Batteries for electric marine propulsion systems, and associated systems and methods

Abstract

A battery pack (e.g., a battery pack for marine environments) can include a lower enclosure having an upper wall and defining a cavity, a plurality of battery cells positioned within the cavity, a radiator assembly positioned above the upper wall of the lower enclosure, a vent in the upper wall of the cavity, and/or a valve configured to selectively facilitate fluid communication between the cavity and the radiator assembly via the vent. In some embodiments, the valve is configured to open in response to increased pressure in the cavity resulting from a thermal runaway event. In some embodiments, the radiator is configured to create a tortuous path and collect flammable particulates from the thermal runaway event.

1 . A battery pack comprising:
 a lower enclosure having an upper wall and defining a cavity;   a plurality of battery cells positioned within the cavity;   a radiator assembly positioned above the upper wall of the lower enclosure;   a vent in the upper wall of the cavity; and   a valve configured to selectively facilitate fluid communication between the cavity and the radiator assembly via the vent;   wherein:
 the valve is configured to open in response to increased pressure in the cavity resulting from a thermal runaway event; and 
 the radiator assembly is configured to create a tortuous path and collect flammable particulates from the thermal runaway event. 
   
     
     
         2 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the radiator assembly comprises a heat sink, and wherein the heat sink is configured to collect particulates from the cavity during the thermal runaway event. 
     
     
         3 . The battery pack of  claim 2 , wherein the heat sink occupies more than 50% of a footprint of the upper wall when observed from above. 
     
     
         4 . The battery pack of  claim 2 , wherein the heat sink occupies more than 66% of a footprint of the upper wall when observed from above. 
     
     
         5 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , further comprising an air moving device positioned above the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The battery pack of  claim 5 , further comprising a top cover positioned above the radiator assembly and above the air moving device. 
     
     
         7 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , further comprising a second vent in the upper wall of the cavity, a second valve configured to selectively facilitate fluid communication between the cavity and the radiator assembly via the second vent, a third vent in the upper wall of the cavity, and a third valve configured to selectively facilitate fluid communication between the cavity and the radiator assembly via the third vent. 
     
     
         8 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , further comprising an insulative and/or protective coating covering less than 98% of a length of each battery call and more than 10% of the length of each battery cell. 
     
     
         23 . The battery pack of  claim 22  wherein the insulative and/or protective coating covers less than 35% of a length of each battery cell and more than 10% of the length of each battery cell. 
     
     
         24 . The battery pack of  claim 22  wherein the insulative and/or protective coating covers less than 75% of a length of each battery cell and more than 25% of the length of each battery cell. 
     
     
         25 . The battery pack of  claim 1  wherein individual battery cells of the plurality of battery cells include a cathode and an anode, the battery pack further comprising a collector strip electrically connected to the anode and cathode of at least a subset of the plurality of battery cells. 
     
     
         26 . The battery pack of  claim 25  wherein the individual battery cells includes an end, and wherein the cathode and the anode are positioned on the end. 
     
     
         27 . The battery pack of  claim 25 , further comprising an insulative and/or protective coating covering at least a portion of the collector strip. 
     
     
         28 . The battery pack of  claim 27  wherein the insulative and/or protective coating fully encapsulates all points of attachment between the collector strip, the anode, and the cathode. 
     
     
         29 . A method of manufacturing a battery pack, comprising:
 providing a lower enclosure having an upper wall and defining a cavity, wherein the upper wall includes a vent;   positioning a plurality of battery cells within the cavity;   positioning a radiator assembly above the upper wall of the lower enclosure; and   positioning a valve to selectively facilitate fluid communication between the cavity and the radiator assembly via the vent, wherein:
 the valve is configured to open in response to increased pressure in the cavity resulting from a thermal runaway event; and 
 the radiator assembly is configured to create a tortuous path and collect flammable particulates from the thermal runaway event. 
   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising applying an insulative and/or protective coating to individual ones of the plurality of battery cells, wherein applying the insulative and/or protective coating includes covering less than 98% of a length of each battery call and more than 10% of the length of each battery cell. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein applying the insulative and/or protective coating to individual ones of the plurality of battery cells includes dipping the individual ones of the plurality of battery cells into a dipping fixture including a coating material. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein individual battery cells of the plurality of battery cells include an end having a cathode and an anode, and wherein the method further comprises electrically connecting a collector strip to the anode and the cathode of at least a subset of the plurality of battery cells. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising applying an insulative and/or protective coating to covering at least a portion of the collector strip. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein applying the insulative and/or protective coating includes fully encapsulating all points of attachment between the collector strip, the anode, and the cathode.