WO2017045951A1

WO2017045951A1 - Method for producing a cooling device for cooling batteries

Info

Publication number: WO2017045951A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/070829
Authority: WO
Inventors: Torsten Koller; Xiaofeng Yan; Lisa Lorenz; Alfons Doerr; Christian Loew
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2015-09-17
Filing date: 2016-09-05
Publication date: 2017-03-23
Also published as: CN108028333B; DE102015217780A1; CN108028333A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing a cooling device for cooling batteries (1), in particular batteries (1) for motor vehicles, in which two plates (2, 3) made of an elastic material are joined to one another for forming an arrangement of mutually communicating cooling channels (4).

Description

Description title

Method for producing a cooling device for cooling of batteries State of the art

In electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, high-voltage batteries are used as energy storage, such as lithium batteries. Such lithium batteries (Li-ion batteries) are cooled or tempered by means of a coolant. For this purpose, the batteries or the battery cells are contacted at their bottom and / or side with cooling plates, which allow a dissipation of heat for cooling or a supply of heat for heating. Such cooling plates are usually made of metal, for example aluminum, and with internal flow channels and inlet connection or outlet connection

fitted.

It proves to be disadvantageous in the prior art that cooling plates are assembled from different components. This leads to energetically unfavorable production processes and to a relatively long process duration. This is associated with high production costs.

DE 20 2012 102 969 U1 discloses a battery cooling arrangement in which a plurality of cooling tubes for thermal contracting against the batteries are biased.

From DE 20 2012 101 076 U1 it is known to contact batteries, in particular for motor vehicles with a cooling plate, in which a

Coolant hose is inserted and mechanically clamped.

Disclosure of the invention According to the invention, a method is provided for producing a cooling device for cooling batteries, in particular batteries for motor vehicles, in which two plates of elastic material are joined together to form an array of cooling channels communicating with each other.

The dependent claims show preferred developments of the invention.

The inventive method thus creates mutually communicating cooling channels, which can form, for example, a grid-like or net-like structure. The cooling channels form flexible cooling hoses. By means of the method according to the invention it is thus possible in a very simple manner to produce complex structures of cooling channels simply and inexpensively, which have a high functionality and a wide variety of different

geometric requirements can be adjusted. That's the way it is

For example, it is possible to realize meandering or branching arrangements of cooling channels. Thus, the flow guidance of coolant through the cooling channels can be constructively designed so that it runs along a preferred direction to the individual cells of the batteries. It is

According to the invention also possible, the arrangement of each other

make cooling channels communicating three-dimensional, so that both a bottom cooling, as well as a side cooling of the individual cells and / or the entire battery is made possible. The resulting from the inventive arrangement of cooling channels resulting flow guidance is thus very easy and inexpensive to implement. Since the entire assembly is made of an elastic material, this can be easily and inexpensively replaced, for example during service work. In addition, the manufacturing method according to the invention enables fast and flexible adaptation and scaling to different battery arrangements, battery sizes and / or arrangements of individual cells.

According to the invention it is particularly advantageous if the cooling channels through

Introducing a release agent between the plates are created before the joining process. In this way it is particularly easy to

different and complex geometries of the arrangements of

To realize cooling channels. The release agent prevents the joining of the plates of the elastic material joining along the cooling channels to be generated and represents a very simple and reliable measure. In addition, this method step can also be automated in a simple manner.

According to the invention it is possible to remove before joining or after joining the areas of the plates on which no cooling channels are to be formed. Depending on the geometry and the material of the plates, the invention can thus be adapted to a wide variety of requirements.

According to the invention, the arrangement of the cooling channels with at least one inlet region and with at least one outlet region is formed around a

Connection of the cooling channels to allow a coolant circuit. The inlet area and the outlet area may be for example

Include fittings or the like. According to the invention, the cooling channels are made of a plastic material, of a rubber material or of a metal foil. It is crucial that the material is flexible, so that after joining the plates and the

Completing the arrangement of cooling channels filled with a coolant or can be flowed through by a coolant. It is particularly advantageous if the material is thin and good thermal conductivity. The cooling channel or the arrangement of cooling channels produced according to the invention are thus inflated with the coolant during the flow through and flexibly adapt to the surfaces of the batteries to be cooled or the

Battery cells on. This also facilitates the assembly work of

Arrangement according to the invention, since the arrangement of cooling channels can be inserted in the unfolded state. By filling the cooling channels achieve their final shape and can cause heat transfer by contact with the surfaces of the batteries or battery cells. According to the invention, both side surfaces and bottom surfaces of batteries or

Battery cells are contacted by the arrangement of the cooling channels. The elastic cooling channels produced according to the invention also adapt to the respective contact surfaces, so that the overall design of a

Thermal management system can be reduced to a few parameters and thus simplified. According to the invention, it is also possible to use standardized sizes of hose-like arrangements of cooling channels. Another significant advantage of the invention, resulting from the

inventive method for producing the arrangement of communicating with each other cooling channels is given by the fact that the

Arrangement of the cooling channels is not acted upon by force, so that a decoupling between power transmission and cooling is possible. For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if the batteries are arranged in a grid box, in which the arrangement of the cooling channels is introduced. Such a mesh box may preferably be made of plastic,

for example by means of injection molding or by die casting. The grid box construction carries the battery cells or the batteries or at the same time stores the arrangement of the cooling channels produced according to the invention.

Preferably, the grid box is provided with at least one guide groove for receiving the arrangement of the cooling channels. This will

Ensures that the arrangement of the cooling channels during installation is accurate. Kinks or other, a closure of the cooling channels causing errors can thus be excluded.

The bulging of the arrangement of the cooling channels in the flow with coolant results in a good contact with the batteries and a good heat transfer. Thus, it is also possible according to the invention

Smaller sized contact areas and / or smaller sized cooling ducts. Regarding the materials of the elastic plates from which

According to the invention, the arrangement of the cooling channels is formed, there are various Abwandlungs- and modification options. That's the way it is

For example, it is also possible to use filler material to the

To increase thermal conductivity or to increase the mechanical strength. For example, metallic particles or plastic fibers can be added. It is also possible to apply metallic surfaces to the elastic plates in order to increase the mechanical surface strength.

A further, essential advantage of the method according to the invention is that the arrangement of the cooling channels communicating with one another makes it possible to realize different cross sections of the cooling channels. Thus, for example, it is possible to form the inflow region and the outflow region with a larger cross-section than middle connection regions.

Furthermore, it is possible in the production process according to the invention to use different coolants, for example in liquid or gaseous form.

Brief description of the drawings

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing is:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a first

Embodiment with two plates of elastic

Material,

FIG. 2 shows a production step of the joined plates,

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the finished arrangement of

Cooling channels,

Figure 4 is a representation, analogous to Figure 1, another

Embodiment,

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the before joining

punched-out arrangements of cooling channels,

FIG. 6 shows the finished arrangement of cooling channels, as shown in FIG. 3, FIG.

Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a battery with grid box and

Cooling channel for floor cooling,

Figure 8 is a representation, analogous to Figure 7, for side cooling, and Figures 9-13 are schematic representations on battery assemblies with differently designed arrangements of cooling channels according to the invention.

Embodiments of the invention

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, two plates 2, 3 are extruded from thin butyl rubber. On a first plate 2, an arrangement of release agent 5 is applied. Likewise, inlet regions 6 and outlet regions 7, not shown in detail, can be applied (see FIG. 3).

Subsequently, as shown in Figure 2, the arrangement of the two plates 2, 3 joined, for example by vulcanization under high pressure and high temperature. Subsequently, as shown in Figure 3, the respective

Intermediate area, which is present between the arrangements of the cooling channels 4, removed, for example by punching.

In this embodiment, it is possible in a further development of the invention to introduce additional layers of fabric or the like, which improve the shape and mechanical strength of the arrangement shown in Figure 3 of cooling channels.

During the joining process to produce the arrangement shown in Figure 2, it is possible to fill the arrangement of the cooling channels, for example with a gas in order to perform the joining process and the subsequent punching process without errors.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show a further exemplary embodiment in which, starting from an arrangement of two plates 2, 3 according to FIG. 4, these plates are individually cut out or punched out in order to secure the plates

Arrangement of cooling channels according to Figure 5 to realize. Subsequently, as shown in Figure 6, the arrangements of the cooling channels 4 are joined according to Figure 5, for example by vulcanization under high pressure and high temperature.

Figures 7 and 8 show the inventive arrangements of

Cooling channels 4 in different assignment to batteries 1. Here, each part of a grid box 8 is shown schematically, which example is made of plastic and is provided with guide grooves 9, in which the cooling channels 4 extend.

Figures 9 to 13 each show different

Design options of the inventive arrangements of

Cooling Channels 4. According to FIG. 9, a U-shaped arrangement can be provided, through which an inlet region 6 flows through to an outlet region 7. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 10, the arrangement of the cooling channels 4 extends from an inlet region 6 in varying directions in order to ensure good contact between the individual batteries 1 and the battery cells before a coolant is discharged through the outlet region 7.

In the embodiment of Figure 1 1, the arrangement of the cooling channels 4 extends on the outside of the individual battery cells or batteries 1, while the figure 12 shows an embodiment in which the arrangement of

Cooling channels 4 is arranged between adjacent arrangements of batteries 1 or battery cells.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment variant in which the arrangement of the cooling channels 4 branches and / or combines several times in order to ensure optimum heat transfer.

In the context of the invention, it is possible to cool the batteries 1 or battery cells by means of the arrangement of cooling channels. In an analogous manner, it is also possible to heat them by a suitable medium.

Claims

claims

1 . Method for producing a cooling device for cooling batteries (1), in particular batteries (1) for motor vehicles, in which two plates (2, 3) of elastic material are joined together to form an array of cooling channels (4) communicating with each other.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling channels (4) by introducing a release agent (5) between the plates (2, 3) are generated before the joining process.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

Regions of the plates (2, 3), on which no cooling channels are formed, are removed before or after the joining.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cooling channels (4) with at least one inlet region (6) and at least one outlet region (7) are formed.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cooling channels (4) form a grid-like or net-like structure.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cooling channels (4) are made of plastic material, rubber material or metal foil.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the batteries (1) are arranged in a grid box (8).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the grid box (8) is made of plastic by injection molding or die casting.

9. The method according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the grid box (8) with at least one guide groove (9) for receiving the cooling channels (4) is provided.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the

Guiding groove (9) to the side surfaces or to the bottom surfaces of the batteries (1) is formed open.