Battery Pack Cooling via Perpendicular Coolant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs face challenges in achieving uniform cooling efficiency and maximizing space efficiency due to non-uniform coolant flow and excessive length, which can lead to temperature deviations and potential safety issues like cell deterioration or explosion.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with battery modules arranged in two or more rows, featuring coolant inlet and outlet ports that diverge at specific angles and are connected to flow ducts, along with module housings that manage electrode terminals and provide flow channels, optimizing coolant flow and reducing temperature deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If battery modules are arranged in a single row with linear coolant flow, then the structure is simple, but temperature deviation between battery cells increases due to non-uniform coolant distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant flow channel is segmented into multiple branches that diverge from a common introduction duct, with each branch serving a specific battery module. This segmentation ensures uniform coolant distribution to each module while maintaining structural simplicity through the common introduction section.
Solution Approach 2:
Each battery module is provided with dedicated coolant inlet and outlet ports positioned at specific locations (upper and lower parts) to create localized optimal cooling zones. The coolant flow path is optimized for each module's specific thermal requirements, ensuring uniform temperature distribution across all cells.
2Temperature
If battery modules are arranged in multiple rows with optimized coolant distribution, then cooling efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant system is segmented into multiple independent flow paths, with each path serving a specific battery module. This allows optimized cooling for each module while maintaining overall system manageability through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Battery modules are arranged in multiple rows (two or more rows) rather than a single row, creating a two-dimensional layout. This dimensional change enables better heat dissipation by reducing the linear distance coolant must travel and improving coolant distribution uniformity across the battery pack.
3Volume of moving object
If battery pack is designed to minimize size and weight, then space efficiency improves, but cooling system effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The battery modules are arranged in multiple rows with coolant flowing in a direction perpendicular to the stacked direction of battery cells. This three-dimensional arrangement maximizes space utilization while ensuring effective heat dissipation through optimized coolant flow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
Coolant inlet ports are positioned at upper parts and coolant outlet ports at lower parts of each pack case, creating a predetermined gravity-assisted flow pattern. This preliminary positioning ensures effective heat removal from battery cells before heat accumulates to dangerous levels.
4Temperature
If coolant flow path is extended to cover all battery cells, then cooling coverage improves, but pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant flow path is segmented into multiple shorter branches rather than one long continuous path. Each branch serves a specific battery module, reducing the total flow distance and pressure loss while maintaining comprehensive cooling coverage across all cells.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending the coolant path linearly across all cells, the system uses a multi-row arrangement with perpendicular flow direction. This dimensional change creates shorter, more efficient flow paths that reduce pressure loss while maintaining full cooling coverage.
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 design enhances cooling efficiency, reduces temperature deviations, and maximizes space efficiency, preventing cell deterioration and ensuring safety by uniformly distributing coolant and minimizing dead space.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant to cool the battery cells flows to one side to the other side of the battery modules
Implementation Method 2
a coolant to cool the battery cells flows to one side to the other side of the battery modules in a direction perpendicular to the stacked direction
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a battery pack including battery modules arranged in two or more rows, each of the battery modules including a plurality of battery cells or unit modules, each of which has two or more battery cells mounted therein, stacked in an upright or upside-down fashion, wherein the battery modules are individually mounted in pack cases, the pack cases are provided at upper parts and lower parts thereof with coolant inlet ports and coolant outlet ports such that a coolant to cool the battery cells flows to one side to the other side of the battery modules in a direction perpendicular to the stacked direction of the battery cells or the unit modules, the pack cases are further provided with flow spaces ('coolant introduction parts') extending from the coolant inlet ports to the battery modules, and flow spaces ('coolant discharge parts') extending from the battery modules to the coolant outlet ports, and the coolant inlet ports diverge from a coolant introduction duct such that the coolant inlet ports are connected to the respective pack cases while the coolant outlet ports extend from the respective pack cases such that the coolant outlet ports are connected to a coolant discharge duct.