Liquid Coolant Bath with Nucleate Boiling for Battery Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine systems face inefficiencies and weight issues due to bulky cooling systems required for electrical storage, which can lead to overheating and failure of battery cells, necessitating a more effective thermal management solution.
Innovation Solution
An energy storage thermal management system utilizing a liquid coolant bath for nucleate boiling, where energy storage cells are submerged, and a compressor-driven vapor removal and condensation process efficiently dissipates heat, eliminating the need for secondary cooling loops and providing corrosion protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple cooling loops are used to cool electrical storage cells, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but system weight and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling function with the energy storage system itself by using the battery cells as heat sinks that conduct heat to a shared coolant manifold, eliminating the need for separate cooling loops for each battery module. This merging approach reduces overall system weight while maintaining effective thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant manifold serves multiple functions: it acts as a heat distribution network, a structural support element, and a thermal management component. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing system weight and complexity while maintaining cooling effectiveness.
2Temperature
If multiple cooling loops are used to cool electrical storage cells, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple cooling loops into a single integrated coolant manifold system that serves all battery cells. This consolidation reduces device complexity by eliminating redundant cooling circuits, pumps, and control systems while maintaining effective thermal management across all cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant manifold performs multiple functions including heat distribution, structural support, and thermal management control, reducing the need for separate dedicated components for each function and thereby simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Temperature
If traditional cooling systems are used for electrical storage, then overheating prevention is achieved, but reliability decreases due to potential failure points
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the cooling function directly into the battery assembly through the shared manifold system, the patent reduces the number of separate cooling loops and connection points, thereby reducing potential failure points and improving overall system reliability.
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 solution reduces weight, minimizes component count, and enhances reliability by effectively managing thermal energy, preventing overheating and corrosion, while allowing for flexible operation and additional thermal management applications.
Implementation Method 1
An energy storage thermal management system utilizing a liquid coolant bath for nucleate boiling, where energy storage cells are submerged
Implementation Method 2
a compressor configured for removing vapor from the vapor portion
Implementation Method 3
a condenser in communication with the compressor, the condenser being configured to return liquid coolant to the energy storage compartment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An energy storage thermal management system (300) comprising: an energy storage compartment (302) including a liquid coolant bath portion (308) and a vapor portion (310); a plurality of energy storage cells (304) positioned within the energy storage compartment (302) and submerged within the liquid coolant bath portion (308); a compressor (314) in communication with the vapor portion (310), the compressor (314) being configured for removing vapor from the vapor portion (310); and a condenser (316) in communication with the compressor (314), the condenser (316) being configured to return liquid coolant (306) to the energy storage compartment (302) characterized by further comprising: at least one distribution manifold (500) positioned between an adjoining pair of the plurality of energy storage cells (304), the at least one distribution manifold (500) configured to allow the liquid coolant bath portion (308) to flow through the distribution manifold (500) towards regions of localized heat.