WO2018055297A2

WO2018055297A2 - Temperature control device

Info

Publication number: WO2018055297A2
Application number: PCT/FR2017/052540
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jérémy BLANDIN; Julien Tissot; Kamel Azzouz; Issiaka Traore
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
Priority date: 2016-09-21
Filing date: 2017-09-21
Publication date: 2018-03-29
Also published as: FR3056290A1; FR3056290B1; WO2018055297A3; EP3516318A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a temperature control device (1) designed to control the temperature of an electric battery (2) of a motor vehicle, said device (1) comprising at least one temperature control tube (3) having at least one element provided with an encapsulated phase change material, said at least one temperature control tube (3) comprising a passage for the circulation of a temperature control fluid (R) through the at least one temperature control tube (3).

Description

THERMAL CONTROL DEVICE

The invention relates to the thermal regulation of electric batteries, particularly in the automotive field.

In a motor vehicle particularly electric and / or hybrid, an electric battery can store and provide energy to operate the motor vehicle.

The temperature of the battery influences both its storage performance and its service life. A low temperature of the battery decreases its storage capacity. Too high a temperature, for example due to overheating of the battery, reduces its life, or is likely to cause irreversible destruction of the battery.

It is therefore necessary to maintain the battery at an adequate temperature, for example around 20 degrees Celsius, in order to maintain a storage capacity and a maximum service life.

For this purpose, it is known to add a device for regulating the temperature of the battery. Such a thermal regulation device generally uses a thermal regulation fluid circulating in a circuit, the circuit passing near or in contact with the battery. The thermal control fluid generally used is ambient air or a liquid, such as water or a cooling liquid.

The thermal control fluid can thus absorb the heat emitted by the battery in order to cool it and subsequently evacuate the heat at one or more heat exchangers, such as a radiator or a refrigerant circuit.

However, the fluid of the temperature control device heats up as it circulates in the circuit by absorbing the heat released by the battery. This results in a temperature differential between the input and output of the device that can be significant, of the order of several degrees. This difference in temperature within the fluid can interfere with the management of the temperature of the battery and its maintenance at an optimum operating temperature. In addition, peaks in charge of the battery during use can cause a sudden increase in temperature. A conventional control device does not make it possible to limit the appearance of such temperature peaks and to cool the battery sufficiently quickly.

The object of the invention is to at least partially overcome these disadvantages.

The invention more specifically relates to a thermal control device for maintaining the battery in a satisfactory temperature range and to improve the homogeneity of the temperature of the battery.

For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is a thermal regulation device, the device comprising at least one thermal regulation tube comprising at least one element provided with an encapsulated phase change material, said at least one thermal regulation tube. comprising a circulation passage of a thermal regulation fluid through said at least one thermal regulation tube.

The phase change material makes it possible to increase the inertia and to improve the thermal homogeneity of the device.

The phase change material allows heat absorption or recovery, to limit the effects of temperature peaks.

Since the same tube comprises the fluid and the phase change material, the wall of the tube constitutes a significant heat exchange surface between the fluid and the phase change material, so that the phase change material can quickly regenerate and return to its initial state by being cooled by the fluid after a rise in temperature of the battery.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said at least one element provided with an encapsulated phase change material has a tubular shape extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tube of the thermal regulation tube.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said at least one element provided with an encapsulated phase change material being disposed inside the thermal regulation tube, said at least one element and the thermal regulation tube delimit the circulation passage, said circulation passage being located between said at least one element and the thermal regulation tube.

The invention also relates to a thermal regulation assembly comprising a thermal regulation device as described above and an electric battery provided with at least one electric cell.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the assembly comprises at least one heat sink in contact with said at least one electric cell, said at least one heat sink being perforated with at least one through hole of said at least one tube of thermal regulation.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said at least one electric cell comprises a plurality of faces, two opposite faces, called large faces, having an area greater than an area of any one of the other faces, said at least one a heat sink comprising a wall in contact with one of said large faces protruding from said large face of a so-called peripheral zone, the heat sink being perforated with a plurality of heat regulation tube through holes in the peripheral zone; .

According to another characteristic of the invention, the assembly comprises a stack of a succession of heat drains and electric cells, each heat sink being perforated with a plurality of heat regulation tube through holes.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the assembly comprises at least one thermal regulation fluid storage collector, each thermal regulation tube comprising an end in fluidic relation with said at least one collector, the assembly comprising a spring around at one end of at least one of the heat regulation tubes.

The invention also relates to a cooling loop of a motor vehicle engine, comprising a control device thermal as previously described.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cooling loop comprises a pump for circulating the thermal regulation fluid, said pump comprising an inlet hose for the thermal regulation fluid and an exit hose for the thermal regulation fluid, at least one of the inlet and outlet hoses of the pump being provided with the thermal control device as described above.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the loop comprises at least one heat exchanger provided with the thermal regulation device as described above.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent in the following detailed explanatory description of several embodiments of the invention given as examples. purely illustrative and non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a thermal control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of a thermal regulation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 represents an exploded perspective view of a thermal regulation assembly according to the present invention comprising the device of FIG. 1 and / or the device of FIG. 2;

- Figure 4 shows a detail view of the assembly of Figure 3 assembled; and

FIG. 5 represents a cooling loop according to the present invention comprising the device of FIG. 1 and / or the device of FIG. 2.

Thermal regulation device As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention relates to a thermal regulation device, referenced 1.

The thermal control device 1 is disposed in contact with an electric battery 2, as will be detailed later.

The regulating device 1 comprises at least one thermal regulation tube 3.

In Figures 1 and 2, a single temperature control tube 3 is illustrated.

The thermal regulation tube 3 comprises a tubular sheath 4 delimiting an interior space 5.

The thermal control tube 3 comprises in the interior space 5 at least one element 6 provided with an encapsulated phase change material.

In a known manner, a phase-change material, preferably a solid-liquid material, makes it possible to store energy while benefiting from the latent heat of the change of state.

Preferably, the sheath 4 consists of a metal material, in particular in its application to the production of a thermal battery, in particular aluminum.

Alternatively, the sheath 4 is made of a synthetic material, for example plastic, including plastic charged metal (thermal conductor).

In the context of Figure 5 (described later), it is not mandatory that the sheath is a conductive material.

Advantageously, the sheath 4 is made of elastic material.

The element 6 is advantageously made of metallic material.

Alternatively, the element 6 is made of synthetic material, for example plastic material.

Advantageously, the phase-change material is a compound comprising inorganic compounds such as an alloy of organic salts and water. Alternatively, the phase change material is a compound comprising organic compounds such as paraffins and fatty acids or a compound comprising compounds of plant origin.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the tube 3 comprises a single element 6.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the tube 3 comprises a plurality of elements 6.

The element 6 (for the embodiment of FIG. 1) and the elements 6 (for the embodiment of FIG. 2) partially occupy only the interior space 5.

Thus, a circulation passage 7 of a thermal regulation fluid is defined in the free space 8 of element (s) 6.

In the following description, the thermal control fluid is called coolant, because it is often necessary to reduce the temperature of the electric battery 2.

Nevertheless, of course, the invention is not limited to this case and the thermal control fluid may also be a heating fluid.

The coolant, R, circulates around each element 6.

Preferably, the elements 6 are added in iso volume, each addition of element 6 contributing to reduce the total volume of coolant and to increase the thermal inertia of a set and a loop equipped tubes 3, which will be described later.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, each element 6 has a tubular shape of the tube 3 which contains it and extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis L of the sheath 4.

Advantageously, each element 6 has a length of between 2 mm and 8 mm.

Preferably, each element 6 has a diameter of the order of 4 mm.

Advantageously, each element 6 has the same length as that of the sheath 4. Thermal regulation set

The invention also relates to a thermal regulation assembly, which will be described in relation to FIGS. 3 and 4.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the assembly 10 comprises the thermal regulation device 1 and the electric battery 2.

The regulating device 1 comprises a plurality of thermal regulation tubes 3.

The battery 2 advantageously comprises a plurality of electric cells January 1.

As illustrated more particularly in Figures 3 and 4, each cell January 1 has a generally parallelepiped shape. Each cell 1 1 comprises a negative terminal 13 and a positive terminal 13.

The cells 1 1 are interconnected so as to together provide an electric current.

The thermal regulation device 1 allows a circulation of the cooling fluid R, in contact with or near the battery 2.

The assembly 10 also comprises at least one heat sink 14.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the assembly 10 comprises a plurality of heat sink 14.

Each heat sink 14 has a parallelepipedal shape defined in particular by two large opposite walls 15.

By large wall is meant wall of greater area of the heat sink 14.

Each of the large walls 15 is delimited by four edges 16.

Each heat sink 14 is in contact with at least one electric cell January 1.

Each heat sink 14 is made of a thermal conductive material, such as aluminum for example, in order to remove the heat cells 1 1, as will be detailed.

Each heat sink 14 is perforated with at least one hole 17 configured for the passage of thermal regulation tube 3. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, each heat sink 14 is perforated with a plurality of holes 16.

The holes 17 pass through the large walls 15 of each heat sink 14.

The holes 17 are advantageously arranged near the edges 16, or even against the edges 16.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the assembly 10 comprises a stack of a succession of thermal drains 14 and electric cells 11.

Each electric cell 1 1 is placed in contact with two thermal drains 14.

Preferably, each cell 1 1 is of prismatic type and is defined in particular by two large opposite faces 18.

By large face, it is meant that the area of each of the faces 18 is greater than the areas of the other faces of the cell 1 January.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the thermal drains 14 and the electric cells 11 are in contact with each other respectively by their large walls 15 and their large faces 18, which ensures a maximum exchange surface between the cells. 1 1 and thermal drains 14.

As is also apparent from FIGS. 3 and 4, the cells 1 1 have a width and length that are respectively less than a width and a length of the heat drains 14.

Thus, the thermal drains 14 exceed relative to the electric cells 1 1 of a peripheral zone 19 located near each of the edges 16.

The holes 17 of the heat drains 14 are arranged in the peripheral zone 19.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the stack is centered, the centers of the thermal drains 14 and the electric cells 11 being aligned along an axis marked X. The assembly 10 also comprises at least one coolant storage tank R.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the assembly 10 comprises a first collector 20 and a second collector 21, arranged on either side of the stack of heat drains 14 and electrical cells 11.

Each tube 3 comprises an end 22, 23 in fluidic relation with each collector 20, 21.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tubes 3 of the device 1 extend parallel to the axis X.

Each tube 3 extends from the first manifold 20 through the holes 17 of the heat drains 14 to the second manifold 21.

The first manifold 20 includes a coolant inlet 24 and a coolant outlet 25.

Advantageously, the assembly 10 comprising a spring 26 around an end 22, 23 of at least one of the thermal regulation tubes 3.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, several tubes 3 are provided with a spring 26.

Each spring 26 makes it possible to absorb the deformations of the cells 11 and to avoid a rise in pressure between the collectors 20 and 21.

The configuration of the assembly 10 ensures that the elements 6 comprising the phase change material do not represent thermal resistance over the entire surface of the cells.

Indeed, the tubes 3 being directly in contact with the coolant, the phase change material increases the inertia of the liquid to absorb any thermal load above a so-called normal load.

In addition, the direct contact with the coolant allows the phase change material to regenerate very quickly as the thermal load decreases. This allows a very good smoothing of the heat peaks. The phase change temperature of the phase change material is preferably selected slightly above the optimum temperature of use of the electric cells to absorb heat peaks.

It is generally between 10 and 40X salt on the type of battery.

The assembly 10 also provides optimized thermal regulation of the battery 2 since it ensures efficient evacuation of heat by the thermal drains and the device 1.

Cooling loop

The invention will now be described in connection with FIG. 5.

As already indicated, the subject of the invention is also a cooling loop 40 for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one thermal regulation device 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1 or 2.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the cooling loop 40 comprises a fluid circulation pump 41, and two heat exchangers 42, 43.

In Figure 5, the cooling loop 40 is the low temperature cooling loop of the engine of the motor vehicle.

The first heat exchanger 42 is a low temperature radiator and the second heat exchanger 43 is a water cooled charge air cooler (WCAC).

The cooling loop can also be the high temperature loop.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the pump 41 and the heat exchangers 42, 43 are fluidly connected to one another by means of hoses 44.

The loop 40 is advantageously equipped with a device 1:

in the collector or collectors of the radiator 42, and / or

in the collector or collectors of exchanger 43, and / or

- in one or more hoses 44, and /

at the inlet and / or at the outlet of the pump 41. In FIG. 5, the loop 40 comprises a device:

in the collectors of the radiator 42, and

in the collectors of the exchanger 43, and

at the outlet of the pump 41, and

in a hose 44 between the two exchangers 42, 43.

Advantageously, each element 6 has a length equal to that of the component (collector, hose) that the device 1 occupies.

When the device 1 occupies a hose 44, each element 6 has a length of between 100 mm and 600 mm.

The temperature varies throughout the cooling loop 40 and the phase change temperature of the storage material must be adapted.

The phase change temperature of the phase change material is within the operating range of the cooling loop 40, which allows for temperature linearization.

Advantageously, the phase change temperature is within the most frequent operating range of the loop 40 to maximize the inertia effects of the storage material.

The regulation device 1 makes it possible to reduce the amplitude of the rise and fall in temperature of the cooling loop 40.

Advantages

As already indicated, the phase change material allows absorption or a return of heat, to limit the effects of temperature peaks of the battery to better regulate it.

Being disposed directly in the tubes of the thermal control device, it does not represent a thermal resistance to the cooling of the battery by the fluid.

Claims

1. Thermal regulating device (1), the device (1) comprising at least one thermal regulation tube (3) comprising at least one element (6) provided with an encapsulated phase-change material, said at least one control tube thermal device (3) comprising a passage (7) for circulating a thermal regulation fluid (R) through said at least one thermal regulation tube (3).

2. Thermal control device according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one element (6) provided with an encapsulated phase change material has a tubular shape extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis (L) of the tube of thermal regulation (3).

3. Thermal control device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein, said at least one element (6) provided with an encapsulated phase change material being disposed inside the thermal control tube (3). ), said at least one element (6) and the thermal regulation tube (3) delimit the circulation passage (7), said circulation passage (7) being located between said at least one element (6) and the thermal regulation (3).

4. Thermal control assembly comprising a thermal control device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3 and an electric battery (2) provided with at least one electric cell (1 1).

5. Thermal control assembly according to the preceding claim, comprising at least one heat sink (14) in contact with said at least one electric cell (1 1), said at least one heat sink (14) being perforated with at least one through hole (17) of said at least one heat regulation tube (R).

6. Thermal control assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one electric cell (1 1) comprises a plurality of faces, two opposite faces, called large faces (18), having a larger area than a any one of the other faces, said at least one heat sink (14) comprising a wall in contact with one of said large faces protruding from said large face of a so-called peripheral zone (19), the heat sink (14) ) being perforated with a plurality of passage holes (17) of thermal regulation tubes (3) in the peripheral zone.

7. Heat regulation assembly according to the preceding claim, comprising a stack of a succession of heat drains (14) and electric cells (1 1), each heat sink (14) being perforated with a plurality of through holes ( 17) of thermal regulation tubes (3).

8. Thermal control assembly according to the preceding claim, comprising at least one collector (20, 21) for storing thermal control fluid, each thermal control tube (3) comprising an end in fluid relation with said at least one collector, the assembly comprising a spring (26) around an end of at least one of the heat regulation tubes (3).

9. Cooling loop of a motor vehicle engine, comprising a thermal control device according to one of claims 1 to 3.

10. Cooling loop according to the preceding claim, comprising a pump (41) for circulating the thermal control fluid, said pump (41) comprising an inlet hose of the thermal control fluid and a fluid outlet hose of regulation at least one of the inlet and outlet hoses of the pump being provided with a thermal control device according to one of claims 1 to 3.

1 1. Cooling loop according to one of claims 9 or

10, comprising at least one heat exchanger (42, 43) provided with a thermal control device according to one of claims 1 to 3.