U-TYPE BATTERY PACK FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE

• US 20110129716A1
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kang, Dal-Mo, Im, Ye-Hoon, Yoon, Jong-Moon, Chung, Chae-Ho
• Granted Patent: US 9,139,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/617 for achieving uniformity or desired distribution of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/651 characterised by parameters specified by a numeric value or mathematical formula, e.g. ratios, sizes or concentrations
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6565 with recirculation or U-turn in the flow path, i.e. back and forth
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6566 Means within the gas flow to guide the flow around one or more cells, e.g. manifolds, baffles or other barriers H01M10/6565 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A battery pack for an electric vehicle has a cooling structure in which a coolant introduced through a first cooling channel cools cells and is then discharged through a second cooling channel. The cooling structure has a U-type structure in which the coolant is introduced and discharged in opposite directions. An entrance of the first cooling channel and an exit of the second cooling channel satisfy an equation in relation to an entrance flow rate and an exit flow rate. Since the temperature deviation among cells is set very small, the life of a battery pack may be elongated. Also, since a ratio of an exit area to an entrance area of a cooling channel may be quantitatively calculated according to an equation, it becomes very easy to design a battery pack.

Claims

1. A battery pack for an electric vehicle, which has a cooling structure in which a coolant introduced through a first cooling channel cools cells and is then discharged through a second cooling channel,

wherein the cooling structure has a U-type structure in which the coolant is introduced and discharged in opposite directions, and

wherein an entrance of the first cooling channel and an exit of the second cooling channel satisfy the following equation in relation to an entrance flow rate and an exit flow rate:

2. The battery pack for an electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the exit flow rate is 50% to 99% of the entrance flow rate due to an outflow of the coolant.

3. The battery pack for an electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the cells are plate-type battery cells, and

wherein the cells are spaced apart from each other such that the coolant flows between the cells.

4. The battery pack for an electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the coolant is an air.

5. The battery pack for an electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein a driving force for supplying the coolant to the cooling structure through the entrance is provided by a blowing fan installed at the entrance.

6. The battery pack for an electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the C ranges from 0.85 to 1.15.