Battery module having a cell tray with thermal management features
First Claim
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1. A battery module, comprising:
- a plurality of electrochemical cells, each electrochemical cell comprising a bottom portion having a vent member;
a structure comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being configured to support the respective bottom portion of each electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells and the lower portion having a thermal management feature to provide thermal management to the electrochemical cells, wherein the thermal management feature comprises a passage disposed in the lower portion of the structure, the passage being configured to direct a thermal management fluid therethrough from an inlet at a first end of the lower portion to an outlet at a second end of the lower portion opposite the first end, wherein the passage is configured such that the thermal management fluid does not directly contact the plurality of electrochemical cells; and
a heat sink having a plurality of fins extending away from the plurality of electrochemical cells and into the passage, wherein the thermal management fluid is configured to pass between adjacent fins of the plurality of fins;
wherein the structure comprises a chamber formed between the upper portion of the structure and the lower portion of the structure such that the chamber separates the respective bottom portion of each electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells from the heat sink; and
wherein the upper portion of the structure comprises a plurality of sockets configured to receive the respective bottom portion of each electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells to enable the respective vent member disposed on the respective bottom portion of each electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells to vent gases into the chamber.
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Abstract
A battery module includes a plurality of electrochemical cells and a structure including an upper portion configured to support a bottom portion of each of the plurality of electrochemical cells and a lower portion coupled to the upper portion. The lower portion includes a thermal management feature having at least one passage provided therein. The passage is configured for a thermal management fluid to pass therethrough to provide thermal management to the electrochemical cells of the battery module.
22 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A battery module, comprising:
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a plurality of electrochemical cells, each electrochemical cell comprising a bottom portion having a vent member; a structure comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being configured to support the respective bottom portion of each electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells and the lower portion having a thermal management feature to provide thermal management to the electrochemical cells, wherein the thermal management feature comprises a passage disposed in the lower portion of the structure, the passage being configured to direct a thermal management fluid therethrough from an inlet at a first end of the lower portion to an outlet at a second end of the lower portion opposite the first end, wherein the passage is configured such that the thermal management fluid does not directly contact the plurality of electrochemical cells; and a heat sink having a plurality of fins extending away from the plurality of electrochemical cells and into the passage, wherein the thermal management fluid is configured to pass between adjacent fins of the plurality of fins; wherein the structure comprises a chamber formed between the upper portion of the structure and the lower portion of the structure such that the chamber separates the respective bottom portion of each electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells from the heat sink; and wherein the upper portion of the structure comprises a plurality of sockets configured to receive the respective bottom portion of each electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells to enable the respective vent member disposed on the respective bottom portion of each electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells to vent gases into the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20)
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13. A battery system, comprising:
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a housing; a plurality of battery modules disposed in the housing, each battery module comprising; a plurality of electrochemical cells, each electrochemical cell comprising a bottom portion having a vent member; and a structure comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being configured to support the respective bottom portion of each electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells and the lower portion having a thermal management feature to provide thermal management to the electrochemical cells, wherein the thermal management feature comprises a passage disposed in the lower portion, the passage being configured to direct a thermal management fluid therethrough from an inlet at a first end of the lower portion to an outlet at a second end of the lower portion opposite the first end, wherein the passage is configured such that the thermal management fluid does not directly contact the plurality of electrochemical cells; and a heat sink having a plurality of fins extending away from the plurality of electrochemical cells and into the passage, wherein the thermal management fluid is configured to pass between adjacent fins of the plurality of fins; wherein the structure comprises a chamber formed between the upper portion of the structure and the lower portion of the structure; and wherein the upper portion of the structure comprises a plurality of sockets configured to receive the respective bottom portion of each electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells to enable the respective vent members disposed on the respective bottom portion of each electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells to vent gases into the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 21)
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16. A battery module, comprising:
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a tray comprising an upper portion configured to support bottom ends of a plurality of electrochemical cells;
a lower portion of the tray, wherein the lower portion comprises a thermal management feature configured to provide thermal management to the plurality of electrochemical cells, wherein the thermal management feature comprises a passage disposed in the lower portion of the tray, the passage being configured to direct a thermal management fluid therethrough from an inlet at a first end of the lower portion to an outlet at a second end of the lower portion opposite the first end, and wherein the passage is configured such that the thermal management fluid does not directly contact the plurality of electrochemical cells;a plurality of sockets disposed in the upper portion of the tray and configured to enable the plurality of electrochemical cells to extend therethrough; a plurality of vent members disposed in the bottom ends of the plurality of electrochemical cells; a chamber formed between the upper portion of the tray and the lower portion of the tray and configured to receive the bottom ends of the plurality of electrochemical cells to facilitate venting of the plurality of electrochemical cells through the plurality of vent members into the chamber; and a heat sink disposed in the tray and having a plurality of fins extending away from the plurality of electrochemical cells and into the passage, wherein the thermal management fluid is configured to pass between adjacent fins of the plurality of fins. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 22)
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Specification