Integrated Vehicle Battery Pack Cooling System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing battery pack designs with liquid-cooling systems require external radiators, complicating the mounting process due to the need for pipe connections, which increases complexity and reduces ease of installation on vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle battery pack design that integrates a radiator, pump, and coolant passage within a single case, allowing for internal coolant circulation and heat exchange, eliminating the need for external pipe connections and enabling easier mounting by incorporating additional components like compressors, condensers, and heat exchangers for enhanced thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a liquid-cooling system with an external radiator is used, then thermal management efficiency is improved, but mounting complexity increases due to pipe connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the radiator, pump, and coolant passage into a single integrated cooling assembly that is directly mounted on the battery pack housing. This merging of previously separate components (battery pack and external radiator) eliminates the need for complex pipe connections and mounting procedures while maintaining effective liquid cooling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiator and pump are nested within or integrated into the battery pack housing structure. The coolant passage is embedded within the housing, creating a compact nested arrangement where cooling components are contained within the battery pack assembly itself, reducing external connections and simplifying installation.
2Temperature
If a liquid-cooling system with external radiator and pipe connections is used, then cooling performance is improved, but ease of installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the radiator, pump, and coolant passage into an integrated assembly that mounts directly to the battery pack, the system eliminates multiple separate installation steps involving pipe routing and connection. The integrated design allows for single-unit installation, significantly improving ease of installation while preserving liquid cooling performance.
3Temperature
If radiator is placed outside battery pack, then cooling function is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the radiator and pump functions into the battery pack housing structure, creating an integrated cooling system. This consolidation reduces system integration complexity by eliminating the need to manage separate external radiator components and their connections to the battery pack.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack housing serves multiple functions: it contains the battery cells and simultaneously houses the cooling system components (radiator, pump, passages). This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by combining structural and thermal management functions into a single integrated unit.
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 improves thermal management efficiency, simplifies the mounting process by integrating all cooling components within the case, reducing the need for external connections and allowing for more compact configurations while maintaining effective battery cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
The pump 26 is configured to circulate coolant 20 between the battery 14 and the radiator 24 through the passage 38
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange is performed between the external air thus taken into the case and the coolant flowing through the radiator 24
Implementation Method 3
heat exchange is performed between the external air thus taken into the case and the coolant flowing through the radiator
Implementation Method 4
The battery module is accommodated in a module case and is configured to be cooled down by a water jacket formed on a bottom face of the module case
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle battery pack includes: a battery; a radiator; a passage via which the battery is connected to the radiator; a pump configured to circulate coolant between the battery and the radiator through the passage; and a case in which the battery, the radiator, the passage, and the pump are accommodated, the case having an intake opening and a discharge opening for external air.