WO2023247317A1

WO2023247317A1 - Heat transfer between a motor vehicle and an infrastructure

Info

Publication number: WO2023247317A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/066098
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benjamin Drescher
Original assignee: Man Truck & Bus Se
Priority date: 2022-06-21
Filing date: 2023-06-15
Publication date: 2023-12-28
Also published as: DE102022115366A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy storage system for a motor vehicle (160), comprising an energy store and a cooling system for cooling the at least one energy store, wherein the cooling system comprises a heat exchanger (130) for transferring heat between a fluid of a fluid circuit of the cooling system and an external heat exchanger (140) of a charging station (400) by thermal conduction, wherein the heat exchanger (130) of the cooling system is arranged separately from the at least one energy store and has a thermal contact wall which is designed to make thermally conductive contact with a complementary thermal contact wall of the external heat exchanger (140) of the charging station (400). The invention also relates to: a motor vehicle (160) having the energy storage system, a charging station (400) having a thermal coupling, comprising the heat exchanger (140); and a system consisting of the vehicle (160) and the charging station (400).

Description

Heat transfer between a motor vehicle and infrastructure

The invention relates to an energy storage system for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one energy storage and a cooling system for cooling the at least one energy storage. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle with such an energy storage system and a vehicle-external charging system for providing electrical energy for charging the at least one energy storage device of the energy storage system of the motor vehicle.

Technical background

US 2017/0096073 A1 describes a vehicle with an energy storage device for storing electrical energy to drive the vehicle and with a coupling device that is set up to receive thermal conditioning of the energy storage device from a vehicle-external thermal system. In one example, the vehicle has an internal cooling system for thermally conditioning a battery pack during operation of the vehicle, and the vehicle-external thermal system has thermal contacts that can penetrate the interior of the battery pack.

Summary of the invention

When charging an energy storage device in a motor vehicle, large energy losses in the form of heat occur, particularly at the energy storage device. The resulting heat must be dissipated in order to avoid a disadvantageous, excessive increase in the temperature of the energy storage device. So far, the waste heat during charging can still be easily controlled due to the relatively low charging currents and is usually released into the ambient air on the vehicle side via water-air heat exchangers with fans. The heat energy can then no longer be used, and the fans create disadvantageous noise emissions. The amount of heat to be dissipated is particularly large in a future high-performance charging of a commercial vehicle, for example a truck, with an energy storage system with high storage capacity. The object of the invention is to create a novel cooling system for an energy storage system for a motor vehicle, which enables heat to be removed (or supplied) from (or to) the energy storage system during a charging process of the energy storage system in the most efficient and/or quiet manner possible . It is desirable that a conventional energy storage system for a motor vehicle can be easily expanded or converted into the new energy storage system.

A further object of the invention is to create a corresponding novel vehicle-external charging system that enables the removal (or supply) of heat from (or to) the energy storage system.

According to the invention, one of the stated tasks is achieved by an energy storage system for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one energy storage and a cooling system for cooling the at least one energy storage, the cooling system comprising: at least one fluid circuit which is set up to remove waste heat from the at least one energy storage; and a heat exchanger for transferring heat between a fluid of the at least one fluid circuit and an external heat exchanger of a charging station by thermal conduction, the heat exchanger of the cooling system having a thermal contact wall which is designed to thermally conductively contact a complementary thermal contact wall of an external heat exchanger of a charging station, and wherein the heat exchanger is arranged separately from the at least one energy store and has a fluid line through which a fluid (in particular the above-mentioned fluid) of the at least one fluid circuit flows.

For example, the at least one fluid circuit can be set up to remove waste heat from the at least one energy storage device during a ferry operation of the motor vehicle, in particular during a ferry operation of the motor vehicle driven by the at least one energy storage device. In this way, heat can be transferred in a heat-conducting manner between the fluid in the fluid line of the heat exchanger and a heat contact wall of an external (vehicle-external) heat exchanger that is thermally coupled to the heat contact wall of the heat exchanger. This allows the heat energy generated during fast charging to be dissipated from vehicles. This makes thermal coupling possible without having to connect cooling lines. In particular, heat can be transferred from the fluid of the at least one fluid circuit to the external heat exchanger. By transferring heat, for example via liquid cooling (or fluid-fluid cooling), it can be made possible that only very low noise emissions are generated on site, compared to high-speed fans of water-air heat exchangers, for example. The heat transfer preferably takes place via the contact between two heat exchangers (e.g. plates) through which coolant flows, each of which is provided on the vehicle side or on the infrastructure side. The thermal energy can be used further or, for example, released into the ambient air in a low-noise cooling system. For example, an existing energy storage system in a motor vehicle can be supplemented with the heat exchanger.

The heat exchanger of the cooling system is arranged separately from the at least one energy store, in particular outside the energy store. Heat can therefore be released in one place, via the heat contact wall. This simplifies the establishment of thermal contact with the external heat exchanger. Due to the separate arrangement to the energy storage, the energy storage can be cooled using an optimized cooling circuit, which can (also) be used to cool the energy storage while driving. There is therefore no need to provide space on the energy storage device for a heat exchanger that can only be used during charging. In addition, for example, a cooler of the at least one fluid circuit, which is set up for a fluid-air heat exchange, can be switched off or operated with low or reduced power when heat is transferred to the external heat exchanger, since heat is dissipated via the heat exchanger to the external heat exchanger . The heat exchanger of the cooling system is thus set up for thermal coupling with a complementary thermal contact wall of an external heat exchanger. The respective heat contact wall can also be referred to as a heat transfer wall. Through the thermal contact wall, heat can be transferred between the heat exchanger of the cooling system and the external heat exchanger. The heat exchanger of the cooling system is set up for thermal coupling with the external heat exchanger. In particular, the thermal contact wall is set up to contact a complementary thermal contact wall of an external heat exchanger in a heat-conducting manner. For example, the cooling system can have a thermal coupling for heat-conducting coupling with a (vehicle) external thermal coupling, the thermal coupling comprising the heat exchanger and the thermal coupling being arranged separately from the at least one energy storage device. The thermal coupling is set up to transfer heat between the heat exchanger of the cooling system and the external thermal coupling. The transfer of heat through the heat exchanger or the thermal coupling or the thermal or heat-conducting coupling and/or the heat-conducting contacting can take place with (simultaneous) fluidic decoupling from the external heat exchanger, and thus also with fluidic decoupling from a cooling system of a charging station, and in particular without exchanging a fluid, for example of the at least one fluid circuit. The heat exchanger can, for example, together with the external heat exchanger form a (two-part) fluid-fluid heat exchanger, which, for example, fluidically decouples the cooling system of the energy storage system (of the vehicle) from a cooling system of the charging station (or charging infrastructure). Contamination or loss of a fluid in the at least one fluid circuit or a mixing of the fluids, for example of the vehicle-internal and vehicle-external fluid circuits, can thus be avoided.

The energy storage system is an energy storage system for a motor vehicle, in particular for installation in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle can in particular be a commercial vehicle, for example a truck. The energy storage system can be a high-voltage energy storage system. The energy storage system can include an electrical clutch for supplying (or discharging) electrical energy for charging (or discharging) the at least one energy storage device, for example a high-voltage clutch. The electrical coupling can include electrical contacts for supplying (or discharging) the electrical energy. The The term “electrical coupling” herein includes at least one plug, at least one socket and/or a combination thereof. Such electrical clutches are known per se. For example, it can be a CCS (Combined Charging System) socket. The energy storage can in particular comprise an accumulator, for example an electrical or electrochemical accumulator. Such an accumulator is also called a battery. The accumulator can in particular be a traction memory, i.e. serve to drive the vehicle. The electric clutch can be designed for charging currents of several hundred amps or up to 1,000 amps or higher. The storage capacity of the energy storage system can be, for example, more than 100 kWh, more than 300 kWh or more than 600 kWh.

The at least one fluid circuit is preferably set up to cool the at least one energy storage device during ferry operation of the motor vehicle. The waste heat can, for example, be dissipated into the ambient air. The fluid circuit contains at least one fluid for heat transport. The fluid circuit can include, for example, a fluid-air cooler. The fluid-air cooler is preferably set up to dissipate waste heat from the at least one fluid circuit during ferry operation of the motor vehicle, in particular to the ambient air. The fluid-air cooler can, for example, include a fluid-air heat exchanger, a blower or a fan, at least one fluid line and/or cooling fins. The at least one fluid circuit can include multiple fluid circuits, in particular a chain of multiple fluid circuits. The plurality of fluid circuits can be connected to one another in a fluidly separated manner via at least one heat exchanger. The multiple fluid circuits can contain different fluids for heat transport. Here, the respective fluid can in particular be a heat transport medium. The fluid-air cooler can be, for example, a water-air cooler. The fluid-air heat exchanger can accordingly be a water-air heat exchanger.

The at least one fluid circuit can, for example, also be set up to heat the at least one energy storage device. The energy storage can, for example, be heated via the fluid circuit in order to quickly reach its operating temperature and to be able to accept high (charging) currents. The term “complementary” herein includes in particular “complementary shaped”. When the thermal contact wall and a complementary thermal contact wall of an external heat exchanger make thermally conductive contact, thermally conductive contact occurs between the relevant thermal contact walls. The contact is preferably flat. Heat-conducting contact preferably occurs between surfaces that each comprise a predominant part of the respective thermal contact wall.

The fluid line of the heat exchanger can be an internal fluid line of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger of the cooling system is preferably set up to dissipate heat from the at least one energy store via the fluid circuit (for example via a fluid forward line and/or a fluid return line, which connect the fluid line of the heat exchanger to the fluid circuit) to the heat exchanger.

In preferred embodiments, the cooling system further comprises at least one valve, with which an end of the fluid line of the heat exchanger of the cooling system assigned to the valve can be selectively connected to the fluid circuit in fluid communication.

The valve is thus set up to selectively allow flow through the fluid line of the heat exchanger. This means that there is no flow through the fluid line of the heat exchanger when the motor vehicle is in ferry mode. This increases the efficiency of cooling in ferry operations. For example, the cooling system can comprise two valves with which the ends of the fluid line of the heat exchanger of the cooling system assigned to a respective valve can be selectively connected to the fluid circuit in fluid communication. For example, a first end of the internal fluid line of the heat exchanger can be connected to a first valve via a fluid supply line, and/or a second end of the internal fluid line of the heat exchanger can be connected to a second valve via a fluid return line. For example, the thermal coupling can be arranged separately from the valve or valves. For example, the thermal coupling can be connected to the valve or valves via the fluid supply line and/or the fluid return line. Depending on the position of the valve, the end of the fluid line assigned to the valve or a connection of a fluid-air cooler of the at least one fluid circuit assigned to the valve can preferably be selectively connected to the fluid circuit in fluid communication with the valve. The valve is preferably a 3/2-way valve, i.e. a valve with three connections and two switching positions.

For example, the heat exchanger can be designed as a heat-conducting block that is provided with the inner fluid line (a fluid channel). In embodiments, the thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger of the cooling system has the shape of a plate.

The thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger of the cooling system can, for example, be arranged exposed or behind a door, e.g. a flap, on the thermal coupling or on the motor vehicle, or can be set up for such an arrangement on the motor vehicle.

Preferably, the thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger of the cooling system forms a stop for the thermal contact wall of the external heat exchanger. This enables a defined contacting position at which the heat-conducting contact is made. In addition, for example, establishing or maintaining a contact pressure between the thermal contact walls can be simplified, since a contact pressure can be exerted in the direction in which the thermal contact walls are brought closer to the contact or stop. The contacting position of the thermal contact wall of the external heat exchanger corresponds to a coupling position of the external heat exchanger and/or a coupling position of the external thermal coupling. The terms contacting position and coupling position are used interchangeably herein.

In embodiments, the thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger of the cooling system has one of the following forms: a plate; a peripheral wall or inner wall of an insertion opening for a complementary thermal contact wall of an external heat exchanger; a bowl-shaped wall; or a peripheral wall or outer wall of a dome to be encompassed by a complementary thermal contact wall of an external heat exchanger.

The thermal contact wall or the plate can, for example, be flat, curved convexly or concavely, corrugated or corrugated. A corrugated or ridged surface allows for interlocking of the thermal contact walls and a larger contact area. The peripheral wall or inner wall of the insertion opening can in particular be bent into a tubular shape, bent into a cone shape and/or bowl-shaped. The dome can in particular be cylindrical or conical.

The peripheral wall runs around an axis, which can correspond, for example, to an insertion direction or a push-on direction of the external heat exchanger. The peripheral wall, the inner wall or the outer wall may be curved in the insertion direction or in the longitudinal direction of the dome. The insertion opening preferably tapers in the insertion direction. This enables a defined contacting position (insertion position) at which the heat-conducting contact is made (by stops). Preferably, the dome widens in the direction of a base, for example in the sliding direction. This enables a defined contacting position (or sliding position) at which the heat-conducting contact is made (by stops).

In embodiments, the cooling system has a further wall, with the thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger of the cooling system and the further wall being arranged opposite one another, with a gap between the two walls being set up for inserting the external heat exchanger into the gap.

The additional wall can simplify positioning of the external heat exchanger. For example, the thermal contact wall and the further wall can form an insertion opening for the external heat exchanger. For example, the two walls can be a uniform distance apart (or parallel) or at an angle to each other. The further wall can be a further thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger, with the further thermal contact wall being formed as a further complementary one To contact the thermal contact wall of the external heat exchanger in a heat-conducting manner. The contact area for heat transfer can thus be increased. The heat exchanger can, for example, be set up for the heat-conducting transfer of heat between a fluid in the fluid line and the respective thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger. The gap can form an insertion opening for the thermal contact wall or opposing thermal contact walls of the external heat exchanger. In embodiments, a distance between the two walls (or a width of the gap) decreases in the insertion direction. This enables a defined contacting position (insertion position) at which the heat-conducting contact is made (by stops).

Preferably, the at least one fluid circuit comprises a first fluid circuit which includes the mentioned fluid-air cooler. Preferably, the fluid-air cooler is set up to dissipate waste heat from the first fluid circuit to the ambient air. Preferably, the fluid line of the heat exchanger of the cooling system is set up to be flowed through by a fluid from the first fluid circuit.

The fluid-air cooler can, for example, be set up to be operated electrically. The first fluid circuit may include a pump. A fluid of the first fluid circuit can, for example, be a water-based fluid, e.g. consist predominantly of water. Valves, in particular the valves described, can, for example, selectively connect the fluid line of the heat exchanger of the cooling system to the first fluid circuit. The heat exchanger of the cooling system can, for example, be arranged parallel to the fluid-air cooler in the first fluid circuit. A cooling system with a fluid circuit in which waste heat from an energy storage device is absorbed by the fluid and released into the ambient air can also be referred to as passive cooling.

Preferably, the at least one fluid circuit comprises a second fluid circuit which has a fluid in the form of a refrigerant, a compressor and/or an expansion valve, and/or a third fluid circuit which comprises at least one cooling line which is in thermal contact with the at least one energy storage device . For example, the second fluid circuit can be thermally coupled to the first fluid circuit via a heat exchanger or condenser. For example, the third fluid circuit can be thermally coupled to the second fluid circuit (or possibly to the first fluid circuit) via a heat exchanger or cooler or evaporator.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one fluid circuit comprises: the first fluid circuit, wherein the first fluid circuit comprises the fluid-air cooler, which is designed to dissipate waste heat from the first fluid circuit to the ambient air; the second fluid circuit, which is thermally coupled to the first fluid circuit via a heat exchanger or condenser, the second fluid circuit having a fluid in the form of a refrigerant and preferably a compressor (or compressor), an evaporator and / or an expansion valve; and the third fluid circuit, which is thermally coupled to the second fluid circuit via a heat exchanger or cooler or via the evaporator (chiller), the third fluid circuit comprising at least one cooling line which is in thermal contact with the at least one energy storage.

The condenser can be called a condenser. The evaporator (of the second fluid circuit) can be a chiller or cooler (of the third fluid circuit).

The three fluid circuits thus form a chain for the transfer of heat. The cooling system actively cools the energy storage and can work similarly to a heat pump. In particular, the first fluid circuit can have a higher fluid temperature than the (third) fluid circuit in contact with the energy storage.

Preferably, the fluid line of the heat exchanger of the cooling system is set up to be flowed through by a fluid from the first, second or third fluid circuit. For example, the fluid line in the second fluid circuit can be arranged parallel to the heat exchanger or condenser, which couples the second fluid circuit to the first fluid circuit. Particularly preferably, the fluid line of the heat exchanger of the cooling system is set up to be flowed through by a fluid from the first fluid circuit. The first fluid circuit may include a pump and the fluid-air cooler and may include an expansion tank. The first fluid circuit can, for example, be designed for a fluid temperature in a range that includes 60 ° C, in particular a fluid temperature at the outlet (outlet) of the heat exchanger or condenser. By combining the fluid circuits, heat can be transferred efficiently to the external heat exchanger. In addition, efficient heat dissipation into the ambient air can take place during ferry operations, even at an ambient temperature of, for example, 30°C.

The second fluid circuit can also be referred to as a cooling circuit. The compressor can, for example, be set up to be operated electrically. The second fluid circuit can, for example, be set up for operation in which the refrigerant undergoes phase transitions between a liquid state and a vapor state in a cycle. The refrigerant can, for example, be set up to be liquefied or cooled in the heat exchanger or condenser (shared with the first fluid circuit) while releasing heat to the fluid of the first fluid circuit. The refrigerant can, for example, be set up to be expanded at the expansion valve, which results in cooling of the refrigerant, with the expanded refrigerant absorbing heat from the fluid of the third fluid circuit at the heat exchanger or cooler or evaporator (shared with the third fluid circuit). The expansion valve is preferably arranged on this cooler/evaporator. Heat can therefore be transferred at a higher/lower temperature level from the third fluid circuit to the first fluid circuit through the second fluid circuit.

The third fluid circuit can, for example, be designed for a fluid temperature in a range that includes 22 ° C. The third fluid circuit can thus be designed for an optimal operating temperature of the energy storage device. The third fluid circuit may include a pump and may include an expansion tank. A fluid of the first fluid circuit can, for example, be a water-based fluid, for example consist predominantly of water and/or be a water-glycol mixture. The chain of three fluid circuits thus enables an optimal operating temperature of the energy storage and at the same time an efficient removal of waste heat from the energy storage and its transfer to the external heat exchanger, or (especially in ferry operation of the motor vehicle) its release into the ambient air even at higher ambient temperatures. The first and third fluid circuits may contain the same coolant, and both may be connected to one another in fluid communication. The circuits can, for example, share an expansion tank.

In embodiments, the cooling system, or in particular the thermal coupling, comprises anchoring means, holding means or a holder for holding the external heat exchanger in the coupling position.

The heat exchanger of the cooling system and/or the external heat exchanger can, for example, have contact pressure means for exerting a contact pressure with which the external heat exchanger is pressed against the thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger of the cooling system. For example, the thermal coupling of the cooling system and/or the external thermal coupling can have the pressing means.

The anchoring means, the holding means or the holder can, for example, be set up so that when the external heat exchanger is held in the coupling position, a contact pressure is exerted on the external heat exchanger, with which the external heat exchanger is pressed against the thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger of the cooling system. The contact pressure can be generated, for example, by gravity and/or by a mechanical force/spring force.

According to one aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle is provided with an energy storage system of the type described. For example, the thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger can be arranged on one side of the motor vehicle so that it is accessible to the external heat exchanger.

The thermal contact wall can, for example, be arranged separately from the at least one energy storage device. The heat contact wall can, for example, be on a left side, be arranged on a right side, a front, a back, a top or a bottom of the motor vehicle.

The energy storage system can have at least one coupling region in which the thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger is arranged adjacent to the electrical coupling, for example on one side of the motor vehicle. A coupling area can be arranged, for example, on a left side, a right side and/or an underside of the motor vehicle.

For example, the energy storage system or the motor vehicle may have at least one clutch that includes the electrical clutch and the thermal clutch, wherein preferably the thermal clutch is arranged adjacent to the electrical clutch.

According to one aspect of the invention, one of the stated tasks is achieved by a charging station for providing electrical energy for charging at least one energy storage device of an energy storage system of a motor vehicle, the charging station comprising:

A cooling system and/or a heat storage and/or at least one fluid circuit; and a thermal clutch, comprising a heat exchanger for transferring heat between a vehicle-side heat exchanger of a vehicle-side thermal clutch and the cooling system and/or the heat storage and/or a fluid of the at least one fluid circuit of the charging station by thermal conduction, wherein the heat exchanger has a thermal contact wall, which is designed to contact a heat contact wall of the vehicle-side heat exchanger in a heat-conducting manner.

Preferably, the charging station further comprises an electrical coupling (eg a high-voltage coupling), comprising electrical contacts for the supply (or removal) of electrical energy for charging (or discharging) the at least one energy storage of an energy storage system of a motor vehicle. The charging infrastructure therefore preferably provides not only the charging current but also active cooling capacity. The cooling system can include the heat storage and/or the at least one fluid circuit. The charging station can include the heat storage, or a heat storage can be arranged external to the charging station. The cooling system or the at least one fluid circuit can be connected to a heat storage device arranged externally to the charging station. The heat exchanger of the charging station can be set up to transfer heat between a vehicle-side heat exchanger of a vehicle-side thermal clutch and the cooling system of the charging station. The heat can be transferred through heat conduction.

The heat storage can make it possible to temporarily store the transferred heat energy, e.g. for other consumers. The heat storage can, for example, be integrated into building technology, e.g. for heating or hot water provision. The building technology can be, for example, the building technology of a rest stop. This also enables integration into existing building technology (heating, hot water provision), e.g. in rest stops.

The charging station can be set up in particular to export thermal energy, e.g. in mobile heat storage or in a district heating network. The heat storage can be a mobile heat storage.

In embodiments, the charging station has a coupling on which the thermal coupling of the charging station and the electrical coupling of the charging station are arranged adjacent to one another. The coupling and/or the thermal coupling of the charging station can in particular be a movable coupling. For example, it can be set up to be coupled manually or by motor to a vehicle-side clutch by a user. The charging station can include a robot arm or a (motor-driven) extendable stamp (e.g. a lifting platform) on which the coupling is arranged.

In embodiments, the charging station (or the cooling system of the charging station) comprises a cooling system and/or at least one fluid circuit, and the thermal coupling of the charging station is connected to a stationary part of the charging station via a hose system of the cooling system and/or the at least one fluid circuit. The hose system can include at least one hose. Preferably, the hose system comprises fluid lines for transporting a fluid of the at least one fluid circuit of the charging station between the coupling and a stationary part of the charging station. The fluid lines can each comprise a hose.

Preferably, the charging station comprises at least one cable for providing electrical energy for charging at least one energy storage device of an energy storage system of a motor vehicle, for example a high-voltage cable. The cable includes electrical cables, e.g. high-voltage (HV) cables. The cable or the electrical lines can be arranged along the hose system. For example, the cooling lines (the hose system) and the cable can be combined in one strand so that, for example, the HV lines are also cooled. The cable or the electrical lines can connect the electrical coupling of the charging station to a stationary part of the charging station.

In embodiments, the charging station (or the cooling system of the charging station) has a cooling system, in particular in the form of an air cooler, for cooling a fluid of the cooling system and/or the heat storage and/or the at least one fluid circuit. The air cooler may comprise a convection air cooler for cooling a fluid of the cooling system and/or the at least one fluid circuit by convection of ambient air.

In the same way as the vehicle-side thermal coupling, the thermal coupling of the charging station is set up to transmit heat without exchanging a fluid between the vehicle-side heat exchanger and the cooling system and/or the heat storage and/or a fluid of the at least one fluid circuit of the charging station, in particular without exchanging a fluid of the at least one fluid circuit of the charging station, and in particular with fluidic decoupling. The thermal couplings described herein can also each be referred to as heat conduction couplings. Thermal coupling can also be called diathermic coupling.

The charging station can include the heat storage and the at least one fluid circuit. The at least one fluid circuit can include a pump and an expansion tank. The at least one fluid circuit can be set up to transfer or transport heat between the heat exchanger of the charging station and the (internal or external) heat storage. The cooling system can include the at least one fluid circuit. The heat can be transported in particular through a fluid of the fluid circuit. The heat storage can contain, for example, water or a salt solution as a medium for storing heat (heat storage medium). A medium (eg a fluid) for storing heat can be set up to store heat through its heat capacity and/or by means of at least one phase transition (as latent heat). The charging station can be stationary and referred to as stationary charging infrastructure. The charging station can include a fluid line for the charging station-external use of stored heat from the heat storage device.

The air cooler or the convection air cooler preferably comprises a plurality of cooling surfaces or cooling elements, e.g. cooling fins or cooling fins, which are designed to absorb heat from a fluid of the cooling system and/or the at least one fluid circuit of the charging station. The cooling elements can be set up to be flowed through by a fluid from the cooling system and/or from the at least one fluid circuit of the charging station. The at least one fluid circuit of the charging station can include a pump and an expansion tank. The cooling surfaces, cooling fins or cooling fins can, for example, be arranged obliquely to the vertical, for example at an angle of 45°. This improves heat dissipation through natural (i.e. fanless) convection. The cooling effect can be supported by at least one fan.

The convection can take place, for example, along a cooling surface of a wall of the at least one fluid circuit. In particular, the at least one fluid circuit can have cooling elements, for example cooling fins or cooling fins (for example the cooling elements mentioned above). The cooling elements are arranged to cool a fluid of the fluid circuit by convection of ambient air.

The heat exchangers described herein of the energy storage system for a motor vehicle and the charging station as well as the respective fluid circuits can, for example, be further configured to transfer heat in the opposite direction (thus in both directions). In the heat exchanger of the energy storage system, heat can be transferred from the external heat exchanger of a charging station to the fluid of the at least a fluid circuit through heat conduction. Or, in the heat exchanger of the charging station, heat can be transferred from the cooling system and/or the heat storage and/or a fluid of the at least one fluid circuit of the charging station to a vehicle-side heat exchanger of a vehicle-side thermal clutch by heat conduction. This can, for example, enable vehicles that are still “cold” and their energy storage units to be heated up or preheated for faster charging. It can also be possible, for example, for a metered return of heat energy for an auxiliary heater, for example from parked trucks, overnight.

According to one aspect of the invention, one of the stated tasks is achieved by a system with a motor vehicle of the type described herein and with a vehicle-external charging station for providing electrical energy for charging the at least one energy storage of the energy storage system of the motor vehicle, in particular a charging station as described herein, wherein the vehicle-external charging station includes:

A cooling system and/or a heat storage and/or at least one fluid circuit; and a thermal coupling, comprising a vehicle-external heat exchanger for transferring heat between the heat exchanger of the cooling system of the motor vehicle and the cooling system (the charging station) and/or the heat storage and/or a fluid of the fluid circuit of the charging station by thermal conduction, wherein the vehicle-external heat exchanger has a thermal contact wall which is designed to contact the thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger of the cooling system of the motor vehicle in a heat-conducting manner.

Preferably, the thermal contact wall of the vehicle-external heat exchanger is complementary to the thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger of the cooling system of the motor vehicle.

The heat exchanger external to the vehicle and the heat exchanger of the cooling system of the motor vehicle are preferably set up to jointly form a (two-part) heat exchanger if the thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger external to the vehicle conducts (surface) heat to the thermal contact wall of the heat exchanger of the cooling system of the motor vehicle. tend to be contacted. In the contact position of the vehicle-external heat exchanger, they therefore form a heat exchanger, for example a fluid-fluid heat exchanger or in particular a water-water heat exchanger. The heat exchanger formed couples the at least one fluid circuit of the cooling system of the motor vehicle with a cooling system and/or at least one fluid circuit of the charging station. A heat transfer wall of the heat exchanger formed is formed by the heat contact walls that are in contact with one another. Due to the fluidic decoupling, coolant additives, for example, can be different on the vehicle side and the station side.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention is described in detail below using figures. Shown in the figures:

1 is a schematic representation of an energy storage system according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

2 shows schematic representations of examples of heat exchangers according to embodiments of the invention;

3 shows schematic representations of examples of heat exchangers according to embodiments of the invention;

4 shows a schematic representation of another energy storage system according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

5 shows a schematic representation of a system with a motor vehicle and a charging station according to embodiments of the invention;

6 shows a schematic representation of a clutch according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of a charging station according to embodiments of the invention.

Detailed description

In the following, unless otherwise noted, the same reference numbers are used for identical elements with the same effect. Fig. 1 shows schematically an energy storage system 10 for a motor vehicle. The energy storage system 10 includes an energy storage 12 with a plurality of accumulators 14 and an electrical coupling 16 in the form of a charging socket for charging (or discharging) the energy storage 12 at a charging station.

The energy storage system 10 includes a cooling system 100 for dissipating heat from the energy storage 12. The cooling system 100 includes a cooling circuit in the form of a fluid circuit 110 that is filled with a fluid. The fluid circuit 110 includes a fluid line 112, which runs through the energy storage 12 and/or along the accumulators 14, a pump 114 and a fluid-air cooler 120 as well as respective connecting lines. Furthermore, the fluid circuit 110 may include an expansion tank 116 for the fluid.

The fluid circuit 110 further comprises a heat exchanger 130, which is arranged parallel to the fluid-air cooler 120. The fluid-air cooler 120 or the heat exchanger 130 can be selectively connected to the main part of the fluid circuit 110 via two 3/2-way valves 131.

The heat exchanger 130 has an inner fluid line 132 which is connected to the valves 131. The heat exchanger 130 has a plate-shaped thermal contact wall 134 exposed on a surface of the heat exchanger 130 for dissipating heat from the fluid circuit 110 to a complementary external thermal contact wall.

2 and 3 show schematically different embodiments of the heat exchanger 130 and a corresponding or complementary external heat exchanger 140. The thermal contact wall 134 of the heat exchanger 130 and a complementary thermal contact wall 144 of the external heat exchanger 140 are each shown schematically.

Fig. 2A shows cylindrical thermal contact walls 134, 144 in the form of peripheral walls. Fig. 2B shows conical thermal contact walls 134, 144. In Fig. 2C, the thermal contact wall 134 additionally includes a bottom of the insertion opening, so it is bowl-shaped. In Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B and Fig. 2C, the external heat exchanger 140 can be inserted in a coupling direction (insertion direction) A into an insertion opening 136 of the heat exchanger 130. The cross section of the relevant insertion opening 136 can, for example, be circular or can be freely shaped. 2D shows corrugated thermal contact walls 134, 144. In the examples of FIGS. 2E and 2F, the external heat exchanger 140 can be pushed onto a dome 138 of the heat exchanger 130 in a coupling direction (sliding direction) A. Fig. 2E shows cylindrical thermal contact walls 134, 144 in the form of peripheral walls. Fig. 2F shows conical thermal contact walls 134, 144. The cross section of the dome can be designed according to the examples of insertion opening 136 mentioned.

Fig. 3A shows plate-shaped thermal contact walls 134, 144, which can be coupled in a coupling direction A transverse to the plate plane. The external heat exchanger 140 can include anchoring means 150 in the form of hooks or the like in order to hold the heat exchangers 130, 140 together in the coupling position and, for example, to exert a contact pressure under the influence of gravity. The external heat exchanger 140 can be attached to the heat exchanger 130, for example. Fig. 3B shows plate-shaped thermal contact walls 134, 144, wherein the heat exchanger 130 has two opposing thermal contact walls 134, 134 '. The external heat exchanger 140 can be inserted into a gap in a coupling direction A. The space can have a uniform width or taper in the insertion direction A. The external heat exchanger 140 has correspondingly arranged thermal contact walls 144, 144 '.

4 shows schematically a further embodiment of an energy storage system 10 for a motor vehicle. Differences from the embodiment of FIG. 1 are described below. The cooling system 100 here comprises a chain of three fluid circuits 110, 210 and 310. The first fluid circuit 110 comprises, in the manner described, a pump 114 and the fluid-air cooler 120 as well as the heat exchanger 130, which can be selectively connected via a valve 131. Furthermore, the first fluid circuit 110 includes an expansion tank 116 for the fluid. The first fluid circuit 110 is indirectly connected to the energy storage 12 via the second and third fluid circuits 210, 310.

The second fluid circuit 210 (a refrigeration circuit or refrigerant circuit) is coupled to the first fluid circuit 110 via a heat exchanger 212 in the form of a condenser filled with a fluid in the form of a refrigerant and includes a compressor 214 and an expansion valve 216.

The third fluid circuit 310 (a refrigeration circuit or refrigerant circuit) is coupled to the second fluid circuit 210 via a heat exchanger 314 in the form of an evaporator, is filled with a fluid in the form of a water-glycol mixture, and includes the fluid line 112 (a cooling line), which runs through the energy storage 12 and/or along the accumulators 14, and a pump 114. Furthermore, the third fluid circuit 310 may comprise an expansion tank 116 for the fluid.

5 shows schematically a system with a vehicle 160, which is equipped with the energy storage system 100 according to one of the examples described, and with a charging station 400, which is equipped with the vehicle-external heat exchanger 140.

On the vehicle 160, a clutch 162 is arranged on one side of the vehicle 160. In a clutch region shown schematically in FIG. 6, the clutch includes the electrical clutch 16 and a thermal clutch 166 in an adjacent arrangement. The thermal coupling 166 includes the thermal contact wall 134 of the vehicle-side heat exchanger 130, which can correspond, for example, to one of the examples in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The charging station 400 is shown schematically in FIG. 7 and includes a movable clutch 462 (FIG. 5) which includes an electrical clutch 416 and a thermal clutch 466 in an adjacent arrangement. The arrangement is complementary to the corresponding arrangement of the clutch 162. The electrical clutch 416 is set up for charging (or discharging) the energy storage 12 coupled via the electrical clutch 16. The thermal coupling 466 includes the thermal contact wall 144 of the vehicle-external heat exchanger 140. The charging station 400 includes a cooling system with a fluid circuit 470, which includes an internal fluid line 472 of the heat exchanger 140. The cooling system further comprises a heat accumulator 480. The fluid circuit 470 comprises a pump 474, an expansion tank 475 and a flow through the heat accumulator 480. fenden fluid line 476. Heat can be transported between the heat exchanger 140 and the heat storage 480 through the fluid circuit 470. The fluid circuit 470 further includes a cooling system 496 for cooling the fluid of the fluid circuit 470, for example a convection air cooler for cooling the fluid of the fluid circuit 470 by convection of ambient air. The convection air cooler has cooling surfaces that are inclined at an angle of 45° to the vertical, along which ambient air flows through natural convection during cooling. Flexible fluid lines of the fluid circuit 470 to the heat exchanger 140 of the thermal coupling 466 are combined with electrical lines to the electrical coupling 416 in a flexible hose-line system 450. The hose-line system 450 connects the coupling 462 to the stationary part of the charging station 400. In embodiments, a further fluid line 498 can be provided for the charging station-external use of stored heat from the heat accumulator 480. The heat storage 480 can also be arranged externally to the charging station 400. Instead of the fluid circuit 470, several fluid circuits can also be provided, which, for example, connect the heat storage 480 with the cooling system 496 or the heat exchanger 140.

The heat exchangers 130, 140 described herein and the respective fluid circuits 110, 210, 310, 470 can, for example, be further configured to transfer heat in the opposite direction (thus in both directions).

Reference symbols

10 energy storage system

12 energy storage

14 accumulators

16 electrical coupling (charging socket)

100 cooling system

110 fluid circuit

112 fluid line

114 pump

116 expansion tank

120 fluid-air coolers

130 heat exchangers (vehicle side)

131 3/2-way valves

132 fluid line

134 thermal contact wall (vehicle side)

136 insertion opening

138 Cathedral

140 heat exchangers (external to the vehicle, e.g. from the charging station)

144 thermal contact wall (external to the vehicle, e.g. from the charging station)

150 anchoring devices

160 vehicle

162 clutch (vehicle side)

166 thermal clutch (vehicle side)

210 Fluid circuit (refrigerant circuit)

212 heat exchanger / condenser

214 compressor

216 expansion valve

310 Fluid circuit (refrigerant circuit)

314 heat exchanger / evaporator

400 charging station

416 electric clutch (external to the vehicle, e.g. from the charging station)

450 hose-pipe system (external to the vehicle, e.g. from the charging station) 462 Coupling (external to the vehicle, e.g. from charging station)

466 thermal clutch (external to the vehicle, e.g. from the charging station)

470 Fluid circuit (external to the vehicle, e.g. from the charging station)

472 Fluid line (external to the vehicle, e.g. from the charging station) 474 Pump (external to the vehicle, e.g. from the charging station)

475 expansion tank

476 Fluid line (external to the vehicle, e.g. from the charging station)

480 heat storage

496 Cooling system 498 Fluid line

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Energy storage system for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one energy storage (12) and a cooling system (100) for cooling the at least one energy storage (12), the cooling system comprising: at least one fluid circuit (110) which is set up to remove waste heat from the at least to dissipate an energy storage device (12); and a heat exchanger (130) for transferring heat between a fluid of the at least one fluid circuit (110) and an external heat exchanger (140) of a charging station (400) by heat conduction, the heat exchanger (130) of the cooling system having a thermal contact wall (134), which is designed to make thermally conductive contact with a complementary heat contact wall (144) of the external heat exchanger (140) of the charging station, and wherein the heat exchanger (130) is arranged separately from the at least one energy storage (12) and has a fluid line (132) which is set up is to be flowed through by a fluid of the at least one fluid circuit (110).

2. Energy storage system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling system (100) further comprises: at least one valve (131) with which an end of the fluid line (132) of the heat exchanger (130) of the cooling system assigned to the valve is selectively connected to the fluid circuit (110). Fluid communication can be connected.

3. Energy storage system according to claim 2, wherein the valve (131) is a 3/2-way valve, with which, depending on the position of the valve, the end of the fluid line (132) assigned to the valve (131) or one of the valve (131) associated connection of a fluid-air cooler (120) of the at least one fluid circuit (110) can be selectively connected to the fluid circuit (110) in fluid communication.

4. Energy storage system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermal contact wall (134) of the heat exchanger (130) of the cooling system (100) has one of the following shapes: a flat or corrugated or corrugated plate; a peripheral wall or inner wall of an insertion opening (136) for a complementary thermal contact wall (144) of an external heat exchanger (140), in particular a tubularly curved peripheral wall and/or a conically curved peripheral wall; a bowl-shaped wall; or a peripheral wall or outer wall of a dome (138) to be encompassed by a complementary thermal contact wall (144) of an external heat exchanger (140), in particular a peripheral wall or outer wall of a cylindrical dome (138) or a conical dome (138).

5. Energy storage system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling system (100) has a further wall (134'), the thermal contact wall (134) of the heat exchanger (130) of the cooling system and the further wall (134') being arranged opposite one another, wherein a gap between the two walls (134; 134') is set up for inserting the external heat exchanger (140) into the gap.

6. Energy storage system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one fluid circuit comprises: a first fluid circuit (110) which comprises a fluid-air cooler (120) which is configured to transfer waste heat from the first fluid circuit (110) to the ambient air to be dissipated, wherein the fluid line (132) of the heat exchanger (130) of the cooling system is set up to be flowed through by a fluid of the first fluid circuit (110).

7. The energy storage system of claim 6, wherein the at least one fluid circuit comprises: the first fluid circuit (110), the first fluid circuit (110) comprising a pump (114) and the fluid-air cooler (120) adapted to receive waste heat from the first fluid circuit (110) to the ambient air; a second fluid circuit (210) which is thermally coupled to the first fluid circuit (110) via a heat exchanger (212) or condenser, wherein the second fluid circuit (210) contains a fluid in the form of a refrigerant and a compressor (214) and/or a Has expansion valve (216); and a third fluid circuit (310) thermally coupled to the second fluid circuit (210) via a heat exchanger (314) or cooler or evaporator, the third fluid circuit (310) comprising at least one cooling line (112) which is in thermal contact with the at least one energy store (12), wherein the third fluid circuit (310) comprises a pump (114), wherein the fluid line (132) of the heat exchanger (130) of the cooling system is set up to have a fluid from the first fluid circuit (110) flow through it become.

8. Motor vehicle with an energy storage system (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the thermal contact wall (134) of the heat exchanger (130) is arranged on one side of the motor vehicle (160) so that it is accessible to the external heat exchanger (140).

10. Motor vehicle according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the energy storage system (10) comprises an electrical clutch (16) for the supply of electrical energy for charging the at least one energy storage device (12), the energy storage system (10) having a coupling area in which the Thermal contact wall (134) of the heat exchanger (130) is arranged adjacent to the electrical clutch (16) on one side of the motor vehicle (160).

11. Charging station for providing electrical energy for charging at least one energy storage device (12) of an energy storage system (10) of a motor vehicle (160), the charging station (400) comprising: a cooling system (470, 480) and/or a heat storage device (480) and/or at least one fluid circuit (470); a thermal clutch (466), comprising a heat exchanger (140) for transferring heat between a vehicle-side heat exchanger (130) of a vehicle-side thermal clutch (166) and the cooling system (470, 480) and/or the heat storage (480) and/or a fluid of the at least one fluid circuit (470) of the charging station (400) by heat conduction, the heat exchanger (140) having a heat contact wall (144) which is designed to contact a heat contact wall (134) of the vehicle-side heat exchanger (130) in a heat-conducting manner; and an electrical clutch (416), comprising electrical contacts for supplying electrical energy for charging the at least one energy storage (12) of an energy storage system (10) of a motor vehicle (160), the charging station (400) having a clutch (462), on which the thermal coupling (466) of the charging station and the electrical coupling (416) of the charging station are arranged adjacent to one another, and/or wherein the charging station (400) comprises a cooling system (470, 480) and/or at least one fluid circuit (470). and the thermal coupling (466) of the charging station (400) is connected to a stationary part of the charging station (400) via a hose system of the cooling system and/or the at least one fluid circuit (470) and is set up manually by a user with the vehicle-side thermal Coupling (166) to be coupled, and / or wherein the charging station (400) has a cooling system (496), in particular in the form of a convection air cooler, for cooling a fluid of the cooling system (470, 480) and / or the at least one fluid circuit (470) having.

12. System with a motor vehicle (160) according to one of claims 8 to 10 and with a vehicle-external charging station (400) for providing electrical energy for charging the at least one energy storage (12) of the energy storage system (10) of the motor vehicle (160), in particular a charging station (400) according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle-external charging station (400) comprises: a cooling system (470, 480) and / or a heat storage (480) and / or at least one fluid circuit (470); and a thermal clutch (466), comprising a vehicle-external heat exchanger (140) for transferring heat between the heat exchanger (130) of the cooling system (100) of the motor vehicle (160) and the cooling system (470, 480) and/or the heat storage (480) and/or a fluid of the fluid circuit (470) of the charging station (400) by thermal conduction, wherein the vehicle-external heat exchanger (140) has a thermal contact wall (144) which is designed to be the thermal contact wall (134) of the heat exchanger (130) of the cooling system (100 ) of the motor vehicle (160) to contact in a heat-conducting manner.