TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology relates to heat transfer systems and components. More specifically, the present technology relates to heat transfer systems for energy storage devices.

BACKGROUND

In battery-powered devices, heat transfer between batteries or between battery cell blocks may cause performance degradation or may lead to device failure. Although insulation materials may assist with limiting heat transfer between cell blocks, the amount of insulation may increase the overall size of the device or reduce the amount of available space for battery cells. Improved designs are needed.

SUMMARY

The present technology relates to energy storage devices and systems, including battery cells, battery cell blocks, and batteries, which may include lithium-ion batteries. These systems may include heat exchangers, or heat exchange devices that may limit heat transfer from a particular cell block. The heat exchange devices may include many different features, designs, and material configurations as will be described throughout the disclosure.

Energy storage systems, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a cell block including a plurality of battery cells. The systems may include a fluid delivery manifold coupled with a sidewall of the cell block. The fluid delivery manifold may be configured to distribute a fluid within the fluid delivery manifold. The fluid delivery manifold may be in thermal communication with the cell block, and may be configured to receive heat from the cell block to the fluid within the fluid delivery manifold. The fluid delivery manifold may include a fluid entry port configured to receive a liquid. The fluid delivery manifold may define a fluid path within the fluid delivery manifold configured to at least partially contain the liquid within the fluid delivery manifold while providing egress to vaporized liquid from at least one exit channel defined from the fluid delivery manifold.

The fluid delivery manifold may be configured to maintain at least a portion of fluid flow within the fluid delivery manifold during an expansion of a battery cell of the plurality of battery cells. The fluid delivery manifold may also be configured to withstand a compressive force greater than about 200 kPa. The fluid delivery manifold, while receiving a fluid, may be configured to maintain a temperature profile across the manifold below a threshold temperature for a period of time greater than 5 minutes. In some embodiments, the threshold temperature may be less than about 130° C. The fluid entry port may be located at a top of the fluid delivery manifold, and the at least one exit channel may be located along a sidewall of the fluid delivery manifold. The fluid delivery manifold may be characterized by a thickness less than about 1 cm in embodiments. The fluid delivery manifold may be coupled with a first side of the cell block, and a second fluid delivery manifold may be coupled with a second side of the cell block opposite the first side of the cell block. In some embodiments, the fluid delivery manifold may be configured to fluidly isolate the plurality of cells from the liquid received by the fluid delivery manifold.

The present technology also encompasses energy storage systems. The systems may include a cell block including a plurality of battery cells, and the cell block may be characterized by a top and sides. The systems may also include a structure coupled with the cell block at the top of the cell block and at least one side of the cell block, and the structure may be configured to distribute a fluid substantially uniformly through the structure from a fluid port.

In some embodiments the structure may include an ordered or unordered mesh or a pleated arrangement of material. The structure may be a continuous arrangement extending across the top and at least one side of the cell block. The structure may be configured to conduct liquid through the structure at a rate greater than or about 50 mL/min. The structure may be configured to maintain a substantially uniform fluid distribution through the structure under a compressive force greater than about 100 kPa. In some embodiments the structure may include a metal, a fabric, or a polymer. The structure may include a material configured to withstand temperatures greater than about 100° C. In embodiments the energy storage system may further include a housing containing the cell block and the structure. The structure may include a material sheet extending continuously over a first side of the cell block, across the top of the cell block, and over a second side of the cell block opposite the first side of the cell block.

The present technology also encompasses energy storage systems. Exemplary systems may include a cell block having at least one battery cell. The systems may include a heat exchanger coupled with a surface of the cell block. The heat exchanger may be configured to circulate a heat exchange fluid proximate the surface of the cell block to receive a heat load from the cell. The heat exchanger may be configured to reject the heat load from the heat exchange fluid at a secondary heat exchange position. Also, the heat exchanger may operate at a first fluid pressure. The systems may include a distribution assembly, which may include a valve incorporated with the heat exchanger. The distribution assembly may also include piping coupled with the valve and extending to an entrance port at the cell block.

In some embodiments the valve may include a pressure-release valve configured to open at a threshold pressure and allow the heat exchange fluid to flow into the piping. The first pressure may be or include a pressure range from about atmospheric pressure to the threshold pressure. The entrance port may include a heat-sensitive plug configured to release at a threshold temperature associated with the threshold pressure. The cell block may include a housing containing the at least one battery cell and a fluid delivery apparatus fluidly coupled with the entrance port. The fluid delivery apparatus may include a manifold or a structure configured to distribute a fluid substantially uniformly through the structure from the entrance port. In some embodiments the energy storage system may include an array of cell blocks including a first cell block having a first surface coupled with the heat exchanger. The system may also include a second heat exchanger coupled with a second surface of the cell block opposite the first surface of the cell block. The system may also include a thermal interface material positioned between the surface of the cell block and the heat exchanger.

Such technology may provide numerous benefits over conventional technology. For example, the present devices may reduce insulation requirements by providing a heat transfer medium by which heat may be removed from the system. Additionally, the designs may allow extended scaling of batteries for use in larger devices and systems based on their reduced footprint. These and other embodiments, along with many of their advantages and features, are described in more detail in conjunction with the below description and attached figures.

