Inclined Battery Case Cooling Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling structures for vehicle battery packs face challenges in achieving uniform temperature distribution and efficient heat dissipation, particularly in sealed systems that do not allow for external components like compressors or radiators, leading to complications and issues with condensate formation.
Innovation Solution
A sealed battery pack with inclined lateral surfaces made of heat conductive materials, incorporating a blower fan to draw air through an inlet and pressure-feed it to outlets along the lateral surfaces, promoting airflow circulation and heat dissipation, and utilizing the blower duct to minimize size and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a sealed cooling structure is used without external compressors or radiators, then the system complexity is reduced and the battery pack can be self-contained, but the cooling efficiency and heat dissipation capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The battery case is designed to serve dual functions: as the structural enclosure for battery modules and as the heat dissipation member with integrated cooling channels. This merging eliminates the need for separate external radiators and compressors, reducing system complexity while maintaining heat dissipation capability through the conductive battery case structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack cooling system is designed to be self-contained, using the battery case itself as the heat dissipation member with internal cooling channels. The system serves itself by utilizing the existing battery case structure for both containment and thermal management, eliminating dependency on external cooling components.
2Temperature
If air is circulated through the battery modules to achieve uniform temperature distribution, then the temperature uniformity improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional cooling components
Solution Approach 1:
The battery case serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the structural enclosure for battery modules, provides thermal conduction for heat dissipation, and functions as the cooling channel structure. This multi-functionality achieves uniform temperature distribution without adding separate cooling components, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.
3Loss of energy
If the battery case is made substantially conductive for heat dissipation, then the heat dissipation efficiency improves, but the weight of the battery pack increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling channels are integrated directly into the battery case structure, merging the structural component with the thermal management function. This eliminates the need for additional separate cooling components that would add weight, while the conductive material in the battery case provides efficient 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 configuration enhances air circulation and heat transfer within the battery pack, ensuring uniform temperature distribution and efficient heat dissipation to the outside, while reducing the size and cost of the blower duct, thus improving cooling efficiency and simplifying the system.
Implementation Method 1
the battery case includes a blower fan to draw air inside the battery case through an inlet and to pressure-feed the air to outlets through a blower duct
Implementation Method 2
the battery case... functions as a heat dissipation member as the battery case is substantially formed of a heat conductive material
Implementation Method 3
air drawn from the middle portion of the group of battery modules in the rear portion inside the case (air heated by heat exchange with the group of battery modules) is pressure-fed by the blower fan
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem to be Solved] To improve air circulation efficiency inside a sealed-type battery pack to achieve simplified structure, uniform temperature distribution inside the battery pack, and expected cooling effects. [Solution] A plurality of battery modules (31, 32) is provided inside a battery case. The battery case includes lateral surfaces (151, 261) inclined such that a width of a front side is narrower than a width of a rear part in a vehicle longitudinal direction in a plan view, and includes a blower fan (5) to draw air inside the battery case through an inlet (50) and to pressure-feed the air to outlets (45) through a blower duct (4). The inlet (50) is opened in a portion that is a middle part in a width direction in the rear part of the battery case and that is above a first group of battery modules (31). The outlets (45) are arranged adjacent to lateral surfaces of the rear part of the battery case and oriented in a front direction, and forms a blowout air flow (Fa) blowing forward along the inclined lateral surfaces (151, 261) of the battery case.