Melt-Open Immersion Cooling for High-Density Battery Modules
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery modules face challenges in achieving high energy density and efficient cooling due to structural limitations, particularly with cylindrical and prismatic battery cells, where the side surface heat generation is obstructed by adjacent cells, leading to low cooling efficiency and potential overheating.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring an inner partition wall with a support layer, sealing portion layer, and safe sealing portion layer, allowing for the immersion of battery cells in a cooling liquid, which can be circulated through the module to enhance cooling efficiency and safety by preventing overheating and flame inhibition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If battery cells are disposed in tight contact with each other to reduce inner space, then energy density is improved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates because side surface heat generation is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The battery module is divided into multiple layers with partition walls between them. Each partition wall includes cooling liquid channels that segment the heat dissipation paths, allowing independent cooling of different battery cell groups while maintaining tight contact arrangement for high energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
A partition wall structure is introduced as an intermediary between adjacent battery cells. This partition wall contains cooling liquid channels that serve as heat transfer mediators, conducting heat away from battery cell side surfaces without requiring physical separation between cells.
2Temperature
If a heat sink is disposed at upper or lower part of battery cell to discharge heat by conduction, then cooling is achieved, but volume of battery module is increased which reduces energy density
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall structure is designed to simultaneously serve multiple functions: it acts as a structural support element, a thermal management component with integrated cooling liquid channels, and a space-efficient heat dissipation pathway. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate heat sink components.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall is designed as a multi-functional component that provides both structural support and thermal management functions. The same partition wall structure contains cooling liquid channels, making it a universal solution that addresses both mechanical support and heat dissipation requirements without increasing overall module volume.
3Temperature
If cooling liquid channels are formed in partition wall, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling liquid channels are integrated directly into the partition wall structure during manufacturing. This merging of cooling channels with the existing structural partition walls eliminates the need for separate cooling system components and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high cooling efficiency.
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 design enables improved cooling performance and stability, preventing overheating and flame inhibition by allowing direct contact between the cooling liquid and the battery cells, thereby maintaining high energy density and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling liquid disposed above or under the inner partition wall... direct contact between the cooling liquid and the battery cells
Implementation Method 2
the battery module includes a liquid immersion cooling unit through which the cooling liquid is circulated
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module includes a cylindrical battery cell or a prismatic battery cell, wherein a part of the cylindrical battery cell or the prismatic battery cell is immersed in a cooling liquid. The battery module includes a liquid immersion cooling unit configured such that a hole is formed through the liquid immersion cooling unit as the result of melting when the temperature rises, whereby the cooling liquid is dispersed to the entirety of the battery module.