Modular battery system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12322776-B2
Application number	US-202117544784-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2021
Priority date	Sep 16, 2021
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

An energy storage assembly includes a vertical stack of substantially planar modules. Each module comprises a plurality of energy storage components and a thermally conductive shell comprising a shell top, a shell bottom, shell sides, a shell front, and a shell rear.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An energy storage assembly, comprising:
a vertical stack of substantially planar modules, each module comprising:
a plurality of energy storage components; and
a thermally conductive shell comprising a shell top, a shell bottom, shell sides, a shell front, and a shell rear,
wherein a thermal management solution comprising a thermally absorptive material is located between two vertically adjacent modules; and

a forced air system that causes air to flow along at least one of the shell's sides such that heat is transferred from the energy storage components to a heat sink during normal operation of the energy storage assembly,
wherein the forced air system comprises a fan,
wherein the fan is located between the heat sink and the plurality of energy storage components,
wherein the heat sink is located between a DC-DC power converter and the fan, wherein:
the fan causes the air to flow along the at least one of the shell sides, wherein the air is split around the plurality of energy storage components into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the air goes along a first side of the plurality of energy storage components, wherein the second portion of the air goes along a second side of the plurality of energy storage components, wherein the first side is different from the second side, and wherein after passing the plurality of energy storage components, the first and second portions of air both flow into a duct and merge when going through the fan;
in the event that an ambient temperature is greater than or equal to a high ambient temperature threshold, setting the fan in a forward fan direction to cool the energy storage assembly, the forward fan direction relating to drawing ambient air from outside of the plurality of energy storage components across the plurality of energy storage components to absorb heat from the plurality of energy storage components;
in the event that the ambient temperature is less than or equal to a low ambient temperature threshold, setting the fan in a reverse fan direction to warm the energy storage assembly, the reverse fan direction relating to driving air from the DC-DC power converter passing over the plurality of energy storage components to the outside to cool to heat the plurality of energy storage components; and
in the event that a cell thermal gradient is greater than or equal to a cell thermal gradient threshold, setting the fan in an oscillating direction to increase cell temperature uniformity of the plurality of energy storage components.

2. The energy storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of energy storage components comprises an inner set of battery pouches.

3. The energy storage assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a top insulating layer above the plurality of energy storage components.

4. The energy storage assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bottom insulating layer below the plurality of energy storage components.

5. The energy storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive shell is sealed.

6. The energy storage of claim 1 , further comprising a rear region inside the shell in communication with a rear blow-out valve.

7. The energy storage assembly of claim 6 , wherein the rear blow-out valve is in communication with a common exhaust diffuser.

8. The energy storage assembly of claim 7 , wherein the rear blow-out valve is in communication with the common exhaust diffuser via a sealed passageway.

9. The energy storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shell top comprises a geometry for locating the thermal management solution.

10. The energy storage assembly of claim 9 , wherein the shell top includes an indentation for locating the thermal management solution.

11. The energy storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the thermally absorptive material comprises one of a phase change material or a vaporizing liquid.

12. The energy storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage assembly is surrounded by a vented shield.

13. The energy storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the modules are in communication with the ambient air.

14. The energy storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein each module further comprises a divider.

15. The energy storage assembly of claim 14 , wherein the divider partitions a module into two sub-modules.

16. The energy storage assembly of claim 14 , wherein the divider comprises an interior wall.

17. The energy storage assembly of claim 1 , further comprising two frames extending along a front and a rear of the modules.

18. The energy storage assembly of claim 17 , wherein a frame of the two frames includes a hook adapted to hang the energy storage assembly from a wall-mounted bracket.

19. The energy storage assembly of claim 17 , wherein the two frames support the modules.

20. The energy storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein each module further comprises a DC-DC converter.

21. The energy storage assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical port, wherein the energy storage assembly is connected to a second battery assembly via a wiring harness, and wherein the wiring harness comprises a connector for plugging into the electrical port of the energy storage assembly.

22. The energy storage assembly of claim 21 , wherein the energy storage assembly is connected to an inverter via the wiring harness.

23. The energy storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein each module further comprises a sensor port.

Assignees

• Lunar Energy Inc

Inventors

• Goldman Mark Daniel
• Fine Kevin Richard
• Devoe Tanner Bruce
• Spearing Ian Gregory
• Murphy Conrad Xavier
• Lewis Erica Viola
• Felisca Tahina Christine
• Yang Bozhi
• Holveck Mark

Classifications

• H02J7/84

  Control of state of health [SOH] · CPC title

• H02J7/82

  Control of state of charge [SOC] · CPC title

• H02J7/65

  against overtemperature · CPC title

• H02J7/751 Primary

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title