Battery systems, battery module, and method for cooling the battery module

• US 8,663,828 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruddock, Ula C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chmielecki, Scott J
• Application Number:
  US12/433,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20100279153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 429/120
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• 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 10/633 characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/653 characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials
• 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 10/6561 Gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• 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 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/278 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

Battery systems, a battery module, and a method for cooling the battery module are provided. The battery module includes a housing having a non-conductive oil disposed therein. The battery module further includes a battery cell disposed in the housing. The battery module further includes a cooling manifold disposed in the housing that contacts the non-conductive oil. The cooling manifold is configured to receive a fluid therethrough and to conduct heat energy from the non-conductive oil into the fluid to cool the battery cell.

Claims

1. A battery module, comprising:

a housing having a non-conductive oil disposed therein;

a battery cell having a body portion and first and second flange portions extending from first and second ends, respectively of the body portion, the battery cell being disposed in the housing and the non-conductive oil being configured to contact the battery cell to absorb heat energy from the battery cell;

first and second plastic cell holders being disposed in the housing, the first plastic cell holder having a slot configured to receive the first flange portion of the battery cell therein, the second plastic cell holder having a slot configured to receive the second flange portion of the battery cell therein; and

a cooling manifold having a housing portion with an outer wall and a plurality of inner walls, the plurality of inner walls being attached to the outer wall and defining a flow path within the housing portion, the housing portion of the cooling manifold being disposed entirely in the housing and contacting the non-conductive oil, the cooling manifold configured to receive a fluid that flows through the flow path while conducting heat energy from the non-conductive oil into the fluid to cool the battery cell,

the battery cell being disposed outside of the housing portion of the cooling manifold.

2. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive oil comprises mineral oil.

3. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a coolant.

4. The battery module of claim 3, wherein the coolant comprises at least one of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.

5. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a refrigerant.

6. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the cooling manifold defines an interior region and has an inlet port and an outlet port.

7. The battery module of claim 6, wherein the cooling manifold is constructed from at least one of aluminum, copper, silver, and gold.

8. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the housing is constructed from plastic.

15. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the first plastic cell holder is disposed between the battery cell and the cooling manifold within the housing.

9. A battery system, comprising:

a battery module having a housing, a battery cell, first and second plastic cell holders, and a cooling manifold, the housing having a non-conductive oil disposed therein;

the battery cell having a body portion and first and second flange portions extending from first and second ends, respectively of the body portion, the battery cell being disposed in the housing and the non-conductive oil being configured to contact the battery cell to absorb heat energy from the battery cell;

the first and second plastic cell holders being disposed in the housing, the first plastic cell holder having a slot configured to receive the first flange portion of the battery cell therein, the second plastic cell holder having a slot configured to receive the second flange portion of the battery cell therein;

the cooling manifold having a housing portion with an outer wall and a plurality of inner walls, the plurality of inner walls being attached to the outer wall and defining a flow path, the housing portion of the cooling manifold being disposed entirely in the housing and contacting the non-conductive oil, the cooling manifold configured to receive a refrigerant that flows through the flow path while conducting heat energy from the non-conductive oil into the refrigerant to cool the battery module, the battery cell being disposed outside of the housing portion of the cooling manifold;

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

a compressor fluidly coupled to the condenser and configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser, the compressor further fluidly coupled to the battery module, the compressor configured to pump the refrigerant from the condenser into the battery module;

a temperature sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a temperature of the non-conductive oil; 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 into the cooling manifold when the first signal indicates the temperature of the non-conductive oil is greater than a threshold temperature level.

10. The battery system of claim 9, wherein the non-conductive oil comprises mineral oil.

11. The battery system of claim 9, wherein the cooling manifold defines an interior region and has an inlet port and an outlet port.

12. The battery system of claim 11, wherein the cooling manifold is constructed from at least one of aluminum, copper, silver, and gold.

13. The battery system of claim 9, wherein the housing of the battery module is constructed from plastic.

16. The battery system of claim 9, wherein the first plastic cell holder is disposed between the battery cell and the cooling manifold within the housing.

14. A battery system, comprising:

a battery module having a housing, a battery cell, first and second plastic cell holders, and a cooling manifold, the housing having a non-conductive oil disposed therein;

the battery cell having a body portion and first and second flange portions extending from first and second ends, respectively of the body portion, the battery cell being disposed in the housing and the non-conductive oil being configured to contact the battery cell to absorb heat energy from the battery cell;

the first and second plastic cell holders being disposed in the housing, the first plastic cell holder having a slot configured to receive the first flange portion of the battery cell therein, the second plastic cell holder having a slot configured to receive the second flange portion of the battery cell therein;

the cooling manifold having a housing portion with an outer wall and a plurality of inner walls, the plurality of inner walls being attached to the outer wall and defining a flow path, the housing portion of the cooling manifold being disposed entirely in the housing and contacting the non-conductive oil, the cooling manifold configured to receive a coolant that flows through the flow path while conducting heat energy from the non-conductive oil into the coolant to cool the battery module, wherein the battery cell is disposed outside of the housing portion of the cooling manifold;

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 battery module, the pump configured to pump the coolant from the reservoir into the battery module.

17. The battery system of claim 14, wherein the first plastic cell holder is disposed between the battery cell and the cooling manifold within the housing.