Active and passive battery pressure management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024347792-A1
Application number	US-202418419174-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 22, 2024
Priority date	Jul 21, 2017
Publication date	Oct 17, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

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

First claim

1 .- 94 . (canceled)

95 . A container comprising:
at least one battery module, wherein the at least one battery module comprises one or more electrochemical cells in a flexible pouch, each cell comprising a lithium metal negative electrode and a negative electrode current collector, a thin film solid-state separator electrolyte, or both; a compressible element, wherein the compressible element is a solid, wherein the compressible element is configured to expand and contract; wherein the compressible element is between and in contact with an inner wall of the container and an outer wall of the one or more electrochemical cells; wherein the side of the inner wall opposite the side in contact with the compressible element is in contact with the negative electrode current collector or the thin film solid-state separator electrolyte of at least one of the one or more electrochemical cells; and the compressible element is configured to maintain a uniaxial pressure on the one or more electrochemical cells.

96 . The container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one battery module comprises a thin film solid-state separator electrolyte, wherein the thin film solid-state separator electrolyte comprises lithium-stuffed garnet.

97 . The container of claim 1 , wherein the compressible element is selected from the group consisting of a balloon, a spring, a welded metal, a compressible material, a piezoelectic, and combinations thereof.

98 . The container of claim 97 , wherein the compressible element is a compressible material, wherein the compressible material is selected from the group consisting of rubber, hardened rubber, foam, plastic, and combinations thereof.

99 . The container of claim 98 , wherein the compressible material is rubber.

100 . The container of claim 98 , wherein the compressible material is foam.

101 . The container of claim 98 , wherein the compressible material is plastic.

102 . The container of claim 1 , wherein the container 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 vertical end and the second vertical end to form a housing of the at least one battery module.

103 . The container of claim 102 , wherein the first vertical end and the 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.

104 . The container of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor.

105 . The container of claim 104 , wherein the pressure sensor is between the inner wall of the container and the outer wall of the one or more electrochemical cells.

106 . The container of claim of 104 , wherein the pressure sensor is between the compressible element and the inner wall of the container.

107 . The container of claim 104 , further comprising at least one controller wherein the at least one controller is in electrical communication with the pressure sensor, the compressible element, or both.

108 . The container of claim 107 , wherein the at least one controller is in electrical communication with the pressure sensor.

109 . The container of claim 107 , wherein the at least one controller is in electrical communication with the compressible element.

110 . The container of claim 107 , wherein the at least one controller is in electrical communication with the pressure sensor and the compressible element.

111 . The container of claim 107 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to monitor the pressure sensor, to actuate the compressible element, or both.

112 . The container of claim 111 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to monitor the pressure sensor and to actuate the compressible element.

113 . The container of claim 111 , wherein the at least one controller is programmed to actuate the compressible element based on a pressure input to the pressure sensor from the at least one electrochemical cell.

114 . An electric vehicle comprising the container of claim 1 .

Assignees

• Quantumscape Battery Inc

Inventors

• Hettrich Kevin

Classifications

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H01M50/209

  adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M50/211

  adapted for pouch cells · CPC title

• H01M50/264

  for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames · CPC title

• H01M10/48

  Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte (constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569) · CPC title