Battery pack with optimized mechanical, electrical, and thermal management
OwnerKarl Johnson, Paul Durkeeinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a multi-cell battery pack system with integrated thermal and electrical management that includes a plurality of cells, a plurality of cradles that each define a channel that extends through the length of the cradle and having an external surface that mechanically positions each of the cells radially around and parallel to the channel, that exchanges heat with the cells and that electrically couples with each of the cells, and an endplate that, when the cradle is mechanically coupled to the endplate, the channel of the cradle is connected to a fluid circuit that routes thermally conductive fluid through the channel to exchange heat with the channel and the cells are connected to an electrical circuit.
Claims34
A multi-cell battery pack system with integrated thermal and electrical management, comprising:
- a plurality of cells;
- a plurality of cradles, each defining a channel that extends through the length of the cradle and having an external surface that mechanically positions each of the cells radially around and parallel to the channel, that exchanges heat with the cells and that electrically couples with each of the cells;
- and
- an endplate that mechanically couples to each cradle;
- wherein the mechanical coupling of the cradle with the endplate connects the channel of the cradle to a fluid circuit that routes thermally conductive fluid through the channel to exchange heat with the channel and connects the cells to an electrical circuit.
A method for thermally, electrically, and mechanically managing a battery pack system comprising the steps of:
- providing an electrically conductive and thermally conductive cradle defining a channel;
- mechanically coupling a plurality of cells radially around the channel of the cradle;
- allowing the power source to exchange heat and conduct electricity through the mechanical coupling to the cradle;
- providing an endplate;
- routing a circuit of thermally conductive fluid to the endplate;
- routing an electrical circuit to the endplate;
- mechanically coupling the cradle to an endplate, wherein mechanically coupling the cradle to the endplate connects the channel to the fluid circuit and connects the cells to the electrical circuit.
A method for thermally managing a battery pack system comprising the steps of:
- electrically coupling a plurality of power sources into a series configuration;
- thermally coupling each cell to a channel that exchanges heat with the power source;
- routing a first stream of fluid through a portion of the channels in the battery pack system to exchange heat with the channels, wherein the voltage potential difference from the beginning to end of the first fluid stream is less than the total voltage potential difference of the series configuration;
- and
- routing a second stream of fluid through another portion of channels in the battery pack system to exchange heat with the channels, wherein the voltage potential difference from the beginning to end of the second fluid stream is less than the total voltage potential difference of the series configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.