Battery module of high cooling efficiency

• US 7,794,868 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yang, Jae Hun
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMAR, AHMED H
• Application Number:
  US11/560,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20070126396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 429/159, 429/120, 429/176, 429/99, 429/154, 429/152
• US Class Current: 429/120
• 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: 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: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5038 Heating or cooling of cells or batteries
• 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

A battery module is provided. The battery module includes a plurality of unit cells stacked proximate to one another. The plurality of unit cells define flow channels therebetween. Each unit cell of the plurality of unit cells is longitudinally positioned at a predetermined angle in a range between 3 and 14 degrees relative to a wall of an input port for a respective flow channel. The battery module further includes a cooling system that routes a coolant through the flow channels between the plurality of unit cells such that the coolant contacts the plurality of unit cells.

Claims

1. A battery module comprising:

one or more unit cells are mounted in a cartridge such that at least a portion of the outer surfaces of the unit cells are exposed to an outside region;

the cartridge having an upper rectangular frame member and a lower rectangular frame member for engaging edges of the unit cells such that upper and lower surfaces of the unit cells are exposed to the outside region when the upper and lower rectangular frame members are coupled to each other, the one or more unit cells being mounted between the upper and lower frame members while the unit cells are arranged in a lateral direction;

the upper rectangular frame member having a first upper frame portion, a first side frame portion, and a first lower frame portion, the first upper frame portion and the first lower frame portion being disposed substantially parallel to one another, the first side frame portion being coupled between the first upper frame portion and the first lower frame portion and being disposed at an angle of 3 to 15 degrees relative to the first upper frame portion;

the lower rectangular frame member having a second upper frame portion, a second side frame portion, and a second lower frame portion, the second upper frame portion and the second lower frame portion being disposed substantially parallel to one another, the second side frame portion being coupled between the second upper frame portion and the second lower frame portion and being disposed at an angle of 3 to 15 degrees relative to the second upper frame portion, and a combined height of the first and second side frame portions is greater than that of a combined thickness of the first and second upper frame portions and the unit cells when the unit cells are mounted in the cartridge;

a plurality of the cartridges, in which the unit cells are mounted, are sequentially stacked one on another to construct the battery module, wherein continuous respective flow channels are formed between each respective upper rectangular frame member and lower rectangular frame member such that a coolant flowing through the respective flow channels has a turbulent flow motion and contacts the unit cells to cool the unit cells, one of the unit cells being longitudinally positioned at an angle between 3 and 15 degrees relative to a first wall of the upper frame portion defining a portion of an input port for one of the respective flow channels, and the one of the unit cells being further longitudinally positioned at an angle between 3 and 15 degrees relative to a second wall of the first lower frame portion defining a portion of an outlet port for the one of the respective flow channels, the first and the second walls being parallel to one another.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the coolant is air.

3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the unit cells are lithium secondary batteries.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the unit cells are pouch-shaped batteries.

5. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein bus bars for connecting electrode terminals of the unit cells are attached to the respective upper rectangular frame members.

6. A medium-or large-sized battery pack including one or more battery modules according to claim 1.

7. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein the battery pack is used as a power source for electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles.