Battery pack

Abstract

The utility model provides a battery pack which comprises a box body, a battery cell and a gas control module, the box body is provided with a containing cavity, a gas inlet and a gas outlet, and the gas inlet and the gas outlet are communicated with the containing cavity; the battery cell is arranged in the accommodating cavity; and the gas control module is connected with the box body, and is used for extracting gas from the accommodating cavity through the exhaust port and introducing first inert gas into the accommodating cavity through the gas inlet, so that the battery cell is in a first inert gas environment. The battery pack system solves the problems that a heat dissipation mode of a battery pack system in the prior art is poor in heat dissipation effect, and thermal runaway cannot be solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of battery technology, and more specifically, to a battery pack. Background Technology

[0002] Battery pack systems are devices used for energy storage and power generation, and are widely used in electric vehicles, electric motorcycles, electric bicycles, power tools, electric boats, electric trains, electric aircraft, communication base stations, medical equipment, drones and drone swarms, uninterruptible power supplies, emergency lighting, power systems, and renewable energy systems. Battery pack systems generate a significant amount of heat during operation. If the heat dissipation performance of the battery pack system is poor, the internal temperature will rise. Excessive internal temperature can lead to thermal runaway of the battery pack, causing safety accidents and even severely shortening the battery pack's lifespan.

[0003] To prevent the internal temperature of the battery pack system from becoming too high, existing battery pack systems typically employ forced cooling methods to reduce the internal temperature. For example, this can be achieved by installing cooling fans inside the battery pack system or by installing water cooling. However, both of these cooling methods suffer from poor heat dissipation and cannot solve the problem of thermal runaway. Utility Model Content

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a battery pack that solves the problems of poor heat dissipation and inability to resolve thermal runaway in existing battery pack systems.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides a battery pack, including a housing, battery cells, and a gas control module. The housing has a receiving cavity and an air inlet and an air outlet communicating with the receiving cavity. The battery cells are disposed within the receiving cavity. The gas control module is connected to the housing and is used to evacuate the receiving cavity through the air outlet and introduce a first inert gas into the receiving cavity through the air inlet, so that the battery cells are in a first inert gas environment.

[0006] In one exemplary embodiment, the first inert gas is an inert gas at room temperature.

[0007] In one exemplary embodiment, the battery cell has a semi-permeable valve for venting gases generated by the battery cell in the early stages of thermal runaway.

[0008] In one exemplary embodiment, an intake valve is provided at the air inlet, an exhaust valve is provided at the exhaust outlet, and the battery pack also includes a battery management module disposed within the housing cavity for detecting the temperature within the housing cavity. The battery management module is controllably connected to the intake and exhaust valves so that when the battery management module detects that the temperature within the housing cavity has risen to a preset temperature, the battery management module controls the intake and exhaust valves to open simultaneously. A gas control module is signal-connected to the intake valve and, based on the intake valve being in the open state, introduces a second inert gas from the intake port into the housing cavity, and discharges it from the exhaust outlet carrying heat and oxygen from the housing cavity.

[0009] In one exemplary embodiment, the second inert gas is a cryogenic inert gas.

[0010] In one exemplary embodiment, the first inert gas does not react with the chemicals within the battery cell, and the second inert gas does not react with the chemicals within the battery cell.

[0011] In one exemplary embodiment, the receiving cavity has multiple sub-receiving regions, there are multiple battery cells evenly distributed in the multiple sub-receiving regions, there are multiple battery management modules, and at least one battery management module is provided in each sub-receiving region.

[0012] In one exemplary embodiment, the housing has a plurality of air inlets, at least one of which is used to introduce a first inert gas, and at least one of the remaining air inlets is used to introduce a second inert gas.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the housing includes a top plate, a bottom plate, multiple surrounding plates, and a panel, wherein the top plate, the bottom plate, and the multiple surrounding plates together form a receiving cavity; the panel is disposed on the outer surface of one of the multiple surrounding plates, and an air inlet and an exhaust outlet are provided on the panel, and a first clearance through hole and a second clearance through hole are provided on the surrounding plate connected to the panel for avoiding the air inlet and the exhaust outlet, respectively.

[0014] In one exemplary embodiment, the air inlet and the exhaust outlet are spaced apart along the length of the panel.

[0015] This invention provides a battery pack comprising a housing, battery cells, and a gas control module. The housing has a receiving cavity and an air inlet and an air outlet communicating with the receiving cavity. The battery cells are disposed within the receiving cavity. The gas control module is connected to the housing and is used to evacuate air from the receiving cavity through the air outlet and introduce a first inert gas into the receiving cavity through the air inlet, thereby placing the battery cells in a first inert gas environment. By introducing the first inert gas into the receiving cavity, the oxygen content within the cavity is significantly reduced, greatly minimizing the risk of thermal runaway of the battery cells. This directly isolates the runaway source from oxygen, preventing further spread of thermal runaway due to sufficient oxygen, and significantly improving the safety of the battery pack. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The illustrative embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the present invention. In the drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0018] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the battery pack in the image;

[0019] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the battery cell structure in the battery pack.

[0020] The above figures include the following reference numerals:

[0021] 10. Housing; 11. Air inlet; 12. Exhaust outlet; 13. Top plate; 14. Bottom plate; 15. Enclosure; 16. Front panel; 17. Bottom guard plate;

[0022] 20. Battery cell; 21. Semi-permeable valve; 22. Foam;

[0023] 30. Battery Management Module;

[0024] 40. Liquid cooling plate; 50. Sealing ring; 60. Thermally conductive structural adhesive. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the present utility model or its application or use. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present utility model without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0026] To address the issues of poor heat dissipation and inability to resolve thermal runaway in existing battery pack systems, this invention provides a battery pack.

[0027] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the battery pack includes a housing 10, a battery cell 20, and a gas control module. The housing 10 has a receiving cavity and an air inlet 11 and an air outlet 12 communicating with the receiving cavity. The battery cell 20 is disposed in the receiving cavity. The gas control module is connected to the housing 10 and is used to evacuate the receiving cavity through the air outlet 12 and introduce a first inert gas into the receiving cavity through the air inlet 11 so that the battery cell 20 is in a first inert gas environment.

[0028] This invention provides a battery pack comprising a housing 10, battery cells 20, and a gas control module. The housing 10 has a receiving cavity and an air inlet 11 and an air outlet 12 communicating with the receiving cavity. The battery cells 20 are disposed within the receiving cavity. The gas control module is connected to the housing 10 and is used to evacuate the receiving cavity through the air outlet 12 and introduce a first inert gas into the receiving cavity through the air inlet 11, thus placing the battery cells 20 in a first inert gas environment. By introducing the first inert gas into the receiving cavity, the oxygen content within the cavity is significantly reduced, greatly minimizing the risk of thermal runaway of the battery cells 20. This directly isolates the runaway source from oxygen, preventing further spread of thermal runaway due to sufficient oxygen, and significantly improving the safety of the battery pack.

[0029] It should be noted that in this application, the first inert gas is a room-temperature inert gas. Thus, under normal circumstances, the room-temperature inert gas only needs to reduce the oxygen content in the containment cavity.

[0030] like Figure 3As shown, the battery cell 20 has a semi-permeable valve 21, which is used to discharge the gas generated by the battery cell 20 in the early stage of thermal runaway. In this way, the gas generated by the battery cell 20 can be discharged in time by opening the semi-permeable valve 21 in the early stage of thermal runaway. The semi-permeable valve 21 automatically opens when the temperature rises, effectively releasing internal pressure and preventing the battery pack from expanding or exploding.

[0031] Optionally, the opening mechanism of the semi-permeable valve 21 is based on automatic temperature opening. The use of a temperature sensing element enables the semi-permeable valve 21 to open automatically when the internal temperature of the receiving cavity reaches a preset threshold, without the need for external control. This simplifies the design of the battery pack and is suitable for unattended remote energy storage devices and battery packs in automated production lines.

[0032] Preferably, the semi-permeable valve 21 has a temperature sensing element. The temperature sensing element can monitor the internal temperature of the battery pack's housing cavity in real time, ensuring that the semi-permeable valve 21 opens at the optimal time, improving the system's response speed and safety, and is suitable for medical devices and life support systems that require real-time monitoring.

[0033] Preferably, the semi-permeable valve 21 can be designed as a multi-layer structure, wherein at least one layer is a temperature-sensitive material. The multi-layer structure of the semi-permeable valve 21 can provide more stable temperature control, maintaining the stability of the internal temperature of the containment cavity even in environments with drastic temperature changes, making it suitable for outdoor equipment and mobile power supplies in extreme weather conditions.

[0034] It should be noted that, in this application, if Figure 1As shown, an intake valve is installed at the air inlet 11, and an exhaust valve is installed at the exhaust outlet 12. The battery pack also includes a battery management module 30, which is disposed within the housing cavity to detect the temperature inside the cavity. The battery management module 30 is controlled and connected to the intake and exhaust valves. When the battery management module 30 detects that the temperature inside the housing cavity has risen to a preset temperature, it controls the intake and exhaust valves to open simultaneously. A gas control module is signal-connected to the intake valve. Based on the intake valve being open, the gas control module introduces a second inert gas into the housing cavity through the intake port 11, carrying heat and oxygen from the housing cavity out through the exhaust outlet 12. Thus, the battery management module 30 monitors the temperature inside the housing cavity of the housing 10. When a rapid temperature rise is detected, it controls the intake and exhaust valves to open, introducing a large amount of cooling gas. Through this design, the battery pack can respond rapidly before the cells 20 experience thermal runaway, effectively reducing the internal temperature and preventing damage to the battery pack, thereby significantly improving battery safety in applications such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Furthermore, this design significantly improves the battery pack's thermal management capabilities, especially under extreme conditions such as fast charging and high-power discharging. It effectively controls battery temperature, prevents thermal runaway, and ensures the stability and safety of the battery pack. Applications extend beyond electric vehicles and energy storage systems; any device requiring high-energy-density batteries and sensitive to temperature, such as drones and power tools, can benefit from it.

[0035] It should be noted that, in this application, the second inert gas is a cryogenic inert gas. This ensures that the cryogenic inert gas can effectively exchange heat with the high-temperature gas inside the containment cavity.

[0036] It should be noted that, in this application, the first inert gas does not react with the chemical substances inside the battery cell 20, and the second inert gas does not react with the chemical substances inside the battery cell 20.

[0037] Preferably, the first and second inert gases can be nitrogen, argon, or helium. These gases have good chemical stability and are not easily reactive with other substances, reducing the risk of chemical reactions occurring inside the containment cavity. This makes them suitable for chemical plants, laboratories, and other scenarios with special requirements for the gas environment. Furthermore, the use of nitrogen, argon, or helium provides an inert gas environment inside the battery pack, reducing the presence of oxygen and other reactive gases, and lowering the risk of internal chemical reactions. This is particularly beneficial in battery power supply equipment in chemical plants and precision instruments in laboratories, effectively preventing the influence of external gases on battery performance and ensuring the safe operation of equipment and the accuracy of experimental data.

[0038] It should be noted that in this application, the receiving cavity has multiple sub-receiving areas, there are multiple battery cells 20, and the multiple battery cells 20 are evenly distributed in the multiple sub-receiving areas. There are multiple battery management modules 30, and at least one battery management module 30 is provided in each sub-receiving area. In this way, the reliability of temperature detection of the multiple sub-receiving areas by the multiple battery management modules 30 is ensured.

[0039] It should be noted that in this application, the housing 10 has multiple air inlets 11, at least one of which is used to introduce a first inert gas, and at least one of the remaining air inlets 11 is used to introduce a second inert gas. This ensures that the introduction of the first and second inert gases will not interfere with each other.

[0040] Preferably, the air inlet 11 is equipped with a gas flow control mechanism. This mechanism precisely regulates the flow rate of the cooling gas, preventing over-cooling from affecting battery performance and ensuring the battery pack operates at the optimal temperature. This is suitable for battery power systems in precision electronic devices and high-precision instruments. Furthermore, precise gas flow control is crucial for maintaining battery performance and extending battery life. Over-cooling can alter the physical properties of the battery's active materials, affecting its charge and discharge capabilities, while a suitable temperature ensures the battery operates at its best. This design is particularly suitable for precision electronic devices and high-precision instruments with extremely high temperature control requirements, such as surgical robots in medical equipment and electron microscopes in scientific research, ensuring the normal operation of the equipment and the accuracy of measurements.

[0041] Preferably, the air inlets 11 are located on both sides of the housing 10. This layout design ensures uniform distribution of cooling gas, improves cooling efficiency, and is suitable for large-scale energy storage systems, such as grid energy storage and data center backup power. Furthermore, the dual-side layout of the air inlets 11 not only improves the uniformity of cooling gas distribution but also increases gas exchange efficiency, making the cooling process more efficient. In large-scale energy storage systems, such as energy storage power stations for grid balancing and uninterruptible power supply systems for data centers, this layout ensures that all battery cells are effectively cooled, avoiding system failures caused by localized overheating and guaranteeing the stability and safety of the energy storage system.

[0042] like Figure 1 As shown, the housing 10 includes a top plate 13, a bottom plate 14, multiple surrounding plates 15, and a front panel 16. The top plate 13, the bottom plate 14, and the multiple surrounding plates 15 together form a receiving cavity. The front panel 16 is disposed on the outer surface of one of the surrounding plates 15, and the front panel 16 has an air inlet 11 and an exhaust outlet 12. The surrounding plate 15 connected to the front panel 16 has a first clearance through hole and a second clearance through hole for avoiding the air inlet 11 and the exhaust outlet 12, respectively.

[0043] like Figure 1 As shown, the air inlet 11 and the exhaust outlet 12 are spaced apart along the length of the panel 16.

[0044] like Figure 1 As shown, the battery pack also includes foam 22, liquid cooling plate 40, sealing ring 50, thermally conductive structural adhesive 60, and bottom protective plate 17. Foam 22 is attached to one side of the thickness direction of each individual cell 20. The liquid cooling plate 40 is located at the bottom of multiple cells 20. The thermally conductive structural adhesive 60 is used to bond the liquid cooling plate 40 and the bottom of the multiple cells 20 to dissipate heat from the multiple cells 20. The thermally conductive structural adhesive 60 ensures reliable heat transfer. The bottom protective plate 17 is located... Figure 1 The outermost edge of the bottom plate 14 and the outer periphery of the bottom guard plate 17 are provided with a sealing ring 50.

[0045] Preferably, the housing 10 is equipped with aerogel or heat insulation sheets. This design further enhances the heat insulation performance of the battery pack, maintaining a stable internal temperature even in extreme temperature environments, extending battery life, and making it suitable for industrial vehicles and equipment operating at high or low temperatures. Furthermore, the addition of aerogel or heat insulation sheets significantly extends battery life under extreme temperature conditions. By effectively isolating external temperature changes, the battery can remain within a suitable operating temperature range, reducing performance degradation and lifespan shortening caused by temperature fluctuations. This design is particularly suitable for transportation vehicles such as trains, airplanes, and deep-sea submarines operating in extreme climatic conditions.

[0046] Preferably, the aerogel or heat insulation sheet is made of silica aerogel. Silica aerogel has extremely low thermal conductivity and good chemical stability, effectively isolating the battery pack from the influence of the external environment, making it particularly suitable for use in the aerospace field to cope with the extreme temperature changes in the space environment. Furthermore, the use of silica aerogel significantly improves the space adaptability of the battery pack. Because the temperature range in the space environment is extremely wide, from the high temperatures under direct sunlight to the extremely low temperatures in the shade, traditional heat insulation materials often struggle to cope. Silica aerogel, however, can effectively maintain stable internal battery temperatures, ensuring the normal operation of batteries in spacecraft, satellites, and other equipment during space missions, thus extending the lifespan of the equipment.

[0047] The battery pack of this application significantly improves safety and performance through a comprehensive design incorporating a semi-permeable valve 21, an inert gas environment, a gas control module, and a battery management module 30 (BMS). The semi-permeable valve 21 automatically opens when the temperature rises, effectively releasing internal pressure and preventing battery pack expansion or explosion. The inert gas environment reduces the oxygen content inside the battery pack, mitigating the risk of thermal runaway. The coordinated operation of the gas control module and BMS allows for real-time monitoring of the battery pack's internal temperature, pressure, and voltage, enabling timely introduction of cooling gas to ensure safe operation within a safe temperature range. Furthermore, the use of aerogel or heat insulation sheets further enhances the system's thermal insulation effect, while the gas filter ensures the purity of the introduced gas, preventing impurities from affecting battery performance. Overall, this system design effectively improves battery pack safety and extends battery life, making it suitable for scenarios with high battery safety requirements, such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Its advantages are particularly pronounced in high-altitude, extremely cold, or extremely hot environments, providing users with a more stable and safer battery power supply solution. Furthermore, the implementation of this system design has not only demonstrated outstanding safety and reliability in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, but has also played a crucial role in other fields with high battery performance requirements, such as aerospace, polar scientific research, and deep-sea exploration. In high-altitude, extremely cold, or extremely hot environments, the battery pack system can effectively cope with environmental changes, maintain the normal operating state of the batteries, and avoid battery safety issues caused by extreme environments. This provides users with a more stable and safer battery power supply solution, promoting the application of new energy technologies in a wider range of fields.

[0048] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0049] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps described in these embodiments do not limit the scope of this invention. It should also be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Techniques, methods, and devices known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and devices should be considered part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following drawings denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it need not be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

[0050] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0051] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0052] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0053] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this utility model and is not intended to limit the utility model. Various modifications and variations can be made to this utility model by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A battery pack, characterized in that, include: The housing (10) has a receiving cavity and an air inlet (11) and an air outlet (12) communicating with the receiving cavity; A battery cell (20) is disposed within the receiving cavity; A gas control module is connected to the housing (10). The gas control module is used to evacuate the containment cavity through the exhaust port (12) and introduce a first inert gas into the containment cavity through the air inlet (11) so that the battery cell (20) is in a first inert gas environment.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first inert gas is an inert gas at room temperature.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery cell (20) has a semi-permeable valve (21) for discharging the gas generated by the battery cell (20) in the early stage of thermal runaway.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, An intake valve is provided at the air inlet (11), and an exhaust valve is provided at the exhaust outlet (12). The battery pack also includes: A battery management module (30) is disposed within the receiving cavity for detecting the temperature within the receiving cavity; The battery management module (30) is connected to the intake valve and the exhaust valve for control, so that when the battery management module (30) detects that the temperature inside the cavity has risen to a preset temperature, the battery management module (30) controls the intake valve and the exhaust valve to open simultaneously. The gas control module is signal-connected to the intake valve. The gas control module is used to introduce the second inert gas into the containment cavity through the intake port (11) according to the intake valve being in the open state, and to discharge the heat and oxygen in the containment cavity through the exhaust port (12).

5. The battery pack according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second inert gas is a low-temperature inert gas.

6. The battery pack according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first inert gas does not react with the chemical substances in the battery cell (20), and the second inert gas does not react with the chemical substances in the battery cell (20).

7. The battery pack according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cavity has multiple sub-accommodating areas, and there are multiple battery cells (20) evenly distributed in the multiple sub-accommodating areas. There are multiple battery management modules (30), and at least one battery management module (30) is provided in each sub-accommodating area.

8. The battery pack according to claim 4, characterized in that, The housing (10) has a plurality of air inlets (11), at least one of the plurality of air inlets (11) is used to introduce the first inert gas, and at least one of the remaining air inlets (11) is used to introduce the second inert gas.

9. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The housing (10) includes: A top plate (13), a bottom plate (14), and a plurality of surrounding plates (15) together form the receiving cavity; A panel (16) is disposed on the outer surface of one of the plurality of enclosures (15), and the panel (16) is provided with an air inlet (11) and an exhaust outlet (12). The enclosure (15) connected to the panel (16) is provided with a first clearance through hole and a second clearance through hole for avoiding the air inlet (11) and the exhaust outlet (12), respectively.

10. The battery pack according to claim 9, characterized in that, The air inlet (11) and the exhaust outlet (12) are spaced apart along the length of the panel (16).

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