Heat-radiating cartridge, and battery pack for electric vehicle using same
11177518 · 2021-11-16
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
H01M50/24
ELECTRICITY
H01M10/653
ELECTRICITY
Y02E60/10
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
H01M10/655
ELECTRICITY
H01M2220/20
ELECTRICITY
H01M10/6551
ELECTRICITY
International classification
H01M50/24
ELECTRICITY
H01M50/20
ELECTRICITY
H01M10/6551
ELECTRICITY
H01M10/655
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
Provided is a heat dissipation cartridge, and a battery pack for an electric vehicle using the heat dissipation cartridge. The heat dissipation cartridge comprises a frame structure including a receiving through-hole formed in a central region so as to receive a pair of batteries and a seating part formed on a side wall of the receiving through-hole for seating the pair of batteries, wherein the frame structure is formed of heat-dissipating plastic and in which an aluminum frame is insert injection-molded.
Claims
1. A heat dissipation cartridge consisting of: a frame structure formed of a pair of heat dissipation plastic frame portions disposed in parallel in a first direction and a pair of aluminum frame portions disposed in parallel in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein each of the aluminum frame portions consists of an aluminum material, end portions of one of the aluminum frame portions are fixed to one end portions of the heat dissipation plastic frame portions, and end portions of the other one of the aluminum frame portions are fixed to the other end portions of the heat dissipation plastic frame portions so as to form a rectangular shape of the frame structure: an accommodating through-hole provided in a central area of the frame structure and having a rectangular shape; and a seating portion protruding from inner walls of the heat dissipation plastic frame portions and the aluminum frame portions inwardly towards the accommodating through-hole so that a pair of batteries can be accommodated in the accommodating through-hole, and one of the batteries can be seated on one side of the seating portion and the other one thereof can be seated on the other side of the seating portion.
2. The heat dissipation cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the aluminum frame portions include an anodized surface layer made of alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3).
3. The heat dissipation cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation plastic frame portions comprise: an insulating plastic plate insert-molded therein, and each of the pair of batteries is a pouch battery having electrode terminals, the electrode terminals being placed on and in contact with the insulating plastic plate.
4. The heat dissipation cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation plastic frame portions comprises: a heat dissipation metal plate insert-molded therein.
5. The heat dissipation cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the heat dissipation metal plate is placed adjacent to the seating portion.
6. The heat dissipation cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation plastic frame portions comprise: a thermal interface material (TIM) insert-molded in the seating portion thereof.
7. The heat dissipation cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the seating portion of the heat dissipation plastic frame portions have a coupling recess, and a thermal interface material is fitted into the coupling recess.
8. The heat dissipation cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation plastic frame portions are made of a resin and an insulating heat sink filler distributed in the resin.
9. The heat dissipation cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a depth of the accommodating through-hole is substantially a same as or greater than a thickness of the pair of batteries.
10. The heat dissipation cartridge according to claim 4, wherein a surface of the heat dissipation metal plate is exposed externally to be in contact with a heat dissipation module.
11. A battery pack for an electric vehicle comprising: a plurality of heat dissipation cartridges as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of heat dissipation cartridges are stacked on top of another.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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MODE FOR INVENTION
(15) Hereinafter, reference will be made to embodiments of the present invention in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
(16) Referring to
(17) The seating portion 120 is comprised of projections protruding from the walls of the accommodating through-hole 110 to horizontally halve the walls of the accommodating through-hole 110. The seating portion 120 allows a pair of batteries to be inserted through the top and bottom portions of the frame structure 100, thereby being accommodated in the accommodating through-hole 110.
(18) The seating portion 120 may be provided along the walls of the accommodating through-hole 110. In some cases, the seating portion 120 may be provided as a plurality of separate portions distributed on a plurality of areas of the walls of the accommodating through-hole 110.
(19) The batteries may be thin pouch batteries that have high energy concentration, enable high-power driving, and are electrically charged and discharged. Such pouch batteries are respectively fabricated by putting two electrodes, a separator, and a dielectric into a pouch and then sealing the pouch.
(20) The heat dissipation plastic is implemented as a non-insulation moldable resin in which an electrically-conductive heat sink filler made of graphene, carbon, or the like is distributed or an insulation moldable resin in which an insulating heat sink filler made of BN, AlN, MgO, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, or the like is distributed. The heat dissipation plastic may generally be defined as an injection moldable insulating heat dissipation plastic including the insulating heat sink filler. Such a heat dissipation plastic dissipates heat transferred thereto via the insulating heat sink filler and has insulation due to the insulating heat sink filler and the resin.
(21) Thus, the heat dissipation cartridge 300 including the heat sink filler can dissipate heat generated during charging and discharging of the batteries. Here, heat transferred to the heat dissipation cartridge 300 is removed by a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be any heat exchanger that can lower the temperature of the heat dissipation cartridge 300. Examples of the heat exchanger may be, but are not limited to, an air-cooling heat exchanger, such as a cooling fan, and a water-cooling heat exchanger using cooling water.
(22) Accordingly, the present invention has an advantage in that heat generated by the batteries can be efficiently dissipated using the heat dissipation cartridge 300 to which the batteries are fitted.
(23) Referring to
(24) Here, electrode terminals of the first and second batteries 201 are in close contact with the frame structure 100, instead of remaining within the accommodating through-hole 110. As illustrated in
(25) When the first and second batteries 201 are pouch batteries, more heat is generated by peripheral areas than by inner areas of the pouch batteries.
(26) Thus, the present invention has a structural characteristic in that the seating portion 120 of the frame structure 100 is located between the peripheral area of the first battery 201 and the peripheral area of the second battery in order to dissipate heat, generated during charging and discharging of the first and second batteries 201, through the peripheral areas of the first and second batteries 201.
(27)
(28) That is, the heat dissipation cartridge 300 accommodates first and second batteries 201 and 202 in the accommodating through-hole 110 of the frame structure 100.
(29) Thus, the accommodating through-hole 110 of the heat dissipation cartridge 300 may be divided into two areas by the seating portion 120 located between the peripheries of the first and second batteries 201 and 202, such that the first and second batteries 201 and 202 may be accommodated in the divided two areas, thereby leading to proper assembly alignment.
(30) The heat dissipation cartridge 300 is designed such that two batteries, i.e. the first and second batteries 201 and 202, are accommodated in the accommodating through-hole 110. Here, the depth D of the accommodating through-hole 110 of the heat dissipation cartridge 300 may be substantially the same as or slightly greater than a total thickness t1+t2 of the two batteries 201 and 202.
(31) Thus, no batteries 201 protrude from surfaces of the heat dissipation cartridge 300 on which other heat dissipation cartridges are to be stacked.
(32) As illustrated in
(33) Accordingly, the present invention can provide the battery pack 510 for an electric vehicle, assembled by stacking the plurality of heat dissipation cartridges 300, with a pair of batteries 201 being fitted to each of the heat dissipation cartridges 300. The thickness of the battery pack 510 for an electric vehicle may be substantially the same as the thickness of the stacked heat dissipation cartridges 300 (i.e. the thickness t of the heat dissipation cartridge 300 illustrated in
(34) For example, in the case that the battery pack for an electric vehicle is provided with one hundred fifty (150) batteries, when heat dissipation fins or heat dissipation plates of the related art made of aluminum (Al) are sandwiched between the batteries, one hundred forty nine (149) heat dissipation fins or plates are necessary. This may accordingly make it impossible to reduce the weight and thickness of the battery pack. Since a predetermined number of batteries equal to the volumes occupied by the 149 heat dissipation fins or plates cannot be fitted, the capacity of the battery pack is reduced.
(35) Referring to
(36) Here, the heat dissipation metal plate 150 may be insert-molded in an area of the frame structure 100 adjacent to the seating portion 120. More specifically, the heat dissipation metal plate 150 may be insert-molded in an area of the frame structure 100 corresponding to the seating portion 120, i.e. an area of the frame structure 100 facing the seating portion 120 protruding from the walls of the accommodating through-hole of the frame structure 100, such that heat generated by the batteries can be rapidly dissipated by the seating portion 120 and the heat dissipation metal plate 150.
(37) The heat dissipation metal plate 150 may be made of Al or an Al alloy, which has superior heat conductivity while being inexpensive.
(38) Since the seating portion 120 of the frame structure 100 in the heat dissipation cartridge is located between the peripheral areas of the batteries to dissipate heat generated by the batteries as described above, the heat dissipation metal plate 150 may be insert-molded in a position most adjacent to the seating portion 120.
(39) In this case, one surface of the insert-molded heat dissipation metal plate 150 is exposed externally to be in contact with a heat dissipation module.
(40) That is, as illustrated in
(41) As illustrated in
(42) In addition, as illustrated in
(43) When the TIM 130 is insert-molded on the seating portion 120 or TIMs 130 are fitted to the coupling recesses 121 as described above, contact heat resistance may be reduced and an air gap between a pair of batteries may be reduced, thereby facilitating heat dissipation to the outside heat exchanger.
(44) The TIM 130 may be implemented as one of a variety of examples, such as heat dissipation grease, a heat dissipation sheet, a metal plate, and a thermally conductive adhesive.
(45) A heat dissipation cartridge 600 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is provided by combining a breakthrough cartridge structure and a breakthrough material, i.e. a greater number of batteries can be mounted in the same area due to improved battery mounting efficiency, and manufacturing cost can be reduced due to an aluminum frame portion being insert-molded in a heat dissipating molded plastic structure.
(46)
(47) The rectangular frame structure includes heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601 and the aluminum frame portion 602. The heat dissipation plastic frame portion 601 and the aluminum frame portion 602 have the seating portions 601a and 602a, respectively, surrounding the accommodating through-hole 610 in which the pair of batteries are accommodated. The pair of aluminum frame portions 602 is provided integrally with the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601, for example, an insert-injection molding process as previously described.
(48) For example, the batteries are rectangular-shaped, and thus the accommodating through-hole 610 and the seating portions 601a and 602a form a rectangular shape.
(49) The rectangular seating portions 601a and 602a are comprised of the pair of first seating portions 601a disposed to face each other in the accommodating through-hole 610 and the pair of second seating portions 602a 610 to connect both ends of the first seating portions 601a, thereby forming a rectangular seating portion.
(50) Here, the frame structure is also a rectangular frame structure, in which the length L1 of the aluminum frame portions 602 is longer than the length L2 of the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601.
(51) When the frame structure of the heat dissipation cartridge 600 is injection-molded from an expensive heat dissipation plastic, the marketability thereof may be lowered due to increased manufacturing cost. According to the present invention, the heat dissipation cartridge 600 can be provided by injection-molding the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601 by inserting the inexpensive aluminum frame portions 602, thereby significantly reducing manufacturing cost.
(52) In addition, when the heat dissipation cartridge 600 is manufactured by only injection-molding the heat dissipation plastic, a heat sink filler distributed in a resin of the heat dissipation plastic may be concentrated in a local area in the heat dissipation cartridge 600 during injection of the heat dissipation plastic into a mold, since the heavier heat sink filler has inferior flowability to the resin.
(53) Accordingly, in the present invention, shorter frame areas of the heat dissipation cartridge 600 are provided as the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601 by injection-molding the heat dissipation plastic, while longer frame areas of the heat dissipation cartridge 600 are provided by inserting aluminum frame portions 602. This can reduce the magnitude of injection molding, such that the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601 can be imparted with more uniform heat dissipation characteristics.
(54) In addition, the aluminum frame portions 602 can improve heat dissipation characteristics of the heat dissipation cartridge 600, due to a higher heat conduction characteristic than the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601.
(55) Furthermore, when the frame structure is manufactured by injection-molding the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601 by inserting the aluminum frame portions 602 therein as in the present invention, instead of being provided only using the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601 injection-molded from the heat dissipation plastic, the frame structure can have superior strength and can prevent deformations, such as distortion, due to external force.
(56) Since the heat dissipation cartridge 600 has a rectangular frame structure comprised of the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601 and the aluminum frame portions 602 defining the accommodating through-hole 610 therein, each of the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601 and the aluminum frame portions 602 has a wall of the accommodating through-hole 610, and the first and second seating portions 601a and 602a are provided on the walls.
(57) Here, the seating portions 601a and 602a are projections protruding from the walls of the accommodating through-hole 610 to horizontally halve the walls of the accommodating through-hole 610. The seating portion 601a and 602a allow a pair of batteries to be inserted through the top and bottom portions of the frame structure, thereby being accommodated in the accommodating through-hole 610.
(58) The seating portions 601a and 602a may be provided along the walls of the accommodating through-hole 610. In some cases, the seating portions 601a and 602a may be provided as a plurality of separate portions distributed on a plurality of areas of the walls of the accommodating through-hole 610.
(59) The batteries may be pouch batteries as in the first embodiment, while the heat dissipation plastic may be implemented as a non-insulation moldable resin in which an electrically-conductive heat sink filler is distributed or an insulation moldable resin in which an insulating heat sink filler is distributed. The heat dissipation plastic dissipates transferred heat using the insulating heat sink filler and has insulation due to the insulating heat sink filler and resin.
(60) Thus, the heat dissipation cartridge 600 including the heat sink filler can dissipate heat generated during charging and discharging of the batteries. Here, heat transferred to the heat dissipation cartridge 600 is removed by a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be any heat exchanger that can lower the temperature of the heat dissipation cartridge 600. Examples of the heat exchanger may be, but are not limited to, an air-cooling heat exchanger, such as a cooling fan, and a water-cooling heat exchanger using cooling water.
(61) Accordingly, the present invention has an advantage in that heat generated by the batteries can be efficiently dissipated using the heat dissipation cartridge 600 to which the batteries are fitted.
(62) Referring to
(63) Here, electrode terminals of the first and second batteries 201 are in close contact with the frame structure, instead of remaining within the accommodating through-hole 610. As illustrated in
(64) The seating portions 601a and 602a are provided on the heat dissipation frames 610 and the aluminum frame portions 602.
(65) When the first and second batteries 201 are pouch batteries, more heat is generated by peripheral areas than by inner areas of the pouch batteries.
(66) Thus, the present invention has a structural characteristic in that the seating portions 601a and 602a of the frame structure are located between the peripheral area of the first battery 201 and the peripheral area of the second battery in order to dissipate heat, generated during charging and discharging of the first and second batteries 201, through the peripheral areas of the first and second batteries 201.
(67)
(68) That is, the heat dissipation cartridge 600 accommodates first and second batteries 201 and 202 in the accommodating through-hole 610 of the frame structure.
(69) Thus, the accommodating through-hole 610 of the heat dissipation cartridge 600 may be divided into two areas by the seating portion 120 located between the peripheries of the first and second batteries 201 and 202, such that the first and second batteries 201 and 202 may be accommodated in the divided two areas, thereby leading to proper assembly alignment. In
(70) The heat dissipation cartridge 600 is designed such that two batteries, i.e. the first and second batteries 201 and 202 are accommodated in the accommodating through-hole 610. Here, the depth D of the accommodating through-hole 610 of the heat dissipation cartridge 600 may be substantially the same as or slightly greater than a total thickness t1+t2 of the two batteries 201 and 202.
(71) No batteries 201 protrude from surfaces of the heat dissipation cartridge 600 on which other heat dissipation cartridges are to be stacked.
(72)
(73) Referring to
(74) When a voltage is applied to the aluminum frame portion 602 immersed in an electrolyte, the oxide coating layer 603 made of alumina can be provided by anodizing of the aluminum frame portion 602.
(75) The oxide coating layer 603 made of alumina can improve heat dissipation coefficient, i.e. a measure of heat dissipation capability, and have an insulation characteristic.
(76) The electrolyte may be an acidic electrolyte although not limited thereto, and an alkali electrolyte is usable. Sulfuric acid, oxalic acid, phosphoric acid, or a mixture thereof may be used as the acidic electrolyte. The thickness of the oxide coating layer 603 required for insulation may be adjusted by controlling the time and current density of anodizing.
(77) As illustrated in
(78) Accordingly, the present invention can provide the battery pack 510 for an electric vehicle, assembled by stacking the plurality of heat dissipation cartridges 600, with the batteries 201 being fitted to each of the heat dissipation cartridges 600. The thickness of the battery pack 510 for an electric vehicle may be substantially the same as the thickness of the stacked heat dissipation cartridges 600 (i.e. the thickness t of the heat dissipation cartridge 600 illustrated in
(79) Like the heat dissipation cartridge 300 according to the first embodiment of the present invention illustrated in
(80) Referring to
(81) Here, the heat dissipation plate 150 may be insert-molded in an area of the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601 adjacent to the seating portion 601a. More specifically, the heat dissipation plate 150 may be insert-molded in an area of the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601 corresponding to the seating portion 601a, i.e. an area of the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601 facing the seating portion 601a protruding from the wall of the accommodating through-hole, such that heat generated by the batteries can be rapidly dissipated by the seating portion 601a and the heat dissipation plate 150.
(82) The heat dissipation plate 150 may be made of Al or an Al alloy, which has superior heat conductivity while being inexpensive.
(83) Since the seating portion 601a of the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601 of the heat dissipation cartridge is located between the peripheral areas of the batteries to dissipate heat generated by the batteries as described above, the heat dissipation plate 150 may be insert-molded in a position most adjacent to the seating portion 601a.
(84) In addition, one surface of the insert-molded heat dissipation metal plate 150 is exposed externally to be in contact with a heat dissipation module.
(85) That is, as illustrated in
(86) As illustrated in
(87) In addition, as illustrated in
(88) When the TIM 130 is insert-molded on the seating portion 601a or TIMs 130 are fitted to the coupling recesses, contact heat resistance may be reduced and an air gap between a pair of batteries may be reduced, thereby facilitating heat dissipation to the outside heat exchanger.
(89) The TIM 130 may be implemented as one of a variety of examples, such as heat dissipation grease, a heat dissipation sheet, a metal plate, and a thermally conductive adhesive.
(90)
(91) Referring to
(92) According to the present invention, the heat dissipation plastic frame portions 601 may be injection-molded by inserting insulating plastic plates 605 in areas on which the electrode terminals 201a and 201b of the pouch battery are placed.
(93) Accordingly, the electrode terminals 201a and 201b of the pouch battery are placed on and in contact with the insulating plastic plates 605.
(94) Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
(95) The heat dissipation cartridge and the battery pack according to the present invention can reduce manufacturing cost, improve heat dissipation performance, obtain uniform heat dissipation performance, obtain superior strength, and prevent deformation.