Battery

Abstract

The present application relates to a battery including a battery accommodating portion accommodating an electrode stack including an electrode and a separator, and a cooling portion including a groove formed in a plate surface of the cooling portion, the cooling portion being provided to be closely attached to an outer surface of the battery accommodating portion, and a flow path is defined in a space between the groove and an outer surface of the battery accommodating portion, so that a refrigerant flows along the flow path, thereby improving performance of dissipating heat from the battery cell, shortening fast charging time, ensuring high output of the battery cell, and reducing cost and weight.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0155658, filed on November 5, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to batteries, and more specifically, to batteries that can improve the heat dissipation performance of battery cells, shorten fast charging time, ensure high output of battery cells, and reduce cost and weight. Background Technology

[0004] With the continuous development of technology and the increasing demand for mobile devices such as mobile phones, laptops, portable video cameras and digital cameras, research on technologies related to rechargeable and dischargeable secondary batteries is being actively carried out.

[0005] Furthermore, as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels that generate air pollutants, secondary batteries are used in electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (P-HEVs). Therefore, the demand for developing secondary batteries is growing.

[0006] Currently available rechargeable batteries include nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), nickel-zinc (NiZn), and lithium-ion batteries. Among these, lithium-ion batteries exhibit virtually no memory effect compared to nickel-based batteries and are highly regarded for their ability to be freely charged and discharged. Furthermore, lithium-ion batteries possess a low self-discharge rate and high energy density, further enhancing their appeal.

[0007] Meanwhile, when the aforementioned secondary batteries are used in devices that require large capacity and high voltage, such as electric vehicles, the secondary batteries are used in the form of battery cell assemblies or battery packs, which contain multiple battery cells.

[0008] Battery cell assemblies and battery packs may be affected by various operating environments of the device. For example, the charging capacity and output of the battery pack may vary significantly depending on temperature conditions. Therefore, cooling or heating devices are also provided to maintain the temperature of the battery pack under predetermined conditions.

[0009] Because battery cells are tightly packed in a small space, it is very important to dissipate the heat generated by each battery cell easily.

[0010] The charging or discharging process of a battery cell is achieved through an electrochemical reaction. For this reason, if the heat generated by the battery module during charging or discharging is not effectively dissipated, the heat will accumulate, which may accelerate the degradation of the battery module and, in some cases, may lead to fire or explosion.

[0011] Examples of common cooling devices may include water-cooled and air-cooled devices. Water-cooled devices have flow paths located outside or inside the battery pack so that refrigerant can flow along the flow paths, and water-cooled devices include outwardly projecting ports to allow refrigerant circulation.

[0012] However, if the port is damaged by an external impact or other force applied to it, there is a risk that refrigerant may enter the battery pack, which could lead to a serious accident.

[0013] To mitigate this risk, coolant channels are installed externally to the battery system to prevent short circuits caused by coolant leakage. However, in this case, single-sided cooling limits the transfer of heat generated by the battery cells to the coolant channels due to the low thermal conductivity of the cells. Double-sided cooling, on the other hand, presents significant cost issues due to the increased number of coolant channels and various limitations arising from the need to avoid venting the cooling vents.

[0014] The information included in the background section of this application is only intended to enhance the understanding of the general background of this application and should not be construed as an admission or in any way implying that the information constitutes prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0015] Various aspects of this application aim to provide a battery in which the performance of dissipating heat from the battery cell can be improved, the fast charging time can be shortened, the high output of the battery cell can be ensured, and the cost and weight can be reduced.

[0016] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides a battery comprising: a battery housing portion that houses an electrode stack including electrodes and a separator; and a cooling portion that includes a groove formed in a plate surface of the cooling portion, the cooling portion being configured to be tightly attached to an outer surface of the battery housing portion, and defining a flow path in the space between the groove and the outer surface of the battery housing portion, such that a refrigerant flows along the flow path.

[0017] In this case, the flow path is arranged in the region of the end portion of the plate surface of the cooling section, which can be repeatedly bent, so that the flow path can be continuously formed in the direction of the plate surface of the cooling section, and the first and second opposite end portions of the flow path are in fluid communication with each other to define a closed loop.

[0018] In addition, the cooling section may include: a vaporization section configured to be tightly attached to at least one side surface of the battery housing section, such that the refrigerant vaporizes in the flow path; and a condensation section configured to be tightly attached to the lower surface of the battery housing section and configured to allow external coolant to pass through, so that the refrigerant condenses in the flow path.

[0019] Furthermore, the cooling section can be configured as a single plate-shaped cooling plate, and the cooling plate can be bent such that one part of the cooling plate defines a vaporization section that is tightly attached to one side surface of the battery housing, and another part of the cooling plate defines a condensation section, thereby forming an overall "L"-shaped longitudinal section.

[0020] Furthermore, the cooling section can be configured with multiple cooling plates, each of which is plate-shaped, and the cooling plates can be interconnected by brazing, such that some of the cooling plates define a vaporization section that is tightly attached to one side surface of the battery housing, and the remaining cooling plates define a condensation section, thereby forming an overall "L"-shaped longitudinal section.

[0021] Furthermore, the cooling section can be configured as two cooling sections arranged symmetrically with respect to the battery housing section, such that the vaporization section can be tightly attached to two opposite surfaces of the battery housing section respectively, and the condensation section can be tightly attached to the lower surface of the battery housing section.

[0022] Furthermore, the cooling section may be configured as a single plate-shaped cooling plate, and multiple portions of the cooling plate may be bent such that some of the multiple portions define vaporization sections that are tightly attached to two opposite surfaces of the battery housing, and the remaining portions define condensation sections that are tightly attached to the lower surface of the battery housing.

[0023] Furthermore, the vaporization section can be formed on two opposite sides based on the bending area of ​​the cooling plate, and the condensation section that is in thermal contact with the coolant can be formed between the vaporization sections.

[0024] Furthermore, the vaporization section can be disposed on the side surface of the battery housing portion, and the area of ​​the side surface is relatively larger than the area of ​​the condensation section.

[0025] In addition, the cooling section can be connected to the battery housing section by brazing.

[0026] Furthermore, the cooling section can be integrated with the battery housing section.

[0027] Furthermore, the battery housing portion can be configured to accommodate a quadrangular battery cell.

[0028] According to the exemplary embodiments of the present application described above, the performance of dissipating heat from the battery cell can be improved, the fast charging time can be shortened, the high output of the battery cell can be ensured, and the cost and weight can be reduced.

[0029] The methods and apparatus of this application have other features and advantages that will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description, which are incorporated herein by reference, or will be set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description, which together serve to explain the particular principles of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a battery after the electrode stack has been separated, according to an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0031] Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of a battery after disassembly according to various exemplary embodiments of this application is shown as an example.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a battery packaged according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0033] Figure 4 This is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the flow paths formed in a battery according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0034] Figure 5 An exploded perspective view of a battery after disassembly according to various exemplary embodiments of this application is shown as an example.

[0035] Figure 6 This is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a battery packaged according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0036] Figure 7 This is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the flow paths formed in a battery according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0037] Figure 8 An exploded perspective view of a battery after disassembly according to various exemplary embodiments of this application is shown as an example.

[0038] Figure 9This is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a battery packaged according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0039] Figure 10 This is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the flow paths formed in a battery according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0040] Figure 11 This is a plan view illustrating, by way of example, the structure of the flow path formed in the refrigerant portion of a battery according to an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0041] Figure 12 This is a plan view exemplarily showing a structure in which a battery is disposed on one side of a coolant channel according to an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0042] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale, but are merely appropriately simplified depictions to illustrate the various features of the basic principles of the invention. Specific design features of the invention as included herein (including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes) will be determined in part by the specific environment in which they will be applied and used.

[0043] In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals throughout the multiple figures refer to the same or equivalent parts of the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0044] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of this application, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. Although this application will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments of this application, it should be understood that this specification is not intended to limit this application to those exemplary embodiments. On the other hand, this application is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of this application, but also various alternative embodiments, modified embodiments, equivalent embodiments and other embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of this application as defined by the appended claims.

[0045] In the following, the battery according to an exemplary embodiment of this application will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0046] However, the spirit of this application is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein but can be implemented in various different forms. At least one component element in the exemplary embodiments of this application may be selectively combined and substituted for use within the scope of the spirit of this application.

[0047] Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically and explicitly defined and stated, the terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the exemplary embodiments of this application are to be interpreted as meanings commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. The meanings of commonly used terms (e.g., terms defined in dictionaries) may be interpreted according to the contextual meaning of the relevant art.

[0048] Furthermore, the terminology used in the exemplary embodiments of this application is for the purpose of explaining the embodiments and not for limiting this application.

[0049] In this specification, unless otherwise specified, the singular form may also include the plural form. The expression “at least one (or one or more) of A, B and C” may include one or more of all possible combinations of A, B and C.

[0050] In addition, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a) and (b) may be used to describe the constituent elements of exemplary embodiments of this application.

[0051] These terms are used only to distinguish one component from another, and the nature, sequence, or order of the components are not limited by these terms.

[0052] Furthermore, when a component is referred to as “connected,” “joined,” or “attached” to another component, a component may be directly connected, joined, or attached to another component, or connected, joined, or attached to another component through another component inserted therein.

[0053] Furthermore, the expression "one component is positioned above or below another component" includes not only cases where two components are in direct contact with each other, but also cases where one or more other components are positioned or arranged between two components. The expression "above or below" can mean based on the downward or upward direction of a component.

[0054] Figure 1 This is a perspective view illustrating, by way of example, the structure of the electrode stack of a battery after separation according to an exemplary embodiment of this application. Figure 2 This is an exemplary exploded perspective view of a battery after disassembly according to various exemplary embodiments of this application. Figure 3 This is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a battery packaged according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application. Figure 4 This is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the flow paths formed in a battery according to various exemplary embodiments of this application. Figure 5This is an exemplary exploded perspective view of a battery after disassembly according to various exemplary embodiments of this application. Figure 6 This is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a battery packaged according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application. Figure 7 This is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the flow paths formed in a battery according to various exemplary embodiments of this application. Figure 8 This is an exemplary exploded perspective view of a battery after disassembly according to various exemplary embodiments of this application. Figure 9 This is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a battery packaged according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application. Figure 10 This is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the flow paths formed in a battery according to various exemplary embodiments of this application. Figure 11 This is a plan view exemplarily illustrating the structure of the flow path formed in the refrigerant section of a battery according to an exemplary embodiment of this application. Figure 12 This is a plan view of a structure in which a battery is disposed on one side of a coolant channel 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0055] As shown in these figures, a battery according to an exemplary embodiment of this application includes a battery housing portion 100 and a cooling portion 200. The battery housing portion 100 houses an electrode stack 1 including electrodes and a separator. The cooling portion 200 includes a groove 210 formed in a plate surface. The cooling portion 200 is configured to be tightly attached to the outer surface of the battery housing portion 100 and to define a flow path 220 in the space between the groove 210 and the outer surface of the battery housing portion 100, such that a refrigerant flows along the flow path 220.

[0056] like Figure 1 As shown, the electrode stack 1 can be configured as a jelly-roll type battery cell assembly, a stack-type battery cell assembly, a stack-folding type battery cell assembly, or a lamination-stack type battery cell assembly. The jelly-roll type battery cell assembly includes a structure in which a separator is located between an elongated sheet-shaped positive electrode and a negative electrode, and then the separator is wound together with the positive and negative electrodes. The stack-type battery cell assembly includes a unit cell, each unit cell including a rectangular positive electrode and a negative electrode stacked with a separator placed between them. In the stack-folding type battery cell assembly, the unit cell is wound by an elongated separator. In the lamination-stack type battery cell assembly, the unit cell is stacked with a separator placed between them, and the unit cells are attached to each other.

[0057] The electrode stack 1 is embedded in the housing. The housing typically comprises a laminated sheet structure consisting of an inner layer, a metal layer, and an outer layer.

[0058] Since the inner layer is in direct contact with the battery cell assembly, it needs to be insulating, electrolyte resistant, and sealing. The inner layer can be made of materials selected from polyolefin-based resins (such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene acrylic, polybutene, polyurethane resin, and polyimide resin).

[0059] In addition, the metal layer immediately adjacent to the inner layer is a barrier layer, configured to prevent moisture or various types of gases from permeating from the outside of the battery into its interior. Aluminum film, which is lightweight and has excellent formability, is a preferred material for this metal layer.

[0060] Furthermore, an outer layer can be disposed on the opposite surface of the metal layer. The outer layer can be made of a heat-resistant polymer (e.g., nylon or polyethylene terephthalate with excellent tensile strength, moisture resistance, and air permeability) to protect the electrode assembly and ensure heat and chemical resistance. However, this application is not limited thereto.

[0061] The battery housing portion 100 is a rectangular component and includes a predetermined internal space 110 configured to accommodate an electrode stack 1. The upper side of the battery housing portion 100 may include an opening for accommodating the electrode stack 1.

[0062] Such a battery housing 100 can be effectively made of a metal material with high thermal conductivity (e.g., aluminum) to quickly conduct heat generated during charging or discharging of the electrode stack 1 during use.

[0063] Furthermore, the cooling section 200, described below, can be configured to be tightly attached to the outer surface of the battery housing section 100, so that the interior of the flow path 220 can be smoothly formed when the flow path 220 is formed. Therefore, the outer surface of the cooling section 200 can be smoothly formed to minimize resistance to the flow of the refrigerant contained in the flow path 220.

[0064] Furthermore, preferably, the outer surface of the cooling portion 200 is formed to be flat, and the cooling portion 200 is configured to be tightly attached to the battery housing portion 100 to define the flow path 220, thereby allowing the flow path 220 to be formed on the flat surface to minimize the resistance of the refrigerant when the refrigerant flows.

[0065] Furthermore, the battery housing portion 100 is formed in a quadrilateral shape and houses the electrode stack 1 therein, so that a quadrilateral battery cell unit can be formed.

[0066] First exemplary implementation scheme

[0067] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the cooling portion 200 of the battery according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application includes a groove 210 formed in the plate surface, and the cooling portion 200 is configured to be tightly attached to the outer surface of the battery receiving portion 100 such that a flow path 220 for refrigerant flow can be formed in the space between the groove 210 and the outer surface of the battery receiving portion 100.

[0068] In other words, the cooling section 200 can be tightly attached to the battery housing section 100 that forms a quadrangular cell unit and form an integral part with the battery housing section 100.

[0069] Typically, in order to dissipate the heat generated by the electrode stack 1, the cooling section defines a sealed structure that is isolated from the outside, and one side surface of the cooling section contacts the housing containing the electrode stack to cool the housing while refrigerant flows into the cooling section.

[0070] In contrast, in the cooling section 200 of the battery according to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the battery receiving section 100 that houses the electrode stack 1 is connected to and integrally formed with the cooling plate that forms the cooling section 200, such that a flow path 220 for refrigerant flow can be formed in the cooling section 200 to cool the battery receiving section 100.

[0071] The cooling plate forming the cooling portion 200 can be connected to the battery housing portion 100 in various ways. Preferably, the cooling portion 200 of the battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application can be connected to the battery housing portion 100 by brazing and formed integrally with the battery housing portion 100.

[0072] The groove 210 can be formed to be recessed in the plate surface of the cooling section 200, such that the flow path 220 can be formed between the outer surface of the battery receiving section 100 and the cooling section 200. The grooves 210 can be formed to be linearly fluidly connected to each other, such that the flow path 220 defined by the grooves 210 can be formed to be linearly fluidly connected to each other on the entire plate surface of the cooling section 200.

[0073] Furthermore, preferably, the flow path 220 is repeatedly curved in the region of the end portion of the plate surface of the cooling section 200, such that the flow path 220 is continuously formed in the direction of the plate surface of the cooling section 200. Furthermore, preferably, the two opposite end portions of the flow path 220 can be in fluid communication with each other to define a closed loop.

[0074] In addition, the refrigerant is filled in the flow path 220 and circulates along the flow path 220 that defines a closed loop, while repeatedly condensing and vaporizing, so that the refrigerant can dissipate the heat generated by the electrode stack 1.

[0075] Reference Figure 11 and Figure 12 The process of repeated condensation and vaporization of the refrigerant contained in the flow path 220 will be described. When the heat generated by the electrode stack 1 is transferred to the battery housing portion 100, and the heat transferred to the battery housing portion 100 is transferred to the cooling portion 200, the liquid refrigerant located in the vaporization portion 201 vaporizes while absorbing heat, and the vaporized refrigerant is pushed towards the condensation portion 202 due to volume expansion.

[0076] Furthermore, the gaseous refrigerant pushed towards the condenser 202 dissipates the absorbed heat to the external coolant side and is then liquefied. The continuous pushing of the gaseous refrigerant towards the condenser 202 pushes the liquid refrigerant back to the vaporization section 201, causing the condensation and vaporization processes to repeat.

[0077] The cooling section 200 may include a vaporization section 201 and a condensation section 202. The vaporization section 201 is configured to be tightly attached to a side surface of the battery housing section 100 and to vaporize the refrigerant in the flow path 220. The condensation section 202 is configured to be tightly attached to the lower surface of the battery housing section 100 and to allow external coolant to pass through the condensation section 202 so that the refrigerant condenses in the flow path 220.

[0078] In this case, preferably, the vaporization section 201 is configured to be tightly attached to the side surface of the battery housing section 100, which includes a relatively large area, so as to maximize the area for heat exchange, thereby allowing the heat generated by the electrode stack 1 to be dissipated quickly.

[0079] The manufacturing process of the cooling section 200 can be broadly divided into two processes. In the first process, one side of a single cooling plate in the shape of a plate is bent such that a portion of the single cooling plate defines a vaporization section 201 that is tightly attached to a side surface of the battery housing section 100, and another portion of the single cooling plate defines a condensation section 202, thereby manufacturing a cooling section including an overall "L" shaped longitudinal section.

[0080] In the second process, multiple cooling plates (each of which is plate-shaped) are interconnected by brazing, such that some of the multiple cooling plates define a vaporization section 201 that is tightly attached to a side surface of the battery housing portion 100, and some of the remaining multiple cooling plates define a condensation section 202, thereby creating a cooling section that includes an overall "L"-shaped longitudinal section.

[0081] However, when multiple cooling plates are connected to each other by brazing to define the vaporization section 201 and the condensation section 202, it is necessary to perform a process to precisely align the boundary region between the vaporization section 201 and the condensation section 202 so that the groove 210 forming the flow path 220 is continuously formed in the boundary region.

[0082] Second exemplary implementation scheme

[0083] like Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the cooling portion 200 of the battery according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application includes a groove 210 formed in the plate surface, and the cooling portion 200 is configured to be tightly attached to the outer surface of the battery receiving portion 100 such that a flow path 220 for refrigerant flow can be formed in the space between the groove 210 and the outer surface of the battery receiving portion 100.

[0084] In other words, the cooling section 200 can be tightly attached to the battery housing section 100 that forms a quadrangular cell unit and form an integral part with the battery housing section 100.

[0085] The groove 210 can be formed to be recessed in the plate surface of the cooling section 200, such that the flow path 220 can be formed between the outer surface of the battery receiving section 100 and the cooling section 200. The grooves 210 can be formed to be linearly fluidly connected to each other, such that the flow path 220 defined by the grooves 210 can be formed to be linearly fluidly connected to each other on the entire plate surface of the cooling section 200.

[0086] Furthermore, preferably, the flow path 220 is repeatedly curved in the region of the end portion of the plate surface of the cooling section 200, such that the flow path 220 is continuously formed in the direction of the plate surface of the cooling section 200. Furthermore, preferably, the two opposite end portions of the flow path 220 can be in fluid communication with each other to define a closed loop.

[0087] Furthermore, the refrigerant is contained in the flow path 220 and circulates along the flow path 220 that defines a closed loop, while repeatedly condensing and vaporizing, so that the refrigerant can dissipate the heat generated by the electrode stack 1.

[0088] Reference Figure 11 and Figure 12The process of repeated condensation and vaporization of the refrigerant contained in the flow path 220 will be described. When the heat generated by the electrode stack 1 is transferred to the battery housing portion 100, and the heat transferred to the battery housing portion 100 is transferred to the cooling portion 200, the liquid refrigerant located in the vaporization portion 201 vaporizes while absorbing heat, and the vaporized refrigerant is pushed towards the condensation portion 202 due to volume expansion.

[0089] Furthermore, the gaseous refrigerant pushed towards the condenser 202 dissipates the absorbed heat to the external coolant and is then liquefied. The continuous pushing of the gaseous refrigerant towards the condenser 202 pushes the liquid refrigerant back to the vaporization section 201, causing the condensation and vaporization processes to repeat.

[0090] The cooling section 200 is configured as two cooling sections 200 arranged symmetrically with respect to the battery housing section 100, such that the vaporization section 201 can be tightly attached to two opposite surfaces of the battery housing section 100 respectively, and the condensation section 202 can be tightly attached to the lower surface of the battery housing section 100.

[0091] In this case, preferably, the vaporization section 201 is configured to be tightly attached to the side surface of the battery housing section 100, which includes a relatively large area, so as to maximize the area for heat exchange, thereby allowing the heat generated by the electrode stack 1 to be dissipated quickly.

[0092] Third Exemplary Implementation

[0093] like Figure 8 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the cooling portion 200 of the battery according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application includes a groove 210 formed in the plate surface, and the cooling portion 200 is configured to be tightly attached to the outer surface of the battery receiving portion 100 such that a flow path 220 for refrigerant flow can be formed in the space between the groove 210 and the outer surface of the battery receiving portion 100.

[0094] In other words, the cooling section 200 can be tightly attached to the battery housing section 100 that forms a quadrangular cell unit and form an integral part with the battery housing section 100.

[0095] The groove 210 can be formed to be recessed in the plate surface of the cooling section 200, such that the flow path 220 can be formed between the outer surface of the battery receiving section 100 and the cooling section 200. The grooves 210 can be formed to be linearly fluidly connected to each other, such that the flow path 220 defined by the grooves 210 can be formed to be linearly fluidly connected to each other on the entire plate surface of the cooling section 200.

[0096] Furthermore, preferably, the flow path 220 is repeatedly curved in the region of the end portion of the plate surface of the cooling section 200, such that the flow path 220 is continuously formed in the direction of the plate surface of the cooling section 200. Furthermore, preferably, the two opposite end portions of the flow path 220 can be in fluid communication with each other to define a closed loop.

[0097] Furthermore, the refrigerant is contained in the flow path 220 and circulates along the flow path 220 that defines a closed loop, while repeatedly condensing and vaporizing, so that the refrigerant can dissipate the heat generated by the electrode stack 1.

[0098] Reference Figure 11 and Figure 12 The process of repeated condensation and vaporization of the refrigerant contained in the flow path 220 will be described. When the heat generated by the electrode stack 1 is transferred to the battery housing portion 100, and the heat transferred to the battery housing portion 100 is transferred to the cooling portion 200, the liquid refrigerant located in the vaporization portion 201 vaporizes while absorbing heat, and the vaporized refrigerant is pushed towards the condensation portion 202 due to volume expansion.

[0099] Furthermore, the gaseous refrigerant pushed towards the condenser 202 dissipates the absorbed heat to the external coolant and is then liquefied. The continuous pushing of the gaseous refrigerant towards the condenser 202 pushes the liquid refrigerant back to the vaporization section 201, causing the condensation and vaporization processes to repeat.

[0100] The cooling section 200 is configured as two cooling sections 200 arranged symmetrically with respect to the battery housing section 100, such that the vaporization section 201 can be tightly attached to two opposite surfaces of the battery housing section 100 respectively, and the condensation section 202 can be tightly attached to the lower surface of the battery housing section 100.

[0101] In this case, preferably, the vaporization section 201 is configured to be tightly attached to the side surface of the battery housing section 100, which includes a relatively large area, so as to maximize the area for heat exchange, thereby allowing the heat generated by the electrode stack 1 to be dissipated quickly.

[0102] The manufacturing process of the cooling section 200 can be broadly divided into two processes. In the first process, multiple portions of a single cooling plate in the shape of a plate are bent such that some of the portions define vaporization portions 201 that are tightly attached to two opposite surfaces of the battery housing portion 100, and some of the remaining portions define condensation portions 202 that are tightly attached to the lower surface of the battery housing portion 100, thereby manufacturing the cooling section.

[0103] In the second process, three cooling plates (each plate-shaped) are connected to each other by brazing so that they are perpendicular to each other, such that some of the three cooling plates define vaporization portions 201 that are tightly attached to two opposite surfaces of the battery housing portion 100, and other cooling plates define condensation portions 202 that are tightly attached to the lower surface of the battery housing portion 100, thereby creating a cooling section.

[0104] However, as in various exemplary embodiments of this application, when three cooling plates are connected to each other by mutual brazing to make them perpendicular to each other, thereby defining the vaporization section 201 and the condensation section 202, it is necessary to perform a process to precisely align the boundary region between the vaporization section 201 and the condensation section 202 so that the groove 210 forming the flow path 220 is continuously formed in the boundary region.

[0105] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present application configured as described above, the performance of dissipating heat from the battery cell can be improved, the fast charging time can be shortened, the high output of the battery cell can be ensured, and the cost and weight can be reduced.

[0106] In exemplary embodiments of this application, a vehicle may be referred to as a concept encompassing various means of transportation. In some cases, a vehicle may be interpreted as a concept that includes not only various land vehicles that travel on roads, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses, but also various other means of transportation such as airplanes, drones, and ships.

[0107] For ease of interpretation and precise definition of the appended claims, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “outer,” “above,” “below,” “upward,” “downward,” “front,” “back,” “inner side,” “outer side,” “inward,” “outer,” “internal,” “external,” “inner,” “external,” “forward,” and “backward” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of these features shown in the accompanying drawings. It will be further understood that the term “connection” or its derivatives refer to both direct and indirect connections between the two.

[0108] The term “or” as used in this application shall be interpreted as meaning “otherwise or alternatively”.

[0109] The term "and / or" can include a combination of multiple related enumerations or any one of multiple related enumerations. For example, "A and / or B" includes all three cases such as "A", "B", and "A and B".

[0110] In an exemplary embodiment of this application, "at least one of A and B" may refer to "at least one of A or B" or "at least one of a combination of at least one of A and B". Furthermore, "one or more of A and B" may refer to "one or more of A or B" or "one or more of a combination of one or more of A and B".

[0111] In this specification, unless otherwise stated, singular expressions include plural expressions.

[0112] The terminology used to describe exemplary embodiments is for describing predetermined embodiments and is not intended to limit the embodiments. As used in the description and claims of exemplary embodiments, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” also include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The expression “and / or” is used to include all possible combinations of the terms.

[0113] In exemplary embodiments of this application, it should be understood that terms such as “comprising” or “having” are intended to indicate the presence of features, values, steps, operations, elements, components or combinations thereof described in the specification, without excluding the possibility of adding or having one or more other features, values, steps, operations, elements, components or combinations thereof.

[0114] As used herein, conditional expressions such as “if” and “when” are not limited to optional cases, and are intended to be interpreted as performing the relevant operation or interpreting the relevant definition based on the predetermined condition when the predetermined condition is met.

[0115] Terms such as the first and second can be used to describe various elements of the embodiments. However, the various components according to the exemplary embodiments should not be limited by the terms described above. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.

[0116] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, components may be combined with each other to form a single unit, or some components may be omitted.

[0117] The foregoing description presenting specific exemplary embodiments of this application is for illustrative and descriptive purposes. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit this application to the precise forms disclosed, and it will be apparent that many modifications and alterations can be made based on the foregoing teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described to explain the specific principles of the invention and its practical application, enabling others skilled in the art to implement and utilize various exemplary embodiments of this application, as well as various alternatives and modifications. The scope of this application is intended to be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A battery comprising: The battery housing includes an electrode stack comprising electrodes and a separator; as well as A cooling section includes a groove formed in the plate surface of the cooling section, the cooling section being attached to the outer surface of the battery housing section, and defining a flow path in the space between the groove and the outer surface of the battery housing section, such that refrigerant flows along the flow path.

2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein, The flow path is arranged in a region of repeated bending at the end portion of the plate surface of the cooling section, such that the flow path is continuously formed in the direction of the plate surface of the cooling section, and the first and second opposite end portions of the flow path are in fluid communication with each other to define a closed loop.

3. The battery according to claim 2, wherein, The cooling section includes: A vaporization section, attached to at least one side surface of the battery housing portion, causes the refrigerant to vaporize in the flow path; and A condenser section is attached to the lower surface of the battery housing to allow refrigerant to condense.

4. The battery according to claim 3, wherein, The coolant flows over the condenser section so that the refrigerant condenses in the flow path.

5. The battery according to claim 3, wherein, The cooling section is configured with a single plate-shaped cooling plate, and the cooling plate is bent such that a first portion of the cooling plate defines a vaporization section attached to a side surface of the battery housing, and a second portion of the cooling plate defines a condensation section attached to the lower surface of the battery housing, thereby forming an overall "L"-shaped longitudinal section.

6. The battery according to claim 3, wherein, The cooling section is composed of a plurality of cooling plates, each of which is plate-shaped and interconnected by brazing, such that some of the cooling plates define a vaporization section attached to a side surface of the battery housing, and the remaining cooling plates define a condensation section, thereby forming an overall "L"-shaped longitudinal section.

7. The battery according to claim 5 or 6, wherein, The cooling section is configured as two cooling sections arranged symmetrically with respect to the battery housing section, such that the vaporization section of the two cooling sections is attached to two opposite surfaces of the battery housing section, and the condensation section of the two cooling sections is attached to the lower surface of the battery housing section.

8. The battery according to claim 4, wherein, The cooling section is configured with a single cooling plate in the form of a plate, and multiple portions of the cooling plate are bent such that some of the multiple portions define vaporization portions attached to two opposite surfaces of the battery housing portion, and the remaining portions define condensation portions attached to the lower surface of the battery housing portion.

9. The battery according to claim 8, wherein, The vaporization section is formed on two opposite sides based on the bending area of ​​the cooling plate, and the condensation section that is in thermal contact with the coolant is formed between the vaporization sections.

10. The battery according to claim 3, wherein, The vaporization section is disposed on the side surface of the battery housing section, and the area of ​​the side surface is relatively larger than the area of ​​the condensation section.

11. The battery according to claim 1, wherein, The cooling section is connected to the battery housing section by brazing.

12. The battery according to claim 11, wherein, The cooling section and the battery housing section are integrated into one unit.

13. The battery according to claim 11, wherein, The battery housing is configured to accommodate a quadrangular battery cell.

14. The battery according to claim 1, further comprising a coolant channel disposed in the cooling section.

15. The battery according to claim 1, wherein, The groove is formed as a recess in the plate surface of the cooling section, such that a flow path is formed between the outer surface of the battery housing section and the cooling section.

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