MOF Battery Interface for Thermal Isolation and Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle batteries face challenges in thermal management and mechanical stress absorption, leading to reduced performance and longevity due to heat accumulation and mechanical stresses from operation, such as vibrations and volume changes during cell cycling.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional metal-organic framework (MOF) interface is introduced between battery cells and modules, providing thermal insulation and active cooling through heat conduction and forced convection, while also acting as a mechanical damper to absorb vibrations and pressure, thereby improving energy density and simplifying battery pack assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If thermal management components are added to battery packs, then thermal control performance is improved, but device complexity and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by integrating thermal management, mechanical stress absorption, and electrical insulation functions into a single interface component. The interface includes a first portion for thermal management with coolant flow channels, a second portion for mechanical stress absorption with damping material, and an electrical insulation layer, thereby eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple previously separate functions into one integrated interface component. The thermal management portion, mechanical stress absorption portion, and electrical insulation layer are combined into a single interface that contacts the battery cell, reducing the number of parts and simplifying assembly while improving thermal control performance.
2Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for thermal management and mechanical protection, then functional performance is improved, but assembly complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines thermal management, mechanical protection, and electrical insulation functions into a single integrated interface component. This merging reduces assembly complexity by eliminating multiple separate components and their associated assembly steps, while maintaining all necessary functional performances through the integrated design of different portions within the interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides thermal management through coolant channels, mechanical stress absorption through damping material, and electrical insulation through an insulation layer. This universal design improves ease of manufacture by replacing multiple specialized components with one versatile interface that can be manufactured and installed as a single unit.
3Temperature
If larger interface components are used to improve thermal management, then thermal control is improved, but battery pack energy density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is segmented into distinct functional portions: a thermal management portion with coolant channels, a mechanical stress absorption portion with damping material, and an electrical insulation layer. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining an overall compact design that minimizes the total volume of the interface, thereby preserving battery pack energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface applies local quality by concentrating thermal management functions in a first portion with optimized coolant flow channels, mechanical stress absorption in a second portion with damping material, and electrical insulation in a separate layer. This localized functional distribution ensures effective thermal control without requiring a uniformly large interface throughout, thus maintaining high energy density.
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 MOF interface effectively manages thermal and mechanical stresses, enhancing battery performance, longevity, and energy density by conducting heat away from batteries and absorbing mechanical energy without energy release, thus improving the overall efficiency and reliability of electric vehicle batteries.
Implementation Method 1
The MOF can include porous features that provide thermal insulation between the battery cells, and modules when fluid is not forced through the openings
Implementation Method 2
providing thermal management in the form of thermal insulation or cooling via thermal conduction and forced convection
Implementation Method 3
allow for fluid (e.g., gas or liquid) to be forced through the openings in order to provide forced convection cooling for the battery
Implementation Method 4
absorbing mechanical energy (e.g., vibrations or mechanical pressure) in the battery pack... The MOF can also provide mechanical energy absorption in the form of a damper
Data Source
AI summary
The present solution provides a multifunctional metal-organic (MOF) interface that can be applied between battery cells, battery modules or battery packs and provide thermal isolation and active cooling, as necessary, while also providing absorption for mechanical stress of EV battery. The present solution can include a battery cell that can have an outer surface. A multifunctional material can be coupled with the outer surface of the battery cell. An opening that extends through the multifunctional material can provide thermal convection when the heat is moved through the opening. The multifunctional material can provide thermal insulation when the fluid is not moved through the opening. The multifunctional material can insulate the battery cell from mechanical stress.