Immersion-Cooled Battery Module Layout for Flexible EV Packaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional modular cooled battery packs have fixed parameters such as size, shape, voltage, and current, making them inflexible for various application fields, and non-modular packs are bulky and heavy, limiting their adaptability in electric vehicle platforms.

Innovation Solution

An immersion-cooled battery module design with adjustable configurations, featuring a battery case with inlet and outlet channels for fluid flow, allowing for customizable assembly and adaptable to different application fields by varying the number and arrangement of battery cases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a non-modular cooled battery pack encloses several cell assemblies in one large liquid tank, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the pack becomes bulky and heavy, making it difficult to employ on various sizes of vehicle platforms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidpack weight
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The battery pack is divided into multiple modular battery modules, each with its own cooling channels integrated into the battery case. This segmentation allows each module to be independently cooled with smaller, lighter cooling structures, while collectively providing the same cooling efficiency as a large unified tank.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional modular battery packs use fixed parameter modules, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but flexibility for various application fields deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidapplication flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The battery module design incorporates dynamic configurability where the number, arrangement, and orientation of battery cells can be adjusted within the standardized battery case. The cooling channel configuration allows for flexible adaptation to different thermal management requirements. This enables the same basic module structure to be customized for different application fields (different power requirements, space constraints, and thermal loads) while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 immersion-cooled battery module effectively manages heat while being adaptable to various applications, enhancing flexibility and reducing size and weight constraints, thus improving the integration of battery systems in electric vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

one or more inlet channels, each receiving the fluid from the fluid inlet and going through the case frame for the fluid to flow through the battery case... one or more outlet channels, each going through the case frame for the fluid to flow through the battery case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4481893A1Battery module and battery case
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 XING POWER INC
  • EP4481893A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4481893A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP4481893A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A battery module is provided. The battery module includes a front lid having a fluid inlet for flowing a fluid into the battery module and a battery case coupled to the front lid and having an accommodation region for accommodating battery cells. The battery case further includes a case frame, one or more inlet channels, and one or more outlet channels. Each of the one or more inlet channels receiving the fluid from the fluid inlet and going through the case frame for flowing the fluid through the battery case further includes one or more inlet slits for flowing the fluid into the accommodation region for cooling the battery cells. Each of the one or more outlet channels going through the case frame for flowing the fluid through the battery case is coupled to the accommodation region for flowing the fluid out of a fluid outlet of the battery module.