Dielectric Fluid Cooling for Lithium Ion Battery Temperature Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery cooling systems for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles fail to maintain uniform surface temperatures and efficiently transfer heat, leading to overheating issues when exposed to high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained liquid cooling system comprising a sealed container with a battery assembly, dielectric fluid channels between battery cells, a heating element to heat the fluid, and a cooling element to cool it, ensuring uniform temperature and efficient heat transfer through a closed loop system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling systems use air to air cooling or cooling plates with heat sinks, then the system structure is relatively simple, but the system fails to maintain uniform surface temperatures and efficiently transfer heat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydraulic cooling by circulating dielectric fluid through channels formed between battery cells. The fluid flow system enables efficient heat transfer and uniform temperature distribution across the battery pack, replacing conventional air cooling or simple heat sink approaches with a controlled liquid circulation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling channels are nested directly between the battery cells themselves, utilizing the inter-cell spacing for coolant flow paths. This integration of cooling channels within the battery assembly structure eliminates the need for separate cooling plates or external heat sinks, achieving uniform temperature control without adding significant structural complexity.
2Loss of energy
If cooling plates or fins are sandwiched between individual battery cells, then some heat transfer occurs, but the system cannot efficiently transfer heat away from the cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs hydraulic cooling with dielectric fluid circulating through channels between battery cells, enabling efficient heat removal. The fluid flow system provides superior heat transfer compared to solid cooling plates or fins, efficiently carrying thermal energy away from the battery cells to external heat exchangers.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system merges the battery cell structure with the cooling channel structure, where the channels are formed directly between adjacent cells. This integration combines the mechanical support function of cell spacing with the thermal management function, achieving efficient heat transfer without requiring separate cooling components for each cell.
3Stability of the object's composition
If battery cells are cooled with conventional systems, then cooling is provided, but uniform surface temperatures cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic fluid circulation system provides uniform cooling by distributing dielectric fluid through multiple channels between battery cells. The fluid flow ensures consistent heat removal across all cells, maintaining uniform surface temperatures while efficiently transferring heat away from the battery assembly to external cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested cooling channels between battery cells enable direct contact cooling of each cell surface. This configuration ensures uniform heat distribution and removal across all cells, maintaining stable operating temperatures while maximizing heat transfer efficiency through the intimate thermal coupling between cells and coolant.
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 uniform surface temperatures and efficiently transfers heat away from battery cells, preventing overheating and ensuring optimal performance in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a dielectric fluid disposed within the at least one fluid channel in contact with the battery cells of the battery assembly and configured to heat and cool the battery assembly
Implementation Method 2
a heating element disposed within the interior space configured to heat the dielectric fluid
Implementation Method 3
a cooling element disposed within the interior space configured to cool the dielectric fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A Lithium Ion battery cooling system for use in a hybrid vehicle comprises a plurality of self-contained liquid cooling modules, each cooling module including a closed and sealed container having an interior space. Each cooling module includes a battery assembly disposed within the interior space of the container and a plurality of battery cells having at least one fluid channel formed therebetween for receiving a fluid therein. A dielectric fluid is disposed within the at least one fluid channel. The dielectric fluid substantially immerses and is in contact with the battery assembly to heat and cool the battery assembly. A heating element is disposed within the interior space and heats the dielectric fluid. A cooling element is disposed within the interior space and cools the dielectric fluid.