Integrated Battery Pack Venting Cooler for Cell Stack Heat and Gas Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traction battery packs in electrified vehicles face challenges in efficiently managing thermal energy and communicating vent byproducts from battery cells to an external area, which can lead to increased complexity and potential safety issues.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a thermal exchange device with both coolant and vent channels within the battery pack assembly, allowing for the management of thermal energy and the routing of vent byproducts from battery cells to an external area, thereby reducing build complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate thermal management and venting systems are used, then thermal energy management and vent byproduct communication can be achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines thermal management and venting functions into a single integrated thermal exchange device. The device includes both coolant channels for thermal management and vent channels for byproduct communication, eliminating the need for separate systems and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining both functions effectively
2Reliability
If separate thermal management and venting systems are used, then thermal energy management and vent byproduct communication can be achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal exchange device integrates both coolant channels and vent channels into a single manufactured component. This consolidation reduces the number of separate parts that need to be assembled, simplified the manufacturing process, and reduced build complexity while ensuring both thermal management and venting functions are properly implemented
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal exchange device serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides thermal management through coolant channels and enables venting of byproducts through vent channels. This multi-functional design reduces the overall number of components needed in the battery pack assembly
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 solution effectively manages thermal energy and safely communicates vent byproducts, enhancing the operational efficiency and safety of traction battery packs in electrified vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
the thermal exchange device including at least one coolant channel that communicates a coolant to manage thermal energy in the first cell stack, the second cell stack, or both
Implementation Method 2
the thermal exchange device further including at least one vent channel that is configured to receive vent byproducts from at least one battery cell in the first cell stack, from at least one battery cell in the second cell stack, or both
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack assembly includes a thermal exchange device positioned between a first cell stack on a first tier and a second cell stack on a second tier. The thermal exchange device includes at least one coolant channel that communicates a coolant to manage thermal energy in the first cell stack, the second cell stack, or both. The thermal exchange device further includes at least one vent channel that is configured to receive vent byproducts from at least one battery cell in the first cell stack, from at least one battery cell in the second cell stack, or both.