Segmented Battery Cooling Member with Integrated Conduits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery modules for high-power, large-capacity applications face challenges in effectively removing heat generated during charge and discharge, leading to potential deterioration, fire, or explosion risks due to low thermal conductivity materials and inefficient cooling systems, particularly with pouch-shaped batteries.

Innovation Solution

A battery module design featuring a thermal conduction member with separated upper and lower plates and a coolant conduit system, where the first conduit is between the plates and the second conduit is integrally connected at the front and rear, preventing coolant leakage and enhancing assembly efficiency, with cooling fins for improved heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional cooling member with integrated thermal conduction member and coolant conduit is used, then the structure is simple, but coolant leakage occurs at the connection region between the thermal conduction member and the coolant conduit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoolant leakage preventionVSAvoidcooling member structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling member is divided into separate components: a thermal conduction member (heat sink) and a coolant conduit assembly. The thermal conduction member includes an upper plate and lower plate that are separated from each other, with the coolant conduit positioned between them. This segmentation eliminates the connection region between the thermal conduction member and coolant conduit, thereby preventing coolant leakage while maintaining structural integrity through thermal conduction plates that connect the coolant conduit to the heat dissipation surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the thermal conduction member is divided into separated upper and lower plates, then assembly efficiency is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidthermal conduction member structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The thermal conduction member is segmented into an upper plate and a lower plate that can be assembled separately around the coolant conduit. This allows for modular assembly where the coolant conduit can be positioned between the plates and secured with fasteners, improving assembly efficiency and facilitating manufacturing while the plates work together to provide thermal conduction pathways to the battery cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Weight of moving object

If pouch-shaped batteries with aluminum laminate sheets are used, then weight to capacity ratio is reduced, but thermal conductivity is insufficient for effective heat removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight to capacity ratioVSAvoidheat removal efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

A thermal conduction member (heat sink) serves as an intermediary between the pouch-shaped battery cells and the coolant conduit. This heat sink includes thermal conduction plates that make direct contact with the battery cells, providing a high thermal conductivity pathway to transfer heat from the low-conductivity aluminum laminate batteries to the coolant flowing in the conduit, thereby compensating for the insufficient thermal conductivity of the battery packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design effectively prevents coolant leakage, improves assembly efficiency, and enhances cooling efficiency by optimizing coolant flow velocity, thereby ensuring safer and more reliable battery modules with improved thermal management.

Implementation Method 1

a coolant conduit including a first conduit (40) and a second conduit (30) configured to have a hollow structure in which a coolant flows

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

a thermal conduction member disposed at the top or the bottom of the battery module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

the thermal conduction member including an upper plate (60) and a lower plate (50), which are separated from each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2650960B1Cooling element having improved assembly productivity and battery modules including same
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP2650960B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2650960B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2650960B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a cooling member mounted at a top or a bottom of a battery module configured to have a structure in which a plurality of unit modules, each of which includes one or more battery cells, is arranged in a lateral direction or a battery pack configured to have a structure in which a plurality of battery modules is arranged in a lateral direction to remove heat generated from the battery cells during charge and discharge of the battery cells, the cooling member including a thermal conduction member disposed at the top or the bottom of the battery module or the battery pack, the thermal conduction member including an upper plate and a lower plate, which are separated from each other, and a coolant conduit including a first conduit and a second conduit configured to have a hollow structure in which a coolant flows, the first conduit being disposed between the upper plate and the lower plate, the second conduit being integrally connected to the first conduit, the second conduit being disposed at a front and/or a rear of the battery module or the battery pack.