Transverse expandable battery unit, battery system and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model relates to a transverse expandable battery unit, a battery system and a vehicle. The battery unit comprises an electrical assembly and a box body assembly, the electrical assembly comprises a plurality of battery modules; the longitudinal section of the box body assembly is concave, the box body assembly comprises a first box body, a second box body and an integrated liquid cooling plate, the first box body and the second box body are used for accommodating a plurality of battery modules, the integrated liquid cooling plate is arranged on the bottom surface of the first box body, the top surface of the second box body and the interface of the first box body and the second box body, and the interface of the first box body and the second box body shares the same integrated liquid cooling plate; the integrated liquid cooling plate is used for carrying out double-sided liquid cooling and direct supporting on the battery module; both the first box body and the second box body are formed by enclosing side plates and integrated liquid cooling plates, all the side plates are vertically arranged in the same direction, and all the integrated liquid cooling plates are horizontally arranged, so that the two transverse sides of the box body assembly are open, each side is provided with a transverse connecting structure, and the transverse connecting structures are used for connecting end plates; or the transverse expandable battery units are in nested connection with the transverse adjacent transverse expandable battery units.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of power batteries, and in particular to a laterally expandable battery unit, a battery system and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] In the field of commercial vehicles, battery systems face many challenges in terms of energy density, thermal management, and standardized scalability. At present, commercial vehicle battery systems have at least the following problems:

[0003] 1) The traditional commercial vehicle battery system adopts the form of standard box + frame, and the overall structure is heavy, which seriously affects the vehicle's endurance;

[0004] 2) The battery system does not have its own carrying capacity and still requires an additional frame for installation, which not only increases weight but also takes up more space;

[0005] 3) Existing battery systems mostly adopt an up-and-down stacking structure and are usually arranged at the rear of the vehicle, which occupies the vehicle's backup space and also causes the vehicle's center of gravity to be higher;

[0006] 4) Thermal management of the battery system is one of the key factors affecting battery performance, but the thermal management effect of traditional battery systems is poor and the battery temperature is usually not effectively controlled, which not only affects the performance and life of the battery, but also may bring safety hazards;

[0007] 5) Currently, commercial vehicle battery systems have poor scalability and cannot flexibly adjust battery capacity according to demand. This limitation makes the vehicle less adaptable in different application scenarios and cannot meet diverse needs.

[0008] Although the existing related patents and technologies have tried to solve the above problems to a certain extent, they have not been completely solved. For example, some technical solutions try to improve the energy density by optimizing the design of battery modules, but there are still deficiencies in structural weight and thermal management. Therefore, a new type of battery system is urgently needed to solve the above technical problems. Utility Model Content

[0009] The utility model discloses a laterally expandable battery unit, a battery system and a vehicle, aiming to solve the technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0010] The utility model adopts the following technical solutions:

[0011] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the utility model provides a laterally expandable battery unit, including an electrical component and a box component;

[0012] The electrical assembly includes a plurality of battery modules;

[0013] The longitudinal section of the box assembly is in a concave shape, including a first box located at the bottom, a second box located at both ends of the upper part, and a plurality of integrated liquid cooling plates. The first box and the second box are used to accommodate a plurality of battery modules. The integrated liquid cooling plates are arranged on the bottom surface of the first box, the top surface of the second box, and the interface between the first box and the second box. The interface between the first box and the second box shares the same integrated liquid cooling plate. The integrated liquid cooling plate is used to perform double-sided liquid cooling and / or direct support on the battery module.

[0014] The first box body and the second box body are both enclosed by side panels and the integrated liquid cooling plates, all side panels are arranged vertically in the same direction, and all integrated liquid cooling plates are arranged horizontally, so that the two lateral sides of the box body assembly are open, and each side is provided with a lateral connecting structure, which is used to connect the end plate, or to dock with the laterally adjacent laterally expandable battery units and then nest them.

[0015] As a preferred technical solution, the transverse connection structure arranged on both sides of the box assembly includes a complementary first transverse interlocking portion and a second transverse interlocking portion. After the first transverse interlocking portion is docked with the adjacent second transverse interlocking portion, it is pin-connected or bolted to achieve a nested connection with the end plate or the adjacent transverse expandable battery unit.

[0016] As a preferred technical solution, a first longitudinal interlocking portion is provided at the top of both ends of the first box body, and a complementary second longitudinal interlocking portion is provided at the bottom of the second box body. After the first longitudinal interlocking portion and the second longitudinal interlocking portion are docked, they are pin-connected or bolt-connected to achieve a nested connection between the first box body and the second box body.

[0017] As a preferred technical solution, the first box body is surrounded by a first integrated liquid cooling plate, a second integrated liquid cooling plate and two first side panels. The first integrated liquid cooling plate is arranged at the bottom for cooling and supporting several battery modules. The two first side panels are vertically arranged at the longitudinal ends of the first integrated liquid cooling plate, and the second integrated liquid cooling plate covers the top of the two first side panels. The bottom area of ​​the second integrated liquid cooling plate is the same as that of the first integrated liquid cooling plate.

[0018] As a preferred technical solution, the first box body is provided with several interconnected first power storage spaces in the longitudinal direction, each first power storage space is used to accommodate a battery module, and a second box body is nested and connected to the top of each longitudinal end of the first box body, so that the longitudinal section of the box body assembly is concave, and each second box body is provided with a second power storage space for accommodating the battery module, and the volume of the second power storage space is consistent with that of the first power storage space; multiple integrated liquid cooling plates are respectively arranged at the bottom and top of each first power storage space and the second power storage space, and the upper and lower adjacent first power storage spaces and second power storage spaces share the same integrated liquid cooling plate.

[0019] As a preferred technical solution, each second box body is enclosed by a third integrated liquid cooling plate, two second side plates and one end of the second integrated liquid cooling plate. The two second side plates are arranged at one end of the upper part of the second integrated liquid cooling plate. The two second side plates are separated by a distance of a second power storage space. One end of the upper part of the second integrated liquid cooling plate is used to cool and support a battery module. The third integrated liquid cooling plate covers the top of the two second side plates, and the bottom area of ​​the third integrated liquid cooling plate is the same as that of the second power storage space.

[0020] As a preferred technical solution, the integrated liquid cooling plate is configured as a double-layer composite structure. The outer surface of the integrated liquid cooling plate is provided with a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. The integrated liquid cooling plate is provided with a guide baffle inside, which is used to limit the flow direction of the coolant.

[0021] As a preferred technical solution, the top surface and the bottom surface of the battery module are both in contact with the integrated liquid cooling plate, and a thermal conductive adhesive or a thermal conductive film is provided between the battery module and the integrated liquid cooling plate;

[0022] A side of the integrated liquid cooling plate that is not in contact with the battery module is provided with a heat-insulating material and / or an anti-collision plate.

[0023] As a preferred technical solution, the electrical component also includes a high-voltage busbar, and adjacent battery modules are electrically connected in series via the high-voltage busbar.

[0024] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the utility model provides a battery system, comprising at least two laterally expandable battery cells as described in any of the above items, wherein laterally adjacent laterally expandable battery cells are nested and connected via a transverse connecting structure, laterally adjacent battery modules are connected in parallel, laterally adjacent integrated liquid cooling plates are connected in parallel, and the outer sides of the first and last laterally expandable battery cells are sealed and packaged via end plates.

[0025] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the utility model further provides a vehicle, comprising the battery system as described above.

[0026] One embodiment of the above utility model has the following advantages or beneficial effects:

[0027] Traditional commercial vehicle battery systems usually adopt a standard box + frame form, with low energy density and overall heavy weight. The utility model reduces the use of frames by highly integrating the battery module and the box, thereby significantly reducing the overall weight of the battery system. The box assembly adopts a single-layer box structure and is connected by nesting the upper and lower layers, which optimizes space utilization and improves the energy density of the battery system.

[0028] Furthermore, the existing battery system has poor thermal management effect. The utility model integrates a liquid cooling plate and designs two liquid cooling channels on the left and right. The channels are connected in parallel during liquid cooling, which can effectively reduce the temperature difference caused by the long channels and improve the thermal management efficiency. In addition, the upper and lower double-layer liquid cooling design of the battery module further enhances the heat dissipation performance of the battery system and ensures that the battery operates within the optimal temperature range. Since the integrated liquid cooling plate has both cooling and load-bearing functions, the number and complexity of components are reduced, which not only simplifies the manufacturing process, but also leaves more space for accommodating battery modules, improving the overall efficiency and performance of the system.

[0029] In addition, the utility model adopts a modular design, so that multiple battery cells adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction can be conveniently combined through nested connection to form an integrated battery system with a larger capacity, so that the battery system has a high degree of flexibility and scalability, and can adapt to the needs of different vehicles and application scenarios. Moreover, the battery cells or battery systems can bear their own weight, and can be integrated into the vehicle by side hanging or hoisting without the need for an additional frame structure, which further simplifies the installation process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the embodiment of the utility model, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for the description of the embodiment, which constitute a part of the utility model. The schematic embodiment of the utility model and its description explain the utility model and do not constitute an improper limitation of the utility model. In the drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a laterally expandable battery unit disclosed in Example 1 of the utility model;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a front view of the laterally expandable battery unit disclosed in Example 1 of the utility model;

[0033] Figure 3 A top view of a laterally expandable battery unit disclosed in Example 1 of the utility model;

[0034] Figure 4 for Figure 3 AA section view;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic structural diagram of the first side panel and the second side panel disclosed in Example 1 of the utility model;

[0036] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the integrated liquid cooling plate disclosed in Example 1 of the utility model;

[0037] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the battery system disclosed in Example 2 of the present utility model;

[0038] Figure 8 A top view of the battery system disclosed in Example 2 of the present utility model;

[0039] Fig. 9 for Figure 8 BB section view.

[0040] Description of reference numerals:

[0041] A first box body 10, a first side plate 11, a first longitudinal interlocking portion 12, a first transverse interlocking portion 13, a second transverse interlocking portion 14, a high-voltage plug-in box 15, a second box body 20, a second side plate 21, a second longitudinal interlocking portion 22, an integrated liquid cooling plate 30, a guide baffle 31, a coolant inlet 32, a coolant outlet 33, a first integrated liquid cooling plate 34, a second integrated liquid cooling plate 35, a third integrated liquid cooling plate 36, a battery module 40, and an end plate 50. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the utility model clearer, the technical solution of the utility model will be clearly and completely described below in combination with the specific embodiments of the utility model and the corresponding drawings. In the description of the utility model, it should be noted that the term "or" is usually used in the sense of including "and / or", unless the content clearly indicates otherwise.

[0043] In the description of the present utility model, 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 a magnetic connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be internal communication between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present utility model can be understood according to specific circumstances. In addition, in the description of this application, the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used to distinguish the description and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0044] Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the utility model, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0045] Example 1

[0046] refer to Figure 1 — Figure 6The embodiment of the utility model provides a laterally expandable battery unit, which includes an electrical component, a box component and an accessory system, wherein the electrical component is responsible for storing and transmitting electrical energy, including a plurality of battery modules 40 and electrical connectors thereof; the box component is used to provide structural support and cooling functions, and can also realize expansion connection with adjacent battery units, and includes a first box body 10, a second box body 20 and an integrated liquid cooling plate 30; the accessory system is used to ensure the safety of the system and provide connection and sealing functions, including MSD (maintenance switch), explosion-proof valve, high-pressure plug-in, low-pressure plug-in, liquid cooling interface and sealing gasket, etc.

[0047] Preferably, the above-mentioned laterally expandable battery unit is applied to new energy vehicles, including but not limited to commercial vehicles, such as electric trucks, electric buses, electric logistics vehicles, electric sanitation vehicles, electric engineering vehicles, electric refrigerated trucks, etc., which are not specifically limited in this embodiment.

[0048] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 In a preferred embodiment, the first box body 10 is arranged below the box body assembly, and the second box body 20 is arranged above the two ends of the first box body 10. The longitudinal section of the box body assembly is concave, so that the battery unit can better fit the shape of the vehicle chassis, make full use of the available space at the bottom, and release the space in other parts of the vehicle body for arranging more goods or other equipment, thereby improving the flexibility of the vehicle layout and avoiding space waste. At the same time, the bottom-mounted battery unit can also lower the center of gravity of the vehicle and improve the stability and safety of the vehicle.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, the first box body 10 is longitudinally provided with several interconnected first power storage spaces, each first power storage space is used to accommodate a battery module 40, and a second box body 20 is nested and connected to the top of each longitudinal end of the first box body 10, so that each second box body 20 is provided with a second power storage space for accommodating the battery module 40. Preferably, the second power storage space has the same volume as the first power storage space, and can also accommodate a battery module 40 of the same volume. Adjacent battery modules 40 are electrically connected in series through electrical connectors, and multiple integrated liquid cooling plates 30 are respectively arranged at the bottom and top of each first power storage space and the second power storage space to achieve the effect of supporting the battery module 40 and cooling it on both sides.

[0050] In some other optional implementations, a plurality of second power storage spaces may also be provided in the second box body 20 , and each second power storage space is used to accommodate a battery module 40 .

[0051] The nested connection structure of the first box body 10 and the second box body 20 allows the battery modules 40 to be arranged closely, maximizing the use of the internal space of the box body, improving the energy density and the overall efficiency of the system. In addition, the nested connection also enhances the overall structural strength and stability of the box body assembly, ensuring the reliability and durability of the battery system under various operating conditions. The size of the power storage space inside the first box body 10 and the second box body 20 is consistent, so that the battery module 40 can be produced in a standardized manner, which is convenient for batch manufacturing and inventory management, and the standardized battery module 40 and power storage space design facilitates the layout and optimization of the integrated liquid cooling plate 30, ensuring the effective cooling of each battery module 40 and improving the thermal management efficiency.

[0052] refer to Figure 3 — Figure 5 In a preferred embodiment, the first box body 10 is surrounded by a first integrated liquid cooling plate 34 at the bottom, a second integrated liquid cooling plate 35 at the top and first side plates 11 at both ends, and a first longitudinal interlocking portion 12 is provided at the top of the two first side plates 11; each second box body 20 is surrounded by a third integrated liquid cooling plate 36 at the top, two second side plates 21 and one end of the second integrated liquid cooling plate 35, the two second side plates 21 are arranged at one end of the upper part of the second integrated liquid cooling plate 35, and the two second side plates 21 are spaced apart by a distance of a second power storage space, the third integrated liquid cooling plate 36 has the same bottom area as the second power storage space, and a second longitudinal interlocking portion 22 is provided at the bottom of the two second side plates 21, and when the first longitudinal interlocking portion 12 is butt-jointed with the second longitudinal interlocking portion 22, the two complement each other in shape to achieve a nested connection, and are fixedly connected by pin connection or bolts, which ensures that the two boxes can be firmly connected while also facilitating disassembly and maintenance.

[0053] like Figure 5 In a preferred embodiment, the first longitudinal engaging portion 12 is configured as a protrusion or a groove. The specific shape can be a semicircular, rectangular or stepped geometric shape that can perfectly dock with the second longitudinal engaging portion 22. The shape of the second longitudinal engaging portion 22 is complementary to the first longitudinal engaging portion 12. If the first longitudinal engaging portion 12 is a protrusion, the second longitudinal engaging portion 22 is a corresponding groove shape, and vice versa.

[0054] The complementary interlocking structure of the first side panel 11 and the second side panel 21 ensures a tight connection between the first box body 10 and the second box body 20, so that the two boxes form a whole, which helps to improve the sealing effect, prevent external pollutants such as dust and moisture from entering the internal storage space, protect the safety of the battery module 40, and prevent relative sliding or dislocation, thereby improving the stability of the connection, the strength of the overall structure and the seismic resistance, so as to better disperse and absorb external impact and vibration. In addition, the standardized design of the interlocking structure makes the disassembly and replacement process between the first box body 10 and the second box body 20 simpler, facilitates daily maintenance and quick replacement of the battery module 40, and reduces vehicle downtime.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment, a sealing gasket is provided on the upper surface of the first longitudinal interlocking structure 12 and the lower surface of the second longitudinal interlocking structure 13 to ensure that the sealing gasket can be compressed when the two are interlocked with each other to enhance the sealing performance. At the same time, the sealing gasket also has a certain thickness, which can not only allow a certain manufacturing tolerance / assembly tolerance, but also absorb and buffer the vibration and impact between the first box body 10 and the second box body 20, and reduce the noise generated by mechanical stress and friction.

[0056] Preferably, each first side panel 11 and the second side panel 21 have the same height, and both are double-layer composite structures or frame structures. The interior of the first side panel 11 / second side panel 21 may be further provided with a supporting frame to enhance the structural strength and filled with insulation material.

[0057] Preferably, the height of the first side panel 11 and the second side panel 21 match the height of the battery module 40 to ensure that the battery module 40 can be placed in place without causing accidental displacement or sliding due to the driving of the vehicle. Since battery modules 40 of different capacities have different size specifications, the height of the first side panel 11 or the second side panel 21 is no longer specifically limited in this embodiment, and technicians in this field can freely choose according to actual needs.

[0058] Preferably, the two lateral sides of the box assembly are open to facilitate the installation and replacement of the battery module 40. Furthermore, a lateral connection structure is provided on both the left and right sides of the box assembly, and the lateral connection structure is used to connect the end plate 50, or to dock and nest with the laterally adjacent laterally expandable battery units.

[0059] It should be noted that when multiple battery cells are transversely nested and connected, only the outer side surfaces of the battery cells located at the left and right ends are installed with the end plates 50 through the transverse connection structure, and the other transverse connection structures are used for nesting connection with adjacent battery cells.

[0060] like Figure 1 , Figure 4 , Figure 7In a preferred embodiment, the transverse connection structure arranged on both sides of the box assembly includes a complementary first transverse interlocking portion 13 and a second transverse interlocking portion 14. After the first transverse interlocking portion 13 is docked with the adjacent second transverse interlocking portion 14, it is connected by pins or bolts to achieve a nested connection with the end plate 50 or the adjacent transverse expandable battery unit.

[0061] In a preferred embodiment, the first transverse interlocking portion 13 is configured as a protrusion, a groove, or a combination of the two, such as a stepped shape, or other regular / irregular geometric shapes; the second transverse interlocking portion 14 is complementary to the shape of the first transverse interlocking portion 13. If a certain area of ​​the first transverse interlocking portion 13 is a protrusion, the corresponding area of ​​the second transverse interlocking portion 14 is configured as a groove shape, and so on.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the shapes and matching modes of the first transverse interlocking portion 13 and the second transverse interlocking portion 14 may be the same as or different from the configurations of the first longitudinal interlocking portion 12 and the second longitudinal interlocking portion 22 .

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, the first transverse interlocking portion 13 and the second transverse interlocking portion 14 can be complementary interlocked by adding independent structural parts, or the outer edges of the first side plate 11, the second side plate 21 and multiple integrated liquid cooling plates 30 can be directly configured as the first transverse interlocking portion 13 and the second transverse interlocking portion 14.

[0064] By providing the above-mentioned transverse connection structure, modular splicing can be achieved between transversely adjacent battery units, which facilitates the transverse expansion of the system to meet different capacity and configuration requirements.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment, a first integrated liquid cooling plate 34 is disposed at the bottom of the first box body 10, and its bottom area matches the bottom area of ​​an integer number of battery modules 40, and is used to cool and support several battery modules 40. The second integrated liquid cooling plate 35 covers the top of the two first side plates 11, and the second integrated liquid cooling plate 35 has the same bottom area as the first integrated liquid cooling plate 34. The two ends of the upper part of the second integrated liquid cooling plate 35 are used to cool and support a battery module 40 respectively.

[0066] like Figure 4 Preferably, there is no need to set up a frame structure on both sides of the first integrated liquid cooling plate 34, the second integrated liquid cooling plate 35 and the third integrated liquid cooling plate 36, but directly support the battery module 40, thereby reducing the number of components in the system, simplifying the assembly process, and reducing the overall weight of the battery unit, which helps to improve the energy efficiency and endurance of the vehicle. Especially for commercial vehicles, reducing the dead weight can significantly improve the load-bearing capacity and operating economy.

[0067] In addition, after the frame structure is removed, the space on both sides of the integrated liquid cooling plate 30 can be directly used to accommodate the battery module 40, which improves space utilization and increases the energy density of the battery system. Moreover, since there is no restriction of the frame structure, the layout of the battery module 40 is more flexible and can be optimized according to actual needs.

[0068] Since each integrated liquid cooling plate 30 can directly support the battery module 40, the stress concentration phenomenon caused by the frame structure is avoided, and the possibility of structural fatigue and deformation is reduced, so as to extend the service life of the battery unit.

[0069] Preferably, the first power storage space and the second power storage space adjacent to each other share the same integrated liquid cooling plate 30, that is, the second integrated liquid cooling plate 35. The second integrated liquid cooling plate 35 can cool the battery module 40 in the second power storage space at the top and the battery module in the first power storage space at the bottom at the same time. During the driving of the vehicle, the battery module 40 located in the first box body 10 can be cooled by the first integrated liquid cooling plate 34 at the bottom and the second integrated liquid cooling plate 35 at the top at the same time, and the battery module 40 located in the second box body 20 can be cooled by the second integrated liquid cooling plate 35 at the bottom and the third integrated liquid cooling plate 36 at the top at the same time. All battery modules 40 achieve double-sided cooling, which can more evenly disperse the heat generated by the battery module 40, effectively increase the heat dissipation area, improve the heat transfer efficiency, reduce the performance degradation and safety risks of the battery module 40 caused by local overheating, ensure that the battery module 40 maintains a suitable operating temperature at high power output, and reduce the risk of thermal runaway.

[0070] In a preferred embodiment, the top surface and the bottom surface of the battery module 40 are both in contact with the integrated liquid cooling plate 30, a thermal conductive glue or a thermal conductive film is provided between the battery module 40 and the integrated liquid cooling plate 30, and a thermal insulation material and / or an anti-collision plate is provided on the side of the integrated liquid cooling plate 30 that is not in contact with the battery module 40.

[0071] By providing a thermally conductive adhesive or a thermally conductive film between the battery module 40 and the integrated liquid cooling plate 30, the thermal contact between the battery module 40 and the integrated liquid cooling plate 30 can be enhanced, the thermal resistance can be reduced, the heat conduction efficiency can be improved, and the heat can be quickly transferred to the liquid cooling plate to enhance the overall cooling effect; by providing a thermal insulation material, the influence of the external ambient temperature can be effectively isolated, the heat loss can be reduced, the thermal efficiency of the system can be improved, and the stable operating temperature of the battery module 40 can be maintained; the anti-collision plate can provide a certain physical protection to prevent external impact from causing damage to the battery module 40 or the integrated liquid cooling plate 30, so as to enhance the durability and reliability of the battery unit.

[0072] refer to Figure 6In a preferred embodiment, the integrated liquid cooling plate 30 is configured as a double-layer composite structure, and the outer surface of each integrated liquid cooling plate 30 is provided with a coolant inlet 32 ​​and a coolant outlet 33, and the integrated liquid cooling plate 30 is internally provided with a guide baffle 31, which is used to limit the flow direction of the coolant.

[0073] Specifically, the above-mentioned "double-layer composite structure" means that the integrated liquid cooling plate 30 is composed of an upper and lower layer, each layer is made of a material with good thermal conductivity (such as aluminum alloy or copper), and the upper and lower layers are sealed together through a composite process to form a whole, and an intermediate flow channel is formed between the upper and lower layers for the flow of cooling liquid.

[0074] Preferably, the guide baffle 31 is longitudinally arranged along the length direction of the integrated liquid cooling plate 30, and can divide the integrated liquid cooling plate 30 into left and right sides, one side is connected to the cooling liquid inlet 32, and the other side is connected to the cooling liquid outlet 33. By setting the guide baffle 31, the internal space of the flow channel is divided, and the specific flow direction of the cooling liquid is limited, so that the cooling liquid can form an orderly flow path inside the integrated liquid cooling plate 30, ensuring that the cooling liquid can be evenly distributed inside the entire integrated liquid cooling plate 30, avoiding local overheating, and maximizing the use of the surface area of ​​the entire integrated liquid cooling plate 30, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency with the battery module 40, and at the same time, the battery module 40 can be cooled more evenly.

[0075] Preferably, the coolant inlet 32 ​​and the coolant outlet 33 are connected to a cooling circulation component, and the cooling circulation component can control the flow rate / flow velocity or temperature of the coolant. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the technology related to the cooling circulation system has been developed to a relatively mature level. For the sake of brevity, this specification does not describe the structure of the cooling circulation component in detail, nor does it limit the specific structure of the cooling circulation component. Any cooling circulation equipment commonly used in the field can be used.

[0076] In a preferred embodiment, the flow channels of multiple integrated liquid cooling plates 30 are connected in parallel to reduce the temperature difference caused by the excessive length of the flow channel and to avoid the cooling effect of the latter section of the flow channel being reduced due to the gradual increase in the temperature of the coolant.

[0077] In a preferred embodiment, multiple battery modules 40 arranged in the first power storage space are electrically connected in series through a high-voltage busbar, and adjacent battery cells are connected in parallel. This reduces the use of high-voltage plug-ins and reduces the risk of system failure due to electrical plug-in failure, thereby achieving a higher level of integration.

[0078] In a preferred embodiment, the battery module 40 is configured as a blade battery, and a plurality of battery cells are arranged inside the blade battery. The battery cells have a flat long strip or long sheet structure and are arranged in sequence along the width direction of the first power storage unit / the second power storage unit, such as Figure 4To form a complete battery module 40, the high-voltage busbars between adjacent battery modules 40 are arranged at the bottom and top of each module to achieve series electrical connection.

[0079] In a preferred embodiment, the high-voltage busbar is a copper busbar, and an insulating thermal conductive coating is disposed between the high-voltage busbar and the integrated liquid cooling plate 30 , and the coating can be configured as thermal conductive silicone.

[0080] In a preferred embodiment, the battery module 40 configured in each battery unit can be charged or directly replaced, which is not limited here. Those skilled in the art can select and configure according to actual needs.

[0081] Preferably, in addition to the battery module 40 and the high-voltage busbar, the electrical components are further provided with a low-voltage wiring harness and a BMS slave board, wherein the low-voltage wiring harness is used to transmit the low-voltage signals and power of each sensor in the battery module 40, and transmit the corresponding signals to the BMS slave board. Preferably, the BMS slave board is installed on the side or top of the battery module 40 for real-time battery data collection, and is connected to the BMS main board by directly welding the sampling chip to the battery cell or through a low-voltage wiring harness. In this embodiment, the setting position of the BMS main board is no longer specifically limited.

[0082] Preferably, the box assembly also includes a high-voltage plug-in box 15. On the one hand, the high-voltage plug-in box 15 can provide a unified interface and safety device for centrally managing the electrical connection between the battery module 40 and the external system to control the input and output of current. On the other hand, the high-voltage plug-in box can also integrate a signal interface for transmitting monitoring signals and control signals of the BMS.

[0083] In a preferred embodiment, the high-voltage plug box 15 is disposed at one longitudinal end of the box assembly. The specific structure of the high-voltage plug box 15 can be selected from any existing implementation or directly purchased as a finished product. No structural improvement is involved and no further description or specific limitation is made here.

[0084] Preferably, each component in the accessory system is dispersed in different locations of the battery unit, and each performs its own function.

[0085] In a preferred embodiment, the maintenance switch MSD is used to safely and quickly disconnect the high-voltage circuit when repairing the battery unit or in an emergency to prevent maintenance personnel from electric shock or equipment damage; optionally, it is arranged on the outside of the battery module 40 or in other easily repairable locations.

[0086] In a preferred embodiment, the explosion-proof valve is used to release the gas pressure inside the battery module 40 to prevent the battery module 40 from exploding under abnormal conditions (such as overcharging or overheating); optionally, the explosion-proof valve is arranged on the top or side of the battery module 40 to ensure that the battery module 40 can be effectively exhausted when the pressure in any direction is too high.

[0087] In a preferred embodiment, the high-voltage plug-in is used to connect the battery module 40 with an external high-voltage electrical system to ensure the safe transmission of high-voltage current, and can automatically disconnect in the event of overcurrent or short circuit to protect the system; optionally, the high-voltage plug-in is arranged at the external interface of the battery module 40 to facilitate high-voltage electrical connection with an external system.

[0088] In a preferred embodiment, the low-voltage plug-in is used to connect the BMS and other low-voltage equipment, transmit control signals and low-voltage power, and ensure stable and reliable signal transmission between each battery module 40 and the BMS mainboard; optionally, the low-voltage plug-in can be configured inside or outside the battery module 40 according to actual needs.

[0089] In a preferred embodiment, the sealing gasket is used to ensure the sealing of various interfaces and connections of the battery cell to prevent water, dust and other impurities from entering the interior of the battery cell. Specifically, it can be arranged at various connection interfaces, the connection between the first box body 10 and the second box body 20, and the junction of transversely nested battery cells.

[0090] It should be understood that the accessory system includes but is not limited to the components mentioned above. Those skilled in the art can add, subtract or other selectively configure the components of the accessory system according to specific application requirements to achieve the desired functions and effects. These modifications and changes should be regarded as part of the present invention and should not be limited to the specific embodiments described herein.

[0091] Example 2

[0092] This embodiment provides a battery system, which includes at least two laterally expandable battery units mentioned in the above-mentioned embodiment 1. The technical features recorded in the above-mentioned embodiment 1 are naturally inherited in this embodiment and will not be repeated here one by one.

[0093] like Figure 7 — Fig. 9In a preferred embodiment, taking a battery system including three transversely expandable battery cells as an example, transversely adjacent battery cells are nested and connected through a transverse connecting structure, and sealing gaskets can be further arranged between the transverse connecting structures. Transversely adjacent battery modules 40 are connected in parallel, and transversely adjacent integrated liquid cooling plates 30 are connected in parallel. The outer sides of the first and last transversely expandable battery cells are sealed and packaged by end plates 50 to ensure the structural integrity and sealing of the entire battery system. At the same time, the end plates 50 can also provide additional mechanical protection and environmental protection to prevent dust, moisture and other external factors from affecting the battery system.

[0094] Compared with the prior art, the battery system provided in this embodiment can flexibly increase or decrease battery cells according to demand, which facilitates the adjustment of capacity and power. The modular design of the battery cells also makes the maintenance and replacement of the battery system more convenient. When a single battery cell has a problem, it can be quickly replaced without affecting the operation of the entire system.

[0095] Example 3

[0096] This embodiment provides a vehicle, which is equipped with the battery system described in the above embodiment 2. The technical features already included in the above embodiment 2 are naturally inherited in this embodiment and will not be repeated here.

[0097] Preferably, the battery system in this embodiment can be integrated into the bottom of the vehicle by side hanging or hoisting to achieve self-weighing.

[0098] Although example embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the above example embodiments are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application to this. Those of ordinary skill in the art may make various changes and modifications therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the present application. All these changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present application as required by the appended claims.

[0099] In the description provided herein, a large number of specific details are described. However, it is understood that the embodiments of the present application can be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques are not shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description.

[0100] Similarly, it should be understood that in order to streamline the present application and help understand one or more of the various utility model aspects, in the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present application, the various features of the present application are sometimes grouped together into a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof. However, the method of the present application should not be interpreted as reflecting the following intention: the claimed application requires more features than the features clearly stated in each claim. More specifically, as reflected in the corresponding claims, its utility model point is that the corresponding technical problem can be solved with less than all the features of a single disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the claims following the specific embodiment are hereby explicitly incorporated into the specific embodiment, wherein each claim itself serves as a separate embodiment of the present application.

[0101] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, except for mutually exclusive features, all features disclosed in this specification (including the accompanying claims, abstracts and drawings) and all processes or units of any method or device disclosed in this specification may be combined in any combination. Unless otherwise expressly stated, each feature disclosed in this specification (including the accompanying claims, abstracts and drawings) may be replaced by an alternative feature that provides the same, equivalent or similar purpose.

Claims

1. A laterally expandable battery unit, characterized in that: Including electrical components and box components; The electrical assembly includes a plurality of battery modules; The longitudinal section of the box assembly is in a concave shape, including a first box located at the bottom, a second box located at both ends of the upper part, and a plurality of integrated liquid cooling plates, the first box and the second box are used to accommodate a plurality of battery modules, the integrated liquid cooling plates are arranged on the bottom surface of the first box, the top surface of the second box, and the interface between the first box and the second box, the interface between the first box and the second box shares the same integrated liquid cooling plate, and the integrated liquid cooling plate is used to perform double-sided liquid cooling and / or direct support on the battery module; The first box body and the second box body are both enclosed by side panels and the integrated liquid cooling plates, all of the side panels are arranged vertically in the same direction, and all of the integrated liquid cooling plates are arranged horizontally, so that the two lateral sides of the box body assembly are open, and each side is provided with a lateral connecting structure, and the lateral connecting structure is used to connect the end plate, or to dock with the laterally adjacent laterally expandable battery units and then be nested and connected.

2. The laterally expandable battery unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transverse connection structure arranged on both sides of the box body assembly includes a complementary first transverse interlocking portion and a second transverse interlocking portion. The first transverse interlocking portion is pin-connected or bolt-connected with the adjacent second transverse interlocking portion after docking to achieve a nested connection with the end plate or the adjacent transverse expandable battery unit.

3. The laterally expandable battery unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first longitudinal interlocking portion is provided at the top of both ends of the first box body, and a complementary second longitudinal interlocking portion is provided at the bottom of the second box body. The first longitudinal interlocking portion and the second longitudinal interlocking portion are connected by pins or bolts after docking to achieve a nested connection between the first box body and the second box body.

4. The laterally expandable battery unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first box body is surrounded by a first integrated liquid cooling plate, a second integrated liquid cooling plate and two first side panels. The first integrated liquid cooling plate is arranged at the bottom for cooling and supporting the plurality of battery modules. The two first side panels are vertically arranged at the longitudinal ends of the first integrated liquid cooling plate, respectively. The second integrated liquid cooling plate covers the top of the two first side panels. The bottom area of ​​the second integrated liquid cooling plate is the same as that of the first integrated liquid cooling plate.

5. The laterally expandable battery unit according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first box body is provided with a plurality of interconnected first power storage spaces in the longitudinal direction, each of which is used to accommodate one of the battery modules, and a second box body is nested and connected to each of the tops of the two longitudinal ends of the first box body, so that the longitudinal section of the box body assembly is in a concave shape, and each of the second box bodies is provided with a second power storage space for accommodating the battery module, and the volume of the second power storage space is consistent with that of the first power storage space; The plurality of integrated liquid cooling plates are respectively arranged at the bottom and the top of each of the first power storage space and the second power storage space, and the first power storage space and the second power storage space adjacent to each other share the same integrated liquid cooling plate.

6. The laterally expandable battery unit according to claim 5, characterized in that: Each of the second box bodies is surrounded by a third integrated liquid cooling plate, two second side plates and one end of the second integrated liquid cooling plate. The two second side plates are arranged at one end of the upper part of the second integrated liquid cooling plate. The two second side plates are spaced apart by the distance of the second power storage space. One end of the upper part of the second integrated liquid cooling plate is used to cool and support a battery module. The third integrated liquid cooling plate covers the top of the two second side plates, and the third integrated liquid cooling plate has the same bottom area as the second power storage space.

7. The laterally expandable battery unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The integrated liquid cooling plate is configured as a double-layer composite structure. A coolant inlet and a coolant outlet are provided on the outer surface of the integrated liquid cooling plate. A guide baffle is provided inside the integrated liquid cooling plate, and the guide baffle is used to limit the flow direction of the coolant.

8. The laterally expandable battery unit according to claim 7, characterized in that: The top surface and the bottom surface of the battery module are both in contact with the integrated liquid cooling plate, and a heat-conducting glue or a heat-conducting film is provided between the battery module and the integrated liquid cooling plate; A side of the integrated liquid cooling plate that is not in contact with the battery module is provided with a heat-insulating material and / or an anti-collision plate.

9. The laterally expandable battery unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrical component also includes a high-voltage busbar, and adjacent battery modules are electrically connected in series via the high-voltage busbar.

10. A battery system, characterized in that: It comprises at least two laterally expandable battery cells as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the laterally adjacent laterally expandable battery cells are nested and connected via a transverse connecting structure, the laterally adjacent battery modules are connected in parallel, the laterally adjacent integrated liquid cooling plates are connected in parallel, and the outer sides of the first and last laterally expandable battery cells are sealed and packaged via end plates.

11. A vehicle, characterized in that: Comprising the battery system as claimed in claim 10.

Images