Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Benjamin G Wroblewski

Dave G Rich

Saad Hasan

Robert A De Stefano

Jonathan O Conell

Lyall Kenneth Winger

Ryan P Hickey

Cody Demara

Brian Carrier

Pushpendra Chauhan

Jordan Mullins

A multi-cell rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) includes a plurality of battery cells organized into battery modules and a first enclosure configured to house the battery modules. The RESS also includes a first vent arranged on the first enclosure and configured to direct air from inside the first enclosure to an environment external to the first enclosure. The RESS additionally includes a second vent arranged on the first enclosure and configured to direct air into the first enclosure from the environment external to the first enclosure. The RESS further includes a phase-change material (PCM) device arranged on the second vent and configured to melt in response to at least one of the battery modules experiencing a thermal runaway event. In combination with the first vent, the PCM generates crossflow ventilation through the first enclosure to cool the battery modules therein and mitigate thermal runaway.

Phase-change material controlled vent for thermal runaway mitigation in energy storage system

A battery pack thermal management system can include a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules encased within a battery case, a coolant line having an inlet and an outlet each penetrating a perimeter of the battery case and at least one thermally activated valve. The at least one thermally activated valve can be configured to spray coolant onto one or more battery modules responsive to a temperature within the battery pack exceeding a temperature threshold. The temperature threshold can be defined based on the temperature of a thermal event occurring within the battery pack which exceeds a normal operating temperature of the battery pack. The coolant line within the battery pack is biased towards the perimeter of the battery case. The battery pack can power a battery electric or hybrid electric vehicle.

Battery pack thermal management systems and vehicles incorporating the same

A battery control system includes T contactor paths connected in parallel between a battery and a load, where T is an integer greater than one. Each of the T contactor paths includes a first contactor and a second contactor connected in series with the first contactor. Each of the T contactor paths includes at least one of a first voltage sensor configured to sense a first voltage between the first contactor and the second contactor; and a current sensor configured to sense current flowing through the first contactor and the second contactor. A second voltage sensor is configured to sense a second voltage at one end of the T contactor paths. A third voltage sensor is configured to sense a third voltage at an opposite end of the T contactor paths.

Verifying operation of battery contactors during vehicle operation without loss of power

A battery switch testing system that includes a memory configured to may include one or more executable instructions and a controller configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the controller to: (a) monitor current discharge from a first battery; after (a), (b) when the current discharge from the first battery falls below a threshold value, open an internally integrated first battery switch of the first battery; after (b), (c) close the first battery switch; after (c), (d) monitor current discharge from a second battery; after (d), (e) when the current discharge from the second battery falls below a threshold value, open an internally integrated second battery switch of the second battery; and after (e), (f) close the second battery switch.

Battery switch testing system and method

One general aspect includes a battery switch testing method, the method implemented in a system including first and second batteries and a controller, the method including: (a) monitoring, via the controller, electrical properties of the first battery; (b) when the electrical properties of the first battery falls below a threshold value, via the controller, opening a switch of the first battery; (c) closing, via the controller, the first battery switch; (d) monitoring, via the controller, electrical properties of the second battery; (e) when the electrical properties of the second battery falls below a threshold value, via the controller, opening a switch of the second battery; and (f) closing, via the controller, the second battery switch.

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Ferndale, MI, United States of America

Benjamin G Wroblewski