SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF AN ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE

Abstract

A system for controlling a temperature of an electrical energy storage device may include a coolant circuit through which a coolant is flowable, a refrigerant circuit through which a refrigerant is flowable, a first coolant cooler, a support structure, and at least one molded component. The coolant circuit may be thermally coupled to the electrical energy storage device such that heat is at least one of (i) absorbable from the electrical energy storage device via the coolant and (ii) dissipatable to the electrical energy storage device via the coolant. The refrigerant circuit may be configured as part of a heat pump. The first coolant cooler may be configured to transfer heat between the coolant and the refrigerant. The at least one molded component may be structured separately from the support structure and may include a foamed plastic.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A system for controlling a temperature of an electrical energy storage device, comprising: a coolant circuit through which a coolant is flowable, the coolant circuit thermally coupled to the electrical energy storage device such that heat is at least one of (i) absorbable from the electrical energy storage device via the coolant and (ii) dissipatable to the electrical energy storage device via the coolant; a refrigerant circuit through which a refrigerant is flowable, the refrigerant circuit configured as part of a heat pump; a first coolant cooler configured to transfer heat between the coolant and the refrigerant; a support structure; at least one molded component structured separately from the support structure, the at least one molded component including a foamed plastic; and wherein the at least one molded component is at least one of: configured to define an air flow path; configured as a holder for a coolant control device; configured as a holder for the first coolant cooler; configured as a holder for a refrigerant compressor; configured as a holder for a coolant pump; and configured as a frame for a refrigerant condenser.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one molded component includes a receptacle for a coolant control device, and wherein the receptacle has a contour configured complementary to a contour of the coolant control device.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the coolant control device and the receptacle for the coolant control device are molded such that the coolant control device is only insertable into the receptacle in a provided position.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one molded component has a receptacle for the first coolant cooler, and wherein the receptacle has a contour configured complementary to a contour of the first coolant cooler.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the first coolant cooler and the receptacle for the first coolant cooler are molded such that the first coolant cooler is only insertable into the holder in a provided position.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein at least one of: the support structure is structured and arranged to secure the system at an assembly location; and the support structure includes a frame.

21. The system according to claim 15, wherein the support structure includes a metal sheet.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the metal sheet is an aluminum sheet.

23. The system according to claim 15, further comprising: a second coolant cooler configured to transfer heat between the coolant and ambient air; and a coolant control device configured to at least one of control and regulate a flow of coolant through the first coolant cooler and the second coolant cooler.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a refrigerant condenser structured as a flat-tube heat exchanger.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein the coolant control device includes a switchover valve via which the coolant circuit is switchable between the first coolant cooler and the second coolant cooler.

26. The system according to claim 25, further comprising a fan, wherein: the refrigerant circuit includes a refrigerant condenser structured as a flat-tube heat exchanger; the refrigerant condenser and the second coolant cooler are arranged next to one another; and the fan is structured and arranged to drive air through the refrigerant condenser and through the second coolant cooler.

27. The system according to claim 23, further comprising a fan, wherein: the refrigerant circuit includes a refrigerant condenser; the refrigerant condenser and the second coolant cooler are arranged next to one another; and the fan is structured and arranged to drive air through the refrigerant condenser and through the second coolant cooler.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein at least one of: the at least one molded component is configured as a frame for the refrigerant condenser; and the at least one molded component is configured as a cover for an air guide, at which the fan is held.

29. The system according to claim 27, wherein the at least one molded component is configured as a frame for the refrigerant condenser.

30. The system according to claim 27, wherein the at least one molded component is configured as a cover for an air guide, at which the fan is held.

31. The system according to claim 15, wherein the coolant is a liquid.

32. The system according to claim 15, wherein the support structure is structured and arranged to secure the system at an assembly location.

33. The system according to claim 15, wherein the support structure includes a frame.

34. A motor vehicle, comprising a drive battery and a system for controlling a temperature of an electrical energy storage device according to claim 15, wherein the temperature of the drive battery is controlled by the system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] In each case schematically,

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a perspective plan view onto a system for controlling the temperature of an electrical energy storage device, wherein housing parts are hidden,

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view onto the system from FIG. 1, wherein the angle of view is rotated,

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a top view onto a frame for a refrigerant condenser, and

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view onto a molded component comprising a respective receptacle for a coolant control device and a coolant cooler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] A first embodiment of a system 10 for controlling the temperature of a non-illustrated electrical energy storage device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a coolant circuit 12, through which a liquid coolant 14 flows, and a refrigerant circuit 16, through which refrigerant 18 flows. The coolant circuit 12 is formed in such a way that it can absorb and discharge heat from the electrical energy storage device. The refrigerant circuit 16 can operate as heat pump and can thus form a temperature sink, the temperature of which lies below the ambient temperature.

[0042] The coolant 14 is a liquid. The heat transport capacity of liquid coolant 14 is higher than the heat transport capacity of gaseous coolant 14. The coolant 14 has water, for example. In addition, an antifreeze can be added to the water.

[0043] The coolant circuit 12 has a first coolant cooler 24, which is preferably formed as stacked-plate heat exchanger. The coolant 14 and the refrigerant 18 flow through the first coolant cooler 24 at least temporarily. For this purpose, the first coolant cooler 24 has two medium-separated and heat-coupled fluid paths. Heat can thus be transferred from the coolant 14 to the refrigerant 18.

[0044] The coolant circuit 12 furthermore has a second coolant cooler 20, which is preferably formed as flat-tube heat exchanger 22. Coolant 14 and air can flow through the second coolant cooler 20. The second coolant cooler 20 has two medium-separated and heat-coupled fluid paths, so that heat can be dissipated from the coolant 14 to the ambient air.

[0045] Two options are thus available for cooling the coolant 14 and thus for discharging the heat from the electrical energy storage device. On the one hand, the heat can be dissipated to the ambient air with the help of the second coolant cooler 20. By means of the first coolant cooler 24, on the other hand, the heat can be dissipated to the refrigerant 18, which, as will be shown below, also dissipates the heat to the ambient air. However, a temperature level, which lies below the external temperature/ambient temperature, can be attained by means of the refrigerant 18.

[0046] In addition to this, a heating device can also be provided, by means of which heat can be supplied to the coolant 14, so that the electrical energy storage device can be heated.

[0047] The cooling via the second coolant cooler 20 thus has a better efficiency than the cooling via the first coolant cooler 24. The cooling via the first coolant cooler 24 can attain lower temperatures than the cooling via the second coolant cooler 20. A coolant control device 26 is thus provided, which controls and/or regulates the coolant flow through the first coolant cooler 24 and through the second coolant cooler 20.

[0048] The coolant control device 26 has, for example, at least one valve, preferably a switchover valve 28, by means of which the coolant flow between the first coolant cooler 24 and the second coolant cooler 20 can be switched over. It goes without saying that the coolant control device 26 can also have two separate valves, which can each control and/or regulate the coolant flow through the first coolant cooler 24 and through the second coolant cooler 20 independently of one another.

[0049] The refrigerant circuit 16 has a refrigerant condenser 30, which is preferably formed as flat-tube heat exchanger. Heat can be emitted from the refrigerant 18 to the ambient air by means of the refrigerant condenser 30, so that the refrigerant can condense in the refrigerant condenser 30.

[0050] To drive the refrigerant 18 in the refrigerant circuit 16, a refrigerant compressor 32 is preferably provided. At least one expansion valve is preferably furthermore provided, through which the refrigerant 18 is guided before it flows into the first coolant cooler 24, so that the temperature of the refrigerant 18 in the first coolant cooler 24 is reduced, so that the refrigerant 18 can absorb heat from the coolant 14.

[0051] The system 10 furthermore has a fan 34, which can generate an air flow, in order to absorb heat from the refrigerant condenser 30 and the second coolant cooler 20. For this purpose, the refrigerant condenser 30 and the second coolant cooler 20 are preferably arranged next to one another, in particular parallel to one another.

[0052] The system 10 has a support structure 36, at which the essential components of the system 10 are held indirectly or directly. The support structure has a frame 38, which is preferably formed to be rectangular. A non-continuous bottom 40 is held on the frame. An opening in the bottom 40 serves as air opening, through which the air for the fan 34 is sucked in or blown off. The system 10 furthermore has a plurality of housing walls 41, which close the system 10 against the environment.

[0053] The system 10 has at least one, for example three, molded components, which are made of a foamed plastic. Such a foamed plastic can be, for example, expanded polypropylene (EPP). These foamed plastics have a low weight and a good moldabilty.

[0054] A first molded component 42 of this type is formed as frame 44 for the refrigerant condenser 30. The refrigerant condenser 30 can be inserted into the frame 44. The frame 44 is preferably formed in such a way that the second coolant cooler 20 can also be held on the frame. The air flow can thus be guided through the refrigerant condenser 30 and through the second coolant cooler 20.

[0055] A molded component 42 of this type is furthermore formed as cover 46 for the fan 34, so that the air sucked in by the fan 34 initially flows through the refrigerant condenser 30 and the second coolant cooler 20. A reverse flow direction, in the case of which the air flows from the fan to the refrigerant condenser 30 and the second refrigerant cooler 20 is also possible.

[0056] Finally, a molded component 42 of this type is formed as holder 48 for the coolant control device 26 and the first coolant cooler 24. The holder 48 respectively has a receptacle 50 for the coolant control 26 and a receptacle 52 for the first coolant cooler 24.

[0057] The receptacle 50 has a contour, which is formed complementary to the contour of the coolant control device 26. The receptacle 50 and the coolant control device 26 are preferably molded in such a way that the coolant control device 26 can only be inserted into the receptacle 50 in a provided installation position. The exact installation position of the coolant control device 26 is thus provided by the holder 48 and the receptacle 50, so that a faulty installation of the coolant control device 26 is prevented or at least made more difficult.

[0058] The receptacle 50 thus at least partially surrounds the coolant control device 26, so that the receptacle 50 thermally insulates the coolant control device 26. To improve the thermal insulation, a cover can additionally be provided, which is preferably also made of foamed plastic.

[0059] The receptacle 52 of the first coolant cooler 24 has a contour, which is formed complementary to the contour of the first coolant cooler 24, so that the first coolant cooler 24 can be received in the receptacle 52 in a positive manner. The receptacle 52 and the first coolant cooler 24 are preferably formed in such a way that the first coolant cooler 24 can only be inserted into the receptacle 52 in a predetermined installation position. A faulty insertion of the first coolant cooler 24 can thus be prevented or can at least be made significantly more difficult.

[0060] The holder 48 can either be formed in multiple pieces or, as illustrated for example in the figures, in one piece, so that the receptacle 50 for the coolant control device 26 and the receptacle 52 for the first coolant cooler 24 are held in a common molded component 42.