Battery thermal management system for electrified vehicle
A battery system includes a first battery module, a second battery module, a supply line, a return line, and a film heater. The supply and return lines are configured to circulate a heat transfer medium in response to a first temperature condition, and the film heat is configured to heat the first battery module and the second battery module in response to a second temperature condition.
1. A method, comprising:
transferring heat from a battery cell to a heat spreader;
conducting the heat from the heat spreader into a coolant channel; and
dissipating the heat into a heat transfer medium communicated vertically inside the coolant channel to thermally manage the battery cell,
wherein the coolant channel is connected to a supply line and a return line that are both positioned axially between a first battery module and a second battery module that each include a plurality of battery cells.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising sensing a temperature condition of the battery cell.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 , comprising heating the battery cell in response to the temperature condition indicating a cold ambient condition.
4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein heating the battery cell includes actuating a film heater.
5. The method as recited in claim 2 , comprising commanding the dissipating step in response to the temperature condition indicating a hot ambient condition.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising heating the battery cell with a film heater if a temperature of the battery cells is below a threshold temperature.
7. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the film heater is in direct contact with a surface of the battery cell.
8. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the heat spreader is in contact with a different surface of the battery cell.
9. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the film heater is in direct contact with a bottom surface of the battery cell and the heat spreader is in direct contact with a side surface of the battery cell.
10. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the coolant channel is attached to the heat spreader.
11. The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising cooling the heat transfer medium prior to communicating the heat transfer medium to the coolant channel.
12. The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising conducting the heat from the heat spreader into a second coolant channel.
13. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the coolant channel and the second coolant channel are mounted to opposing edges of the heat spreader.
14. The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising:
communicating the heat transfer medium from a supply manifold into the coolant channel; and
communicating the heat transfer medium from the coolant channel into a return manifold.
15. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the supply manifold and the return manifold are mounted at different locations of the coolant channel.
16. The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising communicating the heat transfer medium across at least one augmentation feature inside the coolant channel.
17. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer medium is communicated upwardly from a bottom toward a top of the coolant channel or is communicated downwardly from the top toward the bottom of the coolant channel.
18. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the coolant channel is attached to an outermost edge of the heat spreader, a supply manifold is attached to one of a top and a bottom of the coolant channel, and a return manifold is attached to the other of the top and the bottom of the coolant channel.