Battery Pack Heater Placement for Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery heating methods require larger heaters that consume more power, which is inefficient and increases the size of the heating system.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design where high-power batteries and high-capacity batteries are connected in parallel, with a heater placed closer to the high-power batteries, using a holder with a heat-transfer suppressing region to direct heat primarily to the high-power batteries, reducing the size and power consumption of the heater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heater is placed for the whole assembled battery, then the battery temperature is maintained, but the heater size and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing the heater only near the high-power batteries (first batteries) rather than uniformly heating all batteries. The holder structure creates localized heating zones, with the heater positioned to primarily warm the first batteries while the second batteries remain relatively cooler. This selective local heating maintains necessary battery temperatures without the energy waste of heating the entire battery pack uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack is segmented into two functional groups: high-power batteries (first batteries) and high-capacity batteries (second batteries). The heating system is also segmented, with the heater applied only to the first batteries. This segmentation allows independent thermal management of different battery types with different heating requirements, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining system performance.
2Temperature
If the heater is placed for the whole assembled battery, then the battery temperature is maintained, but the heater size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is positioned locally near only the first batteries rather than being distributed across the entire battery pack. This localized placement reduces the total heater surface area and volume required, as heat is applied only where needed (at the first batteries) rather than attempting to heat all batteries uniformly. The holder structure facilitates this compact local heating arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating function is extracted and concentrated at a specific location (near the first batteries) rather than being distributed throughout the entire battery pack. This extraction of the heating function to a localized zone reduces the overall heater size required, as the system relies on thermal conduction through the holder and battery connections to distribute heat to the second batteries, eliminating the need for additional heating elements.
3Temperature
If heat is transferred between first battery and second battery, then thermal equilibrium is achieved, but the heating efficiency to first battery decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder acts as an intermediary structure that manages heat transfer between the first and second batteries. It is designed with differentiated thermal conductivity: the first holding portion (near the heater) has high thermal conductivity to efficiently transfer heat from the heater to the first battery, while the second holding portion has low thermal conductivity to minimize heat loss to the second battery. This intermediary structure enables controlled thermal pathways that maintain heating efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder exhibits local quality variations in thermal conductivity at different positions. The region near the first battery (first holding portion) is designed with high thermal conductivity to facilitate efficient heat transfer from the heater, while the region near the second battery (second holding portion) uses low thermal conductivity material to prevent excessive heat transfer. This spatial variation in thermal properties optimizes heating efficiency by directing heat where needed while minimizing unwanted thermal equilibrium.
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 allows for a smaller, more efficient heater that effectively maintains battery output by directing heat to high-power batteries, reducing power consumption and restoring output when temperatures drop.
Implementation Method 1
A region (referred to as a heat-transfer suppressing region) having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the first holding portion can be placed between the first holding portion and the second holding portion. This can suppress heat transfer between the first holding portion and the second holding portion
Implementation Method 2
The metal used to form the holder allows the heat produced in the first battery and the second battery due to charge and discharge to be easily transferred to the holder, thereby making it possible to suppress a rise in temperature of the first battery and the second battery
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes a first battery and a second battery connected electrically in parallel and performing charge and discharge, and a heater generating heat. The first battery can perform charge and discharge with a current larger than that of the second battery. The second battery has an electric storage capacity larger than that of the first battery. The heater is placed at a position closer to the first battery than the second battery.