Battery Thermal Management System

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a battery thermal management system includes at least one battery, at least one thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the at least one battery, and a conduit comprising an inlet configured to allow a working fluid to enter and flow into the conduit and into thermal communication with the at least one thermoelectric device. The conduit further comprises an outlet configured to allow the working fluid to exit and flow from the conduit and away from being in thermal communication with the at least one thermoelectric device. The battery thermal management system can further include a first flow control device which directs the working fluid through the inlet of the conduit and a second flow control device which directs the working fluid through the outlet of the conduit. The first flow control device and the second flow control device are each separately operable from one another.

1 . A battery thermal management system comprising:
 at least one battery;   at least one thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the at least one battery;   at least one first conduit comprising at least one inlet configured to allow a first working fluid to enter and flow into the at least one first conduit and into thermal communication with the at least one thermoelectric device, the at least one first conduit comprising at least one outlet configured to allow the first working fluid to exit and flow from the at least one first conduit and away from being in thermal communication with the at least one thermoelectric device;   at least one first flow control device which directs the first working fluid through the at least one inlet of the at least one first conduit;   at least one second flow control device which directs the first working fluid through the at least one outlet of the at least one first conduit; and   wherein the at least one first flow control device and the at least one second flow control device are each separately operable from one another.   
     
     
         2 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow control device comprises a fan. 
     
     
         3 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow control device comprises a pump. 
     
     
         4 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first control device is positioned at an entrance of the at least one inlet and the at least one second control device is positioned at an exit of the at least one outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first control device is configured to push the first working fluid through the at least one inlet and the at least one second control device is configured to pull the first working fluid through the at least one outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow path for the first working fluid in which the first working fluid is in thermal communication with the at least one battery. 
     
     
         7 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 6 , wherein the flow path receives the first working fluid from the at least one outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one second conduit comprising at least one inlet configured to allow a second working fluid to enter and flow into the at least one second conduit and into thermal communication with the at least one thermoelectric device, the at least one second conduit comprising at least one outlet configured to allow the second working fluid to exit and flow from the at least one second conduit and away from being in thermal communication with the at least one thermoelectric device;   at least one third flow control device which directs the second working fluid through the at least one inlet of the at least one second conduit;   at least one fourth flow control device which directs the second working fluid through the at least one outlet of the at least one second conduit; and   wherein the at least third first flow control device and the at least one fourth flow control device are each separately operable from one another.   
     
     
         9 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first flow control device comprises at least two first flow control devices. 
     
     
         10 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one divider portion that is selectively positionable to block the first working fluid from flowing between the at least one first fluid conduit and a selected one of the at least two first flow control devices, wherein each of the at least two first flow control devices are each separately operable from one another. 
     
     
         11 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is re-circulated through the at least one conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid reservoir or source fluidly coupled with the at least one conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid reservoir or source comprises an engine powertrain fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid reservoir or source comprises a radiator. 
     
     
         15 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the first working fluid is substantially thermally isolated from the at least one battery. 
     
     
         16 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies are selectively operable to either heat or cool the at least one battery. 
     
     
         17 . A method of thermally managing a battery system, comprising:
 transferring heat between at least one battery and at least one thermoelectric device;   flowing a working fluid through a fluid conduit in thermal communication with the at least one thermoelectric device;   operating at least one first flow control device to direct the working fluid to be in thermal communication with the at least one thermoelectric device; and   operating at least one second flow control device separately from the operating of the at least one first flow control device to direct the working fluid away from being in thermal communication with the at least one thermoelectric device.   
     
     
         18 . A battery thermal management system comprising:
 at least one battery;   at least one thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the at least one battery;   at least one fluid conduit configured to allow a working fluid to flow therein and to transfer the working fluid into being in thermal communication with the at least one thermoelectric device or away from being in thermal communication with the at least one thermoelectric device;   at least one first flow control device which directs the working fluid through the at least one fluid conduit;   at least one second flow control device which directs the working fluid through the at least one fluid conduit, wherein the at least one first flow control device and the at least one second flow control device are each separately operable from one another; and   at least one divider portion that is selectively positionable to block the working fluid from flowing between the at least one fluid conduit and a selected one of the at least one first flow control device and the at least one second flow control device.   
     
     
         19 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one divider portion is positionable in multiple positions comprising:
 a first position permitting the working fluid to flow between the at least one fluid conduit and the at least one first flow control device and permitting the working fluid to flow between the at least one fluid conduit and the at least one second flow control device;   a second position permitting the working fluid to flow between the at least one fluid conduit and the at least one first flow control device and blocking the working fluid from flowing between the at least one fluid conduit and the at least one second flow control device; and   a third position blocking the working fluid from flowing between the at least one fluid conduit and the at least one first flow control device and permitting the working fluid to flow between the at least one fluid conduit and the at least one second flow control device.   
     
     
         20 . The battery thermal management system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one divider portion comprises a flapper valve.