Battery system having an external thermal management system
AssigneeJohnson Controls Technology Company
InventorsKem M. Obasih, Robert J. Mack, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Jason D. Fuhr, Richard M. DeKeuster
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Battery systems and modules having external thermal management systems are provided. In one embodiment, a battery module includes a housing and at least one electrochemical cell disposed within the housing. The battery module also includes a thermal interface having a first side in contact with the at least one electrochemical cell. The battery module also includes a heat sink in contact with a second side of the thermal interface. The thermal interface is adapted to enable heat transfer from the at least one electrochemical cell to the heat sink.
Claims21
A vehicle battery system, comprising:
- an enclosure having a heat transfer side wall;
- a first battery module disposed within the enclosure and comprising a first group of electrochemical cells disposed between a first pair of brackets of the first battery module;
- a second battery module disposed within the enclosure and comprising a second group of electrochemical cells disposed between a second pair of brackets of the second battery module;
- a thermal interface layer disposed between the heat transfer side wall and the first and second groups of electrochemical cells, wherein the thermal interface layer contacts the first group of electrochemical cells, the second group of electrochemical cells, and an inside surface of the heat transfer side wall;
- at least one heat sink coupled to an outside surface of the heat transfer side wall opposite to the inside surface of the heat transfer side wall;
- and
- a clamping system having a clamping bar configured to engage at least one bracket of the first pair of brackets and at least one bracket of the second pair of brackets to urge the first group of electrochemical cells of the first battery module and the second group of electrochemical cells of the second battery module toward the inside surface of the heat transfer side wall, such that the thermal interface is compressed between the inside surface and the first and second groups of electrochemical cells.
A vehicle battery system, comprising:
- a battery system housing having a side wall;
- a plurality of battery modules disposed within the battery system housing such that electrochemical cells of the plurality of battery modules are exposed to and physically contact a thermal interface layer proximate an inner surface of the side wall;
- a plurality of heat sinks coupled to an outer surface of the side wall opposite to the inner surface of the side wall;
- and
- a clamping system configured to urge the electrochemical cells of the plurality of battery modules toward the inner surface of the side wall.
A vehicle battery system, comprising:
- an enclosure having a side wall;
- a first battery module disposed within the enclosure and comprising a first plurality of electrochemical cells;
- a second battery module disposed within the enclosure and comprising a second plurality of electrochemical cells;
- a thermal interface layer disposed between, and in contact with, an inside surface of the side wall and base ends of the first and second plurality of electrochemical cells;
- a first heat sink coupled to an outside surface of the side wall opposite to the inside surface of the side wall, wherein the first heat sink is aligned with the first plurality of electrochemical cells of the first battery module;
- a second heat sink coupled to the outside surface of the side wall, wherein the second heat sink is aligned with the second plurality of electrochemical cells of the second battery module;
- and
- a clamping system having a clamping bar disposed between the first plurality of electrochemical cells of the first battery module and the second plurality of electrochemical cells of the second battery module, wherein the clamping bar is configured to engage the first and second battery modules to urge the first plurality of electrochemical cells of the first battery module and the second plurality of electrochemical cells of the second battery module toward the inside surface of the side wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.