Battery Cooling Flow Split for Electrode Terminal Hot Spots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery cooling technologies fail to efficiently address local heat generation at electrode terminals and bus bars, leading to reduced battery life due to high temperatures during high-load conditions.
Innovation Solution
A battery cooling device with a distribution pipe system that includes a flow rate adjusting valve to divert cooling liquid to either a bus bar cooler or a bottom cooler based on load conditions, ensuring efficient cooling of electrode terminals and the entire battery cell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling liquid is supplied to both the bus bar cooler and bottom cooler simultaneously, then the entire battery cell can be cooled, but the local high temperature at electrode terminals cannot be effectively suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flow rate adjusting valve that dynamically changes the flow distribution of cooling liquid between the bus bar cooler and bottom cooler based on real-time temperature conditions. During high-load conditions when electrode terminals generate excessive heat, the valve directs more cooling liquid to the bus bar cooler. This dynamic adjustment optimizes cooling efficiency by matching the cooling distribution to the actual heat generation patterns, effectively suppressing local high temperatures while maintaining overall cooling performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed flow distribution system is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to varying load conditions is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where temperature sensors monitor the temperature of electrode terminals and bus bars, and this information is used to control the flow rate adjusting valve. The valve receives feedback signals based on temperature conditions and automatically adjusts the cooling liquid flow distribution accordingly. During high-load conditions with elevated temperatures, the feedback system triggers the valve to increase flow to the bus bar cooler, thereby adapting the cooling system to varying load conditions without requiring complex manual intervention or control systems.
3Temperature
If cooling liquid flow rate is increased, then the cooling performance improves, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by directing cooling liquid preferentially to the bus bar cooler during high-load conditions when electrode terminals generate excessive heat, rather than uniformly distributing cooling throughout the battery module. The flow rate adjusting valve ensures that cooling resources are concentrated where they are most needed - at the electrode terminals and bus bars - rather than wasting energy cooling already-cooled regions. This localized cooling approach improves cooling performance at critical hot spots while minimizing overall energy consumption of the cooling system.
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 suppresses local high temperatures at electrode terminals during high loads while maintaining efficient cooling of the entire battery cell across varying load conditions, thereby extending battery life.
Implementation Method 1
an inside of the first supply pipe is equipped with a flow rate adjusting valve for adjusting a flow rate of the cooling liquid supplied to the first cooler, and the flow rate adjusting valve opens and closes according to the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the upstream pipe
Implementation Method 2
a first cooler for cooling electrode terminals of the battery cells and bus bars connected to the electrode terminals with a cooling liquid
Implementation Method 3
a second cooler for cooling the battery cells with coolant from a bottom side of the battery cells
Data Source
AI summary
A battery cooling device for cooling a battery module having battery cells, includes: first and second coolers and a distribution pipe for dividing and supplying cooling liquid to the first and second coolers. Further, the distribution pipe includes an upstream pipe, first and second supply pipes, and a flow rate adjusting valve for adjusting a flow rate of the cooling liquid supplied to the first cooler, and the flow rate adjusting valve opens and closes according to the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the upstream pipe, and opens as the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the upstream pipe increases.