JP2023155255A - vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technology which inhibits temperature variations at different positions in a cooling device which cools an on-vehicle battery.SOLUTION: A coolant tank 30 has a first inner wall 32a and a second inner wall 32b facing each other. First to fourth refrigerant pipes 42a to 42d extend along the first inner wall 32a and the second inner wall 32b inside the coolant tank 30 and cause a refrigerant to flow therethrough. A partition plate 36 crosses the first to fourth refrigerant pipes 42a to 42d from the first inner wall 32a inside the coolant tank 30 and extends to a position which does not reach the second inner wall 32b to partition the inside of the coolant tank 30. In the coolant tank 30, a coolant flows through a passage partitioned by the partition plate 36.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present disclosure relates to cooling technology, and particularly to a vehicle equipped with a cooling device for a battery module that cools a battery.

Hybrid cars and electric cars are equipped with a battery module (vehicle battery) that supplies power to a motor that is a driving source. In order to suppress a rise in temperature of the battery module, cooling is performed using, for example, heat of vaporization of a refrigerant. However, the temperature is low near the refrigerant passage, and uneven cooling occurs because the inlet side of the cooling passage is lower than the discharge side, and the temperature varies depending on the position within the battery module. In order to suppress uneven cooling, a heat exchanger through which a refrigerant flows is attached to the cooling liquid (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-50000

When cooling a vehicle-mounted battery, when the coolant is flowed, variations in the temperature of the coolant at different positions cannot be suppressed depending on the direction in which the coolant is flowed. Therefore, it is necessary to flow the coolant in a direction that suppresses variations in the temperature of the coolant at different positions.

The present disclosure has been made in view of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a technique for suppressing temperature variations at different positions in a cooling device that cools an on-vehicle battery.

In order to solve the above problems, a vehicle according to an aspect of the present invention is a vehicle that includes a motor as a drive source, a battery module that supplies power to the motor, and a cooling device that cools the battery module. The cooling device includes: a first planar member having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a second planar member having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface; a coolant flow path disposed between the second surface of the first planar member and the third surface of the second planar member, through which the coolant flows; and the second surface of the first planar member and the second planar member. refrigerant piping arranged between the third surfaces of the refrigerant and through which refrigerant flows. A battery module can be arranged along the first surface of the first planar member, and the cooling fluid flow path is formed between the second surface and the third surface, and the cooling fluid flows in a first direction. a first portion of the coolant flow path flowing; a second portion of the coolant flow path flowing in a second direction opposite to the first direction between the second surface and the third surface; At least a third portion of the coolant flow path is provided between the second surface and the third surface and allows the coolant flowing out from the first portion of the coolant flow path to flow into the second portion of the coolant flow path. The refrigerant piping is arranged between the second surface and the third surface in the first and second parts of the coolant flow path along a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the refrigerant flows in a predetermined direction. A second refrigerant pipe arranged along the second direction in the first and second parts of the coolant flow path between the first refrigerant pipe and the second surface and the third surface, through which the refrigerant flows in a predetermined direction. and at least the following. The refrigerant flowing in a predetermined direction in the first refrigerant pipe can exchange heat with the coolant flowing in the first direction in the first part of the coolant flow path, and the refrigerant flows in the second direction in the second part of the coolant flow path. The refrigerant flowing in the predetermined direction in the second refrigerant pipe can exchange heat with the coolant flowing in the first direction in the first portion of the coolant flow path, In addition, heat exchange is possible with the coolant flowing in the second direction in the second portion of the coolant flow path.

According to the present disclosure, in a cooling device that cools an on-vehicle battery, it is possible to suppress variations in temperature at different positions.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a battery system according to an example. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the cooling device in FIG. 1. FIG. 3(a) to 3(c) are diagrams showing the structure of the cooling device of FIG. 1. 4(a)-(b) are diagrams showing the structure of a cooling device to be compared with the cooling device of FIG. 3(a). 2 is a diagram showing another structure of the cooling device of FIG. 1. FIG. 6(a)-(b) are diagrams showing still another structure of the cooling device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the battery system of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another structure of the battery system of FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the battery system of FIG. 8. FIG.

Before specifically describing the embodiments of the present disclosure, an overview will be described. The embodiment relates to a cooling device for cooling a battery module mounted on a vehicle. A battery module is installed on one side of the cooling device, and a plurality of refrigerant pipes branching from the main pipe are arranged along one side inside the cooling device. The refrigerant from the main pipe flows through each refrigerant pipe, but since the refrigerant flow rate in each refrigerant pipe varies, the temperature varies between the refrigerant pipes. Due to temperature variations between the refrigerant pipes, the temperature differs depending on the position within the battery module. In order to suppress variations in temperature between refrigerant pipes, it is effective to immerse a plurality of refrigerant pipes in cooling liquid. On the other hand, in order to improve cooling efficiency, it is preferable that the cooling liquid is also flowed. However, since the heat absorbed from the refrigerant pipes also flows as the coolant flows, variations in temperature between the refrigerant pipes cannot be suppressed depending on the direction in which the coolant flows. Therefore, it is required to flow the coolant in a direction that suppresses temperature variations between the coolant pipes.

In this embodiment, the coolant is flowed perpendicularly to the refrigerant pipes, and the coolant suppresses temperature variations between the refrigerant pipes, and the U-turn changes the direction in which the coolant flows, thereby causing variations in temperature within the refrigerant pipes. suppress. Note that in the following description, "parallel" and "perpendicular" include not only perfectly parallel and perpendicular, but also cases that are deviated from parallel and perpendicular within an error range. Moreover, "abbreviation" means that they are the same within the approximate range. Furthermore, in the following embodiments, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. Further, in each drawing, some constituent elements are omitted as appropriate for convenience of explanation.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a battery system 100. As shown in FIG. 1, an orthogonal coordinate system consisting of an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis is defined. The x-axis and y-axis are orthogonal to each other within the bottom surface of the battery system 100. The z-axis is perpendicular to the x- and y-axes and extends in the height direction of battery system 100. Further, the positive direction of each of the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis is defined in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, and the negative direction is defined in the direction opposite to the arrow. Here, the positive side of the x-axis is called the "front side," the negative side of the x-axis is called the "rear side," the positive side of the y-axis is called the "right side," and the negative side of the y-axis is called the "front side." The positive side of the z-axis is sometimes called the "upper side," and the negative side of the z-axis is sometimes called the "lower side." Therefore, FIG. 1 is a perspective view including the front side of the battery system 100.

The battery module 10 has a box shape. The cooling device 20 is a device for cooling the battery module 10. Since the length of the cooling device 20 in the height direction is shorter than the length in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, the cooling device 20 has a plate-like shape with a low height. Cooling device 20 is sometimes called a cooling plate. The battery module 10 is installed on the upper surface of the cooling device 20. Therefore, the upper surface of the cooling device 20 and the lower surface of the battery module 10 come into contact.

In addition, on the front side of the cooling device 20, a first coolant pipe 22a collectively referred to as a coolant pipe 22, a second coolant pipe 22b, a first refrigerant pipe 24a collectively referred to as a refrigerant pipe 24, a second refrigerant A pipe 24b is arranged. Specifically, the first refrigerant pipe 24a, the first coolant pipe 22a, the second coolant pipe 22b, and the second refrigerant pipe 24b are arranged from the left side to the right side of the front surface of the cooling device 20. In other words, the two coolant pipes 24 are arranged so as to sandwich the two coolant pipes 22 between them. Here, the coolant flows in from the first coolant pipe 22a, and the coolant flows out from the second coolant pipe 22b. Moreover, refrigerant flows in from the first refrigerant pipe 24a, and refrigerant flows out from the second refrigerant pipe 24b. An example of the refrigerant is HFC (Hydro Fluoro Carbon). Note that white arrows indicate the flow of the coolant, and black arrows indicate the flow of the coolant.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the cooling device 20. The cooling device 20 includes a cooling liquid tank 30, a first refrigerant header 40a collectively referred to as a refrigerant header 40, a second refrigerant header 40b, a first refrigerant pipe 42a to a fourth refrigerant pipe 42d collectively referred to as a refrigerant pipe 42, and an inner fin. 44, including the top plate 50. The coolant tank 30 also includes a first inner wall 32a to a fourth inner wall 32d, collectively referred to as an inner wall 32, a bottom surface 34, a partition plate 36, and a first opening 38a to a fourth opening 38d, collectively referred to as an opening 38. Here, although the number of refrigerant pipes 42 is "4", it is not limited thereto.

The cooling liquid tank 30 has a tub-like shape with an open top and a depressed center. The inner side surface of the cooling liquid tank 30 is formed by the first inner wall 32a to the fourth inner wall 32d. These have a rectangular shape where the height direction is shorter than the other directions, the first inner wall 32a and the second inner wall 32b face each other, and the third inner wall 32c and the fourth inner wall 32d face each other. Further, the first inner wall 32a is arranged on the front side, and the second inner wall 32b is arranged on the rear side. A bottom surface 34 is arranged at the bottom of the recess of the cooling liquid tank 30 so as to be surrounded by the first inner wall 32a to the fourth inner wall 32d. Here, the bottom surface 34 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-back direction.

A partition plate 36 is provided upright on the bottom surface 34. The partition plate 36 extends rearward from the center portion of the first inner wall 32a in the left-right direction to a position that does not reach the second inner wall 32b. Four semicircular recessed grooves are provided on the upper side of the partition plate 36. Further, another partition plate (not shown) is provided on the lower surface of the top plate 50 so as to face the partition plate 36. The refrigerant pipes 42 (from the first refrigerant pipe 42a to the fourth refrigerant pipe 42d) are sandwiched between the groove of the partition plate 36 and the groove of another partition plate (not shown). With this structure, a coolant flow path is formed between the second inner wall 32b and the partition plate 36. The interior of the cooling liquid tank 30 is partitioned by such a partition plate 36. The third opening 38c, the first opening 38a, the second opening 38b, and the fourth opening 38d are arranged in order from the left side to the right side so as to penetrate the first inner wall 32a. In particular, the third opening 38c and the first opening 38a are arranged on the left side of the partition plate 36, and the second opening 38b and the fourth opening 38d are arranged on the right side of the partition plate 36. Further, the first opening 38a is connected to a cylindrical first coolant pipe 22a, and the second opening 38b is connected to a cylindrical second coolant pipe 22b. Here, the front end of the first coolant pipe 22a is open and connected to the first opening 38a. Further, the front end of the second coolant pipe 22b is open and connected to the second opening 38b.

The first refrigerant header 40a has a cylindrical shape and is connected to the first refrigerant pipe 24a at its front end, and the second refrigerant header 40b also has a cylindrical shape and is connected to the second refrigerant pipe 24b at its front end. Further, the front end of the first refrigerant pipe 24a is open and connected to the internal space of the first refrigerant header 40a. Further, the front end of the second refrigerant pipe 24b is open and connected to the internal space of the second refrigerant header 40b. Four refrigerant pipes 42 extending in the left-right direction along the first inner wall 32a and the second inner wall 32b are connected to the first refrigerant header 40a and the second refrigerant header 40b. Here, the first refrigerant pipe 42a, the second refrigerant pipe 42b, the third refrigerant pipe 42c, and the fourth refrigerant pipe 42d are arranged from the front side to the rear side. Each refrigerant pipe 42 has a cylindrical shape, and its left end is connected to the internal space of the first refrigerant header 40a, and its right end is connected to the internal space of the second refrigerant header 40b. Furthermore, a bellows-shaped inner fin 44 is arranged in a portion surrounded by the first refrigerant header 40a, the first refrigerant pipe 42a, the second refrigerant header 40b, and the fourth refrigerant pipe 42d. In FIG. 2, the second refrigerant pipe 42b and the third refrigerant pipe 42c are hidden by the inner fin 44.

The refrigerant pipe 24, refrigerant header 40, and inner fins 44 combined in this manner correspond to a refrigerant heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger is stored inside the coolant tank 30. As a result, the partition plate 36 is arranged to cross the plurality of refrigerant pipes 42 (first refrigerant pipe 42a to fourth refrigerant pipe 42d). Here, the first refrigerant pipe 24a penetrates the third opening 38c from inside to outside of the cooling liquid tank 30 and projects to the front side of the cooling liquid tank 30, and the second refrigerant pipe 24b cools the fourth opening 38d. It penetrates from the inside to the outside of the liquid tank 30 and projects to the front side of the cooling liquid tank 30. Further, by attaching a top plate 50 above the coolant tank 30, the opening of the coolant tank 30 is closed. As described above, another partition plate (not shown) is provided on the lower surface of the top plate 50, and the other partition plate faces the partition plate 36.

In order to explain the flow of refrigerant and cooling liquid in such a structure, FIGS. 3(a) to 3(c) will be used. 3(a)-(c) show the structure of the cooling device 20. FIG. 3(a) is a plan view of the cooling device 20 seen from above with the top plate 50 removed while leaving another partition plate of the top plate 50, and FIG. 3(b) is a plan view of the cooling device 20 viewed from above. It is a side view seen from the front side, and FIG. 3(c) shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA' in FIG. 3(a). In FIG. 3(b), the front side surface is transparent. As described above, the first refrigerant header 40a is connected to the rear side of the first refrigerant pipe 24a, and the left ends of the first refrigerant pipe 42a to the fourth refrigerant pipe 42d are connected to the first refrigerant header 40a. Further, the right ends of the first refrigerant pipe 42a to the fourth refrigerant pipe 42d are connected to the second refrigerant header 40b, and the second refrigerant pipe 24b is connected to the front side of the second refrigerant header 40b. These internal spaces are connected.

The refrigerant flows from the first refrigerant pipe 24a and flows to the first refrigerant header 40a. At the first refrigerant header 40a, the refrigerant is branched and flows from the first refrigerant pipe 42a to the fourth refrigerant pipe 42d. The refrigerant flowing from the first refrigerant pipe 42a to the fourth refrigerant pipe 42d joins at the second refrigerant header 40b. The refrigerant flows from the second refrigerant header 40b to the second refrigerant pipe 24b and exits from the second refrigerant pipe 24b. In this way, the refrigerant pipe 42 allows the refrigerant to flow inside the cooling liquid tank 30 .

The interior of the coolant tank 30 is partitioned by a partition plate 36 into a space on the first opening 38a side and a space on the second opening 38b side. In addition, in FIGS. 3(b) and 3(c), the partition plate 36 provided in the coolant tank 30 is shown as a lower partition plate 36a1, and another partition plate provided in the top plate 50 is shown as an upper partition plate. It is indicated as 36a2. The lower partition plate 36a1 and the upper partition plate 36a2 are collectively referred to as the partition plate 36 (or the first partition plate 36a). Note that these spaces are connected on the rear side. Therefore, inside the coolant tank 30, a flow path partitioned by the partition plate 36 is formed. The flow path advances from the first opening 38a to the rear side, to the right side, and then to the front side to reach the second opening 38b. The second opening 38b is provided on the opposite side of the flow path from the first opening 38a in the first inner wall 32a. The coolant flows into the coolant tank 30 from the first coolant pipe 22a, flows through the aforementioned flow path, and flows out of the coolant tank 30 from the second coolant pipe 24b.

Before explaining the temperature variations due to the flow of refrigerant and cooling liquid, the temperature variations in the cooling device 120 to be compared will be explained using FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b). 4(a)-(b) show the structure of a cooling device 120 to which the cooling device 20 is compared. FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are all top views, and are shown similarly to FIG. 3(a). FIG. 4(a) shows a case where only the refrigerant is flowed without flowing the cooling liquid. The cooling device 120 includes a first refrigerant pipe 124a collectively referred to as refrigerant pipe 124, a second refrigerant pipe 124b, a first inner wall 132a collectively referred to as inner wall 132, a second inner wall 132b, a third inner wall 132c, a fourth inner wall 132d, A first refrigerant header 140a, collectively referred to as a refrigerant header 140, a second refrigerant header 140b, a first refrigerant pipe 142a, collectively referred to as a refrigerant pipe 142, a second refrigerant pipe 142b, a third refrigerant pipe 142c, and a fourth refrigerant pipe 142d. include. Here, the refrigerant pipe 124, the inner wall 132, the refrigerant header 140, and the refrigerant pipe 142 have the same structure as the refrigerant pipe 24, the inner wall 32, the refrigerant header 40, and the refrigerant pipe 42 in FIG. 3(a). Therefore, the refrigerant also flows as described above.

At the portion where the refrigerant header 140 branches into the four refrigerant pipes 142, a deviation occurs between the liquid state and the gas state of the refrigerant. At point P1 in the fourth refrigerant pipe 142d, which is farther from the first refrigerant pipe 124a, if the refrigerant flow rate is relatively high, there is a possibility that there is a large amount of refrigerant in a liquid state. On the other hand, at point P2 in the first refrigerant pipe 142a, which is closer to the first refrigerant pipe 124a, the amount of refrigerant in the gaseous state increases. Here, when there is a large amount of refrigerant in a liquid state, the temperature becomes lower than when there is a large amount of refrigerant in a gaseous state. Therefore, the first refrigerant pipe 142a has the lowest temperature, the second refrigerant pipe 142b and the third refrigerant pipe 142c have higher temperatures, and the fourth refrigerant pipe 142d has the highest temperature. In other words, as a result of the deviation between the liquid state and the gas state of the refrigerant, the temperature varies between the refrigerant pipes 142, and cooling is not performed uniformly.

4(b) includes a cooling liquid tank 130, a first cooling liquid pipe 122a, and a second cooling liquid pipe 122b, which are collectively referred to as a cooling liquid pipe 122, in addition to the structure of FIG. 4(a). In FIG. 4(b), the refrigerant is flowed as in FIG. 4(a), and the cooling liquid is flowed from the right side to the left side. In other words, both the refrigerant and the cooling liquid flow in the left and right direction. As a result, the amount of heat exchanged between the refrigerant pipes 142 is not large, so the variation in temperature between the refrigerant pipes 142 does not become small.

In comparison, in the cooling device 20, the coolant flows in the direction in which the plurality of refrigerant pipes 42 are lined up, as shown in FIG. 3(a). This corresponds to the cooling liquid flowing in the front-rear direction where variations in temperature between the refrigerant pipes 42 occur. Due to such a flow of the coolant, variations in temperature between the coolant pipes 42 are actively alleviated. Furthermore, since the coolant flows through the flow path that goes toward the rear side and returns to the front side by the partition plate 36, variations in temperature within the refrigerant pipes 42, that is, variations in temperature in the direction in which the refrigerant pipes 42 extend are also alleviated. .

FIG. 5 shows another structure of the cooling device 20. This is shown similarly to FIG. 3(a). The cooling device 20 does not include the partition plate 36 as compared to FIG. 3(a), and the first coolant pipe 22a and the first opening 38a are provided in the second inner wall 32b. That is, the first opening 38a and the second opening 38b are provided in the inner wall 32 facing each other. In such a structure, the coolant flowing in from the first coolant pipe 22a flows from the rear side to the front side, and flows out from the second coolant pipe 22b. Therefore, the coolant flows in the direction in which the plurality of refrigerant pipes 42 are lined up, and variations in temperature between the refrigerant pipes 42 are actively alleviated. Furthermore, since the partition plate 36 is not provided, the structure is simplified.

6(a)-(b) show yet another structure of the cooling device 20. FIG. These are structures in which a plurality of partition plates 36 are included, and are shown similarly to FIG. 3(a). In FIG. 6(a), a second partition plate 36b is included in the structure of FIG. 3(a). Further, the first partition plate 36a corresponds to the partition plate 36 in FIG. 3(a). The second partition plate 36b, like the first partition plate 36a, is composed of a lower partition plate and an upper partition plate. Here, the first partition plate 36a and the second partition plate 36b are collectively referred to as a partition plate 36. The second partition plate 36b extends forward from the second inner wall 32b to a position that does not reach the first inner wall 32a. Therefore, the first partition plate 36a and the second partition plate 36b cross the plurality of refrigerant pipes 42. Further, the second partition plate 36b is arranged on the right side of the first partition plate 36a. Further, a first coolant pipe 22a and a first opening 38a are provided on the first inner wall 32a, and a second coolant pipe 22b and a second opening 38b are provided on the second inner wall 32b.

Due to the first partition plate 36a and the second partition plate 36b, the inside of the cooling liquid tank 30 is divided into a space on the first opening 38a side and a space that does not include either the first opening 38a or the second opening 38b. , and is partitioned into a space on the second opening 38b side. Note that adjacent spaces are connected at the rear or front side. Therefore, inside the coolant tank 30, a flow path partitioned by the partition plate 36 is formed. The flow path advances from the first opening 38a to the rear side, then to the right side, then to the front side, further to the right side, and then to the rear side to reach the second opening 38b. It can be said that the second opening 38b is provided on the second inner wall 32b on the opposite side of the flow path from the first opening 38a. The coolant flows into the coolant tank 30 from the first coolant pipe 22a, flows through the aforementioned flow path, and flows out of the coolant tank 30 from the second coolant pipe 22b.

In FIG. 6(b), a third partition plate 36c is included in the structure of FIG. 6(a). The first partition plate 36a, the second partition plate 36b, and the third partition plate 36c are collectively referred to as a partition plate 36. The third partition plate 36c has the same structure as the first partition plate 36a, and is arranged in line with the first partition plate 36a inside the cooling liquid tank 30 so as to sandwich the second partition plate 36b. In this way, the third partition plate 36c is arranged on the right side of the second partition plate 36b. The first partition plate 36a, the second partition plate 36b, and the third partition plate 36c cross the plurality of refrigerant pipes 42. Further, a first coolant pipe 22a and a first opening 38a are provided on the first inner wall 32a, and a second coolant pipe 22b and a second opening 38b are also provided on the first inner wall 32a.

The first partition plate 36a, the second partition plate 36b, and the third partition plate 36c allow the inside of the cooling liquid tank 30 to be divided into a space on the first opening 38a side and either of the first opening 38a and the second opening 38b. The second opening 38b side is partitioned into two spaces that do not contain anything. Note that adjacent spaces are connected at the rear or front side. Therefore, inside the coolant tank 30, a flow path partitioned by the partition plate 36 is formed. The flow path proceeds from the first opening 38a to the rear side, to the right side, and then to the front side. The flow path further advances to the right, then to the rear, then to the right, and then to the front to reach the second opening 38b. It can be said that the second opening 38b is provided on the opposite side of the flow path from the first opening 38a in the first inner wall 32a. The coolant flows into the coolant tank 30 from the first coolant pipe 22a, flows through the aforementioned flow path, and flows out of the coolant tank 30 from the second coolant pipe 22b. In FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b), by increasing the number of partition plates 36, the flow rate of the coolant is increased and the heat exchange efficiency is increased.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the battery system 100. The battery system 100 includes a cooling device 20, a compressor 60, a condenser 62, an expansion valve 64, an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) 66, an expansion valve 68, a WP (Water Pump) 70, and an HTR (HeaTeR) 72. Note that the battery module 10 in FIG. 1 is omitted. The compressor 60, condenser 62, expansion valve 64, HVAC 66, and expansion valve 68 in FIG. 7 are included in the refrigerant circuit, and the WP 70 and HTR 72 are included in the coolant circuit.

The refrigerant circuit supplies refrigerant to the cooling device 20, and cools the cooling device 20 with the heat of vaporization of the refrigerant. In the refrigerant circuit, the compressor 60 pressurizes the vaporized refrigerant, the condenser 62 cools and liquefies the refrigerant pressurized by the compressor 60, and the expansion valve 64 is connected to the condenser 62. The compressor 60 is driven by the vehicle's engine or motor to pressurize vaporized refrigerant. The condenser 62 cools and liquefies the vaporized refrigerant. In a hybrid car, the condenser 62 is disposed in front of a radiator that cools engine coolant. The condenser 62 is also cooled by the fan that cools the radiator.

The cooling device 20 has a discharge side connected to a compressor 60, and the compressor 60 sucks and pressurizes the vaporized refrigerant discharged from the cooling device 20. The pressurized refrigerant is cooled and liquefied by the condenser 62. The liquefied refrigerant is supplied to the cooling device 20 via the expansion valve 64. The expansion valve 64 cools the cooling liquid using the temperature of the cooling device 20 as a set temperature. The expansion valve 64 is a regulating valve that can control the flow rate of the refrigerant, or a capillary tube made of a thin tube with a fixed flow rate that cannot control the flow rate of the refrigerant. The refrigerant that has passed through the expansion valve 64 expands adiabatically and is vaporized inside the cooling device 20, cooling the coolant with the heat of vaporization. Further, an HVAC 66 for cooling is connected to the refrigerant circuit via an expansion valve 68. HVAC 66 includes an evaporator.

Here in the coolant circuit, the HTR 72 heats the coolant if the engine is not warm enough. When the engine starts in this state and is sufficiently warmed up, it heats the internal coolant. WP70 circulates the coolant. The coolant that is quickly heated inside the engine circulates through the cooling device 20.

Until now, one battery module 10 has been installed on one side of the cooling device 20. In the following, a structure will be described in which a plurality of, for example, two, battery modules 10 are installed on one side of the cooling device 20. FIG. 8 is a top view showing another structure of the battery system 100. The battery system 100 includes a first battery module 10a and a second battery module 10b, collectively referred to as a battery module 10. Each battery module 10 has a rectangular upper surface that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, and is arranged in the front-rear direction. Here, the first battery module 10a is placed on the front side, and the second battery module 10b is placed on the rear side.

Furthermore, a first temperature sensor 12a may be attached to the lower surface of the first battery module 10a, and a second temperature sensor 12b may be attached to the lower surface of the second battery module 10b. The first temperature sensor 12a and the second temperature sensor 12b are collectively referred to as the temperature sensor 12, and measure temperature. That is, the temperature sensor 12 measures the temperature of the lower surface of the battery module 10. Note that the temperature sensor 12 may be attached to another position of the battery module 10.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the structure of the battery system 100. In the battery system 100, a circulation valve 74 and a control device 80 are added to the configuration shown in FIG. The control device 80 includes an acquisition section 82 and an adjustment section 84. The acquisition unit 82 is connected to the first temperature sensor 12a and the second temperature sensor 12b in FIG. 8, and acquires the temperature measured by each. That is, the temperature sensor 12 acquires the temperature of the first battery module 10a and the temperature of the second battery module 10b. These battery modules 10 are batteries that should be cooled by the cooling device 20. The acquisition unit 82 acquires the degree of temperature variation between the first battery module 10a and the second battery module 10b by calculating the difference between the two temperatures. The acquisition unit 82 outputs the degree of variation to the adjustment unit 84.

The adjustment unit 84 receives the degree of temperature variation from the acquisition unit 82 . The adjustment unit 84 adjusts the flow rate of the coolant flowing into the coolant tank 30 based on the degree of variation. Specifically, the adjustment unit 84 determines to increase the flow rate as the degree of variation increases. Circulation valve 74 is connected to the coolant circuit. The circulation valve 74 changes the flow rate of the coolant according to the determination in the regulator 84 .

In terms of hardware, this configuration can be realized using the CPU, memory, and other LSI of any computer, and in terms of software, it can be realized by programs loaded into memory, but here it is realized by the cooperation of these. It depicts the functional blocks that will be implemented. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be implemented in various ways using only hardware or a combination of hardware and software.

According to this embodiment, the partition plate extending from the first inner wall across the refrigerant pipe to a position that does not reach the second inner wall partitions the inside of the coolant tank. can form a flow path. Further, inside the coolant tank, the coolant flows through a flow path that crosses the coolant pipes, so it is possible to suppress variations in temperature at different positions. Moreover, since the partition plate crosses the plurality of refrigerant pipes, a flow path can be formed in a direction that crosses the plurality of refrigerant pipes. Further, inside the coolant tank, the coolant flows through a flow path that crosses the plurality of refrigerant pipes, so it is possible to suppress variations in temperature between the refrigerant pipes.

Moreover, since the second partition plate extends across the refrigerant pipe from the second inner wall facing the first inner wall to a position that does not reach the first inner wall, the direction in which the coolant flows can be changed. Furthermore, since the first partition plate and the second partition plate cross the plurality of refrigerant pipes, variations in temperature of the plurality of refrigerant pipes can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the third partition plate is provided, the coolant can be made to meander. Moreover, since the first partition plate, the second partition plate, and the third partition plate cross the plurality of refrigerant pipes, variations in temperature of the plurality of refrigerant pipes can be suppressed.

Further, since the first opening and the second opening are provided in the first inner wall, the cooling liquid can flow in and out from the same direction. Further, since the first opening is provided in the first inner wall and the second opening is provided in the second inner wall, the cooling liquid can be inflowed and outflowed from different directions. Further, since the flow rate of the coolant is adjusted based on the degree of variation in temperature of the battery, even if the temperature variation is large, the temperature variation can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the battery module and the cooling device are included, it is possible to suppress temperature variations at different positions within the battery module.

An overview of one aspect of the present disclosure is as follows. A cooling device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a cooling liquid tank having a first inner wall and a second inner wall facing each other, and a cooling liquid tank that extends along the first inner wall and the second inner wall inside the cooling liquid tank, and allows a coolant to flow therein. It includes a plurality of refrigerant pipes and a partition plate that partitions the inside of the coolant tank by extending from the first inner wall inside the coolant tank, across the plurality of refrigerant pipes, to a position that does not reach the second inner wall. Inside the coolant tank, the coolant flows through channels partitioned by partition plates.

According to this aspect, the partition plate extending from the first inner wall across the plurality of refrigerant pipes to a position not reaching the second inner wall partitions the inside of the coolant tank, and the inside of the coolant tank is partitioned by the partition plate. Since the cooling liquid flows through the flow paths, variations in temperature at different positions can be suppressed.

The cooling liquid tank may further include another partition plate that partitions the inside of the coolant tank by extending from the second inner wall inside the coolant tank, across the plurality of refrigerant pipes, to a position that does not reach the first inner wall. In this case, since another partition plate extends from the second inner wall across the plurality of refrigerant pipes to a position that does not reach the first inner wall, the direction in which the coolant flows can be changed.

It may further include a first opening provided in the first inner wall, and a second opening provided in the first inner wall on the opposite side of the flow path from the first opening. The cooling liquid may flow into the cooling liquid tank from one of the first opening and the second opening, and the cooling liquid may flow out of the cooling liquid tank from the other of the first opening and the second opening. In this case, since the first opening and the second opening are provided in the first inner wall, the cooling liquid can flow in and out from the same direction.

It may further include a first opening provided in the first inner wall, and a second opening provided in the second inner wall on the opposite side of the flow path from the first opening. The cooling liquid may flow into the cooling liquid tank from one of the first opening and the second opening, and the cooling liquid may flow out of the cooling liquid tank from the other of the first opening and the second opening. In this case, since the first opening is provided in the first inner wall and the second opening is provided in the second inner wall, the coolant can flow in and out from different directions.

The device may further include an estimation unit that estimates the lower of the first temperature in the vicinity of the first opening and the second temperature in the vicinity of the second opening. When the estimator estimates that the first temperature is lower, the coolant flows into the coolant tank from the first opening, flows out of the coolant tank from the second opening, and the estimator If it is estimated that the second temperature is lower, the coolant may flow into the coolant tank through the second opening, and may flow out of the coolant tank through the first opening. In this case, since the cooling liquid is introduced from the side with a lower temperature, the cooling efficiency can be improved.

The cooling device further includes an acquisition unit that acquires the degree of variation in temperature of the batteries to be cooled, and an adjustment unit that adjusts the flow rate of the coolant flowing into the coolant tank based on the degree of variation acquired by the acquisition unit. You may prepare. In this case, since the flow rate of the coolant is adjusted based on the degree of variation in temperature of the battery, even if the variation in temperature is large, variation in temperature can be suppressed.

It may also include a battery and a cooling device that cools the battery. In this case, since a battery and a cooling device are provided, variations in temperature at different positions within the battery can be suppressed.

The present disclosure has been described above based on examples. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that this example is merely an example, and that various modifications can be made to the combinations of these components or processing processes, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure. .

In this embodiment, the coolant flows into the coolant tank 30 through the first opening 38a, and the coolant flows out of the coolant tank 30 through the second opening 38b. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the direction in which the cooling liquid flows may be changed. An estimation unit (not shown) in the control device 80 in FIG. 9 stores in advance information regarding how the refrigerant is biased, that is, how the cooling device 20 is biased. The estimation unit estimates the lower of the first temperature near the first opening 38a and the second temperature near the second opening 38b based on the bias. For example, in the lower part due to the bias, there is more refrigerant in the liquid state, and in the upper part due to the bias, there is more refrigerant in the gas state. Therefore, the temperature becomes low in the former, and the temperature becomes high in the latter. If the first opening 38a is lower than the second opening 38b, the estimation unit estimates that the first temperature is lower than the second temperature, and the second opening 38b is lower than the first opening 38a. If so, it is estimated that the second temperature is lower than the first temperature. The estimation unit estimates the lower of the first temperature in the vicinity of the first opening 38a and the second temperature in the vicinity of the second opening 38b by sensing the bias of the refrigerant or the temperature of the battery module 10. Good too.

In the coolant circuit, when the estimator estimates that the first temperature is lower, the coolant flows into the coolant tank 30 through the first opening 38a and flows out of the coolant tank 30 through the second opening 38b. The coolant is flushed so that the coolant is drained. On the other hand, in the coolant circuit, when the estimator estimates that the second temperature is lower, the coolant flows into the coolant tank 30 from the second opening 38b, and the coolant flows into the coolant tank 30 from the first opening 38a. The coolant is flushed so that the coolant flows out. Known techniques may be used to change the direction of the flow of the coolant, and will not be described here. According to this modification, since the cooling liquid flows from the lower temperature side to the higher temperature side, cooling efficiency can be improved.

10 battery module, 12 temperature sensor, 20 cooling device, 22 coolant pipe, 24 coolant pipe, 30 coolant tank, 32 inner wall, 34 bottom surface, 36 partition plate, 38 opening, 40 coolant header, 42 coolant pipe, 44 inner fin , 50 top plate, 100 battery system.

According to the present disclosure, in a cooling device that cools an on-vehicle battery, it is possible to suppress variations in temperature at different positions.

Claims (13)

The motor is the driving source,
a battery module that supplies power to the motor;
A vehicle comprising a cooling device that cools the battery module,
The cooling device includes:
a first planar member having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface;
a second planar member having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface;
a coolant flow path disposed between the second surface of the first planar member and the third surface of the second planar member, through which the coolant flows;
a refrigerant pipe disposed between the second surface of the first planar member and the third surface of the second planar member, through which a refrigerant flows;
The battery module can be arranged along the first surface of the first planar member,
The coolant flow path is
a first portion of the coolant flow path in which the coolant flows in a first direction between the second surface and the third surface;
a second portion of the coolant flow path that flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction between the second surface and the third surface;
Between the second surface and the third surface, a first portion of the coolant flow path allows the coolant flowing out of the first portion of the coolant flow path to flow into the second portion of the coolant flow path. comprising at least three parts;
The refrigerant piping is
between the second surface and the third surface, the first portion and the second portion of the coolant flow path are arranged along a second direction intersecting the first direction; a first refrigerant pipe through which refrigerant flows;
A second surface disposed between the second surface and the third surface along the second direction in the first portion and the second portion of the coolant flow path, and through which the coolant flows in the predetermined direction. comprising at least a refrigerant pipe;
The refrigerant flowing in the predetermined direction in the first refrigerant pipe can exchange heat with the coolant flowing in the first direction in the first portion of the coolant flow path, and heat exchangeable with the cooling fluid flowing in the second direction in the second portion of the channel;
The refrigerant flowing in the predetermined direction in the second refrigerant pipe can exchange heat with the coolant flowing in the first direction in the first portion of the coolant flow path, and heat exchangeable with the cooling fluid flowing in the second direction in the second portion of the channel;
vehicle. The vehicle according to claim 1,
The refrigerant piping is
a first refrigerant header arranged along the first direction between the second surface and the third surface and connected to the first refrigerant pipe and the second refrigerant pipe;
further comprising a second refrigerant header arranged along the first direction between the second surface and the third surface and connected to the first refrigerant pipe and the second refrigerant pipe,
the refrigerant enters the first refrigerant pipe and the second refrigerant pipe from the first refrigerant header, and then enters the second refrigerant header;
vehicle. The vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2,
Further comprising a partition plate installed between the first part and the second part of the coolant flow path between the second surface and the third surface.
vehicle. The vehicle according to claim 3,
one end of the partition plate faces the third portion of the coolant flow path between the second surface and the third surface;
vehicle. The vehicle according to claim 3 or 4,
The first refrigerant pipe crosses the partition plate,
the second refrigerant pipe crosses the partition plate;
vehicle. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Further comprising a wall portion connecting the periphery of the first planar member and the periphery of the second planar member,
The first planar member, the second planar member, and the wall portion constitute a cooling liquid tank.
vehicle. The vehicle according to claim 6,
The wall portion includes a first opening and a second opening,
The coolant flows into the first portion of the coolant flow path inside the coolant tank from the first opening,
The coolant in the second portion of the coolant flow path inside the coolant tank flows out from the second opening.
vehicle. The vehicle according to claim 7,
The first planar member includes at least a first side around the periphery and a second side different from the first side,
The second planar member includes at least a third side around the periphery and a fourth side different from the first side,
The wall portion includes at least a first portion and a second portion,
The first portion of the wall connects the first side of the first planar member and the third side of the second planar member,
The second portion of the wall connects the second side of the first planar member and the fourth side of the second planar member,
the first opening is located in a first portion of the wall;
the second opening is located in a second portion of the wall;
vehicle. The vehicle according to claim 7 or claim 8,
further comprising an estimation unit that estimates the lower of a first temperature in the vicinity of the first opening and a second temperature in the vicinity of the second opening,
If the estimator estimates that the first temperature is lower, the coolant flows into the coolant tank from the first opening, and the coolant flows out of the coolant tank from the second opening. If the second temperature is estimated to be lower by the estimator, the coolant flows into the coolant tank from the second opening, and the coolant flows from the first opening to the outside of the coolant tank. the cooling liquid is discharged to
vehicle. The vehicle according to any one of claims 6 to 9,
an acquisition unit that acquires the degree of temperature variation of the batteries in the battery module to be cooled by the cooling device;
further comprising: an adjustment unit that adjusts the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing into the cooling liquid tank based on the degree of variation acquired by the acquisition unit;
vehicle. The vehicle according to claim 2,
Further comprising a wall portion connecting the periphery of the first planar member and the periphery of the second planar member,
The first planar member, the second planar member, and the wall constitute a cooling liquid tank,
The wall portion has a third opening and a fourth opening,
The refrigerant flows into the first refrigerant header from the third opening,
the refrigerant of the second refrigerant header flows out from the third opening;
vehicle. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
further comprising a refrigerant circuit connected to the first refrigerant pipe and connected to the second refrigerant pipe,
The refrigerant circuit includes at least a compressor and a condenser.
vehicle. The vehicle according to claim 12,
further comprising a coolant circuit connected to the first portion of the coolant flow path and connected to the first portion of the coolant flow path;
The coolant circuit includes at least a water pump.
vehicle.

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