Laminated Power Storage Module Cooling Duct With Flow-Balancing Fasteners
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Power storage devices with laminated modules experience significant variations in cooling performance due to unbalanced flow of cooling media between flow paths, leading to inconsistent cooling across different positions.
Innovation Solution
A power storage device configuration featuring laminated modules with a flow path member and restraining plates, where fastening members extend through lead-in and lead-out ducts to uniformly distribute the cooling medium, reducing flow bias and enhancing cooling performance consistency across positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a flow path member with multiple flow paths is used to cool laminated power storage modules, then cooling capability is improved, but unbalanced flow distribution causes significant variations in cooling performance across different positions
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening members are strategically positioned at specific locations within the flow path member to create localized flow disturbance. This local intervention modifies the flow characteristics in critical areas, ensuring more uniform distribution of cooling medium across all flow paths without requiring complete redesign of the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening members serve as intermediary elements that mediate between the cooling medium flow and the flow path structure. By introducing these intermediate components, the patent achieves flow balancing without directly modifying the flow paths themselves, maintaining structural integrity while improving flow distribution.
2Ease of manufacture
If fastening members are positioned outside the lead-in duct to avoid interference, then assembly is simplified, but the flow of cooling medium remains unbalanced
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening members are nested within the lead-in duct structure, with their outer circumferences positioned inside the duct. This nesting arrangement allows the fastening members to perform their dual function of securing the flow path member while simultaneously balancing the cooling medium flow, without interfering with the overall assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening members are designed to serve multiple functions: mechanically securing the flow path member to the power storage modules and simultaneously balancing the cooling medium flow distribution. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate flow balancing components, simplifying the overall structure while achieving flow uniformity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the outer circumference of fastening members is positioned inside the lead-in duct, then flow distribution is improved, but the risk of interference with cooling medium flow increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening members are positioned to create localized flow disturbance only in specific regions where flow balancing is needed, rather than uniformly across the entire lead-in duct. This localized approach minimizes overall flow interference while achieving the desired flow distribution balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening members extend partially into the lead-in duct space, providing sufficient flow disturbance to achieve balancing without completely blocking or excessively interfering with the cooling medium flow. This partial action is optimized to provide just enough interference to balance flow while maintaining adequate flow rates.
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 solution effectively suppresses variations in cooling performance across positions, ensuring consistent cooling and reducing the size of restraining plates while maintaining effective heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
the flow of the cooling medium flowing through the inside of the lead-in duct is blocked (disturbed) by each first fastening member, and is made uniform in the lead-in duct
Implementation Method 2
allowing a cooling medium such as air to flow in each flow path of the flow path member
Implementation Method 3
cooling performance of the flow path member with respect to the power storage module
Data Source
AI summary
A power storage device includes a plurality of laminated power storage modules, a flow path member disposed in contact with the power storage modules and having flow paths for allowing a cooling medium to flow along a first direction intersecting a laminating direction of the power storage modules, a pair of restraining plates disposed to sandwich the power storage modules and the flow path member in the laminating direction, fastening members applying a restraining load to the power storage modules and the flow path member via the pair of restraining plates by fastening the restraining plates to each other, and a lead-in duct disposed at one end portion of the flow path member in the first direction and leading the cooling medium into each of the flow paths.