TEMPERATURE-CONTROL ELEMENT FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF AN ELECTRICAL ENERGY ACCUMULATOR

Abstract

A temperature-control element for controlling the temperature of an electrical accumulator, in particular for controlling the temperature of a traction battery of a vehicle, includes an extruded profile extending in an extrusion direction which has a temperature-control medium channel for passage of a temperature-control medium. A guide vane is integrally formed with the extruded profile in the temperature-control medium channel.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A temperature-control element for controlling the temperature of an electrical accumulator, comprising: an extruded profile extending in an extrusion direction comprising: a temperature-control medium channel configured to allow a temperature-control medium to flow therethrough, and a guide vane integrally formed with the extruded profile in the temperature-control medium channel.

14. The temperature-control element of claim 13, wherein the guide vane comprises a dimension extending transversely of the extrusion direction.

15. The temperature-control element of claim 13, wherein a plane formed by the guide vane forms an angle with the extrusion direction.

16. The temperature-control element of claim 15, wherein the angle is between 10° and 170°.

17. The temperature-control element of claim 13, further comprising a rib extending in the extrusion direction and integrally formed with the extruded profile.

18. The temperature-control element of claim 17, wherein the rib is disposed in the temperature-control medium channel and the guide vane is integrally formed with the rib.

19. The temperature-control element of claim 18, wherein the guide vane is defined by a first cut in the rib extending substantially perpendicularly to the extrusion direction and a second cut in the rib extending substantially in the extrusion direction.

20. The temperature-control element of claim 19, wherein the guide vane is integrally connected to the rib along a bending edge.

21. The temperature-control element of claim 19, further comprising a third cut in the rib extending in the extrusion direction, wherein the second cut and the third cut define opposite sides of the guide vane.

22. The temperature-control element of claim 17, wherein a plane that is formed by the guide vane forms an angle with a plane that is formed by the rib.

23. The temperature-control element of claim 22, wherein the angle is between 10° and 170°.

24. The temperature-control element of claim 17, wherein the rib has an opening.

25. The temperature-control element of claim 13, wherein the guide vane comprises at least two guide vanes, and the at least two guide vanes have planes oriented parallel to one another.

26. The temperature-control element of claim 13, wherein the guide vane comprises a plurality of guide vanes integrally formed with the extruded profile to provide a ribbed structure.

27. A method for controlling the temperature of an electrical accumulator, comprising: providing a temperature-control element for controlling the temperature of an electrical accumulator, comprising: an extruded profile extending in an extrusion direction comprising: a temperature-control medium channel configured to allow a temperature-control medium to flow therethrough, and a guide vane integrally formed with the extruded profile in the temperature-control medium channel; and arranging the electrical accumulator or a battery module of the electrical accumulator on a top or a bottom portion of the extruded profile.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the temperature-control element further comprises a rib extending in the extrusion direction and integrally formed with the extruded profile.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the rib is arranged in the temperature-control medium channel.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the guide vane is defined by a first cut in the rib extending substantially perpendicularly to the extrusion direction and a second cut in the rib extending substantially in the extrusion direction.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the guide vane is bent along a bending edge out from a plane formed by the rib into the temperature-control medium channel.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing first and second battery modules of the electrical accumulator, wherein the first battery module is arranged on the top portion of the extruded profile and the second battery module is arranged on the bottom portion of the extruded profile.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] Further embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail by the following description of the figures.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective representation of a temperature-control element for controlling the temperature of an electrical accumulator, and

[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic, partially sectional perspective plan view of the temperature-control element of FIG. 1, wherein the upper half of the extruded profile has been removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Identical, similar or equivalently acting elements in the various figures are provided with identical reference signs and these elements are sometimes not repeatedly described in order to avoid redundancy.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a perspective and schematic representation of a temperature-control element 1 for controlling the temperature of an electrical accumulator, for example for controlling the temperature of a traction battery for a motor vehicle.

[0035] The temperature-control element 1 includes an extruded profile 2 which includes inter alia a top 22 and a bottom 24. The extruded profile 2 extends in an extrusion direction, denoted by the arrow E in FIG. 1, and may take the form of a semi-finished product which may ultimately be provided together with further components to make up a temperature-control element 1, for example with connection plates, not shown in the figures, for providing a feed for a temperature-control medium on one of the end faces 20 of the extruded profile 2.

[0036] An electrical accumulator, not shown in the figures, may for example be arranged on the top 22 or on the bottom 24 of the extruded profile 2 of the temperature-control element 1 in order in this manner to achieve heat exchange between the temperature-control element 1, in particular the extruded profile 2, and the electrical accumulator. The temperature-control element 1 and thus the extruded profile 2 may also be arranged between battery modules of an electrical accumulator, such that, in order to control the temperature of the electrical accumulator, it is, for example, also possible to provide a battery module on both the top 22 and the bottom 24 of the extruded profile 2.

[0037] A traction battery may, for example, be in thermally conductive contact with the top 22 or with the bottom 24 of the extruded profile 2 of the temperature-control element 1 in order in this manner to control the temperature of the traction battery. Individual battery modules of the traction battery may here also be in thermally conductive contact with the extruded profile 2.

[0038] A temperature-control medium channel 3, which is defined by the extruded profile 2, is provided in the extruded profile 2. Along the extrusion direction E, the extruded profile 2 accordingly forms a completely closed perimeter around the temperature-control medium channel 3, such that access to the temperature-control medium channel 3 is provided only at the end faces 20 of the extruded profile 2.

[0039] The extruded profile 2 extends along the extrusion direction E in such a manner that the temperature-control medium channel 3 accordingly also defines a direction of flow S for a temperature-control medium passing through the temperature-control element 2 in the temperature-control medium channel 3. The extrusion direction E thus accordingly also defines a direction of flow S for a temperature-control medium, along which a temperature-control medium may pass through the temperature-control medium channel 3. The temperature-control medium may for example be a heated or cooled fluid by means of which heat transfer may be achieved in the extruded profile 2.

[0040] By means of the temperature-control medium, the temperature of the temperature-control element 1 including the extruded profile 2 and thus also the temperature of an electrical accumulator in thermally conductive contact with the extruded profile 2 may be controlled so as to cool or heat the electrical accumulator.

[0041] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the extruded profile 2 has ribs 30 located in the temperature-control medium channel 3 which are integrally formed with the extruded profile 2 and were accordingly extruded together with the extruded profile.

[0042] The ribs 30 shown in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 do not extend over the full height of the temperature-control medium channel 3, but instead extend only over a sub-region thereof, in the exemplary embodiment shown for example to approximately half the height of the temperature-control medium channel 3.

[0043] In a further exemplary embodiment, not shown here, the ribs 30 may also extend over a lesser or greater height or also completely span the interspace between the top 22 and the bottom 24 of the extruded profile 2.

[0044] The ribs 30 may be provided for mechanically bracing the extruded profile 2.

[0045] The ribs 30 may also serve to guide the temperature-control medium within the temperature-control medium channel 3.

[0046] The ribs 30 may furthermore also bring about swirling of the temperature-control medium and may accordingly serve to ensure a more uniform distribution of the temperature-control medium within the temperature-control medium channel 3. In this manner, it is also possible to achieve more uniform heat exchange between the temperature-control medium and the various spatial portions of the extruded profile 2.

[0047] In order to achieve a still more uniform distribution of the temperature-control medium in the temperature-control medium channel 3, guide vanes 4 are integrally formed with the extruded profile 2. The guide vanes 4 in each case have a dimension 9 which extends transversely of the extrusion direction E into the temperature-control medium channel 3.

[0048] The guide vanes 4 thus also have a dimension 9 extending transversely of the direction of flow S of the temperature-control medium which accordingly introduces a disturbance into the temperature-control medium flow, resulting in circulation or swirling of the temperature-control medium in the temperature-control medium channel 3 and leading to still more uniform heat exchange between the top 22 and the bottom 24 of the temperature-control element 1.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows the temperature-control element 1 from FIG. 1 but with the top 22 of the extruded profile 2 removed for clarity. It is particularly clearly apparent here that the guide vanes 4 are formed by there being in the ribs 30 in each case a first cut 32 introduced in the direction of the height extent of the rib 30, i.e. perpendicularly to the extrusion direction E, and a second cut 34 in the longitudinal direction of the rib 30, i.e. also in the extrusion direction E, and then the portion of the material of the rib 30 rendered mobile in this manner being bent out of the plane defined by the rib 30. A bending edge 36 where the guide vane 4 is integrally connected to the rib 30 is accordingly obtained at the edge of the guide vane 4 which remains attached to the rib 30.

[0050] In a further exemplary embodiment, two second cuts 34 may also be provided which then define two opposite sides of the guide vane 4. This configuration is in particular of significance in those cases in which the rib 30 is taller or even extends from the top 22 to the bottom 24. In this case, the guide vane 4 is bent out from the rib in a similar manner to a window.

[0051] The dimensions of the guide vanes 4 are therefore substantially determined by the height h of the first cut 32 in the rib 30 and the length l of the second cut 34 along the longitudinal extent of the rib 30. If the length l of the second cut 34 is extended, then the dimension 9 extending transversely of the direction of flow S of the guide vane 4 may also be increased, such that the guide vane 4 then accordingly reaches further or deeper into the temperature-control medium channel 3 and the disturbance produced by the guide vane 4 is more pronounced.

[0052] The first cut 32 and the second cut 34 and the bending angle by which the respective guide vane 4 is bent out from the plane defined by the rib 30 may be differently dimensioned for each application.

[0053] In particular, it is not necessary for the purposes of forming the dimension 9 extending transversely of the extrusion direction E of the guide vane 4 for a plane 400 formed by the guide vane 4 to form an angle α of precisely 90° with the plane formed by the rib 30. Instead, different angles α between the plane 400 of the guide vane 4 and the plane of the rib 30, for example angles α of between 10° and 170°, are possible depending on the desired application or effect.

[0054] As a result of the form imparted to the guide vane 4 in this manner, material is removed from the plane of the rib 30 and bent into the temperature-control medium channel 3. An opening 40 in the rib 30 is thus obtained in the region of the rib 30 from which the guide vane 4 is bent out, which opening can result in an exchange of temperature-control medium between the two sides of the rib 30, such that further intermixing of temperature-control medium may proceed in this manner, so further increasing the uniformity of heat exchange.

[0055] Insofar as applicable, all individual features which are depicted in the exemplary embodiments may be combined and/or interchanged with one another without going beyond the scope of the invention.