Abstract: Provided is a battery that may include a first terminal or cable, a second terminal or a cable, a thermal fuse configured to connect to the first terminal or cable and the second terminal or cable, a first sleeving layer that is disposed on the thermal fuse, and that is configured to muffle an arc explosion of the thermal fuse and encapsulate molten material generated by the arc explosion of the thermal fuse, and a second sleeving layer that is disposed on the first sleeving layer, and that is configured to encapsulate the molten material generated by the arc explosion of the thermal fuse that penetrates the first sleeving layer. An overcurrent protection system and a sleeving are also provided.

Abstract: A vent assembly for a battery or a electrochemical cell may include a vent body configured to connect to a battery casing or a electrochemical cell body, a flame arrester and/or a pressure valve disposed in the vent body, a membrane disposed in the vent body between a vent opening of the battery or the electrochemical cell and the flame arrester and/or the pressure valve, and that is configured to shield the flame arrester and/or the pressure valve from electrolyte solution of the battery or the electrochemical cell, and a seal disposed between the vent body and the membrane. Also, a battery including a vent assembly.

Abstract: A power electronics assembly may include a power component having a thermally and electrically conductive surface; a printed circuit board having a slot; and a bussing element having a protrusion that directly contacts the thermally and electrically conductive surface of the power component via the slot of the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being disposed between the power component and the bussing element.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fire suppression, a fire suppression system including a container configured to receive frames, each of the frames including battery modules; a pipe system including at least one vertically extending pipe, the at least one vertically extending pipe configured to be provided between a respective two of the frames and configured to supply suppressant to at least one of the battery modules of each of the respective two of the frames via slots of the vertically extending pipe; at least one tank connected to the pipe system and configured to store the suppressant; at least one pump configured to recirculate the suppressant to the pipe system or a tank of the at least one tank; and an inlet body configured to connect with a suppressant source, that is external to the container, to provide new suppressant into the pipe system or the at least one tank.

Abstract: Provided are battery modules having two different types electrochemistry connected in series, which includes a plurality of a first cell, wherein the first cell includes an anode active material of graphite, Si, SiOx, or a blend thereof as a main component (“a GSi cell”), and at least one of a second cell, wherein the second cell includes an anode active material of a lithium titanate oxide or titanate oxide able to be lithiated as a main component (“a LTO cell”). Also provided are battery systems that include a plurality of the battery modules.

Abstract: Provided is a positive electrode active material for a lithium-ion battery, the positive electrode active material including a blend of a doped lithium manganese iron phosphate (dLMFP) according to the formula: LiMnxFeyM1?x?yPO4, wherein 0.9<x+y<1; and M is one or more selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca and Ba with one or both of a lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NMC) compound having a Ni content greater than 0.6 relative to a total amount of metals other than Li and a lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA) compound. In particular, provided is a blend at a weight ratio of dLMFP to NMC and/or NCA (i.e., dLMFP:(NMC+NCA)) of >70:<30, such as 75:25, 80:20, 85:15, 90:10, etc.

Abstract: Provided are an electrolyte for low temperature operation of lithium titanate electrodes, graphite electrodes, and lithium-ion batteries as well as electrodes and batteries employing the same. The electrolyte contains 1 to 30 vol % of a low molecular weight ester having a molecular weight of less than 105 g/mol and at least one non-fluorinated carbonate. An electrolyte additive may include 0.1 to 10 wt % of fluorinated ethylene carbonate, particularly when used with a graphite anode. Another electrolyte contains a high content of the low molecular weight ester of at least 70 vol %.

Abstract: A method may include activating two or more bypassable battery modules in succession through a current-limiting circuit to precharge an application bus from a power source.

Abstract: A method may include activating two or more bypassable battery modules in succession through a current-limiting circuit to precharge an application bus from a power source.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system for controlling battery current. In some embodiments, the system comprises a first lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, the first battery having a first state-of-charge (SOC) and comprising a first battery controller and a first battery charger; and a second Li-ion battery in series with the first battery, the second battery having a second SOC and comprising a second battery controller and a second battery charger. In some embodiments, at least one of the first battery controller or the second battery controller controls a charge current flowing through at least one of the first battery and the second battery, wherein control of the charge current is transferred from the first battery to the second battery based at least partially on whether an overhead voltage is present across the first battery charger or the second battery charger.

Abstract: This invention relates to a supercapacitor assembly having an asymmetric supercapacitor, a diode, and a switch in parallel with the diode. The asymmetric supercapacitor has at least one positive electrode, at least one negative electrode, and at least one separator impregnated with an electrolyte. The diode has an anode and a cathode, the cathode being electrically connected to the supercapacitor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a supercapacitor assembly having an asymmetric supercapacitor, a diode, and a switch in parallel with the diode. The asymmetric supercapacitor has at least one positive electrode, at least one negative electrode, and at least one separator impregnated with an electrolyte. The diode has an anode and a cathode, the cathode being electrically connected to the supercapacitor.

Abstract: A smart charge connector is provided incorporating a switching feature allowing the cells in a multi-cell battery to be uniformly charged. When engaged with a charger, the smart connector will connect the cells in parallel so that all cells within the same battery will be charged uniformly to the same voltage level eliminating the uneven charging that occurs when cells are charged in series connected strings. During normal operation the connector connects the cells of the battery in series to supply a battery output voltage. However, when the connector is engaged with a charger, the cells are connected in parallel to be charged by a source of electrical power at a voltage higher than the battery output voltage. The connector includes a number of switch contacts that are activated when the connector is engaged with the charger allowing the cells to be charged in parallel. The switch contacts automatically reconnect the cells in series upon removal of the charger.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell, including a jelly-roll type electrode stack, and a method for making such cell. The electrochemical cell includes folded electrode portions which form a plane recessed from the end of the electrode stack. The folded electrode portions are preferably formed by making pairs of slits in the electrode end and bending over the electrode portions between each pair of slits. The recessed plane forms a large area to which a current collection tab is subsequently connected. A coating may be applied to the folded portions of the electrode to further increase the contact area with the current collection tab by eliminating the slight variations in the recessed plane which are due to the overlap of the folded electrode portions.

Abstract: An explosion-proof valve electrical disconnect assembly incorporates a vent valve contact disk which seals the can of a compact electrochemical cell and which faces a juxtaposed stripper contact disk welded at the center by a weld nugget at a weld point, forming a rigid, preferably increased thickness, mass. The underlying stripper contact disk is weakened about the weld point, surrounding the weld nugget to ensure pull-through of the stripper contact disk portion immediately adjacent to the weld connection to effect initial electrical separation of the two contact disks. Subsequent rupture of the vent valve contact disk releases high pressure gas internally from the cell. A semi-rigid assembly cup may support a rigid grommet functioning to sandwich the vent valve contact disk and the stripper contact disk facilitated by crimping of the can top about a deformable L-shaped cross-section annular assembly cup.

Abstract: A separator system for a LiAl/FeS.sub.x electrochemical cell includes microporous sintered metal particle retainer screens fabricated by cold compacting, tape casting or plasma spraying, followed by sintering. The separator may consist of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 or MgO powder, AlN microporous particles, AlN microporous disk or ceramic standoff sandwiched between two screens or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 or MgO powder plasma sprayed onto one screen surface. The various separator system combinations are impregnated with 20% to 50% by volume electrolyte salt for ionic conductivity. Pore size is less than 10 .mu.m, excluding electrode particles from reaching the separator.

Abstract: A loosely wrapped multi-layer thermal insulation structure is provided by coextensively winding, a continuous thin metal foil and a superimposed continuous low thermal conductivity porous material spacer about a mandrel, preferably functioning as an inner metallic shell for such loosely wound metal foil and spacer assembly. A plurality of narrow low thermal conductivity porous material strips are interposed between adjacent turns of the spiral wound metal foil and spacer assembly at laterally spaced positions throughout the assembly to form localized, narrow dense wound material areas defining an integral load-bearing system for the thermal insulation structure. Longitudinally extending permanent getter material strips may be bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the inner metallic shell defining gas passages for gas diffusion within the metal foil and spacer assembly. The metal foil may be perforated to facilitate that action.

Abstract: Flanged U-shaped cup members abut the exterior of the negative electrode and positive electrode of a Li alloy/FeS.sub.x multi-cell battery array and function to form a peripherally sealed structural enclosure for these elements, while capturing and maintaining ceramic seal rings between respective flanges. The flanged cup-like members act in conjunction with either back-to-back similarly shaped and sized inverted flanged cup-like members or C-shaped upper and lower spacer rings whose vertical height is double that of the electrodes. At least one of the flanges of the electrode containment structure extends radially outwardly and downwardly oblique from the other flange of the C-shaped support structure, and the periphery thereof is welded to the periphery of a similar diameter juxtaposed cell cover ring to form a complete multi-cell envelope for the battery by welding of two seal assemblies together.

Abstract: A design and process for making hermetically sealed thermocompression feedthrough and peripheral seal for high temperature Li Alloy FeS.sub.x battery cells and battery enclosures. The selected materials and processes parameters are developed to match the high temperature Li Alloy/FeS.sub.x system.

Abstract: A pressure vessel for pressurized secondary cells is disclosed. The vessel includes a generally cylindrical container having both ends closed by substantially flat circular discs. The container has a diameter dimension substantially greater than its axial dimension. A mechanism is provided for supporting a plurality of substantially rectangular stacked electrode plates within the container. A pair of sealed terminal connectors pass through the container, and a terminal assembly mechanism is disposed within the container for directly interconnecting the stacked plates to each terminal connector.