Battery Pack Oil Cooling With Relay-Based Static Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply systems face challenges in reducing electrostatic charging and ensuring safety against high voltages, particularly in battery packs where insulating oil circulation for temperature adjustment is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A power supply device incorporating a battery pack, an insulating oil circuit, and a controller that manages relays to control the flow of insulating oil for cooling and discharge of static electricity, using relays and insulation resistance to manage high voltage and electrostatic discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If insulating oil is circulated to cool the battery, then temperature control is improved, but electrostatic charging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay unit as an intermediary component between the battery and the cooler. This relay unit includes a relay switch that can be opened or closed to control the electrical connection. When the relay switch is open, the insulating oil can flow through the cooler for cooling without causing electrostatic charging to transfer to the battery. The relay acts as a mediator that separates the thermal management function from the electrical connection, allowing heat transfer while blocking harmful electrostatic effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the electrical connection path into separate segments using multiple relay switches (first relay switch and second relay switch). These relay switches can be independently controlled to segment the electrical path between the battery terminals and the cooler. By opening these relay switches during cooling operations, the system creates an electrical insulation barrier while maintaining thermal coupling through the insulating oil circulation, thus preventing electrostatic charging while achieving temperature control.
2Reliability
If relays are used to control current flow, then safety against high voltage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an electrical switch for high-voltage isolation, a thermal management controller for cooling operations, and an electrostatic discharge protection device. By integrating these multiple functions into a single relay unit component, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive safety and control capabilities. The relay unit handles both the electrical switching and the coordination of insulating oil circulation, eliminating the need for separate control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the electrical switching function and the thermal management control function into a single integrated relay unit. The relay switch within this unit simultaneously controls both the electrical connection for high-voltage safety and the insulating oil flow for cooling. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components and control circuits needed, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving both safety objectives.
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 solution effectively reduces electrostatic charging and enhances safety by discharging static electricity, preventing treeing breakdown and ensuring safe operation of high-voltage components.
Implementation Method 1
The insulating oil circuit is configured to cool the battery by causing an insulating oil to flow into the cooler
Implementation Method 2
to turn off the other to discharge static electricity generated by the flow of the insulating oil to a housing of the apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply device that supplies power to an apparatus, includes: a battery pack including a battery and a cooler made of metal; an insulating oil circuit configured to cool the battery by causing an insulating oil to flow into the cooler; and a controller configured to turn on any one of a first relay and a second relay that supply a current from the battery to a power control device, and to turn off the other to discharge static electricity generated by the flow of the insulating oil to a housing of the apparatus.