US 12,237,487 B2
Resilient battery cooling systems and methods
Robert Wassmur, Gothenburg (SE); Jongseok Moon, Gothenburg (SE); and Niklas Roos, Gothenburg (SE)
Assigned to Polestar Performance AB, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed by Polestar Performance AB, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed on Nov. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/454,717.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/198,783, filed on Nov. 12, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0149454 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. H01M 10/625 (2014.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.01); H01M 10/613 (2014.01); H01M 10/63 (2014.01); H01M 10/663 (2014.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC H01M 10/625 (2015.04) [B60L 50/66 (2019.02); H01M 10/613 (2015.04); H01M 10/63 (2015.04); H01M 10/663 (2015.04); H02J 7/0013 (2013.01); H02J 7/0063 (2013.01); H01M 2220/20 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical distribution system comprising:
a first battery string having a first operating voltage;
a second battery string having a second operating voltage, the second battery string being electrically coupled in series to the first battery string to generate a total output voltage substantially equal to or greater than a sum of the first operating voltage and the second operating voltage; and
a hybrid load configured to be operable at a nominal voltage and at a reduced voltage, wherein the hybrid load operates at the reduced voltage in case of a failure of the first battery string or the second battery string,
wherein the nominal voltage is the total output voltage supplied by the first battery string and the second battery string,
wherein the reduced voltage is the first operating voltage supplied by the first battery string or the second operating voltage supplied by the second battery string,
wherein the hybrid load is a cooler configured to prevent thermal runaway in the first battery string and the second battery string by providing cooling to the first battery string and the second battery strings, and further configured to provide cooling to at least one other system,
wherein, during operation at the reduced voltage, the cooler is configured to selectively operate routing of a coolant to maintain sufficient cooling of the first battery string and the second battery string, while reducing the cooling of the at least one other system.
 
7. A method of operating an electrical system for a vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a first battery string having a first operating voltage;
providing a second battery string having a second operating voltage, the second battery string being electrically coupled in series to the first battery string to generate a total output voltage substantially equal to or greater than a sum of the first operating voltage and the second operating voltage; and
providing a hybrid load configured to be operable at a nominal voltage and at a reduced voltage, wherein the hybrid load operates at the reduced voltage in case of a failure of the first battery string or the second battery string,
wherein the nominal voltage is the total output voltage supplied by the first battery string and the second battery string,
wherein the reduced voltage is the first operating voltage supplied by the first battery string or the second operating voltage supplied by the second battery string,
wherein the hybrid load is a cooling system configured to prevent thermal runaway in the first battery string and the second battery string by providing cooling to the first battery string and the second battery string, and further configured to provide cooling to at least one other system,
wherein, during operation at the reduced voltage, the method further comprises selectively routing a coolant to maintain sufficient cooling of the first battery string and the second battery string, while reducing the cooling of the at least one other system.
 
13. A vehicle system comprising:
a battery system including:
a first battery string having a first operating voltage; and
a second battery string having a second operating voltage, the second battery string being electrically coupled in series to the first battery string to generate a total output voltage substantially equal to or greater than a sum of the first operating voltage and the second operating voltage; and
a plurality of hybrid loads each configured to operate at a nominal voltage and at a reduced voltage, wherein at least one hybrid load of the plurality of hybrid loads operates at the reduced voltage in case of a failure of the first battery string or the second battery string,
wherein the nominal voltage is the total output voltage supplied by the first battery string and second battery string,
wherein the reduced voltage is the first operating voltage supplied by the first battery string or the second operating voltage supplied by the second battery string,
wherein the at least one of the plurality of hybrid loads is a cooling system, the cooling system comprising a plurality of coolant tubes and a chiller, and wherein the chiller is a hybrid load,
wherein the cooling system is configured to prevent thermal runaway in the first battery string and the second battery string by providing cooling to the first battery string and the second battery string, and further configured to provide cooling to at least one other system,
wherein, during operation at the reduced voltage, the cooling system is configured to selectively operate routing of a coolant to maintain sufficient cooling of the first battery string and the second battery string, while reducing the cooling of the at least one other system.