Battery Cooling Member With External Coolant Conduit
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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 cooling members.
Innovation Solution
A cooling member with a plate-shaped heat dissipation fin and a hollow coolant conduit located outside the electrode assembly receiving part, where the coolant conduit is corrosion-resistant and positioned along the outer edge of the electrode assembly to prevent leakage and maintain structural integrity, allowing for efficient heat dissipation without the need for additional structural reinforcement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cooling members are used in battery modules, then heat dissipation function is provided, but coolant leakage and corrosion occur leading to reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant conduit is extracted from the interior of the heat dissipation fin and repositioned to the exterior surface. This separation removes the coolant containment function from the heat dissipation structure, eliminating the source of leakage and corrosion problems while maintaining thermal contact through the fin's external surface
Solution Approach 2:
The exterior surface of the heat dissipation fin serves as an intermediary between the coolant conduit and the battery cells. Thermal contact is maintained through this intermediate surface, allowing heat transfer without requiring the coolant conduit to be embedded within the fin structure, thus preventing leakage and corrosion
2Temperature
If battery cells are stacked at predetermined intervals without additional members, then heat removal is achieved, but mechanical strength is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides thermal contact for heat dissipation through the heat dissipation fin, contains the coolant conduit for cooling fluid circulation, and offers mechanical support to reinforce the battery cell structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate structural reinforcement members
3Strength
If battery cells are mounted in battery cartridges to increase mechanical strength, then structural integrity is improved, but overall module size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling member combines the structural support function with the thermal management function in a single integrated component. The heat dissipation fin and coolant conduit are merged into one structure that both reinforces the battery cell and provides active cooling, eliminating the need for separate battery cartridge housings and reducing overall module volume
4Temperature
If coolant conduit is positioned inside the heat dissipation fin, then thermal contact is maximized, but leakage and corrosion problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant conduit is extracted from the interior of the heat dissipation fin and repositioned to the exterior surface. This separation removes the coolant containment function from the heat dissipation structure, eliminating the source of leakage and corrosion problems while maintaining thermal contact through the fin's external surface
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant conduit is designed with a flexible hollow tube structure that can conform to the exterior surface of the heat dissipation fin. This flexible configuration maintains intimate thermal contact between the conduit and fin surface while allowing the conduit to be positioned externally, preventing leakage and corrosion issues associated with embedded conduits
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 effectively prevents coolant leakage, maintains mechanical strength, and reduces manufacturing costs while ensuring high cooling efficiency and compact module design, enhancing safety and reliability of the battery module.
Implementation Method 1
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
Implementation Method 2
a coolant conduit configured to have a hollow structure through which a coolant flows, the coolant conduit thermally contacting the heat dissipation fin
Data Source
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.