Cooling system for batteries in electric vehicle

• US 20030082438A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kwon, Young-Hae
• Granted Patent: US 7,017,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/04 Arrangement of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling system for batteries in an electric vehicle. The cooling system includes an air conditioner for generating cool air; a battery tray in which batteries are mounted, the battery tray having an air intake passageway to receive cool air supplied by the air conditioner to cool the batteries, and having an air exhaust passageway. An air duct interconnects the air conditioner and the air intake passageway of the battery tray. A mesh assembly including a plurality of holes is mounted within the air duct, and first condensation drain holes are formed along a lower end of the mesh assembly. A cooling fan is provided in the air exhaust passageway of the battery tray to draw the air inside the battery tray outside the system.

Claims

1. A cooling system for batteries in an electric vehicle comprising:

an air conditioner for generating cool air;

a battery tray adapted to have batteries mounted therein, the battery tray having an air intake passageway to receive the cool air supplied by the air conditioner to cool the batteries, and having an air exhaust passageway;

an air duct interconnecting the air conditioner and the air intake passageway of the battery tray;

a mesh assembly including a plurality of holes being mounted within the air duct;

first condensation drain holes formed along a lower end of the mesh assembly; and

a cooling fan provided in the air exhaust passageway of the battery tray, the cooling fan drawing the air inside the battery tray outside the system.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the mesh assembly includes a mesh guide integrally formed to the mesh assembly, the mesh guide of the mesh assembly being secured within the air duct by stoppers formed inside the air duct.

3. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the mesh assembly is mounted in the air duct in a state where an upper end of the mesh assembly is positioned closer to the air conditioner by a predetermined amount than a lower end of the mesh assembly, thereby resulting in a slanted configuration of the mesh assembly.

4. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein a lower portion of the first condensation drain holes is slanted at a predetermined angle in a direction away from the air conditioner.

5. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein second condensation drain holes are formed in a bottom portion of the battery tray.

6. The cooling system of claim 5, wherein a lower portion of the second condensation drain holes is slanted at a predetermined angle in a direction away from the air conditioner.

7. The cooling system of claim 5, wherein one of the second condensation drain holes is formed for each battery in the battery tray.

8. The cooling system of claim 5, wherein a diameter of the second condensation drain holes is smaller than a diameter of the first condensation drain holes.