Battery Pack Structural Coolant Channels for Thermal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs generate significant heat, and existing thermal management systems, such as cold plates, can increase the size and weight of the battery assembly, complicating manufacturing and assembly.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating structural members within the battery pack that define channels for coolant flow to facilitate thermal control, eliminating the need for distinct thermal components and integrating thermal management directly into the structural members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a designated thermal system (e.g., cold plates) is used to manage heat from battery cells, then thermal control effectiveness is improved, but the size and weight of the battery assembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the thermal management function with the structural support members by incorporating coolant channels directly into the structural members that provide mechanical support for the battery cells. This integration eliminates the need for separate cold plates, reducing overall weight while maintaining effective thermal control through direct contact with battery cell surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The structural members are designed to serve dual functions: providing mechanical support for the battery cells and simultaneously acting as heat sinks with integrated coolant channels. This multi-functionality allows the same component to fulfill both structural and thermal management roles, avoiding additional weight from dedicated thermal components.
2Temperature
If a designated thermal system (e.g., cold plates) is used to manage heat from battery cells, then thermal control effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the thermal management function with existing structural members, the patent reduces device complexity. The coolant channels are integrated into the structural members themselves, eliminating the need for separate cold plate components and their associated mounting hardware, connections, and assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the thermal management function from the category of separate thermal components and integrates it directly into the structural support system. This reassignment of function simplifies the overall system architecture by removing the distinction between structural and thermal components.
3Device complexity
If structural members with integrated channels are used instead of separate thermal components, then device complexity is reduced, but thermal contact area may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning coolant channels at specific locations on the structural members that correspond to high-heat-generation areas of the battery cells. The channels are strategically placed to maximize thermal contact where it is most needed, rather than uniformly distributing thermal management across all surfaces.
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 approach reduces the overall size and weight of the battery assembly while simplifying manufacturing and assembly by providing effective thermal control without additional thermal components.
Implementation Method 1
structural members that have channels that can facilitate heat transfer from sides of battery cells
Implementation Method 2
channels that can facilitate heat transfer from sides of battery cells of a battery pack
Data Source
AI summary
The apparatus can include a first member defining a first channel. The apparatus can include a second member defining a second channel. The first member can be configured to interface with a first side of a battery cell and the second member can be configured to interface with a second side of the battery cell.