Modular Battery Coolant Channels for Terminal-Focused Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle battery cooling systems require complex networks of pipes, contributing to weight and space usage, and inefficiently cool battery cells, particularly the cell terminals.
Innovation Solution
A modular battery design with aligned coolant conduit portions and couplers that allow flexible arrangement of battery modules, enabling direct coolant contact with cell terminals and efficient temperature regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple pipes are used for coolant supply to each battery cell, then reliable cooling of battery cells is achieved, but weight and space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual coolant pipes for separate battery cells are merged into a single common coolant conduit that serves multiple cells. The conduit is positioned to allow coolant flow in close proximity to multiple cell terminals simultaneously, achieving reliable cooling of multiple cells through one integrated cooling path rather than multiple separate pipes.
2Reliability
If multiple pipes are used for coolant supply to each battery cell, then reliable cooling of battery cells is achieved, but the volume occupied by pipework increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual coolant pipes for separate battery cells are merged into a single common coolant conduit that serves multiple cells. The conduit is positioned to allow coolant flow in close proximity to multiple cell terminals simultaneously, achieving reliable cooling of multiple cells through one integrated cooling path rather than multiple separate pipes.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional coolant piping is used, then coolant can be supplied to battery cells, but direct cooling of cell terminals is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant conduit is positioned to provide localized cooling precisely where heat generation is most intense - at the cell terminals. The conduit allows coolant to flow in direct proximity to terminal regions, creating a locally optimized cooling arrangement that targets the hottest spots rather than providing uniform cooling throughout the cell body.
4Device complexity
If battery modules are arranged in fixed configurations, then simple coolant piping is sufficient, but adaptability to different vehicle cavities is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The common coolant conduit is designed with a universal configuration that can effectively cool battery cells across multiple different module arrangements. The conduit positioning and flow characteristics are optimized to provide adequate cooling whether cells are arranged in series, parallel, or hybrid configurations, allowing the same cooling system to serve multiple battery layout options without requiring custom piping designs.
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 modular design allows for efficient temperature regulation of battery cells, reducing weight and space requirements while maintaining high power output and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
Battery cells generate heat when supplying energy. For the battery to function efficiently and for long periods of time, the temperature of battery cells must be regulated during operation. A method of cooling used among existing vehicle batteries is the use of coolant fluid to regulate the temperature of the cells of the battery.
Implementation Method 2
The battery may be configured to functionally interact with a heat exchanger for extracting thermal energy from the coolant. A battery may be configured so that coolant drained by the drain coolant conduit from any of the ones of the battery modules is acted upon by the heat exchanger prior to being supplied any other battery module by the supply coolant conduit.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery comprising a plurality of battery modules arranged in a row, each battery module comprising a plurality of cells and a housing enclosing the plurality of cells. The battery further comprising a supply coolant conduit and a drain coolant conduit, each adjoining and extending along at least part of the row of battery modules, the supply coolant conduit being configured to supply coolant to multiple ones of the battery modules and the drain coolant conduit being configured to drain coolant from multiple ones of the battery modules.