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EP-3729555-B1 - AN ARRANGEMENT FOR COOLING OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE UNITS

EP3729555B1EP 3729555 B1EP3729555 B1EP 3729555B1EP-3729555-B1

Inventors

  • NESS, CHRISTIAN
  • WALLIN, Marcus

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20181213

Claims (12)

  1. An arrangement for cooling of a plurality of electrical energy storage units (1), wherein the arrangement comprises a plurality of electrical energy storage units (1), a tubular element (4) forming a cooling channel (5) in which the electrical energy storage units (1) are to be cooled by a circulating cooling medium, the tubular element (4) comprises a first plane wall element (4a) and a second plane wall element (4b) arranged in parallel at a distance from each other which is smaller than the height of the electrical energy storage units (1) and that the first plane wall element (4a) comprises through holes (11), each configured to receive and define a mounting position of an electrical energy storage unit (1) in the cooling channel (5), wherein the tubular element (4) is provided with at least one additional cooling channel (13) for a second cooling medium, characterized in that the arrangement comprises a cooling system and a refrigeration system, wherein the second cooling medium is a coolant circulating in the cooling system, wherein the refrigeration system is configured to cool the second cooling medium to a lower temperature than ambient temperature before it is directed to the additional cooling channel (13).
  2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the second wall element (4b) also comprises through holes (12) in corresponding position as the through holes (11) in the first wall element (4a).
  3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said through holes (11, 12) have a corresponding size and shape as the outer circumferential shape of the electrical energy storage units (1).
  4. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said through holes (11, 12) have a circular shape and that the electrical energy storage units (1) are shaped as right circular cylinders.
  5. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the through holes (11, 12) are arranged in a number of transverse rows in relation to the intended flow direction of the cooling medium through the cooling channel (5) and that the through holes (11, 12) in two adjacent transverse rows are transversely displaced in relation to each other.
  6. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arrangement comprises a sealing member (11a, 12a) which is configured to provide a tight seal between a surface defining the through hole (11, 12) and an outer circumferential surface of an electrical energy storage unit (1).
  7. An arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the electrical energy storage units (1) comprises an annular recess (11b, 12b) in the outer circumferential surface configured to receive the sealing member (11a, 12a).
  8. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular element (4) comprises a third wall element (4c) and a fourth wall element (4d) which are arranged in parallel and configured to connect the first wall element (4a) and the second wall element (4b).
  9. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular element (4) is designed as a material body in one piece.
  10. An arrangement according to any one of the claim 2-7, characterized in that the tubular element (4) comprises separate the wall elements (4a-d) and fastening means (14) configured to connect the wall elements (4a-d) to each other.
  11. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular element (4) is made of a material having heat transfer properties.
  12. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arrangement comprises at least two tubular elements (4) defining two cooling channels (5) arranged in parallel, an inlet channel (3) configured to direct cooling medium to the cooling channels (5) and an outlet channel (8) configured to receive cooling medium from the cooling channels (5).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART The present invention relates to an arrangement for cooling of electrical energy storage units according to the preamble of claim 1. Hybrid vehicles and pure electric vehicles may comprise an electric machine which alternately works as motor and generator, an electric energy storage for storing of electrical energy and power electronics for controlling the flow of electrical energy between the electrical energy store and the electric machine. The electrical energy storage has an optimal efficiency within a relatively low temperature range. Furthermore, an electrical energy storage should not be heated to a temperature above a maximum temperature for safety reasons. Consequently, it is important to provide an efficient cooling of the electrical energy storage during operation. Rectangular battery cells may be bundled into compact battery modules. Traditionally, such battery modules are arranged on a cooling plate and cooled from the underside by a coolant circulating in heat transferring contact with the cooling plate. Due to the fact that it is not possible to arrange cylindrical battery cells in compact battery modules, cylindrical battery cells have to be cooled in a more or less separate state. It is known to cool cylindrical battery cells in a row between two cooling plates provided with half circular recesses. In this case, the cooling plates have a complicated shape and they are large and space consuming. US 2007/0046259 shows a battery array which cools cylindrical battery modules by flowing cooling air through a holder case housing three or more levels of battery modules. Each battery module comprises a plurality of individual battery cells joined in a straight-line fashion. The holder case is provided with opposing side wall elements defining a flow path of the cooling air in contact with the battery modules. The battery array is provided with an inlet air duct directing air to the holder cases and an exhaust duct receiving air from the holder case. US 2014/0162106 shows a battery arrangement for cooling a battery in the form of a plurality of cylindrical battery cells. The battery cells are arranged parallel to one another so that an intermediate space exist between adjacent battery cells. A terminal plate and a perforated plate are arranged above the battery. Coolant is sprayed through holes of the perforated plate. The coolant is temporarily accommodated in splash pots of the terminal plate before it passes down through holes in the terminal plate and into the intermediate spaces between the battery cells. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement providing an effective cooling of electrical energy storage units in a simple and reliable manner. This object is achieved by the arrangement defined in claim 1. According to one embodiment, the tubular element comprises opposite end walls, and at least one opening is provided in a first end wall and a at least one opening is provided in the opposite end wall. The openings are connected to a circuit comprising a cooling medium and a pump for pumping the cooling medium through the circuit and, thereby, through the tubular element via said openings. The tubular element comprises a first plane wall element and a second plane wall element arranged in parallel at a distance from each other which is smaller than a height of the electrical energy storage units. The first plane wall element is connected to the second plane wall element by third and fourth side wall elements, such that said flow path/cooling channel is defined. End walls may be arranged opposite to each other at ends of the mentioned wall elements. Furthermore, the first plane wall element comprises through holes each configured to receive and define a mounting position for one electrical energy storage unit in the cooling channel. According to one embodiment, the arrangement comprises at least one electrical energy storage unit, which is inserted in a through hole in the first plane wall element and which extends in a longitudinal direction thereof from said first plane wall element towards the second plane wall element. The electrical energy storage unit protrudes through the through hole, and comprises a positive and/or negative electrical pole at an end of the electrical energy storage unit, said pole being exposed outside said cooling channel and being accessible from outside the tubular element. Such a design of the tubular element makes it is possible to insert each electrical energy unit via a through hole in the first wall element to a mounting position in the tubular element. In the mounting position, a bottom surfaces of each electrical energy unit may be supported by an inner surface of the second wall element. Furthermore, an upper portion of each electrical energy unit may supported by the surfaces of the first wall element defining the through holes. Preferably, the distance between the firs