BATTERY SYSTEMS, BATTERY MODULES, AND METHOD FOR COOLING A BATTERY MODULE

• US 20100279154A1
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Payne, Josh, Koetting, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,663,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/50
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/633 characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6554 Rods or plates
• 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 10/6568 characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6569 Fluids undergoing a liquid-gas phase change or transition, e.g. evaporation or condensation heat pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Battery systems, battery modules, and a method for cooling a battery module are provided. The battery module includes a first battery cell, and a first cooling fin having a first panel portion and first and second rail portions that are disposed on first and second ends, respectively, of the first panel portion. The first battery cell is disposed adjacent to a first side of the first panel portion. The first and second rail portions have a thickness greater than the first panel portion. The first cooling fin conducts heat energy from the first battery cell into the first cooling fin to cool the first battery cell. The battery module further includes first and second conduits extending through the first and second rail portions, respectively, that receive a fluid that flows through the first and second conduits to conduct heat energy from the first cooling fin into the fluid.

Claims

1. A battery module, comprising:

a first battery cell;

a first cooling fin having a first panel portion and first and second rail portions disposed on first and second ends, respectively, of the first panel portion, the first battery cell being disposed adjacent to a first side of the first panel portion, the first and second rail portions having a thickness greater than the first panel portion, the first cooling fin conducting heat energy from the first battery cell into the first cooling fin to cool the first battery cell; and

first and second conduits extending through the first and second rail portions, respectively, of the first cooling fin that receive a fluid that flows through the first and second conduits to conduct heat energy from the first cooling fin into the fluid.

2. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a second battery cell disposed adjacent a second side of the first panel portion, the second side being opposite to the first side.

3. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a second cooling fin having a second panel portion and third and fourth rail portions disposed on first and second ends, respectively, of the second panel portion, the second battery cell being disposed adjacent to a first side of the second panel portion, the third and fourth rail portions having a thickness greater than the second panel portion, the second cooling fin conducting heat energy from the second battery cell to the second cooling fin to cool the second battery cell.

4. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the first cooling fin is constructed from a thermally conductive material.

5. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the first and second conduits are constructed from a thermally conductive material.

6. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the first panel portion is rectangular shaped.

7. A battery system, comprising:

a battery module having a first battery cell, a first cooling fin, and first and second conduits, the first cooling fin having a first panel portion and first and second rail portions disposed on first and second ends, respectively, of the first panel portion, the first battery cell being disposed adjacent to a first side of the first panel portion, the first and second rail portions having a thickness greater than the first panel portion, the first cooling fin conducting heat energy from the first battery cell into the first cooling fin to cool the first battery cell, the first and second conduits extending through the first and second rail portions, respectively, of the first cooling fin and receiving a refrigerant that flows through the first and second conduits to conduct heat energy from the first cooling fin into the refrigerant;

a condenser fluidly coupled to the first and second conduits of the battery module, the condenser configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second conduits of the battery module and to extract heat energy from the refrigerant; and

a compressor fluidly coupled to the condenser and configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser, the compressor further fluidly coupled to the first and second conduits of the battery module, the compressor configured to pump the refrigerant from the condenser into the first and second conduits.

8. The battery system of claim 7, further comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a temperature of the battery module; and

a microprocessor operably coupled to the temperature sensor, the microprocessor configured to generate a second signal to induce the compressor to pump the refrigerant from the condenser into the first and second conduits of the battery module when the first signal indicates the temperature of the battery module is greater than a threshold temperature level.

9. A battery system, comprising:

a battery module having a first battery cell, a first cooling fin, and first and second conduits, the first cooling fin having a first panel portion and first and second rail portions disposed on first and second ends, respectively, of the first panel portion, the first battery cell being disposed adjacent to a first side of the first panel portion, the first and second rail portions having a thickness greater than the first panel portion, the first cooling fin conducting heat energy from the first battery cell to the first cooling fin to cool the first battery cell, the first and second conduits extending through the first and second rail portions, respectively, of the first cooling fin and receiving a coolant that flows through the first and second conduits to conduct heat energy from the first cooling fin into the coolant;

a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the battery module, the heat exchanger configured to receive the coolant from the battery module therein and to extract heat energy from the coolant flowing therethrough;

a cold plate fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger, the cold plate configured to extract heat energy from the coolant flowing therethrough;

a reservoir fluidly coupled between the cold plate and a pump, the reservoir configured to receive the coolant from the cold plate and to route the coolant to the pump; and

the pump further fluidly coupled to the first and second conduits of the battery module, the pump configured to pump the coolant from the reservoir into the first and second conduits.

10. A method for cooling a battery module, the battery module having a battery cell, a cooling fin, and first and second conduits, the cooling fin having a panel portion and first and second rail portions disposed on first and second ends, respectively, of the panel portion, the battery cell being disposed adjacent to a first side of the panel portion, the first and second rail portions having a thickness greater than the first panel portion, the method comprising:

conducting heat energy from the battery cell into the panel portion of the cooling fin disposed on the first side of the battery cell to cool the battery cell;

conducting heat energy from the panel portion into the first and second rail portions of the cooling fin;

conducting heat energy from the first and second rail portions into the first and second conduits, respectively, extending through the first and second rail portions, respectively, of the cooling fin; and

receiving a fluid in the first and second conduits and conducting heat energy from the first and second conduits into the fluid.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the fluid is a refrigerant.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating a first signal indicative of a temperature of the battery module utilizing a temperature sensor; and

generating a second signal to induce a compressor to pump the refrigerant through the first and second conduits when the first signal indicates the temperature of the battery module is greater than a threshold temperature level utilizing a microprocessor.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the fluid is a coolant.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating a first signal indicative of a temperature of the battery module utilizing a temperature sensor; and

generating a second signal to induce a pump to pump the coolant through the first and second conduits when the first signal indicates the temperature of the battery module is greater than a threshold temperature level utilizing a microprocessor.

15. A battery module, comprising:

a cylindrical battery cell;

a cooling fin having a tubular portion and a laminated box-shaped portion coupled to the tubular portion, the tubular portion configured to surround a portion of the cylindrical battery cell, the cooling fin conducting heat energy from the battery cell to the cooling fin to cool the battery cell; and

a conduit extending through the laminated box-shaped portion of the cooling fin that receives a fluid that flows through the conduit to conduct heat energy from the cooling fin into the fluid.

16. The battery module of claim 15, wherein the cooling fin is constructed from a thermally conductive material.

17. The battery module of claim 15, wherein the conduit is constructed from a thermally conductive material.