Abstract: A cooling structure for a vehicle battery cell assembly includes a receptacle having a thermally-conductive floor. At least one first thermally conductive structure is positioned in an interior of the receptacle and in direct physical contact with a first side of the floor, and at least one second thermally conductive structure positioned in the interior of the receptacle in direct physical contact with the at least one first thermally conductive structure and spaced apart from the first side of the floor by the first thermally conductive structure. The cooling structure also includes a coolant conduit having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow passage in fluid communication with the coolant conduit inlet and outlet, the flow passage being in direct physical contact with an exterior of the receptacle along a second side of the floor opposite the first side of the floor.

Abstract: One or more methods of fabricating a microscale canopy wick structure having an array of individual wicks having one or more canopy members. Each method includes selectively etching a substrate to control the thickness of the canopy members and also control the width of a fluid flow channel between adjacent wicks in a manner that enhances the overall performance of the microscale canopy wick structure.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly, a heat pipe for such a fuel cell assembly, and a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell having an MEA structure, and a pair of heat pipe separator plates in physical and thermal contact with a planar surface of the fuel cell. Each heat pipe separator plate includes an external heat transfer fin to dissipate a portion of the heat generated by the fuel cell through exposed outer peripheral edges thereof. Each heat pipe separator plate also includes voids formed in an interior planar surface thereof, to be aligned with voids of other heat pipe separator plates when the fuel cell assembly is arranged in a stack. Upper voids are to define upper interior channels in fluid communication with a portion of the air stream supplied to the cathode. A heat transfer insert is arranged in the upper voids, and includes internal heat transfer fins to dissipate another portion of the heat into the upper interior channels for contact with the air stream.

Abstract: A cooling structure for a vehicle battery cell assembly includes a receptacle having a thermally-conductive floor. At least one first thermally conductive structure is positioned in an interior of the receptacle and in direct physical contact with a first side of the floor, and at least one second thermally conductive structure positioned in the interior of the receptacle in direct physical contact with the at least one first thermally conductive structure and spaced apart from the first side of the floor by the first thermally conductive structure. The cooling structure also includes a coolant conduit having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow passage in fluid communication with the coolant conduit inlet and outlet, the flow passage being in direct physical contact with an exterior of the receptacle along a second side of the floor opposite the first side of the floor.

Abstract: One or more methods of fabricating a microscale canopy wick structure having an array of individual wicks having one or more canopy members. Each method includes selectively etching a substrate to control the thickness of the canopy members and also control the width of a fluid flow channel between adjacent wicks in a manner that enhances the overall performance of the microscale canopy wick structure.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly, a heat pipe for such a fuel cell assembly, and a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell having an MEA structure, and a pair of heat pipe separator plates in physical and thermal contact with a planar surface of the fuel cell. Each heat pipe separator plate includes an external heat transfer fin to dissipate a portion of the heat generated by the fuel cell through exposed outer peripheral edges thereof. Each heat pipe separator plate also includes voids formed in an interior planar surface thereof, to be aligned with voids of other heat pipe separator plates when the fuel cell assembly is arranged in a stack. Upper voids are to define upper interior channels in fluid communication with a portion of the air stream supplied to the cathode. A heat transfer insert is arranged in the upper voids, and includes internal heat transfer fins to dissipate another portion of the heat into the upper interior channels for contact with the air stream.

Abstract: Sugar alcohol blends of galactitol and mannitol and compositions comprising such blends are disclosed as phase change materials (PCMs). A method of forming carbon nanotubes on a carbon substrate is described. Carbon substrates with carbon nanotubes, in particular, conformal layers of carbon nanotubes on carbon substrates, are also disclosed, as are methods of making and using these materials. Thermal storage units are also provided. The thermal storage units can comprise a heat exchange path through which a heat exchange medium flows, and a thermal storage medium in thermal contact with the heat exchange path.

Abstract: Sugar alcohol blends of galactitol and mannitol and compositions comprising such blends are disclosed as phase change materials (PCMs). A method of forming carbon nanotubes on a carbon substrate is described. Carbon substrates with carbon nanotubes, in particular, conformal layers of carbon nanotubes on carbon substrates, are also disclosed, as are methods of making and using these materials. Thermal storage units are also provided. The thermal storage units can comprise a heat exchange path through which a heat exchange medium flows, and a thermal storage medium in thermal contact with the heat exchange path.