Vehicle Battery Cooling Structure With Central Pipe Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle battery unit cooling structures face inefficiencies in space utilization and vulnerability to side collision loads, as the cooling module is often external, which compromises both cooling efficiency and pipe protection.
Innovation Solution
A cooling structure for a vehicle battery unit with supply and discharge pipes arranged near the center in the vehicle width direction, integrated within the battery case, allowing for improved space efficiency and protection from collision loads by routing pipes between battery modules and an electric connection box, and positioning them below the battery modules to reduce height and simplify the design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cooling module is arranged outside the battery case, then the battery modules have sufficient accommodation space, but the cooling efficiency is reduced and the pipes are vulnerable to side collision loads
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling module is merged with the battery case by integrating it inside the case rather than placing it externally. This combines the cooling function with the battery housing structure, allowing the pipes to be protected within the case while maintaining cooling efficiency through direct contact with battery modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling module is positioned in the vertical direction below the battery modules, utilizing the height dimension of the battery case. This three-dimensional arrangement allows efficient cooling contact while protecting pipes from side collision loads by positioning them within the case structure.
2Reliability
If the cooling module is arranged inside the battery case, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the space for accommodating battery modules is narrowed and pipe protection is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling module utilizes the vertical dimension by being positioned below the battery modules rather than occupying horizontal space. This allows the battery modules to be arranged in the horizontal plane with sufficient spacing, while the cooling module occupies the vertical space underneath, thus improving cooling efficiency without compromising battery module accommodation space.
3Volume of stationary object
If the supply pipe and discharge pipe are arranged externally, then the battery case has sufficient internal space, but the pipes are vulnerable to load during vehicle side collision
Solution Approach 1:
The supply pipe and discharge pipe are merged into the battery case structure by accommodating them inside the case. This integration protects the pipes from external collision loads while the case internal space is efficiently utilized through compact pipe routing between battery modules and the cooling module.
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 enhances space efficiency within the battery case, protects the pipes from collision loads, and reduces the overall height of the battery unit, eliminating the need for a breathing mechanism and simplifying the structure.
Implementation Method 1
a battery cooling unit, disposed below the at least two battery modules in a vertical direction, the battery cooling unit having a refrigerant passage through which refrigerant passes
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling structure of a vehicle battery unit includes: at least two battery modules; a battery cooling unit; an electric connection box; a battery case; a supply pipe; and a discharge pipe. The supply pipe includes: a first supply pipe portion passing between a battery module of the at least two battery modules, which is the battery module located on one side in a vehicle width direction, and the electric connection box; and a second supply pipe portion passing between the at least two battery modules. The discharge pipe includes: a first discharge pipe portion passing between a battery module of the at least two battery modules, which is the battery module located on the other side in the vehicle width direction, and the electric connection box; and a second discharge pipe portion passing between the at least two battery modules.