CORRUGATED FIN AND FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR BATTERY COOLING

• US 20110293982A1
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Quick, Megan J., Fogarassy, Steven J., Duffield, Michael, Grey, Thaddeus J., Martz, William L., Connor, Eric J., Skala, Glenn W., Barter, Stuart D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,065,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• 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 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• 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 cooling module for a battery pack assembly is disclosed. The cooling module includes a frame having a plurality of legs forming an opening through a central portion of the frame, at least one of the plurality of legs including a slot formed therethrough. A cooling fin is coupled to the frame. The cooling fin includes a corrugated plate interposed between a first plate and a second plate forming a plurality of fluid flow channels between the first plate and the second plate. The cooling modules are disposed in a stack having at least one battery cell disposed between adjacent cooling modules. The battery cell is in heat transfer communication with the cooling fin of at least one cooling module, wherein the cooling fin facilitates a transfer of heat energy between the battery cell and the flow channels formed in the cooling fin.

Claims

1. A cooling fin for a battery pack assembly comprising:

a first plate;

a second plate spaced apart from the first plate; and

a corrugated plate interposed between the first plate and the second plate forming a plurality of fluid flow channels through an interior of the cooling fin, wherein at least one battery cell of the battery pack is in heat transfer communication with the cooling fin.

2. The cooling fin according to claim 1, wherein the corrugated plate includes a plurality of radiused bends formed therein to form a generally sinusoidal cross-sectional pattern.

3. The cooling fin according to claim 1, wherein the corrugated plate includes a first bend, a second bend, and a third bend to form a generally serpentine cross-sectional pattern.

4. The cooling fin according to claim 3, wherein the corrugated plate includes a substantially linear segment between at least one of the first bend and the second bend, the second bend and the third bend, and the third bend and the first bend.

5. The cooling fin according to claim 1, wherein a peripheral bead is formed in at least one of the first plate and the second plate.

6. The cooling fin according to claim 1, wherein the cooling fin is formed from one of an aluminum, a stainless steel, and a coated steel.

7. A cooling module for a battery pack assembly comprising:

a frame; and

a cooling fin coupled to the frame, the cooling fin including a corrugated plate interposed between a first plate and a second plate forming a plurality of fluid flow channels between the first plate and the second plate, at least one of the first plate and the second plate in heat transfer communication with a battery cell of the battery pack assembly and the flow channels in heat transfer communication with at least one of the corrugated plate, the first plate, and the second plate.

8. The cooling module according to claim 7, wherein the corrugated plate includes a plurality of radiused bends formed therein to form a generally sinusoidal cross-sectional pattern.

9. The cooling module according to claim 7, wherein the corrugated plate includes a first bend, a second bend, and a third bend to form a generally serpentine cross-sectional pattern.

10. The cooling module according to claim 9, wherein the corrugated plate includes a substantially linear segment between at least one of the first bend and the second bend, the second bend and the third bend, and the third bend and the first bend.

11. The cooling module according to claim 7, the frame further comprising a plurality of legs forming an opening through a central portion of the frame, at least one of the plurality of legs including a slot formed therethrough.

12. The cooling module according to claim 11, wherein the slot is in fluid communication with at least one of the fluid flow channels formed between the first plate and the second plate.

13. The cooling module according to claim 11, wherein the first plate is coupled to a first side of the frame and the second plate is coupled to a second side of the frame.

14. The cooling module according to claim 11, wherein the cooling fin is received within the slot formed in the at least one of the plurality of legs and substantially closes the opening formed in the central portion of the frame.

15. A battery pack assembly, comprising:

a plurality of cooling modules disposed in a stack, each of the cooling modules including a frame and a cooling fin coupled to the frame, the frame having a plurality of legs forming an opening through a central portion of the frame, at least one of the plurality of legs including a slot formed therethrough, the cooling fin having a corrugated plate interposed between a first plate and a second plate forming a plurality of fluid flow channels between the first plate and the second plate, the flow channels in heat transfer communication with at least one of the corrugated plate, the first plate, and the second plate;

at least one battery cell disposed between adjacent cooling modules and in heat transfer communication with the cooling fin of one of the cooling modules, wherein the cooling fin facilitates a transfer of heat energy between the battery cell and the flow channels formed in the cooling fin;

an end plate disposed on at least one end of the battery pack assembly; and

a tension member providing a compressive force on the stack of the cooling modules, the battery cells, and the end plate.

16. The battery pack assembly of claim 15, further comprising a seal member disposed between adjacent cooling modules.

17. The battery pack assembly of claim 15, wherein the corrugated plate includes a plurality of radiused bends formed therein to form a generally sinusoidal cross-sectional pattern.

18. The battery pack assembly of claim 15, wherein the corrugated plate includes a first bend, a second bend, and a third bend to form a generally serpentine cross-sectional pattern.

19. The battery pack assembly of claim 15, wherein the slot formed in the at least one of the plurality of legs is in fluid communication with at least one of the fluid flow channels formed between the first plate and the second plate of the cooling fin.

20. The battery pack assembly of claim 15, wherein the cooling fin is received within the slot formed in the at least one of the plurality of legs and substantially closes the opening formed in the central portion of the frame.