eVTOL Battery Cooling With Phase-Change Heat Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for electric flying objects, such as eVTOLs, fail to adequately manage the unique battery load profiles during takeoff and landing, leading to reduced battery life due to insufficient heat absorption and accelerated deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device utilizing latent heat storage materials with distinct phase transition temperatures for takeoff and landing phases, combined with an on-board and off-board cooling system, to absorb and manage heat generated during these high-power operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-phase cooling system is used for battery cooling during flight operations, then the cooling system can maintain a simple structure, but it cannot effectively manage the unique heat generation patterns during takeoff and landing, leading to reduced battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent heat storage modules, each containing latent heat storage materials with different phase transition temperatures. This allows different modules to activate during different operational phases (takeoff, cruise, landing), effectively managing the varying heat generation patterns without requiring a completely different cooling system for each phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the thermal parameters by using latent heat storage materials with different phase transition temperatures tailored to specific operational conditions. During takeoff and landing when high heat generation occurs, materials with higher phase transition temperatures activate, while during cruise operations, materials with lower phase transition temperatures provide cooling, optimizing battery temperature management across all flight phases.
2Temperature
If continuous cooling is applied during all flight operations, then battery temperature can be maintained, but heat generated during high-power operations like takeoff and landing is not adequately absorbed, accelerating battery deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The latent heat storage materials are pre-positioned in the cooling system with their phase transition temperatures matched to expected operational heat generation patterns. Before high-power operations occur, the cooling system is already configured with appropriate heat storage materials that will activate automatically when temperature thresholds are reached, providing immediate cooling response without delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits phase transitions of latent heat storage materials to absorb heat during high-power operations. When the battery temperature rises during takeoff or landing, the latent heat storage materials undergo phase transitions (solid-liquid or solid-solid), absorbing large amounts of heat energy and preventing excessive temperature rise that would accelerate battery deterioration.
3Reliability
If the cooling system uses latent heat storage materials with phase transition temperatures matched to takeoff and landing conditions, then heat absorption during these phases is improved, but the system complexity increases due to multiple material types
Solution Approach 1:
The heat storage material system is divided into multiple modules, each containing latent heat storage materials with specific phase transition temperatures optimized for particular operational phases. This modular segmentation allows for targeted heat absorption during takeoff and landing without requiring a single complex material system, making the overall configuration more manageable and maintainable.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating latent heat storage materials that can handle different thermal loads from various flight phases. The same cooling system structure serves multiple purposes: managing heat during takeoff, maintaining temperature during cruise, and handling thermal spikes during landing, reducing the need for separate specialized cooling systems for each operational phase.
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 solution effectively extends battery life by mitigating overheating and reducing deterioration, allowing for safe and efficient operation of electric flying objects.
Implementation Method 1
a first latent heat storage material in which a phase transition temperature is set to absorb heat generated by the battery associated with takeoff
Implementation Method 2
The cooling device includes the first latent heat storage material and/or the second latent heat storage material as a latent heat storage material that utilizes latent heat
Implementation Method 3
heat generated by a battery is absorbed by circulating a working fluid such as water
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
A cooling device is mounted on an electric flying object, and cools a battery of the electric flying object. The cooling device includes a heat storage material of one or more types. The heat storage material, as a latent heat storage material (1711), includes a first latent heat storage material (1711A) in which a phase transition temperature is set to absorb heat generated by the battery associated with takeoff from among (i) the heat generated by the battery associated with takeoff and (ii) heat generated by the battery associated with landing, and/or a second latent heat storage material (1711B) in which a phase transition temperature is set to absorb the heat generated by the battery associated with landing.