Cooling heat exchanger

Abstract

Provided is a cooling heat exchanger having a novel structure and being capable of improving cooling performance while improving connection strength and deformation rigidity of a first member and a second member.　In this cooling heat exchanger 10, a cooling flow path 66 in which a cooling heat medium flows is formed inside the cooling heat exchanger, and a to-be-cooled object 78 superimposed on a cooling surface 16 of a surface of the cooling heat exchanger is cooled. The cooling flow path 66 is formed between the overlapping surfaces of the first member 12 and the second member 14 provided with the cooling surface 16. The first member 12 and the second member 14 are fixed to each other at a support column part 46 protruding from the second member 14 toward the first member 12. The heat exchanger includes a diversion forming surface 49 in which a portion positioned on the upstream side of the cooling flow path 66 on the outer peripheral surface of the support column part 46 diverts the heat medium flowing in the cooling flow path 66 to both sides of the support column part 46. A diversion agitation protrusion 56 protruding from the second member 14 toward the cooling flow path 66 is positioned on the downstream side of the support column part 46 in the flow path of the heat medium branched and flowing to both sides of the support column part 46.

Description

cooling heat exchanger

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling heat exchanger used to cool an object to be cooled, such as a battery used in an electric vehicle, for example.

[0002] Conventionally, cooling heat exchangers used for cooling batteries, inverters, etc., have been known. As disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 7031524 (Patent Document 1), the cooling heat exchanger has a structure in which a refrigerant flow path (cooling flow path) through which a heat medium flows is formed in an internal region between an upper plate (first member) and a lower plate (second member) that are overlapped with each other. A cooling surface provided on a surface of the first member is cooled by heat exchange with the heat medium flowing in the refrigerant flow path, thereby cooling an object to be cooled, such as a battery, that is overlapped with the cooling surface.

[0003] Patent No. 7031524

[0004] In a cooling heat exchanger, the heat medium flows through the internal cooling passage, and the hydraulic pressure of the heat medium acts to separate the first and second members from each other in the overlapping direction. Because the first and second members are separated from each other at the portion where the cooling passage is formed, the resistance to the hydraulic pressure tends to be small, which can cause problems such as peeling and deformation of the first and second members.

[0005] Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes a structure in which a joint (support) is provided in the region where the coolant flow path is formed to connect the upper plate and the lower plate. The joint protrudes from one of the plates and is joined to the other plate.

[0006] However, if a columnar joint is protruded into the refrigerant flow path as in Patent Document 1, the joint may hinder the flow of the heat transfer medium, resulting in increased pressure loss and other adverse effects on cooling performance.

[0007] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cooling heat exchanger having a novel structure that can improve the connection strength and deformation rigidity between the first and second members while also achieving improved cooling performance.

[0008] The following describes preferred embodiments for understanding the present invention, but the embodiments described below are merely examples and may be appropriately combined with one another. Multiple components described in each embodiment may be recognized and employed independently to the greatest extent possible, and may also be appropriately combined with any of the components described in other embodiments. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and various other embodiments may be realized.

[0009] In a first aspect, a cooling heat exchanger is provided which has a cooling flow path formed therein through which a heat medium for cooling flows, and which cools a cooling object which is placed on top of a cooling surface provided on the surface, and which includes a first member and a second member which are stacked and fixed to each other, the cooling surface being provided on the first member, and the cooling flow path being formed between the overlapping surfaces of the first member and the second member, and the first member and the second member being fixed to each other at a support part which protrudes from the second member towards the first member, and a part of the outer peripheral surface of the support part which is located upstream of the cooling flow path is provided with a flow diverting surface which diverges the heat medium flowing through the cooling flow path to both sides of the support part, and flow diverting stirring protrusions which protrude from the second member towards the cooling flow path are located downstream of the support part on the flow path of the heat medium which branches off and flows to both sides of the support part.

[0010] In a cooling heat exchanger constructed according to this aspect, the first and second members that form a cooling flow path between opposing surfaces are fixed to each other by support posts that protrude from the second member toward the first member. This increases the bonding strength between the first and second members, preventing, for example, separation of the first and second members due to hydraulic pressure of the heat transfer medium flowing through the cooling flow path. In particular, because the support posts are provided so as to protrude into the cooling flow path, the bonding portion can be located closer to the location where hydraulic pressure acts, compared to when the first and second members are fixed only at portions outside the cooling flow path, and the bonding strength between the first and second members against the action of hydraulic pressure can be more efficiently obtained.

[0011] Furthermore, the heat medium flowing through the cooling channel hits the flow-diverting surface of the support column, causing it to branch to both sides of the support column. Because the cross-sectional area of ​​the cooling channel is reduced by the support column portion, the flow velocity of the heat medium branching to both sides of the support column increases due to the reduced cross-sectional area compared to the heat medium flowing upstream of the support column. When this high-velocity heat medium branch hits the flow-diverting stirring protrusions arranged on the flow path of the branched flow downstream of the support column, the flow-disturbing effect (turbulence promotion effect) of the flow-diverting stirring protrusions is more effectively exerted. This uniformity in the temperature of the heat medium is achieved by mixing the heat medium on the first member side, which has been heated by heat exchange with the cooling target, with the heat medium on the second member side, which is maintained at a relatively low temperature, preventing only the heat medium on the first member side from becoming too hot. As a result, the temperature difference between the cooling target and the heat medium flowing through the first member increases, allowing efficient cooling of the cooling target through heat exchange with the heat medium.

[0012] In particular, the heat transfer medium flowing near the second member tends to flow without separating from the second member due to dragging by the second member, and is therefore likely to hit the flow diverting / stirring protrusions protruding from the second member. Therefore, for example, if the flow direction of the heat transfer medium flowing near the second member is controlled so that it bounces up toward the first member by the flow diverting / stirring protrusions, it is possible to guide the relatively low-temperature heat transfer medium toward the first member, which is closer to the object to be cooled, and further improve cooling performance.

[0013] In a second aspect, in the cooling heat exchanger described in the first aspect, the cooling flow path is composed of a plurality of flow path sections extending adjacent to each other in parallel, and includes parallel flow path sections in which the flow direction of the heat medium in the plurality of flow path sections is the same, and the support section and the flow-diverting stirring protrusions are provided in the parallel flow path sections.

[0014] In a cooling heat exchanger constructed according to this aspect, the cooling flow path is divided into multiple flow path sections in the parallel flow path section, and the support columns are provided in the flow path sections, so that the ratio of the projected area of ​​the support columns in the flow path length direction to the flow path cross-sectional area is larger than when the cooling flow path is not divided into a single flow path throughout. As a result, the degree of constriction of the flow path section by the support columns is increased, and the flow rate of the heat medium divided to both sides by the support columns is further increased. As a result, the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions more strongly stir the heat medium, reducing the partial temperature difference of the heat medium and improving cooling performance.

[0015] In a third aspect, in the cooling heat exchanger described in the first or second aspect, the flow-dividing surface of the support portion is an inclined surface that slopes toward the first member toward the downstream side of the cooling flow path.

[0016] In the cooling heat exchanger constructed according to this aspect, the flow dividing surface, which is the upstream surface of the support column, is inclined toward the first member as it approaches the downstream side, so that the heat medium that hits the flow dividing surface is easily guided toward the first member. As a result, the heat medium closer to the second member flows toward the first member, which is expected to lower the temperature of the heat medium closer to the first member, which is more easily heated by the object to be cooled.

[0017] In a fourth aspect, in the cooling heat exchanger described in any one of the first to third aspects, the support portion has a tapered shape in which the dimension in the flow path width direction of the cooling flow path becomes smaller toward the first member side.

[0018] In a cooling heat exchanger constructed according to this aspect, the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the cooling flow path on the side of the support column changes in the overlapping direction of the first member and the second member, which makes it easy for differences in flow friction to occur in the flow velocity of the heat medium due to differences in the positions of the first member and the second member in the overlapping direction. Therefore, a stirring effect (turbulence promotion effect) of the heat medium can be expected, due to the generation of vortices based on the difference in flow velocity.

[0019] In a fifth aspect, in the cooling heat exchanger according to the third aspect, the support pillars are formed in a truncated cone shape tapering toward the first member side.

[0020] In a cooling heat exchanger constructed according to this aspect, the upstream flow dividing surface of the support column is an inclined surface, thereby achieving the same effect as in the third aspect. Furthermore, since both side surfaces of the support column are also inclined, vortexes can be generated based on the difference in heat transfer medium flow speed, as in the fourth aspect. Furthermore, since the downstream surface of the support column is also inclined, the flow of heat transfer medium separating from the downstream surface of the support column (separated flow) can be utilized to further promote the stirring effect.

[0021] In a sixth aspect, in the cooling heat exchanger described in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions are V-shaped when viewed in the overlapping direction of the first member and the second member, and become narrower in the flow path width direction of the cooling flow path toward the upstream side of the cooling flow path.

[0022] In a cooling heat exchanger constructed according to this embodiment, the heat medium flows branching off to both sides of the support column in a direction inclined toward the center of the V-shape in the flow path width direction so as to reduce flow resistance when passing over the V-shaped protrusions. As a result, the heat medium flows branching off to both sides of the support column merge together after passing over the protrusions, generating vortexes and turbulence downstream of the protrusions. As a result, the heat medium is more efficiently agitated, reducing the temperature difference in the heat medium (uniformizing the temperature) and improving cooling performance. Preferably, the upstream end of the protrusion is positioned downstream of the support column. This allows a wider area of ​​the protrusion to be used effectively to generate turbulent heat medium flow.

[0023] In a seventh aspect, in the cooling heat exchanger described in any one of the first to sixth aspects, an adhesive surface is provided on the protruding tip surface of the support portion, which is adhered to the first member by an adhesive layer, and a position determining portion is provided around the adhesive surface on the support portion, which protrudes toward the first member from the adhesive surface and determines the thickness of the adhesive layer, and an adhesive escape groove is formed between the adhesive surface on the support portion and the position determining portion, which is recessed toward the second member from the adhesive surface.

[0024] In a cooling heat exchanger constructed according to this aspect, the relative positions of the first and second members in the overlapping direction are determined by the abutment of the first member with the position determining portion provided on the second member, so that the thickness of the adhesive layer formed between the first member and the adhesive surface of the support portion of the second member can be set with precision, and as a result, the time required for the adhesive layer to solidify and the adhesive strength after solidification can be controlled with precision.

[0025] In particular, since the position determining portion is provided around the adhesive surface where the adhesive is applied, the thickness of the adhesive layer can be set more accurately than if it were provided at a position far away from the adhesive surface.

[0026] Furthermore, for example, when the thickness of the adhesive applied to the adhesive surface is made thicker than the distance between the opposing surfaces of the adhesive surface and the first member as determined by the position determining portion, and an adhesive layer of a predetermined thickness is formed between the opposing surfaces of the adhesive surface and the first member, excess adhesive that overflows from the adhesive surface is contained in the adhesive escape groove, thereby preventing problems such as the overflowing adhesive leaking into the cooling flow path.

[0027] In an eighth aspect, in a cooling heat exchanger described in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the cooling flow path has regions in which the effect of the flow-diverting stirring protrusions to disturb the flow of the heat medium is different from one another.

[0028] According to a cooling heat exchanger constructed in accordance with this embodiment, for example, when there are portions on the cooling surface where different cooling performance is required, by strengthening the effect of disturbing the flow of the heat medium in the portion where higher cooling performance is required, it is possible to achieve partial improvement of cooling performance by promoting turbulence.

[0029] In a ninth aspect, in the cooling heat exchanger described in the eighth aspect, the areas having different effects of disturbing the flow of the heat medium are set at different positions in the cooling flow path in the flow direction of the heat medium.

[0030] In a cooling heat exchanger constructed according to this embodiment, the turbulence-promoting effect that disturbs the flow of the heat medium differs depending on the flow direction of the heat medium. Therefore, for example, if the parts of the cooling flow path where the temperature difference between the heat medium close to the object to be cooled and the heat medium far from the object to be cooled is likely to become large and the parts where the temperature difference is not likely to become large are located at different positions in the flow direction of the cooling flow path, the temperature difference in the flow direction of the heat medium can be reduced by setting an area with a strong turbulence-promoting effect in the part where the temperature difference between the heat medium close to the object to be cooled and the heat medium far from the object to be cooled is likely to become large.

[0031] Furthermore, in the cooling flow path, in the portion where the temperature difference between the heat medium close to the object to be cooled and the heat medium far from the object to be cooled is likely to be small, a region where turbulence in the flow of the heat medium is suppressed can be set up, thereby realizing a smooth flow of the heat medium.

[0032] In a tenth aspect, in the cooling heat exchanger described in the ninth aspect, the areas set at different positions in the flow direction of the heat medium in the cooling flow path have different effects of disturbing the flow of the heat medium, and the effect of the flow-diverting stirring protrusions on the flow of the heat medium is set to be stronger the more downstream the area is.

[0033] With a cooling heat exchanger constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the temperature of the heat medium is made uniform due to the stirring action caused by turbulence in the flow of the heat medium downstream, where the temperature difference between the heat medium flowing at a position close to the object to be cooled and the heat medium flowing at a position far from the object to be cooled is likely to become large due to heat exchange with the object to be cooled, thereby enabling the heat exchanger to exhibit high cooling performance.

[0034] In an eleventh aspect, in the cooling heat exchanger described in any one of the eighth to tenth aspects, the cooling flow path is composed of a plurality of flow path sections extending adjacent to each other in parallel, and is provided with parallel flow path sections in which the flow direction of the heat medium in the plurality of flow path sections is the same, and at least one pair of adjacent flow path sections in the parallel flow path section are set with the regions in which the effect of disturbing the flow of the heat medium is different from each other.

[0035] According to a cooling heat exchanger constructed in accordance with this aspect, for example, when the heat generation amount of the object to be cooled differs in the flow path width direction of the flow path section, the turbulence of the heat medium flow can be set to be strong in areas where the heat generation amount of the object to be cooled is large, and weak in areas where the heat generation amount of the object to be cooled is small, thereby making it possible to stabilize the cooling performance.

[0036] In a twelfth aspect, in the cooling heat exchanger described in any one of the eighth to eleventh aspects, the areas having different effects of disturbing the flow of the heat medium are set by varying the distance between the multiple flow-diverting and stirring protrusions in the flow direction of the heat medium.

[0037] In a cooling heat exchanger constructed according to this embodiment, for example, by shortening the distance between the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions in the heat medium flow direction, it is possible to set an area with a strong effect of turbulence promotion on the heat medium flow, and by lengthening the distance between the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions, it is possible to set an area with a weak effect of turbulence promotion. In this way, by varying the spacing at which the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions are provided, it is possible to easily set areas with different effects of turbulence promotion on the heat medium flow.

[0038] In a thirteenth aspect, in the cooling heat exchanger described in any one of the eighth to twelfth aspects, the flow-diverting stirring protrusions are arranged on the flow path of the heat medium that branches off and flows to both sides of the multiple support portions, and the heights of the multiple flow-diverting stirring protrusions are different from each other, thereby setting the areas in which the effect of disturbing the flow of the heat medium is different from each other.

[0039] In a cooling heat exchanger constructed according to this embodiment, for example, by partially increasing the height of the flow diverting / stirring protrusions, it is possible to set an area with a strong effect of turbulence promotion on the flow of the heat medium, and by partially decreasing the height of the flow diverting / stirring protrusions, it is possible to set an area with a weak effect of turbulence promotion. In this way, by varying the heights of the multiple flow diverting / stirring protrusions, it is possible to easily set areas with different effects of turbulence promotion on the flow of the heat medium.

[0040] A fourteenth aspect is the cooling heat exchanger according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, wherein the object to be cooled is a battery.

[0041] With a cooling heat exchanger constructed according to this aspect, when cooling a battery that is prone to local temperature increases at its output terminals, for example, adjusting the arrangement of the support columns and the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions makes it possible to efficiently cool the high-temperature parts of the battery. Also, when cooling a battery unit consisting of multiple batteries, adjusting the arrangement of the support columns and the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions makes it possible to effectively cool all of the multiple batteries, preventing a decrease in performance of the entire battery unit due to the deterioration of a specific battery.

[0042] A fifteenth aspect is a method for adjusting the cooling action in a cooling heat exchanger having a cooling surface on which a cooling object is superimposed and an internal cooling flow path through which a heat transfer medium for cooling flows, in which a narrowed section is provided in which the cross-sectional area of ​​the cooling flow path is partially reduced in the direction of the flow path length, thereby setting an acceleration region in which the flow velocity is partially increased within the flow path cross section downstream of the narrowed section, and the cooling efficiency is adjusted by providing a fluid agitation means in the acceleration region.

[0043] According to the method for adjusting the cooling effect of a cooling heat exchanger of this aspect, the cooling efficiency can be easily and efficiently adjusted by efficiently stirring the heat transfer medium having a high flow rate using the fluid agitation means disposed in the velocity-increasing region. Therefore, for example, by arranging the velocity-increasing region and the fluid agitation means according to the portion of the object to be cooled that generates a large amount of heat, it is possible to efficiently cool the object to be cooled.

[0044] According to the present invention, in a cooling heat exchanger, it is possible to improve the connection strength and deformation rigidity between the first member and the second member, while also achieving improved cooling performance.

[0045] 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the cooling heat exchanger shown in FIG. 1A and corresponding to the cross section II-II of FIG. 4; FIG. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the cooling heat exchanger shown in FIG. 1A and corresponding to the cross section III-III of FIG. 4; FIG. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the cooling heat exchanger shown in FIG. 2A and 4B are perspective views of the cooling heat exchanger shown in FIG. 1A with a battery pack attached; FIG. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the cooling heat exchanger shown in FIG. 1A and corresponding to the cross section VII of FIG. 4; FIG. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the cooling heat exchanger shown in FIG. 1A and corresponding to the cross section VIII-VIII of FIG. 7;

[0046] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0047] 1 to 4 show a cooling heat exchanger 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The cooling heat exchanger 10 has a laminated structure in which a first member 12 and a second member 14 are stacked on top of each other. In the following description, the vertical direction generally refers to the vertical direction in FIG. 2 , which is the direction in which the first member 12 and the second member 14 are stacked. The front-rear direction generally refers to the vertical direction in FIG. 4 , in which a plurality of flow path sections 70 (described later) are arranged. The left-right direction generally refers to the horizontal direction in FIG. 4 , which is the flow path length direction of the flow path section 70. In this embodiment, the upstream side of the flow path section 70 is the left side in FIG. 4 , and the downstream side is the right side in FIG. 4 , and the heat medium flows through the flow path section 70 from left to right.

[0048] The first member 12 has a generally rectangular flat plate shape, with a length in the left-right direction greater than a width in the front-rear direction. The first member 12 is formed of a material with a high thermal conductivity, such as a metal or a thermally conductive synthetic resin containing a thermally conductive filler. The first member 12 is preferably formed of a metal with a high thermal conductivity, such as an aluminum alloy, iron, stainless steel, or copper. In this embodiment, substantially the entire upper surface of the first member 12 serves as a cooling surface 16 that is placed over a plurality of battery packs 78, which will be described later.

[0049] The second member 14 has a generally rectangular flat plate shape overall, a planar shape that generally corresponds to the first member 12, and external dimensions in a plan view that are generally the same as those of the first member 12. The second member 14 may be made of metal, such as an aluminum alloy or stainless steel, or a synthetic resin, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, or polyamide. If the second member 14 is made of a synthetic resin, it is possible to expect a reduction in the weight of the cooling heat exchanger 10, easier formation of the recessed portions 18 (recessed grooves 38) and the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions 56 described below, and improved freedom and precision in the shapes of the recessed portions 18 (recessed grooves 38) and the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions 56 described below.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 4, the second member 14 has a recessed portion 18 that opens to the upper surface. In this embodiment, the recessed portion 18 is rectangular in plan view in Fig. 4. The peripheral wall of the recessed portion 18 is formed by an outer peripheral fixing portion 20 that is substantially rectangular and annular.

[0051] A first adhesive surface 22 is provided on the protruding tip surface of the outer peripheral fixing portion 20. The first adhesive surface 22 constitutes the radially central portion of the protruding tip surface of the outer peripheral fixing portion 20 and is a substantially rectangular plane extending substantially perpendicular to the up-down direction. A rectangular annular first position defining portion 24 is provided on each of the outer peripheral end and inner peripheral end of the outer peripheral fixing portion 20. The first position defining portion 24 is provided continuously on the outer peripheral side and inner peripheral side of the first adhesive surface 22 and protrudes upward beyond the first adhesive surface 22. A first adhesive relief groove 26 opening upward is formed between the first adhesive surface 22 and the inner peripheral first position defining portion 24 of the outer peripheral fixing portion 20. The first adhesive relief groove 26 is provided continuously around the entire circumference, adjacent to the outer peripheral side of the inner peripheral first position defining portion 24 and surrounding the inner peripheral side of the first adhesive surface 22. The bottom surface of the first adhesive relief groove 26 is located further below the first adhesive surface 22.

[0052] A supply hole 28 that penetrates vertically is formed in the front end portion of the recessed portion 18, and a cylindrical supply port 30 that protrudes downward from the periphery of the supply hole 28 is provided. In this embodiment, the supply hole 28 is provided in the front left corner of the recessed portion 18. In addition, a discharge hole 32 that penetrates vertically is formed in the rear end portion of the recessed portion 18, and a cylindrical discharge port 34 that protrudes downward from the periphery of the discharge hole 32 is provided. In this embodiment, the discharge hole 32 is provided in the rear right corner of the recessed portion 18. Therefore, the supply hole 28 and the discharge hole 32 are located on one diagonal side of the recessed portion 18, which is generally rectangular in plan view.

[0053] The recess 18 is provided with a plurality of inner circumferential fixing portions 36 that protrude upward from the bottom surface of the recess 18. The inner circumferential fixing portions 36 extend linearly in the left-right direction, with both ends spaced inward in the left-right direction relative to the outer circumferential fixing portions 20. In this embodiment, four inner circumferential fixing portions 36 are provided spaced apart from one another in the front-rear direction. The distance between adjacent inner circumferential fixing portions 36 in the front-rear direction is approximately constant. Furthermore, the distance in the front-rear direction between the inner circumferential fixing portions 36 located at the front and rear ends and the outer circumferential fixing portion 20 is approximately the same as the distance between adjacent inner circumferential fixing portions 36 in the front-rear direction. By forming these inner circumferential fixing portions 36, 36, 36, 36, the recessed portion 18 is divided into five grooves 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d, and 38e that extend linearly in the left-right direction in the middle portion in the left-right direction. The width of the inner circumferential fixing portions 36 is, for example, 5 mm or less, and preferably 4 mm or less. As a result, the width of the wall portion separating adjacent grooves 38 is, for example, 5 mm or less, and preferably 4 mm or less. Note that the left and right end portions of the recessed portion 18 are continuous in the front-rear direction without being divided by the inner circumferential fixing portions 36, 36, 36, 36. Furthermore, the supply hole 28 and the discharge hole 32 are formed in the left and right end portions of the recessed portion 18 that are continuous in the front-rear direction.

[0054] A second adhesive surface 40 is provided on the protruding tip surface of the inner circumferential fixing portion 36. The second adhesive surface 40 constitutes the inner circumferential portion of the protruding tip surface of the inner circumferential fixing portion 36 and is a substantially rectangular plane extending substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction. An annular second position defining portion 42 is provided on the outer circumferential side of the second adhesive surface 40 of the inner circumferential fixing portion 36. The second position defining portion 42 is provided so as to continuously surround the entire periphery of the second adhesive surface 40 and protrude upward beyond the second adhesive surface 40. A second adhesive relief groove 44 that opens upward is formed between the second adhesive surface 40 and the second position defining portion 42 of the inner circumferential fixing portion 36. The second adhesive relief groove 44 is provided adjacent to the inner circumferential side of the second position defining portion 42 and continuously surrounds the entire periphery of the second adhesive surface 40. The bottom surface of the second adhesive relief groove 44 is located further below the second adhesive surface 40.

[0055] A support pillar 46 is provided to protrude from the bottom wall of the groove 38 in the second member 14. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the support pillar 46 protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the groove 38 in the second member 14 toward the first member 12. The support pillar 46 has a tapered shape that decreases in diameter toward the protruding tip, and in this embodiment, is in the shape of a substantially elliptical truncated cone. In the plan view shown in FIG. 4 , the support pillar 46 has an elliptical shape whose major axis is the groove length direction of the groove 38 (the flow path length direction of the flow path portion 70 described later). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the outer peripheral surface of the support pillar 46 forms an inclined surface 48 that is inclined relative to the up-down direction around the entire circumference. The inclined surface 48 has an upstream surface of a cooling flow path (described later) that slopes upward toward the downstream side, a downstream surface that slopes upward toward the upstream side, and both side surfaces in the front-to-rear direction, which is the groove width direction of the recessed groove 38 (the flow path width direction of a flow path section 70 (described later)), slope upward toward the front and rear inward. Note that a part of the inclined surface 48 that constitutes the upstream surface of the support section 46 is used as a flow dividing surface 49 in this embodiment.

[0056] A third adhesive surface 50 is provided on the protruding tip surface of the support portion 46 as an adhesive surface. The third adhesive surface 50 forms the inner circumferential portion of the protruding tip surface of the support portion 46 and is a substantially circular plane extending substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction. A third position defining portion 52 is provided on the outer circumferential side of the third adhesive surface 50 of the support portion 46 as a position defining portion. The third position defining portion 52 is annular and continuously surrounds the entire periphery of the third adhesive surface 50 and protrudes upward beyond the third adhesive surface 50. A third adhesive escape groove 54 is formed between the third adhesive surface 50 and the third position defining portion 52 of the support portion 46 as an adhesive escape groove that opens upward. The third adhesive escape groove 54 is provided adjacent to the inner circumferential side of the third position defining portion 52 and continuously surrounds the entire periphery of the third adhesive surface 50. The bottom surface of the third adhesive escape groove 54 is located further below the third adhesive surface 50.

[0057] A plurality of support posts 46 are provided in each of the five grooves 38a to 38e. In this embodiment, five support posts 46 are provided in each of the five grooves 38a to 38e. The five support posts 46 provided in each groove 38 are arranged at approximately equal intervals in the groove length direction of the groove 38.

[0058] In addition, the support columns 46 in adjacent grooves 38, 38 are arranged at different positions in the groove length direction. The spacing between the five support columns 46, 46, 46, provided in each of the five grooves 38a to 38e is generally the same. Furthermore, the positions of the support columns 46 in grooves 38c, 38e in the groove length direction are generally the same as those in groove 38a, and the positions of the support columns 46 in groove 38d in the groove length direction are generally the same as those in groove 38b. The support columns 46 are arranged diagonally in the recessed portion 18 of the second member 14 in a staggered pattern.

[0059] In addition, a flow diverting / agitating projection 56 is provided to protrude from the bottom wall portion of the recessed groove 38 in the second member 14. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the flow diverting / agitating projection 56 protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the recessed groove 38 in the second member 14 toward the first member 12. The vertical protrusion height of the flow diverting / agitating projection 56 is set to be smaller than the maximum protrusion height of the support portion 46.

[0060] In the plan view shown in Fig. 4, the flow-dividing / agitating protrusions 56 have a transverse V-shape that narrows in the front-to-rear direction toward the upstream side, and extend in the groove width direction while being inclined. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 2, the flow-dividing / agitating protrusions 56 have a cross-sectional shape that tapers toward the protrusion tip, and the part that protrudes most upward forms a ridge line 58 extending in the transverse V-shape. The ridge line 58 extends in the groove width direction while being inclined with respect to the groove length direction of the recessed groove 38. The ridge line 58 may be an edge-shaped with an angle, or may be a flat or curved surface having a width in the flow path length direction.

[0061] The side of the flow diverting and stirring protrusion 56 located on the upstream side of the flow path section 70 is an upstream inclined surface 60 that slopes upward from the upstream side to the downstream side and approaches the first member 12. The side of the flow diverting and stirring protrusion 56 located on the downstream side of the flow path section 70 is a downstream inclined surface 62 that slopes downward from the upstream side to the downstream side and moves away from the first member 12. The protruding height of the flow diverting and stirring protrusion 56 from the bottom surface of the recessed groove 38 gradually increases from the upstream side to the downstream side in the portion upstream of the ridge line 58 that constitutes the upstream inclined surface 60, and gradually decreases from the upstream side to the downstream side in the portion downstream of the ridge line 58 that constitutes the downstream inclined surface 62.

[0062] 4, the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 are arranged adjacent to the downstream side of some of the support columns 46. In this embodiment, no flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 are formed downstream of the thirteen support columns 46, 46, ..., 46 arranged in the upstream portion of the groove 38, but a flow diverting and stirring protrusion 56 is arranged adjacent to each of the twelve support columns 46, 46, ..., 46 arranged in the downstream portion of the groove 38.

[0063] The flow diverting / stirring protrusion 56 is disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the support column 46, but is spaced apart downstream from the support column 46. The left-right distance between the support column 46 and the flow diverting / stirring protrusion 56 disposed adjacent to it on its downstream side is preferably less than half the distance between the support columns 46, 46 aligned in the groove length direction of the recessed groove 38, and more preferably less than one-quarter of the distance between the support columns 46, 46. In this embodiment, the left-right distance between the support column 46 and the flow diverting / stirring protrusion 56 disposed adjacent to it on its downstream side is also smaller than the outer dimension of the support column 46 in the left-right direction.

[0064] Two flow diverting / stirring protrusions 56, 56 are arranged downstream of one support column 46. The two flow diverting / stirring protrusions 56, 56 arranged downstream of one support column 46 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, which is the groove width direction of the groove 38. The center of each flow diverting / stirring protrusion 56 in the front-rear direction is positioned off the center of the support column 46 in the front-rear direction, and is preferably located outward in the front-rear direction from the support column 46 across one-quarter to two-thirds of the width dimension. In this embodiment, the two flow diverting / stirring protrusions 56, 56 arranged side by side in the front-rear direction are continuous across the entire groove width of the groove 38. The two side-by-side flow diverting / stirring protrusions 56, 56 are connected to each other at their inner ends in the front-rear direction, and their outer ends in the front-rear direction are connected to the outer peripheral fixing portion 20 or the inner peripheral fixing portion 36 that constitute the side wall of the groove 38. In addition, two adjacent flow-dividing and stirring protrusions 56, 56 may be spaced apart from each other, or the flow-dividing and stirring protrusions 56 and the outer peripheral fixing portion 20 or the inner peripheral fixing portion 36 may be spaced apart from each other.

[0065] The two flow-diverting / stirring protrusions 56, 56 arranged downstream of one support column 46 are positioned so as to be offset at least to the front and rear outside of the support column 46, and in this embodiment, they are provided over the entire groove width direction, so that they are also positioned to the front and rear outside of the support column 46. In this embodiment, the upstream end of the V-shaped flow-diverting / stirring protrusion 56 is positioned offset to the front and rear outside of the front-rear center of the support column 46.

[0066] In the grooves 38a, 38c, and 38e, flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 are provided adjacent to the downstream side of the two downstream support columns 46. In the grooves 38b and 38d, flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 are provided adjacent to the downstream side of the three downstream support columns 46. As a result, the region where the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 are provided in the grooves 38a, 38c, and 38e is narrower in the groove length direction than in the grooves 38b and 38d. In particular, in this embodiment, the region where the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 are provided in the grooves 38b and 38d extends outward on both sides in the groove length direction compared to the region where the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 are provided in the grooves 38a, 38c, and 38e.

[0067] The first member 12 is overlapped from above on the second member 14. The first member 12 is overlapped in an abutting state with the second member 14 at the outer peripheral fixing portion 20 and the inner peripheral fixing portions 36, 36, 36, 36, and is fixed to the second member 14 at the outer peripheral fixing portion 20 and the inner peripheral fixing portions 36, 36, 36, 36.

[0068] The first member 12 is fixed to the outer peripheral fixing portion 20 and the inner peripheral fixing portions 36, 36, 36, 36 of the second member 14 by adhesive bonding. That is, the first position determining portion 24 of the outer peripheral fixing portion 20 and the second position determining portion 42 of each inner peripheral fixing portion 36 abut and overlap the first member 12. As a result, the first adhesive surface 22 of the outer peripheral fixing portion 20 and the second adhesive surface 40 of each inner peripheral fixing portion 36 are positioned slightly apart from the underside of the first member 12 in the vertical direction. An adhesive is applied to the first adhesive surface 22 and the second adhesive surface 40 before the first member 12 and the second member 14 are overlapped, and the outer peripheral fixing portion 20, each inner peripheral fixing portion 36, and the first member 12 are mutually bonded by an adhesive layer 64 of adhesive applied to the second adhesive surface 40. Since the thickness dimension of the adhesive layer 64 is precisely determined by the upward protrusion height of the first position determining portion 24 and each second position determining portion 42 relative to the first adhesive surface 22 and each second adhesive surface 40, the bonding strength, the time required for hardening, etc. can be controlled more precisely.

[0069] Any excess adhesive remaining on the first adhesive surface 22 and each second adhesive surface 40 in excess of the amount that constitutes the adhesive layer 64 overflows from the first adhesive surface 22 and each second adhesive surface 40 and is contained in the first adhesive escape groove 26 and each second adhesive escape groove 44. This prevents excess adhesive from leaking from the outer circumferential fixing portion 20 and each inner circumferential fixing portion 36 into the cooling flow path 66, and prevents the leaked adhesive from affecting the setting of the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path portion 70, which will be described later.

[0070] In this embodiment, the first member 12 and the second member 14 are fixed to each other in abutting contact at each inner peripheral fixing portion 36 of the inner peripheral portion, so that even if the hydraulic pressure of the heat medium acts in a direction that pulls the first member 12 and the second member 14 apart from each other in the vertical direction, separation or deformation of the first member 12 and the second member 14 is suppressed.

[0071] The third position defining portion 52 of the support portion 46 provided on the second member 14 abuts against and overlaps the first member 12. This positions the third adhesive surface 50 of the support portion 46 and the underside of the first member 12 with a slight vertical separation between them. An adhesive is applied to the third adhesive surface 50 before the first member 12 and the second member 14 are overlapped, and the support portion 46 and the first member 12 are fixed (bonded) to each other by an adhesive layer 64 formed from the adhesive applied to the third adhesive surface 50. The thickness of the adhesive layer 64 is precisely defined by the height at which the third position defining portion 52 protrudes upward from the third adhesive surface 50, allowing for more precise control of the bond strength, the time required for curing, and the like. Furthermore, by precisely setting the thickness of the adhesive layer 64 at the bonded portion between the first member 12 and the second member 14, it is possible to prevent unintended deformation such as bending due to differences in the linear expansion coefficients of the first member 12 and the second member 14, for example, by utilizing the elasticity of the adhesive layer 64.

[0072] Any excess adhesive remaining on the third adhesive surface 50 in excess of the amount that constitutes the adhesive layer 64 overflows from the third adhesive surface 50 and is contained in the third adhesive escape groove 54. This prevents the excess adhesive from leaking from the support portion 46 into the cooling flow path 66, and prevents the leaked adhesive from affecting the setting of the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path portion 70, which will be described later.

[0073] In this embodiment, the first member 12 and the second member 14 are fixed to each other in abutting contact with each other at the support portion 46 arranged within the cooling flow path 66. Therefore, even if the hydraulic pressure of the heat transfer medium acts in a direction that pulls the first member 12 and the second member 14 apart from each other in the vertical direction, separation or deformation of the first member 12 and the second member 14 is suppressed.

[0074] Note that, because the positions of the first to third adhesive surfaces 22, 40, 50 in the vertical direction are the same and the protruding heights of the first to third position defining portions 24, 42, 52 relative to the first to third adhesive surfaces 22, 40, 50 are the same, the adhesive layers 64 on the first to third adhesive surfaces 22, 40, 50 are of approximately the same thickness. However, the positions of the first to third adhesive surfaces 22, 40, 50 in the vertical direction and the protruding heights of the first to third position defining portions 24, 42, 52 relative to the first to third adhesive surfaces 22, 40, 50 may be different from one another, and as a result, the thicknesses of the adhesive layers 64 may be different from one another.

[0075] In this embodiment, the support pillars 46 have an elliptical shape in a plan view. The groove width direction of the recessed groove 38, the size of which is limited by the inner peripheral fixing portion 36 and the outer peripheral fixing portion 20, is the minor axis direction of the support pillars 46, and the groove length direction, which is less restricted in size, is the major axis direction of the support pillars 46. This makes it possible to ensure a large bonding area between the support pillars 46 and the first member 12 while setting the groove width dimension of the recessed groove 38 based on the performance such as the flow rate and flow resistance required in the flow path portion 70 including the diverting portions 74, 74, which will be described later.

[0076] The first member 12 overlapping the second member 14 is spaced above the bottom surface of the recessed portion 18. As a result, a cooling flow path 66 is formed by the recessed portion 18 between the overlapping surfaces of the first member 12 and the second member 14. The cooling flow path 66 is provided inside the cooling heat exchanger 10 and serves as a flow path through which a heat medium for cooling flows. The cooling flow path 66 is a flow path connecting the supply holes 28 and the discharge holes 32, and is connected to an external flow path (not shown) by the supply port 30 and the discharge port 34. The heat medium that flows into the cooling flow path 66 from the external flow path through the supply holes 28 flows from left to right and is discharged from the cooling flow path 66 to the external flow path through the discharge hole 32. The external flow path is provided with a cooling device for cooling the heat medium, such as an air-cooling device such as a radiator, a liquid-cooling device, or a refrigerator, and the low-temperature heat medium cooled by the cooling device is supplied to the cooling flow path 66.

[0077] The cooling flow path 66 includes a parallel flow path section 68. The parallel flow path section 68 is a section in which a plurality of flow path sections 70, in which the heat medium flows in the same direction, are arranged adjacent to each other in parallel. In this embodiment, the upper openings of the five recessed grooves 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d, and 38e are covered by the first member 12, thereby providing the parallel flow path section 68, which is made up of the five flow path sections 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d, and 70e, in the middle section of the cooling flow path 66. The parallel flow path section 68 is arranged substantially parallel to the cooling surface 16, except for the support column section 46 and the flow-diverting / stirring protrusions 56, which will be described later.

[0078] The five flow path sections 70a to 70e have a substantially constant cross-sectional shape and cross-sectional area in the portions of the flow path length that deviate from the support columns 46 and the flow dividing and stirring protrusions 56 (described later). In addition, the path length from the supply hole 28 to the discharge hole 32 in the cooling flow path 66 is substantially the same through all of the five flow path sections 70a to 70e because the supply hole 28 and the discharge hole 32 are located diagonally.

[0079] The flow direction of the heat medium flowing through the cooling flow path 66 is the same in each of the five flow path sections 70a to 70e of the parallel flow path section 68. As a result, when the heat medium flows through the flow path sections 70a to 70e while receiving heat from a battery pack 78 (described later), the temperature difference between the heat medium flowing through the flow path sections 70a to 70e is small, and heat exchange between the heat medium between the flow path sections 70a to 70e is suppressed. Therefore, on the upstream side of the parallel flow path section 68, temperature changes of the heat medium due to heat exchange between the flow path sections 70a to 70e are prevented, and the heat medium is kept at a low temperature.

[0080] The inner circumferential fixing portion 36 separating adjacent flow passage portions 70, 70 in the front-rear direction preferably has a width of 5 mm or less, more preferably 4 mm or less, in the front-rear direction. This ensures a large vertical projection area for the flow passage portions 70a-70e in the horizontal center portion of the cooling heat exchanger 10, where the parallel flow passage portion 68 is provided. This reduces the flow resistance of the heat medium in each flow passage portion 70, and increases the area of ​​the first member 12 that directly contacts the heat medium, thereby efficiently cooling the cooling surface 16. Furthermore, because the flow direction of the heat medium in the flow passage portions 70a-70e is the same, even if the distance between adjacent flow passage portions 70, 70 is short, the temperature rise of the heat medium due to heat exchange between the flow passage portions 70, 70 is not a problem.

[0081] Support pillars 46 are arranged in the flow path section 70. A plurality of support pillars 46 are provided at intervals in the flow path length direction of the flow path section 70 formed by the recessed grooves 38. Flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 are also arranged in the flow path section 70. The flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 are arranged adjacent to the support pillars 46 on the downstream side in the flow path length direction of the flow path section 70. The flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 protrude from the lower wall portion of the flow path section 70 formed by the second member 14 and are spaced downward from the first member 12, which forms the upper wall portion of the flow path section 70, without reaching the first member 12. As described above, in this embodiment, the support pillars 46 and the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 are both provided in the parallel flow path section 68.

[0082] The flow path section 70 has a flow path cross-sectional area reduced by the projected area of ​​the support column 46 at the portion where the support column 46 is provided. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the support column 46 is provided continuously over the entire flow path section 70 in the vertical height direction, and therefore, at the portion where the support column 46 is provided, the flow path section 70 is divided into branch sections 74, 74 on both sides of the support column 46. Because the support column 46 narrows in the flow path width direction toward the top, the flow path width dimension of each branch section 74 gradually increases from bottom to top. It is desirable that the branch sections 74, 74 on both sides of the support column 46 have approximately the same flow path cross-sectional area, but the flow path cross-sectional areas may be different from each other.

[0083] The flow dividing and stirring protrusions 56, 56 arranged on the downstream side of the support column 46 are arranged on the downstream extension of the flow dividing sections 74, 74. The heat medium flowing from the upstream side toward the support column 46 is divided by the flow dividing forming surface 49 of the support column 46 to both the front and rear sides of the support column 46, forming divided flows that flow through the flow dividing sections 74, 74, and the divided flows of the heat medium flow toward the flow dividing and stirring protrusions 56, 56 arranged on the downstream side on the flow path of the divided flows.

[0084] The flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56 are spaced downward from the first member 12. As a result, the portion of the flow path section 70 where the flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56 are formed is a narrowed flow path section 76 with a reduced flow path cross-sectional area. In the narrowed flow path section 76, the flow path cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the downstream side on the upstream inclined surface 60 of the flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56, and the flow path cross-sectional area gradually increases toward the downstream side on the downstream inclined surface 62 of the flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56, with the flow path cross-sectional area being minimized at the ridge line 58 of the flow diverting / agitating protrusion 56.

[0085] The flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 provided in one flow path section 70 may have a higher protrusion height as the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 located more downstream, in which case the minimum flow path cross-sectional area becomes smaller as the narrowed flow path section 76 located more downstream. This makes it possible to sufficiently increase the flow rate of the heat medium passing through the narrowed flow path section 76, and the stirring action and other effects caused by the flow of the heat medium can be more efficiently exerted.

[0086] The maximum protruding height of the flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56 at the ridge lines 58 is preferably 30% or more, and more preferably 50% or more, of the vertical depth of the flow path 70. The length of the flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56 in the flow path length direction of the flow path 70 is preferably equal to or less than the flow path width of the flow path 70, and more preferably equal to or less than 75% of the flow path width of the flow path 70. The length (left-right dimension) of the flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56 is preferably smaller than the width (front-rear dimension).

[0087] As shown in FIG. 5 , a battery pack 78 is mounted on the cooling heat exchanger 10 having such a structure as a cooling target. The battery pack 78 is a battery used in an electrically powered vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid car. The battery pack 78 has, for example, a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape with a front-to-rear width dimension greater than a left-to-right length dimension. Furthermore, the battery pack 78 is provided with terminals 80 protruding upward at both front and rear ends. The terminals 80 serve as output terminals for outputting a large current through a bus bar (not shown). Therefore, in use, the battery pack 78 of this embodiment is more likely to reach higher temperatures at the front and rear end portions including the terminals 80 than at the front and rear center portion.

[0088] 5 , a plurality of battery packs 78 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and the lower surfaces of the plurality of battery packs 78 are superimposed on the cooling surface 16 formed by the upper surface of the first member 12. In this embodiment, 15 battery packs 78, 78, ..., 78 are attached to one cooling surface 16.

[0089] In the cooling heat exchanger 10, the cooling surface 16 is cooled by heat exchange between the cooling heat medium flowing through the cooling flow path 66 and the first member 12. A battery pack 78, which generates heat during operation, is set on the cooling surface 16, and the battery pack 78 is cooled by heat exchange between the first member 12 having the cooling surface 16 and the battery pack 78. In other words, the battery pack 78 is cooled by heat exchange via the first member 12 between the battery pack 78 and the heat medium flowing through the cooling flow path 66.

[0090] The temperature of the heat medium rises as it receives heat from the battery pack 78. In particular, the temperature of the heat medium flowing in the upper part of the cooling flow path 66, which is close to the battery pack 78, becomes high. On the other hand, the heat medium flowing in the lower part of the cooling flow path 66 is farther from the battery pack 78, and the temperature rise is suppressed compared to the upper part. Therefore, a temperature distribution in which the temperature becomes higher toward the upper part of the heat medium in the cooling flow path 66 due to heat exchange with the battery pack 78 is likely to occur. As a result, the temperature difference between the battery pack 78 and the high-temperature heat medium flowing in the upper part becomes smaller, causing a decrease in the efficiency of heat exchange between the battery pack 78 and the heat medium. Furthermore, because the heat medium flows downstream while being heated by heat exchange with the battery pack 78, the temperature of the heat medium tends to become higher toward the downstream side.

[0091] Here, the heat medium flowing through the parallel flow path portion 68 of the cooling flow path 66 is agitated by the support portions 46, suppressing local temperature increases. That is, the heat medium flowing from upstream toward the support portions 46 hits the flow diverting surface 49, which is the upstream surface of the support portions 46, and is then diverged into the flow diverting portions 74, 74 provided on both the front and rear sides of the support portions 46. In this way, as the heat medium flows toward the support portions 46, the support portions 46 prevent the heat medium from flowing smoothly, and the turbulence of the flow causes a stirring effect, which reduces the temperature difference.

[0092] The speed of the heat medium is increased by passing through the diverging sections 74, 74 whose flow path cross-sectional area is reduced by the support sections 46, and therefore, flow turbulence is more likely to occur downstream of the diverging sections 74, 74 where the flow velocity of the heat medium is increased, thereby more effectively reducing the temperature difference of the heat medium in the flow path section 70. In this embodiment, a speed-increasing region where the flow velocity is partially increased is set downstream of the diverging sections 74, 74 within the flow path cross-section.

[0093] In this embodiment, the support pillar 46 has a generally elliptical truncated cone shape, and both front and rear side surfaces are formed by inclined surfaces 48. As a result, the flow path width of the flow dividing sections 74, 74 varies in the vertical direction, increasing in size toward the top, as shown in FIG. 3 . This tends to cause a difference in the flow velocity of the heat medium flowing through the flow dividing sections 74, 74 in the vertical direction, and this difference in flow velocity tends to generate vortices and turbulence. The inclined shape of both sides of the support pillar 46 also promotes turbulence, thereby reducing the temperature difference of the heat medium.

[0094] Furthermore, since the downstream surface of the support portion 46 is also composed of an inclined surface 48, it is possible that a separated flow may be formed that moves away from the downstream surface of the support portion 46, and therefore it is expected that the effect of reducing the temperature difference of the heat medium can be achieved by utilizing such a flow along the downstream surface of the support portion 46.

[0095] The fact that the formation of the support pillars 46 enables the heat medium to be kept at a low temperature further downstream has also been confirmed by the simulation results of the temperature distribution shown in Figures 6A and 6B. That is, it can be seen that the flow path section 70 equipped with the support pillars 46 shown in Figure 6A can suppress the temperature rise of the heat medium further downstream compared to the conventional flow path section without the support pillars 46 shown in Figure 6B.

[0096] In addition, the heat medium flowing through the parallel flow path section 68 is also stirred by the flow-diverting stirring protrusions 56, thereby suppressing the temperature difference between the heat medium flowing near the battery pack 78 and the heat medium flowing farther away.

[0097] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the heat medium that has passed through the flow dividing sections 74, 74 flows toward the flow dividing and stirring protrusions 56, 56 that are arranged adjacent to the downstream side of the support column 46. Then, when the flow of the heat medium (divided flows) that has been divided by the support column 46 to both sides in the flow path width direction passes over the flow dividing and stirring protrusions 56, 56, the divided flows hit the flow dividing and stirring protrusions 56, 56, thereby exerting a stirring action due to turbulence. Note that Figure 8 is a view corresponding to the VIII-VIII cross section in Figure 7, but for ease of viewing, the thickness direction (the up-and-down direction in Figure 8) is exaggerated.

[0098] The flow path section 70 has a cross-sectional area that is partially reduced in the flow path length direction at the support column 46-forming portion, and the diverting sections 74, 74 are narrowed sections with a small cross-sectional area. As a result, the diverted flows of the heat medium passing through the diverting sections 74, 74 are accelerated by the reduced flow path cross-sectional area, forming a velocity-increasing region downstream of the diverting sections 74, 74 where the flow velocity is partially increased in the flow path length direction. The diverted flows of the heat medium accelerated by passing through the diverting sections 74, 74 flow toward the diverting-stirring protrusions 56, which serve as fluid agitation means and are located downstream of the diverting sections 74, 74 on the extension of the heat medium flow path. Therefore, the diverting-stirring protrusions 56 have a disturbing effect on the fast flow of the heat medium in the velocity-increasing region, more effectively changing the flow direction of the heat medium due to the diverting-stirring protrusions 56, and further promoting the agitation of the heat medium by generating, for example, vortices or turbulence. In this way, by providing a partial narrowing section (diversion sections 74, 74) in the flow path section 70, an acceleration region where the flow rate of the heat medium is increased is set downstream of the narrowing section, and by providing a fluid stirring means (diversion stirring protrusions 56) in this acceleration region, the cooling efficiency can be effectively adjusted.

[0099] 7, the flow-diverting / stirring protrusions 56, 56 have an inverted V-shape that narrows toward the upstream side in a plan view. As a result, when the divided heat medium flows over the flow-diverting / stirring protrusions 56, 56, the flow direction changes to a direction substantially perpendicular to the ridge line 58, where flow resistance is reduced. The divided heat medium flows that pass over the flow-diverting / stirring protrusions 56, 56 flow in a direction that slopes inward in the flow path width direction and merges (collides with each other) downstream of the flow-diverting / stirring protrusions 56, 56, generating vortices and turbulence. This more effectively stirs the heat medium, resulting in uniform temperature distribution of the heat medium.

[0100] 8, since the flow dividing surface 49 on the upstream side of the support column 46 is configured as an inclined surface 48, it is thought that the heat medium flows in an upwardly inclined direction when it hits the support column 46 from the upstream side. This makes it easier for the heat medium to flow into the upper part of the flow path section 70, and the fluidity of the heat medium in the upper part of the flow path section 70 increases, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency in the upper part of the flow path section 70.

[0101] On the other hand, the heat medium flowing in the lower part of the flow path section 70 tends to flow along the bottom surface without separating from the bottom surface of the flow path section 70 due to the drag effect of the bottom surface of the flow path section 70 (recessed groove 38). As a result, a fast flow of the heat medium is formed in the lower part of the flow path section 70, and this fast flow is expected to hit the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions 56, 56 protruding upward from the second member 14. This flow of the heat medium is then guided upward by the upstream inclined surfaces 60 of the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions 56, 56, promoting mixing of the heat medium in the lower part and the heat medium in the upper part. Note that in Figure 8, the flow of the heat medium is indicated by arrows.

[0102] The flow-diverting / stirring protrusions 56, 56 are disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the support column 46 and are located on the flow path of the heat medium flowing through the flow-diverting sections 74, 74 formed on both sides of the support column 46. The heat medium is accelerated as it passes through the flow-diverting sections 74, 74 due to the change in the flow path cross-sectional area, and its speed is increased on the downstream side of the support column 46, so that flow turbulence is more likely to occur when the heat medium collides with and passes over the flow-diverting / stirring protrusions 56, 56. Therefore, the flow-diverting / stirring protrusions 56, 56 more effectively promote turbulence, and the cooling performance is improved by reducing the temperature difference of the heat medium.

[0103] In this embodiment, the support column 46 provided in the upstream portion of the parallel flow path section 68 is not provided with adjacent flow diverting and stirring protrusions on the downstream side, and the support column 46 provided in the downstream portion is provided with adjacent flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56, 56 on the downstream side. As a result, an area with little effect of disturbing the flow of the heat medium is defined in the upstream portion of the parallel flow path section 68, and an area with great effect of disturbing the flow of the heat medium is defined in the downstream portion. Therefore, the heat medium is more effectively stirred in the downstream portion of the parallel flow path section 68, advantageously improving (restoring) cooling performance.

[0104] Because the heat medium flows from upstream to downstream through the parallel flow path section 68 while being heated by heat exchange with the battery pack 78, the temperature difference between the upper and lower parts is likely to become greater in the downstream region of the parallel flow path section 68. Therefore, the cooling heat exchanger 10 is designed so that the flow-diverting stirring protrusions 56 stir the heat medium in the downstream region, and the stirring effect of the heat medium is stronger in the downstream region than in the upstream region. Therefore, the cooling heat exchanger 10 is able to suppress a decrease in heat exchange efficiency in the downstream region and to exhibit effective cooling performance over a wide range in the flow path length direction.

[0105] When multiple battery packs 78 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, which is the flow path length direction of the parallel flow path section 68, conventionally, cooling of the downstream battery packs 78 is likely to be insufficient, and performance degradation due to deterioration of the downstream battery packs 78 is likely to progress. Furthermore, a problem specific to battery cooling exists in that a performance degradation of some downstream battery packs 78 can reduce the performance of the entire battery cell consisting of the multiple battery packs 78 due to the influence of the deteriorated battery packs 78. To address this issue, the cooling heat exchanger 10 is designed to exert a heat medium stirring action in the downstream region using the flow-diverting stirring protrusions 56, so that the heat medium stirring action is stronger in the downstream region than in the upstream region. Therefore, the cooling heat exchanger 10 suppresses a decrease in heat exchange efficiency in the downstream region and can exert effective cooling performance over a wide range in the flow path length direction. As a result, deterioration of only some of the multiple battery packs 78 can be suppressed, preventing a performance degradation of the entire battery cell.

[0106] In this embodiment, since no flow-diverting and stirring protrusions are provided in the upstream region and stirring of the heat medium is suppressed in the upstream region, the heat medium in the lower portion is more likely to reach the downstream region in a low-temperature state with a suppressed temperature increase, and stirring of the heat medium in the downstream region can further reduce the temperature of the heat medium. This prevents a significant temperature increase in the heat medium in the upper portion over a wide range in the flow path length direction, and effectively cools the battery pack 78 located downstream. As such, the cooling heat exchanger 10 according to this embodiment provides effective cooling performance for all battery packs 78 when cooling multiple battery packs 78 arranged in a line in the flow path length direction. This prevents deterioration of some battery packs 78 due to insufficient cooling of, for example, the battery packs 78 located downstream.

[0107] Each of the flow path sections 70a, 70c, and 70e has the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 at two locations along the length of the flow path, while each of the flow path sections 70b and 70d has the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 at three locations along the length of the flow path. Furthermore, the positions of the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 in the flow path sections 70a, 70c, and 70e are different from the positions of the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 in the flow path sections 70b and 70d along the length of the flow path. As a result, regions that have different effects of disrupting the flow of the heat medium are set in the flow path sections 70a, 70c, and 70e and the flow path sections 70b and 70d. Furthermore, by providing the regions with different disturbances to the heat medium flow at different positions in the flow path width direction, for example, in the flow path sections 70a, 70c, and 70e, which have a weaker stirring effect, the lower heat medium is more likely to be maintained at a low temperature further downstream, making it easier to ensure cooling performance in the downstream region, while in the flow path sections 70b and 70d, which have a stronger stirring effect from the upstream side, cooling performance is improved by stirring the heat medium from the upstream side, making it easier to ensure cooling performance in the midstream region. In this way, by providing the flow path sections 70b and 70d, which improve cooling performance from the midstream region, and the flow path sections 70a, 70c, and 70e, which improve cooling performance further downstream, it is possible to achieve stable cooling performance throughout the entire parallel flow path section 68.

[0108] In this embodiment, the protruding height of the flow diverting / agitating projections 56 located closer to the downstream side is increased. As a result, the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the narrowed flow path section 76 formed between the flow diverting / agitating projections 56 and the first member 12 decreases toward the downstream side, improving the flow velocity in the narrowed flow path section 76 in the downstream region, and thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency due to the stirring action, etc., in the downstream region.

[0109] Furthermore, since multiple diverting stirring protrusions 56 of different heights are provided in the flow path length direction of the flow path section 70, it is possible to vary the effect of disturbing the flow of the heat medium depending on the difference in height of these diverting stirring protrusions 56, and it is possible to set areas in the flow path length direction with different turbulence promoting effects by varying the height of the diverting stirring protrusions 56.

[0110] 9 shows a cooling heat exchanger 90 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used in the drawing to designate the same components and parts as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0111] The cooling heat exchanger 90 of this embodiment does not have the inner peripheral fixing portion 36 shown in the cooling heat exchanger 10 of the first embodiment, and is equipped with a cooling flow path 92 that is a single flow path without forming a parallel flow path portion 68 consisting of multiple flow path portions 70.

[0112] In the cooling heat exchanger 90 according to this embodiment, the cross-sectional area of ​​the cooling flow passage 92 is reduced where the support pillar 46 is formed, and the flow velocity of the heat medium splitting off and flowing to both sides of the support pillar 46 increases. Therefore, the flow-splitting protrusions 56 arranged on the flow path of the split flow downstream of both sides of the support pillar 46 effectively promote turbulence in the heat medium, reducing, for example, the temperature difference in the heat medium along the depth of the cooling flow passage 92. As a result, the heat medium flowing in the upper part of the cooling flow passage 92 near the battery pack 78, which is the target to be cooled, is kept at a relatively low temperature, improving cooling performance.

[0113] 10 shows a cooling heat exchanger 100 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The cooling heat exchanger 100 differs from the cooling heat exchanger 10 of the first embodiment in the arrangement of the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions 56.

[0114] That is, the flow path section 70a has one set of flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56, 56 provided downstream close to the support section 46 located on the most downstream side, and no flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 near the other four support sections 46, 46, 46, 46. The flow path section 70b has one set of flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56, 56 provided near the support section 46 located in the center of the flow path length direction and the support section 46 located on the most downstream side, and no flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 near the other three support sections 46, 46, 46. The flow path section 70c, like the flow path section 70a, has one set of flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 provided only near the support section 46 located on the most downstream side. The flow path section 70d has a set of flow-diverting and stirring protrusions 56, 56 provided near each of the three downstream support sections 46, 46, 46, and no flow-diverting and stirring protrusions 56 near the two upstream support sections 46, 46.

[0115] In the flow path section 70e, a pair of flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56, 56 are provided near the most downstream support section 46, and one flow diverting and stirring protrusion 56 is provided near the fourth support section 46 from the upstream side (second from the downstream side). The flow diverting and stirring protrusion 56 provided near the fourth support section 46 from the upstream side is located downstream of the support section 46 (opposite the flow path section 70d) and is located on the flow path of the diverted flow of the heat medium that branches off and flows in front of the support section 46. Note that when the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 are provided only on one of the flow paths of the diverted flow, the side of the support section 46 on which to provide the flow diverting and stirring protrusions can be selected taking into account the location where cooling performance is required. For example, the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 can be arranged only on the flow path of the diverted flow behind the support section 46, downstream of the fourth support section 46 from the upstream side of the flow path section 70e.

[0116] The flow path section 70b and the flow path section 70d can also be considered to have different intervals in the flow path length direction between the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56. In this way, by changing the distance between the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 in the flow path length direction, it is possible to set regions that have different effects of disturbing the flow of the heat medium.

[0117] Furthermore, since the effect of disrupting the flow of heat transfer medium differs between an area where a set of flow-diverting and stirring protrusions 56, 56 is provided downstream on both sides of the support section 46 and an area where flow-diverting and stirring protrusions 56 are provided only on one side of the support section 46, the cooling performance can also be adjusted by the arrangement of these areas.

[0118] FIG. 11 shows a cooling heat exchanger 110 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The cooling heat exchanger 110 includes a second member 112. The second member 112 is generally rectangular and includes a recessed portion 114 that opens upward. The recessed portion 114 is shaped like an inverted U in top view and includes a central fixing portion 116 that extends leftward from the right edge of the outer periphery fixing portion 20. The central fixing portion 116 is integrally formed and continuous with the outer periphery fixing portion 20, and its upper surface is located on approximately the same plane as the outer periphery fixing portion 20. The left end of the central fixing portion 116 does not reach the left edge of the outer periphery fixing portion 20, and is spaced to the right from the left edge of the outer periphery fixing portion 20. Since the central fixing portion 116 is formed integrally with the peripheral fixing portion 20, the first adhesive surface 22, the first position determining portion 24, and the first adhesive escape groove 26 are continuously formed not only in the peripheral fixing portion 20 but also in the central fixing portion 116.

[0119] In this embodiment, the cooling flow channel 118, which is formed by covering the upper opening of the recessed portion 114 with a first member (not shown), has an inverted U-shaped flow channel shape that extends linearly from the right end toward the left, bends rearward, and extends linearly to the right at its end. In this embodiment, the supply hole 28 is formed in the right front corner of the recessed portion 114, and the discharge hole 32 is formed in the right rear corner of the recessed portion 114.

[0120] The cooling flow path 118 has parallel flow path sections 120, 122 at both ends extending in the left-right direction. The upstream parallel flow path section 120 is composed of multiple flow path sections 124 extending parallel to each other, and the downstream parallel flow path section 122 is composed of multiple flow path sections 126 extending parallel to each other. More specifically, the upstream parallel flow path section 120 is composed of two flow path sections 124a, 124b each extending linearly in the left-right direction, and the heat medium flows through these two flow path sections 124a, 124b in the same direction, from right to left. An inner peripheral fixing portion 36 extending linearly in the left-right direction is provided between the two flow path sections 124a, 124b. The downstream parallel flow path section 122 is composed of two flow path sections 126a, 126b that each extend linearly in the left-right direction, and the heat medium flows through these two flow path sections 126a, 126b in the same direction, from left to right. An inner peripheral fixing section 36 that extends linearly in the left-right direction is provided between the two flow path sections 126a, 126b.

[0121] An intermediate junction 128 is provided between the upstream parallel flow path section 120 and the downstream parallel flow path section 122 in the cooling flow path 118, connecting the parallel flow path sections 120, 122 in series. The intermediate junction 128 is formed at the left end of the recessed section 114 and extends in the front-to-rear direction to the left of the central fixing portion 116. The heat medium branches off into flow path sections 124a, 124b of the upstream parallel flow path section 120, then branches off and flows into flow path sections 126a, 126b of the downstream parallel flow path section 122.

[0122] The upstream parallel flow path section 120 is provided with a plurality of support columns 46. Five support columns 46 are formed in each of the flow path sections 124a and 124b, aligned at approximately equal intervals. The support columns 46 of the flow path section 124a and the support columns 46 of the flow path section 124b are positioned offset from each other in the flow path length direction.

[0123] Some of the support columns 46 provided in the flow path sections 124a, 124b are provided with a set of flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56, 56 near the downstream side. In this embodiment, in the flow path section 124a, one set of flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56, 56 is provided for each of the two upstream support columns 46, 46, and in the flow path section 124b, one set of flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56, 56 is provided for each of the three upstream support columns 46, 46, 46.

[0124] The downstream parallel flow path section 122 is also provided with a plurality of support columns 46. Five support columns 46 are formed in each of the flow path sections 126a and 126b, aligned at approximately equal intervals. The support columns 46 of the flow path section 126a and the support columns 46 of the flow path section 126b are provided at positions offset from each other in the flow path length direction.

[0125] Some of the support columns 46 provided in the flow path sections 126a, 126b are provided with a set of flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56, 56 near the downstream side. In this embodiment, in the flow path section 126a, one set of flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56, 56 is provided for each of the two downstream support columns 46, 46, and in the flow path section 126b, one set of flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56, 56 is provided for each of the three downstream support columns 46, 46, 46.

[0126] According to the cooling heat exchanger 110 having such a structure, as with the cooling heat exchanger 10 of the first embodiment, it is possible to maintain effective cooling performance over a wider area of ​​the cooling flow path 118, and it is also possible to set the cooling performance according to the temperature distribution of the battery pack (not shown) that is the object to be cooled.

[0127] An intermediate junction 128 is provided to serially connect the upstream parallel flow path section 120 and the downstream parallel flow path section 122, and the heat medium that flows through the flow path sections 124a and 124b that make up the upstream parallel flow path section 120 is joined and mixed at the intermediate junction 128. Therefore, unevenness in the temperature of the heat medium is further suppressed at the intermediate junction 128, and the entire heat medium is kept at a relatively low temperature, thereby improving the cooling performance in the downstream parallel flow path section 122. Note that the intermediate junction 128 is not essential, and for example, the flow path sections 124a and 126a and the flow path sections 124b and 126b may be provided independently without merging with each other.

[0128] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific descriptions. For example, the number, size, shape, and arrangement of the support pillars in the cooling flow passage are not particularly limited. That is, while the support pillars 46 in the above embodiment are shaped like elliptical truncated cones, the support pillars may be shaped like circular truncated cones, polygonal truncated cones, irregular truncated cones, etc. Furthermore, the support pillars are not limited to a truncated cone shape and may be shaped like a column extending with a substantially constant cross section, such as a circular column including an elliptical column, a polygonal column, or an irregular column. Furthermore, the support pillars may have a columnar shape such as an upstream side surface, both side surfaces in the flow passage width direction, or a downstream side surface that is inclined with respect to the columnar shape.

[0129] The support column 46 may be integrally connected to the inner circumferential fixing portion 36 or the outer circumferential fixing portion 20. In this case, the flow of the heat medium whose flow direction is changed by the flow diverting surface 49 of the support column 46 flows along one side of the support column 46 that is separated from the inner circumferential fixing portion 36 or the outer circumferential fixing portion 20, and therefore, it is sufficient to provide the flow diverting stirring protrusion 56 only on the downstream side of that one side.

[0130] The adhesive structure consisting of the adhesive surface, positioning portion, and adhesive escape groove provided on the joint surface of the support portion 46 with the first member 12 is not essential and can be omitted. In particular, when the first member 12 and the second member 14 are joined (fixed) by a method other than adhesive, such an adhesive structure is not necessary. Furthermore, the positioning portion and adhesive escape groove provided around the periphery of the adhesive surface do not necessarily have to be continuous around the entire circumference, and may be provided partially in the circumferential direction.

[0131] Furthermore, the similar adhesive structures provided on the outer peripheral fixing portion 20 and the inner peripheral fixing portion 36 are not essential and can be omitted. It is also possible to selectively employ one or two of the adhesive structure for the support portion 46, the adhesive structure for the outer peripheral fixing portion 20, and the adhesive structure for the inner peripheral fixing portion 36. In other words, the invention relating to the adhesive structure disclosed in this specification can be recognized without requiring the support portion, and includes, for example, the following adhesive structure: A cooling heat exchanger in which a joint between a first member and a second member that forms a cooling flow path between their overlapping surfaces has an adhesive bonding surface, and a position determining portion that protrudes toward the bonded surface and determines the thickness of the adhesive layer is provided on the outer peripheral side of the adhesive surface, and a groove-like recess that allows the adhesive to escape is formed between the adhesive surface and the position determining portion.

[0132] For example, the first member 12 may be made of synthetic resin, and the second member 14 may be made of metal. Note that, in order to ensure a high heat transfer rate, the first member 12 made of synthetic resin is preferably formed from a thermally conductive synthetic resin obtained by mixing a thermally conductive filler such as aluminum oxide (alumina), silica, or silicon carbide with a synthetic resin material such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyamide, polypropylene, or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

[0133] In the above embodiment, a structural example in which the first member 12 and the second member 14 are bonded with an adhesive has been shown, but the first member and the second member can also be fixed to each other by, for example, melting the bonding surfaces of the first and second members by irradiating them with ultrasonic waves or by friction. Also, if either the first or second member is made of a material that transmits laser light, the bonding surfaces of either the first or second member can be melted and fixed to each other by a laser that has passed through either the first or second member.

[0134] Furthermore, for example, when the first member and the second member are both made of metal, they can be fixed to each other by conventionally known metal joining means such as brazing. Specifically, for example, the first member can be formed of a clad plate having an upper layer made of an aluminum alloy or stainless steel and a lower layer made of a brazing filler metal made of an Al-Si or Ni alloy, and the first member and the second member can be fixed to each other by brazing by melting the lower layer (brazing filler metal) of the clad plate in a state where the first member and the second member are overlapped.

[0135] Furthermore, the first member can also be fixed to the second member by means of, for example, mechanical locking with a hook, crimping, etc. In this case, in order to ensure liquid-tightness between the overlapping surfaces of the first member and the outer peripheral fixing portion and the inner peripheral fixing portion, it is desirable to arrange a sealing material such as seal rubber between the overlapping surfaces of the first member and the outer peripheral fixing portion and the inner peripheral fixing portion.

[0136] For example, when the first and second members are joined by melting and pressurizing the joining surfaces, the means for heating the joining surfaces of the first and second members is not particularly limited. Specifically, heating by applying electricity, frictional resistance, laser light irradiation, or the like may be employed.

[0137] The number of flow path sections 70 constituting the parallel flow path section 68 is not particularly limited and may be two or more. Furthermore, as long as the flow path sections 70 constituting the parallel flow path section 68 are arranged in parallel with one another, they do not need to extend strictly parallel to one another; they may extend in a wavy, meandering pattern or at an angle relative to one another. As can be seen from this, the heat medium flow direction being the same in the flow path sections 70 constituting the parallel flow path section 68 does not necessarily mean that the flow directions are strictly the same, but rather that the heat medium flows in the same direction overall. Specifically, for example, the flow directions of the heat medium in adjacent flow path sections 70 constituting the parallel flow path section 68 can be considered to be the same even if the flow directions are inclined relative to one another within a range of 15 degrees or less.

[0138] The specific shape of the flow diverting / stirring protrusions is not particularly limited and may be, for example, a spot-like hemispherical shape, a cone shape, a frustum shape, a columnar shape, or the like. The flow diverting / stirring protrusions do not necessarily have to be provided across the entire width of the flow path section 70 as long as they are located on the flow path of the heat transfer medium flowing to the front and rear sides of the support section 46. The flow diverting / stirring protrusions are preferably V-shaped in plan view as in the above embodiment. However, for example, they may extend perpendicular to the flow path length direction of the flow path section 70 or may be inclined in one direction and extend in a one-way direction. Furthermore, the flow diverting / stirring protrusions may also be V-shaped, narrowing toward the downstream side, in the opposite direction to the first embodiment. Furthermore, when V-shaped flow diverting / stirring protrusions are used in plan view, they may be sized to span the entire flow path width of the flow path section 70, and two of them do not necessarily have to be arranged side by side in the flow path width direction. Furthermore, the upstream surface of the flow diverting / stirring protrusion is preferably configured as the upstream inclined surface 48 as shown in the above embodiment. However, they may also be configured as, for example, a flat surface perpendicular to the flow path length direction or a stepped surface. The downstream surface of the flow dividing / agitating projection is not limited to an inclined surface, like the upstream surface.

[0139] The plurality of flow diverting / stirring protrusions may be configured in a plurality of types with different shapes, sizes, etc. By varying the shapes, sizes, etc. of the flow diverting / stirring protrusions, it is possible to set different regions in which the flow diverting / stirring protrusions have different effects of disturbing the flow of the heat transfer medium.

[0140] Specifically, for example, in the cooling heat exchanger 10 of the first embodiment, the protruding height of the flow diverting agitation protrusions 56 provided in the flow path portion 70a may be greater than the protruding height of the flow diverting agitation protrusions 56 provided in the flow path portion 70e. This allows the flow path portion 70a, which is provided with the flow diverting agitation protrusions 56 having a greater protruding height, to have a different disturbance effect on the heat medium flow than the flow path portion 70e, which is provided with the flow diverting agitation protrusions 56 having a smaller protruding height, thereby providing regions in the flow path portions 70a and 70e with different disturbance effects on the heat medium flow. Furthermore, when multiple flow diverting agitation protrusions 56 are provided in one flow path portion 70, the protruding heights of the multiple flow diverting agitation protrusions 56 may be made different, thereby providing multiple regions in the flow path portion 70 with different disturbance effects on the heat medium flow in the flow path length direction.

[0141] Furthermore, for example, by combining wide diverting stirring protrusions that span the entire flow path width of the flow path section with narrow diverting stirring protrusions that are provided on only a portion of the flow path width of the flow path section, the effect of the diverting stirring protrusions in disrupting the flow of heat medium can be greater in the formation area of ​​the wide diverting stirring protrusions than in the formation area of ​​the narrow diverting stirring protrusions.

[0142] The "regions with different effects of disturbing the flow of the heat transfer medium" and the "specific region in which the cross-sectional shape of the flow path portion is changed to disturb the flow of the heat transfer medium" are preferably understood as, for example, a length region in which multiple flow diverting / stirring protrusions are formed with a predetermined regularity or the cross-sectional shape of the flow path portion is repeatedly changed. The "predetermined regularity" referred to here is not limited to, for example, "an arrangement in which identical protrusions are formed at regular intervals" or "an arrangement in which identical portions of the cross-sectional shape of the flow path are provided at regular intervals." It also includes, for example, "the spacing or period of the flow diverting / stirring protrusions or the cross-sectional shape of the flow path that changes with regularity," such as the spacing between the flow diverting / stirring protrusions or the period of change in the cross-sectional shape of the flow path gradually narrowing in the flow path direction, and / or "the shape and size of the flow diverting / stirring protrusions or the cross-sectional shape of the flow path that changes with regularity," such as the spacing or period of change in the cross-sectional shape of the flow path gradually increasing in the flow path direction. Furthermore, the "length region in which multiple flow diverting / stirring protrusions are formed with a predetermined regularity or the cross-sectional shape of the flow path portion is repeatedly changed" is preferably an arrangement in which the cross-sectional shape of the flow path portion returns to a constant basic cross-sectional shape (including size) set between portions of the cross-sectional shape that change, such as between the flow diverting / stirring protrusions. The change in the cross-sectional shape of the flow passage portion is not limited to the flow dividing and stirring protrusions, and may be, for example, narrowed all around.

[0143] Furthermore, when "regions in which the flow-diverting / stirring protrusions have different effects of disrupting the heat medium flow" are provided, at least two such regions are sufficient, and one of the multiple regions may be a region without flow-diverting / stirring protrusions. The multiple regions compared as "regions in which the flow-diverting / stirring protrusions have different effects of disrupting the heat medium flow" are preferably configured with regions of the same flow path length. However, for example, the multiple regions compared may be compared with the region with the shortest flow path length as the reference. Similarly, for the "specific region in which the cross-sectional shape of the flow path portion is changed to disrupt the heat medium flow," by setting at least one specific region, it is possible to recognize the existence of the specific region whose cooling efficiency is adjusted compared to other regions. However, the location, number, length, etc. of the specific region are not limited. The disruptive effect of the heat medium flow may be substantially uniform throughout the entire cooling flow path; it is not necessary to provide regions with different effects of disrupting the heat medium flow.

[0144] The position, number (arrangement density), shape, size, etc. of the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 shown in each of the above embodiments are merely exemplary and are appropriately set taking into consideration, for example, the temperature distribution of the battery pack 78, the heat generation amount of the battery pack 78, the flow direction of the heat medium, etc. Specifically, for example, when cooling a battery pack 78 having terminal portions 80, 80 provided at both ends in the front-rear direction, the flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 can be arranged so that the number of flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 in the flow passage portions 70a, 70e located at both ends in the front-rear direction is greatest and the number of flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 in the flow passage portion 70c located at the center in the front-rear direction is least, thereby efficiently cooling both front and rear ends of the battery pack, which generate a large amount of heat. Similarly, by increasing the number of flow diverting and stirring protrusions 56 in the flow passage portion 70c located at the center in the front-rear direction, it is possible to obtain effective cooling performance for a cooling target that generates a large amount of heat in the center in the front-rear direction.

[0145] As illustrated in the above embodiment, the narrowed flow path section 76 desirably has a cross-sectional area that decreases toward the downstream side in the heat medium flow direction. However, for example, the cross-sectional area of ​​the downstream narrowed flow path section may be larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the upstream narrowed flow path section in at least a portion of the heat medium flow direction. The cross-sectional areas of all narrowed flow path sections may be substantially constant. Furthermore, the cross-sectional areas of multiple narrowed flow path sections arranged in parallel at the same position in the heat medium flow direction may be different from each other.

[0146] In the above embodiment, the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the narrowed flow path portion 76 is varied by varying the height of the flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56. However, for example, it is also possible to adjust the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the narrowed flow path portion formed between the flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56 and the protruding protrusions inserted into the grooves 38 by providing protruding portions that protrude from the underside of the first member 12 at positions corresponding to the flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56. In this case, by varying the protruding heights of the multiple protruding portions of the first member 12, it is possible to vary the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the narrowed flow path portion while maintaining the protruding height of the flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56 constant. Furthermore, for example, it is also possible to change the height position of the protruding tip of the flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56 in the extension direction of the ridge lines 58, thereby changing the separation distance between the flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56 and the first member 12. In this way, the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the narrowed flow path portion can be adjusted by varying the height and width of the portion of the flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56 outside the maximum protruding portion without changing the maximum protruding height of the flow diverting / agitating protrusions 56.

[0147] Furthermore, the flow path lengths of the narrowed flow path portions provided on the plurality of flow dividing / stirring protrusions 56 do not need to be constant and can be set individually as appropriate. For example, by varying the flow path lengths of the narrowed flow path portions, the flow resistances of the heat transfer medium can be adjusted relative to each other.

[0148] In the method for adjusting the cooling effect of a cooling heat exchanger, the narrowed portion is not necessarily limited to being formed by a support portion for joining the first member and the second member. Specifically, for example, the narrowed portion of the cooling flow path can be formed by partially reducing the width and depth dimensions of the groove 38 shown in the above embodiment.

[0149] The fluid agitation means is not limited to protrusions that protrude from the lower wall of the cooling flow path toward the first member, such as the flow diversion agitation protrusions 56, but can also be composed of, for example, protrusions that protrude from the inner circumferential fixing portion 36 or the outer circumferential fixing portion 20 that form the side wall of the flow path portion 70, or protrusions that protrude from the first member that forms the upper wall of the flow path portion 70.

[0150] The object to be cooled is not necessarily limited to a battery for an electric vehicle, and may be, for example, a stationary battery for industrial use, etc. Furthermore, while the first embodiment illustrates a case in which multiple battery packs 78 are arranged on the cooling surface 16 of one cooling heat exchanger 10, for example, one battery pack 78 may be arranged on the cooling surface 16 of one cooling heat exchanger 10. Furthermore, for example, one battery pack 78 may be arranged across multiple cooling heat exchangers 10.

[0151] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Cooling heat exchanger (first embodiment) 12 First member 14 Second member 16 Cooling surface 18 Concave portion 20 Outer peripheral fixing portion 22 First bonding surface 24 First position determining portion 26 First adhesive escape groove 28 Supply hole 30 Supply port 32 Discharge hole 34 Discharge port 36 Inner peripheral fixing portion 38 (38a to 38e) Concave groove 40 Second bonding surface 42 Second position determining portion 44 Second adhesive escape groove 46 Support portion 48 Inclined surface 49 Flow dividing surface 50 Third bonding surface (bonding surface) 52 Third position determining portion (position determining portion) 54 Third adhesive escape groove (adhesive escape groove) 56 Flow dividing and stirring protrusion (fluid stirring means) 58 Ridge line 60 Upstream inclined surface 62 Downstream inclined surface 64 Adhesive layer 66 Cooling flow channel 68 Parallel flow path section 70 (70a to 70e) Flow path section 74 Branch section (narrowed section) 76 Narrowed flow path section 78 Battery pack (cooling target) 80 Terminal section 90 Cooling heat exchanger (second embodiment) 92 Cooling flow path 100 Cooling heat exchanger (third embodiment) 110 Cooling heat exchanger (fourth embodiment) 112 Second member 114 Recessed section 116 Central fixing section 118 Cooling flow path 120 Parallel flow path section 122 Parallel flow path section 124 (124a, 124b) Flow path section 126 (126a, 126b) Flow path section 128 Intermediate junction section

Claims

1. A cooling heat exchanger having a cooling flow path formed therein through which a heat medium for cooling flows, and for cooling an object to be cooled that is placed on a cooling surface provided on the surface, the heat exchanger comprising a first member and a second member that are stacked and fixed to each other, the cooling surface being provided on the first member, the cooling flow path being formed between the overlapping surfaces of the first member and the second member, the first member and the second member being fixed to each other at a support part that protrudes from the second member toward the first member, a part of the outer peripheral surface of the support part that is located upstream of the cooling flow path is provided with a flow diverting surface that diverges the heat medium flowing through the cooling flow path to both sides of the support part, and flow diverting stirring protrusions that protrude from the second member toward the cooling flow path are located downstream of the support part on the flow path of the heat medium that branches off to flow on both sides of the support part.

2. A cooling heat exchanger as described in claim 1, wherein the cooling flow path is composed of a plurality of flow path sections extending in parallel adjacent to each other and includes parallel flow path sections in which the heat transfer medium flows in the same direction in the plurality of flow path sections, and the support section and the flow dividing and stirring protrusions are provided in the parallel flow path sections.

3. A cooling heat exchanger as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the flow dividing surface of the support portion is an inclined surface that slopes toward the first member toward the downstream side of the cooling flow path.

4. A cooling heat exchanger as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support portion has a tapered shape in which the dimension in the flow path width direction of the cooling flow path becomes smaller toward the first member side.

5. A cooling heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the support pillars are frustum-shaped and tapered toward the first member.

6. A cooling heat exchanger as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions are V-shaped when viewed in the overlapping direction of the first member and the second member, and narrow in the flow path width direction of the cooling flow path toward the upstream side of the cooling flow path.

7. A cooling heat exchanger as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the protruding tip surface of the support section is provided with an adhesive surface that is adhered to the first member by an adhesive layer, a position determining section that protrudes further towards the first member than the adhesive surface and determines the thickness of the adhesive layer is provided around the adhesive surface of the support section, and an adhesive escape groove that is recessed towards the second member than the adhesive surface is formed between the adhesive surface of the support section and the position determining section.

8. A cooling heat exchanger as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cooling flow path has regions in which the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions have different effects on disrupting the flow of the heat medium.

9. A cooling heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the regions having different effects of disturbing the flow of the heat medium are set at different positions in the flow direction of the heat medium in the cooling flow passage.

10. A cooling heat exchanger as described in claim 9, wherein the regions set at different positions in the flow direction of the heat medium in the cooling flow path have different effects of disturbing the flow of the heat medium, and the more downstream the region, the stronger the effect of the flow-disturbing protrusions on the flow of the heat medium.

11. A cooling heat exchanger as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the cooling flow path is made up of a plurality of flow path sections extending in parallel adjacent to each other, and is provided with parallel flow path sections in which the heat medium flows in the same direction in the plurality of flow path sections, and at least one pair of adjacent flow path sections in the parallel flow path section are set with the regions having mutually different effects of disturbing the flow of the heat medium.

12. A cooling heat exchanger as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the regions having different effects of disturbing the flow of the heat medium are set by varying the distance between the plurality of flow-diverting and stirring protrusions in the flow direction of the heat medium.

13. A cooling heat exchanger as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the flow-diverting and stirring protrusions are arranged on the flow path of the heat medium that branches off and flows to both sides of the multiple support sections, and the heights of the multiple flow-diverting and stirring protrusions are different from one another, thereby setting the regions that have different effects on disrupting the flow of the heat medium.

14. A cooling heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the object to be cooled is a battery.

15. A method for adjusting the cooling effect in a cooling heat exchanger having a cooling surface on which a cooling object is placed and an internal cooling flow path through which a cooling heat transfer medium flows, the method comprising: providing a narrowed section in which the cross-sectional area of ​​the cooling flow path is partially reduced in the direction of the flow path length; establishing an acceleration region in which the flow velocity is partially increased within the cross section of the flow path downstream of the narrowed section; and providing a fluid agitation means in the acceleration region to adjust the cooling efficiency.

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