Side-Cooled Battery Module for Tall Prismatic Cell Heat Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal management methods for secondary batteries, particularly for prismatic aluminum case batteries, are inefficient as the height of the cells increases, leading to reduced energy density and ineffective cooling, especially when the weight of the cells increases, necessitating thicker cooling plates.
Innovation Solution
A secondary battery module design incorporating a cooling plate with a coolant inlet and outlet on one side, a partition wall to separate internal spaces, and a housing with grooved end, front, top, and bottom plates to accommodate the cooling plate, along with a side cooling method using lithium iron phosphate cells, which are longer in height than width, and a gap filler with high thermal conductivity to enhance heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the height of battery cells is increased to improve energy density, then the energy density is improved, but the cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from bottom cooling to side cooling by positioning the cooling plate at the side surface of the battery cell rather than at the bottom. This dimensional change allows the cooling plate to contact a larger surface area of the cell, improving heat dissipation efficiency even as cell height increases and energy density improves.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling plate is designed with different contact surfaces (first surface and second surface) that can be selectively coupled to the side surface of the battery cell. This local quality approach allows optimization of heat exchange at specific locations on the cell, maintaining effective cooling despite increased cell height.
2Quantity of substance
If the weight of battery cells is increased to improve energy density, then the energy density is improved, but the cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the cooling plate from bottom position to side surface position, the system achieves better thermal management for heavier cells. The side cooling configuration provides superior heat dissipation capability compared to bottom cooling, addressing the thermal management challenges posed by increased cell weight and higher energy density.
3Temperature
If a thicker cooling plate is used to improve cooling efficiency for heavier cells, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the space occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side cooling configuration allows the cooling plate to be positioned laterally against the cell rather than requiring significant vertical space. This dimensional repositioning enables effective cooling with a thinner cooling plate design, reducing the volume occupied by the thermal management system while maintaining cooling efficiency for heavier cells.
4Device complexity
If conventional bottom cooling is used for prismatic aluminum case batteries, then the structure is simple, but the cooling efficiency deteriorates as cell height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces bottom cooling with side cooling, repositioning the cooling plate from the bottom surface to the side surface of the battery cell. This dimensional change fundamentally improves heat dissipation capability while maintaining reasonable structural complexity, as the cooling plate can be integrated into existing battery pack designs with minimal additional components.
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
The design effectively cools the cells even with increased height, minimizes space occupation, and improves energy density by optimizing cooling efficiency and maintaining battery stability and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one cooling plate arranged to be interposed between at least two cell stacks among the plurality of cell stacks
Implementation Method 2
a gap filler with high thermal conductivity to enhance heat exchange
Data Source
AI summary
A secondary battery module includes two cell stacks, each of the two cell stacks including a plurality of unit cells, the plurality of unit cells arranged along a first direction, a cooling plate between the two cell stacks, and a housing configured to accommodate the two cell stacks and the cooling plate, wherein the cooling plate includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet on a first side surface of the cooling plate.