Battery pack and energy storage device

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a battery pack and an energy storage equipment, relates to the technical field of energy storage, and the battery pack comprises a shell, a battery cell and a non-metal plate in the shell, the non-metal plate comprises a convex buffer structure, when the battery cell expands, stress caused by the expansion of the battery cell can be released through the deformation of the convex, and the expansion of the battery cell is effectively buffered. Unlike the buffer of the material itself, since the non-metal plate buffers through the convex structure, the buffer performance of the non-metal plate can be greatly reduced after long-term use, so that the expansion of the battery cell can still be buffered by the non-metal plate after long-term use, thereby improving the safety performance and service life of the battery pack.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of energy storage technology, and more particularly to a battery pack and energy storage device. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, a buffer pad is typically used to fill the gap between the casing and the battery cell. This buffer pad helps to cushion the expansion force of the battery cell and also provides insulation to prevent electrical short circuits. However, a relatively thick buffer pad is usually required to achieve the desired cushioning effect, and the cushioning performance deteriorates significantly over time. This prevents the buffer pad from effectively cushioning the expansion of the battery cell, leading to rupture of the battery cell casing and resulting in poor battery pack lifespan and safety performance. Utility Model Content

[0003] Embodiments of this application provide a battery pack and energy storage device to improve the battery pack's lifespan and safety performance.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a battery pack, which includes a housing, a non-metallic plate disposed within the housing, and a plurality of battery cells. The housing includes two end plates opposite each other along the length direction of the battery pack. A non-metallic plate is disposed between the inner surface of the end plates and the sidewalls of the plurality of battery cells along the length direction. Specifically, the plurality of battery cells can be arranged along the length direction, and a non-metallic plate is disposed between the sidewalls of the plurality of battery cells and the end plates along the length direction. The non-metallic plate has a surface opposite to the inner surface of the end plates, and the surface of the non-metallic plate is provided with a plurality of protrusions, the protruding direction of which faces outward from the housing, and the inner surface of the end plates facing inward from the housing. The arrangement of the plurality of protrusions creates a gap between the surface of the non-metallic plate and the inner surface of the end plates, which provides buffer space when the battery cells expand. In this embodiment, the multiple protrusions deform under external pressure. As the battery cell expands, it compresses the non-metallic plate, which in turn compresses the protrusions, causing them to deform and reducing the gap width. This effectively buffers the expansion of the battery cell, releasing the stress caused by the expansion and preventing the battery cell casing from cracking. Furthermore, because the buffering performance of the non-metallic plate is achieved through the structure of multiple protrusions, the impact of material degradation on the buffering function of the non-metallic plate is minimal after prolonged use. Therefore, it exhibits better stability over long-term use and its buffering effect does not decrease, effectively improving the battery pack's lifespan and safety performance. Additionally, the protrusion structure allows for directional buffering, significantly increasing the design flexibility of the battery pack. Moreover, the non-metallic plate also serves as insulation to prevent short circuits between the battery cell and the casing. The multiple protrusions on the non-metallic plate effectively increase the creepage distance between the casing and the battery cell, thereby improving the insulation performance of the non-metallic plate.

[0005] In some embodiments, the end of the protrusion facing the non-metallic plate along its length is designated as the first end, and the end facing the end plate along its length is designated as the second end. The size of the first end is larger than that of the second end. When the cell expands, the smaller end will deform preferentially, thus the end of the protrusion furthest from the first plate will deform preferentially. This effectively transfers the force of the protrusion deformation to the casing, preventing stress concentration on the non-metallic plate and thus effectively preventing damage to the cell in contact with the non-metallic plate due to the protrusion deformation.

[0006] In some embodiments, a positioning hole is provided on the side of the end plate facing the non-metallic plate, that is, a positioning hole is provided on the inner side of the end plate. A portion of the protrusions has a positioning post at the end facing the end plate, and the positioning post is used to insert into the positioning hole. By setting up the positioning hole and positioning post, and inserting the positioning post into the positioning hole, the position of the non-metallic plate can be restricted by the housing, preventing the non-metallic plate from moving and affecting the fixation and protection of the battery cell.

[0007] In some embodiments, the non-metallic plate includes a first plate and a second plate stacked in the longitudinal direction. Multiple protrusions are located on the opposing surfaces of the first and second plates, i.e., the second plate and the first plate are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. The multiple protrusions are located between the two opposing surfaces of the first and second plates and extend from the first plate to the second plate. The first plate is used to contact multiple battery cells, and the second plate is used to contact an end plate. Because the second plate is provided between the multiple protrusions and the end plate, the stress generated by the multiple protrusions during deformation can be evenly distributed to the end plate of the housing through the second plate, thereby avoiding stress concentration on the end plate and preventing damage to the end plate.

[0008] In some embodiments, multiple holes are formed in the non-metallic plate, and the extension direction of the multiple holes is perpendicular to the length direction. By forming holes in the first plate, the weight of the first plate can be effectively reduced, and the cost of the first plate can also be reduced. In addition, by having multiple holes perpendicular to the length direction, the first plate can also have a certain buffering performance, thereby improving the overall buffering performance of the non-metallic plate.

[0009] In some embodiments, the protrusion is an elongated structure with its extension direction perpendicular to its protrusion direction, and the protrusion has a through hole penetrating through it in the extension direction. Because the protrusion is an elongated structure with its extension direction perpendicular to its protrusion direction, the number of protrusions can be increased by increasing the length of the protrusion, thus reducing the manufacturing difficulty of the protrusion. Furthermore, because the protrusion has a through hole penetrating it in the extension direction, the elasticity of the protrusion can be increased, its cushioning capacity improved, and the material cost of the protrusion reduced.

[0010] In some embodiments, the plurality of protrusions includes a first protrusion, which comprises a first folded edge, a second folded edge, and a third folded edge that are continuously bent. The inner surface of the first folded edge is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the non-metallic plate, and the outer peripheral surface is a surface perpendicular to the surface of the non-metallic plate. The second folded edge is bent from one end of the first folded edge toward the inner surface of the first folded edge, and the second folded edge is spaced apart from the surface of the non-metallic plate. The third folded edge is bent from the second folded edge toward the surface of the non-metallic plate, and the end of the third folded edge toward the non-metallic plate is connected to the surface of the non-metallic plate. In this embodiment, because the first protrusion is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the non-metallic plate and consists of a first folded edge, a second folded edge, and a third folded edge that are continuously bent, the diversity of the shape of the first protrusion can be increased, thereby increasing the flexibility of the protrusion design.

[0011] In some embodiments, the plurality of protrusions includes a second protrusion, which has a rectangular frame structure, and one sidewall of the second protrusion is connected to the surface of the non-metallic plate. Because the second protrusion has a frame structure, its overall structural strength is higher than that of the first protrusion, but its cushioning performance is slightly lower than that of the first protrusion. Through the cooperation of the first and second protrusions, both the strength requirements and the cushioning requirements of the protrusions can be met.

[0012] In some embodiments, the battery pack further includes a buffer layer, and the non-metallic plate also has another surface opposite to the sidewalls of the multiple battery cells. The buffer layer is disposed between the other surface of the non-metallic plate and the sidewalls of the multiple battery cells. By disposing of the buffer layer between the surface of the non-metallic plate and the sidewalls of the multiple battery cells, even when manufacturing errors occur in the casing of the battery cells or the contact surface between the non-metallic plate and the battery cells, the tight contact between each position of the non-metallic plate and the battery cells can still be guaranteed, improving the uniformity of the force between the non-metallic plate and the battery cells, thereby enhancing the protection of the battery cells and improving the safety of the battery pack.

[0013] In some embodiments, the thickness of the buffer layer is 1mm-5mm. Within this range, it can effectively offset the processing errors of the non-metallic plate or the cell casing, while also avoiding taking up too much space and affecting the energy density of the battery pack.

[0014] In some embodiments, the housing also includes a bottom cooling plate and two opposing side plates in the width direction of the battery pack. The bottom cooling plate, the two end plates, and the two side plates are integrally formed, and multiple battery cells are respectively bonded to the bottom cooling plate and the two side plates. In this embodiment, since the bottom cooling plate, the two side plates, and the two end plates are integrally formed, multiple battery cells need to be placed in the base first during installation, and then a non-metallic plate is inserted between the multiple battery cells and the end plates. Through the buffering effect of multiple protrusions on the non-metallic plate, the insertion of the non-metallic plate between the multiple battery cells and the end plates 13 can effectively control the pressure on the multiple battery cells in the length direction within a threshold range, thereby effectively preventing the multiple battery cells from loosening due to insufficient pressure or cracking due to excessive pressure.

[0015] In some embodiments, one or both of the two end plates are metal end plates, and a non-metallic plate is located between the inner surface of the metal end plate and the sidewalls of the multiple battery cells. The non-metallic plate is used for thermal insulation between the multiple battery cells and the end plates. Because the non-metallic plate also has thermal insulation capabilities, by placing the non-metallic plate between the sidewalls of the multiple battery cells and the metal end plates, the heat transfer from the battery cells to the end plates can be effectively reduced. This effectively reduces the heat dissipation capacity of the battery cells near the metal end plates, thereby effectively improving the temperature uniformity among the multiple battery cells, resulting in higher temperature consistency and effectively extending the service life of the wire.

[0016] In some embodiments, the end plate is provided with a guide groove. The guide groove extends from one end of the end plate toward the top cover of the housing toward the bottom cold plate of the housing and extends to the positioning hole. The guide groove is used to guide the positioning post to move to the positioning hole. By setting the guide groove, the ease of installation of the non-metallic plate can be effectively improved. Moreover, during installation, the force between the non-metallic plate and the end plate can also be effectively reduced, which can reduce the degree of damage to the housing during the installation of the non-metallic plate.

[0017] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an energy storage device, which includes a cabinet and a plurality of battery packs, as described in any of the first aspects, disposed within the cabinet. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below.

[0019] Figure 1 An embodiment provides a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack;

[0020] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded view of the battery pack in the embodiment;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a non-metallic plate provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of the shell provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 5 for Figure 3 Non-metallic plates and Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the casing and the battery cell after assembly.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another non-metallic plate provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of another non-metallic plate provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0026] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0027] 1. Battery pack;

[0028] 10. Shell; 11. Bottom cooling plate; 12. Side plate; 13. End plate; 131. Positioning hole; 132. Guide groove; 133. Inner side of end plate;

[0029] 20. Battery cell; 21. Sidewalls of multiple battery cells;

[0030] 30. Non-metallic plate; 301. Gap; 302. Surface of non-metallic plate; 303. Another surface of non-metallic plate; 304. Outer peripheral surface of non-metallic plate; 305. Groove; 31. First plate; 311. Hole; 32. Protrusion; 32a. First protrusion; 32b. Second protrusion; 321. First end; 322. Second end; 323. Through hole; 324. First folded edge; 3241. Inner side of the first folded edge; 325. Second folded edge; 326. Third folded edge; 33. Positioning post; 34. Second plate;

[0031] 40. Adhesive layer;

[0032] 50. Buffer layer. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The following section will first explain some of the terms used in the embodiments of this application.

[0034] The terms "first," "second," etc., 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, for example, in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0035] In this specification, the terms "vertical" and "parallel" are explained.

[0036] Perpendicularity: The perpendicularity defined in this application is not limited to an absolute perpendicular intersection (with an included angle of 90 degrees). It is permissible for non-absolute perpendicular intersections caused by factors such as assembly tolerances, design tolerances, and structural flatness. It is permissible for errors within a small angular range, such as an assembly error range of 80 to 100 degrees, which can all be understood as a perpendicular relationship.

[0037] Parallelism: The parallelism defined in this application is not limited to absolute parallelism. This definition of parallelism can be understood as basic parallelism, allowing for situations where the parallelism is not absolute due to factors such as assembly tolerances, design tolerances, and structural flatness. These situations may lead to the sliding mating part and the first door panel not being absolutely parallel, but this application also defines such situations as parallelism.

[0038] Modern society is filled with a vast number of devices that rely on electricity, from small household appliances to large data centers and factory production lines. Electricity supply is one of the factors that maintain the normal operation of modern society. Therefore, energy storage devices have developed rapidly and are widely used. This application provides an energy storage device, which can be a battery pack, an energy storage cabinet using a battery pack, a power cabinet for a data center, or even a vehicle using a battery pack. The energy storage device can be used to store electrical energy and to supply power to devices that require electricity. The energy storage device can be applied in fields such as site energy, photovoltaics, residential energy storage, industrial and commercial energy storage, and large-scale ground-mounted power plant energy storage.

[0039] An energy storage cabinet consists of a cabinet and a battery pack housed within it. The battery pack is used to store or discharge electricity. The battery pack can be a lithium-ion battery pack, such as a lithium iron phosphate battery pack, or a sodium-ion battery pack, etc.

[0040] To improve the lifespan and safety performance of energy storage devices, embodiments of this application enhance the lifespan and safety performance of the battery pack, thereby improving the overall lifespan and safety performance of the energy storage device. (Refer to...) Figure 1 , Figure 1 An embodiment provides a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack 1, which includes a housing 10 and a plurality of battery cells 20 housed within the cavity of the housing 10.

[0041] Understandably, the following factors can all affect the lifespan and safety performance of battery pack 1.

[0042] First, during charging and discharging, the battery cells 20 of the battery pack 1 will deform, such as expanding during charging and contracting during discharging. Additionally, after prolonged use of the battery pack 1, the battery cells 20 will expand, especially in the thickness direction. Therefore, effectively limiting the expansion of the battery cells 20 and reducing the risk of rupture during expansion can effectively improve the lifespan and safety performance of the battery pack 1.

[0043] To effectively limit the expansion of the battery cell 20 and reduce the risk of rupture during expansion, some related technologies include buffer pads on the outside of multiple battery cells 20. The intrinsic properties of the buffer pads buffer the multiple battery cells 20 to release the stress during expansion and reduce the risk of rupture. However, with prolonged use, the intrinsic properties of the buffer pads will decrease significantly, meaning their buffering performance will be greatly reduced. Moreover, the buffer pads are prone to damage and cracking. In addition, the buffer pads are also prone to losing their intrinsic properties under the high temperature environment when the battery cell 20 experiences thermal runaway, making them unable to effectively cope with the expansion of the battery cell 20 and further exacerbating the thermal runaway of the battery pack 1.

[0044] Secondly, since the casing 10 is usually made of metal, in order to improve the safety performance of the battery pack 1, the creepage distance between the cell 20 and the casing 10 needs to meet the safety requirements. In some related technologies, an insulating component is provided between the cell 20 and the casing 10. However, as the cell 20 expands, the insulating component is at risk of being damaged. Moreover, as the cell 20 expands, the creepage distance between the cell 20 and the casing 10 becomes smaller, which poses a risk that the cell 20 may be short-circuited by the casing 10. Therefore, the thickness of the insulating component needs to be set to be large enough at the beginning of the design. However, if the thickness of the insulating component is too large, it will lead to a decrease in the energy density of the battery pack 1.

[0045] Third, the temperature uniformity among the multiple cells 20 within the battery pack 1 also affects the lifespan and safety performance of the battery pack 1. To improve the problem of poor temperature uniformity among the multiple cells 20, some related technologies use heat insulation components between the cells 20 and the casing 10. By setting up the heat insulation components, the heat dissipation capacity of the cells 20 close to the casing 10 is reduced, thereby effectively improving the problem of poor temperature uniformity among the multiple cells 20. However, as the cells 20 expand, the heat insulation components are also at risk of cracking. To improve the strength of the heat insulation components, the thickness of the heat insulation components needs to be set sufficiently large at the beginning of the design. However, if the thickness of the heat insulation components is too large, it will lead to a decrease in the energy density of the battery pack 1.

[0046] In order to improve the safety performance and service life of battery pack 1 without affecting its energy density, refer to Figure 1In some embodiments, the battery pack 1 further includes a non-metallic plate 30, which is disposed between the sidewalls 21 of the multiple battery cells 20 and the inner sidewall of the housing 10. This non-metallic plate 30 buffers the battery cells 20 to release pressure during expansion and effectively limit excessive expansion. In this embodiment, the non-metallic plate 30, through its structural design, possesses buffering performance. Unlike the intrinsic buffering performance provided by the material properties of a buffer pad, the non-metallic plate 30 in this embodiment provides structural buffering capability due to its structural features. Compared to material buffering, the non-metallic plate 30 in this embodiment relies on structural buffering and physical deformation. Material performance degradation has a smaller impact on the buffering function, resulting in better stability after long-term use and preventing a decrease in buffering effect due to prolonged use. Furthermore, the non-metallic plate 30 in this embodiment does not rely on the intrinsic properties of the material itself for buffering, but rather on the buffering capability obtained through structural design. This allows for greater flexibility in structural design; for example, directional buffering can be implemented, optimizing for the direction and force of the battery cell 20's expansion. For example, a larger deformation space can be provided in the thickness direction of the cell 20, that is, the direction of maximum expansion of the cell 20, while other directions provide a smaller deformation space. In this embodiment, the structure of the non-metallic plate 30 used to provide buffering capacity can be set as a columnar structure, corrugated structure, honeycomb structure, or hollow structure, etc.

[0047] Reference Figure 1 In some embodiments, the housing 10 includes a top cover (not shown), a bottom cooling plate 11, two side plates 12, and two end plates 13. The top cover and bottom cooling plate 11 are disposed opposite each other along the height direction Z of the battery pack 1, the two side plates 12 are disposed opposite each other along the width direction Y of the battery pack 1, and the two end plates 13 are disposed opposite each other along the length direction X of the battery pack 1. For ease of description, the height direction Z of the battery pack 1 can be described as the Z-direction, the height direction X of the battery pack 1 can be described as the X-direction, and the height direction Y of the battery pack 1 can be described as the Y-direction.

[0048] Multiple battery cells 20 are arranged along the length of the battery pack 1. The arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells 20 is also the thickness direction of each battery cell 20, meaning that the expansion amplitude of the multiple battery cells 20 is relatively greater in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells 20. It can be understood that the battery cells 20 inside the housing 10 can be in one row or multiple rows. When the battery cells 20 inside the housing 10 have multiple rows, the multiple rows of battery cells 20 are arranged along the width direction Y of the battery pack 1.

[0049] Along its length, a non-metallic plate 30 is disposed between the inner surface 133 of the end plate 13 and the sidewalls 21 of the plurality of battery cells 20, with the inner surface 133 of the end plate 13 facing the inside of the housing 10. For example, it can be as follows: Figure 1Similar to the embodiment, a non-metallic plate 30 is respectively provided between the sidewalls 21 at both ends of the multiple battery cells 20 in the X direction and the inner surfaces 133 of the two end plates 13. This non-metallic plate 30 provides a buffer structure to cushion the multiple battery cells 20 and release the stress caused by their expansion. Specifically, when the multiple battery cells 20 expand, the buffer structure on the non-metallic plate 30 is compressed and deformed, thereby releasing space and stress in the multiple battery cells 20, thus protecting them.

[0050] Reference Figure 1The non-metallic plate 30 has a surface 302 opposite to the inner side surface 133 of the end plate 13. The surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 32, the protruding direction of which faces outward from the housing 10, while the inner side surface 133 of the end plate 13 faces inward from the housing 10. In this embodiment, the plurality of protrusions 32 on the non-metallic plate 30 serve as a buffer structure, which can be used to buffer the expansion of the plurality of battery cells 20. Specifically, the plurality of protrusions 32 can deform when compressed, thereby buffering the expansion of the plurality of battery cells 20. The non-metallic plate 30 can be used to directly or indirectly contact the sidewalls 21 of the plurality of battery cells 20 in the X direction, so that the non-metallic plate 30 can apply pressure to the plurality of battery cells 20 to restrict and secure them in the X direction. The surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30 and the inner surface 133 of the end plate 13 are parallel and spaced apart, forming a gap 301. Multiple protrusions 32 are located within the gap 301 and are in direct or indirect contact with the end plate 13, allowing the protrusions 32 to exert force on the end plate 13. The gap 301 provides space for the deformation of the protrusions 32. In this embodiment, when the multiple battery cells 20 expand, the expansion pushes the non-metallic plate 30 in the X direction. The non-metallic plate 30 then pushes the protrusions 32 towards the end plate 13. Under the pressure of the end plate 13 and the non-metallic plate 30, the protrusions 32 deform, effectively releasing the stress caused by the expansion of the multiple battery cells 20. This effectively buffers the expansion of the battery cells 20, preventing cracking or damage to the outer casing of the battery cells 20. For example, during normal charging and discharging of battery pack 1, multiple battery cells 20 will expand and contract. During expansion, multiple protrusions 32 will buffer the multiple battery cells 20. During contraction, multiple protrusions 32 will recover and tighten the multiple battery cells 20. It can be understood that the expansion of battery cells 20 caused by normal charging of battery pack 1 will not cause multiple protrusions 32 to reach their yield strength, that is, there will be no irreversible deformation. Therefore, when battery pack 1 discharges, multiple protrusions 32 can recover to tighten the multiple battery cells 20. For another example, after prolonged use of battery pack 1, the deformation of multiple protrusions 32 can also release the stress generated by the expansion of multiple battery cells 20, thus buffering the multiple battery cells 20. Furthermore, due to the structural design of multiple protrusions 32, the non-metallic plate 30 possesses cushioning properties. Unlike the intrinsic cushioning properties of cushioning pads, which are determined by the material characteristics, the non-metallic plate 30 relies on structural deformation to overcome the limitations imposed by the material itself. Material performance degradation has a smaller impact on its function, resulting in better stability after long-term use and preventing a decrease in cushioning effectiveness. Moreover, the cushioning capacity of the non-metallic plate 30 in this embodiment is achieved through the structural design of multiple protrusions 32. Therefore, the cushioning capacity and direction can be altered by changing the shape of the protrusions 32, thus allowing for greater design flexibility.

[0051] Furthermore, since the non-metallic plate 30 is made of non-metallic material and is made of non-metallic insulating material, by placing the non-metallic plate 30 between the multiple battery cells 20 and the end plate 13, it can serve to insulate and isolate the end plate 13 and the multiple battery cells 20, thereby improving the safety performance of the multiple battery cells 20. Specifically, since multiple protrusions 32 are provided between the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30 and the inner surface 133 of the end plate 13, the creepage distance from the battery cell 20 to the end plate 13 is from the end plate 13 to the protrusions 32, then through the protrusions 32 to the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30, then through the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30 to the outer peripheral surface 304 of the non-metallic plate 30, then through the outer peripheral surface 304 of the non-metallic plate 30 to the side of the non-metallic plate 30 facing the battery cell 20, and finally through the non-metallic plate 30 to the battery cell 20, thus passing through the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30. A gap 301 is provided between the inner side 133 of the battery cell 20 and the end plate 13, and a protrusion 32 is provided on the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30. This can greatly increase the creepage distance between the battery cell 20 and the end plate 13, even if the non-metallic plate 30 is not thick enough. Since the creepage distance between the battery cell 20 and the end plate 13 is large enough, the battery cell 20 will not be short-circuited through the end plate 13 even if the non-metallic plate 30 is deformed, thereby effectively improving the safety performance of the battery cell 20. Moreover, the high strength of the non-metallic plate 30 can greatly reduce the risk of breakage.

[0052] In addition, the non-metallic plate 30 also has thermal insulation properties. By placing the non-metallic plate 30 between the sidewalls 21 of the multiple battery cells 20 and the inner surface 133 of the end plate 13, the heat transfer from the battery cells 20 to the end plate 13 can be effectively reduced. This can effectively reduce the heat dissipation capacity of the battery cells 20 near the end plate 13, thereby effectively improving the temperature uniformity among the multiple battery cells 20. This results in a higher temperature consistency among the multiple battery cells 20, which can effectively improve the service life of the wire. Moreover, due to the high strength of the non-metallic plate 30, it will not break when squeezed by the expansion of the battery cells 20, thus improving the stability of thermal insulation.

[0053] Furthermore, since this embodiment uses the non-metallic plate 30 to simultaneously buffer the expansion of the battery cell 20, provide insulation for the battery cell 20, and insulate the battery cell 20 from heat, the non-metallic plate 30 can serve three purposes in one piece, avoiding the need for additional insulating or heat-insulating components, thereby effectively reducing manufacturing costs. Moreover, due to the design of multiple protrusions 32, the creepage distance between the end plate 13 and the battery cell 20 can be greatly increased, so the thickness of the non-metallic plate 30 does not need to be too thick. And since no additional insulating or heat-insulating components are needed, space can be effectively saved for placing the battery cell 20, thereby increasing the energy density of the battery pack 1.

[0054] It is understood that the non-metallic plate 30 in this embodiment is made of a material that is heat-insulating, insulating, and has high strength. For example, it can be made of some engineering plastics, such as polycarbonate (PC), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyimide (PI), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), etc. It can also be made of fiber-reinforced composite materials, such as glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP), etc. It can also be made of high-performance ceramics, such as epoxy resin laminate, phenolic resin laminate, etc. Of course, the non-metallic plate 30 can also be made of other high-performance materials, such as polysulfone (PSU), etc.

[0055] Reference Figure 1 In some embodiments, the bottom cooling plate 11, the two side plates 12, and the two end plates 13 are all made of metal and are integrally formed. This not only improves the connection strength between the bottom cooling plate 11, the two side plates 12, and the two end plates 13, enhancing the fastening effect on the multiple battery cells 20 within the housing 10, but also improves the sealing performance between the bottom cooling plate 11, the two side plates 12, and the two end plates 13, reducing the manufacturing difficulty caused by sealing requirements. For ease of description, the bottom cooling plate 11, the two side plates 12, and the two end plates 13 are collectively configured to form a base with a top opening, which is sealed by a top cover. In this embodiment, since the bottom cooling plate 11, the two side plates 12, and the two end plates 13 are integrally formed, during installation, the multiple battery cells 20 must first be placed inside the base, and then the non-metallic plate 30 is inserted between the side walls 21 of the multiple battery cells 20 and the inner surface 133 of the end plate 13. By using the buffering effect of multiple protrusions 32 on the non-metallic plate 30, the non-metallic plate 30 is inserted between the sidewalls 21 of the multiple battery cells 20 and the inner surface 133 of the end plate 13. This effectively controls the pressure on the multiple battery cells 20 in the X direction within a threshold range, thereby effectively preventing the multiple battery cells 20 from loosening due to insufficient pressure or breaking due to excessive pressure. Therefore, in this embodiment, the design of multiple protrusions 32 on the non-metallic plate 30 not only allows the base to be integrally formed to improve strength, but also accurately controls the installation of multiple battery cells 20 in the base without increasing the assembly difficulty of the battery cells 20.

[0056] It is understood that in other embodiments, the bottom cooling plate 11, the two side plates 12 and the two end plates 13 may also be connected in other ways, such as splicing and welding, bolting and fixing, etc.

[0057] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded view of battery pack 1 in the embodiment.

[0058] Reference Figure 2 To improve the securing ability of the casing 10 to the multiple battery cells 20, in some embodiments, two side plates 12 are respectively glued to the two side walls of the multiple battery cells 20 in the width direction of the battery pack 1 by adhesive. That is, an adhesive layer 40 is provided between the multiple battery cells 20 and the side plates 12. Thus, when pressure is applied to the multiple battery cells 20 by the two side plates 12 in the width direction Y of the battery pack 1, the pressure applied by the side plates 12 can be effectively dispersed by the adhesive layer 40, which can effectively avoid the stress concentration problem caused by the force applied by the side plates 12 to the battery cells 20 due to assembly or production errors. Similarly, adhesive can also be provided between the bottom cooling plate 11 and the bottom wall of the multiple battery cells 20, that is, an adhesive layer 40 is provided between the bottom cooling plate 11 and the battery cells 20, thereby avoiding the stress concentration problem between the bottom cooling plate 11 and the battery cells 20 and improving the load-bearing capacity of the bottom cooling plate 11. By setting an adhesive layer 40 between the bottom cooling plate 11 and the battery cell 20, and between the side plate 12 and the battery cell 20, the force exerted on the battery cell 20 by the two side plates 12 and the bottom cooling plate 11 can be made more uniform, thereby effectively improving the fastening ability of the two side plates 12 and the bottom cooling plate 11 on the battery cell 20.

[0059] Reference Figure 2 The battery pack 1 also includes a buffer layer 50, which is disposed between the non-metallic plate 30 and the plurality of battery cells 20. Specifically, the non-metallic plate 30 has another surface 303 opposite to the sidewalls 21 of the plurality of battery cells 20, and the buffer layer 50 is located between the other surface 303 of the non-metallic plate 30 and the sidewalls 21 of the plurality of battery cells 20. In this embodiment, by providing a buffer layer 50 between the other surface 303 of the non-metallic plate 30 and the sidewalls 21 of the plurality of battery cells 20, the force between the non-metallic plate 30 and the battery cells 20 can be made uniform. Specifically, the buffer layer 50 can offset the production or assembly errors of the housing 10 of the non-metallic plate 30 or the battery cells 20, so that the other surface 303 of the non-metallic plate 30 and the sidewalls 21 of the plurality of battery cells 20 can be tightly pressed at each position, thereby improving the uniformity of the force between the non-metallic plate 30 and the battery cells 20. It is understood that the buffer layer 50 in this embodiment buffers the material itself through its inherent buffering properties. In other words, the buffering effect of the buffer layer 50 is non-directional, thus effectively and simply offsetting errors in the production or assembly of the non-metallic plate 30 or the casing 10 of the battery cell 20. Furthermore, since the buffer layer 50 in this embodiment is primarily used to offset errors, it does not need to be too thick, meaning it occupies virtually no space and has almost no impact on the energy density of the battery pack 1.

[0060] In some embodiments, the thickness of the buffer layer 50 is 1mm-5mm, for example, it can be 3mm-5mm, or it can be 2mm, 4mm, etc. Within this range, it can not only effectively compensate for the production or assembly errors of the non-metallic plate 30 or the casing 10 of the cell 20, but also hardly affect the energy density of the battery pack 1.

[0061] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a non-metallic plate 30 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 The non-metallic plate 30 in the embodiment can be applied to Figure 1 Battery pack 1 in the embodiment.

[0062] Reference Figure 3 In some embodiments, the size of the end of the plurality of protrusions 32 facing the non-metallic plate 30 in the X direction is larger than the size of the end facing the end plate 13. For ease of description, the end of the plurality of protrusions 32 facing the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30 in the X direction is designated as the first end 321, and the other end of the plurality of protrusions 32 facing the end plate 13 in the X direction is designated as the second end 322. In this embodiment, since the size of the first end 321 of the protrusion 32 is larger than the size of the second end 322, when the cell 20 expands, the smaller end of the protrusion 32 will deform preferentially when it is compressed. That is, the end of the protrusion 32 away from the non-metallic plate 30 will deform preferentially. This can effectively transfer the force of the deformation of the protrusion 32 to the housing 10, avoid stress concentration on the non-metallic plate 30, and thus effectively prevent the cell 20 (e.g., the protrusion 32) from being close to the non-metallic plate 30 from deforming. Figure 1 Damaged due to deformation of protrusion 32.

[0063] In some embodiments, the protrusion 32 is frustum-shaped. In other embodiments, the protrusion 32 is a combination of a cylinder and a frustum. In still other embodiments, the protrusion 32 can also be other shapes, such as multiple protrusions 32 spaced together to form a honeycomb structure or a corrugated structure.

[0064] It is understandable that the shapes of the multiple protrusions 32 can be the same or different. For example, the size of the protrusions 32 in the middle part of the non-metallic plate 30 can be smaller than the size of the protrusions 32 in the edge part to accommodate the phenomenon that the middle part of the battery cell 20 expands more significantly, so that the non-metallic plate 30 can more evenly buffer the stress caused by the expansion of the battery cell 20. It is also understandable that in some other embodiments, the density of the protrusions 32 at different locations on the non-metallic plate 30 is set differently. For example, the density of the protrusions 32 in the middle part of the non-metallic plate 30 is less than the density of the protrusions 32 in the edge part, to accommodate the phenomenon that the middle part of the battery cell 20 expands more significantly, so that the non-metallic plate 30 can more evenly buffer the stress caused by the expansion of the battery cell 20.

[0065] Reference Figure 3 In some embodiments, the non-metallic plate 30 has multiple holes 311, all of which extend perpendicularly to the X-direction. This design of multiple holes 311 reduces the weight and manufacturing cost of the non-metallic plate 30. Furthermore, since the extension directions of the multiple holes 311 are perpendicular to the X-direction, the non-metallic plate 30 possesses adequate cushioning performance, thereby improving its overall cushioning capacity. Additionally, by providing multiple holes 311 on the non-metallic plate 30, the thermal insulation performance of the non-metallic plate 30 can be effectively improved, enhancing the temperature uniformity of the multiple battery cells 20.

[0066] Understandably, the shape of hole 311 can be varied, such as a regular hole like a round hole or a square hole, or other irregular holes. Furthermore, hole 311 can be a through hole or a blind hole.

[0067] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a housing 10 provided in an embodiment of this application, wherein the top cover is omitted. Figure 4 The housing 10 in the middle is used to connect with Figure 3 The non-metallic plate 30 is assembled in the middle. Figure 5 for Figure 3 Non-metallic plate 30 and Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure after the housing 10 and the battery cell 20 are assembled.

[0068] Reference Figure 3 In some embodiments, the non-metallic plate 30 also includes a positioning post 33, which is located on the end of the protrusion 32 facing the end plate 13. The protrusion 32 is used to cooperate with the housing 10 to limit the movement of the non-metallic plate 30 after it is installed into the housing 10.

[0069] Reference Figure 4 In some embodiments, the inner side 133 of the end plate 13 is provided with a positioning hole 131, which is used to cooperate with the non-metallic plate 30 to restrict the movement of the non-metallic plate 30.

[0070] Reference Figures 3-5 In some embodiments, the positioning post 33 on the non-metallic plate 30 is used to insert into the positioning hole 131 on the end plate 13. The positioning hole 131 and the positioning post 33 cooperate to limit the movement between the non-metallic plate 30 and the end plate 13, thus restricting the displacement of the non-metallic plate 30 in directions other than its length. Furthermore, the non-metallic plate 30 is effectively limited in its length direction by the end plate 13 and the multiple battery cells 20, thereby ensuring that the non-metallic plate 30 can be stably assembled within the housing 10. In addition, since the positioning post 33 is located on the protrusion 32, the design of the positioning post 33 does not affect the normal deformation of the protrusion 32. The non-metallic plate 30 also allows for proper positioning of the battery cells 20 (such as...). Figure 1 The expansion of () can still be effectively buffered.

[0071] It is understandable that the shape of the positioning hole 131 is roughly the same as the shape of the positioning pin 33, so that the positioning hole 131 and the positioning pin 33 can effectively cooperate and limit the movement. The shapes of the positioning hole 131 and the positioning pin 33 can be varied, as long as they can provide limiting movement after assembly. Furthermore, the number of positioning holes 131 and positioning pins 33 is not limited.

[0072] To facilitate the easy installation of the non-metallic plate 30, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, a guide groove 132 is provided on the side of the end plate 13 facing the inner cavity of the housing 10. The guide groove 132 is used to guide the positioning post 33 to move to the positioning hole 131. For example, the guide groove 132 extends from the end of the end plate 13 facing the top cover of the housing 10 towards the bottom cooling plate 11 of the housing 10 and extends to the positioning hole 131. In this embodiment, after multiple battery cells 20 are placed into the housing 10, due to the setting of the guide groove 132, the positioning post 33 can be conveniently and accurately guided into the positioning hole 131 by the guide groove 132, which can effectively improve the installation efficiency of the non-metallic plate 30. In addition, the setting of the guide groove 132 can also effectively reduce the squeezing force on the housing 10 when installing the non-metallic plate 30, so as to reduce the deformation of the housing 10.

[0073] Understandably, the width of the guide groove 132 is slightly larger than the size of the positioning post 33 so that the positioning post 33 can move precisely along the guide groove 132.

[0074] Reference Figure 4 In some embodiments, the depth of the guide groove 132 in the longitudinal direction is less than the depth of the positioning hole 131 in the longitudinal direction. Thus, after the positioning pin 33 is inserted into the positioning hole 131, the positioning pin 33 can be restricted from moving along the guide groove 132 towards the top cover by the positioning hole 131.

[0075] It is understood that in some other embodiments, the non-metallic plate 30 and the end plate 13 can also be connected by screws, bolts, etc., for example, by connecting the protrusion 32 to the end plate 13 with screws to fix and limit the non-metallic plate 30.

[0076] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another non-metallic plate 30 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 6 Examples and Figure 3The main difference in the embodiment of the non-metallic plate 30 is that the boss does not act directly on the end plate 13 of the housing 10, but indirectly on the end plate 13 of the housing 10 through the second plate 34. The housing 10, the protrusion 32, the non-metallic plate 30, the end plate 13, the positioning post 33, etc. appearing in this embodiment can be referred to the above text, and will not be repeated here.

[0077] Reference Figure 6 In some embodiments, the non-metallic plate 30 further includes a first plate 31 and a second plate 34. The second plate 34 is parallel to and spaced apart from the first plate 31 in the X direction. Multiple protrusions are located on the surfaces of the first plate and the second plate opposite to each other, that is, multiple protrusions 32 are located in the gap 301 between the first plate 31 and the second plate 34, and the multiple protrusions 32 connect the first plate 31 and the second plate 34. The first plate 31 is used to contact the sidewalls 21 of the multiple battery cells 20, and the second plate 34 is used to contact the inner surface 133 of the end plate 13. In this embodiment, since the second plate 34 is provided between the multiple protrusions 32 and the inner surface 133 of the end plate 13, the stress generated by the multiple protrusions 32 during deformation can be evenly distributed to the end plate 13 of the housing 10 through the second plate 34, so as to avoid stress concentration on the end plate 13 and avoid damage to the end plate 13.

[0078] In some embodiments, the first plate 31, the plurality of protrusions 32 and the second plate 34 are integrally formed to improve the overall strength of the non-metallic plate 30 and also to reduce the manufacturing difficulty of the non-metallic plate 30.

[0079] It is understood that in some other embodiments, the plurality of protrusions 32 on the first plate 31 and the second plate 34 may also be welded or snap-fitted.

[0080] It is understood that in this embodiment, the positioning post 33 mentioned above can be placed on the side of the second plate 34 facing the end plate 13 so that the positioning post 33 can cooperate with the positioning hole 131 to limit the non-metallic plate 30.

[0081] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of another non-metallic plate 30 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 7 The shape of the protrusion 32 of the non-metallic plate 30 in the embodiment is similar to Figure 3 The implementation methods differ; please refer to [the relevant documentation]. Figure 7 In this embodiment, the protrusion 32 has an elongated structure, and the extension direction of the protrusion 32 is perpendicular to the protrusion direction of the protrusion 32, that is, the extension direction of the protrusion 32 is perpendicular to the X direction. By making the protrusion 32 elongated, the number of protrusions 32 can be effectively reduced, thereby reducing the processing difficulty of the protrusion 32.

[0082] In order to increase the cushioning capacity of the protrusion 32 and reduce the material cost, the protrusion 32 is provided with a through hole 323 extending through the protrusion 32 in its extending direction. By setting the through hole 323, not only can the cushioning capacity of the protrusion 32 be increased, but the material cost of the protrusion 32 can also be reduced.

[0083] like Figure 7 As shown in the embodiment, the plurality of protrusions 32 include a first protrusion 32a. The first protrusion 32a includes three continuously bent sides, namely a first folded edge 324, a second folded edge 325, and a third folded edge 326. The inner side surface 3241 of the first folded edge 324 is connected to the outer peripheral surface 304 of the non-metallic plate 30, for example, by adhesive or by fastener. The outer peripheral surface 304 of the non-metallic plate 30 is a surface that is perpendicular to and connected to the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30. The second fold 325 bends from the end plate of the first fold 324 toward the inner side surface 3241 of the first fold 324. The second fold 325 is approximately parallel to the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30, and the surface of the second fold 325 toward the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30 is spaced apart from the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30. The third fold 326 bends from one end of the second fold 325 toward the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30, and the end of the third fold 326 toward the non-metallic plate 30 is connected to the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30. In this embodiment, the first protrusion 32a can be assembled onto the non-metallic plate 30 later to improve the structural diversity of the non-metallic plate 30 and simplify the processing difficulty of the non-metallic plate 30 through later assembly. Figure 7 As shown, a first protrusion 32a is provided at each of the opposite ends of the non-metallic plate 30 to improve the balance of buffering at each position of the non-metallic plate 30.

[0084] like Figure 7 As shown in the embodiment, the plurality of protrusions also include a second protrusion 32b. The second protrusion 32b is generally rectangular in shape and is disposed on the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30. Specifically, one sidewall of the second protrusion 32b is bonded to or fastened to the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30.

[0085] It is understood that this embodiment does not limit the number of the first protrusion 32a and the number of the second protrusion 32b.

[0086] like Figure 7 As shown, the surface 302 of the non-metallic plate 30 is also provided with an elongated groove 305, which extends through the first protrusion 32a along its length. The groove 305 can be used to accommodate cable ties for easy assembly and connection with cable ties.

[0087] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A battery pack, characterized in that, The battery pack housing contains a plurality of battery cells, and the housing includes two end plates opposite each other in the length direction of the battery pack. Along the length direction, a non-metallic plate is disposed between the inner side of the end plate and the sidewall of the plurality of cells. The non-metallic plate has a surface opposite to the inner side of the end plate. The surface of the non-metallic plate is provided with a plurality of protrusions. The protrusion direction of the plurality of protrusions faces outward from the housing, and the inner side of the end plate faces inward from the housing.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protrusion includes a first end near the non-metallic plate and a second end near the end plate in the length direction, wherein the size of the first end is larger than the size of the second end.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner side of the end plate is provided with a positioning hole, and the end of the protrusion facing the end plate is provided with a positioning post, which is used to be inserted into the positioning hole.

4. The battery pack according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inner side of the end plate is provided with a positioning hole, and the end of the protrusion facing the end plate is provided with a positioning post, which is used to be inserted into the positioning hole.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The non-metallic plate includes a first plate and a second plate stacked in the length direction, the plurality of protrusions are located on the surfaces of the first plate and the second plate opposite to each other, the first plate is in contact with the sidewalls of the plurality of battery cells, and the second plate is in contact with the inner surface of the end plate.

6. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The non-metallic plate has multiple holes, and the extension direction of each of the multiple holes is perpendicular to the length direction.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protrusion is an elongated strip-shaped structure with its extension direction perpendicular to the protrusion direction, and the protrusion is provided with a through hole that penetrates the protrusion in the extension direction.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7, characterized in that, The plurality of protrusions includes a first protrusion, which includes a first folded edge, a second folded edge, and a third folded edge that are continuously bent. The inner side of the first folded edge is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the non-metallic plate, and the outer peripheral surface is a surface perpendicular to the surface of the non-metallic plate. The second folded edge is bent from one end of the first folded edge toward the inner side of the first folded edge, and the second folded edge is spaced apart from the surface of the non-metallic plate. The third folded edge is bent from the second folded edge toward the surface of the non-metallic plate, and the end of the third folded edge toward the non-metallic plate is connected to the surface of the non-metallic plate.

9. The battery pack according to claim 7, characterized in that, The plurality of protrusions includes a second protrusion, which has a rectangular frame structure, and one sidewall of the second protrusion is connected to the surface of the non-metallic plate.

10. The battery pack according to claim 7, characterized in that, The plurality of protrusions includes a second protrusion, which has a rectangular frame structure, and one sidewall of the second protrusion is connected to the surface of the non-metallic plate.

11. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The battery pack further includes a buffer layer, and the non-metallic plate also has another surface opposite to the sidewalls of the plurality of battery cells, the buffer layer being disposed between the other surface of the non-metallic plate and the sidewalls of the plurality of battery cells.

12. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The housing also includes a bottom cooling plate and two side plates opposite each other in the width direction of the battery pack. The bottom cooling plate, the two end plates and the two side plates are integrally formed, and the plurality of battery cells are respectively bonded to the bottom cooling plate and the two side plates.

13. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, One or both of the two end plates are metal end plates, and the non-metal plate is located between the inner side of the metal end plate and the side wall of the plurality of battery cells. The non-metal plate is used for heat insulation between the plurality of battery cells and the metal end plate.

14. The battery pack according to claim 3, characterized in that, The end plate is provided with a guide groove, which extends from one end of the end plate toward the top cover of the housing toward the bottom cold plate of the housing and extends to the positioning hole. The guide groove is used to guide the positioning post to move to the positioning hole.

15. An energy storage device, characterized in that, The energy storage device includes a cabinet and a plurality of battery packs as described in any one of claims 1-14 disposed within the cabinet.

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