Method and system for automotive battery cooling
A battery-cooling system includes a battery array and a plurality of heat pipes that each include a low-profile extrusion having a plurality of hollow tubes formed therein A heat transfer fluid is disposed in the plurality of hollow tubes. Each heat pipe includes an evaporator portion and a condenser portion. The evaporator portion is disposed between successive batteries within the battery array and the condenser portion is disposed outside of the battery array and exposed to a heat sink.
1. A battery-cooling system comprising:
a battery array;
a plurality of heat pipes, each heat pipe of the plurality of heat pipes comprising a low-profile extrusion having a plurality of hollow tubes formed within the low-profile extrusion, each heat pipe of the plurality of heat pipes comprising an evaporator portion and a condenser portion;
a heat-transfer fluid disposed within the plurality of hollow tubes;
wherein each evaporator portion of the plurality of heat pipes is disposed between successive batteries within the battery array; and
wherein each condenser portion of the plurality of heat pipes is disposed outside the battery array and exposed to a heat sink.
2. The battery-cooling system of claim 1 , wherein each evaporator portion of the plurality of heat pipes is arranged at an angle relative to the battery array.
3. The battery-cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the battery array comprises a plurality of batteries arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.
4. The battery-cooling system of claim 3 , wherein each heat pipe of the plurality of heat pipes is disposed between successive rows of the plurality of rows.
5. The battery-cooling system of claim 3 , wherein each heat pipe of the plurality of heat pipes is disposed between successive columns of the plurality of columns.
6. The battery-cooling system of claim 1 , wherein each battery of the battery array is a Lithium-ion battery.
7. The battery-cooling system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fins coupled to the condenser portion.
8. The battery-cooling system of claim 1 , further comprising a cooling circuit thermally exposed to the condenser portion.
9. The battery-cooling system of claim 8 , wherein the cooling circuit comprising a second heat-transfer fluid therein.
10. The battery-cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the condenser portion is thermally exposed to a frame of a vehicle.