Water-Cooled Battery Module with Integrated Cooling Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-output, large-capacity battery modules for vehicles face challenges in effectively managing heat generated during charge and discharge, leading to potential deterioration, fire, or explosion due to low thermal conductivity of laminate sheets and complex cooling structure designs that increase size and weight.
Innovation Solution
A compact battery module design with laterally arranged battery cells, a water-cooled cooling structure featuring conductive cooling members with hollow coolant flow parts, and a manifold for efficient coolant circulation, along with a battery management system for controlling operations, to enhance cooling performance and structural stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If battery cells are stacked at predetermined intervals to remove heat, then cooling performance is improved, but the volume of the battery module is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling member is integrated between the battery cells, merging the cooling function with the structural arrangement of the battery cells. The coolant flow part is formed within the cooling member itself, combining the cooling channel function with the heat conduction member into a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate cooling channels between cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant flow part is nested within the cooling member, with the hollow structure containing the coolant passage inside the heat conduction member. This nested arrangement allows the cooling function to be embedded within the existing battery cell stacking structure without requiring additional external space.
2Temperature
If a cooling member or heat conduction member is mounted at a specific region to configure the cooling structure, then cooling performance is improved, but the overall size of the battery module is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling member combines multiple functions into a single component: heat conduction from the battery cells, coolant flow passage for heat removal, and structural support between cells. This integration eliminates the need for separate cooling channels and reduces the overall volume required for cooling infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling member serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it acts as a heat sink, a coolant conduit, a structural spacer, and a protective element for the battery cells. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and minimizes the overall battery module volume.
3Temperature
If multiple coolant channels are defined between battery cells to remove heat, then cooling performance is improved, but the complexity of the cooling structure design is increased
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple coolant channels are integrated within the single cooling member rather than being defined as separate structures between each battery cell. The cooling member contains multiple internal flow passages that serve multiple cooling zones, simplifying the overall design by reducing the number of discrete cooling components.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple coolant flow channels are nested within the walls and structure of the cooling member itself. The hollow structure of the cooling member contains multiple internal passages for coolant flow, allowing multiple cooling functions to be embedded within a single component 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
The solution reduces the volume of the battery module, improves cooling efficiency, and enhances structural stability, minimizing the risk of heat-related issues while maintaining a compact and lightweight design.
Implementation Method 1
cooling members (160), each cooling member being provided with a heat conduction part extending in a width direction of the battery cell assembly, a coolant flow part having a hollow structure, in which a coolant flows, and a manifold (170) connected to the cooling members (160) for moving the coolant in the coolant flow part
Implementation Method 2
a coolant flow part having a hollow structure, in which a coolant flows
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a battery module including a battery cell assembly having battery cells laterally arranged, a front plate and a rear plate fixed to outermost battery cells, an electrically insulative cover member mounted at an upper end of the battery cell assembly, the cover member being provided with through holes, through which electrode terminals of the battery cells extend, conductive connection parts arranged in a state in which the conductive connection parts are mounted at the cover member, the conductive connection parts being connected to the electrode terminals for detecting voltages of the battery cells while achieving electrical connection between the battery cells, cooling members interposed between the battery cells, each of the cooling members being provided with a coolant flow part having a hollow structure, in which a coolant flows, and a manifold connected to the cooling members for moving the coolant in the coolant flow part.