Vertical Stacking Battery Module Design for Swelling Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery modules in horizontal stacking structures face issues with mechanical strength, assembly complexity, reduced cooling efficiency due to fixing members, and decreased efficiency from electrode spacing changes and potential internal short circuits caused by gas generation and swelling of unit cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring horizontally stacked unit modules with vertically erected secondary batteries, where side plates are fixed to a base plate and housed in a structure with supporting parts to maintain tight contact and prevent swelling, while allowing effective heat removal and coolant flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If unit cells are mounted in cartridges to provide mechanical strength, then mechanical strength is improved, but the size of the battery module increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery module is divided into multiple unit modules, each containing a stack of unit cells. This segmentation allows the unit cells to be arranged in a compact horizontal stacking configuration without requiring individual cartridges for each cell, thereby reducing overall module size while maintaining structural integrity through the modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple unit cells are combined into unit modules where they are horizontally stacked and vertically erected. The side plates are merged with the base plate and housing to form an integrated structural framework that provides mechanical strength without requiring separate cartridges, thus reducing the battery module size.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pipe-shaped fixing members are used to maintain stacking structure, then structural stability is improved, but cooling efficiency is reduced due to flow channel interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing members are extracted from the internal cooling flow channels and repositioned to the external surfaces of the unit modules. The side plates are fixed to the base plate at lower ends, removing the obstruction from the cooling path while maintaining structural stability through external fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing acts as an intermediary structure that provides supporting parts to maintain the stacking structure stability. The housing surrounds the unit modules and provides support without interfering with the internal cooling flow channels, thus maintaining both structural stability and cooling efficiency.
3Volume of stationary object
If unit cells are horizontally stacked to reduce module size, then battery module size is reduced, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery module is segmented into unit modules that can be independently assembled and then stacked horizontally. This segmentation simplifies the assembly process by allowing modular construction, reducing the overall complexity despite the compact horizontal stacking configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate and side plates serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, maintain stacking structure stability, and facilitate assembly. The housing also serves dual purposes by surrounding the unit modules and providing supporting parts, thereby simplifying the overall assembly process.
4Stability of the object's composition
If side plates are fixed to base plate to maintain tight contact, then stacking structure stability is improved, but cooling flow channels may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The side plates are fixed to the base plate at specific lower ends of the unit modules, providing localized structural support and stability. This localized fixation maintains tight contact where needed while leaving the cooling flow channels unobstructed, as the fixing points are positioned away from the internal cooling paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves as an intermediary structure that provides supporting parts to maintain stacking structure stability without obstructing cooling flow channels. The housing surrounds the unit modules and provides support from the external side, allowing internal cooling channels to remain clear and functional.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a battery module constructed in a structure in which unit modules are horizontally stacked while the unit modules are vertically erected, wherein the battery module includes a base plate on which the unit modules are horizontally stacked while the unit modules are vertically erected, a pair of side plates fixed to the base plate at lower ends thereof such that the side plates are brought into tight contact with outer surfaces of the outermost unit modules, and a housing fixed to the base plate in a structure to surround the unit modules, the housing being provided at the inside thereof with supporting parts for supporting upper ends of the side plates, respectively.