Sealed Battery Pack Cooling Structure with Internal Air Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling structures for vehicle battery packs face challenges such as rainwater penetration and complexity due to external components, and sealed types require additional components like compressors, complicating the system and leading to issues with condensed water.
Innovation Solution
A sealed battery pack with a thermally conductive case containing a blower fan and duct system that circulates air through gaps between modules and the case, enhancing heat dissipation and temperature uniformity without external components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealed cooling structure is used to prevent rainwater and dust penetration, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to requiring compressors and heat dissipators outside the battery pack
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling system components (blower fan, blower duct, and battery modules) into a single integrated sealed battery pack structure. The blower fan is positioned inside the battery pack case, and the blower duct connects the fan to outlets on the case, creating a self-contained cooling system that eliminates the need for external compressors and heat dissipators while maintaining sealed protection against rainwater and dust
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack case serves multiple functions: it provides structural enclosure for the battery modules, acts as a sealed barrier against environmental contaminants, and functions as part of the cooling system by housing the blower fan and duct while providing outlets for air circulation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate external components
2Productivity
If a blower fan is added inside the sealed battery pack to improve temperature distribution, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blower fan is strategically positioned at a specific location inside the battery pack case, and the blower duct directs air flow to specific outlets on the case, creating localized forced convection zones that efficiently target heat dissipation from the battery modules without requiring a complex system-wide redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system uses the battery pack's own structure (case and internal space) to house and operate the blower fan, allowing the system to serve its own cooling needs without external assistance. The air circulation path is contained entirely within the sealed battery pack, making the system self-sufficient
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
Improves air circulation efficiency and achieves homogenous temperature distribution within the battery pack, simplifying the structure while providing an effective cooling solution without external components.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchange between air blown to an intermediate portion of the battery module and the battery module
Implementation Method 2
the battery case is formed of a thermally conductive material as a heat dissipation member
Implementation Method 3
a blower fan arranged on an upper side in a vehicle height direction with respect to the plurality of battery modules, and a blower duct for pressure-feeding air sent out from the blower fan
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem to be Solved] To improve blowing circulation efficiency inside the sealed type battery back, to thereby achieve a simplification of the structure, homogenization of the temperature distribution inside the battery pack, and a desired cooling effect. [Solution] A cooling structure for a battery pack (1) comprising a plurality of battery modules (31, 32) inside a battery case (10, 20), in which: the battery case is formed of a thermally conductive material as a heat dissipation member; the plurality of battery modules are fixedly arranged inside the battery case with a gap (310, 312, 320, 322, 330) between one another; the battery case comprises thereinside a blower fan (5) arranged on an upper side in a vehicle height direction with respect to the plurality of battery modules, and a blower duct (4; 41, 42) for pressure-feeding air sent out from the blower fan to at least one outlet (417, 418, 427, 428) positioned in the middle of the plurality of battery modules in a vehicle longitudinal direction and a vehicle width direction; and the cooling structure is configured such that the air (Fa, Fb, Fc, Fd) blown from the outlet passes through the gap in the plurality of battery modules and a gap between the plurality of battery modules and an inner face of the battery case, to be circulated to the blower fan.