Method and apparatus for amplitude limiting battery temperature spikes

• US 7,893,659 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quallion, LLC (EnerSys)
• Original Assignee: Quallion, LLC (EnerSys)
• Inventors: Skinlo, David, Dodd, Joanna, Tsukamoto, Hisashi, Kishiyama, Clay
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Application Number:
  US12/290,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20090176149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/112, 320/150, 320/153
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4235 Safety or regulating additives or arrangements in electrodes, separators or electrolyte H01M10/4242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/623 Portable devices, e.g. mobile telephones, cameras or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/659 by heat storage or buffering, e.g. heat capacity or liquid-solid phase changes or transition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/10 Temperature sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

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 (38) closely thermally coupled to the battery (30). The heat absorber includes heat-absorbing material preferably exhibiting an endothermic phase change at a temperature below that produced by the battery.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a battery capable of producing a temperature greater than a temperature T1,

the battery having a case that defines an interior of the case, the case having a lateral wall that connects a top of the case to a bottom of the case,

a top of the lateral wall contacting the top of the case and a bottom of the lateral wall contacting the bottom of the case; and

a heat absorbing material exhibiting a phase change at the temperature T1,

the heat absorbing material contacting the lateral wall of the battery without contacting both the top of the lateral wall and the bottom of the lateral wall.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the heat absorbing material does not surround the case.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the top of the case includes terminals for the battery.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the heat absorbing material is continuous.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the heat absorbing material includes paraffin.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the heat absorbing material includes a fibrous mat.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the fibrous mat includes dielectric fibers.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the fibrous mat includes fiberglass.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the case surrounds the batteries.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the temperature T1 is within the range of 50°

C. to 80°

C.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the batteries each includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, and

the temperature T1 is lower than a phase change temperature of the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the heat absorbing material is not positioned over the top of the case and is also not positioned over the bottom of the case.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the heat absorbing material includes polyethylene.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the heat absorbing material includes polypropylene.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the heat absorbing material includes SiO₂.