Battery cell, battery, and electric device

Abstract

The application discloses a battery monomer, a battery and a power utilization device. The battery monomer comprises a shell, an electrode assembly accommodated in the shell, and an insulating piece accommodated in the shell. The insulating piece is arranged between the electrode assembly and the shell, and at least part of the insulating piece is located at at least one end of the electrode assembly in a first direction. The insulating piece located at the at least one end of the electrode assembly in the first direction comprises an elastic structure configured to be elastically deformable in the first direction. In the technical scheme of the embodiment of the application, the space between the electrode assembly and the shell can be filled by using the insulating piece with the above structure, the gap between the electrode assembly and the shell is reduced, the shell and the insulating piece can bind the electrode assembly, the probability of wrinkles occurring on the pole piece of the electrode assembly is reduced, and the performance and service life of the battery monomer are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of batteries, specifically to a battery cell, a battery, and an electrical device. Background Technology

[0002] Energy conservation and emission reduction are key to the sustainable development of the automotive industry, and electric vehicles, due to their energy-saving and environmentally friendly advantages, have become an important component of this sustainable development. For electric vehicles, battery technology is a crucial factor in their development.

[0003] There is usually a certain gap between the electrode assembly and the casing. If the casing does not hold the electrode assembly tightly enough, it can easily lead to wrinkling of the electrode sheets, which affects the performance and lifespan of the battery cell. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the above problems, this application provides a battery cell, a battery, and an electrical device that can alleviate the problem of electrode wrinkling during battery use.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a battery cell, comprising: a housing; an electrode assembly housed within the housing; and an insulating member housed within the housing, the insulating member being disposed between the electrode assembly and the housing, and at least a portion of the insulating member being located at at least one end of the electrode assembly in a first direction, the insulating member located at at least one end of the electrode assembly in the first direction comprising an elastic structure configured to be elastically deformable in the first direction; wherein the electrode assembly comprises at least two electrode layers forming a stacked structure, the stacking direction of the electrode layers being the first direction; or, the at least two electrode layers forming a wound structure, the wound structure comprising a flat region, the electrode layer being planar in the flat region, the stacking direction of the electrode layer in the flat region being the first direction.

[0006] In the technical solution of this application embodiment, by adopting the insulating component with the above-described structure, the space between the electrode assembly and the outer shell can be filled, the gap between the electrode assembly and the outer shell can be reduced, the outer shell and the insulating component can bind the electrode assembly, reduce the probability of the electrode sheet of the electrode assembly wrinkling, and improve the performance and service life of the battery cell.

[0007] In some embodiments, the elastic structure includes a plurality of elastic units, the extension direction of which is inclined to the first direction, and the arrangement direction of the plurality of elastic units is perpendicular to the first direction. Adjacent elastic units are arranged at intervals or connected sequentially. In the above technical solution, the sequential connection of multiple elastic units facilitates assembly and improves the reliability of the overall structure; the spaced arrangement of multiple elastic units is beneficial for the deformation of the elastic structure under external force, improving the compression performance of the insulating component.

[0008] In some embodiments, each elastic unit includes at least one elastic portion, and each elastic portion is formed into an arc-shaped structure or a flat plate structure extending inclined in the first direction. In the above technical solutions, the overall structure of the insulating component is relatively simple and easy to manufacture.

[0009] In some embodiments, the elastic unit includes two elastic portions connected to each other on the same side of the first direction, and the two elastic portions are spaced apart on the other side of the first direction. In the above technical solution, the reliability of the connection between the elastic portion and the inner and outer layers can be improved, thereby improving the reliability of the insulating component.

[0010] In some embodiments, the elastic unit includes two elastic portions connected to each other on one side in the first direction, and the other side of each elastic portion extends away from the other elastic portion along the first direction. In the above technical solution, the elastic structure is more easily deformed under external force, improving the compressibility of the insulating component.

[0011] In some embodiments, the elastic modulus of the elastic structure ranges from 0.02 MPa to 0.36 MPa. The above technical solution avoids deformation during the production of insulating components, improving manufacturing yield, while also giving the insulating components a certain degree of compressibility, thereby reducing the probability of wrinkles in the electrode sheets of the electrode assembly and improving the performance and lifespan of the battery cells.

[0012] In some embodiments, the insulating member further includes an outer layer covering at least a portion of the electrode assembly, and the elastic structure is located on the side of the outer layer closer to the electrode assembly and connected to the outer layer. The above technical solution can improve the stability of the insulating member structure and extend the service life of the insulating member.

[0013] In some embodiments, the insulating member further includes an inner layer, the outer layer covers at least a portion of the electrode assembly, the inner layer is disposed on the side of the outer layer near the electrode assembly and spaced apart from the outer layer, and the elastic structure is located between the inner layer and the outer layer and connected to both the inner layer and the outer layer. In the above technical solution, the stability of the insulating member structure can be improved, the inner layer can be attached to the electrode assembly, the contact surfaces of the insulating member with the electrode assembly and the outer shell are all planar, improving the service life of the insulating member, and avoiding the problem of high local stress in the electrode assembly, reducing the probability of lithium plating after charge-discharge cycles of the battery cell. In some embodiments, the outer layer includes a main insulating portion and a first insulating portion, the main insulating portion wraps around the periphery of the electrode assembly, the first insulating portion is disposed at one end of the main insulating portion for covering the end of the electrode assembly, wherein the inner layer is disposed on the side of the main insulating portion near the electrode assembly. In the above technical solution, the inner layer is located on the side of the main insulating part near the electrode assembly. That is, an elastic structure and an inner layer are provided on the outer side of the electrode assembly in the expansion direction. When the electrode assembly expands during charging, the expandable space can be increased by compressing the insulating part, and it can also be restrained by the outer shell, thereby avoiding the probability of the electrode wrinkling to a certain extent and reducing the probability of accelerated battery cycle degradation.

[0014] In some embodiments, the main insulating portion includes two main portions disposed on both sides of the first insulating portion. Each main portion includes a main surface and two flanges disposed on both sides of the main surface. The flanges of each main surface are connected to the flanges of the other main surface. The insulating member includes two inner layers, each inner layer corresponding one-to-one with the main surface of the two main portions. In the above technical solution, the inner layers correspond to the main surfaces, that is, an elastic structure and inner layers are provided on the expansion surface of the electrode assembly. When the electrode assembly expands during charging, the expandable space can be increased by compressing the insulating member, and it can also be constrained by the outer shell, thereby avoiding the probability of electrode wrinkling to a certain extent and reducing the probability of accelerated battery cycle degradation.

[0015] In some embodiments, a fluid flow channel is defined between the elastic structure and the inner layer and / or the outer layer. The battery cell further includes a support disposed at one end of the electrode assembly. A first fluid inlet is provided on the end face of the insulating member near the support, and the first fluid inlet communicates with the fluid flow channel. In the above technical solution, the electrolyte can flow within the insulating member, thereby allowing the electrolyte within the battery cell to circulate and improving cycle performance.

[0016] In some embodiments, the inner layer is provided with a second liquid outlet, which is located at the end of the inner layer away from the support and communicates with the liquid flow channel. This technical solution increases the flow path of the electrolyte and facilitates its flow through the inner layer to the electrode assembly, promoting electrolyte circulation and improving circulation performance.

[0017] In some embodiments, the battery cell is a prismatic battery or a blade battery.

[0018] Secondly, this application provides a battery that includes the battery cell described in the above embodiments.

[0019] Thirdly, this application provides an electrical device that includes the battery described in the above embodiments, the battery being used to provide electrical energy.

[0020] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, the following are specific embodiments of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments below. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the drawings. In the drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an electrical device in related technologies;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a battery in a related technology;

[0024] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a battery provided for some embodiments of this application;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the insulation component of some embodiments of this application from one perspective;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the unfolded state of an insulating component from another perspective in some embodiments of this application;

[0027] Figure 6 For along Figure 5 Sectional view of line AA in the middle;

[0028] Figure 7 for Figure 6 The enlarged view of B is shown in the center circle;

[0029] Figure 8 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the insulating element in some other embodiments of this application;

[0030] Figure 9 This is a partial cross-sectional view of an insulating element according to some embodiments of this application;

[0031] Figure 10 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the insulating element in some other embodiments of this application;

[0032] Figure 11 This is a partial cross-sectional view of an insulating element according to some embodiments of this application.

[0033] Figure label:

[0034] Battery 1000, power supply device 2000, casing 200, lower shell 201, upper shell 202.

[0035] 100 cells per battery

[0036] Outer shell 10, outer shell 11, end cap 12,

[0037] Electrode assembly 20, flat region 21,

[0038] Insulating component 30, liquid flow channel 301,

[0039] Outer layer 31, main insulating portion 311, first main portion 311a, second main portion 311b, main surface 3111, flange 3112, first insulating portion 312, first liquid outlet 313, inner layer 32, second liquid outlet 321, elastic structure 33, elastic unit 331, first elastic portion 3311, second elastic portion 3312.

[0040] Bracket 40. Detailed Implementation

[0041] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0042] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used in the specification of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and foregoing drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, or foregoing drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order or hierarchy.

[0043] In this application, the reference to "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments.

[0044] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "attachment" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0045] In this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, in this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0046] In the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals denote the same components, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components are omitted in different embodiments. It should be understood that the thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of various components in the embodiments of this application shown in the accompanying drawings, as well as the overall thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the integrated device, are merely illustrative and should not constitute any limitation on this application.

[0047] In this application, "multiple" means two or more (including two).

[0048] In this application, a battery refers to a single physical module comprising one or more individual battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery mentioned in this application may include a battery module or a battery pack. Some batteries may include a housing for encapsulating one or more individual battery cells or multiple battery modules. The housing can prevent liquids or other foreign matter from affecting the charging or discharging of the individual battery cells. Of course, some batteries may not require the aforementioned housing and may be directly installed within the battery mounting compartment of the electrical device.

[0049] In this application, the battery cell may include lithium-ion secondary batteries, lithium-ion primary batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, sodium-lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, or magnesium-ion batteries, etc., and the embodiments of this application are not limited to these. The battery cell may be cylindrical, flat, cuboid, or other shapes, etc., and the embodiments of this application are not limited to these. Battery cells are generally divided into three types according to their packaging method: cylindrical battery cells, square battery cells, and pouch battery cells, and the embodiments of this application are not limited to these.

[0050] For example, a battery cell may include a casing, electrode assembly, and electrolyte. The casing houses the electrode assembly and electrolyte. The electrode assembly consists of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. The battery cell primarily functions by the movement of metal ions between the positive and negative electrode plates. The positive electrode includes a positive current collector and a positive active material layer. The positive active material layer is coated on the surface of the positive current collector, and the uncoated positive current collector protrudes beyond the coated positive current collector, serving as the positive electrode tab. Taking a lithium-ion battery as an example, the positive current collector can be made of aluminum, and the positive active material can be lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, or lithium manganese oxide, etc.

[0051] The negative electrode includes a negative current collector and a negative active material layer. The negative active material layer is coated on the surface of the negative current collector, and the negative current collector without the negative active material layer protrudes from the one with the negative active material layer. The negative current collector without the negative active material layer serves as the negative electrode tab. The material of the negative current collector can be copper, and the negative active material can be carbon or silicon, etc. To ensure that a large current can be passed without melting, there are multiple positive electrode tabs stacked together, and there are multiple negative electrode tabs stacked together.

[0052] The separator can be made of PP (polypropylene) or PE (polyethylene), etc. Furthermore, the electrode assembly can be a wound structure or a stacked structure; the embodiments of this application are not limited to these.

[0053] A battery cell can be equipped with terminals or tabs connected to it, serving as the electroelastic part of the cell. Furthermore, the battery cell can have a pressure relief section. When the internal pressure of the battery cell becomes excessive (e.g., thermal runaway), the pressure relief section releases substances (e.g., gases, liquids, particulate matter) from inside the cell, reducing the internal pressure and preventing rapid pressurization that could lead to dangerous accidents such as deflagration. For example, the pressure relief section can be an explosion-proof valve, an explosion-proof plate, etc.

[0054] For example Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, some electrical devices use batteries for power. A battery consists of a casing and individual battery cells. The casing includes an upper shell and a lower shell, and the individual battery cells are housed within the casing. Figure 3 As shown, the battery cell includes a casing and an electrode assembly disposed inside the casing. An insulating component is provided on the outside of the electrode assembly. During installation, the insulating component wraps around the electrode assembly and is inserted into the casing together with the electrode assembly to prevent the electrode assembly from being scratched by the casing during the insertion process. It also prevents the electrode assembly from directly contacting the casing, thereby preventing short circuits caused by contact between the electrode assembly and the metal casing and improving the safety of the battery.

[0055] In traditional technologies, there is usually a certain gap between the electrode assembly and the casing. The skirt margin of the battery cell is within a predetermined range, and the insulation is usually thin to facilitate the smooth insertion of the electrode assembly into the casing. This also leads to insufficient binding force of the electrode assembly, especially for some battery cells with low skirt margin. The gap between the electrode assembly and the casing can easily cause the electrode sheets to wrinkle, affecting the performance and lifespan of the battery cell. Furthermore, for wound cells, it can also cause a large gap on the outer ring of the wound cell, which in turn leads to a deterioration of the battery interface and lithium plating problems.

[0056] To this end, this application proposes a battery cell comprising: a housing; an electrode assembly housed within the housing; and an insulating member housed within the housing, the insulating member being disposed between the electrode assembly and the housing, and at least a portion of the insulating member being located at at least one end of the electrode assembly in a first direction, the insulating member being located at at least one end of the electrode assembly in the first direction including an elastic structure configured to be elastically deformable in the first direction.

[0057] The electrode assembly includes at least two layers of electrode sheets, which form a stacked structure, with the stacking direction of the electrode sheets being a first direction; or, at least two layers of electrode sheets form a wound structure, which includes a flat region, where the electrode sheets are planar, and the stacking direction of the electrode sheets in the flat region is the first direction.

[0058] In a battery cell with the above-described structure, the space between the electrode assembly and the casing can be filled by using an insulating component of the above-described structure, thereby reducing the gap between the electrode assembly and the casing. Even when the skirt margin of the battery cell is low, the casing and the insulating component can restrain the electrode assembly, reducing the probability of wrinkles on the electrode plates of the electrode assembly and improving the performance and service life of the battery cell.

[0059] The battery 1000 with the above-mentioned battery cell 100 disclosed in this application embodiment can be used, but is not limited to, in electrical devices 2000 such as vehicles, ships or aircraft. It can be used to form the power system of the electrical device 2000 with the battery 1000 disclosed in this application, so as to ensure the safety and reliability of the use of the electrical device 2000.

[0060] For example, the electrical device 2000 disclosed in this application embodiment may be, but is not limited to, vehicles, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, ships, spacecraft, electric toys, and power tools, etc. Vehicles may be fuel vehicles, natural gas vehicles, new energy vehicles, or rail vehicles; new energy vehicles may be pure electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, or range-extended vehicles, etc.; spacecraft include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc.; electric toys include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric vehicle toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc.; power tools include metal cutting power tools, grinding power tools, assembly power tools, and railway power tools, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, impact drills, concrete vibrators, and electric planers, etc.

[0061] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a battery cell 100 according to an embodiment of the present application will be described.

[0062] like Figures 3-11 As shown, a battery cell 100 according to an embodiment of this application is described, including: a housing 10; an electrode assembly 20, the electrode assembly 20 being housed within the housing 10; and an insulating member 30, housed within the housing 10, the insulating member 30 being disposed between the electrode assembly 20 and the housing 10, and at least a portion of the insulating member 30 being located at at least one end of the electrode assembly 20 in a first direction F1, the insulating member 30 located at at least one end of the electrode assembly 20 in the first direction F1 including an elastic structure 33, the elastic structure 33 being configured to be elastically deformable in the first direction F1.

[0063] The electrode assembly 20 includes at least two layers of electrode sheets, which form a stacked structure, with the stacking direction of the electrode sheets being a first direction F1; or, at least two layers of electrode sheets form a wound structure, which includes a flat region 21, where the electrode sheets are planar and the stacking direction of the electrode sheets in the flat region is the first direction F1.

[0064] The outer casing 10 is the outermost structural component of the battery cell 100. The outer casing 10 contains the electrode assembly 20 and electrolyte, etc. The electrode assembly 20 contained therein can be one or more.

[0065] The outer shell 10 includes a shell 11 and an end cap 12. The shell 11 can be a hollow structure with an opening at one end, or it can be a hollow structure with openings at both opposite ends. The shell 11 can be in various shapes, such as a prism. The prism can be a triangular prism, a quadrangular prism, a pentagonal prism, a hexagonal prism, etc., and the quadrangular prism can be a cuboid, a cube, etc.

[0066] End cap 12 is a component that closes the opening of housing 11 to isolate the internal environment of battery cell 100 from the external environment. End cap 12 and housing 11 together define a receiving space for accommodating electrode assembly 20, electrolyte, and other components. The shape of end cap 12 can be adapted to the shape of housing 10. For example, housing 11 is a cuboid structure, and end cap 12 is a rectangular plate structure adapted to housing 10. The material of end cap 12 can also be various, such as copper, iron, aluminum, steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc. The materials of end cap 12 and housing 11 can be the same or different.

[0067] In an embodiment where the housing 11 has an opening at one end, one end cap 12 may be provided accordingly. In an embodiment where the housing 11 has openings at both opposite ends, two end caps 12 may be provided accordingly. The two end caps 12 respectively close the two openings of the housing 11, and the two end caps 12 and the housing 11 together define a receiving space to accommodate the electrode assembly 20 and electrolyte, etc.

[0068] In an embodiment where the housing 11 has openings at opposite ends, two end caps 12 can be provided. The two end caps 12 respectively close the two openings of the housing 11. The two end caps 12 and the housing 11 together define a receiving space to accommodate the electrode assembly 20 and electrolyte, etc.

[0069] The battery cell 100 also includes an electrode assembly 20, which is housed within the housing 10. Each electrode assembly 20 includes at least one positive electrode, at least one negative electrode, and at least one separator. The positive electrode, negative electrode, and separator are stacked to form a flat region 21. At least a portion of the positive electrode, at least a portion of the negative electrode, and at least a portion of the separator are stacked in the flat region 21 along a first direction F1.

[0070] There can be one or more electrode components 20. If there are multiple electrode components 20, they can be stacked. For example, multiple electrode components 20 can be stacked along the first direction F1.

[0071] The electrode assembly 20 can be a stacked type, that is, multiple electrodes of the electrode assembly 20 are stacked and arranged in layers. After the electrodes are stacked, a flat region 21 is formed. The electrode assembly 20 is in a stacked state. In the flat region 21, at least a portion of the positive electrode, negative electrode and the separator are stacked along the first direction F1. Therefore, the expansion and deformation of the electrode assembly 20 is particularly obvious in the first direction F1.

[0072] The electrode assembly 20 can also be wound. The positive and negative electrode sheets of the electrode assembly 20 are stacked and wound with the separator, forming a flat region 21 and a corner region. The flat region 21 refers to the part of the electrode sheet that extends along the plane after winding. The electrode assembly 20 is stacked in the flat region 21. The corner region refers to the part of the electrode sheet that extends along the arc surface after winding. The outer surface of the corner region is at least partially arc surface. The flat region 21 connects the two corner regions. In the flat region 21, the positive electrode sheet, the negative electrode sheet, and the separator are stacked along the first direction F1. For example, after winding, each layer of the positive electrode sheet, each layer of the negative electrode sheet, and each layer of the separator can be penetrated by a straight line extending along the first direction F1. Therefore, the expansion and deformation of the electrode assembly 20 is particularly obvious in the first direction F1.

[0073] The insulating component 30 is disposed between the electrode assembly 20 and the housing 10 to ensure the insulation effect between the electrode assembly 20 and the housing 10. When assembling the battery cell 100, the insulating component 30 can be wrapped around the outside of the electrode assembly 20 and can be inserted into the housing 11 through the opening. After the electrode assembly 20 is installed in place, the end cap 12 is closed on the opening to seal the corresponding opening.

[0074] The insulating component 30 can be a single piece or a combination of multiple components. The insulating component 30 includes an elastic structure 33, which is disposed on one side of the electrode assembly 20 in the first direction F1. The elastic structure can undergo elastic deformation in the first direction F1.

[0075] When the electrode assembly 20 with the insulating element 30 is installed into the housing 10, the elastic structure 33 of the insulating element 30 can be deformed by external force, and the insulating element 30 is compressed as a whole, which facilitates the insertion of the electrode assembly 20 into the housing. After the electrode assembly 20 is inserted into the housing, the external force on the elastic structure 33 is removed, and the elastic structure 33 has a tendency to recover its deformation until the insulating element 30 fills the space between the electrode assembly 20 and the housing 10.

[0076] With the insulation 30 filling, the gap between the electrode assembly 20 and the housing 10 is reduced. Even when the skirt margin of the battery cell 100 is low, the housing 10 and the insulation 30 can effectively restrain the electrode assembly 20. During the long-cycle operation of the battery cell 100, the probability of the electrode sheet of the electrode assembly 20 wrinkling is reduced. Since the insulation 30 can be compressed, it will not increase the actual skirt margin of the battery cell 100, thus not affecting the long-term cycle performance of the battery cell 100.

[0077] For the wound electrode assembly 20, the insulating component 30 can reduce the gap of the outer ring of the wound cell, thereby reducing the probability of battery interface deterioration and lithium plating.

[0078] In the battery cell 100 with the above-described structure, by using the insulating member 30 of the above-described structure, the space between the electrode assembly 20 and the outer casing 10 can be filled, the gap between the electrode assembly 20 and the outer casing 10 can be reduced, the outer casing 10 and the insulating member 30 can bind the electrode assembly 20, reduce the probability of the electrode sheet of the electrode assembly 20 wrinkling, and improve the performance and service life of the battery cell 100.

[0079] like Figures 7-11 As shown, in some embodiments, the elastic structure 33 includes a plurality of elastic units 331, the extension direction of the elastic units 331 is inclined to the first direction F1, the arrangement direction of the plurality of elastic units 331 is perpendicular to the first direction F1, and adjacent elastic units 331 are arranged at intervals or connected in sequence.

[0080] like Figure 7 As shown, the elastic structure 33 includes multiple elastic units 331, which are connected sequentially along the second direction F2 to form an overall structure, similar to a wave-shaped structure. That is, the insulating component 30 consists of three parts: an outer layer 31, an inner layer 32, and the middle elastic structure 33. Thus, the elastic structure 33 can support the inner layer 32 and the outer layer 31, and facilitate the connection between multiple components, making assembly easier and improving the reliability of the overall structure.

[0081] like Figures 8-11 As shown, the elastic structure 33 includes multiple elastic units 331, which are arranged at intervals along the second direction F2. That is, multiple elastic units 331 are provided between the inner layer 32 and the outer layer 31. The multiple elastic units 331 support the inner layer 32 and the outer layer 31. Under the action of the multiple elastic units 331 arranged at intervals, the elastic structure 33 is conducive to deformation under external force, thereby improving the compression performance of the insulating component 30.

[0082] like Figures 7-11As shown, in some embodiments, each elastic unit 331 includes at least one elastic portion, and each elastic portion forms an arcuate structure or a flat plate structure that extends inclined to the first direction F1.

[0083] like Figure 8 As shown, the elastic structure 33 includes a plurality of elastic units 331, each elastic structure 33 includes an elastic part, the elastic part extends in a straight line along a direction inclined to the first direction F1, and the elastic part is connected to the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 32 respectively, thereby achieving support for the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 32. Of course, each elastic part can also be arc-shaped.

[0084] like Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, each elastic structure 33 includes two elastic portions (i.e., a first elastic portion 3311 and a second elastic portion 3312), each elastic portion being connected to the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 32 respectively, as... Figure 10 As shown, each elastic part is linear, such as... Figure 11 As shown, each elastic part is arc-shaped.

[0085] Therefore, the overall structure of the insulating component 30 is relatively simple and easy to manufacture.

[0086] like Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, in some embodiments, the elastic unit 331 includes two elastic parts, which are connected to each other on the same side in the first direction F1, and are arranged at intervals on the other side in the first direction F1.

[0087] like Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, one side of the two elastic parts (i.e., the first elastic part 3311 and the second elastic part 3312) is connected to each other and to one of the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 32, while the other side of the two elastic parts is separated from each other and is connected to the other of the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 32 respectively.

[0088] like Figure 10 As shown, the elastic structure 33 includes multiple elastic units 331. Each elastic unit 331 includes a first elastic part 3311 and a second elastic part 3312. Both the first elastic part 3311 and the second elastic part 3312 are straight. The first elastic part 3311 and the second elastic part 3312 are connected to form a bent shape. The first elastic part 3311 and the second elastic part 3312 are connected to the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 32 on both sides in the first direction F1, respectively. Thus, with the support of the two elastic parts, the reliability of the connection between the elastic part and the inner layer 32 and the outer layer 31 can be improved, and the reliability of the insulating component 30 can be improved.

[0089] like Figure 11As shown, the elastic structure 33 includes multiple elastic units 331. Each elastic unit 331 includes a first elastic part 3311 and a second elastic part 3312. The first elastic part 3311 and the second elastic part 3312 are arc-shaped and connected to form a semi-circular arc. The first elastic part 3311 and the second elastic part 3312 are respectively connected to the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 32. Thus, with the support of the two elastic parts, the reliability of the connection between the elastic part and the inner layer 32 and the outer layer 31 can be improved, thereby improving the reliability of the insulating component 30.

[0090] like Figure 9 As shown, in some embodiments, the elastic unit 331 includes two elastic parts, which are connected to each other on one side in the first direction F1, and the other side of each elastic part extends away from the other elastic part along the first direction F1.

[0091] like Figure 9 As shown, one side of the two elastic parts (i.e., the first elastic part 3311 and the second elastic part 3312) is connected to each other and located between the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 32. The other side of one elastic part is connected to the inner layer 32, and the other side of the other elastic part is connected to the outer layer 31.

[0092] like Figure 9 As shown, in the arrangement direction of the inner layer 32 and the outer layer 31 (e.g. Figure 9 In the first direction F1 shown, a first elastic part 3311 and a second elastic part 3312 are provided between the inner layer 32 and the outer layer 31. In some examples, more elastic parts connected in sequence can be provided between the inner layer 32 and the outer layer 31. Under the action of multiple elastic parts, the elastic structure 33 is more likely to deform under the action of external force, thereby improving the compression performance of the insulating part 30.

[0093] In some embodiments, the elastic modulus of the elastic structure 33 is in the range of 0.02 MPa to 0.36 MPa.

[0094] If the elastic modulus of the elastic structure 33 is too large, the elastic structure 33 will be less likely to deform, which will make it difficult for the insulating component 30 to be compressed. If the elastic modulus of the elastic structure 33 is too small, the elastic structure 33 will be too easy to deform, which will cause the insulating component 30 to deform during the manufacturing process, affecting the manufacturing yield of the insulating component 30. Therefore, the elastic modulus of the elastic structure 33 is limited to between 0.02 MPa and 0.36 MPa, that is, the elastic modulus of the elastic structure 33 can be any one of 0.02 MPa, 0.05 MPa, 0.1 MPa, 0.15 MPa, 0.2 MPa, 0.25 MPa, 0.3 MPa, 0.36 MPa or any value between two of them.

[0095] This can avoid deformation of the insulating component 30 during production, improve manufacturing yield, and at the same time make the insulating component 30 compressible, thereby reducing the probability of wrinkles in the electrode sheet of the electrode assembly 20 and improving the performance and service life of the battery cell 100.

[0096] like Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the insulating member 30 further includes an outer layer 31 that covers at least a portion of the electrode assembly 20, and an elastic structure 33 is located on the side of the outer layer 31 closest to the electrode assembly 20 and connected to the outer layer 31.

[0097] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the outer layer 31 is the outermost part of the insulating member 30. The outer layer 31 can wrap at least a part of the electrode assembly 20. That is, the outer layer 31 can include an end and multiple sides. The multiple sides correspond to the outer surface of the electrode assembly 20, and the end can correspond to the end of the electrode assembly 20. Thus, the outer layer 31 can wrap at least a part of the electrode assembly 20. After the battery cell 100 is assembled, the outer layer 31 can be attached to the outer casing 10.

[0098] The elastic structure 33 is connected to the outer layer 31, and the outer layer 31 can also protect the elastic structure 33. This can improve the structural stability of the insulating component 30, reduce the impact of the elastic structure 33 directly contacting the outer shell 10 on the stability of the elastic structure 33, and improve the service life of the insulating component 30.

[0099] like Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the insulating member 30 further includes an inner layer 32, which is disposed on the side of the outer layer 31 near the electrode assembly and spaced apart from the outer layer 31. The elastic structure 33 is located between the inner layer 32 and the outer layer 31 and is connected to the inner layer 32 and the outer layer 31 respectively.

[0100] The inner layer 32 corresponds to the flat area 21 of the electrode assembly 20. That is, an elastic structure 33 and an inner layer 32 are provided on the side of the electrode assembly 20 with greater expansion. When the electrode assembly 20 expands during charging, the expandable space can be increased by compressing the insulating part 30, and it can also be restrained by the outer shell 10, thereby avoiding the probability of the electrode wrinkling to a certain extent and reducing the probability of accelerated battery cycle degradation.

[0101] like Figure 4 As shown, the insulating member 30 includes an outer layer 31, an inner layer 32, and an elastic structure 33. The elastic structure 33 is disposed between the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 32. That is, the elastic structure 33 can undergo elastic deformation under the action of external force and can recover its deformation when the external force is removed, so that the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 32 can move closer to each other or further away from each other. That is, the thickness of the insulating member 30 is variable and the insulating member 30 can be compressed.

[0102] When the electrode assembly 20 with the insulating element 30 is installed into the housing 10, the elastic structure 33 of the insulating element 30 can be deformed by external force, and the insulating element 30 as a whole is compressed, thereby facilitating the insertion of the electrode assembly 20 into the housing. After the electrode assembly 20 is inserted into the housing, the external force on the elastic structure 33 is removed, and the elastic structure 33 has a tendency to recover its deformation until the inner layer 32 is attached to the electrode assembly 20 and the outer layer 31 is attached to the housing 10.

[0103] The outer layer 31 is attached to the outer shell 10, and the inner layer 32 is attached to the electrode assembly 20. The outer layer 31 and the inner layer 32 are connected by an elastic structure 33. The elastic structure 33 and the inner layer 32 can be connected by adhesive bonding or integrally manufactured. The elastic structure 33 and the outer layer 31 can be connected by adhesive bonding or integrally manufactured. The insulating part 30 can be an integrally molded part, such as being integrally manufactured using PE (polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene).

[0104] The elastic structure 33 is connected to the inner layer 32, and the inner layer 32 can also protect the elastic structure 33. This can improve the structural stability of the insulating component 30, reduce the impact of the elastic structure 33 directly contacting the electrode assembly 20 on the stability of the elastic structure 33, and improve the service life of the insulating component 30.

[0105] Furthermore, the contact surface between the insulating component 30 and the electrode assembly 20 is the surface of the inner layer 32, and the contact surface between the insulating component 30 and the outer shell 10 is the surface of the outer layer 31. By adopting the above-described structure of the insulating component 30, compared to locally providing protrusions on the insulating component 30 or locally thickening the insulating component 30, the contact surfaces between the insulating component 30 and the electrode assembly 20 and the outer shell 10 are all flat. This can avoid the problem of high local stress in the electrode assembly 20 and reduce the probability of lithium plating after the battery cell 100 has undergone charge and discharge cycles.

[0106] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the outer layer 31 includes a main insulating portion 311 and a first insulating portion 312. The main insulating portion 311 wraps around the periphery of the electrode assembly 20, and the first insulating portion 312 is disposed at one end of the main insulating portion 311 for covering the end of the electrode assembly 20. The inner layer 32 is disposed on the side of the main insulating portion 311 near the electrode assembly 20.

[0107] When the cross-section of the electrode assembly 20 is rectangular, the main insulating portion 311 can be folded into a shape that matches the shape of the periphery (four side walls) of the electrode assembly 20 to wrap around the periphery of the electrode assembly 20; that is, the cross-sectional shape of the main insulating portion 311 is a rectangular ring. When the cross-section of the electrode assembly 20 is polygonal, the main insulating portion 311 can be folded into a shape that matches the shape of the periphery (multiple side walls) of the electrode assembly 20 to wrap around the periphery of the electrode assembly 20; that is, the cross-sectional shape of the main insulating portion 311 is a polygonal ring.

[0108] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 With the battery cell 100 placed vertically, the main insulating part 311 wraps around the periphery of the electrode assembly 20, and the first insulating part 312 wraps around the lower side of the electrode assembly 20. Thus, the insulating member 30 is composed of multiple parts, and these multiple parts cover the sides and bottom of the electrode assembly 20, effectively separating the electrode assembly 20 from the housing 11 as completely as possible. This significantly reduces the exposure of the electrode assembly 20, lowers the risk of failure and damage to the electrode assembly 20, reduces the risk of corrosion of the housing 11, and improves the reliability and stability of the battery cell 100.

[0109] For example, the main insulating part 311 includes two main parts, which are disposed on both sides of the first insulating part 312. Each main part includes a main surface 3111 and two flanges 3112. The two flanges 3112 are disposed on both sides of the main surface 3111. The inner layer 32 and the elastic structure 33 can be disposed on the side of the main surface 3111 near the electrode assembly 20, or the inner layer 32 and the elastic structure 33 can be disposed on the side of the flange 3112 near the main surface 3111. When the electrode assembly 20 is a wound cell, the elastic structure 33 at the flange 3112 can also be deformed by pressure.

[0110] The inner layer 32 is located on the side of the main insulating part 311 near the electrode assembly 20. That is, the elastic structure 33 and the inner layer 32 are provided on the outer side of the electrode assembly 20 in the expansion direction. When the electrode assembly 20 is charged and expands, it can increase the expandable space by compressing the insulating part 30, and it can also be restrained by the outer shell 10, thereby avoiding the probability of the electrode wrinkling to a certain extent and reducing the probability of accelerated battery cycle degradation.

[0111] like Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, in some embodiments, the main insulating portion 311 includes two main portions disposed on both sides of the first insulating portion 312. Each main portion includes a main surface 3111 and two flanges 3112 disposed on both sides of the main surface 3111. The flanges 3112 of each main surface 3111 are connected to the flanges 3112 of the other main surface 3111. The insulating member 30 includes two inner layers 32, each inner layer 32 corresponding one-to-one with the main surfaces 3111 of the two main portions.

[0112] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 The main insulating part 311 includes two main parts, namely the first main part 311a and the second main part 311b. When the insulating member 30 is in the unfolded state, the two main parts are disposed on both sides of the first insulating part 312. The main part includes a main surface 3111 and two flanges 3112, which are respectively disposed on both sides of the main surface 3111.

[0113] The inner layer 32 corresponds to the main body surface 3111. That is, the expansion surface of the electrode assembly 20 is provided with an elastic structure 33 and an inner layer 32. When the electrode assembly 20 is charged and expanded, it can increase the expandable space by compressing the insulating part 30, and it can also be restrained by the outer shell 10, thereby avoiding the probability of the electrode wrinkling to a certain extent, and reducing the probability of accelerated battery cycle degradation.

[0114] like Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, an overflow channel 301 is defined between the elastic structure 33 and the inner layer 32 and / or the outer layer 21. The battery cell 100 also includes a support 40, which is disposed at one end of the electrode assembly 20. A first overflow port 313 is provided on one end face of the insulating member 30 near the support 40, and the first overflow port 313 communicates with the overflow channel 301.

[0115] The bracket 40 is located at one end of the cell assembly. When the battery cell 100 is assembled into the housing 11 with an opening on one side, the bracket 40 can be set at one end of the cell assembly first, and then the cell assembly with the bracket 40 can be installed into the housing 11. This allows the bracket 40 to enter the housing first from the opening of the housing, and then the cell assembly enters the housing. After the cell assembly is installed in place in the housing, the bracket 40 can be located on the wall of the housing opposite to its opening and at the end of the cell assembly away from the opening.

[0116] like Figures 3-6As shown, the bottom of the outer layer 31 is provided with a first liquid outlet 313, which is connected to the liquid flow channel 301. The first liquid outlet 313 may be located at the bottom of the liquid flow channel 301, or the bottom of the inner layer 32 and the bottom of the outer layer 31 may be arranged alternately, and the elastic structure 33 may be arranged alternately with the bottom of the outer layer 31. This allows the electrolyte to flow within the insulating member 30, thereby allowing the electrolyte within the battery cell 100 to circulate and improving cycle performance.

[0117] like Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the inner layer 32 is provided with a second liquid outlet 321, which is located at the end of the inner layer 32 away from the support 40, and the second liquid outlet 321 is connected to the liquid flow channel 301.

[0118] like Figure 5 As shown, the second liquid outlet 321 on the inner layer 32 is far away from the first liquid outlet 313. A space for electrolyte flow can be formed between the first liquid outlet 313, the liquid flow channel 301 and the second liquid outlet 321. This can increase the flow path of the electrolyte and facilitate the electrolyte to flow through the inner layer 32 to the electrode assembly 20, which facilitates the circulation of the electrolyte and improves the circulation performance.

[0119] In some embodiments, the battery cell 100 is a prismatic battery or a blade battery. The prismatic battery or blade battery can fill the space between the electrode assembly 20 and the outer casing 10 by using the insulating member 30 with the above-described structure, thereby reducing the gap between the electrode assembly 20 and the outer casing 10. The outer casing 10 and the insulating member 30 can bind the electrode assembly 20, reduce the probability of the electrode sheet of the electrode assembly 20 wrinkling, and improve the performance and service life of the prismatic battery or blade battery.

[0120] Secondly, this application provides a battery 1000, which includes the battery cell 100 in the above embodiments.

[0121] The above technical solution can improve the performance and lifespan of battery 1000.

[0122] The power-consuming device 2000 according to a third aspect embodiment of this application includes a battery 1000 according to the second aspect embodiment of this application described above. The battery 1000 is used to provide power to the power-consuming device 2000. Therefore, by using the battery 1000 described above, it is beneficial to improve the battery life of the power-consuming device 2000.

[0123] Optionally, such as Figure 1As shown, when the battery 1000 is used in a vehicle, it can be located at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle. The battery 1000 can be used to power the vehicle; for example, it can serve as the vehicle's operating power source. The vehicle may also include a controller and a motor. The controller controls the battery 1000 to power the motor, for example, to meet the vehicle's power needs during starting, navigation, and driving.

[0124] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, describes a specific embodiment of a battery 1000 and a vehicle having the same.

[0125] like Figure 1 As shown, battery 1000 is located at the bottom of the vehicle, and as... Figures 3-4 As shown, the battery 1000 includes a housing 200 and a battery cell 100. The housing 200 includes a lower shell 201 and an upper shell 202. The battery cell 100 is disposed inside the housing 200. The battery cell 100 includes a housing 10, an electrode assembly 20 and an insulating member 30. The electrode assembly 20 is housed inside the housing 10, and the insulating member 30 wraps around the outer periphery of the electrode assembly 20 to ensure the insulation effect between the electrode assembly 20 and the housing 10.

[0126] The insulating component 30 includes an outer layer 31, an inner layer 32, and an elastic structure 33. The outer layer 31 includes a main insulating portion 311 and a first insulating portion 312. The main insulating portion 311 wraps around the periphery of the electrode assembly 20. The first insulating portion 312 is disposed at one end of the main insulating portion 311 and is used to cover the end of the electrode assembly 20. The first insulating portion 312 is provided with a first liquid outlet 313. The main insulating portion 311 includes two main portions disposed on both sides of the first insulating portion 312. Each main portion includes a main surface 3111 and two flanges 3112. The inner layer 32 corresponds to the main surface 3111 and has a second liquid outlet 321.

[0127] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the elastic structure 33 is disposed between the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 32. The elastic structure 33 is wavy. Liquid flow channels 301 are formed between the elastic structure 33, the inner layer 32, and the outer layer 31. The first liquid flow port 313 and the second liquid flow port 321 are both connected to the liquid flow channels 301.

[0128] Among them, the elastic structure 33 is an elastic structural component, that is, the elastic structure 33 can undergo elastic deformation under the action of external force, and can recover its deformation when the external force is removed, so that the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 32 can move closer to each other or further away from each other, that is, the thickness of the insulating component 30 is variable, and the insulating component 30 can be compressed.

[0129] Within each battery cell 100, the insulating component 30 can fill the space between the electrode assembly 20 and the outer casing 10. When the battery cell 100 is charged and discharged, the electrode assembly 20 expands, and the elastic structure 33 is compressed and deformed, reducing the distance between the inner layer 32 and the outer layer 33. This can increase the expandable space of the electrode assembly 20 to a certain extent and improve the service life of the battery cell 100.

[0130] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not to limit them. Although this application 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 or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of this application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the embodiments can be combined in any way. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A battery cell, characterized by, include: shell; Electrode assembly, housed within the housing; An insulating element is housed within the housing, the insulating element is disposed between the electrode assembly and the housing, and at least a portion of the insulating element is located at at least one end of the electrode assembly in a first direction. The insulating element located at at least one end of the electrode assembly in the first direction includes an elastic structure configured to be elastically deformable in the first direction. The electrode assembly includes at least two layers of electrode sheets, which form a stacked structure, and the stacking direction of the electrode sheets is a first direction; or, the at least two layers of electrode sheets form a wound structure, which includes a flat region, in which the electrode sheets are planar, and the stacking direction of the electrode sheets in the flat region is a first direction.

2. The battery cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic structure includes multiple elastic units, the extension direction of the elastic units is inclined to the first direction, the arrangement direction of the multiple elastic units is perpendicular to the first direction, and adjacent elastic units are arranged at intervals or connected in sequence.

3. The battery cell according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the elastic units includes at least one elastic portion, and each elastic portion forms an arc-shaped structure or a flat plate structure that extends inclined in the first direction.

4. The battery cell according to claim 3, characterized in that, The elastic unit includes two elastic parts, which are connected to each other on the same side of the first direction and are spaced apart on the other side of the first direction.

5. The battery cell of claim 3, wherein, The elastic unit includes two elastic parts, which are connected to each other on one side in the first direction, and the other side of each elastic part extends away from the other elastic part along the first direction.

6. The battery cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic modulus of the elastic structure is in the range of 0.02 MPa to 0.36 MPa.

7. The battery cell of claim 1, wherein, The insulating element further includes an outer layer that covers at least a portion of the electrode assembly, and the elastic structure is located on the side of the outer layer closer to the electrode assembly and connected to the outer layer.

8. The battery cell according to claim 7, characterized in that, The insulating element further includes an inner layer disposed on the side of the outer layer near the electrode assembly and spaced apart from the outer layer, and the elastic structure is located between the inner layer and the outer layer and connected to the inner layer and the outer layer respectively.

9. The battery cell according to claim 8, characterized in that, The outer layer includes a main insulating portion and a first insulating portion. The main insulating portion wraps around the periphery of the electrode assembly, and the first insulating portion is disposed at one end of the main insulating portion to cover the end of the electrode assembly. The inner layer is located on the side of the main insulating portion near the electrode assembly.

10. The battery cell according to claim 9, characterized in that, The main insulating portion includes two main portions disposed on both sides of the first insulating portion. Each main portion includes a main surface and two flanges disposed on both sides of the main surface. The flanges of each main surface are connected to the flanges of the other main surface. The insulating component includes two inner layers, each inner layer corresponding one-to-one with the main body surface of the two main body portions.

11. The battery cell according to claim 8, characterized in that, The elastic structure defines a fluid flow channel between itself and the inner layer and / or the outer layer. The battery cell also includes a bracket, which is disposed at one end of the electrode assembly. The end face of the insulating member near the bracket is provided with a first liquid inlet, which is connected to the liquid flow channel.

12. The battery cell according to claim 11, characterized in that, The inner layer is provided with a second liquid outlet, which is located at the end of the inner layer away from the support and is connected to the liquid flow channel.

13. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that, The battery cell is a prismatic battery or a blade battery.

14. A battery, characterized in that, Includes the battery cell according to any one of claims 1-13.

15. An electrical appliance, characterized in that, Includes the battery according to claim 14, the battery being used to provide electrical energy.

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