Patent Publication Number: US-2022238936-A1

Title: Battery thermal management strip

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/841,400 filed on May 1, 2019 entitled “BATTERY THERMAL MANAGEMENT STRIP,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to apparatus, systems and methods for providing a thermal management system for use in a cell assembly of a battery module assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may be inventions. 
     A battery module, for purposes of this disclosure, includes a plurality of electrically connected cell-brick assemblies. These cell-brick assemblies may, in turn, include a parallel, series, or combination of both, collection of electrochemical or electrostatic cells hereafter referred to collectively as “cells”, that can be charged electrically to provide a static potential for power or released electrical charge when needed. When cells are assembled into a battery module, the cells are often linked together through metal strips, straps, wires, bus bars, etc., that are welded, soldered, or otherwise fastened to each cell to link them together in the desired configuration. 
     A cell may be comprised of at least one positive electrode and at least one negative electrode. One common form of such a cell is the well-known secondary cells packaged in a cylindrical metal can, a pouch cell, or in a prismatic case. Examples of chemistry used in such secondary cells are lithium cobalt oxide, lithium manganese, lithium iron phosphate, nickel cadmium, nickel zinc, and nickel metal hydride. Such cells are mass produced, driven by an ever-increasing consumer market that demands low cost rechargeable energy for portable electronics. 
     Failure modes of such cells include an exothermic event, also known as thermal runaway. Thermal runaway increases risk in the use of such cells in certain applications, such as onboard aircraft, vehicles, or in medical applications. Common causes of thermal runaway include over charge, external short circuit, or internal short circuits. Over charge and external short circuits can be prevented by use of battery management systems, fuses, and over voltage disconnect devices. However, such devices are ineffective at preventing internal short circuits since there is no practical way to stop shorts across the substantially large anode to cathode interface internal to the cell. Positive thermal coefficient devices are sometimes installed inside cells for convenience and improved security but are still unable to stop anode to cathode internal shorts since they reside outside of that circuit. 
     Due to the large number of cells in certain applications, the likelihood of a thermal runaway event and the potential for a thermal event to cascade to other cells within the battery is more apparent. Thus, it is desired to have a battery module that limits the damage in the event a cell experiences a thermal runaway event. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an example embodiment, a cell-brick assembly for use in a battery module is disclose herein. The cell-brick assembly comprises a thermal management strip. The thermal management strip comprises a thermally conducive layer and an insulating layer. The insulating layer may be thermally insulating and/or electrically insulating. The thermal management strip is configured to contact at least a portion of each cell among a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells may be arranged in rows and columns. The thermal management strip may be configured to contact each cell in a row of cells from the plurality of cells. In an example embodiment, the thermal management strip may contact a portion of each cell in an entire cell-brick assembly. In an example embodiment, each row of cells may have its own thermal management strip. The thermal management strip may be configured to apportion heat among the plurality of cells in a row and/or among the entire cell-brick assembly. The heat may come from an external source, such as a heating device, or it may occur during operation via a thermal runaway event. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present disclosure may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the Figures, and where: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a thermal management strip for use in a battery module, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of a cell-brick assembly having a thermal management strip, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a portion of a battery module assembly, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a cell-brick assembly having M rows and N columns, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a cell-brick assembly for use in a battery module, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates a side view of thermal management strip, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates a front view of thermal management strip, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 7A  illustrates a front view of a thermal management strip assembly, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 7B  illustrates a top view of a thermal management strip assembly, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a cell-brick assembly for use in a battery module, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a cell-brick assembly, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a top view of a portion of a cell-brick assembly, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a battery module, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a battery module, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a method of managing a thermal runaway event in a battery module via a thermal management strip, in accordance with an example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is of various example embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the present disclosure in any way. Rather, the following description is intended to provide a convenient illustration for implementing various embodiments including the best mode. As will become apparent, various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described in these embodiments, without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. Moreover, many of the manufacturing functions or steps may be outsourced to or performed by one or more third parties. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option. As used herein, the terms “coupled,” “coupling,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a physical connection, an electrical connection, a magnetic connection, an optical connection, a communicative connection, a functional connection, and/or any other connection. 
     For the sake of brevity, conventional techniques for mechanical system construction, management, operation, measurement, optimization, and/or control, as well as conventional techniques for mechanical power transfer, modulation, control, and/or use, may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in various figures contained herein are intended to represent example functional relationships and/or physical couplings between various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a modular structure. 
     In an example embodiment, a battery module assembly may comprise a plurality of cells connected in series or parallel and a thermal management strip in contact with a portion of each cell in the plurality of cells. The thermal management strip may comprise a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer, and a thermally conductive material disposed between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. In an example embodiment, the thermal management strip may form a serpentine shape to maximize the contact of each cell in the plurality of cells. 
     The battery module may have a cell-brick assembly comprising M rows and N columns. Although disclosed herein with a battery module having a cell-brick assembly, a battery module comprising pouch cells is within the scope of this disclosure. For example, a thermal management strip may extend along a first side of a first pouch cell, between a second side of the first pouch cell and a first side of a second pouch cell, between a second side of the second pouch cell and a first side of a third pouch cell and so on. In this regard, it may be apparent to one skilled in the art various applications based on different sizes and configurations of cells in a battery module, and this application is not limited in this regard. 
     In an example embodiment, each row, or each column, may have a thermal management strip extending along the entire row and/or column, either in a serpentine shape or a linear line. In an example embodiment, at the end of each row the thermal management strip may connect to a thermally conductive component. The thermal management strips may be configured to ensure the cell-brick assembly shares the heat generated from a thermal runaway event among multiple cells, ensuring that the event does not propagate to other cells. By sharing the heat generated from a thermal runaway event over multiple cells, an adjacent cell to the cell experiencing thermal runaway may be prevented from overheating and experiencing a thermal runaway event itself. 
     A weight and cost efficient structure to connect a plurality of cell-brick assemblies in series and/or parallel is disclosed herein. A thermal management strip may help mitigate a thermal runaway event without the addition of a fluid, or other devices, which may reduce weight to comparative mitigating devices. A thermal management strip may protect against a thermal runaway event, resulting in improved manufacturability and reliability of cell-brick assemblies. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 1 , a thermal management strip  100 , in accordance with various embodiments, is depicted. A thermal management strip  100  comprises a thermally conductive layer  110  and a first insulating layer  120 . In an example embodiment, the thermal management strip  100  further comprises a second insulating layer  130 . In an example embodiment, the thermally conductive layer  110  is disposed between the first insulating layer  120  and the second insulating layer  130 . In various embodiments, the thermal management strip may only have a single insulating layer disposed on a single side of the thermal management strip. The thermally conductive layer  110  may be a sheet having a continuous thickness or a varying thickness. In an example embodiment, the sheet may be between 0.001″ and 0.030″ thick, preferably between 0.003″ and 0.020″, and more preferably between 0.005″ and 0.015″. In an example embodiment, the thermally conductive layer  110  is coupled to the first insulating layer  120  and the second insulating layer  130 . The thermally conductive layer  110  may be coupled to the first insulating layer  120  and the second insulating layer  130  via an adhesive. In various embodiments, the adhesive may be made of a non-carbon producing adhesive, such as silicone adhesives and silicone sealants, preferably silicon conformal coat. Moreover, any suitable method of connection the thermally conductive layer  110  to the first insulating layer  120  and/or the second insulating layer  130  may be used. In an example embodiment, the thermally conductive layer  110 , the first insulating layer  120 , and the second insulating layer  130  are loose components and are not physically coupled together. 
     In various embodiments, the thermally conductive layer  110  is a thermally conductive metal, such as aluminum, tungsten, nickel, copper, beryllium, silver, gold, rhodium, silicon or any other thermally conductive metal known in the art. In an example embodiment, the thermally conductive metal comprises aluminum. In various embodiments, the thermally conductive layer  110  may comprise any thermally conductive material known in the art, such as a material with a thermal conductivity greater than 
     
       
         
           
             
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     Moreover, any suitable thermally conductive material may be used for thermally conductive layer  110 . 
     In various embodiments, the first insulating layer  120  may be made of a refractory material, such as alumina, silica, magnesia and mica, preferably aluminum oxide ceramic fiber insulation. In various embodiments, the second insulating layer  130  may be made of a refractory material, such as alumina, silica, magnesia and mica, preferably aluminum oxide ceramic fiber insulation. In an example embodiment, the first insulating layer  120  and the second insulating layer  130  are made of the same refractory material. In various embodiments, the first insulating layer  120  and the second insulating layer  130  are made of different refractory materials. The first insulating layer  120  may be electrically insulating and/or thermally insulating. Similarly, the second insulating layer  130  may be electrically insulating and/or thermally insulating. In various embodiments, the first insulating layer  120  may comprise any refractory material with a low thermal conductive, such as a material with a thermal conductivity between 
     
       
         
           
             
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     for 94% aluminum oxide ceramic fiber insulation. Moreover, any suitable thermally insulative material may be used for first insulating layer  120 . In various embodiments, the second insulating layer  130  may be in accordance with the first insulating layer  120 . 
     The thermally conductive layer  110  may be configured to thermally heat and/or thermally cool a plurality of cells in a battery module. In an example embodiment, the thermal management strip  100  may apportion heat generated by a single cell from a thermal runaway event to a plurality of cells through the thermally conductive layer  110 . In an example embodiment, the thermal management strip  100  may be configured to heat a plurality of cells through the thermally conductive layer  110 . 
     In an example embodiment thermal management strip  100  may be disposed in a battery module. The thermal management strip  100  may provide one or more of the following benefits. The thermal management strip  100  may apportion heat from a thermal runaway event among a plurality of cells through the thermally conductive layer  110 . The thermal management strip  100  may prevent a cascading effect promulgating a thermal runaway event to adjacent cells from an initial cell experiencing a thermal runaway event. The thermal management strip  100  may apportion heat from a cell that is relatively hotter than other cells amongst the plurality of cells. The thermal management strip  100  may apportion heat from a heating device through the thermally conductive layer  110  among the cells prior to use. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 2 , a portion of a cell-brick assembly having a thermal management strip  100 , in accordance with various embodiments, is depicted. A cell-brick assembly comprises a plurality of cells  200 . In an example embodiment, the plurality of cells  200  are disposed adjacent to one another forming a row of a cells in a cell-brick assembly. In another example embodiment, the plurality of cells  200  are disposed diagonally adjacent to one another. In an example embodiment, the thermal management strip is coupled to a heating device. The heating device may heat up the plurality of cells  200  when the cells are below a desirable operating temperature. 
     In various embodiments, a thermal management strip  100  is configured to contact a portion of first cell  201 , a portion of second cell  202 , a portion of third cell  203 , and/or a portion of fourth cell  204 . The thermal management strip  100  may be disposed around the plurality of cells  200  in a serpentine pattern. The serpentine pattern may ensure that a large surface area of each cell  200  is in contact with the thermal management strip  100 . In various embodiments, a large surface area is between 30% and 70% of the surface area of cell  200 , preferably 40% to 70%. In various embodiments, the thermal management strip  100  may have any of the following patterns: a linear shape; a honeycomb shape; a grid shape, or any other shape that may allow the thermal management strip to contact to a plurality of cells. With a honeycomb shape, the surface area of each cell  200  in contact with a honeycomb thermal management strip may be between 85% and 100%. However, a thermal management strip  100  with a serpentine shape may produce significant cost advantages over a honeycomb shape due to the complexity of manufacturing a honeycomb shape. In various embodiments, the thermal management strip  100  may loosely contact a portion of each cell in the plurality of cells  200 . In various embodiments, the thermal management strip  100  may be adhesively coupled to a portion of each cell in the plurality of cell. 
     The first insulating layer  120  and/or the second insulating layer  130  may provide electrical insulation and thermal insulation from an adjacent plurality of cells. The first insulating layer  120  and/or the second insulating layer  130  may be configured to provide a more uniform apportionment of heat in a thermal runaway event or upon heating of the plurality of cells  200  prior to use. The first insulating layer  120  may allow heat to escape a cell experiencing thermal runaway. The heat may travel through the first insulating layer  120  to the thermally conductive layer  110 . Due to the thermally conductive layer  110  having high thermal conductivity, the heat may travel long the thermally conductive layer  110  and be maintained in the thermally conductive layer  110  by the first insulating layer  120  and the second insulating layer  130 . 
     By contacting a portion of each cell in the plurality of cells  200 , the thermal management strip may be configured apportion heat among the plurality of cells  200 . In an example embodiment, the thermal management strip  100  may apportion heat, generated from a thermal runaway event, from a first cell  201  in the plurality of cells  200  among a second cell  202 , a third cell  203 , and/or a fourth cell  204  to heat and/or cool the plurality of cells. In an example embodiment, the heating device may heat the plurality of cells  200  from a less efficient operation temperature to a more efficient temperature prior to use, the more efficient operation temperature corresponding to a greater output efficiency than at the less operation efficient temperature. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a portion of a battery module having a thermal management system, in accordance with various embodiments, is depicted. A battery module may comprise a first plurality of cells  200  forming a first row of the battery module  300 , a second plurality of cells  210  forming a second row of the battery module, a first thermal management strip  101  disposed along the first plurality of cells  200 , and a second thermal management strip  102  disposed along the second plurality of cells  210 . The battery module  300  may further comprise a thermally conductive component  310  disposed at an end of each row of the first plurality of cells  200  and the second plurality of cells  210 . In an example embodiment, the thermally conductive component  310  is coupled to the first thermally conductive layer  111  from the first thermal management strip  101  and the second thermally conductive layer  112  from the second thermal management strip  102 . In an example embodiment, the thermally conductive component  310  is a housing for the battery module. 
     In various embodiments, the thermally conductive component  310  is coupled to a heating device  320 . The heating device  320  may be a thin polyimide strip heater, or any other suitable heater known in the art. In various embodiments, a thermally conductive component  310  and a heating device  320  may be components of any battery module described herein (e.g.,  FIGS. 4-10 ). 
     In various embodiments, the heating device  320  may be configured to supply heat through the thermally conductive component  310  and along the first plurality of cells  200  via the first thermally conductive layer  111  of the first thermal management strip  101  and along the second plurality of cells  210  via the second thermally conductive layer  112  of the second thermal management strip  102 . In various embodiments, if a cell in the first plurality of cells  200  experiences a thermal runaway event, the thermally conductive component  310  may be configured to apportion the heat generated from the thermal runaway event among the first plurality of cells  200  to the end of the respective row through the first thermally conductive layer  111 , through the thermally conductive component  310 , and to the adjacent plurality of cells  210  through the second thermally conductive layer  121 . The thermally conductive component  310  may allow greater dispersion of heat generated from a single cell during a thermal runaway event by dispersing the heat over a greater number of cells. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 4 , a cell-brick assembly having M rows and N columns, in accordance with an example embodiment, is depicted. In various embodiments, a cell-brick assembly may comprise a first plurality of cells  400  having N cells aligned adjacently to one another and forming a first row of cells  10 , and a second plurality of cells  410  aligned adjacently to one another and forming a second row of cells  20 . The second row of cells  20  may be aligned adjacent to the first row of cells  10 . The cell-brick assembly may further comprise M rows of cells  30 . Each row of cells ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ) may have its own thermal management strip. For example, the first plurality of cells  400  may have a first thermal management strip  101  extending from the first cell in the first row of cells  10  to the Nth cell in the first row of cells  10 . Similarly, the second plurality of cells  410  comprise a second thermal management strip  102  extending from the first cell in the second row of cells  20  to the Nth cell in the second row of cells  20 . This structure may continue through the Mth row of cells where an Mth thermal management strip  105  may extend from the first cell in the Mth row of cells  30  to the Nth cell in the Mth row of cells. 
     In various embodiments, every cell in a cell-brick assembly is contacted by a thermal management strip from a plurality of thermal management strips ( 101 ,  102 ,  105 ). In other example embodiments, there could be a different number of cells per row, an array configuration, linear or otherwise. In various embodiments, a single thermal management strip may contact all cells in the cell-brick assembly, such as in a honeycomb or grid pattern. In another example embodiment, a single thermal management strip contacts all cells in a given row. In another example embodiment, a single thermal management strip contacts a portion of cells in a given row and is coupled to a second thermal management strip in that row. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of a cell-brick assembly for use in a battery module, in accordance with an example embodiment is depicted. The cell-brick assembly  500  comprises a plurality of cells  510  and a plurality of thermal management strips  501 . The plurality of thermal management strips  501  are in accordance with the thermal management strip  100  described previously. Each row of cells in the plurality of cells  510  comprises a discrete thermal management strip in the plurality of thermal management strips  501 . Each thermal management strip in the plurality of thermal management strips  501  contacts a portion of each cell in a respective row of cells in the plurality of cells  510 . As shown, the portion of each cell that is contacted is a side of the cylindrical portion of the cell in the plurality of cells  510 . 
     If a cell in a row of cells in the plurality of cells  510  experiences a thermal runaway event, the heat generated from the event may be apportioned among the plurality of cells  510 . Each thermal management strip in the plurality of thermal management strips  501  may be configured to ensure a thermal runaway event from a cell in a row of cells apportions the heat generated such that the thermal runaway event does not cascade to any adjacent cells of the cell experiencing the thermal runaway event. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , a thermal management strip  600 , in accordance with various embodiments, is depicted.  FIG. 6A  is a side view of thermal management strip  600 , showing example layers forming the thermal management strip. The thermal management strip  600  comprises a thermally conductive layer  610 , a first insulating layer  620 , and a second insulating layer  630 . In an example embodiment, the thermally conductive layer may be embedded in an insulating material.  FIG. 6B  is a top planar view of thermal management strip  600 . In an example embodiment, the thermal management strip  600  comprises slots  640 . The number of slots  640  in thermal management strip  600  may correspond to one less than the number of rows and/or the number of columns in a cell-brick assembly. For example, a 6×8 cell brick assembly would have thermal management strips  600  having 7 slot  640  for each row and thermal management strips  600  having 5 slots  640  for each column. The thermal management strip  600  is configured to receive another thermal management strip  600  in each slot  640 . Thus, a grid formation of thermal management strips  600  may be formed by the slot and tab configuration. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , a front view and a top view, respectively, of a thermal management strip assembly  700 , in accordance with various embodiments, is depicted. The thermal management strip assembly  700  comprises a plurality of row thermal management strips  710  and a plurality of column thermal management strips  720 . In an example embodiment, the number of thermal management strips corresponding to a given cell-brick assembly is two less than the total number of rows and columns in a cell-brick assembly. For example, a thermal management strip assembly  700  for a 4 row×5 column cell-brick assembly comprises a first row thermal management strip  711 , a second row thermal management strip  712  disposed in an adjacent row to the first row thermal management strip  711 , and a third row thermal management strip  713  disposed in an adjacent row to the second row thermal management strip  712 . Similarly, the thermal management strip assembly  700  for a 4 row×5 column cell-brick assembly comprises a first column thermal management strip  721 , a second column thermal management strip  722  disposed in an adjacent column to the first column thermal management strip  721 , a third column thermal management strip  723  disposed in an adjacent column to the second column thermal management strip  722 , and a fourth column thermal management strip  724  disposed in an adjacent column to the third column thermal management strip  723 . In an example embodiment, the row and column thermal management strips intersect at right angles and are in slotted engagement with each other. 
     In various embodiments, a thermal management strip assembly  700  may thermally connect each thermally conductive layer of each thermal management strip  710  in the thermal management strip assembly. The thermal management strip assembly  700  is not limited in this regard. For example, in accordance with various embodiments, first row thermal managements strip  711  may interface with first column thermal management strip  721  at a slot interface (e.g., slot  640  from  FIG. 6B  interfacing with a complimentary slot), or part of the insulative layers may be removed at an interface between first row thermal management strip  711  and first column thermal management strip  721 , or any other connection of thermally conductive layers between mating thermal management strips may be utilized. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 8 , a perspective view of a cell-brick assembly for use in a battery module, in accordance with an example embodiment is depicted. The cell-brick assembly  800  may comprise a plurality of cells  810  and a thermal management strip assembly  820 . The thermal management strip assembly  820  comprises a plurality of row thermal management strips  822  and a plurality of column thermal management strips  824 . The thermal management strip assembly  820  is in accordance with the thermal management strip assembly  700  described previously. Each cell is contacted at least by a portion of a row thermal management strip in the plurality of row thermal management strips  822  and a column thermal management strip in the plurality of column thermal management strips  824 . As shown, the portion of each cell that is contacted is a side of the cylindrical portion of the cell in the plurality of cells  810 . In an example embodiment, the thermal management strips (row and column) have no insulative layer at the point of slotted engagement of a row and column. Thus, the thermal management strip assembly  700  is configured to facilitate heat transfer between column and row thermal management strips. 
     If a cell in a row of cells from the plurality of cells  810  experiences a thermal runaway event, the heat generated from the event may be apportioned among the plurality of cells  810 . The thermal management strip assembly  820  may be configured to ensure a thermal runaway event from a cell in a row of cells apportions the heat generated such that the thermal runaway event does not cascade to any adjacent cells of the cell experiencing the thermal runaway event. 
     In various embodiments, the thermal management strip assembly  820  may consist only of a thermally conductive strip, and each cell in the plurality of cells  810  may be wrapped with a insulative wrap as described further herein. In this regard, the plurality of the thermally management strips may rapidly dissipate any heat that penetrates the insulative wrap from a thermal runaway event amongst all the cells. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a perspective view of a portion of a cell-brick assembly, in accordance with various embodiments, is depicted. The portion of a cell-brick assembly  900  comprises a plurality of cells  910  and a plurality of thermal management strips  901 . The plurality of thermal management strips  901  are in accordance with the thermal management strip  100  described previously. Each thermal management strip in the plurality of thermal management strips  901  may be oriented diagonally across the cell-brick assembly  900 . Each thermal management strip in the plurality of thermal management strips  901  contacts a portion of each cell in a respective diagonal of cells in the plurality of cells  910 . As shown, the portion of each cell that is contacted is a side of the cylindrical portion of the cell in the plurality of cells  910 . 
     If a cell in a row of cells in the plurality of cells  910  experiences a thermal runaway event, the heat generated from the event may be apportioned among the plurality of cells  910 . Each thermal management strip in the plurality of thermal management strips  901  may be configured to ensure a thermal runaway event from a cell in a diagonal of cells apportions the heat generated such that the thermal runaway event does not cascade to any adjacent cells of the cell experiencing the thermal runaway event. 
     In various embodiments, the plurality of thermal management strips  901  may consist only of a thermally conductive strip, and each cell in the plurality of cells  910  may be wrapped with a insulative wrap as described further herein. In this regard, the plurality of the thermally management strips may rapidly dissipate any heat that penetrates the insulative wrap from a thermal runaway event amongst all the cells. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a top view of a portion of a cell-brick assembly, in accordance with various embodiments, is depicted. The cell-brick assembly  1000  comprises a plurality of cells  1010 , a plurality of conductive strips  1020 , and a plurality of insulative wraps  1030 . In various embodiments, the plurality of conductive strips  1020  are a plurality of thermal management strips. Each conductive strip in the plurality of conductive strips  1020  may be arranged diagonally through the plurality of cells  1010 . In this regard, the plurality of conductive strips  1020  may form a honeycomb structure through the cell-brick assembly  1000 . In various embodiments, a honeycomb structure for a respective cell in the plurality of cells  1010  includes 3 sides from a first conductive strip in the plurality of conductive strips  1020  and 3 sides of a second conductive strip in the plurality of conductive strips  1020  all in contact with and coupled to an insulated wrap in the plurality of insulative wraps  1030 . In various embodiments, the 3 sides from the first conductive strip and the 3 sides from the second conductive strip form a hexagonal cell in the honeycomb structure. 
     In various embodiments, each insulated wrap in the plurality of insulated wraps may be in accordance with the first insulated layer  120  and/or the second insulated layer  130  of the thermal management strip  100  from  FIG. 1 . Similarly, each conductive strip in the plurality of conductive strips  1020  may be in accordance with the conductive layer  110  of the thermal management strip  100  from  FIG. 1 . In this regard, in response to a thermal runaway event from a cell in the plurality of cells, the heat generated from the thermal runaway cell may dissipate through the insulated wrap of the thermal runaway cell and rapidly dissipate along a respective conductive strip in the plurality of conductive strip to each cell in contact with the respective conductive strip. 
     In various embodiments, the honeycomb structure may be configured to provide structural support to the plurality of cells  1010 , as well as providing a thermal management benefit to the plurality of cells  1010  in the cell-brick assembly  1000 . For example, the plurality of conductive strips  1020  may be coupled to sides of each insulative wrap in the plurality of insulative wraps  1030  via an adhesive or the like. Similarly, each wrap in the plurality of insulative wraps  1030  may be coupled to an outer surface of a respective cell in the plurality of cells  1010 . Each insulative wrap in the plurality of insulative wraps  1030  may cover approximately 80%-100% of an outer surface of a respective cell in the plurality of cells, or more preferably approximately 100% of the outer surface. Additionally, the plurality of conductive strips  1020  may be coupled to a housing for the cell-brick assembly  1000 . In this regard, the honeycomb structure of the plurality of conductive strips  1020  may provide the entire structural support for the cell-brick assembly  1000 , in accordance with various embodiments. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a perspective view of portion of a battery module including a plurality of pouch cells is illustrated in accordance with various embodiments. The battery module  1100  includes a plurality of pouch cells  1110 , at least one conductive strip  1120 , and a plurality of insulative wraps  1130 . Each cell in the plurality of pouch cells  1110  may be disposed in a respective wrap in the plurality of insulative wraps  1130 . Each insulative wrap in the plurality of insulative wraps  1130  may insulate an outer surface of a respective pouch cell in the plurality of pouch cells. In various embodiments, each insulative wrap in the plurality of insulative wraps  1130  may be in accordance with the plurality of insulative wraps  1030  from  FIG. 10 . Similarly, the at least one conductive strip  1120  may be in accordance with the plurality of conductive strips  1020  from  FIG. 10 . 
     In various embodiments, the at least one conductive strip  1120  may be disposed along a row of pouch cells on a first side. In various embodiments, a second conductive strip may be disposed opposite the conductive strip  1120 . The conductive strip  1120  may be coupled to the plurality of insulative wraps  1130  by any method known in the art, such as an adhesive, or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 12 , a perspective view of portion of a battery module including a plurality of pouch cells is illustrated in accordance with various embodiments. The portion of a battery module  1200  comprises a plurality of pouch cells  1210  and a plurality of thermal management strips  1201 . The plurality of thermal management strips  901  are in accordance with the thermal management strip  100  described previously. Each thermal management strip in the plurality of thermal management strips  1201  may be arranged in a serpentine type manner about a row of pouch cells in the plurality of pouch cells  1210 . In this regard, a respective thermal management strip may contact a side of a first pouch cell on a first side of the row of pouch cells, then contact a side of a second pouch cell on a second side, then contact a side of a third pouch cell on the first side, and so on. 
     Each thermal management strip in the plurality of thermal management strips  1201  contacts a portion of each cell in a respective row of cells in the plurality of pouch cells  1210 . As shown, the portion of each cell that is contacted is a flat side portion of the pouch cell in the plurality of pouch cells  1210 . 
     If a cell in a row of cells in the plurality of pouch cells  1210  experiences a thermal runaway event, the heat generated from the event may be apportioned among the plurality of pouch cells  1210 . Each thermal management strip in the plurality of thermal management strips  1201  may be configured to ensure a thermal runaway event from a cell apportions the heat generated along a respective thermal management strip in the plurality of thermal management strips  1201  to adjacent cells in the plurality of cells  1210  such that the thermal runaway event does not cascade to any adjacent cells of the cell experiencing the thermal runaway event. 
     In various embodiments, the plurality of thermal management strips  1201  may consist only of a thermally conductive strip, and each cell in the plurality of cells  1210  may be wrapped with an insulative wrap as described further herein. In this regard, the plurality of thermal management strips  1201  may rapidly dissipate any heat that penetrates the insulative wrap from a thermal runaway event amongst all the cells. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 13  a method  1300  of managing a thermal runaway event in a battery module is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. The method  1300  may comprise receiving, via a thermal management strip, an excess heat from a cell entering thermal runaway (step  1302 ). The thermal management strip may be in accordance with any thermal management disclosed herein. In various embodiments, the excess heat may be received from a side of a cylindrical cell, a pouch cell, or the like. The excess heat may be received by a thermally conductive layer disposed between a first insulation layer and a second insulation layer of the thermal management strip. 
     In various embodiments, the method  1300  further comprises apportioning, via the thermal management strip, the excess heat among a plurality of cells (step  1304 ). The plurality of cells may include the cell entering thermal runaway. The thermal management strip may be in contact with each cell in the plurality of cells. The plurality of cells may be a portion of cells in a battery module. The apportioning the excess heat may result in each cell in the plurality of cells increasing in temperature, while maintaining a temperature below a thermal runaway threshold. In this regard, by apportioning the excess heat among the plurality of cells, a cascading of cells entering thermal runaway may be prevented from cells immediately adjacent to the cell entering thermal runaway. 
     A thermal management strip assembly is disclosed herein. The thermal management strip assembly may comprise: a first thermal management strip having a first slot, the first thermal management strip comprising: a first insulating layer; a second insulating layer; a first thermally conductive layer disposed between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer; a second thermal management strip having a second slot coupled to the first slot, the second thermal management strip comprising: a third insulating layer; a fourth insulating layer; a second thermally conductive layer disposed between the third insulating layer and the fourth insulating layer, the second thermally conductive layer being in contact with the first thermally conductive layer. 
     A battery module is disclosed herein. The battery module may comprise: a cell-brick assembly comprising: a first plurality of cells forming a first row of cells in the cell-brick assembly; and a first thermal management strip disposed in the first row of cells. 
     In various embodiments, the cell-brick assembly may further comprise: a second plurality of cells forming a second row of cells in the cell-brick assembly, the second row of cells being adjacent to the first row of cells; and a second thermal management strip disposed in the second row of cells. The first thermal management strip and the second thermal management strip may each comprise a thermally conductive layer, a first insulating layer, and a second insulating layer, the thermally conductive layer being disposed between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. The first thermal management strip may be in contact with a portion of each cell in the first plurality of cells, and wherein the second thermal management strip is in contact with a portion of each cell in the second plurality of cells. The battery module may further comprise a thermally conductive component coupled to the first thermal management strip and the second thermal management strip. The thermally conductive component is coupled to a first thermally conductive layer of the first thermal management strip and a second thermally conductive layer of the second thermal management strip. The battery module may further comprise a heating device, the heating device being coupled to the first thermal management strip and the second thermal management strip. The first thermal management strip may be in contact with a first side of a first cell in the first plurality of cells, a second side of a second cell in the first plurality of cells, the second side being opposite the first side and the second cell being adjacent to the first cell. 
     In another embodiment, a thermal management method comprises insulating a first cell, of a plurality of cells, from adjacent cells, of the plurality of cells, that are adjacent the first cell, and conducting/apportioning heat from the first cell, that passes from the first cell through the insulation, to non-adjacent cells of the plurality of cells. 
     Although described herein in connection with rows, columns, and diagonals, and serpentine paths and straight paths of thermal management strips, any suitable paths, shapes, orientations, and arrangements of the thermal management strips may be used. 
     While the principles of this disclosure have been shown in various embodiments, many modifications of structure, arrangements, proportions, elements, materials and components (which are particularly adapted for a specific environment and operating requirements) may be used without departing from the principles and scope of this disclosure. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure and may be expressed in the following claims. 
     The present disclosure has been described with reference to various embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the specification is to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Likewise, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to various embodiments. 
     However, benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. 
     When language similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” or “at least one of A, B, and C” is used in the claims or specification, the phrase is intended to mean any of the following: (1) at least one of A; (2) at least one of B; (3) at least one of C; (4) at least one of A and at least one of B; (5) at least one of B and at least one of C; (6) at least one of A and at least one of C; or (7) at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.