Immersion Battery Cooling With Shielded Vent Gas Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traction battery pack systems face challenges in effectively managing thermal energy levels and venting battery byproducts during thermal events, leading to potential overheating and pressure buildup.
Innovation Solution
An immersion cooling system with a subdivided enclosure volume, injection holes for direct fluid spraying, and dedicated vent gas exit flow paths using a fluid manifold and runner pipes to manage thermal energy and expel vent gases efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a traditional single-chamber enclosure is used for battery packs, then the structure is simple, but thermal management efficiency is poor and vent gas expulsion is ineffective during thermal events
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure interior volume is subdivided into a first interior volume section and a second interior volume section using an injection shield. This segmentation allows the cooling fluid to be directed specifically onto battery modules in the second section while providing a dedicated vent gas exit flow path through the injection shield during thermal events, thereby improving thermal management efficiency without requiring a completely new enclosure design
2Temperature
If cooling fluid is sprayed directly onto battery modules, then cooling efficiency is improved, but pressure buildup occurs during thermal events
Solution Approach 1:
The injection shield acts as an intermediary component that serves dual functions: it directs cooling fluid onto battery modules through injection holes for efficient cooling, and simultaneously provides a dedicated vent gas exit flow path that allows pressure relief during thermal events, thereby preventing pressure buildup while maintaining cooling effectiveness
3Reliability
If a dedicated vent gas exit flow path is established using fluid manifold and runner pipes, then vent gas expulsion is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The injection shield is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a cooling fluid distribution component with injection holes and as a vent gas exit pathway through its structure. The fluid manifold and runner pipes are integrated into this design, allowing the same structural elements to handle both cooling fluid delivery and vent gas expulsion, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing system complexity
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 system enhances thermal management and vent gas expulsion, reducing convective heat transfer and pressure buildup during battery thermal events, ensuring efficient cooling and safety.
Implementation Method 1
an injection shield arranged to subdivide an interior volume of the enclosure assembly into a first interior volume section and a second interior volume section. The injection shield includes a plurality of injection holes configured to spray a cooling fluid onto portions of the battery module
Implementation Method 2
The cooling fluid is a dielectric fluid... the interior volume is part of a closed loop cooling circuit of an immersion cooling system configured for circulating the cooling fluid
Implementation Method 3
a heat exchanger is arranged between the reservoir and the inlet pipe
Implementation Method 4
the fluid manifold and the runner pipe cooperate to establish a dedicated vent gas exit flow path for expelling a battery vent byproduct from the enclosure assembly during a battery thermal event
Data Source
AI summary
Immersion cooling systems are provided for managing thermal energy levels within a traction battery pack system. An exemplary immersion cooling system may include an injection shield arranged to subdivide an interior volume of a battery enclosure assembly into a first interior volume section and a second interior volume section. The injection shield may include a plurality of injection holes configured to spray a cooling fluid (e.g., a dielectric fluid) onto portions of a battery module that is housed within the second interior volume section. The immersion cooling system may additionally include a fluid manifold extending outside of the interior volume of the battery enclosure assembly, and one or more runner pipes that fluidly connect the fluid manifold to the second interior volume section. Together, the fluid manifold and the runner pipe may establish a dedicated vent gas exit flow path for expelling battery vent byproducts from the enclosure assembly during a battery thermal event.