Battery module, battery pack and electric device

Abstract

The utility model relates to a battery module, a battery pack and an electric device. The battery module comprises a battery monomer group which comprises a plurality of battery monomers which are stacked in parallel, and each battery monomer is provided with a tab structure; the cooling connection structure is electrically connected to the tab structures between the battery monomers, so that at least part of the battery monomers are connected in series, and a cooling channel for a cooling medium to flow is formed in the cooling connection structure. According to the battery module provided by the invention, the tab structures between the battery monomers are electrically connected through the cooling connection structures, so that the integrated design of the heat dissipation structure and the connection row structure in the battery module is realized, the structural complexity and the occupied space in the battery module are reduced, and the heat dissipation effect of the battery is improved; the problems of insufficient contact area and non-uniform pressure distribution are avoided, the influence of vibration and temperature change is reduced, the structural stability of the battery module is improved, the safety of the battery is improved, and the service life of the battery is prolonged.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of batteries, in particular to a battery module, a battery pack and a power utilization device. BACKGROUND

[0002] In recent years, accidents such as smoking, spontaneous combustion and fire of electric vehicles have occurred frequently. As a core component, power batteries are developing towards high energy density, long driving range, short charging time, high safety, high space utilization, lightweight and long cycle life.

[0003] At present, the heat dissipation system of the battery module has the problems of complex structure, large space occupation, poor stability, poor heat dissipation effect, which affects the safety of the battery and shortens the service life of the battery. In addition, the connection row structure of the battery module also occupies a lot of space and is easy to cause short circuit. CONTENT OF THE UTILITY MODEL

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a battery module, a battery pack and a power utilization device to simplify the heat dissipation system and the connection row structure of the battery, reduce the space occupation, improve the stability of the heat dissipation system, improve the heat dissipation effect of the battery, improve the safety and service life of the battery, and reduce the short circuit risk of the battery.

[0005] The first aspect of the present application provides a battery module, which comprises: a battery monomer group comprising a plurality of battery monomers arranged in parallel and stacked, each battery monomer being provided with a tab structure; and a cooling connection structure electrically connected to the tab structures between the battery monomers, so that at least part of the battery monomers are connected in series, and the cooling connection structure has a cooling channel for the flow of a cooling medium.

[0006] In some embodiments, the cooling connection structure comprises an electrically conductive liquid cooling plate electrically connected to the tab structures between the battery monomers, and at least part of the electrically conductive liquid cooling plate is used to connect two battery monomers in series.

[0007] In some embodiments, a part of the electrically conductive liquid cooling plate is used to connect at least two battery monomers in parallel to form a parallel monomer group, and a part of the electrically conductive liquid cooling plate is used to connect at least two parallel monomer groups in series.

[0008] In some embodiments, the electrically conductive liquid cooling plate comprises: an electrically conductive shell and a first cooling channel arranged in the electrically conductive shell; and the cooling connection structure further comprises: an insulating liquid cooling plate comprising an insulating shell and a second cooling channel arranged in the insulating shell; wherein the insulating shell is connected to the electrically conductive shell, and the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel are connected in communication to form the cooling channel.

[0009] In some embodiments, the insulating liquid cooling plate is a plurality of.

[0010] In some embodiments, the diameters of at least part of the second cooling channels are equal.

[0011] In some embodiments, an explosion-proof valve is arranged between each battery monomer, and an avoidance space is formed between the insulation liquid cooling plates, and the avoidance space is arranged correspondingly to the explosion-proof valve.

[0012] In some embodiments, one end of the cooling channel is provided with a liquid inlet, and the other end of the cooling channel is provided with a liquid outlet.

[0013] The second aspect of the present application provides a battery pack, which comprises a plurality of battery modules provided by the first aspect of the present application, and the plurality of battery modules are arranged in an array.

[0014] The third aspect of the present application provides a power utilization device, which comprises a plurality of battery modules provided by the first aspect of the present application or a battery pack provided by the second aspect of the present application.

[0015] Compared with the conventional technology, the present application has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0016] The battery module provided by the present application realizes the integrated design of the heat dissipation structure and the connection row structure in the battery module by connecting the tab structures between the battery monomers through the cooling connection structure, reduces the structural complexity and the occupied space inside the battery module, directly connects the cooling connection structure on the tab structure compared with the way of connecting the cooling device and the battery module by using mechanical connecting pieces in the conventional technology, improves the heat dissipation effect of the battery, avoids the problems of insufficient contact area and uneven pressure distribution, reduces the influence of vibration and temperature change, improves the structural stability of the battery module, improves the safety and service life of the battery. In addition, when charging and discharging, the cooling connection structure realizes the electrical connection of the battery monomers, which makes the electrons flow only between the battery monomers (occurring electrochemical reaction) and the cooling connection structure outside, realizes the cooling connection structure to perform the function of transferring electrons of the connection row, and reduces the short circuit risk of the battery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is an exploded structural diagram of the battery module in an embodiment of the present application.

[0018] Figure 2 It is an exploded structural diagram of the battery module in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the flow direction of the cooling liquid in the cooling connection structure in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

[0019] Figure 3 It is an exploded structural diagram of the battery module in another embodiment of the present application.

[0020] REFERENCE SIGNS

[0021] 1. A battery module;

[0022] 10. Battery cell pack; 11. Battery cell; 111. Parallel cell pack; 12. Electrode structure; 121. Positive electrode tab; 122. Negative electrode tab; 13. Explosion-proof valve; 14. Liquid filling port;

[0023] 20. Cooling connection structure; 200. Cooling channel; 201. First cooling channel; 202. Second cooling channel; 203. Liquid inlet; 204. Liquid outlet; 21. Conductive liquid cooling plate; 210. Conductive outer shell; 23. Insulating liquid cooling plate; 230. Insulating outer shell; 24. Clearance space;

[0024] 30. End plate;

[0025] 40. Cable ties;

[0026] 50. Heat insulation board. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0028] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" appear, these terms indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0029] Furthermore, where the terms "first" and "second" appear, these terms are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, where the term "multiple" appears, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0030] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0031] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the use of descriptions such as "above" or "below" the second feature indicates that the first and second features are in direct contact or indirect contact via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. Similarly, "below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0032] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. If so, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0033] Unless otherwise specified, the terms "comprising" and "including" as used in this application can be open-ended or closed-ended. For example, "comprising" and "including" can mean that other components not listed may also be included, or that only the listed components may be included.

[0034] Unless otherwise specified, the term "or" is inclusive in this application. For example, the phrase "A or B" means "A, B, or both A and B". More specifically, the condition "A or B" is satisfied by any of the following conditions: A is true (or exists) and B is false (or does not exist); A is false (or does not exist) and B is true (or exists); or both A and B are true (or exist).

[0035] In recent years, accidents such as smoke, spontaneous combustion, and fires involving electric vehicles have occurred frequently. As its core component, the power battery is developing towards higher energy density, longer driving range, shorter charging time, higher safety, higher space utilization, lighter weight, and longer cycle life.

[0036] Currently, the heat dissipation system of battery modules suffers from problems such as complex structure, large space occupation, poor stability, and poor heat dissipation effect, which affects battery safety and shortens battery life. In addition, the connection strip structure of battery modules also occupies a lot of space and is prone to short circuits.

[0037] Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide a battery module that simplifies the battery's heat dissipation system and connection structure, reduces space occupation, improves the stability of the heat dissipation system, enhances the battery's heat dissipation effect, improves the battery's safety and lifespan, and reduces the risk of short circuits in the battery.

[0038] See Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the first aspect of this application provides a battery module 1, which includes a battery cell group 10 and a cooling connection structure 20. The battery cell group 10 includes a plurality of battery cells 11 stacked in parallel, and each battery cell 11 is provided with a tab structure 12. The cooling connection structure 20 is electrically connected to the tab structures between the battery cells 11, such that at least some of the battery cells 11 are connected in series, and the cooling connection structure 20 has a cooling channel 200 for the flow of cooling medium.

[0039] The battery module 1 provided in this application electrically connects the tab structures 12 between the battery cells 11 through a cooling connection structure 20. This achieves an integrated design of the heat dissipation structure and the connection bus structure in the battery module 1, reducing the internal structural complexity and space occupation of the battery module 1. Compared with the traditional method of using mechanical connectors to connect the cooling device and the battery module 1, the cooling connection structure 20 is directly connected to the tab structure 12, improving the heat dissipation effect of the battery, avoiding problems such as insufficient contact area and uneven pressure distribution, reducing the impact of vibration and temperature changes, improving the structural stability of the battery module 1, and improving the safety and service life of the battery. In addition, when charging and discharging, the cooling connection structure 20 realizes the electrical connection of the battery cells 11, which allows electrons to flow only between the inside of the battery cells 11 (where electrochemical reactions occur) and the external cooling connection structure 20. This enables the cooling connection structure 20 to perform the electron transfer function of the connection bus, reducing the risk of short circuit in the battery.

[0040] Understandably, by connecting at least some of the battery cells 11 in series, the voltage of the battery module 1 is increased. At the same time, this series connection method reduces voltage loss and energy waste caused by the complex connections in traditional technologies, further improving the energy efficiency of the battery module 1.

[0041] In some of these implementations, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the cooling connection structure 20 includes a conductive liquid cooling plate 21, which is electrically connected to the tab structure 12 between battery cells 11. At least part of the conductive liquid cooling plate 21 is used to connect two battery cells 11 in series.

[0042] In some of these implementations, such as Figure 3 As shown, a portion of the conductive liquid cooling plate 21 is used to connect at least two battery cells 11 in parallel to form a parallel cell group 111, and another portion of the conductive liquid cooling plate 21 is used to connect two parallel cell groups 111 in series. In this embodiment, by using a portion of the conductive liquid cooling plate 21 to connect at least two battery cells 11 in parallel to form a parallel cell group 111, the output current capability of the battery module 1 can be effectively improved, thus increasing the capacity of the battery module 1; while using a portion of the conductive liquid cooling plate 21 to connect two parallel cell groups 111 in series increases the output voltage of the battery module 1. Therefore, the above design can balance the capacity of the battery module 1 and the high output voltage.

[0043] Understandably, to avoid short circuits between individual battery cells in battery module 1, the orientation of the positive and negative electrodes in the tab structure 12 of the battery cell 11 can be adjusted, allowing the conductive liquid cooling plate 21 to function as a series, parallel, or mixed series-parallel connection. This series-parallel combination design makes the output characteristics of battery module 1 more flexible, allowing for configuration according to actual needs, thus adapting to complex application scenarios and improving the practicality of battery module 1.

[0044] In some embodiments, the conductive liquid cooling plate 21 includes a conductive outer shell 210 and a first cooling channel 201 disposed within the conductive outer shell. The cooling connection structure 20 also includes an insulating liquid cooling plate 23, which includes an insulating outer shell 230 and a second cooling channel 202 disposed within the insulating outer shell 230. The insulating outer shell 230 is connected to the conductive outer shell 210, and the first cooling channel 201 and the second cooling channel 202 are connected to form a cooling channel 200. In this embodiment, the connection between the second cooling channel 202 and the first cooling channel 201 of the insulating liquid cooling plate 23 enables efficient flow and circulation of the cooling medium, improving heat dissipation capacity. Furthermore, the connection between the insulating outer shell 230 and the conductive outer shell 210 prevents electrons from flowing through the insulating outer shell 230, reducing the risk of short circuits in the battery.

[0045] In some embodiments, there are multiple insulating liquid cooling plates 23. In this embodiment, by providing multiple insulating liquid cooling plates 23, the heat dissipation efficiency and temperature uniformity are further improved, thereby enhancing the overall operational stability of the battery module 1.

[0046] In some embodiments, at least some of the second cooling channels 202 have the same diameter. In this embodiment, by setting the second cooling channels 202 with equal diameters, the flow rate and velocity of the cooling medium in each second cooling channel 202 are consistent, thereby ensuring a balanced cooling effect for each battery cell 11, avoiding temperature differences caused by uneven cooling, and further improving battery life and safety.

[0047] In some of these implementations, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, each battery cell 11 is equipped with an explosion-proof valve 13, and a clearance space 24 is formed between the insulating liquid cooling plates 23, with the clearance space 24 corresponding to the explosion-proof valve 13. An explosion-proof valve 13 is also provided between the positive electrode tab 121 and the negative electrode tab 122 on each battery cell 11, with the clearance space 24 forming between the insulating liquid cooling plates 23, and the clearance space 24 corresponding to the explosion-proof valve 13. In this embodiment, the clearance space 24 between the explosion-proof valve 13 and the cooling structure allows the explosion-proof valve 13 to release pressure normally when the battery's internal pressure is too high, avoiding the risk of battery damage or explosion, thereby further improving the safety of the battery module 1.

[0048] In some specific embodiments, the explosion-proof valve 13 is located between the positive electrode 121 and the negative electrode 122, and the clearance space 24 is correspondingly provided with the explosion-proof valve 13.

[0049] In some of these implementations, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, each battery cell 11 is provided with an electrolyte injection port 14, which is correspondingly arranged with the clearance space 24. In this embodiment, the corresponding arrangement of the electrolyte injection port 14 and the clearance space 24 makes the process of injecting electrolyte into the battery cell 11 more convenient.

[0050] In some specific embodiments, the injection port 14 is located between the positive electrode tab 121 and the negative electrode tab 122, and the clearance space 24 is correspondingly provided with the injection port 14.

[0051] In some embodiments, the cooling channel 200 has an inlet 203 at one end and an outlet 204 at the other end. In this embodiment, the cooling medium is injected through the inlet 203, flows through the cooling channel 200, and is discharged through the outlet 204, thereby carrying away the heat in the battery module 1 and improving the heat dissipation effect.

[0052] In some embodiments, the battery module 1 further includes end plates 30 and cable ties 40. End plates 30 are disposed at opposite ends of the battery cell assembly 10. Cable ties 40 are wrapped around the battery cell assembly 10 to secure the battery cell assembly 10 and the end plates 30. In this embodiment, securing the battery cell assembly 10 with the end plates 30 and cable ties 40 enhances the structural strength and stability of the battery module 1, preventing displacement or loosening of the batteries due to vibration or external forces, and also improving the overall durability and shock resistance of the battery module 1.

[0053] In some embodiments, the battery module 1 further includes a heat insulation plate 50. The heat insulation plate 50 is disposed between the battery cell group 10 and the end plate 30. In this embodiment, the heat insulation plate 50 can block heat transfer between the battery cell 11 and the end plate 30, making the battery cell 11 closer to the separator less prone to temperature changes due to contact with the end plate 30. This helps improve the temperature uniformity of the multiple battery cells 11 in the battery module 1 and extends the service life of the battery module 1.

[0054] A second aspect of this application provides a battery pack comprising a plurality of battery modules 1 provided in the first aspect, wherein the plurality of battery modules 1 are arranged in an array.

[0055] The battery pack provided in this application improves the space utilization of the battery pack by including multiple battery modules 1 provided in the first aspect above, and improves the overall heat dissipation efficiency and temperature uniformity of the battery pack through the coordinated heat dissipation of multiple battery modules 1, ensuring the safety and stability of the battery pack and meeting the requirements for high energy density and long driving range in application scenarios such as electric vehicles.

[0056] In some embodiments, the battery pack further includes a temperature sensor and a battery management module. Each battery module 1 is equipped with a temperature sensor. The battery management module is configured to selectively open the inlet 203 of the cooling channel 200 of the corresponding battery module 1's cooling connection structure 20 based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor, to introduce cooling medium into the cooling channel 200. In this embodiment, the temperature sensor monitors the temperature of each battery module 1 in real time, and the battery management module selectively opens the inlet 203 of the cooling channel 200 of the corresponding battery module 1 based on the temperature sensor's measurement results. This dynamically adjusts the opening and closing of the cooling channel 200, improving the utilization efficiency of the cooling medium, reducing energy consumption, maintaining the heat dissipation effect of the battery module 1, and enhancing the safety performance and lifespan of the battery pack.

[0057] A third aspect of this application provides an electrical device comprising a plurality of battery modules 1 provided in the first aspect or battery packs provided in the second aspect. The battery modules 1 or battery packs are used to provide electrical energy to the electrical device.

[0058] The electrical device provided in this application uses a battery module 1 or a battery pack to provide electrical energy to the electrical device. By adopting the battery module of the first aspect or the battery pack of the second aspect, the electrical device has higher safety performance and a longer service life.

[0059] Electrical devices can include vehicles, mobile phones, portable devices, laptops, ships, spacecraft, electric toys, and power tools, etc. Vehicles can be gasoline-powered cars, natural gas-powered cars, or new energy vehicles; new energy vehicles can be pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, or range-extended electric vehicles, etc. Spacecraft include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc. Electric toys include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc. Power tools include metal cutting power tools, grinding power tools, assembly power tools, and railway power tools, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, impact drills, concrete vibrators, and electric planers, etc. This application does not impose any special limitations on the above-mentioned electrical devices.

[0060] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0061] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the technical concept of this application, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A battery module, characterized in that, include: A battery cell assembly includes multiple battery cells stacked in parallel, and each battery cell is provided with a tab structure. as well as A cooling connection structure, an electrode structure electrically connected between the battery cells, such that at least some of the battery cells are connected in series, and the cooling connection structure has a cooling channel for the flow of cooling medium.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooling connection structure includes a conductive liquid cooling plate, which is electrically connected to the tab structure between the battery cells, and at least part of the conductive liquid cooling plate is used to connect two battery cells in series.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, characterized in that, A portion of the conductive liquid cooling plate is used to connect at least two of the battery cells in parallel to form a parallel cell group, and a portion of the conductive liquid cooling plate is used to connect at least two of the parallel cell groups in series.

4. The battery module according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The conductive liquid cooling plate includes: a conductive outer shell and a first cooling channel disposed within the conductive outer shell; The cooling connection structure further includes: an insulating liquid cooling plate, comprising an insulating outer shell and a second cooling channel disposed within the insulating outer shell; The insulating outer shell is connected to the conductive outer shell, and the first cooling channel is connected to the second cooling channel to form the cooling channel.

5. The battery module according to claim 4, characterized in that, There are multiple insulating liquid cooling plates.

6. The battery module according to claim 5, characterized in that, At least some of the second cooling channels have the same diameter.

7. The battery module according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the battery cells is equipped with an explosion-proof valve, and an clearance space is formed between the insulating liquid cooling plates, with the clearance space corresponding to the explosion-proof valve.

8. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, One end of the cooling channel is provided with a liquid inlet, and the other end of the cooling channel is provided with a liquid outlet.

9. A battery pack, characterized in that, It includes multiple battery modules as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the multiple battery modules are arranged in an array.

10. An electrical appliance, characterized in that, This includes the battery module as described in any one of claims 1 to 8 or the battery pack as described in claim 9.

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