JP7380248B2 - cooling system - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to cooling systems.

Conventionally, there is a battery cooler described in Patent Document 1 below. The battery cooler described in Patent Document 1 includes a plate member having a flow path therein. A battery can be installed on the outer surface of the plate member. In this battery cooler, it is possible to cool the battery by exchanging heat between the battery installed on the outer surface of the plate member and the refrigerant flowing through the flow path inside the plate member. .

JP2013-26228A

By the way, one possible method for cooling a large number of batteries is to arrange a plurality of coolers in parallel and then flow a refrigerant through the coolers. However, when a plurality of coolers are arranged in parallel, there is a possibility that the amount of refrigerant distributed to each cooler may vary. When liquid-phase refrigerant is supplied to each cooler, if there is variation in the amount of liquid-phase refrigerant distributed between each cooler, the liquid-phase refrigerant will dry out in the cooler with a small flow rate, which will cause the Gas-phase refrigerant tends to exist on the downstream side, making it difficult to cool the battery. This may shorten the life of the battery or, in the worst case, cause an abnormality in the battery.

The present disclosure has been made in view of these circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a cooling system that can suppress battery deterioration while making it possible to cool a plurality of batteries.

A cooling system that solves the above problem includes a plurality of coolers (30, 31, 32, 33) and a refrigerant supply channel (W20). The cooler has a heat exchange section (300, 310, 320, 330) that cools the battery by exchanging heat between the refrigerant flowing therein and the battery (20). The refrigerant supply channel supplies refrigerant to the plurality of coolers. The refrigerant supply channel includes a main channel (W21) through which the refrigerant flows, and a plurality of branch channels (W22a, W22b, W22c, W22d) that branch from the main channel and distribute the refrigerant to each of the plurality of coolers . A refrigerant discharge channel (W30) is formed in which refrigerants discharged from the plurality of coolers through the plurality of branch channels flow together. By arranging the coolers in each of the plurality of branch flow paths, the refrigerant is supplied to the plurality of coolers in parallel. When the part of the refrigerant supply flow path where the main flow path branches into the branch flow path is defined as a branch part (Pb), a constriction part (301, 311, 321, 331) is provided in the part from the branch part to the heat exchange part. It is being The refrigerant discharge channel is provided with a second restrictor (70) that adjusts the flow rate of the refrigerant.

According to this configuration, a plurality of batteries can be cooled by cooling the batteries with each of the plurality of coolers. Further, since the flow rate of the refrigerant supplied to each of the heat exchange parts of the plurality of coolers is adjusted by the throttle part, variations in the amount of refrigerant distributed to each heat exchange part are suppressed. This makes it possible to cool the plurality of batteries more uniformly, thereby suppressing battery deterioration.

Note that the above-mentioned means and the reference numerals in parentheses described in the claims are examples showing correspondences with specific means described in the embodiments to be described later.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a cooling system that can suppress battery deterioration while making it possible to cool a plurality of batteries.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cooling system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cooling system according to a first modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cooling system according to a second modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cooling system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cooling system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cooling system according to a fourth embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the cooling system will be described with reference to the drawings. In order to facilitate understanding of the description, the same components in each drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible, and redundant description will be omitted.
<First embodiment>
First, a cooling system 10 according to a first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The cooling system 10 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted, for example, on a vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with a plurality of batteries 20 for supplying power to a driving motor and various electronic devices. The cooling system 10 is a system for cooling these batteries 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling system 10 includes a plurality of coolers 30 to 33, a compressor 40, and a condenser 50. The coolers 30 to 33, the compressor 40, and the condenser 50 are connected in an annular manner through a refrigerant flow path W10. A refrigerant circulates through the coolers 30 to 33, the compressor 40, and the condenser 50 through a refrigerant flow path W10.

The compressor 40 compresses and discharges the refrigerant. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas phase refrigerant compressed by the compressor 40 is supplied to the condenser 50 .
The condenser 50 cools and condenses the vapor-phase refrigerant by exchanging heat between the high-temperature, high-pressure vapor-phase refrigerant flowing inside the condenser 50 and the air flowing outside. The liquid phase refrigerant condensed in the condenser 50 is supplied to each of the coolers 30 to 33 through a refrigerant supply passage W20 that constitutes a part of the refrigerant passage W10.

The refrigerant supply passage W20 has a main passage W21 through which the liquid phase refrigerant condensed in the condenser 50 flows, and branch passages W22a to W22d branching from the main passage W21. The branch channels W22a to W22d distribute the liquid phase refrigerant flowing through the main channel W21 to the respective coolers 30 to 33. A branch portion Pb in the figure indicates a portion of the refrigerant supply flow path W20 where the main flow path W21 branches into branch flow paths W22a to W22d. Coolant is supplied to the coolers 30 to 33 in parallel by disposing the coolers 30 to 33 in the plurality of branch channels W22a to W22d, respectively.

The cooler 30 has a heat exchange section 300 and a constriction section 301.
A liquid phase refrigerant is supplied to the heat exchange section 300 through the branch flow path W22a. A flow path 302 through which a liquid phase refrigerant flows is formed inside the heat exchange section 300. A plurality of batteries 20 are installed on the upper surface of the heat exchange section 300. In the heat exchange section 300, the battery 20 is cooled by heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through the flow path 302 inside the heat exchange section 300 and the battery 20. In the flow path 302, the temperature of the refrigerant increases due to heat exchange with the battery 20. Therefore, from the upstream side to the downstream side of the flow path 302, the liquid refrigerant changes into a two-phase refrigerant in which a gas phase and a liquid phase are mixed.

The constriction section 301 is provided integrally with the heat exchange section 300. The throttle section 301 is provided between the branch flow path W22a and the heat exchange section 300. The throttle section 301 consists of a fixed throttle valve whose throttle opening degree is fixed at a constant opening degree. The throttle section 301 adjusts the flow rate of the liquid phase refrigerant flowing into the heat exchange section 300 from the branch channel W22a by narrowing the channel through which the liquid phase refrigerant flows. The depressurized liquid refrigerant flows into the heat exchange section 300 through the throttle section 301 .

Like the cooler 30, the coolers 31 to 33 have heat exchange sections 310, 320, and 330, and throttle sections 311, 321, and 331, respectively. In the heat exchange sections 31 to 33, the battery 20 is cooled by heat exchange between the battery 20 and the refrigerant flowing through the channels 312, 322, 332 formed therein. The throttle parts 311, 321, and 331 adjust the flow rate of the liquid phase refrigerant flowing into the heat exchange parts 31 to 33 from the branch channels W22b to 22d.

The refrigerant discharged from each of the coolers 30 to 33 flows to the compressor 40 through a refrigerant discharge passage W30 that constitutes a part of the refrigerant passage W10. The refrigerant discharge passage W30 has branch passages W31a to W31d and a main passage W32. Refrigerant discharged from the heat exchange sections 300, 310, 320, and 330 of the coolers 30 to 33 flows through the branch channels W31a to W31d, respectively. The main flow path W32 merges the refrigerant flowing through the branch flow paths W31a to W31d and guides it to the compressor 40.

Note that the main flow path W32 may be provided with an accumulator that separates the two-phase refrigerant discharged from the coolers 30 to 33 into liquid-phase refrigerant and gas-phase refrigerant and stores surplus refrigerant. Thereby, the gas phase refrigerant separated by the accumulator can be supplied to the compressor 40.
According to the cooling system 10 of the present embodiment described above, the functions and effects shown in (1) to (3) below can be obtained.

(1) Since the batteries 20 can be cooled by each of the plurality of coolers 30 to 33, the plurality of batteries 20 can be cooled. In addition, since the flow rate of the refrigerant supplied to the heat exchange parts 300, 310, 320, 330 of the plurality of coolers 30 to 33 is adjusted by the throttle parts 301, 311, 321, 331, each heat exchange part 300, Variations in the distribution amounts of refrigerants 310, 320, and 330 are suppressed. This makes it possible to cool the plurality of batteries 20 more uniformly, so that deterioration of the batteries 20 can be suppressed.

(2) The throttle parts 301, 311, 321, and 331 are provided for each of the heat exchange parts 300, 310, 320, and 330 of all the coolers 30 to 33. According to such a configuration, it is possible to adjust the amount of refrigerant distributed among all the heat exchange units 300, 310, 320, and 330, so that variations in the amount of refrigerant distributed among the coolers 30 to 33 can be more accurately reduced. Can be suppressed. Therefore, it becomes possible to cool the plurality of batteries 20 more uniformly.

(3) The throttle parts 301, 311, 321, and 331 are fixed throttle valves. According to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress variations in the amount of refrigerant distributed among the heat exchange sections 300, 310, 320, and 330 with a simple structure.
(First modification)
Next, a first modification of the cooling system 10 of the first embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the cooling system 10 of this modified example, throttle portions 301, 311, 321, and 331 are arranged in branch flow paths W22a to W22d, respectively. That is, the throttle parts 301, 311, 321, and 331 are provided separately from the coolers 30 to 33. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the same or similar operations and effects as those of the cooling system 10 of the first embodiment.

(Second modification)
Next, a second modification of the cooling system 10 of the second embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the cooling system 10 of this modification, a constriction part 60 is provided between the connecting part P1 of the branch channel W22a and the branch channel W22b and the branch part Pb. The throttle section 60 adjusts the flow rate of the liquid phase refrigerant flowing into the heat exchange sections 300 and 310 of the coolers 30 and 31, respectively. Further, a constriction portion 61 is also provided between the connecting portion P2 between the branch flow path W22c and the branch flow path W22d and the branch portion Pb. The throttle section 61 adjusts the flow rate of the liquid phase refrigerant flowing into the heat exchange sections 320 and 330 of the coolers 32 and 33, respectively. The throttle parts 60 and 61 are fixed throttle valves. In this modification, the throttle section 60 corresponds to the throttle section shared by the coolers 30 and 31, and the throttle section 61 corresponds to the throttle section shared by the coolers 32 and 33. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to suppress variations in the amount of refrigerant distributed among the heat exchange sections 300, 310, 320, and 330.

Note that the throttle part can be placed at any part between the branch part Pb and the heat exchange parts 300, 310, 320, and 330.
<Second embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the cooling system 10 will be described. Hereinafter, differences from the cooling system 10 of the first embodiment will be mainly explained.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the cooling system 10 of this embodiment, a constriction section 70 is provided in the main flow path W32 of the refrigerant discharge flow path W30. The throttle section 70 consists of an electric throttle valve. The throttle section 70 adjusts the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through each of the heat exchange sections 300, 310, 320, and 330 of the coolers 30 to 33 by narrowing the refrigerant discharge passage W30. As a result, since the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through each heat exchange section 300, 310, 320, 330 can be adjusted, the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchange section 300, 310, 320, 330 can be controlled to suppress evaporation of the liquid phase refrigerant. It is now possible to control the temperature to a certain level.

In this embodiment, the throttle parts 301, 311, 321, and 331 correspond to the first throttle part, and the throttle part 70 corresponds to the second throttle part and the battery electric throttle valve.
According to the cooling system 10 of this embodiment described above, the operation and effect shown in (4) below can be obtained.

(4) In the heat exchange parts 300, 310, 320, 330, the temperature of the refrigerant increases as it goes downstream of the flow paths 302, 312, 322, 332 due to heat exchange with the battery 20, so the gas phase refrigerant Easy to generate. When the amount of gas phase refrigerant present downstream of the heat exchange parts 300, 310, 320, 330 increases, the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange parts 300, 310, 320, 330 decreases in that part, so multiple batteries 20 becomes difficult to cool uniformly. In this regard, in the cooling system 10 of the present embodiment, the evaporation of the liquid phase refrigerant in the heat exchange parts 300, 310, 320, 330 can be suppressed by the throttle part 70. It becomes difficult for gas phase refrigerant to be generated. Therefore, it becomes possible to cool the plurality of batteries 20 more uniformly.

<Third embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment of the cooling system 10 will be described. Hereinafter, differences from the cooling system 10 of the second embodiment will be mainly explained.
As shown in FIG. 5, in the cooling system 10 of this embodiment, mechanical throttle valves provided separately from the coolers 30 to 33 are used as the throttle sections 301, 311, 321, 331 instead of fixed throttle valves. is used.

The constriction section 301 has a function of changing the degree of constriction depending on the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the cooler 30. The throttle section 301 has a valve section 301a and a drive section 301b.
The valve part 301a is provided in the middle of the branch passage W22a through which the refrigerant supplied to the heat exchange part 300 flows, and is a part that narrows the passage cross-sectional area of the branch passage W22a. The refrigerant that has passed through the valve part 301a flows from one end of the heat exchange part 300 into the flow path 302 inside the heat exchange part 300. The flow path 302 of the heat exchange section 300 is formed to extend from one end of the heat exchange section 300 to the other end, and is folded back at the other end of the heat exchange section 300 to extend from the other end of the heat exchange section 300. It is formed so as to extend from to one end. At one end of the heat exchange section 300, the refrigerant is discharged from the internal flow path 302 of the heat exchange section 300 to the branch flow path W31a.

The drive unit 301b is provided in the middle of the branch flow path W31a. The drive section 301b has a sensitive chamber partitioned by a diaphragm, and a connecting shaft that connects the diaphragm and the valve section 301a. The sensitive chamber is filled with gas. In the drive unit 301b, the diaphragm is displaced as the pressure of the gas inside the sensitive chamber changes depending on the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the branch flow path W31a. The displacement of the diaphragm is transmitted to the valve portion 301a via the connecting shaft, thereby displacing the valve portion 301a, and changing the degree of throttling of the branch flow path W22a by the valve portion 301a. Basically, the higher the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the branch flow path W31a, the more the valve portion 301a changes in the valve opening direction, so the degree of throttling of the throttle portion 301 becomes smaller.

Note that since the other aperture parts 311, 321, and 331 have the same or similar structure to the aperture part 301, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
According to the cooling system 10 of this embodiment described above, the actions and effects shown in (5) and (6) below can be further obtained.

(5) In the cooling system 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. cooling may be insufficient. In this regard, in the cooling system 10 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. The valve portion 301a changes in the valve opening direction, and the degree of restriction of the throttle portion 301 becomes smaller. This increases the pressure of the refrigerant supplied to the heat exchange section 300 through the valve section 301a, making it easier for the refrigerant near the outlet of the heat exchange section 300 to maintain a liquid phase state. As a result, it becomes possible to more accurately cool the batteries arranged near the exit of the heat exchange section 300. Note that similar actions and effects can also be achieved in the heat exchange sections 310, 320, and 330.

(6) In the cooling system 10 of this embodiment, when the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the branch flow path W31a becomes low, that is, when the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the heat exchange section 300 becomes low, the valve section 301a of the throttle section 301 closes. The degree of throttling of the throttling portion 301 increases in the valve direction. If the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the branch flow path W31a is low, it means that the cooling capacity of the battery 20 is secured, so even if the degree of throttling of the valve part 301a of the throttle part 301 is increased, the cooling of the battery 20 will be insufficient. condition can be maintained. Moreover, if the degree of throttling of the valve part 301a of the throttling part 301 is increased, the output of the compressor 40 can be lowered, and thus the power consumption of the compressor 40 can be reduced. Note that similar actions and effects can also be achieved in the heat exchange sections 310, 320, and 330.

<Fourth embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment of the cooling system 10 will be described. Hereinafter, differences from the cooling system 10 of the third embodiment will be mainly explained.
As shown in FIG. 6, the cooling system 10 of this embodiment is provided with a throttle section 80 and an evaporator 81, which are components of a refrigeration cycle used in a vehicle air conditioner, in place of the coolers 32 and 33. ing. An air conditioner is a device that cools or heats a vehicle interior by blowing heated or cooled conditioned air into the vehicle interior. The refrigeration cycle includes a compressor 40, a condenser 50, a throttle section 80 as an expansion valve, and an evaporator 81.

The throttle part 80 and the evaporator 81 are provided in the branch flow path W22e. The branch flow path 22e branches from the main flow path W21 and is provided in parallel to the branch flow paths W31a and W31b for cooling the battery 20.
The liquid phase refrigerant condensed in the condenser 50 is supplied to the throttle section 80 through the main flow path W21 and the branch flow path W22e. The throttle section 80 expands the liquid phase refrigerant condensed in the condenser 50 and supplies it to the evaporator 81 . The throttle section 80 is composed of an electric throttle valve, and by electrically adjusting the degree of throttle, it is also possible to adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant supplied to the evaporator 81.

The evaporator 81 functions as a part that cools conditioned air blown into the vehicle interior in a refrigeration cycle used in a vehicle air conditioner. Specifically, the evaporator 81 is arranged within an air conditioning duct through which conditioned air flows. The evaporator 81 cools the conditioned air by exchanging heat between the refrigerant flowing inside the evaporator and the conditioned air flowing in the air conditioning duct, thereby absorbing the heat of the conditioned air into the refrigerant. Conditioned air cooled by the evaporator 81 is blown into the vehicle interior through the air conditioning duct, thereby cooling the vehicle interior. The gas phase refrigerant evaporated by absorbing the heat of the conditioned air in the evaporator 81, or the two-phase refrigerant in which the gas phase and the liquid phase are mixed, joins the refrigerant flowing in the main flow path W32 through the branch flow path W31e, and then flows into the compressor 40. is inhaled.

Note that the main flow path W32 may be provided with an accumulator that separates the two-phase refrigerant discharged from the coolers 30, 31 and the evaporator 81 into liquid-phase refrigerant and gas-phase refrigerant and stores surplus refrigerant. Thereby, the gas phase refrigerant separated by the accumulator can be supplied to the compressor 40.

In this embodiment, the branch channels W22a and W22b correspond to the branch channel for batteries, and the branch channel W22e corresponds to the branch channel for air conditioning. Further, the throttle section 80 corresponds to an electric throttle valve for air conditioning.
According to the cooling system 10 of the present embodiment described above, it is possible to further obtain the action and effect shown in (7) below.

(7) The degree of aperture of each of the aperture parts 70 and 80 can be electrically adjusted. Thereby, the cooling capacity of the battery 20 and the cooling capacity of the evaporator 81 can be arbitrarily adjusted, and as a result, it is possible to realize control that coordinates the cooling control of the battery 20 and the air conditioning control of the vehicle.

<Other embodiments>
Note that the above embodiment can also be implemented in the following forms.
- Aperture parts 301, 311, 321, 331 of the first embodiment, aperture parts 301, 311, 321, 331 of a first modification of the first embodiment, and aperture parts 60, 61 of a modification of the first embodiment is not limited to a fixed throttle valve, but may be an electric throttle valve or the like. The throttle section 70 of the second embodiment is not limited to an electric throttle valve, but may be a fixed throttle valve or the like.

- In the cooling system 10 of the third embodiment, only one cooler 30 may be provided. Furthermore, in the cooling system 10 of the third embodiment, the throttle section 80 may be a fixed throttle valve.
- The present disclosure is not limited to the above specific examples. Design changes made by those skilled in the art to the specific examples described above are also included within the scope of the present disclosure as long as they have the characteristics of the present disclosure. The elements included in each of the specific examples described above, as well as their arrangement, conditions, shapes, etc., are not limited to those illustrated, and can be changed as appropriate. The elements included in each of the specific examples described above can be appropriately combined as long as no technical contradiction occurs.

Pb: Branch W20: Refrigerant supply channel W21: Main channel W22a, W22b, W22c, W22d: Branch channel (branch channel for battery)
W22e: Air conditioning branch flow path W30: Refrigerant discharge flow path 10: Cooling system 20: Batteries 30, 31, 32, 33: Cooler 70: Throttle part (second throttle part)
80: Throttle part (electric throttle valve for air conditioning)
81: Evaporator 300, 310, 320, 330: Heat exchange section 301, 311, 321, 331: Throttle section (first throttle section)

Claims (9)

a plurality of coolers (30, 31, 32, 33) having heat exchange parts (300, 310, 320, 330) that cool the battery by heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing therein and the battery (20);
A refrigerant supply flow path (W20) that supplies refrigerant to the plurality of coolers,
The refrigerant supply flow path includes a main flow path (W21) through which the refrigerant flows, and a plurality of branch flow paths (W22a, W22b, W22c, W22d) that branch from the main flow path and distribute refrigerant to each of the plurality of coolers. ), and a refrigerant discharge flow path (W30) in which refrigerants discharged from the plurality of coolers through the plurality of branch flow paths flow together,
By arranging the coolers in each of the plurality of branch flow paths, the refrigerant is supplied to the plurality of coolers in parallel,
When a part of the refrigerant supply flow path that branches from the main flow path to the branch flow path is defined as a branch portion (Pb),
A first constriction part (301, 311, 321, 331) is provided in a portion from the branch part to the heat exchange part ,
The refrigerant discharge flow path is provided with a second throttle part (70) that adjusts the flow rate of the refrigerant.
cooling system. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the first constriction section is provided for each of all the coolers. The cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the first constriction section is shared by two or more of the plurality of coolers. The cooling system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first throttle section is a fixed throttle valve. The cooling system according to claim 4, wherein the fixed throttle valve is provided integrally with the cooler. The cooling system according to claim 4, wherein the fixed throttle valve is provided separately from the cooler. The cooling system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first throttle part is a mechanical throttle valve whose degree of throttle changes depending on the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the cooler. The second throttle section is a battery electric throttle valve.
Cooling system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 . When the branch flow path is used as a battery branch flow path,
an air conditioning branch flow path (W22e) that branches from the main flow path, is provided in parallel with the battery branch flow path, and supplies refrigerant to an evaporator (81) of an air conditioner of the vehicle;
The cooling system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , further comprising an air conditioning electric throttle valve (80) that adjusts the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the air conditioning branch flow path.

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