Battery with temperature control device and method for regulating the temperature of a battery

• US 11,211,650 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2019
• Issued: 12/28/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
• Original Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
• Inventors: Pilawa, Michael, Ohnesorge, Alexander, Hofmann, Michael, Steinwandel, Jurgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Merkling, Matthew J
• Application Number:
  US16/659,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20200136204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/617 for achieving uniformity or desired distribution of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/654 located inside the innermost case of the cells, e.g. mandrels, electrodes or electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6568 characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/021 Physical characteristics, e.g. porosity, surface area
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/77 with external circulating path
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A battery comprising a fluid electrolyte, a casing configured to contain the electrolyte, an anode placed in contact with the electrolyte in the casing, and a cathode placed in contact with the electrolyte in the casing. The battery comprises a temperature control device configured to modify the temperature of the electrolyte, a circulating device configured to circulate the electrolyte in the casing and between the casing and the temperature control device. Also, a method for regulating the temperature of a battery in which a fluid electrolyte is circulated in a battery casing comprising an anode and a cathode, and through a temperature control device configured to modify the temperature of the electrolyte.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

a fluid electrolyte,

a casing configured to contain at least part of the fluid electrolyte, the casing comprising a first electrolyte inlet, a second electrolyte inlet, a first electrolyte outlet, and a second electrolyte outlet, the first electrolyte inlet axially aligned with the first electrolyte outlet and the second electrolyte inlet axially aligned with the second electrolyte outlet,

a battery cell comprising;

an anode at least partially placed in contact with the fluid electrolyte in the casing, and

a cathode at least partially placed in contact with the fluid electrolyte in the casing,

a temperature control device, comprising an inlet and an outlet, configured to modify a temperature of the fluid electrolyte between the inlet and the outlet,

a circulating device configured to circulate the fluid electrolyte in the casing and between the casing and the temperature control device,

wherein the first electrolyte inlet is separated from the second electrolyte inlet by the battery cell,

wherein the first electrolyte outlet is separated from the second electrolyte outlet by the battery cell,

wherein a fluid circuit is configured to circulate the fluid electrolyte in two opposite directions in the casing.

2. The battery according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of anodes at least partially placed in contact with the fluid electrolyte in the casing and a plurality of cathodes at least partially placed in contact with the fluid electrolyte in the casing.

3. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control device is placed outside the casing.

4. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control device is configured to lower the temperature of the electrolyte.

5. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control device comprises at least a heat exchanger.

6. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the cathode has a planar shape comprising at least one hole allowing for the circulation of the fluid electrolyte through the at least one hole.

7. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the anode has a planar shape comprising at least one hole allowing for the circulation of the fluid electrolyte through the at least one hole.

8. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the fluid electrolyte circulates in series from a first battery cell comprising at least one anode and at least one cathode, to at least one second battery cell comprising at least one anode and at least one cathode.

9. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the anode and the cathode are at least partially imbricated into each other.

10. The battery according to claim 1, further comprising at least one cell separator between two consecutive battery cells.

11. A method for regulating a temperature of the battery of claim 1 comprising:

circulating the fluid electrolyte in the casing,

circulating the fluid electrolyte through the temperature control device configured to modify the temperature of the fluid electrolyte.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

circulating the fluid electrolyte through a plurality of anodes and a plurality of cathodes in a same casing.