A battery assembly and a vehicle

Abstract

This application relates to a battery assembly, including a battery cell array and electrical components; a first cooling assembly disposed on one side of the battery cell array for cooling the battery cell array; a second cooling assembly disposed on the other side of the battery cell array for cooling the battery cell array; and an electrical cooling assembly for cooling the electrical components in the battery assembly; wherein the liquid outlets of the first and second cooling assemblies are both connected to the electrical cooling assembly, so that coolant from the first and second cooling assemblies flows through the electrical cooling assembly and exchanges heat with the electrical components. By utilizing the coolant after heat exchange with the battery cells to further heat the electrical components, liquid cooling of the electrical components is achieved without adding an independent cooling circuit, thereby reducing the number of additional pipes, joints, and cooling interfaces; simultaneously, the remaining heat exchange capacity of the coolant is further utilized. This application also provides a vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of power battery thermal management technology, and in particular to a battery module and vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of electrification equipment such as new energy vehicles and energy storage systems, the energy density and power density of power battery systems are constantly increasing, and the heat generated by battery modules during charging and discharging is also increasing. In order to ensure the working performance and service life of battery cells, cooling structures are usually installed inside the battery modules to control the temperature and temperature uniformity of the battery cells.

[0003] In existing battery modules, cooling systems are typically designed primarily for heat dissipation from the battery cells. This is achieved through methods such as liquid cooling plates, cooling pipes, or cooling components placed between adjacent battery cells to exchange heat with the cells and remove the heat generated during operation. However, in power battery systems, in addition to the battery cells, electrical components such as the Battery Disconnect Unit (BDU), Direct Current to Direct Current Converter (DCDC), and On-Board Charger (OBC) also continuously generate heat during operation. When the heat generated by these electrical components accumulates to a certain level, it may affect their operational stability and lifespan.

[0004] To address the heat dissipation requirements of the aforementioned electrical components, existing technologies typically employ methods such as setting up independent cooling circuits, adding dedicated liquid cooling plates, or utilizing additional piping for cooling. While these methods can meet the heat dissipation requirements of the electrical components, they often necessitate additional flow path structures, connecting pipes, and heat exchange components, increasing system complexity and occupying limited installation space within the battery pack. Furthermore, the coolant in the battery cell after heat exchange is usually returned directly to the external circulation system, leaving its remaining heat exchange capacity unutilized, resulting in low cooling resource utilization. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One object of this application is to provide a battery assembly and vehicle that at least solves the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, some embodiments of this application provide a battery assembly, including a battery cell array and electrical components; further comprising:

[0007] The first cooling component is located on one side of the battery cell array and is used to cool the battery cell array.

[0008] The second cooling component is located on the other side of the battery cell array and is used to cool the battery cell array.

[0009] Electrical cooling components, used to cool electrical parts;

[0010] The liquid outlets of the first and second cooling components are both connected to the electrical cooling component, so that the coolant from the first and second cooling components flows through the electrical cooling component and exchanges heat with the electrical components.

[0011] Optionally, the electrical cooling assembly has a first heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel corresponding to the first cooling assembly and the second cooling assembly, respectively; wherein the first heat exchange channel and the second heat exchange channel exchange heat with the electrical components.

[0012] Therefore, the coolant from the first and second cooling components, after entering the electrical cooling component, can flow along their respective heat exchange channels and participate in the heat dissipation of the electrical components, avoiding the immediate mixing of the two coolants upon entering the electrical cooling component and thus preventing uneven flow distribution. By having the two coolants handle heat exchange separately, the utilization rate of the heat exchange area inside the electrical cooling component can be improved, and the impact of mutual interference between the two cooling paths on heat exchange stability can be reduced.

[0013] Optionally, the first heat exchange channel and the second heat exchange channel converge within the electrical cooling assembly and then exit through the same outlet.

[0014] Therefore, the two coolant streams can merge inside the electrical cooling assembly after completing heat exchange with the electrical components, and then be discharged from the same outlet, reducing the need for external manifolds and connection interfaces. This structure allows the electrical cooling assembly to perform both heat exchange and manifold functions, which helps to reduce the space required for internal liquid path arrangement in the battery pack and reduces the assembly complexity caused by the increased number of external connectors.

[0015] Optionally, both the first cooling assembly and the second cooling assembly include a current collector structure and multiple cooling elements, which are disposed between adjacent battery cells and communicate with the current collector structure.

[0016] Therefore, the coolant can be distributed to multiple cooling elements via the manifold structure, and directly exchange heat with the battery cells through the cooling elements located between adjacent battery cells. Compared to a method of setting cooling structures only on the outside of the battery cell array, this structure brings the heat exchange location closer to the heat-generating area of ​​the battery cell, shortens the path of heat transfer from the battery cell to the coolant, and increases the heat exchange coverage area inside the battery cell array.

[0017] Optionally, the flow collection structure includes an inlet section and an outlet section, and the inlet section and the outlet section are located on the same side of the corresponding cooling component.

[0018] Therefore, the inlet and outlet connections of the cooling component can be completed on the same side, reducing the number of external connection pipes that span the battery cell array. At the same time, this arrangement facilitates the formation of a reciprocating flow path inside the cooling component, with liquid entering from the same side, switching direction at the far end, and exiting from the same side, providing a structural basis for improving the heat transfer uniformity along the length of the cooling component.

[0019] Optionally, the cooling component has a partition structure inside, which divides the internal space of the cooling component into an inlet flow channel and an outlet flow channel; wherein the inlet flow channel and the outlet flow channel are connected at the end away from the flow collection structure, so that the coolant forms a reciprocating flow path within the same cooling component.

[0020] Therefore, after entering the cooling component, the coolant first flows along the inlet channel to the end away from the collector structure, and then enters the outlet channel through the connecting area to return, thus forming both outbound and return flow paths within the same cooling component. Compared to a structure where the coolant flows from one end to the other along a single path, this reciprocating flow path reduces the impact of coolant temperature rise along the path on the heat exchange capacity of the subsequent section, making the heat exchange states at different length positions of the cooling component more similar, thereby improving the temperature difference of the battery cell array along the extension direction of the cooling component.

[0021] Optionally, it also includes a supplementary heat exchange component, wherein the outlet end of the electrical cooling component is connected to the inlet end of the supplementary heat exchange component, and the supplementary heat exchange component is used to supplement the heat exchange of the battery component using the coolant flowing through the electrical cooling component.

[0022] Therefore, after cooling the battery cells and electrical components, the coolant can continue to enter the supplementary heat exchange assembly to participate in heat exchange, forming a continuous heat exchange path between the battery cells, electrical components, and the supplementary heat exchange area. This structure does not expand the heat exchange area by adding independent cooling loops, but rather utilizes the remaining heat exchange capacity of the same coolant to continue supplementary heat exchange, thereby improving the heat exchange utilization of the coolant within the battery assembly.

[0023] Optionally, the supplementary heat exchange component is disposed below the battery cell array and is used to supplement the cooling of the battery cell array; or, the supplementary heat exchange component is disposed above the battery cell array and cooperates with the battery cell's terminals and / or connection structure for heat exchange.

[0024] Therefore, the supplementary heat exchange component can be positioned according to the distribution of heat sources inside the battery module. When the supplementary heat exchange component is located below the battery cell array, it can provide supplementary heat exchange to the bottom area of ​​the battery cells; when it is located above the battery cell array, it can provide heat exchange to current-collecting areas such as the terminals and / or connection structures. This solution allows the supplementary heat exchange component to be not limited to a single installation location, and can utilize the coolant flowing through the electrical cooling components for secondary thermal management of different heat-generating areas.

[0025] Optionally, when the supplementary heat exchange component is located below the battery cell array, the supplementary heat exchange component is provided with a clearance hole corresponding to the battery cell explosion-proof valve.

[0026] Therefore, while supplementing the heat exchange components to provide additional heat to the bottom area of ​​the battery cell, a pressure relief channel can be reserved for the battery cell's explosion-proof valve. When the battery cell malfunctions and vents through the explosion-proof valve, the clearance hole can prevent the supplementary heat exchange components from blocking the explosion-proof valve's venting path, thus meeting the battery cell's pressure relief needs while adding a bottom supplementary heat exchange structure.

[0027] Some embodiments of this application also provide a vehicle including the battery assembly provided in the foregoing embodiments.

[0028] Compared with related technologies, in the solution provided by this application, the first cooling component and the second cooling component respectively cool the battery cell array, and the liquid outlet ends of both the first and second cooling components are connected to the electrical cooling component, so that the coolant after heat exchange with the battery cell array continues to flow through the electrical cooling component and exchange heat with the electrical components. Compared with the prior art where the battery cell cooling circuit and the electrical component cooling circuit are independent, this embodiment utilizes the coolant after heat exchange with the battery cell to re-exchange heat with the electrical components, achieving liquid cooling of the electrical components without adding an independent cooling circuit, thereby reducing the number of additional pipes, joints, and cooling interfaces. At the same time, the coolant continues to participate in the heat exchange of the electrical components after leaving the battery cell array, further utilizing the remaining heat exchange capacity of the coolant and improving the heat exchange utilization rate of the same cooling medium inside the battery assembly. Attached Figure Description

[0029] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the battery assembly provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the battery assembly provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure from another perspective;

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the battery cell array, the first cooling component, and the second cooling component provided in the embodiments of this disclosure;

[0033] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first cooling component and the second cooling component provided in the embodiments of this disclosure;

[0034] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A magnified view of a portion of point A in the middle;

[0035] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the cooling component and the flow collection structure provided in the embodiments of this disclosure;

[0036] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the flow channel structure of an electrical cooling assembly provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0037] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the flow channel structure of another electrical cooling component provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0038] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the flow channel structure of a supplementary heat exchange component provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0039] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the flow channel structure of another supplementary heat exchange component provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0040] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the vehicle structure provided in the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0041] Figure label:

[0042] 10: Battery cell array; 101: Battery cell; 110: Cooling channel;

[0043] 20: First cooling assembly; 21: Collector structure; 211: Liquid inlet; 212: Liquid outlet; 22: Cooling element; 221: Heat exchange surface;

[0044] 30: Second cooling component;

[0045] 40: Electrical cooling assembly; 41: First heat exchange channel; 42: Second heat exchange channel;

[0046] 50: Supplementary heat exchange components; 51: Flow guide channel; 52: Clearance hole;

[0047] 60: Main inlet pipe;

[0048] 70: Main outlet pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0049] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0050] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this disclosure are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of this application described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0051] In this disclosure, the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "middle," "outer," "front," and "rear," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for better description of the embodiments of this disclosure and their implementations, and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a specific orientation, or to require them to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Furthermore, some of the aforementioned terms may be used to indicate other meanings besides orientation or positional relationship; for example, the term "upper" may in some cases indicate a dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in the embodiments of this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0052] Furthermore, the terms "set up," "connect," and "fix" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0053] Unless otherwise stated, the term "multiple" means two or more.

[0054] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the character " / " indicates that the objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B.

[0055] The term "and / or" describes an association between objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B means: A or B, or A and B.

[0056] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the present disclosure can be combined with each other.

[0057] Combination Figures 1 to 10 As shown in the figure, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a battery assembly, including a battery cell array 10 and electrical components (not shown); a first cooling assembly 20 is disposed on one side of the battery cell array 10 for cooling the battery cell array 10; a second cooling assembly 30 is disposed on the other side of the battery cell array 10 for cooling the battery cell array 10; and an electrical cooling assembly 40 is used to cool the electrical components in the battery assembly; wherein the liquid outlet of the first cooling assembly 20 and the liquid outlet of the second cooling assembly 30 are both connected to the electrical cooling assembly 40, so that the coolant from the first cooling assembly 20 and the second cooling assembly 30 flows through the electrical cooling assembly 40 and exchanges heat with the electrical components.

[0058] Using the battery assembly provided in this embodiment, the first cooling assembly 20 and the second cooling assembly 30 respectively cool the battery cell array 10. The liquid outlets of both the first cooling assembly 20 and the second cooling assembly 30 are connected to the electrical cooling assembly 40, allowing the coolant, after heat exchange with the battery cell array 10, to continue flowing through the electrical cooling assembly 40 and exchanging heat with the electrical components. Compared to existing technologies where the battery cell cooling circuit and the electrical component cooling circuit are independent, this embodiment utilizes the coolant after heat exchange with the battery cells to further heat the electrical components, achieving liquid cooling of the electrical components without adding an independent cooling circuit, thereby reducing the number of additional pipes, connectors, and cooling interfaces. Simultaneously, the coolant continues to participate in heat exchange with the electrical components after leaving the battery cell array 10, further utilizing the remaining heat exchange capacity of the coolant and improving the heat exchange utilization rate of the same cooling medium within the battery assembly.

[0059] Optionally, the electrical cooling assembly 40 is provided with a first heat exchange channel 41 and a second heat exchange channel 42 corresponding to the first cooling assembly 20 and the second cooling assembly 30, respectively; wherein the first heat exchange channel 41 and the second heat exchange channel 42 exchange heat with the electrical components.

[0060] The electrical cooling assembly 40 has a first heat exchange channel 41 and a second heat exchange channel 42 corresponding to the first cooling assembly 20 and the second cooling assembly 30, respectively. Coolant from both cooling assemblies enters the corresponding heat exchange channel to exchange heat with the electrical components. Compared with the method where the two coolants directly mix and exchange heat after entering the electrical cooling assembly 40, this embodiment ensures that the two coolants maintain relatively independent flow paths after entering the electrical cooling assembly 40, thereby avoiding the direct impact of changes in the flow rate of one path on the heat exchange state of the other, which is beneficial to maintaining the flow stability of the cooling circuits on both sides. At the same time, the two coolants participate in the heat exchange of the electrical components separately, so that the heat exchange area of ​​the electrical components can be covered with coolant from different areas, improving the utilization rate of the heat exchange area inside the electrical cooling assembly 40.

[0061] In some embodiments, the first heat exchange channel 41 and the second heat exchange channel 42 may be arranged on both sides of the electrical cooling assembly 40 and correspond to different electrical component installation areas, so that the electrical components can form a corresponding heat exchange relationship with the corresponding heat exchange channels, thereby shortening the heat transfer path.

[0062] like Figure 7 As shown, in one embodiment, the first heat exchange channel and the second heat exchange channel are respectively disposed in different areas of the electrical cooling assembly and can be connected to the corresponding outlets respectively.

[0063] Optionally, such as Figure 8 As shown, the first heat exchange channel 41 and the second heat exchange channel 42 converge within the electrical cooling assembly 40 and then flow out through the same outlet. Compared to having multiple outlets, this embodiment achieves convergence within the electrical cooling assembly 40, allowing the two coolant streams to share the subsequent flow path structure, thereby reducing the number of subsequent pipes and connection nodes. Furthermore, since the convergence is completed within the electrical cooling assembly 40, the space required for external convergence fittings is reduced, improving the utilization rate of the battery pack's internal space.

[0064] In some embodiments, the first heat exchange channel 41 and the second heat exchange channel 42 are mirror images of each other with respect to the central region of the electrical cooling assembly 40. This mirror arrangement allows the two heat exchange channels to have similar flow path lengths and flow resistances, thereby reducing the flow rate difference between the two sides and improving the consistency of the heat exchange state on both sides.

[0065] In some embodiments, the electrical cooling assembly 40 is a liquid-cooled plate. Compared to a coiled pipe heat exchange structure, the liquid-cooled plate can form a planar heat exchange area covering the installation area of ​​the electrical components, allowing the heat generated by the electrical components to be transferred to the coolant through a larger contact area. Since the cooling channels are located inside the plate, the channel distribution can be adjusted according to the installation position of the electrical components, improving the correspondence between the heat exchange area and the heat generation area.

[0066] In some embodiments, the electrical components include at least one of a battery disconnect unit (BDU), a DC-DC converter (DCDC), and an on-board charger (OBC). Since these electrical components are typically concentrated within or near the battery pack, a series heat exchange path can be formed between the electrical cooling assembly 40 and the battery cell cooling circuit, reducing the structural complexity of separately configuring liquid cooling systems for the electrical components. That is, the coolant from the first cooling assembly 20 and the second cooling assembly 30 directly participates in the heat exchange of the electrical components as it flows through the electrical cooling assembly 40, thereby reducing the heat transfer path between structural components.

[0067] Optionally, both the first cooling assembly 20 and the second cooling assembly 30 include a current collector structure 21 and a plurality of cooling elements 22, which are disposed between adjacent battery cells and communicate with the current collector structure 21.

[0068] In this embodiment, the cooling element 22 is directly arranged within the cooling channel 110 formed between adjacent battery cells. Therefore, the coolant can exchange heat with multiple battery cells simultaneously through multiple cooling elements 22, thereby increasing the contact area between the battery cell array 10 and the cooling medium. Compared to setting a cooling structure only on one side of the battery assembly, this embodiment arranges the cooling element 22 between the battery cells, making the cooling path closer to the heat source and reducing the heat transfer distance.

[0069] Specifically, for ease of description, the cooling element 22 in the first cooling assembly 20 is defined as the first cooling element, and the cooling element 22 in the second cooling assembly 30 is defined as the second cooling element. The first cooling element and the second cooling element are arranged adjacent to each other and are located on opposite sides of the same battery cell. The coolant in the first cooling element enters from the end of the first cooling element near the collector structure 21, flows along the first direction through the inlet channel of the first cooling element, and then enters the outlet channel of the first cooling element through the end of the first cooling element away from the collector structure 21 before returning; the coolant in the second cooling element enters from the end of the second cooling element near the corresponding collector structure 21, flows along the second direction opposite to the first direction through the inlet channel of the second cooling element, and then enters the outlet channel of the second cooling element through the end of the second cooling element away from the corresponding collector structure 21 before returning.

[0070] Therefore, for the same battery cell located between the first and second cooling elements, one side of the battery cell can exchange heat with the relatively cooler coolant area in the first cooling element, and the opposite side of the battery cell can exchange heat with the relatively cooler coolant area in the second cooling element. In other words, by making the coolant flow directions in the first and second cooling elements opposite, both sides of the same battery cell can receive heat exchange from the coolant at a lower temperature, avoiding the situation where only one side is exposed to the low-temperature coolant while the other side is exposed to the heated coolant for a long time, which would lead to an increased temperature difference between the two sides of the battery cell.

[0071] Compared to a scheme where adjacent cooling elements 22 all receive liquid in the same direction, this embodiment arranges the first and second cooling elements in opposite directions, creating a corresponding relationship between the low-temperature coolant regions on both sides of the battery cell. This reduces the continuous temperature gradient caused by the coolant heating up in a single direction. This structure improves the heat transfer consistency on both sides of the same battery cell and reduces the possibility of insufficient heat dissipation in local areas of the battery cell array 10 due to the increased temperature of the coolant in the later stages of the flow.

[0072] Optionally, the flow collection structure 21 includes an inlet section 211 and an outlet section 212, and the inlet section 211 and the outlet section 212 are located on the same side of the corresponding cooling component.

[0073] In this embodiment, the inlet and outlet interfaces of the cooling component are concentrated on the same side, which helps to shorten the distance of external pipelines and reduce the number of connecting pipelines that cross the length of the battery component. At the same time, since the inlet 211 and outlet 212 are located on the same side, an interface basis can be provided for the formation of a reciprocating flow path inside the cooling element 22, allowing the coolant to enter the cooling element 22 from the same side and flow out from the same side, creating conditions for the subsequent construction of a dual-channel heat exchange structure inside the single cooling element 22.

[0074] Optionally, the cooling component 22 is provided with a partition structure, which divides the internal space of the cooling component 22 into an inlet flow channel and an outlet flow channel; wherein the inlet flow channel and the outlet flow channel are connected at the end away from the flow collection structure 21, so that the coolant forms a reciprocating flow path within the same cooling component 22.

[0075] Compared to a single-pass flow of coolant from one end of the cooling element 22 to the other, this embodiment creates both outgoing and return flow paths for the coolant within the same cooling element 22. After flowing towards the far end of the cooling element 22 in the inlet channel, the coolant returns through the connecting area to the outlet channel, thus allowing coolant at different temperatures to exist simultaneously in different areas of the cooling element 22. Because the returning and outgoing coolant are distributed adjacently along the length of the cooling element 22, the problem of heat transfer capacity attenuation caused by the temperature rise along the flow path can be mitigated, the heat transfer difference between the front and rear areas of the cooling element 22 can be reduced, and the temperature uniformity along the length of the cooling element 22 can be improved.

[0076] In some embodiments, the inlet and outlet channels are arranged sequentially along the height direction of the cooling element 22. That is, the inlet channel is located in the upper region of the cooling element 22 and the outlet channel is located in the lower region of the cooling element 22, or the inlet channel is located in the lower region of the cooling element 22 and the outlet channel is located in the upper region of the cooling element 22. By arranging them in layers along the height direction, a reciprocating flow path can be formed within a limited thickness space, avoiding increasing the width dimension of the cooling element 22.

[0077] In some embodiments, the partition structure may be a baffle, a rib, or a partition wall integrally formed from the cooling element and disposed inside the cooling element. The partition structure extends along the length of the cooling element to divide the internal space of the cooling element into an inlet channel and an outlet channel.

[0078] In some embodiments, the liquid inlet 211 and the liquid outlet 212 are respectively provided at the ends where the liquid inlet channel and the liquid outlet channel are located.

[0079] In this embodiment, the cooling element 22 only needs to be connected to the external flow path on the same side, thereby reducing the number of connecting pipes arranged across the battery cell array 10. At the same time, this structure can correspond to the reciprocating flow path inside the cooling element 22, so that the coolant enters from the same side and flows out from the same side.

[0080] In some embodiments, the first cooling assembly 20 and the second cooling assembly 30 are respectively connected to the same inlet manifold 60. This structure allows the two sets of cooling assemblies to share a liquid supply path, thereby reducing the number of manifolds and connection interfaces. At the same time, sharing the inlet manifold 60 ensures that the coolant entering the two sets of cooling assemblies comes from the same source, which helps to reduce the temperature difference of the inlet coolant.

[0081] In some embodiments, the liquid inlet manifold 60 is disposed on the front side of the battery assembly. Compared to the technique of arranging liquid supply interfaces at different locations on the battery assembly, the liquid inlet manifold 60 is centrally disposed on the same side, which allows the connection area between the external cooling system and the battery assembly to be centrally arranged, thereby reducing the length of cross-regional pipeline laying and improving the regularity of the flow path arrangement.

[0082] In some embodiments, the end of the cooling element away from the manifold structure is provided with a connecting cavity, through which the inlet channel and the outlet channel are connected. After the coolant enters the inlet channel through the inlet section, it enters the outlet channel through the connecting cavity and flows out through the outlet section.

[0083] Optionally, it also includes a supplementary heat exchange component 50, wherein the liquid outlet of the electrical cooling component 40 is connected to the liquid inlet of the supplementary heat exchange component 50, and the supplementary heat exchange component 50 is used to supplement the heat exchange of the battery component using the coolant flowing through the electrical cooling component 40.

[0084] In this embodiment, the coolant flowing out of the electrical cooling assembly 40 continues to flow into the supplementary heat exchange assembly 50 for heat exchange, further utilizing the remaining heat exchange capacity of the coolant to supplement the heat exchange of the battery assembly, allowing the coolant to continue participating in heat exchange before leaving the battery assembly. Since the supplementary heat exchange assembly 50 is located after the battery cell cooling and electrical component cooling, a continuous heat exchange path can be formed, encompassing battery cell heat exchange, electrical component heat exchange, and supplementary heat exchange. This extends the effective heat exchange path of the coolant without adding an independent cooling loop, improving the heat exchange utilization rate per unit flow rate of the coolant.

[0085] In this embodiment, the supplementary heat exchange component 50 is located downstream of the electrical cooling component 40 and is directly connected to it. Coolant from the first cooling component 20 and the second cooling component 30 enters the electrical cooling component 40 after completing heat exchange with the battery cell array 10, where it exchanges heat with the electrical components. Subsequently, the coolant continues to flow into the supplementary heat exchange component 50 to provide supplementary heat exchange for the battery assembly. Thus, in one cycle, the coolant sequentially participates in battery cell heat exchange, electrical component heat exchange, and supplementary heat exchange, forming a continuous, tiered heat exchange path.

[0086] Compared to existing technologies where battery cells are directly recirculated after heat exchange, or where the battery cell cooling circuit and the electrical component cooling circuit are independent, this embodiment does not expand the heat exchange area by adding independent cooling circuits. Instead, it utilizes the same coolant flowing sequentially between different heat exchange objects, allowing the coolant to continuously participate in heat exchange before leaving the battery assembly. Since the supplementary heat exchange component 50 is located after the electrical cooling component 40, it utilizes the remaining heat exchange capacity of the coolant after two stages of heat exchange, thereby further releasing the heat exchange potential of the coolant.

[0087] Furthermore, after the supplementary heat exchange component 50 and the electrical cooling component 40 form a series flow path, a continuous thermal management path of "battery cell array 10 - electrical components - supplementary heat exchange area" is constructed inside the battery module. This path does not cool a single heat source, but rather utilizes the coolant in stages according to the temperature requirements of different heat-generating areas. For the battery cell array 10, the low-temperature coolant can be used first to complete the main heat exchange; for the electrical components, the coolant that has already absorbed some heat can be used to continue dissipating heat; and for the supplementary heat exchange area, the remaining cooling capacity is used to further reduce the temperature of the local area. Through this heat exchange sequence design, coordinated thermal management of multiple heat-generating areas is achieved without adding additional circulation loops.

[0088] Under certain operating conditions, the peak heat generation of the battery cell array 10 and the electrical components is not synchronized. When the electrical components generate less heat, the coolant flowing through the electrical cooling assembly 40 still retains a high heat exchange capacity, and the supplementary heat exchange assembly 50 can further utilize this remaining cooling capacity for heat exchange. When the electrical components generate more heat, the supplementary heat exchange assembly 50 can still play a role in local temperature regulation. Therefore, the supplementary heat exchange assembly 50 not only extends the effective heat exchange path of the coolant but also enables the same cooling circuit to adapt to the heat exchange requirements under different heat load distribution conditions.

[0089] In some embodiments, the liquid outlet of the electrical cooling assembly 40 and the liquid inlet of the supplementary heat exchange assembly 50 are connected by a pipeline.

[0090] Optionally, the supplementary heat exchange component 50 is disposed below the battery cell array 10 and is used to supplement the cooling of the battery cell array 10; or, the supplementary heat exchange component 50 is disposed above the battery cell array 10 and cooperates with the terminals and / or connection structures of the battery cells for heat exchange. For example, the connection structure may include a connecting piece, a busbar, an aluminum connecting piece, or a conductive connector for electrically connecting adjacent battery cells.

[0091] In this embodiment, the supplementary heat exchange component 50 can be disposed in different areas of the battery cell array 10 according to the location of different heat sources. When the supplementary heat exchange component 50 is disposed below the battery cell array 10, the heat exchange interface formed between the supplementary heat exchange component 50 and the bottom of the battery cell can be used to supplement the heat exchange in the bottom area of ​​the battery cell, thereby expanding the heat exchange area of ​​the battery cell; when the supplementary heat exchange component 50 is disposed above the battery cell array 10, it can cooperate with the electrode post and / or connection structure to supplement the heat dissipation generated in the current collection area.

[0092] Therefore, compared to cooling only the sidewalls of the battery cells, this embodiment enables the supplementary heat exchange component 50 to select the corresponding installation position according to the distribution of heat sources inside the battery module, thereby increasing the area where the coolant participates in heat exchange and improving the heat exchange coverage of different heat-generating areas inside the battery module.

[0093] In some embodiments, the supplementary heat exchange assembly 50 includes a liquid cooling plate with a flow channel 51 inside. The flow channel 51 guides the coolant from one side of the battery assembly to the other side. That is, the flow channel 51 guides the coolant from the rear side of the battery assembly to the front side. This structure utilizes the internal space of the liquid cooling plate to simultaneously achieve heat exchange and flow guidance functions, thereby reducing the need for additional flow guidance pipes.

[0094] In some embodiments, there are multiple guide channels 51, and all of these guide channels 51 are connected to the same outlet manifold 70. By having multiple guide channels 51 converge into the same outlet manifold 70, fluid collection can be achieved while ensuring the guiding area, thus balancing the coverage of the heat exchange area and the coolant discharge requirements. This structure can increase the guiding coverage area while avoiding the formation of excessively long single-path channels, thereby reducing the phenomenon of local flow resistance concentration.

[0095] In some embodiments, the liquid outlet manifold 70 and the liquid inlet manifold 60 are located on the same side of the battery assembly.

[0096] Compared to a structure where the inlet and outlet are located at opposite ends of the battery pack, this embodiment allows the external cooling interfaces to be concentrated in the same area, thereby reducing the length of external connection pipes that span the entire battery pack layout and facilitating interface integration between the battery pack and the vehicle cooling system.

[0097] Optionally, when the supplementary heat exchange component 50 is disposed below the battery cell array 10, the supplementary heat exchange component 50 is provided with a clearance hole 52 corresponding to the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell. Compared with the heat exchange plate structure that continuously covers the bottom of the battery cell, this embodiment reserves an exhaust channel in the area corresponding to the explosion-proof valve, so that when the battery cell experiences thermal runaway, the high-temperature gas released by the explosion-proof valve can be discharged through the area corresponding to the clearance hole 52, thereby avoiding the supplementary heat exchange component 50 from obstructing the exhaust path of the explosion-proof valve. Figure 9 , Figure 10 The main example shown is a case where the supplementary heat exchange component is located below and has clearance holes.

[0098] Since the clearance hole 52 is set to correspond to the position of the explosion-proof valve, the need for explosion-proof valve exhaust is taken into account while retaining the supplementary heat exchange function, so as to avoid affecting the original pressure relief path of the battery unit due to the addition of heat exchange structure.

[0099] In some embodiments, the battery cell array 10 includes multiple rows of battery cells, with a cooling channel 110 between adjacent rows of battery cells. Cooling elements 22 of the first cooling assembly 20 and the second cooling assembly 30 are disposed within the cooling channel 110. The cooling element 22 has a heat exchange surface 221 on its side facing the battery cell, which mates with the outer peripheral surface of the battery cell. This embodiment increases the contact area between the cooling element 22 and the battery cell, allowing the heat generated by the battery cell to be transferred more directly to the cooling element 22, thus improving the heat exchange utilization of the cooling channel 110 area.

[0100] In some embodiments, each row of battery cells includes a plurality of battery cells 101 arranged along a first direction, and a cooling element 22 extends along the first direction. Therefore, a single cooling element 22 can form a continuous heat exchange area corresponding to multiple battery cells 101, reducing the heat exchange discontinuity area between the cooling element 22 and the battery cells 101. For example, the battery cell 101 is a cylindrical battery, and the cooling element 22 has an arc-shaped heat exchange surface 221 on the side facing the cylindrical battery to increase the effective heat exchange area between the cooling element 22 and the battery cell.

[0101] Combination Figures 1 to 11 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, a vehicle is also provided, including the battery assembly provided in the above embodiments.

[0102] Because the battery assembly forms a continuous heat exchange path involving battery cell heat exchange, electrical component heat exchange, and supplementary heat exchange, the coolant can sequentially participate in heat exchange in multiple heat-generating areas during vehicle operation. Compared to a solution that uses multiple independent cooling circuits, this structure reduces the number of fluid circuit branches in the vehicle's thermal management system and decreases the number of cooling system interfaces.

[0103] Meanwhile, the battery cell cooling assembly, electrical cooling assembly 40 and supplementary heat exchange assembly 50 form a continuous flow path, which is conducive to improving the heat exchange utilization of the coolant inside the vehicle power battery system and providing a unified cooling path basis for the vehicle thermal management system.

[0104] In one specific embodiment, the battery assembly of this embodiment is applied to the power battery system of a new energy vehicle. The battery assembly includes a battery cell array 10, a first cooling assembly 20, a second cooling assembly 30, and an electrical cooling assembly 40. The battery cell array 10 is composed of multiple rows of cylindrical cells, with a cooling channel 110 formed between adjacent rows of cylindrical cells. The first cooling assembly 20 and the second cooling assembly 30 are respectively arranged on both sides of the battery cell array 10. Both the first cooling assembly 20 and the second cooling assembly 30 include a current collector structure 21 and multiple cooling elements 22. Each cooling element 22 is inserted into the corresponding cooling channel 110 and communicates with the corresponding current collector structure 21. The side of the cooling element 22 facing the cylindrical cell has an arc-shaped heat exchange surface 221 that matches the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical cell to increase the heat exchange contact area between the cooling element 22 and the cylindrical cell.

[0105] During vehicle operation, coolant from the vehicle thermal management system first enters the first cooling assembly 20 and the second cooling assembly 30. As the coolant flows through multiple cooling elements 22, it exchanges heat with the battery cell array 10, absorbing the heat generated by the battery cells. After completing the heat exchange with the battery cells, the coolant flows out from the outlet of the first cooling assembly 20 and the outlet of the second cooling assembly 30, respectively, and enters the electrical cooling assembly 40.

[0106] In this embodiment, the electrical cooling assembly 40 adopts a liquid-cooled plate structure, and the electrical cooling assembly 40 has a first heat exchange channel 41 and a second heat exchange channel 42 inside. The first heat exchange channel 41 is connected to the first cooling assembly 20, and the second heat exchange channel 42 is connected to the second cooling assembly 30. The battery disconnect unit (BDU), the DC-DC converter (DCDC), and the on-board charger (OBC) are installed above the electrical cooling assembly 40. When the coolant flows through the first heat exchange channel 41 and the second heat exchange channel 42, it exchanges heat with the aforementioned electrical components to remove the heat generated during the operation of the electrical components. By continuing to use the coolant after the battery unit has been heated for cooling the electrical components, the same coolant can sequentially complete the heat dissipation of the battery unit and the electrical components, improving the heat exchange utilization rate of the coolant.

[0107] In one embodiment, the first heat exchange channel 41 and the second heat exchange channel 42 are respectively connected to their corresponding outlets. That is, the coolant from the first cooling assembly 20 and the second cooling assembly 30 completes heat exchange within the electrical cooling assembly 40 and then flows out independently, entering subsequent cooling circuits respectively. This structure is suitable for applications where the flow rate of the two coolants needs to be independently controlled or the temperature needs to be independently monitored.

[0108] In another embodiment, the first heat exchange channel 41 and the second heat exchange channel 42 converge inside the electrical cooling assembly 40 and then flow out through the same outlet. In this case, the electrical cooling assembly 40 has both heat exchange and convergence functions. After completing the heat exchange of the electrical components, the two coolants converge inside the liquid cooling plate and then discharge through the same outlet, thereby reducing the number of subsequent pipes and connection interfaces and improving the internal space utilization of the battery assembly.

[0109] In some embodiments, the battery assembly further includes a supplementary heat exchange assembly 50. The supplementary heat exchange assembly 50 is disposed downstream of the electrical cooling assembly 40, with the outlet of the electrical cooling assembly 40 connected to the inlet of the supplementary heat exchange assembly 50. After the coolant has completed heat exchange with the battery cells and electrical components, it continues to flow into the supplementary heat exchange assembly 50 to utilize the remaining cooling capacity for supplementary heat exchange. The supplementary heat exchange assembly 50 can be disposed below the battery cell array 10 to provide supplementary cooling to the battery cells through heat exchange with the bottom region of the battery cells; alternatively, it can be disposed above the battery cell array 10 and cooperate with the electrode posts and connecting structures for heat exchange to reduce the temperature of the current collection area.

[0110] For example, under high-rate charge and discharge conditions, the heat generated by the terminals and connecting structures increases significantly. In this case, the supplementary heat exchange component 50 is positioned above the battery cell array 10. As the coolant flows through the supplementary heat exchange component 50, it can supplement heat dissipation for the terminals and connecting structures, thereby reducing the temperature rise in the connecting area. In another embodiment, the supplementary heat exchange component 50 is positioned below the battery cell array 10. The supplementary heat exchange component 50 adopts a liquid-cooled plate structure, with a flow channel 51 inside the liquid-cooled plate. The flow channel 51 guides the coolant from the rear of the battery assembly to the front of the battery assembly, and finally flows into the outlet manifold 70. This utilizes the flow channel of the liquid-cooled plate itself to achieve the flow guiding function, reducing the space required for additional return piping.

[0111] Furthermore, when the supplementary heat exchange component 50 is located below the battery cell array 10, the supplementary heat exchange component 50 is provided with a clearance hole 52 corresponding to the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell. If an individual battery cell experiences thermal runaway, the high-temperature gas released by the explosion-proof valve can be discharged through the corresponding area of ​​the clearance hole 52, thereby preventing the supplementary heat exchange component 50 from blocking the pressure relief path and preserving the original safe pressure relief channel of the battery cell while taking into account the supplementary heat exchange function.

[0112] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings fully illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may include structural and other changes. The embodiments represent only possible variations. Individual components and functions are optional unless explicitly required, and the order of operation may vary. Parts and features of some embodiments may be included or substituted for parts and features of other embodiments. Embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes may be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the appended claims, and the foregoing embodiments should be considered exemplary and non-limiting.

Claims

1. A battery assembly comprising a battery cell array (10) and electrical components; characterized in that, Also includes: A first cooling component (20) is disposed on one side of the battery cell array (10) for cooling the battery cell array (10); A second cooling component (30) is disposed on the other side of the battery cell array (10) for cooling the battery cell array (10); An electrical cooling assembly (40) is provided for cooling the electrical components; The liquid outlet of the first cooling component (20) and the liquid outlet of the second cooling component (30) are both connected to the electrical cooling component (40) so that the coolant from the first cooling component (20) and the second cooling component (30) flows through the electrical cooling component (40) and exchanges heat with the electrical components.

2. The battery assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrical cooling assembly (40) is provided with a first heat exchange channel (41) and a second heat exchange channel (42) corresponding to the first cooling assembly (20) and the second cooling assembly (30), respectively; The first heat exchange channel (41) and the second heat exchange channel (42) exchange heat with the electrical components respectively.

3. The battery assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first heat exchange channel (41) and the second heat exchange channel (42) converge in the electrical cooling assembly (40) and then flow out through the same outlet.

4. The battery assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the first cooling assembly (20) and the second cooling assembly (30) include a current collection structure (21) and a plurality of cooling elements (22), which are disposed between adjacent battery cells and communicate with the current collection structure (21).

5. The battery assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The flow collection structure (21) includes an inlet section (211) and an outlet section (212), and the inlet section (211) and the outlet section (212) are located on the same side of the corresponding cooling component.

6. The battery assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cooling component (22) has a partition structure inside, which divides the internal space of the cooling component (22) into an inlet flow channel and an outlet flow channel; The inlet channel and the outlet channel are connected at the end away from the flow collection structure (21) so that the coolant forms a reciprocating flow path within the same cooling element (22).

7. The battery assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a supplementary heat exchange component (50), wherein the liquid outlet of the electrical cooling component (40) is connected to the liquid inlet of the supplementary heat exchange component (50), and the supplementary heat exchange component (50) is used to supplement the heat exchange of the battery component with the coolant flowing through the electrical cooling component (40).

8. The battery assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The supplementary heat exchange component (50) is disposed below the battery cell array (10) and is used to provide supplementary cooling to the battery cell array (10); Alternatively, the supplementary heat exchange component (50) may be disposed above the battery cell array (10) and cooperate with the battery cell terminals and / or connection structures for heat exchange.

9. The battery assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, When the supplementary heat exchange component (50) is disposed below the battery cell array (10), the supplementary heat exchange component (50) is provided with a clearance hole (52) corresponding to the battery cell explosion-proof valve.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the battery assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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