Battery and electric device

Abstract

The application provides a battery and a power utilization device, and belongs to the technical field of batteries. The battery comprises a box assembly, a cell assembly and a heat exchange assembly. The box assembly comprises a box and a first expansion beam arranged in the box. The space in the box is divided into a first space and a second space by the first expansion beam. The cell assembly is arranged in the first space in the box and abuts against the first expansion beam at the end. The heat exchange assembly is arranged on the box assembly and comprises a heat exchange element, a current collector and an adapter. The heat exchange element is arranged in heat exchange with the cell assembly. The heat exchange element is in communication with the current collector. The adapter is in communication with the current collector. The first expansion beam and the box or the first expansion beam are provided with an empty space. The current collector and the adapter are both arranged in the box, and at least part of at least one of them is arranged in the empty space. The battery monomer is beneficial to improving the space utilization and 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 and an electrical device. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, new energy vehicles have experienced rapid development. In the field of electric vehicles, batteries, as the power source, play an irreplaceable and crucial role. However, the energy density of batteries needs further improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a battery and an electrical device that can help improve the energy density of the battery.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a battery, comprising: a housing assembly, a cell assembly, and a heat exchange assembly. The housing assembly includes a housing and a first expansion beam disposed within the housing. The space within the housing is divided into a first space and a second space by the first expansion beam. The cell assembly is disposed within the housing and located in the first space, with its end abutting against the first expansion beam. The heat exchange assembly is disposed within the housing assembly and includes a heat exchange element, a current collector, and an adapter. The heat exchange element exchanges heat with the cell assembly, and the heat exchange element is in communication with the current collector. The adapter is in communication with the current collector. A clearance space is formed between the first expansion beam and the housing or on the first expansion beam. Both the current collector and the adapter are disposed within the housing, and at least a portion of at least one of them is located within the clearance space.

[0005] In the above technical solution, on the one hand, by forming an open space between the first expansion beam and the housing, or on the first expansion beam, to accommodate at least a portion of at least one of the current collector and the adapter, the occupation of the current collector and / or adapter in the second space can be reduced, thereby saving space and facilitating the installation of the battery management system and / or high-voltage box in the second space, thus improving the space utilization rate; on the other hand, given the size optimization of the second space, the size of the first space can be relatively increased, thereby increasing the number of battery cells electrically connected in the first space, further improving the space utilization rate and increasing the volumetric energy density of the battery.

[0006] In some embodiments, the side surface of the first expansion beam facing the first space is the first surface, at least a portion of the current collector is located in the evacuation space, and the side surface of the current collector near the first space is flush with the first surface, or is disposed relative to the first surface and close to the second space.

[0007] In the above technical solution, by setting at least a portion of the current collector to be located in the open space and not protruding from the first expansion beam in the direction of the first space, the setting of the current collector will not interfere with the contact between the battery cell assembly and the first expansion beam, thereby simplifying the design and saving costs.

[0008] In some embodiments, the side surface of the first expansion beam facing the second space is the second surface, at least a portion of the current collector is located in the evacuation space, and the side surface of the current collector near the second space is flush with the second surface, or is disposed relative to the second surface and close to the first space.

[0009] In the above technical solution, by configuring at least a portion of the current collector to be located within the open space and not protruding from the first expansion beam towards the second space, the current collector will not occupy the second space, thereby further improving space utilization. Furthermore, when the current collector neither protrudes from the first expansion beam towards the first space nor towards the second space, the current collector can more fully utilize the space within the first expansion beam, further improving space utilization and thus increasing the volumetric energy density of the battery.

[0010] In some embodiments, the current collector is located in a sheltered space, one end of the adapter is located in the sheltered space and penetrates into the current collector to communicate with it, and the other end of the adapter extends into the second space.

[0011] In the above technical solution, by setting the entire current collector in the open space, the occupation of the current collector in the second space can be reduced, effectively improving the space utilization rate. Furthermore, by placing one end of the adapter in the open space to pass through the current collector, not only can the occupation of the second space be further reduced, but the connection between the current collector and the adapter can also be simplified, making assembly easier, saving parts, and improving the compactness of the fit between components.

[0012] In some embodiments, the adapter passes through the first expansion beam so that the other end of the adapter extends into the second space.

[0013] In the above technical solution, by setting the adapter to pass through the first expansion beam, it is convenient for the end of the adapter to extend into the second space, which reduces the difficulty of operation, improves the assembly efficiency, and simplifies the design and processing difficulty of the box, eliminating the need for special design and processing for the adapter.

[0014] In some embodiments, the clearance space includes a first clearance portion formed on the first expansion beam, the first clearance portion being open toward the first space.

[0015] In the above technical solution, by providing a first clearance portion that opens towards the first space on the first expansion beam, it is convenient to extend the current collector from one side of the first space towards the second space into the first clearance portion, which helps to reduce the difficulty of installing the current collector into the clearance space and improve assembly efficiency.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first clearance portion is formed as a recessed structure that is recessed in the direction toward the second space.

[0017] In the above technical solution, by setting the first clearance part as a recessed structure, the structural strength of the first expansion beam at the location where the first clearance part is set can be improved, which is beneficial to protect the current collector and / or adapter in the clearance space, and the first clearance part is easy to process.

[0018] In some embodiments, the first expansion beam includes an outer beam plate and an inner beam plate, the inner beam plate being away from the second space relative to the outer beam plate and abutting against the battery cell assembly, and the first clearance portion including a first recessed portion formed on the inner beam plate, the first recessed portion being recessed toward the second space.

[0019] In the above technical solution, by setting the first expansion beam to include an outer plate and an inner plate, the reliability of the first expansion beam in supporting the battery cell assembly can be improved, and the cost and weight of the first expansion beam can be reduced. Furthermore, by machining a first recess on the inner plate of the first expansion beam on the side closest to the battery cell assembly, the first recess can be made open towards the first space. Moreover, by partially machining the first recess on the inner plate to avoid current collectors and adapters, it is not necessary to reduce the overall height of the inner plate and move it upwards to avoid current collectors and adapters. This allows the inner plate to maintain its original height, providing a relatively large support range and achieving a better contact effect with the battery cell assembly.

[0020] In some embodiments, the first expansion beam further includes a reinforcing plate supported between the outer plate and the inner plate of the beam, and the first clearance portion further includes a second recess formed on the reinforcing plate, the second recess corresponding to the first recess and recessed in a direction away from the first recess.

[0021] In the above technical solution, by setting a reinforcing plate between the outer plate and the inner plate of the beam, the structural strength of the first expansion beam can be improved, which is beneficial to improving the support effect on the battery cell assembly. Furthermore, by locally processing the second recessed part of the reinforcing plate to avoid the current collector and the adapter, it is not necessary to reduce the overall height of the reinforcing plate and move it upward in order to avoid the current collector and the adapter. Thus, the reinforcing plate can maintain its original height and has a relatively large support range, thereby achieving a better support effect on the battery cell assembly.

[0022] In some embodiments, the open area of ​​the first recess on the side facing the first space is smaller than the open area of ​​the second recess on the side close to the first space.

[0023] In the above technical solution, since the open area of ​​the first recess facing the cell assembly is relatively small, it is beneficial to increase the contact range between the inner plate of the beam and the cell assembly and improve the reliability of the battery. On the other hand, the open area of ​​the second recess facing the first recess is relatively large, which is beneficial for the first recess to extend into the second recess, reducing the assembly difficulty of the inner plate of the beam and the reinforcing plate and improving the assembly efficiency of the first expansion beam.

[0024] In some embodiments, the current collector is located in the evacuation space, the adapter is in the form of a bend with one end located in the evacuation space and passing through the top wall of the current collector, and the other end passing through the first expansion beam and extending into the second space. The top wall of the first recess has an upper recess that accommodates the adapter.

[0025] In the above technical solution, by setting the adapter in the form of a bent tube with one end located in the open space and passing through the top wall of the current collector, and the other end passing through the first expansion beam and extending into the second space, the assembly efficiency can be improved. Moreover, by setting an upper recess to avoid the adapter on the top wall of the first recess, the open area of ​​the first recess facing the cell assembly can be further reduced, which is beneficial to increasing the contact range between the inner plate of the beam and the cell assembly and improving the reliability of the battery.

[0026] In some embodiments, the first expansion beam includes an outer beam plate and an inner beam plate arranged sequentially from the second space to the first space, and a reinforcing plate supported between the outer beam plate and the inner beam plate. The inner beam plate is provided with a first through hole, the reinforcing plate is provided with a second through hole, and the outer beam plate is provided with a third through hole. The first through hole, the second through hole, and the third through hole correspond to each other and are used to pass through the adapter.

[0027] In the above technical solution, by setting a first through hole on the inner plate of the beam, a second through hole on the reinforcing plate, and a third through hole on the outer plate of the beam, it is not necessary to reduce the height of any of the inner plate, reinforcing plate, and outer plate of the beam to avoid the adapter. This allows the inner plate, reinforcing plate, and outer plate of the beam to maintain their original height, have a relatively large support range, and achieve a better support effect for the battery cell assembly.

[0028] In some embodiments, the side surface of the first expansion beam facing the first space is the first surface, and a filler is provided at the first clearance portion, the outer surface of the filler being flush with the first surface.

[0029] In the above technical solution, by setting a filler to fill the space in the open surface of the first clearance part that is not occupied by the heat exchange component, the filler can be used to support the corresponding position of the cell assembly at the missing position of the first expansion beam, thereby improving the overall support effect of the cell assembly and improving the reliability of the battery.

[0030] In some embodiments, the first clearance portion is open on the side facing the bottom wall of the housing.

[0031] In the above technical solution, by setting the first clearance part to be open towards the bottom wall of the housing, it is convenient to process the first clearance part and to facilitate the insertion of the current collector and / or adapter into the first clearance part, thereby improving assembly efficiency.

[0032] In some embodiments, the first expansion beam is constructed as a continuous beam that is continuous in the corresponding open space.

[0033] In the above technical solution, since the first expansion beam is not a discontinuous multi-segment beam, the structural reliability of the first expansion beam can be improved, which is beneficial for supporting the battery cell assembly, and also facilitates the processing and assembly of the first expansion beam.

[0034] In some embodiments, the first expansion beam includes a first beam, the first beam including a plurality of beam segments spaced apart along the length of the first expansion beam, and the clearance space including a gap between two adjacent beam segments.

[0035] In the above technical solution, by setting the first expansion beam to include multiple beam segments, and utilizing the gap between two adjacent beam segments to avoid the current collector and / or adapter, it is beneficial to achieve flexible assembly of the heat exchange components.

[0036] In some embodiments, the first expansion beam further includes a second beam, which is disposed away from the second space relative to the first beam, and blocks the gap and abuts against the cell assembly.

[0037] In the above technical solution, by setting the first expansion beam as a combination of the first beam and the second beam, the first beam can meet the requirements of avoiding the current collector and / or the adapter, while the second beam can support the battery cell assembly. This is beneficial to improving the support effect of the first expansion beam on the battery cell assembly and improving the reliability of the battery.

[0038] In some embodiments, the second beam is an extruded hollow beam.

[0039] In the above technical solution, the second beam is easy to process and has good reliability, which helps to improve the support effect of the first expansion beam on the cell assembly and improve the reliability of the battery.

[0040] In some embodiments, the clearance space includes a second clearance portion, which is formed by a recess in the upper surface of the bottom wall. At least a portion of the second clearance portion is located below the first expansion beam, and at least a portion of the current collector is embedded in the second clearance portion.

[0041] In the above technical solution, since the second clearance portion is in the form of a groove, it is beneficial to improve the sealing performance of the box and reduce the sealing difficulty. In addition, when the clearance space includes both the first clearance portion formed on the first expansion beam and the second clearance portion formed on the bottom wall of the box, the volume of the clearance space can be increased, which is more conducive to accommodating the current collector. Moreover, by providing the second clearance portion on the bottom wall of the box to accommodate at least a portion of the current collector, the size of the first clearance portion can be relatively smaller, which is beneficial to reduce the open area of ​​the first recessed portion facing the cell assembly, and to increase the contact range between the inner plate of the beam and the cell assembly, thereby improving the reliability of the battery.

[0042] In some embodiments, the second clearance portion includes a first groove segment located below the first expansion beam and a second groove segment disposed away from the second space relative to the first groove segment, wherein the size of the second groove segment is larger than the size of the current collector in the direction from the first groove segment to the second groove segment.

[0043] In the above technical solution, by setting the size of the second groove segment to be larger than the size of the collector, the second groove segment can pre-accommodate the collector, so that the collector can be installed into the first groove segment with only a simple action of pushing, thereby reducing the assembly difficulty and improving the assembly efficiency.

[0044] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger is located inside the housing and between the bottom wall of the housing and the battery cell assembly.

[0045] In the above technical solution, by placing the heat exchanger inside the housing, compared to placing it outside the housing, the heat exchanger can more fully exchange heat with the battery cell assembly, improving the temperature regulation efficiency of the battery cell assembly and reducing the waste of heat or cold. Furthermore, placing the heat exchanger inside the housing facilitates the connection between the heat exchanger and the current collector inside the housing, reducing the difficulty of sealing the housing and improving the battery's sealing performance.

[0046] In some embodiments, the bottom surface of the current collector is lower than the bottom surface of the heat exchanger, and the end of the heat exchanger near the second space passes through the side wall of the current collector facing the first space.

[0047] In the above technical solution, the connection between the collector and the heat exchanger is facilitated, improving assembly efficiency. Furthermore, if the upper surface of the bottom wall of the housing has a recessed second clearance portion, at least a portion of the collector can be disposed within the second clearance portion, thereby reducing the lifting height of the collector relative to the bottom wall, decreasing the distance between the heat exchanger and the bottom wall, and reducing the space occupied by the heat exchanger in the first space. Moreover, when the second clearance portion includes a first groove segment located below the first expansion beam and a second groove segment positioned away from the second space relative to the first groove segment, and the size of the second groove segment is larger than the size of the collector in the direction from the first groove segment to the second groove segment, during assembly, the heat exchanger and collector can be installed by pushing them horizontally from the first space to the second space without any other turning or lifting operations, thus reducing assembly difficulty and improving assembly efficiency.

[0048] In some embodiments, the upper surface of the bottom wall has a recessed groove, and the heat exchanger is fitted into the groove.

[0049] The above technical solution reduces the space occupied by the heat exchanger within the housing, which is beneficial for increasing battery capacity. It also improves the stability of the fit between the heat exchanger and the housing, thereby enhancing the reliability of the heat exchanger in regulating the temperature of the battery cell assembly.

[0050] In some embodiments, an insulating layer is provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall and the outer surface of the heat exchanger, and insulating adhesive is filled between the bottom wall and the battery cell assembly.

[0051] The above technical solution can improve the insulation between the heat exchanger and the battery cell assembly, thereby improving the reliability of the battery. Moreover, by setting insulating adhesive, a stable connection between the battery cell assembly, the heat exchanger, and the housing can be achieved, thereby improving the stability and reliability of heat exchange between the heat exchanger and the battery cell assembly.

[0052] In some embodiments, the battery further includes at least one of a first temperature regulating element, a second temperature regulating element, and a third temperature regulating element, wherein the first temperature regulating element is disposed inside the housing assembly and at the top of the cell assembly; the second temperature regulating element is disposed between the large surfaces of adjacent battery cells in the cell assembly; and the third temperature regulating element is disposed outside the housing and below the bottom wall of the housing.

[0053] In the above technical solution, the temperature regulating component can be set in a suitable location according to the actual situation to meet the temperature regulation requirements of the battery.

[0054] In some embodiments, the housing assembly includes a bottom protective plate located below the housing, and the heat exchanger is located outside the housing and between the bottom wall of the housing and the bottom protective plate.

[0055] In the above technical solution, by placing the heat exchanger externally within the housing, the insulation between the heat exchanger and the battery cells inside the housing is eliminated, simplifying the insulation design of the heat exchanger, reducing processing difficulty and production costs, resolving the short-circuit problem between the battery cells and the heat exchanger, and improving battery reliability. Furthermore, by placing the heat exchanger externally within the housing, it does not occupy space inside the housing, ensuring that the battery capacity is not reduced due to its installation, thus better preserving the battery capacity. Moreover, by placing the heat exchanger below the bottom wall of the housing, it can exchange heat with the battery cells over a larger area, improving the temperature regulation effect and efficiency of the battery cells. Additionally, by installing a bottom protective plate below the heat exchanger, it can reliably protect the heat exchanger, reducing the risk of damage from impacts and bumps, and improving the operational reliability of the heat exchanger.

[0056] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger is connected to the collector via a connecting pipe that penetrates the bottom wall.

[0057] In the above technical solution, by embedding the collector inside the housing and placing the heat exchanger outside the housing, and by setting a connecting pipe that passes through the housing to connect the collector and the heat exchanger, the connection between the collector and the heat exchanger is facilitated, and the installation of the collector and the heat exchanger is also convenient.

[0058] In some embodiments, the housing assembly further includes a seal that is sealed between the bottom wall and the bottom guard plate, and includes an outer periphery surrounding the heat exchanger, with the connecting pipe penetrating the bottom wall through an inner region corresponding to the outer periphery.

[0059] In the above technical solution, by placing the connecting pipe through the bottom wall within the area surrounded by the outer perimeter, when the outer perimeter is sealed between the bottom wall and the bottom protective plate, mud, water, and particles from outside the housing assembly are less likely to penetrate the outer perimeter and enter the space between the bottom wall and the bottom protective plate, and flow to the location where the connecting pipe penetrates the bottom wall and enters the housing, thereby improving battery reliability. Furthermore, because the outer perimeter surrounds the heat exchange components, mud, water, and particles from outside the housing assembly are less likely to penetrate the outer perimeter and enter the space between the bottom wall and the bottom protective plate, thus preventing contamination or corrosion of the heat exchange components between them, thereby improving the reliability and service life of the heat exchange components.

[0060] In some embodiments, a base adhesive layer is provided between the heat exchanger and the bottom wall and the bottom protective plate, respectively.

[0061] In the above technical solution, on the one hand, the stability of heat transfer between the heat exchanger and the bottom wall can be improved, and on the other hand, the protective properties of the two sides of the heat exchanger can be improved, thus protecting the heat exchanger.

[0062] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger includes at least one bent and extended heat exchange tube, and the housing assembly further includes: a foaming element disposed between the bottom wall and the bottom protective plate, and including a first foaming portion disposed around the heat exchanger, and a second foaming portion disposed between adjacent tube segments of the same heat exchange tube or between adjacent heat exchange tubes.

[0063] In the above technical solution, foam can be used to fill the space between the bottom wall and the bottom protective plate where the heat exchanger is removed, that is, it is complementary to the heat exchanger. Thus, the foam can support the bottom wall and the bottom protective plate. When the protective plate is impacted, the foam can buffer the impact force and reduce the force of the bottom protective plate impacting the heat exchanger or the housing, thereby protecting the heat exchanger and the battery cell components inside the housing. Moreover, the foam can also fill the gaps between the heat exchange tubes, which can support and limit the position of the heat exchange tubes, so that the heat exchange tubes can be stably positioned to achieve stable temperature regulation.

[0064] In some embodiments, the foam is attached to the bottom cover plate, and the upper surface of the heat exchanger is higher than the upper surface of the foam.

[0065] In the above technical solution, the surface of the heat exchanger facing the bottom wall is positioned closer to the bottom wall than the surface of the foam component facing the bottom wall. This reduces the molding difficulty of the foam component and facilitates control over its thickness uniformity. The placement of the foam component does not interfere with the heat transfer between the heat exchanger and the bottom wall, thereby improving the stability and reliability of heat transfer between them. This enhances the temperature regulation effect on the battery cell assembly and ultimately improves the battery's operational reliability.

[0066] In some embodiments, the battery further includes at least one of a first temperature regulating element, a second temperature regulating element, and a fourth temperature regulating element, wherein the first temperature regulating element is disposed within the housing assembly and at the top of the cell assembly; the second temperature regulating element is disposed between the large surfaces of adjacent battery cells in the cell assembly; and the fourth temperature regulating element is disposed within the housing and located between the bottom wall and the cell assembly.

[0067] In the above technical solution, the temperature regulating component can be set in a suitable location according to the actual situation to meet the temperature regulation requirements of the battery.

[0068] In some embodiments, the housing is an integrally stamped part and includes a bottom wall and a surrounding wall, with the heat exchange components laid on the bottom wall.

[0069] In the above technical solution, by laying the heat exchange components on the bottom wall, the heat exchange area between the heat exchange components and the battery cell assembly can be increased, thereby improving the temperature regulation effect on the battery cell assembly. Furthermore, since the bottom wall and the surrounding walls of the housing are integrally stamped, there is no need to consider sealing issues at the connection between the bottom wall and the surrounding walls, ensuring a good seal. This prevents mud and water from seeping into the housing from the connection between the bottom wall and the surrounding walls and affecting the battery cell assembly inside, thus improving battery reliability. Moreover, the integrally stamped housing eliminates the need for splicing, improving production efficiency.

[0070] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchange channels arranged in parallel.

[0071] In the above technical solution, since the heat exchanger includes multiple heat exchange channels arranged in parallel, when the total length of the channels required by the heat exchanger is fixed, the length of each heat exchange channel can be relatively short, which is conducive to improving the overall heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger and improving the temperature regulation effect of the heat exchanger on the battery cell assembly.

[0072] In some embodiments, there are two heat exchange channels, namely a first heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel, with the first end of each channel converging and communicating with the first heat exchange channel, and the second end of each channel converging and communicating with the second heat exchange channel.

[0073] In the above technical solution, by setting up a first collector and a second collector, the first end of each heat exchange channel is converged and connected to the first collector, and the second end of each heat exchange channel is converged and connected to the second collector. Thus, one of the first and second collectors can serve as the liquid inlet collector, and the other as the liquid outlet collector. Each collector does not need two channels with opposite flow directions, thereby simplifying the collector structure and improving reliability. Furthermore, by converging the two ends of multiple heat exchange channels to the two collectors respectively, the number of collectors can be reduced, lowering material costs.

[0074] In some embodiments, the current collector is one and includes a first flow channel interface and a second flow channel interface that are isolated from each other. There are multiple first flow channel interfaces that are interconnected, and multiple second flow channel interfaces that are interconnected. The multiple second flow channel interfaces are located on both sides of the multiple first flow channel interfaces. The first ends of the multiple heat exchange channels correspond to and are connected to the multiple first flow channel interfaces one by one, and the second ends of the multiple heat exchange channels correspond to and are connected to the multiple second flow channel interfaces one by one.

[0075] The above technical solution can reduce the number of current collectors, allowing only one clearance space to be opened and located in a concentrated position, which helps to reduce sealing difficulty, reduce assembly difficulty, improve production efficiency, and improve battery reliability.

[0076] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger includes at least one first heat exchange channel, the first heat exchange channel including a first heat exchange section, a second heat exchange section and a third heat exchange section, the second heat exchange section is bent to form a first U-shaped region, the first heat exchange section is bent and disposed within the first U-shaped region, and is connected to the second heat exchange section by bending through the third heat exchange section, the second heat exchange section being located on the outermost side of the first heat exchange channel in the circumferential direction.

[0077] In the above technical solution, by bending the second heat exchange section to form a first U-shaped region, and by bending the first heat exchange section within the first U-shaped region, and by setting the second heat exchange section to be located on the outermost side of the first heat exchange channel in the circumferential direction, when the heat exchange component of this embodiment exchanges heat with the battery cell assembly, at least a portion of the first U-shaped region formed by the outer second heat exchange section can be aligned with at least a portion of the battery cells on the outer periphery of the battery cell assembly, so that the second heat exchange section can exchange heat with at least a portion of the battery cells on the outer periphery of the battery cell assembly. By aligning the first heat exchange section within the first U-shaped region with the internal battery cells, the heat exchange component can compensate for the internal and external temperature differences caused by heat exchange between the external battery cells and the environment, making the heat exchange effect of the battery cells on the periphery of the battery cell assembly and the battery cells inside the battery cell assembly more consistent. This is beneficial for improving the temperature difference of the battery cell assembly in different environments, improving the temperature uniformity of the battery, and thus improving the battery's service life to a certain extent.

[0078] In some embodiments, the battery cell assembly includes a plurality of battery cells arranged along a first direction, each battery cell including a plurality of battery cells stacked sequentially along a second direction, and at least a portion of the second heat exchange section exchanges heat with the plurality of battery cells located at the outermost periphery of the battery cell assembly.

[0079] In the above technical solution, by coordinating the arrangement of battery cells and extending the arrangement of the first heat exchange channel, and setting at least part of the second heat exchange section to exchange heat with the outer battery cell group, the heat exchange efficiency of the outer battery cell group can be improved, thereby further balancing the temperature difference caused by the heat dissipation of the outer battery cells being greater than that of the inner battery cells.

[0080] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger further includes at least one second heat exchange channel, and the second heat exchange channel and the first heat exchange channel are bent in the same plane, with the second heat exchange channel bent within the first U-shaped region of the first heat exchange channel.

[0081] In the above technical solution, by setting at least one first heat exchange channel and at least one second heat exchange channel, and by coordinating their relative positions, the arrangement of the heat exchange channels can be designed according to the cooling requirements of the battery, thereby further optimizing the temperature regulation effect of the cell assembly and improving the temperature uniformity of the battery.

[0082] In some embodiments, at least one second heat exchange channel is bent to form a second U-shaped region, and at least a portion of the first heat exchange section is disposed within the second U-shaped region of the second heat exchange channel.

[0083] In the above technical solution, by setting at least one second heat exchange channel to form a second U-shaped region, and setting at least a portion of the first heat exchange section within the second U-shaped region of the second heat exchange channel, it is beneficial to coordinate the first heat exchange channel and the second heat exchange channel to further improve the temperature uniformity of the battery.

[0084] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger includes at least one bent and extended heat exchange tube, each heat exchange tube defining a heat exchange flow channel, and the heat exchange tube has a flat tube structure.

[0085] In the above technical solutions, the flat tube structure heat exchanger occupies less space, which is beneficial to increasing battery capacity and reducing battery weight, volume and cost.

[0086] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide an electrical device including a battery from any of the above-described solutions.

[0087] In the above technical solution, the improved manufacturability of the battery is beneficial to improving the performance of the electrical device. Attached Figure Description

[0088] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this application and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0089] Figure 1 This application provides structural schematic diagrams of vehicles for some embodiments;

[0090] Figure 2 Exploded views of the battery structure provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0091] Figure 3 Partial structural diagrams of the battery provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0092] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the orthographic projection of a portion of the battery structure shown;

[0093] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a heat exchange assembly provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0094] Figure 6 for Figure 5An enlarged view of part A, shown in the center circle;

[0095] Figure 7 Partial structural diagrams of the battery provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0096] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Enlarged view of section B shown in the center circle;

[0097] Figure 9 For along Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the CC line;

[0098] Figure 10 Partial structural diagrams of the battery provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0099] Figure 11 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of section D shown in the center circle;

[0100] Figure 12 A partial cross-sectional view of a battery provided for some embodiments of this application;

[0101] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the fit between the heat exchange components and the outer plate of the beam according to some embodiments of this application;

[0102] Figure 14 for Figure 13 An enlarged view of section E, shown in the center circle;

[0103] Figure 15 Exploded view of a first expansion beam provided for some embodiments of this application;

[0104] Figure 16 for Figure 15 An exploded view of the first expansion beam from another angle;

[0105] Figure 17 Partial structural diagrams of the battery provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0106] Figure 18 for Figure 17 Enlarged view of section F shown in the center circle;

[0107] Figure 19 This is a schematic diagram of the orthographic projection of a portion of the battery structure provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0108] Figure 20 For along Figure 19 A cross-sectional view of the GG line in the middle;

[0109] Figure 21 for Figure 19 A schematic diagram of the orthographic projection of a portion of the battery structure shown;

[0110] Figure 22 A partial cross-sectional view of a battery provided for some embodiments of this application;

[0111] Figure 23 Partial cross-sectional view of a battery provided for other embodiments of this application;

[0112] Figure 24 Exploded views of a portion of the battery provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0113] Figure 25 Exploded views of a portion of the battery provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0114] Figure 26 A partial cross-sectional view of a battery provided for some embodiments of this application;

[0115] Figure 27 A partial cross-sectional view of a battery provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0116] Figure 28 Exploded views of heat exchange components provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0117] Figure 29 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the interaction between the heat exchanger and the battery cell assembly provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0118] Figure 30 Exploded views of current collectors and adapters provided for some embodiments of this application;

[0119] Figure 31 A cross-sectional view of a current collector provided for some embodiments of this application;

[0120] Figure 32 A schematic diagram of a heat exchanger provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0121] Figure 33 This is a schematic diagram of a heat exchanger provided in some other embodiments of this application.

[0122] Reference numerals: Vehicle 1000; Battery 100; Controller 200; Motor 300; Box assembly 1; First direction X; Second direction Y; Third direction Z; Clearance space 10; Box 11; First space 111; Second space 112; Bottom wall 113; Second clearance part 1131; First trough section 11311; Second trough section 11312; Settlement trough 1132; Enclosure wall 114; Box cover 12; First expansion beam 13; First clearance part 131; First surface 132; Second surface 133; Inner beam plate 134; First recess Recess 1341; Upper recess 13411; First through hole 1342; Beam outer plate 135; Third through hole 1352; Reinforcing plate 136; Second recess 1361; Second through hole 1362; Filler 137; Outer surface of filler 1371; First beam 138; Beam segment 1381; Spacing gap 1382; Second beam 139; Second expansion beam 14; Third expansion beam 15; Bottom guard plate 16; First guard plate 161; Second guard plate 162; Foaming component 17; First foaming part 171; Second foaming part 172; 18 sealing element; 181 outer periphery; 19 base adhesive layer; 2 battery cell assembly; 20 battery cell; 21 battery cell; 22 end of battery cell; 3 heat exchange assembly; 31 heat exchange element; 311 heat exchange channel; 311a first end; 311b second end; 3110 first heat exchange channel; 3111 first heat exchange section; 3112 second heat exchange section; 3113 third heat exchange section; Z1 first U-shaped region; R1 first section; R2 second section; R3 third section; R4 fourth section; 3114 second heat exchange channel; Z2 second U-shaped region; heat exchange Pipe 312; Current collector 32; Surface 1 321; Surface 2 322; First current collector 32a; Second current collector 32b; First flow channel interface 32c; Second flow channel interface 32d; Pipe body 323; Separation structure 324; Sealing structure 325; First channel 3231; Second channel 3232; Adapter 33; Insulating layer 34; Insulating adhesive 35; Connecting pipe 36; First seal 37; Second seal 38; Adapter pipe 4; First temperature regulating component 51; Second temperature regulating component 52; Third temperature regulating component 53; Fourth temperature regulating component 54. Detailed Implementation

[0123] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0124] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used in the description of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the description, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the description, claims, or accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order or hierarchy.

[0125] In this application, the reference to "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments.

[0126] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "attachment" 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; and they can refer to the internal communication 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.

[0127] In this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, in this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0128] 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.

[0129] In this application, "multiple" means two or more (including two).

[0130] 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.

[0131] 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. A battery generally includes a housing assembly for encapsulating one or more battery cells or one or more battery modules. A battery module generally includes multiple battery cells, and the housing assembly can mitigate the impact of liquids or other foreign matter on the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

[0132] A battery cell includes a casing, electrode assemblies, and electrolyte. The casing houses the electrode assemblies and electrolyte, and contains one or more electrode assemblies. The electrode assembly consists of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. The electrode assembly can be a wound structure or a stacked structure, etc. The battery cell primarily functions by the movement of metal ions between the positive and negative electrode assemblies.

[0133] A positive electrode typically includes a positive current collector and a positive active material layer. The positive active material layer is directly or indirectly coated onto the positive current collector. The positive current collector without a positive active material layer protrudes from the one with a positive active material layer, serving as the positive electrode tab. Taking a lithium-ion battery as an example, the material of the positive current collector can be aluminum, and the material of the positive active material layer can be lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, or lithium manganese oxide, etc.

[0134] A negative electrode typically includes a negative current collector and a negative active material layer. The negative active material layer is directly or indirectly coated onto the negative current collector. The negative current collector without a negative active material layer protrudes from the negative current collector with a negative active material layer, and the negative current collector without a negative active material layer serves as the negative electrode tab. The material of the negative current collector can be copper, and the material of the negative active material layer can be carbon or silicon, etc.

[0135] To ensure that the battery can withstand high currents without melting, multiple positive electrode tabs are stacked together to form the positive electrode tab section, and multiple negative electrode tabs are stacked together to form the negative electrode tab section. The housing has terminals; the positive electrode tabs are electrically connected to the positive terminal terminal, and the negative electrode tabs are electrically connected to the negative terminal terminal. The tabs can be directly connected to the terminals or indirectly connected via adapter plates.

[0136] The material of the separator is not limited; for example, it can be polypropylene or polyethylene.

[0137] In related technologies, batteries have brazed cold plates and expansion beams inside the casing. The expansion beams have a first space for installing individual battery cells and a second space for installing the battery management system and / or high-voltage box on both sides. The current collection path connected to the brazed cold plate needs to pass under the expansion beam to extend from the first space to the second space. This current collection path occupies space in the second space, affecting the installation of the battery management system and / or high-voltage box, which is not conducive to battery manufacturing. If the second space is enlarged to facilitate the installation of the battery management system and / or high-voltage box, the space of the first space needs to be sacrificed, thereby reducing the first space's capacity to accommodate individual battery cells and resulting in a lower volumetric energy density of the battery.

[0138] Therefore, some embodiments of this application propose a battery that, by providing an open space between the expansion beam and the housing to accommodate at least part of the current collection path, can reduce the occupation of the current collection path on the second space, thereby saving space and facilitating the installation of the battery management system and / or high-voltage box, improving space utilization, and benefiting battery manufacturing. Furthermore, given the optimized size of the second space, the size of the first space can be relatively increased, thereby increasing the number of battery cells in the first space and improving the volumetric energy density of the battery.

[0139] This application provides an electrical device that uses a battery as a power source. The electrical device can be, but is not limited to, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, electric toys, power tools, electric vehicles, electric cars, ships, spacecraft, etc. Electric toys can include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc. Spacecraft can include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc.

[0140] For ease of explanation, the following embodiments will use a vehicle as an example of an electrical device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0141] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle 1000 provided in some embodiments of this application. The vehicle 1000 can be a gasoline-powered vehicle, a natural gas-powered vehicle, or a new energy vehicle. New energy vehicles can be pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, or range-extended electric vehicles, etc. A battery 100 is disposed inside the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100 can be located at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 can be used to power the vehicle 1000; for example, the battery 100 can serve as the operating power source for the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 may also include a controller 200 and a motor 300. The controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to supply power to the motor 300, for example, to meet the power needs of the vehicle 1000 during startup, navigation, and driving.

[0142] In some embodiments of this application, the battery 100 can not only serve as the operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but also as the driving power source for the vehicle 1000, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1000.

[0143] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a partially exploded view of the battery 100 provided in some embodiments of this application. The battery 100 includes a housing assembly 1 and a cell assembly 2. The housing assembly 1 includes a housing 11, and the cell assembly 2 is disposed within the housing 11. The cell assembly 2 includes multiple battery cells 21, which can be connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner. A mixed connection means that some of the multiple battery cells 21 are connected in series and others in parallel. The multiple battery cells 21 can be directly connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner, and then the whole assembly formed by the multiple battery cells 21 is housed within the housing assembly 1. Alternatively, the multiple battery cells 21 can first be connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner to form a battery module, and then the multiple battery modules can be connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner to form a whole, which is then housed within the housing assembly 1.

[0144] It is worth noting that the orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "top," "bottom," "upper," and "lower" in this document are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used solely for the convenience of describing this application and for simplification, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. For example, in... Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the housing assembly 1 includes a housing 11 and a cover 12, with the cover 12 located on the top of the housing 11. In actual use, the battery 100 can be placed upright with the cover 12 on top of the housing 11, or the battery 100 can be placed upside down with the cover 12 at the bottom of the housing 11.

[0145] In addition, the battery 100 may include other structures. For example, the battery 100 may also include a current-combining component for realizing electrical connection between multiple battery cells 21. Each battery cell 21 may be a secondary battery or a primary battery; it may also be a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery, but is not limited to these. The battery cell 21 may be cylindrical, flat, cuboid, etc.

[0146] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The housing assembly 1 also includes a first expansion beam 13 disposed within the housing 11. The space within the housing 11 is divided into a first space 111 and a second space 112 by the first expansion beam 13. The battery cell assembly 2 is located in the first space 111, and the end 22 of the battery cell assembly 2 abuts against the first expansion beam 13. Here, the term "abuts" in "the battery cell assembly 2 abuts against the first expansion beam 13" is interpreted broadly and can refer to direct contact or indirect contact.

[0147] In the above technical solution, since the cell assembly 2 is located on the side of the first expansion beam 13 away from the second space 112, the second space 112 does not need to be equipped with the cell assembly 2. Thus, the second space 112 can be used as an installation space for installing the battery management system (BMS), high voltage box, etc.

[0148] It is worth noting that, in addition to housing the battery cell assembly 2, the first space 111 can also house other components. For example, in some examples, combined with... Figure 2 A second expansion beam 14 can also be installed within the first space 111, with the battery cell assembly 2 sandwiched between the first expansion beam 13 and the second expansion beam 14. For example, in some other examples, combined with... Figure 3 and Figure 4 A second expansion beam 14 and a third expansion beam 15 can also be set in the first space 111. The third expansion beam 15 is located between the first expansion beam 13 and the second expansion beam 14. The third expansion beam 15 divides the first space 111 into two spaces. Each space is provided with multiple battery cells 21, so that a part of the battery cell assembly 2 is sandwiched between the first expansion beam 13 and the third expansion beam 15, and the rest of the battery cell assembly 2 is sandwiched between the third expansion beam 15 and the second expansion beam 14.

[0149] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 The battery 100 also includes a heat exchange assembly 3, which is disposed on the housing assembly 1. The heat exchange assembly 3 includes a heat exchange element 31, a current collector 32, and an adapter 33. The heat exchange element 31 is configured to exchange heat with the cell assembly 2. The heat exchange element 31 is connected to the current collector 32, and the adapter 33 is connected to the current collector 32.

[0150] For example, the fluid to be heat exchanged enters the collector 32 through the adapter 33, and then is injected into the heat exchanger 31 through the collector 32. The fluid to be heat exchanged flows through the heat exchanger 31 and exchanges heat with the battery cell assembly 2, thereby regulating the temperature of the battery cell assembly 2. The fluid after heat exchange is discharged from the heat exchanger 31 and enters the collector 32, and then flows out through the adapter 33. The fluid to be heat exchanged can be in liquid or gas form, etc. For simplicity, the following description uses the fluid flowing through the heat exchanger assembly 3 as a heat exchange liquid.

[0151] Please refer to Figures 7-9 A clearance space 10 is formed between the first expansion beam 13 and the housing 11, or on the first expansion beam 13. Both the collector 32 and the adapter 33 are located inside the housing 11, and at least a portion of at least one of them is located inside the clearance space 10. For example, at least a portion of the collector 32 may be located inside the clearance space 10, or at least a portion of the adapter 33 may be located inside the clearance space 10, or at least a portion of both the collector 32 and the adapter 33 may be located inside the clearance space 10.

[0152] The clearance space 10 can be defined solely by the first expansion beam 13, for example, the clearance space 10 can be perforated. Alternatively, the clearance space 10 can also be defined jointly by the box body 11 and the first expansion beam 13, with the position corresponding to the first expansion beam 13. For example, at least one of the box body 11 and the first expansion beam 13 has a clearance portion (such as a groove structure or a notch structure), and the clearance portion forms the clearance space 10. For example, when the clearance space 10 is defined jointly by the box body 11 and the first expansion beam 13, and the box body 11 includes a bottom wall 113 and a surrounding wall 114, the clearance space 10 can be defined jointly by the first expansion beam 13 and the bottom wall 113 of the box body 11, or it can be defined jointly by the first expansion beam 13 and the surrounding wall 114 of the box body 11, depending on the specific placement position of the current collector 32.

[0153] In the above technical solution, by forming an open space 10 between the first expansion beam 13 and the housing 11, or on the first expansion beam 13, to accommodate at least a portion of at least one of the current collector 32 and the adapter 33, the occupation of the current collector 32 and / or the adapter 33 on the second space 112 can be reduced, thereby saving space and facilitating the installation of the battery management system (BMS) and / or high-voltage box in the second space 112, thus improving space utilization. Furthermore, given the optimized dimensions of the second space 112, the dimensions of the first space 111 can be relatively increased, thereby increasing the number of battery cells 21 within the first space 111 and improving the volumetric energy density of the battery 100.

[0154] refer to Figure 9In some embodiments of this application, the side surface of the first expansion beam 13 facing the first space is the first surface 132, at least a portion of the collector 32 is located in the evacuation space 10, and the side surface of the collector 32 near the first space 111 (i.e., surface 321 of the collector 32) is flush with the first surface 132, or is located near the second space 112 relative to the first surface 132.

[0155] In the above technical solution, by setting at least a portion of the current collector 32 within the clearance space 10 and not protruding from the first expansion beam 13 towards the first space 111, the current collector 32 will not interfere with the contact between the battery cell assembly 2 and the first expansion beam 13, thereby simplifying the design. For example, neither the battery cell assembly 2 nor the first expansion beam 13 needs to be structurally adjusted to avoid the protruding portion of the first expansion beam 13, nor does it need to have other supporting structures between the battery cell assembly 2 and the first expansion beam 13 to achieve avoidance.

[0156] Please refer to Figure 9 In some embodiments of this application, the side surface of the first expansion beam 13 facing the second space 112 is the second surface 133, at least a portion of the collector 32 is located in the evacuation space 10, and the side surface of the collector 32 near the second space 112 (i.e., surface 322 of the collector 32) is flush with the second surface 133, or is disposed near the first space 111 relative to the second surface 133.

[0157] In the above technical solution, by setting at least a portion of the collector 32 to be located within the open space 10 and not protruding from the first expansion beam 13 toward the second space 112, the arrangement of the collector 32 will not occupy the second space 112, thereby further improving the space utilization rate.

[0158] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this application, when the current collector 32 does not protrude from the first expansion beam 13 in the direction of the first space 111, nor in the direction of the second space 112, the current collector 32 can make fuller use of the space within the first expansion beam 13, thereby further improving the space utilization rate.

[0159] However, this application is not limited to this. For example, in other embodiments of this application, the current collector 32 can be configured to protrude from the first expansion beam 13 in the direction of the first space 111. In this case, a support pad can be provided between the first expansion beam 13 and the battery cell assembly 2. The support pad forms an avoidance gap at the position corresponding to the current collector 32 so that the first expansion beam 13 can abut against the battery cell assembly 2 through the support pad.

[0160] For example, in other embodiments of this application, the collector 32 may be configured to protrude from the first expansion beam 13 in the direction of the second space 112. However, compared with the collector 32 being completely placed in the second space 112, this method can reduce the space occupied by the collector 32 in the second space 112 and improve the space utilization rate to a certain extent.

[0161] Please refer to Figure 9 In some embodiments of this application, the current collector 32 is located in the open space 10, one end of the adapter 33 is located in the open space 10 and penetrates into the current collector 32 to communicate with the current collector 32, and the other end of the adapter 33 extends into the second space 112.

[0162] In the above technical solution, by placing the entire current collector 32 within the clearance space 10, the occupation of the current collector 32 in the second space 112 can be reduced, effectively improving space utilization. Furthermore, by placing one end of the adapter 33 within the clearance space 10 to pass through the current collector 32, not only can the occupation of the second space 112 be further reduced, but the connection between the current collector 32 and the adapter 33 can also be simplified, facilitating assembly, saving parts, and improving the compactness of the fit between components. For example, by extending the other end of the adapter 33 into the second space 112, it is convenient for the adapter 33 to connect with the adapter pipe 4 extending into the second space 112 (e.g., ...). Figure 10 (As shown) connection, to realize the introduction and discharge of heat exchange liquid.

[0163] Please refer to Figures 11-14 In some embodiments of this application, the adapter 33 passes through the first expansion beam 13 so that the other end of the adapter 33 extends into the second space 112. For example, a through hole can be provided on the first expansion beam 13 so that the other end of the adapter 33 passes through the first expansion beam 13, that is, the other end of the adapter 33 passes through the through hole.

[0164] Therefore, by configuring the adapter 33 to pass through the first expansion beam 13, it is convenient for the adapter 33 to extend into the second space 112, reducing the difficulty of operation, improving assembly efficiency, and simplifying the design and processing difficulty of the housing 11, eliminating the need for special design and processing for the adapter 33. Of course, this application is not limited to this. For example, in other embodiments of this application, the other end of the adapter 33 can also extend into the second space 112 from the bottom of the first expansion beam 13.

[0165] The form of the through hole depends on the configuration of the first expansion beam 13. For example, when the first expansion beam 13 is composed of multiple beam plates, through holes can be machined on each beam plate. In this case, there can be multiple through holes, which are correspondingly arranged. For example, in some embodiments of this application, please refer to... Figures 12-16The first expansion beam 13 includes an outer beam plate 135 and an inner beam plate 134 arranged sequentially from the second space 112 to the first space 111. The first expansion beam 13 also includes a reinforcing plate 136 supported between the outer beam plate 135 and the inner beam plate 134. The inner beam plate 134 is provided with a first through hole 1342, the reinforcing plate 136 is provided with a second through hole 1362, and the outer beam plate 135 is provided with a third through hole 1352. The first through hole 1342, the second through hole 1362 and the third through hole 1352 correspond to and are used to pass through the adapter 33. Therefore, by providing a first through hole 1342 on the inner beam plate 134, a second through hole 1362 on the reinforcing plate 136, and a third through hole 1352 on the outer beam plate 135, it is not necessary to reduce the height of any one of the inner beam plate 134, the reinforcing plate 136, and the outer beam plate 135 to avoid the adapter 33. This allows the inner beam plate 134, the reinforcing plate 136, and the outer beam plate 135 to maintain their original heights, providing a relatively large support range and achieving a better support effect for the battery cell assembly 2.

[0166] Please refer to Figure 12 , Figure 15 and Figure 16 In some embodiments of this application, the clearance space 10 includes a first clearance portion 131 formed on the first expansion beam 13, which opens toward the first space 111. Therefore, by providing the first clearance portion 131 on the first expansion beam 13, which opens toward the first space 111, it is convenient to extend the current collector 32 from one side of the first space 111 toward the second space 112 into the first clearance portion 131, which helps to reduce the difficulty of loading the current collector 32 into the clearance space 10 and improves assembly efficiency.

[0167] Furthermore, in some embodiments, since the first expansion beam 13 is provided with a first clearance portion 131, at least a portion of the collector 32 can be disposed in the first clearance portion 131, so as to utilize the space on the first expansion beam 13 to accommodate at least a portion of the collector 32, thereby further improving space utilization.

[0168] Please refer to Figure 15 and Figure 16 For example, the first clearance portion 131 is formed as a recessed structure that is recessed in the direction of the second space 112. Thus, by setting the first clearance portion 131 as a recessed structure, the structural strength of the first expansion beam 13 at the location where the first clearance portion 131 is set can be improved, which is beneficial to protecting the current collector 32 and / or the adapter 33 in the clearance space, and the first clearance portion 131 is easy to process.

[0169] Please refer to Figure 15 and Figure 16In some embodiments of this application, the first expansion beam 13 includes an outer beam plate 135 and an inner beam plate 134. The inner beam plate 134 is located away from the second space 112 relative to the outer beam plate 135, and the inner beam plate 134 abuts against the battery cell assembly 2 (direct or indirect contact is acceptable). The first clearance portion 131 includes a first recessed portion 1341 formed on the inner beam plate 134, and the first recessed portion 1341 is recessed toward the second space 112. That is, when the first clearance portion 131 is formed as a recessed structure recessed toward the second space 112, the first clearance portion 131 may include the first recessed portion 1341 formed on the inner beam plate 134.

[0170] Therefore, by configuring the first expansion beam 13 to include an outer beam plate 135 and an inner beam plate 134, the reliability of the first expansion beam 13 in supporting the battery cell assembly 2 can be improved, and the cost and weight of the first expansion beam 13 can be reduced. Moreover, by machining a first recess 1341 on the inner beam plate 134 on the side of the first expansion beam 13 closest to the battery cell assembly 2, the first recess 1341 can be made open towards the first space 111. Furthermore, by partially machining the first recess 1341 on the inner beam plate 134 to avoid the current collector 32 and the adapter 33, it is not necessary to reduce the overall height of the inner beam plate 134 and move it upward to avoid the current collector 32 and the adapter 33. This allows the inner beam plate 134 to maintain its original height, has a relatively large support range, and achieves a better contact effect with the battery cell assembly 2.

[0171] Please refer to Figure 12 , Figure 15 and Figure 16 In some embodiments of this application, the first expansion beam 13 further includes a reinforcing plate 136 supported between the outer beam plate 135 and the inner beam plate 134, and the first clearance portion 131 further includes a second recess 1361 formed on the reinforcing plate 136. The second recess 1361 corresponds to the first recess 1341 and is recessed in a direction away from the first recess 1341.

[0172] Therefore, by setting a reinforcing plate 136 between the outer beam 135 and the inner beam 134, the structural strength of the first expansion beam 13 can be improved, which is beneficial to improving the support effect on the battery cell assembly 2. Furthermore, by partially machining the second recess 1361 of the reinforcing plate 136 to avoid the current collector 32 and the adapter 33, it is not necessary to reduce the overall height of the reinforcing plate 136 and move it upward in order to avoid the current collector 32 and the adapter 33. Thus, the reinforcing plate 136 can maintain its original height and has a relatively large support range, thereby achieving a better support effect on the battery cell assembly 2.

[0173] Please refer to Figure 12 , Figure 15 and Figure 16In some embodiments of this application, the open area of ​​the first recess 1341 facing the first space 111 is smaller than the open area of ​​the second recess 1361 facing the first space 111. Therefore, since the open area of ​​the first recess 1341 facing the cell assembly 2 is relatively small, it is beneficial to increase the contact range between the inner beam plate 134 and the cell assembly 2, improving the reliability of the battery 100. Conversely, the open area of ​​the second recess 1361 facing the first recess 1341 is relatively large, which is beneficial for the first recess 1341 to extend into the second recess 1361, reducing the assembly difficulty of the inner beam plate 134 and the reinforcing plate 136, and improving the assembly efficiency of the first expansion beam 13.

[0174] In some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 12 The current collector 32 is located within the sheltered space 10. The adapter 33 is in the form of a bent pipe, with one end located within the sheltered space 10 and passing through the top wall of the current collector 32, and the other end passing through the first expansion beam 13 and extending into the second space 112. Figure 8 , Figure 15 and Figure 16 The top wall of the first recess 1341 has an upper recess 13411, which accommodates the adapter 33.

[0175] For example, the adapter 33 is in the form of a bend and includes a horizontal pipe section and a vertical pipe section. The horizontal pipe section extends from the upper end of the vertical pipe section toward the second space 112. The lower end of the vertical pipe section penetrates downward into the top wall of the collector 32. The end of the horizontal pipe section away from the vertical pipe section passes horizontally through the first expansion beam 13 toward the second space 112, thereby pushing the collector 32 from the first space 111 to the second space 112. The end of the adapter 33 can pass through the first expansion beam 13, which facilitates assembly and improves assembly efficiency.

[0176] Therefore, by setting the adapter 33 in the form of a bent tube with one end located in the clearance space 10 and passing through the top wall of the current collector 32, and the other end passing through the first expansion beam 13 and extending into the second space 112, it is easier to improve assembly efficiency. Moreover, by providing an upper recess 13411 on the top wall of the first recess 1341 to avoid the adapter 33, the open area of ​​the first recess 1341 facing the cell assembly 2 can be further reduced, which is beneficial to increase the contact range between the inner plate 134 of the beam and the cell assembly 2 and improve the reliability of the battery 100.

[0177] Of course, this application is not limited to this. For example, in some other embodiments of this application, one end of the adapter 33 may be configured to pass through the side wall of the current collector 32 near the second space 112, and the other end may extend into the second space 112 from the bottom of the first expansion beam 13.

[0178] In some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figures 12-16 The first expansion beam 13 includes an outer beam plate 135 and an inner beam plate 134 arranged sequentially from the second space 112 to the first space 111. The first expansion beam 13 also includes a reinforcing plate 136 supported between the outer beam plate 135 and the inner beam plate 134. The inner beam plate 134 is provided with a first through hole 1342, the reinforcing plate 136 is provided with a second through hole 1362, and the outer beam plate 135 is provided with a third through hole 1352. The first through hole 1342, the second through hole 1362 and the third through hole 1352 correspond to and are used to pass through the adapter 33.

[0179] Therefore, by providing a first through hole 1342 on the inner beam plate 134, a second through hole 1362 on the reinforcing plate 136, and a third through hole 1352 on the outer beam plate 135, it is not necessary to reduce the height of any one of the inner beam plate 134, the reinforcing plate 136, and the outer beam plate 135 to avoid the adapter 33. This allows the inner beam plate 134, the reinforcing plate 136, and the outer beam plate 135 to maintain their original heights, providing a relatively large support range and achieving a better support effect for the battery cell assembly 2.

[0180] Of course, this application is not limited to this. For example, in other embodiments of this application, the first clearance part 131 may be configured as a notch structure that penetrates the first expansion beam 13. For example, the inner plate 134 and the reinforcing plate 136 of the beam have corresponding notches, while the outer plate 135 of the beam has through holes.

[0181] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 12 As shown, the surface of the first expansion beam 13 facing the first space 111 is the first surface 132, and a filler 137 is provided at the first clearance portion 131. The outer surface 1371 of the filler 137 is flush with the first surface 132. Thus, by providing the filler 137 to fill the space in the open surface of the first clearance portion 131 that is not occupied by the heat exchange component 3, the filler 137 can be used to support the corresponding position of the cell assembly 2 at the missing position of the first expansion beam 13, thereby improving the overall support effect of the cell assembly 2 and increasing the reliability of the battery 100. The installation method of the filler 137 is not limited; for example, it can be snapped onto the first expansion beam 13 or the housing 11.

[0182] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 12 As shown, the first clearance portion 131 is open on the side facing the bottom wall 113 of the housing 11. This facilitates the processing of the first clearance portion 131 and allows the current collector 32 and / or adapter 33 to extend into the first clearance portion 131, improving assembly efficiency.

[0183] For example, such as Figure 12 , Figure 17 and Figure 18 As shown, when the first clearance portion 131 is open on the side facing the bottom wall 113 of the housing 11, the clearance space 10 may also include a second clearance portion 1131. The second clearance portion 1131 is formed by a recess in the upper surface of the bottom wall 113, that is, the second clearance portion 1131 is in the form of a groove. At least a portion of the second clearance portion 1131 is located below the first expansion beam 13, and at least a portion of the current collector 32 is embedded in the second clearance portion 1131.

[0184] Therefore, the clearance space 10 includes a first clearance portion 131 formed on the first expansion beam 13 and a second clearance portion 1131 formed on the bottom wall 113 of the housing 11, thereby increasing the volume of the clearance space 10, which is more conducive to accommodating the current collector 32. Since the second clearance portion 1131 is in the form of a groove, it helps to improve the sealing performance of the housing 11 and reduce the difficulty of sealing the housing 11. Moreover, by providing the second clearance portion 1131 on the bottom wall 113 of the housing 11 to accommodate at least a portion of the current collector 32, the size of the first clearance portion 131 can be relatively smaller, which helps to reduce the open area of ​​the first recess 1341 facing the cell assembly 2, and helps to increase the contact range between the inner plate 134 of the beam and the cell assembly 2, thereby improving the reliability of the battery 100.

[0185] Please refer to Figure 9 , Figure 17 and Figure 18 In some embodiments, the second clearance portion 1131 includes a first groove segment 11311 located below the first expansion beam 13, and a second groove segment 11312 disposed away from the second space 112 relative to the first groove segment 11311. In the direction from the first groove segment 11311 to the second groove segment 11312 (i.e., in the direction from the second space 112 to the first space 111), the size W of the second groove segment 11312 is greater than the size V of the current collector 32.

[0186] For example, during assembly, the current collector 32 can be first installed into the second slot 11312, and then the current collector 32 can be pushed along the direction from the first space 111 to the second space 112, so that the current collector 32 moves into the first slot 11311 and enters the clearance space 10. Thus, the installation of the current collector 32 can be achieved with just such a simple action as pushing, thereby reducing the assembly difficulty and improving the assembly efficiency.

[0187] In the above technical solution, by setting the size W of the second groove segment 11312 to be greater than the size V of the collector 32, the second groove segment 11312 can pre-accommodate the collector 32, so that the collector 32 can be installed into the first groove segment 11311 with only a simple action of pushing, thereby reducing the assembly difficulty and improving the assembly efficiency.

[0188] Please refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 In some embodiments of this application, when a first clearance portion 131 open toward the first space 111 is provided on the first expansion beam 13, the first expansion beam 13 can be constructed as a continuous beam in the corresponding clearance space 10, that is, the first expansion beam 13 is not a broken multi-segment beam, which can improve the structural reliability of the first expansion beam 13, facilitate the support of the battery cell assembly 2, and facilitate the processing and assembly of the first expansion beam 13.

[0189] In order to realize the first expansion beam 13 as a continuous beam in the open space 10, there are many possible solutions. For example, the first expansion beam 13 may include a connecting part provided in the open space 10. The connecting part connects the parts on both sides of the first clearance part 131. The connecting part and the parts on both sides of the first clearance part 131 may be an integral part or separate parts that are assembled and connected.

[0190] Of course, the first expansion beam 13 may not necessarily have a first clearance portion 131 that opens towards the first space 111. For example, in other embodiments of this application, please refer to Figures 19-21 The first expansion beam 13 includes a first beam 138, the first beam 138 includes a plurality of beam segments 1381 spaced apart along the length of the first expansion beam 13, and the clearance space 10 includes a gap 1382 provided between two adjacent beam segments 1381.

[0191] Therefore, by setting the first expansion beam 13 to include multiple beam segments 1381, and utilizing the gap 1382 between two adjacent beam segments 1381 to avoid the collector 32 and / or adapter, it is beneficial to achieve flexible assembly of the heat exchange component 3. For example, the first beam 138 can be installed first and then the heat exchange component 3 can be installed, or the heat exchange component 3 can be installed first and then the first beam 138 can be installed. Moreover, the installation direction of the heat exchange component 3 can be flexible. For example, it can be pushed horizontally along the direction from the first space 111 to the second space 112, or it can be placed from top to bottom, etc.

[0192] In some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figures 19-21 The first expansion beam 13 also includes a second beam 139, which is positioned away from the second space 112 relative to the first beam 138 and blocks the gap 1382 while abutting against the cell assembly 2. Therefore, by configuring the first expansion beam 13 as a combination of the first beam 138 and the second beam 139, the first beam 138 can meet the requirement of avoiding the current collector 32 and / or the adapter 33, while also supporting the second beam 139, and the second beam 139 can support the cell assembly 2. This improves the support effect of the first expansion beam 13 on the cell assembly 2 and enhances the reliability of the battery 100.

[0193] For example, the second beam 139 can be an extruded hollow beam. Therefore, the second beam 139 is easy to process and has good reliability, which helps to improve the support effect of the first expansion beam 13 on the cell assembly 2 and improve the reliability of the battery 100.

[0194] For example, such as Figure 12 , Figure 17 and Figure 18 As shown, when the first expansion beam 13 includes a first beam 138, the first beam 138 includes a plurality of beam segments 1381 spaced apart along the length of the first expansion beam 13, and the clearance space 10 includes a gap 1382 between two adjacent beam segments 1381, the clearance space 10 may also include a second clearance portion 1131. The second clearance portion 1131 is formed by a recess in the upper surface of the bottom wall 113, that is, the second clearance portion 1131 is in the form of a groove. At least a portion of the second clearance portion 1131 is located below the first expansion beam 13, and at least a portion of the current collector 32 is embedded in the second clearance portion 1131.

[0195] Therefore, the clearance space 10 includes both the gap 1382 formed on the first expansion beam 13 and the second clearance portion 1131 formed on the bottom wall 113 of the box body 11, which can increase the volume of the clearance space 10, making it more conducive to storing the collector 32. Furthermore, since the second clearance portion 1131 is in the form of a groove, it helps to improve the sealing performance of the box body 11 and reduce the difficulty of sealing the box body 11.

[0196] Please refer to Figure 9 , Figure 17 and Figure 18 In some embodiments, the second clearance portion 1131 includes a first groove segment 11311 located below the first expansion beam 13, and a second groove segment 11312 disposed away from the second space 112 relative to the first groove segment 11311. In the direction from the first groove segment 11311 to the second groove segment 11312 (i.e., in the direction from the second space 112 to the first space 111), the size W of the second groove segment 11312 is greater than the size V of the current collector 32.

[0197] For example, during assembly, the current collector 32 can be first installed into the second slot 11312, and then the current collector 32 can be pushed along the direction from the first space 111 to the second space 112, so that the current collector 32 moves into the first slot 11311 and enters the clearance space 10. Thus, the installation of the current collector 32 can be achieved with just such a simple action as pushing, thereby reducing the assembly difficulty and improving the assembly efficiency.

[0198] In the above technical solution, by setting the size W of the second groove segment 11312 to be greater than the size V of the collector 32, the second groove segment 11312 can pre-accommodate the collector 32, so that the collector 32 can be installed into the first groove segment 11311 with only a simple action of pushing, thereby reducing the assembly difficulty and improving the assembly efficiency.

[0199] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this application, when the clearance space 10 does not include the first clearance portion 131 and the gap 1382 formed on the first expansion beam 13, if the clearance space 10 includes a second clearance portion 1131, the second clearance portion 1131 is formed by a recess in the upper surface of the bottom wall 113, that is, the second clearance portion 1131 is in the form of a groove, and at least a portion of the second clearance portion 1131 is located below the first expansion beam 13, and at least a portion of the current collector 32 is embedded in the second clearance portion 1131. This simplifies the processing of the first expansion beam 13, and because the second clearance portion 1131 is in the form of a groove, it helps to improve the sealing performance of the housing 11 and reduce the difficulty of sealing the housing 11.

[0200] Of course, this application is not limited to this. For example, in some other embodiments of this application, the clearance space 10 may also include a third clearance portion, which is disposed at the end of the first expansion beam 13, and / or is formed by the recess of the enclosure wall 114 of the box body 11 in a direction away from the end of the first expansion beam 13. Here, "the end of the first expansion beam 13" refers to the end of at least one of the two ends in the length direction of the first expansion beam 13.

[0201] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 22 As shown, the heat exchanger 31 is located inside the housing 11, between the bottom wall 113 of the housing 11 and the battery cell assembly 2. In the above technical solution, by placing the heat exchanger 31 inside the housing 11, compared to placing it outside the housing 11, the heat exchanger 31 can more fully exchange heat with the battery cell assembly 2, improving the temperature regulation efficiency of the battery cell assembly 2 and reducing the waste of heat or cold. Furthermore, placing the heat exchanger 31 inside the housing 11, compared to placing it outside the housing 11, facilitates the connection between the heat exchanger 31 and the current collector 32 inside the housing 11, reduces the sealing difficulty of the housing 11, and improves the sealing performance of the battery 100.

[0202] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 9As shown, when the heat exchanger 31 is located inside the housing 11 and between the bottom wall 113 of the housing 11 and the battery cell assembly 2, the bottom surface of the current collector 32 is lower than the bottom surface of the heat exchanger 31, and the end of the heat exchanger 31 near the second space 112 passes through the side wall of the current collector 32 facing the first space 111.

[0203] This facilitates the connection between the collector 32 and the heat exchanger 31, improving assembly efficiency. Furthermore, if the upper surface of the bottom wall 113 of the housing 11 has a recessed second clearance portion 1131, at least a portion of the collector 32 can be disposed within the second clearance portion 1131, thereby reducing the lifting height of the collector 32 relative to the bottom wall 113, reducing the distance between the heat exchanger 31 and the bottom wall 113, and reducing the occupation of the first space 111 by the heat exchanger 31. Furthermore, when the second clearance portion 1131 includes a first groove segment 11311 located below the first expansion beam 13 and a second groove segment 11312 disposed away from the second space 112 relative to the first groove segment 11311, and the size W of the second groove segment 11312 is greater than the size V of the collector 32 in the direction from the first groove segment 11311 to the second groove segment 11312, during assembly, the heat exchanger 31 and the collector 32 assembled together can be installed in place by pushing them horizontally from the first space 111 to the second space 112 without any other turning or lifting operations, thereby reducing the assembly difficulty and improving the assembly efficiency.

[0204] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 3 As shown, the upper surface of the bottom wall 113 has a recessed groove 1132, and the heat exchanger 31 is embedded in the groove 1132. This reduces the space occupied by the heat exchanger 31 within the housing 11, which is beneficial for increasing the capacity of the battery 100. It also helps to improve the stability of the fit between the heat exchanger 31 and the housing 11, thereby improving the reliability of the heat exchanger 31 in regulating the temperature of the cell assembly 2.

[0205] For example, when the upper surface of the bottom wall 113 has a recessed second clearance portion 1131 and a recessed sink 1132, the depth of the second clearance portion 1131 can be greater than the depth of the sink 1132, thereby matching the design that the bottom surface of the current collector 32 is lower than the bottom surface of the heat exchanger 31, which is beneficial to reduce the distance between the heat exchanger 31 and the bottom wall 113.

[0206] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 3 and Figure 22As shown, an insulating layer 34 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall 113 and the outer surface of the heat exchanger 31, and an insulating adhesive 35 is filled between the bottom wall 113 and the cell assembly 2. This improves the insulation between the heat exchanger 31 and the cell assembly 2, enhancing the reliability of the battery 100. Furthermore, by providing the insulating adhesive 35, a stable connection can be achieved between the cell assembly 2, the heat exchanger 31, and the housing 11, improving the stability and reliability of heat exchange between the heat exchanger 31 and the cell assembly 2.

[0207] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 23 and Figure 24 As shown, the battery 100 further includes at least one of a first temperature regulating element 51, a second temperature regulating element 52, and a third temperature regulating element 53. The first temperature regulating element 51 is disposed inside the housing assembly 1 and at the top of the cell assembly 2. The second temperature regulating element 52 is disposed between the large surfaces of adjacent battery cells 21 in the cell assembly 2. The third temperature regulating element 53 is disposed outside the housing 11 and below the bottom wall 113 of the housing 11.

[0208] In the above technical solution, the battery 100 may include only one of the first temperature regulating element 51, the second temperature regulating element 52, and the third temperature regulating element 53, or it may include two of the first temperature regulating element 51, the second temperature regulating element 52, and the third temperature regulating element 53, or it may include all three of the first temperature regulating element 51, the second temperature regulating element 52, and the third temperature regulating element 53. Therefore, the temperature regulating element can be placed in a suitable location according to the actual situation to meet the temperature regulation requirements of the battery 100.

[0209] Furthermore, the thermal management system of the battery 100 is not limited to including only the temperature regulating components described above. For example, in some embodiments, at least one of the first expansion beam 13, the second expansion beam 14, and the third expansion beam 15 may be provided with heat exchange channels for temperature regulation, thereby constituting part of the thermal management system.

[0210] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 25As shown, the housing assembly 1 includes a bottom protective plate 16 located below the housing 11, and a heat exchanger 31 located outside the housing 11, between the bottom wall 113 of the housing 11 and the bottom protective plate 16. Therefore, by placing the heat exchanger 31 externally within the housing 11, the insulation problem between the heat exchanger 31 and the battery cells 11 inside the housing 11 is eliminated, simplifying the insulation design of the heat exchanger 31, reducing processing difficulty and production costs, resolving the short-circuit problem between the battery cells 21 and the heat exchanger 31, and improving the reliability of the battery 100. Furthermore, by placing the heat exchanger 31 externally within the housing 11, the heat exchanger 31 does not occupy space inside the housing 11, ensuring that the capacity of the battery 100 is not reduced due to the installation of the heat exchanger 31, thus better guaranteeing the capacity of the battery 100. Furthermore, by placing the heat exchanger 31 below the bottom wall 113 of the housing 11, the heat exchanger 31 can exchange heat with the battery cell assembly 2 over a larger range, improving the temperature regulation effect and efficiency of the battery cell assembly 2. In addition, by providing a bottom protective plate 16 below the heat exchanger 31, the heat exchanger 31 can be reliably protected, reducing the risk of damage to the heat exchanger 31 due to impacts and bumps, and improving the working reliability of the heat exchanger 31.

[0211] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 25 and Figure 26 As shown, the heat exchanger 31 is connected to the current collector 32 via a connecting pipe 36 penetrating the bottom wall 113. Thus, by embedding the current collector 32 within the housing 11 and placing the heat exchanger 31 externally within the housing 11, and by providing a connecting pipe 36 penetrating the housing 11 to connect the current collector 32 and the heat exchanger 31, the connection between the current collector 32 and the heat exchanger 31 is facilitated, and their installation is also convenient. Furthermore, the flow path can be shortened, reducing the flow resistance of the heat exchange liquid. Moreover, embedding the current collector 32 within the housing 11 eliminates the need for an external liquid inlet / outlet path connecting to the heat exchanger 31 outside the housing 11, thereby avoiding the increased sealing difficulty required to meet the extension requirements of an external liquid inlet / outlet path. This reduces the sealing difficulty of the battery 100, simplifies its structure and cost, and improves sealing reliability. Furthermore, the embedded current collector 32 is less prone to damage from impacts, reducing the risk of leakage and improving the operational stability and reliability of the heat exchange assembly 3, thus enhancing the reliability of the battery 100 during transportation and vehicle use. Of course, this application is not limited to this. For example, in other embodiments of this application, the heat exchanger 31 may be configured to partially penetrate the bottom wall 113 to be directly connected to the current collector 32 inside the housing 11.

[0212] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 26As shown, the connecting pipe 36 is sleeved inside the current collector 32. A first sealing element 37 is provided between the current collector 32 and the housing 11 for sealing, and the first sealing element 37 is arranged around the mating surface of the current collector 32 and the connecting pipe 36. In the above technical solution, by providing the first sealing element 37 between the current collector 32 and the housing 11, and by setting the first sealing element 37 to surround the mating surface of the current collector 32 and the connecting pipe 36, the entire circumferential area where the connecting pipe 36 and the current collector 32 are connected can be sealed by the first sealing element 37. This reduces the risk of heat exchange fluid overflowing from the mating point of the connecting pipe 36 into the housing 11, thereby improving the reliability of the battery 100. Moreover, the clear location of the first sealing element 37 makes its assembly easy, thus reducing assembly and design difficulties.

[0213] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 26 As shown, a second sealing element 38 is also provided at the mating position between the current collector 32 and the connecting pipe 36, and the second sealing element 38 is arranged around the connecting pipe 36. In the above technical solution, by providing a second sealing element 38 between the current collector 32 and the connecting pipe 36, the risk of heat exchange fluid overflowing from the mating point between the current collector 32 and the connecting pipe 36 can be reduced, thereby improving the reliability of the battery 100. Moreover, the clear location of the second sealing element 38 makes its assembly easy, thereby reducing assembly and design difficulties.

[0214] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 25 and Figure 26 As shown, the housing assembly 1 also includes a seal 18, which is sealed between the bottom wall 113 and the bottom guard plate 16, and includes an outer peripheral portion 181 surrounding the heat exchanger 31. The connecting pipe 36 passes through the bottom wall 113 in the inner area of ​​the outer peripheral portion 181.

[0215] Therefore, by positioning the connecting pipe 36 through the bottom wall 113 within the area surrounded by the outer perimeter 181, when the outer perimeter 181 is sealed between the bottom wall 113 and the bottom protective plate 16, mud, water, and particles from outside the housing assembly 1 are less likely to penetrate the outer perimeter 181 and enter the space between the bottom wall 113 and the bottom protective plate 16, and flow to the location where the connecting pipe 36 penetrates the bottom wall 113 and enters the housing 11, thereby improving the reliability of the battery 100. Furthermore, since the outer perimeter 181 surrounds the heat exchanger 31, mud, water, and particles from outside the housing assembly 1 are less likely to penetrate the outer perimeter 181 and enter the space between the bottom wall 113 and the bottom protective plate 16, thus preventing contamination or corrosion of the heat exchanger 31 between the bottom wall 113 and the bottom protective plate 16, thereby improving the reliability and service life of the heat exchanger 31.

[0216] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 25and Figure 26 As shown, a base adhesive layer 19 is provided between the heat exchanger 31 and the bottom wall 113 and the bottom protective plate 16, respectively. That is, the surface of the heat exchanger 31 facing the bottom wall 113 is fixedly connected to the bottom wall 113 via the base adhesive layer 19, and the surface of the heat exchanger 31 facing the bottom protective plate 16 is also fixedly connected to the bottom protective plate 16 via the base adhesive layer 19. This improves the stability of heat transfer between the heat exchanger 31 and the bottom wall 113, and also enhances the protective properties of the two surfaces of the heat exchanger 31, thus protecting the heat exchanger 31. It is worth noting that the order in which the base adhesive layer 19 is applied is not limited. For example, it can be applied to both sides of the heat exchanger 31, or to the side of the bottom wall 113 facing the heat exchanger 31, or to the side of the bottom protective plate 16 facing the heat exchanger 31, etc. For example, the base adhesive layer 19 can be structural adhesive, high thermal conductivity double-sided adhesive, etc.

[0217] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 25 and Figure 26 As shown, the heat exchanger 31 includes at least one bent and extended heat exchange tube 312, and the housing assembly 1 also includes: a foaming component 17, which is disposed between the bottom wall 113 and the bottom protective plate 16, and includes a first foaming part 171 disposed around the heat exchanger 31, and a second foaming part 172 disposed between adjacent pipe sections of the same heat exchange tube 312 or between adjacent heat exchange tubes 312.

[0218] Therefore, the foam component 17 can be used to fill the space between the bottom wall 113 and the bottom protective plate 16 where the heat exchange component 31 is removed, that is, it is complementary to the heat exchange component 31. Thus, the foam component 17 can support the bottom wall 113 and the bottom protective plate 16. When the protective plate is impacted, the foam component 17 can buffer the impact force and reduce the force of the bottom protective plate 16 impacting the heat exchange component 31 or the housing 11, thereby protecting the heat exchange component 31 and the battery cell assembly 2 inside the housing 11. Moreover, the foam component 17 can also fill the gap between the heat exchange tubes 312, which can support and limit the position of the heat exchange tubes 312, so that the heat exchange tubes 312 can be stably in the set position to achieve stable temperature regulation.

[0219] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 25 and Figure 26As shown, the foam component 17 is connected to the bottom protective plate 16, and the upper surface of the heat exchange component 31 is higher than the upper surface of the foam component 17. That is, the side of the heat exchange component 31 facing the bottom wall 113 is closer to the bottom wall 113 than the side of the foam component 17 facing the bottom wall 113. This reduces the molding difficulty of the foam component 17 and helps control the thickness uniformity of the foam component 17, ensuring that the placement of the foam component 17 does not interfere with the heat transfer between the heat exchange component 31 and the bottom wall 113. This improves the stability and reliability of heat transfer between the heat exchange component 31 and the bottom wall 113, which in turn improves the temperature regulation effect of the cell assembly 2 and thus enhances the operational reliability of the battery 100.

[0220] Furthermore, when a base adhesive layer 19 is provided between the heat exchanger 31 and the bottom wall 113, setting the foaming component 17 to be connected to the bottom protective plate 16 helps to reduce the difficulty of providing the base adhesive layer 19 between the heat exchanger 31 and the bottom wall 113, and helps to improve the uniformity of the base adhesive layer 19 provided between the heat exchanger 31 and the bottom wall 113, thereby improving the stability and reliability of heat transfer between the heat exchanger 31 and the bottom wall 113, which helps to improve the effect of temperature regulation of the cell assembly 2, and thus improves the working reliability of the battery 100.

[0221] For example, the foamed part 17 can be processed on the bottom protective plate 16 by a foaming process using a mold, thereby ensuring the uniformity of the thickness of the foamed part 17. Then, adhesive is applied to the heat exchanger 31 or the bottom wall 113. Next, the heat exchanger 31 is installed between the protective plate with the foamed part 17 and the bottom wall 113. When the heat exchanger 31 protrudes relative to the foamed part 17 towards the bottom wall 113, the stability and reliability of the heat transfer fit between the heat exchanger 31 and the bottom wall 113 can be guaranteed.

[0222] In other embodiments of this application, the bottom protective plate 16, the housing 11, and the heat exchanger 31 can be assembled first, and then foaming liquid can be injected between the bottom protective plate 16 and the bottom wall 113 of the housing 11 for foaming. At this time, the injection position of the foaming liquid needs to be considered to ensure that the foaming height is uniform in all places and to avoid affecting the connection between the heat exchanger 31 and the housing 11. Alternatively, in other embodiments of this application, foamed parts 17 can be processed on the bottom wall 113 of the housing 11 using a mold through a foaming process, and then the heat exchanger 31 and the protective plate can be assembled.

[0223] It is worth noting that the composition and material of the bottom protective plate 16 are not limited. For example, the bottom protective plate 16 can be a single-layer plate, such as a metal plate with an anti-corrosion layer on the outer surface. Alternatively, the bottom protective plate 16 can also be composed of multiple layers of plates, for example, combined with... Figure 25The bottom guard plate 16 includes a first guard plate 161 and a second guard plate 162. The second guard plate 162 is located below the first guard plate 161. The first guard plate 161 can be made of metal, and the second guard plate 162 can be made of corrosion-resistant material, such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

[0224] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 24 and Figure 27 As shown, the battery 100 further includes at least one of a first temperature regulating element 51, a second temperature regulating element 52, and a fourth temperature regulating element 54. The first temperature regulating element 51 is disposed inside the housing assembly 1 and on the top of the cell assembly 2. The second temperature regulating element 52 is disposed between the large surfaces of adjacent battery cells 21 in the cell assembly 2. The fourth temperature regulating element 54 is disposed inside the housing 11 and located between the bottom wall 113 and the cell assembly 2.

[0225] That is, the battery 100 may include only one of the first temperature regulating element 51, the second temperature regulating element 52, and the fourth temperature regulating element 54, or it may include two of the first temperature regulating element 51, the second temperature regulating element 52, and the fourth temperature regulating element 54, or it may include all three of the first temperature regulating element 51, the second temperature regulating element 52, and the fourth temperature regulating element 54. Therefore, the temperature regulating element 5 can be set in a suitable position according to the actual situation to meet the temperature regulation requirements of the battery 100.

[0226] Furthermore, the thermal management system of the battery 100 is not limited to including only the temperature regulating components described above. For example, in some embodiments, at least one of the first expansion beam 13, the second expansion beam 14, and the third expansion beam 15 may be provided with heat exchange channels for temperature regulation, thereby constituting part of the thermal management system.

[0227] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 2 and Figure 25 As shown, the housing 11 is a one-piece stamped part and includes a bottom wall 113 and a surrounding wall 114. The heat exchanger 31 is laid on the bottom wall 113, for example, on the upper surface of the bottom wall 113 (e.g., Figure 2 (as shown in the embodiment), or laid on the lower surface of the bottom wall 113 (e.g. Figure 25 As shown in the embodiment, the heat exchange area between the heat exchanger 31 and the battery cell assembly 2 can be increased, thereby improving the temperature regulation effect of the battery cell assembly 2.

[0228] For example, the housing 11 can be made of sheet metal and stamped into a basin shape, including a bottom wall 113 and a surrounding wall 114. Since the bottom wall 113 and the surrounding wall 114 of the housing 11 are integrally stamped, there is no need to consider sealing at the connection between the bottom wall 113 and the surrounding wall 114, thus ensuring a good seal. This prevents mud and water from seeping into the housing 11 from the connection between the bottom wall 113 and the surrounding wall 114 and affecting the battery cell assembly 2 inside the housing 11, thereby improving the reliability of the battery 100. Furthermore, the integrally stamped housing 11 eliminates the need for splicing, improving production efficiency.

[0229] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 28 As shown, the heat exchanger 31 includes multiple heat exchange channels 311 arranged in parallel. Since the heat exchanger 31 includes multiple heat exchange channels 311 arranged in parallel, when the total length of the channels required by the heat exchanger 31 is fixed, the length of each heat exchange channel 311 can be relatively short, which is beneficial to improving the overall heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 31 and improving the temperature regulation effect of the heat exchanger 31 on the battery cell assembly 2.

[0230] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 28 As shown, there are two heat exchangers 32, namely the first heat exchanger 32a and the second heat exchanger 32b. The first end 311a of each heat exchange channel 311 converges and connects to the first heat exchanger 32a, and the second end 311b of each heat exchange channel 311 converges and connects to the second heat exchanger 32b.

[0231] In this way, by setting up a first collector 32a and a second collector 32b, the first end 311a of each heat exchange channel 311 is converged and connected to the first collector 32a, and the second end 311b of each heat exchange channel 311 is converged and connected to the second collector 32b. Thus, one of the first collector 32a and the second collector 32b can serve as the liquid inlet collector 32, and the other as the liquid outlet collector 32. Each collector 32 does not need two channels with opposite flow directions, thereby simplifying the structure of the collector 32 and improving reliability. Furthermore, by converging the two ends of multiple heat exchange channels 311 to the two collectors 32 respectively, the number of collectors 32 can be reduced, lowering material costs.

[0232] It is worth noting that which of the first collector 32a and the second collector 32b is the liquid inlet and which is the liquid outlet can be specifically set according to actual requirements, or the first collector 32a and the second collector 32b can be set to be switchable, that is, whether each collector 32 is the liquid inlet or the liquid outlet is different in different modes.

[0233] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 29 and Figure 30As shown, the current collector 32 is a single entity and includes a first flow channel interface 32c and a second flow channel interface 32d that are isolated from each other. Multiple first flow channel interfaces 32c are interconnected, and multiple second flow channel interfaces 32d are interconnected. The multiple first flow channel interfaces 32c are located on both sides of the multiple second flow channel interfaces 32d. The first ends 311a of the multiple heat exchange channels 311 correspond one-to-one with and are connected to the multiple first flow channel interfaces 32c, and the second ends 311b of the multiple heat exchange channels 311 correspond one-to-one with and are connected to the multiple second flow channel interfaces 32d. Therefore, the number of current collectors 32 can be reduced, allowing for a single, centrally located void space 10, which helps reduce sealing and assembly difficulties, improves production efficiency, and enhances the reliability of the battery 100.

[0234] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figures 29-31 As shown, the current collector 32 includes a tube body 323, a partition structure 324, and a sealing structure 325. The partition structure 324 is disposed inside the tube body 323, and the sealing structure 325 seals both ends of the tube body 323. The space inside the tube body 323 is divided into two independent channels 3231 and 3232 by the partition structure 324. The first channel 3231 connects to multiple first flow channel interfaces 32c, and the second channel 3232 connects to multiple second flow channel interfaces 32d. For example, the first channel 3231 includes a first portion located at both ends of the second channel 3232, and a second portion corresponding to and connecting the two first portions of the second channel 3232. Therefore, the current collector 32 has a simple structure, facilitating processing and production. For example, the length direction of the tube body 323 can be perpendicular to the axial direction of the end of the heat exchanger 31 (i.e., the end connected to the current collector 32).

[0235] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 28 and Figure 29 As shown, the heat exchanger 31 includes at least one first heat exchange channel 3110. For example, at least one of the multiple heat exchange channels 311 arranged in parallel as described above can be a first heat exchange channel 3110, or the heat exchanger 31 may also include only one heat exchange channel 311, which is the first heat exchange channel 3110.

[0236] The first heat exchange channel 3110 may include a first heat exchange section 3111, a second heat exchange section 3112, and a third heat exchange section 3113. The second heat exchange section 3112 is bent to form a first U-shaped region Z1. The first heat exchange section 3111 is bent and disposed within the first U-shaped region Z1. The first heat exchange section 3111 and the second heat exchange section 3112 are connected by bending through the third heat exchange section 3113. The second heat exchange section 3112 is located on the outermost side of the circumference of the heat exchange channel 311.

[0237] Since the battery cells 21 located on the periphery are closer to the side wall of the housing assembly 1 than the battery cells 21 located inside, the battery cells 21 on the periphery can dissipate heat more easily through the side wall and other structures of the housing assembly 1. However, the battery cells 21 located inside have more difficulty dissipating heat and are more affected by the heat dissipation of adjacent battery cells 21. As a result, the heat dissipation of battery cells 21 in different locations is different, which leads to an uneven temperature distribution between the battery cells 21 on the periphery and the battery cells 21 inside the battery 100 after the battery 100 is in operation. This makes the battery 100 less stable during operation and the battery performance is prone to degradation.

[0238] In view of this, in the above technical solution, by bending the second heat exchange section 3112 to form a first U-shaped region Z1, and bending the first heat exchange section 3111 within the first U-shaped region Z1, and by setting the second heat exchange section 3112 to be located on the outermost circumferential side of the first heat exchange channel 3110, when the heat exchange component 31 of this embodiment exchanges heat with the cell assembly 2, at least a portion of the first U-shaped region Z1 formed by the outer second heat exchange section 3112 can be aligned with at least a portion of the battery cell 21 on the periphery of the battery 100, so that the second heat exchange section 3112... 112 can exchange heat on the outer circumferential side of the cell assembly 2, and the first heat exchange section 3111 in the first U-shaped region Z1 is opposite to the internal battery cell 21, so that the heat exchange component 31 can compensate for the internal and external temperature difference caused by the heat exchange between the outer battery cell 21 and the environment, so that the heat exchange effect of the battery cell 21 on the outside of the cell assembly 2 and the battery cell 2 inside the cell assembly 2 tends to be consistent, which is conducive to improving the temperature difference of the cell assembly 2 in different environments, improving the temperature uniformity of the battery 100, and thus improving the service life of the battery 100 to a certain extent.

[0239] For example, when the heat exchanger 31 heats the battery cell assembly 2, the heat exchange fluid can flow from the first heat exchange section 3111 to the second heat exchange section 3112, or vice versa. For example, when the heat exchange fluid flows from the second heat exchange section 3112 to the first heat exchange section 3111, it can first heat the battery cells 21 surrounding the battery cell assembly 2, and then cool the battery cells 21 in the middle of the battery cell assembly 2. Since the battery cells 21 surrounding the battery 100 dissipate more heat to the external environment, their temperature drops more easily. By first heating the battery cells 21 surrounding the battery 100, the higher-temperature heat exchange fluid can increase the temperature of the surrounding battery cells 21 while compensating for the heat lost by the battery cells 21 due to heat dissipation to the external environment. The battery cells 21 in the middle of the battery cell assembly 2 have a small contact area with the external environment, resulting in less heat loss. The lower-temperature heat exchange fluid flowing in the first heat exchange section 3111 can work with the heat generated by the battery cells 21 themselves to meet their heating needs. As a result, the heating effect of the battery cells 21 around the battery 100 and the battery cells 21 in the middle of the battery cell assembly 2 is basically the same. This makes the temperature of the battery cells 21 around the battery 100 and the battery cells 21 in the middle of the battery cell assembly 2 more consistent after heating, resulting in a more uniform temperature distribution inside the battery 100.

[0240] For example, in this embodiment, when the heat exchanger 31 cools the battery cell assembly 2, the heat exchange fluid can flow from the first heat exchange section 3111 to the second heat exchange section 3112, or vice versa. When the heat exchange fluid also flows from the first heat exchange section 3111 to the second heat exchange section 3112, the battery cells 21 in the middle of the battery 100 (i.e., the inner battery cells 21 on the outer periphery) can be cooled first, and then the battery cells 21 at the periphery of the battery 100 can be cooled. Since the heat dissipation of the battery cells 21 at the periphery of the battery 100 is better than that of the inner battery cells 21, the lower-temperature heat exchange fluid in the first heat exchange section 3111 can better meet the heat dissipation requirements of the battery cells 21 in the middle of the battery 100. Since the battery cells 21 at the periphery can directly dissipate heat naturally towards the external environment, even when the temperature of the heat exchange fluid in the second heat exchange section 3112 is slightly higher, it can still meet the heat dissipation requirements of the peripheral battery cells 21. This results in the battery cells 21 at the periphery of the battery 100 and the battery cells 21 at the center of the battery 100 receiving roughly the same cooling effect. Consequently, the battery cells 21 at the periphery of the battery 100 and the battery cells 21 at the center of the battery 100 have relatively consistent temperatures after cooling, making the temperature distribution inside the battery 100 more uniform.

[0241] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 2 and Figure 29 As shown, the battery cell assembly 2 includes a plurality of battery cells 20 arranged along the first direction X, and each battery cell 20 includes a plurality of battery cells 21 arranged in sequence along the second direction Y. At least a portion of the second heat exchange section 3112 exchanges heat with the plurality of battery cells 21 located on the outermost periphery of the battery cell assembly 2.

[0242] In the above technical solution, by coordinating the arrangement of the battery cells 21 and extending the first heat exchange channel 3110, and setting at least part of the second heat exchange section 3112 to exchange heat with the outer battery cells 21, such as by fitting them together for heat transfer, the heat exchange efficiency of the outer battery cells 21 can be improved, thereby further balancing the temperature difference caused by the heat dissipation of the outer battery cells 21 being greater than that of the inner battery cells 21 in the battery 100.

[0243] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 32 The second heat exchange section 3112 includes a first segment R1, a second segment R2, and a third segment R3 that are sequentially bent and connected to form a first U-shaped region Z1. The first segment R1 and the third segment R3 both extend along the second direction Y, while the second segment R2 extends along the first direction X. In the above technical solution, the coverage area of ​​the first U-shaped region Z1 can be relatively wide, which is beneficial for heat exchange on the outer periphery of the battery cells 21 of the cell assembly 2, further improving the temperature uniformity of the battery 100.

[0244] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 32 The second heat exchange section 3112 also includes a fourth section R4 that is bent and connected to the first section R1. The fourth section R4 and the second section R2 are respectively located on both sides of the first section R1 along the second direction Y. The fourth section R4 extends in the first direction X toward the direction close to the third section R3. Thus, the fourth section R4 can block at least a portion of the opening of the first U-shaped region Z1, allowing the second heat exchange section 3112 located on the outer periphery of the first heat exchange channel 3110 to exchange heat with the battery cells 21 on the outer periphery of the cell assembly 2 over a larger area, further improving the temperature uniformity of the battery 100.

[0245] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 32 and Figure 33 The heat exchanger 31 also includes at least one second heat exchange channel 3114, and the second heat exchange channel 3114 and the first heat exchange channel 3110 are bent in the same plane, with the second heat exchange channel 3114 bent within the first U-shaped region Z1.

[0246] For example Figure 32 The embodiments illustrate one possible configuration of a first heat exchange channel 3110 and a second heat exchange channel 3114, for example... Figure 33The embodiment illustrates one configuration of a first heat exchange channel 3110 and two second heat exchange channels 3114.

[0247] In the above technical solution, by setting at least one first heat exchange channel 3110 and at least one second heat exchange channel 3114, and by coordinating the relative positional relationship between the two, the arrangement of the heat exchange channels can be flexibly designed according to the cooling requirements of the battery 100, thereby further optimizing the temperature regulation effect of the cell assembly and improving the temperature uniformity of the battery 100.

[0248] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 33 At least one second heat exchange channel 3114 is bent to form a second U-shaped region Z2, and at least a portion of the first heat exchange section 3111 is disposed within the second U-shaped region Z2 of the second heat exchange channel 3114.

[0249] For example Figure 33 The diagram shows a second heat exchange channel 3114 that is bent to form a second U-shaped region Z2. At least a portion of the first heat exchange section 3111 is located within the second U-shaped region Z2 of the second heat exchange channel 3114. Another second heat exchange channel 3114 is also located within the second U-shaped region Z2 of the second heat exchange channel 3114.

[0250] In the above technical solution, by setting at least one second heat exchange channel 3114 to form a second U-shaped region Z2, and by placing at least a portion of the first heat exchange section 3111 within the second U-shaped region Z2 of the second heat exchange channel 3114, it is beneficial to coordinate the first heat exchange channel 3110 and the second heat exchange channel 3114 to further improve the temperature uniformity of the battery 100.

[0251] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 2 and Figure 29 As shown, the heat exchanger 31 includes at least one bent and extended heat exchange tube 312, and each heat exchange tube 312 defines a heat exchange flow channel 311. Therefore, when the heat exchanger 31 includes multiple bent and extended heat exchange tubes 312, the heat exchanger 31 includes multiple heat exchange flow channels 311. For example, the heat exchange tube 312 can be made of aluminum or steel; for example, aluminum can make the overall weight of the battery 100 lighter.

[0252] For example, the heat exchange tube 312 is curved at the bend position. The curved bend can reduce the flow resistance of the fluid and reduce the pressure drop. Furthermore, the curved bend of the heat exchange tube 312 at the bend position can increase the flow rate of the heat exchange fluid in the heat exchange channel 311, thereby increasing the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange element 31.

[0253] For example, the heat exchange tube 312 has a flat tube structure. Combined with Figure 23A flat tube structure refers to a tube shape where the width m is greater than the thickness n. Typically, batteries use a double-layer brazed plate structure for heat exchange components, which consists of two layers of sheet metal brazed together, forming a heat exchange channel between them. For example, a flat tube can be assembled from multiple extruded tube segments. The thickness of the flat tube can be much smaller than that of the double-layer brazed plate structure, thus occupying less space, increasing the capacity of the battery 100, and reducing the weight, volume, and cost of the battery 100.

[0254] For example, the heat exchanger 31 and the collector 32 have at least a difference in their flow surfaces. For instance, the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow channel in the heat exchanger 31 is different from that in the collector 32. Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape of the flow channel in the heat exchanger 31 may also be different from that in the collector 32. For example, the collector 32 may be a shorter rectangular box shape. When the heat exchanger 31 includes a flat tube structure and defines a heat exchange flow channel 311 within the flat tube structure, the cross-sectional dimensions and shape of the heat exchange flow channel 311 are different from those of the collector 32.

[0255] According to a second aspect of this application, this application also provides an electrical device including a battery 100 of any of the above-described embodiments, the battery 100 being used to provide electrical energy to the electrical device. The electrical device can be any of the aforementioned devices or systems using the battery 100. Because the performance of the battery 100 is improved, it is beneficial to enhance the power consumption performance of the electrical device.

[0256] The following describes a battery 100 according to a specific embodiment of the present application.

[0257] The battery 100 includes: a housing assembly 1, a cell assembly 2, and a heat exchange assembly 3. The housing assembly 1 includes: a housing 11 and a cover 12. The housing 11 is a sheet metal integral stamped part and includes a bottom wall 113 and a surrounding wall 114 to form a stamped box shape with an open top. The cell assembly 2 is disposed inside the housing 11, and the cover 12 is disposed on the top of the housing 11.

[0258] The housing 11 is provided with a first expansion beam 13, a second expansion beam 14 and a third expansion beam 15. The length direction of the first expansion beam 13, the second expansion beam 14 and the third expansion beam 15 are all extended along the first direction X. The first expansion beam 13, the second expansion beam 14 and the third expansion beam 15 are arranged at intervals along the second direction Y. A part of the battery cell assembly 2 is disposed between the first expansion beam 13 and the second expansion beam 14, and the remaining part of the battery cell assembly 2 is disposed between the second expansion beam 14 and the third expansion beam 15.

[0259] The space inside the housing 11 is divided into a first space 111 and a second space 112 located on both sides of the first expansion beam 13. The first space 111 is the side of the first expansion beam 13 in the second direction Y used for installing the battery cell assembly 2, and the second space 112 is the side of the first expansion beam 13 in the second direction Y away from the battery cell assembly 2. The second space 112 can be used to install the battery management system and / or high-voltage box, etc. It is worth noting that the first direction X and the second direction Y are perpendicular, and one of them is the length direction of the housing 11, and the other is the width direction of the housing 11. The height direction of the housing 11 is the third direction Z, which is perpendicular to the first direction X and the second direction Y, that is, the spacing direction between the bottom wall 113 and the cover 12.

[0260] A clearance space 10 is formed between the first expansion beam 13 and the box body 11. The clearance space 10 includes a first clearance portion 131 and a second clearance portion 1131. The first clearance portion 131 is formed on the first expansion beam 13 and is formed as a recessed structure in the direction of the second space 112. The first clearance portion 131 is open in the direction of the first space 111 and is open on the side of the first clearance portion 131 facing the bottom wall 113 of the box body 11. The second clearance portion 1131 is formed on the box body 11 and is formed by the recess of the upper surface of the bottom wall 113 of the box body 11. At least a portion of the second clearance portion 1131 is located below the first expansion beam 13.

[0261] The first expansion beam 13 includes an outer beam plate 135, an inner beam plate 134, and a reinforcing plate 136. The inner beam plate 134 is positioned relative to the outer beam plate 135 and close to the battery cell assembly 2, abutting against the battery cell assembly 2. The reinforcing plate 136 is supported between the outer beam plate 135 and the inner beam plate 134. The first clearance portion 131 includes a first recessed portion 1341 formed on the inner beam plate 134 and recessed in a direction away from the battery cell assembly 2. The first clearance portion 131 also includes a second recessed portion 1361 formed on the reinforcing plate 136 and recessed in a direction away from the first recessed portion 1341. The second recessed portion 1361 corresponds to the first recessed portion 1341. The inner beam plate 134 is provided with a first through hole 1342, the reinforcing plate 136 is provided with a second through hole 1362, and the outer beam plate 135 is provided with a third through hole 1352. The second clearance section 1131 includes a first groove section 11311 located below the first expansion beam 13, and a second groove section 11312 disposed away from the second space 112 relative to the first groove section 11311. In the direction from the first groove section 11311 to the second groove section 11312, the size W of the second groove section 11312 is greater than the size V of the current collector 32.

[0262] The heat exchange assembly 3 includes a heat exchange element 31, a collector 32, and an adapter 33 disposed within the housing 11. The heat exchange element 31 is located between the bottom wall 113 of the housing 11 and the battery cell assembly 2, so that the heat exchange element 31 and the battery cell assembly 2 can exchange heat. The bottom surface of the collector 32 is lower than the bottom surface of the heat exchange element 31. The collector 32 is embedded in the first groove section 11311 and located in the open space 10. The end of the heat exchange element 31 near the second space 112 extends into the collector 32, so that the heat exchange element 31 and the collector 32 can communicate. The adapter 33 is in the form of a bent pipe, with one end located in the open space 10 and passing through the top wall of the collector 32, so that the adapter 33 and the collector 32 can communicate. The other end passes through the first through hole 1342, the second through hole 1362, and the third through hole 1352 and extends into the second space 112. The heat exchanger 31 includes at least one bent and extended heat exchange tube 312. Each heat exchange tube 312 defines a heat exchange flow channel 311. The heat exchange tube 312 has a flat tube structure. During stamping, the box 11 forms a groove 1132 on the upper surface of the bottom wall 113 that matches the shape of the heat exchange tube 312.

[0263] During assembly, the first expansion beam 13 and the second expansion beam 14 are first welded onto the stamped housing 11 to obtain the first component. Then, the first component undergoes an electrophoresis process. After that, the heat exchange component 3 is installed into the first component. Specifically, the heat exchange component 3 can be placed downwards into the housing 11, with the current collector 32 located in the second groove section 11312. Then, the heat exchange component 3 is pushed towards the first expansion beam 13, so that the current collector 32 enters the first groove section 11311. The end of the adapter 33 passes through the first through hole 1342, the second through hole 1362, and the third through hole 1352. Then, the third expansion beam 15 is installed inside the housing 11 and located above the heat exchange component 31. The battery cell assembly 2 can be installed later. Thus, the assembly method of the heat exchange component 3 is simple and convenient, and the current collector 32 and the adapter 33 can occupy as little space as possible in the second space 112, improving space utilization. In addition, the internal structure of the first expansion beam 13 is strong, which is beneficial for protecting the current collector 32 and the adapter 33.

[0264] It should be noted that since the first expansion beam needs to be welded to the box body before the electrophoresis process, the heat exchange components need to be installed after the first expansion beam. The design considers extending the entire current collector from below the first expansion beam into the second space along the direction from the first space to the second space. At this time, the current collector will not only occupy the second space, but the passing action also requires a large gap to be set on the first expansion beam or the bottom plate of the box body, which increases the sealing difficulty. In addition, the passing action also requires a turning operation, which makes the operation more difficult.

[0265] In the embodiments of this application, by forming the aforementioned clearance space 10 between the first expansion beam 13 and the housing 11 to accommodate the current collector 32, the heat exchange component 3 can be moved and installed, which is easy to operate. Furthermore, the current collector 32 does not occupy the space of the second space 112, improving space utilization. The openings on the first expansion beam 13 can be reduced, which helps to reduce sealing difficulty and improve sealing effect. Moreover, given the optimized dimensions of the second space 112, the dimensions of the first space 111 can be relatively increased, thereby increasing the number of battery cells 21 within the first space 111 and improving the volumetric energy density of the battery 100.

[0266] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other.

[0267] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A battery, characterized in that, include: The box assembly includes a box and a first expansion beam disposed inside the box, wherein the space inside the box is divided into a first space and a second space by the first expansion beam. A battery cell assembly is disposed inside the housing and located in the first space, with the end of the battery cell assembly abutting against the first expansion beam; A heat exchange assembly is disposed in the housing assembly and includes a heat exchange element, a current collector, and an adapter. The heat exchange element is configured to exchange heat with the battery cell assembly. The heat exchange element is in communication with the current collector, and the adapter is in communication with the current collector. Wherein, an open space is formed between the first expansion beam and the box body or on the first expansion beam, both the current collector and the adapter are located inside the box body, and at least a portion of at least one of them is located within the open space; the box body includes a bottom wall and a surrounding wall, and when the open space is jointly defined by the box body and the first expansion beam, the open space is jointly defined by the first expansion beam and the bottom wall of the box body, or jointly defined by the first expansion beam and the surrounding wall of the box body; The clearance space formed between the first expansion beam and the box body or on the first expansion beam includes a first clearance portion formed on the first expansion beam, and the first clearance portion is open toward the first space. The first clearance portion is formed as a recessed structure that is recessed in the direction of the second space; The first expansion beam includes an outer beam plate and an inner beam plate. The inner beam plate is located away from the second space relative to the outer beam plate and abuts against the battery cell assembly. The first clearance portion includes a first recessed portion formed on the inner beam plate. The first recessed portion is recessed in the direction toward the second space. The first expansion beam further includes a reinforcing plate supported between the outer plate and the inner plate of the beam, and the first clearance portion further includes a second recessed portion formed on the reinforcing plate, the second recessed portion corresponding to the first recessed portion and recessed in a direction away from the first recessed portion.

2. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side surface of the first expansion beam facing the first space is the first surface. At least a portion of the current collector is located within the open space, and the side surface of the current collector closest to the first space is flush with the first surface, or is positioned relative to the first surface and close to the second space.

3. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side surface of the first expansion beam facing the second space is the second surface. At least a portion of the current collector is located within the open space, and the side surface of the current collector closest to the second space is flush with the second surface, or is positioned relative to the second surface and close to the first space.

4. The battery according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The current collector is located in the sheltered space. One end of the adapter is located in the sheltered space and penetrates into the current collector to communicate with it. The other end of the adapter extends into the second space.

5. The battery according to claim 4, characterized in that, The adapter is inserted through the first expansion beam so that the other end of the adapter extends into the second space.

6. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The open area of ​​the first recess on the side facing the first space is smaller than the open area of ​​the second recess on the side close to the first space.

7. The battery according to claim 6, characterized in that, The current collector is located in the open space. The adapter is in the form of a bent pipe, with one end located in the open space and passing through the top wall of the current collector, and the other end passing through the first expansion beam and extending into the second space. The top wall of the first recess has an upper recess that accommodates the adapter.

8. The battery according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first expansion beam includes an outer beam plate and an inner beam plate arranged sequentially from the second space to the first space, and a reinforcing plate supported between the outer beam plate and the inner beam plate. The inner beam plate is provided with a first through hole, the reinforcing plate is provided with a second through hole, and the outer beam plate is provided with a third through hole. The first through hole, the second through hole, and the third through hole correspond to each other and are used to pass through the adapter.

9. The battery according to any one of claims 1-3 or 5-6, characterized in that, The surface of the first expansion beam facing the first space is the first surface, and a filling member is provided at the first clearance part, the outer surface of the filling member being flush with the first surface.

10. The battery according to any one of claims 1-3 or 5-6, characterized in that, The first clearance portion is open on one side facing the bottom wall of the housing.

11. The battery according to any one of claims 1-3 or 5-6, characterized in that, The first expansion beam is constructed as a continuous beam in the corresponding open space.

12. The battery according to any one of claims 1-3 or 5, characterized in that, The first expansion beam includes a first beam, which includes a plurality of beam segments spaced apart along the length of the first expansion beam, and the clearance space includes a gap between two adjacent beam segments.

13. The battery according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first expansion beam also includes a second beam, which is disposed away from the second space relative to the first beam, and blocks the gap and abuts against the cell assembly.

14. The battery according to claim 13, characterized in that, The second beam is an extruded hollow beam.

15. The battery according to any one of claims 1-3, 5-8, or 13-14, characterized in that, The clearance space includes a second clearance portion, which is formed by a recess in the upper surface of the bottom wall of the box body. At least a portion of the second clearance portion is located below the first expansion beam, and at least a portion of the current collector is embedded in the second clearance portion.

16. The battery according to claim 15, characterized in that, The second clearance portion includes a first groove segment located below the first expansion beam and a second groove segment disposed away from the second space relative to the first groove segment. In the direction from the first groove segment to the second groove segment, the size of the second groove segment is larger than the size of the current collector.

17. The battery according to any one of claims 1-3, 5-8, 13-14, or 16, characterized in that, The heat exchanger is located inside the housing and between the bottom wall of the housing and the battery cell assembly.

18. The battery according to claim 17, characterized in that, The bottom surface of the current collector is lower than the bottom surface of the heat exchanger, and the end of the heat exchanger near the second space passes through the side wall of the current collector facing the first space.

19. The battery according to claim 17, characterized in that, The upper surface of the bottom wall has a recessed groove, and the heat exchanger is embedded in the groove.

20. The battery according to claim 17, characterized in that, The upper surface of the bottom wall and the outer surface of the heat exchanger are both provided with an insulating layer, and the space between the bottom wall and the battery cell assembly is filled with insulating adhesive.

21. The battery according to any one of claims 18-20, characterized in that, Also includes: At least one of the first temperature regulating element, the second temperature regulating element, and the third temperature regulating element The first temperature regulating element is disposed inside the housing assembly and on the top of the cell assembly; The second temperature regulating element is disposed between the large surfaces of adjacent battery cells in the battery cell assembly; The third temperature regulating component is located outside the box and below the bottom wall of the box.

22. The battery according to any one of claims 1-3, 5-8, 13-14, or 16, characterized in that, The housing assembly includes a bottom protective plate located below the housing, and the heat exchanger is located outside the housing and between the bottom wall of the housing and the bottom protective plate.

23. The battery according to claim 22, characterized in that, The heat exchanger is connected to the collector via a connecting pipe that penetrates the bottom wall.

24. The battery according to claim 23, characterized in that, The enclosure assembly also includes: A sealing element is provided between the bottom wall and the bottom protective plate, and includes an outer peripheral portion surrounding the heat exchanger, wherein the connecting pipe penetrates the bottom wall through an inner region corresponding to the outer peripheral portion.

25. The battery according to claim 22, characterized in that, A base adhesive layer is provided between the heat exchanger and the bottom wall and the bottom protective plate, respectively.

26. The battery according to claim 22, characterized in that, The heat exchanger includes at least one bent and extended heat exchange tube, and the housing assembly further includes: A foaming component is disposed between the bottom wall and the bottom protective plate, and includes a first foaming section disposed around the heat exchange component, and a second foaming section disposed between adjacent pipe sections of the same heat exchange tube or between adjacent heat exchange tubes.

27. The battery according to claim 26, characterized in that, The foaming component is connected to the bottom protective plate, and the upper surface of the heat exchange component is higher than the upper surface of the foaming component.

28. The battery according to claim 22, characterized in that, Also includes: At least one of the first temperature regulating element, the second temperature regulating element, and the fourth temperature regulating element. The first temperature regulating element is disposed inside the housing assembly and on the top of the cell assembly; The second temperature regulating element is disposed between the large surfaces of adjacent battery cells in the battery cell assembly; The fourth temperature regulating component is disposed inside the housing and located between the bottom wall and the battery cell assembly.

29. The battery according to any one of claims 1-3, 5-8, 13-14, 16, 18-20, or 23-28, characterized in that, The housing is a one-piece stamped part, and the heat exchange components are laid on the bottom wall.

30. The battery according to any one of claims 1-3 or 5-8, characterized in that, The heat exchanger includes multiple heat exchange channels arranged in parallel.

31. The battery according to claim 30, characterized in that, The heat exchange channels are two, namely a first heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel. The first end of each heat exchange channel converges and connects to the first heat exchange channel, and the second end of each heat exchange channel converges and connects to the second heat exchange channel.

32. The battery according to claim 30, characterized in that, The current collector is a single entity and includes a first flow channel interface and a second flow channel interface that are isolated from each other. There are multiple first flow channel interfaces that are interconnected, and multiple second flow channel interfaces that are interconnected. The multiple second flow channel interfaces are located on both sides of the multiple first flow channel interfaces. The first ends of the multiple heat exchange channels correspond one-to-one with and are connected to the multiple first flow channel interfaces, and the second ends of the multiple heat exchange channels correspond one-to-one with and are connected to the multiple second flow channel interfaces.

33. The battery according to any one of claims 1-3, 5-8, 13-14, 16, 18-20, 23-28, or 31-32, characterized in that, The heat exchanger includes at least one first heat exchange channel, the first heat exchange channel including a first heat exchange section, a second heat exchange section and a third heat exchange section, the second heat exchange section is bent to form a first U-shaped region, the first heat exchange section is bent and disposed in the first U-shaped region, and is connected to the second heat exchange section through the bending of the third heat exchange section, the second heat exchange section is located on the outermost side of the circumference of the first heat exchange channel.

34. The battery according to claim 33, characterized in that, The battery cell assembly includes a plurality of battery cells arranged along a first direction, each battery cell including a plurality of battery cells stacked sequentially along a second direction, and at least a portion of the second heat exchange section exchanges heat with the plurality of battery cells located at the outermost periphery of the battery cell assembly.

35. The battery according to claim 33, characterized in that, The heat exchanger further includes at least one second heat exchange channel, and the second heat exchange channel and the first heat exchange channel are bent in the same plane, with the second heat exchange channel bent within the first U-shaped area of ​​the first heat exchange channel.

36. The battery according to claim 35, characterized in that, At least one of the second heat exchange channels is bent to form a second U-shaped region, and at least a portion of the first heat exchange section is disposed within the second U-shaped region of the second heat exchange channel.

37. The battery according to any one of claims 1-3, 5-8, 13-14, 16, 18-20, 23-28, 31-32, or 34, characterized in that, The heat exchanger includes at least one bent and extended heat exchange tube, each heat exchange tube defining a heat exchange flow channel, and the heat exchange tube has a flat tube structure.

38. An electrical appliance, characterized in that, Includes the battery according to any one of claims 1-37.

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