Battery Coolant Conduit Layout for Balanced Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs in electrified vehicles experience flow pressure losses due to varying coolant path lengths, leading to inefficiencies and the need for additional components like restrictors to manage thermal energy.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an inlet and outlet conduit system where coolant flow is arranged such that the delivery and receipt of coolant to and from passageways are upstream relative to the general flow direction, with conduits extending through the same end of the battery pack and optionally looping to equalize coolant travel distance, eliminating the need for restrictors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If coolant is delivered to multiple passageways through a single inlet conduit, then the coolant circulation system is simplified, but flow pressure losses increase due to varying path lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies equipotentiality by configuring the inlet and outlet conduits to extend through the same end of the battery pack, creating equal flow path lengths from the inlet to each passageway and back to the outlet. This equalizes the hydraulic potential across parallel coolant paths, eliminating pressure imbalances and the need for restrictors while maintaining simplified system architecture
2Loss of energy
If coolant path lengths are equalized by extending conduits through the same end, then flow pressure losses are reduced, but the conduit arrangement becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the inlet and outlet conduit paths by having both conduits extend through the same end of the battery pack. This consolidation approach equalizes coolant travel distances while actually reducing overall system complexity compared to using separate entry and exit points, as it eliminates the need for additional flow balancing components
3Productivity
If restrictors are added to balance coolant flow, then thermal management efficiency is improved, but device complexity and component quantity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for restrictors by redesigning the conduit configuration. By extending both inlet and outlet conduits through the same end to create equal path lengths, the system achieves balanced coolant flow distribution without requiring flow restriction components, thereby maintaining thermal management efficiency while reducing component quantity
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 arrangement reduces flow pressure losses and simplifies the coolant circulation system, enhancing thermal management efficiency and reducing complexity by eliminating the need for additional components.
Implementation Method 1
Coolant can be move through the traction battery to manage thermal energy levels
Data Source
AI summary
A traction battery assembly includes battery arrays and a thermal exchange assembly of a battery pack. The thermal exchange assembly has passageways that each communicate coolant from a first side of the battery pack to an opposite, second side of the battery pack. An inlet conduit is on the first side. The inlet conduit is arranged such that the delivering of coolant to a first one of the passageways is upstream from the delivering of coolant to a second one of the passageways. An outlet conduit is on the second side. The outlet conduit is arranged such that the receiving of coolant from the first one of passageways to the outlet conduit is upstream from the receiving of coolant from the second one of the passageways to the outlet conduit.