Magnetic Circulating Liquid for Battery Temperature Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current temperature control systems for rechargeable battery packs suffer from non-uniform temperature distribution across battery cells, leading to unbalanced aging and reduced performance, and are costly due to complex designs that only focus on cooling without heating capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a heat conducting liquid with magnetic materials enclosed in a closed housing, driven by a circulating module, such as a motor with a magnetic rotor, to circulate and uniformly distribute temperature across battery units, both cooling and heating as needed, with a simple structure and low construction costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a complex temperature control system with cooling manifolds and heat exchangers is used, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the temperature control function from complex dedicated cooling manifolds and heat exchangers, and implements it through a simplified circulating module with heat conducting liquid that can be integrated into the battery pack structure, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining cooling effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The circulating module with heat conducting liquid serves multiple functions: cooling during charging/discharging, heating during low temperature operation, and uniform temperature distribution across all battery cells, replacing the need for separate dedicated cooling and heating systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Temperature

If cooling manifolds and heat exchangers are installed to control temperature, then temperature control capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature control capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces expensive metal cooling manifolds and heat exchangers with a cost-effective heat conducting liquid that can be easily manufactured and integrated, significantly reducing material costs while maintaining temperature control functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a hydraulic system (heat conducting liquid circulation) instead of complex thermal conduction structures, leveraging fluid dynamics to achieve uniform heat distribution at lower manufacturing cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Temperature

If battery cells are cooled during charging/discharging, then heat dissipation is improved, but temperature uniformity across cells deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidtemperature uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The circulating heat conducting liquid provides localized heat absorption and distribution to each battery cell individually, allowing each cell to maintain its optimal temperature while contributing to overall temperature uniformity across the pack

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses temperature sensors to monitor individual cell temperatures and adjusts the circulation flow accordingly, creating a feedback mechanism that maintains temperature uniformity while effectively dissipating heat from each cell

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Temperature

If dedicated cooling systems are implemented, then cooling performance is improved, but adaptability to different temperature conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidtemperature condition adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The heat conducting liquid circulation system serves multiple temperature control functions: active cooling during high-rate charging/discharging, passive heat distribution during normal operation, and active heating during low temperature conditions, making the system adaptable to all temperature scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the circulation rate and flow distribution based on real-time temperature conditions and battery operational state, transitioning between cooling and heating modes as needed to maintain optimal temperature uniformity across all cells

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Achieves uniform temperature distribution across battery units, extending the life cycle of rechargeable battery packs by maintaining healthy operational characteristics and allowing for both cooling and heating, while reducing costs through a simplified design.

Implementation Method 1

a heat conducting liquid with magnetic materials enclosing the battery units and being capable of substantially circulating around the battery units

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a circulating module, installed inside the closed housing, for driving the heat conducting liquid to circulate around the battery units

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

The circulating module is a motor with a magnetic rotor or a device having a magnetic rotor driven by change of magnetic forces outside the closed housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP2945220B1System for uniformly distributing temperature across batteries
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 GO-TECH ENERGY CO LTD
  • EP2945220B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2945220B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2945220B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system (100) for uniformly distributing temperature across battery units (110) is disclosed. The system (100) includes: a heat conducting fluid (120), enclosing the battery units (110) and being capable of substantially circulating around the battery units (110) and/or along a specified path among the battery units (110); a closed housing (130), enclosing the battery units (110) and the heat conducting fluid (120); and a circulating module (140), installed inside or outside the closed housing (130), for driving the heat conducting fluid (120) to circulate around the battery units (110) and/or along the specified path. When the circulating module (140) drives the heat conducting fluid (120) to circulate, temperature across the battery units (110) is substantially uniformly distributed.