Battery Pack Cooling Control with Differential Flow and Insulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery packs in electric vehicles face operational inefficiencies and safety risks due to severe temperature conditions, which affect charging/discharging efficiency and lifespan, necessitating a cooling control mechanism that adapts to environmental temperatures.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with temperature sensors, a blower module, and a controller that adjusts the flow rate and direction of a cooling medium based on temperature data, restricting battery usage if temperature deviations occur, and providing risk information through an interface module.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If air cooling is used for battery packs, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but temperature uniformity deteriorates due to heat accumulation at inlet and outlet portions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidtemperature uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing insulation specifically at the inlet and outlet portions where heat accumulation occurs, rather than uniformly insulating the entire battery pack. This targeted approach addresses the temperature uniformity issue at critical locations while maintaining overall cooling effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The insulation structure is segmented into separate insulating members positioned at different locations (inlet portion and outlet portion) of the battery pack. This segmentation allows independent optimization of insulation at each location to address local heat accumulation issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If insulation members are added to improve temperature uniformity, then temperature uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature uniformityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs thin film insulating members that can be easily positioned and installed within the battery pack structure. These flexible insulation layers provide thermal isolation without requiring complex rigid structures or additional mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating members act as intermediary elements positioned between the cooling plates and the battery modules. They provide thermal isolation without directly interfering with the cooling fluid flow or the electrical components, simplifying the overall system design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution enables differential cooling of battery packs, enhancing operational efficiency, extending lifespan, and reducing costs by maintaining optimal temperatures and alerting users to potential issues, thus improving the safety and management of electric vehicle batteries.

Implementation Method 1

insulation members disposed between the battery modules and the cooling plates at the inlet portion and the outlet portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

cooling plates arranged to be in contact with the battery modules

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP2613399B1Cooling control apparatus and method for battery pack
Publication Date: 2018.07.04 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP2613399B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2613399B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2613399B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The apparatus for cooling control of a battery pack according to the present invention includes a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the battery pack; a blower module for introducing a cooling medium into the battery pack by means of fan operation; and a controller for controlling the operation of the blower module so that the cooling medium is introduced into the battery pack at a differential flow rate depending on temperature information input by the temperature sensor. In accordance with the present invention, a differential cooling mechanism can be conducted depending on a temperature distribution and a circumstance to achieve a stable application of the battery pack and an efficient energy application. Also, a fault generated in the cooling system of the battery pack can effectively be checked and reflected to the battery control and a user interface, thereby providing a cooling control apparatus having more stability and user convenience.