Battery Cooling Elements With Adaptive Clamping Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage devices for electric vehicles face inefficiencies in heat transfer and constant preload force application, leading to suboptimal performance and reduced service life of battery storage cells due to inadequate expansion management.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an energy storage device with elastic heat sinks that allow coolant flow for dual-function side surface temperature control and variable clamping force adjustment based on cell expansion, utilizing a pressure adjustment device to optimize coolant pressure and maintain optimal clamping forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooling plate is provided underneath the cells for cooling, then cooling function is provided, but heat transfer between the storage cells and the cooling plate is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple cooling bodies (first cooling body and second cooling body) that are positioned on opposite end faces of the storage cells, enabling heat dissipation from both ends simultaneously. This segmentation allows for more effective heat transfer compared to a single cooling plate underneath the cells.
2Force
If a rigid frame structure is used for preloading the cells, then a constant preload force is applied to counteract cell expansion, but the preload force cannot be adjusted to match changing expansion states of the cells
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid frame structure is replaced with flexible membranes (first flexible membrane and second flexible membrane) that can dynamically adapt to the expansion state of the storage cells. These membranes allow the preload force to adjust automatically as the cells expand or contract, maintaining optimal contact and pressure throughout the battery's operational life.
3Stability of the object's composition
If spacers are used to separate the storage cells, then the cells are separated from one another, but the heat transfer and temperature control efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membranes serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as separators between storage cells (replacing traditional spacers) while also serving as heat transfer surfaces for the cooling system. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate spacer components and improves temperature control efficiency by providing direct thermal contact between the cells and cooling bodies.
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 solution enhances heat transfer and service life by dynamically adjusting clamping forces to match cell expansion, maintaining optimal temperature and reducing stress on cells, thereby improving both performance and longevity of lithium-ion cells.
Implementation Method 1
heat transfer from the storage cells via the heat sink to the cooling plate (and vice versa)
Implementation Method 2
through which a coolant can flow
Implementation Method 3
heat sinks with an elastic casing through which a coolant can flow
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~4
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
The invention relates to an energy storage device (10) for storing electrical energy, preferably for a vehicle that is at least partially electrically powered, and to a vehicle, preferably a commercial vehicle, comprising the energy storage device (10). The energy storage device (10) has several storage cells (12, 14, 16) arranged in a stack and a cooling plate (18) through which a coolant flows. The cooling plate (18) is arranged laterally, preferably at the bottom, with respect to the several storage cells (12, 14, 16). The energy storage device (10) further comprises several cooling elements (22, 24) through which the coolant flows, with one of the several cooling elements (22, 24) being arranged between each pair of adjacent storage cells (12, 14; 14, 16).The multiple cooling elements (22, 24) are each fluidically connected to the cooling plate (18) and are furthermore each designed as a cooling element (22, 24) with a preferably elastically deformable shell (28). The energy storage device (10) also has a pressure adjusting device (30) for adjusting a clamping force (36) acting on the multiple storage cells (12, 14, 16), wherein the pressure adjusting device (30) is designed to adjust a coolant pressure (34) in the multiple cooling elements (22, 24) depending on a state of expansion of the multiple storage cells (12, 14, 16) or a quantity correlated therewith.