Mtc battery system and vehicle

Abstract

The application discloses a MTC battery system and a vehicle, the MTC battery system comprises at least one module, the module comprises a bottom plate and a plurality of battery cells, the bottom plate is connected by a liquid cooling plate and two end plates, after the two end plates are connected with the liquid cooling plate, a rectangular battery cell space is formed on at least one surface side of the liquid cooling plate, and the plurality of battery cells are stacked and placed in the battery cell space and compressed.The MTC battery system of the application provides a battery module structure suitable for vehicle MTC installation and an installation mode thereof, in particular relates to a battery module with efficient liquid cooling heat dissipation and convenient assembly characteristics, improves the convenience of installation, reduces the cost, and improves the work efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle battery system technology, and in particular to an MTC battery system and vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] In the current vehicle manufacturing field, especially in the electric vehicle industry, the requirements for battery system performance and design are continuously increasing. Traditional battery pack design involves assembling battery modules into independent battery pack structures before installing them onto the vehicle frame. This approach exposes many drawbacks: the complex internal structure of the battery pack leads to low space utilization; the large number of structural components increases the overall weight of the vehicle, which is detrimental to improving driving range and energy efficiency. Furthermore, traditional battery pack structures require custom design and development based on the vehicle body, resulting in high time and labor costs. In addition, the complex battery pack assembly process not only consumes significant manpower and time costs, but is also prone to human error during assembly, negatively impacting product quality.

[0003] With the development of battery technology and the continuous improvement of battery energy density, vehicles have increasingly stringent requirements for battery systems. As a result, people directly install battery modules onto the vehicle frame and integrate a high-efficiency liquid cooling system to form a new type of battery module (MTC, Module To Chassis, which is the integration of the module and the chassis).

[0004] For example, patent application CN202210634692X discloses a power battery module and a vehicle. In this patent, the power battery module includes an end plate, a side plate, a liquid cooling plate, and a cell assembly. The end plate is connected to the side plate, forming a space for accommodating the cell assembly. The liquid cooling plate is fixedly connected to the side plate. This allows the liquid cooling plate to be integrated into each power module, eliminating the need to install the liquid cooling plate first when installing the power module in irregular spaces and avoiding the limitations imposed by the initial liquid cooling plate installation. This allows for more flexible assembly of the power module into a battery pack. While this solution pre-assembles the side plate and battery pack, compared to the conventional assembly method of module and housing, it uses a large number of bolts for fixing, making the assembly process more cumbersome and increasing production costs.

[0005] Patent application CN2021208862789 proposes a power battery MTC system. This system utilizes a battery module mounting slot on the vehicle frame, containing a mounting channel and a locking mechanism. Lifting lugs are provided on the battery modules, allowing them to quickly enter the locking mechanism through the mounting channel, thus enabling rapid installation of the battery modules onto the frame. The liquid cooling system and high / low voltage systems are redesigned, with high-voltage and low-voltage quick-connect connectors for the high and low voltage systems, and a liquid-cooling quick-connect connector for the liquid cooling system. This allows for quick-connect connections between the battery modules and the high / low voltage and liquid cooling systems during installation onto the frame. While this solution focuses on the mounting slot and locking mechanism on the frame, achieving high / low voltage connection via quick-connect, the system contains numerous quick-connect structures, resulting in significant space consumption and poor space utilization.

[0006] Patent application CN2020213180677 proposes an MTC power battery system. The key technical features include an integrated frame and several battery modules arranged side-by-side within the integrated frame. The integrated frame is equipped with quick-connect components, and the upper part of the base plate has a sliding rail assembly that mates with the module housing and an opening that mates with the battery modules. The battery modules are equipped with a liquid cooling circuit assembly. This solution disassembles and transfers the system structural components to the modules, and the module structure is specially designed to fit the frame structure, resulting in a more complex structure.

[0007] Therefore, it is necessary to propose new and improved MTC battery systems. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings and defects of the prior art and to provide an MTC battery system and vehicle.

[0009] In another aspect, the present invention provides an MTC battery system including at least one module, the module comprising a base plate and a plurality of battery cells, the base plate being formed by connecting a liquid cooling plate and two end plates, the two end plates being connected to the liquid cooling plate to form a rectangular battery cell space on at least one surface side of the liquid cooling plate, and the plurality of battery cells being stacked and placed in the battery cell space and compressed.

[0010] Preferably, one end plate is provided with a coolant inlet and an outlet, and the other end plate is provided with an electrical connection device.

[0011] Preferably, a convex connector is arranged on one side of the liquid cooling plate along its length, and a concave connector is arranged on the other side; the convex connector and the concave connector are used for splicing and positioning connection of at least two modules.

[0012] Preferably, the end plate has a first protrusion on the bottom inner side, making the end plate L-shaped, and the two ends of the liquid cooling plate have first grooves that adapt to the first protrusion. The first protrusion and the first groove are inserted and welded to fix it, so that a cell space is formed on one surface side of the liquid cooling plate.

[0013] Preferably, the two end plates have fixing holes at preset positions on their sides away from the battery cell for fixing between modules and fixing the modules to the vehicle frame.

[0014] Preferably, the fixing hole is formed on the protrusion on the surface of the end plate, and at least one is arranged on each protrusion. There are multiple protrusions, and the axial direction of the fixing hole is perpendicular or horizontal to the flow direction of the coolant.

[0015] Preferably, the end plate has a second protrusion in the middle of the inner surface, making the end plate convex in shape. The liquid cooling plate has a second groove that adapts to the second protrusion. The second protrusion and the second groove are inserted and welded together, so that each of the two surface sides of the liquid cooling plate forms a cell space, and each cell space is arranged with a set of stacked cells.

[0016] Preferably, in the two-cell space, the upper and lower cells are arranged symmetrically along the liquid cooling plate; preferably, the bottom surface of the cell is connected to the surface of the liquid cooling plate by thermally conductive structural adhesive.

[0017] Preferably, the end plate is formed by die casting, and a coolant flow channel corresponding to and connected to the inner flow channel of the liquid cooling plate is directly formed inside the end plate.

[0018] In another aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle including the MTC battery system.

[0019] The MTC battery system of the present invention provides a battery module structure and installation method suitable for vehicle MTC installation, and particularly relates to a battery module with efficient liquid cooling and convenient assembly characteristics, which improves the ease of installation, reduces costs, and improves work efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an MTC battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is the invention Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the base plate of the MTC battery system in this embodiment.

[0022] Figure 3 This is the invention Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the liquid cooling medium flow inside the base plate of the MTC battery system in this embodiment.

[0023] Figure 4 This is the inventionFigure 1 A schematic diagram of the end plate of the base plate of the MTC battery system in this embodiment.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an MTC battery system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the MTC battery system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the MTC battery system of the present invention mounted on a vehicle.

[0027] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A magnified view of a portion of the image.

[0028] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the MTC battery system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0030] See Figures 1 to 4 As shown in the exemplary embodiment of this application, the MTC battery system includes at least one battery module 1. As shown in the figure, one of the battery modules includes a base plate 11 and a cell 12. The liquid cooling plate 11 is formed by connecting the liquid cooling plate 111 and two end plates 112 on both sides. After the end plates are connected to the liquid cooling plate, a rectangular cell space is formed on at least one surface side of the liquid cooling plate, which is of the U-shaped space structure. Multiple cells are stacked and placed in the cell space and pressed together.

[0031] In this application, the battery space of the battery module is connected by a base plate and a liquid cooling plate in a U-shape. This U-shaped structure provides a stable supporting space for the battery cells, and the sides of the U-shape can provide a certain degree of protection for the battery cells, enhancing the structural strength of the module. After the battery cells are stacked, they are placed into the U-shaped space structure by direct compression (similar to the CTP box insertion method). The structure is simple with no unnecessary parts, which can save on module material costs and labor costs during assembly.

[0032] In addition, a liquid cooling plate is installed at the bottom of the U-shaped spatial structure. As a key component for heat dissipation of the battery module, the liquid cooling plate can efficiently exchange heat with the coolant, promptly removing the heat generated by the cells during charging and discharging. Traditional designs typically use a single liquid cooling plate, resulting in a U-shaped water channel with a large temperature difference between the inlet and outlet, leading to poor temperature uniformity among the cells. In the technology of this application, each module has an individual liquid cooling plate at its bottom, which can form a parallel water channel, improving the temperature uniformity of the battery system.

[0033] In some embodiments, the side of the liquid cooling plate is a groove 1111, which extends from one end of the liquid cooling plate to the other end, and the opposite side is a matching protrusion, which can be plugged in and adapted when multiple modules are horizontally extended and connected, and is used for positioning and fixing during the assembly of modules.

[0034] In some embodiments, the end plate is provided with an inlet 1121 and an outlet 1122. Preferably, the inlet and outlet are located on the same side of the end plate, while electrical connection devices are arranged on the other side, thereby achieving water-electricity separation. The inlet and outlet of the liquid cooling plate are designed on one side of the end plate. Specifically, the coolant flows into the internal channel of the liquid cooling plate from the inlet on one side of the end plate, and after absorbing heat from the battery cell, it flows out from the outlet on the same side, forming a complete coolant circulation path, as shown by the red arrow in the figure, which indicates the flow direction or path of the liquid cooling medium. This design of water inlet and outlet on the same side facilitates the layout and connection of the coolant pipeline. The upper part and the opposite side of the end plate serve as the installation positions for electrical connection devices, used to realize the electrical connection between the battery module and the external circuit.

[0035] In some embodiments, the end plate is manufactured using a die-casting process. Die-casting enables the end plate to achieve high precision and density, ensuring its structural strength and dimensional stability. More importantly, during the die-casting process, liquid cooling channels can be directly formed inside the end plate. These liquid cooling channels are connected to the internal channels of the liquid cooling plate, forming a complete liquid cooling circulation system.

[0036] In some embodiments, the die-cast end plate is L-shaped, with a boss 1123 at the bottom extending from the front to the rear of the end plate, engaging with the groove of the bottom cold plate 111 and being welded together. Using an L-shaped end plate allows for reserved welding space. It also ensures welding precision; for example, welding two plates at a 90° angle requires angle control, while flat welding only requires controlling the flatness of the surface, making it more convenient.

[0037] In some embodiments, the two end plates have fixing holes at predetermined positions on their sides away from the battery cell for fixing between modules and fixing the modules to the vehicle frame. Exemplarily, the fixing holes are formed on protrusions on the surface of the end plates, with at least one hole on each protrusion, and there are multiple protrusions. The axial direction of the fixing holes is perpendicular or horizontal to the flow direction of the coolant. Specifically, the fixing holes include a first fixing hole 1124, a second fixing hole 1125, and a third fixing hole 1126. There are two third fixing holes 1126, symmetrically arranged on the upper part of the end plates. The first fixing holes 1124 and the second fixing holes 1125 are spaced apart and arranged in the middle of the end plates, wherein the number of fixing holes on the two end plates is symmetrically arranged.

[0038] The battery system of this application can be directly bolted to the frame via the connecting component 31 on the frame through the third fixing hole 1126 (bolt hole) on the module end plate, realizing the MTC (module to frame) assembly method, eliminating the traditional box frame, making full use of the frame space, and loading a larger amount of power in a limited space.

[0039] In this battery system, modules are positioned by the bottom groove 1111 (recessed connector) of the liquid cooling plate and the corresponding boss (protruding connector), and are bolted together by the structure of the first fixing hole 1124 and the second fixing hole 1125. The battery system's capacity can be flexibly adjusted by choosing between single-layer or double-layer cell modules, and the number of modules can be flexibly adjusted according to the vehicle frame space to meet different customer needs without additional design and cost investment, thus reducing design costs.

[0040] In some embodiments, the end plate has a second protrusion 1127 in the middle of its inner surface, making the end plate convex in shape. The liquid cooling plate has a second groove that adapts to the second protrusion. The second protrusion and the second groove are inserted and welded together, so that each of the two surface sides of the liquid cooling plate forms a cell space. Each cell space is used to arrange a set of stacked cells. In this embodiment, the end plate and the liquid cooling plate are connected to form an H-shaped structure, forming two cell spaces, one above the other. The end plate and the liquid cooling plate can be shared by two battery modules. Figure 5 As shown.

[0041] like Figure 5 As shown, in a cell module or battery system formed by two cell spaces, the upper cell and the lower cell are arranged symmetrically along the liquid cooling plate.

[0042] According to this application Figure 5 The module connection method shown can also be extended horizontally, such as... Figure 5 The two vertically arranged modules shown are then expanded horizontally to obtain... Figure 6 The battery system shown.

[0043] This application Figure 5 as well as Figure 6 The upper and lower cell layout shown can make full use of the internal space of the module and improve the energy density of the battery module. On the other hand, the inverted layout of the upper and lower cells can make fuller use of the space in the vehicle frame height and accommodate more cells. At the same time, it is also conducive to balancing the heat dissipation requirements of the upper and lower cells, ensuring the temperature uniformity of the entire battery module, and improving the performance and lifespan of the battery module.

[0044] In particular, in this application, when the module is a double-layer cell, the lower cell is inverted and each module is equipped with a separate liquid cooling plate at the bottom, which can form a parallel water circuit. Multiple cold plates are connected in parallel instead of sharing a single cold plate, thereby improving the temperature uniformity of the battery system.

[0045] In this application, regardless of Figure 1 The module shown is or Figure 5 In the module shown, the bottom surface of the battery cell is connected to the surface of the liquid cooling plate through thermally conductive structural adhesive.

[0046] When assembling the battery module of this application, the groove 1111 on the side of the liquid cooling plate is first aligned with the boss on the other side for positioning, and thermally conductive structural adhesive can be applied to strengthen the structure. The modules are then fixed together using bolts or other fasteners through the first fixing hole 1124 (threaded hole) and the second fixing hole 1125 (through hole). The end plates on both sides of the module have the function of being directly fixed to the vehicle frame. For example, a third fixing hole 1126 is provided on the end plate, which is a bolt hole, allowing for a stable connection between the battery module and the connecting piece 31 on the vehicle frame through bolt tightening. This direct fixing method eliminates the traditional step of first installing the battery module into the battery box and then installing the battery box into the vehicle frame, simplifying the assembly process. Furthermore, increasing or decreasing the battery system capacity only requires adjusting the stacking number of battery modules, without requiring additional design or cost investment.

[0047] After the modules are assembled, the stacked modules are connected by connecting parts 31 (such as L-shaped connecting pieces or connecting plates, etc.). Figure 8 (As shown) Connect the fixing holes on the end plate with bolts and install it to the frame 4. After assembly, install the protective cover 2 and the first lower protective cover 3 (single-layer battery cell, such as...) on the upper and lower parts of the frame. Figure 7 (as shown) or upper protection 2 and a second lower protection cover 5 with a box-type structure of preset depth (double-layer cell, such as Figure 9 As shown, the protective cover provides simple insulation and sealing without requiring excessive structural strength, saving on traditional enclosure frames, increasing energy density, and reducing material costs. The protective cover can be sealed using adhesive or traditional bolts / sealing foam and connected to the vehicle frame to complete the battery system installation.

[0048] As can be seen from the above description, the battery system of this application, by abandoning the traditional independent battery pack structure and directly installing the battery module onto the vehicle frame, fully utilizes the internal and surrounding space of the vehicle frame, significantly reduces the space occupied by the internal structural components of the battery pack, significantly improves space utilization, and creates more possibilities for increasing battery capacity or laying out other vehicle components.

[0049] The battery system described in this application reduces the overall weight of the vehicle by eliminating many structural components found in traditional battery packs. A lightweight vehicle body reduces energy consumption during driving, improves energy efficiency, and thus effectively increases driving range.

[0050] The battery system of this application integrates a liquid cooling system onto the module, enabling efficient heat dissipation directly from the battery module. Compared to traditional battery systems where the entire system operates in a single cycle, the shorter cycle path optimizes heat dissipation, ensuring that the heat generated during charging and discharging is quickly dissipated, maintaining the battery within a suitable temperature range, effectively slowing down battery aging, and extending battery life.

[0051] Compared to the traditional method of assembling the battery pack first and then installing it onto the vehicle frame, the battery system of this application directly installs the battery module onto the vehicle frame, reducing multiple assembly steps, simplifying the process, reducing labor and time costs during assembly, and reducing quality problems that may be caused by too many assembly steps.

[0052] The battery system described in this application adopts a module-by-module stacking installation method, which allows for flexible adjustment of the number and layout of battery modules according to the vehicle length, easily adapting to various vehicle designs of different lengths. Vehicles of different lengths and capacities can all achieve customized battery system configurations by adding or removing modules, greatly improving the versatility and scalability of the battery system across different vehicle models.

[0053] An embodiment of this application further provides a vehicle including the aforementioned MTC battery system. The connection method and structure of the MTC battery system to the vehicle frame are as follows: Figures 7-9 As shown, please refer to the relevant instructions; further explanation is not required here.

[0054] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the above exemplary embodiments, and that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or basic features of the present invention.

[0055] Therefore, the embodiments should be regarded as exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of the equivalents of the claims be included within the invention.

[0056] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An MTC battery system, characterized in that, It includes at least one module, the module comprising a base plate and multiple battery cells, the base plate being composed of a liquid cooling plate and two end plates connected together, the two end plates being connected to the liquid cooling plate to form a rectangular battery cell space on at least one surface side of the liquid cooling plate, and the multiple battery cells being stacked and placed in the battery cell space and compressed.

2. The MTC battery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end plate is provided with a coolant inlet and an outlet, and the other end plate is provided with electrical connection devices.

3. The MTC battery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, A convex connector is arranged on one side of the liquid cooling plate along its length, and a concave connector is arranged on the other side; the convex connector and the concave connector are used for splicing and positioning connection of at least two modules.

4. The MTC battery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end plate has a first protrusion on the bottom inner side, making the end plate L-shaped. The liquid cooling plate has a first groove at both ends that matches the first protrusion. The first protrusion and the first groove are inserted and welded together, so that a cell space is formed on one surface side of the liquid cooling plate.

5. The MTC battery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two end plates have fixing holes at preset positions on their sides away from the battery cell for fixing between modules and fixing the modules to the vehicle frame.

6. The MTC battery system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The fixing hole is formed on the protrusion on the surface of the end plate, and at least one protrusion is arranged on each protrusion. There are multiple protrusions, and the axial direction of the fixing hole is perpendicular or horizontal to the flow direction of the coolant.

7. The MTC battery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end plate has a second protrusion in the middle of its inner surface, making the end plate convex in shape. The liquid cooling plate has a second groove that fits the second protrusion. The second protrusion and the second groove are inserted and welded together, so that each of the two surface sides of the liquid cooling plate forms a cell space, and each cell space is arranged with a set of stacked cells.

8. The MTC battery system according to claim 7, characterized in that, In the two-cell space, the upper and lower cells are arranged symmetrically along the liquid cooling plate; preferably, the bottom surface of the cell is connected to the surface of the liquid cooling plate by thermally conductive structural adhesive.

9. The MTC battery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end plate is formed by die casting, and the coolant flow channel corresponding to the flow channel inside the liquid cooling plate is directly formed inside the end plate.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the MTC battery system according to any one of claims 1-9.

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