Battery System And Method

• US 20120043924A1
• Filed: 08/23/2010
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Sheahan, James J. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,575,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/30 Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery system including a housing that defines an internal volume and a venting system that fluidly couples the internal volume with an atmosphere surrounding the housing and a support structure within the internal volume, the support structure being configured to support a number of battery cell modules in the internal volume.

Claims

1. A battery system comprising:

a housing that defines an internal volume and a vent that fluidly couples said internal volume with an atmosphere surrounding said housing; and

a support structure within said internal volume, said support structure being configured to support a plurality of battery cell modules in said internal volume.

2. The battery system of claim 1 further comprising at least one battery cell module of said plurality of battery cell modules.

3. The battery system of claim 2 wherein said battery cell module comprises at least one rechargeable cell.

4. The battery system of claim 2 wherein said battery cell module is utilized in a containment device.

5. The battery system of claim 4 wherein said containment device comprises a layer of woven ceramic fabric and a layer of oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers.

6. The battery system of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a resealable opening into said internal volume for maintenance or modification.

7. The battery system of claim 1 wherein said support structure defines a plurality of ports.

8. The battery system of claim 7 wherein each port of said plurality of ports is resizable.

9. The battery system of claim 1 further comprising a charging system electrically connectable to said plurality of battery cell modules.

10. The battery system of claim 9 wherein said charging system is integrated with said housing.

11. The battery system of claim 9 wherein said charging system comprises electronics configured to identify malfunctioning cell modules and non-malfunctioning cell modules within said plurality of battery cell modules.

12. The battery system of claim 11 wherein said charging system is further configured to electrically isolate said malfunctioning cell modules from said non-malfunctioning cell modules.

13. The battery system of claim 12 wherein said charging system is further configured to supply a charging voltage to said non-malfunctioning cell modules and to increase said charging voltage within a safe battery charge range when said malfunctioning cell modules are isolated.

14. A battery system comprising:

a housing that defines an internal volume and at least one vent that fluidly couples said internal volume with an atmosphere surrounding said housing;

a plurality of battery cell modules received in said internal volume; and

a charging system configured to identify malfunctioning cell modules and non-malfunctioning cell modules within said plurality of battery cell modules and to electrically isolate said malfunctioning cell modules from said non-malfunctioning cell modules, wherein said charging system supplies a charging voltage to said non-malfunctioning cell modules and increases said charging voltage to maintain operating ratings when said malfunctioning cell modules are isolated.

15. The battery system of claim 14 further comprising a support structure received in said internal volume for supporting said plurality of battery cell modules relative to said housing.

16. The battery system of claim 14 wherein at least one battery cell module of said plurality comprises a rechargeable cell.

17. The battery system of claim 14 wherein at least one battery cell module of said plurality is received in a containment device.

18. The battery system of claim 14 wherein said housing comprises a resealable opening into said internal volume.

19. The battery system of claim 18 wherein said vent is positioned on said resealable opening.

20. A method for operating a battery system at a target voltage comprising the steps of:

providing a housing that defines an internal volume and a vent that fluidly couples said internal volume with an atmosphere surrounding said housing;

placing a plurality of battery cell modules into said internal volume;

applying a charging voltage to said plurality of battery cell modules;

monitoring each battery cell module of said plurality to identify a malfunctioning battery cell module within said plurality; and

when said malfunctioning battery cell module is identified,

electrically isolating said malfunctioning battery cell module from said other battery cell modules of said plurality; and

increasing said charging voltage applied to said other battery cell modules of said plurality.