Battery Pack Cooling via Branching Electrical Apparatus Cover

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery packs face difficulties in effectively cooling the electrical apparatus and batteries due to inadequate airflow design, leading to inefficient cooling performance.

Innovation Solution

The battery pack incorporates an air-suction and air-exhaust system with a branching airflow mechanism, utilizing an electrical apparatus cover to direct airflow effectively to both the battery and electrical apparatus regions, enhancing cooling efficiency by optimizing airflow paths and contact area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the opening is merely formed in the wall surface of the passage adjacent to the electrical apparatus zone, then the electrical apparatus can be cooled, but the batteries cannot be effectively cooled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectiveness of batteriesVSAvoidairflow path structure
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical apparatus cover is divided into multiple surfaces (first surface and second surface) that act as separate air flow path branches. The first surface creates a first air flow path and the second surface creates a second air flow path, allowing air to be distributed to different regions (electrical apparatus and batteries) through segmented flow paths, thereby improving battery cooling effectiveness without significantly increasing overall structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical apparatus cover serves multiple functions: it covers the electrical apparatus for protection and simultaneously acts as an air flow branching structure with multiple surfaces that create separate cooling paths for both the electrical apparatus and the batteries. This multi-functionality allows a single component to address multiple cooling needs without adding separate dedicated structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If air flow is not branched to the battery region, then the electrical apparatus can be cooled, but the cooling efficiency for batteries is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidair flow path design
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical apparatus cover is segmented into multiple functional surfaces that create separate air flow paths. The first surface directs air along the side of the battery pack case toward the batteries, while the second surface directs air in a different direction. This segmentation of the cover structure enables efficient distribution of cooling air to both the electrical apparatus and battery regions simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The air flow paths are designed to extend in multiple spatial dimensions. The first air flow path runs along the side of the battery pack case in one direction, while the second air flow path intersects with the side and flows toward the remaining other side. This multi-dimensional air flow distribution improves cooling efficiency by utilizing three-dimensional space effectively without requiring complex additional structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Temperature

If the electrical apparatus cover branches air flow, then battery cooling is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery temperature distributionVSAvoidelectrical apparatus cover structure
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical apparatus cover is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides mechanical protection for the electrical apparatus and serves as an air flow distribution structure with multiple surfaces. By integrating these functions into a single component rather than adding separate structures, the design improves battery temperature distribution while minimizing increases in overall structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The air flow branching function is merged with the protective cover function. The electrical apparatus cover combines the role of protecting the electrical apparatus with the role of creating branched air flow paths through its multiple surfaces. This merging of functions allows the system to achieve improved cooling performance without adding separate dedicated air flow control components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 ensures smooth airflow to the batteries and electrical apparatuses, improving cooling efficiency and reducing temperature differences between battery modules, while maintaining a simplified structural configuration.

Implementation Method 1

an air-suction portion and an air-exhaust portion are formed in a battery pack body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

the electrical apparatus cover...branches air sucked through the air-suction portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow branching: Convection

Implementation Method 3

The batteries can effectively be cooled by flowing the branched air to the battery region

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection cooling: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2575194B1Battery pack
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 GS YUASA INT LTD
  • EP2575194B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2575194B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2575194B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery and an electrical apparatus accommodated in a battery pack body are effectively cooled. The battery pack body includes a battery region in which a battery module is accommodated and an electrical apparatus region in which the electrical apparatus is accommodated. An air-suction portion and an air-exhaust portion are formed in the battery pack body. Air which flows through the air-suction portion is made to flow in the battery pack body, thereby cooling the battery module and the electrical apparatus and then, the air is made to flow out through the air-exhaust portion. The electrical apparatus region includes an electrical apparatus cover which covers at least a portion of the electrical apparatus and which branches air which is sucked through the air-suction portion.