A battery module (19) having a number of electrically interconnected battery cells (10), wherein the individual battery cells (10) are temperature-controlled by means of a temperature control fluid (70). Between the battery cells (10), there extends a duct system (30, 62, 66, 68) through which the temperature control fluid (70) flows. The duct system (30, 62, 66, 68) is separated completely from a degassing system (16, 54) of the battery cells (10).

A battery module (19) having a number of electrically interconnected battery cells (10), wherein the individual battery cells (10) are temperature-controlled by means of a temperature control fluid (70). Between the battery cells (10), there extends a duct system (30, 62, 66, 68) through which the temperature control fluid (70) flows. The duct system (30, 62, 66, 68) is separated completely from a degassing system (16, 54) of the battery cells (10).

A thermal runaway containment apparatus for a battery includes an enclosure base configured to receive a battery therein, an enclosure lid, and a lid constraining structure. The enclosure base has an interconnected floor and side walls, with a top rim defining an open top. The enclosure lid is seatable on the top rim in a seated position that closes the enclosure base. The lid constraining structure is positioned above the lid such that vertical movement of the lid is constrained between the seated position and a maximum partially separated position. When the lid is in the maximum partially separated position, a tortuous flow path into the base is defined; the tortuous flow path allows for venting of pressurized gases out of the enclosure base while impeding inflow of gases at a lower pressure than the pressurized gases into the enclosure base.

A thermal runaway containment apparatus for a battery includes an enclosure base configured to receive a battery therein, an enclosure lid, and a lid constraining structure. The enclosure base has an interconnected floor and side walls, with a top rim defining an open top. The enclosure lid is seatable on the top rim in a seated position that closes the enclosure base. The lid constraining structure is positioned above the lid such that vertical movement of the lid is constrained between the seated position and a maximum partially separated position. When the lid is in the maximum partially separated position, a tortuous flow path into the base is defined; the tortuous flow path allows for venting of pressurized gases out of the enclosure base while impeding inflow of gases at a lower pressure than the pressurized gases into the enclosure base.

Disclosed herein is a battery module configured to have a structure in which two or more unit modules, each of which includes one or more battery cells, a frame member configured to have a structure to surround outer edges of the one or more battery cells, the frame member including cooling manifold elements located at opposite ends of one side of the outer edges of the battery cells, and a cooling member mounted in the frame member such that the cooling member faces the battery cells while being in contact with the battery cells, the cooling member including a plate-shaped cooling fin having a shape and a size corresponding to those of the battery cells and a coolant conduit having a hollow structure located at an outer edge of the cooling fin, are arranged while being in tight contact with each other, wherein the coolant conduit includes a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port connected to the cooling manifold elements of the frame member of each of the unit modules in a communicating fashion.

Disclosed herein is a battery module configured to have a structure in which two or more unit modules, each of which includes one or more battery cells, a frame member configured to have a structure to surround outer edges of the one or more battery cells, the frame member including cooling manifold elements located at opposite ends of one side of the outer edges of the battery cells, and a cooling member mounted in the frame member such that the cooling member faces the battery cells while being in contact with the battery cells, the cooling member including a plate-shaped cooling fin having a shape and a size corresponding to those of the battery cells and a coolant conduit having a hollow structure located at an outer edge of the cooling fin, are arranged while being in tight contact with each other, wherein the coolant conduit includes a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port connected to the cooling manifold elements of the frame member of each of the unit modules in a communicating fashion.

A passive battery cooler for a battery mounted on a vehicle, includes a battery case that accommodates the battery and attaches to a lower side of a floor panel of the vehicle. The battery cooler also includes a fixing bracket that fixes the battery case to the floor panel of the vehicle, wherein the fixing bracket and a bottom surface of the battery case constitute a ventilation passage that extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

A vehicle includes: a PCU cooling system; a PCU that is cooled by the PCU cooling system; a buck converter; an auxiliary battery that is charged through a buck operation of the buck converter; and an ECU that outputs a first target voltage and a second target voltage respectively to the buck converters. The buck converter is disposed inside the PCU, performs a buck operation so that a target voltage is generated, and outputs a stepped-down electric power to a power line. The buck converter is disposed outside the PCU, performs a buck operation so that a target voltage is generated, and outputs a stepped-down electric power to the power line. The ECU sets the target voltage higher than the target voltage when the ECU causes PCU to operate.

A method of detecting a leakage of a coolant in a battery cooling device for a vehicle includes: receiving, by a controller, a first pressure value from a first pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure in a coolant pipe; and determining, by the controller, whether the coolant leaks in the coolant pipe based on the first pressure value.

A battery pack includes a plurality of cell assemblies each of which include one or more prismatic batteries. A frame has legs sized and configured to be positioned around the prismatic batteries. At least one leg includes a rear face, curved outer edge and a side face. A thermal transfer sheet is made from a sheet of a compressed mass of exfoliated graphite particles. Each thermal transfer sheet is positioned to contact the major surface of the at least one prismatic battery and is bent over the curved outer edge. At least a portion of each thermal transfer sheet is secured between a heat sink and the side face.