Battery Cooling Structure with Flow Path Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing cooling structures for electricity storage devices face challenges in maintaining uniform cooling performance and preventing the ingress of high-temperature external air, leading to potential deterioration of storage cells due to pressure differences and uneven air flow distribution.

Innovation Solution

A cooling structure that includes a storage cell case with multiple cooling passages, an intake duct, an exhaust duct, and a cooling air suction device, where a flow path resistance unit is strategically placed between the cooling passages and the exhaust duct to manage air flow and reduce internal pressure loss, and a cooling air chamber is used to accumulate air before discharge, ensuring uniform cooling and minimizing external air contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cooling air is drawn directly from the exhaust duct without flow path resistance, then cooling air flow rate increases, but high-temperature external air enters the storage cells causing temperature rise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling air flow rateVSAvoidstorage cell temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

A flow path resistance is introduced as an intermediary component between the exhaust duct and the cooling passages. This resistance element selectively restricts the flow of high-temperature external air while permitting the circulation of cooled air from the storage cells, thereby mediating between the need for high cooling air flow rate and the need to prevent temperature rise in storage cells

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If flow path resistance is increased to prevent external air ingress, then storage cell temperature stability improves, but cooling air flow rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage cell temperature uniformityVSAvoidcooling air flow rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The flow path resistance is applied locally at specific positions where external air ingress occurs, rather than uniformly throughout the entire cooling system. This localized application prevents high-temperature external air from entering specific cooling passages while maintaining adequate cooling air flow rate in other areas, thus achieving temperature stability without excessive restriction of overall cooling air flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If cooling passages are provided between all storage cells, then cooling coverage increases, but pressure loss increases due to flow path resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling performance uniformityVSAvoidcooling air pressure loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent cooling passages, each serving specific storage cells. The flow path resistance is strategically positioned to affect only those passages where external air ingress is problematic, rather than uniformly restricting all cooling passages. This segmentation allows adequate cooling coverage across all storage cells while minimizing overall pressure loss in the cooling air flow path

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 configuration enhances cooling performance by reducing pressure differences and preventing the entry of high-temperature external air, thereby maintaining consistent cell temperatures and extending the durability of storage cells.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling air suction device connected to the exhaust duct, causes cooling air to be drawn into the battery case from the inflow duct

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a flow path resistance provided between the cooling passages and the cooling air suction device to limit a flow of the cooling air from the intake duct to the cooling air suction device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow path resistance: Drag

Implementation Method 3

cooling air that has cooled the plurality of batteries is discharged through the exhaust duct

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10074880B2Cooling structure of electricity storage device

Publication Date: 2018.09.11 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A cooling structure of an electricity storage device includes a storage cell case, a plurality of storage cells, a plurality of cooling passages, an intake duct, an exhaust duct, a cooling air suction device, and a flow path resistance. The plurality of storage cells are accommodated in the storage cell case. The plurality of cooling passages are provided between the storage cells. The intake duct is connected to an upstream side of the storage cell case. The exhaust duct is connected to a downstream side of the storage cell case. The cooling air suction device is connected to the exhaust duct and configured to draw cooling air from the intake duct. The flow path resistance is provided between the plurality of cooling passages and the cooling air suction device to limit a flow of the cooling air from the intake duct to the cooling air suction device.