BATTERY CELL ASSEMBLY, HEAT EXCHANGER, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE HEAT EXCHANGER

• US 20120082880A1
• Filed: 10/04/2010
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Koetting, William, Tom, Kwok, Payne, Josh, O'Kane, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 8,662,153 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 53/04 of sheet metal
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/044 the deformations being pontual, e.g. dimples
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence
• 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 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49366 Sheet joined to sheet

Abstract

A battery cell assembly, a heat exchanger, and a method for manufacturing the heat exchanger are provided. The heat exchanger includes a rectangular-shaped sheet having first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions coupled together at a bent edge such that the sheet portions are disposed proximate to one another. Outer edges of the first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions are coupled together such that an interior region is formed between the first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions. The bent edge has first and second apertures extending therethrough. The heat exchanger further includes a first inlet port disposed on the bent edge over the first aperture, and a second outlet port disposed on the bent edge over the second aperture, such that fluid can flow through the first inlet port and into the interior region and then through the outlet port.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger, comprising:

a rectangular-shaped sheet having first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions coupled together at a bent edge of the rectangular-shaped sheet such that the first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions are disposed proximate to one another and generally parallel to one another, outer edges of the first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions being coupled together such that an interior region is formed between the first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions, the bent edge having first and second apertures extending therethrough;

a first inlet port being disposed on the bent edge over the first aperture; and

a second outlet port being disposed on the bent edge over the second aperture, such that fluid can flow through the first inlet port and into the interior region and then through the outlet port.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the first rectangular-shaped sheet portion has a first outer peripheral flat sheet portion, a first interior sheet portion, and first, second, and third outer edges;

the first outer peripheral flat sheet portion being disposed proximate to the first, second, and third outer edges of the first rectangular-shaped sheet portion; and

the first interior sheet portion being surrounded by the first outer peripheral flat sheet portion and the bent edge, and at least a first portion of the first interior sheet portion extending outwardly from the first outer peripheral flat sheet portion.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein the second rectangular-shaped sheet portion has a second outer peripheral flat sheet portion, a second interior sheet portion, and first, second, and third outer edges;

the second outer peripheral flat sheet portion being disposed proximate to the first, second, and third outer edges of the second rectangular-shaped sheet portion;

the second interior sheet portion being surrounded by the second outer peripheral flat sheet portion and the bent edge, and at least a second portion of the second interior sheet portion extending outwardly from the second outer peripheral flat sheet portion; and

the second outer peripheral flat sheet portion being disposed adjacent to the first outer peripheral flat sheet portion and coupled to the first outer peripheral flat sheet portion.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 3, wherein

the first interior sheet portion includes a third portion substantially co-planar with the first outer peripheral flat sheet portion that extends from the bent edge toward the second edge of the first rectangular-shaped sheet portion;

and

the second interior sheet portion includes a fourth portion substantially co-planar with the second outer peripheral flat sheet portion that extends from the bent edge toward the second edge of the second rectangular-shaped sheet portion, the third portion of the first interior sheet portion being disposed adjacent to the fourth portion of the second interior sheet portion, such that the interior region is at least partially partitioned by the third and fourth portions.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 4, wherein third and fourth portions are linearly-extending portions.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 4, wherein the third and fourth portions are circular-shaped portions.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the rectangular-shaped sheet is constructed of at least one of aluminum and stainless-steel.

8. A battery cell assembly, comprising:

a first frame member;

a second frame member configured to be coupled to the first frame member;

a battery cell disposed between the first and second frame members; and

a heat exchanger disposed adjacent to the battery cell and between the first and second frame members, the heat exchanger having a rectangular-shaped sheet with first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions coupled together at a bent edge of the rectangular-shaped sheet such that the first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions are disposed proximate to one another and generally parallel to one another, outer edges of the first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions being coupled together such that an interior region is formed between the first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions, the bent edge having first and second apertures extending therethrough, the heat exchanger further having a first inlet port being disposed on the bent edge over the first aperture, the heat exchanger further having a second outlet port being disposed on the bent edge over the second aperture, such that fluid can flow through the first inlet port and into the interior region and then through the outlet port.

9. A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger, comprising:

bending a rectangular-shaped sheet having first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions at a bent edge of the rectangular-shaped sheet such that the first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions are disposed proximate to one another, utilizing a bending device;

welding outer edges of the first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions together such that an interior region is formed between the first and second rectangular-shaped sheet portions, utilizing a welding device, the bent edge having first and second apertures extending therethrough;

welding a first inlet port on the bent edge over the first aperture, utilizing the welding device; and

welding a second outlet port on the bent edge over the second aperture, utilizing the welding device.