Battery and electric device

Abstract

The invention provides a battery and a power utilization device, the battery comprises a box body, at least one battery monomer and a composite cold plate, the box body is provided with a containing cavity, the battery monomer is arranged in the containing cavity, the composite cold plate comprises a plate body and a supporting layer, the plate body is provided with a first cavity, a first flow channel is defined in the first cavity, and a second flow channel is formed in the supporting layer; a first medium circulates in the first flow channel, the supporting layer is arranged in the first cavity, the supporting layer comprises a plurality of supporting bodies arranged in an array mode, each supporting body is connected with the plate body in a sealed mode so as to define a second cavity separated from the first cavity, a second medium is contained in the second cavity, and the second medium is a phase change medium. Therefore, on one hand, the heat dissipation efficiency and the cooling effect can be adjusted, the structural strength of the battery can be improved, on the other hand, the battery in the low-temperature environment can work in the optimal working temperature interval, an active heating structure such as a heating sheet does not need to be arranged, the cost can be effectively reduced, and the energy consumption of the battery is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a battery and an electrical device. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, batteries release heat during operation, requiring the use of cooling plates to dissipate heat, thereby reducing the battery's operating temperature and improving its operational stability and reliability.

[0003] However, existing cold plates have low cooling efficiency and poor cooling uniformity, making the battery prone to local overheating. Furthermore, in low-temperature environments, the battery needs to be further heated by heating elements, resulting in a large number of components, a large space occupation, and high costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a battery with better heat exchange uniformity, higher cooling efficiency, and suitability for heating in low-temperature environments, thereby improving the battery's low-temperature performance without the need for heating elements, simplifying the structure and reducing costs.

[0005] This application also proposes an electrical device using the aforementioned battery.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a battery, which includes a housing, a battery cell, and a composite cold plate. The housing has a receiving cavity, and the battery cell is at least one and disposed in the receiving cavity. The composite cold plate includes a plate body and a support layer. The plate body has a first cavity, and a first flow channel is defined in the first cavity. A first medium flows through the first flow channel. The support layer is disposed in the first cavity and includes a plurality of supports arranged in an array. Each support is sealed to the plate body to define a second cavity spaced apart from the first cavity. The second cavity contains a second medium, which is constructed as a phase change medium.

[0007] According to the battery of the present application embodiment, on the one hand, by setting a support layer in the plate body and having a first medium flowing in the plate body, and setting a second medium in the support layer, the coupling heat dissipation of the first medium and the second medium can not only adjust the heat dissipation efficiency and cooling effect, but also improve the heat dissipation uniformity and consistency, and improve the local overheating phenomenon, but also improve the structural strength of the composite cold plate, thereby improving the structural strength of the battery. On the other hand, the latent heat of phase change of the second medium can be used to enable the battery to work in the optimal operating temperature range in low-temperature environments, without the need to set up active heating structures such as heating plates, which can effectively reduce costs and reduce the energy consumption of the battery itself.

[0008] According to some embodiments of this application, the plate body includes a top plate, a side plate, and a bottom plate, with one end of the support body connected to the top plate and the other end of the support body connected to the bottom plate.

[0009] In the above technical solution, connecting one end of the support to the bottom plate and the other end to the top plate can improve the structural strength of the composite cold plate, thereby extending its service life and operational stability. It can also improve the sealing performance of the second cavity and allow the second medium in the second cavity to directly contact the top and bottom plates. Both the top and bottom plates can directly contact the battery cells, which can also improve heat exchange efficiency and cooling effect.

[0010] According to some embodiments of this application, the side plate includes two first side plates and two second side plates disposed opposite to each other, one first side plate is provided with a first medium inlet hole, and the other first side plate is provided with a first medium outlet hole.

[0011] In the above technical solution, the distance between the first medium inlet hole and the first medium outlet hole can be more reasonable, the length of the first flow channel can be set longer, the flow time of the first medium in the first cavity can be longer, the corresponding heat exchange is more sufficient, the heat exchange effect of the composite cold plate is better, and the heat exchange efficiency is higher.

[0012] According to some embodiments of this application, a first medium inlet hole is located at one end of a first side plate adjacent to a second side plate, and a first medium outlet hole is located at one end of another first side plate adjacent to another second side plate.

[0013] In the above technical solution, the first medium inlet hole is located at the end of the first side plate, and the first medium outlet hole is located at the end of the other first side plate. The two ends are configured in the second direction as the ends of the first side plate and the second side plate that are far away from each other, so that the first medium inlet hole and the first medium outlet hole are located in the diagonal direction, so as to further extend the flow path length of the first medium and ensure that the first cavity can be filled with the first medium, thereby improving the cooling effect of the composite cold plate and making the cooling uniformity and consistency of the composite cold plate better.

[0014] According to some embodiments of this application, adjacent supports are spaced apart to define a flood cooling flow path.

[0015] In the above technical solution, the first medium enters through the first medium inlet hole, fills the gap between multiple supports in a disordered manner, and gradually fills the entire first cavity before flowing out through the first medium outlet hole. The first medium has less flow resistance in the first cavity, less power consumption of the pump body, further reduces energy consumption, has a faster flow speed, and lower cost.

[0016] According to some embodiments of this application, the supports arranged in an array define a plurality of support columns, with adjacent supports in each support column connected together. In odd-numbered columns, the supports at one end are connected to a first side plate, and in even-numbered columns, the supports at the other end are connected to another first side plate, thereby defining a series cooling flow path.

[0017] In the above technical solution, by defining a series cooling flow path, the flow direction of the first medium is guided so that the first medium can flow in an orderly manner, which can improve the eddy and turbulent phenomena of the first medium, reduce the number of bubbles in the first cavity, and improve the cooling uniformity and consistency.

[0018] According to some embodiments of this application, the arrayed supports define multiple support columns, with adjacent supports connected within each support column, and the supports at the ends of each column spaced apart from the first side plate to define parallel cooling flow paths.

[0019] In the above technical solution, by defining parallel cooling flow paths, the flow direction of the first medium is guided so that the first medium can flow in an orderly manner, and the eddy current and turbulence of the first medium can be improved, thereby reducing the number of bubbles in the first cavity and improving the cooling uniformity and consistency.

[0020] According to some embodiments of this application, adjacent supports and the support and the first side plate are connected by a connector, and the gap between adjacent supports and the gap between the support and the first side plate are both 2mm to 4mm.

[0021] In the above technical solution, the gap between the support and the first side plate, and the gap between adjacent supports are all 2mm to 4mm, such as 2mm, 3mm or 4mm, which can make the width of the first flow channel more reasonable, so as to make the flow resistance of the first flow channel more reasonable, reduce the probability of blockage in the first flow channel, and make the flow velocity of the first medium in the first flow channel more reasonable, reduce the flow impact of the first medium, and extend the service life of the composite cold plate.

[0022] According to some embodiments of this application, multiple supports are symmetrically arranged in both the width and length directions of the plate body.

[0023] In the above technical solution, the symmetrically arranged support bodies can make the distribution of the first medium in the first cavity more uniform and the distribution of the second medium more uniform, thereby improving the heat exchange uniformity and cooling effect.

[0024] According to some embodiments of this application, the equivalent diameter of the support is greater than or equal to 8 mm.

[0025] In the above technical solution, the equivalent diameter of a single support body is greater than or equal to 8 mm, so that the area of ​​the second medium within each support body that can contact the bottom plate or top plate is not less than 50.24 mm². 2 The contact area between the second medium and the top and bottom plates is more reasonable, the phase change latent heat of the second medium has a better cooling effect, and more supports can be arranged in the first cavity. With more supports, the cooling uniformity and consistency are better.

[0026] According to some embodiments of this application, the height of the support is 3mm to 6mm.

[0027] In the above technical solution, the amount of the second medium in the second cavity can be increased to ensure the cooling effect, and the height of the support body is not higher than 6mm, which can avoid the composite plate thickness being too high, making the thickness of the composite plate more reasonable, so as to take into account energy density, layout difficulty and cooling effect.

[0028] According to some embodiments of this application, the ratio of the volume of the second cavity to the volume of the first cavity is 0.35 to 0.55.

[0029] In the above technical solution, the ratio between the first medium and the second medium is made more reasonable, especially the amount of the second medium is made more reasonable, so as to avoid the amount of the second medium being too small, thus ensuring the stability of the latent heat transfer of phase change and improving the battery's adaptability to low temperature environment, and to avoid the amount of the second medium being too large, so as to make the coupling heat transfer stability between the first medium and the second medium higher.

[0030] Furthermore, the bottom, and / or side, and / or end, and / or top surfaces of the battery cells come into contact with the composite cold plate to achieve heat exchange.

[0031] In the above technical solution, the second medium can be encapsulated within the plate body to prevent leakage of the second medium, and a first flow channel is formed outside the support body. The first medium can flow within the first flow channel. The second medium can solve the extreme temperature of the battery, and can also equalize the temperature and assist the cooling of the first medium for thermal management. The first medium achieves the effects of heat removal and efficient cooling, and can fully utilize the phase change capability of the second medium, complementing the thermal management advantages of the first medium. This is of great significance for the long life of the battery and especially for heat preservation in extremely cold northern regions.

[0032] According to some embodiments of this application, the composite cold plate is constructed as the bottom plate of the box.

[0033] According to some embodiments of this application, multiple battery cells are arranged in a row, and there are multiple composite cold plates, with composite cold plates provided between adjacent battery cells.

[0034] In the above technical solution, not only can heat exchange between adjacent battery cells be achieved through composite cold plates, improving the heat exchange effect of battery cells, but the heat exchange effect on both sides of the composite cold plate is also more consistent, resulting in better temperature uniformity between adjacent battery cells. This can improve local heat concentration, enhance the working stability and safety of the battery, and the composite cold plate has good mechanical strength, which can reduce energy transfer between adjacent battery cells, slow down the spread of thermal runaway, and reduce the probability of battery cells being broken down under stress, further improving the safety and reliability of the battery.

[0035] Thirdly, this application provides an electrical device, including the battery described in the above embodiments.

[0036] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0037] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0038] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an electrical device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a battery according to an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a composite cold plate according to an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the composite cold plate according to an embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the cooperation between the support layer, the bottom plate, and the side plate according to the first embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the cooperation between the support layer, the bottom plate, and the side plate according to the second embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the cooperation between the support layer, the bottom plate, and the side plate according to the third embodiment of this application;

[0045] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a composite cold plate according to an embodiment of this application;

[0046] Figure 9 This is a side view of one side of the composite cold plate according to an embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 10 This is a side view of the composite cold plate according to an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the combination of the composite cold plate and the battery cell according to an embodiment of this application.

[0049] Figure label:

[0050] Composite cold-rolled steel plate 100,

[0051] The plate body 10, top plate 11, side plate 12, first side plate 121, second side plate 122, bottom plate 13, first medium inlet hole 14, and first medium outlet hole 15 are also included.

[0052] Support layer 20, support body 21, connector 22,

[0053] Box body 200, individual battery cells 300, battery 400, electrical device 500, controller 600, motor 700.

[0054] First cavity a, second cavity b. Detailed Implementation

[0055] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0056] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used in the description of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the description, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the description, claims, or accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order or hierarchy.

[0057] In this application, the reference to "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments.

[0058] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "attachment" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0059] In this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, in this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0060] In the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals denote the same components, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components are omitted in different embodiments. It should be understood that the thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of various components in the embodiments of this application shown in the accompanying drawings, as well as the overall thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the integrated device, are merely illustrative and should not constitute any limitation on this application.

[0061] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0062] In the description of this invention, the first feature being "above" or "below" the second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or it may include the first and second features not being in direct contact but being in contact through another feature between them.

[0063] In the description of this invention, the terms "above," "over," and "on top" for the first feature and the second feature include the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicating that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature.

[0064] In this application, "multiple" means two or more (including two).

[0065] During operation, individual battery cells generate significant heat. If this heat cannot be dissipated in time, the operating temperature of the battery cells will become too high, potentially leading to thermal runaway. Conversely, in cold environments, the activation energy of the electrolyte within the battery cells decreases, resulting in reduced battery efficiency and a shortened driving range. Therefore, a temperature regulation structure is needed to adjust the operating temperature of the battery cells, preventing them from becoming too hot, improving their stability and reliability, reducing the probability of thermal runaway, and preventing them from becoming too cold, thus maintaining stable performance, improving or even preventing a reduction in driving range, enhancing the user experience, and expanding the application scenarios.

[0066] Among them, the battery cell can be a secondary battery, which refers to a battery cell that can be recharged to activate the active materials and continue to be used after the battery cell has been discharged.

[0067] The battery cell can be a lithium-ion battery, sodium-ion battery, sodium-lithium-ion battery, lithium metal battery, sodium metal battery, lithium-sulfur battery, magnesium-ion battery, nickel-metal hydride battery, nickel-cadmium battery, lead-acid battery, etc., and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this.

[0068] The battery mentioned in the embodiments of the present invention refers to a single physical module comprising one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. When there are multiple battery cells, the multiple battery cells are connected in series, parallel, or mixed via a busbar.

[0069] In some embodiments, multiple battery cells can be combined to form a battery cell, that is, when there are multiple battery cells, the multiple battery cells are arranged and fixed to form a battery cell.

[0070] In some embodiments, the battery includes a housing and battery cells, with at least one battery cell or at least one battery unit housed in the housing, the housing having a receiving space, and at least one battery cell or at least one battery unit housed in the receiving space.

[0071] In some embodiments, the housing may be part of the vehicle's chassis structure. For example, a portion of the housing may be at least a part of the vehicle's floor, or a portion of the housing may be at least a part of the vehicle's crossbeams and longitudinal beams.

[0072] In some embodiments, the battery or battery cell may be part of an energy storage system. The energy storage system may be an energy storage container, an energy storage cabinet, etc., which integrates batteries and an energy shutdown module.

[0073] The development of battery technology must take into account multiple design factors, such as energy density, cycle life, discharge capacity, charge / discharge rate, and other performance parameters. In addition, battery safety performance also needs to be considered.

[0074] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present invention are applicable to batteries and electrical devices that use batteries.

[0075] Electrical devices can include vehicles, mobile phones, portable devices, laptops, ships, spacecraft, electric toys, and power tools, etc. Vehicles can be gasoline-powered cars, natural gas-powered cars, or new energy vehicles; new energy vehicles can be pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, or range-extended electric vehicles, etc. Spacecraft include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc. Electric toys include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc. Power tools include metal cutting power tools, grinding power tools, assembly power tools, and railway power tools, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, impact drills, concrete vibrators, and electric planers, etc. This invention does not impose special limitations on the above-mentioned electrical devices.

[0076] For ease of explanation, the following embodiments will use a vehicle as an example of an electrical device.

[0077] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a vehicle structure provided for some embodiments of the present invention. A battery 400 is disposed inside the vehicle, and the battery 400 may be located at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle. The battery 400 can be used to power the vehicle; for example, the battery 400 can serve as the vehicle's operating power source.

[0078] The vehicle may also include a controller 600 and a motor 700. The controller 600 controls the battery 400 to supply power to the motor 700, which serves as a load, for example, to meet the power requirements of the vehicle during starting, navigation, and driving.

[0079] In some embodiments of the present invention, the battery 400 can not only serve as the operating power source for the vehicle, but also as the driving power source for the vehicle, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle.

[0080] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is an exploded view of a battery 400 provided in some embodiments of the present invention. The battery 400 includes a battery 400 unit and a housing 200 for housing the battery 400 unit.

[0081] The housing 200 is a component that houses the battery 400 units. The housing 200 provides placement space for multiple individual battery cells 300 within the battery 400 units. The housing 200 can adopt various structures. In some embodiments, the housing 200 may include a tray and the housing 200, which overlap to define a placement space for accommodating the individual battery cells 300. The tray and housing 200 can be of various shapes, such as cuboids, cylinders, etc. The tray can be a hollow structure open on one side, and the housing 200 can also be a hollow structure open on one side, with the open side of the housing 200 overlapping the open side of the tray, thus forming a housing 200 with placement space. Alternatively, the tray can be a hollow structure open on one side, and the housing 200 can be a plate-like structure, with the housing 200 overlapping the open side of the tray, thus forming a housing 200 with placement space. As an example, the battery cell 300 can be a cylindrical battery cell 300, a prismatic battery cell 300, a pouch battery cell 300, or a battery cell 300 of other shapes. There are no particular limitations in this invention.

[0082] In battery 400, there can be one or more battery cells 300. If there are multiple battery cells 300, they can be connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed configuration. A mixed configuration means that multiple battery cells 300 are connected in both series and parallel. Alternatively, multiple battery cells 300 can be first connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed configuration to form a battery 400 unit, and then these battery 400 units can be connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed configuration to form a whole, which is then housed within the casing 200. Another option is that all battery cells 300 can be directly connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed configuration, and then the whole assembly of all battery cells 300 is housed within the casing 200.

[0083] In the battery 400, a heat exchanger can be disposed between the multiple battery cells 300 and the top wall of the housing 200, between the multiple battery cells 300 and the bottom wall of the housing 200, between the bottom wall of the housing 200 and the bottom protective plate, or between two adjacent battery cells 300, to provide heat exchange for the multiple battery cells 300. In this embodiment, the heat exchanger may include a heat exchange tube integrated on the bottom wall of the housing 200, wherein the heat exchange tube may be a flat tube, a round tube, a harmonica tube, or other shaped tube.

[0084] The battery cell 300 serves as the smallest energy unit of the battery 400 unit or battery 400. The battery 400 unit or battery 400 includes multiple battery cells 300. Each battery cell 300 includes a large surface defined by its width and length edges, a small surface defined by its width and height edges, and an end face defined by its length and width edges. To enable the battery cell 300 to operate in cold environments, [details about surface details are needed]. Additional heat-generating films are attached to the surface (such as the large surface, small surface, or end face of battery 400) to heat the individual battery cells 300. At the same time, cooling structures can be set on the large surface, small surface, or end face of battery 400 to cool and lower the temperature of the individual battery cells 300, thereby achieving cooling and lowering the temperature of the entire battery 400. Of course, heat exchange structures can also be set on the large surface, small surface, or end face of battery 400 to achieve both cooling and heating.

[0085] However, the existing cold plates have low cooling efficiency and poor cooling uniformity, making the battery 400 prone to local overheating. In low-temperature environments, the battery 400 needs to be heated by heating films or heating sheets, resulting in a large number of components, low energy density, and high cost.

[0086] Based on this, this application proposes a battery 400 in which the composite cold plate 100 can dissipate heat from the battery 400 through a combination of phase change cooling and cooling medium cooling, resulting in higher cooling efficiency and better cooling uniformity. Moreover, in low-temperature environments, heat can be released through the phase change of the phase change medium to heat the battery 400, eliminating the need for heating elements, reducing costs, and lowering energy consumption.

[0087] The following is for reference. Figures 1-11 A battery 400 and an electrical device 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention are described.

[0088] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in a first aspect, this application provides a battery 400, which includes: a housing 200, a battery cell 300, and a composite cold plate 100. The housing 200 has a receiving cavity, and the battery cell 300 is at least one and disposed in the receiving cavity. The composite cold plate 100 is disposed in the housing 200 and is adapted to contact the battery cell 300 for heat exchange.

[0089] The composite cold-rolled plate 100 includes: a plate body 10 and a support layer 20.

[0090] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 8As shown, the plate body 10 has a first cavity a, a first flow channel is defined in the first cavity a, a first medium flows in the first flow channel, a support layer 20 is disposed in the first cavity a, the support layer 20 includes: a plurality of support bodies 21 arranged in an array, each support body 21 is sealed to the plate body 10 to define a second cavity b spaced apart from the first cavity a, the second cavity b contains a second medium, the second medium is constructed as a phase change medium, and the first medium and the second medium are suitable for coupling heat exchange.

[0091] Specifically, a first medium can flow in the first cavity a, and the first medium can be a liquid medium (such as coolant). The support layer 20 is composed of multiple supports 21. The outer surface of the support 21 can define a first flow channel in the first cavity a. The first medium flows in the first flow channel. The second medium is in the second cavity b of the support 21. The second medium can achieve phase change cooling. The first medium can directly exchange heat with the outside world or with the second medium, so as to achieve coupled heat exchange of the composite cold plate 100 through the first medium and the second medium.

[0092] It should be noted that the coupled heat exchange between the first medium and the second medium includes: the first medium acting alone on the plate body 10 and heat exchange with a heat source outside the plate body 10; the second medium acting alone on the plate body 10 and heat exchange with a heat source outside the plate body 10; and heat exchange between the first medium and the second medium.

[0093] Understandably, the second medium should be a phase change material with high thermal conductivity and high phase change enthalpy. The phase change material has the function of equalizing and maintaining the temperature of the battery 400. When the temperature is low, the second medium can release heat. When the temperature of the battery cell 300 is too high, the phase change material can absorb heat. That is, whether in a high-temperature environment or a low-temperature environment, the second medium can passively undergo phase change so that the battery cell 300 can work in the optimal operating temperature range. In a low-temperature environment, it can replace the heating element, eliminating the need for a heating element and reducing costs. At the same time, the latent heat of phase change can achieve the purpose of energy saving. When the second medium is thermally saturated, the first medium can exchange heat with the second medium to reduce the temperature of the second medium and ensure the temperature regulation stability and reliability of the second medium.

[0094] In addition, multiple supports 21 define a support layer 20. The support layer 20 can also improve the structural strength of the composite cold plate 100, thereby improving the structural strength of the battery 400. The composite cold plate 100 can be disposed on the side of the large surface of the battery cell 300, the side of the small surface of the battery cell, or the side of the end face of the battery cell.

[0095] Furthermore, the multiple arrayed supports 21 can improve the cooling uniformity of the side where the composite cold plate 100 is in contact with the battery cell 300, and can also improve local overheating, thereby enhancing stability and reliability.

[0096] The second medium can be encapsulated within the plate body 10 to prevent leakage. A first flow channel is formed outside the support 21, allowing the first medium to flow within it. The second medium can address the extreme temperatures of the battery 400, equalize the temperature, and assist the first medium in cooling for thermal management. The first medium achieves heat removal and efficient cooling, thus fully utilizing the phase change capability of the second medium and complementing the thermal management advantages of the first medium. This is of great significance for the long lifespan of the battery 400 and, especially, for heat preservation in extremely cold northern regions.

[0097] It should be noted that the battery cell 300 has a large surface (the side of the battery cell 300 with a larger area), a small surface (the top and bottom surfaces of the battery cell 300), and an end surface (the side of the battery cell 300 with a smaller area). The heat exchange between the composite cold plate 100 and the battery cell 300 can be one or more combinations of contact heat exchange between the large surface of the battery cell, contact heat exchange between the small surface of the battery cell, and contact heat exchange between the end surface of the battery cell. This application does not make specific limitations.

[0098] In other words, the bottom surface, and / or side surface, and / or end surface, and / or top surface of the battery cell 300 come into contact with the composite cold plate 100 to achieve heat exchange, and the heat exchange can be either cooling the battery cell 300 or heating the battery cell 300.

[0099] According to the embodiments of this application, the battery 400, on the one hand, provides a support layer 20 in the plate body 10, and a first medium flows in the plate body 10, and a second medium is provided in the support layer 20. The coupling heat dissipation of the first medium and the second medium can not only adjust the heat dissipation efficiency and cooling effect, but also improve the heat dissipation uniformity and consistency, and improve the local overheating phenomenon. It can also improve the structural strength of the composite cold plate 100, thereby improving the structural strength of the battery 400. On the other hand, the latent heat of phase change of the second medium can be used to enable the battery 400 to work in the optimal operating temperature range in low-temperature environments, without the need to set up active heating structures such as heating elements, which can effectively reduce costs and reduce the energy consumption of the battery 400 itself.

[0100] It should be noted that the support 21 can be a high-strength metal such as magnesium alloy, aluminum alloy, lithium magnesium alloy, or lithium aluminum alloy, or it can be a polymer material formed by extrusion casting process. The range of materials to be selected is wide, and this application does not make specific limitations.

[0101] like Figure 4 , Figure 9 and Figure 10As shown, according to some embodiments of this application, the plate body 10 includes: a top plate 11, a side plate 12 and a bottom plate 13, one end of the support body 21 is connected to the top plate 11 and the other end of the support body 21 is connected to the bottom plate 13.

[0102] Specifically, the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 13 are arranged opposite to each other, and the side plate 12 is integrated with the bottom plate 13 or with the top plate 11. The top plate 11, the side plate 12 and the bottom plate 13 define the first cavity a. The support body 21 itself is a hollow structure. The support body 21 can be constructed as a cylinder or a prism (such as a triangular prism, a square prism, a hexagonal prism, etc.). One end of the prism is connected to the top plate 11 and the other end of the prism is connected to the bottom plate 13 to define a second cavity b that is sealed relative to the first cavity a. The support body 21 can be sealed by edge welding, or it can be sealed by setting a sealing seat on the bottom plate 13 or the top plate 11 and setting the sealing seat in the structure.

[0103] Therefore, by connecting one end of the support 21 to the bottom plate 13 and the other end to the top plate 11, the structural strength of the composite cold plate 100 can be improved, thereby extending the service life and working stability of the composite cold plate 100. At the same time, the sealing performance of the second cavity b can be improved, and the second medium in the second cavity b can directly contact the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 13. Both the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 13 can directly contact the battery cell 300, which can also improve the heat exchange efficiency and cooling effect.

[0104] Combination Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, according to some embodiments of this application, the side plate 12 includes two first side plates 121 and two second side plates 122 disposed opposite to each other. A first medium inlet hole 14 is provided on one of the first side plates 121, and a first medium outlet hole 15 is provided on the other of the first side plates 121.

[0105] Specifically, the side plate 12 includes two first side plates 121 facing each other in a first direction (length direction or width direction) and two second side plates 122 facing each other in a second direction (width direction or length direction), while the support body 21 is connected to the bottom plate 13 at one end in a third direction (height direction) and to the top plate 11 at the other end.

[0106] In this way, a first medium inlet hole 14 is provided on a first side plate 121 located at one end of the second direction, and a first medium outlet hole 15 is provided on a first side plate 121 located at the other end of the second direction, so that the distance between the first medium inlet hole 14 and the first medium outlet hole is more reasonable, the length of the first flow channel can be set longer, the flow time of the first medium in the first cavity a can be longer, the corresponding heat exchange is more sufficient, the heat exchange effect of the composite cold plate 100 is better, and the heat exchange efficiency is higher.

[0107] Combination Figure 2 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, according to some embodiments of this application, the first medium inlet hole 14 is located at one end of the first side plate 121 adjacent to one of the second side plates 122, and the first medium outlet hole 15 is located at one end of the other first side plate 121 adjacent to the other second side plate 122.

[0108] In other words, the first medium inlet hole 14 is located at the end of the first side plate 121, and the first medium outlet hole 15 is located at the end of the other first side plate 121. The two ends are configured in the second direction as the ends of the first side plate 121 and the second side plate 122 that are far away from each other, so that the first medium inlet hole 14 and the first medium outlet hole 15 are located in the diagonal direction, so as to further extend the flow path length of the first medium and ensure that the first cavity a can be filled with the first medium, thereby improving the cooling effect of the composite cold plate 100 and making the cooling uniformity and consistency of the composite cold plate 100 better.

[0109] It should be noted that the first cavity a in the embodiment of this application has a first flow channel. The first flow channel can be defined by the gap between the support body 21 and the side plate 12 and the gap between adjacent support bodies 21. Based on the flow channel form of the first flow channel, the flow channel plate in the embodiment of this application can have at least three composite plate structures. In the three composite plate structures, the first flow channel is respectively constructed as a flood cooling flow path, a parallel cooling flow path, or a series cooling flow path.

[0110] In the first embodiment:

[0111] like Figure 5 As shown, in the first embodiment, adjacent supports 21 are spaced apart to define a flood cooling flow path.

[0112] Therefore, in the flood cooling flow path embodiment, the first medium enters through the first medium inlet hole 14, fills the gap between multiple supports 21 in a disordered manner, and gradually fills the entire first cavity a before flowing out through the first medium outlet hole 15. The first medium has less flow resistance in the first cavity a, less power consumption of the pump body, can further reduce energy consumption, has a faster flow speed, and is less expensive.

[0113] Second embodiment:

[0114] like Figure 6 As shown, in the second embodiment, the array of supports 21 defines multiple support columns. Adjacent supports 21 in each support column are connected. In odd-numbered columns, one end of the support 21 is connected to a first side plate 121, and in even-numbered columns, the other end of the support 21 is connected to another first side plate 121, thereby defining a series cooling flow path.

[0115] For example, the support layer 20 includes five support columns. The first support column, the third support column and the fifth support column are connected to the first side plate 121 at one end in the second direction, and the second support column and the fourth support column are connected to the first side plate 121 at the other end in the second direction, so as to define a series cooling circuit. The first medium inlet hole 14 and the first medium outlet hole 15 are located at the inlet end and the outlet end of the series cooling flow path, respectively, to define the distance flow path of the first medium.

[0116] In this way, by defining the series cooling flow path, the flow direction of the first medium is guided so that the first medium can flow in an orderly manner, which can improve the eddy and turbulent phenomena of the first medium, reduce the number of bubbles in the first cavity a, and improve the cooling uniformity and consistency.

[0117] Third embodiment:

[0118] like Figure 7 As shown, in the third embodiment, the arrayed supports 21 define multiple support columns, with adjacent supports 21 connected within each support column. The supports 21 located at the ends of each column are spaced apart from the first side plate 121 to define parallel cooling flow paths.

[0119] For example, the support layer 20 includes five support columns, the first support column, the second support column, the third support column, the fourth support column and the fifth support column are spaced apart from the first side plate 121 at both ends to define a parallel cooling circuit.

[0120] Therefore, by defining parallel cooling flow paths, the flow direction of the first medium is guided so that the first medium can flow in an orderly manner, and the eddy current and turbulence phenomena of the first medium can be improved, thereby reducing the number of bubbles in the first cavity a and improving the cooling uniformity and consistency.

[0121] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, according to some embodiments of this application, adjacent supports 21 and supports 21 and the first side plate 121 are connected by connectors 22, and the gap between adjacent supports 21 and the gap between supports 21 and the first side plate 121 are 2mm to 4mm.

[0122] Specifically, in the second and third embodiments, adjacent supports 21 are connected by connectors 22. The support 21 located at the second direction end can be connected to the first side plate 121 by connectors 22 or separated, so that the overall structural strength and structural stability of the support layer 20 are higher.

[0123] Furthermore, the gap between the support 21 and the first side plate 121, and the gap between adjacent supports 21, are all 2mm to 4mm, such as 2mm, 3mm or 4mm, which can make the width of the first flow channel more reasonable, so as to make the flow resistance of the first flow channel more reasonable, reduce the probability of blockage in the first flow channel, and make the flow velocity of the first medium in the first flow channel more reasonable, reduce the flow impact of the first medium, and extend the service life of the composite cold plate 100.

[0124] See Figure 5 , Figure 6 as well as Figure 7 As shown, according to some embodiments of this application, a plurality of supports 21 are symmetrically arranged in both the width and length directions of the plate body 10.

[0125] Therefore, by using symmetrically arranged support bodies 21, the distribution of the first medium and the second medium in the first cavity a can be made more uniform, thereby improving heat exchange uniformity and cooling effect.

[0126] According to some embodiments of this application, the equivalent diameter of the support 21 is greater than or equal to 8 mm.

[0127] Specifically, the equivalent diameter of a single support 21 is greater than or equal to 8 mm, so that the area of ​​the second medium within each support 21 that can contact the bottom plate 13 or the top plate 11 is not less than 50.24 mm². 2 The contact area between the second medium and the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 13 is more reasonable, the phase change latent heat cooling effect of the second medium is better, and more supports 21 can be arranged in the first cavity a. The more supports 21 there are, the better the cooling uniformity and consistency.

[0128] According to some embodiments of this application, the height of the support 21 is 3mm to 6mm.

[0129] For example, the thickness of the support 21 is 3mm, 4mm, 5mm or 6mm, and the total thickness of the composite cold plate 100 is the sum of the height of the support 21 and the thickness of the bottom plate 13 and the top plate 11. The height of the support 21 is not less than 3mm, which allows for a larger amount of the second medium in the second cavity b to ensure the cooling effect. The height of the support 21 is not more than 6mm, which allows for a more reasonable thickness of the composite plate to balance energy density, layout difficulty and cooling effect.

[0130] According to some embodiments of this application, the ratio of the volume of the second cavity b to the volume of the first cavity a is 0.35 to 0.55.

[0131] The volume ratio of the second cavity b to the volume of the first cavity a is 0.35, 0.45, or 0.55.

[0132] In other words, the amount of the first medium in the first cavity a is 65 units, 55 units, or 45 units, and the amount of the second medium in the second cavity b is 35 units, 45 units, or 55 units. This makes the ratio of the first medium to the second medium more reasonable, especially the amount of the second medium. It avoids the second medium being too small, thus ensuring the stability of the latent heat transfer of phase change and improving the adaptability of the battery 400 to low-temperature environments. It also avoids the second medium being too large, thus making the coupling heat transfer stability between the first medium and the second medium higher.

[0133] The structure of the composite cold plate 100 according to a specific embodiment of this application will be described in detail below:

[0134] The support 21 is constructed as a hexagonal prism, the second cavity b is formed as a honeycomb, the equivalent diameter of the honeycomb is ≥8mm, the thickness of the support 21 is ≥3mm, the spacing between adjacent supports 21 is 3mm, and the area of ​​a single honeycomb cell is 50.24mm². 2 .

[0135] The composite cold-rolled plate 100 is located at the bottom of the housing 200. The plate body 10 is 1990mm long and 1400mm wide, with 180 honeycomb holes in a single row along the length and 125 honeycomb holes in a single row along the width, for a total of 22,500 holes. The volume of a single honeycomb hole is 150.72mm². 3 That is, 0.15072cm 3 The total volume of the holes is 22500 * 0.15072 = 3391.200 cm³. 3 The phase transition enthalpy of the second medium is 2199 kJ / kg, and its density is 1.0 g / cm³. 3 The second medium has a mass of 3391.2 * 1.0 = 3391.2 g, or 3.391 kg. The phase change enthalpy is 3.391 * 2199 = 7456.81 kJ, which can be used for latent heat transfer. The area outside the honeycomb pores is 1990 * 1400 - 3.14 * 4 * 4 * 22500 = 1655600 mm². 2 That is, 1655.6cm 2 The first medium can circulate, and the second medium in the honeycomb pores performs thermal management on the battery 400. The second medium achieves cooling, and the first medium, while achieving cooling, releases heat through latent heat of phase change at low temperature to keep the battery 400 warm.

[0136] The ratio of the area of ​​the honeycomb holes to the area of ​​the top plate 11 or the bottom plate 13 is 3.14*4*4*22500 / 1990*1400=40.57%.

[0137] This improves the thermal management capabilities of the composite cold plate 100, enhancing its cooling effect and efficiency.

[0138] According to some embodiments of this application, the composite cold plate 100 is constructed as the bottom plate 13 of the box 200.

[0139] Furthermore, the composite cold plate 100 can be formed as the bottom plate 13 of the housing 200. Based on the high mechanical strength of the composite cold plate 100, it can be integrated as the bottom plate 13 of the housing 200 without the need for a bottom protective plate. This allows for a lightweight and thin design of the battery 400, and enables more battery cells 300 to be installed inside the battery 400, thereby increasing the driving range of the battery 400.

[0140] Of course, the structure of the composite cold plate 100 in this embodiment is not limited to this. In other embodiments, such as... Figure 11 As shown, multiple battery cells 300 are arranged in a row, and a composite cold plate 100 is provided between adjacent battery cells 300.

[0141] In other words, multiple battery cells 300 can be arranged with their large surfaces facing each other, their end faces facing each other, or their small surfaces facing each other. A composite cold plate 100 can be arranged between the opposing surfaces of two adjacent battery cells 300. Multiple composite cold plates 100 can be connected in parallel or in series.

[0142] In this way, not only can heat exchange be carried out between adjacent battery cells 300 through the composite cold plate 100, improving the heat exchange effect of the battery cells 300, but the heat exchange effect on both sides of the composite cold plate 100 is also more consistent, which can make the temperature uniformity between adjacent battery cells 300 better, improve local heat concentration, and improve the working stability and safety of the battery 400. Moreover, the composite cold plate 100 has good mechanical strength, which can reduce energy transfer between adjacent battery cells 300, slow down the spread rate of thermal runaway, and reduce the probability of battery cells 300 being broken down under stress, further improving the safety and reliability of the battery 400.

[0143] Thirdly, this application provides an electrical device 500, including: the battery 400 in the above embodiments.

[0144] Other configurations and operations of the composite cold plate 100, battery 400, and electrical device 500 according to embodiments of the present invention are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0145] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0146] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A battery, characterized in that, include: The housing has a receiving cavity; A battery cell, wherein there is at least one battery cell, and it is disposed in the accommodating cavity; A composite cold plate, wherein the composite cold plate is disposed in the housing and is adapted to exchange heat with the individual battery cells, comprising: The plate body (10) has a first cavity (a) that defines a first flow channel and a first medium flows through the first flow channel. A support layer (20) is disposed in the first cavity (a). The support layer (20) includes a plurality of supports (21) arranged in an array. Each support (21) is sealed to the plate body (10) to define a second cavity (b) spaced apart from the first cavity (a). The second cavity (b) contains a second medium, which is constructed as a phase change medium.

2. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plate body (10) includes a top plate (11), a side plate (12) and a bottom plate (13). One end of the support body (21) is connected to the top plate (11), and the other end of the support body (21) is connected to the bottom plate (13).

3. The battery according to claim 2, characterized in that, The side plate (12) includes two first side plates (121) and two second side plates (122) arranged opposite to each other. One of the first side plates (121) is provided with a first medium inlet hole (14) and the other of the first side plates (121) is provided with a first medium outlet hole (15).

4. The battery according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first medium inlet hole (14) is located at one end of the first side plate (121) adjacent to one of the second side plates (122), and the first medium outlet hole (15) is located at one end of another first side plate (121) adjacent to another second side plate (122).

5. The battery according to claim 4, characterized in that, The adjacent supports (21) are spaced apart to define a flood cooling flow path.

6. The battery according to claim 4, characterized in that, The array of supports (21) defines multiple support columns, with adjacent supports (21) in each support column connected. In odd-numbered columns, the support (21) at one end is connected to one of the first side plates (121), and in even-numbered columns, the support (21) at the other end is connected to another of the first side plates (121), thus defining a series cooling flow path.

7. The battery according to claim 4, characterized in that, The array of supports (21) defines multiple support columns, with adjacent supports (21) in each support column connected together. The supports (21) at the ends of each column are spaced apart from the first side plate (121) to define parallel cooling flow paths.

8. The battery according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The adjacent supports (21) and the first side plate (121) are connected by a connector (22), and the gap between the adjacent supports (21) and the gap between the support (21) and the first side plate (121) are both 2mm to 4mm.

9. The battery according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The multiple supports (21) are symmetrically arranged in both the width and length directions of the plate body (10).

10. The battery according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The equivalent diameter of the support (21) is greater than or equal to 8 mm.

11. The battery according to claim 10, characterized in that, The height of the support (21) is 3mm to 6mm.

12. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ratio of the volume of the second cavity (b) to the volume of the first cavity (a) is 0.35 to 0.

55.

13. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom surface, and / or side surface, and / or end surface, and / or top surface of the battery cell are in contact with the composite cold plate to achieve heat exchange.

14. The battery according to claim 13, characterized in that, The composite cold plate is constructed as the bottom plate (13) of the box body.

15. The battery according to claim 13, characterized in that, Multiple battery cells are arranged in a row, and there are multiple composite cold plates, with each adjacent battery cell having a composite cold plate between them.

16. An electrical appliance, characterized in that, include: The battery according to any one of claims 1-15.

Images