VENTILATION GAS CONTROLLER FOR A VEHICLE'S RECHARGEABLE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM

Abstract

A vehicle's rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) comprises a plurality of battery cells. This plurality of battery cells includes a plurality of cell vents to exhaust hot exhaust gas from the plurality of battery cells. A deflector is positioned at at least one cell vent within this plurality of cell vents and defines a deflector chamber. The deflector includes one or more deflector openings to direct the exhaust gas in one or more selected directions.

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicles and in particular to rechargeable energy storage systems (RESS) for vehicles.

[0002] Many vehicles incorporate RESS structures to provide power, for example, for the vehicle's drive systems. RESS structures typically include a multitude of battery cells. Under certain conditions, the battery cells can release high-temperature gas (i.e., vent gas from a battery cell). This high-temperature vent gas causes a thermal propagation event for nearby component surfaces, such as the battery cover. It is desirable to control and direct the flow of vent gas from the battery cells in a predetermined direction away from the battery cell. SUMMARY

[0003] In an exemplary embodiment, a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) of a vehicle comprises a plurality of battery cells. The plurality of battery cells includes a plurality of cell vents to discharge hot exhaust gas from the plurality of battery cells. A deflector is positioned at at least one cell vent of the plurality of cell vents and defines a deflector chamber. The deflector includes one or more deflector openings to direct the exhaust gas in one or more selected directions.

[0004] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the deflector comprises a deflector sidewall and a deflector cap. The one or more deflector openings are positioned in the deflector sidewall.

[0005] In an exemplary embodiment, a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) of a vehicle comprises a plurality of battery cells, wherein the plurality of battery cells includes a plurality of vents for exhausting hot exhaust gas from the plurality of battery cells. A deflector is positioned at at least one cell vent of the plurality of cell vents and defines a deflector chamber. The deflector includes one or more deflector openings for directing the hot exhaust gas in one or more selected directions.

[0006] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the deflector comprises a deflector sidewall and a deflector cap. The one or more deflector openings are positioned in the deflector sidewall.

[0007] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, a projection extends from the deflector cap towards one of the multiple vent openings. The projection is designed to control the chamber velocity of the venting gas.

[0008] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the projection has a conical shape.

[0009] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the deflector extends over two or more vent openings of the plurality of vent openings.

[0010] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the deflector is an inclined plate positioned at the two or more vent openings.

[0011] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the inclined plate has a first plate spacing from the battery cells to the inclined plate at a vent opening of the two or more vent openings that is greater than a second plate spacing from the battery cells to the inclined plate between the two or more vent openings.

[0012] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the inclined plate is attached to the two or more battery cells at at least one plate end.

[0013] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the deflector comprises a top wall and two opposing side walls. The top wall and the side walls define the deflector chamber and the one or more deflector openings. The top wall includes at least one top wall opening designed to allow a relatively cool ambient airflow into the deflector chamber to mix with the hot exhaust gas.

[0014] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, a flow guide is positioned in at least one upper wall opening to direct the ambient airflow there.

[0015] In another exemplary embodiment, a vehicle comprises a vehicle body, a powertrain arranged in the vehicle body, and a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) functionally connected to the powertrain. The RESS comprises a plurality of battery cells, the plurality of battery cells including a plurality of vents for exhausting hot exhaust gas from the plurality of battery cells. A deflector is positioned at at least one vent of the plurality of vents and defines a deflector chamber. The deflector includes one or more deflector openings for directing the hot exhaust gas in one or more selected directions.

[0016] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the deflector comprises a deflector sidewall and a deflector cap. The one or more deflector openings are positioned in the deflector sidewall.

[0017] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, a projection extends from the deflector cap towards one of the multiple vent openings. The projection is designed to control the chamber velocity of the venting gas.

[0018] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the projection has a conical shape.

[0019] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the deflector extends over two or more vents of the multitude of vents.

[0020] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the deflector is an inclined plate positioned at the two or more vent openings.

[0021] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the inclined plate has a first plate spacing from the battery cells to the inclined plate at a vent opening of the two or more vent openings that is greater than a second plate spacing from the battery cells to the inclined plate between the two or more vent openings.

[0022] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the inclined plate is attached to the battery cells at at least one plate end.

[0023] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the deflector comprises a top wall and two opposing side walls. The top wall and the side walls define the deflector chamber and the one or more deflector openings. The top wall includes at least one top wall opening designed to allow a relatively cool ambient airflow into the deflector chamber to mix with the hot exhaust gas.

[0024] In yet another exemplary embodiment, a vehicle comprises a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment, a powertrain positioned within the vehicle body, and a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) functionally connected to the powertrain. The RESS comprises a plurality of battery cells, the plurality of battery cells including a plurality of vents for exhausting hot exhaust gas from the plurality of battery cells. A deflector is positioned at at least one vent of the plurality of vents and defines a deflector chamber. The deflector includes one or more deflector openings for directing the hot exhaust gas in one or more selected directions. The deflector includes a deflector sidewall and a deflector cap. The one or more deflector openings are positioned in the deflector sidewall.A projection extends from the deflector cap towards one of the multiple vent openings. The projection is designed to control the chamber velocity of the venting gas. The projection has a conical shape.

[0025] The aforementioned features and advantages, as well as other features and advantages of the disclosure, are readily apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Further features, advantages and details are listed only as examples in the following detailed description, which refers to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a vehicle; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) of a vehicle; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a deflector for a RESS; Fig. 4 an exemplary cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 3 is; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a deflector for a RESS; Fig. 6 an exemplary cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 5 is; Fig. 7 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a deflector for a RESS; Fig. 8 an exemplary cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 7 is; Fig. 9 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a deflector for a RESS; Fig. 10 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a deflector for a RESS; Fig. 11 an exemplary cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 10 is; and Fig. Figure 12 is an exemplary cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a deflector for a RESS. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application, or its uses. It is understood that in the drawings, corresponding reference numerals denote identical or corresponding parts and features.

[0028] According to an exemplary embodiment, a vehicle according to a non-restrictive example is generally with 10 in Fig. The vehicle 10 comprises a body 12 supported on a plurality of wheels 16. In a non-restrictive example, two of the plurality of wheels 16 are steerable. The body 12 partially defines a passenger compartment 20 with seats 22 arranged behind an instrument panel 26. A steering control 30 is located between the seats 22 and the instrument panel 26. The steering control 30 is actuated to control the orientation of the steerable wheel(s). The vehicle 10 includes an electric motor 34 connected to a transmission that supplies power to one or more of the plurality of wheels 16. A rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) arrangement 38 supplies power to the electric motor 34.

[0029] With the following reference to Fig. Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a RESS assembly 38. The RESS assembly 38 comprises a support 42 with a plurality of cells 44 arranged therein. A cover 46 is installed to enclose the RESS assembly 38. Under certain conditions, at least one of the plurality of cells 44 may emit a high-temperature gas, such as during a thermal propagation event of the RESS assembly 38. It is desirable to direct the emitted gas away from the cells 44 to prevent heating of the cells 44 and damage to surrounding components, such as the cover 46.

[0030] With the following reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 One or more deflectors 50 are installed at a vent opening 52 of the battery cell 44 to direct venting gas 48 away from the battery cells 44. In the embodiment of Fig. 3 and Fig. In Figure 4, the battery cell 44 is a cylindrical battery cell 44, but a person skilled in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure can also be applied to other configurations of the cell 44, e.g., to prismatic battery cells 44. The deflector 50 is positioned at a cell end 62 of the battery cell 44 and, for example, has a cylindrical shape comprising a side wall 54 and a cap 56, which define a deflector chamber 58. The deflector 50 is positioned such that it covers the vent opening 52 of the battery cell 44. A multitude of side wall openings 60 are positioned in the side wall 54 to discharge the vent gas 48 from the deflector chamber 58 in selected directions, to direct the vent gas 48 away from selected surrounding components, and to cool the vent gas 48 by promoting the mixing of the hot vent gas 48 with cooler ambient air present outside the deflector 50.As in . Fig. As best illustrated in Figure 4, the deflector 50 includes a projection 64 extending from the cap 56 into the deflector chamber 58 towards the vent opening 52 at the cell end 62 of the battery cell 44. The projection 64 is, for example, conically shaped and includes a projection height 66, which is defined as the distance of a projection tip 68 from the cap 56. The projection height 66 is dimensioned to generate a selected initial chamber velocity of the vent gas 48 by limiting the flow area within the deflector chamber 58 and directing the vent gas 48 towards the plurality of sidewall openings 60. The plurality of sidewall openings 60 are dimensioned and arranged to generate a selected exit velocity and mass flow rate of the vent gas 48.The number of side wall openings 60 is chosen and aligned in such a way as to improve the mixing of the vent gas 48 with the ambient air and thus the cooling performance.

[0031] With the following reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, in another embodiment, the deflector 50 extends over a plurality of battery cells 44 and comprises a common deflection chamber 58, which is shared by the plurality of battery cells 44. In the illustrated embodiment, the deflector 50 has a rectangular shape, which includes side wall openings 60 in at least one side wall 54 of the deflector 50. With reference to Fig. 6 The projection 64 can be a curved surface on an upper wall 51 of the deflector 50, designed to direct the venting gas 48 out of the side wall openings 60. The shared deflector chamber 58 improves the performance of the deflector 50 by allowing the venting gas 48 from a battery cell 44 to be directed from the side wall openings 60 along the entire deflector chamber 58, and not only from the side wall openings 60 located at the respective battery cell 44. This reduces the back pressure in the deflector chamber 58.

[0032] In another embodiment, which in Fig. 7 and Fig. As illustrated in Figure 8, the deflector 50 is an inclined plate 72 positioned over the battery cells 44 to deflect the vent gas 48 flowing out of the battery cells 44 via the cell vents 74. The plate 72 extends over a plurality of battery cells 44 and comprises a plurality of plate corrugations 76 arranged such that a plate spacing 78 from the battery cell 44 at the cell vents 74 is greater than the plate spacing 79 between the cell vents 74. In some embodiments, the plate 72 is attached to the battery cells 44 at a first, upstream end 73 and directs the vent gas 48 from the vents 74 in a downstream direction 75 opposite to the upstream end 73. This configuration allows the venting gas 48 to spread over a greater length along the battery cells 44 in order to improve the dissipation of heat energy from the venting gas 48.Furthermore, in some embodiments, such as in . Fig. Figure 9 illustrates that the plate 72 is attached to the battery cells 44 at one or more lateral plate ends 80 of the plate 72. This further directs the venting gas 48 in a selected flow direction.

[0033] Another embodiment of a deflector 50 is described in the Fig. 10 and Fig. Figure 11 illustrates this. In this embodiment, the deflector 50 comprises a closed end 82 and an open end 84 opposite the closed end 82, through which the venting gas 48 is directed from the battery cell 44. The deflector 50 may further comprise one or more lateral side walls 86. An upper wall 88, arranged between the lateral side walls 86 and extending from the closed end 82 to the open end 84, defines the deflector chamber 58 between the battery cell 44 and the upper wall 88. The upper wall 88 includes an opening 90. The opening 90 of the upper wall allows ambient air 92 at a relatively low temperature, as shown in Figure 11, to enter the deflector chamber 58. Fig. Figure 11 illustrates the intake into the deflector chamber 58 to mix with the vent gas 48 within the deflector chamber 58 before the vent air flows out of the open end 84. In some embodiments, as in Fig.As illustrated in Figure 12, a flow guide 94 is arranged within the opening 90 of the upper wall, which is shaped to direct additional ambient air 92 into the deflector chamber 58. In some embodiments, the flow guide 94 has a curved shape.

[0034] The disclosed configurations of the deflector 50 reduce the temperature of the hot exhaust gas at the deflector's outlet, thus helping to protect nearby components during thermal propagation. The deflector chamber 58 enhances cooling by turbulently mixing the exhaust gas plumes with the surrounding cooler ambient air. The deflector chamber design controls the distribution of the exhaust gas plumes by adjusting the hole size, shape, and arrangement. Autoignition of the exhaust gas within the deflector chamber 58 can be eliminated by adjusting the internal volume to ensure that the initial velocity of the exhaust gas is greater than 30 m / s. Additionally, the internal volume of the deflector chamber 58 can be adjusted to trap vented solid particles.

[0035] The terms "a" and "an" do not denote a quantity limitation, but rather indicate the presence of at least one of the referenced items. The term "or" means "and / or" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Whenever the patent specification refers to "an aspect," this means that a specific element (e.g., a feature, a structure, a step, or a property) described in connection with that aspect is included in at least one of the aspects described herein and may or may not be present in other aspects. Furthermore, it is understood that the described elements in the various aspects may be combined in any suitable manner.

[0036] When an element, such as a layer, film, area, or substrate, is described as being "on" another element, it may be located directly on top of the other element, or there may be intermediate elements. Conversely, when an element is described as being "directly on" another element, there are no intermediate elements.

[0037] Unless otherwise stated herein, all testing standards are the latest standard in force on the filing date of this application or, if priority is claimed, the filing date of the earliest priority application in which the testing standard appears.

[0038] Unless otherwise defined, the technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as generally understood by an expert in the field to which this disclosure relates.

[0039] While the above disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is known among those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made and equivalent elements substituted without altering its scope. Furthermore, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without deviating from its essential scope. Therefore, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, but rather to encompass all embodiments that fall within its scope.

Claims

[1] Rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) of a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of battery cells, wherein the plurality of battery cells includes a plurality of vent openings to discharge hot vent gas from the plurality of battery cells; and a deflector arranged at at least one cell vent of the plurality of cell vents and defining a deflector chamber, wherein the deflector comprises one or more deflector openings to direct the hot vent gas in one or more selected directions. [2] RESS according to claim 1, wherein the deflector comprises: a deflection sidewall; and a deflection cap; wherein one or more deflector openings are arranged in the deflector side wall. [3] RESS according to claim 2, further comprising a projection extending from the deflector cap towards a vent opening of the plurality of vent openings, wherein the projection is designed to control a chamber velocity of the venting gas. [4] RESS according to claim 3, wherein the projection has a conical shape. [5] RESS according to claim 1, wherein the deflector extends over two or more vent openings of the plurality of vent openings. [6] RESS according to claim 5, wherein the deflector is an inclined plate arranged at the two or more vent openings. [7] RESS according to claim 6, wherein the inclined plate has a first plate spacing from the battery cells to the inclined plate at a vent opening of the two or more vent openings, which is greater than a second plate spacing from the battery cells to the inclined plate between the two or more vent openings. [8] RESS according to claim 6, wherein the inclined plate is attached to the two or more battery cells at at least one plate end. [9] RESS according to claim 1, wherein the deflector comprises: an upper wall; and two opposing side walls, wherein the upper wall and the side walls define the deflection chamber and the one or more deflection openings; wherein the upper wall includes at least one upper wall opening designed to allow a relatively cool ambient airflow into the deflector chamber to mix with the hot venting gas. [10] Vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body; a powertrain located within the vehicle body; and a RESS according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which is functionally connected to the drive train.

Images