Battery module, method of assembling the same, and battery pack

Abstract

This application provides a battery module, a battery pack, and an assembly method for the battery module, relating to the field of batteries. The battery module includes: a battery pack comprising multiple battery cells arranged sequentially; a heat exchanger spaced apart from the battery pack for heat exchange; a first seal disposed between the battery pack and the heat exchanger plate, the first seal having a contracted state and an expanded state; when the first seal is in the expanded state, it is filled with gas and abuts against both the heat exchanger and the battery pack to form a receiving cavity; and thermally conductive adhesive is located within the receiving cavity. The battery module, battery pack, and assembly method provided by this application effectively prevent thermally conductive adhesive from leaking outside the battery module, providing good sealing performance and ease of assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of batteries, specifically to a battery module, its assembly method, and a battery pack. Background Technology

[0002] Battery modules are typically housed within battery packs. A battery module usually includes at least one battery pack. During charging and discharging, the multiple battery cells within the module undergo chemical reactions, generating a significant amount of heat. Currently, heat exchangers are commonly used to transfer heat between the battery cells within the module. However, with increasing demands for battery pack energy density and assembly efficiency, the space within battery packs is becoming increasingly compact. To ensure proper fit between the battery pack and the heat exchanger, and to facilitate heat transfer between them, a highly fluid thermally conductive adhesive is required for bonding. During bonding, this adhesive can easily leak outside the battery module, significantly impacting the installation and normal operation of other components within the battery pack. Therefore, a sealing structure is needed to seal the thermally conductive adhesive within the battery module. Due to the poor surface flatness of the side of the heat exchanger opposite the battery pack, and the chamfered edges on the battery cell housings, the gaps between adjacent battery cells are relatively large, making the sealing of the thermally conductive adhesive between the battery pack and the heat exchanger challenging. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a battery module, its assembly method, and a battery pack, which have excellent sealing properties, effectively preventing thermally conductive adhesive from leaking outside the battery module, and are easy to assemble.

[0004] The first aspect of this application provides a battery module, which includes:

[0005] The battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells arranged in sequence.

[0006] A heat exchanger is provided at a distance from the battery pack and is used for heat exchange with the battery pack.

[0007] A first sealing element is disposed between the battery pack and the heat exchanger. The first sealing element has a contracted state and an expanded state. When the first sealing element is in the expanded state, the first sealing element is filled with gas, and the first sealing element abuts against the heat exchanger and the battery pack respectively to form a receiving cavity.

[0008] Thermally conductive adhesive, which is located within the receiving cavity.

[0009] In the embodiments of this application, the first seal is disposed between the battery pack and the heat exchanger. When the first seal is in an expanded state, it is filled with gas. The amount of gas in the first seal can be adjusted according to the gap between the battery pack and the heat exchanger, so that the first seal abuts against the battery pack and the heat exchanger respectively, forming a partially open and partially well-sealed accommodating cavity. This reduces or even prevents the thermally conductive adhesive from leaking outside the battery module. Furthermore, by controlling the amount of gas, the first seal can have different dimensions in the arrangement direction of the battery pack and the heat exchanger. Therefore, the first seal can adapt to the assembly gap between the battery pack and the heat exchanger in different battery modules, exhibiting high applicability and wide applicability. On the other hand, when the surface flatness of the heat exchanger opposite the battery pack is poor, and the gap between adjacent battery cells on the side of the battery pack close to the heat exchanger is large, the first sealing element filled with gas can fit tightly with the heat exchanger and the battery pack, resulting in a better sealing effect compared to existing sealing elements such as foam.

[0010] Furthermore, in the embodiments of this application, when the battery cell expands during charging and discharging, the expanded battery cell will be squeezed against other components in the battery module. Compared with existing sealing materials such as foam, the first sealing material in the expanded state is squeezed in other directions after being subjected to the expansion force from the battery cell, absorbing part of the expansion force, thereby reducing the reverse force of the first sealing material on the battery cell and reducing the interaction force between the first sealing material and the heat exchanger, thereby avoiding damage to the battery cell and the heat exchanger, and further improving the service life of the battery module.

[0011] Furthermore, the first sealing element includes a first sealing portion, a second sealing portion, and a third sealing portion. The second sealing portion is bent and connected to the first sealing portion. The second sealing portion extends along the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells. The third sealing portion is bent and connected to the second sealing portion, and the third sealing portion and the first sealing portion are both located on the same side of the second sealing portion.

[0012] When the first seal is in the expanded state, the first sealing part, the second sealing part, the third sealing part, the heat exchanger and the battery pack surround and form the receiving cavity, which has an opening facing the height direction of the battery cell.

[0013] In the embodiments of this application, the first sealing part, the second sealing part and the third sealing part are bent and connected in sequence to form the receiving cavity together with the heat exchanger and the battery pack. This allows the first sealing part to form a good seal between the heat exchanger and the battery pack, which can further reduce the risk of thermal conductive adhesive leakage.

[0014] Furthermore, the first sealing part has a first air inlet at the end away from the second sealing part, and / or the third sealing part has a second air inlet at the end away from the second sealing part.

[0015] In the embodiments of this application, by providing a first inflation port in the first sealing portion, gas can be easily injected into the first sealing member through the first inflation port. By providing a second inflation port in the second sealing portion, gas can be easily injected into the first sealing member through either the first inflation port or the second inflation port, so that the first sealing member is in the expanded state, thereby enabling the first sealing member to seal the gap between the battery pack and the heat exchanger. By providing a first inflation port in the first sealing portion and a second inflation port in the third sealing portion, gas can be simultaneously injected into the first sealing member through both the first inflation port and the second inflation port, thereby improving the inflation efficiency.

[0016] Furthermore, when the first seal is in the contracted state, the thickness d of the first seal satisfies 0.3mm≤d≤1mm.

[0017] In the embodiments of this application, the thickness of the first seal within this range ensures that the first seal does not burst due to the pressure of the internal gas, while also meeting the installation clearance requirements between the battery pack and the heat exchanger.

[0018] Furthermore, the first seal is a rubber seal.

[0019] In the embodiments of this application, rubber is selected as the film material. Compared with other polymer materials, rubber is soft, easy to stick to heat exchange components or battery packs, has great elasticity and good extensibility, is easy to fill with a large amount of gas, and is wear-resistant and not easy to leak.

[0020] Furthermore, the heat exchanger has a heat exchange portion and an edge portion, the edge portion is disposed around the periphery of the heat exchange portion, the first sealing member is disposed on the edge portion, and the thermally conductive adhesive covers at least a portion of the heat exchange portion.

[0021] In the embodiments of this application, by placing the first seal on the edge portion, when the battery pack is subjected to heat exchange treatment, the thermally conductive adhesive covers at least a portion of the heat exchange portion, so that the battery pack can fully exchange heat with the heat exchange medium through the thermally conductive adhesive, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0022] Furthermore, the heat exchanger includes an inlet, a first heat exchange plate, and a second heat exchange plate. The first heat exchange plate and the second heat exchange plate are stacked and connected to form the heat exchange section. The heat exchange section has a first heat exchange channel that communicates with the inlet to receive the heat exchange medium flowing in through the inlet. The thermally conductive adhesive covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the first heat exchange channel.

[0023] In embodiments of this application, the heat exchanger is connected to the first heat exchange plate and the second heat exchange plate to form the heat exchange section, and receives the heat exchange medium through the first heat exchange channel and the inlet, thereby enabling cooling or heat dissipation of the battery pack. By covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the first heat exchange channel with the thermally conductive adhesive, heat transfer between the battery pack and the heat exchanger can be achieved using the thermally conductive adhesive.

[0024] Furthermore, the first heat exchange plate includes a first sub-heat exchange channel and a first sub-edge portion surrounding the periphery of the first sub-heat exchange channel, and the second heat exchange plate includes a second sub-heat exchange channel and a second sub-edge portion surrounding the periphery of the second sub-heat exchange channel. The first sub-heat exchange channel and the second sub-heat exchange channel cooperate to form the first heat exchange channel, and the first sub-edge portion and the second sub-edge portion cooperate to form the edge portion.

[0025] In the embodiments of this application, by setting the first sealing member around the first edge of the first heat exchange channel, it is possible to ensure that the thermally conductive adhesive is in full contact with the first heat exchange channel, so that the battery pack can fully exchange heat with the heat exchange medium through the thermally conductive adhesive, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0026] Furthermore, the first heat exchange plate is disposed opposite to the battery pack, the first seal abuts against the first heat exchange plate and the battery pack respectively to form the receiving cavity, the thermally conductive adhesive is disposed between the battery pack and the first heat exchange plate and is located within the receiving cavity, the thermally conductive adhesive covers at least a portion of the first sub-heat exchange channel, and the first seal is disposed at the edge of the first sub-channel.

[0027] In embodiments of this application, by placing the thermally conductive adhesive within the receiving cavity formed by the first heat exchange plate, the battery pack, and the included first seal, leakage of the thermally conductive adhesive outside the battery module can be reduced or even avoided.

[0028] Furthermore, the battery module includes multiple battery packs, and the battery module further includes:

[0029] The second seal is disposed on the side of the second heat exchange plate away from the first heat exchange plate. The second seal has a contracted state and an expanded state. When the second seal is in the expanded state, the second seal is filled with gas, and the second seal abuts against the second heat exchange plate and another battery pack to form another receiving cavity. The thermally conductive adhesive is also disposed between the other battery pack and the second heat exchange plate and is located in the other receiving cavity.

[0030] In the embodiments of this application, by providing the second sealing element, two receiving cavities can be formed between the heat exchange element and two adjacent battery packs, thereby reducing or even avoiding leakage of the thermally conductive adhesive between the multiple battery packs and the heat exchange element.

[0031] Furthermore, the battery module includes multiple battery packs; the heat exchange component includes an inlet, a third heat exchange plate, and a fourth heat exchange plate. The third heat exchange plate has a receiving space for accommodating at least one battery pack. The fourth heat exchange plate is stacked on the side of the third heat exchange plate opposite to the receiving space and is connected to the third heat exchange plate to form a heat exchange section. The heat exchange section has a second heat exchange channel that communicates with the inlet to receive the heat exchange medium flowing in through the inlet. The second heat exchange channel includes a first part and a second part. The first part is located between two adjacent battery packs and is spaced apart from each of the two battery packs. The second part is located between two other adjacent battery packs and is spaced apart from each of the other two battery packs. The thermally conductive adhesive covers at least a portion of the first part and at least a portion of the second part.

[0032] In the embodiments of this application, the heat exchanger, by having a first portion located between two adjacent battery packs and a second portion located between two other adjacent battery packs, can simultaneously exchange heat with the multiple battery packs, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency. Furthermore, by covering at least a portion of the first portion and at least a portion of the second portion with thermally conductive adhesive, heat transfer between the multiple battery packs and the heat exchanger can be achieved using the thermally conductive adhesive.

[0033] Furthermore, the third heat exchange plate includes a third sub-heat exchange channel and a third sub-edge portion surrounding the periphery of the third sub-heat exchange channel, and the fourth heat exchange plate includes a fourth sub-heat exchange channel and a fourth sub-edge portion surrounding the periphery of the fourth sub-heat exchange channel. The third sub-heat exchange channel and the fourth sub-heat exchange channel cooperate to form the second heat exchange channel, and the third sub-edge portion and the fourth sub-edge portion cooperate to form the edge portion. The edge portion includes a third part and a fourth part. The third part is disposed around the periphery of the first part and is located between two adjacent battery packs. The fourth part is disposed around the periphery of the second part and is located between two adjacent other battery packs. The first sealing member is disposed in the third part and the fourth part.

[0034] In the embodiments of this application, by placing the first seal in the third part and the first seal in the fourth part, it is possible to ensure that the thermally conductive adhesive is in full contact with the first part and the second part of the second heat exchange channel, so that the battery pack can fully exchange heat with the heat exchange medium through the thermally conductive adhesive, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0035] Furthermore, the third heat exchange plate includes a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The two ends of the second segment are respectively bent and connected to the first segment and the third segment, and the first segment and the third segment are respectively located on the same side of the second segment.

[0036] The fourth heat exchange plate includes a fourth section, a fifth section, and a sixth section. The two ends of the fifth section are respectively bent and connected to the fourth section and the sixth section, and the fourth section and the sixth section are respectively located on the same side of the fifth section.

[0037] The first segment and the fourth segment cooperate to form the first part and the third part; the third segment and the sixth segment cooperate to form the second part and the fourth part;

[0038] The first segment is spaced apart from one of the two battery packs, the first seal is disposed between the one of the two battery packs and the first segment, and the first seal abuts against the first segment and the one of the two battery packs respectively, and the first seal abuts against the third part to form the receiving cavity;

[0039] The third segment is spaced apart from one of the other two battery packs. The first seal is disposed between one of the other two battery packs and the third segment. The first seal abuts against the third segment and one of the other two battery packs respectively, and abuts against the fourth part to form the receiving cavity.

[0040] In embodiments of this application, by placing the first seal between one of the two battery packs and the first segment, and placing the first seal between one of the other two battery packs and the third segment to form two receiving cavities, the leakage of the thermally conductive adhesive between the two battery packs and the heat exchanger from the battery module can be reduced or even avoided.

[0041] Furthermore, the fourth segment is spaced apart from the other of the two battery packs;

[0042] The sixth segment is spaced apart from the other one of the other two battery packs;

[0043] The battery module also includes multiple second seals;

[0044] A second seal is disposed between the fourth segment and the other of the two battery packs. The second seal has a contracted state and an expanded state. When the second seal is in the expanded state, the second seal is filled with gas. The second seal abuts against the fourth segment and the other of the two battery packs, and abuts against the third part to form another receiving cavity.

[0045] Another second seal is disposed between the sixth segment and the other of the other two battery packs. The other second seal has a contracted state and an expanded state. When the other second seal is in the expanded state, it is filled with gas. The other second seal abuts against the sixth segment and the other of the other two battery packs, and abuts against the fourth part to form another receiving cavity.

[0046] In embodiments of this application, by providing the second sealing element, two receiving cavities can be formed between the heat exchange element and two adjacent battery packs, thereby reducing or even preventing leakage of the thermally conductive adhesive between the multiple battery packs and the heat exchange element.

[0047] A second aspect of this application provides a battery pack, which includes a battery case and a battery module as described in any example of this application, wherein the battery module is encapsulated within the battery case.

[0048] In the embodiments of this application, the battery pack has a good sealing effect, which can effectively prevent the thermally conductive adhesive from leaking out of the battery module, and is easy to assemble.

[0049] The third aspect of the application provides a battery module assembly method, the method comprising:

[0050] A battery pack, a heat exchanger, and a first seal are provided, the first seal having a contracted state and an expanded state;

[0051] The first seal is placed between the battery pack and the heat exchange plate;

[0052] The first seal is inflated to make it expand, and the first seal abuts against the heat exchanger and the battery pack to form a receiving cavity.

[0053] Stop inflating and seal the inflation port of the first seal.

[0054] The thermally conductive adhesive is poured into the receiving cavity.

[0055] In the embodiments of this application, when the first seal is in a contracted state, the first seal is positioned between the battery pack and the heat exchange plate to facilitate the installation of the first seal; when the first seal is in an expanded state, the thermally conductive adhesive is injected into the receiving cavity to reduce or even prevent the thermally conductive adhesive from leaking outside the battery module, thereby adversely affecting the installation and normal use of other components in the battery pack, and improving the safety of the battery module.

[0056] Furthermore, the method also includes:

[0057] After the thermally conductive adhesive has solidified, the first seal can be removed from the heat exchanger, or the first seal can be retained.

[0058] In the embodiments of this application, after the thermally conductive adhesive has condensed, the first seal can be quickly removed from the heat exchanger by venting the first seal, thereby reducing the weight of the battery module and increasing its energy density. By retaining the first seal and omitting its removal step, battery module production time can be saved. Attached Figure Description

[0059] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0060] Figure 1 A perspective view of a battery module provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0061] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded 3D view of the provided battery module;

[0062] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the cross section along Line II;

[0063] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0064] Figure 5 for Figure 2 The diagram shows the structure of the heat exchanger.

[0065] Figure 6 for Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger shown.

[0066] Figure 7 A perspective view of a battery module provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0067] Figure 8 for Figure 7 An exploded 3D view of the provided battery module;

[0068] Figure 9 for Figure 7 The diagram shows the structure of the heat exchanger.

[0069] Figure 10 for Figure 9 An exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger shown.

[0070] Figure 11 A perspective view of a battery pack provided according to one embodiment of this application;

[0071] Figure 12 for Figure 11 An exploded 3D view of the provided battery pack;

[0072] Figure 13 This is a schematic flowchart of a battery module assembly method provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0073] Figure 14 This is a schematic flowchart of a battery module assembly method provided in another embodiment of this application.

[0074] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0075] 100-Battery Module;

[0076] 110 - Battery pack, 111 - Individual battery cell;

[0077] 120 - Heat exchanger component, 121 - Inlet, 122 - First heat exchange plate, 123 - Second heat exchange plate, 124 - Third heat exchange plate, 1241 - First section, 1242 - Second section, 1243 - Third section, 125 - Fourth heat exchange plate, 1251 - Fourth section, 1252 - Fifth section, 1253 - Sixth section, 126 - Heat exchange section, 1261 - First heat exchange channel, 1261a - First sub-heat exchange channel, 1261b - Second sub-heat exchange channel, 1262 - Second Heat exchange flow channel, 1262a-third sub-heat exchange flow channel, 1262b-fourth sub-heat exchange flow channel, 1262c-first section, 1262d-second section, 127-edge section, 1271-first edge section, 1271a-first sub-edge section, 1271b-second sub-edge section, 1272-second edge section, 1272a-third sub-edge section, 1272b-fourth sub-edge section, 1272c-third section, 1272d-fourth section, 128-accommodation space, 129-notch;

[0078] 130 - First sealing element, 131 - First sealing part, 1311 - First air inlet, 132 - Second sealing part, 133 - Third sealing part, 1331 - Second air inlet;

[0079] 140 - Second seal;

[0080] 150 - Thermal conductive adhesive;

[0081] 160 - Reception cavity;

[0082] 200-battery pack;

[0083] 300 - Battery box, 301 - Top cover, 302 - Lower box body;

[0084] First direction D1, second direction D2, third direction D3. Detailed Implementation

[0085] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0086] The terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or apparatuses.

[0087] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, for ease of explanation, the same reference numerals denote the same components in the embodiments of this application, and for brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components are omitted in different embodiments. The references to "embodiment" or "implementation" in this application mean that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application.

[0088] Please refer to the following: Figures 1 to 4 , Figure 1 A perspective view of a battery module provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded 3D view of the provided battery module; Figure 3 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the cross section along Line II; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of point A. This application provides a battery module 100, which includes a battery pack 110, a heat exchanger 120, a first seal 130, and thermally conductive adhesive 150. The battery pack 110 includes a plurality of battery cells 111 arranged sequentially. The heat exchanger 120 is spaced apart from the battery pack 110 and is used for heat exchange with the battery pack 110. The first seal 130 is disposed between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120. The first seal 130 has a contracted state and an expanded state. When the first seal 130 is in the expanded state (see...),... Figure 4 The first sealing member 130 is filled with gas and abuts against the heat exchange member 120 and the battery pack 110 to form a receiving cavity 160. The thermally conductive adhesive 150 is disposed between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchange member 120 and is located within the receiving cavity 160 (see [link]). Figure 4 ).

[0089] The battery module 100 includes one or more battery packs 110 to adapt to the power consumption needs of different power consumption occasions. In the schematic diagram of this embodiment, the battery module 100 including multiple battery packs 110 is used as an example for illustration; it should not be understood as a limitation on the battery module 100 provided in this application embodiment. When the battery module 100 includes multiple battery packs 110, the battery module 100 has a larger power output and can meet larger power consumption needs. When the battery module 100 includes multiple battery packs 110 (see...) Figure 1 The plurality of battery packs 110 can be arranged along a first direction D1. Each battery pack 110 includes a plurality of battery cells 111 arranged sequentially, and the plurality of battery cells 111 can be arranged along a second direction D2, wherein the second direction D2 is different from the first direction D1. In one embodiment, the second direction D2 is perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the first direction D1. The battery cell 111 can be a lead-acid battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a lithium battery, a lithium iron phosphate battery, or a ternary lithium battery, etc. The battery cell 111 can be cuboid, cylindrical, etc., and the shape of the battery cell 111 is not limited herein.

[0090] In some embodiments of this application, in a low-temperature environment, the activity of the positive and negative electrode materials of the battery cells 111 in the battery pack 110 and the conductivity of the electrolyte decrease, and the charging and discharging performance of the battery pack 110 decreases. At this time, a heat exchanger 120 with a higher temperature is required to preheat the battery pack 110 so that the battery pack 110 reaches a suitable temperature.

[0091] In some embodiments of this application, in high-temperature environments, the charging efficiency of the individual battery cells 111 of the battery pack 110 is low, the battery capacity is reduced, and the battery pack 110 dissipates heat during operation, resulting in an excessively high temperature. Therefore, a heat exchanger 120 is needed to dissipate heat from the battery pack 110. In this case, a lower-temperature heat exchanger 120 is required to remove the heat dissipated by the battery pack 110, thereby reducing the temperature of the battery pack 110 to a suitable level.

[0092] The heat exchanger 120 can be a heat exchange plate or heat exchange strip, depending on the shape and structure of the battery cell 111 and the arrangement of the battery pack 110. The specific shape of the heat exchanger 120 is not limited. Optionally, the heat exchanger 120 can be a heat exchange plate with a large heat exchange area, which can improve the heat exchange effect on the battery pack 110. The heat exchanger 120 can be made of metal or a non-metallic material with good thermal conductivity, and the specific material is not limited. Optionally, the heat exchange plate can be made of aluminum, which can reduce the weight of the heat exchanger 120, thereby reducing the overall weight of the battery module 100. The heat exchanger 120 has a heat exchange channel, and the heat exchange channel is filled with a heat exchange medium, which can be a liquid medium or a gaseous medium, which is not limited in the embodiments of this application. For example, in one example, the heat exchange medium can be water or a water-alcohol mixture. The heat exchange medium can dissipate heat or preheat the battery pack 110. When heat exchange is required for the battery pack 110, a heat exchange medium is introduced into the heat exchanger 120. Since the thermally conductive adhesive 150 is provided between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120, heat exchange can be exchanged through the heat exchange medium. The heat dissipation or preheating of the battery pack 110 can be achieved by adjusting the temperature of the introduced heat exchange medium. The specific structure and details of the heat exchanger 120 will be described in detail later.

[0093] Understandably, when the first seal 130 is in an expanded state, it is filled with gas. The amount of gas filling the first seal 130 varies, resulting in different dimensions of the first seal 130 in the arrangement direction (first direction D1 in this embodiment) between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120, to accommodate different gap sizes between them. Specifically, the amount of gas filling the first seal 130 can be adjusted according to the gap size between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120, so that the first seal 130 abuts against both the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120, forming a partially open and well-sealed receiving cavity 160, thereby reducing or even preventing the thermally conductive adhesive 150 from leaking outside the battery module 100. If the thermally conductive adhesive 150 leaks outside the battery module 100 due to lack of sealing, it will adversely affect the installation and normal use of other components of the battery module 100. For example, it may cause other components to stick together, affecting the assembly efficiency and conductivity of each component. Therefore, the first sealing member 130 in the battery module 100 provided in this application embodiment abuts against the battery pack 110 and the heat exchange member 120 respectively, forming a partially open and otherwise well-sealed receiving cavity 160. This can reduce or even avoid the adverse effects of the thermally conductive adhesive 150 leaking outside the battery module 100 on the installation and normal use of other components of the battery module 100. For example, it can reduce or even avoid the sticking of other components, thereby improving the assembly efficiency and conductivity of each component of the battery module 100.

[0094] Furthermore, on the one hand, the first sealing member 130 controls the amount of air to make the size of the first sealing member 130 different in the arrangement direction of the battery pack 110 and the heat exchange member 120 (the first direction D1 in this embodiment). Therefore, the first sealing member 130 can adapt to the assembly gap between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchange member 120 in different battery modules 100, and has high applicability and wide application scenarios. On the other hand, when the surface flatness of the heat exchanger 120 opposite to the battery pack 110 is poor, and the gap between adjacent battery cells 111 on the side close to the heat exchanger 120 is large, for example, when the heat exchanger 120 has a heat exchange channel or other structure, resulting in poor surface flatness of the surface of the heat exchanger 120 opposite to the battery pack 110, and the housing of the battery cells 111 in the battery pack 110 has a chamfer, resulting in a large gap between adjacent battery cells 111 on the side close to the heat exchanger 120, the first sealing element 130 filled with gas can fit tightly with the heat exchanger 120 and the battery pack 110, resulting in a better sealing effect compared to existing foam or other sealing elements.

[0095] Furthermore, in the embodiments of this application, when the battery cell 111 expands during charging and discharging, the expanded battery cell 111 will be squeezed against other components in the battery module 100. Compared with existing sealing materials such as foam, the first sealing material 130, when in an expanded state, is squeezed in other directions by the expansion force from the battery cell 111, absorbing part of the expansion force. This reduces the reverse force of the first sealing material 130 on the battery cell 111 and reduces the interaction force between the first sealing material 130 and the heat exchanger 120, thereby preventing damage to the battery cell 111 and the heat exchanger 120 and further improving the service life of the battery module 100.

[0096] Understandably, when the first seal 130 is subjected to excessive expansion force from the battery cell 111, the first seal 130 can be vented to reduce its volume, thereby adapting to the reduced assembly space caused by compression and further preventing damage to the battery pack 110 or the heat exchanger 120.

[0097] The thermally conductive adhesive 150 is disposed between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120 and is located within the receiving cavity 160. Therefore, the thermally conductive adhesive 150 can transfer heat between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120, thereby achieving heat exchange between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120 to preheat or dissipate heat from the battery pack 110.

[0098] Understandably, the thermally conductive adhesive 150 has both a flowing state and a solidified state. When the thermally conductive adhesive 150 is in a flowing state, the first seal 130 is in an expanded state, abutting against the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120 respectively, forming a partially open and otherwise well-sealed receiving cavity 160. The thermally conductive adhesive 150 fills the receiving cavity 160 formed by the first seal 130, the heat exchanger 120, and the battery pack 110 to reduce or even prevent leakage of the thermally conductive adhesive 150. When the thermally conductive adhesive 150 is in a solidified state, the first seal 130 can be in a contracted or expanded state. When the thermally conductive adhesive 150 is in a solidified state, the first seal 130 can be disassembled. For example, when the thermally conductive adhesive 150 is in a solidified state and the first seal 130 is in a contracted state, the first seal 130 can be disassembled. The first seal 130 in its contracted state has a smaller dimension in the direction in which the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120 are arranged, even smaller than the size of the gap formed between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120. Therefore, it is easy to remove from the battery module 100 to reduce the weight of the battery module 100 and thereby increase the energy density of the battery module 100.

[0099] In summary, the battery module 100 provided in this application embodiment has a first sealing member 130 that can effectively seal the thermally conductive adhesive 150 between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchange member 120, reducing or even preventing the thermally conductive adhesive 150 from leaking outside the battery module 100, and reducing or even preventing adverse effects on the installation and normal use of other components of the battery module 100.

[0100] The specific structure of the heat exchanger 120 provided in each embodiment will now be described in detail.

[0101] Please refer to the attached document. Figure 5 and Figure 6 , Figure 5 for Figure 2 The diagram shows the structure of the heat exchanger. Figure 6 for Figure 2The image shows an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger. In some embodiments of this application, the heat exchanger 120 further includes an inlet 121. The heat exchanger 120 includes a first heat exchange plate 122 and a second heat exchange plate 123, which are stacked and connected to form a heat exchange section 126. The heat exchange section 126 has a first heat exchange channel 1261. The first heat exchange channel 1261 communicates with the inlet 121 to receive the heat exchange medium flowing in through the inlet 121. The thermally conductive adhesive 150 covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the first heat exchange channel 1261. The heat exchanger 120 forms the heat exchange section 126 by connecting the first heat exchange plate 122 and the second heat exchange plate 123, and receives the heat exchange medium through the communication between the heat exchange section 126 and the inlet 121, thereby enabling preheating or heat dissipation of the battery pack 110. By covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the first heat exchange channel 1261 with the thermally conductive adhesive 150, the heat exchange medium in the first heat exchange channel 1261 can achieve heat transfer with the thermally conductive adhesive 150 relatively quickly, thereby achieving the effect of relatively fast heat transfer between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120 using the thermally conductive adhesive 150.

[0102] Furthermore, the first heat exchange plate 122 includes a first sub-heat exchange channel 1261a and a first sub-edge portion 1271a surrounding the periphery of the first sub-heat exchange channel 1261a. Correspondingly, the second heat exchange plate 123 includes a second sub-heat exchange channel 1261b and a second sub-edge portion 1271b surrounding the periphery of the second sub-heat exchange channel 1261b. The first sub-heat exchange channel 1261a and the second sub-heat exchange channel 1261b cooperate to form the first heat exchange channel 1261, and the first sub-edge portion 1271a and the second sub-edge portion 1271b cooperate to form an edge portion 127. For ease of description, the edge portion 127 in this embodiment is named the first edge portion 1271. The first sealing member 130 is disposed on the first edge portion 1271. By setting the first sealing member 130 around the first edge portion 1271 of the first heat exchange channel 1261, the thermally conductive adhesive 150 can be in full contact with the first heat exchange channel 1261, so that the battery pack 110 can fully exchange heat with the heat exchange medium through the thermally conductive adhesive 150, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0103] Specifically, a first sub-heat exchange channel 1261a is disposed on the surface of the first heat exchange plate 122. The first heat exchange plate 122 protrudes from the first heat exchange plate 122 in a direction away from the second heat exchange plate 123 to form the first sub-heat exchange channel 1261a. The first sub-heat exchange channel 1261a extends along the length direction of the first heat exchange plate 122. A second sub-heat exchange channel 1261b is disposed on the surface of the second heat exchange plate 123. The second heat exchange plate 123 protrudes from the second heat exchange plate 123 in a direction away from the first heat exchange plate 122 to form the second sub-heat exchange channel 1261b. The second sub-heat exchange channel 1261b extends along the length direction of the second heat exchange plate 123. It should be noted that, in one embodiment, the first heat exchange plate 122 may also be recessed in the direction away from the second heat exchange plate 123 to form the first sub-heat exchange channel 1261a. In this case, the second heat exchange plate 123 may protrude in the direction away from the first heat exchange plate 122 to form the second sub-heat exchange channel 1261b. Alternatively, the second heat exchange plate 123 may also be recessed in the direction away from the first heat exchange plate 122 to form the second sub-heat exchange channel 1261b. In this case, the first heat exchange plate 122 may protrude in the direction away from the second heat exchange plate 123 to form the first sub-heat exchange channel 1261a. The direction of the protrusions or recesses of the first heat exchange plate 122 and the second heat exchange plate 123 is not limited here, as long as the first sub-heat exchange channel 1261a and the second sub-heat exchange channel 1261b can be matched to form the first heat exchange channel 1261. It can be understood that the connection between the first heat exchange plate 122 and the second heat exchange plate 123 can be, but is not limited to, welding the first sub-edge portion 1271a of the first heat exchange plate 122 to the second sub-edge portion 1271b of the second heat exchange plate 123 to connect the first heat exchange plate 122 and the second heat exchange plate 123, thereby sealing the first sub-heat exchange channel 1261a and the second sub-heat exchange channel 1261b, which can effectively prevent the leakage of heat exchange medium in the first heat exchange channel 1261.

[0104] Furthermore, when the first heat exchange plate 122 in the heat exchanger 120 is disposed opposite to the battery pack 110, the first sealing member 130 abuts against the first heat exchange plate 122 and the battery pack 110 respectively to form the receiving cavity 160. The thermally conductive adhesive 150 is disposed between the battery pack 110 and the first heat exchange plate 122 and is located within the receiving cavity 160. The thermally conductive adhesive 150 at least covers the first sub-heat exchange channel 1261a, and the first sealing member 130 is disposed at the first sub-edge portion 1271a. By covering at least a portion of the first sub-heat exchange channel 1261a with the thermally conductive adhesive 150, the heat exchange medium in the first sub-heat exchange channel 1261a can achieve heat transfer with the thermally conductive adhesive 150 relatively quickly, thereby achieving the effect of relatively rapid heat transfer between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120 using the thermally conductive adhesive 150. By placing the thermally conductive adhesive 150 within the receiving cavity 160 formed by the first heat exchange plate 122, the battery pack 110, and the included first sealing member 130, leakage of the thermally conductive adhesive 150 outside the battery module 100 can be reduced or even avoided. It is understood that the battery module 100 provided in this embodiment can have only one battery pack 110. When the number of battery packs 110 in the battery module 100 is one, the battery module 100 includes one heat exchange member 120. The heat exchange member 120 can be disposed only on one side of the battery pack 110 along the width direction of the battery pack 110. The heat exchange member 120 located on one side of the battery pack 110 can exchange heat with the battery pack 110 while saving material of the heat exchange member 120, reducing the weight and volume of the battery module 100, and increasing the energy density of the battery module 100. The heat exchanger 120 can also be disposed on both sides of the battery pack 110 along the width direction of the battery pack 110. In this case, the heat exchanger 120 on both sides simultaneously exchange heat on both sides of the battery pack 110, which can improve the overall heat exchange efficiency of the battery module 100 and further improve the heat exchange effect of the battery module 100.

[0105] It is understood that the battery module 100 provided in the embodiments of this application may also have multiple battery packs 110. Please refer to the appendix. Figure 1 Appendix Figure 2When the number of battery packs 110 in the battery module 100 is multiple, the battery module 100 further includes a second sealing member 140. The second sealing member 140 is disposed on the side of the second heat exchange plate 123 opposite to the first heat exchange plate 122. The second sealing member 140 has a contracted state and an expanded state. When the second sealing member 140 is in the expanded state, the second sealing member 140 is filled with gas, and the second sealing member 140 abuts against the second heat exchange plate 123 and another battery pack 110 to form another receiving cavity 160. The thermally conductive adhesive 150 is also disposed between the other battery pack 110 and the second heat exchange plate 123, and is located within the other receiving cavity 160. By providing the second sealing member 140, two receiving cavities 160 can be formed between the heat exchange member 120 and two adjacent battery packs 110, thereby reducing or even preventing leakage of the thermally conductive adhesive 150 between the multiple battery packs 110 and the heat exchange member 120. Furthermore, in this embodiment, heat exchange between two adjacent battery packs 110 can be achieved using a single heat exchanger 120, thereby saving the number of heat exchangers 120 and increasing the energy density of the battery module 100.

[0106] Please refer to the following: Figures 7 to 10 , Figure 7 A perspective view of a battery module provided in another embodiment of this application; Figure 8 for Figure 7 An exploded 3D view of the provided battery module; Figure 9 for Figure 7 The diagram shows the structure of the heat exchanger. Figure 10 for Figure 9The image shows an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger. In some embodiments of this application, the battery module 100 includes a plurality of battery packs 110 (four are shown in the image), and the heat exchanger 120 includes a third heat exchange plate 124 and a fourth heat exchange plate 125. The third heat exchange plate 124 has a receiving space 128 for accommodating the battery packs 110. The fourth heat exchange plate 125 is stacked on the side of the third heat exchange plate 124 opposite to the receiving space 128 and is connected to the third heat exchange plate 124 to form a heat exchange portion 126. The heat exchange portion 126 has a second heat exchange channel 1262. The second heat exchange channel 1262 communicates with the inlet 121 to receive the heat exchange medium flowing in through the inlet 121, and the thermally conductive adhesive 150 covers at least a portion of the second heat exchange channel 1262. The second heat exchange channel 1262 includes a first part 1262c and a second part 1262d. The first part 1262c is located between two adjacent battery packs 110 and is spaced apart from each of the two battery packs 110. The second part 1262d is located between two other adjacent battery packs 110 and is spaced apart from each of the other two battery packs 110. The thermally conductive adhesive 150 covers at least a portion of the first part 1262c and at least a portion of the second part 1262d. By providing the first part 1262c between two adjacent battery packs 110 and the second part 1262d between two other adjacent battery packs 110, the heat exchanger 120 can simultaneously exchange heat with the multiple battery packs 110, improving heat exchange efficiency. Furthermore, by covering at least a portion of the first part 1262c and at least a portion of the second part 1262d with the thermally conductive adhesive 150, heat transfer between the multiple battery packs 110 and the heat exchanger 120 can be achieved using the thermally conductive adhesive 150.

[0107] Furthermore, the third heat exchange plate 124 includes a third sub-heat exchange channel 1262a and a third sub-edge portion 1272a surrounding the periphery of the third sub-heat exchange channel 1262a, and the fourth heat exchange plate 125 includes a fourth sub-heat exchange channel 1262b and a fourth sub-edge portion 1272b surrounding the periphery of the fourth sub-heat exchange channel 1262b. The third sub-heat exchange channel 1262a and the fourth sub-heat exchange channel 1262b cooperate to form the second heat exchange channel 1262, and the third sub-edge portion 1272a and the fourth sub-edge portion 1272b cooperate to form the... For ease of description, the edge portion 127 in this embodiment is named the second edge portion 1272. The second edge portion 1272 includes a third portion 1272c and a fourth portion 1272d. The third portion 1272c is disposed around the periphery of the first portion 1262c and is located between two adjacent battery packs 110. The fourth portion 1272d is disposed around the periphery of the second portion 1262d and is located between two adjacent battery packs 110. The first sealing member 130 is disposed on the third portion 1272c and the fourth portion 1272d. By placing the first seal 130 in the third part 1272c and the first seal 130 in the fourth part 1272d, it is possible to ensure that the thermally conductive adhesive 150 is in full contact with the first part 1262c and the second part 1262d of the second heat exchange channel 1262, so that the battery pack 110 can fully exchange heat with the heat exchange medium through the thermally conductive adhesive 150, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0108] Specifically, a third sub-heat exchange channel 1262a is disposed on the surface of a third heat exchange plate 124, the third heat exchange plate 124 protruding from the third heat exchange plate 124 in a direction away from the receiving space 128 to form the third sub-heat exchange channel 1262a. A fourth sub-heat exchange channel 1262b is disposed on the surface of a fourth heat exchange plate 125, the fourth heat exchange plate 125 protruding from the fourth heat exchange plate 125 in a direction toward the receiving space 128 to form the fourth sub-heat exchange channel 1262b. It should be noted that, in one embodiment, the third heat exchange plate 124 may also be recessed in the direction away from the fourth heat exchange plate 125 to form the third sub-heat exchange channel 1262a. In this case, the fourth heat exchange plate 125 may protrude in the direction away from the third heat exchange plate 124 to form the fourth sub-heat exchange channel 1262b. Alternatively, the fourth heat exchange plate 125 may be recessed in the direction away from the third heat exchange plate 124 to form the fourth sub-heat exchange channel 1262b. In this case, the third heat exchange plate 124 may protrude in the direction away from the fourth heat exchange plate 125 to form the third sub-heat exchange channel 1262a. The direction of the protrusions or depressions of the third heat exchange plate 124 and the fourth heat exchange plate 125 is not limited here, as long as the third sub-heat exchange channel 1262a and the fourth sub-heat exchange channel 1262b can be matched to form the second heat exchange channel 1262.

[0109] Understandably, the third heat exchange plate 124 and the fourth heat exchange plate 125 may, but are not limited to, have their third sub-edge portion 1272a of the third heat exchange plate 124 and the fourth sub-edge portion 1272b of the fourth heat exchange plate 125 welded together to connect the third heat exchange plate 124 and the fourth heat exchange plate 125, thereby sealing the third sub-heat exchange channel 1262a and the fourth sub-heat exchange channel 1262b, which can effectively prevent the leakage of heat exchange medium in the third sub-heat exchange channel 1262a.

[0110] Furthermore, the third heat exchange plate 124 further includes a first segment 1241, a second segment 1242, and a third segment 1243. The two ends of the second segment 1242 are respectively bent and connected to the first segment 1241 and the third segment 1243, and the first segment 1241 and the third segment 1243 are respectively located on the same side of the second segment 1242. The fourth heat exchange plate 125 includes a fourth segment 1251, a fifth segment 1252, and a sixth segment 1253. 253, the two ends of the fifth segment 1252 are respectively bent and connected to the fourth segment 1251 and the sixth segment 1253, and the fourth segment 1251 and the sixth segment 1253 are respectively located on the same side of the fifth segment 1252; the first segment 1241 cooperates with the fourth segment 1251 to form the first part 1262c and the third part 1272c; the third segment 1243 cooperates with the sixth segment 1253 to form the second part 1262d and the fourth part 1272d; the first segment 1241 is spaced apart from one of the two battery packs 110, the first seal 130 is disposed between the one of the two battery packs 110 and the first segment 1241, and the first seal 130 abuts against the first segment 1241 and the one of the two battery packs 110 respectively, and the first seal 130 abuts against the third part 1272c to form the receiving cavity 160; the third segment 1243 is spaced apart from one of the other two battery packs 110, the first seal 130 is disposed between one of the other two battery packs 110 and the third segment 1243, and the first seal 130 abuts against the third segment 1243 and the one of the other two battery packs 110 respectively, and the first seal 130 abuts against the fourth part 1272d to form the receiving cavity 160. By placing the first seal 130 between one of the two battery packs 110 and the first segment 1241, and placing the first seal 130 between one of the other two battery packs 110 and the third segment 1243 to form two receiving cavities 160, the leakage of the thermally conductive adhesive 150 between the two battery packs 110 and the heat exchanger 120 from the battery module 100 can be reduced or even avoided.

[0111] Understandably, in one embodiment, the first segment 1241, the second segment 1242, and the third segment 1243 are an integral structure. These segments do not require splicing, snap-fit, or quick-connect fittings for connection; they are integrated without interfaces. This eliminates leakage and failure of the heat exchange medium within the third sub-heat exchange channel 1262a, resulting in high safety performance of the heat exchange plate. Furthermore, the absence of any connecting structures effectively reduces costs. In other embodiments, the first segment 1241, the second segment 1242, and the third segment 1243 are each independent structures, and the first segment 1241, the second segment 1242, and the third segment 1243 are connected in sequence. The two ends of the second segment 1242 are bent and connected to the first segment 1241 and the third segment 1243 respectively, and the first segment 1241 and the third segment 1243 are both located on the same side of the second segment 1242.

[0112] Understandably, in one embodiment, the fourth segment 1251, the fifth segment 1252, and the sixth segment 1253 are an integral structure. These segments do not require splicing, snap-fit, or quick-connect fittings for connection; they are integrated without interfaces. This eliminates leakage and failure of the heat exchange medium within the fourth sub-heat exchange channel 1262b, resulting in high safety performance of the heat exchange plate. Furthermore, the absence of any connecting structures effectively reduces costs. In other embodiments, the fourth segment 1251, the fifth segment 1252, and the sixth segment 1253 are each independent structures. The fourth segment 1251, the fifth segment 1252, and the sixth segment 1253 are connected in sequence, and the two ends of the fifth segment 1252 are bent and connected to the fourth segment 1251 and the sixth segment 1253 respectively. The fourth segment 1251 and the sixth segment 1253 are both located on the same side of the fifth segment 1252.

[0113] In some embodiments of this application, the battery module 100 further includes a plurality of second seals 140. When the battery module 100 includes a plurality of second seals 140, the fourth segment 1251 is spaced apart from the other of the two battery packs 110; the sixth segment 1253 is spaced apart from the other of the other two battery packs 110. A second seal 140 is disposed between the fourth segment 1251 and the other of the two battery packs 110. The second seal 140 has a contracted state and an expanded state. When the second seal 140 is in the expanded state, the second seal 140 is filled with gas. The second seal 140 abuts against the fourth segment 1251 and the other of the two battery packs 110, and the second seal 140 abuts against the third part 1272c to form another receiving cavity 160; another... Two sealing elements 140 are disposed between the sixth segment 1253 and the other of the other two battery packs 110. The second sealing element 140 has a contracted state and an expanded state. When the second sealing element is in the expanded state, it is filled with gas. The second sealing element 140 abuts against the sixth segment 1253 and the other of the other two battery packs 110, and also abuts against the fourth part 1272d to form another receiving cavity 160. By providing the second sealing element 140, two receiving cavities 160 can be formed between the heat exchanger 120 and two adjacent battery packs 110, thereby reducing or even preventing leakage of the thermally conductive adhesive 150 between the multiple battery packs 110 and the heat exchanger 120.

[0114] Please see Figure 2 In some embodiments of this application, along a third direction D3, at least one notch 129 is provided at one end edge of the heat exchanger 120 near the opening of the receiving cavity 160. The notch 129 serves as an injection port for the thermally conductive adhesive 150 when it is injected into the receiving cavity 160, facilitating the injection device to inject the thermally conductive adhesive 150 into the receiving cavity 160. The third direction D3 is perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the first direction D1, and the third direction D3 is perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the second direction D2. Optionally, there may be only one notch 129. Providing only one notch 129 on the heat exchanger 120 can reduce the processing time of the heat exchanger 120 and improve processing efficiency. Alternatively, there may be multiple notches 129. Multiple notches 129 are distributed at intervals along the edge of the heat exchanger 120 along the arrangement direction of the battery cells 111, allowing multiple injection devices to inject adhesive into multiple injection ports simultaneously, which can improve injection efficiency.

[0115] In some embodiments, the first seal 130 can be connected first to either the battery pack 110 or the heat exchanger 120, and then connected to the other of the battery pack 110 or the heat exchanger 120, to improve the ease of installation of the first seal 130. Alternatively, the battery pack 110 can be fixed to the heat exchanger 120 first, and then the first seal 130 can be sandwiched within the space reserved between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120.

[0116] Optionally, the first seal 130 can be connected to the heat exchanger 120 by means of adhesive bonding or heat fusion. Similarly, the first seal 130 can be connected to the battery pack 110 by means of adhesive bonding or heat fusion.

[0117] Optionally, the first seal 130 is attached to the heat exchanger 120. By directly attaching the first seal 130 to the heat exchanger 120, and then connecting the heat exchanger 120 with the first seal 130 attached to it to the battery pack 110, the operation is convenient and quick.

[0118] Please see Figure 2 In some embodiments, the first seal 130 includes a first sealing portion 131, a second sealing portion 132, and a third sealing portion 133. The second sealing portion 132 is bent and connected to the first sealing portion 131, and extends along the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells 111. The third sealing portion 133 is bent and connected to the second sealing portion 132, and the third sealing portion 133 and the first sealing portion 131 are both located on the same side of the second sealing portion 132. When the first seal 130 is in an expanded state, the first sealing portion 131, the second sealing portion 132, the third sealing portion 133, the heat exchanger 120, and the battery pack 110 together form a receiving cavity 160. The receiving cavity 160 has an opening facing the height direction of the battery cell 111, and the receiving cavity 160 is used to receive the thermally conductive adhesive 150. By sequentially bending and connecting the first sealing part 131, the second sealing part 132, and the third sealing part 133, the first sealing member 130, together with the heat exchange member 120 and the battery pack 110, forms the receiving cavity 160. This allows the first sealing member 130 to form a good seal between multiple parts of the heat exchange member 120 and the battery pack 110, further reducing the risk of leakage of the thermally conductive adhesive 150.

[0119] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the first sealing part 131, the second sealing part 132, and the third sealing part 133 are an integral structure. The first sealing part 131, the second sealing part 132, and the third sealing part 133 do not require splicing, snap-fit, or quick-connect fittings for connection; the three are integrated without interfaces, ensuring no leakage or failure of the heat exchange medium within the receiving cavity 160, thus resulting in high safety performance of the battery module 100. Moreover, the elimination of any connecting structure between the first sealing part 131, the second sealing part 132, and the third sealing part 133 effectively reduces costs. In other embodiments, the first sealing part 131, the second sealing part 132, and the third sealing part 133 are each independent structures. The first sealing part 131, the second sealing part 132, and the third sealing part 133 are connected in sequence, and the two ends of the second sealing part 132 are bent and connected to the first sealing part 131 and the third sealing part 133, respectively. The first sealing part 131 and the third sealing part 133 are both located on the same side of the second sealing part 132.

[0120] Understandably, the opening direction of the receiving cavity 160 can be any end facing in the third direction D3. When the battery cell 111 is a single-pass battery with an end cap on only one end, the opening direction of the receiving cavity 160 is towards the end with the top cap in the height direction of the battery cell 111. Thus, the orientation of the opening is the same as the orientation of the end cap when the battery pack 110 is placed, which facilitates the glue injection operation during the processing and avoids damage to other components of the battery module 100 due to inverting the battery pack 110. Alternatively, the opening direction of the receiving cavity 160 can also be towards the end without the top cap in the height direction of the battery cell 111. The specific orientation of the opening direction of the receiving cavity 160 depends on the relative positional relationship between the glue injection device and the battery module 100 during the glue injection process, as long as the thermally conductive adhesive 150 can be successfully injected into the gap between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120. When the battery cell 111 is a dual-channel battery with end caps at both ends, the opening direction of the receiving cavity 160 can be towards any end in the height direction of the battery cell 111.

[0121] Please continue reading. Figure 2 In some embodiments, the first sealing part 131 is provided with a first air inlet 1311 at the end away from the second sealing part 132, and / or the third sealing part 133 is provided with a second air inlet 1331 at the end away from the second sealing part 132.

[0122] Specifically, the first sealing part 131 is provided with a first air inlet 1311 at the end away from the second sealing part 132, and / or the third sealing part 133 is provided with a second air inlet 1331 at the end away from the second sealing part 132, including one of the following situations: the first sealing part 131 is provided with a first air inlet 1311 at the end away from the second sealing part 132; the third sealing part 133 is provided with a second air inlet 1331 at the end away from the second sealing part 132; the first sealing part 131 is provided with a first air inlet 1311 at the end away from the second sealing part 132, and the third sealing part 133 is provided with a second air inlet 1331 at the end away from the second sealing part 132.

[0123] Understandably, a first air inlet 1311 is provided at the end of the first sealing part 131 away from the second sealing part 132, facilitating the injection of gas into the first sealing member 130 through the first air inlet 1311, so that the first sealing member 130 is in an expanded state, thereby enabling the first sealing member 130 to seal the gap between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchange member 120. Similarly, a second air inlet 1331 is provided at the end of the third sealing part 133 away from the second sealing part 132, facilitating the injection of gas into the first sealing member 130 through the second air inlet 1331, so that the first sealing member 130 is in an expanded state, thereby enabling the first sealing member 130 to seal the gap between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchange member 120. The first air inlet 1311 is provided at the end of the first sealing part 131 away from the second sealing part 132, and the second air inlet 1331 is provided at the end of the third sealing part 133 away from the second sealing part 132. Thus, gas is simultaneously injected into the first sealing member 130 through the first air inlet 1311 and the second air inlet 1331, which can improve the inflation efficiency.

[0124] Understandably, the first inflation port 1311 and the second inflation port 1331 can be sealed by heat fusion or by using sealing plugs, sealing sleeves, or other sealing components. Optionally, the first inflation port 1311 and the second inflation port 1331 can be sealed by heat fusion. In this way, the sealed component has no other sealing components, and the overall structure is simple and occupies a small volume.

[0125] In some embodiments, when the first seal 130 is in a contracted state, the thickness d of the first seal 130 satisfies 0.3mm ≤ d ≤ 1mm. For example, it can be 0.3mm, 0.4mm, 0.5mm, 0.6mm, 0.7mm, 0.8mm, 0.9mm, 1mm, etc. Within this range, the thickness of the first seal 130 ensures that it will not burst due to internal gas pressure, while also meeting the installation clearance requirements between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120. If the thickness of the first seal 130 is less than 0.3mm, there is a risk that it will burst due to internal gas pressure. If the thickness of the first seal 130 is greater than 1mm, the first seal 130 will be difficult to install smoothly between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120 due to the limitation of the installation clearance between them.

[0126] Understandably, the material of the first sealing element 130 includes, but is not limited to, polymeric materials such as rubber, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate. Optionally, in this embodiment, the first sealing element 130 is a rubber sealing element. Rubber is chosen as the material of the first sealing element 130 because, compared to other polymeric materials, rubber is soft, easy to adhere to the heat exchange element 120 or the battery pack 110, has high elasticity and good extensibility, is easy to fill with a large amount of gas, and is wear-resistant and not prone to leakage.

[0127] In some embodiments, the rubber seal is made of synthetic rubber with added flame retardants. When the battery experiences thermal runaway and explodes and catches fire, the synthetic rubber with added flame retardants can improve the flame retardancy of the film, reducing the risk of fire spreading between the battery packs 110 and thus improving the safety of the battery module 100. Understandably, the rubber seal may also be made without added flame retardants to reduce material costs.

[0128] Please refer to the following: Figure 11 , Figure 12 , Figure 11 A perspective view of a battery pack provided according to one embodiment of this application; Figure 12 for Figure 11 The provided exploded perspective view of the battery pack shows that the battery pack 200 includes a battery case 300 and a battery module 100. The battery module 100 is described in the preceding embodiments and will not be repeated here. The battery case 300 includes an upper cover 301 and a lower case 302, which encapsulate the battery module 100 within the battery case 300. In the embodiments of this application, the battery pack 200 has a good sealing effect, effectively preventing the thermally conductive adhesive 150 from leaking outside the battery module 100, and is easy to assemble.

[0129] Please see Figure 13 , Figure 13 This is a schematic flowchart of a battery module 100 assembly method provided in one embodiment of this application. The battery module 100 assembly method includes the following S1-S5, and S1 to S5 are described in detail below.

[0130] S1 provides a battery pack 110, a heat exchanger 120, and a first seal 130, the first seal 130 having a contracted state and an expanded state.

[0131] S2, the first sealing member 130 is placed between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchange plate.

[0132] S3, the first seal 130 is inflated to make the first seal 130 in an expanded state, and the first seal 130 abuts against the heat exchanger 120 and the battery pack 110 respectively to form a receiving cavity 160.

[0133] S4, stop inflation and close the inflation port of the first seal 130.

[0134] S5, pour the thermally conductive adhesive 150 into the receiving cavity 160.

[0135] In this embodiment, the first sealing element 130 is inflated. The inflation and deflation of the first sealing element 130 are flexibly controlled according to the processing requirements of different stages of the battery module 100, allowing the first sealing element 130 to be in a contracted or expanded state, thereby improving the assembly efficiency and safety of the battery module 100. When the first sealing element 130 is in a contracted state, it is positioned between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchange plate, facilitating its installation. When the first sealing element 130 is in an expanded state, the thermally conductive adhesive 150 is injected into the receiving cavity 160, reducing or even preventing leakage of the thermally conductive adhesive 150 outside the battery module 100, thus avoiding adverse effects on the installation and normal use of other components within the battery pack 200 and improving the safety of the battery module 100.

[0136] In step S2 above, the first sealing element 130 can be glued to the heat exchanger 120, and then the side of the heat exchanger 120 with the first sealing element 130 glued to it can be connected to the battery pack 110. This facilitates the easy and simple fixation of the first sealing element 130 between the battery pack 110 and the heat exchanger 120.

[0137] In step S4 above, the air inlet of the first sealing element 130 can be sealed by heat fusion. In this way, the sealed element has no other sealing parts, and the overall structure is simple and occupies a small volume.

[0138] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 14 ,, Figure 14 The flowchart shows a method for assembling a battery module 100 according to another embodiment of this application. The method for assembling the battery module 100 includes S1-S5, and S6 is included after S5. Please refer to the previous description for S1-S5, which will not be repeated here. S6 is described in detail below.

[0139] Step S6: After the thermally conductive adhesive 150 has condensed, remove the first seal 130 from the heat exchanger 120, or retain the first seal 130.

[0140] In step S6 above, after the thermally conductive adhesive 150 has solidified, the first seal 130 is vented, causing it to shrink or shrink, allowing it to be quickly removed from the heat exchanger 120. This reduces the weight of the battery module 100 and improves its energy density. By retaining the first seal 130 and omitting its removal, production time for the battery module 100 can be saved.

[0141] The appearance of the phrases in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor are they independent or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive with other embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand, explicitly and implicitly, that the embodiments described in this application can be combined with other embodiments. Furthermore, it should be understood that the features, structures, or characteristics described in the various embodiments of this application can be arbitrarily combined to form yet another embodiment that does not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solution of this application, provided there are no contradictions between them.

[0142] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application and are not intended to limit it. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the above preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions to the technical solutions of this application should not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this application.

Claims

1. A battery module, characterized in that, include: The battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells arranged in sequence. A heat exchanger is provided at a distance from the battery pack for exchanging heat with the battery pack. The heat exchanger includes a first heat exchange plate and a second heat exchange plate, which are stacked together. The first heat exchange plate includes a first sub-heat exchange channel and a first sub-edge portion surrounding the periphery of the first sub-heat exchange channel. The second heat exchange plate includes a second sub-heat exchange channel and a second sub-edge portion surrounding the periphery of the second sub-heat exchange channel. The first sub-heat exchange channel and the second sub-heat exchange channel cooperate to form a first heat exchange channel, and the first sub-edge portion and the second sub-edge portion cooperate to form an edge portion. A first sealing element is disposed between the battery pack and the heat exchanger. The first sealing element has a contracted state and an expanded state. When the first sealing element is in the expanded state, the first sealing element is filled with gas, and the first sealing element abuts against the heat exchanger and the battery pack respectively to form a receiving cavity. Thermally conductive adhesive, which is located within the receiving cavity.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first sealing element includes a first sealing part, a second sealing part, and a third sealing part. The second sealing part is bent and connected to the first sealing part. The second sealing part extends along the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells. The third sealing part is bent and connected to the second sealing part, and the third sealing part and the first sealing part are both located on the same side of the second sealing part. When the first seal is in the expanded state, the first sealing part, the second sealing part, the third sealing part, the heat exchanger and the battery pack surround and form the receiving cavity, which has an opening facing the height direction of the battery cell.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first sealing part has a first air inlet at the end away from the second sealing part, and / or the third sealing part has a second air inlet at the end away from the second sealing part.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the first seal is in the contracted state, the thickness d of the first seal satisfies 0.3mm≤d≤1mm.

5. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first sealing element is a rubber sealing element.

6. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchanger has a heat exchange portion and an edge portion, the edge portion being disposed around the periphery of the heat exchange portion, the first sealing member being disposed on the edge portion, and the thermally conductive adhesive covering at least a portion of the heat exchange portion.

7. The battery module according to claim 6, characterized in that, The heat exchanger also includes an inlet, the first heat exchange plate and the second heat exchange plate are connected to form the heat exchange section, the heat exchange section has a first heat exchange channel, the first heat exchange channel is in communication with the inlet to receive the heat exchange medium flowing in through the inlet, and the thermally conductive adhesive covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the first heat exchange channel.

8. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first heat exchange plate is disposed opposite to the battery pack, the first seal abuts against the first heat exchange plate and the battery pack respectively to form the receiving cavity, the thermally conductive adhesive is located in the receiving cavity, the thermally conductive adhesive covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the first sub-heat exchange channel, and the first seal is disposed at the edge of the first sub-channel.

9. The battery module according to claim 8, characterized in that, The battery module includes multiple battery packs, and the battery module further includes: The second seal is disposed on the side of the second heat exchange plate away from the first heat exchange plate. The second seal has a contracted state and an expanded state. When the second seal is in the expanded state, the second seal is filled with gas, and the second seal abuts against the second heat exchange plate and another battery pack to form another receiving cavity. The thermally conductive adhesive is also disposed between the other battery pack and the second heat exchange plate and is located in the other receiving cavity.

10. The battery module according to claim 6, characterized in that, The battery module includes multiple battery packs; The heat exchanger includes an inlet, a third heat exchange plate, and a fourth heat exchange plate. The third heat exchange plate has a receiving space for accommodating at least one battery pack. The fourth heat exchange plate is stacked on the side of the third heat exchange plate opposite to the receiving space and is connected to the third heat exchange plate to form a heat exchange section. The heat exchange section has a second heat exchange channel that communicates with the inlet to receive heat exchange medium flowing in through the inlet. The second heat exchange channel includes a first part and a second part. The first part is located between two adjacent battery packs and is spaced apart from each of the two battery packs. The second part is located between two other adjacent battery packs and is spaced apart from each of the other two battery packs. The thermally conductive adhesive covers at least a portion of the first part and at least a portion of the second part.

11. The battery module according to claim 10, characterized in that, The third heat exchange plate includes a third sub-heat exchange channel and a third sub-edge portion surrounding the periphery of the third sub-heat exchange channel. The fourth heat exchange plate includes a fourth sub-heat exchange channel and a fourth sub-edge portion surrounding the periphery of the fourth sub-heat exchange channel. The third sub-heat exchange channel and the fourth sub-heat exchange channel cooperate to form the second heat exchange channel. The third sub-edge portion and the fourth sub-edge portion cooperate to form the edge portion. The edge portion includes a third part and a fourth part. The third part is disposed around the periphery of the first part and is located between two adjacent battery packs. The fourth part is disposed around the periphery of the second part and is located between two adjacent other battery packs. The first sealing member is disposed in the third part and the fourth part.

12. The battery module according to claim 11, characterized in that, The third heat exchange plate includes a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The two ends of the second segment are respectively bent and connected to the first segment and the third segment, and the first segment and the third segment are respectively located on the same side of the second segment. The fourth heat exchange plate includes a fourth section, a fifth section, and a sixth section. The two ends of the fifth section are respectively bent and connected to the fourth section and the sixth section, and the fourth section and the sixth section are respectively located on the same side of the fifth section. The first segment and the fourth segment cooperate to form the first part and the third part; the third segment and the sixth segment cooperate to form the second part and the fourth part; The first segment is spaced apart from one of the two battery packs, the first seal is disposed between the one of the two battery packs and the first segment, and the first seal abuts against the first segment and the one of the two battery packs respectively, and the first seal abuts against the third part to form the receiving cavity; The third segment is spaced apart from one of the other two battery packs. The first seal is disposed between one of the other two battery packs and the third segment. The first seal abuts against the third segment and one of the other two battery packs respectively, and abuts against the fourth part to form the receiving cavity.

13. The battery module according to claim 12, characterized in that, The fourth segment is spaced apart from the other of the two battery packs; The sixth segment is spaced apart from the other one of the other two battery packs; The battery module also includes multiple second seals; A second seal is disposed between the fourth segment and the other of the two battery packs. The second seal has a contracted state and an expanded state. When the second seal is in the expanded state, the second seal is filled with gas. The second seal abuts against the fourth segment and the other of the two battery packs, and abuts against the third part to form another receiving cavity. Another second seal is disposed between the sixth segment and the other of the other two battery packs. The other second seal has a contracted state and an expanded state. When the other second seal is in the expanded state, it is filled with gas. The other second seal abuts against the sixth segment and the other of the other two battery packs, and abuts against the fourth part to form another receiving cavity.

14. A battery pack, characterized in that, It includes a battery box and a battery module as described in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the battery module is encapsulated within the battery box.

15. A battery module assembly method, characterized in that, The method for forming a battery module as described in any one of claims 1 to 13 includes: A battery pack, a heat exchanger, and a first seal are provided, the first seal having a contracted state and an expanded state; The first seal is disposed between the battery pack and the heat exchanger; The first seal is inflated to make it expand, and the first seal abuts against the heat exchanger and the battery pack to form a receiving cavity. Stop inflating and seal the inflation port of the first seal. Thermally conductive adhesive is poured into the receiving cavity.

16. The method as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The method further includes: After the thermally conductive adhesive has solidified, the first seal can be removed from the heat exchanger, or the first seal can be retained.

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