Lithium ion battery module having a compartmentalized housing

• US 9,774,020 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2016
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarios Advanced Solutions GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Advanced Power Solutions, LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Fuhr, Jason D., Houchin-Miller, Gary P., Bowen, Gerald K., Dinkelman, John P., Patel, Dharmendra, Molinaroli, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Alejandro, Raymond
• Application Number:
  US15/048,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20160172643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• 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 10/058 Construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/112 Monobloc comprising multiple compartments
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/116 characterised by the material
• 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 50/1245 characterised by the external coating on the casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/131 characterised by physical properties, e.g. gas permeability, size or heat resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/147 Lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/148 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/155 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/16 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/20 Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders structural combination of accumulators with charging apparatus H01M10/46
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/231 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/258 : Modular batteries; Casings provided with means for assembling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 : Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/289 : characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs spacing elements inside cells other than separators, membranes or diaphragms H01M50/471
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/60 : Arrangements or processes for filling or topping-up with liquids; Arrangements or processes for draining liquids from casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/627 : Filling ports
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/70 : Arrangements for stirring or circulating the electrolyte
• 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: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4757 : Battery or electrolytic cell replenishment

Abstract

A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.

Claims

1. A lithium-ion battery module comprising:

a housing having a plurality of compartments within the housing;

a plurality of lithium-ion cell elements, one of the lithium-ion cell elements being provided in each of the compartments of the housing; and

a cover coupled to the housing, wherein the cover is configured to seal each of the compartments of the housing; and

a permeability barrier configured to block water from reaching the plurality of lithium-ion cell elements, wherein the permeability barrier comprises a plurality of metal foil pouches, wherein each metal foil pouch is disposed about a respective lithium-ion cell element, and wherein each metal foil pouch comprises an open end.

2. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the cover is configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments, and the open end of each metal foil pouch is configured to receive the electrolyte routed into the corresponding compartment.

3. The battery module of claim 2, wherein the cover comprises a channel having a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with each of the compartments to facilitate routing of the electrolyte into each of the compartments through the plurality of apertures.

4. The battery module of claim 3, wherein the channel is defined by an upper surface of the cover.

5. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises solid tubes disposed along a perimeter of the housing and configured for thermal management of one or more of the cell elements, and the battery module further comprises a thermal conduction plate conductively coupled to the solid tubes.

6. The battery module of claim 1, wherein each metal foil pouch comprises:

a top side proximate to one or more terminals of the corresponding lithium-ion cell element; and

a bottom side disposed opposite to the top side, wherein the bottom side is closed.

7. The battery module of claim 6, wherein the top side of each metal foil pouch comprises the corresponding open end.

8. The battery module of claim 1, wherein each metal foil pouch is flexible and electrolyte is disposed inside each metal foil pouch.

9. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the housing does not comprise a metal permeability barrier.

10. The battery module of claim 1, wherein each lithium-ion cell element comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, and each lithium-ion cell element does not comprise a housing separate from the corresponding metal foil pouch.

11. A lithium-ion battery module comprising:

a housing having a plurality of compartments within the housing;

a plurality of lithium-ion cell elements, one of the lithium-ion cell elements being provided in each of the compartments of the housing;

a cover coupled to the housing; and

a permeability barrier configured to block fluid from passing therethrough, wherein the permeability barrier comprises a plurality of pouches, wherein each pouch is disposed about a respective lithium-ion cell element, and wherein each pouch comprises an open end.

12. The battery module of claim 11, wherein the cover is configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments, and the open end of each pouch is configured to receive the electrolyte routed into the corresponding compartment.

13. The battery module of claim 12, wherein the cover comprises a channel having a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with each of the compartments to facilitate routing of the electrolyte into each of the compartments through the plurality of apertures.

14. The battery module of claim 13, wherein the channel is defined by an upper surface of the cover.

15. The battery module of claim 11, wherein the housing further comprises solid tubes disposed along a perimeter of the housing and configured for thermal management of one or more of the cell elements, and the battery module further comprises a thermal conduction plate conductively coupled to the solid tubes.

16. The battery module of claim 11, wherein each pouch comprises:

a top side proximate to one or more terminals of the corresponding lithium-ion cell element; and

a bottom side disposed opposite to the top side, wherein the bottom side is closed.

17. The battery module of claim 16, wherein the top side of each pouch comprises the corresponding open end.

18. The battery module of claim 11, wherein each pouch is flexible and electrolyte is disposed inside each pouch.

19. The battery module of claim 11, wherein the housing does not comprise a metal permeability barrier.

20. The battery module of claim 11 wherein each lithium-ion cell element comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, and each lithium-ion cell element does not comprise a housing separate from the corresponding pouch.