Battery Module Assembly with Lateral Coolant Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery pack cooling systems face challenges such as large temperature deviations between unit batteries, increased size, and inefficient cooling, which can lead to battery deterioration and safety issues, particularly in applications like electric vehicles where space is limited.
Innovation Solution
A battery module assembly with sub-modules arranged laterally to form a coolant flow channel, featuring side cover plates with coolant inlet ports and a bracket with a coolant outlet port, allowing for compact design and uniform cooling without additional cooling components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional coolant flow cooling system is used with cooling fans and coolant flow channels between unit batteries, then cooling function is provided, but the battery pack size increases and large temperature deviation between unit batteries occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple battery modules, each with its own integrated coolant flow channels formed between stacked battery cases. This segmentation allows independent cooling zones for each module, improving temperature uniformity while avoiding the need for a single large centralized cooling system that would increase overall pack size.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function is merged into the battery module structure itself by forming coolant flow channels between the stacked battery cases. The battery cases serve dual purposes as both structural containers and cooling channel boundaries, eliminating the need for separate cooling components and reducing overall system size.
2Power
If high-output, large-capacity secondary batteries are used to meet power demands, then power capacity increases, but heat generation increases requiring larger cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant flow channels are nested within the battery module structure by utilizing the spaces between stacked battery cases. The cooling system is embedded within the existing structural framework rather than being added as an external component, allowing effective heat removal from high-power batteries without increasing overall system volume.
3Reliability
If additional cooling components are added to improve cooling efficiency, then cooling performance improves, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The battery cases serve multiple functions: structural containment of battery cells, electrical insulation, and formation of coolant flow channels. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling components, reducing system complexity while maintaining effective cooling performance through the integrated channel design.
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 efficiency and uniformity, reduces the overall size of the battery module, and simplifies the production process while maintaining optimal operating temperatures, thereby improving battery performance and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant flow channel at an interface therebetween, the sub-modules being arranged in a lateral direction in a state of being spaced apart from each other to provide the coolant flow channel
Implementation Method 2
through which a coolant is introduced... a bracket having a coolant outlet port communicating with the coolant flow channel
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a battery module assembly including unit modules, each of which includes unit cells mounted to a cartridge in a state of being electrically connected to each other via bus bars, the battery module assembly including two or more sub-modules, each of which includes two or more unit modules vertically stacked from a ground to form a coolant flow channel at an interface therebetween, the sub-modules being arranged in a lateral direction in a state of being spaced apart from each other to provide the coolant flow channel, a base plate, on which the sub-modules are loaded, side cover plates mounted at sides of the sub-modules, each of the side cover plates having at least one coolant inlet port, through which a coolant is introduced, and a bracket for fixing ends of the sub-modules, the bracket having a coolant outlet port communicating with the coolant flow channel.