Fluid-cooled battery system

1 . A fluid-cooled battery system comprising at least one battery module which includes:

a plurality of rows of battery cells, each of said battery cells having a cell body extending in an upright direction, said battery cells of each row being staggered with said battery cells of an adjacent row;

a cooling fluid;

an outer casing defining therein an accommodation space for accommodation of said battery cells, and having a first opening and a second opening which are configured to permit said cooling fluid to flow through said accommodation space from one of said first and second openings to the other one of said first and second openings so as to allow said battery cells to be cooled by said cooling fluid;

a first cell fixture and a second cell fixture each of which is fitted inside said accommodation space, and each of which is formed with a plurality of rows of retaining holes, said retaining holes of each row being staggered with said retaining holes of an adjacent row, and being configured to retain said cell bodies of a respective row of said battery cells so as to permit said battery cells to be held in said accommodation space by said first cell fixture and said second cell fixture, to thereby keep said battery cells in stable position against undesired vibration,

wherein each of said battery cells has a first terminal and a second terminal which are opposite to each other in the upright direction to be disposed at two opposite sides of each of said first cell fixture and said second cell fixture;

wherein said outer casing comprises a surrounding wall that extends in the upright direction from a first surrounding edge to a second surrounding edge;

wherein said first surrounding edge defines said first opening, and said second surrounding edge defines said second opening;

wherein said first terminal is disposed at a first holding web of said first cell fixture;

wherein said second terminal is disposed at a second holding web of said second cell fixture;

wherein said first holding web is disposed at said first surrounding edge and said second holding web is disposed at said second surrounding edge of said surrounding wall;

wherein said at least one battery module further includes a first electrode plate which is electrically connected to said first terminals of said battery cells, and a second electrode plate which is electrically connected to said second terminals of said battery cells;

wherein said battery cells, said first and second electrode plates, and electrical connections among said battery cells and said first and second electrode plates are completely submerged in said cooling fluid;

wherein said first electrode plate is fitted in said first opening, and said second electrode plate is fitted in said second opening such that said first electrode plate and said second electrode plate are submerged in said cooling fluid;

wherein each of said first surrounding edge and said second surrounding edge of said at least one battery module is configured to be brought into mating engagement with a first surrounding edge of an adjacent battery module that provides a fluid-tight seal with said at least one battery module, and is configured to be brought into mating engagement with a cover that provides a fluid-tight seal with said at least one battery module; and

wherein said outer casing is configured such that when one of said first surrounding edge and said second surrounding edge of said at least one battery module is mated with said first surrounding edge of said adjacent battery module, said first electrode plate of said at least one battery module is brought into electrical contact with a second electrode plate of said adjacent battery module within a combined space formed by combining said accommodation space of said at least one battery module and an accommodation space of said adjacent battery module.

2 . The fluid-cooled battery system according to claim 1 , wherein said retaining holes of each odd row are staggered with said retaining holes of an adjacent even row to leave a pair of outboard regions disposed outboard of said retaining holes of the adjacent even row, two through holes being formed respectively in said outboard regions for passage of said cooling fluid.

3 . The fluid-cooled battery system according to claim 2 , wherein said cell fixture has a plurality of inner peripheral surfaces which define said retaining holes, respectively, each of said inner peripheral surfaces being formed with at least one groove which extends in the upright direction to permit passage of said cooling fluid.

4 . The fluid-cooled battery system according to claim 3 , wherein each of said inner peripheral surfaces is formed with two of said grooves which are diametrically opposite to each other.

5 . The fluid-cooled battery system according to claim 1 , wherein

each of said first and second electrode plates has a plurality of passing holes for passage of said cooling fluid.

6 . The fluid-cooled battery system according to claim 5 , wherein said first electrode plate includes

a plate body formed with a plurality of through bores in positions corresponding to said first terminals of said battery cells,

a plurality of contact pads disposed respectively in said through bores to be in electrically contact with said first terminals of said battery cells, respectively, and

a plurality of fusible regions located respectively in said through bores, and each of said fusible regions including a plurality of fusible ribs which are angularly displaced from each other and which extend radially from said respective contact pad to said plate body for electrically connection between said plate body and said respective contact pad.

7 . The fluid-cooled battery system according to claim 5 , wherein said passing holes are in positions corresponding to said grooves of said cell fixture.

8 . The fluid-cooled battery system according to claim 1 , wherein said cooling fluid is an inert dielectric fluid which provides a fire suppression capability.

9 . The fluid-cooled battery system according to claim 8 , wherein said cooling fluid is selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, silicone oil, ester-based oil, engineered fluid, or combinations thereof.