Fully-submerged battery cells for vehicle energy-storage systems

• US 9,692,095 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
• Original Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
• Inventors: Harris, W. Porter
• Primary Examiner(s): Fraser, Stewart
• Application Number:
  US14/929,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20170005381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• 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 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/653 characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6556 Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange closed pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/103 Fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/117 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/124 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/1245 characterised by the external coating on the casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/293 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/566 by welding, soldering or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/581 in response to temperature
• 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

Provided are cooling subsystems for energy-storage systems comprising: a coolant section having a coolant circulated therein; a plurality of battery cells having a coated portion, the coated portion being disposed in the coolant section, the coolant section configured so that the plurality of battery cells are substantially fully covered by the coolant; and a retainer disposed in the coolant section, the retainer holding the plurality of battery cells, the retainer having a plurality of flow channels, the coolant flowing through the flow channels.

Claims

1. A energy-storage system comprising:

a coolant section having a coolant circulated therein;

a plurality of battery cells having a coated portion, the coated portion being disposed in the coolant section, wherein the coated portion is coated with a coating material comprising at least one of aluminum oxide, diamond powder based materials and boron nitride, the coolant section configured so that between 92% and 98% of the plurality of battery cells are substantially fully covered by the coolant; and

a retainer disposed in the coolant section, the retainer holding the plurality of battery cells, the retainer having a plurality of flow channels, the coolant flowing through the flow channels.

2. The energy-storage system of claim 1, wherein the coolant substantially covers 98% of the battery cells.

3. The energy-storage system of claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises an elastomer.

4. The energy-storage system of claim 3 further comprising:

a current carrier electrically coupled to the plurality of battery cells, a cathode terminal of each of the battery cells being coupled to a respective positive contact of the current carrier, and an anode terminal of each of the battery cells being coupled to a respective negative contact of the current carrier.

5. The energy-storage system of claim 1, wherein at least one side of the retainer is potted.

6. The energy-storage system of claim 5, wherein the cathode terminal of each cell is laser welded to the respective positive contact of the current carrier and the anode terminal of each cell is laser welded to the respective negative contact of the current carrier.

7. The energy-storage system of claim 1, wherein the battery cells are cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells.

8. The energy-storage system of claim 7, wherein the current carrier includes a plurality of fuses each electrically coupled to the respective positive contact.

9. A energy-storage system comprising:

a coolant section having a coolant circulated therein;

a plurality of battery cells having a coated portion, the coated portion being disposed in the coolant section, wherein the coated portion is coated with a coating material comprising at least one of aluminum oxide, diamond powder based materials and boron nitride, the coolant section configured so that between 92% and 98% of the plurality of battery cells are substantially fully covered by the coolant; and

a retainer disposed in the coolant section, the retainer holding the plurality of battery cells, the retainer having a plurality of flow channels, the coolant flowing through the flow channels, wherein the retainer comprises an elastomer.

10. The energy-storage system of claim 9, wherein the battery cells are cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells.

11. The energy-storage system of claim 9, wherein the coolant substantially covers 98% of the battery cells.

12. The energy-storage system of claim 9, wherein at least one side of the retainer is potted.

13. The energy-storage system of claim 12 further comprising:

a current carrier electrically coupled to the plurality of battery cells, a cathode terminal of each of the battery cells being coupled to a respective positive contact of the current carrier, and an anode terminal of each of the battery cells being coupled to a respective negative contact of the current carrier.

14. The energy-storage system of claim 13, wherein the cathode terminal of each cell is laser welded to the respective positive contact of the current carrier and the anode terminal of each cell is laser welded to the respective negative contact of the current carrier.

15. The energy-storage system of claim 14, wherein the current carrier includes a plurality of fuses each electrically coupled to the respective positive contact.