DE102013216513A1 - Device for conditioning a battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

Proposed is a device for conditioning a battery pack (2) by cooling and / or heating, - with a plurality in at least one conditioning level (4a, 4b) arranged battery modules (3), wherein - in each conditioning level (4a, 4b) two or more each series (5a-f) battery modules (3) of at least one separate and a liquid or gaseous medium-flowed through fluid line (6a -L) is contacted as a heat exchanger directly or indirectly via carrier means (10) for the battery modules (3), wherein - the fluid lines (6a-l) are fluidically connected in parallel to each other and a common fluid flow (9a) and a common fluid Have return (9b), and wherein - the functioning as a heat exchanger fluid lines (6a-l) even such geometrically ausgei individually Are that the same each penetrating fluid flow rate is adapted to an individual cooling or heating requirement of each contacted row (5a-f) battery modules (3).

Description

The invention relates to a device for conditioning a battery pack by cooling and / or heating according to the combination of features of claim 1 of the invention.

It is disadvantageous for an energy storage system of a vehicle, such as a high-voltage battery, in particular of an electric vehicle and hybrid electric vehicle, to be exposed in the vehicle to extreme temperatures for an extended period of time. It has proven to be advantageous to condition such a battery, for example, by heating it, if it is too cold, or by cooling it, if it is too hot, to ensure an optimum temperature for the power output of the battery and, moreover, the durability and improve lifespan as well as any other aspects of the battery. The cooling and / or heating devices are in particular sensory controlled as a function of a currently measured temperature of the battery pack or one or more sections (modules) thereof. The cooling device is thermally connected, for example, with the cooling unit of the vehicle. The heating device is thermally connected and / or electrically operated, for example, with an internal combustion engine of the vehicle. The heating and cooling devices can be installed as separate devices or combined with each other (see, for example DE 10 2011 121 245 A1 ).

From practice it is known that depending on the geometric arrangement of the battery modules in the battery pack, this arrangement requires a uniform cooling or heating capacity of the battery modules or individualization of cooling or heating power to identical as possible operating temperature of the battery modules and ideally all arranged in the same battery cells to ensure. So is out of the DE 10 2010 025 525 A1 a method of cooling battery packs is known in which at least one battery pack is divided into several battery modules. Each module is associated with a cooling device in the manner of a heat exchanger. The coolant connections of the cooling devices are fluidically connected in parallel in a cooling circuit. A regulation of the coolant flows to each module via a respective module associated control valve. Each module has at least one temperature sensor that measures the individual temperature of a module. A temperature controller regulates the control valve for the coolant connection of the respectively assigned module depending on the measured temperature. From the DE 10 2010 032 899 A1 Furthermore, a vehicle battery assembly with battery cell groups (battery modules) is known, each battery cell group is associated with exactly its own cooling device. The cooling devices are connected to a cooling circuit. The cooling device comprises a cooling bottom with a flat contact surface for surface contact with the battery cell group. The cooling floor has z. B. on two U-shaped bent flat cables with a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. The flat cables are formed, for example, as extruded aluminum. The flat cable has distributed over its width several coolant channels. Between the coolant inflow port and each of the two coolant inlets, a throttle is provided. The throttles should ensure a desired, in particular uniform distribution of the coolant to the two coolant inlets of the U-shaped flat cables. The coolant inlets are designed as manifolds to ensure a uniform distribution of the coolant to the individual coolant channels.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for conditioning of a battery pack by cooling and / or heating, which in the simplest embodiment of the device nevertheless an individualization of the cooling and / or heating power of the battery modules associated and designed in the manner of a heat exchanger cooling and / Heater allows to ensure in the result an optimal, ideally identical temperature of all battery modules of the battery pack.

The invention is based on the recognition that the cooling and / or heating capacity of a heat exchanger operated by means of a fluid can be set as a function of the volume flow of the fluid. Under volume flow the experts understand a volume of a medium that moves within a unit of time through a flow cross section, in this case the flow cross section of the fluid line.

• – mit einer Mehrzahl in zumindest einer Konditionierungsebene angeordneter Batteriemodule, wobei
• – in jeder Konditionierungsebene zwei oder mehr zueinander parallel angeordnete Reihen mit jeweils einem oder mehreren Batteriemodulen vorgesehen sind, wobei
• – eine jede Reihe Batteriemodule von wenigstens einer separaten und von einem flüssigen oder gasförmigen Medium durchflossenen Fluidleitung als Wärmetauscher unmittelbar oder mittelbar über Trägermittel für die Batteriemodule kontaktiert ist, wobei
• – die Fluidleitungen strömungstechnisch zueinander parallel geschaltet sind und einen gemeinsamen Fluid-Vorlauf und einen gemeinsamen Fluid-Rücklauf aufweisen, und wobei
• – die als Wärmetauscher fungierenden Fluidleitungen selbst derart geometrisch individuell ausgebildet sind, dass der dieselben jeweils durchdringende Fluid-Volumenstrom an einen individuellen Kühl- oder Erwärmungsbedarf der jeweils kontaktierten Reihe Batteriemodule angepasst ist.

The object is therefore achieved by a device for conditioning a battery pack by cooling and / or heating,

• - With a plurality arranged in at least one conditioning level battery modules, wherein
• - In each conditioning plane two or more mutually parallel rows are provided, each with one or more battery modules, wherein
• - Each row battery modules of at least one separate and a liquid or gaseous medium flowed through fluid line is contacted as a heat exchanger directly or indirectly via support means for the battery modules, wherein
• - The fluid lines are fluidly connected in parallel to each other and have a common fluid flow and a common fluid return, and wherein
• - The functioning as a heat exchanger fluid lines are even geometrically individually formed such that the same each penetrating fluid volume flow is adapted to an individual cooling or heating demand of each contacted row battery modules.

Under conditioning level is understood a level in which a plurality of battery modules are arranged side by side. Several conditioning levels, each with a plurality of battery modules, can be arranged one above the other.

Solely by geometrical adaptation or design, the fluid lines acting as a heat exchanger to meet any different cooling or heating demand of the respective contacted row battery modules, as can be preset by the geometric adjustment of the flow and thus the cooling or heating power of said fluid lines. Technically complex sensors and control and control techniques for adjusting the volume flow of the heat exchanger fluid, as favored by the prior art, are advantageously avoided.

The subclaims describe preferred developments or refinements of the invention.

Thereafter, it is provided that the required cooling or heating requirement of the contacted series battery modules and thus the geometric adjustment of the associated fluid line to the same empirically or arithmetically determined or determined. This takes place in particular as a function of certain boundary conditions, which for example the length of the supply lines to the fluid lines, the length of the fluid lines themselves, their cross section, their choice of material, the choice of the heat exchanger fluid used, the preferred driving area of the vehicle (warm country, such as subtropical or tropical Countries, or coldlands, such as Nordic countries) and others could be. Furthermore, it is provided that at least one of the fluid lines in adaptation of the fluid volume flow of the same to an individual cooling or heating requirement of each contacted row battery modules has at least one individual partial narrowing of a constant over the length flow cross-section and / or an individual flow cross section per se , As a result, a structurally simple and inexpensive device for conditioning of the battery pack is created by cooling and / or heating. A structurally simple measure for partial narrowing of the flow cross section of the fluid line is given by embossing the fluid line, which preferably consists of a highly thermally conductive metal, in particular light metal, such as aluminum. In extensive experiments on the subject of the application, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if, with two or more battery modules per row, the at least one constriction is arranged in a region of the fluid line between two battery modules contacted by same. Further advantageously, it is provided that the battery modules of each conditioning level are contacted at least on the bottom side of the respectively associated fluid line in order to ensure effective conditioning of the battery pack formed. In order to optimize the said conditioning even further, the battery modules of the respective lower conditioning level in addition from the bottom-side fluid line of the battery modules of the immediately above conditioning plane directly or indirectly via one or more support means for the said battery modules contacted the immediately above conditioning level. In view of this, in a further development of the invention, the support means are preferably formed by a thermally conductive surface element made of metal, in particular of a light metal, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The carrier means may have a plurality of openings in order to further adapt the heat transfer to the individual cooling or heating requirements of the lower battery modules. As far as the fluid lines are concerned, they are each preferably formed by a flat cable, whereby a sufficiently large contact surface is created for the battery module. The flat cable can z. Example, by an elongated hollow profile, such as a continuous casting, with one or more flow channels or by a conventional tube with one or more coupled cooling plates, which contact the battery modules, be formed.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments schematically illustrated in the drawings. However, it is not limited to these, but covers all embodiments defined by the claims. Show it:

1 a perspective view of a arranged in a battery tray of a battery pack with a plurality of battery modules arranged in two planes and with a device according to the invention for conditioning the battery pack by cooling and / or heating, which has a plurality of fluidly connected in parallel fluid lines as a heat exchanger which contacts the battery modules are,

2 the battery pack together with the device according to the invention without depiction of the battery trough,

3 a diagram showing the flow rate of a heat exchanger fluid per unit time (volume flow) and fluid line with respect to a conventional device for conditioning the battery pack by cooling and / or heating,

4 the device according to the invention for conditioning the battery pack by cooling and / or heating in a perspective individual representation with fluid lines according to a first embodiment variant,

5 the detail "Z" after 4 .

6 the section "II" after 5 .

7 the representation of a device for producing a fluid line of the device according to the invention,

8th an inventive development of the device according to 4 .

9 a diagram showing the flow rate of the heat exchanger fluid per unit time (volume flow) and fluid line with respect to the inventive device for conditioning the battery pack by cooling and / or heating, and

10 a sectional view of the fluid lines of the device according to the invention according to a second embodiment variant.

1 first shows a battery tray 1 which is used in a non-illustrated vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle and hybrid electric vehicle use and a battery pack 2 , like a high-voltage battery. 2 shows the sake of clarity, said battery pack 2 without battery tray 1 , The battery pack 2 consists of a plurality of battery modules 3 , The battery pack 2 is associated with a device for conditioning the same. Conditioning is understood to be a measure which has the most identical operating temperature of all battery modules 3 of the battery pack 2 and ideally all of the battery cells (not shown in the drawing) arranged in the same.

According to this embodiment, a battery pack 2 with twenty four (24) battery modules 3 provided, which in two superposed, namely a first lower and a second upper conditioning plane 4a . 4b with twelve (12) battery modules each 3 are arranged. Moreover, the battery modules 3 per conditioning level 4a . 4b in six (6) parallel rows 5a to 5f with two (2) battery modules each 3 arranged.

The device for conditioning the battery pack 2 has fluid lines 6a -L, which in turn are preferably designed as so-called flat cables and by contacting the battery modules 3 act as a heat exchanger. As flat cables find according to 5 and 6 preferably elongated hollow profiles in the manner of a flat box profile use, the one or in accordance with 10 also several flow channels 7 exhibit. The flat cables are formed for example as extruded profiles and are preferably made of metal, in particular light metal, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, which / s has a high thermal conductivity. However, the invention is not limited to such flat cables, but also covers flat cables, which are formed for example by a conventional tube with one or more coupled cooling plates that contact the battery modules (not shown in the drawing). The heat exchange fluid may be liquid or gaseous. For example, a mixture of water and glycol can be used for cooling.

Every row 5a -F battery modules 3 every conditioning level 4a . 4b is a separate fluid line 6a -f, 6g -L as a heat exchanger with a fluid inlet 8a and a fluid spout 8b assigned. The fluid lines 6a -L are fluidically connected in parallel to each other and have a common fluid flow 9a and a common fluid return 9b on. The fluid flow 9a In the present case, it is directly adjacent to a fluid inlet designed as a distributor tube 8a the fluid line 6g the second upper conditioning level 4b connected. The fluid return 9b In the present case, it is directly adjacent to a fluid outlet formed as a distributor tube 8b the fluid line 6l the second upper conditioning level 4b connected.

The remaining fluid lines 6a -f, 6h -K are in terms of the aforementioned parallel circuit fluidly also involved in the common cooling and / or heating circuit by the manifolds of the fluid inlets 8a and the distribution pipes of the fluid outlets 8b the battery modules 3 the second upper conditioning level 4b are each arranged axially one behind the other and connected to each other and the distribution pipes of the fluid inlets 8a and the distribution pipes of the fluid outlets 8b the battery modules 3 the first lower conditioning level 4a each to the directly overlying manifold of the fluid inlet 8a or fluid outlet 8b the second upper conditioning level 4b are fluidically connected.

The battery modules 3 the first lower conditioning level 4a are according to a practical embodiment of the invention directly on the respective associated fluid line 6a -F (flat line) discontinued, with the fluid lines 6a -F on the non-illustrated trough bottom of the battery trough 1 support. The battery modules 3 the second upper conditioning level 4b are also according to a practical embodiment of the invention directly on the respective associated fluid line 6g -L (flat cable) fitted, these fluid lines 6g -L on a carrier 10 are supported, which in the present case acts as an intermediate floor, and in turn medium or directly on the battery tray 1 is supported (see esp. 8th ). The carrier 10 is presently formed by a surface element (sheet) of preferably thermally conductive metal, in particular light metal, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, or of a steel.

Put the case, find it starting from 4 acting as a heat exchanger identically formed fluid lines 6a -L use, it was found in experiments that according to the diagram after 3 per fluid line 6a -L a volume flow (throughput of fluid per unit time) adjusted such that at the the fluid flow 9a and the fluid return 9b nearest fluid lines 6a . 6f . 6g and 6l a high volume flow is to be recorded, whereas, starting from this, with increasing distance of the remaining fluid lines 6b -e, 6h -K from the fluid flow 9a or fluid return 9b the volume flow is reduced successively. This leads to a different cooling or heating of the rows 5a -F fluid lines 6a -L, which should be avoided in order to achieve an optimal, ideally identical temperature of all battery modules 3 of the battery pack 2 to ensure.

To counter this disadvantageous circumstance and, for example, one at least in the respective conditioning level 4a . 4b in all fluid lines 6a -f, 6g L form largely identical volume flow, according to the prior art ( DE 10 2010 025 525 A1 ) the possibility of optimally adjusting the volume flow per fluid line by means of costly sensor systems and control and control techniques for associated control valves 6a -L to effect.

The Applicant, however, takes a different approach. It is envisaged that the fluid lines acting as heat exchangers 6a -f, 6g Are themselves so geometrically individually formed or are that of the same each penetrating fluid volume flow to an individual cooling or heating demand of each contacted row 5a -F fluid lines 6a -L is adjusted. In particular, this means that first the required cooling or heating requirement of the contacted rows 5a -F fluid lines 6a -L and thus the geometric adaptation of the respectively associated fluid line 6a -L is determined empirically or mathematically at the same and then the fluid lines 6a -L trained accordingly or appropriately prepared fluid line 6a -L be provided.

With the 4 to 6 becomes a first measure to adjust the fluid flow rate of each fluid line 6a -L to the individual cooling or heating needs of each contacted row 5a -F battery modules 3 shown, which is characterized in that each fluid line 6a -L an individual partial narrowing 11 of the per se over the length constant flow cross section has or may have. Individual means that the constriction 11 with regard to the respective fluid line 6a -L is designed. Of course, this can also result in a constellation, in which two or more fluid lines 6a -L an equal constriction 10 exhibit. By means of such a constriction, the respective volume flow can be influenced or adjusted in an extremely comfortable manner. In extensive experiments on the subject of the application has been found to be particularly advantageous when with two or more battery modules 3 each row 5a -F the at least one constriction 11 in a region of the fluid line 6a -L between two battery modules contacted by it 3 is arranged (see. 4 ).

Such a narrowing 11 is, for example, by embossing the present case designed as a flat line fluid lines 6a -L representable. 7 shows a suitable device for this purpose 12 for embossing, the exemplary two embossing rollers 13 by means of which one transverse to the flow direction 14 the flow directed narrowing 10 in itself over the length of the respective fluid line 6a -L constant cross section of the same can be effected by the relevant fluid line 6a -L between said embossing rolls 12 is arranged and at least one of the embossing rollers 12 is pressurized.

Again 8th can be seen further, as already stated above, the battery modules 3 every conditioning level 4a . 4b bottom side of the respectively associated fluid line 6a -f, 6g -L contacted. In order to optimize said conditioning even further, in an arrangement according to this embodiment of the battery modules 3 in two or more conditioning levels 4a . 4b on top of each other, the battery modules 3 the lower conditioning level 4a additionally from the bottom-side fluid line 6g -L of the battery modules 3 the conditioning level immediately above 4b directly or indirectly via the carrier means 10 for the said battery modules 3 the conditioning level immediately above 4b contacted. The carrier 10 have for this purpose a plurality of openings 15 which further transfers the heat transfer to the individual cooling or heating needs of the lower battery modules 3 is customizable.

According to the diagram 9 , which with regard to the device according to the invention for conditioning the battery pack 2 by cooling and / or heating the flow rate of the heat exchanger fluid per unit time (flow) and per fluid line 6a -1 shows, are the volume flows of the fluid lines 6a -F the first lower conditioning level 4a and the volume flows of the fluid lines 6g -L the second upper conditioning level 4b by geometrically individual adaptation of the fluid lines 6a -f, 6g -L of each conditioning level 4a . 4b each closely aligned with each other. Regardless, the volume flows of the fluid lines 6g -L the second upper conditioning level 4b set larger than the volume flows of the fluid lines 6a -F the first lower conditioning level 4a because the fluid lines 6g -L the second upper conditioning level 4b at the same time the conditioning (cooling or heating) of the battery modules 3 the first lower conditioning level 4a serve. By the partitioning of the battery modules 3 the first lower conditioning level 4a upwards, for example, a heat accumulation is recorded, due to additional cooling by means of the fluid lines 6g -L the second upper conditioning level 4b is encountered.

The above-described first advantageous measure for adjusting the fluid volume flow of each fluid line 6a -L to the individual cooling or heating needs of each contacted row 5a -F battery modules 3 puts on at least one individual partial narrowing 11 the per se over the length constant flow cross section of the respective fluid line 6a -L.

According to a second advantageous measure for adjusting the fluid volume flow of each fluid line 6a -L to the individual cooling or heating needs of each contacted row 5a -F battery modules 3 In contrast, it is provided that the fluid lines 6a Each have an individual flow cross section per se, ie, have a constant over the length, but individual flow cross-section. 10 shows three different flow cross sections of fluid lines, for example, with regard to the respectively desired volumetric flow 6a -L, from which can be selected as needed. If one puts the arrangement of the fluid lines 6a -L after 4 underlying, then assign the the fluid flow 9a and the fluid return 9b nearest fluid lines 6a . 6f . 6g and 6l every conditioning level 4a . 4b a small flow cross-section, whereas starting from this with increasing distance of the remaining fluid lines 6b -e, 6h -K from the fluid flow 9a or fluid return 9b the flow cross section of the same gradually increased (not shown in the drawing).

A combination of the two measures described above is also covered by the invention (not shown in the drawing).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

battery tray

2

battery Pack

3

battery module

4a

first conditioning level

4b

second conditioning level

5a-f

Rows (battery modules 3 )

6a-l

fluid line

7

flow channel

8a

Fluid inlet (fluid line 6a -l)

8b

Fluid outlet (fluid line 6a -l)

9a

Fluid-flow

9b

Fluid return

10

carrier

11

narrowing

12

Device for embossing

13

embossing rollers

14

flow direction

15

perforations

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

• DE 102011121245 A1 [0002]
• DE 102010025525 A1 [0003, 0029]
• DE 102010032899 A1 [0003]

Claims (10)

Device for conditioning a battery pack ( 2 ) by cooling and / or heating, - with a plurality in at least one conditioning level ( 4a . 4b ) arranged battery modules ( 3 ), whereby - in each conditioning level ( 4a . 4b ) two or more rows arranged parallel to one another ( 5a -F) each with one or more battery modules ( 3 ), whereby - each row ( 5a -F) battery modules ( 3 ) of at least one separate fluid line through which a liquid or gaseous medium flows (US Pat. 6a -L) as a heat exchanger directly or indirectly via carrier ( 10 ) for the battery modules ( 3 ), wherein - the fluid lines ( 6a -L) are connected in parallel to each other in terms of flow and a common fluid flow ( 9a ) and a common fluid return ( 9b ), and wherein - the fluid lines acting as heat exchangers ( 6a -L) are themselves geometrically individually designed in such a way that the same respectively penetrating fluid volume flow to an individual cooling or heating requirement of the respectively contacted row ( 5a -F) battery modules ( 3 ) is adjusted. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the required cooling or heating requirement of each contacted row ( 5a -F) battery modules ( 3 ) and thus the geometric adaptation of the respective associated fluid line ( 6a -L) is empirically or computationally determined or ascertainable. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the fluid lines ( 6a -L) in adaptation of the fluid volume flow of the same to an individual cooling or heating requirement of each contacted row ( 5a -F) battery modules ( 3 ) at least one individual partial narrowing ( 11 ) has a per se over the length constant flow cross-section and / or an individual flow cross-section per se. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the at least one partial constriction ( 11 ) by embossing the fluid line ( 6a -L) is formed. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that in two or more battery modules ( 3 ) per row ( 5a -F) the at least one partial constriction ( 11 ) in a region of the fluid line ( 6a -L) between two battery modules contacted by it ( 3 ) is arranged. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the battery modules ( 3 ) of each conditioning level ( 4a . 4b ) at least on the bottom side of the respectively associated fluid line ( 6a -L) are contacted. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in an arrangement of the battery modules ( 3 ) in two or more conditioning levels ( 4a . 4b ) on top of each other, the battery modules ( 3 ) of the respective lower conditioning level ( 4a ) additionally from the bottom-side fluid line ( 6g -L) of the battery modules ( 3 ) of the immediately above conditioning level ( 4b ) directly or indirectly via one or more means of 10 ) for the said battery modules ( 3 ) of the immediately above conditioning level ( 4b ) are contacted. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the carrier (s) ( 10 ) is formed by a thermally conductive surface element / are. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the carrier (s) ( 10 ) a plurality of openings ( 15 ). Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the fluid lines ( 6a -L) are each formed by a flat cable.

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