Temperature Control Apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a temperature control apparatus for accommodating a battery cell (1), where a first plate (2) and/or a second plate (3) is/are provided with at least one duct (4), and the at least one duct (4) can be filled with a temperature control medium, where the battery cell (1) can be placed between the two plates (2, 3).

Claims

1. A temperature control device for receiving a battery, the temperature control device comprising: a first plate; a second plate, wherein: a battery cell is positionable between the first and second plates; and at least one of the first and second plates is provided with at least one channel through which coolant is flowable; and a coupling configured to releasably connect the at least one channel to a cooling system.

2. The temperature control device of claim 1 further comprising at least one temperature sensor mounted to a side of at least one of the first and second plates configured to face the battery cell, wherein the at least one temperature sensor does not protrude from the at least one of the first and second plates.

3. The temperature control device of claim 1 further comprising a third plate having a temperature sensor that does not protrude from the third plate.

4. The temperature control device of claim 1 further comprising spacer plates configured to surround the battery cell, wherein the thickness of all the spacer plates is substantially equal to the thickness of the battery cell.

5. The temperature control device of claim 4 further comprising a third plate for electrically contacting the battery cell.

6. The temperature control device of claim 5 wherein the spacer plates are configured to enclose the battery cell in such a way that at least two connectors of the battery cell can rest flush on the third plate.

7. The temperature control device of claim 5 wherein the coupling is automatically actuated and thereby enables automatable connection of the temperature control device to the cooling system.

8. The temperature control device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second plates has at least one temperature adjustment mechanism configured to independently adjust the temperature of the battery cell at multiple locations.

9. The temperature control device of claim 1 further comprising a force sensor configured to measure a force that acts on the battery cell.

10. The temperature control device of claim 1 further comprising an actuator configured to maintain a constant clamping force on the battery cell as the battery cell expands.

11. The temperature control device of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a force sensor and an actuator, wherein: the force sensor is configured to measure a force that acts on the battery cell; the actuator is configured to maintain a constant clamping force on the battery cell as the battery cell expands; and at least one of the force sensor and the actuator includes at least one of a piezocrystalline device, a piezoelectric device, and a magnetostrictive device.

12. A system including at least two temperature control devices connected to a coolant source, each of the at least two temperature control devices comprising: a first plate; and a second plate, wherein: a battery cell is positionable between the first and second plates; at least one of the first and second plates is provided with at least one channel through which coolant is flowable; and the at least two temperature control devices are individually separable from the system.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the coolant source includes at least one pressure accumulator.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the coolant source includes a pressure relief valve configured to allow coolant to escape.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising a coupling releasably connecting the at least one channel to the coolant source.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the coupling is automatically actuated.

17. The system of claim 12 further comprising at least one temperature sensor mounted to a side of at least one of the first and second plates configured to face the battery cell, wherein the at least one temperature sensor does not protrude from the at least one of the first and second plates.

18. The system of claim 12 further comprising a third plate having a temperature sensor that does not protrude from the third plate.

19. The system of claim 12 further comprising spacer plates configured to surround the battery cell, wherein the thickness of all the spacer plates is substantially equal to the thickness of the battery cell.

20. The system of claim 12 further comprising a third plate for electrically contacting the battery cell.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0031] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a temperature control apparatus according to the principles of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a plate with integrated temperature adjustment mechanisms according to the principles of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of plates having integrated temperature adjustment mechanisms with a battery cell in an installed state according to the principles of the present disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a temperature control apparatus including a force actuator and a force sensor according to the principles of the present disclosure.

[0036] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a temperature control device or apparatus according to the present disclosure. A first plate (2) and a second plate (3) are each located on the very outside, then followed in this embodiment by two plates (6), each of which has a plurality of temperature sensors (5) that do not protrude from the plates (6). Then followed by spacer plates (7), which ensure that a battery cell (1), which is enclosed by the spacer plates (7), is placed in such a way that connectors (9) of the battery cell (1) rest flat on a plate (8) for electrical contacting.

[0039] In the second plate (3), a coolant channel or duct (4) is introduced through milled-out portions. The second plate (3) is provided on the front side with two bores which contact couplings (10). The couplings (10) ensure a connection to an external supply or source of the temperature control medium.

[0040] If necessary, the second plate (3) can be designed with an additional pressure compensation chamber (not shown). Such a pressure equalization chamber compensates for a possible volume change in the temperature control medium when the temperature control apparatus is decoupled from the cooling circuit and the ambient temperature changes.

[0041] In such a design, the second plate (3) is still provided with a cover plate (14) such that the milled-in duct (4) is sealed.

[0042] Such a design is also possible for the first plate (2).

[0043] This exemplary embodiment shows two plates (6) which have a plurality of temperature sensors (5) which are mounted in such a way that they do not protrude from the plate. However, it is also possible to use only one plate (6). It is also possible to install only one temperature sensor in the plate (6). However, the temperature sensor(s) can also be integrated directly in the first plate (2) and/or in the second plate (3), again in such a way that the sensor or sensors do not protrude from the plate. If the sensor or sensors are installed in the first plate (2) and/or the second plate (3), no further plates (6) are required which accommodate the sensors. In order to lay the cables of the temperature sensors (5), milled-in portions are provided in this embodiment. With all the possibilities mentioned for positioning the temperature sensors (5), a local temperature measurement on the battery cell (1) is provided, and at the same time it is prevented that during assembly/pressurizing the battery cell (1) is damaged by the temperature sensors (5).

[0044] In the exemplary embodiment of the battery cell (1), the two spacer plates (7) ensure that the connectors (9) of the battery cell (1) rest flat on the plate (8) for electrical contacting. Thus, the connectors (9) are mechanically stressed as little as possible.

[0045] The plate (8) for electrical contacting is composed of 2 halves which are separated from one another.

[0046] The plate (8) for electrical contacting is used to connect the current from supplying contacts (15) to the battery cell (1).

[0047] In this embodiment, the supplying contacts (15) of the plate (8) for electrical contacting are designed on the front side.

[0048] By means of the congruent holes with which the plates are provided, the plates can be screwed together in the installation situation, for example, so that they all no longer shift relative to each other and a certain force acts on the battery cell.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows an arrangement of temperature adjustment mechanisms (11) which are incorporated in that plate which comes into direct contact with the battery cell (1).

[0050] The advantage of such an arrangement is that different temperatures can be set on the surface of the battery cell (1) at different positions. It is advantageous if this plate has a good thermal conductivity so that it enables an almost unrestricted heat transfer between the plate and battery cell (1).

[0051] The depicted matrix form of the heating elements is controlled via lines (16, 17) of a current source. These lines are arranged in a type of matrix.

[0052] If a defined point on the battery cell (1) is to be heated, a corresponding line (16) of positive polarity and a corresponding line (17) of negative polarity are activated. The duration and current intensity used in this process determine the temperature which is set at the desired point.

[0053] If a plurality of points is to be heated on the battery cell (1), a plurality of lines (16) of positive polarity and a plurality of lines (17) of negative polarity are activated in a pulsed manner.

[0054] This then results in a temperature matrix on the battery cell (1). The control of the different lines (16, 17) as well as the pulsing and the necessary current intensity are assumed by control electronics (20).

[0055] The individual temperature adjustment mechanisms (11) are supplied via the lines (16) and (17). The control electronics (20) are connected to the heating matrix via cables (18) and (19).

[0056] If a temperature adjustment mechanism (11) is to be heated, the corresponding X position in the matrix is supplied by the control electronics (20) via the corresponding cable (19) and the corresponding y position is supplied with current via the corresponding cable (18).

[0057] The temperature adjustment mechanism (11) heats up, with the current and the switch-on duration determining which temperature is achieved by the temperature adjustment mechanism (11).

[0058] If a second temperature adjustment mechanism (11) is to be heated, a different x, y position in the matrix is supplied.

[0059] In order to generate a temperature matrix, that is to say a distribution of different temperatures at different locations, the switching on of the individual temperature adjustment mechanisms (11) is clocked. This is done in such a way that different temperature adjustment mechanisms (11) are supplied, for example, several times in one second, if necessary for different lengths of time and/or if necessary, with different currents. This results in different temperatures for different temperature adjustment mechanisms (11), if required.

[0060] FIG. 3 depicts the installed battery cell (1) with two adjacent plates which have the temperature adjustment mechanisms (11) described in FIG. 2. These plates exert the pressure on the battery cell (1) which results from the bracing of the two outer plates by, for example, a bolt and a bolt nut. This pressure can be varied by tightening or releasing the bolt nut.

[0061] In addition, these outer plates can be provided with at least one duct through which a temperature control medium flows, so that heat can also be introduced or discharged with the aid of this temperature control medium.

[0062] As also described in FIG. 2, different temperature adjustment mechanisms (11) can also be controlled or operated in this embodiment by current flowing in the individual cable for the x position and for the y position.

[0063] This causes heating of the heating element (11) and thus a selective heating of the battery cell (1) at this point.

[0064] If a temperature matrix is to be achieved, here as well different temperature adjustment mechanisms are controlled in succession at defined positions. This takes place in a high cycle rate and with defined currents, which are determined by the control electronics (20).

[0065] FIG. 4 shows a battery cell (1) which is clamped between two plates. The two plates are connected to one another by screws, the screws having at least one piezocrystalline or piezoelectric spacer disk (12) or (13). By applying voltage to the piezocrystalline or piezoelectric spacer disks (12) or (13), a static or also a dynamic pressure change of the two plates on the battery cell (1) can be achieved.

[0066] Here the control of the piezocrystalline or piezoelectric spacer disk (12) or (13) can be effected with a pulse-width-modulated signal.

[0067] However, the piezocrystalline or piezoelectric spacer disks (12) or (13) can also be used to determine the pressure that is currently being applied to the battery cell (1). This is done by measuring the voltage generated by the piezocrystalline or piezoelectric spacers disks (12) or (13) under this pressure. The pressure can be deduced from this.

[0068] With such an arrangement, the possibly changed pressure due to the age-related mechanical pretension can be compensated.

[0069] Here the control of the piezocrystalline or piezoelectric spacer disks (12) or (13) can be carried out with control electronics (21). These control electronics (21) make it possible to control the piezocrystalline or piezoelectric spacer disks (12) or (13) with both a static and a dynamic signal. Thus, various “pressure” effects can be produced. Furthermore, the control electronics (21) can be used for compensation in order to compensate for existing temperature and time behavior.

[0070] Furthermore, a disk spring can be used in order to be able to adjust the application of pressure to the battery cell (1) more finely when tightening the bolt nut.

[0071] An embodiment as shown in simplified form in FIG. 4 can clearly be combined with all possible embodiments of the claims and the other figures. Likewise, any other machine element that has a similar effect or function can be used instead of the piezocrystalline or piezoelectric spacer disks (12) or (13).

[0072] During operation, the pressure can be measured and changed via the control of the piezocrystalline or piezoelectric spacer disks (12) or (13).

[0073] The piezocrystalline or piezoelectric spacer disks (12) or (13) are controlled with a pulsed signal. This prevents the piezocrystalline or piezoelectric spacer disks (12) or (13) from running away in terms of their pressure, as is the case with a constant control signal.

[0074] The pulsed control signal results in a medium pressure between the two plates which is applied to the battery cell (1).

[0075] An aging of the disk springs can also be compensated by the combination of measuring and controlling the piezocrystalline or piezoelectric spacer disk (12) or (13).

[0076] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.