VEHICLE BATTERY TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A vehicle battery temperature control system comprising:
- a battery operable to discharge thermal energy, the battery having a heat sink configured to transfer the thermal energy therefrom;
a housing having a chamber formed therein that is configured to receive the battery and contain a saturated liquid coolant that substantially immerses the heat sink so that the coolant receives the thermal energy from operation of the battery to cause a phase change of the coolant from a liquid phase to a vapor phase; and
a heat exchanger configured to receive vapor phase coolant from the chamber and remove thermal energy from the vapor phase coolant to change the coolant from the vapor phase to the liquid phase, and being further configured to return the liquid phase coolant to the chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle battery temperature control system includes a battery, a housing and a heat exchanger. The battery is operable to discharge thermal energy, and has a heat sink configured to transfer the thermal energy from the battery. The housing has a chamber that is configured to receive the battery and contain a saturated liquid coolant that substantially immerses the heat sink so that the coolant receives the thermal energy from operation of the battery to cause a phase change of the coolant from a liquid phase to a vapor phase. The heat exchanger is configured to receive vapor phase coolant from the chamber and remove thermal energy from the vapor phase coolant to change the coolant from the vapor phase to the liquid phase, and is further configured to return the liquid phase coolant to the chamber.
63 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle battery temperature control system comprising:
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a battery operable to discharge thermal energy, the battery having a heat sink configured to transfer the thermal energy therefrom; a housing having a chamber formed therein that is configured to receive the battery and contain a saturated liquid coolant that substantially immerses the heat sink so that the coolant receives the thermal energy from operation of the battery to cause a phase change of the coolant from a liquid phase to a vapor phase; and a heat exchanger configured to receive vapor phase coolant from the chamber and remove thermal energy from the vapor phase coolant to change the coolant from the vapor phase to the liquid phase, and being further configured to return the liquid phase coolant to the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle battery temperature control method comprising:
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operating a battery having a heat sink and disposed in a chamber of a housing containing a saturated liquid coolant into which the battery is immersed, so that the heat sink transfers thermal energy from the battery to the coolant to cause a phase change of the coolant from a liquid phase to a vapor phase; operating a heat exchanger to receive vapor phase coolant from the chamber and remove thermal energy from the vapor phase coolant to change the coolant from the vapor phase to the liquid phase; and operating the heat exchanger to return the liquid phase coolant to the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification