Battery Pack Venting Condensed Water Without Extra Space

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery cooling devices for vehicles require additional space due to the need for an opening/closing mechanism, such as a plug member, to discharge condensed water, increasing layout space requirements.

Innovation Solution

A battery temperature regulating device that includes a battery module, temperature detection means, and a temperature regulating means with a vent in the battery pack case, utilizing a cooling heat exchanger, condensed water reservoir, and air blowing means to manage temperature and efficiently discharge condensed water without increasing layout space by using a predetermined timing for air blowing after cooling is completed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an opening/closing mechanism (plug member) is provided to the cooling unit to discharge condensed water, then condensed water can be discharged from the battery pack case, but the layout space is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecondensed water discharge capabilityVSAvoidlayout space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the opening/closing mechanism (plug member) from the cooling unit by providing a separate vent in the battery pack case. The vent allows condensed water to be discharged directly from the case without requiring any opening/closing mechanism on the cooling unit itself, thereby reducing the space occupied by the cooling unit while maintaining discharge capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the condensed water discharge function from the cooling function. The cooling unit focuses solely on cooling, while the vent in the battery pack case handles the discharge of condensed water. This segmentation allows the cooling unit to be more compact while the discharge function is provided by a separate structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the air blowing means is driven at high output to accelerate condensed water discharge, then discharge efficiency is improved, but noise, vibration, and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecondensed water discharge efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary action by creating favorable discharge conditions before the air blowing means operates. The vent is positioned and sized to create a pressure difference that naturally promotes condensed water discharge. The air blowing means then only needs to provide gentle airflow to assist this pre-established discharge pathway, rather than needing to force discharge against resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes pneumatic principles by designing the vent to create a pressure difference between the inside of the battery pack case and the outside environment. This pressure difference naturally drives the discharge of condensed water, reducing the need for high-power air blowing and thereby lowering energy consumption while maintaining discharge efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 device efficiently discharges condensed water to the outside without adding extra drive parts, maintaining a compact layout by leveraging the air blowing mechanism to create a gentle water vapor partial pressure gradient, enhancing discharge reliability and reducing noise, vibration, and power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

cooling heat exchanger for cooling the air that passes through, condensed water reservoir for storing condensed water that is generated in the cooling heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 2

an air blowing means for blowing the air in the vicinity of the cooling heat exchanger and the condensed water reservoir and circulating the same within the battery pack case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 3

this condensed water is stored in the condensed water reservoir after executing the battery cooling, which evaporates according to the water vapor partial pressure difference with the surrounding air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 4

the water vapor (air) that is locally generated in the vicinity of the cooling heat exchanger and the condensed water reservoir is diffused into the battery pack case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP3054525B1Battery temperature adjustment device
Publication Date: 2018.12.05 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3054525B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3054525B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3054525B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Discharging condensed water to the outside of a battery pack case without increasing the layout space is possible. The battery temperature regulating device comprises a battery pack case (1) for housing a battery stack (2), a temperature sensor (T) for detecting the battery temperature, and a battery temperature regulating means for adjusting the battery temperature. In this battery temperature regulating device, the battery pack case (1) comprises a vent (17) which allows the passage of a gas from inside the battery pack case (1) to the outside. The battery temperature regulating means is configured comprising an evaporator (32), a condensed water reservoir (33) for storing the condensed water that is generated in the evaporator (32), and a blower fan (35) for blowing the air in the vicinity of the evaporator (32) and the condensed water reservoir (33) and circulating the same within the battery pack case (1). If the battery temperature is higher than a first set temperature, the battery temperature regulating means drives only the blower fan (35) regardless of the battery temperature at a predetermined timing after the execution of battery cooling.