An aging test device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an accelerated aging test device (1) which enables thermal, mechanical and performance tests of cooling plates (S) used in electric vehicle batteries to be performed at component level.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] AN AGING TEST DEVICE

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The present invention relates to an accelerated aging test device which enables thermal, mechanical and performance tests of cooling plates used in electric vehicle batteries to be performed at component level.

[0005] Background of the Invention

[0006] Thermal management in electric vehicle battery packs is a very important issue. Especially in battery packs, the mechanical durability of the cooling plates used for protecting the thermal performance and preventing them from malfunctioning during the vehicle warranty conditions are tried to be guaranteed by system level tests. Assuming that the warranty period of an average electric vehicle is eight years, it is necessary to verify through accelerated tests that the vehicle components will meet the requirements of this eight-year warranty period. Accelerated test processes for cooling plates may vary depending on the production method of the cooling plate. For this reason, today, there is a need for a dynamically programmable test device solution which can be programmed under different conditions.

[0007] The Chinese patent document no. CN116401779A, an application included in the state of the art, discloses a system configured to measure the strength of a battery pack cooling plate. The said invention relates to a method and a device for testing the structural strength of a battery pack cooling plate. The process comprises simulating the overall structure of the liquid cooling plate by taking into account the solder overflow at specific local locations during the soldering process. The structural features caused by the solder overflow are converted into a geometricmodel with dimensions. To improve simulation accuracy, mechanical property data are obtained from sampled and tested brazed parts and these are then converted into material parameters for simulation input.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] An object of the present invention is to realize an accelerated aging test device which enables thermal, mechanical and performance tests of cooling plates used in electric vehicle batteries to be performed at component level.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to realize a test device which enables pressure change at high frequency to be applied and high-pressure test to be applied to the cooling plates, and eight years of aging under mechanical stress to be simulated with low-pressure test capabilities.

[0011] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0012] “An Aging Test Device” realized to fulfil the objective of the present invention is shown in the figure attached, in which:

[0013] Figure l is a schematic view of an inventive aging test device.

[0014] The components illustrated in the figure are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

[0015] 1. Test device

[0016] 2. Tank

[0017] 3. Pump

[0018] 4. Motor drive

[0019] 5. Manometer

[0020] 6. Valve7. Regulator

[0021] 8. Control unit

[0022] S: Cooling plate

[0023] An inventive test device (1) which enables the mechanical stresses and loads applied by the cooling pressure on the cooling plates used in battery packs to be simulated comprises

[0024] at least one tank (2) which stores water that will be used for recirculation purposes therein;

[0025] at least one pump (3) which enables the water in the tank (2) to be pumped to the cooling plate (S) by means of a line;

[0026] at least one motor drive (4) which is configured to establish communication with the pump (3) and to enable the desired pressure requirements for the cooling plate (S) to be met by adjusting the pump (3) speed through this established communication;

[0027] a plurality of manometers (5) which are located at the inlet and outlet of the cooling plate (S) and enable the line pressure to be measured;

[0028] at least two valves (6) which are located at the line outlet of the cooling plates (S) and are configured to control the water flow;

[0029] at least one regulator (7) which is used in order to adjust the water pressure on the line; and

[0030] at least one control unit (8) which configured to establish communication with the motor drive (4), the manometer (5), the valve (6) and the regulator (7) through any communication protocol; to exchange data through this established communication; to measure the pressure of the line by closing the valves (6) before starting the test process in order to simulate mechanical stresses and loads on the cooling plate (S); to trigger the pump (3) through the communication established with the motor drive (4) depending on the desired line pressure; to adjust the line pressure by controlling the opening and closing of the valves (6) through thecommunication established with the regulators (9); and to enable the cooling plate (S) to be kept in the hydraulic cycle under dynamic pressure by driving the valves (6) sequentially.

[0031] The tank (2) included in an inventive test device (1) is configured to store recirculating water therein and to enable the water to be pumped to the line that enables the water to reach the cooling plate (S) by means of the pump (3). The tank (2) enables the water therein to be supplied in a single line by means of the motor drive (4) through the operation of the pump (3) and stores the recirculating water with the two lines coming out of the cooling plate (S). The water exiting from the cooling plate (S) returns to the tank (2), and then recirculation is provided in the line by being pumped again.

[0032] The pump (3) included in an inventive test device (1) is a hydraulic pump (3), is controlled by the motor drive (4), and enables the water in the tank (2) to be pumped towards the cooling plate (S).

[0033] The motor drive (4) included in an inventive test device (1) is configured to establish communication with the control unit (8), to control the pump (3) depending on the pressure desired to be used in the test phase through the established communication, and to regulate the line pressure requirements by adjusting the motor speed.

[0034] The manometer (5) included in an inventive test device (1) is used on the line entering and two lines leaving the cooling plate (S) and is configured to measure the circulating water pressure in the line and to share the pressure values with the control unit (8) through the communication established with the control unit (8). In this way, the pressure values desired to be generated in the system can be controlled.The valve (6) included in an inventive test device (1) is positioned on two lines located at the outlet of the cooling plates (S) and is configured to enable the pressure in the system to reach the desired level by being opened and closed, and then dynamic pressure to be generated for the test. The valve (6) is positioned between the regulator (7) and the manometer (5) in the outlet line and enables the pressure to be adjusted through the regulator (7) and the dynamic simulation environment at the desired pressure to be created.

[0035] The regulator (7) included in an inventive test device (1) is configured to be in communication with the control unit (8), to exchange data through the established communication and to enable the pressure in the recirculation line to be adjusted.

[0036] The control unit (8) included in an inventive test device (1) is configured to control the operation of the motor drive (4), the manometer (5), the valve (6) and the regulator (7) in order to simulate the mechanical stresses and loads generated by the cooling pressure on the cooling plate (S). The control unit (8) is configured to apply frequency pressure change on the recirculation line, to measure the line pressure when all the valves (6) are closed in the line by triggering the pump (3) for this, and to generate the pressure differential condition for pulsation test by means of the regulators (7). The control unit (8) is configured to generate a pressure differential on the line by using the regulators (7). The control unit (8) is configured to adjust the line pressure to the desired pressure with the regulator (7) while the first valve (6) is closed in order to generate a pressure differential, then to open the first valve (6) and to generate a pressure differential by closing the second valve (6) and adjusting the line pressure through the regulator (7) to a value higher than the pressure set with the first valve (6). The control unit (8) is configured to keep the cooling plate (S) in the hydraulic cycle under dynamic pressure and to automatically drive the valves (6) at a predetermined cycle / min. The control unit (8) is configured to automatically drive the valves (6) at a predetermined value for the accelerated aging test, to provide recirculation and to check the hydraulic leakage condition. The control unit (8) is configured to enablethe desired pressure to be generated in the line by controlling the valves (6) and the motor drive (4) and to regulate the pressure through the regulator (7). In this way, pressure change at the desired high frequency can be applied, as well as the mechanical stress and aging condition created by the application of high-pressure tests and low-pressure tests can be simulated on the cooling plate (S).

[0037] In the inventive system (1), aging tests are simulated on the cooling plate (S) by means of the control unit, and for this, the line pressure desired to be generated by pumping circulating water into the line with the motor drive (4) is realized by means of opening and closing the valves (6) and measuring the pressures with the regulators (7). In this way, thermal, mechanical and performance tests of the cooling plates (S) are performed at component level.

[0038] Within these basic concepts; it is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive “An Aging Test Device (1)”; the invention cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A test device (1) which enables the mechanical stresses and loads applied by the cooling pressure on the cooling plates used in battery packs to be simulated; characterized byat least one tank (2) which stores water that will be used for recirculation purposes therein;at least one pump (3) which enables the water in the tank (2) to be pumped to the cooling plate (S) by means of a line;at least one motor drive (4) which is configured to establish communication with the pump (3) and to enable the desired pressure requirements for the cooling plate (S) to be met by adjusting the pump (3) speed through this established communication;a plurality of manometers (5) which are located at the inlet and outlet of the cooling plate (S) and enable the line pressure to be measured;at least two valves (6) which are located at the line outlet of the cooling plates (S) and are configured to control the water flow;at least one regulator (7) which is used in order to adjust the water pressure on the line; andat least one control unit (8) which configured to establish communication with the motor drive (4), the manometer (5), the valve (6) and the regulator (7) through any communication protocol; to exchange data through this established communication; to measure the pressure of the line by closing the valves (6) before starting the test process in order to simulate mechanical stresses and loads on the cooling plate (S); to trigger the pump (3) through the communication established with the motor drive (4) depending on the desired line pressure; to adjust the line pressure by controlling the opening and closing of the valves (6) through the communication established with the regulators (9); and to enable the cooling plate (S) to be kept in the hydraulic cycle under dynamic pressure by driving the valves (6) sequentially.

2. A test device (1) according to Claim 1; characterized by the tank (2) which is configured to store recirculating water therein and to enable the water to be pumped to the line that enables the water to reach the cooling plate (S) by means of the pump (3).

3. A test device (1) according to Claim 1 or 2; characterized by the tank (2) which enables the water therein to be supplied in a single line by means of the motor drive (4) through the operation of the pump (3) and stores the recirculating water with the two lines coming out of the cooling plate (S).

4. A test device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the pump (3) which is a hydraulic pump (3), is controlled by the motor drive (4), and enables the water in the tank (2) to be pumped towards the cooling plate (5).

5. A test device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the motor drive (4) which is configured to establish communication with the control unit (8), to control the pump (3) depending on the pressure desired to be used in the test phase through the established communication, and to regulate the line pressure requirements by adjusting the motor speed.

6. A test device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the manometer (5) which is used on the line entering and two lines leaving the cooling plate (S) and is configured to measure the circulating water pressure in the line and to share the pressure values with the control unit (8) through the communication established with the control unit (8).

7. A test device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the valve (6) which is positioned on two lines located at the outlet of the cooling plates (S) and is configured to enable the pressure in the system to reachthe desired level by being opened and closed, and then dynamic pressure to be generated for the test.

8. A test device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the valve (6) which is positioned between the regulator (7) and the manometer (5) in the outlet line and enables the pressure to be adjusted through the regulator (7) and the dynamic simulation environment at the desired pressure to be created.

9. A test device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the regulator (7) which is configured to be in communication with the control unit (8), to exchange data through the established communication and to enable the pressure in the recirculation line to be adjusted.

10. A test device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the control unit (8) which is configured to control the operation of the motor drive (4), the manometer (5), the valve (6) and the regulator (7) in order to simulate the mechanical stresses and loads generated by the cooling pressure on the cooling plate (S).

11. A test device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the control unit (8) which is configured to apply frequency pressure change on the recirculation line, to measure the line pressure when all the valves (6) are closed in the line by triggering the pump (3) for this, and to generate the pressure differential condition for pulsation test by means of the regulators (7).

12. A test device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the control unit (8) which is configured to generate a pressure differential on the line by using the regulators (7).

13. A test device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the control unit (8) which is configured to adjust the line pressure to thedesired pressure with the regulator (7) while the first valve (6) is closed in order to generate a pressure differential, then to open the first valve (6) and to generate a pressure differential by closing the second valve (6) and adjusting the line pressure through the regulator (7) to a value higher than the pressure set with the first valve (6).

14. A test device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the control unit (8) which is configured to keep the cooling plate (S) in the hydraulic cycle under dynamic pressure and to automatically drive the valves (6) at a predetermined cycle / min.

15. A test device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the control unit (8) which is configured to automatically drive the valves (6) at a predetermined value for the accelerated aging test, to provide recirculation and to check the hydraulic leakage condition.

16. A test device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the control unit (8) which is configured to enable the desired pressure to be generated in the line by controlling the valves (6) and the motor drive (4) and to regulate the pressure through the regulator (7).

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