SEALED TYPE HEAT EXCHANGING SYSTEM OF BATTERY PACK

• US 20070248876A1
• Filed: 11/02/2006
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: NAMGOONG, John E., AHN, Jaesung, PARK, JongMin, JUNG, Do Yang
• Granted Patent: US 7,642,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6566 Means within the gas flow to guide the flow around one or more cells, e.g. manifolds, baffles or other barriers H01M10/6565 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6572 Peltier elements or thermoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/658 by thermal insulation or shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a heat exchange system that controls the temperature of a medium- or large-sized battery pack including a plurality of unit cells. The heat exchange system includes a sealed type housing surrounding the outer surface of the battery pack such that a predetermined flow channel, through which a heat exchange medium flows, is defined between the housing and the battery pack, a driving fan mounted in the housing for driving the heat exchange medium to flow, and a heat exchange unit mounted at one side of the housing for controlling the temperature of the heat exchange medium. In the heat exchange system according to the present invention, the heat exchange medium, for example, air is not introduced from the outside of the battery system, but is circulated in the battery system by the heat exchange unit. Consequently, the present invention has the effect of accomplishing the reduction in size of the battery system, reducing influences caused by external conditions, decreasing noise, and effectively controlling the optimum operating temperature of the battery pack.

Claims

1. A heat exchange system that controls the temperature of a medium- or large-sized battery pack including a plurality of unit cells, wherein the heat exchange system comprises:

a sealed type housing surrounding the outer surface of the battery pack such that a predetermined flow channel, through which a heat exchange medium flows, is defined between the housing and the battery pack;

a driving fan mounted in the housing for driving the heat exchange medium to flow; and

a heat exchange unit mounted at one side of the housing for controlling the temperature of the heat exchange medium.

2. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange medium is air.

3. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange unit includes

a heat control member controllable by a control unit mounted in the battery pack or by a control unit of a device in which the battery pack is mounted,

an inner heat exchange member mounted at the inner surface of the housing while the inner heat exchange member is in contact with the heat control member, and

an outer heat exchange member mounted at the outer surface of the housing while the outer heat exchange member is in contact with the heat control member.

4. The heat exchange system according to claim 3, wherein the heat control member is a Peltier element.

5. The heat exchange system according to claim 3, wherein the heat exchange members are constructed in a structure in which a plurality of fins made of a material having high heat conductivity are arranged in line.

6. The heat exchange system according to claim 3, wherein the heat control member is controlled by a battery management system (BMS) of the battery pack.

7. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the sealed type housing is provided at one or more inner surfaces thereof with partitions for dividing the heat exchange medium into predetermined flow channels.

8. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the sealed type housing is made of an insulating material.

9. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the driving fan is located adjacent to the heat exchange unit.

10. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first pipe for allowing the heat exchange medium to flow from the battery pack to the heat exchange unit therethrough; and

a second pipe for allowing the heat exchange medium to flow from the heat exchange unit to the battery pack therethrough.

11. The heat exchange system according to claim 10, wherein the first pipe and the second pipe are separated from each other while the first pipe and the second pipe are spaced apart from each other.