Battery Cell Spacing With Coolant Flow for High-Density Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric vehicle battery cooling systems are inefficient in cooling battery cells over a larger surface area, leading to reduced energy density and increased vehicle footprint due to the use of conventional thermal components and compression plates.
Innovation Solution
The proposed apparatus includes a closure that surrounds a space between two battery cells, allowing pressurized coolant to flow freely and contact a larger surface area of each cell, enhancing cooling efficiency and reducing the need for compression plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional thermal components and compression plates are used for battery cooling, then cooling function is provided, but energy density is reduced and vehicle footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is merged with the battery module structure by using the battery cell casings themselves as cooling channels. The cooling fluid flows through spaces defined by the battery cell casings, eliminating the need for separate thermal components and compression plates. This integration directly resolves the contradiction by providing cooling functionality without adding extra components that would reduce energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery cell casings serve multiple functions: they provide structural containment for the battery cells and simultaneously function as cooling channels for thermal management. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated cooling components, thereby maintaining higher energy density while still achieving effective cooling of the battery cells.
2Temperature
If conventional thermal components are used for battery cooling, then cooling function is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is merged with the battery module structure by using the battery cell casings themselves as cooling channels. The cooling fluid flows through spaces defined by the battery cell casings, eliminating the need for separate thermal components and compression plates. This integration directly resolves the contradiction by providing cooling functionality without adding extra components that would reduce energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the unnecessary compression plates and separate thermal components from the battery assembly. By removing these redundant elements and using only the essential battery cell casings as cooling channels, the system achieves simplified structure while maintaining effective cooling functionality.
3Quantity of substance
If battery cells are positioned closer together to increase energy density, then volume is reduced, but cooling efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling channels are merged with the battery cell casings, allowing cooling fluid to flow directly through the spaces between cells. This integration enables effective cooling even when cells are positioned closely together, as the cooling fluid has direct access to the cell surfaces through the casings themselves, resolving the contradiction between high energy density and cooling efficiency.
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 increases energy density by allowing for a larger volume of active electrolyte material, reduces the vehicle's footprint, and cools battery cells more efficiently than conventional methods, potentially by up to 80% more effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The coolant can contact at least a portion of an exterior of each battery cell
Implementation Method 2
pressurized coolant that freely flows between the first battery cell and the second battery cell
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus can include a space between a first battery cell and a second battery cell. The apparatus can include a closure to at least partially surround the space. The space can receive a coolant. The coolant can contact at least a portion of the first battery cell and at least a portion of the second battery cell.