Lithium ion battery module having a compartmentalized housing

• US 10,573,861 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2017
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarios Advanced Solutions GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Clarios Advanced Solutions GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Fuhr, Jason D., Houchin-Miller, Gary P., Bowen, Gerald K., Dinkelman, John P., Patel, Dharmendra, Molinaroli, Alex A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alejandro, Raymond
• Application Number:
  US15/714,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20180013114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/058 Construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/112 Monobloc comprising multiple compartments
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/116 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/121 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/124 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/1245 characterised by the external coating on the casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/131 characterised by physical properties, e.g. gas permeability, size or heat resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/147 Lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/148 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/155 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/16 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/20 Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders structural combination of accumulators with charging apparatus H01M10/46
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/231 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/258 : Modular batteries; Casings provided with means for assembling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 : Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/289 : characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs spacing elements inside cells other than separators, membranes or diaphragms H01M50/471
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/60 : Arrangements or processes for filling or topping-up with liquids; Arrangements or processes for draining liquids from casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/627 : Filling ports
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/70 : Arrangements for stirring or circulating the electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4757 : Battery or electrolytic cell replenishment

Abstract

A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.

Claims

1. A lithium-ion battery module, comprising:

an electrically insulative housing having an integral single-piece construction that includes a plurality of integral partitions which form a plurality of compartments within the electrically insulative housing;

a plurality of cylindrical lithium-ion cell elements corresponding in number to the plurality of compartments and disposed within the plurality of compartments, wherein each compartment of the plurality of compartments includes one cylindrical lithium-ion cell element of the plurality of cylindrical lithium-ion cell elements disposed therein;

a cover disposed over the plurality of cylindrical lithium-ion cell elements and against an upper edge or surface of the electrically insulative housing such that a shared space is formed underneath the cover and above the plurality of integral partitions, wherein the shared space is in fluid communication with each compartment of the plurality of compartments; and

comprising at least one bur bar extending into the shared space and coupling cylindrical lithium-ion elements of the plurality of cylindrical lithium-ion cell elements.

2. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 1, comprising a thermal management manifold disposed along a bottom side of the electrically insulative housing opposite to the upper edge or surface of the electrically insulative housing.

3. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 2, comprising a plurality of thermal management passages disposed in the electrically insulative housing, wherein the plurality of thermal management passages is fluidly coupled with the thermal management manifold.

4. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 1, comprising a side wall of the electrically insulative housing, wherein the side wall forms a boundary of an interior space of the electrically insulative housing and comprises the upper edge or surface, and wherein the plurality of compartments, the plurality of integral partitions which form the plurality of compartments, and the shared space above the plurality of integral partitions and below the cover are disposed in the interior space of the electrically insulative housing.

5. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 4, comprising a plurality of thermal management passages, disposed within the interior space of the electrically insulative housing.

6. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 5, wherein the plurality of thermal management passages is disposed between integral partitions of the plurality of integral partitions.

7. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 5, wherein the plurality of thermal management passages is disposed within the plurality of integral partitions.

8. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 1, comprising a plurality of thermal management passages, wherein a first thermal management passage of the plurality of thermal management passages differs in size from a second thermal management passage of the plurality of thermal management passages.

9. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 1, comprising a metal permeability barrier disposed on an internal surface of the electrically insulative housing.

10. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 1, comprising:

a plurality of openings corresponding in number to the plurality of compartments and extending through the cover of the lithium-ion battery module;

an electrolyte fill channel formed in an upper surface of the cover, wherein the plurality of openings opens into the electrolyte fill channel; and

a seal that closes the plurality of openings from an external environment surrounding the lithium-ion battery module.

11. A lithium-ion battery module, comprising:

a housing comprising an electrically insulative material and having an integral single-piece construction that includes a plurality of integral partitions which form a plurality of compartments within a housing interior of the housing;

a plurality of lithium-ion cell elements corresponding in number to the plurality of compartments and disposed within the plurality of compartments, wherein each compartment of the plurality of compartments includes one cell element of the plurality of lithium-ion cell elements disposed therein;

a lid disposed over the plurality of lithium-ion cell elements and against an edge of a perimeter of the housing such that a space is formed underneath the lid and above the plurality of integral partitions, wherein the lid does not contact the plurality of integral partitions, and wherein the space is in fluid communication with each compartment of the plurality of compartments; and

at least one bus bar extending into the space and coupling lithium-ion cell elements of the plurality of lithium-ion cell elements.

12. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 11, wherein each compartment of the plurality of compartments is cylindrical in shape, and each lithium-ion cell element of the plurality of lithium-ion cell elements is cylindrical in shape.

13. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 11, comprising:

a plurality of openings corresponding in number to the plurality of compartments and extending through the lid of the lithium-ion battery module;

an electrolyte fill channel formed in an upper surface of the lid, wherein the plurality of openings opens into the electrolyte fill channel; and

a seal that closes the plurality of openings from an external environment surrounding the lithium-ion battery module.

14. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 11, comprising a metal permeability barrier disposed on an internal surface of the housing.

15. A lithium-ion battery module, comprising:

an electrically insulative housing having a single-piece construction that includes a plurality of integral partitions forming a plurality of cylindrical compartments within the electrically insulative housing;

a plurality of cylindrical lithium-ion cell elements corresponding in number to the plurality of cylindrical compartments and configured to be disposed within the plurality of cylindrical compartments, wherein each cylindrical compartment of the plurality of cylindrical compartments is configured to receive one cylindrical lithium-ion cell element of the plurality of cylindrical lithium-ion cell elements;

a cover configured to be disposed over the plurality of cylindrical lithium-ion cell elements and against an upper edge or surface of the electrically insulative housing such that a shared space is formed underneath the cover, above the plurality of integral partitions, and in fluid communication with each cylindrical compartment of the plurality of cylindrical compartments; and

comprising at least one bur bar configured to extend into the shared space and to couple cylindrical lithium-ion elements of the plurality of cylindrical lithium-ion cell elements.

16. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 15, comprising:

a plurality of openings corresponding in number to the plurality of cylindrical compartments and extending through the cover of the lithium-ion battery module;

an electrolyte fill channel formed in an upper surface of the cover, wherein the plurality of openings opens into the electrolyte fill channel; and

a seal configured to close the plurality of openings from an external environment surrounding the lithium-ion battery module.

17. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 15, comprising a metal permeability barrier disposed on an internal surface of the electrically insulative housing.

18. The lithium-ion battery module of claim 15, comprising a plurality of thermal management passages disposed within or between the plurality of integral partitions.