US 12,308,404 B2
Mitigation of thermal runaway in a battery module
Galen E. Ressler, White Lake, MI (US); and Bin Li, Troy, MI (US)
Assigned to GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/525,160.
Prior Publication US 2023/0155206 A1, May 18, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 10/63 (2014.01); H01M 10/48 (2006.01); H01M 10/613 (2014.01); H01M 10/625 (2014.01); H01M 50/249 (2021.01)
CPC H01M 10/63 (2015.04) [H01M 10/486 (2013.01); H01M 10/613 (2015.04); H01M 10/625 (2015.04); H01M 50/249 (2021.01); H01M 2220/20 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A battery module comprising:
a first battery cell and a neighboring second battery cell;
a heat sink in contact with each of the first battery cell and the second battery cell and configured to absorb thermal energy from the first and second battery cells;
a battery module enclosure surrounded by ambient environment and configured to house each of the first battery cell, the second battery cell, and the heat sink; and
a heat transfer mechanism including a first switch configured to detect temperature of the first battery cell exceeding a predetermined value indicative of a thermal runaway event and transfer thermal energy from the first battery cell to the battery module enclosure to thereby control propagation of the thermal runaway event to the second battery cell;
wherein:
an air gap is arranged between the battery module enclosure and the heat sink and configured to insulate the battery module enclosure from the heat sink; and
the first switch is configured to bridge the air gap and establish a direct contact between the battery module enclosure and the heat sink to conduct thermal energy from the first battery cell to the battery module enclosure.