Battery Module Heat Sink Layout for Procumbent Cell Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery modules face limitations in heat dissipation and design flexibility due to external heat sinks, which degrade cooling performance and restrict height direction design changes, leading to inefficiencies in energy density and space utilization.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring a heat sink unit with a center and side heat sink, thermally conductive members, and cooling pins that contact both top and bottom portions of secondary battery cells, along with a cell accommodating unit allowing procumbent cell installation, enhancing heat transfer paths and enabling flexible height direction design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heat sink is disposed on an exterior of the housing member, then heat dissipation is provided, but cooling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat sink unit is merged with the housing member to form an integrated structure. The heat sink unit includes a lower plate member, middle plate member, and upper plate member that are coupled together to form a unified cooling structure that maintains high cooling performance while providing effective heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sink unit extends in the height direction (vertical dimension) with multiple plate members stacked together, creating a three-dimensional heat dissipation structure. This dimensional approach increases the heat dissipation surface area while maintaining compact horizontal footprint, resolving the contradiction between heat dissipation effectiveness and cooling performance.
2Strength
If the secondary battery cell is installed with bottom portion standing to contact lower plate member, then structural support is provided, but height direction design flexibility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The lower plate member, middle plate member, and upper plate member serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural support for the battery cells, act as heat sink components for cooling, and enable flexible height direction design through their coupled configuration. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between structural support and design flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupled plate member structure allows for adjustable and flexible height direction design. The plate members can be configured in different arrangements to accommodate various battery cell orientations and heights, providing adaptability while maintaining structural integrity through their interconnected design.
3Quantity of substance
If the housing member is extended in width direction to increase number of battery cells, then energy density increases, but space utilization becomes inefficient and additional rigidity compensation structure is required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the housing member in the width direction, the heat sink unit and plate members are configured to extend in the height direction. This vertical arrangement allows more battery cells to be accommodated by utilizing the height dimension, thereby increasing energy density without inefficiently expanding the horizontal footprint and maintaining effective space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing member and heat sink unit are merged into an integrated structure where the plate members serve both as structural housing components and as heat dissipation elements. This integration eliminates the need for additional rigidity compensation structures, as the coupled plate members inherently provide both structural support and cooling functionality, improving space utilization.
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 improved heat dissipation and design flexibility increase energy density, reduce the risk of heat-related failures, and enhance space utilization while providing structural rigidity without additional configurations, thus improving durability and reducing weight.
Implementation Method 1
a heat sink unit provided in the cell accommodating unit and the cover unit and in contact with a bottom portion and a top portion of the secondary battery cells to release heat generated by the secondary battery cells externally
Implementation Method 2
release heat generated by the secondary battery cells externally
Implementation Method 3
a thermally conductive member disposed between the middle plate member disposed with the center heat sink, the side cover member disposed with the side heat sink and the bottom portion of the secondary battery cells, and the top portion of the secondary battery cells and forming a heat transfer path
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module may include a plurality of secondary battery cells; a cell accommodating unit equipped with at least one of the secondary battery cells in a procumbent state; a cover unit coupled to the cell accommodating unit and covering an opening of the cell accommodating unit accommodating the secondary battery cells; and a heat sink unit provided in the cell accommodating unit and the cover unit and in contact with a bottom portion and a top portion of the secondary battery cells to release heat generated by the secondary battery cells externally.