Flexible Cooling Fin for Battery Cell Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery cell assemblies with metal or graphite cooling plates face issues due to abrasive residues that can cause unwanted friction with adjacent cells, necessitating an improved design for minimizing or eliminating this problem.
Innovation Solution
A battery cell assembly featuring a cooling fin with a tube structure and a flexible thermally conductive sheet that is coupled to the tube portions using an adhesive layer, allowing for efficient heat transfer from battery cells to a refrigerant or liquid, thereby reducing temperature and minimizing abrasive interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a metal or graphite cooling plate is used to cool the battery cell, then thermal efficiency is improved, but abrasive residue is formed on the cooling plate surface which causes unwanted friction against adjacent battery cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by replacing the rigid metal or graphite cooling plate with a flexible cooling sheet that has a smooth surface. The flexible nature of the sheet prevents abrasive residue formation while maintaining thermal contact with the battery cell, thus eliminating the friction problem against adjacent cells while preserving cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by creating a cooling sheet that combines thermal conductivity with a smooth non-abrasive surface structure. The cooling sheet is made of flexible material that inherently prevents abrasive residue formation, combining the thermal management function with the surface quality requirement in a single component
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a flexible thermally conductive sheet is used instead of a rigid cooling plate, then abrasive residue formation is eliminated, but manufacturing complexity increases due to multiple coupling portions and adhesive layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cooling sheet into multiple functional portions: first, second, and third sheet portions that contact different battery cell surfaces, and first, second, and third coupling portions that attach to different tube sections. This segmentation allows the flexible sheet to conform to complex geometries while maintaining a simple manufacturing process through modular assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses adhesive layers as intermediary elements to couple the flexible cooling sheet to the rigid tube structure. The adhesive layer acts as a mediator that connects the flexible sheet portions to the tube portions, simplifying the overall assembly process while accommodating the flexibility of the sheet material
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 transfers heat energy from battery cells to a refrigerant or liquid, maintaining thermal efficiency while preventing abrasive residue issues, thus enhancing the assembly's performance and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible thermally conductive sheet disposed on the tube... The flexible thermally conductive sheet is coupled to at least the first and second tube portions... effectively transfers heat energy from battery cells to a refrigerant or liquid
Implementation Method 2
transfers heat energy from battery cells to a refrigerant or liquid... allowing for efficient heat transfer from battery cells to a refrigerant or liquid, thereby reducing temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A battery cell assembly is provided. The assembly includes a cooling fin having a tube and a flexible thermally conductive sheet disposed on the tube. The tube has first, second, and third tube portions. The first and second tube portions are substantially perpendicular to one another. The third tube portion is substantially perpendicular to the first and second tube portions and extends between the first and second tube portions. The sheet is coupled to at least the first and second tube portions and has a first sheet portion extending between the first and second tube portions. The assembly further includes a battery cell disposed against the first sheet portion of the sheet of the cooling fin.