BATTERY MODULE AND METHOD FOR COOLING THE BATTERY MODULE

• US 20110052959A1
• Filed: 08/28/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Payne, Josh, Koetting, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,399,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/653 characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6555 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6556 Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange closed pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• 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 battery cell and a cooling fin disposed adjacent to the battery cell. The cooling fin has a solid plate and first and second tab portions extending from first and second edges, respectively, of the solid plate. The first and second tab portions are bent perpendicular to a front surface of the battery cell. The cooling fin extracts heat energy from the battery cell thereto. The battery module further includes a first cooling manifold that contacts the first tab portion of the cooling fin. The first cooling manifold has at least one flow channel extending therethrough that receives a fluid therethrough. The first cooling manifold conducts heat energy from the cooling fin into the fluid flowing through the first cooling manifold to cool the battery cell.

Claims

1. A battery module, comprising:

a battery cell; and

a cooling fin disposed adjacent to the battery cell, the cooling fin having a solid plate and first and second tab portions extending from first and second edges, respectively, of the solid plate, the first and second tab portions configured to be bent perpendicular to a front surface of the battery cell, the cooling fin configured to extract heat energy from the battery cell thereto; and

a first cooling manifold that contacts the first tab portion of the cooling fin, the first cooling manifold having at least one flow channel extending therethrough configured to receive a fluid therethrough, the first cooling manifold configured to conduct heat energy from the cooling fin into the fluid flowing through the first cooling manifold to cool the battery cell.

2. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a second cooling manifold that contacts the second tab portion of the cooling fin, the second cooling manifold having at least one flow channel extending therethrough configured to receive a fluid therethrough, the second cooling manifold configured to conduct heat energy from the cooling fin into the fluid flowing through the second cooling manifold to cool the battery cell.

3. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the solid plate of the cooling fin is rectangular shaped.

4. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the cooling fin is constructed of at least one of copper, aluminum, and steel.

5. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the first cooling manifold is constructed of at least one of copper and aluminum.

6. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the fluid is 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 is a refrigerant.

9. A method for cooling a battery module, the battery module having a battery cell, a cooling fin disposed adjacent to the battery cell, and a first cooling manifold that contacts the cooling fin, the cooling fin having a solid plate and first and second tab portions extending from first and second edges, respectively, of the solid plate, the method comprising:

conducting heat energy from the battery cell into the solid plate of the cooling fin;

conducting heat energy from the first tab portion of the cooling fin into the first cooling manifold; and

receiving a fluid in the first cooling manifold and conducting heat energy from the first cooling manifold into the fluid flowing therethrough to cool the battery cell.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

conducting heat energy from the second tab portion of the cooling fin into a second cooling manifold; and

receiving a fluid in the second cooling manifold and conducting heat energy from the second cooling manifold into the fluid flowing therethrough to cool the battery cell.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the fluid is 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 is a refrigerant.