Battery Cooling Distributor with Variable Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
High voltage batteries in eco-friendly vehicles experience temperature deviations due to uneven refrigerant distribution, leading to reduced durability and lifespan, as conventional distributors require reconfiguration based on battery positions and sizes for optimal cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device comprising multiple battery coolers and a fluid distributor with a flow control member, where the distributor is positioned closer to the second cooler unit, and the flow control member adjusts the flow rate to equalize pressure across different introduction paths, ensuring uniform cooling fluid distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional distributor is used to supply refrigerant to multiple battery coolers, then the system structure is simple, but the refrigerant distribution becomes uneven due to different pressure losses from batteries at different distances
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor is designed with different flow path diameters for different battery groups. Specifically, the first flow path has a different diameter than the second flow path, allowing each path to be optimized for its specific distance and resistance characteristics. This local differentiation ensures uniform refrigerant distribution to batteries at different positions without requiring complex external control systems.
2Ease of manufacture
If the distributor is positioned closer to one battery group, then the connection is simpler for that group, but the refrigerant flow becomes uneven due to longer pipe length to the other group
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path diameters are changed as a parameter to compensate for distance differences. The first flow path (to the first battery group) has a different diameter than the second flow path (to the second battery group), allowing the system to maintain uniform refrigerant distribution even when the distributor is positioned closer to one group, thus simplifying installation while ensuring cooling uniformity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If battery capacity and position vary, then the battery layout is flexible, but the refrigerant distribution becomes uneven requiring frequent reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor is designed with multiple flow paths of different diameters that can accommodate various battery configurations. The first flow path and second flow path are designed to handle different flow requirements, allowing the same distributor structure to serve multiple battery layouts and capacities without requiring reconfiguration, thus achieving universal applicability.
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 ensures uniform cooling across high voltage batteries, reducing temperature deviations and extending battery lifespan by maintaining consistent pressure and flow rates, eliminating the need for frequent reconfiguration of the distributor.
Implementation Method 1
The battery cooler contains liquid such as cooling water or refrigerant therein, and cools the battery by directly or indirectly bringing the liquid into thermal contact with the battery
Implementation Method 2
the flow control member adjusts the flow rate to equalize pressure across different introduction paths
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device for a high voltage battery may include: a plurality of battery coolers mounted on the plurality of high voltage batteries, respectively, and configured to cool the high voltage batteries through cooling fluid; a fluid distributor configured to receive cooling fluid from outside, and distribute the cooling fluid to the battery coolers; and a flow control member coupled to the fluid distributor, and configured to control a flow rate of the cooling fluid distributed to the battery coolers.