Battery Pack Terminal Unit Integrating Cooling and Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited range and charging time of electric vehicles due to inefficient battery performance hinder their commercialization, as traditional gasoline vehicles can quickly refuel but electric vehicles require lengthy charging sessions.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design integrating a cooling unit and charge/discharge terminal on a single interface, featuring a closed loop circulation system with check valves and heating units, to efficiently manage cooling and charging processes, enhancing battery performance and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If electric vehicles use traditional battery charging systems, then the charging process can be performed, but the charging time is excessively long and battery performance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the charging terminal and cooling unit into a single integrated interface structure. The terminal unit includes both electrical charging terminals and cooling fluid circulation channels, allowing simultaneous charging and cooling operations through one unified connection point, thereby reducing charging time and improving battery performance
Solution Approach 2:
The interface structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both an electrical charging connection and a thermal management connection. The terminal unit handles both power transmission and cooling fluid circulation, making the system more efficient and reducing the time required for charging operations
2Productivity
If a cooling unit is integrated with the charging terminal on the same interface, then charging and cooling can occur simultaneously improving performance, but the structural complexity of the interface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the charging terminal and cooling unit into a single integrated interface structure. The terminal unit includes both electrical charging terminals and cooling fluid circulation channels, allowing simultaneous charging and cooling operations through one unified connection point, thereby reducing charging time and improving battery performance
Solution Approach 2:
The interface structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both an electrical charging connection and a thermal management connection. The terminal unit handles both power transmission and cooling fluid circulation, making the system more efficient
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 allows for improved battery performance and faster charging/discharging capabilities, addressing the range and charging time limitations of electric vehicles by integrating efficient cooling and charging mechanisms within a single interface.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling unit for cooling the secondary batteries, the cooling unit including an inlet through which a cooling fluid flows in and an outlet through which the cooling fluid flows out
Implementation Method 2
a check valve having a first side and a second side, the check valve being open when the cooling fluid flows from the first side to the second side and being closed when the cooling fluid flows from the second side to the first side
Implementation Method 3
a first heating unit on circumferential surfaces of at least one of the inlet and the outlet of the cooling unit, the first heating unit being for vaporizing the cooling fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack including a housing for accommodating a plurality of secondary batteries; a cooling unit for cooling the secondary batteries, the cooling unit including an inlet through which a cooling fluid flows in and an outlet through which the cooling fluid flows out; and a terminal unit detachably connectable to the cooling unit, the terminal unit including a first terminal for circulating the cooling fluid.