Battery Cooling Box Layout for Uniform Thermal Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal control devices for electric batteries in vehicles suffer from nonhomogeneous cooling, leading to decreased performance and increased size due to the arrangement of supply and discharge elements, which results in inefficient heat exchange and bulkiness.
Innovation Solution
A thermal control device with supply and discharge elements positioned on the side walls at different distances from the bottom wall, featuring ducts with varying cross-sections that facilitate uniform fluid flow and allow for nested arrangement, optimizing cooling efficiency and reducing bulk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If supply and discharge elements are arranged on side walls at the same distance from the bottom wall, then the device structure is simplified, but nonhomogeneous cooling occurs and performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The supply element and discharge element are positioned at different distances from the bottom wall of the box, creating an asymmetric arrangement. Specifically, the supply element is positioned at a first distance while the discharge element is positioned at a second distance that is greater than the first distance. This asymmetric positioning ensures that the thermal control fluid flows uniformly across all battery cells, achieving homogeneous cooling throughout the battery pack.
2Volume of moving object
If supply and discharge elements project from the same side wall, then the overall device size is reduced, but cooling uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The supply element and discharge element are positioned at different distances from the bottom wall of the box, creating an asymmetric arrangement. Specifically, the supply element is positioned at a first distance while the discharge element is positioned at a second distance that is greater than the first distance. This asymmetric positioning ensures that the thermal control fluid flows uniformly across all battery cells, achieving homogeneous cooling throughout the battery pack.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional heat exchangers with uniform supply and discharge element positioning are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but thermal resistance increases due to material thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The supply element and discharge element are pre-positioned at different distances from the bottom wall during manufacturing, establishing the correct asymmetric configuration before the thermal control fluid is introduced. This preliminary positioning ensures optimal thermal contact between the fluid and battery cells from the start, minimizing thermal resistance and maximizing heat exchange efficiency.
4Ease of manufacture
If multiple thermal control devices are arranged side by side with conventional configurations, then each device can be manufactured independently, but the overall system size increases due to protruding supply and discharge elements
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric positioning of supply and discharge elements at different distances from the bottom wall allows adjacent thermal control devices to be arranged in a nested or interlocking configuration. The elements of one device can fit into the spaces between elements of adjacent devices, reducing the overall footprint and allowing more compact arrangement of multiple battery packs within the vehicle.
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
Ensures homogeneous thermal control of electronic components, reduces the overall size of the device, and allows for efficient side-by-side arrangement, enhancing cooling performance and space efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Heat exchange between the battery elements and the dielectric fluid is thus ensured
Implementation Method 2
a dielectric fluid vessel being situated outside the housing and connected to said housing via a pump to allow the dielectric fluid to circulate
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal control device for an electronic system is disclosed. The thermal control device includes a box configured to accommodate electrical and/or electronic components of the electronic system. The box includes a bottom wall and side walls opposite in pairs that altogether define an inner housing. The inner housing is able to receive the electrical and/or electronic components. The outer faces of the side walls are defined as those facing away from the inner housing. The box includes thermal control fluid supply and discharge elements. The supply element and discharge element are in fluid communication with the inner housing. The supply element and discharge elements respectively project from one of the outer faces of the side walls of the box. The supply and discharge elements are arranged on the side walls at different distances from the bottom wall.