Battery Module Cooling Members with Open Sides

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery modules for middle or large-sized devices face challenges in achieving high cooling efficiency while maintaining a compact structure, as conventional cooling systems increase size and complexity, and the low thermal conductivity of laminate sheets in pouch-shaped batteries leads to heat accumulation, potentially causing deterioration and safety issues.

Innovation Solution

A battery module design with open sides, where cooling members are exposed outward and disposed between battery cells, allowing coolant to flow along the sides for effective heat dissipation without additional inlet and outlet ports, utilizing thermally conductive metal sheets with specific structures to maximize cooling efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional cooling systems are used with coolant channels between battery cells, then cooling function is provided, but device complexity and size are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidcooling system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling member integrates both the cooling function and structural support function into a single component. The cooling member includes a cooling plate that contacts the battery cell and cooling fins that extend outward, combining the heat dissipation function with the structural framework that supports the battery cell stack, thereby reducing the number of separate cooling channels and components needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling member extends in multiple dimensions with cooling fins projecting outward from the cooling plate in directions perpendicular to the battery cell surface. This three-dimensional fin structure increases the heat dissipation surface area without requiring additional coolant channels between cells, moving from a two-dimensional channel-based cooling to a three-dimensional fin-based cooling approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If battery cells are stacked with high integration, then productivity and capacity are improved, but heat accumulation occurs due to low thermal conductivity of laminate sheets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration densityVSAvoidheat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling member is constructed as a composite structure with a cooling plate made of thermally conductive material that contacts the battery cell, and cooling fins that extend outward for heat dissipation. This composite design combines high thermal conductivity materials with extended surface area structures to overcome the low thermal conductivity of the battery cell's laminate sheet while maintaining high integration density

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling member acts as an intermediary thermal management component between the battery cell and the surrounding environment. It provides a thermal pathway from the battery cell surface through the cooling plate to the cooling fins, mediating the heat transfer process and enabling effective heat dissipation without requiring changes to the battery cell structure itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Temperature

If cooling members are fully enclosed in module case, then structure is compact, but cooling efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidmodule case size

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of enclosing the cooling system completely within the module case, the design inverts the approach by allowing cooling fins to extend outward through openings in the module case. This reversal of the traditional enclosed cooling approach enables direct exposure of cooling surfaces to the external environment, improving heat dissipation efficiency without significantly increasing the overall module volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 design achieves high cooling efficiency with a compact structure, effectively discharging heat generated by battery cells, thereby enhancing the safety and lifespan of battery modules while minimizing size and complexity.

Implementation Method 1

cooling members are mounted at interfaces between the battery cells... a coolant flows along the two open opposite sides of the module case while contacting the outwardly exposed portions of the cooling members

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2509150B1Battery module having excellent cooling efficiency and compact structure and middle or large-sized battery pack

Publication Date: 2017.06.14 LG CHEM LTD

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AI summary

Disclosed herein is a battery module including a plurality of battery cells mounted in a module case in a stacked state, wherein cooling members are mounted at interfaces between the battery cells, the module case is configured in a structure in which two opposite sides of the module case are open so that corresponding portions of the battery cell stack are exposed outward through the two open opposite sides of the module case, the cooling members are partially exposed outward through the two open opposite sides of the module case, and a coolant flows along the two open opposite sides of the module case while contacting the outwardly exposed portions of the cooling members.