A thermal management device for a battery pack 104 of an UAV is disclosed. The thermal management device 100 comprises an insulating enclosure 102 that is made of a material comprising at least an EPP foam for enclosing the battery pack 104, and one or more heating coils 110. The heating coils 110 are electrically powered from an external power source 112 for pre-heating the insulating enclosure 102 to a predefined temperature before flight of the UAV. The EPP foam of the insulating enclosure 102 provides high thermal insulation for retaining the heat of the insulating enclosure 102 for heating the battery pack 104 and maintaining the temperature of the battery pack 104 above a threshold temperature when the UAV flies in a sub-zero ambience temperature. The insulating enclosure 102 with the one or more heating coils 110 are configured to provide uniform heat distribution across the battery pack 104.

A lithium-ion battery thermal management system and method based on PCM and mutually embedded fins. The thermal management system includes a battery box, a lithium-ion battery pack and a temperature detection unit are arranged in the battery box; the lithium-ion battery pack at least includes two cells, the periphery of each cell is wrapped by a battery inner shell and a battery outer shell, and PCM is filled between the battery inner shell and the battery outer shell; a plurality of fins are arranged on the battery outer shell on the opposite sides of the two adjacent cells, the fins are arranged at intervals, the fins on the opposite sides of the two adjacent cells are arranged in a staggered manner, and heat-conducting plates are connected between each fin and the battery inner shell.

A lithium-ion battery thermal management system and method based on PCM and mutually embedded fins. The thermal management system includes a battery box, a lithium-ion battery pack and a temperature detection unit are arranged in the battery box; the lithium-ion battery pack at least includes two cells, the periphery of each cell is wrapped by a battery inner shell and a battery outer shell, and PCM is filled between the battery inner shell and the battery outer shell; a plurality of fins are arranged on the battery outer shell on the opposite sides of the two adjacent cells, the fins are arranged at intervals, the fins on the opposite sides of the two adjacent cells are arranged in a staggered manner, and heat-conducting plates are connected between each fin and the battery inner shell.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for controlling the spacing of battery cells. The apparatus monitors the temperature of the battery cells, and when a battery cell temperature value exceeds a threshold, changes the configuration of the battery cell spacing from an initial closed configuration to an open configuration using a spacer mechanism. The spacing during the closed configuration is a first distance between the battery cells, and during the open configuration is a second distance between the battery cells. The second distance is substantially large than the first distance to position the lithium ion cells further apart, lowering the probability a thermal runaway event propagating from one cell to adjacent cells. The spacer mechanism may include a telescoping or expanding frame, a motor, one or more sensors, and a controller configured to operate the mechanical spacer.

An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery pack having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, a coolant source to cool the battery pack, and a proportional valve in communication with the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet, and in communication with the coolant source. A battery control module controls the proportional valve such that a direction of flow is switchable at the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet based on temperatures at the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet to provide bi-directional cooling flow through the battery pack. The battery control module directly connects the coolant outlet to the coolant inlet via the proportional valve to bypass the coolant source in response to a predetermined condition.

An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery pack having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, a coolant source to cool the battery pack, and a proportional valve in communication with the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet, and in communication with the coolant source. A battery control module controls the proportional valve such that a direction of flow is switchable at the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet based on temperatures at the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet to provide bi-directional cooling flow through the battery pack. The battery control module directly connects the coolant outlet to the coolant inlet via the proportional valve to bypass the coolant source in response to a predetermined condition.

A method of preconditioning a battery of a vehicle includes determining a baseline preconditioning start time relative to an estimated time of arrival at a charging station. The method further includes analyzing a route of the vehicle to the charging station to determine a route characteristic. The method further includes modifying the baseline preconditioning start time based on the route characteristic to determine a route-based preconditioning start time.

In general, the present disclosure is directed to forming lithium ion battery (LIB) cells with structure and chemistry that achieves formation of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer that allows for operating in relatively high ambient temperature environments, e.g., up to and exceeding 60° C., while significantly reducing self-discharge amounts, e.g., relative to other LIB cells formed with SEI layers measuring about 1-2 nanometers in thickness. For example, one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure enables a self-discharge amount for a LIB cell of 10% or less over a four (4) week period of time when operating at an ambient temperature of 60 degrees Celsius.

A system and method for controlling a vehicle thermal management apparatus, may include a component state unit of collecting a state of a vehicle component, a disturbance collection unit of collecting a state of a disturbance affecting thermal management of the vehicle component, a determination unit of calculating an amount of heat exchange between the vehicle component and a thermal management apparatus, which is required in the future, based on a past state value of the vehicle component collected through the component state unit and a past state value of the disturbance collected through the disturbance collection unit, and an operation unit of controlling operation of the thermal management apparatus based on the amount of heat exchange determined by the calculation unit.

A system and method for controlling a vehicle thermal management apparatus, may include a component state unit of collecting a state of a vehicle component, a disturbance collection unit of collecting a state of a disturbance affecting thermal management of the vehicle component, a determination unit of calculating an amount of heat exchange between the vehicle component and a thermal management apparatus, which is required in the future, based on a past state value of the vehicle component collected through the component state unit and a past state value of the disturbance collected through the disturbance collection unit, and an operation unit of controlling operation of the thermal management apparatus based on the amount of heat exchange determined by the calculation unit.