Cold plates for liquid cooling systems, methods for use thereof, and vehicles including the same

A cold plate, comprising:

• a first substrate and a second substrate welded together with weld lines, wherein portions of at least the second substrate between the weld lines are deformed to be raised relative to the first substrate and thereby form a network of channels between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the cold plate is configured to be installed in thermal contact with an apparatus that produces heat during operation thereof, wherein the apparatus includes a housing and the cold plate is configured to be welded to a portion of the housing or define a portion of the housing, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are formed of steel;
• an inlet configured to provide access to the network of channels, receive a coolant from a liquid cooling system, and direct the coolant to the network of channels to remove the heat from the apparatus;
• and
• an outlet configured to provide access to the network of channels, receive the coolant from the network of channels, and direct the coolant to the liquid cooling system.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) having at least one battery and a housing enclosing the at least one battery;
• a liquid cooling system having a coolant circuit, a pump configured to propel a coolant through the coolant circuit, and a heat exchanger for removing heat from the coolant;
• and
• a cold plate in thermal contact with the RESS and fluidically coupled with the coolant circuit, wherein the cold plate includes:
• a first substrate and a second substrate welded together with weld lines, wherein portions of at least the second substrate between the weld lines are deformed to be raised relative to the first substrate and thereby form a network of channels between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the cold plate is configured to be welded to a portion of the housing or define a portion of the housing of the RESS, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are formed of steel;
• an inlet configured to provide access to the network of channels, receive the coolant from the liquid cooling system, and direct the coolant to the network of channels to remove heat from the at least one battery during operation of the RESS;
• and
• an outlet configured to provide access to the network of channels, receive the coolant from the network of channels, and direct the coolant to the liquid cooling system.