Battery temperature stabilization system and method

• US 6,407,533 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel USA Sourcing L.P. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, Edward D., Melane, Marcus L., Bartek, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/703,073
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 320/150, 429/7-100
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/627 Stationary installations, e.g. power plant buffering or backup power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6562 with free flow by convection only
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6565 with recirculation or U-turn in the flow path, i.e. back and forth
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6566 Means within the gas flow to guide the flow around one or more cells, e.g. manifolds, baffles or other barriers H01M10/6565 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20618 Air circulating in different modes under control of air guidance flaps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A system and method for the stabilization of battery temperature by alternating airflow through an internal ductwork of a cabinet housing electronic equipment and circuitry. Ambient air is drawn through one or more intake vents or louvers provided with the cabinet housing. Regulated airflow through the ductwork allows the cabinet housing'"'"'s thermal management system to direct either cooler ambient air during warm periods or heated air during colder periods through the cabinet to stabilize the battery temperature as well electronics equipment and circuitry housed in the cabinet. At least a portion of the heated air is expelled through one or more exhaust vents. Because no active components are used for stabilizing battery temperature, thermal regulation is achieved even during utility power outages. Further, thermal energy is provided without the possibility of igniting hydrogen gas products generated by the battery units present in the cabinet.

Claims

1. A battery temperature stabilization system, comprising:

a housing including at least one intake vent and at least one exhaust vent;

a plurality of air passage ways for circulating air to an electronic equipment compartment and a battery compartment disposed in said housing, said battery compartment including at least one battery operable to provide backup power to circuitry disposed in said electronic equipment compartment;

at least one heat exchanger unit operable for transferring heat from said electronic equipment compartment into a ductwork chamber forming a portion of said air passage ways; and

a plurality of dampers controlling air flow through said air passage ways and said intake and exhaust vents, said dampers for routing air through said ductwork chamber in one of two directions, wherein ambient air drawn in is first heated by said heat exchanger before being directed to said battery compartment when said battery compartment'"'"'s temperature is lower than ambient temperature, otherwise said ambient air is directed to flow in proximate contact with said battery compartment prior to receiving heat from said heat exchanger thereby cooling said battery compartment.

2. The battery temperature stabilization system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dampers are spring operated.

3. The battery temperature stabilization system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said dampers are thermostatically controlled.

4. The battery temperature stabilization system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said electronic equipment compartment includes an internal loop fan.

5. The battery temperature stabilization system as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a bi-directional external loop fan.

6. The battery temperature stabilization system as set forth in claim 4, further comprising two independently energized external loop fans capable of blowing air in opposite directions relative to each other.

7. The battery temperature stabilization system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said electronic equipment compartment comprises a plurality of racks containing telecommunications components.

8. The battery temperature stabilization system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said batter y compartment is positioned at a lower portion of said housing relative to said electronic equipment compartment.

9. The battery temperature stabilization system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said air passage ways includes a circulation duct portion for recirculating air warmed by said heat exchanger throughout said housing.

10. A method of passively stabilizing temperature within an enclosure including an electronic equipment compartment and a backup battery compartment, comprising the steps of:

receiving a select amount of ambient air into said enclosure through an intake vent;

determining said battery compartment'"'"'s temperature;

if said battery compartment'"'"'s temperature is greater than a select temperature, circulating said ambient air in proximate contact with said battery compartment prior to directing said ambient air via a ductwork chamber to a heat exchanger operating to transfer heat generated in said electronic equipment compartment, thereby regulating said battery compartment'"'"'s temperature in warmer ambient conditions; and

otherwise, directing said ambient air via said ductwork chamber to said heat exchanger for warming said ambient air, said warmed ambient air thereafter circulating in proximate contact with said battery compartment in order to maintain said battery compartment'"'"'s temperature in cooler ambient conditions.

11. The method of passively stabilizing temperature within an enclosure as set forth in claim 10, wherein said step of circulating said ambient air in proximate contact with said battery compartment is facilitated by a damper system.

12. The method of passively stabilizing temperature within an enclosure as set forth in claim 10, wherein said step of directing said ambient air via said ductwork chamber to said heat exchanger is facilitated by a damper system.

13. The method of passively stabilizing temperature within an enclosure as set forth in claim 10, further including the step of recirculating a quantity of warmed ambient air via a circulation duct disposed in said enclosure when said battery compartment'"'"'s temperature is lower than said select temperature.

14. The method of passively stabilizing temperature within an enclosure as set forth in claim 10, further including the step of conducting said ambient air in said ductwork chamber in one of two directions.

15. The method of passively stabilizing temperature within an enclosure as set forth in claim 14, wherein said step of conducting said ambient air in said ductwork chamber in one of two directions is facilitated by a bi-directional fan.

16. The method of passively stabilizing temperature within an enclosure as set forth in claim 14, wherein said step of conducting said ambient air in said ductwork chamber in one of two directions is facilitated by a first fan for directing said ambient air in said ductwork chamber in one direction and a second fan for directing said ambient air in said ductwork chamber in opposite direction.

17. The method of passively stabilizing temperature within an enclosure as set forth in claim 10, wherein said select temperature comprises ambient air temperature.

18. The method of passively stabilizing temperature within an enclosure as set forth in claim 10, further including the step of removing a quantity of warmed ambient air from said enclosure through an exhaust vent.

19. A battery temperature stabilization system, comprising:

a housing including at least one intake vent and at least one exhaust vent;

a plurality of air passage ways for circulating air to an electronic equipment compartment and a battery compartment disposed in said housing, said battery compartment including at least one battery operable to provide backup power to circuitry disposed in said electronic equipment compartment;

at least one heat exchanger unit operable for transferring heat from said electronic equipment compartment into a ductwork chamber forming a portion of said air passage ways; and

means for controlling air flow through said air passage ways and said intake and exhaust vents, said means operating to route air through said ductwork chamber in one of two directions, wherein ambient air drawn in is first heated by said heat exchanger before being directed to said battery compartment when said battery compartment'"'"'s temperature is lower than ambient temperature, otherwise said ambient air is directed to flow in proximate contact with said battery compartment prior to receiving heat from said heat exchanger.