Segmented Battery Cooling Device with Independent Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling devices for battery assemblies in electric vehicles face challenges in achieving homogeneous temperature distribution due to asymmetrical heating from external sources and the complexity of multi-level battery structures, which limits their effectiveness and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of multiple independently controlled cooling elements with dedicated valves allows for a more extensive network of parallel paths, enabling homogeneous temperature distribution by preventing medium exchange between elements and allowing independent control of cooling medium flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a purely serial arrangement of cooling lines is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the overall length is limited and cannot cool large battery assemblies effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device is divided into multiple individual cooling elements (first cooling element, second cooling element, etc.), each with its own cooling lines. This segmentation allows the system to achieve greater effective cooling length and coverage area without requiring a single excessively long serial cooling line, thereby solving the limitation of cooling large battery assemblies while maintaining manageable device complexity.
2Temperature
If multiple individual cooling elements with dedicated valves are used, then homogeneous temperature distribution is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device is segmented into multiple independent cooling elements, each equipped with its own dedicated valve. This allows independent control of cooling medium flow to different regions of the battery assembly, enabling homogeneous temperature distribution across the entire assembly. The segmentation strategy balances the increased device complexity with the significant benefit of improved thermal management effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cooling element can be independently controlled via its dedicated valve, allowing local adjustment of cooling intensity to match the specific thermal requirements of different battery regions. This local quality approach ensures that areas with higher heat generation receive proportionally more cooling, achieving homogeneous temperature distribution throughout the battery assembly.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cooling is designed for asymmetrical heating, then external heat input from exhaust gas system is compensated, but the device cannot be permanently optimized for asymmetry
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system incorporates dynamically controllable valves for each cooling element, enabling the system to adapt its cooling pattern in real-time. When asymmetrical heating occurs from external sources like the exhaust gas system, the control system can adjust the opening degrees of individual valves to compensate for the asymmetry. This dynamic adaptability allows the cooling device to respond to varying thermal conditions without being permanently fixed for asymmetrical configurations.
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 configuration ensures reliable and cost-effective cooling by balancing temperature differences and maintaining a consistent temperature range within the battery assembly, enhancing the service life and efficiency of electric vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
designed to transfer heat from the battery assembly to the cooling medium
Implementation Method 2
multiple cooling lines in which a cooling medium is conducted
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device for a battery assembly, in particular a high-voltage storage unit, of an electrically driven vehicle has multiple cooling lines in which a coolant is conducted. The cooling device is designed to transfer heat from the battery assembly to the coolant. The cooling device has at least two individual cooling elements which are designed separately, which lie opposite a battery, and each of which is supplied with coolant via a dedicated valve paired with the respective individual cooling element. A unit including a battery assembly and such a cooling device are also provided.