Patent ID: 8492642

Claim:
A system for controlling temperature of a secondary battery module comprising a plurality of unit batteries, the system comprising: a housing containing the plurality of unit batteries to be spaced from each other in a first direction, the housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a heat transfer medium duct extending in the first direction from the inlet to the outlet; a heat transfer member in contact with the plurality of unit batteries, the heat transfer member comprising a first portion having a first surface exposed to the heat transfer medium duct and a second surface opposite the first surface and contacting outer surfaces of the unit batteries, and a plurality of second portions each protruding from the second surface of the first portion and extending between a respective pair of adjacent unit batteries of the plurality of unit batteries and substantially surrounding surfaces of the adjacent unit batteries facing each other; and a temperature controller adapted to control temperature of the unit batteries, wherein the temperature controller comprises a plurality of thermoelectric elements each comprising a first surface in contact with the heat transfer member and a second surface exposed in the heat transfer medium duct, the first surfaces of the thermoelectric elements being spaced apart from one another in the first direction, and the second surfaces of the thermoelectric elements being spaced apart from one another in the first direction.