FR3140997A1 - Thermal regulation device for cooling an energy storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

Title of the invention: Thermal regulation device for cooling an energy storage member The present invention relates to a thermal regulation device (1) for cooling energy storage members (2) preferably to cylindrical cells, comprising at least one heat transfer fluid circulation tube (14) extending along a main axis of elongation and configured to face at least one energy storage member (2), the tube ( 14) comprising at least one metal plate (30) comprising receiving means (34) respectively configured to at least partially enclose an energy storage member (2). Abstract Figure: Figure 2

Description

Thermal regulation device for cooling an energy storage device

The present invention relates to the field of thermal regulation devices and more particularly to the means implemented to regulate the temperature of electrical energy storage devices fitted to vehicles.

It is known today to equip electric, thermal or hybrid vehicles with electrical energy storage systems allowing power supply to the various elements of the vehicle. These electrical energy storage systems are generally composed of electrical energy storage members or electrical energy storage cells, positioned in a battery module or battery pack.

When the vehicle is operating, the battery packs can release a significant amount of heat and therefore be subject to temperature increases which in certain cases can cause them to be damaged or even destroyed. Consequently, their cooling is essential in order to keep them in good condition and thus ensure the reliability, autonomy and performance of the vehicle. Furthermore, the operation of the battery packs may be less efficient in the event of low temperatures, the electrical or electronic components equipping these battery packs then needing a time to warm up before operating at full efficiency.

In this context, one or more thermal regulation devices intended to regulate the temperature of the battery packs are implemented to ensure the heating and/or cooling functions of the electrical or electronic components inside these battery packs and thus optimize the operation of the different components.

These thermal regulation devices are generally traversed by a thermal regulation fluid which can, depending on the needs, either absorb the heat emitted by each battery pack in order to cool it, or provide heat if the temperature of the battery pack is insufficient for its purpose. good operation.

Battery packs can be made up, for example, of rows of electrical energy storage members taking the form of cylindrical cells. Thermal regulation devices taking the form of sinusoidal plates made of metal can be interposed between such rows, the thermal regulation fluid then passing through these sinusoidal plates from one longitudinal end to another in order to cool or heat the facing cylindrical cells. in which the thermal regulation devices are arranged.

Although adapted to the shape of cylindrical cells, the sinusoidal plates composing the thermal regulation devices do not allow optimal thermal conduction due to a limited contact surface with the cells.

In addition, metal thermal regulation devices, and in particular aluminum thermal regulation devices, are generally assembled by brazing, which has a significant impact on the carbon footprint of the final product.

In order to meet environmental and ecological considerations, thermal regulation devices can alternatively be made of plastic. They are then assembled by gluing, which limits brazing operations.

The use of plastic, however, has the disadvantage of resulting in thermal regulation devices with lower thermal performance compared to those made of metal.

In this context, the main object of the present invention is a thermal regulation device for cooling energy storage members preferably with cylindrical cells, comprising at least one heat transfer fluid circulation tube extending along an axis of main elongation and configured to be facing at least one energy storage member, the tube comprising at least one metal plate comprising receiving means respectively configured to at least partially enclose an energy storage member, the at least one metal plate being in contact with one face of the tube or forming one face of the tube, the tube being in a material different from the metal plate, preferably plastic.

The thermal regulation device according to the invention is intended to equip a vehicle, for example a thermal, hybrid or electric motor vehicle. Its purpose is to regulate the temperature of the electrical energy storage components of a battery module or battery pack of this motor vehicle. These storage organs can in particular take the form of cylindrical cells arranged in rows next to each other.

The thermal regulation device comprises at least one tube within which a heat transfer fluid or thermal regulation fluid circulates, this fluid allowing the thermal regulation of at least some of the energy storage organs facing which the thermal regulation device is positioned. In order to improve the thermal performance of the thermal regulation device, it presents means for receiving energy storage members. Such reception means are made from a metal plate and constitute exchange surfaces which are prominent in relation to the shape of the tube and whose shape is adjusted to that of the energy storage member associated with the means of reception. The fact that the receiving means are made from the metal plate makes it possible to specifically adjust their shape, independently of the general shape of the tube, whether flat or corrugated, to adapt to that of the storage organs. electrical energy to enlarge the contact surface between these organs and the reception means and by extension the tube. Heat exchanges are also improved by the composition of the metal plate, metal being a better thermal conductor than plastic for example.

The tube can for example be made of polyamide 66 with added glass fibers, or even of organosheet. The fact that the tube is made of plastic makes it possible to avoid the brazing operations necessary for its assembly when it is made of metal, the plastic tube being able to be made more easily by an extrusion or additive manufacturing process, which allows to reduce the carbon footprint of the thermal regulation device.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the face of the tube in contact with the at least one metal plate is configured to hold the metal plate in position.

The tube comprises a first face and a second face opposite each other, the first face being for example that which is in contact with the metal plate. This first face is configured to hold the metal plate in position, that is to say it has means making it possible to promote its attachment to it. If the tube and the metal plate are intended to be assembled by bonding, the face of the tube in contact with the metal plate may have a finish resulting in a surface condition allowing bonding, for example a particular roughness.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said face of the tube comprises a groove for holding the metal plate.

We understand that, alternatively to the method of fixing by gluing which was mentioned above, the metal plate can be held in position mechanically. A mechanical holding means may consist of a groove formed in the tube and in which an end edge of the metal plate is housed. The face of the tube can thus comprise one or more grooves extending longitudinally, the metal plate being able to be housed in the groove(s) from an open longitudinal end of this groove and be pressed by longitudinal sliding to the bottom of the groove.

In this case, the metal plate comprises opposing lateral portions, at least one of which is configured to cooperate with a retaining groove, the receiving means being arranged between these lateral portions in a central portion clear of the retaining grooves of the metal plate.

According to one characteristic, the receiving means have an omega shape.

The reception means thus comprise a circular portion which matches the shape of the energy storage members, and curved edges arranged at the free ends of the circular portion. The circular portion is integral with the metal plate, and the curved edges extend the circular portion opposite the metal plate. These curved edges are intended to facilitate insertion of the energy storage members within the reception means, by reducing the risk of damage to these energy storage members by the absence of contact with a protruding edge of the means of reception during their insertion.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the receiving means are aligned along the main axis of elongation of the tube.

In other words, the receiving means are arranged successively along the metal plate and the tube, for example in the same plane and at regular intervals.

According to one characteristic, the thermal regulation device comprises two metal plates arranged on opposite faces of the tube, the means for receiving one of the metal plates being offset along the main axis of elongation of the tube relative to the means for receiving the other metal plate.

This is a particular embodiment of the invention, making it possible in particular to ensure the thermal regulation of a battery module or battery pack having successive rows of energy storage members. In such an embodiment of the thermal regulation device, a metal plate is placed against each of the faces of the tube, that is to say against both its first face and its second face. Each of the faces can for this purpose include a groove as mentioned above to hold its respective metal plate in position. The means for receiving the first face do not face, if we consider the direction of the main axis of elongation, the means for receiving the second face. The receiving means of the thermal regulation device are thus arranged offset from one face to the other, so as to adapt to two successive rows of energy storage members arranged in a staggered row.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the tube is corrugated and comprises a succession of peaks and depressions, the receiving means each being arranged in one of the depressions.

By “corrugated” we mean that the tube has a sinusoidal shape. The receiving means are then arranged at regular intervals in depressions in the corrugated tube.

According to one characteristic, the receiving means consist of partially cut and folded portions of the metal plate.

The reception means thus correspond to deformations of the metal plate. Alternatively, the receiving means can be independent of the metal plate and assembled thereto by welding, by riveting or even by crimping.

According to one characteristic, two neighboring reception means are separated by a transverse strip of the metal plate.

Such a transverse strip extends substantially perpendicular to the main axis of elongation of the tube. The transverse strip has a holding function and improves the stress resistance of the metal plate. This transverse strip, which is made of metal, also participates in the thermal exchanges between the receiving means and a surface of the tube.

A width of the transverse strip must be sufficient to ensure that the metal plate holds in place, and to allow it to be guided in the groove without deformation. When the receiving means are assembled on the metal plate by welding/riveting/crimping, the transverse strip has a maximum width since there is then no cutting in the material.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the metal plate is made of aluminum.

According to another characteristic, the at least one metal plate forms one face of the tube facing at least one energy storage member.

The invention further relates to a method for obtaining a thermal regulation device as mentioned above, comprising a step of manufacturing the tube, a step of manufacturing the metal plate and a step of assembling the metal plate to the tube.

The manufacturing step may in particular correspond to manufacturing the plastic tube by injection or extrusion.

According to another characteristic, the step of manufacturing the metal plate comprises a step of partially cutting portions of the metal plate and a step of folding the cut portions to form the receiving means.

The metal plate manufacturing stage is prior to the assembly stage. The partial cutting step corresponds to the production of notches corresponding to the dimensions of the receiving means in the metal plate, while the folding step, or modeling step, applies to the portion of the plate at the interior of the notches and allows obtaining the omega shape of these reception means. Alternatively to the cutting step, the manufacturing step can include a bonding of reception means produced elsewhere.

According to one characteristic, during the assembly step the metal plate is slid along the groove of the tube.

The metal plate is more precisely inserted into the groove before being slid along it. Alternatively, the metal plate and the tube can be combined by gluing or overmolding.

According to another characteristic, the method of obtaining comprises, following the assembly step, a step of deformation of the tube so as to form a succession of peaks and depressions for a given face of the tube, the means of reception of the metal plate associated with this face being located in depressions.

This deformation step can for example be carried out using cylindrical presses exerting pressure on either side of the tube, that is to say both facing its first and its second face. The resulting tube thus has depressions adapted to the shape of the energy storage organs when these are made by cylindrical cells.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended drawings on the other hand. , on which ones :

illustrates, schematically, a battery module comprising several rows of energy storage members and a plurality of thermal regulation devices according to the invention.

illustrates, schematically, one of the thermal regulation devices of the , this thermal regulation device comprising on one of its faces means for receiving energy storage members of the battery module;

illustrates, schematically, a variant of the thermal regulation device of the , this thermal regulation device comprising on two of its faces means for receiving energy storage members of the battery module;

illustrates, schematically, a metal plate intended to be associated with a plastic tube to form one of the thermal regulation devices of the , the metal plate being seen here before deformation;

illustrates, schematically, a step of assembling the metal plate of the , once deformed to form reception means here of three in number, to a tube of the thermal regulation device;

illustrates, schematically, a step of deformation of the tube of the ;

illustrates, schematically, one of the thermal regulation devices of the having undergone the deformation stage.

The characteristics, variants and different embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other, in various combinations, to the extent that they are not incompatible or exclusive with respect to each other. In particular, it will be possible to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described subsequently in isolation from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and/or to differentiate the invention. compared to the prior art.

In the figures, elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

In the detailed description which follows, the terms “longitudinal”, “transverse” and “vertical” refer to the orientation of a thermal regulation device according to the invention. A longitudinal direction corresponds to a direction parallel to a main axis of elongation of the thermal regulation device, this longitudinal direction being parallel to a longitudinal axis L of a mark L, V, T illustrated in the figures. A transverse direction corresponds to a direction parallel to a width of the thermal regulation device, this transverse direction being parallel to a transverse axis T of the mark L, V, T and this transverse axis T being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Finally, a vertical direction corresponds to a direction parallel to a vertical axis V of the reference L, V, T, this vertical axis V being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and to the transverse axis T.

In addition, in this description the term “heat transfer fluid” can relate to any cooling, refrigerant, thermal regulation, dielectric or two-phase fluid, since this fluid, liquid or gas, has the effect of cooling or heating electrical energy storage devices.

There thus illustrates, schematically, a battery module 1 intended to equip a motor vehicle, for example a thermal, hybrid or electric vehicle. This battery module 1 is composed of a succession of rows of energy storage members 2, such energy storage members 2 here being cylindrical cells.

Between the rows of energy storage members 2 are interposed thermal regulation devices 4 according to the invention, which ensure optimal operation of the battery module 1, so that a thermal regulation device 4 is arranged next to a row of energy storage members 2 in a vertical direction V. It is thus understood that there exists, within the battery module 1, a repeated sequence of a thermal regulation device 4 and of a row of energy storage members 2 along the vertical direction V, with in particular a thermal regulation device 4 which can be found between two successive rows of energy storage members 2.

Each thermal regulation device 4 is traversed by a heat transfer fluid which can, depending on the needs, either absorb the heat emitted by the energy storage organs 2 in order to cool them, or provide them with heat if their temperature is too low, in for optimal operation of the battery module 1.

The arrival of the heat transfer fluid in each thermal regulation device 4 takes place in the example illustrated via a distribution manifold 6, which extends along a first end 8 of the battery module 1. The first end 8 is opposite a second end 10 of the battery module, which here carries a return collector 12 extending along this second end 10. The distribution collector 6 and the return collector 12 participate therefore to delimit the battery module 1.

Each thermal regulation device 4 is in fluid communication with both the inlet manifold 6 and the return manifold 12, so that the heat transfer fluid can circulate from the first end 8 to the second end 10 and vice versa along of each row of energy storage organs 2, as symbolized by black circulation arrows on the .

One of the thermal regulation devices 4 will now be described in more detail in relation to Figures 2 to 7. Unless otherwise stated or obvious incompatibility, the characteristics described in relation to this thermal regulation device 4 can be applied to each of the devices thermal regulation 4 of the battery module 1.

This thermal regulation device 4 is shown in sectional views in Figures 2 and 3, respectively according to a first embodiment and a second embodiment.

The thermal regulation device 4 comprises a tube 14 which extends along a main axis of elongation parallel to a longitudinal direction L. The tube 14 extends over an entire length of the thermal regulation device 4, i.e. say from its first end 8 to its second end 10. This tube 14 is a conduit configured for the circulation of the refrigerant fluid; For this purpose it has an internal housing 16 within which this refrigerant fluid flows. This internal housing 16 is delimited in the vertical direction V by a first face 18 and a second face 20 of the tube 14, which are therefore opposite in this vertical direction V. At least one of the first face 18 and the second face 20 is intended to be opposite a row of energy storage members 2.

As is particularly visible on the , the first face 18 and the second face 20 extend, within the tube 14, between two lateral edges 22 of this tube 14 respectively arranged opposite the first end 8 and the second end 10 of the thermal regulation device. The side edges 22 are joined, along the longitudinal direction L, by two longitudinal edges 24 of the tube 14 which are substantially perpendicular to these side edges 22. As a result, the tube 14, when seen in projection in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction V, has a substantially rectangular shape.

Tube 14 is here corrugated, that is to say it has a sinusoid-shaped section. The tube 14 thus comprises a succession of peaks 26 and depressions 28, the peaks 26 corresponding to convex portions seen from the internal housing 16 while the depressions 28 are concave portions seen from this internal housing 16. The depressions 28 are portions of the tube 14 which are intended to be opposite the energy storage members 2, while the peaks 26 are intended to be arranged substantially between two contiguous energy storage members 2.

Tube 14 is made of plastic. It can thus be produced by extrusion or additive manufacturing and can be assembled by bonding to other constituent elements of the battery module 1, in particular to the inlet and return collectors 6, 12.

The thermal regulation device 4 comprises at least one metal plate 30. Such a metal plate 30 is for example made of aluminum, which makes it possible to have optimal thermal conductivity between the thermal regulation device, and the refrigerant fluid which circulates in its breast, and the energy storage organs 2. Each thermal regulation device 4 can comprise, according to the embodiments of the invention, a single metal plate 30 or two metal plates 30 with a first metal plate 30A and a second metal plate 30B. In the presence of a single metal plate 30, this will be placed facing the first face 18 since the latter is itself facing energy storage members 2. Alternatively, in the presence of two metal plates 30, the first metal plate 30A will be placed facing the first face 18 while the second metal plate 30B will be placed facing the second face 20. The characteristics of the metal plate 30 will now be described in relation to a single metal plate 30 arranged facing the first face 18, but these characteristics can be transposed mutatis mutandis to embodiments comprising both the first metal plate 30A and the second metal plate 30B.

As is illustrated in particular in Figures 2, 3 and 7, the metal plate 30 is in contact with the first face 18 of the tube 14. It is understood that the metal plate 30 also has a section in the shape of a sinusoid, so as to conform to the shape of the tube 14. In certain embodiments not shown here, the metal plate 30 can form one face of the tube 14 facing at least one energy storage member 2; we then understand that the metal plate replaces the first face 18, with the tube 14 which is made of metal, of the same metal as the metal plate, while the tube 14 is advantageously made of plastic when the metal plates are made independently of the tube and placed against one side of this tube.

In these latest embodiments and as illustrated in the figures, the first face 18 of the tube 14 and the metal plate 30 are two distinct elements, the first face 18 being configured to hold this metal plate 30 in position. in position can operate differently depending on different embodiments of the thermal regulation device 4. Maintaining in position can thus result, when the tube 14 and the metal plate 30 are intended to be joined by gluing, from a roughness specific to the first face 18, or to a part of the first face 18, different from the roughness of other parts of the tube.

In the example illustrated, the tube 14 and more particularly its first face 18 may comprise a retaining groove 32 of the metal plate 30. The first face 18 here comprises two retaining grooves 32, particularly visible in Figures 5 and 7, which correspond to two grooves formed respectively in each of the longitudinal edges 24 of the tube 14. Each retaining groove 32 further extends from one lateral edge 22 to the other, i.e. from the first end 8 to the second end 10 of the device thermal regulation 4, with the retaining groove which is open at least on the side of one of these ends to allow the insertion of a peripheral edge of the metal plate and the sliding of the metal plate along the groove of holding, if necessary up to a stop wall formed opposite the holding groove. The retaining groove 32 allows, during a process which will be described subsequently, to assemble the metal plate 30 to the first face 18 by sliding it there.

In order to improve the heat exchange between the tube 14 and the refrigerant fluid which circulates there on the one hand and the energy storage members 2 on the other hand, in particular by increasing the exchange surface between these components, the metal plate 30 in contact with tube 14 has receiving means 34 configured so that each at least partially surrounds one of these energy storage members 2.

These receiving means 34 have an omega shape, which more particularly comprises a circular portion 36 bordered by two curved edges 38. The circular portion 36 of the receiving means 34 has a partially cylindrical section, of shape and dimension substantially similar to those of a cylindrical cell, when these are seen along a longitudinal-vertical plane. This circular portion 36 is thus a housing with a shape complementary to the shape of the energy storage members 2 to receive and surround one of these energy storage members 2. For this purpose, the circular portion 36 is integral with the metal plate and it has an opening 40, opposite the metal plate, through which an energy storage member 2 can be inserted into the receiving means 34.

Each of the free ends of the circular portion 36, that is to say each of the ends which border the opening 40, is extended by a curved rim 38. Such a curved rim 38 corresponds to a folding of the circular portion 36 towards outside of the receiving means 34, i.e. opposite the housing receiving the energy storage member 2. This ensures that there is no sharp edge at the free ends of the circular portion, which could hinder the insertion of the energy storage members 2 into their corresponding reception means 34.

The metal plate 30 comprises several receiving means 34, which are aligned along the main elongation axis of the tube 14. The receiving means 34 are thus arranged, along the metal plate 30, between the first end 8 of the device thermal regulation 4 and its second end 10. In the embodiments presented in the figures, the receiving means 34 are located at regular intervals along the metal plate 30. The receiving means 34 are here arranged within the depressions 28 of the tube 14, so that each receiving means 34 is associated with a depression 28. More precisely, for a given receiving means 34 the circular portion 36 is in contact with a corresponding depression 28, the curved edges 38 being at distance from it.

For the embodiments in which the thermal regulation device 4 comprises two metal plates 30, namely the first metal plate 30A and the second metal plate 30B mentioned above, there is a longitudinal offset between the receiving means 34 of the first metal plate 30A and the receiving means 34 of the second metal plate 30B, such a longitudinal offset being illustrated in . Such an arrangement of the receiving means 34 of the first metal plate 30A relative to the receiving means 34 of the second metal plate 30B results from an arrangement of the rows of energy storage members 2 within a module of battery 1, the energy storage members 2 of a given row being arranged staggered relative to the energy storage members 2 of an adjacent row.

As is particularly visible in Figures 5 and 7, two neighboring receiving means 34, that is to say two receiving means 34 which are arranged side by side along the main elongation axis of the tube 14 , are separated by a transverse strip 42 of the metal plate 30. Such a transverse strip 42 is thus arranged between each receiving means 34. The transverse strip 42 extends substantially parallel to the lateral edges 22 of the tube 14 and therefore substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal edges 24.

A process for obtaining the thermal regulation device 4 according to the invention will now be described in relation to Figures 4 to 7, which describe steps of such a process.

The process for obtaining the thermal regulation device 4 begins with manufacturing operations of the tube 14 on the one hand and the metal plate 30 on the other hand. The step of manufacturing the tube 14 is equivalent either to an injection step of the tube 14, or to a step of extrusion of this tube 14, the tube 14 being made of plastic material. Such an operation makes it possible to obtain a straight tube 14 comprising within it a conduit for circulating the heat transfer fluid.

The step of manufacturing the metal plate 30 comprises a sub-step of manufacturing a substantially flat metal plate, for example an aluminum plate. The receiving means 34 are then made to form a projection of the metal plate 30 capable subsequently of cooperating with electrical energy storage members.

To do this, in the example illustrated, a partial cutting sub-step is carried out, during which notches 44 are formed within the metal plate 30. These notches 44, which are illustrated in , have a U shape and participate in pairs in defining the contours of one of the receiving means 34. More particularly, each notch 44 has a base of the U formed by a transverse cut of the metal plate and the uprights of the U formed by a longitudinal cut made in continuity with the base of the U. Two notches participating in delimiting the same receiving means are arranged in opposition, with the free ends of the uprights of the notches which are facing each other, at a distance making it possible to form the portion of the receiving means 34 forming contact with the metal plate. It can be seen that a transverse strip 42 of metallic material is formed between two notches 44 intended for cutting two neighboring receiving means 34, and more particularly between two transverse cutouts forming the base of these two notches.

Once the notches have been made, a step is carried out of folding the metallic material present between two notches participating in delimiting the same receiving means to give the receiving means 34 an appropriate shape, here an omega shape with a circular portion 36 and curved edges 38 as previously mentioned. For example, a roller can be placed against the first face 18 between the two notches participating in delimiting the same receiving means, and the metallic material is pushed so as to wind around the roller to take the shape of the circular portion, the curved edges being made in a second step.

In alternative embodiments, the step of manufacturing the metal plate 30 can correspond to bonding or welding on the metal plate 30 of receiving means 34 previously produced with their circular portions 36 and their curved edges 38. In these embodiments, the metal plate 30 is not pre-cut and remains in one piece, so that the transverse strip 42 extending between two neighboring receiving means 34 has a width, that is to say a dimension of this transverse strip 42 measured along the longitudinal direction L, greater than that of a transverse strip present in the embodiments in which the receiving means 34 are obtained by cutting. This improves heat exchange performance.

Once the steps of manufacturing the tube 14 and the metal plate 30 have been completed, the process of obtaining it continues with a step of assembling these two elements, such an assembly step being illustrated in . During this assembly step, the metal plate 30 is inserted into the retaining grooves 32 formed on one face of the tube 14, then it is moved by sliding along the tube 14, being held transversely and vertically by the grooves of holding 32. The transverse bands 42 give rigidity to the metal plate 30 to facilitate its insertion at the free end of the holding grooves and to prevent it from breaking when sliding along the tube 14. Alternatively, the assembly step can correspond to a bonding operation or an overmolding operation linking the tube 14 and the metal plate 30.

Following the assembly step and as shown in , the method of obtaining includes a step of deformation of the tube 14. This step of deformation of the tube 14, which contributes by extension to deform the metal plate 30, is carried out using presses 46 which are arranged opposite the device thermal regulation device 4 so as to reproduce the arrangement of two rows of adjacent energy storage members and intended to be arranged on either side of this thermal regulation device 4. Presses 46 are thus arranged in facing the first face 18 within the receiving means 34 of the metal plate 30 assembled to this first face 18, other presses 46 being arranged facing the second face 20 with a longitudinal offset. The presses 46 facing the first face 18 and the presses 46 facing the second face 20 are thus arranged in a staggered manner. When the presses 46 come to bear against the thermal regulation device 4, they deform the tube 14 so as to form a succession of peaks 26 and depression 28. Such deformation completes the process of obtaining the thermal regulation device 4 according to the invention, which is presented once deformed in . The thermal regulation device 4 can then be placed against a row of energy storage members 2 within the battery module 1, so that its receiving means 34 each enclose one of the energy storage members. 2 of this row.

As is visible for example in Figures 2 or 3, it is notable that the reception means 34 make it possible to have a contact surface with the energy storage members 2 greater than when these energy storage members energy are directly in contact with one face of the tube. As mentioned previously, a particular shape can be given to the receiving means 34 without modifying the general shape of the tube 14, so that it is possible to maintain a flat or corrugated shape of the plastic tube 14 allowing the circulation of the heat transfer fluid within it, without pressure loss, while increasing the contact surface with the energy storage organs 2.

By way of example, the shape of the receiving means 34, here in omega, makes it possible to generate a contact surface which is at least equal to half the circumference of the energy storage member 2, for a section given.

It is notable that the reception means 34, formed respectively by a folded metal sheet, have an elasticity allowing their elastic deformation in contact with the energy storage members 2, so that it is possible to dimension the reception means for that the energy storage members must deform the circular portion 36 to pass into the opening 40. This ensures good contact between a receiving means 34 and an energy storage member 2 over the entirety of the contact surface, the elastic return effect of the receiving means aimed at pressing the receiving means against the energy storage member.

The present invention thus proposes a device for thermal regulation of electrical energy storage members, which presents specific reception means offering optimized exchange surfaces with the storage members to improve the thermal performance of the device while responding to ecological and environmental considerations.

The present invention cannot, however, be limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated here and it also extends to any equivalent means and configuration as well as to any technically effective combination of such means.

Claims (13)

Thermal regulation device (1) for cooling energy storage members (2) preferably with cylindrical cells, comprising at least one heat transfer fluid circulation tube (14) extending along a main axis of elongation and configured to face at least one energy storage member (2), the tube (14) comprising at least one metal plate (30) comprising receiving means (34) respectively configured to enclose at least partially an energy storage member (2), the at least one metal plate (30) being in contact with one face (18, 20) of the tube (14) or forming a face (18, 20) of the tube ( 14), the tube (14) being in a material different from the metal plate (30), preferably plastic. Thermal regulation device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the face (18, 20) of the tube (14) in contact with the at least one metal plate (30) is configured to hold the metal plate (30) in position. ). Thermal regulation device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which said face (18, 20) of the tube (14) comprises a retaining groove (32) of the metal plate (30). Thermal regulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the receiving means (34) have an omega shape. Thermal regulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the receiving means (34) are aligned along the main axis of elongation of the tube (14). Thermal regulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising two metal plates (30) arranged on opposite faces (18, 20) of the tube (14), the receiving means (34) of one of the metal plates (30) being offset along the main axis of elongation of the tube (14) relative to the receiving means (34) of the other metal plate (30). Thermal regulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the tube (14) is corrugated and comprises a succession of peaks (26) and depressions (28), the receiving means (34) being arranged each in one of the depressions (28). Thermal regulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the receiving means (34) consist of partially cut and folded portions of the metal plate (30). Thermal regulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the metal plate (30) is made of aluminum. Method for obtaining a thermal regulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of manufacturing the tube (14), a step of manufacturing the metal plate (30) and a step of assembly of the metal plate (30) to the tube (14). Method of obtaining according to the preceding claim, in which the step of manufacturing the metal plate (30) comprises a step of partially cutting portions of the metal plate (30) and a step of folding the cut portions to form the means reception (34). Process for obtaining according to any one of claims 10 and 11 in combination with claim 3, in which during the assembly step the metal plate (30) is slid along the groove (32) of the tube (14). Process for obtaining according to any one of claims 10 to 12, comprising, following the assembly step, a step of deforming the tube (14) so as to form a succession of peaks (26) and depressions (28) for a given face (18, 20) of the tube (14), the means for receiving (34) the metal plate (30) associated with this face (18, 20) being located in depressions (28) .