WO2023135088A1

WO2023135088A1 - Temperature control device

Info

Publication number: WO2023135088A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/050350
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeremy Blandin; Cedric De Vaulx; Yolanda Bravo; Kamel Azzouz
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
Priority date: 2022-01-11
Filing date: 2023-01-09
Publication date: 2023-07-20
Also published as: FR3131709B1; FR3131709A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for controlling the temperature of, and in particular cooling, two elements, in particular electronic components, that are liable to give off heat during their operation, the device comprising a first plate (3) and a second plate (4), and additionally a third plate (5) assembled between the first and second plates in order to form together, on either side of the third plate (5), a plurality of channels between the first and second plates, the channels being configured to be passed through by a fluid, in particular a coolant, the device being characterised in that a first subgroup of channels of the plurality of channels shares an area with the first plate (3) that is larger than the area shared between a second subgroup of channels of the plurality of channels and the second plate.

Description

Title of the invention: Thermal regulation device

The present invention relates to a thermal control device, particularly in the automotive field. The invention also relates to a vehicle and a charging system comprising such a device.

The components likely to be affected by the present invention may be electrical energy storage elements, in particular battery elements, or power electronics, for example, without limitation, semiconductors, such as as diodes or transistors. It could also be computer server components.

The invention finds an advantageous application in the field of thermal regulation devices of a power electronics device or module, that is to say comprising power electronic components.

[0004] Charging an electric or hybrid vehicle traditionally requires connecting the vehicle to a charging station using a cable connection. Nevertheless, some inductive loads exist and have the advantage of avoiding this connection.

[0005] For charging by induction, it is necessary for the vehicle to include a secondary coil responsible for receiving the energy from the primary coil.

[0006] To be charged efficiently, a battery cell must be maintained at the right temperature or at least in the right temperature range. In this way, the internal electrical resistance is ideal, which allows to reduce the charging time as well as the thermal losses.

[0007] Depending on the atmospheric conditions, it may also be advantageous to heat the cells of the battery to the required temperature. Indeed, too low a temperature could result in inefficient charging, or even could damage electronic/electrical components such as batteries if the current is too high and the temperature of the components too low.

The invention also finds an advantageous application in the field of thermal regulation devices of an electrical energy storage device, such as a set of batteries or battery pack for a motor vehicle with electric and/or hybrid motorization. The electrical energy of vehicles with electric and/or hybrid motorization is supplied by one or more batteries. During their operation, the electrical energy storage elements such as the batteries are caused to heat up and thus risk being damaged. In particular, a charging technique, called fast charging, consists in charging the energy storage elements under a high voltage and a high amperage, in a short time, in particular in a maximum time of about twenty minutes. This fast charging involves significant heating of the electrical energy storage elements that need to be treated.

[0009] In the field of motor vehicles, it is known to use a thermal regulation device, for cooling components, for example for storing electrical energy, such as batteries. Such a thermal regulation device makes it possible to modify a temperature of an electrical energy storage device, for example when starting the vehicle in hot weather, by increasing its temperature for example, or whether it is while driving or during a recharging operation of said system, by reducing the temperature of the battery elements, which tend to heat up during their use.

According to a known solution, the thermal regulation device comprises a cold plate inside which a cooling fluid circulates, and arranged in contact with the components to be cooled. It is also known to cool the secondary coil in the case of an induction charge. The solutions proposed to cool these two elements are often complex, heavy and expensive to produce, use and repair.

The present invention aims to at least partially overcome one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a means of heating the elements of the battery of an electric vehicle during inductive charging.

The invention proposes various embodiments for cooling electronic components such as cells during charging.

[0013] To this end, the subject of the invention is a device for thermal regulation, in particular cooling, of two elements, in particular electrical components, capable of releasing heat during their operation, said device comprising a first plate and a second plate, and furthermore a third plate assembled between the first and the second plate in order to form together on either side of the said third plate a plurality of channels between the said first and second plates, said channels being configured to be traversed by a fluid (coolant), in particular a refrigerant fluid, in particular a fluid chosen from among the following refrigerants R134a, R1234yf or R744, the device being characterized in that a first sub-group of the plurality of channels shares a larger surface with the first plate than the surface shared between a second subgroup of channels of the plurality of channels and the second plate, and in that the first plate is intended to be in contact with a first element to be thermally regulated, the second plate being intended to be in contact with a second element to be thermally regulated different from the first element.

[0014] The device may also comprise one or more of the following features described below, taken separately or in combination.

A first channel subgroup of the plurality of channels is formed between a face of the third plate and the first plate and a second channel subgroup of the plurality of channels is formed between a face of the third plate and the second plate.

[0016] the device comprises a first element, in particular a first insulator, on at least one of the first, second and/or third plates, so as to reduce the heat exchanges between a sub-group and one of the plates or one of the elements to be thermally regulated.

The first element, in particular a first insulator, is located between the first sub-group of channels of the plurality of channels and one of the plates, the first element being configured to reduce heat exchange between said first sub-group and said plate.

The device comprises a second element, in particular a second insulator between a second sub-group of channels of the plurality of channels and one of the plates, the second element being configured to reduce heat exchange between said second sub-group and said plate, said plate insulated by this second element, in particular a second insulator, being different from the first insulated plate of the first sub-group. The first insulator and the second insulator form a single part.

[0020] The plurality of channels comprises a turning section, in particular U-shaped, the first sub-group of channels being linked to an inlet conduit for the heat transfer fluid and to the turning section, the second sub-group being connected to the reversal and a heat transfer fluid outlet conduit.

The first subgroup of channels and the second subgroup of channels are formed from a node located upstream in the direction of circulation of the heat transfer fluid.

[0022] The device comprises only two channel sub-groups, called lower and upper sub-groups.

The device comprises a valve, in particular at said node, the valve being configured to be able to open or block the channels of one of the channel subgroups of the device.

The device further comprises a valve controller.

The surface ratio between the first group and the second group of the plurality of channels shared with their respective plate is 3: 1

The surface of the channels in thermal contact with the first plate (AND/OR isolated from the second plate) represents between 51% and 90%, preferably between 60 and 80%, more preferably 75% of the total surface of the plurality channels in contact with the plates.

The third plate is a stamped aluminum plate forming the channels on either side of it.

The plates are assembled together by brazing or gluing.

The third plate is a stamped aluminum plate forming the channels on either side thereof, the third plate further comprising an insulator on at least one of its faces forming a sub-group of channels .

The insulation is an insulating coating or made by hard anodization (growth of an A12O3 film by electrochemical process) and the assembly is made by bonding. The third plate is made of a material having a lower heat exchange coefficient than the first and the second plate, and is preferably formed of plastic or composite material.

The three plates are made of plastic material, for example of different thicknesses.

[0033] Preferably, the plastic material is formed of composite materials consisting of a matrix and reinforcing particles.

[0034] The matrix is preferably composed of at least one of epoxy resin (EP)/vinylester/phenolics (EP)/polyimides/polypropylene/polyamide (PA)/polyetherimide (PEI)/polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or Poly(phenylene ether-ether-ketone (PEEK), or a mixture thereof, preferably Polyamide (PA).

[0035] The reinforcing particles are preferably composed of at least one of glass fiber (GF)/carbon fiber/natural fiber such as hemp or flax/aramid fibers, or a mixture thereof, preferably fiberglass (GF).

In certain embodiments, at least one of the plates is formed from an organosheet, preferably composed of polyamide (PA) and glass fibers (GF), PAGE such as TECAMID PA66GF30 for example.

[0037] The assembly is carried out by gluing or injection.

The present invention also relates to a system comprising an electrical component capable of releasing heat during its operation, in particular an electrical energy storage module such as a battery, and a regulation device as described above, arranged to thermally regulate the component, this component or battery being in thermal contact with the first plate, in particular called the upper plate, of the regulating device.

According to one feature, the system further comprises a second electrical component capable of releasing heat during its operation, in particular at least part of an induction charger, this component being in thermal contact with the second plate, in particular said lower plate, of the regulating device.

[0040] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings, among which:

[0042] The [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a first embodiment according to the invention in cross-sectional view.

[0043] The [Fig. 2] schematically illustrates a second embodiment according to the invention in cross-sectional view.

[0044] The [Fig. 3] schematically illustrates a third embodiment according to the invention in cross-sectional view.

[0045] The [Fig. 4] schematically illustrates a fourth embodiment according to the invention in cross-sectional view.

[0046] The [Fig. 5] schematically illustrates a fifth embodiment according to the invention in cross-sectional view.

In these figures, identical elements bear the same reference numbers.

The following embodiments are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference is to the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments can also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

In the description, certain elements can be indexed, for example first element or second element. In this case, it is a simple indexing to differentiate and name elements that are close but not identical. This indexing does not imply a priority of one element over another and such denominations can easily be interchanged without departing from the scope of the present invention. Nor does this indexing imply an order in time.

[0050] In the present invention, a module can be an energy storage cell. Alternatively, a module may include multiple energy storage cells. A module can also be defined as a container or box comprising one or more electronic and/or electrical components. The present invention thus relates to a device for thermal regulation (1), in particular for cooling, of two elements, in particular electrical components, capable of releasing heat during their operation, said device comprising a first plate (3) and a second plate (4), and furthermore a third plate (5) assembled between the first and the second plate (4) in order to form together on either side of the said third plate (5) a plurality of channels ( 6) between said first and second plates, said channels (6) being configured to be traversed by a fluid (coolant), in particular a refrigerant, in particular a fluid chosen from among the following refrigerants R134a, R1234yf or R744, in which the first plate (3) is intended to be in contact with a first element to be thermally regulated, the second plate (4) being intended to be in contact with a second element to be thermally regulated different from the first element.

[0052] In certain embodiments, a first subgroup of channels (61) of the plurality of channels (6) shares a larger surface with the first plate (3) and/or the third plate (5) than the surface shared between a second sub-group of channels (62) of the plurality of channels (6) and the second plate (4) and/or the third plate (5),

This advantageously allows the same temperature level but different cooling power on both sides.

[0054] Figure 1 schematically shows an example of a first embodiment of a thermal regulation device 1, which may be intended to equip a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The device comprises three plates 3, 4, 5, and channels 6 are formed between the central plate, called the third plate 5 and each of the other two plates 3, 4. These channels 6 can for example be formed by stamping the central plate, or by any other means of deformation of said plate. Likewise, in certain alternative embodiments, it is possible for it to be the outer plates, that is to say the first plate 3 or the second plate 4 which is deformed and/or stamped. The presence of a third plate (5) makes it possible to modify the heat exchange between a heat transfer fluid passing through said channels (6) and the elements to be cooled 2 which are in contact with the first and second plates 3 and 4. Indeed, the presence of the third plate (5) allows a subgroup of channels (61 or 62) to share a larger surface with one of the two outer plates 3, 4 than another group of channels (61, 62). It follows that in certain applications in which the elements to be cooled have different temperature gradients with the heat transfer fluid, the heat exchanges are and remain optimized.

The invention thus consists of a multi-sided cooling plate with one side applied to an element such as an inductive charger and another side applied to the electronic module such as a cell/module or battery pack in order to ensure the thermal management of the two components.

Advantageously, the presence of channels (6) are asymmetrical makes it possible to manage the different needs in terms of heat source, and to maximize heat recovery from the battery (more thermal load) than for the charger inductive.

The cooling fluid passing inside the channels 6 can be single-phase (water/EG) or two-phase (refrigerant R 134a or R1234yf).

Advantageously, as the temperature of the inductive charger is generally higher (for example approximately 60° C.), it is possible, with the same temperature of the cooling liquid (for example approximately 20° C.), to release more power than on the side of the battery where the temperature of the battery is for example about 30° C.

In this non-limiting example, the difference between the temperature of the coolant and the temperature of the inductive charger is 60-20, i.e. 40° C., while the difference between the temperature of the coolant and the battery temperature is 30-20, or 10°C. In this case, it is therefore interesting to provide an asymmetrical channel to maximize the surface on the side of the battery because the temperature is lower.

[0060] Figure 2 schematically shows an example of a second embodiment in which only one of the subgroups of channels 62 is isolated from the other plate by an insulator 7. The insulation thus makes it possible to accentuate exchanges particular thermal conditions, and thus to accentuate the differential heat exchange already permitted by the difference in contact surface. Thus, in this exemplary embodiment, an insulator 7 is placed between the sub-group of channels 62 and the plate 3, reducing or even preventing heat exchange between the fluid passing through said sub-group 62 and said opposite plate 3 on which the insulation is placed. Advantageously, this is of great interest when a large temperature difference is present between the two elements to be thermally regulated, so as not to degrade too much the cooling performance of the coldest element to be cooled.

Thus, in certain embodiments, the maximum temperature to be regulated of the battery is between 30 and 60°C.

In some embodiments, the maximum temperature to be regulated of the induction coil is between 60 and 80°C.

[0064] FIG. 3 schematically represents an example of a third embodiment in which only one of the subgroups of channels 62 is isolated from the other plate, and in which the surface of one of the subgroups is more important with the first plate 3 than with the second plate 4. This advantageously makes it possible to accentuate certain specific heat exchanges and/or to reduce others.

FIG. 4 schematically represents an example of a fourth embodiment in which the two subgroups of channels (61, 62) are insulated by a first insulator (7) and a second insulator (8), and a sub group of channels has a larger surface with the first plate (3) than the second subgroup with the second plate (4). Again, this advantageously makes it possible to accentuate more effectively certain specific heat exchanges and/or to reduce others.

Figure 5 schematically shows an example of a fifth embodiment in which the insulator 7 is formed in one piece, and here forms the third plate (5). This advantageously makes it possible to obtain the advantages of the previous embodiments while simplifying the structure of the plate. This insulating plate can be made of a material having a lower heat exchange coefficient than the first and the second plate (4), and is preferably formed of plastic or composite material. In other embodiments, said third plate (5) is made of the same material as the other two plates and comprises an insulating coating,

Thus, in some embodiments, the third plate (5) further comprises an insulator on at least one of its faces forming a sub-group of channels.

In some embodiments, the insulating coating or made by hard anodization (growth of an A12O3 film by electrochemical process). [0069] In some embodiments, the assembly can be achieved by gluing. In other embodiments, the assembly is made by brazing.

In some embodiments, the third plate (5) is made of a material having a lower heat exchange coefficient than the first and the second plate (4), and is preferably formed of plastic or composite material .

In some embodiments, the three plates are made of plastic material, preferably of different thicknesses.

[0072] Preferably, the plastic material is formed from composite materials consisting of a matrix and reinforcing particles.

The matrix is preferably composed of at least one of epoxy resin (EP) / vinyl ester / phenolics (EP) / polyimides / polypropylene / polyamide (PA) / polyetherimide (PEI) / polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or Poly(phenylene ether-ether-ketone (PEEK), or a mixture thereof, preferably Polyamide (PA).

[0074] The reinforcing particles are preferably composed of at least one of glass fiber (GF)/carbon fiber/natural fiber such as hemp or flax/aramid fibers, or a mixture thereof, preferably fiberglass (GF).

[0075] In certain embodiments, at least one of the plates is formed of a

"organosheet", preferably composed of polyamide (PA) and glass fibers (GF), PA-GF such as TECAMID PA66GF30 for example.

[0076] This advantageously allows a strong reduction in CO2 emissions, because the manufacturing process is simpler, there is in particular no brazing to assemble the three plates together. In addition, the impact on thermal performance can be offset by increased throughput.

In certain embodiments, the surface of the channels in contact with the first plate (3) is 75% of the total surface of the channels 6 in contact with the plates, the surface of the channels in contact with the second plate being then 25%.

[0078] In some embodiments, this results in the first sub-group of channels 61 representing 3/4 of the surface in contact with the first plate (3) for the battery, and the second sub-group of channels 62 representing 1/4 of the surface for the inductive charger. This can of course be adapted according to the specifications of the equipment and the thermal load of each. This is one of the advantages of this type of plate.

In some embodiments, the channels 6 of the plate are configured to allow circulation in 2 passes. Thus, the coolant first cools a first element, for example the battery, via a first sub-group of channels 61, then passes through a U-shaped reversal section into a second group of channels. 62 which cools the second plate 4 to cool the inductive charger. In this way, we maintain a similar temperature difference despite a temperature gradient and a limited bulk and fluid volume/flow rate.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0081]

1. Thermal regulation device

2. Element likely to release heat

3. First plate

4. Second Plate

5. Third Plate

6. Channels

61. First channel subgroup

62. Second subgroup of channels

7. First insulator

8. Second insulator

Claims

[Claim 1] Device for thermal regulation (1), in particular for cooling, of two elements, in particular electrical components, capable of releasing heat during their operation, said device comprising a first plate (3) and a second plate ( 4), and furthermore a third plate (5) assembled between the first and the second plate (4) in order to form together on either side of the said third plate (5) a plurality of channels (6) between the said first and second plates, said channels (6) being configured to be traversed by a (heat transfer) fluid, in particular a refrigerant fluid, in particular a fluid chosen from among the following refrigerant fluids R 134a, R1234yf or R744, the device being characterized in that a first subgroup of channels (61) of the plurality of channels (6) shares a larger area with the first plate (3) and/or the third plate (5) than the area shared between a second subgroup of channels (62) of the plurality of channels (6) and the second plate (4) and/or the third plate (5), and in that the first plate (3) is intended to be in contact with a first element to be thermally regulate, the second plate (4) being intended to be in contact with a second element to be thermally regulated different from the first element.

[Claim 2] Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which a first subgroup of channels (61) of the plurality of channels (6) is formed between a face of the third plate (5) and the first plate ( 3) and a second subgroup of channels (62) of the plurality of channels (6) is formed between a face of the third plate (5) and the second plate (4).

[Claim 3] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the device comprises a first element, in particular a first insulator (7), on at least one of the first, second and/or third plate (5 ), so as to reduce heat exchange between a sub-group and one of the plates or one of the elements to be thermally regulated.

[Claim 4] Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the first element, in particular a first insulator (7), is located between the first sub- group of channels (61) of the plurality of channels (6) and one of the plates, the first element being configured to reduce heat exchange between said first sub-group and said plate.

[Claim 5] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the device comprises a second element, in particular a second insulator (8), between a second subgroup of channels (62) of the plurality of channels ( 6) and one of the plates, the second element being configured to reduce heat exchange between said second sub-group and said plate, said plate insulated by this second element, in particular a second insulator (8), being different from the first plate (3) isolated from the first subgroup.

[Claim 6] Device (1) according to the preceding claim, according to the preceding claim, in which the first insulator (7) and the second insulator (8) form a single piece.

[Claim 7] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the plurality of channels (6) comprises a turning section, in particular U-shaped, the first sub-group of channels (61) being linked to a conduit heat transfer fluid inlet and to the reversal section, the second sub-group being connected to the reversal section and to a heat transfer fluid outlet conduit.

[Claim 8] Device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the first subgroup of channels (61) and the second subgroup of channels (62) are formed from a node located upstream in the direction of circulation of the heat transfer fluid.

[Claim 9] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the device comprises only two subgroups of channels, called lower and upper subgroups.

[Claim 10] System comprising an electrical component capable of releasing heat during its operation, in particular an electrical energy storage module such as a battery, and a regulation device (1) according to any one of the claims above, arranged to thermally regulate the component, this component or battery being in thermal contact with the first plate (3), in particular called the upper plate, of the regulating device.

[Claim 11] System according to the preceding claim, which further comprises a second electrical component capable of releasing heat during its 15 operation, in particular at least part of an induction charger, this component being in thermal contact with the second plate (4), in particular called the lower plate, of the regulating device.

[Claim 12] Device according to one of Claims 11 to 12, in which the device comprises a valve, in particular at the level of said node, the valve being configured to be able to open or block the channels of one of the sub-groups of channels of the device.

[Claim 13] Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the area ratio between the first group and the second group of the plurality of channels (61, 62) shared with their respective plate is 3:1

[Claim 14] Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the surface of the channels in thermal contact with the first plate (3), and/or isolated from the second plate (4), represents between 51% and 90%, preferably between 60 and 80% more preferably 75% of the total surface of the plurality of channels (6) in contact with the plates.