Polyamide Battery Box for Lightweight Thermal Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling and heating devices for electric or hybrid vehicle batteries face challenges with complex shapes, weight, durability, and thermal transfer efficiency, particularly when exposed to extreme temperatures and humidity, and require materials that can withstand aggressive environments while ensuring battery safety and longevity.
Innovation Solution
A cooling and heating device featuring a battery chest made from a polyamide-based composition with reinforcement fibers and thermally conductive components, providing improved thermal transfer, mechanical resistance, and flame retardancy, which is lighter and more durable than traditional metal structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metal structure is used for the battery box, then mechanical strength and durability are improved, but weight increases and heat transfer efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining polyamide matrix with specific additives (glass fibers for strength, carbon fibers for thermal conductivity, talc for stiffness) to create a material that simultaneously achieves high strength, low weight, and improved heat transfer efficiency, resolving the contradiction between metal strength and plastic weight/thermal properties
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a metal structure is used for the battery box, then durability is improved, but heat transfer efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material combines polyamide durability with carbon fibers and glass fibers that enhance both long-term stability and thermal conductivity, allowing the battery box to maintain structural integrity while efficiently transferring heat from battery cells
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates thermally conductive components specifically in regions requiring heat transfer (near battery cells) while maintaining overall structural durability, creating local thermal pathways without compromising global structural integrity
3Adaptability or versatility
If a complex shape is required for the battery box, then adaptability to vehicle space is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the manufacturing parameter from metal stamping to plastic injection molding, which is inherently more suitable for complex three-dimensional shapes, allowing the battery box to adapt to irregular vehicle spaces while simplifying the manufacturing process
4Weight of moving object
If plastic material is used for the battery box, then weight is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but thermal conductivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates carbon fibers and other thermally conductive additives into the polyamide matrix to enhance thermal conductivity while maintaining the weight advantage of plastic materials, creating a composite that conducts heat better than pure plastic but remains lighter than metal
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 solution enhances thermal transfer efficiency, mechanical resistance, and safety, while reducing weight and maintaining battery performance across varying environmental conditions, thus contributing to energy savings and extended battery lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
Battery cooling devices consisting of circulating a heat transfer fluid around the battery are known
Implementation Method 2
A cooling and heating device featuring a battery chest made from a polyamide-based composition with reinforcement fibers and thermally conductive components, providing improved thermal transfer
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for cooling and/or heating a battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, comprising a battery box provided with: at least one envelope (3) consisting of a composition comprising between 0 and 80 wt. %, in relation to the total weight of the composition, of reinforcing fibres, between 0 and 20 wt. %, in relation to the total weight, of at least one thermoconductive component, between 0 and 20 wt. %, in relation to the total weight, of at least one impact modifier, and between 0 and 20 wt. %, in relation to the total weight of the composition, of additives, the remainder being a matrix predominantly comprising at least one polyamide and optionally at least one flameproofing agent; an inlet (4) for a heat-transfer fluid (6); and an outlet (5) for a heat-transfer fluid (6), the box defining a battery cooling and/or heating space.