Battery Temperature Control via Non-Conductive Liquid Immersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cylindrical battery cells exhibit anisotropic thermal conductivity, making effective heat dissipation challenging, especially in radial directions, as existing cooling solutions often include insulating materials that impede heat removal and require separate cooling plates and gap-filler masses.
Innovation Solution
A temperature control system using an electrically non-conductive liquid in a container with a cell holder and connecting device that allows end sides of battery cells to protrude and be electrically connected, eliminating insulating barriers and enabling direct heat dissipation without separate cooling plates or gap-filler masses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If insulating materials are used to electrically isolate battery cells in cooling systems, then electrical insulation is improved, but heat dissipation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the insulating material barrier from the cooling system. By allowing the cooling liquid to directly contact both the battery cell surfaces and the current collector without insulating barriers, the system eliminates the thermal resistance introduced by insulation layers while maintaining electrical isolation through the liquid's inherent properties or system design.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling liquid serves as an intermediary medium that simultaneously provides thermal conduction and electrical isolation. The liquid directly contacts the battery cells and current collector, transferring heat efficiently while the liquid's electrical properties or the system configuration maintains necessary electrical insulation without requiring separate insulating materials.
2Temperature
If separate cooling plates and gap-filler masses are used, then cooling coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function and electrical connection function into a single integrated system. The cooling liquid simultaneously performs thermal management and provides the medium for electrical current collection, eliminating the need for separate cooling plates and gap-filler masses that would otherwise be required to achieve comprehensive cooling coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling liquid performs multiple functions simultaneously: it cools the battery cells through direct thermal contact, fills gaps between components, and serves as the medium for electrical current collection. This multi-functionality replaces what would traditionally require separate dedicated components for each function.
3Temperature
If battery cells are immersed deeper in cooling liquid, then heat dissipation is improved, but electrical connection reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling liquid acts as an intermediary that enables both deep immersion for heat dissipation and reliable electrical connection. The liquid's electrical properties or the system configuration ensures that increased contact between the liquid and battery cells/current collector improves thermal management without compromising electrical connection reliability.
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 heat dissipation by immersing battery cells in a liquid cooling medium, reducing electrical resistance and allowing deeper immersion for increased surface contact, thereby achieving effective temperature control and efficient heat management.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid is an electrically non-conductive liquid... into which container the battery cells partially protrude... which includes an inflow and outflow for a liquid of a liquid circuit
Implementation Method 2
an inflow and outflow for a liquid of a liquid circuit... enabling direct heat dissipation
Data Source
AI summary
A battery is provided that includes a battery module, which includes cylindrical battery cells connected to each other in an electrically conductive manner. A temperature control system includes a container including a fluid space, into which container the battery cells partially protrude, and which includes an inflow and an outflow for a liquid of a liquid circuit. The liquid is an electrically non-conductive liquid, and the container includes a cell holder including openings, through which respective end sides of the battery cells of the battery module protrude into the fluid space of the container and which enclose respective outer surfaces of the battery cells in a liquid-tight manner. The cell holder includes a further opening, through which a contact element protrudes into the fluid space of the container and which surrounds an outer surface of the contact element in a liquid-tight manner.