Energy cell temperature management

• US 9,843,076 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2012
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Structural Plastics Incorporated (Teijin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Continental Structural Plastics Incorporated (Teijin Limited)
• Inventors: Guha, Probir Kumar, Siwajek, Michael J., Hiltunen, Michael Joseph, Neogi, Swati, Dunagan, Jack Douglas, Burley, Adam Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickett, J. Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eloshway, Niki M
• Application Number:
  US13/651,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20140106198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,884 Days
• Field of Search: 429120, 220 6219, 22059201, 220 6215
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/02 using latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/023 the latent heat storage material being enclosed in granular particles or dispersed in a porous, fibrous or cellular structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/658 by thermal insulation or shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/659 by heat storage or buffering, e.g. heat capacity or liquid-solid phase changes or transition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/24 adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion thermal insulation H01M10/658
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

A temperature regulation and management system is provide that has an inner wall and an outer wall forming a space for accommodating a phase change material (PCM) with the space between the walls, in one or both of the walls, or a combination of such locations. The inner wall is in contact with an object that requires temperature regulation within a specified operating range, such as a vehicle battery pack. The inner wall and the outer wall are both formed from sheet molding compound (SMC), or the outer wall if formed of a filled polyurethane.

Claims

1. A temperature regulation and management system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

an inner wall and an outer wall forming a space therebetween for accommodating a phase change material (PCM), the space being between 0.25 and 10 inches;

wherein said inner wall is in contact with an object that is one or more energy cells or batteries of the vehicle for temperature regulation within a specified operating range including a melting temperature of said PCM for a time of at least two hours, said inner wall having a thickness of 0.06 inches to 0.5 inches;

wherein said inner wall is formed from sheet molding compound (SMC) containing chopped fiber and said outer wall is formed of the SMC or a polyurethane polymer matrix and having a thickness of 0.06 inches to 0.5 inches.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said PCM is trimethylolethane (TME).

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said PCM is suspended in an open cell foam.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said PCM is suspended in a closed cell foam.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the thickness of said PCM is varied between said inner and outer wall.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said SMC is formed with glass-micro spheroids, thermoplastic-micro spheroids, metallic-micro spheroids, or a combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said SMC has air entrainment.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the thickness of said inner and outer walls have thicknesses independent of each other.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said object has one or more faces in contact with said inner wall.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said inner wall and said outer wall has at least one fin projecting therefrom.