the second flow collecting component 25, and the medium in the second connecting tubes 14 flows from the second flow collecting component 25 to the first flow collecting component 24. The number of first connecting tubes 13 and second connecting tubes 14 is equal, and the second flow collecting component 25 connects the first connecting tubes 13 and the second connecting tubes 14 in series to form two liquid flow paths.

[0162] The medium flows in opposite directions through the first connecting tube 13 and the second connecting tube 14, one of which is a liquid inlet and the other a liquid outlet. The equal number of first connecting tubes 13 and second connecting tubes 14 ensures a balanced inflow and outflow of liquid, ensuring smooth liquid flow within the heat exchanger 100 and preventing the occurrence of localized excessive pressure. For example, as shown in FIG3 , the heat exchanger 100 includes four connecting tubes 10, two of which are first connecting tubes 13 and the other two are second connecting tubes 14. A second flow collecting component 25 facilitates the switching of the first and second connecting tubes 13, 14. Of course, the number of first connecting tubes 13 and second connecting tubes 14 can also be three, four, or more to create more liquid flow paths, providing a larger heat exchange area and capacity.

[0163] In some embodiments in which the first flow collecting component 24 integrates the inlet 201 and the outlet 202, as shown in Figures 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133,

[0164] By providing the separator 50, the first flow collecting component 24 can be used for both liquid inlet and outlet, without interfering with each other. Furthermore, the separator 50 is inserted into the first flow collecting component 24 through the socket 204, facilitating assembly. The socket 204 also secures the separator 50 in a fixed position, preventing it from moving and affecting the spatial separation effect. By using the separator 50 for separation, the first flow collecting component 24 can be eliminated from its separation function, resulting in a simpler structure and easier processing and molding.

[0165] In some specific embodiments, as shown in Figures 11-13, the socket 204 extends through the first sidewall 21 along the first direction X and is formed on portions of the second sidewall 22 and the third sidewall 23 along the first direction X. The separator 50 is formed with two stepped surfaces, with the periphery of the separator 50 located within the socket 204. The two stepped surfaces respectively abut against the inner wall surfaces of the socket 204 on the second sidewall 22 and the third sidewall 23, thereby limiting the size of the separator 50 when inserted into the socket 204. The separator 50 can also adopt a structure in which both sides of the substrate 36 are covered with a solder layer 37, so that the solder layers 37 on both sides can contact and weld with the inner wall surfaces of the socket 204 on opposite sides to achieve a seal.

[0166] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG13 , the reinforcement member 30 at least partially covers the socket 204 . The reinforcement member 30 can shield the connection structure between the separator 50 and the current collector 20 at the socket 204 , reducing the risk of seal failure at the connection. For example, the solder layer 37 is not easily applied to the stepped surface of the separator 50 , resulting in a weak seal. By covering the junction between the stepped surface and the inner wall of the socket 204 with the reinforcement member 30, the risk of seal failure at this location can be reduced.

[0167] According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 , both ends of the current collector 20 have channel openings 205 , and the heat exchange element 100 further includes a cover 60 , which covers the channel openings 205 .

[0168] The cover 60 can be made of a high-temperature resistant non-metallic material, or aluminum alloy, copper, stainless steel, or other materials. The cover 60 and the current collector 20 can be sealed using a sealant, welding, or other means to reduce the risk of medium leakage. Furthermore, the cover 60 can be a cover that covers the end of the current collector 20. The cover 60 can at least partially extend into the channel opening 205, as long as it can cover the channel opening 205.

[0169] The current collector 20 has channel openings 205 at both ends, and the channel openings 205 are sealed by the cover 60, so that the current collector 20 itself is generally formed into a through tubular structure, which is easier to shape.

[0170] As shown in Figure 2, the battery 1000 according to the embodiment of the present application includes the heat exchange element 100 according to the embodiment of the present application. Therefore, by adopting the above-mentioned heat exchange element 100, the temperature control performance of the battery 1000 can be improved.

[0171] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 2 and 16, the battery 1000 further includes: a box assembly 300 and a battery assembly 200. The box assembly 300 includes a box body 310 that is integrally stamped and formed. The box body 310 includes a bottom wall 311 and a surrounding wall 312. The battery assembly 200 is disposed within the box body 310, and the battery assembly 200 includes a plurality of battery cells 210. For example, the box body 310 can be made of sheet metal and stamped into a basin shape to include the bottom wall 311 and the surrounding wall 312. Therefore, since the bottom wall 311 and the surrounding wall 312 of the box body 310 are integrally stamped and formed, the connection between the bottom wall 311 and the surrounding wall 312 does not need to be sealed, and a sealing effect can be ensured. This can prevent muddy water from seeping into the box body 310 from the connection between the bottom wall 311 and the surrounding wall 312 and affecting the battery assembly 200, thereby improving the reliability of the battery 1000. Moreover, the integrally stamped box body 310 does not require splicing, which can improve production efficiency. The battery cells 210 may generate heat during operation, or may need to be heated in a low-temperature environment to maintain a suitable temperature range. The heat exchanger 100 can be used to regulate the temperature of the battery cells 210, thereby improving the stability of the battery cells 210 and the battery life of the battery 1000.

[0172] In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in Figures 16-18, the battery 1000 includes a thermostat, which includes at least one of a first thermostat 110, a second thermostat 120, and a third thermostat 130, and at least one of the first thermostat 110, the second thermostat 120, and the third thermostat 130 includes a heat exchanger 100. The first thermostat 110 is disposed outside the box body 310 and is in contact with the outer wall of the box body 310. The second thermostat 120 is disposed within the box assembly 300 and is located between the battery assembly 200 and the box assembly 300. The third thermostat 130 is disposed within the box assembly 300 and is located between two adjacent battery cells 210.

[0173] For example, the battery 1000 may include only one of the first thermostat 110, the second thermostat 120, and the third thermostat 130; may include two of the first thermostat 110, the second thermostat 120, and the third thermostat 130; or may include all three of the first thermostat 110, the second thermostat 120, and the third thermostat 130. Thus, appropriate locations for the thermostats can be selected based on actual conditions to meet the temperature regulation requirements of the battery 1000.

[0174] The specific location of the first thermostat 110 outside the box body 310 is not limited. For example, with reference to FIG16 , at least a portion of the first thermostat 110 can be located below the bottom wall 311 of the box body 310, thereby enabling heat exchange with the battery assembly 200 over a wider range and improving the temperature control effect on the battery assembly 200. For another example, at least a portion of the first thermostat 110 can also be located outside the surrounding wall 312 of the box body 310.

[0175] Exemplarily, as shown in Figure 16, the box assembly 300 may also include a bottom guard plate 340 located below the bottom wall 311 of the box body 310 to protect the box body 310 from bumps and other factors. At this time, if a first temperature control component 110 is provided below the bottom wall 311 of the box body 310, the first temperature control component 110 may be located between the bottom guard plate 340 and the bottom wall 311 of the box body 310, so that the bottom guard plate 340 can also protect the first temperature control component 110.

[0176] The specific location of the second thermostat 120 within the box assembly 300 is not limited. For example, with reference to FIG16 , at least a portion of the second thermostat 120 can be located above the bottom wall 311 of the box body 310, so as to be sandwiched between the bottom wall 311 of the box body 310 and the bottom of the battery assembly 200. This allows for a wider range of heat exchange with the battery assembly 200, thereby improving the temperature control effect on the battery assembly 200. For another example, at least a portion of the second thermostat 120 can be located below the box cover 320, so as to be sandwiched between the box cover 320 and the top of the battery assembly 200. This allows for a wider range of heat exchange with the battery assembly 200, thereby improving the temperature control effect on the battery assembly 200.

[0177] The specific setting position of the third temperature regulating component 130 in the box assembly 300 is not limited. For example, in combination with Figure 17, the adjacent battery cells 210 in the battery assembly 200 can be arranged with their large surfaces facing each other. The third temperature regulating component 130 is set between the large surfaces of the adjacent battery cells 210, which can improve the temperature regulating effect of the battery cells 210.

[0178] Exemplarily, in conjunction with Figure 16, the temperature regulating element may be a flat tube structure, that is, the temperature regulating element is formed in the form of a flat tube with a width greater than the thickness. A flow channel may be formed in the flat tube, and a heat exchange liquid may be introduced into the flow channel to exchange heat with the battery assembly 200 to achieve a temperature regulating effect on the battery 1000.

[0179] Typically, batteries utilize a double-layer brazed plate structure for heat exchange components, consisting of two brazed layers of plate material with a heat exchange channel formed between them. In this application, for example, the flat tube can be constructed by splicing together multiple extruded tube segments. The thickness of the flat tube can be significantly smaller than that of a double-layer brazed plate structure, thereby occupying a smaller space and increasing the capacity of the battery 1000.

[0180] In addition, the thermal management system of the battery 1000 is not limited to including only the above-mentioned temperature control components. For example, in some embodiments, in combination with Figure 18, the box assembly 300 may also include an expansion beam 330 arranged in the box body 310. For example, there may be multiple expansion beams 330, and the battery assembly 200 is clamped between the multiple expansion beams 330. For example, it may include a first expansion beam 330 and a second expansion beam 330. The battery assembly 200 is clamped between the first expansion beam 330 and the second expansion beam 330. A heat exchange flow channel may be set in the expansion beam 330 for temperature control, thereby constituting a part of the thermal management system.

[0181] As shown in Figure 1, an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present application includes a battery 1000 according to an embodiment of the present application. The electrical device can be any of the aforementioned devices or systems that utilize the battery 1000. The improved performance of the battery 1000 can improve the operating performance of the electrical device.

[0182] The following describes a heat exchange element 100 , a battery 1000 having the same, and a vehicle 1 according to a specific embodiment of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0183] As shown in Figures 1-2, vehicle 1 includes a battery 1000, which includes a housing assembly 300, a battery assembly 200 housed within the housing assembly 300, and a heat exchanger 100. As shown in Figures 3-7, the heat exchanger 100 comprises four connecting tubes 10, a current collector 20, and two reinforcements 30. The connecting tubes 10 are straight tubes extending in a first direction X, and multiple connecting tubes 10 are arranged side by side in a second direction Y. They are formed by extrusion. The current collector 20 comprises two extruded current collecting components: a first current collecting component 24 and a second current collecting component 25. The current collector 20 also includes a cover 60 welded to seal the channel openings 205 at both ends of the current collecting component in the second direction Y. The interior of the second current collecting component 25 is continuous in the second direction Y. A separator 50 is inserted into the first current collecting component 24, which integrates an inlet 201 and an outlet 202. Joints 40 are provided at each of the inlet 201 and outlet 202, forming a U-shaped flow path within the heat exchanger 100. The first current collecting component 24 and the second current collecting component 25 are each provided with four first openings 203 .

[0184] The reinforcement 30 provided on the first collecting component 24 is recorded as the first reinforcement. The first reinforcement is punched and formed and includes a first plate body 31, a second plate body 32, a third plate body 33 and an installation flange 35; the first plate body 31 is provided with four second openings 301, and the edge of the second opening 301 is provided with a connecting flange 34, the second plate body 32 is provided with a through hole 302 opposite to the inlet 201 and the outlet 202, and the third plate body 33 is a continuously extended flat plate; the first plate body 31, the third plate body 33 and the connecting flange 34 are formed as one piece, and the second plate body 32 and the installation flange 35 are formed as one piece.

[0185] The reinforcement 30 provided on the second collecting component 25 is recorded as the second reinforcement. The second reinforcement is punched and formed and includes a first plate body 31, a second plate body 32 and a third plate body 33; the first plate body 31 is provided with four second openings 301, and the edge of the second opening 301 is provided with a connecting flange 34. The first plate body 31 and the third plate body 33 are both continuously extended flat plates, and the reinforcement 30 is an integral part.

[0186] Both the first and second reinforcement members comprise a base material 36 and a solder layer 37, forming a double-sided composite solder. The first reinforcement member is welded to the outer surface of the first current collecting component 24, covering the socket 204. The connecting flange 34 is inserted into the corresponding first opening 203. The second reinforcement member is welded to the outer surface of the second current collecting component 25, with the connecting flange 34 inserted into the corresponding first opening 203. The ends of the connecting pipe 10 are welded to the inner circumference of the connecting flange 34 of the first and second reinforcement members, respectively.

[0187] The first and second reinforcement members are both coated with a solder layer 37 on their inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface is welded to the current collector 20, while the outer surface is welded to the connector 40 and the connecting tube 10. This prevents the current collector 20 from being directly welded to the connecting tube 10. Even if the current collector 20 is made of a thinner sheet material, it will not affect the connection area between the connecting tube 10 and the first opening 203, or the connection area between the connector 40 and the inlet 201 and outlet 202, thereby affecting sealing reliability. Furthermore, the thinner sheet material makes the first opening 203, inlet 201, and outlet 202 easier to process, resulting in lower costs. The first and second reinforcement members enhance the structural strength of the current collector 20, ensuring good overall strength despite the thinner sheet material. The dimension of the connector 40 inserted into the first reinforcement member and the first current collecting component 24 is 0.2 mm to 2 mm, facilitating expansion and riveting. The sheet material thickness of the first reinforcement member and the first current collecting component 24 is 0.5 mm to 3 mm, creating a double-layer structure that enhances strength in this area. In addition, the second plate 32 of the first reinforcement member covers the welding position between the partition 50 and the first current collecting component 24 at the insertion opening 204, which can improve the welding quality.

[0188] In the above embodiment, the first reinforcement and the second reinforcement strengthen the strength of the collector 20 and the strength of the welding position; the welding area of ​​the connecting tube 10 is increased by adopting the connecting flange 34; the welding quality is ensured by outsourcing the first reinforcement at the fitting point of the separator 50 and the socket 204; the first plate body 31 and the second plate body 32 are separated parts, which makes it easy to improve the positioning accuracy and reduce the difficulty of assembly and processing; the first reinforcement is integrated with the mounting flange 35, and the mounting positioning function is integrated, which is conducive to reducing the number of parts.

[0189] 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.

[0190] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and variations are possible. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included within the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A heat exchange element, wherein: include: Multiple connecting pipes, arranged at intervals; a current collector having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is used to input a medium and the outlet is used to output a medium, the current collector is connected to and communicates with each of the connecting tubes, and the current collector and the multiple connecting tubes together form a plurality of liquid flow paths arranged in parallel, each of the liquid flow paths extending from the inlet to the outlet; The reinforcement member is provided on the current collector and is configured to enhance the strength of the current collector.

2. The heat exchange element according to claim 1, wherein: The current collector and the connecting pipe are both connected to the reinforcement.

3. The heat exchange element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The reinforcement is arranged outside the current collector, and at least a portion of the reinforcement is in contact with the outer surface of the current collector.

4. The heat exchange element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The current collector is provided with a first opening, the reinforcement is provided with a second opening opposite to the first opening, the periphery of the second opening is provided with a connecting flange, the connecting pipe is passed through the first opening and the second opening, and the connecting pipe is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the connecting flange.

5. The heat exchange element according to claim 4, wherein: The connecting flange is passed through the first opening.

6. The heat exchange element according to claim 5, wherein: The outer peripheral surface of the connecting flange is in contact with the wall surface of the reinforcement member forming the first opening.

7. The heat exchange element according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein: The connecting tube includes a connected main body section and a connecting section. In a direction perpendicular to the penetration direction of the second opening, the size of the connecting section is smaller than the size of the main body section. The connecting section is passed through the first opening and the second opening, and the outer peripheral surface of the connecting section is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the connecting flange.

8. The heat exchange element according to claim 7, wherein: The main body section abuts against a surface of the reinforcement member facing away from the current collector.

9. The heat exchange element according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: A joint is provided at the inlet and / or the outlet, the reinforcement is provided with a through hole opposite to the inlet and / or the outlet, and the joint passes through the through hole and communicates with the inlet or the outlet.

10. The heat exchange element according to claim 9, wherein: A first position-limiting protrusion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the joint, and the first position-limiting protrusion abuts against a side of an edge of the inlet or the outlet facing away from the reinforcement member; and / or, A second position-limiting protrusion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the joint, and the second position-limiting protrusion abuts against a side of the edge of the through hole facing away from the current collector.

11. The heat exchange element according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: The current collector has a first side wall and a second side wall adjacent to each other, and the reinforcement comprises a first plate body and a second plate body, wherein: The first side wall cooperates with the connecting pipe and fits with the first plate body, and the second side wall cooperates with the joint and fits with the second plate body.

12. The heat exchange element according to claim 11, wherein: The reinforcement is an integral piece; or the first plate and the second plate are separate pieces.

13. The heat exchange element according to claim 11 or 12, wherein: The reinforcement further includes a third plate connected to an edge of the first plate away from the second plate, and the current collector has a third sidewall opposite to the second sidewall, and the third plate is in contact with the third sidewall.

14. The heat exchange element according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein: The reinforcement is arranged outside the current collector and is provided with a mounting flange extending away from the current collector, and the mounting flange is used for mounting the heat exchange component.

15. The heat exchange element according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein: The current collector and / or the connecting pipe are welded to the reinforcement.

16. The heat exchange element according to claim 15, wherein: The reinforcement comprises a substrate and a solder layer provided on the surface of the substrate, and the current collector and / or the connecting tube are welded to the solder layer.

17. The heat exchange element according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein: The current collector includes a first current collecting component, which is provided with the inlet and the outlet. The connecting tube is bent and extended, and both ends of the connecting tube are connected to the first current collecting component, wherein one end of the connecting tube is connected to the inlet and the other end is connected to the outlet to form a liquid flow path.

18. The heat exchange element according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein: The current collector includes a first current collecting component and a second current collecting component. Both ends of the connecting pipe are connected to and communicate with the first current collecting component and the second current collecting component respectively. At least one of the first current collecting component and the second current collecting component is provided with the reinforcement.

19. The heat exchange element according to claim 18, wherein: The inlet and the outlet are provided on the first current collecting component, and at least the first current collecting component is provided with the reinforcement.

20. The heat exchange element according to claim 19, wherein: The reinforcement member provided on the first current collecting component and the reinforcement member provided on the second current collecting component may have the same or different structures.

21. The heat exchange element according to claim 18, wherein: The multiple connecting tubes include a first connecting tube and a second connecting tube. The medium in the first connecting tube flows from the first flow collecting component to the second flow collecting component. The medium in the second connecting tube flows from the second flow collecting component to the first flow collecting component. The number of the first connecting tubes and the second connecting tubes is equal. The second flow collecting component connects the first connecting tube and the second connecting tube in series to form two liquid flow paths.

22. The heat exchange element according to claim 17 or 19, wherein: The first flow collecting component is provided with a socket, and the heat exchange component further includes a partition, which is inserted into the socket and extends into the first flow collecting component to divide the space inside the first flow collecting component into an inlet channel and an outlet channel, the inlet is connected to the inlet channel, and the outlet is connected to the outlet channel.

23. The heat exchange element according to claim 22, wherein: The reinforcement member at least partially covers the socket.

24. The heat exchange element according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein: Both ends of the current collector are provided with channel openings, and the heat exchange component further comprises a sealing cover, which seals the channel openings.

25. A battery, wherein: include The heat exchange element according to any one of claims 1 to 24.

26. The battery according to claim 25, wherein Also includes: A box assembly and a battery assembly, wherein the box assembly includes a box body formed by integral stamping, the box body includes a bottom wall and a surrounding wall, the battery assembly is arranged in the box body, and the battery assembly includes a plurality of battery cells.

27. The battery according to claim 26, wherein The battery includes a temperature regulating element, the temperature regulating element includes at least one of a first temperature regulating element, a second temperature regulating element, and a third temperature regulating element, at least one of the first temperature regulating element, the second temperature regulating element, and the third temperature regulating element includes the heat exchange element, wherein: The first temperature regulating component is arranged outside the box body and is in contact with the outer wall of the box body; The second temperature regulating component is provided in the box assembly and is located between the battery assembly and the box assembly; The third temperature regulating component is arranged in the box assembly and is located between two adjacent battery cells.

28. An electrical device, wherein: Comprising a battery according to any one of claims 25-27.

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