Battery Module Cooling via Folding Edge Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery modules face inefficiencies in energy-to-volume ratio and cooling efficiency due to the separate application of cooling systems for each secondary battery, which increases overall volume and reduces performance.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring a pouch-type secondary battery with a folding edge that directly contacts a shared cooling unit, optimizing the folding edge's length-to-width ratio to enhance cooling efficiency and reduce volume, while allowing multiple batteries to be arranged efficiently within a housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a separate cooling system is provided for each secondary battery, then cooling efficiency for each battery is improved, but the volume of the battery module increases and energy efficiency to volume deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate cooling systems into a single shared cooling unit that serves multiple secondary batteries simultaneously. The cooling unit includes a cooling plate with cooling channels that contact the folding edge parts of multiple batteries, consolidating what would otherwise be separate cooling systems into one integrated component, thereby reducing overall volume while maintaining cooling effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling unit is designed as a universal component that can cool multiple different secondary batteries through its folding edge contact structure. The cooling plate with multiple cooling channels provides multi-functional capability, allowing a single cooling system to serve multiple batteries with different positions and orientations within the battery module.
2Volume of stationary object
If the cooling system volume is reduced to improve energy efficiency, then energy efficiency to volume is improved, but cooling efficiency may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating cooling capacity at the folding edge parts of the batteries, which are the primary heat generation areas. The cooling plate makes direct contact with these specific locations through the folding edge structure, providing intensive localized cooling where it is most needed rather than distributing cooling uniformly across entire battery surfaces, thus maintaining high cooling efficiency with reduced volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the folding edge dimension to achieve cooling contact. By folding the edge parts of the batteries, the patent creates a new dimensional interface that allows the cooling plate to contact multiple batteries simultaneously at their folded edges, effectively using vertical space and folding geometry to maximize cooling surface area within a compact volume.
3Temperature
If multiple cooling units are used for multiple secondary batteries, then each battery receives adequate cooling, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cooling functions into a single integrated cooling unit with a cooling plate that serves multiple batteries. Instead of having separate cooling units for each battery, the design merges them into one component with multiple cooling channels, reducing the number of parts, simplifying assembly, and lowering device complexity while maintaining adequate cooling performance for all batteries.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling unit is designed as a universal multi-functional component that can cool multiple secondary batteries through its folding edge contact structure. The cooling plate with multiple cooling channels provides multi-functional capability, allowing a single cooling system to serve multiple batteries with different positions and orientations within the battery module.
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 both energy efficiency and cooling efficiency by reducing the volume occupied by cooling systems and allowing direct heat transfer, stabilizing power supply and extending the lifespan of electric devices.
Implementation Method 1
the folding edge part of the secondary battery directly contacts the cooling unit
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module includes a secondary battery including an electrode assembly formed by alternately stacking an electrode and a separator and a pouch type battery case which accommodates the electrode assembly therein and in which an upper case and a lower case are integrated with each other, a housing which includes at least one opening and into which the secondary battery is inserted through an opening of the at least one opening, and a cooling unit formed in the housing and disposed at one side of the secondary battery. The battery case includes a folding edge part formed at an area on a side of the secondary battery at which the upper case and the lower case are folded at an edge where the upper case and the lower case are connected, and the folding edge part of the secondary battery directly contacts the cooling unit.