Polymerized lithium ion battery cells and modules with thermal management features

• US 9,590,279 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2013
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Obasih, Kem M., Tyler, Matthew R.
• Primary Examiner(s): RYAN, PATRICK J
• Assistant Examiner(s): McConnell, Wyatt
• Application Number:
  US14/142,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20140186687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/1635 at least passing through one of the parts to be joined, i.e. laser transmission welding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1222 comprising at least a lapped joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1224 comprising at least a butt joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7146 Battery-cases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0431 Cells with wound or folded electrodes H01M10/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/655 Solid structures for heat exchange or heat conduction
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6554 Rods or plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/103 prismatic or rectangular H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/107 having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/112 Monobloc comprising multiple compartments
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/121 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/124 : having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/128 : with two or more layers of only inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/141 : for protecting against humidity
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/16 : Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/169 : by welding, brazing or soldering
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 : adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/26 : Assemblies sealed to each other in a non-detachable manner
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 : Electric battery cell making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4911 : including sealing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49115 : including coating or impregnating

Abstract

A lithium ion (Li-ion) battery module includes a container with one or more partitions that define compartments within the container. Each of the compartments is configured to receive and hold a prismatic Li-ion electrochemical cell element, and a cover is configured to be disposed over the container to close the compartments. The container includes a polymer blend including a base polymer and one or more additives blended into the base polymer. The base polymer is electrically nonconductive and the one or more additives are configured to increase a thermal conductivity of the container to promote transfer of heat generated from the electrochemical cell elements through the container.

Claims

1. A lithium ion (Li-ion) battery cell, comprising:

a housing configured to receive and hold a Li-ion electrochemical cell element, wherein the housing comprises a polymer blend having a base polymer and one or more additives blended into the base polymer, and wherein the one or more additives are configured to enable a thermal conductivity of the polymer blend of the housing between 5 and 10 watts per meter-kelvin (W/mK) to promote transfer of heat generated from the electrochemical cell element through the housing; and

a heat sink embedded in a first side wall of the housing and a second side wall of the housing opposite to the first side wall such that the heat sink is separated from the Li-ion electrochemical cell element by a first inner portion of the first side wall of the housing and a second inner portion of the second side wall of the housing;

wherein the housing comprises the first side wall, the second side wall, and a joining wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein each of the first and second side walls extends in a direction from the joining wall, and wherein the heat sink extends continuously along the joining wall from the first side wall to the second side wall.

2. The Li-ion battery cell of claim 1, wherein the base polymer comprises polypropylene, polyimide, polyamide, polyethylene (PET), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), or rubber.

3. The Li-ion battery cell of claim 1, wherein the one or more additives comprise aluminum oxide, aluminum, brass, graphite, magnesium oxide, stainless steel, calcium carbonate, acetylene black, glass, or a combination thereof.

4. The Li-ion battery cell of claim 1, wherein the additives comprise flakes, fibers, powder, microspheres, or some combination thereof, configured to be blended into the polymer base.

5. The Li-ion battery cell of claim 1, wherein the Li-ion battery cell is a cylindrical Li-ion battery cell.

6. The Li-ion battery cell of claim 1, wherein the Li-ion battery cell is a prismatic Li-ion battery cell.

7. The Li-ion battery module of claim 1, wherein the heat sink is exposed to environment along the joining wall.