Battery Pack Base Plate Flow Paths for Cooling and Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs face challenges in cooling efficiency due to complex assembly processes and inadequate contact area between the coolant flow channels and the battery modules, leading to ineffective heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
The battery pack features a pack case with a base plate having a hollow shape and multiple space parts for storing coolant, along with cooling flow paths that maximize the cooling effect by allowing coolant to flow through a large area, thereby enhancing heat exchange with the battery modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional tube-shaped flow paths are used in the base plate, then the assembly process becomes complicated requiring multiple connections of inlets, outlets, hoses, and flow channels, but the cooling efficiency remains insufficient due to limited contact area with battery modules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flow path structure with the base plate itself, integrating the cooling channel directly into the base plate body rather than using separate tube components. This integration eliminates the need for multiple connections of hoses and auxiliary inlets, simplifying the assembly process while maintaining effective cooling contact area with the battery modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the battery modules and incorporates the cooling flow paths within its structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling components, reducing assembly complexity while ensuring adequate cooling coverage.
2Device complexity
If tube-shaped flow channels are used with round cross-section, then the structure is simpler, but the area in contact with the battery module is reduced leading to ineffective cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the local geometry of the flow channels by forming grooves with flattened cross-sections that maximize the contact surface area between the cooling channel and the battery module. This local geometric optimization ensures efficient heat transfer from the battery to the coolant while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow channels are designed as grooves formed directly in the base plate surface, creating a two-dimensional cooling interface rather than using three-dimensional tubes. This dimensional change maximizes the contact area between the coolant flow path and the battery module, significantly improving cooling effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively cools the battery modules, preventing overheating and explosions, while simplifying the assembly process and improving cooling efficiency compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
having a plurality of space parts formed therein for storing coolant; and a plurality of cooling flow paths connecting the space parts to each other between a pair of adjacent space parts
Implementation Method 2
coolant that flows inside
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology relates to a battery pack. More specifically, the battery pack of the present technology includes a pack case that includes a module area in which the battery modules are mounted, and a base plate defining a hollow shape and having a plurality of space parts formed therein to support a lower part of a battery module and in which coolant is stored; sidewalls coupled to a rim of the base plate; and a separation wall coupled to the base plate to separate the battery modules from each other. The separation wall includes a main separation wall extended and formed across a central part of the pack case. The base plate thus enables coolant to flow in out to the space part and an inlet and an outlet at each end connecting the space parts with each other located between a pair of adjacent space parts, and further includes a flow path part including a plurality of cooling flow paths to connect the space parts each other.