Active and passive battery pressure management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020168959-A1
Application number	US-201716632327-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 28, 2017
Priority date	Jul 21, 2017
Publication date	May 28, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided herein are apparatuses and methods useful for managing pressure in electrochemical devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A battery module:
wherein the battery module has a housing comprising:
a compressible fluid;
at least one electrochemical cell,
wherein the at least one electrochemical cell is in a flexible pouch or can cell;
wherein the at least one electrochemical cell comprises a lithium (Li) metal negative electrode, a thin film solid-state electrolyte, and a positive electrode;
wherein the thin film solid-state electrolyte has a thickness from 10 nm to 100 μm;

wherein the compressible fluid is between and in contact with the housing and either the flexible pouch or can cell; and wherein the compressible fluid maintains an isostatic pressure on the electrochemical cell.

2 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the flexible pouch and can cell, each, independently, have an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the battery module housing has an inner wall and an outer wall, and wherein the compressible fluid is between and in contact with the inner wall of the battery module housing and the outer wall of the flexible pouch or can cell.

3 . The battery module of any one of claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a pressure sensor.

4 . The battery module of claim 3 , wherein the pressure sensor is between the inner housing walls and the outer wall of the electrochemical cell pouch or can cell.

5 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrochemical cell is in a flexible prismatic pouch.

6 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrochemical cell expands by more than 10% by volume when charged from a state-of-charge (SOC) of 10% or less.

7 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises:
at least two dynamic endplates; and a tension element; wherein: the at least one electrochemical cell is between the at least two dynamic endplates; and the at least two dynamic endplates and the tension element apply a compressive force to the at least one electrochemical cell.

8 . The battery module of claim 7 , wherein the at least two dynamic endplates and the tension element apply a compressive force to the at least one electrochemical cell.

9 . The battery module of any one of claims 7 - 8 , wherein the housing comprises a first vertical end positioned opposite to and parallel with a second vertical end, and a first longitudinal side opposite to a second longitudinal side, wherein the first and second longitudinal sides connect the first and second vertical ends to form the housing.

10 . The battery module of any one of claims 7 - 9 , wherein the tension element is selected from the group consisting of a spring, a rubber band, an elastic member, a string, a cord, a chain, a coil, a spoiled wire, a wench, and a combination thereof.

11 . The battery module of any one of claims 7 - 10 , wherein the tension element is a material having a Young's modulus of 1 MPa or greater.

12 . The battery module of any one of claims 7 - 11 , wherein the tension elements is a material having a Young's modulus of 10 GPa or greater.

13 . The battery module of any one of claims 7 - 12 , wherein the tension elements is a material having a maximum Young's modulus of 100 GPa.

14 . The battery module of any one of claims 9 - 13 , wherein the first vertical end and first longitudinal side are connected by a 90° angle and the second vertical end and the second longitudinal side are connected by a 90° angle.

15 . The battery module of any one of claims 3 - 14 , further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the pressure sensor and the compressible fluid wherein the controller is configured to actuate the compressible fluid; and wherein the compressible fluid is configured to pressurize or depressurize the at least one electrochemical cell by actuating the compressible fluid.

16 . The battery module of claim 15 , wherein the controller is programmed to actuate the compressible fluid based on a pressure input to the pressure sensor from the at least one electrochemical cell.

17 . The battery module of any one of claims 15 - 16 , wherein the compressible fluid is configured to uniformly pressurize or uniformly depressurize the battery module.

18 . The battery module of any one of claims 15 - 17 , wherein the compressible fluid is configured to uniformly pressurize the at least one electrochemical cell.

19 . The battery module of any one of claims 15 - 17 , wherein the compressible fluid is configured to uniformly depressurize the at least one electrochemical cell.

20 . The battery module of any one of claims 15 - 17 , wherein the compressible fluid is configured to uniaxially pressurize at least one electrochemical cell.

21 . The battery module of any one of claims 15 - 17 , wherein the compressible fluid is configured to uniaxially depressurize the at least one electrochemical cell.

22 . The battery module of any one of claims 15 - 17 , wherein the compressible fluid is configured to isotropically pressurize the at least one electrochemical cell.

23 . The battery module of any one of claims 15 - 17 , wherein the compressible fluid is configured to isotropically depressurize the at least one electrochemical cell.

24 . The battery module of claim 15 or 16 , wherein the compressible fluid is an actuated compressible fluid.

25 . The battery module of claim 15 or 16 , wherein the compressible fluid is a dynamic compressible fluid.

26 . The battery module of any preceding claim, wherein the compressible fluid is a gas.

27 . The battery module of any preceding claim, wherein the compressible fluid is a liquid.

28 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the battery module further comprises:
a fluid reservoir containing a compressible fluid; and a pump; wherein the fluid reservoir is connected to the pump.

29 . The battery module of claim 28 , wherein the pump comprises a stepper motor.

30 . The battery module of any one of claim 1 , 28 , or 29 , wherein the housing is a static enclosure.

31 . The battery module of claim 28 , wherein the compressible fluid is a gas, liquid, or combination thereof.

32 . The battery module of claim 31 , wherein the compressible fluid is a sublimating liquid.

33 . The battery module of any preceding claim, wherein the housing is a rigid can.

34 . The battery module of any preceding claim, wherein the housing is a flexible pouch.

35 . The battery module of any one of claims 1 - 34 , comprising at least two conductive tabs.

36 . The battery module of any one of claims 1 - 34 , wherein the at least one electrochemical cell is in the flexible pouch.

37 . The battery module of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one electrochemical cell further comprises a compressible fluid inside the electrochemical cell in addition to the compressible fluid between and in contact with the housing and either the flexible pouch or can cell.

38 . The battery module of any one of claims 35 - 37 , wherein the compressible fluid inside the electrochemical cell housing is between and in contact with the at least one electrochemical cell and at least one conductive tab.

39 . A battery module housin

Assignees

• Quantumscape Corp

Inventors

• Hettrich Kevin

Classifications

• H01M10/613

  Cooling or keeping cold · CPC title

• H01M10/4257

  Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries · CPC title

• H01M10/6567

  Liquids · CPC title

• B60L3/0046

  relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors · CPC title

• H01M10/052

  Li-accumulators · CPC title