Fluid cooled battery thermal management system and method

A battery thermal management system, comprising:

• a battery pack, the battery pack including;
• an enclosure, the enclosure separated into first, second, third and fourth sections, the first section being adjacent to each of the second and third sections and diagonally opposite the fourth section, and the third section being adjacent to each of the first and fourth sections and diagonally opposite the second section;
• an intake port attached to the first section of the enclosure, the intake port coupled to a source of cooling fluid;
• a first exhaust port attached to the third section of the enclosure and a second exhaust port coupled to the fourth section of the enclosure;
• a first control valve coupled to the first exhaust port and operable to control a first flow of fluid exhausted from the first exhaust port, and second control valve coupled to the second exhaust port and operable to control a second flow of fluid exhausted from the second exhaust port, the first and second control valves operable to move between open and closed to adjust a flow path of the cooling fluid through the enclosure;
• a first set of battery cells located within the enclosure in the first and third sections, the first set of battery cells separated by one or more first fluid passageways;
• a second set of battery cells located in the second and fourth sections, the second set of battery cells separated by one or more second fluid passageways;
• and
• one or more first temperature sensors located proximate the first set of battery cells for sensing a first temperature in the first or third sections, and one or more second temperature sensors located proximate the second set of battery cells for sensing a second temperature in the second or fourth sections;
• and
• a controller system configured to independently control the first control valve and the second control valve based on a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature.

An electric vehicle, comprising:

• a chassis;
• wheels coupled to the chassis;
• an electric motor coupled to the chassis;
• and
• a battery thermal management system electrically coupled to the electric motor, the battery thermal management system including:
• a battery pack, the battery pack including;
• an enclosure, the enclosure separated into first, second, third and fourth sections, the first section being adjacent to each of the second and third sections and diagonally opposite the fourth section, and the third section being adjacent to each of the first and fourth sections and diagonally opposite the second section;
• an intake port attached to the first section of the enclosure, the intake port coupleable to a source of cooling fluid;
• a first exhaust port attached to the third section of the enclosure and a second exhaust port coupled to the fourth section of the enclosure;
• a first control valve coupled to the first exhaust port and operable to control a first flow of fluid exhausted from the first exhaust port, and second control valve coupled to the second exhaust port and operable to control a second flow of fluid exhausted from the second exhaust port, the first and second control valves openable to move between open and closed to adjust a flow path of the cooling fluid through the enclosure;
• a first set of battery cells located in the first and third sections, the first set of battery cells separated by one or more first fluid passageways;
• a second set of battery cells located in the second and fourth sections, the second set of battery cells separated by one or more second fluid passageways;
• and
• one or more first temperature sensors located proximate the first set of battery cells for sensing a first temperature in the first or third sections, and one or more second temperature sensors located proximate the second set of battery cells for sensing a second temperature in the second or fourth sections;
• and
• a controller system configured to independently control the first control valve and the second control valve based on a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature.