Energy storage system for a motor vehicle, motor vehicle and method for producing an energy storage system

Abstract

An energy storage system for a motor vehicle including an electric energy storage device and a housing-like carrier element for the energy storage device. A liquid heat-conducting medium is arranged in an intermediate space between the carrier element and the energy storage device by which the energy storage device is thermally coupled to the carrier element. A sealing element is provided extending between the carrier element and the energy storage device, which prevents the heat-conducting medium from flowing out from the intermediate space.

Claims

1. An energy storage system for a motor vehicle, comprising: an electric energy storage device; a housing-like carrier element for the energy storage device; a sealing element; and a liquid heat-conducting medium, wherein the sealing element is extended between the carrier element and the energy storage device to form an intermediate space that is bounded by the carrier element, the energy storage device, and the sealing element, wherein the liquid heat-conducting medium is arranged in the intermediate space such that the liquid heat-conducting medium directly contacts both the carrier element and the energy storage device, wherein the carrier element and the energy storage device are thermally coupled via the liquid heat-conducting medium, and wherein the sealing element prevents the liquid heat-conducting medium from flowing away from the intermediate space, wherein the energy storage device is tensioned inside the energy storage system by a force exerted on the sealing element by one or more fastening elements which directly fasten the energy storage device to the carrier element, and by a restoring mechanism mounted between a top surface of the energy storage device and a cover element arranged on the carrier element, wherein the sealing element is deformed by the forces.

2. The energy storage system according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element is equipped with at least one ventilation section.

3. The energy storage system according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element is arranged in a recess of the carrier element, wherein a bottom section of the energy storage device is form-fittingly engaged at least partially in the recess.

4. The energy storage system according to claim 3, wherein the bottom section and the sealing element are provided with a rectangular or circular external form.

5. The energy storage system according to claim 3, wherein a housing section of the energy storage device engaging an edge of the recess is fastened to the carrier element by the one or more fastening elements.

6. The energy storage system according to claim 1, wherein the carrier element is designed as a temperature-regulating device of the energy storage device, or a temperature-regulating device is arranged on the site located opposite the energy storage device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below, as well as from the figures. The figures are schematic representations showing the following:

(2) FIG. 1 a sectional view of an energy storage device according to the invention during the assembly;

(3) FIG. 2 a sectional view of the energy storage device according to the invention in a mounted position;

(4) FIG. 3 a top view of the energy storage device, and

(5) FIG. 4 a motor vehicle according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an energy storage system 1 during its assembly, comprising a housing-like carrier element 2 and an energy storage device 3, for example an energy storage module or one or a plurality of energy storage cells, which are accommodated in a housing of the energy storage device 3. In addition, a temperature-regulating device 4, which is designed to cool and/or to heat the energy storage device 3, is arranged on the energy storage device 3 on the opposite side of the carrier element 2. As an alternative, the carrier element 2 itself can be designed as a temperature-regulating device 4.

(7) The carrier element 2 is provided with a recess 5, inside of which is deployed a rectangular sealing element 6 made of an elastomer, foamed material, silicon or cork, so that it is inserted immediately adjacent to walls 7 of the recess 5. After the insertion, a free space delimited by the sealing element 6 and by the carrier element 2 is filled with a liquid, in particular with a pasty and viscous heat-conducting medium 9, which has for example a viscosity of 10 pascal-seconds.

(8) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the energy storage system 1 in a mounted state, which is arranged on the sealing element 6 to be accommodated thereupon. In this case, a bottom section 10 of the energy storage device 3, which is designed as a rectangular sealing element 6, is form-fittingly engaged in the recess 5, wherein respective stepwise housing sections 11 that are set off from the bottom section 3 overlap an edge 12 of the recess 5. The housing sections 11 are provided with one or with several through-openings 13, into which is introduced a fastening element 14 which extends into a blind hole 15 on the side of the carrier.

(9) The energy storage device 3 is tensioned by a force exerted by means of the fastening element 14 onto the sealing element 6 against the carrier element 2, whereby the sealing element 6 is deformed so far that the bottom section 10 directly touches the heat-conducting medium 9 with its carrier element 2. The heat-conducting medium thus fills completely an intermediate space 16, which is delimited by the carrier element 2, by the energy storage device 3 and by the sealing element 6. In order to allow the air to escape during the tensioning of the energy storage device 3, the sealing element 6 is provided with one or several slot-shaped ventilation sections 21. Alternatively to a slot-shaped design, respective ventilation sections 21 can be also perforated.

(10) Additionally or alternatively to tensioning of the energy storage 3, a restoring means 17, for example a spring, can be provided, which is arranged on the side of the energy storage device 3 located opposite the intermediate space 16 and which exerts a restoring force after a cover element 18 has been put on the carrier element 2, by means of which the sealing element 6 is deformed.

(11) FIG. 3 shows a top view of the energy storage system 1 without the cover element 18. It is evident that in addition to the energy storage device 3 shown in the sectional views, two other energy storage devices 3 are provided, having bottom sections 10 which are respectively engaged in the recess 5. In the area of the recess 5, for each energy storage device 3 is provided a sealing element 6 that prevents the heat-conducting medium 9 from flowing away as described above.

(12) According to another embodiment, not shown here, the energy storage system 1 is produced so that first, the heat-conducting medium 9 is applied to a carrier element 2 and after that, the energy storage device 3 is arranged inside the energy storage system 1 so that it partially touches the heat-conducting medium or is immersed in it, in particular also by being attached therein. After that, the sealing element is arranged between the carrier element 2 and the energy storage device 3, for example so that it is pushed between the bottom section 10 and the carrier element 2.

(13) FIG. 4 shows a principle diagram of a motor vehicle 19, comprising an energy storage system 1 according to one of the preceding embodiment, by means of which electric power can be supplied to a motor vehicle component 20, for example a drive device of the motor vehicle.