High Power Battery Cells Having Improved Cooling

Abstract

A thermal management system for a battery pack having at least one battery cell is provided. The thermal management system may include a cooling plate disposed adjacent to the at least one battery cell. The cooling plate may include thermal pyrolytic graphite (TPG) to dissipate heat away from the at least one battery cell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A battery pack comprising:
 at least one battery cell; and   at least one cooling plate having a first side disposed adjacent to the at least one battery cell and including thermal pyrolytic graphite (TPG) to dissipate heat away from the at least one battery cell, wherein the TPG forms a heat spreader having a substantially T-shape, and the heat spreader includes a header and a leg extending substantially perpendicularly from the header.   
     
     
         2 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the TPG is embedded in the at least one cooling plate. 
     
     
         3 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the TPG is exposed to the at least one battery cell. 
     
     
         4 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the TPG is in direct physical contact with the at least one battery cell. 
     
     
         5 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the TPG is uniformly applied to the at least one cooling plate. 
     
     
         6 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cooling plate is formed from aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cold plate with which the at least one cooling plate is in contact. 
     
     
         8 . The battery pack of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one cold plate is arranged substantially perpendicular to the at least one cooling plate. 
     
     
         9 . The battery pack of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one cold plate includes a liquid circulation path therein. 
     
     
         10 . The battery pack of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one cold plate includes a first cold plate and a second cold plate. 
     
     
         11 . The battery pack of  claim 10 , wherein the first cold plate is arranged substantially parallel to the second cold plate. 
     
     
         12 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , further comprising an insulating member adjacent to which a second side of the at least one cooling plate is disposed. 
     
     
         13 . The battery pack of  claim 12 , wherein the insulating member is formed from an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         14 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one battery cell includes a plurality of battery cells, and the at least one cooling plate is disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of battery cells. 
     
     
         15 . A battery pack comprising:
 at least one battery cell; and   at least one cooling plate having a first side disposed adjacent to the at least one battery cell and including thermal pyrolytic graphite (TPG) to dissipate heat away from the at least one battery cell, wherein:   the TPG is embedded in a base layer of the at least one cooling plate;   the TPG is in direct physical contact with the at least one battery cell;   the TPG forms a heat spreader having a substantially T-shape; and   the heat spreader includes a header and a leg extending substantially perpendicularly from the header.   
     
     
         16 . The battery pack of  claim 15 , wherein the heat spreader has an exposed surface facing the at least one battery cell, and the entire exposed surface of the heat spreader is in direct physical contact with the at least one battery cell. 
     
     
         17 . The battery pack of  claim 15 , wherein the base layer includes a first portion that is covered by the TPG and a second portion that is not covered by the TPG. 
     
     
         18 . The battery pack of  claim 17 , wherein the second portion of the base layer is also in direct physical contact with the at least one battery cell. 
     
     
         19 . The battery pack of  claim 17  wherein:
 the TPG has a first surface facing the at least one battery cell; 
 the second portion of the base layer has a second surface facing the at least one battery cell; and 
 the first and second surfaces are substantially coplanar. 
 
     
     
         20 . A battery pack comprising:
 at least one battery cell; and   at least one cooling plate having a first side disposed adjacent to the at least one battery cell and including thermal pyrolytic graphite (TPG) to dissipate heat away from the at least one battery cell, wherein:   the TPG is embedded in a base layer of the at least one cooling plate;   the base layer includes a first portion that is covered by the TPG and a second portion that is not covered by the TPG; and   the TPG and the second portion of the base layer are in direct physical contact with the at least one battery cell.