Current collector system and liquid cooling system

Abstract

A current collector system and a liquid cooling system, the current collector system comprising at least two current collectors; each current collector comprises: a current collector housing (1) which is internally provided with a liquid cavity (11) for liquid circulation, one side of the liquid cavity (11) being provided with an open current collector connection port (12); and a current collector main flow channel (2) which passes through the current collector housing (1), the current collector main flow channels (2) of the at least two current collectors being connected in series; a flow hole (3) is provided between the liquid cavity (11) and the current collector main flow channel (2), such that the current collector main flow channel (2) is in communication with the liquid cavity (11); the aperture sizes of the flow holes (3) of the at least two current collectors are different.

Description

A fluid collector system and liquid cooling system

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on March 27, 2024, with application number 2024206178276. The entire contents of the above application are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of current collector technology, and in particular to a current collector system and a liquid cooling system. Background Art

[0003] With the rapid development of electronic devices, heat dissipation issues are becoming increasingly prominent, especially in battery packs, where heat dissipation requirements are even more pressing. Liquid cooling technology, as an efficient heat dissipation method, is widely used in electronic devices. However, flow distribution is a critical aspect of liquid cooling system design in battery packs.

[0004] Traditional liquid cooling plate current collector designs typically include a liquid chamber and main flow channels for controlling the flow in and out of the chamber. This design adjusts the flow distribution of each main flow channel inlet and outlet within the liquid cooling system by adjusting the aperture size and number of main flow pipes. Technical issues

[0005] First, the design of the main flow pipe is complex, requiring precise calculation of the pipe diameter and length to achieve balanced flow distribution. This not only increases the design difficulty but also requires a large space, which is not conducive to the compact design of the liquid cooling system.

[0006] Secondly, the presence of multiple branches and pipes in the main pipe complicates the structure of the liquid cooling system, increasing the difficulty of manufacturing and assembly. Furthermore, the complex piping increases the risk of coolant leakage, posing a threat to the safety and stability of electronic equipment. Technical Solutions

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a current collector system comprising at least two current collectors, the current collectors comprising: a current collector housing, wherein a liquid cavity for liquid circulation is provided within the current collector housing, and an open current collector connection port is provided on one side of the liquid cavity; a current collector main flow channel, wherein the current collector main flow channel is provided through the current collector housing, and the current collector main flow channels of at least two current collectors are connected in series;

[0008] A flow hole is provided between the liquid cavity and the current collector main channel to connect the current collector main channel with the liquid cavity; wherein the flow holes of at least two current collectors have different apertures.

[0009] In the second aspect, the present application provides a liquid cooling system, including a liquid cooling main inlet pipe, a liquid cooling main outlet pipe, one or more liquid cooling plates and a collector system, wherein the liquid cooling plates are stacked and arranged in sequence, and the two ends of the liquid cooling plates are respectively sealed with the collector connection ports of a collector, the liquid cooling main inlet pipe is connected to the collector main channel at one end of one or more stacked liquid cooling plates, and the liquid cooling main outlet pipe is connected to the collector main channel at the other end of one or more stacked liquid cooling plates, wherein the farther away from the liquid cooling main inlet pipe, the larger the aperture of the flow hole in the collector. Beneficial effects

[0010] 1. By adopting a combination of liquid cavity, main flow channel and flow hole, the flow collector does not need to adjust the flow velocity and flow rate from the outside, which simplifies the connection structure, thereby reducing the number of branches and pipelines in the collector system and reducing the complexity of the pipeline;

[0011] 2. The design of the flow hole makes it easier to change the aperture than the aperture of the main flow channel of the current collector, avoiding the problem of inconsistent apertures of the main flow channel of the current collector and low assembly adaptability. At the same time, the design of the flow hole makes the entire current collector system more compact and reduces space occupation;

[0012] 3. By adjusting the aperture diameters of the flow holes of different current collectors within the current collector system, the flow rate and flow distribution of the liquid within different current collectors can be flexibly changed. Compared to controlling the flow rate by changing the aperture and length of the main flow channel of the current collector, the direct relationship between the flow hole diameter and the flow rate makes the flow distribution more accurate.

[0013] 4. The design of the flow hole reduces potential leakage points in the current collector system. Compared with the complex connection path design, the structure of this current collector system is simpler and reduces the risk of leakage;

[0014] 5. By adjusting the aperture of the flow hole, the flow rate of the liquid from the main channel of the collector to the collector connection port can be effectively controlled. At the same time, according to the Bernoulli equation, changes in flow rate will also affect changes in pressure. Therefore, by adjusting the flow hole, the pressure distribution can be indirectly controlled. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a current collector system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0016] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the current collector according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0017] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of one side of the current collector connection port according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0018] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the current collector according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0019] Among them, the meanings of the accompanying figures are as follows: 1. Collector shell; 11. Liquid cavity; 12. Collector connection port; 2. Collector main channel; 21. Main channel inlet; 22. Main channel outlet; 3. Flow hole; 4. Transition cavity; 41. Flow regulating cavity; 42. Cavity; 43. Flow distribution rib; 5. Step portion. Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Embodiment 1 of the present application, referring to Figures 1 to 4, discloses a fluid collector system, comprising at least two fluid collectors, wherein the fluid collector comprises a fluid collector shell 1 and a fluid collector main channel 2, wherein the fluid collector main channel 2 is vertically penetrated through the fluid collector shell 1, and a liquid cavity 11 for liquid circulation is provided in the fluid collector shell 1, and an open fluid collector connection port 12 is provided on one side of the liquid cavity 11, that is, one side of the fluid collector shell 1, for sealingly connecting with the liquid cooling plate, and the other side of the liquid cavity 11 is connected with the fluid collector main channel 2 through a flow hole 3, and both ends of the fluid collector main channel 2 include a main channel inlet 21 and a main channel outlet 22, wherein the main channel inlet 21 can be used to inject cooling liquid into the liquid cavity 11, and the main channel outlet 22 can be used to discharge the cooling liquid in the liquid cavity 11, and in at least two fluid collectors, the main channel inlet 21 of the fluid collector is connected with the main channel outlet 22 of the adjacent fluid collector to realize sequential series connection. The diameter of the flow holes 3 is smaller than that of the main channel inlet 21. The diameters of the flow holes 3 of at least two current collectors are different. By varying the diameters of the flow holes 3 within different current collectors, the flow rate and pressure flowing from the flow holes 3 into the liquid chamber 11 can be adjusted. Thus, the diameters of the flow holes 3 within the current collectors can be varied to accommodate the different locations of the current collectors, ensuring that the liquid velocity flowing out of each current collector from the current collector connection port 12 remains consistent.

[0021] In this embodiment 1, the diameter of the flow hole 3 is in the range of 0.5mm-5mm, which can accurately control the amount of fluid passing through. According to actual needs, a suitable diameter can be selected to ensure that the flow rate of the fluid meets the predetermined requirements and achieve precise flow control. The main channel inlet 21 and the main channel outlet 22 are coaxially arranged, and the diameter of the collector main channel 2 between the two is in the range of 6mm-14mm. The coaxial design of the main channel inlet 21 and the main channel outlet 22 ensures that the fluid can maintain a stable flow direction in the main channel, reduces the eddy current and turbulence caused by the change in direction, helps to reduce energy loss, and improves the fluid transportation efficiency. The size of the collector main channel 2 makes it easy to process, manufacture and integrate. By designing a combination of the liquid cavity 11, the main channel and the flow hole 3, the collector housing 1 can reduce the liquid cooling branches and pipelines used to adjust the flow in the liquid cooling system by setting flow holes 3 of different apertures in different collector housings 1, thereby simplifying the complexity of the flow distribution structure and improving the uniform heat exchange effect of the liquid cooling plate.

[0022] In some embodiments, in order to adjust the flow distribution through the current collector, a transition chamber 4 may be provided between the flow hole 3 and the liquid chamber 11. A stepped portion 5 with a stepped transition is provided between the transition chamber 4 and the liquid chamber 11. The liquid flow area of ​​the flow hole 3 is smaller than the liquid flow area of ​​the transition chamber 4, which in turn is smaller than the liquid flow area of ​​the liquid chamber 11. A flow distribution rib 43 is also provided in the transition chamber 4. The flow distribution rib 43 divides the transition chamber 4 into a flow regulating chamber 41 and a cavity 42. Similarly, the liquid flow area of ​​the flow hole 3 is smaller than the liquid flow area of ​​the flow regulating chamber 41, which in turn is smaller than the liquid flow area of ​​the liquid chamber 11. In at least two of the current collectors, the positions of at least two flow distribution ribs are different, which can change the flow distribution of the liquid at different flow rates. When the liquid flows through areas with different flow areas, the flow rate will change. Since the flow hole 3 has the smallest flow area, the flow velocity of the liquid when passing through the flow hole 3 will be relatively high. In the liquid chamber 11 and the flow regulating chamber 41, due to the larger flow area, the flow velocity is relatively low, which helps to reduce the pressure loss and energy consumption caused by excessive flow velocity.

[0023] One side of the flow regulating chamber 41 is connected to the flow hole 3, and the other side of the flow regulating chamber 41 is connected to the liquid chamber 11. The design of the flow regulating chamber 41 can adjust and control the flow rate of the liquid. By reasonably designing the shape and size of the flow regulating chamber 41, the liquid can achieve an ideal flow rate distribution when flowing through the area, avoiding problems caused by too fast or too slow flow rate. The setting of the stepped portion 5 can make the internal structure of the collector more reasonable and convenient for processing. At the same time, by gradually reducing the flow area, the flow rate and flow distribution can be controlled more flexibly, thereby improving the performance of the collector. In this embodiment 1, in the side wall of the flow regulating chamber 41 that is connected to the flow hole 3, the width of the side wall is not less than the diameter of the flow hole 3, and the length of the side wall is between 10mm-50mm, which provides sufficient flow space and time for the liquid, so that the flow rate can be gradually adjusted and distributed in the flow regulating chamber 41.

[0024] It should be noted that the thickness of the flow distribution rib 43 separating the flow regulating chamber 41 and the cavity 42 is 1 mm to 5 mm. This moderate thickness allows the flow distribution rib 43 to withstand a certain amount of liquid pressure and impact without being too bulky or occupying too much space. This makes the current collector structure more stable and reduces performance degradation caused by structural deformation or damage.

[0025] In order to improve the stability and sealing of the connection between the collector connection port 12 and the end of the liquid cooling plate, the distance from the surface where the liquid cavity 11 is connected to the flow regulating cavity 41 to the surface where the collector connection port 12 is located is controlled within the range of 3mm-7mm, which will not make the collector volume too large. At the same time, an installation position can be reserved, which is conducive to assembly with the liquid cooling plate and improves the assembly sealing and stability.

[0026] The present application also relates to a liquid cooling system, including a liquid cooling main liquid inlet pipe, a liquid cooling main liquid outlet pipe, one or more liquid cooling plates and a fluid collector system, wherein the liquid cooling plates are stacked and arranged at intervals in sequence, and both ends of the liquid cooling plates are sealedly connected to the fluid collector connection port 12 of a fluid collector, and in one or more fluid collectors, the main flow channel inlet 21 of the fluid collector is connected to the main flow channel outlet 22 of the adjacent fluid collector, the liquid cooling main liquid inlet pipe is connected to the fluid collector main flow channel 2 at one end of the one or more stacked liquid cooling plates, and the liquid cooling main liquid outlet pipe is connected to a The main flow channel 2 of the fluid collector at the other end of one or more stacked liquid cooling plates is connected, the liquid cooling plate close to the liquid cooling main inlet pipe and the liquid cooling main outlet pipe is the initial end, and the liquid cooling plate away from the liquid cooling main inlet pipe and the liquid cooling main outlet pipe is the tail end. Therefore, the liquid cooling main inlet pipe is connected to the fluid collector main flow channel inlet 21 at one end of the liquid cooling plate at the initial end, and the liquid cooling main outlet pipe is connected to the fluid collector main flow channel outlet 22 at the other end of the liquid cooling plate at the initial end. In the fluid collectors at both ends of the liquid cooling plate at the tail end, the main flow channel outlet 22 needs to be blocked. The diameter of the flow holes 3 in the current collector increases as the distance from the main liquid cooling inlet and outlet pipes increases. That is, the diameter of the flow holes 3 in the current collector connected to the liquid cooling plate increases from the initial end to the final end. This allows the liquid cooling system to effectively transfer heat from the heat source to the coolant. Furthermore, by reducing the diameter of the flow holes 3 in the current collector housing 1 as they become farther from the main liquid cooling pipe, the liquid cooling system achieves precise control of the flow rate. This design ensures uniform distribution of the coolant at different locations, avoiding variations in cooling effect due to uneven flow.

[0027] It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the change in the aperture of the flow holes 3 in different current collectors in the above-mentioned liquid cooling system can be replaced by a change in the number of the flow holes 3, which can also achieve the effect of changing the flow rate.

[0028] Based on the above liquid cooling system, the working principle of the fluid collector is described in detail. When the coolant in the main liquid cooling inlet pipe flows into the liquid cooling plate at the initial end, there is almost no coolant loss in the main flow channel inlet 21 at the end of the liquid cooling plate, resulting in a higher coolant pressure and flow rate. Therefore, the diameter of the flow hole 3 in the fluid collector at the initial end of the liquid cooling plate is selected to be 0.5 mm, which increases the flow rate into the liquid cooling plate, but reduces the flow volume. When the coolant in the main liquid cooling inlet pipe flows into the liquid cooling plate at the final end, the coolant in the main flow channel inlet 21 at the end of the liquid cooling plate is affected by the friction of the main flow channel 2 of the fluid collector, which causes the coolant pressure and flow rate to slow down. Therefore, the diameter of the flow hole 3 in the final liquid cooling plate is selected to be 5 mm, which slows the flow rate into the liquid cooling plate, but increases the total flow volume. This ensures that the total flow volume and flow rate of the coolant in the fluid collector at the initial end of the liquid cooling plate and the fluid collector at the final end of the liquid cooling plate are roughly the same, thus ensuring consistent heat exchange between each liquid cooling plate. This design is to compensate for the reduced flow rate caused by frictional resistance in the liquid cooling system, ensuring that each liquid cold plate receives the appropriate amount of coolant.

[0029] It should be noted that, in the collector between the liquid cooling plates where the initial end and the final end are located, the diameter of the flow hole 3 is selected to increase layer by layer, and the increment can be adaptively adjusted according to the number of rows of batteries. Similarly, when a large number of batteries are discharged, the diameter of the flow hole 3 can be selected in the range of less than 0.5 mm and greater than 5 mm, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment.

[0030] In summary, the current collector system and liquid cooling system provided by this application have the following technical effects:

[0031] 1. By adopting the combination of the liquid cavity 11, the main flow channel 2 of the current collector, and the flow hole 3, the current collector does not need to adjust the flow velocity and flow rate from the outside, which simplifies the connection structure, thereby reducing the number of branches and pipelines in the current collector system and reducing the complexity of the pipelines;

[0032] 2. The design of the flow hole 3 makes it easier to change the aperture of the flow hole 3 than to change the aperture of the collector main channel 2, thus avoiding the problem of inconsistent apertures of the collector main channel 2 and poor assembly adaptability. At the same time, the design of the flow hole 3 makes the entire collector system more compact and reduces space occupation.

[0033] 3. By adjusting the apertures of the flow holes 3 of different current collectors within the current collector system, the flow rate and flow distribution of the liquid within the different current collectors can be flexibly changed. Compared to controlling the flow rate by changing the aperture and length of the current collector main channel 2, the direct relationship between the aperture of the flow hole 3 and the flow rate makes the flow distribution more accurate.

[0034] 4. The design of the flow hole 3 reduces potential leakage points in the current collector system. Compared with complex connection path designs, the structure of this current collector system is simpler and reduces the risk of leakage.

[0035] 5. By adjusting the aperture of the flow hole 3, the flow rate of the liquid from the collector main channel 2 to the collector connection port 12 can be effectively controlled. At the same time, according to the Bernoulli equation, changes in flow rate will also affect changes in pressure. Therefore, by adjusting the flow hole 3, the pressure distribution can be indirectly controlled.

Claims

1. A current collector system comprising at least two current collectors, the current collectors comprising: A current collector housing (1), wherein a liquid cavity (11) for liquid circulation is provided in the current collector housing (1), and an open current collector connection port (12) is provided on one side of the liquid cavity (11); A current collector main channel (2), the current collector main channel (2) being provided through the current collector housing (1), and the current collector main channels (2) of at least two current collectors being connected in series; A flow hole (3) is provided between the liquid cavity (11) and the fluid collector main channel (2) so as to allow the fluid collector main channel (2) to communicate with the liquid cavity (11); The flow holes (3) of at least two of the current collectors have different pore sizes.

2. A current collector system according to claim 1, wherein: A transition cavity (4) is provided between the flow hole (3) and the liquid cavity (11), and a stepped portion (5) with a stepped transition is provided between the transition cavity (4) and the liquid cavity (11). The liquid flow area of ​​the flow hole (3) is smaller than the liquid flow area of ​​the transition cavity (4), and the liquid flow area of ​​the transition cavity (4) is smaller than the liquid flow area of ​​the liquid cavity (11).

3. A current collector system according to claim 2, wherein: A flow distribution rib (43) is provided in the transition chamber (4), and the flow distribution rib (43) divides the transition chamber (4) into a flow regulating chamber (41) and a cavity (42). One side of the flow regulating chamber (41) is connected to the flow hole (3), and the other side of the flow regulating chamber (41) is connected to the liquid chamber (11). In at least two of the current collectors, at least two flow distribution ribs (43) are located at different positions.

4. A current collector system according to claim 3, wherein: The liquid flow area of ​​the flow hole (3) is smaller than the liquid flow area of ​​the flow regulating cavity (41), and the liquid flow area of ​​the flow regulating cavity (41) is smaller than the liquid flow area of ​​the liquid cavity (11).

5. A current collector system according to claim 3, wherein: The thickness of the flow distribution rib (43) separating the flow regulating cavity (41) and the cavity (42) is 1 mm to 5 mm.

6. A current collector system according to claim 3, wherein: In the side wall of the flow regulating cavity (41) communicating with the flow hole (3), the width of the side wall is not less than the diameter of the flow hole (3), and the length of the side wall is between 10 mm and 50 mm.

7. A current collector system according to claim 3, wherein: The distance between the surface where the liquid cavity (11) is connected to the flow regulating cavity (41) and the surface where the current collector connection port (12) is located is 3 mm to 7 mm.

8. A current collector system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The diameter of the flow hole (3) ranges from 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

9. A current collector system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The diameter of the current collector main channel (2) ranges from 6 mm to 14 mm.

10. A liquid cooling system, comprising a liquid cooling main inlet pipe, a liquid cooling main outlet pipe, one or more liquid cooling plates, and a fluid collector system according to claim 1-9, wherein the liquid cooling plates are stacked and arranged in sequence, and both ends of the liquid cooling plates are respectively sealedly connected to a fluid collector connection port (12) of a fluid collector, the liquid cooling main inlet pipe is connected to the fluid collector main channel (2) at one end of the one or more stacked liquid cooling plates, and the liquid cooling main outlet pipe is connected to the fluid collector main channel (2) at the other end of the one or more stacked liquid cooling plates, wherein: The farther away from the liquid cooling main inlet pipe, the larger the aperture of the flow hole (3) in the current collector.

Images