Battery Pack Case Guide Members for Uniform Coolant Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Middle- or large-sized battery packs face nonuniform coolant distribution issues, leading to uneven cooling and potential battery cell deterioration, fire, or explosion, especially when conventional duct designs concentrate coolant flow near inlet ports, compromising overall performance and safety.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating one or more guide members in the inlet duct of the battery pack case, oriented parallel to the stacking direction of battery cells, to distribute coolant flux uniformly across the battery cells, preventing coolant concentration and enhancing heat removal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional duct designs are used without guide members, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the coolant flow distribution becomes nonuniform, concentrating near inlet ports and causing uneven cooling
Solution Approach 1:
Guide members are introduced as intermediary components within the inlet duct to mediate and redirect coolant flow. These guide members act as flow distributors that split the concentrated coolant stream into multiple pathways, ensuring uniform distribution across all battery cells while maintaining the overall simplicity of the duct structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet duct is segmented into multiple flow pathways by the guide members. Each guide member creates separate channels that direct coolant to specific battery cell regions, transforming the single concentrated flow into multiple distributed flows, thereby achieving uniform cooling across the battery pack.
2Reliability
If guide members are added to the inlet duct, then coolant distribution uniformity improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide members are designed to perform multiple functions: they guide coolant flow distribution, provide structural support within the duct, and serve as flow straighteners. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, simplifying the overall manufacturing process despite the added complexity of the guide members themselves.
3Power
If coolant flow is concentrated near inlet ports, then the inlet duct design is simple, but heat removal efficiency decreases due to nonuniform cooling distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The guide members create local flow adjustments within the inlet duct, directing coolant to specific regions that require cooling. By modifying the local flow characteristics rather than redesigning the entire duct system, the patent achieves improved heat removal efficiency while minimizing overall structural complexity.
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
The uniform coolant distribution effectively removes heat generated during charge and discharge, improving battery cell performance and lifespan while maintaining the structural integrity and shape of the battery pack.
Implementation Method 1
one or more guide members are disposed in the inlet duct for guiding the flow of the coolant in the direction parallel to the stacking direction of the battery cells
Implementation Method 2
a coolant for cooling the battery cells can flow from one side to the other side of the battery module
Implementation Method 3
The uniform coolant distribution effectively removes heat generated during charge and discharge
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a middle- or large-sized battery pack case in which a battery module having a plurality of stacked battery cells, which can be charged and discharged, is mounted, wherein the battery pack case is provided with a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port, which are disposed such that a coolant for cooling the battery cells can flow from one side to the other side of the battery module in the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the battery cells, the battery pack case is further provided with a flow space (‘inlet duct’) extending from the coolant inlet port to the battery module and another flow space (‘outlet duct’) extending from the battery module to the coolant outlet port, and one or more guide members are disposed in the inlet duct for guiding the flow of the coolant in the direction parallel to the stacking direction of the battery cells.