Liquid cooling plate and power battery structure with inverted battery cell

Abstract

The utility model provides a liquid cooling plate and a power battery structure with an inverted battery cell, the liquid cooling plate comprises a straight plate-shaped main body and a turnup connected with the main body, the main body is internally provided with a flow channel for cooling liquid to flow, the main body is provided with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet which are respectively communicated with two ends of the flow channel, and the turnup is connected with the turnup. The liquid inlet is located below the liquid outlet, the turnup is arranged at the lower end of the body, large faces on the two sides of the body are cooling faces, and at least one side of the turnup protrudes out of one cooling face. According to the utility model, the turned-over edges on the liquid cooling plate are used for supporting the inverted battery cell, so that the installation stability of the inverted battery cell is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of power battery technology, specifically to a power battery structure with a liquid cooling plate and inverted battery cells. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional battery packs typically have cells arranged vertically. Inverted battery packs, on the other hand, have the cells arranged upside down with the cell explosion-proof valves facing downwards. When a cell malfunctions, heat and gas are released downwards through the explosion-proof valves, improving battery safety.

[0003] In existing technology, the battery cell is fixed to the battery cover upside down with structural adhesive. However, with prolonged use, the structural adhesive gradually ages, and vibrations during vehicle operation can cause it to fail, leading to the battery cell detaching from the cover. Therefore, the industry uses pressure strips to further secure the battery cell. The pressure strip is placed at the end of the battery cell and contacts the end face of the cell. The pressure strip is fixed to the housing with bolts, providing support for the upside-down battery cell.

[0004] However, using pressure strips to fix the battery cells takes up battery space in terms of height, affecting battery energy density. At the same time, it increases the complexity of battery assembly operations due to the increased internal structure of the battery. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of the prior art by proposing a power battery structure with a liquid cooling plate and an inverted battery cell. The inverted battery cell is supported by the flange on the liquid cooling plate, thereby improving the installation stability of the inverted battery cell.

[0006] This utility model proposes a liquid cooling plate, including a flat plate-shaped main body and a flange connected to the main body. The main body is provided with a flow channel for coolant to flow. The main body is provided with an inlet and an outlet respectively connected to the two ends of the flow channel. The inlet is located below the outlet. The flange is provided at the lower end of the main body. The two large surfaces of the main body are provided as cooling surfaces. At least one side of the flange protrudes from one of the cooling surfaces.

[0007] The preferred technical solution of this utility model is that the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet are both located on the same side wall of the main body.

[0008] The preferred technical solution of this utility model is as follows: the flow channel includes an inlet section and an outlet section, the inlet section is connected to the liquid inlet, the outlet section is connected to the liquid outlet, and the inlet section is located at the lower end of the main body near the flange.

[0009] The preferred technical solution of this utility model is as follows: a main flow section is provided between the inlet section and the outlet section, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the main flow section is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the inlet section and the cross-sectional area of ​​the outlet section.

[0010] The preferred technical solution of this utility model is as follows: a plurality of guide plates are provided in the main flow section along the flow direction of the coolant, the plurality of guide plates are arranged parallel to each other at intervals, the plurality of guide plates divide the interior of the main flow section into a plurality of guide zones, and the guide zones are interconnected.

[0011] A power battery structure with inverted cells includes a high-voltage unit, a housing frame, a battery pack, and a liquid cooling plate. The battery pack and the liquid cooling plate are both disposed within the housing frame. The battery pack includes a plurality of cells arranged along its length, with the explosion-proof valve on the top surface of each cell facing downwards and the cooling surface contacting the battery pack. A bottom protective plate is provided, on which the high-voltage unit is disposed. A top cover is provided on the high-voltage unit. A flange is connected to the housing frame through a connecting hole, the bottom surface of each cell is connected to the top cover, and the flange is supported below the top surface of the cell.

[0012] The preferred technical solution of this utility model is that the flange is provided with a connecting hole for connecting the box frame.

[0013] The preferred technical solution of this utility model is as follows: a plurality of battery packs are arranged along the width direction, the liquid cooling plate is disposed between two adjacent battery packs, and the cooling surface contacts the side wall of the battery pack.

[0014] The preferred technical solution of this utility model is as follows: the bottom surface of the battery cell is coated with structural adhesive to connect the top cover, and the flange is coated with structural adhesive to connect the top surface of the battery cell.

[0015] The preferred technical solution of this utility model is as follows: the cooling surface is coated with thermally conductive structural adhesive, and the cooling surface is connected to the side wall of the battery pack through the thermally conductive structural adhesive.

[0016] The liquid cooling plate and the inverted cell power battery structure of this utility model have the following beneficial effects:

[0017] 1. A flange is provided at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate. When the liquid cooling plate is installed in the high-voltage unit, the flange protrudes from the side of the liquid cooling plate and is located below the cell. It can provide support for the cell and prevent the cell from separating due to adhesion failure, thus improving the stability of the inverted cell installation. Moreover, the flange and the liquid cooling plate are an integral structure, eliminating the need for additional support structures and simplifying battery installation.

[0018] 2. The liquid inlet is located near the bottom of the liquid cooling plate body, so that the coolant can first cool down the area near the battery cell terminals that are prone to overheating.

[0019] 3. Increase the cross-sectional area of ​​the main flow section to reduce flow resistance and increase the cooling rate; and there are several guide plates in the main flow section to guide the flow of coolant in the main flow section. The coolant is evenly distributed in the main flow section through the guide plates so that the liquid cooling plate can be cooled evenly. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. In these drawings, similar reference numerals are used to denote similar elements. The drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention, but not all embodiments. Other drawings will be readily available to those skilled in the art based on these drawings without any inventive effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the power battery structure in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0022] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the high-voltage unit in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a side view of the liquid cooling plate in Embodiment 1 of this utility model.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a side view of the liquid cooling plate in Embodiment 2 of this utility model.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the liquid cooling plate in Embodiment 1 of this utility model.

[0026] In the diagram: 10. Bottom protective plate; 11. Insulating foam; 20. High voltage unit; 21. Housing frame; 22. Battery pack; 221. Battery cell; 23. Liquid cooling plate; 231. Main body; 232. Flanged edge; 2321. Connection hole; 233. Cooling surface; 234. Liquid inlet; 235. Liquid outlet; 236. Inlet section; 237. Outlet section; 238. Main stream section; 239. Guide plate; 24. CCS module; 30. Top cover. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this utility model. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this utility model without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be arbitrarily combined with each other.

[0028] Please see Figures 1 to 5The liquid cooling plate 23 includes a connected main body 231 and a flange 232. The main body 231 is a flat plate with internal channels for coolant flow. The side wall of the main body 231 has an inlet 234 and an outlet 235 connecting the two ends of the channels. The large surfaces on both sides of the main body 231 are configured as cooling surfaces 233. The coolant flows through the inlet 234 and outlet 235 within the channels and cools the outer battery cell 221 via the cooling surfaces 233.

[0029] The flange 232 is flat and positioned at the bottom of the main body 231. The flange 232 completely covers the bottom surface of the main body 231, and at least one side of the flange 232 protrudes from the cooling surface 233 of the main body 231, so that the cooling plate appears L-shaped or inverted T-shaped when viewed from the side. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As described above. When the liquid cooling plate 23 is installed in the battery with the cell 221 inverted, the flip plate provides support for the inverted cell 221 from below, so as to prevent the inverted cell 221 from detaching from the casing and to ensure the installation stability of the cell 221.

[0030] Preferably, the liquid inlet 234 and the liquid outlet 235 are both located on the same narrow surface of the main body 231, and the connector device is located on the same side of the liquid cooling plate 23, making the internal space of the battery more compact.

[0031] The flow channel includes an inlet section 236, a main flow section 238, and an outlet section 237. The inlet section 236 connects the liquid inlet 234 and the main flow section 238, and the outlet section 237 connects the main flow section 238 and the liquid outlet 235. The liquid inlet 234 is located below the liquid outlet 235, and is positioned near the flange 232 at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate 23 body 231. The inlet section 236 is positioned near the bottom of the body 231.

[0032] The end of the battery cell 221 equipped with the explosion-proof valve is defined as its top surface, and the other end as its bottom surface. All terminals of the battery cell 221 are located on the top surface. When the battery cell 221 is inverted, its bottom surface is above its top surface, and its terminals are below. The liquid cooling plate 23 supports the battery cell 221 via its flange 232 and cools it through its cooling surface 233. Coolant enters the inlet section 236 located at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate 23 through the inlet port 234. The inlet section 236 is close to the terminals of the battery cell 221, which can first cool the area near the terminals of the battery cell 221 where the temperature is higher, effectively improving the cooling efficiency of the liquid cooling plate 23.

[0033] Preferably, the cross-sectional area of ​​the main flow section 238 is larger than that of the inlet section 236 and the outlet section, so as to reduce the flow resistance of the main body 231, thereby enabling the liquid cooling plate 23 to support high flow rate and high power heat dissipation. The coolant flows through the inlet section 236, the main flow section 238, and the outlet section in sequence through the overall flow channel, thereby achieving cooling of the liquid cooling plate 23.

[0034] Furthermore, considering the potential issue of insufficient rapid and uniform filling of the main channel by the coolant after entering from the inlet section 236 due to the increased cross-sectional area of ​​the main channel 238, several guide plates 239 are installed inside the main channel. These guide plates 239 are positioned along the coolant flow direction, parallel to each other and evenly spaced. The guide plates 239 divide the internal space of the main channel into several flow zones of equal volume, which are interconnected. After entering the main channel, the coolant passes through different guide plates 239 into different flow zones, ensuring that coolant is present in all flow zones within the main channel and simultaneously cooling different areas, thus achieving uniform cooling of the liquid-cooled plate 23.

[0035] like Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, the cross-sectional area of ​​the main flow section 238 is increased by increasing the height of the main flow section 238. The guide plate 239 is arranged parallel to the bottom of the liquid cooling plate 23. Several guide plates 239 are spaced apart in the height direction of the main flow section 238, dividing the main flow section 238 into several guiding zones in the height direction, so that the coolant can quickly and evenly fill the main flow channel.

[0036] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 A power battery structure with inverted cells includes a bottom protective plate 10, a high-voltage unit 20, and a top cover 30. The high-voltage unit 20 includes a housing frame 21, a battery pack 22, and a liquid cooling plate 23. The battery pack 22 includes several cells 221 arranged along the length direction, with their large surfaces attached to each other and fixed by thermally conductive structural adhesive. Several battery packs 22 are arranged along the width direction, and the liquid cooling plate 23 is disposed between adjacent battery packs 22. The liquid cooling plate 23 extends along the arrangement direction of the cells 221 and cools the narrow sidewalls of the cells 221. Compared to the traditional cooling method of placing the liquid cooling plate 23 between the large surfaces of the cells 221, this arrangement shortens the distance between the cells 221, improves battery space utilization, and increases battery capacity. The battery packs 22 are connected in series and parallel via CCS modules 24.

[0037] The housing frame 21 is generally square, including two parallel end beams and two parallel side beams between the end beams. A horizontal beam parallel to the end beams is located in the middle of the side beams to increase the structural strength of the housing frame 21. The battery pack 22 is arranged inside the housing frame 21. The bottom of the housing frame 21 is bolted to the bottom protective plate 10, and the top is bolted to the top cover 30.

[0038] The battery pack 22 and the liquid cooling plate 23 are stacked together and placed into the box. The flange 232 is provided with a connection hole 2321. Specifically, along the extension direction of the liquid cooling plate 23, the flange 232 protrudes from the narrow surfaces at both ends of the liquid cooling plate 23 of the main body 231. The connection hole 2321 is provided at this protruding position. Through the connection hole 2321, the bottom flange 232 of the liquid cooling plate 23 is connected to the end beam and the crossbeam of the box frame 21 and fixed to the box frame 21.

[0039] The bottom surface of cell 221 is coated with structural adhesive and bonded to the top cover 30 via the structural adhesive. Thermally conductive structural adhesive is applied to the cooling surface 233 of the main body 231, which is then bonded to the side wall of the battery pack 22, fixing the relative position between the battery pack 22 and the liquid cooling plate 23. A flange 232 is located below the top surface of cell 221, and is coated with structural adhesive and connected to the top surface of cell 221. The flange 232 provides support for the inverted cell 221. The length of the flange 232 is not less than the length of the battery pack 22, allowing the flange 232 to contact all cells 221 within the battery pack 22, providing support for all cells 221 within the battery pack 22.

[0040] In one embodiment, the liquid cooling plates 23 near the side beams of the housing frame 21 are L-shaped liquid cooling plates 23, with one side of the flange 232 protruding from the cooling surface 233 of the main body 231, providing support for the battery packs 22 inside the side beams; the liquid cooling plates 23 between two adjacent battery packs 22 are inverted T-shaped liquid cooling plates 23, with both sides of the flange 232 protruding from the cooling surface 233 of the main body 231, providing support for the battery packs 22 on both sides simultaneously. This method reduces the space occupied by the liquid cooling plates 23 inside the battery, improving battery space utilization. As another embodiment, two back-to-back L-shaped liquid cooling plates 23 can also be provided between two battery packs 22, which can improve the cooling effect of the liquid cooling plates 23 while providing support for the two battery packs 22. This embodiment uses a combination of L-shaped and inverted T-shaped liquid cooling plates 23. In actual production, the use of liquid cooling plates 23 can be flexibly combined according to usage requirements, and is not limited to the combination shown in this application.

[0041] Furthermore, a number of insulating foams 11 corresponding to the electrode posts of the battery cell 221 are laid on the bottom protective plate 10 to form a protection under the battery cell 221.

[0042] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and are not intended to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. A liquid-cooled plate, characterized in that, The device includes a flat plate-shaped main body (231) and a flange (232) connected to the main body (231). The main body (231) has a flow channel for coolant to flow through. The main body (231) has an inlet (234) and an outlet (235) that are respectively connected to the two ends of the flow channel. The inlet (234) is located below the outlet (235). The flange (232) is located at the lower end of the main body (231). The large surfaces on both sides of the main body (231) are set as cooling surfaces (233). At least one side of the flange (232) protrudes from one of the cooling surfaces (233).

2. The liquid cold plate of claim 1, wherein, The liquid inlet (234) and the liquid outlet (235) are both located on the same side wall of the main body (231).

3. The liquid cold plate of claim 1, wherein, The flow channel includes an inlet section (236) and an outlet section (237). The inlet section (236) is connected to the liquid inlet (234), and the outlet section (237) is connected to the liquid outlet (235). The inlet section (236) is located near the flange (232) at the lower end of the main body (231).

4. The liquid cold plate of claim 3, wherein, A main channel section (238) is provided between the inlet section (236) and the outlet section (237), and the cross-sectional area of ​​the main channel section (238) is greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the inlet section (236) and the cross-sectional area of ​​the outlet section (237).

5. The liquid cold plate of claim 4, wherein, The main flow section (238) is provided with a plurality of guide plates (239) arranged along the flow direction of the coolant. The plurality of guide plates (239) are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart. The plurality of guide plates (239) divide the interior of the main flow section (238) into a plurality of guide zones, and the guide zones are interconnected.

6. A power battery structure with an inverted cell, characterized in that, include The high-voltage unit (20) includes a housing frame (21), a battery pack (22), and a liquid cooling plate (23) according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The battery pack (22) and the liquid cooling plate (23) are both disposed within the housing frame (21). The battery pack (22) includes a plurality of cells (221) arranged along the length direction. The explosion-proof valve on the top surface of the cell (221) is disposed downwards, and the cooling surface (233) contacts the battery pack (22). The bottom protective plate (10) is on which the high-voltage unit (20) is disposed; The top cover (30) is placed on the high-voltage unit (20); The flange (232) is connected to the housing frame (21), the bottom surface of the battery cell (221) is connected to the top cover (30), and the flange (232) is supported below the top surface of the battery cell (221).

7. The power battery structure with an inverted cell according to claim 6, characterized in that, The flange (232) is provided with a connection hole (2321) for connecting the box frame (21).

8. The power battery structure with inverted cell according to claim 6, characterized in that, A plurality of battery packs (22) are arranged along the width direction, and the liquid cooling plate (23) is disposed between two adjacent battery packs (22), and the cooling surface (233) contacts the side wall of the battery pack (22).

9. The power battery structure with inverted cell according to claim 6, characterized in that, The bottom surface of each cell (221) is coated with structural adhesive to connect to the top cover (30), and the flange (232) is coated with structural adhesive to connect to the top surface of the cell (221).

10. The power battery structure with an inverted cell according to claim 6, characterized in that, The cooling surface (233) is coated with thermally conductive structural adhesive, and the cooling surface (233) is connected to the side wall of the battery pack (22) through the thermally conductive structural adhesive.

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