Battery Pack Vertical Coolant Flow for Uniform Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Middle- or large-sized battery packs face challenges in achieving high cooling efficiency while maintaining a compact and stable structure, with nonuniform cooling leading to performance deterioration and increased volume and weight due to external mechanical strength requirements.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a module assembly with vertically formed coolant flow channels, supported by minimal yet effective side and bottom support members, ensuring uniform coolant distribution and preventing leakage, with insulation to maintain temperature uniformity and prevent short circuits, and a pack housing that integrates a cooling fan for efficient heat removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a plurality of battery modules are arranged in contact with each other in the lateral direction to increase power and capacity, then the battery pack volume and weight increase, but the cooling efficiency deteriorates due to heat accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal coolant flow to vertical coolant flow through the battery modules. The coolant flows from the upper end to the lower end of the module assembly, utilizing the vertical dimension to improve cooling efficiency while maintaining compact lateral arrangement of battery modules for high power and capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack is divided into multiple battery modules arranged in a matrix pattern, with coolant flow channels segmented into vertical pathways. This segmentation allows efficient heat removal from each module while maintaining overall compact structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If support members are added to maintain the arrangement state of battery modules, then the cooling efficiency improves through better structural stability, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support members serve multiple functions simultaneously: they maintain the arrangement state of battery modules, provide structural stability, and define the coolant flow channels. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing device complexity while improving stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are integrated with the cooling structure, combining mechanical support and coolant channel definition into a single structural element. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall device structure.
3Reliability
If hermetically sealed space is created with support members to prevent coolant leakage, then the reliability improves, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support members act as intermediary elements that create hermetically sealed spaces between battery modules. These support members provide a structured interface that facilitates reliable sealing while accommodating manufacturing tolerances, reducing the stringent precision requirements.
4Volume of moving object
If battery modules are arranged compactly to reduce volume, then the space utilization improves, but the cooling efficiency deteriorates due to restricted coolant flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the conflict between compact volume and cooling efficiency by switching the coolant flow direction to the vertical dimension. This allows dense lateral packing of battery modules while maintaining effective coolant flow through the vertical height of the module 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
The design enhances cooling efficiency, prevents coolant leakage, and maintains a compact structure, ensuring stable and uniform temperature distribution across battery cells, thereby improving the operational performance and safety of the battery pack.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant is introduced through one side upper end (or lower end) of the module assembly along a hermetically sealed space defined by the support members, flows vertically through the module assembly, and is discharged through the other side lower end (or upper end) of the battery assembly
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a middle- or large-sized battery pack including a module assembly constructed in a structure in which a plurality of battery modules, each of which includes a plurality of battery cells or unit modules mounted in a module case while the battery cells or unit modules are connected in series to each other, are arranged such that the battery modules are disposed in contact with each other in the lateral direction, and a coolant flow channel is vertically formed, a plurality of support members for supporting opposite sides and the bottom of the module assembly and maintaining the arrangement state of the module assembly, and a pack housing for surrounding the module assembly and the support members, wherein the battery pack is constructed in a cooling structure in which a coolant is introduced through one side upper end (or lower end) of the module assembly along a hermetically sealed space defined by the support members, flows vertically through the module assembly, and is discharged through the other side lower end (or upper end) of the battery assembly.