Battery module, vehicle and energy storage device

Abstract

The application provides a battery module, a vehicle and an energy storage device, and belongs to the technical field of battery safety. The battery module comprises a shell, a baffle assembly and at least two battery monomers, the battery monomers and the baffle assembly are accommodated in the shell; the baffle assembly comprises a baffle main body and a pressure sensor, the baffle main body is clamped between the two battery monomers, and the part of the pressure sensor for detecting pressure is fixed on the baffle main body and arranged between the two battery monomers. Since the part of the pressure sensor for detecting pressure is fixed on the baffle main body, the expansion force obtained by the pressure sensor can be corresponded to the specific position of the battery monomer. Even if the expansion force of the battery monomer acts on the part of the pressure sensor for detecting pressure, the part of the pressure sensor for detecting pressure will not be greatly deviated, and the relative position thereof and the baffle main body can be kept within a certain range, thereby further ensuring the accuracy and stability of the expansion force detection of the pressure sensor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of battery safety technology, and more specifically, relates to a battery module, vehicle, and energy storage device. Background Technology

[0002] With the rise of new energy vehicles, traditional automakers are also accelerating their efforts to expand into this area. Currently, most new energy vehicles use rechargeable batteries for power. However, the recurring incidents of spontaneous combustion and explosions of batteries have brought the safety and stability of new energy vehicle batteries to the forefront of public opinion, becoming a pain point in the industry, and safety issues are receiving increasing attention.

[0003] Currently, as one aspect of battery safety monitoring, pressure sensors are typically installed at single or multiple points on the battery to detect its expansion. A common method is to attach the pressure sensor to the battery. However, this not only increases the difficulty of battery installation but also causes the pressure sensor to shift during the battery's repeated expansion and contraction, potentially leading to it detaching. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a battery module, a vehicle, and an energy storage device to solve the technical problems in the prior art where pressure sensors are attached to the battery, which increases the difficulty of battery installation and makes the pressure sensors prone to falling off.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a battery module, the battery module comprising a housing, a baffle assembly and at least two battery cells, the battery cells being housed within the housing; the baffle assembly comprising a baffle body and a pressure sensor, the baffle body being sandwiched between the two battery cells, and the pressure sensor having a pressure-detecting portion fixed to the baffle body and disposed between the two battery cells.

[0006] Optionally, the baffle body includes a receiving portion and a clamping portion surrounding the receiving portion. When the baffle body is clamped between two battery cells, the clamping portion is clamped between the two battery cells to separate them. The receiving portion is provided corresponding to the easily expandable surface of at least one of the battery cells so that the battery cell has space to accommodate the expanded portion when the surface expands. The pressure sensor's pressure detection portion is provided at least corresponding to the receiving portion.

[0007] Optionally, the pressure sensor includes a thin-film pressure sensing element and a data acquisition unit. The thin-film pressure sensing element is fixed on the baffle body and is disposed at least corresponding to the receiving portion. The thin-film pressure sensing element is configured to change its electrical signal under pressure. The data acquisition unit is electrically connected to the thin-film pressure sensing element to acquire and transmit the changed electrical signal.

[0008] Optionally, the thin-film pressure sensing element is a single sheet of film fixed to the baffle body and disposed corresponding to the receiving portion.

[0009] Optionally, when the baffle body has only one receiving portion, the receiving space depth of the receiving portion along the expansion direction of the battery cell is no greater than 4mm; when the baffle body has two receiving portions, the sum of the receiving space depths of the two receiving portions along the expansion direction of the battery cell is no greater than 4mm.

[0010] Optionally, any two battery cells are spaced apart by the baffle assembly; or, the battery module further includes a spacer without the pressure sensor, and the baffle assembly and the spacer are respectively sandwiched between two adjacent battery cells to space apart any two adjacent battery cells.

[0011] Optionally, the battery module further includes a pressure detection device, wherein the pressure detection part of the pressure detection device is disposed corresponding to the inner wall of the housing and between the battery cell and the housing to detect the expansion force of the battery cell.

[0012] Optionally, the baffle body includes two loop-shaped frames, each of which has a connecting portion and a through hole penetrating the connecting portion. The connecting portions of the two loop-shaped frames are connected to form the clamping portion, and the through holes of the two loop-shaped frames are correspondingly arranged to form the receiving portion. The thin-film pressure sensing sheet is clamped between the two loop-shaped frames so that the thin-film pressure sensing sheet is at least partially disposed in the receiving portion.

[0013] Optionally, the thin-film pressure sensing sheet is provided in all areas corresponding to the receiving portion and the clamping portion and the battery cell.

[0014] Optionally, the baffle body includes a heat insulation component, the baffle body is provided with a U-shaped frame, the U-shaped frame is provided with a connecting portion and a through hole penetrating the connecting portion, the heat insulation component is accommodated in the through hole and fixedly connected to the connecting portion; the thickness of the heat insulation component is less than the depth of the through hole so as to cooperate with the connecting portion to form at least one of the receiving portions, and the thin-film pressure sensing sheet is disposed on the heat insulation component so that the thin-film pressure sensing sheet is disposed at least corresponding to a portion of the receiving portion.

[0015] Optionally, the baffle body is provided with two loop frames and two heat insulation components. Each of the two loop frames is provided with a connecting portion and a through hole penetrating the connecting portion. One heat insulation component is connected to one of the loop frames and seals the through hole to form a receiving portion with the connecting portion. The other heat insulation component is connected to the other loop frame and seals the through hole to form another receiving portion with the connecting portion. The connecting portions of the two loop frames are connected to form the clamping portion. The thin-film pressure sensing element is clamped between the two loop frames and is disposed at least corresponding to a portion of the receiving portion. Alternatively, the thin-film pressure sensing element is disposed on either of the heat insulation components and is disposed at least corresponding to a portion of the receiving portion.

[0016] Optionally, the thin-film pressure sensing sheet is provided in all areas corresponding to the receiving portion and the clamping portion and the battery cell.

[0017] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention also provides a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a vehicle body, a control system and the aforementioned battery module, the battery module providing power to the vehicle body, the control system being communicatively connected to the battery module to obtain battery cell expansion force information detected by the battery module, and the control system monitoring the health status of the battery module based on the battery cell expansion force information.

[0018] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention also provides an energy storage device, the energy storage device including a safety monitoring system and the above-mentioned battery module, the safety monitoring system being communicatively connected to the battery module to obtain battery cell expansion force information detected by the battery module, and the safety monitoring system monitoring the health status of the battery module based on the battery cell expansion force information.

[0019] The beneficial effects of the battery module, vehicle, and energy storage device provided by this invention are as follows:

[0020] 1. By setting a baffle assembly between two battery cells, the relative position of each battery cell in the battery module can be stabilized, and insulation between the two battery cells can be achieved. Since the baffle body is sandwiched between the two battery cells, and the pressure sensor's pressure-detecting part is fixed to the baffle body, the pressure sensor can obtain the magnitude of the expansion force of the battery cell when it expands. This expansion force can then be used to analyze the health of the battery cell. Furthermore, because the pressure sensor's pressure-detecting part is fixed to the baffle body, the expansion force obtained by the pressure sensor corresponds to the specific location of the battery cell, facilitating subsequent analysis of the battery's health during use. In this embodiment of the invention, the pressure sensor's pressure-detecting part is fixed to the baffle body rather than the battery cell. Therefore, even when the battery cell expands, the pressure sensor's pressure-detecting part will not shift significantly, and its relative position to the baffle body can be maintained within a certain range, further ensuring the accuracy and stability of the pressure sensor's expansion force detection.

[0021] 2. When a battery cell expands, the housing provides a certain expansion space for the battery cell. The pressure sensor is located at least in the housing. The pressure sensor can detect the expansion force on the easily expandable surface of the battery cell, which is more conducive to monitoring the health of the battery cell by detecting the expansion force.

[0022] 3. Thin-film pressure sensing plates are installed in all areas corresponding to the receiving and clamping parts and the battery cells. This allows the thin-film pressure sensing plates to acquire not only all the expansion force information of the battery cell surface corresponding to the receiving space, but also all the expansion force information of the battery cell surface corresponding to the clamping part. Detecting the expansion force in both areas provides more valuable data for subsequent battery cell maintenance research.

[0023] 4. By limiting the depth of the accommodating space along the expansion direction of the battery cell, this invention achieves two goals: firstly, it provides a reasonable expansion space for the battery cell; secondly, it enables the pressure sensor to obtain the magnitude of the expansion force of the battery cell during normal expansion. Therefore, when a safety hazard occurs in the battery cell, the expansion force detection result of the pressure sensor can achieve the effect of pre-tightening. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the 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.

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the battery module provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0026] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged diagram of A in the middle;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the herringbone frame provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 A structural diagram of a baffle body provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the pressure sensor on the baffle body according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0030] Figure 6 An explosion diagram of the pressure sensor on the baffle body provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0031] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the pressure sensor on the baffle body according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0032] Figure 8 An exploded view of the structure of a baffle body provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the pressure sensor on the baffle body according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 ;

[0034] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the pressure sensor on the baffle body according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 ;

[0035] Figure 11 An explosion diagram of the pressure sensor on the baffle body provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0036] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the baffle body provided in an embodiment of the present invention, which has only one receiving groove.

[0037] Figure 13 A schematic diagram of the structure of the baffle body with two receiving grooves provided in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 14 A schematic diagram of the battery module provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0039] Figure 15 A schematic diagram of the battery module provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 ;

[0040] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the vehicle structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the energy storage device structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] The following are the labeling elements in the figure:

[0043] 1. Battery modules; 2. Vehicles; 3. Energy storage devices;

[0044] 11. Housing; 12. Baffle assembly; 13. Battery cell; 14. Spacer; 15. Pressure detection device; 21. Vehicle body; 22. Control system; 31. Safety monitoring system;

[0045] 121. Baffle body; 122. Pressure sensor;

[0046] 1211. Receiving part; 1212. Clamping part; 1213. U-shaped frame; 1214. Connecting part; 1215. Through hole; 1216. Heat insulation component; 1221. Thin film pressure sensing element; 1222. Data collector. Detailed Implementation

[0047] To make the technical problems to be solved, the technical solutions, and the beneficial effects of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0048] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.

[0049] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention.

[0050] 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 technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0051] Please refer to the following: Figures 1 to 15 The first embodiment of the present invention provides a battery module 1, which includes a housing 11, a baffle assembly 12, and at least two battery cells 13, wherein the battery cells 13 are housed within the housing 11. The baffle assembly 12 includes a baffle body 121 and a pressure sensor 122. The baffle body 121 is sandwiched between the two battery cells 13, and the pressure sensor 122, which detects pressure, is fixed to the baffle body 121 and disposed between the two battery cells 13.

[0052] Understandably, common battery modules 1 typically employ multiple rows of battery cells 13 to achieve series, parallel, or mixed connections between the battery cells 13. By using multiple sets of battery cells 13, the voltage and capacity of the battery module 1 are increased. In this embodiment of the invention, a baffle assembly 12 is provided between two battery cells 13. By placing the baffle assembly 12 between two battery cells 13, the relative positional stability of each battery cell 13 in the battery module 1 is ensured. Simultaneously, the baffle assembly 12 achieves insulation between the two battery cells 13. Since the baffle body 121 is sandwiched between two battery cells 13, and the pressure sensor 122's pressure detection portion is fixed to the baffle body 121, the pressure sensor 122 can obtain the magnitude of the expansion force of the battery cell 13 when it expands. Furthermore, the health status of the battery cell 13 can be analyzed based on the magnitude of the expansion force. Meanwhile, since the pressure sensor 122 is fixed to the baffle body 121, the expansion force obtained by the pressure sensor 122 can correspond to the specific position of the battery cell 13, which makes it easier to analyze the health status of the battery during use.

[0053] Understandably, if the pressure sensor 122's pressure-detecting portion were fixed to the battery cell 13, the reciprocating expansion and contraction of the battery cell 13 would cause the pressure sensor 122's pressure-detecting portion to shift back and forth, thus adversely affecting the pressure sensor 122's expansion force detection. Furthermore, the long-term expansion and contraction of the battery cell 13 could easily cause the pressure sensor 122's pressure-detecting portion to detach. However, in this embodiment of the invention, the pressure sensor 122's pressure-detecting portion is fixed to the baffle body 121 instead of the battery cell 13. This is primarily because the baffle body 121 is fixed between the two battery cells 13. Thus, even when the battery cell 13 expands, and the expansion force of the battery cell 13 acts on the pressure sensor 122's pressure-detecting portion, the pressure sensor 122's pressure-detecting portion will not shift significantly. Its relative position to the baffle body 121 can be maintained within a certain range, further ensuring the accuracy and stability of the pressure sensor 122's expansion force detection.

[0054] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the baffle body 121 includes a receiving portion 1211 and a clamping portion 1212 surrounding the receiving portion 1211. When the baffle body 121 is clamped between two battery cells 13, the clamping portion 1212 is clamped between the two battery cells 13 to separate the two battery cells 13. The receiving portion 1211 is provided corresponding to the easily expandable surface of at least one battery cell 13 so that the battery cell 13 has space to accommodate the expanded portion when the surface expands. The pressure sensor 122 is provided with a portion corresponding to the receiving portion 1211 at least.

[0055] Understandably, the easily expandable surface of the battery cell 13 is the surface of the battery cell 13 with the largest expansion change during use. The easily expandable surface can be obtained in advance through experiments or derived theoretically. For example, when the battery cell 13 is composed of multiple electrode sheets stacked together, the surface of the battery cell 13 corresponding to the surface with the largest electrode sheet surface area is the easily expandable surface of the battery cell 13.

[0056] Understandably, when the battery cell 13 expands, the receiving part 1211 can provide a certain expansion space for the battery cell 13, and the pressure sensor 122 is set at least in relation to the receiving part 1211. The pressure sensor 122 can obtain the expansion force of the easily expandable surface of the battery cell 13, which is more conducive to monitoring the health of the battery cell 13 by detecting the expansion force detected by the pressure sensor 122.

[0057] Please continue reading. Figure 1 and Figure 2In one embodiment, the pressure sensor 122 of this invention includes a thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 and a data acquisition unit 1222. The thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is fixed on the baffle body 121 and is disposed at least corresponding to the receiving portion 1211. The thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is configured to change its electrical signal under pressure. The data acquisition unit 1222 is electrically connected to the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 to acquire and transmit the changed electrical signal. The data acquisition unit 1222 can communicate with an external device, which acquires the pressure data on the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 through the electrical signal transmitted by the data acquisition unit 1222.

[0058] It is understood that the embodiments of the present invention use a thin-film pressure sensing sheet 1221. The thin-film pressure sensing sheet 1221 has the advantages of being thin and flexible. Since the thickness of the thin-film pressure sensing sheet 1221 is much smaller than the thickness of the baffle body 121, fixing the thin-film pressure sensing sheet 1221 to the baffle body 121 will not affect the overall thickness of the battery module 1, thereby making the overall structure more compact.

[0059] In one implementation, the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is mainly composed of two layers of flexible and bendable thin-film material, with the upper layer being a pressure-sensitive thin film and the lower layer being an electrode thin film. When the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is pressed, the upper and lower thin films come into contact, and their contact area changes with the pressure, thereby causing the electrode to generate an electrical signal that changes with the pressure.

[0060] In other embodiments, the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 can also be a piezoelectric pressure sensing element, a capacitive pressure sensing element, an ionized pressure sensing element, or a triboelectric pressure sensing element. When the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is subjected to the expansion pressure of the battery cell 13, the output piezoelectric, capacitive, or triboelectric electrical parameters change, and the data acquisition unit 1222 acquires the information on the change of electrical parameters and transmits it to other devices.

[0061] The shape of the thin-film pressure sensing sheet 1221 is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present invention. The thin-film pressure sensing sheet 1221 can be a whole thin film disposed between two battery cells 13; or, the thin-film pressure sensing sheet 1221 can be composed of multiple thin-film cells arranged in an array.

[0062] In one implementation, the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is a single sheet of film fixed to the baffle body 121 and disposed corresponding to the receiving portion 1211. It is understood that since the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is a single sheet of film disposed corresponding to the receiving portion 1211, the expansion force distribution information of the battery cell 13 in the region corresponding to the receiving portion 1211 can be obtained through the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221, thereby achieving comprehensive detection of the expansion force on the surface of the battery cell 13 and further ensuring the accuracy of the health status analysis results of the battery cell 13. Simultaneously, the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 can accurately locate the position of the maximum expansion force on the battery cell 13, providing valuable data for subsequent maintenance research.

[0063] The present invention does not impose specific limitations on the structure of the baffle body 121. The baffle body 121 only needs to be provided with an expansion space for the battery cell 13 to expand and a clamping part 1212 for separating the two battery cells 13. In one embodiment, the receiving part 1211 is a through hole penetrating the clamping part 1212; in another embodiment, the baffle body 121 further includes a heat insulation member, the clamping part 1212 has a through hole, and the heat insulation member is fixed on the clamping part 1212 and is provided corresponding to the through hole to form at least one receiving part 1211 with the clamping part 1212.

[0064] Please combine Figures 3 to 6 In one embodiment, the baffle body 121 includes two loop frames 1213. Each loop frame 1213 is provided with a connecting portion 1214 and a through hole 1215 passing through the connecting portion 1214. The connecting portions 1214 of the two loop frames 1213 are connected to form a clamping portion 1212. The through holes 1215 of the two loop frames 1213 are correspondingly arranged to form a receiving portion 1211. A thin film pressure sensing piece 1221 is clamped between the two loop frames 1213 so that the thin film pressure sensing piece 1221 is at least partially disposed in the receiving portion 1211.

[0065] The present invention does not impose specific limitations on the size of the two loop frames 1213. Preferably, in this embodiment, the two loop frames 1213 are the same size, that is, the connecting portion 1214 of the two loop frames 1213 is the same size, and the through hole 1215 of the two loop frames 1213 is the same size. Thus, when the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is held between the two loop frames 1213, the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is located in the middle position of the receiving portion 1211. Understandably, the expansion amount of the same battery cell 13 is roughly the same during normal expansion. Therefore, the thin-film pressure sensing plate 1221 is positioned in the middle of the receiving part 1211 by the two loop frames 1213. During normal expansion, the battery cells 13 on both sides of the thin-film pressure sensing plate 1221 will exert expansion force on the thin-film pressure sensing plate 1221 simultaneously or within a short time difference. This is more conducive to the detection of the expansion force of the battery cell 13 by the thin-film pressure sensing plate 1221, and at the same time, it can also avoid the thin-film pressure sensing plate 1221 from being offset by the expansion force of the battery cell 13 on one side.

[0066] This invention does not impose specific limitations on the connection method between the two loop frames 1213. The two loop frames 1213 can be fixedly connected by fasteners, detachably connected by a bayonet and slot, or fixedly connected by adhesive bonding. Preferably, the two loop frames 1213 are fixedly connected by adhesive bonding, with the portion of the thin-film pressure sensing sheet 1221 clamped between the two loop frames 1213 bonded to the clamping portion 1212. It is understood that to make the overall structure of the battery module 1 more compact, the thickness of the baffle body 121 should be minimized. Therefore, when the baffle body 121 is relatively thin, adhesive bonding between the two loop frames 1213 makes the connection more secure. Furthermore, adhesive bonding eliminates the need for excessive structural modifications to the loop frames 1213, resulting in a simpler overall structure.

[0067] Please see Figure 5 Furthermore, as a preferred embodiment, the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is disposed over the entire area of ​​the receiving portion 1211. In this way, the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 can acquire all the expansion force information of the surface of the battery cell 13 corresponding to the receiving space. Since the receiving space is disposed over the surface of the battery cell 13 that is prone to expansion, a more accurate health status of the battery cell 13 can be obtained by analyzing the expansion force information acquired by the pressure sensor 122.

[0068] Please see Figure 6As a better option, the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is provided for all areas corresponding to the receiving portion 1211 and the clamping portion 1212 and the battery cell 13. In this way, the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 can not only obtain all the expansion force information of the surface of the battery cell 13 corresponding to the receiving space, but also obtain all the expansion force information of the surface of the battery cell 13 corresponding to the clamping portion 1212. By detecting the expansion force of both parts, more favorable data can be provided for subsequent maintenance research of the battery cell 13.

[0069] Please combine Figure 3 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 , Figure 10 and Figure 11 In another embodiment, the baffle body 121 includes a heat insulation member 1216, and the clamping portion 1212 has a through hole 1215. The heat insulation member 1216 is fixed on the clamping portion 1212 and is disposed corresponding to the through hole 1215 to form at least one receiving portion 1211 with the clamping portion 1212. It can be understood that the heat insulation member 1216 can prevent heat transfer between two adjacent battery cells 13.

[0070] Please combine Figure 3 and Figure 7 In one embodiment, the baffle body 121 is provided with a U-shaped frame 1213. The U-shaped frame 1213 is provided with a connecting part 1214 and a through hole 1215 through the connecting part 1214. The heat insulation member 1216 is accommodated in the through hole 1215 and fixedly connected to the connecting part 1214. The thickness of the heat insulation member 1216 is less than the depth of the through hole 1215 so as to cooperate with the connecting part 1214 to form at least one receiving part 1211. The thin film pressure sensing piece 1221 is disposed on the heat insulation member 1216 so that the thin film pressure sensing piece 1221 is disposed at least corresponding to a portion of the receiving part 1211. Specifically, the connecting portion 1214 has two opposing surfaces that contact the battery cells 13 on both sides. When the heat insulation member 1216 is positioned in the middle of the through hole 1215, the heat insulation member 1216 forms grooves with the two surfaces of the connecting portion 1214, and these two grooves are two receiving portions 1211. When the heat insulation member 1216 is positioned on one of the surfaces of the through hole 1215 and is flush with that surface, the heat insulation member 1216 forms a groove with the other surface, and this groove is the receiving portion 1211. This embodiment of the invention does not specifically limit the manner in which the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is disposed on the heat insulation member 1216. As a preferred embodiment, the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is fixed to the heat insulation member 1216 by adhesive bonding.

[0071] Please combine Figure 3 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 , Figure 10 and Figure 11 In another embodiment, the baffle body 121 is provided with two loop frames 1213 and two heat insulation members 1216. Each of the two loop frames 1213 is provided with a connecting portion 1214 and a through hole 1215 penetrating the connecting portion 1214. One heat insulation member 1216 is connected to the connecting portion 1214 of one of the loop frames 1213 and seals the through hole 1215 of the loop frame 1213 to form a receiving portion 1211 with the connecting portion 1214. The other heat insulation member 1216 is connected to the connecting portion 1214 of the other loop frame 1213 and seals the through hole 1215 of the loop frame 1213 to form another receiving portion 1211 with the connecting portion 1214. The connecting portions 1214 of the two loop frames 1213 are connected to form a clamping portion 1212, and the thin film pressure sensing piece 1221 is clamped between the two loop frames 1213 so that the thin film pressure sensing piece 1221 is disposed at least corresponding to a portion of the receiving portion 1211; or the thin film pressure sensing piece 1221 is disposed on either of the heat insulation members 1216 so that the thin film pressure sensing piece 1221 is disposed at least corresponding to a portion of the receiving portion 1211.

[0072] The present invention does not impose specific limitations on the size of the two loop frames 1213. Preferably, in this embodiment, the two loop frames 1213 are the same size, that is, the connecting portion 1214 of the two loop frames 1213 is the same size, and the through hole 1215 of the two loop frames 1213 is the same size. Thus, when the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is held between the two loop frames 1213, the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is located in the middle position of the receiving portion 1211. Understandably, the expansion amount of the same battery cell 13 is roughly the same during normal expansion. Therefore, the thin-film pressure sensing plate 1221 is positioned in the middle of the receiving part 1211 by the two loop frames 1213. During normal expansion, the battery cells 13 on both sides of the thin-film pressure sensing plate 1221 will exert expansion force on the thin-film pressure sensing plate 1221 simultaneously or within a short time difference. This is more conducive to the detection and analysis of the expansion force of the battery cell 13 by the thin-film pressure sensing plate 1221, and can also avoid the thin-film pressure sensing plate 1221 from being offset by the expansion force of the battery cell 13 on one side.

[0073] This invention does not impose specific limitations on the connection method between the two loop frames 1213. The two loop frames 1213 can be fixedly connected by fasteners, detachably connected by a bayonet and slot, or fixedly connected by adhesive bonding. Preferably, the two loop frames 1213 are fixedly connected by adhesive bonding, with the portion of the thin-film pressure sensing sheet 1221 clamped between the two loop frames 1213 bonded to the clamping portion 1212. It is understood that to make the overall structure of the battery module 1 more compact, the thickness of the baffle body 121 should be minimized. Therefore, when the baffle body 121 is relatively thin, adhesive bonding between the two loop frames 1213 makes the connection more secure. Furthermore, adhesive bonding eliminates the need for excessive structural modifications to the loop frames 1213, resulting in a simpler overall structure.

[0074] Please see Figure 11 Preferably, the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 is disposed over all areas corresponding to the receiving portion 1211 and the clamping portion 1212 and the battery cell 13. In this way, the thin-film pressure sensing element 1221 can acquire not only all the expansion force information of the surface of the battery cell 13 corresponding to the receiving space, but also all the expansion force information of the surface of the battery cell 13 corresponding to the clamping portion 1212. Detecting the expansion force of both parts provides more favorable data for subsequent maintenance research of the battery cell 13.

[0075] Since the pressure sensor 122, which detects pressure, is located at least in the receiving portion 1211, during use, the battery cell 13 needs to expand to a certain extent before contacting the pressure sensor 122 in the receiving portion 1211. When both battery cells 13 are in contact with the pressure sensor 122, the pressure-detecting portion of the pressure sensor 122 is sandwiched between the two battery cells 13, and is subjected to the squeezing force of the two battery cells 13. Understandably, if the receiving space of the receiving portion 1211 along the expansion direction of the battery cell 13 is too deep, the battery cell 13 needs to expand to a certain extent before contacting the pressure-detecting portion of the pressure sensor 122, or even until the battery cell 13 expands to the point of posing a safety hazard. Thus, it is difficult to use the pressure sensor 122 to provide early warning of the battery's health status.

[0076] As one implementation method, in this embodiment of the invention, by limiting the depth of the accommodating space of the accommodating portion 1211 along the expansion direction of the battery cell 13, on the one hand, a reasonable expansion space is provided for the battery cell 13, and on the other hand, the pressure sensor 122 can obtain the magnitude of the expansion force of the battery cell 13 during the normal expansion process of the battery cell 13. Therefore, when a safety hazard occurs in the battery cell 13, the expansion force detection result of the pressure sensor 122 can achieve the effect of pre-tightening.

[0077] Please see Figure 12 In one implementation, when the baffle body 121 has only one receiving portion 1211, the receiving space depth of the receiving portion 1211 along the expansion direction of the battery cell 13 (as shown by T1 in the figure) is no greater than 4 mm. More preferably, the receiving space depth of the receiving portion 1211 along the expansion direction of the battery cell 13 is any one of 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.8 mm, 1 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.8 mm, 2 mm, 2.2 mm, 2.5 mm, 2.8 mm, or 3 mm.

[0078] Please see Figure 13 As another implementation, when the baffle body 121 is provided with two receiving portions 1211, the sum of the receiving space depths of the two receiving portions 1211 along the expansion direction of the battery cell 13 (as shown in the figure, the sum of T2 and T3) is not greater than 4mm. As a more preferred option, the sum of the receiving space depths of the two receiving portions 1211 along the expansion direction of the battery cell 13 is any one of 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.8mm, 1mm, 1.2mm, 1.5mm, 1.8mm, 2mm, 2.2mm, 2.5mm, 2.8mm, and 3mm.

[0079] Understandably, different depths of the containment space can be selected for different types of battery cells 13, and these depths can be confirmed in advance through experiments.

[0080] Understandably, in this embodiment of the invention, the thickness of the clamping portion 1212 is not less than the accommodating space depth of the receiving portion 1211 along the expansion direction of the battery cell 13. When the accommodating space depth of the receiving portion 1211 along the expansion direction of the battery cell 13 is determined, the thickness of the clamping portion 1212 can be set according to specific usage requirements. As one implementation, the thickness of the clamping portion 1212 is not greater than 15mm, which makes the overall structure of the battery module 1 more compact. As a more preferred option, the thickness of the clamping portion 1212 is any one of 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm, 9mm, and 10mm.

[0081] The embodiments of the present invention do not impose a specific limit on the number of baffle assemblies 12, and the number of baffle assemblies 12 can be set according to specific needs. The battery module 1 may have only one baffle assembly 12, or the battery module 1 may have multiple baffle assemblies 12.

[0082] Please see Figure 14 In one implementation, when it is necessary to detect the health status of all battery cells 13 in battery module 1, any two battery cells 13 are separated by a baffle assembly 12. Thus, the pressure sensor 122 in each baffle assembly 12 can obtain the expansion force of the corresponding battery cell 13, thereby enabling monitoring and early warning of the health status of any individual battery cell 13. It is understood that since the pressure sensor 122's pressure-detecting portion is fixed between two battery cells 13, the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 122 is the expansion force of the two battery cells 13. In this embodiment, any two battery cells 13 are separated by a baffle assembly 12, therefore, by comparing the pressure detected by the pressure sensors 122 on both sides of the battery cell 13, the health status of the battery cell 13 can be further confirmed.

[0083] Please see Figure 15 In another embodiment, the battery module 1 further includes a spacer 14. The baffle assembly 12 and the spacer 14 are respectively sandwiched between two adjacent battery cells 13 to separate any two adjacent battery cells 13. The spacer 14 does not have a pressure sensor 122. It is understood that by providing the baffle assembly 12 and the spacer 14 in the battery module 1, any two adjacent battery cells 13 can be separated. Since the spacer 14 only serves as a component to separate two adjacent battery cells 13, the pressure sensor 122 is not required. This reduces the overall number of components in the battery module 1 and lowers its cost.

[0084] As a preferred embodiment, baffle assemblies 12 are provided at least in the middle and at both ends of the battery module 1. The expansion force detected by pressure sensors 122 at at least three locations can not only obtain the health status of the corresponding battery cells 13, but also provide more reliable detection data when analyzing the overall health status of the battery module 1.

[0085] The present invention does not impose specific restrictions on the structure of the partition plate. The structure of the partition 14 can be the same as or similar to that of the baffle body 121. The partition 14 can also be a plate-shaped flat plate structure.

[0086] Please continue reading. Figure 15In one embodiment, the battery module 1 also includes a pressure detection device 15. The pressure detection device 15 is disposed on the inner wall of the housing 11 and between the battery cell 13 and the housing 11 to detect the expansion force of the battery cell 13.

[0087] Understandably, one of the functions of the baffle assembly 12 is to clamp between the two battery cells 13 to isolate them. Therefore, the baffle assembly 12 may not be provided between the battery cell 13 and the housing 11. In order to further obtain the expansion force of the outermost battery cell 13, this embodiment provides a pressure detection device 15 between the inner wall of the housing 11 and the battery cell 13. The pressure detection device 15 can detect the expansion force of the outermost battery cell 13, thereby providing more reliable detection data for the overall health analysis of the battery module 1.

[0088] The present invention does not impose specific limitations on the structure of the pressure detection device 15. The structure of the pressure detection device 15 can be the same as or similar to that of the pressure sensor 122, or it can be other structures.

[0089] Please see Figure 16 The second embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle 2, which includes a vehicle body 21, a control system 22, and at least one battery module 1. The battery module 1 provides power to the vehicle body 21. The control system 22 is communicatively connected to the battery module 1 to obtain the expansion force information of the battery cells 13 detected by the battery module 1. The control system 22 monitors the health status of the battery module 1 based on the expansion force information of the battery cells 13. The structure and beneficial effects of the battery module 1 have been described above and will not be repeated here.

[0090] In one implementation, the control system 22 mainly includes a BMS (Battery Management System); the data acquisition unit 1222 is communicatively connected to the BMS. In another implementation, the data acquisition unit 1222 directly transmits the acquired expansion force detection results to the BMS, which then analyzes the detection results.

[0091] Please see Figure 17 The third embodiment of the present invention provides an energy storage device 3, which includes a safety monitoring system 31 and at least one battery module 1. The safety monitoring system 31 is communicatively connected to the battery module 1 to obtain the expansion force information of the battery cells 13 detected by the battery module 1. The safety monitoring system 31 monitors the health status of the battery module 1 based on the expansion force information of the battery cells 13. The structure and beneficial effects of the battery module 1 have been described above and will not be repeated here.

[0092] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0093] The above embodiments merely illustrate several implementation methods of the present invention, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A battery module, characterized in that, The battery module includes a housing, a baffle assembly, and at least two battery cells, each battery cell being housed within the housing. The baffle assembly includes a baffle body and a pressure sensor. The baffle body is sandwiched between the two battery cells. The pressure sensor's pressure-detecting portion is fixed to the baffle body and positioned between the two battery cells. The baffle body includes a receiving portion and a clamping portion surrounding the receiving portion. The baffle body has two U-shaped frames and two heat insulation components. Each U-shaped frame has a connecting portion and a through hole penetrating the connecting portion. The connecting portions and through holes of the two U-shaped frames are the same size. One heat insulation component connects to one of the U-shaped frames and seals the through hole to form a receiving portion with the connecting portion. The other heat insulation component connects to the other U-shaped frame and seals the through hole. The hole forms another receiving portion with the connecting portion. The connecting portions of the two loop frames are connected to form the clamping portion. When the baffle body is clamped between the two battery cells, the clamping portion is clamped between the two battery cells to separate the two battery cells. The receiving portion is provided corresponding to the easily expandable surface of at least one battery cell so that the battery cell has space to accommodate the expanded portion when the surface expands. The pressure sensor includes a thin-film pressure sensing sheet. The thin-film pressure sensing sheet is configured to change the electrical signal when pressure is applied. The thin-film pressure sensing sheet is a single thin film. The thin-film pressure sensing sheet is clamped between the two loop frames to correspond to the entire area of ​​the receiving portion and the clamping portion corresponding to the battery cell.

2. The battery module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure sensor includes a data acquisition unit electrically connected to the thin-film pressure sensing element to acquire and transmit changing electrical signals.

3. The battery module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, When the baffle body is provided with two receiving portions, the sum of the receiving space depths of the two receiving portions along the expansion direction of the battery cell is not greater than 4mm.

4. The battery module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Any two battery cells are separated by the baffle assembly; or, the battery module further includes a spacer without the pressure sensor, the baffle assembly is sandwiched between two battery cells to form a battery cell group, and the spacer is sandwiched between adjacent battery cell groups to separate any two adjacent battery cells.

5. The battery module as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The battery module also includes a pressure detection device. The pressure detection device is configured to detect pressure within the inner wall of the housing and between the battery cell and the housing to detect the expansion force of the battery cell.

6. The battery module as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The thickness of the heat insulation component is less than the depth of the through hole.

7. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle includes a vehicle body, a control system, and at least one battery module as described in any one of claims 1 to 6. The battery module provides power to the vehicle body. The control system is communicatively connected to the battery module to obtain battery cell expansion force information detected by the battery module. The control system monitors the health status of the battery module based on the battery cell expansion force information.

8. An energy storage device, characterized in that, The energy storage device includes a safety monitoring system and at least one battery module as described in any one of claims 1 to 6. The safety monitoring system is communicatively connected to the battery module to obtain battery cell expansion force information detected by the battery module. The safety monitoring system monitors the health status of the battery module based on the battery cell expansion force information.

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