US 12,341,169 B2
Thermal management system
Stephen Lester, East Sussex (GB); and Hussam Jouhara, Greater Manchester (GB)
Assigned to Flint Engineering Limited, East (GB)
Appl. No. 17/260,451
Filed by Flint Engineering Limited, East Sussex (GB)
PCT Filed Jul. 16, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/069161
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 14, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/016251, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 23, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1811746 (GB), filed on Jul. 18, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0249705 A1, Aug. 12, 2021
Int. Cl. H01M 10/613 (2014.01); F28D 1/03 (2006.01); F28D 1/053 (2006.01); F28D 15/02 (2006.01); F28F 3/12 (2006.01); F28F 9/26 (2006.01); H01M 6/50 (2006.01); H01M 10/60 (2014.01); H01M 10/625 (2014.01); H01M 10/6552 (2014.01); H01M 10/6556 (2014.01); H01M 10/6569 (2014.01); H01M 10/6572 (2014.01); H01M 50/209 (2021.01); H01M 50/24 (2021.01); H01M 50/249 (2021.01); F25B 21/02 (2006.01); F28D 20/00 (2006.01); F28D 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC H01M 10/613 (2015.04) [F28D 1/03 (2013.01); F28D 1/05308 (2013.01); F28D 15/02 (2013.01); F28D 15/0275 (2013.01); F28F 3/12 (2013.01); F28F 9/26 (2013.01); H01M 6/5038 (2013.01); H01M 10/60 (2015.04); H01M 10/625 (2015.04); H01M 10/6552 (2015.04); H01M 10/6556 (2015.04); H01M 10/6569 (2015.04); H01M 10/6572 (2015.04); H01M 50/209 (2021.01); H01M 50/24 (2021.01); H01M 50/249 (2021.01); F25B 21/02 (2013.01); F28D 2020/0004 (2013.01); F28D 2021/0028 (2013.01); F28D 2021/0029 (2013.01); F28F 2250/08 (2013.01); H01M 2220/20 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
an electric vehicle battery;
a working fluid comprising both liquid and vapor phases;
a plurality of panels coupled, both fluidly and mechanically, to form a structure that is arranged around and thermally coupled to the electric vehicle battery, each one of the plurality of panels comprising a network of interconnected passages configured to convey the working fluid around the respective panel to provide an isothermal surface, the plurality of panels being arranged to form a hermetically sealed system consisting of the interconnected passages, the working fluid being configured to passively circulate around the sealed system without a wicking structure or material, the passive circulation being by the action of gravity and internal pressures from evaporation of the liquid at a first location of the sealed system and condensation of the vapor at a second location of the sealed system to communicate heat energy around the sealed system;
a heat exchanger physically and thermally coupled to a side of one of the plurality of panels so as to communicate heat energy to and/or from the electric vehicle battery via the plurality of panels in an isothermal manner; and
one or more fluid pumps arranged to pump a second fluid through the heat exchanger.