Battery system cooling systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016248134-A1
Application number	US-201514630019-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 24, 2015
Priority date	Feb 24, 2015
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

System and methods are disclosed incorporating a battery cooling system design that may provide for relatively uniform cooling of an associated battery system. In certain embodiments, a battery cooling system may include a central coolant delivery system configured to circulate liquid coolant through one or more coolant flow channels included in one or more cooling plates. One or more seals may be used to couple the central coolant delivery system to the one or more coolant delivery plates. Embodiments of the disclosed battery cooling system may allow for relatively straightforward manufacturing processes and/or assembly of the cooling system, provide sufficient mechanical strength to support a group of battery packs, reduce the occurrence of liquid coolant leaks, and/or provide for relatively uniform cooling of a group of battery packs.

First claim

1 . A battery cooling system comprising:
a plurality of cooling plates, each cooling plate comprising at least one coolant flow channel; a central cooling delivery system configured to interface with the coolant flow channels of the plurality of cooling plates; and a plurality of seals, each seal configured to seal an interface between the central cooling delivery system and the plurality of cooling plates.

2 . The battery cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cooling plates are arranged in a stack configuration.

3 . The battery cooling system of claim 2 , wherein the stack configuration comprises a plurality of spaces between the plurality of cooling plates, each space configured to retain a battery pack.

4 . The battery cooling system of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of cooling plates comprise one or more members configured to maintain a particular spacing between the plurality of cooling plates in the stack configuration.

5 . The battery cooling system of claim 1 , wherein each seal of the plurality of seals comprises an o-ring seal.

6 . The battery cooling system of claim 1 , wherein each seal of the plurality of seals is configured to provide a mechanical seal the interface between the central cooling delivery system and the plurality of cooling plates.

7 . The battery cooling system of claim 1 , wherein each cooling plate comprises a first sheet and a second sheet.

8 . The battery cooling system of claim 7 , wherein the first sheet and second sheet are joined together using a brazing process to form the cooling plate.

9 . The battery cooling system of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet define at least a part of a coolant flow channel.

10 . The battery cooling system of claim 1 , wherein each coolant flow channel comprises at least one turbulator.

11 . The battery cooling system of claim 10 , wherein the turbulator comprises a plurality of raised features within the coolant flow channel arranged in a pattern configuration.

12 . The battery cooling system of claim 10 , wherein the turbulator comprises a plurality of depressed features within the coolant flow channel arranged in a pattern configuration.

13 . The battery cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the central cooling delivery system comprises at least one turbulator.

14 . The battery cooling system of claim 13 , wherein the turbulator comprises a plurality of raised features within the coolant flow channel arranged in a pattern configuration.

15 . The battery cooling system of claim 13 , wherein the turbulator comprises a plurality of depressed features within the coolant flow channel arranged in a pattern configuration.

16 . The battery cooling system of claim 1 , wherein at least one surface of each cooling plate is coated with an isolation film.

17 . A method of assembling a cooling system for a battery comprising:
disposing a plurality of cooling system plates in a stacked configuration, each cooling system plate comprising at least one coolant flow channel and defining at least one central coolant delivery system opening; installing a plurality of seals, each seal being disposed in a central coolant delivery system opening associated with a cooling system plate of the plurality of cooling system plates; disposing a central coolant delivery system within openings defined by the plurality of seals; and expanding the central coolant delivery system to form a substantially leak free seal between the central cooling delivery system, the plurality of seals, and the plurality of cooling system plates.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Morse Andrew G
• Keyes Jared J

Classifications

• H01M50/204

  Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells · CPC title

• H01M10/6557 Primary

  arranged between the cells · CPC title

• H01M10/613 Primary

  Cooling or keeping cold · CPC title

• H01M10/625

  Vehicles · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

  Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title