Battery Module Cooling Port Structure for Direct Refrigerant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery modules face challenges in efficiently cooling battery cells due to complex cooling structures and indirect cooling methods, which can limit their performance and space utilization.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring a module frame with a protrusion that extends through end plates, allowing for a direct cooling port that supplies refrigerant to a heat sink integrated with the module frame, thereby simplifying assembly and enhancing cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a separate cooling structure (heat sink) is added to each battery pack unit, then cooling performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling structure is merged with the module frame to form an integrated assembly. The heat sink is coupled to the module frame, and the refrigerant flow path is formed within the module frame itself, eliminating the need for separate cooling components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective cooling performance
2Stability of the object's composition
If a multi-layered structure (upper plate, module frame bottom part) is used to form space between refrigerant and battery cell laminate, then structural integrity is improved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates due to indirect cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant flow path is repositioned from a multi-layered indirect cooling arrangement to a direct contact configuration where the refrigerant flows along the battery cell laminate in the same dimensional plane, eliminating intermediate thermal barriers and enabling direct heat transfer while maintaining structural integrity through the module frame 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 improved cooling structure simplifies the assembly process, reduces assembly complexity, and enhances cooling efficiency by allowing direct refrigerant flow, thereby improving the overall performance and space utilization of the battery module.
Implementation Method 1
a heat sink for cooling the plurality of battery cells
Implementation Method 2
an inlet through which refrigerant flows in, an outlet through which refrigerant flows out
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, a module frame for housing the battery cell stack, end plates for covering front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack, and a cooling port configured to supply a refrigerant to a heat sink formed on a bottom part of the module frame, the module frame comprises a module frame protrusion part, which is extended and formed so as to pass through the end plates on the bottom part of the module frame, the cooling port is formed at an upper surface part of the module frame protrusion part, and the end plate comprises an end plate opening formed at a portion thereof corresponding to the cooling port and an insulator formed so as to cover the end plate opening.