Thermoelectric temperature-control unit and temperature-control device

Abstract

A thermoelectric temperature-control unit may include a first contact plate, a second contact plate, and at least one plate-shaped thermoelectric transducer. The thermoelectric transducer may have a first transducer side and a second transducer side facing away from the first transducer side. The thermoelectric transducer may be coupled to the first contact plate on the first transducer side and coupled to the second contact plate on the second transducer side. At least one of the first contact plate and the second contact plate may include a coupling zone on a respective inner side. A circumference of the coupling zone may be surrounded by a groove. A heat-conducting material may be arranged in the groove and along the coupling zone, and may directly contact the i) respective inner side and ii) one of the first transducer side and the second transducer side facing the respective inner side.

Claims

1. A thermoelectric temperature-control unit comprising: a first contact plate; a second contact plate; and at least one plate-shaped thermoelectric transducer having a first transducer side and a second transducer side facing away from the first transducer side; wherein the at least one thermoelectric transducer is arranged between the first contact plate and the second contact plate, is coupled in a heat-transmitting fashion to the first contact plate on the first transducer side, and is coupled to the second contact plate on the second transducer side; wherein, in a region of the at least one thermoelectric transducer, at least one of the first contact plate and the second contact plate includes a coupling zone on a respective inner side facing the other of the first contact plate and the second contact plate, a circumference of the coupling zone surrounded by a groove disposed in the respective inner side; wherein a layer of a heat-conducting material is arranged in the groove and on the coupling zone; and wherein the layer of the heat-conducting material directly contacts the respective inner side of the at least one of the first contact plate and the second contact plate and one of the first transducer side and the second transducer side facing the respective inner side.

2. The temperature-control unit according to claim 1, wherein the groove extends around a circumferential edge of the at least one thermoelectric transducer.

3. The temperature-control unit according to claim 1, wherein: the groove is at least partially defined by two groove edges facing one another, the two groove edges including a groove inner edge lying further inwards in relation to the at least one thermoelectric transducer and a groove outer edge lying further outwards in relation to the at least one thermoelectric transducer than the groove inner edge; and the groove is arranged such that a circumferential edge of the at least one thermoelectric transducer is arranged between the groove inner edge and the groove outer edge.

4. The temperature-control unit according to claim 1, wherein: the coupling zone is countersunk with respect to a surrounding region of the respective inner side, the surrounding region disposed on a side of the groove facing away from the coupling zone; and the groove is countersunk with respect to the surrounding region and with respect to the coupling zone.

5. The temperature-control unit according to claim 1, wherein the coupling zone includes a plurality of elevated portions elevated with respect to a non-elevated portion of the coupling zone.

6. The temperature-control unit according to claim 5, wherein the non-elevated portion of the coupling zone is countersunk with respect to the surrounding region.

7. The temperature-control unit according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of elevated portions lie flush in a common plane with a surrounding region.

8. The temperature-control unit according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of elevated portions are disposed integrally on the respective inner side.

9. The temperature-control unit according to claim 5, wherein the at least one thermoelectric transducer contacts the respective inner side via the layer of the heat-conducting material in a region of the plurality of elevated portions.

10. The temperature-control unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first transducer side and the second side only contacts the respective inner side via the layer of the heat-conducting material.

11. The temperature-control unit according to claim 1, wherein: the first contact plate and the second contact plate each include, in the region of the at least one thermoelectric transducer, a respective coupling zone surrounded by a respective groove; and the first transducer side and the second transducer side of the at least one thermoelectric transducer contact the respective inner side of the first contact plate and the second contact plate respectively via the layer of the heat-conducting material.

12. The temperature-control unit according to claim 11, wherein the respective coupling zone of one of the first contact plate and the second contact plate includes a plurality of elevated portions elevated with respect to a non-elevated portion of the respective coupling zone.

13. The temperature-control unit according to claim 12, wherein the respective coupling zone that does not include the plurality of elevated portions lies flush in a common plane with a surrounding region of the respective inner side, the surrounding region disposed on a side of the respective groove facing away from the respective coupling zone that does not include the plurality of elevated portions.

14. The temperature-control unit according to claim 1, wherein the groove is a stamped groove on the respective inner side.

15. A temperature-control device comprising: a cooling region couplable to a heat sink such that heat is transferable therebetween one of i) directly and ii) indirectly via a cooling path; a heating region couplable to a heat source such that heat is transferable therebetween one of i) directly and ii) indirectly via a heating path; and at least one thermoelectric temperature-control unit integrated into a heat-transmitting coupling between the cooling region and the heating region, the at least one temperature-control unit including: a first contact plate having a first inner side; a second contact plate having a second inner side facing the first inner side; at least one plate-shaped thermoelectric transducer having a first transducer side coupled in a heat-transmitting fashion to the first contact plate and a second transducer side coupled in a heat-transmitting fashion to the second contact plate, the second transducer side facing away from the first transducer side; wherein at least one of the first inner side and the second inner side includes a coupling zone in a region of the at least one thermoelectric transducer and a groove extending around the coupling zone circumferentially; wherein a layer of a heat-conducting material is arranged within the groove and on the coupling zone such that the layer of the heat-conducting material contacts i) the at least one of the first inner side and the second inner side and ii) an associated transducer side of the first transducer side and the second transducer side coupled to the at least one of the first inner side and the second inner side; and wherein the first contact plate is coupled in a heat-transmitting fashion to the cooling region and the second contact plate is coupled in a heat-transmitting fashion to the heating region.

16. The temperature-control device according to claim 15, wherein the coupling zone includes a plurality of elevated portions elevated with respect to a non-elevated portion of the coupling zone.

17. A thermoelectric temperature-control unit comprising: a first contact plate; a second contact plate; and at least one plate-shaped thermoelectric transducer having a first transducer side and a second transducer side facing away from the first transducer side, the at least one thermoelectric transducer coupled in a heat-transmitting fashion to the first contact plate on the first transducer side and coupled in a heat-transmitting fashion to the second contact plate on the second transducer side such that the at least one thermoelectric transducer is arranged between the first contact plate and the second contact plate; wherein, in a region of the at least one thermoelectric transducer, at least one of the first contact plate and the second contact plate includes a coupling zone on a respective inner side facing the other of the first contact plate and the second contact plate, a circumference of the coupling zone surrounded by a groove disposed in the respective inner side, the groove at least partially defined by two groove edges facing one another, the two groove edges including a groove inner edge and a groove outer edge, the groove inner edge lying further inwards in relation to the at least one thermoelectric transducer than the groove outer edge, the groove arranged such that a circumferential edge of the at least one thermoelectric transducer is arranged between the grove inner edge and the groove outer edge; wherein a heat-conducting material is arranged in the groove and along the coupling zone, the heat-conducting material directly contacting i) the respective inner side of the at least one of the first contact plate and the second contact plate and ii) one of the first transducer side and the second transducer side facing the respective inner side; and wherein the coupling zone includes a plurality of elevated portions.

18. The temperature-control unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoelectric transducer is floatingly coupled to at least one of the first contact plate and the second contact plate via the layer of the heat-conducting material such that the at least one thermoelectric transducer is movable along a plane extending parallel to the respective inner side.

19. The temperature-control unit according to claim 1, wherein the heat-conducting material is a viscous substance that is at least one of deformable elastically and deformable plastically such that the layer of the heat-conducting material follows relative movements between the at least one thermoelectric transducer and at least one of the first contact plate and the second contact plate.

20. The temperature-control unit according to claim 1, wherein the layer of the heat-conducting material extends coextensively across a surface of the coupling zone facing the at least one thermoelectric transducer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings, in each case in a schematic form,

(2) FIG. 1 shows a highly simplified basic side view of a high-power battery with an integrated temperature-control device which comprises a plurality of temperature-control units,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a highly simplified side view of a temperature-control device with a single temperature-control unit for another application,

(4) FIG. 3 shows an exploded illustration of such a temperature-control unit,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a further exploded illustration of the temperature-control unit, but from another point of view,

(6) FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of a detail V from FIG. 3,

(7) FIG. 6 shows an enlarged sectional view of the temperature-control device in the region of a thermoelectric transducer,

(8) FIG. 7 shows an isometric view of a contact plate of the transducer,

(9) FIG. 8 shows an enlarged isometric view of a detail VIII from FIG. 7,

(10) FIG. 9 shows an enlarged isometric view of a detail IX from FIG. 8, and

(11) FIGS. 10 to 14 show plan views of a coupling zone in various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) According to FIG. 1, a high-power battery 1 comprises a stack 2 in which plate-shaped cooling elements 4, plate-shaped temperature-control units 5 and plate-shaped battery elements 6 alternate in a stacking direction 3 in such a way that in each case a cooling element 4 is arranged between two adjacent battery elements 6, and that a temperature-control unit 5 is arranged between each cooling element 4 and each battery element 6. The plate-shaped cooling elements 4 can also be referred to as cooling plates 4 and are expediently connected to a cooling circuit 7 which is integrated, for example, into a cooling circuit of a vehicle which is equipped with the battery 1. The battery elements 6 can represent separate cells of the battery and can accordingly also be referred to as battery cells 6. The battery cells 6 are electrically connected to one another in a suitable way, for example via a battery cable 8 which is indicated here. The temperature-control units 5 can be actuated by means of a power supply 9 for heating or cooling the battery cells 6. The temperature-control units 5 each form here a component of a temperature-control device 10, which also has a cooling region 11 and a heating region 12. In the example shown here, the cooling region 11 is connected in each case directly to a heat sink, which is formed here in each case by such a cooling plate 4. The heating region 12 is connected directly to a heat source, which is formed here in each case by such a battery cell 6.

(13) FIG. 2 shows another application of such a temperature-control device 10 which has, purely by way of example, just one such temperature-control unit 5 here. In this case, the temperature-control device 10 or the temperature-control unit 5 serves again to cool a battery cell 6. The temperature-control unit 5 is for this purpose coupled, on the one hand, in a heat-transmitting fashion to the battery cell 6 and, on the other hand, in a heat-transmitting fashion to a heat sink 13, in order to be able to irradiate heat from the battery cell 6, for example to surroundings 14.

(14) According to FIGS. 3 and 4, a thermoelectric temperature-control unit 5 which can be applied in such a temperature-control device 10 comprises a first contact plate 15 and a second contact plate 16. Furthermore, the temperature-control unit 5 is equipped with at least one plate-shaped thermoelectric transducer 17 which is arranged between the two contact plates 15, 16. In the example in FIGS. 3 and 4, precisely four thermoelectric transducers 17 are provided which are connected to one another in a suitable way. Corresponding electric connecting lines are denoted by 18 in FIGS. 3 and 4. A series circuit of the thermoelectric transducers 17 can be seen here.

(15) The respective thermoelectric transducer 17 has a housing 19 which is designed in the shape of a plate and which has two large, planar outer sides which face away from one another and which form two transducer sides of the transducer 17, specifically a first transducer side 20 facing the first contact plate 15, and a second transducer side 21 facing the second contact plate 16. In the assembled state, the respective first transducer side 17 is coupled in a heat-transmitting fashion to the first contact plate 15, while the respective second transducer side 21 is coupled in a heat-transmitting fashion to the second contact plate 16.

(16) The respective housing 19 encloses, in a hermetically sealed fashion, a housing interior in which a multiplicity of thermoelectric elements are arranged in a customary fashion, said thermoelectric elements being connected to one another via conductor bridges. The thermoelectric elements are n-doped and p-doped semiconductor elements which convert an electric current into a heating current or convert a heating current into an electric current.

(17) According to FIG. 3, the second contact plate 16 has in each case one coupling zone 22 for each transducer 17. According to FIG. 4, the first contact plate 15 also has such a coupling zone 22 for each transducer 17. In the example shown, in each case four separate coupling zones 22 are accordingly provided on the two contact plates 15, 16. A small detail of such a coupling zone 22 is represented in FIG. 5 on an enlarged scale. A cross section through the temperature-control unit 5 in the region of such a transducer 17 is represented in FIG. 6, wherein the profile of a corresponding sectional line VI is indicated in FIG. 5.

(18) The coupling zones 22 are each formed here, in particular according to FIG. 6, on an inner side 23 of the first contact plate 15 or on an inner side 24 of the second contact plate 16. The inner side 23 of the first contact plate 15 faces the second contact plate 16. The inner side 24 of the second contact plate 16 faces the first contact plate 15.

(19) According to FIGS. 3 to 6 and 7 to 9, the respective coupling zone 22 is surrounded along its circumference by a groove 25 which is formed in the respective inner side 23 or 24. A heat-conducting material 26 is arranged in this groove 25, along the respective coupling zone 22. The heat-conducting material 26 can be formed by a highly viscous substance which is therefore capable of flowing and can accordingly follow relative movements between the transducer 17 and the respective contact plate 15, 16. This heat-conducting material 26 is directly in contact, on the one hand, with the respective inner side 23 or 24 of the respective contact plate 15, 16 and, on the other hand, with the respective transducer side 20, 21. As a result, the transmission of heat between the transducer 17 and the respective contact plate 15, 16 is improved. For this purpose, the heat-conducting material 26 has a relatively high heat conduction coefficient. The main effect of the heat-conducting material 26 is, however, the fact that distances between the respective transducer side 20, 21 and the respective inner side 23, 24 are filled in by the heat-conducting material 26, with the result that heat is transmitted in these regions by conduction of heat. Due to tolerances, the respective transducer side 20, 21 generally cannot bear with its complete surface against the respective inner side 23, 24 when heat-conducting material 26 is absent. In the microstructure which is actually present, there are, even with planar contact faces, always only local, punctiform contact points owing to rough areas on surfaces, with the result that apart from these punctiform contact points there is a varying distance between the respective transducer side 20, 21 and the respective inner side 23, 24, in which transmission of heat occurs only through radiation of heat, which is, for example, an order of magnitude smaller than the transmission of heat through conduction of heat. Even if the heat-conducting material 26 itself were therefore to have a smaller heat conduction coefficient than the material of the transducer sides 20, 21 and/or of the inner sides 23, 24, significantly improved transmission of heat would occur as a result of the changeover from radiation of heat to conduction of heat.

(20) As is apparent, in particular, from FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10 to 14, the respective groove 25 is expediently configured in such a way that it is arranged running all along a circumferential edge 27 of the respective transducer 17. In the case of the transducers 17 with a rectangular cross section, as shown here, a corresponding rectangular geometry is obtained for the circumferential groove 25.

(21) As is apparent from FIG. 6, in the cross section in FIG. 6 which lies in a plane which extends perpendicularly to the plane of the planar contact plates 15, 16, two groove edges facing one another are provided in the profile of the respective groove 25, these being specifically a groove inner edge 28 which lies further inwards in relation to the respective transducer 17 and a groove outer edge 29 which lies further outwards in relation to the transducer 17. The groove 25 is positioned in relation to the circumferential edge 27 of the transducer 17 in such a way that in a direction 30 of extent running parallel to the planes in which the planar contact plates 15, 16 lie, the circumferential edge 27 is arranged between the groove inner edge 28 and the groove outer edge 29.

(22) As is apparent from FIG. 6, in the case of the second contact plate 16 there is provision that the coupling zone 22 is countersunk with respect to a surrounding region 31 of the associated inner side 24. The surrounding region 31 is located here on a side of the groove 25 facing away from the coupling zone 22 and completely surrounds the groove 25. In the case of the second contact plate 16, the associated groove 25 is formed countersunk with respect to this surrounding region 31 and with respect to the coupling zone 22.

(23) According to FIGS. 3, 5 to 9 and 11 to 14 there is provision in the case of the second contact plate 16 that a plurality of elevated portions 32 are formed in the respective coupling zone 22. These elevated portions 32 are elevated with respect to the rest of the coupling zone 22. In other words, the elevated portions 32 protrude with respect to the rest of the coupling zone 22, in the direction of the respective transducer 17. In particular, it is possible to provide that the coupling zone 22 is countersunk with respect to the surrounding region 31 only outside these elevated portions 32. In other words, according to one specific embodiment it is possible to provide that the elevated portions 32 lie flush with the surrounding region 31 in a common plane 33 which is indicated in FIG. 6. The elevated portions 32 are preferably formed integrally on the respective inner side 24. Likewise, in FIG. 6 it is apparent that the transducer 17 is also in contact with the respective inner side 24 in the region of the elevated portions 32 exclusively via the heat-conducting material 26. Therefore, an embodiment is implemented here in which the transducer 17 is in contact with the inner side 23 or 24 of the respective contact plate 15, 16 exclusively via the heat-conducting material 26, at least on one of its transducer sides 20, 21, here on both transducer sides 20, 21.

(24) In the examples shown here, in the region of the transducers 17 the two contact plates 15, 16 each have such a coupling zone 22 which is surrounded in each case by such a groove 25. Likewise, the transducers 17 are in contact with the respective inner side 23, 24 of the respective contact plate 15, 16 in each case via such a heat-conducting material 26, on the two transducer sides 20, 21 of said transducers 17. In addition there is provision here that only the coupling zones 22 of the second contact plate 16 are provided with such elevated portions 32. In contrast to this, the coupling zone 22 of the first contact plate 15 is configured in a completely planar fashion, wherein the term completely is to be understood within the scope of the customary manufacturing tolerances. In particular there is provision here that the coupling zone 22 of the first contact plate 15 lies flush in a common plane 35 with a surrounding region 34 of the associated inner side 23. This surrounding region 34 is also located here on a side of the associated groove 25 facing away from the coupling zone 22, with the result that the surrounding region 34 completely surrounds the associated groove 25.

(25) The respective groove 25 is preferably formed on the respective inner side 23, 24 by means of a stamping process. Provided that the coupling zone 22 is arranged countersunk with respect to the surrounding region 31, this can also be implemented by means of a stamping process. The configuration of the elevated portions 32 also can be carried out by means of stamping, for example in that the coupling zone 22 is stamped outside the elevated portions 32.

(26) FIG. 10 shows a coupling zone 22 without elevated portions 32. For example, such a coupling zone 22 is located on the first contact plate 15. In contrast to this, FIGS. 11 to 14 show various examples of coupling zones 22 which are each equipped with elevated portions 32. These coupling zones 22 are preferably located on the second contact plate 16. The elevated portions 32 can be seen to have rectangular, in particular square, cross sections, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, in a viewing direction which is oriented perpendicularly to the plane in which the respective planar contact plate 15, 16 extends. Likewise, round, in particular circular, cross sections are possible, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. In addition, the elevated portions 32 can be implemented with different densities within the respective coupling zone 22. For example FIGS. 11 and 13 show examples with a relatively high density of the elevated portions, while FIGS. 12 and 14 show examples of a smaller density of the elevated portions.