A heat management structure, a battery pack and an electric device

Abstract

The application provides a heat management structure, a battery pack and a power consumption equipment, relates to the technical field of batteries, and the heat management structure comprises a cold plate, the cold plate has a cooling cavity and an exhaust cavity, the cooling cavity is located on the side of the exhaust cavity close to a battery module, the cooling cavity is in thermal conduction with the battery module, is used for cooling the battery module, the exhaust cavity is used for receiving thermal runaway flue gas discharged by the battery module and guiding the thermal runaway flue gas to leave the battery pack, so that the high-temperature thermal runaway flue gas generated by thermal runaway of the battery cell is cooled before being discharged, the influence of the thermal runaway flue gas on the battery pack can be reduced, and the safety of the battery pack in use is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a thermal management structure, a battery pack, and an electrical device. Background Technology

[0002] During battery pack operation, overcharging, short circuits, or external impacts can cause thermal runaway in battery cells, generating high-temperature gases, solid particles, and flammable gases. If not handled promptly and effectively, this can lead to heat diffusion, a sudden rise in battery pack temperature, or even fire and explosion.

[0003] In related technologies, battery packs typically include a tray and multiple battery cells housed within the tray. Side beams and crossbeams are installed on the tray. High-temperature gases generated by thermal runaway of the battery cells need to be guided through the side beams and crossbeams to an explosion-proof valve for discharge. The high-temperature gases need to travel a long path, causing the temperature of the battery pack to rise rapidly. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a thermal management structure, a battery pack, and an electrical device to solve the problem that the high-temperature gas generated during thermal runaway of the battery cell causes the temperature of the battery pack to rise rapidly.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a thermal management structure applied to a battery pack, the battery pack including at least one battery module, the thermal management structure including a cold plate, the cold plate having a cooling cavity and an exhaust cavity, the cooling cavity being located on the side of the exhaust cavity close to the battery module, the cooling cavity being used to cool the battery module, and the exhaust cavity being used to receive thermal runaway flue gas discharged from the battery module and guide the thermal runaway flue gas away from the exhaust cavity.

[0006] In one possible implementation, the system further includes a guide flue, which is provided with a first exhaust port and a plurality of first air inlets. The battery module includes a plurality of battery cells, and the plurality of first air inlets are used to communicate one-to-one with the first explosion-proof valves of the plurality of battery cells. The first exhaust port is connected to the exhaust chamber.

[0007] In one possible implementation, the guide flue includes:

[0008] A connecting part, wherein a connecting channel is provided in the connecting part, and a first exhaust port is provided on the connecting part and communicates with the connecting channel;

[0009] Multiple smoke guides are arranged sequentially along the extension direction of the connecting portion and communicate with the connecting channel. Multiple first air inlets are correspondingly provided on the multiple smoke guides, and the multiple smoke guides are used to extend to the outside of the multiple first explosion-proof valves.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the smoke guide is rectangular, and the smoke guide is provided on one side of the first air inlet for contact with the surface of the battery cell.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the connecting channel includes multiple sub-channels, and two adjacent smoke guides are connected through the sub-channels;

[0012] Multiple first exhaust ports are provided, and multiple first exhaust ports and multiple sub-channels are arranged alternately along the extension direction of the connecting part.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules, and a plurality of exhaust chambers are provided, wherein the plurality of exhaust chambers are configured to receive thermal runaway flue gas discharged by the plurality of battery modules in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the cold plate comprises:

[0015] A first cover, which is used to contact the battery module;

[0016] A flow channel plate, which is connected to the first cover and forms the cooling cavity between the flow channel plate and the first cover;

[0017] The second cover is connected to the flow channel plate on the side opposite to the first cover, and forms the exhaust chamber between the second cover and the flow channel plate.

[0018] In a second aspect, this application provides a battery pack, including a tray and at least one battery module, and a thermal management structure as described in any of the first aspects, wherein the thermal management structure and the battery module are both located within the tray, a cooling chamber is thermally connected to the battery module for cooling the battery module, and an exhaust chamber is used to receive thermal runaway fumes discharged from the battery module.

[0019] In one possible implementation, a second explosion-proof valve is provided on the side beam of the tray, and a second exhaust port is provided on the exhaust chamber. The second exhaust port is used to communicate with the second explosion-proof valve through a channel in the side beam.

[0020] The second explosion-proof valve is located in the middle of the side beam, or the number of the second explosion-proof valves is greater than or equal to the number of the exhaust chambers, and the second exhaust port of each exhaust chamber is correspondingly arranged and connected to at least one second explosion-proof valve.

[0021] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide an electrical device, including an electrical appliance and the battery pack described in the second aspect, wherein the battery pack is used to supply power to the electrical appliance.

[0022] The thermal management structure, battery pack, and electrical equipment provided in this application include a cold plate with a cooling chamber and an exhaust chamber. The cooling chamber supplies refrigerant. One side of the cooling chamber is thermally connected to the battery modules of the battery pack for cooling the modules, while the other side is adjacent to the exhaust chamber for cooling the gas inside. Specifically, the cooling chamber is located on the side of the exhaust chamber closer to the battery modules. The exhaust chamber receives the high-temperature thermal runaway gas emitted from the battery modules. This thermal runaway gas enters the exhaust chamber from the battery modules' exhaust ports and is cooled by the cold plate. The refrigerant inside the cooling chamber cools the gas, allowing the temperature of the thermal runaway gas to drop rapidly, reducing the concentration of combustibles and preventing the thermal runaway gas from affecting the temperature of the entire battery pack. After cooling, the thermal runaway gas can leave the exhaust chamber under the guidance of the exhaust chamber, preventing it from accumulating inside the battery pack and ensuring normal air pressure in both the exhaust chamber and the battery pack. At the same time, after the thermal runaway gas enters the exhaust chamber, there is a lower-temperature cooling chamber separating the exhaust chamber from the battery module, which can further reduce the impact of high-temperature thermal runaway gas on the battery module, thereby effectively improving the safety of the battery pack. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a thermal runaway flue gas flow direction diagram provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the cold plate provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the guide flue in the cold plate provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the guide flue and the battery cell in the cold plate provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0028] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the cold plate and battery module provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 6 A partial cross-sectional view of the cold plate provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the control process for the cold plate provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0031] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0032] 100-Cold plate, 110-Cooling chamber, 120-Exhaust chamber, 121-Second exhaust port, 122-Second air inlet, 130-Guide flue, 131-Connecting part, 132-Fume guide part, 1321-First air inlet, 133-Connecting channel, 1331-First exhaust port, 1332-Sub-channel, 140-First cover, 150-Flow channel plate, 160-Second cover, 210-Battery module, 211-Battery cell, 2111-First explosion-proof valve, 2112-Connecting piece, 220-Side beam, 230-Second explosion-proof valve.

[0033] The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of this application to those skilled in the art through reference to particular embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0035] Definitions:

[0036] Cell thermal runaway: refers to the phenomenon that the temperature of a battery cell rises uncontrollably due to a chain reaction of internal heat release. In this process, high-temperature thermal runaway fumes are generated. Thermal runaway fumes are essentially a mixture of gases and solid particles released after the internal materials of the battery undergo violent chemical reactions, decomposition, and combustion at extreme high temperatures. Both their temperature and composition are highly hazardous.

[0037] As described in the background section, the high-temperature gas generated by the thermal runaway of the battery cells in the battery pack needs to be guided through the side beams and cross beams to the explosion-proof valve for discharge. The high-temperature gas has to travel a long path, which will transfer heat to other non-faulty cells or other components of the battery pack, causing the overall temperature of the battery pack to rise rapidly, which can easily lead to accidents such as explosions and seriously affect the safety of battery pack use.

[0038] In related technologies, there is also a solution that sets a liquid cooling plate on the side of the battery pack and forms a flue between the liquid cooling plate and the battery module to discharge thermal runaway flue gas. However, in this method, the flue is located between the battery module and the liquid cooling plate, and the liquid cooling plate needs to be placed on the side of the battery module. This method is not suitable for direct cooling of the top or bottom surface, such as short blade modules. Furthermore, there is a risk that the high-temperature thermal runaway flue gas will spread to the adjacent cells, which may cause thermal runaway of the adjacent cells.

[0039] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a thermal management structure. A cold plate is incorporated, containing a cooling chamber and an exhaust chamber. The cooling chamber supplies refrigerant. On opposite sides of the cooling chamber, one side cools the battery modules of the battery pack, while the other side is adjacent to the exhaust chamber to cool the gas within it. The exhaust chamber receives high-temperature thermal runaway gas emitted from the battery modules. This thermal runaway gas enters the exhaust chamber from the battery module exit and is cooled by the refrigerant within the cooling chamber. This rapid temperature reduction prevents the thermal runaway gas from affecting the overall temperature of the battery pack. The cooled thermal runaway gas is guided out of the exhaust chamber, preventing accumulation within the battery pack and ensuring normal air pressure in both the exhaust chamber and the battery pack. This effectively improves the safety of the battery pack and does not interfere with the cold plate's normal cooling of the battery modules, thus ensuring the normal operation of the battery pack.

[0040] The thermal management structure provided in this application embodiment can be applied to various battery packs, as long as they require the use of a cold plate to control the temperature.

[0041] The battery pack can also be used to power electrical equipment, including but not limited to new energy vehicles, new energy construction machinery, and aerospace equipment.

[0042] The technical solution of this application and how the technical solution of this application solves the above-mentioned technical problems are described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments. The embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] This application provides a thermal management structure for use in a battery pack, the battery pack including at least one battery module 210.

[0044] The battery module 210 is the core energy unit of the battery pack. It is composed of multiple cells 211 connected in series or parallel and is responsible for storing and outputting electrical energy.

[0045] The 211 battery cell consists of components such as a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and an electrolyte. The main function of the positive electrode is to provide lithium ions when the 211 battery cell is discharged, and the main function of the negative electrode is to store lithium ions.

[0046] There are many common cathode materials, such as lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), which has advantages such as high operating voltage, stable charge and discharge voltage, suitability for high-current charge and discharge, high specific energy, and good cycle performance; lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), with its high energy density, excellent safety, and low price, is widely used in the field of power batteries; ternary materials (such as lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM) and lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA)) have the characteristics of high energy density and strong performance, and are often used in high-end electric vehicles and other fields. In practical applications, these cathode materials are usually coated on aluminum foil. Aluminum foil not only has good conductivity, which can efficiently collect and conduct current, but also provides stable physical support for the cathode material, ensuring the structural stability of the cathode during battery charge and discharge.

[0047] Graphite is the most common anode material, possessing advantages such as low cost, high crystallinity, low lithium intercalation potential, and stable charge / discharge platform, providing stable energy storage capacity for the 211 battery cell. Furthermore, silicon-based materials, with their theoretical capacity as high as 4200 mAh / g (compared to graphite's 372 mAh / g), are considered the next generation of high-energy anode materials; however, they also suffer from high expansion rates and short cycle life, and are currently still in the research and improvement stage. Anode materials are generally coated on copper foil. Copper foil, as the anode current collector, similar to aluminum foil, possesses good conductivity and a soft texture, and is relatively inexpensive. Simultaneously, copper is relatively stable in air, showing virtually no reaction in dry air, and exhibits only a small lithium intercalation capacity during battery charge / discharge, maintaining structural and electrochemical stability, thus meeting the requirements for anode current collectors.

[0048] A separator is a thin polymer film with a microporous structure located between the positive and negative electrodes. Common separator materials mainly include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and their composite materials.

[0049] The electrolyte is the carrier of ion transport in the 211 battery cell. It is generally prepared by mixing high-purity organic solvents, electrolyte lithium salts and necessary additives in a certain proportion under certain conditions.

[0050] Heat is generated during the charging and discharging process of cell 211. If the temperature is too high, it will affect the charging and discharging performance of cell 211. The thermal management structure can cool down cell 211 when the temperature is too high, so that it can be kept at a suitable operating temperature.

[0051] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the thermal management structure includes a cold plate 100, which has a cooling chamber 110 and an exhaust chamber 120. The cooling chamber 110 is used to supply refrigerant flow. On one side of the opposite sides of the cooling chamber 110, it is adjacent to and thermally connected to the battery module 210 to cool the battery module 210. The other side is adjacent to the exhaust chamber 120. That is, the cooling chamber 110 is located on the side of the exhaust chamber 120 closer to the battery module 210 and is thermally connected to the battery module 210. The exhaust chamber 120 is used to receive the thermal runaway flue gas discharged from the battery module 210 and guide the thermal runaway flue gas away from the battery pack.

[0052] For example, the exhaust chamber 120 may be connected to a channel that allows the exhaust gas to be discharged to the outside of the battery pack, or the exhaust chamber 120 may discharge the exhaust gas to the outside of the battery pack via the second explosion-proof valve 230 of the battery pack.

[0053] The refrigerant can be a 50% ethylene glycol solution or R134a, which are common media used for battery pack cooling.

[0054] For example, the cold plate 100 can be a plate-shaped component attached to the top or bottom of the battery module 210. The plate-shaped component forms a stacked cooling cavity 110 and an exhaust cavity 120 inside. The cooling cavity 110 is located on the side of the cold plate 100 that is attached to the battery module 210, while the exhaust cavity 120 is located on the side of the cooling cavity 110 that is away from the battery module 210.

[0055] When thermal runaway occurs in cell 211 of battery module 210, the high-temperature thermal runaway flue gas discharged from cell 211 will directly enter the exhaust chamber 120. When the thermal runaway flue gas flows in the exhaust chamber 120, since the exhaust chamber 120 is adjacent to the cooling chamber 110, it can exchange heat with the refrigerant in the cooling chamber 110, which significantly reduces the temperature of the thermal runaway flue gas. After cooling, the thermal runaway flue gas flows to the exhaust position corresponding to the exhaust chamber 120 and leaves the exhaust chamber 120, and will not accumulate in the exhaust chamber 120.

[0056] Meanwhile, the cooling chamber 110 is located between the exhaust chamber 120 and the battery module 210. The cooling chamber 110, which reduces the temperature, separates the high-temperature thermal runaway flue gas from the battery module 210, which helps to reduce the impact of the high-temperature thermal runaway flue gas on the adjacent cells 211 of the thermal runaway cell 211, thereby preventing the spread of thermal runaway.

[0057] In addition, the exhaust chamber 120 is located on the side of the cooling chamber 110 away from the battery module 210, so it will not affect the normal cooling of the battery module 210 by the cold plate 100, and will not affect the normal use of the battery pack.

[0058] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this application, the battery pack includes multiple battery modules 210, and multiple exhaust chambers 120 are provided, and the multiple exhaust chambers 120 are used to receive the thermal runaway flue gas discharged by the multiple battery modules 210 in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0059] For example, two battery modules 210 are arranged side by side in the battery pack. At this time, two exhaust chambers 120 are arranged side by side, and each exhaust chamber 120 is independently connected to the explosion-proof valve of one battery module 210.

[0060] Understandably, the battery module 210 can also be set to 3 or more, which can be adjusted according to the usage requirements of the battery pack. It is only necessary to increase the number of exhaust chambers 120 according to the number of battery modules 210.

[0061] When a thermal runaway occurs in a battery module 210, the generated high-temperature thermal runaway fumes will directly enter the corresponding exhaust chamber 120 instead of other exhaust chambers 120. This can further prevent adverse effects on other nearby battery modules 210 that have not experienced thermal runaway, avoid simultaneous thermal runaway in adjacent battery modules 210, and further improve the safety of battery pack use.

[0062] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this application, the thermal management structure further includes a guide flue 130, on which a first exhaust port 1331 and a plurality of first air inlets 1321 are provided. The battery module 210 includes a plurality of battery cells 211. The plurality of first air inlets 1321 are used to communicate one-to-one with the first explosion-proof valves 2111 of the plurality of battery cells 211. The first exhaust port 1331 is connected to the exhaust chamber 120.

[0063] The battery module 210 is connected to the exhaust chamber 120 through the guide flue 130. At the same time, the multiple first air inlets 1321 on the guide flue correspond one-to-one with the first explosion-proof valves 2111 of the multiple battery cells 211 and are independently connected. Thus, the thermal runaway flue gas is sent into the exhaust chamber 120 through an independent channel for each battery cell 211, which can prevent the thermal runaway flue gas from directly contacting the adjacent battery cells 211 and causing the adjacent battery cells 211 to thermal runaway.

[0064] Meanwhile, after the thermal runaway fumes leave the battery cell 211 through the first explosion-proof valve 2111, they directly enter the guide flue 130 through the first air inlet 1321, and then enter the exhaust chamber 120 through the first exhaust port 1331. They will not spread to the connecting piece 2112 of the battery module 210 connecting the adjacent battery cell 211 and the BIC board (short for Battery Information Collector), which can avoid high-voltage arcing and fire, and effectively improve the safety of battery pack use.

[0065] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this application, the guide flue 130 includes a connecting portion 131 and a plurality of smoke guiding portions 132.

[0066] A connecting channel 133 is provided inside the connecting part 131. The first exhaust port 1331 is located on the connecting part 131 and communicates with the connecting channel 133. That is, the connecting channel 133 can communicate with the exhaust chamber 120 through the first exhaust port 1331.

[0067] Multiple smoke guides 132 are arranged sequentially along the extension direction of the connecting part 131 and are connected to the connecting channel 133. Multiple first air inlets 1321 are correspondingly provided on the multiple smoke guides 132. The multiple smoke guides 132 are used to extend to the outside of the multiple first explosion-proof valves 2111, so that the first air inlets 1321 and the explosion-proof valves of the battery cell 211 can be connected one by one.

[0068] For example, the multiple cells 211 of the battery module 210 are arranged sequentially along the first direction, and the connecting part 131 also extends along the first direction. It is only necessary to adjust the gap between the smoke guides 132 arranged sequentially on the connecting part 131 along the first direction so that a smoke guide 132 is provided on the outside of the first explosion-proof valve 2111 of each cell 211, thereby facilitating the communication between the first air inlet 1321 on the smoke guide 132 and the first explosion-proof valve 2111 of the corresponding cell 211.

[0069] The core function of the first explosion-proof valve 2111 is to release pressure by rupturing or opening when the internal pressure / temperature of the battery cell 211 is too high, thus preventing the battery cell 211 from exploding. The shape of the first explosion-proof valve 2111 can be adapted to the overall structure of the battery cell 211 to balance pressure relief efficiency and the strength of the battery cell 211 shell.

[0070] In applications, the first explosion-proof valve 2111 is usually elliptical or rectangular in shape. In order to adapt to the shape of the first explosion-proof valve 2111, the smoke guide part 132 is set as rectangular, and the guide part is provided with the first air inlet 1321 on one side for contact with the surface of the battery cell 211.

[0071] For example, the smoke guide 132 is provided with an opening on the side of the battery cell 211 that is in contact with it, forming a first air inlet 1321. When the smoke guide 132 is in contact with the surface of the battery cell 211, the smoke guide 132 covers the outside of the first explosion-proof valve 2111 from the side of the first air inlet 1321, and is sealed to the surface of the battery cell 211 by common methods such as sealing rings, adhesives, and welding. This allows the thermal runaway smoke discharged from the first explosion-proof valve 2111 to directly enter the smoke guide 132 without leaking from the connection between the first air inlet 1321 and the first explosion-proof valve 2111, thus preventing the thermal runaway smoke from affecting the adjacent battery cell 211.

[0072] It is understandable that the first explosion-proof valve 2111 can also be set to a circular or other shape. In this case, the smoke guide part 132 can also be adjusted to a shape that is compatible with the first explosion-proof valve 2111. The above is just an example and not a limitation.

[0073] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this application, the connecting channel 133 includes a plurality of sub-channels 1332, and two adjacent smoke guides 132 are connected through the sub-channels 1332. That is, the thermal runaway flue gas entering the connecting part 131 from the smoke guide 132 can be merged in the connecting channel 133 and then enter the exhaust chamber 120 through the first exhaust port 1331.

[0074] At this point, the number of first exhaust ports 1331 can be reduced.

[0075] For example, one or more first exhaust ports 1331 may be provided on the connecting part 131. The number of first exhaust ports 1331 is less than the number of smoke guide parts 132. The thermal runaway flue gas entering the sub-channel 1332 flows sequentially along the sub-channel 1332 in the connecting part 131 until it completely passes through the first exhaust port 1331 and enters the exhaust chamber 120.

[0076] For example, multiple first exhaust ports 1331 are provided, and multiple first exhaust ports 1331 and multiple sub-channels 1332 are arranged alternately along the extending direction of the connecting portion 131.

[0077] After the thermal runaway flue gas enters the smoke guide section 132 through a certain first exhaust port 1331, it will enter the exhaust chamber 120 through the corresponding first exhaust port 1331. However, due to the size limitation of the first exhaust port 1331, if the thermal runaway flue gas cannot be discharged in time through the first exhaust port 1331, the remaining thermal runaway flue gas can enter the sub-channels 1332 on both sides of the corresponding smoke guide section 132 and enter the exhaust chamber 120 through the remaining first exhaust ports 1331, thus preventing the thermal runaway flue gas from staying in the guide flue 130 for a long time.

[0078] In application, the first exhaust port 1331 can be correspondingly set at the top or bottom of the smoke guide 132, and there is a gap between adjacent smoke guides 132. The sub-channel 1332 is located in the area where the connecting part 131 is not provided with a smoke guide 132, that is, at the gap.

[0079] This allows the gas entering the flue gas duct 132 to directly enter the exhaust chamber 120 through the first exhaust port 1331, and the remaining thermal runaway flue gas can quickly leave through the two side sub-channels 1332 and enter the exhaust chamber 120 through other first exhaust ports 1331, thus shortening the residence time of the thermal runaway flue gas in the guide flue 130.

[0080] The installation methods for the guide flue 130 include, but are not limited to, the following two methods:

[0081] For example, the smoke guide 132 and the battery cell 211 are connected by common methods such as adhesive or snap-fit. The connecting part 131 is fixedly connected to the surface of the cold plate 100 by adhesive or welding at the position where the first exhaust port 1331 is set. A smoke passage is provided in the cooling chamber 110. The smoke passage is independent of the cooling chamber 110. The inlet end of the smoke passage is connected to the first exhaust port 1331. The outlet end of the smoke passage extends into the exhaust chamber 120 or communicates with the second air inlet 122 provided on the exhaust chamber 120 so that thermal runaway smoke is sent into the exhaust chamber 120 through the second air inlet 122.

[0082] For example, the smoke guide 132 and the battery cell 211 are connected by common methods such as adhesive bonding and snap-fitting. The connecting part 131 is provided with an outward protrusion. The smoke guide 132 and the battery cell 211 are connected by common methods such as adhesive bonding and snap-fitting. The outward protrusion passes through the cooling cavity 110 but is not connected to the cooling cavity 110. The outward protrusion is connected to the sub-channel 1332 and the smoke guide 132. A first exhaust port 1331 is provided at the end of the outward protrusion away from the connecting part 131. The first exhaust port 1331 extends into the exhaust cavity 120 or is connected to the second air inlet 122 of the exhaust cavity 120.

[0083] The protruding part can be connected to the cold plate 100 by common methods such as gluing or welding.

[0084] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this application, the cold plate 100 includes a first cover 140, a flow channel plate 150, and a second cover 160.

[0085] The first cover 140 is used to contact the battery module 210, and this contact includes both direct contact and indirect contact.

[0086] Normally, the first cover 140 is difficult to make complete contact with the battery cell 211 in the battery module 210, and there will be a very thin air layer. In order to improve the temperature control effect, a thermally conductive pad made of thermally conductive material or a structural adhesive with good thermal conductivity can be added between the battery cell 211 and the first cover 140.

[0087] The flow channel plate 150 is connected to the first cover 140, for example by common methods such as welding. A cooling cavity 110 is formed between the flow channel plate 150 and the first cover 140. The shape of the flow channel plate 150 can be designed to form a unique refrigerant flow channel in the cooling cavity 110 to better guide the flow of refrigerant and effectively dissipate heat from the battery cell 211.

[0088] For example, the flow channel plate 150 can be configured to be wavy.

[0089] The second cover 160 is connected to the flow channel plate 150 on the side opposite to the first cover 140, and forms an exhaust chamber 120 between the second cover 160 and the flow channel plate 150.

[0090] The shape of the exhaust chamber 120 can be determined by the shape of the flow channel plate 150 on the side away from the first cover 140. Both the first cover 140 and the second cover 160 can be ordinary plate structures, or have flanges added to their edges. The flanges are then welded to the flow channel plate 150, so that the cooling chamber 110 and the exhaust chamber 120 have a certain thickness.

[0091] Of course, a special-shaped exhaust channel, such as a serpentine exhaust channel, can be formed by adding a baffle in the exhaust chamber 120 to prolong the residence time of the thermal runaway flue gas in the exhaust chamber 120 and effectively reduce the temperature of the thermal runaway flue gas.

[0092] It is understandable that when multiple exhaust chambers 120 are provided, a flange can be provided on the corresponding area of ​​the second cover 160, and after the flange is welded to the second flow channel plate 150, it can be divided into multiple independent exhaust chambers 120. Alternatively, multiple second covers 160 can be provided, with each second cover 160 forming an independent exhaust chamber 120 between itself and the flow channel plate 150, and the exhaust chamber 120 being located directly above or below the corresponding battery module 210.

[0093] This application embodiment also provides a battery pack, including a tray and at least one battery module 210, as well as a thermal management structure in the above embodiment. The thermal management structure and the battery module 210 are both located in the tray. The cooling chamber 110 is adjacent to the battery module 210 on one side to cool the battery module 210. The exhaust chamber 120 is used to receive the thermal runaway flue gas discharged from the battery module 210, and to cool the thermal runaway flue gas before discharging it from the battery pack.

[0094] The tray typically includes a body, side beams 220, and crossbeams. The side beams 220 and crossbeams are located on the body to form a cavity for mounting the battery module 210. The side beams 220 typically extend along the length of the body, and the crossbeams extend along the width of the body.

[0095] Of course, the battery pack usually also includes common components such as a top cover and a battery management system. The top cover can be placed on the tray to protect the battery module 210.

[0096] A second explosion-proof valve 230 is provided on the side beam 220 of the tray, and a channel communicating with the second explosion-proof valve 230 is provided in the side beam 220 of the tray. The inlet end of the channel is also connected to the second exhaust port 121 of the exhaust chamber 120. The second exhaust port 121 is used to discharge the thermal runaway flue gas in the exhaust chamber 120 after cooling.

[0097] After thermal runaway in cell 211, the exhaust path is as follows: Figure 1 As shown by the middle arrow, the high-temperature thermal runaway flue gas discharged from cell 211 enters the guide flue 130 through the first air inlet 1321, and enters the exhaust chamber 120 through the first exhaust port 1331. During the process of the thermal runaway flue gas flowing in the exhaust chamber 120 to the second exhaust port 121, it will be cooled by the refrigerant in the cooling chamber 110, which will reduce its temperature and separate some combustible flue gas. Then, it enters the channel inside the side beam 220 through the second exhaust port 121, and finally is discharged to the outside of the tray through the second explosion-proof valve 230, thereby discharging the battery pack.

[0098] For example, in order to effectively shorten the emission path of high-temperature gas, a second explosion-proof valve 230 can be installed in the middle of the side beam 220.

[0099] For example, two cavities for placing battery modules 210 are formed inside the tray. There are two battery modules 210, and the two battery modules 210 are arranged along the length of the side beam 220. At this time, the exhaust chamber 120 is also set on both sides of the middle of the side beam 220. By setting the first explosion-proof valve 2111 in the middle of the side beam 220, the length of the channel inside the side beam 220 can be shortened, so that the thermal runaway smoke can leave the tray quickly.

[0100] Of course, in order to avoid mutual interference between exhaust chambers 120, multiple second explosion-proof valves 230 can be installed on the side beam 220, and multiple independent channels can be installed in the side beam 220 to connect different second explosion-proof valves 230 and exhaust chambers 120 respectively, so that the exhaust paths of each exhaust chamber 120 complement each other.

[0101] For example, one side beam 220 is provided on each of the opposite sides of the pallet, and a second explosion-proof valve 230 is provided in the middle of each of the two side beams 220. The two exhaust chambers 120 are connected to the corresponding second explosion-proof valves 230 through the channels in the two side beams 220.

[0102] For example, the second explosion-proof valve 230 is disposed opposite to the second exhaust port 121.

[0103] When multiple battery modules 210 are provided, multiple exhaust chambers 120 are also provided. At this time, one or more second explosion-proof valves 230 are provided for each exhaust chamber 120. That is, the second exhaust port 121 of each exhaust chamber 120 is connected to one or more second explosion-proof valves 230, and the second explosion-proof valves 230 and the second exhaust ports 121 are arranged opposite to each other. The relative arrangement here means that, along the extension direction of the crossbeam, the second explosion-proof valves 230 at least partially overlap with the second exhaust ports 121.

[0104] At this point, the channel connecting the second explosion-proof valve 230 and the second exhaust port 121 within the side beam 220 can be further shortened, and the exhaust efficiency can be improved.

[0105] It is understandable that one or more second exhaust ports 121 can be provided on each exhaust chamber 120, and the specific configuration can be adjusted according to the actual situation.

[0106] The second exhaust port 121 is usually located on the side perpendicular to the extension direction of the exhaust chamber 120 and the connecting part 131, that is, on the side parallel to the side beam 220. In this way, when guide flues 130 are provided on both sides of the exhaust chamber 120, the thermal runaway flue gas entering the exhaust chamber 120 from both sides can be collected and discharged from the second exhaust port 121.

[0107] This prevents the high-temperature thermal runaway fumes generated by the thermal runaway of cell 211 from being directly discharged into the tray or into the gap between battery module 210 and the top cover, thus preventing the battery pack temperature from becoming too high and avoiding thermal diffusion.

[0108] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 7 As shown, a voltage sensor and / or a pressure sensor can also be added to the battery pack. The pressure sensor detects the gas pressure inside the battery pack, and the voltage sensor detects the voltage of the cell 211.

[0109] When cell 211 experiences thermal runaway, the air pressure inside the battery pack increases. The pressure sensor detects the increased air pressure through the pack and triggers a thermal runaway alarm. It then controls the refrigerant in the cold plate 100 to cool the pack at a lower temperature, thereby improving the cooling effect on the thermal runaway flue gas and suppressing heat diffusion.

[0110] When cell 211 experiences thermal runaway, its voltage drops. After the voltage sensor detects the change in gas pressure through voltage monitoring, it triggers a thermal runaway alarm and controls the refrigerant in the cold plate 100 to cool at a lower temperature, thereby improving the cooling effect on the thermal runaway flue gas and suppressing heat diffusion.

[0111] This establishes a typical thermal runaway cold plate 100 cooling cycle trigger control system, which can monitor the cell 211 in a timely manner when it experiences thermal runaway and automatically adjust the refrigerant temperature, further improving the stability of the battery pack.

[0112] Understandably, when cell 211 experiences thermal runaway, the specific temperature that the refrigerant needs to be lowered can be adjusted according to the actual situation, such as the temperature of the gas in the exhaust chamber 120.

[0113] This application also provides an electrical device, including an electrical device and a battery pack as described in the above embodiments, wherein the battery pack is used to supply power to the electrical device.

[0114] It is understandable that electrical equipment includes, but is not limited to, new energy vehicles, new energy construction machinery, and aerospace equipment.

[0115] Other embodiments of this application will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the utility models disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this application that follow the general principles of this application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this application are indicated by the following claims.

[0116] It should be understood that this application is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A thermal management structure, characterized in that, Applied to a battery pack, the battery pack including at least one battery module (210), the thermal management structure includes: A cold plate (100) has a cooling chamber (110) and an exhaust chamber (120) inside. The cooling chamber (110) is used to supply refrigerant flow. The cooling chamber (110) is located on the side of the exhaust chamber (120) close to the battery module (210). The cooling chamber (110) is thermally connected to the battery module (210) and is used to cool the battery module (210). The exhaust chamber (120) is used to receive the thermal runaway flue gas discharged from the battery module (210) and guide the thermal runaway flue gas away from the battery pack.

2. The thermal management structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a guide flue (130), which is provided with a first exhaust port (1331) and a plurality of first air inlets (1321). The battery module (210) includes a plurality of battery cells (211). The plurality of first air inlets (1321) are used to communicate one-to-one with the first explosion-proof valves (2111) of the plurality of battery cells (211). The first exhaust port (1331) is connected to the exhaust chamber (120).

3. The thermal management structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The guide flue (130) includes: A connecting part (131) is provided with a connecting channel (133) inside the connecting part (131), and the first exhaust port (1331) is provided on the connecting part (131) and communicates with the connecting channel (133); Multiple smoke guides (132) are arranged sequentially along the extension direction of the connecting part (131) and communicate with the connecting channel (133). Multiple first air inlets (1321) are correspondingly provided on the multiple smoke guides (132). The multiple smoke guides (132) are used to extend to the outside of the multiple first explosion-proof valves (2111).

4. The thermal management structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The smoke guide (132) is rectangular, and the smoke guide (132) is located on the side of the first air inlet (1321) for contact with the surface of the battery cell (211).

5. The thermal management structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The connecting channel (133) includes multiple sub-channels (1332), and two adjacent smoke guides (132) are connected through the sub-channels (1332); The first exhaust port (1331) is provided in multiple ways, and along the extension direction of the connecting part (131), the multiple first exhaust ports (1331) and the multiple sub-channels (1332) are arranged alternately.

6. The thermal management structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery pack includes multiple battery modules (210), and multiple exhaust chambers (120) are provided, and the multiple exhaust chambers (120) are used to receive thermal runaway flue gas discharged from multiple battery modules (210) in a one-to-one correspondence.

7. The thermal management structure according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The cold plate (100) includes: A first cover (140) is provided for contacting the battery module (210); A flow channel plate (150) is connected to the first cover (140) and forms the cooling cavity (110) between the flow channel plate (150) and the first cover (140); The second cover (160) is connected to the flow channel plate (150) on the side opposite to the first cover (140) and forms the exhaust chamber (120) between the second cover (160) and the flow channel plate (150).

8. A battery pack, characterized in that, The device includes a tray and at least one battery module (210), and a thermal management structure according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the thermal management structure and the battery module (210) are both located within the tray, a cooling chamber (110) is thermally connected to the battery module (210) for cooling the battery module (210), and an exhaust chamber (120) is used to receive thermal runaway flue gas discharged from the battery module (210).

9. The battery pack according to claim 8, characterized in that, A second explosion-proof valve (230) is provided on the side beam (220) of the tray, and a second exhaust port (121) is provided on the exhaust chamber (120). The second exhaust port (121) is used to communicate with the second explosion-proof valve (230) through the channel in the side beam (220). The second explosion-proof valve (230) is located in the middle of the side beam (220), or the number of the second explosion-proof valves (230) is greater than or equal to the number of the exhaust chambers (120), and the second exhaust port (121) of each exhaust chamber (120) is correspondingly arranged and connected to at least one second explosion-proof valve (230).

10. An electrical appliance, characterized in that, It includes an electrical device and a battery pack as described in claim 8 or 9, the battery pack being used to supply power to the electrical device.

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