Battery Module Cover with Integrated Cooling and Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage modules face challenges in manufacturing simplicity and sealing complexity due to the need for waterproofing cooling fluid inlets and outlets, complicating the design and assembly process.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves locating the cooling fluid inlets and outlets on the cover of the housing, which defines a circulation path within the cover and internal volume, allowing for efficient cooling without the need for complex sealing, and includes movable closure elements to manage thermal runaway.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling fluid inlets and outlets are located on the side faces of the housing, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the housing design becomes complex and waterproofing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cover and housing into a single integrated component. The cover is no longer a separate sealing element but becomes part of the housing structure itself, with cooling circuit inlet and outlet openings directly formed in the cover portion. This eliminates the need for separate waterproof seals between cover and housing, simplifying the housing design while maintaining cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover serves multiple functions: it forms part of the housing structure, provides mounting locations for cooling fluid inlets and outlets, and integrates the sealing function into the housing body. By making the cover an integral part of the housing rather than a separate component, the design achieves multi-functionality without requiring complex waterproofing arrangements.
2Reliability
If the housing is made waterproof to prevent cooling fluid leakage, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged into the housing structure itself. Rather than requiring separate waterproof seals, gaskets, or sealing mechanisms between the cover and housing, the cover is formed as an integral part of the housing with molded-in cooling circuit openings. This integration eliminates leakage paths and removes the need for complex waterproofing assemblies, improving reliability while simplifying manufacturing.
3Reliability
If closure elements are added to manage thermal runaway, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure elements are designed to operate automatically in response to thermal conditions without requiring external control systems. The first closure element closes the circulation passage and the second closure element closes the collector orifice when thermal runaway is detected, using the thermal conditions themselves to trigger the sealing action. This self-activating mechanism provides safety functionality while minimizing added complexity.
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 simplifies manufacturing, ensures effective cooling of electrochemical cells, and provides robust sealing while enabling operation in degraded modes, such as during thermal runaway, without compromising the integrity of the module.
Implementation Method 1
circulate a cooling fluid in the casing of one or more modules constituting the battery, in particular between each electrochemical cell of each module in order to cool them during operation
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an energy storage module (10) comprising: - a plurality of successive electrochemical cells (22), - a housing (12) comprising a bottom (14) and a side wall (16), - a cover (18) closing the housing (12) and defining with the housing (12) an internal volume (20) receiving the cells (22). The cover (18) comprises at least one inlet (52) and one outlet (54) for a cooling fluid (55), the cover (18) and the housing (12) defining a circulation path for the fluid (55) in the cover (18) and in the internal volume (20) between the inlet (52) and the outlet (54).