BATTERY PACK HEAT EXCHANGER, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A battery module for powering a device comprising:
- a. a heat exchanger having an outer shell and a plurality of separators extending within the outer shell, wherein a first volume is formed within the shell and outside of the separators and a second volume is formed within the separators;
b. a plurality of battery cells positioned within the plurality of separators; and
c. a coolant within the first volume in contact with the plurality of separators for dissipating localized heat produced by the battery cells throughout the heat exchanger.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery pack heat exchanger, system, and method comprises a plurality of battery modules comprising a heat exchanger having an outer shell and a plurality of cylinders extending within the outer shell. A plurality of battery cells are positioned within the plurality of cylinders and a coolant is poured into the shell via a fill port. As a result, the coolant is able to absorb and dissipate localized heat produced by the battery cells throughout the heat exchanger. Therefore, if one battery cell undergoes a thermal run-away, the heat will be distributed throughout the shell volume thereby greatly reducing the likelihood that battery cells directly adjacent the run-away cell absorb the brunt of the heat and undergo thermal run-away themselves.
80 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A battery module for powering a device comprising:
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a. a heat exchanger having an outer shell and a plurality of separators extending within the outer shell, wherein a first volume is formed within the shell and outside of the separators and a second volume is formed within the separators; b. a plurality of battery cells positioned within the plurality of separators; and c. a coolant within the first volume in contact with the plurality of separators for dissipating localized heat produced by the battery cells throughout the heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A battery pack comprising:
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a. one or more battery modules for powering a device, each battery module comprising; i. a heat exchanger having an outer shell and a plurality of separators extending within the outer shell, wherein a first volume is formed within the shell and outside of the separators and a second volume is formed within the separators; ii. a plurality of battery cells positioned within the plurality of separators; and iii. a coolant within the first volume in contact with the plurality of separators for dissipating localized heat produced by the battery cells throughout the heat exchanger; b. one or more coolant manifolds for coupling the battery modules together and transporting the coolant between the one or more battery modules. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system for powering an electric device comprising:
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a. one or more battery packs comprising one or more battery modules for powering the device, each battery module comprising; i. a heat exchanger having an outer shell and a plurality of separators extending within the outer shell, wherein a first volume is formed within the shell and outside of the separators and a second volume is formed within the separators; ii. a plurality of battery cells positioned within the plurality of separators; and iii. a coolant within the first volume in contact with the plurality of separators for dissipating localized heat produced by the battery cells throughout the heat exchanger; b. one or more coolant manifolds for coupling the battery modules together and transporting the coolant between the one or more battery modules. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method of operating a battery pack comprising:
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a. positioning a plurality of battery cells within a plurality of separators extending within shells of heat exchangers of one or more battery modules, wherein a first volume is formed within the shell and outside of the separators and a second volume is formed within the separators; and b. circulating the coolant throughout the first volume of the battery modules via one or more coolant manifolds coupling the battery modules together, wherein coolant circulating throughout the first volume contacts with the plurality of separators for dissipating localized heat produced by the battery cells throughout the heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (57)
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- 58. The method of claim 58, wherein the secondary heat exchanger is integral to the battery pack.
Specification