Patent ID: 12255300

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows in part illustration1A a side view of a fluid container1, namely of a battery temperature control plate1, having a first, upper layer2that is configured as a flat layer and a second lower layer3that has—not visible here—at least one recess that defines the extent of the fluid channel on its side facing the first layer2. A battery pack103comprising battery cells104is arranged on the upper layer2. The battery pack103and the temperature control plate1are located in heat conductive contact. The temperature control fluid is conducted from a feed line via an inlet spout101arranged at an end of the temperature control plate1into the fluid channel system of the temperature control plate1. After flowing through the fluid channels of the fluid channel system in the temperature control plate1, the temperature control fluid is drained from the temperature control plate1via an outlet spout102likewise arranged at the end of the temperature control plate1. The throughflow here takes place continuously in most operating states.

FIG.2shows a plan view of a plate-like fluid container of the prior art, more exactly a plan view of a second layer of the plate-like fluid container. The regions on which the inlet101and the outlet102are arranged here on the side of the plate-like fluid container1facing away from the observer is here indicated by dashed circles. Arrows5in the fluid channel system4indicates the respective local, that is sectional, throughflow direction in which a corresponding fluid flows from the inlet101to the outlet102during temperature control. In the example shown, the fluid first flows from the inlet101into a first region6during temperature control and from there into a second region7before the fluid leaves the fluid channel system4and the plate-like fluid container1through the outlet102at a changed temperature. The first region6can therefore be called a region disposed upstream, the second region7a region disposed downstream.

A plurality of channel sections8ato8eextending parallel to one another are present in the first region6. A plurality of second channel sections9ato9eextending parallel to one another are also correspondingly present in the second region7. Here, however, the first spacing d1between the first channel sections8ato8eand the second spacing d2between the channel sections9ato9eof the second region7are identical in the present case. A different temperature of the adjacent battery cells in the first region6and in the second region7will therefore be adopted, that is an inhomogeneous temperature control performance will be reached, with the described fluid container of the prior art during the temperature control.

A plan view of a plate-like fluid container in accordance with a first embodiment is now shown inFIG.3. The fluid container1is here only shown sectionally. The inlet101and the outlet102are thus not shown; corresponding arrows point, however, to the approximate region in which the inlet101and the outlet102are arranged. The inlet101and the outlet102are here attached in an exemplary manner in the present case in a manner similar to the embodiment shown inFIG.2on the plate of the fluid container1that faces away from the observer and that can be designed as a smooth plate.

A plurality of first channel sections8ato8e, five in total in the present case, that extend parallel to one another are here again arranged in the first region6disposed upstream. They are here each arranged spaced apart from one another at the first spacing d1. In the second region7, arranged downstream in comparison with the first region, the fluid channel system4likewise has a plurality of second channel sections9ato9d, four in the present case, that extend parallel to one another and that are each arranged at the second spacing d2from one another. The respective spacings d1, d2are here measured perpendicular to a throughflow direction of the respective channel sections in the present case. The first spacing d1is here larger than the second spacing d2. Provision can also be made that there are a plurality of different first spacings d1and a plurality of different spacings d2. In this case, the first spacings d1are larger than at least one second spacing d2, and may be larger than all the second spacings d2. In addition to the first region6arranged upstream and the second region7arranged downstream, the fluid channel system4here has a reversal region67that is arranged between these two regions and that connects the two regions6,7. In the present embodiment, exactly one such reversal region67is present having a plurality of fluid flow paths next to one another and changing their direction.

In the example shown, the fluid channel system4divides starting from the inlet101into two first channel sections8a,8bthat extend in parallel at the spacing d1in the positive y direction. In the present case, the two channel sections8aand8bthen divide again into further first channel sections8cand8dor into a first channel section8eand a further channel section17. These channel sections here likewise extend in parallel in the positive y direction, with the first channel sections8cto8fhaving the first spacing d1. The different first channel sections8dand8eand the further channel section17of the first region6combine into a mixing reversal channel section76bof the reversal region67, in so doing undergo a change of direction and merge, while branching, into the second channel sections9ato9cof the second region7. The first channel section8chere merges in the present case via a reversal section76ainto the second channel section9dwithout here combining with further channel sections. The reversal channel section76aof the reversal region67can thus be called a non-mixing reversal channel section76a. The second channel sections9ato9dhere extend in the example shown in the negative y direction and combine toward the outlet102so that the inlet101and the outlet102can here be found in approximate vicinity with one another.

The arrows5indicating the direction of flow extend in the reversal region67at an angle of approximately or substantially 90° to the corresponding arrows5in the first region6disposed upstream. The arrows5indicating the direction of flow in the second region7disposed downstream equally extend at an angle of approximately 90° to the corresponding arrows5in the reversal region67. The transition from the first region6disposed upstream via the reversal region67into the second region7disposed downstream therefore effects a change of the direction of flow of the temperature control fluid by 180°. More than one channel section here extends in the reversal region67in the present case. In the present example, the non-mixing reversal channel section76aand the mixing reversal channel section76bextend next to one another in the reversal region67, and indeed here also to the larger part, that is over more than 50% of their length, parallel to and directly adjacent to one another, i.e. without a further flow path extending therebetween. The change of direction of the direction of flow here takes place in a plurality of flow paths next to one another. In other words, the flow path including the non-mixing reversal channel section76asurrounds the flow path including the mixing reversal channel section76bat three sides in the example shown. It is thus arranged between the last-named flow path and a margin of the fluid container. The second channel sections9ato9dhere extend over around 80% of the length of the fluid container1measured in the y direction. The two first channel sections8aand8bextend over more than 10% of the length of the fluid container in they direction and the further channel sections8cto8eand17over more than 40% of the length of the fluid container1measured in the y direction. A change of direction of the fluid flow only results in the first region6disposed upstream in the example shown in the region of the branching of the first channel sections8a,8binto the further first channel sections8cto8eand17, with the largest change of direction here occurring between the first channel sections8band17. However, at 65° it is here less than 75°. No change of direction takes place here in the second channel sections9ato9d. The temperature control fluid thus only undergoes two changes of direction of more than 75°, namely the two 90° changes in the region of the reversal region67. Only a small pressure drop of the temperature control fluid occurs due to the change of direction restricted to a minimum.

In a temperature control operation, for example in a cooling operation, the comparatively cold fluid is now fed into the inlet101, but there develops a substantially smaller cooling effect due to the few first channel sections8aand8band the first channel sections8cto8eadjoining them that are here arranged at a comparatively large spacing d1from one another than would be the case if the throughflow direction were reversed and the fluid were fed unto the outlet102as the inlet and would immediately be distributed over the second sections9ato9darranged at the comparatively small spacing d2.

Due to the smaller area taken up by the channels in the region6and in particular in the region of the channels8aand8band to the smaller throughflow cross-section associated therewith, the fluid flows faster in these regions than in the region7. The fluid in the region6can hereby take up less thermal energy in comparison with an arrangement in the region6ofFIG.2so that there is only a moderate temperature increase. The temperature difference between the adjacent battery cells to be temperature controlled and the fluid container is thus higher on the transition from the region6into the region7, here that is in the reversal region67, than in a comparable assembly of the prior art. A more effective temperature control in the region7is hereby possible so that the thermal transfer in the first region6and in the second region7is homogenized overall, that is takes place more uniformly than in previously known fluid channel topographies.

A plan view of a plate-like fluid container in accordance with a second embodiment is shown inFIG.4A. The fluid container1is here again only shown sectionally. This embodiment is here largely designed as the embodiment shown inFIG.3. Two channel sections76in turn result in the reversal region67, namely a mixing and a non-mixing reversal channel section76a,76b.

Here, however, the weld seams10to16are additionally drawn to illustrate the connection technique for the two layers2,3. The weld seam16is here a peripheral weld seam directly at the margin of the fluid container for general sealing in the present case. The weld seam10in this example seals the first channel sections8cand8bwith respect to one another and the second channel sections9cand9c. The weld seam10is here regionally designed as an annular double weld seam, namely in the region in which it seals the first channel sections8cand8c. A double weld seam is here a weld seam that appears as two weld seams in cross-section, for example perpendicular to the channel walls of the channel section8c. In the region of the second channel sections9cand9d, in contrast, the weld seam10here seals as an individual seam extension appended to the annular region of the weld seam10. The weld seam11is likewise designed as an annular double weld seam, but without an individual seam extension in the present case. In the example shown, it seals the channel sections8a,8b,8d, and8efrom one another. The weld seam12is here an individual weld seam and in the present case seals the first channel section8ewith respect to the further channel section17that is arranged at a smaller spacing, for example the second spacing d2, remote from the first channel section8e. In a similar manner to the weld seam12, the weld seams14and15also seal channel sections from one another in this example that are arranged at a small spacing, namely the spacing d2, from one another.

FIG.4Brepresents a perspective sectional view of the section A-A ofFIG.4A. On the one hand, the simple weld seam12is shown there that welds the second layer3between the first channel section8eand the further channel section17to the first layer2and so seals the two channel sections from one another. The double weld seam11is likewise shown that in the form of its two weld seams11aand11bwelds the second layer3between the first channel section8dand the first channel section8eto the first layer2. The use of the double weld seam here prevents the second layer3from being deformed on an elevated pressure load in the region between the two first channel sections8dand8eand thus enables a particularly reliable and long-lasting pressure resistance despite the increase of the spacing of the first channel sections8dand8ein comparison with the spacing d2between the further channel section17and the first channel section8ethat has already been reliably and long-lastingly established by the simple weld seam12.

A further detail view is shown nFIG.4Cthat shows the design option shown in region B inFIG.4Aof an end of the simple weld seam12that can naturally be applied to every further simple weld seam. In this respect, the weld seam12is configured at its end in a circular shape12′, as a circle with an inwardly disposed curved weld seam end extending as a loose end toward the center of the circle in the present case.

A plan view of a plate-like fluid container in accordance with a further, third embodiment is shown inFIG.5. The inlet101and the outlet102are here now on the side facing the observer in the present case, that is in the second layer3. The fluid channel system4is here divided into a plurality of fluid channel part systems4′ and4″, two here, in the present case. Both part channel systems4′ and4″ here each fluidically couple the inlet101with the outlet102. Furthermore, both fluid channel part systems4′ and4″ have a first region6,6′, a reversal region67,67′, and a second region7,7′ disposed downstream in comparison with the first region6,6′. The respective fluid channel part system4′,4″ here has first channel sections8ato8dor8a′ to8d′ in the two first regions6,6′ that extend adjacent to and parallel to one another in a plurality of first spacings d1(different here). In the second ranges7,7′, the two fluid channel part systems4′,4″ each have second channel sections9ato9dor9a′ to9d′ that, corresponding to the described embodiments, extend adjacent to and parallel to one another at one or more second spacings d2. The different spacings d1in the example shown are in this respect always larger than the spacing d2or the spacings d2.

Exactly one reversal region67,67′ respectively having a plurality of fluid flow paths next to one another and changing their direction are here present per fluid channel part system4′,4″. The two reversal regions67,67′ here together comprise 17.5% of the area of the plate-like fluid container1, that is considerably less than ⅓ of the area. A temperature control of the accumulator device is hereby ensured that is as uniform as possible.

The second layer3in the present case has a passage opening18in the region between the two weld seams between the two channel sections8a′ and8b′ nearest one another and in the region between the two weld seams between the two channel sections8aand8bnearest to one another, and in the region between the two weld seams between the two channel sections8b/b′ and9d/d′ nearest to one another, and in the region between the two weld seams between the two channel sections8a/eand8b/cnearest to one another, and in the region between the two weld seams between the two channel sections8cand17or8c′ and17′ nearest one another.

FIG.6represents a further embodiment in which the first region6of the fluid channel system4disposed upstream takes up a smaller base area than the second region7disposed downstream, even though both have the same extent in the y direction. The inlet101and the outlet102are in turn only indicated by arrows since they are formed on the surface of the plate-like fluid container facing away from the observer.

The embodiment ofFIG.6furthermore differs from the aforesaid in that it has a plurality of channel sections76a,76a′,76a″ in the reversal section67that each connect exactly one first channel section8a,8a′,8a″ of the first region disposed upstream to exactly one second channel section9a,9a′,9a″ of the second region7disposed downstream and can thus be considered as non-mixing reversal channel sections76a,76a′,76a″. In the present case, they enclose exactly one channel section76bof the reversal region67at three sides in the x-y plane, in which reversal region67fluid from a plurality of first channel sections8b,8b′,8b″,8cto8d, of which not all are provided with their own reference numerals, undergoes a reversal of direction of a mean direction of flow and is conducted onward into a plurality of second channel sections9b,9b′,9b″,9cto9d, of which not all have been provided with their own reference numerals. Fluid of the different first channel sections8b,8b′,8b″,8cto8dis mixed here and branches to the different second channel sections9b,9b′,9b″,9cto9d; the channel section76bcan here thus be considered as a mixing reversal channel section.

In the present example, three non-mixing reversal channel sections76a,76a′,76a″ and the mixing reversal channel section76btherefore extend next to one another in the reversal region67, and indeed here also parallel to and directly adjacent to one another, i.e. without a further channel section or other flow path extending therebetween. The change of direction of the (mean) direction of flow here takes place next to one another in this plurality of flow paths, i.e. in sections respectively disposed nearest one another.

The arrows5indicating the local throughflow direction in this example extend in the reversal region67at an angle of approximately or substantially 90° to the corresponding arrows5in the first region6disposed upstream. The arrows5in the second region7disposed downstream indicating the local throughflow direction equally extend at an angle of approximately 90° to the corresponding arrows5in the reversal region67.

For reasons of clarity of the illustration, only a few of the weld seams were shown by way of example inFIG.6. For instance, the flow path that comprises the channel sections8a,76a, and9ais thus separate from the flow path that comprises the channel sections8a′,76a′ and9a′ by a double seam11bthat is closed toward the ring in the present case and that here has an approximately C-shaped extent overall. In this respect, the double seam11bin the example shown has a greater spacing upstream. here between the channel sections8aand8a′, between its individual seams than downstream, here between the channel sections76aand76a′ and9aand9a′. The flow path that comprises the channel sections8a′,76a′, and9a′ is separated via a further weld seam from the flow path that comprises the channel sections8a″,76a″, and9a″. This weld seam in the example shown consists of a double seam11a, whose ends merge, upstream, here between the channel sections8a′ and8a″ and continue without interruption downstream, here between the channel sections76a′ and76a″ and further between the channel sections9a′ and9″ as a simple seam12a.

The weld seam11c, that here separates the channel sections8dand9dand thus the first region6from the second region7, is designed as a double seam in the present case, whose free ends are guided to the outer margins of the plate-like fluid container1and end just before the outer margin, but outside a weld seam, that is not shown here, that connects the two layers of the fluid container and is peripherally closed around the outer margin.

It is further shown with reference to a plurality of short weld seams that shorter regions disposed between channel sections in which the two layers lie over one another can be connected to one another by means of simple seams such as the simple seams12b,12b′ or by means of double seams such as the double seam11d. In the latter, the ends of the weld seam disposed upstream merge in the example shown, while the ends disposed downstream end separately from one another.

In the previously described exemplary embodiments, the first channel sections8ato8eand the second channel sections9ato9ball extend antiparallel, that is parallel to an oppositely oriented throughflow direction. It is, however, also conceivable with a corresponding change of the relative arrangement of the inlet101and the outlet102that the first channel sections8ato8eand the second channel sections9ato9sextend in parallel in the same orientation so that the throughflow direction in the respective channel sections also extends in the same direction, for example in a positive or negative y direction. For this purpose, the second region7can be “flipped up”, that is arranged above the first region6in the positive y direction. A similar procedure could also be carried out for the further second region7′ and the further first region6′, with then, for example, the second region having to be arranged in the negative y direction below the first region. The respective outlet would naturally correspondingly likewise have to be repositioned so that in this described exemplary variant, the first and second regions6,7are arranged in the y direction between the inlet101and the outlet102.

A corresponding further embodiment is shown inFIG.7in which the two layers between all the first channel sections8a,8b,8c, that are each nearest neighbors, are welded to one another by two weld seams, i.e. double weld seams11, while the second channel sections9ato9fare connected by simple weld seams12. The double weld seam11ais here designed as an annularly closed seam, it therefore terminates an island. The double weld seam11bis in contrast only formed in U shape. The combination of two weld lines appearing as double weld seams in cross-section with a complete and incomplete circular termination is here only exemplary; only insular sections could equally be present between the channel sections or only open double weld seams. The throughflow direction in the first and second channel sections is furthermore in parallel (that is not antiparallel) and the inlet101and the outlet102are arranged at oppositely disposed wide sides of the plate-like fluid container. The lengths of the first and second channel sections are located along the length of the plate-like fluid container extending behind one another between the inlet101and the outlet102. The temperature control fluid here does not undergo one single change of direction of more than 75° so that only a very small pressure loss also occurs here.

FIG.8shows in three partFIGS.8A-Cexemplary details from plan views of channel sections of fluid containers in accordance with the invention that can be both channel sections8of a first region disposed upstream, channel sections76of a reversal region67, and channel sections9of a second region disposed downstream or parts of such channel sections and are generally marked by K or Ka, Kb, Kc. The base lines of a channel section are here each marked by F; the lines marked by D schematically bound the region in which the channel has a constant maximum height.

While the channel section Ka of the partFIG.8Aextends in a straight line and has a constant width b between the two base lines F of the channel arching, the channel section Kb of partFIG.8Bextends in wave shape, but likewise at a constant width b. In contrast, the channel section Kc of partFIG.8Cconstantly changes its width b, with the base lines F likewise describing wave lines that, however, have mirror symmetry with one another.

The long dashed line M in all three partFIGS.8A-Cdesignates the center line of the respective channel section. In partFIGS.8B and8C, the chain dotted lines extend at a spacing b/2 at both sides of the center line M; they therefore represent the averaged base lines FM of the channel sections, while the short dashed lines a indicate the maximum deflection of the channel bases and connect the corresponding points of maximum deflection. With channel extents as shown in the partFIGS.8B and8C, channels can be considered as extending in parallel in the sense of the present disclosure in which b≤B≤1.5b applies. B can be illustrated as a width of a rectangular area taken up by the channel section K on the fluid container, that is an effective width B, and b as the local actual width b of the respective channel section K. A weld connection along the base lines can here respectively follow the base lines, can be formed as straight, i.e. parallel to the center line M, or wave-shaped, i.e. with a regularly varying spacing from the center line M that can be constant or self-varying or have a mixed form of the variants shown.