Battery Immersion Cooling Fluid Detection and Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing immersion cooling systems for electric vehicle batteries are vulnerable to contamination by incompatible fluids, which can lead to hazardous electrical shorts and potential fires due to the non-dielectric nature of these fluids, posing a risk to battery safety and vehicle integrity.
Innovation Solution
An incompatible fluid detection system is integrated into the immersion cooling system, utilizing sensors to monitor properties of the cooling liquid, a processor to analyze these properties, and valves to adjust the flow path, isolating the battery from incompatible fluids by bypassing or purging them, thereby preventing contact with battery cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If immersion cooling is used to cool batteries, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the risk of electrical shorts and fires increases due to incompatible fluid contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of incompatible fluids in the cooling liquid before they can cause electrical shorts. Sensors continuously monitor the cooling liquid for contamination, and the control system is prepared to isolate the battery from contaminated fluid, preventing the harmful effect before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection and control system between the cooling liquid and the battery. This intermediary system includes sensors that detect fluid properties and a control system that manages flow paths, acting as a mediator to prevent direct contact between incompatible fluids and battery components.
2Reliability
If sensors and control systems are added to detect incompatible fluids, then safety is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs multiple functions: it monitors sensor data, determines the presence of incompatible fluids, adjusts flow paths to isolate contaminated fluid, and provides notifications. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex systems into a single integrated control unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical monitoring and manual intervention with automated electronic sensors and control systems. The electronic detection and automated flow path adjustment eliminate the need for manual fluid testing and manual valve operation, reducing operational complexity.
3Reliability
If the flow path is adjusted to isolate incompatible fluids, then battery protection is improved, but cooling efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple flow paths, allowing the control system to isolate only the portion of the system containing incompatible fluid. This segmentation enables selective isolation rather than complete system shutdown, maintaining cooling efficiency for uncontaminated portions while protecting the battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow path configuration is made dynamic and adjustable rather than fixed. The control system can real-time adjust flow paths based on sensor detection, dynamically routing coolant away from contaminated areas while maintaining optimal cooling flow through clean areas, thus balancing protection with efficiency.
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 detects and isolates incompatible fluids, preventing electrical shorts and potential fires, ensuring the safety and integrity of the battery and vehicle by maintaining the dielectric integrity of the cooling liquid.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of sensors configured to sense one or more properties of at least the cooling liquid
Implementation Method 2
battery cells of the battery can come into direct contact with a cooling liquid. Accordingly, the cooling liquid utilized with immersion cooling
Implementation Method 3
the cooling liquid utilized with immersion cooling is typically an electrically non-conductive liquid, also referred to as a dielectric cooling liquid
Data Source
AI summary
An immersion cooling system for a battery of an electric vehicle. The immersion cooling system includes an incompatible fluid detection system configured to detect a presence of an incompatible fluid within a fluid circuit of the immersion cooling system. The incompatible fluid can include a non-dielectric fluid that has entered or accumulated within the fluid circuit, as well as a dielectric fluid that has been contaminated or is reaching, if not already attained, an end-of-life for the dielectric fluid. In response to a determination of a presence of the incompatible fluid in the fluid circuit, a notification can be generated to alert an operator of the detection of the incompatible fluid. Additionally, the system can take actions, including closing a valve(s), deactivating a pump, and/or opening a bypass circuit(s), among other actions, to isolate at least the battery from the incompatible fluid.