Detailed Description
As shown in fig. 1, the heat exchange device comprises a first plate 2 and a second plate 3, and the second plate 3 and the first plate 2 can be fixed by brazing, and specifically, at least a part of a first plate surface 21 of the first plate 2 is fixed with the second plate 3. The other side of the second plate 3 can be provided with a heat conducting pad, and the second plate 3 is attached to the battery unit through the heat conducting pad and exchanges heat with the battery unit. The heat exchange device further comprises an inlet joint 5 and an outlet joint 6, and the inlet joint 5 and the outlet joint 6 can be fixed with the second plate 3 through welding.
As shown in fig. 2, a flow channel is formed in the heat exchange device, and the flow channel includes a first collecting portion 13 and a second collecting portion 14. The flow channel further includes a plurality of channels communicating the first header portion and the second header portion, the channels including at least a first channel 15 and a second channel 16.
The heat exchange device comprises a first interface end 11 and a second interface end 12, wherein the first interface end 11 is communicated with a first collecting portion 13, the second interface end 12 is communicated with a second collecting portion 14, the first interface end 11 is communicated with the inlet connector 5, and the second interface end 12 is communicated with the outlet connector 6. At least a portion of the first channel 15 and at least a portion of the second channel 16 are formed between the first plate 2 and the second plate 3.
Both the first passage 15 and the second passage 16 have a serpentine-like shape. Specifically, the first channel 15 includes a first straight section 151, a first bent section 154, and a second straight section 152, and the second channel 16 also includes a first straight section 161, a first bent section 164, and a second straight section 162. The first bent portions of the first and second passages may have substantially the same structure. Under the condition that the second collecting portion 13 and the inlet collecting portion 14 are not changed, the channel structure comprising the bent portions can relatively increase the flow resistance of the first channel 15 and the second channel 16, and reduce the influence of the pressure drop generated in the first collecting portion and the second collecting portion on the flow distribution of each channel, namely reduce the influence of the pressure drop of the main flow on the flow distribution of the branch flow. The first collecting part enables the flow rate distributed into the first channel and the flow rate distributed into the second channel to be relatively even, the distribution uniformity of the fluid in each channel can be improved, and the heat exchange of the heat exchange device is facilitated. Further, the bending angle of the first bending part 154 may be substantially 180 degrees, and the shape of the first bending part 154 may be substantially "U" shaped.
As defined by the dashed lines in fig. 2, the heat exchange device comprises a first heat exchange area 41 and a second heat exchange area 42, it should be noted that there is no obvious division of the heat exchange area in the heat exchange device, and the division of the heat exchange area into the plurality of heat exchange areas is only used for illustration, and is not used to limit the number and division of the heat exchange areas. The first channels 15 are located in the first heat exchange area 41, the second channels 16 are located in the second heat exchange area 42, the first heat exchange area 41 and the second heat exchange area 42 may be adjacent to each other or may be spaced apart from each other by a certain distance, the first heat exchange area and the second heat exchange area are arranged along the extending direction of the first collecting portion, and the first heat exchange area and the second heat exchange area are arranged in parallel, that is, as shown in fig. 2, the first heat exchange area and the second heat exchange area are arranged along the X direction. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the first heat exchange region 41 and the second heat exchange region 42 have substantially the same shape.
In this embodiment, the channels further include a third channel located in the third heat exchange area, a fourth channel located in the fourth heat exchange area, a fifth channel located in the fifth heat exchange area, a sixth channel located in the sixth heat exchange area, a seventh channel located in the seventh heat exchange area, an eighth channel located in the eighth heat exchange area, a ninth channel located in the ninth heat exchange area, and a tenth channel located in the tenth heat exchange area. One end of each channel communicates with the first header portion 13, and the other end of each channel communicates with the second header portion 14. The structure of the second to tenth passages may be substantially the same as that of the first passage. The phrase "substantially the same" means that the total length of the channels is the same and the cross-sectional area of the channels is the same. The first heat exchange area to the tenth heat exchange area are arranged substantially in parallel along the X-axis. In the present embodiment, each battery cell included in the battery pack 9 is a long rectangle arranged in parallel, and two adjacent heat exchange regions are matched with one battery cell. As shown in fig. 14, the first heat exchanging region 41 and one heat exchanging region adjacent thereto are in thermal contact with the first battery cell 91 included in the battery pack 9. The number of the channels is not limited to ten, and the number of the channels can be adjusted as required. The structure of the individual channels may also be different.
As shown in fig. 2, the first header 13 includes at least a first distribution segment 131 and a second distribution segment 132, the first distribution segment 131 being closer to the first interface end 11 than the second distribution segment 132, the first distribution segment having a cross-sectional area at a smallest portion that is larger than a cross-sectional area at a largest portion of the cross-sectional area of the second distribution segment. It should be noted here that the first header 13 does not include a portion of the area where the first header 13 is connected to the channels and the first interface end. The first distribution section 131 communicates with the first passage 15, and the second distribution section 132 communicates with the second passage 16. The distribution uniformity of the fluid in each channel can be improved.
The second header 14 includes at least a third distribution section 141 and a fourth distribution section 142, the fourth distribution section 142 being closer to the second interface end 12 than the third distribution section 141, the fourth distribution section 142 having a cross-sectional area with a smallest portion of the cross-sectional area that is larger than a cross-sectional area of a largest portion of the cross-sectional area of the third distribution section 141. It should be noted here that the second header 14 does not include a portion of the area where the second header 14 connects to the channels and the second interface end 12. The third distribution section is communicated with the first channel, and the fourth distribution section is communicated with the second channel.
In this embodiment, the connecting portion of the first channel 15 and the first header 13 is close to the first interface end, the connecting portion of the first channel 15 and the second header 14 is far from the second interface end, the connecting portion of the second channel 16 and the first header 13 is far from the first interface end, the connecting portion of the second channel 16 and the second header 14 is close to the second interface end, the cross-sectional area of the second header 14 is gradually reduced in a direction far from the second interface end 12, and the cross-sectional area of the first header 13 is gradually reduced in a direction far from the first interface end 11. The flow collecting parts and the channels of the first interface end and the second interface end enable the fluid in each channel to have relatively uniform flow velocity, namely the flow distribution of each channel is relatively uniform, so that the temperature gradient is relatively small when the heat exchange device exchanges heat, and the heat exchange performance of the heat exchange device can be improved. It should be noted that the gradually decreasing cross-sectional area of the collector portion includes, but is not limited to, a continuous decrease in cross-sectional area (i.e., the cross-sectional area of the collector portion decreases every time it passes through one channel), and may be a constant cross-sectional area of the collector portion passing through two or more adjacent channels. The first interface end and the second interface end are located on the same side of the heat exchange device, and the first interface end and the second interface end are located on the same side of the plate surface of the first plate or the second plate.
The first header 13 may include more than two distribution segments of different cross-sectional areas that decrease in cross-sectional area in sequence in a direction away from the first interface end 11. The second header 14 may also include more than two distribution segments of different cross-sectional areas that decrease in cross-sectional area in sequence in a direction away from the second interface end 12. In the present embodiment, the first current collecting portion 13 and the second current collecting portion 14 may be disposed in rotational symmetry with respect to the geometric center of the second plate.
In this embodiment, the first channel 15 is recessed in the first plate surface 21 of the first plate 2, and the first plate surface 21 of the first plate 2 is disposed opposite to the second plate surface 32 of the second plate 3. The first channel 15 further comprises a third straight section 153 and a second bent section 155, the second channel 16 further comprises a third straight section 163 and a second bent section 165, the first straight section of the first channel 15 is communicated with the first flow collecting part, the first bent section 154 of the first channel 15 is communicated with the first straight section of the first channel 15 and the second straight section of the first channel 15, the second bent section 155 of the first channel 15 is communicated with the second straight section of the first channel 15 and the third straight section of the first channel 15, the third straight section of the first channel 15 is communicated with the second flow collecting part, the first straight section 161 of the second channel 16 is communicated with the first flow collecting part, the first bent section 164 of the second channel 16 is communicated with the first straight section 161 of the second channel 16 and the second straight section 162 of the second channel 16, the second bent section 165 of the second channel 16 is communicated with the second straight section 162 of the second channel 16 and the third straight section 163 of the second channel 16, the third straight section 163 of the second channel 16 communicates with the second collecting portion. The first straight section part, the second straight section part and the third straight section part are arranged in parallel. By providing the bent portion, the flow direction of the first straight-section portion is opposite to the flow direction of the second straight-section portion, and the flow direction of the second straight-section portion is opposite to the flow direction of the third straight-section portion. The third through tenth passages may also be substantially identical in structure to the first passage. In addition, the first straight section, the second straight section and the third straight section are arranged close to each other. Generally speaking, through the battery package heat transfer, the fluid temperature of first straight segment portion, the straight segment portion of second and the straight segment portion of third risees in proper order, is close to three straight segment portion to be provided with and does benefit to the heat transfer between the straight segment portion of first straight segment portion and second, is favorable to producing the heat transfer between the straight segment portion of second and the straight segment portion of third, for the scheme that only has a straight segment portion, is favorable to heat transfer device's temperature evenly distributed, further improves heat transfer performance. Meanwhile, the risk of overhigh local temperature of the battery pack can be reduced. The number of straight sections included in the first passage 15 is not limited to three, and three or more straight sections may be included.
It should be noted that the central axis of the straight section of each channel includes, but is not limited to, a strict straight line, and the central axis of the straight section of each channel may also have a bend with a small angle.
At least one of the first heat exchange region 41 or the second heat exchange region 42 is spaced between the second interface end 11 and the first interface end 12. Since the lowest temperature point of the first plate 3 of the first current collecting part and the second current collecting part occurs at the first interface end 11 and the highest temperature point of the second current collecting part occurs at the second interface end 12, at least one heat exchange region is formed between the first interface end 11 and the second interface end 12, so that the lowest temperature point and the highest temperature point of the first plate 3 are located in different heat exchange regions, and the phenomenon that the lowest temperature point and the highest temperature point are in direct or indirect thermal contact with the same battery unit to cause an excessive temperature difference between the battery unit and the contact surface of the first plate 3 is avoided. As shown in fig. 14, the battery unit may be a first battery unit 91, and if the first interface end and the second interface end are both disposed on a side close to the first battery unit 91, the temperature difference of the first battery unit 91 is large. Further, the first interface end 11 and the second interface end 12 are disposed diagonally, that is, located in two regions of the first plate 3 that are diagonally, so that the lowest temperature point and the highest temperature point of the first plate 3 are located in two regions that are farthest away from each other. The first collector portion 13 extends in a first direction, and the second collector portion 14 extends in a second direction, which is substantially parallel to the X axis in the present embodiment. It should be noted that the extending direction of the first current collecting portion 13 and the extending direction of the second current collecting portion 14 are not strictly parallel to each other, and may have a small angle.
When the heat exchange device is connected into a cooling system, fluid flows into the first collecting portion 13 from the first interface end 11, the cooling liquid is distributed to each channel, after heat exchange, the cooling liquid is collected in the second collecting portion 14, and finally flows out from the second interface end 12.
As shown in fig. 3, L2 is the maximum width of the cross-section of the first channel, and preferably L2 has a value in the range of 10mm to 40 mm. For example 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm, 30mm, 35mm, 40 mm. In the case of a heat exchanger having a small channel cross-sectional width, the pressure resistance of the heat exchanger is relatively high without changing the thickness of the flow plate or flat plate, and it should be noted that the term "pressure resistance" refers to the resistance to deformation under the pressure of the internal coolant. The cross-sectional width of each of the other channels may also range from 10mm to 40 mm.
Preferably, as shown in fig. 3, the first plate 2 includes a fixing portion 211, and the fixing portion 211 is fixed to the second plate, and preferably, the fixing portion 211 may be fixed to the second plate 3 by welding. At least a part of the fixing part 211 is positioned between the adjacent straight section parts, at least a part of the fixing part 211 is positioned between the adjacent channels, and the width L1 of the narrowest part of the fixing part positioned between the adjacent straight section parts is greater than or equal to 6 mm. The welding strength of the first sheet 2 and the second sheet 3 can be ensured.
As defined by the dashed lines in fig. 4, the first plate 2 has a first protrusion 23 at a communication portion of at least one of the channels with the first header, and a portion of the first protrusion 23 protrudes toward the first interface end 11. The first projection 23 is a part of the fixing portion. The first protrusion 23 can introduce the branch flow into the first channel 15 at an acute angle relative to the main flow, and can relatively reduce the vortex generated by the sudden change of the flow direction, and can play a role in guiding and guiding the flow. The fluid flowing through each channel is referred to as a branch flow, the fluid flowing through the header portion is referred to as a main flow, and the branch flow is divided by the main flow. The first sheet 2 may have first protrusions 23 of substantially the same structure at the communication of each channel with the first header 13.
The second header portion 14 has a strip shape, and a portion of the first plate 2, at which at least one of the channels communicates with the second header portion 14, has a second protrusion (not shown) protruding toward the second interface end 12, and the structure of the second protrusion is substantially the same as that of the first protrusion 23. The second protrusion is a part of the fixing portion. The secondary flow in the first channel 15 can be merged into the secondary collector 14 at an acute angle to the main flow by means of the secondary projections. The eddy current generated by the branch flow impacting the inner wall of the second collecting part 14 can be relatively weakened, and the functions of flow guiding and flow guiding can be achieved. The first sheet 2 may have second protrusions of substantially the same structure at the communication of each channel with the second collector 14.
Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the heat exchange device, as shown in fig. 5, the first collecting portion 13 is in a strip shape, the first interface end 11 is communicated with the middle part of the first collecting portion, and the second interface end is communicated with the middle part of the second collecting portion. The "intermediate portion" is not an exact intermediate position, and positions not located at the inlet or at both ends of the second collecting portion may be regarded as intermediate portions. The first header 13 includes a first distribution segment 131, a fifth distribution segment 133 relatively near the first interface end, and a second distribution segment 132 and a sixth distribution segment 134 relatively far from the first interface end 11, the second and sixth distribution segments having a cross-sectional area with the largest portion being smaller than the cross-sectional area of the smallest cross-sectional area portions of the first and fifth distribution segments. The second header 14 includes a third distribution segment 141, a seventh distribution segment 143, which are relatively close to the second interface end 12, and a fourth distribution segment 142 and an eighth distribution segment 144, which are relatively far from the first interface end 12. The sectional areas of the largest parts of the sectional areas of the fourth and eighth distribution sections are smaller than the sectional areas of the smallest parts of the sectional areas of the third and seventh distribution sections.
Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of the heat exchanging device, and as shown in fig. 6, the first plate 2 further includes a plurality of first protrusions 22 protruding into the first channels 15, and the first protrusions 22 may play a role of turbulence to increase the heat transfer efficiency of the heat exchanging device. At the same time, the first protrusions 22 may also increase the strength of the first sheet 2. Alternatively, other structures that serve as flow perturbation, such as flow perturbation fins, may be provided in each channel or collector. The first sheet 2 may include a plurality of second protrusions (not shown) protruding into the first header portion and/or the second header portion. The second protrusion may increase the strength of the current collecting portion.
In yet another embodiment of the heat exchanging device, as shown in fig. 7 to 10, the first channel 15 includes a first straight section 151, a second straight section 152 and a first bent section 154, and the second channel 16 also includes a first straight section 161, a first bent section 164 and a second straight section 162. The first straight segment 151 of the first channel 15 communicates with the first collecting portion 13, the first bent portion 154 of the first channel 15 communicates with the first straight segment 151 and the second straight segment 152 of the first channel 15, and the second straight segment 152 of the first channel 15 communicates with the second collecting portion 14. The first straight section 161 of the second channel 16 communicates with the first collecting portion, and the first bent portion 164 of the second channel 16 communicates with the first straight section 161 of the second channel 16 and the second straight section 162 of the second channel 16. The flow direction of the first straight section 151 is opposite to the flow direction of the second straight section 152. The first current collecting part and the second current collecting part are positioned on the same side of the heat exchange device. The first and second current collecting portions 13 and 14 do not interfere with each other. First straight section 151 and second straight section 152 are close to the setting, are favorable to producing the heat transfer between first straight section and the second straight section, for the scheme that only has a straight section, are favorable to heat transfer device's temperature evenly distributed. Furthermore, since the fluid is at its lowest temperature when flowing into the first ends of the channels and at its highest temperature when flowing out of the second ends of the channels, the first ends of the first channels 15 may be arranged adjacent to the second ends to reduce the temperature difference within the first heat exchange area 41, resulting in a relatively uniform temperature distribution.
The second collecting portion 14 can be constructed in various ways, and in particular, the heat exchange device further comprises the first shell 7. The first plate 2 or the second plate 3 has a first hole 331, the first hole 331 penetrates the first plate 2 or the second plate 3, and the first hole 311 communicates one end of the channel with the second collecting portion 14.
As shown in fig. 7 to 10, the first housing 7 has a plate shape, and the first housing 7 includes a second interface end. A part of the first housing 7 is fixed to the first plate surface 31 of the second plate 3. The first plate 2 is fixed to the second plate 32 of the second plate 3, and the first plate 31 and the second plate 32 of the second plate 3 are located on opposite sides of the second plate 3. The second collecting portion 14 is located between the first sheet 2 and the first case 7. Specifically, the second collecting portion is formed by fixing the first wall surface 71 of the first case 7 and the first plate surface 31 of the second plate 3, and sealing the joint, for example, by welding. The first hole path 331 penetrates through the second plate 3, the first hole path 331 communicates with the first straight portion of the corresponding channel and the second collecting portion 14, and fluid in the first channel 15 can pass through the first hole path 331 to reach the second collecting portion 14. This makes it possible to locate the first and second collecting portions on the same side.
As shown in fig. 10, the number of the first hole 311 may be plural, and the number of the first hole 311 may be the same as the number of the channels. The second plate 3 may be in direct or indirect thermal contact with the battery pack through a portion of the flat area of the first plate surface 31, or the first plate 2 may be in direct or indirect contact with the battery pack.
In another embodiment of the first housing 7, as shown in fig. 11 and 12, a part of the first housing 7 is fixed to the first plate 2. The second current collecting portion is located between the first plate and the first shell. Specifically, the second collecting portion 14 is formed by fixing the first wall surface 71 of the first case 7 to the first sheet 2 and sealing the joint, and preferably, the fixing manner may be brazing. The first hole path 331 penetrates through the first plate 2, the first hole path 331 communicates with the second straight section portion and the second collecting portion of the corresponding channel, and the fluid in the first channel 15 can pass through the first hole path 331 to reach the second collecting portion 14. Compared with the previous embodiment, the flat area of the first plate surface 31 of the second plate 3 is larger, and the area of the second plate 3 which can be in direct or indirect thermal contact with the battery pack is larger, so that the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange device is improved.
Further, at least a part of the fixing portion 211 is located between one end of the channel communicating with the first porthole 311 and the first collecting portion 13. As shown in fig. 14, a portion of the fixing portion 211 is located between one end of the first passage 15 communicating with the first orifice 311 and the first collecting portion 13. This portion of the fixing portion 211 may separate the first orifice passage 311 from the first collecting portion 13.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the first distribution section is in communication with a plurality of channels, the second distribution section is in communication with a plurality of channels, the third distribution section is in communication with a plurality of channels, and the fourth distribution section is in communication with a plurality of channels. Specifically, as shown in fig. 13, four adjacent passages (including the first passage 15) communicate with the first distribution section 131 (defined by a dotted line in the drawing), and the cross-sectional area of the first distribution section 131 is constant. Three adjacent channels (including the second channel 16) communicate with the second distribution section 132 (demarcated by a dotted line in the drawing), and the cross-sectional area of the second distribution section 132 is constant.
It should be noted that: although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various combinations, modifications and equivalents of the present invention can be made by those skilled in the art, and all technical solutions and modifications thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention are encompassed by the claims of the present invention.