Detachable Cooling Module for Vehicle Battery Thermal Management

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery modules for vehicles lack flexibility in temperature management, as integrated cooling and heating devices often inadequately address the thermal requirements of different vehicle types, and are difficult to replace or customize.

Innovation Solution

A battery module design where the cooling and heating device is a separate, detachable module that can be fixed to the housing, allowing for selection and replacement based on vehicle type, with a heat transfer element providing defined thermal properties and improved heat conduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the cooling and heating device is integrated into the battery module housing, then the structure is compact and simple to manufacture, but the flexibility and adaptability to different vehicle types is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling and heating device is segmented from the battery module housing, forming a separate, detachable module. This allows the housing to be manufactured independently and simply, while the cooling/heating module can be independently optimized and selected based on different vehicle type requirements, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling and heating module is designed to be dynamically configurable - it can be attached or detached from the housing depending on the vehicle type and thermal management requirements. This dynamic configuration enables the system to adapt to different applications while maintaining a simple base housing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the cooling and heating device is permanently integrated into the housing, then the assembly is structurally stable, but the ease of replacement and maintenance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidease of replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the cooling and heating device as a separate module that can be detachably fixed to the housing, the invention maintains structural stability during operation while enabling easy removal and replacement when defective or when upgrading to different vehicle configurations, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the housing and cooling heating device are manufactured separately, then the flexibility and customization options increase, but the device complexity and assembly requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detachable fixing mechanism is designed with universal applicability, using standardized connection interfaces that can accommodate different cooling and heating module configurations. This universal design enables flexibility in selecting different thermal management solutions while keeping the assembly process relatively simple and standardized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design enhances flexibility and manufacturing simplicity by enabling the use of optimal cooling and heating solutions for various vehicle types, easy replacement of defective components, and improved thermal management of battery cells.

Implementation Method 1

a heat transfer element with defined heat transfer properties is arranged as an intermediate layer between the housing and the cooling and/or heating element to set a defined heat transfer between the housing and the adjacent cooling and/or heating element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3264494B1Battery module for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP3264494B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3264494B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3264494B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a battery module for a vehicle, in particular for a commercial vehicle, comprising a housing (3) having a receiving space (5), in particular box-shaped and/or cuboid-shaped, wherein at least one battery cell element (7) is arranged in the receiving space (5), and comprising a cooling and/or heating device by means of which the battery cell element (7) can be cooled and/or heated. According to the invention, the cooling and/or heating device is formed by a cooling and/or heating module (23) as a separate component, which can be fixed to the housing (3) by means of a fixing device, in particular detachably.