Battery Module Cooling Structure for Heat and Swelling Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Secondary batteries experience performance degradation, heat accumulation, and increased risk of explosion or ignition due to inadequate heat dissipation in battery modules and packs, particularly when exposed to high temperatures, leading to swelling and structural instability.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring a cooling member with a cooling channel and air gaps positioned adjacent to battery cells, providing surface cooling and absorbing swelling, while a battery pack incorporates a coolant supply and discharge system for enhanced cooling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple battery cells are densely stacked to achieve high output, then power density is improved, but heat dissipation becomes inadequate leading to temperature rise
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling member is positioned between the battery cells in the stacking direction, creating a three-dimensional cooling structure that penetrates the battery cell stack. This allows coolant to flow through channels that are spatially distributed throughout the battery module, enabling efficient heat removal from multiple dimensions simultaneously while maintaining high power density.
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling member with cooling channels is introduced as an intermediary component between the battery cells. This cooling member acts as a heat transfer mediator, conducting heat away from the battery cells through its channels while maintaining electrical isolation and structural support.
2Productivity
If battery cells are stacked in a confined space to increase energy density, then productivity is improved, but heat accumulation increases due to inadequate heat dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling member is divided into multiple cooling channels that are distributed throughout the battery cell stack. Each cooling channel serves a specific region, allowing segmented heat removal from different parts of the battery module. This segmentation enables efficient heat dissipation while maintaining high energy density through compact packaging.
3Temperature
If cooling channels are added to the cooling member, then cooling performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the battery cells, enables coolant flow through its channels, facilitates heat transfer, and maintains electrical isolation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved cooling performance.
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 design effectively controls swelling and enhances cooling performance, reducing the risk of explosion and maintaining structural integrity by absorbing swelling and dissipating heat efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling member arranged on at least one of both side surfaces of the battery cell stack or between the plurality of battery cells... a cooling channel that is a space inside the cooling member where a coolant flows
Implementation Method 2
One surface of the cooling member may come into contact with one surface of at least one battery cell among the plurality of battery cells... cool at least one battery cell among the plurality of battery cells by surface cooling
Implementation Method 3
an air gap that is an empty space separated from the cooling channel... The air gap may include a first air gap and a second air gap, and the cooling channel may be positioned between the first air gap and the second air gap
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a battery cell stack including a plurality of stacked battery cells; and at least one cooling member arranged on at least one of both side surfaces of the battery cell stack or between the plurality of battery cells. The cooling member includes a cooling channel that is a space inside the cooling member where a coolant flows, and an air gap that is an empty space separated from the cooling channel.