Battery Module Pipe Density Layout for Consistent Cell Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current battery modules experience inconsistent cooling effects across battery cells due to uneven air distribution, leading to varying states of health and reduced performance and lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A battery module design with a heat dissipation mechanical part that includes regions with varying densities of heat dissipation pipes, where the region farther from the cooling medium outflow has a higher density of pipes, ensuring consistent cooling effects across all cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If parallel air ducts are evenly distributed between battery cell layers, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the cooling effect becomes inconsistent across different battery cells

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidconsistency of cooling effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the density of heat dissipation pipes in different regions of the heat dissipation mechanical part. Specifically, the first heat dissipation region has a greater density of heat dissipation pipes compared to the second heat dissipation region, creating non-uniform local characteristics that compensate for the uneven air distribution and achieve consistent cooling effects across all battery cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If heat dissipation pipes are uniformly distributed, then the structure is simple, but the cooling effect is inconsistent due to varying air amounts at different distances from the fan

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidconsistency of cooling effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by creating regions with different heat dissipation pipe densities. The first heat dissipation region, located farther from the cooling medium outflow, has a greater density of pipes, while the second heat dissipation region has a lower density. This non-uniform distribution compensates for the uneven air distribution caused by the fan's position, ensuring consistent cooling without requiring complex structural modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies asymmetry by intentionally creating an asymmetric distribution of heat dissipation pipes within the heat dissipation mechanical part. Rather than uniform symmetry, the pipe density varies by region, with the first region having higher density than the second region. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes cooling performance by matching the non-uniform air flow pattern generated by the fan.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 enhances the consistency of cooling effects among battery cells, thereby improving the state of health and extending the lifespan of the battery cell group.

Implementation Method 1

a first heat dissipation region and a second heat dissipation region, and an average distance between a heat dissipation pipe in the first heat dissipation region and a cooling medium outflow region is longer than an average distance between a heat dissipation pipe in the second heat dissipation region and the cooling medium outflow region

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the plurality of secondary air intake ducts are parallel to each other, the secondary air intake ducts have a fixed interval, the primary air intake duct, the secondary air intake ducts, and the air exhaust duct are located in a same plane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4071891B1Battery module
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECH CO LTD
  • EP4071891B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(B)
  • EP4071891B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4071891B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Embodiments of this application disclose a battery module, to improve consistency of cooling effects of battery cells, so that a battery cell group has a better SOH. The battery module in embodiments of this application includes: a heat dissipation mechanical part, which includes a first heat dissipation region and a second heat dissipation region. When an average distance between a heat dissipation pipe in the first heat dissipation region and a cooling medium outflow region is longer than an average distance between a heat dissipation pipe in the second heat dissipation region and the cooling medium outflow region, density of heat dissipation pipes in the first heat dissipation region is greater than density of heat dissipation pipes in the second heat dissipation region.