Battery Module Heat Dissipation Members for Uniform Cooling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery modules face challenges in effectively dissipating heat generated during charge and discharge, leading to uneven temperature distribution, potential fire or explosion risks, and increased size due to coolant channels, which complicates cooling system design and reduces service life.

Innovation Solution

A battery module structure featuring non-overlapping, bendable heat dissipation members made of thermally conductive materials that cover and interpose between plate-shaped battery cells to achieve uniform heat transfer by conduction, reducing the need for coolant channels and maintaining a compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If coolant channels are provided between stacked battery cells to remove heat, then heat dissipation is improved, but the overall size of the battery module increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidbattery module size
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the heat dissipation function with the structural support function by using heat dissipation members that serve dual purposes. These members are integrated into the battery module structure, eliminating the need for separate coolant channels while maintaining effective heat removal and supporting the stacked battery cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the coolant channel function from the battery module structure and replaces it with heat dissipation members that conduct heat directly from the battery cells. This extraction removes the volume-consuming coolant channels while preserving the essential heat dissipation capability through alternative thermal conduction paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If the width of coolant channels is reduced to accommodate more battery cells, then integration is improved, but pressure loss increases and cooling efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveintegrationVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the fluid-based coolant channel system with a solid-based thermal conduction system using heat dissipation members. This substitution eliminates pressure loss issues entirely while maintaining effective heat transfer, as the solid conductive paths do not suffer from the flow resistance problems that plague narrow coolant channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Volume of stationary object

If battery cells are stacked closely without spacing to reduce size, then compactness is improved, but heat accumulation increases and cooling becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery module sizeVSAvoidheat accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces heat dissipation members as intermediary elements between the stacked battery cells. These members act as thermal mediators that facilitate heat transfer from the battery cells without requiring physical spacing between them, thus enabling close stacking while maintaining effective heat dissipation through the intermediary conductive paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Temperature

If additional cooling components such as fans are added to reduce pressure loss, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidcooling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a passive heat dissipation system where the heat dissipation members automatically conduct heat from the battery cells without requiring external cooling components. The system serves itself through inherent thermal conduction, eliminating the need for fans or active cooling mechanisms, thus reducing complexity and power consumption while maintaining cooling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution ensures uniform temperature maintenance, reduces temperature deviation, and enhances the service life and safety of battery modules while allowing for a simpler and more compact cooling system, suitable for high-power, large-capacity applications.

Implementation Method 1

two or more heat dissipation members 200, 210 mounted at predetermined positions, that is, one side of the first heat dissipation member 200 covers one outermost battery cell (a) while the other side of the first heat dissipation member is interposed between inside battery cells, one side of the second heat dissipation member 210 covers the other outermost battery cell (a) while the other side of the second heat dissipation member is interposed between inside battery cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2366202B1Battery module having cooling means, and middle or large-sized battery pack containing the same
Publication Date: 2015.02.25 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP2366202B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2366202B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2366202B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a battery module including a plurality of sequentially stacked plate-shaped battery cells and two or more heat dissipation members, wherein the first heat dissipation member extends such that one side of the first heat dissipation member at least partially covers one outermost battery cell (a) of the battery module, and the other side of the first heat dissipation member is interposed between the inside battery cells, and the second heat dissipation member extends such that one side of the second heat dissipation member at least partially covers the outermost battery cell (a) while the second heat dissipation member is not overlapped with the first heat dissipation member, and the other side of the second heat dissipation member is interposed between the inside battery cells.