Heat Reducing Component Between Battery Packs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery pack stacking configurations lead to excessive heat buildup between cells, which accelerates temperature increases and can reduce battery lifespan, potentially causing damage or failure.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating cumulative heat reducing components, such as heat conductive films or phase change materials, between battery packs, or positioning cells in a flipped orientation to minimize and homogenize heat distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If battery packs are stacked in conventional configurations, then energy density and device compactness are improved, but heat buildup between cells increases causing temperature rise and reduced battery lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy densityVSAvoidheat buildup

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

A heat reducing component is positioned between adjacent battery packs to act as an intermediary that reduces cumulative heat transfer. This component has a thermal conductivity lower than that of the battery pack housings, thereby interrupting and reducing the heat pathway between cells while allowing the packs to remain in close proximity for high energy density.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat reducing component is specifically placed at the interfaces between battery packs where heat accumulation occurs most severely. This localized intervention targets the critical heat transfer zones without affecting the overall compact structure, reducing temperature at hotspots while maintaining high energy density.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Volume of moving object

If battery packs are stacked in conventional configurations, then device compactness is improved, but heat distribution becomes non-uniform causing hotspots and reduced reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidbattery lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heat reducing component serves as a thermal mediator that equalizes heat distribution between adjacent battery packs. By having lower thermal conductivity than the pack housings, it prevents excessive heat transfer to neighboring packs, thereby reducing hotspots and promoting more uniform thermal distribution across the stack, which improves overall reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat reducing component is pre-positioned between battery packs before operation to cushion against cumulative heat effects. This preventive measure is in place before heat buildup occurs, protecting the battery system from thermal runaway and extending lifespan by reducing thermal stress during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Temperature

If heat reducing components are added between battery packs, then temperature control and battery lifespan are improved, but device volume and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepeak temperatureVSAvoidbattery pack volume

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The heat reducing component is implemented as a thin film or sheet that can be positioned between battery packs. This thin-film approach provides effective thermal isolation without adding significant volume, allowing the component to reduce peak temperatures while minimizing impact on the overall battery pack size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The heat reducing component serves multiple functions: it reduces cumulative heat transfer, provides thermal isolation, and can also serve as a structural spacer or protective layer. This multi-functionality allows a single component to address temperature control needs without requiring additional dedicated elements, thereby limiting volume increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 reduces peak temperatures and homogenizes heat gradients within the battery pack stack, extending battery lifespan and preventing damage by managing heat more efficiently.

Implementation Method 1

Incorporating cumulative heat reducing components, such as heat conductive films or phase change materials, between battery packs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

Incorporating cumulative heat reducing components, such as heat conductive films or phase change materials, between battery packs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentUS11522237B2Heat control in battery pack stack

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH

AI summary

One embodiment provides an electronic device, including: a battery pack stack comprising at least two battery packs; wherein the battery pack stack comprises at least one cumulative heat reducing component positioned between the at least two battery packs. Other aspects are described and claimed.