Battery Pack Drain Valve Layout for Unblocked Swelling Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain valves for power battery packs suffer from inappropriate structural arrangements of liquid-swellable materials, leading to deformation and compromised draining efficiency due to uncontrolled swelling, which can result in equipment corrosion and leakage.
Innovation Solution
A drain valve design featuring guide plates and a liquid-swellable body positioned to form a draining passage that is unaffected by the swelling state, using sodium polyacrylate/polyethylene terephthalate or sodium polyacrylate/polytetrafluoroethylene composite fibers, with guide grooves and a sealing mechanism to maintain unblocked drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid-swellable material is used to realize draining function, then the draining function is achieved, but the liquid-swellable material swells in all directions causing deformation of guide grooves and compromising draining effect
Solution Approach 1:
The valve cover is segmented into multiple guide plates arranged at intervals, creating separate swelling spaces for the liquid-swellable body. This segmentation prevents the liquid-swellable body from deforming guide grooves by confining its swelling within defined spaces, while still enabling the draining function through the opening formed when the valve cover is jacked up.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid-swellable body is placed in specific locations (swelling spaces) defined by guide plates, allowing it to swell only in designated areas. This local placement ensures that the swelling action occurs in controlled zones that do not interfere with the draining passage, maintaining both the draining function and the integrity of guide grooves.
2Reliability
If liquid-swellable material swells to jack up valve cover, then draining passage is formed, but the position of liquid-swellable material changes after drying
Solution Approach 1:
The valve cover is divided into multiple guide plates that create distinct swelling spaces, providing stable positioning for the liquid-swellable body. This segmented structure ensures that after drying, the liquid-swellable body returns to its original position within the defined swelling space, maintaining stability while still enabling draining passage formation during swelling.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plates act as intermediaries between the liquid-swellable body and the valve cover structure. They provide a framework that allows the liquid-swellable body to swell and jack up the valve cover for draining, while also serving as positioning elements that ensure the liquid-swellable body returns to its correct position after drying.
3Reliability
If multiple heat-exchange circuits are configured for thermal management, then operating efficiency and life of power lithium ion batteries are improved, but glycol oxidation and corrosion of equipment and liquid cooling tubes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of glycol oxidation and corrosion into a beneficial draining function. When glycol leaks or corrodes components, the liquid-swellable body detects the liquid and swells to jack up the valve cover, automatically forming a draining passage that allows the leaked glycol to be discharged, thereby preventing faults, short circuits, and thermal runaway.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain valve system provides self-service by automatically detecting liquid leakage through the liquid-swellable body and initiating the draining process. When glycol leaks into the valve body, the liquid-swellable body absorbs the liquid and swells, automatically jacking up the valve cover to form a draining passage without requiring external intervention, thus protecting the battery pack from corrosion-related damage.
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
Ensures stable and reliable draining by limiting swelling's impact on the passage, preventing blockages and maintaining effective liquid discharge while safeguarding against corrosion and leakage.
Implementation Method 1
liquid entering the valve body via the liquid inlet flows to the liquid-swellable body via gaps between the guide plates, and the liquid-swellable body swells to jack up the valve cover
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a drain valve for a power battery pack. Gaps are formed between outer sides of the guide plates and the valve body, and guide grooves are formed in the outer sides of the guide plates. Liquid entering the valve body via the liquid inlet flows to the liquid-swellable body via gaps between the guide plates, and the liquid-swellable body swells to jack up the valve cover, such that the guide grooves are connected to an opening between the valve cover and the valve body to form a draining passage. The drain valve for a power battery pack optimizes the position of the draining passage and the swelling space of the liquid-swellable body to ensure that the space of the draining passages will not be affected by the liquid-swellable body in a swelling state, thus guaranteeing a normal draining function.