Vehicular Battery Pack Layered Cell Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy storage systems for automobiles face challenges with high production costs and reliability issues due to the use of lithium batteries, which suffer from reduced storage capacity after cycles of use and inefficient heat dissipation, leading to suboptimal performance.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring flat-pouch cells arranged in layers with BMC devices on a separate lateral wall for monitoring and cooling, utilizing trays with Y-shaped cross-sections for enhanced heat exchange and structural support, allowing for efficient cooling and monitoring of cells while optimizing pack volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If small cylindrical batteries are connected in series in strings, then voltage and current values compatible with the inverter are obtained, but a lot of unused space results and energy density could be improved
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is segmented into multiple layers with flat-pouch cells arranged horizontally within each layer. This segmentation allows efficient space utilization while maintaining the required voltage and current characteristics through series connections within layers and parallel connections between layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from vertical stacking of cylindrical batteries to horizontal layering of flat-pouch cells. This dimensional change from vertical to horizontal arrangement optimizes space utilization and increases energy density by eliminating unused space between cells.
2Ease of manufacture
If cells are stacked without casing one on top of the other, then production costs are reduced, but the reliability of the battery pack is not assured
Solution Approach 1:
The tray serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the cells, acts as a cooling element through integrated channels, and offers mechanical protection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective casings while maintaining reliability and reducing production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray is constructed as a composite structure combining rigid support elements with integrated cooling channels. This composite design provides both mechanical protection and thermal management, ensuring reliability without requiring additional protective casings.
3Temperature
If flat-pouch batteries are used with very wide opposite faces, then heat dissipation is improved, but the cells dilate perpendicularly to the largest faces during charging and discharging
Solution Approach 1:
The tray design incorporates localized support structures positioned at specific regions where cell dilation occurs during charging and discharging. These local support elements accommodate shape changes while maintaining optimal thermal contact with the wide faces of the cells for effective heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray acts as an intermediary between the cells and the cooling system. It provides a rigid interface that maintains thermal contact with the cell faces while its structured design accommodates cell dilation, effectively mediating between thermal management requirements and mechanical deformation.
4Measurement precision
If BMC devices are integrated with each cell module, then monitoring of operating parameters is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple BMC devices are merged into a single centralized monitoring unit that serves all cells. This consolidation reduces the number of individual BMC devices while maintaining monitoring precision through centralized measurement and control of operating parameters across all cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized BMC device performs multiple monitoring functions for all cells simultaneously, measuring temperature, voltage, and other operating parameters. This universal monitoring approach reduces device complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring precision across the entire battery pack.
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 energy density, reduces production costs, and enhances the reliability and longevity of the battery pack by optimizing heat dissipation and cell monitoring, ensuring efficient operation and extended cycle life.
Implementation Method 1
first lateral walls, perpendicular to said layers and to said first lateral wall, have the purpose of cooling the layers of cells
Implementation Method 2
utilizing trays with Y-shaped cross-sections for enhanced heat exchange
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
A vehicular battery pack (BP) comprising a parallelepiped-shaped container, wherein cells (C) are arranged in layers (L) one above the other in the container, and wherein relative monitoring devices (BCM) of the individual cells are arranged on a second lateral wall (S2.1), perpendicular to said layers (L) and first lateral walls (S1), perpendicular to said layers (L) and to said second lateral wall (S2.1), wherein said first lateral walls are configured to cool said layers of cells.