Lithium ion battery module having a compartmentalized housing

Abstract

A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A battery module, comprising:
 a housing having a plurality of compartments within the housing, the housing having an upper edge;   a plurality of cell elements corresponding in quantity to the plurality of compartments within the housing, each one of the plurality of cell elements being disposed in each of the compartments of the housing, each one of the plurality of cell elements having an anode and a cathode; and   a cover disposed over the plurality of cell elements and against the upper edge of the housing to form a shared space between the cover and the plurality of compartments of the housing, the shared space being in fluid communication with each compartment of the plurality of compartments.   
     
     
         2 . The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a bottom side opposite the upper edge, the battery module further comprising a thermal management manifold disposed along the bottom side of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The battery module of  claim 2 , wherein the housing further includes a plurality of thermal management passages, the plurality of thermal management passages being fluidly coupled with the thermal management manifold. 
     
     
         4 . The battery module of  claim 3 , wherein a first thermal management passage of the plurality of thermal management passages differs in size from a second thermal management passage of the plurality of thermal management passages. 
     
     
         5 . The battery module of  claim 1 , further comprising a first bus bar electrically connecting all of the anodes and a second bus bar electrically connecting all of the cathodes. 
     
     
         6 . The battery module of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pouches, wherein each of the plurality of cell elements is contained with a corresponding pouch of the plurality of pouches, the cathode and the anode of a corresponding cell element extending through the pouch. 
     
     
         7 . The battery module of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of pouches are one of polymer and metal pouches. 
     
     
         8 . The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the battery module further includes an electrolyte, and the shared space further provides fluid communication of the electrolyte among the plurality of compartments. 
     
     
         9 . The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a plurality of extensions, at least one extension of the plurality of extensions providing at least one of conductive cooling and heating of at least one of the cell elements. 
     
     
         10 . The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         11 . The battery module of  claim 10 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes has a tube end, and the housing further includes:
 a thermally conductive member removably coupled to the tube end of the at least one tube.   
     
     
         12 . The battery module of  claim 10 , wherein at least two tubes of the plurality of tubes are physically interconnected. 
     
     
         13 . The battery module of  claim 10 , wherein the housing further includes:
 a plurality of partitions, each partition of the plurality of partitions forming one compartment of the plurality of compartments.   
     
     
         14 . The battery module of  claim 13 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes is enclosed at least by two partitions of the plurality of partitions. 
     
     
         15 . The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the anode and the cathode of each of the cell elements protrude into the shared space. 
     
     
         16 . The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the battery module is lithium-ion battery module, and at least one cell element is lithium-ion cell element.