Energy cell temperature management
A temperature regulation and management system is provide that has an inner wall and an outer wall forming a space for accommodating a phase change material (PCM) with the space between the walls, in one or both of the walls, or a combination of such locations. The inner wall is in contact with an object that requires temperature regulation within a specified operating range, such as a vehicle battery pack. The inner wall and the outer wall are both formed from sheet molding compound (SMC), or the outer wall if formed of a filled polyurethane.
1. A temperature regulation and management system for a vehicle, said system comprising:
an inner wall and an outer wall forming a space therebetween for accommodating a phase change material (PCM), the space being between 0.25 and 10 inches;
wherein said inner wall is in contact with an object that is one or more energy cells or batteries of the vehicle for temperature regulation within a specified operating range including a melting temperature of said PCM for a time of at least two hours, said inner wall having a thickness of 0.06 inches to 0.5 inches;
wherein said inner wall is formed from sheet molding compound (SMC) containing chopped fiber and said outer wall is formed of the SMC or a polyurethane polymer matrix and having a thickness of 0.06 inches to 0.5 inches.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said PCM is trimethylolethane (TME).
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said PCM is suspended in an open cell foam.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said PCM is suspended in a closed cell foam.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the thickness of said PCM is varied between said inner and outer wall.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said SMC is formed with glass-micro spheroids, thermoplastic-micro spheroids, metallic-micro spheroids, or a combination thereof.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein said SMC has air entrainment.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the thickness of said inner and outer walls have thicknesses independent of each other.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said object has one or more faces in contact with said inner wall.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said inner wall and said outer wall has at least one fin projecting therefrom.