TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR A COOLING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a temperature control device, in particular a cooling device, for an electrical component prone to releasing heat during operation, in particular for an electrical energy storage module, said device comprising an upper plate and a lower plate that is assembled with said upper plate to jointly form a plurality of ducts for the circulation of a heat transfer fluid, in particular a refrigerant fluid, in particular a fluid selected from the refrigerant fluids R134a, R1234yf and R744; in said device, the ducts are grouped into groups of ducts, the ducts of a group extending substantially parallel to one another at a predetermined ‘intra-group distance’ between neighboring ducts; two groups of ducts in which the fluid flows in the same direction being separated from each other by at least one group of ducts in which the fluid flows in the opposite direction, wherein the device comprises a connector (550).

Claims

1. A flange of a fluidic connection bridge, the flange configured to be assembled with a connector of a temperature control device, for an electrical component capable of releasing heat during its operation, the flange comprising: a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, both configured to be each connected to a respective external duct, or pipe, the flange being configured to distribute a flow of refrigerant fluid coming from the fluid inlet of the flange to at least two distribution orifices of the flange by splitting this flow of refrigerant fluid into at least two flows of fluid, distribution orifices configured to distribute refrigerant fluid respectively to two inlet orifices of the connector on the temperature control device.

2. The flange as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a fluid path communicating with the fluid inlet of the flange, this fluid inlet being formed by an orifice in the flange, this fluid path being configured to distribute the refrigerant fluid coming from this fluid inlet to the two distribution orifices.

3. The flange as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: a fluid collection orifice configured to collect refrigerant fluid coming from the connector of the temperature control device, the collection orifice communicating with the fluid outlet of the flange via a channel in the flange, the channel being of cylindrical shape, this collection orifice being to be placed opposite the fluid outlet orifice of the connector of the temperature control device.

4. The flange as claimed in claim 3, wherein its fluid distribution and collection orifices on the flange are formed on the same face of the flange, the face coming opposite a face of the connector of the temperature control device, and the face being opposite to a face on which the fluid inlet and outlet of the flange are formed.

5. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fluid path in the flange comprises a main section perpendicular to the channel opening onto the collection orifice, the section and the channel being separated from each other.

6. The flange as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fluid path is formed by a slot made on a body of the flange and closed by a cover fixed in a sealed manner to the body, the cover being in particular of elongate shape.

7. The flange as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cover comprises a plate configured to be housed at least partially in the slot, this cover being for example welded to the body.

8. A connection bridge comprising: a flange as claimed in claim 1; and two pipes connected to the inlet and to the outlet of the flange, wherein another flange is provided at the other ends of the pipes.

9. An assembly comprising: the connection bridge as claimed in claim 8; and a temperature control device with a connector assembled with the flange of the connection bridge.

Description

[0040] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from reading the following description, which is given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings, in which:

[0041] [FIG. 1] schematically and partially illustrates a device according to one example of the invention,

[0042] [FIG. 2] schematically and partially illustrates the device of [FIG. 1] in a different view,

[0043] [FIG. 3] schematically and partially illustrates a device according to another example of the invention,

[0044] [FIG. 4] schematically and partially illustrates the device of [FIG. 3] in a different view,

[0045] [FIG. 5] schematically and partially illustrates a connector of a device according to one example of the invention,

[0046] [FIG. 6] schematically and partially illustrates the connector of [FIG. 5] in a different view,

[0047] [FIG. 7] schematically and partially illustrates a connector according to another example of the invention,

[0048] [FIG. 8] schematically and partially illustrates the connector of [FIG. 7] in a different view,

[0049] [FIG. 9] schematically and partially illustrates a connection bridge according to one example of the invention,

[0050] [FIG. 10] schematically and partially illustrates an exchanger and the connection bridge according to [FIG. 9].

[0051] [FIG. 1] and [FIG. 2] depict a system 1 comprising a set of battery cells 2 to be cooled, for example rowed in two or more rows, and a cooling device 10 designed to cool the cells 2, which are in thermal contact with an upper plate of the cooling device 10, as explained below.

[0052] The temperature control device 10 comprises an upper plate 11, a lower plate 12 assembled with the upper plate 11 so as together to form a plurality of circulation channels 13 for a heat-transfer fluid, in particular a refrigerant fluid, in particular a fluid chosen from the following refrigerant fluids: R134a, R1234yf or R744. The channels 13 are grouped into groups 14 of channels, the channels of a group extending substantially parallel to one another with a predetermined spacing between neighboring channels, called the intra-group spacing 15, the intra-group spacing being strictly less than the spacing between two groups of neighboring channels, called the intergroup spacing 16. The channels 13 each have a cross section of between 1 mm.sup.2 and 9 mm.sup.2. The channels 13 all have the same cross section and are rectilinear. The channels 13 extend substantially over the entire length of the plates. The groups 14 of channels are arranged side by side and have the same length. The intra-group spacing 15 between the different channels 13 of the same group of channels is constant, in the example considered. The intergroup spacing 16 between the different groups of channels is constant, in the example considered. The cooling device comprises a diverting chamber 20 designed to conduct the fluid leaving one of the groups 14 of channels toward one of the other groups of channels. All the channels 13 of the group open onto this diverting chamber. The diverting chamber 20 is formed by the upper 11 and lower 12 plates, for example made of aluminum. The lower plate 12 comprises a stamped zone 21 designed to participate in the formation of the diverting chamber 20. The stamped zone 21 is closed with the other of the plates 11, which is flat, to form the diverting chamber 20. The diverting chamber 20 extends over one side 23 of the plates. The device has four groups 14 of channels. The number of groups of channels dedicated to circulation of refrigerant fluid in one direction is equal to the number of groups of channels dedicated to the circulation of fluid in the opposite direction. Two groups 14 of channels with the same direction of fluid circulation open onto the diverting chamber. These two groups of channels are neighbors on one half of the plates. The diverting chamber 20 is fluidically connected to two other groups 14 of channels which are designed to receive the refrigerant fluid leaving the diverting chamber. These two groups of channels are neighbors on the other half of the plates. Thus, four groups of channels are connected to the common diverting chamber 20. The two groups 14 of inlet channels arriving at the diverting chamber 20 are arranged on one branch 25 of the diverting chamber, and the two groups of outlet channels leaving the diverting chamber are arranged on another branch 26 of the diverting chamber. The direction of circulation of the fluids is indicated by arrows. These branches 25 and 26 of the diverting chamber 20 are substantially rectilinear, and perpendicular to the channels. An elbow 28 is designed to connect the two branches 25 and 26 of the diverting chamber. The cooling device comprises an inlet zone 30 for refrigerant fluid entering the channels, this inlet zone being formed between the two plates 11 and 12. This fluid inlet zone 30 is designed to supply all the fluid circulation channels 13 which open onto the diverting chamber 20, namely the channels in which the fluid flows toward the diverting chamber. This inlet zone 30 is common to the groups 14 of channels. The cooling device comprises an outlet zone 31 for refrigerant fluid leaving the channels, this outlet zone being formed between the two plates 11 and 12. This fluid outlet zone 31 is designed to conduct the fluid leaving all the fluid circulation channels 13 which originate from the diverting chamber. This outlet zone 31 is common to the two groups of channels. The inlet 30 and outlet 31 zones are adjacent to an inlet 32 and outlet 33 orifice respectively. The inlet 32 and outlet 33 orifices are connected to a pipe connector block 6. The lower plate 2 comprises zones of rounded cross section, in particular stamped zones, to form the channels 13 with the upper plate. The inlet 30 and outlet 31 zones include stamped zones of the lower plate 12. Preferably, the heat-transfer fluid can be chosen from the refrigerant fluids with the designation R134a, R1234yf or R744. The heat-transfer fluid used is alternatively glycol water, without limitation on the glycol content (0% to 100%). The battery cells comprise, for example, a plurality of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries for use in a hybrid vehicle. In another embodiment, the plurality of battery cells are Li-ion batteries for use in a battery-powered electric vehicle. The diverting chamber 20 and/or the inlet zone 30 and/or the outlet zone 31 include(s), where appropriate, reinforcing elements to reinforce the mechanical strength in these zones, which are potentially of larger cross section.

[0053] [FIG. 3] and [FIG. 4] depict another embodiment of the invention, namely a temperature control device 50, in this instance a cooling device, for an electrical energy storage module, this device comprising an upper plate 511 and a lower plate 512 assembled with the upper plate 511 so as together to form a plurality of circulation channels 513 for a heat-transfer fluid, in which device the channels are grouped into groups 14 of channels, the channels of a group extending substantially parallel to one another with a predetermined spacing between neighboring channels, two groups 14 of channels that have the same direction of circulation of fluid being separated from one another by two neighboring groups 614 of channels having an opposite direction of circulation of fluid.

[0054] Diverting chambers 620 are provided, at one of the ends of the channels 13, to connect one of the groups of channels 14 to the neighboring group of channels 614 via a 180° diverting bend.

[0055] The device 50 comprising a connector 550 assembled on the upper plate 511, as illustrated in [FIG. 4] and in [FIG. 5] as well as in [FIG. 6].

[0056] This connector 550 is designed to create a fluid path 551 for connecting two outlet collecting zones 557 of two groups of channels 14 having the same direction of circulation illustrated by arrows, these collecting zones 557 being formed between the two lower 512 and upper 511 plates, this connector 550 comprising an external fluid inlet orifice 558 and an external fluid outlet orifice 559, the external outlet orifice 559 being in fluidic communication with the fluid path 551 of the connector and the other of the external orifices 558 being in fluidic communication with a fluid collecting zone 571 of the intermediate group 614 of channels which is situated between the two groups of channels 14 which are connected to one another by the fluid path 551 in the connector 50.

[0057] The connector 50 has two internal orifices 572 onto which the fluid path 551 of the connector opens, which path also communicates with the external orifice 559, these internal orifices 572 being placed opposite two holes 574 respectively in the plate 511, which holes open onto the associated collecting zones 557, and the connector 550 has a third internal orifice 578 which communicates with the other of the external orifices 558 via a cylindrical straight channel 579 in the connector, this third internal orifice 558 being placed opposite a hole 580 in the plate 511 which opens onto the collecting zone 571 of the intermediate group of channels. In one example of the invention, the connector 550 thus comprises five orifices in all, namely 558, 559, two of 572, and 578.

[0058] The internal orifices 572 and 578 are on the same face 583 of the connector, which face comes into contact with the plate, and the external orifices 558 and 559 are on an opposite face 584 of the connector, so as to allow external ducts 586 and 587, one, 586, supplying fluid and the other, 587, removing fluid, to be connected to these external orifices. These ducts are fixed to a common flange 588 and connected to a fluid circuit.

[0059] The fluid path 551 comprises a main section 590 perpendicular to the channel 579 opening onto the third internal orifice 578, this straight section 590 and this channel 579 being separated from one another.

[0060] The fluid path 551 is formed by a slot 590 cut into a body 591 of the connector and closed by a cover 592 fixed in a sealed manner to the body, this cover 592 being of elongate shape corresponding substantially to the mouth of the slot 590.

[0061] The cover 592 comprises a plate 593 designed to be housed at least partially in the slot 590, this cover 592 being, for example, welded to the body 591.

[0062] The cover 592 comprises a tab 595, of rectangular shape, to be housed in a cutout 596 of a shape complementing the tab.

[0063] As a variant, as illustrated in [FIG. 7] and in [FIG. 8], the cover 592 comprises two lateral fixing lugs 599 designed to come to bear against two lateral faces 601 of the body. The cover 592 is maintained on the body by crimping the lateral lugs 599 at the zones 602.

[0064] The body 591 of the connector is made in particular of aluminum, in particular by extrusion and machining, and the cover 592 is made of aluminum.

[0065] The upper plate 511 has three holes 574 and 580, two of the holes being associated with groups of channels with the same direction of circulation and an intermediate hole, between these two holes, which is associated with a group of fluid channels with the opposite direction, these three holes being in particular aligned. These holes are, for example, on a narrowed region 606 of the plate 511.

[0066] There is shown in [FIG. 9] and [FIG. 10] a flange 800 of a fluidic connection bridge 801, the flange 800 configured to be assembled with a connector 802 of a cooling temperature control device 10 for an electrical energy storage module, the flange 800 comprising a fluid inlet 803 and a fluid outlet 804, both configured to be each connected to a respective external duct 805 and 806, or pipe, this flange 800 being designed to distribute a flow of refrigerant fluid coming from the fluid inlet 803 of the flange to at least two distribution orifices 808 and 809 of the flange by splitting this flow of refrigerant fluid into at least two fluid flows, the distribution orifices 808 and 809 configured to distribute refrigerant fluid respectively to two inlet orifices 810 and 811 of the connector 802 on the temperature control device 10.

[0067] The connection bridge is already specific in the system. On the temperature control device or exchanger, there is a female flange, called the higher connector, with three ways, in particular brazed to the exchanger. The calibration of the passage cross sections in order to balance the system can be done on this new flange at the orifices and not modify the orifices of the female flanges of the exchangers. This invention makes it possible in particular to modify the orifices of the flange of the connection bridge without changing that of the female flange associated with the exchanger, which avoids distinguishing the references and avoids the customer having to place them in the system at the appropriate place in the system.

[0068] The flange 800 comprises a fluid path 814 communicating with the fluid inlet 803 of the flange, this fluid inlet being formed by an orifice in the flange, this fluid path being configured to distribute the refrigerant fluid coming from this fluid inlet to the two distribution orifices 808 and 809.

[0069] This flange 800 of the connection bridge has a fluid collection orifice 815 configured to collect refrigerant fluid coming from the connector 802 of the temperature control device, this collection orifice 815 communicating with the fluid outlet 804 of the flange 800 via a channel 817 in the flange, the channel being of cylindrical shape, this collection orifice 815 being designed to be placed opposite the fluid outlet orifice 818 of the connector 802 of the temperature control device.

[0070] The fluid distribution 808 and 809 and collection 815 orifices on the flange 800 are formed on the same face 819 of the flange, the face coming opposite a face 820 of the connector of the temperature control device, and this face 819 being in particular opposite to a face 821 on which the fluid inlet 803 and outlet 804 of the flange are formed.

[0071] The fluid distribution 808 and 809 and collection 815 orifices on the flange 800 each comprise a nozzle 825 in particular of substantially conical shape, the nozzle configured to in each case cooperate with one of the two inlet orifices 810 and 811 and the output orifice 818 on the connector of the temperature control device 10.

[0072] The fluid path 814 in the flange 800 comprises a main section 829 perpendicular to the channel 817 opening onto the collection orifice 815, this section and this channel being separated from one another.

[0073] The fluid path 814 is formed by a slot 831 produced on a body 832 of the flange and closed by a cover 833 fixed in a sealed manner to the body 832, this cover being of elongate shape. The body 832 is for example formed by extrusion and machining to form the orifices.

[0074] In particular, the cover 833 is brazed to the body 832, for example by induction, laser, friction, heating blade, etc. The cover 833 comprises a plate designed to be housed at least partially in the slot, this cover being, for example, welded to the body.

[0075] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the cover 833 comprises a tab 835, in particular of rectangular shape, to be housed in a cutout 836 of complementary shape to the tab.

[0076] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the body of the flange is made in particular of aluminum, in particular by extrusion and machining, and the cover is made in particular of aluminum.

[0077] The connection bridge 801 comprising the flange 800 and the two pipes 805 and 806 connected to the inlet and to the outlet of the flange, another flange 840 is provided at the other ends of the pipes 805 and 806.

[0078] The connector 802 has two internal orifices 572 onto which the fluid path 814 of the connector opens, which path further communicates with the inlet orifice 810 and 811, these internal orifices being placed opposite two holes 574 respectively in the plate 511, which holes open onto the associated collecting zones 557, and the connector 802 has a third internal orifice 578 which communicates with the outlet orifice 818 via a cylindrical straight channel in the connector, this third internal orifice being placed opposite a hole 580 in the plate 511 which opens onto the collecting zone 571 of the intermediate group of channels. In this example of the invention, the connector 802 thus comprises a total of six fluid orifices.

[0079] The flange 800 has, for its part, five fluid orifices as described above.