Solid State Coating Thermal Management for Battery Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles are more susceptible to temperature variations compared to NiMH batteries, posing design and engineering challenges, and there is a need for improved thermal management systems to enhance their performance and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A battery system with a thermal management system that includes a solid state coating with two different materials to create a temperature differential, allowing for both heating and cooling of electrochemical cells, utilizing the Peltier effect to regulate cell temperatures effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If lithium-ion batteries are used to increase charge density and specific power, then the energy storage capacity and power output are improved, but the batteries become more susceptible to temperature variations and require complex thermal management systems
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into multiple individual cells, each with its own thermal management capabilities. The thermal management system is segmented into multiple independent units that can address temperature variations in specific cell regions, allowing for localized thermal control rather than treating the entire battery as a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
A thermal management system acts as an intermediary between the battery cells and the external environment. This system includes thermal coupling elements and heat transfer mechanisms that mediate the thermal interactions, allowing for controlled heat dissipation and temperature regulation without direct exposure of cells to extreme temperature variations.
2Reliability
If thermal management systems are added to regulate battery temperature, then the performance and reliability of lithium-ion batteries are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management functions are merged with the battery cell structure itself. Thermal coupling elements are integrated into the cell design, and thermal management capabilities are combined with the mechanical support structures. This integration reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously. The same thermal coupling elements that provide structural support also facilitate heat transfer. The system can provide both cooling and heating functions, and can operate in different thermal management modes depending on the battery's operational state and environmental conditions.
3Temperature
If multiple cooling devices are used to dissipate heat from battery units, then the temperature control capability is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the battery system are provided with different thermal management characteristics. Thermal coupling elements are strategically positioned based on local heat generation patterns and thermal requirements. This allows for optimized temperature control in high-heat areas without unnecessarily complicating the system in regions with lower thermal demands.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management approach transitions from using multiple discrete cooling devices in three-dimensional space to a two-dimensional planar thermal coupling system. The thermal coupling elements are arranged in a planar configuration that provides effective heat dissipation across the battery surface, reducing the need for multiple stacked or distributed cooling 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 system provides efficient temperature control for lithium-ion batteries, improving their performance, reliability, and extending the distance electric vehicles can travel without recharging, while reducing costs associated with battery systems.
Implementation Method 1
The solid state coating is configured to pass a current therethrough to create a temperature differential across a first surface of the solid state coating and a second surface of the solid state coating to provide the at least one of heating or cooling to the cells
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery system includes a plurality of electrochemical cells provided within a housing. The battery system also includes a thermal management system configured to provide at least one of heating or cooling to the electrochemical cells. The thermal management system includes a solid state coating having a first metal and a second metal different from the first metal. The solid state coating is configured to pass a current therethrough to create a temperature differential across a first surface of the solid state coating and a second surface of the solid state coating to provide the at least one of heating or cooling to the cells.