Battery cell thermal runaway simulation device

Abstract

The application relates to a battery cell thermal runaway simulation device, which comprises a box body with a containing cavity for placing a battery cell; a cover body detachably connected to the box body; a plurality of adjusting members connected to the inner wall of the box body, two adjusting members respectively connected to the two side walls of the box body and oppositely arranged to form a pair, the adjusting members being provided with a plurality of insertion grooves in a first direction, the first direction being the height direction of the box body; and a moving member with two ends respectively inserted into the insertion grooves of the pair of adjusting members and used for carrying and fixing the battery cell, the moving member being selectively inserted into one of the plurality of insertion grooves to adjust the distance between the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell and the cover body. The position of the moving member relative to the box body is adjusted, so that the distance between the explosion-proof valve of the tested battery cell and the cover body is ensured, the authenticity of simulation test is improved, the thermal runaway state of the battery pack and the whole vehicle is more fitted, and the safety of the battery pack is further improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a cell thermal runaway simulation device. Background Technology

[0002] Battery thermal runaway is a major cause of fires, therefore testing batteries before use is essential. A cell thermal runaway simulator is a highly safe testing device specifically designed to simulate the thermal runaway process of a battery cell under extreme conditions, ensuring the cell's thermal safety.

[0003] To make the simulation experiment closer to the real situation, a closed small box experiment is usually used to simulate the internal volume of the box, the location and model of the explosion-proof valve, and the cooling state after thermal runaway when the whole package is thermally runaway.

[0004] However, due to the inconsistent size of the battery modules, there are inconsistencies in the height of the cell explosion-proof valve from the box cover, which affects the simulation results. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of this, the present application provides a cell thermal runaway simulation device to solve at least one problem existing in the background art.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a cell thermal runaway simulation device, the cell thermal runaway simulation device comprising: The housing has a cavity for housing the battery cells; The cover is detachably connected to the box body; Adjustable components, multiple adjustable components are connected to the inner wall of the box, and two adjustable components that are respectively connected to the two side walls of the box and are arranged opposite each other form a pair. The adjustable components are provided with multiple slots in a first direction, which is the height direction of the box. A movable component, the two ends of which are respectively inserted into the slots of a pair of adjusting components, is used to carry and fix the battery cell. The movable component can be selectively inserted into one of the multiple slots to adjust the distance between the battery cell explosion-proof valve and the cover.

[0007] In conjunction with the first aspect of this application, in an optional embodiment, the movable member has a plurality of first mounting holes; The battery cell thermal runaway simulation device also includes a plurality of first fasteners adapted to the first mounting holes, the first mounting holes cooperating with the first fasteners to fix the battery cell to the moving part.

[0008] In conjunction with the first aspect of this application, in an alternative embodiment, the adjusting member includes a plurality of crossbeams arranged in parallel along the first direction, and the gaps between adjacent crossbeams form the slot.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect of this application, in an optional embodiment, the crossbeam is provided with a protrusion in the direction away from the inner wall of the box, and the end of the moving member overlaps the protrusion.

[0010] In conjunction with the first aspect of this application, in an optional embodiment, the crossbeam is provided with a limiting groove on the side near the cover, the limiting groove being adapted to the end of the movable member to limit the displacement of the movable member.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect of this application, in an optional embodiment, the protrusion dimension of the protrusion is x, the width of the housing is a, and the length y of the moving part satisfies: a > y > a - 2x; the slots are equally spaced.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect of this application, in an alternative embodiment, the adjusting member is detachably connected to the inner wall of the housing and can be connected to different positions of the inner wall of the housing in the first direction.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect of this application, in an optional embodiment, the cell thermal runaway simulation device further includes a plurality of second locking elements; The cover has multiple second mounting holes, and the box has multiple third mounting holes corresponding to the second mounting holes. The second locking member is inserted into the second mounting holes and the third mounting holes to lock the cover and the box.

[0014] In conjunction with the first aspect of this application, in an optional embodiment, the housing is a profile, and the wall thickness of the housing is greater than or equal to 5 mm.

[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect of this application, in an optional embodiment, the cell thermal runaway simulation device further includes: An explosion-proof valve is installed on the side wall of the enclosure and connects to the receiving cavity.

[0016] A wire pass-through hole is provided in the housing to allow the wire harness to pass through, and the wire harness connects the receiving cavity to the outside of the housing; A first sealing element is connected to the wire hole to seal the wire harness and the housing.

[0017] The cell thermal runaway simulation device provided in this application embodiment makes the moving part used to support the cell adjustable by having an adjusting part with multiple slots. When the size of the cell being tested is inconsistent, the position of the moving part relative to the housing can be adjusted to ensure the distance between the explosion-proof valve of the cell being tested and the cover. This can improve the realism of the simulation test, better fit the thermal runaway state of the battery pack and the whole vehicle, and further improve the safety of the battery pack.

[0018] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments of this application and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the battery cell thermal runaway simulation device provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 An exploded view of the cell thermal runaway simulation device provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 3 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the battery cell thermal runaway simulation device provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of point A in the middle; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the adjusting component in the cell thermal runaway simulation device provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 6 A partial structural schematic diagram of the cell thermal runaway simulation device provided in the embodiments of this application, and an enlarged schematic diagram of point B in the figure.

[0020] Figure label: 10. Cell thermal runaway simulation device; 11. Enclosure; 111. Third mounting hole; 112. Wiring hole; 1a. Receiving cavity; 12. Cover; 121. Second mounting hole; 13. Adjusting component; 131. Slot; 132. Crossbeam; 1321. Clearance; 1322. Protrusion; 1323. Limiting groove; 14. Moving part; 141. First mounting hole; 15. Second locking element; 16. Explosion-proof valve; 17. Second sealing element; 171. Fourth mounting hole; 18. Handle; 19. Inlet and outlet. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the technical solution and beneficial effects of this utility model more apparent and understandable, a detailed description is provided below by listing specific embodiments. The accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and local features may be enlarged or reduced to more clearly show the details of the local features; unless otherwise defined, the technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as those in the technical field to which this application pertains.

[0022] In the description of this utility model, the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "height", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", and "counterclockwise" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the purpose of simplifying the description of this utility model and do not indicate that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. In other words, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0023] In this utility model, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating the relative importance of the indicated features or the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature specified as "first" or "second" can explicitly indicate that at least one of those features is included. In the description of this utility model, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc.; "several" means at least one, such as one, two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0024] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly defined, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," "fixing," and "setting," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can also refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0025] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly defined, the terms "above," "on top of," "above," "over," "below," "below," "below," or "below" for "first feature above second feature" can refer to direct contact between the first and second features, or indirect contact between the first and second features through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "above," and "over" for "first feature above second feature" can mean the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than the horizontal height of the second feature. Similarly, "below," "below," and "below" for "first feature below second feature" can mean the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the horizontal height of the first feature is lower than the horizontal height of the second feature.

[0026] The battery cell thermal runaway simulation device 10 provided in this application embodiment is used for battery cell thermal runaway testing, that is, testing the thermal safety of the battery cell and the battery cell insulation material in the early stage of the project.

[0027] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The battery cell thermal runaway simulation device 10 provided in this application embodiment includes a housing 11, a cover 12, an adjusting component 13, and a moving component 14.

[0028] The housing 11 has a cavity 1a for housing the battery cells. A cover 12 is detachably connected to the top of the housing 11 and covers the housing 11 to ensure that the battery cells are located within the sealed cavity 1a. The cover 12 and the housing 11 are sealed together by a second seal 17, which can be a sealing ring, but is not limited to this.

[0029] Multiple adjusting members 13 are connected to the inner wall of the housing 11. Two adjusting members 13 connected to the two side walls of the housing 11 and arranged opposite each other form a pair. The adjusting members 13 are in the first direction (i.e., Figure 2 Multiple slots 131 are provided on the Z-axis direction of the coordinate system shown in the figure, and the first direction is also the height direction of the box 11.

[0030] The two ends of the movable part 14 are respectively inserted into the slots 131 of a pair of adjusting parts 13. The movable part 14 is used to carry and fix the battery cell. The movable part 14 can be selectively inserted into one of the multiple slots 131 to adjust the distance between the battery cell explosion-proof valve and the cover 12.

[0031] The above-mentioned cell thermal runaway simulation device 10 has an adjustable movable component 14 for supporting the cell. When the size of the cell being tested is inconsistent, the position of the movable component 14 relative to the housing 11 can be adjusted to ensure the distance between the explosion-proof valve of the cell being tested and the cover 12. This can improve the realism of the simulation test, better fit the thermal runaway state of the battery pack and the whole vehicle, and further improve the safety of the battery pack.

[0032] In related technologies, the housing 11 of the cell thermal runaway simulation device 10 is mostly made of steel plate with a wall thickness of 1mm to 1.5mm. During thermal runaway, the housing 11 is prone to deformation or even damage. In the embodiment of this application, the housing 11 is a profile, with the sides made of square steel with a wall thickness greater than or equal to 5mm and the bottom made of steel plate with a thickness greater than or equal to 6mm. It is formed by welding to ensure the overall structural strength of the housing 11, which greatly reduces the probability of deformation or even damage to the housing 11 during thermal runaway during the simulation test. The housing 11 with better structural strength in the embodiment of this application can be reused, ensuring the test effect while reducing costs.

[0033] In one alternative embodiment, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4The movable component 14 has multiple first mounting holes 141. The cell thermal runaway simulation device 10 also includes multiple first fasteners (not shown in the figure) adapted to the first mounting holes 141. The first mounting holes 141 cooperate with the first fasteners to fix the cell to the movable component 14. For example, the first fasteners may be bolts, and the first mounting holes 141 may be threaded holes, but are not limited to these.

[0034] By using the first fastener to match the first mounting hole 141, the stability of the battery cell fixed on the moving part 14 can be ensured, thereby ensuring the simulation effect.

[0035] In one alternative embodiment, please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The adjusting member 13 includes multiple crossbeams 132, which are arranged in parallel along a first direction, and the gaps 1321 between adjacent crossbeams 132 form slots 131.

[0036] In the first direction (i.e., the height direction of the housing 11), multiple slots 131 are arranged in sequence. The movable part 14 can be inserted into slots 131 of different heights to adjust the distance between the cell explosion-proof valve and the cover 11 of different heights, so that the cell thermal runaway simulation device 10 is applicable to cells of various heights. At the same time, it ensures that the distance between the cell explosion-proof valve and the cover 12 is consistent during the simulation process of cells of different heights, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the simulation experiment.

[0037] Multiple crossbeams 132 are evenly spaced, meaning the slots 131 have the same height in the first direction. The number of crossbeams 132 can be set according to the size of the housing 11, for example, there can be three, four, five, or six crossbeams 132. The height of the slots 131 in the first direction can be set according to specific requirements, for example, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, or 10mm; this embodiment does not impose a specific limitation.

[0038] In one alternative embodiment, please refer to Figure 4The crossbeam 132 has a protrusion 1322 extending away from the inner wall of the housing 11. The end of the moving part 14 overlaps the protrusion 1322, increasing the contact area of ​​the moving part 14 on the crossbeam 132, making the force more even, and thus improving the contact stability between the moving part 14 and the adjusting part 13. Simultaneously, the protrusion 1322 forms a step in the horizontal direction, providing lateral restraint for the moving part 14 and reducing the probability of slippage or lateral displacement during testing. The slot 131 is formed by the gap 1321 between adjacent crossbeams 132. The protrusion 1322 is positioned away from the inner wall of the housing 11, not occupying the space of the slot 131, and does not affect the insertion depth of the moving part 14 or the height of the slot 131. The protrusion 1322 acts as a reinforcing rib or outward extension, improving bending resistance without increasing the thickness or height of the crossbeam 132. The protrusion 1322 facilitates the installation and positioning of the movable part 14. When the movable part 14 is attached to the protrusion 1322, it naturally forms an installation reference surface, which facilitates quick identification of the insertion position and improves assembly efficiency.

[0039] In one alternative embodiment, please refer to Figure 5 A limiting groove 1323 is provided on the side of the crossbeam 132 near the cover 12. The limiting groove 1323 is adapted to the end of the moving member 14 to limit the displacement of movement. It can be understood that the end of the moving member 14 slides horizontally into and is locked in the limiting groove 1323. The limiting groove 1323 can limit the movement of the moving member 14 in its width direction, further improving the contact stability between the moving member 14 and the adjusting member 13. The depth of the limiting groove 1323 can be set according to specific needs, and this embodiment does not specifically limit it.

[0040] In one alternative embodiment, please refer to Figure 6 The protrusion dimension of the protrusion 1322 is x (that is, Figure 6 The width of box 11 is a (as shown in the figure, x), which is a). Figure 6 As shown in a), the length of the moving part 14 is y (that is, Figure 6 As shown in the figure, y satisfies that it is less than a and greater than a minus 2x.

[0041] The relationship between the protrusion size of the protrusion 1322, the width of the box 11, and the length of the moving part 14 ensures that when the moving part 14 overlaps the crossbeam 132, its end protrudes beyond the protrusion 1322 in the length direction of the moving part 14, thus ensuring the contact stability between the moving part 14 and the crossbeam 132.

[0042] In an optional embodiment, the adjusting member 13 is detachably connected to the inner wall of the housing 11 and can be connected to different positions on the inner wall of the housing 11 in the first direction. The connection method between the adjusting member 13 and the housing 11 is not limited in this embodiment; for example, it may be a bolt.

[0043] The adjustment element 13 can be connected to different positions on the inner wall of the housing 11 in the first direction, which can increase the adjustment range and thus make it suitable for simulation testing of more sized cells.

[0044] In one optional embodiment, the cell thermal runaway simulation device 10 further includes a plurality of second locking members 15. The cover 12 has a plurality of second mounting holes 121, and the housing 11 has a plurality of third mounting holes 111 corresponding to the second mounting holes 121. The second locking members 15 are inserted into the second mounting holes 121 and the third mounting holes 111 to lock the cover 12 and the housing 11. In another optional embodiment, a second sealing member 17 is provided between the cover 12 and the housing 11. The second sealing member 17 has a plurality of fourth mounting holes 171 corresponding to the second mounting holes 121. The second locking members 15 are sequentially inserted into the second mounting holes 121, the fourth mounting holes 171, and the third mounting holes 111 to lock the cover 12, the second sealing member 17, and the housing 11. Exemplarily, the second locking member 15 is a bolt, the second mounting holes 121 and the third mounting holes 111 are threaded holes, and the second sealing member 17 is silicone, but it is not limited to these.

[0045] Multiple second locking elements 15 are used in conjunction with multiple second mounting holes 121 and a third mounting hole 111 to ensure a secure connection between the cover 12 and the housing 11. A second sealing element 17 is provided between the cover 12 and the housing 11 to ensure a tight seal, further guaranteeing the effectiveness of the cell simulation. Disassembly only requires removing the second locking elements 15; the cover 12 and housing 11 automatically separate without any risk of damage. The cell thermal runaway simulation device 10 can be reused, ensuring testing effectiveness while reducing costs.

[0046] In an optional embodiment, the cell thermal runaway simulation device 10 further includes an explosion-proof valve 16, a wire hole 112, and a first seal.

[0047] The explosion-proof valve 16 is located on the side wall of the housing 11 and is connected to the accommodating cavity 1a. The housing 11 is equipped with the explosion-proof valve 16, which can more realistically and accurately simulate the internal volume of the battery pack and the exhaust channel after thermal runaway, and more closely match the state of the battery pack after thermal runaway.

[0048] A wire hole 112 is provided in the housing 11 for the wire harness to pass through, and the wire harness connects the receiving cavity 1a to the outside of the housing 11. The housing 11 is provided with a wire hole 112 to facilitate the arrangement of the wire harness, which can be a temperature sensing wire, voltage wire, etc.

[0049] The first sealing element is connected to the wire hole 112 to seal the wire harness and the housing 11. For example, the material of the first sealing element can be clay, silicone foam, etc., but it is not limited to these.

[0050] In one alternative embodiment, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 Both the housing 11 and the cover 12 are equipped with handles 18 for easy handling and transfer. The housing 11 is also connected to inlet and outlet water ports 19, which are used to connect to a liquid cooling system (not shown in the figure), consistent with the design of the battery pack, and closely aligned with the overall battery pack experiment.

[0051] It should be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and are not intended to encompass all possible implementations included in the claims. Various modifications and changes can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Similarly, the various technical features of the above embodiments can be arbitrarily combined to form other embodiments of this application that may not be explicitly described. Therefore, the above embodiments only illustrate several implementations of this application and do not limit the scope of protection of this patent application.

Claims

1. An electrochemical cell thermal runaway simulation apparatus, comprising: The cell thermal runaway simulation device (10) includes: The housing (11) has a receiving cavity (1a) for placing the battery cells. The cover (12) is detachably connected to the box (11); Adjustment component (13), multiple adjustment components (13) are connected to the inner wall of the box (11), and two adjustment components (13) connected to the two side walls of the box (11) and arranged opposite each other form a pair. The adjustment component (13) is provided with multiple slots (131) in a first direction, which is the height direction of the box (11). The movable part (14) is inserted into the slots (131) of a pair of adjusting parts (13) at both ends, and is used to carry and fix the battery cell. The movable part (14) can be selectively inserted into one of the multiple slots (131) to adjust the distance between the battery cell explosion-proof valve and the cover (12).

2. The cell thermal runaway simulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The movable part (14) has a plurality of first mounting holes (141). The battery cell thermal runaway simulation device (10) further includes a plurality of first fasteners adapted to the first mounting hole (141), the first mounting hole (141) cooperating with the first fasteners to fix the battery cell onto the moving part (14).

3. The cell thermal runaway simulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The adjusting member (13) includes multiple crossbeams (132) arranged in parallel along the first direction, and the gap (1321) between adjacent crossbeams (132) forms the slot (131).

4. The cell thermal runaway simulation device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The crossbeam (132) has a protrusion (1322) protruding in the direction away from the inner wall of the box (11), and the end of the moving part (14) overlaps the protrusion (1322).

5. The cell thermal runaway simulation apparatus of claim 3, wherein, The crossbeam (132) has a limiting groove (1323) on the side near the cover (12). The limiting groove (1323) is adapted to the end of the moving part (14) to limit the displacement of the moving part (14).

6. The cell thermal runaway simulation apparatus of claim 4, wherein, The protrusion dimension of the protrusion (1322) is x, the width of the box (11) is a, and the length y of the moving part (14) satisfies: a>y>a-2x; the slots (131) are evenly spaced.

7. The cell thermal runaway simulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The adjusting member (13) is detachably connected to the inner wall of the box (11) and can be connected to different positions of the inner wall of the box (11) in the first direction.

8. The cell thermal runaway simulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The cell thermal runaway simulation device (10) also includes multiple second locking elements (15); The cover (12) has a plurality of second mounting holes (121), and the box (11) has a plurality of third mounting holes (111) corresponding to the second mounting holes (121). The second locking member (15) is inserted into the second mounting hole (121) and the third mounting hole (111) to lock the cover (12) and the box (11).

9. The cell thermal runaway simulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The box body (11) is a profile, and the wall thickness of the box body (11) is greater than or equal to 5mm.

10. The cell thermal runaway simulation apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The cell thermal runaway simulation device (10) also includes: An explosion-proof valve (16) is disposed on the side wall of the housing (11) and connected to the accommodating cavity (1a). A wire hole (112) is provided in the housing (11) for the wire harness to pass through, the wire harness connecting the receiving cavity (1a) and the outside of the housing (11); A first sealing element is connected to the wire hole (112) to seal the wire harness to the housing (11).

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