Battery Module Cooling Plate Layout for Side-Wall Heat Dissipation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery pack thermal management systems face inefficiencies in heat dissipation due to a smaller bottom area of battery cells, leading to uneven temperature control and potential safety hazards from thermal runaway.

Innovation Solution

The arrangement of battery modules with a cooling plate between them allows for heat exchange with the larger side wall of each module, enhancing cooling efficiency and preventing uneven heating, while a thermally conductive adhesive layer facilitates heat transfer and structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a cooling plate is arranged on the bottom of the case to control battery cell temperature, then thermal management is achieved, but heat dissipation efficiency is insufficient due to the smaller bottom area of battery cells

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidbottom area of battery cell
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling plate is moved from the bottom of the battery cell to the side wall, changing the spatial dimension of heat exchange. This allows the cooling plate to contact the larger side wall area of the battery cell instead of the smaller bottom area, significantly improving heat dissipation efficiency through increased thermal contact area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If battery cells are arranged erectly with cooling plate at the bottom, then structural simplicity is maintained, but uneven temperature control occurs leading to thermal runaway risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidtemperature control uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling plate is positioned to contact the side wall of the battery cell where heat generation is most intense. This localized cooling approach targets the specific area with highest thermal load, achieving more uniform temperature distribution across the battery cell and preventing hot spots that could lead to thermal runaway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration improves heat dissipation efficiency, ensures balanced temperature control, and reduces the risk of thermal runaway, enhancing the safety and performance of battery packs.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling plate (31) provided between two adjacent battery modules (20), and the cooling plate (31) is configured to perform heat exchange with the first side wall (211A) of the battery cells (21) of the two adjacent battery modules (20)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a thermally conductive adhesive layer facilitates heat transfer and structural integrity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3923400B1Battery pack
Publication Date: 2024.01.17 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
  • EP3923400B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3923400B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3923400B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There are provided a battery module assembly, a battery pack, and a device using a battery as a power source. The battery module assembly includes: at least two battery modules (20) arranged along a first direction (Z), each of the battery modules (20) including a plurality of battery cells (21), and a shell side wall (211) of the battery cell (21) including two oppositely arranged first side walls (211A) and two oppositely arranged second side walls (211B), an area of the first side wall (211A) being larger than that of the second side wall (211B), and the first side wall (211A) being perpendicular to the first direction (Z); and a cooling plate (31) arranged between two adjacent battery modules (20), and configured to perform heat exchange with the first side walls (211A) of the battery cells (21) of the two adjacent battery modules (20). The battery pack includes the battery module assembly. The device using a battery as a power source includes the battery pack.