Cell Stack Sidewall Cooling for High-Density Battery Pack Layouts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery pack cooling methods, such as using an integral water-cooling plate, are inefficient and reduce space utilization and energy density, especially during fast charging, as they can only cool one surface of the cell stack and require additional space for cooling plates between stacks.
Innovation Solution
The battery pack integrates cooling channels into the side walls of the cell stacks' housing, allowing for direct heat dissipation from both the cell stack and adjacent stacks without the need for a separate cooling plate, thereby improving cooling efficiency and space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If an integral water-cooling plate is arranged at the top or bottom of the battery pack, then the cooling structure is simple to manufacture, but the cooling efficiency is low and space utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooling function into multiple independent cooling channels formed on the side walls of each cell stack housing, rather than using a single integral cooling plate. Each housing with cooling channels independently cools its cell stack, enabling segmented cooling that improves efficiency while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from top/bottom cooling (vertical dimension) to side wall cooling (horizontal dimension). By forming cooling channels on the side walls of cell stack housings, the cooling surface is expanded to multiple dimensions, significantly improving cooling efficiency without requiring additional space
2Productivity
If a cooling plate is disposed between the cell stacks, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the space utilization of the battery pack is reduced and energy density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the housing structure with the cooling function by integrating cooling channels directly into the side walls of the cell stack housings. This combination eliminates the need for separate cooling plates between cell stacks, maintaining high space utilization and energy density while achieving efficient cooling
Solution Approach 2:
Each cell stack housing serves its own cooling needs through integrated cooling channels, eliminating the need for external cooling plates. The housing structure itself provides the cooling function,实现ing self-service cooling that maximizes space utilization
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 enhances cooling efficiency and maintains high space and energy density by minimizing the distance between cell stacks while effectively dissipating heat from all surfaces, including the side surfaces, during high-power charging and discharging.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling channel formed on at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall
Implementation Method 2
a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet are provided on one end of the first side wall where the second end cover is located, and the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet are respectively communicated with the cooling channel
Implementation Method 3
a heat-conducting structural adhesive is filled between the cell array and the inner surface of the housing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A battery pack (100) including a tray (20) and cell stacks (10) is provided. Each of the cell stacks (10) includes a housing (11) and a cell array. The housing (11) includes a body (111), a first end cover (112) and a second end cover (113). The body (111) includes a top wall (1113), a bottom wall (1114), a first side wall (1111) and a second side wall (1112). The cell array is accommodated in the housing (11). A cooling channel (1115) is formed on at least one of the first side wall (1111) and the second side wall (1112), and an output electrode connected to a tab of the cell array is disposed on the first end cover (112). All the output electrodes are disposed in a coplanar arrangement.