Energy storage system with heat pipe thermal management

Abstract

An energy storage system includes multiple cells, a heat pipe, a first heat transfer channel, and a second heat transfer channel. Each cell has a first end with anode and cathode terminals and a second end opposite the first end with the multiple cells arranged so that the second ends are aligned. The heat pipe has a U-shape and includes an evaporation portion having a flat evaporation surface facing the second ends of the multiple cells, a first condensation portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the evaporation portion, and a second condensation portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the evaporation portion. The first condensation portion is at a first end of the evaporation portion and the second condensation portion is at a second end of the evaporation portion. The first heat transfer channel abuts the first condensation portion and the second heat transfer channel abuts the second condensation portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An energy storage system comprising:
 multiple cells, each cell having a first end with anode and cathode terminals, and a second end opposite the first end, the multiple cells arranged so that the second ends are aligned;   a heat pipe having a U-shape, the heat pipe including an evaporation portion having a flat evaporation surface thermally coupled to the second ends of the multiple cells, a first condensation portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the evaporation portion, and a second condensation portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the evaporation portion, the first condensation portion at a first end of the evaporation portion, and the second condensation portion at a second end of the evaporation portion;   a first heat transfer channel abutting the first condensation portion, the first heat transfer channel configured to reject thermal energy from, or bring thermal energy to, the first condensation portion; and   a second heat transfer channel abutting the second condensation portion, the second heat transfer channel configured to reject thermal energy from, or bring thermal energy to, the second condensation portion.   
     
     
         2 . The energy storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising electrical connections interconnecting the multiple cells. 
     
     
         3 . The energy storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one clamshell that holds the multiple cells in place. 
     
     
         4 . The energy storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric insulator layer disposed between the flat evaporation surface and the multiple cells, the electrical insulator being thermally conductive. 
     
     
         5 . The energy storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising a phase-change fluid within the heat pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The energy storage system of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one interior channel within the heat pipe that aids flow of the phase-change fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The energy storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first manifold coupled to first ends of the first and second heat transfer channels; and   a second manifold coupled to second ends of the first and second heat transfer channels to enable flow of coolant from the first manifold to the second manifold through the first and second heat transfer channels.   
     
     
         8 . The energy storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple cells are positioned so that the second ends are aligned with a vertical plane and the flat evaporation surface extends along the vertical plane. 
     
     
         9 . The energy storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple cells have cylinder shapes that are vertically oriented with respect to the flat evaporation surface. 
     
     
         10 . An energy storage system comprising:
 multiple cells, each cylindrically shaped cell having a first end with anode and cathode terminals, and a second end opposite the first end, the multiple cells arranged so that the second ends are aligned;   a flexible printed circuit that overlies and interconnects electrical terminals of the multiple cells;   a heat pipe having a U-shape, the heat pipe including an evaporation portion having a flat evaporation surface thermally coupled to the second ends of the multiple cells, a first condensation portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the evaporation portion, and a second condensation portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the evaporation portion, the first condensation portion at a first end of the evaporation portion, and the second condensation portion at a second end of the evaporation portion, wherein the multiple cells are vertically oriented with respect to the flat evaporation surface;   an electric insulator layer disposed between the flat evaporation surface and the multiple cells, the electrical insulator being thermally conductive;   a first heat transfer channel abutting the first condensation portion, the first heat transfer channel configured to reject thermal energy from, or bring thermal energy to, the first condensation portion; and   a second heat transfer channel abutting the second condensation portion, the second heat transfer channel configured to reject thermal energy from, or bring thermal energy to, the second condensation portion.   
     
     
         11 . The energy storage system of  claim 10 , further comprising a phase-change fluid within the heat pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The energy storage system of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one interior channel within the heat pipe that aids flow of the phase-change fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The energy storage system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first manifold coupled to first ends of the first and second heat transfer channels; and   a second manifold coupled to second ends of the first and second heat transfer channels to enable flow of coolant from the first manifold to the second manifold through the first and second heat transfer channels.   
     
     
         14 . The energy storage system of  claim 10 , wherein the multiple cells have cylinder shapes and are vertically oriented with respect to the flat evaporation surface. 
     
     
         15 . An energy storage system for containing multiple cells, each cylindrical shaped cell having a first end with anode and cathode terminals, and a second end opposite the first end, the multiple cells arranged so that the second ends are aligned, the energy storage system comprising:
 a heat pipe having a U-shape, the heat pipe including an evaporation portion having a flat evaporation surface thermally coupled to the second ends of the multiple cells, a first condensation portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the evaporation portion, and a second condensation portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the evaporation portion, the first condensation portion at a first end of the evaporation portion, and the second condensation portion at a second end of the evaporation portion;   a first heat transfer channel abutting the first condensation portion, the first heat transfer channel configured to reject thermal energy from, or bring thermal energy to, the first condensation portion; and   a second heat transfer channel abutting the second condensation portion, the second heat transfer channel configured to reject thermal energy from, or bring thermal energy to, the second condensation portion.   
     
     
         16 . The energy storage system of  claim 15 , further comprising electrical connections interconnecting the multiple cells. 
     
     
         17 . The energy storage system of  claim 15 , further comprising an electric insulator layer disposed between the flat evaporation surface and the multiple cells, the electrical insulator being thermally conductive. 
     
     
         18 . The energy storage system of  claim 15 , further comprising a phase-change fluid within the heat pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The energy storage system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a first manifold coupled to first ends of the first and second heat transfer channels; and   a second manifold coupled to second ends of the first and second heat transfer channels to enable flow of coolant from the first manifold to the second manifold through the first and second heat transfer channels.   
     
     
         20 . The energy storage system of  claim 15 , wherein the multiple cells are positioned so that the second ends are aligned with a vertical plane and the flat evaporation surface extends along the vertical plane.