High Voltage Battery Cooling Block Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high voltage battery packs face challenges in cooling efficiency due to spatial limitations and vibrations, leading to decreased performance and increased risk of electrical short-circuits, particularly when thermoelectric elements are installed in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A high voltage battery design incorporating aluminum (AL) covers between battery cells, a cooling block for coolant flow, and insulation pads to enhance heat transfer and minimize case height, while preventing high voltage short-circuits through strategic placement of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If thermoelectric elements are installed at the upper portion of the battery pack, then heat conversion efficiency is improved, but spatial limitations and vibration separation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling apparatus is relocated from the upper portion to the lower portion of the battery pack, changing the spatial dimension of installation. This allows the thermoelectric elements to be positioned where there is sufficient space and where vibrations do not cause separation, while still maintaining effective heat conversion from the battery cells.
Solution Approach 2:
A coolant flow path is introduced as an intermediary medium between the battery cells and the cooling apparatus. The coolant absorbs heat from the battery cells and transfers it to the thermoelectric elements, enabling heat conversion without direct contact between the elements and the battery cells, thus preventing vibration-induced separation.
2Temperature
If cooling apparatus is added to improve heat dissipation, then cooling performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling apparatus is merged with the mounting structure of the battery pack. The cooling elements are integrated into the existing framework, combining the cooling function with the structural support function, thereby improving cooling performance without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower portion structure of the battery pack serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, facilitates heat dissipation through the cooling apparatus, and enables easy access for maintenance. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby improving cooling performance without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Length of stationary object
If case height is reduced to minimize vehicle space, then space utilization is improved, but cooling efficiency and structural rigidity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling apparatus is positioned at the lower portion of the battery pack, utilizing the vertical space efficiently. By placing the cooling elements at the bottom rather than extending the overall height, the design maintains effective cooling while minimizing the case height for space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling channels are strategically positioned in specific local areas where heat generation is most intense. This localized cooling approach improves cooling efficiency in critical regions without requiring the entire case height to be increased, thereby maintaining compact dimensions while achieving effective heat dissipation.
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 cooling performance, reduces case height, and enhances structural rigidity, thereby increasing volume energy density and preventing high voltage short-circuits, even during vehicle collisions.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling block disposed between the plurality of mounting members and through which a coolant may flow and the coolant exchanges heat with the AL covers
Implementation Method 2
the coolant exchanges heat with the AL covers
Implementation Method 3
the AL covers absorb heat energy between the plurality of battery cells and discharge the heat energy between the plurality of mounting members
Implementation Method 4
An insulation pad for reinforcing heat insulation may be additionally disposed between a lower surface of the cooling block of the battery module and an inner surface of the case
Data Source
AI summary
A high voltage battery is provided and includes a battery module that has a plurality of battery cells and covers disposed between the battery cells and a plurality of mounting members that fix the battery module to a vehicle body. The covers absorb heat energy between the battery cells and discharge the heat energy between the mounting members. In addition, a cooling block is disposed between the mounting members and has a coolant flowing therein which exchanges heat with the battery cells. Therefore, cooling performance of the battery is improved using a water cooling structure, a height of the mounting members integrating the battery modules with each other is secured to increase structure rigidity and a height of a case of the battery is minimized, thereby improving volume energy density of the battery and preventing generation of a high voltage short-circuit even though the coolant leaks during a vehicle collision.