Parallel Battery Cooling Layout for Uniform Cell Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional battery packs experience asymmetric thermal stress and deterioration due to uneven temperature distribution, leading to reduced performance and shortened lifespan, particularly at the outlet side where cooling is diminished.
Innovation Solution
A parallel thermal management system that directs thermal management fluid in a lengthwise or vertical direction along the battery, providing cell-by-cell heat collection and discharge to optimize temperature distribution and reduce stress, using tower and nozzle arrangements with plates and protrusions for improved fluid flow and heat extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional series thermal management system is used, then cooling coverage is provided across the battery pack, but temperature distribution becomes asymmetric with outlet side experiencing higher temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple temperature zones along the flow direction, with independent cooling channels for each zone. This segmentation allows different cooling intensities to be applied to different sections, preventing the asymmetric temperature distribution that occurs in traditional series systems where all cells share the same cooling path.
Solution Approach 2:
Different cooling intensities are applied to different regions of the battery pack based on local thermal requirements. The outlet side, which experiences higher temperatures in traditional systems, is provided with enhanced cooling capacity through dedicated cooling channels, ensuring uniform temperature distribution across all cells regardless of their position in the flow path.
2Reliability
If fluid flows in series from inlet to outlet, then thermal management is provided, but cooling effectiveness diminishes at the outlet side
Solution Approach 1:
The single series cooling path is segmented into multiple parallel cooling channels, each serving specific zones along the battery pack. This allows the cooling fluid to maintain effective cooling capacity throughout the entire pack by distributing flow across multiple paths rather than allowing temperature to accumulate along a single path.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system transitions from a one-dimensional series flow to a multi-dimensional parallel flow architecture. By adding the dimension of parallel cooling paths, the system can simultaneously cool multiple zones with fresh cooling fluid, preventing the temperature rise that occurs in the outlet side of traditional series systems.
3Productivity
If overall thermal management is used, then battery pack cooling is achieved, but cell-by-cell temperature optimization is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system is segmented into cell-level or zone-level independent cooling channels, allowing individual temperature control for each cell or group of cells. This enables optimization of charge rates for different cells based on their specific thermal conditions, rather than being constrained by the uniform cooling approach of overall thermal management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cell or zone is provided with customized cooling intensity based on its specific thermal requirements and operational state. This local quality approach enables precise temperature optimization for each cell, maximizing charge rates where conditions permit while preventing overheating where it occurs, thereby improving overall battery productivity and performance.
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
Enhances thermal management efficiency, maintains consistent cell performance, and extends battery pack longevity by normalizing thermal distribution and reducing heat accumulation.
Implementation Method 1
fluid passes along the overall battery pack, cooling cells in series from an inlet side to an outlet side of the battery pack. The fluid cools the cells in a series arrangement while the temperature of the fluid rises between the inlet and outlet sides
Implementation Method 2
The system may include a parallel arrangement for cell-by-cell thermal management while the fluid travels in a lengthwise or vertical direction along the battery
Data Source
AI summary
A system for parallel thermal management of one or more battery cells may include a tower plate and a nozzle plate. The tower plate may include a plurality of tower protrusions, each having a closed distal end, an open proximal end, and inwardly curved sidewalls extending between the closed distal end and the open proximal end. The nozzle plate may include a plurality of nozzle protrusions, each having an open distal end, an open proximal end, outwardly curved sidewalls extending between the open distal end and open proximal end, and radially extending fins extending at least a portion of the outwardly curved sidewalls.