Battery Pack Case Coolant Flow Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional middle or large-sized battery packs face challenges in achieving uniform cooling of battery cells due to non-uniform coolant distribution, leading to temperature deviations and potential damage from vibration, which affects the performance and lifespan of the battery cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack case design with a coolant introduction part featuring a downwardly projected portion that guides the coolant uniformly across the battery cells, maintaining the end of the pack case opposite to the coolant inlet port at a proper height, thereby ensuring efficient heat removal and preventing damage during vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the coolant introduction part has a parallel structure with uniform height, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the coolant flux is non-uniform causing temperature deviations in battery cells
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant introduction part employs local quality by varying the height of its upper end across different locations. Specifically, the distance between the upper end inside of the coolant introduction part and the top of the battery module decreases toward the end opposite to the coolant inlet port. This creates non-uniform coolant distribution characteristics that compensate for flow patterns, ensuring uniform coolant flux across all battery cells while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through a simple geometric modification.
2Reliability
If the end of the battery pack case opposite to the coolant inlet port is positioned low, then the coolant can reach all battery cells effectively, but the pack case may collide with battery modules during vibration causing noise and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the height parameter of the coolant introduction part's upper end. The distance between the upper end inside of the coolant introduction part and the top of the battery module is designed to decrease toward the end opposite to the coolant inlet port, with the rugged portion extending a predetermined distance (5-50mm) from that end. This optimized height parameter ensures effective coolant reach while preventing vibration-induced collisions.
3Manufacturing precision
If a rugged portion is added to the coolant introduction part to guide coolant, then coolant distribution uniformity is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rugged portion represents a localized geometric feature added to the coolant introduction part. By concentrating the flow-guiding function in this specific localized structure at the upper end, the invention achieves improved coolant distribution uniformity without requiring complex modifications throughout the entire component. The rugged portion can be integrated into existing manufacturing processes as a simple geometric feature.
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 uniform coolant distribution, reducing temperature deviations and improving the performance and lifespan of battery cells by effectively removing heat and preventing noise or damage from vibration.
Implementation Method 1
a downwardly projected portion to guide the coolant to the battery module is formed at the upper end inside of the coolant introduction part
Implementation Method 2
a coolant to cool the unit cells can flow from one side to the other side of the battery module
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a middle or large-sized battery pack case in which a battery module having a plurality of stacked battery cells or unit modules ('unit cells'), which can be charged and discharged, is mounted, wherein the battery pack case is provided at an upper part and a lower part thereof with a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port, respectively, which are directed in opposite directions such that a coolant to cool the unit cells can flow from one side to the other side of the battery module in the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the unit cells, the battery pack case is further provided with a flow space ('coolant introduction part') extending from the coolant inlet port to the battery module and another flow space ('coolant discharge part') extending from the battery module to the coolant outlet port, an upper end inside of the coolant introduction part facing the top of the battery module is configured so that the distance between the upper end inside of the coolant introduction part and the top of the battery module decreases toward an end of the battery pack case opposite to the coolant inlet port, and a downwardly projected portion to guide the coolant to the battery module is formed at the upper end inside of the coolant introduction part so that the rugged portion extends a predetermined distance from the end of the battery pack case opposite to the coolant inlet port.