DE102009057163A1 - Device for cooling battery cells of e.g. traction battery of electric vehicle, has heat pipe utilized as evaporator or part of evaporator of cooling circuit and connected with cooling circuit and/or separable from cooling circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a heat pipe (8) utilized as an evaporator (4) or part of the evaporator of a cooling circuit. The heat pipe is connected with the cooling circuit and/or separable from the cooling circuit. Pressure of working medium (7) of the heat pipe is adjustable by a compressor (5). Heat energy of a battery cell (2) is received by a part of a heat absorbing surface (81) of the heat pipe and transferred to a cooling agent and/or a cooling section by a part of a heat emission surface (82) of the heat pipe, where the heat emission surface is arranged outside a motor vehicle. An independent claim is also included for a method for cooling a heat pipe.

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for cooling, in particular for cooling of at least one battery cell.

To supply electrical consumers with necessary for an operation of electrical energy, batteries or battery cells can be used. Batteries can in this case comprise a plurality of battery cells, which are connected, for example, in series or in parallel. A major problem with using batteries or battery cells is that they heat up during operation. Overheating can reduce the life of the batteries or battery cells.

Therefore, cooling of the battery cells or batteries is usually performed during power output or power consumption of the batteries or battery cells. Also in other technical areas, eg. As in building services or in the field of refrigerators and / or freezers, a cooling of objects to be cooled or spatial areas is necessary.

There are different approaches to cooling. One approach is the so-called passive cooling, whereby in passive cooling no additional energy for cooling must be applied. An example of passive cooling is a cooling by a wind, the z. B. is present in a moving motor vehicle. Another approach is a so-called active cooling, with the active cooling additional energy must be applied for cooling. An example of an active cooling is an air conditioner, the z. B. for cooling an interior of a motor vehicle and / or battery cells of a motor vehicle is used.

A passive cooling is possible only under certain conditions. For example, it is necessary for a temperature of the airstream to be sufficiently low in order to be able to absorb a heat output required for cooling. Also can be achieved by a passive cooling usually no large cooling performance. Is an exclusively passive cooling due to the aforementioned disadvantages not possible, it is usually resorted to an active cooling. A major disadvantage of active cooling is that it requires additional energy for cooling.

For a passive cooling u. a. so-called heat pipes ("heat pipes") can be used with or without phase change. Heat pipes transport heat energy over a small temperature difference. Heat pipes basically contain a hermetically encapsulated volume. This volume is with a working medium, eg. As water, filled, the working medium is usually present in a small part in the liquid state and to a greater extent in the vapor state. Furthermore, a heat pipe has at least one heat receiving surface and a heat discharge surface, which are usually arranged at opposite ends of the heat pipe. When heat is absorbed by the heat receiving surface, the working medium begins to evaporate. As a result, the pressure in a vapor space of the heat pipe is increased locally via a liquid level, which leads to a low pressure gradient within the heat pipe. The resulting vapor flows due to the pressure gradient in the direction of the heat transfer surface, which serves as a capacitor. In the area of the heat discharge surface, the steam condenses, releasing the previously absorbed heat. The now again liquid working medium returns z. B. by gravity or by capillary force back to the heat receiving surface. The cooling process by means of heat pipes works here without external energy input and almost independent of the installation position.

The EP 1 274 137 B1 discloses a battery pack. The battery pack includes a plurality of cells stacked in layers. Further, the battery pack includes a heat pipe whose heat portion is fitted in a fitting throat formed in a heat collecting plate. Further, the battery pack includes a packing case for accommodating the cells, the heat collecting plate and the heat pipe, and a heat dissipation member attached to the packing case to close an opening of the packing case. The heat dissipation element in this case has on its inner surface side a concave receiving groove into which a Wärmeabführabschnitt the heat pipe is fitted. Furthermore, the battery pack has a heat collecting plate, which consists of a wave-like metal sheet. The heat collection plate is disposed between layers of the cells so as to alternatively contact a portion of an outer peripheral surface of each of upper and lower layers of the cells.

The DE 74 39 582 U1 discloses a device for cooling or heating a single-cell accumulator battery, wherein Wärmeleitbleche are arranged between the individual cells. Furthermore, the document discloses that the heat conducting plates are designed as evaporators, which are coupled via a hermetically sealed pipe system with a capacitor.

This raises the technical problem of providing a device and a method which enable the most energy-efficient cooling of an object to be cooled, in particular a battery cell, or a region to be cooled.

The solution of the technical problem results from the features of the independent claims 1 and 8. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

Proposed is a device for cooling, wherein the device comprises at least one heat pipe. The device can in this case z. B. for cooling battery cells of a battery. In particular, the device can be used for cooling battery cells of a traction battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle. However, it is of course also possible, the device for cooling z. B. in a refrigerator or to cool a room to use.

The heat pipe preferably has a heat receiving surface and a heat releasing surface. These may be arranged at opposite ends of the heat pipe. Also, the heat discharge surface may be disposed at one end of the heat pipe and a heat receiving surface on at least one side surface of the heat pipe. Also, other arrangements of heat dissipation and heat receiving surfaces are conceivable. The heat pipe can z. B. have a cylindrical cross-section. Of course, other cross-sectional shapes are possible.

The heat pipe can be used here as an evaporator or part of an evaporator of a cooling circuit. The cooling circuit can, for. B. be a cooling circuit of an air conditioner, a heat or cooling pump. The cooling circuit may further comprise at least one condenser, at least one compressor and at least one throttle for relaxing a working medium of the cooling circuit.

Preferably, the cooling circuit and the proposed device for cooling an object or area to be cooled, so for example a battery cell, an interior of a refrigerator or a room of a building is used. According to the invention, the at least one heat pipe can be connected to the cooling circuit and separated from the cooling circuit. This results in two operating states of the device for cooling. In a passive operating state, the at least one heat pipe is separated from the cooling circuit. Separately, this means that a working medium of the cooling circuit does not flow through the at least one heat pipe, so flow into the at least one heat pipe and / or can flow out of the heat pipe into the cooling circuit. In the passive state, the heat pipe forms a closed system.

In the passive operating state, a cooling of an article or area to be cooled takes place in that the at least one heat pipe absorbs thermal energy by means of the at least one heat absorption surface and releases heat energy by means of the at least one heat release surface. For this purpose, the at least one heat receiving surface is thermally coupled to the object or region to be cooled, for example a battery cell. The at least one heat-releasing surface is in this case thermally connected to a cooling medium and / or a cooling element, which receives the heat energy emitted by the heat-releasing surface of the at least one heat pipe.

In an active state, the at least one heat pipe is connected to the cooling circuit. Connected here means that a working medium of the cooling circuit can flow into the at least one heat pipe and can flow out of the at least one heat pipe into the cooling circuit. Also, a working medium of the cooling circuit can be equal to the working medium of the at least one heat pipe. If the working medium of the cooling circuit is not equal to the working medium of the at least one heat pipe, the heat pipe preferably has at least one channel for the working medium of the cooling circuit. According to the invention, this channel can be separated from the cooling circuit or can be connected to the cooling circuit. Furthermore, the channel is arranged in the at least one heat pipe such that there is no exchange between the working medium of the at least one heat pipe and a working medium of the cooling circuit located in the at least one channel.

In the active operating state, the working medium of the cooling circuit flows from the cooling circuit via at least one inlet into the at least one heat pipe and via at least one outlet from the at least one heat pipe into the cooling circuit. In the active operating state, the at least one heat pipe serves as an evaporator. Herein, the working medium of the cooling circuit which has flowed into the at least one heat pipe can evaporate. The necessary evaporation energy is removed from the environment. Thus, the at least one heat pipe in the active state cools the object or area to be cooled.

The at least one heat pipe can in this case be connected to the cooling circuit or separated from the cooling circuit depending on a temperature of the at least one cooling medium or cooling element and / or dependent on a required cooling capacity of the device for cooling and / or an expected temperature of the object to be cooled. Is z. B. the required cooling capacity greater than a predetermined threshold, the active operating state is set, ie, the at least one heat pipe is connected to the cooling circuit. For example, B. the cooling medium or the cooling element, which the of the Heat output surface of the at least one heat pipe dissipates heat energy receives, a temperature which is greater than a predetermined temperature, so also an active operating state is set. The cooling medium may be, for example, air that flows against the heat delivery surface of the at least one heat pipe. An airflow flowing in the heat release surface can be generated, for example, by a traveling wind in a moving motor vehicle.

By means of the proposed device for cooling is advantageously made possible to select between an active and passive cooling. Since with passive cooling no additional energy has to be expended for the cooling, this results in an advantageously more energy-efficient cooling than in a purely active cooling device. Furthermore, advantageously, the use of the at least one heat pipe as part of an evaporator results in an advantageous structural integration of components of an active and a passive cooling.

The at least one heat pipe is preferably connected to the cooling circuit via an inlet valve and / or an outlet valve.

In a further embodiment, a pressure of a working medium of the at least one heat pipe is adjustable. Preferably, the pressure of the working medium of the heat pipe in dependence of a temperature of the object or region to be cooled and / or a temperature of the cooling medium or the cooling element is adjustable. In this way it can be achieved in an advantageous manner that there is an aggregate state of the working medium of the at least one heat pipe in the vicinity of an evaporation point of the working medium of the at least one heat pipe.

In a further embodiment, the pressure of the working medium is adjustable by means of a compressor. The compressor may in this case be, for example, a pressure adjusting piston, which is arranged in the heat pipe or is fluidly connected to the heat pipe. Here, the Druckeinstellkolben exclusively sets the pressure of the working fluid of the heat pipe.

If the working medium of the at least one heat pipe is equal to the working medium of the cooling circuit, a pressure of the working medium can also be set by means of the compressor arranged in the cooling circuit. Is that at least one heat pipe z. B. fluidly connected via an inlet valve to the cooling circuit, the inlet valve is opened and adjusted by means of the compressor, a pressure of the working fluid in the cooling circuit and the at least one heat pipe. If a desired pressure is set, the inlet valve can be closed again. This results in an advantageous manner that the device for cooling need not include a compressor other than the compressor of the cooling circuit.

In a further embodiment, at least two heat pipes can be used as evaporator or part of the evaporator of the cooling circuit, wherein the at least two heat pipes can be connected together with the cooling circuit and separated from the cooling circuit. This results in an advantageous manner a uniform connection or separation of several heat pipes of the cooling circuit. Alternatively, the at least two heat pipes can be individually connected to the cooling circuit and separated from the cooling circuit. This results in an advantageous manner that an active or passive operating state is individually adjustable for each heat pipe. This is particularly advantageous when different objects or areas to be cooled require different cooling capacities. Thus, it is conceivable that a first article or area to be cooled requires a high cooling capacity and is therefore actively cooled, while a second article or area to be cooled requires a lower cooling capacity and thus can be passively cooled. If the heat pipes can be individually connected to the cooling circuit and separated from the cooling circuit, then each heat pipe can be fluidly connected to the cooling circuit via an inlet and outlet valve.

In a further embodiment, thermal energy of at least one battery cell can be received by at least one part of a heat receiving surface of the at least one heat pipe and can be transmitted to a cooling medium and / or cooling element by means of at least a part of a heat discharge surface of the at least one heat pipe. This results in an advantageous manner that the inventive device for cooling a battery or battery cell can be used. It is conceivable that at least a portion of the heat receiving surface of the at least one heat pipe directly to a battery cell, for. B. on an outer surface of the battery cell, is arranged. It is also conceivable that the heat receiving surface z. B. is thermally coupled via a thermal coupling element with the battery cell. The device for cooling can be used in particular for the active or passive cooling of a battery cell or a battery in a motor vehicle. In particular, it is possible to use the device according to the invention for cooling a traction battery in an electric or hybrid vehicle. The cooling medium and / or cooling element that is in thermal communication with the at least one part of the heat delivery surface may be, for example, the outside air of a motor vehicle. As a result, cooling of the battery cells and a heat transfer to the outside air is possible. A prerequisite for this is that the outside air is colder than the battery cell to be cooled. If z. B. generates a cooling air flow for cooling the heat transfer surface from a wind of a moving motor vehicle, the potential heat output increases by means of the heat transfer surface with increasing vehicle speed.

If a temperature of the outside air is equal to or higher than a temperature of the battery cell, it is not possible to disperse heat by means of the heat-dissipating surface to the outside air. Therefore, you have to switch to active cooling in this case.

In a preferred embodiment, the battery cell is arranged in a motor vehicle, wherein at least a part of the heat delivery surface is arranged outside the motor vehicle. As a result, an airflow generated by the airstream can be advantageously used as the cooling medium, to which the heat-dissipating surface transfers heat energy.

In a further embodiment, at least part of the heat delivery surface can be thermally insulated from the cooling medium and / or the cooling element. While the heat transfer surface in the passive state of operation transfers heat energy to the cooling medium and / or the cooling element, such transfer of thermal energy in the active state is undesirable. Is z. For example, if the heat delivery surface is located outside the motor vehicle, the outside air would be cooled in the active state. This would cause a cooling capacity in the active state z. B. with respect to a battery cell. By thermal insulation of the heat transfer surface relative to the cooling medium and / or the cooling element is thus achieved in an advantageous manner that no unnecessary cooling power must be expended in an active state. Preferably, the heat transfer surface of the at least one heat pipe is thermally coupled in the passive operating state with the cooling medium and / or cooling element and isolated in an active operating state of this.

This advantageously results in improved energy efficiency in the active operating state.

Further proposed is a method for cooling by means of at least one heat pipe, wherein at least one control or regulation unit sets at least one temperature and / or at least one required cooling capacity and / or an expected temperature connection and disconnection of the at least one heat pipe from a cooling circuit ,

It is Z. B. possible that the at least one control or regulating unit an inlet and / or outlet valve of the at least one heat pipe in dependence of a temperature of an object or area to be cooled, for example a battery cell, and / or in dependence of a temperature of a cooling medium and / or Cooling element, such as an outside air of a vehicle, opens or closes. The at least one control or regulating unit thus sets the passive and active operating state of the device for cooling. Of course, it is also conceivable that the at least one control or regulating unit, the active or passive state depending on other vehicle-specific state variables, such. B. the electrical power consumption or power output of the battery cell adjusts.

The control unit can also regulate a temperature of the object to be cooled, for example the battery cell. This z. B. be a set temperature fixed. If the object to be cooled is a battery cell, then the temperature can also be dependent on z. B. a power consumption or power output of the battery cell can be determined. An actual value is the current temperature of the object to be cooled, the z. B. can be detected by means of a sensor for detecting the temperature of the object to be cooled. Depending on a control difference between setpoint and actual value, the control or regulation unit sets the active or passive operating state. In particular, the control unit can open or close the inlet and / or outlet valve as a function of the control difference.

Furthermore, the control or regulating unit can set a connection and disconnection of the at least one heat pipe from a cooling circuit as a function of an expected temperature of the object to be cooled. The expected temperature may in this case depending on the thermal properties of the device for cooling, in particular dead times and / or time constants in the process of cooling the object to be cooled by the at least one heat pipe, and / or the temperature of the object to be cooled and / or further Operations that affect a current or a future temperature of the object to be cooled, are determined. Is the object to be cooled z. As a battery cell, the expected temperature can be determined, for example, depending on the thermal properties of the device for cooling the battery cell and / or the temperature of the battery cell and / or the power consumption or output of the battery cell. Alternatively or cumulatively, the expected temperature of the battery cell can be determined depending on an expected power consumption or delivery. You can do this For example, data of a navigation system of the motor vehicle can be used. If the navigation system delivers z. As the information of an upcoming downhill, in which the battery cell is charged, so for example a charge-induced increase in the temperature of the battery cell can be predicted.

The expected temperature can be estimated or calculated here. The estimate may be based on models for estimation. The calculation can hereby be based on models for the calculation, for example linear or nonlinear models.

The method thus advantageously results in a more energy-efficient cooling z. B. a battery cell of a motor vehicle.

In a further embodiment, the at least one control unit regulates a pressure of a working medium of the at least one heat pipe. This results in an advantageous manner that an aggregate state of the working medium of the at least one heat pipe in the vicinity of the evaporation point of the working medium of the at least one heat pipe, whereby a maximum cooling capacity of the at least one heat pipe is adjustable.

In a further embodiment, a control unit regulates thermal insulation of at least part of a heat-dissipating surface with respect to a cooling medium and / or a cooling element. For this purpose, the device advantageously comprises an insulation unit for the heat delivery surface. For example, it is conceivable that the insulating unit is a thermally insulating cap, by means of which the heat-dissipating surface can be covered. Here, a position of the cap by means of at least one control or regulating unit is adjustable. In a passive operating state z. For example, the cap does not remove the heat delivery surface of the at least one heat pipe. In an active operating state, the cap covers the heat transfer surface of the at least one heat pipe. An active adjustment device can for example set an open or closed state of the insulation unit, in particular the cap. It is also conceivable that an opened or closed state of the insulating unit can be adjusted by means of a passive adjusting device, for example a bimetal or a shape memory alloy. A bimetal opens and closes the cap z. B. as a function of a temperature of the cooling element and / or cooling medium, for. B. the outside air of the vehicle. The passive adjustment can be arranged for this purpose on the cap.

Insulation advantageously results in more energy-efficient cooling in the active operating state.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to two embodiments. The figures show:

1 a schematic block diagram of a device for cooling,

2 a schematic arrangement of battery cells and heat pipes and

3 another schematic arrangement of battery cells and heat pipes.

Hereinafter, like reference numerals designate elements having the same technical characteristics.

1 shows a schematic block diagram of a device 1 for cooling at least one battery cell 2 , The device 1 this includes a cooling circuit. The cooling circuit comprises a condenser 3 and an evaporator 4 , Furthermore, the cooling circuit comprises a compressor 5 and a throttle 6 , A working medium 7 the cooling circuit is shown as a double line. Here is the working medium 7 the cooling circuit and the working fluid of a heat pipe 8th , The following as a heat pipe 8th designated heat-absorbing tube works depending on the operating condition as a heat pipe or as an evaporator tube, which will be explained in more detail below. The heat pipe 8th is via an inlet valve 9 and an exhaust valve 10 fluidly connected to the cooling circuit. Here is the heat pipe 8th Fluidtechnisch parallel to the evaporator 4 arranged. For receiving heat energy of the battery cell 2 shows the heat pipe 8th a heat receiving surface 81 on. The heat absorption surface 81 is here on a side surface of the heat pipe 8th arranged and thermally connected to the battery cell 2 coupled. In 1 is shown that the working fluid of the heat pipe 8th at an upper end of the heat pipe 8th from the heat pipe 8th can flow out while it is between the lower and the upper end of the heat pipe 8th in the heat pipe 8th can flow in. Here, the lower and upper end refers to a position relative to the unillustrated surface of the earth. A control unit 12 controls the opening and closing of the inlet valve 9 and the exhaust valve 10 ,

In an active operating state, the control unit opens 12 the inlet valve 9 and the exhaust valve 10 , This allows the working medium 7 of the cooling circuit parallel to the evaporator 4 also through the heat pipe 8th stream. The heat pipe 8th also serves as an evaporator in the active operating state 4 and works as Evaporator tube. A cooling of the battery cell 2 takes place in this case by means of the heat pipe 8th absorbed evaporation energy.

In a passive operating state, the control unit closes 12 the inlet valve 9 and the exhaust valve 10 , The heat pipe 8th is thus separated from the cooling circuit and works as a passive heat pipe. This is a cooling of the battery cell 2 by means of the heat pipe 8th in a passive manner, ie without additional expenditure of energy. To deliver the absorbed heat energy points to the heat pipe 8th a heat transfer surface 82 on. In 1 is still a vehicle cover 11 shown. The heat delivery surface 82 is disposed in an exterior of the unillustrated vehicle and is thermally in communication with an outside air of the motor vehicle. The heat delivery surface 82 is at a lower end of the heat pipe 8th arranged. In 1 is further shown that the control unit 12 with a sensor 13 for detecting an outside temperature and with a sensor 13a for detecting the temperature of the battery cell 2 is connected by data technology. The control unit 12 This can be an active or passive operating state by means of the inlet valve 9 and the exhaust valve 10 depending on one of the sensor 13 and one from the sensor 13a Set the detected temperature.

2 shows a first schematic arrangement of battery cells 2 and heat pipes 8th in a device 1 for cooling. Here are heat pipes 8th between and beside battery cells 2 arranged. The heat pipes 8th are below the battery cells 2 in a plate 14 merged. The plate 14 is via an inlet valve 9 and an exhaust valve 10 with z. B. the in 1 fluid cooling system shown connected. The heat pipes 8th each have heat receiving surfaces 81 on. By means of the heat receiving surfaces 81 can heat output from the battery cells 2 to the heat pipes 8th be transferred, causing the battery cells 2 be cooled. The heat pipes 8th continue to have heat release surfaces 82 on that outside a vehicle cover 11 are arranged. The heat pipes 8th protrude out of the vehicle. This makes it possible in an advantageous manner that from the airstream, a cooling air flow is generated, the heat dissipation surfaces 82 flows against. Thus, a heat transfer from the heat pipes 8th possible on the cooling air flow. Next shows 2 a thermally insulating cap 15 , A position of the cap 15 can be from an adjustment unit 16 , For example, an electric motor can be adjusted. By means of the cap 15 are the protruding ends of the heat pipes from the vehicle 8th coverable and thermally isolatable from the outside air of the vehicle. For this, the cap 15 consist of thermally insulating material. In 2 is the cap 15 shown in a half-opened state. Here are the heat delivery surfaces 82 to the protruding from the vehicle ends of the heat pipes 8th not thermally insulated from the outside air. This is especially in the passive operating state, in which the inlet valve 9 and the exhaust valve 10 are closed, required to transfer heat from the heat pipes 8th to allow the outside air. Next shows 2 a pressure adjusting piston 17 , The pressure adjusting piston 17 is here by means of a further adjustment 18 adjustable. By means of the pressure adjusting piston 17 can be the working medium 7 the heat pipes 8th compressed or relaxed.

3 shows a second schematic arrangement of battery cells 2 and heat pipes 8th , This is z. B. the in 1 illustrated cooling circuit via an inlet valve 9 with a lower plate 14a fluidly connected. The bottom plate 14a connects all heat pipes 8th and is below the heat pipes 8th arranged. An upper plate 14b is above the battery cells 2 arranged and also fluidly connects all heat pipes 8th , The top plate 14b is via an exhaust valve 10 with the cooling circuit, the z. In 1 is shown fluidly connected. Analogous to 2 protrude ends of the heat pipes 8th out of the vehicle, with heat dissipation surfaces at these ends 82 the heat pipes 8th are arranged. In 3 is shown that a cap 15 is closed and thus the protruding from the vehicle ends of the heat pipes 8th are thermally isolated from the outside air of the vehicle. In 3 is further illustrated that the cap 15 when closed, not flush with a vehicle skin 11 is applied. Of course, the cap in the closed state and flush with the vehicle body 11 issue. 3 shows here the device 1 for cooling in the active operating state, in the heat dissipation surfaces 82 the heat pipes 8th preferably with respect to the cooling medium, here the outside air of the vehicle, are isolated.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Device for cooling

2

battery cell

3

capacitor

4

Evaporator

5

compressor

6

throttle

7

Working medium of the cooling circuit

8th

heat pipe

81

Heat absorbing surface

82

Heat transfer surface

9

intake valve

10

outlet valve

11

vehicle cover

12

Control unit

13

Sensor for detecting the outside temperature

13a

Sensor for detecting the temperature of the battery cell

14

plate

14a

plate

14b

plate

15

cap

16

adjustment

17

Druckeinstellkolben

18

further adjustment unit

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 1274137 B1 [0007]
• DE 7439582 U1 [0008]

Claims (10)

Contraption ( 1 ) for cooling, wherein the device ( 1 ) at least one heat pipe ( 8th ), characterized in that the at least one heat pipe ( 8th ) as an evaporator ( 4 ) or part of an evaporator ( 4 ) of a cooling circuit is usable, wherein the at least one heat pipe ( 8th ) is connectable to the cooling circuit and separable from the cooling circuit. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that a pressure of a working medium of the at least one heat pipe ( 8th ) is adjustable. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that the pressure of the working medium of the at least one heat pipe ( 8th ) by means of a compressor ( 5 . 17 ) is adjustable. Contraption ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two heat pipes ( 8th ) as an evaporator ( 4 ) or part of the evaporator ( 4 ) of the cooling circuit can be used, wherein the at least two heat pipes ( 8th ) can be connected together with the cooling circuit and separable from the cooling circuit or individually connectable to the cooling circuit and are separable from the cooling circuit. Contraption ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by means of at least one part of a heat receiving surface ( 81 ) of the at least one heat pipe ( 8th ) Heat energy of at least one battery cell ( 2 ) and by means of at least part of a heat transfer surface ( 82 ) of the at least one heat pipe ( 8th ) is transferable to a cooling medium and / or cooling element. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that the battery cell ( 2 ) is arranged in a motor vehicle, wherein at least a part of the heat release surface ( 82 ) is arranged outside the motor vehicle. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least a part of the heat release surface ( 82 ) Is thermally insulated from the cooling medium and / or cooling element. Method for cooling by means of at least one heat pipe ( 8th ), characterized in that the at least one heat pipe ( 8th ) as an evaporator ( 4 ) or part of an evaporator ( 4 ) of a cooling circuit and at least one control unit ( 12 ) depending on a temperature and / or a required cooling capacity and / or an expected temperature optionally a connection or disconnection of the at least one heat pipe ( 8th ) from the refrigeration cycle. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the control unit ( 12 ) a pressure of a working medium of the at least one heat pipe ( 8th ). Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the at least one control unit ( 12 ) thermal insulation of at least a portion of a heat transfer surface ( 82 ) adjusts to a cooling medium and / or cooling element.

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