In-situ short circuit protection system and method for high-energy electrochemical cells

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000

OSTI ID:873139

Gauthier, Michel ^[1]; Domroese, Michael K ^[2]; Hoffman, Joseph A ^[3]; Lindeman, David D ^[4]; Noel, Joseph-Robert-Gaetan ^[5]; Radewald, Vern E ^[6]; Rouillard, Jean ^[7]; Rouillard, Roger ^[8]; Shiota, Toshimi ^[9]; Trice, Jennifer L ^[10]

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1. La Prairie, CA
2. South St. Paul, MN
3. Minneapolis, MN
4. Hudson, WI
5. St-Hubert, CA
6. Austin, TX
7. Saint-Luc, CA
8. Beloeil, CA
9. St. Bruno, CA
10. Eagan, MN

An in-situ thermal management system for an energy storage device. The energy storage device includes a plurality of energy storage cells each being coupled in parallel to common positive and negative connections. Each of the energy storage cells, in accordance with the cell's technology, dimensions, and thermal/electrical properties, is configured to have a ratio of energy content-to-contact surface area such that thermal energy produced by a short-circuit in a particular cell is conducted to a cell adjacent the particular cell so as to prevent the temperature of the particular cell from exceeding a breakdown temperature. In one embodiment, a fuse is coupled in series with each of a number of energy storage cells. The fuses are activated by a current spike capacitively produced by a cell upon occurrence of a short-circuit in the cell, thereby electrically isolating the short-circuited cell from the common positive and negative connections.

• Research Organization: United States Advanced Battery Consortium, Dearborn, MI (US)
• DOE Contract Number: FC02-91CE50336
• Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (Saint Paul, MN); Hydro-Quebec (Montreal, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6099986
• OSTI ID: 873139
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

in-situ
circuit
protection
method
high-energy
electrochemical
cells
thermal
management
energy
storage
device
plurality
coupled
parallel
common
positive
negative
connections
accordance
cell
technology
dimensions
electrical
properties
configured
ratio
content-to-contact
surface
produced
short-circuit
particular
conducted
adjacent
prevent
temperature
exceeding
breakdown
embodiment
fuse
series
fuses
activated
current
spike
capacitively
occurrence
electrically
isolating
short-circuited
thermal management
storage cells
contact surface
electrochemical cells
storage device
energy storage
electrochemical cell
thermal energy
electrical properties
energy produced
storage cell
energy content
electrically isolating
in-situ thermal
high-energy electrochemical
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