DE102021132034A1 - Cooling arrangement for cooling a battery of a motor vehicle, motor vehicle and method for operating a cooling arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling arrangement for cooling a battery (12) of a motor vehicle, having a coolant circuit (24) which comprises a cooling device (20) through which a coolant can flow. The cooling device (20) is designed to absorb heat released by the battery (12) during operation of the battery (12). The coolant circuit (24) has an outlet (30), via which the coolant can be fed to a cooling module (16) external to the vehicle, and an inlet (32), via which the coolant can be introduced into a vehicle-internal section (26) of the coolant circuit (24). is, in which the cooling device (20) is arranged. A heat exchanger (40) different from the cooling device (20) and a pump device (22) are arranged in the vehicle-internal section (26). The pump device (22) can be used to supply the coolant to the vehicle-external cooling module (16) via the outlet (30) and/or to introduce it into the vehicle-internal section (26) via the inlet (32). The invention also relates to a motor vehicle and a method for operating the cooling arrangement (10).

Description

The invention relates to a cooling arrangement for cooling a battery of a motor vehicle, having a coolant circuit which includes a cooling device through which a coolant can flow. The cooling device is designed to absorb heat released by the battery during operation of the battery. The coolant circuit has an outlet via which the coolant can be fed to a cooling module external to the vehicle. Furthermore, the coolant circuit has an inlet via which the coolant coming from the vehicle-external cooling module can be introduced into a vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit. The cooling device and a heat exchanger that is different from the cooling device are arranged in the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle with such a cooling arrangement and a method for operating a cooling arrangement.

DE 11 2012 003 099 T5 describes a charging station for rapid charging of an electric vehicle battery. The rapid charging station includes a coolant source to inject coolant into the battery during the rapid charging process. After the coolant has been circulated through the battery, the heated coolant is returned to the coolant source by a recirculation pump of the quick charge station. The heated coolant is routed through a heat exchanger in the rapid charging station. After the coolant has cooled down, it can be pumped back into the vehicle using another pump from the rapid charging station. The vehicle may carry an on-board liquid cooling system with a liquid heat exchanger having a liquid circuit that allows liquid coolant to be circulated through the interior of the battery while the vehicle is in motion.

The DE 10 2018 209 279 A1 describes a cooling device for cooling a storage device of a motor vehicle designed to store electrical energy, in which a heat exchanger is integrated into a cooling circuit in which an air-cooled radiator is arranged.

And the DE 10 2012 200 688 A1 describes an evaporator plate for battery cooling.

When charging the battery of a motor vehicle, in particular when charging the battery quickly, a comparatively large amount of heat is released. If an in-vehicle cooling system is designed to also dissipate the waste heat generated during charging and in particular during fast charging, such a cooling system must be dimensioned significantly larger than is the case with regard to the cooling requirements of the battery, which the battery has when the motor vehicle is in operation . However, such a cooling system, which is oversized for driving operation, is disadvantageous with regard to the expense involved and the weight.

The object of the present invention is to create a cooling arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset, which enables improved temperature control of the battery, as well as to specify a motor vehicle with such a cooling arrangement and a corresponding method for operating a cooling arrangement.

This object is achieved by a cooling arrangement having the features of patent claim 1, by a motor vehicle having the features of patent claim 8 and by a method having the features of patent claim 10. Advantageous configurations with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims and in the following description.

The cooling arrangement according to the invention for cooling a battery of a motor vehicle includes a coolant circuit which includes a cooling device through which a coolant can flow. The cooling device is designed to absorb heat that is released by the battery during operation of the battery. The coolant circuit has an outlet via which the coolant can be fed to a cooling module external to the vehicle. The coolant circuit has an inlet via which the coolant coming from the vehicle-external cooling module can be introduced into a vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit in which the cooling device is arranged. A heat exchanger that is different from the cooling device is arranged in the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit. Furthermore, at least one pump device is arranged in the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit, by means of which the coolant can be fed to the vehicle-external cooling module via the outlet and/or introduced into the vehicle-internal section via the inlet.

The at least one vehicle-internal pumping device of the cooling arrangement can therefore be used to supply the coolant to the vehicle-external cooling module via the outlet and/or to introduce or recirculate the coolant back into the vehicle-internal section via the inlet. Accordingly, there is no need to provide an off-vehicle pumping facility to utilize the off-vehicle cooling module. This goes hand in hand with a reduced outlay in the operation of the cooling arrangement.

However, even in a case in which a vehicle-external pump device is present, by means of which the coolant can be supplied to the vehicle-external cooling module and/or introduced via the inlet into the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit, the provision of the vehicle-internal pump device is advantageous. On the one hand, the vehicle-internal pumping device can support such a vehicle-external pumping device. On the other hand, the vehicle-internal pumping device enables the coolant to be conveyed inside the vehicle for cooling purposes, that is to say when the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit is not fluidically coupled to the vehicle-external cooling module.

Furthermore, by using the at least one pump device arranged in the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit, it can be ensured that there is no overloading or even damage to components of the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit if, during operation of the cooling arrangement, the coolant is pumped through the at least one pump device Coolant circuit is funded. This is because the components of the section of the coolant circuit inside the vehicle are usually designed for the pump capacity of the at least one pump device. Consequently, the cooling arrangement enables improved temperature control of the battery.

The associated advantages apply in particular when the at least one pump device supplies the coolant to the vehicle-external cooling module via the outlet during operation of the cooling arrangement and additionally introduces or returns the coolant via the inlet to the vehicle-internal section.

By means of the vehicle-external cooling module, heat can be extracted from the coolant coming from the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit. In this way, the waste heat that occurs when the battery is charged, in particular when the battery is charged quickly, can be dissipated very well to the cooling module external to the vehicle. This preferably occurs when the coolant flows through the coolant circuit during operation of the cooling arrangement, with the vehicle-external cooling module being arranged in a vehicle-external section of the coolant circuit. Consequently, improved cooling of the battery can be achieved, for example, when the battery is being charged.

The charging, in particular rapid charging, of the battery is preferably carried out when the motor vehicle is stationary at a charging station or charging station, with the charging station or charging station having the vehicle-external cooling module which can ensure appropriate vehicle-external cooling of the battery.

However, it is also advantageously possible to heat the battery by means of the cooling arrangement. This can be useful, for example, if the charging capacity of the battery cannot be fully utilized due to a low temperature. In such a case, the usable charging capacity of the battery can be increased by preheating or warming up the battery. In particular, a point in time at which the full charging capacity or charging power of the battery is available can be moved forward. In particular, this can mean that the charging process, in which the full charging capacity of the battery is to be reached or exhausted, can be carried out particularly quickly.

Accordingly, heat can also be introduced into the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit via the vehicle-external cooling module. This can also be useful in an application in which the coolant circuit is to be used for heating or preheating a passenger compartment and/or components of the motor vehicle other than the battery.

Thus, by coupling the in-vehicle portion of the coolant circuit to the off-board cooling module, an external cold source or heat source provided by the off-board cooling module can be utilized. The vehicle-external cooling module can therefore also be referred to as a vehicle-external temperature control module.

The coolant can preferably be supplied to the heat exchanger by means of the at least one pump device. In this case, the heat exchanger comprises a first partial space, through which the coolant can flow, and a second partial space, which is integrated into a vehicle-internal coolant circuit of the cooling arrangement. The second partial space can be operated as an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit. Accordingly, the heat exchanger can be designed as a so-called chiller. Such a chiller can be switched on in particular in order to provide additional cooling capacity when the motor vehicle is standing at the charging station. Accordingly, while the battery is being charged, the coolant can be cooled both by means of the cooling module external to the vehicle and by means of the chiller. Consequently, a very intensive cooling of the battery can be achieved. This is particularly advantageous during rapid charging of the battery.

Furthermore, by operating the chiller while driving, the battery can also have the motor vehicle active cooling of the battery can be ensured.

The in-vehicle section of the coolant circuit preferably comprises a connecting line which connects a first sub-area of the in-vehicle section arranged upstream of the outlet to a second sub-area of the in-vehicle section arranged downstream of the inlet. Such a connecting line can be used in particular if the heat exchanger is to be used to dissipate heat from the coolant and thus the battery while the motor vehicle is being driven, ie when the motor vehicle is not at the charging station.

In addition, by providing the connecting line it can be achieved that in cooling operation of the cooling arrangement, in which both the vehicle-external cooling module and the heat exchanger are used to dissipate heat from the coolant, a parallel flow through both the vehicle-external cooling module and the heat exchanger with the coolant can be realized. This is conducive to improved cooling of the battery.

Additionally or alternatively, the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit can comprise a bypass line, via which the coolant can be conveyed through the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit, bypassing the heat exchanger. The provision of such a bypass line makes it possible to prevent the coolant from flowing through the heat exchanger in cooling operation in which the vehicle-external cooling module is used. This is advantageously accompanied by a reduction in the pressure loss, so that the at least one pump device can pump the coolant through the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit in a particularly simple manner.

Furthermore, such an operation of the cooling arrangement is advantageous if it is not intended to use the heat exchanger for additional dissipation of heat from the coolant. In particular, when the cooling capacity of the vehicle-external cooling module is sufficient for cooling the battery, the bypass line can therefore be used advantageously.

At least one cooler through which the coolant can flow is preferably integrated into the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit, which can be subjected to an air flow by means of at least one fan of the cooling arrangement. Such a cooler, which is subjected to air during operation, can be used in an advantageous and simple manner for dissipating heat from the coolant both during charging of the battery at the stationary charging station and when the motor vehicle is being driven.

In particular, by providing the heat exchanger designed as a chiller and/or the at least one cooler, it can be ensured that a thermodynamically favorable dissipation of heat from the battery can be achieved for the majority of all operating cases of the cooling arrangement.

The at least one cooler can be arranged in a parallel line of the vehicle-internal section, wherein the coolant can be conveyed parallel to the vehicle-external cooling module in the coolant circuit via the parallel line. Such a parallel connection of the at least one cooler makes it possible in a simple manner to use the cooler when required.

In particular, improved dissipation of heat from the coolant and thus improved cooling of the battery can be achieved by using the cooler in addition to the vehicle-external cooling module.

In addition, with such an arrangement of the at least one cooler, the at least one cooler can be used depending on a temperature of the air flow with which the at least one fan impinges on the cooler. If the temperature of the air flow is such that there would be an undesirable input of heat into the coolant at the cooler or, from a thermodynamic point of view, the cooler would generally be ineffective when the fan is in operation, flow through the parallel line can be prevented, for example by Operating a shut-off valve or the like.

Additionally or alternatively, the at least one cooler can be arranged in a branch of the vehicle-internal section, via which the coolant can be conveyed in series to the vehicle-external cooling module in the coolant circuit. In this way it can be achieved, for example, that heat is already dissipated from the coolant at the radiator before the coolant is supplied to the cooling module external to the vehicle. This is conducive to improved cooling of the battery.

The cooler may be located downstream of the cooler and upstream of the outlet. In particular, such an arrangement of the cooler advantageously makes it possible to use the cooler on the one hand in addition to the vehicle-external cooling module for cooling the coolant and on the other hand during operation of the motor vehicle having the cooling arrangement. This gives a high degree of flexibility with regard to the use of the cooler.

At least one further pump device is preferably arranged in the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit, by means of which the coolant can be pumped through the radiator. Such a further pump device can be provided in particular in order to achieve forced flow through the at least one cooler during cooling operation of the cooling arrangement. Furthermore, the conveying of the coolant through the heat exchanger, which is arranged in the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit, can also be supported by means of the at least one further pump device. The provision of the at least one additional pump or pumping device is preferably dependent on the position of the integration of the cooler in the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit.

In particular, the at least one further pump device can be used when the ambient air temperature is comparatively low, with which the at least one fan of the cooling arrangement can act upon the cooler.

The at least one further pump device can be used advantageously when the motor vehicle is standing at the charging station and the battery is being charged, and/or when the motor vehicle with the battery is moving. In both cases, advantageous cooling of the battery can be achieved by the at least one further pump device flowing through the cooler.

Additionally or alternatively, the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit can have at least one bypass line for bypassing the at least one cooler. By providing such a bypass line or bypass line, it can be achieved in a particularly simple manner that the cooler is only used when this is advantageous for dissipating heat from the coolant, i.e. in particular when there is no undesired entry by impinging on the cooler with the air flow of heat into the coolant takes place.

In addition or as an alternative, the cooling arrangement can comprise at least one radiator blind which, in a closed state, prevents the air flow conveyed by the fan from impinging on the radiator. Such a measure can also prevent an undesired loss of cold from occurring at the at least one cooler when the temperature of the ambient air is high.

The cooling device is preferably in thermally conductive contact with the battery. In this way, the heat released during operation of the battery, ie when charging and/or discharging the battery, can very well be introduced into the coolant and then reach the vehicle-external cooling module and/or the heat exchanger. For good heat transfer in the heat exchanger, it is advantageous if the coolant is in the form of a cooling liquid.

The cooling device for absorbing the heat released by the battery during operation of the battery can be designed in particular as a cooling plate through which the coolant can flow. A cooling plate of this type allows the battery to be cooled very well, but the battery can also be heated by the coolant flowing through the cooling plate.

The motor vehicle according to the invention has a cooling arrangement according to the invention and a battery. In this case, the battery is designed to supply a drive device of the motor vehicle with electrical energy. In the motor vehicle, the cooling arrangement can advantageously be used to cool the battery.

The battery can be designed in particular as a high-voltage battery or high-voltage storage device, which has a nominal voltage of more than 60 volts and preferably of up to several hundred volts. Alternatively, the battery can be in the form of a low-voltage battery which has a lower nominal voltage, for example a nominal voltage of 48 volts or less. In particular in the case of a battery designed as a high-voltage storage device, a comparatively large amount of waste heat occurs during charging, in particular during fast charging, at the charging station or charging station or the like, which can be dissipated in a particularly efficient manner by means of the cooling arrangement.

The electric drive device of the motor vehicle is preferably designed to cause the motor vehicle to move or at least to support it. Accordingly, the motor vehicle can be designed in particular as an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle.

The vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit is preferably coupled to a vehicle-external section of the coolant circuit, with the vehicle-external cooling module being integrated into the vehicle-external section of the coolant circuit. The coolant can then be conveyed through the coolant circuit and in this way the cooling capacity or temperature control capacity of the vehicle-external cooling module can be increased i.e. use it to cool or heat the battery.

In the method according to the invention for operating a cooling arrangement, the temperature of a battery of a motor vehicle is controlled by a coolant flowing through a cooling device of a coolant circuit of the cooling arrangement. The cooling arrangement is designed to absorb heat released by the battery during operation of the battery. The coolant circuit has an outlet via which the coolant is supplied to a cooling module external to the vehicle. Furthermore, the coolant circuit has an inlet, via which the coolant coming from the vehicle-external cooling module is introduced into a vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit, in which the cooling device is arranged. A heat exchanger that is different from the cooling device is arranged in the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit. Furthermore, at least one pump device is arranged in the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit, by means of which the coolant is supplied to the vehicle-external cooling module via the outlet and/or is introduced into the vehicle-internal section via the inlet.

In other words, the at least one pump device can be used to apply the coolant to the vehicle-external cooling module. Additionally or alternatively, the pump device can be used to return the coolant to the section of the coolant circuit inside the vehicle. By using the at least one vehicle-internal pump device, improved temperature control of the battery is achieved during operation of the cooling arrangement.

The advantages and preferred configurations described for the cooling arrangement according to the invention apply in an analogous manner to the motor vehicle according to the invention and to the method according to the invention and vice versa.

The invention therefore also includes developments of the method according to the invention, which have features as have already been described in connection with the developments of the cooling arrangement according to the invention or the motor vehicle according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding developments of the method according to the invention are not described again here.

The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus.

The invention also includes the combinations of features of the described embodiments. The invention also includes implementations that each have a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, provided that the embodiments were not described as mutually exclusive.

• 1 eine Kühlanordnung zum Kühlen einer Batterie eines Kraftfahrzeugs, wobei eine fahrzeuginterne Pumpe der Kühlanordnung genutzt werden kann, um Kühlmittel durch ein fahrzeugexternes Kühlmodul zu pumpen;
• 2 eine Variante der Kühlanordnung gemäß 1, bei welcher in einem fahrzeuginternen Abschnitt eines Kühlmittelkreises der Kühlanordnung ein zusätzlicher Kühler und eine zusätzliche Pumpe angeordnet sind;
• 3 eine weitere Variante der Kühlanordnung, bei welcher ein zusätzlicher Kühler in dem fahrzeuginternen Abschnitt des Kühlmittelkreises angeordnet ist, wobei der Kühler seriell zu dem fahrzeugexternen Kühlmodul durchströmbar ist; und
• 4 stark schematisiert das die Batterie aufweisende Kraftfahrzeug sowie eine Ladestation, welche das fahrzeugexterne Kühlmodul aufweist.

Schematic exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. For this shows:

• 1 a cooling arrangement for cooling a battery of a motor vehicle, wherein an on-board pump of the cooling arrangement can be used to pump coolant through an off-board cooling module;
• 2 according to a variant of the cooling arrangement 1 wherein an additional radiator and an additional pump are arranged in an in-vehicle portion of a coolant circuit of the cooling arrangement;
• 3 a further variant of the cooling arrangement, in which an additional cooler is arranged in the vehicle-internal section of the coolant circuit, the cooler being able to flow through in series with the vehicle-external cooling module; and
• 4 the motor vehicle having the battery and a charging station, which has the cooling module external to the vehicle, are highly schematic.

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 and that each also develop the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is also intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those illustrated. 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 symbols designate elements with the same function.

In 1 is a highly schematic cooling arrangement 10 for cooling a battery 12 of a 4 Motor vehicle 14 shown schematically shown. The cooling arrangement 10 enables the use of an off-board cooling module 16 for cooling the battery 12. As shown in FIG 4 can be seen, the vehicle-external cooling module 16 in a stationary charging station or charging station 18 can be integrated, which is used to charge the battery 12 of the motor vehicle 14 . In particular, when the motor vehicle 14 is standing at the charging station 18 and the battery 12 is being charged in a rapid charging process, the battery 12 releases a comparatively large amount of waste heat. This waste heat can be dissipated by using the cooling arrangement 10 .

A cooling device, which can be embodied as a cooling plate 20 , is provided for cooling the battery 12 . The battery 12 and the cooling device 20 preferably form an overall structure or an assembly in the form of an energy storage device, in particular in the form of a high-voltage energy storage device. The cooling device 20 used to dissipate heat from the battery 12 is therefore preferably integrated into this energy storage device.

According to 1 the cooling plate 20 is in heat-conducting contact with the battery 12. The cooling plate 20 can be flowed through by a coolant, which is conveyed through a coolant circuit 24 by means of a vehicle-internal pump device or vehicle-internal pump 22 of the cooling arrangement 10.

The coolant circuit 24 comprises an in-vehicle section 26 in which the cooling plate 20 and the pump 22 or coolant pump are arranged. Furthermore, the coolant circuit 24 includes a vehicle-external section 28 in which the vehicle-external cooling module 16 is arranged. Interfaces of the coolant circuit 24 to an environment of the motor vehicle 14 are provided here by an outlet 30 and by an inlet 32 . In one variant of the cooling arrangement 10, the inlet 32 and the outlet 30 can be designed as a common plug connector with interfaces that are fluidically separate from one another.

Individual lines or lines or the like that are coupled to one another can be connected to the outlet 30 and to the inlet 32 in order to couple the vehicle-external cooling module 16 to the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 (cf 4 ). These vehicle-external lines belong to the vehicle-external section 28 of the coolant circuit 24 (cf 4 ), while the outlet 30 and inlet 32 are associated with the in-vehicle portion 26 of the coolant loop 24 .

At the in 1 The cooling arrangement 10 shown has the coolant circuit 24 at the outlet 30 on a closing device, which as shown here can be designed as a first valve 34. If the first valve 34 is brought into a closed position or is closed, it is prevented that coolant gets into the vehicle-external section 28 of the coolant circuit 24 and thus also into the vehicle-external cooling module 16 via the outlet 30 . The external section 28 and the internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 are partially separated from one another.

In an analogous manner, according to 1 a further closing device in the form of a further valve 36 can be provided at the inlet 32 . If the valve 36 is brought into a closed position or is closed, no coolant can reach the in-vehicle section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 via the inlet 32 .

The inlet 30 and the outlet 32, like the valves 34, 36, can be arranged in the area of an outer skin 38 of the motor vehicle 14 (cf 4 ). The outer skin 38 of the motor vehicle 14 is in 1 shown only in excerpts and highly schematized.

By closing or covering the inlet 30 and the outlet 32 it is possible in particular to prevent contaminants or the like from outside the motor vehicle 14 from entering the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 . For example, the inlet 30 and/or the outlet 32 can be protected from contamination by protective caps (not shown) or similar closure devices. Furthermore, such closure devices prevent cooling fluid or coolant from escaping and thus coolant losses to the environment during vehicle operation and thus coolant circuit operation away from the charging station 18.

After removing or removing such protective caps, the in 4 lines shown schematically are connected to the outlet 30 on the one hand and to the inlet 32 on the other hand. If the valves 34 , 36 are then opened, the pump 22 can pump the coolant through the coolant circuit 24 and use the vehicle-external cooling module 16 to dissipate heat from the battery 12 .

In particular, the at least one vehicle-internal pump 22 can be used to ensure that the coolant also flows through the vehicle-external cooling module 16 . However, it is possible that a delivery device or pump (not shown) is additionally arranged in the vehicle-external section 28 of the coolant circuit 24, by means of which the coolant flows through the vehicle-external cooling module 16 and further through the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24, or at least can be supported. The additional external funding device or pump can in turn be integrated into the vehicle-external cooling module 16 .

If, as in 4 shown, the lines belonging to the vehicle-external section 28 of the coolant circuit 24 are connected to the outlet 30 on the one hand and to the inlet 32 on the other hand, can be brought about by opening the valves 34, 36 or by pressing the valves 34, 36 open by means of the coolant conveyed, that the coolant also flows through the vehicle-external section 28 of the coolant circuit 24 .

According to 1 For example, in the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 there is a heat exchanger 40 that is different from the cooling device, that is to say in the present case from the cooling plate 20 shown as an example. The heat exchanger 40 includes a first partial space 42 through which the coolant can flow. Accordingly, the first partial space 42 of the heat exchanger 40 is integrated into the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 .

Furthermore, the heat exchanger 40 includes a second partial space 44 which is integrated into a vehicle-internal refrigerant circuit 46 of the cooling arrangement 10 . The second partial space 44 of the heat exchanger 40 can be operated as an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit 46 . The usual components 48 of the refrigerant circuit 46, such as a compressor, a condenser or gas cooler downstream of the compressor, and an expansion element upstream of the evaporator in the form of the second partial region 44, are shown in 1 not shown in detail for reasons of clarity.

The heat exchanger 40 can also be referred to as a chiller. This chiller can be switched on as required, for example if both the vehicle-external cooling module 16 and the heat exchanger 40 or chiller are to be used for cooling the battery 12 when the motor vehicle 14 is stationary at the charging station 18 .

It is also possible to use the chiller or heat exchanger 40 while the motor vehicle 14 is being driven, ie when the valves 34, 36 are closed in the present case.

The vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 has in 1 The variant of the cooling arrangement 10 shown has a connecting line 50 which connects a first partial area 52 of the in-vehicle section 26 arranged upstream of the outlet 30, viewed in the flow direction of the coolant, to a second partial area 54 of the in-vehicle section 26 arranged downstream of the inlet 32. When the coolant flows through this connecting line 50 , the coolant coming from the cooling plate 20 can be fed to the heat exchanger 40 or chiller, bypassing the cooling module 16 external to the vehicle.

The connecting line 50 represents in particular a circuit closure within the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 for cooling circuit operation of the motor vehicle 14 that is decoupled or decoupled from a charging station 18.

Connection points at which the connecting line 50 is connected to the first partial area 52 on the one hand and to the second partial area 54 on the other hand can be designed as branching points of the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 . Furthermore, it is possible to provide valves (not shown here), in particular switching valves, at these connection points.

In addition, a valve 56 designed, for example, as a check valve or as a shut-off valve can be arranged in the connecting line 50 . When the coolant conveyed by the pump 22 presses the valve 56 open, a flow through the first partial chamber 42 of the heat exchanger 40 can be achieved. The provision of such a non-return valve, which opens toward the second partial area 54, is particularly useful if the additional pump (not shown) is arranged in the vehicle-external section 28 of the coolant circuit 24. Because if this vehicle-external pump introduces coolant via the inlet 32 into the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24, the check valve causes the coolant not to reach the outlet 30 directly via the connecting line 50, but only after it has flowed through the cooling plate 20 .

However, if only the vehicle-internal pump 22 is responsible for conveying the coolant through the vehicle-external cooling module 16, it is advantageous to design the valve 56 as a shut-off valve. Closing the shut-off valve can then ensure that the coolant delivered by the pump 22 does not flow through the connecting line 50, but through the vehicle-external cooling module 16 when the valves 34, 36 are open.

In 1 Another variant of the cooling arrangement is shown, in which the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 includes a bypass line 58, via which the coolant can be conveyed through the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24, bypassing the heat exchanger 40 or chiller. The bypass line 58 can be provided in addition to or as an alternative to the connecting line 50 .

In the 2 The variant of the cooling arrangement 10 shown largely corresponds to that in 1 shown variant. Therefore, in the following only components of the cooling arrangement 10 will be discussed, which have not already been referred to with reference to FIG 1 have been explained.

That's according to 2 At least one cooler 60 through which the coolant can flow is integrated into the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 . An air flow can be applied to the cooler 60 by means of a fan 62 .

At the in 2 In the variant of the cooling arrangement 10 shown, the cooler 60 is arranged in a parallel line 64 of the section 26 inside the vehicle. The coolant can be conveyed in parallel to the vehicle-external cooling module 16 in the coolant circuit 24 via the parallel line 64 . A further vehicle-internal pump device or further vehicle-internal pump 66 is also arranged in the parallel line 64 .

A closing element (not shown), for example designed as a check valve, can be arranged in the parallel line 64 and opens towards the heat exchanger 40 or chiller. This makes sense, for example, if the pump (not shown here) is arranged in the vehicle-external section 28 of the coolant circuit 24, which pump sucks in the coolant via the outlet 30 and/or introduces it into the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 via the inlet 32. If also and as in 2 shown the connecting line 50 is present, so in the connecting line 50 with reference to 1 described (and in 2 (not shown) valve 56 may be arranged.

The other vehicle-internal pump 66 can then be operated when the motor vehicle 14 is at the charging station 18 and the battery 12 of the motor vehicle 14 is being charged. The cooler 60 then provides for the cooling of the coolant in addition to the external cooling module 16 and preferably in addition to the chiller or heat exchanger 40 . However, the further in-vehicle pump 66 can also be operated when the motor vehicle 14 is running.

If, in the optional case of a bypass line 50 not being present, no heat exchange is desired despite the coolant flowing through the cooler 60 , the fan 62 can be taken out of operation. In addition, the radiator 60 can be preceded by a radiator blind (not shown) which, in a closed position, prevents the air conveyed by the fan 62 from impinging on the radiator 60 . Alternatively, if the bypass line 50 is present, then the auxiliary or parallel line 64 can be blocked and coolant will flow via the external section 28 or via the bypass line 50.

In 3 a further variant of the cooling arrangement 10 is shown, in which respect only differences to the 1 shown cooling arrangement 10 is to be received. In this variant, the radiator 60, to which the air flow can be applied by means of the fan 62, is integrated into the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 in such a way that the radiator 60 can be flowed through by the coolant in series with the vehicle-external cooling module 16. For this purpose, a directional valve 68, in particular a multi-way valve, for example, can be arranged in a partial area of the vehicle-internal section 26, which leads from the cooling plate 20 to the outlet 30.

In a first switching position of the directional control valve 68, the coolant can flow through a branch 70 of the vehicle-internal section 26 in which the cooler 60 is arranged. In a further switching position of the directional control valve 68 , the coolant can be fed directly to the outlet 30 , bypassing the branch 70 .

In particular, a bypass line 78 for bypassing the radiator 60 can be routed through a partial region of the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24, which leads from the directional control valve 68 to a junction point at which the branch 70 upstream of the outlet 30 again flows into a line of the vehicle-internal section 26 be provided.

Especially when the ambient air temperature is comparatively low, the in 3 shown variant of the cooling arrangement 10 are already made at the cooler 60 a reduction in the temperature of the coolant. Further cooling can then take place in the vehicle-external cooling module 16 .

Also at the in 3 shown variant of the cooling arrangement 10, the connecting line 50 is provided here. It is possible to arrange the cooler 60 in a partial area 72 of the vehicle-internal coolant circuit 24, which leads from an outlet of the cooling plate 20 to a branch point 74, from which the connecting line 50 branches off, with FIG 3 the branching point 74 is arranged upstream of the directional control valve 68 . In this configuration, too, the flow then flows through the cooler 60 in series, so that the cooler 60 can be used both when the motor vehicle 14 is driving and when the motor vehicle 14 is standing at the charging station 18 .

Alternatively, the branch point 74 can be positioned towards the bypass line 50 downstream of the directional valve 68 or multi-way valve. This arrangement also allows use of the cooler 68 integrated into the branch 70 for operation of the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 that is decoupled from the charging station 18.

Also at the in 3 The variant of the cooling arrangement 10 shown can be provided with a radiator blind to ensure, for example at high ambient air temperatures, that no cold loss occurs at the radiator 60 when the fan 62 is in operation. Alternatively, a flow through the branch 70 can be prevented by a corresponding connection of the directional valve 68 or multi-way valve.

In the variants of the cooling arrangement 10 explained above, further valves can be provided, for example in the form of shut-off valves, switching valves, mixing valves or the like, which ensure a desired flow direction of the coolant through the coolant circuit 24, and which are not shown in the figures for reasons of clarity are shown in more detail.

In particular, due to the above-described arrangements of the at least one cooler 60 and/or the at least one heat exchanger 40 embodied here as a chiller, advantageous or thermodynamically favorable configurations can be achieved for a large number of operating points or operating states of the cooling arrangement 10 .

In the present case, it is preferably ensured by suitable measures that after the vehicle-external section 28 of the coolant circuit 24 has been decoupled from the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24, the coolant remaining in the vehicle-internal section 26 is free of air bubbles and/or impurities. In particular, this can be effected by the charging station 18 before the undocking takes place.

Connections in the form of the inlet 32 and the outlet 30 for the coolant in the vehicle-internal section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 can be placed at a highest point in or on the motor vehicle 14 relative to all other components of the section 26 . In this way, the formation of air bubbles in the coolant circulating inside the vehicle or autonomously within the section 26 of the coolant circuit 24 inside the vehicle can be at least reduced or even prevented in a constructive manner. Siphon solutions in the area of the inlet 32 and/or the outlet 30 can also be provided in the in-vehicle section 26 in order to reduce bubble formation.

It can be provided that the charging station 18 not only ensures that the coolant is bubble-free, but also that a desired quality or quality of the coolant is set or maintained by the charging station 18 . In this way it can be achieved in particular that neither a qualitative composition of the coolant nor an existing freeze resistance of the coolant are adversely affected.

In 4 a situation is shown schematically in which the motor vehicle 14 is standing at the charging station 18, with corresponding connecting lines, which belong to the vehicle-external section 28 of the coolant circuit 24, being coupled to the outlet 30 on the one hand and to the inlet 32 on the other hand.

In 4 is also shown schematically that the motor vehicle 14 can have an electric drive device, for example in the form of at least one electric motor 76 which is supplied with electric energy by the battery 12 . The at least one electric motor 76 can cause the motor vehicle 14 to move or at least support such a movement. Means for electrically connecting the battery 12 to the charging station 18 for the purpose of charging the battery 12 are disclosed in 4 not shown in detail for reasons of clarity.

Sensors and/or sensor elements, control units and/or communication interfaces and the like for the exchange of information between motor vehicle 14 and charging station 18 having cooling module 16 and other components that are preferably provided for the proper operation of such a device are not shown for reasons of clarity . Because these components are not absolutely necessary for the description of the basic functionality of the cooling arrangement 10 as such and the interaction of the cooling arrangement 10 with the charging station 18 .

Overall, the examples show how the cooling arrangement 10 can be used to provide external battery cooling using an open system and precisely one cooling device, for example in the form of the cooling plate 20 .

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited 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 112012003099 T5 [0002]
• DE 102018209279 A1 [0003]
• DE 102012200688 A1 [0004]

Claims (10)

Cooling arrangement for cooling a battery (12) of a motor vehicle (14), with a coolant circuit (24) which comprises a cooling device (20) through which a coolant can flow, wherein the cooling device (20) is designed to, during operation of the battery (12) to absorb heat released by the battery (12), the coolant circuit (24) having an outlet (30) via which the coolant can be fed to a cooling module (16) external to the vehicle, the coolant circuit (24) having an inlet (32) via which the coolant coming from the vehicle-external cooling module (16) can be introduced into a vehicle-internal section (26) of the coolant circuit (24), in which the cooling device (20) is arranged, and wherein in the vehicle-internal section (26) of the coolant circuit (24) a heat exchanger (40) which is different from the cooling device (20) is arranged, characterized in that at least one pump device (22) is arranged in the vehicle-internal section (26) of the coolant circuit (24), by means of which the coolant is pumped via the outlet (30) can be fed to the vehicle-external cooling module (16) and/or introduced into the vehicle-internal section (26) via the inlet (32). cooling arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that the coolant can be supplied to the heat exchanger (40) by means of the at least one pumping device (22), the heat exchanger (40) comprising a first partial space (42) through which the coolant can flow, and a second partial space (44 ) comprises, which in a vehicle-internal refrigerant circuit (46) of the cooling arrangement (10) is integrated, wherein the second partial space (44) as an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit (46) can be operated. Cooling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicle-internal section (26) of the coolant circuit (24) - comprises a connecting line (50) which connects a first partial region (52) of the vehicle-internal section (26) arranged upstream of the outlet (30) to a second partial region (54) of the section (26) inside the vehicle, which is arranged downstream of the inlet (32), and/or - comprises a bypass line (58) via which the coolant passes through the section (26 ) of the coolant circuit (24) can be conveyed. Cooling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one cooler (60) through which the coolant can flow is integrated into the vehicle-internal section (26) of the coolant circuit (24), which by means of at least one fan (62) of the cooling arrangement (10). an air flow can be acted upon. cooling arrangement according to claim 4 , characterized in that the at least one cooler (60) - is arranged in a parallel line (64) of the vehicle-internal section (26), via which the coolant can be conveyed parallel to the vehicle-external cooling module (16) in the coolant circuit (24), and /or - is arranged in a branch (70) of the vehicle-internal section (26), via which the coolant can be conveyed serially to the vehicle-external cooling module (16) in the coolant circuit (24). cooling arrangement according to claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that at least one further pump device (66) is arranged in the vehicle-internal section (26) of the coolant circuit (24), by means of which the coolant can be conveyed through the radiator (60), and/or the vehicle-internal section (26) of the coolant circuit (24) has at least one bypass line (78) for bypassing the at least one cooler (60). Cooling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling device (20), in particular designed as a cooling plate, is in heat-conducting contact with the battery (12). Motor vehicle with a cooling arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims and with a battery (12), wherein the battery (12) is designed to supply a drive device (76) of the motor vehicle (14) with electrical energy, and wherein the drive device (76 ) is designed to cause or at least support the movement of the motor vehicle (14). motor vehicle after claim 8 , characterized in that the vehicle-internal section (26) of the coolant circuit (24) is coupled to a vehicle-external section (28) of the coolant circuit (24), the vehicle-external cooling module (16) in the vehicle-external section (28) of the coolant circuit (24) is involved. Method for operating a cooling arrangement (10), in which the temperature of a battery (12) of a motor vehicle (14) is controlled by a coolant flowing through a cooling device (20) of a coolant circuit (24) of the cooling arrangement (10), the cooling device ( 20) is designed to absorb heat released by the battery (12) during operation of the battery (12), wherein the coolant circuit (24) has an outlet (30) via which the coolant is supplied to a vehicle-external cooling module (16), wherein the coolant circuit (24) has an inlet (32) through which the coolant coming from the vehicle-external cooling module (16). Coolant is introduced into a vehicle-internal section (26) of the coolant circuit (24), in which the cooling device (20) is arranged, and wherein in the vehicle-internal section (26) of the coolant circuit (24) there is a heat exchanger ( 40) is arranged, characterized in that in the vehicle-internal section (26) of the coolant circuit (24) at least one pump device (22) is arranged, by means of which the coolant is supplied via the outlet (30) to the vehicle-external cooling module (16) and/ or introduced into the in-vehicle portion (26) via the inlet (32).

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