Method and system for automotive battery cooling

• US 9,113,577 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2011
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Thermotek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Thermotek Incorporated
• Inventors: Quisenberry, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): CIRIC, LJILJANA V
• Application Number:
  US13/294,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20120148881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 165/104.26, 165/104.33, 429/433, 429/434, 429/435, 429/436, 429/437, 429/438, 429/439
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/003 with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0233 the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/617 for achieving uniformity or desired distribution of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6552 Closed pipes transferring heat by thermal conductivity or phase transition, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6561 Gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6569 Fluids undergoing a liquid-gas phase change or transition, e.g. evaporation or condensation heat pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/66 Heat-exchange relationships between the cells and other systems, e.g. central heating systems or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20336 Heat pipes, e.g. wicks or capillary pumps
• 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-cooling system includes a battery array and a plurality of heat pipes that each include a low-profile extrusion having a plurality of hollow tubes formed therein A heat transfer fluid is disposed in the plurality of hollow tubes. Each heat pipe includes an evaporator portion and a condenser portion. The evaporator portion is disposed between successive batteries within the battery array and the condenser portion is disposed outside of the battery array and exposed to a heat sink.

Claims

1. A battery-cooling system comprising:

a battery array;

a plurality of heat pipes, each heat pipe of the plurality of heat pipes comprising a low-profile extrusion having a plurality of hollow tubes formed within the low-profile extrusion, each heat pipe of the plurality of heat pipes comprising an evaporator portion and a condenser portion;

a heat-transfer fluid disposed within the plurality of hollow tubes;

wherein each evaporator portion of the plurality of heat pipes is disposed between successive batteries within the battery array; and

wherein each condenser portion of the plurality of heat pipes is disposed outside the battery array and exposed to a heat sink.

2. The battery-cooling system of claim 1, wherein each evaporator portion of the plurality of heat pipes is arranged at an angle relative to the battery array.

3. The battery-cooling system of claim 1, wherein the battery array comprises a plurality of batteries arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.

4. The battery-cooling system of claim 3, wherein each heat pipe of the plurality of heat pipes is disposed between successive rows of the plurality of rows.

5. The battery-cooling system of claim 3, wherein each heat pipe of the plurality of heat pipes is disposed between successive columns of the plurality of columns.

6. The battery-cooling system of claim 1, wherein each battery of the battery array is a Lithium-ion battery.

7. The battery-cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fins coupled to the condenser portion.

8. The battery-cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a cooling circuit thermally exposed to the condenser portion.

9. The battery-cooling system of claim 8, wherein the cooling circuit comprising a second heat-transfer fluid therein.

10. The battery-cooling system of claim 1, wherein the condenser portion is thermally exposed to a frame of a vehicle.