Batteries with phase change materials

摘要

A battery pack with phase change materials (PCM). The PCM would improve the heating and cooling capabilities under various vehicle operating conditions. Methods of controlling the temperature in battery packs are also described.

主权项

1. A battery pack comprising:
a plurality of battery cells; and a battery cell cooling system comprising:
at least one cooling plate defining at least one coolant fluid channel therein;a plurality of cooling fins, wherein each of the plurality of cooling fins comprise:
a layer of foam containing a phase change material, anda cooling inlet and a cooling outlet, the cooling inlet and the cooling outlet configured to convey a cooling fluid to and from the at least one coolant fluid channel in the at least one cooling plate; anda plurality of substantially planar compressible isolator sheets each comprising at least two phase change materials to form a multi-temperature phase change material capability within the respective compressible isolator sheet, wherein at least one of the plurality of cooling fins and at least one of the plurality of compressible isolator sheets are placed next to and on opposite sides of at least one of the plurality of battery cells in a stacked relationship therebetween to accommodate expansion and contraction of the plurality of battery cells and to define a planar profile along a stacking dimension thereof to maximize contact surface area and thermal communication therebetween.