Power Supply Apparatus Thermal Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of a voltage conversion circuit with a battery cell in a single accommodating space poses a challenge as the heat generated by the voltage conversion circuit adversely affects the battery cell's performance, necessitating an effective heat management solution to reduce size and cost while maintaining battery cell performance.

Innovation Solution

A power supply apparatus design featuring a first housing for the battery cell and a second housing for the voltage conversion circuit, with a low thermal conductive layer interposed between them, allowing for efficient heat dissipation from the voltage conversion circuit while preventing heat transfer to the battery cell, using materials with high heat transfer coefficients and heat dissipation fins for enhanced performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the voltage conversion circuit is accommodated together with the battery cell in one accommodating space, then the size of the power supply apparatus is reduced, but the heat generated from the voltage conversion circuit is transferred to the battery cell, adversely affecting battery cell performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesize of power supply apparatusVSAvoidtemperature of battery cell
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The accommodating space is divided into two separate housings: a first housing for the battery cell and a second housing for the voltage conversion circuit. These housings are coupled together with a low thermal conductive layer between them, creating segmented thermal zones while maintaining spatial integration. This segmentation prevents heat transfer from the voltage conversion circuit to the battery cell while keeping the overall apparatus compact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A low thermal conductive layer is introduced as an intermediary between the first housing (battery cell) and the second housing (voltage conversion circuit). This intermediary layer has thermal conductivity lower than that of the housings, acting as a thermal barrier that blocks heat transfer from the heat-generating voltage conversion circuit to the temperature-sensitive battery cell, while still allowing the housings to be coupled together.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If separate cases are used for battery cell and electronic components, then heat management is improved, but the size and cost of the power supply apparatus increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat managementVSAvoidsize of power supply apparatus
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The first housing and second housing are coupled together to form an integrated accommodating structure that houses both the battery cell and the voltage conversion circuit in one apparatus. The low thermal conductive layer enables these functionally separate components to be spatially integrated while maintaining thermal separation, achieving both compact size and effective heat management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The low thermal conductive layer serves multiple functions: it acts as a thermal barrier to block heat transfer, serves as a coupling element to join the two housings together, and maintains the structural integrity of the integrated apparatus. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby reducing overall size and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This configuration effectively dissipates heat from the voltage conversion circuit, maintains low battery cell temperatures, and reduces the overall size of the power supply apparatus by preventing heat transfer from the voltage conversion circuit to the battery cell, thereby optimizing battery performance and reducing size and cost.

Implementation Method 1

a low thermal conductive layer interposed between mating surfaces of the first housing and the second housing having a thermal conductivity smaller than a thermal conductivity of the first housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

a first housing that fixes the battery cell in a manner to enable heat transfer; a second housing that fixes the voltage conversion circuit in a manner to enable heat transfer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3429022B1Power supply apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.12.23 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3429022B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3429022B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3429022B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A power supply apparatus includes a battery cell, a voltage conversion circuit connected to the battery cell, a first housing that fixes the battery cell in a manner to enable heat transfer, a second housing that fixes the voltage conversion circuit in a manner to enable heat transfer, and a low thermal conductive layer interposed between mating surfaces of the first housing and the second housing having a thermal conductivity smaller than a thermal conductivity of the first housing. The battery cell and the voltage conversion circuit are accommodated in an internal space formed by the first housing and the second housing.