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US 9,040,184 B2Granted
Battery pack dehumidifier with active reactivation system
AssigneeTesla Motors, Inc.
InventorsDavid Gordon Duff, Jeffrey C. Weintraub, Gregory Arcenio
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Abstract
A battery pack dehumidifier system for controlling the relative humidity within a battery pack enclosure is provided, the dehumidifier system including a desiccant that absorbs/adsorbs water vapor from the battery pack enclosure. The system heats and reactivates the desiccant at predetermined time intervals or when the humidity within the system reaches a preset level, thereby allowing the desiccant to regain its potential for absorbing/adsorbing water vapor.
Claims24
A battery pack dehumidifier system, comprising:
- a battery pack, comprising a battery pack enclosure configured to hold a plurality of batteries;
- and
- a dehumidifier assembly, comprising:
- a desiccant enclosure;
- a desiccant contained within said desiccant enclosure;
- a first air passageway coupling said desiccant enclosure to said battery pack enclosure, wherein said first air passageway allows water vapor to pass from said battery pack enclosure and into said desiccant enclosure where said water vapor is absorbed and adsorbed by said desiccant;
- a controller configured to estimate when said desiccant loses absorption/adsorption efficacy, wherein said processor is further configured to output a first control signal when said desiccant loses absorption/adsorption efficacy;
- a heater assembly, wherein said heater assembly is configured to heat and reactivate said desiccant within said desiccant enclosure upon receipt of said first control signal, wherein during heating and reactivation of said desiccant moisture is released from said desiccant;
- and
- a second air passageway coupling said desiccant enclosure to a volume of air outside of said battery pack enclosure, wherein said moisture released during desiccant heating and reactivation passes through said second air passageway;
- wherein said heater assembly further comprises a heating element positioned within a heating chamber of said desiccant enclosure, wherein said heating chamber is separate from a desiccant chamber within said desiccant enclosure, wherein said desiccant is contained within said desiccant chamber;
- and
- wherein said heater assembly further comprises a plurality of thermally conductive structures that are positioned within said desiccant and throughout said desiccant chamber, wherein said plurality of thermally conductive structures are heated by said heating element during heating and reactivation of said desiccant, and wherein said plurality of thermally conductive structures transfer heat from said heating element to said desiccant.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.