Quick charge battery with thermal management
First Claim
1. A thermal management device for varying the temperature of a battery, the battery having an exterior and a case containing an electrolyte solution and capable of producing an electrical potential, the thermal management device comprising:
- a heat sink disposed within the case;
a thermoelectric generator disposed within the case comprised of a plurality of alternating p-type semiconductor materials and n-type semiconductor materials having gaps therebetween, the p-type and n-type semiconductor materials having a first end and a second end disposed in electrical contact with a plurality of first junction surfaces on the first end and in electrical contact with a plurality of second junction surfaces on the second end, the first junction surfaces in heat exchange relationship with the heat sink, the second junction surfaces in heat exchange relationship with the exterior of the battery; and
a power source in electrical contact with the thermoelectric generator operable to supply current to the thermoelectric generator such that a temperature difference is produced between the first junction surfaces and the second junction surfaces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A quick charge battery with thermal management is described which includes a thermoelectric generator disposed within the cells of the battery to supply thermal energy to the battery. The thermoelectric cell is capable of heating the battery to a minimum temperature level when current is supplied in a first direction and capable of cooling the battery when the current is supplied in a second direction. The thermoelectric cell functions to cool the cell and thereby minimizes thermal build-up produced by rapid charging of the battery.
100 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A thermal management device for varying the temperature of a battery, the battery having an exterior and a case containing an electrolyte solution and capable of producing an electrical potential, the thermal management device comprising:
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a heat sink disposed within the case; a thermoelectric generator disposed within the case comprised of a plurality of alternating p-type semiconductor materials and n-type semiconductor materials having gaps therebetween, the p-type and n-type semiconductor materials having a first end and a second end disposed in electrical contact with a plurality of first junction surfaces on the first end and in electrical contact with a plurality of second junction surfaces on the second end, the first junction surfaces in heat exchange relationship with the heat sink, the second junction surfaces in heat exchange relationship with the exterior of the battery; and a power source in electrical contact with the thermoelectric generator operable to supply current to the thermoelectric generator such that a temperature difference is produced between the first junction surfaces and the second junction surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A thermal management device for varying the temperature of a battery, the battery having an exterior and a case containing an electrolyte solution and producing an electrical potential, the thermal management device comprising:
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a thermoelectric generator disposed on the battery exterior comprised of a plurality of alternating p-type semiconductor materials and n-type semiconductor materials having gaps therebetween, the p-type and n-type semiconductor materials having a first end and a second end disposed in electrical contact with a plurality of first junction surfaces on the first end and in electrical contact with a plurality of second junction surfaces on the second end, the first junction surfaces in heat exchange relationship with the battery exterior, the second surfaces junction in heat exchange relationship with a heat exchanger; and a power source in electrical contact with the thermoelectric generator operable to supply current to the thermoelectric generator such that a temperature difference is produced between the first junction surfaces and the second junction surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A thermal management device for varying the temperature of a battery, the battery having an exterior, at least one positive plate, at least one negative plate, at least one microporous partition, the partition positioned between the positive and negative plates and disposed within a case containing an electrolyte solution and producing an electrical potential, the thermal management device comprising:
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a heat sink disposed within the partition in heat exchange relationship with the electrolyte; a thermoelectric generator partially disposed within the partition comprised of a plurality of alternating p-type semiconductor materials and n-type semiconductor materials having gaps therebetween, the p-type and n-type semiconductor materials having a first end and a second end disposed in electrical contact with a plurality of first junction surfaces on the first end and in electrical contact with a plurality of second junction surfaces on the second end, the first junction surfaces in heat exchange relationship with the heat sink, the second surfaces junction surfaces in heat exchange relationship with the exterior of the battery; and a power source in electrical contact with the thermoelectric generator operable to supply current to the thermoelectric generator such that a temperature difference is produced between the first junction surfaces and the second junction surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A thermal management device for varying the temperature of a battery, the battery having an exterior, at least two positive-negative plate pairs each defining a cell, a microporous partition disposed between each of the negative-positive plate pairs, at least one non-porous cell separator, the cell separator positioned between the positive-negative plate pairs and disposed within a case containing an electrolyte solution and producing an electrical potential, the thermal management device comprising:
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a heat sink disposed within at least one cell separator, the cell separator in heat exchange relationship with the electrolyte; a thermoelectric generator partially disposed within at least one cell separator comprised of a plurality of alternating p-type semiconductor materials and n-type semiconductor materials having gaps therebetween, the p-type and n-type semiconductor materials having a first end and a second end disposed in electrical contact with a plurality of first junction surfaces on the first end and in electrical contact with a plurality of second junction surfaces on the second end, the first junction surfaces in heat exchange relationship with the heat sink, the second junction surfaces in heat exchange relationship with the exterior of the battery; and a power source in electrical contact with the thermoelectric generator operable to supply current to the thermoelectric generator such that a temperature difference is produced between the first junction surfaces and the second junction surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A thermal management device for varying the temperature of a fuel cell, the fuel cell having an exterior and a case containing fuel and oxidation materials and capable of producing energy, the thermal management device comprising:
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at least one heat sink disposed within the case; at least one thermoelectric generator disposed within the case, each comprised of a plurality of alternating p-type semiconductor materials and n-type semiconductor materials having gaps therebetween, the p-type and n-type semiconductor materials having a first end and a second end disposed in electrical contact with a plurality of first junction surfaces on the first end and in electrical contact with a plurality of second junction surfaces on the second end, the first junction surfaces in heat exchange relationship with the heat sink, the second junction surfaces in heat exchange relationship with the exterior of the battery; and a power source in electrical contact with each thermoelectric generator operable to supply current to each thermoelectric generator such that a temperature difference is produced between the first junction surfaces and the second junction surfaces.
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23. A thermal management device for varying the temperature of a battery, the battery having an exterior, at least two positive-negative plate pairs each defining a cell, a microporous partition disposed between each of the negative-positive plate pairs, at least one non-porous cell separator, the cell separator positioned between the positive-negative plate pairs and disposed within a case containing an electrolyte solution and producing an electrical potential, the thermal management device comprising:
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a thermoelectric generator disposed within at least one of the partitions, at least one of the cell separators, and the battery case, each thermoelectric generator comprised of a plurality of alternating p-type semiconductor materials and n-type semiconductor materials having gaps therebetween, the p-type and n-type semiconductor materials having a first end and a second end disposed in electrical contact with a plurality of first junction surfaces on the first end and in electrical contact with a plurality of second junction surfaces on the second end, the second junction surfaces in heat exchange relationship with the exterior of the battery; a heat sink disposed within at least one cell separator in heat exchange relationship with the first junction surfaces of the thermoelectric generator disposed in the cell separator; a heat sink disposed within at least one partition in heat exchange relationship with the first junction surfaces of the thermoelectric generator disposed in the partition and the electrolyte; a heat sink disposed within the case in heat exchange relationship with the first junction surfaces of the thermoelectric generator disposed in the case; the cell separator and case in heat exchange relationship with the electrolyte; and a power source in electrical contact with each thermoelectric generator operable to supply current to each thermoelectric generator such that a temperature difference is produced between the first junction surfaces and the second junction surfaces.
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Specification