A battery assembly with efficient thermal management and convenient disassembly, a battery module and a battery pack

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of battery module and battery pack of high efficient heat management and convenient to disassemble, it is related to battery technical field, comprising: battery cell, the shell bottom of battery cell is equipped with fixed bolt, and the inner wall of at least one side of shell is fixed with first cold plate;Second cold plate, bolt through -hole is opened in second cold plate, and second cold plate is detachably connected with the fixed bolt of battery cell by bolt through -hole. Advantageous effect is that battery cell is fixed by fixed bolt and the second cold plate of bottom, easy to assemble, when finding abnormal single battery cell in battery pack and needing to replace, the battery cell can be directly unloaded, avoid whole package scrapping phenomenon, save cost from maintenance end and client end;First cold plate is directly contacted with battery cell inner core, can promptly exchange internal heat, reduce inner core temperature rise and temperature difference, heat exchange is carried out to battery cell outside in combination with bottom second cold plate, reach high efficient heat management purpose, prevent battery failure and out of control;Increase the structural strength of battery cell, prevent failure by extrusion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a battery component, battery module and battery pack with high thermal management and easy disassembly and assembly. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous improvement of electric vehicle range and the increasing capacity of energy storage stations, the development direction of batteries for energy storage components is becoming increasingly clear. To meet the growing demand for energy storage, batteries must inevitably develop towards higher capacity and larger volume. Higher capacity means batteries can store more electrical energy, thereby extending the driving range of electric vehicles and improving the power supply capacity of energy storage stations; larger volume helps to accommodate more battery materials, providing physical space to achieve higher capacity. However, simply developing towards higher capacity and larger volume is far from sufficient. For this development to proceed, the performance of energy storage battery components must be fully utilized. High energy, high power, high safety, high efficiency, and low cost have become essential requirements for batteries in the process of electrification.

[0003] To meet the demands for high energy density, high efficiency, and low cost, CTP (Cell-to-Pack) has become the mainstream battery pack assembly method. CTP technology uses a method of constrained cell assembly followed by equipment clamping and placement into a housing, fixing the assembled cells with structural adhesive. This assembly method reduces intermediate module stages, improves the space utilization of the battery pack, and thus achieves higher energy density. Simultaneously, by reducing the number of components, it lowers production costs and improves production efficiency.

[0004] However, no component is immune to damage and repair issues, and CTP batteries are no exception. Currently, when a single cell in a CTP battery malfunctions, the only solution is to replace the entire pack. This approach results in excessively high repair costs for users, as they have to pay for the entire battery pack, not just the damaged individual cell. Furthermore, the assembly process for replacing the entire pack requires excessive auxiliary equipment, increasing the complexity and time cost of the repair.

[0005] Besides maintenance issues, the excessive temperature rise and temperature difference of CTP batteries under high power conditions is also a significant concern. Excessive temperature rise and temperature difference can lead to greater performance differences between different parts of the battery, accelerating battery aging and potentially causing safety problems and premature battery failure.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a battery assembly with a simple structure, easy assembly and disassembly of individual cells, and high heat dissipation efficiency to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Utility Model Content

[0007] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this utility model provides a battery assembly with efficient thermal management and easy disassembly and assembly, comprising:

[0008] The battery cell has a fixing bolt at the bottom of its housing, and a first cold plate is fixed to the inner wall of at least one side of the housing.

[0009] The second cold plate has bolt through holes, and the second cold plate is detachably connected to the fixing bolt of the battery cell through the bolt through holes.

[0010] Preferably, the first liquid cooling pipe in the first cold plate is connected to the second liquid cooling pipe in the second cold plate.

[0011] Preferably, the two ends of the first liquid cooling pipe are respectively connected to two extended pipes fixed to the bottom of the shell;

[0012] The second liquid cooling pipe has a corresponding pipe hole, and the extended pipe is inserted into and connected to the pipe hole.

[0013] Preferably, a sealing ring is provided at the insertion point between the extended pipe and the pipe hole.

[0014] Preferably, the first cold plate is welded to the inner side wall of the housing, or the first cold plate is integrally formed with the housing.

[0015] Preferably, the first cold plate has multiple injection channels along the height direction of the battery cell on the side closest to the inner core of the battery cell.

[0016] Preferably, when the bottom of the housing is provided with an explosion-proof valve, a pressure relief through hole is also provided on the second cold plate at the position corresponding to the explosion-proof valve.

[0017] Preferably, the area of ​​the pressure relief orifice is larger than the area of ​​the explosion-proof valve.

[0018] This utility model also provides a battery module, including at least one set of the above-mentioned battery components. Each set of battery components includes a second cold plate and a plurality of battery cells. The second cold plate is provided with a plurality of bolt through holes for detachable connection with the fixing bolts of the plurality of battery cells respectively.

[0019] This utility model also provides a battery pack, including the above-mentioned battery module.

[0020] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects:

[0021] 1. The battery cell of this utility model is fixed to the second cold plate at the bottom with fixing bolts. This assembly method is simple and easy to assemble, and can be done manually or mechanically. The battery cell does not require pre-pressing by a large robotic arm before being placed into the box, facilitating sample production during the trial production stage and saving equipment investment costs. Furthermore, if a single battery cell in the battery pack is found to be abnormal and needs replacement, that cell can be directly removed, avoiding the scrapping of the entire pack and saving costs from both the maintenance and customer ends. The battery cell is in direct contact with the second cold plate at the bottom, eliminating the need for structural adhesive fixing and the associated material costs. Additionally, the absence of low thermal conductivity structural adhesive between the battery cell and the second cold plate results in better heat exchange.

[0022] 2. The inner wall of the casing is equipped with a first cold plate. On the one hand, since the first cold plate is in direct contact with the inner core of the battery cell, it can exchange the internal heat in time, reduce the temperature rise and temperature difference of the inner core. At the same time, combined with the second cold plate at the bottom, it can exchange heat with the outside of the battery cell, achieve the purpose of efficient thermal management, prevent battery failure and runaway, and thus protect the battery performance and life. On the other hand, the setting of the first cold plate increases the structural strength of the battery cell and prevents it from failing due to compression. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 A front sectional view of a battery assembly with efficient thermal management and easy disassembly / reassembly, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a schematic diagram of the external structure of a battery assembly with efficient thermal management and easy disassembly / reassembly is provided.

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the bottom of the housing in a preferred embodiment of this utility model;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second cold plate in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the second cold plate in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 6 A side sectional view of a battery assembly with efficient thermal management and easy disassembly / reassembly, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 7 This is a partially enlarged side sectional view of a battery assembly with efficient thermal management and easy disassembly / reassembly, which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the battery module in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] In the diagram, 1. Battery cell; 2. Housing; 21. Fixing bolt; 22. Explosion-proof valve; 3. First cold plate; 31. First liquid cooling pipe; 32. Injection channel; 4. Second cold plate; 41. Bolt through hole; 42. Second liquid cooling pipe; 421. Pipe hole; 43. Pressure relief through hole; 5. Extended pipe; 6. Sealing ring; 7. Fixing nut. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment; other embodiments that conform to the spirit of the present invention may also fall within its scope.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment of this utility model, based on the above-mentioned problems existing in the prior art, a battery assembly with high-efficiency thermal management and easy disassembly and assembly is provided, such as... Figures 1 to 7 As shown, it includes:

[0034] The battery cell 1 has a housing 2 with a fixing bolt 21 at the bottom and a first cold plate 3 fixed to the inner wall of at least one side of the housing 2.

[0035] The second cold plate 4 has a bolt through hole 41, and the second cold plate 4 is detachably connected to the fixing bolt 21 of the battery cell 1 through the bolt through hole 41.

[0036] Specifically, in this embodiment, the battery cell 1 can be a multi-mode direct-stick functional cell (MDFC), but it is not limited to this. By setting a fixing bolt 21 at the bottom of the housing 2 of the battery cell 1, and correspondingly opening bolt through holes 41 on the second cold plate 4, when assembling the battery cells 1, simply pass the fixing bolt 21 at the bottom of the housing 2 of the corresponding battery cell 1 through the bolt through holes 41, and then tighten it with the fixing nut 7 to fix it to the second cold plate 4. Preferably, the fixing bolt 21 can be designed to be longer, allowing it to pass through the second cold plate 4 and then through the battery pack housing assembly to achieve direct fixation to the housing. This assembly method is simple and easy to assemble, and can be done manually or mechanically. The battery cells do not need to be pre-pressed by a large robotic arm before being placed into the housing, facilitating sample production during the trial production stage and saving equipment investment costs. The fixing bolt 31 can be directly welded or screwed to the bottom of the housing 2.

[0037] Furthermore, after assembly, if a single cell 1 malfunctions and needs to be replaced, simply unscrew the fixing nut 7 at the bottom of the cell 1, and then pull the fixing bolt 21 out of the corresponding bolt through hole 41 to separate the malfunctioning cell from the second cold plate 4. The operation is simple, greatly improving maintenance efficiency and avoiding the scrapping of the entire package, thus saving costs from both the maintenance end and the customer end.

[0038] In addition, based on the above-mentioned fixing method, the battery cell 1 is in direct contact with the second cold plate 4 at the bottom, which eliminates the need for structural adhesive fixing and material costs. At the same time, there is no structural adhesive with low thermal conductivity between the battery cell and the cold plate, resulting in better heat exchange effect.

[0039] Furthermore, in addition to the second cold plate 4 disposed on the outside of the housing 2 of the battery cell 1, a first cold plate 3 is fixed on the inner wall of at least one side inside the housing 2. The first cold plate 3 can be disposed on one side inner wall of the battery cell housing 2 or on multiple side inner walls of the battery cell housing 2 to improve the heat dissipation effect.

[0040] The first cold plate 3 can be fixed to the inner side wall of the housing 2 by welding, or the first cold plate 3 can be integrally formed with the housing 2. This improves heat conduction efficiency and increases the structural strength of the battery cell, preventing failure due to compression. When fixed by welding, welding processes such as laser welding and ultrasonic welding can be used to ensure a tight bond between the first cold plate 3 and the inner side wall of the housing 2, thereby improving heat conduction efficiency. When the first cold plate 3 is integrally formed with the housing 2, molding processes such as die casting and injection molding can be used to make the first cold plate 3 a part of the housing 2, further improving heat conduction efficiency while simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing production costs.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first liquid cooling pipe 31 in the first cold plate 3 is connected to the second liquid cooling pipe 42 in the second cold plate 4.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two ends of the first liquid cooling pipe 31 are respectively connected to two extended pipes 5 fixed to the bottom of the housing 2;

[0043] The second liquid cooling pipe 42 has a corresponding pipe hole 421, and the extended pipe 5 is inserted into and connected to the pipe hole 421.

[0044] Specifically, in this embodiment, a first liquid cooling pipe 31 is provided inside the first cold plate 3 for circulating coolant to vertically cool the battery cell 1. The cross-section of the first liquid cooling pipe 31 can be circular, elliptical, rectangular, or other shapes. The first liquid cooling pipe 31 can adopt a serpentine design to increase the contact area between the coolant and the first cold plate 3, thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency. Both ends of the first liquid cooling pipe 31 are respectively connected to two external pipes 5 fixed to the bottom of the housing 2. The external pipes 5 extend from the bottom of the housing 2 and can be directly welded or screwed to the bottom of the housing 2 for connection to an external cooling system. The external pipes 5 can be made of metallic materials, such as aluminum alloy or stainless steel, which have good thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance. The connection between the external pipes 5 and the first liquid cooling pipe 31 can be achieved by welding or threading to ensure a secure connection and prevent coolant leakage.

[0045] The second cold plate 4 contains a second liquid cooling pipe 42, which connects to the first liquid cooling pipe 31 in the first cold plate 3. The cross-section of the second liquid cooling pipe 42 can be circular, elliptical, rectangular, or other shapes. The second liquid cooling pipe 42 can adopt a serpentine or mesh design to increase the contact area between the coolant and the second cold plate 4, thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency. A corresponding pipe hole 421 is provided on the second liquid cooling pipe 42, and the extended pipe 5 is inserted into and connected to the pipe hole 421. The diameter of the pipe hole 421 matches the outer diameter of the extended pipe 5 to ensure a tight connection. A sealing ring 6 is provided at the connection between the extended pipe 5 and the pipe hole 421 to prevent coolant leakage. The sealing ring 6 can be made of high-temperature resistant and corrosion-resistant rubber materials, such as fluororubber or silicone rubber. The inner diameter of the sealing ring 6 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the extended pipe 5, and the outer diameter is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the pipe hole 421, achieving a sealing effect through elastic deformation.

[0046] As can be seen, the combined use of the first cold plate 3 and the second cold plate 4 forms a complete cooling system that can effectively manage the heat generated by the battery cell during operation. Specifically, the first cold plate 3 is fixed to the inner side wall of the battery cell housing 2, directly contacting the battery cell and quickly absorbing the heat generated by it; the second cold plate 4 contacts the bottom of the battery cell 1, and the liquid cooling pipes in the two cold plates are connected to form a closed-loop cooling system. The coolant circulates within the system, carrying away the heat generated by the battery cell, keeping the battery cell operating within a suitable temperature range, and improving the performance and lifespan of the battery cell.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first cold plate 3 is provided with a plurality of injection channels 32 along the height direction of the battery cell 1 on the side near the inner core of the battery cell 1.

[0048] Specifically, considering the slow electrolyte injection and poor wetting of large-size, high-capacity cells, the slow injection time affects production efficiency, while poor wetting leads to uneven electrochemical performance inside the battery, affecting battery performance and lifespan. In this embodiment, multiple injection channels 32 are provided along the height direction of the cell 1 on the side of the first cold plate 3 near the inner core of the cell 1. These injection channels 32 can be evenly distributed on the surface of the first cold plate 3, adopting a grooved channel design, such as a mountain-shaped, wave-shaped, or micro-groove design, to facilitate the rapid flow of electrolyte to the bottom during cell injection, thereby achieving a wetting effect, improving both injection efficiency and wetting effect. The inner core of the cell 1 can be a wound core or a stacked core; no limitation is made here.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment of this utility model, when an explosion-proof valve 22 is provided at the bottom of the housing 2, a pressure relief through hole 43 is also provided on the second cold plate 4 at the position corresponding to the explosion-proof valve 22.

[0050] Specifically, in this embodiment, by providing a pressure relief orifice 43, and ensuring that the area of ​​the pressure relief orifice 43 is larger than the area of ​​the explosion-proof valve 22, it is ensured that when an abnormal situation occurs in the battery cell 1, after the explosion-proof valve 22 opens, gas can be smoothly discharged through the pressure relief orifice 43, achieving thermoelectric separation and preventing pressure accumulation from leading to more serious safety accidents. The diameter of the pressure relief orifice 43 can be 10%-30% larger than the diameter of the explosion-proof valve to ensure sufficient pressure relief area.

[0051] The present invention also provides a battery module, such as Figure 8 As shown, it includes at least one set of the above-mentioned battery assembly. Each set of battery assembly includes a second cold plate 4 and multiple battery cells 1. The second cold plate 4 is provided with multiple sets of bolt through holes 41 for detachable connection with the fixing bolts 21 of the multiple battery cells 1 respectively.

[0052] Specifically, in this embodiment, the battery module may include multiple battery packs, each battery pack including a second cold plate 4 and multiple battery cells 1. The second cold plate 4 has a large area and can contact the bottom of multiple battery cells 1 simultaneously, forming an integrated heat dissipation platform. The second cold plate 4 is provided with multiple sets of bolt through holes 41, which are distributed according to the arrangement of the battery cells 1, and each set of bolt through holes 41 corresponds to the position of a fixing bolt 21 of a battery cell 1.

[0053] The battery cells 1 can be fixed on the second cold plate 4 in a certain arrangement, such as a linear arrangement or a matrix arrangement. In a linear arrangement, the battery cells 1 are arranged sequentially along a straight line, which is suitable for installation in narrow spaces; in a matrix arrangement, the battery cells 1 are arranged in rows and columns to form a rectangular array, which is suitable for installation in square spaces. A certain gap can be left between the battery cells 1 to facilitate heat dissipation and installation.

[0054] The second liquid cooling pipe 42 within the second cold plate 4 can be designed in a grid or serpentine pattern, covering the bottom area of ​​all battery cells 1 to ensure effective cooling of each cell 1. The second liquid cooling pipe 42 can connect with the first liquid cooling pipe 31 within the first cold plate 3 of each battery cell 1 to form a complete cooling system. Coolant can enter the second liquid cooling pipe 42 through an external cooling system, then be distributed to the first liquid cooling pipe 31 of each battery cell 1, and finally converge back into the second liquid cooling pipe 42 to complete the circulating cooling.

[0055] Battery modules may also include auxiliary components such as casings, connecting plates, and insulating materials. The casing protects the battery cells and cooling system inside the battery module from the influence of the external environment; the connecting plate connects the electrodes of each cell to form an electrical connection; and the insulating material isolates different electrodes to prevent short circuits.

[0056] The battery module in this embodiment integrates multiple battery cells onto a second cold plate 4 to form a single battery unit, simplifying the structural design and improving space utilization. Simultaneously, the detachable design facilitates the installation, maintenance, and replacement of the battery cells. When a battery cell 1 needs to be replaced, simply unscrew the corresponding fixing bolt 21 to remove the cell 1 individually, without affecting the normal operation of other battery cells 1.

[0057] The battery module's cooling system uses liquid cooling, which provides excellent cooling performance and precise temperature control. The combined use of the first cold plate 3 and the second cold plate 4 forms a multi-dimensional heat dissipation path, which can effectively manage the heat generated by the battery cell 1 during operation, keep the battery cell 1 operating within a suitable temperature range, and improve the performance and lifespan of the battery cell 1.

[0058] The present invention also provides a battery pack, including the battery module described above.

[0059] Specifically, in this embodiment, the battery pack may include one or more battery modules, which are fixed inside the battery pack in a certain arrangement to form a complete power system. The battery pack may also include auxiliary components such as a battery management system, a cooling system, and protection devices.

[0060] The battery management system (BMS) is used to monitor and manage the operating status of each battery module and cell within the battery pack, including parameters such as voltage, current, and temperature. The BMS can monitor these parameters in real time and adjust the battery's charging and discharging strategies based on the monitoring results, protecting the battery from damage caused by overcharging, over-discharging, overheating, and other abnormal conditions.

[0061] The cooling system manages the temperature within the battery pack and includes components such as a coolant circulation pump, a radiator, and temperature sensors. The coolant circulation pump drives the coolant to circulate between the first and second cold plates within the battery module; the radiator dissipates the heat absorbed by the coolant to the external environment; and the temperature sensors monitor the temperature distribution within the battery pack, providing data support for the control of the cooling system.

[0062] Protective devices are used to protect the battery pack from external environmental factors and internal faults, including functions such as waterproofing, dustproofing, shockproofing, and fireproofing. These protective devices can utilize special materials and structural designs to improve the safety and reliability of the battery pack.

[0063] The battery pack casing can be made of lightweight, high-strength materials, such as aluminum alloys and carbon fiber composites, to reduce the weight of the battery pack and increase its energy density. The casing design needs to consider factors such as heat dissipation, protection, and installation to ensure the battery pack functions properly in various environments.

[0064] The battery pack in this embodiment adopts a modular design, which facilitates production, installation, and maintenance. When a battery module fails, it can be replaced individually without affecting the normal operation of other modules. The cooling system within the battery pack is connected to the cooling systems of the battery modules, forming an integrated temperature management system that ensures uniform temperature distribution within the battery pack and avoids safety issues caused by localized overheating.

[0065] Battery packs can be applied to electric vehicles, energy storage systems, portable electronic devices, and other fields, providing stable and reliable power support for these devices. In the field of electric vehicles, the battery pack is a core component, and its performance directly affects key indicators such as vehicle range, charging speed, and lifespan. The battery pack in this embodiment adopts a design with efficient thermal management and easy disassembly and assembly, which can effectively improve battery performance and lifespan, reduce maintenance costs, and provide strong support for the development of electric vehicles.

[0066] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the implementation method and protection scope of the present utility model. Those skilled in the art should realize that all solutions obtained by equivalent substitutions and obvious changes made using the content of this specification and illustrations should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A battery assembly with efficient thermal management and easy disassembly / reassembly, characterized in that, include: The battery cell has a fixing bolt at the bottom of its housing, and a first cold plate is fixed to the inner wall of at least one side of the housing. The second cold plate has bolt through holes, and the second cold plate is detachably connected to the fixing bolt of the battery cell through the bolt through holes.

2. The battery assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first liquid cooling pipe in the first cold plate is connected to the second liquid cooling pipe in the second cold plate.

3. The battery assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The two ends of the first liquid cooling pipe are respectively connected to two extended pipes fixed to the bottom of the shell; The second liquid cooling pipe has a corresponding pipe hole, and the extended pipe is inserted into and connected to the pipe hole.

4. The battery assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, A sealing ring is provided at the connection between the extended pipe and the pipe hole.

5. The battery assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first cold plate is welded to the inner side wall of the shell, or the first cold plate is integrally formed with the shell.

6. The battery assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first cold plate has multiple injection channels on the side near the inner core of the battery cell along the height direction of the battery cell.

7. The battery assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the bottom of the housing is provided with an explosion-proof valve, a pressure relief through hole is also provided on the second cold plate corresponding to the position of the explosion-proof valve.

8. The battery assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The area of ​​the pressure relief orifice is larger than the area of ​​the explosion-proof valve.

9. A battery module, characterized in that, The battery assembly includes at least one set of battery components as described in any one of claims 1-8, each set of battery components including a second cold plate and a plurality of battery cells, wherein the second cold plate is provided with a plurality of bolt through holes for detachably connecting to the fixing bolts of the plurality of battery cells respectively.

10. A battery pack, characterized in that, Includes the battery module as described in claim 9.

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