Traction Battery Thermal Plates with Bracket Fluid Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current traction battery assemblies for electric vehicles face challenges in effectively managing thermal conditions, particularly in efficiently transferring heat away from electronic components and battery cells, which can impact performance and longevity.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a thermal management system that includes a first and second thermal plate with a bracket arrangement and heat pipes to circulate fluid and transfer heat, ensuring efficient thermal regulation by connecting flow channels and supporting electronic components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a thermal management system is implemented with thermal plates and fluid circulation, then thermal regulation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket arrangement is merged with thermal management functionality by incorporating flow channels directly into the bracket structure. The bracket serves dual purposes: mechanical support for electronic components and thermal management through integrated fluid circulation paths that connect the first and second thermal plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket arrangement performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for mounting electronic components, serves as a thermal management system through integrated flow channels, and acts as a fluid distribution network connecting different thermal plates, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated components.
2Power
If heat pipes are used to transfer heat from electronic components, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Heat pipes serve as intermediary thermal transfer devices between the electronic components and the thermal plates. The heat pipes efficiently conduct heat away from heat-generating electronic components and transfer it to the thermal plates for fluid-based cooling, acting as a bridge between different thermal management mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex active cooling mechanisms with passive heat pipe technology. Heat pipes utilize phase change and capillary action to achieve efficient heat transfer without requiring external power sources or complex control systems, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency while simplifying the overall system.
3Temperature
If multiple thermal plates are spaced apart with bracket arrangement, then thermal management coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system is segmented into multiple thermal plates (first and second thermal plates) that can be independently positioned and optimized for different thermal zones. The bracket arrangement divides the thermal management function across multiple components, allowing targeted cooling of different electronic components based on their specific thermal requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket arrangement merges structural support and thermal management functions into a single integrated structure. By incorporating flow channels within the bracket itself, the design eliminates the need for separate cooling infrastructure, thereby expanding thermal management coverage without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 enhances thermal management by effectively circulating fluids and transferring heat, thereby improving the performance and longevity of traction battery assemblies in electric vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
An array of heat pipes are arranged to transfer heat from the electronic component to the thermal plate
Implementation Method 2
A first thermal plate disposed within a case, cells disposed on the first thermal plate... The leg defines at least a portion of a fluid path connecting flow channels of the first and second thermal plates
Data Source
AI summary
A traction battery includes a first thermal plate disposed within a case, and cells disposed on the first thermal plate. A bracket arrangement is disposed within the case. The bracket arrangement includes a second thermal plate spaced apart from the first thermal plate, and a leg defining at least a portion of a fluid path connecting flow channels of the first and second thermal plates. An electronic component is disposed on the second thermal plate.