Battery module arrangement

Abstract

Battery module arrangement for a motor vehicle with a multi-part housing (2) in which a plurality of battery cells (8) with a top and a bottom are arranged, wherein at least one retaining plate (10, 12) is provided by which the battery cells (8) are fixed at a distance from one another, wherein the housing (2) has a coolant inlet (16) and a coolant outlet (18) such that the coolant flows from the coolant inlet (16) through spaces between the battery cells (8) in the form of a Z-shaped flow to the coolant outlet (18), characterized in that the coolant inlet (16) and the coolant outlet (18) are arranged on one side of the housing (2), wherein a separating element (24) with an opening (26) is arranged between the underside of the battery cells (8) and a housing base surface, wherein the opening (26) is formed on the side of the separating element (24) facing away from the coolant outlet (18) and coolant inlet (16).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a battery module arrangement for a motor vehicle with a multi-part housing in which a plurality of battery cells with a top and a bottom are arranged, wherein at least one retaining plate is provided by which the battery cells are fixed at a distance from one another, wherein the housing has a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, such that the coolant flows from the coolant inlet through spaces between the battery cells in the form of a Z-shaped flow to the coolant outlet.

[0002] These types of battery modules are used particularly in vehicles with electric or hybrid drives. The battery modules typically consist of several battery cells, such as lithium-ion cells, connected electrically in parallel and / or in series. Charging and discharging the battery module generates a significant amount of heat, which negatively impacts the lifespan of the battery cells and the battery's performance. Therefore, the battery cells are usually cooled, and a variety of cooling methods are known.

[0003] US Patent 2006 / 0 093 901 A1, for example, describes an embodiment for cooling battery cells. In this design, the housing has a coolant inlet on one side and a coolant outlet on the opposite side, with the coolant inlet located on the top side of the battery cells and the coolant outlet on the bottom side. The coolant flows from the coolant inlet, through the various flow channels between the battery cells, to the coolant outlet. Due to the arrangement of the coolant inlet and outlet on opposite sides of the housing, as disclosed in US Patent 2006 / 0 093 901 A1, a Z-shaped flow pattern is achieved through the battery, ensuring that each individual coolant flow travels the same distance and thus resulting in a uniform coolant flow through the housing.

[0004] A disadvantage of the described design is that the required arrangement of the coolant inlet and coolant outlet on opposite sides of the housing makes the installation of the battery more difficult and increases the installation space required for the battery.

[0005] Other battery modules are known, for example, from the publications DE 10 2007 035 164 A1, US 2010 / 0 294 580 A1, US 2013 / 0 323 551 A1 and US 2014 / 0 178 734 A1.

[0006] The object of the invention is therefore to further develop a battery module arrangement in such a way that the aforementioned disadvantage is avoided in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0007] This problem is solved by arranging the coolant inlet and outlet on one side of the housing. A separating element with an opening is positioned between the underside of the battery cells and a housing base. This opening is located on the side of the separating element facing away from the coolant inlet and outlet. This creates a Z-shaped flow pattern through the housing and reduces the installation space required for the battery module. The coolant flows from the coolant inlet through the spaces between the battery cells to the opening in the separating element, thus creating a Z-shaped flow pattern through the housing. From the opening in the separating element, the coolant flows to the coolant outlet, which is located on the same side of the housing as the coolant inlet, thereby reducing the installation space required for the battery.

[0008] Preferably, the battery cells are fixed at their upper side by a first retaining plate permanently arranged in the housing and at their lower side by a second retaining plate permanently arranged in the housing. This ensures that the battery cells remain reliably positioned in the housing throughout their entire service life.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, a first perforated plate is arranged on the upper side of the battery cells and a second perforated plate on the lower side of the battery cells. The first perforated plate allows the coolant flow entering through the coolant inlet to be directed into the spaces between the battery cells, and the second perforated plate allows the coolant flow flowing out of these spaces to be directed out.

[0010] Preferably, a channel plate is arranged between the first perforated plate and the housing, whereby the coolant flowing in through the coolant inlet is guided and distributed over the entire length of the housing, so that the battery cells located far from the coolant inlet can be supplied with sufficient coolant and thus sufficiently cooled.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment, a channel plate is arranged between the second perforated plate and the separating element. This directs the coolant flowing out of the spaces between the plates to the opening in the separating element, thus preventing coolant build-up.

[0012] Preferably, a channel plate is arranged between the separating element and the housing, whereby the coolant is directed from the opening in the separating element to the coolant outlet.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment, the webs of the perforated plates and the retaining plates lie in one plane. This improves the assembly of the individual elements of the battery module, as the force flow during the pressing in of all elements arranged in the housing runs via the webs.

[0014] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to drawings. These show: Fig. 1. A schematic representation of a battery module in sectional view, Fig. 2 a sectional view AA of the in Fig. 1 shown battery module,

[0015] Fig. Figure 1 shows a battery module arrangement with a multi-part housing 2, consisting of a housing base 4 and a cover 6. Cylindrical battery cells 8 are arranged in the housing 2 and are fixedly mounted in the housing 2 by means of a first retaining plate 10 and a second retaining plate 12, the first retaining plate 10 engaging the top of the battery cells 8 and the second retaining plate 12 engaging the bottom of the battery cells 8. The battery cells 8 are arranged in the retaining plates 10 and 12 such that spaces 14 are formed between the battery cells 8.

[0016] Fig. 2 shows the AA section from Fig.1. To cool the battery cells 8, a coolant flows through the interior 28 of the housing 2. For this purpose, a coolant inlet 16 and a coolant outlet 18 are provided on one side of the housing base 4. The coolant inlet 16 faces the top of the battery cells 8 and the coolant outlet 18 faces the bottom of the battery cells 8, so that coolant flowing in through the coolant inlet 16 enters the spaces 14 at the top of the battery cells 8, exits the spaces 14 at the bottom of the battery cells 8, and flows out of the housing 2 through the coolant outlet 18. The coolant also flows through the retaining plates 10, 12.

[0017] To introduce the coolant flow into the spaces 14, a first perforated plate 20 is arranged at a distance from the top of the battery cells 8. The coolant flowing in through the coolant inlet 16 is first distributed via a channel plate 34 located between the perforated plate 20 and the cover 6, and collected between the perforated plate 20 and the cover 6, before flowing into the spaces 14 through the openings in the perforated plate 20, which are shaped to correspond to the spaces 14. Similarly, a second perforated plate 22 is arranged at a distance from the bottom of the battery cells 8. The coolant exits the spaces 14 through this plate and is collected between the perforated plate 22 and a separating element 24.

[0018] The separating element 24 is fixedly arranged in the housing body 4 and divides the interior 28 into a first chamber 30, in which the battery cells 8 are arranged, and a second chamber 32, which is fluidically connected to the coolant outlet 18. At the end facing away from the coolant inlet 16, an opening 26 is formed in the separating element 24, through which the two chambers 30 and 32 are fluidically connected. Thus, the coolant flows from the coolant inlet 16, through the spaces 14, to the opening 26, being guided from the spaces 14 to the opening 26 via a second channel plate 36. From the opening 26, the coolant flows, guided through a third channel plate 38, through the chamber 32 to the coolant outlet 18. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the channel plates 34, 36, 38 and the perforated plates 20, 22 are designed separately.The channel plates 34, 36, 38 can also be integrated into the two perforated plates 20, 22, so that the first perforated plate 20 forms the first channel plate 34 and the second perforated plate 22 forms the second and third channel plates 36, 38.

[0019] The battery cells 8 are mounted in the housing base 4 together with the retaining plates 10, 12, the channel plates 34, 36, 38 and the perforated plates 20, 22. The retaining plates 10, 12 each have webs 40, 42, the perforated plates 20, 22 and the channel plates 34, 36, 38 lying in the same plane, so that when the battery cells 8, the retaining plates 10, 12, the perforated plates 20, 22 and the channel plates 34, 36, 38 are pressed in together, the forces applied for pressing in are transmitted via the webs.

[0020] For cooling the battery cells 8, an even distribution of the coolant flow is advantageous. This is achieved by a Z-shaped flow through the housing 2, whereby each coolant flow has the same distance from the coolant inlet 16 to the coolant outlet 18. The described design of the battery module arrangement allows for this Z-shaped flow through the housing 2, with the coolant inlet 16 and the coolant outlet 18 being located on one side of the housing 2, thereby reducing the installation space required for mounting the battery module arrangement.

Claims

[1] Battery module arrangement for a motor vehicle with a multi-part housing (2) in which a plurality of battery cells (8) with a top and a bottom are arranged, wherein at least one retaining plate (10, 12) is provided by which the battery cells (8) are fixed at a distance from one another, wherein the housing (2) has a coolant inlet (16) and a coolant outlet (18) such that the coolant flows from the coolant inlet (16) through spaces between the battery cells (8) in the form of a Z-shaped flow to the coolant outlet (18), characterized by, that the coolant inlet (16) and the coolant outlet (18) are arranged on one side of the housing (2), wherein a separating element (24) with an opening (26) is arranged between the underside of the battery cells (8) and a housing base surface, wherein the opening (26) is formed on the side of the separating element (24) facing away from the coolant outlet (18) and coolant inlet (16). [2] Battery module arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by , that the battery cells (8) are fixed at the top by a first retaining plate (10) fixed in the housing (2) and at the bottom by a second retaining plate (12) fixed in the housing (2). [3] Battery module arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that a first perforated plate (20) is arranged on the top side of the battery cells (8) and a second perforated plate (22) is arranged on the bottom side of the battery cells (8). [4] Battery module arrangement according to claim 3, characterized by, that a channel plate (34) is arranged between the first perforated plate (20) and the housing (2). [5] Battery module arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by , that a channel plate (36) is arranged between the second perforated plate (22) and the separating element (24). [6] Battery module arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by , that a channel plate (38) is arranged between the separating element (24) and the housing (2). [7] Battery module arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized by , that the webs of the perforated plates (20, 22) and the webs (40, 42) of the retaining plates (10, 12) lie in one plane.

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