Battery Module Tubular Flanges Fluidic Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery modules face challenges in reducing installation space and increasing efficiency for electric vehicle drives.
Innovation Solution
The battery module consists of first and second partial modules with tubular flanges that allow direct cooling of round battery cells without additional installation space, enabling efficient heat exchange and fluid-tight connections, thereby reducing installation space and enhancing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If cooling medium flows around battery cells directly, then cooling power increases, but installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular flanges are nested within the intermediate spaces that already exist between the battery cells, utilizing the void space created by the hexagonal close-packing arrangement. The flanges project into these pre-existing gaps without requiring additional installation space, while still providing effective cooling pathways for the cooling medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The flanges extend in the longitudinal direction (third dimension) rather than requiring additional lateral or vertical space. By projecting into the intermediate spaces along the length of the battery module, the cooling pathways are created without increasing the module's width or height, thus maintaining compact installation space while achieving high cooling power.
2Productivity
If tubular flanges are used for fluidic connection, then cooling efficiency increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular flanges serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide fluidic connection between adjacent partial modules, act as structural support elements, and facilitate thermal management. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated cooling components, thereby maintaining relatively simple device architecture while achieving high cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The flanges combine the functions of structural connection and fluid transport into a single integrated component. Rather than having separate mounting brackets and cooling channels, the flange structure itself provides both mechanical support and coolant flow pathways, simplifying the overall device design.
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 achieves high cooling power and efficiency for battery cells with minimal installation space, preventing electrical short-circuits and allowing for easy mounting and cost-effective manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
A cooling medium for cooling the first battery cells can flow through a first volume that is bounded at least partially by the first partial housing... A cooling medium for cooling the second battery cells can flow through a second volume that is bounded at least partially by the second partial housing
Implementation Method 2
The first volume is connected to the second volume via the first and second tubular flanges... The cooling medium can flow from the first intermediate space of the first partial module into the second intermediate space of the second partial module
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module (10) has a first and second partial modules (12, 16) with first and second battery cells (14, 18) respectively. A cooling medium for cooling the first battery cells (14) is in a first volume that is bounded by a first partial housing (28) and can flow through the first partial module (12), and a cooling medium for cooling the second battery cells (18) in a second volume bounded by a second partial housing (34) can flow through the second partial module (16). The first partial housing (28) has a first tubular flange (36) projecting into a first intermediate space (24) between the first battery cells (14), and the second partial housing (34) has a second tubular flange (38) projecting into a second intermediate space (30) between the second battery cells (18). The first and second volumes are connected via the first and second tubular flanges (36, 38).