Battery module and electric device

Abstract

The application provides a battery module and an electric device, and relates to the technical field of batteries.The battery module comprises at least one battery monomer, the battery monomer comprises an electrode assembly and a shell, the electrode assembly has a first tab and a second tab, the first tab and the second tab have opposite polarities; the shell has a containing cavity for containing the electrode assembly, the shell comprises a frame, an insulating piece and a first plate body, the frame has two open sides along a first direction, the first plate body is arranged at one open end of the frame, and the insulating piece is arranged between the frame and the first plate body, wherein the frame is electrically connected with the first tab, the first plate body is electrically connected with the second tab, a heat exchange flow channel is arranged in the frame or the first plate body, a heat exchange medium is arranged in the heat exchange flow channel, and the heat exchange medium is insulated from the heat exchange flow channel. Thus, the heat transfer path is shortened, the thermal resistance is reduced, and the heat exchange efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a battery module and an electrical device. Background Technology

[0002] In the battery field, during fast charging of a battery pack, the battery cells generate a significant amount of heat during charging and discharging, causing their temperature to rise. Therefore, thermal management systems are typically used to regulate the cell temperature. Commonly used thermal management systems employ liquid cooling plates positioned on the outside of the battery cell, exchanging heat with the cell's outer surface. However, battery cells are typically composed of a core and insulating components such as mylar, base plate, adhesive, and blue film located outside the core. There is also a gap between the core and the aluminum casing of the battery cell. Therefore, when the liquid cooling plate contacts the outer surface of the battery cell (e.g., the bottom, large, or side surface of the aluminum casing, or the surface of the cover plate) for heat exchange, the heat transfer path is long, the thermal conductivity is low, and the thermal resistance is high, resulting in poor cooling effect of the thermal management system on the core. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this application is to provide a battery module and an electrical device to solve the technical problem of poor heat exchange effect of the winding core in the battery in the prior art.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is as follows: In a first aspect, this application provides a battery module, comprising: at least one battery cell, the battery cell comprising: an electrode assembly and a housing, the electrode assembly having a first tab and a second tab, the first tab and the second tab having opposite polarities; the housing having a receiving cavity for accommodating the electrode assembly, the housing comprising a frame, an insulating member and a first plate, the frame having openings on both sides along a first direction, the first plate being disposed at one of the open ends of the frame, the insulating member being disposed between the frame and the first plate, wherein the frame is electrically connected to the first tab, the first plate is electrically connected to the second tab, a heat exchange channel is provided in the frame or the first plate, a heat exchange medium is provided in the heat exchange channel, and the heat exchange medium is insulated from the heat exchange channel.

[0005] In one or more embodiments of this application, heat exchange channels are disposed on the first plate and extend along the second direction. The heat exchange channels include a plurality of channels spaced apart along the third direction, with the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction being perpendicular to each other.

[0006] In one or more embodiments of this application, the first plate includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer, the thickness of the first metal layer is greater than the thickness of the second metal layer, the second metal layer is welded to a second electrode tab, and the heat exchange channel is formed in the first metal layer.

[0007] In one or more embodiments of this application, the first plate includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer, the thickness of the first metal layer is greater than the thickness of the second metal layer, the second metal layer is welded to a second electrode to form a welding area, and a heat exchange channel is formed in the first metal layer and the second metal layer.

[0008] In one or more embodiments of this application, the thickness of the second metal layer in the welding zone is not less than the weld penetration depth; on a plane perpendicular to the first direction, the orthographic projection of the heat exchange channel does not overlap with the orthographic projection of the welding zone; or, On a plane perpendicular to the first direction, the orthographic projection of the heat exchange channel overlaps at least partially with the orthographic projection of the welding zone, and along the first direction, the width of the heat exchange channel in the welding zone is smaller than its width in the non-welding zone.

[0009] In one or more embodiments of this application, the inner wall of the heat exchange channel is provided with an insulating layer, which is used to insulate the heat exchange medium and the heat exchange channel.

[0010] In one or more embodiments of this application, it further includes: a manifold and a connecting pipe, the manifold being disposed on both sides of the heat exchange channel along the second direction, the manifold having a manifold cavity communicating with all the heat exchange channels, and a connecting port being provided on at least one side of the manifold along the first direction; the connecting pipe is connected to the connecting port of the manifold and communicates with the manifold cavity.

[0011] In one or more embodiments of this application, the insulating layer and a current collector are integrally formed; or, the current collector and the insulating layer are separate structures.

[0012] In one or more embodiments of this application, at least two battery cells are included, and in two adjacent battery cells, the frame of one battery cell is connected to the open end of the insulating member away from the first plate of the other battery cell.

[0013] Secondly, this application provides an electrical device including the battery module described in any of the first aspects.

[0014] Based on the above technical solutions, the battery module and power-consuming device provided in this application embodiment have at least the following beneficial technical effects: In the battery module provided in this application embodiment, the housing is configured to include a frame, an insulating component, and a first plate. The first plate is located at one of the open ends of the frame. The first tab of the electrode assembly is electrically connected to the frame, and the second tab of the electrode assembly is electrically connected to the first plate. A heat exchange channel is provided in the frame or the first plate to allow the flow of heat exchange medium, and the heat exchange medium is insulated from the heat exchange channel. Thus, the frame or the first plate of the housing directly serves as a liquid cooling plate. The heat generated by the tab can be directly carried away by the heat exchange medium in the frame or the first plate, shortening the heat transfer path, reducing thermal resistance, and improving heat exchange efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the battery module provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded decomposition structure of a single battery cell in a battery module provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the casing in a battery cell provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a partial cross-sectional view of two adjacent battery cells in a battery module provided in this application embodiment.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the current collector in the battery module provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the connection method between the current collector and the first insulating layer in the battery module provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the connection method between the current collector, the first insulating layer and the first plate in the battery module provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0023] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the current collector in a battery module provided in another embodiment of this application.

[0024] In the diagram: 10-cell battery; 20-current collector; 30-connecting pipe; 11-electrode assembly; 12-housing; 111-first tab; 112-second tab; 120-receiving cavity; 121-first plate; 122-insulator; 123-frame; 124-second plate; 1211-heat exchange channel; 1212-first metal layer; 1213-second metal layer; 1214-insulator; 201-current collector cavity; 202-connection port; 203-interface. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects to be solved by this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0026] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.

[0027] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0028] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0029] The inventors discovered that in the battery field, to reduce the temperature rise of battery cells during charging and discharging, it is common practice to use a liquid cooling plate in contact with the outer surface of the battery cell casing for cooling. Specifically, this can be achieved by placing an external liquid cooling plate on the bottom, large surface, or side of the battery cell, with a heat exchange medium flowing inside the external liquid cooling plate, and heat being conducted through the contact surface between the battery cell casing and the liquid cooling plate. However, further research revealed that because the battery cell core is sequentially wrapped with insulating layers such as Mylar film, a base plate, and adhesive, and there are gaps between the core and the inner wall of the aluminum casing, the proportion of low thermal conductivity insulating materials and air gaps is too high in the entire heat conduction path from the core to the external liquid cooling plate. This results in a longer heat transfer path, higher thermal resistance, and poor cooling effect of the liquid cooling plate on the core.

[0030] Based on the above considerations, in order to solve the technical problem of poor heat exchange effect of the winding core in the prior art battery, this application provides a battery module and an electrical device.

[0031] The electrical devices disclosed in this application can be vehicles, mobile phones, portable devices, laptops, ships, spacecraft, electric toys, power tools, energy storage devices, amusement equipment, elevators and lifting equipment, etc. Electric toys include fixed or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, or electric airplane toys, etc.; power tools include metal cutting power tools, grinding power tools, assembly power tools, and railway power tools, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, impact drills, concrete vibrators, and electric planers, etc.; energy storage devices can be energy storage walls, base station energy storage, container energy storage, etc.; amusement equipment can be carousels, drop towers, etc.

[0032] This application describes an electrical device using a vehicle as an example. The vehicle can be a gasoline-powered vehicle, a natural gas-powered vehicle, or a new energy vehicle. New energy vehicles can be pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, or range-extended electric vehicles, etc. A battery is installed inside the vehicle, and the battery can be located at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle. The battery can be used to power the vehicle; for example, it can serve as the vehicle's operating power source. The vehicle may also include a controller and a motor. The controller controls the battery to supply power to the motor, for example, to meet the power needs of starting, navigation, and driving the vehicle. The battery can not only serve as the vehicle's operating power source but also as its driving power source, replacing or partially replacing gasoline or natural gas to provide driving power to the vehicle.

[0033] The aforementioned battery can be a battery pack or a battery module. When the battery is a battery pack, the battery pack specifically includes a battery management system (BMS) and multiple battery cells. Multiple battery cells can be electrically connected in series, parallel, or a combination of series and parallel connections, and communicate with the battery management system, which controls and monitors the operating status of each battery cell. Alternatively, multiple battery cells can first be combined with a module management system to form a battery module, and then multiple battery modules can be electrically connected in series, parallel, or a combination of series and parallel connections to form a battery pack together with the battery management system.

[0034] The aforementioned battery cell can be a secondary battery or a primary battery, and can also be a lithium-ion battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery. Its external outline can be cylindrical, flat, cuboid, or other shapes, but is not limited to these. Specifically, in this embodiment, the aforementioned battery cell is a lithium-ion square battery.

[0035] The battery module provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that in this application, the first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z are all perpendicular to each other. The first direction X can be the thickness direction of the battery cell 10 or the stacking direction of the battery cells 10. The second direction Y can be the length direction or the width direction of the battery cell 10. The third direction Z can be the height direction of the battery cell 10.

[0036] Please refer to this document as one embodiment of the battery module. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 The battery module includes at least one battery cell 10, which is the smallest unit capable of converting chemical energy into electrical energy and outputting current. The battery cell 10 includes an electrode assembly 11 and a housing 12. The electrode assembly 11 is the component in the battery cell 10 that undergoes an electrochemical reaction with the electrolyte. The electrode assembly 11 is formed by winding or stacking a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator located between the positive and negative electrodes. The electrode assembly 11 has a first tab 111 and a second tab 112, which have opposite polarities. The first tab 111 and the second tab 112 can be led out from the same side or different sides of the electrode assembly 11. The tabs can be formed by directly cutting the current collector area of ​​the positive or negative electrode that is not coated with active material. The first tab 111 can be a positive tab, and the second tab 112 can be a negative tab, or the first tab 111 can be a negative tab, and the second tab 112 can be a positive tab. The first tab 111 and the second tab 112 are used to conduct the current generated by the electrode assembly 11 outward.

[0037] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3The housing 12 has a receiving cavity 120 for accommodating the electrode assembly 11, providing a closed receiving space for the electrode assembly 11. The housing 12 includes a frame 123, an insulating member 122, and a first plate 121. The frame 123 has openings on both sides along a first direction X, which can be the thickness direction of the battery cell 10 or the stacking direction of the battery cells 10. The frame 123 forms the circumferential sidewalls of the housing 12. The frame 123 can be a rectangular or annular frame made of conductive metal material, arranged around the electrode assembly 11. For example, the frame 123 can be made of conductive metal material such as aluminum or aluminum alloy, or other conductive materials or composite materials such as copper or steel. The first plate 121 is located at one of the open ends of the frame 123 to close one side of the opening of the frame 123, thereby forming at least a portion of the receiving cavity 120 together with the frame 123. It is understood that the first plate 121 can be a plate-shaped structural member made of conductive metal material, such as aluminum, copper, or copper-aluminum composite plate. An insulating member 122 is disposed between the frame 123 and the first plate 121 to insulate the frame 123 from the first plate 121 and prevent a short circuit between them. The insulating member 122 can be a frame made of insulating material or an injection-molded insulating member to prevent a short circuit between the positive and negative electrodes. In some embodiments, the insulating member 122 can be integrally formed with the frame 123 or the first plate 121, for example, by injection molding to fit between the first plate 121 and the frame 123.

[0038] The frame 123 is electrically connected to the first tab 111, and the first plate 121 is electrically connected to the second tab 112. It is understood that the electrical connection can be achieved through welding, conductive bonding, or mechanical pressing. By connecting tabs of different polarities to the frame 123 and the first plate 121 of the housing 12, the frame 123 and the first plate 121 can serve as the positive and negative terminals of the battery cell 10, respectively, thus achieving a terminalless battery cell structure and simplifying the battery cell construction.

[0039] A heat exchange channel 1211 is provided within the frame 123 or the first plate 121. It is understood that the heat exchange channel 1211 can be formed within the wall of the frame 123 or within the first plate 121. A heat exchange medium flows through the heat exchange channel 1211, and the heat exchange medium is insulated from the heat exchange channel 1211. It is understood that the heat exchange medium itself can be insulating, such as insulating oil. Alternatively, an insulating layer can be provided on the inner wall of the heat exchange channel 1211, for example, by electrophoresis, spraying, or applying insulating materials, to prevent electrical conduction between the conductive heat exchange channel 1211 and the heat exchange medium.

[0040] By providing a heat exchange channel 1211 inside the frame 123 or the first plate 121 of the housing 12, the heat generated by the electrode assembly 11 can be directly conducted from the electrode tabs to the frame 123 or the first plate 121, and then directly transferred to the internal heat exchange medium through the wall of the heat exchange channel 1211. This eliminates the need for multiple layers of insulating film, thermal pads, gaps, and other thermally resistive interfaces between the cell housing and the external liquid cooling plate in traditional thermal management systems, thereby shortening the heat conduction path, reducing thermal resistance, and improving heat dissipation efficiency. Simultaneously, since there is no need to separately install a liquid cooling plate on the outside of the battery cell 10, the space utilization rate of the battery module is improved.

[0041] In some embodiments, to further improve heat dissipation and temperature uniformity, heat exchange channels 1211 are disposed on the first plate 121 and extend along the second direction Y. The heat exchange channels 1211 include a plurality of channels spaced apart along the third direction Z. The second direction Y can be the length direction of the battery cell 10, and the third direction Z can be the height direction of the battery cell 10, a direction perpendicular to both the first direction X and the second direction Y. Thus, a plurality of parallel heat exchange channels 1211 can be formed inside the first plate 121.

[0042] Through the above configuration, the first plate 121, while serving as a component electrically connected to the second tab 112, can also act as a heat exchanger to exchange heat with the large surface of the electrode assembly 11. The large surface of the electrode assembly 11 is the main area where the electrochemical reaction of the battery occurs, and the heat generation is relatively concentrated. By setting the heat exchange channels 1211 on the first plate 121, the heat generated by the large surface of the electrode assembly 11 can be directly transferred to the heat exchange medium in each heat exchange channel 1211 through the metal wall of the first plate 121, resulting in a large contact area and a short heat dissipation path. The multiple heat exchange channels 1211 are spaced apart along the third direction Z, so that the heat exchange medium can be evenly distributed on the entire surface of the first plate 121, enabling uniform cooling of different areas of the electrode assembly 11, avoiding the problem of local overheating of the electrode assembly 11, and improving the heat dissipation effect and temperature uniformity of the battery cell 10.

[0043] Please refer to Figure 4When the second tab 112 is a negative tab, it can be made of copper or a copper alloy. In this case, the first plate 121 can also be a composite plate made of different metals. The first plate 121 then includes a first metal layer 1212 and a second metal layer 1213, which are stacked. The second metal layer 1213 is welded to the second tab 112. The material of the second metal layer 1213 can be the same as that of the second tab 112, thereby improving the welding performance between the first plate 121 and the second tab 112. The thickness of the first metal layer 1212 is greater than the thickness of the second metal layer 1213, and the heat exchange channel 1211 is formed in the first metal layer 1212. The greater thickness of the first metal layer 1212 provides sufficient space for the heat exchange channel 1211, ensuring that the heat exchange channel 1211 has a sufficient cross-sectional area, thus guaranteeing the flow rate and heat dissipation effect of the heat exchange medium. For example, the first metal layer 1212 can be aluminum or aluminum alloy, and the second metal layer 1213 can be copper or copper alloy. The second metal layer 1213 is disposed facing the inside of the receiving cavity 120 and is welded to the second electrode 112. Since the electrode and the second metal layer 1213 of the same material have good welding compatibility, the relatively thin copper layer can meet the welding requirements. The relatively thick aluminum layer is used as the first metal layer 1212, and its cost is relatively lower than that of copper. This can ensure the welding quality while effectively controlling the production cost.

[0044] Of course, in some other embodiments, in order to reduce the thickness of the first plate 121, when the first plate 121 includes a first metal layer 1212 and a second metal layer 1213, and the thickness of the first metal layer 1212 is greater than the thickness of the second metal layer 1213, the second metal layer 1213 is welded to the second tab 112 to form a welding area, and the heat exchange channel 1211 is formed in the first metal layer 1212 and the second metal layer 1213. This allows the heat exchange channel 1211 to span across the first metal layer 1212 and the second metal layer 1213, thus achieving a larger width for a given thickness of the first plate 121. In this way, while ensuring heat dissipation efficiency, the total thickness of the first plate 121 can be reduced, resulting in a smaller size of the battery cell 10 in the first direction X, which is beneficial for improving the energy density and space utilization of the battery module.

[0045] It is understood that the weld zone formed by welding the second metal layer 1213 and the second tab 112 refers to the area where the second metal layer 1213 and the second tab 112 are welded together. In this embodiment, to avoid the weld zone being affected by the thinning of the second metal layer 1213 and thus impacting the weld quality, it is further defined that the thickness of the second metal layer 1213 in the weld zone is not less than the weld penetration depth. It is understood that the weld penetration depth refers to the maximum depth of the weld within the second metal layer 1213 during the welding process. On a plane perpendicular to the first direction X, the orthographic projection of the heat exchange channel 1211 does not overlap with the orthographic projection of the weld zone; that is, the heat exchange channel 1211 avoids the weld zone and is spaced apart from it, preventing the heat exchange channel 1211 from affecting the welding and ensuring that the second metal layer 1213 is not too thin during the welding process, thus preventing problems such as weld burn-through or insufficient weld strength. For example, when the second tab 112 and the first plate 121 are laser welded together, the weld penetration depth usually does not exceed 0.8 mm. Therefore, the thickness of the second metal layer 1213 can be set to be no less than 0.8 mm, such as 0.85 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.2 mm, or 1.5 mm. In the non-welding area, the thickness of the second metal layer 1213 only needs to ensure that the electrolyte contacts the first metal layer 1212.

[0046] Of course, in some other embodiments, the orthographic projection of the heat exchange channel 1211 and the orthographic projection of the welding area overlap at least partially on the plane perpendicular to the first direction X. That is, the heat exchange channel 1211 can extend partially below the welding area. However, in this embodiment, along the first direction X, the width of the heat exchange channel 1211 in the welding area is smaller than its width in the non-welding area. That is, the width of the heat exchange channel 1211 narrows below the welding area, thereby retaining sufficient thickness of the second metal layer 1213 below the welding area to meet the welding requirements. Thus, while meeting welding reliability, the cross-sectional area of ​​the heat exchange channel 1211 is preserved to the maximum extent, achieving both heat dissipation and welding reliability.

[0047] Please refer to Figure 4In some embodiments, to prevent short circuits between the conductive heat exchange channel 1211 and the heat exchange medium, an insulating layer 1214 is provided on the inner wall of the heat exchange channel 1211. The insulating layer 1214 is used to insulate the heat exchange medium and the heat exchange channel 1211. The insulating layer 1214 can be an electrically insulating material covering the surface of the inner wall of the heat exchange channel 1211. The material of the insulating layer 1214 can be epoxy resin, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyimide, ceramic coating, or other materials with electrical insulation properties and certain thermal conductivity properties. The insulating layer 1214 can be formed on the inner wall of the heat exchange channel 1211 by electrophoretic coating, spraying, impregnation, etc. Because an insulating layer 1214 is provided on the inner wall of the heat exchange channel 1211, even if the heat exchange channel 1211 itself is a conductive metal material, the heat exchange medium will not make electrical contact with the charged shell 12 when flowing in the channel, thereby avoiding short circuits between different battery cells 10 through a shared heat exchange medium. This reduces the requirements for the electrical insulation of the heat exchange medium, allowing the use of non-insulating coolants, such as ordinary deionized water or ethylene glycol aqueous solutions.

[0048] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 5 The battery module also includes a collector 20 and a connecting pipe 30. The collector 20 is a heat exchange medium collection and distribution component located at the end of the heat exchange channel 1211. The collector 20 is located on both sides of the heat exchange channel 1211 along the second direction Y. The collector 20 is provided with a collection cavity 201 that communicates with all heat exchange channels 1211. In this way, when the heat exchange medium of all heat exchange channels 1211 enters or flows out of the heat exchange channel, it will first pass through the collection cavity 201 for collection or distribution, so that the flow distribution in each heat exchange channel is more uniform.

[0049] A communication port 202 is provided on at least one side of the manifold 20 along the first direction X. It is understood that the communication port 202 is provided in the manifold cavity 201 of the manifold 20, and the communication port 202 is used to connect to the connecting pipe 30. The connecting pipe 30 connects to the communication port 202 of the manifold 20 and communicates with the manifold cavity 201. This is used for communication between multiple manifolds 20, and for connecting other heat exchange devices to the manifold cavity 201, realizing a circulation loop for the heat exchange medium. In some embodiments, the connecting pipe 30 can be connected to the communication port 202 by means of threaded connection, welding, or adhesive bonding.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 6In some embodiments, the insulating layer 1214 and a current collector 20 are integrally formed. It is understood that the insulating layer 1214 located within the heat exchange channel 1211 can be molded as a single unit with the current collector 20 at one end during manufacturing. This integral structure reduces the number of parts and assembly steps, improves the sealing reliability of the insulating layer 1214 and the current collector 20 at their joint, and avoids the risk of leakage that may occur due to assembly gaps. During installation, as... Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the insulating layer 1214 is inserted into the heat exchange channel 1211 of the first plate 121, and the end of the insulating layer 1214 protrudes from the other end of the heat exchange channel 1211 so that another manifold 20 can be installed at the other end, such as... Figure 8 As shown, a corresponding interface 203 can be formed on another current collector 20. The interface 203 of the separately formed current collector 20 is inserted into the insulating layer 1214, and the joint between the two is sealed.

[0051] Of course, in some other embodiments, the manifold 20 and the insulating layer 1214 can also be separate structures. It is understood that the insulating layer 1214 and the manifold within the heat exchange channel 1211 are formed independently and then assembled. For example, the insulating layer 1214 is first formed on the inner wall of the heat exchange channel 1211, and then the separately manufactured manifold 20 is installed to the end of the first plate 121, and the joint is sealed. In this case, as... Figure 8 As shown, corresponding interfaces 203 can be formed on the current collectors 20 on both sides. The interfaces 203 of the separately formed current collectors 20 are inserted into the insulating layer 1214, and the joint between the two is sealed.

[0052] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1As shown, the battery module includes at least two battery cells 10. In two adjacent battery cells 10, the open end of the frame 123 of one battery cell 10, away from the insulating member 122, is connected to the first plate 121 of the other battery cell 10. It is understood that the open end of the frame 123 away from the insulating member 122 refers to the other open end of the frame 123 where neither the insulating member 122 nor the first plate 121 is located. This open end is directly connected to the first plate 121 of the next battery cell 10, for example, by welding. Since the frame 123 is electrically connected to the first tab 111 and the first plate 121 is electrically connected to the second tab 112, this connection method creates electrical conductivity between the frame 123 of the previous battery cell 10 and the first plate 121 of the next battery cell 10. At this point, the first tab 111 of the preceding battery cell 10 and the second tab 112 of the following battery cell 10 are electrically connected in series through the mechanical connection of the frame 123 and the first plate 121. This stacking of multiple battery cells 10 eliminates the need for additional conductive connecting pieces or busbars between adjacent battery cells 10, simplifying the assembly process, reducing the number of parts, and lowering the internal resistance of the battery module. The housing 12 itself directly serves as part of the electrical connection path and also provides heat dissipation. Simultaneously, this stacking structure helps improve the space utilization of the battery module.

[0053] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 The battery module also includes a second plate 124, which is located at the other open end of the frame 123 away from the first plate 121. For example, when the battery module includes only one battery cell 10, the second plate 124 is located at the other open end of the frame 123 of the battery cell 10 away from the first plate 121, so as to seal the electrode assembly 11 inside the housing 12. When the battery module includes multiple battery cells 10, the second plate 124 can be located at the open end of the outermost battery cell 10 among the multiple battery cells 10, so as to accommodate the electrode assembly 11 of the outermost battery cell 10 within the receiving cavity 120, so that the battery module is formed as a single integral component. The material of the second plate 124 can be the same as the material of the frame 123. Using the same material makes the welding process easier and improves the welding strength when the frame 123 and the second plate 124 are welded together. In this embodiment, by placing the second plate 124 at another opening of the frame 123 away from the first plate 121, a sealed connection between the frame 123 and the second plate 124 can be achieved by laser welding, thereby sealing the electrode assembly 11 inside the housing 12.

[0054] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A battery module, characterized in that, include: At least one battery cell (10), said battery cell (10) comprising: The electrode assembly (11) has a first tab (111) and a second tab (112), the first tab (111) and the second tab (112) having opposite polarities; The housing (12) has a receiving cavity (120) for accommodating the electrode assembly (11). The housing (12) includes a frame (123), an insulating member (122), and a first plate (121). The frame (123) has openings on both sides along a first direction (X). The first plate (121) is disposed at one of the opening ends of the frame (123). The insulating member (122) is disposed between the frame (123) and the first plate (121). The frame (123) is electrically connected to the first tab (111), and the first plate (121) is electrically connected to the second tab (112). A heat exchange channel (1211) is provided in the frame (123) or the first plate (121). A heat exchange medium is provided in the heat exchange channel (1211), and the heat exchange medium is insulated from the heat exchange channel (1211).

2. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchange channel (1211) is disposed on the first plate (121) and extends along the second direction (Y). The heat exchange channel (1211) includes a plurality of channels spaced apart along the third direction (Z). The first direction (X), the second direction (Y) and the third direction (Z) are perpendicular to each other.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first plate (121) includes a first metal layer (1212) and a second metal layer (1213). The thickness of the first metal layer (1212) is greater than the thickness of the second metal layer (1213). The second metal layer (1213) is welded to the second tab (112). The heat exchange channel (1211) is formed in the first metal layer (1212).

4. The battery module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first plate (121) includes a first metal layer (1212) and a second metal layer (1213). The thickness of the first metal layer (1212) is greater than the thickness of the second metal layer (1213). The second metal layer (1213) is welded to the second tab (112) to form a welding area. The heat exchange channel (1211) is formed in the first metal layer (1212) and the second metal layer (1213).

5. The battery module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The thickness of the second metal layer (1213) in the welding area is not less than the welding penetration depth; on a plane perpendicular to the first direction (X), the orthographic projection of the heat exchange channel (1211) does not overlap with the orthographic projection of the welding area; or, On a plane perpendicular to the first direction (X), the orthographic projection of the heat exchange channel (1211) overlaps at least partially with the orthographic projection of the welding area, and along the first direction (X), the width of the heat exchange channel (1211) in the welding area is smaller than its width in the non-welding area.

6. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The inner wall of the heat exchange channel (1211) is provided with an insulating layer (1214), which is used to insulate the heat exchange medium and the heat exchange channel (1211).

7. The battery module according to claim 6, characterized in that, Also includes: A flow collector (20) is provided on both sides of the heat exchange channel (1211) along the second direction (Y). The flow collector (20) is provided with a flow collection cavity (201) that communicates with all the heat exchange channels (1211). A communication port (202) is provided on at least one side of the flow collector (20) along the first direction (X). Connect the pipe (30) to the communication port (202) of the manifold (20) and communicate with the manifold cavity (201).

8. The battery module according to claim 7, characterized in that, The insulating layer (1214) and one of the current collectors (20) are integrally formed; or the current collector (20) and the insulating layer (1214) are separate structures.

9. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, It includes at least two battery cells (10), and in two adjacent battery cells (10), the frame (123) of one battery cell (10) is connected to the first plate (121) of the other battery cell (10) at the open end away from the insulator (122).

10. An electrical device, characterized in that, Includes the battery module as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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