BATTERY THERMAL MANAGEMENT WITH THERMOELECTRICS
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Abstract
Disclosed embodiments include thermoelectric-based thermal management systems and methods configured to heat and/or cool an electrical device. Thermal management systems can include a heat spreader positioned near a localized heat general of the electrical device. A fin can be connected to the heat spreader with a thermoelectric device positioned on the fin. Electric power can be directed to the thermoelectric device to provide controlled heating and/or cooling to the electrical device.
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Citations
113 Claims
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1-93. -93. (canceled)
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94. A thermoelectric battery thermal management system configured to manage battery cell temperature, the thermoelectric battery thermal management system comprising:
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a battery cell comprising an electrode configured to deliver electric power to or from the battery cell, the electrode connected to the battery cell on a first side of the battery cell, wherein the battery cell is capable of generating a hotspot corresponding to a temperature increase of the battery cell via the electrode delivering electric power to or from the battery cell, the hotspot having a center corresponding to a point or a region of the battery cell having a highest temperature relative to other regions of the battery cell; a heat spreader on a second side of the battery cell and in thermal communication with the hotspot, the heat spreader over the center of the hotspot on the second side of the battery cell; and a thermoelectric device comprising a main surface and a waste surface, the thermoelectric device configured to transfer thermal energy between the main surface and the waste surface of the thermoelectric device, wherein the main surface of the thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the heat spreader to heat or cool the battery cell by adjusting a polarity of electric current delivered to the thermoelectric device, wherein a geometric center of the main surface of the thermoelectric device is substantially on a shortest thermal path on the heat spreader from the center of the hotspot toward the thermoelectric device with the geometric center of the main surface of the thermoelectric device projected onto a plane of the heat spreader extending along the second side of the battery cell, and wherein the thermoelectric device is sized to allow for a plurality of positions on the plane of the geometric center projected onto the plane of the heat spreader. - View Dependent Claims (95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107)
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108. A thermoelectric battery thermal management system configured to manage battery cell temperature, the thermoelectric battery thermal management system comprising:
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a first battery cell comprising a first electrode configured to deliver electric power to or from the first battery cell, the first electrode of the first battery cell connected to the first battery cell on a first surface of the first battery cell, wherein the first battery cell is capable of generating a first hotspot corresponding to a temperature increase of the first battery cell via the first electrode of the first battery cell delivering electric power to or from the first battery cell, the first hotspot having a center corresponding to a point or a region of the first battery cell having a highest temperature relative to other regions of the first battery cell; a second battery cell comprising a first electrode configured to deliver electric power to or from the second battery cell, the first electrode of the second battery cell connected to the second battery cell on a first surface of the second battery cell, wherein the second battery cell is capable of generating a second hotspot corresponding to a temperature increase of the second battery cell via the first electrode of the second battery cell delivering electric power to or from the second battery cell, the second hotspot having a center corresponding to a point or a region of the second battery cell having a highest temperature relative to other regions of the second battery cell; a first heat spreader on a second surface of the first battery cell and in thermal communication with the first hotspot, the first heat spreader over the center of the first hotspot on the second surface of the first battery cell; a second heat spreader on a second surface of the second battery cell and in thermal communication with the second hotspot, the second heat spreader over the center of the second hotspot on the second surface of the second battery cell, wherein the second surfaces of the first and second battery cells are substantially parallel to each other; a third heat spreader in thermal communication with the first and second heat spreaders and extending substantially perpendicular to portions of the first and second heat spreaders over the centers of the first and second hotspots; and a thermoelectric device comprising a main surface and a waste surface, the thermoelectric device configured to transfer thermal energy between the main surface and the waste surface of the thermoelectric device, wherein the main surface of the thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the third heat spreader to heat or cool the first and second battery cells by adjusting a polarity of electric current delivered to the thermoelectric device, and wherein a geometric center of the main surface of the thermoelectric device is substantially on a shortest thermal path on at least one of the first or second heat spreader from the center of at least one of the first or second hotspot toward the thermoelectric device with the geometric center of the main surface of the thermoelectric device projected onto a plane of at least one the first or second heat spreader extending along the second surface of at least one of the first or second battery cell. - View Dependent Claims (109, 110, 111)
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112. A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric battery thermal management system configured to manage battery cell temperature, the method comprising:
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thermally connecting a heat spreader to a battery cell comprising an electrode configured to deliver electric power to or from the battery cell, the electrode connected to the battery cell on a first surface of the battery cell, wherein the battery cell is capable of generating a hotspot corresponding to a temperature increase of the battery cell via the electrode delivering electric power to or from the battery cell, the hotspot having a center corresponding to a point or a region of the battery cell having a highest temperature relative to other regions of the battery cell, wherein the heat spreader is connected on a second surface of the battery cell to be in thermal communication with the hotspot, the heat spreader positioned over the center of the hotspot on the second surface of the battery cell; and thermally connecting a thermoelectric device to the heat spreader, the thermoelectric device comprising a main surface and a waste surface, the thermoelectric device configured to transfer thermal energy between the main surface and the waste surface of the thermoelectric device, wherein the main surface of the thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the heat spreader to heat or cool the battery cell by adjusting a polarity of electric current delivered to the thermoelectric device, wherein to thermally connect the thermoelectric device to the heat spreader, a position for the thermoelectric device is chosen from a plurality of positions based on a geometric center of the main surface of the thermoelectric device being positioned substantially on a shortest thermal path on the heat spreader from the center of the hotspot toward the thermoelectric device with the geometric center of the main surface of the thermoelectric device projected onto a plane of the heat spreader extending along the second surface of the battery cell. - View Dependent Claims (113)
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Specification