US 11,949,083 B2
Battery module or pack with a distributed cooling and fire protection system and method of operating same
Aruna Zhamu, Springboro, OH (US); and Bor Z. Jang, Centerville, OH (US)
Assigned to Global Graphene Group, Inc., Dayton, OH (US)
Filed by Global Graphene Group, Inc., Dayton, OH (US)
Filed on Jun. 11, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/899,026.
Prior Publication US 2021/0391611 A1, Dec. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. H01M 10/6567 (2014.01); H01M 10/0525 (2010.01); H01M 10/054 (2010.01); H01M 10/06 (2006.01); H01M 10/39 (2006.01); H01M 10/6556 (2014.01); H01M 50/20 (2021.01)
CPC H01M 10/6567 (2015.04) [H01M 10/6556 (2015.04); H01M 50/20 (2021.01); H01M 10/0525 (2013.01); H01M 10/054 (2013.01); H01M 10/06 (2013.01); H01M 10/3909 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A battery assembly having a distributed cooling and fire protection system, said battery assembly comprising:
a) a plurality of battery cells;
b) a case which holds the plurality of battery cells, having empty space around each cell to accommodate a desired amount of a first cooling liquid; and
c) a cooling liquid distribution system, having a cooling liquid reservoir and/or pipes that are in proximity to at least a subset of the plurality of the cells and configured to deliver, on demand, the desired amount of the first cooling liquid on a cell or multiple cells in the vicinity of the cell or into the empty space surrounding the cell when a temperature of the cell exceeds a threshold temperature; wherein the first cooling liquid comprises a fire protection or fire suppression substance which, on contact with the cell, prevents, retards, or extinguishes a cell fire and prevents a propagation or cell-to-cell cascading reactions of a thermal runaway or fire event, wherein at least one of battery cells comprises at least one heat spreader element disposed partially or entirely inside a protective housing of the cell, wherein the heat spreader element is in thermal communication with the pipes or reservoir and is configured to transport heat away from the battery cells, in the event of a thermal runaway or fire, through the heat spreader element to the pipes or reservoir to activate the delivery of the desired amount of the first cooling liquid via a heat-induced breach or opening of a valve in pipes.