Battery modules and battery packs

Abstract

The present application provides a battery module and a battery pack, which relate to the technical field of energy storage devices. According to the battery module provided by the present application, the battery module has a plurality of single cells and a plurality of temperature control components, wherein any temperature control component is in contact with an adjacent single cell, and any single cell is in contact with at least one temperature control component, so that heat can be directly exchanged with the single cell through contact, and since the temperature control component contains a cooling medium inside, the cooling medium can absorb the heat of the single cell in contact with the temperature control component, thereby controlling the temperature of the single cell, and then controlling the temperature of the battery module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of energy storage devices, and in particular to a battery module and a battery pack. Background Art

[0002] Large and medium-sized battery energy storage systems in the prior art are equipped with multi-level fire protection systems, but the fire extinguishing agents are usually stored in storage tanks outside the battery box. When the fire protection system detects a battery fire, it drives the fire extinguishing agent through complex pipelines to the burning battery cell or battery box. Even for small battery packs such as home energy storage devices, there are products that arrange gas fire extinguishing agents and detection systems (fire detection tubes) inside the battery pack, and their fire extinguishing agents are also outside the battery module. In these two existing solutions, since the fire extinguishing agent is always far away from the battery cell, it is not easy to control the temperature of the battery cell. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, the present application provides a battery module and a battery pack, the purpose of which is to solve the above technical problems to a certain extent.

[0004] A first aspect of the present application provides a battery module, the battery module comprising:

[0005] Multiple single cells;

[0006] A plurality of temperature control components, any of the temperature control components is in contact with the adjacent single cells, and any of the single cells is in contact with at least one of the temperature control components;

[0007] Wherein, the temperature control component contains a cooling medium inside;

[0008] The temperature control member further includes an eruption portion, at least a portion of which has a thickness smaller than a thickness of a portion of the temperature control member located around the eruption portion, so that the eruption portion opens the temperature control member under the action of the internal pressure of the temperature control member.

[0009] Preferably, the temperature control member comprises a plurality of side surfaces corresponding to the single cells in contact with the temperature control member, and each of the side surfaces is in contact with the outer side of the corresponding single cell; or

[0010] The temperature control member has an outer cylindrical surface in contact with the single battery cell.

[0011] Preferably, at least a portion of each of the side surfaces has the same shape as an outer side of the corresponding single battery cell.

[0012] Preferably, the single battery cell has an explosion-proof valve, and the eruption portion is located on the side of the temperature control component where the explosion-proof valve is located.

[0013] Preferably, the temperature control component comprises a main body and a cover component, the main body has an opening, the cover component is covered on the main body to close the opening, and the eruption part is arranged on the main body.

[0014] Preferably, the battery module further comprises a first bracket and a second bracket arranged opposite to each other, the plurality of single cells are arranged between the first bracket and the second bracket, and the temperature control component is detachably connected to at least one of the first bracket and the second bracket.

[0015] Preferably, the temperature control component comprises a main body and a cover component, the main body has an opening, and the cover component is covered on the main body to close the opening;

[0016] The main body comprises a first part and a second part connected to each other, a cross-sectional area of ​​the first part is larger than a cross-sectional area of ​​the second part, and the second part is inserted into one of the first bracket and the second bracket.

[0017] Preferably, the cooling medium is configured to include a phase change medium, the phase change point of the phase change medium is 45-60 degrees Celsius, and the cooling medium is in liquid state at a temperature lower than the phase change point.

[0018] Preferably, the phase change point of the phase change medium is 49 degrees Celsius, and the phase change medium includes perfluorohexanone.

[0019] A second aspect of the present application provides a battery pack, which includes the battery module as described above.

[0020] According to the battery module provided in the present application, the battery module has multiple single cells and multiple temperature control components, wherein any temperature control component is in contact with adjacent single cells, and any single cell is in contact with at least one temperature control component, so that heat can be directly exchanged with the single cells through contact. Since the temperature control component contains a cooling medium inside, the cooling medium can absorb the heat of the single cells in contact with the temperature control component, thereby controlling the temperature of the single cells and further controlling the temperature of the battery module.

[0021] According to the battery module provided in the embodiment of the present application, when the cooling medium inside the temperature control component absorbs the heat transferred from the single battery cell, the pressure inside the temperature control component will increase. As the internal pressure of the temperature control component and the temperature of the cooling medium increase, the relatively weaker eruption part will open outward under the action of the internal pressure of the temperature control component, thereby ejecting the cooling medium outward into the environment where the temperature control component is located. Utilizing the ejected cooling medium, the cooling medium can directly contact the single battery cell, effectively control the temperature of the single battery cell, and also play a role in extinguishing a fire when the single battery cell catches fire.

[0022] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, preferred embodiments are specifically cited below and described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the present application and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a plan view of a temperature control component of a battery module provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing another plan view of a temperature control component of a battery module provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional view of a temperature control component of a battery module provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing another cross-sectional view of a temperature control component of a battery module provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing a three-dimensional diagram of a battery module provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a three-dimensional diagram of a partial structure of a battery module provided according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0030] Reference numerals:

[0031] 100 - single cell; 200 - temperature control component; 210 - main body; 211 - first part; 212 - second part; 220 - cover component; 230 - eruption part; 240 - side; 250 - outer cylindrical surface; 300 - first bracket; 400 - second bracket. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The technical solution of the present application will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0033] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present application. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0034] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0035] In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but they must be based on the fact that they can be implemented by ordinary technicians in this field. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by this application.

[0036] According to a first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, a battery module is provided. Figures 1 to 6 The structure and working principle of the battery module are described in detail.

[0037] According to the battery module provided in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the battery module includes a plurality of single cells 100 and a plurality of temperature control components 200. In the embodiment, any temperature control component 200 is in contact with an adjacent single cell 100, and any single cell 100 is in contact with at least one temperature control component 200. The interior of the temperature control component 200 contains a cooling medium. In the embodiment, the temperature control component 200 also includes an eruption portion 230, and the thickness of at least part of the eruption portion 230 is less than the thickness of the portion of the temperature control component 200 located around the eruption portion 230, so that the eruption portion 230 opens the temperature control component 200 under the action of the internal pressure of the temperature control component 200.

[0038] Thus, according to the battery module provided by the embodiment of the present application, the battery module has the above-mentioned multiple single battery cells 100 and the above-mentioned multiple temperature control components 200, wherein any temperature control component 200 is in contact with the adjacent single battery cell 100, and any single battery cell 100 is in contact with at least one temperature control component 200, so that it can directly exchange heat with the single battery cell 100 through contact. Since the temperature control component 200 contains a cooling medium inside, the cooling medium can absorb the heat of the aforementioned single battery cell 100 in contact with the temperature control component 200, thereby controlling the temperature of the aforementioned single battery cell 100, and then controlling the temperature of the battery module.

[0039] According to the battery module provided in the embodiment of the present application, when the cooling medium inside the temperature control component 200 absorbs the heat transferred from the single battery cell 100, the pressure inside the temperature control component 200 will increase. As the internal pressure of the temperature control component 200 and the temperature of the cooling medium increase, the relatively weaker eruption part 230 will open outward under the action of the internal pressure of the temperature control component 200, thereby erupting the cooling medium outward into the environment where the temperature control component 200 is located. By utilizing the erupted cooling medium, the cooling medium can directly contact the single battery cell 100, effectively control the temperature of the single battery cell 100, and can also play a role in extinguishing a fire when the single battery cell 100 catches fire.

[0040] Compared with the solutions in the prior art, the battery module provided in the embodiment of the present application has a temperature control component 200 capable of cooling the single battery cell 100 disposed inside the battery module, that is, between the single battery cells 100, so that the temperature control component 200 and the cooling medium contained inside the temperature control component 200 are closer to the single battery cell 100, making it easy to control the temperature of the single battery cell 100. Specifically, when the temperature of the single battery cell 100 is high but not thermally runaway, the temperature control component 200 disposed in the battery module provided in the embodiment of the present application can play the role of temperature control and temperature equalization.

[0041] In an embodiment, the single cell 100 may be, for example, a square shell cell, a soft package cell or a cylindrical cell. The plurality of single cells 100 may be arranged in an array, for example. For example, the plurality of single cells 100 may be arranged in a matrix.

[0042] In an embodiment, according to the battery module provided in the embodiment of the present application, the battery module may also include a first bracket 300 and a second bracket 400 arranged opposite to each other, the above-mentioned multiple single battery cells 100 may be arranged between the first bracket 300 and the second bracket 400, and the temperature control component 200 may be detachably connected to at least one of the first bracket 300 and the second bracket 400.

[0043] Thus, according to the battery module provided in the embodiment of the present application, the first bracket 300 and the second bracket 400 are provided so that the positions of the plurality of single battery cells 100 can be relatively fixed, and a setting position is provided for the temperature control component 200 .

[0044] In an embodiment, the first bracket 300 and the second bracket 400 may both be formed into a plate-like structure. Figure 5 For example, the first bracket 300 and the second bracket 400 may be arranged at intervals from each other in the vertical direction, and the above-mentioned plurality of single cells 100 may be arranged between the first bracket 300 and the second bracket 400. In an embodiment, the first bracket 300 and the second bracket 400 may both have a recessed portion arranged corresponding to each single cell 100, and these recessed portions are arranged on the side of the first bracket 300 facing the second bracket 400, that is, the upper side of the first bracket 300, and are also arranged on the side of the second bracket 400 facing the first bracket 300, that is, the lower side of the second bracket 400. In an embodiment, the bottom of the recessed portion may be penetrated to expose part of the top and bottom structures of the single cell 100.

[0045] In an embodiment, the height of the temperature control component 200 may be smaller than the height of the single cell 100. Thus, the temperature control component 200 may be connected to only one of the first bracket 300 and the second bracket 400. For example, the temperature control component 200 is arranged above the second bracket 400, that is, on the upper side of the second bracket 400. The specific arrangement method will be described later in conjunction with the specific structure of the temperature control component 200.

[0046] In the embodiment, the temperature control member 200 is disposed between adjacent single cells 100, which substantially includes the temperature control member 200 being disposed in a space defined by two adjacent single cells 100. As an example, in the example where the plurality of single cells 100 are arranged in a matrix, the temperature control member 200 is disposed between adjacent single cells 100, which means that the temperature control member 200 can be located between two single cells 100 in the length direction of the matrix of the single cells 100, or between two single cells 100 in the width direction.

[0047] In addition, you can Figure 5 and Figure 6 The examples given are for easy observation. Figure 5 The two exposed outer sides of the two temperature control components 200 are omitted in order to show the specific positions of the two temperature control components 200. Figure 5, the temperature control member 200 can be arranged in a space defined by four single cells 100. In this example, the multiple single cells 100 can still be arranged in a matrix arrangement. The four single cells 100 mentioned here form the smallest rectangular unit of the matrix arrangement. Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the example given, the temperature control member 200 is in contact with four battery cells 100 to exchange heat with the four battery cells 100 .

[0048] According to the battery module provided in the embodiment of the present application, the temperature control component 200 may include a plurality of side surfaces 240 corresponding to the single cells 100 in contact with the temperature control component 200, and each side surface 240 is in contact with the outer side of the corresponding single cell 100. By providing a plurality of side surfaces 240 corresponding to each single cell 100 to be contacted, the temperature control component 200 and the single cell 100 to be contacted can achieve a relatively good contact effect, and it is also convenient to position the temperature control component 200 between adjacent single cells 100, and it is also beneficial to avoid the temperature control component 200 from twisting relative to the adjacent single cells 100, and it is also beneficial to increase the contact area between the temperature control component 200 and each single cell 100.

[0049] like Figure 3 As shown, combined Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the example given, since the temperature control member 200 is in contact with four single battery cells 100, Figure 3 Corresponding to the above example, a cross section of the temperature control component 200 is given, which has the above four side surfaces 240 to be respectively used to contact the above four single battery cells 100 .

[0050] In another example, see Figure 4 , the temperature control member 200 may have an outer cylindrical surface 250 in contact with the adjacent single cell 100. That is, the cross section of the temperature control member 200 is circular, and it has the aforementioned outer cylindrical surface 250, and the outer cylindrical surface 250 is used to contact with the adjacent single cell 100. The advantage of this arrangement is that the shape of the temperature control member 200 is easy to obtain by processing, which is conducive to improving the production efficiency of the temperature control member 200.

[0051] According to the battery module provided by the embodiment of the present application, at least a portion of each side surface 240 may have the same shape as the outer side of the corresponding single cell 100. Thus, according to the battery module provided by the embodiment of the present application, in the example where the temperature control member 200 has the above-mentioned multiple side surfaces 240, at least a portion of each side surface 240 has the same shape as the outer side of the corresponding single cell 100, which can increase the contact area between each side surface 240 and the corresponding single cell 100, and increase the degree of fit between each side surface 240 and the corresponding single cell 100, thereby improving the heat exchange capacity of the temperature control member 200 for the above-mentioned adjacent single cells 100.

[0052] In the embodiment, as an example, Figure 3 As shown, the single cell 100 in this embodiment can be, for example, a cylindrical cell. Therefore, a portion of each side surface 240 can be formed as a part of the inner cylindrical surface as a whole, that is, a curved surface, which is used to fit with the outer side of the cylindrical cell.

[0053] In an embodiment, the cooling medium may be, for example, a fire extinguishing agent. When a single cell 100 in a battery module experiences thermal runaway, the cooling medium as a fire extinguishing agent can be ejected from the eruption portion 230 of the temperature control member 200, thereby being able to extinguish the fire. According to the battery module provided in an embodiment of the present application, the fire extinguishing agent may be configured to include a phase change medium, and the phase change medium changes phase when the phase change temperature is reached, thereby being able to absorb a large amount of heat. Specifically, the phase change point of the phase change medium may be 45-60 degrees Celsius, and the phase change medium is liquid at a temperature below the phase change point. As an example, the phase change medium may be, for example, perfluorohexanone, which has a phase change point of 49 degrees Celsius. In addition, perfluorohexanone also has the advantages of being environmentally friendly, having good insulation, good chemical compatibility, and a phase change point suitable for normal battery cell temperature control and temperature uniformity.

[0054] According to the battery module provided in the embodiment of the present application, the temperature control component 200 is arranged between the single cells 100, passively absorbs heat to perform passive thermal management on the single cells 100, and can be ejected outward to achieve spontaneous fire extinguishing when the single cells 100 are in thermal runaway. This spontaneous fire extinguishing does not require the additional setting of detection elements such as sensors, nor does it require the setting of additional pipelines and valves, that is, there is no need to arrange a detection system and a complex pipeline system. In the absence of a series of operations such as detection, judgment, and opening of pipelines, the timeliness of fire extinguishing is effectively improved.

[0055] According to the battery module provided in the embodiment of the present application, the single cell 100 has an explosion-proof valve, and the eruption part 230 is located on the side of the temperature control component 200 where the explosion-proof valve is located. In the present embodiment, the explosion-proof valve can be arranged upward, so the eruption part 230 can also be arranged upward, that is, it is located on the upper side of the temperature control component 200. In other words, from the perspective of the battery module as a whole, the explosion-proof valve of the single cell 100 and the temperature control component 200 face the same side of the battery module. The advantage of this arrangement is that when thermal runaway occurs in the single cell 100, due to the increase in pressure and temperature inside the single cell 100, its explosion-proof valve tends to open and eject the high-temperature material in the single cell 100 outward, and the eruption part 230 of the temperature control component 200 and the explosion-proof valve face the same side, so that the ejected cooling medium can move toward the explosion-proof valve, thereby reducing the travel of the cooling medium and achieving rapid fire extinguishing.

[0056] In an embodiment, the eruption portion 230 may be, for example, a groove portion provided at one end of the temperature control member 200, which may be realized by machining or mold forming. In addition, the eruption portion 230 may also have a thin outer edge, and when the pressure inside the temperature control member 200 increases, the outer edge of the eruption portion 230 may be separated from the rest of the temperature control member 200 due to its weakness. Such a thin outer edge of the eruption portion 230 may be formed by carving the temperature control member 200 to form a notch.

[0057] According to the battery module provided in the embodiment of the present application, the temperature control member 200 may include a main body 210 and a cover member 220. The main body 210 may have an opening, and the cooling medium may be added into the temperature control member 200 through the opening. The cover member 220 may be covered on the main body 210 to close the opening. Specifically, the cover member 220 may be bonded or welded to the main body 210. In the embodiment, as an example, the spraying part 230 is provided on the main body 210, that is, the end of the main body 210 facing away from the opening is provided.

[0058] In an embodiment, the main body 210 may have a first portion 211 and a second portion 212 connected to each other, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the first portion 211 is greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second portion 212, that is, the first portion 211 has a size greater than the second portion 212, thereby forming a step portion at the position where the two are connected. In an embodiment, the second portion 212 may be inserted into one of the first bracket 300 and the second bracket 400, for example, inserted into the second bracket 400 located below, so as to be installed on the second bracket 400. After being installed in place, the aforementioned step portion may abut against the upper surface of the second bracket 400, thereby limiting the position of the temperature control component 200.

[0059] According to the battery pack provided in the embodiment of the present application, the battery pack includes the battery module as described above, and also has the above beneficial effects, which will not be repeated here.

[0060] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present application, and the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. All equivalent structural changes made by using the contents of the present application specification and drawings under the innovative concept of the present application, or directly / indirectly applied in other related technical fields are included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A battery module, characterized in that: The battery module comprises: Multiple single cells; A plurality of temperature control components, any of the temperature control components is in contact with the adjacent single cells, and any of the single cells is in contact with at least one of the temperature control components; Wherein, the temperature control component contains a cooling medium inside; The temperature control member further includes an eruption portion, at least a portion of which has a thickness smaller than a thickness of a portion of the temperature control member located around the eruption portion, so that the eruption portion opens the temperature control member under the action of the internal pressure of the temperature control member.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The temperature control member includes a plurality of side surfaces corresponding to the single cells in contact with the temperature control member, each of the side surfaces being in contact with the outer side of the corresponding single cell; or The temperature control member has an outer cylindrical surface in contact with the single battery cell.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, characterized in that: At least a portion of each of the side surfaces has the same shape as an outer side of the corresponding single cell.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The single cell has an explosion-proof valve, and the eruption portion is located on the side of the temperature control component where the explosion-proof valve is located.

5. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The temperature control component includes a main body and a cover component. The main body has an opening. The cover component is covered on the main body to close the opening. The spraying part is arranged on the main body.

6. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery module further includes a first bracket and a second bracket disposed opposite to each other, the plurality of single cells are disposed between the first bracket and the second bracket, and the temperature control component is detachably connected to at least one of the first bracket and the second bracket.

7. The battery module according to claim 6, characterized in that: The temperature control component includes a main body and a cover component, the main body has an opening, and the cover component is covered on the main body to close the opening; The main body comprises a first part and a second part connected to each other, a cross-sectional area of ​​the first part is larger than a cross-sectional area of ​​the second part, and the second part is inserted into one of the first bracket and the second bracket.

8. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The cooling medium is configured to include a phase change medium, the phase change point of the phase change medium is 45-60 degrees Celsius, and the cooling medium is in a liquid state at a temperature lower than the phase change point.

9. The battery module according to claim 8, characterized in that: The phase change point of the phase change medium is 49 degrees Celsius, and the phase change medium includes perfluorohexanone.

10. A battery pack, characterized in that: The battery pack comprises the battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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