Battery Cooling Connector Flange for Refrigerant Flow Calibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery cooling devices require modifications to fluid passage orifices on connectors, leading to differentiation of exchangers and incorrect placement in systems, as standard male flange adjustments do not allow specific inlet port adjustments without altering female flange orifices.

Innovation Solution

A flange with a diversion function via a fluid path on the male connection bridge allows for calibration of passage sections without modifying the female flange orifices, enabling adjustment of orifices on the connection bridge without changing the female flange, thus preventing incorrect placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If modifications are made to fluid passage orifices on the male flange of connection bridges to balance the system, then system calibration is improved, but exchangers of the same version must be differentiated and placed in specific locations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem calibrationVSAvoidexchanger differentiation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection bridge is divided into two separate flanges: a male flange with modified orifices for system calibration and a female flange that remains standard. This segmentation allows the male flange to be customized for balancing the refrigerant distribution while the female flange maintains consistency across all exchangers, eliminating the need to differentiate entire exchanger units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Modifications to the fluid passage orifices are applied locally only to the male flange of the connection bridge, rather than to the entire exchanger or the female flange. This localized modification enables precise control over refrigerant distribution at the connection point while preserving the standard design of the exchanger body and female flange.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the passage sections of orifices on the upper plate of the exchanger are modified to adjust inlet ports, then inlet port adjustment is achieved, but the exchanger structure must be differentiated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinlet port adjustmentVSAvoidexchanger differentiation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inlet port adjustment functionality is extracted from the exchanger body and relocated to the male flange of the connection bridge. This allows the passage sections to be modified on the detachable flange component rather than on the permanent exchanger structure, enabling adjustment without creating differentiated exchanger versions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If standard male flange adjustments are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but specific inlet port adjustments cannot be made without altering the female flange orifices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflange manufacturingVSAvoidinlet port adjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connection bridge is segmented into a male flange and a female flange with distinct functions. The male flange incorporates adjustable passage sections for inlet port calibration, while the female flange maintains standard orifices. This segmentation enables both ease of manufacture through standardized female flanges and adaptability through customizable male flanges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 allows for balanced system calibration without differentiating exchangers, ensuring correct placement and maintaining consistency across the system, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of thermal regulation in battery cooling devices.

Implementation Method 1

this fluid path being configured to distribute the refrigerant coming from this fluid inlet towards the two distribution orifices

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow distribution:

Implementation Method 2

this collection orifice communicating with the fluid outlet of the flange via a channel in the flange

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow through channel:

Data Source

PatentEP3956624B1Temperature control device, in particular a cooling device for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 VALEO SYST THERMIQUES SAS
  • EP3956624B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3956624B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3956624B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a temperature control device, in particular a cooling device, for an electrical component prone to releasing heat during operation, in particular for an electrical energy storage module, said device comprising an upper plate and a lower plate that is assembled with said upper plate to jointly form a plurality of ducts for the circulation of a heat transfer fluid, in particular a refrigerant fluid, in particular a fluid selected from the refrigerant fluids R134a, R1234yf and R744; in said device, the ducts are grouped into groups of ducts, the ducts of a group extending substantially parallel to one another at a predetermined 'intra-group distance' between neighboring ducts; two groups of ducts in which the fluid flows in the same direction being separated from each other by at least one group of ducts in which the fluid flows in the opposite direction, wherein the device comprises a connector (550).