Battery Pack Circulation Path for Uniform Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs experience variations in fluid flow and temperature distribution among battery cells due to uneven fluid circulation paths, leading to inadequate cooling and reduced charging/discharging performance.
Innovation Solution
The battery pack design incorporates a circulation path with distinct inflow, outflow, and path along the housing sections, where flow velocities are managed to ensure uniform pressure distribution, reducing fluid flow variations and enhancing heat transfer efficiency by optimizing cross-sectional areas and fin arrangements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the circulation path uses a simple hexahedral casing with side wall, top wall, and bottom wall paths, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature distribution uniformity deteriorates due to varying fluid flow amounts
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation path is segmented into distinct functional sections: a high-velocity path along the housing for efficient heat transfer, and low-velocity inflow/outflow side spaces for uniform fluid distribution. This segmentation allows each section to optimize its function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the circulation path are assigned different flow velocity characteristics tailored to their specific functions. The path along the housing maintains high flow velocity for effective heat exchange, while the inflow and outflow side spaces maintain low flow velocity to ensure uniform pressure and even distribution to battery paths.
2Power
If the fluid flow velocity is increased to improve heat transfer efficiency, then the heat transfer performance is improved, but the pressure distribution uniformity deteriorates causing uneven flow distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The flow velocity parameter is changed based on location within the circulation path. High velocity is maintained in the heat transfer section (path along housing) while low velocity is maintained in the distribution sections (inflow and outflow side spaces), optimizing both heat transfer efficiency and flow distribution uniformity.
3Power
If the path cross-sectional area is reduced to increase flow velocity, then the heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the pressure energy decreases causing non-uniform flow distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation path cross-sectional area is segmented into different values for different functional sections. The path along the housing has a smaller cross-sectional area to maintain high flow velocity for heat transfer, while the inflow and outflow side spaces have larger cross-sectional areas to maintain high pressure energy for uniform distribution.
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 achieves uniform temperature distribution among battery cells, improving the overall performance of the battery pack by reducing temperature variations and increasing heat dissipation, thus enabling full utilization of charging and discharging capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation path formed in the housing and through which a heat exchange fluid circulates so as to transfer the heat of the battery cells to the housing
Implementation Method 2
a blower for causing the fluid to flow through the circulation path
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells, case (housing), circulation path, and blower. The circulation path includes battery paths, inflow side space, outflow side space, and a path along the housing. The battery paths are formed by gaps between adjacent battery cells. The inflow side space distributes fluid to the inlets of the battery paths. The outflow side space gathers fluid from the outlets of the battery paths. The path along the housing is a path that is different from the inflow side space and outflow side space and extends along one or more inner surfaces of the case. The circulation path is formed such that at least one of a flow velocity of the fluid in the inflow side space and a flow velocity of the fluid in the outflow side space is slower than a flow velocity of the fluid in the path along the housing.