Nonuniform Cooling Jacket for Battery Cell Thermal Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cooling devices for battery cells, such as perimeter cooling plates, fail to effectively address non-uniform heat generation patterns, leading to significant temperature deviations within battery modules, which can cause degradation, safety issues, and even explosions.

Innovation Solution

A cooling jacket with a plate-shaped cooling plate and non-uniform cooling channels, where channel widths vary to match the heat generation pattern, with larger channels near the electrode leads and gradually increasing widths towards the central region, embedded within the plate to enhance heat transfer and coolant flow rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a conventional perimeter cooling plate with uniform cooling channels is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the temperature deviation inside the battery cell remains large due to non-uniform heat generation pattern

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling plate structureVSAvoidtemperature deviation inside battery cell

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling channel width is varied locally to match the heat generation pattern. Channels near the electrode lead (high heat generation region) have larger widths to increase coolant flow and heat dissipation capacity, while channels in the central region (low heat generation) have smaller widths. This local differentiation optimizes cooling effectiveness without requiring complete structural redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling plate transitions from a symmetric uniform channel design to an asymmetric non-uniform channel design. The channel widths are intentionally made asymmetric with respect to the battery cell center, with larger widths positioned toward the electrode lead side where heat generation is highest, creating an asymmetric cooling profile that matches the asymmetric heat generation pattern.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Temperature

If the cooling channel width is increased near the electrode lead to match heat generation pattern, then cooling effectiveness in high-temperature regions improves, but the overall coolant flow rate and pressure drop are affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectiveness in high-temperature regionVSAvoidcoolant flow rate and pressure drop

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling channel width parameter is changed progressively from the central region toward the electrode lead region. This gradual parameter change allows the coolant flow rate and pressure drop to be optimized: larger widths near the electrode lead enhance local cooling where needed most, while the progressive transition maintains smoother flow characteristics and reduces overall pressure losses compared to abrupt width changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If indirect air cooling is used, then the structure is simple, but the cooling performance is low and battery module energy density is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling device structureVSAvoidcooling performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from indirect air cooling (gas phase) to indirect water cooling (liquid phase). Liquid coolant provides superior heat transfer coefficients compared to air, significantly improving cooling performance. The non-uniform channel design further optimizes the hydraulic flow to match thermal loads, achieving high cooling effectiveness while maintaining a relatively simple plate structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 cooling jacket significantly reduces temperature deviations within battery cells, improves thermal conductivity, and enhances safety and lifespan by effectively managing heat distribution, even with lower coolant flow rates and pressure drops.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling jacket configured to be disposed close to one surface of a battery cell to absorb heat of the battery cell

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

A coolant is supplied to the cooling tube 4 in a state where the battery cell 1 is in contact with one surface of the perimeter cooling plate, to absorb the heat of the battery cell 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11217836B2Cooling jacket having nonuniform flow paths, for cooling battery cell surface, and battery module including same

Publication Date: 2022.01.04 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a cooling jacket configured to be disposed close to one surface of a battery cell to absorb heat of the battery cell, the cooling jacket including a cooling plate and a plurality of cooling channels extending therein. The plurality of cooling channels include a coolant supply manifold channel and a coolant discharge manifold channel respectively disposed at first and second sides of the cooling plate and each extending in a longitudinal direction from an inside of the cooling plate to an outside of the cooling plate so that one end thereof is exposed to the outside of the cooling plate; and non-uniform cooling channels spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and each having first and second ends respectively connected to the coolant supply manifold channel and the coolant discharge manifold channel, the non-uniform cooling channels having widths that are non-uniform in the longitudinal direction.