Battery Heat Transfer Element for Cooling and Vent Gas Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery systems in electric vehicles require complex and inefficient cooling and venting systems that can lead to undesirable gas discharge into the vehicle interior, limiting positional flexibility and posing safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A heat transfer element with a channel for coolant flow and a connection device that adjusts between blocked and flow-through positions, allowing safe and efficient discharge of venting gases outside the vehicle while maintaining separate coolant and air conditioning systems, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If separate conduit elements (pipe, coolant supply line, and coolant outlet) are used for battery cooling, then cooling function is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery temperature controlVSAvoidcooling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the coolant supply line and coolant outlet into a single conduit element (channel element 15), eliminating the need for separate pipes and reducing system complexity while maintaining effective cooling functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Volume of moving object

If coolant lines are located inside the pipe, then space is saved, but positional arrangement flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling system volumeVSAvoidpositional arrangement flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The conduit element serves multiple functions: it acts as both the cooling channel and the gas discharge path. This multi-functionality allows flexible positional arrangement during vehicle manufacture without requiring separate dedicated pipes for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If gas discharge opening is provided in battery housing, then venting gases can be discharged, but gas may enter vehicle interior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventing gas dischargeVSAvoidgas entry into vehicle interior
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The conduit element acts as an intermediary pathway that directs venting gases from the battery housing through the heat transfer body to a discharge location outside the vehicle interior, preventing harmful gas accumulation while enabling safe venting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Temperature

If connection device allows fluid flow between accumulator chamber and channel element, then cooling efficiency improves, but risk of gas contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidcoolant contamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connection device (valve assembly 18) dynamically controls fluid flow between the accumulator chamber and channel element, allowing coolant circulation for cooling while preventing backflow and contamination from venting gases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution enables safe and efficient temperature control and venting of gases outside the vehicle, reducing complexity, mass, and emissions, while preventing gas entry into the vehicle interior, thus ensuring high fuel efficiency and safety.

Implementation Method 1

a heat transfer element (2), which, together with the accumulator unit (4), forms a battery assembly (1), wherein the heat transfer body (2) has a wall structure (10) in which a channel element (15) through which a coolant (14) flows is formed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4182993B1Storage-battery assembly, having a storage-battery unit and a heat transfer element, and heat transfer element
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 MERCEDES BENZ GROUP AG
  • EP4182993B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4182993B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4182993B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a storage-battery assembly (1) for a motor vehicle, wherein a storage-battery unit (4) and a heat transfer element (2) are disposed in a common storage-battery chamber (5) and adjoin each other. The heat transfer element (2) has a wall structure (10), in which a channel element (15) is formed, through which channel element a coolant (14) can flow. A predefined connecting device (3) is formed on the wall structure (10), which connecting device can be moved from a blocking position, in which the connecting device (3) blocks the flow of a fluid from the storage-battery chamber (5) into the channel element (15), into a flow position, in which the connecting device (3) allows the fluid to flow from the storage-battery chamber (5) into the channel element (15). The invention also relates to a heat transfer element (2) for the storage-battery assembly (1).