INCREASED RESISTANCE TO THERMAL RUNAWAY THROUGH DIFFERENTIAL HEAT TRANSFER
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a battery housing;
a first battery cell having a first cell thermal capacitance, the first cell fixedly disposed in the battery housing;
a second battery cell having a second cell thermal capacitance, the second cell fixedly disposed in the housing a minimum air gap away from the first cell, the minimum air gap having an air gap thermal resistance; and
a heat conductor disposed adjacent each of the cells, with the heat conductor having a heat conductor heat capacitance,wherein a combination of the first cell thermal capacitance, the second cell thermal capacitance, the heat conductor thermal capacitance and the air gap is sufficient to restrict heat flow from the first cell to the second cell during a thermal runaway event of the first cell, the heat flow restricted such that the second cell temperature remains less than a temperature sufficient to cause thermal runaway in the second cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment includes a housing, a first battery cell having a first cell thermal capacitance, the first cell fixedly disposed in the housing, a second battery cell having a second cell thermal capacitance, the second cell fixedly disposed in the housing a minimum air gap away from the first cell, the minimum air gap having an air gap thermal resistance and a heat conductor disposed adjacent each of the cells, with the heat conductor having a heat conductor heat capacitance. A combination of the first cell thermal capacitance, the second cell thermal capacitance, the heat conductor thermal capacitance and the air gap is sufficient to restrict heat flow from the first cell to the second cell during a thermal runaway event of the first cell, the heat flow restricted such that the second cell temperature remains less than a temperature sufficient to cause thermal runaway in the second cell.
46 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a battery housing; a first battery cell having a first cell thermal capacitance, the first cell fixedly disposed in the battery housing; a second battery cell having a second cell thermal capacitance, the second cell fixedly disposed in the housing a minimum air gap away from the first cell, the minimum air gap having an air gap thermal resistance; and a heat conductor disposed adjacent each of the cells, with the heat conductor having a heat conductor heat capacitance, wherein a combination of the first cell thermal capacitance, the second cell thermal capacitance, the heat conductor thermal capacitance and the air gap is sufficient to restrict heat flow from the first cell to the second cell during a thermal runaway event of the first cell, the heat flow restricted such that the second cell temperature remains less than a temperature sufficient to cause thermal runaway in the second cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
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a battery housing having a housing heat capacitance; a first battery cell having a first thermal capacitance, the first cell fixedly disposed in the battery housing; a second battery cell having a second thermal capacitance, the second cell fixedly disposed in the housing a minimum air gap away from the first cell, the minimum air gap having an air gap thermal resistance; a heat conductor disposed adjacent each of the cells, with the heat conductor having a heat conductor heat capacitance; and a thermal interface material disposed between the heat conductor the first cell and between the heat conductor and the second cell and not between the first cell and the second cell, the thermal interface material conformed to the heat conductor and each of the first and second cells. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electric vehicle, comprising:
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an electric motor coupled to propel the electric vehicle; a battery housing disposed in the electric vehicle, the battery housing including a plurality of battery cells to power the electric motor; a first cell of the plurality of battery cells, the first cell having a first cell thermal capacitance, the first cell fixedly disposed in the battery housing; a second cell of the plurality of battery cells, the second cell having a second cell thermal capacitance, the second cell fixedly disposed in the housing a minimum air gap away from the first cell, the minimum air gap having an air gap thermal resistance; and a fluid cooling tube disposed adjacent each of the cells, with the cooling tube having a cooling tube heat capacitance, the cooling tube being part of a temperature control system to cool the cooling tube, wherein a combination of the first cell thermal capacitance, the second cell thermal capacitance, the heat conductor thermal capacitance and the air gap is sufficient to restrict heat flow from the first cell to the second cell during a thermal runaway event of the first cell, the heat flow restricted such that the second cell temperature remains less than a temperature sufficient to cause thermal runaway in the second cell. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification