Pole cooling plate for cylindrical battery

Abstract

The utility model discloses a pole cooling plate for a cylindrical battery, and belongs to the technical field of battery cooling. The cooling plate comprises two long-strip-shaped aluminum alloy plates which are the first cooling plate and the second cooling plate respectively, trapezoidal cooling flow channels which are arranged in parallel are formed in plate bodies, a contact interface used for being attached to a battery pole column is formed on one side of the cooling plate, and a protruding face is arranged on the other side of the cooling plate. Two ends of the cooling plate are respectively provided with an inlet and an outlet and connected with an external cooling system; the circular groove matched with the pole in shape is formed in the binding face, the contact gap is filled with heat conduction silica gel or a phase change material, and meanwhile, the space between the cooling plate and the battery is filled with insulating powder or provided with an insulating layer, so that the heat conduction efficiency is improved, and the electrical safety is guaranteed. The structure can realize synchronous cooling of a plurality of pole regions, improves heat dissipation efficiency, temperature control precision and module safety, and is suitable for heat management requirements of a new energy automobile battery pack and an energy storage system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of battery cooling plate technology, specifically a terminal cooling plate for cylindrical batteries. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of high-power applications such as new energy vehicles and energy storage systems, cylindrical lithium-ion batteries (such as 18650 and 21700) are widely used in battery modules due to their high energy density, mature manufacturing, and good system consistency. In practical applications, multiple cylindrical batteries are often used in series and parallel combinations. Their terminals (positive and negative electrodes) are prone to generating significant heat under high-rate charge and discharge conditions, especially in environments with high current density. The local temperature rise in the terminal area is rapid, which is a key heat dissipation bottleneck in the module.

[0003] Traditional module cooling solutions, such as bottom cooling and side cooling of the casing, mainly work on the outside of the battery casing and have limited effectiveness in heat dissipation of the terminals, making it difficult to meet the ever-increasing thermal management requirements.

[0004] Currently, some existing technologies attempt to optimize pole heat dissipation from aspects such as structural design, flow channel arrangement, and material selection. For example:

[0005] Patent document CN112234274A proposes a thermal management system for cylindrical lithium-ion batteries based on a composite biomimetic structure. It employs a biomimetic honeycomb structure with circular through-holes in the cooling plate, allowing the cooling plate to be fitted onto the outside of the battery. Hollow heat-conducting pillars and phase change materials are combined to assist in heat dissipation. However, its design for single-cell batteries is not suitable for large-scale module integration.

[0006] Patent document CN212277305U discloses a cooling system for a cylindrical battery module, which uses a metal water-cooling strip to clamp the battery cells and conducts heat exchange through multiple branch cooling pipes to improve cooling efficiency. However, this system mainly cools the surface of the entire module, and the direct heat exchange path for the terminals is still relatively long, resulting in high thermal resistance.

[0007] Patent document CN202321710661.4 proposes a battery pack manufacturing method with terminal surface cooling. By setting cooling plates on the terminal surfaces, the local heat dissipation capacity is improved, which is an improvement over traditional casing cooling. However, this method is still not optimized for multi-cell parallel or modular designs in terms of structural design and heat flow channel distribution, resulting in insufficient versatility and assembly efficiency.

[0008] Therefore, in response to the problems of existing technologies, such as poor heat dissipation, complex structure, poor adaptability, and unreasonable flow channel design of the electrode post, a electrode post cooling plate for cylindrical batteries is proposed. Utility Model Content

[0009] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to overcome the existing defects and provide a terminal cooling plate for cylindrical batteries. By adopting a long strip-shaped cooling plate structure, it can simultaneously cover the terminal areas of multiple cylindrical batteries, realize direct and efficient cooling of the terminals, significantly improve heat dissipation efficiency, and the measured temperature reduction can reach 15-20℃. The cooling plate has symmetrically distributed parallel flow channels inside, which optimizes the flow path of the coolant, effectively reduces the pressure drop and improves the cooling uniformity, and can effectively solve the problems in the background technology.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a terminal cooling plate for a cylindrical battery, comprising a cooling plate and a cylindrical battery, the cylindrical battery being disposed between the cooling plates, a cooling channel being disposed inside the cooling plate, an inlet and an outlet being disposed on both sides of the cooling plate, one side of the cooling plate being configured as a contact interface for fitting the terminal of the cylindrical battery, and the other side of the cooling plate being configured as a raised surface, the raised surface being provided with a circular groove recessed into the cooling channel, the circular groove causing the cooling channel to form two parallel channels, the cross-section of the parallel channels being trapezoidal.

[0011] Furthermore, the circular groove fits the shape of the cylindrical battery terminal, and the contact gap is filled with thermally conductive silicone or phase change material. Insulating powder is placed between the cooling plate and the cylindrical battery to increase insulation performance and prevent short circuits.

[0012] Furthermore, the cooling plate is a long strip of aluminum alloy plate, and there are two cooling plates, namely cooling plate one and cooling plate two.

[0013] Furthermore, the inlet and outlet are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the long side of the cooling plate, with the diameter of the inlet and outlet being greater than 3mm, and connected to the external circulation pipeline through quick-connect connectors.

[0014] Furthermore, the contact interface of the cooling plate is provided with an insulating layer.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0016] 1. By proposing a long strip-shaped cooling plate structure, simultaneous and direct cooling of multiple cylindrical battery terminals is achieved at the battery module level. Multiple groove structures are set on the lower surface of the cooling plate, which fits snugly against the terminals. By filling with thermally conductive silicone or phase change material, the contact thermal resistance is effectively reduced, improving the efficiency of heat transfer from the terminals to the coolant. Compared to traditional bottom or side cooling methods, this technology can more precisely target the core heat source of the battery—the terminal area—significantly reducing the risk of localized overheating, effectively delaying the risk of thermal runaway, and improving the overall thermal stability and service life of the battery pack.

[0017] 2. The cooling plate has a parallel trapezoidal flow channel structure inside, with symmetrically distributed coolant inlets and outlets at both ends, which shortens the fluid path, ensures uniform flow distribution, and significantly reduces the overall pressure drop. This structure maintains good heat exchange performance while avoiding cooling dead zones and local heat accumulation caused by unreasonable flow channels. The main body of the cooling plate is made of aluminum alloy in one piece, which has the advantage of being lightweight. A single cooling plate covers multiple poles, which can replace multiple small cooling fins, reduce the number of parts, simplify the assembly process, and significantly reduce the overall system cost and maintenance complexity.

[0018] 3. The structure, dimensions, and interface of the cooling plates have been optimized, enabling them to be adjusted and flexibly expanded as needed. Whether in conventional parallel arrangement or a hybrid series-parallel structure, battery modules can be adapted by adjusting the length, number of grooves, and spacing of the cooling plates to meet the requirements of various standard cylindrical cells such as 18650 and 21700. Multiple cooling plates can also be combined in series and parallel to form a larger-scale liquid cooling circuit system, enhancing the module's heat dissipation capabilities. This solution achieves a high degree of standardization and customization compatibility without increasing process complexity, providing a more versatile and engineering-value-added thermal management solution for new energy vehicle battery packs and energy storage systems. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 3 This is an enlarged schematic diagram of the cooling channel structure of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cooling plate structure of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 5 This utility model Figure 4 A magnified structural diagram at point A;

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the cooling plate of this utility model.

[0025] In the diagram: 1 Cooling plate one, 2 Cooling plate two, 3 Inlet, 4 Cylindrical battery, 5 Cooling channel, 6 Raised surface, 7 Circular groove, 8 Insulation layer, 9 Outlet. Detailed Implementation

[0026] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0027] Please see Figure 1-6 This utility model provides a technical solution: a terminal cooling plate for a cylindrical battery, comprising a cooling plate and a cylindrical battery 4, the cylindrical battery 4 being disposed between the cooling plates, a cooling channel 5 being disposed inside the cooling plate, an inlet 3 and an outlet 9 being disposed on both sides of the cooling plate, one side of the cooling plate being configured as a contact interface for fitting the terminal of the cylindrical battery 4, and the other side of the cooling plate being configured as a raised surface 6, the raised surface 6 being configured with a circular groove 7 recessed into the cooling channel 5, the spacing or depth of the circular groove 7 being adjustable to achieve universal matching, the groove depth being less than the channel depth, serving as a current limiting and separating function, the circular groove 7 causing the cooling channel 5 to form two parallel channels, the cross-section of the parallel channels being trapezoidal.

[0028] The cooling plate has parallel flow channels inside and a recessed structure on its surface to form a stable fluid cooling path, ensuring that the coolant can be evenly distributed in the areas of multiple cylindrical battery terminals. The cooling plate has a long strip shape, covering multiple cylindrical battery terminals. The coolant enters from the inlet 3, absorbs the heat generated by the battery terminals as it flows through the flow channel 5, and is discharged from the outlet 9. The recessed circular groove 7 makes the flow channel form a dual-channel design in a local area, thereby improving cooling efficiency and heat exchange area and avoiding heat accumulation.

[0029] This technical solution significantly enhances the heat dissipation performance of cylindrical battery terminals. Compared to traditional bottom or side cooling structures, this cooling plate structure directly acts on the core heat-generating area—the terminals—effectively reducing local temperature rise and improving the overall thermal stability and safety of the module. The optimized internal flow channel structure reduces fluid pressure drop and makes the coolant flow rate more uniform, helping to prevent cooling dead zones. The cooling plate is made of aluminum alloy, which has good thermal conductivity and mechanical strength. The overall structure is compact and lightweight, making it suitable for electric vehicle battery packs and energy storage systems.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the circular groove 7 fits the shape of the cylindrical battery 4 electrode, the contact gap is filled with thermally conductive silicone or phase change material, insulating powder is placed between the cooling plate and the cylindrical battery 4, the insulating layer 8 is used for overall surface coverage, and the insulating powder is used to fill the point contact area to increase insulation performance and prevent short circuit.

[0031] This solution achieves efficient contact matching by precisely fitting the circular groove 7 on the cooling plate to the outline of the cylindrical battery 4's terminal post. In this contact interface, thermally conductive silicone or phase change material is used to fill the tiny gaps between the groove and the terminal post, allowing the cooling plate to fit tightly against the terminal post surface, enhancing the heat conduction path and reducing contact thermal resistance. Furthermore, to ensure the electrical safety of the system, an insulating powder layer is added between the cooling plate and the battery to block the current path and prevent short circuit risks caused by conductive cooling media or structural gaps.

[0032] By filling the contact interface with thermally conductive material, the heat of the electrode post can be quickly and effectively conducted to the internal flow channel of the cooling plate, significantly improving the local heat exchange efficiency, suppressing the generation of temperature peaks, and extending the cell life. At the same time, the introduction of insulating powder enhances the electrical isolation performance of the overall structure, avoids failures caused by the conductivity of the coolant or the plate, improves the reliability and safety of the module, and meets the dual requirements of strict thermal management and electrical safety in high power density application scenarios.

[0033] In practical applications, the thermally conductive medium can be replaced with different types of phase change materials, thermal grease, graphite pads, etc., to adapt to different heat dissipation requirements and cost control objectives; the insulating material can be selected according to requirements, such as alumina powder, boron nitride powder, etc., or solid insulating pads can be used as a structural alternative; the groove shape can also be customized according to the terminal structure of different models of cylindrical batteries to achieve wide compatibility; at the same time, the pre-coating or automatic dispensing process of the thermally conductive interface can also be combined with automated assembly processes to improve production efficiency.

[0034] The cooling plate is a long strip of aluminum alloy plate, and there are two cooling plates, namely Cooling Plate 1 and Cooling Plate 2. The cooling structure adopts a double plate design, that is, the long strip of aluminum alloy plates are respectively set as Cooling Plate 1 and Cooling Plate 2, which are installed in pairs on the upper and lower sides or left and right sides of the cylindrical battery 4 to achieve clamping cooling of the electrode area. Each cooling plate has a corresponding cooling channel inside, and through the paired layout, the coolant can form a symmetrical flow in the dual channels, thereby improving the uniformity and efficiency of heat dissipation. The aluminum alloy material provides excellent thermal conductivity, ensuring that the heat dissipation path of the electrode is unobstructed, and quickly guiding heat into the channel and being carried away.

[0035] The use of a dual-cooling-plate structure improves modularity and optimizes the heat conduction path through structural symmetry, enabling direct cooling of the electrode posts from two directions and avoiding the uneven heat distribution caused by single-sided cooling. The cooling plates adopt a long strip structure, which can cover multiple electrode posts at the same time, making them suitable for battery packs arranged in series and parallel, improving space utilization and simplifying the installation process. The aluminum alloy material not only has good heat dissipation properties but also enables weight control, meeting the dual requirements of electric vehicles for lightweighting and high performance.

[0036] The shape and number of cooling plates can be flexibly adjusted according to the module structure; in addition to long strip structures, specific geometric shapes such as rectangles and arcs can also be used to adapt to non-standard module configurations; the number of cooling plates can also be set as a single plate, multiple plates side by side, or multi-layer stacked structure according to cooling requirements; if the module cell arrangement is relatively compact, an integrated cooling sandwich plate structure can be selected to improve assembly efficiency and system integration; in terms of materials, composite metal plates, such as aluminum-copper composite, can be replaced to further improve thermal conductivity and mechanical properties.

[0037] Inlet 3 and outlet 9 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the long side of the cooling plate. The diameter of inlet 3 and outlet 9 is greater than 3mm, and they are connected to the external circulation pipeline through quick-connect connectors.

[0038] The interface diameter is designed to be greater than 3mm, which helps to reduce the pressure drop of liquid during the inlet and outlet processes, thereby improving the overall flow rate and cooling efficiency; the quick-connect coupling connects to the external circulation pipeline, making the installation and disassembly process convenient and enhancing the efficiency of maintenance and replacement.

[0039] The symmetrical inlet 3 and outlet 9 configuration ensures consistent flow rate and sufficient heat exchange of the coolant as it flows through the cooling channel, avoiding cooling blind spots caused by flow deviation or excessive pressure drop. In addition, the larger diameter interface design enhances the flow capacity of the cooling system, making it suitable for high-power-density systems with stringent requirements for coolant circulation rates. The use of quick-connect fittings not only facilitates assembly and maintenance but also improves system sealing and safety, reducing the risk of leakage due to improper operation.

[0040] Alternative or modified implementation methods

[0041] The interface position can be adjusted appropriately according to the arrangement of the cooling plates. For example, the interface can be arranged on the short side of the plate for vertically arranged modules. The interface diameter can also be selected according to the actual flow requirements, such as 4mm, 6mm or customized size. In addition to quick-connect connectors, threaded connectors, crimp connections or welding methods can also be used to meet the requirements of special working conditions such as high pressure sealing and vibration resistance. For highly integrated modules, the interface can also be designed as a multi-channel integrated connector to realize the parallel or series networking of multiple cooling plates.

[0042] An insulating layer 8 is provided at the contact interface of the cooling plate. The cooling plate is used to form direct contact cooling with the cylindrical battery terminals. The insulating layer 8 at the contact interface is used to prevent electrical safety hazards that may be caused by the high conductivity of the cooling plate material, such as aluminum alloy. The insulating layer is usually made of materials with excellent electrical insulation properties, such as epoxy powder coating, ceramic coating or polymer film, and is formed into a cover layer through spraying, coating or sintering processes. This insulating layer effectively blocks the current path without significantly affecting the heat conduction efficiency, and ensures electrical isolation between the terminals and the cooling plate.

[0043] The addition of an insulation layer significantly enhances the safety of the cooling plate in actual operating environments, preventing short circuits or leakage accidents caused by high-voltage cells contacting cooling components. Especially in high power density systems, where the terminals are very close to the cooling components, adding an insulation layer can effectively reduce the risk of system failure. This design can also be adapted to more types of energy storage units and cell packaging structures, improving versatility and the scope of engineering applications.

[0044] Alternative or modified implementation methods

[0045] The insulating layer material can be selected according to the ambient temperature, thermal conductivity, voltage level and other indicators. For example, in high-temperature applications, polyimide (PI) film or ceramic composite layer can be used to improve heat resistance. In applications where it is necessary to improve the heat dissipation capacity of the interface, thermally conductive insulating materials such as boron nitride coating or alumina powder coating can be used. The thickness and uniformity of the insulating layer can also be adjusted and optimized through different processes (such as electrostatic spraying, impregnation and electrophoresis) to adapt to different cooling plate structures and assembly requirements.

[0046] As one possible embodiment, the main structure is as follows:

[0047] a. A long strip of aluminum alloy plate, the length of which matches the arrangement direction of the battery module's terminals, and can cover multiple terminals (e.g., 6-12 battery terminals).

[0048] b. The interior of the plate has parallel flow channels with a trapezoidal cross-section, a depth of 4mm, and a width of 62mm.

[0049] Import / export design:

[0050] The coolant inlet 3 and outlet 9 are located at both ends of the cooling plate and are connected to the external cooling system of the module through external pipes.

[0051] b. Match the inlet and outlet diameters with the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow channel to ensure uniform flow distribution.

[0052] Contact interface:

[0053] a. Multiple groove structures are opened on the lower surface of the cooling plate to fit the shape of the cylindrical battery terminal, and the contact gaps are filled with thermally conductive silicone or phase change material.

[0054] b. Optional insulation layer design: Insulating powder is placed between the cooling plate and the electrode to increase insulation performance and prevent short circuits.

[0055] Material selection

[0056] Base material: High-strength aluminum alloy (such as 3003 / 6061 / 3003), which balances thermal conductivity and lightweight requirements;

[0057] Surface treatment: Insulating powder coating (epoxy powder) to improve corrosion resistance and enhance insulation performance.

[0058] Installation method

[0059] 1) Connect the cooling plate to the battery module's terminal block using bolts or clips to ensure tight contact between the cooling plate and the terminal block;

[0060] Scalable design: Multiple cooling plates can be connected in parallel or in series to form a larger-scale cooling system.

[0061] Implementation Cases

[0062] Application scenario: Electric vehicle battery module, containing 10 18650 cylindrical batteries.

[0063] Cooling plate parameters:

[0064] 1. Dimensions: Length 620mm × Width 70mm × Thickness 2.7mm;

[0065] 2. Internal flow channels: 2 parallel flow channels with a trapezoidal cross-section (top base 1.5mm, bottom base 5.2mm, height 6.7mm).

[0066] 3. Inlet and outlet: 6mm in diameter, located on both sides of the long side, connected to the external circulation pipeline via quick-connect fittings.

[0067] Workflow:

[0068] Coolant (water-glycol solution) flows in from inlet 3, is evenly distributed to the contact area of ​​each electrode through the flow channel, absorbs heat, and is discharged from outlet 9.

[0069] The measured temperature of the electrode post decreased by 15-20℃, and the temperature difference of the module was controlled within ±2℃.

[0070] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features and advantages of this utility model. Various changes and modifications may be made to this utility model without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of this utility model as claimed.

Claims

1. A terminal cooling plate for a cylindrical battery, comprising a cooling plate and a cylindrical battery (4), characterized in that: The cylindrical battery (4) is arranged between the cooling plates. The cooling plates are provided with cooling channels (5). The cooling plates are provided with inlet (3) and outlet (9) on both sides respectively. One side of the cooling plate is set as the contact interface that fits the electrode of the cylindrical battery (4). The other side of the cooling plate is set as a raised surface (6). The raised surface (6) is provided with a circular groove (7) that is recessed into the cooling channel (5). The circular groove (7) makes the cooling channel (5) form two parallel channels. The cross section of the parallel channels is trapezoidal.

2. The electrode cooling plate for a cylindrical battery according to claim 1, characterized in that: The circular groove (7) fits into the shape of the cylindrical battery (4) electrode, and the contact gap is filled with thermally conductive silicone or phase change material.

3. The electrode cooling plate for a cylindrical battery according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cooling plate is a long strip of aluminum alloy plate. There are two cooling plates, namely cooling plate one (1) and cooling plate two (2).

4. The electrode cooling plate for a cylindrical battery according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inlet (3) and outlet (9) are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the long side of the cooling plate. The diameter of the inlet (3) and outlet (9) is greater than 3mm, and they are connected to the external circulation pipeline through quick-connect fittings.

5. A terminal cooling plate for a cylindrical battery according to claim 1, characterized in that: An insulating layer (8) is provided at the contact interface of the cooling plate.

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