A battery module and a battery pack having the same

Abstract

This invention provides a battery module and a battery pack incorporating the battery module. The battery module includes a support plate, a cooling plate, and multiple battery cells. The battery cells are mounted on the support plate, and the cooling plate is also mounted on the support plate. The sidewalls of the battery cells are attached to the surface of the cooling plate. The cooling plate has microchannels penetrating through it, and the inner walls of the microchannels have protrusions. The two ends of the microchannels are connected to an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, respectively. The inlet pipe allows coolant to enter and flow out through the microchannels and out through the outlet pipe. In this battery module, the heat from the battery cells is transferred to the coolant within the cooling plate. The coolant enters the multiple microchannels through the inlet pipe and flows out through the outlet pipe, thereby carrying away the heat from the battery cells. The protrusions on the inner walls of the microchannels increase the heat dissipation area and enhance the turbulence of the coolant within the microchannels, thus improving heat dissipation efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates primarily to the field of battery technology, specifically to a battery module and a battery pack having the battery module. Background Technology

[0002] With economic development and technological advancements, lithium batteries, as one of the cleanest secondary energy sources, have gained widespread popularity. Lithium batteries offer advantages such as light weight, large energy storage capacity, high power output, no pollution, long lifespan, low self-discharge coefficient, and wide temperature adaptability, thus gradually gaining favor and replacing other traditional batteries in energy storage and power battery fields. With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, pure electric vehicle users have increasingly higher demands for driving range and charging rates, leading to larger energy requirements for battery cells. This results in greater heat generation during cell operation. Furthermore, with the increase in the number of cells and charging rates, temperature uniformity becomes more difficult to control, necessitating more efficient liquid cooling solutions for cell cooling and temperature homogenization. Currently, battery packs suffer from significant heat generation. Most solutions on the market use a single-sided liquid cooling system with a serpentine tube. The serpentine tube contacts the side end of the battery cell, and the coolant flows within the cavity of the serpentine tube, forming convective heat exchange with the battery cell. However, this solution can only handle lower charging rates. Under high charging rates, it is difficult to control the temperature to an ideal state, resulting in low heat dissipation efficiency and a shortened battery cell lifespan.

[0003] In other words, the low heat dissipation efficiency of existing battery modules leads to a shortened cell lifespan. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a battery module and a battery pack having the battery module, aiming to solve the problem of low heat dissipation efficiency of existing battery modules leading to shortened cell life.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a battery module, the battery module comprising a tray, a cooling plate, and a plurality of battery cells; the plurality of battery cells are all mounted on the tray, the cooling plate is mounted on the tray, the sidewalls of the battery cells are attached to the surface of the cooling plate, the cooling plate is provided with microchannels penetrating the cooling plate, the inner wall of the microchannel is provided with protrusions, the two ends of the microchannel are respectively connected to an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, the inlet pipe is used for coolant to enter and flow out from the outlet pipe through the plurality of microchannels.

[0006] Optionally, the protrusion is threaded.

[0007] Optionally, the plurality of battery cells form a plurality of battery cell groups, each battery cell group includes a plurality of battery cells spaced apart along a first preset direction, the battery module includes a plurality of cooling plates spaced apart along a second preset direction, the battery cell groups are located between two adjacent cooling plates, and the first preset direction is different from the second preset direction.

[0008] Optionally, the surface of the cooling plate facing the battery cell assembly is a wavy curved surface.

[0009] Optionally, the cooling plate is provided with multiple microchannels, which are spaced apart along a direction perpendicular to the support plate.

[0010] Optionally, one end of the cooling plate is provided with a first fixing post, the first fixing post is installed on the support plate, the first fixing post is connected to one end of multiple microchannels, and the inlet pipe passes through multiple first fixing posts to connect one end of multiple cooling plates in series.

[0011] Optionally, a second fixing post is provided at the other end of the cooling plate. The first fixing post and the second fixing post are arranged in the first preset direction. The second fixing post is installed on the support plate. The second fixing post connects to the other end of the multiple microchannels. The outlet pipe passes through the multiple second fixing posts to connect the other ends of the multiple cooling plates in series.

[0012] Optionally, the tray is provided with a plurality of pressure relief holes, each pressure relief hole being adapted to one of the battery cells, and one end of the battery cell being embedded in the pressure relief hole.

[0013] Optionally, a thermally conductive structural adhesive is provided between the sidewall of the battery cell and the surface of the cooling plate.

[0014] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a battery pack, the battery pack comprising a plurality of battery modules, wherein the battery modules are any of the battery modules described in the first aspect.

[0015] This invention provides a battery module comprising a support plate, a cooling plate, and multiple battery cells. The battery cells are mounted on the support plate, and the cooling plate is also mounted on the support plate. The sidewalls of the battery cells are attached to the surface of the cooling plate. The cooling plate has microchannels penetrating through it, and the inner walls of the microchannels have protrusions. The two ends of the microchannels are connected to an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, respectively. The inlet pipe allows coolant to enter and flow out through the microchannels and out through the outlet pipe. In this battery module, the sidewalls of the battery cells are attached to the surface of the cooling plate, and the heat from the battery cells is transferred to the coolant within the cooling plate. The coolant enters the multiple microchannels through the inlet pipe and flows out through the outlet pipe, thereby carrying away the heat from the battery cells and achieving heat dissipation. Because the cooling plate of this invention has microchannels with protrusions on the inner walls, the heat dissipation area is increased, and the protrusions on the inner walls of the microchannels enhance the turbulence of the coolant within the microchannels, thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom structure of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a partial structural diagram of the cooling plate in one embodiment of the battery module provided in this invention;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the first cross-sectional structure of the cooling plate in one embodiment of the battery module provided in this invention.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the second cross-sectional structure of the cooling plate in one embodiment of the battery module provided by the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0024] In this invention, the term "exemplary" is used to mean "serving as an example, illustration, or description." Any embodiment described as "exemplary" in this invention is not necessarily to be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments. The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Details are set forth in the following description for purposes of explanation. It should be understood that those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be made without using these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and processes will not be described in detail to avoid obscuring the description of the invention with unnecessary detail. Therefore, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is consistent with the broadest scope of the principles and features disclosed herein.

[0025] This invention provides a battery module comprising a support plate, a cooling plate, and multiple battery cells. The battery cells are mounted on the support plate, and the cooling plate is also mounted on the support plate. The sidewalls of the battery cells are attached to the surface of the cooling plate. The cooling plate has microchannels penetrating through it, and the inner walls of the microchannels have protrusions. The two ends of the microchannels are connected to an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, respectively. The inlet pipe allows coolant to enter and flow out through the microchannel and the outlet pipe. Detailed descriptions follow.

[0026] Combination Figures 1 to 5This invention provides a battery module 10, which includes a support plate 11, a cooling plate 15, and multiple battery cells 12. The multiple battery cells 12 are mounted on the support plate 11, and the cooling plate 15 is also mounted on the support plate 11. The sidewalls of the battery cells 12 are attached to the surface of the cooling plate 15. The cooling plate 15 has microchannels 151 penetrating through it. The two ends of the microchannels 151 are connected to an inlet pipe 131 and an outlet pipe 132, respectively. The inlet pipe 131 allows coolant to enter and flow through the multiple microchannels 151, exiting through the outlet pipe 132. The inlet pipe 131 and the outlet pipe 132 can be connected to a coolant circulation device to achieve coolant recycling. The sidewalls of the battery cells 12 are attached to the surface of the cooling plate 15. The heat from the battery cells 12 is transferred to the coolant within the cooling plate 15. The coolant enters the multiple microchannels 151 from the inlet pipe 131 and flows out through the outlet pipe 132, thereby carrying away the heat from the battery cells 12 and achieving heat dissipation. Because the cooling plate 15 of the present invention has microchannels 151 and protrusions 152 on the inner wall of the microchannels 151, it can increase the heat dissipation area and enhance the turbulence of the coolant in the microchannels 151, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency. The cooling plate 15 and the support plate 11 are integrated together, which can greatly improve the battery pack assembly efficiency.

[0027] In this embodiment of the invention, the tray 11 is rectangular. In other embodiments, the tray 11 may also be of other shapes, depending on the specific circumstances.

[0028] In this embodiment of the invention, the protrusion 152 is a thread. A thread refers to a continuous, helical protrusion with a specific cross-section formed on the surface of a cylindrical or conical matrix. Threads are classified according to the shape of their matrix as cylindrical threads and conical threads; according to their position on the matrix as external threads and internal threads; and according to their cross-sectional shape and tooth profile as triangular threads, rectangular threads, trapezoidal threads, sawtooth threads, and other special-shaped threads. The main geometric parameters of a thread include outer diameter, inner diameter, pitch diameter, pitch, lead, tooth profile angle, and helix angle. Helix angle. Outer diameter: the diameter of an imaginary cylinder coinciding with the crest of an external thread or the root of an internal thread. Nominal diameter of the thread, also known as the major diameter. Inner diameter: the diameter of an imaginary cylinder coinciding with the root of an external thread or the crest of an internal thread. Pitch diameter: the diameter of an imaginary cylinder whose generatrix passes through the width of both the protrusions and grooves on the tooth profile. Pitch: the axial distance between corresponding points on the pitch diameter line of adjacent teeth. Lead: The axial distance between two corresponding points on the pitch diameter line of adjacent teeth on the same helix. Tooth angle: The angle between two adjacent tooth flanks on the thread profile. Helix angle: The angle between the tangent to the helix on the pitch diameter cylinder and a plane perpendicular to the thread axis. Of course, in other embodiments, the protrusion 152 can also be irregularly arranged protrusions.

[0029] Preferably, the microchannel 151 is a circular microchannel 151, and the protrusion 152 is a sawtooth thread. Of course, the protrusion 152 can also be a triangular thread, a rectangular thread, a trapezoidal thread, etc. The geometric parameters of the microchannel 151 and the thread can be set according to specific circumstances, for example, adjusted according to the coolant flow rate, which can enhance the turbulence effect of the coolant.

[0030] In this embodiment of the invention, multiple battery cells 12 form multiple battery cell groups. Each battery cell group includes multiple battery cells 12 spaced apart along a first preset direction F1. The battery module 10 includes multiple cooling plates 15 spaced apart along a second preset direction F2. The battery cell groups are located between two adjacent cooling plates 15. The first preset direction F1 and the second preset direction F2 are different. Preferably, the first preset direction F1 and the second preset direction F2 are perpendicular, and both the first preset direction F1 and the second preset direction F2 are parallel to the surface of the support plate 11. The number of multiple battery cell groups can be 2, 3, 4, or more, depending on the specific situation. The multiple battery cell groups are equally spaced along the second preset direction F2.

[0031] Furthermore, multiple cells 12 form multiple cell groups, with adjacent cell groups staggered along a first preset direction F1. This allows for the arrangement of more cells 12 within the limited internal space of the battery module 10, thereby increasing the battery capacity of the battery module 10.

[0032] In this embodiment of the invention, the battery cell 12 is cylindrical, and the surface of the cooling plate 15 facing the battery cell assembly is a wavy curved surface. The cylindrical battery cell 12 and the wavy curved cooling plate 15 can fit together better, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency. Of course, operators can also set the battery cell 12 to other shapes according to actual process requirements. In this embodiment, adjacent battery cells 12 are equally spaced, and this spacing can be set between 1mm and 5mm, so that when one battery cell 12 experiences thermal runaway, it will not affect other battery cells 12. If the spacing is set too small, for example, less than 1mm, when one battery cell 12 experiences thermal runaway, it will affect other surrounding battery cells 12, increasing the risk of thermal runaway in other battery cells 12; if the spacing is set too large, for example, greater than 5mm, it is not conducive to arranging more battery cells 12 in a limited space, thereby reducing the energy density of the battery module 10. Therefore, setting the spacing between 1mm and 5mm is more appropriate. The wavy cooling plate 15 can increase the contact area between the cooling plate 15 and the battery cell 12, thereby improving the heat transfer efficiency. On the other hand, it can extend the flow path of the coolant in the cooling plate 15, thereby improving the heat transfer efficiency.

[0033] Specifically, each cell 12 is the same cell 12, and the distance between two adjacent cell groups along the first preset direction F1 is half the diameter of the cell 12, thereby maximizing the arrangement of the cell 12 within the limited internal space of the battery module 10. In other embodiments, the shape of the cell 12 can also be a cuboid or other shapes, and the shapes of each cell 12 can also be different, depending on the specific situation.

[0034] In this embodiment of the invention, the extension direction of the microchannel 151 is a wavy curve. When the coolant flows within the microchannel 151, the wavy curve allows the coolant to flow along a longer path from the inlet pipe 131 to the outlet pipe 132 when the distance between the inlet pipe 131 and the outlet pipe 132 is fixed, thereby further improving the heat transfer effect. Of course, in other embodiments, the extension direction of the microchannel 151 can also be a broken line or other forms of curve, which can be set according to the specific situation, and the present invention does not limit this.

[0035] In this embodiment of the invention, a first fixing post 141 is provided at one end of the cooling plate 15. The first fixing post 141 is installed on the support plate 11. The inlet pipe 131 passes through multiple first fixing posts 141 to connect one end of multiple cooling plates 15 in series. Specifically, the first fixing post 141 can be a hollow post. The inlet pipe 131 passes through multiple first fixing posts 141, thereby connecting one end of multiple cooling plates 15. Furthermore, the first fixing posts 141 can reinforce the cooling plates 15 and improve the connection stability between the cooling plates 15 and the support plate 11.

[0036] In one specific embodiment, the first fixing post 141 is a cuboid post, which is inserted into the support plate 11. In other embodiments, the first fixing post 141 can also be a circular post, an elliptical post, or other shapes, depending on the specific situation. Multiple first fixing posts 141 are spaced apart on the second preset direction F2. The first fixing post 141 can also be integrally formed with the support plate 11 to improve structural stability.

[0037] In this embodiment of the invention, a second fixing post 142 is provided at the other end of the cooling plate 15. The first fixing post 141 and the second fixing post 142 are arranged in a first preset direction F1. The second fixing post 142 is installed on the support plate 11. The outlet pipe 132 passes through multiple second fixing posts 142 to connect the other ends of multiple cooling plates 15 in series. Specifically, the second fixing post 142 can be a hollow post. The outlet pipe 132 passes through multiple second fixing posts 142, thereby connecting the other ends of multiple cooling plates 15. Furthermore, the second fixing posts 142 can reinforce the cooling plate 15 and improve the connection stability between the cooling plate 15 and the support plate 11.

[0038] In one specific embodiment, the second fixing post 142 is a cuboid post, which is inserted into the support plate 11. In other embodiments, the second fixing post 142 can also be a circular post, an elliptical post, or other shapes, depending on the specific situation. Multiple second fixing posts 142 are spaced apart on the second preset direction F2. The second fixing post 142 can also be integrally formed with the support plate 11 to improve structural stability.

[0039] In this embodiment of the invention, the first fixing post 141 and the second fixing post 142 can be made of copper. Of course, operators can also choose other metal materials to manufacture the first fixing post 141 and the second fixing post 142 according to actual conditions; this embodiment does not limit this. Copper has good thermal conductivity, which can dissipate the heat of the battery cell 12. Alternatively, the first fixing post 141 and the second fixing post 142 can also be made of materials such as plastic, which can reduce weight, save costs, and improve the portability of the battery module.

[0040] In this embodiment of the invention, the cooling plate 15 is provided with multiple microchannels 151, which are arranged at intervals along the direction perpendicular to the support plate 11. The two ends of each microchannel 151 are respectively connected to a first fixing post 141 and a second fixing post 142. Figure 4 As shown, the cooling plate 15 has seven microchannels 151. In other embodiments, the cooling plate 15 has other numbers of microchannels 151.

[0041] In this embodiment of the invention, the support plate 11 is provided with a plurality of pressure relief holes 111, each pressure relief hole 111 being adapted to a battery cell 12, with one end of the battery cell 12 embedded in the pressure relief hole 111. When the battery cell 12 is in a thermal runaway state, pressure can be released through the pressure relief holes 111, thereby improving the safety of the battery module 10 in a thermal runaway state. Specifically, all pressure relief holes 111 have the same shape, and the pressure relief holes 111 are circular holes. In other embodiments, the shape of each pressure relief hole 111 can also be different, for example, it can be square, elliptical, etc., depending on the specific situation.

[0042] In this embodiment of the invention, a thermally conductive structural adhesive is provided between the sidewall of the battery cell 12 and the surface of the cooling plate 15. Specifically, after the battery cell 12 is inserted between two cooling plates 15, thermally conductive structural adhesive is poured between the battery cell 12 and the cooling plate 15 to bond the sidewall of the battery cell 12 to the surface of the cooling plate 15. In this embodiment, the thickness of the thermally conductive structural adhesive is set between 5mm and 30mm. The thermally conductive structural adhesive not only fixes the battery cell 12 and improves the stability and reliability of the battery cell 12 on the support plate 11, but also has good thermal conductivity. When the temperature of one battery cell 12 is too high, the heat can be conducted to other battery cells 12 through the thermally conductive structural adhesive, thereby reducing the temperature of the battery cell 12 and avoiding the risk of thermal runaway, thus ensuring the safety of the battery pack in the thermal runaway state. During installation, the cylindrical battery cell 12 is inserted into two cooling plates 15. Thermally conductive structural adhesive is injected to increase structural strength and enhance heat transfer, effectively improving heat dissipation under high-rate fast charging while ensuring temperature consistency of the battery cell 12. Optionally, the thermally conductive structural adhesive in this embodiment is made of silicone.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the battery module 10 includes expanding foam, which is located between two cells 12 in the same cell group, and can fill the gaps between the cells 12. Optionally, the thickness of the expanding foam is set between 5mm and 30mm. The expanding foam can fill the gaps between the cells 12, preventing contact and collision between the cells 12 during use, and playing a buffering role. In addition, the expanding foam also has a thermal conductivity function. When the temperature of one cell 12 is too high, the heat can be conducted to other cells 12 through the expanding foam, thereby reducing the temperature and improving the safety of the battery module 10. Optionally, the expanding foam in this embodiment is made of polyurethane.

[0044] This invention provides a battery module comprising a support plate, a cooling plate, and multiple battery cells. The battery cells are mounted on the support plate, and the cooling plate is also mounted on the support plate. The sidewalls of the battery cells are attached to the surface of the cooling plate. The cooling plate has microchannels penetrating through it, and the inner walls of the microchannels have protrusions. The two ends of the microchannels are connected to an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, respectively. The inlet pipe allows coolant to enter and flow out through the microchannels and out through the outlet pipe. In this battery module, the sidewalls of the battery cells are attached to the surface of the cooling plate, and the heat from the battery cells is transferred to the coolant within the cooling plate. The coolant enters the multiple microchannels through the inlet pipe and flows out through the outlet pipe, thereby carrying away the heat from the battery cells and achieving heat dissipation. Because the cooling plate of this invention has microchannels with protrusions on the inner walls, the heat dissipation area is increased, and the protrusions on the inner walls of the microchannels enhance the turbulence of the coolant within the microchannels, thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency.

[0045] The present invention also provides a battery pack comprising multiple battery modules, wherein the battery modules are battery modules 10 as described in any of the above embodiments. The multiple battery modules 10 can be connected in series and in parallel. This battery pack has a simple structure, improves the heat dissipation efficiency of the battery modules, enhances the safety performance of the battery pack, and extends the lifespan of the battery pack.

[0046] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of the present invention. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of the present invention. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery module, characterized in that, The battery module includes a support plate, a cooling plate, and multiple battery cells; The multiple battery cells are mounted on the tray, the cooling plate is mounted on the tray, the sidewalls of the battery cells are attached to the surface of the cooling plate, the cooling plate is provided with a microchannel penetrating the cooling plate, the inner wall of the microchannel is provided with a protrusion, the two ends of the microchannel are respectively connected to an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, the inlet pipe is used for the coolant to enter and flow out from the outlet pipe through the microchannel; One end of the cooling plate is provided with a first fixing post, which is mounted on the support plate. The first fixing post connects to one end of multiple microchannels. The inlet pipe passes through multiple first fixing posts to connect one end of multiple cooling plates in series; and / or, The other end of the cooling plate is provided with a second fixing post, which is installed on the support plate. The second fixing post is connected to the other end of the multiple microchannels. The outlet pipe passes through the multiple second fixing posts to connect the other ends of the multiple cooling plates in series.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protrusion is threaded.

3. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The multiple battery cells form multiple battery cell groups, and each battery cell group includes multiple battery cells spaced apart along a first preset direction. The battery module includes multiple cooling plates spaced apart along a second preset direction. The battery cell group is located between two adjacent cooling plates. The first preset direction is different from the second preset direction.

4. The battery module according to claim 3, characterized in that, The battery cell is cylindrical, and the surface of the cooling plate facing the battery cell assembly is a wavy curved surface.

5. The battery module according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cooling plate is equipped with multiple... The microchannels are arranged at intervals along a direction perpendicular to the tray.

6. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tray is provided with multiple pressure relief holes, each of which is adapted to one of the battery cells, and one end of the battery cell is embedded in the pressure relief hole.

7. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, Thermally conductive structural adhesive is provided between the sidewall of the battery cell and the surface of the cooling plate.

8. A battery pack, characterized in that, The battery pack includes multiple battery modules, and the battery modules are the battery modules according to any one of claims 1-7.

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