Battery Pack Cell Support Channels for Rack Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy storage cells, such as rechargeable batteries, generate heat during charging and discharging, leading to performance issues, and existing temperature control systems are insufficient for supplemental cooling, especially for power packs stored in racks or cabinets.
Innovation Solution
A support structure comprising separator walls with troughs and ridges, and interlocking links that form channels to receive and encircle energy storage cells, facilitating airflow to remove heat, with features like furrows and plateaus to enhance air flow and structural support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional temperature control systems force cold air over power packs, then cooling effect is provided, but supplemental cooling is still insufficient especially for stored power packs
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple separator walls with individual troughs and ridges, creating segmented channels around each energy storage cell. This segmentation allows targeted cooling of each cell rather than generic air forcing, improving cooling effectiveness while enabling supplemental cooling for stored power packs.
Solution Approach 2:
The concave troughs and ridges create localized cooling channels that directly contact or closely surround each energy storage cell. This local quality ensures cooling is applied precisely where heat is generated, addressing the insufficiency of conventional bulk air forcing methods.
2Volume of stationary object
If energy storage cells are stored in racks or cabinets, then space efficiency is improved, but heat dissipation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure introduces vertical and radial dimensions for heat dissipation through elevated platforms and circumferential channels. Cold air can flow horizontally through the channels while heated air rises vertically, creating multi-dimensional convection patterns that enable effective heat dissipation even in compact rack or cabinet configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure acts as an intermediary between the energy storage cells and the cooling air. The troughs and ridges create intermediate cooling channels that facilitate heat transfer from the cells to the surrounding air, solving the heat dissipation problem in space-efficient rack or cabinet storage.
3Temperature
If separator walls with troughs and ridges are used, then heat removal is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separator walls serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the power pack, create cooling channels through their troughs and ridges, and facilitate both air flow and heat dissipation. This multi-functionality improves heat removal while minimizing the increase in device complexity by combining several functions into single structural elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure merges the functions of mechanical support and thermal management into a single integrated system. The separator walls with integrated troughs and ridges combine structural separation with cooling channel formation, reducing overall device complexity compared to separate support and cooling systems.
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
The support structure effectively channels heated air away from energy storage cells, reducing thermal stress and improving performance by promoting uniform airflow and providing customizable, flexible solutions for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
Various temperature control systems have been utilized to force cold air over and around power packs of energy storage cells... The support structure effectively channels heated air away from energy storage cells... promoting uniform airflow
Data Source
AI summary
A support structure for one or more energy storage cells in a power pack, and method of assembling. The support structure may comprise one or more separator walls, a plurality of links, or combinations thereof. The separator walls, links or combinations thereof may be couplable/interlockable to form channels that are configured to receive and at least partially encircle an energy storage cell. Each separator wall may comprise a plurality of troughs that each define a concave surface, and a plurality of ridges, each ridge disposed between adjacent troughs. Each link defines a concave surface and is configured to be releasably coupled/interlocked to another link to form a trough or channel. Each trough is configured to receive and partially encircle an energy storage cell.