Battery Pack Thermal Management Using Thermoelectric Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal management systems for battery packs in mild hybrid vehicles are too large to fit in the compact packaging of modern vehicles, failing to effectively cool battery packs in high temperature environments near the engine.
Innovation Solution
An active thermal management system within the battery pack housing, utilizing thermoelectric devices (TEDs) like Peltier junctions to transfer heat through a thermal channel, combined with a non-refrigerant liquid and controlled fluid flow, maintains the battery pack at a desired temperature without phase-changing refrigerants, reducing size and mass.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional HVAC or refrigerant-based cooling systems are used to cool the battery pack, then the cooling effectiveness is sufficient, but the system size becomes too large to meet packaging requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal management function from the battery pack housing and implements it as a separate, integrated module. This allows the cooling system to be optimized independently, using compact components like thermoelectric devices and small fluid reservoirs, thereby reducing overall system volume while maintaining effective cooling capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple thermal management functions into a single integrated system: thermoelectric cooling devices, fluid circulation system, heat exchangers, and temperature sensors are combined into one unified thermal management module that works协同 to cool the battery pack, reducing total system size compared to separate systems
2Temperature
If conventional cooling systems are used, then the cooling capacity is sufficient, but the mass of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical compression-based refrigeration systems with thermoelectric devices (Peltier elements) that use electrical current to directly pump heat. This substitution eliminates heavy mechanical components like compressors and condensors, significantly reducing system mass while maintaining adequate cooling capacity for the battery pack
3Temperature
If refrigerant-based systems are used, then cooling performance is adequate, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the refrigerant cycle components (compressor, condensor, expansion valve) from the system and replaces them with solid-state thermoelectric devices. This removal of complex mechanical and chemical systems simplifies the thermal management system while maintaining cooling functionality through direct electrical-to-thermal energy conversion
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 solution provides efficient cooling within a compact form factor, reducing size, mass, and cost, while maintaining battery pack temperature, suitable for high-temperature environments, and applicable to various electrified vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a set of thermoelectric devices (TEDs) configured to transfer heat from battery cells of the battery pack to the thermal channel
Implementation Method 2
a thermal channel configured to provide fluid communication between an interior of the housing of the battery pack and an exterior of the housing of the battery pack
Implementation Method 3
a device configured to control fluid flow via thermal channel... to actively control heat transfer from the interior of the housing of the battery pack to the exterior of the housing of battery pack
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack having an active thermal management system for use with a hybrid vehicle is provided. The active thermal management system is self-contained within a housing of the battery pack and includes a thermal channel configured to provide fluid communication between an interior of the housing and an exterior of the housing of the battery pack; a set of thermoelectric devices configured to transfer heat from battery cells of the battery pack to the thermal channel; an insulator arranged between the battery cells and the thermal channel; a device configured to control fluid flow via the thermal channel; and a controller configured to control the device to actively control heat transfer from the interior of the housing to the exterior of the housing of the battery pack to maintain the battery pack at a desired temperature.