Secondary Battery Module Cooling Plate Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional secondary battery modules face inefficiencies in cooling due to the design of pouch-type batteries, which limits cooling to only the side surfaces, increasing module volume and reducing cooling effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A secondary battery module design featuring a cooling plate that contacts the close contact portion of pouch-type batteries, where the sealing portion is not formed, allowing for direct cooling and utilizing thermally conductive materials with protrusions and concave portions to enhance heat transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If indirect air cooling with separate cooling fins is used, then cooling capability is provided, but module volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capabilityVSAvoidmodule volume
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling plate integrates the cooling function directly into the battery module structure, merging the cooling system with the battery housing. This eliminates the need for separate cooling fins and reduces overall module volume while maintaining effective cooling capability through direct contact with battery cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling plate acts as an intermediary thermal management component that directly contacts both the battery cells and the cooling fluid channels. This intermediary structure enables efficient heat transfer from multiple battery surfaces simultaneously, improving cooling capability without increasing volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If sealing portion is formed on all sides of pouch-type battery, then battery integrity is improved, but cooling effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery integrityVSAvoidcooling effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing portion is selectively applied only to three sides of the pouch-type battery, leaving the fourth side (close contact portion) unsealed. This local differentiation maintains battery integrity where sealing is needed while creating a thermal interface for effective cooling where contact with the cooling plate is required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 improves cooling efficiency, reducing the module's volume and maintaining battery stability by directly contacting the cooling plate with the close contact portion, resulting in lower temperatures and better heat resistance.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling plate configured to cool the plurality of stacked pouch-type secondary batteries, wherein the cooling plate is brought into contact with the close contact portions of each of the plurality of stacked pouch-type secondary batteries and cools the close contact portions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3553843B1Secondary battery module
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 SK ON CO LTD
  • EP3553843B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3553843B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3553843B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a secondary battery module. According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the secondary battery module includes a plurality of pouch type secondary batteries stacked in parallel, and a cooling plate configured to cool the plurality of stacked pouch type secondary batteries, wherein each of the pouch type secondary batteries includes a sealing portion and a close contact portion formed by an exterior material in an outer periphery thereof, the sealing portion is formed at three of four sides of the pouch type secondary battery and the close contact portion is formed at the other side of the pouch type secondary battery, an extending portion protruding in a direction perpendicular to the close contact portion is formed at a portion of the sealing portion adjacent to the close contact portion, and the cooling plate is brought into contact with the close contact portions of the plurality of stacked pouch type secondary batteries and cools the close contact portions.