Electric battery thermal-management structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11984573-B2
Application number	US-202017431416-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2020
Priority date	Feb 14, 2019
Publication date	May 14, 2024
Grant date	May 14, 2024

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a plurality of cells (10) of an electric vehicle battery (1) between which a first passage (17) may receive fluid via a first supply (27). On another side (11b) of the cells, a second passage (19) may receive fluid via a second supply (29). Around the cells, a peripheral passage (21) may also receive fluid via another supply (25). The second passage (19) and/or the peripheral passage (21) is interposed between a thermal insulator (33) and two successive cells. Flow control means (47) provide a thermal exchange fluid flow through at least one of the first, second and additional fluid supplies during a first time period and through at least two of the first, second and additional fluid supplies during a second time period.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising:
a plurality of cells ( 10 ) or of groups ( 100 ) of cells of an electric vehicle battery ( 1 ), of which at least:
a first cell and a second cell separated from each other by a gap ( 15 ), or
a first group of cells and a second group of cells separated from each other by a gap ( 115 ),

at least two of:
at least one first fluid passage ( 17 , 117 ) passing in said space ( 15 , 115 ), and located between two opposing first sides ( 11 a , 13 ; 111 a , 113 a ) which face each other:
on the first cell and of the second cell ( 11 , 13 ) respectively, or
on the first and second groups ( 111 , 113 ) of cells respectively, the first passage ( 17 , 117 ) being connected to a first supply ( 27 ) of fluid to be circulated in thermal exchange with the first and second cells or the first and second groups of cells,

at least one second fluid passage ( 19 , 119 ) located on second sides ( 11 b , 111 b , 113 b ):
of the first cell and of the second cell respectively, or
of the first and second groups of cells respectively, and,

at least one peripheral passage ( 21 ) of fluid located around the cells ( 10 ) or groups ( 100 ) of cells, in thermal exchange with them, on sides ( 643 ) thereof other than said first sides ( 11 a , 13 ; 111 a , 113 a ) of the cells or groups of cells, respectively, said peripheral fluid passage ( 21 ) being connected to an additional supply ( 25 ) of fluid to be circulated in thermal exchange with said cells or groups of cells, and

a thermal insulator ( 33 ) located such that said second fluid passage ( 19 , 119 ) and/or the peripheral fluid passage ( 21 ) is interposed between the thermal insulator ( 33 ) and:
at least the first and second cells, or
at least the first and second groups ( 640 ′) of cells,

the second fluid passage ( 19 , 119 ) being connected to a second supply ( 29 ) of fluid to be circulated in thermal exchange with the first and second cells or with the first and second groups of cells.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 , which further comprises fluid flow control means ( 35 , 41 , 45 , 47 , 79 , 81 , 83 , 97 ) operative to ensure the circulation of fluid in said thermal exchange:
via at least one of the first, second and further fluid supplies, during a first period of time, and
via at least two of the first, second and further fluid supplies, during a second period of time.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 , which further comprises fluid flow control means ( 35 , 41 , 45 , 47 , 79 , 81 , 83 , 97 ) operative to provide a circulation of fluid in said thermal exchange and comprising:
valves ( 47 ) on the first, second and/or other fluid supplies ( 25 , 27 , 29 ), and
means ( 45 , 79 , 81 , 83 , 97 ) for controlling the valves acting as a function of temperature data of said cells ( 10 ) or groups ( 100 ) of cells and/or data relating to the charge or discharge of the battery.

4. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
between two opposite said first sides ( 11 a , 13 ; 111 a , 113 a ) facing each other, or
on said second sides ( 11 b , 111 b , 113 b ), or
on said sides ( 100 d , 111 d ) other than the first sides of the cells or groups of cells, respectively, there are arranged a plurality of first fluid passages ( 17 , 117 ) or a plurality of second fluid passages ( 19 , 119 ) or a plurality of circumferential fluid passages ( 21 ), respectively, separated from each other, so that different fluids can flow through it without mixing with each other.

5. The assembly according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of said plurality of first fluid passages ( 17 , 117 ), or a plurality of second fluid passages ( 19 , 119 ), or a plurality of peripheral fluid passages ( 21 ) is arranged in contact with a phase-change material ( 60 ) with which it is in thermal exchange when fluid is flowing.

6. The assembly according to claim 1 , which further comprises a device ( 43 ) for supplying calories or frigories with which at least one of said fluids is placed in thermal exchange, upstream of the thermal exchange with the cells ( 10 ) or groups ( 100 ) of cells, so as to adapt the temperature of said fluid.

7. An assembly comprising:
a plurality of cells or of groups of cells of an electric vehicle battery ( 1 ), of which at least:
a first cell and a second cell separated from each other by a gap ( 15 ), or
a first group and a second group of cells separated from each other by a gap ( 115 ),

at least one structure ( 61 ) containing a phase change material ( 65 ), the structure being arranged between two opposite first sides ( 111 a , 113 a ) which face each other:
on the first cell and of the second cell respectively, or
on the first group and second group of cells respectively,

or at least one additional structure ( 61 ) containing a phase-change material ( 65 ) arranged around the cells ( 10 ) or groups ( 100 ) of cells, and
at least two of:
a first fluid passage ( 17 , 117 ) passing in said space ( 15 , 115 ), the first fluid passage being connected to a first fluid supply ( 27 ),
a second fluid passage ( 19 , 119 ) located on second sides ( 11 b ; 111 b , 113 b ):
of the first cell and of the second cell ( 11 , 13 ) respectively, or
of the first and second groups ( 111 , 113 ) of cells respectively, and

a peripheral fluid passage ( 21 ) in said additional structure ( 61 ), said peripheral fluid passage being connected to an additional supply ( 25 ), on sides ( 100 d , 111 d ) other than said first sides of the cells or groups of cells respectively, and

a thermal insulator ( 33 ) located such that said second fluid passage ( 19 , 119 ) or peripheral fluid passage ( 21 ) is interposed between the thermal insulator ( 33 ) and:
at least the first and second cells, or
at least the first and second groups of cells,

the second fluid passage being connected to a second supply ( 29 ) of fluid to be circulated in thermal exchange with the first and second cells or the first and second groups of cells, and in said space ( 15 ), the fluid being to be circulated in thermal exchange with the phase change material ( 65 ) of said structure ( 61 ), and/or
in said peripheral fluid passage ( 21 ), the fluid being to be circulated in thermal exchange with the phase change material of said additional structure.

8. The assembly according to claim 7 , which further comprises a device ( 43 ) for supplying calories or frigories placed in heat exchange with at least one of said fluids, upstream of the thermal exchange with the cells ( 10 ) or groups ( 100 ) of cells, so as to adapt the temperature of said fluid in accordance with the desired state of the phase-change material ( 65 ).

9. The assembly according to claim 7 , wherein said peripheral fluid passage ( 21 ) communicates with:
the first fluid passage ( 17 , 117 ), and/or
the second fluid passage ( 19 , 119 ), so that fluid to be circulated therein is at least partly common.

10. The assembly according to claim 7 which comprises, for the thermal management of the battery ( 1 ), a plurality of thermal control circuits including:
a first circuit which comprises said at least one first fluid passage ( 17 , 117 ) and which passes between two adjacent cells,
a second circuit comprising said peripheral fluid passage ( 21 ) and passing around a stack of cells, and
a third circuit which comprises said second fluid passage ( 19 , 119 ) and which passes:
along a face of the cell(s) other than the one along which the first circuit ( 17 , 117 ) passes,
or possibly also along a face of the cell(s) other than that along which the second circuit ( 21 ) passes.

Assignees

• Hutchinson

Inventors

• Chopard Fabrice
• Blanchard Clément

Classifications

• H01M10/6557 Primary

  arranged between the cells · CPC title

• B60L50/64

  Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60L58/12

  responding to state of charge [SoC] · CPC title

• B60L58/26

  by cooling · CPC title

• B60L58/27

  by heating · CPC title