Battery Pack Insulating Block Layout for Uniform Cell Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs experience temperature variations and electrical output characteristic fluctuations due to differing heat flow paths among battery cells, leading to inefficiencies in performance.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design that incorporates a cooling plate extending across the bottom surfaces of battery cells, with insulating blocks at the coupling positions between the cooling plate and end plates to direct heat flow uniformly, suppressing secondary heat paths and maintaining a consistent temperature environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple battery cells are connected in a pack to increase output and capacity, then the power and energy supply capability is improved, but temperature variation among battery cells increases due to different heat flow paths
Solution Approach 1:
An insulating block is introduced as an intermediary component between the end plate and cooling plate to block the second heat flow path. This mediator prevents heat from flowing directly from the outermost battery cell side to the cooling plate, forcing all battery cells to follow the same first heat flow path through their bottom surfaces, thereby eliminating temperature variation among cells while maintaining the multi-cell pack configuration for high power and capacity.
2Loss of energy
If heat flow paths are allowed to vary among battery cells for efficient heat dissipation, then cooling efficiency is improved, but uniformity of temperature environment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating block creates a homogeneous heat flow condition by blocking the second heat flow path that would allow variable heat dissipation. All battery cells are forced to follow the same first heat flow path from their bottom surfaces to the cooling plate, ensuring uniform temperature environment across all cells. This homogeneous approach maintains adequate heat dissipation while achieving temperature uniformity.
3Temperature
If insulating blocks are added to block the second heat flow path, then temperature uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating block is segmented into multiple portions, with each portion positioned at specific locations where the second heat flow path exists between the end plate and cooling plate. This segmentation approach effectively blocks the unwanted heat flow paths while keeping each individual insulating block portion simple in structure, thereby achieving temperature uniformity without excessive 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 design reduces temperature variation by up to 25% and electrical output characteristic fluctuations by up to 41%, enhancing the battery pack's performance and stability.
Implementation Method 1
an insulating block positioned at a coupling position between the end plate and the cooling plate... suppressing a heat flow along a second path from a side of the outermost battery cell among the plurality of battery cells to the cooling plate through an end plate
Data Source
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AI summary
Battery pack comprising: a plurality of battery cells (C) arranged in a first direction (Z1); an end plate (E) arranged on the outside of an outermost battery cell of the plurality of battery cells (C) in the first direction (Z1); a cooling plate (100) extending across bottom surfaces (12) of the plurality of battery cells (C); and an insulating block (IB) positioned at a coupling position (CP) between the end plate (E) and the cooling plate (100). The battery pack is capable of providing a uniform temperature environment for a plurality of battery cells to eliminate or alleviate temperature variation depending on positions of the battery cells. The battery pack is also capable of eliminating or alleviating variation in electrical output characteristics due to the temperature variation. The battery pack provides a heat flow along a common first path for battery cells toward a cooling plate extending across bottom surfaces of the battery cells while suppressing heat flow along a second path from a side of the outermost battery cell among the battery cells.