Device for housing electrochemical cells

• US 20090148754A1
• Filed: 12/11/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battery Patent Trust
• Original Assignee: Cobasys LLC (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Marchio, Michael A., Gorog, Jozef
• Granted Patent: US 9,077,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/655 Solid structures for heat exchange or heat conduction
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6555 arranged between the cells
• 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 10/656 characterised by the type of heat-exchange fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6561 Gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• 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 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/291 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a device for housing a plurality of electrochemical cells, wherein the housing provides stability, temperature control and maximum packing density. The battery module housing comprises a first semi-enclosure and a second semi-enclosure, wherein the first and second semi-enclosure are aligned to form compartments there between. Each compartment is designed to accommodate at least one electrochemical cell, such as a cylindrical battery or a prismatic battery. Each semi-enclosure comprises an interior wall and an exterior wall. The interior and exterior wall align together to form a flow path between the walls through which coolant or any other thermal management medium may flow. The coolant enters the semi-enclosure through a coolant inlet, flows between the interior and exterior walls; then flows out of the semi-enclosure through a coolant outlet.

Claims

1. A battery module comprising:

a first semi-enclosure having an interior wall and a exterior wall, said first semi-enclosure interior wall having at least one protrusion;

a second semi-enclosure having an interior wall and an exterior wall, said second semi-enclosure interior wall having at least one protrusion, said semi-enclosures aligning to form a plurality of compartments between said interior walls, wherein the protrusions of the first semi-enclosure interior wall abut the protrusions of a second semi-enclosure interior wall providing separation of the compartments from one another and wherein the interior and exterior walls of each semi-enclosure align to form flow channels between said walls;

an electrochemical cell disposed in each of said compartments, wherein each cell is separated by said abutting protrusions; and

a first inlet and a first outlet in flow communication with the flow channels of said first semi-enclosure and a second inlet and a second outlet in flow communication with the flow channels of said second semi-enclosure.

2. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism securing the protrusions into a desired position.

3. The battery module of claim 2, wherein each protrusion of the first semi-enclosure interior wall abuts each protrusion of the second semi-enclosure interior wall forming at least one locking cavity and wherein said locking mechanism comprises a locking pin disposed in said locking cavity and securing the protrusions into the desired position.

4. The battery module of claim 2, further comprising at least one clamp, said clamp securing said first exterior wall to said second exterior wall.

5. The battery module of claim 2, further comprising a module interlock mechanism.

6. The battery module of claim 5, each of said exterior walls having an exterior portion comprising:

at least on slot incorporated into the exterior portion of each of said exterior walls; and

at least one slat incorporated into the exterior portion of each of said exterior walls, wherein the form of the slot allows insertion of the form of the slat.

7. The battery module of claim 5, each of said electrochemical cells having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, further comprising a plurality of electrical interconnects, said interconnects electrically connecting said terminals.

8. A battery module comprising:

a first end wall having an end wall semi-enclosure and an end plate, wherein the end wall semi-enclosure and the end plate align to form flow channels between said end wall semi-enclosure and the end plate;

a first end wall manifold having an inlet and an outlet,

a second end wall having an end wall semi-enclosure and an end plate, wherein the end wall semi-enclosure and the end plate align to form flow channels between said end wall semi-enclosure and the end plate and wherein said first end wall and second end wall align to form a plurality of compartments;

a second end wall manifold having an inlet and an outlet; and

an electrochemical cell disposed in each of said compartments.

9. The battery module of claim 8, further comprising at least one stacking segment aligned between said end walls to form a plurality of compartments between the stacking segment and the first end wall and a plurality of compartments between the stacking segment and the second end wall.

10. The battery module of claim 9, said stacking segment comprising:

a dual sided segment having an internal side an external side;

a semi enclosure wall, wherein the semi-enclosure wall and the internal side of the dual sided segment align to form flow channels between said semi-enclosure wall and the internal side of the dual sided segment;

a stacking segment manifold integrated into said dual sided segment, said stacking segment manifold having an inlet and an outlet;

at least one flow channel set between the internal side of the dual sided segment and the semi-enclosure wall, said each of said flow channels in flow communication with said stacking segment inlet and said stacking segment outlet.

11. The battery module of claim 10, said stacking segment further at least one flow support set between the internal side of the dual sided segment and the semi-enclosure wall.

12. The battery module of claim 8, said first end wall having at least one protrusion and said second end wall having at least one protrusion, wherein the protrusions of the first end wall abut the protrusions of the second end wall providing separation of the compartments from one another.

13. The battery module of claim 12, further comprising a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism securing the protrusions into a desired position.

14. The battery module of claim 13, wherein each protrusion of the end wall abuts each protrusion of the second end wall forming at least one locking cavity and wherein said locking mechanism comprises a locking pin disposed in said locking cavity and securing the protrusions into the desired position.

15. The battery module of claim 13, further comprising at least one clamp, said clamp securing said first end wall to said second end wall.

16. The battery module of claim 13, further comprising a module interlock mechanism.

17. The battery module of claim 13, each of said electrochemical cells having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, further comprising a plurality of electrical interconnects, said interconnects electrically connecting said terminals.