Electroosmotic Pump for Battery Compartment Water Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable battery modules in automotive applications face challenges in maintaining long-term dryness within compartments due to temperature cycles causing gas pressure fluctuations and water vapor entry, leading to corrosion and safety issues, as existing solutions fail to effectively prevent water ingress, especially in the form of vapor.
Innovation Solution
Integration of an electroosmotic pump into the bottom plate of the compartment, which uses a porous hydrophilic area and electrodes to actively pump out liquid water, with the battery module's voltage source powering the pump, reducing installation space and weight, and enhancing condensation through a cooling element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If pressure compensation openings are provided to allow gas exchange during temperature cycling, then pressure fluctuations inside the compartment are avoided, but water vapor enters the compartment leading to condensation and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous hydrophilic area integrated into the bottom plate of the compartment. This porous structure allows selective interaction with water vapor and condensed water while maintaining pressure compensation functionality. The hydrophilic properties of the porous material enable it to attract and facilitate removal of water through electroosmotic action, thus addressing both pressure equalization and water removal requirements simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical water removal systems (such as pumps or active heating/cooling systems) with an electroosmotic pump that utilizes electrical fields to drive water removal. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while enabling effective water vapor and condensed water management in the pressure compensation opening.
2Ease of manufacture
If compartment walls are made from plastic materials to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but water diffusion through walls occurs over long time periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive material-based water barrier approaches (relying on plastic material properties) with an active electroosmotic water removal system. This substitution enables the use of cost-effective plastic materials while compensating for their water diffusion vulnerability through active water pumping, achieving both cost reduction and reliable water protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The electroosmotic pump operates continuously or periodically to remove water that diffuses through the plastic compartment walls over time. This continuous active water removal compensates for the inherent water diffusion properties of plastic materials, maintaining long-term reliability while allowing the use of cost-effective plastic construction.
3Reliability
If an electroosmotic pump is integrated into the bottom plate to actively remove water, then water accumulation and corrosion are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electroosmotic pump is merged with the bottom plate structure of the compartment, integrating water removal functionality directly into an existing structural component. This merging approach reduces overall device complexity by eliminating separate pump housings and mounting structures, while maintaining effective water removal capability through the porous hydrophilic area integrated into the bottom plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom plate serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the compartment, enables pressure compensation through gas exchange, and houses the electroosmotic water removal functionality through the integrated porous hydrophilic area. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving reliable water removal.
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 electroosmotic pump effectively reduces water accumulation and corrosion by actively removing condensed water, ensuring the compartment remains dry and improving the mechanical integrity and safety of the battery module, while reducing manufacturing costs and environmental exposure.
Implementation Method 1
the electroosmotic pump includes a porous hydrophilic area (52) integrated into the bottom plate (31)
Implementation Method 2
there is provided a cooling element (410) adjacent to the electroosmotic pump (50)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a battery module including at least one compartment for accommodation components of the battery module. The compartment includes an electroosmotic pump.