Battery Power Electronics Cooling Channel With Integrated Air Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for power electronics in battery systems, particularly in motor vehicles, fail to provide effective ventilation, leading to reduced cooling performance and potential damage to electronic components due to air bubbles in the cooling channels.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device with a venting interface and a cooling channel ceiling design featuring elevations and depressions to create a ventilation space, allowing for complete venting and efficient heat transfer, while minimizing installation space and using cost-effective means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cooling channel with a flat cooling channel cover is used, then the manufacturing is simple, but air bubbles cannot be vented effectively leading to reduced cooling performance
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling channel cover transitions from a flat two-dimensional surface to a three-dimensional structure with elevations and depressions. The elevation creates a depression on the opposite side that forms a venting space, enabling air bubble accumulation and venting while maintaining structural integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The venting space is nested within the cooling channel cover structure itself. The elevation and depression form an integrated venting chamber that is part of the cooling channel assembly, eliminating the need for separate venting components.
2Temperature
If the power electronics are connected directly to the cooling channel cover, then the heat transfer is efficient, but air bubbles accumulate causing damage to electronic components
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling channel cover is segmented into functional zones: a base area for heat transfer connection with power electronics, and an elevation creating a separate depression that serves as a venting space. This segmentation allows simultaneous heat transfer and air venting functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The depression in the cooling channel cover acts as an intermediary venting space between the cooling liquid flow and the power electronics. Air bubbles are diverted into this depression and removed through the venting interface, preventing direct contact with and damage to the electronic components.
3Reliability
If a venting interface is added to the cooling channel, then air bubbles can be vented effectively, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling channel cover serves multiple functions: it provides the cooling channel structure, creates the venting space through its elevation-depression geometry, and includes the venting interface for air bubble removal. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated venting components.
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
Enables effective cooling and ventilation of power electronics, preventing damage from air bubbles and ensuring optimal thermal management, thereby extending the service life of battery systems.
Implementation Method 1
The power electronics can be connected to the cooling channel cover in a heat-transfer manner on a side of the cooling channel cover facing away from the cooling channel
Implementation Method 2
a cooling liquid can flow through the cooling channel
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a cooling device (10) for cooling power electronics (120) of a battery system (200) with a plurality of battery cells (110), the cooling device (10) comprising a cooling channel (40) with a cooling channel base (46), with a cooling channel ceiling (42) and with at least one cooling channel wall (44), wherein the power electronics (120) can be connected to the cooling channel ceiling (42) on a side facing away from the cooling channel (40) in a heat-transferring manner, wherein the cooling device (10) has an inlet connection (20) for the flow of a cooling liquid (K) into the cooling channel (40), an outlet connection (30) for the flow of the cooling liquid (K) out of the cooling channel (40), wherein the cooling channel ceiling (42) has a base surface (50) and at least one projection (52) on the side facing the cooling channel (40).wherein the raised section (52) forms a ventilation chamber (54) and wherein the cooling device (10) has a ventilation interface (90) for venting the ventilation chamber (54). Furthermore, the invention relates to a battery system (200) comprising a battery cell stack (100) with a plurality of battery cells (110), power electronics (120), and a cooling device (10).