A battery and an electrical device

Abstract

This application relates to the field of new energy technology, specifically to a battery and an electrical device. The battery includes: a plurality of battery cells arranged in an array; a pressure regulating device, including a main body and a regulating valve. The main body is disposed between adjacent battery cells, and a venting pipe is formed within the main body. The regulating valve is disposed in the venting pipe and is used to regulate the pressure within the venting pipe to adjust the gap between adjacent battery cells. Through the above method, this application can improve battery cycle performance and extend battery life.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of new energy technology, specifically to a battery and an electrical device. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the new energy field, batteries are being used more and more widely. Batteries are generally formed by assembling multiple battery cells together. During operation, battery cells will expand due to factors such as the generation of gas inside.

[0003] During battery assembly, to prevent structural interference between adjacent battery cells during expansion and thus damage to the overall battery structure, gaps must be reserved between adjacent battery cells to allow for expansion. However, this method of reserving gaps allows the battery cells to expand freely in their initial state, severely impacting the battery's lifespan. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, this application provides a battery and an electrical device that can improve battery cycle performance and extend battery life.

[0005] According to one aspect of this application, a battery is provided, comprising: a plurality of battery cells arranged in an array; a pressure regulating device, including a main body and a regulating valve, the main body being disposed between adjacent battery cells, a venting passage being formed within the main body, and the regulating valve being disposed in the venting passage for regulating the pressure within the venting passage to regulate the gap between adjacent battery cells.

[0006] A pressure regulating device is installed between the battery cells. By adjusting the pressure of the vent pipe inside the main body of the pressure regulating device, the main body provides a pre-tightening force to the battery cells, that is, it provides a certain binding force to the electrode, which inhibits the free expansion of the battery cells and prevents the electrode from wrinkling, thereby improving the cycle performance of the battery cells and extending their service life.

[0007] In one alternative embodiment, the regulating valve includes a pressure boosting valve for connection to a gas source device, which pressurizes the venting line when actuated. By providing the pressure boosting valve for connection to the gas source device, pressurization of the venting line within the main body is achieved, thereby increasing the binding force of the main body on the battery cells and reducing the gap between the battery cells.

[0008] In one alternative approach, an inert gas flows through the venting line. By using an inert gas in the venting line, if the main body of the battery melts at high temperatures and releases the inert gas during thermal runaway, the contact between flammable materials and oxygen can be reduced, preventing combustion or controlling the fire if it has already started, thus improving the battery's safety performance.

[0009] In one alternative approach, a weak layer is provided on the main body at a position corresponding to the venting pipe. This weak layer allows inert gas to escape when it ruptures. By selecting a material for the weak layer that maintains its shape within the normal operating temperature range of the battery, and softens and melts to rupture when the battery experiences thermal runaway beyond its normal temperature range, the release of internal inert gas is achieved.

[0010] In one alternative embodiment, the regulating valve includes a pressure relief valve configured to depressurize the venting line upon actuation. By incorporating the pressure relief valve, the discharge of gas from the venting line is controlled, thereby reducing the binding force of the main body on the battery cells and allowing for a certain degree of release of the expansion of the battery cells. This reduces the gap between adjacent battery cells, preventing electrode wrinkling and ensuring the overall stability of the battery structure.

[0011] In one alternative embodiment, the main body includes conduits that are wound between multiple adjacent battery cells. By configuring the main body as conduits, the structural layout between battery cells can be optimized, allowing heat conduction through the space between adjacent battery cells (excluding the conduits) via air circulation or the installation of water-cooled pipes. This facilitates rapid heat dissipation between battery cells and provides optimal temperature conditions for the battery.

[0012] In one alternative approach, the conduit is wound around the sidewall of the battery cell, which includes an adjacent first sidewall and a second sidewall. The area of ​​the first sidewall is larger than that of the second sidewall, and the conduit is symmetrically distributed on the first sidewall. When the battery cell expands and bulges outward, the first sidewall bulges to its maximum extent. By symmetrically distributing the conduit on the first sidewall, the force exerted by the conduit on the first sidewall can be evenly distributed, thereby ensuring the stability of the overall battery structure.

[0013] In one alternative approach, the area where the pipe is laid on the first sidewall comprises multiple parts, each located on either side of the centerline of the first sidewall. When the battery cell expands and bulges outward, the central region of the first sidewall bulges the most. By dividing the area where the pipe is laid on the first sidewall into multiple parts, each located on either side of the centerline of the first sidewall, the force distribution on the pipe on the first sidewall is ensured to be uniform while leaving the central region of the first sidewall unoccupied. This prevents excessive interaction forces between the central region of the first sidewall and the pipe after expansion, which could affect the structural stability of the battery, and also ensures that the central region of the first sidewall has greater expansion space.

[0014] In one alternative embodiment, the main body includes multiple air cushions disposed between adjacent battery cells. Ventilation channels are formed within the air cushions, and by pressurizing or depressurizing these channels, the binding force on the battery cells and the gap between adjacent battery cells can be adjusted.

[0015] In one alternative approach, a pressure sensor is installed in the venting line. By installing a pressure sensor in the venting line to detect the pressure within the venting line, the pressure can be regulated to ensure that appropriate preload is provided to the battery cells while also allowing for some release of any expansion within the battery cells.

[0016] According to another aspect of this application, an electrical device is provided, comprising a battery of any of the above-described types.

[0017] The above description is merely an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to better understand the technical means of the present invention and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention are described below. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the drawings. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the vehicle structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a battery provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a single battery cell provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the battery structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 5 A cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of adjacent battery cells and the main body of a battery provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first sidewall and the channel of a battery cell in an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery provided in another embodiment of this application.

[0026] The reference numerals in the detailed embodiments are as follows:

[0027] 1000 vehicles;

[0028] Battery 100, controller 200, motor 300;

[0029] Box 10, Part 11, Part 2 12;

[0030] Battery cell 20, end cap 21, electrode terminal 21a, housing 22, electrode assembly 23, tab 23a, first sidewall 24, center line 241, second sidewall 25;

[0031] Pressure regulating device 30, main body 31, air pipe 311, air inlet 312, air outlet 313, weak layer 314, regulating valve 32, pressure boosting valve 321, pressure relief valve 322, pipeline 33, laying area 331, air cushion 34, pressure sensor 35. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The embodiments of the technical solution of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application and are therefore merely examples, and should not be used to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0033] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and foregoing description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0034] In the description of the embodiments of this application, technical terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

[0035] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0036] In the description of the embodiments in this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three cases: A exists, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the related objects before and after it have an "or" relationship.

[0037] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "multiple" refers to two or more (including two), similarly, "multiple sets" refers to two or more (including two sets), and "multiple pieces" refers to two or more (including two pieces).

[0038] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" 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 embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and are not intended to 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 embodiments of this application.

[0039] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, technical terms such as "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0040] Currently, judging from market trends, battery applications are becoming increasingly widespread. Batteries are not only used in energy storage systems such as hydropower, thermal power, wind power, and solar power plants, but also extensively in electric vehicles such as electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric cars, as well as in military equipment and aerospace. With the continuous expansion of battery applications, market demand is also constantly increasing.

[0041] A battery is generally formed by arranging and assembling multiple battery cells in a battery box. During the charging and discharging process, the electrode components inside the battery cells will expand the graphite or generate gas, which will cause the battery cells to bulge outward.

[0042] To avoid structural interference caused by the outward expansion of adjacent battery cells, a certain gap is usually reserved between adjacent battery cells during battery assembly to provide expansion space for the battery cells.

[0043] However, leaving a certain gap between adjacent battery cells will cause the battery cells to expand freely in the initial state due to the lack of external constraints. Since the electrode components inside the battery cell are wrapped with a separator, the electrode components are constrained by the separator when they expand freely, causing the electrode plates in the electrode components to wrinkle, which in turn leads to lithium plating, resulting in deterioration of battery cycle performance and a significant reduction in battery life.

[0044] To address the aforementioned issues, some batteries incorporate buffer pads between adjacent cells during assembly. These buffer pads are typically made of a flexible, soft rubber material and provide some degree of expansion restraint to the battery cells. When a battery cell expands, it compresses the buffer pad, causing it to deform. The buffer pad then uses its own elastic restoring force to limit the expansion of the battery cell.

[0045] However, the inventors of this application have noticed that the buffer pad has poor ability to limit the expansion of the battery cell, and after the buffer pad is deformed for a long time under the expansion force, its deformation becomes irreversible, so it can no longer provide expansion restriction to the battery cell, which will also cause the battery cycle performance to decline and affect the battery life.

[0046] Based on this, this application proposes a battery. First, a pressure regulating device is provided between multiple arranged battery cells. The pressure regulating device includes a main body and a regulating valve. The main body is disposed between adjacent battery cells and has a venting pipe formed inside. By regulating the pressure in the venting pipe through the regulating valve, the force exerted by the main body on the adjacent battery cells is adjusted, thereby adjusting the gap between adjacent battery cells. This provides an effective binding force for the electrode assembly in the battery cell, preventing wrinkling of the electrode sheets in the electrode assembly. While ensuring that the battery cell has expansion space, it effectively prevents the battery cell from being in a free expansion state, improves battery cycle performance, and extends battery life.

[0047] The batteries disclosed in this application can be used, but are not limited to, in electrical devices such as vehicles, ships, or aircraft.

[0048] This application provides an electrical device that uses a battery as a power source. The electrical device can be, but is not limited to, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, electric toys, power tools, electric vehicles, electric cars, ships, spacecraft, etc. Electric toys can include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc. Spacecraft can include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc.

[0049] For ease of explanation, the following embodiments will be described using a vehicle 1000 as an example of an electrical device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0050] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle 1000 provided in some embodiments of this application. The vehicle 1000 can be a gasoline-powered vehicle, a natural gas-powered vehicle, or a new energy vehicle. New energy vehicles can be pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, or range-extended electric vehicles, etc. A battery 100 is disposed inside the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100 can be located at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 can be used to power the vehicle 1000; for example, the battery 100 can serve as the operating power source for the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 may also include a controller 200 and a motor 300. The controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to supply power to the motor 300, for example, to meet the power needs of the vehicle 1000 during startup, navigation, and driving.

[0051] In some embodiments of this application, the battery 100 can not only serve as the operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but also as the driving power source for the vehicle 1000, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1000.

[0052] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 2This is an exploded structural diagram of a battery 100 provided in some embodiments of this application. The battery 100 includes a housing 10 and a battery cell 20, with the battery cell 20 housed within the housing 10. The housing 10 provides a space for the battery cell 20 and can have various structures. In some embodiments, the housing 10 may include a first portion 11 and a second portion 12, which overlap each other, jointly defining a space for accommodating the battery cell 20. The second portion 12 may be a hollow structure with one open end, and the first portion 11 may be a plate-like structure, covering the open side of the second portion 12 so that the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 jointly define the space. Alternatively, the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 may both be hollow structures with one open side, with the open side of the first portion 11 covering the open side of the second portion 12. Of course, the housing 10 formed by the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 can have various shapes, such as a cylinder, a cuboid, etc.

[0053] In battery 100, there can be multiple battery cells 20, which can be connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner. A mixed connection means that multiple battery cells 20 are connected in both series and parallel configurations. Multiple battery cells 20 can be directly connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner, and then the entire assembly of the multiple battery cells 20 is housed within the housing 10. Alternatively, battery 100 can also be composed of multiple battery cells 20 first connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner to form a battery module, and then multiple battery modules are connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner to form a whole, which is also housed within the housing 10. Battery 100 may also include other structures; for example, it may include a busbar component for electrical connection between the multiple battery cells 20.

[0054] Each battery cell 20 can be a secondary battery or a primary battery; it can also be a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery, but is not limited to these. The battery cell 20 can be cylindrical, flat, cuboid, or other shapes.

[0055] Please see Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is an exploded structural diagram of a battery cell 20 in a battery 100 provided in some embodiments of this application. The battery cell 20 refers to the smallest unit that makes up the battery. Figure 3 The battery cell 20 includes an end cap 21, a housing 22, an electrode assembly 23, and other functional components.

[0056] End cap 21 refers to a component that covers the opening of housing 22 to isolate the internal environment of battery cell 20 from the external environment. The shape of end cap 21 can be adapted to the shape of housing 22 to fit it. Optionally, end cap 21 can be made of a material with certain hardness and strength (such as aluminum alloy), so that end cap 21 is not easily deformed under pressure and impact, giving battery cell 20 higher structural strength and improved safety performance. Functional components such as electrode terminals 21a can be provided on end cap 21. Electrode terminals 21a can be used for electrical connection with electrode assembly 23 to output or input electrical energy to battery cell 20. In some embodiments, end cap 21 can also be provided with a pressure relief mechanism for releasing internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of battery cell 20 reaches a threshold. The material of end cap 21 can also be various, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and this application embodiment does not impose any special limitations on this. In some embodiments, an insulating element may be provided on the inner side of the end cap 21. The insulating element can be used to isolate the electrical connection components within the housing 22 from the end cap 21 to reduce the risk of short circuits. For example, the insulating element may be made of plastic, rubber, etc.

[0057] The housing 22 is a component used to cooperate with the end cap 21 to form the internal environment of the battery cell 20, wherein the formed internal environment can accommodate the electrode assembly 23, electrolyte, and other components. The housing 22 and the end cap 21 can be independent components. An opening can be provided on the housing 22, and the end cap 21 can be used to close the opening to form the internal environment of the battery cell 20. Alternatively, the end cap 21 and the housing 22 can be integrated. The housing 22 can have various shapes and sizes, such as cuboid, cylindrical, hexagonal prism, etc. Specifically, the shape of the housing 22 can be determined according to the specific shape and size of the electrode assembly 23. The material of the housing 22 can be various, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and this embodiment does not impose any special limitations on this.

[0058] Electrode assembly 23 is the component in the battery cell 20 where electrochemical reactions occur. The casing 22 may contain one or more electrode assemblies 23. The electrode assembly 23 is mainly formed by winding or stacking positive and negative electrode plates, and typically a separator is provided between the positive and negative electrode plates. The portions of the positive and negative electrode plates containing active material constitute the main body of the electrode assembly, while the portions of the positive and negative electrode plates without active material each constitute a tab 23a. The positive and negative tabs may be located together at one end of the main body or separately at both ends of the main body. During the charging and discharging process of the battery, the positive and negative active materials react with the electrolyte, and the tabs 23a connect to the electrode terminals to form a current loop.

[0059] According to one aspect of an embodiment of this application, a battery is provided, as detailed in [reference needed]. Figure 4 and Figure 5 , Figure 4 The diagram illustrates the structure of a battery 100 according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 5 The diagram shows a cross-sectional structure of two adjacent battery cells 20 and the intermediate main body 31 in the battery 100. The battery 100 includes a pressure regulating device 30 and a plurality of battery cells 20 arranged in an array. The pressure regulating device 30 includes a main body 31 and a regulating valve 32. A venting pipe 311 is formed within the main body 31, and the regulating valve 32 is disposed in the venting pipe 311 to regulate the pressure within the venting pipe 311, thereby adjusting the gap between adjacent battery cells 20.

[0060] The main body 31 can be as follows Figure 5 The pipe structure shown can also be an inflatable cushion structure, with a ventilated pipe 311 forming inside the main body 31 for airflow in and out. When the sides are not restricted by the battery cells 20, after the main body 31 is inflated and fully expanded, the cross-section of the internal ventilated pipe 311 can be circular, elliptical, polygonal, or irregular arc-shaped. The specific design can be tailored to the shape of the surface of the battery cells 20 being contacted and the required range of gap size, and is not limited here. To prevent the main body 31 from falling out of the gap between the battery cells 20 when the internal pressure decreases, the sides of the main body 31 can be glued to the battery cells 20.

[0061] The regulating valve 32 can be a manual valve or an automatic valve, and it can be a one-way valve or a two-way valve. When the regulating valve 32 is a one-way valve, it can be installed at both ends of the vent pipe 311, one for controlling the air intake and the other for controlling the air exhaust. When the regulating valve 32 is a two-way valve, the main body 31 at one end of the vent pipe 311 can be closed, and the regulating valve 32 can control both the air intake and exhaust simultaneously.

[0062] Main body 31 can be as follows Figure 4 The double-layer reciprocating winding shown is possible, but only one layer is required. To ensure a uniform force distribution of the pressure regulating device 30 on the battery cell 20, the main body 31 is preferably symmetrically distributed along the center line of the battery cell 20, regardless of whether it is single-layer or multi-layer winding.

[0063] like Figure 4As shown, the main body 31 has an air inlet 312 and an air outlet 313 communicating with the vent pipe 311. It is understood that in other embodiments, the air inlet 312 and the air outlet 313 may be the same outlet. A regulating valve 32 is provided at the air inlet 312 and the air outlet 313, and by controlling the inflow or outflow of gas in the vent pipe 311, the magnitude of the force exerted by the main body 31 on the battery cell 20 is adjusted. Specifically, as... Figure 5 As shown, when the control gas flows into the ventilation pipe 311 and increases the internal pressure, the force exerted by the main body 31 on the battery cells 20 on both sides increases, the expansion structure of the battery cells 20 contracts, and the gap between adjacent battery cells 20 increases; when the control gas flows out of the ventilation pipe 311 and decreases the internal pressure, the force exerted by the main body 31 on the battery cells 20 on both sides decreases, the battery cells 20 expand and bulge, and the gap between adjacent battery cells 20 decreases.

[0064] The electrode assembly 23 in the battery cell 20 is formed by stacking or winding electrode sheets and wrapping them with a separator on the outside. During charging and discharging, the graphite on the electrode sheets will undergo irreversible expansion. If the electrode sheets are in a free expansion state, the electrode sheets will wrinkle due to the constraint of the separator. Lithium plating will occur at the wrinkled part of the electrode sheets, affecting the service life of the battery 100.

[0065] In the initial state after assembly, the pressure of the vent pipe 311 inside the main body 31 of the battery 100 is adjusted to a suitable size to provide appropriate pre-tightening force for the battery cells 20, thereby preventing wrinkling of the electrode sheets. As the battery 100 is used for a longer period of time, the battery cells 20 expand and exert some pressure on the main body 31. To prevent excessive stress between the battery cells 20 and the main body 31 from causing damage to the overall structure of the battery 100 due to the increased expansion of the battery cells 20, the pressure of the vent pipe 311 inside the main body 31 can be appropriately reduced. This allows for some release of the expansion of the battery cells 20, thereby adjusting the gap between adjacent battery cells 20. This not only helps to ensure the stability of the overall structure of the battery 100 but also still ensures the expansion limitation effect on the battery cells 20.

[0066] A pressure regulating device 30 is provided between the battery cells 20. By adjusting the pressure of the vent pipe 311 in the main body 31 of the pressure regulating device 30, the main body 31 provides a pre-tightening force to the battery cells 20, that is, provides a certain binding force to the electrode, suppresses the free expansion of the battery cells 20, avoids the electrode from wrinkling, thereby improving the cycle performance of the battery cells 20 and extending the service life of the battery cells 20.

[0067] Please refer to it again. Figure 4According to some embodiments of this application, the regulating valve 32 includes a pressure boosting valve 321, which is used to connect to a gas source device so that when the pressure boosting valve 321 is actuated, it pressurizes the air passage 311.

[0068] A gas source device refers to a device that is connected to the ventilation pipe 311 and supplies gas into the ventilation pipe 311, such as a fan, compressor, vacuum pump, etc. Gas source devices are generally installed on electrical devices using the battery 100, and the gas supply port of the gas source device is connected to the ventilation pipe 311.

[0069] The booster valve 321 can be connected to the gas source equipment. It can be connected to the gas delivery port of the gas source equipment to control the opening or closing of the gas delivery port, or it can be connected to the air inlet 312 of the main body 31. By controlling the opening or closing of the air inlet 312, the opening or closing of the gas delivery port of the gas source equipment to the gas pipeline 311 can be indirectly controlled.

[0070] By setting up a pressure boosting valve 321, the pressure boosting valve 321 is used to connect with a gas source device to pressurize the air passage 311 inside the main body 31, thereby increasing the binding force of the main body 31 on the battery cells 20 and reducing the gap between the battery cells 20.

[0071] According to some embodiments of this application, an inert gas flows through the venting conduit 311.

[0072] Specifically, the pressure booster valve 321 can be connected to a gas source device that provides inert gas, thereby introducing inert gas into the ventilation line 311.

[0073] By setting the gas flowing in the vent pipe 311 to an inert gas, when the battery 100 experiences high-temperature thermal runaway, if the main body 31 melts at high temperature and releases the inert gas, the contact between flammable materials and oxygen can be reduced, thus preventing combustion or controlling the fire if combustion has already occurred, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0074] Please refer to it again. Figure 4 According to some embodiments of this application, a weak layer 314 is provided on the main body 31 at a position corresponding to the ventilation pipe 311, and the weak layer 314 is used to allow inert gas to flow out when it breaks.

[0075] The release of internal inert gas can be achieved by selecting a material for the weak layer 314 that maintains a good shape within the normal operating temperature range of the battery 100 and softens, melts, and breaks when the battery 100 exceeds the normal temperature and experiences thermal runaway.

[0076] Specifically, for batteries 100 with an operating temperature below 50°C, the weak layer 314 can be made of polyethylene. At 50°C and below, the polyethylene material maintains its normal shape. When the temperature inside the battery 100 exceeds 50°C and thermal runaway occurs, the polyethylene material melts and ruptures, releasing the inert gas in the vent pipe 311 to prevent combustion or control the fire if it has already started. Similarly, for batteries 100 with an operating temperature below 130°C, the weak layer 314 can be made of natural rubber; for batteries 100 with an operating temperature below 220°C, the weak layer 314 can be made of polystyrene.

[0077] It should be understood that the above selection of the material of the weak layer 314 is only a list of some preferred options and is not intended to limit the material of the weak layer 314. In other implementations, the material of the weak layer 314 can be selected according to the actual operating temperature range of the battery 100 in order to achieve the purpose of controlling the battery 100 when thermal runaway occurs.

[0078] Understandably, weak layer 314 can be like... Figure 4 The shown arrangement is on the main body 31, positioned between two adjacent battery cells 20, so that inert gas can quickly reach the battery cell 20 when the weak layer 314 ruptures. Of course, the weak layer 314 can also be arranged at other locations on the main body 31, and is not limited here.

[0079] exist Figure 4 In the text, the diagonal filled area is only used to indicate the location of the weak layer 314 and does not represent the specific shape and structure of the main body 31. In the specific structure of the main body 31, the weak layer 314 can be set to have a different shape, color or structure from other parts of the main body 31, or the weak layer 314 can be set to have no difference from other parts of the main body 31 except for the material.

[0080] In some other embodiments of this application, the main body 31 may be configured as an integral weak layer 314, so that the inert gas can be fully and quickly released when the battery 100 experiences thermal runaway.

[0081] By providing a weak layer 314 on the main body 31 at a position corresponding to the venting pipe 311, when the battery 100 exceeds the normal operating temperature and thermal runaway occurs, the weak layer 314 melts and ruptures, releasing the inert gas in the venting pipe 311, thus preventing combustion or controlling the fire that has already started to burn, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0082] Please continue reading. Figure 4According to some embodiments of this application, the regulating valve 32 includes a pressure relief valve 322, which is configured to reduce the pressure of the vent line 311 when actuated.

[0083] Specifically, the pressure relief valve 322 is located at the air outlet 313 of the main body 31 to control the opening or closing of the air outlet 313.

[0084] By setting a pressure relief valve 322, the gas in the vent pipe 311 is controlled to reduce the binding force of the main body 31 on the battery cell 20, so that the expansion of the battery cell 20 can be released to a certain extent, thereby reducing the gap between adjacent battery cells 20. This can prevent the electrode from wrinkling and ensure the stability of the overall structure of the battery 100.

[0085] Please continue reading. Figure 4 and further combine Figure 6 , Figure 6 The diagram illustrates a structure in which a conduit 33 is connected to the sidewall of a battery cell 20 in a battery 100 according to an embodiment of this application. According to some embodiments of this application, the main body 31 includes a conduit 33 disposed between a plurality of adjacent battery cells 20.

[0086] Setting the main body 31 as a pipe 33 can optimize the structural layout between battery cells 20, allowing the space between adjacent battery cells 20, excluding the pipe 33, to conduct heat through air or by setting water cooling pipes, facilitating the rapid removal of heat between battery cells 20 and providing good temperature conditions for battery 100.

[0087] Please continue reading. Figure 4 and Figure 6 According to some embodiments of this application, the pipe 33 is wound around the side wall of the battery cell 20. The side wall of the battery cell 20 includes an adjacent first side wall 24 and a second side wall 25. The area of ​​the first side wall 24 is larger than the area of ​​the second side wall 25. The laying area 331 of the pipe 33 on the first side wall 24 is symmetrically distributed.

[0088] Figure 6 The cross-sectional area shown represents the laying area 331 of the pipe 33 on the first side wall 24. The cross-sectional line is only a graphic shown to illustrate the laying area 331 and does not represent the cross-sectional structure. Moreover, the cross-sectional line graphic does not exist in the actual structure of the pipe 33.

[0089] like Figure 4 As shown, the pipe 33 can be two layers that are horizontally and reciprocatingly wound around the side wall of the battery cell 20 in a serpentine manner. On the first side wall 24, the laying areas 331 of the two layers of pipe 33 are symmetrically distributed.

[0090] It is understood that the pipe 33 can also be arranged in a single layer or multiple layers, horizontally or vertically around the side wall of the battery cell 20, and the laying area 331 of the pipe 33 on the first side wall 24 of the battery cell 20 is itself mirror symmetrical.

[0091] For a cuboid-shaped battery cell 20, it has an adjacent first sidewall 24 and a second sidewall 25. The area of ​​the first sidewall 24 is larger, so when the battery cell 20 expands and bulges outward, the first sidewall 24 bulges outward to the greatest extent. By symmetrically distributing the area 331 on the first sidewall 24 where the pipe 33 is laid, it can be ensured that the force distribution of the pipe 33 on the first sidewall 24 is uniform, thereby ensuring the stability of the overall structure of the battery 100.

[0092] Please continue reading. Figure 6 According to some embodiments of this application, the laying area 331 of the pipe 33 on the first side wall 24 includes multiple parts, and the multiple laying areas 331 are respectively located on both sides of the center line 241 of the first side wall 24.

[0093] Figure 6 The centerline 241 in the text is only used to indicate the location of the centerline of the first sidewall 24, and the centerline 241 structure does not exist in the actual structure.

[0094] When the battery cell 20 expands and bulges outward, the central region of the first sidewall 24 bulges outward to the greatest extent. By dividing the laying area 331 of the pipe 33 on the first sidewall 24 into multiple parts, and the multiple laying areas 331 are located on both sides of the center line 241 of the first sidewall 24, the force distribution of the pipe 33 on the first sidewall 24 is evenly distributed, while the central region of the first sidewall 24 is left empty. This is to avoid the excessive interaction force between the central region of the first sidewall 24 and the pipe 33 after expansion, which would affect the structural stability of the battery 100, and to ensure that the central region of the first sidewall 24 has a larger expansion space.

[0095] Please see Figure 7 The figure shows the structure of a battery 100 provided in another embodiment of this application. According to some embodiments of this application, the main body 31 includes a plurality of air cushions 34 disposed between adjacent battery cells.

[0096] like Figure 7 As shown, an air duct 311 is formed inside the air cushion 34. By pressurizing or depressurizing the air duct 311, the binding force on the battery cell 20 and the gap between adjacent battery cells 20 can be adjusted.

[0097] Please refer to it again. Figure 4 According to some embodiments of this application, a pressure sensor 35 is provided in the ventilation duct 311.

[0098] like Figure 4 As shown, when the main body 31 is wrapped with two layers and the air inlet 312 and air outlet 313 are respectively located at both ends, pressure sensors 35 can be installed at the air inlet 312 and the air outlet 313 respectively. When the pressure values ​​detected by the two pressure sensors 35 are the same, it can be ensured that the gas distribution inside the ventilation pipe 311 is uniform and the pressure is equal at all points inside, thereby ensuring that the pre-tightening force of the main body 31 on each battery cell 20 is equal and ensuring the stability of the overall structure of the battery 100.

[0099] When the air inlet 312 and air outlet 313 of the main body 31 are one port, the pressure sensor 35 can be installed only at that port, or the pressure sensor 35 can be installed at both that port and the end of the main body 31.

[0100] By installing a pressure sensor 35 in the venting pipe 311 to detect the pressure in the venting pipe 311, the pressure in the venting pipe 311 can be adjusted. This ensures that the battery cell 20 is provided with a suitable preload and that the expansion of the battery cell 20 can be released to a certain extent.

[0101] It is understood that in some embodiments, the regulating valve 32 and the pressure sensor 35 can be integrated automatic valves with pressure sensors. By setting the opening and closing pressure values ​​of the integrated automatic valve with pressure sensors, when the battery cell 20 expands and the pressure in the venting pipe 311 increases to the opening threshold, the integrated automatic valve with pressure sensors will automatically open to release the gas in the venting pipe 311. When the pressure in the venting pipe 311 decreases to the closing threshold, the integrated automatic valve with pressure sensors will automatically close, thereby ensuring that a suitable preload force can still be provided to the battery cell 20.

[0102] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, an electrical device is also provided, including a battery 100 as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0103] Electrical devices can include, but are not limited to, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, electric toys, power tools, electric vehicles, electric cars, ships, spacecraft, etc. Among them, electric toys can include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc. Spacecraft can include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc.

[0104] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of the present invention. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the embodiments can be combined in any way. The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A battery, characterized by, The application relates to a battery comprising: a plurality of arranged battery cells; a pressure regulating device comprising a main body and a regulating valve, the main body is in a serpentine shape and horizontally reciprocally arranged between two adjacent battery cells, the main body is arranged on the side wall of the battery cell, the main body is in two layers and the two layers are respectively located on the two sides of the center line of the side wall, an air passage is formed in the main body, inert gas flows in the air passage, the regulating valve is arranged in the air passage and is used for regulating the pressure in the air passage so as to regulate the gap between the adjacent battery cells; a weak layer is arranged on the main body and corresponds to the air passage, and the weak layer is used for flowing out of the inert gas when the weak layer is broken; wherein a water cooling pipe is further arranged between the two adjacent battery cells.

2. The battery of claim 1, wherein, The regulating valve comprises a pressure increasing valve which is connected with a gas source device so that the pressure increasing valve is actuated to pressurize the air passage.

3. The battery according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The regulating valve comprises a pressure relief valve which is configured to be actuated to depressurize the air passage.

4. The battery of claim 3, wherein, The main body comprises a pipe which is arranged between a plurality of adjacent battery cells.

5. The battery of claim 4, wherein, The pipe is arranged on the side wall of the battery cell, the side wall of the battery cell comprises adjacent first and second side walls, the area of the first side wall is larger than that of the second side wall, and the laying area of the pipe on the first side wall is symmetrically distributed.

6. The battery of claim 5, wherein, The laying area of the pipe on the first side wall comprises multiple parts, and the multiple laying areas are respectively located on the two sides of the center line of the first side wall.

7. The battery according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by A pressure sensor is arranged in the air passage.

8. An electrical device, characterized by The application further relates to a battery comprising any one of the battery cells in claims 1-7.

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