Battery Coolant Flow Reversal for Uniform Cell Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery thermal management systems face inefficiencies due to non-uniform temperature distribution within battery packs, leading to excessive energy and weight waste, as coolant loops heat up and cool batteries unevenly, with the hottest cells determining the cooling system's size.
Innovation Solution
A battery thermal management system that periodically reverses coolant flow direction using a control valve, actuated by a computer system based on temperature sensors, to ensure uniform temperature distribution across battery cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a continuous cooling ribbon is used to cool battery cells, then the cooling system can be implemented with a simple structure, but the temperature distribution across battery cells becomes uneven with cells at the end of the loop being cooled less
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the cooling system adjustable through a reversible flow valve that can change the coolant flow direction. The system transitions from a static single-direction cooling loop to a dynamic multi-directional cooling system, allowing the cooling ribbon to serve different battery cell regions at different times based on thermal conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by alternating the coolant flow direction through periodic reversal controlled by the reversible flow valve. The system switches between cooling different battery cell regions in cycles, ensuring that all cells receive adequate cooling over time rather than having a continuous temperature gradient in one direction
2Reliability
If the cooling system is sized to keep the temperature of battery cells at the end of the cooling loop under the temperature constraint, then temperature constraints are met, but more energy is used to cool batteries than is ideal since batteries at the beginning of the loop are colder than needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by directing cooling capacity to specific battery cell regions that need it most at different times. The reversible flow valve enables the system to locally target hot spots rather than applying uniform cooling across all cells continuously, matching cooling delivery to actual thermal needs of different battery regions
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback through temperature sensors that monitor battery cell temperatures and provide signals to the control system. The control system adjusts the reversible flow valve based on this temperature feedback, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes cooling energy consumption by responding to actual thermal conditions rather than operating at fixed capacity
3Ease of manufacture
If a single-direction coolant loop is used, then the system configuration is simple and fixed, but the system cannot adapt to varying thermal conditions across different battery regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the previously static single-direction cooling system dynamic by incorporating a reversible flow valve. This allows the system to adapt its cooling pattern from a fixed single-direction loop to a flexible multi-directional system that can respond to varying thermal conditions while maintaining relatively simple hardware architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling ribbon serves multiple functions by being able to cool different battery cell regions at different times through flow direction reversal. The same physical cooling ribbon structure performs the role of targeting multiple different thermal zones, making the system more versatile without requiring multiple separate cooling circuits
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
Achieves a more uniform temperature profile across battery cells, optimizing efficiency and reducing energy and weight waste in the thermal management system.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant loop in thermal communication with at least a portion of the battery cells, the coolant loop including a circulation pump for circulating the coolant within the coolant loop
Implementation Method 2
the coolant loop including a refrigerator for cooling heated coolant
Implementation Method 3
a control valve for regulating the flow of the coolant in the coolant loop, the control valve being alterable between a first position and a second position
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems and methods for using a thermal management system to cool a battery cell. The disclosed devices include a housing, a plurality of battery cells, a coolant loop, a circulation pump, a refrigerator, and a control valve for periodically reversing the flow of coolant within the coolant loop.