Shared Cooling Layout for Battery Packs and Power Conversion Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing energy storage systems using lithium-ion batteries face challenges with thermal management, leading to increased size, weight, cost, and reduced energy efficiency due to the use of separate liquid-cooling systems for power conversion systems and battery packs.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management apparatus with a shared cooling module for both battery packs and power conversion systems, where the power conversion system is located downstream in the cooling path, allowing for adjustable flow rates and integrated air-cooling and refrigerant units to optimize cooling and heating based on temperature tolerance differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate liquid-cooling systems are provided for power conversion system and battery pack, then thermal management reliability is improved, but system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling paths of the power conversion system and battery pack into a single integrated liquid-cooling system. The cooling pump, cooling tank, and cooling channels are shared between both systems, eliminating redundant components while maintaining thermal management reliability through unified circulation and temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid-cooling system is designed with multi-functionality to serve both the power conversion system and battery pack simultaneously. The same cooling medium circulation system performs thermal management for different components with different thermal requirements, achieving universal application without sacrificing reliability.
2Reliability
If separate liquid-cooling systems are provided for power conversion system and battery pack, then thermal management effectiveness is improved, but system weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cooling systems into one unified structure, where the cooling pump, cooling tank, and cooling channels serve both the power conversion system and battery pack. This merging eliminates duplicate heavy components such as redundant pumps, tanks, and piping, significantly reducing overall system weight while maintaining thermal management effectiveness.
3Reliability
If separate liquid-cooling systems are provided for power conversion system and battery pack, then thermal control precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cooling systems into a single manufactured unit, reducing the number of separate assemblies that need to be produced and installed. The unified cooling pump, tank, and channel structure simplify manufacturing processes, reduce material costs, and lower assembly complexity compared to maintaining separate independent cooling systems for each component.
4Reliability
If separate liquid-cooling systems are provided for power conversion system and battery pack, then thermal management capability is improved, but energy efficiency ratio decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a unified cooling circulation system where the cooling pump and cooling medium serve both the power conversion system and battery pack simultaneously. This eliminates redundant energy consumption from multiple pumps operating independently and reduces the total volume of cooling medium required, thereby improving the overall energy efficiency ratio while maintaining full thermal management capability.
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 approach reduces the size, weight, and cost while improving energy efficiency by optimizing cooling and heating operations, utilizing the power conversion system's heat to preheat battery packs and minimizing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling module configured to provide a cooling medium to cool the heat exchange module
Implementation Method 2
the heat exchange module includes a battery pack group and a power conversion system group which are connected in sequence
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage system and a thermal management apparatus therefor are provided. The thermal management apparatus includes at least one heat exchange module, and a cooling module, which is used for providing a cooling medium and cooling the heat exchange module. The heat exchange module includes a battery pack group and a power conversion system group, which are connected in series; and in a cooling path, the power conversion system group is located downstream of the battery pack group. When a battery pack group needs to be heated, a cooling medium is heated during the process of same flowing through the power conversion system group.