Battery pack and electric device

Abstract

This application provides a battery pack and an electrical device. The battery pack includes a housing, battery cells, and a liquid cooling plate. The liquid cooling plate is connected to one side of the housing and together with the housing forms a sealed cavity. The battery cells are disposed within the cavity and make heat exchange contact with the liquid cooling plate. Multiple heat dissipation fins are spaced apart on the side of the liquid cooling plate away from the cavity, with air ducts forming between adjacent fins. An openable air inlet is provided on the side of the liquid cooling plate facing the head of the electrical device, and an openable air outlet is provided on the side facing the tail of the electrical device. Each air duct is connected to both the air inlet and the air outlet. The heat from the battery pack can be transferred to the liquid cooling plate for heat exchange, forming one heat dissipation system for the battery pack. Furthermore, the air inlet, air ducts, and air outlet, connected in sequence, form another heat dissipation system for the battery pack, improving its heat dissipation performance and efficiency, facilitating battery discharge and subsequent fast charging, and enhancing the safety of the battery pack.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In pursuit of economic efficiency, logistics vehicles typically adopt a battery swapping operation model. This involves removing the low-powered battery pack from the logistics vehicle, charging it at a battery swapping station, and then loading a fully charged battery pack from the station onto the logistics vehicle to ensure its continued operation. The battery swap can be completed in just three to five minutes, saving time and improving the efficiency of logistics vehicle operations.

[0003] Battery packs generate a lot of heat during charging and discharging. However, in related technologies, the heat dissipation of battery packs is poor, which is not conducive to discharging and subsequent fast charging, affecting use and resulting in poor safety. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a battery pack and electrical device to solve the problem of poor heat dissipation of the battery pack, facilitate battery pack discharge and subsequent fast charging, and improve the safety of battery pack use.

[0005] In one aspect, this application provides a battery pack, including a casing, battery cells, and a liquid cooling plate.

[0006] A liquid cooling plate is connected to one side of the housing, forming a sealed cavity together with the housing. The battery cell is placed inside the cavity and makes heat exchange contact with the liquid cooling plate. Multiple heat dissipation fins are spaced apart on the side of the liquid cooling plate away from the cavity, with air ducts forming between adjacent fins. An openable air inlet is located on the side of the liquid cooling plate facing the head of the equipment, and an openable air outlet is located on the side facing the tail of the equipment. One side of each air duct connects to the air inlet, and the other side of each air duct connects to the air outlet.

[0007] The battery pack provided in this application features a liquid cooling plate on one side of the casing, which together with the casing forms a sealed cavity. The battery cells are placed inside the cavity and are in heat exchange contact with the liquid cooling plate. This means that the heat from the battery cells can be transferred to the liquid cooling plate for heat exchange, and the liquid cooling plate can dissipate heat and cool the battery cells. In this way, the heat generated by the battery pack during charging and discharging can be transferred to the liquid cooling plate in a timely manner for heat exchange, reducing the temperature of the battery pack. The liquid cooling plate forms a heat dissipation system for the battery pack, namely an active cooling system, which improves the heat dissipation performance and efficiency of the battery pack, facilitates battery pack discharge and subsequent fast charging, and also improves the safety of battery pack use.

[0008] Multiple heat dissipation fins are spaced apart on the side of the liquid cooling plate away from the housing cavity. The multiple heat dissipation fins increase the contact area between the liquid cooling plate and the surrounding air. In this way, the heat of the liquid cooling plate can be dissipated into the surrounding air through the multiple heat dissipation fins, forming natural air convection to cool the liquid cooling plate, improving the heat dissipation effect of the liquid cooling plate on the battery cell, and further improving the heat dissipation performance of the battery pack.

[0009] Furthermore, an air duct is formed between two adjacent heat dissipation fins, and an openable air inlet is provided on the side of the liquid cooling plate facing the head of the electrical equipment, while an openable air outlet is provided on the side of the liquid cooling plate facing the tail of the electrical equipment. One side of each air duct is connected to the air inlet, and the other side of each air duct is connected to the air outlet. In this way, when both the air inlet and the air outlet are open, the air inlet, air duct, and air outlet are connected in sequence to form an airflow channel. Air enters the air duct through the air inlet and moves along the air duct to be discharged through the air outlet. Since the air duct is formed by two adjacent heat dissipation fins, the air can carry away the heat from the heat dissipation fins and liquid cooling plate during the airflow process. Especially when the electrical equipment containing the battery pack is in motion, more heat can be carried away. The air inlet, air duct, and air outlet form another heat dissipation system for the battery pack, namely the air-cooled heat dissipation system, which further improves the heat dissipation performance and efficiency of the battery pack, further facilitates the battery pack discharge and subsequent fast charging, and makes the battery pack safer to use.

[0010] In one possible design, the battery pack also includes a first valve, which is movably connected to a position on the electrical device corresponding to the air inlet. The first valve is movable toward the air inlet to close it, or toward the air inlet to open it.

[0011] The above solution involves installing a first valve at a position corresponding to the air inlet. This first valve is movably connected to the electrical equipment, ensuring its position aligns with the air inlet. The first valve can move towards the air inlet to close it, and can also move away from it to open it. During charging and discharging, when heat dissipation is needed, opening the first valve allows air to enter the air duct from the air inlet. As the air flows through the duct, it carries away the heat from the battery pack. In other words, opening the first valve activates the air-cooling system, facilitating battery discharge, increasing driving range, and enabling subsequent fast charging. This improves the battery pack's cycle life and helps save costs.

[0012] In addition, in low-temperature environments during winter, the air inlet can be sealed by closing the first valve. This isolates the air inlet side of the air duct from the external environment of the battery pack, preventing cold air from entering the air duct and exchanging heat with the battery pack. This provides a certain degree of insulation for the battery pack, which helps improve the battery pack's capacity retention, discharge power, charging efficiency, and charging capacity at low temperatures. It also helps to avoid significant reductions in battery life, insufficient discharge power, and excessively long charging times in low-temperature environments, thus improving the user experience and extending the battery pack's lifespan.

[0013] In one possible design, the battery pack also includes a second valve, which is movably connected to the electrical device at a position corresponding to the air outlet. The second valve can move toward the air outlet to close it, or move away from it to open it.

[0014] The above solution involves installing a second valve at a position corresponding to the air outlet. This second valve is movably connected to the electrical equipment, ensuring its position aligns with the air outlet. The second valve can move towards the air outlet to close it, and can also move away from it to open it. During charging and discharging, when heat dissipation is needed, opening the second valve allows hot air in the duct to escape through the air outlet, carrying away the battery pack's heat. In other words, opening the second valve activates the air-cooling system, cooling the battery pack and facilitating discharge, thus improving driving range and enabling faster charging. This enhances the battery pack's cycle life and helps save costs.

[0015] In addition, in low-temperature environments during winter, the air outlet can be sealed by closing the second valve. This isolates the air outlet side of the air duct from the external environment of the battery pack, preventing hot air inside the air duct from being discharged through the air outlet for heat exchange. This provides a certain degree of insulation for the battery pack, which helps improve the battery pack's capacity retention, discharge power, charging efficiency, and charging capacity at low temperatures. It also helps to avoid significant reductions in battery life, insufficient discharge power, and excessively long charging times in low-temperature environments, thus improving the user experience and extending the battery pack's lifespan.

[0016] In one possible design, multiple heat dissipation fins are spaced apart along the width of the electrical equipment, and each heat dissipation fin extends along the length of the electrical equipment, so that each air duct extends along the length of the electrical equipment.

[0017] With the above scheme, each air duct is formed as a long strip extending along the length of the electrical equipment, and multiple air ducts are spaced apart along the width of the electrical equipment. In this way, the side of the liquid cooling plate away from the battery cell has multiple roughly parallel long strip air ducts, which facilitates air circulation. Air enters into multiple air ducts from the air inlet and moves along the length of the electrical equipment to the air outlet within the multiple air ducts, resulting in low flow resistance. This allows the liquid cooling plate to carry more heat from the battery pack, resulting in better heat dissipation for the battery pack.

[0018] In one possible design, at least some of the heat dissipation fins are bent along the direction from the air inlet to the air outlet.

[0019] With the above design, the heat dissipation fins are curved along the direction from the air inlet to the air outlet, causing the air duct to also bend along the same direction. This means the air duct extends in a curved direction, creating a curved air duct. This increases the length of the air duct while maintaining the same overall battery pack structure, thus extending the airflow time within the duct. This prolonged heat exchange time between the air and the air duct allows the air to carry away more heat, further improving the battery pack's heat dissipation performance. This also facilitates battery pack discharge and subsequent fast charging, resulting in higher battery pack safety.

[0020] In one possible design, when the battery pack is installed on the electrical equipment, the side of the heat dissipation fins facing away from the liquid cooling plate is spaced apart from the electrical equipment.

[0021] With the above solution, after the battery pack is installed on the electrical equipment, there is a gap between the heat dissipation fins and the equipment. In other words, there is a space between the heat dissipation fins and the equipment along the height of the equipment. Since the air ducts are formed by the gaps between adjacent heat dissipation fins, the side of each air duct facing away from the liquid cooling plate is open. Therefore, the gaps between the heat dissipation fins and the equipment are connected to each air duct, forming an extension of the air duct. This increases the airflow within the same time frame when both the air inlet and outlet are open and the air-cooling system is activated to cool the battery pack. This improves the heat dissipation performance and efficiency of the air-cooling system, resulting in better overall heat dissipation performance of the battery pack.

[0022] In one possible design, the liquid cooling plate has a flow channel inside, and a water inlet communicating with the flow channel is opened on the liquid cooling plate. The water inlet is used to allow coolant to enter into the flow channel or flow out from the flow channel.

[0023] The above-described design involves installing a water inlet on the liquid cooling plate that connects to its internal flow channels. This allows the coolant to enter the flow channels through the water inlet and flow along the direction of the channels within the liquid cooling plate. As the coolant flows through the liquid cooling plate, it carries away the heat transferred from the battery cells, thus cooling the battery pack.

[0024] In one possible design, the water inlet includes an inlet and an outlet; both the inlet and outlet are located on the side of the liquid cooling plate facing the battery cell and are exposed on the outside of the housing.

[0025] The above design incorporates both an inlet and an outlet, allowing coolant to enter the flow channel from the inlet and flow along the channel within the liquid cooling plate to the outlet, thus cooling the battery pack. This design is simple and easy to manufacture. Furthermore, because the inlet and outlet are separate, the inlet, the flow channel of the liquid cooling plate, the outlet, and the coolant supply equipment located outside the casing form a loop that allows for coolant circulation. This continuous injection of coolant into the liquid cooling plate helps improve cooling efficiency. Simultaneously, placing both the inlet and outlet on the side of the liquid cooling plate facing the battery cells—that is, at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate and exposed outside the casing—not only reduces the risk of damage from impacts, extending their lifespan, but also facilitates connection between the inlet and outlet and the coolant supply equipment, simplifying assembly.

[0026] In one possible design, the battery pack also includes a heat-conducting element, the cell having a large surface area, the heat-conducting element having heat exchange contact with at least a portion of the large surface area of ​​the cell, and the heat-conducting element having heat exchange contact with a liquid cooling plate.

[0027] By implementing the above solution, a heat-conducting component is installed. This component makes heat exchange contact with at least the large surface area of ​​the battery cell and also with the liquid cooling plate. In other words, the large surface area of ​​the battery cell makes heat exchange contact with the liquid cooling plate through the heat-conducting component. This increases the contact area between the battery cell and the liquid cooling plate, allowing the heat from the battery cell to be transferred to the liquid cooling plate more quickly. This means that the heat from the battery cell can be dissipated in a timely manner, increasing the heat exchange efficiency between the battery cell and the liquid cooling plate, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance of the battery pack.

[0028] In one possible design, the battery cell includes at least two individual battery cells stacked sequentially along a first direction, and at least three heat-conducting components are provided on both sides of each individual battery cell along the first direction.

[0029] With the above scheme, when the battery cell consists of multiple stacked individual cells, a heat-conducting component connected to a liquid cooling plate is set on both large surfaces of each individual cell. That is, both large surfaces of each individual cell exchange heat with the liquid cooling plate through the heat-conducting component. In this way, the heat exchange efficiency between each individual cell and the liquid cooling plate is relatively high, and the heat of each individual cell can be transferred to the liquid cooling plate for heat exchange more quickly. In other words, the heat of each individual cell can be dissipated in a timely manner, thereby further increasing the heat exchange efficiency between the cell and the liquid cooling plate and improving the heat dissipation performance of the battery pack.

[0030] In one possible design, the heat-conducting component includes a first heat-conducting part and a second heat-conducting part. The first heat-conducting part makes heat exchange contact with at least a large portion of the battery cell. The second heat-conducting part is disposed on the side of the first heat-conducting part facing the liquid cooling plate and intersects with the first heat-conducting part. The second heat-conducting part makes heat exchange contact with at least the liquid cooling plate.

[0031] With the above solution, the heat-conducting component includes a first heat-conducting part and a second heat-conducting part. The second heat-conducting part is connected to the side of the first heat-conducting part facing the liquid cooling plate and intersects with the first heat-conducting part, so that the first heat-conducting part has heat exchange contact with at least a large portion of the battery cell. The second heat-conducting part is sandwiched between the liquid cooling plate and the battery cell and has heat exchange contact with at least the liquid cooling plate. In this way, the large surface of the battery cell and the liquid cooling plate have heat exchange contact through the first heat-conducting part and the second heat-conducting part, resulting in a large contact area, high heat transfer efficiency, simple structure, and easy assembly.

[0032] Secondly, this application provides an electrical device including the battery pack described above.

[0033] The beneficial effects of the battery pack provided in the second aspect and the various possible designs of the second aspect can be found in the first aspect and the various possible implementations of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of this application.

[0035] Figure 2 This is a side view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of this application.

[0036] Figure 3 This is a partial structural isometric view of the liquid cooling plate of a battery pack according to an embodiment of this application.

[0037] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of part A in the middle.

[0038] Figure 5 This is a side view of the liquid cooling plate of a battery pack according to an embodiment of this application.

[0039] Figure 6 This is an isometric view of the battery cell and heat-conducting component of a battery pack according to an embodiment of this application.

[0040] Figure 7 This is a side view of the battery cell and heat-conducting component of a battery pack according to an embodiment of this application.

[0041] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 10. Battery pack; 1. Casing; 2. Battery cell; 21. Single battery cell; 3. Liquid cooling plate; 31. Water inlet; 32. Water outlet; 4. Heat dissipation fins; 5. Air duct; 61. Air inlet; 62. Air outlet; 7. First valve; 8. Second valve; 9. Heat-conducting component; 91. First heat-conducting part; 92. Second heat-conducting part; 20. Electrical equipment. Detailed Implementation

[0042] 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 and completely 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.

[0043] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used herein in the specification of the 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 drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0044] The term "embodiment" as used herein 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 the phrase "embodiment" in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0045] In this article, 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 mean: A exists, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0046] The directional terms appearing in the following description refer to the directions shown in the figures and are not intended to limit the specific structure of the battery pack and electrical equipment of this application. For example, in the description of this application, the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the figures. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0047] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification and claims of this application or in the aforementioned drawings are used to distinguish different objects rather than to describe a specific order, and may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features.

[0048] In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more (including two), and similarly, "multiple groups" means two or more (including two groups).

[0049] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linkage" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" or "linkage" in mechanical structures can refer to a physical connection, such as a fixed connection, for example, a connection secured by screws, bolts, or other spacers; a physical connection can also be a detachable connection, such as a snap-fit ​​or interlocking connection; a physical connection can also be an integral connection, such as a connection formed by welding, bonding, or integral molding. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances. In circuit structures, "connection" or "linkage" can refer not only to a physical connection but also to an electrical connection or a signal connection. For example, it can be a direct connection, i.e., a physical connection, or an indirect connection through at least one intermediate component, as long as the circuit is connected; it can also refer to the internal connection of two components. Signal connection can refer not only to signal connection through a circuit but also to signal connection through a medium, such as radio waves. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0050] refer to Figures 1 to 7 As shown, this embodiment provides a battery pack 10, which is suitable for electrical equipment 20. For example, the battery pack 10 can be used to provide power to the electrical equipment 20.

[0051] For details, please refer to Figure 1 ,Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the battery pack 10 includes a housing 1, battery cells 2, and a liquid cooling plate 3. The liquid cooling plate 3 is connected to one side of the housing 1 and together with the housing 1, forms a sealed receiving cavity. The battery cells 2 are disposed within the receiving cavity and are in heat exchange contact with the liquid cooling plate 3. Multiple heat dissipation fins 4 are spaced apart on the side of the liquid cooling plate 3 away from the receiving cavity, and air ducts 5 are formed between adjacent heat dissipation fins 4. An openable air inlet 61 is provided on the side of the liquid cooling plate 3 facing the head of the electrical device 20, and an openable air outlet 62 is provided on the side of the liquid cooling plate 3 facing the tail of the electrical device 20. One side of each air duct 5 is connected to the air inlet 61, and the other side of each air duct 5 is connected to the air outlet 62.

[0052] In some implementations, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the housing 1 has, for example, an upward-opening receiving groove, and a liquid cooling plate 3 is disposed on the top of the housing 1. The liquid cooling plate 3 and the receiving groove together enclose a sealed receiving cavity.

[0053] In other implementations, the housing 1 may have a downward-facing receiving groove, and the liquid cooling plate 3 may be disposed at the bottom of the housing 1. The liquid cooling plate 3 and the receiving groove together enclose a sealed receiving cavity.

[0054] In a specific implementation, the liquid cooling plate 3 has a flow channel for containing coolant, and the liquid cooling plate 3 has a water inlet that communicates with the flow channel. The water inlet is used to allow coolant to enter into the flow channel or flow out from the flow channel.

[0055] By providing a water inlet on the liquid cooling plate 3 that communicates with its internal flow channels, coolant can enter the flow channels of the liquid cooling plate 3 from the water inlet and flow along the extension direction of the flow channels within the liquid cooling plate 3. During the flow of coolant within the liquid cooling plate 3, it carries away the heat transferred from the battery cell 2 to the liquid cooling plate 3, thereby dissipating heat and cooling the battery pack 10.

[0056] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 As shown, the water inlet includes an inlet and an outlet. That is, the liquid cooling plate 3 has an inlet 31 and an outlet 32 ​​that communicate with the flow channel. In actual use, the coolant enters the flow channel from the inlet 31 and flows along the flow channel in the liquid cooling plate 3 to the outlet 32 ​​for discharge. During the flow of the coolant in the liquid cooling plate 3, it carries away the heat transferred from the battery cell 2 to the liquid cooling plate 3, thereby achieving heat dissipation and cooling of the battery pack 10. The structure is simple and easy to manufacture, forming an active heat dissipation system for the battery pack 10.

[0057] Furthermore, since the inlet 31 and outlet 32 ​​are set separately, the inlet 31, the flow channel of the liquid cooling plate 3, the outlet 32, and the coolant supply equipment located outside the shell form a loop that allows the coolant to circulate. This allows coolant to be continuously injected into the liquid cooling plate 3, which helps to improve the liquid cooling efficiency.

[0058] In some implementations, refer to Figures 1 to 5 As shown, both the inlet 31 and the outlet 32 ​​are located on the side of the liquid cooling plate 3 facing the battery cell 2, that is, both the inlet 31 and the outlet 32 ​​are located at the bottom of the liquid cooling plate 3 and exposed on the outside of the housing 1. This not only avoids damage to the inlet and outlet from impacts to a certain extent, helping to extend their service life, but also facilitates connection between the inlet and outlet and the coolant supply equipment, making assembly easier. Of course, in other implementations, the inlet 31 and the outlet 32 ​​can be located on the side of the liquid cooling plate 3, for example.

[0059] The battery cell 2 is disposed within the housing cavity and makes heat exchange contact with the liquid cooling plate 3. Heat transfer can occur between the battery cell 2 and the liquid cooling plate 3, allowing the working heat of the battery cell 2 to be transferred to the liquid cooling plate 3 for cooling. In specific implementations, the battery cell 2 and the liquid cooling plate 3 can, for example, be in direct contact for heat exchange. Alternatively, in other implementations, the battery cell 2 and the liquid cooling plate 3 can be connected together using a thermally conductive connector, such as thermally conductive adhesive, allowing heat exchange between the battery cell 2 and the liquid cooling plate 3.

[0060] The liquid cooling plate 3 has multiple heat dissipation fins 4 spaced apart on the side opposite to the receiving cavity, for example, referring to Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the top of the liquid cooling plate 3 is provided with multiple heat dissipation fins 4 at intervals. The heat dissipation fins 4 increase the contact area between the liquid cooling plate 3 and the surrounding air. In this way, the heat of the liquid cooling plate 3 can be dissipated into the surrounding air through the multiple heat dissipation fins 4, forming natural air convection to cool the liquid cooling plate 3, thereby improving the heat dissipation effect of the liquid cooling plate 3 on the battery cell 2 and further improving the heat dissipation performance of the battery pack 10.

[0061] Furthermore, the space between two adjacent heat dissipation fins 4 forms an air duct 5, and the heat dissipation fins 4 are the inner wall of the air duct 5. In other words, the inner wall of the air duct 5 is the heat dissipation inner wall, so the air duct 5 has good heat dissipation performance.

[0062] refer to Figure 2As shown, an openable air inlet 61 is provided on the side of the liquid cooling plate 3 facing the head of the electrical device 20, and an openable air outlet 62 is provided on the side of the liquid cooling plate 3 facing the tail of the electrical device 20. It can be understood that when the battery pack 10 is assembled on the electrical device 20, the air inlet 61 is located on the front side of the electrical device 20 in the direction of travel, and the air outlet 62 is located on the rear side of the electrical device 20 in the direction of travel.

[0063] In practical use, when both the air inlet 61 and the air outlet 62 are open, the air inlet 61, the air duct 5, and the air outlet 62 are connected in sequence to form an airflow channel. Air enters the air duct 5 through the air inlet 61 and moves along the air duct 5 to be discharged through the air outlet 62. Since the air duct 5 is formed by two adjacent heat dissipation fins 4, the air can carry away the heat from the heat dissipation fins 4 and the liquid cooling plate 3 during the flow of air in the air duct 5. Especially when the electrical equipment 20 where the battery pack 10 is located is in motion, more heat can be carried away. The air inlet 61, the air duct 5, and the air outlet 62 form another heat dissipation system for the battery pack 10, namely the air-cooled heat dissipation system, which further improves the heat dissipation performance and efficiency of the battery pack 10, further facilitates the discharge of the battery pack 10 and subsequent fast charging, and makes the battery pack 10 safer to use.

[0064] In addition, in low-temperature environments during winter, the air inlet 61 and air outlet 62 can be closed to isolate the air duct 5 from the external environment of the battery pack 10. This reduces heat exchange between the battery pack 10 and the external environment to a certain extent, thus providing a certain degree of insulation for the battery pack 10. In other words, the battery pack 10 enters a heat preservation mode, which helps to improve the capacity retention rate, discharge power, charging efficiency, and charging amount of the battery pack 10 at low temperatures. It also helps to avoid the phenomenon of a significant reduction in battery life, insufficient discharge power, and excessively long charging time in low-temperature environments, thereby improving the user experience and extending the service life of the battery pack 10.

[0065] Since both the air inlet 61 and the air outlet 62 are designed to be openable and closable, the air-cooled heat dissipation system can be selectively turned on or off depending on the usage environment of the electrical equipment 20 where the battery pack 10 is located.

[0066] The following explanation and illustration will be based on the example that the electrical equipment 20 is a logistics vehicle, and the battery pack 10 of the logistics vehicle can be removed and charged at the battery swapping station.

[0067] During the charging process, such as when the battery pack 10 is removed from the logistics vehicle and placed in the battery swapping station for charging, the air inlet 61 and the air outlet 62 can be closed, that is, the air cooling system can be turned off. During the charging process, the battery pack 10 is actively cooled by the liquid cooling plate 3.

[0068] When the battery pack 10 is installed on a logistics vehicle and is in operation, if the charge / discharge rate of the battery pack 10 is ≤0.7C, for example, the inlet 31 and outlet 32 ​​of the liquid cooling plate 3 can be closed, while the air inlet 61 and outlet 62 can be opened. The air-cooled cooling system dissipates heat from the battery pack 10, helping to save energy, reduce costs, and provide stable power output for the logistics vehicle. Additionally, the battery pack 10 can be insulated in low-temperature environments during winter to improve its capacity retention, discharge power, charging efficiency, and charge amount at low temperatures. If the charge / discharge rate of the battery pack 10 is ≥0.7C, the inlet 31 and outlet 32 ​​of the liquid cooling plate 3 can be opened to dissipate heat from the battery pack 10 through the liquid cooling plate 3.

[0069] The battery pack 10 provided in this embodiment has a liquid cooling plate 3 on one side of the housing 1, which together with the housing 1 forms a sealed cavity. The battery cell 2 is placed in the cavity and is in heat exchange contact with the liquid cooling plate 3. That is, the heat of the battery cell 2 can be transferred to the liquid cooling plate 3 for heat exchange. The liquid cooling plate 3 can dissipate heat and cool the battery cell 2. In this way, the heat generated by the battery pack 10 during charging and discharging can be transferred to the liquid cooling plate 3 in time for heat exchange, reducing the temperature of the battery pack 10. The liquid cooling plate 3 forms a heat dissipation system for the battery pack 10, namely, the active heat dissipation system of the liquid cooling plate 3, which improves the heat dissipation performance and efficiency of the battery pack 10, facilitates the discharge of the battery pack 10 and subsequent fast charging, and also improves the safety of the battery pack 10.

[0070] refer to Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the battery pack 10 further includes a first valve 7, which is movably connected to the electrical device 20 at a position corresponding to the air inlet 61. The first valve 7 can move toward the air inlet 61 to close the air inlet 61, or it can move away from the air inlet 61 to open the air inlet 61.

[0071] By setting a first valve 7 at a position corresponding to the air inlet 61 and movably connecting the first valve 7 to the electrical equipment 20, the position of the first valve 7 corresponds to the air inlet 61. The first valve 7 can move towards the air inlet 61 to close the air inlet 61, and the first valve 7 can also move away from the air inlet 61 to open the air inlet 61. In this way, when the battery pack 10 needs heat dissipation during charging and discharging, opening the first valve 7 allows air to enter the air duct 5 from the air inlet 61. As the air flows in the air duct 5, it can carry away the heat of the battery pack 10. In other words, after the first valve 7 is opened, the air-cooling system is activated to dissipate heat from the battery pack 10, which facilitates the discharge of the battery pack 10, helps to improve the driving range, and also facilitates the subsequent fast charging of the battery pack 10, improving the cycle efficiency of the battery pack 10 and helping to save costs.

[0072] In addition, in low-temperature environments during winter, the air inlet 61 can be sealed by closing the first valve 7. This isolates the air inlet 61 side of the air duct 5 from the external environment of the battery pack 10, preventing cold air from entering the air duct 5 through the air inlet 61 and exchanging heat with the battery pack 10. This provides a certain degree of insulation for the battery pack 10, which helps improve the battery pack 10's capacity retention rate, discharge power, charging efficiency, and charging capacity at low temperatures. It also helps to avoid the phenomenon of a significant reduction in battery life, insufficient discharge power, and excessively long charging time in low-temperature environments, thus improving the user experience and extending the service life of the battery pack 10.

[0073] In practice, the first valve 7 can be, for example, a baffle door that is slidably connected to the electrical equipment 20, or a flap door that is rotatably connected to the electrical equipment 20.

[0074] refer to Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the battery pack 10 further includes a second valve 8, which is movably connected to the electrical device 20 at a position corresponding to the air outlet 62. The second valve 8 can move toward the air outlet 62 to close the air outlet 62, or it can move away from the air outlet 62 to open the air outlet 62.

[0075] By installing a second valve 8 at a position corresponding to the air outlet 62 and movably connecting the second valve 8 to the electrical equipment 20, the position of the second valve 8 corresponds to the air outlet 62. The second valve 8 can move towards the air outlet 62 to close it, and it can also move away from the air outlet 62 to open it. Thus, when the battery pack 10 needs heat dissipation during charging and discharging, opening the second valve 8 allows hot air in the air duct 5 to be exhausted from the air outlet 62, thereby carrying away the heat from the battery pack 10. In other words, when the second valve 8 is opened, the air-cooling system is activated, cooling the battery pack 10 and facilitating its discharge, which helps improve the driving range and subsequent fast charging, thus improving the cycle efficiency of the battery pack 10 and helping to save costs.

[0076] In addition, in low-temperature environments during winter, the air outlet 62 can be sealed by closing the second valve 8. This isolates the air outlet 62 side of the air duct 5 from the external environment of the battery pack 10, preventing hot air inside the air duct 5 from being discharged through the air outlet 62 for heat exchange. This provides a certain degree of insulation for the battery pack 10, which helps improve the battery pack 10's capacity retention rate, discharge power, charging efficiency, and charging capacity at low temperatures. It also helps to avoid the phenomenon of a significant reduction in battery life, insufficient discharge power, and excessively long charging time in low-temperature environments, thus improving the user experience and extending the service life of the battery pack 10.

[0077] In practice, the second valve 8 can be, for example, a baffle door that is slidably connected to the electrical equipment 20, or a flap door that is rotatably connected to the electrical equipment 20.

[0078] In some implementations, when heat dissipation is required for the battery pack 10, only the air inlet 61 or the air outlet 62 can be opened to connect one side of the air duct 5 with the air outside the battery pack 10. The air duct 5 can then exchange heat with the air outside the battery pack 10, thereby achieving heat dissipation and cooling of the battery pack 10.

[0079] In some other implementations, when heat dissipation is required for the battery pack 10, the air inlet 61 and the air outlet 62 can be opened simultaneously, so that both sides of the air duct 5 are connected to the air outside the battery pack 10. The air enters the air duct 5 from the air inlet 61, flows along the air duct 5 to the air outlet 62 and is then discharged. The air carries away a lot of heat during its flow in the air duct 5, which has a better heat dissipation effect on the battery pack 10.

[0080] In low-temperature winter environments, when it is necessary to insulate the battery pack 10, only the air inlet 61 or the air outlet 62 can be closed to isolate one side of the air duct 5 from the external environment of the battery pack 10, reducing heat exchange between the air duct 5 and the external air of the battery pack 10, thereby achieving a certain degree of insulation for the battery pack 10. Specifically, during operation, closing only the air inlet 61 provides better insulation for the battery pack 10 than closing only the air outlet 62.

[0081] In low-temperature environments during winter, when it is necessary to insulate the battery pack 10, the air inlet 61 and the air outlet 62 can be sealed simultaneously, isolating both sides of the air duct 5 from the external environment of the battery pack 10. This prevents cold air from entering the air duct 5 through the air inlet 61 and exchanging heat with the battery pack 10, and also prevents hot air from being discharged through the air outlet 62. In other words, the air duct 5 does not exchange heat with the air outside the battery pack 10, resulting in better insulation of the battery pack 10. This leads to higher capacity retention, discharge power, charging efficiency, and charging capacity of the battery pack 10 at low temperatures, further preventing significant reduction in battery life, insufficient discharge power, and excessively long charging time in low-temperature environments. This helps improve the user experience and extend the service life of the battery pack 10.

[0082] refer to Figures 1 to 5 As shown, in some embodiments, multiple heat dissipation fins 4 are spaced apart along the width direction of the electrical device 20, and each heat dissipation fin 4 extends along the length direction of the electrical device 20, so that each air duct 5 extends along the length direction of the electrical device 20.

[0083] By arranging multiple heat dissipation fins 4 at intervals along the width direction of the electrical device 20, and making each heat dissipation fin 4 extend along the length direction of the electrical device 20, each air duct 5 is formed as a long strip air duct 5 extending along the length direction of the electrical device 20, and multiple air ducts 5 are arranged at intervals along the width direction of the electrical device 20. For example, if the electrical device 20 is a logistics vehicle, the air duct 5 is a long strip air duct 5 extending along the length direction of the logistics vehicle, and multiple air ducts 5 are arranged at intervals along the width direction of the logistics vehicle. In this way, the side of the liquid cooling plate 3 away from the battery cell 2 has multiple roughly parallel long strip air ducts 5, which facilitates air circulation. Air enters into multiple air ducts 5 from the air inlet 61, and moves along the length direction of the electrical device 20 within multiple air ducts 5 to the air outlet 62 for discharge. The flow resistance is small, so it can carry more heat from the battery pack 10, resulting in a better heat dissipation effect on the battery pack 10.

[0084] In practice, the width of the battery pack 10 is the same as the width of the electrical device 20, and the length of the battery pack 10 is the same as the length of the electrical device 20.

[0085] Taking the electrical equipment 20 as an example of a logistics vehicle, the width direction of the logistics vehicle is the left-right direction when the logistics vehicle is traveling, and the length direction of the logistics vehicle is the front-back direction when the logistics vehicle is traveling.

[0086] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the heat dissipation fins 4 are bent along the direction from the air inlet 61 to the air outlet 62.

[0087] In other words, the heat dissipation fins 4 are curved along the direction from the air inlet 61 to the air outlet 62, so that the air duct 5 is also curved along the direction from the air inlet 61 to the air outlet 62. That is, the extension direction of the air duct 5 is curved, and the air duct 5 is formed as a curved air duct 5. In this way, with the same overall structure of the battery pack 10, the length of the air duct 5 is increased, thereby extending the airflow time in the air duct 5. That is, the heat exchange time between the air and the air duct 5 is extended, so that the air can carry away more heat during the flow in the air duct 5, further improving the heat dissipation performance of the battery pack 10, further facilitating the discharge of the battery pack 10 and subsequent fast charging, and making the battery pack 10 safer to use.

[0088] refer to Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, when the battery pack 10 is installed on the electrical device 20, the side of the heat dissipation fins 4 facing away from the liquid cooling plate 3 is spaced apart from the electrical device 20.

[0089] In practice, after the battery pack 10 is installed on the electrical device 20, there is a gap between the heat dissipation fins 4 and the electrical device 20. That is, there is a gap between the heat dissipation fins 4 and the electrical device 20 in the height direction. Since the air duct 5 is formed by the gap between two adjacent heat dissipation fins 4, the side of each air duct 5 facing away from the liquid cooling plate 3 is open. Therefore, the gap between the heat dissipation fins 4 and the electrical device 20 is connected to each air duct 5, and the gap between the heat dissipation fins 4 and the electrical device 20 forms an extension space of the air duct 5. In this way, when the air inlet 61 and the air outlet 62 are both open and the air-cooled heat dissipation system is started to dissipate heat and cool the battery pack 10, the airflow is increased in the same amount of time, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance and efficiency of the air-cooled heat dissipation system for the battery pack 10, resulting in better heat dissipation performance of the battery pack 10.

[0090] Furthermore, in the low-temperature environment of winter, when the air inlet 61 and / or air outlet 62 are sealed to keep the battery pack 10 warm, the space between the heat dissipation fins 4 and the electrical equipment 20 forms an air insulation layer. The air insulation layer isolates the battery pack 10 from its external environment, resulting in better insulation of the battery pack 10.

[0091] Taking the example of an electrical device 20 being a logistics vehicle and a liquid cooling plate 3 being installed on the top of the housing 1, when the battery pack 10 is installed on the logistics vehicle, the heat dissipation fins 4 on the top of the liquid cooling plate 3 are spaced apart from the vehicle body structure, and the space between the top of the heat dissipation fins 4 and the vehicle body structure forms the extension space of the air duct 5.

[0092] When cooling the battery pack 10, this extended space allows more air to pass through, increasing airflow and thus improving the heat dissipation performance and efficiency of the air-cooled system. In low-temperature winter environments, when insulating the battery pack 10, this extended space forms an air insulation layer, enhancing the insulation effect of the battery pack 10.

[0093] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, the battery pack 10 further includes a heat-conducting element 9, the battery cell 2 has a large surface, the heat-conducting element 9 is in heat exchange contact with at least a portion of the large surface of the battery cell 2, and the heat-conducting element 9 is in heat exchange contact with the liquid cooling plate 3.

[0094] By setting the heat-conducting component 9, the heat-conducting component 9 is in heat exchange contact with at least the large surface of the battery cell 2, and the heat-conducting component 9 is also in heat exchange contact with the liquid cooling plate 3. That is, the large surface of the battery cell 2 is in heat exchange contact with the liquid cooling plate 3 through the heat-conducting component 9. This increases the contact area between the battery cell 2 and the liquid cooling plate 3, so that the heat of the battery cell 2 can be transferred to the liquid cooling plate 3 for heat exchange more quickly. In other words, the heat of the battery cell 2 can be dissipated in time, increasing the heat exchange efficiency between the battery cell 2 and the liquid cooling plate 3, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance of the battery pack 10.

[0095] In some implementations, the heat-conducting component 9 can directly contact the large surface of the battery cell 2 for heat exchange. Of course, in other implementations, the heat-conducting component 9 and the large surface of the battery cell 2 can be bonded together with thermally conductive adhesive, and the heat-conducting component 9 makes heat exchange contact with the large surface of the battery cell 2 through the thermally conductive adhesive, resulting in better heat transfer between the two.

[0096] For specific implementation, refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the heat-conducting component 9 can be completely bonded to a large area on one side of the battery cell 2, resulting in better heat exchange. Of course, in other implementations, the heat-conducting component 9 can also be bonded to a portion of the large area on one side of the battery cell 2 for heat exchange.

[0097] In practice, the heat-conducting component 9 can be, for example, a heat pipe.

[0098] In some embodiments, when the battery cell 2 includes a single battery cell 21, there are two heat-conducting elements 9. The two heat-conducting elements 9 are respectively disposed on both sides of the single battery cell 21 and respectively exchange heat with the two large surfaces of the single battery cell 21.

[0099] refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, the battery cell 2 includes at least two battery cell units 21, which are stacked sequentially along a first direction, and there are at least three heat-conducting elements 9. Each battery cell unit 21 has heat-conducting elements 9 on both sides along the first direction.

[0100] In other words, when the battery cell 2 includes multiple battery cell units 21 stacked sequentially, a heat-conducting element 9 is sandwiched between two adjacent battery cell units 21, and a heat-conducting element 9 is also connected to the opposite side of the two outermost battery cell units 21.

[0101] In some implementations, when the battery cell 2 comprises multiple stacked battery cell units 21, a heat-conducting component 9 connected to the liquid cooling plate 3 is provided on both large surfaces of each battery cell unit 21. That is, both large surfaces of each battery cell unit 21 exchange heat with the liquid cooling plate 3 through the heat-conducting component 9. In this way, the heat exchange efficiency between each battery cell unit 21 and the liquid cooling plate 3 is relatively high, and the heat of each battery cell unit 21 can be transferred to the liquid cooling plate 3 for heat exchange more quickly. That is, the heat of each battery cell unit 21 can be dissipated in time, thereby further increasing the heat exchange efficiency between the battery cell 2 and the liquid cooling plate 3, and making the heat dissipation performance of the battery pack 10 better.

[0102] refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, the heat-conducting element 9 includes a first heat-conducting part 91 and a second heat-conducting part 92. The first heat-conducting part 91 is in heat exchange contact with at least a large portion of the battery cell 2. The second heat-conducting part 92 is disposed on the side of the first heat-conducting part 91 facing the liquid cooling plate 3 and intersects with the first heat-conducting part 91. The second heat-conducting part 92 is in heat exchange contact with at least the liquid cooling plate 3.

[0103] In other words, the heat-conducting component 9 includes a first heat-conducting part 91 and a second heat-conducting part 92. The second heat-conducting part 92 is connected to the side of the first heat-conducting part 91 facing the liquid cooling plate 3. The first heat-conducting part 91 and the second heat-conducting part 92 intersect. The first heat-conducting part 91 has heat exchange contact with at least a large portion of the battery cell 2. The second heat-conducting part 92 is sandwiched between the liquid cooling plate 3 and the battery cell 2. The second heat-conducting part 92 has heat exchange contact with at least the liquid cooling plate 3. In this way, the large surface of the battery cell 2 and the liquid cooling plate 3 have heat exchange contact through the first heat-conducting part 91 and the second heat-conducting part 92. The contact area is large, the heat transfer efficiency is high, and the structure is simple, easy to assemble, and has high heat conduction efficiency.

[0104] In some implementations, the side of the second heat-conducting part 92 facing away from the battery cell 2 is in heat exchange contact with the liquid cooling plate 3, and the side of the second heat-conducting part 92 facing the battery cell 2 and the side of the battery cell 2 facing the liquid cooling plate 3 have a small gap.

[0105] In some other implementations, the side of the second heat-conducting part 92 away from the battery cell 2 is in heat exchange contact with the liquid cooling plate 3, and the side of the second heat-conducting part 92 facing the battery cell 2 is in heat exchange contact with the side of the battery cell 2 facing the liquid cooling plate 3. That is, the second heat-conducting part 92 is in heat exchange contact with both the liquid cooling plate 3 and the battery cell 2, with a large contact area and high heat exchange efficiency.

[0106] In a specific implementation, the first heat-conducting part 91 and the second heat-conducting part 92 are, for example, vertically connected.

[0107] In some implementations, the first heat-conducting part 91 and the second heat-conducting part 92 can be connected together by means of welding, bonding, etc.

[0108] In other implementations, the first heat-conducting part 91 and the second heat-conducting part 92 can be integrally formed, resulting in good overall integrity and high structural strength. For example, one end of the first heat-conducting part 91 is bent to form the second heat-conducting part 92.

[0109] This embodiment provides an electrical device that includes a battery pack.

[0110] Electrical equipment could include, for example, logistics vehicles, unmanned delivery vehicles, and drones.

[0111] The battery pack in this embodiment has the same structure and implementation principle as the battery pack provided in the above embodiments, and can bring the same or similar technical effects. It will not be described in detail here, but can be referred to the description of the above embodiments.

Claims

1. A battery pack, characterized in that, It includes a housing (1), a battery cell (2), and a liquid cooling plate (3); The liquid cooling plate (3) is connected to one side of the housing (1) and together with the housing (1) forms a sealed receiving cavity. The battery cell (2) is disposed in the receiving cavity and makes heat exchange contact with the liquid cooling plate (3). Multiple heat dissipation fins (4) are spaced apart on the side of the liquid cooling plate (3) away from the receiving cavity, and an air duct (5) is formed between two adjacent heat dissipation fins (4). The liquid cooling plate (3) has an openable air inlet (61) on the side facing the head of the electrical equipment (20), and an openable air outlet (62) on the side facing the tail of the electrical equipment (20). One side of each air duct (5) is connected to the air inlet (61), and the other side of each air duct (5) is connected to the air outlet (62).

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery pack also includes a first valve (7), which is movably connected to the electrical equipment (20) at a position corresponding to the air inlet (61). The first valve (7) can move toward the air inlet (61) to close the air inlet (61) or can move away from the air inlet (61) to open the air inlet (61).

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery pack also includes a second valve (8), which is movably connected to the electrical equipment (20) at a position corresponding to the air outlet (62). The second valve (8) can move toward the air outlet (62) to close the air outlet (62) or move away from the air outlet (62) to open the air outlet (62).

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple heat dissipation fins (4) are spaced apart along the width direction of the electrical equipment (20), and each heat dissipation fin (4) extends along the length direction of the electrical equipment (20) so that each air duct (5) extends along the length direction of the electrical equipment (20). And / or, at least a portion of the heat dissipation fins (4) are bent in the direction from the air inlet (61) to the air outlet (62); And / or, when the battery pack is installed on the electrical equipment (20), the side of the heat dissipation fins (4) facing away from the liquid cooling plate (3) is spaced apart from the electrical equipment (20).

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid cooling plate (3) is provided with a flow channel, and the liquid cooling plate (3) is provided with a water inlet that communicates with the flow channel. The water inlet is used to allow coolant to enter into the flow channel or flow out from the flow channel.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, characterized in that, The water inlet includes an inlet (31) and an outlet (32); the inlet (31) and the outlet (32) are both located on the side of the liquid cooling plate (3) facing the battery cell (2) and exposed outside the housing (1).

7. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The battery pack also includes a heat-conducting component (9); The battery cell (2) has a large surface area, and the heat-conducting element (9) is in heat exchange contact with at least a portion of the large surface area of ​​the battery cell (2), and the heat-conducting element (9) is in heat exchange contact with the liquid cooling plate (3).

8. The battery pack according to claim 7, characterized in that, The battery cell (2) includes at least two battery cell units (21), and the at least two battery cell units (21) are stacked sequentially along a first direction. There are at least three heat-conducting elements (9), and each battery cell unit (21) is provided with the heat-conducting element (9) on both sides along the first direction.

9. The battery pack according to claim 7, characterized in that, The heat-conducting component (9) includes a first heat-conducting part (91) and a second heat-conducting part (92); The first heat-conducting part (91) makes heat exchange contact with at least a large portion of the battery cell (2); the second heat-conducting part (92) is disposed on the side of the first heat-conducting part (91) facing the liquid cooling plate (3) and intersects with the first heat-conducting part (91), and the second heat-conducting part (92) makes heat exchange contact with at least the liquid cooling plate (3).

10. An electrical appliance (20), characterized in that, Includes the battery pack (10) as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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