energy storage unit

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy storage unit (10) comprising a battery unit (12) and an insulation unit (14), wherein the battery unit (12) is configured to store, absorb and / or release electrical energy, wherein the energy storage unit (10) is arrangeable on a delimiting element (16) such that a predetermined force is exerted on the battery unit (12), wherein the insulation unit (14) is arranged between the battery unit (12) and the delimiting element (16), wherein the insulation unit (14) is configured to reduce a heat flow between the battery unit (12) and the delimiting element (16).

Description

Background Technology

[0001] This invention relates to an energy storage unit, a method for manufacturing an energy storage unit, and a vehicle.

[0002] There are currently numerous different solutions available for building battery systems in the vehicle sector. The increasing number of battery systems due to traffic transformation and rising performance demands has led to a growing need for innovative and robust battery systems.

[0003] In the vehicle manufacturing sector, the ongoing pursuit of lightweighting aimed at reducing fuel consumption, coupled with intensified competition, has led to cost pressures and increased demand for cheaper and more efficient vehicle components. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments based on the present invention can provide improved energy storage units. The present invention is defined by the independent claims. For beneficial improvements to the invention, please refer to the dependent claims and the description below.

[0005] An advantage of the energy storage unit having the features of claim 1 is that, by means of the insulating unit, the thermal conductivity of the outer side of the battery cell can be significantly reduced, thereby making the temperature distribution within the battery cell as uniform as possible. Preferably, the battery cell has multiple battery cells, wherein said battery cells have insulating units attached to the frame and / or defining elements of the battery cell, thereby reducing heat flow between the battery cell with the insulating unit and adjacent non-battery cell assemblies. Another advantage is that the battery cells in the edge regions of the battery cell preferably have insulating units, so that the internal battery cells of the battery cell can be substantially without insulating units, which helps to reduce the manufacturing cost of the battery cell. Preferably, the battery cells can be in an expanded state due to aging and / or charging, and the contact area between the battery cell and the frame elements is reduced due to the resulting protrusions. Preferably, the defining elements that can be attached to the frame elements can provide the necessary stiffness, thereby giving the energy storage unit high mechanical stiffness, while the insulating units can prevent heat flow. More preferably, the insulating units can be implemented in a particularly thin manner, thereby reducing the required additional structural space. Another advantage is that electrical insulation can be achieved between the battery cell and the limiting element or similar component using the insulating unit. Another advantage is that the presence of the insulating unit reduces the impact of external temperature on the battery cell. A further advantage is that heat from the battery cell is largely not transferred to the limiting element.

[0006] The present invention achieves the above advantages by comprising an energy storage unit including a battery unit and an insulation unit, wherein the battery unit is configured to store, absorb and / or release electrical energy, wherein the energy storage unit may be disposed on a defining element to apply a predetermined force to the battery unit, wherein the insulation unit is disposed between the battery unit and the defining element, and wherein the insulation unit is configured to reduce the heat flow between the battery unit and the defining element.

[0007] In other words, by means of insulating units, the heat input to and from the battery cell via the defining element (on which the energy storage unit is attached) can be reduced or minimized, thereby making the temperature of the battery cell, and particularly the individual cells of the battery cell, as uniform as possible. Preferably, the battery cell comprises at least three generally parallel electrochemical cells, wherein the insulating units are preferably disposed on the first and third cells. Preferably, the first and third cells are attached to the defining element. Preferably, the defining element is part of the housing wall or module housing, and / or the outer wall of the battery system. Preferably, the energy storage unit is mechanically clamped in the vehicle, particularly on its side. To keep the temperature within the battery cells of the energy storage unit substantially constant, insulating units are preferably disposed between the battery cells and the frame element or between the battery cells and the defining element. This reduces, and in particular minimizes, the heat flow between the battery cells and their surrounding environment. For example, the heat flow between the battery cells and the defining element can be reduced, or the thermal conductivity on the defining element can be reduced to below 0.1 W / m². -1 K -1 .

[0008] The dependent claims disclose preferred improvements of the invention.

[0009] Preferably, the battery cell includes a separator layer, wherein the first elastic modulus of the separator layer is less than the second elastic modulus of the insulating cell.

[0010] The advantage of this implementation is that the separator is softer than the insulating unit, allowing the separator to adapt to changes in the volume of the battery cell. In this case, the insulating unit is also rigid, thus possessing extremely high pressure stability.

[0011] More preferably, the battery cell has an outer side, wherein the insulating unit is disposed on the outer side of the battery cell.

[0012] The advantage of this implementation is that the outer side of the energy storage unit can provide high mechanical stiffness, for example, its compression ratio under a 1MPa load is < 10%, thereby improving the stiffness of the energy storage unit.

[0013] More preferably, the insulating unit is disposed on the battery unit by means of a material bonding connection.

[0014] The advantage of this implementation is that the insulating unit can be constructed independently for attachment to the battery cell. Preferably, the insulating unit can be installed on the battery cell by spraying.

[0015] Preferably, the insulating unit is configured to substantially electrically insulate the battery unit from the defining element.

[0016] The advantage is that by integrating the electrical insulation function into the insulation unit, there is no need to add other components for insulation, or the insulation performance can be improved.

[0017] More preferably, the insulating unit forms at least one insulating structure, particularly a protrusion, on the battery cell.

[0018] The advantage of this implementation is that it can further reduce the manufacturing cost of the energy storage unit because insulating structures such as bumps, hemispheres, cylinders, truncated cones, hyperboloids, or similar shapes can be applied to the battery unit by means of injection molding or similar methods.

[0019] Preferably, the insulating unit comprises a plurality of strips, wherein the plurality of strips form a grid structure.

[0020] The advantage of this implementation is that the grid structure composed of multiple strips is easily adjustable according to the specific dimensions of the energy storage unit, because the grid structure can exist as a semi-finished product, requiring only cutting. The grid structure can be, for example, a mesh, an open-weave fabric or nonwoven fabric, a honeycomb grid, a grid with cross-layers, or a similar structure. For fiber-based web materials, such as woven, knitted, or nonwoven fabrics, it may be advantageous that the number of fiber layers does not exceed the thickness of the defining element. With a larger number of layers, compressibility may increase. When using fiber-containing materials, the anisotropy of the fibers should be taken into account so that they always extend along the layer plane.

[0021] More preferably, the grid density of the grid structure is between 10% and 50%, and more preferably between 10% and 30%.

[0022] The advantage of this implementation is that it can absorb predetermined forces or tension through the plurality of strips, while simultaneously providing a thermal insulation effect through the grid structure. The strips may have circular and / or elliptical cross-sections, such that the contact surface between the battery cell and the grid structure is defined by a small number of fine lines, implying higher thermal contact resistance. If the intersections of the grid are emphasized three-dimensionally (atomic grid model: atoms as large spheres connected by thin rods), the contact resistance between the insulating unit and the battery cell or defining element can be further reduced.

[0023] More preferably, the plurality of strips form a first layer and a second layer, wherein the insulating unit includes a first carrier film, wherein the first carrier film is disposed between the first layer and the second layer.

[0024] The advantage of this implementation is that the heat flow between the battery cell and the frame elements or the surrounding air is further reduced by means of the carrier film. When the strip has a circular or elliptical cross-section, there can be only point contact between the first and second layers. Furthermore, a sandwich structure can be manufactured, consisting of two insulating structures that contact each other only at a few intersections, for example, two honeycomb structure layers stacked without overlapping.

[0025] Preferably, the insulating unit includes a second carrier film and a third carrier film, wherein the second carrier film is disposed on a first side of the plurality of strips, and wherein the third carrier film is disposed on a second side of the plurality of strips.

[0026] The advantage of this implementation is that it can further simplify the manufacturing process of the insulating unit, because a grid structure containing multiple strips can be formed first, and then a carrier film can be applied to both sides.

[0027] More preferably, the second carrier membrane is configured to form a material-bonded connection with the defining element.

[0028] The advantage of this embodiment is that the second carrier film may have an adhesive layer for securing the insulating unit to the defining element. Particularly advantageous is that the insulating unit is provided as a complete unit on the production line for connection to the defining element at that point.

[0029] Preferably, the insulating unit comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of at least the following substances: thermoplastics, thermosetting plastics, polyphenylene sulfide, polyimide, and / or polyester.

[0030] The material may also include fillers that provide mechanical reinforcement, such as glass fibers. This allows for the formation of thinner spacers.

[0031] The advantage of this implementation is that by selecting materials specifically according to the specific use of the energy storage unit, the insulation unit can be endowed with targeted characteristics.

[0032] More preferably, the insulating unit comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of at least the following substances: natural building materials, wood and / or cork.

[0033] More preferably, the insulating unit has a predetermined geometry, wherein the predetermined geometry is configured to resist the predetermined force.

[0034] The advantage of this implementation is that the tension force can be absorbed by the insulating unit, and the geometry of the insulating unit, such as the cross-section or similar shape, can be adjusted so that the resistance of the insulating unit corresponds to the predetermined force, thereby further reducing the amount of material required.

[0035] Furthermore, preferably, the insulating unit does not cover the entire surface of the battery cell and / or the defining element. A frame, for example, is preferred, wherein the frame is constructed of the aforementioned grid structure. A multi-layered construction is also preferred, wherein the first and second layers have different areas. The first layer, for example, can completely cover the surface of the battery cell, while the second layer covers a portion of the first layer.

[0036] Another aspect of the invention relates to a battery system comprising an energy storage unit as described above and below, wherein the battery system further comprises a frame element, wherein the frame element is configured to provide at least one defining element, wherein an insulating unit of the energy storage unit is disposed between the defining element and the battery cell of the energy storage unit, thereby reducing heat flow between the battery cell and the defining element.

[0037] More preferably, efficient thermal management is crucial for battery systems or accumulator systems comprising multiple individual cells. To prevent the individual cells in a accumulator system from aging at different rates, the temperature distribution difference between cells is typically less than 4 Kelvin. In particular, the temperature of the outermost cells in a accumulator system may be much lower than that of the cells inside the system due to heat output to the surrounding environment (e.g., module housing or battery housing). Furthermore, outer cells are more susceptible to radiation from external heat sources, such as hot ground.

[0038] More preferably, the insulating unit is disposed on the defining element by means of a material bonding connection.

[0039] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an energy storage unit, comprising the following steps: - Provides battery units - An insulating unit is disposed between the battery cell and the defining element.

[0040] The advantage of this implementation is that the energy storage unit can adopt a modular structure, thereby improving manufacturing costs and enhancing the adaptability of the energy storage unit.

[0041] More preferably, setting the insulating unit further includes the following steps: - An insulating structure is formed on the battery cell to provide at least a portion of the insulating cell.

[0042] The advantage of this implementation is that it can further simplify the manufacturing of energy storage units because it can form a defined element with an insulating structure substantially simultaneously.

[0043] Another aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle that includes an energy storage unit as described above and below.

[0044] It should also be noted that the concept of a unit should be understood in a broad sense here, and it includes both integrated construction schemes and separate construction schemes of the corresponding unit, in which the corresponding unit does not need to be set in one location in the vehicle, but can also be distributed in the vehicle.

[0045] All disclosures described above and below in conjunction with one aspect of the invention are equally applicable to all other aspects of the invention.

[0046] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherein: Figures 1 to 3f An energy storage unit according to one embodiment is shown. Figure 4 and Figure 5 This is a flowchart used to illustrate the steps of a method according to one embodiment.

[0047] Figure 6 A vehicle according to one embodiment is shown.

[0048] Figure 7 A battery system according to one embodiment is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0049] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not drawn to scale. In the drawings, identical, equivalent, or similar elements may be labeled with the same reference numerals.

[0050] Figure 1An energy storage unit 10 according to one embodiment is shown. The energy storage unit 10 preferably includes a battery unit 12 and an insulation unit 14. The battery unit 12 is preferably configured to store, absorb, and / or release electrical energy, wherein the energy storage unit 10 may be disposed on a defining element 16 to apply a predetermined force to the battery unit 12, wherein the insulation unit 14 is disposed between the battery unit 12 and the defining element 16, and wherein the insulation unit 14 is configured to reduce heat flow between the battery unit 12 and the defining element 16. Figure 1 As shown, the insulating unit 14 of the energy storage unit 10 is preferably attached to the defining element 16 (particularly of the vehicle 200), such that a predetermined force 13 acts on the insulating unit 14 or the energy storage unit 10. An insulating unit 14 is preferably provided between the battery unit 12 and the defining element 16. Figure 1 As shown, defining elements 16 may be formed on both sides of the battery cell 12, with an insulating unit 14 abutting against each defining element 16. More preferably, the battery cell 12 includes a separator layer 15, which may be disposed between two battery cells of the battery cell 12.

[0051] Figure 2a An energy storage unit 10 according to one embodiment is shown. The energy storage unit 10 preferably includes an insulating unit 14. The insulating unit 14 preferably includes a plurality of strips 18 for forming a grid structure.

[0052] Figure 2b An energy storage unit 10 according to one embodiment is shown. The energy storage unit 10 preferably includes an insulating unit 14. The insulating unit 14 includes a plurality of strips 18. For example... Figure 2b As shown, the insulating unit 14 preferably includes a grid structure composed of a plurality of strips 18 arranged in a cross-layered manner.

[0053] Figure 2c An energy storage unit 10 according to one embodiment is shown. The energy storage unit 10 preferably includes an insulating layer. The insulating layer includes a plurality of strips 18. The plurality of strips 18 preferably form a first layer 20 and a second layer 22, wherein a first carrier film 24 is provided between the first layer 20 and the second layer 22.

[0054] Figure 2d An energy storage unit 10 according to one embodiment is shown. The energy storage unit 10 preferably includes a defining element 16, on which insulating units 14 are disposed, particularly by means of material bonding. Figure 2d As shown, the insulating unit 14 preferably forms an insulating structure 17 on the battery unit 12, for example by spraying protrusions or similar structures onto the battery unit 12.

[0055] Figure 2e An energy storage unit 10 according to one embodiment is shown. The energy storage unit 10 preferably includes an insulating unit 14, wherein an insulating structure 17 is preferably formed on the battery unit 12. A first carrier membrane 24 may be provided between the insulating structure 17 and the battery unit 12.

[0056] Figure 2f An embodiment of the energy storage unit 10 is shown. The energy storage unit 10 preferably includes an insulating unit 14. The insulating unit 14 includes a plurality of strips 18. Preferably, a second carrier film 26 is provided on a first side of the plurality of strips 18, and a third carrier film 28 is provided on a second side of the plurality of strips 18. Preferably, the second carrier film 26 is capable of forming a material bonding connection, such as an adhesive connection with the battery unit 12.

[0057] Figure 3a An embodiment of the energy storage unit 10 is shown. The energy storage unit 10 preferably includes an insulating unit 14. The insulating unit 14 includes a plurality of strips 18, for example, to form a honeycomb grid structure.

[0058] Figure 3b An energy storage unit 10 according to one embodiment is shown. The energy storage unit 10 preferably includes an insulating unit 14. The insulating unit 14 includes a plurality of strips 18, which are capable of forming a grid structure in a cross-layered manner.

[0059] Figure 3c An energy storage unit 10 according to one embodiment is shown. The energy storage unit 10 preferably includes an insulating unit 14. The insulating unit 14 includes a plurality of strips 18. For example... Figure 3c As shown, the plurality of strips 18 preferably form a first layer 20 and a second layer 22. More preferably, a first carrier membrane 24 is provided between the first layer 20 and the second layer 22.

[0060] Figure 3d An energy storage unit 10 according to one embodiment is shown. The energy storage unit 10 preferably includes an insulating unit 14. The insulating unit 14 is preferably disposed on a battery unit 12. The insulating unit 14 can form an insulating structure 17. The insulating structure 17 is, for example, a bump or a similar structure.

[0061] Figure 3e An energy storage unit 10 according to one embodiment is shown. The energy storage unit 10 preferably includes an insulating unit 14 disposed on a first carrier film 24, which is applied to the battery unit 12.

[0062] Figure 3fAn embodiment of the energy storage unit 10 is shown. The energy storage unit 10 preferably includes an insulating unit 14. The insulating unit 14 includes a plurality of strips 18. Preferably, a second carrier film 26 is provided on a first side of the plurality of strips 18, and a third carrier film 28 is provided on a second side of the plurality of strips 18.

[0063] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a method 100 for manufacturing an energy storage unit 10. Method 100 preferably includes the following steps: - Provides S1 battery unit 12 - The insulation unit 14 is positioned between the battery unit 12 and the limiting element 16 in S2.

[0064] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a method 100 according to one embodiment. Method 100 preferably includes steps related to... Figure 4 The same steps S1 and S2 are explained. More preferably, method 100 further includes the following steps: - An S3 insulation structure 17 is formed on the battery cell 12 to provide at least a portion of the insulation cell 14.

[0065] Figure 6 A vehicle 300 according to one embodiment is shown. The vehicle 300 preferably includes an energy storage unit 10 as described above and below.

[0066] Figure 7 A battery system 200 according to one embodiment is shown. The battery system 200 preferably includes an energy storage unit 10 as described above and below.

Claims

1. An energy storage unit (10), the energy storage unit (10) comprising: - Battery unit (12). - Insulation unit (14). The battery cell (12) is configured to store, absorb and / or release electrical energy, wherein the energy storage unit (10) is disposed on the defining element (16) to apply a predetermined force to the battery cell (12), wherein the insulating unit (14) is disposed between the battery cell (12) and the defining element (16), wherein the insulating unit (14) is configured to reduce the heat flow between the battery cell (12) and the defining element (16).

2. The energy storage unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the battery unit (12) includes a separator layer (15), wherein the first elastic modulus of the separator layer (15) is less than the second elastic modulus of the insulating unit (14).

3. The energy storage unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulating unit (14) is disposed on the battery unit (12) by means of a material bonding connection.

4. The energy storage unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulating unit (14) is configured to substantially electrically insulate the battery unit (12) from the defining element (16).

5. The energy storage unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulating unit (14) forms at least one insulating structure (17), particularly a protrusion, on the battery unit (12).

6. The energy storage unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulating unit (14) comprises a plurality of strips (18), wherein the plurality of strips (18) form a grid structure.

7. The energy storage unit (10) according to claim 6, wherein the grid density of the grid structure is between 10% and 50%, preferably between 10% and 30%.

8. The energy storage unit (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 7, wherein the plurality of strips (18) form a first layer (20) and a second layer (22), wherein the insulating unit (14) includes a first carrier film (24), wherein the first carrier film (24) is disposed between the first layer (20) and the second layer (22).

9. The energy storage unit (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 7, wherein the insulating unit (14) comprises a second carrier membrane (26) and a third carrier membrane (28), wherein the second carrier membrane (26) is disposed on a first side of the plurality of strips (18), and wherein the third carrier membrane (28) is disposed on a second side of the plurality of strips (18).

10. The energy storage unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulating unit (14) comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of at least thermoplastics, thermosettings, polyphenylene sulfide, polyimide and / or polyesters.

11. The energy storage unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the insulating unit (14) comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of at least natural building materials, wood and / or cork.

12. A battery system (200) comprising an energy storage unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the battery system (200) further comprises a frame element (202) configured to provide at least one defining element (16), wherein an insulating unit (16) of the energy storage unit (10) is disposed between the defining element (16) and a battery cell (12) of the energy storage unit (10) to reduce heat flow between the battery cell (12) and the defining element (16).

13. A method (100) for manufacturing an energy storage unit (10), the method (100) comprising the following steps: - Provide (S1) battery unit (12). - An insulating unit (14) is disposed (S2) between the battery unit (12) and the defining element (16).

14. The method (100) according to claim 13, wherein setting (S2) the insulating unit (14) further comprises the following step: - An insulating structure (17) is formed on the battery cell (12) to provide at least a portion of the insulating cell (14).

15. A vehicle (300) comprising an energy storage unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and / or a battery system (200) according to claim 12.

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