Pouch Cell Tab Cooling Plate for Thermal Runaway Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current thermal management systems for electric vehicle batteries, particularly Lithium-ion batteries, face challenges in effectively cooling battery cell tabs and maintaining thermal safety, as existing cooling fins primarily focus on the cell body and are complex to assemble and maintain, with a risk of leaks in liquid-cooled systems.

Innovation Solution

A battery apparatus featuring a cell tab cooling system with a thermally conductive plate made of high thermal conductivity materials like graphite or copper, integrated with an outer electrically insulated layer and glue for secure attachment, designed to manage temperature of cell tabs and potentially function as an alternative to traditional cooling fins, ensuring reliable thermal safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If liquid-cooled systems with cooling fins are used to cool battery cells, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and risk of leaks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell body temperatureVSAvoidcooling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the cooling function from the complex liquid-cooled system and applies it directly to the cell tabs through simple thermally conductive plates. This separates the tab cooling function from the body cooling system, eliminating the need for complex liquid cooling infrastructure while effectively managing the heat generation points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses simple, inexpensive thermally conductive plates made from materials like aluminum or copper that can be easily replaced if needed. These plates provide effective cooling without the complexity and cost of liquid cooling systems, offering a maintenance-friendly solution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Loss of energy

If cooling fins are used to cool battery cells, then heat dissipation is improved, but assembly and maintenance difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the cooling function directly into the tab structure by attaching thermally conductive plates to the cell tabs. This integration simplifies assembly as the cooling components are directly attached to the heat source without requiring separate mounting procedures for cooling fins and associated fluid distribution systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling system is segmented into individual thermally conductive plates for each cell tab, allowing independent assembly and replacement. This modular approach simplifies manufacturing and maintenance compared to integrated cooling fin systems that require complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If cell tabs are cooled separately from cell bodies, then thermal management precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal management precisionVSAvoidcooling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by placing thermally conductive plates specifically at the cell tabs where heat is generated, rather than cooling the entire cell body uniformly. This targeted approach provides precise thermal management at the heat source with simple, low-complexity components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 provides efficient thermal management for battery cell tabs, preventing thermal runaway by effectively dissipating heat without increasing the thickness or weight of the battery apparatus, while being easier to assemble and maintain compared to existing systems.

Implementation Method 1

the cell tab cooling system comprises a thermally conductive plate made of high thermal conductivity material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4310993A1Battery apparatus with a cell tab cooling system
Publication Date: 2024.01.24 NEWFREY LLC
  • EP4310993A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2A
  • EP4310993A1 patent drawingFigure 2B~3B
  • EP4310993A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5B

AI summary

Battery apparatus (10) comprising a pouch cell (12) with a cell body (18), a first tab (20) and a second tab (22) adapted to provide electrical connections to the cell body (18), and a cell tab cooling system (16) configured to manage the temperature of the cell tabs, wherein the cell tab cooling system (16) is in facing contact with the first and/or the second tab (20, 22), and in that the cell tab cooling system (16) comprises a thermally conductive plate (24) made of high thermal conductivity material.