Battery Module Heat Sink Layout for Compact Cell Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery modules suffer from low cooling performance and increased volume due to limited heat dissipation and the need for separate cooling plates, leading to reduced energy density and potential overheating issues.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design with a horizontally located heat sink, support plates, and battery cells in tight horizontal contact, along with protuberances and support frames, enhances heat transfer and minimizes volume by integrating busbar cooling with the heat sink.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the heat sink and battery cells are disposed perpendicular to each other, then the structural compactness is improved, but the heat transfer area is reduced leading to low cooling performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a perpendicular arrangement (one-dimensional contact) to a parallel arrangement where the heat sink and battery cells are disposed parallel to each other, increasing the contact area from a line/point contact to a surface contact. This dimensional change in the spatial relationship enables significantly improved heat transfer while maintaining structural compactness.
2Reliability
If separate cooling plates and heat transfer members are added to cool the busbar assembly, then the cooling coverage is improved, but the overall volume of the battery module increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat sink is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it cools both the battery cells and the busbar assembly. The heat sink structure includes a first heat transfer portion in contact with battery cells and a second heat transfer portion in contact with the busbar assembly, allowing a single component to perform cooling for multiple heat-generating elements, thereby eliminating the need for separate cooling plates and heat transfer members.
3Temperature
If the heat transfer area between battery cells and heat sink is increased, then the cooling performance is improved, but the battery module volume increases reducing energy density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling functions for battery cells and busbar assembly into a single integrated heat sink structure. The heat sink comprises a body with a first heat transfer portion contacting battery cells and a second heat transfer portion contacting the busbar assembly, combining multiple cooling functions into one component. This integration increases heat transfer area without proportionally increasing overall volume, as the heat sink serves multiple purposes simultaneously.
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
Improved cooling performance through increased heat transfer area and uniform adhesion force, reducing the need for separate cooling components and maintaining space utilization.
Implementation Method 1
heat generated from the battery cells 20 and the busbar assembly 30 is removed by the heat sink 10
Implementation Method 2
enhancing heat transfer
Data Source
AI summary
Discussed is a battery module including a heat sink having a predetermined area, the heat sink being horizontally located, a support plate including an upper support plate and a lower support plate located respectively at an upper surface and a lower surface of the heat sink, a battery cell including a first battery cell disposed in contact with the upper support plate and a second battery cell disposed in contact with the lower support plate, and a cover plate including an upper cover plate located above the first battery cell and a lower cover plate located under the second battery cell.