Energy storage module and assembly method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses an energy storage module and an assembly method thereof, and relates to the technical field of energy storage equipment. The energy storage module comprises a plurality of single cells which are connected in series and in parallel, positive and negative electrodes of the single cells are located on the same side, fixing supports are arranged at the tops and the bottoms of the single cells, and the single cells are connected with a plastic assembly through the fixing supports; the plastic assembly comprises a first plastic part and a second plastic part; the first plastic part is connected with the positive and negative electrode sides of the single battery cell, and the second plastic part is connected with the other side of the single battery cell; a bus bar sheet is arranged on the first plastic part and is used for connecting the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the single battery cell. The positive and negative electrodes of the battery cells are arranged on the same side, the battery cells are arranged in the same direction when being assembled into the module, two-way installation is not needed, and the assembly link is simplified.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of energy storage equipment, and in particular to an energy storage module and an assembly method thereof. Background Art

[0002] With the development of new energy technologies, energy storage systems have been widely used in electric vehicles, home energy storage and other fields.

[0003] However, existing energy storage modules have problems such as complex structure, low heat dissipation efficiency and inconvenient battery management. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an energy storage module, comprising:

[0005] A plurality of single cells connected in series and parallel, wherein the positive and negative electrodes of the single cells are located on the same side, the top and bottom of the single cells are both provided with fixing brackets, and the single cells are connected to the plastic component through the fixing brackets;

[0006] The plastic component includes a first plastic part and a second plastic part; the first plastic part is connected to the positive and negative sides of the single battery cell, and the second plastic part is connected to the other side of the single battery cell; a bus bar is provided on the first plastic part, and the bus bar connects the positive and negative electrodes of the single battery cell.

[0007] The energy storage module further includes an FPC and a BMU, and the FPC cooperates with the BMU to actively or passively balance the power of the single battery cells;

[0008] The FPC includes a thermistor, and based on the thermistor detecting the temperature of the bus bar, the BMU obtains the temperature value of the bus bar for real-time monitoring.

[0009] If the temperature value acquired by the BMU is greater than the temperature threshold, the BMU sends a signal to the alarm unit to trigger an alarm.

[0010] The interval between the single cells is greater than an interval threshold to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the energy storage module.

[0011] Wherein, the single cell is a cylindrical cell, and the single cell may be made of lithium iron phosphate.

[0012] The energy storage modules are grouped in a 2-in-parallel and 16-in-series manner.

[0013] The present invention also provides an assembly method, which can be applied to the energy storage module as described in any one of the above items, comprising the following steps:

[0014] Place the second plastic part, and place the battery cells in the second plastic part according to the order and direction;

[0015] Use CCD to take pictures and identify whether the battery cell is placed upside down or wrongly;

[0016] The first plastic part is installed on the fixing bracket on the positive and negative electrode sides of the single battery cell by self-tapping screws;

[0017] The CCS can be mounted on the first plastic part by welding to complete the assembly.

[0018] Beneficial effects of the present invention: Different from the prior art, the present invention discloses an energy storage module and an assembly method thereof, which relate to the technical field of energy storage equipment; wherein the energy storage module comprises: a plurality of single cells connected in series and parallel, the positive and negative electrodes of the single cells are located on the same side, the top and bottom of the single cells are provided with fixed brackets, and the single cells are connected to the plastic assembly through the fixed brackets; the plastic assembly comprises a first plastic part and a second plastic part; the first plastic part is connected to the positive and negative electrode sides of the single cell, and the second plastic part is connected to the other side of the single cell; a busbar is provided on the first plastic part, and the busbar connects the positive and negative electrodes of the single cells. By setting the positive and negative electrodes of the cells on the same side, the cells are in the same direction when they are installed in the module, and there is no need for two-way installation, which simplifies the assembly process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic flow chart of an assembly method according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The following are specific embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings to further describe the technical solution of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0021] The cylindrical cells used in traditional energy storage modules usually have the positive and negative electrodes at both ends of the cells, which requires the cells to be placed alternately during assembly to achieve series connection. In addition, traditional modules require the cells to be flipped during welding to complete the welding of the positive and negative electrodes, which not only increases production time and cost, but also increases the risk of incorrect assembly.

[0022] To this end, the present invention provides an energy storage module, which includes a plurality of single battery cells, a fixing bracket, a plastic component and a busbar; the energy storage module can be applied to electric vehicles, household energy storage and grid-level energy storage.

[0023] The positive and negative electrodes of multiple series-parallel single cells are located on the same side, and the positive and negative directions of the cells do not need to be considered during assembly, which simplifies the production process and reduces the risk of assembly errors. The traditional two-side tab design requires the cells to be flipped during welding. The energy storage module provided by the present invention allows the positive and negative electrodes of all cells to be connected on one plane, which improves welding speed and efficiency.

[0024] Fixed brackets are provided at the top and bottom of the single cell, and the fixed brackets can adopt open PC+ABS fixed brackets with a flame retardant grade of V0; in the present embodiment, the top of the single cell is the positive and negative pole side, and the bottom of the single cell is the other side; the single cell is connected to the plastic component through the fixed bracket; the upper and lower fixed brackets fix the cell in the plastic part by screwing, ensuring that it can pass the packaging transportation, bare package drop, and bare package vibration tests; the fixed bracket can also connect the single cell to the plastic part through other detachable connections.

[0025] The plastic component includes a first plastic part and a second plastic part; the first plastic part is connected to the positive and negative sides of the single battery cell, and the second plastic part is connected to the other side of the single battery cell;

[0026] The first plastic part is provided with a busbar, which connects the positive and negative electrodes of the single battery cell. The busbar generally refers to a metal strip or sheet used to connect multiple battery cells, and is used in a battery module or battery pack. It collects and distributes current, connects the positive or negative electrodes of each battery cell, and forms a complete electrical path, so that the current can flow smoothly from one battery cell to another until the output end of the entire battery module or battery pack. The working principle of the busbar is described below:

[0027] When the battery cells are connected in series, the busbar connects the positive electrode of the battery cell to the negative electrode of the next battery cell by welding, and so on, until a battery pack of the required voltage is formed. When the battery cells are connected in parallel, the busbar connects the positive electrodes of the battery cells to each other, and similarly, the negative electrodes to each other, thereby increasing the total current carrying capacity without changing the voltage.

[0028] By adopting a specific first plastic part and a second plastic part, and arranging a busbar on the first plastic part to connect the positive and negative electrodes of the single battery cell, not only can the assembly process be simplified and the welding efficiency be improved, but also the stability of the module can be enhanced, the heat dissipation performance can be optimized, and the space utilization and energy density can be improved.

[0029] In summary, the present invention discloses an energy storage module and an assembly method thereof, which relate to the technical field of energy storage equipment; wherein the energy storage module comprises: a plurality of single cells connected in series and parallel, the positive and negative electrodes of the single cells are located on the same side, the top and bottom of the single cells are provided with fixed brackets, and the single cells are connected to the plastic assembly through the fixed brackets; the plastic assembly comprises a first plastic part and a second plastic part; the first plastic part is connected to the positive and negative electrode sides of the single cell, and the second plastic part is connected to the other side of the single cell; a busbar is provided on the first plastic part, and the busbar connects the positive and negative electrodes of the single cells. By setting the positive and negative electrodes of the cells on the same side, the cells are in the same direction when they are installed in the module, and there is no need for two-way installation, which simplifies the assembly process.

[0030] In one embodiment, the energy storage module also includes an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) and a BMU (Battery Management Unit), and the FPC cooperates with the BMU to actively or passively balance the power of the single battery cells; a nickel sheet on the FPC is welded to the bus bar; an AFE chip (Analog Front End) is provided on the BMU, and the AFE is connected to the copper wire on the FPC through a connector, and the copper wire is connected to the nickel sheet together; the bus bar is connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell, and the power of the single battery cell is sent to the AFE chip through the nickel sheet-copper wire, so that the BMU obtains the power of the single battery cell.

[0031] Active balancing transfers excess charge from fully charged cells to uncharged cells through the circuit on the FPC, thereby achieving a balanced distribution of charge; passive balancing dissipates the excess charge in the overcharged cells in the form of heat through the resistors on the FPC until the voltages of all cells become consistent.

[0032] By balancing the charge in each battery cell, individual cells can be prevented from overcharging or discharging, thereby avoiding premature aging or damage of these cells, extending the service life of the battery pack as a whole, and ensuring that all single cells are in the best working condition, which helps to maximize the overall performance and efficiency of the battery pack.

[0033] In one embodiment, the FPC includes a thermistor. Based on the thermistor detecting the temperature of the busbar, the BMU obtains the temperature value of the busbar for real-time monitoring. When the busbar generates heat due to the passage of current, the thermistor changes its resistance value according to the change in temperature. This change in resistance is captured by the FPC and transmitted to the BMU through a signal. The BMU determines the temperature of the busbar based on the received signal and performs real-time monitoring accordingly.

[0034] Thermistors can monitor the temperature of the busbar in real time, helping the battery management system to promptly understand the temperature conditions inside the battery and ensure that the battery operates within a safe temperature range.

[0035] In one embodiment, if the temperature value obtained by the BMU is greater than the temperature threshold, the BMU sends a signal to the alarm unit to trigger an alarm; for example, the temperature threshold is 40°C; multiple temperature thresholds can also be set, for example, when the temperature reaches 40°C, the system issues a warning to the user that the temperature is too high; when the temperature reaches 45°C, the system triggers an emergency response mechanism and performs a power-off operation. By integrating the real-time monitoring function of the thermistor and the BMU, the energy storage module can effectively manage the internal temperature and ensure the safe and efficient operation of the battery system.

[0036] In one embodiment, the spacing between single cells is greater than the spacing threshold to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the energy storage module. When the cells are closely arranged, the heat between them is difficult to dissipate effectively, which may cause local overheating, thereby affecting battery performance and life. By increasing the spacing between cells, air flow can be promoted, helping heat to diffuse faster, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance of the entire module. However, if the spacing between single cells is too large, it will increase the floor space of the energy storage module; reasonably setting the spacing between single cells is one of the key factors to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the energy storage module, which is of great significance for ensuring the long-term stable operation of the battery system.

[0037] In this embodiment, the interval threshold is 1.5 mm. In other embodiments, the interval threshold may be a different value, which is not limited here.

[0038] In one embodiment, the single cell is a cylindrical cell, and lithium iron phosphate may be used for the single cell. The use of lithium iron phosphate batteries in the cells has the following advantages:

[0039] Lithium iron phosphate batteries have a long cycle life and can maintain a high capacity retention rate even after multiple charge and discharge cycles, which helps reduce maintenance costs and replacement frequency.

[0040] Lithium iron phosphate batteries show better stability under extreme conditions such as overcharging, over-discharging, and extrusion, and are less likely to burn or explode, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery.

[0041] Lithium iron phosphate batteries can maintain good performance over a wide temperature range and are suitable for applications in different climatic conditions.

[0042] In this embodiment, the single cell is a lithium iron phosphate battery with a capacity of 20Ah and a nominal voltage of 3.2V. Selecting lithium iron phosphate as the single cell material in the energy storage module can not only improve the reliability and safety of the module, but also extend the service life, reduce the overall cost, and be environmentally friendly.

[0043] In one embodiment, the energy storage modules are grouped in 2 parallels and 16 series; 2 parallels means two battery cells are connected in parallel, which can increase the maximum output current of the battery pack and is suitable for application scenarios that require a larger current; 16 series means 16 battery cells are connected in series, which can increase the total voltage of the battery pack and is suitable for applications that require a higher voltage. This combination can take into account both high voltage and high current requirements.

[0044] The parallel batteries can complement each other. Even if the performance of one battery decreases, the other batteries can continue to provide power, which improves the overall reliability of the system. At the same time, the balancing technology can effectively manage the differences between the series battery cells, prevent the single battery from being overcharged or over-discharged, and extend the service life of the entire battery pack.

[0045] like Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the process of an embodiment of the assembly method provided by the present invention comprises the following steps:

[0046] Step S11: The second plastic part is placed, and the battery cells are placed in the second plastic part according to the order and direction; the problem of incorrect placement of the battery cells is avoided, the assembly process is simplified, and the risk of incorrect assembly is reduced.

[0047] Step S12: Using CCD to take photos for identification, whether the battery cell is placed upside down or wrongly; effectively preventing assembly errors caused by human errors, and improving assembly accuracy and quality.

[0048] Step S13: The first plastic part is installed on the fixing bracket on the positive and negative electrode sides of the single battery cell by self-tapping screws; ensuring that the battery cell is firmly fixed in the module, enhancing the stability of the overall structure and reducing looseness caused by vibration or collision.

[0049] Step S14: The CCS can be installed on the first plastic part by welding. The CCS includes a busbar, a plastic part, an FPC and a thermistor. The connection between the battery cell and the control system can be quickly completed, the welding efficiency is improved, and the assembly is completed.

[0050] The above description is only an implementation method of the present application, and does not limit the patent scope of the present application. Any equivalent structure or equivalent process transformation made using the contents of the present application specification and drawings, or directly or indirectly used in other related technical fields, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An energy storage module, characterized in that: include: A plurality of single cells connected in series and parallel, wherein the positive and negative electrodes of the single cells are located on the same side, the top and bottom of the single cells are both provided with fixing brackets, and the single cells are connected to the plastic component through the fixing brackets; The plastic component includes a first plastic part and a second plastic part; the first plastic part is connected to the positive and negative sides of the single battery cell, and the second plastic part is connected to the other side of the single battery cell; a bus bar is provided on the first plastic part, and the bus bar connects the positive and negative electrodes of the single battery cell.

2. The energy storage module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The energy storage module further includes an FPC and a BMU, and the FPC cooperates with the BMU to perform active or passive balance of the electric quantity of the single battery cells.

3. The energy storage module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The FPC includes a thermistor, and based on the thermistor detecting the temperature of the bus bar, the BMU obtains the temperature value of the bus bar for real-time monitoring.

4. The energy storage module according to claim 3, characterized in that: If the temperature value acquired by the BMU is greater than the temperature threshold, the BMU sends a signal to the alarm unit to trigger an alarm.

5. The energy storage module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The interval between the single cells is greater than an interval threshold to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the energy storage module.

6. The energy storage module according to claim 5, characterized in that: The single cell is a cylindrical cell, and lithium iron phosphate can be used for the single cell.

7. The energy storage module according to claim 6, characterized in that: The energy storage modules are grouped in a manner of 2 in parallel and 16 in series.

8. An assembly method, characterized in that: The method can be applied to the energy storage module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the following steps: Place the second plastic part, and place the battery cells in the second plastic part according to the order and direction; CCD is used to take photos for identification to identify whether the battery cell is placed upside down or wrongly; the first plastic part is installed on the fixing bracket on the positive and negative sides of the single battery cell by self-tapping screws; The CCS can be mounted on the first plastic part by welding to complete the assembly.

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