Three-layer heat exchanger with internal manifold for battery thermal management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11629917-B2
Application number	US-202016932571-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2020
Priority date	Jul 23, 2019
Publication date	Apr 18, 2023
Grant date	Apr 18, 2023

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for heat exchangers including a first outer plate, a second outer plate, and an intermediate plate. The intermediate plate is positioned between the outer plates. Fluid flow passages are formed between the intermediate plate and each of the outer plates.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger, comprising:
an intermediate plate positioned between a first outer plate and a second outer plate;
first fluid flow passages formed between the first outer plate and a first side of the intermediate plate;
second fluid flow passages formed between the second outer plate and a second side of the intermediate plate;
a first fluid manifold formed between the first outer plate and the first side of the intermediate plate, and the first fluid manifold positioned at a first end of the first fluid flow passages;
a second fluid manifold formed between the second outer plate and the second side of the intermediate plate, and the second fluid manifold positioned at a second end of the second fluid flow passages; and
the first fluid manifold and the second fluid manifold positioned on a first end of the heat exchanger, the first fluid manifold and the second fluid manifold located entirely inside of a plate structure defined by the first outer plate, the second outer plate, and the intermediate plate,
wherein a width of the first fluid flow passages and a width of the second fluid flow passages varies along a length of the heat exchanger in a first region of the heat exchanger, and
wherein the width of the first fluid flow passages and the width of the second fluid flow passages is substantially constant along the length of the heat exchanger in a second region of the heat exchanger.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein fluid flows from the first end of the heat exchanger, to a second end of the heat exchanger, and back to the first end of the heat exchanger.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 2 , wherein fluid flows from the first fluid manifold into the first fluid flow passages, from the first fluid flow passages into the second fluid flow passages, and from the second fluid flow passages into the second fluid manifold.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein a first port is connected to the first fluid manifold and a second port is connected to the second fluid manifold.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second sides of the intermediate plate comprise a flange which engages with a respective flange on the first and second outer plates.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein fluid flows from the first fluid manifold into the first fluid flow passages, from the first fluid flow passages into a third fluid manifold, from the third fluid manifold into a fourth fluid manifold, from the fourth fluid manifold into the second fluid flow passages, and from the second fluid flow passages into the second fluid manifold.

7. A heat exchanger, comprising:
an intermediate plate positioned between a first outer plate and a second outer plate;
first fluid flow passages formed between the first outer plate and a first side of the intermediate plate;
second fluid flow passages formed between the second outer plate and a second side of the intermediate plate;
a first fluid manifold formed between the first outer plate and the first side of the intermediate plate, and the first fluid manifold positioned at first end of the first fluid flow passages at a first longitudinal end of the heat exchanger;
a second fluid manifold formed between the second outer plate and the second side of the intermediate plate, and the second fluid manifold positioned at a second end of the second fluid flow passages at the first longitudinal end of the heat exchanger, the first fluid manifold and the second fluid manifold located entirely inside of a plate structure defined by the first outer plate, the second outer plate, and the intermediate plate; and
fluid flows from the first end of the first fluid flow passages to a second end of the first fluid flow passages, and fluid flows from a first end of the second fluid flow passages to the second end of the second fluid flow passages,
wherein a width of the first fluid flow passages and a width of the second fluid flow passages varies along a length of the heat exchanger in a first region of the heat exchanger, and
wherein the width of the first fluid flow passages and the width of the second fluid flow passages is substantially constant along the length of the heat exchanger in a second region of the heat exchanger.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 7 , wherein a third fluid manifold is positioned at the second end of the first fluid flow passages and a fourth fluid manifold is positioned at the first end of the second fluid flow passages; and
openings pass through the intermediate plate to connect the third and fourth fluid manifold.

9. The heat exchanger of claim 7 , wherein ridges on each of the first and second side of the intermediate plate form the first and second fluid flow passages.

10. The heat exchanger of claim 7 , wherein flow restrictions are positioned within each of the first and second fluid flow passages.

11. The heat exchanger of claim 7 , wherein longitudinal ridges on each of the first and second side of the intermediate plate form the first and second fluid flow passages, and
flow restrictions extending transverse to the longitudinal ridges are positioned within each of the first and second fluid flow passages.

12. The heat exchanger of claim 7 , wherein a port is positioned in each of the first and second fluid manifold on a first transverse side of the heat exchanger, and
flow restrictions are positioned within one or more of the first and second fluid flow passages on the first transverse side of the heat exchanger.

13. The heat exchanger of claim 7 , wherein fluid flows from the first fluid manifold into the first fluid flow passages, from the first fluid flow passages into a third fluid manifold, from the third fluid manifold through openings in the intermediate plate into a fourth fluid manifold, from the fourth fluid manifold into the second fluid flow passages, and from the second fluid flow passages into the second fluid manifold.

14. A heat exchanger, comprising:
an intermediate plate positioned between a first outer plate and a second outer plate;
first fluid flow passages formed between the first outer plate and a first side of the intermediate plate;
second fluid flow passages formed between the second outer plate and a second side of the intermediate plate;
a first fluid manifold formed between the first outer plate and the first side of the intermediate plate, and the first fluid manifold positioned at first end of the first fluid flow passages at a first longitudinal end of the heat exchanger;
a second fluid manifold formed between the second outer plate and the second side of the intermediate plate, and the second fluid manifold positioned at a second end of the second fluid flow passages at the first longitudinal end of the heat exchanger, the first fluid manifold and the second fluid manifold located entirely inside of a plate structure defined by the first outer plate, the second outer plate, and the intermediate plate; and
a flange on each of the first and second sides of the intermediate plate engage with a respective flange on each of the first and second outer plates,
wherein a width of the first fluid flow passages and a width of the second fluid flow passages varies along a length of the heat exchanger in a first region of the heat exchanger, and
wherein the width of the first fluid flow passages and the width of the second fluid flow passages is substantially constant along the length of the heat exchanger in a second region of the heat exchanger.

15. The heat exchanger of claim 14 , wherein flow-directing ribs are positioned in each of the first and second

Assignees

• Dana Canada Corp

Inventors

• Vakilimoghaddam Farbod
• Vucenic Nikola
• Abels Kenneth M A
• Kenney Benjamin A

Classifications

• H01M10/6567

  Liquids · CPC title

• F28D1/035 Primary

  with U-flow or serpentine-flow inside the conduits (F28D1/0341 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28D9/005

  the plates having openings therein for both heat-exchange media · 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

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title