Battery Cooling Rod Through Cell for Heat Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal cooling systems for electrified vehicle battery packs are complex and inefficient in managing heat generated by battery cells during charging and discharging operations, which can affect the capacity and life of the batteries.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a cooling device, such as a solid metallic rod, hollow tube, or metallic slab, that extends through the battery cell and connects to a coolant manifold to conductively or convectively cool the cells, allowing for effective heat management without the need for bus bars to electrically connect the cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional thermal cooling systems are used to manage heat generated by battery cells, then heat management is provided, but the system becomes relatively complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling device with the electrical connection structure by integrating the cooling device into the battery assembly structure, allowing a single component to perform both thermal management and structural support functions, thereby reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling device is designed to serve multiple functions within the battery assembly, including heat conduction, structural support, and potential electrical connection functions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated components for each function
2Temperature
If conventional thermal cooling systems are used to manage heat generated by battery cells, then heat management is provided, but the cooling efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cooling function directly into the battery cell structure by placing cooling devices inside the battery cells, allowing heat to be removed at the source rather than relying on external cooling systems, thereby improving cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling devices are positioned at specific locations within and around the battery cells where heat generation is most intense, providing localized high-efficiency cooling where it is most needed rather than uniform cooling across the entire battery pack
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 enhances the thermal management of battery cells, improving their capacity and life by efficiently conducting or convecting heat away from the cells, thus optimizing the efficiency of the battery pack.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device extending at least partially through the battery cell... efficiently conducting or convecting heat away from the cells
Implementation Method 2
a coolant manifold connected to the cooling device... efficiently conducting or convecting heat away from the cells
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes various embodiments of a battery assembly for an electrified vehicle battery pack. The battery assemblies include one or more battery cells (e.g., cylindrical, prismatic, or pouch cells) and a cooling device extending at least partially through the battery cells. The cooling device is configured to either conductively or convectively cool the battery cells. In some embodiments, the cooling device is a solid rod, a hollow tube, a slab, or some combination of these features. In other embodiments, the cooling device connects to a coolant manifold configured to communicate coolant for convectively cooling the battery cells of the battery assembly.