Battery Pack Cooling Plate Drain Hose for Coolant Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-output large-capacity battery packs face challenges in effectively cooling battery cells due to the low thermal conductivity of pouch-shaped batteries, leading to potential heat build-up, deterioration, and safety risks from liquid coolant leakage, which can cause electrical shorts and malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a module assembly with a cooling plate and pack housing that includes a drain hose to quickly discharge any leaked liquid coolant externally, preventing it from infiltrating into the pack's components and improving stability by collecting and redirecting the coolant through a structured drainage system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a liquid coolant circulation system is used to cool battery modules, then cooling efficiency is improved, but safety deteriorates due to potential coolant leakage causing electrical shorts
Solution Approach 1:
A drainage plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the battery modules and the coolant circulation system. This drainage plate provides a designated pathway for leaked coolant to drain safely, acting as a mediator that prevents direct contact between coolant and electrical components, thus maintaining both cooling efficiency and safety
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of coolant leakage into a beneficial outcome by designing a drainage system that directs leaked coolant to a safe discharge location. Instead of allowing coolant to cause electrical shorts, the system uses gravity and structural design to guide the leaked coolant through a controlled path to the exterior of the battery pack, transforming a safety hazard into a manageable condition
2Weight of moving object
If pouch-shaped batteries with polymer coating are used to reduce weight and cost, then manufacturing cost and weight are improved, but heat dissipation deteriorates due to low thermal conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into modular battery modules that can be individually cooled. Each module is equipped with its own drainage plate and cooling channels, allowing heat to be dissipated locally at each module level. This segmentation enables the lightweight pouch structure to maintain effective thermal management through distributed cooling zones
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling plate with coolant circulation channels is introduced as an intermediary thermal management component. This plate contacts the battery modules and provides a high thermal conductivity pathway for heat removal, mediating between the low thermal conductivity pouch surface and the coolant system, thus enabling effective heat dissipation while maintaining the lightweight pouch structure
3Temperature
If pipes are used to circulate liquid coolant, then cooling capability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential outflow through joints
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage function is extracted from the sealed coolant circulation system and implemented as a separate, dedicated drainage plate structure. This extraction allows the main coolant system to remain sealed while providing a separate, controlled pathway for any leaked coolant to drain safely, thus maintaining both cooling capability and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage plate provides beforehand cushioning by preparing a safe drainage pathway before any leakage occurs. This preventive design ensures that if joints or connections fail, the coolant will naturally drain through the pre-designed gravity-fed pathway rather than causing damage, thus protecting the system without requiring complex detection or response mechanisms
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 enables prompt and effective discharge of leaked liquid coolant without disassembly, preventing electrical issues and enhancing safety by ensuring the coolant does not infiltrate the battery module or circuit, thus improving the stability of the battery pack's cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant circulation system configured to supply a liquid coolant into an internal hollow of the cooling plate to absorb heat of the battery module mounted on the cooling plate
Implementation Method 2
a drain hose to discharge a liquid coolant that flows out of the coolant circulation system to the outside of the pack housing
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a battery pack comprising: a module assembly having a structure in which a plurality of battery modules is mounted on a cooling plate having an internal hollow structure capable of accommodating a fluid; a pack housing having an inwardly recessed seating portion for mounting of the module assembly, and having an opened upper end; and a coolant circulation system configured to supply a liquid coolant into an internal hollow of the cooling plate to absorb heat of the battery module mounted on the cooling plate, wherein the pack housing includes a drain hose to discharge the liquid coolant that flows out from the coolant circulation system to the outside of the pack housing, and an opening through which the drain hose is mounted is formed on one surface of the pack housing.