Shell structure and battery module

Abstract

The utility model provides a shell structure and battery module, shell structure includes shell main part and cooling subassembly, shell main part is equipped with the installation space, installation space is used for the installation of battery cell, shell main part includes the side part that surrounds installation space, the inside of side part forms the sealed cavity, the sealed cavity is filled with inert gas, the cooling subassembly is equipped with the cooling subassembly. The side part comprises a first side wall adjacent to the mounting space, and the cooling assembly is mounted in the sealing cavity and is attached to the first side wall, so that a cooling effect can be achieved in time when the temperature of the battery cell rises. Therefore, effective intervention can be carried out at the initial stage of thermal runaway of the battery cell, and the temperature is prevented from further rising, so that the development of fire is restrained. Under the condition that the pressure borne by the first side wall is larger than or equal to the bursting pressure of the first side wall, at least part of the first side wall bursts to release inert gas into the installation space, the inert gas can effectively isolate external oxygen, and the possibility of fire disasters is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of batteries, in particular to a housing structure and a battery module. Background Art

[0002] A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells. When the battery module is working, each battery cell will generate a large amount of heat, which will cause the temperature of the battery cells to rise. In the related art, a cooling component is usually used to cool the battery cells. However, the cooling ability of the cooling component for the battery cells is limited. When a battery cell undergoes thermal runaway, the occurrence of a fire cannot be avoided. Summary of the Utility Model

[0003] An embodiment of the utility model provides a housing structure and a battery module, which can achieve cooling of the battery cells and avoid the occurrence of a fire when a battery cell undergoes thermal runaway.

[0004] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the utility model provides a housing structure.

[0005] In one embodiment, the housing structure includes:

[0006] A housing main body, which is provided with an installation space for installing battery cells. The housing main body includes a side portion surrounding the installation space. A sealed cavity is formed inside the side portion, and an inert gas is filled in the sealed cavity. The side portion includes a first side wall adjacent to the installation space;

[0007] A cooling component, which is installed in the sealed cavity and is in contact with the first side wall;

[0008] Wherein, when the pressure borne by the first side wall is greater than or equal to the bursting pressure of the first side wall, at least part of the first side wall bursts to release the inert gas into the installation space.

[0009] In one embodiment, the first side wall includes a pressure-bearing portion and a bursting portion. The first bursting pressure of the bursting portion is less than the second bursting pressure of the pressure-bearing portion. When the pressure borne by the bursting portion is greater than or equal to the first bursting pressure, the bursting portion bursts to release the inert gas into the installation space.

[0010] In one embodiment, the bursting portion includes the weld and / or groove of the first side wall.

[0011] In one embodiment, the bursting pressure of the first side wall is F 1 , where 0.6 MPa ≤ F 1 ≤ 1.0 MPa.

[0012] In one embodiment, the side portion includes a second side wall facing away from the installation space, and the bursting pressure of the second side wall is greater than that of the first side wall.

[0013] In one embodiment, the thickness of the first side wall is T 1 , and the thickness of the second side wall is T 2 , where 0.2 ≤ T 1 / T 2 ≤ 0.8.

[0014] In one embodiment, the sealing cavity extends circumferentially along the side portion.

[0015] In one embodiment, the side portion includes a second side wall facing away from the installation space, and the second side wall is opposite to and spaced apart from the first side wall;

[0016] The housing body further includes two cover plates, and the two cover plates are respectively disposed at two ends of the side portion. Each cover plate is hermetically connected to the ends of the first side wall and the second side wall, so that the first side wall, the second side wall, and the two cover plates together enclose to form the sealing cavity.

[0017] In one embodiment, the cooling component includes a wrapping portion and a coolant. The wrapping portion is installed in the sealing cavity and is in contact with the first side wall. The wrapping portion forms a cavity, and the coolant is contained in the cavity. The wrapping portion can melt and release the coolant.

[0018] In one embodiment, the melting point of the wrapping portion is MP, where 120°C ≤ MP ≤ 160°C; and / or,

[0019] The coolant includes a flame-retardant coolant.

[0020] In one embodiment, the first side wall includes a first side plate and a second side plate that are adjacently arranged. The first side plate and the second side plate extend in different directions. The area of the first side plate is smaller than that of the second side plate, and the cooling component is in contact with the second side plate.

[0021] In one embodiment, the cooling component covers the second side plate.

[0022] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a battery module.

[0023] In one embodiment, the battery module includes:

[0024] The housing structure as described above;

[0025] The battery cells are installed in the installation space.

[0026] Advantages of the embodiments of the present utility model:

[0027] In the embodiments of the present utility model, since the temperature reduction component is installed in the sealed cavity and is in contact with the first side wall, thus, it can play a temperature reduction role in time when the temperature of the battery cell rises. This helps to effectively intervene in the initial stage of thermal runaway of the battery cell, prevent the temperature from rising further, and thus curb the development of the fire. When the battery cell undergoes thermal runaway, the internal air pressure of the battery cell will rise, and some gases will be discharged. The discharged gases will exert pressure on the first side wall. When the pressure borne by the first side wall is greater than or equal to the bursting pressure of the first side wall, at least part of the first side wall will burst, and the inert gas in the sealed cavity will be released into the installation space. The inert gas can effectively isolate external oxygen and reduce the possibility of fire occurrence. This design fundamentally reduces the fire risk by eliminating the oxygen required for combustion. In addition, the battery cell generates heat during operation, and the inert gas in the sealed cavity can play a certain heat insulation role, which helps to control the working temperature of the battery cell. The formation of the installation space can effectively protect the battery cell from external physical impacts, the environment and other factors, which helps to ensure that the battery cell can work normally in various harsh environments. In addition, since both the temperature reduction component and the inert gas are in the sealed cavity, to a certain extent, it makes the housing structure compact, avoids occupying the installation space, and can ensure the energy density of the battery cell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the following drawings are only some embodiments of the present utility model. For those skilled in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0029] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the housing structure provided by the embodiments of the present utility model;

[0030] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the housing structure (partial structure) shown;

[0031] Figure 3 is Figure 2 a partial enlarged schematic diagram at C shown;

[0032] Figure 4 is Figure 1 a sectional view taken along line B - B of the structure shown;

[0033] Figure 5 is Figure 1 a sectional view taken along line A - A of the structure shown;

[0034] Figure 6 is Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic view of the shown housing structure (partial structure).

[0035] Explanation of the reference numerals in the drawings:

[0036] 100. Housing structure;

[0037] 110. Housing main body, 111. Installation space, 112. Side part, 1121. Sealing cavity, 1122. First side wall, 1123. First side plate, 1124. Second side plate, 1125. Second side wall, 1126. Lower end face, 1127. Cover plate;

[0038] 120. Cooling component, 121. Wrapping part. Detailed implementation manners

[0039] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present utility model, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without making creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present utility model. In addition, it should be understood that the specific implementation manners described herein are only used to illustrate and explain the present utility model, and are not used to limit the present utility model. In the present utility model, unless otherwise stated, the orientation terms such as "upper" and "lower" usually refer to the upper and lower in the actual use or working state of the device, specifically the drawing direction in the drawings; and "inner" and "outer" refer to the outline of the device.

[0040] The battery module includes a plurality of battery cells, and when the battery module is working, each battery cell will generate a large amount of heat, which will cause the temperature of the battery cell to rise. In the related art, a cooling component is usually used to cool the battery cell. However, the cooling ability of the cooling component for the battery cell is limited, and when the battery cell is thermally out of control, the occurrence of a fire cannot be avoided.

[0041] In view of this, the present utility model proposes a housing structure, Figures 1 to 6 A structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the housing structure provided by the present utility model. The housing structure provided by the present utility model can achieve cooling of the battery cell, and when the battery cell is thermally out of control, the occurrence of a fire can be avoided. The housing structure will be described in detail below in conjunction with the main drawings.

[0042] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the housing structure 100 includes a housing main body 110 and a temperature reduction component 120. An installation space 111 is provided inside the housing main body 110 for installing the battery cell. The housing main body 110 includes a side portion 112 surrounding the installation space 111. A sealing cavity 1121 is formed inside the side portion 112, and an inert gas is filled in the sealing cavity 1121. The side portion 112 includes a first side wall 1122 adjacent to the installation space 111. The temperature reduction component 120 is installed in the sealing cavity 1121 and is in contact with the first side wall 1122. Wherein, when the pressure borne by the first side wall 1122 is greater than or equal to the bursting pressure of the first side wall 1122, at least part of the first side wall 1122 bursts to release the inert gas into the installation space 111.

[0043] In an embodiment of the present invention, since the temperature reduction component 120 is installed in the sealing cavity 1121 and is in contact with the first side wall 1122, thus, it can play a temperature reduction role in time when the temperature of the battery cell rises. This helps to effectively intervene in the initial stage of the thermal runaway of the battery cell, prevent the temperature from rising further, and thus contain the development of the fire. When the battery cell undergoes thermal runaway, the internal air pressure of the battery cell will rise, and part of the gas will be discharged. The discharged gas will exert pressure on the first side wall 1122. When the pressure borne by the first side wall 1122 is greater than or equal to the bursting pressure of the first side wall 1122, at least part of the first side wall 1122 bursts, and the inert gas in the sealing cavity 1121 will be released into the installation space 111. The inert gas can effectively isolate external oxygen and reduce the possibility of fire. This design fundamentally reduces the fire risk by eliminating the oxygen required for combustion. In addition, the battery cell generates heat during operation, and the inert gas in the sealing cavity 1121 can play a certain heat insulation role, which helps to control the working temperature of the battery cell. The formation of the installation space 111 can effectively protect the battery cell from external physical impacts, environment and other factors, which helps to ensure that the battery cell can work normally in various harsh environments. In addition, since both the temperature reduction component 120 and the inert gas are in the sealing cavity 1121, to a certain extent, the housing structure 100 is made compact, avoiding occupying the installation space 111, and can ensure the energy density of the battery cell.

[0044] It should be noted that the inert gas includes nitrogen, carbon dioxide gas, helium, neon, argon, krypton or xenon. Specifically, the present application does not limit this.

[0045] In one embodiment, the first sidewall 1122 includes a pressure-bearing portion and a bursting portion. The first bursting pressure of the bursting portion is less than the second bursting pressure of the pressure-bearing portion. When the pressure borne by the bursting portion is greater than or equal to the first bursting pressure, the bursting portion bursts to release inert gas into the installation space 111. Thus, due to the relatively low first bursting pressure of the bursting portion, it can quickly respond when abnormal conditions such as thermal runaway occur in the battery cell, and release inert gas in a timely manner to suppress the fire or prevent explosion. By releasing inert gas in a timely manner, this design can effectively slow down or prevent the further development of the thermal runaway process, thereby protecting the battery cell from serious damage. The presence of the pressure-bearing portion enables the housing structure 100 to withstand higher pressures under normal circumstances, enhancing the reliability and stability of the structure. Even in extreme cases, the pressure-bearing portion can provide additional safety protection to prevent catastrophic rupture of the housing main body 110.

[0046] In one embodiment, the bursting portion includes the weld and / or groove of the first sidewall 1122. Thus, by setting the bursting portion as a weld or a groove, the position where the burst occurs can be precisely controlled. This helps to ensure that when pressure needs to be released, the burst can occur at a predetermined position, avoiding damage to other critical parts of the housing. The presence of the weld and the groove reduces the material strength of this area, making the bursting portion easier to rupture when the first bursting pressure is reached, so as to release the internal inert gas in a timely manner to suppress the fire or prevent explosion. The design of the weld and / or groove ensures the sensitivity and reliability of the bursting reaction. The design of the weld and / or groove reduces the difficulty of bursting, enabling the rapid release of inert gas in case of emergencies such as thermal runaway in the battery cell to inhibit the occurrence of fire or explosion, etc. This helps to prevent catastrophic failures of the battery system and protect the surrounding environment and personal safety. Designing the bursting portion as a weld or a groove can be conveniently achieved during the manufacturing process. This design is not only easy to process, but also helps to reduce production costs and improve production efficiency.

[0047] It should be noted that in another embodiment, the bursting portion may further include an exhaust port provided on the first sidewall 1122, and a rupturable film or plug is provided at the exhaust port to seal the exhaust port with the film or the plug. When the pressure received by the film or the plug is greater than or equal to the first bursting pressure, the film will automatically rupture and the plug will automatically fall off, enabling the exhaust port to discharge inert gas. In yet another embodiment, the bursting portion may further include prefabricated fine scratches on the first sidewall 1122. These scratches do not affect the structural strength of the housing under normal circumstances, but when the pressure received by the scratches is greater than or equal to the first bursting pressure, the scratched position will burst to enable the discharge of inert gas.

[0048] In one embodiment, the side portion 112 includes a lower end surface 1126 disposed downward, and the explosion part is disposed adjacent to the lower end surface 1126. In this way, the battery cell fire tends to spread upward. By disposing the explosion part near the lower end surface 1126, it can be ensured that the inert gas is quickly released at the early stage of the fire, thereby effectively preventing the fire from spreading upward. Due to the effect of gravity, the inert gas released from the lower end surface 1126 will naturally settle downward to better cover the battery cell. This design helps to achieve a more uniform gas distribution and ensure the maximum fire extinguishing effect. Since the explosion part is adjacent to the lower end surface 1126, once an explosion occurs, the generated debris or residue can be more conveniently discharged from the lower end surface 1126, which is convenient for subsequent cleaning work. Since the explosion part is disposed on the lower end surface 1126, it is easier to observe and evaluate the condition of the explosion part during daily inspection and maintenance. Once an abnormality is found, it can be repaired or replaced in time to ensure the safe operation of the equipment.

[0049] In one embodiment, the bursting pressure of the first side wall 1122 is F 1 , where 0.6MPa≤F 1 ≤1.0MPa, so setting a clear bursting pressure range, such as 0.6MPa to 1.0MPa, helps ensure that the shell can release the internal inert gas in time when it is subjected to excessive pressure to suppress the fire or prevent explosion. By precisely controlling the bursting pressure of the first side wall 1122, the manufacturer can ensure that each shell can reliably rupture and release the internal inert gas when the predetermined pressure is reached. A clear bursting pressure range helps optimize the material selection and manufacturing process of the shell. Manufacturers can choose materials suitable for this pressure range, thereby ensuring safety while also considering cost-effectiveness and manufacturing efficiency. During the product development stage, a clear bursting pressure range makes the testing and verification process clearer and more targeted. Manufacturers can more easily design and implement tests that meet this pressure range to ensure that product performance meets expectations.

[0050] Specifically, the bursting pressure of the first side wall 1122 can be 0.6 MPa, 0.65 MPa, 0.71 MPa, 0.74 MPa, 0.77 MPa, 0.79 MPa, 0.8 MPa, 0.85 MPa, 0.9 MPa, 0.92 MPa, 0.95 MPa, 0.97 MPa, 0.99 MPa or 1.0 MPa, etc.

[0051] In one embodiment, the side portion 112 includes a second side wall 1125 facing away from the installation space 111. The bursting pressure of the second side wall 1125 is greater than that of the first side wall 1122. Thus, since the bursting pressure of the second side wall 1125 is higher than that of the first side wall 1122, under normal circumstances, the bursting portion of the first side wall 1122 will act first to release the inert gas in time and reduce the risk of thermal runaway of the battery cell. Due to its higher bursting pressure, the second side wall 1125 can provide an additional protective layer for the battery cell after the first side wall 1122 bursts. If thermal runaway occurs in the battery cell, the presence of the second side wall 1125 can prevent or slow down the spread of fire and harmful gases to the external environment and protect the surrounding structures from damage. By setting different bursting pressures for the first side wall 1122 and the second side wall 1125, the overall structural design of the housing body 110 can be optimized.

[0052] It should be noted that the bursting pressure of the second side wall 1125 is F 2 , where F 2 > 1.2 MPa. Specifically, the bursting pressure of the second side wall 1125 can be 1.21 MPa, 1.3 MPa, 1.33 MPa, 1.35 MPa, 1.4 MPa, etc. Specifically, the present application does not limit this.

[0053] In one embodiment, the thickness of the first side wall 1122 is T1, and the thickness of the second side wall 1125 is T2, where 0.2 ≤ T 1 / T 2 ≤ 0.8. Thus, the thickness of the side wall directly affects its bursting pressure. By setting the ratio range of T 1 and T 2 , the bursting pressures of the first side wall 1122 and the second side wall 1125 can be indirectly controlled to meet the requirement that the bursting pressure of the second side wall 1125 is greater than that of the first side wall 1122.

[0054] In one embodiment, the thickness of the first side wall 1122 is H 1 , 0.2 mm ≤ H 1 ≤ 0.5 mm. Thus, by setting the thickness H 1Controlled within the range of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, it helps to achieve the lightweight of the shell body 110. In battery technology, reducing weight can improve the energy density of the battery, thereby increasing the battery life of the electrical device. The lightweight design can also reduce the consumption of raw materials, thus lowering the production cost. Within the thickness range of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, a balance can be found that can ensure the structural strength and rigidity of the shell body 110 while avoiding excessive weight increase. Such a design can ensure that the battery module can still maintain the structural integrity when subjected to external force impacts, thereby protecting the internal battery cells. An overly thick sidewall may hinder the effective transfer of heat, while an overly thin sidewall may affect the structural strength of the housing. Therefore, within the thickness range of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, both structural strength and thermal management performance can be taken into account.

[0055] Specifically, the thickness of the first sidewall 1122 can be 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.42 mm, 0.44 mm, 0.46 mm, 0.47 mm, 0.5 mm, etc. Of course, in other embodiments, the thickness of the first sidewall 1122 can be selected as needed, and this application does not make any limitations in this regard.

[0056] In one embodiment, the thickness of the second sidewall 1125 is H2, 0.4 mm ≤ H 2 ≤ 1 mm. In this way, when the thickness of the second sidewall 1125 is between 0.4 mm and 1 mm, it can provide sufficient structural strength and stability. The material with this thickness range can resist certain external pressures and impacts, protecting the internal battery cells from damage. Selecting this thickness range can control the material cost and weight while ensuring the structural strength of the shell body 110. An overly thick sidewall will increase unnecessary material consumption and weight, while an overly thin sidewall may sacrifice structural stability. The thickness of 0.4 mm to 1 mm is a balance achieved between cost and performance. The material within this thickness range is easier to process and manufacture. The thickness of 0.4 mm to 1 mm helps to improve the durability and reliability of the second sidewall 1125. It can maintain the integrity of the housing structure 100 during long-term use, reducing the risk of damage caused by material fatigue or external factors. Since the thickness of the sidewall affects the heat conduction and heat dissipation performance. The thickness range of 0.4 mm to 1 mm may help to achieve good thermal management, ensuring that the battery cells can effectively dissipate heat during operation.

[0057] Specifically, the thickness of the second side wall 1125 can be 0.4 mm, 0.41 mm, 0.45 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.54 mm, 0.56 mm, 0.57 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.64 mm, 0.66 mm, 0.69 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.74 mm, 0.76 mm, 0.77 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.84 mm, 0.85 mm, 0.89 mm, 0.9 mm, 0.94 mm, 0.96 mm, 0.97 mm, 0.99 mm or 1 mm, etc. Of course, in other embodiments, the thickness of the second side wall 1125 can be selected as needed, and the present application does not limit this.

[0058] Referring to Figure 4 , in one embodiment, the sealing cavity 1121 is arranged to extend circumferentially along the side part 112. Thus, since the cooling component 120 is directly installed in the sealing cavity 1121 and is in close contact with the first side wall 1122, this design allows heat to be transferred from the battery cell through the first side wall 1122 to the cooling component 120. The sealing cavity 1121 arranged to extend circumferentially increases the contact surface for the cold quantity transfer of the cooling component 120, and to a certain extent improves the heat exchange efficiency with the battery cell. The sealing cavity 1121 extending circumferentially along the side part 112 ensures that the cooling component 120 can evenly transfer the cold quantity to the battery cell through the first side wall 1122, thereby realizing the uniform dispersion of the heat of the battery cell. This design helps to prevent local overheating of the battery cell and improves the safety of the battery cell. In addition, the sealing cavity 1121 arranged to extend circumferentially can increase the amount of inert gas filled. Since the inert gas has a low thermal conductivity, the heat insulation effect of the shell main body 110 is improved.

[0059] Referring to Figures 4 to 6 , in one embodiment, the side part 112 includes a second side wall 1125 facing away from the installation space 111. The second side wall 1125 is opposite to and spaced from the first side wall 1122. The shell main body 110 further includes two cover plates 1127. The two cover plates 1127 are respectively arranged at both ends of the side part 112. Each cover plate 1127 is hermetically connected to the ends of the first side wall 1122 and the second side wall 1125, so that the first side wall 1122, the second side wall 1125 and the two cover plates 1127 jointly enclose to form a sealing cavity. Thus, the design of the cover plate 1127 makes it easy to open and close the sealing cavity, which provides convenience for the filling of inert gas and the installation, maintenance and replacement of the cooling component. In addition, the arrangement of the first side wall 1122, the second side wall 1125 and the cover plate 1127 makes the structure of the side part 112 simple and easy to process.

[0060] It should be noted that there are various ways to achieve the end-sealing connection of each cover plate 1127 to the first side wall 1122 and the second side wall 1125. For example, in one embodiment, the cover plate 1127 can be fixedly bonded to the first side wall 1122 and the second side wall 1125 with glue. In another embodiment, the cover plate 1127 can also be fixedly welded to the first side wall 1122 and the second side wall 1125, etc. Specifically, the present application does not limit this.

[0061] In addition, referring to Figure 6 , in one embodiment, the cover plate 1127 and the first side wall 1122 jointly enclose the installation space 111. In this way, additional structural components are reduced, making the structure of the housing body 110 more compact. In addition, the opening and closing operations of the installation space 111 are simple, facilitating the installation and disassembly of the battery cell. This design also facilitates daily maintenance and repair work, improving the maintainability and service life of the device.

[0062] Referring to Figures 4 to 6 , in one embodiment, the temperature reduction component 120 includes a wrapping portion 121 and a coolant. The wrapping portion 121 is installed in the sealing cavity 1121 and is in contact with the first side wall 1122. The wrapping portion 121 forms a cavity, and the coolant is contained in the cavity. In this way, since the wrapping portion 121 is in close contact with the first side wall 1122, the coolant can directly act on the heat-generating part to achieve rapid and efficient heat exchange. This direct contact design reduces the thermal resistance and accelerates the transfer and dissipation of heat. The temperature reduction component 120 is integrated in the sealing cavity 1121, making full use of the internal space and making the housing structure 100 more compact. The coolant is safely encapsulated in the cavity, reducing the risk of leakage, thereby enhancing the safety of the battery cell. In addition, the closed design can also reduce the influence of the external environment on the coolant, ensuring its stability and durability. In addition, the wrapping portion 121 can melt and release the coolant. The coolant flows in the sealing cavity 1121 and is directly in contact with the first side wall 1122, further reducing the thermal resistance and achieving a maximized heat conduction area, thereby improving the heat conduction efficiency and effectively preventing the battery cell from getting out of control. When the first side wall 1122 bursts, the coolant can be discharged from the bursting point of the first side wall 1122. This can not only quickly reduce the temperature in the installation space 111, reducing safety risks caused by high temperature, such as battery cell thermal runaway or fire, but also further reduce the risk of explosion, ensuring the safety of the device and the surrounding environment. The release of the coolant can directly cool the battery cell, effectively preventing the battery cell from being damaged or its performance from degrading due to overheating.

[0063] In one embodiment, the melting point of the wrapping part 121 is MP, where 120°C ≤ MP ≤ 160°C. In this way, by setting the melting point of the wrapping part 121 within the range of 120°C to 160°C, it can be ensured that the wrapping part 121 remains solid at normal operating temperatures, and the coolant will not leak. This avoids equipment failures or safety issues that may be caused by coolant leakage. When the temperature of the equipment rises abnormally and reaches or exceeds the melting point of the wrapping part 121, the wrapping part 121 will melt and release the coolant, effectively reducing the temperature of the battery cell, thereby preventing or alleviating battery cell damage or performance degradation caused by high temperature. Since the wrapping part 121 will only melt and release the coolant at a specific temperature, this design can reduce false triggering or unnecessary maintenance interventions. In addition, it can make the cooling component 120 have a simple structure, and to a certain extent, it can reduce the space for installing the cooling component 120, making the installation space 111 for installing the battery cell inside the housing structure 100 larger, and improving the energy density of the battery cell.

[0064] Specifically, the melting point of the battery cell can be 120°C, 125°C, 130°C, 133°C, 138°C, 140°C, 146°C, 150°C, 152°C, 159°C or 160°C, etc. The melting point of the battery cell can be selected as needed, and the present application does not limit this.

[0065] In order to facilitate the coolant to flow towards the installation space 111 when the wrapping part 121 melts, the side part 112 includes a lower end surface arranged downward, and the bursting part is arranged adjacent to the lower end surface. In this way, the coolant can flow out more smoothly, reducing the flow resistance, enabling the coolant in the sealing cavity 1121 to flow towards the installation space 111 as much as possible, and improving the cooling effect.

[0066] In one embodiment, the coolant includes a flame-retardant coolant. The main feature of the flame-retardant coolant is that it can, to a certain extent, prevent or slow down the spread of flames, thereby effectively reducing the risk of fire. When the battery cell undergoes thermal runaway or a fire, the flame-retardant coolant can respond quickly to prevent the rapid spread of the fire, providing additional safety protection for the equipment. When the first side wall 1122 of the housing body 110 bursts due to excessive pressure, the release of the flame-retardant coolant can quickly reduce the temperature in the installation space 111 and prevent the further spread of the fire, thereby reducing the explosion risk caused by high temperature. The flame-retardant coolant can quickly absorb heat when released, reducing the temperature in the installation space 111, providing favorable conditions for extinguishing the fire of the battery cell. The flame retardant in the flame-retardant coolant can carry out a chemical reaction on the flame, converting the flame reactants into new compounds, thereby inhibiting the spread of the fire.

[0067] It should be noted that there are various types of flame-retardant cooling liquids. For example, the flame-retardant cooling liquid can include ethylene glycol-based flame-retardant cooling liquid, glycerol-based flame-retardant cooling liquid, organic acid-based flame-retardant cooling liquid, or propylene glycol-based flame-retardant cooling liquid. The main components of the ethylene glycol-based flame-retardant cooling liquid include ethylene glycol and flame-retardant additives. The ethylene glycol-based cooling liquid has good cooling performance and thermal stability. After adding the flame-retardant additive, it can, to a certain extent, prevent or slow down the spread of the flame and improve safety. The main components of the glycerol-based flame-retardant cooling liquid include glycerol and flame retardants. The glycerol-based cooling liquid also has good flame-retardant performance and can effectively reduce the fire risk. The main components of the organic acid-based flame-retardant cooling liquid include organic acids and flame retardants. The main components of the propylene glycol-based flame-retardant cooling liquid are propylene glycol and flame-retardant additives. Specifically, the flame-retardant cooling liquid can be selected according to needs, and the types of the flame-retardant cooling liquid are not limited in this application.

[0068] Referring to Figure 3 and Figure 6 , in an embodiment, the first side wall 1122 includes a first side plate 1123 and a second side plate 1124 which are arranged adjacent to each other. The first side plate 1123 and the second side plate 1124 extend in different directions. The area of the first side plate 1123 is smaller than that of the second side plate 1124. The temperature reduction component 120 is attached to the second side plate 1124. Thus, since the area of the second side plate 1124 is larger than that of the first side plate 1123, when the temperature reduction component 120 is attached to the second side plate 1124, it can cover a larger heat dissipation area, thereby improving the cooling efficiency.

[0069] Specifically, referring to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , two first side plates 1123 and two second side plates 1124 are provided. The two first side plates 1123 are opposite and spaced apart. The two second side plates 1124 are opposite and spaced apart. Along the circumferential direction of the housing body 110, the first side plate 1123 and the second side plate 1124 are alternately arranged and connected, so that the two first side plates 1123 and the two second side plates 1124 jointly enclose a first enclosing frame, and the installation space is inside the first enclosing frame. Thus, the first enclosing frame has a good effect on resisting external forces (such as pressure, impact force, etc.), and increases the stability of the housing body 110. The formed installation space, while installing the power supply core, can also serve as a protection barrier to prevent the internal core from being affected by the external environment (such as dust, moisture, static electricity, etc.).

[0070] It should be noted that in other embodiments, multiple first side plates 1123 and second side plates 1124 may also be provided. Along the circumferential direction of the housing body 110, the multiple first side plates 1123 and the multiple second side plates 1124 are alternately arranged, and each first side plate 1123 is connected to the corresponding second side plate 1124, so that the multiple first side plates 1123 and the multiple second side plates 1124 jointly enclose a second enclosure frame, and the installation space is within the second enclosure frame. Specifically, the present application does not limit the number of the first side plates 1123 and the second side plates 1124.

[0071] Referring Figure 6 , in one embodiment, the cooling component 120 covers the second side plate 1124, so that the cooling component 120 can completely cover the second side plate 1124. In this way, it can be ensured that the heat on the second side plate 1124 is effectively absorbed and conducted. This maximizes the close contact area, making the heat transfer faster and more efficient, which helps to quickly reduce the temperature of the battery cell. The full coverage of the cooling component 120 ensures that the heat distribution on the second side plate 1124 is more uniform. This helps to prevent the occurrence of local overheating of the battery cell and maintain the stable operation of the battery cell. By covering the cooling component 120 on the second side plate 1124, the stability of the housing structure 100 can be enhanced to a certain extent.

[0072] The present utility model provides a battery module, which includes the housing structure 100 and the battery cell as described above, and the battery cell is installed in the installation space 111.

[0073] In the embodiment of the present utility model, since the cooling component 120 is installed in the sealed cavity 1121 and is in contact with the first side wall 1122, thus, it can play a cooling role in time when the temperature of the battery cell rises. This helps to effectively intervene in the initial stage of the thermal runaway of the battery cell, prevent the temperature from rising further, and thus contain the development of the fire. When the battery cell undergoes thermal runaway, the internal air pressure of the battery cell will rise, and some gases will be discharged. The discharged gases will exert pressure on the first side wall 1122. When the pressure borne by the first side wall 1122 is greater than or equal to the bursting pressure of the first side wall 1122, at least part of the first side wall 1122 will burst, and the inert gas in the sealed cavity 1121 will be released into the installation space 111. The inert gas can effectively isolate the external oxygen and reduce the possibility of fire occurrence. This design fundamentally reduces the fire risk by eliminating the oxygen required for combustion. In addition, the battery cell generates heat during operation, and the inert gas in the sealed cavity 1121 can play a certain heat insulation role, which helps to control the operating temperature of the battery cell. At the same time, the formation of the sealed cavity 1121 in the installation space 111 can effectively protect the battery cell from external physical impacts, environments and other factors, which helps to ensure that the battery cell can work normally in various harsh environments. In addition, since the cooling component 120 and the inert gas are both in the sealed cavity 1121, to a certain extent, the housing structure 100 is made compact, avoiding occupying the installation space 111 and being able to ensure the energy density of the battery cell.

[0074] The above has introduced the embodiments of the present utility model in detail. Specific examples are used in this article to elaborate on the principle and implementation manner of the present utility model. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and its core idea of the present utility model; at the same time, for those skilled in the art, according to the idea of the present utility model, there will be changes in the specific implementation manner and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation to the present utility model.

Claims

1. A housing structure, characterized in that: include: A shell body, wherein an installation space is provided therein, the installation space is used for installing the power core, the shell body comprises a side portion surrounding the installation space, a sealed cavity is formed inside the side portion, the sealed cavity is filled with an inert gas, and the side portion comprises a first side wall adjacent to the installation space; A cooling component is installed in the sealed cavity and is in contact with the first side wall; Wherein, when the pressure borne by the first side wall is greater than or equal to the bursting pressure of the first side wall, the first side wall at least partially bursts to release the inert gas into the installation space.

2. The housing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first side wall includes a pressure-bearing portion and a bursting portion, a first bursting pressure of the bursting portion is less than a second bursting pressure of the pressure-bearing portion, and when the pressure borne by the bursting portion is greater than or equal to the first bursting pressure, the bursting portion bursts to release the inert gas into the installation space.

3. The housing structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bursting portion includes a weld and / or a groove of the first side wall.

4. The housing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bursting pressure of the first side wall is F1, wherein 0.6 MPa≤F1≤1.0 MPa.

5. The housing structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The side portion includes a second side wall facing away from the installation space, and a bursting pressure of the second side wall is greater than a bursting pressure of the first side wall.

6. The housing structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The thickness of the first side wall is T1, and the thickness of the second side wall is T2, wherein 0.2≤T1 / T2≤0.

8.

7. The housing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The sealing cavity is arranged to extend circumferentially along the side portion.

8. The housing structure according to claim 7, characterized in that: The side portion includes a second side wall facing away from the installation space, the second side wall being opposite to the first side wall and spaced apart; The shell body also includes two cover plates, which are respectively arranged at the two ends of the side portion, and each of the cover plates is sealed and connected to the end portions of the first side wall and the second side wall, so that the first side wall, the second side wall and the two cover plates are jointly arranged to form the sealed cavity.

9. The housing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The cooling component includes a wrapping portion and a coolant. The wrapping portion is installed in the sealing cavity and is in contact with the first side wall. The wrapping portion forms a cavity. The coolant is contained in the cavity. The wrapping portion can melt and release the coolant.

10. The housing structure according to claim 9, characterized in that: The melting point of the wrapping portion is MP, wherein 120°C≤MP≤160°C; and / or, The coolant includes a flame retardant coolant.

11. The housing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The first side wall includes a first side plate and a second side plate that are adjacently arranged. The first side plate and the second side plate extend in different directions. The area of ​​the first side plate is smaller than that of the second side plate. The cooling component is in contact with the second side plate.

12. The housing structure according to claim 11, characterized in that: The cooling component covers the second side plate.

13. A battery module, characterized in that: include: The housing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 12; The battery cell is installed in the installation space.

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