Prismatic Cell Tie Rod for Thermal and Mechanical Bracing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy storage modules for motor vehicles face challenges in effectively removing heat from prismatic storage cells due to their geometrically narrow dimensions, leading to insufficient cooling and potential cell deformation from gas pressure changes.
Innovation Solution
The integration of tie rods as both mechanical bracing elements and heat-conducting plates, which are designed to simultaneously fix and cool the storage cells, allowing for efficient heat dissipation to a cooling device without the need for separate lateral tie rods, thereby enhancing thermal contact and mechanical stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If separate lateral tie rods are used for mechanical bracing, then mechanical stability is improved, but device complexity increases and heat removal efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mechanical bracing function and heat removal function into a single integrated tie rod structure. The tie rod serves dual purposes: providing lateral mechanical support to prevent cell deformation and acting as a heat-conducting plate to remove heat from the storage cells. This merging eliminates the need for separate lateral tie rods and heat removal components, reducing device complexity while maintaining both mechanical stability and thermal management effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The tie rod is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs mechanical bracing and thermal conduction. By making the tie rod universal in its functionality, the patent eliminates the need for multiple specialized components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving both structural stability and effective heat removal.
2Device complexity
If the cell floor is used for heat removal, then device complexity is reduced, but heat removal efficiency deteriorates due to geometrically narrow dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat removal function with the lateral bracing structure by integrating a heat-conducting plate into the tie rod assembly. This allows heat to be removed from the narrow-sided surfaces of the storage cells through the tie rod, compensating for the insufficient heat removal capability of the cell floor while maintaining geometric simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of relying solely on the cell floor (bottom surface) for heat removal, the patent extends heat removal to the lateral surfaces of the storage cells through the tie rod structure. This dimensional shift allows heat to be dissipated from additional surfaces, improving overall heat removal efficiency without requiring complex modifications to the cell geometry.
3Stability of the object's composition
If tie rods are used solely for mechanical bracing, then mechanical stability is improved, but heat removal capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines mechanical bracing and heat removal functions into the same tie rod structure. The tie rod is designed with both structural integrity for lateral support and thermal conductivity for heat removal, eliminating the trade-off between mechanical stability and heat removal capability that would exist with separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The tie rod is designed as a universal component that simultaneously provides mechanical support and thermal management. By making the tie rod multi-functional, the patent ensures that both mechanical stability and heat removal capability are achieved without compromise, as the same structure performs both functions effectively.
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 solution effectively addresses the heat removal and mechanical bracing needs, ensuring efficient cooling and preventing cell slippage during mounting, while simplifying the assembly process and maintaining insulation integrity.
Implementation Method 1
at least one tie rod is simultaneously constructed as a heat-conducting plate for removing the heat from the storage cells to a cooling device
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an energy storage module for an apparatus for supplying voltage, in particular of a motor vehicle, in which the energy storage module has a plurality of prismatic storage cells which, in a manner stacked to form at least one row, are arranged one behind the other and are braced between two end plates by means of at least one tie rod. The tie rod may be in the form of a thermally conductive metal sheet for dissipating the heat from the storage cells to a cooling device.