Battery Module Cover Housing Sealing for Coolant Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery modules have low airtightness at the connector exposing opening, leading to evaporation or discharge of coolant, which deteriorates cooling performance and increases the risk of ignition or explosion due to heat accumulation.

Innovation Solution

A battery module design featuring a cover housing with a bus bar unit and sealing portions made of compressible materials, which are bolt-coupled to enhance airtightness between the cell and cover housings, and include a bus bar sealing portion surrounding the terminal connector to prevent coolant evaporation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the connector exposing opening is always exposed out of the cover housing to enable external terminal connection, then the ease of operation is improved, but the airtightness deteriorates leading to coolant evaporation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of terminal connectionVSAvoidairtightness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the cover housing and the connector exposing opening. This sealing ring prevents coolant evaporation and foreign substance penetration while maintaining the exposed connector opening for external terminal connection, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and airtightness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the battery module is processed to be airtight around the cell housing to prevent foreign substances and coolant loss, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveairtightnessVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover housing is designed to perform multiple functions: it covers the cell housing, provides structural support, maintains airtightness through integrated sealing structures, and allows connector exposure. By combining these functions into a single component with integrated sealing features, the patent improves reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Temperature

If the cooling structure with coolant is implemented to cool the battery cells, then the temperature control is improved, but the loss of substance occurs due to coolant evaporation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidcoolant evaporation

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The connector exposing opening, which initially causes coolant evaporation, is transformed into a sealed structure that maintains both connectivity and airtightness. The sealing ring converts the harmful effect of the exposed opening into a beneficial sealed structure that prevents coolant loss while maintaining electrical connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 enhanced airtightness structure effectively prevents coolant evaporation and discharge, improving cooling performance and reducing the risk of heat-related issues in battery modules.

Implementation Method 1

a bus bar unit disposed between the lower cover and the upper cover, electrically connected to electrodes of the plurality of battery cells, and sealing-coupled to at least one of the upper cover and the lower cover

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical Containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP3522254B1Battery module, battery pack including battery module, and vehicle including battery pack

Publication Date: 2023.05.24 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

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AI summary

Disclosed is a battery module, which includes: a plurality of battery cells; a cell housing configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells; and a cover housing configured to cover an upper side of the cell housing, wherein the cover housing includes: an upper cover configured to form an upper portion of the cover housing; a lower cover bolt-coupled to the upper cover and disposed at the upper side of the cell housing; and a bus bar unit disposed between the lower cover and the upper cover, electrically connected to electrodes of the plurality of battery cells, and sealing-coupled to at least one of the upper cover and the lower cover.