Method and apparatus for amplitude limiting battery temperature spikes
AssigneeQuallion LLC
InventorsHisashi Tsukamoto, David M. Skinlo, Clay Kishiyama
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for containing heat generated by a battery to reduce the amplitude of a temperature excursion to enhance safety in temperature critical applications, such as in implantable medical devices. The apparatus employs a heat absorber closely thermally coupled to the battery. The heat absorber includes heat absorbing material preferably exhibiting an endothermic phase change at a temperature T1 below that produced by the battery.
Claims49
An apparatus comprising:
- an energy storage device capable of producing a temperature greater than a temperature T1;
- and
- a heat absorber closely thermally coupled to said storage device, said heat absorber comprising:
- a quantity of high heat capacity material exhibiting a phase change at said temperature T1;
- and
- a fibrous containment mat embedded in the high heat capacity material.
A device comprising:
- a housing comprising a wall defining an interior housing volume;
- a battery comprising a case having a wall enclosing an interior case volume, said battery capable of producing a temperature greater than a temperature T1;
- said battery mounted in said housing with said case wall spaced from said housing wall;
- and
- a heat absorber mounted adjacent to and closely thermally coupled to said case wall, said heat absorber comprising a high heat capacity material exhibiting a phase change at said temperature T1.
A method of limiting temperature excursions of a battery having an electrode assembly within a battery case, said method comprising:
- providing a mat of fibrous material;
- depositing a quantity of a melted high heat capacity material into said mat;
- allowing said high heat capacity material to solidify to form a mass including said fibrous material embedded therein;
- and
- thermally coupling said mass to said battery case.
In a storage device comprising a case enclosing an interior volume and including an electrode assembly comprising materials forming positive and negative electrode layers separated by a separator in said interior volume, the improvement comprising:
- a heat absorbing layer interposed between the electrode and separator layers, said heat absorbing layer having a high heat capacity relative to the other materials in said interior volume, said heat absorbing layer comprising at least one material that exhibits a phase change at a temperature lower than that of the electrode and separator layers.
A lithium ion battery including:
- a case comprising a wall enclosing an interior volume;
- an electrode assembly in said interior volume including materials comprising an electrolyte, a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator separating said positive and negative electrodes;
- and
- a heat absorber for limiting temperature increases in the battery, wherein said heat absorber is:
- characterized by a heat capacity at least as great as the materials of said electrode assembly;
- mounted in said interior volume;
- and
- inert with respect to the materials of said electrode assembly.
An implantable medical device comprising:
- a housing comprising a housing wall of biocompatible material defining an interior volume;
- a battery comprising a case having a case wall, said battery mounted within said interior volume;
- and
- heat absorbing means for reducing the amplitude of a temperature excursion of the implantable medical device to prevent significant damage to body tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.