Battery Pack Cooling Fin With Perpendicular Tabs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery packs are ineffective in efficiently conducting heat energy away from battery cells, particularly due to the lack of adequate cooling mechanisms that can effectively manage the temperature of lithium-ion pouch-type battery cells.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack design featuring cooling fins with multiple tabs disposed substantially perpendicular to the major surfaces of the battery cells, creating a flow path for air to flow through and absorb heat energy, thereby reducing the temperature of the battery cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If traditional cooling mechanisms are used, then the structure is simple, but the heat conduction efficiency is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat conduction efficiencyVSAvoidcooling structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling fin is segmented into multiple tabs extending perpendicular to the battery cell surfaces. This segmentation increases the surface area contact with air flow paths, dividing the heat dissipation function into multiple discrete contact points that collectively improve thermal management efficiency without requiring a completely complex cooling system architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tabs extend in a direction perpendicular to both the battery cell surfaces and the plane of the cooling fin sheet, creating a three-dimensional heat dissipation structure. This dimensional extension allows air flow to contact the tabs from multiple angles, significantly enhancing heat conduction efficiency without proportionally increasing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Temperature

If cooling fins with perpendicular tabs are implemented, then heat conduction efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery cell temperature controlVSAvoidcooling fin manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling fin structure utilizes parameter changes in the tab extensions - varying the number, length, and spacing of tabs perpendicular to the battery surfaces. These parameter adjustments optimize temperature control effectiveness while maintaining compatibility with standard sheet metal forming and fabrication processes, balancing manufacturing ease with thermal performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 described battery pack effectively reduces the temperature of the battery cells by utilizing the perpendicular tabs on the cooling fins to transfer heat energy to air flowing through the designated flow path, enhancing thermal management and performance.

Implementation Method 1

a first cooling fin having a substantially rectangular-shaped sheet and at least first, second, and third tabs... for conducting heat energy from the battery cell to air flowing through the first flow path

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

air flowing through the first flow path contacts the first, second, and third tabs of the first cooling fin to conduct heat energy away from the first cooling fin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3340366B1Battery pack
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP3340366B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3340366B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3340366B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery pack having a first battery cell, a first cooling fin, and a housing is provided. The first cooling fin has a rectangular-shaped sheet, and at least first, second, and third tabs disposed perpendicular to first and second major surfaces of the first battery cell. A first side of the rectangular-shaped sheet of the first cooling fin contacts the first major surface of the first battery cell. The first battery cell and the first cooling fin are disposed within an interior region of the housing. The housing has a first flow path within the interior region between a top edge of the first battery cell and a top wall of the housing, such that air flowing through the first flow path contacts the first, second, and third tabs of the first cooling fin to conduct heat energy away from the first cooling fin to reduce a temperature level of the first battery cell.