Cooling System with Flow Guiding Element

Abstract

Disclosed is a cooling system for an electrical control unit of a vehicle, the cooling system including a cooling element having a first flow channel for coolant and a second flow channel for coolant, a flow reverse element adapted to guide coolant from the first flow channel to the second flow channel, and a flow guiding element for guiding at least part of the coolant from the first flow channel to the second flow channel.

Claims

1. A cooling system for an electrical control unit of a vehicle, the cooling system comprising: a cooling element, the cooling element comprising: a first flow channel for coolant; and a second flow channel for the coolant; a flow reverse element adapted to guide the coolant from the first flow channel to the second flow channel; and a flow guiding element for guiding at least part of the coolant from the first flow channel to the second flow channel.

2. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the flow guiding element at least partially projects in the second flow channel.

3. The cooling system according to claim 2, wherein the flow guiding element projects from the flow reverse element into the second flow channel.

4. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the flow guiding element is part of the flow reverse element.

5. The cooling system according to claim 4, wherein the flow guiding element is integral with the flow reverse element.

6. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the reverse flow element is a separate element adapted to be connected to the cooling element for sealing the first and second flow channels to an exterior, wherein the flow guiding element projects from the flow reverse element and into the second flow channel, and wherein the flow guiding element comprises a substantially rounded surface at a portion where the flow guiding element merges with the flow reverse element.

7. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the flow guiding element comprises a substantially rounded surface at a portion where the flow guiding element merges with the flow reverse element.

8. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the flow guiding element is shaped as a blade, having a thicker portion on a side facing a direction of flow of the coolant in the flow reverse element and a thinner portion on an opposite side.

9. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the flow reverse element has two opposing inner sides defining a flow path in between.

10. The cooling system according to claim 9, wherein the flow guiding element extends into said flow path between 10% to 90% of a width of the flow path.

11. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the flow reverse element has an elongate shape, wherein a largest dimension is substantially perpendicular to a direction of flow of the coolant in the first and second flow channels, wherein a width dimension is in the direction of flow of the coolant in the first and second flow channels, and wherein the largest dimension is at least two times larger than the width dimension.

12. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the flow channels has a cross-section of at most 10 cm.sup.2.

13. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the flow guiding element projects into the second flow channel by at least 10% of a length of the flow guiding element.

14. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the flow reverse element has two opposing inner sides defining a flow path in between, wherein the flow guiding element extends into said flow path between 10% to 90% of a width of the flow path, and wherein at least two flow guiding elements are arranged in an alternating manner on the opposing inner sides of the flow reverse element.

15. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling element is a substantially flat plate adapted for being connected to parts to be cooled.

16. The cooling system according to claim 15, wherein the flow reverse element comprises one or more fasteners so as to act as a mounting bracket to external parts.

17. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling element is made of aluminum, and wherein the flow reverse element is made of aluminum.

18. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the flow reverse element can be connected to the cooling element for sealing the flow channels to an exterior.

19. The cooling system according to claim 18, wherein the flow reverse element is connected to the cooling element via at least one of a brazing, lap, welding, butt joint, gluing, or screwing.

20. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the flow reverse element is a separate element adapted to be connected to the cooling element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] In the following, the accompanying figures are briefly described:

[0063] FIG. 1 illustrates an example cooling system according to one aspect;

[0064] FIG. 2 illustrates an example cooling system according to an embodiment;

[0065] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of an example cooling system according to a similar embodiment as the one shown in FIG. 2;

[0066] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow reverse element according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in more detail;

[0067] FIG. 5 illustrates two cooling systems according to any one of the embodiments described herein;

[0068] FIG. 6 illustrates a mounting function of the flow reverse element according to any one of the embodiments described herein in more detail; and

[0069] FIG. 7 illustrates a flow reverse element according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0070] In the subsequent passages, the disclosed cooling systems with a flow guiding element are described with reference to the accompanying figures in more detail. It is noted that further embodiments are certainly possible, and the below explanations are provided by way of example only, without limitation.

[0071] While specific feature combinations are described in the following with respect to the example embodiments of the disclosed cooling systems with a flow guiding element, it is to be understood that not all features of the discussed embodiments have to be present for realizing the disclosed cooling systems with a flow guiding element, which is defined by the subject matter of the claims. The disclosed embodiments may be modified by combining certain features of one embodiment with one or more features of another embodiment. Specifically, the skilled person will understand that features, components and/or functional elements of one embodiment can be combined with technically compatible features, components and/or functional elements of any other embodiment given that the resulting combination falls within the definition of a cooling system with a flow guiding element provided by the claims.

[0072] Throughout the present figures and specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. The figures may not be to scale, and the relative size, proportions, and depiction of elements in the figures may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience.

[0073] The disclosure relates to a cooling system for an electrical control unit, such as a processing unit, of a vehicle. The disclosure further relates to a vehicle comprising such a cooling system.

[0074] FIG. 1 illustrates an example cooling system 101 according to one aspect. It shows a cooling element 110 and a closing cap 120. The cooling element 110 has three inflow channels, from which one inflow channel 111 is indicated. The cooling element 110 further has three outflow channels, from which one outflow channel 112 is indicated.

[0075] FIG. 1 further indicates an example maximum assembly size, which sets a size limit for the closing cap 1201, and an example extruded profile length of the cooling element 110.

[0076] In this example, when liquid coolant circulates inside such a cooling system 101, the cooling element 110, e.g., the profile, is sealed by the closing cap 120 to maintain leak-proofness.

[0077] The depicted cooling system 101 may lead to flow disturbances and/or flow separation of the liquid coolant, which increases the pressure loss of the flow. This is indicated in this figure by the flow separation region in the lower left part of FIG. 1. Typically, such a separation occurs at tight turns of the liquid coolant. In such a region, heat exchange is severely limited, which adversely affects cooling efficiency and hence risks failure of electronic parts to be cooled by such a cooling system 101.

[0078] FIG. 2 illustrates an example cooling system 1 according to an embodiment. It shows a cooling element 10 and a flow reverse element 20. The cooling element 10 has two flow channels, from which one flow channel 11 is indicated. Said one flow channel 11 could be the first flow channel 11. The cooling element 10 further has two outflow channels, from which one outflow channel 12 is indicated. Said one flow channel 12 could be the second flow channel 1. A plurality of channels is possible, and the embodiment is not limited to any specific number thereof.

[0079] The flow reverse element 20 has a geometrical expansion such that it complies with typical space requirements. These requirements may follow from the application of the cooling system 1 in an automotive sector to cool down electronic devices.

[0080] The cooling system 1 also comprises a flow guiding element 30. The flow guiding element 30 is configured to guide at least part of the coolant from the first flow channel 11 to the second flow channel 12.

[0081] Furthermore, the flow guiding element 30 may at least partially project in the second flow channel 12. The flow guiding element 30 may be integral with the flow reverse element 20, such that both elements are a single piece. The flow guiding element 30 projects from the flow reverse element 20 into the second flow channel 12. Although not shown in this figure, it is appreciated that a flow guiding element 30 projects into each flow channel into which flow is directed from the flow reverse element 20. This may further promote an improved flow. The flow guiding element 30 comprises a substantially rounded surface 31 (it may be better seen in the detail marked A in this figure) at a portion where the flow guiding element merges with the flow reverse element 20. The rounded surface 31 may at least partially face a direction of flow in the flow reverse element 20. In this figure, the direction may be at least partially from the top to the bottom.

[0082] The flow reverse element 20 may be connected to the cooling element 10 for sealing the flow channels 11 and 12 to an exterior.

[0083] This arrangement has the advantage that the fluid, such as a coolant, is properly guided from the first 11 to the second 12 flow channel. In particular, a pressure loss is mitigated compared to conventional cooling systems, as the flow can be guided without disturbances, development of vortices and/or flow separation. This promotes an increased cooling efficiency, as substantially no regions of flow separation occur.

[0084] Another advantage attributable to this arrangement is that the overall size of the flow reverse element 20 can be kept small, whilst achieving the afore-mentioned advantage. Thereby, the cooling element's 10 size is relatively large compared to the overall size of the cooling system 1, which facilitates to provide a large cooling surface for cooling parts.

[0085] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of an example cooling system 1 according to a similar embodiment as the one shown in FIG. 2. Compared to FIG. 2, the cooling system 1 is shown in an exploded view to facilitate the understanding thereof. The cooling element 10 has two inflow channels 11, 13 and two outflow channels 12, 14. The reverse element 20 has two flow guiding elements 30, 30. As the skilled person will appreciate, in assembled condition, flow guiding element 30 extends into outflow channel 12 and flow guiding element 30 extends into outflow channel 14.

[0086] FIG. 4 shows the flow reverse element 20 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in more detail. The right part of FIG. 4 shows the flow reverse element 20 of its left part when cut in the A-A line and viewed from the left side. The flow reverse element 20 is shown in isolation, e.g., not in an assembled state with the cooling element. The two flow guiding elements 30, 30 are arranged in an alternating manner on the opposing inner sides 21 of the flow reverse element 20.

[0087] It can be seen that the flow guiding elements 30, 30 are shaped as a blade, having a thicker portion 32 on a side facing a direction of flow of the coolant in the flow reverse element 20 and a thinner portion 33 on an opposite side.

[0088] FIG. 5 illustrates two cooling systems 1 according to any one of the embodiments described herein. The cooling element 10 and the flow reverse element 20 of the cooling system 1 depicted in an upper part of the figure are indicated (the flow reverse element 20 may also be the flow reverse element 20 or 20 as described herein). For brevity, the components in the respective cooling system 1 depicted in a lower part of the figure are not indicated. The cooling systems 1 may be provided with a coolant, as shown on the right hand side of FIG. 5. Further, the coolant may flow out of the cooling systems 1 as shown on the right hand side of FIG. 5 as well.

[0089] FIG. 6 illustrates a mounting function of the flow reverse element 20 according to any one of the embodiments described herein in more detail (accordingly, the flow reverse element 20 may also be the flow reverse element 20 or 20 as described herein). The flow reverse element 20 comprises two fastening means 25 so as to act as a mounting bracket to external parts. The external parts may be parts of a vehicle.

[0090] The upper part of the right hand side of this figure shows a combination of a circular and pentagonal cross-sections. Thus, it may be understood that the cross-section of one flow channel may comprise one or more sub-cross-sections in one plane. The lower part of the right hand side of this figure shows a rectangular cross-section.

[0091] FIG. 7 illustrates a flow reverse element 20 according to another embodiment. The flow reverse element 20 is shown in a perspective view (top) a side view from the right (middle) and a top view (bottom). The flow reverse element 20 comprises two pairs of flow guiding elements 30, 30. The flow guiding elements 30, 30 are arranged in an alternating manner on opposing inner sides 21 of the flow reverse element 20.

[0092] The flow guiding elements 30, 30 are elongated in the direction of flow channels of a cooling element as described herein (not shown in this figure). This facilitates a projection into the cooling element to a large extent (e.g., about 60% of a length of the flow guiding elements 30).

[0093] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations of the described examples and embodiments are possible in light of the above teaching. The disclosed examples and embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration only. Other alternate embodiments may include some or all of the features disclosed herein. Therefore, it is the intent to cover all such modifications and alternate embodiments as may come within the true scope of this disclosure.

[0094] Unless context dictates otherwise, use herein of the word or may be considered use of an inclusive or, or a term that permits inclusion or application of one or more items that are linked by the word or (e.g., a phrase A or B may be interpreted as permitting just A, as permitting just B, or as permitting both A and B). Also, as used herein, a phrase referring to at least one of a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. For instance, at least one of a, b, or c can cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiples of the same element (e.g., a-a, a-a-a, a-a-b, a-a-c, a-b-b, a-c-c, b-b, b-b-b, b-b-c, c-c, and c-c-c, or any other ordering of a, b, and c). Further, items represented in the accompanying figures and terms discussed herein may be indicative of one or more items or terms, and thus reference may be made interchangeably to single or plural forms of the items and terms in this written description.

[0095] List of Reference Characters for the Elements in the Drawings. The following is a list of the certain items in the drawings, in numerical order. Items not listed in the list may nonetheless be part of a given embodiment. For better legibility of the text, a given reference character may be recited near some, but not all, recitations of the referenced item in the text. The same reference number may be used with reference to different examples or different instances of a given item. [0096] 101 cooling system (of one aspect) [0097] 110 cooling element (of one aspect) [0098] 111 inflow channel (of one aspect) [0099] 112 outflow channel (of one aspect) [0100] 120 closing cap (of one aspect) [0101] 1 cooling system [0102] 10 cooling element [0103] 11, 13 (in)flow channel [0104] 12, 14 (out)flow channel [0105] 20, 20 flow reverse element [0106] 30 flow guiding element [0107] 31 substantially rounded surface [0108] 32 thicker portion [0109] 33 thinner portion