Battery Unit Blower Positioning for Noise and Size Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery units with blowers face challenges in reducing noise and size while maintaining efficient cooling and heating, and are prone to uneven temperature distribution and potential short circuits due to air flow resistance and module arrangement.
Innovation Solution
The battery unit design includes a blower positioned between the first and second planes of the module assembly, with fins along the electrode portions and an accommodation member to manage air flow and heat transfer, reducing noise and size while enhancing cooling and heating efficiency and preventing short circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the battery module assembly is inclined downward toward the blower with a passage between the cover and module, then air flow resistance is reduced and noise is reduced, but the size of the battery unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blower's rotation shaft is positioned between the first plane (including the first surface of the module assembly) and the second plane (including the second surface of the module assembly), utilizing the vertical dimension to reduce the horizontal footprint and overall size of the battery unit while maintaining effective air flow paths
2Temperature
If the blower is positioned to supply air over the entire range of the module assembly, then cooling uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blower is configured with a rotation shaft positioned between the first and second planes of the module assembly, allowing a single blower unit to supply air over the entire range of the module assembly in both width and depth directions, achieving uniform cooling without requiring multiple blowers or complex distribution systems
3Productivity
If fins are added along the electrode portions to enhance heat transfer, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fins are integrated directly with the electrode portions, merging the heat dissipation function into the existing structural components rather than adding separate cooling elements, thereby improving cooling efficiency while minimizing manufacturing complexity
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 reduces noise and size, ensures even heat transfer, and minimizes the risk of short circuits by optimizing air flow and heat radiation, leading to stable battery performance and efficient cooling and heating.
Implementation Method 1
The blower is in communication with the battery housing for supplying air into the battery
Implementation Method 2
The fins are disposed along the electrode portions. The fins have surface areas that increase toward a downstream location with respect to a flow of the air
Data Source
AI summary
A battery unit includes a battery housing, a module assembly, electrode portions, fins and a blower. The module assembly includes battery modules having positive terminals and negative terminals. The electrode portions are disposed to connect the positive and negative terminals of the battery modules. The fins are disposed along the electrode portions. The module assembly defines a first surface and a second surface along a stacking direction of the battery modules. The blower is disposed to supply air toward the fins over a range substantially equal to a dimension of the module assembly in the stacking direction. A rotation shaft of the blower is located between a first plane that includes the first surface of the module assembly and a second plane that includes the second surface of the module assembly. The fins have surface areas that increase toward a downstream location with respect to a flow of the air.