Battery Module Heat Pipe Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-density battery modules in electric vehicles face heat accumulation issues due to the heat island phenomenon, leading to cell imbalance and potential deterioration or explosion, necessitating an effective cooling solution to improve heat balance and performance.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design incorporating cylindrical battery cells with a heat pipe having a sealed tube structure, a wick, and a polymer layer, where the heat pipe is arranged to maximize contact area with the battery cells and circulate coolant based on temperature differences, with both ends exposed for enhanced cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If battery cells are densely packed to increase capacity, then energy density is improved, but heat dissipation deteriorates due to heat island phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
A heat pipe is introduced as an intermediary thermal management component between battery cells. The heat pipe includes a heat absorption unit that contacts multiple battery cells and a heat dissipation unit that conducts heat to the external environment, effectively mediating heat transfer and preventing heat accumulation in densely packed cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat dissipation function is extracted from the battery cell structure itself and separated into a dedicated heat pipe component. This allows the battery cells to focus on energy storage while the heat pipe handles thermal management, resolving the conflict between dense packing and heat dissipation.
2Temperature
If cooling devices are added to improve heat dissipation, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pipe utilizes passive self-service thermal management through phase change of the working fluid. The evaporation section absorbs heat automatically when temperature rises, and the condensation section dissipates heat without requiring external power or active control systems, thus improving heat dissipation while maintaining simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex active mechanical cooling systems with a passive thermal conduction and phase change system. The heat pipe uses inherent physical properties of phase change and thermal conduction to achieve cooling without motors, pumps, or electronic controls, reducing device complexity.
3Temperature
If heat pipe contact area with battery cells is increased to improve cooling efficiency, then heat dissipation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat absorption unit is segmented into multiple contact sections that can independently contact different battery cells. This segmentation allows flexible adaptation to battery cell positions and dimensions, enabling increased total contact area without requiring ultra-precise positioning of a single monolithic component.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pipe structure implements local quality by having different sections with different contact characteristics. The heat absorption unit has multiple contact points optimized for specific battery cell locations, while the heat dissipation unit has a larger surface area for efficient heat transfer to the environment, allowing optimized cooling efficiency without uniform precision requirements throughout.
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 solution effectively dissipates heat from the battery cells, reducing temperature differences and preventing heat accumulation, thereby improving the performance and lifespan of the battery module by maximizing cooling efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a heat pipe having an outer wall to form a sealed tube structure, the tube structure including a coolant therein, the heat pipe including a wick located to surround an inner wall of the tube structure and having a plurality of micropores formed therein
Implementation Method 2
the heat pipe extending in a horizontal direction along the plurality of cylindrical battery cells
Implementation Method 3
the tube structure including a coolant therein
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module includes a plurality of cylindrical battery cells; a module housing having an accommodation portion formed therein to accommodate the plurality of cylindrical battery cell; and a heat pipe having an outer wall to form a sealed tube structure. The tube structure includes a coolant therein, and the heat pipe includes a wick located to surround an inner wall of the tube structure and having a plurality of micropores formed therein. The heat pipe extends in a horizontal direction along the plurality of cylindrical battery cells. The heat pipe has a plate shape and stands so that both surfaces thereof are oriented in a horizontal direction. The battery module has improved heat balance.