Inter-Cell Cooling Walls for Battery Swelling and Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery cell cooling methods are inefficient, particularly for high-voltage batteries, as they primarily cool a small region of the cell, leaving the larger sides exposed and not effectively addressing swelling pressure over the battery's lifespan or during charging.
Innovation Solution
An inter-cell cooling unit with two cooling walls and a free space between them, featuring openings for direct coolant contact with the battery cells, acts as both a cooling medium and a spacer to counteract swelling pressure, using materials like aluminum or plastic for enhanced thermal conductivity and mechanical stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling plates are used through which coolant flows, then cooling function is provided, but only a small region of the battery cells can be cooled
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple cooling walls with individual cooling channels, allowing coolant to reach different regions of the battery cells through separate pathways, thereby increasing the total cooled area
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling approach transitions from a single-plane cooling plate to a three-dimensional inter-cell cooling unit with cooling walls extending between cells, adding depth and volume to the cooling structure to increase contact area with battery cells
2Temperature
If inter-cell cooling unit is used, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling unit merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure: cooling walls with cooling channels, spacer function, and swelling compensation are combined into one component, reducing the number of separate parts needed
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling walls serve multiple purposes simultaneously: they provide cooling channels for heat dissipation, act as spacers to maintain cell spacing, and compensate for cell swelling during operation, making the structure multi-functional
3Temperature
If cooling plates are used, then cooling function is provided, but swelling pressure of battery cells cannot be counteracted
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling walls are designed to perform dual functions: thermal management through coolant flow and mechanical support by counteracting swelling pressure, eliminating the need for separate structural components
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 significantly enhances cooling efficiency by direct coolant contact with battery cells, while also compensating for swelling pressure without additional components, ensuring effective heat dissipation and structural support.
Implementation Method 1
at least one free space through which a coolant can flow is formed between the first and second cooling walls
Implementation Method 2
a coolant which flows through the at least one free space between the two cooling walls
Data Source
AI summary
An inter-cell cooling unit for arrangement a battery module for arrangement in an intermediate space between twin an intermediate space between two battery cells of a cell stack which are arranged adjacent to one another in a stacking direction. The inter-cell cooling unit has two cooling walls including a first cooling wall for arrangement on a first of the two battery cells and a second cooling wall for arrangement on a second of the two battery cells. At least one free space through which a coolant can flow is formed between the first and second cooling walls. At least one first opening is arranged in at least one of the two cooling walls, through which first opening a fluidic connection is provided between the at least one free space and an environment of the inter-cell cooling unit.