Battery module vent system and method

• US 9,614,210 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: DeKeuster, Richard M., Mack, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cantelmo, Gregg
• Application Number:
  US14/501,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20160093857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 429 53- 56
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• 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 2200/20 Pressure-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/308 Detachable arrangements, e.g. detachable vent plugs or plug systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/3425 in the form of rupturable membranes or weakened parts, e.g. pierced with the aid of a sharp member
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/35 Gas exhaust passages comprising elongated, tortuous or labyrinth-shaped exhaust passages
• 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 module includes a housing having an interior defined by multiple sides, one side of which is a lid. The battery module also includes lithium ion electrochemical cells disposed in the housing, each cell having a vent through which gases may be vented. Moreover, the battery module includes a first chamber defined by interior aspects of the housing. Furthermore, the first chamber receives vented gases directed in a first direction from the electrochemical cells. In addition, the battery module includes a surface of the first chamber. The surface is configured to direct the vented gases in a second direction. The battery module also includes a second chamber defined partially by the lid. The second chamber receives the vented gases from the first chamber and directs the vented gases from the housing.

Claims

1. A battery module comprising:

a housing having an interior defined by multiple sides, one side of which is a lid, wherein the lid has a baffle that extends toward the interior of the housing;

lithium ion electrochemical cells disposed in the housing, each cell having a vent through which gases may be vented;

a first chamber defined by interior aspects of the housing, wherein the first chamber receives vented gases directed in a first direction from the electrochemical cells;

a surface of the first chamber, wherein the surface is configured to redirect a flow of the vented gases in a second direction, the second direction being oriented transverse relative to the first direction and oriented transverse relative to an expulsion direction of the vented gases along which the vented gases are expelled from the housing;

a second chamber defined partially by the lid, wherein the second chamber receives the vented gases from the first chamber and directs the vented gases from the housing along the expulsion direction; and

a third chamber partially defined by the baffle and the lid, wherein the third chamber is positioned adjacent to the second chamber, separated from the second chamber by the baffle, and substantially sealed away from the first and second chambers.

2. The battery module of claim 1 wherein the surface comprises a plate disposed within the first chamber.

3. The battery module of claim 1 wherein the surface comprises a wall defining a portion of the interior aspects of the first chamber.

4. The battery module of claim 1 wherein the first chamber is partially formed by one of the sides of the housing of the battery module and a panel coupled to the housing at the same side.

5. The battery module of claim 4 wherein the electrochemical cells are arranged in a stack and the vents of the electrochemical cells are oriented to vent gas toward the first direction.

6. The battery module of claim 1 comprising a first portal fluidly coupling the first chamber to the second chamber, wherein the first portal extends through an interior wall of the housing.

7. The battery module of claim 6 comprising a second portal configured to direct the vented gases out of the battery module from the second chamber, wherein the second portal extends through an outer wall of the housing.

8. The battery module of claim 7 wherein the second chamber is configured to direct the vented gases toward the second portal.

9. The battery module of claim 1 wherein a length of the first chamber is substantially perpendicular to a length of the second chamber.

10. The battery module of claim 1 comprising a regulator disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the regulator comprises a rupture disc, a check valve, a tortuous flow path, or a combination thereof.

11. The battery module of claim 1 wherein the surface is comprised of a metal, a metal alloy, a composite material, or a combination thereof.

12. The battery module of claim 1 wherein the surface is arranged substantially transverse to the first direction such that the vented gases impinge on the surface when the vented gases are vented in the first direction.