Portable Battery Passive Air Cooling via Segmented Casing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable battery systems face challenges in cooling, insulation, corrosion resistance, and mechanical strength, especially in high-temperature and damp environments, leading to short charge life and safety concerns, and require active ventilation which consumes battery power and increases weight.
Innovation Solution
A portable battery device with a parallelepiped casing featuring continuous airtight side walls and perforated peripheral walls for passive air cooling, exposing battery elements to the outside environment for optimal heat exchange while maintaining electrical insulation and corrosion protection, and using compartmentalization with sealing means to balance pressure and prevent moisture condensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery elements are housed in a totally airtight casing, then electrical insulation and corrosion protection are improved, but heat dissipation deteriorates leading to short charge life
Solution Approach 1:
The casing is divided into two distinct parts: an airtight inner casing that houses the battery elements and provides protection, and an outer casing with aeration openings that enables heat dissipation. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the casing have different properties: the inner casing is completely airtight to protect battery elements from moisture and corrosion, while the outer casing has selective aeration openings that allow heat to escape but prevent water and debris from entering. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between sealing and cooling.
2Temperature
If aeration openings are added to the casing for cooling, then heat dissipation is improved, but electrical insulation and corrosion protection deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-casing structure separates the protective function (inner airtight casing) from the cooling function (outer casing with openings), allowing both requirements to be met simultaneously without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner airtight casing acts as an intermediary barrier between the battery elements and the external environment, allowing heat to pass through while blocking moisture and corrosive elements, thus enabling cooling without sacrificing protection.
3Temperature
If forced air circulation is used for cooling, then heat dissipation is improved, but device complexity and weight increase due to actuators and movable parts
Solution Approach 1:
The passive cooling system utilizes natural convection currents and the temperature differential between the battery elements and ambient air to drive air flow through the aeration openings, eliminating the need for active cooling components and achieving self-regulated heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical forced ventilation system is replaced with a passive thermal convection system that relies on natural physical phenomena (heat rise and air convection) to achieve cooling, thereby eliminating motors, sensors, and control mechanisms.
4Temperature
If forced air circulation with thermal radiators is used, then heat dissipation is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heavy active cooling system with radiators and fans is replaced by a lightweight passive cooling structure that uses the casing itself as the heat dissipation pathway, eliminating the need for additional cooling components and reducing overall weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer casing serves multiple functions: it provides structural protection, enables heat dissipation through integrated aeration openings, and eliminates the need for separate radiator components, thereby reducing weight while maintaining cooling effectiveness.
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 battery life, reduces corrosion and short-circuit risks, allows use in rainy conditions, and provides effective cooling without active ventilation, while maintaining structural integrity and reducing weight.
Implementation Method 1
the charge life of these batteries is nevertheless relatively short. Thus, even in the case of strong current, the battery is discharged before its elements reach critical temperature thresholds, taking into account their insulation in the airtight casing. Actually, even if the temperature of these elements—because of the thermal power dissipated by them and not dissipated quickly in the ambient air—quickly increases
Implementation Method 2
exposing battery elements to the outside environment for optimal heat exchange
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a portable battery device including a casing and a battery unit housed therein, and consisting of a plurality of battery elements. The battery device includes a surface unit for compartmentalizing the internal volume of the casing, defining sealed housings, the ends of the elements come respectively into supporting engagement, by or with the opposite end portions of the bodies of the battery elements, with the opposite compartmentalizing unit. The remaining parts of the bodies of the elements situated between the opposite compartmentalizing element are directly exposed to the outside environment through perforated or discontinuous portions of the wall of the casing.