US 12,322,778 B2
Compact temperature control system and method for energy modules
Frank Puglia, East Greenwich, RI (US); Ralph Roark, North Stonington, CT (US); Gregory J. Moore, Griswold, CT (US); Arthur Dobley, East Greenwich, RI (US); Thomas J. McCarville, Tracy, CA (US); John Chang, Danville, CA (US); Jacquelyn N. Etter, Livermore, CA (US); Jack Kotovsky, Alameda, CA (US); Rudy Robles, Livermore, CA (US); and Eric M. Ziebarth, San Leandro, CA (US)
Assigned to Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Livermore, CA (US); and Eaglepicher Technologies, LLC, St. Louis, MO (US)
Appl. No. 17/052,760
Filed by LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC, Livermore, CA (US); and EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, St. Louis, MO (US)
PCT Filed May 2, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/030381
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 3, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/046431, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 5, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/666,441, filed on May 3, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0234214 A1, Jul. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. H01M 10/6557 (2014.01); F28D 1/03 (2006.01); F28F 3/12 (2006.01); H01M 10/613 (2014.01); H01M 10/6555 (2014.01); H01M 50/209 (2021.01); H01M 50/293 (2021.01); F28D 21/00 (2006.01); H01M 10/651 (2014.01); H01M 10/653 (2014.01)
CPC H01M 10/6557 (2015.04) [F28D 1/0316 (2013.01); F28F 3/12 (2013.01); H01M 10/613 (2015.04); H01M 10/6555 (2015.04); H01M 50/209 (2021.01); H01M 50/293 (2021.01); F28D 2021/0029 (2013.01); H01M 10/651 (2015.04); H01M 10/653 (2015.04)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An energy module comprising:
a plurality of energy generating cells;
a plurality of cooling plates, each one of said cooling plates having flat, opposing surfaces, and pairs of the plurality of cooling plates being disposed on opposing sides of ones of said plurality of energy generating cells to sandwich each one of said energy generating cells therebetween, and further such that the opposing surfaces of each one of said plurality of cooling plates are in contact with surfaces of an adjacent pair of said energy generating cells;
each one of said plurality of cooling plates including:
a plurality of spaced apart coolant flow channels each configured to receive a coolant flow therethrough to limit propagation of heat from one to the other of either one of the adjacent pair of energy generating cells when either one of the adjacent pair of energy generating cells fails;
an independent, elongated, tubular inlet manifold having a slit running along a length thereof, the slit having a width corresponding to a thickness of the cooling plate to be able to receive a first edge portion of a first lateral side of the cooling plate in the slit, with an interior area of the inlet manifold communicating with each one of the plurality of spaced apart coolant flow channels along a first lateral side of the cooling plate, and supplying the coolant flow to the plurality of spaced apart coolant flow channels;
an independent, elongated, tubular outlet manifold communicating with each one of the plurality of spaced apart coolant flow channels along a second lateral side of the cooling plate, and receiving the coolant flow from the plurality of spaced apart coolant flow channels;
a first supply manifold configured to supply only a first subplurality of alternating ones of said independent, elongated tubular inlet manifolds associated with a first subplurality of said cooling plates from first sides thereof, such that said coolant flow flows in a first direction through said first subplurality of cooling plates;
a second supply manifold configured to supply only a second subplurality of different alternating ones of said independent elongated tubular inlet manifolds associated with a second subplurality of said cooling plates from first sides thereof, such that said coolant flow flows in a second direction opposite to said first direction through said second subplurality of cooling plates;
a first return manifold in communication with ones of the independent, elongated, tubular outlet manifolds associated with the first subplurality of said cooling plates at the second side of said first subplurality of said cooling plates; and
a second return manifold in communication with the second subplurality of different alternating ones of said independent elongated tubular manifolds associated with the second subplurality of said cooling plates, at the first sides of second subplurality of cooling plates.