HEAT-SINK WITH VARIABLE CROSS-SECTION COOLANT CHANNELS

A battery module includes a first battery cell and a neighboring second battery cell. The battery module also includes a heat-sink configured to absorb thermal energy from each of the battery cells. The heat-sink includes first and second coolant channels, each associated with and arranged proximate a corresponding first or second battery cell, configured to receive coolant, and defined by a respective cross-sectional area. Each coolant channel cross-sectional area is configured to selectively vary in response to a change in temperature of the associated first or second battery cell. The coolant channel variable cross-sectional areas are configured to bias cooling to a region of the heat-sink proximate to the battery cell experiencing a thermal runaway event and control propagation of the thermal runaway event to the other battery cell.