Battery Stack Contact Force Uniformity via Local Quality
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing battery device design leads to uneven contact forces between battery cells and the heat transfer member, resulting in inconsistent temperature regulation, with the center cells experiencing higher temperatures due to bending of the holding part, which reduces efficient heat exchange.
Innovation Solution
The battery device incorporates a pair of end members and a heat transfer member with thermal conductivity and elasticity, along with a temperature adjusting member and an external force applying device to ensure uniform contact force across all battery cells, using fixtures and a lashing belt to maintain consistent pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the holding part is supported at both ends by the restraining member, then the holding part structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the center part bends more greatly causing non-uniform contact force between battery cells and heat transfer member
Solution Approach 1:
The restraining member is designed with different structural characteristics at different locations: the both ends have a first structural form (e.g., thicker or reinforced) to provide strong support, while the center part has a second structural form (e.g., thinner or flexible) to reduce bending. This local differentiation allows the holding part to maintain both ease of manufacture and uniform contact force distribution.
2Temperature
If the heat transfer member is pressed against the cooler, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the reaction force causes center battery cells to contact with less force resulting in higher temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The restraining member applies different forces at different locations along the battery stack. By making the center part of the restraining member more flexible or providing additional support structures at the center, the system compensates for the reduced contact force caused by bending, ensuring all battery cells including center cells maintain adequate contact with the heat transfer member for reliable temperature uniformity.
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 ensures each battery cell is brought into contact with the heat transfer member with substantially uniform force, enhancing temperature uniformity and maintaining stable performance across the battery stack.
Implementation Method 1
a heat transfer member (60) having thermal conductivity and elasticity, which extends along the straight direction, and whose one of side surfaces contacts one of side surfaces of the battery stack
Implementation Method 2
a temperature adjusting member (70), extending along the straight direction and having on a side surface thereof a heat exchange part which contacts the other one of side surfaces of the heat transfer member, in which a fluid is flowing for performing heat exchange with the battery stack through the heat transfer member and the heat exchange part
Data Source
AI summary
A battery device includes a battery stack having battery cells, a first end member fixture, a second end member fixture, a temperature adjusting member for cooling the battery stack, and an external force applying device which applies a force to a specific battery cell of the battery cells via a first in-between part and/or a second in-between part. The first in-between part is a part located at a position closer to a center part between both ends of the first end member fixture than the both ends thereof. The second in-between part is a part located at a position closer to a center part between both ends of the second end member fixture than the both ends thereof. The force applied by the external force applying device is a force for causing the specific battery cell to move toward the temperature adjusting member.