DE102019203303A1 - Device and method for temperature control of an electrochemical storage device and vehicle arranged in a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Among other things, it is proposed a device (6) for temperature control of an electrochemical storage device (3) arranged in a vehicle (1), with at least one integrated into a first temperature control medium circuit in the form of a coolant circuit (8) of the vehicle (1) and the electrochemical storage device ( 3) associated first heat exchanger (7), the coolant circuit (8) being thermally connected or connectable to a second temperature control circuit in the form of a refrigerant circuit (11) of the vehicle (1) that can be activated if required. It is advantageously provided that at least one second heat exchanger (17), which is integrated into the said refrigerant circuit (11), is additionally assigned to the electrochemical storage device (3).

Description

The invention relates to a device for controlling the temperature of an electrochemical store arranged in a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 of the invention. According to claim 8 or 9 of the invention, the same also relates to a method for temperature control of an electrochemical store arranged in a vehicle. According to claim 10 of the invention, this also relates to a vehicle with such a temperature control device.

In the recent past, due to the constantly decreasing supply of fuels for the internal combustion engine drive of vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, great efforts have been made to provide alternative drive types. The electromotive drive, which is supplied with electrical energy from one or more electrochemical storage devices, such as batteries or accumulators, is becoming increasingly important. The vehicle can be operated as an electric vehicle exclusively by means of one or more electric motor drives or, as a so-called hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle, can have both an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors to drive it. The professional world is increasingly favoring Li-ion accumulators as so-called traction batteries or drive batteries, which for their part advantageously have no memory effect and a low self-discharge. Regardless of this, the efficiency of such accumulators or batteries is temperature-dependent and decreases sharply at low temperatures. It should also be noted that when the motor vehicle is being driven and in the charging phase of such batteries or battery systems, heat is introduced into the battery system due to electrical power loss in current-carrying components, which can lead to high thermal loads on the batteries. Operating the battery at high cell temperatures is known to result in accelerated aging of the battery cells, which is associated with a shortened service life of the battery system. It was also recognized that an inhomogeneous temperature within the battery cells can also reduce their service life. These circumstances require temperature control measures of the battery system in order to avoid a defect of the same and to achieve a long service life of the same and to be able to safely operate a vehicle driven by an electric motor and implement it as a series vehicle. In view of this, it is generally known to assign a temperature control or cooling system to said battery system.

So it is from the DE 10 2013 213 114 A1 an active cooling system for an electrochemical storage device arranged in the vehicle is known which has a coolant circuit and a coolant circuit inside the vehicle. The electrochemical storage device is integrated directly into the coolant circuit, whereas the refrigerant circuit can be activated if required, in particular for increased cooling capacity, and can be thermally connected to the coolant circuit in the area of a condenser-cooler-fan module.

The object of the invention is to create a device for temperature control of an electrochemical storage device arranged in a vehicle, which is alternative to the prior art and which takes sufficient account of any required increased temperature control performance, in particular cooling performance. A further object of the invention is to specify a suitable method for temperature control of an electrochemical storage device arranged in a vehicle. Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle with such a temperature control device.

Starting from a device for temperature control of an electrochemical store arranged in a vehicle, with at least one first heat exchanger integrated into a first temperature control medium circuit in the form of a coolant circuit of the vehicle and assigned to the electrochemical store, the coolant circuit having a coolant circuit that can be activated if required second temperature control circuit in the form of a refrigerant circuit of the vehicle is thermally connected or connectable, the object is achieved in that the electrochemical storage device is additionally assigned at least one second heat exchanger which is integrated in the said refrigerant circuit.

This measure advantageously enables thermal management for the electrochemical storage device with increased temperature control outputs, in particular cooling outputs. Since the heat exchangers are operated with different concepts, namely cooling by means of coolant and cooling by means of refrigerant, the advantages of both cooling concepts can also be used in the best possible way. Since high cooling capacities (use of both heat exchangers) are only required for a small part of the usage scenarios, in particular with fast charging of the electrochemical storage unit and with highly dynamic driving of the vehicle, the efficiency advantages of the different concepts can be used for a large part of the usage scenarios, especially for normal driving and normal loading, where the Cooling capacity of one of the heat exchangers is sufficient.

The subclaims describe preferred developments or embodiments of the invention.

Accordingly, it is provided that the at least one first heat exchanger and the at least one second heat exchanger are arranged on different sides of at least one storage module or at least one storage cell of the electrochemical store. This arrangement results from the knowledge that a single heat exchanger is sufficient up to a certain cooling capacity, but when there is an increased need for cooling, a high temperature spread occurs within the electrochemical store to be cooled in order to transport the heat to the single heat exchanger. However, this temperature spread must not exceed a certain value in order to prevent damage to the electrochemical storage device. In view of this, by arranging the heat exchangers on different sides of the at least one storage module or the at least one storage cell of the electrochemical storage device, said temperature spread is advantageously minimized.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one first heat exchanger and the at least one second heat exchanger are arranged on opposite sides of the at least one storage module or the at least one storage cell of the electrochemical store, whereby said temperature spread can be reduced to a minimum.

In a further development of the invention, it is further provided that the at least one first heat exchanger integrated into the coolant circuit is preferably arranged outside a housing of the electrochemical store, but is thermally connected to the housing. Since the coolant circuit is operated predominantly with water or a water-glycol mixture, i.e. an electrically conductive temperature control fluid, this measure effectively prevents the temperature control fluid or coolant from entering in the event of a possible defect, in particular a leak in the coolant circuit the housing enters and thus damages or even destroys the electrochemical storage device.

According to a practical embodiment of the invention, the at least one first heat exchanger integrated into the coolant circuit is arranged on a housing base of the housing of the electrochemical storage device.

As far as the at least one second heat exchanger integrated in the refrigerant circuit is concerned, it is preferably arranged within the housing of the electrochemical storage unit, more preferably thermally connected to the at least one storage module or the at least one storage cell of the electrochemical storage unit, which enables particularly effective temperature control of the electrochemical storage unit Storage is made possible by means of the refrigerant circuit. It goes without saying for the person skilled in the art that in this case a refrigerant should be used which is not electrically conductive.

The method for temperature control of an electrochemical store arranged in a vehicle by means of a device of the type described above for temperature control is essentially characterized in that the electrochemical store is cooled below a certain threshold value of a measured outside temperature of the electrochemical store via the first temperature control medium circuit, on the other hand when said threshold value is exceeded, the electrochemical storage device is cooled at least via the second temperature control medium circuit. Said temperature threshold can be, for example, 25 ° C, so that at currently recorded low outside temperatures <25 ° C, the at least one first heat exchanger integrated into the coolant circuit is cooled, whereas at currently recorded high outside temperatures ≥ 25 ° C, the electrochemical one Memory is cooled at least via the at least one integrated into the refrigerant circuit second heat exchanger.

Alternatively or in combination with the above measure, it can also be provided that the temperature control is carried out with the aid of an electronic control unit of the vehicle in such a way that the decision as to which temperature control medium circuit is used for cooling is based on a currently recorded higher efficiency of one of the Temperature control medium circuits, according to which temperature control medium circuit is currently required less energy for temperature control, and that as soon as it is determined that the performance of the more efficient temperature control medium circuit is no longer sufficient, both temperature control medium circuits are used.

The invention also relates to a vehicle with a temperature control device of the type described above. This is essentially an electric, hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle.

• 1 äußerst schematisch ein mit einer Temperierungsvorrichtung der gattungsgemäßen Art ausgestattetes Elektrofahrzeug,
• 2 ein Fließbild einer Temperierungsvorrichtung nach dem Stand der Technik, und
• 3 ein Fließbild einer erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten Temperierungsvorrichtung.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of an exemplary embodiment shown schematically in the drawings. However, it is not limited to this, but includes all Embodiments defined by the claims. Show it:

• 1 extremely schematically an electric vehicle equipped with a temperature control device of the generic type,
• 2 a flow diagram of a temperature control device according to the prior art, and
• 3 a flow diagram of a temperature control device designed according to the invention.

1 first shows a vehicle 1 , in this case a passenger car, with an electric motor 2 as a drive motor and with an electrochemical storage device that forms a traction or high-voltage battery 3 . According to this exemplary embodiment, it is therefore a purely electrically operated vehicle 1 or electric vehicle. The invention also includes, in particular, a so-called hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle, which in addition to one or more electric motors 2 also has an internal combustion engine (not shown in the drawing).

According to 2 exhibits the electrochemical storage 3 a housing 4th in which three memory modules electrically interconnected with one another are merely exemplary 5 are arranged. In every memory module 5 at least one electrochemical storage cell, not shown in the drawing, is arranged. Preferably, however, are with each memory module 5 two or more electrochemical storage cells (not shown in the drawing) combined to form a unit and electrically connected to one another. A housing is of course also covered by the invention 4th which is not about memory modules 5 combined storage cells, but at least one electrochemical storage cell, preferably two or more of the same, which are electrically connected to one another, has (not shown in the drawing).

The electrochemical storage 3 is a device 6th assigned to temperature control. According to the prior art, this has a first heat exchanger 7th on, which is in a first temperature control circuit in the form of a coolant circuit 8th is integrated (cf. 2 ).

The said first heat exchanger 7th is outside the case 2 , present below the same on the case bottom 9 arranged and with the housing 2 respectively its case back 9 thermally connected. Within the coolant circuit 8th is temperature control or coolant, such as water or a water-glycol mixture, by means of a pump 10 passed in the circuit through a cooler known per se and accordingly not shown in the drawing. As a result, the coolant is cooled or heat is withdrawn from it by means of the ambient air flowing around and / or through the said cooler.

To the cooling capacity in the first temperature control circuit in the form of the coolant circuit 8th integrated first heat exchanger 7th to increase is the coolant circuit 8th with a second temperature control circuit in the form of a refrigerant circuit that can be activated if required 11 thermally connected or connectable. Said thermal connection is implemented directly or indirectly via heat-conducting pads or heat-conducting paste that are known per se (not shown in the drawing). In the said, known per se refrigerant circuit 11 is a refrigerant such as CO2 or R1234yf, guided in a closed circuit.

The refrigerant cycle 11 In the simplest embodiment shown, it comprises one compressor one after the other, viewed in the direction of flow of the refrigerant 12 , also known as a compressor, a condenser 13 , also referred to as a capacitor, a throttle device 14th and an evaporator 15th . The liquefier 13 is air or water cooled. The evaporator 15th is within a heat exchange device 16 with that as a coolant circuit 8th formed first temperature control circuit thermally connected. The refrigerant circuit is dependent on the currently required cooling capacity 11 activated or deactivated.

Coolants are preferably understood to be liquid (e.g. water, water-glycol mixture, etc.), but alternatively also gaseous substances or mixtures of substances (e.g. air) for the transport of heat. However, coolants are only able to transport the enthalpy along the temperature gradient to a point of lower temperature in a cooling cycle. In contrast, a refrigerant (e.g. said CO2 or R1234yf, etc.) can do this in a cold cycle against a temperature gradient so that the ambient temperature may be higher than the temperature of the electrochemical storage device to be cooled.

A thermal management for the electrochemical storage 3 with an even more optimal temperature control of the electrochemical store compared to the state of the art 3 to enable is based on the described prior art according to 2 the electrochemical storage 3 a second heat exchanger 17th assigned to which in the refrigerant circuit described above 11 is integrated (cf. 3 ). According to this embodiment, the second heat exchanger 17th inside the case 4th of the electrochemical storage 3 arranged so that this with the memory modules 3 respectively their Memory module housing 18th is thermally connected. Said thermal connection is implemented directly or indirectly via heat-conducting pads or heat-conducting paste that are known per se (not shown in the drawing). Are instead of the memory modules 3 Storage cells in the housing 4th provided that does not become a memory module 3 with memory module housing 18th are summarized is the second heat exchanger 17th directly or indirectly thermally connected to the storage cells via heat-conducting pads or heat-conducting paste (not shown in the drawing).

Again 3 It can also be seen that it is in the refrigerant circuit 11 integrated second heat exchanger 17th opposite to that in the coolant circuit 8th integrated first heat exchanger 7th on the memory modules provided here 5 arranged, therefore above the memory modules 5 . This measure has the advantage of an excessive and therefore disadvantageous temperature spread in the electrochemical store 3 or its memory modules 5 encountered.

However, the invention is not limited to this preferred embodiment of the invention, but also includes at least one second heat exchanger 17th which on the outer surface of the memory module (s) 3 , if necessary between adjacent memory modules 3 is arranged. A combination of both arrangements, namely both above and to the side of each storage module 3 , is also covered by the invention (not shown in the drawing).

According to this invention, a temperature control medium is understood to mean not only a coolant, but also a liquid or gaseous heat transfer medium which, if required, also transfers heat to the electrochemical store 3 gives. This may prove necessary, for example, when the vehicle 1 is operated in a cold or extremely cold environment, since it is known that a low ambient temperature is also detrimental to both the performance of the electrochemical storage device 3 as well as the charging behavior of the same. Accordingly, a temperature control of the electrochemical storage 3 To enable the same in the sense of heating is preferred in the coolant circuit 8th a heating device, not shown in the drawing, preferably an electrically operated heating device, integrated or integrable. If necessary, the heating device heats the coolant, which absorbs the thermal energy via the first heat exchanger 7th to the memory modules 5 of the electrochemical storage 3 gives.

A preferred method for controlling the temperature in the vehicle 1 arranged electrochemical storage 3 by means of a device 6th for temperature control of the type described above is essentially characterized in that the electrochemical store 3 below a certain threshold value of a measured outside temperature via the first temperature control circuit with the coolant circuit 11 and the at least one first heat exchanger integrated therein 7th is cooled, whereas when the said threshold value is exceeded, the electrochemical storage device 3 at least via the second temperature control medium circuit with the refrigerant circuit 11 and the at least one second heat exchanger integrated therein 17th is cooled. Said threshold value of the outside temperature of the electrochemical storage 3 can for example be at 25 ° C. This provides an optimal thermal management for the electrochemical storage 3 because the advantages of both cooling concepts come into their own in the best possible way.

The temperature control of the electrochemical storage 3 can further preferably using an electronic regulating and control unit of the vehicle, not shown in the drawing 1 respectively. For this purpose, the electronic regulating and control unit preferably, but without claiming to be complete, has suitable sensor devices for determining a current operating state of the vehicle 1 , namely driving operation or vehicle stand for, in particular, electrical charging of the electrochemical storage device 3 , as well as to determine the currently recorded electrical charge of the electrochemical storage 3 and the current temperature to be recorded as well as the outside temperature.

Since high cooling performance (use of both heat exchangers 7th , 17th ) are only required for a small part of the usage scenarios, in particular for rapid charging of the electrochemical storage device 3 as well as with a highly dynamic driving style of the vehicle 1 , the efficiency advantages of the different concepts can be used for a large part of the usage scenarios, especially for normal driving and normal charging, in which the cooling capacity of one of the heat exchangers 7th , 17th is sufficient. For example, the electronic regulating and control unit is preferably set up in such a way that at low outside temperatures, for example <25 ° C., efficiently via the coolant circuit 8th is cooled, and at high outside temperatures, e.g. ≥ 25 ° C, efficiently via the refrigerant circuit 11 is cooled. If a particularly high cooling capacity is required, for example in the case of the said rapid charging or highly dynamic driving style of the vehicle 1 , both circuits come (coolant circuit 8th / Refrigerant circulation 11 ) for use.

List of reference symbols

1

vehicle

2

Electric motor

3

electrochemical storage

4th

casing

5

Memory module

6th

Device for temperature control

7th

first heat exchanger

8th

Coolant circuit

9

Case back

10

pump

11

Refrigerant circulation

12

compressor

13

Condenser

14th

Throttle device

15th

Evaporator

16

Heat exchanger device

17th

second heat exchanger

18th

Memory module housing

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was 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.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102013213114 A1 [0003]

Claims (10)

Device (6) for temperature control of an electrochemical storage device (3) arranged in a vehicle (1), with at least one integrated into a first temperature control medium circuit in the form of a coolant circuit (8) of the vehicle (1) and the electrochemical storage device (3) ) associated first heat exchanger (7), wherein the coolant circuit (8) is thermally connected or connectable to a second temperature control circuit in the form of a refrigerant circuit (11) of the vehicle (1), which can be activated if required, characterized in that the electrochemical storage (3) is additionally assigned at least one second heat exchanger (17) which is integrated in said refrigerant circuit (11). Device (6) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one first heat exchanger (7) and the at least one second heat exchanger (17) are arranged on different sides of at least one storage module (5) or at least one storage cell of the electrochemical store (3). Device (6) according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the at least one first heat exchanger (7) and the at least one second heat exchanger (17) are arranged on opposite sides of the at least one storage module (5) or the at least one storage cell of the electrochemical store (3). Device (6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one first heat exchanger (7) is arranged outside a housing (4) of the electrochemical store (3), but is thermally connected to the housing (4). Device (6) according to Claim 4 , characterized in that the at least one first heat exchanger (7) is arranged on a housing base (9) of the housing (4) of the electrochemical store (3). Device (6) according to Claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that the at least one second heat exchanger (17) is arranged within the housing (4) of the electrochemical store (3). Device (6) according to one of the Claims 2 to 6th , characterized in that the at least one second heat exchanger (17) is thermally connected to the at least one storage module (5) or at least one storage cell of the electrochemical store (3). A method for temperature control of an electrochemical storage device (3) arranged in a vehicle (1) by means of a device (6) for temperature control according to one of the Claims 1 to 7th in such a way that the electrochemical store (3) is cooled below a certain threshold value of a measured outside temperature via the first temperature control medium circuit, whereas when said threshold value is exceeded, the electrochemical store (3) is cooled at least via the second temperature control medium circuit. A method for temperature control of an electrochemical storage device (3) arranged in a vehicle (1) by means of a device (6) for temperature control according to one of the Claims 1 to 7th , characterized in that with the aid of an electronic regulation and control unit of the vehicle (1) the temperature control takes place in such a way that the decision as to which temperature control medium circuit is used for cooling is based on a currently recorded higher efficiency of one of the temperature control medium circuits, accordingly , by means of which temperature control medium circuit is currently required less energy for temperature control, and that as soon as it is determined that the performance of the more efficient temperature control medium circuit is no longer sufficient, both temperature control medium circuits are used. Vehicle (1), with a device (6) for temperature control according to one of the Claims 1 to 7th .

Images