Stacking frame and cooling system for battery cells
Provided in this disclosure is a passive internal cooling system for a battery pack. First and second stacking frames are provided, each having mating structures for engaging and retaining the first and second stacking frames to each other. Each of the first and second stacking frames are configured for substantially surrounding and enclosing a surface of a battery module for retaining one or more batteries. One or more TRS pouches are enclosed between the first and second stacking frames. The TRS pouch(es) includes a thermally cooling fluid that ruptures into the battery module from heat produced in a thermal runaway event in the battery module.
1 . A passive internal cooling system for a battery pack, comprising:
first and second stacking frames, each having mating structures for engaging and retaining the first and second stacking frames to each other, wherein each of the first and second stacking frames are being configured for substantially surrounding and enclosing a surface of a battery module for retaining at least one battery, wherein each of the first and second stacking frames comprises a peripheral frame portion positioned on a perimeter of the surface of the battery module;
at least one thermal runaway shield (TRS) pouch, enclosed between the first and second stacking frames, the at least one TRS pouch including a thermally cooling fluid that ruptures into the battery module from heat produced in a thermal runaway event in the battery module; and
a plurality of pins extending inwardly toward a center of the peripheral frame portion, wherein the plurality of pins engages and retains the at least one TRS pouch between the first and second stacking frames.
2 . The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one TRS pouch comprises first and second TRS pouches with a spacer plate inserted therebetween, wherein the spacer plate provides a thermal barrier between the first and second TRS pouches during the thermal runaway event in the battery module.
3 . The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the mating structures comprise projections and alignment recesses formed on each of the stacking frames, wherein the projections on each of the stacking frames are received within the alignment recesses of the respective other of the stacking frames.
4 . The cooling system of claim 3 , wherein the projections and alignment recesses are formed on the same surface of each of the stacking frames.
5 . The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second stacking frames comprise at least one peripheral groove for substantially surrounding and enclosing a perimeter of the surface of the battery module.
6 . The cooling system of claim 5 , wherein the peripheral groove of the first stacking frame substantially surrounds and encloses a perimeter of a top surface of the battery module upon which the stacking frame rests, wherein the peripheral groove of the second stacking frame substantially surrounds and ecloses a perimeter of a bottom surface of a second battery module stacked upon the second stacking frame.
7 . The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the battery module comprises electrical connections between the at least one battery and an external electrical system.
8 . A passive internal cooling system for a battery pack, comprising:
first and second stacking frames, each having mating structures for engaging and retaining the first and second stacking frames to each other, wherein each of the first and second stacking frames comprises a peripheral frame portion that sits atop a perimeter of a battery module for retaining at least one battery, for substantially surrounding and enclosing a surface of the battery module;
first and second TRS pouches, enclosed between the first and second stacking frames, the at least one TRS pouch including a thermally cooling fluid that ruptures into the battery module from heat produced in a thermal runaway event in the battery module; and
a spacer plate inserted between the first and second TRS pouches, wherein the spacer plate provides a thermal barrier between the first and second TRS pouches during the thermal runaway event in the battery module;
wherein the peripheral frame portions of each of the first and second stacking frames further comprise a plurality of pins extending inwardly toward a center of the peripheral frame portion, wherein the plurality of pins engages and retains the first and second TRS pouches between the first and second stacking frames.
9 . The cooling system of claim 8 , wherein the mating structures comprise projections and alignment recesses formed on each of the stacking frames, wherein the projections on each of the stacking frames are received within the alignment recesses of the respective other of the stacking frames.
10 . The cooling system of claim 9 , wherein the projections and alignment recesses are formed on the same surface of each of the stacking frames.
11 . The cooling system of claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second stacking frames comprise at least one peripheral groove for substantially surrounding and enclosing a perimeter of the surface of the battery module.
12 . The cooling system of claim 11 , wherein the peripheral groove of the first stacking frame substantially surrounds and encloses a perimeter of a top surface of the battely module upon which the stacking frame rests, wherein the peripheral groove of the second stacking frame substantially surrounds and encloses a perimeter of a bottom surface of a second battery module stacked upon the second stacking frame.
13 . The cooling system of claim 8 , wherein the battery module comprises electrical connections between the at least one battery and an external electrical system.