Device for regulating temperature of battery cell

Abstract

The object of the present invention is a device (1) for regulating the temperature of battery cells (2), comprising a housing (3), a cover (11), a cavity (4) inside the housing (3), at least one heat transfer medium inlet (5) into the cavity (4), and at least one heat transfer medium outlet (6) from the cavity (4), in which at least three battery cells (2) are located in the cavity (4) and surrounded by a heat transfer medium (7), the housing (3) comprises a first side (8) of the housing and a second side (9) of the housing, and the cavity (4) has a mouth (10) adjacent to the first side (8) of the housing and closed by the cover (11). The device further comprises an elastic plate (12), where the elastic plate (12) comprises a number of openings (13) corresponding to the number of the battery cells (2) inside the cavity (4), where each battery cell (2) passes through one opening (13), and where the cross-section of the openings (13) in the elastic plate (12) is as large as or smaller than the cross-section of the battery cells (2), where the elastic plate (12) is arranged in the cavity (4). The cover (11) comprises an electrical conductor (14) connected to the battery cell (2) and is adjacent to a first side (15) of an elastic plate, wherein the second side (16) of the elastic plate is in contact with the heat transfer medium (7).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for storing a plurality of battery cells and regulating their temperature using a heat transfer medium, which solves the problems associated with the fixation and sealing of the individual elements of the device and the non-uniform cooling of the battery cells. Background Art

[0002] Lithium battery cells, especially battery modules (batteries) composed thereof, are a widely used long-life energy source. The disadvantage of lithium batteries is their high sensitivity to temperature changes, especially overheating, which leads to fluctuations in battery capacity and performance, over-discharge or over-charge of the battery cells, and ultimately can cause short circuits and damage to the entire battery module.

[0003] In the prior art, units for storing battery cells cooled by the flow of a cooling medium are known. A device is described in document EP3363061 B1, which includes two sealing grids strung on the battery cells, where the coolant flows between the sealing grid and the surrounding frame. The disadvantage of this solution is that there is no protection against the movement of the sealing grid and the battery cells due to the pressure of the coolant, where the position of the battery cells is not fixed in any other way.

[0004] Document DE102014112628 A1 describes a cooling battery module, which includes a frame and two sealing plates through which the battery cells pass, where the coolant flows between the sealing plates. The distance between the sealing plates and their mutual adhesion are ensured by a plurality of spacers attached to the sealing plates and the frame by screw, adhesive or welding connections. The device includes a plurality of auxiliary connecting elements, which unnecessarily occupy the space between the battery cells and must be fixed by a large number of connecting pieces. In addition, the position of the sealing plates is not ensured over their entire surface, but only at points, resulting in non-uniform protection of the sealing plates against the pressure of the coolant.

[0005] Document JP2012009388 A describes a housing of a battery cell indirectly cooled by means of a cooling frame inserted between each row of battery cells and including the conduction of a coolant. A number of cooling frames are connected to the support frame by screws. This spatial arrangement is inefficient because the cooling frame occupies most of the internal space of the housing, which could be filled with additional battery cells. The cooling efficiency is low because the cooling of the coolant does not occur by direct contact with most of the surface area of the battery cells, and the flow direction of the coolant is strictly determined by the conduction of the cooling medium through narrow channels.

[0006] The disadvantage of the above solution is that the positions of the battery cells and the sealing elements in the device are ensured only at points or by using a large number of connecting and auxiliary elements, where these connecting and auxiliary elements, when placed in the device cavity, unnecessarily occupy space that could potentially be used for other battery cells. If the sealing elements and the battery cells are not properly stabilized, they are unevenly loaded by the pressure of the cooling medium, where leakages or other faults may occur in the affected areas. Another disadvantage of the state of the art is that no heat exchanger structure is used for the structure of the housing of the battery cells, or for their protection and thermal insulation. Furthermore, no solution exists that can address the above disadvantages while making such a heat exchanger structure with housing function easier to assemble. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The device for regulating the temperature of battery cells according to the present invention eliminates to some extent the above disadvantages, wherein the device includes a housing, a cover, a cavity inside the housing, at least one heat transfer medium inlet leading into the cavity, and at least one heat transfer medium outlet from the cavity, wherein the battery cells are located in the cavity and are surrounded by the heat transfer medium. The housing includes a first side and a second side of the housing, and the cavity has a mouth closed by the cover adjacent to the first side of the housing, wherein the device further includes an elastic plate, the elastic plate including a number of openings corresponding to the number of battery cells within the cavity, wherein each battery cell passes through one opening, and the cross-section of the openings in the elastic plate is as large as or smaller than the cross-section of the battery cells, wherein the cover includes electrical conductors connected to the battery cells and adjacent to a first side of the elastic plate, wherein a second side of the elastic plate is in contact with the heat transfer medium.

[0008] The rigid connection of the elastic plate to the cover and the housing of the device eliminates the possible displacement of the battery cells and the elastic plate due to the pressure of the heat transfer medium, since the positions of the elastic plate and the battery cells within the openings of the elastic plate are maintained by the cover over most of the surface area of the elastic plate. The cavity of the device is fully utilized to store the battery cells, and the battery cells are rigidly fixed between the housing and the cover and are connected to the electrical conductors on the cover. The device is optimized for storing the maximum number of battery cells in the cavity and safely regulating their temperature, where no additional strengthening or connecting elements are required. At the same time, the device of the present invention makes full use of its structure to provide thermal insulation and protect the battery cells from external influences, thus realizing the function of a complete housing. Furthermore, the device of the present invention can be easily constructed.

[0009] The device for regulating the temperature of a battery cell preferably includes an electrical conductor adjacent to an elastic plate, wherein the electrical conductor is part of a cover and the cover consists only of the components necessary for the secure connection of the contacts of the battery cell. This arrangement allows the electrical contacts to serve as elements for fixing the position of the elastic plate, protecting the elastic plate, and closing the housing, without the need for another component.

[0010] The device for regulating the temperature of a battery cell preferably includes an inlet for a heat transfer medium and an outlet for the heat transfer medium located on opposite sides of the housing, which helps the heat transfer medium to flow uniformly through the entire cavity of the device and cool the battery cell. The device may include multiple pairs of such inlets and outlets for the heat transfer medium.

[0011] The housing of the device for regulating the temperature of a battery cell preferably includes at least one integrated channel that connects the cavity to the inlet for the heat transfer medium or the outlet for the heat transfer medium. The advantage of the integrated channel in the device cavity is to direct the flow of the heat transfer medium in a selected direction, where the secondary function of the integrated channel is a strengthening function that otherwise would have to be performed by additional elements in the device cavity, such as reinforcing ribs, which unnecessarily occupy space in the cavity.

[0012] The housing of the device for regulating the temperature of a battery cell preferably includes one integrated channel connected to the inlet for the heat transfer medium and one integrated channel connected to the outlet for the heat transfer medium. In the case of an embodiment of a housing with two integrated channels, regulation of the flow of the heat transfer medium at the inlet and outlet is achieved because one integrated channel serves as the inlet while the other integrated channel serves as the outlet.

[0013] The housing of the device for regulating the temperature of a battery cell preferably includes an integrated channel in its circumferential sidewall at a horizontal plane between a first side and a second side of the housing, wherein the integrated channel includes a penetration into the cavity. The through integrated channel regulates the direction of the heat transfer medium flowing to multiple battery cells at different parts of the cavity while uniformly strengthening the entire device.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the elastic plate is clamped between the cover and the first side of the housing around its periphery, where the cover contacts the first side of the housing, the first side of the elastic plate, and the battery cell. By clamping the elastic plate between the housing and the cover around its periphery, point connections between the cover, the elastic plate, and the housing are eliminated.

[0015] The bottom of the device cavity preferably includes a hanging portion adapted to the shape of the battery cell for locking the battery cell in place, spacing the battery cell from the housing, or connecting. Fixing the battery cell to the housing of the device using a molding element increases the cohesion between the battery cell and the housing and reduces the risk of the battery cell loosening or other failures due to the pressure of the flowing liquid.

[0016] The bottom of the cavity preferably further comprises a reinforcing element passing through corresponding openings in the cavity and the elastic plate for rigidly connecting the bottom of the cavity to the lid. The reinforcing element further increases the cohesion between the lid and the housing. Description of the Drawings

[0017] The general concept of the present invention is further elucidated by means of exemplary embodiments of the invention described with the aid of the drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 A view of the device for regulating the temperature of a battery cell according to the present invention is shown,

[0019] Figure 2 A longitudinal section of the device for regulating the temperature of a battery cell according to the present invention is shown,

[0020] Figure 3 A side view of the device for regulating the temperature of a battery cell according to the present invention is shown,

[0021] Figure 4 A top view of the device for regulating the temperature of a battery cell according to the present invention is shown,

[0022] Figure 5 A vertical cross-section of the device for regulating the temperature of a battery cell according to the present invention is shown. Detailed Description

[0023] The present invention will be further elucidated by reference to exemplary embodiments of the individual drawings. An example of an embodiment is Figure 1 The device 1 shown for regulating Figures 1 to 5 the temperature of the battery cell 2 described in

[0024] The device 1 for regulating the temperature of the battery cell 2 comprises an outer housing 3 in the shape of a flat cuboid ( Figure 1 ) and a cavity 4 inside the housing 3, in which a plurality of battery cells 2 surrounded by a heat transfer medium 7 are arranged. The inlet 5 for the heat transfer medium to enter the cavity 4 and the outlet 6 for the heat transfer medium from the cavity 4 are symmetrically located at the centers of the circumferential side walls on opposite sides of the housing 3 ( Figures 2 to 4 ). The inlet 5 and the outlet 6 for the heat transfer medium mean the channels for the heat transfer medium 7 to enter the cavity 4 of the device, which have elongated nozzles for connecting hoses for supplying or discharging the heat transfer medium 7, which is in this case a coolant. The housing 3 of the device as well as the inlet 5 and the outlet 6 for the heat transfer medium are made of a polymer or a polymer-based, carbon-based or Kevlar-based composite material. At the location where the electronic unit of the battery system is stored, the thickness of the wall of the housing 3 is reduced so that the electronic unit of the battery system can be cooled more effectively. The electronic unit of the battery system is a BMS (Battery Management System, balancer).

[0025] The housing 3 of the device includes a first side 8 of the housing and a second side 9 of the housing. Among them, the cavity 4 has a mouth 10 closed by a cover 1 on the first side 8 of the housing. On the side opposite to the mouth 10 of the cavity, that is, closer to the second side 9 of the housing, in this exemplary embodiment, the bottom of the cavity 4 is located on this side. The housing 3 includes two L-shaped integrated channels 17 in its circumferential sidewall, where each integrated channel 17 is part of two adjacent sidewalls of the housing 3. One integrated channel 17 communicates the cavity 4 with the inlet 5 of the heat transfer medium, and the second integrated channel 17 communicates the cavity 4 with the outlet 5 of the heat transfer medium. The integrated channel 17 has a rectangular cross-section, where the height of the cross-section is equal to the height of the cavity 4 between the first side 8 and the second side 9 of the housing, and the width of the cross-section is approximately equal to the diameter of the openings of the inlet 5 and the outlet 6 of the heat transfer medium. Each integrated channel 17 includes a penetration part 18 in its wall, and the penetration part is oriented in the space of the cavity 4 between the battery cells 2. In this embodiment, each integrated channel 17 includes 10 penetration parts 18 evenly spaced along the entire length of the integrated channel 17. The integrated channel 15 connected to the inlet 5 of the heat transfer medium and the integrated channel 17 connected to the outlet 6 of the heat transfer medium are separated from each other. The embodiment of the integrated channel 17 is shown in Figure 2 and 5 the part of the device 1 in

[0026] In the first exemplary embodiment, the device 1 includes a total of 100 vertically oriented cylindrical battery cells 2, which are arranged in 10 rows of 10 battery cells 2 in the cavity 4 as visible in Figure 2 The battery cells 2 directly adjoin the bottom of the cavity 4 adjacent to the second side 9 of the housing, where the bottom of the cavity 4 includes a hanging part 19 adapted to the shape of the battery cells for locking the battery cells 2 in place. Therefore, the hanging part 19 is adapted to the precise placement and fixation of the battery cells 2 relative to the housing 3. In the first exemplary embodiment, they are flat depressions in the shape of a circle corresponding to the outer shape of the battery cells 2 at the bottom of the cavity 4, where the battery cells 2 are placed in these depressions and rigidly connected to the housing 3. The battery cells 2 are arranged closely adjacent to each other, but have a spacing that allows the heat transfer medium 7 to flow around the battery cells 2. The battery cells 2 include electrical insulation at the parts in contact with the heat transfer medium 7, and the two contacts (poles) of the battery cells 2 are positioned closer to the mouth 10 of the cavity on the first side 8 of the housing (on the top side of the battery cells 2).

[0027] The elastic plate 12 is located on the housing 3 of the device, and the number of battery cells 2 is at the level of the mouth 10 of the cavity. The elastic plate 12 includes a number of openings 13 corresponding to the number of battery cells 2, wherein the arrangement of the openings 13 in the elastic plate 12 is similar to the arrangement of the hanging portions 19 at the bottom of the cavity 4 of the device, and each battery cell 2 passes through one opening 13 of the elastic plate. The elastic plate 12 is made of a flexible elastomeric material that can be reinforced with textile fibers. In order to ensure the compression and tightness of the elastic plate 12 around the battery cells 2, the diameter of the openings 13 in the elastic plate 12 is smaller than the outer diameter of the battery cells 2.

[0028] The cover 11 is directly placed on the elastic plate 12, wherein the first side 15 of the elastic plate is adjacent to the cover 11, and the second side 16 of the elastic plate is in contact with the heat transfer medium 7 that fills the space of the cavity 4 around the battery cells 2. The elastic plate 12 is also partially adjacent to the first side 8 of the housing with its second side 16, wherein the elastic plate 12 is clamped between the first side 8 of the housing and the cover 11 along its circumference. The clamping of the elastic plate 12 between the cover 12 and the first side 8 of the housing is located on the wall of the integrated channel 17, as Figure 5 shown. The rigid connection between the cover 11 and the housing 3 is provided by pressing, screwing, gluing or welding connections, wherein the surface connection of the cover 11 to both the elastic plate 12 and the housing 3 helps to maintain the pressure, its position and its sealing ability on the elastic plate 12.

[0029] In the first exemplary embodiment, the cover 11 adjacent to the first side 15 of the elastic plate consists of 3 rigid connection members, the rigid connection members including a carrier 20 and two other conductive and mutually separated (insulated) switch plates 21, and the electrical conductors 14 are connected to the switch plates. The carrier 20 is made of a non-conductive material (polymer) in the form of a plate, which is adjacent to the first side 15 of the elastic plate, the battery cells 2, and also adjacent to the housing 3 along its periphery. On the side opposite to the elastic plate 12, the two switch plates 21 with electrical conductors 14 are adjacent to the carrier 20, wherein the carrier 20 isolates these switch plates 21 from direct contact with the battery cells 2. The two switch plates 21 with electrical conductors 14 are both conductive metal forming elements (see Figure 4 ), wherein one switch plate 21 includes an electrical conductor 14 connected to the positive electrode of the battery cell 2, and the other switch plate 21 includes an electrical conductor 14 connected to the negative electrode of the battery cell 2, wherein one pole (contact) is located at the center of the battery cell 2, and the other pole is located at the edge of the battery cell 2. The connection of the electrical conductors 14 to the contacts of the battery cells 2 is achieved, for example, by spot welding, brazing or mechanical connection, wherein the electrical conductors 14 are connected to at least one contact of the battery cells 2 by fuses, and the fuses serve as fuses in the case of a short circuit of the battery cells 2. The electrical conductors 14 connecting the switch plates 21 to the contacts of the electrical single cells 2 pass through the cutouts in the carrier 20 of the cover (in Figure 5(visible in the section), wherein the secondary function of the metal switchboard 21 is to reinforce the entire cover 1.

[0030] All rigid connections of the elements of the device 1, such as the connection of the battery unit 2 to the hanging part 19 on the bottom of the cavity 4, or the connection of the cover 11 of the device to the housing 3, are made by pressing, screwing, gluing, welding, molding or mechanical connection.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment, the housing 3 of the device can be made of other composite materials and reinforced with metal inserts or ribs. Alternatively, it can be made of metal or its alloy and then provided with an insulator. The housing 3 can be of any shape, such as a cuboid, a prism or a cylinder.

[0032] In an alternative embodiment, the device 1 can include both an inlet 5 and an outlet 6 of the heat transfer medium on one (the same) side of the housing 3, including the first side 8 of the housing. In another embodiment, it can include two inlets 5 of the heat transfer medium and two outlets 6 of the heat transfer medium, wherein one inlet 5 of the heat transfer medium and one outlet 6 of the heat transfer medium are located on each of the two opposite sides of the device 1. The outlet 6 of the heat transfer medium can be designed only as an outlet opening or an outlet chamber without being connected to the integrated channel 17. The parameters of the integrated channel 17, such as the diameter of the integrated channel 17, the number of penetrations 18 or the size of the penetrations 18, can be adjusted according to the direction, speed and pressure of the heat transfer medium 7 during its flow through the device 1. The inlet 5 and the outlet 6 of the heat transfer medium, or more generally, the housing 3 of the device can include temperature or pressure sensors or a relief valve.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment of the cover 11, the cover 11 can include only 2 electrically insulated switchboards 21 without a carrier 20, wherein the switchboards 21 are directly adjacent to the housing 3 and the first side 15 of the elastic plate, and the electrical insulation of the two switchboards 21 is provided by the shaping of the elastic plate 12. The electrical conductor 14 can also be a direct part of the metal molding of the switchboard 21, as a protrusion of the molding, and the protrusion is connected to the electrode of the battery unit 2 at a point.

[0034] In an alternative embodiment of the hanging part 19 on the bottom of the cavity 4, in addition to the shaped recess, it can include a groove or, conversely, a protrusion protruding above the horizontal plane of the bottom of the cavity 4, and the battery unit 2 is rigidly arranged between the protrusions.

[0035] In an alternative embodiment, the bottom of the cavity 4 can include one or more reinforcing elements passing through the corresponding openings in the cavity 4 and the elastic plate 12 for rigidly connecting the bottom of the cavity 4 to the cover 11. The reinforcing element can also replace one or more battery units 2, especially at the positions where an increase in the cohesion between the cover 11 and the housing 3 is desired.

[0036] In another embodiment of the device 1 of the present invention, the cavity 4 of the device may further include a mouth 10 on the second side 9 of the housing. Thus, in this embodiment, the housing 3 of the device only includes a circumferential side wall, and the device 1 includes two elastic plates 12 and two covers 11, wherein one elastic plate 12 is adjacent to the housing 3 and the battery unit 2 from the first side 8 of the housing, and the second elastic plate 12 is adjacent to the housing 3 and the battery unit 2 from the second side 9 of the housing. Then, the covers 11 are adjacent to each of the elastic plates 12, wherein the electrical conductor 14 may be located on only one of the two covers 11 or on both covers 11 according to the orientation of the contacts of the battery unit 2. In this embodiment, the battery unit 2 and the heat transfer medium 7 surrounding the battery unit 2 are sandwiched between the two elastic plates 12 and the covers 11.

[0037] Industrial applicability

[0038] The above device can also be used in the entire unit system for regulating the temperature of the battery unit.

[0039] List of reference signs

[0040] 1 - Device

[0041] 2 - Battery unit

[0042] 3 - Housing

[0043] 4 - Cavity

[0044] 5 - Inlet of heat transfer medium

[0045] 6 - Outlet of heat transfer medium

[0046] 7 - Heat transfer medium

[0047] 8 - First side of the housing

[0048] 9 - Second side of the housing

[0049] 10 - Mouth of the cavity

[0050] 11 - Cover

[0051] 12 - Elastic plate

[0052] 13 - Opening

[0053] 14 - Electrical conductor

[0054] 15 - First side of the elastic plate

[0055] 16 - Second side of the elastic plate

[0056] 17 - Integrated channel

[0057] 18 - Penetration part

[0058] 19 - Molding element

[0059] 20 - carrier

[0060] 21 - switch

Claims

1. A device (1) for regulating the temperature of a battery cell (2), comprising a housing (3), a cover (11), a cavity (4) inside the housing (3), at least one heat transfer medium inlet (5) leading into the cavity (4), and at least one heat transfer medium outlet (6) leading from the cavity (4), wherein at least three battery cells (2) are located in the cavity (4) and are surrounded by a heat transfer medium (7), wherein the housing (3) comprises a first side (8) of the housing and a second side (9) of the housing, and the cavity (4) has a mouth (10) closed by the cover (1) on the first side (8) of the housing, characterized in that, it further comprises an elastic plate (12), wherein the elastic plate (12) comprises a number of openings (13) corresponding to the number of battery cells (2) inside the cavity (4), wherein each battery cell (2) passes through one opening (13), and the cross-section of the openings (13) in the elastic plate (12) is as large as or smaller than the cross-section of the battery cell (2), wherein the cover (1) comprises an electrical conductor (14) connected to the battery cell (2) and adjacent to a first side (15) of the elastic plate, and wherein a second side (16) of the elastic plate is in contact with the heat transfer medium (7).

2. The device (1) for regulating the temperature of a battery cell (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrical conductor (14) is adjacent to the elastic plate (12).

3. The device (1) for regulating the temperature of a battery cell (2) according to claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, The device (1) comprises an inlet (5) of the heat transfer medium and an outlet of the heat transfer medium located on opposite sides of the housing (3).

4. The device (1) for regulating the temperature of a battery cell (2) according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The housing (3) comprises at least one integrated channel (17) that connects the cavity (4) to the inlet (5) of the heat transfer medium or the outlet (6) of the heat transfer medium.

5. The device (1) for regulating the temperature of a battery cell (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The housing (3) comprises one integrated channel (17) connected to the inlet (5) of the heat transfer medium and one integrated channel (17) connected to the outlet (6) of the heat transfer medium.

6. The device (1) for regulating the temperature of a battery cell (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The housing (3) comprises an integrated channel (17) at a level between the first side (8) and the second side (9) of the housing in its circumferential side wall, wherein the integrated channel (15) comprises a penetration part (18) leading into the cavity (4).

7. The device (1) for regulating the temperature of a battery cell (2) according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The elastic plate (12) is at least partially deformed along its circumference between the cover (11) and the first side (8) of the housing.

8. The device (1) for regulating the temperature of a battery cell (2) according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The bottom of the cavity (4) comprises a hanging part (19) adapted to the shape of the battery cell (2) for locking the battery cell (2) in place.

9. The device (1) for regulating the temperature of a battery cell (2) according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The bottom of the cavity (4) comprises a reinforcing element passing through corresponding openings in the cavity (4) and the elastic plate (12) for rigidly connecting the bottom of the cavity (4) to the cover (11).

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