PORTABLE ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE WITH THERMAL RUNAWAY MITIGATION

• US 20150064514A1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hok-Sum Horace Luke, Yi-Tsung Wu
• Inventors: LUKE, Hok-Sum Horace, Taylor, Matthew Whiting, WU, Yi-Tsung, Wu, Chia Nung
• Granted Patent: US 10,158,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/56
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0445 Multimode batteries, e.g. containing auxiliary cells or electrodes switchable in parallel or series connections
• 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 10/6569 Fluids undergoing a liquid-gas phase change or transition, e.g. evaporation or condensation heat pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/658 by thermal insulation or shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/293 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/3425 in the form of rupturable membranes or weakened parts, e.g. pierced with the aid of a sharp member
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Electrical energy storage device for powering portable devices such as vehicles or consumer electronics includes barriers to minimize migration of thermal energy and propagation of combustion in the rare event that electrical energy storage cells fail, burst and ignite. A burst structure is provided to vent gas from the device in a desired direction in the event pressure within the device exceeds a maximum value. Biased vents permit gases emanating from a portable electrical energy storage cell within an electrical energy storage module to escape and isolate other electrical energy storage cells from the gases.

Claims

1. A portable electrical energy storage device, comprising:

a first electrical energy storage cell;

a second electrical energy storage cell; and

an electrical energy storage cell barrier comprising a thermal insulating material and an elastic material, the electrical energy storage cell barrier located between the first electrical energy storage cell and the second electrical energy storage cell.

2. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the first electrical energy storage cell comprises a plurality of first electrical energy storage cells.

3. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 2, wherein the second electrical energy storage cell comprises a plurality of second electrical energy storage cells.

4. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the second electrical energy storage cell is adjacent the first electrical energy storage cell.

5. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the first electrical energy storage cell comprises nickel-metal hydride chemistry or lithium-ion chemistry and the second electrical energy storage cell comprises a same chemistry as the first electrical energy storage cell.

6. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage cell barrier comprises a layer of the thermal insulating material and a layer of the elastic material.

7. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 6, wherein the electrical energy storage cell barrier comprises one layer of the thermal insulating material between two layers of the elastic material.

8. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 6, wherein the elastic material has a hardness on the Shore scale of about 50 to about 100.

9. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 6, wherein the thermal insulating material has a coefficient of thermal conductivity greater than about 0.5 BTU/ft²/hr/inch or greater.

10. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 9, wherein the thermal insulating material comprises ceramic fiber.

11. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 10, wherein the thermal insulating material comprises a ceramic fiber paper.

12. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 11, wherein the ceramic fiber comprises alumina, mullite, silicon carbide, zirconia or carbon.

13. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 8, wherein the elastic material is rubber.

14. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 13, wherein the elastic material is selected from fluoropolymer rubber, butyl rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, fluoroelastomer rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, natural rubber, nitrile rubber, perfluoroelastomer rubber, polyacrylic rubber, polychloroprene rubber, polyurethane rubber, silicone rubber and styrene butadiene rubber.

34. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 1, further comprising a burst structure that remains intact when pressure within the portable electrical energy storage device is below a maximum internal pressure and ruptures when pressure within the portable electrical energy storage device exceeds the maximum internal pressure.

35. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 34, wherein the maximum internal pressure is about 50 to about 300 psi.

15. A portable electrical energy storage device, comprising:

a first electrical energy storage cell module including a plurality of electrical energy storage cells;

a second electrical energy storage cell module including a plurality of electrical energy storage cells, the second electrical energy storage cell module positioned adjacent the first electrical energy storage cell module;

a first electrical energy storage cell barrier comprising a thermal insulating material and an elastic material located between the first electrical energy storage cell module and the second electrical energy storage cell module;

a second electrical energy storage cell barrier comprising a thermal insulating material and an elastic material located adjacent the second electrical energy storage cell module; and

a third electrical energy storage cell barrier comprising an elastic material, the third electrical energy storage cell barrier positioned adjacent the first electrical energy storage cell module.

16. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 15, wherein the thermal insulating material of the first electrical energy storage cell barrier is between two layers of elastic material of the first electrical energy storage cell barrier.

17. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 15, wherein the elastic material of the second electrical energy storage cell barrier is between the thermal insulating material of the second electrical energy storage cell barrier and the second electrical energy storage cell module.

18. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 15, further comprising a third electrical energy storage cell module adjacent the second electrical energy storage cell module and a fourth electrical energy storage cell barrier comprising a thermal insulating material and an elastic material positioned adjacent the third electrical energy storage cell module.

19. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 18, wherein the thermal insulating material of the fourth electrical energy storage cell barrier separated from the third electrical energy storage cell barrier by a layer of the elastic material of the fourth electrical energy storage cell barrier.

20. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 15, further comprising a load-absorbing member contacting at least one electrical energy storage cell of at least one of the electrical energy storage cell modules.

21. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 20, wherein the load-absorbing member is connected to each electrical energy storage cell of at least one of the electrical energy storage cell modules.

36. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 15, further comprising a burst structure that remains intact when pressure within the portable electrical energy storage device is below a maximum internal pressure and ruptures when pressure within the portable electrical energy storage device exceeds the maximum internal pressure.

37. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 36, wherein the maximum internal pressure is about 50 to about 300 psi.

22. A portable electrical energy storage device, comprising:

a housing including a cover and a base;

at least one electrical energy storage cell module including a plurality of electrical energy storage cells;

an electrical energy storage cell barrier comprising a thermal insulating material and an elastic material, the electrical energy storage cell barrier located adjacent the cover, the thermal insulating material located between the cover and the elastic material; and

an elastic material adjacent the base, the elastic material located between the electrical energy storage cell module and the base.

23. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 22, wherein the elastic material has a hardness on the Shore scale of about 50 to about 100.

24. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 22, wherein the thermal insulating material has a coefficient of thermal conductivity greater than about 0.5 BTU/ft²/hr/inch or greater.

25. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 24, wherein the thermal insulating material comprises a ceramic fiber.

26. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 25, wherein the ceramic fiber comprises alumina, mullite, silicon carbide, zirconia or carbon.

27. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 23, wherein the elastic material is rubber.

28. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 27, wherein the elastic material is selected from fluoropolymer rubber, butyl rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, fluoroelastomer rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, natural rubber, nitrile rubber, perfluoroelastomer rubber, polyacrylic rubber, polychloroprene rubber, polyurethane rubber, silicone rubber and styrene butadiene rubber.

29. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 23, further comprising a load-absorbing member contacting at least one electrical energy storage cell.

30. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 29, wherein the load-absorbing member is connected to each electrical energy storage cell.

31. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 22 further comprising a burst structure that remains intact when pressure within the portable electrical energy storage device is below a maximum internal pressure and ruptures when pressure within the portable electrical energy storage device exceeds the maximum internal pressure.

32. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 31, wherein the maximum internal pressure is about 50 to about 300 psi.

33. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 31, wherein the burst structure is located adjacent the base.

38. A portable electrical energy storage device, comprising:

a housing including a cover and a base;

a first electrical energy storage cell module including a plurality of electrical energy storage cells;

a second electrical energy storage cell module including a plurality of electrical energy storage cells, the second electrical energy storage cell module positioned adjacent the first electrical energy storage cell module;

a third electrical energy storage cell module including a plurality of electrical energy storage cells, the third electrical energy storage cell module positioned adjacent the second electrical energy storage cell module on a side of the second electrical energy storage cell module that is opposite from the first electrical energy storage cell module;

a first electrical energy storage cell barrier comprising a thermal insulating material sandwiched between an elastic material, the first electrical energy storage cell barrier located between the first electrical energy storage cell module and the second electrical energy storage cell module;

a second electrical energy storage cell barrier comprising a thermal insulating material sandwiched between an elastic material, the second electrical energy storage cell barrier located between the second electrical energy storage cell module and the third electrical energy storage module;

a third electrical energy storage cell barrier comprising an elastic material, the third electrical energy storage cell barrier located between the first electrical energy storage cell module and the base; and

a fourth electrical energy storage cell barrier comprising a thermal insulating material and an elastic material located between the third electrical energy storage cell module and the cover.

39. A portable electrical energy storage device, comprising:

a housing including a sidewall;

a first electrical energy storage cell module including a plurality of electrical energy storage cells, the first electrical energy storage cell module located within the housing;

a second electrical energy storage cell module including a plurality of electrical energy storage cells, the second electrical energy storage cell module located within the housing and adjacent the first electrical energy storage cell module;

a first electrical energy storage cell barrier comprising an electrical isolation layer of a dielectric material sandwiched between an electrical energy storage cell contact protection layer of an elastic material and a combustion barrier layer of a non-combustible material, the first electrical energy storage cell barrier located between the first electrical energy storage cell module and the second electrical energy storage cell module, the electrical isolation layer of dielectric material of the first electrical energy storage cell barrier including at least one biased vent and the combustion barrier layer of a non-combustible material of the first electrical energy storage cell barrier including at least one biased vent; and

a second electrical energy storage cell barrier comprising an electrical isolation layer of a dielectric material sandwiched between an electrical energy storage cell contact protection layer of an elastic material and a combustion barrier layer of a non-combustible material, the electrical isolation layer of dielectric material of the second electrical energy storage cell barrier including at least one biased vent and the combustion barrier layer of a non-combustible material of the second electrical energy storage cell barrier including at least one biased vent, the second electrical energy storage cell barrier located between the second electrical energy storage cell module and the first electrical energy storage cell barrier;

wherein the at least one biased vent included in the electrical isolation layer of dielectric material of the first electrical energy storage cell barrier and the at least one biased vent included in the combustion barrier layer of a non-combustible material of the first electrical energy storage cell barrier are biased to a closed position and movable from the closed position to an open position, the closed position impeding the flow of gas through the first electrical energy storage cell barrier, the open position impeding the flow of gas through the first electrical energy storage cell barrier to a lesser degree than the closed position; and

wherein the at least one biased vent included in the electrical isolation layer of dielectric material of the second electrical energy storage cell barrier and the at least one biased vent included in the combustion barrier layer of a non-combustible material of the second electrical energy storage cell barrier are biased to a closed position and movable from the closed position to an open position, the closed position impeding the flow of gas through the second electrical energy storage cell barrier, the open position impeding the flow of gas through the second electrical energy storage cell barrier to a lesser degree than the closed position.

40. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 39, wherein the first electrical energy storage cell barrier is spaced apart from the second electrical energy storage cell barrier.

41. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 39, further comprising at least one spacer between the first electrical energy storage cell barrier and the second electrical energy storage cell barrier.

42. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 39, wherein the first electrical energy storage cell barrier and the second electrical energy storage cell barrier are spaced apart at least 2 mm.

43. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 42, wherein the first electrical energy storage cell barrier and the second electrical energy storage cell barrier are spaced apart at least 5 mm.

44. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 43, wherein the first electrical energy storage cell barrier and the second electrical energy storage cell barrier are spaced apart at least 8 mm.

45. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 39, wherein the first electrical energy storage cell barrier and the second electrical energy storage cell barrier are spaced apart about 5 mm to about 15 mm.

48. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 39, further comprising an electrical energy storage cell module sidewall located adjacent the first electrical energy storage cell module and between the first electrical energy storage cell module and the sidewall of the housing, the electrical energy storage cell module sidewall including an inner side facing the plurality of electrical energy storage cells of the first electrical energy storage cell module and an outer side facing the sidewall of the housing, the electrical energy storage cell module sidewall including an opening passing from the inner side of the electrical energy storage cell module sidewall to the outer side of the electrical energy storage cell module sidewall.

49. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 48, further comprising a fire retardant material between the electrical energy storage cell module sidewall and the plurality of electrical energy storage cells of the first electrical energy storage cell module.

50. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 39, further comprising, in addition to the at least one biased vent in the electrical isolation layer of dielectric material of the first electrical energy storage cell barrier and the at least one biased vent in the combustion barrier layer of a non-combustible material of the first electrical energy storage cell barrier, at least one opening passing through the first electrical energy storage cell barrier.

51. The portable electrical energy storage device of claim 39, wherein the second electrical energy storage cell module is below the first electrical energy storage cell module.

46. The portable electrical energy storage device of 39, wherein the electrical isolation layer of a dielectric material of the first electrical energy storage cell barrier contacts the electrical energy storage cell contact protection layer of the first electrical energy storage cell barrier.

47. The portable electrical energy storage device of 39, wherein the electrical isolation layer of dielectric material of the second electrical energy storage cell barrier contacts the electrical energy storage cell contact protection layer of an elastic material of the second electrical energy storage cell barrier.

52. A portable electrical energy storage device, comprising:

a housing including a sidewall;

a first electrical energy storage cell module including a plurality of electrical energy storage cells, the first electrical energy storage cell module located within the housing;

a second electrical energy storage cell module including a plurality of electrical energy storage cells, the second electrical energy storage cell module located within the housing and adjacent the first electrical energy storage cell module;

a first electrical energy storage cell barrier comprising a layer of a dielectric material sandwiched between a layer of an elastic material and a layer of a non-combustible material, the first electrical energy storage cell barrier located between the first electrical energy storage cell module and the second electrical energy storage cell module, the layer of dielectric material of the first electrical energy storage cell barrier including at least one biased vent and the layer of a non-combustible material of the first electrical energy storage cell barrier including at least one biased vent; and

wherein the at least one biased vent included in the layer of dielectric material of the first electrical energy storage cell barrier and the at least one biased vent included in the layer of a non-combustible material of the first electrical energy storage cell barrier are biased to a closed position and movable from the closed position to an open position, the closed position impeding the flow of gas through the first electrical energy storage cell barrier, the open position impeding the flow of gas through the first electrical energy storage cell barrier to a lesser degree than the closed position.