Battery module and electric equipment

Abstract

The invention provides a battery module and electric equipment, and relates to the technical field of battery packs. The battery module comprises a shell, a battery pack and a heating piece, the containing cavity of the shell can be used for installing the battery pack, the exhaust cavity is communicated with the containing cavity, and when the battery pack generates electrolyte gas due to thermal runaway, the electrolyte gas can be exhausted into the exhaust cavity. The heating part can heat at least part of the inner wall of the exhaust cavity, so that the temperature of the inner wall of the exhaust cavity is increased, and after the temperature of the inner wall of the exhaust cavity is increased to be larger than the dew point temperature of electrolyte of the battery pack, electrolyte gas enters the exhaust cavity and is not condensed into liquid electrolyte after making contact with the heated inner wall of the exhaust cavity. After a part of the inner wall of the accommodating cavity is heated by the heating piece, the electrolyte gas can be condensed after being in contact with the part, which is not heated by the heating piece to be higher than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte, in the accommodating cavity, so that the condensed electrolyte can be concentrated in a certain area in the accommodating cavity and then discharged in time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to a battery module and electrical equipment, belonging to the field of battery technology. Background Art

[0002] A battery module is a modular product that integrates multiple battery packs and features high capacity. With the development of new energy technologies, there are increasing demands for the capacity of battery modules. This capacity is primarily increased by increasing the number of integrated battery packs. However, the greater the number of battery packs, the greater the risk of thermal runaway in the battery module.

[0003] Currently, when a battery module experiences thermal runaway, leaked electrolyte gas must be discharged outside the module. However, during this discharge process, the electrolyte gas may condense and form liquid electrolyte upon contact with other components of the battery module, which can adhere to the module. The conductive nature of the electrolyte can degrade the insulation performance of the battery module, increasing the risk of arcing and fire. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides a battery module and electrical equipment, which solves the problem in the related art that thermal runaway of the battery module easily leads to a decrease in the insulation performance of the battery module and an increased risk of arcing and fire.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present application provides a battery module, comprising:

[0006] The housing comprises a receiving cavity, an exhaust cavity and a drainage hole, wherein the receiving cavity and the exhaust cavity are located inside the housing and are in communication with each other, and the drainage hole is located on a surface of the housing and is in communication with the exhaust cavity and the outside of the housing;

[0007] A battery pack is disposed in the accommodating cavity;

[0008] A heating element is disposed on the housing, and the heating element is configured to heat at least a portion of an inner wall of the exhaust cavity to a temperature greater than a dew point temperature of the electrolyte of the battery pack.

[0009] In some embodiments, the exhaust cavity is adjacent to a side edge of the shell, and the drainage hole is opened on a side wall of the shell.

[0010] In some embodiments, the exhaust chamber includes a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion, the first chamber portion is connected to the second chamber portion, the drainage hole is connected to the second chamber portion, and the heating element is configured to heat the inner wall temperature of the first chamber portion to a temperature greater than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte of the battery pack.

[0011] In some embodiments, the second cavity is located at a corner of the housing, and the volume of the second cavity is smaller than the volume of the first cavity.

[0012] In some embodiments, the heating element includes a positive temperature coefficient heating plate, and the positive temperature coefficient heating plate is attached to the inner wall of the first cavity.

[0013] In some embodiments, the heating element further includes a heat insulating portion, and the heat insulating portion is coated on the surface of the positive temperature coefficient heating plate.

[0014] In some embodiments, the battery module further includes an explosion-proof valve, which is disposed at the drainage hole to open and close the drainage hole.

[0015] In some embodiments, the explosion-proof valve includes a sealing portion and a valve body portion, the valve body portion is clamped to the drainage hole, the sealing portion is located between the valve body portion and the inner wall of the drainage hole, and the valve body portion is configured to react and decompose after contacting the electrolyte of the battery pack to open the drainage hole.

[0016] In some embodiments, the battery module further includes a temperature detection element and a control element, wherein the temperature detection element and the heating element are both electrically connected to the control element, and the temperature detection element is configured to detect the temperature of the inner wall of the first cavity portion, and the control element controls the heating power and / or heating time of the heating element according to the temperature of the inner wall of the first cavity portion.

[0017] On the second aspect, based on the above battery module, the present application also provides an electrical device, including the above battery module.

[0018] In the battery module provided in the present application, the housing cavity of the shell can be used to install the battery pack, and the exhaust cavity is connected to the housing cavity. When the battery pack experiences thermal runaway and generates electrolyte gas, the electrolyte gas can be discharged into the exhaust cavity. The heating element can heat at least a portion of the inner wall of the exhaust cavity, so that the temperature of the inner wall of the exhaust cavity increases. After the temperature of the inner wall of the exhaust cavity is heated to a temperature greater than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte of the battery pack, the electrolyte gas enters the exhaust cavity and contacts the heated inner wall of the exhaust cavity without condensing into liquid electrolyte, so that the electrolyte gas is discharged into the housing cavity through the drain port. When a portion of the inner wall of the housing cavity is heated by the heating element, the electrolyte gas can be condensed after contacting the portion of the housing cavity that is not heated by the heating element to a temperature greater than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte, so that the condensed electrolyte can be concentrated in the area of the housing cavity where the temperature is lower than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte, and then discharged to the outside of the housing cavity through the drain port. This can prevent the electrolyte from diffusing in the accommodating cavity, reducing the risk of the electrolyte affecting the insulation performance of the battery module.

[0019] The electrical equipment provided in this application is used to apply the above-mentioned battery module, making the operation of the electrical equipment safer and more reliable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present application will become more readily understood through the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various embodiments of the present application are illustrated by way of example and not limitation, wherein:

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a drain hole of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a heating element of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the outer side of a housing of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of an explosion-proof valve of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 6 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing the enlarged view of the middle A area;

[0027] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of a control component of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Reference numerals:

[0029] 100-housing, 110-accommodation chamber, 120-exhaust chamber, 121-first chamber, 122-second chamber, 130-drain hole,

[0030] 200-battery pack, 210-battery,

[0031] 300-heating element, 310-positive temperature coefficient heating plate, 320-insulation part,

[0032] 400-explosion-proof valve, 410-valve body, 420-sealing part,

[0033] 500-temperature detection piece,

[0034] 600-control parts. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The following describes in detail embodiments of the present application, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended to be used to explain the present application, and should not be construed as limiting the present application.

[0036] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0037] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. Throughout the description of this application, "plurality" means at least two, for example, two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0038] In this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection, electrical connection, or communication; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two elements or interaction between two elements, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.

[0039] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, when a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, when a first feature is "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0040] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and combine different embodiments or examples described in this specification and features of different embodiments or examples without contradiction.

[0041] A battery module is a modular product that integrates multiple battery packs and features high capacity. With the development of new energy technologies, there are increasing demands for the capacity of battery modules. This capacity is primarily increased by increasing the number of integrated battery packs. However, the greater the number of battery packs, the greater the risk of thermal runaway in the battery module.

[0042] Currently, battery modules are equipped with exhaust channels, which are cavity structures within the battery module. When the battery module experiences thermal runaway, leaked electrolyte gas is discharged through the exhaust channels. However, during this process, the electrolyte gas may condense and adhere to other battery module components due to contact with other components. The conductive properties of the electrolyte can cause the insulation performance of the battery module to deteriorate, thereby increasing the risk of arcing and fire in the battery module.

[0043] In the battery module proposed in the present application, the housing cavity of the shell can be used to install the battery pack, and the exhaust cavity is connected to the housing cavity. When the battery pack experiences thermal runaway and generates electrolyte gas, the electrolyte gas can be discharged into the exhaust cavity. The heating element can heat at least a portion of the inner wall of the exhaust cavity, so that the temperature of the inner wall of the exhaust cavity increases. After the temperature of the inner wall of the exhaust cavity is heated to a temperature greater than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte in the battery pack, the electrolyte gas enters the exhaust cavity and contacts the heated inner wall of the exhaust cavity without condensing into liquid electrolyte, so that the electrolyte gas is discharged into the housing cavity through the drain port. When a portion of the inner wall of the housing cavity is heated by the heating element, the electrolyte gas can be condensed after contacting the portion of the housing cavity that is not heated by the heating element to a temperature greater than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte, so that the condensed electrolyte can be concentrated in the area of the housing cavity where the temperature is lower than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte, and then discharged out of the housing cavity through the drain port. This can prevent the electrolyte from diffusing in the accommodating cavity, reducing the risk of the electrolyte affecting the insulation performance of the battery module.

[0044] The battery module and electrical equipment provided in this application are described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0045] This application provides a battery module, referring to Figures 1 to 2 As shown, it includes a housing 100, a battery pack 200 and a heating element 300. The battery module can be applied to electrical equipment, specifically to equipment such as new energy vehicles and energy storage power stations.

[0046] The housing 100 is the foundational component of the battery module of this application. It serves as a mounting base for at least some of the other components of the battery module and protects at least some of the other components. The housing 100 can be made of a metal material, which provides it with superior structural strength, thereby enhancing its durability and reliability. Alternatively, the housing 100 can be made of a polymer material, providing it with a relatively lightweight structure while maintaining a certain level of structural strength.

[0047] The housing 100 defines a receiving cavity 110, which is a cavity-shaped structure within the housing 100. The battery pack 200 can be disposed within the receiving cavity 110 of the housing 100, thereby allowing the battery pack 200 to be securely mounted within the housing 100. Specifically, the housing 100 may further define an opening communicating with the receiving cavity 110, allowing the battery pack 200 to be removed from the housing 100 through the opening.

[0048] It should be understood that the number of battery packs 200 can be set to multiple, multiple battery packs 200 can be stacked in the accommodating cavity 110 of the shell 100, and multiple battery packs 200 can be connected in series, so that the battery module of the present application has a higher degree of integration and a larger capacity. Specifically, the battery pack 200 includes multiple batteries 210, and the multiple batteries 210 can be stacked along the thickness direction of the battery 210. Multiple battery packs 200 can be stacked in the accommodating cavity 110 of the shell 100 in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the battery 210. In this way, multiple battery packs 200 can be arranged in the accommodating cavity 110 of the shell 100 in an orderly manner, thereby improving the utilization rate of the accommodating cavity 110 and thereby improving the integration of the battery module.

[0049] A vent cavity 120 may also be provided within the housing 100. The vent cavity 120 is also a cavity-shaped structure within the housing 100 and is connected to the accommodating cavity 110. It should be understood that the battery pack 200 has a risk of thermal runaway during the charging and discharging process. When the battery pack 200 experiences thermal runaway, its internal temperature rises, and the electrolyte in the battery pack 200 is heated to gas. In order to prevent the high-temperature gas in the battery pack 200 from accumulating within the battery pack 200 and causing greater risks, the battery pack 200 may be provided with a vent valve structure so that the high-temperature gas can be discharged. Since the vent cavity 120 is connected to the accommodating cavity 110, the gaseous electrolyte can be discharged from the accommodating cavity 110 into the vent cavity 120, so that the electrolyte gas will not accumulate in the accommodating cavity 110 and heat other battery packs 200, thereby reducing the risk of thermal runaway in other battery packs 200 and further reducing the risk of thermal runaway spreading in the battery module.

[0050] The housing 100 is also provided with a drain hole 130, which can be connected to the accommodating chamber 110. Specifically, the drain hole 130 is located on the surface of the housing 100, and the exhaust chamber 120 is connected to the outside of the housing 100 through the drain hole 130. It should be understood that the temperature of the electrolyte gas released when the battery pack 200 experiences thermal runaway is relatively high. After the electrolyte gas enters the exhaust chamber 120, it can contact the inner wall of the exhaust chamber 120. If the temperature of the inner wall of the exhaust chamber 120 is lower than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte gas, accordingly, the electrolyte gas can condense and convert into liquid electrolyte after contacting the inner wall of the exhaust chamber 120. The liquid electrolyte can eventually be discharged to the outside of the housing 100 through the drain hole 130.

[0051] It should also be understood that the electrolyte includes conductive ions. After the electrolyte condenses in the exhaust chamber 120, it will contact the inner wall of the exhaust chamber 120, thereby causing the inner wall of the exhaust chamber 120 to be conductive. This will affect the insulation performance of the shell 100 to a certain extent, and increase the risk of arcing and fire in the shell 100.

[0052] The heating element 300 in the present application is disposed on the housing 100. The heating element 300 is configured to heat the inner wall of the exhaust cavity 120 of the housing 100 so that the temperature of at least a portion of the inner wall of the exhaust cavity 120 is greater than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte. In this way, when the electrolyte gas contacts the inner wall of the accommodating cavity 110 that has been heated to a temperature higher than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte, the electrolyte gas will not condense and form a liquid electrolyte. Correspondingly, if a portion of the inner wall of the exhaust cavity 120 is not heated by the heating element 300 to a temperature higher than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte, the electrolyte gas will condense into a liquid electrolyte after contacting the inner wall of this portion of the exhaust cavity 120. As a result, the gaseous electrolyte is concentrated and condensed on the inner wall of the exhaust chamber 120, where the temperature is lower than the dew point of the electrolyte. This prevents the liquid electrolyte from diffusing to various areas within the exhaust chamber 120 and reduces the area of contact between the liquid electrolyte and the inner wall of the exhaust chamber 120. This can reduce the impact of the liquid electrolyte contacting the inner wall of the exhaust chamber 120 on the insulation performance of the housing 100. The concentrated condensed electrolyte can be discharged outside the housing 100 through the drain hole 130 of the housing 100, thereby eliminating the impact of the electrolyte on the battery module.

[0053] It should be understood that the heating element 300 can also be configured to heat various portions of the inner wall of the exhaust cavity 120, so that the temperature of the inner wall in each region of the exhaust cavity 120 is higher than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte. In this way, the electrolyte gas discharged into the exhaust cavity 120 and contacting the inner wall of the exhaust cavity 120 will not condense into liquid electrolyte. The electrolyte gas can be discharged to the outside of the housing 100 through the drain hole 130 and then condensed, which can also reduce the impact of the electrolyte on the insulation performance of the housing 100.

[0054] In some embodiments, reference Figures 1 to 2 As shown, the exhaust cavity 120 within the housing 100 of the present application can be located adjacent to the edge of the housing 100. This prevents the exhaust cavity 120 from occupying the space in the central region of the housing 100, allowing the battery pack 200 formed by multiple battery packs 200 to be concentrated in the central region of the housing 100, thereby making the internal structure planning of the battery module more reasonable. The drain hole 130 of the housing 100 can be opened on the side wall of the housing 100, and specifically located on the side wall of the housing 100 adjacent to the exhaust cavity 120. This can shorten the path connecting the drain hole 130 and the exhaust cavity 120, and the electrolyte in the exhaust cavity 120 can be more efficiently discharged to the outside of the housing 100 through the drain hole 130.

[0055] In some embodiments, reference Figure 2As shown, the number of exhaust cavities 120 and drainage holes 130 in the housing 100 can also be set to multiple, and the multiple drainage holes 130 are correspondingly connected to the multiple exhaust cavities 120. The heating element 300 can be configured to heat the temperature of the inner walls of the multiple exhaust cavities 120 to a temperature greater than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte gas. The electrolyte gas released by the battery pack 200 due to thermal runaway can be discharged into the multiple exhaust cavities 120, and after condensing in the multiple exhaust cavities 120, it can be discharged to the outside of the housing 100 through the corresponding drainage holes 130. This can improve the efficiency of discharging the electrolyte to the outside of the housing 100 and further reduce the impact of the electrolyte on the insulation performance of the housing 100. The heating element 300 can control the heating of part of the inner wall of each exhaust cavity 120, so that the electrolyte gas in each exhaust cavity 120 can be concentrated and condensed in a certain area of the exhaust cavity 120.

[0056] The plurality of exhaust cavities 120 may be disposed at the edge of the housing 100. Specifically, when there are two exhaust cavities 120, the two exhaust cavities 120 may be disposed at opposite edges of the housing 100. When there are more than two exhaust cavities 120, the plurality of exhaust cavities 120 may be disposed at the edge of the housing 100 along the circumference of the housing 100, so that the plurality of exhaust cavities 120 can be arranged in an orderly manner and the structure of the battery module can be more compact and reasonable.

[0057] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 As shown, in order to allow the electrolyte gas in the exhaust chamber 120 to condense in a certain area of the exhaust chamber 120, the exhaust chamber 120 can be configured to include a first chamber portion 121 and a second chamber portion 122. The first chamber portion 121 is connected to the second chamber portion 122, and the second chamber portion 122 is connected to the drain hole 130 of the housing 100. The heating element 300 is configured to heat the inner wall of the first chamber portion 121 to a temperature greater than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte. Accordingly, the heating element 300 may not directly heat the inner wall temperature of the second chamber portion 122, or may heat the inner wall of the second chamber portion 122 to a temperature no greater than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte. In this way, when the electrolyte gas enters the exhaust chamber 120, the electrolyte gas in the first chamber portion 121 will not condense into liquid electrolyte, while the electrolyte gas in the second chamber portion 122 will condense into liquid electrolyte and be discharged outside the housing 100 through the drain hole 130 connected to the second chamber portion 122.

[0058] The volume of the first cavity 121 is larger than that of the second cavity 122, resulting in a smaller surface area of the inner wall of the second cavity 122 than that of the inner wall of the first cavity 121. When the electrolyte gas condenses in the second cavity 122, the liquid electrolyte can be concentrated in a smaller area within the exhaust cavity 120, thereby reducing the contact area between the liquid electrolyte and the inner wall of the exhaust cavity 120 and reducing the impact of the electrolyte on the insulation performance of the housing 100.

[0059] Specifically, the accommodating chamber 110 of the housing 100 can be arranged to communicate with the first cavity 121. The electrolyte gas released during thermal runaway of the battery pack 200 can first enter the first cavity 121 and then enter the second cavity 122. The electrolyte gas can remain in a gaseous state within the first cavity 121 and condense after entering the second cavity 122. The volume of the first cavity 121 is relatively large, allowing a larger amount of gas to be accommodated within the first cavity 121. This allows the gas generated during thermal runaway of the battery pack 200 to be more efficiently discharged from the battery pack 200, preventing gas accumulation within the accommodating chamber 110 of the housing 100.

[0060] Of course, the accommodating chamber 110 can also be configured to communicate with both the first cavity 121 and the second cavity 122, so that the gas released by the battery pack 200 in the accommodating chamber 110 can be more efficiently discharged into the exhaust chamber 120. The electrolyte gas directly discharged into the second cavity 122 can directly condense into liquid electrolyte after contacting the inner wall of the second cavity 122, and then be directly discharged to the outside of the housing 100 through the drainage hole 130 connected to the second cavity 122, which can improve the efficiency of the electrolyte condensation and discharge outside the housing 100.

[0061] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 As shown, the second cavity 122 of the accommodating chamber 110 can be disposed at a corner of the housing 100, and the first cavity 121 can be disposed at another location of the accommodating chamber 110, such that the volume of the first cavity 121 can be greater than the volume of the second cavity 122. The drainage hole 130 of the housing 100 can also be disposed adjacent to a corner of the housing 100, such that the drainage hole 130 can be close to the second cavity 122. The number of second cavity 122 can also be set to multiple, for example, the number of second cavity 122 can be set to two, and the two second cavity 122 can be distributed on both sides of the first cavity 121, and both are located at the corners of the housing 100, thereby improving the condensation efficiency of the electrolyte gas.

[0062] In addition, the bottom wall of the second cavity 122 can also be set as an inclined surface, and the drainage hole 130 can be relatively close to the bottom wall of the second cavity 122, so that the condensed electrolyte in the second cavity 122 can be more efficiently discharged to the outside of the shell 100 through the drainage hole 130.

[0063] In some embodiments, reference Figure 3As shown, in order to enable the heating element 300 of the present application to heat the inner wall of the accommodating cavity 110, the heating element 300 may be provided with a positive temperature coefficient heating sheet 310, i.e., a PTC heating sheet. The positive temperature coefficient heating sheet 310 has a relatively low degree of resistance and has a better heating effect, which can reduce the cost of the battery module of the present application. Specifically, the positive temperature coefficient heating sheet 310 can be attached to the inner wall of the first cavity 121, so that the positive temperature coefficient heating sheet 310 can heat the inner wall of the first cavity 121, so that the temperature of the inner wall of the first cavity 121 can be greater than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte.

[0064] Furthermore, it should be understood that the positive temperature coefficient heating sheet 310 is a thin sheet structure, which is relatively compact. Thus, when the positive temperature coefficient heating sheet 310 is attached to the inner wall of the first cavity 121, it does not occupy too much of the internal space of the first cavity 121, allowing the first cavity 121 to accommodate a larger amount of electrolyte gas, thereby improving the efficiency of gas released by the battery pack 200 being discharged into the exhaust chamber 120. Multiple positive temperature coefficient heating sheets 310 can be provided, and multiple positive temperature coefficient heating sheets 310 can be attached to the inner wall of each region of the first cavity 121, so that the inner wall of the first cavity 121 can be fully heated, and the temperature of the inner wall in each region of the first cavity 121 can be greater than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte. Of course, the positive temperature coefficient heating sheet 310 can also be configured to heat a portion of the inner wall of the first cavity 121 to a relatively high temperature, and then diffuse the heat to various parts of the first cavity 121 through heat conduction, so that the temperature of the inner wall in each region of the first cavity 121 can be greater than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte.

[0065] The positive temperature coefficient heating plate 310 can be fixed to the inner wall of the first cavity 121 by bonding, making the method of fixing the positive temperature coefficient heating plate 310 to the inner wall of the first cavity 121 simple and convenient. Of course, a mounting groove can also be provided on the inner wall of the first cavity 121, and the positive temperature coefficient heating plate 310 can be embedded in the mounting groove, which can also ensure that the positive temperature coefficient heating plate 310 is fixed in the first cavity 121.

[0066] In some embodiments, reference Figure 3As shown, in order to enable the positive temperature coefficient heating plate 310 to more stably heat the inner wall of the first cavity 121, the heating element 300 may also be provided with a thermal insulation portion 320, which can enclose the positive temperature coefficient heating plate 310. It should be understood that the temperature of the electrolyte gas is relatively high, while the dew point temperature of the electrolyte is lower than that of the electrolyte gas. If the electrolyte gas enters the first cavity 121 and directly contacts the positive temperature coefficient heating plate 310 disposed therein, the positive temperature coefficient heating plate 310 may overheat and be damaged. The thermal insulation portion 320 has excellent high-temperature resistance. Enclosing the positive temperature coefficient heating plate 310 by the thermal insulation portion 320 prevents the positive temperature coefficient heating plate 310 from direct contact with the high-temperature electrolyte gas and overheating damage. The thermal insulation portion 320 protects the positive temperature coefficient heating plate 310, allowing the positive temperature coefficient heating plate 310 to operate stably and reliably to heat the inner wall of the first cavity 121.

[0067] The heating portion can be made of ceramic material to ensure high temperature resistance and good thermal insulation. The heating portion can be a ceramic composite tape. In this way, the heating portion can be attached to the surface of the positive temperature coefficient heating sheet 310 to enclose the positive temperature coefficient heating sheet 310. The heating element 300, with the heating portion enclosing the positive temperature coefficient heating sheet 310, is then attached to the inner wall of the first cavity 121.

[0068] In some embodiments, the drain hole 130 of the present application can be configured to be openable and closable. When the battery pack 200 experiences thermal runaway and releases electrolyte gas, the drain hole 130 can be opened, allowing the condensed liquid electrolyte in the second cavity 122 to be discharged outside the housing 100 through the opened drain hole 130. When the battery pack 200 does not experience thermal runaway, there is no need to drain the electrolyte through the drain hole 130, and the drain hole 130 can be closed. This prevents external impurities and foreign matter from entering the housing 100 through the drain hole 130 and affecting other components within the housing 100, thereby protecting the battery module.

[0069] In some embodiments, reference Figure 4 In order to make the drain hole 130 openable and closable, the battery module of the present application may further include an explosion-proof valve 400, which is disposed at the drain hole 130. When the explosion-proof valve 400 is open, the vent can connect the second cavity 122 with the outside of the housing 100. When the explosion-proof valve 400 is closed, the second cavity 122 is disconnected from the outside of the housing 100.

[0070] In some embodiments, reference Figure 5As shown, the explosion-proof valve 400 of the present application may include a valve body 410, wherein the valve body 410 may be snap-fitted into the drain hole 130 of the housing 100, thereby securing the valve body 410 within the drain hole 130. The valve body 410 is configured to react and decompose upon contact with the electrolyte in the battery pack 200, thereby causing the valve body 410 to fall off from the drain hole 130, thereby allowing the drain hole 130 to be opened.

[0071] Specifically, when the battery module experiences thermal runaway, the battery pack 200 releases electrolyte gas, which condenses into liquid electrolyte within the second cavity 122. The electrolyte within the second cavity 122 can flood the end of the drain hole 130 that communicates with the second cavity 122, thereby flooding the valve body 410 with the electrolyte. This allows the valve body 410 to come into contact with the electrolyte and react with it. After the reaction, the valve body 410 detaches from the drain hole 130, opening the drain hole 130, allowing the electrolyte to be discharged outside the housing 100 through the drain hole 130.

[0072] The valve body 410 can be made of a solid reactant made of silicate. When the valve body 410 comes into contact with the electrolyte, a chemical reaction occurs, dissolving the valve body 410 in the electrolyte. The drain hole 130 opens, and the valve body 410 is discharged from the housing 100 along with the electrolyte. After the battery module is repaired, a new valve body 410 can be reinstalled in the drain hole 130, allowing some components of the battery module to be reused.

[0073] In some embodiments, reference Figure 5 As shown, the explosion-proof valve 400 may further include a sealing portion 420, which is located between the valve body 410 and the inner wall of the drain hole 130. The sealing portion 420 is engaged within the drain hole 130 by the valve body 410. The sealing portion 420 ensures the sealing effect of the drain hole 130 when the battery module does not experience thermal runaway, preventing external impurities and foreign matter from entering the housing 100 through the drain hole 130.

[0074] In some embodiments, reference Figure 4 and Figure 6As shown, the battery module of the present application may also include a temperature detection element 500, which is configured to detect the temperature of the inner wall of the first cavity 121. The temperature detection element 500 can be electrically connected to the heating element 300. When the battery module experiences thermal runaway and releases electrolyte gas, the temperature detection element 500 can detect the temperature of the inner wall of the first cavity 121. When the temperature of the inner wall of the first cavity 121 is lower than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte, the heating element 300 can heat the inner wall of the first cavity 121, so that the temperature of the inner wall of the first cavity 121 is higher than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte. In this way, the electrolyte gas will not condense after entering the first cavity 121. When the temperature of the inner wall of the first cavity 121 is higher than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte, the heating element 300 does not need to be turned on to heat the inner wall of the first cavity 121, thereby reducing energy consumption.

[0075] Specifically, refer to Figure 7 As shown, the battery module of the present application may also be provided with a control component 600, and the temperature detection component 500 and the heating component 300 may be electrically connected to the control component 600. The temperature data of the first cavity 121 detected by the temperature detection component 500 may be transmitted to the control component 600. The control component 600 determines whether the temperature of the inner wall of the first cavity 121 is greater than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte, and thus determines whether to control the heating component 300 to heat the inner wall of the first cavity 121 based on the judgment result. This can make the battery module more intelligent. The control component 600 can also control the heating time and heating power of the heating component 300 so that the temperature of the inner wall of the first cavity 121 can reach the dew point temperature of the electrolyte.

[0076] The number of temperature detection elements 500 can be set to multiple, and multiple temperature detection elements 500 can be distributed in different positions within the first cavity 121, so that the temperature of the inner wall of each area within the first cavity 121 can be detected, so that after an area with a temperature lower than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte appears in the first cavity 121, the heating element 300 can fully heat the inner wall of the first cavity 121.

[0077] Based on the battery module described above, the present application also provides an electrical device including the battery module described above. The electrical device may be a new energy vehicle or an energy storage device.

[0078] Finally, it should be noted that the above implementation modes are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned implementation modes, ordinary technicians in this field should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned implementation modes, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the implementation modes of the present application.

Claims

1. A battery module, characterized in that: include: A housing (100) comprising a receiving chamber (110), an exhaust chamber (120) and a drainage hole (130), wherein the receiving chamber (110) and the exhaust chamber (120) are located inside the housing (100) and are in communication with each other, and the drainage hole (130) is located on a surface of the housing (100) and is in communication with the exhaust chamber (120) and the outside of the housing (100); A battery pack (200) is disposed in the accommodating cavity (110); A heating element (300) is provided in the housing (100), and the heating element (300) is configured to heat at least a portion of the inner wall of the exhaust cavity (120) to a temperature greater than the dew point temperature of the electrolyte of the battery pack (200).

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: The exhaust cavity (120) is adjacent to the side edge of the shell (100), and the drainage hole (130) is opened on the side wall of the shell (100).

3. The battery module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The exhaust cavity (120) comprises a first cavity portion (121) and a second cavity portion (122), the first cavity portion (121) being in communication with the second cavity portion (122), the drain hole (130) being in communication with the second cavity portion (122), and the heating element (300) being configured to heat the inner wall of the first cavity portion (121) to a temperature greater than a dew point temperature of the electrolyte of the battery pack (200).

4. The battery module according to claim 3, characterized in that: The second cavity (122) is located at a corner of the housing (100), and the volume of the second cavity (122) is greater than the volume of the first cavity (121).

5. The battery module according to claim 3, wherein: The heating element (300) comprises a positive temperature coefficient heating plate (310), and the positive temperature coefficient heating plate (310) is attached to the inner wall of the first cavity (121).

6. The battery module according to claim 5, characterized in that: The heating element (300) further includes a heat insulating portion (320), and the heat insulating portion (320) is coated on the surface of the positive temperature coefficient heating plate (310).

7. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The battery module further includes an explosion-proof valve (400), which is arranged at the drainage hole (130) to open and close the drainage hole (130).

8. The battery module according to claim 7, characterized in that: The explosion-proof valve (400) comprises a sealing portion (420) and a valve body portion (410), wherein the valve body portion (410) is clamped to the drainage hole (130), and the sealing portion (420) is located between the valve body portion (410) and the inner wall of the drainage hole (130). The valve body portion (410) is configured to react and decompose after contacting the electrolyte of the battery pack (200), so as to open the drainage hole (130).

9. The battery module according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that: The battery module further comprises a temperature detection component (500) and a control component (600). The temperature detection component (500) and the heating component (300) are both electrically connected to the control component (600). The temperature detection component (500) is configured to detect the temperature of the inner wall of the first cavity (121). The control component (600) controls the heating power and / or heating time of the heating component (300) according to the temperature of the inner wall of the first cavity (121).

10. An electrical device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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