Multiscale Wick Structure for Li-Ion Battery Heat Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Li-ion battery arrays face reduced lifetime and reliability due to excessive heat buildup during charge and discharge operations, necessitating improved thermal management and safety features to prevent catastrophic failures.
Innovation Solution
A multiscale wick-based thermal management system that encompasses heat sources, utilizing ceramic, glass, or polymer fibers to facilitate liquid-to-vapor phase change and provide structural containment, with a secondary wick enhancing surface area contact for efficient heat transfer and reinforcement against radial expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If active cooling systems (air or liquid circulation) are used to transport excess heat away from the battery array, then thermal management is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phase change material automatically absorbs excess heat from the battery through phase transition without requiring external power or control systems. The material self-regulates temperature by changing from solid to liquid state at the phase change temperature, eliminating the need for complex active cooling infrastructure while maintaining effective thermal management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase change material that transitions between solid and liquid states to absorb and store thermal energy. This phase transition occurs at a specific temperature range, providing passive thermal regulation that prevents overheating without requiring complex mechanical cooling systems, thus resolving the contradiction between temperature control and system complexity
2Reliability
If excess battery capacity is provided to reduce charge/discharge rate, then reliability is improved, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal management function from the battery cells themselves and implements it through separate phase change material modules. This allows the battery cells to operate at optimal charge/discharge rates without needing excess capacity, as the thermal management is handled independently by the phase change material, thus maintaining reliability without increasing overall system volume
3Reliability
If multiple layers of safety features are added to provide fail-safe systems, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phase change material serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as thermal management by absorbing excess heat, provides safety containment by maintaining structural integrity during thermal events, and enables passive operation without external control. This multi-functionality achieves comprehensive safety and reliability without requiring multiple separate safety systems, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high reliability
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 manages thermal energy by transferring heat away from batteries, preventing overheating and structural failure, while maintaining a safe and controlled environment through vapor and condensate circulation, achieving cooling capabilities exceeding 100 W/cm2 and ensuring isothermal conditions among cells.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing ceramic, glass, or polymer fibers to facilitate liquid-to-vapor phase change
Implementation Method 2
facilitate liquid-to-vapor phase change
Implementation Method 3
provide structural containment, with a secondary wick enhancing surface area contact for efficient heat transfer and reinforcement against radial expansion
Implementation Method 4
transferring heat away from batteries
Data Source
AI summary
A system for thermal management and structural containment includes an enclosure, a heat source disposed within the enclosure; and a wick encompassing at least a portion of an outer surface of the heat source.