Battery pack, energy storage device and electric equipment

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a battery pack, an energy storage device and an electric device, and relates to the technical field of batteries. The battery pack comprises a lower box body; a battery module arranged in the lower box body, the battery module comprising a plurality of battery monomers; an upper cover covering the opening of the lower box body, the upper cover comprising oppositely arranged upper and lower cover plates, the upper and lower cover plates cooperating to form a liquid storage cavity, and an exhaust hole being arranged on the upper cover plate corresponding to the liquid storage cavity; a flow guide structure arranged on the lower cover plate corresponding to the explosion-proof valve of the battery monomer, the flow guide structure being provided with a flow guide channel, one end of the flow guide structure being in contact with the battery monomer, and the other end of the flow guide structure penetrating through the lower cover plate, so that the flow guide channel is in communication with the liquid storage cavity; a gas-liquid separation structure being arranged opposite to the flow guide structure and located between the lower cover plate and the upper cover plate, so as to separate the substances sprayed when the explosion-proof valve of the battery monomer is opened. The present disclosure can timely discharge the gas in the upper cover, thereby improving the safety of the battery pack.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a battery pack, energy storage device and electrical equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, battery packs include a closed upper cover and a lower housing. The upper cover has a drainage channel through which high-temperature ejected material from a thermally runaway battery is discharged. However, drainage ports are located at both ends of the drainage channel. When a cell located in the middle experiences thermal runaway, the gas carried by the high-temperature ejected material cannot be discharged in time, which can easily accumulate and cause a secondary explosion, posing a safety hazard.

[0003] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section above is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of this disclosure, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure provides a battery pack, energy storage device, and electrical equipment, which at least to some extent overcomes the problem in the related art that the gas carried by the high-temperature ejected material from the battery pack during thermal runaway is prone to accumulate and secondary explosion, posing a safety hazard.

[0005] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, or may be learned in part from practice of this disclosure.

[0006] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a battery pack is provided, comprising:

[0007] lower box;

[0008] A battery module is disposed in the lower housing, and the battery module includes multiple battery cells;

[0009] The upper cover is fitted onto the opening of the lower box. The upper cover includes an upper cover plate and a lower cover plate that are arranged opposite to each other. The upper cover plate and the lower cover plate cooperate to form a liquid storage cavity. An exhaust hole is provided on the upper cover plate corresponding to the liquid storage cavity.

[0010] A flow guiding structure is provided on the lower cover plate corresponding to the cell explosion-proof valve of the battery cell. The flow guiding structure is provided with a flow guiding channel. One end of the flow guiding structure is in contact with the battery cell, and the other end of the flow guiding channel passes through the lower cover plate so that the flow guiding channel is connected to the liquid storage chamber.

[0011] A gas-liquid separation structure is disposed opposite to the flow guiding structure and located between the lower cover plate and the upper cover plate to separate the gas and liquid substances ejected when the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell is opened.

[0012] In this embodiment, the upper and lower cover plates of the battery pack cooperate to form a liquid storage chamber. A flow guiding structure is provided on the lower cover plate opposite to the cell explosion-proof valve of the individual battery cell. The flow guiding channel of the flow guiding structure passes through the lower cover plate and communicates with the liquid storage chamber. On the one hand, by providing the flow guiding structure, the material ejected when the explosion-proof valve of the individual battery cell is opened can be quickly discharged into the liquid storage chamber through the flow guiding channel, which can guide the ejected material and prevent the ejected material from flowing disorderly in the battery pack, reducing the risk of thermal runaway cells. On the other hand, an exhaust hole is provided on the upper cover plate corresponding to the liquid storage chamber, and a gas-liquid separation structure is provided between the lower cover plate corresponding to the flow guiding channel and the upper cover plate. The gas-liquid separation structure can separate the high-temperature ejected material when the explosion-proof valve of the individual battery cell is opened. The separated gas is discharged to the outside of the upper cover through the exhaust hole, and the separated liquid is discharged into the liquid storage chamber, which can promptly discharge the gas accumulated in the liquid storage chamber, avoid secondary explosion, and improve the safety of the battery pack.

[0013] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the gas-liquid separation structure includes a buffer element disposed on the upper cover plate;

[0014] The vent is located on the upper cover plate outside the buffer.

[0015] In this embodiment, by providing a buffer on the bottom surface of the upper cover corresponding to the flow channel, the liquid separated by the buffer flows into the liquid storage chamber, and the separated gas is discharged to the outside of the upper cover through the exhaust port. This relieves the instantaneous pressure generated when the high-temperature ejected material is ejected, prevents the high-temperature ejected material from splashing and affecting other normal batteries, prevents the liquid separated by the buffer from being discharged from the exhaust port, avoids the accumulation of gas in the liquid storage chamber, and improves the safety of the battery pack.

[0016] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the buffer includes a resilient buffer block.

[0017] In this embodiment of the disclosure, by setting an elastic buffer block on the bottom surface of the top cover, when the high-temperature ejected material comes into contact with the elastic buffer block under instantaneous pressure, the elastic buffer block can generate elastic deformation, thereby relieving the instantaneous pressure generated when the high-temperature ejected material is ejected, avoiding mutual interference among multiple battery cells, and effectively preventing liquid from being discharged from the exhaust port.

[0018] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a partition is provided between the liquid storage chambers corresponding to adjacent flow guiding structures, and the partition divides the liquid storage chamber into multiple sub-liquid storage chambers;

[0019] The vent is located on the upper cover plate between the buffer and the partition.

[0020] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, by setting a partition, the liquid storage chamber is divided into multiple sub-liquid storage chambers, so that each battery cell corresponds to a sub-liquid storage chamber. The substances discharged from the guide channel can be discharged into the corresponding sub-liquid storage chamber, effectively preventing high-temperature ejected materials from affecting the use of other normal batteries. At the same time, as the volume of the sub-liquid storage chamber decreases, the gas carried by the high-temperature ejected materials can be discharged quickly, thereby improving the safety of the battery pack.

[0021] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the area of ​​the buffer is larger than the area of ​​the outlet of the flow channel.

[0022] In this embodiment of the disclosure, by providing a buffer with an area larger than the outlet of the flow channel, electrolyte splashing is prevented as much as possible, and ejected material is prevented from entering the exhaust port.

[0023] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the gas-liquid separation structure includes:

[0024] A reflective panel is disposed opposite to the flow guiding structure and is located in the liquid storage cavity between the lower cover plate and the upper cover plate;

[0025] A fastener, one end of which is connected to the reflective panel, and the other end of which is connected to the upper cover plate or the lower cover plate;

[0026] The vent is located on the upper cover plate opposite to the reflective panel.

[0027] In this embodiment, on the one hand, by setting a reflective panel between the liquid outlet of the guide channel and the upper cover plate, the spray direction of the high-temperature ejected material can be adjusted so that the exhaust hole is outside the spray range of the high-temperature ejected material, and the high-temperature ejected material cannot be discharged outside the upper cover through the exhaust hole; on the other hand, an exhaust hole is set on the upper cover plate opposite to the reflective panel, and the reflective panel blocks the exhaust hole, further preventing the high-temperature ejected material from being discharged outside the upper cover through the exhaust hole, thereby improving the safety of the battery pack.

[0028] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the reflective panel includes a flat panel or a curved panel;

[0029] When the reflective panel is a curved panel, the opening of the curved panel faces the bottom surface of the liquid storage cavity. The curved panel includes a conical curved panel, a frustum-shaped curved panel, or a frustum-shaped curved panel.

[0030] In this embodiment, by setting a flat panel or a curved panel, the spray direction of the high-temperature ejected material can be effectively adjusted, resulting in better gas-liquid separation, a simple structure, and strong practicality.

[0031] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the fastener includes a mounting side plate, the mounting side plate being provided with a ventilation structure.

[0032] In this embodiment, on the one hand, by installing a side plate to connect the reflective panel to the upper or lower cover plate, the instantaneous pressure generated when the high-temperature ejected material comes into contact can be resisted, thereby improving the reliability of the gas-liquid separation structure; on the other hand, by setting a ventilation structure on the side plate, gas-liquid separation is further achieved. When the gas comes into contact with the gas-liquid separation structure and the liquid formed after cooling can flow back to the storage chamber through the exhaust structure, thereby improving the collection efficiency of the ejected material.

[0033] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the ventilation structure includes a plurality of ventilation holes; and / or a plurality of ventilation slits, wherein the plurality of ventilation slits are arranged parallel to or perpendicular to the axis of the flow guide channel.

[0034] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, multiple vent holes and / or multiple vent slits are provided on the mounting side plate. The vent slits can be arranged in different directions, which can promptly discharge the separated gas to the outside of the top cover through the vent holes and / or vent slits and exhaust holes, thereby avoiding gas accumulation and secondary explosion and improving the safety of the battery pack.

[0035] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the mounting side panel is integrally formed with the reflective panel.

[0036] In this embodiment, the mounting side plate and the reflective panel are integrally formed, which can improve the strength of the gas-liquid separation structure, reduce the number of parts, and facilitate installation.

[0037] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the fixing member includes at least one fixing post. When the fixing member includes multiple fixing posts, the multiple fixing posts are evenly distributed on the same cylindrical surface, and the axis of the cylindrical surface is perpendicular to the reflective panel and passes through the center of the reflective panel.

[0038] In this embodiment, the reflective panel is connected to the upper or lower cover plate by at least one fixing post. When there are multiple fixing posts, the multiple fixing posts are evenly distributed on the same cylindrical surface, and the axis of the cylindrical surface is perpendicular to the reflective panel and passes through the center of the reflective panel. This structure is simple, the fixing method is easier to implement, gas will not accumulate between the reflective panel and the upper cover plate, and the force is more uniform.

[0039] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the at least one fixed post is provided with a first limiting member and a second limiting member, the reflective panel is provided with a mounting hole that cooperates with the fixed post, and the reflective panel is disposed between the first limiting member and the second limiting member, so that the reflective panel can move along the fixed post between the first limiting member and the second limiting member.

[0040] In this embodiment of the invention, by providing a first limiting member and a second limiting member, the reflective panel can move up and down along the fixed column. When the high-temperature ejected material from the thermal runaway battery cell comes into contact with the reflective panel, the reflective panel moves along the fixed column, which can play a buffering role, prevent the high-temperature ejected material from being splashed again, and avoid affecting the use of other normal battery cells, and effectively prevent the high-temperature ejected material from entering the exhaust hole.

[0041] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first limiting member includes an elastic member sleeved on the fixed post, the elastic member being disposed in the middle of the fixed post.

[0042] In this embodiment, by providing an elastic element in the middle of the fixed column, the buffering effect is improved and the pressure is reduced as much as possible; on the other hand, the movement distance of the reflective panel can be controlled by the first limiting element, leaving enough space for the vent hole to communicate with the liquid storage chamber, and preventing the reflective panel from closing the vent hole under the action of instantaneous pressure.

[0043] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the second limiting member includes a limiting block disposed at the end of the fixed column.

[0044] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, a limiting block is provided at the end of the fixed column as a second limiting member to limit the reflective panel and prevent the reflective panel from detaching from the fixed column.

[0045] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the flow channel is inclined, and the angle between the axis of the flow channel and the plane containing the bottom surface of the liquid storage cavity is between 80° and 90°.

[0046] In this embodiment, by setting the flow channel to be inclined, on the one hand, it provides a greater selection space for the setting position of the exhaust port; on the other hand, by reasonably setting the inclination angle between the flow channel and the horizontal plane, it can effectively prevent high-temperature ejected material from dripping into the flow channel under the action of gravity, and can discharge as much high-temperature ejected material as possible into the liquid storage chamber, thereby improving the safety of the battery pack.

[0047] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the lower cover plate is sealed to the upper cover plate, and the lower cover plate is detachably connected to the upper cover plate.

[0048] In this embodiment of the disclosure, by sealing the lower cover plate and the upper cover plate together, high-temperature ejected material is effectively prevented from overflowing from the gap between the upper cover plate and the lower cover plate. The lower cover plate and the upper cover plate are detachably connected, making it easy to replace the lower cover plate.

[0049] According to another aspect of this disclosure, an energy storage device is also provided, including the aforementioned battery pack. In embodiments of this disclosure, the use of the aforementioned battery pack further enhances the effectiveness of the energy storage device in the event of thermal runaway, thereby improving the safety of the energy storage device.

[0050] According to another aspect of this disclosure, an electrical appliance is also provided, including the aforementioned energy storage device. In embodiments of this disclosure, the use of the aforementioned energy storage device can improve the safety of the electrical appliance and reduce safety hazards.

[0051] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0052] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure. It is obvious that the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this disclosure, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any inventive effort.

[0053] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the internal structure of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] Figure 2 A perspective view of a lower cover plate provided in an embodiment of this disclosure is shown.

[0055] Figure 3 A perspective view of another lower cover plate provided in an embodiment of this disclosure is shown.

[0056] Figure 4 This diagram illustrates an axial side structure of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0057] Figure 5 This is a front view of a battery pack provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0058] Figure 6 Show Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the battery pack along plane AA.

[0059] Figure 7 Show Figure 6 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.

[0060] Figure 8 This is a top view of a battery pack provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0061] Figure 9 Show Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the battery pack along the BB plane.

[0062] Figure 10 Show Figure 6 An enlarged view of another embodiment at point A.

[0063] Figure 11 A perspective view of a gas-liquid separation structure provided in an embodiment of this disclosure is shown.

[0064] Figure 12 A perspective view of another gas-liquid separation structure provided in an embodiment of this disclosure is shown.

[0065] Figure 13 A perspective view of another gas-liquid separation structure provided in an embodiment of this disclosure is shown.

[0066] The reference numerals in the attached figures are explained as follows:

[0067] 110. Lower casing; 210. Battery module; 310. Top cover; 410. Gas-liquid separation structure;

[0068] 311. Upper cover plate; 3111. Vent hole; 312. Lower cover plate; 3121. Flow guiding structure; 3122. Flow guiding channel; 3123. Partition plate; 313. Liquid storage chamber;

[0069] 411. Reflective panel; 412. Fixture; 4121. Mounting side panel; 4122. Ventilation structure; 4123. Fixing post. Detailed Implementation

[0070] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0071] The terms "first" and "second" used in this document are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly stated.

[0072] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0073] The following disclosure provides many different implementations or examples for carrying out different structures of this application. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. Of course, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or reference letters may be repeated in different examples; such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various implementations and / or arrangements discussed.

[0074] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the structure of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 This diagram illustrates an axial side structure of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the battery pack in this embodiment includes a lower housing 110, a battery module 210, and a top cover 310. The battery module 210 is disposed within the lower housing 110, and the top cover 310 closes to the opening of the lower housing 110. The lower housing 110 is an upward-facing housing with space to accommodate the battery module 210. The battery module 210 includes multiple battery cells, the electrodes of which are connected in series to supply power to electrical devices. The top cover 310 closes to the opening of the lower housing 110 and can be fixed by bolts, welding, or other methods.

[0075] Continue to refer to Figure 1 In one embodiment, the upper cover 310 includes an upper cover plate 311 and a lower cover plate 312 disposed opposite to each other. The upper cover plate 311 and the lower cover plate 312 cooperate to form a liquid storage cavity 313. An exhaust hole 3111 is provided on the upper cover plate 311 opposite to the liquid storage cavity 313.

[0076] The battery pack also includes a flow guiding structure 3121 and a gas-liquid separation structure 410. The flow guiding structure 3121 is disposed on the lower cover plate 312 corresponding to the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell. The flow guiding structure 3121 has a flow guiding channel 3122. One end of the flow guiding structure 3121 contacts the battery cell, and the other end of the flow guiding structure 3121 passes through the lower cover plate 312 so that the flow guiding channel 3122 communicates with the liquid storage chamber 313. The gas-liquid separation structure 410 is disposed opposite to the flow guiding structure 3122 and is located between the lower cover plate 312 and the upper cover plate 311 to separate the substances sprayed out when the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell is opened.

[0077] It should be noted that the flow guiding structure 3121 can be a flow guiding pipe or other components (such as protrusions) with flow guiding channels 3122. This disclosure does not make any specific limitations.

[0078] The lower cover plate 312 is sealed to the upper cover plate 311, and the lower cover plate 312 is detachably connected to the upper cover plate 311. By sealing the lower cover plate 312 to the upper cover plate 311, high-temperature ejected material is effectively prevented from overflowing from the gap between the upper cover plate 311 and the lower cover plate 312. The detachable connection between the lower cover plate 312 and the upper cover plate 311 facilitates the replacement of the lower cover plate 312.

[0079] For example, the lower cover plate 312 and the upper cover plate 311 are connected by bolts or snap-fit. A sealing ring or other sealing element is provided between the lower cover plate 312 and the upper cover plate 311 to achieve a sealed connection between the lower cover plate 312 and the upper cover plate 311.

[0080] Figure 2 This image shows a perspective view of a lower cover plate 312 provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 As shown, the lower cover plate 312 is an elongated groove with one open end. The open end of the lower cover plate 312 is located along its length. After the lower cover plate 312 is connected to the upper cover plate 311, it forms a liquid storage cavity 313. Multiple flow guiding structures 3121 are provided on the lower cover plate 312 away from the upper cover plate 311.

[0081] In another embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, a partition 3123 is provided in the liquid storage chamber 313 corresponding to the adjacent flow guiding structure 3121, and the partition 3123 divides the liquid storage chamber 313 into multiple sub-liquid storage chambers.

[0082] A seal can be provided at the inlet of the flow guiding structure 3121. The seal can be a sealing sleeve or the like, to ensure that the flow guiding structure 3121 is in sealed contact with the battery cell and to prevent the high-temperature ejected material in the flow guiding channel 3121 from leaking through the gap between the flow guiding structure 3121 and the battery cell.

[0083] The inner diameter of the flow channel 3121 that contacts the battery cell is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the explosion-proof valve, thereby ensuring that all substances ejected from the explosion-proof valve can enter the flow channel 3121 to ensure the reliability of the system.

[0084] The other end of the aforementioned flow guiding structure 3121 penetrates the lower cover plate 312 (i.e., penetrates the bottom surface of the liquid storage cavity 313). The outlet of the flow guiding structure 3121 can be a through hole located on the bottom surface of the liquid storage cavity 313; the outlet of the flow guiding structure 3121 can also be inside the liquid storage cavity 313, and the outlet of the flow guiding channel 3122 can be higher than the bottom surface of the liquid storage cavity 313. That is, the flow guiding structure 3121 can be provided only on the bottom surface of the lower cover plate 312, and the flow guiding channel 3122 can also include two sections, with the two sections of the flow guiding channel 3122 located on the inner and outer sides of the lower cover plate 312, respectively.

[0085] In one embodiment, multiple battery cells are divided into multiple groups, with each group of battery cells corresponding to one lower cover plate 312. By grouping the battery cells and assigning one lower cover plate 312 to each group, the number of parts is reduced, facilitating part management and assembly / disassembly. It should be noted that the number of battery cells in each group and the number of groups depend on the specific circumstances. Figure 1 The lower housing 110 contains 16 battery cells, which are divided into two groups. The two groups of battery cells correspond to two lower cover plates 312, meaning that the upper cover 310 includes two lower cover plates 312.

[0086] The explosion-proof valves of multiple battery cells in the same group are arranged in a row. Multiple flow guiding structures 3121 are formed on the lower cover plate 312. The flow guiding channel 3122 of each flow guiding structure 3121 is connected to the corresponding explosion-proof valve. An exhaust hole 3111 is provided on the upper cover plate 311. The exhaust hole 3111 is located outside the spray range of the high-temperature ejected material. A gas-liquid separation structure 410 is provided in the liquid storage cavity 313 between the lower cover plate 312 and the upper cover plate 311, opposite to the flow guiding structure 3121. The gas-liquid separation structure 410 achieves gas-liquid separation on the one hand, and prevents the high-temperature ejected material from being discharged outside the upper cover 310 through the exhaust hole 3111 on the other hand.

[0087] Figure 5 This diagram shows a front view of a battery pack provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 6 Show Figure 5 Cross-sectional view of the battery pack along plane AA. Figure 7 Show Figure 6 A magnified view of point A in the middle. (See image below.) Figures 5-7 As shown, each group of battery cells includes a total of 8 battery cells. The lower cover plate 312 corresponding to the explosion-proof valve of each battery cell is provided with 8 flow guiding structures 3121, and the upper cover plate 311 is provided with 8 vent holes 3111 and 8 gas-liquid separation structures 410.

[0088] The area of ​​the gas-liquid separation structure 410 is larger than the area of ​​the outlet of the flow channel 3122. The gas-liquid separation structure 410 can separate the high-temperature ejected material from the thermal runaway battery cell into gas and liquid. The separated liquid is discharged to the liquid storage chamber 313, and the separated gas is discharged to the outside of the top cover 310 through the exhaust port 3111.

[0089] It should be noted that the relative position of the vent 3111 and the gas-liquid separation structure 410 varies depending on the specific structure of the gas-liquid separation structure 410. For example, the vent 3111 can be located on the upper cover plate 311 between the outer periphery of the gas-liquid separation structure 410 and the inner wall of the liquid storage chamber 313. Alternatively, the vent 3111 can be located on the upper cover plate 311 corresponding to the gas-liquid separation structure 410, depending on the actual situation.

[0090] When a battery cell experiences thermal runaway, the substances (electrolyte and gas) ejected when the explosion-proof valve opens enter the guide channel 3122, and after being guided, they enter the liquid storage chamber 313 and come into contact with the gas-liquid separation structure 410. The gas-liquid separation is performed by the gas-liquid separation structure 410, and the separated liquid gathers in the liquid storage chamber 313. The separated gas is discharged to the outside of the top cover 310 through the exhaust port 3111.

[0091] In this embodiment, the upper cover plate 311 and the lower cover plate 312 of the battery pack cooperate to form a liquid storage chamber 313. A flow guiding structure 3121 is provided on the lower cover plate 312 opposite to the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell. The flow guiding channel 3122 of the flow guiding structure 3121 penetrates the lower cover plate 312 and communicates with the liquid storage chamber 313. On the one hand, by providing the flow guiding structure 3121, the material ejected when the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell is opened can be quickly discharged into the liquid storage chamber 313 through the flow guiding channel 3121. This can guide the high-temperature ejected material, prevent the ejected material from flowing disorderly in the battery pack, and reduce the risk of explosion. The risks associated with thermal runaway cells; on the other hand, an exhaust port 3111 is provided on the upper cover plate 311 corresponding to the liquid storage chamber 313, and a gas-liquid separation structure 410 is provided in the liquid storage chamber 313 between the lower cover plate 312 corresponding to the flow channel 3122 and the upper cover plate 311. The gas-liquid separation structure 410 can separate the ejected material into gas and liquid. The separated gas is discharged to the outside of the upper cover 310 through the exhaust port 3111, and the separated liquid is discharged into the liquid storage chamber 313. The gas accumulated in the liquid storage chamber 313 is discharged in time to avoid secondary explosion and improve the safety of the battery pack.

[0092] Figure 8 This diagram shows a top view of a battery pack provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 9 Show Figure 8 Cross-sectional view of the battery pack along the bottom (BB) side. (Reference) Figure 6 , Figures 7-9 In one embodiment, the gas-liquid separation structure 410 includes a buffer member disposed on the upper cover plate 311; and an exhaust port 3111 disposed on the upper cover plate 311 outside the buffer member.

[0093] The buffer includes an elastic buffer block, which can be made of rubber, sponge, etc. By setting an elastic buffer block such as a rubber block or sponge on the bottom surface of the top cover 310, when the high-temperature ejected material comes into contact with the elastic buffer block under instantaneous pressure, the elastic buffer block can produce elastic deformation, thereby relieving the instantaneous pressure generated when the high-temperature ejected material is ejected and avoiding mutual interference between multiple cells; when the elastic buffer block is a sponge, the sponge can also absorb some of the high-temperature ejected material, effectively preventing liquid from being discharged from the exhaust port.

[0094] Specifically, the buffer can be fixed to the upper cover plate 311 by means of bonding, snap-fitting, etc., such as by glue, slots, etc.

[0095] The shape of the buffer can be circular, elliptical, rectangular, or any other irregular shape. The area of ​​the buffer is larger than the area of ​​the outlet of the flow channel 3121, thereby preventing the splashing of high-temperature ejected material as much as possible and avoiding affecting the use of other normal battery cells. It should be noted that the thickness of the buffer can be determined according to the depth of the liquid storage chamber 313, and this disclosure does not make a specific limitation.

[0096] In this embodiment, by providing a buffer on the bottom surface of the upper cover plate 311 corresponding to the flow channel 3121, the liquid separated by the buffer flows into the liquid storage chamber 313, and the separated gas is discharged to the outside of the upper cover 310 through the exhaust port 3111. This relieves the instantaneous pressure generated when the high-temperature ejected material is ejected, prevents the high-temperature ejected material from splashing and affecting other normal batteries, prevents the liquid separated by the buffer from being discharged from the exhaust port, and prevents the gas from accumulating in the liquid storage chamber 313, thereby improving the safety of the battery pack.

[0097] In one embodiment, a partition 3123 is provided in the liquid storage chamber 313 corresponding to the adjacent flow guiding structure 3121, and the partition 3123 divides the liquid storage chamber 313 into multiple sub-liquid storage chambers.

[0098] Vent 3111 is provided on the upper cover plate 311 between the buffer and the partition plate 3123.

[0099] It should be noted that the number of exhaust holes 3111 corresponding to one flow guiding structure 3121 may include at least one. When there are multiple exhaust holes 3111, the multiple exhaust holes 3111 can be evenly distributed along the outer periphery of the buffer member on the upper cover plate 311 between the buffer member and the partition plate 3123. For example, one flow guiding channel 3121 corresponds to 3 exhaust holes 3111, and the exhaust holes 3111 corresponding to adjacent flow guiding structures 3121 are staggered.

[0100] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, by setting a partition 3123, the liquid storage chamber 313 is divided into multiple sub-liquid storage chambers, so that each battery cell corresponds to a sub-liquid storage chamber. The high-temperature ejected material discharged from the guide channel 3122 can be discharged into the corresponding sub-liquid storage chamber, effectively preventing the high-temperature ejected material from affecting the use of other normal batteries. At the same time, as the volume of the sub-liquid storage chamber decreases, the gas carried by the high-temperature ejected material can be discharged quickly, thereby improving the safety of the battery pack.

[0101] Figure 10 Show Figure 6 An enlarged view of another embodiment at point A. (See diagram below.) Figure 10 As shown, in one embodiment, the gas-liquid separation structure 410 includes:

[0102] The reflective panel 411 is disposed opposite to the flow guiding structure 3121 and is located in the liquid storage cavity 313 between the lower cover plate 312 and the upper cover plate 311.

[0103] The fastener 412 has one end connected to the reflective panel 411 and the other end connected to the upper cover plate 311 or the lower cover plate 312.

[0104] Vent 3111 is provided on the upper cover plate 311 opposite to the reflective panel 411.

[0105] Figures 11-13 A perspective view of the gas-liquid separation structure 410 provided in an embodiment of this disclosure is shown.

[0106] It should be noted that the reflective panel 411 may include a flat panel or a curved panel. By setting a flat panel or a curved panel, the spray direction of the high-temperature ejected material can be effectively adjusted, the gas-liquid separation effect is better, the structure is simple, and the practicality is strong.

[0107] The flat panel can be a horizontal panel that is parallel to the upper cover plate 311 (e.g., Figure 11 or Figure 13 As shown), it can also be an inclined panel with a certain tilt angle between it and the upper cover plate 311. The flat panel can also be a wave-shaped panel with undulations in a plane, etc.

[0108] When the reflective panel 411 is a curved panel, the opening of the curved panel faces the bottom surface of the liquid storage cavity 313. The curved panel includes a conical curved panel (such as...). Figure 12 (as shown), frustum-shaped curved panel, or frustum-shaped curved panel.

[0109] In addition, an adsorption component, such as a sponge or a condenser column, can be installed on the surface of the reflective panel 411 away from the lower cover plate 312 to adsorb and cool the separated gas, so that the condensed ejected material flows back into the liquid storage chamber 313.

[0110] The connection between one end of the fastener 412 and the reflective panel 411 can be a fixed connection, such as integral molding, welding, or bolt connection; the connection can also be a movable connection, such as the reflective panel 411 being sleeved on the fastener 412, and the connection method between the two can be determined according to the actual situation.

[0111] The other end of the fastener 412 can be connected to the upper cover plate 311 or the lower cover plate 312. The connection method can be a fixed connection or a movable connection, depending on the specific situation of the fastener.

[0112] In this embodiment, on the one hand, by providing a reflective panel 411 between the outlet of the flow channel 3122 and the upper cover plate 311, the spray direction of the high-temperature ejected material can be adjusted so that the exhaust hole 3111 is outside the spray range of the high-temperature ejected material, and the high-temperature ejected material cannot be discharged from the upper cover 310 through the exhaust hole 3111; on the other hand, by providing an exhaust hole 3111 on the upper cover plate 311 corresponding to the reflective panel 411, the reflective panel 411 blocks the exhaust hole 3111, further preventing the high-temperature ejected material from being discharged from the upper cover 310 through the exhaust hole 3111, thereby improving the safety of the battery pack.

[0113] In one embodiment, such as Figure 11 As shown, the fastener 412 includes a mounting side plate 4121, and the mounting side plate 4121 is provided with a ventilation structure 4122.

[0114] The mounting side plate 412 can be integrally formed with the reflective panel 411. One end of the mounting side plate 4121 is connected to the reflective panel 411, and the other end of the mounting side plate 4121 is connected to the upper cover plate 311 or the lower cover plate 312. The mounting side plate 4121 and the upper cover plate 311 or the lower cover plate 312 can be connected by snap-fit, threaded connection or other means, which can improve the strength of the gas-liquid separation structure 410, reduce the number of parts, and facilitate installation.

[0115] One end of the mounting side plate 4121 can be connected to the side wall of the reflective panel 411, or it can be connected to the surface of the reflective panel 411.

[0116] The cross-section of the mounting side plate 4121 can be circular, triangular, quadrilateral, etc., and the thickness of the mounting side plate 4121 can be 2 to 3 times the thickness of the reflective panel 411 to resist the instantaneous pressure generated when the high-temperature ejected material comes into contact.

[0117] In this embodiment, on the one hand, by installing a side plate 4121 to connect the reflector panel 411 to the upper cover plate 311 or the lower cover plate 312, the instantaneous pressure generated when the high-temperature ejected material comes into contact can be resisted, thereby improving the reliability of the gas-liquid separation structure 410. On the other hand, by providing a ventilation structure 4122 on the side plate 4121, gas-liquid separation is further achieved. When the gas comes into contact with the gas-liquid separation structure 410 and the liquid formed after cooling can flow back to the liquid storage chamber 313 through the exhaust structure, thereby improving the collection efficiency of the ejected material.

[0118] The ventilation structure 4122 on the mounting side plate 412 may include multiple ventilation holes; it may also include multiple ventilation slots; or it may include a combination of multiple ventilation holes and multiple ventilation slots. Multiple ventilation slots may be parallel to the axial direction of the flow channel 3122 (e.g., Figure 11(As shown); Multiple venting slits can also be arranged perpendicular to the axis of the guide channel 3122. Multiple venting holes and / or multiple venting slits are provided on the mounting side plate 4121. The venting slits can be arranged in different directions to promptly discharge the separated gas to the outside of the top cover 310 through the venting holes and / or venting slits and exhaust holes 3111, avoiding gas accumulation and secondary explosion, and improving the safety of the battery pack.

[0119] Continue to refer to Figure 12 and Figure 13 In some embodiments, the fixing member 412 may further include at least one fixing post 4123. When the fixing member includes multiple fixing posts 4123, the multiple fixing posts 4123 are evenly distributed on the same cylindrical surface. The axis of the cylindrical surface is perpendicular to the reflective panel 411 and passes through the center of the reflective panel 411. The reflective panel 411 is connected to the upper cover plate 311 or the lower cover plate 312 through at least one fixing post 4123. When there are multiple fixing posts 4123, the multiple fixing posts 4123 are evenly distributed on the same cylindrical surface, and the axis of the cylindrical surface is perpendicular to the reflective panel 411 and passes through the center of the reflective panel 411. This structure is simple, the fixing method is easier to implement, and gas will not accumulate between the reflective panel 411 and the upper cover plate 311, resulting in more uniform force distribution.

[0120] For example, the fastener 412 may include three fixing posts 4123, one end of which is evenly connected to the reflective panel 411.

[0121] In one embodiment, the fixed post 4123 is provided with a first limiting member and a second limiting member, and the reflective panel 411 is provided with a mounting hole that cooperates with the fixed post 4123. The reflective panel 411 is placed between the first limiting member and the second limiting member so that the reflective panel 411 can move along the fixed post 4123 between the first limiting member and the second limiting member.

[0122] For example, the first limiting member can be set in the middle of the fixing post 4123, and the second limiting member can be set in the free end of the fixing post 4123. For example, the fixing post 4123 is a bolt, the first limiting member is a nut, and the second limiting member is the nut of the bolt. In use, the bolt passes through the mounting hole of the reflective panel 411, and the nut is screwed in the middle of the bolt. The distance that the reflective panel 411 can move is limited between the nut and the nut. After installation, the bolt can be tightened and fixed on the upper cover plate 311 or the lower cover plate 312.

[0123] In one embodiment, the first limiting member includes an elastic member sleeved on the fixing post 4123. The elastic member is located in the middle of the fixing post 4123. The elastic member may include a spring or a washer. By setting the elastic member in the middle of the fixing post 4123, on the one hand, the buffering effect is improved and the pressure is reduced as much as possible; on the other hand, the first limiting member can control the movement distance of the reflective panel 411, leaving enough space for the vent hole 3111 to communicate with the liquid storage chamber 313, and preventing the reflective panel 411 from closing the vent hole 3111 under the action of instantaneous pressure.

[0124] The second limiting component includes a limiting block, which is disposed at the end of the fixing post 4123. When the fixing post 4123 is fixed to the upper cover plate 311, the limiting block is disposed at the end of the fixing post 4123 away from the upper cover plate 311; when the fixing post 4123 is fixed to the lower cover plate 312, the limiting block is disposed at the end of the fixing post 4123 away from the lower cover plate 312. By providing a limiting block at the end of the fixing post 4123 as a second limiting component, the reflective panel 411 is limited, preventing the reflective panel 411 from detaching from the fixing post 4123.

[0125] In one extreme case, the fixing post 4123 is connected to the upper cover plate 311, and the second limiting member can also be the lower cover plate 312. The end of the fixing post 4123 abuts against the lower cover plate 312. When the high-temperature ejected material is finished spraying, the reflective panel 411 moves toward the lower cover plate 312 under the action of gravity until it closes the liquid outlet of the flow channel 3121, thereby preventing the ejected material in the liquid storage chamber 313 from flowing back.

[0126] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, by setting the first limiting member and the second limiting member, the reflective panel 411 can move up and down along the fixed post 4123. When the high-temperature ejected material from the thermal runaway battery cell comes into contact with the reflective panel 411, the reflective panel 411 moves along the fixed post 4123, which can play a buffering role, prevent the high-temperature ejected material from being splashed again, and avoid affecting the use of other normal battery cells, and effectively prevent the high-temperature ejected material from entering the exhaust hole 3111.

[0127] In one embodiment, the flow channel 3122 is inclined, and the angle between the axis of the flow channel 3122 and the plane containing the bottom surface of the liquid storage cavity 313 is between 80° and 90°.

[0128] In this embodiment, by setting the flow channel 3121 to be inclined, on the one hand, it provides a greater selection space for the setting position of the exhaust port 3111; on the other hand, by reasonably setting the inclination angle between the flow channel 3121 and the plane where the bottom surface of the liquid storage chamber 313 is located, it can effectively prevent high-temperature ejected material from dripping into the flow channel 3121 under the action of gravity, and can discharge as much high-temperature ejected material as possible into the liquid storage chamber 313, thereby improving the safety of the battery pack.

[0129] In this disclosure, the battery pack includes an upper cover 310 and a lower housing 110, which together form a space for accommodating the battery module 210. Multiple individual battery cells are housed within this space, with the upper cover 310 situated above the battery module 210. The upper cover 310 includes an upper cover plate 311 and a lower cover plate 312 disposed opposite to each other. The upper cover plate 311 and the lower cover plate 312 cooperate to form a liquid storage cavity 313. The interior of the upper cover 310 is a hollow structure. The lower cover plate 312, corresponding to the explosion-proof valve, is provided with a flow guiding structure 3121. The flow guiding structure 3121 has a flow guiding channel 3122, which penetrates through the lower cover plate 312, so that the flow guiding channel 3122 communicates with the liquid storage cavity 313. The size of the flow guiding channel 3122 is slightly larger than the size of the cell explosion-proof valve, so that the explosion-proof valve can be within the limited range of the flow guiding channel 3122, thereby allowing the substances (electrolyte, high-temperature gas, etc.) ejected when the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell is opened to be injected into the hollow structure of the upper cover 310. The outer periphery of the lower cover plate 312 extends toward the upper cover plate 311 to form the sidewall of the liquid storage cavity 313, which is used to store the electrolyte in the hollow structure. A partition 3123 is installed in the liquid storage chamber 313 between adjacent flow channels 3121. The partition 3123 is arranged along the direction from the lower cover plate 312 to the upper cover plate 311. A buffer is provided on the upper cover plate 311 opposite to the outlet of the flow channel 3121. The buffer can prevent the sprayed electrolyte from splashing and affecting the normal use of other batteries. The area of ​​the buffer is larger than the area of ​​the outlet to prevent electrolyte splashing as much as possible. There are multiple vent holes 3111 on the upper cover plate 311 between the buffer and the partition 3123, and they penetrate the upper cover plate 311. This battery pack can allow the gas generated inside the battery to be discharged in a timely manner.

[0130] For example, a reflective panel 411 is provided between the outlet of the flow channel 3122 and the upper cover plate 311, and an exhaust hole 3111 is provided on the upper cover plate 311 opposite to the reflective panel 411, which can also allow the gas generated inside the battery to be discharged in time.

[0131] Based on the same inventive concept, this disclosure also provides an energy storage device and an electrical appliance, as described in the following embodiments. Since the principle by which this device embodiment solves the problem is similar to that of the above-described method embodiment, the implementation of this device embodiment can refer to the implementation of the above-described method embodiment, and repeated details will not be elaborated further.

[0132] In addition, this disclosure also provides an energy storage device including at least one battery pack as described in the above embodiments. The energy storage device can be a battery cluster, an energy storage system, or the like. Thus, by incorporating the aforementioned battery pack, the effectiveness of the energy storage device in use and its effectiveness in the event of thermal runaway can be further enhanced, thereby improving the safety of the energy storage device.

[0133] This application also provides an electrical device, which can be an energy storage device, an energy storage container, etc. This electrical device includes the energy storage device described in the above embodiments, and the energy storage device supplies power to the electrical device. Thus, by incorporating the aforementioned energy storage device, the safety of the electrical device can be improved, and safety hazards can be reduced.

[0134] It should be noted that although several modules or units for the device used to perform actions have been mentioned in the detailed description above, this division is not mandatory. In fact, according to embodiments of this disclosure, the features and functions of two or more modules or units described above can be embodied in one module or unit. Conversely, the features and functions of one module or unit described above can be further divided and embodied by multiple modules or units.

[0135] Furthermore, although the steps of the method in this disclosure are described in a specific order in the accompanying drawings, this does not require or imply that the steps must be performed in that specific order, or that all the steps shown must be performed to achieve the desired result. Additional or alternative steps may be omitted, multiple steps may be combined into one step, and / or a step may be broken down into multiple steps.

[0136] From the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily understand that the exemplary embodiments described herein can be implemented by software or by combining software with necessary hardware. Therefore, the technical solutions according to the embodiments of this disclosure can be embodied in the form of a software product, which can be stored in a non-volatile storage medium (such as a CD-ROM, USB flash drive, external hard drive, etc.) or on a network, including several instructions to cause a computing device (such as a personal computer, server, mobile terminal, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods according to the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0137] Other embodiments of this disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this disclosure are indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A battery pack, characterized in that, include: Lower box (110); A battery module (210) is disposed in the lower housing (110), and the battery module (210) includes multiple battery cells; The upper cover (310) is fitted onto the opening of the lower box (110). The upper cover (310) includes an upper cover plate (311) and a lower cover plate (312) arranged opposite to each other. The upper cover plate (311) and the lower cover plate (312) cooperate to form a liquid storage cavity (313). A vent hole (3111) is provided on the upper cover plate (311) corresponding to the liquid storage cavity (313). A flow guiding structure (3121) is disposed on the lower cover plate (312) corresponding to the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell. The flow guiding structure (3121) is provided with a flow guiding channel (3122). One end of the flow guiding structure (3121) is in contact with the battery cell, and the other end passes through the lower cover plate (312) so that the flow guiding channel (3122) is connected to the liquid storage chamber (313). A gas-liquid separation structure (410) is arranged opposite to the flow guiding structure (3121) and located between the lower cover plate (312) and the upper cover plate (311) to separate the substances sprayed out when the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell is opened. The gas-liquid separation structure (410) includes: A reflective panel (411) is disposed opposite to the flow guiding structure (3121) and is located in the liquid storage cavity (313) between the lower cover plate (312) and the upper cover plate (311); A fastener (412) is provided, one end of which is connected to the reflective panel (411), and the other end of which is connected to the upper cover plate (311) or the lower cover plate (312). The exhaust port (3111) is located on the upper cover plate (311) opposite to the reflective panel (411).

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gas-liquid separation structure (410) includes a buffer element, which is disposed on the upper cover plate (311); The vent (3111) is located on the upper cover plate (311) on the outside of the buffer.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, characterized in that, The buffer includes an elastic buffer block.

4. The battery pack according to claim 2, characterized in that, A partition (3123) is provided between the liquid storage chambers (313) corresponding to adjacent flow guiding structures (3121), and the partition (3123) divides the liquid storage chamber (313) into multiple sub-liquid storage chambers; The vent (3111) is located on the upper cover plate (311) between the buffer and the partition (3123).

5. The battery pack according to claim 2, characterized in that, The area of ​​the buffer is larger than the area of ​​the outlet of the flow channel (3122).

6. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The reflective panel (411) may be a flat panel or a curved panel; When the reflective panel (411) is a curved panel, the opening of the curved panel faces the bottom surface of the liquid storage cavity (313). The curved panel includes a conical curved panel, a frustum-shaped curved panel, or a frustum-shaped curved panel.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fastener (412) includes a mounting side plate (4121) on which a ventilation structure (4122) is provided.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7, characterized in that, The ventilation structure (4122) includes a plurality of ventilation holes; and / or a plurality of ventilation slits, wherein the plurality of ventilation slits are arranged parallel to or perpendicular to the axial direction of the flow channel (3122).

9. The battery pack according to claim 7, characterized in that, The mounting side plate (4121) is integrally formed with the reflective panel (411).

10. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixing member (412) includes at least one fixing post (4123). When the fixing member (412) includes multiple fixing posts (4123), the multiple fixing posts (4123) are evenly distributed on the same cylindrical surface. The axis of the cylindrical surface is perpendicular to the reflective panel (411) and passes through the center of the reflective panel (411).

11. The battery pack according to claim 10, characterized in that, The fixed post (4123) is provided with a first limiting member and a second limiting member. The reflective panel (411) is provided with a mounting hole that cooperates with the fixed post (4123). The reflective panel (411) is disposed between the first limiting member and the second limiting member so that the reflective panel (411) can move along the fixed post (4123) between the first limiting member and the second limiting member.

12. The battery pack according to claim 11, characterized in that, The first limiting member includes an elastic member sleeved on the fixed post (4123), and the elastic member is disposed in the middle of the fixed post (4123).

13. The battery pack according to claim 11, characterized in that, The second limiting member includes a limiting block, which is disposed at the end of the fixed column (4123).

14. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flow channel (3121) is inclined, and the angle between the axis of the flow channel (3121) and the plane where the bottom surface of the liquid storage cavity (313) is located is 80°-90°.

15. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower cover plate (312) is sealed to the upper cover plate (311), and the lower cover plate (312) is detachably connected to the upper cover plate (311).

16. An energy storage device, characterized in that, Includes the battery pack as described in any one of claims 1-15.

17. An electrical appliance, characterized in that, Includes the energy storage device as described in claim 16.

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