Sealed Battery Pack Cooling Structure With Internal Air Duct

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling structures for vehicle battery packs face challenges such as rainwater and dust penetration in open types and complexity due to external components in sealed types, which complicate the cooling system and lead to inefficient heat dissipation.

Innovation Solution

A sealed battery pack cooling structure with a blower fan and blower duct system that circulates air through gaps between battery modules, using a support plate to direct airflow and facilitate heat exchange, eliminating the need for external components like bolts or clips for fixation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If an open type cooling structure is used to introduce outside air, then cooling efficiency is improved, but rainwater and dust penetration occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidrainwater and dust penetration
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A sealed case is introduced as an intermediary between the battery modules and the external environment. The case includes water discharge holes with water discharge ports positioned lower than the air intake ports, allowing the sealed structure to prevent rainwater and dust penetration while maintaining cooling functionality through controlled air flow paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a sealed type cooling structure with heat pump is used, then rainwater and dust penetration is prevented, but system complexity increases due to compressor and heat dissipator

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverainwater and dust penetrationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex heat pump system (compressor and heat dissipator) is extracted and removed from the battery pack structure. Instead, a simplified sealed cooling structure is adopted where air is circulated through the battery modules and discharged through water discharge holes, eliminating the need for external cooling components while maintaining sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The battery pack cooling system is designed to be self-contained and self-servicing. The sealed case with strategically positioned air intake and water discharge ports creates a passive cooling circulation system that does not require external compressors or heat dissipators, reducing system complexity while maintaining protective sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Temperature

If blower fan is added inside sealed type battery pack to improve temperature distribution, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature distribution uniformityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The water discharge holes are designed to serve multiple functions: they act as both water discharge ports for preventing rainwater penetration and as air circulation pathways for cooling. This multi-functional design improves temperature distribution throughout the battery pack without adding separate blowing fans or complex active cooling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enhances air circulation efficiency, homogenizes temperature distribution, and simplifies the structure while providing effective heat dissipation without external components, reducing damage from external shocks and maintaining a waterproof seal.

Implementation Method 1

a blower fan fixedly arranged on the support plate, and a blower duct for blowing air sent out from the blower fan

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

the air blown to the gap in the battery modules through the duct portion passes through the peripheral portion of the support plate to be circulated to an inside of the elevated portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4020665A1Cooling structure for battery pack
Publication Date: 2022.06.29 SUZUKI MOTOR CORP
  • EP4020665A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4020665A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4020665A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem to be Solved] To improve blowing circulation efficiency inside a sealed type battery pack, to thereby achieve a simplification of the structure, uniformity of the temperature distribution inside the battery pack, and a desired cooling effect. [Solution] An inside of the battery case (10, 20) is partitioned from a battery module (31) side by a support plate (17) except for a peripheral portion thereof; a blower fan (5) fixedly arranged on the support plate, and a blower duct (4) for blowing air sent out from the blower fan to the middle of the battery modules (31) in a vehicle longitudinal direction and a vehicle width direction are provided; the blower duct comprises a proximal portion (40) connected to a discharge port of the blower fan and a duct portion (41) extending from the proximal portion to a lower side, through the support plate; and a lower end portion (41b) of the duct portion is inserted into the gap (310) in the battery modules and held in a lower portion of a side face of the battery module.