Battery Cell Heat Exchanger Channel Layout for Uniform Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers for battery cells fail to achieve uniform temperature distribution across cells due to excessive temperature rise in primary channels, limiting effective heat exchange and increasing the temperature difference between the coldest and hottest cells.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchanger design includes primary and secondary channels with varying widths, alternating arrangements, and convergent sections to control fluid flow, promoting uniform heat exchange by restricting heat transfer and maintaining stable fluid temperature throughout its circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the primary channels have the same width as the secondary channels, then the heat exchange surface area is maximized, but the temperature difference between the coldest and hottest cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the primary channels narrower than the secondary channels. This creates different local characteristics in different parts of the heat exchanger: the narrower primary channels restrict heat transfer to provide cooler fluid, while the wider secondary channels allow greater heat transfer for warming the fluid. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining uniform cell temperatures while still providing adequate heat exchange surface area.
2Temperature
If the primary channels are made narrower to restrict heat exchange, then the temperature uniformity across cells is improved, but the heat exchange efficiency with the component decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heat exchanger into two distinct functional zones: primary channels for cooling (narrower width) and secondary channels for heating (wider width). This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between temperature uniformity and heat exchange efficiency. The alternating arrangement ensures both functions are distributed across the heat exchange surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter (channel width) to control heat exchange characteristics. By varying the channel width between primary and secondary channels, the heat transfer coefficient is adjusted locally. This parameter change enables the system to achieve both temperature uniformity across cells and adequate heat exchange efficiency by matching channel dimensions to functional requirements.
3Temperature
If the fluid temperature rises excessively in primary channels, then the cooling capacity is reduced, but the heat exchange with secondary channels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating zones with different heat exchange characteristics. The narrower primary channels are specifically designed to restrict heat transfer and maintain lower fluid temperatures, while the wider secondary channels are designed to allow greater heat transfer. This local differentiation prevents excessive temperature rise in primary channels and reduces unwanted heat exchange between fluid streams.
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 ensures uniform heat exchange across all cells, reducing temperature variance to less than 5°C, optimizing the performance and efficiency of battery systems.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchange surfaces between the fluid circulating in said channels and said cells
Implementation Method 2
fluid circulates in series from the primary channels to the secondary channels
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat exchanger for an electrical component, said exchanger comprising a first body (28) defining at least a primary channel (30) and a secondary channel (32), which are parallel and adjacent, in which a fluid circulates in series from the primary channel (30) to the secondary channel (32), in opposite directions, said first body (28) having at least one surface for exchanging heat between the fluid circulating in said channels (30, 32) and the component, and a width of the primary channels (30) being less than a width of the secondary channels (32).