Vehicle Battery Assembly with Side Cooling Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
High power battery modules in hybrid and electric vehicles require effective cooling, but traditional stacked vertical arrangements lead to inefficient space utilization and intrusion into the passenger compartment, necessitating higher seat positions.
Innovation Solution
The use of side cooling plates surrounding battery modules allows for optimized space utilization, minimizes intrusion into the passenger compartment, and maintains vertical access, while providing side crash protection and compatibility with conventional cooling systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If stacked vertical battery arrangement is used, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but space utilization deteriorates and seat position height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical stacking arrangement (height dimension) to a horizontal side-by-side arrangement with side cooling plates (length/width dimensions). This dimensional change allows the battery modules to be cooled effectively while utilizing tunnel space more efficiently and reducing the required height, thereby lowering seat position.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling plates are merged with the battery module assembly, forming an integrated unit where the cooling plates are positioned adjacent to the battery modules. This integration eliminates the need for separate vertical stacking of batteries and cooling plates, optimizing space utilization while maintaining cooling effectiveness.
2Temperature
If stacked vertical battery arrangement is used, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but seat position height increases
Solution Approach 1:
By changing from vertical stacking to horizontal arrangement with side cooling plates, the overall height of the battery assembly is reduced. This allows the seat position to be lowered while still providing adequate cooling through the side cooling plates positioned adjacent to the battery modules.
3Volume of moving object
If side cooling plates are used, then space utilization is improved, but cooling effectiveness may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The side cooling plates are positioned in direct contact with or adjacent to the battery modules, providing localized cooling where heat generation occurs. This targeted approach ensures effective cooling while utilizing the available tunnel space horizontally rather than vertically.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If side cooling plates are used, then side crash protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling plates are merged with the battery module assembly, forming an integrated unit where the cooling plates serve dual purposes: thermal management and structural protection. This integration reduces overall system complexity while providing both cooling and side crash protection functions.
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 configuration enhances space efficiency, lowers seat height, and improves side crash safety while ensuring effective cooling and easy access to battery modules.
Implementation Method 1
These cooling plates or packs are coupled to one or more cooling pipes that circulate a cooling fluid, such as air, water, coolant, or the like, forming effective heat exchangers
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle battery assembly utilizing side cooling plates. This battery assembly avoids a stacked vertical battery and cooling plate or pack arrangement, optimizes tunnel (and other) space utilization, minimizes battery assembly intrusion into the passenger compartment of the associated vehicle, and allows seat position height to be as low as possible within the passenger compartment of the associated vehicle, while still allowing vertical access to the access points and electrical contacts of the battery modules within the battery assembly. Further, such battery assembly is compatible with conventional and novel cooling pipe configurations and cooling systems.