Battery Box Cold Plate With Self-Adjusting Cooling Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Power battery packs face inconsistencies in cell performance due to varying environmental temperatures, leading to potential discharge and reduced usage performance.
Innovation Solution
A power battery box with a tray, liquid cooling plate, and cold expansion portion that adjusts the flow rate of a cooling liquid based on cell usage conditions, using a cold expansion portion that expands or contracts to modify the flow channel's cross-sectional area in response to temperature changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a liquid cooling plate with fixed flow channels is used, then the cooling liquid can flow through the battery pack, but the flow rate cannot be adjusted according to varying cell temperature conditions, leading to inconsistent cell temperatures and reduced battery performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the flow channel cross-sectional area variable through the cold expansion portion. The cold expansion portion can dynamically adjust its volume in response to temperature changes, thereby changing the flow channel's cross-sectional area and controlling the cooling liquid flow rate. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the cooling system to adapt to varying cell temperature conditions, resolving the contradiction between temperature consistency and flow rate adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the parameter changes principle by changing the physical state of the cold expansion portion (between expanded and contracted states) in response to temperature conditions. When cells are at high temperature, the cold expansion portion contracts to increase flow channel area and cooling liquid flow rate. When cells are at low temperature, it expands to reduce flow channel area and decrease flow rate. This parameter change mechanism enables the cooling system to automatically adapt to different thermal conditions, achieving both temperature consistency and flow rate adaptability.
2Temperature
If the cooling liquid flow rate is increased to cool down high-temperature cells, then the temperature consistency improves, but the low-temperature cells may become excessively cold, affecting battery performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the local quality principle by providing different cooling intensities to different regions of the battery pack. The cold expansion portion is positioned to selectively control cooling liquid flow to specific cell groups based on their temperature conditions. High-temperature cell groups receive increased cooling liquid flow when the cold expansion portion contracts, while low-temperature cell groups receive reduced flow when the cold expansion portion expands. This localized quality adjustment ensures that each region receives appropriate cooling, preventing both overheating and excessive cooling, thereby maintaining temperature consistency and battery reliability.
3Device complexity
If a fixed cross-sectional area flow channel is used, then the structure is simple, but the system cannot automatically adjust to varying thermal conditions of different cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by enabling the cooling system to automatically adjust its own operation based on temperature feedback. The cold expansion portion responds autonomously to temperature conditions, contracting when cells are hot and expanding when cells are cold, without requiring external control systems or complex sensors. This self-regulating mechanism provides the necessary adaptability to varying thermal conditions while maintaining relatively simple system architecture, effectively resolving the contradiction between device complexity and adaptability.
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 solution ensures more efficient cooling of cells by optimizing the flow rate of the cooling liquid, maintaining lower temperatures and improving battery performance while preventing discharge, thus enhancing the reliability and service life of the cells.
Implementation Method 1
A liquid-passing cross-sectional area of the flow channel corresponding to an expansion region is reduced when the cold expansion portion expands
Implementation Method 2
A flow channel through which a cooling liquid flows is defined jointly by the liquid cooling plate and the outer surface of the tray
Data Source
AI summary
A power battery has a box. The box includes a tray, a liquid cooling plate, and a cold expansion portion. An accommodating space for accommodating cells is provided in the tray. The liquid cooling plate is connected to the tray at an outer surface of at least one of the top and bottom of the tray. A flow channel through which a cooling liquid flows is defined jointly by the liquid cooling plate and the outer surface of the tray. The cold expansion portion is arranged in the flow channel, and is connected to at least one of the tray and the liquid cooling plate. A liquid-passing cross-sectional area of the flow channel corresponding to an expansion region is reduced when the cold expansion portion expands.