A battery pack and a vehicle

Abstract

This invention provides a battery pack and a vehicle. The battery pack includes a housing assembly with a base plate, a cooling member located above the base plate within the housing assembly, a first battery array and a second battery array disposed on the cooling member, and a thermal barrier system including a separator and an exhaust pipe. The separator is disposed on the cooling member and extends between the first battery array and the second battery array. The exhaust pipe is disposed between the cooling member and the base plate. The cooling member has a first through hole located between the first battery array and the second battery array and communicating with the exhaust pipe. Through the technical solution of this invention, heat transfer within the battery pack can be reduced during thermal events, improving the safety of battery pack use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of vehicles, specifically to a battery pack and a vehicle having such a battery pack. Background Technology

[0002] The battery pack of an electrified vehicle may include a housing assembly and multiple battery arrays disposed within the housing assembly, each battery array comprising multiple battery cells. During operation of the electrified vehicle, thermal events may occur. Under such circumstances, the battery cells of the battery arrays may release gases and / or other effluents into the housing assembly, which may then affect the battery cells of other battery arrays, thereby exacerbating the battery thermal event.

[0003] Therefore, there is still room for improvement in the existing technology. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention provides a battery pack and a vehicle. The technical solution of this invention can reduce heat transfer within the battery pack during thermal events, thereby improving the safety of battery pack use.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a battery pack is provided. The battery pack includes a housing assembly having a base plate, a cooling member located above the base plate within the housing assembly, a first battery array and a second battery array disposed on the cooling member, and a thermal barrier system including a separator and an exhaust duct. The separator is disposed on the cooling member and extends between the first battery array and the second battery array. The exhaust duct is disposed between the cooling member and the base plate. The cooling member has a first through hole located between the first battery array and the second battery array and communicating with the exhaust duct.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust pipe surrounds the first through hole and has a second through hole communicating with the first through hole.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the thermal barrier system further includes an exhaust valve disposed on the outside of the housing assembly and at least partially aligned with the first through hole.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the thermal barrier system further includes a guide member disposed on the outside of the housing assembly, the guide member at least partially surrounding the exhaust valve and having an opening facing a predetermined direction.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an additional vent valve is provided on the surface of the housing assembly located in a predetermined direction.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the separator has an opening communicating with a first through hole.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the opening is at least partially aligned with the first through hole in the height direction.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the separator has protrusions at both ends along its extension direction, and the protrusions match the gap between the first battery array and the second battery array.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust pipe is thermally connected to the cooling component.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes the battery pack described above. Attached Figure Description

[0015] One or more features and / or advantages of this application will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and from one or more embodiments described in detail below.

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0017] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0018] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a cooling component and a separator according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0019] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a thermal barrier system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0020] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the gap matching between the protrusion of the separator and the first and second battery arrays according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of an exhaust pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0022] Figure 7 A partial cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0023] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar reference numerals may indicate the same or similar components. However, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples, and other embodiments may take various alternative forms. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale; certain features may be exaggerated or minimized to show detail of particular components. The specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching those skilled in the art to use the disclosure in various ways. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, various features shown and described with reference to any of the drawings may be combined with features shown in one or more other drawings to produce embodiments not explicitly shown or described. The combinations of features shown provide representative embodiments for typical applications. However, various combinations and modifications of features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure may be desirable for certain particular applications or implementations.

[0024] As mentioned in the background section above, the inventors of this invention recognized that during the operation of an electrified vehicle, battery cells and other internal components of the battery pack may experience uncommon events known as thermal runaway during certain battery thermal events (e.g., overcharging, over-discharging, overheating, etc.). In such situations, battery cells may release gases and / or other effluents into the interior of the housing assembly, which may cause or exacerbate existing battery thermal events. For example, a large amount of heat may be generated during a battery thermal event, which may be transferred from one battery array to another via gaps between adjacent battery arrays, thereby accelerating thermal runaway. Based on the problems in the prior art, the inventors of this application provide a battery pack and a corresponding vehicle in one or more embodiments to address the problems in the prior art.

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. (See reference) Figure 1Vehicle 10 may include a battery pack 100, a motor 12, and wheels 14. The battery pack 100 supplies power to the motor 12, which converts electrical energy into torque to drive the wheels 14. In one embodiment, vehicle 10 may be a battery electric vehicle (BEV). However, it should be understood that the concepts described herein are not limited to BEVs and can be extended to other electrified vehicles, including but not limited to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), fuel cell vehicles, etc. Vehicle 10 may be any type of vehicle having the battery pack 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the battery pack 100 is fixed to the bottom 16 of the vehicle body. In other examples, the battery pack 100 may be located at other locations on vehicle 10. Vehicle 10 may also include vehicle control-related components, such as a vehicle controller, a vehicle bus, etc., which can be connected to in-vehicle components via the vehicle bus to control those components. Vehicle 10 may be non-autonomous, semi-autonomous (e.g., some conventional motion functions are controlled by the vehicle), or autonomous (e.g., motion functions are controlled by the vehicle without direct driver input).

[0026] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a battery pack 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. (See reference) Figure 2 The battery pack 100 may include a housing assembly 110 and a plurality of battery arrays 130 disposed within the housing assembly 110. The housing assembly 110 may include a tray 112 and a cover 114. The tray 112 may include a support base plate 111 and may further include sidewalls extending from the base plate 111. The tray 112 and the cover 114 engage and define a relatively enclosed space to accommodate the plurality of battery arrays 130 and other associated battery internal components (e.g., Bus Electrical Center (BEC), Battery Electrical Control Module (BECM), etc.). The housing assembly 110 may also include a seal disposed between the tray 112 and the cover 114. The tray 112 and the cover 114 may be made of a metallic material, a polymer-based material, a textile material, or any combination of these materials.

[0027] Multiple battery arrays 130 may include at least a first battery array 130A and a second battery array 130B, and may include more battery arrays; this application does not limit the number of battery arrays 130. One or more battery arrays 130 are capable of outputting power to operate the motor 12 and / or other electrical loads of the vehicle 10. The first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B may be arranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction X of the battery pack 100, and each of the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B may extend along the transverse direction Y. The battery pack 100 also defines a height direction Z different from the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y. The longitudinal direction X, the transverse direction Y, and the height direction Z of the battery pack 100 may correspond to the longitudinal (length direction), transverse (width direction), and height direction of the vehicle, respectively. Each battery array 130 may include multiple battery cells 132 stacked along the transverse direction Y of the battery pack 100. The battery cells 132 store energy for powering various electrical loads of the vehicle 10. Within the scope of this application, the battery pack 100 may employ any number of battery cells 132. Battery cell 132 can be a lithium-ion battery cell, or it can alternatively utilize other chemical substances (such as nickel-metal hydride, lead acid, etc.).

[0028] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The battery pack 100 may further include a cooling member 120 located above a base plate 111 within a housing assembly 110, with the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B disposed on the cooling member 120. The cooling member 120 is used to remove heat from the battery cells 132 of the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B. The cooling member 120 may include conduits for containing a heat exchange medium, which flows in the conduits and continuously exchanges heat with the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B to remove heat. A thermal interface material may be disposed between each of the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B and the cooling member 120. The thermal interface material may include epoxy resin, silicone resin-based materials, hot grease, etc., and is designed to increase the thermal conductivity between the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B and the cooling member 120.

[0029] refer to Figure 4 The battery pack 100 also includes a thermal barrier system 140. The thermal barrier system 140 includes a separator 142 and an exhaust duct 144. The separator 142 is disposed on the cooling member 120 and extends between the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B. The exhaust duct 144 is disposed between the cooling member 120 and the base plate 111. The cooling member 120 has a first through-hole 122 located between the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B and communicating with the exhaust duct 144.

[0030] When a thermal event occurs in one of the battery arrays (e.g., the second battery array 130B), because the separator 142 substantially isolates the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B, gases and effluents emitted from the second battery array 130B will hardly directly impact the first battery array 130A, thereby reducing the likelihood of the thermal event escalating. Figure 4 As shown by the dashed arrow, the emissions can flow downwards under the guidance of the separator 142, enter the lower side of the cooling member 120 through the first through-hole 122 on the cooling member 120, and further flow into the exhaust pipe 144. The exhaust pipe 144 is used to receive emissions, store emissions, and / or further discharge emissions. By providing the exhaust pipe 144, high-temperature gases and other emissions can be isolated, reducing the possibility of emissions being transferred to the first battery array 130A and other internal components of the battery pack. Thus, the thermal barrier system 140 of this application can effectively mitigate heat propagation inside the battery pack during thermal events, preventing the thermal events from escalating.

[0031] refer to Figures 3 to 5 A separator 142 is disposed within the gap G between the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B. The number of separators 142 can be determined based on the number of battery arrays 130; for example, one separator 142 can be disposed between every two adjacent battery arrays 130. The separator 142 can be generally plate-shaped, and one or more of its sides can form flanges. The separator 142 can extend along the transverse Y direction, i.e., the extension direction of the separator 142 is parallel to the extension direction of the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B. The dimension of the separator 142 in the transverse Y direction can be substantially the same as (or the former is larger than the latter) the dimension of the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B in the transverse Y direction, ensuring good isolation in the transverse Y direction.

[0032] The separator 142 can also extend along the height direction Z, and the dimension of the separator 142 in the height direction Z can be substantially the same as (or the former is larger than the latter) the dimension of the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B in the height direction Z, ensuring good isolation in the height direction Z. In some embodiments, the lower and upper parts of the separator 142 are tightly joined to the cooling member 120 and the cover 114 respectively (e.g., by welding, bonding, etc.), thereby completely isolating the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B in the height direction Z. In a specific embodiment, the separator 142 and the cooling member 120 can be connected by laser welding to enhance the connection strength, and the separator 142 and the cover 114 can be connected by adhesive.

[0033] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 5The separator 142 has protrusions 1424 at both ends along its extending direction (lateral Y), which match the gap G between the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B. "Matching" here may include: in the longitudinal direction X, the size of the protrusion 1424 is approximately the same as the size of the gap G, so that the protrusion 1424 can close the openings on both sides of the gap G in the lateral direction Y. By providing the protrusions 1424, when emissions such as high-temperature gases reach the side of the gap G along the lateral direction Y, the protrusions 1424 can prevent the emissions from leaving the gap G and entering other locations within the battery pack, affecting other components. In some embodiments of this application, under the combined enclosure of the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B, the cooling member 120 and the cover 114, and the protrusions 1424 at both ends, the gap G forms a generally closed and relatively independent channel except for the first through-hole 122, for isolating emissions such as high-temperature gases. Emissions within the gap G can essentially only exit through the first through-hole 122 and along a predetermined path, preventing or reducing their entry into other parts of the battery pack 100. In some embodiments, the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B can be tightly joined (e.g., glued) to the cooling member 120 and the cover 114, respectively, so that gases and other emissions from the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B mainly enter the gap G, further reducing the possibility of emissions entering other parts.

[0034] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The separator 142 may have an opening 1422 communicating with the first through hole 122, thereby increasing the exhaust space and improving the efficiency of gas passing through the first through hole 122. In some embodiments, the opening 1422 is at least partially aligned with the first through hole 122 in the height direction Z. Gas flows along one side surface of the separator 142 to the opening 1422, and can then flow directly and smoothly through the opening 1422 to the first through hole 122. In some embodiments, the cooling member 120 may include a plurality of first through holes 122 disposed between the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B and spaced apart in the lateral Y direction. Accordingly, the separator 142 may have a plurality of openings 1422 spaced apart in the lateral Y direction, the plurality of openings 1422 being at least partially aligned with the plurality of first through holes 122 in the height direction Z.

[0035] The separator 142 can be made of a thermally conductive material such as aluminum and can be thermally connected to the cooling member 120 (e.g., via the thermal interface material described above). In this way, the cooling function of the cooling member 120 can be extended to the separator 142. Heat from emissions such as high-temperature gases discharged from the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B can be conducted to the cooling member 120 via the separator 142, thereby further mitigating the severity of thermal events by cooling the emissions.

[0036] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 6 The exhaust duct 144 may surround the first through-hole 122 and have a second through-hole 1442 communicating with the first through-hole 122, so that exhaust gases and other emissions flowing through the first through-hole 122 can flow quickly and efficiently from all sides into the exhaust duct 144. The second through-hole 1442 may be provided on the inner side of the exhaust duct 144 facing the first through-hole 122. The exhaust duct 144 may be an annular duct forming a relatively independent space for isolating and storing exhaust gases and other emissions. The emissions can circulate within the annular duct. (Reference) Figure 6 In one exemplary embodiment, the exhaust duct 144 may include a first duct 1441 and a third duct 1445 extending longitudinally X and parallel to each other, and a second duct 1443 and a fourth duct 1447 extending transversely Y and parallel to each other. The first duct 1441, the second duct 1443, the third duct 1445, and the fourth duct 1447 are sequentially connected (e.g., welded) and interconnected to form an annular duct with a generally hollow rectangular cross-section. Of course, in other embodiments, the annular duct may also be other shapes, such as an elliptical ring, or may be a one-piece molded structure. In other embodiments, the exhaust duct 144 may also include a plurality of independent ducts surrounding a first through hole 122. In some embodiments, the cooling member 120 may have a plurality of first through holes 122 located between a first battery array 130A and a second battery array 130B, and the exhaust duct 144 may surround one or more of the first through holes 122.

[0037] In some embodiments, the exhaust duct 144 may be made of a thermally conductive material such as aluminum and may be thermally connected to the cooling member 120 (e.g., via the thermal interface material described above). In this way, the cooling function of the cooling member 120 can be extended to the exhaust duct 144, and high-temperature gases and other emissions can be further cooled in the exhaust duct 144, thereby mitigating the potential impact of thermal events.

[0038] The exhaust duct 144 provides support for the cooling component 120 and the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B located above it, and provides a certain structural strength for the entire battery pack 100. The exhaust duct 144 can be made of a compression-resistant material such as aluminum. The exhaust duct 144 can be fixedly connected to the base plate 111 by mechanical connection methods such as fastener connection or snap-fit.

[0039] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 7 The thermal barrier system 140 may further include an exhaust valve 146 communicating with the first through-hole 122. The exhaust valve 146 may be disposed between the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B. The exhaust valve 146 may be at least partially disposed on the outside of the housing assembly 110 and at least partially aligned with the first through-hole 122. The exhaust valve 146 may be configured to open when the pressure inside the housing assembly 110 exceeds a predetermined value, allowing gases and other emissions to be discharged outside the battery pack 100. One unified exhaust valve 46 or multiple exhaust valves 146 may be disposed between the first battery array 130A and the second battery array 130B. In the embodiments of this application, high-temperature gases and other emissions discharged from the battery array 130 can be discharged outside the battery pack 100 via the exhaust valve 146, and can also enter the exhaust pipe 144, thus effectively handling situations involving large amounts of emissions.

[0040] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 7 The thermal barrier system 140 may further include a guide member 148 disposed outside the housing assembly 110, the guide member 148 at least partially surrounding the exhaust valve 146 and having an opening 1482 facing a predetermined direction. The guide member 148 may direct exhaust gases or other emissions to an emission location that would lessen the impact on safe operation of the vehicle. In one specific embodiment, the opening 1482 may face the rearward side in the direction of vehicle travel, thus preventing exhaust gases or other emissions emanating from the opening 1482 from obstructing the driver's view. Of course, those skilled in the art can adjust the orientation of the opening 1482 according to actual needs.

[0041] refer to Figure 7An auxiliary exhaust valve 147 is provided on the surface of the housing assembly 110 in a predetermined direction. In some cases, gases or other emissions may escape from the exhaust pipe 144 and the gap G (e.g., at the protrusion 1424) and enter the housing assembly 110. The auxiliary exhaust valve 147 communicates with the housing assembly 110 and is used to discharge the excess gas to the outside of the battery pack 100. The auxiliary exhaust valve 147 can be configured to open when the pressure inside the housing assembly 110 exceeds a predetermined value. The auxiliary exhaust valve 147 can be located in a position that will have minimal impact on the safe operation of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the auxiliary exhaust valve 147 can be located on the rear surface of the housing assembly 110 facing the rearward direction of vehicle travel to prevent smoke or other emissions discharged from the auxiliary exhaust valve 147 from obstructing the driver's view. Of course, those skilled in the art can set the position of the auxiliary exhaust valve 147 according to actual needs.

[0042] It should be understood that, where technically feasible, the technical features listed above for different embodiments can be combined with each other to form other embodiments within the scope of this utility model. Furthermore, the specific examples and embodiments described herein are non-limiting, and corresponding modifications can be made to the structures, dimensions, and materials described above without departing from the protection scope of this utility model.

[0043] In this application, the use of antonymous conjunctions is intended to include the conjunction itself. The use of definite or indefinite articles is not intended to indicate cardinality. Specifically, references to “the” object or to “a” and “one” objects are intended to indicate one of a plurality of such objects. Furthermore, the conjunction “or” may be used to convey simultaneous features rather than mutually exclusive schemes. In other words, the conjunction “or” should be understood as including “and / or”. The term “including” is inclusive and has the same scope as “contains”.

[0044] The above embodiments, especially any "preferred" embodiments, are possible examples of implementation and are presented merely for the purpose of clearly understanding the principles of this invention. Many variations and modifications can be made to the above embodiments without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of the technology described herein. All modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A battery pack, comprising: A housing assembly with a base plate; A cooling component located above the base plate within the housing assembly; A first battery array and a second battery array are provided on the cooling component; as well as A thermal barrier system including a separator and an exhaust duct, the separator being disposed on the cooling member and extending between the first battery array and the second battery array, wherein the exhaust duct is disposed between the cooling member and the base plate, and the cooling member having a first through hole located between the first battery array and the second battery array and communicating with the exhaust duct.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The exhaust pipe surrounds the first through hole and has a second through hole communicating with the first through hole.

3. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The thermal barrier system also includes an exhaust valve located on the outside of the housing assembly and at least partially aligned with the first through-hole.

4. The battery pack of claim 3, wherein, The thermal barrier system also includes a guide member disposed on the outside of the housing assembly, the guide member at least partially surrounding the exhaust valve and having an opening facing a predetermined direction.

5. The battery pack of claim 3, wherein, The housing assembly has an additional vent valve on the surface located in a predetermined direction.

6. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The separator has an opening that communicates with the first through hole.

7. The battery pack of claim 6, wherein, The opening is at least partially aligned with the first through hole in the height direction.

8. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The separator has protrusions at both ends along its extension direction, and the protrusions match the gap between the first battery array and the second battery array.

9. The battery pack of claim 2, wherein, The exhaust pipe is thermally connected to the cooling component.

10. A vehicle comprising a battery pack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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