System for altering temperature of an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device using microchannels based on states of the device

• US 9,093,725 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chan, Alistair K., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SNELTING, ERIN LYNN
• Application Number:
  US12/455,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20100304252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,254 Days
• Field of Search: 429/431
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2015/0225 Microheat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0029 Heat sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2013/006 Heat conductive materials
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 21/02 of carbon, e.g. graphite
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2260/02 having microchannels
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/048 in the form of ribs integral with the element or local variations in thickness of the element, e.g. grooves, microchannels
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/18 against thermal overloads, e.g. heating, cooling or ventilating
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/78 Cases; Housings; Encapsulations; Mountings
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 2/08 Cooling arrangements; Heating arrangements; Ventilating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/0003 Protection against electric or thermal overload; cooling arrangements; means for avoiding the formation of cathode films H01G9/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/08 Housing; Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/623 Portable devices, e.g. mobile telephones, cameras or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/633 characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 : Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/654 : located inside the innermost case of the cells, e.g. mandrels, electrodes or electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 : Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/656 : characterised by the type of heat-exchange fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6562 : with free flow by convection only
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 : Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 : of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 : of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/02 : Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/86 : Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0258 : characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0267 : having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 : related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04029 : Heat exchange using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04074 : Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0432 : Temperature; Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04365 : of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 : of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04589 : of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04701 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04731 : of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2475 : Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 : Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20254 : Cold plates transferring heat from heat source to coolant
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 : Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A method is generally described which includes altering the temperature of an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device includes configuring a controller with a control algorithm to control the actions of a fluid control system as a function of current draw from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device, the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device configured to provide electrical current. The method also includes providing A microchannel thermal control system for the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device. The microchannel thermal control system is configured to cool at least portions of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device. The microchannel thermal control system is configured to flow a fluid through the microchannels and the fluid to receive heat generated by the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device. Further, the method includes providing an electrical characteristic sensor coupled to the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and configured to sense at least one electrical characteristic of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and to provide a signal representative of the at least one characteristic to the controller.

Claims

1. A thermal control system for an energy storage or electrochemical energy generation device, comprising:

a fluid control system including a microchannel system, wherein the fluid control system is operable to control a flow of a fluid through the microchannel system, wherein the flow of the fluid is configured to remove heat from a component of an energy storage or electrochemical energy generation device, the energy storage or electrochemical energy generation device is configured to provide electrical current and configured to be charged by electrical current;

a current sensor configured to sense current draw from the energy storage or electrochemical energy generation device, the sensor further configured to output a signal corresponding to the current draw; and

a controller configured to receive the signal, wherein the controller is programmed to increase or decrease the flow of the fluid based on the signal;

wherein the controller is programmed to cause the fluid control system to increase the flow of the fluid as current draw from the energy storage or electrochemical energy generation device is increased.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the microchannel system is formed in a portion of a wall of a housing.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the microchannel system is formed in a portion of at least one component.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the microchannel system is formed in a portion of a cathode of the energy storage or electrochemical energy generation device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the microchannel system is formed in a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes an anode.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the microchannel system is formed in the material including a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a catalyst material.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the microchannel system is formed in a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a solid electrolyte material.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the microchannel system is formed in a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes an electrical contact.

9. The system of claim 1, the microchannel system is formed in a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a current carrying conductor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the microchannel system is formed in a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a material and the material including a dielectric.

11. The system of claim 1, the microchannel system is formed in a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a separator.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the microchannel system is formed at least partially integrally on an internal surface of a housing.

13. The system of claim 1, the microchannel system is formed at least partially integrally on a surface of at least one component.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the microchannel system is configured to induce laminar flow of the fluid through at least a portion of the microchannel system.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one component includes a thermal control component, and the thermal control component is disposed within a housing.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is at least partially circulated by a pump.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is at least partially circulated by a mechanical pump.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is at least partially circulated by electromagnetic forces.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is at least partially circulated by an electromagnetic (MHD) pump.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is at least partially circulated by an electro osmotic pump.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is at least partially circulated by convection.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is at least partially circulated by electroosmosis.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is at least partially circulated by capillary forces.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to cause the fluid control system to linearly increase the flow of the fluid as current draw is increased.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to cause the fluid control system to decrease the flow of the fluid as current draw is decreased.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to cause the fluid control system to linearly decrease the flow of the fluid as current draw is decreased.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to cause the fluid control system to linearly increase the flow of the fluid as current draw is increased and programmed to cause the fluid control system to nonlinearly decrease the flow of the fluid as current draw is decreased.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to cause the fluid control system to nonlinearly increase the flow of the fluid as current draw is increased and programmed to cause the fluid control system to linearly decrease the flow of the fluid as current draw is decreased.

29. An electrical energy storage device thermal control system, comprising:

a battery including a cathode and an anode, wherein the battery is configured to provide electrical current and configured to be charged by electrical current;

a microchannel system, wherein at least a portion of the microchannel system is coupled to the cathode;

a sensor configured to sense a state of the battery; and

a controller programmed to control a flow of heat exchange fluid through the microchannel system as a function of the state of the battery sensed by the sensor, wherein the controller is programmed to increase the flow of heat exchange fluid based on a predetermined programmed schedule of heat generating events for the battery, such that the increase of the flow of the heat exchange fluid is in advance of at least one scheduled heat generating event.

30. The electrical energy storage device thermal control system of claim 29, wherein at least a portion of the microchannel system is coupled to the anode.