Battery pack gas exhaust system

• US 8,268,469 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2011
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tesla Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tesla Motors Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Inventors: Hermann, Weston Arthur, Clarke, Alan Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Crepeau, Jonathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOUYETTE, KENNETH J
• Application Number:
  US13/076,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20110174556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 429/62, 429/61, 429/63, 429/57, 429/430, 429/174, 429/115, 429/185, 429/82, 429/163, 180/65.1, 220/373, 220/367.1
• US Class Current: 429/62
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0438 Arrangement under the floor
• 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: B62D 29/008 predominantly of light alloys, e.g. extruded
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/653 characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/655 Solid structures for heat exchange or heat conduction
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/658 by thermal insulation or shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/24 adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion thermal insulation H01M10/658
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/342 Non-re-sealable arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/367 Internal gas exhaust passages forming part of the battery cover or case; Double cover vent systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/383 Flame arresting or ignition-preventing means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/394 Gas-pervious parts or elements
• 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 thermal management system is provided that minimizes the effects of thermal runaway within a battery pack. The system is comprised of a multi-sided, substantially airtight battery pack enclosure configured to hold a plurality of batteries, where at least one side of the battery pack enclosure includes at least one cavity. An inner wall of the enclosure includes a plurality of perforations configured to pass gas from within the enclosure to the cavity within the at least one side member. The system is further comprised of at least one gas exhaust port integrated into an outer wall of the enclosure and configured to pass gas from within the cavity of the enclosure side member to the ambient environment when one or more batteries contained within the battery pack undergo thermal runaway.

Claims

1. A battery pack thermal management system, comprising:

a multi-sided, substantially airtight battery pack enclosure configured to hold a plurality of batteries, wherein an inner enclosure wall corresponding to at least one side member of said battery pack enclosure includes a plurality of perforations, said perforations configured to pass gas from within said battery pack enclosure to a first extended hollow region within said at least one side member; and

at least one gas exhaust port integrated into an outer wall of said battery pack enclosure, wherein said at least one gas exhaust port is in gaseous communication with said first extended hollow region of said at least one side member, and wherein said at least one gas exhaust port is configured to pass gas from within said first extended hollow region to an ambient environment external to said battery pack enclosure when at least one battery of said plurality of batteries enters into thermal runaway.

2. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 1, said at least one gas exhaust port further comprising a cap assembly, said cap assembly configured to seal said at least one gas exhaust port during normal operation of said plurality of batteries, and wherein said cap assembly is configured to unseal and pass gas from within said first extended hollow region to said ambient environment when said at least one battery of said plurality of batteries enters into thermal runaway.

3. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 2, said cap assembly further comprising a one-way valve.

4. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 3, said cap assembly further comprising a valve mounting member, wherein said valve mounting member is mounted within said gas exhaust port and wherein said valve is mounted within said valve mounting member, wherein said valve mounting member is configured to melt during said thermal runaway.

5. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 2, said cap assembly further comprising a cap assembly cover, wherein said cap assembly cover is configured to melt during said thermal runaway.

6. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 1, said at least one gas exhaust port further comprising a nozzle, said nozzle configured to direct said gas expelled from within said first cavity to said ambient environment.

7. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of perforations further comprise a one-way valve that is configured to allow passage of gas from within said battery pack enclosure to said at least one cavity during said thermal runaway.

8. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of perforations is temporarily sealed with a sealing layer designed to fail at a preset pressure.

9. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 1, wherein a second portion of said inner enclosure wall of said at least one side member includes a second plurality of perforations, said second plurality of perforations configured to pass gas from within said battery pack enclosure to a second extended hollow region within said at least one side member.

10. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 9, wherein said at least one gas exhaust port is in gaseous communication with said first extended hollow region and said second extended hollow region, wherein said at least one gas exhaust port is configured to pass gas from within said first extended hollow region and said second extended hollow region to said ambient environment external to said battery pack enclosure when said at least one battery of said plurality of batteries enters into thermal runaway.

11. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 10, said at least one gas exhaust port further comprising a cap assembly, said cap assembly configured to seal said at least one gas exhaust port during normal operation of said plurality of batteries, and wherein said cap assembly is configured to unseal and pass gas from within said first extended hollow region and said second extended hollow region to said ambient environment when said at least one battery of said plurality of batteries enters into thermal runaway.

12. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 11, said cap assembly further comprising a one-way valve.

13. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 12, said cap assembly further comprising a valve mounting member, wherein said valve mounting member is mounted within said gas exhaust port and wherein said valve is mounted within said valve mounting member, wherein said valve mounting member is configured to melt during said thermal runaway.

14. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 11, said cap assembly further comprising a cap assembly cover, wherein said cap assembly cover is configured to melt during said thermal runaway.

15. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 10, said at least one gas exhaust port further comprising a nozzle, said nozzle configured to direct said gas expelled from within said first extended hollow region and said second extended hollow region to said ambient environment.

16. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of perforations further comprise a corresponding first one-way valve that is configured to allow passage of gas from within said battery pack enclosure to said first extended hollow region during said thermal runaway, and wherein each of said second plurality of perforations further comprise a corresponding second one-way valve that is configured to allow passage of gas from within said battery pack enclosure to said second extended hollow region during said thermal runaway.

17. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of perforations and each of said second plurality of perforations is temporarily sealed with a sealing layer designed to fail at a preset pressure.

18. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 1, wherein said at least one side member of said battery pack enclosure is configured to be mechanically and thermally coupled to a thermal mass, wherein said thermal mass is external to said battery pack enclosure and separate from said battery pack enclosure, and wherein thermal energy from gas passing through said first extended hollow region is transferred via both thermal conduction and thermal radiation between said at least one side member of said battery pack enclosure and said thermal mass.

19. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 18, further comprising an electric vehicle, wherein said battery pack thermal management system is incorporated within said electric vehicle, and wherein said thermal mass is comprised of at least one vehicle structural member.

20. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 1, wherein said at least one side member of said battery pack enclosure is comprised of four battery pack enclosure side members, wherein each of said four battery pack enclosure side members includes said first extended hollow region, and wherein each first extended hollow region within each of said four battery pack enclosure side members is in gaseous communication with one another.

21. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 20, wherein each of said four battery pack enclosure side members is comprised of a corresponding inside enclosure wall, and wherein each inside enclosure wall corresponding to said four battery pack enclosure walls includes a portion of said plurality of perforations.

22. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 20, wherein each of said four battery pack enclosure side members comprise one side of a rectangular-shaped enclosure.

23. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 1, wherein a second portion of said inner enclosure wall of said at least one side member includes a second plurality of perforations, said second plurality of perforations configured to pass gas from within said battery pack enclosure to a second extended hollow region within said at least one side member, wherein said at least one side member of said battery pack enclosure is comprised of four battery pack enclosure side members, wherein each of said four battery pack enclosure side members includes said first extended hollow region and said second extended hollow region, wherein each first extended hollow region within each of said four battery pack enclosure side members is in gaseous communication with one another, wherein each second extended hollow region within each of said four battery pack enclosure side members is in gaseous communication with one another, wherein each of said four battery pack enclosure side members is comprised of a corresponding inside enclosure wall, wherein each inside enclosure wall corresponding to said four battery pack enclosure walls includes a portion of said plurality of perforations, wherein said plurality of perforations are configured to pass gas from within said battery pack enclosure to said first extended hollow region, wherein each inside enclosure wall corresponding to said four battery pack enclosure walls includes a portion of a second plurality of perforations, and wherein said second plurality of perforations are configured to pass gas from within said battery pack enclosure to said second extended hollow region.

24. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 23, wherein at least two of said four battery pack enclosure side members are configured to be mechanically and thermally coupled to a thermal mass, wherein said thermal mass is external to said battery pack enclosure and separate from said battery pack enclosure, and wherein thermal energy from gas passing through said first cavity and said second cavity is transferred via both thermal conduction and thermal radiation between said at least two of said four battery pack enclosure side members and said thermal mass.

25. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 24, further comprising an electric vehicle, wherein said battery pack thermal management system is incorporated within said electric vehicle, and wherein said thermal mass is comprised of a pair of vehicle structural member.

26. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 1, said battery pack enclosure further comprising a plurality of cross-members integrated within said battery pack enclosure, said plurality of cross-members segregating said plurality of batteries into groups of batteries.

27. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 26, wherein each of said plurality of cross-members presents a thermal barrier to the transfer of thermal energy between said groups of batteries located on either side of said cross-member.

28. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 27, wherein each of said plurality of cross-members includes at least one cavity.

29. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 28, wherein each of said at least one cavity within each of said plurality of cross-members is at least partially filled with a high melting temperature, low thermal conductivity material.

30. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 28, wherein each of said at least one cavity within each of said plurality of cross-members is at least partially filled with a liquid.

31. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 30, wherein said liquid within each of said at least one cavity within each of said plurality of cross-members is contained within a pouch, and wherein said liquid is stagnant.

32. The battery pack thermal management system of claim 30, wherein said liquid within each of said at least one cavity within each of said plurality of cross-members is contained within a tube, said tube running through each of said at least one cavity within each of said plurality of cross-members.