System and method of operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device, during charge or discharge using microchannels and high thermal conductivity materials

• US 9,433,128 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Deep Science LLC (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:
  US12/455,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20100304255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,653 Days
• Field of Search: 429437-439
• 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 operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device includes placing an electrical load to draw current from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device. The electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device includes a housing having an external surface and an internal surface. The method also includes generating electricity by at least one component within the housing. At least one component is configured to generate electrical energy in combination with other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing. Further, the method includes thermal control of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device by transferring heat to a plurality of microchannels coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one internal components. The at least one microchannel is at least partially formed of or coated with a high thermal conductivity material. The high thermal conductivity material has a high k-value. The high k-value is greater than approximately 410 W/(m*K). Further still, the method includes transferring the collected heat through a thermal sink coupled to the microchannels. The thermal sink is configured to transfer heat energy to or from the microchannel and to receive a fluid flowing through the microchannels.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device, comprising:

charging the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device;

placing an electrical load to draw current from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device, the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device including a housing having an external surface and an internal surface;

generating electricity by a component within the housing, the component being configured to generate electrical energy in combination with other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing;

altering the temperature of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device by transferring heat to a plurality of microchannels coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the component, wherein at least one microchannel of the plurality of microchannels is at least partially formed of or coated with a high thermal conductivity material; and

transferring the collected heat through a thermal sink coupled to the plurality of microchannels, the thermal sink being located outside of the housing and the thermal sink being configured to transfer heat energy to or from the plurality of microchannels and receive a fluid flowing through the microchannels;

wherein the plurality of microchannels are formed in a portion of the component, wherein the component is a cathode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microchannels are at least partially formed in a portion of a wall of the housing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microchannels are at least partially formed on the internal surface of the housing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microchannels are at least partially formed on a surface of the component.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microchannels are configured to induce laminar flow of the fluid through at least a portion of the plurality of microchannels.

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

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

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

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

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

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes one or more electrochemical cells.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes one or more capacitive storage device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes one or more inductive storage devices.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes one or more electrolytic capacitors.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes one or more super capacitors.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes one or more hypercapacitors.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) based capacitor.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein electrical energy storage device includes at least one of a lithium-based battery, a lithium battery, a lithium-ion nanophosphate battery, a lithium sulfur battery, or a lithium-ion polymer-battery.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes a sodium sulfur battery.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is disposed adjacent a portion of a wall of a housing of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is disposed adjacent a portion of the component of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is disposed adjacent an internal surface of a housing of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductivity material is disposed adjacent a surface of the component of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermal sink is a radiator.