Battery Cooling Pipe Bottom Surface Arrangement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery systems with rectangular batteries face challenges in efficient cooling due to the complexity of cooling pipe arrangements and the trade-off between heat resistance and strength, particularly in high-power applications where weight and vibration are concerns.

Innovation Solution

A battery system with a cooling pipe arrangement that includes serpentine regions and U-bent portions on the bottom surface, allowing for efficient cooling while maintaining structural integrity and preventing damage from weight and vibration, by optimizing the density of parallel piping portions and their arrangement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If cooling pipes are arranged between rectangular batteries, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the arrangement becomes very complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidcooling pipe arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling pipe is moved from the space between batteries (horizontal arrangement) to the bottom surface of the battery block (vertical arrangement). This dimensional change allows the cooling pipe to contact multiple batteries simultaneously through thermal conduction via the bottom surfaces, simplifying the arrangement while maintaining cooling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling pipe on the bottom surface serves multiple functions: it cools multiple batteries simultaneously through thermal conduction and also provides structural support to the battery block. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate support structures, simplifying the overall arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If air cooling is used, then the cooling structure can be simple, but the thermal capacity of air is small making it difficult to quickly cool batteries generating large heat

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling structure simplicityVSAvoidcooling capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses liquid coolant instead of air for cooling. The coolant flows through pipes on the bottom surface of the battery block, providing high thermal capacity and efficient heat removal from the batteries, especially under high-power conditions where large heat generation occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Temperature

If the amount of air flow is increased to increase battery heat reduction, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the noise level of the cooling structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat reduction efficiencyVSAvoidnoise level

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces air cooling with liquid coolant circulation. The coolant system provides efficient heat removal through controlled fluid flow in pipes, eliminating the need for high-velocity air flow and associated noise from fans or blowers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

4Device complexity

If a cooling pipe is arranged on the bottom surface, then the arrangement is simple and cooling efficiency is high, but the cooling pipe may be damaged by the weight of the battery block

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearrangement simplicityVSAvoidcooling pipe strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the cooling pipe by using thick-walled construction and high-strength materials. This allows the pipe to withstand the compressive load from the battery block weight while maintaining its cooling function on the bottom surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling pipe is constructed using composite materials or thick-walled metal that provides both high strength to support the battery block weight and good thermal conductivity for efficient cooling. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between mechanical strength and thermal performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

The system effectively cools rectangular batteries with a simple and efficient cooling pipe arrangement, maintaining high thermal efficiency and preventing damage from the weight of the battery block, even under vibration, while ensuring uniform cooling across the battery block.

Implementation Method 1

The cooling pipe is arranged on the surface of the battery block in a thermally-coupled state so that the rectangular batteries are cooled by the coolant, which is circulated through the cooling pipe

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS8409743B2Battery system with battery cells arranged in array alignment

Publication Date: 2013.04.02 SANYO ELECTRIC CO LTD

AI summary

A battery system includes a battery block, a cooling pipe, and a coolant feeding device. The battery block includes a plurality of rectangular batteries that have a width greater than a thickness and are securely arranged in array alignment by a battery holder. The cooling pipe cools the rectangular batteries of the battery block. The coolant feeding device feeds coolant to the cooling pipe. In the battery system, the cooling pipe is arranged on the surface of the battery block in a thermally-coupled state so that the rectangular batteries are cooled by the coolant, which is circulated through the cooling pipe.