Thermal conductor for high-energy electrochemical cells

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000

OSTI ID:873237

Hoffman, Joseph A ^[1]; Domroese, Michael K ^[2]; Lindeman, David D ^[3]; Radewald, Vern E ^[4]; Rouillard, Roger ^[5]; Trice, Jennifer L ^[6]

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1. Minneapolis, MN
2. South St. Paul, MN
3. Hudson, WI
4. Austin, TX
5. Beloeil, CA
6. Eagan, MN

A thermal conductor for use with an electrochemical energy storage device is disclosed. The thermal conductor is attached to one or both of the anode and cathode contacts of an electrochemical cell. A resilient portion of the conductor varies in height or position to maintain contact between the conductor and an adjacent wall structure of a containment vessel in response to relative movement between the conductor and the wall structure. The thermal conductor conducts current into and out of the electrochemical cell and conducts thermal energy between the electrochemical cell and thermally conductive and electrically resistive material disposed between the conductor and the wall structure. The thermal conductor may be fabricated to include a resilient portion having one of a substantially C-shaped, double C-shaped, Z-shaped, V-shaped, O-shaped, S-shaped, or finger-shaped cross-section. An elastomeric spring element may be configured so as to be captured by the resilient conductor for purposes of enhancing the functionality of the thermal conductor. The spring element may include a protrusion that provides electrical insulation between the spring conductor and a spring conductor of an adjacently disposed electrochemical cell in the presence of relative movement between the cells and the wall structure. The thermal conductor may also be fabricated from a sheet of electrically conductive material and affixed to the contacts of a number of electrochemical cells.

• Research Organization: United States Advanced Battery Consortium, Dearborn, MI (US)
• DOE Contract Number: FC02-91CE50336
• Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (St. Paul, MN)
• Patent Number(s): US 6117584
• OSTI ID: 873237
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

thermal
conductor
high-energy
electrochemical
cells
energy
storage
device
disclosed
attached
anode
cathode
contacts
cell
resilient
portion
varies
height
position
maintain
contact
adjacent
wall
structure
containment
vessel
response
relative
movement
conducts
current
thermally
conductive
electrically
resistive
material
disposed
fabricated
substantially
c-shaped
double
z-shaped
v-shaped
o-shaped
s-shaped
finger-shaped
cross-section
elastomeric
spring
element
configured
captured
purposes
enhancing
functionality
protrusion
provides
electrical
insulation
adjacently
presence
sheet
affixed
resistive material
electrically resistive
adjacent wall
provides electrical
chemical energy
spring element
containment vessel
electrochemical cells
storage device
conductive material
energy storage
electrochemical cell
electrically conductive
thermal energy
material disposed
wall structure
relative movement
thermally conductive
electrical insulation
electrochemical energy
thermal conductor
cathode contacts
conducts current
conducts thermal
maintain contact
high-energy electrochemical
shaped cross-section
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