Segmented Battery Retainment Block for Thermal Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery retainment blocks face inefficiencies in heat radiation due to the difficulty in applying cooling air between adjacent batteries, leading to inadequate heat dissipation.

Innovation Solution

A battery retainment block design featuring cylindrical block pieces with alternating large and small diameter sections, where the small diameter sections form a gap for a circulation space between adjacent pieces, allowing for efficient air circulation and heat radiation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a thermal runaway prevention wall is provided along the entire axial direction of the battery between two adjacent batteries, then thermal runaway prevention is improved, but cooling air circulation between batteries is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal runaway preventionVSAvoidheat radiation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The thermal runaway prevention wall is segmented into two parts: a first thermal runaway prevention wall at the upper end and a second thermal runaway prevention wall at the lower end of the battery, with a gap between them. This segmentation allows cooling air to pass through the gap while maintaining thermal runaway prevention functionality at both ends of the battery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling air circulation is enabled by creating a vertical gap dimension between the upper and lower thermal runaway prevention walls, allowing air flow in the axial direction while the walls themselves maintain their barrier function horizontally between adjacent batteries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If block pieces are bonded together to form a battery retainment block, then structural stability is improved, but heat radiation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidheat radiation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The battery retainment block is segmented into multiple block pieces that are bonded together, with circulation spaces created between adjacent block pieces. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain stability through bonding while providing channels for cooling air circulation to improve heat radiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Cooling air acts as an intermediary medium that flows through the circulation spaces between bonded block pieces, enabling heat transfer from the batteries to the surrounding environment while maintaining the structural integrity of the bonded block assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If the entire periphery of the battery is covered by block pieces, then mechanical protection is improved, but cooling air application is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical protectionVSAvoidcooling air application
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The block pieces are segmented to create circulation spaces between them, so that while the batteries are mechanically protected by the block structure, gaps remain through which cooling air can reach the battery surfaces for effective heat dissipation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 enables effective cooling and heat radiation across the entire periphery of batteries, improving thermal management and preventing thermal runaway.

Implementation Method 1

a circulation space for circulating a medium is provided between the small diameter part and the other one of the block pieces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

the plurality of block pieces are arranged, and at least one of the two block pieces that are adjacent to each other, among the plurality of block pieces, formed in a cylindrical shape, has a large diameter part and a small diameter part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2738833B1Battery retainment block and battery module
Publication Date: 2018.09.05 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP2738833B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2738833B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2738833B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery retainment block 1 includes a plurality of block pieces 10 each having a battery storage unit 11 for retaining a battery 2. The plurality of block pieces 10 are aligned and, among the plurality of block pieces 10, two block pieces 10 that are adjacent to each other are coupled together. A gap 15 is provided between the two block pieces 10 that are adjacent to each other to serve as a circulation space for circulating a medium.