CZ2019186A3 - Heat exchanger with a double distributor - Google Patents

Abstract

Plastic heat exchanger with double manifold designed for thermal regulation of battery cells in battery modules for electric vehicles, consisting of rows of hollow polymer fibers (6) and one double manifold with vent valve (8), which can be advantageously used to save space and weight, or increase of the number of battery cells. The double distributor consists of individual distribution cells (2, 3, 4), inlet chamber (1) or blanking plug (12) and outlet chamber (5) or (10), which by their connection create integrated channels and at the same time connect the row (s) of hollow polymer fibers (6) to the respective integrated channels and form a tight connection between the row of hollow polymer fibers (6), the seal (9) and the distribution members (2, 3, 4), the inlet chamber (1) and / or an outlet chamber (5) or (10).

Description

Heat exchanger with double distributor

Field of technology

The invention relates to the field of heat exchangers, intended in particular for cooling or heating of battery cells (accumulators), which are arranged next to each other, or above each other and thus creates a battery module, which is used, for example, in electric vehicles as a source of energy.

More specifically, it relates to a heat exchanger comprising hollow polymeric fibers arranged in a row through which a thermally controlled medium flows.

Prior art

Such a heat exchanger is known, for example, from document CZ 2018-192, describing a heat exchanger module for battery cells, which consists of at least one row of hollow polymeric fibers which are connected to an inlet chamber at one end and an outlet chamber at the other end. The individual hollow polymer fibers are oriented perpendicular to the axis of the battery cell and are located in the free space between the individual battery cells. The row of hollow polymer fibers is connected to the chamber by a flange which at the same time compresses the seal applied to the row of hollow polymer fibers and located in the groove of the chamber. The inlet and outlet chambers with a flange are made of plastic to eliminate electrical short circuits, reduce weight and prevent heat loss in the inefficient area when placing the heat exchanger in the battery module.

The dimensions of such a heat exchanger are directly dependent on the arrangement and number of battery cells in the battery module, with the length of polymer fibers increasing with increasing number of battery cells in a row, while the dimensions of the chambers and flanges remain constant. It is also possible to orient the hollow polymer fibers of the heat exchanger along the rows of battery cells or perpendicular to the rows with respect to the heat exchanger pressure drop which increases with the length of the hollow polymer fiber and also with respect to the desired connection position of the inlet and outlet chamber average.

In the case of a battery module whose number of battery cells in a row is significantly smaller than the number of rows and the need to orient hollow polymer fibers along the rows of battery cells, the location of the heat exchanger described in CZ 2018-192 is unsuitable in terms of the ratio of final installation dimensions to the number of battery cells used. In other words, the inlet and outlet chambers with flanges take up space with two battery cells in each row inside the battery module. The trend at the time of filing this patent application is to achieve the highest possible bulk energy density of the battery modules.

When using a liquid, eg a water-glycol mixture, as the medium of the heat exchanger described in CZ 2018-192, air may accumulate and retain in the upper places of the heat exchanger during filling with this liquid, which may cause a decrease in heat exchanger performance.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative plastic heat exchanger which allows the medium to be distributed in hollow polymer fibers from only one side of the heat exchanger on which the inlet and outlet chambers will be located, thus freeing up space for incorporating multiple battery cells into the battery module and heat exchanger. will be equipped with a vent valve to ensure proper liquid filling. At the same time, weight and production requirements are reduced.

- 1 CZ 2019 - 186 A3

The essence of the invention

The above object is achieved in a heat exchanger with a double manifold, the essence of which is one double manifold with two integrated channels for the supply and discharge of the medium, which consists of an inlet chamber, several types of manifolds and an outlet chamber. The heat exchange surface consists of rows of hollow polymeric fibers which are guided around each row of battery cells and which interconnect the two channels in the manifold to form the resulting heat exchanger.

One of the distribution elements is equipped with a vent valve, which after installation of the heat exchanger in the battery module is located at the highest point of the heat exchanger, is part of one of the integrated channels and allows proper and complete filling of the heat exchanger with liquid.

Each row of hollow polymer fibers is provided at both ends with a seal which is inserted between two successive parts of the double distributor (chamber or distributor member) into grooves, where the joining of the parts of the double distributor results in sealing and securing. The individual parts of the double distributor can be connected by gluing, welding or other mechanical connection.

This creates a heat exchanger with a double distributor for battery cells with significantly lower weight and half the number of connections of individual parts, which are usually potential points of failure. Thanks to this one-sided variant, the saved space can be used to increase the number of battery cells and the use of a vent valve simplifies the filling of the heat exchanger without the need for additional manipulation.

Explanation of drawings

The invention will be further elucidated by means of examples of a possible embodiment of a heat exchanger with a double distributor for battery cells.

Option 1:

Giant. 1.-axonometric view of a possible embodiment of a heat exchanger with a double distributor.

Giant. 2. - longitudinal section taken through the center 1. of 2 integrated manifold channels.

Giant. 3.-two cross-sectional views taken through a distribution element and a series of hollow polymeric fibers.

Giant. 4. - two axonometric views of three different distribution elements.

Option 2:

Giant. 5. - axonometric view of a possible design of a heat exchanger with a double distributor.

Giant. 6. - longitudinal section taken through the center of the 1st of the 2 integrated manifold channels.

Giant. 7. - longitudinal section taken through the center of the 2nd of the 2 integrated manifold channels.

Giant. 8. - two axonometric views on the distribution element.

Giant. 9. - two cross-sectional views taken by a distribution element and a series of hollow polymeric fibers.

Option 3:

Giant. 10. - axonometric view of a possible embodiment of a heat exchanger with a double distributor.

-2EN 2019 - 186 A3

Option 4:

Giant. 11. - axonometric view of a possible embodiment of a heat exchanger with a double distributor.

Examples of embodiments of the invention

The double manifold heat exchanger shown in Fig. 1 consists of four rows of hollow polymer fibers 6, both ends of which are connected to a double manifold, which consists of an inlet chamber 1, a manifold 2 with a vent valve 8, three pairs of different manifolds 3. and 4 and the outlet chambers 5. Battery cells 7 are arranged in the space between the rows of hollow polymer fibers 6, which battery cells 7 are arranged, which are arranged in rows perpendicular to the rows of hollow polymer fibers 6.

The connection of the rows of hollow polymer fibers 6 to the double distributor is shown in section in Fig. 2 and is formed by seals 9 which are applied to the edges of the rows of hollow polymer fibers 6a and inserted into grooves on the inlet chamber 1, distributor members 2, 3 and 4. , and the outlet chamber 5, and subsequently sealed by joining these parts, which form a double manifold with two integrated channels. A joint is formed on the abutment surfaces of the inlet chamber 1, the dividing elements 2, 3 and 4, and the outlet chamber 5, for example by gluing or vibration welding.

The connection of a series of hollow polymer fibers 6 to the two integrated channels in the formed manifold is shown in two sections in Fig. 3, where the upper section is guided by a bearing surface between the manifold 2 with vent valve 8 and manifold 3 not shown in cross section. the section is guided by an abutment surface between the distributor member 4 and the distributor member 3, which is not shown in the section. The upper section shows the entrance to the row of hollow polymer fibers 6 and their location between the battery cells 7, and the lower section shows the exit from the row of hollow polymer fibers 6 and specifies the location between the battery cells 7.

The difference between the manifold 2 with the vent valve, the manifold 3 and the mirror-inverted manifold 4 and their arrangement is shown in two axonometric views in Fig. 4, from which the principle of forming two integrated channels in a double manifold is also evident.

Fig. 5 shows a similar type of double exchanger heat exchanger composed of four rows of hollow polymer fibers 6, both ends of which are connected to a double manifold, which consists of an inlet chamber 1, seven symmetrical manifolds 11 and an outlet chamber 10 with two outlet ports from a single integrated channel, these outlet ports not having to be the same shape and the neck in the assembly above can be used as a vent valve when filling with liquid. In the space between the rows of hollow polymer fibers 6, battery cells 7 are placed, which are arranged in rows perpendicular to the rows of hollow polymer fibers 6.

The connection of the rows of hollow polymer fibers 6 to the double distributor is shown in section in Fig. 6 and is similar to the first example. It is again formed of seals 9 which are applied to the edges of the rows of hollow polymer fibers 6 and are inserted into grooves on the inlet chamber 1, symmetrical manifolds 11 and outlet chamber 10 with two outlets and subsequently sealed by joining these parts to form a double manifold. with two integrated channels. A joint is formed on the abutment surfaces of the inlet chamber 1, the symmetrical distribution elements 11 and the outlet chamber 10 with two outlet ports, for example by gluing or vibration welding.

-3 CZ 2019 - 186 A3

Fig. 7 shows a section taken through the center of the upper outlet neck on the outlet chamber 10 over the entire double manifold, where in comparison with Fig. 6 the connection of the ends of the rows of hollow polymer fibers 6 to the individual integrated channels in the double manifold is visible.

The use of a single type of dividing member 11, the two axonometric views of which are shown in Fig. 8, is possible due to its symmetrical shape. The two symmetrical distributor members 11 are rotated by 180 ° relative to each other and thus form part of a double distributor with two integrated channels.

The connection of a series of hollow polymer fibers 6 to both integrated channels in a formed manifold with an outlet chamber 10 with two outlets is shown in two sections in Fig. 9, where the upper section is guided by the bearing surface of a symmetrical manifold 11 and is oriented towards the outlet chamber 10. with two outlets and the lower section is guided by the same abutment surface of the symmetrical distributor 11 and is oriented towards the inlet chamber 1. The upper section shows the outlet of the row of hollow polymer fibers 6 and their location between the battery cells 7, and the lower section shows the entrance to the row hollow polymer fibers 6 and specifies the location between the battery cells 7.

Fig. 10 shows a second similar type of heat exchanger with a double manifold, which consists of four rows of hollow polymer fibers 6, both ends of which are connected to a double manifold, which in this case consists of a plug 12, a manifold 2 with a vent valve 8, three pairs of different distribution members 3 and 4 and an outlet chamber JO with two necks, the lower neck being used as the inlet and the upper neck being used as the outlet. Battery cells 7 are arranged in the space between the rows of hollow polymer fibers 6, which are arranged in rows perpendicular to the rows of hollow polymer fibers 6. The connection of the rows of hollow polymer fibers 6 to the integrated channels of the double distributor is the same as in the first example.

Fig. 11 shows a third similar type of heat exchanger with a double manifold, consisting of four rows of hollow polymer fibers 6, both ends of which are connected to a double manifold, which in this case consists of two plugs 12, a manifold 2 with a vent valve 8, three manifold members 3, two manifold members 4 and a manifold 13 with two necks, the lower neck being used as the inlet and the upper neck being used as the outlet. This distributor cell 13 replaces both chambers in the assembly and can be placed anywhere between the two plugs 12 in the double distributor. In the space between the rows of hollow polymer fibers 6 battery cells 7 are placed, which are arranged in rows perpendicular to the rows of hollow polymer fibers 6. rows of hollow polymer fibers 6 to the integrated channels of the double distributor is the same as in the first example, with the only difference that the chambers are replaced by plugs 12.

Other similar types of heat exchanger with a double manifold can be achieved by various combinations of the mentioned parts or by their simple modification, where for example part of the manifold will be one manifold element with inlet neck and the other manifold element with outlet neck.

Claims (9)

PATENT CLAIMS A heat exchanger with a double distributor, which is intended for thermal regulation of battery cells and consists of at least one row of hollow polymer fibers (6), which is inserted between the battery cells (7), characterized in that both ends of the row (s) of hollow polymer cells fibers (6) are connected to one distributor with integrated channels, to which the input is connected -4EN 2019 - 186 A3 chamber (1) for connecting the medium via an integrated channel in the distributor to the row (s) of hollow polymer fibers (6) and an outlet chamber (5), for draining the medium via another integrated channel in the distributor from the other end of the row (s) hollow polymer fibers (6). Double manifold heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the integrated channels in the manifold is provided with a vent valve (8). A double manifold which is part of a heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of individual manifolds (2), (3) and (4), an inlet chamber (1) or a blanking plug (12) and an outlet chamber (5) or (10), which by their connection form integrated channels, for the pressure on the seal applied to the row of hollow polymer fibers (6) and at the same time for connecting the row of hollow polymer fibers (6) to the respective integrated channels. A double manifold which is part of a heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of individual manifolds (11), an inlet chamber (1) and an outlet chamber (10) which, by their connection, form integrated pressure channels. for sealing applied to the row of hollow polymer fibers (6) and at the same time for connecting the row (s) of hollow polymer fibers (6) to the respective integrated channels. A double manifold which is part of a heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of individual manifolds (2), (3) and (4) or (11), and two blanking plugs (12) which the connection forms integrated channels, for pressure on the seals applied to the row of hollow polymer fibers (6) and at the same time for connecting the row (s) of hollow polymer fibers (6) to the respective integrated channels, at least one of the manifolds (2), (3), (4) and (11) is provided with at least one inlet and / or outlet neck. Double manifold according to Claims 3, 4 and 5, characterized in that the individual components of which it is composed are made of plastic or plastic composites. Double distributor according to Claims 3, 4 and 5, characterized in that the individual components are connected to one another by gluing, welding or mechanical joining. Double manifold according to Claims 3, 4 and 5, characterized in that it comprises at least two integrated channels for distributing the medium from / to the rows of hollow polymeric fibers (6). Double manifold according to Claims 3 and 4, characterized in that its inlet chamber (1) and furthermore the outlet chamber (5) or (10) have at least one neck.