Spring Plate Cooling Structure for Pressure-Tolerant Pouch Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery systems fail to address the challenge of efficiently cooling and maintaining the thermal stability of battery cells, particularly in the context of electric vehicles, where the thermal runaway and the thermal runaway can cause damage to the thermal runaway of a cell from damaging other cells and potentially causing a cascading failure.
Innovation Solution
The battery system incorporates a spring plate between two adjacent cells, a housing, and a spring plate, and a housing, the battery system includes a plurality of cells, and a housing, where the spring plate is disposed between two adjacent and a spring plate, and a housing, the battery system includes a plurality of cells, a spring plate, and a housing, where the spring plate is disposed between two adjacent cells, and a housing, the spring plate includes a plurality of channels for coolant flow, and the housing includes a cavity configured to receive the plurality of cells and the coolant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple battery cells are packed in close proximity to achieve high energy density, then the energy density and compactness are improved, but the risk of thermal runaway spreading to adjacent cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces partition walls between adjacent battery cells that divide the housing cavity into separate compartments. This segmentation physically isolates cells from each other, preventing thermal runaway in one cell from spreading to adjacent cells while maintaining close proximity packing for high energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls act as intermediary structures between adjacent battery cells. These walls serve as thermal barriers that mediate the thermal interaction between cells, blocking heat transfer and preventing thermal runaway propagation while allowing the cells to remain in close proximity.
2Device complexity
If conductive cooling is used with heat traveling from outer edges to heat sink, then the cooling mechanism is simple, but temperature buildup near cell centers occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional edge-to-center heat transfer to three-dimensional cooling by incorporating coolant flow channels within the partition walls and battery housing. This allows coolant to access and cool the centers of battery cells directly, eliminating temperature buildup while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Quantity of substance
If battery cells are located toward the center of the battery pack, then energy density is improved, but heat transfer from the center to the edge becomes poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydraulic cooling by circulating coolant through channels formed in the partition walls and housing structures. This allows efficient heat removal from centrally located battery cells through fluid convection, solving the heat transfer problem while maintaining high energy density configuration.
4Reliability
If spring plate with coolant channels is introduced between adjacent cells, then thermal runaway protection and cooling are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition walls serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural support for battery cell spacing, act as thermal barriers to prevent runaway propagation, and contain coolant flow channels for active cooling. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, minimizing overall system complexity while achieving thermal protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the partition wall structure with the coolant delivery system by forming channels directly within the partition walls. This integration combines the mechanical separation function and the thermal management function into a single component, reducing device complexity while providing both structural support and active cooling.
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 effectively prevents thermal runaway by passively circulating coolant through the channels, reducing temperature buildup and minimizing damage to adjacent cells, while maintaining structural integrity under high pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Due to natural convection, the coolant passively circulates through the cavity and the plurality of channels of the spring plate without the use of a pump
Implementation Method 2
Each of the cells includes a pouch cell and first and second compression plates. The spring plate is disposed between two respective compression plates of two adjacent cells. The battery system is configured to withstand environmental applied pressures of at least 100 pounds per square inch (psi)
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure may include a battery system including a plurality of cells and a housing. The plurality of cells each include a pouch cell; first and second compression plates; and a spring plate including a plurality of channels configured to receive a flow of coolant therethrough. The housing includes a cavity configured to receive the plurality of cells and the coolant. The battery system is configured to withstand environmental applied pressures of at least 100 pounds per square inch (psi).