DE102018213547A1 - Cooling unit for a cooling device for cooling a battery, cooling device and motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling unit (10) for a cooling device (38) for cooling a battery, comprising a collecting block (12) which has a first main connection (18) for connecting a coolant supply line (22) and a second main connection (20) for connecting a coolant discharge line (24) and at least one first and second cooling element connection (26, 28). Furthermore, the cooling unit (10) has a first cooling element (14, 16) through which a coolant can flow for cooling at least one side of a first battery module (30) of the battery, the first cooling element (14, 16) having a first connection (26) Feeding the coolant into the first cooling element (14, 16) and a second connection (28) for removing the coolant from the first cooling element (14, 16), and wherein the first connection (26) of the first cooling element (14, 16) is directly connected to the first cooling element connection (26) of the collecting block (12) and the second connection (28) of the cooling element (14, 16) is connected directly to the second cooling element connection (28).

Description

The invention relates to a cooling unit for a cooling device for cooling a battery, the cooling unit having a collecting block which has a first main connection for connecting a coolant supply line and a second main connection for connecting a coolant discharge line. The collector block also has at least one first cooling element connection and at least one second cooling element connection. The invention also includes a cooling device for cooling a battery and a motor vehicle with a cooling device.

For the temperature control of motor vehicle batteries, in particular traction batteries, in most cases they are brought into contact on one or two sides by means of a plate equipped with channels. These plates are connected to the main line by means of connected distribution lines, which leads to innumerable connection points which represent potential leakage points.

If the traction battery is cooled flatly from one side, a not inconsiderable temperature gradient across the battery thickness starting from the temperature control plate arises with the usual battery thicknesses, which has a negative effect on the maximum possible cooling capacity and reduces the service life of the battery due to thermal inhomogeneities. In the case of temperature control on both sides of the traction battery, the temperature gradient that arises over the battery thickness is significantly reduced compared to temperature control on one side. However, due to the double number of temperature control plates, double the effort with regard to the connection technology has to be carried out.

The DE 10 2012 011 511 A1 describes a battery system with an air conditioning system at least two modules. In this case, a battery module to be cooled is first determined and an air flow is supplied to a rotary distributor for cooling this battery module, which air flow specifically supplies this air flow to the battery module to be cooled. If another battery module is to be cooled, the rotary distributor is brought into a different position, as a result of which the air flow is then fed to another of the battery modules. A central distribution unit is therefore used to cool the battery modules. However, here too, numerous lines from the distribution unit to the respective battery modules must be provided, which means that a high outlay in connection technology is also required here.

Furthermore describes the DE 10 2014 000 806 A1 a battery system for a motor vehicle with several battery modules. Furthermore, the battery system comprises at least two separate supply lines for supplying cooling fluid to at least two cooling elements for cooling the battery modules and a distributor line which is connected to a cooling module and serves to supply the supply line with cooling fluid from the cooling module. Between a respective cooling element and the distributor lines, at least two supply lines are provided, which in turn have respective valve devices, which is also very complex with regard to the connection technology.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a cooling unit for a cooling device for cooling a battery, a cooling device and a motor vehicle, which can be designed as simply as possible with regard to the connection technology.

This object is achieved by a cooling unit for a cooling device, by a cooling device and by a motor vehicle with the features according to the respective independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

A cooling unit according to the invention for a cooling device for cooling a battery has a collecting block which has a first main connection for connecting a coolant supply line and a second main connection for connecting a coolant discharge line. Furthermore, the collecting block has at least one first cooling element connection and at least one second cooling element connection. In addition, the cooling unit comprises a first cooling element through which a coolant can flow, for cooling at least one side of a first battery module of the battery, the first cooling element having a first connection for supplying the coolant into the first cooling element and a second connection for removing the coolant from the first cooling element The first connection of the first cooling element is connected directly to the first cooling element connection of the collecting block and the second connection of the cooling element is connected directly to the second cooling element connection of the collecting block.

The fact that the respective connections of the first cooling element are connected directly to the collecting block advantageously means that there are no separately manufactured pipes or lines between them, as a result of which the number of connection points can be reduced and thus also advantageously the effort in connection and sealing technology.

Several such cooling units can be used for a cooling device. A battery, in particular a high-voltage battery or traction battery, which is to be cooled by means of such a cooling device, can comprise, for example, a plurality of battery modules, a respective battery module comprising at least one battery cell, for example a lithium-ion cell. However, each battery module preferably comprises a plurality of battery cells. Furthermore, a corresponding cooling element, which can be designed, for example, as a cooling plate, can be assigned to a respective such battery module. In addition, a corresponding collecting block can be provided for each cooling element, or, for example, two cooling elements each, i.e. So two battery modules each, a corresponding collector block. A collecting block can also be assigned to several battery modules, in particular more than two battery modules. Particularly advantageous arrangement possibilities arise, however, if at most two battery modules, in particular exactly two battery modules, are assigned to a respective collector block.

Furthermore, the collecting block is preferably designed in such a way that coolant to be supplied via the first main connection can be supplied to the first cooling element via the first cooling element connection, the coolant continuing to pass through this first cooling element in turn via the second cooling element connection of the collecting block into the collecting block and via this, in particular can be discharged via the second main connection via the coolant discharge line.

Furthermore, the first cooling element is fixedly connected to the collecting block, for example by means of a cohesive and / or non-positive and / or positive, and in particular tight, connection. Such a connection can be provided, for example, by means of welding, plugging and / or screwing.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cooling unit has a second cooling element through which a coolant can flow for cooling at least one side of a second battery module of the battery, the second cooling element having a first connection for supplying the coolant to the second cooling element and a second connection for removing the Has coolant from the second cooling element, and wherein the collecting block further comprises at least a third cooling element connection, which is connected directly to the first connection of the second cooling element, and a fourth cooling element connection, which is connected directly to the second connection of the second cooling element. Here, too, it is to be understood as directly connected that the second cooling element is arranged directly on the collecting block without any separately manufactured pipes or lines between them.

According to this advantageous embodiment, two cooling elements are now connected to a common collecting block. The first and the second cooling element can, for example, be arranged on opposite sides of the collecting block. For example, first the first cooling element, then the collecting block, then the second cooling element can be arranged along an x-direction, which corresponds to a vehicle transverse axis, and then correspondingly several such cooling units can be arranged in a row in a y-direction, which, for example, for The vehicle's longitudinal axis corresponds. The individual collecting blocks are thus arranged along a center tunnel of the vehicle, in which the main lines, that is to say the coolant supply line and the coolant discharge line, also run. This enables a particularly compact and connection-wise particularly efficient construction.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first and / or second cooling element has a first side, a second side opposite the first side and a third side connecting the first and second side, at least one cooling duct running through the first, third and second side , in particular wherein a plurality of cooling channels which are arranged parallel to one another each pass through the first, third and second side.

The cooling elements can each be U-shaped, with an upper side, an opposite lower side and a rear side adjacent to the upper hand and lower side and connecting these. Correspondingly, a battery module can be arranged in a cooling element designed in this way, which can then advantageously be cooled simultaneously on 3 sides, for example an upper side, a lower side and a rear side. As a result, particularly efficient heat dissipation can be provided and, above all, an excessive temperature gradient from one side of a battery module to the opposite can be avoided, as would be the case, for example, if the cooling were only on one side. However, if the battery modules which are to be cooled by means of the cooling unit according to the invention or their embodiments are relatively flat, only one-sided cooling of the respective battery modules can also be provided. In the case of cooling on both sides by means of the U-shaped cooling elements described here, it is further preferred that the cooling channels, for example in the direction of flow, initially look at the top of the pass through the respective cooling element in the direction of the back, in particular in a straight line, then in the back, in particular also in a straight line, and then in the bottom, in particular again in a straight line. In other words, it is preferred that the cooling channels in the respective sides of the cooling element run rectilinearly and parallel to one another, ie accordingly also in a U-shape, because this allows the flow behavior of the cooling medium or the coolant to be optimized. This is particularly of great advantage if, for example, CO2 (carbon dioxide) is used as the coolant, where CO2 can advantageously be used both as a coolant in regular operation and, for example, in gaseous form as an extinguishing agent in an emergency, as will be described in more detail later becomes. The above-described design of the respective cooling channels allows the states of the CO2, that is to say liquid and / or gaseous, to be controlled in a flow-optimized manner.

The individual cooling channels in a cooling element can be brought together in the area of the first and second connection of the cooling element to form this respective connection and thus be connected to the collecting block or also open into the collecting block as individual channels via a respective connection.

When the battery modules are cooled on both sides by this U-shaped design of the respective cooling elements, advantageously no increased connection and / or connection effort is therefore also required, but only two connections per cooling element and thus per battery module are also required, so that the connection effort is the same is like a one-sided cooling.

Nevertheless, as already mentioned, only one-sided cooling of the respective battery modules can be provided. This can be accomplished, for example, by designing the respective cooling elements as simple cooling plates, that is to say as flat plates. The cooling channels in such a respective plate can then run in one plane, for example in a U-shape in the plane. Correspondingly, such a cooling plate also has two connection elements, one for the supply of the coolant and one for the discharge of the coolant.

As also already mentioned, such a one-sided cooling is particularly advantageous if the battery modules to be cooled are relatively flat. Such a one-sided cooling can then advantageously reduce the design effort and also simplify assembly.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the collecting block has a housing which has at least one one-piece outer side which provides the first and second main connection and the first and second cooling element connection. If two cooling elements are provided per collector block, the one-piece outside of the housing of the collector block also provides the third and fourth cooling element connections. Due to the one-piece or one-piece design of the collecting block or the outside thereof, advantageously no sealing elements or the like need be provided on the collecting block itself, which in turn can reduce the outlay in connection technology. The respective cooling elements, in particular with battery modules partially enclosed by these cooling elements, can simply be inserted with their connections into the collecting block and screwed on, for example. This one-piece design relates at least to the outside of the collecting block. This, in particular its housing, can still be made of several parts or components, which is even very advantageous. It is therefore preferred for a housing wall of the housing to be of multi-component design, in particular when viewed from the outside inward, to have at least two different components, in particular material components, a component providing the outside being formed from plastic. In particular, this component providing the outside is a soft component, which advantageously makes it possible to mount and decouple the collecting block in a damping manner. This configuration can also be provided in the two-part or multi-part embodiment of the housing or the outside thereof described later.

It is therefore a further advantageous embodiment of the invention if the first connection of the first cooling element and the first cooling element connection of the collecting block and the second connection of the cooling element and the second cooling element connection of the collecting block are each connected to one another by a plug connection and / or screw connection. For example, the respective battery modules can first be arranged in the U-shaped cooling elements and then this arrangement can be plugged together with the collecting block and then screwed on. This advantageously enables a particularly simple assembly of a battery including the cooling device. This also makes it possible to design the cooling elements in one piece, even if they are U-shaped.

Alternatively, these cooling elements can also be designed in two parts and the two parts the rear side by means of a flange connection of the countries. This also enables a further advantageous mounting option, which is described below.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the collecting block has a two-part or multi-part housing, in particular a two-part outside. In this case, it is preferred that a first housing part provides the first cooling element connection and a second housing part provides the second cooling element connection. This embodiment is particularly advantageous if the respective cooling elements are not designed as flat cooling plates but rather U-shaped to provide double-sided cooling as described above. Because the two-part design of the collecting block or its housing makes it possible to provide a further particularly simple way of mounting the battery and the cooling device. In combination with this two-part design of the collecting block, it is also preferred that the respective cooling elements are then also made in two parts, in particular with an upper part and a lower part, each of which, for example, also comprises half of the back of the respective cooling element. The lower part of the U-shaped cooling element can then be connected to a lower part of the collecting block, while the upper part of the U-shaped cooling element is connected to an upper part of the collecting block. Correspondingly, one or two battery modules can be inserted between these two parts and then the two parts can be placed on top of one another and screwed together. In particular, the two parts of the U-shaped cooling element on the back can then be connected to one another again by a flange connection, while, for example, the two parts of the collecting block are connected to one another by a plug connection and / or screw connection. This divided structure of the collecting block thus also makes it possible in a particularly simple manner to generate a plurality of temperature levels, in particular in the vertical direction or in the direction of the vehicle vertical axis with respect to the intended installation position of the cooling device in a motor vehicle.

Such a construction advantageously also allows, as is provided according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first connection of the first cooling element and the first cooling element connection of the collecting block and the second connection of the cooling element and the second cooling element connection of the collecting block to be integrally connected to one another are. Such a cohesive connection has the advantage that no sealing elements have to be provided for such a connection, and the sealing effort is thus reduced to a minimum. Such a cohesive connection between the collecting block or its cooling element connections and the corresponding cooling elements can also be provided if the collecting block is, for example, only made in one piece and the cooling elements are not, for example, U-shaped but are designed as simple, flat cooling plates, only to to provide one-sided cooling of the battery modules.

In addition, the collection block provides the option of integrating a valve. It is therefore a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention that the collecting block has a valve, in particular an expansion valve and an accumulator, the supply of the coolant into the first cooling element being controllable by means of the valve. The same applies to the second cooling element if such is connected to the collecting block. Thus, for each battery module or module pair that is assigned to a collecting block, the coolant supply and thus the temperature control can advantageously be controlled independently of one another, and can thus be adapted particularly as required. In the case of liquid cooling, for example using water and / or oil as a coolant, this valve can only be designed to regulate the mass flow and control the amount of coolant supplied to the cooling element per unit of time via the cooling element connection, for example depending on the respective module parameters, such as the module temperature. Appropriate sensors, in particular temperature sensors, can in turn be provided to detect the module temperature. Such a temperature sensor can also be designed, for example, as a film which is arranged flat on one side of a battery module for detecting its temperature.

In the event that a temperature control is provided by CO2 as a coolant, the valve can also be designed as an expansion valve and an accumulator can also be integrated in the collecting block. This makes it possible, for example, to cool the respective battery modules by supplying liquid CO2 to the respective cooling elements in normal operating situations. In addition, the expansion valve can also cause an expansion of the CO2, which in turn leads to the transition from the liquid to the gaseous state of the CO2. In the gaseous state, the CO2 can also be used as an extinguishing agent in an emergency, for example.

The accumulator fulfills the function of a filter or dryer. This is preferably arranged in the low-pressure region after the evaporator. Accordingly, a mixture of the solid and liquid phase of the CO2 reaches the accumulator, the separates these phases and only forwards the gaseous phase, in particular with a small, controlled feed of liquid phase, to the evaporator. This should namely only reach the gaseous phase in order to avoid damage. Furthermore, the accumulator also filters moisture and dirt and serves as an expansion tank to cover the various load conditions. Instead of an accumulator, a simpler filter dryer can also be used.

This advantageously allows additional functions to be integrated into the collection block. As a result, various cooling states can then advantageously also be realized, for example normal cooling as a function of the current module temperature of the respective battery modules, and for example gaseous emergency cooling or the like. In addition, an individual cooling capacity can be set for each battery module or module pair.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a cooling device for cooling a battery, in particular a motor vehicle battery, the cooling device having a cooling unit according to the invention or one of its configurations. The cooling device preferably has a plurality of such cooling units, as described above. In particular, such a cooling unit can be provided per battery module or module pair. The cooling device can also include the coolant supply line and the coolant discharge line. These preferably represent two separate lines, so that the coolant discharged from a cooling element is no longer used for cooling a further cooling element, but is discharged directly via the coolant discharge line, is cooled again and is then fed back to the coolant supply line. In this way, an optimal and as uniform as possible cooling across all battery modules can be achieved. The coolant supply line and the coolant discharge line can be arranged on a respective main block via a respective main connection.

In addition, the invention also relates to a battery arrangement with a battery, in particular a traction battery and / or high-voltage battery for a motor vehicle, and a cooling device according to the invention or one of its configurations. The battery can be configured as described above and arranged in relation to the cooling device. In addition, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle with a cooling device according to the invention or one of its configurations, in particular in combination with a corresponding motor vehicle battery as described above. The battery arrangement with the cooling device can also be arranged in the motor vehicle as described above, in particular so that the respective collecting blocks are arranged along the central tunnel of the motor vehicle, which runs in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a battery module preferably being located on both sides of a respective collecting block.

The advantages described for the cooling unit according to the invention and its embodiments apply in the same way to the cooling device according to the invention, the battery arrangement according to the invention and the motor vehicle according to the invention.

The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Kühleinheit für eine einseitige Kühlung von zwei Batteriemodulen gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung einer Kühleinheit für eine beidseitige Kühlung von zwei Batteriemodulen gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung einer Kühleinheit für eine beidseitige Kühlung von zwei Batteriemodulen gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 4 eine schematische Darstellung einer Kühleinheit für eine beidseitige Kühlung von einem Batteriemodul gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung; und
• 5 eine schematische Darstellung eines Kraftfahrzeugs mit einer Kühlvorrichtung mit mehreren Kühleinheiten gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. This shows:

• 1 a schematic representation of a cooling unit for one-sided cooling of two battery modules according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 2 is a schematic representation of a cooling unit for bilateral cooling of two battery modules according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 3 a schematic representation of a cooling unit for cooling both sides of two battery modules according to a further embodiment of the invention;
• 4 a schematic representation of a cooling unit for bilateral cooling of a battery module according to an embodiment of the invention; and
• 5 is a schematic representation of a motor vehicle with a cooling device with a plurality of cooling units according to an embodiment of the invention.

The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that are to be considered independently of one another, which also further develop the invention independently of one another and are therefore also to be regarded individually or in a combination other than the one shown as part of the invention. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention that have already been described.

In the figures, the same reference numerals designate elements with the same function.

1 shows a schematic representation of a cooling unit 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. In this example, the cooling unit includes 10 a central collecting block 12 , and a first cooling element through which a coolant can flow 14 and a second cooling element 16 ,

The collection block 12 has a first main connection 18 and a second main connector 20 on. To these main connections 18 . 20 can have a coolant supply line 22 and a coolant discharge line 24 be connected, which are only indicated by the dashed line in this example. These two coolant supply and discharge lines 22 . 24 can also be designed as coaxial lines. Then it is preferred that the inner line the coolant supply line 22 represents and the outer, running around the inner line, the coolant discharge line 24 , Especially when CO2 is used as the coolant, this has the particularly great advantage that the coaxial course offers an additional protective mechanism, since in such a case the coolant supply line 22 exposed to very high pressures. Furthermore, the collection block points 12 for a respective cooling element 14 . 16 two cooling element connections 26 . 28 on, which are also only indicated schematically in this example, in particular only for the second cooling element 16 , Via a first of these connections 26 is a respective cooling element 14 . 16 the coolant can be supplied and via the second connection 28 the coolant after this the respective cooling elements 14 . 16 has passed through, can be removed again.

These two for a respective cooling element 14 . 16 provided cooling element connections 26 . 28 thus also correspond to respective connections of the cooling elements 14 . 16 itself. These cooling elements 14 . 16 are thus directly at the collection block 12 firmly connected, without any cables in between. This greatly reduces the connection effort, as well as the number of connection points to be sealed.

In the in 1 the example shown are the respective cooling elements 14 . 16 also designed as simple cooling plates, in particular with integrated so-called multiport tubes. These are numerous small cooling channels, which preferably run parallel to one another, in particular in and against the x direction shown here. On the not shown here and the collection block 12 opposite end of a respective cooling plate 14 . 16 These multiport tubes can be connected to one another by a deflection line, so that, for example, the coolant on a first half of such a cooling plate 14 towards the collection block 12 the opposite end runs, is redirected there and back to the collecting block 12 runs.

This construction advantageously allows one-sided cooling for battery modules 30 (see. 2 . 3 and 4 ) provide. A respective battery module 30 can, for example, with a bottom on a respective one of these cooling plates 14 . 16 be put on. Such one-sided cooling reduces the design effort and is particularly suitable for relatively flat battery modules 30 , Furthermore, it is also possible with this structure that the respective cooling elements 14 . 16 cohesive with the collecting block 12 at the appropriate connection points 26 . 28 are connected, for example welded. This can further reduce the risk of a leak.

2 shows a schematic representation of a cooling unit 10 according to a further embodiment of the invention. In this example is the cooling unit 10 now for two-sided cooling of battery modules 30 educated. This cooling unit 10 again has a collection block 12 with a first and a second main connection 18 . 20 for the respective coolant supply and discharge lines 22 . 24 on. In addition, the cooling unit 10 again opposite with respect to the collector block 12 arranged cooling elements 14 . 16 on. In this example, these are now not U-shaped as flat cooling plates. The respective cooling elements accordingly 14 . 16 a top 14a . 16a , a bottom 14b . 16b and one the top 14a . 16a with the bottom 14b . 16b connecting back 14c . 16c on. Furthermore, multiport tubes, which in this case are also U-shaped, can be inserted into these cooling elements 14 . 16 be integrated to guide the coolant.

In addition, the respective cooling elements are also here again 14 . 16 directly to the collection block 12 connected, in particular again via the corresponding first and second connections 26 . 28 , Contrary to the example 1 are these connections 26 . 28 however not arranged in one plane but one above the other in the z direction shown here. The coolant is, for example, through the first connection 26 in a respective cooling element 14 . 16 introduced, runs through the top 14a . 16a of the respective cooling element, is on the back 14c . 16c in the bottom 14b . 16b led and emerges from the respective cooling elements 14 . 16 again via the respective second connection 28 from in the collection block 12 and is via the corresponding coolant discharge line 24 dissipated.

For simple assembly or installation of the battery modules 30 into these respective cooling elements 14 . 16 , these cooling elements 14 . 16 also be made in two parts and on the back 14c . 16c via a flange connection 32 be connected.

Furthermore, the collection block 12 be designed with a one-piece housing, in which case the respective cooling elements 14 . 16 via a plug and / or screw connection with the collecting block 12 via the corresponding connections 26 . 28 get connected. Alternatively, however, the collection block 12 also be made in two parts, as this is now based on 3 is described.

3 shows a schematic representation of a cooling unit 10 according to a further embodiment of the invention. In particular, this cooling unit 10 how to 2 described except for the differences described below. In this example is the collection block 12 or its housing is made in two parts and has an upper housing part 12a as well as a lower housing part 12b on. The upper case 12a includes the first connections 26 for the two sides on the collecting block 12 arranged cooling elements 14 . 16 , and the lower part of the housing 12b the second ports 28 for the respective cooling elements 14 . 16 , In particular, this two-part design also enables the cooling elements 14 . 16 via the respective connections 26 . 28 again cohesively with the corresponding parts 12a . 12b of the collection block 12 are connected. Alternatively, the connection can also be realized again by a plug and / or screw connection.

As in 3 shown, enables this two-part design of the collector block 12 , as well as the respective cooling elements 14 . 16 a particularly simple installation of the battery modules 30 , because these can simply be placed on the lower half of this cooling unit 10 be placed on top and then the top half of this cooling unit 10 be placed, and then the two halves, ie in particular the upper and lower part 12a . 12b of the collection block 12 are screwed together, as well as the respective parts of the cooling elements 14 . 16 on the back via the flange connection 32 be connected to each other.

4 shows a schematic representation of a cooling unit 10 according to a further embodiment of the invention. In this example, there is now only a single cooling element 14 at the collecting block 12 arranged so that the collection block 12 just a single battery module 30 assigned. Otherwise the cooling unit 10 how to 2 or 3 be designed described, or again only for one-sided cooling, such as 1 described.

All examples are the fixed connection of the collection block 12 at least one cooling plate 14 . 16 , or generally a cooling element 14 . 16 , common, and at least one collected inlet and outlet 26 . 28 , Furthermore, how to 3 described the possibility of the divided structure provided to generate several temperature levels in the vertical direction, ie in the z direction. In addition, in the collection block 12 also a valve, in particular an expansion valve and an accumulator, can be integrated. This allows cooling for each battery module 30 or each pair of battery modules can be regulated individually, and various cooling modes, for example a normal cooling mode, in which cooling is dependent on the temperature, and an emergency mode, in which expanded CO2 can be used as a gas for extinguishing, can also be provided.

5 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 34 with a battery arrangement 36 who have multiple battery modules 30 as well as a cooling device 38 has, wherein the cooling device 38 again several cooling units 10 as previously described. In addition, the battery arrangement 36 a battery with several battery modules 30 on. A respective cooling unit 10 can in turn be constructed as described above. The respective collection blocks 12 are arranged here along a vehicle center tunnel, ie along the y-direction shown here, which runs along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Overall, this enables a particularly compact construction of a battery arrangement 36 with individual cooling for each individual battery module 30 or at least provide a battery module pair, in which a significant reduction in the number of connection points to be sealed in the temperature control circuit can additionally be provided, in particular to an inlet and an outlet 26 . 28 at the collecting block 12 for a respective battery module 30 is reduced, which in turn contains at least one cell module.

Overall, the examples show how the invention provides a flexibly combinable and configurable cooling unit for cooling battery modules, which reduces the connection effort to a minimum by providing a collecting block with cooling plates connected directly to these.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included 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.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102012011511 A1 [0004]
• DE 102014000806 A1 [0005]

Claims (10)

Cooling unit (10) for a cooling device (38) for cooling a battery, - the cooling unit (10) has a collecting block (12) which has a first main connection (18) for connecting a coolant supply line (22) and a second main connection (20 ) for connecting a coolant discharge line (24), - wherein the collecting block (12) furthermore has at least one first cooling element connection (26) and at least one second cooling element connection (28), characterized in that - the cooling unit (10) contains a coolant Flow-through first cooling element (14, 16) for cooling at least one side of a first battery module (30) of the battery, - the first cooling element (14, 16) having a first connection (26) for supplying the coolant to the first cooling element (14, 16) and a second connection (28) for removing the coolant from the first cooling element (14, 16); and - wherein the first connection (26) of the first cooling element (14, 16) is connected directly to the first cooling element connection (26) of the collecting block (12) and the second connection (28) of the cooling element (14, 16) directly to the second Cooling element connection (28) is connected. Cooling unit (10) after Claim 1 characterized in that the cooling unit (10) has a second cooling element (14, 16) through which a coolant can flow for cooling at least one side of a second battery module (30) of the battery, the second cooling element (14, 16) having a first connection ( 26) for supplying the coolant to the second cooling element (14, 16) and a second connection (28) for discharging the coolant from the second cooling element (14, 16), and wherein the collecting block (12) furthermore has at least one third cooling element connection ( 26) which is connected directly to the first connection (26) of the second cooling element (14, 16) and has a fourth cooling element connection (28) which is connected directly to the second connection (28) of the second cooling element (14, 16) connected is. Cooling unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and / or second cooling element (14, 16) has a first side (14a, 16a), a second side (14b, 14a) opposite the first side (14a, 16a). 16b) and a third side (14c, 16c) connecting the first and second sides (114a, 16a, 14b, 16b), wherein at least one cooling duct connects the first, third and second sides (14a, 14c, 14b, 16a, 16c, 16b), in particular wherein a plurality of cooling channels which are arranged parallel to one another each pass through the first, third and second sides (14a, 14c, 14b, 16a, 16c, 16b). Cooling unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collecting block (12) has a housing which has at least one integrally formed outer side, which the first and second main connection (18, 20) and the first and the second cooling element connection ( 26, 28), in particular with a housing wall of the housing being of multi-component design, with a component providing the outside being made of plastic. Cooling unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first connection (26) of the first cooling element (14, 16) and the first cooling element connection (26) of the collecting block (12) and the second connection (28) of the cooling element ( 14, 16) and the second cooling element connection (28) of the collecting block (12) are each connected to one another by a plug connection and / or screw connection. Cooling unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collecting block (12) has a two-part housing (12a, 12b), a first housing part (12a) providing the first cooling element connection (26) and a second housing part (12b) provides the second cooling element connection (28). Cooling unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first connection (26) of the first cooling element (14, 16) and the first cooling element connection (26) of the collecting block (12) and the second connection (28) of the cooling element ( 14, 16) and the second cooling element connection (28) of the collecting block (12) are each integrally connected to one another. Cooling unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collecting block (12) has a valve, in particular an expansion valve and an accumulator, by means of which the supply of the coolant into the first cooling element (14, 16) can be controlled. Cooling device (38) for cooling a battery, the cooling device (38) having at least one cooling unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims. Motor vehicle (34) with a cooling device (38) Claim 9 ,

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