Counter-Current Battery Pack Cooling for Uniform Cell Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery pack cooling systems are inefficient in maintaining temperature uniformity across cells, leading to thermal instability and potential failure due to air gaps and complex thermal management systems, which are not portable or flexible enough to handle varying temperature conditions.
Innovation Solution
A portable counter-current flow thermal management system using a pump, connecting tubes, and a heat exchanger to circulate a cooling agent with a pre-defined rate based on real-time temperature data, employing a fish gill-based technique for parallel flow of charged and discharged cooling agents to maintain temperature uniformity across battery cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed thermal management system is used, then cooling is provided, but portability and flexibility are lost leading to generation of high debris and waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic thermal management system where cooling agents can be independently introduced and controlled at both ends of the battery pack. The system allows flexible adjustment of cooling flow rates, temperatures, and distribution patterns based on real-time thermal conditions. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to varying operational requirements, battery configurations, and environmental conditions while maintaining effective cooling, thereby improving both portability and flexibility without sacrificing cooling reliability.
2Power
If advanced technology battery cells are used for high power and energy applications, then power and energy capacity are increased, but thermal stability becomes critical due to limited operating temperature range and heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing differentiated cooling at different locations within the battery pack. The first and second cooling circuits can be independently controlled to provide optimal cooling conditions for cells at opposite ends of the pack. This localized cooling approach ensures that each region of the battery pack receives appropriate thermal management tailored to its specific thermal conditions, thereby maintaining thermal stability across the entire high-power battery system.
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 system effectively maintains temperature uniformity across battery cells, reducing thermal instability and enabling flexible, reusable, and scalable thermal management without air gaps, thus enhancing safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pump operably coupled to the first connecting tube (104-1) and configured to enable circulation of a cooling agent with a pre-defined rate of flow
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger unit operably coupled to the first connecting tube (104-1) and configured to receive the cooling agent, and automatically adjust the temperature of the cooling agent
Implementation Method 3
The maximum surface of the battery cell is surrounded by a highly thermal conductive hybrid composite material and covered with portable cooling tubes/pipes for the active cooling
Implementation Method 4
employing a fish gill-based technique for parallel flow of charged and discharged cooling agents to maintain temperature uniformity across battery cells
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a portable counter-current flow thermal management system facilitating cooling of a battery pack. System comprises at least one pump, first and second connecting tubes, and heat exchanger unit. The at least one pump enables circulation of a cooling agent with pre-defined rate of flow based on real-time temperature data detected from the battery pack. The cooling agent may include a liquid, a gas, a dielectric fluid, and glycol compound. First connecting tube facilitates flow of cooling agent. Heat exchanger receives and automatically adjusts the temperature of the cooling agent. The second connecting tube receives cooling agent and provides to input terminal is coupled to output terminal along a horizontal axis in a bent fashion facilitating a single interface enabling counter-current flow of cooling agent across battery cells in battery pack.