Battery Module Cooling Passage for Dense Cell Packing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery modules face challenges in securing sufficient space for cooling fluid movement between densely packed battery cells, leading to ineffective cooling and potential overheating issues.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design that includes a flexible cooling passage with blocking parts to maintain spacing between cells, allowing cooling fluid to flow effectively, using glue to secure the blocking parts and support the cells, and incorporating a gasket and coupling bolts for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If battery modules are designed for high voltage and high capacity, then energy storage capability is improved, but thermal management becomes more difficult and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The battery module divides the battery pack into multiple independent battery cell groups, each equipped with its own thermal management channel. This segmentation allows heat to be dissipated more efficiently from each group rather than allowing heat accumulation across the entire high-capacity module, thereby managing thermal loads in high energy storage systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a thermal management plate as an intermediary component between battery cells. This plate actively conducts and distributes heat away from high-capacity battery groups, serving as a heat transfer medium that enables effective thermal management in high energy density configurations.
2Reliability
If battery modules use complex structures to improve safety and thermal management, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a heat dissipation component, a structural support element, and an electrical isolation barrier. This multi-functionality improves safety and thermal management without requiring separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the thermal management function with the structural framework of the battery module. The thermal management plate is integrated into the module structure itself rather than being a separate add-on system, combining safety and thermal management capabilities with the basic structural support function.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If battery modules are designed for long cycle life, then duration of action is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The module divides battery cells into smaller groups with independent thermal management channels. This segmentation reduces the thermal path length and ensures more uniform temperature distribution across all cells, which is critical for achieving long cycle life. The segmented design also makes the assembly process more manageable and less dependent on high overall precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management plate is designed to create equipotential thermal conditions across all battery cell groups by providing uniform heat conduction pathways. This ensures that all cells operate under similar thermal conditions, which is essential for achieving consistent long cycle life performance and reduces sensitivity to variations in assembly precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery module according to the present invention includes: a plurality of battery cells, which are insulated; an accommodation part configured to surround circumferences of the battery cells so as to form an accommodation space, in which the battery cells are accommodated, the accommodation part having opened upper and lower portions; a cooling fluid supply part connected to one side of the accommodation part to supply a cooling fluid into the accommodation part; a cooling fluid discharge part connected to the other side of the accommodation part to discharge the cooling fluid within the accommodation part; a first blocking part installed above the accommodation part to block the opened upper portion of the accommodation part and support the battery cells; and a second blocking part installed below the accommodation part to block the opened lower portion of the accommodation part and support the battery cells, wherein a path through which the cooling fluid supplied into the accommodation space moves is formed between the battery cells.