Battery Pack Branching Cooling Duct for Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs face reduced cooling efficiency due to the influence of inner case temperature on fluid flowing through ducts, especially in high ambient temperatures, which affects the temperature of air supplied to energy storage devices.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a first duct for fluid supply and a second duct for discharge, with an auxiliary flow passage along the outer surface of the first duct, allowing fluid to flow through both passages simultaneously, which helps mitigate the temperature influence of the inner case on the fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the duct is disposed inside the case to cool energy storage devices, then the cooling function is provided, but the fluid temperature increases due to influence from the inner case temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The duct is divided into multiple sections: a first duct portion extending in the flow direction, and second duct portions extending in directions opposite to the flow direction. This segmentation creates multiple flow paths that reduce the fluid's exposure to heated case surfaces, maintaining lower fluid temperature and improving cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The duct configuration transitions from a simple linear path to a three-dimensional structure with branches extending in opposite directions. This dimensional change allows the fluid to flow through multiple spatial paths, reducing contact with heated surfaces and maintaining temperature control.
2Reliability
If the duct flows through the case interior, then thermal management is achieved, but temperature differences between duct walls and fluid increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the duct into a first portion and second portions extending in opposite directions, the design creates multiple thermal exchange paths. This segmentation reduces the temperature difference between duct walls and fluid by distributing the thermal load across multiple flow paths rather than a single linear path.
3Reliability
If conventional single-path ducting is used, then device complexity is low, but cooling efficiency decreases in high ambient temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The duct is segmented into a first duct portion and multiple second duct portions, creating a branched structure that improves cooling efficiency by reducing fluid temperature. While this increases structural complexity, the segmentation is achieved through straightforward geometric divisions rather than complex mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The duct structure utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement with branches extending in opposite directions perpendicular to the main flow. This dimensional approach improves cooling efficiency without requiring complex mechanical systems, achieving better thermal management through smart geometric 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 configuration effectively suppresses temperature changes in the fluid flowing through the supply passage, enhancing cooling efficiency for energy storage devices by reducing temperature differences between the duct walls and the fluid, thereby improving thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
a first duct disposed in an inside of the case and defining a supply flow passage through which the fluid is supplied to the gap; and a second duct disposed in the inside of the case and defining a discharge flow passage through which the fluid which has passed through the gap is discharged
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes: energy storage devices arranged with a gap which is formed between the energy storage devices for passing a fluid; a case configured to accommodate the energy storage devices; a first duct disposed in an inside of the case and defining a supply flow passage through which the fluid is supplied to the gap; and a second duct disposed in the inside of the case and defining a discharge flow passage through which the fluid which has passed through the gap is discharged, wherein an auxiliary flow passage where the fluid flows along an outer surface of the first duct is formed, and the fluid is made to flow through the supply flow passage and the auxiliary flow passage at a same time.