Abstract: An energy storage assembly includes a plurality of battery cells electrically connected to each other to form a battery pack in which the battery cells are grouped together to form a first stack of cells and a second stack of cells. The energy storage assembly also includes a first barrier disposed between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells to reduce heat transfer between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells. The energy storage assembly further includes a coolant plate disposed along the battery cells. The coolant plate defines a channel for guiding a fluid therethrough to thermally transfer heat away from the battery cells. The coolant plate defines a slot spaced from the channel, and the slot axially aligns with the first barrier to reduce heat transfer between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells.

Abstract: A battery cell thermal insulator configured for mitigating a thermal event in a battery is provided. The battery cell thermal insulator includes a metal plate configured for providing rigidity to the battery cell thermal insulator. The battery cell thermal insulator further includes a layer of inorganic intumescent composite material disposed upon one side of the metal plate configured for providing thermal resistivity.

Abstract: A system for self-discharge prognostics for vehicle battery cells with an internal short circuit includes a plurality of battery cells and a voltage sensor providing open-circuit voltage data over time for each battery cell. The system further includes a computerized prognostic controller operating programming to monitor the open-circuit voltage data over time for each of the plurality of battery cells and evaluate a voltage drop rate through a time window for each of the plurality of battery cells based upon the open-circuit voltage data. The controller further identifies one of the plurality of battery cells to include the internal short circuit based upon the voltage drop rate and signals an alert based upon the one of the plurality of battery cells including the internal short circuit.

Abstract: A thermal barrier component for an electrochemical cell according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a functional material. The functional material includes at least one of a hydrate of a metal carbonate and a hydrate of a metal phosphate. The functional material is configured to release water vapor at a first temperature of greater than or equal to about 100° C. and decompose to release a gaseous fire retardant at a second temperature of greater than or equal to about 300° C. Another thermal barrier component according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a hydrate and a fire retardant. The hydrate is configured to release water in an amount greater than or equal to about 1 kg at a first temperature of greater than or equal to about 100° C. The fire retardant is configured to decompose at a second temperature of greater than or equal to about 300° C.

Abstract: A system for self-discharge prognostics for vehicle battery cells with an internal short circuit includes a plurality of battery cells and a voltage sensor providing open-circuit voltage data over time for each battery cell. The system further includes a computerized prognostic controller operating programming to monitor the open-circuit voltage data over time for each of the plurality of battery cells and evaluate a voltage drop rate through a time window for each of the plurality of battery cells based upon the open-circuit voltage data. The controller further identifies one of the plurality of battery cells to include the internal short circuit based upon the voltage drop rate and signals an alert based upon the one of the plurality of battery cells including the internal short circuit.

Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells and a thermal energy storage member in thermal contact with the plurality of battery cells. The thermal energy storage member includes an adsorption chamber and an adsorbent material disposed within the adsorption chamber. The adsorbent material is configured to receive thermal energy generated by the plurality of battery cells during charging and discharge of the plurality of battery cells. The thermal energy received by the adsorbent material during charging and discharge of the plurality of battery cells regenerates the adsorbent material and transitions the adsorbent material from an energy released state, in which an adsorbate is physically adsorbed on surfaces of the adsorbent material, to an energy storage state, in which the adsorbent material is substantially free of the adsorbate.

Abstract: An energy storage assembly includes a plurality of battery cells electrically connected to each other to form a battery pack in which the battery cells are grouped together to form a first stack of cells and a second stack of cells. The energy storage assembly also includes a first barrier disposed between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells to reduce heat transfer between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells. The energy storage assembly further includes a coolant plate disposed along the battery cells. The coolant plate defines a channel for guiding a fluid therethrough to thermally transfer heat away from the battery cells. The coolant plate defines a slot spaced from the channel, and the slot axially aligns with the first barrier to reduce heat transfer between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells.

Abstract: A system and method of managing software license usage includes: receiving a simulation model that will be processed using two or more license-based software applications; identifying a first license key that will be used to process at least a portion of the simulation model; identifying a second license key that will be used to process at least a portion of the simulation model; and processing the simulation model using the first license key and the second license key, wherein the first license key and the second license key are not used simultaneously and the unused key remains in a shared pool of available license keys.

Abstract: A fuel injector has a spray nozzle with a plurality of spray discharge orifices, each of which has an elongated cross-section having a major axis orientable to a center electrode of a spark plug in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method and article of manufacture are provided to operate a spray-guided, spark-ignition, direct fuel injection engine, including injecting a first fuel pulse during a combustion cycle, and initiating spark ignition by energizing a spark igniter. A second fuel pulse is injected during the combustion cycle effective to form an ignitable fuel-air mixture proximal to the spark igniter during a period in time whereat the spark igniter is energized. A preferred elapsed time between an end of the first fuel pulse and start of the spark ignition is determined based upon engine load.

Abstract: A spark-ignition, direct injection internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector effective to produce a fuel spray pattern which is relatively compact at low loads and relatively large at high loads.

Abstract: A fuel injector has a spray nozzle with a plurality of spray discharge orifices, each of which has an elongated cross-section having a major axis orientable to a center electrode of a spark plug in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method and article of manufacture are provided to operate a spray-guided, spark-ignition, direct fuel injection engine, including injecting a first fuel pulse during a combustion cycle, and initiating spark ignition by energizing a spark igniter. A second fuel pulse is injected during the combustion cycle effective to form an ignitable fuel-air mixture proximal to the spark igniter during a period in time whereat the spark igniter is energized. A preferred elapsed time between an end of the first fuel pulse and start of the spark ignition is determined based upon engine load.

Abstract: A spark-ignition, direct injection internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector effective to produce a fuel spray pattern which is relatively compact at low loads and relatively large at high loads.