| 主权项 |
1. A method of withdrawing heat from a battery pack, wherein the battery pack is comprised of a plurality of cells, wherein each cell of said plurality of cells is comprised of an individual cell housing containing at least one electrode of a first type and at least one electrode of a second type, wherein each cell of said plurality of cells further comprises a first electrically and thermally conductive tab coupled to the at least one electrode of said first type and a second electrically and thermally conductive tab coupled to the at least one electrode of said second type, and wherein said first and second electrically and thermally conductive tabs extend through the individual cell housing, the first electrically and thermally conductive tab extending on one side of the individual cell housing, and the second electrically and thermally conductive tab extending on another separate side of the individual cell housing, wherein heat conduction in a direction D1 along an axis of the individual cell housing is substantially larger than heat conduction in a direction D2 transverse to the individual cell housing, the first electrically and thermally conductive tab having (i) mass that is substantially larger than a mass required to conduct current at a predetermined maximum cell electrical discharge rate and (ii) a size that is substantially larger than a size required to avoid ripping or breaking in use, the method comprising the steps of:
coupling said first electrically and thermally conductive tab of each of said plurality of cells within said battery pack to a first surface of a common current collector plate located on the one side of the battery pack, wherein said common current collector plate is external to each cell of said plurality of cells and external to each individual cell housing corresponding to each cell of said plurality of cells, wherein said common current collector plate is electrically and thermally conductive; conducting electricity and thermal energy through said first electrically and thermally conductive tab of each of said plurality of cells to said common current collector plate, thereby making use of the different heat conduction in the respective directions D1 and D2; conducting electricity from said plurality of cells through said common current collector plate; coupling a second surface of said common current collector plate to a first surface of a thermal interface layer, wherein said thermal interface layer is electrically insulating and thermally conducting; coupling a second surface of said thermal interface layer to a temperature control panel, and wherein said thermal interface layer is interposed between said common current collector plate and said temperature control panel; and transferring thermal energy from said first electrically and thermally conductive tab of each of said plurality of cells through said common current collector plate and through said thermal interface layer to said temperature control panel. |
