Battery module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11171383-B1
Application number	US-201816150798-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 3, 2018
Priority date	Jul 30, 2014
Publication date	Nov 9, 2021
Grant date	Nov 9, 2021

Abstract

A battery module includes a housing that defines an inner volume and includes an airflow path from an aperture formed in a first end member of the housing, through the inner volume, to an aperture formed in a second end member of the housing; power cells mounted in the inner volume of the housing, where each of the power cells includes a vent member; and a barrier that at least partially interrupts a fluid pathway that extends between the vent members and at least one of the aperture formed in the first end member or the aperture formed in the second end member of the housing. The power cells are directionally mounted in the volume such that the vent members face an offset direction relative to at least one of the aperture formed in the first end member or the aperture formed in the second end member of the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A data center battery module, comprising:
a housing that defines an inner volume and comprises an airflow path that extends from an inlet formed in a first end member of the housing, through the inner volume, and to an outlet formed in a second end member of the housing;
a plurality of power cells mounted in the inner volume of the housing, each of the power cells comprising a body and a vent member at an end of the body of the power cell, the bodies of the plurality of power cells directionally mounted within the airflow path of the inner volume such that the vent members face an offset direction relative to at least one of the inlet formed in the first end member or the outlet formed in the second end member of the housing, each vent member configured to vent a liquid electrolyte contained within the respective power cell based on a power cell failure; and
an air chamber formed and enclosed in the housing and fluidly decoupled from the airflow path, the air chamber oriented parallel to the airflow path and defined between the first and second end members of the housing such that at least one of the vent members is positioned within the air chamber and in fluid communication with the air chamber to receive the liquid electrolyte vented from the respective power cell, the air chamber comprising an airflow inlet formed in the housing at a first location and an airflow outlet formed in the housing at a second location to fluidly couple the air chamber to an ambient environment.

2. The data center battery module of claim 1 , wherein the air chamber comprises a first air chamber, the battery module further comprising a second air chamber formed and enclosed in the housing and fluidly decoupled from the airflow path and the first air chamber, the second air chamber oriented parallel to the airflow path and defined between the first and second end members of the housing such that at least one of the vent members is positioned within the air chamber and in fluid communication with the second air chamber to receive the liquid electrolyte vented from the respective power cell, the second air chamber comprising an airflow inlet formed in the housing at a third location and an airflow outlet formed in the housing at a fourth location to fluidly couple the second air chamber to the ambient environment.

3. The data center battery module of claim 2 , wherein the first and second air chambers are positioned on opposed sides of the housing, and the first and second locations are on a first side of the housing adjacent the first air chamber, and the third and fourth locations are on a second side of the housing opposite the first side of the housing and adjacent the second air chamber.

4. The data center battery module of claim 1 , wherein the airflow inlet of the air chamber and the airflow outlet of the air chamber are fluidly decoupled from the airflow path by one or more walls mounted in the inner volume, the air chamber defined at least in part by the one or more walls and the housing.

5. The data center battery module of claim 1 , wherein the airflow path comprises a first airflow path, the battery module further comprising a second airflow path that extends from the aperture formed in the first end member, through the air chamber, and to the aperture formed in the second end member.

6. The data center battery module of claim 5 , wherein the first and second airflow pathways are fluidly decoupled in at least a portion of the inner volume.

7. The data center battery module of claim 1 , further comprising an air gap of between 2-3 mm between adjacent power cells.

8. The data center battery module of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid absorbent material mounted in at least a portion of the inner volume.

9. The data center battery module of claim 8 , wherein the fluid absorbent material is configured to absorb a liquid electrolyte discharged from one or more vent members.

10. The data center battery module of claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the fluid absorbent material is mounted in the air chamber.

11. The data center battery module of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electrical connection electrically coupled to the plurality of power cells and exposed to an exterior of the housing; and
a power cell management system mounted in the housing.

12. The data center battery module of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of power cells comprise a plurality of lithium-ion batteries.

13. The data center battery module of claim 12 , wherein each of the lithium-ion batteries comprises a form factor 18650 lithium-ion battery.

14. The data center battery module of claim 1 , wherein the offset direction is orthogonal relative to the airflow path.

15. The data center battery module of claim 1 , further comprising a fan mounted in the aperture formed in the first end member.

16. The data center battery module of claim 1 , further comprising an air gap between an inner surface of the housing and each of the plurality of power cells.

17. The data center battery module of claim 16 , further comprising a thermal insulation material mounted in at least a portion of the air gap.

18. The data center battery module of claim 16 , further comprising a frame mounted in the inner volume, the frame configured to support each of the plurality of power cells and define at least a portion of the air gap.

19. The data center battery module of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of power cells comprises a substantially cylindrical shape defined by a diameter of a body of the power cell and a length of the body, and each of the power cells is mounted in the inner such that an axis that the length of each body is orthogonal to the airflow path.

20. The data center battery module of claim 1 , further comprising a barrier that at least partially interrupts a fluid pathway that extends between the vent members and at least one of the aperture formed in the first end member or the aperture formed in the second end member of the housing.

21. The data center battery module of claim 20 , wherein the barrier comprises a baffle mounted in the inner volume near one of the first or second end members of the housing, the baffle comprising one or more gaps through which the fluid pathway extends.

22. The data center battery module of claim 2 , wherein the vent members of a first portion of the plurality of power cells are oriented in a first direction orthogonal to the airflow path, and the vent members of a second portion of the plurality of power cells are oriented in a second direction orthogonal to the airflow path and opposite of the first direction.

23. The data center battery module of claim 1 , further comprising at least one directional pressure valve mounted at or near at least one of the airflow inlet or the airflow outlet of the air chamber.

24. The data center battery module of claim 23 , wherein the at least one directional pressure valve is configured to open based on at least one of a predetermined pressure or a predetermined temperature of the air chamber.

25. The data center battery module of claim 4 , wherein the at least one vent member positioned within the air chamber is on one side of the one or more walls, and the body of the power cell coupled to the at least one vent member is on another side of the one or more walls.

26. The data center battery module of claim 1 , wherein the air chamber is decoupled from the a

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Blanco Richard Lidio
• Gow Philippe H

Classifications

• H01M10/658

  by thermal insulation or shielding · CPC title

• H01M10/486

  for measuring temperature · CPC title

• H01M50/213

  adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic (H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M50/392

  with means for neutralising or absorbing electrolyte; with means for preventing leakage of electrolyte through vent holes · CPC title

• H01M10/6563 Primary

  with forced flow, e.g. by blowers · CPC title