Thermal management of batteries using synthetic jets

Abstract

A thermally managed power source ( 201 ) is provided herein which comprises a first battery module ( 203 ), and a first synthetic jet ejector ( 215 ) disposed on a surface of said first battery module and being adapted to direct a plurality of synthetic jets along a surface ( 211 ) of said first battery module.

1 . A power source, comprising:
 a first battery module; and   a first synthetic jet ejector adapted to direct a plurality of synthetic jets along a surface of said first battery module.   
     
     
         2 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein said first synthetic jet ejector is disposed on a surface of said first battery module. 
     
     
         3 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein said first synthetic jet ejector has a rounded edge which protrudes past the plane of a major surface of said first battery module, and wherein said first synthetic jet ejector is adapted to direct a plurality of synthetic jets along said major surface. 
     
     
         4 . The power source of  claim 3 , wherein said first synthetic jet ejector has a plurality of apertures disposed along said rounded edge. 
     
     
         5 . The power source of  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of apertures are disposed adjacent to said major surface. 
     
     
         6 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein said first synthetic jet ejector has first and second rounded edges which protrude past the planes of first and second major surfaces of said first battery module, and wherein said first synthetic jet ejector is adapted to direct a plurality of synthetic jets along said first and second major surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The power source of  claim 6 , wherein said first synthetic jet ejector has a plurality of apertures disposed along each of said first and second rounded edges. 
     
     
         8 . The power source of  claim 1 , further comprising a second battery module and a second synthetic jet ejector disposed on a surface of said second battery module, said second synthetic jet ejector being adapted to direct a plurality of synthetic jets along a surface of said second battery module. 
     
     
         9 . The power source of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second battery modules are disposed adjacent to, and spaced apart from, each other. 
     
     
         10 . The power source of  claim 9 , wherein each of said first and second synthetic jet ejectors has a first edge which protrudes past a first major surface of said first and second battery modules, respectively, and wherein said first edges of said first and second synthetic jet ejectors constrict the flow of fluid between said first and second battery modules. 
     
     
         11 . The power source of  claim 10 , wherein said first edges of said first and second synthetic jet ejectors are adjacent to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The power source of  claim 10 , wherein each of said first edges of said first and second synthetic jet ejectors are equipped with a first set of apertures. 
     
     
         13 . The power source of  claim 12 , wherein each of said first edges of said first and second synthetic jet ejectors are rounded. 
     
     
         14 . The power source of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger disposed adjacent to said first battery module, wherein said heat exchanger has a plurality of channels defined therein, and wherein said synthetic jet ejector is adapted to direct a synthetic jet into each of said plurality of channels. 
     
     
         15 . The power source of  claim 14 , wherein said heat exchanger has at least 8 channels. 
     
     
         16 . The power source of  claim 14 , wherein said heat exchanger has at least 16 channels. 
     
     
         17 . An electronic device incorporating the power source of  claim 14 , wherein said heat exchanger is incorporated into the chassis of the electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of handheld electronic devices and laptop computers. 
     
     
         18 . The power source of  claim 14 , wherein the flow of fluid through the channels of said heat exchanger occurs at a rate of at least 2.5 CFM. 
     
     
         19 . The power source of  claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a first, thermally conductive portion which is in thermal contact with said first battery module, and a second thermally insulative portion which is spaced apart from said first battery module. 
     
     
         20 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein said first synthetic jet ejector is disposed on a surface of said first battery module. 
     
     
         21 - 25 . (canceled)