Battery Cell Cooling Channel Membrane for Uniform Module Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature control devices for battery modules suffer from temperature spread and inhomogeneous cooling, leading to reduced performance efficiency and accelerated aging due to the gradual heating of the temperature control fluid and limited heat exchange.
Innovation Solution
The flow channel is separated into chambers by a membrane running transversely to the joining axes, with opposite flow directions in the inlet and return chambers, allowing better heat transfer along the battery cells' axis and minimizing temperature spread.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the temperature control device uses a single flow channel with fluid flowing perpendicular to battery cell joining axes, then the device structure is simple, but temperature spread between inlet-side and outlet-side battery cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow channel is segmented into multiple flow channels that extend in the joining axis direction of battery cells. Each flow channel contains cooling lines running parallel to the joining axes, dividing the single flow path into multiple parallel paths. This segmentation allows temperature control fluid to reach all battery cells more uniformly, reducing temperature spread between inlet-side and outlet-side cells while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Device complexity
If cooling lines contact battery cells at discrete points, then device structure is simplified, but heat transfer efficiency and cooling homogeneity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling lines are arranged to extend in the joining axis direction (longitudinal dimension) rather than only in the transverse direction. This dimensional change allows cooling lines to contact battery cells along their length, creating continuous linear contact zones instead of discrete point contacts. This improves heat transfer efficiency and cooling homogeneity while maintaining a relatively simple device structure.
3Device complexity
If temperature control fluid flows in one direction through the flow channel, then the flow path is simple, but cooling performance decreases due to gradual fluid heating
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature control device employs counter-current flow arrangement where temperature control fluid flows in opposite directions in adjacent flow channels. While the fluid flows in one direction within each individual flow channel, the overall configuration includes multiple channels with opposite flow directions, allowing cooler fluid to continuously contact battery cells that are hottest, thereby maintaining high cooling performance without complex flow path changes.
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 achieves reduced temperature spread and homogeneous cooling of battery cells, maintaining performance efficiency while reducing thermal stress and aging.
Implementation Method 1
a flow channel for a temperature control fluid, which flows directly against the battery cells perpendicular to their joining axes
Implementation Method 2
heat transfer is significantly better in the longitudinal or joining direction than in the transverse direction, which is due to the layered structure of the wound cell core
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention describes a temperature-control device for individual battery cells (1) combined to form a module, having a main body (2) which, in order to circumferentially surround the battery cells (1), has passage openings (4) situated opposite one another in pairs in relation to a respective joining axis (3) and which forms a flow channel (5) for a temperature-control fluid, which flow channel (5) runs transversely with respect to the joining axes (3). In order to make a reduced temperature spread possible within a battery module whilst simultaneously providing good homogeneous temperature control of the individual battery cells of the battery module, it is proposed that the flow channel (5) is divided into at least two chambers (7, 8) by a membrane (6) which runs transversely with respect to the joining axes (3) and which has passage openings (4) for the battery cells (1).