Battery Module Shutter Control for Uniform Vehicle Air Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle battery temperature control mechanisms using air cooling struggle to evenly cool all battery modules, leading to temperature variations and reduced battery life, especially for rear modules which are harder to cool due to heat from front modules.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle battery temperature control mechanism that includes shutters and a processor to control the flow of outside air to each battery module, allowing for individual temperature regulation by opening or closing the shutters based on temperature thresholds and vehicle speed, ensuring uniform cooling and heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If air cooling is used for battery modules, then weight and cost are reduced, but temperature uniformity across modules deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The battery cooling system is segmented into multiple independent zones, with individual shutters (121-123) controlling air flow to each battery module (111-113). This segmentation allows independent temperature control for each module, resolving the temperature uniformity issue while maintaining the lightweight air cooling approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutters are made dynamically controllable through processor-based opening and closing control (221-223), enabling real-time adjustment of air flow distribution. This dynamic control allows the system to compensate for temperature variations across different battery modules, achieving uniform cooling without requiring heavy water-cooling infrastructure.
2Device complexity
If simple air cooling is used, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature sensors (211-213) are installed in each battery module to detect temperature conditions, and this feedback information is used by the processor to control the shutters. This feedback mechanism enables precise temperature control despite the simplicity of the air cooling system, as the system automatically adjusts air flow based on actual temperature readings.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery cooling system uses the vehicle's own traveling wind and outside air as the cooling source, eliminating the need for complex external cooling equipment. The processor coordinates the shutters to distribute this naturally available cooling resource efficiently across different battery modules, achieving precise temperature control through intelligent resource allocation rather than complex hardware.
3Reliability
If uniform cooling is implemented across all battery modules, then battery life is prolonged, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into segmented zones with individual shutters for each battery module, allowing independent control. This segmentation enables uniform temperature management across all modules (prolonging battery life) while keeping each control unit simple, thus avoiding excessive overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor-based control system (20) serves multiple functions: it controls all shutters (121-123), receives temperature data from all sensors (211-213), and coordinates the overall cooling strategy. This universal control approach simplifies the system by using a single intelligent controller rather than multiple dedicated control units for each battery module.
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 prolongs battery life by preventing temperature-related deterioration and reducing output restrictions, allowing for efficient use of the battery by maintaining optimal temperature across all modules.
Implementation Method 1
The shutters are provided together with the battery modules and configured to change between an open state in which the outside air blown in through the inlet hits the battery modules and a closed state in which flow of the outside air toward the battery modules is blocked
Implementation Method 2
It is desired that an all-solid-state battery relatively resistant to heat among batteries be subjected to air cooling by outside air (including traveling wind)
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle battery temperature control mechanism is configured to control a temperature of a vehicle battery of a vehicle. The vehicle battery temperature control mechanism includes a battery set, an inlet, shutters, and a processor. The battery set includes battery modules arranged along a vehicle front-rear direction of the vehicle. The inlet is configured to allow outside air to be blown into the inlet. The shutters are provided together with the battery modules and configured to change between an open state in which the outside air blown in through the inlet hits the battery modules and a closed state in which flow of the outside air toward the battery modules is blocked. The processor is configured to perform an opening and closing control of controlling the shutters into the open state or the closed state.