Planar Heat Pipe Battery Cooling for Uniform Pack Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional thermal management systems for battery packs face challenges in achieving uniform temperature distribution and maintaining optimal operating temperatures, leading to reduced battery performance and operational life due to overheating and non-uniform heat distribution.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system comprising a planar heat pipe arrangement in thermal contact with battery packs and a heat sink arrangement with multiple liquid cold plates in contact with the heat pipes, designed to dissipate heat effectively and maintain optimal temperatures, allowing for enhanced cooling performance and flexibility in battery design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional tubular heat pipes are used, then heat transfer is achieved, but uniform temperature distribution across the battery pack is difficult to achieve due to limited contact area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional tubular heat pipes to planar heat pipes, changing the geometric dimension from 1D/3D tubular structure to 2D planar structure. This dimensional change dramatically increases the contact area between the heat pipe and battery pack, enabling uniform temperature distribution across the entire battery surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the heat pipe from tubular cross-section to planar configuration. This parameter change allows the heat pipe to conform to the battery pack surface and provide extensive thermal contact, resolving the contradiction between heat transfer effectiveness and contact area limitation.
2Quantity of substance
If battery pack size is increased to improve energy capacity, then energy storage is enhanced, but heat dissipation becomes more difficult due to larger temperature gradients
Solution Approach 1:
By using planar heat pipes instead of tubular heat pipes, the thermal management system can effectively manage heat across larger battery pack areas. The extended planar surface area of the heat pipes provides broader contact with the battery pack, reducing temperature gradients even in large-capacity battery configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multiple planar heat pipes arranged in an array across the battery pack surface. This segmentation approach divides the large battery pack into multiple thermal zones, each managed by individual planar heat pipes, thereby effectively controlling temperature gradients across the entire large-capacity battery system.
3Temperature
If traditional thermal management systems (air cooling, liquid cooling, fan cooling, fin cooling) are used, then cooling is provided, but uniform temperature distribution and optimal temperature maintenance are challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The planar heat pipe system operates passively using phase change mechanisms (evaporation and condensation of working fluid) without requiring external power sources, complex control systems, or moving parts. The system self-regulates temperature by automatically responding to heat input from the battery pack, simplifying the overall thermal management system while achieving uniform temperature distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions (liquid to vapor evaporation at the evaporator section, and vapor to liquid condensation at the condenser section) as the core cooling mechanism. This phase change process enables efficient heat transfer and temperature regulation without complex mechanical components, resolving the contradiction between effective temperature control and system complexity.
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 system achieves uniform temperature distribution across battery packs, reducing temperature gradients and extending operational life by efficiently dissipating heat, while allowing for larger battery sizes and configurations without size restrictions.
Implementation Method 1
A thermal management system may include a heat pipe arrangement that includes a plurality of heat pipes, having a planar configuration, in thermal contact with the one or more battery packs to draw heat therefrom
Implementation Method 2
Traditional thermal management systems may include, for example, air cooling, liquid cooling, phase change cooling, fan cooling, and fin cooling
Implementation Method 3
a heat sink arrangement that includes a plurality of heat sinks, in thermal contact with two or more edges of the heat pipe arrangement, to dissipate heat away from the heat pipe arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system to cool one or more battery packs of a battery system may include a heat pipe arrangement that includes a plurality of heat pipes, having a planar configuration, in thermal contact with the one or more battery packs to draw heat therefrom, and a heat sink arrangement that includes a plurality of heat sinks, in thermal contact with two or more edges of the heat pipe arrangement, to dissipate heat away from the heat pipe arrangement.