Monoblock battery assembly with cross-flow cooling

• US 20030232239A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chevron Texaco Corporation (Chevron Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Chevron Texaco Corporation (Chevron Corp.)
• Inventors: Ovshinsky, Stanford R., Corrigan, Dennis A., Gow, Philippe, Muller, Marshall D., Higley, Lin R., Osgood, Anthony, Puttaiah, Rajeev
• Granted Patent: US 6,864,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/24 Alkaline accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6561 Gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6568 characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/112 Monobloc comprising multiple compartments
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/278 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/394 Gas-pervious parts or elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/528 Fixed electrical connections, i.e. not intended for disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/529 Intercell connections through partitions, e.g. in a battery casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/548 on opposite sides of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A multi-cell monoblock battery in which a plurality of electrochemical cells are disposed in a battery case. The battery case includes one or more cell partitions which divide the interior of the case into a plurality of cell compartments that house the electrochemical cells. Preferably, one or more coolant channels are integrally formed with at least one of the cell partitions. The coolant channels may have inlets and outlets disposed in the walls of the battery case so as to provide a cross-flow cooling design.

Claims

1. A multi-cell monoblock battery, comprising:

a battery case including one or more cell partitions dividing the interior of said case into a plurality of cell compartments;

at least one coolant channel integrally formed with at least one of said cell partitions, said coolant channel having an inlet and an outlet formed in one or more walls of said case; and

a plurality of electrochemical cells disposed within said battery case.

2. The battery of claim 1, wherein said inlet is formed in one of said walls and said outlet is formed in another of said walls.

3. The battery of claim 1, wherein said inlet and said outlet are formed in the same one of said walls.

4. The battery of claim 1, wherein said inlet is formed in a side wall of said case and said outlet is formed in an opposite side wall of said case.

5. The battery of claim 1, wherein said case is a common pressure vessel for said electrochemical cells.

6. The battery of claim 1, wherein said case further includes one or more wall covers, each of said wall covers co-operating with a corresponding wall of said case to define wall channels interconnecting said at least one coolant channel.

7. The battery of claim 1, wherein each of said electrochemical cells is disposed in a unique one of said cell compartments.

8. The battery of claim 1, wherein said battery case comprises a plastic.

9. The battery of claim 1, wherein said coolant channels are substantially horizontally disposed.

10. The battery of claim 1, wherein said electrochemical cells are nickel-metal hydride cells.

11. The battery of claim 1, wherein said battery operates at a peak pressure of at least 10 psi.

12. A multi-cell monoblock battery, comprising:

a battery case comprising;

walls, a bottom, and a lid,

one or more cell partitions dividing the interior of said case into a plurality of cell compartments, and

one or more coolant channels integrally formed with at least one of said cell partitions to form one or more coolant partitions, at least one of said coolant partitions integrally formed with at least one of said walls and/or said bottom and/or said lid as a one-piece construction; and

a plurality of electrochemical cell disposed in said battery case.

13. The battery of claim 12 wherein at least one of said coolant partitions, said walls, and said bottom are of one-piece construction.

14. The battery of claim 12, wherein said battery case is a common pressure vessel for said electrochemical cells.

15. The battery of claim 12, wherein each of said electrochemical cells is disposed in a unique one of said cell compartments.

16. The battery of claim 12, wherein said plurality of electrochemical cells are electrically coupled in series.

17. The battery of claim 12, wherein said battery case comprises a plastic.

18. The battery of claim 12, wherein said electrochemical cells are nickel-metal hydride cells.

19. The battery of claim 12, wherein said battery operates at a peak pressure of at least 10 psi.

20. A multi-cell monoblock battery, comprising:

a battery case including one or more cell partitions dividing the interior of said case into a plurality of cell compartments; and

a plurality of electrochemical cells disposed within said battery case, said case being a common pressure vessel for said electrochemical cells.

21. The battery of claim 20, wherein at least one of said cell partitions includes at least one coolant channel.

22. The battery of claim 20, wherein said electrochemical cells are nickel-metal hydride cells.