Method and apparatus for transferring heat generated by a battery

A method of transferring heat generated in a battery, wherein the battery comprises at least one thermally-conductive battery cell terminal, a heat pipe disposed in thermal contact with the terminal and a heat sink, the pipe being electrically insulated from the terminal and heat sink, and partially filled with a circulating heat transfer fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) operating the battery to generate heat in the battery;
• (b) passing the generated heat through the terminal, the generated heat vaporizing a portion of the circulating fluid;
• and,
• (c) allowing the vaporized fluid to flow along the pipe to a portion of the pipe in thermal contact with the heat sink, where the vaporized fluid condenses.

An apparatus for transferring heat generated in a battery, the battery comprising

• a battery cell,
• an outer casing around the battery cell, and
• at least one battery terminal extending through a wall of the outer casing, the battery terminal having an interior end within the outer casing and an exterior end outside the outer casing, the interior end of the battery terminal being in communication with the battery cell,
• wherein the apparatus for transferring heat generated in the battery comprises:
• a heat sink;
• and
• a thermal conductor disposed entirely exterior to the outer casing of the battery, the thermal conductor having
• a first end in thermal communication with the exterior end of the battery terminal but electrically insulated from the exterior end of the battery terminal, and
• a second end in thermal communication with the heat sink, wherein the thermal conductor comprises a heat pipe partially filled with a heat transfer fluid, and wherein heat introduced into the thermal conductor at its first end from the battery terminal vaporizes a portion of the fluid, and the heat sink in thermal communication with second end of the thermal conductor condenses the vaporized fluid.