Thermal management assembly, thermal management system and battery
By setting different sizes of the main channel and sidewall configuration of the thermal management components, the problem of uneven thermal management between isolated cell rows and grouped cell rows in the battery is solved, improving the reliability and temperature management consistency of the battery.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- EVE ENERGY CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-04
AI Technical Summary
In the existing technology, the reliability of batteries is poor, mainly due to the low thermal management efficiency of isolated cell arrays and the large temperature difference between them and the assembled cell arrays. This results in uneven internal temperature management of the battery, affecting the consistency of charging and discharging, battery capacity decay, and mechanical stress.
Design a thermal management component in which the cross-sectional area of the main flow channel of the first thermal management component is smaller than that of the second thermal management component. By adjusting the flow distribution, the consistency of thermal management efficiency between isolated cell arrays and grouped cell arrays is improved. By adopting different sidewall configurations for heat exchange with the heat source, the uniformity of temperature management is enhanced.
It improves battery reliability by enhancing charge and discharge performance through uniformity, extending battery capacity, reducing differences in mechanical stress, and improving the overall temperature management of the battery.
Smart Images
Figure CN2025082622_04062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Thermal management components, thermal management system and battery
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411720267.8, filed on November 27, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field
[0002] This application relates to the field of battery technology, specifically to a thermal management component, a thermal management system, and a battery. Background Technology
[0003] To maintain battery operation within a suitable temperature range, a temperature management system is required to heat or cool the battery. In related technologies, the temperature management system includes piping, thermal management components connected to the piping, and a temperature regulation module that regulates the temperature of the heat exchange medium within the piping. The thermal management components include multiple heat pipe parts connected in parallel within the piping. The thermal management components are thermally coupled to the cell array to provide temperature control for the cell array. Invention Overview
[0004] Among related technologies, batteries have relatively poor reliability.
[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a thermal management component, which includes a thermal management element having a main flow channel with a first port and a second port at its two ends. Multiple thermal management elements are arranged sequentially at intervals along a first direction, with one being a first thermal management element and the rest being second thermal management elements. The first port of each thermal management element is connected to the first port of an adjacent thermal management element, and the second port of each thermal management element is connected to the second port of an adjacent thermal management element. One sidewall of the first thermal management element is configured to exchange heat with a heat source, and both sidewalls of the second thermal management elements are configured to exchange heat with a heat source. At least a portion of the cross-sectional area of the main flow channel of the first thermal management element is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the main flow channel of the second thermal management element.
[0006] Secondly, this application provides a thermal management system, which includes an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a temperature regulating module, and the aforementioned thermal management components; the inlet pipe is connected to one of a first port and a second port; the outlet pipe is connected to the other of the first port and the second port; the two ports of the temperature regulating module are respectively connected to the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe, and the temperature regulating module is configured to regulate the temperature of the heat exchange medium from the outlet pipe and send the regulated heat exchange medium to the inlet pipe.
[0007] Thirdly, this application provides a battery comprising a housing, an isolated cell array, multiple cell groups, and the aforementioned thermal management system; the housing has a mounting cavity; the thermal management component, the end of the liquid inlet pipe near the thermal management component, and the end of the liquid outlet pipe near the thermal management component are all disposed within the mounting cavity; the isolated cell array is located on one side of a first thermal management component and is thermally coupled to the first thermal management component; multiple cell groups are correspondingly disposed with multiple second thermal management components; each cell group includes two first cell arrays, and the two first cell arrays of each cell group are respectively located on both sides of the corresponding second thermal management component. Beneficial effects
[0008] This application reduces the flow rate of the heat exchange medium in the first thermal management component and increases the flow rate in the second thermal management component by making a portion of the flow cross-sectional area of the main flow channel of the first thermal management component smaller than that of the main flow channel of the second thermal management component. This improves the consistency of thermal management efficiency between isolated cell arrays and assembled cell arrays. Thus, while ensuring battery energy density and that each cell array is equipped with a thermal management component, the uniformity of temperature management of the cells by the thermal management components can be improved, thereby enhancing the consistency between assembled and isolated cell arrays in terms of charging and discharging, battery capacity decay, and mechanical stress. Ultimately, this improves battery reliability. Attached Figure Description
[0009] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the thermal management component provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0010] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the thermal management component provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0011] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along AA in Figure 2;
[0012] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the end flow channel of the first thermal management component provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0013] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the end flow channel of the second thermal management component provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0014] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the thermal management plate provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0015] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the thermal management component connected to the first main pipe provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0016] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of BB in Figure 7;
[0017] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the thermal management component connected to the second main pipe provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0018] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view along CC in Figure 9;
[0019] Figure 11 is an enlarged view of point D in Figure 1;
[0020] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the thermal management system provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0021] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the battery structure provided in an embodiment of this application.
[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:
[0023] 1-Thermal management component; 11-Thermal management element; 12-Main flow channel; 121-First port; 122-Second port; 123-End flow channel; 13-First thermal management element; 14-Second thermal management element;
[0024] 15-Current collector; 151-Body; 152-First nozzle; 153-Second nozzle; 154-First cavity; 155-Second cavity; 156-First connecting hole; 157-Second connecting hole;
[0025] 16 - Thermal management plate; 161 - Exchange flow channel;
[0026] 171 - First main pipeline; 172 - Second main pipeline; 181 - First corrugated pipe; 182 - Second corrugated pipe;
[0027] 2-Thermal management system; 21-Inlet pipe; 22-Outlet pipe; 23-Temperature control module;
[0028] 3-Battery; 31-Casing; 311-Mounting cavity; 32-Lone cell array; 33-Cell group; 331-First cell array. Embodiments of the present invention
[0029] To facilitate understanding of the solutions in this application, before introducing a thermal management component, thermal management system, and battery provided in the embodiments of this application, the relevant technologies involved in this application will be explained first.
[0030] In related technologies, thermal management components include multiple heat pipe parts connected in parallel within a pipeline. The thermal management component has a flow channel configured for the flow of a heat exchange medium. The thermal management component is thermally coupled to the cell array to provide temperature control for the cell array. The cell array includes multiple cells arranged sequentially along the length of the flow channel. In some battery layouts, two rows of cells form a cell group, and a double-sided heat exchange thermal management component is placed between the two cell rows within each cell group, allowing the two cell rows within each cell group to share a single thermal management component. This approach allows for more space in the cell layout, increasing the battery's energy density, and also enables temperature regulation for each cell row through the thermal management component.
[0031] Due to space constraints in battery layout, and to ensure battery capacity density, some battery layouts require multiple cell packs and a single isolated cell array. To improve the operating temperature of this isolated cell array, a thermal management component is needed. This results in the thermal management component for the isolated cell array operating in a one-sided heat exchange configuration, leading to higher thermal management efficiency for the isolated cell array compared to the packed cell arrays. This not only causes redundancy and waste in the flow of the heat exchange medium for the isolated cell array, but also results in poor uniformity of temperature management by the thermal management component, leading to a larger temperature difference between the packed cell arrays and the isolated cell array, resulting in poor internal temperature uniformity. Ultimately, this leads to significant differences between the packed cell arrays and the isolated cell arrays in terms of charging and discharging, battery capacity decay, and mechanical stress, resulting in lower battery reliability.
[0032] Therefore, the problem to be solved in this application is to reasonably set up a thermal management system to improve the reliability of the battery while ensuring its energy density.
[0033] Based on this, embodiments of this application provide a thermal management component, a thermal management system, and a battery, which can improve the consistency of thermal management efficiency between isolated cell arrays and grouped cell arrays. This can improve the uniformity of temperature management of the cells by the thermal management component, thereby improving the consistency between grouped cell arrays and isolated cell arrays in terms of charging and discharging, battery capacity decay, mechanical stress, etc., and thus improving battery reliability.
[0034] This application provides a detailed description of a thermal management component, a thermal management system, and a battery in conjunction with Figures 1 to 13 and the following description.
[0035] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of the thermal management component 1 provided in an embodiment of this application, Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of the thermal management component provided in an embodiment of this application, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along AA in Figure 2. An embodiment of this application provides a thermal management component 1. The thermal management component 1 includes a thermal management component 11. The thermal management component 11 has a main channel 12. The two ends of the main channel 12 are a first port 121 and a second port 122, respectively. There are multiple thermal management components 11. The multiple thermal management components 11 are arranged sequentially at intervals along a first direction. One of the multiple thermal management components 11 is a first thermal management component 13. The rest are second thermal management components 14. The first port 121 of each thermal management component 11 is connected to the first port 121 of an adjacent thermal management component 11. The second port 122 of each thermal management component 11 is connected to the second port 122 of an adjacent thermal management component 11. One sidewall of the first thermal management component 13 is configured to exchange heat with a heat source. The two sidewalls of the second heat management component 14 are configured to exchange heat with a heat source. The area of at least a portion of the flow cross-section of the main flow channel 12 of the first heat management component 13 is smaller than the area of the flow cross-section of the main flow channel 12 of the second heat management component 14.
[0036] It is understood that the first thermal management component 13 is configured to manage the thermal of isolated cell arrays, and the second thermal management component 14 is configured to manage the thermal of grouped cell arrays.
[0037] It is understood that the first thermal management component 13 can be located at one end in the first direction, or it can be located between any two second thermal management components 14. The location of the first thermal management component 13 can be adjusted according to the application scenario, and this embodiment does not limit it.
[0038] It is understandable that the multiple thermal management components 11 are distinguished by the first thermal management component 13 and the second thermal management component 14 because of the different specific usage states, rather than because of the difference in the structure of the thermal management components 11 themselves.
[0039] As can be understood, the flow cross-section of a flow channel refers to the cross-section perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow when fluid flows through the channel. The shape of the flow cross-section varies depending on the specific application. For example, the flow cross-section can be circular or rectangular.
[0040] It is understandable that the size of the flow cross-section has a significant impact on the flow characteristics of the fluid. A larger flow cross-section allows more heat exchange medium to flow, while a smaller flow cross-section allows less heat exchange medium to flow.
[0041] Therefore, in the embodiments of this application, by setting the area of a portion of the flow cross-section of the main flow channel 12 of the first thermal management component 13 to be smaller than the area of the flow cross-section of the main flow channel 12 of the second thermal management component 14, the flow rate of the heat exchange medium in the first thermal management component 13 can be reduced. This reduces the redundancy of the flow rate of the heat exchange medium configured for isolated cell rows, thereby reducing flow waste. It also increases the flow rate in the second thermal management component 14, thereby improving the consistency of thermal management efficiency between isolated cell rows and the grouped cell rows. Thus, while ensuring battery energy density and that each cell row is equipped with a thermal management component 11, the uniformity of temperature management of the cells by the thermal management component 1 can be improved, thereby improving the consistency between the grouped cell rows and isolated cell rows in terms of charging and discharging, battery capacity decay, and mechanical stress. Ultimately, this improves battery reliability.
[0042] The reduction in the cross-sectional area of the first thermal management component 13 relative to the cross-sectional area of the second thermal management component 14 can be adjusted according to the length of the main channel 12, the cross-sectional area, the extension direction of the main channel 12, the fluid pressure, and the application scenario of the battery 3.
[0043] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the end flow channel 123 of the first thermal management component 13 provided in an embodiment of this application, and Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the end flow channel 123 of the second thermal management component 14 provided in an embodiment of this application. In one embodiment, the portion of the main flow channel 12 near the first port 121 and the portion near the second port 122 are both end flow channels 123. The cross-sectional area of the end flow channel 123 of the first thermal management component 13 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the end flow channel 123 of the second thermal management component 14.
[0044] In this way, not only can the thermal management efficiency of isolated cell array 32 and the thermal management efficiency of grouped cell arrays be improved, but the uniformity of internal flow of the first thermal management component 13 can also be improved, thereby improving the uniformity of thermal management of each cell in the isolated cell array 32 by the first thermal management component 13.
[0045] In one embodiment, the area of the flow cross section of the end flow channel 123 of the second thermal management component 14 is S1, and the area of the flow cross section of the end flow channel 123 of the first thermal management component 13 is S2, satisfying: 19%S1≤S2≤40%S1.
[0046] It is understood that the area S2 of the flow cross section of the end flow channel 123 of the first thermal management component 13 includes, but is not limited to, 19%S1, 22%S1, 25%S1, 28%S1, 30%S1, 35%S1, 36%S1, 38%S1, 39%S1, and 40%S1.
[0047] In the embodiments of this application, by the above-mentioned limitations, the area of a portion of the flow cross section of the main flow channel 12 of the first thermal management component 13 is smaller than the area of the flow cross section of the main flow channel 12 of the second thermal management component 14, and the area of the flow cross section of the end flow channel 123 of the first thermal management component 13 is also avoided being too small, thereby effectively ensuring the thermal management effect of the first thermal management component 13 on the isolated cell array.
[0048] In one embodiment, the cross-section of the end flow channel 123 is circular, the diameter of the end flow channel 123 of the second thermal management component 14 is φA, and the diameter of the end flow channel 123 of the first thermal management component 13 is φB, satisfying: 50%φA≤φB≤70%φA.
[0049] It is understood that the diameter φB of the end flow channel 123 of the first thermal management component 13 includes, but is not limited to, 50%φA, 52%φA, 55%φA, 60%φA, 64%A, 67%A, and 70%φA.
[0050] In this embodiment, by limiting the above, the area of the cross-sectional area of the main flow channel 12 of the first thermal management component 13 is smaller than the area of the cross-sectional area of the main flow channel 12 of the second thermal management component 14, and the diameter of the end flow channel 123 of the first thermal management component 13 is avoided being too small, thereby effectively ensuring the thermal management effect of the first thermal management component 13 on the isolated battery cell array.
[0051] In addition, in this embodiment, by setting the cross-section of the end flow channel 123 to be circular, the part of the thermal management component 11 configured to form the end flow channel 123 has high structural strength, so that when it is subjected to internal fluid pressure, the stress distribution can be more uniform through the wall of the cylindrical structure.
[0052] Please refer to Figures 2 and 6. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the heat management plate 16 provided in an embodiment of this application. In one embodiment, the heat management component 11 includes a current collector 15 and a heat management plate 16. The current collector 15 includes a body 151 and a first nozzle 152 and a second nozzle 153 connected to the body 151. The inner holes of the first nozzle 152 and the second nozzle 153 are both end channels 123. The body 151 is provided with a first cavity 154 and a second cavity 155. The heat management plate 16 has a U-shaped exchange channel 161. One end of the heat management plate 16 is connected to the current collector 15. The two ends of the exchange channel 161 are respectively connected to the first cavity 154 and the second cavity 155.
[0053] The thermal management components 11 located at both ends in the first direction are terminal thermal management components, and the remaining thermal management components 11 are intermediate thermal management components. In each intermediate management component: two first nozzles 152 are located on both sides of the current collector 15, and the end flow channels 123 of the first nozzles 152 are connected to the first cavity 154; two second nozzles 153 are located on both sides of the current collector 15, and the end flow channels 123 of the second nozzles 153 are connected to the second cavity 155.
[0054] In each end heat management component: the end flow channel 123 of a first nozzle 152 is connected to the corresponding first cavity, and the end flow channel 123 of a second nozzle 153 is connected to the corresponding second cavity.
[0055] In each thermal management component 11, the first cavity 154, the second cavity 155, the end flow channel 123, and the exchange flow channel 161 together define the main flow channel 12. The end of the end flow channel 123 of the first nozzle 152 away from the first cavity 154 is the first port 121. The end of the end flow channel 123 of the second nozzle 153 away from the second cavity 155 is the second port 122.
[0056] It is understood that the connection points between the first nozzle 152 and the second nozzle 153 and the main body 151 should be sealed to prevent the heat exchange medium from leaking from these points.
[0057] It is understood that one of the first cavity 154 and the second cavity 155 is configured to deliver the exchange medium into the exchange channel 161, and the other is configured to discharge the exchange medium from the exchange channel 161.
[0058] For example, the first nozzle 152 and the second nozzle 153 are welded to the main body 151, or the first nozzle 152 and the second nozzle 153 are integrally formed with the main body 151, or the first nozzle 152 and the second nozzle 153 are inserted into the main body 151, and a sealing ring is provided at the insertion point to prevent leakage of the heat exchange medium.
[0059] In this embodiment, the above-described solution enables the liquid inlet and liquid outlet of the thermal management component 11 to be located on the same side. This not only improves the temperature uniformity of the thermal management component 11 in managing the battery cell, but also reduces the length of the main channel 12 of the thermal management component 11, thereby helping to reduce the space ratio of the thermal management system within the battery.
[0060] Please refer to Figures 1, 7, and 8. Figure 7 is a structural schematic diagram of the thermal management component 11 connected to the first main pipe 171 according to an embodiment of this application, and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of BB in Figure 7. In one embodiment, the thermal management component 1 further includes the first main pipe 171. The current collector 15 of the thermal management component 11 is provided with a first connecting hole 156 and a second connecting hole 157. The two sides of the first connecting hole 156 are connected to the first cavity 154 and the second cavity 155, respectively. The second connecting hole 157 is connected to the second cavity 155. One end of the thermal management plate 16 is inserted into the first connecting hole 156, and one end of the first main pipe 171 is inserted into the second connecting hole 157.
[0061] It is understandable that the first main pipe 171 can be sealed by welding, adhesive bonding or integral molding with the manifold 15.
[0062] It can be understood that when the first main pipe 171 is configured to supply heat exchange medium to the main flow channel 12, then the first main pipe 171 is the inlet pipe, and the second cavity 155 is the inlet chamber. Correspondingly, the first cavity 154 is the outlet chamber. Conversely, when the main flow channel 12 discharges heat exchange medium into the first main pipe 171, then the first main pipe 171 is the outlet pipe, and the second cavity 155 is the outlet chamber. Correspondingly, the first cavity 154 is the inlet chamber.
[0063] In this embodiment, the above-mentioned settings make the overall structure simple, easy to manufacture, improve manufacturing efficiency, and control manufacturing costs.
[0064] Please refer to Figure 8. In one embodiment, along the first direction, the first connecting hole 156 has a width dimension X, and the inner hole of the first main pipe 171 has a width dimension Y at the end near the second cavity 155, satisfying: X < Y ≤ 10X.
[0065] It is understood that the width dimension Y of the inner hole of the first main pipe 171 near the second cavity 155 includes, but is not limited to, 1.1X, 2X, 2.2X, 3X, 3.5X, 4X, 4.8X, 5X, 5.5X, 6X, 7X, 8X, 9X, and 10X.
[0066] In this embodiment, the space around the thermal management component 11 where no battery cell needs to be arranged can be fully utilized to enlarge the end of the inner hole of the first main pipe 171 near the second cavity 155 relative to the first connecting hole 156. This reduces the flow resistance of the heat exchange medium at this location and improves the liquid inlet or outlet efficiency of the thermal management system 2.
[0067] Specifically, the first main pipe 171 is a drain pipe.
[0068] Please refer to Figure 8. In one embodiment, the end of the inner hole of the first main pipe 171 away from the second cavity 155 has a diameter φZ, which satisfies: Y+2mm≤φZ≤5Y.
[0069] The inner diameter φZ of the first main pipe 171 includes, but is not limited to, Y+2mm, 2Y, 2.5Y, 3Y, 3.2Y, 3.5Y, 3.8Y, 4Y, 4.2Y, 4.5Y, 4.6Y, 4.8Y, and 5Y.
[0070] In this embodiment, the space around the thermal management component 11 where no battery cell needs to be arranged can be fully utilized to enlarge the end of the inner hole of the first main pipe 171 away from the second cavity 155 relative to the end closer to the second cavity 155. This reduces the flow resistance of the heat exchange medium at this location and improves the inlet or outlet efficiency of the thermal management system.
[0071] Please refer to Figures 9 and 10. Figure 9 is a structural schematic diagram of the thermal management component 11 connected to the second main pipe 172 according to an embodiment of this application, and Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view along CC in Figure 9. In one embodiment, the thermal management component 1 further includes a second main pipe 172. One end of the second main pipe 172 is connected to the first cavity 154 of the current collector 15 of a second thermal management component 14. The inner diameter of the second main pipe 172 is φC, and the inner diameter of the first nozzle 152 of the second thermal management component 14 is φA, satisfying: φC > φA.
[0072] It is understandable that the second main pipe 172 can be sealed by welding, adhesive bonding or integral molding with the manifold 15.
[0073] It can be understood that when the second main pipe 172 is configured to supply heat exchange medium to the main flow channel 12, then the second main pipe 172 is the inlet pipe, and the first cavity 154 is the inlet chamber. Correspondingly, the second cavity 155 is the outlet chamber. Conversely, when the main flow channel 12 discharges heat exchange medium into the second main pipe 172, then the second main pipe 172 is the outlet pipe, and the first cavity 154 is the outlet chamber. Correspondingly, the second cavity 155 is the inlet chamber.
[0074] In this embodiment, the space around the thermal management component 11 where no battery cells need to be arranged can be fully utilized to increase the inner diameter of the second main pipe 172 relative to the inner diameter of the first nozzle 152. This reduces the flow resistance of the heat exchange medium at this location and improves the inlet and outlet efficiency of the thermal management system.
[0075] Specifically, the second main pipe 172 is a liquid inlet pipe, which is connected to the manifold 15 of the second thermal management component 14, which is far away from the first thermal management component 11.
[0076] Optionally, the second main pipe 172 is an L-shaped pipe, which includes two pipe sections arranged at an angle. One pipe section is parallel to the first direction, and the other is parallel to the length direction of the main pipe 12.
[0077] Please refer to Figure 11, which is an enlarged view of point D in Figure 1. In one embodiment, the thermal management assembly 1 further includes a plurality of first bellows 181 and a plurality of second bellows 182. The plurality of first bellows 181 are staggered with the plurality of thermal management components 11, and both ends of each first bellows 181 are connected to a first port 121 of the adjacent thermal management component 11. The plurality of second bellows 182 are staggered with the plurality of thermal management components 11, and both ends of each second bellows 182 are connected to a second port 122 of the adjacent thermal management component 11.
[0078] The first bellows 181 has its two ends expanded to the first nozzle 152 of the adjacent heat management component 11. Specifically, the end of the first nozzle 152 away from the connected current collector 15 is inserted into the first bellows 181 and sealed with it by a sealing ring.
[0079] Both ends of the second bellows 182 are respectively expanded to the second nozzles 153 of the adjacent heat management component 11. Specifically, the end of the second nozzle 153 away from the connected current collector 15 is inserted into the second bellows 182 and sealed with it by a sealing ring.
[0080] In this embodiment, by setting a first corrugated pipe 181 and a second corrugated pipe 182 to connect two adjacent thermal management components 11, the adjustable length of the first corrugated pipe 181 and the second corrugated pipe 182 can be used to absorb assembly tolerances and material tolerances, thereby reducing the assembly difficulty of the thermal management component 1 and improving assembly efficiency.
[0081] In one embodiment, a thermal management component 11 located at one end in the first direction is a first thermal management component 13. Thus, before thermally coupling the thermal management assembly 1 to the battery cell array, by setting the first thermal management component 13 at one end in the first direction, relevant operators can quickly determine the position of the first thermal management component 13 based on the arrangement order of the thermal management components 11, thereby improving the convenience of operations such as inspection, testing, or maintenance.
[0082] In one embodiment, the first thermal management component 13 has a first sidewall and a second sidewall disposed opposite to the first sidewall. The first sidewall is configured to exchange heat with a heat source. The second sidewall is provided with a heat insulation layer, and / or the thickness of the second sidewall is greater than the thickness of the first sidewall.
[0083] Specifically, the second sidewall is provided with a heat insulation layer, or the wall thickness of the second sidewall is greater than the wall thickness of the first sidewall, or the second sidewall is provided with a heat insulation layer and the wall thickness of the second sidewall is greater than the wall thickness of the first sidewall.
[0084] In this embodiment, by setting a heat insulation layer and / or thickening the layer, the efficiency of heat exchange between the sidewall of the first thermal management component 13 that is not thermally coupled to the heat source and the surrounding environment can be reduced, thereby effectively avoiding energy waste of the thermal management component and improving the heat exchange efficiency of the thermal management component.
[0085] Please refer to Figures 1 to 12. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the thermal management system 2 provided in an embodiment of this application. Accordingly, an embodiment of this application provides a thermal management system 2. The thermal management system 2 includes an inlet pipe 21, an outlet pipe 22, a temperature regulating module 23, and a thermal management component 1 provided in some embodiments of this application. The inlet pipe 21 is connected to one of the first port 121 and the second port 122. The outlet pipe 22 is connected to the other of the first port 121 and the second port 122. The two ports of the temperature regulating module 23 are respectively connected to the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe 22. The temperature regulating module 23 is configured to regulate the temperature of the heat exchange medium from the outlet pipe 22 and send the regulated heat exchange medium to the inlet pipe 21.
[0086] It is understood that the temperature regulation module 23 may include a compressor, condenser and evaporator connected by pipes, and is equipped with a valve body to achieve cooling or heating of the battery cell.
[0087] In this embodiment, by employing the thermal management component 1 provided in some embodiments of this application, the consistency of thermal management efficiency between isolated cell arrays 32 and grouped cell arrays can be improved. Thus, while ensuring the energy density of the battery 3 and that each cell array is equipped with a thermal management component 11, the uniformity of temperature management of the cells by the thermal management component 1 can be improved, thereby enhancing the consistency between grouped and isolated cell arrays in terms of charging and discharging, battery capacity decay, and mechanical stress. Ultimately, this improves battery reliability.
[0088] Please refer to Figure 13, which is a structural schematic diagram of the battery 3 provided in an embodiment of this application. An embodiment of this application provides a battery 3. The battery 3 includes a housing 31, isolated cell rows 32, multiple cell groups 33, and a thermal management system 2 provided in some embodiments of this application. The housing 31 has a mounting cavity 311. The thermal management component 1, the end of the liquid inlet pipe 21 near the thermal management component 1, and the end of the liquid outlet pipe 22 near the thermal management component 1 are all disposed within the mounting cavity 311. The isolated cell rows 32 are located on one side of the first thermal management component 11 and are thermally coupled to the first thermal management component 11. Multiple cell groups 33 are correspondingly arranged with multiple second thermal management components 14. Each cell group 33 includes two first cell rows 331, with the two first cell rows 331 of each cell group 33 located on both sides of the corresponding second thermal management component 14.
[0089] In this embodiment, by employing the thermal management system 2 provided in some embodiments of this application, the consistency of thermal management efficiency between isolated cell arrays 32 and grouped cell arrays can be improved. Thus, while ensuring the energy density of the battery 3 and that each cell array is equipped with a thermal management component 11, the uniformity of temperature management of the cells by the thermal management component 1 can be improved, thereby enhancing the consistency between grouped cell arrays and isolated cell arrays 32 in terms of charging and discharging, battery 3 capacity decay, and mechanical stress. Ultimately, the reliability of the battery 3 can be improved.
[0090] In addition, both the isolated cell row 32 and the first cell row 331 include multiple cells arranged sequentially. The cells are cylindrical. The thermal management plate 16 is a serpentine plate and contacts the cylindrical surface of the cells, thereby increasing the contact area between the thermal management plate 16 and the cells, and thus improving thermal management efficiency.
Claims
1. A thermal management component (1), comprising: The thermal management component (11) has a main channel (12), the two ends of which are a first port (121) and a second port (122), respectively; There are multiple thermal management components (11), which are arranged sequentially at intervals along the first direction. One of the multiple thermal management components (11) is a first thermal management component (13), and the rest are second thermal management components (14). The first port (121) of each of the thermal management components (11) is connected to the first port (121) of the adjacent thermal management component (11), and the second port (122) of each of the thermal management components (11) is connected to the second port (122) of the adjacent thermal management component (11). Wherein, one side wall of the first thermal management component (13) is configured to exchange heat with a heat source, and both side walls of the second thermal management component (14) are configured to exchange heat with a heat source; the area of at least a portion of the flow cross section of the main flow channel (12) of the first thermal management component (13) is smaller than the area of the flow cross section of the main flow channel (12) of the second thermal management component (14).
2. The thermal management component (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The portion of the main flow channel (12) near the first port (121) and the portion near the second port (122) are both end flow channels (123); the cross-sectional area of the end flow channel (123) of the first thermal management component (13) is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the end flow channel (123) of the second thermal management component (14).
3. The thermal management component (1) according to claim 2, wherein, The area of the flow cross section of the end flow channel (123) of the second thermal management component (14) is S1, and the area of the flow cross section of the end flow channel (123) of the first thermal management component (13) is S2, satisfying: 19%S1≤S2≤40%S1.
4. The thermal management component (1) according to claim 3, wherein, The cross-section of the end flow channel (123) is circular. The diameter of the end flow channel (123) of the second thermal management component (14) is φA, and the diameter of the end flow channel (123) of the first thermal management component (13) is φB, satisfying: 50%φA≤φB≤70%φA.
5. The thermal management component (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The thermal management component (11) includes a current collector (15) and a thermal management plate (16). The current collector (15) includes a main body (151) and a first nozzle (152) and a second nozzle (153) connected to the main body (151). The inner hole of the first nozzle (152) and the inner hole of the second nozzle (153) are both end flow channels (123). The main body (151) is provided with a first cavity (154) and a second cavity (155). The heat management plate (16) has a U-shaped exchange channel (161), one end of the heat management plate (16) is connected to the current collector (15), and the two ends of the exchange channel (161) are respectively connected to the first cavity (154) and the second cavity (155); The thermal management components (11) located at both ends in the first direction are end thermal management components (11), and the remaining thermal management components (11) are intermediate thermal management components (11); In each of the intermediate heat management components (11): two first nozzles (152) are respectively located on both sides of the current collector (15), and the end flow channels (123) of the first nozzles (152) are all connected to the first cavity (154); two second nozzles (153) are respectively located on both sides of the current collector (15), and the end flow channels (123) of the second nozzles (153) are all connected to the second cavity (155); In each of the aforementioned end heat management components (11): the end flow channel (123) of a first nozzle (152) is connected to the first cavity (154), and the end flow channel (123) of a second nozzle (153) is connected to the second cavity (155); In each of the thermal management components (11), the first cavity (154), the second cavity (155), the end flow channel (123), and the exchange flow channel (161) together define the main flow channel (12). The end of the end flow channel (123) of the first nozzle (152) away from the first cavity (154) is the first port (121), and the end of the end flow channel (123) of the second nozzle (153) away from the second cavity (155) is the second port (122).
6. The thermal management component (1) according to claim 5, wherein the thermal management component (1) further comprises a first main pipe (171), and the collector (15) of the thermal management component (11) is provided with a first connecting hole (156) and a second connecting hole (157), the two sides of the first connecting hole (156) are respectively connected to the first cavity (154) and the second cavity (155), and the second connecting hole (157) is connected to the second cavity (155); one end of the thermal management plate (16) is inserted into the first connecting hole (156), and one end of the first main pipe (171) is inserted into the second connecting hole (157).
7. The thermal management component (1) according to claim 6, wherein, Along the first direction, the first connecting hole (156) has a width dimension X, and the inner hole of the first main pipe (171) has a width dimension Y at the end near the second cavity (155), satisfying: X<Y≤10X.
8. The thermal management component (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein, The end of the inner hole of the first main pipe (171) away from the second cavity (155) has a diameter φZ, which satisfies: Y+2mm≤φZ≤5Y.
9. The thermal management component (1) according to any one of claims 5-8, wherein the thermal management component (1) further comprises a second main pipe (172), one end of the second main pipe (172) being connected to the first cavity (154) of the current collector (15) of a second thermal management component (14), the inner diameter of the second main pipe (172) being φC, and the inner diameter of the first nozzle (152) of the second thermal management component (14) being φA, satisfying: φC > φA.
10. The thermal management component (1) according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the thermal management component (1) further comprises: Multiple first bellows (181) are staggered with the multiple heat management components (11), and both ends of each first bellows (181) are connected to the first port (121) of the adjacent heat management component (11). And a plurality of second corrugated pipes (182) are distributed interspersed with the plurality of thermal management components (11), and the two ends of each second corrugated pipe (182) are respectively connected to the second port (122) of the adjacent thermal management component (11).
11. The thermal management assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein, The thermal management component (11) located at one end in the first direction is the first thermal management component (13).
12. The thermal management component (1) according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein, The first thermal management component (13) has a first sidewall and a second sidewall disposed opposite to the first sidewall, the first sidewall being configured to exchange heat with the heat source; The second sidewall is provided with a heat insulation layer, and / or the wall thickness of the second sidewall is greater than the wall thickness of the first sidewall.
13. A thermal management system (2), comprising: Thermal management component (1) as described in any one of claims 1-12; The liquid inlet pipe (21) is connected to one of the first port (121) and the second port (122); The liquid outlet pipe (22) is connected to the other of the first port (121) and the second port (122); The temperature control module (23) is connected to the liquid inlet pipe (21) and the liquid outlet pipe (22) at its two ports respectively. The temperature control module (23) is configured to adjust the temperature of the heat exchange medium from the liquid outlet pipe (22) and send the adjusted heat exchange medium to the liquid inlet pipe (21).
14. A battery (3), comprising: The housing (31) has a mounting cavity (311). ； The thermal management system (2) as described in claim 13, wherein the thermal management component (1), the end of the liquid inlet pipe (21) near the thermal management component (1) and the end of the liquid outlet pipe (22) near the thermal management component (1) are all disposed in the mounting cavity (311); The isolated cell array (32) is located on one side of the first thermal management component (13) and is thermally coupled to the first thermal management component (13); And multiple battery cell groups (33), which are arranged one-to-one with the multiple second thermal management components (14); each battery cell group (33) includes two first battery cell columns (331), and the two first battery cell columns (331) of each battery cell group (33) are respectively located on both sides of the corresponding second thermal management component (14).