Pipe-Integrated Battery Module for Cell Temperature Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery modules lack effective means to maintain the temperature of secondary battery cells at an appropriate level, affecting energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A battery module with a heat exchanger that includes a lower and upper wall with through-holes, connected by pipe members and sidewalls, featuring inlet and outlet ports, and busbar assemblies to support and connect battery cells, allowing for heat exchange with a medium to regulate temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If battery cells are used in electric vehicles, then electrical energy can be supplied to wheel driving motors, but temperature control becomes necessary to maintain energy efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple pipe members (first through-nth pipe members) that can be selectively connected to different battery cells. Each pipe member can be independently connected or disconnected from battery cells through connection holes, allowing segmented temperature control of individual cells or groups of cells based on their specific thermal requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic connection capability where pipe members can be connected or disconnected from battery cells during operation. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the thermal management system to adapt to changing temperature requirements of different battery cells, enabling flexible and responsive temperature control to maintain optimal energy efficiency.
2Temperature
If a heat exchanger is designed with multiple pipe members to cool or heat battery cells, then temperature management is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is designed as a universal structure where a single heat exchanger unit can serve multiple battery cells through its array of pipe members. The same heat exchanger design can cool or heat different numbers and configurations of battery cells by selectively connecting pipe members to connection holes, reducing the need for multiple specialized heat exchangers and simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe members are nested within the heat exchanger structure, with connection holes positioned to receive and connect the pipe members. This nested configuration allows the thermal management system to be compact and integrated, with pipe members fitting within the heat exchanger body rather than requiring separate external connections, thereby reducing structural complexity.
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 heat exchanger effectively cools or heats battery cells, maintaining optimal temperature and enhancing energy efficiency by using a heat exchange medium.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger including a lower wall having a plurality of first through-holes, an upper wall having a plurality of second through-holes corresponding to the plurality of first through-holes, a plurality of pipe members configured to connect the plurality of first through-holes and the plurality of second through-holes in a one-to-one manner
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of battery cells respectively inserted into the plurality of pipe members
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module may include a heat exchanger including a lower wall having a plurality of first through-holes, an upper wall having a plurality of second through-holes corresponding to the plurality of first through-holes, a plurality of pipe members configured to connect the plurality of first through-holes and the plurality of second through-holes in a one-to-one manner, and a plurality of sidewalls configured to connect the lower wall and the upper wall to define a flow space for a heat exchange medium that adjoins the plurality of pipe members, in which a first sidewall, among the plurality of sidewalls, has an inlet port into which the heat exchange medium is introduced, and a second sidewall, among the plurality of sidewalls, has an outlet port from which the heat exchange medium is discharged, a plurality of battery cells respectively inserted into the plurality of pipe members, a first busbar assembly coupled to a lower portion of the heat exchanger and configured to support the plurality of battery cells, the first busbar assembly having a plurality of first terminals being in contact with lower end electrodes of the plurality of battery cells, and a second busbar assembly coupled to an upper portion of the heat exchanger and having a plurality of second terminals being in contact with upper end electrodes of the plurality of battery cells.