Underbody Unit Integrating Cooling Channels for Battery Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motor vehicle traction batteries face a short service life due to inadequate cooling, which can lead to overheating and damage.
Innovation Solution
An underbody unit with a solid floor body that integrates cooling channels and reinforcing ribs, acting as both a supporting structure and heat exchanger to dissipate loads and cool the battery cells effectively, while also providing armor plating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the floor body is made solid to support battery cell units and dissipate loads, then the strength and stability are improved, but the cooling capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the structural support function and cooling function into a single integrated floor body. The cooling channels are embedded within the solid floor body structure, allowing it to simultaneously bear loads from battery cell units and actively cool them through the integrated cooling system.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor body is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as a load-bearing support structure, a protective enclosure for battery cells, and an active cooling system through integrated cooling channels. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the same structure serve both mechanical support and thermal management purposes.
2Temperature
If cooling channels are added to the floor body, then the cooling capability is improved, but the structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling channels are merged into the floor body structure itself rather than being separate components. This integration allows the cooling system to utilize the existing structural material and geometry, minimizing the impact on overall structural strength while achieving effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor body has different local properties: regions with cooling channels provide thermal management, while other regions maintain solid structural integrity for load bearing. The design optimizes the distribution and configuration of cooling channels to minimize structural compromise in critical load-bearing areas.
3Temperature
If the floor body cross section is increased to maintain strength with cooling channels, then the cooling capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floor body integrates multiple functions (support, protection, cooling) into a single component rather than using separate elements. This merging reduces the number of parts and assembly steps, thereby reducing device complexity despite the enhanced functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional floor body eliminates the need for separate support structures, protective enclosures, and cooling systems. By making one component perform all these functions, the overall device complexity is reduced compared to using multiple specialized 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 underbody unit extends the service life of traction batteries by actively and passively cooling them, protecting against damage from external impacts and ensuring stable operation.
Implementation Method 1
the floor body has at least one cooling channel for cooling the upper side
Implementation Method 2
the at least one cooling channel can be provided in the material of the floor body
Data Source
AI summary
An underbody unit (10) for reinforcing a motor vehicle body of a motor vehicle has a floor body (12) that is connectable to the motor vehicle body for dissipating loads of the motor vehicle body. The floor body (12) has an upper side (32) for supporting battery cell units (18) of a traction battery for driving the motor vehicle purely electrically and at least one cooling channel (26) for cooling the upper side (32). The floor body (12) and the underbody unit (10) form a supporting plate of a battery housing and can: support the battery cells (18) of the traction battery, form an armor plating to protect the battery cells (18) and define a heat exchanger that can actively and/or passively cool the battery cells (18) with the aid of the cooling channel (26).