Battery system

• US 20080220315A1
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Dougherty, Thomas J., Wood, Steven J., Trester, Dale B., Andrew, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,518,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/53
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• 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 10/6566 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells and a system configured for passing a fluid past at least a portion of the plurality of battery cells in a parallel manner.

Claims

1. A battery module comprising:

a plurality of battery cells located in a housing; and

a system configured for conveying a fluid past at least a portion of the cells in a parallel manner;

wherein each of the cells includes a plurality of apertures configured to direct the fluid through the cell so that the fluid is evenly distributed about a perimeter of the cell.

2. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises air.

3. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the system includes a manifold for distributing the fluid.

4. The battery module of claim 3, wherein the fluid is forced from the manifold past the plurality of battery cells.

5. The battery module of claim 3, wherein the fluid is pulled into the manifold after passing the plurality of battery cells.

6. The battery module of claim 3, wherein the manifold includes a channel having a plurality of apertures for distributing the fluid toward the plurality of cells.

7. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the apertures are distributed generally evenly about the perimeter of each of the cells.

8. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the module includes twelve battery cells.

9. The battery module of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of battery cells includes a plurality of positive terminals and a plurality of negative terminals.

10. The battery module of claim 9, wherein the terminals of each of the plurality of battery cells are configured for coupling to a terminal of another battery cell.

11. The battery module of claim 1, wherein each of the cells has a generally oval cross-sectional shape.

12. The battery module of claim 1, wherein each of the cells includes a vent for releasing gas from within the cells.

13. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells are electrically coupled together with buss bars, the buss bars coupling a positive terminal of a first one of the cells to a negative terminal of a second one of the battery cells.

14. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the cells are arranged so that a positive terminal of each of the cells is adjacent a negative terminal of an adjacent one of the cells.

15. The battery module of claim 1, wherein each of the cells include a plurality of ribs for defining spaces through which the fluid may flow.

16. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the module is configured for use in a vehicle.

17. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the module is configured to be operatively connected to a plurality of other battery modules to form a battery system.

18. The battery module of claim 17, wherein the fluid system supplies fluid to both the module and the other modules.

19. A battery system comprising:

a plurality of battery modules, each battery module comprising a plurality of battery cells;

a plurality of fluid reservoirs, each fluid reservoir being in fluid communication with one of the plurality of battery modules and configured to collect fluid released from the plurality of battery cells, each of the plurality of fluid reservoirs including a valve configured to permit the fluid to exit the fluid reservoir and flow to a common area when a pressure with the fluid reservoir exceeds a first pressure;

wherein the common area is configured to permit the fluid to exit the common area when fluid pressure in the common area exceeds a second pressure.

20. The battery system of claim 19 wherein the plurality of battery modules includes at least three battery modules.

21. The battery system of claim 19 wherein each of the plurality of battery cells are battery cells.

22. The battery system of claim 19 wherein each of fluid reservoirs includes a dryer material.

23. A battery module comprising:

a plurality of battery cells located in a housing; and

a system configured for conveying fluid past at least a portion of the cells in a parallel manner;

wherein a manifold is located in the housing to distribute fluid evenly to the cells and wherein each of the cells includes a plurality of apertures configured to direct the fluid through the cell so that the fluid is evenly distributed about a perimeter of the cell.