Cooling mechanism for batteries using L-V phase change materials

• US 10,615,471 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2017
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ningbo Galaxy Materials Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Xiaodong Xiang
• Inventors: Xiang, Xiaodong
• Primary Examiner(s): Douyette, Kenneth J
• Application Number:
  US15/827,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20180083330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6556 Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange closed pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6569 Fluids undergoing a liquid-gas phase change or transition, e.g. evaporation or condensation heat pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/117 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/124 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A 3-D “phase change heat exchange” structure and method are used in a rechargeable battery to dissipate heat from surfaces of the battery cells and lower the temperature inside the battery cells. The battery cells are placed inside an enclosure and spaced apart from each other with free spaces in between. A liquid to vapor phase change material (L-V PCM) is provided inside the enclosure. A hydrophilic thin film or wick or fiber structure is provided on the cell surfaces to help form a thin liquid layer of the L-V PCM over cell surfaces. During operation, the L-C PCM is evaporated at the cell surfaces and condenses back to a liquid either on the battery enclosure or in an external heat exchanger, and drips back on top of the cells. The designs extend the battery life and improve the battery performance significantly.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

an enclosure;

a plurality of battery cells electrically connected to each other and disposed within the enclosure, the battery cells being spaced apart from each other with free spaces between them;

a liquid to vapor phase change material (L-V PCM) inside the enclosure and in contact with surfaces of the battery cells to wet the surfaces of the battery cells; and

a hydrophilic thin film or a wick or fiber structure disposed on surfaces of the battery cells, wherein the hydrophilic thin film or the wick or fiber structure is configured to form a thin liquid layer of the L-V PCM over the surfaces of the battery cells.

2. The battery of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has a top ceiling plate forming a top ceiling of the enclosure, the top ceiling plate having a plurality of channels for flowing a cooling liquid, an inlet for supplying the cooling liquid into the channels and an outlet for removing the cooling liquid.

3. The battery of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a vapor outlet for allowing a vapor of the L-V PCM to be transferred out of the enclosure, and a liquid inlet located at a top of the enclosure for allowing a liquid of the L-V PCM to be introduced into the enclosure.

4. The battery of claim 3, further comprising a dish having a plurality of apertures, disposed inside the enclosure below the liquid inlet and above the battery cells.

5. The battery of claim 1, wherein the battery cells are flat plate shaped with a thickness of about 1 to 10 mm and the free spaces between battery cells is about 0.1 to 1 mm wide.