Battery Cooling Structure with Base Plate Branching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery cooling structures face challenges in efficiently cooling battery cells due to complex configurations and increased component counts, leading to variations in temperature and reduced energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A battery cooling structure featuring a base plate with a branching portion and step portions that direct airflow into inter-cell flow paths near the air supply port, reducing pressure loss and improving airflow efficiency, while maintaining a simple configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If partitioning plates with gradients are provided inside air distribution flow paths, then air flow into inter-cell flow paths is improved and temperature variation is curbed, but device complexity and height increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the air flow control function from complex internal partitioning plates and relocates it to a simplified base plate structure. The base plate with its specific opening configuration performs the air distribution function without requiring gradient partitioning plates, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining effective air flow control and temperature uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of controlling air flow from above through complex partitioning plates in the air distribution flow paths, the invention inverts the control mechanism by using a base plate structure from below. The base plate openings guide air flow upward into the inter-cell flow paths, achieving the same cooling effect with simpler geometry.
2Temperature
If flow dividing portions are separately provided for each cell stacked body, then air flow distribution is improved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the air flow control function into a single base plate structure that serves all cell stacked bodies simultaneously. The base plate contains multiple openings configured to distribute air to different cell stacks, eliminating the need for separate flow dividing portions for each stack and reducing the total component count while maintaining uniform air distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate is designed as a universal component that performs multiple functions: it supports the cell stacked bodies, distributes air flow to multiple stacks simultaneously, and controls air flow patterns through its opening configuration. This multi-functional design replaces multiple specialized components with a single versatile part.
3Device complexity
If air supply is from one end along stacking direction, then structure is simple, but air does not easily flow into inter-cell flow paths near supply side
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the air flow control from a one-dimensional approach (end-supply along stacking direction) to a two-dimensional approach by incorporating base plate openings at multiple positions. This allows air to enter the inter-cell flow paths from below at various locations, improving flow efficiency while keeping the overall structure simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate openings act as intermediary channels that facilitate air flow from the main supply path into the inter-cell flow paths. These openings serve as intermediate entry points that bridge the gap between the simple end-supply structure and efficient multi-point air distribution, enabling better flow penetration without complicating the main supply path geometry.
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 configuration effectively curbs temperature variations in battery cells, enhances energy efficiency, and allows for suitable cooling even when heat-generating elements like IPUs or exhaust pipes are nearby, without increasing the number of components or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The base plate has a branching portion (32) that branches air in an inflow-side flow path (30) flowing along a stacking direction from an air supply port (312), into a plurality of flows
Implementation Method 2
causing cooling air to flow through an inter-cell flow path between adjacent battery cells
Implementation Method 3
The air is supplied from one end portion side in a stacking direction of the battery cells to one surface of the cell stacked body along the stacking direction
Data Source
AI summary
The battery cooling structure includes a cell stacked body that has an inter-cell flow path between adjacent battery cells, a base plate that is disposed adjacent to one of surfaces of the cell stacked body, an inflow-side flow path that is disposed between the cell stacked body and the base plate and communicates with the inter-cell flow path, and an air supply port that is disposed in one end portion of the inflow-side flow path in the stacking direction and supplies air to the inflow-side flow path are included. The base plate has a branching portion that branches air in the inflow-side flow path, into a plurality of flows, and the branching portion is disposed at a position that is further from the air supply port than one endmost battery cell of the cell stacked body, the one endmost battery cell being adjacent to of the air supply port.