Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Other

David R Clark

Chih-Hung Yen

Su Jung Han

Ryan P Hickey

Kristopher A Thor

Goro Tamai

Taeyoung Han

Kuo-Huey Chen

Peter P Andruskiewicz, Iv

Konstantinos Triantos

Ciro A Spigno

Tim M Grewe

Gustavo Cibrian Salazar

David C Davenport

M Saif Siddiqui

Michael Wahlstrom

A battery pack is disclosed and includes battery cells, an outer housing, a support structure, and a planar structure. The outer housing is configured to enclose and immerse the plurality of battery cells in a coolant. The outer housing includes multiple walls including side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall. The support structure supports the battery cells. The support structure includes dividing members separating the battery cells. The planar structure is disposed above or below the battery cells. A gap exists between a planar surface of the planar structure and a planar surface of one of the top wall and the bottom wall of the outer housing for flowing the coolant between the planar structure and the one of the top wall and the bottom wall. The planar structure and at least some of the walls direct the coolant to flow across and between the battery cells.

Immersion cooling systems directing coolant flow between battery cells and cooling components internal and external to battery packs

A monitoring system for a multi-cell rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) that includes a plurality of battery cells is described. The monitoring system includes a sensor that is arranged to monitor one or multiple heat transfer plates thermally coupled to the plurality of battery cells, a controller is in communication with the sensor. The controller including an instruction set that is executable to monitor, via the sensor, a parameter of the heat transfer plate and detect a thermal runaway event when the parameter of the heat transfer plate exceeds a threshold. The thermal runaway event is communicated to a battery controller.

System and method for monitoring a multi-cell rechargeable energy storage device

A battery includes a battery cell stack disposed within a housing such that a gap exists between the battery cell stack and an inner surface of the housing. The battery cell stack includes a plurality of battery cells that each include a positive electrode tab and a negative electrode tab electrically coupled to an electrode assembly and extending from the electrode assembly outside of a case. The positive electrode tabs and/or the negative electrode tabs of the plurality of battery cells extend into the gap between the battery cell stack and the inner surface of the housing. A filler material fills the gap and provides a thermally conductive pathway between the positive electrode tabs and/or the negative electrode tabs of the plurality of battery cells and the inner surface of the housing. The filler material includes a thermally conductive particulate component distributed throughout a polymeric matrix component.

Battery including thermally conductive filler material with thermal runaway containment function

Disclosed herein is a battery module comprising a plurality of battery cells encased in an outer shell. The outer shell has disposed on an inner surface a flame retardant layer that comprises expandable graphite. The expandable graphite is operative to expand during an thermal event that results in an increase in battery module temperature. Disclosed herein too is a method comprising disposing in a battery module a flame retardant layer; where the battery module comprises a plurality of battery cells encased in an outer shell. The outer shell has disposed on an inner surface a flame retardant layer that comprises expandable graphite. The expandable graphite is operative to expand during an thermal event that results in an increase in battery module temperature.

Flame-retardant compositions for energy storage devices, methods of manufacture thereof and batteries containing the same

A switch of an inverter module is disposed in a coolant channel, is configured to be immersed in coolant in the coolant channel, and includes: a first terminal disposed on a first plane and configured to connect to a direct current (DC) reference potential; a second terminal disposed on a second plane and configured to connect to an alternating current (AC) reference potential; a gate, an emitter, and a collector; first cooling features that extend away from the first and second planes, that directly contact the first terminal, and that are configured to allow coolant flow therethrough; and second cooling features that extend away from the first cooling features, the first plane, and the second plane, that directly contact the second terminal, and that are configured to allow coolant flow therethrough.

Direct cooling of inverter switches

System and methods for estimating a temperature of a battery are presented. In some embodiments, a method of estimating a temperature of a battery system may utilize measured battery system temperature data and measured ambient temperature data. Based on the measured temperature data, an average estimated temperature of the battery system may be determined using, at least in part, an extended Kalman filter and an energy balance process model associated with the battery system.

Systems and methods for battery system temperature estimation

A flexible, multicellular aerial device of significantly improved performance for the lifting or gliding of a load attached to and suspended from the device by suspension means that distribute load stresses over large areas of structural surface without the use of additional suspension load bearing reinforcing members or other externally applied load distributing means. The primary structure of the device is comprised of an upper and lower flexible surface between which a plurality of longitudinal flexible partitions of various vertical and longitudinal extent are attached at spanwise intervals to define a substantially airfoil-shaped ram pressurizable partitioned structure, to which a plurality of suspension and control lines attach at various points to suspend and control the lift or glide of a load through the atmosphere.

Growing community of inventors

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, United States of America

David R Clark