Method of Withdrawing Heat from a Battery Pack

• US 20120153901A1
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tesla Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tesla Motors Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Inventors: Hermann, Weston Arthur, Kohn, Scott Ira, Kelty, Kurt Russell, Kishiyama, Clay Hajime, Paryani, Anil, Jacobs, Alexander Thomas, Cutler, Grant Dufresne, Zhou, Peng
• Granted Patent: US 8,968,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/135
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/653 characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6553 Terminals or leads
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6554 Rods or plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6568 characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/663 the system being an air-conditioner or an engine
• 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 method for withdrawing heat from a battery pack is provided, wherein the heat is transferred from at least one electrode of each cell comprising the battery pack, via an electrically and thermally conductive tab, through a current collector plate and through a thermal interface layer to a temperature control panel that is coupled to an external temperature control system.

Claims

1. A method of withdrawing heat from a battery pack, wherein the battery pack is comprised of a plurality of batteries, and wherein each battery of said plurality of batteries is comprised of a housing containing at least one electrode of a first type and at least one electrode of a second type, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling at least one tab extending through said housing of each of said plurality of batteries within said battery pack to a first surface of a current collector panel, wherein said at least one tab is electrically and thermally coupled to said electrode of said first type of a corresponding battery of said plurality of batteries, wherein said at least one tab of each of said plurality of batteries is electrically and thermally conductive, and wherein said current collector plate is electrically and thermally conductive;

conducting electricity and thermal energy through said at least one tab of each of said plurality of batteries from said electrode of said first type of said corresponding battery of said plurality of batteries to said first surface of said current collector plate;

conducting electricity from said plurality of batteries through said current collector plate;

coupling a second surface of said current collector panel to a first surface of a thermal interface layer, wherein said thermal interface layer is electrically insulating and thermally conducting;

coupling a second surface of said thermal interface layer to a temperature control panel;

coupling said temperature control panel to an external temperature control system; and

transferring thermal energy from said electrode of said first type through said at least one tab, through said current collector plate, and through said thermal interface layer to said temperature control panel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

coupling a second tab extending through said housing of each of said plurality of batteries within said battery pack to a first surface of a second current collector panel, wherein said second tab is electrically and thermally coupled to said electrode of said second type of said corresponding battery of said plurality of batteries, wherein said second tab of each of said plurality of batteries is electrically and thermally conductive, and wherein said second current collector plate is electrically and thermally conductive;

conducting electricity and thermal energy through said second tab of each of said plurality of batteries from said electrode of said second type of said corresponding battery of said plurality of batteries to said first surface of said second current collector plate;

conducting electricity from said plurality of batteries through said second current collector plate;

coupling a second surface of said second current collector panel to a first surface of a second thermal interface layer, wherein said second thermal interface layer is electrically insulating and thermally conducting;

coupling a second surface of said second thermal interface layer to a second temperature control panel; and

coupling said second temperature control panel to said external temperature control system; and

transferring thermal energy from said electrode of said second type through said second tab, through said second current collector plate, and through said second thermal interface layer to said second temperature control panel.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of cycling a fluid through at least one lumen within said temperature control panel.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of transferring thermal energy from said electrode of said first type through said at least one tab, through said current collector plate, through said thermal interface layer and through said temperature control panel to said fluid cycling through said at least one lumen within said temperature control panel.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of adjusting a temperature of said fluid to a specified temperature, wherein said adjusting step is performed by said external temperature control system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of cycling a fluid through at least one heat conductive tube thermally coupled to said temperature control panel.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of transferring thermal energy from said electrode of said first type through said at least one tab, through said current collector plate, through said thermal interface layer and through said temperature control panel to said fluid cycling through said at least one heat conductive tube thermally coupled to said temperature control panel.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of adjusting a temperature of said fluid to a specified temperature, wherein said adjusting step is performed by said external temperature control system.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting a thermal interface material comprising said thermal interface layer from the group consisting of ceramic-filled silicone rubbers and thermal grease.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting a material comprising said temperature control panel from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloys, copper and copper alloys.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of stacking said plurality of batteries into a stacked configuration, and aligning said at least one tab of each of said plurality of batteries along a first side of said stacked configuration.