THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND DEVICE

The invention relates to thermal management systems for devices that generate heat, including electronic devices such as portable electronics, for example, cell phones, electronic components, and/or battery systems. A multilayer phase change material composite structure may include multiple layers having different properties. For example, a PCM material composite layer may include a supporting structure having pores and a phase change material. Further, a layer of fire retardant material may be used in the multilayer phase change material. In some embodiments, additional layers such as coatings, thermal interface materials, and/or high thermal conductivity material may be present. A matrix formed from a porous supporting structure and a phase change material may be used to control and/or dissipate heat in a thermal management system. Support elements may provide stability. The thermal management system may mitigate conditions that could lead to a thermal runaway event and/or may influence conditions within the system during a potential thermal runaway event to reduce risk of fire. The thermal management system may include water, flame- and/or fire-retardant materials to control temperatures of an energy storage device and/or system. A housing may be used to surround a portion of a heat generating device such as an energy storage device or system, for example, an individual battery or a group of batteries, respectively. The housing or enclosure may include interior structures that surround and in some cases electrically isolate batteries from a thermal sink that includes a porous flame- and/or fire-retardant material having water in the pores.