Battery Cell Cooling Layout for Direct Coolant Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery cell cooling systems for electronic vehicles often fail to effectively manage heat distribution, leading to reduced battery performance, shortened cell life, and the risk of thermal runaway due to insufficient cooling and obstructions between the coolant and battery cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery cell cooling system design featuring a housing with slots and sleeves or seals that allow coolant to directly contact the full circumference of cylindrical or prismatic battery cells, enhancing heat transfer through thermal paste or direct contact, and incorporating top and bottom coolant plates with securing mechanisms to ensure comprehensive cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cooling systems with obstructions between coolant and battery cells are used, then the system structure is simpler to manufacture, but heat transfer efficiency is reduced and thermal runaway risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes intermediate obstructions (insulation layers, separators, or other barrier materials) that traditionally existed between the coolant and battery cells. The coolant is allowed to directly contact the battery cell surfaces, eliminating thermal resistance layers and improving heat transfer efficiency while reducing thermal runaway risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a specialized cooling plate or heat transfer plate as an intermediary component that facilitates direct thermal contact between the coolant and battery cells. This plate is designed with high thermal conductivity and direct contact surfaces, serving as an effective heat transfer mediator without creating thermal resistance.
2Productivity
If coolant flow paths are blocked by obstructions, then manufacturing is easier, but cooling effectiveness and battery performance decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent cooling channels or flow paths that are strategically positioned to contact different regions of the battery cells. This segmentation allows the coolant to flow through multiple separate paths, ensuring comprehensive cooling coverage without requiring complex obstructed structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a traditional obstructed one-dimensional cooling path to a multi-dimensional cooling approach where the coolant flows in multiple directions and contact surfaces. The cooling plates are designed with three-dimensional cooling channels that contact battery cells from multiple angles, maximizing heat transfer surface area.
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 improves heat transfer efficiency, reduces the risk of thermal runaway, and extends battery cell performance and lifespan by ensuring uniform and unobstructed coolant contact with the battery cells.
Implementation Method 1
heat may be transferred from the battery cell to the coolant through the sleeve
Implementation Method 2
the coolant is configured to flow from the inlet, through the spaces between plurality of slots, and to the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A battery cell cooling system includes a housing including an inlet configured to receive a coolant and an outlet configured to discharge the coolant, the housing defining a plurality of slots between the inlet and the outlet, each of the plurality of slots being spaced apart from adjacent slots, and a plurality of battery cells disposed in the plurality of slots, wherein the coolant is configured to flow from the inlet, through the spaces between plurality of slots, and to the outlet.