A semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation casing

Abstract

This utility model relates to a semi-solid-state lithium battery heat dissipation shell, including a main shell and an end cap, which are assembled to form an inner cavity. Multiple supporting partitions are distributed circumferentially along the assembly surface, defining independent sub-regions between adjacent supporting partitions. Within each sub-region, the edge of the main shell has an extending boss, and the edge of the end cap has a matching groove. The boss forms a spatial obstruction within the groove, causing the airflow path between the air inlet and outlet to bypass the sidewall of the boss, forming a three-dimensional ventilation channel with a continuous tortuous path. The air inlet and outlet are physically separated by the boss and located on different planes. This utility model provides a semi-solid-state lithium battery heat dissipation shell that, through the construction of a three-dimensional tortuous ventilation channel, maintains the compactness of the shell while comprehensively extending the airflow path, enhancing turbulence disturbance, isolating hot and cold airflows, and improving heat dissipation uniformity, providing a more effective thermal management solution for high-energy-density lithium battery modules.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of lithium battery thermal management technology, and in particular to a semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation shell that improves heat dissipation efficiency by optimizing airflow path. Background Technology

[0002] If the heat generated by lithium batteries during operation cannot be dissipated in a timely and effective manner, it will not only lead to a significant degradation in battery performance but also pose serious safety hazards. Traditional lithium battery heat dissipation casing designs face numerous challenges in addressing the heat dissipation requirements of high power density, especially semi-solid-state lithium batteries.

[0003] A common solution is to incorporate straight ventilation channels on the shell surface. However, such designs typically result in short airflow paths, leading to insufficient heat exchange time between the airflow and the heat dissipation structure. More importantly, airflow tends to flow rapidly along the straight path of least resistance, creating a so-called "airflow short-circuit effect," where a large amount of cold air is exhausted from the outlet without fully absorbing heat, significantly limiting heat dissipation efficiency. Another solution is to add heat dissipation fins inside the shell, but existing fin layouts are mostly limited to a single plane, offering weak guidance and disturbance to airflow in three-dimensional space, making it difficult to create effective spatial turbulence. This can easily lead to dead zones in complex corners or areas far from the main channel, resulting in uneven heat dissipation.

[0004] Furthermore, the air inlets and outlets of existing heat sink casings are often located on the same or adjacent planes. This layout makes it easy for the incoming low-temperature cold air to mix prematurely with the hot air about to be exhausted. The cooling potential of the cold air is not fully utilized before it is contaminated and heated, further reducing cooling efficiency. It is worth noting that even in existing solutions that employ a three-dimensional air duct design, the air inlets and outlets are mostly still arranged on the same or similar planes, failing to fundamentally solve the problem of hot and cold air mixing.

[0005] The aforementioned structural issues, within the limited space of the casing, make it difficult to simultaneously achieve the three key objectives of extending the airflow path, enhancing turbulence intensity, and ensuring uniform heat dissipation. This makes it challenging to meet the increasing heat dissipation requirements of high-energy-density battery modules, especially semi-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. Semi-solid-state batteries, due to their use of gel or solid electrolyte systems, suffer from relatively high interfacial contact thermal resistance and are more prone to interfacial reactions due to localized hotspots, making heat dissipation more difficult. Traditional air-cooling solutions often fail to effectively penetrate the battery module for sufficient heat dissipation, resulting in a relatively higher risk of thermal runaway. Some existing heat dissipation enhancement solutions attempt to combine water and air cooling, but the introduction of additional cooling piping systems introduces potential leakage risks and has limitations in preventing the spread of thermal runaway between individual cells. Utility Model Content

[0006] In view of this, the present invention provides a semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation shell, which solves the problem of balancing heat dissipation efficiency and space utilization through a three-dimensional ventilation channel design and a composite heat dissipation structure.

[0007] The objective of this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution: A semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation casing includes a main shell and an end cap, which are joined together to form an inner cavity. Multiple supporting partitions are distributed circumferentially along the joint surface, and independent sub-regions are defined between adjacent supporting partitions. In each sub-region, the edge of the main shell is provided with an extending boss, and the edge of the end cap is provided with a groove that matches the boss. The boss forms a spatial obstruction in the groove, so that the airflow path between the air inlet and the air outlet bypasses the side wall of the boss, forming a three-dimensional ventilation channel with a continuous tortuous path. The air inlet and the air outlet are separated by the boss and are located on different planes.

[0008] The core innovation lies in the forced construction of a three-dimensional ventilation channel with a continuously tortuous cross-section between the air inlet and outlet through the cooperation of bosses and grooves. This structural design significantly extends the airflow path inside the casing, forcing the airflow to flow more fully around the sidewalls of the bosses, increasing the heat exchange contact area and time between the airflow and the casing structure. The bosses, acting as physical separators, not only physically isolate the air inlet and outlet, preventing airflow short-circuiting, but more importantly, their arrangement on different planes helps guide the airflow in a three-dimensional, directional flow, rather than a simple straight or planar flow. This three-dimensional, tortuous flow channel shape induces more complex vortices and disturbances in the airflow, breaking the laminar boundary layer and thus improving the convective heat transfer efficiency between the airflow and the channel walls. Simultaneously, the independent sub-regions defined by multiple supporting partitions provide a structured guiding path for the airflow, contributing to the uniformity of airflow distribution and preventing localized overheating. Overall, this design effectively improves airflow utilization efficiency and cooling of the battery module within a limited space.

[0009] Preferably, the three-dimensional ventilation channel includes four vertical bending sections, wherein the first bending section and the second bending section are located above and below the outer side of the boss, and the third bending section and the fourth bending section are located above and below the inner side of the boss.

[0010] The specific structure of the three-dimensional ventilation channel was further defined, specifying it as consisting of four vertical bends, and defining the spatial positions of these bends relative to the boss (upper and lower on the outer side, upper and lower on the inner side). This four-segment vertical bend structure forms the basis for the complex three-dimensional flow channel. The first and second bends are located on the upper and lower outer side of the boss, meaning that the airflow must first flow around the outer wall of the boss; while the third and fourth bends are located on the upper and lower inner side of the boss, requiring the airflow to turn towards its interior area after bypassing the boss. This staggered, combined upper and lower, and inner and outer spatial layout significantly increases the dimensional variation of the flow channel in the vertical direction. Multiple vertical bends force the airflow to repeatedly turn up and down, and this turning motion effectively enhances the turbulence of the airflow. The enhanced turbulence means that the mixing inside the airflow is more intense, and the rate at which heat is transferred from the hot surface (inner wall of the outer casing or supporting partition) to the airflow core is increased. At the same time, this structure makes full use of the space on the inner and outer sides of the boss, allowing the cooling airflow to sweep more comprehensively over the area adjacent to the battery module, especially the corners around the boss that are easily overlooked, which helps to improve the uniformity and coverage of cooling.

[0011] Preferably, the four vertical bends are connected sequentially in the airflow direction to form a continuous S-shaped path.

[0012] The specific connection method of the four vertical bends was clarified—connecting them sequentially in the airflow direction to form a continuous S-shaped path. The S-shaped path is a typical design for extending the flow channel and enhancing turbulence. After entering from the inlet, the airflow needs to undergo multiple consecutive bends in the vertical and horizontal, and internal and external directions, before finally reaching the outlet. This continuous, alternating direction of bends forces the airflow to undergo acceleration, deceleration, and reversal throughout the flow process, greatly enhancing the instability and turbulence intensity of the flow field. High turbulence intensity is one of the key factors in enhancing convective heat transfer; it effectively thins the thermal boundary layer between the air and the heat dissipation surface, reducing thermal resistance and thus significantly improving heat dissipation efficiency. Simultaneously, the S-shaped path maximizes the extension of the flow channel within a limited space, ensuring that the airflow has a sufficiently long path to exchange heat with the heat dissipation structure. This path design also allows the airflow to be distributed more evenly throughout the channel, reducing dead zones and contributing to improved uniformity of overall heat dissipation performance.

[0013] Preferably, a guide slope is provided at the corner between the first bend and the fourth bend, and the slope angle is 45°±10° with the airflow axis at that point.

[0014] Guide ramps were added at the corners of the first bend (the critical turning point for initial airflow entry) and the fourth bend (the turning point near the outlet), and the relationship between the ramp angle and the local airflow axis was specified. At sharp bends in the flow channel, airflow is prone to separation due to inertia, forming vortex zones or dead zones. This not only increases flow resistance (leading to increased pressure loss, potentially requiring a more powerful fan) but also significantly reduces the local heat transfer efficiency in that area. The introduction of guide ramps provides a gradual transition guide surface for the airflow at the bend, smoothing the airflow transition process. This smooth transition helps reduce the impact angle between the airflow and the wall, reducing the intensity and range of vortices generated by flow separation, thereby effectively reducing local flow resistance and pressure loss. Reduced resistance means that with the same fan power, a higher airflow rate or lower energy consumption can be achieved. Simultaneously, reduced flow separation also means that more airflow can adhere to the wall, increasing the effective contact area between the airflow and the guide ramp and the nearby wall, improving the local heat transfer in this critical turning area, and making the overall S-shaped channel's heat dissipation efficiency more balanced and efficient. The specific angle design aims to optimize the airflow effect.

[0015] Preferably, the supporting partition has an embedded X-shaped metal frame, with the intersection of the frame located at the center of the partition.

[0016] An X-shaped metal frame is embedded within the supporting separator, with the intersection point located at the center of the separator. As a key structural component separating the battery modules and guiding airflow, the supporting separator's structural strength and thermal conductivity are crucial. The embedded X-shaped metal frame significantly enhances the overall rigidity and bending and torsional strength of the supporting separator, giving it greater resistance to deformation and damage when bearing the weight of the battery modules, the expansion forces during charging and discharging, and potential vibrations and impacts. This ensures the long-term stability and reliability of the outer casing structure. The X-shaped structural design offers excellent mechanical properties, and the central intersection point maximizes stress dispersion. Furthermore, the metal frame (typically made of thermally conductive materials such as aluminum or copper alloys) embedded in the plastic separator effectively establishes a highly efficient heat conduction path within the separator. Heat generated by the battery modules can be transferred more quickly to the separator surface through the metal frame and then carried away by the airflow through the three-dimensional ventilation channels. This significantly improves the efficiency of the supporting separator as a heat dissipation component, enhancing its heat conduction and dissipation capabilities for the battery modules. The central intersection point also facilitates the uniform diffusion of heat to the surrounding areas of the separator.

[0017] Preferably, the surface of the supporting partition facing the inner cavity of the outer shell is provided with parallel heat dissipation fins, and the extension direction of the fins is perpendicular to the airflow direction of the three-dimensional ventilation channel.

[0018] Parallel heat dissipation fins are arranged on the side of the support partition facing the battery module (i.e., the inner cavity of the housing), with the fins extending perpendicular to the airflow direction of the three-dimensional ventilation channel. These fins directly face the heat source (battery module), greatly increasing the contact heat transfer area between the support partition and the battery module. A larger contact area means that heat can be transferred from the battery to the support partition more efficiently. The design of the fins extending perpendicular to the airflow direction is a classic layout for enhancing convective heat transfer. When the cooling airflow flows through the three-dimensional ventilation channel, it vertically washes over these fins. This vertical washing effectively breaks the thermal boundary layer on the fin surface, generating strong turbulence, thereby greatly improving the convective heat transfer coefficient between the airflow and the fin surface. The parallel fin array forms a multi-row, continuous turbulence structure in the airflow direction, continuously disturbing the airflow and maximizing the use of airflow kinetic energy for heat dissipation. This is equivalent to adding a highly efficient heat exchanger between the battery module and the cooling airflow, significantly improving the rate and efficiency of heat transfer from the battery to the cooling air.

[0019] Preferably, dust filter supports are detachably installed at the air inlet and air outlet.

[0020] Removable dust filter brackets are installed at key air inlets and outlets. Lithium battery systems have certain requirements for the cleanliness of the working environment. Dust, particulate matter, and other contaminants enter the inner cavity of the casing through the vents and may accumulate on the battery surface, electrical connection points, or heat dissipation structures. Long-term accumulation can lead to multiple risks: dust covering heat dissipation surfaces (such as support plates, fins, and channel walls) forms a heat insulation layer, hindering heat dissipation and causing the battery temperature to rise; conductive dust may cause electrical short circuits; and particulate matter may affect the normal operation of moving parts such as fans. The dust filter bracket design allows for the installation of filters to effectively block dust and particulate matter from the external environment from entering the inner cavity, keeping the inner cavity relatively clean and ensuring the reliability of system operation. The removable structural design is crucial, as it allows for easy cleaning or replacement of the filters after they become clogged or reach the end of their service life, ensuring the long-term effectiveness of the dustproof function and avoiding problems such as poor ventilation and heat dissipation failure due to filter clogging. This greatly improves the convenience and sustainability of heat dissipation system maintenance.

[0021] Preferably, the surface of the boss is provided with multiple parallel and spaced blocking shoulders, the top surface of which contacts the inner wall of the groove, and divides the three-dimensional ventilation channel into multiple independent three-dimensional ventilation sub-channels.

[0022] Multiple parallel, spaced-apart baffles are added to the surface of the boss, with their top surfaces contacting the inner wall of the groove. This divides the original single three-dimensional ventilation channel into multiple independent three-dimensional ventilation sub-channels. This segmentation design brings multiple benefits. First, it significantly increases the total effective surface area of ​​the heat dissipation channel because the side of each baffle becomes a new heat dissipation wall, and its contact with the inner wall of the groove strengthens the heat conduction path. The larger surface area directly improves the heat exchange capacity between the airflow and the heat dissipation structure. Second, dividing the wide flow channel into multiple narrow flow channels (sub-channels) increases the contact perimeter (wetting perimeter) between the airflow and the wall surface within the same total cross-sectional area, which helps to improve convective heat transfer efficiency. More importantly, multiple independent sub-channels can guide and distribute the airflow more precisely, ensuring that the airflow is more evenly distributed to all areas around the boss, avoiding the situation of high flow velocity in the center, low flow velocity at the corners, or even the existence of flow dead zones that may occur in a single wide channel, thus significantly improving the uniformity of heat dissipation. This structure also enhances the rigidity of the boss and the overall flow channel structure.

[0023] Preferably, the side of the blocking shoulder is provided with heat dissipation ribs that are aligned with the direction of the three-dimensional ventilation channel, and the height of the heat dissipation ribs increases from the air inlet to the air outlet.

[0024] Cooling ribs are installed on the side of the obstruction shoulder (i.e., the wall of the sub-channel), aligned with the channel's orientation, with the rib height gradually increasing along the airflow direction (from the inlet to the outlet). These ribs further increase the effective heat dissipation surface area on the side of the obstruction shoulder, enhancing the convective heat transfer capacity of this critical area. The rib orientation, consistent with the channel, avoids unnecessary obstruction of the main airflow, while its raised structure itself also provides some turbulence, enhancing local turbulence. The design of the rib height increasing from the inlet to the outlet is ingenious. Near the inlet, the airflow temperature is lower, and the flow velocity is relatively higher (because the channel cross-sectional area has not yet increased due to gas thermal expansion). The lower rib height helps reduce flow resistance here, allowing more cool air to enter smoothly. As the airflow flows along the channel, it continuously absorbs heat, its temperature rises, and its volume expands, potentially causing a decrease in flow velocity and a slight reduction in heat transfer efficiency due to the decreasing temperature difference. At this point, the gradually increasing rib height provides a larger heat dissipation surface area, compensating for the weakening heat transfer capacity caused by the decreasing temperature difference and potentially lower flow velocity. At the same time, the gradually increasing rib height can also accelerate or guide the airflow, which helps maintain the airflow velocity and turbulence in the latter part of the channel, balances the heat dissipation intensity over the entire channel length, and makes the heat dissipation more uniform and efficient.

[0025] Preferably, one of the air inlet and air outlet is connected to the external environment, and the other is connected to the inner cavity of the outer casing.

[0026] The connection between the air inlet and outlet is clearly defined: one connects to the external environment (serving as a source of cold air or an outlet for hot air), while the other directly connects to the inner cavity of the casing (the space housing the battery module). This connection is the fundamental logic of the entire heat dissipation system. When the air inlet connects to the external environment and the air outlet connects to the inner cavity, the system operates in a positive pressure airflow mode, forcing external cold air into the inner cavity to directly cool the surface of the battery module. The hot air then needs to be exhausted through other means (such as gaps or specially designed exhaust vents). When the air inlet connects to the inner cavity and the air outlet connects to the external environment, the system operates in a negative pressure exhaust mode, drawing out the hot air around the battery module and exhausting it to the outside. External cold air then enters the inner cavity through other means (such as gaps or specially designed air inlets). Regardless of the mode, the three-dimensional ventilation channel plays a crucial role: in the airflow mode, it is the key path for pre-cooling or distributing cold air before it enters the inner cavity; in the exhaust mode, it is the core heat dissipation channel for the hot air to be exhausted from the inner cavity. This design ensures that the cooling airflow can efficiently exchange heat with the outer casing structure (especially the areas containing heat dissipation structures such as bosses and support partitions), while establishing an effective air circulation path through a clear connection between the inner and outer cavities, driving the exchange of hot and cold air and providing the necessary cooling for the battery module.

[0027] The advantages of this utility model compared to the prior art are: This utility model, through its innovative three-dimensional ventilation channel structure design, effectively overcomes many shortcomings of existing technologies and demonstrates significant advantages in the following aspects: Significant optimization and extension of the three-dimensional airflow path: The core lies in the precise fit between the extended boss and the groove. This design forcibly guides the airflow from the inlet to the outlet, ensuring it flows around the sidewall of the boss, forming a three-dimensional ventilation channel with a continuously tortuous cross-section within three-dimensional space. Compared to traditional straight or planar flow channels, this invention significantly extends the airflow path length within the same compact space. This multiple spatial detours not only significantly increase the contact time and area for heat exchange between the airflow and the channel walls, but more importantly, the continuously changing airflow direction effectively induces strong turbulent vortices. These turbulences continuously scour and disrupt the thermal boundary layer attached to the heat dissipation surface, thereby significantly improving the convective heat transfer efficiency between the airflow and the shell structure.

[0028] Physical isolation effectively eliminates short-circuiting and mixing of hot and cold airflows: The boss, as a robust physical partition structure, strictly isolates the air inlet and outlet and arranges them on different spatial planes. This layout fundamentally blocks the shortest "short-circuit path" where cold air flows directly to the outlet without sufficient heat absorption. It ensures that the incoming low-temperature air must flow completely through the pre-designed, multi-turn, three-dimensional ventilation channel, fully absorbing the heat transferred by the outer shell structure before reaching the outlet for discharge. Compared to existing designs where the air inlet and outlet are located on the same plane or adjacent to each other, which easily leads to premature mixing of hot and cold airflows, this invention maximizes the cooling capacity of the cold air and reduces ineffective mixing of hot and cold airflows before effective heat dissipation is completed.

[0029] The partitioned structure enhances heat dissipation uniformity and coverage: Multiple support baffles distributed circumferentially along the shell's mating surfaces clearly divide the inner cavity of the shell into several independent sub-regions, each equipped with its own dedicated three-dimensional ventilation channel system. This structured partitioned design effectively avoids disordered diffusion and uneven distribution of airflow within larger cavities, ensuring that cooling airflow is guided evenly and controllably to each sub-region. Simultaneously, the spatial obstruction effect created by the protrusions within each sub-region forces airflow not only to flow around the outer wall of the protrusion but also to penetrate its inner space, forming a circumferential sweep. This flow pattern significantly reduces heat dissipation dead zones that are difficult to avoid in traditional designs, greatly improving the uniformity of cooling airflow coverage around the battery module, especially in structurally complex corners.

[0030] The efficient heat exchange structure integrated within a compact space: The ingenious integrated design of the boss embedded in the groove fully utilizes the space that might otherwise be unused in the shell assembly area, transforming it into a highly efficient heat dissipation area without encroaching on valuable battery module layout space. The three-dimensional zigzag path of the ventilation channel (such as top, bottom, inner, and outer surround) fully utilizes multiple side walls of the boss as heat dissipation interfaces. This design maximizes the effective heat dissipation surface area within an extremely limited space, achieving a highly efficient synergy and optimization of space utilization and heat dissipation performance, providing an ideal heat dissipation solution for highly integrated battery packs.

[0031] Comprehensive Improvement of Thermal Management Efficiency and Safety: Combining the above advantages, this invention constructs a three-dimensional, long-path, and highly turbulent ventilation channel, effectively isolating hot and cold airflow paths. While maintaining the compactness of the battery casing structure, this significantly improves overall heat dissipation efficiency and uniformity. This highly efficient thermal management capability is crucial for temperature-sensitive semi-solid-state high-energy-density lithium battery modules, helping to maintain the battery operating within a suitable temperature range, slowing performance degradation, and enhancing the safety margin of system operation. Experimental verification shows that this structural design can effectively slow down the temperature rise rate of individual battery cells under abnormal conditions and exhibits a positive effect on suppressing heat diffusion between cells. Attached Figure Description

[0032] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this application and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a semi-solid-state lithium battery heat dissipation casing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of region A in the middle.

[0035] Figure 3 This is a partial structural diagram of the main shell of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 4 This is a partial structural diagram of the extended boss according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Labeling Explanation: 1 Main shell, 2 End cap, 3 Outer shell cavity, 4 Support partition, 5 Extension boss, 6 Embedded groove, 7 Air inlet, 8 Air outlet, 9 Three-dimensional ventilation channel, 11 Vertical bending section, 11a First bending section, 11b Second bending section, 11c Third bending section, 11d Fourth bending section, 14 Heat dissipation fins, 16 Guide slope, 17 Blocking shoulder, 20 X-shaped metal frame, 22 Dust filter support, 24 Heat dissipation ribs. Detailed Implementation

[0038] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of this application described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0039] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of this application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed application, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0040] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures. In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the figures, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of this application is in use, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly understood by those skilled in the art. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, 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 application.

[0041] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other.

[0042] The technical solutions in this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] This embodiment provides a semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation shell, including a main shell 1 and an end cap 2, which are assembled to form an inner cavity 3. Multiple support partitions 4 are distributed circumferentially along the splicing surface, and independent sub-regions are defined between adjacent support partitions 4. In each sub-region, the edge of the main shell 1 is provided with an extended boss 5, and the edge of the end cap 2 is provided with a groove 6 that matches the boss. The boss forms a spatial obstruction in the groove 6, so that the airflow path between the air inlet 7 and the air outlet 8 bypasses the side wall of the boss, forming a three-dimensional ventilation channel 9 with a continuous tortuous path, wherein the air inlet 7 and the air outlet 8 are separated by the boss and are located on different planes.

[0044] The core innovation lies in the forced construction of a three-dimensional ventilation channel 9 with a continuously tortuous cross-section between the air inlet 7 and the air outlet 8 through the cooperation of the boss and the groove 6. This structural design significantly extends the airflow path inside the shell, forcing the airflow to flow more fully around the sidewall of the boss, increasing the heat exchange contact area and time between the airflow and the shell structure. The boss, as a physical separator, not only physically isolates the air inlet 7 and the air outlet 8, preventing airflow short-circuiting, but more importantly, its arrangement on different planes helps guide the airflow to flow in three-dimensional space, rather than simply in a straight line or plane. This three-dimensional, tortuous flow channel shape can induce more complex vortices and disturbances in the airflow, breaking the laminar boundary layer and thus improving the convective heat transfer efficiency between the airflow and the channel wall. Simultaneously, the independent sub-regions divided by multiple supporting partitions 4 provide a structured guiding path for the airflow, contributing to the uniformity of airflow distribution and preventing localized overheating. Overall, this design effectively improves the utilization efficiency of airflow and the cooling effect on the battery module within a limited space.

[0045] In this embodiment, the three-dimensional ventilation channel 9 includes four vertical bending sections 11, wherein the first bending section 11a and the second bending section 11b are located at the upper and lower positions on the outer side of the boss, and the third bending section 11c and the fourth bending section 11d are located at the upper and lower positions on the inner side of the boss.

[0046] The specific structure of the three-dimensional ventilation channel 9 is further defined, specifying that it consists of four vertical bending segments 11, and defining the spatial positions of these bending segments relative to the boss: upper and lower on the outer side and upper and lower on the inner side. This four-segment vertical bending structure is the basis for constructing the complex three-dimensional flow channel. The first and second bending segments are located upper and lower on the outer side of the boss, meaning that the airflow must first flow around the outer wall of the boss; while the third and fourth bending segments are located upper and lower on the inner side of the boss, requiring the airflow to turn to flow into its internal area after bypassing the boss. This staggered, combined upper and lower, and inner and outer spatial layout significantly increases the dimensional variation of the flow channel in the vertical direction. Multiple vertical bending segments 11 force the airflow to repeatedly turn up and down, and this turning motion can effectively enhance the turbulence of the airflow. The enhanced turbulence means that the mixing inside the airflow is more intense, and the rate at which heat is transferred from the inner wall of the hot surface shell or the supporting baffle 4 to the airflow core is increased. At the same time, this structure makes full use of the space inside and outside the boss, allowing the cooling airflow to sweep more comprehensively over the area adjacent to the battery module, especially the corners around the boss that are easily overlooked, which helps to improve the uniformity and coverage of cooling.

[0047] In this embodiment, the four vertical bends 11 are connected sequentially in the airflow direction to form a continuous S-shaped path.

[0048] The specific connection method of the four vertical bending sections 11 was clarified—connecting them sequentially in the airflow direction to form a continuous S-shaped path. The S-shaped path is a typical design for extending the flow channel and enhancing turbulence. After entering from the inlet 7, the airflow needs to undergo multiple continuous turns in the up-down and in-outward directions before finally reaching the outlet 8. This continuous, alternating direction of turns forces the airflow to undergo acceleration, deceleration, and reversal throughout the flow process, greatly enhancing the instability and turbulence intensity of the flow field. High turbulence intensity is one of the key factors in enhancing convective heat transfer; it effectively thins the thermal boundary layer between the air and the heat dissipation surface, reducing thermal resistance and thus significantly improving heat dissipation efficiency. Simultaneously, the S-shaped path maximizes the extension of the flow channel within a limited space, ensuring that the airflow has a sufficiently long path to exchange heat with the heat dissipation structure. This path design also allows the airflow to be distributed more evenly throughout the channel, reducing dead zones and contributing to improved uniformity of overall heat dissipation performance.

[0049] In this embodiment, a guide slope 16 is provided at the corner of the first bend section 11a and the fourth bend section 11d, and the slope angle is 45°±10° with the airflow axis at that location.

[0050] A guide ramp 16 is added at the critical inflection point of the initial airflow entry in the first bend section 11a and at the corner near the outlet in the fourth bend section 11d, and the relationship between the ramp angle and the local airflow axis is specified. At sharp bends in the flow channel, airflow is prone to separation due to inertia, forming vortex zones or dead zones. This not only increases flow resistance leading to greater pressure loss and potentially requiring more powerful fans, but also significantly reduces the local heat exchange efficiency in that area. The introduction of the guide ramp 16 provides a gradual transition guide surface for the airflow at the bend, smoothing the airflow transition process. This smooth transition helps reduce the impact angle between the airflow and the wall, reducing the intensity and range of vortices generated by flow separation, thereby effectively reducing local flow resistance and pressure loss. Reduced resistance means that with the same fan power, higher airflow or lower energy consumption can be achieved. Simultaneously, reducing flow separation means more airflow can adhere to the wall surface, increasing the effective contact area between the airflow and the guide slope 16 and its surrounding wall, improving the local heat transfer in this key transition area, and making the heat dissipation efficiency of the entire S-shaped channel more balanced and efficient. The specific angle design aims to optimize this guiding effect.

[0051] In this embodiment, the support partition 4 is embedded with an X-shaped metal frame 20, and the intersection of the frame is located at the center of the partition.

[0052] An X-shaped metal frame 20 is embedded inside the supporting separator 4, with the intersection point located at the center of the separator. As a key structural component separating the battery module and guiding airflow, the supporting separator 4's structural strength and thermal conductivity are crucial. The embedded X-shaped metal frame 20 significantly enhances the overall rigidity and bending and torsional strength of the supporting separator 4, giving it greater resistance to deformation and damage when bearing the weight of the battery module, the expansion force during charging and discharging, and potential vibration and impact, thus ensuring the long-term stability and reliability of the outer casing structure. The X-shaped structural design has excellent mechanical properties, and the central intersection point maximizes the uniform distribution of stress. Furthermore, the metal frame is typically made of a thermally conductive material such as aluminum or copper alloy embedded in the plastic separator, effectively establishing an efficient heat conduction path within the separator. Heat generated by the battery module can be transferred more quickly to the separator surface through the metal frame and then carried away by the airflow through the three-dimensional ventilation channel 9. This significantly improves the efficiency of the supporting separator 4 as a heat dissipation component, enhancing its heat conduction and dissipation capabilities for the battery module. The central intersection point also facilitates the uniform diffusion of heat to the surrounding area of ​​the separator.

[0053] In this embodiment, the surface of the support partition 4 facing the inner cavity 3 of the outer shell is provided with parallel heat dissipation fins, and the extension direction of the fins is perpendicular to the airflow direction of the three-dimensional ventilation channel 9.

[0054] Parallel heat dissipation fins are arranged on the side of the support partition 4 facing the battery module, i.e., the inner cavity 3 of the outer casing, and the extension direction of the fins is perpendicular to the airflow direction of the three-dimensional ventilation channel 9. These fins directly face the heat source battery module, greatly increasing the contact heat transfer area between the support partition 4 and the battery module. A larger contact area means that heat can be transferred from the battery to the support partition 4 more efficiently. The design of the fin extension direction perpendicular to the airflow direction is a classic layout to enhance convective heat transfer. When the cooling airflow flows through the three-dimensional ventilation channel 9, it will vertically scour these fins. This vertical scour can effectively break the thermal boundary layer on the fin surface, generating strong turbulence, thereby greatly improving the convective heat transfer coefficient between the airflow and the fin surface. The parallel fin array forms a multi-row, continuous turbulence structure in the airflow direction, continuously disturbing the airflow and maximizing the use of airflow kinetic energy for heat dissipation. This is equivalent to adding a highly efficient heat exchanger between the battery module and the cooling airflow, significantly improving the rate and efficiency of heat transfer from the battery to the cooling air.

[0055] In this embodiment, dust filter brackets 22 are detachably installed at the air inlet 7 and the air outlet 8.

[0056] Removable dust filter brackets 22 are installed at the critical air inlets 7 and outlets 8. Lithium battery systems require a certain level of cleanliness in their operating environment. Dust, particulate matter, and other contaminants enter the inner cavity 3 of the casing through the vents and may accumulate on the battery surface, electrical connection points, or heat dissipation structures. Long-term accumulation poses multiple risks: dust covering heat dissipation surfaces such as support plates 4, fins, and channel walls forms a heat insulation layer, hindering heat dissipation and causing the battery temperature to rise; conductive dust may cause electrical short circuits; and particulate matter may affect the normal operation of moving parts such as fans. The design of the dust filter brackets 22 allows for the installation of filters to effectively block dust and particulate matter from the external environment from entering the casing, maintaining a relatively clean inner cavity and ensuring the reliability of system operation. The removable structural design is crucial, allowing for easy cleaning or replacement of the filters after they become clogged or reach the end of their service life. This ensures the long-term effectiveness of the dustproof function, avoids problems such as poor ventilation and heat dissipation failure due to filter clogging, and greatly improves the convenience and sustainability of heat dissipation system maintenance.

[0057] In this embodiment, the surface of the boss 5 is provided with a plurality of parallel and spaced blocking shoulders 17. The top surface of the blocking shoulders 17 contacts the inner wall of the groove 6 and divides the three-dimensional ventilation channel 9 into a plurality of independent three-dimensional ventilation sub-channels.

[0058] Multiple parallel, spaced-apart blocking shoulders 17 are added to the surface of the boss 5, with their top surfaces contacting the inner wall of the groove 6, thus dividing the original single three-dimensional ventilation channel 9 into multiple independent three-dimensional ventilation sub-channels. This segmentation design brings multiple benefits. First, it significantly increases the total effective surface area of ​​the heat dissipation channel because the side of each blocking shoulder 17 becomes a new heat dissipation wall, and its contact with the inner wall of the groove 6 also strengthens the heat conduction path. The larger surface area directly improves the heat exchange capacity between the airflow and the heat dissipation structure. Second, dividing the wide flow channel into multiple narrow flow channel sub-channels increases the contact perimeter and wetting perimeter between the airflow and the wall surface within the same total cross-sectional area, which helps to improve convective heat transfer efficiency. More importantly, multiple independent sub-channels can guide and distribute the airflow more precisely, ensuring that the airflow is more evenly distributed to various areas around the boss 5, avoiding the situation of high flow velocity in the center, low flow velocity at the corners, or even the existence of flow dead zones that may occur in a single wide channel, thus significantly improving the heat dissipation uniformity. This structure also enhances the rigidity of the boss 5 and the overall flow channel structure.

[0059] In this embodiment, the side of the blocking shoulder 17 is provided with heat dissipation ribs 24 that are aligned with the direction of the three-dimensional ventilation channel 9, and the height of the heat dissipation ribs 24 increases from the air inlet 7 to the air outlet 8.

[0060] Cooling ribs 24, aligned with the channel's orientation, are installed on the side wall of the obstruction shoulder 17, i.e., the sub-channel. The rib height gradually increases from the air inlet 7 to the outlet 8 along the airflow direction. The cooling ribs 24 further increase the effective heat dissipation surface area on the side of the obstruction shoulder 17, enhancing the convective heat transfer capacity of this critical component. The rib orientation, consistent with the channel, avoids unnecessary obstruction of the main airflow, while its raised structure itself also plays a role in turbulence, enhancing local turbulence. The design of the rib height increasing from the air inlet 7 to the outlet 8 is ingenious. Near the air inlet 7, the airflow temperature is lower, and the flow velocity is relatively higher because the channel cross-sectional area has not yet increased due to gas thermal expansion. The lower rib height helps reduce flow resistance here, allowing more cool air to enter smoothly. As the airflow flows along the channel, it continuously absorbs heat, causing its temperature to rise and its volume to expand. The flow velocity may decrease, and the heat transfer efficiency may also slightly decrease due to the reduced temperature difference. At this point, the gradually increasing rib height provides a larger heat dissipation surface area, compensating for the weakening heat exchange capacity caused by the decrease in temperature difference and the potential decrease in flow velocity. Simultaneously, the increasing rib height can also accelerate or guide the airflow, helping to maintain the flow velocity and turbulence in the latter part of the channel, balancing the heat dissipation intensity along the entire channel length, and making heat dissipation more uniform and efficient.

[0061] In this embodiment, one of the air inlet 7 and the air outlet 8 is connected to the external environment, and the other is connected to the inner cavity 3 of the outer casing.

[0062] The connection between the air inlet 7 and the air outlet 8 is clearly defined: one connects to the external environment as a source of cold air or an outlet for hot air, while the other directly connects to the inner cavity 3 of the outer casing, which houses the battery module. This connection is the fundamental logic of the entire heat dissipation system. When the air inlet 7 connects to the external environment and the air outlet 8 connects to the inner cavity, the system operates in a positive pressure airflow mode, forcing external cold air into the inner cavity 3 to directly cool the surface of the battery module. The hot air then needs to be exhausted through other means, such as gaps or specially designed exhaust ports. When the air inlet 7 connects to the inner cavity and the air outlet 8 connects to the external environment, the system operates in a negative pressure exhaust mode, drawing out the hot air around the battery module and exhausting it to the outside. External cold air then enters the inner cavity through other means, such as gaps or specially designed air inlets. Regardless of the mode, the three-dimensional ventilation channel 9 plays a crucial role: in the airflow mode, it is the key path for pre-cooling or distributing cold air before it enters the inner cavity; in the exhaust mode, it is the core heat dissipation channel for the hot air to be exhausted from the inner cavity. This design ensures that the cooling airflow can efficiently exchange heat with the outer casing structure, especially the areas containing heat dissipation structures such as the boss 5 and the support partition 4. At the same time, through a clear connection between the inner and outer cavities, an effective air circulation path is established to drive the exchange of hot and cold air and provide the necessary cooling for the battery module.

[0063] A high-temperature resistant insulating coating, such as an alumina ceramic layer, is added to the surface of the supporting partition 4 to prevent the semi-solid electrolyte from conducting electricity at high temperatures. The material of the extension boss 5 is changed to a flame-retardant composite material, such as polyetheretherketone + 30% glass fiber, which can self-extinguish under open flame conditions.

[0064] Airflow circulation implementation logic In this embodiment, the connection between the air inlet 7 and the air outlet 8 is dynamically configured according to the heat dissipation mode: Mode 1: Positive pressure air supply The air inlet 7 connects to the external environment, and the air outlet 8 connects to the inner cavity 3 of the outer casing. External cold air enters the inner cavity 3 after being pre-cooled by the three-dimensional ventilation channel 9, and directly washes the battery module. Auxiliary exhaust design: An auxiliary exhaust port 25 is opened on the side wall of the outer casing to allow the heated airflow to be discharged.

[0065] Mode 2: Negative pressure ventilation The air inlet 7 connects to the inner cavity 3 of the outer casing, and the air outlet 8 connects to the external environment. Hot air around the battery module is drawn into the three-dimensional ventilation channel 9, cooled, and then discharged. Auxiliary air intake design: An auxiliary air intake 26 is opened at the bottom of the casing to supplement external cold air.

[0066] Mode 3: Hybrid Loop Two sets of three-dimensional ventilation channels 9 perform air supply and exhaust functions respectively. The air inlet 7 and air outlet 8 are bidirectionally connected. The airflow direction is switched by a control valve to achieve stratified isolation of hot and cold airflow. When the temperature sensor detects that the temperature of a certain sub-area is >80℃, it switches to negative pressure exhaust mode to directionally discharge the high-temperature electrolyte volatile gas to the external fire extinguishing device to prevent gas accumulation and explosion.

[0067] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation shell, comprising a main shell (1) and an end cover (2), which are spliced to form a shell inner cavity (3), characterized in that, Multiple support partitions (4) are distributed circumferentially along the splicing surface, and independent sub-regions are defined between adjacent support partitions (4); in each sub-region, the edge of the main shell (1) is provided with an extended boss (5), and the edge of the end cap (2) is provided with a groove (6) that matches the boss (5). The boss (5) forms a spatial obstruction in the groove (6), so that the airflow path between the air inlet (7) and the air outlet (8) bypasses the side wall of the boss (5) to form a three-dimensional ventilation channel (9) with a continuous tortuous path, wherein the air inlet (7) and the air outlet (8) are physically separated by the boss (5) and located on different planes.

2. The semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation enclosure of claim 1, wherein, The three-dimensional ventilation channel (9) includes four vertical bending sections (11), wherein the first bending section (11a) and the second bending section (11b) are located at the upper and lower positions outside the boss (5), and the third bending section (11c) and the fourth bending section (11d) are located at the upper and lower positions inside the boss (5).

3. The semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation enclosure of claim 2, wherein, The four vertical bends (11) are connected in sequence in the airflow direction to form a continuous S-shaped path.

4. The semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation case according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by, A guide slope (16) is provided at the corner between the first bend (11a) and the fourth bend (11d), and the slope angle is 45°±10° with the airflow axis at that point.

5. The semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation enclosure of claim 1, wherein, The supporting partition (4) is embedded with an X-shaped metal frame (20), and the intersection of the frame is located at the center of the partition.

6. The semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation enclosure of claim 1, wherein, The surface of the support partition (4) facing the inner cavity (3) of the outer shell is provided with parallel heat dissipation fins (14), and the extension direction of the fins (14) is perpendicular to the airflow direction of the three-dimensional ventilation channel (9).

7. The semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation enclosure of claim 1, wherein, Dust filter brackets (22) are detachably installed at the air inlet (7) and air outlet (8).

8. The semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation enclosure of claim 1, wherein, The surface of the boss (5) is provided with multiple parallel and spaced blocking shoulders (17). The top surface of the blocking shoulders (17) is in contact with the inner wall of the groove (6) and divides the three-dimensional ventilation channel (9) into multiple independent three-dimensional ventilation sub-channels.

9. The semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation enclosure of claim 8, wherein, The side of the blocking shoulder (17) is provided with heat dissipation ribs (24) that are aligned with the direction of the three-dimensional ventilation channel (9). The height of the heat dissipation ribs (24) increases from the air inlet (7) to the air outlet (8).

10. The semi-solid lithium battery heat dissipation enclosure of claim 1, wherein, One of the air inlet (7) and the air outlet (8) is connected to the external environment, and the other is connected to the inner cavity of the outer shell.

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