Method and apparatus for amplitude limiting battery temperature spikes
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- an energy storage device capable of producing a temperature greater than a temperature T1; and
a heat absorber closely thermally coupled to said storage device, said heat absorber comprising;
a quantity of high heat capacity material exhibiting a phase change at said temperature T1; and
a fibrous containment mat embedded in the high heat capacity material.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for containing heat generated by a battery to reduce the amplitude of a temperature excursion to enhance safety in temperature critical applications, such as in implantable medical devices. The apparatus employs a heat absorber closely thermally coupled to the battery. The heat absorber includes heat absorbing material preferably exhibiting an endothermic phase change at a temperature T1 below that produced by the battery.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an energy storage device capable of producing a temperature greater than a temperature T1; and
a heat absorber closely thermally coupled to said storage device, said heat absorber comprising;
a quantity of high heat capacity material exhibiting a phase change at said temperature T1; and
a fibrous containment mat embedded in the high heat capacity material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A device comprising:
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a housing comprising a wall defining an interior housing volume;
a battery comprising a case having a wall enclosing an interior case volume, said battery capable of producing a temperature greater than a temperature T1;
said battery mounted in said housing with said case wall spaced from said housing wall; and
a heat absorber mounted adjacent to and closely thermally coupled to said case wall, said heat absorber comprising a high heat capacity material exhibiting a phase change at said temperature T1. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of limiting temperature excursions of a battery having an electrode assembly within a battery case, said method comprising:
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providing a mat of fibrous material;
depositing a quantity of a melted high heat capacity material into said mat;
allowing said high heat capacity material to solidify to form a mass including said fibrous material embedded therein; and
thermally coupling said mass to said battery case. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. In a storage device comprising a case enclosing an interior volume and including an electrode assembly comprising materials forming positive and negative electrode layers separated by a separator in said interior volume, the improvement comprising:
a heat absorbing layer interposed between the electrode and separator layers, said heat absorbing layer having a high heat capacity relative to the other materials in said interior volume, said heat absorbing layer comprising at least one material that exhibits a phase change at a temperature lower than that of the electrode and separator layers. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A lithium ion battery including:
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a case comprising a wall enclosing an interior volume;
an electrode assembly in said interior volume including materials comprising an electrolyte, a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator separating said positive and negative electrodes; and
a heat absorber for limiting temperature increases in the battery, wherein said heat absorber is;
characterized by a heat capacity at least as great as the materials of said electrode assembly;
mounted in said interior volume; and
inert with respect to the materials of said electrode assembly. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An implantable medical device comprising:
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a housing comprising a housing wall of biocompatible material defining an interior volume;
a battery comprising a case having a case wall, said battery mounted within said interior volume; and
heat absorbing means for reducing the amplitude of a temperature excursion of the implantable medical device to prevent significant damage to body tissue. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
paraffin; and
means for containing said paraffin.
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39. The device of claim 38 wherein:
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the containing means comprises an outer casing;
said battery is mounted within said outer casing; and
said paraffin is contained between the battery case wall and said outer casing.
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40. The device of claim 39 wherein said outer casing is formed of a polymer.
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41. The device of claim 38 wherein the containing means comprises a fibrous mat.
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42. The device of claim 36 wherein said heat absorbing means comprises a heat absorber interposed between layers of electrodes and separators.
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43. The device of claim 42 wherein the electrodes and separators are configured to form an electrode assembly roll.
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44. The device of claim 42 wherein the electrodes and separators are configured to form an electrode assembly stack.
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45. The device of claim 36 wherein said heat absorbing means comprises a heat absorber extending around electrodes and separators within the battery case.
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46. The device of claim 36 and wherein said heat absorbing means comprises:
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a heat absorber;
a caddy configured to carry said heat absorber; and
clips for attaching said caddy to the battery case.
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47. The device of claim 36 wherein said electrodes comprise active material coated on a substrate, and wherein said heat absorbing means comprises a heat absorber deposited into recesses or pockets of said substrate.
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48. The device of claim 36 and wherein said battery comprises an electrode assembly having positive and negative electrodes separated by a separator, wherein said separator has pockets into which a heat absorber is deposited to form said heat absorbing means.
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49. The device of claim 36 wherein said housing comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of titanium and stainless steel, and wherein the battery case comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, and a flexible polymer.
Specification