Battery Cooling Plate with Cell Vent Openings

Solution Overview

Problem

The cooling plates used in battery modules can obstruct the vent path of battery cells, leading to inefficient cooling due to restrictive thermal paths and potential interference with gas venting, which is critical for preventing overheating and catastrophic failure.

Innovation Solution

The cooling plate is designed with strategically positioned openings or vent chambers that allow unobstructed venting from the bottom of the battery cell, ensuring that the cooling plate does not interfere with the venting process while maintaining efficient heat transfer through the use of thermally conductive materials and phase change materials for cooling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a cooling plate is used to cool battery cells, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the cooling plate obstructs the vent path of battery cells

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling plate is segmented by providing openings (penetrations) through its structure, allowing the plate to be divided into functional zones: solid portions for heat transfer and open portions for venting. This segmentation enables the cooling plate to simultaneously perform cooling and venting functions without mutual interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the cooling plate have different properties: areas with openings allow gas passage while areas without openings provide thermal conduction. The openings are strategically positioned to align with battery cell vents, creating local zones optimized for venting while maintaining overall cooling functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If openings are added to the cooling plate for venting, then venting function is improved, but cooling efficiency may be reduced due to reduced thermal contact area

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling plate provides sufficient cooling through the solid portions that remain after creating openings. The openings are designed to be small enough and strategically positioned enough that they do not significantly reduce the overall thermal contact area, while still providing adequate venting pathways for battery cell gases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 enables quicker and more efficient cooling of battery cells while ensuring safe venting of gases, preventing overheating and potential explosions, thereby enhancing the operational safety and efficiency of battery modules.

Implementation Method 1

a plate or system to circulate a phase change material (PCM) or other liquid and/or gas to cool the plate, and as a result, the battery cells in contact with the plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

maintaining efficient heat transfer through the use of thermally conductive materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10476115B2Battery cell cooling plate with cell vents

Publication Date: 2019.11.12

AI summary

Methods and systems for creating a battery module. A battery cell can include a vent in the bottom of the battery. To allow the battery to be attached to a cooling plate and allow the vent to function properly, an opening is formed in the cooling plate under the battery. The opening can vent gasses from the vent in the battery to atmosphere through a chamber in the cooling plate or a conduit in the cooling plate.