Battery Cell Heater With End Fluid Circuit for Uniform Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery systems face challenges in efficiently managing the temperature of battery cells, particularly in maintaining optimal operating temperatures across multiple cells in series and parallel configurations.
Innovation Solution
The proposed battery system incorporates a cell holder with a fluid circuit surrounding each cell, an end fluid circuit at the axial end of the cells, and a heater positioned between the cells and the end fluid circuit. This configuration allows for efficient heat transfer and temperature control through the circulation of dielectric or non-dielectric fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a fluid circuit is used to manage battery cell temperatures, then temperature control capability is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional fluid circuits and heaters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling and heating functions into a single integrated fluid circuit system. The same fluid circuit that provides cooling can also provide heating by circulating heated fluid, eliminating the need for separate cooling and heating circuits. This reduces system complexity while maintaining temperature control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: cooling the battery cells during high-temperature operation and heating the cells during low-temperature operation. The system uses the same fluid circuit infrastructure for both thermal management functions, reducing overall system complexity.
2Temperature
If heaters are added to heat battery cells, then temperature uniformity across cells is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor cell temperatures and provide feedback to the controller. The controller activates heaters only when temperature thresholds are not met, ensuring heaters are used only when necessary for maintaining temperature uniformity, thus optimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the fluid circuit by adjusting fluid flow rates and temperatures based on real-time cell temperature conditions. This allows the system to provide targeted heating only when and where needed, rather than continuous operation, reducing overall energy consumption.
3Measurement precision
If multiple fluid circuits are implemented for each cell, then temperature management precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery pack into multiple cell holders, each with its own integrated fluid circuit. This segmentation allows each circuit to be manufactured and tested independently, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while still providing precise temperature management for each cell or group of cells.
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 solution enhances thermal management by maintaining uniform cell temperatures, improving battery efficiency, extending the life cycle and capacity of the cells, and providing flexibility in fluid circulation based on operational conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a heater disposed between the plurality of cells and the end fluid circuit at the axial end of the plurality of cells and configured to heat the plurality of cells. The heater may include an electrically resistive heater.
Implementation Method 2
The system may further include a plurality of conductors positioned between the plurality of cells and the heater to conduct heat between the plurality of cells and the heater.
Implementation Method 3
The cell holder fluid circuit and/or the end fluid circuit may be configured to circulate a dielectric fluid. The cell holder fluid circuit and/or the end fluid circuit may be configured to circulate a non-dielectric fluid.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery system includes a cell holder, a plurality of cells disposed in the cell holder and oriented to be aligned with an axis, a cell holder fluid circuit formed around and between each of the plurality of cells and extending through the cell holder, an end fluid circuit formed by an unobstructed channel at an axial end of the plurality of cells, and a heater disposed between the plurality of cells and the end fluid circuit at the axial end of the plurality of cells and configured to heat the plurality of cells.