Battery Pack Separator Layout for Cell Insulation and Heat Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery pack designs do not effectively suppress the size of the heat insulating member, leading to increased weight and cost, and fail to efficiently manage heat dissipation, particularly in environments like the lunar surface where heat transfer between battery cells is minimal.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack configuration that includes a heat insulating member between intermediate portions of battery cells and a first shielding plate between end portions, with the shielding plate having lower thermal resistance and specific emissivity properties to enhance heat transfer, reducing the need for additional heat insulating material between end portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heat insulating member is provided between all adjacent battery cells (including end portions), then heat insulation between battery cells is improved, but the size and weight of the heat insulating member increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separator structure is divided into two functional parts: a heat insulating member for intermediate portions and a shielding plate for end portions. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall amount of heat insulating material needed while maintaining effective thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
Different thermal management solutions are applied to different locations: heat insulating members are used where full insulation is needed (intermediate portions), while shielding plates with lower thermal resistance are used at end portions where heat dissipation is also beneficial. This local differentiation optimizes both thermal control and weight.
2Temperature
If the heat insulating member is made large to cover all battery cell surfaces, then heat insulation performance is improved, but the cost and weight of the battery pack increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system is segmented into heat insulating members for intermediate sections and shielding plates for end sections. This division eliminates the need for a single large heat insulating member, reducing material usage, weight, and cost while maintaining effective heat insulation where most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal resistance parameter is changed by using different materials: the heat insulating member has high thermal resistance for insulation, while the shielding plate has lower thermal resistance to allow controlled heat dissipation. This parameter variation optimizes both thermal management and weight reduction.
3Temperature
If the heat insulating member is provided between first end portions, then heat insulation is improved, but the amount of heat insulating material increases
Solution Approach 1:
The function of heat insulation at end portions is extracted from the heat insulating member and assigned to a separate shielding plate. This extraction allows the heat insulating member to be reduced in size while the shielding plate provides the necessary thermal management at end portions with minimal material.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management system uses composite construction with different materials serving different functions: heat insulating material for insulation and shielding plate material for combined shielding and heat dissipation. This composite approach reduces the total amount of heat insulating material needed.
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 size of the heat insulating member, reduces weight and cost, and enhances heat dissipation efficiency, particularly in low-gravity environments like the lunar surface by strategically managing heat transfer between battery cells.
Implementation Method 1
a heat insulating member provided between the intermediate portions adjacent to each other in the first direction
Implementation Method 2
the first shielding plate has a thermal resistance smaller than a thermal resistance of the heat insulating member
Implementation Method 3
when the temperature of the first shielding plate rises due to radiant heat from the battery cells, the heat of the first shielding plate can be easily transferred (released) to the case
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of separator portions. The battery cells are stacked together in a first direction and each configured to include a first end portion located at one end in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a second end portion located at the other end in the second direction, and an intermediate portion provided between the first end portion and the second end portion. The separator portions each include a heat insulating member provided between the intermediate portions adjacent to each other in the first direction and a first shielding plate provided between the first end portions adjacent to each other in the first direction, and are each provided between the battery cells adjacent to each other.