Removable Battery Cold Plate for Charging Thermal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles and aircraft face challenges in thermal management of batteries during charging, as traditional cold plates are heavy and increase payload, while optimal battery temperatures for charging and operation differ from those during use.
Innovation Solution
A nonintegrated cold plate system that can be attached to batteries during charging, featuring a top and bottom plate with coolant pathways, allowing for thermal conditioning and detachment after charging, reducing payload weight and enabling efficient temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a traditional integrated cold plate is used for battery thermal management, then cooling effectiveness is maintained, but payload weight increases due to the constant burden of heavy cold plates
Solution Approach 1:
The cold plate system is segmented into a permanent base structure and a removable cooling plate. The cooling plate can be detached when not needed, separating the thermal management function from the continuous payload, thus reducing weight during operation while maintaining cooling capability when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The cold plate configuration transitions from static (permanently attached) to dynamic (removable/reconfigurable). The cooling plate can be attached during charging operations and removed during normal operation, allowing the system to adapt its weight based on operational requirements.
2Productivity
If heavy cold plates are continuously attached to batteries, then optimal temperature control during charging is achieved, but charging efficiency is reduced due to excessive payload weight
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system is divided into essential permanent components and optional removable components. The removable cooling plate provides enhanced cooling during charging without being permanently attached, allowing the vehicle to operate at lower weight during normal driving while maintaining charging efficiency when the plate is attached.
3Weight of moving object
If a nonintegrated removable cold plate is used, then payload weight is reduced, but thermal management complexity increases due to attachment and detachment operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into simple, standardized components with straightforward attachment interfaces. The cooling plate uses simple mechanical attachment mechanisms that can be quickly connected and disconnected without complex procedures, minimizing the operational burden despite the modular design.
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
Enables efficient thermal management of batteries during charging, reducing payload weight and improving charging efficiency and duration by allowing optimal temperature control without the constant burden of heavy cold plates.
Implementation Method 1
circulating coolant through the nonintegrated cold plate such that the coolant is operable to cool (or condition or heat, as needed) the one or more batteries during charging
Implementation Method 2
a pump configured to draw coolant from the reservoir and comprising a supply line and a return line
Data Source
AI summary
A nonintegral cold plate is described for providing cooling of battery charging. The nonintegrated cold plate can receive and circulate coolant against a surface of a battery or of a vehicle. After charging the nonintegrated cold plate can be removed to save weight on the vehicle's payload.