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 that is capable of releasing heat during its operation, in particular for an electrical energy storage module. The device has a first outer plate and a second outer plate, as well as a central member arranged between the two outer plates. The central member includes reliefs arranged in order to form, with the outer plates, at least two layers of circulation channels for a heat-transfer fluid. The layers are located on either side of the central member and have the same heat-transfer fluid circulation direction.

Claims

1. A thermal regulation device for an electrical component liable to give off heat during its operation, comprising a first external plate and a second external plate, and a central member disposed between the first and second external plates, the central member including reliefs arranged to form, with the first and second external plates, at least two layers of circulation channels for a heat-transfer fluid, the at least two layers being on either side of the central member, the at least two layers having the same heat-transfer fluid circulation direction.

2. The thermal regulation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member has at least one part arranged to contribute to the formation of a fluid inlet or outlet zone of the thermal regulation device.

3. The thermal regulation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member has a sheet with corrugations that form the reliefs.

4. The thermal regulation device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the corrugations extend from one edge of the sheet to the other.

5. The thermal regulation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member is formed by a plate.

6. The thermal regulation device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the reliefs are located on the plate and are formed by stamping.

7. The thermal regulation device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plate forming the central member has at least one hole for passage of heat-transfer fluid over the at least two layers, the at least one hole thus communicating with the at least two layers.

8. The thermal regulation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member has at least one fluid separating partition for creating heat-transfer fluid paths within the thermal regulation device.

9. The thermal regulation device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the central member has at least one fluid separating partition for creating heat-transfer fluid paths within the thermal regulation device, wherein the fluid inlet or outlet zones and the at least one fluid separating partition are created on the central member.

10. A system comprising battery cells to be cooled and at least one thermal regulation device for an electrical component liable to give off heat during its operation, including a first external plate and a second external plate, and a central member disposed between the first and second external plates, the central member including reliefs arranged to form, with the first and second external plates, at least two layers of circulation channels for a heat-transfer fluid, the at least two layers being on either side of the central member, the at least two layers having the same heat-transfer fluid circulation direction, for cooling these cells.

11. The thermal regulation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member has at least one part arranged to contribute to the formation of a fluid inlet and outlet zone of the thermal regulation device, the fluid inlet and outlet zone being dedicated to a fluid circuit that groups together a plurality of thermal regulation devices that are connected to each other so as to cool a battery pack.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0040] Further features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent upon reading the following description, which is given by way of illustrative and non-limiting 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 in FIG. 1 in a different view,

[0043] FIG. 3 schematically and partially illustrates the device in FIG. 1 in a different view so as to reveal the fluid paths,

[0044] FIG. 4 schematically and partially illustrates a device according to another example of the invention, and

[0045] FIG. 5 schematically and partially illustrates the device in FIG. 4 in a different view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 depict a system 1 having a set of battery cells 2 to be cooled, for example rowed in one row or two or more rows, and a thermal regulation device 10 arranged to cool the battery cells 2. The application is in this case for a motor vehicle.

[0047] The thermal regulation device 10 operates with a refrigerant fluid, in particular a fluid chosen from the following refrigerant fluids R134a, R1234yf or R744.

[0048] The thermal regulation device 10 has a first external plate 11 and a second external plate 12, and also a central member (denoted with reference number 13 in FIGS. 1-3 and with 33 in FIGS. 4-5) disposed between the first and second external plates 11 and 12, this central member 13 comprising reliefs 14 arranged to form, with the external plates 11 and 12, two layers 15 and 16 of circulation channels for a heat-transfer fluid, these layers 15 and 16 being on either side of the central member 13, these two layers 15 and 16 having the same heat-transfer fluid circulation direction.

[0049] The external plates 11 and 12 each have a face 19 arranged to be in thermal contact respectively with one of the battery cells 2 to be cooled.

[0050] Thus, the heat exchanges between the thermal regulation device 10 and the battery cells 2 to be cooled, in particular when this direct contact is over a relatively large surface area, can be optimal.

[0051] The reliefs 14 on the central member 13 that form the channels 18 have ribs 20.

[0052] The central member 13, in particular by means of the reliefs, is arranged to ensure sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the mechanical stresses associated with the use of the heat-transfer fluid, in particular of a refrigerant. The mechanical strength makes it possible in particular to ensure sealing at 15 bars of pressure of the refrigerant, and resistance to bursting at a pressure of 54 bars of the refrigerant.

[0053] The central member 13 has a sheet 22 with corrugations 23 that form the reliefs 14.

[0054] These corrugations 23 extend from one edge 25 of the sheet to the other 25.

[0055] These reliefs 14 of the sheet 22 are formed by forming or stamping.

[0056] This sheet 22 has a substantially rectangular shape.

[0057] This sheet 22 is made of aluminum.

[0058] When the central member 13 comprises the corrugated sheet 22, this central member 13 can be shorter than the external plates 11 and 12 in order to allow the creation of two distribution tanks 58 on either side of the central member 13 and facing the connection flanges 40 in order to allow the fluid to supply both layers 15, 16 at the same time, once it has entered the exchanger via said connection flange 40, as is visible in FIG. 3.

[0059] Patterns, for example hollows or protrusions 59, are created on the external plates 11 and 12 at these distribution tanks 58 in order to prevent the deformation of the latter under the pressure of the fluid.

[0060] In order to create two opposite circulation directions across the width of the thermal regulation device 10, a stamped shape 51 is created on one of the external plates 11, 12 facing the connection flanges 40, and also a specific shape on the central member 13 in order to create two groups of channels in which the fluid can circulate in an opposite direction.

[0061] As a variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the central member 33 has a plate 34.

[0062] The reliefs 14 on the plate 34 are formed by stamping.

[0063] The plate 34 is made of aluminum material.

[0064] The plate 34 forming the central member 33 has two holes 35 on two sides, for passage of heat-transfer fluid over the two layers 15, 16, these holes 35 thus communicating with the two layers 15, 16.

[0065] The central member 33 has a fluid separating partition 37 for creating heat-transfer fluid paths within the thermal regulation device 10.

[0066] Fluid inlet/outlet zones 38, also called header tanks, in the thermal regulation device 10 and partitions 37 making it possible to create the refrigerant circulation within this thermal regulation device 10 are preferentially created on the central member 33 in order to limit the number of components. The routing within each thermal regulation device 10 ensures uniformity of temperature between each battery cell 2 of one and the same module.

[0067] Each thermal regulation device 10 is arranged to cool two battery 2 modules placed against each of these faces 19.

[0068] The invention makes it possible to ensure good uniformity between the two faces of the thermal regulation device 10, in other words between the two external plates 11, 12.

[0069] These inlet or outlet zones 38 are placed in connection with a connection flange 40 placed on one of the external plates 11 and 12 by means of orifices 41 thus allowing the fluidic connection of the various components.

[0070] The thermal regulation device 10 is arranged to be disposed substantially vertically, between two components to be cooled.

[0071] The thermal regulation device 10 is arranged to be fastened to the component to be cooled by screwing or by adhesive bonding. Other fastening methods can of course be envisaged.

[0072] The brazing of the external plates 11 and 12 of the central member 33 relative to one another makes it possible to create two fluid circulation layers 15, 16 along the height/thickness of the device.

[0073] These two layers 15, 16 have the same circulation direction in order to meet the criteria of uniformity of temperature between the various components to be cooled.

[0074] In order to create two opposite circulation directions across the width of the thermal regulation device 10, a stamped shape 51 is created on the external plates 11, 12 facing the connection flanges 40, and also a specific shape 52 on the central member in order to create two groups of channels in which the fluid can circulate in an opposite direction. This shape 5 is disposed between the two holes 41.

[0075] In the example in FIGS. 4 and 5, the central member 33 comprises holes 35 in order to allow the fluid, once it has entered via the connection flange 40, to be able to circulate or recirculate over the two layers 15, 16. In order to create two opposite circulation directions across the width of the device, a stamped shape 37 is created on one of the external plates 11, 12 facing the connection flanges 40.

[0076] In the examples described, the external plates 11 and 12 have internal faces turned toward the central member 13 or 33, these faces being flat over the majority of their surface area.