Method and device relating to battery temperature regulation
First Claim
1. A method for regulating a temperature of a battery (9) having a preferred operating temperature range, the method comprising:
- providing an amount of a phase change material (7;
7b) having a phase change temperature within the preferred operating temperature range, the amount of phase change material (7;
7b) being in thermal communication with the battery (9), and a phase change in the amount of phase change material (7;
7b) maintaining the temperature of the battery (9) essentially at the phase change temperature; and
influencing heat transfer with respect to the amount of phase change material (7;
7b) in dependence of a temperature of an ambient medium (21), the method characterised by the influencing of heat transfer including;
providing thermal insulation between the amount of phase change material (7;
7b) and the ambient medium (21) responsive to the temperature of the ambient medium (21) being above the phase change temperature; and
providing a transfer of heat from the amount of phase change material (7;
7b) to the ambient medium (21) responsive to the temperature of the ambient medium (21) being in a selected temperature range below the phase change temperature.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention pertains to the field of methods and devices for battery (9) temperature regulation. Phase change material (7;7a,7b) having a phase change temperature within a preferred operating temperature range is employed in order to maintain the battery temperature within the preferred operating temperature range during extreme ambient temperature conditions. When the temperature of an ambient medium (21) so allows, a transfer of heat between the phase change material (7;7a,7b) and ambient medium (21) is effected for quickly restoring the capability of the phase change material (7;7a,7b) to maintain the battery temperature at the phase change temperature. Otherwise, thermal insulation between the phase change material (7;7a,7b) and the ambient medium (21) is provided.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for regulating a temperature of a battery (9) having a preferred operating temperature range, the method comprising:
-
providing an amount of a phase change material (7;
7b) having a phase change temperature within the preferred operating temperature range, the amount of phase change material (7;
7b) being in thermal communication with the battery (9), and a phase change in the amount of phase change material (7;
7b) maintaining the temperature of the battery (9) essentially at the phase change temperature; and
influencing heat transfer with respect to the amount of phase change material (7;
7b) in dependence of a temperature of an ambient medium (21), the method characterised by the influencing of heat transfer including;
providing thermal insulation between the amount of phase change material (7;
7b) and the ambient medium (21) responsive to the temperature of the ambient medium (21) being above the phase change temperature; and
providing a transfer of heat from the amount of phase change material (7;
7b) to the ambient medium (21) responsive to the temperature of the ambient medium (21) being in a selected temperature range below the phase change temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method for regulating a temperature of a battery having a preferred operating temperature range, the method comprising:
-
providing an amount of a phase change material (7;
7a) having a phase change temperature within the preferred operating temperature range, the amount of the phase change material being in thermal communication with the battery (9), and a phase change in the amount of phase change material (7;
7a) maintaining the temperature of the battery (9) essentially at the phase change temperature; and
influencing heat transfer with respect to the amount of phase change material (7;
7a) in dependence of a temperature of an ambient medium (21), the method characterised by the influencing of heat transfer including;
providing thermal insulation between the amount of phase change material (7;
7a) and the ambient medium (21) responsive to the temperature of the ambient medium (21) being below the phase change temperature; and
providing a transfer of heat from the ambient medium (21) to the amount of phase change material (7;
7a) responsive to the temperature of the ambient medium being (21) in a selected temperature range above the phase change temperature. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A device (1;
-
2) for regulating the temperature of at least one battery (9) having a preferred operating temperature range, the device (1;
2) comprising;
a region (8a) for receiving at least one battery;
an amount of a phase change material (7;
7b) having a phase change temperature within the preferred operating temperature range, the amount of phase change material (7;
7b) being in thermal communication with the region (8a), and a phase change in the amount of the phase change material (7;
7b) maintaining the temperature of the region (8a) essentially at the phase change temperature; and
means for influencing heat transfer with respect to the amount of phase change material (7;
7b) in dependence of a temperature of an ambient medium (21), characterised in that the means for influencing heat transfer includes;
means (3,17,19) for providing thermal insulation between the amount of phase change material (7;
7b) and the ambient medium (21) responsive to the temperature of the ambient medium (21) being above the phase change temperature; and
means (15,17,19;
43,17,19) for providing a transfer of heat from the amount of phase change material (7;
7b) to the ambient medium (21) responsive to the temperature of the ambient medium (21) being in a selected range below the phase change temperature. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
2) for regulating the temperature of at least one battery (9) having a preferred operating temperature range, the device (1;
-
16. A device (1;
-
2) for regulating the temperature of at least one battery having a preferred operating temperature range, the device (1;
2) comprising;
a region (8a) for receiving at least one battery;
an amount of a phase change material (7;
7a) having a phase change temperature within the preferred operating temperature range, the amount of phase change material (7;
7a) being in thermal communication with the region (8a), and a phase change in the amount of the phase change material (7;
7a) maintaining the temperature of the region (8a) essentially at the phase change temperature; and
means for influencing heat transfer with respect to the amount of phase change material (7;
7a) in dependence of a temperature of an ambient medium (21), characterised in that the means for influencing heat transfer includes;
means (3,17,19) for providing thermal insulation between the amount of phase change material (7;
7a) and the ambient medium (21) responsive to the temperature of the ambient medium (21) being below the phase change temperature; and
means (15,17,19;
43,17,19) for providing a transfer of heat from the ambient medium (21) to the amount of phase change material (7;
7a) responsive to the temperature of the ambient medium (21) being in a selected range above the phase change temperature. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
2) for regulating the temperature of at least one battery having a preferred operating temperature range, the device (1;
Specification