Battery Cooler Flow Paths With Projections for Thermal Boundary Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling devices for vehicular batteries and other heating elements in electric and hybrid vehicles suffer from insufficient cooling performance due to thermal boundary layers and temperature differences, leading to variations in surface temperature and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device with projections in the flow paths that reduce cross-sectional area and increase flow velocity, guiding coolant closer to the heat source, and forming multiple parallel paths to enhance cooling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cooling device uses a conventional flow path structure, then the device is simple to manufacture, but the cooling performance is insufficient due to temperature differences and thermal boundary layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by forming projections at specific locations within the flow path where thermal boundary layers form. These projections create local turbulence and disrupt the thermal boundary layer only where needed, rather than modifying the entire flow path structure. This targeted approach improves cooling performance at critical locations while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling device is segmented into multiple flow paths with projections at different locations, allowing independent optimization of each flow path's cooling characteristics. This segmentation enables the system to address temperature differences at various positions without requiring complete redesign of the entire cooling structure.
2Speed
If the flow path cross-sectional area is reduced to increase flow velocity, then cooling performance improves, but the flow path becomes more complex to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The projections create dynamic flow conditions by inducing turbulence and varying flow velocity distribution across the flow path cross-section. The flow velocity naturally increases at certain locations due to the projections without requiring physical reduction of the overall flow path cross-sectional area, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving improved cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow path parameters by adding projections that locally alter the flow cross-sectional area and flow velocity distribution. This allows the system to achieve higher effective flow velocity for heat transfer without permanently reducing the flow path dimensions, maintaining manufacturability while improving cooling performance.
3Reliability
If projections are added to the flow path to increase flow velocity, then cooling performance enhances, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The projections are merged with the flow path structure as an integrated component rather than separate add-on elements. This merging allows the projections to be formed during the same manufacturing process as the flow path itself, such as through extrusion or molding, thereby minimizing additional manufacturing complexity while achieving the desired flow velocity enhancement.
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 improves heat exchange performance by increasing coolant flow velocity and contact area, effectively addressing temperature differences and enhancing cooling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the cooling device is cooled by a vaporization heat of the cooling liquid and that the battery is cooled by transferring the heat of the battery to the cooled cooling device
Implementation Method 2
the cooling device is cooled by a vaporization heat of the cooling liquid
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
To provide a cooling device for a cooling device configured to have an enhanced cooling performance at each cooling site to cope with a temperature difference in a heating element, and to utilize coolant effectively. The cooling device 1 comprises: an upper plate 10 serving as a heat receiving surface; a lower plate 20 being in parallel and opposed to the upper plate; and a single or plurality of flow path(s) 2 formed by joining the upper plate 10 and the lower plate 20. A single or plurality projection(s) 5 projecting to the upper plate 10 or the lower plate 20 is/are formed in an intermediate section of any of the flow paths 2, and the projection 5 has a height that does not reach the upper plate or the lower plate opposed thereto.