Battery module

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery module having a plurality of battery cells (2) and having an electrical switching device (3), a first connection (31) of the electrical switching device (3) being electrically conductively connected to a battery cell (21) of the plurality of battery cells (2) via a first first busbar (511), which is electrically conductively connected to the battery cell (21), the second connection (32) of the electrical switching device (3) is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the total voltage-dividing tap (4) of the battery module (1) via a first / second busbar (512), the first heat pipe (61) being connected in a heat-conducting manner to the first first busbar (511), and / or the second heat pipe (62) being connected in a heat-conducting manner to the first / second busbar (512), and the second connection (32) of the electrical switching device (3) being connected in an electrically conductive manner to the total voltage-dividing tap (4) of the battery module (1). The first heat pipe (61) and / or the second heat pipe (62) are / is further connected to the temperature control body (8) in a heat-conducting manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a battery module of the type specified in the independent claim. Background Art

[0002] A battery module generally has a plurality of independent battery cells, each of which has a positive voltage divider tap and a negative voltage divider tap, wherein the corresponding voltage divider taps can be electrically connected to each other for electrically conductive series and / or parallel connection of the plurality of battery cells, and thus can be connected to each other to form a battery module. In particular, the battery cells can each have a first voltage divider tap (especially a positive voltage divider tap) and a second voltage divider tap (especially a negative voltage divider tap), and the first voltage divider tap and the second voltage divider tap are electrically conductively connected to each other via a cell connector, thereby forming an electrical series and / or parallel connection. In addition, the battery modules can also be connected to each other to form a battery or an entire battery system.

[0003] Electrical switching devices (eg relays) are usually arranged between voltage tappings of battery cells arranged at the ends of a battery module and a total voltage tapping of the battery module and are used in principle to switch (ie connect and disconnect) a battery module or a battery comprising such a battery module.

[0004] In principle, such electrical switching devices must be actively cooled, in particular because they conduct the entire current of the battery module. For this purpose, the electrical switching device can be connected to a heat sink, such as a housing made of metal of the battery module.

[0005] Prior art in this respect includes, for example, DE 102022203908, DE 102022203860 and DE 102022203861, which describe cooling of electrical switching devices by liquid cooling or air cooling, wherein cooling fins are an integral component of the housing structure of the housing of the battery module.

[0006] In order to achieve good heat dissipation of the electrical switching device, the housing of the battery module is preferably produced from a metal with relatively good thermal conductivity, preferably as an aluminum die-cast component. Summary of the invention

[0007] A battery module having the features of the independent claim offers the advantage that reliable temperature control, in particular cooling, of the electrical switching device of the battery module can be provided. In particular, such temperature control can be produced in a circuitous or indirect manner via the busbar by means of at least one heat pipe.

[0008] According to the invention, for this purpose a battery module is provided which has a plurality of battery cells which are in particular designed as lithium-ion battery cells.

[0009] The battery module also comprises an electrical switching device, in particular a relay.

[0010] The first first busbar is here electrically conductively connected to one of the plurality of battery cells. In addition, the first terminal of the electrical switching device is electrically conductively connected to the battery cell via the first first busbar. Thus, in particular, an electrical contact is thus formed between the battery cell and the first terminal.

[0011] The first second busbar is conductively connected to the total voltage tap of the battery module. In addition, the second terminal of the electrical switching device is connected to the total voltage tap of the battery module via the first second busbar. Therefore, in particular, electrical contact is formed between the total voltage tap and the second terminal.

[0012] In addition, the first heat pipe is thermally connected to the first first busbar, and / or the second heat pipe is thermally connected to the first second busbar.

[0013] Furthermore, the first heat pipe and / or the second heat pipe are thermally connected to the temperature control body.

[0014] Advantageous developments and improvements of the device specified in the independent claim are made possible by the measures listed in the dependent claims.

[0015] In particular, the first busbar is mechanically connected to the battery cell, in particular to the voltage tapping of the battery cell, for example by a material bond, in particular by a welded connection.

[0016] In particular, the first and second busbars are mechanically connected to the total voltage tapping, for example, in a materially bonded manner, in particular by a welded connection.

[0017] Furthermore, the electrically conductive connection can be formed directly or indirectly between the first connection and the battery cell by means of the first first busbar and between the second connection and the total voltage tap by means of the first second busbar. In this case—as described below—in the case of a direct connection, the first first busbar can also be mechanically connected to the first connection, for example, by material bonding, in particular by means of a welded connection, or the first second busbar can also be mechanically connected to the second connection, for example, by material bonding, in particular by means of a welded connection. In this case—as described below—in the case of an indirect connection, the second first busbar can be arranged between the first first busbar and the first connection, or the second second busbar can be arranged between the first second busbar and the second connection.

[0018] It should be noted that a heat pipe is to be understood as a heat exchanger, which is also referred to in English as a heat pipe, and which allows a high heat flux density by utilizing the evaporation enthalpy of the medium. Thus, a considerable amount of heat can be transferred over a relatively small cross section. When transferring heat to the heat pipe, the liquid evaporates in the heat pipe, wherein the absorbed heat is transferred via the heat pipe to a temperature regulating body having a relatively small temperature difference. The heat can be discharged from the temperature regulating body by free convection or forced convection.

[0019] It should be noted here that the plurality of battery cells are in particular each constructed as a prismatic battery cell. The prismatically constructed battery cells each comprise a battery cell housing having a total of six side surfaces which are arranged opposite one another in pairs and are substantially parallel to one another. In addition, the side surfaces arranged adjacent to one another are arranged at right angles to one another. The electrochemical components of the corresponding battery cell are accommodated in the interior of the battery cell housing. Two voltage divider taps, such as in particular a positive voltage divider tap and a negative voltage divider tap, are usually arranged on an upper side surface referred to as a cover surface. The lower side surface arranged opposite the upper side surface is referred to as a bottom surface.

[0020] In addition, it should be noted that a fuse can be arranged between the second connection and the total voltage divider tap. In particular, the fuse can be arranged in the first second busbar or the second second busbar.

[0021] Furthermore, a plurality of battery cells are arranged adjacent to one another, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the battery module. When the battery cells are arranged adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction of the battery module, the battery cells are arranged adjacent to one another with their respective largest side faces, which are in particular arranged at right angles to the upper side face and the lower side face, respectively. It should be noted that the longitudinal direction of the battery module is therefore arranged perpendicularly to the largest side faces of the battery cells in this case.

[0022] It is advantageous if the second first busbar is electrically conductively connected to the first connection of the electrical switching device. In particular, this connection is formed in a material-locking manner, for example, by a welded connection. Furthermore, the second first busbar is electrically conductively connected to the first first busbar. In particular, this connection is formed in a material-locking manner, for example, by a welded connection.

[0023] In particular, the second first busbar is arranged below the first busbar.

[0024] In this case, the first heat pipe is arranged between the first first busbar and the second first busbar.

[0025] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the second second busbar is electrically conductively connected to the second connection of the electrical switching device. In particular, this connection is formed in a material-locking manner, for example by a welded connection. Furthermore, the second second busbar is electrically conductively connected to the first second busbar. In particular, this connection is formed in a material-locking manner, for example by a welded connection.

[0026] In this case, the second heat pipe is arranged between the first second busbar and the second second busbar.

[0027] It is also advantageous if the first first busbar is further connected to the first connection and the first heat conducting element is connected to the first first busbar. In particular, such connections are respectively formed in a material-locking manner, for example by a welded connection.

[0028] In this case, the first heat pipe is arranged between the first busbar and the first heat conducting element.

[0029] Furthermore, it is also advantageous if the first and second busbars are also connected to the second connection, and the second heat conducting element is connected to the first and second busbars. In particular, such connections are respectively formed in a material-locking manner, for example by a welding connection.

[0030] In this case, the second heat pipe is arranged between the first and second busbars and the second heat conducting element.

[0031] The first heat conducting element and the second heat conducting element offer the advantage that the thermal connection surface to the first heat pipe and the second heat pipe can be increased or can be maximized.

[0032] Preferably, the first heat pipe is arranged to be electrically insulated from the first first busbar, the second first busbar and / or the first heat conducting element, and / or the second heat pipe is arranged to be electrically insulated from the first second busbar, the second second busbar and / or the second heat conducting element, thereby enabling the electrical path and the thermal path to be reliably separated from each other.

[0033] Here, it is advantageous if the electrical insulation is formed by a spacing element which is designed to be electrically insulating. The first heat pipe and / or the second heat pipe are each accommodated in the spacing element. The spacing element is preferably designed as a plastic injection molded part.

[0034] Furthermore, the electrical insulation can also be produced by means of a compensating element which is designed to be electrically insulating.

[0035] The spacing element and / or the compensating element can preferably comprise an additive which is embodied in a heat-conducting manner, so that the heat transfer can be increased reliably.

[0036] It is advantageous if a plurality of battery cells are accommodated in a housing of a battery module, wherein the housing is made of plastic. In particular, the housing is designed as a plastic injection-molded part. This offers the advantage that electrical insulation is provided between the plurality of battery cells and the housing of the battery module. Production from plastic also offers the advantage that a considerable degree of freedom can be provided when designing the housing and that the weight can be reduced compared to a housing made of metal.

[0037] Preferably, the electrical switching device can be mechanically connected to the housing of the battery module (eg, the bottom of the housing of the battery module), for example, by a screw connection.

[0038] It is advantageous if the heat-conducting connection between the first heat pipe and the temperature control element and / or between the second heat pipe and the temperature control element is formed in the housing of the battery module. This offers the following advantages: no seal is required between the first heat pipe and the housing of the battery module and between the second heat pipe and the housing of the battery module, and a seal is only formed between the temperature control element and the housing of the battery module. For example, such a seal can be formed by a sealing ring accommodated in a sealing groove.

[0039] In particular, it is possible to adapt the design of the temperature control body in a targeted manner according to the respective requirements, in particular because the temperature control body is not an integral component of the housing.

[0040] If the temperature control body is arranged on the outside of the housing, wherein the temperature control body is in particular designed as an extruded heat sink By arranging the temperature control body on the outside, a reliable heat exchange with the environment of the battery module, in particular with the ambient air, can be provided. In addition, the temperature control body can be arranged at almost any position outside the housing.

[0041] Preferably, the temperature control body can be mechanically connected to the housing of the battery module (eg, the outer side of the housing of the battery module), for example, by means of a screw connection.

[0042] Advantageously, the thermal contact surface of the first first busbar, the second first busbar, the second heat conducting element, the first second busbar, the second second busbar and / or the second heat conducting element has a semicircular cross section, thereby forming a maximum thermal contact surface with the first heat pipe and the second heat pipe. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description.

[0044] in:

[0045] Figure 1 An embodiment according to the invention of a battery module is shown in a perspective view;

[0046] Figure 2 The top view shows the Figure 1 A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 3 The side cross-sectional view shows Figure 1 A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 4 Shown according to Figure 1 A spacer element according to an embodiment of the present invention of a battery module;

[0049] Figure 5 shows the manufacturing steps of the battery module according to the present invention;

[0050] Figure 6 Another manufacturing step of the battery module according to the present invention is shown;

[0051] Figure 7 Another manufacturing step of the battery module according to the present invention is also shown; and

[0052] Figure 8 In another top view, the Figure 1 A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] Figure 1 An embodiment according to the invention of a battery module 1 is shown in a perspective view.

[0054] The battery module 1 comprises a plurality of battery cells 2 which are in particular designed as lithium-ion battery cells 20 . Furthermore, the battery cells 2 are in particular designed as prismatic battery cells 200 .

[0055] Furthermore, the battery module 1 comprises an electrical switching device 3 , in particular a relay 30 .

[0056] A plurality of battery cells 2 and in particular also the electrical switching device 3 are accommodated in a housing 7 of the battery module 1. The housing 7 is produced here from a plastic 70. In particular, the housing 7 is designed as a plastic injection-molded part 71.

[0057] The first connection 31 of the electrical switching device 3 is electrically conductively connected to a battery cell 21 of the plurality of battery cells 2 via a first busbar 511 .

[0058] The first busbar 511 is electrically conductively connected to the battery cell 21 .

[0059] The second connection 32 of the electrical switch device 3 is connected to the battery module 1 via the first and second busbars 512. Figure 1The total voltage divider tap 4 which cannot be seen in FIG. 1 is electrically conductively connected.

[0060] In addition, the first heat pipe 61 is thermally connected to the first first busbar 511. In addition, the second heat pipe 62 is thermally connected to the first second busbar 512.

[0061] The first heat pipe 61 and the second heat pipe 62 are thermally connected to the temperature control body 8. In addition, the temperature control body 8 is arranged on the outer side 72 of the housing 7. In particular, the temperature control body 8 is configured as an extruded heat sink 81.

[0062] Furthermore, the first-second busbar 512 is connected to the second connection 32. Furthermore, the second heat conducting element 162 is connected to the first-second busbar 512. The second heat pipe 62 is arranged between the first-second busbar 512 and the second heat conducting element 162.

[0063] Alternatively, and not visible in the figure, the battery module 1 may also further include a second second busbar 522, which is in particular materially bonded, for example, electrically conductively connected to the second connection 32 of the switching device 3 via a welded connection 300. The second second busbar 522 may further be electrically conductively connected to the first second busbar 512. In this case, the second heat pipe 62 is arranged between the first second busbar 512 and the second second busbar 522.

[0064] Figure 2 The top view shows the Figure 1 The battery module 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 The side cross-sectional view shows Figure 1 A battery module 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] Figure 2 and Figure 3 They should be explained together in the following text.

[0066] Firstly, a plurality of battery cells 2 as well as battery cells 21 can be seen here.

[0067] Furthermore, the first connection 31 and the second connection 32 can be seen or indicated.

[0068] The battery module 1 further comprises a second first busbar 521 which is electrically conductively connected to the first connection 31 of the switching device 3 , in particular in a materially bonded manner, for example via a welded connection 300 . The second first busbar 521 is furthermore electrically conductively connected to the first busbar 511 .

[0069] Here, especially from Figure 3 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the first heat pipe 61 is arranged between the first first bus bar 511 and the second first bus bar 521 .

[0070] Alternatively, which cannot be seen in the figure, the first first busbar 511 can also be connected to the first connection 31. In addition, the first heat conducting element 161 is connected to the first first busbar 511. In this case, the first heat pipe 61 is arranged between the first first busbar 511 and the first heat conducting element 161.

[0071] The first heat pipe 61 is arranged to be electrically insulated from the first first bus bar 511 and the second first bus bar 521 .

[0072] This electrical insulation 11 is formed here by a spacing element 12 which is designed to be electrically insulating. The first heat pipe 61 is accommodated in the spacing element 12 .

[0073] The second heat pipe 62 is arranged to be electrically insulated from the first second busbar 512 and the second heat conducting element 162 .

[0074] This electrical insulation 11 is formed here by a compensating element 13 which is designed to be electrically insulating.

[0075] from Figure 2 It can also be seen that the heat-conducting connections 9 between the first heat pipe 61 and the temperature control body 8 and between the second heat pipe 62 and the temperature control body 8 are formed in the housing 7 of the battery module 1 .

[0076] Figure 4 Shown according to Figure 1 A spacer element 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided for a battery module.

[0077] The spacer element 12 has a substantially cylindrical hollow body 121, which comprises two mutually oppositely arranged grooves 122. In other words, the spacer element 12 has, for example, a semicircular groove on the upper side and the lower side, respectively. This allows reliable thermal contact to be formed.

[0078] For example, the first heat pipe 61 can be accommodated in a cylindrical hollow body 121. By means of the two rings 123, for example, an electrically insulating distance can be formed between the first heat pipe 61 and the first first busbar 511 and the second first busbar 521.

[0079] Furthermore, a thermal compensation material which is electrically insulating and allows reliable thermal contact can be arranged in the region of the recess 122. In particular, the thermal compensation material can be a so-called gap filler or a thermally conductive adhesive.

[0080] Furthermore, the spacing element 12 comprises an alignment element 124 .

[0081] Figure 5 The manufacturing steps of the battery module 1 according to the present invention are shown.

[0082] It can be seen that, for example, the second first busbar 521 and the first second busbar 512 each have a semicircular cross section 15 .

[0083] Figure 6 A further production step of the battery module 1 according to the invention is shown.

[0084] It can be seen here that the first heat pipe 61 and the second heat pipe 62 are accommodated in accommodation regions of the second first busbar 521 and of the first second busbar 512 , which each have a semicircular cross section 15 .

[0085] The first heat pipe 61 is in particular accommodated in the spacing element 12. Furthermore, the alignment element 124 of the spacing element 12 can be embedded in the groove 125 of the second first busbar 511 to achieve reliable positioning.

[0086] In particular, the second heat pipe 62 further comprises a compensating element 13 which is designed to be electrically insulating.

[0087] Figure 7 A further production step of the battery module 1 according to the invention is also shown.

[0088] Here, the arrangement of the first busbar 511 and the second heat conducting element 162 can be seen.

[0089] It can be seen that, for example, the first busbar 511 and the second heat conducting element 162 each have a semicircular cross section 15 .

[0090] Furthermore, the alignment element 124 of the spacing element 12 may be embedded in the groove 125 of the first busbar 511 to achieve reliable positioning.

[0091] Figure 8 In another top view, the Figure 1 A battery module 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0092] In particular, the welded connection 300 can be seen here.

Claims

1. A battery module comprising a plurality of battery cells (2), in particular lithium-ion battery cells (20), and an electrical switching device (3), in particular a relay (30), wherein a first connection (31) of the electrical switching device (3) is electrically conductively connected to a battery cell (21) among the plurality of battery cells (2) via a first first busbar (511) which is electrically conductively connected to the battery cell (21), and a second connection (32) of the electrical switching device (3) is electrically conductively connected to a total voltage tap (4) of the battery module (1) via a first second busbar (512) which is electrically conductively connected to the total voltage tap (4), It is characterized in that The first heat pipe (61) is thermally connected to the first first busbar (511), and / or the second heat pipe (62) is thermally connected to the first second busbar (512), and wherein the first heat pipe (61) and / or the second heat pipe (62) is also thermally connected to the temperature regulating body (8).

2. The battery module according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The second first busbar (521) is also electrically conductively connected to the first first busbar (511), and the second first busbar is electrically conductively connected to the first terminal (31) of the switch device (3), wherein the first heat pipe (61) is arranged between the first first busbar (511) and the second first busbar (521), and / or the second second busbar (522) is also electrically conductively connected to the first second busbar (512), and the second second busbar is electrically conductively connected to the second terminal (32) of the switch device (3), wherein the second heat pipe (62) is arranged between the first second busbar (512) and the second second busbar (522).

3. The battery module according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 2, It is characterized in that The first first busbar (511) is also electrically conductively connected to the first joint (31), and the first heat-conducting element (161) is connected to the first first busbar (511), wherein the first heat pipe (61) is arranged between the first first busbar (511) and the first heat-conducting element (161), and / or the first second busbar (512) is also electrically conductively connected to the second joint (32), and the second heat-conducting element (162) is connected to the first second busbar (512), wherein the second heat pipe (62) is arranged between the first second busbar (512) and the second heat-conducting element (162).

4. The battery module according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that The first heat pipe (61) is arranged and constructed to be electrically insulated from the first first busbar (511), the second first busbar (521) and / or the first heat conducting element (161), and / or the second heat pipe (62) is arranged and constructed to be electrically insulated from the first second busbar (512), the second second busbar (522) and / or the second heat conducting element (162).

5. The battery module according to claim 4, It is characterized in that The electrical insulation (11) is formed by a spacing element (12) which is designed to be electrically insulating, wherein the first heat pipe (61) and / or the second heat pipe (62) are each accommodated in the spacing element (12).

6. A battery module according to any one of the two preceding claims 4 or 5, It is characterized in that The electrical insulation (11) is formed by a compensating element (13) which is designed to be electrically insulating.

7. The battery module according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, It is characterized in that A plurality of battery cells (2) are accommodated in a housing (7) of a battery module (1), wherein the housing (7) is produced from plastic (70), in particular is designed as a plastic injection-molded part (71).

8. The battery module according to claim 7, It is characterized in that A heat-conducting connection (9) between a first heat pipe (61) and a temperature control element (8) and / or between a second heat pipe (62) and a temperature control element (8) is formed in a housing (7) of a battery module (1).

9. The battery module according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, It is characterized in that The temperature control body (8) is arranged on the outer side (72) of the housing (7), wherein the temperature control body (8) is in particular designed as an extruded heat sink (81).

10. The battery module according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, It is characterized in that The thermal contact surfaces of the first first busbar (511), the second first busbar (521), the first heat conducting element (161), the first second busbar (512), the second second busbar (522) and / or the second heat conducting element (162) have a semicircular (15) cross section.

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