Conductive Temperature Control Element for Battery Pack Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery pack designs face challenges in efficiently dissipating heat while maintaining a compact structure and avoiding electrical short circuits, especially when used in high-current applications like electric vehicles.

Innovation Solution

The use of temperature control elements made of electrically conductive materials with open cross sections, integrated into a common carrier with non-conductive channels, allows for direct heat transfer to a flowing medium, ensuring rapid and efficient cooling without electrical short circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If air flow is used to cool the battery pack through open channels, then heat dissipation is achieved, but effective cooling can only be achieved with difficulty and the structure becomes less compact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidcooling structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces air cooling with liquid coolant circulation through closed channels. The coolant flows through channels formed in the carrier body, providing efficient heat transfer from the contact elements to the cooling medium, achieving effective cooling without complex open channel structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the cooling parameter from gas (air) to liquid (coolant), which fundamentally improves heat transfer efficiency. The liquid coolant provides better thermal contact and higher heat capacity, enabling effective cooling in a more compact configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If electrically conductive materials are used for temperature control elements, then good electrical connection is achieved, but electrical short circuits between adjacent conductors must be avoided

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidelectrical short circuit risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an electrically insulating carrier body as an intermediary between the electrically conductive contact elements. The carrier forms non-conductive channels that guide the coolant while electrically isolating adjacent contact elements, preventing short circuits while maintaining good thermal and electrical contact where needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the cooling channels into electrically isolated paths within the insulating carrier body. Each channel is independently enclosed, preventing electrical connection between adjacent conductive elements while allowing thermal management of multiple battery cells

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Volume of moving object

If a compact structure is achieved with integrated temperature control elements, then space is saved, but heat dissipation effectiveness must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery pack volumeVSAvoidheat dissipation effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the structural carrier body with the cooling channel system. The carrier body simultaneously provides mechanical support, electrical insulation, and fluid guidance for coolant flow. This integration eliminates separate cooling components, achieving compactness while maintaining effective heat dissipation through direct thermal contact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution enables effective heat dissipation in a compact and structurally efficient manner, preventing damage from high temperatures and ensuring reliable operation under varying conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the temperature control element is in heat-transferring connection with a flowing medium, via which heat can be supplied to the temperature control element or heat can also be removed from the temperature control element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

As a result, the temperature control element is in heat-transferring connection with a flowing medium, via which heat can be supplied to the temperature control element or heat can also be removed from the temperature control element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2418717B1Tempering element in a battery pack
Publication Date: 2013.10.16 ADS-TEC GMBH
  • EP2418717B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2418717B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2418717B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a battery pack comprising a plurality of individual flat battery cells (6), each having a cathode arrester (17) and an anode arrester (18). Two arresters (17, 18) of adjacent flat battery cells (5) are electrically connected to each other. For heat dissipation, the arresters (17, 18) are in contact with a temperature control element (30), which is made of an electrically conductive material. The temperature control element (30) acts as a contact bridge, forming the electrical connection between the arresters (17, 18) and is in heat-transferring contact with a flowing medium.