Patent ID: 8862414
Filing Date: 2014-10-14
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A detection system for high voltage electrolysis in a battery pack, comprising: an enclosure including a plurality of electrically-coupled battery modules storing energy for the battery pack and a coolant distribution system disposed among and electrically isolated from said plurality of battery modules; a sensor system, coupled to said enclosure, configured to collect a plurality of data from said enclosure, wherein the sensor system includes at least a temperature sensor and the plurality of data include temperature readings over at least a specified time period; and a controller, coupled to said sensor system, configured to evaluate said plurality of data against one or more predetermined patterns associated with a possible high voltage electrolysis inside said enclosure, with said controller configured to indicate said possible high voltage electrolysis occurring within said enclosure when said plurality of data has a predetermined relationship to said one or more predetermined patterns; wherein said coolant distribution system uses a coolant solution having a mixture of a first liquid and a second liquid in a predetermined ratio to produce a first boiling point for said coolant solution, wherein boiling of said coolant solution changes said predetermined ratio to produce a second boiling point for said coolant solution higher than said first boiling point and wherein said second boiling point is about equal to a temperature sufficient to induce a thermal runaway condition for one or more battery modules of said plurality of battery modules; wherein said one or more patterns include a sustained rise in local battery temperature, within the specified time period, to within a predetermined range of the first boiling point.