Cooling device, battery cell module, battery pack and vehicle

Abstract

The invention discloses a cooling device, a battery cell module, a battery pack and a vehicle, the cooling device comprises a cooling plate, the cooling plate is bent in the length direction to form a battery cell mounting groove in a surrounding manner, and the two ends of the cooling plate in the length direction are arranged at intervals and are respectively communicated with wing plates which are parallel to each other; a battery cell side wall binding surface is formed on the surface, facing the battery cell mounting groove, of the cooling plate; the liquid cooling pipe is arranged perpendicular to the wing plates and communicated with the wing plates respectively, and the cooling plate of the cooling device can form a battery cell mounting groove, so that a to-be-cooled battery cell can be placed in the battery cell mounting groove to be cooled; the surface, facing the battery cell mounting groove, of the flat cooling plate forms a battery cell side wall binding surface to be in direct contact with the side wall of the battery cell, so that the contact area with the battery cell is increased, the cooling area is further increased, the cooling effect is enhanced, and the higher thermal management requirement of the battery pack of the vehicle is met.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of automobiles, in particular to a cooling device, an electric cell module, a battery pack and a vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, the thermal management requirements for batteries are also becoming higher and higher. Battery overheating not only shortens its own service life, but also can cause safety problems. Therefore, the battery needs to be cooled to ensure that the battery always converts energy at an appropriate temperature and maximizes the performance of the vehicle.

[0003] In the related art, the liquid cooling plate for cooling the electric cell mainly adopts a planar cooling plate. That is, the electric cell is cooled by contacting the bottom surface, the side surface and the large surface position. In use, this planar cooling plate only covers a small part of the surface of the electric cell. When the electric cell heats up quickly and the temperature is high, it cannot meet the cooling needs of the electric cell. In addition, in the related art, the wing plate of the cooling plate is in communication with the cooling pipe, and the inlet wing plate is uniformly communicated with one cooling pipe, and the outlet wing plate is uniformly communicated with one cooling pipe. This setting makes the cooling pipe layout complex, the structure is not compact, and the cooling efficiency needs to be improved.

[0004] Therefore, the present application designs a cooling device, an electric cell module, a battery pack and a vehicle to improve the cooling effect of the electric cell. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application aims to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a cooling device, an electric cell module, a battery pack and a vehicle. The cooling device can more effectively cool the electric cell to ensure that the battery pack always converts energy at an appropriate temperature.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present application, a cooling device is provided, comprising:

[0007] A cooling plate is curved in the length direction to form an electric cell mounting groove. The two ends of the cooling plate in the length direction are spaced apart and respectively communicated with wing plates parallel to each other. The surface of the cooling plate facing the electric cell mounting groove forms an electric cell side wall fitting surface.

[0008] A liquid cooling pipe is arranged perpendicular to each wing plate and is respectively communicated with each wing plate.

[0009] In one embodiment, the two ends of the cooling plate in the length direction form an opening of the electric cell mounting groove. At least one end of the cooling plate in the length direction is communicated with the wing plate through an extension plate. The extension plate partially blocks the opening, and the extension plate forms the electric cell side wall fitting surface towards the surface of the electric cell mounting groove.

[0010] In one embodiment, the liquid cooling pipe includes a first pipe and a second pipe, the first pipe and the second pipe being located on opposite sides of each of the wing plates, and the first pipe and the second pipe being connected to the wing plate adjacent to themselves.

[0011] In one embodiment, the liquid cooling pipe includes a third pipe located between each of the winglets, with both ends of the third pipe connected to the winglet adjacent to itself.

[0012] In one embodiment, the fluid resistance values ​​of the first pipeline and the second pipeline are the same, and the fluid resistance value of the third pipeline is not less than the fluid resistance values ​​of the first pipeline and the second pipeline.

[0013] In one embodiment, the cell mounting slot is a U-shaped slot or an arc-shaped slot.

[0014] In one embodiment, each of the wing plates has a collector connected to the end away from the cooling plate. The end of the collector away from the wing plate is a closed end. Each collector has a transition hole on its sidewall, which is connected to the liquid cooling pipe.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a battery cell module is provided, comprising:

[0016] The aforementioned cooling device;

[0017] The battery cell is installed in the battery cell mounting slot of the cooling device, and the side wall of the battery cell facing the battery cell mounting slot is fitted with the corresponding side wall of the battery cell on the cooling plate.

[0018] In one embodiment, the sidewall of the extension plate facing the cooling plate of the battery cell is fitted with the battery cell sidewall of the extension plate.

[0019] In one embodiment, the number of battery cells is multiple, and the multiple battery cells form at least two battery cell groups, each battery cell group including at least one battery cell;

[0020] The at least two battery cell groups include at least one first battery cell group, and each first battery cell group is respectively installed in the battery cell mounting slot of a corresponding cooling device.

[0021] In one embodiment, the at least two cell groups further include at least one second cell group, wherein the first cell group and the second cell group are spaced apart.

[0022] In one embodiment, a plurality of the battery cells are arranged along the width direction of the battery cells, and there are a plurality of cooling devices, with the wing plates of each cooling device arranged on the same side, and the first and second pipes of two adjacent cooling devices are connected.

[0023] The first and second pipelines of the two adjacent cooling devices are either separate pipelines or integrated pipelines.

[0024] In one embodiment, the battery cell is a prismatic battery cell, and the battery cell mounting slot is a U-shaped slot; or, the battery cell is a cylindrical battery cell, and the battery cell mounting slot is an arc-shaped slot.

[0025] In one embodiment, the battery cell is a cylindrical battery cell, the battery cell mounting slot is an arc-shaped slot, and each battery cell group includes one battery cell.

[0026] In one embodiment, the opening distance of the cell mounting slot is equal to the maximum width of the cell located within the cell mounting slot.

[0027] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a battery pack is provided, comprising the above-described cell module.

[0028] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided, comprising the battery pack described above.

[0029] The above technical solution offers the following advantages: The cooling plate of the cooling device can form a cell mounting groove along its length, allowing the cell to be cooled to be placed inside. The sidewall of the cell facing the mounting groove is aligned with the corresponding sidewall of the cell on the cooling plate, thus cooling the cell. The flat cooling plate can adhere to and surround the outer wall of the cell, ensuring sufficient contact area and increasing the cooling area to enhance the cooling effect, meeting the higher thermal management requirements of vehicle battery packs. Furthermore, the wing-shaped design facilitates the installation of liquid cooling pipes, guiding the cooling medium in and out of the cooling plate. In particular, when the cooling devices are used in a row, the liquid cooling pipes of adjacent devices can be connected in series, helping to improve the structural compactness of the cell module and ensure cooling efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The disclosure of this invention will become more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention. In the drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 A cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0032] Figure 2 The invention illustrates the application of a cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein a battery cell is placed in a battery cell mounting slot;

[0033] Figure 3 This illustrates the application of a cooling device according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein multiple battery cells are placed in a battery cell mounting slot;

[0034] Figure 4 for Figure 2 AA section view;

[0035] Figure 5 for Figure 2 BB section view;

[0036] Figure 6 The battery cell module of the first embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0037] Figure 7 The battery cell module of the second embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0038] Figure 8 The battery cell module of the third embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0039] Figure 9 The battery cell module of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0040] Figure 10 The battery cell module of the fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein a third pipeline is added to the cooling device.

[0041] In the accompanying drawings, the same parts use the same reference numerals. The drawings are not drawn to scale. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] One embodiment of the present invention provides a cooling device. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the cooling device 10 includes a cooling plate 1 and liquid cooling pipes. The cooling plate 1 is bent along its length to form a cell mounting groove 2. The surface of the cooling plate 1 facing the cell mounting groove 2 forms a cell sidewall contact surface 13. Parallel wing plates 15 are spaced apart and connected to each other at both ends along the length of the cooling plate 1. The liquid cooling pipes are arranged perpendicular to the wing plates 15 and are connected to each wing plate 15.

[0044] In some embodiments, the cooling plate 1 is constructed in the shape of a square plate. Depending on the shape and size of the battery cell 3, it is easily understood that the cooling plate 1 can be either a rectangular plate or a square plate. During use, the plate-shaped cooling plate 1 and the outer wall of the battery cell 3 are in surface-to-surface contact. The cooling plate 1 can be fitted onto the outer wall of the battery cell 3 in a matching manner to ensure heat dissipation area and thus ensure heat dissipation effect.

[0045] In some embodiments, the wing plate 15 and the cooling plate 1 are integrally formed, manufactured from plates extending at both ends along the length of the cooling plate 1. That is, the wing plate 15 and the cell mounting groove 2 are manufactured from the same square plate. Both wing plates 15 extend in a direction away from the cell mounting groove 2 and are parallel to each other. The wing plate 15 is connected to the cooling plate 1, and a liquid cooling pipe is connected to the wing plate 15. This allows the cooling medium in the liquid cooling pipe to be transported to the cooling plate 1 through the upstream wing plate 15, and the cooling medium in the cooling plate 1 to be output through the downstream wing plate 15 and the liquid cooling pipe, forming a cooling channel. Furthermore, the wing plate 15 facilitates the installation and layout of the liquid cooling pipe. In particular, when multiple cells form a cell module, the liquid cooling pipe can connect multiple cooling plates 1 corresponding to different cells, optimizing the structure.

[0046] In some embodiments, the shape of the cell mounting groove 2 matches the shape of the cell 3 to accommodate the cell 3. After installation, the cell sidewall contact surface 13 on the cooling plate 1 contacts the outer sidewall of the cell 3, thereby exchanging heat with the cell 3 and cooling it. The liquid cooling pipe, as part of the cooling channel, is used to supply and discharge cooling medium to the cooling plate 1. The cooling plate 1 includes the cell mounting groove 2, which matches the shape of the cell 3, and not only cools the cell 3 but also serves to confine the cell 3.

[0047] The cooling plate forms openings for cell mounting slots at both ends along its length. At least one end of the cooling plate along its length is connected to a wing plate via an extension plate. The extension plate partially blocks the openings of the cell mounting slots. Furthermore, the extension plate forms a cell sidewall contact surface with the surface of the cell mounting slots.

[0048] For example, such as Figure 1 As shown, the cooling plate 1 forms openings 12 for the cell mounting groove 2 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. An extension plate 16 is provided at at least one end of the cooling plate 1 in the longitudinal direction, and this extension plate 16 communicates with the wing plate 15. The extension plate 16 partially blocks the openings 12 of the cell mounting groove 2. Furthermore, the extension plate 16 forms a cell sidewall contact surface 13 on the surface of the cell mounting groove 2.

[0049] In one embodiment, one end of the cooling plate 1 in the longitudinal direction is connected to the wing plate 15 via an extension plate 16.

[0050] In another instance, such as Figure 1As shown, the cooling plate 1 is connected to the wing plate 15 at both ends along its length via extension plates 16. That is, extension plates 16 are provided at both ends along the length of the cooling plate 1. Each extension plate 16 is connected to the wing plate 15 on the same side. Each extension plate 16 can partially block the opening 12 of the cell mounting slot 2. The two extension plates 16 extend relative to each other to increase the area of ​​the contact surface 13 of the cell sidewall, thereby improving the cooling effect. This optimized structure allows for easy adjustment of the contact area with the outer wall of the cell 3 by adjusting the length of the extension plates 16, thus optimizing the cooling effect.

[0051] For example, the cooling plate 1, the extension plate 16, and the wing plate 15 can be either separate structures or integrated structures. When the cooling plate 1, the extension plate 16, and the wing plate 15 are integrated structures, the cooling device 10 has a simple structure, is easy to process and manufacture, and has low manufacturing costs.

[0052] The liquid cooling pipe includes a first pipe 5 and a second pipe 7. The first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7 are located on opposite sides of each wing plate 15, and are connected to their respective adjacent wing plates 15. One of the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7 serves as an upstream liquid cooling pipe, receiving the cooling medium and transporting it to the cooling plate 1, while the other serves as a downstream liquid cooling pipe, transporting the cooling medium through the cooling plate 1. Thus, the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7 establish communication with the outside environment, facilitating the formation of a flow channel for the cooling medium. Furthermore, placing the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7 on opposite sides of the wing plate 15 allows for easy installation and connection to other external pipes, optimizing the structure.

[0053] The liquid cooling pipe also includes a third pipe 9. The third pipe 9 is located between each of the flanges 15, and both ends of the third pipe 9 are connected to the flange 15 adjacent to it. This third pipe 9 acts as a flow divider, allowing the cooling medium flowing through the first pipe 5 or the second pipe 7 at the upstream end to not only enter the cooling plate 1, but also to flow directly to the third pipe 9 without passing through the cooling plate 1. It is then transported downstream via the third pipe 9.

[0054] Furthermore, the fluid resistance values ​​of the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7 are the same, and the fluid resistance value of the third pipe 9 is not less than the fluid resistance values ​​of the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7. That is to say, the fluid resistance value of the third pipe 9 is equal to the fluid resistance values ​​of the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7, or the fluid resistance value of the third pipe 9 is greater than the fluid resistance values ​​of the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7.

[0055] For example, such as Figure 10As shown, when the fluid resistance of the third pipe 9 is greater than that of the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7, the diameter of the third pipe 9 is made smaller than that of the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7. This setting can effectively ensure the diversion of the cooling medium. That is, after the cooling medium enters the wing plate 15 at the upstream end, it is diverted, with part of the cooling medium entering the cooling plate 1 and part entering the third pipe 9. The cooling medium entering the cooling plate 1 can cool the battery cell 3 corresponding to the cooling plate 1. In the battery cell module, multiple cooling devices 10 have an upstream and downstream relationship. The downstream cooling device 10 can receive the cooling medium from the upstream cooling device 10. By adding the third pipe 9, some cooling medium can directly enter the downstream cooling device 10 without passing through the upstream cooling device 10. It can be seen that by setting the third pipe 9, the downstream cooling device 10 can play a role in cooling compensation, which helps to ensure the uniformity of heat dissipation throughout the battery cell module.

[0056] Each wing plate has a collector connected to the end away from the cooling plate. The end of the collector away from the wing plate is a closed end. Each collector has a transition hole on its side wall, which is connected to the liquid cooling pipe.

[0057] For example, such as Figure 1 As shown, each wing plate 15 has a collector connected to its end away from the cooling plate 1. There are two collectors: a first collector 4 and a second collector 6. The ends of collectors 4 and 6 away from the wing plate 15 are closed. Each collector 4 and 6 has a transition hole on its sidewall for connection to a liquid cooling pipe.

[0058] In some embodiments, a first manifold 4 is provided on one wing plate 15. A first conduit 5 is provided on the first manifold 4, which connects the first conduit 5 to the wing plate 15. The end of the first manifold 4 that connects to the corresponding side of the wing plate 15 is connected to the wing plate 15, while the end away from the wing plate 15 is a closed end. A transition hole is provided on the side of the first manifold 4 away from the second manifold 6 for connecting the first conduit 5, such that the first conduit 5 is connected perpendicularly to the first manifold 4. A second manifold 6 is provided on the other wing plate 15. A second conduit 7 is provided on the second manifold 6, which connects the second conduit 7 to the wing plate 15. The end of the second manifold 6 that connects to the corresponding side of the wing plate 15 is connected to the wing plate 15, while the end away from the wing plate 15 is a closed end. A transition hole is provided on the side of the second manifold 6 away from the first manifold 4 for connecting the second conduit 7, such that the second conduit 7 is connected perpendicularly to the second manifold 6. Adapter holes are also provided on opposite sides of the first current collector 4 and the second current collector 6 for connecting the third pipe 9. It is evident that the wing plate 15 serves as the mounting base, facilitating the connection of the first current collector 4 and the second current collector 6, thereby simplifying the layout of the first pipe 5, the second pipe 7, and the third pipe 9, thus optimizing the structure. One of the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7 connects to a cooling source, transporting the cooling medium from the cooling source to the cooling device. The other of the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7 receives the cooling medium, transporting the cooling medium after heat exchange with the battery cell 3 out of the cooling device. The third pipe 9 directly connects the first current collector 4 and the second current collector 6, allowing the cooling medium to flow from one of the first current collector 4 and the second current collector 6 to the other through the third pipe 9. The first current collector 4 and the second current collector 6 primarily function as a connector and for distributing the cooling medium to the cooling channel 14; they can utilize existing current collectors while meeting usage requirements.

[0059] In some embodiments, both the first current collector 4 and the second current collector 6 extend away from the cell mounting groove 2. Furthermore, the extending directions of the first current collector 4 and the second current collector 6 are the same as the extending directions of the corresponding side wing plate 15. Thus, the first current collector 4 and the second current collector 6 are arranged in parallel. This arrangement facilitates the installation of liquid cooling pipes, making it easy to connect the first pipe 5, the second pipe 7, and the third pipe 9.

[0060] The cell mounting slot 2 is either a U-shaped slot or an arc-shaped slot. It is easy to understand that the shape of the cell mounting slot 2 can match the shape of the cell 3. For example, if the cell 3 is a prismatic cell, then the cell mounting slot 2 is a U-shaped slot. When the cell 3 is a cylindrical cell, the cell mounting slot 2 is an arc-shaped slot. This shape of the cell mounting slot 2 matches the cell 3 itself, resulting in high structural adaptability and a compact design, effectively ensuring heat dissipation efficiency. In this application, the illustrations show an embodiment where the cell 3 has a prismatic structure; however, this does not limit the scope of this application. That is, the cell 3 in this application includes not only prismatic cells but also cylindrical cells. Naturally, the structure of the cooling device 10 in this application also includes cooling devices that match different cell 3 types.

[0061] In some embodiments, cooling channels 14 are provided on the strip-shaped cooling plate 1, the extension plate 16, and the wing plate 15, such as... Figure 4 and 5 As shown. The cooling channel 14 is a flow channel for the cooling medium, used to transport the cooling medium and thus remove the heat generated by heat exchange with the battery cell 3. The cooling channel 14 is used to connect in the length direction of the cooling plate 1 and sequentially pass through the cooling plate 1, the extension plate 16 and the wing plate 15 so that the cooling medium flows from one wing plate 15 to the other wing plate 15.

[0062] like Figure 5 As shown, multiple cooling channels 14 can be provided on the strip-shaped cooling plate 1, extension plate 16, and wing plate 15. These cooling channels 14 are spaced apart in the width direction of the cooling plate 1 (consistent with the direction of the battery cell 3 from top 31 to bottom 32). This arrangement of cooling channels 14 can cool multiple points of the battery cell 3 in the direction from top 31 to bottom 32, and helps to ensure the uniformity of cooling at each point. For example, the cooling channel 14 is a plurality of through holes provided on the cooling plate 1, extension plate 16, and wing plate 15 extending along the length direction of the cooling plate 1, and the extension direction of the through holes can be parallel to the length direction of the cooling plate 1.

[0063] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a battery cell module. The battery cell module includes a cooling device 10 and a battery cell 3. The battery cell 3 is installed in the battery cell mounting slot 2 of the cooling device 10. The side wall of the battery cell 3 facing the battery cell mounting slot 2 is fitted with the corresponding battery cell side wall contact surface 13 on the cooling plate 1. In this battery cell module, heat exchange is achieved through surface-to-surface contact between the battery cell 3 and the cooling plate 1, ensuring the heat dissipation efficiency of the battery cell 3. In specific structures, the battery cell module can have different structural forms. For example, the battery cell 3 in the battery cell module can be a prismatic battery cell or a cylindrical battery cell. Furthermore, the cooling device 10 in the battery cell module can dissipate heat for battery cells 3 of different structures and in different numbers; more specifically, for example... Figure 2As shown, a battery cell 3 is placed into a battery cell mounting slot 2 so that the cooling plate 1 can dissipate heat from the battery cell 3, thereby ensuring the heat dissipation effect; as Figure 3 As shown, depending on the actual setup, multiple, such as two or more, battery cells 3 can be placed in the same battery cell mounting slot 2 to allow the cooling plate 1 to dissipate heat from the multiple battery cells 3. It should be noted that placing two or more battery cells 3 in the same battery cell mounting slot 2 is applicable to prismatic cells but not to cylindrical cells. That is, when the battery cell is cylindrical, only one cylindrical battery cell 3 can be matched and installed in one battery cell mounting slot 2. It is easy to understand that placing one battery cell 3 in one battery cell mounting slot 2 ensures that the battery cell 3 in the battery cell mounting slot 2 can have a larger contact area with the cooling plate 1, thereby ensuring the cooling effect of the battery cell 3. However, placing multiple battery cells 3 in one battery cell mounting slot 2 correspondingly reduces the contact area between the battery cell 3 and the cooling plate 1. But when the battery pack includes multiple cooling devices 10, the number of cooling devices 10 can be simplified, the layout space of the cooling devices 10 can be reduced, and the volume of the battery pack can be optimized.

[0064] As is easily understood, the sidewall of the extension plate 16 facing the cooling plate 1 of the battery cell 3 is fitted with the battery cell sidewall contact surface 13 of the extension plate 16. In other words, the extension plate 16 can partially block the opening 12 of the battery cell mounting slot 2 to increase the area of ​​the battery cell sidewall contact surface 13 and improve the cooling effect on the battery cell 3.

[0065] There are multiple battery cells 3. Furthermore, these multiple battery cells 3 form at least two battery cell groups, each battery cell group including at least one battery cell 3. That is, the multiple battery cells 3 are grouped, and each battery cell group may contain one or more battery cells 3, and these battery cells 3 are divided into at least two battery cell groups. Each of the at least two battery cell groups includes at least one first battery cell group, and each first battery cell group is respectively installed in a battery cell mounting slot 2 of a corresponding cooling device 10.

[0066] In some embodiments, a plurality of battery cells 3 are provided, which are divided into multiple groups, with each group containing exactly one battery cell 3. These battery cell groups are all first battery cell groups. These battery cell groups are then correspondingly installed into the battery cell mounting slots 2 of a cooling device 10, that is, the battery cells 3 are arranged one-to-one in the battery cell mounting slots 2. For example, in... Figure 6The device contains three battery cells 3, which are divided into three groups, with one cell 3 in each group. These groups are all designated as the first battery cell group. These groups are then installed in a corresponding cell mounting slot 2 of a cooling device 10, meaning the three cells 3 are positioned one-to-one in the three cell mounting slots 2. It should be noted that due to the unique structure of cylindrical battery cells, only one cell 3 can be placed in a single cooling slot 2 of the cooling device 10 when cooling a cylindrical battery cell. Therefore, the arrangement in this example is applicable to both prismatic and cylindrical battery cells.

[0067] In some embodiments, there are multiple battery cells 3, which are divided into multiple groups, with one battery cell in each group, and only a portion of these battery cell groups are first battery cell groups. For example, as shown... Figure 7 As shown, there are five battery cells 3, which are divided into five groups, with one battery cell 3 in each group. Two of these groups are designated as the first battery cell group, and each of these two first battery cell groups is installed in a battery cell mounting slot 2 of a cooling device 10. Figure 7 In this embodiment, along the width direction of cell 3, the cells 3 located at the second and fourth positions constitute the first cell group. This embodiment uses a prismatic cell as an example. However, when the cells are cylindrical and arranged in this manner, the cells in adjacent first cell groups are not placed in the cell cooling tanks themselves. The contact area between these cells and the cooling plate 1 in the first cell group is very small, resulting in poor cooling effect. Therefore, this arrangement method is not recommended for cylindrical cells. In other words, when cooling multiple cylindrical cells, it is best to place each cylindrical cell in a corresponding cell mounting slot.

[0068] In some embodiments, a plurality of battery cells 3 are provided, and these plurality of battery cells 3 are divided into multiple groups, wherein some battery cell groups include at least two battery cells 3. For example, Figure 8 As shown, the device has four battery cells 3, which are divided into three groups. Two groups each contain one battery cell 3, and one group contains two battery cells 3. These three groups are all first battery cell groups, and each of these first battery cell groups is installed in a corresponding battery cell mounting slot 2 of a cooling device 10. It is easy to understand that due to the special structure of cylindrical battery cells, multiple cylindrical battery cells cannot be placed in the same battery cell mounting slot 2. Therefore, the arrangement method of this embodiment can only be applied to prismatic battery cells.

[0069] The at least two cell groups also include at least one second cell group, with the first and second cell groups spaced apart. That is, the cell module includes not only the first cell group but also the second cell group, and the first and second cell groups are spaced apart. Each first cell group is installed in a cell mounting slot of a corresponding cooling device.

[0070] In some embodiments, where the first and second cell groups are spaced apart, the second cell group does not necessarily need to be installed in the cell mounting slot of the cooling device; it can be cooled using the cooling device of the adjacent first cell group. This arrangement relatively reduces the number of cooling devices and improves the structural compactness of the battery module.

[0071] For example, such as Figure 7 As shown, along the width direction of cell 3, the cells 3 at the first, third, and fifth positions correspond to the second cell groups, and each second cell group includes one cell. It can be seen that the first and second cell groups are spaced apart, and each cooling plate 1 can cool adjacent cells 3. This arrangement relatively reduces the number of cooling devices 10 and improves the structural compactness of the battery module. This embodiment uses a prismatic cell as an example. However, when the cells are cylindrical and arranged in this manner, the cells in the second cell groups are not placed in the cell cooling slots themselves. The contact area between these cells in the second cell groups and the cooling plates 1 in the first cell groups is very small, resulting in poor cooling effect, and this method is not recommended. In other words, when cooling multiple cylindrical cells, it is best to place each cylindrical cell in a corresponding cell mounting slot.

[0072] Consider another embodiment, such as Figure 9 As shown, the battery module includes a first cell group and a second cell group. In the width direction of cell 3 (with...) Figure 9 (In the same direction as the middle row), the first and second cell groups are spaced apart. Meanwhile, along the length of cell 3 (with...) Figure 9 (The order of the columns is consistent), and the first and second cell groups are also spaced apart. Adjacent cells 3 in the same row can share the cooling plate 1, and adjacent cells 3 in the same column can also share the cooling plate 1. This arrangement ensures that each cell 3 can contact the cooling plate 1 while reducing the number of cooling plates 1 used, making the cell module structure more compact and increasing the volume utilization of the battery pack. This arrangement is particularly suitable for prismatic cells. However, for cylindrical cells, if the cylindrical cell itself is not placed in the cell cooling slot and only exchanges heat with the adjacent cooling plate 1, the cooling effect is not good. Therefore, when cooling multiple cylindrical cells, each cylindrical cell should ideally be placed in a corresponding cell mounting slot.

[0073] Multiple battery cells 3 are arranged along the width direction of the battery cells. There are multiple cooling devices 10, and the wing plates 15 of each cooling device 10 are arranged on the same side. The first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7 of two adjacent cooling devices 10 are connected. The first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7 of two adjacent cooling devices 10 can be separate pipes or integrated pipes.

[0074] In the examples, such as Figures 6 to 10 As shown, these battery cell modules have multiple battery cells 3 arranged along the width direction of the battery cells, and multiple cooling devices 10. The first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7 of two adjacent cooling devices 10 in a row are connected to form an upstream and downstream relationship, that is, the cooling medium is supplied to the downstream cooling plate 1 after passing through the upstream cooling plate 1, which facilitates the layout of cooling pipes in the battery cell module and simplifies the structure.

[0075] In some instances, cell 3 is a prismatic cell, and as... Figure 2 As shown, the battery cell 3 includes a top 31, a bottom 32 spaced apart from the top 31, and four peripheral sidewalls 33 disposed between the top 31 and the bottom 32. Correspondingly, the battery cell mounting groove 2 is a U-shaped groove. It can be seen that the shape of the battery cell 3 matches the shape of the battery cell mounting groove 2, resulting in high structural adaptability, ensuring a compact structure, and thus guaranteeing the heat dissipation efficiency of the cooling device 10.

[0076] In some embodiments, the battery cell 3 is a cylindrical battery cell, and the battery cell mounting slot 2 is an arc-shaped slot. It is evident that the shape of the battery cell 3 matches the shape of the battery cell mounting slot 2, resulting in high structural adaptability and ensuring a compact structure, thereby guaranteeing the heat dissipation efficiency of the cooling device 10. When the battery cell 3 is a cylindrical battery cell and the battery cell mounting slot 2 is an arc-shaped slot, each battery cell group includes one battery cell 3. As stated above, these battery cell groups are all configured as first battery cell groups to ensure that one cylindrical battery cell is correspondingly placed in one battery cell mounting slot 2, thereby guaranteeing the heat dissipation efficiency of the cylindrical battery cell.

[0077] The opening distance of the cell mounting slot 2 is equal to the maximum width of the cell 3 located within the cell mounting slot 2. This design simplifies the structure of the cell mounting slot 2 and facilitates the installation of the cell 3. In particular, this design ensures a tight fit between the cell mounting slot 2 and the cooling plate 1, guaranteeing a good cooling effect. It should be noted that when the cell 3 is a prismatic cell, the maximum width of the cell 3 is... Figure 4 H0; and when cell 3 is a cylindrical cell, the maximum width of cell 3 is the diameter of cell 3.

[0078] The cooling plate 1, extension plate 16, and wing plate 15 can be made of metal, such as 3xxx series aluminum alloy or 6xxx series aluminum alloy, and the manufacturing process is not limited to extrusion and bending. The cooling plate 1, extension plate 16, and wing plate 15 can also be made of plastic, such as poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPA) or polyphenylene oxide (PPO), and the manufacturing process can be injection molding. This design utilizes the good heat dissipation properties of the materials to ensure a cooling effect.

[0079] When the cooling device 10 is used to match the prismatic battery cell, after the cooling plate 1, extension plate 16, and wing plate 15 are formed, an insulating film needs to be sprayed on them to ensure insulation without affecting the normal operation of the battery cell 3. For example, the insulating film can be an epoxy resin coating or a UV coating.

[0080] When cell 3 is a prismatic cell, and cooling device 10 is used to match the prismatic cell, cell 3 is bonded to cooling plate 1 and extension plate 16 using thermally conductive structural adhesive. For example, this thermally conductive structural adhesive can be polyurethane structural adhesive or epoxy structural adhesive. That is, as... Figure 4 As shown, a thermally conductive structural adhesive layer 8 is provided between the outer peripheral sidewall of the battery cell 3 and the cooling plate 1 and the extension plate 16 to serve a fixing function. In order to achieve a better bonding effect, the insulating film of the battery cell 3 is opened in the area where the cooling plate 1 and the extension plate 16 contact the battery cell 3.

[0081] When the battery cell is a prismatic cell and the cooling device 10 is used to match the prismatic cell, the square frame formed by the cooling plate 1 and the extension plate 16 is fitted onto the side wall of the battery cell 3. The size of the bend and chamfer of the square frame is not less than the size of the chamfer at that point of the battery cell 3, i.e., R1≥R2. This arrangement ensures that the corner of the battery cell 3 can be inserted into the corresponding corner formed by the cooling plate 1 and the extension plate 16, thereby ensuring sufficient contact between the battery cell 3 and the cooling plate 1 and the extension plate 16, and thus ensuring the heat dissipation effect.

[0082] In this application, the cooling plate 1 and the extension plate 16 can tightly surround a prismatic battery cell, a cylindrical battery cell, or multiple prismatic battery cells, increasing the contact area with the battery cell 3 and thus improving the cooling effect. This arrangement is particularly suitable for high-rate charging. The first current collector 4 and the second current collector 6 can be flexibly arranged as needed, and the process is simple. The cooling device 10 has various grouping schemes with the prismatic battery cells, which can meet the design requirements of different battery cell modules. This arrangement helps to quickly and effectively configure the cooling system according to the specifications and cooling requirements of different battery packs.

[0083] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a battery pack. The battery pack includes the aforementioned cell module. The cell adopts a cell cooling tank structure that matches its own shape, resulting in high cell cooling efficiency, stable battery pack operation, and a long service life. Multiple cooling devices can be arranged upstream and downstream, resulting in a compact battery pack structure. The cooling devices, in particular, have various grouping schemes with prismatic cells, ensuring high battery pack adaptability.

[0084] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a vehicle. The vehicle includes the aforementioned battery pack. The battery pack operates stably and can effectively improve the vehicle's range. The battery pack has a compact structure, which helps optimize the vehicle's internal structure and further improves range, providing customers with a better user experience.

[0085] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more; the terms "inner" and "outer" refer to directions toward or away from the geometric center of a particular component, respectively.

[0086] The above are merely the principles and preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, several other modifications can be made based on the principles of the present invention, and these modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. Cooling device, characterized in that The cooling device comprises: a cooling plate, which is curved in a length direction to form an electrode cell mounting groove, and two ends of the cooling plate in the length direction are spaced apart and respectively connected with wings parallel to each other, and a surface of the cooling plate facing the electrode cell mounting groove forms an electrode cell side wall abutting surface; a liquid cooling pipe, which is arranged perpendicularly to each of the wings and respectively connected with each of the wings.

2. Cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that The two ends of the cooling plate in the length direction form an opening of the electrode cell mounting groove, at least one end of the cooling plate in the length direction is connected with the wing through an extension plate, the extension plate partially blocks the opening, and the extension plate forms the electrode cell side wall abutting surface to the surface of the electrode cell mounting groove.

3. Cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that The liquid cooling pipe comprises a first pipe and a second pipe, the first pipe and the second pipe are respectively arranged on a side of each of the wings away from each other, and the first pipe and the second pipe are respectively connected with the wings adjacent to the first pipe and the second pipe.

4. Cooling device according to claim 3, characterized in that The liquid cooling pipe comprises a third pipe, the third pipe is arranged between each of the wings, and two ends of the third pipe are respectively connected with the wings adjacent to the third pipe.

5. Cooling device according to claim 4, characterized in that Fluid resistance values of the first pipe and the second pipe are the same, and a fluid resistance value of the third pipe is not less than the fluid resistance values of the first pipe and the second pipe.

6. Cooling device according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The electrode cell mounting groove is a U-shaped groove or an arc-shaped groove.

7. Cooling device according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that Each of the wings is respectively connected with a current collector away from the cooling plate, an end of the current collector away from the wing is a closed end, a side wall of each of the current collectors is provided with an adapter hole, and the adapter hole is connected with the liquid cooling pipe.

8. An electrochemical cell module, characterized by, The cooling device comprises: The cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 7; an electrode cell, which is mounted in the electrode cell mounting groove of the cooling device, and a side wall of the electrode cell facing the electrode cell mounting groove is arranged in abutment with a corresponding electrode cell side wall abutting surface on the cooling plate.

9. The battery cell module of claim 8, wherein, A side wall of the electrode cell facing the extension plate of the cooling plate is arranged in abutment with an electrode cell side wall abutting surface of the extension plate.

10. The battery cell module of claim 8, wherein, The number of the electrode cells is multiple, and the multiple electrode cells form at least two electrode cell groups, and each of the electrode cell groups comprises at least one electrode cell. The at least two electrode cell groups comprise at least one first electrode cell group, and each of the first electrode cell groups is mounted in a corresponding electrode cell mounting groove of the cooling device.

11. The battery cell module of claim 10, wherein, The at least two electrode cell groups further comprise at least one second electrode cell group, and the first electrode cell groups and the second electrode cell group are arranged in a spaced apart manner.

12. The battery cell module of claim 10, wherein, The multiple electrode cells are arranged along a width direction of the electrode cells, the number of the cooling devices is multiple, and wings of each of the cooling devices are arranged on the same side, and first pipes and second pipes arranged in a spaced apart manner of two adjacent cooling devices are connected. The first pipes and the second pipes arranged in a spaced apart manner of the two adjacent cooling devices are split pipes or integrated pipes.

13. The battery cell module of claim 8, wherein, The electrode cell is a square cell, and the electrode cell mounting groove is a U-shaped groove; or the electrode cell is a cylindrical cell, and the electrode cell mounting groove is an arc-shaped groove.

14. The battery cell module of claim 10, wherein, The electrode cell is a cylindrical cell, the electrode cell mounting groove is an arc-shaped groove, and each of the electrode cell groups comprises one electrode cell.

15. The battery cell module of claim 8, wherein, An opening distance of the electrode cell mounting groove is equal to a maximum width of the electrode cell arranged in the electrode cell mounting groove.

16. A battery pack, characterized by The electric battery pack according to claim 16.

17. A vehicle characterized by comprising: The electric battery pack according to claim 16.

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