Battery cooling plate design with discrete channels

• US 7,851,080 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Weber, Derek R., Spencer, Steven J., Spacher, Paul F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lorengo; Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOOD, JARED M
• Application Number:
  US12/403,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20090258289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 429/26, 429/34, 429/72, 429/120
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/651 characterised by parameters specified by a numeric value or mathematical formula, e.g. ratios, sizes or concentrations
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/652 characterised by gradients for achieving a desired temperature gradient H01M10/617
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

One exemplary embodiment including a battery cooling plate has discrete channels. In one exemplary embodiment each of the channels has a width ranging from about 1 mm to about 5 mm. In another exemplary embodiment the battery cooling plate includes a first cooling channel having a flow path generally in a U shape, and a plurality of other channels each having a generally U-shaped flow path, and wherein the other flow channels are in a nested position with respect to the first flow channel. In another exemplary embodiment the battery cooling plate a battery cooling plate includes a serpentine shaped cooling flow path formed therein, the cooling flow path including a first cooling segment and an adjacent upstream second cooling segment, wherein the second cooling segment includes at least a first cooling channel and a second cooling channel and at least a first land interposed between the first cooling channel and second cooling channel, and wherein the second cooling segment has at least one more land and one more channel than the first cooling segment.

Claims

1. A product comprising a battery cooling plate having an outlet opening communicating with a plurality of exit channels and a plurality of inlet channels communicating with an inlet opening and a serpentine shaped cooling flow path communicating with the plurality of exit channels and the plurality of inlet channels, the cooling flow path including a first cooling segment and an adjacent upstream second cooling segment, and a third cooling segment upstream of the second cooling segment, wherein the second cooling segment comprises at least a first cooling channel and a second cooling channel and at least a first land interposed between the first cooling channel and second cooling channel, wherein the second cooling segment has at least one more land and one more channel than the first cooling segment, and wherein the third cooling segment has at least one more land and one more channel than the second cooling segment, wherein the plurality of exit channels are located downstream the first cooling segment and communicate with the first cooling segment, and wherein the plurality of exit channels comprises a number of individual channels that is greater than the number of individual cooling channels of the first cooling segment.

2. A product as set forth in claim 1, wherein the third cooling segment comprises at least a first cooling channel, a second middle cooling channel, and a third cooling channel, the third cooling segment also comprises at least a first land and a second land, the first land interposed between the first cooling channel and the second middle cooling channel, the second land interposed between the second middle cooling channel and the third cooling channel, and wherein an end of the first land of the second cooling segment generally confronts an opening of the second middle cooling channel across a transition zone located between the second cooling segment and the third cooling segment.

3. A product as set forth in claim 2, wherein the transition zone is free of any lands and free of any structures that could substantially interrupt coolant flow.

4. A product as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of exit channels communicates with the first cooling segment through an exit channel portion which includes a single exit channel.

5. A product comprising a battery cooling plate having an outlet opening communicating with a plurality of exit channels and a plurality of inlet channels communicating with an inlet opening and a serpentine shaped cooling flow path communicating with the plurality of exit channels and the plurality of inlet channels, the cooling flow path including a first cooling segment, a second cooling segment upstream the first cooling segment, a third cooling segment upstream the second cooling segment, and a fourth cooling segment upstream the third cooling segment, the first cooling segment including a single cooling channel, the second cooling segment including no more than two separate and distinct cooling channels, the third cooling segment including no more than three separate and distinct cooling channels, and the fourth cooling segment including no more than six separate and distinct cooling channels, wherein the second cooling segment has at least one more land and one more channel than the first cooling segment, and wherein the third cooling segment has at least one more land and one more channel than the second cooling segment, wherein the plurality of exit channels are located downstream the first cooling segment and communicate with the first cooling segment, and wherein the plurality of exit channels comprises a number of individual channels that is greater than the number of individual cooling channels of the first cooling segment.

6. A product as set forth in claim 5, wherein a transition zone is located between each of the first, second, third, and fourth cooling segments, the transition zones each being free of any lands and free of any structures that could substantially interrupt coolant flow between the cooling segments.

7. A product as set forth in claim 5, wherein the plurality of exit channels are located downstream the first cooling segment and wherein the plurality of exit channels comprises a number of individual channels that is greater than the single cooling channel of the first cooling segment.