Battery Pack Cooling Structure for Uniform Cell and BMS Heat Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs face challenges in achieving uniform cooling of battery cells and electronic members due to limited coolant flow channels, leading to differential pressure and inefficient heat removal, which can result in performance deterioration and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with uprightly arranged unit cells and a coolant flow channel system that includes a coolant introduction part at the bottom and a discharge part at the top of the pack case, allowing coolant to circulate and cool both unit cells and electronic members, such as the battery management system, with adjustable configurations for improved flexibility and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant flow channel space is limited in conventional battery packs, then the structure is compact, but differential pressure is generated and uniform cooling between battery cells cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third dimension by defining the coolant introduction part in the vertical space between the bottom of the pack case and the battery module group, and the coolant discharge part in the vertical space between the top of the pack case and the battery module group. This vertical dimensionality change expands the coolant flow channel space without increasing the horizontal footprint, enabling both compact structure and uniform cooling.
2Adaptability or versatility
If coolant discharge part and outlet port constitute a continuous duct structure, then the structure is simplified, but coolant cannot be circulated in the battery pack except the interior of each battery module
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant discharge part is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the discharge pathway for coolant from the battery module group and as a circulation channel that allows coolant to flow back to the inlet. This multi-functionality enables coolant circulation throughout the entire battery pack while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electronic member is mounted in the battery pack, then the battery pack functionality is enhanced, but heat generation from the electronic member requires additional cooling capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant flow channel system is designed to automatically cool both the battery module group and the electronic member mounted within the battery pack without requiring separate cooling systems. The coolant introduced through the inlet part flows through the battery module group and then through the discharge part where it cools the electronic member before exiting through the outlet port, providing self-service cooling for all heat-generating components.
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 by ensuring uniform coolant distribution and effective heat removal from both battery cells and electronic components, reducing the risk of performance degradation and safety hazards.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant flow channel defined between the coolant introduction part and the coolant discharge part, the coolant flow channel being configured such that coolant introduced through the coolant inlet port cools the respective unit cells while passing through the respective unit cells
Implementation Method 2
some of the coolant having passed through the respective unit cells cools the electronic member in an eddy form
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a battery pack including battery cells or unit modules (unit cells) that can be charged and discharged, wherein the battery pack is configured to have a structure including a battery module group including one or more battery modules each having the unit cells mounted in a pack case in a state in which the unit cells are uprightly arranged in a width direction (lateral direction) of the battery pack such that the unit cells are spaced apart from each other by a spacing distance for coolant flow, a coolant introduction part continuously defined in a space between a bottom of the pack case and the battery module group, a coolant discharge part defined in a space between a top of the pack case and the battery module group, an electronic member located at one side of the battery module group, the electronic member being mounted in an inner space defined by the coolant discharge part, and a coolant flow channel defined between the coolant introduction part and the coolant discharge part, the coolant flow channel being configured such that coolant introduced through the coolant inlet port cools the respective unit cells while passing through the respective unit cells and some of the coolant having passed through the respective unit cells cools the electronic member in an eddy form and is then discharged out of the battery pack through the coolant outlet port.