Integrated Battery Pack Coolers for Simpler Cell Cooling Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs require multiple components, including a tube member for connecting coolers, leading to complex assembly and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with an integrated cooling device comprising a plurality of coolers that are joined by brazing, allowing for alternate stacking with deformable cooling surfaces that adjust based on pressure changes, eliminating the need for additional connecting tube members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple tube members are used to connect coolers, then the cooling device can be assembled, but the number of components increases and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate tube members into a single integrated cooler structure. The cooler is designed as one piece that directly connects to multiple battery cells without requiring separate tube members for each connection, thereby reducing the total number of components while maintaining the cooling function.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated cooler serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the cooling channel and the connecting structure for multiple battery cells. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate tube members that would otherwise be required for connection purposes.
2Reliability
If multiple tube members are used to connect coolers, then the cooling device can be assembled, but assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple connection functions into a single integrated cooler body, the assembly process is simplified from multiple separate connection operations to a single installation step, reducing assembly complexity and improving ease of manufacture.
3Reliability
If multiple tube members are used to connect coolers, then the cooling device can be assembled, but assembly cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of multiple tube members into a single cooler component reduces the total number of parts that need to be procured, stored, and assembled, thereby reducing assembly cost. The single-piece design also reduces fastening requirements and assembly time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary tube members from the assembly, keeping only the essential integrated cooler structure, which directly reduces component count and associated costs.
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
Reduces the number of components, simplifies assembly, and lowers assembly costs by integrating coolers through brazing and utilizing pressure-adjustable cooling surfaces for efficient battery cell cooling.
Implementation Method 1
the cooler is deformable so as to displace the cooling surface in the first direction in accordance with a pressure inside the cooler
Implementation Method 2
a flow path that allows the coolant to circulate; and a cooling surface that comes in contact with the battery cells
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes: a plurality of battery cells; a case; and a cooling device, the cooling device including coolers including: a flow path; and a cooling surface that comes in contact with the battery cells, the plurality of coolers and the plurality of battery cells being alternately stacked in the case. Further, the cooling device is an integrated structure in which the plurality of coolers is joined with each other, and the cooler is deformable so as to displace the cooling surface in the first direction in accordance with a pressure inside the cooler.