Battery Module Parallel Cell Pair Cooling Fin Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery module assemblies face challenges in reducing costs while maintaining effective thermal management, particularly in electric vehicle applications, where high power and energy demands lead to temperature differences between cells, affecting current distribution and battery lifetime.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves arranging battery cells in parallel wired pairs with cooling fins and alternating configurations, including structural layers like compression foam, to minimize temperature differences and ensure uniform current distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a high number of cooling fins are used between battery cells, then temperature differences between cells are minimized, but the cost of the battery assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing cooling fins selectively only between parallel wired battery cell pairs where temperature equalization is most critical, rather than uniformly between all cells. This localized approach addresses the specific thermal management need at parallel connections while reducing the overall number of fins required, thereby lowering cost while maintaining effective temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling fin structure serves multiple functions: it provides thermal conduction between adjacent cells, acts as a structural spacer to maintain cell alignment, and facilitates heat dissipation from high-temperature regions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, lowering overall assembly cost while maintaining thermal performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If a low number of cooling fins is used to reduce cost, then the temperature differences between cells increase, but this affects current distribution and battery lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
By concentrating cooling fins at critical parallel wired cell pairs where temperature equalization directly impacts current distribution, the patent ensures reliable operation and extended battery lifetime with fewer total fins. This targeted placement prevents the temperature differences that would otherwise lead to inhomogeneous current distribution and reduced reliability.
3Temperature
If cooling fins are placed between all battery cells, then thermal management is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces device complexity by implementing cooling fins only where thermally critical - specifically between parallel wired cell pairs - rather than between all adjacent cells. This selective placement maintains effective thermal management while significantly reducing the total number of cooling fins required in the assembly.
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 reduces temperature variations between cells, leading to increased battery lifetime and improved thermal performance by optimizing current distribution.
Implementation Method 1
Each parallel wired battery cell pair of the first subset has two adjacent battery cells with a cooling fin interposed between the two adjacent battery cells
Implementation Method 2
Compression foam pads are typically interspersed between some battery cell pairs
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells. Each battery cell includes an anode having an anode active area, a cathode having a cathode active area, and an ion-conducting separator interposed between the anode active area and the cathode active area. A first subset of the battery cells are arranged in parallel wired battery cell pairs. Each parallel wired battery cell pair of the first subset has two adjacent battery cells with a cooling fin interposed between the two adjacent battery cells.