FR3061765A1 - PLATE FOR HEAT EXCHANGER FOR THERMAL REGULATION OF AN ELECTRIC ENERGY STORAGE UNIT, EXCHANGER AND BATTERY MODULE THEREFOR - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a plate (10) for a heat exchanger for the thermal regulation of an electrical energy storage unit, said plate comprising: - an inlet (E) for a cooling fluid; an outlet (S) for the fluid; and - at least one channel (20, ..., 26) in which said fluid is able to flow between the inlet and the outlet (S); the inlet (E) and the outlet (S) each being in the form of a pipe portion (31, 32) formed from the material of the plate, each pipe portion (31, 32) forming a sleeve of coupling with another plate of the exchanger.

Description

@ Holder (s): VALEO THERMAL SYSTEMS Simplified joint-stock company.

O Extension request (s):

® Agent (s): VALEO THERMAL SYSTEMS.

® PLATE FOR HEAT EXCHANGER FOR THE THERMAL REGULATION OF AN ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE UNIT, EXCHANGER AND RELATED BATTERY MODULE.

FR 3,061,765 - A1

Q7) The invention relates to a plate (10) for a heat exchanger intended for the thermal regulation of an electrical energy storage unit, said plate comprising:

- an inlet (E) for a cooling fluid;

- an outlet (S) for the fluid; and

- at least one channel (20, ..., 26) in which said fluid is capable of flowing between the inlet and the outlet (S);

the inlet (E) and the outlet (S) each being in the form of a pipe portion (31,32), made from material of the plate, each pipe portion (31,32) forming a sleeve d coupling with another exchanger plate.

Plate for heat exchanger intended for the thermal regulation of an electrical energy storage unit, exchanger and associated battery module

The present invention relates to a plate for a heat exchanger intended for the thermal regulation of an electrical energy storage unit, an exchanger intended for the thermal regulation of an electrical energy storage unit, said exchanger comprising such plates , and a battery module, said module comprising such an exchanger.

Document US 8,835,039 proposes a battery module MB comprising a plurality of remote battery cells CB but electrically connected to each other.

Such a MB battery module comprises pairs of plates P1, P2 forming fluid circulation conduits, the pairs of plates being assembled together to form a heat exchanger. Said module further comprises two battery cells CB1, CB2 arranged one next to the other, between pairs of neighboring plates.

The pairs of plates alternate with battery cells CB1, CB2 to form the battery module MB. For this purpose, the pairs of plates are connected to each other to allow the circulation of the fluid.

An MB battery module disclosed in this document is shown in Figure 1, in a perspective view.

A plate for a heat exchanger disclosed in this document is shown in Figure 2.

Each plate P comprises an inlet E for a coolant, an outlet S for this coolant and a channel in which the coolant is capable of circulating between the inlet E and the outlet S.

In the present case, the inlet E and the outlet S are each in the form of a projection of the plate, traversed by an attached tube extending perpendicular to the plate.

When assembling the MB battery module, the different plates are assembled in pairs and then the pairs of plates are assembled by means of the different pipes associated with each pair, joining the latter by their PV end so as to form a first PCC common line and a second DCC common line for conveying the coolant.

This type of assembly leads to numerous connections and increases the risk of leaks.

The invention aims to remedy all or part of these drawbacks. To this end, a plate is provided for a heat exchanger intended for the thermal regulation of an electrical energy storage unit, said plate comprising:

an inlet for a fluid;

an outlet for the fluid; and at least one channel in which the fluid is likely to circulate between the inlet and the outlet;

the inlet and outlet each being in the form of a pipe portion, from material of the plate, each pipe portion forming a coupling sleeve with another plate of the exchanger.

The invention thus provides a simple and reliable solution for sealing the circulation of the fluid by reducing the number of fittings. Indeed, it is the plates themselves which serve to establish a fluid connection between them. The invention also makes it possible to limit the number of manipulations necessary for mounting as well as to reduce the size of the exchanger.

According to other characteristics of the invention which can be taken together or separately:

- said coupling sleeve formed by one of the pipe portions is configured to couple with the coupling sleeve formed by the other pipe portion of an identical plate, and vice versa,

- said pipe portions have flat areas, intended to come opposite, from one plate to another, after coupling,

- said flat areas of the pipe portions are parallel to a plate extension plane,

- the said channel (s), the inlet and the outlet come from stamping,

- said pipe portions include free ends at which said coupling sleeves are located,

- Said plate is in the form of a rectangle, of width I and height h, the distance separating the two pipe portions respectively forming the inlet and the outlet for the fluid, between their respective longitudinal axes, being less than or equal to a third of the width of the plate, or even a quarter of the width of the plate,

- the pipe portions are arranged at equal distance from a plane perpendicular to the plate and separating the plate into two parts of the same width,

- or said channels have a flat bottom, intended to come into contact with said energy storage unit,

- the said channel or channels are U-shaped so as to define two fluid circulation passes, between the inlet and the outlet,

- Said channels are arranged in a nested fashion from a first, exterior, of said channels, the longest, to a second, interior, of said channels, the shortest.

The invention also relates to a heat exchanger intended for the thermal regulation of an electrical energy storage unit, comprising plates as described above.

Said exchanger advantageously comprise basic patterns, each of said basic patterns being formed of two of said plates, arranged in parallel, fitted and brazed to each other at the pipe portions, said two plates being configured to accommodate one or more battery cells, arranged one next to the other, between said two plates.

Advantageously, one of the plates of two neighboring basic patterns, called facing plates, are located opposite one another and are assembled to each other so that the pipe portions of the plate opposite a first of said neighboring basic patterns is positioned head to tail to the complementary pipe portions of the plate opposite the other of said neighboring basic patterns.

The invention also relates to a battery module comprising an exchanger as described above.

Advantageously, the distance separating the two plates of the same basic pattern is strictly greater than the cumulative thickness of the battery cell or cells located between the plates of said basic pattern.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments given by way of illustration with reference to the appended additional drawings, in which:

- Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of a plate according to the invention;

- Figure 4 is a front view schematically illustrating the plate shown in Figure 3;

- Figure 5 is an enlarged view illustrating schematically and according to a cross-sectional plane the pipe portions indifferently forming either the inlet or the outlet of the fluid in several plates according to Figures 3 and 4, assembled together;

- Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of part of an exchanger, according to the invention, comprising plates such as those illustrated in Figures 3 to 5;

- Figure 7 is a perspective view, complete, of the exchanger illustrated in Figure 6;

- Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of a battery module, according to the invention, comprising an exchanger according to Figures 6 and 7.

Identical reference numerals are used to designate identical or analogous elements from one figure to another.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, the invention relates to a plate 10 for a heat exchanger intended for the thermal regulation of an energy storage unit. Said plate 10 includes:

- an inlet E for a fluid;

- an outlet S for this fluid; and

- At least one channel 20, 26 in which the fluid is likely to circulate between the inlet E and the outlet S.

Said fluid consists, for example, of a heat transfer liquid. It could still be a refrigerant.

The inlet E is in the form of a portion of pipe 31 passing through the plate 10, preferably perpendicular thereto.

Similarly, the output S is in the form of a portion of pipe 32 passing through the plate 10, preferably perpendicular thereto.

The two pipe portions 31, 32 are therefore here arranged in parallel. Their longitudinal axes A31, A32 are thus parallel to each other and perpendicular to the plane of the plate 10.

According to the invention, each pipe portion 31, 32 is made of material from the plate and forms a coupling sleeve with another plate 10 of the exchanger (see in particular FIG. 5), in particular at their free ends. 310, 320. This produces an assembly of the plates 10 together, in particular by fitting. It is therefore an assembly without intermediate parts, which is particularly advantageous. Furthermore, said pipe portions being inscribed in the perimeter of the plate, they do not increase its surface and allow its size to be limited.

Said channel (s) 20, ..., 26, the inlet E and the outlet S are, for example, from stamping. The plates 10 are thus produced in a single operation. Said plates 10 are, in particular, made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

Here, said pipe portions 31, 32 have flat areas 311, intended to come opposite one another, from one plate to the other, after coupling. On one of said coupling sleeves, a first of said planar areas 311 is formed by a shoulder, located behind the free end 310 of said pipe portion 31. On the other of said coupling sleeves, a second said flat areas 311 is formed by an annular folded edge, located at the free end 320 of the other pipe portions 32. The thickness of material of the plate corresponds substantially to the height of the shoulder. After assembly of the plates, said annular folded edge is supported on said shoulder, according to a contact surface oriented parallel to the extension plane of the plate. Said planar areas 311 promote a tight assembly.

Preferably, each coupling sleeve formed by one 31 of the pipe portions is configured to couple with the coupling sleeve of the other 32 pipe portion of an identical plate 10, and vice versa. In addition, said plates 10 are assembled together, in pairs 60, so that one 31 of the pipe portions of one of said plates 10 of each pair 60 is positioned head to tail at one 32 pipe portions, complementary, of the other of said plates of the same pair 60. It is thus possible to assemble an exchanger using one and the same type of plates 10, standard.

Advantageously, said plates 10 have a plane of symmetry P, perpendicular to said plate 10, only the shape of the coupling sleeves being different, but complementary, on either side of said plane of symmetry P.

The channel or channels 20, ..., 26 of the plates of the same pair 60 are thus located opposite and form conduits, of closed cross section, for circulation of the fluid. Furthermore, the pipe portions 31, 32 are arranged at equal distance from the plane of symmetry P.

Said channel or channels 20, ..., 26 preferably have a flat bottom, intended to come into contact with said energy storage unit, in particular of the planar external faces of said storage unit. By "flat bottom" means in particular a bottom without corrugations or stampings. This promotes the heat exchange between the fluid and the energy storage unit.

The plates 10 are for example in the form of a rectangle, of width I and of height h, the height h being greater than or equal to the width I.

Advantageously, the distance d separating the two pipe portions 31, 32 respectively forming the inlet E and the outlet S for the fluid, between their respective longitudinal axes A31, A32, is less than or equal to one third of the width I of the plate .

More advantageously, the distance d separating the two pipe portions 31, 32 between their respective longitudinal axes A31, A32 is less than or equal to a quarter of the width I of the plate.

The plates may include a channel or a plurality of channels 20, 22, 2n in which the fluid is capable of circulating between the inlet E and the outlet S. In the appended figures, in particular in FIG. 3, a case where n = 6.

The cooling channel (s) 20, 22, 2n are designed to ensure a uniform heat exchange over the entire surface of the plate, while maintaining the pressure drops at an acceptable level.

By providing a plurality of channels in the plate 10, the cooling can be better distributed with respect to a solution considering only one channel in the plate 10. Thus, when the plate 10 is intended to be used in a module for battery, we can then ensure better homogeneity of the temperature of each battery cell of the module. However, using more channels can increase the pressure losses, compared to a solution considering only one cooling channel. This translates into higher energy consumption to circulate the coolant.

A particularly interesting design making it possible to provide a good compromise between these two constraints is, for example to provide several cooling channels 20, 22, ..., 2n, in particular with n greater than or equal to six, these channels having a shape in U, between inlet E and outlet S of the fluid.

In other words, the said channel or channels 20, ..., 2n are U-shaped so as to define two passes for circulation of the fluid, between the inlet E and the outlet

Said channels 20, ..., 2n are preferably arranged in a nested manner from a first 2n outside of said channels, the longest, to a second interior of said channels, the shortest.

Said plates 10 have, for example parts 11, 12 forming a manifold allowing the fluid to flow from said pipe portion 31 forming the inlet E of the plates towards an inlet of the channels 20,

..., 26 and from an outlet of said channels 10 towards said portion of pipe forming the outlet S of the plates (FIG. 3). Said manifolds 11, 12 here have a flat bottom, for example located in continuity and at the same level as the flat bottom of the channels 20, 26.

Said manifolds 11, 12 extend in a direction orthogonal to said plane of symmetry P. Said portions of conduits 31, 32 are situated at a longitudinal end of said manifolds 11, 12. Said channels 20, ..., 26 open out along 'a large side of said collectors 11,12.

In FIG. 5, the circulation of the fluid has been identified by arrows 70, 70 ’. A first series of arrows 70 corresponds to the circulation of the incoming fluid. A second series of arrows 70 ’corresponds to the circulation of the fluid at the outlet.

In the case of embodiments such as that illustrated, the plates 10 have a stamped 330 for separating the pipe portions 31, 32 of inlet and outlet.

The invention also relates to a heat exchanger intended for the thermal regulation of an energy storage unit comprising such plates 10. Said exchanger comprises basic patterns 100, each of said basic patterns being formed of two plates 10, said plates being arranged in parallel and fitted one to the other at the level of the pipe portions 31, 32. In other words, the plates 10 of the same pattern 100 are the plates 10 located opposite two pairs of neighboring plates 60. Said two plates of the same basic pattern 100 are configured to receive one or more battery cells, placed one next to the other, between the two plates 10.

Such an exchanger is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In said exchanger, the adjacent base patterns 100 are connected to each other by means of the various pipe portions 31, 32 respectively forming the inlet E and the output S of a given plate. Said pipe portions 31, 32 are for this purpose fitted to one another. Said plates 10 are, for example, brazed together.

In this way, thanks to the coupling sleeves, the invention allows a prior assembly of the plates together, before brazing, then the final assembly of the exchanger is achieved by brazing, which gives said exchanger its sealing, in particular at the connection between the plates of the same basic pattern. This limits the risk of fluid leakage compared to the solution of the prior art. Also through this, the number of manipulations to be made for assembling the exchanger is limited and its size is reduced.

It is noted that, in the exchanger according to the invention, after stacking and assembling of the plates 10, the pipe portions 31, 32 form two manifolds 401, 402 extending along the longitudinal axes of the inputs S and the outputs E plates 10, which are then, respectively, combined. These manifolds 401, 402 are located in the space defined by the perimeter, substantially rectangular, of the plates.

The fluid enters the exchanger through a first 401 of the manifolds, corresponding to the stack of the portions of inlet pipe E, is distributed inside the pipes formed by the channels of each pair of plates 10, passing by the first collectors 10, traverses said conduits from where it opens into a second 402 of said collectors, corresponding to the stack of the portions of outlet pipe S, passing through the second collectors 11, to finally leave the exchanger by said second manifold 402.

The invention also relates to a battery module comprising an exchanger as described above.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, in said module, the basic pattern 100 of the exchanger further comprises two battery cells 40, 41 arranged one next to the other, between the two plates 10 of said basic pattern .

The mechanical connection between a plate 10 and the adjacent battery cell 40, 41 is carried out by means of a frame enclosing a battery module, as will be described below.

Furthermore, the battery cells 40, 41 of the pattern can advantageously be mechanically connected to one another, in particular by means of one or more clips 51, 52.

Advantageously, the distance D (FIG. 7) separating the two plates 10 of the same basic module is, in particular before any first use of the battery module, strictly greater than the cumulative thickness of the two battery cells 40, 41. This allows, in use, to accommodate the expansion of said battery cells 40, 41.

Preferably, the battery module is enclosed in a frame, most often metallic, which allows, generally by means of several lag bolts, to hold all of the components of the battery module and in particular, for each pattern of base 100 of the battery module, to maintain the battery cells 40, 41 between the two plates 10.

In addition, a battery is generally formed by several battery modules arranged one next to the other. The connection between these different battery modules is made by T tubes, inserted in the coupling sleeves of the plates 10 at the end of the exchanger.

Claims (15)

1. Plate (10) for a heat exchanger intended for the thermal regulation of an electrical energy storage unit, said plate comprising: - an inlet (E) for a cooling fluid; - an outlet (S) for the fluid; and - at least one channel (20, 26) in which said fluid is capable of flowing between the inlet and the outlet (S); the inlet (E) and the outlet (S) each being in the form of a pipe portion (31, 32), made from material of the plate, each pipe portion (31,32) forming a sleeve d coupling with another exchanger plate. 2. Plate (10) according to the preceding claim wherein said coupling sleeve formed by one of the pipe portions (31) is configured to couple with the coupling sleeve of the other pipe portion (32 ) of an identical plate, and vice versa. 3. Plate (10) according to the preceding claim wherein said pipe portions (31, 32) have flat areas (311), intended to come opposite, from one plate to another, after coupling. 4. Plate (10) according to any one of the preceding claims in which the said channel (s) (20, 26), the inlet (E) and the outlet (S) are drawn by stamping. 5. Plate (10) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said pipe portions (31, 32) include free ends (310, 320) at which said coupling sleeves are located. 6. Plate (10) according to any one of the preceding claims in the form of a rectangle, of width (I) and height (h), and in which the distance (d) separating the two pipe portions (31, 32) respectively forming the inlet (E) and the outlet (S) for the fluid, between their respective longitudinal axes, is less than or equal to one third of the width (I) of the plate. 7. Plate (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the distance (d) separating the two pipe portions (31, 32) respectively forming the inlet (E) and the outlet (S) for the fluid, between their axes respective longitudinal, is less than or equal to a quarter of the width (I) of the plate. 8. Plate (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the pipe portions (31,32) are arranged at equal distance from a plane (P), perpendicular to the plate (10) and separating the plate in two parts of the same width. 9. Plate (10) according to any one of the preceding claims in which the said channel or channels (20, ..., 26) have a flat bottom, intended to come into contact with said energy storage unit. 10. Plate (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said channel or channels (20, ..., 26) are U-shaped so as to define two passes for circulation of the fluid, between the inlet (E) and the output (S). 11. Plate (10) according to the preceding claim, in which said channels (20, ..., 26) are arranged in a nested manner from a first exterior of said channels, the longest, to a second interior of said channels, the shortest. . 12. Heat exchanger intended for the thermal regulation of an electrical energy storage unit, said exchanger comprising basic patterns (100), each of said basic patterns being formed by two plates (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, said plates being arranged in parallel, fitted and brazed to each other at the level of the pipe portions (31, 32), said two plates being configured to receive one or more battery cells (40, 41) , arranged one next to the other, between said two plates (10). 13. Exchanger according to the preceding claim wherein one of the plates (10) of two neighboring base patterns (100), said facing plates, are located opposite one another and are assembled one to the other so that the pipe portions (31, 32) of the plate opposite a first of said neighboring basic patterns is positioned head to tail to the pipe portions (32, 31), complementary, of the plate facing the other of said neighboring basic patterns. 14. Battery module comprising an exchanger according to any one of claims 12 or 13. 15. Module according to the preceding claim, wherein the distance (D) separating the two plates (10) of the same basic pattern is strictly greater than the cumulative thickness of the two battery cells (40, 41) located between the plates of said basic pattern. 1/3 P2