LITHIUM ION BATTERY MODULE

• US 20120125447A1
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarios Advanced Solutions GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Advanced Power Solutions, LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Fuhr, Jason D., Houchin-Miller, Gary P., Bowen, Gerald K., Dinkelman, John P., Patel, Dharmendra, Molinaroli, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 9,209,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/260
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• 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 10/058 Construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/112 Monobloc comprising multiple compartments
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/116 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/121 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/124 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/1245 characterised by the external coating on the casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/131 characterised by physical properties, e.g. gas permeability, size or heat resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/147 Lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/148 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/155 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/16 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/20 Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders structural combination of accumulators with charging apparatus H01M10/46
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/231 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/258 : Modular batteries; Casings provided with means for assembling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 : Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/289 : characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs spacing elements inside cells other than separators, membranes or diaphragms H01M50/471
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/60 : Arrangements or processes for filling or topping-up with liquids; Arrangements or processes for draining liquids from casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/627 : Filling ports
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/70 : Arrangements for stirring or circulating the electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4757 : Battery or electrolytic cell replenishment

Abstract

A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within the housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.

Claims

1. A lithium-ion battery module comprising:

a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within the housing;

a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing; and

a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments, wherein the cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.

2. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the housing and the lid comprise metal to act as a permeability barrier for the cell elements.

3. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a permeability barrier to prevent water from reaching the cell elements.

4. The battery module of claim 3, wherein each of the cell elements are provided in a metal foil pouch, the metal foil pouch configured to act as the permeability barrier.

5. The battery module of claim 3, wherein the housing comprises a coating of metal oxide to act as the permeability barrier.

6. The battery module of claim 5, wherein the coating of metal oxide is applied within each of the compartments of the housing.

7. The battery module of claim 5, wherein the coating of the metal oxide is applied to the outside surfaces of the housing.

8. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a channel that is in fluid communication with each of the compartments of the housing for providing a single location in which to provide electrolyte within the housing.

9. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises features configured for thermal management of the cell elements of the battery module.

10. The battery module of claim 9, wherein the features are hollow tubes that are configured to route a fluid therethrough.

11. The battery module of claim 10, wherein the hollow tubes are connected to a manifold for routing the fluid to the hollow tubes.

12. The battery module of claim 9, wherein the features are solid tubes and the battery module further comprises a thermal conduction plate conductively coupled to the solid tubes.

13. The battery module of claim 9, wherein the features are provided within the partitions of the housing.

14. The battery module of claim 9, wherein the features are conductively coupled to edges of the cell elements, each of the features configured to act as a current collector and terminal for the cell element.

15. The battery module of claim 14, wherein the features are hollow tubes and are configured to receive a fluid.

16. A lithium-ion battery module comprising:

a housing comprising a plurality of members configured to define a plurality of vessels within the housing, each vessel configured for receiving a lithium-ion cell element within the vessel; and

a lid coupled to the housing and the plurality of members to seal the plurality of vessels of the housing, wherein the lid is also configured to route electrolyte into each of the vessels.

17. The battery module of claim 16, further comprising a permeability barrier to prevent water from reaching the cell elements.

18. The battery module of claim 16, wherein the lid comprises a channel that is in fluid communication with each of the vessels of the housing for providing a single location in which to provide electrolyte within the housing.

19. The battery module of claim 16, wherein the housing further comprises features configured for thermal management of the cell elements of the battery module.

20. The battery module of claim 19, wherein the features are hollow tubes that are configured to route a fluid therethrough.