# US 8,785,024 B2 · Combination of heat pipe and louvered fins for air-cooling of Li-Ion battery cell and pack > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,785,024 B2 - Document ID: US8785024B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/914,062 - Filed: 2010-10-28 - Published: 2011-08-25 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-23 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: Taeyoung Han; Kuo-Huey Chen; Bahram Khalighi - Inventors: Taeyoung Han; Kuo-Huey Chen; Bahram Khalighi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8785024B2 ## CPC - F28D 15/0233: {the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular (F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence)} - F28D 15/0275: {Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores} - F28D 15/04: with tubes having a capillary structure - F28F 1/128: {Fins with openings, e.g. louvered fins} - H01M 10/613: Cooling or keeping cold - H01M 10/6551: Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings - H01M 10/6552: Closed pipes transferring heat by thermal conductivity or phase transition, e.g. heat pipes - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A heat pipe is described. The heat pipe includes a heat pipe body containing a working fluid; and a louvered cooling fin adjacent to one end of the heat pipe body, the louvered cooling fin extending outward from a surface of the heat pipe body. Air-cooled battery packs containing the heat pipe are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 At least two heat pipes wherein each of said heat pipes further comprises: a heat pipe body containing a working fluid; and at least two louvered cooling fins, wherein each of said fins further comprises a set of slanted louvers, adjacent to one end of the heat pipe body, each of the louvered cooling fins extending outward from a surface of the heat pipe body; and wherein said at least two louvered cooling fins of a first heat pipe are intermeshed with the at least two louvered cooling fins of a second heat pipe so that the fins are parallel to each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heat pipes of claim 1 wherein the heat pipe bodies are flat. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The heat pipes of claim 1 wherein at least one louvered cooling fin extends from a front surface of each heat pipe body and at least one louvered cooling fin extends from a back surface of each heat pipe body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The heat pipes of claim 1 wherein the louvered cooling fins are perpendicular to the heat pipe bodies. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The heat pipes of claim 1 wherein the louvered cooling fins are made of aluminum or copper. ### Claim 6 An air-cooled battery pack comprising: at least two battery cells; and at least two heat pipes positioned between the at least two battery cells, each heat pipe comprising: a heat pipe body containing a working fluid; and at least two louvered cooling fins, wherein each of said fins further comprises a set of slanted louvers, adjacent to one end of the heat pipe body, each of the louvered cooling fins extending outward from a surface of the heat pipe body, a portion of each heat pipe body containing the louvered cooling fins defining a condenser section; whereby air flowing across the louvered cooling fins cools the battery pack; wherein there are at least two cooling fins on facing surfaces of adjacent heat pipes and wherein the at least two louvered cooling fins of one heat pipe are intermeshed with the at least two louvered cooling fins of the adjacent heat pipe so that the fins are parallel to each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The battery pack of claim 6 wherein the heat pipe bodies are flat. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The battery pack of claim 6 wherein at least one louvered cooling fin extends from a front surface of each heat pipe body and at least one louvered cooling fin extends from a back surface of each heat pipe body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The battery pack of claim 6 wherein each louvered cooling fin is perpendicular to the heat pipe body it extends from. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The battery pack of claim 6 wherein a temperature variation in the battery pack is less than about 5° C. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The battery pack of claim 6 wherein there are heat pipes between every battery cell. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The battery pack of claim 6 wherein a width of each louvered cooling fin is less than a thickness of the battery cell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The battery pack of claim 6 wherein there are heat pipes between every other battery cell. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The battery pack of claim 13 wherein a width of each louvered fin is less than twice a thickness of the battery cell. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The battery pack of claim 6 wherein a length of the condenser section is less than about 30% of a length of the battery cell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The battery pack of claim 6 wherein each louvered cooling fin is made of aluminum or copper. ### Claim 17 A battery pack comprising: at least two battery cells; and at least two adjacent heat pipes positioned between the at least two battery cells wherein each heat pipe contains a working fluid; and at least two louvered cooling fins, wherein each of said louvered cooling fins further comprises a set of slanted louvers, adjacent to one end of the heat pipe body, each of the louvered cooling fins extending outward from a surface of the heat pipe body; wherein the at least two louvered cooling fins of one heat pipe are intermeshed with the at least two louvered cooling fins of the adjacent heat pipe so that the fins are parallel to each other.