Battery Pack Cooling Without Intake Ducts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for vehicle battery packs face issues with size and noise due to the need for intake and exhaust ducts, which also pose safety risks during fires, and they require additional devices for temperature and humidity control when using external or cabin air.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system that uses air from the region around the battery pack, isolated from the cabin, without an intake duct, where the air is introduced through intake ports in a housing and discharged through an exhaust duct connected to the vehicle's internal space, reducing the risk of air recirculation and noise, and allowing for a compact battery pack design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air outside the vehicle is used as cooling air, then cooling efficiency can be maintained, but additional devices for temperature and humidity control are required, increasing system size
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system utilizes air that already exists in the vehicle's trunk space, which naturally has controlled temperature and humidity conditions suitable for battery cooling. This eliminates the need for additional temperature and humidity control devices that would be required if external air were used, thereby maintaining cooling efficiency while reducing system size and complexity
2Temperature
If air in the cabin is used as cooling air, then temperature and humidity are maintained at specific levels, but noise is transmitted to the cabin and additional safety risks arise
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is designed to operate independently within the trunk space, using air circulation confined to the battery pack cooling zone. This segmentation isolates the cooling operations from the cabin space, preventing noise transmission and eliminating safety risks associated with cabin air circulation, while still maintaining appropriate temperature and humidity levels for effective battery cooling
3Temperature
If intake ducts and exhaust ducts are provided for air circulation, then cooling function is achieved, but the battery pack size is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system extracts and utilizes the existing trunk space as the cooling air source and discharge area, eliminating the need for separate intake ducts and exhaust ducts. By taking advantage of the naturally available space and air circulation in the trunk, the system achieves effective battery cooling while minimizing the overall battery pack size, as no additional ducting components are required
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 enhances cooling efficiency, reduces noise and safety risks, and simplifies temperature and humidity control by eliminating the need for intake ducts, while maintaining a compact battery pack structure.
Implementation Method 1
air existing inside a vehicle at a region around a battery pack isolated from a cabin of the vehicle is used as air (coolant) for cooling the battery pack
Implementation Method 2
an exhaust duct (410) through which the air having passed through the battery pack is discharged
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a cooling system for vehicle battery packs, which is constructed such that an intake duct for introducing a coolant, such as air, which cools a battery pack, into the battery pack from a predetermined region is not included, air existing inside a vehicle at a region around a battery pack isolated from a cabin of the vehicle is directly introduced into the battery pack, and the air having passed through the battery pack, which has been heated, is discharged through an exhaust duct connected to an internal space of the vehicle, in which a possibility of air to be recirculated to the region around the battery pack is low. The battery pack cooling system according to the present invention uses air existing inside the vehicle. Consequently, the control of temperature and humidity is easier than when external air is used, and generation of noise and backward flow of flames and toxic gas generated during a fire, which are problems caused when the air in the cabin is used, are prevented. Furthermore, it is possible to increase the cooling efficiency of the battery pack without the provision of the intake duct for introducing air into the battery pack.