Air Cooling Battery Module Guide Vane Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-cooling battery modules experience reduced air flow and inefficient cooling due to the arrangement of air channels and the interference of cartridge structures, leading to uneven temperature distribution among battery cells.
Innovation Solution
The battery module incorporates a guide vane with segmented plate barriers and a central air inlet to ensure uniform air flow distribution, improving cooling efficiency by directing cooling air smoothly and uniformly across air channels arranged in parallel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If air channels are arranged in parallel in conventional U-type or Z-type modules, then the cooling coverage is extended, but the air flow is reduced as the air channel is located farther away from the air inlet
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet duct is divided into multiple segments with individual air inlets for different air channels. Each segment can independently control air flow to its corresponding air channel, ensuring that even distant air channels receive sufficient cooling air without reducing overall air flow speed
Solution Approach 2:
Guide vanes are introduced as intermediary components within the inlet duct to actively direct and distribute air flow to multiple air channels. These guide vanes act as mediators that redirect air flow to reach distant air channels while maintaining flow speed and distribution uniformity
2Speed
If the inlet duct inclination is adjusted to increase air flow to distant channels, then air flow distribution improves, but the air flow becomes turbulent and does not enter the air channel smoothly
Solution Approach 1:
The guide vanes are designed with adjustable angles and positions within the inlet duct, allowing dynamic optimization of air flow direction. This dynamic adjustment enables smooth air flow transition into air channels while maintaining good distribution, avoiding the turbulence caused by fixed inclined duct configurations
3Strength
If cartridge structures with protruding portions are used to support low mechanical rigidity cells, then mechanical support is improved, but the protruding portions interfere with air flow and limit cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet structure is extracted and positioned independently from the cartridge structures. Air inlets are located at optimal positions within the inlet duct that do not coincide with cartridge protruding portions, eliminating air flow interference while maintaining mechanical support functionality
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 enhances cooling performance by ensuring high uniformity of flow distribution and reducing temperature deviations among battery cells, resulting in improved cooling efficiency compared to U-type or Z-type modules.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling fan provided at the air inlet to introduce the cooling air
Implementation Method 2
a guide vane composed of a plurality of plate barriers respectively extending obliquely at a predetermined acute angle toward the air channels based on the air inlet to distribute the flow of air
Implementation Method 3
The stacked cells are structured to have a channel of a coolant such as cooling water or cooling air so as to effectively remove accumulated heat
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is battery module, which includes a cell assembly having battery cells arranged side by side in one direction and air channels formed at the intervals of the battery cells, and an inlet duct mounted to a front surface of the cell assembly at which the air channels are located to distribute a cooling air to the air channels. The inlet duct includes an air inlet disposed to face air channels, which are located in a central region in the arrangement of the air channels, at a location spaced apart therefrom, a cooling fan being installed at the air inlet to introduce the cooling air; and a guide vane composed of a plurality of plate barriers respectively extending obliquely toward the air channels based on the air inlet at a predetermined acute angle to distribute the flow of air.