Thermal Design Space of Battery Box

Owned by Tommy Tran
Last updated: Jun 09, 2021
4 min read

Table of Contents:

 

Context / Purpose

In the case that the current Battery Box design would like to undergo a revision, it is important to determine what options are available to improve the thermal management of the Battery Box.

Things that can be relevant are:

  • Design geometry and spacing in assembly

  • Option to move certain entities inside the battery box

    • cells

    • boards

    • fans

  • Cooling methods

    • thermal design methods regarding any of the above entities

Things to keep in mind are:

  • limitations/constraints/hard limits of each entity

  • provide suggestions or ranking of options

Strategy

There might be some items on this page that overlaps with an existing deliverable.
In those cases, will either address or link to that documentation wherever more appropriate

  1. Find research on the current geometry and locations of the battery box and its components inside

    1. cells

    2. boards

    3. fans

    4. etc.

  2. Determine the amount of adjustability or wiggle room of each item found in step 1

  3. Research cooling methods in context of

    1. in general

    2. battery box cooling (for electric vehicles)

    3. electrical enclosure cooling

    4. electronics cooling

  4. Make summary of suggestions/ranking of options, and hard constraints of current design

Random notes to self:

  • for cooling methods, note that you can have bigger fans, etc.

    • then provide some resources that might help initiate that research or design process

  • create section for helpful resources found in step 4? or sprinkled across step 3?

    • probably step 4 and put it organized in a table and allow people to feel free to add

  • all this research might not be necessary to reach a deliverable at the end

    • they are all good for learning but may not be all necessary

    • pick and choose carefully (time is a resource)

Research

Steps 1, 2 - Assembly Components Positional Design Space

This has overlaps with another assigned research tasks related to the specifications of the current Battery Box assembly. Some research will still be pursued here.

This will aim for more minimal references and research regarding this topic.

Purpose

File Name

Folder Path

Purpose

File Name

Folder Path

Battery box electronics and its contents. Note: has fans inside; rear electronics seem to not be showing up.

CatamaranCover.SLDASM

GrabCAD\MSXIV\Development\Interior\Catamaran Cover

Position of Battery Box in vehicle.

2021-ASSEM-MSXIV.SLDASM

\GrabCAD\MSXIV

It has both front and rear electronics. It seems like the cell modules portion is in the front section only. The rear is for electronic boards.

Figure 1: Catamaran Cover + Battery Box Assembly

Figure 2: Catamaran Cover inside of Master Assembly

Step 3 - Cooling Methods

This has overlaps with another assigned research tasks related to the specifications of the current Battery Box cooling methods. Some research will still be pursued here.

Larger focus on technical research and options available online.

Confluence Resources on Thermal Design Related Items

 

Larry’s Notes on How Battery Packs are Usually Cooled

Research Papers Mentioned:

Larry’s Previously Shared Resources on Conjugate Heat Transfer + Simulations

 

Step 4 - Summary of Constraints and Suggestions

:^( No capability to make summary or recommendations for this time (2021.06.10)