Heat exchanger with regional flow distribution for uniform cooling of battery cells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10355331-B2
Application number	US-201615172677-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2016
Priority date	Jun 4, 2015
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A heat exchanger panel has a heat transfer surface with first and second heat transfer zones of different cooling capacities. Each zone has a subgroup of fluid flow passages having a flow capacity, each extending between a fluid inlet passage and a fluid outlet passage. Where one of the zones is adapted for cooling the tabs of a battery cell, the heat exchanger panel comprises at least one first header located at an end of the panel, including a fluid inlet header and/or a fluid outlet header, a second header at the opposite end of the panel, and a plurality of flow passages extending between the headers. At least one header has a height which is greater than the height of the flow passages, and is substantially the same as a spacing between tabs of adjacent batteries when separated by one of said heat exchanger panels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger panel having an external heat transfer surface, the surface having a first heat transfer zone and a second heat transfer zone, the heat exchanger panel comprising:
(a) a first subgroup of fluid flow passages provided in the first heat transfer zone, wherein the first subgroup of fluid flow passages has a first flow capacity;
(b) a second subgroup of fluid flow passages provided in the second heat transfer zone, wherein the second subgroup of fluid flow passages has a second flow capacity which is less than the first flow capacity;
(c) at least one fluid inlet passage;
(d) at least one fluid outlet passage;
(e) a fluid inlet opening in flow communication with the at least one fluid inlet passage; and
(f) a fluid outlet opening in flow communication with the at least one fluid outlet passage;
wherein each of the fluid flow passages has a first end which is connected to, and in flow communication with, one of said at least one fluid inlet passages;
wherein each of the fluid flow passages has a second end which is connected to, and in flow communication with, one of said at least one fluid outlet passages;
wherein the at least one fluid inlet passage comprises first and second said fluid inlet passages which are both in flow communication with the fluid inlet opening, and/or the at least one fluid outlet passage comprises first and second said fluid outlet passages which are both in flow communication with the fluid inlet opening;
wherein:
(i) where the at least one fluid inlet passage includes said first and second fluid inlet passages:
the first end of each of the first subgroup of fluid flow passages is in flow communication only with the first fluid inlet passage;
the first end of each of the second subgroup of fluid flow passages is in flow communication only with the second fluid inlet passage; and
the first and second fluid inlet passages are separated by an inlet passage rib, wherein the inlet passage rib has a terminal end which is spaced from an edge of the fluid inlet opening, such that a fluid distribution space is provided between the edge of the fluid inlet opening and the terminal end of the inlet passage rib; and/or

(ii) where the at least one fluid outlet passage includes said first and second fluid outlet passages:
the second end of each of the first subgroup of fluid flow passages is in flow communication only with the first fluid outlet passage;
the second end of each of the second subgroup of fluid flow passages is in flow communication only with the second fluid outlet passage; and
the first and second fluid outlet passages are separated by an outlet passage rib, wherein the outlet passage rib has a terminal end which is spaced from an edge of the fluid outlet opening, such that a fluid distribution space is provided between the edge of the fluid outlet opening and the terminal end of the outlet passage rib.

2. The heat exchanger panel according to claim 1 , wherein the first end of each of the fluid flow passages is connected to one of said at least one fluid inlet passages at an angle of about 90 degrees;
wherein the second end of each of the fluid flow passages is connected to one of said at least one fluid outlet passages at an angle of about 90 degrees;
wherein each of the first subgroup of fluid flow passages is substantially straight and parallel to each of the other fluid flow passages of the first subgroup;
wherein each of the second subgroup of fluid flow passages is substantially straight and parallel to each of the other fluid flow passages of the second subgroup; and
wherein the first subgroup of fluid flow passages is substantially parallel to the second subgroup of fluid flow passages.

3. The heat exchanger panel according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second subgroups of fluid flow passages are generally oriented along a first axis of the heat exchanger panel;
wherein each of the fluid inlet and outlet passages is generally oriented along a second axis of the heat exchanger panel along at least a portion of its length;
wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis; and
wherein each of the fluid inlet and outlet passages is substantially parallel to the second axis, at least in areas where it is connected to the ends of the fluid flow passages.

4. The heat exchanger panel according to claim 1 , wherein each of the fluid inlet and outlet passages is located proximate to an edge of the panel, at least in areas where it is connected to the ends of the fluid flow passages.

5. The heat exchanger panel according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow passages of the first and second subgroups are of substantially the same width and height;
wherein a difference between the first flow capacity and the second flow capacity is at least partly due to the provision of local flow restrictions in at least some of the fluid flow passages of the first subgroup and/or the second subgroup; and
wherein each of the local flow restrictions comprises a deformation in the shape of one of the fluid flow passages which locally reduces its cross section.

6. The heat exchanger panel according to claim 1 , wherein a difference between the first flow capacity and the second flow capacity is at least partly due to the provision of at least some of the fluid flow passages of the first subgroup with a greater width than at least some of the fluid flow passages of the second subgroup.

7. The heat exchanger panel according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first subgroup of fluid flow passages has substantially the same fluid-carrying capacity; and/or each of the second subgroup of fluid flow passages has substantially the same fluid-carrying capacity.

8. The heat exchanger panel according to claim 1 , wherein a fluid-carrying capacity of the fluid flow passages within the first subgroup and/or the second subgroup is variable, such that a graded cooling capacity is provided in the first heat transfer zone and/or the second heat transfer zone;
wherein the variability of the fluid-carrying capacities of the fluid flow passages within the first subgroup and/or the second subgroup is at least partly due to the provision of local flow restrictions in at least some of the fluid flow passages of the first subgroup and/or the second subgroup; and
wherein each of the local flow restrictions comprises a deformation in the shape of one of the fluid flow passages which locally reduces its cross section.

9. The heat exchanger panel according to claim 1 , wherein a fluid-carrying capacity of the fluid flow passages within the first subgroup and/or the second subgroup is variable, such that a graded cooling capacity is provided in the first heat transfer zone and/or the second heat transfer zone; and
wherein the variability of the fluid-carrying capacities of the fluid flow passages is provided at least partly by varying the widths of the fluid flow passages of the first subgroup and/or the second subgroup.

10. The heat exchanger panel according to claim 1 , having two of said heat transfer surfaces.

11. The heat exchanger panel according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid inlet passage includes said first and second fluid inlet passages separated by a first said inlet passage rib, and wherein the heat exchanger panel further comprises a third said fluid inlet passage separated from the second fluid inlet passage by a second said inlet passage rib;
wherein the second inlet passage rib has a terminal end which is spaced from the edge of the fluid inlet opening; and
wherein the terminal end of the first inlet passage rib is spaced from the edge of the fluid inlet opening by a greater distance than the

Assignees

• Dana Canada Corp

Inventors

• Kenney Benjamin A
• Machler Meinrad K A
• So Allan K

Classifications

• H01M10/6557

  arranged between the cells · CPC title

• F28F2210/10

  Particular layout, e.g. for uniform temperature distribution · CPC title

• F28F3/12

  Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels {(F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence)} · CPC title

• H01M10/647

  Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells · CPC title

• F28F9/0265

  by using guiding means or impingement means inside the header box · CPC title