Battery Cooling Plate Connector Layout for Non-Adjacent Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal regulation devices for vehicle batteries, particularly in electric and hybrid vehicles, face challenges in achieving efficient heat dissipation and temperature homogeneity with complex and space-consuming designs, often requiring multiple components and connections for fluid circulation.
Innovation Solution
A thermal regulation device with an upper and lower plate assembly forming circulation channels for a refrigerant fluid, featuring a connector that creates a fluid path connecting non-adjacent zones, allowing for reduced packaging and components by using a single connector to manage fluid input/output between two zones, and enabling efficient heat transfer between adjacent and non-adjacent zones within the exchanger circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple components and connections are used for fluid circulation in thermal regulation devices, then fluid supply to different zones can be achieved, but device complexity and packaging space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fluid circulation functions into a single integrated connector assembly. The connector includes multiple ports that can connect to different channel groups simultaneously, allowing fluid to be supplied to or evacuated from multiple non-adjacent zones through one component rather than requiring separate connections for each zone. This merging approach reduces the overall number of components while maintaining the capability to service multiple zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector assembly is designed with multi-functionality to handle various fluid circulation requirements. It can supply fluid to different channel groups, evacuate fluid from multiple zones, and adapt to different connection configurations through its multiple ports. This universal design allows a single connector to perform what would traditionally require multiple separate components.
2Ease of operation
If multiple components and connections are used for fluid circulation, then fluid distribution is achieved, but packaging space increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple connection functions into a single compact connector assembly, the patent significantly reduces the space required for fluid circulation connections. The integrated design allows multiple ports and channels to be consolidated into one component that occupies minimal space compared to having separate connections for each zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector assembly employs a nested structure where multiple ports and internal channels are integrated within a compact housing. This nesting approach allows the connector to maintain multiple functional openings while keeping the overall external dimensions small, thereby reducing packaging space requirements.
3Device complexity
If a single connector is used to manage fluid input/output between zones, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to service non-adjacent zones becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is segmented into multiple functional ports and internal channels, each capable of connecting to different channel groups. This segmentation within the unified connector allows independent access to non-adjacent zones while maintaining the benefits of a single integrated component. Each port can be independently configured to service specific zones as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the external fluid supply and multiple internal channel groups. Its multiple ports and internal routing structure enable it to distribute fluid to non-adjacent zones or collect fluid from them, simplifying the overall system while maintaining full serviceability of all zones.
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 solution enables efficient heat management and temperature homogeneity in battery modules by reducing the number of components and connections, allowing for fluid supply or evacuation from non-adjacent zones, thus improving the thermal regulation efficiency and simplifying the design while maintaining effective heat transfer.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling plates are installed, as close together as possible, on the outer surface of the batteries to dissipate heat
Implementation Method 2
a thermal regulation device comprising an upper plate and a lower plate assembled with the upper plate to together form a plurality of circulation channels for a heat transfer fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a temperature control device, in particular a cooling device, for an electrical component prone to releasing heat during operation, in particular for an electrical energy storage module, said device comprising an upper plate and a lower plate that is assembled with the upper plate to jointly form a plurality of ducts for a heat transfer fluid, in particular a refrigerant fluid, in particular a fluid chosen from the refrigerant fluids R134a, R1234yf and R744; in said device, the ducts are grouped into groups of ducts, the ducts of a group extending substantially parallel to one another at a predetermined intra-group distance between neighboring ducts; two groups of ducts in which the fluid flows in the same direction are separated from each other by at least one group of ducts in which the fluid flows in the opposite direction, the device comprising a connector (550).