MULTI-CELL BATTERY ASSEMBLY

• US 20130108902A1
• Filed: 04/12/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Indigo Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nucleus Scientific, Incorporated
• Inventors: HEMOND, Brian D., HUNTER, Ian W., KRISTOFEK, Grant W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,761,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/72
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/07 Flat, e.g. panels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/13 Articles with a cross-section varying in the longitudinal direction, e.g. corrugated pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2007/002 Panels; Plates; Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7146 Battery-cases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0481 Compression means other than compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• 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 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• 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: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• 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

Abstract

A battery assembly including: a plurality of prismatic battery cells; first and second fluid manifolds; and a plurality of corrugated flow plates interleaved with the plurality of battery cells, each the flow plates extending from the first manifold to the second manifold and providing an array of flow channels for carrying fluid from the first manifold to the second manifold, wherein each plate of the plurality of corrugated flow plates is an extruded plastic structure comprising first and second fluid impermeable sheets and a plurality of parallel ribs between and connecting the first and second sheets, said plurality of ribs forming the array of flow channels.

Claims

1. A battery assembly comprising:

a plurality of battery cells;

a plurality of corrugated flow plates; and

first and second fluid manifolds,

wherein each plate of the plurality of corrugated flow plates comprises first and second fluid impermeable sheets and a corrugated structure between the first and second sheets, said corrugated structure forming an array of parallel channels extending from one end of that plate to an opposite end of that plate,

wherein the plurality of corrugated plates and the plurality of battery cells are interleaved with each other, and

wherein each plate of the plurality of corrugated plates extends from the first manifold to the second manifold and is oriented so that the plurality of channels within that plate forms a plurality of fluid flow paths connecting the first and second manifolds.

2. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery cells within the plurality of battery cells are lithium-ion batteries.

3. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery cells within the plurality of battery cells are flat battery cells.

4. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery cells within the plurality of battery cells are prismatic battery cells.

5. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein in each corrugated flow plate of the plurality of corrugated flow plates the first and second sheets comprise a plastic material.

6. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein in each corrugated flow plate of the plurality of corrugated flow plates the first and second sheets comprise a polypropylene polymer.

7. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein each corrugated flow plate of the plurality of corrugated flow plates is an extruded structure.

8. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein in each corrugated flow plate of the plurality of corrugated flow plates the corrugated structure is a plurality of ribs between and connecting the first and second sheets.

9. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the interleaved arrangement forms a battery cell stack and further comprising a clamping system applying compressive force to the battery cells within the battery cell stack.

10. The battery assembly of claim 9, further comprising first and second end plates, the first end plate on one end of the battery cell stack and the second end plate on an opposite end of the battery cell stack.

11. The battery assembly of claim 10, wherein the clamping system comprises a plurality of springs exerting forces on at least one of the first and second end plates.

12. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second manifolds has an internal cavity and a back wall including a plurality of slots extending into the internal cavity and into each of which is inserted a corresponding one of the plurality of flow plates.

13. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein each battery cell among the plurality of battery cells is within direct contact with and between a corresponding two flow plates of the plurality of flow plates.

14. A battery assembly comprising:

a plurality of prismatic battery cells;

first and second fluid manifolds; and

a plurality of corrugated flow plates interleaved with the plurality of battery cells, each the flow plates extending from the first manifold to the second manifold and providing an array of flow channels for carrying fluid from the first manifold to the second manifold,

wherein each plate of the plurality of corrugated flow plates is an extruded plastic structure comprising first and second fluid impermeable sheets and a plurality of parallel ribs between and connecting the first and second sheets, said plurality of ribs forming the array of flow channels.

15. The battery assembly of claim 14, wherein the battery cells within the plurality of battery cells are lithium-ion batteries.

16. The battery assembly of claim 14, wherein the battery cells within the plurality of battery cells are prismatic battery cells.

17. The battery assembly of claim 14, wherein the plastic material comprises a polypropylene polymer.