Thermal management system
View Patent ↗A thermal management system includes one or more heating elements positioned proximate a battery pack. A temperature sensor is configured to determine a battery temperature for the battery pack. A controller is configured to: compare the battery temperature to a desired set point, and if the battery temperature is below the desired set point, energize the one or more heating elements positioned proximate the battery pack to raise the temperature of the battery pack.
1. A thermal management system comprising:
one or more heating elements positioned proximate a battery pack;
a printed circuit board configured to position the one or more heating elements proximate the battery pack;
a thermally-insulating pad positioned between the one or more heating elements and the printed circuit board;
a temperature sensor configured to determine a battery temperature for the battery pack; and
a controller configured to:
compare the battery temperature to a desired set point, and
if the battery temperature is below the desired set point, energize the one or more heating elements positioned proximate the battery pack to raise the temperature of the battery pack.
2. The thermal management system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to:
deenergize the one or more heating elements positioned proximate the battery pack if the battery temperature is at or above the desired set point.
3. The thermal management system of claim 1 further comprising:
a thermally-conductive pad positioned between the one or more heating elements and the battery pack.
4. The thermal management system of claim 1 wherein the battery pack is a lithium-ion battery pack.
5. The thermal management system of claim 1 wherein the battery pack is configured to provide electrical power to a volatile memory system during a data storage operation.
6. The thermal management system of claim 1 wherein the battery pack is configured to provide electrical power to a volatile memory system in the event of a power failure event.
7. The thermal management system of claim 1 wherein the one or more heating elements are resistive heating elements.
8. The thermal management system of claim 1 wherein the battery pack, the one or more heating elements, the temperature sensor and the controller are included within a battery module.
9. The thermal management system of claim 8 wherein the battery module includes an outer protective layer.
10. The thermal management system of claim 1 wherein comparing the battery temperature to a desired set point includes:
repeatedly comparing the battery temperature to the desired set point at a defined frequency.
11. A thermal management system comprising:
one or more heating elements positioned proximate a battery pack;
a printed circuit board configured to position the one or more heating elements proximate the battery pack;
a thermally-insulating pad positioned between the one or more heating elements and the printed circuit board;
a temperature sensor configured to determine a battery temperature for the battery pack; and
a controller configured to:
compare the battery temperature to a desired set point,
if the battery temperature is below the desired set point, energize the one or more heating elements positioned proximate the battery pack to raise the temperature of the battery pack, and
if the battery temperature is at or above the desired set point, deenergize the one or more heating elements positioned proximate the battery pack.
12. The thermal management system of claim 11 wherein the battery pack is a lithium-ion battery pack.
13. The thermal management system of claim 11 wherein the battery pack is configured to provide electrical power to a volatile memory system during a data storage operation.
14. The thermal management system of claim 11 wherein the battery pack is configured to provide electrical power to a volatile memory system in the event of a power failure event.
15. The thermal management system of claim 11 wherein the one or more heating elements are resistive heating elements.
16. A battery module comprising:
a lithium-ion battery pack;
one or more heating elements positioned proximate the lithium-ion battery pack;
a printed circuit board configured to position the one or more heating elements proximate the lithium-ion battery pack;
a thermally-insulating pad positioned between the one or more heating elements and the printed circuit board;
a temperature sensor configured to determine a battery temperature for the lithium-ion battery pack; and
a controller configured to:
compare the battery temperature to a desired set point; and
if the battery temperature is below the desired set point, energize the one or more heating elements positioned proximate the battery pack to raise the temperature of the lithium-ion battery pack.
17. The battery module of claim 16 further comprising:
a thermally-conductive pad positioned between the one or more heating elements and the lithium-ion battery pack.