A battery pack case structure

Abstract

The utility model relates to battery pack technical field especially, relates to a kind of battery pack box structure, including box, further include liquid cooling plate and explosion-proof valve, wherein, liquid cooling plate is set in box bottom, its top is equipped with at least two rows of module along the length direction distribution of box;Local filling area is set on the liquid cooling plate between two rows of adjacent modules, and the position at local filling area and corresponding box bottom central is downwardly opened hole to form air flow passage, for discharging flue gas when thermal runaway;Explosion-proof valve is removed from side to the central position of box bottom, and the area between two rows of modules of bottom liquid cooling plate is locally filled and is handled, to reserve explosion-proof valve installation space. By the air flow passage between middle crossbeam and liquid cooling plate, form high-efficiency exhaust path. The structure not only improves flue gas emission efficiency, reduces passenger cabin safety risk, while maximumly retains the performance of original liquid cooling system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of battery pack technology, and in particular to a battery pack housing structure. Background Technology

[0002] With increasing global emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development, the market share of new energy vehicles, especially electric vehicles, has been rising year by year. However, compared with traditional gasoline vehicles, the safety of electric vehicles, especially the safety of the battery system, has become a key focus of the industry.

[0003] Currently, the battery pack design of some commercial vehicles on the market typically adopts a front + rear two-row module layout, with a crossbeam in the middle of the box to enhance structural strength (reference). Figure 1 , Figure 2 The bottom cooling system relies on a liquid-cooled plate made using friction stir welding to cover the entire bottom surface (see reference). Figure 4 This is used to maintain the stability of the battery's operating temperature. In addition, explosion-proof valves are generally installed at the very front or rear of the battery pack (see reference). Figure 2 , Figure 3 ).

[0004] As described in the above technical solution, since the explosion-proof valve is located on the side of the battery pack, in the event of thermal runaway and the generation of a large amount of smoke, this smoke may be directly discharged into the passenger compartment, increasing safety hazards. Considering that the bottom of the battery pack is a single liquid-cooled plate, and most of the area is covered by structural adhesive from the bottom of the battery cells, if pressure relief and venting are attempted from the bottom, there is insufficient space to install the explosion-proof valve without affecting the performance of the liquid-cooled plate (see reference). Figure 4 Forcibly opening a hole could lead to problems such as battery pack fluid leakage or uneven heat distribution.

[0005] To solve the above technical problems, it is necessary to provide a battery pack housing structure that can effectively eliminate harmful fumes generated by thermal runaway while ensuring the cooling efficiency and overall safety of the battery pack. Utility Model Content

[0006] In view of this, this utility model proposes a battery pack housing structure, which moves the explosion-proof valve from the side to the center of the bottom of the housing, and partially fills the area between the two rows of modules on the bottom liquid cooling plate to reserve space for the installation of the explosion-proof valve. An efficient exhaust path is formed by opening up the airflow channel between the central crossbeam and the liquid cooling plate. This structure not only improves the efficiency of flue gas emission and reduces the safety risks to the passenger compartment, but also retains the performance of the original liquid cooling system to the greatest extent, solving the safety hazards and technical bottlenecks of existing commercial vehicle battery packs in the event of thermal runaway.

[0007] The technical solution of this utility model is implemented as follows:

[0008] This utility model provides a battery pack housing structure, including a housing, a liquid cooling plate, and an explosion-proof valve.

[0009] The liquid cooling plate is disposed at the bottom of the housing, and at least two rows of modules are provided on its top along the length of the housing, each row of modules including two battery cell modules;

[0010] A partially filled area is provided on the liquid cooling plate between two rows of adjacent modules. An airflow channel is formed by opening downwards on the partially filled area and at the position corresponding to the center of the bottom of the box, which is used to discharge flue gas in case of thermal runaway.

[0011] The two battery cell modules in each row of the module are arranged symmetrically about the airflow channel;

[0012] The explosion-proof valve is located at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate and is connected to the airflow channel.

[0013] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, a receiving groove is provided at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate and at the position corresponding to the airflow channel, wherein,

[0014] The lower end of the explosion-proof valve is fixed inside the receiving groove, and the upper end is inserted into the airflow channel.

[0015] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, a nut post is embedded in the bottom of the receiving groove, wherein,

[0016] The nut column is connected to the explosion-proof valve by bolts.

[0017] Based on the above technical solutions, a preferred embodiment also includes a protective plate, wherein...

[0018] The protective plate is disposed at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate;

[0019] The protective plate is provided with a mating hole at the position corresponding to the receiving groove.

[0020] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, the diameter of the mating hole is greater than or equal to the diameter of the receiving groove.

[0021] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, an insulating thermally conductive film is provided between the liquid cooling plate and the battery cell module.

[0022] Based on the above technical solutions, a preferred embodiment also includes a crossbeam, wherein...

[0023] The crossbeam is disposed on the top of the liquid cooling plate and located directly above the airflow channel, and the crossbeam is fixedly connected to the housing.

[0024] The top of the crossbeam is provided with at least one first air inlet that communicates with the airflow channel.

[0025] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, the side of the crossbeam is provided with a plurality of second air inlets that are connected to the first air inlet.

[0026] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, the second air inlet is in the form of a grid.

[0027] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, a positioning hole is provided at the bottom of the crossbeam and at the position corresponding to the nut column, wherein...

[0028] The upper end of the nut column extends upward through the liquid cooling plate and is inserted into the positioning hole.

[0029] The battery pack housing structure of this utility model has the following advantages over the prior art:

[0030] (1) By relocating the explosion-proof valve from its traditional location on the side of the battery pack to the central area at the bottom of the enclosure, and by partially filling the area between the two rows of modules on the liquid cooling plate, space is reserved for the installation of the explosion-proof valve. This not only effectively reduces the risk of flue gas entering the passenger compartment during thermal runaway and improves the safety of the battery system, but also avoids problems such as liquid cooling plate leakage or uneven thermal management distribution caused by forced openings. At the same time, by setting up an airflow channel that runs through the liquid cooling plate, an efficient exhaust path is formed, further ensuring that flue gas can be discharged quickly and safely.

[0031] (2) By setting a crossbeam on the top of the liquid cooling plate and setting at least one first air inlet hole through the top of the crossbeam in a vertical direction, not only is the overall structural strength of the box enhanced, but the gas flow path is also optimized, and the emission efficiency of flue gas during thermal runaway is improved, thereby effectively reducing the safety risk of the passenger compartment and improving the safety of the whole vehicle.

[0032] (3) By setting a second air inlet that is connected to the first air inlet inlet along the transverse direction on the side of the crossbeam, the gas flow area is further widened, the airflow uniformity is improved, the response speed and reliability of the exhaust system are improved, and the high temperature and high pressure gas generated by thermal runaway can be discharged in time.

[0033] (4) By opening a positioning hole at the bottom of the crossbeam and inserting the upper end of the nut column into the positioning hole after passing through the liquid cooling plate, the upper and lower insertion positioning is achieved. This not only simplifies the assembly process, but also improves the alignment accuracy and connection stability between components, which is conducive to enhancing the strength of the entire battery pack box structure and the reliability of long-term operation, and further improving the safety performance and manufacturing consistency of the product. Attached Figure Description

[0034] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0035] Figure 1 A 3D view of an existing battery pack;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the casing structure of an existing battery pack;

[0037] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A partial structural diagram;

[0038] Figure 4 Here is a flow channel diagram for an existing liquid cooling plate;

[0039] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of a battery pack housing structure according to the present invention;

[0040] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A partial structural diagram;

[0041] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A partial side section view;

[0042] Figure 8 This is a flow channel diagram of the liquid cooling plate of this utility model;

[0043] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A partial side section view;

[0044] In the diagram: 1. Housing; 2. Liquid cooling plate; 3. Explosion-proof valve; 4. Module; 5. Protective plate; 6. Crossbeam; 21. Nut column; 41. Battery cell module; 201. Partially filled area; 202. Airflow channel; 203. Receiving groove; 501. Mating hole; 601. First air inlet; 602. Second air inlet; 603. Positioning hole. Detailed Implementation

[0045] The technical solutions of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to specific embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this utility model, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0046] like Figure 5-9 As shown, the present invention provides a battery pack housing structure, including a housing 1, a liquid cooling plate 2, and an explosion-proof valve 3.

[0047] The liquid cooling plate 2 is located at the bottom of the housing 1, and at least two rows of modules 4 are distributed along the length of the housing 1 on its top. Each row of modules 4 includes two battery cell modules 41. A partially filled area 201 is provided on the liquid cooling plate 2 between two adjacent rows of modules 4. An airflow channel 202 is formed by opening downwards on the partially filled area 201 at the position corresponding to the center of the bottom of the housing 1, which is used to discharge flue gas in case of thermal runaway. The two battery cell modules 41 in each row of modules 4 are symmetrically arranged about the airflow channel 202. An explosion-proof valve 3 is located at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate 2 and is connected to the airflow channel 202.

[0048] By relocating the explosion-proof valve 3 from its traditional location on the side of the battery pack to the central area at the bottom of the housing 1, and by partially filling the area between the two rows of modules 4 on the liquid cooling plate 2, installation space for the explosion-proof valve 3 is reserved. This not only effectively reduces the risk of flue gas entering the passenger compartment during thermal runaway, improving the safety of the battery system, but also avoids problems such as leakage of liquid cooling plate 2 or uneven thermal management distribution caused by forced openings. At the same time, by setting an airflow channel 202 that runs through the liquid cooling plate 2, an efficient exhaust path is formed, further ensuring that flue gas can be discharged quickly and safely.

[0049] In the aforementioned battery pack housing structure, a receiving groove 203 is provided at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate 2, corresponding to the position of the airflow channel 202. The lower end of the explosion-proof valve 3 is fixed inside the receiving groove 203, and the upper end is inserted into the airflow channel 202. The receiving groove 203 houses the explosion-proof valve 3, preventing it from affecting the flatness of the bottom surface of the liquid cooling plate 2. Simultaneously, this housing design reduces the risk of the explosion-proof valve 3 being damaged during assembly, improving assembly quality.

[0050] In this structure, a nut post 21 is embedded and fixed on the bottom of the receiving groove 203. The nut post 21 is connected to the explosion-proof valve 3 by bolts, which makes the explosion-proof valve 3 firmly and reliably installed, and significantly improves the vibration resistance and installation stability of the explosion-proof valve 3.

[0051] In this structure, a protective plate 5 covers the bottom of the liquid cooling plate 2 for bottom surface protection. The side of the protective plate 5 is fixedly connected to the housing 1. A mating hole 501 is provided on the protective plate 5 at the position corresponding to the receiving groove 203. The mating hole 501 facilitates the installation of the explosion-proof valve 3. Therefore, the diameter of the mating hole 501 is greater than or equal to the diameter of the receiving groove 203, so that the explosion-proof valve 3 can pass smoothly through the mating hole 501.

[0052] In the aforementioned battery pack housing structure, a crossbeam 6 is also provided on the top of the liquid cooling plate 2. The crossbeam 6 is located directly above the airflow channel 202 and is fixedly connected to the housing 1. At least one first air inlet 601 communicating with the airflow channel 202 is provided vertically through the top of the crossbeam 6.

[0053] The first air inlet 601 allows the high-temperature gas generated by thermal runaway to quickly enter the airflow channel 202 and be discharged, significantly improving the efficiency of flue gas emission. At the same time, the crossbeam 6 enhances the overall structural strength of the housing 1, improves its impact resistance, and ensures the stability and safety of the battery system during vehicle operation.

[0054] In this structure, several grid-shaped second air inlets 602 connected to the first air inlet 601 are arranged transversely on the side of the crossbeam 6, which further widens the gas flow path, increases the gas flow area, enhances the multi-directional air intake capability, makes the pressure release during thermal runaway more rapid and uniform, reduces the risk of excessive local pressure, and improves the response speed and reliability of the exhaust system.

[0055] In this structure, a positioning hole 603 is provided at the bottom of the crossbeam 6 and at the position corresponding to the nut column 21. The upper end of the nut column 21 passes through the liquid cooling plate 2 and is inserted into the interior of the positioning hole 603.

[0056] The positioning hole 603 and the nut post 21 are inserted and matched to form a precise positioning structure, which improves the assembly accuracy and connection stability between components, helps to realize modular assembly, improves production efficiency and structural consistency, and further enhances the overall safety and reliability of the battery pack.

[0057] When assembling module 4, an insulating thermally conductive film is placed between the liquid cooling plate 2 and the cell module 41 to achieve electrical isolation between the cell module 41 and the liquid cooling plate 2, preventing the risk of short circuits. At the same time, it can also optimize the heat conduction path, improve the efficiency of the thermal management system, help maintain the temperature consistency of the battery module, and improve battery life and overall safety.

[0058] It should be noted that the above example uses a three-row module 4, therefore, there is a partially filled area 201 on the liquid cooling plate 2 between every two rows of modules 4. Since there is a certain gap between the two rows of modules 4, this scheme can utilize the effective liquid cooling space of the liquid cooling plate 2. This scheme is also applicable to n-row module schemes (n≥2).

[0059] The principle of the battery pack housing structure of this utility model is as follows:

[0060] First, the explosion-proof valve 3 was moved from its traditional location on the side of the battery pack to the central area at the bottom of the housing 1. The area between the two rows of modules 4 on the liquid-cooled plate 2 was partially filled to create space for the explosion-proof valve 3. This structure effectively reduces the risk of flue gas entering the passenger compartment during thermal runaway, improving the safety of the battery system. It also avoids problems such as leakage from the liquid-cooled plate 2 or uneven thermal management caused by forced openings. Simultaneously, by setting up an airflow channel 202 that penetrates the liquid-cooled plate 2, an efficient exhaust path is formed, further ensuring that flue gas can be discharged quickly and safely.

[0061] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A battery pack housing structure, comprising a housing (1), characterized in that: It also includes a liquid cooling plate (2) and an explosion-proof valve (3), wherein, The liquid cooling plate (2) is located at the bottom of the housing (1), and at least two rows of modules (4) are arranged on its top along the length of the housing (1). Each row of modules (4) includes two battery cell modules (41). A partially filled area (201) is provided on the liquid cooling plate (2) between two rows of adjacent modules (4). An airflow channel (202) is formed by opening downwards on the partially filled area (201) at the position corresponding to the center of the bottom of the box (1) for emitting flue gas in case of thermal runaway. Two of the battery cell modules (41) in each row of the modules (4) are arranged symmetrically about the airflow channel (202); The explosion-proof valve (3) is located at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate (2) and is connected to the airflow channel (202).

2. The battery pack housing structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A receiving groove (203) is provided at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate (2) and at the position corresponding to the airflow channel (202), wherein, The lower end of the explosion-proof valve (3) is fixed inside the receiving groove (203), and the upper end is inserted into the airflow channel (202).

3. The battery pack housing structure as described in claim 2, characterized in that: A nut post (21) is embedded in the bottom of the receiving groove (203), wherein, The nut column (21) is connected to the explosion-proof valve (3) by bolts.

4. The battery pack housing structure as described in claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a protective plate (5), in which, The protective plate (5) is disposed at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate (2); The protective plate (5) is provided with a mating hole (501) at the position corresponding to the receiving groove (203).

5. The battery pack housing structure as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The diameter of the mating hole (501) is greater than or equal to the diameter of the receiving groove (203).

6. The battery pack housing structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that: An insulating thermally conductive film is provided between the liquid cooling plate (2) and the battery cell module (41).

7. The battery pack housing structure as described in claim 3, characterized in that: It also includes the crossbeam (6), in which, The crossbeam (6) is located on the top of the liquid cooling plate (2) and directly above the airflow channel (202), and the crossbeam (6) is fixedly connected to the box body (1); The top of the crossbeam (6) is provided with at least one first air inlet (601) that communicates with the airflow channel (202).

8. The battery pack housing structure as described in claim 7, characterized in that: The side of the crossbeam (6) is provided with several second air inlets (602) that are connected to the first air inlet (601).

9. The battery pack housing structure as described in claim 8, characterized in that: The second air inlet (602) is grid-shaped.

10. The battery pack housing structure as described in claim 7, characterized in that: A positioning hole (603) is provided at the bottom of the crossbeam (6) and at the position corresponding to the nut column (21), wherein, The upper end of the nut post (21) extends upward through the liquid cooling plate (2) and is inserted into the interior of the positioning hole (603).

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