Active thermal management and thermal runaway prevention for high energy density lithium ion battery packs

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a system, method, and apparatus for battery thermal management. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves sensing, with at least one temperature sensor, a temperature of at least one battery cell, where at least one battery cell is at least partially submerged within a liquid contained within a battery case. The method further involves comparing the temperature of at least one battery cell with a maximum threshold temperature, and commanding a cooling unit to be activated when at least one processor determines that the temperature of at least one battery cell is above the maximum threshold temperature. Further, the method involves circulating, by at least one pump, the liquid via tubing from the battery case to the cooling unit back to the battery case.

Description

Technical field [0001] The present disclosure relates to thermal management and prevention of thermal runaway. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to active thermal management and thermal runaway prevention for high energy density lithium ion battery packs. Background technique [0002] Lithium-ion battery cells and battery packs have two major concerns related to thermal management, and these two concerns must be addressed to ensure safety and long life. The first concern is that individual battery cells must be kept within their specified temperature range, and the temperature difference between the cells within the battery pack must be maintained to ensure a long life and maximize the value of the battery pack. The second concern is that defective, damaged, or misused battery cells may enter thermal runaway (especially at high temperatures), which often leads to hazardous battery cells and batteries in an uncontrolled manner in the battery design. [0003] At present,...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The first concern is that individual battery cells must be kept within their specified temperature range and temperature differentials between cells within the pack must be maintained to ensure long life and maximize pack value

A second concern is that defective, damaged, or misused cells may go into thermal runaway (especially at high temperatures), resulting in compromised cells and batteries, often in ways that are not controlled by the battery design.

While potentially beneficial in preventing thermal runaway from individual battery cells, these solutions are passive and allow heat to build up to the melting point of the phase change material beyond that which is removed from the case by convection, or require additional piping and / or catheters to implement traditional active management solutions, which add the weight and volume associated with additional tubing and / or catheters to the weight, volume, and cost of the phase change material itself

In either case, there is the possibility that the phase change material will already be in its molten state when thermal runaway begins, and thus cannot provide any ability to prevent unwanted thermal events

In addition, the fabrication of bulk phase change material embedded in the bonding mix and machining of the resulting bulk material into a shape suitable for the application adds to the overall cost of the system

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