20240039080. COUNTER-FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER FOR BATTERY THERMAL MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS simplified abstract (Dana Canada Corporation)
Contents
COUNTER-FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER FOR BATTERY THERMAL MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS
Organization Name
Inventor(s)
Benjamin A. Kenney of Toronto (CA)
Andrew J.M. Buckrell of Kitchener (CA)
Colin A. Shore of Hamilton (CA)
Doug Vanderwees of Mississauga (CA)
Kenneth M.A. Abels of Oakville (CA)
COUNTER-FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER FOR BATTERY THERMAL MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240039080 titled 'COUNTER-FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER FOR BATTERY THERMAL MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS
Simplified Explanation
The abstract describes a heat exchanger designed for thermal management of battery units consisting of multiple battery cells or containers. The heat exchanger has a main body with a primary heat transfer surface that comes into contact with the battery cells or containers. It also includes alternating fluid flow passages that create a counter-flow heat exchanger, with the flow direction in the first passages opposite to the flow direction in the second passages.
- The heat exchanger is designed for thermal management of battery units.
- It has a main body with a primary heat transfer surface for contact with the battery cells or containers.
- The heat exchanger includes alternating fluid flow passages that create a counter-flow arrangement.
- In some embodiments, the heat exchanger has two pairs of inlet and outlet manifolds, providing a single-pass, counter-flow arrangement.
- In other embodiments, the fluid flow passages are interconnected by turn portions, forming a u-flow, counter-flow heat exchanger.
Potential Applications:
- Electric vehicles: The heat exchanger can be used in electric vehicles to manage the temperature of battery units, preventing overheating and improving battery performance and lifespan.
- Energy storage systems: It can be applied in large-scale energy storage systems to regulate the temperature of battery units, ensuring efficient energy storage and discharge.
Problems Solved:
- Thermal management: The heat exchanger addresses the challenge of managing the heat generated by battery cells or containers, preventing overheating and potential damage to the batteries.
- Efficiency improvement: By efficiently transferring heat away from the battery units, the heat exchanger helps maintain optimal operating temperatures, improving the overall efficiency and performance of the batteries.
Benefits:
- Enhanced battery performance: The heat exchanger helps maintain the temperature within the desired range, optimizing the performance and lifespan of the battery cells or containers.
- Improved safety: By preventing overheating, the heat exchanger reduces the risk of thermal runaway and potential safety hazards associated with battery units.
- Energy efficiency: The counter-flow arrangement of the heat exchanger maximizes heat transfer, improving the energy efficiency of the thermal management system.
Original Abstract Submitted
a heat exchanger for thermal management of battery units made-up of plurality of battery cells or battery cell containers housing one or more battery cells. the heat exchanger has a main body portion defining at least one primary heat transfer surface for surface-to-surface contact with a corresponding surface of at least one of the battery cells or containers. a plurality of alternating first and second fluid flow passages are formed within the main body portion each defining a flow direction, the flow direction through the first fluid flow passages being generally opposite to the flow direction through the second fluid flow passages providing a counter-flow heat exchanger. in some embodiments the heat exchanger has two pairs of inlet and outlet manifolds, the heat exchanger providing a single-pass, counter-flow arrangement. in other embodiments the first and second fluid flow passages are interconnected by turn portions forming a u-flow, counter-flow heat exchanger.
