Cooling system of battery pack for vehicle

• US 7,733,065 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ahn, Jaesung, Yoon, Junill
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US11/513,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20070216371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 320/150, 320/104, 320/151, 320/152, 320/153, 320/154, 429/98, 429/100, 429/120, 429/61, 429/62, 429/72, 429/82, 429/83
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a cooling system for vehicle battery packs, which is constructed such that an intake duct for introducing a coolant, such as air, which cools a battery pack, into the battery pack from a predetermined region is not included, air existing inside a vehicle at a region around a battery pack isolated from a cabin of the vehicle is directly introduced into the battery pack, and the air having passed through the battery pack, which has been heated, is discharged through an exhaust duct connected to an internal space of the vehicle, in which a possibility of air to be recirculated to the region around the battery pack is low. The battery pack cooling system according to the present invention uses air existing inside the vehicle. Consequently, the control of temperature and humidity is easier than when external air is used, and generation of noise and backward flow of flames and toxic gas generated during a fire, which are problems caused when the air in the cabin is used, are prevented. Furthermore, it is possible to increase the cooling efficiency of the battery pack without the provision of the intake duct for introducing air into the battery pack.

Claims

1. A cooling system for vehicle battery packs, the cooling system constructed such that air existing inside a vehicle in a region around a battery pack is isolated from a cabin of the vehicle and is directly introduced into the battery pack without passing through an intake duct, and the air having passed through the battery pack, which has been heated, is discharged through an exhaust duct connected to an internal space of the vehicle, in which a possibility of air to be recirculated to the region around the battery pack is low, wherein the cooling system comprises:

a closed type housing for surrounding the outer surface of the battery pack, the battery pack including unit cells;

a plurality of intake ports formed in the housing at regions corresponding to the unit cells;

an exhaust duct connected to the housing at a region opposite to the intake ports; and

a cooling fan mounted to the exhaust duct which induces the air to flow through the plurality of intake ports and the housing and the cooling fan to the exhaust duct,

wherein the internal space of the vehicle, to which the exhaust duct is connected, is a space defined between an inner panel and an outer panel of the vehicle;

wherein each of the intake ports is constructed in the shape of a slit, which corresponds to each plate-shaped unit cell of the battery pack, and the intake ports are located in correspondence to the respective unit cells; and

wherein the upper part of each intake port is constructed in a skirt structure, by which the introduction of foreign matter is prevented.

2. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the battery pack is mounted in a trunk, which is located at the rear of the vehicle.

3. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the battery pack is manufactured with a battery module constructed by mounting one or more plate-shaped unit cells in a cartridge and successively stacking a plurality of cartridges.

4. The cooling system according to claim 3, wherein the unit cells are plate-shaped lithium-ion secondary batteries, plate-shaped lithium-ion polymer secondary batteries, or plate-shaped nickel-metal hydride batteries.

5. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the housing is bent in the same shape of a base plate of the battery pack, which has a shape corresponding to a bent lower plate of the vehicle.

6. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the battery pack is provided at the right side thereof with a junction module for withdrawing power from the battery pack or interrupting the withdrawal of power from the battery pack, and the battery pack is provided at the left side thereof with a battery management system (BMS) module for monitoring temperature of the battery pack and voltages of the unit cells, whereby the air flow channel for cooling the unit cells is formed in a straight line having the minimum distance.

7. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling fan is automatically controlled by the BMS module.