Energy Storage Cell Immersion Cooling to Reduce Weight and Complexity

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas turbine systems face inefficiencies and weight issues due to bulky and heavy cooling systems required for electrical storage, which can lead to overheating and failure of battery cells.

Innovation Solution

A thermal management system that submerges energy storage cells in a liquid coolant bath for nucleate boiling, removing heat and reducing the need for secondary cooling loops, while also providing corrosion protection and quenching potential cell failures, and allows for flexible operation by using a single compressor and condenser for multiple thermal management needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If multiple cooling loops are used to cool battery cells, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but system weight and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery cell temperatureVSAvoidcooling system weight

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple cooling functions (battery cooling, turbine bearing cooling, turbine blade cooling) into a single integrated cooling loop that uses one compressor and one condenser. This merging eliminates redundant components and reduces overall system weight while maintaining effective cooling for all components through a unified thermal management architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single cooling loop is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously - cooling battery cells, turbine bearings, and turbine blades through different heat exchangers. This multi-functionality approach allows one cooling system to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate cooling systems, reducing weight and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Temperature

If multiple cooling loops are used to cool battery cells, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery cell temperatureVSAvoidcooling system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple cooling functions (battery cooling, turbine bearing cooling, turbine blade cooling) into a single integrated cooling loop that uses one compressor and one condenser. This merging eliminates redundant components and reduces overall system weight while maintaining effective cooling for all components through a unified thermal management architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single cooling loop is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously - cooling battery cells, turbine bearings, and turbine blades through different heat exchangers. This multi-functionality approach allows one cooling system to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate cooling systems, reducing weight and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If battery cells are cooled more effectively, then reliability is improved, but system weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical storage reliabilityVSAvoidcooling system weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple cooling functions (battery cooling, turbine bearing cooling, turbine blade cooling) into a single integrated cooling loop that uses one compressor and one condenser. This merging eliminates redundant components and reduces overall system weight while maintaining effective cooling for all components through a unified thermal management architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution reduces weight and increases reliability by eliminating secondary cooling loops, effectively managing thermal energy and preventing cell failures, thereby enhancing the performance and efficiency of electrical storage systems in gas turbines.

Implementation Method 1

A thermal management system that submerges energy storage cells in a liquid coolant bath for nucleate boiling, removing heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNucleate boiling: Boiling

Implementation Method 2

providing corrosion protection and quenching potential cell failures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectQuenching: Freezing

Data Source

PatentUS9853335B2Thermal management of energy storage

Publication Date: 2017.12.26 ROLLS ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

An energy storage thermal management system includes an energy storage compartment including a liquid coolant bath portion and a vapor portion. A plurality of energy storage cells are positioned within the energy storage compartment and submerged within the liquid coolant bath. A compressor is in communication with the vapor portion to remove vapor. A condenser is in communication with the compressor and returns liquid coolant to the energy storage compartment.