Battery Module Heat Pipe Structure for Fast Thermal Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal management systems for lithium-ion power batteries face challenges in efficiently dissipating heat, particularly in high-integration battery systems, leading to issues such as poor contact due to battery aging, difficulty in managing temperature extremes, and inadequate heat dissipation during super-fast charging and low-temperature conditions, which can result in thermal runaway.
Innovation Solution
A heat pipe structure is tightly attached to the current collectors of battery cell units, with the outer shell made of the same material as the current collector, and integrated with a liquid channel, allowing for rapid heat transfer and exchange, and includes a steam cavity and flame-retardant supporting columns to manage thermal runaway.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If thermal management is designed as an external accessory system on battery case, then the battery system integration is improved, but the heat dissipation efficiency deteriorates due to large intermediate thermal resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the thermal management function with the battery module structure by integrating heat pipes directly into the module housing. The heat pipes are embedded within the module housing and directly contact the battery cells, eliminating the need for separate external thermal management systems while reducing thermal resistance and improving heat dissipation efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If battery cells are directly integrated into battery pack without modularization, then the system integration energy density is improved, but the thermal management capability deteriorates due to poor contact after battery aging and expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a heat pipe structure with a housing that can accommodate battery cell expansion. The heat pipe housing acts as a flexible interface that maintains thermal contact with the battery cells even when they expand during aging, ensuring reliable thermal management capability while preserving the high integration benefits of direct battery-to-pack configuration.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional external thermal management structure is used, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the heat transfer speed deteriorates due to complex heat transfer process and large thermal resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the thermal management function with the battery module housing structure, eliminating separate external thermal management components. The heat pipes are integrated directly into the module housing and make direct contact with battery cells, creating a simplified structure that maintains manufacturing ease while dramatically improving heat transfer speed by eliminating intermediate thermal resistance layers.
4Reliability
If heat pipes are used for cooling and radiating single batteries, then the thermal safety is improved, but the heat dissipation efficiency deteriorates because only heat radiated to outside can be dissipated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple heat pipes into an integrated thermal management system within the module housing, where heat pipes work together to conduct and dissipate heat from multiple battery cells simultaneously. This integrated approach maintains the thermal safety benefits of heat pipe technology while improving heat dissipation efficiency by enabling collective heat removal from the entire battery module rather than treating each cell independently.
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 reduces heat transfer resistance, enhances heat dissipation and preheating speed, improves thermal management efficiency, and effectively manages temperature extremes, preventing thermal runaway spread in extreme conditions.
Implementation Method 1
one end of the heat pipe structure is embedded between the battery cell units, and the liquid channel is connected to the other end
Implementation Method 2
two sides of the heat pipe structure are tightly attached to the positive current collector or the negative current collector respectively
Implementation Method 3
the steam cavity and flame-retardant supporting columns to manage thermal runaway
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a power battery module, a power battery pack and a thermal management method of the power battery module. The power battery module includes a plurality of battery cell units, a plurality of heat pipe structures and a plurality of liquid channels, wherein one end of the heat pipe structure is embedded between the battery cell units, and the liquid channel is connected to the other end, which is not embedded into the battery cell unit, of the heat pipe structure, the battery cell unit includes a positive current collector, a positive electrode material, a separator, a negative electrode material and a negative current collector which are arranged in sequence, and two sides of the heat pipe structure are tightly attached to the positive current collector or the negative current collector respectively.