Battery pack and electric device

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of energy storage systems, and provides a battery pack and an electric device. The battery pack comprises a battery shell and a battery module arranged in the battery shell. The battery module comprises a plurality of battery groups arranged along a first direction. Each battery group comprises a plurality of battery cells arranged along a second direction in sequence. Both ends of each battery cell along the second direction are respectively provided with a pole. One side of each battery cell along a third direction is provided with a safety valve. Any two of the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are arranged to intersect. An exhaust passage and an explosion-proof valve are arranged on the battery shell. Fluid sprayed from the safety valve can be discharged through the exhaust passage and the explosion-proof valve. The battery pack disclosed by the application can better achieve thermal-electric isolation by limiting the arrangement mode of the battery cells and the arrangement form of the pole and the explosion-proof valve, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the battery pack application.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of energy storage system technology, and in particular to a battery pack. This application also relates to an electrical device using this battery pack. Background Technology

[0002] A battery pack is a core component in new energy vehicles, energy storage systems, and other fields. It is composed of multiple battery cells connected in series and parallel, and integrates modules such as a battery management system (BMS) and a thermal management system to achieve the functions of energy storage, release, and safety management.

[0003] In the event of thermal runaway in a battery cell, the safety valve of the existing battery pack opens, and the electrolyte accumulates inside the battery pack. When it encounters an electric arc or a tiny spark, it can easily cause serious safety problems such as deflagration and fire. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, this application aims to provide a battery pack that improves the safety of the battery pack.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this application is implemented as follows: A battery pack includes a battery housing and a battery module disposed within the battery housing; The battery module includes multiple rows of battery packs arranged along a first direction. Each row of battery packs includes multiple cells arranged sequentially along a second direction. Each cell has a terminal post at both ends along the second direction and a safety valve on one side along a third direction. Any two of the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction intersect each other. The battery casing is provided with an exhaust channel and an explosion-proof valve, and the fluid ejected from the safety valve can be discharged through the exhaust channel and the explosion-proof valve.

[0006] Furthermore, the battery casing has a support plate for supporting the battery module, longitudinal beams on two opposite sides in the first direction, and two transverse beams at both ends in the second direction. The support plate, each of the longitudinal beams, and the two transverse beams enclose an accommodating space for accommodating the battery module. The side of the battery module with the safety valve is arranged facing the support plate, and the support plate and the sampling components of the battery pack are respectively placed on both sides of the battery module in the third direction.

[0007] Furthermore, the support plate integrates a lower airflow channel and multiple openings connecting the lower airflow channel, each opening corresponding to a safety valve. Along the second direction, an electrical space and an explosion-proof valve are respectively provided at both ends of the battery casing; At least one of the longitudinal beams is provided with a side airflow channel, and the crossbeam away from the electrical space is provided with an end airflow channel and the explosion-proof valve. The end airflow channel is connected to the lower airflow channel through the side airflow channel.

[0008] Furthermore, the cells located at the same position in the second direction in each column of the battery pack constitute a row of cells; The support plate includes a plurality of first plates arranged at intervals along a second direction, and any adjacent first plates are connected by second plates. The second plate corresponds one-to-one with the multiple rows of battery cells. Each second plate integrates the lower airflow channel and the opening. The opening on each second plate corresponds one-to-one with the safety valve on the multiple rows of battery cells, and each lower airflow channel is connected to the side airflow channel.

[0009] Furthermore, each of the first plates and the battery module are bonded together with structural adhesive; and / or, Each of the openings has a sealing portion at its edge to seal the gap between the battery module and the second plate.

[0010] Furthermore, the sampling component includes a plurality of sampling strips arranged at intervals along a second direction, and a circuit board connecting the plurality of sampling strips; each sampling strip extends along the first direction, and the circuit board extends along the second direction; Each row of battery cells has a sampling strip at both ends along the second direction. Each sampling strip has multiple sampling pins arranged sequentially along the first direction. Each sampling pin corresponds to one of the multiple battery cells in each row, and each sampling pin is connected to the terminal of the corresponding battery cell.

[0011] Furthermore, the terminals of two adjacent cells in each column of the battery pack are welded together; and / or, The battery packs in two adjacent columns are connected by a busbar.

[0012] Furthermore, adjacent rows of the battery packs are isolated by liquid cooling plates, the liquid inlets of adjacent liquid cooling plates are connected by a first connecting pipe, and the liquid outlets of adjacent liquid cooling plates are connected by a second connecting pipe.

[0013] Furthermore, the battery casing is provided with a heat insulation part, and the heat insulation part is provided on both sides of the battery module along the second direction.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, this application has the following advantages: (1) The battery pack described in this application, by limiting the arrangement of the battery packs and the arrangement of multiple cells in each row of battery packs, and by limiting the arrangement of the terminals and safety valves on each cell, and by limiting the flow ejected from the safety valve to be discharged through the exhaust channel and explosion-proof valve on the battery casing, can achieve better thermal and electrical isolation, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the battery pack application. The fluid ejected from the safety valve is vented using the third-direction space, which occupies less space in the second direction and can improve the space utilization rate in the second direction.

[0015] (2) The side of the battery module with the safety valve is arranged facing the support plate, and the support plate and the sampling components of the battery pack are placed on the two sides of the battery module in a third direction. This allows the sampling components to be set on the side away from the safety valve, which is beneficial to improving the safety and reliability of the battery pack.

[0016] (3) A lower airflow channel is arranged on the support plate, a side airflow channel is arranged on the longitudinal beam, and an end airflow channel is arranged on the cross beam. If the cell experiences thermal runaway, the fluid ejected from the safety valve can flow through the lower airflow channel, the side airflow channel and the end airflow channel in sequence, and then be ejected from the explosion-proof valve. During this process, the fluid ejected from the safety valve flows in the exhaust channel on the battery casing and will not come into contact with the electrical connection parts, thus effectively preventing serious safety problems such as deflagration and fire.

[0017] (4) The support plate includes a first plate and a second plate, and the first plate and the second plate are arranged alternately along the second direction, so that the support plate can take into account both structural strength and venting function requirements, is lighter in weight, and helps to improve the safety of battery pack application.

[0018] (5) The first plate and the battery module are bonded together by structural adhesive, which can improve the safety and reliability of the battery module fixation. A sealing part is set at the edge of the opening to seal the gap between the battery module and the second plate, which can prevent the fluid flowing out of the safety valve from flowing into the housing space of the battery module. At the same time, it can also prevent the structural adhesive from intruding into the area where the safety valve is located, and prevent the safety valve from being damaged by the structural adhesive, thereby further improving the safety and reliability of the battery pack application.

[0019] (6) The sampling components include sampling strips and circuit boards, which facilitate the collection of temperature data for each cell. The structure is simple and easy to arrange.

[0020] (7) The terminals of two adjacent cells in each battery pack are welded together. This direct welding connection eliminates the need for busbars, saving on weight and production costs associated with using busbars. It also significantly reduces the overall weight of the battery pack, meeting the requirements for lightweight design. Adjacent battery packs are connected via busbars, making the connection relatively convenient.

[0021] (8) The adjacent two battery packs are isolated by liquid cooling plates, which can save the aerogel and the resulting production cost. At the same time, this arrangement of liquid cooling plates can make contact with the large surface of the battery cells, so that the liquid cooling plates have a better cooling effect on the battery cells, which is conducive to the battery cells working at a suitable temperature, thereby extending the service life of the battery cells.

[0022] (9) A heat insulation part is provided inside the battery casing, which can better prevent the battery module from exchanging heat with the environment, reduce the impact of ambient temperature on the battery casing, and facilitate the battery pack to work at a suitable temperature.

[0023] Another object of this application is to provide an electrical device that is powered by a battery pack as described above.

[0024] The electrical equipment described in this application is powered by the battery pack described above. Due to the high safety and reliability of the power supply equipment, the electrical equipment can operate safely and reliably, thereby extending the service life of the electrical equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of this application. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of this application are used to explain this application and do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is an exemplary exploded view of the battery pack described in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a top view of the battery pack described in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a front view of the battery pack described in the embodiments of this application; Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the battery pack described in the embodiments of this application; Figure 5 This is a right view of the battery pack described in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a left view of the battery pack described in an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack without the top cover as described in the embodiments of this application; Figure 8 This is an exemplary structural diagram of the battery module described in an embodiment of this application; Figure 9 for Figure 8 Enlarged view of part A; Figure 10 for Figure 8 A structural diagram from another perspective; Figure 11 for Figure 8A structural diagram from another perspective; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack without the top cover and battery module as described in the embodiments of this application; Figure 13 for Figure 12 A structural diagram from another perspective; Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the support plate described in the embodiments of this application; Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the battery cell structure described in the embodiments of this application; Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the sampling component described in an embodiment of this application.

[0026] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Battery casing; 2. Battery module; 3. Sampling assembly; 4. Explosion-proof valve; 5. Liquid cooling plate; 6. Heat insulation section; 7. Battery management system slave board; 8. Maintenance cover plate; 9. Sensor module; 10. Fuse; 11. High voltage main positive terminal; 12. High voltage main negative terminal; 13. Manual maintenance switch; 14. Communication interface; 15. Fire alarm interface; 16. Main liquid inlet; 17. Main liquid outlet; 101. Support plate; 102. Longitudinal beam; 103. Crossbeam; 104. Top cover; 10a. Electrical space; 1011, First plate; 1012, Second plate; 10121, Opening; 201. Battery cell; 202. Busbar; 203. Battery positive terminal; 204. Battery negative terminal; 2011, pole; 2012, safety valve; 301. Sampling strip; 3011. Sampling pin; 302. Circuit board; 501, First connecting pipe; 502, Second connecting pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the technical solution and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0028] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other.

[0029] Furthermore, it should be noted that in the description of this application, if terms such as "upper," "lower," "inner," or "outer" appear, indicating orientation or positional relationship, these are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on this application. In addition, if terms such as "first" or "second" appear, they are also used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0030] Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly defined, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "connector" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application in light of the specific circumstances.

[0031] In this application, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0032] The present application will now be described in detail through exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that, without further description, elements, structures, and features in one embodiment may be advantageously incorporated into other embodiments.

[0033] An embodiment of the first aspect of this application provides a battery pack that, by improving the arrangement of its various components, can achieve better thermal and electrical isolation, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the battery pack application.

[0034] In related technologies, battery packs are core components in fields such as new energy vehicles and energy storage systems. They are composed of multiple cells connected in series and parallel, and integrate modules such as BMS and thermal management systems to achieve energy storage, release and safety management functions.

[0035] Current battery packs typically employ a non-thermal-electric separation design. When a cell experiences thermal runaway, the electrolyte and high-temperature gas ejected from the cell's safety valve will first enter the battery pack. When the pressure reaches the opening pressure of the explosion-proof valve, the high-temperature gas will be discharged directionally from the battery pack's explosion-proof valve.

[0036] Existing battery packs still pose significant safety hazards in the scenario of thermal runaway of the battery cells. When the internal temperature of the battery cell rises sharply due to overcharging, short circuit or mechanical damage, the safety valve will automatically open because the internal pressure exceeds the threshold. Although this design can prevent the battery cell from exploding due to excessive pressure, it also causes the electrolyte to be sprayed out in the form of droplets or aerosols, which will form a flammable accumulation area in the closed space of the battery pack.

[0037] If, at this time, the internal or external connecting parts of the battery cell deform due to high temperature and generate an electric arc, or if the friction of metal parts causes a tiny spark, the flammable gas formed by the mixture of organic solvents in the electrolyte (such as ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate) and air may be ignited instantly, causing deflagration or even fire, which seriously threatens the lives of personnel and the safety of equipment.

[0038] Existing battery pack designs have significant shortcomings in addressing this risk. On the one hand, there is insufficient planning for electrolyte leakage paths. Some battery packs only have a simple collection tray at the bottom, without considering the three-dimensional distribution characteristics of electrolyte splashing during thermal runaway. This leads to the accumulation of droplets in critical areas such as between cells and on the surface of electrical connectors, forming localized high-concentration flammable zones.

[0039] On the other hand, the fireproof isolation and pressure relief design has defects. High-efficiency thermal insulation materials such as aerogel and ceramic fiber are required between the cells. Although this can prevent the high temperature generated by the thermal runaway cell from being conducted to the adjacent cells through thermal radiation, it will lead to an increase in production costs.

[0040] In related technologies, the battery pack uses an integrated large cold plate at the bottom, which, together with the frame of the battery casing, forms a space to accommodate the battery modules. Short-blade cells are typically arranged in two rows within this space, with each cell glued to the large cold plate. The two rows of battery packs require welding four sampling assemblies. Furthermore, there is high voltage between the two sampling assemblies closest to the middle of the cells in each row, necessitating additional safety clearances and space for opening and venting thermal runaway prevention valves. This results in reduced space utilization in the width direction within the battery pack.

[0041] Due to safety requirements, thermal runaway in a battery cell must not spread to other cells. Therefore, aerogel is usually added between adjacent cells, which results in higher thermal insulation costs.

[0042] Furthermore, some relevant standards require that the internal voltage of the battery pack should not exceed DC240V after the Manual Service Disconnector (MSD) is disconnected. Therefore, the MSD is placed at the halfway point of the high-voltage circuit of the battery pack to achieve the lowest disconnection voltage. The MSD is typically required to be located at the front of the battery pack. When using short-blade cell battery packs in a dual-row layout, the intermediate series connection point of the two rows of cells will appear at the rear of the battery pack. This results in long busbars within the battery pack, increasing electrical connection costs and increasing the impedance of the high-voltage circuit, which also affects system efficiency.

[0043] The existing battery pack design requires an insulation layer at the bottom, which increases costs. In addition, the bottom uses a domestically produced large cold plate for single-sided cooling, resulting in a large temperature difference between the top and bottom of the cells, which will reduce the cycle life of the cells. Moreover, when the large cold plate at the bottom of the battery pack is placed or when it is installed in a container by a forklift, the forklift arm is prone to damaging the liquid cooling plate channel, which will affect the cooling performance.

[0044] To improve the safety of the battery pack, an exemplary structure of the battery pack in this embodiment is as follows: Figures 1 to 6 As shown, in terms of overall structure, the battery pack includes a battery housing 1 and a battery module 2 disposed within the battery housing 1.

[0045] In a specific implementation, the battery module 2 of this embodiment includes multiple rows of battery packs arranged along a first direction. Each row of battery packs includes multiple cells 201 arranged sequentially along a second direction. Each cell 201 has a terminal post 2011 at both ends along the second direction. Each cell 201 has a safety valve 2012 on one side along a third direction. Any two of the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are arranged to intersect.

[0046] It should be noted that, in a preferred example, the first direction and the second direction are arranged orthogonally, the second direction and the third direction are arranged orthogonally, and the first direction and the third direction are arranged orthogonally.

[0047] Preferably, the battery casing 1 is provided with an exhaust channel and an explosion-proof valve 4, through which the fluid ejected from the safety valve 2012 can be discharged. In a preferred embodiment, the exhaust channel is formed on the side, bottom, and end of the battery casing 1, which will be described in detail below.

[0048] For ease of description, in this application, the upper part and the lower part of the battery pack refer to the... Figure 1 The states shown are at the top and bottom of the third-party orientation. It should be noted that the battery cell 201 used in the battery pack of this application is typically a short-blade battery cell 201, that is, a battery cell 201 with a length of less than 600mm.

[0049] Figure 15The structure of the battery cell 201 is shown. A positive terminal 2011 and a negative terminal 2011 are respectively disposed at both ends of the battery cell 201 along its length (second direction), and a safety valve 2012 is disposed on one side of the battery cell 201 along its width (third direction). When the battery cell 201 is integrated into a battery pack, the side of the battery cell 201 with the safety valve 2012 is arranged towards the lower part of the battery pack.

[0050] The battery pack of this application, by limiting the arrangement of the battery packs and the arrangement of multiple cells 201 in each row of battery packs, and by limiting the arrangement of the terminals 2011 and safety valves 2012 on each cell 201, and by limiting the flow ejected from the safety valves 2012 to be discharged through the exhaust channel and explosion-proof valve 4 on the battery casing 1, can achieve better thermal and electrical isolation, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the battery pack application. The fluid ejected from the safety valves 2012 is vented using the third-direction space, which occupies less space in the second direction and can improve the space utilization rate in the second direction.

[0051] In the above implementation, when thermal runaway of some cells 201 causes damage to the safety valve 2012, the high-temperature gas overflowing from the safety valve 2012 will not enter the containment space of the battery module 2, thus achieving better thermal-electric separation and higher battery pack safety.

[0052] Reference Figures 7 to 13 As shown, to improve venting efficiency, in some exemplary embodiments, the battery housing 1 has a support plate 101 for supporting the battery module 2, longitudinal beams 102 on two opposite sides in a first direction, and two crossbeams 103 at both ends in a second direction. The support plate 101, the longitudinal beams 102, and the two crossbeams 103 enclose a receiving space for accommodating the battery module 2. In the second direction, the portion of the receiving space near one end constitutes an electrical space 10a for mounting electrical components of the battery pack.

[0053] In addition, the battery housing 1 in this embodiment also includes a top cover 104, which covers the upper part of the receiving space and, together with each crossbeam 103, each longitudinal beam 102 and the support plate 101, seals the receiving space.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the side of the battery module 2 with the safety valve 2012 is arranged facing the support plate 101, and the support plate 101 and the sampling component 3 of the battery pack are respectively placed on both sides of the battery module 2 in a third direction. Here, limiting the arrangement of the side of the battery module 2 with the safety valve 2012 facing the support plate 101, while placing the support plate 101 and the sampling component 3 of the battery pack on both sides of the battery module 2 in a third direction, allows the sampling component 3 to be placed on the side away from the safety valve 2012, which is beneficial to improving the safety and reliability of the battery pack.

[0055] Furthermore, in the above implementation, the integrated venting function on the support plate 101 effectively achieves thermal and electrical isolation, thereby ensuring the safety of the battery pack application. Moreover, since the support plate 101 is not integrated with the liquid cooling plate 5, the liquid cooling plate 5 is less likely to be damaged during battery pack transportation.

[0056] It should be noted that the longitudinal beam 102 and the transverse beam 103 in this embodiment are both hollow structures, which makes the battery pack lighter and can better meet the requirements of lightweight design.

[0057] Reference Figure 14 and Figure 15 As shown, in some exemplary embodiments, the support plate 101 integrates a lower airflow channel and a plurality of openings 10121 communicating with the lower airflow channel, each opening 10121 corresponding to a safety valve 2012. Specifically, the openings 10121 are located on the side of the support plate 101 facing the battery module 2. In the event of thermal runaway, fluid flowing out of the safety valve 2012 can flow into the lower airflow channel through the openings 10121.

[0058] In one example, still refer to Figures 1 to 6 As shown, along the second direction, an electrical space 10a and an explosion-proof valve 4 are respectively provided at both ends of the battery casing 1. With this arrangement, the electrical space 10a and the explosion-proof valve 4 are far apart. In the event of thermal runaway, the fluid ejected from the explosion-proof valve 4 is far away from the electrical space 10a, which can effectively improve and reduce the risk of battery pack explosion.

[0059] In specific implementation, at least one of the longitudinal beams 102 is provided with a side airflow channel, and the transverse beam 103 away from the electrical space 10a is provided with an end airflow channel and an explosion-proof valve 4. The end airflow channel is connected to the lower airflow channel through the side airflow channel.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal beams 102 on both sides are provided with side airflow channels. Since both the longitudinal beams 102 and the crossbeams 103 are hollow structures, through holes that pass through both can be provided at the overlapping parts of each longitudinal beam 102 and crossbeam 103, so that the side airflow channels in the longitudinal beams 102 and the end airflow channels in the crossbeams 103 can be connected.

[0061] The support plate 101 is also provided with a lower airflow channel. A through hole can be provided at the overlapping part of each longitudinal beam 102 and the support plate 101 to pass through both, so that the side airflow channel in the longitudinal beam 102 and the lower airflow channel in the support plate 101 can be connected.

[0062] In the above implementation, a lower airflow channel is arranged on the support plate 101, a side airflow channel is arranged on the longitudinal beam 102, and an end airflow channel is arranged on the crossbeam 103. If the battery cell 201 experiences thermal runaway, the fluid ejected from the safety valve 2012 can flow sequentially through the lower airflow channel, the side airflow channel, and the end airflow channel before being ejected from the explosion-proof valve 4. During this process, the fluid ejected from the safety valve 2012 flows within the exhaust channel on the battery casing 1, preventing contact with electrical components and effectively preventing serious safety problems such as deflagration and fire.

[0063] Continue to refer to Figures 1 to 6 , Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, a through hole is provided on the crossbeam 103 near the electrical space 10a, and a removable maintenance cover plate 8 is installed at the through hole. The maintenance cover plate 8 integrates a sensor module 9, a communication interface 14, a fire interface 15, and a battery management system slave board 7 (BMS slave board). The connection method of these components can refer to the structure in the prior art.

[0064] Meanwhile, along the second direction, the crossbeam 103, near its own end, is equipped with a high-voltage main positive terminal 11, a high-voltage main negative terminal 12, and a manual maintenance switch 13. Furthermore, a fuse 10 is integrated within the electrical space 10a. The connection method of these components also follows the structure in the prior art. Additionally, the crossbeam 103, near its own end, is equipped with a main liquid inlet 16 and a main liquid outlet 17, the connection method of which will be described below.

[0065] Still refer to Figures 1 to 6 As shown, in some exemplary embodiments, the cells 201 located at the same position in the second direction in each column of battery packs are a row of cells 201. In this application, four rows of cells 201 are used as an example for illustration. It should be understood that the number of rows of cells 201 is also possible.

[0066] Reference Figure 14 and Figure 15 As shown, the support plate 101 includes a plurality of first plates 1011 spaced apart along a second direction, and any adjacent first plates 1011 are connected by second plates 1012. In a preferred embodiment, all first plates 1011 have the same thickness, all second plates 1012 have the same thickness, the thickness of the second plates 1012 is greater than the thickness of the first plates 1011, and the sides of each first plate 1011 and second plate 1012 facing the battery module 2 are coplanar.

[0067] In one example, the second plate 1012 corresponds one-to-one with the multi-row battery cells 201. Each second plate 1012 integrates a lower airflow channel and an opening 10121. The opening 10121 on each second plate 1012 corresponds one-to-one with the safety valve 2012 on the multi-row battery cells 201, and each lower airflow channel is connected to the side airflow channel.

[0068] Here, the support plate 101 is defined as including a first plate 1011 and a second plate 1012, and the first plate 1011 and the second plate 1012 are arranged alternately along the second direction. This allows the support plate 101 to meet both structural strength and venting requirements, while being lightweight and improving the safety of battery pack applications. Furthermore, in this application, the bottom support plate 101 is not a liquid-cooled plate 5, therefore no insulation coating is required at the bottom, and the cold plate flow channels will not be damaged during battery pack transport and installation.

[0069] It should be noted that in some exemplary embodiments, the first plate 1011 and the battery module 2 are bonded together with structural adhesive. Here, limiting the bonding of the first plate 1011 and the battery module 2 to structural adhesive improves the safety and reliability of the battery module 2's fixation. In some exemplary embodiments, the edges of each opening 10121 are provided with a sealing portion to seal the gap between the battery module 2 and the second plate 1012. In specific implementations, the sealing portion may be, for example, at least one of sealant or a sealing strip, that is, the sealing portion may be made of sealant, or the sealing portion may be made of sealing strip, or the sealing portion may be made of both sealant and sealing strip, to seal the edges of each opening 10121.

[0070] In this embodiment, a sealing part is provided at the edge of the opening 10121 to seal the gap between the battery module 2 and the second plate 1012. In the event of thermal runaway, it can prevent the fluid flowing out of the safety valve 2012 from flowing into the housing space of the battery module 2 in the battery casing 1. At the same time, it can also prevent the structural adhesive from entering the area where the safety valve 2012 is provided during injection, and prevent the safety valve 2012 from being damaged by the structural adhesive, thereby further improving the safety and reliability of the battery pack application.

[0071] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 16 As shown, in some exemplary embodiments, the sampling component 3 includes a plurality of sampling strips 301 arranged at intervals along a second direction, and a circuit board 302 connecting the plurality of sampling strips 301.

[0072] Each sampling strip 301 extends along a first direction, and the circuit board 302 extends along a second direction. Each row of battery cells 201 has a sampling strip 301 at both ends along the second direction. Each sampling strip 301 has multiple sampling pins 3011 arranged sequentially along the first direction. The multiple sampling pins 3011 correspond one-to-one with the multiple battery cells 201 in each row, and each sampling pin 3011 is connected to the terminal post 2011 of the corresponding battery cell 201.

[0073] For example, in this application, the battery cell 201 has four rows. Since the battery cell 201 has pole posts 2011 at both ends in the length direction, the pole posts 2011 in adjacent rows at the same position in the second direction are regarded as a row. The number of pole posts 2011 is five rows. Therefore, the number of sampling strips 301 is five. The five sampling strips 301 are located above the five rows of pole posts 2011 to facilitate the connection between each sampling pin 3011 and the corresponding pole post 2011.

[0074] It should be noted that the circuit board 302 may be any one of FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit), FFC (Flexible Flat Cable), and FDC (Flexible Die-cutting Circuit).

[0075] In the above implementation, the sampling component 3 includes a sampling strip 301 and a circuit board 302, which facilitates the acquisition of the temperature of each battery cell 201. The structure is simple and the arrangement is convenient. The sampling component 3 in this application adopts a beamless, flat, and minimalist design, resulting in low sampling cost and small space occupation.

[0076] In some exemplary embodiments, the terminals 2011 of two adjacent cells 201 in each battery pack are welded together. Here, the terminals 2011 of two adjacent cells 201 in each battery pack are welded together. This direct welding connection eliminates the need for a busbar 202, thus saving the weight and production costs associated with using a busbar 202. It also effectively reduces the overall weight of the battery pack, meeting the requirements for lightweight design.

[0077] The battery pack of this application, in some exemplary embodiments, such as Figure 11 As shown, adjacent battery packs are connected via busbar 202, which is relatively convenient. In a specific implementation, the terminals 2011 between the cells 201 at the second-direction ends of adjacent battery packs are connected via busbar 202, enabling the adjacent battery packs to be connected in series. Busbar 202 can be made of materials with excellent conductivity, such as copper or aluminum.

[0078] Continue to refer to Figure 11As shown, the two rows of battery packs near the left and right sides, that is Figure 1 The two battery packs on both sides of the first direction are shown. The terminals 2011 of the two cells 201 near the electrical space 10a of these two battery packs are electrically connected to the battery's positive terminal 203 and the battery's negative terminal 204, respectively.

[0079] It should be noted that when a manual maintenance switch 13 is present, the busbar 202 on the side closest to the electrical space 10a can be removed and replaced with a long conductive busbar, which can then be connected to the manual maintenance switch 13. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the electrical connection midpoint is at the front of the battery cell 201 module, which significantly reduces the length of the conductive busbar, thereby reducing the high-voltage circuit impedance and cost.

[0080] In some exemplary embodiments, adjacent battery packs are isolated by liquid cooling plates 5, the liquid inlets of adjacent liquid cooling plates 5 are connected by a first connecting pipe 501, and the liquid outlets of adjacent liquid cooling plates 5 are connected by a second connecting pipe 502.

[0081] In the above implementation, adjacent battery packs are isolated by liquid cooling plates 5, which eliminates the need for aerogel and the resulting production costs. At the same time, this arrangement of liquid cooling plates 5 allows for large-area contact with the battery cells 201, resulting in better cooling of the battery cells 201 by the liquid cooling plates 5. This helps the battery cells 201 operate at a suitable temperature, thereby extending the service life of the battery cells 201.

[0082] It should be noted that in this application, the flow channels within each liquid cooling plate 5 are U-shaped, and each liquid cooling plate 5 has an inlet and an outlet on the same side in the second direction near the electrical space 10a, as shown in the reference. Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the liquid inlets of adjacent liquid cooling plates 5 are connected through the first connecting pipe 501 and then connected to the main liquid inlet 16, and the liquid outlets of adjacent liquid cooling plates 5 are connected through the second connecting pipe 502 and then connected to the main liquid outlet 17, forming a structure in which multiple liquid cooling plates 5 are connected in series.

[0083] It should also be noted that, in order to ensure a uniform cooling effect, the first connecting pipe 501 and the second connecting pipe 502 in the middle of the second direction are both replaced by tees. The other port of one tee is connected to the main liquid inlet 16, and the other port of the other tee is connected to the main liquid inlet 16, so as to ensure the uniformity of the cooling effect on the battery cell 201.

[0084] Since adjacent battery packs are separated by liquid cooling plates 5, aerogel is unnecessary, thus mitigating the high cost associated with aerogel. Each liquid cooling plate 5 is bonded to the support plate 101 with structural adhesive, acting as a reinforcing rib to effectively prevent stress on the welding points of the cell 201 terminals 2011, thereby ensuring battery pack safety. Furthermore, eliminating aerogel allows for the reuse of the cell 201's functions, reducing the variety and cost of components.

[0085] In the above embodiment, compared with the existing bottom large cold plate cooling method, the arrangement of the liquid cooling plate 5 in this application has a large surface contact with each cell 201, which can achieve a better cooling effect. At the same time, it can improve the problem of uneven temperature between the top and bottom of the cell 201 caused by the existing bottom large cold plate, which is conducive to extending the service life of the cell 201.

[0086] In some exemplary embodiments, the battery housing 1 has a heat insulation portion 6, and along the second direction, heat insulation portions 6 are provided on both sides of the battery module 2. In one example, the heat insulation portion 6 may be an end plate fixed to the corresponding longitudinal beam 102 on the side facing the battery module 2, and may be made of a thermally insulating material with poor thermal conductivity.

[0087] Here, a heat insulation part 6 is provided inside the battery casing 1, which can better prevent the battery module 2 from exchanging heat with the environment, reduce the impact of ambient temperature on the battery casing 1, and facilitate the battery pack to work at a suitable temperature.

[0088] It is worth noting that, regarding the battery pack of this embodiment, based on the above exemplary embodiments, in specific implementation, as a preferred embodiment, it is still composed of... Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the battery pack includes a battery housing 1 and a battery module 2 disposed within the battery housing 1.

[0089] The battery module 2 includes multiple rows of battery packs arranged along a first direction. Each row of battery packs includes multiple cells 201 arranged sequentially along a second direction. Each cell 201 has a terminal post 2011 at both ends along the second direction. Each cell 201 has a safety valve 2012 on one side along a third direction. Any two of the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are arranged orthogonally.

[0090] The battery casing 1 has a support plate 101 for supporting the battery module 2, longitudinal beams 102 on two opposite sides in a first direction, and two transverse beams 103 at both ends in a second direction. The support plate 101, the longitudinal beams 102, and the two transverse beams 103 enclose a space for accommodating the battery module 2. The side of the battery module 2 with the safety valve 2012 faces the support plate 101. The support plate 101 and the sampling assembly 3 of the battery pack are respectively placed on both sides of the battery module 2 in a third direction.

[0091] The support plate 101 integrates a lower airflow channel and multiple openings 10121 that connect to the lower airflow channel. The openings 10121 correspond one-to-one with the safety valves 2012. Along the second direction, the two ends of the battery housing 1 are respectively provided with an electrical space 10a and an explosion-proof valve 4.

[0092] At least one of the longitudinal beams 102 is provided with a side airflow channel, and the transverse beam 103, which is away from the electrical space 10a, is provided with an end airflow channel and an explosion-proof valve 4. The end airflow channel is connected to the lower airflow channel through the side airflow channel. In the event of thermal runaway, the fluid ejected from the safety valve 2012 can be discharged through the lower exhaust channel, the side exhaust channel, the end exhaust channel, and the explosion-proof valve 4.

[0093] In each battery pack, cells 201 located at the same position in the second direction constitute a row of cells 201. The support plate 101 includes multiple first plates 1011 arranged at intervals along the second direction. Any adjacent first plates 1011 are connected by second plates 1012. Each second plate 1012 corresponds to one of the multiple rows of cells 201. Each second plate 1012 integrates a lower airflow channel and an opening 10121. The openings 10121 on each second plate 1012 correspond one-to-one with the safety valves 2012 on the multiple rows of cells 201, and each lower airflow channel is connected to the side airflow channel.

[0094] Each first plate 1011 and the battery module 2 are bonded together with structural adhesive, and each opening 10121 has a sealing part on its edge to seal the gap between the battery module 2 and the second plate 1012.

[0095] The sampling assembly 3 includes a plurality of sampling strips 301 arranged at intervals along a second direction, and a circuit board 302 connecting the plurality of sampling strips 301. Each sampling strip 301 extends along a first direction, and the circuit board 302 extends along a second direction. Each row of battery cells 201 has sampling strips 301 at both ends along the second direction, and each sampling strip 301 has a plurality of sampling pins 3011 arranged sequentially along the first direction. The plurality of sampling pins 3011 correspond one-to-one with the plurality of battery cells 201 in each row, and each sampling pin 3011 is connected to the terminal post 2011 of the corresponding battery cell 201.

[0096] In each battery pack, the terminals 2011 of two adjacent cells 201 are welded together, and two adjacent battery packs are connected by a busbar 202. Two adjacent battery packs are isolated by liquid cooling plates 5. The inlets of adjacent liquid cooling plates 5 are connected by a first connecting pipe 501, and the outlets of adjacent liquid cooling plates 5 are connected by a second connecting pipe 502. A heat insulation section 6 is provided inside the battery casing 1, and heat insulation sections 6 are provided on both sides of the battery module 2 along the second direction.

[0097] The advantages of this preferred embodiment over the prior art are as described above and will not be repeated here.

[0098] An embodiment of the second aspect of this application relates to an electrical device powered by a battery pack as described above.

[0099] The electrical equipment described in this application, such as vehicles, is powered by the battery pack described above. Because the power supply equipment is highly safe and reliable, it can ensure the safe and reliable operation of the electrical equipment, thereby extending the service life of the electrical equipment.

[0100] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A battery pack, characterized in that: It includes a battery housing and a battery module disposed within the battery housing; The battery module includes multiple rows of battery packs arranged along a first direction. Each row of battery packs includes multiple cells arranged sequentially along a second direction. Each cell has a terminal post at both ends along the second direction and a safety valve on one side along a third direction. Any two of the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction intersect each other. The battery casing is provided with an exhaust channel and an explosion-proof valve, and the fluid ejected from the safety valve can be discharged through the exhaust channel and the explosion-proof valve.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery casing has a support plate for supporting the battery module, longitudinal beams on two opposite sides in the first direction, and two transverse beams at both ends in the second direction. The support plate, each of the longitudinal beams and the two transverse beams enclose an accommodating space for accommodating the battery module. The side of the battery module with the safety valve is arranged facing the support plate, and the support plate and the sampling components of the battery pack are respectively placed on both sides of the battery module in the third direction.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, characterized in that: The support plate integrates a lower airflow channel and multiple openings connecting the lower airflow channel, each opening corresponding to a safety valve. Along the second direction, an electrical space and an explosion-proof valve are respectively provided at both ends of the battery casing; At least one of the longitudinal beams is provided with a side airflow channel, and the crossbeam away from the electrical space is provided with an end airflow channel and the explosion-proof valve. The end airflow channel is connected to the lower airflow channel through the side airflow channel.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, characterized in that: The cells located at the same position in the second direction in each column of the battery pack constitute a row of cells; The support plate includes a plurality of first plates arranged at intervals along a second direction, and any adjacent first plates are connected by second plates. The second plate corresponds one-to-one with the multiple rows of battery cells. Each second plate integrates the lower airflow channel and the opening. The opening on each second plate corresponds one-to-one with the safety valve on the multiple rows of battery cells, and each lower airflow channel is connected to the side airflow channel.

5. The battery pack according to claim 4, characterized in that: Each of the first plates and the battery module are bonded together with structural adhesive; and / or, Each of the openings has a sealing portion at its edge to seal the gap between the battery module and the second plate.

6. The battery pack according to claim 4, characterized in that: The sampling component includes a plurality of sampling strips arranged at intervals along a second direction, and a circuit board connecting the plurality of sampling strips; each sampling strip extends along the first direction, and the circuit board extends along the second direction; Each row of battery cells has a sampling strip at both ends along the second direction. Each sampling strip has multiple sampling pins arranged sequentially along the first direction. Each sampling pin corresponds to one of the multiple battery cells in each row, and each sampling pin is connected to the terminal of the corresponding battery cell.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The terminals of two adjacent cells in each column of the battery pack are welded together; and / or, The battery packs in two adjacent columns are connected by a busbar.

8. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adjacent rows of battery packs are isolated by liquid cooling plates. The liquid inlets of the adjacent liquid cooling plates are connected by a first connecting pipe, and the liquid outlets of the adjacent liquid cooling plates are connected by a second connecting pipe.

9. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that: The battery casing is provided with a heat insulation part, and the heat insulation part is provided on both sides of the battery module along the second direction.

10. An electrical appliance, characterized in that: The electrical equipment is powered by a battery pack as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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