Technical field

This invention relates to heat exchangers field designed especially for cooling or heating of battery cells (accumulators), which are aligned next to each other and/or above each other and creates battery module that is used as power source for example in electric vehicles.

More specifically, it relates to heat exchanger containing polymeric hollow fibers aligned in row through which a thermally regulated fluid flows.

Background of invention

Such a heat exchanger is known e.g. from patent PV 2018-192, describing heat exchanger module for battery cells which is composed at least one polymeric hollow fiber row that are connected with inlet tank on one end and with outlet tank on the other end of fibers. Individual polymeric hollow fiber rows are oriented perpendicularly to battery cell axis and are placed into free space between battery cells. Polymeric hollow fiber row is connected to tank via flange which also creates pressure on gasket placed on the polymeric hollow fiber row and inserted in groove of tank. Inlet and outlet tank with flange are made from plastic for elimination of electric shortcut, weight reduction and avoidance of thermal loss in inefficient area in case of placing heat exchanger into battery module.

The dimensions of such a heat exchanger are directly dependent on the arrangement and number of battery cells in the battery module, where the length of polymeric fibers grow when the number of battery cells in a row increases, whereby dimensions of tanks and flanges are unchanged. There is also option to orientate polymeric hollow fibers of heat exchanger along to (or perpendicularly) row of battery cells considering a pressure drop of heat exchanger that increases when the length of polymeric fiber grow and also in respect to required position of inlet and outlet tank connection to circuit of thermal management.

In case of battery module whose battery cells number in a row is significantly lower than number of rows and in combination with necessary orientation of polymeric hollow fibers along to rows of battery cells is application of heat exchanger described in patent PV 2018-192 inappropriate in terms of the ratio of final installation dimensions to the number of battery cells used. In other words, the inlet and outlet tanks with flanges occupy the space of two battery cells in each row inside the battery module. The trend at the time of filing this patent application is to achieve the highest volumetric energy density of the battery modules.

When using a liquid such as a water-glycol mixture as the medium for the heat exchanger described in PV 2018-192 air may accumulate and retain at the top of the heat exchanger during filling, which might cause performance drop of heat exchanger.

Object of this invention is to create alternative of plastic heat exchanger that will allow distribution of fluid from one side of heat exchanger only, on which the inlet and outlet tanks will be placed. This will free up space for the installation of more battery cells in the battery module and the heat exchanger will be provided with a degas spout to ensure proper fluid filling. Weight and

manufacturing requirements will decrease as well. Summary of Invention

The aforementioned object is achieved by a heat exchanger with a double manifold whose essence is one double manifold with two integrated channels for inlet and outlet of fluid that is composed from inlet tank, several types of manifold components and outlet tank. The heat transfer surface is formed by hollow polymeric fibers rows which are guided around each row of battery cells and which connect the two channels in the manifold to form the final heat exchanger.

One of the manifold components is provided with degas spout that is positioned in the highest place of heat exchanger after installation to battery module, is part of one of integrated channels and allows correct and complete filling of the heat exchanger with liquid.

Each row of polymeric hollow fibers is provided with gasket on both ends which is inserted between two consecutive parts of double manifold (tank or manifold component) into grooves and by joining of those two parts sealing is achieved. Individual parts of double manifold can be joined by gluing, welding or other mechanical joint.

This creates a double manifold heat exchanger for battery cells with significantly lower weight and half the number of joints of the individual parts which are usually potential fault locations. Thanks to this one-sided variant, the saved space can be used to increase the number of battery cells and the use of a degas spout simplifies the heat exchanger filling without the need for additional handling.

Brief Description of Drawings

The invention will be further clarified by means of examples of a possible double manifold heat exchanger design for battery cells.

Variant no. 1:

Fig. 1. - axonometric view of a possible heat exchanger with double manifold.

Fig. 2. - longitudinal section through the center of the first of the 2 integrated manifold channels.

Fig. 3. - two cross-sectional views through a manifold component and a row of polymeric hollow fibers. Fig. 4. - two axonometric views of three different manifold components.

Variant no. 2:

Fig. 5. - axonometric view of a possible heat exchanger with double manifold.

Fig. 6. - longitudinal section through the center of the first of the 2 integrated manifold channels.

Fig. 7. - longitudinal section through the center of the second of the 2 integrated manifold channels. Fig. 8. - two axonometric views of the manifold component.

Fig. 9. - two cross-sectional views through a manifold component and a row of polymeric hollow fibers. Variant no. 3:

Fig. 10. - axonometric view of a possible heat exchanger with double manifold.

Variant no. 4:

Fig. 11. - axonometric view of a possible heat exchanger with double manifold. Description of Embodiments

The heat exchanger with double manifold shown in FIG. 1 consists of four polymeric hollow fibers rows 6, whose both ends are connected with a double manifold that is formed by inlet tank l _j manifold component 2 and degas spout 8, three pairs of different manifold components 3 and 4 and outlet tank 5. In the space between the polymeric hollow fibers rows 6, battery cells 7 are placed, which are arranged in rows perpendicular to the of polymeric hollow fibers rows 6.

Joint of polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 with double manifold is shown in section on Fig. 2 and is formed from a gasket 9, which are applied to the edges of the polymeric hollow fibers rows 6_and are inserted into the grooves on the inlet tank l _j manifold components 2, 3 and 4, and outlet tank 5, and then sealed by joining the parts together that will create double manifold with two integrated channels. On the contact surfaces of the inlet tank 1, manifold components 2, 3 and 4, and outlet tank 5 the joint is formed e.g. by gluing or by vibration welding.

Joint of polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 into both integrated channels in created manifold is shown by two cross sections on Fig. 3, wherein the upper section goes through contact surface between the manifold component 2 with degas spout 8 and manifold component 3, that is not shown in section. The lower section goes through contact surface between manifold component 4 and manifold component 3, that is not shown in section. The upper section shows inlet into polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 and placing between battery cells 7. The lower section shows outlet from polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 and more precisely specifies the location between the battery cells 7.

The difference between manifold component 2 with degas spout, manifold component 3 and to him a mirror-inverted manifold component 4 and their arrangement is shown by two axonometric views on Fig. 4, from which it is also evident principle the creation of two integrated channels in the double manifold.

On Fig. 5 is shown similar type of heat exchanger with double manifold assembled from four polymeric hollow fibres rows 6, whose both ends are connected with a double manifold that is formed by inlet tank 1, seven symmetrical manifold components 11 and outlet tank JO with two outlet spouts from one integrated channel, whereby those outlet spouts shapes don't need to be equal and the spout placed higher can be used as degas spout during filling fluid as well. Into the space between polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 the battery cells 7 are placed, which are arranged in rows perpendicular to the of polymeric hollow fibers rows 6.

Joint of polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 with double manifold is shown in section on Fig. 6 and is similar to the first example. Again, it is formed from gasket 9, which are applied to the edges of the polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 and are inserted into the grooves on the inlet tank 1, symmetrical manifold components 11 and outlet tank 10 with two outlet spouts and then sealed by joining those parts together, that will create double manifold with two integrated channels. On the contact surfaces of the inlet tank 1 , symmetrical manifold components 11, and outlet tank 10 with two outlet spouts the joint is formed e.g. by gluing or by vibration welding.

On Fig. 7 section through the center of the upper outlet spout on the outlet tank and over whole double manifold is shown, where in comparison with Fig. 6 it is obvious connection of the ends of the polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 into individual integrated channels in double manifold.

Using a single manifold component type ll _j whose two axonometric views are shown in FIG. 8, is possible due to its symmetrical shape. Two symmetrical manifold components 11 side by side are rotated 180 ° to each other and create part of double manifold with two integrated channels. Joint of polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 into both integrated channels in formed double manifold with outlet tank 1Ό that has two outlet spouts is shown in two sections on Fig. 9, wherein the upper section goes through contact surface between the symmetrical manifold components 11 and is oriented towards the outlet tank 10 with two outlet spouts. The lower section goes through the same contact surface of symmetrical manifold component 11 and is oriented towards the inlet tank 1. The upper section shows outlet from polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 and placing between battery cells 7, The lower section shows inlet into polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 and more precisely specifies the location between the battery cells 7.

On Fig. 10 is shown second similar type of heat exchanger with double manifold assembled from four polymeric hollow fibres rows 6, whose both ends are connected with a double manifold that is in this example formed by cover 12, manifold component 2 with degas spout 8, three pairs of different manifold components 3 and 4 and outlet tank 10 with two spouts, wherein the lower spout is used as inlet spout and the upper spout is used as outlet spout. Into the space between polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 the battery cells 7 are placed, which are arranged in rows perpendicular to the of polymeric hollow fibers rows 6. Joint of polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 into both integrated channels of double manifold is the same as in the first example.

On Fig. 11 is shown third similar type of heat exchanger with double manifold assembled from four polymeric hollow fibres rows 6, whose both ends are connected with a double manifold that is in this example formed by two covers 2, manifold component 2 with degas spout 8, three manifold components 3, two manifold components 4 and manifold component 13 with two spouts, wherein the lower spout is used as inlet spout and the upper spout is used as outlet spout. This manifold component 13 replaces both tanks in the assembly and can be placed anywhere between two covers 12 in the double manifold. Into the space between polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 the battery cells 7 are placed, which are arranged in rows perpendicular to the of polymeric hollow fibers rows 6. Joint of polymeric hollow fibers rows 6 into both integrated channels of double manifold is the same as in the first example with the only difference that the tanks are replaced with covers 22-

Other similar types of double-manifold heat exchanger can be achieved by various combinations of these parts or by their simple modification, where, for example, the part of double manifold will be one manifold component with inlet spout and a second manifold component with outlet spout.

Claims

1. Fleat exchanger with double manifold that is designed for thermal management of battery cells and is formed at least one polymer hollow fibers row (6), which is placed between battery cells (7) is characterized in that both ends of polymeric hollow fibers row/s (6) are connected to one manifold with integrated channels to which are connected inlet tank (1) for medium inlet through integrated channel in manifold into polymer hollow fibers row/s (6) and outlet tank (5) for medium outlet through other integrated channel in manifold from the other end of polymer hollow fibers row/s (6).

2. Heat exchanger with double manifold according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of integrated channels in manifold is provided with degas spout (8).

3. Double manifold that is part of heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that it is composed from individual manifold components (2), (3) and (4), inlet tank (1) or cover (12) and outlet tank (5) or (10), which by their connection creates integrated channels, pressure on gasket placed on polymeric hollow fiber row (6) and at the same time for connection of polymeric hollow fiber row/s (6) into relevant integrated channels. Double manifold that is part of heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that it is composed from individual manifold components (11), inlet tank (1) and outlet tank (10), which by their connection creates integrated channels, pressure on gasket placed on polymeric hollow fiber row (6) and at the same time for connection of polymeric hollow fiber row/s (6) into relevant integrated channels. Double manifold that is part of heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that it is composed from individual manifold components (2), (3) and (4) or(ll) and two covers (12), which by their connection creates integrated channels, pressure on gasket placed on polymeric hollow fiber row (6) and at the same time for connection of polymeric hollow fiber row/s (6) into relevant integrated channels, whereby at least one of manifold components (2), (3), (4) and (11) is provided with at least one inlet and/or outlet spout. Double manifold according to claim 3, 4 and 5, characterized in that the individual components of which it is composed are made of plastic or plastic composites. Double manifold according to claim 3, 4 and 5, characterized in that the individual components are joined together by gluing, welding or mechanical joint. Double manifold according to claim 3, 4 and 5, characterized in that it contains at least two integrated channels for fluid distribution from/to polymeric hollow fiber row/s (6). Double manifold according to claim 3 and 4, characterized in that its inlet tank (1) and outlet tank (5) or (10) have at least one spout.