Quick charge battery with internal thermal management

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are unique solid state components that can be used as a cooling device when supplied with electric power. These coolers can be built in many configurations for unusual applications where parasitic thermal energy must be managed. Such an application is in secondary (rechargeable) batteries where thermal buildup extends recharge time and reduces battery life. These maladies increase system operating costs and add inconvenience to the operation of the battery-powered device. A means of removing the thermal energy at the point of production, internal to the battery, can be accomplished using thermoelectric coolers; in the battery case, in cell partitions and/or between positive-negative plate pairs where the heat is produced. Although the lead-acid battery is considered in this study, any other battery type with thermal management problems can be considered, including fuel cell applications. A preliminary study utilizing this unique thermal management scheme inside the battery is presented. The simple model investigates the parameters that influence parasitic heat build-up in a lead-acid battery