Temperature control device and associated storage device

Abstract

The invention relates to a temperature control device, in particular for controlling the temperature of storage modules (10) for electrical energy, such as battery modules composed of cylindrical battery cells (14), having a throughflow body (24) which has a cavity (28) and through which a temperature control fluid can flow from an inlet (30) to an outlet (32). Said device is characterized in that the throughflow body (24) consists of a bellows body, in particular a bellows (26), the bellows folds (34) of which extend between two end parts (36) in such a way that the axial distance (X) between the end parts (36) can be varied in the context of a compensating movement. The invention further relates to a temperature control device and to an associated storage device.

Description

[0001] Tempering device including associated storage device

[0002] The invention relates to a temperature control device, in particular for controlling the temperature of storage modules for electrical energy, such as battery modules made of cylindrical battery cells, comprising a flow-through body having a cavity through which a temperature control fluid can flow from an inlet to an outlet. The invention further relates to a storage device using such temperature control devices.

[0003] AT 520018 B1 discloses an accumulator as a storage device, comprising at least one storage module for electrical energy and at least one cooling device for cooling or temperature control of the at least one storage module, wherein the cooling device has at least one coolant channel, at least one coolant inlet, and at least one coolant outlet, as well as a multilayer film that bears against the at least one storage module. Cooling devices are known in this way which, due to their film structure, can adapt flexibly, in particular to a substrate, usually formed by the adjacent top or bottom of a storage module. WO 2022 / 069537 A1 describes that such cooling devices generally have the problem that different volume flows of cooling fluid can occur across the entire cooler.This leads to unevenly cooled battery cells, which subsequently reduces the battery's performance over time due to varying cell aging. To counteract this, the fluid channels beneath the storage modules are designed to be very long, achieving a high pressure drop that allows for a more uniform fluid flow.

[0004] To address this problem, the known solution according to the WO publication proposes, as an alternative, a device for cooling or temperature control for at least one storage module of a rechargeable battery. The device has a plurality of coolant channels through which a fluid coolant can flow in the same direction, and at least one of the coolant channels has a cross-sectional constriction element, usually in the form of an element inserted into the coolant channel, with a predeterminable passage cross-section for the coolant. The known cross-sectional constriction in at least one coolant channel generates an increased pressure loss, making it possible to achieve at least approximately the same flow rate (volume flow per unit time) in all coolant channels. This eliminates the need for very long channels or complex coolant ducts outside the battery.

[0005] Based on this prior art, the invention seeks to create a temperature control device and associated storage device that further improves the solutions described above. This object is achieved by a temperature control device having the features of patent claim 1 and a storage device having the features of patent claim 12, each taken in its entirety.Due to the fact that, according to the characterizing part of patent claim 1, the flow body consists of a bellows body, in particular a folding bellows, the bellows folds of which extend between two end parts in such a way that the axial distance between the end parts can be changed within the scope of a compensating movement, an improved inherent stability for the flow body is achieved, in particular in the radial circumferential direction, while nevertheless a high degree of flexibility is achieved for the end parts, so that they can rest freely against adjacent storage modules and in particular can compensate for unevenness in this way.In particular, the accordion-like collapsible and extendable bellows is capable of volumetrically compensating for different distances between adjacent storage modules of a storage device, allowing a single type of temperature control device to be used to equip a wide variety of storage device designs, even with significantly different distances between the storage modules. This helps save costs, and it has been shown that the bellows design evens out the fluid volume flow within the flow body of the temperature control device, thus achieving uniform heat transfer between the temperature control and storage devices. The bellows body can also be formed from a diaphragm bellows or a corrugated bellows.

[0006] The bellows solution also allows for long-term operation with the temperature control device. Storage modules for electrical energy, such as batteries, especially in the form of battery modules made of cylindrical battery cells, can not only be cooled at correspondingly high temperatures, but also experience heating at low temperatures during the temperature control process. This results in improved power output for the respective storage module across the entire operating range, which plays an increasingly important role in the context of the desired so-called e-mobility. The temperature control device also allows charging processes for storage modules, such as batteries, to be further optimized.

[0007] A storage device according to the invention with the features of patent claim 12, in which individual storage modules for electrical energy are stacked one above the other in a stack arrangement leaving a predeterminable distance between them, which serves in each case for the introduction of a temperature control device according to the invention, overall improves the energetic situation for such stack arrangements during operation.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the temperature control device according to the invention, the two end parts and the bellows folds together form a one-piece flow body, with the connections between the end parts and the bellows folds being achieved via a laser welding or a soldering process. The flow body can be flowed through without obstruction.

[0009] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the temperature control device according to the invention, it is provided that when the flow body of the bellows is completely emptied of temperature control fluid, the two opposing end parts are in contact or substantially in contact with one another along their two adjacent inner surfaces. In this way, the extensibility within the scope of the axial distance compensation comes exclusively from the bellows structure, which preferably has several individual bellows folds, for example two to five bellows folds. A bellows fold is created by overlapping or pushing together adjacent bellows walls. In every state, in particular the extended state of the bellows, the respective bellows fold forms an acute angle with the adjacent wall parts.

[0010] Particularly preferably, the flow-through body is formed from a thin-walled, single-layer metal material, in particular stainless steel, with a wall thickness of 0.01 mm to 0.90 mm, preferably from 0.05 mm to 0.20 mm, particularly preferably 0.10 mm. By using a foil-like metal material, in particular in the form of stainless steel, long-term operation with the temperature control device is possible, and if necessary, even aggressive temperature control media can pass through the flow-through body of the temperature control device. Instead of stainless steel, aluminum can also be used as a foil-like metal material.

[0011] Because the respective end part has an outer surface that flexibly adapts to the outer contours of storage modules, in particular to compensate for unevenness, and because the folds of the bellows radially delimit the interior of the flow body from the environment and are designed to be dent-resistant, an inherently stable temperature control body is created which, due to its flexibility, nevertheless ensures good heat transfer to the adjacent storage modules or batteries.

[0012] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the temperature control device according to the invention, the folds of the bellows engage one another in a sequential sequence when the cavity of the flow body is emptied. As the cavity progressively fills, they are pulled apart into an operating position in which the two end sections, preferably parallel to one another, can be brought into temperature-regulating contact with an adjacent storage module using a predeterminable fluid pressure of the temperature control fluid. In this way, the temperature control device can be accommodated in a space-saving manner on-site between storage modules of a storage device in an empty state and can then be brought into the intended operating position by filling the cavity with the bellows folds progressively pulled apart, which occurs without play.In particular, within the scope of tolerance compensation, different distances between storage modules of a storage device can also be easily compensated via the bellows solution, without losing the heat-transferring contact surface between the end parts of the flow body and the adjacent storage modules.

[0013] In another particularly preferred embodiment of the temperature control device according to the invention, it is provided that, within the framework of a flow guide for the temperature control fluid, at least two partial cavities are fluidically connected to one another via a cross-connecting space as a third partial cavity, leaving a free space, and that all partial cavities form the cavity of the flow-through body as a whole. In this way, even without a cross-sectional constriction within the framework of the flow guide within the fluid channel formed by the three partial cavities, a homogenization of the fluid flow can be achieved, without causing pressure losses that could impair the free flow.

[0014] In a further preferred embodiment of the temperature control device according to the invention, the inlet and outlet are designed as identical parts that extend through a top and / or bottom film layer of the bellows as a fluid passage. Preferably, the inlet and outlet are each arranged vertically on a film layer of the bellows, forming a connection piece. This provides a particularly good connection option for the temperature control fluid to the temperature control device.

[0015] In another particularly preferred embodiment of the temperature control device according to the invention, the bellows has a peripheral projection at the location of the respective fluid passage with the inlet and outlet. This projection encompasses all the bellows folds in this area, each of which is enclosed at the edge by an associated retaining or positioning clamp, at least in its fully extended position, with partial contact. This limits the maximum possible extension movement of the bellows in the area of ​​the fluid connection points, which also contributes to increasing stability.

[0016] The associated storage device according to the invention is further advantageously characterized in that each storage module is provided with at least one temperature control device and is guided in a stand-up frame so as to be able to be pushed in and out along a predeterminable area, which is particularly easy to maintain and install.

[0017] This also includes advantageously arranging a central supply for the temperature control fluid on the frame, rearward of the front insertion and removal area, to which the individual temperature control devices can be connected with their respective inputs and outputs. In this way, the storage device as a whole can be supplied via a single central supply device, for example, consisting of a hydraulic pump and a storage tank for the temperature control fluid, with the return flow of the temperature control fluid from the temperature control devices returning to the storage tank. Devices such as heat exchangers can be installed in both the inlet and return lines to control the temperature of the temperature control fluid.

[0018] In the following, the temperature control device according to the invention together with the storage device is explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment. In this case, the following are shown in a schematic and not to scale representation:

[0019] Figure 1 is a perspective, rear view of a

[0020] Storage device in frame or column design with individual storage modules and temperature control devices as plug-in parts; Figure 2 shows the central rear supply of individual, stacked temperature control devices according to the frame solution of Figure 1;

[0021] Figures 3 to 6 show various views and sections of a single tempering device according to Figures 1 and 2 in the expanded bellows state; and

[0022] Figures 7 to 10 are representations corresponding to Figures 3 to 6, this time in the contracted bellows state.

[0023] Figure 1 shows a perspective rear view of the essential components of a storage device with individual temperature control devices and storage modules 10 in a stacked arrangement within a stand-up frame 12, wherein on the left, as viewed in the direction of Figure 1, a storage module 10 with a temperature control device arranged above it in the manner of a drawer is in the extended state and can be retracted horizontally into the frame 12 along the dashed lines shown, as soon as the temperature control device is placed on the storage module 10 below along the vertical dashed lines shown.

[0024] Each storage module 10 forms a type of battery. The resulting battery modules are constructed from cylindrical battery cells 14. The two cover plates 16, 18 shown are printed circuit boards with an aluminum backing, which serve to electrically connect the battery cells 14 and to dissipate heat from the pole contacts of the battery cells 14. Thus, the respective storage module 10 is designed in a sandwich construction and can be inserted into the rack frame 12 as a stack for assembly purposes and pushed out again for maintenance or replacement purposes, in an exemplary position as shown in Figure 1. The two cover plates 16, 18 have individual bent tabs 22, at least on their free, rear sides, by means of which the respective storage module 10 can be secured in a defined manner in the rack frame 12, for example, by means of a removable screw connection.The temperature control device located at the top in Figure 1 in the form of an exploded view, with its flow body 24, is shown in more detail in an embodiment according to Figures 3 to 10. The temperature control device, as used in Figures 1 and 2 for the individual storage modules 10, has a slightly different design with regard to the connection assignment for the inflow and outflow of the temperature control fluid. This will be explained in more detail below.

[0025] Figures 3 and 7 show a frontal plan view, once in the extended state and once in the retracted state, of the bellows 26 as a whole, wherein the bellows representations according to Figures 1 and 2 also relate to the retracted state, as shown by way of example in Figures 7 to 10. As Figures 4 and 5 in particular show, wherein Figure 5 relates to an enlarged section of the circle designated by A in Figure 4, the flow-through body 24 has a cavity 28 through which a temperature control fluid can flow from an inlet 30 to an outlet 32. The corresponding connection assignment is only an example and can also be swapped so that the inlet becomes the outlet 32 ​​and the outlet becomes the inlet 30. Both the inlet 30 and the outlet 32 ​​are designed as identical parts and are designed, for example, as connecting pieces.As can be seen particularly in Figures 4, 6, 8, and 10, the respective fluid passage is fixed in a nozzle-like manner on the upper side of the uppermost or lowermost foil layer of the bellows 26, in particular, firmly welded or soldered thereto. Thus, in the operating position according to Figures 1 and 2, the respective inlet 30 and outlet 32 ​​form a fluid passage to the cavity 28 of the bellows 26 by passing through the lower foil layer. Connection options that are not introduced and connected perpendicular to the surface are also conceivable.

[0026] As can be further seen from Figures 4 and 5, the individual bellows folds 34 extend between two plate-shaped end parts 36 of the same cut, wherein the axial distance X between the two plane-parallel end parts 36 can be changed within the scope of a compensating movement, the size of which is predetermined, among other things, by the distance between two adjacently arranged storage modules 10 within the stack arrangement according to Figure 1 and by the quantity of tempering fluid flowing in via the inlet 30, for example in the form of a cooling medium. Thus, starting from its minimum position according to Figures 8 and 9, the bellows 26 assumes its intended extended position according to Figures 4 and 5 as soon as the tempering medium flows into the flow body 24 via the respective inlet 30 under a predetermined pressure or flows out again via the outlet 32 ​​in the same quantity.

[0027] To limit this extension movement, a holding or positioning clamp 40 can be provided, particularly outside the contact area of ​​the respective flat end part 36 with the adjacent cover plate 16 or 18 of a storage module 10, and thus in the area of ​​the projecting inlets and outlets 30, 32, which provides the foil-like bellows construction with appropriate stability, at least in the area of ​​the connections, and serves as a stop limit. The bellows 26, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, does not need to be fully or maximally extended in this position or operating position between adjacent storage modules 10, but can also be overstretched outside the stacking arrangement, depending on the selected flexibility, i.e., extended beyond the illustrated extension position.Depending on the film thickness, this can fundamentally also lead to a bulging of the two end parts 36, which makes it clear that even in the case of unevenness concerning the cover plates 16, 18, a gap-free system, i.e. a cold or heat bridge, is created between the temperature control device and the respective storage module 14, even if the cover plates 16, 18 have unevenness, for example in the form of a production-related waviness.

[0028] Depending on the distances that need to be compensated between the storage modules 10, the bellows 26 can have more or fewer bellows folds 34 than shown. The two opposing end sections 36 and the bellows folds 34 together form the one-piece flow-through body 24, i.e. the bellows body 26 as a whole. As already mentioned, the flow-through body 24 or the bellows 26 consists of a thin-walled metal material forming a layer, in particular in the form of stainless steel. With an appropriate wall thickness of the layer, for example in the order of 0.30 mm to 0.50 mm or more, the bellows 26 can develop such inherent stability that the bellows 26 assumes a predeterminable extended position even without temperature control fluid flowing into the cavity 28 of the flow-through body 24 at a predeterminable pressure.Such bellows are known in hydraulic accumulators as a separating membrane between two fluids, such as liquid and gas, particularly with regard to their production. If the flow body 24 is designed with increasingly thin walls, for example with a wall thickness of 0.20 mm or less, the layer is exclusively film-like and the film bellows 26 in question, when there is no flow, reaches a position according to Figures 1, 2, 8 and 9, in which the opposite end parts can come into contact with one another on the inside with adjacent bellows folds 34 of the bellows 26 lying directly against one another. However, it has proven particularly preferable, as a kind of interim solution in practice, to choose a film thickness of approximately 0.10 mm. Overall, the flow body 24, which is made of metal material, is largely media-stable and, in particular, no media can accidentally pass from the inside of the flow body 24 into the environment.In Figures 1 and 2, the foil-like flexible tempering device is shown as a flat surface for the sake of clarity.

[0029] The respective end part 36 of the bellows 26 has an outer surface that flexibly or flexibly adheres to the outer contours of storage modules 10 and thus serves, in particular, to compensate for unevenness affecting the cover plates 16, 18, which, due to production reasons, may, for example, have a slight wave shape or other depressions and / or elevations. In this respect, too, the respective end part 36 rests flatly and flush against the assignable cover plate 16, 18. The folds 34 of the bellows 26 radially delimit the interior of the flow body 24 from the environment and are, in particular, designed to be buckling-resistant, so that even after numerous retraction and extension movements, the folds 34 fit together in a so-called block arrangement, i.e., without displacement, in adjacent arrangements.In this way, a solution is created in which the folds 34 of the bellows 26 come into contact with one another in succession when the cavity 28 of the flow body 24 is emptied, as shown in Figures 7 to 10, and when pulled apart as the cavity 28 becomes increasingly full, they reach an operating position in which the two flexible end parts 36, which preferably run parallel to one another, can be brought into temperature-controlling contact with a respective adjacently arranged storage module 10 using a predeterminable fluid pressure of the temperature-control fluid, which is the subject matter in particular of Figures 3 to 6. Figure 9 shows an enlarged view of the circular section designated B in Figure 8.

[0030] As can be further seen from the figures, within the framework of a flow guide for the temperature control fluid, two parallel partial cavities 42 are fluidically connected to one another via a cross-connecting space as a third partial cavity 44, leaving an intermediate free space 46, whereby all partial cavities 42, 44 thus form the cavity 28 of the flow body 24 as a whole. In order to convert the laminar flow within the bellows into a turbulent flow and thus absorb more energy, the parallel surfaces can also be perforated. This creates a kind of U-shape in plan view of Figures 3 and 7, with a simple deflection of the fluid flow along the slot-like free space 46.In this way, with a constant fluid channel cross-section within the cavity 28 and no additional cross-sectional constriction elements, the fluid flow is evened out, so that all battery cells 14 are equally tempered—that is, they can be cooled when hot and heated accordingly when cold. This leads to long-term use of the respective temperature control device.

[0031] As can be seen particularly from Figure 1, a temperature control device is inserted between each pair of storage modules 10 in an alternating stacking arrangement. The arrangement according to Figures 1 and 2 differs from the embodiment according to Figures 3 to 10 with regard to the temperature control device in that the fluid connections 30, 32 are largely an integral part of the foil arrangement and only protrude in a nose-like manner beyond the free peripheral edge of the bellows 26. In particular, as viewed in the direction of Figure 1, the outermost connection in the corner is designed as a partially circular connection. From these nose-like projections, both the nozzle-shaped inlet 30 and the similarly designed nozzle-shaped outlet 32 ​​protrude downward and, in the operating or assembly position, engage through associated bores in a tab guide 48 as part of the upper cover plate 16, as viewed in the direction of Figure 1.In this way, the foil-like bellows 26 is secured in the support position in the area of ​​the inlet 30 and outlet 32, and thus at the edges, by the upper cover plate 16 arranged underneath. The corresponding connections 30, 32 can be designed as part of a quick-coupling system for connecting a central supply 50 with the inlet 49 and outlet lines 51 for the respective temperature control fluid. The central supply 50 has branches 52, 54, which are individually connected to the corresponding inlet 30 and outlet 32 ​​for each bellows 26.The tempering fluid can be taken from a storage tank (not shown) into the inlet 56 by means of a conventional hydraulic supply device, can be cooled or heated beforehand by means of a heat exchanger device and can be returned to the storage tank via a central return 58, so that a closed tempering circuit is created.

[0032] In addition to the modules made of cylindrical cells 14, the temperature control device can also be used for other batteries, such as block batteries, pouch cells, etc.

Claims

Patent claims 1 . Temperature control device, in particular for temperature control of storage modules (10) for electrical energy, such as battery modules made of cylindrical battery cells (14), with a flow body (24) having a cavity (28) through which a temperature control fluid can flow from an inlet (30) to an outlet (32), characterized in that the flow body (24) consists of a bellows body, in particular a folding bellows (26), the bellows folds (34) of which extend between two end parts (36) in such a way that the axial distance (X) between the end parts (36) can be changed within the scope of a compensating movement.

2. Tempering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the two end parts (36) and the bellows folds (34) together form a one-piece flow body (24) which is preferably kept free in the interior of obstacles, such as cross-sectional constriction elements.

3. Temperature control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the flow body (24) of the bellows (26) is completely emptied of temperature control fluid, the two opposite end parts (36) are in contact or substantially in contact with one another along their two adjacent inner surfaces.

4. Tempering device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow body (24) is formed from a thin-walled, layer-forming metal material, in particular from stainless steel, with a wall thickness of 0.01 mm to 0.90 mm, preferably from 0.05 mm to 0.20 mm, particularly preferably from 0.10 mm.

5. Temperature control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective end part (36) has an outer surface which flexibly adapts to outer contours of storage modules (10), in particular to compensate for unevenness.

6. Temperature control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folds (34) of the bellows (26) radially delimit the interior of the flow body (24) from the environment and that the folds (34) are designed to be buckling-resistant.

7. Temperature control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folds (34) of the bellows (26) come into contact with one another in a successive sequence, preferably congruently, when the cavity (28) of the flow body (24) is emptied, and when the cavity (28) is increasingly filled, they are pulled apart into an operating position in which the two end parts (36), which preferably run parallel to one another, can be brought into temperature-controlling contact with a respective adjacently arranged storage module (10) at a predeterminable fluid pressure of the temperature control fluid.

8. Temperature control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, within the framework of a flow guide for the temperature control fluid, at least two partial cavities (42) are connected to one another in a fluid-conducting manner via a cross-connecting space as a third partial cavity (44) while leaving a free space (46), and that all partial cavities (42, 44) form the cavity (28) of the flow body (24) as a whole.

9. Temperature control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet (30) and outlet (32) are designed as identical parts, which have a topmost and / or the lowest foil layer of the bellows (26).

10. Temperature control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet (30) and outlet (32) are each arranged vertically on a film layer of the bellows (26), forming a connection piece. 11 . Temperature control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bellows (26) has an edge-side projection at the location of the respective fluid passage with the inlet (30) and the outlet (32), which projection includes all bellows folds (34) in this area, which are each bordered by an associated holding or positioning clamp (40) at least in their maximum extended position with partial contact.

12. Storage device in which individual storage modules (10) for electrical energy are stacked one above the other in a stack arrangement, leaving a predeterminable distance between them, which serves in each case for the introduction of a temperature control device according to one of the preceding claims.

13. Storage device according to claim 12, characterized in that each storage module (10) is provided with at least one temperature control device and is guided in a support frame (12) so as to be able to be pushed in and out along a region.

14. Storage device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that a central supply (50) for the Tempering fluid is arranged, to which the individual tempering devices with their inputs (30) and outputs (32) can be connected.

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