FR3131709A1 - Thermal regulation device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermal regulation device, in particular for cooling, of two elements, in particular electrical components, capable of releasing heat during their operation, said device comprising a first plate (3) and a second plate (4), and furthermore a third plate (5) assembled between the first and the second plate in order to form together on either side of said third plate (5) a plurality of channels between said first and second plates, said channels being configured to be traversed by a fluid, in particular a refrigerant fluid, the device being characterized in that a first subgroup of channels of the plurality of channels shares a surface larger with the first plate (3) than the area shared between a second channel subgroup of the plurality of channels and the second plate. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 5

Description

Thermal regulation device

The present invention relates to a thermal regulation device, particularly in the automotive field. The invention also relates to a vehicle and a charging system comprising such a device.

The components likely to be concerned by the present invention may be electrical energy storage elements, in particular battery elements, or power electronics elements, for example without limitation semiconductors, such as diodes. or transistors. It could also be computer server components.

The invention finds an advantageous application in the field of thermal regulation devices of a power electronics device or module, that is to say comprising power electronic components.

Charging an electric or hybrid vehicle traditionally requires plugging the vehicle into a charging station using a cable connection. However, certain inductive loads exist and have the advantage of avoiding this connection.

For charging by induction, it is necessary for the vehicle to include a secondary coil responsible for receiving the energy from the primary coil.

To be charged effectively, a battery cell must be kept at the correct temperature or at least within the correct temperature range. In this way, the internal electrical resistance is ideal, which reduces charging time as well as thermal losses.

Depending on atmospheric conditions, it may also be beneficial to warm the battery cells to the required temperature. Indeed, a temperature that is too low could result in inefficient charging, or could even damage electronic/electrical components such as batteries if the current is too high and the temperature of the components is too low.

The invention also finds an advantageous application in the field of thermal regulation devices of an electrical energy storage device, such as a set of batteries or battery pack for a motor vehicle with an electric and/or hybrid engine. The electrical energy of vehicles with electric and/or hybrid engines is provided by one or more batteries. During their operation, electrical energy storage elements such as batteries heat up and thus risk being damaged. In particular, a charging technique, called rapid charging, consists of charging the energy storage elements under high voltage and high amperage, in a short time, in particular in a maximum time of around twenty minutes. This rapid charging involves significant heating of the electrical energy storage elements which must be treated.

In the field of motor vehicles, it is known to use a thermal regulation device, for cooling, components for example electrical energy storage, such as batteries. Such a thermal regulation device makes it possible to modify a temperature of an electrical energy storage device, for example when starting the vehicle in hot weather, by increasing its temperature for example, or whether while driving. or during a recharging operation of said system, by reducing the temperature of the battery cells, which tend to heat up during their use.

According to a known solution, the thermal regulation device comprises a cold plate inside which a cooling fluid circulates, and arranged in contact with the components to be cooled. It is also known to cool the secondary coil in the case of induction charging. The solutions proposed to cool these two elements are often complex, heavy and expensive to produce, use and repair.

The present invention aims to at least partially overcome one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a means of heating the elements of the battery of an electric vehicle during inductive charging.

The invention provides various embodiments for cooling electronic components such as cells during charging.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a device for thermal regulation, in particular cooling, of two elements, in particular electrical components, capable of releasing heat during their operation,
said device comprising a first plate and a second plate, and furthermore a third plate assembled between the first and the second plate in order to form together on either side of said third plate a plurality of channels between said first and second plates, said channels being configured to be crossed by a fluid (heat transfer), in particular a refrigerant fluid, in particular a fluid chosen from the following refrigerant fluids R134a, R1234yf or R744,
the device being characterized in that a first subgroup of channels of the plurality of channels shares a larger surface area with the first plate than the surface shared between a second subgroup of channels of the plurality of channels and the second plate , and in that the first plate is intended to be in contact with a first element to be thermally regulated, the second plate being intended to be in contact with a second element to be thermally regulated different from the first element.

The device may also include one or more of the following characteristics described below, taken separately or in combination.

A first subgroup of channels of the plurality of channels is formed between a face of the third plate and the first plate and a second subgroup of channels of the plurality of channels is formed between a face of the third plate and the second plate.

the device comprises a first element, in particular a first insulator, on at least one of the first, second and/or third plates, so as to reduce the thermal exchanges between a subgroup and one of the plates or one of the elements to be regulated thermally.

The first element, in particular a first insulator, is located between the first subgroup of channels of the plurality of channels and one of the plates, the first element being configured to reduce the thermal exchanges between said first subgroup and said plate .

The device comprises a second element, in particular a second insulator between a second subgroup of channels of the plurality of channels and one of the plates, the second element being configured to reduce the thermal exchanges between said second subgroup and said plate , said plate insulated by this second element, in particular a second insulator, being different from the first plate insulated from the first subgroup.

The first insulator and the second insulator form a single piece.

The plurality of channels comprises a turning section, in particular U-shaped, the first subgroup of channels being linked to a heat transfer fluid inlet conduit and to the turning section, the second subgroup being connected to the turning section and to a heat transfer fluid outlet conduit.

The first subgroup of channels and the second subgroup of channels are formed from a node located upstream in the direction of circulation of the heat transfer fluid.

The device only includes two subgroups of channels, called lower and upper subgroups.

The device comprises a valve, in particular at said node, the valve being configured to be able to open or block the channels of one of the subgroups of channels of the device.

The device further includes a valve controller.

The area ratio between the first group and the second group of the plurality of channels shared with their respective plate is 3:1

The surface of the channels in thermal contact with the first plate (AND/OR isolated from the second plate) represents between 51% and 90%, preferably between 60 and 80%, more preferably 75% of the total surface of the plurality of channels in contact with the plates.

The third plate is a stamped aluminum plate forming the channels on either side of it.

The plates are assembled together by brazing or gluing.

The third plate is a stamped aluminum plate forming the channels on either side of it, the third plate further comprising an insulator on at least one of its faces forming a subgroup of channels.

The insulator is an insulating coating or made by hard anodization (growth of an Al2O3 film by electrochemical process) and the assembly is carried out by bonding.

The third plate is made of a material having a lower heat exchange coefficient than the first and second plates, and is preferably formed of plastic or composite material.

The three plates are made of plastic, for example of different thicknesses.

Preferably, the plastic material is formed from composite materials consisting of a matrix and reinforcing particles.

The matrix is preferably composed of at least one of epoxy resin (EP) / vinyl ester / Phenolics (EP) / Polyimides / Polypropylene / Polyamide (PA) / Polyetherimide (PEI) / Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or Poly(ether -phenylene ether ketone (PEEK), or a mixture thereof, preferably Polyamide (PA).

The reinforcing particles are preferably composed of at least one of glass fiber (GF) / carbon fiber / natural fiber such as hemp or flax / aramid fibers, or a mixture of these, preferably fiber glass (GF).

In certain embodiments, at least one of the plates is formed of an organosheet, preferably composed of polyamide (PA) and glass fibers (GF), PA-GF such as TECAMID PA66GF30 for example.

The assembly is carried out by gluing or injection.

The present invention also relates to a system comprising an electrical component capable of releasing heat during its operation, in particular an electrical energy storage module such as a battery, and a regulation device as described above, arranged to regulate thermally the component, this component or battery being in thermal contact with the first plate, in particular called the upper plate, of the regulation device.

According to a particular feature, the system further comprises a second electrical component capable of releasing heat during its operation, in particular at least part of an induction charger, this component being in thermal contact with the second plate, in particular said plate lower, of the regulating device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings among which:

There schematically illustrates a first embodiment according to the invention in cross-sectional view.

There schematically illustrates a second embodiment according to the invention in cross-sectional view.

There schematically illustrates a third embodiment according to the invention in cross-sectional view.

There schematically illustrates a fourth embodiment according to the invention in cross-sectional view.

There schematically illustrates a fifth embodiment according to the invention in cross-sectional view.

In these figures, identical elements bear the same reference numbers.

The following achievements are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment, or that the characteristics apply only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments may also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

In the description, we can index certain elements, for example first element or second element. In this case, it is a simple indexing to differentiate and name close but not identical elements. This indexing does not imply a priority of one element over another and such denominations can easily be interchanged without departing from the scope of the present invention. This indexing does not imply an order in time either.

In the present invention, a module may be an energy storage cell. Alternatively, a module may include several energy storage cells. A module can also be defined as a container or housing comprising one or more electronic and/or electrical components.

The present invention thus relates to a device for thermal regulation (1), in particular for cooling, of two elements, in particular electrical components, capable of releasing heat during their operation, said device comprising a first plate (3) and a second plate (4), and in addition a third plate (5) assembled between the first and the second plate (4) in order to form together on either side of said third plate (5) a plurality of channels (6) between said first and second plates, said channels (6) being configured to be crossed by a fluid (heat transfer), in particular a refrigerant fluid, in particular a fluid chosen from the following refrigerant fluids R134a, R1234yf or R744, in which the first plate (3 ) is intended to be in contact with a first element to be thermally regulated, the second plate (4) being intended to be in contact with a second element to be thermally regulated different from the first element.

In some embodiments, a first subgroup of channels (61) of the plurality of channels (6) shares a larger surface area with the first plate (3) and/or the third plate (5) than the surface area shared between a second subgroup of channels (62) of the plurality of channels (6) and the second plate (4) and/or the third plate (5),

This advantageously allows the same temperature level but different cooling power on both sides.

There schematically represents an example of a first embodiment of a thermal regulation device 1, which can be intended to equip a vehicle, particularly an automobile. The device comprises three plates 3, 4, 5, and channels 6 are formed between the central plate, called the third plate 5, and each of the two other plates 3, 4. These channels 6 can for example be formed by stamping the central plate, or by any other means of deformation of said plate. Likewise, in certain alternative embodiments, it is possible that it is the external plates, that is to say the first plate 3 or the second plate 4 which is deformed and/or stamped. The presence of a third plate (5) makes it possible to modify the thermal exchanges between a heat transfer fluid passing through said channels (6) and the elements to be cooled 2 which are in contact with the first and second plates 3 and 4. Indeed, the presence of the third plate (5) allows a subgroup of channels (61 or 62) to share a larger surface area with one of the two external plates 3, 4 than another group of channels (61, 62). The result is that in certain applications in which the elements to be cooled have different temperature gradients with the heat transfer fluid, the heat exchanges are and remain optimized.

The invention thus consists of a multi-sided cooling plate with one face applied to an element such as an inductive charger and another face applied to the electronic module such as a cell/module or battery pack in order to ensure management thermal of the two components.

Advantageously, the presence of asymmetrical channels (6) makes it possible to manage the different needs in terms of heat source, and to maximize heat recovery from the battery (more thermal load) than for the inductive charger.

The cooling fluid passing inside channels 6 can be single-phase (water/EG) or two-phase (refrigerant R134a or R1234yf).

Advantageously, as the temperature of the inductive charger is generally higher (for example around 60°C), it is possible, with the same temperature of the cooling liquid (for example around 20°C), to release more power than on the side of the battery where the temperature of the battery is for example around 30°C.

In this non-limiting example, the difference between the temperature of the coolant and the temperature of the inductive charger is 60-20, or 40°C, while the difference between the temperature of the coolant and the temperature of the battery is 30-20, or 10°C. In this case, it is therefore interesting to provide an asymmetrical channel to maximize the surface area on the battery side because the temperature is lower.

There schematically represents an example of a second embodiment in which only one of the subgroups of channels 62 is isolated from the other plate by an insulator 7. The insulation thus makes it possible to accentuate particular thermal exchanges, and thus to accentuate the heat exchange differential already made possible by the difference in contact surface. Thus, in this exemplary embodiment, an insulator 7 is placed between the subgroup of channels 62 and the plate 3, reducing or even preventing thermal exchanges between the fluid passing through said subgroup 62 and said opposite plate 3 on which the insulation is placed.

Advantageously, this is of great interest when a large temperature difference is present between the two elements to be thermally regulated, so as not to degrade too much the cooling performance of the colder element to be cooled.

Thus, in certain embodiments, the maximum battery temperature to be regulated is between 30 and 60°C.

In certain embodiments, the maximum temperature to be regulated of the induction coil is between 60 and 80°C.

There schematically represents an example of a third embodiment in which only one of the channel subgroups 62 is isolated from the other plate, and in which the surface area of one of the subgroups is greater with the first plate 3 than with the second plate 4. This advantageously makes it possible to accentuate certain specific heat exchanges and/or to reduce others.

There schematically represents an example of a fourth embodiment in which the two subgroups of channels (61, 62) are isolated by a first insulator (7) and a second insulator (8), and a subgroup of channels has a surface more important with the first plate (3) than the second subgroup with the second plate (4). Again, this advantageously makes it possible to more effectively accentuate certain specific heat exchanges and/or reduce others.

There schematically represents an example of a fifth embodiment in which the insulator 7 is formed in one piece, and here forms the third plate (5). This advantageously makes it possible to obtain the advantages of the previous embodiments while simplifying the structure of the plate. This insulating plate can be made from a material having a lower heat exchange coefficient than the first and second plates (4), and is preferably formed from plastic or composite material. In other embodiments, said third plate (5) is made of the same material as the other two plates and includes an insulating coating,

Thus, in certain embodiments, the third plate (5) further comprises an insulator on at least one of its faces forming a subgroup of channels.

In certain embodiments, the insulating coating or produced by hard anodization (growth of an Al2O3 film by electrochemical process).

In certain embodiments, the assembly can be carried out by gluing. In other embodiments, the assembly is carried out by brazing.

In certain embodiments, the third plate (5) is made of a material having a lower heat exchange coefficient than the first and second plates (4), and is preferably formed of plastic or composite material.

In certain embodiments, the three plates are made of plastic material, preferably of different thicknesses.

Preferably, the plastic material is formed from composite materials consisting of a matrix and reinforcing particles.

The matrix is preferably composed of at least one of epoxy resin (EP) / vinyl ester / Phenolics (EP) / Polyimides / Polypropylene / Polyamide (PA) / Polyetherimide (PEI) / Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or Poly(ether -phenylene ether ketone (PEEK), or a mixture thereof, preferably Polyamide (PA).

The reinforcing particles are preferably composed of at least one of glass fiber (GF) / carbon fiber / natural fiber such as hemp or flax / aramid fibers, or a mixture of these, preferably fiber glass (GF).

In certain embodiments, at least one of the plates is formed of an “organosheet”, preferably composed of polyamide (PA) and glass fibers (GF), PA-GF such as TECAMID PA66GF30 for example.

This advantageously allows a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, because the manufacturing process is simpler, in particular there is no brazing to assemble the three plates together. In addition, the impact on thermal performance can be offset by an increase in flow rate.

In certain embodiments, the surface of the channels in contact with the first plate (3) is 75% of the total surface of the channels 6 in contact with the plates, the surface of the channels in contact with the second plate then being 25 %.

In some embodiments, this results in the first subgroup of channels 61 representing 3/4 of the surface in contact with the first plate (3) for the battery, and the second subgroup of channels 62 representing 1/ 4 of the surface for the inductive charger.

This can of course be adapted depending on the hardware specifications and the thermal load of each person. This is one of the advantages of this type of plate.

In certain embodiments, the channels 6 of the plate are configured to allow circulation in 2 passes. Thus, the cooling liquid first cools a first element, for example the battery, via a first subgroup of channels 61, then passes through a U-shaped turning section into a second group of channels 62 which cools the second plate 4 to cool the inductive charger. This way we maintain a similar temperature difference despite a temperature gradient and limited bulk and fluid volume/flow.

Claims (14)

Thermal regulation device (1), in particular for cooling, of two elements, in particular electrical components, likely to release heat during their operation,
said device comprising a first plate (3) and a second plate (4), and further a third plate (5) assembled between the first and the second plate (4) in order to form together on either side of said third plate (5) a plurality of channels (6) between said first and second plates, said channels (6) being configured to be crossed by a fluid (heat transfer), in particular a refrigerant fluid, in particular a fluid chosen from the following refrigerant fluids R134a , R1234yf or R744,
the device being characterized in that a first subgroup of channels (61) of the plurality of channels (6) shares a larger surface area with the first plate (3) and/or the third plate (5) than the surface shared between a second subgroup of channels (62) of the plurality of channels (6) and the second plate (4) and/or the third plate (5),
and in that the first plate (3) is intended to be in contact with a first element to be thermally regulated, the second plate (4) being intended to be in contact with a second element to be thermally regulated different from the first element. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which a first subgroup of channels (61) of the plurality of channels (6) is formed between one face of the third plate (5) and the first plate (3) and a second channel subgroup (62) of the plurality of channels (6) is formed between one face of the third plate (5) and the second plate (4). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the device comprises a first element, in particular a first insulator (7), on at least one of the first, second and/or third plates (5), so as to to reduce the thermal exchanges between a subgroup and one of the plates or one of the elements to be thermally regulated. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the first element, in particular a first insulator (7), is located between the first subgroup of channels (61) of the plurality of channels (6) and one of the plates , the first element being configured to reduce the thermal exchanges between said first subgroup and said plate. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the device comprises a second element, in particular a second insulator (8), between a second subgroup of channels (62) of the plurality of channels (6) and the one of the plates, the second element being configured to reduce the thermal exchanges between said second subgroup and said plate, said plate insulated by this second element, in particular a second insulator (8), being different from the first plate (3) isolated from the first subgroup. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, according to the preceding claim in which the first insulator (7) and the second insulator (8) form a single piece. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the plurality of channels (6) comprises a turning section, in particular U-shaped, the first subgroup of channels (61) being linked to an inlet conduit of the heat transfer fluid and to the reversal section, the second subgroup being connected to the reversal section and to a heat transfer fluid outlet conduit. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the first subgroup of channels (61) and the second subgroup of channels (62) are formed from a node located upstream in the direction of circulation of the heat transfer fluid. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the device comprises only two subgroups of channels, called lower and upper subgroups. System comprising an electrical component capable of releasing heat during its operation, in particular an electrical energy storage module such as a battery, and a regulation device (1) according to any one of the claims above, arranged to thermally regulate the component, this component or battery being in thermal contact with the first plate (3), in particular called the upper plate, of the regulation device. System according to the preceding claim, which further comprises a second electrical component capable of releasing heat during its operation, in particular at least part of an induction charger, this component being in thermal contact with the second plate (4) , in particular called the lower plate, of the regulating device. Device according to one of claims 11 to 12, in which the device comprises a valve, in particular at said node, the valve being configured to be able to open or block the channels of one of the subgroups of channels of the device. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the surface ratio between the first group and the second group of the plurality of channels (61, 62) shared with their respective plate is 3:1 Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the surface of the channels in thermal contact with the first plate (3), and/or isolated from the second plate (4), represents between 51% and 90%, preferably between 60 and 80%, preferably 75%, of the total surface area of the plurality of channels (6) in contact with the plates.