Flash cooling system for increased battery safety
First Claim
1. A battery pack comprising:
- a plurality of battery cells;
a first cooling system to cool the battery cells during routine charging and discharging of the battery cells; and
a second cooling system to cool the battery cells in response to a signal indicating detection of one or more conditions indicating possible thermal runaway within the battery cells, the second cooling system having a coolant flow tube with at least one plug-free opening, the second cooling system having a coolant release device comprising a valve coupled to the coolant flow tube, the valve configured to exclude coolant from the coolant flow tube prior to the detection of the one or more conditions, the valve configured to admit the coolant to the coolant flow tube in response to the detection of the one or more conditions; and
wherein the plurality of battery cells comprises a plurality of subsets of batteries disposed in respective battery modules, and wherein each battery module includes a frame; and
wherein the second cooling system comprises a plurality of coolant receptacles containing pressurized coolant, each coolant receptacle disposed to release the pressurized coolant within a respective one of the battery modules into the spaces between the battery cells.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a battery pack having multiple battery cells distributed, for example, between multiple interconnected battery modules, a run-time cooling system is provided to cool (and/or heat) the battery cells during routine charging and discharging of the cells (e.g., powering a load such as a motor within an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle), and an emergency cooling system to cool the battery cells in response to a signal indicating detection of one or more conditions indicating possible thermal runaway within the battery cells or battery modules. The run-time cooling system, which may include a fan, HVAC unit or other fluid pumping device, induces continuous coolant flow within the battery pack (e.g., flow of air or other gaseous or liquid coolant). The emergency cooling system, by contrast, includes a mechanical interface or is otherwise adapted to receive a receptacle containing pressurized coolant or other flash-cooling device.
16 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A battery pack comprising:
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a plurality of battery cells; a first cooling system to cool the battery cells during routine charging and discharging of the battery cells; and a second cooling system to cool the battery cells in response to a signal indicating detection of one or more conditions indicating possible thermal runaway within the battery cells, the second cooling system having a coolant flow tube with at least one plug-free opening, the second cooling system having a coolant release device comprising a valve coupled to the coolant flow tube, the valve configured to exclude coolant from the coolant flow tube prior to the detection of the one or more conditions, the valve configured to admit the coolant to the coolant flow tube in response to the detection of the one or more conditions; and wherein the plurality of battery cells comprises a plurality of subsets of batteries disposed in respective battery modules, and wherein each battery module includes a frame; and
wherein the second cooling system comprises a plurality of coolant receptacles containing pressurized coolant, each coolant receptacle disposed to release the pressurized coolant within a respective one of the battery modules into the spaces between the battery cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification