Patent ID: 8574734
Filing Date: 2013-11-05
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A vehicle battery temperature control system comprising: a battery having a heat sink configured to transfer thermal energy to the battery; a heating device including a resistive heater selectively operable to provide thermal energy, a housing having a chamber formed therein that is configured to receive the battery, the resistive heater being disposed proximal to the chamber at a location proximal to the battery, the chamber being further configured to contain a saturated liquid coolant that at least partially immerses the heat sink so that the coolant receives the thermal energy from the heating device to cause a phase change of the coolant from a liquid phase to a vapor phase to heat the heat sink to enable the heat sink to heat the battery; a heat exchanger configured to receive vapor phase coolant from the chamber and remove thermal energy from the vapor phase coolant to change the coolant from the vapor phase to the liquid phase, and being further configured to return the liquid phase coolant to the chamber; and a sensor operable to detect a characteristic of the vapor phase coolant and to signal operation of the heating device to provide the thermal energy based on a relationship between the characteristic of the vapor phase coolant and a threshold.