Battery Module Thermal Path Design for Pouch Cell Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing battery module structures face challenges in simplifying the coupling process of cooling fins with pouch-type cells and improving cooling efficiency, leading to reduced productivity and insufficient heat dissipation, especially when used in high-temperature environments.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design incorporating a module body with a cell assembly stack, a module case, and thermally conductive resin layers between the battery cells and cartridges, along with heatsinks and thermal interface materials for enhanced heat dissipation, providing additional cooling paths and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If plate-shaped cooling fins are applied on the outer surfaces of pouch-type cells to increase cooling efficiency, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the process of stacking and fixing the pouch-type cells and cooling fins becomes complex and time-consuming, resulting in deteriorated productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling fin structure with the cartridge structure by integrating cooling fins into the cartridge body that holds the pouch-type cells. This integration eliminates the need for separate cooling fin attachment processes, thereby improving productivity while maintaining cooling efficiency. The cartridge serves dual functions: mechanical support for cells and heat dissipation through integrated cooling fins.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support for the pouch-type cells, enables stacking of multiple cells, and incorporates cooling fins for heat dissipation. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components and assembly steps, thereby improving productivity without compromising cooling performance.
2Temperature
If plate-shaped cooling fins are used to contact the surface of pouch-type cells and cooling plates, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling fins are merged into the cartridge structure, creating a single integrated component that provides both mechanical support and thermal management. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of separate parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, while still achieving effective heat dissipation from the pouch-type cells.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple pouch-type cells are stacked to increase capacity and power, then battery capacity is improved, but heat generation increases and cooling becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery module into multiple cell assemblies, where each assembly consists of one or more pouch-type cells housed in a separate cartridge with integrated cooling fins. This segmentation allows for distributed heat dissipation across multiple localized cooling zones, effectively managing heat generation from stacked cells while maintaining high battery capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge with integrated cooling fins acts as an intermediary between the pouch-type cells and the external environment. It provides a dedicated thermal management interface for each cell or cell group, facilitating efficient heat transfer from the cells to the cooling fins, thereby enabling effective cooling of stacked high-capacity battery configurations.
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 productivity by simplifying the coupling process and improves cooling efficiency through multiple heat dissipation paths, effectively managing heat generation and preventing overheating in battery modules.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of thermally conductive resin layers filled in empty spaces formed between a top end of the battery cell and the cartridge and between a bottom end of the battery cell and the cartridge
Implementation Method 2
a pair of heatsinks disposed at an upper portion and a lower portion of the module body to dissipate heat transferred from the module case
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery module includes: a module body including a cell assembly stack formed by stacking a plurality of cell assemblies and a module case configured to accommodate the cell assembly stack; and a pair of heatsinks disposed at an upper portion and a lower portion of the module body to dissipate heat transferred from the module case, and the cell assembly includes: at least one battery cell; a cartridge configured to accommodate the battery cell; and a pair of thermally conductive resin layers filled in empty spaces formed between a top end of the battery cell and the cartridge and between a bottom end of the battery cell and the cartridge.