Battery Pack Structural Members for Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery pack designs face challenges in balancing energy density and heat management, as close packaging of battery cells increases heat transfer, leading to performance and longevity issues at temperature extremes.
Innovation Solution
The battery pack incorporates structural members that provide thermal management by partitioning cells into compartments, allowing for efficient packing and compression, while also improving stiffness and heat flow regulation through longitudinal and lateral tensioning, and the use of materials with high thermal conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If battery cells are packaged closely to increase energy density, then energy storage efficiency is improved, but heat transfer between cells increases leading to temperature extremes
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple compartments using partition walls, which segment the battery cells into groups. This segmentation allows for thermal management by creating separate thermal zones while maintaining close packaging for high energy density. The partition walls act as thermal barriers that prevent excessive heat transfer between adjacent cells.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal management components such as heat sinks, thermal conductive materials, and cooling channels are introduced as intermediaries between battery cells. These intermediaries facilitate controlled heat transfer and dissipation, allowing cells to be packaged closely while managing the thermal effects through dedicated heat dissipation pathways.
2Strength
If structural members are added for thermal management and compression, then cell swelling is reduced and stiffness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The structural members, particularly the longitudinal members and end members, are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing mechanical compression to cells, serving as thermal management pathways, and contributing to the overall structural stiffness of the battery pack. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls and structural framework are merged into a unified structural system. The longitudinal members connecting end members are integrated with the partition structure, creating a combined system that provides both mechanical support and thermal management functions through a single integrated structure rather than separate components.
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 enhances energy storage efficiency, reduces cell swelling during operation, and improves the battery pack's resistance to loads, thereby extending the performance and lifespan of the battery cells.
Implementation Method 1
At least one of the longitudinal member, the first side beam, and the second side beam are configured to be in tension when the array of battery cell compartments contains a longitudinal row of battery cells
Implementation Method 2
The first end-member and the second end-member are configured to compress the longitudinal row of battery cells
Implementation Method 3
the use of materials with high thermal conductivity
Data Source
AI summary
Battery packs are presented having structural members for improving thermal management of battery cells therein. In some embodiments, the battery packs include a first end-member positioned opposite a second end-member and parallel thereto. The battery packs also include a first side beam positioned opposite a second side beam and parallel thereto. The first side beam and the second side beam extend longitudinally between the first end-member and the second end-member. A longitudinal member is disposed between the first side beam and the second side beam and defines a plurality of longitudinal rows. The battery packs may additionally include a lateral member disposed between first end-member and the second end-member to partition the plurality of longitudinal rows into an array of battery cell compartments. A battery cell is disposed within at least one battery cell compartment.