Flexible Cooling Fin for Battery Cell Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing metal cooling plates in battery cell assemblies can form abrasive residues that undesirably rub against adjacent battery cells, leading to inefficiencies in heat transfer and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A battery cell assembly featuring a cooling fin with a tube structure and a flexible thermally conductive sheet, where the sheet is clamped to the tube using clamping members, allowing for effective heat transfer from the battery cells to a refrigerant or liquid, minimizing abrasive interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a metal cooling plate is used to cool the battery cell, then heat dissipation is achieved, but abrasive residue forms on the cooling plate surface that can rub against and damage adjacent battery cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid metal cooling plate with a flexible cooling sheet that conforms to the battery cell surface. This flexible sheet material does not generate abrasive residues during installation or operation, eliminating the rubbing damage issue while maintaining effective thermal contact with the battery cell for heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system uses a composite structure consisting of the flexible cooling sheet in conjunction with the cooling plate. This composite approach combines the conformal contact and abrasion-free properties of the flexible sheet with the thermal conductivity of the cooling plate structure, achieving both effective heat dissipation and elimination of abrasive damage.
2Temperature
If a rigid cooling plate is used, then structural stability is maintained, but the cooling plate cannot conform to the battery cell surface, reducing thermal contact efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible cooling sheet can conform to the contours of the battery cell surface, maximizing thermal contact area and improving heat transfer efficiency. The sheet's flexibility allows it to adapt to surface irregularities while maintaining stable thermal contact throughout operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling sheet is designed with curved or contoured surfaces that match the geometry of the battery cell. This curvature enables the flexible sheet to wrap around and conform to the cell surface, ensuring optimal thermal contact across the entire contact area while maintaining structural stability through proper anchoring.
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 enhances thermal conductivity and reduces abrasive interactions, ensuring efficient heat dissipation and improved assembly stability by using a flexible thermally conductive sheet integrated with the cooling fin's tube structure.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible thermally conductive sheet disposed on the tube
Data Source
AI summary
A battery cell assembly having a cooling fin with a tube and a flexible thermally conductive sheet disposed on the tube is provided. The tube has first, second, and third tube portions. The sheet has first, second, and third sheet portions. The first and second sheet portions are disposed on at least the first and second tube portions, respectively, and the third sheet portion extends between the first and second tube portions. The assembly further includes a first clamping member clamping the first sheet portion to the first tube portion, and a second clamping member clamping the second sheet portion to the second tube portion. The assembly further includes a battery cell disposed against the third sheet portion.