PTC THERMISTOR MODULE

Abstract

A PTC thermistor module for a temperature control device may include at least one PTC thermistor element. The PTC thermistor element may include an upper side and an underside facing away from the upper side. The upper side and on the underside may be respectively applied in a heat-exchanging manner with a heat-conducting plate. An edge side, connecting the upper side and the underside with one another in an edge-side manner, of at least one of the PTC thermistor elements, may be applied to a heat-conducting element, which has a thermal conductivity of at least 5 W/mK. A temperature control device may include at least one such PTC thermistor module.

Claims

1. A PTC thermistor module for a temperature control device for a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one PTC thermistor element, which has an upper side and an underside facing away from the upper side, wherein an edge-side circumferential edge side of the PTC thermistor element connects the upper side and the underside with one another, with an upper heat-conducting plate, which runs along the upper side of the respective PTC thermistor element and is in heat-exchanging contact with the respective upper side, and a lower heat-conducting plate, which runs along the underside of the respective PTC thermistor element and is in heat-exchanging contact with the respective underside, wherein on the edge side of at least one of the at least one PTC thermistor elements at least one heat-conducting element is at least partly applied, which has a thermal conductivity of at least 5 W/mK.

2. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the heat-conducting elements is in heat-exchanging contact with at least one of the heat-conducting plates, in particular lies against at least one of the heat-conducting plates.

3. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the heat-conducting elements is aligned with at least one of the heat-conducting plates.

4. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein at least one row of PTC thermistor elements has at least two PTC thermistor elements spaced apart from one another along the row, at least two heat-conducting elements run along one of the rows and spaced apart from one another, wherein the PTC thermistor elements of the row are arranged between the heat-conducting elements, and the respective heat-conducting element is applied on the edge side of the respective PTC thermistor element.

5. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 4, wherein between PTC thermistor elements, spaced apart from one another, of at least one of the rows a heat-conducting element is arranged, which is applied on the edge side of at least one of the PTC thermistor elements.

6. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the heat-conducting elements is configured as a matrix with at least two mounts each of the at least two mounts being configured to receive an associated PTC thermistor element, and the edge side of at least one of the PTC thermistor elements in the associated mount is applied against the matrix.

7. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the heat-conducting elements is made from a ceramic material.

8. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the heat-conducting elements has a metallic core, wherein an electrically insulating insulation layer is arranged between the metallic core and the respective edge side, against which the heat-conducting element is applied.

9. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 8, wherein the core has at least one of a metal sheet and a metal foil.

10. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 8, wherein the insulation layer is an oxidation layer or a lacquer layer.

11. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein the PTC thermistor module has an enveloping body surrounding the heat-conducting plates.

12. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper side and the underside of at least one of the PTC thermistor elements has a length running in a longitudinal direction, which is greater than its width running transversely to the longitudinal direction.

13. A temperature control device for controlling the temperature of a fluid, comprising: a flow chamber which is flowed through by the fluid during operation; and at least one PTC thermistor module including: at least one PTC thermistor element that has an upper side and an underside facing away from the upper side, wherein an edge-side circumferential edge side of the PTC thermistor element connects the upper side and the underside with one another, an upper heat-conducting plate that runs along the upper side of the respective PTC thermistor element and is in heat-exchanging contact with the respective upper side, and a lower heat-conducting plate that runs along the underside of the respective PTC thermistor element and is in heat-exchanging contact with the respective underside, wherein the at least one PTC thermistor module is in heat-exchanging contact with the fluid flowing through the flow chamber.

14. The temperature control device according to claim 13, further comprising a rib structure, which is able to be flowed through, is arranged in the flow chamber, and wherein the rib structure is in heat-exchanging contact on the face side with the upper side of at least one of the PTC thermistor elements.

15. The temperature control device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the heat-conducting elements is in heat-exchanging contact with at least one of the heat-conducting plates and lies against at least one of the heat-conducting plates.

16. The temperature control device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the heat-conducting elements is aligned with at least one of the heat-conducting plates.

17. The temperature control device according to claim 13, wherein at least one row of PTC thermistor elements has at least two PTC thermistor elements spaced apart from one another along the row, at least two heat-conducting elements run along one of the rows and spaced apart from one another, wherein the PTC thermistor elements of the row are arranged between the heat-conducting elements, and the respective heat-conducting element is applied on the edge side of the respective PTC thermistor element.

18. The temperature control device according to claim 17, wherein between PTC thermistor elements, spaced apart from one another, of at least one of the rows a heat-conducting element is arranged, which is applied on the edge side of at least one of the PTC thermistor elements.

19. The temperature control device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the heat-conducting elements is configured as a matrix with at least two mounts, each of the at least two mounts being configured to receive an associated PTC thermistor element, and the edge side of at least one of the PTC thermistor elements in the associated mount is applied against the matrix.

20. The temperature control device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the heat-conducting elements is made from a ceramic material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] There are shown, respectively diagrammatically

[0040] FIG. 1 an isometric interior view of a temperature control device with PTC thermistor modules,

[0041] FIG. 2 an isometric, partially sectional view of a PTC thermistor module,

[0042] FIG. 3 an isometric, partially sectional view of the PTC thermistor module in another example embodiment,

[0043] FIG. 4 an isometric, partially sectional view of the PTC thermistor module in a further example embodiment,

[0044] FIG. 5 an isometric, partially sectional view of the PTC thermistor module in another example embodiment,

[0045] FIG. 6 an isometric, partially sectional view, in the manner of an exploded view, of the PTC thermistor module in a further example embodiment,

[0046] FIG. 7 a cross-section through a heat-conducting element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] A temperature control device 1, as is illustrated in FIG. 1, has at least one PTC thermistor module 2, wherein the example which is shown has several PTC thermistor modules 2, which are arranged spaced apart from one another. The PTC thermistor modules 2 are arranged in a flow chamber 3 of the temperature control device 1, through which a fluid flows along a flow path 4, and therefore flows around the PTC thermistor modules 2. Between the PTC thermistor modules 2, rib structures 5 are arranged, which lie on the face side against the PTC thermistor modules 2 and therefore enlarge a heat-transferring surface within the temperature control device 1. The temperature control device 1 can be used, for example, in a motor vehicle 6, which is otherwise not shown. Heat is generated by the respective PTC thermistor module 2, which heat is emitted to the fluid and thus heats the latter.

[0048] In FIG. 2 an example of one of the PTC thermistor modules 2 is shown. The PTC thermistor module 2 has several PTC thermistor elements 7, also designated as PTC elements 7, which respectively have a positive temperature coefficient, i.e. an increasing electrical resistance with increasing temperature. In the example which is shown, the PTC thermistor elements 7 are configured in a parallelepiped shape and have an upper side 8 and an underside 9 facing away from the upper side 8, which are connected to one another by an external, edge-side and circumferential edge side 10. Through the parallelepiped-shaped configuration of the PTC thermistor element 7, the upper side 8 and the underside 9 are respectively configured in a rectangular manner. In addition, the edge side 10 is composed of rectangular face sides 11. The elongate configuration of the upper side 8 and of the underside 9 leads to the edge side 10 being composed of two short face sides 11 lying opposite one another and two long face sides 11 lying opposite one another. The PTC thermistor elements 7 are arranged in a row 12, wherein successive short face sides 11 of the PTC thermistor elements 7 are spaced apart from one another, so that between adjacent PTC thermistor elements 7 a separation section 13 is arranged. Along the upper side 8 of the PTC thermistor elements 7 an electric line 14 runs, in particular an electrode 15, which lies, preferably directly, against the upper sides 8 and is electrically contacted with the upper sides 8 of the PTC thermistor elements 7. Along the undersides 9 a further electric line 14 runs, in particular an electrode 15, which lies, preferably directly, against the undersides 9 of the PTC thermistor elements 7 and is electrically contacted with the undersides 9. The lines 14 are spaced apart from one another and serve for the electrical supply of the PTC thermistor elements 7. The lines 14 are connected here via connections 16, visible in FIG. 1, to an electrical supplier, which is not shown, for example to an on-board supply system of the motor vehicle 6. The PTC thermistor module 2 has, in addition, an upper heat-conducting plate 17, which extends along the row 12 and therefore the upper sides 8 and is in heat-exchanging contact with the upper sides 8 of the PTC thermistor elements 7. In the example which is shown, the upper heat-conducting plate 17 lies flat against the line 14, which lies against the upper sides 8, so that the line 14 is arranged between the upper sides 8 and the upper heat-conducting plate 17. The PTC thermistor module 2 has, in addition, a lower heat-conducting plate 18 (see FIGS. 3 to 6), which is not illustrated in FIG. 2. The lower heat-conducting plate 18 runs along the row 12 and therefore along the undersides 9 of the PTC thermistor elements 7 and is in heat-exchanging contact with the undersides 9. In the example which is shown, the line 14 is arranged between the lower heat-conducting plate 18 and the undersides 9, wherein the lower heat-conducting plate 18 lies flat against the line 14. In FIG. 2, the upper heat-conducting plate 17 and the line 14, arranged between the upper heat-conducting plate 17 and the upper sides 8, are only illustrated partially here, for better understanding.

[0049] The PTC thermistor module 2 has, in addition, at least one heat-conducting element 19, which is applied at least against a portion of one of the edge sides 10, so that the heat-conducting element 19 exchanges heat with the edge side 10. In the example which is shown, two such heat-conducting elements 19 are provided, which extend respectively along the row 12, wherein the PTC thermistor elements 7 are arranged between the heat-conducting elements 19. The heat-conducting elements 19 are configured here in a strip-like manner or as a strip 20. In the example which is shown, the respective heat-conducting element 19 is applied directly against one of the large face sides 11 of the respective PTC thermistor element 7. The heat-conducting element 19 has a thermal conductivity of at least 5 W/mK, preferably at least 20 W/mK, in particular between 20 W/mK and 300 W/mK. In addition, the respective heat-conducting element 19 is expediently electrically insulating, at least at the contact surface with the respective PTC thermistor element 7, having in particular a specific electrical resistance of at least 108 .Math.cm. In the example which is shown, the heat-conducting elements 19 clamp the PTC thermistor elements 7, which are thereby fixed in a force-fitting manner. Consequently, no further fixing of the PTC thermistor elements 7 in the PTC thermistor module 2 is necessary. In the example which is shown, the heat-conducting elements 19 project over the PTC thermistor elements 7 and therefore also surround the lines 14 and the heat-conducting plates 17, 18. Here, the heat-conducting elements 18 align with the heat-conducting plates 17 such that the side of the respective heat-conducting plate 17, 18, facing away from the PTC thermistor elements 7, lies substantially in a plane with the portion of the heat-conducting elements 19 aligned thereto. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the PTC thermistor module 2 has, in addition, an enveloping body 21 which, in addition to the heat-conducting plates 17, 18, also encompasses the heat-conducting elements 19 which are configured as strip 20. The enveloping body 21 is configured as a tubular body 22 made of metal, which lies, preferably directly, against the heat-conducting plates 17, 18 and against the heat-conducting elements 19 configured as strips 20. The heat generated in the respective PTC thermistor element 7 during operation is therefore transferred both via the upper side 8 and the underside 9, and also via the large face sides 11 to the enveloping body 21, which therefore makes the heat available in the temperature control device 1, in order to heat the fluid.

[0050] The respective heat-conducting element 19 is preferably made from a ceramic material, in particular consists thereof, is therefore a ceramic strip 23. Preferred ceramic materials are aluminium nitride, boron nitride, aluminium oxide or mixtures therefrom.

[0051] It is also conceivable, in at least one of the separation sections 13, preferably in the respective separation section 13, to provide a heat-conducting element 19 which is connected in a heat-exchanging manner with the adjacent edge side 10 of at least one of the PTC thermistor elements 7, in particular lies against it, preferably directly. It is preferred here if the heat-conducting element 19 lies against both adjacent edge sides 10, in the present case therefore against both small face sides 11 adjoining the separation section 13, in particular fills the separation section 13. Said heat-conducting element 19 is advantageously made from a ceramic material, in particular a ceramic, therefore for example a ceramic stone 24, and is merely indicated in FIG. 2. The heat-conducting element 19 arranged in the separation section 13 preferably lies, in addition, preferably directly, against the heat-conducting elements 19 which are configured as a strip 20.

[0052] In FIG. 3 another example embodiment of the PTC thermistor module 2 is shown. This example differs from the example shown in FIG. 2 in that two rows 12 of the PTC thermistor elements 7 are provided, wherein these two rows 12 of the PTC thermistor elements 7 are delimited by a total of three heat-conducting elements 19, spaced apart from one another, which are respectively configured as a strip 20, in particular a ceramic strip 23. In addition, the heat-conducting elements 19, configured as strips 20, are dimensioned such that they are aligned with the upper sides 8 and the undersides 9 of the PTC thermistor elements 7, therefore do not project over the latter. The heat-conducting elements 19 configured as strips 20, in particular ceramic strips 23, have a rectangular cross-section here. The upper heat-conducting plate 17 lies here against the upper sides 8 and the sides of the heat-conducting elements 19 aligned thereto, whereas the lower heat-conducting plate 18 lies against the undersides 9 of the PTC thermistor elements 7 and the sides of the heat-conducting elements 19 aligned thereto. In this example embodiment, the heat-conducting module 2 has, in addition, no enveloping body 21, wherein it is also conceivable to provide such an enveloping body 21. In FIG. 3 the upper heat-conducting plate 17 and the lines 14 and the lower heat-conducting plate 18 are respectively illustrated partially and in section for better understanding.

[0053] In FIG. 4 a further example embodiment of the PTC thermistor module 2 is illustrated. This example embodiment differs from the example shown in FIG. 3 only in that the large face sides 11 of the PTC thermistor elements 7 of a row 12 are spaced apart from one another and lie opposite one another. Accordingly, the heat-conducting elements 19, configured as strips 20, lie against the short face sides 11 of the PTC thermistor elements 7.

[0054] A further example embodiment of the PTC thermistor module 2 is shown in FIG. 5. In this example embodiment, a single heat-conducting element 19 is provided, which is configured as a matrix 25. The heat-conducting element 19 is preferably made from a ceramic material, is therefore in particular a ceramic matrix 26. The matrix 25 has an associated mount 27 for the respective PTC thermistor element 7, in which mount the associated PTC thermistor element 7 is received and is encompassed entirely along the edge side 10. Preferably, the entire edge side 10 of the respective PTC thermistor element 7 in the associated mount 27 lies, preferably directly, against the heat-conducting element 19 which is configured as matrix 25. Here, in FIG. 5, one of the heat-conducting elements 7 is illustrated outside the associated mount 27 and one of the mounts 27 is illustrated entirely empty, i.e. without PTC thermistor element 7, for better understanding. The PTC thermistor module 2 has an upper heat-conducting plate 17 and a lower heat-conducting plate 18, wherein the upper heat-conducting plate 17 and the lower heat-conducting plate 18 lie flat against the electric lines 14, in particular electrodes 15, for the electrical supply of the PTC thermistor elements 17, which are not illustrated in FIG. 5. In the example which is shown, the matrix 25 is aligned with the upper sides 8 and the undersides 9 of the PTC thermistor elements 7. The matrix 25 is, in addition, produced from a single material and in one piece, in particular by a sintering method.

[0055] A further example embodiment of the PTC thermistor module 2 is shown in FIG. 6. In this example embodiment, again a single heat-conducting element 19 is provided, which is configured as a matrix 25, in particular ceramic matrix 26. The matrix 25 consists of two matrix halves 28, which respectively receive a row of the PTC thermistor elements 7 and therefore respectively have a row 12 of mounts 27. In the example which is shown, both matrix halves 28 are configured substantially in an identical manner and are arranged mirror-symmetrically, wherein the matrix halves 28 are connected to one another, in particular fastened to one another, between the two rows 12. The respective matrix half 28 has a T-shaped cross-section with a base body 29 and shoulders 30 projecting on both sides to a side of the base body 29, wherein the mounts 27 are formed in the base body 29. Respectively a shoulder 30 of one of the matrix halves 28 forms with the opposite shoulder 30 of the other matrix half 28 a frame in which an electric line 14, in particular electrode 15, is received for the electrical supply of the PTC thermistor elements 7. The upper heat-conducting plate 17 lies here against respectively a shoulder 30 of one of the matrix halves 28 and the line 14, which lies against the upper sides 8 of the PTC thermistor elements 7. In an analogous manner hereto, the lower heat-conducting plate 18 lies against respectively a shoulder 30 and the line 14, which lies against the undersides 9 of the heat-conducting elements 7. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the PTC thermistor elements 7 are, in addition, configured furthermore in a parallelepiped shape, but all face sides 11 are substantially equal in size. In addition, one of the PTC thermistor elements 7 is illustrated outside the associated mount 27, for better understanding.

[0056] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the PTC thermistor modules 2 have no enveloping body 21. However, it is also conceivable to provide such an enveloping body 21.

[0057] In the examples which are shown, the respective heat-conducting element 19 is made from a ceramic material.

[0058] According to FIG. 7, it is also conceivable to produce at least one of the heat-conducting elements 19 from a metallic core 31, for example a metal sheet 32 or metal foil 33, and to provide this externally with an electrically insulating insulation layer 34 which is, for example, an oxidation layer 35 or a lacquer layer 36.