Method for establishing a thermally conductive connection between a plurality of battery cells and a temperature regulating body and a battery module

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for establishing a thermally conductive connection between a plurality of battery cells (2) of a battery module (100) and a temperature control body (1), wherein in a first method step an adhesive material (3) comprising at least one first component (31) and at least one second component (32) is applied to the temperature control body (1) or to the plurality of battery cells (2), wherein during the application of the adhesive material (3) to the temperature control body (1) or to the plurality of battery cells (2) a first proportion (41) of the at least one first component (31) and / or a second proportion (42) of the at least one second component (32) is changed, wherein in a second method step the plurality of battery cells (2) is connected with the temperature control body (1) in such a way that a non-uniform material-locking connection is established between the plurality of battery cells (2) and the temperature control body (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for establishing a thermally conductive connection between multiple battery cells and a temperature-regulating body. Battery modules constructed using this method are also the subject of this invention. Background Technology

[0002] As is known from the prior art, a battery module can be composed of multiple individual battery cells that can be electrically connected in series and / or in parallel, thereby connecting these individual battery cells together to form a battery module.

[0003] In addition, this battery module is connected as a battery or battery system.

[0004] Typically, such battery modules or batteries also include a temperature control system to cool or heat multiple battery cells. It is known that such a temperature control system includes a temperature control body that is thermally connected to the multiple battery cells. For example, a material-locked connection can be formed between the temperature control body and the multiple battery cells. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The method according to the invention provides the advantage that a material-locking connection can be constructed between multiple battery cells and a temperature-regulating body, in which the adhesive surfaces and therefore the adhesive forces can be unevenly distributed. Thus, the robustness, flexibility, and thermal conductivity of the material-locking connection can be optimally matched to the corresponding required thermal characteristics of, for example, a battery module.

[0006] Therefore, according to the present invention, a method is provided for forming a thermally conductive connection between a plurality of battery cells and a temperature-regulating body of a battery module. Here, in a first method step, an adhesive material is applied to the temperature-regulating body or the plurality of battery cells.

[0007] Here, the adhesive material includes at least one first component and at least one second component. Furthermore, during the application of the adhesive material to the temperature-regulating body or multiple battery cells, the first proportion of at least one first component and / or the second proportion of at least one second component changes.

[0008] In the second method step, multiple battery cells are connected to the temperature regulating body in a manner that is particularly thermally connected, thereby forming a non-uniform material-locked connection between the multiple battery cells and the temperature regulating body.

[0009] Advantageous improvements and enhancements to the apparatus proposed in this disclosure can be achieved through the measures listed in other parts of this disclosure.

[0010] In particular, the method according to the invention provides the advantage that the material-locking connection is constructed non-uniformly in such a way that non-uniformity is created in a plane arranged parallel to the temperature-regulating body and thermally connected to the surfaces of the plurality of battery cells. In particular, this plane should be referred to as the connection plane.

[0011] It should be noted that the unevenness of the material-locking connection can depend not only on the adhesive force but also on any property such as thermal conductivity, hardness, elasticity, or chemical resistance.

[0012] It is possible to create a gradient of different properties on the connection plane through a non-uniform material locking connection.

[0013] In particular, it can also construct arbitrary patterns of gradients (Muster).

[0014] By appropriately selecting the at least one first component and the at least one second component, these gradients can be reliably matched to the corresponding desired requirements.

[0015] Suitably, at least one first component and at least one second component of the adhesive material are mixed together prior to coating. This provides the advantage that a reliable ratio between the first proportion of the at least one first component and the second proportion of the at least one second component can be achieved, for example, by using an additional mixing device. Furthermore, such mixing ensures the formation of optimal adhesive strength.

[0016] Furthermore, another method for forming a thermally conductive connection between multiple battery cells and a temperature-regulating body in a battery module is also the subject of this invention. Here, in a first method step, an adhesive material is applied to the temperature-regulating body or the multiple battery cells. The adhesive material also includes at least one first component and at least one second component. Furthermore, at least one first component and at least one second component are applied overlapping each other in the height direction. It should be noted that "overlapping" should be understood as the first component being arranged above the second component in a height direction, for example, perpendicular to the connection plane described at the beginning. Furthermore, in a second method step, the multiple battery cells are connected to the temperature-regulating body, particularly in a thermally conductive manner, thereby forming a non-uniform material-locked connection between the multiple battery cells and the temperature-regulating body.

[0017] A particular advantage of this method is that it allows for the construction of connections with non-uniform material bonding in the height direction. This makes it possible, for example, to create non-uniformity in the height direction in addition to the construction in the connection plane.

[0018] In particular, in both methods of the present invention, the non-uniform material-locking connection structure can be supported by compression. For this purpose, for example, multiple battery cells can be connected to the temperature-regulating body under pressure. Utilizing only the weight of the multiple battery cells or the temperature-regulating body itself may also be sufficient.

[0019] Particularly suitable is to coat the adhesive material in the first region such that the first share of at least one first component is greater than the second share of at least one second component, and to coat the adhesive material in the second region such that the second share of at least one second component is greater than the first share of at least one first component.

[0020] Therefore, it is possible to form a non-uniform material locking connection with non-uniformity in the connecting plane in a particularly reliable manner.

[0021] Particularly suitable here is that the at least one first component has a smaller adhesive force than the at least one second component, and the first region is arranged closer to the edge region of the temperature-regulating body or the plurality of battery cells than the second region. The non-uniformity thus created in the connection plane can establish a gradient that can reduce or even avoid uneven loads, such as stresses, within the material-locked connections that occur during battery module operation.

[0022] By employing a construction scheme in which at least one first component exhibits lower adhesive strength than at least one second component, stress in the first region caused by the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the temperature-regulating body and the multiple battery cells can be reduced or even avoided. Particularly suitable is that at least one first component is made softer than at least one second component.

[0023] For example, at least one first component may be a relatively soft component with relatively low thermal conductivity, and at least one second component may be a relatively hard component with relatively high thermal conductivity.

[0024] This allows the material-locking connection to be optimally matched to the need for thermally conductive connections between multiple battery cells and the temperature-regulating body.

[0025] It should be noted that the coating applied to multiple battery cells should be understood as the multiple battery cells collectively forming a side surface that is thermally connected to the temperature-regulating body. In particular, this side surface is formed by the end faces of multiple battery cells configured in a prismatic shape.

[0026] Advantageously, the adhesive material is coated in a uniform distribution. In particular, the adhesive material is coated uniformly on the temperature-regulating body or uniformly on multiple battery cells.

[0027] This enables a reliable thermally conductive connection between multiple battery cells and the temperature control unit.

[0028] It is also advantageous to apply the adhesive material in multiple sections arranged parallel to each other. This allows for a particularly uniform distribution of the adhesive material.

[0029] Furthermore, it is advantageous that the adhesive material is applied in continuously extending strips. This allows for relatively rapid application of the adhesive material.

[0030] In summary, the method according to the invention offers the advantages of avoiding additional costs and longer process times, and is generally suitable for mass production.

[0031] It should also be noted that adhesive materials are not limited to at least one first component and at least one second component. Adhesive materials can have many other different components.

[0032] Preferably, at least one first component and / or at least one second component are selected from epoxides, acrylates, silicones, or urea.

[0033] Another type of battery module also falls under the subject of this invention. This battery module includes multiple battery cells and a temperature regulating body. The multiple battery cells and the temperature regulating body are non-uniformly connected to each other in a material-locking manner. Here, this connection is constructed using the method just described. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and explained in detail in the following description. Wherein are shown:

[0035] Figure 1 The temperature-regulating body is shown in top view after the first method step has been implemented.

[0036] Figure 2 A side view illustrates one embodiment of the battery module according to the present invention.

[0037] Figure 3 The battery module is shown in a top view. Figure 2 The material locking connection of the embodiment shown in the figure

[0038] Figure 4 The illustration shows coatings with different proportions of the first and second components.

[0039] Figure 5 Another embodiment of the battery module according to the invention is shown in a side view, and

[0040] Figure 6Other examples of possible material-locking connections are shown. Detailed Implementation

[0041] Figure 1 The temperature-regulating body 1 is shown in top view after the first method step has been implemented.

[0042] Here, during the first method step, adhesive material 3 is applied to the temperature-regulating body 1. It should be noted that adhesive material 3 can also be applied to multiple [other materials]. Figure 1 On the invisible battery cell 2. The adhesive material 3 here includes a first component 31 and a second component 32. For example, the first component 31 and the second component 32 here can be selected from epoxides, acrylates, silicones or urea.

[0043] Here, during the first method step, the adhesive material 3 is applied in such a way that the first portion 41 of the first component 31 changes during the application of the adhesive material 3 to the temperature-regulating body 1, and the second portion 42 of the second component 32 changes during the application of the adhesive material 3 to the temperature-regulating body 1.

[0044] Thus, the temperature-regulating body 1 has different regions, each with a different first component 41 and a different second component 42. The distribution of these different components is illustrated here by the different shaded lines representing the adhesive material 3. In particular, the weakened shaded lines indicate a relatively higher proportion of the first component 31 of the adhesive material 3.

[0045] The temperature-regulating body 1 has a first region 51 in which the adhesive material 3 is coated in such a way that the first share 41 of the first component 31 is higher than the second share 42 of the second component 32.

[0046] The temperature-regulating body 1 has a second region 52 in which the adhesive material 3 is applied in such a way that the second share 42 of the second component 32 is higher than the first share 41 of the first component 31.

[0047] Here, from Figure 1 For example, it can be seen that the first region 51 is arranged closer to the edge region 6 of the temperature regulating body 1 than the second region 52.

[0048] Here, in Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the first component 31 has a smaller adhesive force than the second component 32.

[0049] also, Figure 1 As shown, the adhesive material 3 is applied in a uniformly distributed manner. Here, the adhesive material 3 can be applied, for example, in multiple segments 7 arranged parallel to each other.

[0050] also, Figure 1It is also shown that the adhesive material 3 can be applied, for example, in the form of continuously extending strips 9. In particular, multiple sections 7 arranged parallel to each other can be connected to each other by means of semi-circularly constructed connecting parts 90.

[0051] It is possible that the first component 31 and the second component 32 of the adhesive material 3 have been mixed together before coating.

[0052] Figure 2 A side view shows one embodiment of the battery module 100 according to the present invention.

[0053] Battery module 100 here includes multiple battery cells 2 and in Figure 1 The temperature regulating body 1 is shown in the figure. Multiple battery cells 2 and the temperature regulating body 1 are connected to each other in a non-uniform material locking manner.

[0054] To establish a non-uniform material-locking connection, in the second method step, multiple battery cells 2 are connected to the temperature-regulating body 1, particularly in a thermally conductive manner, such that an adhesive material 3 coated on the temperature-regulating body 1 is arranged between the multiple battery cells 2 and the temperature-regulating body 1. Thus, the adhesive material 3 is uniformly distributed between the multiple battery cells 2 and the temperature-regulating body 1. Consequently, the entire temperature-regulating body 1 and the multiple battery cells 2 are covered by the adhesive material 3. The material-locking connection between the multiple battery cells 2 and the temperature-regulating body 1 is thus constructed non-uniformly.

[0055] This non-uniformity is also illustrated here by different shaded lines.

[0056] It should be noted that, in particular, multiple battery cells 2 collectively form a side surface 20, to which an adhesive material 3 is coated, and this side surface is also thermally connected to the temperature regulating body 1. Here, the battery cell 2 is constructed, for example, as a prismatic battery cell, so that its lower end face collectively forms the side surface 20.

[0057] In addition, an edge region 6 is shown, which is arranged adjacent to the battery cells 2 and 21 arranged at the end.

[0058] Figure 3 A top view shows the material-locking connection between multiple battery cells 2 and the temperature-regulating body 1, the connection being made according to... Figure 2 The material is locked together to form a connection. In other words, this means that the method according to the invention is shown to be constructed using the material locking connection. Figure 1 The temperature-regulating body 1 is made of uneven material locking connection.

[0059] In particular, the first region 51 and the second region 52 can be seen here. In addition, the edge region 6 is also shown.

[0060] Figure 4 A diagram showing different proportions 41, 42 of coating the first component 31 and the second component 32 is shown.

[0061] Here, the first volume flow 310 of the first component 31, the second volume flow 320 of the second component 32, and the total volume flow 330 are plotted with respect to time. The total volume flow 330 is obtained by adding the first volume flow 310 and the second volume flow 320.

[0062] As can be seen here, for example, the first volume flow 310 decreases over time and the second volume flow 320 increases over time. In this example, the total volume flow 330 is constant over time.

[0063] Therefore, for example, an adhesive material 3 can be applied, which, according to... Figure 4 The exemplary coating shown begins with a higher first share 41 of the first component 31 and near the end has a higher second share 42 of the second component 32. It should be noted that the first volume flow 310 and the second volume flow 320 can vary arbitrarily over time, and the linear variation curves shown are merely illustrative. It is not mandatory that the total volume flow 330 be constant over time.

[0064] Figure 5 Another embodiment of the battery module 110 according to the present invention is shown in a side view. Figure 5 The battery module 110 shown in the figure is in Figure 2 The difference in the battery module 100 shown is that the material locking connection between the multiple battery cells 2 and the temperature regulating body 1 has non-uniformity along the height direction 11.

[0065] In order to manufacture this battery module 110, and especially in order to construct a thermally conductive connection between the plurality of battery cells 2 and the temperature regulating body 1 of the battery module 110, in the first method step, in Figure 1 The illustration shows that the first component 31 and the second component 32 are coated in an overlapping manner along the height direction 11. For example, the second component 32 is coated on top of the first component 31 along the height direction 11.

[0066] In the second method step, according to Figures 1 to 3 In the manufacture of the battery module 100, multiple battery cells 2 are connected to the temperature regulating body 1 in such a way that a non-uniform material-locked connection is formed between the multiple battery cells 2 and the temperature regulating body 1.

[0067] Figure 6 Other examples of material-locked connections are shown, all of which are constructed non-uniformly.

[0068] For example, Figure 6 A diagram shows a gradient surface of the distribution between the first share 41 of the first component 31 and the second share 42 of the second component 32, which extends radially upward or downward from a corner point.

[0069] For example, Figure 6 Figure b shows the following illustration, in which the gradient surface of the distribution between the first share 41 of the first component 31 and the second share 42 of the second component 32 partially has a star-shaped pattern.

[0070] For example, Figure 6 c shows the following diagram, in which the gradient surface of the distribution between the first share 41 of the first component 31 and the second share 42 of the second component 32 partially has a window-like pattern.

[0071] For example, Figure 6 Figure d shows the following diagram, in which the gradient surface of the distribution between the first share 41 of the first component 31 and the second share 42 of the second component 32 rises or falls parallel to the connection of the two opposite corner points.

[0072] For example, Figure 6 The following diagram illustrates that the gradient surface of the distribution between the first share 41 of the first component 31 and the second share 42 of the second component 32 rises or falls parallel to the connection of two adjacent corner points.

[0073] For example, Figure 6 The following diagram illustrates that, in which the gradient surface of the distribution between the first share 41 of the first component 31 and the second share 42 of the second component 32 rises or falls parallel to the connection of two adjacent corner points, thereby forming multiple high and low planes.

Claims

1. A method for forming a thermally conductive connection between a plurality of battery cells (2) of a battery module (100) and a temperature regulating body (1), wherein In the first method step, an adhesive material (3) comprising at least one first component (31) and at least one second component (32) is coated onto the temperature-regulating body (1) or a plurality of battery cells (2), wherein During the application of the adhesive material (3) to the temperature-regulating body (1) or multiple battery cells (2), the first share (41) of at least one first component (31) and / or the second share (42) of at least one second component (32) changes, wherein In the second method step, the plurality of battery cells (2) are connected to the temperature regulating body (1) in the following manner, thereby A non-uniform material bonding connection is formed between the plurality of battery cells (2) and the temperature regulating body (1). in, The at least one first component (31) has a smaller adhesive force than the at least one second component (32).

2. The method according to claim 1, Its features are, At least one first component (31) and at least one second component (32) of the adhesive material (3) are mixed together before coating.

3. A method for forming a thermally conductive connection between a plurality of battery cells (2) of a battery module (110) and a temperature regulating body (1), wherein In the first method step, an adhesive material (3) comprising at least one first component (31) and at least one second component (32) is coated onto a temperature-regulating body (1) or a plurality of battery cells (2), wherein The at least one first component (31) and the at least one second component (32) are coated in an overlapping manner along the height direction (11), wherein In the second method step, the plurality of battery cells (2) are connected to the temperature regulating body (1) in the following manner, thereby A non-uniform material bonding connection is formed between the plurality of battery cells (2) and the temperature regulating body (1). in, The at least one first component (31) has a smaller adhesive force than the at least one second component (32).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Its features are, The adhesive material (3) is coated in the first region (51) in such a way that the first share (41) of the at least one first component (31) is higher than the second share (42) of the at least one second component (32), and the adhesive material (3) is coated in the second region (52) in such a way that the second share (42) of the at least one second component (32) is higher than the first share (41) of the at least one first component (31).

5. The method according to claim 4, Its features are, The first region (51) is arranged closer to the edge region (6) of one or more battery cells (2) of the temperature regulating body (1) than the second region (52).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Its features are, Apply adhesive material evenly (3).

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Its features are, The adhesive material (3) is applied in multiple parallel sections (9).

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Its features are, The adhesive material (3) is coated in continuously extending strips (9).

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Its features are, The at least one first component (31) and / or the at least one second component (32) are selected from epoxides, acrylates, silicones or urea.

10. A battery module comprising multiple battery cells (2) and a temperature regulating body (1), wherein Multiple battery cells (2) and temperature regulating body (1) are non-uniformly connected to each other, which are constructed using the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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