Battery Module Cooling Unit with Phase Change Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery modules with water cooling structures face reduced energy density and complex cooling designs due to the need for cooling tubes and pumps, which compromise space efficiency and cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring a cooling unit with a phase change material, including a base frame, phase change material accommodation, and a cover frame, which covers exposed parts of battery cell assemblies and is integrated with a case beam for efficient heat transfer and cooling, eliminating the need for conventional cooling tubes and pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling tubes and cooling pumps are mounted in the battery module for water cooling, then cooling performance is improved, but space efficiency and energy density are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cooling function from the conventional water cooling system (tubes and pumps) and implements it through a different mechanism - using the battery module housing itself as a heat dissipation structure with heat dissipation fins, eliminating the need for separate cooling tubes and pumps while maintaining cooling performance
Solution Approach 2:
The battery module housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, contains the battery cells, and acts as a heat dissipation device through integrated heat dissipation fins. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling components, improving space efficiency while maintaining cooling capability
2Temperature
If cooling tubes and cooling pumps are mounted in the battery module for water cooling, then cooling performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex water cooling system components (tubes, pumps, seals, connections) and replaces them with a simplified air cooling structure using heat dissipation fins integrated into the housing, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining effective heat dissipation
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function is merged with the structural housing of the battery module. The heat dissipation fins are integrated directly into the housing structure, combining the support function and cooling function into a single component, thereby simplifying the overall device structure
3Quantity of substance
If a plurality of battery cells are densely packed in a narrow space to form a battery pack, then energy density is improved, but heat dissipation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses heat dissipation in densely packed batteries by extending heat dissipation in the vertical dimension through heat dissipation fins on the housing, rather than relying solely on horizontal spacing between cells. This allows effective heat dissipation even when cells are densely packed in the horizontal plane
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 enhances energy density and simplifies the cooling structure, improving heat management while maximizing space efficiency and reducing the complexity of the cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling unit configured to cover the exposed parts of the adjacent battery cell assemblies and having a phase change material for cooling the adjacent battery cell assemblies
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module includes a plurality of battery cell assemblies, each having at least one battery cell; a bottom case configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cell assemblies; an upper case mounted to an upper side of the bottom case to expose a part of an upper side, a part of a front side and a part of a rear side of adjacent battery cell assemblies of the plurality of battery cell assemblies; and a cooling unit configured to cover the exposed parts of the adjacent battery cell assemblies and having a phase change material for cooling the adjacent battery cell assemblies.