Detachable Battery Cold Plate for Charging Thermal Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles and aircraft face challenges in managing battery thermal behavior during charging, as traditional cold plates are heavy and increase payload, while batteries require optimal temperature conditions for efficiency and charging.
Innovation Solution
A nonintegrated cold plate system that can be attached to batteries during charging, featuring a top and bottom plate with coolant pathways for thermal control, allowing for efficient temperature management and detachment post-charging, thereby reducing payload weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a traditional integrated cold plate is used for thermal management, then thermal control during charging is achieved, but payload weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cold plate system is divided into separate components: the cold plate itself and the thermal management system. The cold plate can be detached after charging, separating the thermal control function from the permanent vehicle structure, thereby reducing payload weight while maintaining thermal control capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cold plate transitions from a static integrated component to a dynamic detachable component. It can be attached during charging operations and removed during normal operation, allowing the system to adapt its weight based on operational requirements.
2Weight of moving object
If a nonintegrated cold plate is used, then payload weight is reduced, but thermal control efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cold plate is attached to the battery before charging begins, ensuring thermal control is already in place before thermal issues arise. This preliminary positioning ensures immediate thermal management capability when charging starts, maintaining reliability without requiring a permanently integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable cold plate serves as an intermediary component that temporarily bridges the thermal management system and the battery during charging operations, providing effective thermal control without requiring permanent integration that would increase payload weight.
3Productivity
If cooling is provided during charging, then charging efficiency is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cold plate integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides thermal control, structural support during charging, and serves as a mounting interface. This merging reduces the need for separate cooling systems, manifolds, and mounting hardware, thereby reducing overall system complexity while enhancing charging efficiency through integrated thermal management.
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 provides efficient thermal control during battery charging, enhancing efficiency and reducing weight, allowing for longer flight durations or increased travel range by minimizing the weight of thermal management systems.
Implementation Method 1
circulating coolant through the nonintegrated cold plate such that the coolant is operable to cool (or condition or heat, as needed) the one or more batteries during charging
Implementation Method 2
a pump configured to draw coolant from the reservoir and comprising a supply line and a return line
Data Source
AI summary
A nonintegral cold plate is described for providing cooling of battery charging. The nonintegrated cold plate can receive and circulate coolant against a surface of a battery or of a vehicle. After charging the nonintegrated cold plate can be removed to save weight on the vehicle's payload.