Batteries, electrical devices, methods and equipment for battery manufacturing

Abstract

This application provides a battery, an electrical device, a method for manufacturing a battery, and an apparatus. The battery includes: a plurality of first battery cells, each first battery cell being cylindrical, with gaps between the plurality of first battery cells; a second battery cell disposed within the gaps between the plurality of first battery cells, the second battery cell being configured to deform under pressure from the plurality of first battery cells to conform to the shape of the gaps; and a housing for accommodating the plurality of first battery cells and the second battery cell. The battery, electrical device, method for manufacturing a battery, and apparatus of this application can improve the energy density of the battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a battery, an electrical device, a method and apparatus for manufacturing a battery. Background Technology

[0002] Energy conservation and emission reduction are key to the sustainable development of the automotive industry. In this context, electric vehicles, due to their energy-saving and environmentally friendly advantages, have become an important component of the automotive industry's sustainable development. And for electric vehicles, battery technology is a crucial factor in their development.

[0003] Given that electric vehicles and large energy storage devices require high voltage and high capacity to meet range and high current output requirements, how to increase battery energy density within a limited space has become an urgent technical problem to be solved in battery technology. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a battery, an electrical device, a method and apparatus for manufacturing a battery, which can improve the energy density of the battery.

[0005] In a first aspect, a battery is provided, the battery comprising: a plurality of first battery cells, each first battery cell being cylindrical, with a gap between the plurality of first battery cells; a second battery cell disposed within the gap between the plurality of first battery cells, the second battery cell being configured to deform under compression by the plurality of first battery cells to adapt to the shape of the gap; and a housing for accommodating the plurality of first battery cells and the second battery cell.

[0006] Therefore, the battery in this embodiment fully utilizes the gaps between multiple cylindrical first battery cells, improving the space utilization within the casing and thus increasing the battery's energy density. Furthermore, during battery use, the multiple first battery cells may come into contact with each other and collide, causing deformation. During charging and discharging, the battery may expand, potentially causing compression and deformation between the contacting first battery cells. When used in vehicles or similar scenarios, the battery may be subjected to external forces, leading to collisions between the multiple first battery cells and further deformation. This deformation can cause casing damage and electrolyte leakage, or deformation of the internal electrode components leading to lithium plating, all of which can cause battery safety issues. Therefore, by incorporating a deformable second battery cell within the gaps between the multiple first battery cells, compression between them can be effectively reduced, thereby reducing deformation, improving stability, and ultimately enhancing battery safety. In short, the battery in this embodiment can significantly improve the system energy density and market competitiveness of cylindrical batteries while effectively reducing battery failures.

[0007] In some embodiments, the battery includes: a plurality of battery cell groups arranged along a first direction, each of the plurality of battery cell groups including a plurality of first battery cells arranged along a second direction, the first direction, the second direction and the axial direction of the first battery cells being perpendicular to each other, and a plurality of second battery cells being disposed in a plurality of gaps between adjacent battery cell groups in the plurality of battery cell groups, so as to make full use of the internal space of the battery and greatly improve the space utilization rate of the battery.

[0008] In some embodiments, the orthographic projections of the axes of all the first battery cells in two adjacent battery cell groups onto a first plane do not coincide, and the first plane is perpendicular to the first direction. This staggered arrangement of the first battery cells in two adjacent battery cell groups allows for full utilization of the space between adjacent curved surfaces.

[0009] In some embodiments, the axes of all the first battery cells in two adjacent battery cell groups are evenly distributed on the orthographic projection of the first plane. The battery cells in different battery cell groups can be staggered to make reasonable use of space, reduce the gap between multiple first battery cells, and improve the space utilization rate of multiple first battery cells in the battery.

[0010] In some embodiments, the second battery cell is located within the gap formed by three adjacent first battery cells in the adjacent two battery cell groups.

[0011] When multiple battery cell groups are staggered, every three first battery cells can form a relatively independent gap. Correspondingly, the second battery cell can be placed in the gap formed by the three first battery cells to make full use of the gap and further improve the space utilization of the battery.

[0012] In some embodiments, the cross-section of the three adjacent first battery cells along the second plane is three circles, wherein every two circles are externally tangent to each other, and the second plane is perpendicular to the axial direction of the first battery cells.

[0013] In this way, without considering the multiple second battery cells within the battery, the space utilization rate of the multiple first battery cells can be greatly improved, making full use of the limited space in the battery casing. Furthermore, placing the second battery cells within the gaps between the multiple first battery cells can fully utilize the gaps between the first battery cells, further increasing the battery's energy density. Moreover, since the second battery cells are positioned within the gaps between the three first battery cells, when the originally tangent first battery cells are subjected to external pressure or expand and generate pressure, the second battery cells can alleviate this pressure, reducing the deformation of the first battery cells under this pressure. This allows the three first battery cells to remain as tangent as possible, avoiding problems such as electrolyte leakage or lithium plating caused by deformation of the first battery cells, thus improving the battery's safety performance.

[0014] In some embodiments, the second battery cell is provided with a leakage sensor, which is used to detect whether the first battery cell and / or the second battery cell is leaking, so as to detect the leakage phenomenon in time and avoid short circuit caused by leakage.

[0015] In some embodiments, the leakage sensor is disposed at one end of the second battery cell near the first electrode terminal of the first battery cell.

[0016] In this way, the leakage sensor can detect in a timely manner whether there is leakage near the first electrode terminal of the first battery cell, avoiding leakage from causing a short circuit in the electrical connection between the first electrode terminal and other components, and also avoiding the impact of leakage on the first busbar component.

[0017] In some embodiments, the second battery cell is provided with a pressure sensor for detecting the stress state of a plurality of first battery cells that are compressing the second battery cell.

[0018] Considering that the first battery cell may deform under pressure, and that this deformation could lead to casing damage and electrolyte leakage, or deformation of the internal electrode components causing lithium plating, both of which could pose battery safety risks, a pressure sensor can be installed on the second battery cell to detect the stress state of the multiple first battery cells pressing against it, thus promptly identifying potential safety hazards.

[0019] In some embodiments, the pressure sensor is arranged around the second battery cell so that the pressure sensor arranged around the second battery cell can detect the stress state of each first battery cell adjacent to the second battery cell, so as to provide timely warning of potential safety risks caused by stress.

[0020] In some embodiments, the battery includes a first busbar and a second busbar. The first busbar is used to realize electrical connection between a plurality of first battery cells to form a first power supply circuit. The second busbar is used to realize electrical connection between a plurality of second battery cells to form a second power supply circuit. The first power supply circuit and the second power supply circuit provide power to different power-consuming modules.

[0021] Since the first and second battery cells are typically different in size, their capacities are also usually set differently. For example, the first battery cell typically has a larger capacity and can be used to power the electrical device in which it is located. That is, multiple first battery cells are electrically connected through a first busbar to form a first power supply circuit, which can be used to output electrical energy to the electrical device in which the battery is located.

[0022] Since the capacity of the second battery is typically smaller, a second busbar component can be used to connect the individual cells of the second battery to form a second power supply circuit. This second power supply circuit can serve as a backup power source, outputting electrical energy independently. For example, taking the battery as an example of powering a vehicle, this second power supply circuit can replace the vehicle's low-voltage system. In this way, the low-voltage system does not need to occupy additional space, such as space outside the battery, but only exists in the gaps between the previously unused first battery cells within the battery. This helps to improve the system's energy density and also reduces costs.

[0023] In a second aspect, an electrical device is provided, comprising: the battery described in the first aspect or any embodiment of the first aspect.

[0024] In some embodiments, the electrical equipment is a vehicle, a ship, or a spacecraft.

[0025] Thirdly, a method for preparing a battery cell is provided, comprising: providing a plurality of first battery cells, the first battery cells being cylindrical, and a gap being provided between the plurality of first battery cells; providing a second battery cell disposed within the gap between the plurality of first battery cells, the second battery cell being configured to deform under compression by the plurality of first battery cells to adapt to the shape of the gap; and providing a housing for accommodating the plurality of first battery cells and the second battery cell.

[0026] Fourthly, an apparatus for preparing battery cells is provided, comprising a module for performing the method described in the third aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle disclosed in one embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a battery disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a partially exploded structure of a battery disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first battery cell disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a battery disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 6 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of another battery disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 7 This is an exploded structural diagram of any three adjacent first battery cells and corresponding second battery cells in a battery disclosed in an embodiment of this application.

[0034] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of any three adjacent first battery cells and corresponding second battery cells installed in a battery according to an embodiment of this application.

[0035] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second battery cell disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 10 This is a schematic flowchart of a method for preparing a battery disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 11This is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for preparing a battery, as disclosed in an embodiment of this application.

[0038] The accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale. Detailed Implementation

[0039] The embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The detailed description of the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings are used to illustrate the principles of this application by way of example, but should not be used to limit the scope of this application, that is, this application is not limited to the described embodiments.

[0040] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more; the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on this application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. "Vertical" is not vertical in the strict sense, but within the allowable tolerance range. "Parallel" is not parallel in the strict sense, but within the allowable tolerance range.

[0041] The directional terms used in the following description refer to the directions shown in the figures and are not intended to limit the specific structure of this application. It should also be noted in the description of this application that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" 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 direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0042] In the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals denote the same components, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components are omitted in different embodiments. It should be understood that the thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of various components in the embodiments of this application shown in the accompanying drawings, as well as the overall thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the integrated device, are merely illustrative and should not constitute any limitation on this application.

[0043] In this application, the battery cell may include lithium-ion secondary batteries, lithium-ion primary batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, sodium-lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, or magnesium-ion batteries, etc., and the embodiments of this application are not limited to these. The battery cell may be cylindrical, flat, cuboid, or other shapes, etc., and the embodiments of this application are not limited to these. Battery cells are generally divided into three types according to their packaging method: cylindrical battery cells, square battery cells, and pouch battery cells, and the embodiments of this application are not limited to these.

[0044] The battery mentioned in the embodiments of this application refers to a single physical module comprising one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery mentioned in this application may include a battery module or a battery pack. A battery generally includes a housing for encapsulating one or more battery cells. The housing prevents liquids or other foreign matter from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

[0045] A battery cell includes an electrode assembly and an electrolyte. The electrode assembly consists of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. The battery cell primarily functions by the movement of metal ions between the positive and negative electrodes. The positive electrode includes a positive current collector and a positive active material layer. The positive active material layer is coated on the surface of the positive current collector, and the uncoated positive current collector protrudes beyond the coated one, serving as the positive electrode tab. Taking a lithium-ion battery as an example, the positive current collector can be made of aluminum, and the positive active material can be lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, or lithium manganese oxide, etc. The negative electrode includes a negative current collector and a negative active material layer. The negative active material layer is coated on the surface of the negative current collector, and the uncoated negative current collector protrudes beyond the coated one, serving as the negative electrode tab. The negative electrode current collector can be made of copper, and the negative electrode active material can be carbon or silicon, etc. To ensure that a large current can pass through without melting, there are multiple positive electrode tabs stacked together, and there are multiple negative electrode tabs stacked together. The separator can be made of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), etc. Furthermore, the electrode assembly can be a wound structure or a stacked structure, and the embodiments of this application are not limited to these.

[0046] The development of battery technology must consider multiple design factors simultaneously, such as performance parameters like energy density, cycle life, discharge capacity, charge / discharge rate, and battery safety. Among these, electric vehicles and other electrical devices typically require high voltage and high capacity to meet range and high current output requirements, but these devices are also subject to size limitations, which restrict the space occupied by the battery. Therefore, how to maximize battery energy density within a limited space has become an important research topic.

[0047] For example, due to the shape of cylindrical battery cells, gaps remain between adjacent cells after assembly, unlike rectangular battery cells which can achieve a tight wall-to-wall fit. This results in a relatively low energy density for batteries composed of cylindrical cells, significantly reducing their market competitiveness.

[0048] Therefore, this application provides a battery comprising a housing containing a plurality of cylindrical first battery cells with gaps between them. The battery also includes second battery cells disposed within the gaps between the first battery cells, and the second battery cells are deformable under compression by the first battery cells to fit the gaps between them. This fully utilizes the gaps between the cylindrical first battery cells, improving the space utilization within the housing and thus increasing the energy density of the battery.

[0049] Furthermore, during battery use, multiple first battery cells may come into contact with each other and collide, causing deformation of the first battery cells. During charging and discharging, the battery may expand, potentially causing compression and deformation between the contacting first battery cells. When used in vehicles or similar applications, the battery may be subjected to external forces, leading to collisions between the first battery cells and further deformation. This deformation can cause casing damage and electrolyte leakage, or deformation of the internal electrode components leading to lithium plating, all of which can pose battery safety risks. Therefore, incorporating a deformable second battery cell within the gaps between the multiple first battery cells effectively reduces compression between them, thereby reducing deformation, improving stability, and ultimately enhancing battery safety. In other words, the battery of this embodiment can significantly improve the system energy density and market competitiveness of cylindrical batteries while effectively reducing battery failures.

[0050] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of this application are applicable to various battery-powered electrical devices.

[0051] Electrical equipment can include vehicles, mobile phones, portable devices, laptops, ships, spacecraft, electric toys, and power tools, etc. Vehicles can be gasoline-powered cars, natural gas-powered cars, or new energy vehicles; new energy vehicles can be pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, or range-extended electric vehicles, etc. Spacecraft include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc. Electric toys include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc. Power tools include metal cutting power tools, grinding power tools, assembly power tools, and railway power tools, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, impact drills, concrete vibrators, and electric planers, etc. This application does not impose any special limitations on the above-mentioned electrical equipment.

[0052] For ease of explanation, the following embodiments use a vehicle as an example of electrical equipment.

[0053] For example, such as Figure 1 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a vehicle 1 according to one embodiment of this application. Vehicle 1 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 motor 40, a controller 30, and a battery 10 can be installed inside vehicle 1. The controller 30 controls the battery 10 to supply power to the motor 40. For example, the battery 10 can be installed at the bottom, front, or rear of vehicle 1. The battery 10 can be used to power vehicle 1; for example, it can serve as the operating power source for the vehicle 1's electrical system, such as for the power requirements of starting, navigation, and operation. In another embodiment of this application, the battery 10 can not only serve as the operating power source for vehicle 1 but also as the driving power source, replacing or partially replacing gasoline or natural gas to provide driving power to vehicle 1.

[0054] To meet diverse power demands, a battery can comprise multiple individual battery cells, which can be connected in series, parallel, or a combination of both. A battery can also be referred to as a battery pack. In some embodiments, multiple battery cells can first be connected in series, parallel, or a combination of both to form a battery module, and then multiple battery modules can be connected in series, parallel, or a combination of both to form a battery. In other words, multiple battery cells can be directly assembled into a battery, or they can first be assembled into battery modules, and then the battery modules can be assembled into a battery.

[0055] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a partial structure of a battery 10 according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 3 This paper shows a partially exploded cross-sectional view of a battery 10 according to an embodiment of this application, wherein... Figure 3 After the middle battery 10 is assembled, it can form Figure 2A portion of battery 10. (e.g.) Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the battery 10 of this application embodiment includes: a plurality of first battery cells 21, each first battery cell 21 being cylindrical, with gaps between the plurality of first battery cells 21; a second battery cell 22 disposed within the gaps between the plurality of first battery cells 21, the second battery cell 22 being configured to deform under the compression of the plurality of first battery cells 21 to adapt to the shape of the gaps; and a housing 11 for accommodating the plurality of first battery cells 21 and the second battery cell 22.

[0056] It should be understood that Figure 3 The cross-section of the battery 10 shown is a cross-section along the axial direction Z perpendicular to the first battery cell 21.

[0057] The battery 10 of this embodiment includes a plurality of first battery cells 21. Since the plurality of first battery cells 21 are cylindrical and the sides of the cylinders are curved, there are gaps between the sidewalls of the plurality of first battery cells 21. The second battery cell 22 of this embodiment can be deformed. Thus, by placing the second battery cell 22 in the gaps between the plurality of first battery cells 21, the second battery cell 22 can be deformed under the compression of the plurality of first battery cells 21 to fit the gaps between the plurality of first battery cells 21. This makes full use of the gaps between the plurality of cylindrical first battery cells 21, improves the space utilization rate inside the casing 11 of the battery 10, and thus improves the energy density of the battery 10.

[0058] Furthermore, during the use of battery 10, if multiple first battery cells 21 come into contact with each other, collisions may occur, causing deformation of the first battery cells 21. During the charging and discharging process of battery 10, expansion may occur, potentially causing compression and deformation between the contacting first battery cells 21. When battery 10 is used in vehicles or similar applications, external forces may cause collisions between the multiple first battery cells 21, leading to deformation. This deformation may result in casing damage and electrolyte leakage, or deformation of the internal electrode components, causing lithium plating. All of these factors can lead to safety issues with battery 10. Therefore, by providing a deformable second battery cell 22 within the gaps between the multiple first battery cells 21, compression between them can be effectively reduced, thereby reducing deformation and improving stability, ultimately enhancing the safety of battery 10. Therefore, the battery 10 of this embodiment can significantly improve the system energy density and market competitiveness of the battery 10, including cylindrical battery cells, while effectively reducing battery 10 failures.

[0059] The battery 10 in this embodiment includes a housing 11, which has a hollow interior, and multiple first battery cells 21 and second battery cells 22 are housed inside the housing 11. Figure 2 and Figure 3 This application illustrates one possible implementation of the housing 11, such as... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the housing 11 of this embodiment can be formed by combining multiple parts. For example, the housing 11 may include four sidewalls 111, which are parallel to the axial direction Z of the first battery cell 21, to surround the multiple first battery cells 21 and the second battery cell 22. Optionally, the inward-facing surface of each sidewall 111 may be provided with a contoured structure that conforms to the curved sidewalls of the multiple first battery cells 21, filling the gap between the sidewall 111 and the first battery cell 21, so that the first battery cell 21 is relatively stable and the stability of the battery 10 is improved.

[0060] Optionally, the housing 11 may further include two end plates perpendicular to the four side walls 111 and respectively disposed at both ends of the four side walls 111 along the axial direction Z, forming a hollow cuboid with the four side walls 111, thereby making the housing 11 relatively sealed. Alternatively, the battery 10 may also include other components that serve as at least one of the two end plates to form a hollow housing 11 with the four side walls 111. For example, the battery 10 may include a thermal management component disposed at one or both ends of the first battery cell 21 along the axial direction Z to serve as an end plate, but the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto.

[0061] Optionally, the housing 11 of this embodiment can also be formed in other ways. For example, the housing 11 may also include two parts, referred to herein as a first part and a second part, which are fastened together. The shapes of the first part and the second part can be determined according to the shape of the internal first battery cell 21, and at least one of the first part and the second part has an opening.

[0062] For example, one of the first and second parts can be a hollow cuboid with an opening, while the other is plate-shaped to cover the opening. For example, taking the second part as a hollow cuboid with only one open side and the first part as plate-shaped as an example, the first part covers the opening of the second part to form a box 11 with a closed cavity. This cavity can be used to accommodate multiple battery cells, including a first battery cell 21 and a second battery cell 22. The multiple battery cells are connected in parallel, series, or mixed and placed inside the box 11 formed by the first and second parts being fastened together.

[0063] For example, the first part and the second part can both be hollow cuboids with only one open face each. The openings of the first part and the second part are arranged opposite to each other, and the first part and the second part are interlocked to form a box 11 with a closed cavity.

[0064] It should be understood that the first battery cell 21 in this embodiment may further include a first electrode terminal 211, which can be electrically connected to the electrode assembly inside the first battery cell 21 to output electrical energy. Similarly, the second battery cell 22 may further include a second electrode terminal 221, which can be electrically connected to the electrode assembly inside the second battery cell 22 to output electrical energy.

[0065] Specifically, Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first battery cell 21 according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the first battery cell 21 may include two first electrode terminals 211. Similarly, the second battery cell 22 may also include two second electrode terminals 221. Here, we describe the process using the two electrode terminals of any one battery cell as an example. These two electrode terminals are a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal, respectively. The positive electrode terminal is used for electrical connection to the positive electrode tab, and the negative electrode terminal is used for electrical connection to the negative electrode tab. The positive electrode terminal and the positive electrode tab can be directly connected or indirectly connected, and the negative electrode terminal and the negative electrode tab can also be directly connected or indirectly connected. For example, the positive electrode terminal is electrically connected to the positive electrode tab through a connecting member, and the negative electrode terminal is electrically connected to the negative electrode tab through a connecting member.

[0066] Optionally, such as Figures 2 to 4 As shown, in this embodiment of the application, the two electrode terminals can be respectively disposed on the two cylindrical bottom surfaces of the battery cell. That is, the two cylindrical bottom surfaces of the first battery cell 21 are respectively provided with a first electrode terminal 211, and similarly, the two cylindrical bottom surfaces of the second battery cell 22 are respectively provided with a second electrode terminal 221, so as to realize the electrical connection between multiple battery cells.

[0067] It should be understood that the battery 10 in this embodiment may further include a busbar component 13, which is used to realize the electrical connection between multiple battery cells, such as parallel connection, series connection, or mixed connection. Specifically, as Figure 2 As shown, the busbar component 13 can achieve electrical connection between battery cells by connecting the electrode terminals of the battery cells. Furthermore, the busbar component 13 can be fixed to the electrode terminals of the battery cells by welding.

[0068] Optionally, in order to clearly show the position of the electrode terminal 211 in the embodiments of this application, Figure 3 Not shown Figure 2The busbar component 13 in the middle. For example... Figures 2 to 4 As shown, for the cylindrical first battery cell 21 in this embodiment, the two cylindrical bottom surfaces of the first battery cell 21 are respectively provided with first electrode terminals 211. Thus, electrical connections between the multiple first battery cells 21 and / or between the first battery cells 21 and other battery cells can be achieved through the first busbar components 131 respectively disposed at both ends of the multiple first battery cells 21, facilitating assembly and electrical connection. Similarly, for the second battery cell 22 located between the first battery cells 21 in this embodiment, the two bottom surfaces of the second battery cell 22 are respectively provided with second electrode terminals 211. Thus, electrical connections between the multiple second battery cells 22 and / or between the second battery cells 22 and other battery cells can be achieved through the second busbar components 132 respectively disposed at both ends of the multiple second battery cells 22, facilitating assembly and electrical connection.

[0069] In this embodiment, the first busbar 131 and the second busbar 132 included in the battery 10 can be the same busbar 13, or they can be different busbars 13. For example, if the first busbar 131 and the second busbar 132 are different, the first busbar 131 is used to realize the electrical connection between multiple first battery cells 21 to form a first power supply circuit; the second busbar 132 is used to realize the electrical connection between multiple second battery cells 22 to form a second power supply circuit. The first power supply circuit and the second power supply circuit provide power to different power-consuming modules, respectively. Since the sizes of the first battery cells 21 and the second battery cells 22 are usually different, their capacities are also usually set to be different. For example, the capacity of the first battery cells 21 is usually larger, and it can be used to power the electrical device where the battery 10 is located. That is, the first busbar 131 realizes the electrical connection between multiple first battery cells 21 to form a first power supply circuit, which can be used to output power to the electrical device where the battery 10 is located.

[0070] Since the capacity of the second battery 22 is typically small, the electrical connection between the second battery cells 22 can be achieved through the second busbar 132 to form a second power supply circuit. This second power supply circuit can serve as a backup power source, outputting electrical energy independently. For example, taking the battery 10 as an example of powering the vehicle 1, this second power supply circuit can replace the low-voltage system of the vehicle 1. In this way, the low-voltage system does not need to occupy additional space, such as space outside the battery 10, but only exists in the gaps between the originally unused first battery cells 21 within the battery 10. This is beneficial for improving the system's energy density and can also reduce costs.

[0071] It should be understood that the battery cells inside the housing 11 in this embodiment can be arranged and configured according to a certain pattern, especially multiple first battery cells 21, to improve the space utilization of the housing 11 and thus improve the energy density of the battery 10. For example, the dimensions of the multiple first battery cells 21 in this embodiment can be set to be the same or different. This embodiment takes the example of multiple first battery cells 21 having the same dimensions, that is, the bottom diameter of multiple first battery cells 21 is the same, and the height of multiple first battery cells 21 is also the same. This makes the capacity of multiple first battery cells 21 the same, so as to facilitate the electrical connection between multiple first battery cells 21 and to facilitate the arrangement of the multiple first battery cells 21, thereby improving the space utilization.

[0072] Specifically, Figure 5 This diagram shows a partial cross-section of a battery 10 according to an embodiment of this application. The battery 10 can be as follows: Figure 2 and Figure 3 The battery 10 shown can have a cross-section that is perpendicular to the axial direction Z of the first battery cell 21. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the battery 10 includes multiple battery cell groups arranged along a first direction X. Each battery cell group includes multiple first battery cells 21 arranged along a second direction Y. The first direction X, the second direction Y, and the axis Z of the first battery cells 21 are perpendicular to each other. Arranging the multiple first battery cells 21 in an array can effectively utilize the space inside the housing 11.

[0073] Correspondingly, multiple second battery cells 22 are respectively disposed in multiple gaps between two adjacent battery cell groups in multiple battery cell groups. Specifically, as shown in... Figure 5 As shown, there are multiple gaps between multiple battery cell groups, and multiple second battery cells 22 can be disposed within multiple gaps. For example, the multiple second battery cells 22 can be disposed within all gaps or within some gaps. The embodiments of this application are not limited thereto.

[0074] For example, such as Figure 5 As shown, taking any two adjacent battery cell groups in a plurality of battery cell groups as an example, referred to here as the first battery cell group 201 and the second battery cell group 202 respectively, there are multiple gaps between the first battery cell group 201 and the second battery cell group 202, and multiple second battery cells 22 are correspondingly arranged therein, with each second battery cell 22 disposed within one gap. Wherein, as... Figure 5As shown, the multiple second battery cells 22 of the battery 10 can be arranged in all the gaps, that is, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the multiple second battery cells 22 and the multiple gaps, so that the second battery cells 22 are arranged in all the gaps between every two adjacent battery cell groups, so that the space utilization rate of the battery 10 reaches the maximum value, and the entire gap of the first battery cell 21 in the battery 10 is fully utilized.

[0075] For example, unlike Figure 5 As shown, Figure 6 A partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of another battery 10 according to an embodiment of this application is shown. This cross-section can be a plane perpendicular to the axial direction Z of the first battery cell 21. Figure 6 As shown, the multiple second battery cells 22 can be disposed only in a portion of the gap, that is, the second battery cells 22 are disposed only in a portion of the gap between the first battery cell group 201 and the second battery cell group 202. This can reduce the number of second battery cells 21 disposed and reduce costs.

[0076] Considering the characteristics of a cylinder, multiple battery cell groups can be staggered to reduce the gaps between the multiple first battery cells 21 and improve space utilization. Specifically, the orthographic projections of the axes of all the first battery cells 21 in two adjacent battery cell groups onto the first plane 12 do not coincide, and the first plane 12 is perpendicular to the first direction X. In this way, the staggered arrangement of the first battery cells 21 between two adjacent battery cell groups can make full use of the space between the curved surfaces.

[0077] For example, the axes of all the first battery cells 21 in two adjacent battery cell groups are uniformly distributed on the orthographic projection of the first plane 12. Figure 6 As shown, taking the first battery cell group 201 and the second battery cell group 202 as examples, and assuming that all the first battery cells 21 included in the first battery cell group 201 and the second battery cell group 202 have the same size, then the distance between the projections of the axes of all the first battery cells 21 included in the two battery cell groups onto the first plane 12 can be set to be equal. For example, as... Figure 6As shown, the distance between the axis of the first battery cell 21 in the first battery cell group 201 and the axis of the first battery cell 21 in the second battery cell group 202 is L1; while the distance between the axis of the first battery cell 21 in the second battery cell group 202 and the axis of the second battery cell 21 in the first battery cell group 201 is L2. Distances L1 and L2 are equal, and so on. The distance between the projections of the axes of all the first battery cells 21 in the first battery cell group 201 and the second battery cell group 202 onto the first plane 12 is equal to L1. In this way, the battery cells 20 in different battery cell groups can be staggered, making reasonable use of space, reducing the gaps between multiple first battery cells 21, and improving the space utilization rate of multiple first battery cells 21 in the battery 10.

[0078] In this embodiment, the second battery cell 22 is located within the gap formed by three adjacent first battery cells 21 in two adjacent battery cell groups. Specifically, as shown... Figure 6 As shown, when the first battery cells 21 of multiple battery cell groups are staggered, every three first battery cells 21 can form a relatively independent gap. Correspondingly, the second battery cell 22 can be set in the gap formed by the three first battery cells 21 to further improve the space utilization of the battery 10.

[0079] like Figure 6 As shown, the cross-section of three adjacent first battery cells 21 along the second plane is three circles, with each pair of circles being externally tangent to each other. The second plane is perpendicular to the axial direction Z of the first battery cells 21. Thus, without considering the multiple second battery cells 22 disposed within the battery 10, the space utilization rate of the multiple first battery cells 21 within the battery 10 can be greatly improved, making full use of the limited space of the battery casing 11. Furthermore, by placing the second battery cells 22 within the gaps between the multiple first battery cells 21, the gaps between the first battery cells 21 can be fully utilized, further improving the energy density of the battery 10. Moreover, since the second battery cells 22 are disposed within the gaps between the three first battery cells 21, when the originally tangent multiple first battery cells 21 are subjected to external pressure or expand and generate pressure, the second battery cells 22 can alleviate the pressure, reduce the deformation of the first battery cells 21 under the action of pressure, and keep the three first battery cells 21 as tangent as possible, thereby avoiding problems such as electrolyte leakage or lithium plating caused by the deformation of the first battery cells 21, and improving the safety performance of the battery 10.

[0080] Figure 7 This illustration shows an exploded structural diagram of any three adjacent first battery cells 21 and corresponding second battery cells 22 in the battery 10 according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 7It can be like Figure 2-3 and Figure 5-6 The three adjacent first battery cells 21 and the corresponding second battery cells 22 of any one battery 10. Figure 8 for Figure 7 This diagram illustrates the arrangement of the three first battery cells 21 and the corresponding second battery cells 22 within the battery 10. Figure 7 As shown, the second battery cell 22 can be cylindrical when not compressed. Since the sides of the cylindrical second battery cell 22 are curved, they are smoother than other shapes. Thus, as... Figure 8 As shown, when compressed, especially when the cross-section of the three adjacent first battery cells 21 along the second plane is three circles that are mutually circumscribed, the deformation of the second battery cell 22 located in the gap is more flexible, and the approximate triangular space between the multiple first battery cells 21 can be fully utilized to improve the space utilization and energy density of the battery 10.

[0081] Specifically, such as Figure 8 As shown, the size and deformation of the second battery cell 22 in this embodiment can be set according to actual application. Specifically, if the diameter of the first battery cell 21 is relatively large, the gap between the multiple first battery cells 21 is relatively small. Correspondingly, a second battery cell 22 with a smaller diameter can be selected, that is, the diameter of the first battery cell 21 and the diameter of the second battery cell 22 differ significantly. In this way, the space utilization rate of the battery 10 is high. Conversely, if the diameter of the first battery cell 21 is relatively small, the gap between the multiple first battery cells 21 is relatively large. Correspondingly, a second battery cell 22 with a larger diameter can be selected, that is, the diameter of the first battery cell 21 and the diameter of the second battery cell 22 differ significantly. In this case, the space utilization rate of the battery 10 is also high, but the occupancy rate of the first battery cells 21 inside the battery 10 is small.

[0082] In this embodiment, for gaps of the same size, if the diameter of the second battery cell 22 is larger, the compression on the second battery cell 22 will be relatively greater. In this case, the second battery cell 22 can be made of a material with a large deformation capacity so that the second battery cell 22 can deform to fit the gap without affecting the arrangement between the first battery cells 21. Conversely, if the diameter of the second battery cell 22 is smaller, the compression on the second battery cell 22 will be relatively smaller. Therefore, the second battery cell 22 can be made of a material with a small deformation capacity so that it can fit the gap between multiple first battery cells 21 without affecting the arrangement between the first battery cells 21.

[0083] Optionally, the second battery cell 22 is provided with a pressure sensor 223, which is used to detect the stress state of the plurality of first battery cells 21 that are compressing the second battery cell 22. Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of the second battery cell 22 according to an embodiment of this application is shown, as follows: Figure 9 As shown, considering that the first battery cell 21 may deform under pressure, and that deformation of the first battery cell 21 may lead to damage to its casing and subsequent electrolyte leakage, or may cause deformation of the electrode components inside the first battery cell 21 and result in lithium plating, both of which could cause safety issues with the battery 10, a pressure sensor can be installed on the second battery cell 22 to detect the stress state of the multiple first battery cells 21 that are compressing the second battery cell 22.

[0084] Optionally, such as Figure 9 As shown, the pressure sensor 223 is arranged around the second battery cell 22 so that the pressure sensor 223 arranged on the second battery cell 22 can detect the stress state of each first battery cell 21 adjacent to the second battery cell 22, so as to provide timely warning of potential safety risks caused by stress.

[0085] Optionally, the second battery cell 22 is equipped with a leakage sensor 222, which is used to detect whether leakage has occurred in the first battery cell 21 and / or the second battery cell 22. Figure 9 As shown, considering that the first battery cell 21 and / or the second battery cell 22 are provided with electrolyte, if the electrolyte leaks, it may cause a short circuit in the internal circuit connection of the battery 10. Therefore, the leakage sensor 222 is provided to detect whether the first battery cell 21 and / or the second battery cell 22 has leaked electrolyte, so as to avoid the battery 10 from short circuit.

[0086] Furthermore, considering that a thermal management component can also be provided inside the battery 10, this component can contain fluid to regulate the temperature of the individual battery cells within the battery 10. The fluid can be a liquid or a gas, and temperature regulation refers to heating or cooling multiple battery cells. In the case of cooling or lowering the temperature of the battery cells, the thermal management component is used to contain cooling fluid to reduce the temperature of multiple battery cells; alternatively, the thermal management component can also be used to heat to raise the temperature of multiple battery cells, which is not limited in this embodiment. Optionally, the fluid can be circulated to achieve better temperature regulation. Optionally, the fluid can be water, a mixture of water and ethylene glycol, or air, etc.

[0087] If the thermal management component leaks, the leaked liquid may cause a short circuit in the internal circuit connection of the battery 10. Therefore, the leak sensor 222 can also be used to detect whether the battery 10 is leaking the aforementioned fluid in order to prevent the battery 10 from short-circuiting.

[0088] Optionally, the leakage sensor 222 of the second battery cell 22 is disposed at one end of the second battery cell 22 near the first electrode terminal 211 of the first battery cell 21. In this way, the leakage sensor 222 can detect whether there is leakage near the first electrode terminal 211 of the first battery cell 21 in a timely manner, so as to avoid leakage causing a short circuit in the electrical connection between the first electrode terminal 211 and other components, and also to avoid leakage affecting the first busbar component 131. In addition, since the position of the second electrode terminal 221 of the second battery cell 22 corresponds to the first electrode terminal 211, the leakage sensor 222 can also detect whether there is leakage near the second electrode terminal 221 in a timely manner, so as to avoid leakage causing a short circuit in the electrical connection between the second electrode terminal 221 and other components, and also to avoid leakage affecting the second busbar component 132.

[0089] Optionally, considering that each battery cell has two electrode terminals, the second battery cell 22 can be equipped with two leakage sensors 222, located at both ends of the second battery cell 22, to detect leakage near the first electrode terminal 211 and / or the second electrode terminal 221 in a timely manner, so as to avoid short circuit and improve the safety of the battery 10.

[0090] The battery 10 and the electrical device of the present application have been described above. The method and apparatus for preparing the battery 10 of the present application will be described below. For the parts not described in detail, please refer to the foregoing embodiments.

[0091] Figure 10 A schematic flowchart of a method 300 for preparing a battery according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 10 As shown, the method 300 may include: S310, providing a plurality of first battery cells 21, each first battery cell 21 being cylindrical, with a gap between the plurality of first battery cells 21; S320, providing a second battery cell 22, the second battery cell 22 being disposed within the gap between the plurality of first battery cells 21, the second battery cell 22 being configured to deform under the compression of the plurality of first battery cells 21 to adapt to the shape of the gap; S330, providing a housing 11 for accommodating the plurality of first battery cells 21 and the second battery cell 22.

[0092] Figure 11 A schematic block diagram of a battery manufacturing apparatus 400 according to one embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 11As shown, the device 400 may include: a providing module 410, which is used to: provide a plurality of first battery cells 21, the first battery cells 21 being cylindrical, and the plurality of first battery cells 21 having gaps between them; provide a second battery cell 22, the second battery cell 22 being disposed within the gaps between the plurality of first battery cells 21, the second battery cell 22 being configured to deform under the compression of the plurality of first battery cells 21 to adapt to the shape of the gaps; and provide a housing 11 for accommodating the plurality of first battery cells 21 and the second battery cell 22.

[0093] Although this application has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications can be made thereto and components can be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope of this application. In particular, the technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any manner, provided there is no structural conflict. This application 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 in that, include: Multiple first battery cells (21), each first battery cell (21) is cylindrical, and there are gaps between the multiple first battery cells (21); A second battery cell (22) is disposed in the gap between a plurality of first battery cells (21), and the second battery cell (22) is configured to deform under the compression of the plurality of first battery cells (21) to adapt to the shape of the gap; The housing (11) is used to accommodate multiple first battery cells (21) and second battery cells (22). The second battery cell (22) is provided with a leakage sensor (222), which is used to detect whether the first battery cell (21) and / or the second battery cell (22) leaks. The leakage sensor (222) is located at one end of the second battery cell (22) near the first electrode terminal (211) of the first battery cell (21).

2. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery includes: A plurality of battery cell groups are arranged along a first direction, each of the plurality of battery cell groups including a plurality of first battery cells (21) arranged along a second direction, wherein the first direction, the second direction and the axis of the first battery cells (21) are perpendicular to each other, and a plurality of second battery cells (22) are respectively disposed in a plurality of gaps between two adjacent battery cell groups in the plurality of battery cell groups.

3. The battery according to claim 2, characterized in that, The axes of all the first battery cells (21) in the two adjacent battery cell groups do not coincide on the orthographic projection of the first plane (12), which is perpendicular to the first direction.

4. The battery according to claim 3, characterized in that, The axes of all the first battery cells (21) in the two adjacent battery cell groups are evenly distributed on the orthographic projection of the first plane (12).

5. The battery according to claim 3, characterized in that, The second battery cell (22) is located within the gap formed by three adjacent first battery cells (21) in the two adjacent battery cell groups.

6. The battery according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cross-section of the three adjacent first battery cells (21) along the second plane is three circles, and each pair of the three circles is an external circle of each other. The second plane is perpendicular to the axial direction of the first battery cell (21).

7. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second battery cell (22) is provided with a pressure sensor (223), which is used to detect the stress state of a plurality of first battery cells (21) that are pressing the second battery cell (22).

8. The battery according to claim 7, characterized in that, The pressure sensor (223) is arranged around the second battery cell (22).

9. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The battery includes a first busbar (131) and a second busbar (132). The first busbar (131) is used to realize the electrical connection between multiple first battery cells (21) to form a first power supply circuit; The second busbar (132) is used to realize the electrical connection between multiple second battery cells (22) to form a second power supply circuit, wherein the first power supply circuit and the second power supply circuit provide power to different power modules respectively.

10. An electrical appliance, characterized in that, include: The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is used to provide electrical energy to the electrical device.

11. A method for preparing a battery, characterized in that, include: A plurality of first battery cells (21) are provided, wherein the first battery cells (21) are cylindrical and there are gaps between the plurality of first battery cells (21); A second battery cell (22) is provided, which is disposed in the gap between a plurality of first battery cells (21). The second battery cell (22) is configured to deform under the compression of the plurality of first battery cells (21) to adapt to the shape of the gap. The second battery cell (22) is provided with a leakage sensor (222) for detecting whether leakage occurs in the first battery cell (21) and / or the second battery cell (22). The leakage sensor (222) is disposed at one end of the second battery cell (22) near the first electrode terminal (211) of the first battery cell (21). A housing (11) is provided for accommodating a plurality of the first battery cells (21) and the second battery cells (22).

12. An apparatus for manufacturing batteries, characterized in that, include: The providing module (410) is used to: A plurality of first battery cells (21) are provided, wherein the first battery cells (21) are cylindrical and there are gaps between the plurality of first battery cells (21); A second battery cell (22) is provided, which is disposed in the gap between a plurality of first battery cells (21). The second battery cell (22) is configured to deform under the compression of the plurality of first battery cells (21) to adapt to the shape of the gap. The second battery cell (22) is provided with a leakage sensor (222) for detecting whether leakage occurs in the first battery cell (21) and / or the second battery cell (22). The leakage sensor (222) is disposed at one end of the second battery cell (22) near the first electrode terminal (211) of the first battery cell (21). A housing (11) is provided for accommodating a plurality of the first battery cells (21) and the second battery cells (22).

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