Energy storage device having separator and mud rest fluid flow path features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017194622-A1
Application number	US-201615392183-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 28, 2016
Priority date	Dec 31, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An energy storage device is disclosed that in one embodiment is a rechargeable battery. The device includes a container within which is disposed battery plates, separators, and battery fluid. A mud well having mud rests is also disposed within the container. The separator can be formed as a pocket for insertion of a battery plate. The separator can include channel features sized to convey a gaseous byproduct of a charging event of the battery. In one form the mud rests define passages, such as an internally formed passage, that assist in the circulation of battery fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
an energy storage device having a base and sides forming a container and structured to contain a battery fluid and a battery plate; a mud rest extending away from a mud well bottom and having at least a first upright portion and second upright portion, the first upright portion and second upright portion extending to a top of the mud rest which is structured to support the battery plate of the energy storage device; and a fluid passage extending between an opening formed in one upright portion of the mud rest to an opening formed in another upright portion of the mud rest, the fluid passage configured for the passage of battery fluid between the one upright portion of the mud rest and the another upright portion of the mud rest.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mud rest includes a plurality of fluid passages extending from one lateral side of the mud rest to an opposite lateral side of the mud rest.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the mud well includes a plurality of mud rests that extending away from the mud well bottom, and which further includes a passage space between adjacent mud wells that permit the flow of batteryluid in a direction transverse to at least one of the adjacent mud wells.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , which further includes the battery plate and the battery fluid, and wherein the battery plate is included in a plurality of opposing polarity battery plates that are each disposed within the container and are at least partially submerged in the battery fluid, the opposing polarity plates being a set of first polarity plates and a set of second polarity plates interleafed such that one of the set of first polarity plates is adjacent to one of the second polarity plates, the set of first polarity plates at a first polarity during charging of the energy storage device and a second polarity during discharge of the energy storage device, the set of second polarity plates at the second polarity during charging of the energy storage device and the first polarity during discharge of the energy storage device.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , which further includes a separator interposed between the one of the first polarity plates and the one of the second polarity plates, the separator including a first side having a first face and a second side having a second face, the first face including a channel feature to convey a buoyant flow of battery fluid.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the mud rest is structured to support the one of the first polarity of plates, wherein the separator is formed as a pocket and further includes a plurality of channel features on the first face, and which further includes a fluid flow path for the passage of battery fluid, the fluid flow path including the fluid passage for the passage of battery fluid between the one upright portion of the mud rest and the another upright portion of the mud rest, the fluid flow path continuing to the channel feature on the first face.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the pocket includes a closed bottom, and wherein the energy storage device further includes a vent for the external passage of gas generated internal to the energy storage device.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first face of the pocket is arranged according to one of: (1) on a side that faces the battery plate when the battery plate is configured as a positive plate during a charging event of the energy storage device; and (2) on a side that faces away from the battery plate when the battery plate is configured as a negative plate during a charging event of the energy storage device.

9 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the pocket includes an open bottom.

10 . An apparatus comprising:
a flooded battery separator having a material composition structured for use with an electrolyte fluid and a shape and size configuration that inhibits the formation of a short circuit between adjacent battery plates between which the flooded battery separator is interposed, the separator formed as a pocket between a first side part and a second side part and having an open end through which one of the adjacent battery plates can be inserted, the first side part and the second side part of the flooded battery separator each including a first face and a second face opposite the first face, the first side and the second side coupled together along their respective ends to form the pocket, the first face of each of the first side part and second side part having a grooved surface defining a plurality of channels with upright extending walls and open tops that extend toward the open end, the plurality of channels structured with sufficient size to convey a mixture of electrolyte fluid and gaseous byproduct of a charging event of a flooded battery, the second face of each of the first side part and second side part lacking a surface feature complementary to the grooved surface on the first face of the separator.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first face and the second face are coupled along a side that extends between the opposite lateral sides to form a pocket having the open end.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first face of each of the first side part and second side part form opposing external sides of the pocket such that the plurality of channels are formed on an outside surface of the pocket.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the side is a bottom of the pocket, and wherein the coupling along the bottom is such that the first face and the second face are part of a single sheet of material that is wrapped around the bottom.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first face of each of the first side part and second side part form internal surfaces of the pocket such that the plurality of channels are formed on internal facing surfaces of the pocket.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first face and the second face are part of a single sheet of material that is wrapped around a bottom of the flooded battery separator.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein openings are formed in proximity to the bottom where the single sheet of material is wrapped around the bottom of the pocket.

17 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the pocket is in the form of a sleeve having open ends at a top and bottom of the sleeve.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the pocket is formed of a single piece of material.

19 . An apparatus comprising:
an electric storage device having container within which is disposed a plurality of first polarity plates interleafed with a plurality of second polarity plates; a plurality of separators disposed between the plurality of first polarity plates and plurality of second polarity plates, at least one separator of the plurality of separators disposed between an adjacent first polarity plate and second polarity plate; a plurality of vertically extending channels formed in at least one of the plurality of separators, the plurality of vertically extending channels forming passages for the conveyance of electrolyte fluid; a mud well having a mud rest upon which at least one of the first polarity of plates can be supported, the mud rest defining an internal passage arranged to convey the electrolyte fluid as the fluid circulates during an operation of the electric storage device; wherein a fluid circulation path is defined during a charging operation of the electric storage device, the circulation path extending via the passage and contin

Assignees

• Ingersoll-Rand Company

Inventors

• Mcleod Paul W

Classifications

• H01M10/16 Primary

  Suspending or supporting electrodes or groups of electrodes in the case · CPC title

• H01M50/466

  U-shaped, bag-shaped or folded · CPC title

• H01M2/12

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01M2/18

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01M2/40 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic