Center Console Battery Pack Cooling via Single Fan
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high voltage battery pack installations in vehicles reduce trunk space, increase manufacturing costs, and require additional safety measures when mounted outside the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A high voltage battery pack apparatus where the battery packs are installed in a center console inside the vehicle, with a compact cooling device that allows for efficient air flow and cooling, eliminating the need for external mounting and associated costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the battery pack is installed in the trunk compartment, then the battery pack can be easily accessed and maintained, but the usable space in the trunk compartment is greatly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack installation location is moved from the horizontal trunk compartment space to the vertical center console area, utilizing the height dimension of the vehicle interior. This dimensional transition allows the battery pack to be positioned above the rear seats rather than occupying trunk floor space, thereby resolving the contradiction between accessibility and trunk space utilization.
2Volume of moving object
If the battery pack is mounted on the outside of the vehicle, then the trunk space is preserved, but water-proofing treatments and additional safety devices are required, significantly increasing manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is integrated into the center console structure, merging the battery housing with the existing vehicle interior framework. This integration eliminates the need for separate water-proofing treatments and external safety devices that would be required for external mounting, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while preserving trunk space.
3Temperature
If a cooling device is installed to cool the battery packs, then the battery temperature is controlled, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system utilizes the vehicle's existing air conditioning apparatus to provide cooled air to the battery packs, rather than installing a dedicated battery cooling system. This self-service approach allows the battery cooling function to be performed by an already-present system, thereby reducing device complexity and weight while maintaining effective temperature control.
4Temperature
If the cooling air flow route is configured to discharge cooled air to the rear side of the center console, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the air flow path becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow path in the center console is designed to serve dual functions: it acts as both the cooling air intake route and the discharge route for cooled air. By making the air flow path multi-functional, the system achieves improved cooling efficiency without requiring separate dedicated ducts for air intake and exhaust, thereby minimizing additional structural 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 maximizes trunk space, reduces weight and manufacturing costs, and enhances cooling efficiency by allowing simultaneous cooling of both battery packs with a single cooling fan, improving overall performance and marketability.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device which has a cooling air flow route configured to discharge cooled air to a rear side of the center console after cooling the first and second battery packs by using cooled air drawn in at a front side of the center console
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a high voltage battery pack apparatus for a vehicle which includes a cooling device having first and second battery packs which are installed in a center console of the vehicle. The first and second battery packs may be uniformly cooled through a distribution duct to improve cooling performance which minimizes the number of cooling fans that are used. Since the number of cooling fans is minimized and a discharging duct is not used, weight reduction and cost savings can be achieved.