Battery Pack Cooling Channels with Inclined Inflection Point
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs with coolant inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends suffer from non-uniform cooling, leading to high temperature deviations between battery cells, which can result in cell deterioration, fires, or explosions due to inadequate coolant flux and inefficient cooling design.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a coolant introduction part with both parallel and inclined sections, where the inclined inflection point is strategically located within the coolant flow channel between the first unit cell and the pack case, enhancing coolant flux and reducing temperature deviations by minimizing eddy formation and optimizing coolant distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large-sized battery pack is constructed by arranging multiple battery modules in series and parallel, then the battery capacity increases, but the internal resistance increases and cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple battery modules, each with its own independent cooling channels. This segmentation allows each module to be cooled efficiently independently, preventing the overall system from suffering increased internal resistance due to poor cooling in any single module.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the battery pack are provided with locally optimized cooling structures. The cooling channels are specifically designed to contact the heat-generating sides of battery cells, providing targeted cooling where it is most needed rather than uniform cooling throughout the entire pack.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple battery modules are arranged in series and parallel to increase capacity, then the battery pack size increases, but the cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent cooling channels, one for each battery module. This ensures that cooling efficiency is maintained in each module even as the overall pack size and capacity increase, preventing temperature buildup in any specific region.
Solution Approach 2:
Cooling channels act as intermediary structures between the battery cells and the cooling fluid. These channels are positioned to maximize thermal contact with the battery cell surfaces, efficiently transferring heat from the batteries to the cooling fluid flowing through the channels.
3Quantity of substance
If battery modules are densely arranged to increase capacity, then space utilization improves, but heat dissipation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling channels are merged with the battery module structures, with cooling channels directly integrated into the battery module housings. This merging allows for compact arrangement of batteries while maintaining effective cooling, as the cooling structure is built-in rather than separate.
Solution Approach 2:
Cooling channels are strategically positioned to contact the specific heat-generating surfaces of battery cells. The cooling structure is designed with local quality, providing enhanced cooling capacity at the locations where heat is most intensely generated, rather than uniform cooling throughout.
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 improves cooling uniformity and efficiency among battery cells, reducing temperature deviations and preventing cell deterioration, while maintaining a compact and efficient battery pack structure.
Implementation Method 1
both sides of the battery module are provided with cooling channels
Implementation Method 2
cooling channels through which a cooling agent flows
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a battery pack configured to have a structure in which a battery pack case is provided at the upper part and the lower part thereof with a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port, respectively, the battery pack case is provided with a coolant introduction part and a coolant discharge part, the coolant introduction part includes (a) a parallel introduction part adjacent to the coolant inlet port, the parallel introduction part extending in parallel to a top of the unit cell stack and (b) an inclined introduction part connected to the parallel introduction part, the inclined introduction part extending from the coolant inlet port to an end of the battery pack case opposite to the coolant inlet port such that a distance between the inclined introduction part and the top of the unit cell stack is gradually decreased, and an inclined inflection point at which the parallel introduction part and the inclined introduction part are connected to each other is located at a coolant flow channel ('first coolant flow channel') between a first unit cell ('first cell') from the coolant inlet port and the battery pack case facing the first cell.