Offset Battery Housing Airflow Layout for Electric Work Vehicles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric work vehicles, such as electric tractors, face challenges in efficiently managing heat generated by battery modules, which can impact performance and longevity.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a battery housing with offset portions and an air chamber that connects to each battery housing portion to exhaust air, along with a duct system and blowers to direct and cool the air, enhancing heat management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If battery modules are housed in a conventional battery housing without offset portions, then the structure is simple, but heat dissipation efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The battery housing is divided into multiple portions (first battery housing portion and second battery housing portion) with offset arrangements. Each portion has dedicated air chambers and ducts, segmenting the cooling system to improve heat dissipation efficiency while maintaining manageable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The offset portions are arranged in different spatial dimensions (front-rear direction and left-right direction), creating three-dimensional air flow paths through multiple air chambers and ducts. This dimensional arrangement enhances heat dissipation by utilizing spatial volume more effectively.
2Reliability
If air cooling system components are integrated into the battery housing, then cooling effectiveness improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air cooling system components (air chambers, ducts, blowers) are merged with the battery housing structure. The first and second air chambers are integrated into the first and second battery housing portions respectively, and ducts are formed as integral parts of the housing, improving cooling effectiveness while streamlining manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery housing serves multiple functions: it houses the battery modules, provides structural support, and acts as part of the cooling system through integrated air chambers and ducts. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate cooling components, easing manufacturing while maintaining effective cooling.
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 configuration effectively cools the battery modules by circulating air through an air cooling system, improving the vehicle's performance and extending the life of the battery modules.
Implementation Method 1
a first plurality of blowers and a second plurality of blowers... to direct and cool the air
Implementation Method 2
each of the first plurality of blowers is attach to a respective one of the first plurality of ducts, each of the second plurality of blowers is attach to a respective one of the second plurality of ducts
Data Source
AI summary
An electric work vehicle includes a battery housing including a first battery housing portion and a second battery housing portion and an air chamber. The first battery housing portion and the second battery housing portion are offset from each other, the air chamber is fluidly connected to the first battery housing portion to receive first air exhausted from the first battery housing portion, and the air chamber is fluidly connected to the second battery housing portion to receive second air exhausted from the second battery housing portion.