Method of operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device using high thermal conductivity materials during charge and discharge

• US 20100304259A1
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete 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.
• Application Number:
  US12/455,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20100304259A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/433
• 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 2/08 Cooling arrangements; Heating arrangements; Ventilating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/38 Multiple capacitors, i.e. structural combinations of fixed capacitors
• 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: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/653 characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials
• 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 10/6553 Terminals or leads
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5038 Heating or cooling of cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0432 Temperature; Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04701 Temperature
• 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 altering the temperature of an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device, includes placing an electrical load to draw current from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device. The electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device includes a housing having an external surface and an internal surface. The method also includes generating electricity by at least one component within the housing. At least one component being configured to generate electrical power in combination with other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing. Further, the method includes thermal control of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device by transferring heat to a plurality of thermal control structures of a high thermal conductivity material coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one internal components. The high thermal conductivity material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 400 W/(m*K). The method further includes flowing a fluid adjacent the high thermal conductivity material to remove heat from the high thermal conductivity material.

Claims

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

placing an electrical load to draw current from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device, the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device including a housing having an external surface and an internal surface;

generating electricity by at least one component within the housing, at least one component being configured to generate electrical power in combination with other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing;

altering the temperature of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device by transferring heat to a plurality of heat transfer structures of a high thermal conductivity material coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one internal components, the high thermal conductivity material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 400 W/(m*K); and

coupling the at least one heat-transfer structure to at least one external source, sink, or reservoir of heat.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is coupled to a portion of a wall of the housing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is coupled to at least one component.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is integrated with a portion of a wall of the housing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is integrated with at least one component.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is coupled to a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a cathode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is coupled to a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes an anode.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is integrated with a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a cathode.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is integrated with a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes an anode.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is integrated with at least one component.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is coupled to the material including a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a material and catalyst material.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is coupled to the material including a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a solid electrolyte material.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is integrated with the material including a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a material and catalyst material.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is integrated with the material including a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a solid electrolyte material.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is coupled to a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes an electrical contact.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is integrated with a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes an electrical contact.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is coupled to a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a current carrying conductor.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is integrated with a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a current carrying conductor.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is coupled to a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a dielectric.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is coupled to a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a separator.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is integrated with a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a dielectric.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is integrated with a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a separator.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one component includes a thermal control component, and the thermal control component is disposed within the housing.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material includes diamond.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material includes a diamond film.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material includes carbon fiber.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material includes carbon nanotubes.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes one or more vanadium redox cells.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes one or more capacitive storage device.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes one or more inductive storage devices.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes one or more electrolytic capacitors.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes one or more supercapacitors.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes one or more hypercapacitors.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes at least one polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) based capacitor.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes at least one of a lithium-based battery, a lithium battery, a lithium-ion nanophosphate battery, a lithium sulfur battery, or a lithium-ion polymer-battery.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes a sodium sulfur battery.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material form micro heat pipes.

28-31. -31. (canceled)

42. A method of providing power from an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device, comprising:

providing the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device including a housing and including internal components within the housing;

altering the temperature of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device by transferring heat to a plurality of heat transfer structures of a high thermal conductivity material coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one internal components, the high thermal conductivity material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 400 W/(m*K);

coupling the plurality of heat-transfer structures to at least one external source, sink, or reservoir of heat; and

configuring the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device for a platform for discharging the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and using the electrical energy from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device.

43-82. -82. (canceled)

83. A method of providing power from an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device, comprising:

receiving the electrical energy storage device including a housing and including internal components within the housing;

altering the temperature of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device by transferring heat to a plurality of heat transfer structures of a high thermal conductivity material coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one internal components, the high thermal conductivity material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 400 W/(m*K);

coupling the at least one heat-transfer structure to at least one external source, sink, or reservoir of heat; and

discharging power from the electrical energy storage device, the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device coupled to a platform for discharging the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and using electrical energy from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device.

84-123. -123. (canceled)

124. A method of charging an electrical energy storage device, comprising:

configuring the electrical energy storage device to receive electrical current to charge the electrical energy storage device, the electrical energy storage device including a housing having an external surface and an internal surface;

configuring at least one component within the housing, at least one component being configured to generate electrical energy, during a discharge phase, in combination with other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing and at least one component configured to receive electrical charge during a charge phase;

providing a plurality of heat transfer structures of a high thermal conductivity material coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one internal components, the high thermal conductivity material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 400 W/(m*K) the thermal conductive material configured to receive heat generated during the charge phase and a fluid within the high thermal conductivity material; and

providing a thermal sink, to transfer heat to or from the high thermal conductivity material.

125-164. -164. (canceled)

165. A method of charging an electrical energy storage device, comprising:

placing the electrical energy storage device to draw current from a charging source, the power source including a housing having an external surface and an internal surface;

altering the temperature of the electrical energy storage device by transferring heat to a plurality of thermal control structures of a high thermal conductivity material coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one internal components, the high thermal conductivity material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 400 W/(m*K) the thermal conductive material configured to receive heat generated during the, charge phase and a fluid within the high thermal conductivity material; and

rejecting the heat through a thermal sink, to transfer the heat to or from the fluid, coupled to the high thermal conductivity material, the thermal sink being configured to transfer heat energy from the fluid flowing adjacent the high thermal conductivity material and the thermal sink.

166-246. -246. (canceled)