Thermal management system and method for a solid-state energy storing device

An electrochemical energy storing device, comprising:

• an enclosure including a thermally conductive first wall and a second wall;
• an electrically resistive material disposed on or adjacent to the first wall;
• a plurality of thin-film electrochemical cells maintained in a state of compression and disposed between the first and second walls;
• a plurality of thermal conductors, each of the plurality of thermal conductors attached to one of the plurality of electrochemical cells, the thermal conductors defining a current flux path for conducting current to and from the electrochemical cells, and defining a thermal flux path for conducting thermal energy between the electrochemical cells and the first wall of the enclosure;
• a cover of the enclosure defining first and second holes through which positive and negative conduits respectively pass;
• and
• a hermetic seal respectively disposed between the positive and negative conduits and respective perimeters of the first and second holes in the cover.

A method of transferring thermal energy and electrical current into and out of thin-film electrochemical cells encased in a housing, comprising:

• conducting current over a current flux path defined between the electrochemical cells and a contact external to the electrochemical cells;
• conducting thermal energy, using a portion of the current flux path and a thermal flux path substantially separate from the current flux path, between the electrochemical cells and thermally conductive material disposed adjacent the thermal conductors;
• maintaining mechanical contact between the thermal conductors and the thermally conductive material in the presence of relative movement between the electrochemical cells and the thermally conductive material;
• and
• maintaining the electrochemical cells in a state of compression.