WO2019073138A1

WO2019073138A1 - Vehicle comprising a battery accommodated in a cold box

Info

Publication number: WO2019073138A1
Application number: PCT/FR2018/052281
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martial Dore
Original assignee: Psa Automobiles Sa
Priority date: 2017-10-12
Filing date: 2018-09-18
Publication date: 2019-04-18
Also published as: FR3072335B1; FR3072335A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a vehicle comprising a battery (4) accommodated in a cold box (16), the air inlet (15) of which is connected to an air intake (8), and a housing (11) accommodating an air filter (12) treating the air entering a heat engine (6), characterised in that the housing (11) of the filter (12) is arranged, in the direction of flow of the air, between the air intake (8) and the air inlet (15) of the cold box (16).

Description

VEHICLE COMPRISING A BATTERY PROVIDED IN A

COLD BOX

The invention relates to an ignition coil air cooling device of a vehicle.

It is known to have a battery power supply of 12 volts in vehicles to start the engine, said ignition batteries or accessories. These batteries are usually lead. The demands for the environment becoming more severe, these batteries will be banned more or less short term to the benefit of a new battery technology based on lithium-ion. Using this new battery technology in the engine compartment at the front of the vehicle requires cooling the battery.

Generally, this cooling is provided by "encapsulation" of these components inside a box called "cold box", in which fresh air flows from outside. This fresh air is routed from the outside to the cold box through an air intake on the front of the vehicle and an air intake neck in the engine compartment. The air, after passing through the cold box escapes to the outside, via the left front wheel arch.

Furthermore, the vehicle has an air intake device from outside, the engine. In this device, the air intake circuit is as follows. The air is conveyed from the outside to the air filter (s) by a second air intake on the front of the vehicle and a second air inlet neck present in the engine compartment, to be then directed using a second air inlet fitting that introduces air into the turbocharger. The compressed air leaving the turbocharger travels in an air cooling circuit through an exchanger placed between the compressor and the engine, generally designated by the term charge air cooler (RAS). The compressor and the exchanger are connected in series in the air intake circuit of the engine, which has a throttle valve downstream chamber for regulating the air pressure admitted into the engine. All intake air passes through the compressor. For some models of vehicles, the set of options makes it necessary to provide the engine compartment of the two air circulation circuits. But the engine compartment is usually very densely occupied. As a result, the usual locations of these circuits overlap, overlap one another. So it is impossible to keep the usual locations for all versions of vehicles of the same model. It is necessary to optimize the occupation of the circuits in the engine compartment. It is known from document US51 16231 to have two physically separated and independent air supply circuits each dedicated either to the battery cooling device or to the air intake device of the heat engine. These devices are distinct from each other physically and therefore functionally in terms of air circulation. There is no fluid connection between the two air supply circuits. It is known from EP1305515 to have a module 50 with a first compartment 56 containing a battery 16, a second compartment 58 containing the compressor 10, a filter 9 upstream of the compressor. The first compartment 56 comprises a fresh air inlet 52 and an outlet 90 to the second compartment 58, upstream of the turbocharger 10. The second compartment 58 has an air outlet 54 in the direction of the throttle body 17 upstream of the engine 1.

However, the serialization proposed in this document EP1305515 has the effect that the heat released by the battery is transmitted to the compressor by the air flow, which changes the temperature of the air entering the engine. In addition, the filter is positioned downstream of the battery which affects the flow rate and air temperature obtained at the compressor inlet. It would therefore be necessary to increase the cooling and air flow capacities to reach the supercharging objective and therefore increase the sizes of the charge air cooling elements. This goes against the search for space saving in the engine compartment for an equivalent level of benefits. The solution EP1305515 poses problems in terms of optimization of the cooling, and of the pressure drop in the air supply circuit of the engine.

It is desirable that the air supercharging circuit of the engine is not modified to maintain the existing settings for an optimal air supply both in quantity and temperature of the air entering the engine while limiting the temperature of the engine. 'grip on the space of the engine compartment. This solution does not meet the needs.

More particularly, in an architecture where the motor is implanted transversely to the vehicle and is instead deported to the right of the engine compartment, the place Available to install the air filter is to the left of the engine compartment. This is precisely the location occupied by the battery cooling device. There is interference between the two intake and cooling devices. However it is not possible to reduce the specifications in terms of cooling since the new lithium ion battery technology reinforces the need for cooling.

[001 1] According to the invention, these problems are solved by providing a battery cooling device with a fresh air inlet from an air bypass of the air intake device in the engine and not more directly from an air intake on the front of the vehicle. The battery cooler encapsulated in a cold box has a cold box air inlet which is connected to an outlet of the air filter housing of the air intake device of the engine. Thus, there is only one external air inlet on the front which is extended by a channel to the air filter housing suffices, the air filter housing serving as a box for shifting the air between the air circuit of the intake device for the engine and the air circuit of the battery cooler. The outside air intake on the front and the air circuit upstream of the air filter are sized to ensure a flow of air into the filter sufficient to meet the need for fresh air for admission into the engine and for cooling the battery encapsulated in the cold box. When the filter housing is positioned upstream of the turbo compressor in the front left of the engine compartment, it is possible to implant the cold box behind the housing. The implementation of the air intake device for the engine remains unchanged despite the implementation of a battery requiring to be encapsulated in a cold box, allowing a variety of models of the vehicle without discomfort or significant modification.

More specifically, the invention therefore relates to a vehicle comprising on the one hand a battery housed in a cold box whose air inlet is connected to an air intake, and on the other hand a housing housing an air filter treating the air admitted into a heat engine whose filter housing is arranged, in the direction of air flow, between the air intake and the air inlet of the cold box. The fluid connection between the filter housing, the air intake and the air inlet of the cold box makes it possible to pool the elements present upstream of the air filter housing between the cooling and intake devices, which reduces the space occupied compared to two physically independent devices, without changing the layout according to the options chosen for a vehicle of the same model and without degrading performance. Preferably, the invention relates to a vehicle whose battery is based on lithium-ion. This technology is intended to be less harmful to the environment than lead-based batteries while requiring a greater need for cooling. Preferably, the invention relates to a vehicle whose filter housing has a first air outlet and the first air outlet of the housing is connected to the air inlet of the cold box by a leads. It is possible to have a cold box offset from the housing according to the space in the engine compartment and have a connection: a conduit to connect the two, easy to sneak in the generally congested environment or avoiding the temperature zones high.

Preferably, the invention relates to a vehicle whose filter housing has a first air outlet and the first air outlet of the housing is the air inlet of the cold box. There is very little pressure loss between the box and the box.

Preferably, the invention relates to a vehicle whose filter housing has a tank and the first outlet of the air filter housing is present at a lower level of the vessel of said housing. The air leaving the housing in the direction of the cold box is then the coolest because the hot air contained in the housing tends to rise in the filter housing. This contributes to the cooling performance expected for the cold box.

Preferably, the invention relates to a vehicle with a housing comprising at least a second air outlet in the direction of the engine, upstream of the air filter and whose air filter is upstream of the first outlet of the engine. air from the case. Thus the air entering the cold box coming from the outside is carrier of particles or foreign bodies which can more or less long term damaged the elements contained in the cold box. The presence upstream of the cold box of the intake air filter for the engine makes it possible to preserve the cold box of these particles and foreign bodies and to reduce this negative impact.

Preferably, the invention relates to a vehicle whose cold box is connected to an air exhaust mouth which said exhaust mouth is positioned in a wheel well. The air heated during the crossing of the cold box is removed in a controlled manner without disturbing the aerodynamics of the vehicle. [0019] Preferably, the invention relates to a vehicle whose cold box comprises at least one electronic element of a system selected from a fuse box and / or a multifunction computer engine. This element is also cooled without having to provide other specific cooling devices.

Preferably, the invention relates to a vehicle whose engine compartment is located at the front of the vehicle relative to a main direction of the vehicle and the engine is positioned at a first side of the engine compartment relative to a median longitudinal plane of the engine compartment, whose cold box is positioned on the opposite side to the first side of the engine compartment relative to said central longitudinal plane of the engine compartment. The cold box is less prone to undergo engine-related heat being away from the engine. It needs less ventilation to cool. The invention is described in more detail below and with reference to the figures schematically showing the engine compartment of the vehicle housing the devices in preferred embodiments.

Figure 1 shows a view of the engine compartment of the vehicle in a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 shows the same view from below the engine compartment of the vehicle as Figure 1 to detail the description of the air intake and battery cooling devices.

Figure 1 shows the engine compartment 1 of a vehicle 2 partially shown with a device 3 of battery air cooling 4, the air circuit is shown with solid arrows and a device 5 admission of air in the engine 6 whose air circuit is represented with arrows in solid lines or interrupted.

We define the reference frame of the vehicle 2 with respect to the forward direction of the vehicle 2, the main direction of the vehicle 2. In a right-hand drive vehicle, the driver is seated, face turned to walk before the vehicle 2 and is to the left of the vehicle relative to the longitudinal median plane of the vehicle 2. Figures 1 and 2 showing views of the bottom of the vehicle 2, the left side of the vehicle 2 is to the right of the figures, while the right side of the vehicle is to the left of the figures. The different elements are represented by a view from below for easy representation but are not all at the same latitude relative to the ground. The battery 4 used is used to start the engine 6 or supply energy accessories when the engine 6 is off for example. The battery 4 is lithium-ion based.

The vehicle 2 has at the front of its body a front panel 7 which extends in a direction transverse to the vehicle 2, with an air intake 8 located on the left side of the vehicle relative to the longitudinal median plane of the vehicle. engine compartment 1

Figure 2 allows to detail the description of Figure 1. The circuit of the air in the cooling device 3 is as follows: the air outside the vehicle 2 enters through this air intake 8. This air intake 8 extends into a first channel 9 to the air inlet 10 of the housing 1 1 of the air filter 12. The air filter 12 is implanted in the housing 1 1 transversely relative to the vehicle 2 in order to treat all the air entering the housing January 1. The air passes through the air filter 12 and leaves through a first outlet 13 of the housing 1 1 of the air filter 12. It arrives in a conduit 14 which brings it to the air inlet 15 of the cold box 16. The air entering the cold box 16 meets a fuse box 17 and a computer 18 multifunction engine and then the battery 4. Air circulates around these electronics that give off heat when they are used. This circulation of air makes it possible both to cool the elements and to isolate them from the high temperatures of the heat engine 6 close to the cold box 16. The air exits through an air outlet 19 of the cold box 16 connected by a second channel 20 to a mouth 21 located at the passage 22 of the wheel 23 through which it escapes outside the vehicle 2.

In the fresh air intake device 5 in the heat engine 6, the air outside the vehicle enters through the same air intake 8 and travels in the first channel 9 to the housing 1 1 of the filter 12 to air. The air passes through the air filter 12 before continuing its path in the circuit of the air intake device 5 by the second outlet 24 of the housing 1 1 of the air filter 12.

The second outlet 24 of the housing 1 1 opens into a first pipe 25 which conveys the air in the turbo compressor 26. It is imperative that the air entering the heat engine 6 is filtered, it is preferable that it it is upstream of the turbo compressor 26 to prevent clogging. The air is compressed and comes out at a temperature higher than its inlet temperature of turbo compressor 26. It is then directed via a second pipe 27 to the exchanger 28 placed parallel to the front panel 7 of the vehicle 2. During the passing through the exchanger 28, the compressed air is cooled and leaves the exchanger 28 by a third pipe 29 to a throttle housing 30. At the exit of the throttle body 30, the air is at a temperature and a pressure adapted to circulate in a fourth pipe 31 until it enters the heat engine 6.

Thus the air circuit in the cooling device 3 of the battery 4 merges with that of the air intake from the air intake 8 in the front panel 7 to 7 before the first output 13 d air of the housing 1 1 of air filter 12. Between the air intake 8 on the front panel 7 to the first air outlet 13 of the air filter housing 12, the air flow of the air intake device is the same as that of the air intake device. of the cooling device 3. There is a fluid connection between the air intake device 5 and the cooling device 3. The housing 1 1 of the air filter 12 is arranged, in the direction of air flow, between the air intake 8 and the air inlet 15 of the cold box 16. The housing 1 1 of the filter 12 air is in series between the air intake 8 and the air inlet 15 of the cold box 16 in the cooling air circuit. The cold box 16 is shunted with respect to the air circuit for admission to the housing 1 1 of the air filter 12.

The housing 1 1 of the air filter 12 is upstream of the cold box 16 in the direction of air flow in the device 3 for cooling the battery 4. All the air entering the housing 1 1 crosses the air filter 12. All the air entering the cold box 16 is filtered, it reduces clogging to electronic elements housed in the cold box 16 and the cold box 16 itself, preserving the life of these elements.

The dimensions of the air intake 8, the first channel 9 and their connecting neck will be defined in order to supply sufficient quantities of the two devices 3 and 5.

The heat engine 6 is implanted transversely relative to the vehicle 2 in the engine compartment 1 of the vehicle 2, and off to the right of the vehicle 2. The cold box 16 is located to the left of the engine 6 and slightly in line with the engine 6 in the upper part of the engine 6. Its proximity allows to place electrical components that cooperate with the engine 6 and which give off heat in the cold box 16 to be cooled as well. The second channel 20 and the mouth 21 are shown in FIG. 1 transversely to the vehicle 2, but they can be oriented further back from the median transverse plane of the engine 6.

The air filter 12 is located to the left of the engine compartment 1 between the implantations of the exchanger 28 and the cold box 16. The second outlet 24 of the housing 1 1 of the air filter 12 is positioned on the adjacent side at the side where is the first output 13 of the housing 1 1 of the air filter 12 towards the circuit of the device 3 cooling the battery 4. In Figure 1, the adjacent side is facing the longitudinal median plane of the engine compartment 1.

The connections between two elements of the cooling device 3 or between two elements of the intake device 5: channel 9 or 20, conduit 14, pipe 25 or 27 ... may have bends not all shown in the figure 1 or 2 but the presence of elbow is not always desirable depending on the desired flow. An element and a connection of the cooling device 3 or an element and a connection of the intake device 5 can be connected by a junction in the form of a crank or not, depending on the space available in their environment and the desired flow rate. The conduit 14 is shown how a straight segment, along the shortest path between the first outlet 13 of the housing 1 1 on the rear wall of the housing 1 1 of the filter 12 and the inlet 15 of the cold box 16 on its front wall.

The air intake 8 is aligned with the air inlet 10 of the housing 1 January. It is off-center to the right with respect to the median plane of the housing in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 2. The inlet 15 of the cold box 16 is aligned in a longitudinal plane of the vehicle 2 with the first outlet 13 of the filter 12. The first output 13 of the housing 1 1 is centered relative to the median plane of the housing 1 1 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 2. The housing 1 1 of the air filter 12 and the cold box 16 may be at an identical azimuth.

The housing 1 1 of the air filter 12 has a tank and a lid as the cold box 16. The outputs of the housing 1 1 of the inlet device 5 or the cooling device 3 are positioned at the lower level of the tank, near the bottom of the tank. Thus only the freshest air generally present at the bottom of the tank is evacuated to continue the ventilation in the cooling device 3 and the device 5 intake. While the motor 6 is implanted transversely to the vehicle 2, the cold box 16 and the housing 1 1 are rather located in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle 2. The turbo compressor 26 is located slightly centered to the right of the engine compartment 1 between the exchanger 28 and the heat engine 6, while the throttle body 30 is positioned longitudinally relative to the vehicle 2 and above the engine 6 and slightly behind the median transverse plane of the engine 6. Alternatively for the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, it is possible to implement this second outlet 24 of the housing 1 1 of the air filter 12 on the same side as the first output 13 or to implant it. on the adjacent side according to the space available in the engine compartment 1. Alternatively for the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, for reasons of space requirement in the engine compartment 1, the inlet 15 of the cold box 16 and the first output 13 of the housing 1 1 could be non-aligned, or the azimuth of the cold box 16 and the azimuth of the housing 1 1 could be different from the vehicle 2, so the conduit 14 could be bent. Alternatively for the embodiment of the two figures where the motor 6 is implanted transversely rather the right side of the vehicle 2 and the cold box 16 and the housing 1 1 rather longitudinally on the left side of the vehicle 2, it is possible to reverse their implantation and have a motor 6 transverse and off-center to the left of the vehicle 2 and a cold box 16 with a housing 1 1 on the right side of the vehicle 2. [0044] The invention thus proposes a device offering multiple benefits. It is thus possible to have a compactness of the device 3 for cooling the battery 4 and the air intake device 5 of the heat engine 6, by pooling certain elements of these devices that satisfy both functionalities, a cost reduction and a optimal integration in the engine compartment 1 under the vehicle hood 2.

Claims

1. Vehicle (2) comprising firstly a battery (4) housed in a cold box (16) whose air inlet (15) is connected to an air intake (8), and other part of a housing (1 1) housing an air filter (12) treating the air admitted into a heat engine (6) characterized in that the housing (1 1) of the filter (12) is arranged in the direction of circulation air, between the air intake (8) and the air inlet (15) of the cold box (16).

2. Vehicle (2) according to claim 1 characterized in that the battery (4) is based on lithium-ion.

3. Vehicle (2) according to claim 1 or claim 2, whose housing (1 1) of the filter (12) has a first air outlet (13) characterized in that the first air outlet (13) housing (1 1) is connected to the air inlet (15) of the cold box (16) by a conduit (14).

4. Vehicle (2) according to claim 1 or claim 2, whose housing (1 1) of the filter (12) has a first air outlet (13) characterized in that the first air outlet (13) the housing (1 1) constitutes the air inlet (15) of the cold box (16).

5. Vehicle (2) according to claim 3 or claim 4, whose housing (1 1) of the filter (12) has a tank, characterized in that the first outlet (13) of the housing (1 1) is present at a lower level of the tank of said housing (1 1).

6. Vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, with a housing (1 1) comprising at least a second outlet (24) of air towards the engine (6) upstream of the filter (12) characterized in that the air filter (12) is upstream of the first air outlet (13) of the housing (1 1).

7. Vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the cold box (16) is connected to an exhaust port (21) of air characterized in that said exhaust mouth (21) is positioned in a wheel passage (22) (23).

8. Vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the cold box (16) comprises at least one electronic element of a system selected from a housing (17) of fuses and / or a calculator multifunction motor (18) Vehicle (2) according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, the engine compartment (1) of which is located at the front of the vehicle (2) with respect to a main direction of the vehicle (2) and the engine (6) is positioned on a first side of the engine compartment (1) with respect to a median longitudinal plane of the engine compartment (1), characterized in that the cold box (16) is positioned on the opposite side to the first side of the engine compartment (1) with respect to said median longitudinal plane of the engine compartment (1).