Integrated Sealing Device for EV Battery Cooling Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing concepts for electric vehicle batteries are technically complex and expensive, often leading to coolant leakage issues due to inadequate sealing between cooling plates and coolant supply/discharge, which can damage battery cell modules.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device is provided for each cooling plate, ensuring that coolant cannot leak out or enter the battery housing, comprising a main portion and sub-portions arranged between the cooling plate and battery housing, with a separate sealing device for each coolant supply and discharge channel, formed in a one-piece design for cost-effectiveness and ease of production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealing concepts are used to prevent coolant leakage, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing functions into a single integrated sealing element that simultaneously seals the housing opening and the coolant supply/discharge connections. This merging of sealing functions reduces the number of separate sealing components needed, thereby simplifying the overall sealing system while maintaining reliable protection against coolant leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is designed to perform multiple functions: it seals the housing opening, seals the coolant supply connection, and seals the coolant discharge connection. This multi-functional sealing element eliminates the need for separate sealing components for each connection point, reducing device complexity while ensuring comprehensive sealing reliability.
2Reliability
If conventional sealing concepts are used to prevent coolant leakage, then sealing reliability is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple sealing functions into a single integrated sealing element, the patent reduces the total number of components that need to be manufactured, stored, and assembled. This consolidation simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces production costs while maintaining the same level of sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional sealing element can be produced as a single standardized component that serves multiple purposes, allowing for economies of scale in manufacturing. This approach reduces per-unit production costs compared to manufacturing multiple separate sealing components, each requiring its own production line and quality control process.
3Reliability
If separate sealing devices are provided for each cooling plate, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing of the housing opening with the sealing of the coolant supply and discharge connections into a single sealing element. This integration ensures that each cooling plate assembly has comprehensive sealing protection without requiring multiple separate sealing devices, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system is segmented into individual sealing elements for each cooling plate assembly, where each segment is self-contained and integrated. This segmentation allows for modular assembly and simplifies the overall system architecture by clearly defining the boundaries and functions of each sealing component.
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 effectively prevents coolant leakage and entry into the battery housing, enhancing the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the sealing system while maintaining efficient coolant distribution and thermal coupling for battery cell modules.
Implementation Method 1
the coolant is conducted through cooling plates which form a part of the battery housing and are additionally thermally coupled to the battery cell modules
Implementation Method 2
the coolant is distributed over the individual cooling plates and, having flowed through the cooling plates and absorbed heat from the battery cell modules accompanied by this
Data Source
AI summary
An electric battery may include a battery housing, at least one battery cell module, a coolant supply and discharge, and a sealing mechanism. The battery housing may partially surround a housing interior and may include at least one housing opening that may be sealed via a cooling plate. The least one battery cell module may be arranged in the housing interior and on the cooling plate. The coolant supply and discharge may be disposed outside of the battery housing. The coolant supply and discharge may, fluidically separated from the housing interior, communicate with a coolant path of the cooling plate. The sealing mechanism may be arranged between the cooling plate and the battery housing such that the sealing mechanism seals both the housing interior as well as a transition from the coolant supply and discharge to the coolant path against external surroundings of the battery housing.