Battery Cooling Fin and Coolant Conduit Layout to Prevent Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for high-power, large-capacity battery modules, such as those used in electric vehicles, face challenges in effectively removing heat generated during charge and discharge, leading to potential overheating, safety risks, and increased size and manufacturing costs due to leakage and corrosion issues with traditional water cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
A compact cooling member design featuring a plate-shaped heat dissipation fin and a hollow coolant conduit located outside the electrode assembly receiving part, which prevents coolant leakage and clogging, while using corrosion-resistant materials only for the conduit, allowing for efficient heat transfer and structural stability without the need for additional fixing members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a traditional water cooling system is used with coolant channels defined between stacked battery cells, then heat removal effectiveness is improved, but the risk of coolant leakage and corrosion increases, and manufacturing costs rise due to the need for corrosion-resistant materials throughout
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two distinct parts: a heat dissipation fin that contacts the battery cell and a coolant conduit that is separated from direct contact with the battery. This segmentation allows the fin to be made of highly conductive material (such as aluminum) without requiring corrosion-resistant coatings, while the conduit handles the coolant separately, reducing leakage risks and manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat dissipation fin acts as an intermediary between the battery cell and the coolant conduit. Heat is transferred from the battery cell to the fin, and then from the fin to the coolant in the conduit. This intermediary structure prevents direct contact between the coolant and the battery cell, eliminating leakage risks while allowing the use of cost-effective materials for each component.
2Temperature
If cooling members are mounted between battery cells to improve cooling efficiency, then heat dissipation is enhanced, but the overall size of the battery module increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling member integrates multiple functions into a single structure: the heat dissipation fin and the coolant conduit are merged into one component. This allows the cooling system to be mounted between battery cells without requiring additional space for separate cooling components, thus enhancing cooling efficiency while maintaining compact battery module dimensions.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If corrosion-resistant materials are used for the entire cooling system, then durability is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Corrosion-resistant properties are applied locally only to the coolant conduit where the coolant is in direct contact, rather than to the entire cooling system. The heat dissipation fin can be made of highly conductive but less corrosion-resistant materials, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining durability where it is most needed.
4Ease of manufacture
If battery cells are stacked at predetermined intervals without additional members, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but mechanical strength of the battery module is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides thermal management through heat dissipation, enhances mechanical strength by acting as a structural support between battery cells, and maintains manufacturing simplicity by being integrated into the stacking process. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate structural support members.
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 design enhances cooling efficiency, prevents coolant leakage, and reduces manufacturing costs by minimizing corrosion-resistant material requirements, resulting in a compact, reliable, and safe battery module with improved mechanical strength and thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant conduit configured to have a hollow structure through which a coolant flows, the coolant conduit thermally contacting the heat dissipation fin
Implementation Method 2
a coolant conduit configured to have a hollow structure through which a coolant flows
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a cooling member mounted between battery cells to remove heat generated from the battery cells during charge and discharge of the battery cells, wherein the cooling member includes a plate-shaped heat dissipation fin disposed between the battery cells in a state in which opposite main surfaces of the heat dissipation fin are in tight contact with the battery cells and a coolant conduit configured to have a hollow structure through which a coolant flows, the coolant conduit thermally contacting the heat dissipation fin, the coolant conduit being located at an outside of an electrode assembly receiving part of each of the battery cells when the heat dissipation fin is disposed between the battery cells.