Battery Cell Cooling Structure Using Sealed Refrigerant Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Can-type secondary batteries in battery packs for medium and large-sized devices like electric vehicles accumulate heat quickly due to their concentration, leading to rapid temperature increases and potential deterioration, necessitating effective heat management solutions.
Innovation Solution
A battery cell cooling device with a simplified configuration, comprising a body part, a hollow part, and a refrigerant, along with a thermal interface material, is used to individually cool each battery cell by absorbing and dissipating heat through vaporization and air-cooling, without requiring a power unit for refrigerant circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If air cooling method is used for battery thermal management, then device complexity is reduced, but cooling efficiency is insufficient and temperature distribution is uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent cooling channels (first cooling channel and second cooling channel) with different flow paths. This segmentation allows each channel to serve specific battery regions, improving temperature distribution uniformity while maintaining relatively simple device structure through modular channel design.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the battery cooling plate are provided with different cooling channels tailored to local thermal requirements. The first cooling channel serves batteries in the first region while the second cooling channel serves batteries in the second region, enabling localized thermal management that achieves uniform temperature distribution without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
2Temperature
If liquid cooling method is used for battery thermal management, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to coolant circulation system
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling channels are integrated directly into the battery cooling plate structure, merging the cooling function with the battery housing. This integration eliminates the need for separate cooling pipes and reduces the complexity of the coolant circulation system while maintaining high cooling efficiency through direct liquid contact with battery surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery cooling plate serves multiple functions: it acts as both the battery housing structure and the heat dissipation component with integrated cooling channels. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving effective liquid cooling.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional cooling methods are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but thermal management effectiveness is insufficient for high-power batteries
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling plate is manufactured as a segmented structure with distinct first and second cooling channels that can be formed using standard injection molding or extrusion processes. This segmentation allows for reliable thermal management of high-power batteries while maintaining ease of manufacture through conventional plastic processing techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling channel geometry parameters (cross-sectional area, path length, distribution pattern) are optimized to enhance heat dissipation effectiveness for high-power batteries. By adjusting these parameters within the manufacturing capabilities of standard processes, thermal management effectiveness is improved without sacrificing manufacturing simplicity.
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
The solution effectively dissipates heat from each battery cell, maintaining temperature control and preventing deterioration, while maintaining a simplified structure and efficient cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling plate... provided with first and second cooling channels
Implementation Method 2
first and second cooling channels extending along a length direction of the cooling plate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Provided are a battery cell cooling device including a body part having one side protruding to be assembled with a unit battery cell in an one-to-one correspondence manner, a hollow part defined in the body part and isolated from the outside, a refrigerant isolated and accommodated in the hollow part, and a thermal interface material (TIM) disposed at one side of the body part to contact the unit battery cell, a battery pack including the same, and a method for cooling a battery cell applied to the same. Particularly, provided are a battery cell cooling device capable of effectively and individually cooling a plurality of battery cells with a simplified structure, a battery pack, and a method for cooling a battery cell.