System and method of operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device using thermal conductivity materials based on mobile device states and vehicle states

• US 20100304251A1
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Wood, Lowell L. JR., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Chan, Alistair K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,715,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/430
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2260/02 having microchannels
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/10 Multiple hybrid or EDL capacitors, e.g. arrays or modules housings, cases, encapsulations or mountings thereof H01G11/78
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/18 against thermal overloads, e.g. heating, cooling or ventilating
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/78 Cases; Housings; Encapsulations; Mountings
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/0003 Protection against electric or thermal overload; cooling arrangements; means for avoiding the formation of cathode films H01G9/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/08 Housing; Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/058 Construction or manufacture
• 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 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/623 Portable devices, e.g. mobile telephones, cameras or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6235 Power tools
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/633 characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/654 located inside the innermost case of the cells, e.g. mandrels, electrodes or electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/656 characterised by the type of heat-exchange fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/02 : Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/86 : Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04029 : Heat exchange using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04537 : Electric variables
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 : of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04589 : of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04701 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2475 : Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 : Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells

Abstract

A method is generally described which includes operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device includes providing at least one thermal control structure formed of a high thermal conductive material. The high thermal conductive material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 410 W/(m*K). The thermal control structures are disposed adjacent at least a portion of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device. The thermal control structures are configured to provide heat transfer away from the portion of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device. The method also includes configuring a controller with a control algorithm to control the actions of a controllable fluid flow device as a function of a mobile device states. The mobile device using electricity from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device. The electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device is configured to provide electrical current and the controllable fluid flow device providing a fluid to the at least one thermal control structure. The method also includes accessing a processor of a mobile device. The processor is configured to determine at least one mobile device state. Further, the method includes providing an electrical characteristic sensor coupled to the power source and is configured to sense at least one electrical characteristic of the power source and to provide a signal representative of the at least one characteristic to the controller.

Claims

1. An electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device temperature alteration system, comprising:

a controllable fluid flow device coupled to a plurality of thermal control structures of a high thermal conductive material, the high thermal conductive material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 400 W/(m*K), the thermal control structures disposed adjacent at least a portion of an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device, the thermal control structures configured to provide heat transfer away from the portion of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device;

an electrical characteristic sensor coupled to the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device;

a processor of a mobile device, the processor configured to determine at least one mobile device state; and

a controller configured with a control algorithm and configured to control the function of the controllable fluid flow device as a function of the mobile device state, the mobile device using electricity from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductive material is disposed adjacent a portion of a wall of a housing of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductive material is disposed adjacent a portion of at least one internal component of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductive material is disposed adjacent a portion of at least one internal component of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and the at least one internal component includes a cathode.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductive material is disposed adjacent a portion of at least one internal component of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and the at least one internal component includes an anode.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductive material is disposed adjacent the material including a portion of at least one internal component of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and at least one component includes a catalyst material.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductive material is disposed adjacent the material including a portion of at least one internal component of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and at least one component includes a solid electrolyte material.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductive material is disposed adjacent a portion of at least one internal component of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and the at least one internal component includes an electrical contact.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductive material is disposed adjacent a portion of at least one internal component of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and the at least one internal component includes a current carrying conductor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductive material is disposed adjacent a portion of at least one internal component of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and the at least one internal component includes a dielectric.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductive material is disposed adjacent a portion of at least one internal component of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and the at least one internal component includes a separator.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductive material is disposed adjacent an internal surface of a housing of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductive material is disposed adjacent a surface of at least one internal component of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device.

43. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device includes a fuel cell and the microchannels are formed in a portion of at least one internal component of the fuel cell and the at least one internal component includes a bipolar structure.

44. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device includes a fuel cell and the microchannels are formed in a portion of at least one internal component of the fuel cell and at least one component includes a solid electrolyte.

45. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one component of the power source includes an electrode, and the electrode includes microchannels alternating with current flow pathways.

46. The system of claim 1, wherein the microchannels are formed by etching.

47. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a current sensor.

48. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a voltage sensor.

51. The system of claim 1, wherein the control algorithm includes, a classical control algorithm.

52. The system of claim 1, wherein the control algorithm includes a feedback control algorithm.

53. The system of claim 1, wherein the control algorithm includes a nonlinear control algorithm.

54. The system of claim 1, wherein the control algorithm includes an optimal control algorithm.

55. The system of claim 1, wherein the control algorithm includes a state estimator.

56. The system of claim 1, wherein the control algorithm includes an adaptive control algorithm.

57. The system of claim 1, wherein the control algorithm includes a Kalman filter.

58. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device states includes display brightness.

59. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device states includes hard disk state.

60. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device states includes hard disk speed.

61. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device states includes hard disk usage.

62. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device states includes wireless communication state.

63. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device states includes an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device state.

64. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device states includes a power availability status.

65. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a computer.

66. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a laptop computer.

67. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a mobile phone.

68. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a global positioning system (GPS) unit.

69. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a power tool.

14-42. -42. (canceled)

49-50. -50. (canceled)

70. An electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device temperature alteration system, comprising:

a controllable fluid flow device coupled to a plurality of thermal control structures of a high thermal conductive material, the high thermal conductive material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 400 W/(m*K), the thermal control structures disposed adjacent at least a portion of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device, the thermal control structures configured to provide heat transfer away from the portion of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device;

an electrical characteristic sensor coupled to the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device;

processor of a mobile device, the processor configured to determine at least one mobile device state; and

a controller configured with a control algorithm and configured to control the function of mobile device state, the mobile device using electricity from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device.

71-138. -138. (canceled)

139. A method of operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device, comprising:

providing at least one thermal control structure formed of a high thermal conductive material, the high thermal conductive material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 400 W/(m*K), the thermal control structures disposed adjacent at least a portion of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device, the thermal control structures configured to provide heat transfer away from the portion of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device; and

configuring a controller with a control algorithm to control the actions of a controllable fluid flow device as a function of a mobile device states, the mobile device using electricity from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device, the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device configured to provide electrical current and the controllable fluid flow device providing a fluid to the at least one thermal control structure;

accessing a processor of a mobile device, the processor configured to determine at least one mobile device state; and

providing an electrical characteristic sensor coupled to the power source and configured to sense at least one electrical characteristic of the power source and to provide a signal representative of the at least one characteristic to the controller.

140-207. -207. (canceled)

208. An electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device temperature alteration system, comprising:

a controllable fluid flow device coupled to a plurality of thermal control structures of a high thermal conductive material, the high thermal conductive material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 400 W/(m*K), the thermal control structures disposed adjacent at least a portion of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device, the thermal control structures configured to provide heat transfer away from the portion of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device;

a processor configured to determine at least one vehicle state;

a vehicle sensor coupled to the processor and configured to sense at least one vehicle characteristic; and

a controller configured with a control algorithm and configured to control the function of the controllable fluid flow device as a function of at least one vehicle state, the vehicle using the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device.

209-283. -283. (canceled)

284. An electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device temperature alteration system, comprising:

a controllable fluid flow device coupled to a plurality of thermal control structures of a high thermal conductive material, the high thermal conductive material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 400 W/(m*K), the thermal control structures disposed adjacent at least a portion of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device, the thermal control structures configured to provide heat transfer away from the portion of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device;

a processor configured to determine at least one vehicle state;

a vehicle sensor coupled to a processor and configured to sense at least one vehicle characteristic; and

a controller configured with a control algorithm and configured to control the function of a vehicle based on a vehicle state, the vehicle using the power source.

285-359. -359. (canceled)

360. A method of operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device, comprising:

providing at least one thermal control structure formed of a high thermal conductive material, the high thermal conductive material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 400 W/(m*K), the thermal control structures disposed adjacent at least a portion of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device, the thermal control structures configured to provide heat transfer away from the portion of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device;

providing a processor configured to determine at least one vehicle state;

configuring a controller with a control algorithm to control the actions of a controllable fluid flow device as a function of a vehicle state, the vehicle using the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device, the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device configured to provide electrical current and the controllable fluid flow device providing a fluid to the at least one thermal control structure; and

providing a vehicle sensor coupled to the processor and configured to sense at least one vehicle characteristic and configured to sense at least one electrical characteristic of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and to provide a signal representative of the at least one characteristic to the controller.

361-435. -435. (canceled)