Battery Module Cooling Plate With Refrigerant Mixing for Uniform Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery modules face challenges in uniformly cooling batteries due to the development of temperature boundary layers in refrigerant flow paths, leading to decreased cooling efficiency and increased module size.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design incorporating a cooling member with a mixing portion that mixes refrigerant flowing through branch portions and merging portions, which suppresses the development of temperature boundary layers, ensuring uniform cooling without increasing the module's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If portions having a large flow path cross-sectional area are provided in the refrigerant flow path to suppress temperature boundary layer development, then cooling uniformity is improved, but the cooling plate size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant flow path is divided into multiple branch portions that merge into a common flow path. This segmentation allows the refrigerant to be distributed through multiple smaller channels rather than requiring one large cross-sectional area, thereby suppressing temperature boundary layer development while maintaining a compact cooling plate size.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing the cross-sectional area in the planar dimension, the invention utilizes the stacking dimension by arranging branch portions and merging portions in a three-dimensional configuration. This allows efficient heat exchange without increasing the overall cooling plate area.
2Temperature
If the cooling plate thickness is increased to provide large cross-sectional area portions, then temperature boundary layer suppression is improved, but the battery module size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into multiple branch portions with smaller individual cross-sectional areas that merge together. This segmentation achieves effective temperature boundary layer suppression through increased flow path complexity rather than increased thickness, maintaining a compact cooling plate profile.
Solution Approach 2:
Large cross-sectional area portions are strategically positioned only at the merging portions where refrigerant streams converge, rather than throughout the entire flow path. This localized approach suppresses temperature boundary layers at critical points without requiring uniform thickness increase throughout the cooling plate.
3Temperature
If refrigerant flow rate is repeatedly increased or decreased to suppress temperature boundary layer, then cooling uniformity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates dynamic flow characteristics passively through the merging portion design, where refrigerant streams from different branch portions naturally mix and interact. This dynamic mixing suppresses temperature boundary layers without requiring active flow rate modulation or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The merging portions are designed to automatically promote refrigerant mixing through their geometric configuration, utilizing the natural flow dynamics and pressure differences. This self-service mechanism suppresses temperature boundary layers without external control input or additional actuators.
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 achieves uniform cooling of batteries while preventing an increase in module size, thereby maintaining performance and efficiency by effectively managing temperature deviations and refrigerant flow.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature boundary layer may develop along the flow of the refrigerant. The temperature boundary layer is a resistance element of heat exchange.
Implementation Method 2
a cooling plate having a refrigerant flow path and a plurality of batteries conductively coupled to the surface of the cooling plate
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module includes an assembly of a plurality of batteries and a cooling member arranged so as to be heat exchangeable with the assembly. The cooling member is provided with a mixing portion in which refrigerant flows and the flowing refrigerant is mixed.