Battery Pack Case Layout for Adjacent Cell Heat Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs face challenges in managing heat distribution, where excessive heat generated by an endmost battery can inadvertently increase the heat levels of adjacent batteries, leading to potential overheating issues.
Innovation Solution
The battery pack design incorporates a case with varying thermal resistances between contact portions, where the thermal resistance between the endmost and first contact portions is higher than between the first and second contact portions, allowing for efficient heat transfer from the endmost cell to the second cell, thereby reducing heat accumulation in adjacent cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heat dissipation layer covers the surface of batteries to diffuse heat, then heat dissipation is improved, but heat from one battery increases the heat generated by adjacent batteries
Solution Approach 1:
The case is designed with non-uniform thermal resistance characteristics. Specifically, the thermal resistance between the endmost contact portion and the first contact portion is made higher than the thermal resistance between the second contact portion and the first contact portion. This local differentiation in thermal resistance allows heat to be directed away from adjacent batteries while maintaining effective heat dissipation from the endmost battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The case acts as an intermediary thermal management component between batteries. By controlling the thermal resistance at different contact portions, the case mediates heat transfer to prevent harmful heat propagation to adjacent batteries while still allowing controlled heat dissipation pathways.
2Temperature
If thermal resistance between endmost contact portion and first contact portion is reduced to transfer heat away, then heat accumulation in first cell is reduced, but heat transfer control becomes less effective
Solution Approach 1:
The case incorporates locally differentiated thermal resistance properties at different contact portions. The endmost contact portion has higher thermal resistance to block heat propagation to adjacent batteries, while the second contact portion has lower thermal resistance to facilitate controlled heat dissipation. This local quality variation enables simultaneous achievement of heat accumulation reduction and reliable heat transfer control.
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 configuration effectively suppresses the heat generated by the battery cell adjacent to the endmost cell, preventing overheating and maintaining temperature stability within the battery pack.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal resistance between an endmost contact portion that is a portion in contact with the endmost battery cell and a first contact portion that is a portion in contact with the first battery cell is higher than a thermal resistance between a second contact portion that is a portion in contact with the second battery cell and the first contact portion
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells stacked together, and a case that accommodates the battery cells. The battery cells include an endmost cell disposed at a farthest end on one side in a stacking direction, a first cell disposed adjacent to the endmost cell, and a second cell disposed adjacent to the first cell. Further, the case is configured such that a thermal resistance between an endmost contact portion that is a portion in contact with the endmost cell and a first contact portion that is a portion in contact with the first cell is higher than a thermal resistance between a second contact portion that is a portion in contact with the second cell and the first contact portion.