Hybrid Thermal Management Systems for EV Batteries
26 patents in this list
Updated:
Electric vehicles (EVs) demand efficient battery thermal management to ensure safety, longevity, and performance. The challenge is maintaining optimal temperature ranges under varying driving conditions and charging cycles. Excessive heat can degrade battery cells, while insufficient warmth can reduce efficiency. The need for robust thermal management systems is vital as EV adoption accelerates.
Hybrid thermal management systems tackle these challenges by combining liquid cooling, air circulation, and phase change materials (PCMs). These systems must balance heat extraction and retention, adapting to the dynamic thermal loads of EV batteries. Engineers face the task of integrating these elements without adding excessive weight or complexity.
This page explores various solutions, including liquid-cooled boxes with PCMs, radiator structures integrating multiple cooling methods, and composite systems using thermoelectric elements. These approaches aim to enhance heat dissipation, maintain optimal battery temperatures, and improve overall vehicle efficiency. Through these strategies, professionals can navigate the complexities of EV battery thermal management effectively.
1. Battery Pack with Liquid-Cooled Box and Phase Change Material for Thermal Regulation
CHINA FAW CO LTD, 2024
Battery pack design with improved thermal management for electric vehicles that enables better cell temperature control and consistency. The battery pack has a liquid-cooled box containing phase change material. The battery cells are installed in the cooled box. If a cell gets too hot, it transfers heat to the coolant in the box. The phase change material absorbs heat and can transfer it back to the cells when they cool down. This helps maintain cell temperatures, especially in cold environments. The coolant circulates through a heat exchanger to dissipate heat outside the pack.
2. Radiator Structure with Integrated Liquid, Air, and Phase Change Cooling for Electric Vehicle Batteries
Huizhou Huashengyuan Electromechanical Co., Ltd., 2024
Liquid cooling radiator structure for electric vehicle batteries that provides optimal heat dissipation using a combination of liquid cooling, air cooling, and phase change cooling. The radiator has an internal liquid cooling system with channels between the battery packs. It also has an external air cooling system with fins and channels to dissipate heat to the environment. Phase change cooling blocks are attached to the battery packs to rapidly conduct heat to the liquid coolant. This reduces the weight and complexity compared to full liquid cooling. The combined cooling modes provide high heat dissipation efficiency while minimizing temperature differences between battery cells.
3. Hexagonal Composite Battery Thermal Management System with Phase Change, Liquid Cooling, and Thermoelectric Elements
CHINA THREE GORGES UNIVERSITY, CHUNENG NEW ENERGY CO LTD, UNIV CHINA THREE GORGES CTGU, 2023
Hexagonal composite battery thermal management system that combines passive phase change cooling with active liquid cooling and thermoelectric heating to improve battery cooling and preheating. The system uses different phase change materials in the battery packs based on density to prevent thermal runaway propagation. It also integrates thermoelectric elements between the battery packs and liquid cooling plates to actively heat the packs when needed. This allows efficient cooling and heating of the battery packs using a composite approach.
4. Electric Vehicle Battery Pack with Combined Air and Liquid Cooling System Incorporating Phase Change Material and Temperature Monitoring
Shandong University, SHANDONG UNIVERSITY, 2023
Thermal management system for electric vehicle battery packs that uses both air and liquid cooling to improve temperature consistency and prevent damage. The system has a battery box with a phase change material, a cooling module with air ducts and a fan, and a speed regulating fan. The phase change material absorbs heat during charging and releases it during discharging. Air is circulated by the fan through the cooling module and ducts to dissipate heat. The system also uses a thermocouple to monitor temperature. The combination of air and liquid cooling provides better temperature control and consistency compared to just air or liquid cooling alone.
5. Sandwich Structure Liquid Cooling Plate with Integrated Phase Change Material for Battery Thermal Management
SVOLT ENERGY TECH COMPANY LTD, SVOLT ENERGY TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LTD, 2023
Battery cooling device for electric vehicles that reduces power consumption and improves battery performance by enabling flexible thermal management. The cooling device has a sandwich structure liquid cooling plate with integrated phase change material. This allows switching between heat dissipation and heat preservation modes based on battery cell heat generation. The plate has a thermally conductive tray, a first phase change material layer, an upper cover plate, and a lower cover plate. The phase change material and cooling channels are integrated in the plate to reduce size and improve system integration. A flexible film and sealant layers complete the plate structure.
6. Lithium Battery Heat Management System with Integrated Phase Change Material and Active Cooling Fan
SHANGHAI QINKUAN TECH CO LTD, SHANGHAI QINKUAN TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2023
Heat management device for lithium batteries in electric vehicles that uses a combination of active and passive cooling techniques to maintain battery temperature within safe operating ranges. The device has a battery case filled with phase change material, which absorbs and releases heat. A fan is also inside the case to actively cool the battery. This combined approach provides efficient and continuous temperature control without relying solely on active or passive cooling methods. A temperature sensor and controller can start/stop the fan based on battery temperature readings.
7. Electric Vehicle Battery Cooling System with Combined Forced Air and Liquid Cooling Using Phase Change Material and Heating Panels
Guangdong University of Technology, GUANGDONG UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, 2022
Electric vehicle battery cooling system that combines forced air cooling and liquid cooling for improved battery temperature uniformity and cooling capacity. The system uses a box with multiple rows of batteries. Each battery cell is embedded in phase change material. The top and bottom of the phase change material contact liquid cooling plates. Heating panels are between adjacent rows. A radiator fan transfers heat from the exposed panels to the air in the box. Circulating water cools the top and bottom plates. This multi-stage cooling configuration extracts heat from the batteries, phase change material, and tops/bottoms, reducing temperature differences.
8. Battery Module Thermal Management System with PCM Metal Foam and Bidirectional Cooling Circuit
GHOLAM REZA MOLAEIMANESH, SHAHRIYAR HEKMAT, 2022
Thermal management system for battery modules in electric vehicles to maintain optimal temperature for long life and performance. It uses phase change material (PCM) metal foam between cells and a two-way cooling circuit with opposing fluid flow paths. The PCM foam initially cools cells, then a water-cooled radiator. If needed, a refrigeration unit takes over. This graded cooling prevents temperature gradients. A controller activates steps based on cell temperature.
9. Automobile Battery Cooling System with Distributed Phase Change Material and Microchannel Heat Exchanger
AQUILARIA SINENSIS ENG COLLEGE, AQUILARIA SINENSIS ENGINEERING COLLEGE, GUANGDONG INDUSTRIAL UNIV, 2022
An automobile battery cooling system that uses distributed cooling with phase change materials and channels to improve battery temperature management in electric vehicles. The system has blade-shaped batteries, a microchannel heat exchanger, a flexible phase change material plate, channels in the chassis, a water pump, a radiator, and a fan. The batteries and heat exchanger are mounted on the chassis with channels. The phase change material plate is between them. The pump circulates water through the heat exchanger and channels. The radiator and fan are outside. This allows distributed cooling without centralized pumps and fans. The phase change material absorbs/releases heat as batteries cycle. The channels provide direct contact for heat transfer. The pump circulates water between components. This reduces battery heating and uniformizes temperatures compared to centralized cooling.
10. Electric Vehicle Battery Pack Cooling System with Composite Organic Phase Change Material and Integrated Liquid Cooling Channels
STATE GRID ELEC VEHICLE SERVICE CO LTD, STATE GRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE SERVICE CO LTD, 2022
Cooling system for electric vehicle battery packs that uses a composite organic phase change material for thermal management. The system combines liquid cooling with phase change material to provide ideal cooling performance, uniform temperature, and simplicity. The battery pack has a phase change material inside to absorb heat from the cells during charging/discharging. Liquid cooling channels surround the pack bottom and flow through a plate. This allows the phase change material to be recharged periodically. The liquid cooling provides additional cooling when needed. The phase change material has high latent heat storage and conductivity, absorbing and releasing heat without phase change. This reduces battery temperature, extends life, and prevents hot spots. The liquid cooling provides backup cooling during extreme conditions. The system has simple structure, small size, high energy efficiency, and uniform temperature compared to air or pure liquid cooling.
11. Battery Thermal Management System with Foamy Copper/Paraffin Composite Phase Change Material and Airflow Heat Transfer Mechanism
EAST CHINA JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY, UNIV EAST CHINA JIAOTONG, 2022
Power battery thermal management system for electric vehicles that uses both airflow and phase change materials to effectively cool the batteries. The system has a battery module with a foamy copper/paraffin composite phase change material. This composite absorbs heat from the batteries during charging/discharging. The heat from the phase change material is then transferred to airflow through the surrounding heat transfer device. This airflow cools the batteries and removes the absorbed heat. The composite phase change material provides passive cooling by absorbing battery heat during charging, and the airflow provides additional cooling. The system is simple, lightweight, balanced, and has good thermal stability.
12. Battery Pack Cooling System with Phase Change Material, Heat Pipe, and Thermoelectric Module Integration
HYUNDAI MOTOR CO, HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD, KIA CORP, 2021
Battery pack cooling system for electric vehicles that uses a phase change material (PCM), a thermoelectric module, and a heat pipe to efficiently cool the battery cells. The PCM surrounds the battery cells and absorbs heat as it melts. The heat pipe transfers heat between the cells. The thermoelectric module generates power from the heat transferred from the cells. This power is used to operate a cooling fan in the heat pipe. This closed loop cooling system eliminates the need for additional pumps and piping compared to traditional water cooling. It also minimizes the cooling system size by using the thermoelectric module to generate power from the battery pack heat instead of adding a separate external power source. The PCM, heat pipe, and thermoelectric module work together to provide efficient and compact cooling of the battery pack.
13. Battery Box with Internal Heat Pipes and Phase Change Material for Passive Thermal Management
Wuhan University of Technology, WUHAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, 2021
Liquid cooling-based thermal management system for electric vehicle batteries that provides efficient cooling without requiring external pumps or fans. The system uses a battery box with internal heat pipes filled with phase change material. The heat pipes have chambers to hold the batteries and channels between them. The phase change material melts when heated by the batteries, allowing it to flow and absorb more heat. This removes heat from the batteries and prevents overheating. The phase change material solidifies when cooled, retaining heat during discharge. The system uses detachable battery covers and coaxial heat pipes to facilitate battery replacement.
14. Composite Thermal Management System with Semiconductor Cooling Fins, Phase Change Material, Heat Pipes, and Heat Sink Fins for Battery Packs
SHANDONG UNIVERSITY, UNIV SHANDONG, 2021
Battery pack thermal management device and method for electric vehicles that provides stable and uniform battery temperature for extended battery life and safety. It uses a composite thermal management system with multiple components like semiconductor cooling fins, phase change material, heat pipes, and heat sink fins. The components are arranged inside a box to manage battery pack temperatures. The semiconductor fins absorb/release heat using the Peltier effect. Phase change material absorbs/releases heat during phase transitions. Heat pipes transfer heat. Heat sink fins dissipate heat. The components work together to regulate battery temperatures. The box can be opened for heat dissipation or closed for heating.
15. Battery with Phase Change Material and Embedded Liquid Cooling Tube for Enhanced Heat Dissipation
HUANG YENCHE, 2020
Battery with improved heat dissipation to prevent overheating and damage during high discharge rates. The battery has a phase change material inside the shell that absorbs excess heat from the cell. A liquid cooling tube embedded in the phase change material provides additional heat dissipation. This prevents the phase change material from melting and flowing into the cell. The liquid cooling tube also enables efficient heat transfer from the cell to the shell for external cooling.
16. Battery Cell Cooling Device with Integrated Passive and Active Thermal Management System
AUDI AG, 2020
Cooling device for battery cells in electric vehicles that combines passive and active cooling to improve efficiency. The device has a contact side to attach to the cell, a separate active cooling unit connected by a thermal path, and phase change material on the contact side that absorbs heat to start phase transition when cell temperature exceeds a threshold. This passive pre-cooling reduces cell heat before active cooling takes over.
17. Battery Thermal Management System with Liquid Cooling and Phase Change Material Integration
UNIV XI AN JIAOTONG, XIAN JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY, 2020
Liquid cooling assisted phase change material heat exchange battery thermal management system for electric vehicles that uses a combination of liquid cooling and phase change materials to effectively cool batteries in both high and low temperature conditions. The system has a liquid cooling auxiliary system and a battery heat management module. The battery module contains the battery pack indirectly in contact with a low boiling point phase change material or directly soaked in the material. The phase change material absorbs battery heat through evaporation, condenses on a liquid cooling heat exchanger, and gravity returns it to the battery pack. A separate liquid cooling system with a heat exchanger, water tank, pump, and fan cools the battery module and condensate.
18. Electric Vehicle Battery Heat Management System with Phase Change Material, Copper Heat Extraction, and Reversible Coolant Circulation
Wuhan University of Technology, WUHAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, 2020
Combined heat management system for electric vehicle batteries that enables rapid cooling and heating of batteries to extend life and improve performance in all conditions. The system uses a phase change material (PCM) wrapped around the battery to absorb heat during charging and discharging. A copper tube in the PCM extracts the heat to a condenser pipe for dissipation. When the battery temperature reaches a critical point, a reversing valve switches a pump to circulate coolant through the PCM. A resistance wire heater can also be engaged to warm the battery when needed. Sensors monitor temperatures and a controller coordinates the cooling, heating, and PCM phase change. Air ducts provide additional cooling.
19. Integral Battery Cooling Plate with Direct Contact Channels and Phase Change Material Cavities
ZHENGZHOU YUTONG BUS CO LTD, 2020
Battery cooling system for electric vehicles that improves cooling efficiency and uniformity by directly contacting the battery surface with the cooling plate and using an integral plate with channels for both the cooling medium and phase change material. This eliminates gaps between the channels and reduces thermal resistance compared to separate components. The cooling plate has a surface that contacts the battery monomer, increasing the contact area for better heat dissipation. The channels are formed by cavities in the integral plate.
20. Battery Tray with Integrated Phase Change Material Modules and Coolant Circulation Loop for Thermal Management
SUNG WOO HITECH CO LTD, 2020
Thermal management system for electric vehicle batteries that uses phase change materials (PCMs) to cool or warm the battery cells without adding external devices. The system involves placing PCM modules in the battery tray between the cell mounting positions. The PCMs change phase based on cell temperature to absorb or release heat. The battery tray also has a coolant circulation loop to circulate coolant through the tray and cells. This allows active cooling or heating without external devices. The PCM modules fill the cell mounting gaps, and the coolant loops connect between the tray and coolant storage.
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