Multifunctional Cooling Plates for Structural Battery Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery integration concepts for aircraft and spacecraft are not suitable for structural requirements, leading to increased weight and fuel consumption due to the need for additional reinforcement and inefficient temperature control.
Innovation Solution
A battery arrangement that uses multifunctional cooling plates for both thermal management and structural integrity, combined with connecting rods and shear pins to absorb loads, reducing the need for additional structure-reinforcing components and optimizing weight and energy density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If additional reinforcing structures are added to meet structural requirements, then structural integrity is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling plates are designed to serve dual functions: thermal management (cooling the batteries) and structural support (carrying battery loads and contributing to vehicle structure). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate reinforcing structures, thereby improving structural integrity without increasing weight.
2Temperature
If active temperature control apparatuses are added, then temperature control is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling plates perform both cooling functions (by circulating coolant through fluid channels) and structural support functions (carrying battery loads). This integration means that the same components provide temperature control without requiring additional weight-bearing structures, thus improving temperature control while minimizing weight increase.
3Weight of moving object
If cooling plates are made multifunctional for structural support, then weight is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling plates integrate multiple functions (cooling and structural support) into a single component rather than using separate components. This merging reduces the total number of parts and simplifies the overall system architecture, thereby reducing weight without significantly increasing device complexity.
4Strength
If connecting rods are added to reinforce tensile stresses, then strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The structural reinforcement is divided into specialized components: cooling plates handle compressive and shear forces, while connecting rods specifically address tensile stresses. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall strength while keeping the design manageable through clear functional division.
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
The solution effectively integrates battery cells in a lightweight and efficient manner, enhancing structural integrity while minimizing weight and fuel consumption by distributing loads through the battery arrangement, thereby improving power density.
Implementation Method 1
the cooling plates are used to control the temperature of the batteries, that is to say to dissipate the heat produced by the batteries
Implementation Method 2
the cooling plates according to the disclosure herein are used as structural components and in this manner contribute to the structural integrity of the battery arrangement or the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A battery arrangement for structurally integrating batteries in a vehicle, in particular an aircraft or spacecraft, includes at least one battery, two supporting cooling plates between which the at least one battery is held on both sides via battery holders, and connecting rods which connect the two cooling plates to one another.