Hollow Battery Cell Cooling Through a Central Heat Exchange Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large format battery cells face challenges in dissipating heat, particularly as their size increases, leading to insufficient cooling during fast charging due to high temperatures generated at the center of the battery cells, which existing heat exchange systems fail to effectively address.
Innovation Solution
The development of hollow battery cells with a central hollow tube and a heat exchange system that includes fluid channels extending into the hollow center tubes to cool or heat the cells from the center, using air, gas, or liquid, to manage temperature effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large format battery cells are used to increase energy density, then productivity and energy storage capacity are improved, but heat dissipation capability deteriorates due to insufficient cooling during fast charging
Solution Approach 1:
The battery cell is segmented into multiple regions by dividing the electrode structure into multiple stacks arranged around a central hollow tube. Each stack can be independently cooled through the central tube, allowing targeted heat management in different regions of the large format cell. This segmentation enables effective heat dissipation while maintaining the large overall size needed for high energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
A central hollow tube is introduced along the longitudinal axis of the battery cell, adding a new dimensional pathway for heat exchange. Cooling fluid flows through this central tube, creating a three-dimensional heat management system that penetrates the core of the large format cell. This dimensional addition allows heat to be extracted from the center of the cell, not just from the outer surfaces.
2Productivity
If battery cell size increases to improve energy density, then productivity is improved, but heat exchange efficiency deteriorates due to insufficient cooling during fast charging
Solution Approach 1:
The central hollow tube serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural support element, a cooling channel for heat dissipation, and a pathway for electrical connections. This multi-functionality allows the large format cell to maintain high energy density while efficiently managing heat exchange, as the same central structure that provides mechanical integrity also enables effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The central hollow tube acts as an intermediary between the electrode stacks and the external cooling system. Cooling fluid flows through this intermediary tube, absorbing heat from the surrounding electrode stacks and transporting it to external heat exchangers. This intermediary structure enables efficient heat transfer from the interior of the large format cell to the external environment.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional solid center structure is used in battery cells, then manufacturing is simpler, but heat dissipation is insufficient due to lack of cooling pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The solid center material is extracted and replaced with a hollow tube structure. This extraction creates a cooling pathway through the center of the battery cell while maintaining the structural framework. The hollow tube can be manufactured separately and then integrated into the battery assembly process, allowing conventional manufacturing techniques to be used while achieving superior heat dissipation.
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 enables efficient heat dissipation and temperature management within the battery cells, allowing for the use of fast charging in large format batteries by targeting the highest temperature areas, thereby enhancing the reliability and manufacturing ease of battery cells.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchange system that includes fluid channels extending into the hollow center tubes to cool or heat the cells from the center
Implementation Method 2
efficient heat dissipation and temperature management within the battery cells
Data Source
AI summary
A hollow battery cell includes an enclosure including a top surface, a bottom surface, and side walls. A hollow center tube includes a side wall passing through at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the enclosure. A roll includes one or more electrodes and separators arranged between an outer surface of the hollow center tube and the enclosure.