BATTERY MODULE AND METHOD FOR COOLING THE BATTERY MODULE

• US 20110027625A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Payne, Josh
• Granted Patent: US 8,703,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/50
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/60 Heating or cooling; Temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6568 characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/66 Heat-exchange relationships between the cells and other systems, e.g. central heating systems or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/50 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance, e.g. for maintaining operating temperature 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 6/5038 Heating or cooling of cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery module and a method for cooling the battery module are provided. The battery module includes a housing having an electrically non-conductive oil disposed therein, and a battery cell disposed in the housing that contacts the electrically non-conductive oil. The battery module further includes first and second heat conductive fins disposed in the housing that contacts the electrically non-conductive oil. The first and second heat conductive fins extract heat energy from the electrically non-conductive oil. The battery module further includes first and second conduits extending through the first and second heat conductive fins, respectively. The first and second conduits receive first and second portions of a fluid, respectively, therethrough and conduct heat energy from the first and second heat conductive fins, respectively, into the fluid to cool the battery cell.

Claims

1. A battery module, comprising:

a housing having an electrically non-conductive oil disposed therein;

a battery cell disposed in the housing that contacts the electrically non-conductive oil;

first and second heat conductive fins disposed in the housing that contacts the electrically non-conductive oil, the first and second heat conductive fins configured to extract heat energy from the electrically non-conductive oil; and

first and second conduits extending through the first and second heat conductive fins, respectively, the first and second conduits configured to receive first and second portions of a fluid, respectively, therethrough and to conduct heat energy from the first and second heat conductive fins, respectively, into the fluid to cool the battery cell.

2. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the first and second heat conductive fins are disposed proximate to first and second ends, respectively, of the battery cell.

3. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the first and second heat conductive fins are constructed from at least one of aluminum and copper.

4. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the housing is constructed from plastic.

5. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the electrically non-conductive oil comprises mineral oil.

6. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a coolant.

7. The battery module of claim 6, wherein the coolant comprises at least one of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.

8. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a refrigerant.

9. A method for cooling a battery module, the battery module having a housing, a battery cell, first and second heat conductive fins, and first and second conduits extending through the first and second heat conductive fins, respectively, the method comprising:

conducting heat energy from the battery cell into an electrically non-conductive oil disposed in the housing;

conducting heat energy from the electrically non-conductive oil into the first and second heat conductive fins disposed in the housing; and

receiving first and second portions of a fluid in the first and second conduits, respectively, and conducting heat energy from the first and second heat conductive fins, respectively, into the fluid to cool the battery cell in the housing.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electrically non-conductive oil comprises mineral oil.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the fluid comprises a coolant.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the coolant comprises at least one of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the fluid comprises a refrigerant.