Battery Cooler Structure for Cell Height Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power storage devices face inefficiencies in cooling due to variations in cell heights, requiring thicker thermally conductive layers which disrupt uniform cooling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A power storage device design featuring flow path portions with lower bending rigidity connecting portions that can be bent to conform to varying cell heights, allowing uniform thermally conductive layer thickness and efficient cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a thick thermally conductive layer is arranged on a power storage cell with relatively small height to conform to the flat shape of the plate, then the cell can be covered by the plate, but the cooling efficiency of the cell decreases due to the increased thermal resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting portion is designed to be flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically adapt to height variations among different power storage cells. This flexibility enables the plate to maintain contact with cells of varying heights without requiring thick thermally conductive layers, thereby preserving cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The bending rigidity of the connecting portion is specifically controlled to be lower than that of the flow path portions. This parameter change allows the connecting portion to deform and accommodate height differences, eliminating the need for thick thermally conductive layers and maintaining effective thermal contact.
2Shape
If the thickness of the thermally conductive layer is adjusted according to the height of each power storage cell, then the plate can conform to each cell, but the manufacturing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The function of accommodating height variations is extracted from the thermally conductive layer and transferred to the connecting portion of the plate. This allows the thermally conductive layer to maintain uniform thickness while the connecting portion absorbs the height differences through flexible deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting portion serves multiple functions: it provides structural connection between flow path portions, accommodates height variations among cells, and enables the plate to conform to different cell heights without requiring customized thermally conductive layers for each cell.
3Strength
If a rigid plate structure is used to maintain structural strength, then the plate can support the cooling function, but it cannot adapt to height variations among power storage cells
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the plate are assigned different rigidity characteristics: the flow path portions maintain high bending rigidity to preserve structural strength and cooling function, while the connecting portions have low bending rigidity to provide flexibility for adapting to height variations. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between strength and adaptability.
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 design ensures uniform cooling by accommodating height variations without adjusting the thermally conductive layer thickness, enhancing cooling efficiency across power storage cells.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally conductive layer sandwiched between the power storage module and the cooler
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of flow path portions arranged side by side in the prescribed direction and extending in a longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of power storage cells
Data Source
AI summary
A power storage device includes a power storage module including a plurality of power storage cells, a cooler arranged above the power storage module in a vertical direction, and a thermally conductive layer sandwiched between the power storage module and the cooler. The cooler includes a plurality of flow path portions arranged side by side in an X direction, and a connecting portion that is arranged between the flow path portions arranged side by side in the X direction and connects the flow path portions to each other. The connecting portion has a bending rigidity lower than that of each of the plurality of flow path portions.