Battery assembly and battery pack

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the battery field, concretely is a kind of battery assembly and battery package.Solve the problem that the heat of the position of monomer battery pole in existing battery module is too high to cause thermal runaway possibly.The battery assembly includes battery module and heat exchange pipe;Battery module includes monomer battery;Heat exchange pipe includes electrically conductive pipe and non-conductive pipe alternately arranged along its length direction;First relief hole through its inner cavity is set on the wall of heat exchange pipe;Each electrically conductive pipe in each heat exchange pipe is connected with the polarity terminal of two adjacent monomer battery different polarity, and at least part structure of each polarity terminal is extended into heat exchange pipe inner cavity by first relief hole;The series connection and cooling of each monomer battery in battery module are realized.Battery package, including multiple battery assembly;The heat exchange pipe on each battery assembly is connected with each other, forms battery package liquid path system, realizes battery package heat exchange.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of batteries, specifically a battery component and battery pack. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, common battery modules (also known as battery packs) are composed of multiple individual cells (which are generally cylindrical or square) connected together in series, parallel, or a combination of series and parallel connections.

[0003] Temperature control of battery modules has always been a hot topic in this field. Most existing battery modules use air cooling or liquid cooling to control the temperature of the entire battery module. However, since the terminals of individual cells in the battery module are the parts with the most concentrated heat, if the local heat of the terminals is too high, it is very likely to cause thermal runaway of the individual cells in the battery module. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the issue of excessive heat at the terminal post of individual cells in existing battery modules, which could lead to thermal runaway, this invention provides a battery assembly and battery pack.

[0005] The first aspect of this utility model discloses a battery assembly, including a battery module and two heat exchange tubes;

[0006] The aforementioned battery module includes n individual battery cells arranged along a first direction, where n is an integer greater than 1;

[0007] The aforementioned heat exchange tube includes conductive and non-conductive tubes arranged alternately along its length; a first clearance hole penetrating its inner cavity is formed on the tube wall of the aforementioned heat exchange tube.

[0008] Two heat exchange tubes are arranged in parallel and extend along the first direction. Each conductive tube in each heat exchange tube is connected to the polarity terminals of two adjacent single cells with different polarities. At least part of the structure of each polarity terminal extends into the inner cavity of the heat exchange tube through the first clearance hole, thereby realizing the series connection and cooling of each single cell in the battery module.

[0009] This invention fixes a heat exchange tube on a polar terminal (the polar terminal mentioned above can be a pole post or an integral structure after connecting a pole post extension to the pole post), and at least a part of the structure of the polar terminal is in direct contact with the liquid cooling medium inside the heat exchange tube, so as to achieve the purpose of efficient heat dissipation.

[0010] Meanwhile, the heat exchange tube of this invention mainly consists of alternating conductive and non-conductive tubes. The conductive tubes are connected to the polarity terminals of adjacent individual cells, enabling series connection between individual cells. The non-conductive tubes are positioned between two conductive tubes, effectively isolating adjacent conductive tubes and achieving insulation to prevent short circuits. Therefore, in this invention, the heat exchange tube not only serves as a heat exchange component but also as a current collector to realize the series connection of multiple individual cells, offering at least the following advantages:

[0011] Firstly, there is no need to set up a special busbar, which simplifies the overall structure of the battery pack. Secondly, since the heat exchange tubes perform both heat exchange and electrical conduction functions, the number of components in the battery pack is reduced, thus lowering the assembly difficulty and cost.

[0012] Furthermore, the polarity terminal is provided with two first through slots, which are arranged along the second direction, and each first through slot passes through the polarity terminal along the first direction.

[0013] The polar terminal portion between the two first through slots is defined as the first polar terminal portion;

[0014] Each heat exchange tube is embedded in the first through slot of each polarity terminal on both sides of the battery module. The first part of each polarity terminal extends into the inner cavity of the heat exchange tube through the first clearance hole. The polarity terminal and the first clearance hole are sealed, and a liquid cooling medium flow sub-cavity is formed between the inner wall of the heat exchange tube and the first part of each polarity terminal.

[0015] The embedded fit allows the polar terminals and heat exchange tubes to be mutually constrained in multiple dimensions. When the battery assembly is subjected to external forces such as vibration and impact, this structure can effectively disperse stress and prevent loose connections or component damage due to excessive local stress.

[0016] Furthermore, the aforementioned first clearance hole includes n sub-clearance holes; the n sub-clearance holes are arranged at intervals along the first direction, and the n sub-clearance holes correspond one-to-one with each polarity terminal on the same side of the battery module.

[0017] The first part of each polarity terminal extends into the inner cavity of the heat exchange tube through the corresponding clearance hole.

[0018] Compared to a single large, elongated clearance hole, having an independent sub-clearance hole for each polarity terminal makes sealing between the polarity terminal and the clearance hole much more convenient. Individual sealing operations can be performed on each hole, ensuring seal quality and reducing the risk of liquid cooling media leakage due to incomplete sealing.

[0019] In addition, compared to a single large, elongated clearance hole, setting independent sub-clearance holes for each polarity terminal results in better structural stability of the heat exchange tube.

[0020] Furthermore, the battery module also includes 2n sealing rings, each sealing ring being fitted around the first part of the polar terminal in each polar terminal. Each conductive tube is welded to the side wall of the first through groove, and when the conductive tube is welded to the side wall of the first through groove, the sealing ring is pressed to achieve a seal between the polar terminal and the sub-avoidance hole.

[0021] The sealing ring fitted on the first part of each polarity terminal will undergo elastic deformation when the heat exchange tube is welded to the side wall of the first through groove and the sealing ring is pressed, thus tightly filling the tiny gap between the polarity terminal and the first clearance hole and preventing the liquid cooling medium from leaking.

[0022] In a vibrating environment, the sealing ring can absorb some of the stress caused by vibration, preventing damage to the sealing structure due to relative displacement between the polar terminal and the first clearance hole, thus ensuring stable sealing performance under various complex working conditions.

[0023] Furthermore, using sealing rings for sealing is simpler and easier than some complex sealing processes, such as applying special sealant. During manufacturing, simply fitting the sealing ring onto the polarity terminal and then welding the heat exchange tube achieves a good seal. This helps improve production efficiency, reduce manufacturing costs, and also minimizes quality problems that might arise from complex manufacturing processes.

[0024] Furthermore, the first part of the aforementioned polar terminal is provided with a functional structure for increasing the heat exchange area.

[0025] A larger heat exchange area means that more heat can be transferred under the same time and conditions. This is crucial for the stable operation of the battery module, effectively preventing performance degradation and shortened lifespan caused by overheating. At the same time, efficient heat exchange also results in a more uniform temperature distribution among the individual cells within the battery module, reducing inconsistencies in battery performance caused by temperature differences, further improving the stability and reliability of the entire battery module, and ensuring its efficient and stable operation under various working conditions.

[0026] Furthermore, the battery module also includes a housing; the housing is provided with an explosion vent; n individual batteries are arranged inside the housing; the top plate of the housing is provided with a second clearance hole corresponding to the polarity terminal of each individual battery; the polarity terminal of each individual battery extends out of the corresponding second clearance hole, and the area corresponding to each second clearance hole on the top plate of the housing is sealed and connected to the top cover plate of the corresponding individual battery.

[0027] The aforementioned casing is equipped with a venting channel that communicates with the venting port. The venting channel is sealed and covers the venting ports of each individual battery cell, and thermal runaway fumes are discharged in an orderly manner through the venting channel, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery module.

[0028] The conductive tubes on the heat exchange tubes are connected to the portions of the polar terminals of each individual battery that extend out of the corresponding second clearance holes.

[0029] Furthermore, the edge of the opening of each second clearance hole on the side closest to the individual battery cell is sealed to the corresponding individual battery cell cover plate by filler wire welding.

[0030] Alternatively, the battery module may also include 2n hollow components; the 2n hollow components pass through the second clearance holes and are fitted around each terminal post, the bottom of the hollow component is laser-welded to the first area of ​​the corresponding single cell, and the top of the hollow component is laser-welded to the second area of ​​the top plate of the outer casing.

[0031] The first region mentioned above is the area surrounding any electrode post in the upper cover plate of any of the aforementioned individual cells;

[0032] The aforementioned second region is the region corresponding to any one of the second clearance holes on the top plate of the outer casing.

[0033] Furthermore, the aforementioned polarity terminal includes a terminal post and a terminal post extension fixed on the terminal post; and the top of the terminal post extension body is higher than the top of the terminal post; the terminal post extension of each individual battery extends out of the corresponding second clearance hole; and a safe electrical conduction distance is maintained between the bottom surface of the terminal post extension and the top plate of the outer casing.

[0034] If the traditional electrode column is too low in height, it is difficult to fix the heat exchange tube on it. This utility model increases the overall height of the electrode column by fixing an electrode column extension piece on the electrode column, which provides convenient conditions for the installation of the heat exchange tube.

[0035] Furthermore, the aforementioned battery module also includes 2n insulating seals;

[0036] 2n insulating seals are installed one by one in the gap between each individual battery terminal and the second clearance hole;

[0037] The pole extension applies pressure to the insulating seal along the pole height direction, compressing the insulating seal and sealing the gap between the pole and the second clearance hole.

[0038] This invention utilizes 2n insulating seals and applies pressure along the height of the electrode post using an extension member to compress it, effectively filling the gap between the electrode post and the clearance hole, forming a tight and stable sealing structure. This ensures that harmful fumes can only escape through the predetermined vent in the event of thermal runaway, avoiding leakage problems caused by sealing defects, effectively protecting the structural integrity of the battery assembly, and significantly reducing the risk of thermal runaway hazard diffusion.

[0039] The second aspect of this utility model provides a battery pack, including multiple battery components as described above; the heat exchange tubes on each battery component are interconnected to form a battery pack liquid circuit system to realize heat exchange of the battery pack.

[0040] Furthermore, one of the heat exchange tubes in each battery module is connected in series to form a total liquid inlet path; another heat exchange tube in each battery module is connected in series to form a total liquid outlet path; the end of the total liquid inlet path is connected to the beginning of the total liquid outlet path through an external pipe section.

[0041] After entering the main inlet, the coolant flows through one of the heat exchange tubes in each battery module in sequence, and then through the external pipe section, it flows through the other heat exchange tube in each battery module in sequence, and flows out from the main outlet.

[0042] This series-connected fluid path design allows the coolant to flow sequentially through each battery module, carrying away the heat generated by each module. During the coolant flow, each battery module receives relatively even cooling, avoiding temperature differences caused by insufficient or excessive cooling of some modules, and achieving uniform temperature distribution across the entire battery pack.

[0043] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0044] This invention fixes a heat exchange tube on a polar terminal (the polar terminal mentioned above can be a pole post or an integral structure after connecting a pole post extension to the pole post), and at least a part of the structure of the polar terminal is in direct contact with the liquid cooling medium inside the heat exchange tube, so as to achieve the purpose of efficient heat dissipation.

[0045] Meanwhile, the heat exchange tube of this invention mainly consists of alternating conductive and non-conductive tubes. The conductive tubes are connected to the polarity terminals of adjacent individual cells, enabling series connection between individual cells. The non-conductive tubes are positioned between two conductive tubes, effectively isolating adjacent conductive tubes and achieving insulation to prevent short circuits. Therefore, in this invention, the heat exchange tube not only serves as a heat exchange component but also as a current collector to realize the series connection of multiple individual cells, offering at least the following advantages:

[0046] Firstly, there is no need to set up a special busbar, which simplifies the overall structure of the battery pack. Secondly, since the heat exchange tubes perform both heat exchange and electrical conduction functions, the number of components in the battery pack is reduced, thus lowering the assembly difficulty and cost. Attached Figure Description

[0047] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the battery assembly in Example 1;

[0048] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the battery assembly in Example 1;

[0049] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the battery assembly in Example 1;

[0050] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the pole extension component in Example 1;

[0051] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the pole extension in Example 1;

[0052] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the heat exchange tube structure in Example 1;

[0053] Figure 7 This is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the battery assembly in Example 1;

[0054] Figure 8 This is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the battery assembly in some other embodiments;

[0055] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack structure in Example 1;

[0056] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the battery assembly in Example 3;

[0057] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the battery assembly in Example 3;

[0058] Figure 12 This is a cross-sectional view of the battery assembly in Example 3;

[0059] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack structure in Example 3.

[0060] The attached figures are labeled as follows:

[0061] 1. Battery module; 11. Single cell; 12. Polar terminal; 121. First through slot; 122. First part of polar terminal; 123. Terminal post; 124. Terminal post extension; 1241. Main body of terminal post extension; 1242. Electrical connection post; 13. Sealing ring; 14. Functional structure; 2. Heat exchange tube; 22. Conductive tube; 23. Non-conductive tube; 24. First clearance hole; 25. First heat exchange tube; 26. Second heat exchange tube; 3. Outer shell; 31. Explosion vent; 32. Second clearance hole; 33. Explosion vent channel; 4. Insulating seal. Detailed Implementation

[0062] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this utility model, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0063] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Those skilled in the art can make similar extensions without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0064] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "top," "bottom," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model 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 of this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0065] This utility model discloses a battery assembly, including a battery module and a heat exchange tube. The battery module is mainly composed of multiple individual cells. The heat exchange tube is connected to the polarity terminals of the individual cells, and the polarity terminals are cooled by liquid cooling, while the individual cells can be connected in series.

[0066] To achieve the series connection function, the heat exchange tube includes conductive and non-conductive tubes arranged alternately along its length. Each conductive tube is used to connect the polarity terminals of two adjacent individual cells with different polarities, thereby realizing the series connection of the individual cells. The non-conductive tube is placed between two conductive tubes to effectively isolate adjacent conductive tubes, achieve insulation, and prevent short circuits.

[0067] To further optimize the heat exchange effect, a first clearance hole is opened on the heat exchange tube, penetrating its inner cavity; at least part of the structure of each polarity terminal extends into the inner cavity of the heat exchange tube through the first clearance hole, and comes into direct contact with the liquid cooling medium, thereby improving the utilization efficiency of the liquid cooling medium and improving the heat exchange efficiency of the battery module.

[0068] It should be noted that:

[0069] 1. The polar terminal described in this utility model can be a single battery terminal post, or it can be an integral structure of a single battery terminal post and a terminal post extension member connected thereto.

[0070] 2. The above-mentioned conductive tube can be partially conductive or the entire tube can be conductive, as long as it can achieve series connection of adjacent single cells.

[0071] 3. The above-mentioned battery modules may include at least the following two types:

[0072] Type 1 battery module:

[0073] The first type of battery module includes n individual batteries arranged along a first direction, where n is an integer greater than 1;

[0074] For ease of description, in this utility model, the arrangement direction of the individual battery cells is defined as the x-direction; the height direction of the individual battery cells is defined as the z-direction; and the direction perpendicular to both the x and z directions is defined as the y-direction.

[0075] Second type of battery module:

[0076] The second type of battery module, based on the first type of battery module, adds a shell, with multiple individual batteries arranged along the x-direction and placed inside the shell cavity.

[0077] The outer casing is equipped with an explosion vent, through which thermal runaway fumes are discharged. Inside the casing, there is also an explosion vent channel connecting to the explosion vent. The explosion vent channel is sealed and covers the explosion vents of each individual battery cell. Thermal runaway fumes are discharged in an orderly manner from the explosion vents through the explosion vent channel, effectively preventing thermal runaway fumes from spreading into the outer casing and affecting other individual batteries, thus avoiding exacerbating thermal runaway.

[0078] This utility model does not specifically limit the above-mentioned shell structure, but at least the following two structures can be adopted:

[0079] The first structure includes a first cylinder with open ends (i.e., the port parallel to the yz plane is an open end) and end plates fixed to the two open ends of the first cylinder (i.e., the end plates are parallel to the yz plane).

[0080] The second structure includes a second cylinder with open ends at the top and bottom (i.e., the port parallel to the xy plane is the open end) and a top plate and a bottom plate respectively fixed to the open ends at the top and bottom of the second cylinder (i.e., the top plate and the bottom plate are both parallel to the xy plane, and the bottom plate or the top plate can be an integral structure with the second cylinder).

[0081] The top plate of the outer casing (here, the top plate of the first cylindrical body in the first structure, and the top plate in the second structure) has second clearance holes corresponding to the polarity terminals of each individual battery cell; the polarity terminals of each individual battery cell extend out of the corresponding second clearance holes, and the area corresponding to each second clearance hole on the top plate of the outer casing is sealed to the corresponding upper cover plate of the individual battery cell. The area corresponding to the second clearance hole can be the wall of the second clearance hole, or it can be the area surrounding the second clearance hole on the top plate of the outer casing.

[0082] This utility model also discloses a battery pack, which is mainly composed of multiple of the above-mentioned battery components; by optimizing the connection method of the heat exchange tubes between each battery component, uniform heat dissipation of the polar terminals of individual cells in each battery component in the battery pack is achieved, avoiding the occurrence of thermal runaway problems caused by excessive local heat at the polar terminals.

[0083] In traditional designs, heat exchange tubes are typically connected end-to-end in the same direction. As the coolant flows from the main inlet to the main outlet, it continuously heats up, resulting in a lower temperature at the polar terminals of the battery modules near the main inlet and a higher temperature at the main outlet. This temperature difference significantly affects the performance and lifespan of the battery pack. While parallel connection of the heat exchange tubes can mitigate the temperature difference problem to some extent, the piping layout becomes extremely complex, increasing design and maintenance costs and reducing system reliability.

[0084] To solve the above problems, this utility model uses the same-side ports of the two heat exchange tubes in one outermost battery assembly as the total liquid inlet and the total liquid outlet; in another outermost battery assembly, the same-side ports of the two heat exchange tubes are connected through an external pipe section.

[0085] One heat exchange tube in each battery module is connected in series to form the main liquid inlet path; another heat exchange tube in each battery module is connected in series to form the main liquid outlet path; the end of the main liquid inlet path is connected to the beginning of the main liquid outlet path through an external pipe section.

[0086] Driven by the circulating pump, the coolant enters from the main inlet and flows sequentially through one of the heat exchange tubes of each battery module, absorbing heat. Then, after passing through the loop transition node, it flows sequentially through the other heat exchange tube of each battery module, further absorbing heat from the other polarity terminal, and exits from the main outlet. During this cycle, each battery module receives relatively even cooling, effectively avoiding temperature differences caused by insufficient or excessive cooling of some battery modules, and achieving uniform temperature distribution across the entire battery pack.

[0087] In addition, the system only requires a pair of main inlet / main outlet ports to achieve the cooling cycle of the entire battery pack, and the main inlet / main outlet ports are located on the same side of the two heat exchange tubes of the same battery assembly, which greatly simplifies the piping layout, reduces the complexity of the system, and improves reliability.

[0088] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0089] Example 1

[0090] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 The figures shown are a schematic diagram, an exploded view, and a cross-sectional view of the battery assembly in this embodiment. As can be seen from the figures, the battery assembly in this embodiment includes the first type of battery module and two heat exchange tubes 2.

[0091] As shown in the figure, the battery module 1 in this embodiment includes 12 individual battery cells 11 arranged along the x-direction. In this embodiment, each individual battery cell 11 is a prismatic battery, and the internal cavity of each individual battery cell 11 includes an electrolyte region and a gas region. In other embodiments, the number of individual battery cells 11 can be adjusted according to actual needs, and the shape of each individual battery cell 11 can also be adjusted according to actual needs.

[0092] Each individual cell 11 has a terminal extension 124 connected to its terminal post 123 as a polarity terminal 12.

[0093] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 The figures shown are a schematic diagram and a cross-sectional view of the pole extension member 124 in this embodiment.

[0094] As can be seen from the figure, in this embodiment, the pole extension 124 includes a pole extension body 1241, which is designed as a rectangular block structure. The length, width and height of the rectangular block can be customized according to the actual application scenario to adapt to different battery specifications.

[0095] In some other embodiments, a cylindrical pole extension body 1241 may also be used.

[0096] Two parallel first through slots 121 are formed on the pole extension body 1241. The first through slots 121 penetrate the pole extension body 1241 in the x direction, and the two first through slots 121 are arranged at intervals in the y direction. For ease of description, the part of the pole extension 124 located between the two first through slots 121 is defined as the first polarity terminal part 122.

[0097] In some other embodiments, if the height of the pole post 123 is sufficient, the pole post 123 can be directly used as the polar terminal 12, and the first through groove 121 is directly opened on the pole post 123. The part of the pole post 123 located between the two first through grooves 121 is also defined as the first part 122 of the polar terminal.

[0098] like Figure 6 As shown, the heat exchange tube 2 in this embodiment includes conductive tubes 22 and non-conductive tubes 23 arranged alternately along its length. Each conductive tube 22 is used to connect the polarity terminals 12 of two adjacent single cells 11 with different polarities, so as to realize the series connection of each single cell 11. The non-conductive tube 23 is arranged between two conductive tubes 22 to effectively isolate adjacent conductive tubes 22 and prevent short circuit.

[0099] The conductive tube 22 can be made of a metal material with good electrical and thermal conductivity, such as silver, copper, or aluminum. However, considering both cost and electrical and thermal conductivity, aluminum is generally chosen as the material for the conductive tube 22. The non-conductive tube 23 is usually made of plastic or rubber, which have good thermal conductivity.

[0100] from Figure 6 It can also be seen that in this embodiment, a first clearance hole 24 is opened on the heat exchange tube 2.

[0101] like Figure 7 As shown, during installation, the heat exchange tube 2 is embedded in the first through groove 121 of the polarity terminal 12, and the first part 122 of each polarity terminal extends into the heat exchange tube 2 through the first clearance hole 24 opened on the tube wall of the heat exchange tube 2.

[0102] The shape of the cross-section of the first through groove 121 mainly conforms to the shape of the heat exchange tube 2 embedded in the wall of the first through groove 121. It should be noted that the cross-section mentioned here is the cross-section obtained by cutting the first through groove 121 along a plane perpendicular to the first direction. For example, as can be seen from the figure, the cross-section of the first through groove 121 in this embodiment is rectangular, and correspondingly, the cross-section of the heat exchange tube 2 embedded in the wall of the first through groove 121 is also rectangular, for example, it can be a rectangular tube. In some other embodiments, the cross-section of the first through groove 121 can be arc-shaped, and correspondingly, the cross-section of the heat exchange tube 2 embedded in the wall of the first through groove 121 is also arc-shaped, for example, a tube with a semi-circular cross-section can be used.

[0103] The width of the first through groove 121 (in the y direction) needs to ensure that the wall of the corresponding heat exchange tube 2 can be embedded, and there is a certain gap between the inner wall of the heat exchange tube 2 and the first part 122 of the polar terminal to allow the heat transfer medium to flow.

[0104] To prevent the heat transfer medium from overflowing from the first clearance hole 24, a sealing treatment is required between the polarity terminal 12 and the first clearance hole 24.

[0105] Sealing measures can be implemented by using sealants that are resistant to high temperatures and corrosion and have good insulation properties, or by installing sealing rings 13, gaskets, etc., to ensure the stable flow of the heat transfer medium within the closed sub-cavity.

[0106] Specifically, appropriate sealing measures can be selected based on the structure of the first clearance hole 24, so as to... Figure 6 Taking the structure of the heat exchange tube 2 in this embodiment as an example, its first clearance hole is 12 sub-clearance holes opened on the tube wall of the heat exchange tube 2; the 12 sub-clearance holes are arranged at intervals along the x direction, and the 12 sub-clearance holes correspond one-to-one with each polarity terminal 12 on the same side of the battery module 1.

[0107] Corresponding to the structure of the first clearance hole 24 mentioned above, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 7 In this embodiment, a sealing measure is adopted by installing a sealing ring 13.

[0108] The specific installation steps are as follows: First, a sealing ring 13 is fitted onto the first part 122 of the polarity terminal of each polarity terminal 12. Preferably, in the x-direction, the polarity terminals 12 extend out from both sides of the sealing ring 13, and in the z-direction, the bottom of the sealing ring 13 is in close contact with the bottom of the first through groove 121, and the bottom of the extended polarity terminals 12 is in close contact with the top cover plate of the single battery 11. This arrangement can stabilize the position of the sealing ring 13 and prevent the sealing ring 13 from shifting during installation, thus affecting the sealing effect. Next, pick up two heat exchange tubes 2, one corresponding to one side of the polarity terminal 12 of the battery module 1, and the other corresponding to the other side of the polarity terminal 12 of the battery module 1. Align the heat exchange tube 2 with the first through groove 121 on the corresponding side and insert it into the first through groove 121. In this process, it is necessary to ensure that the first part 122 of the polarity terminal fitted with the sealing ring 13 on each polarity terminal 12 extends into the sub-avoidance hole on the heat exchange tube 2 one by one. During the embedding process, the movement should be smooth to prevent the heat exchange tube 2 from colliding with the polar terminal 12 and damaging or displacing the sealing ring 13. After the heat exchange tube 2 is initially embedded in the first through groove 121, welding is performed between the heat exchange tube 2 and the side wall of the first through groove 121. As welding progresses, the heat exchange tube 2 gradually fuses with the side wall of the first through groove 121. During this process, the pressure generated by welding exerts a uniform and continuous squeezing effect on the sealing ring 13 fitted on the first part 122 of the polar terminal. After being squeezed, the sealing ring 13 undergoes elastic deformation, tightly filling the tiny gap between the polar terminal 12 and the sub-avoidance hole, thereby achieving an efficient and reliable seal and effectively preventing the heat transfer medium from overflowing.

[0109] The aforementioned sealing ring 13 also offers several advantages in the battery module 1. Under complex operating conditions, especially in vibrating environments, the sealing ring 13 can absorb some of the stress generated by vibration, preventing damage to the sealing structure due to relative displacement between the polar terminal 12 and the first clearance hole 24, thus ensuring stable sealing performance. From a structural stability perspective, when the battery module 1 vibrates or is subjected to external impacts, the sealing ring 13 acts as a buffer between the polar terminal 12 and the heat transfer tube, dispersing and absorbing some stress, reducing the direct impact force of the polar terminal 12 on the heat transfer tube, reducing the risk of material fatigue and damage to the heat transfer tube due to local stress concentration, improving its overall structural stability, and extending its service life. In terms of manufacturing, using the sealing ring 13 for sealing is simpler and easier than some complex sealing processes, such as applying special sealant. During manufacturing, simply fitting the sealing ring 13 onto the polar terminal 12 and then welding the heat transfer tube achieves a good sealing effect, which helps improve production efficiency, reduce manufacturing costs, and reduce quality problems caused by complex processes.

[0110] In some other embodiments, the first clearance hole 24 may also be an elongated clearance hole formed on the wall of the heat transfer tube. The elongated clearance hole extends along the first direction, and the first part 122 of each polar terminal 12 extends into the inner cavity of the heat exchange tube 2 through the elongated clearance hole.

[0111] Corresponding to the above-mentioned clearance hole structure, a sealing gasket can be used as a sealing measure. This type of sealing gasket has 12 third clearance holes arranged at intervals along the first direction; the 12 third clearance holes correspond one-to-one with each polarity terminal 12 on the same side of the battery module 1.

[0112] During installation: First, place the two sealing gaskets into the first through-groove 121 of the different polarity terminals 12, ensuring that the first portion 122 of the polarity terminal on each polarity terminal 12 protrudes through the third clearance hole on the corresponding sealing gasket. During installation, ensure that the bottom of the sealing gasket is tightly fitted to the bottom of the first through-groove 121 and the top cover of the individual battery 11. Next, take two heat exchange tubes 2, one corresponding to one polarity terminal 12 of the battery module 1 and the other to the other polarity terminal 12 of the battery module 1. Align the heat exchange tubes 2 with the corresponding first through-groove 121 and insert them into the first through-groove 121, ensuring that the first portion 122 of the polarity terminal on each polarity terminal 12 extends into the elongated clearance hole on the heat exchange tube 2. After the heat exchange tubes 2 are initially inserted into the first through-groove 121, weld the heat exchange tubes 2 to the sidewall of the first through-groove 121. As welding progresses, the heat exchange tube 2 gradually fuses with the sidewall of the first through groove 121. During this process, the pressure generated by welding exerts a uniform and continuous squeezing effect on the sealing gasket fitted on the first part 122 of the polar terminal. After being squeezed, the sealing gasket undergoes elastic deformation, tightly filling the tiny gap between the polar terminal 12 and the elongated clearance hole, thus achieving an efficient and reliable seal and effectively preventing the heat transfer medium from overflowing.

[0113] In this embodiment, for a heat exchange tube 2 on the same side, the heat transfer medium flows in from one end of the heat exchange tube 2, flows sequentially through the sub-cavities surrounding the first portions 122 of all polar terminals within the inner cavity of the heat exchange tube 2, and flows out from the other end of the heat exchange tube 2. A portion of the structure of the battery polar terminal 12 is directly placed inside the heat exchange channel. The polar terminal 12 is in direct contact with the heat transfer medium. In conventional heat exchange methods, heat needs to pass through multiple levels of transfer to achieve exchange. However, in this embodiment, the polar terminal 12 is directly connected to the heat transfer medium, allowing the heat transfer medium to act directly on the polar terminal 12 without energy loss in other intermediate stages, thus significantly improving the utilization efficiency of the heat transfer medium. This means that the same amount of heat transfer medium can play a greater role in heat transfer, greatly improving the efficiency of heat transfer. While improving the utilization efficiency of the heat transfer medium, the overall heat exchange efficiency of the battery module 1 is also greatly improved. The problem that might have caused battery performance degradation due to untimely heat exchange is solved by this efficient heat exchange design, thus ensuring that battery module 1 is always in good working condition, extending the service life of battery module 1 and improving its working stability.

[0114] There are two feasible welding methods for the above-mentioned welding operation between the heat exchange tube 2 and the sidewall of the first through groove 121. Firstly, the two large surfaces of the sidewall of the first through groove 121 can be fully welded to the conductive tube 22 to form a strong connection, effectively enhancing the bonding strength and heat conduction performance of both. Secondly, welding can be performed along the contact area between the end face of the sidewall of the first through groove 121 and the outer wall of the conductive tube 22, ensuring a uniform and continuous weld, thereby achieving a tight connection between the two.

[0115] By welding, a tight connection can be achieved between each conductive tube 22 and the electrode extension 124. Compared to other connection methods, such as simple mechanical fixing, welding eliminates tiny gaps at the connection points, greatly reducing thermal resistance and significantly improving the heat conduction efficiency between the two, ensuring effective heat transfer. Simultaneously, welding also enhances the connection stability, preventing the heat exchange tubes 2 and the electrode extension 124 from separating due to vibration, impact, or other factors during battery module operation, thereby avoiding impact on heat dissipation and ensuring the continuous and stable operation of the battery module.

[0116] In this embodiment, a stepped structure can also be provided on the outer wall of each conductive tube 22 along its length. The horizontal surface of the stepped structure is flush with the end face of the side wall of the first through groove 121, and a welded connection is made at the joint between the horizontal surface of the stepped structure and the end face of the side wall of the first through groove 121. Figure 7 In the middle, region a is shown.

[0117] It should be noted that the horizontal plane of the aforementioned stepped structure refers to the connection surface between the large-diameter section and the small-diameter section of the conductive tube 22 in the z-direction.

[0118] A stepped structure is provided on the outer wall of the conductive tube 22, and the horizontal plane of the stepped structure is flush with the end face of the side wall of the first through groove 121. At the same time, the joint is welded together, which has at least the following advantages:

[0119] Improved stability: The stepped structure provides a larger welding contact area, making the welded connection more robust, reducing the risk of connection loosening due to vibration, and improving the overall stability of the battery assembly.

[0120] Optimize thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity: The horizontal plane of the stepped structure is flush with the side wall end face of the first through groove 121, ensuring a tighter contact between the heat exchange tube 2 and the pole extension 124, reducing the tiny gaps between the contact interfaces, significantly reducing thermal resistance, and improving thermal conductivity; at the same time, the tight contact between the two significantly reduces the contact resistance, allowing the current to be evenly distributed between the heat exchange tube 2 and the pole extension 124, avoiding local current concentration or hot spots caused by poor contact.

[0121] Furthermore, during the welding process, conventional welding operations may damage the heat exchange tube 2 structure due to factors such as high temperature and stress concentration, thus leading to potential leakage hazards. The stepped structure design, with its horizontal plane flush with the sidewall end face of the first through groove 121, provides an ideal operating plane for laser welding along the z-direction, effectively avoiding leakage problems caused by damage to the heat exchange tube 2 structure during the welding process. When the liquid cooling medium flows inside the heat exchange tube 2, this design effectively prevents leakage of the liquid cooling medium from the joint.

[0122] In this embodiment, the inner cavity of the heat exchange tube 2 is used as a liquid cooling channel, and the polar terminal structure is directly placed in the liquid cooling channel to achieve heat dissipation of the battery module 1.

[0123] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the conductive tube 22 in the heat exchange tube 2 is connected to the polarity terminals 12 of different polarities of adjacent single cells 11 in the battery assembly, thereby realizing the series connection of multiple single cells 11.

[0124] Therefore, in this embodiment, the heat exchange tube 2 not only serves as a heat exchange component but also as a conductive tube 22 to realize the series connection of multiple individual cells 11, which has at least the following advantages:

[0125] Firstly, the elimination of the need for a dedicated busbar simplifies the overall structure of the battery module. In traditional battery modules 1, heat exchange and conductivity are often handled by different components, requiring complex structural layouts and connection designs. In this embodiment, the heat exchange tube 2 integrates both heat exchange and conductivity functions, reducing the need for a dedicated busbar design and making the overall structure of the battery module simpler and more compact, thus reducing design complexity and the probability of errors.

[0126] Secondly, since heat exchanger tube 2 performs both heat exchange and electrical conduction functions, it reduces the number of components in the battery assembly, thereby lowering assembly difficulty and cost. Previously, heat exchanger tube 2 and the busbar were installed separately, which not only resulted in a large number of components and increased procurement costs, but also required precise installation of each component during assembly, demanding high skill levels from assembly workers and leading to long assembly times.

[0127] Thirdly, the heat exchange tube 2, as a series connector, is directly embedded in the first through groove 121 of the pole extension 124, making full use of the space of the pole extension 124 and avoiding the problem of additional busbars occupying space, which is conducive to improving the integration of the battery assembly.

[0128] In some other embodiments, such as Figure 8As shown, the first through groove 121 may not be provided on the polar terminal 12. The heat exchange tube 2 is directly sleeved on the periphery of the polar terminal 12 through the first clearance hole 24. There is a certain distance between its side wall and the polar terminal 12, which serves as a sub-cavity for the flow of liquid cooling medium. The top of the polar terminal 12 is welded to the heat exchange tube 2. A sealing ring 13 is sleeved on the polar terminal 12 and is located between the heat exchange tube 2 and the cover plate of each individual battery 11 to seal the part of the first clearance hole 24 and prevent the liquid cooling medium from overflowing.

[0129] The specific installation steps are as follows: First, fit a sealing ring 13 onto each polarity terminal 12. Then, pick up two heat exchange tubes 2, one corresponding to one polarity terminal 12 of the battery module 1, and the other corresponding to the other polarity terminal 12 of the battery module 1. Insert each polarity terminal 12 fitted with a sealing ring 13 into the first clearance hole 24 on the heat exchange tube 2. Weld the heat exchange tube 2 to the polarity terminal 12 from the top of the heat exchange tube 2. As welding progresses, the heat exchange tube 2 gradually fuses with the polarity terminal 12. During this process, the pressure generated by welding exerts a uniform and continuous squeezing effect on the sealing ring 13 fitted onto the polarity terminal 12, sealing and fixing it between the heat exchange tube and the cover plate of each individual battery cell 11, effectively preventing the heat transfer medium from overflowing.

[0130] like Figure 9 The diagram shown is a schematic of the battery pack structure in this embodiment, including four battery components arranged along the y-direction. In other embodiments, the number of battery components can be adjusted according to actual needs.

[0131] For ease of description, the two heat exchange tubes 2 on each battery assembly are defined as the first heat exchange tube 25 and the second heat exchange tube 26, respectively.

[0132] In the entire battery pack, multiple first heat exchange tubes 25 are connected in series to form a total liquid inlet path; multiple second heat exchange tubes 26 are connected in series to form a total liquid outlet path; the end of the total liquid inlet path is connected to the beginning of the total liquid outlet path through an external pipe section.

[0133] After the liquid cooling medium enters the main inlet, it flows through the first heat exchange tube 25 of each battery module in sequence, and then through the outer pipe section, it flows through the second heat exchange tube 26 of each battery module in sequence, and flows out from the main outlet.

[0134] This series-connected liquid cooling design allows the liquid cooling medium to flow sequentially through each battery module, carrying away the heat generated by each module. During the flow of the liquid cooling medium, each battery module receives relatively even cooling, avoiding temperature differences caused by insufficient or excessive cooling of some battery modules, and achieving uniform temperature distribution across the entire battery pack.

[0135] In some other embodiments, the individual heat exchange tubes 2 may be connected in parallel.

[0136] Example 2

[0137] To further improve the heat transfer performance of the aforementioned polarity terminal 12, refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 This embodiment, based on Embodiment 1, adds through holes to the polarity terminal 12, with the through holes penetrating the polarity terminal 12 along a first direction. In practical applications, the size and number of through holes can be flexibly adjusted according to specific needs, provided that the conductivity of the polarity terminal 12 is not affected. The through holes increase the contact area between the polarity terminal 12 and the heat transfer medium, thereby significantly improving heat transfer efficiency. When the heat transfer medium flows through the polarity terminal 12, it can more fully surround the polarity terminal 12 through the through holes. Previously, the heat transfer medium could only exchange heat with the surface of the polarity terminal 12; now, internal heat exchange can be achieved through the through holes, which greatly increases the amount of heat transferred per unit time and accelerates the heat dissipation rate of the polarity terminal 12.

[0138] In other embodiments, other structures may be processed on the outer wall of the first part 122 of the polarity terminal to increase the heat exchange area. For ease of description, in this utility model, the structures that can increase the heat exchange area are collectively referred to as functional structures 14. Such functional structures 14 may include dot-shaped pits and protrusions on the outer wall of the first part 122 of the polarity terminal, annular grooves on the outer wall of the first part 122 of the polarity terminal, and through grooves on the first part 122 of the polarity terminal, etc.

[0139] Example 3

[0140] like Figures 10 to 12 As shown, this is the battery assembly of this embodiment. Its structure differs from any of the battery assemblies in Embodiments 1 to 2 in that the battery module 1 is the second type of battery module described above.

[0141] In this embodiment, the second type of battery module arranges 12 individual batteries 11 in the inner cavity of the outer shell 3, and each terminal extension 124 is located outside the outer shell 3. A heat exchange tube 2 is fixed on the terminal extension 124 located on the same side. The structure of the heat exchange tube 2, the structure of the polarity terminal 12, and the installation method between the polarity terminal 12 and the heat exchange tube 2 are the same as those in the above embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0142] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the bottom surface of the pole extension 124 and the top plate of the outer casing 3 maintain a safe electrical conductivity distance.

[0143] The outer casing is provided with an explosion vent 31; on the top plate of the outer casing 3, there is a boss extending in the x direction, and an explosion vent channel 33 is opened on the boss. The explosion vent channel 33 seals and covers the explosion vent of each individual battery 11. When any individual battery 11 experiences thermal runaway, the thermal runaway smoke is discharged in an orderly manner through the explosion vent channel 33 to the explosion vent 31, which can effectively prevent the thermal runaway smoke from spreading into the casing and affecting other individual batteries 11, thus aggravating the occurrence of thermal runaway.

[0144] like Figure 13 The diagram shown is a schematic of the battery pack structure in this embodiment, including four battery components arranged along the y-direction. In other embodiments, the number of battery components can be adjusted according to actual needs.

[0145] For ease of description, the two heat exchange tubes 2 on each battery assembly are defined as the first heat exchange tube 25 and the second heat exchange tube 26, respectively.

[0146] In the entire battery pack, multiple first heat exchange tubes 25 are connected in series to form a total liquid inlet path; multiple second heat exchange tubes 26 are connected in series to form a total liquid outlet path; the end of the total liquid inlet path is connected to the beginning of the total liquid outlet path through an external pipe section.

[0147] After the liquid cooling medium enters the main inlet, it flows through the first heat exchange tube 25 of each battery module in sequence, and then through the outer pipe section, it flows through the second heat exchange tube 26 of each battery module in sequence, and flows out from the main outlet.

[0148] This series-connected liquid cooling design allows the liquid cooling medium to flow sequentially through each battery module, carrying away the heat generated by each module. During the flow of the liquid cooling medium, each battery module receives relatively even cooling, avoiding temperature differences caused by insufficient or excessive cooling of some battery modules, and achieving uniform temperature distribution across the entire battery pack.

[0149] In some other embodiments, the individual heat exchange tubes 2 may be connected in parallel.

[0150] Example 4

[0151] In the second type of battery module, in order for the terminal post 123 to smoothly extend into the corresponding second clearance hole 32 and connect with the corresponding terminal post extension 124, the opening size of the second clearance hole 32 must be slightly larger than the cross-sectional size of the corresponding terminal post 123. As a result, after the terminal post 123 is inserted, there will be a certain gap between them. The existence of this gap may cause the thermal runaway fumes to be discharged from this gap instead of being led out from the explosion vent 31 of the outer casing 3 when thermal runaway occurs. This will not only further damage the structural integrity of the battery assembly itself and aggravate the degree of harm of thermal runaway, but will also cause the surrounding environment to be quickly filled with harmful fumes, posing a huge safety hazard to operators and surrounding facilities, and threatening life and property safety.

[0152] refer to Figure 12 In this embodiment, the insulating seal 4 is sealed and fixed between the pole post 123 and the corresponding second clearance hole 32, and the pole post extension 124 is used to apply pressure to the insulating seal 4 along the height direction of the pole post 123 (along the z direction), so that the insulating seal 4 is compressed and undergoes radial deformation, thereby sealing the gap between the pole post 123 and the second clearance hole 32, thus solving the above problem.

[0153] The corresponding pole extension component 124 structure can be referenced. Figure 4 and Figure 5 It includes a pole extension body 1241. In order to facilitate the connection between the pole extension 124 and the pole 123, an electrical connection post 1242 protruding from the pole extension body 1241 is provided at the bottom of the pole extension body 1241.

[0154] As can be seen from the above figures, the dimensions of the electrode extension body 1241 and the electrical connection post 1242 in this embodiment are somewhat different. In the x-direction, the dimension of the electrode extension body 1241 is equal to the dimension of the electrical connection post 1242. This dimensional design ensures that the entire electrode extension body 124 is subjected to uniform stress in the x-axis direction, resulting in excellent stability. From a manufacturing perspective, the design with the same length facilitates unified dimensional planning and processing during production, reducing processing difficulty and improving production efficiency. In the y-direction, the dimension of the electrode extension body 1241 is larger than the dimension of the electrical connection post 1242. This design allows the smaller electrical connection post 1242 to easily extend into the pre-drilled second clearance hole 32 on the outer casing 3, thereby connecting with the electrode post 123 of the single battery 11 inside the outer casing 3. Simultaneously, a stepped structure is formed between the electrode extension body 1241 and the electrical connection post, which can be used to press the insulating seal 4.

[0155] The insulating seal 4 is usually made of high-quality elastic material that is resistant to high temperature and chemical corrosion and has low air permeability. It can maintain stable performance in high temperature and complex chemical environments.

[0156] In this embodiment, the insulating seal 4 includes a flexible insulating sealing ring, which is a flexible stepped structure. The small diameter section of the stepped structure extends into the second clearance hole 32 and contacts the upper cover plate of the single cell 11. The large diameter section of the stepped structure is located outside the outer shell 3. The end face of the large diameter section near the small diameter section contacts the top plate of the outer shell 3, and the end face away from the small diameter section contacts the pole post extension 124.

[0157] Under the downward pressure of the terminal extension 124, the inner wall of the flexible insulating sealing ring is tightly fitted to the terminal 123, and the outer wall is tightly fitted to the wall of the second clearance hole 32, ensuring the sealing between the terminal 123 and the outer shell 3. When thermal runaway occurs, the thermal runaway flue gas is led out from the explosion vent 31 of the outer shell 3 for treatment, minimizing the risk of thermal runaway and ensuring the safe and stable operation of the battery assembly.

[0158] In order to ensure that the pole extension 124 can uniformly provide clamping force to the insulating seal 4, thereby ensuring the insulation seal 4, from Figure 12 As can be seen from this, the insulating seal 4 may also include a pressure ring.

[0159] In terms of materials, the pressure ring is usually made of high-strength metal materials with good thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance, such as stainless steel and aluminum alloy. These metal materials can not only withstand the large pressure applied by the terminal extension 124, ensuring that they do not deform or get damaged during the pressure process, but also play a stable downward pressure role for a long time in the complex working environment of the battery pack, avoiding the sealing effect due to corrosion and other problems.

[0160] In terms of structural design, the inner diameter of the pressure ring is matched with the inner diameter of the large diameter section of the flexible insulating sealing ring. The outer diameter of the pressure ring is larger than the dimension of the pole extension body 1241 in the y direction, so that during the pressing of the pole extension 124, the larger outer diameter of the pressure ring can form a larger force-bearing surface, and can form a uniform pressure distribution on the flexible insulating sealing ring, preventing the seal from failing due to excessive or insufficient local pressure.

[0161] During assembly, first place a flexible insulating sealing ring in the second clearance hole 32; let the small diameter section of its stepped structure extend into the second clearance hole 32 and make tight contact with the upper cover plate of the single cell 11, while the large diameter section of the stepped structure is located outside the outer casing 3 and fits against the top plate of the outer casing 3; then place a pressure ring on the flexible insulating sealing ring. Figure 12In order to clearly show the second clearance hole 32, the insulating seal 4 is not installed on one side; then the pole extension 124 is welded to the pole 123. During the welding process, a downward pressure is applied along the height direction (along the z direction) of the pole 123. Under the action of this downward pressure, the pressure ring evenly transmits the pressure to the flexible insulating seal ring, so that the inner wall of the flexible insulating seal ring is tightly attached to the pole 123 and the outer wall is tightly attached to the hole wall of the second clearance hole 32. This significantly enhances the sealing between the pole 123 and the outer shell 3. When the battery module experiences thermal runaway, it can effectively prevent thermal runaway smoke from escaping from the gap between the pole 123 and the second clearance hole 32, ensuring that the thermal runaway smoke is only led out from the explosion vent 31 of the outer shell 3 for treatment, thereby minimizing the risk of thermal runaway and ensuring the safe and stable operation of the battery module.

[0162] In some other embodiments, the insulating seal 4 may also be an insulating seal layer disposed at the gap between the second clearance hole 32 and the pole post 123 by a casting process.

[0163] Example 5

[0164] Unlike Embodiment 4, this embodiment further enhances the sealing performance between the pole post 123 and the second clearance hole 32 by sealing the second clearance hole 32 with the corresponding single cell 11 cover plate.

[0165] Specifically, in this embodiment, the edge of the second clearance hole 32 near the single cell 11 can be sealed to the upper cover plate of the single cell 11 by filler wire welding.

[0166] During actual assembly:

[0167] First, place the 12 individual battery cells 11 into the housing 3, so that the terminals 123 of each individual battery cell 11 correspond one-to-one with the second clearance hole 32.

[0168] Then, the edge of the second clearance hole 32 near the single cell 11 is welded to the upper cover plate of the single cell 11 by filler wire welding to achieve a sealed connection.

[0169] Next, a flexible insulating sealing ring is placed in the second clearance hole 32; the small diameter section of its stepped structure extends into the second clearance hole 32 and is in close contact with the upper cover plate of the single cell 11, and the large diameter section of the stepped structure is located outside the outer shell 3 and fits against the top plate of the outer shell 3; then a pressure ring is placed on the flexible insulating sealing ring.

[0170] Afterwards, the pole extension 124 is welded to the pole 123. During the welding process, a downward pressure is applied along the height direction (along the z direction) of the pole 123. Under the action of this downward pressure, the pressure ring transmits the pressure evenly to the flexible insulating sealing ring, causing the inner wall of the flexible insulating sealing ring to fit tightly against the pole 123 and the outer wall to fit tightly against the wall of the second clearance hole 32.

[0171] Finally, the heat exchange tubes 2 are fixed on each pole extension 124.

[0172] In this embodiment, the insulating sealant 4 tightly fills the gap between the terminal post 123 and the second clearance hole 32, forming the first sealing barrier. This effectively prevents the leakage of gases, electrolytes, and other substances inside the battery, while also preventing external air, moisture, and impurities from entering the battery. The filler wire welding, by filling the space between the second clearance hole 32 and the top cover plate of the individual battery 11 with welding wire of varying thicknesses, allows the welding wire to fully fuse with the edge of the hole and the top cover plate at high temperatures, forming a continuous and dense weld, thus constituting the second sealing line. This line of defense, thanks to the flexible adjustment of the welding wire thickness in filler wire welding, fills the height differences between the individual batteries 11, ensuring a tight fit between the second clearance hole 32 and the top cover plate of the individual battery 11, achieving reliable welding. The dual sealing structures work together so that even if one line of defense fails partially, the other line can still guarantee the battery's sealing performance, significantly reducing the risk of leakage and ensuring the battery maintains a good sealing state under various operating conditions.

[0173] Example 6

[0174] Unlike Embodiment 4, this embodiment, based on Embodiment 4, further employs a hollow component to seal the top plate area of ​​the outer casing 3 corresponding to the second clearance hole 32 with the upper cover plate of each individual battery cell 11, thereby further enhancing the sealing performance between the pole post 123 and the second clearance hole 32.

[0175] Specifically, the battery assembly in this embodiment also includes multiple hollow components, similar to a hollow tubular structure; each hollow component is inserted through the second clearance hole 32 and fitted around each terminal post 123; the bottom of the hollow component is laser-welded to the first region of the corresponding single cell 11, and the top of the hollow component is laser-welded to the second region of the top plate of the outer casing 3; wherein, the first region is the region around any terminal post 123 in the upper cover plate of any single cell 11; the second region is the region corresponding to any second clearance hole 32 on the top plate of the outer casing 3; wherein the region corresponding to the second clearance hole 32 can be the wall of the second clearance hole 32, or it can be the region around the second clearance hole 32 on the top plate of the outer casing 3.

[0176] After the hollow component is installed, the insulating seal 4 is located between the pole post 123 and the hollow component, sealing the gap between the pole post 123 and the hollow component.

[0177] Taking the welding process described above as an example, based on Example 4, the specific assembly process is as follows:

[0178] First, place the 12 individual battery cells 11 into the housing 3, so that the terminals 123 of each individual battery cell 11 correspond one-to-one with the second clearance hole 32.

[0179] Then, each hollow component is inserted into the second clearance hole 32 and fitted around each pole post 123. The bottom of the hollow component is laser welded to the first area of ​​the corresponding single cell 11, and the top of the hollow component is laser welded to the second area of ​​the top plate of the outer shell 3.

[0180] Next, a flexible insulating sealing ring is placed in the second clearance hole 32; the small diameter section of its stepped structure extends into the second clearance hole 32 and is in close contact with the upper cover plate of the single cell 11, and the large diameter section of the stepped structure is located outside the outer shell 3 and fits against the top plate of the outer shell 3; then a pressure ring is placed on the flexible insulating sealing ring.

[0181] Afterwards, the pole extension 124 is welded to the pole 123. During the welding process, a downward pressure is applied along the height direction (along the z direction) of the pole 123. Under the action of this downward pressure, the pressure ring transmits the pressure evenly to the flexible insulating sealing ring, causing the inner wall of the flexible insulating sealing ring to fit tightly against the pole 123 and the outer wall to fit tightly against the wall of the second clearance hole 32.

[0182] Finally, the heat exchange tubes 2 are fixed on each pole extension 124.

[0183] The hollow component has a certain length redundancy design to cover the possible height difference between the top cover of the single cell 11 and the top plate of the outer shell 3. After the bottom of the hollow component and the corresponding first area of ​​the single cell 11 are laser welded together, when the height of the single cell 11 is moderate, the top end face of the hollow component is flush with the edge of the second clearance hole 32. At this time, the joint between the two is welded. When the height of the single cell 11 is low, the top end face of the hollow component will be lower than the opening of the second clearance hole 32. At this time, the top end face of the hollow component can be welded to the wall of the second clearance hole 32.

[0184] Based on the above analysis, it can be seen that the hollow component can also compensate for the height difference between each individual battery cell 11, ensuring reliable sealing and welding of the second clearance hole 32.

[0185] In this embodiment, the insulating sealant 4 tightly fills the gap between the terminal post 123 and the hollow component, forming the first sealing barrier. This effectively prevents the leakage of gases, electrolytes, and other substances inside the battery, while also preventing external air, moisture, and impurities from entering the battery. The hollow component, through laser welding of its bottom to the top cover of the individual battery 11 and its top to the top plate of the outer casing 3, along with flexible welding strategies tailored to the height differences of different individual batteries 11, constitutes the second sealing line. The dual sealing structures work together, ensuring that even if one line of defense fails partially, the other line can still guarantee the battery's sealing performance, significantly reducing the risk of leakage and ensuring that the battery maintains a good sealing state under various operating conditions.

[0186] Example 7

[0187] Unlike embodiments 4 to 6, this embodiment can use the following three methods to achieve a sealed connection between the area corresponding to each second clearance hole 32 on the top plate of the outer casing 3 and the upper cover plate of the corresponding single battery cell 11:

[0188] Method 1: The edge of the second clearance hole 32 on the side closest to the single cell 11 is welded to the top cover plate of the single cell 11 using filler wire welding to achieve a sealed connection between the area corresponding to each second clearance hole 32 on the top plate of the outer casing 3 and the corresponding top cover plate of the single cell 11.

[0189] Method 2: Laser welding is used to weld the area around each second clearance hole 32 on the top plate of the outer casing 3 and the area around the pole post 123 on the upper cover of the corresponding single cell 11.

[0190] Method 3: Using hollow components to seal the top plate area of ​​the casing corresponding to the second clearance hole 32 to the top cover plate of each individual battery 11. Specifically, each hollow component is inserted through the second clearance hole 32 and fitted around each terminal post 123. The bottom of the hollow component is laser-welded to the first area of ​​the corresponding individual battery 11, and the top of the hollow component is laser-welded to the second area of ​​the top plate of the casing 3. The first area is the area around any terminal post 123 in the top cover plate of any individual battery 11; the second area is the area corresponding to any second clearance hole 32 on the top plate of the casing 3. The area corresponding to the second clearance hole 32 can be the wall of the second clearance hole 32 or the area around the second clearance hole 32 on the top plate of the casing 3.

Claims

1. A battery assembly, characterized in that: Includes the battery module and two heat exchange pipes; The battery module includes n individual batteries arranged along a first direction, where n is an integer greater than 1; The heat exchange tube includes conductive and non-conductive tubes arranged alternately along its length; a first clearance hole penetrating its inner cavity is formed on the wall of the heat exchange tube. Two heat exchange tubes are arranged in parallel and extend along the first direction. Each conductive tube in each heat exchange tube is connected to the polarity terminals of two adjacent single cells with different polarities. At least part of the structure of each polarity terminal extends into the inner cavity of the heat exchange tube through the first clearance hole, thereby realizing the series connection and cooling of each single cell in the battery module.

2. The battery assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The polarity terminal is provided with two first through slots, which are arranged along the second direction, and each first through slot passes through the polarity terminal along the first direction. The polar terminal portion between the two first through slots is defined as the first polar terminal portion; Each heat exchange tube is embedded in the first through slot of each polarity terminal on both sides of the battery module. The first part of each polarity terminal extends into the inner cavity of the heat exchange tube through the first clearance hole. The polarity terminal and the first clearance hole are sealed, and a liquid cooling medium flow sub-cavity is formed between the inner wall of the heat exchange tube and the first part of each polarity terminal.

3. The battery assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first clearance hole includes n sub-clearance holes; the n sub-clearance holes are arranged at intervals along the first direction, and the n sub-clearance holes correspond one-to-one with each polarity terminal on the same side of the battery module; The first part of each polarity terminal extends into the inner cavity of the heat exchange tube through the corresponding clearance hole.

4. The battery assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that: The battery module also includes 2n sealing rings, each sealing ring being fitted around the first part of each polar terminal. Each conductive tube is welded to the side wall of the first through groove, and when the conductive tube is welded to the side wall of the first through groove, the sealing ring is pressed to achieve a seal between the polar terminal and the sub-avoidance hole.

5. The battery assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first part of the polar terminal is provided with a functional structure for increasing the heat exchange area.

6. The battery assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The battery module also includes a housing; the housing is provided with an explosion vent; n individual batteries are arranged inside the housing; the top plate of the housing is provided with a second clearance hole corresponding to the polarity terminal of each individual battery; the polarity terminal of each individual battery extends out of the corresponding second clearance hole, and the area corresponding to each second clearance hole on the top plate of the housing is sealed and connected to the top cover plate of the corresponding individual battery. The outer casing is provided with an explosion vent channel that communicates with the explosion vent. The explosion vent channel is sealed and covers the explosion vent of each individual battery cell, and the thermal runaway flue gas is discharged in an orderly manner through the explosion vent channel. The conductive tube on the heat exchange tube is connected to the part of each individual battery polarity terminal that extends out of the corresponding second clearance hole.

7. The battery assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: The edge of each second clearance hole on the side closest to the individual battery cell is sealed to the corresponding individual battery cell cover plate by filler wire welding. Alternatively, the battery module may further include 2n hollow components; the 2n hollow components pass through the second clearance holes and are fitted around each terminal post, the bottom of the hollow component is laser-welded to the first area of ​​the corresponding single cell, and the top of the hollow component is laser-welded to the second area of ​​the top plate of the outer shell. The first region is the region surrounding any electrode post in the upper cover plate of any of the individual cells; The second region is the region corresponding to any one of the second clearance holes on the top plate of the outer casing.

8. The battery assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: The polar terminal includes a terminal post and a terminal post extension fixed on the terminal post; the top of the terminal post extension body is higher than the top of the terminal post; the terminal post extension of each individual battery extends out of the corresponding second clearance hole, and the bottom surface of the terminal post extension maintains a safe electrical conduction distance from the top plate of the outer casing.

9. The battery assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that: The battery module also includes 2n insulating seals; 2n insulating seals are installed one by one in the gap between each individual battery terminal and the second clearance hole; The pole extension applies pressure to the insulating seal along the pole height direction, compressing the insulating seal and sealing the gap between the pole and the second clearance hole.

10. A battery pack, characterized in that: It includes multiple battery components as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; the heat exchange tubes on each battery component are interconnected to form a battery pack liquid circuit system to realize battery pack heat exchange.

11. The battery pack according to claim 10, characterized in that: One heat exchange tube in each battery module is connected in series to form the main liquid inlet path; another heat exchange tube in each battery module is connected in series to form the main liquid outlet path; the end of the main liquid inlet path is connected to the beginning of the main liquid outlet path through an external pipe section. After entering the main inlet, the coolant flows through one of the heat exchange tubes in each battery module in sequence, and then through the external pipe section, it flows through the other heat exchange tube in each battery module in sequence, and flows out from the main outlet.

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