BATTERY CELL WITH PHASE CHANGE CORE
Embodiments disclosed herein may be generated related to the prevention of a thermal catastrophic event within a battery cell. A thermal catastrophic event may be caused by many issues associated with a battery cell such as an internal short within the battery cell. To prevent a thermal catastrophic event an apparatus that may include a battery cell and a phase change material in contact with one or more portions of the battery cell. The phase change material may be configured to change phases at a temperature that is close to that of a thermal runaway event. The phase change material may further have a high heat of fusion such that the phase change material may absorb heat within a battery cell in the case of thermal runaway event in order to prevent a thermal catastrophic event within the battery cell.
1 . An apparatus for preventing combustion of a battery cell, comprising:
a battery cell, comprising an anode, a cathode, and a separator between the anode and cathode, wherein the separator has a first melting temperature; and
a phase change material in contact with one or more components of the battery cell, the phase change material having a second melting temperature being different than the first melting temperature.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is in contact with the separator.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the battery cell is a cylindrical battery cell and the phase change material is located in the center of the cylindrical battery.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the phase change material is surrounded by a first material.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first material comprises of polyethylene or polypropylene.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the battery cell is a pouch battery cell or planar battery cell, and the battery cell further comprising a casing located on a perimeter of the battery cell, the casing being surrounded by the phase change material.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is configured to change from a solid to a liquid at the second melting temperature.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is sodium perchlorate
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the phase change material has a heat of fusion of at least 85 kilojoules/kilograms.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is in contact with the perimeter of the battery cell.
11 . A method for preventing combustion of a battery cell, comprising:
placing a separator between an anode and a cathode, wherein the separator has a first melting temperature; and
placing a phase change material in contact with one or more components of the battery cell, the phase change material having a second melting temperature being different than the first melting temperature.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising surrounding the phase change material with the separator.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the battery cell is a cylindrical battery cell and the phase change material is located in the center of the cylindrical battery.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the phase change material is surrounded by a first material.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first material comprises of polyethylene or polypropylene.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the battery cell is a pouch battery cell or planar battery cell, and the method further comprising:
placing the battery cell inside a casing, wherein the casing contacts the perimeter of the battery cell; and
placing the phase change material in contact with the casing.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the phase change material is configured to change from a solid to a liquid at the second melting temperature.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the phase change material is sodium perchlorate
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the phase change material has a heat of fusion of at least 85 kilojoules/kilograms.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the phase change material is in contact with the perimeter of the battery cell.