Cell module for a high-voltage battery as well as high-voltage battery

Abstract

Cell module for a high-voltage battery with a cuboid module housing (4) with a cell connector unit, the module housing having a module housing top (6), module housing bottom (8), module housing front, module housing rear and two module housing side surfaces, in which a number of adjacent cuboid battery cells (10, 12) are provided, each having a cell top (14), cell bottom (16), a cell front (18), cell rear and two cell side surfaces (20, 22), wherein each battery cell with at least one side surface (20, 22) rests against a cooling surface (24), the cooling surface (24) being part of a cooling arrangement (26) through which coolant can flow, and wherein the battery cells (10, 12) and the cooling surfaces (24) are fixed in the module housing (4) by fastening means (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46), the fastening means (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46) insulating clamping devices (44, 46) such that,that the cooling surfaces (24) are thermally insulated and clamped in the module housing (4). Furthermore, the invention relates to a high-voltage battery with at least one such cell module (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cell module for a high-voltage battery, comprising a cuboid module housing with a cell connector unit, which has a module housing cover, a module housing base, a module housing front, a module housing rear, and two module housing side surfaces. In said module module, a number of adjacently arranged cuboid battery cells are provided, each having a cell cover, a cell base, a cell front, a cell rear, and two cell side surfaces. Each battery cell bears against a cooling surface with at least one side surface. The cooling surface is part of a cooling arrangement through which coolant can flow, and the battery cells and the cooling surfaces are fixed in the module housing by fastening means. Furthermore, the invention relates to a high-voltage battery with at least one such cell module, the fastening means comprising insulating clamping elements such that the cooling surfaces are clamped in the module housing in a thermally insulated manner.

[0002] The rise of electromobility has dramatically increased demand for high-voltage batteries. Important factors in the development of such high-voltage batteries are material costs, capacity, service life, and manufacturing and assembly costs. In this context, DE 10 2020 216 420 A1 discloses a high-voltage battery in which the stack of battery cells in a cell module with cooling plates arranged between them is compressed and fixed in the module housing by means of spring elements. A cell module of this type is also known from US 2022 / 0 376 329 A1. In principle, this can compensate for manufacturing tolerances, but undesirable movement of the battery cells and cooling surfaces relative to each other is still possible. Cooling energy can also be transferred to the module housing, resulting in a loss of cooling energy. Furthermore, the assembly of such cell modules is complicated.Further cell modules are described, for example, in US 2016 / 0 126 514 A1, DE 10 2010 038 681 A1 and DE 10 2009 058 809 A1.

[0003] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a cell module that avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention in that the cooling surfaces have a circumferential folded area on which the insulating clamping elements are arranged. This allows each cooling surface to be easily secured separately in the module housing and prevents unwanted heat transfer between the cooling surface and the module housing.

[0005] It is advantageous if the insulating clamps are made of a thermally insulating plastic with damping properties. This helps prevent movement noise in the area of ​​the cooling surfaces and battery cells.

[0006] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the fastening means comprise clamping means that engage between the module housing cover and / or module housing base surface and the corresponding cell cover and / or cell base surface of the battery cells, such that the respective battery cell is fixed in the module housing. As a result, the battery cells and the associated cooling surfaces are fixed separately.

[0007] Particularly advantageously, the clamping element is designed as a spring element. This ensures a high level of fixation while allowing for easy installation.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment, the fastening means have a sliding block on the cell cover or cell base surface opposite the spring element, which can further simplify the assembly of the battery cells.

[0009] To increase safety, the clamping devices and / or the sliding blocks can be made of an insulating material.

[0010] To further simplify the assembly of the battery cells and enhance the securing function, the module housing cover and base surfaces can have grooves for the fastening elements. It is particularly advantageous if the insulating clamping elements are clamped between the clamping element and / or sliding block and the groove element.

[0011] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, a coolant pipe part is a component of the cooling surfaces, wherein an outer pipe part and an inner pipe part are provided for the supply and removal of the coolant.

[0012] The task is also solved by a high-voltage battery with at least one cell module designed in this way.

[0013] It should be clear that the area designations were chosen arbitrarily and may vary depending on the design of the battery cells and their arrangement in the module housing. The invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing, in which Fig. 1 a front view of an open cell module according to the invention for a high-voltage battery, Fig. 2 a perspective view of the cell module Fig. 1 with cooling surface to be mounted, Fig. 3 a broken detail view of the cell module when mounting another battery cell, and Fig. 4 a detailed view of the cell module in the area of ​​insulating clamps.

[0014] Fig. 1 shows an opened front view of a cell module 2 for a high-voltage battery (not shown in detail). The cell module 2 has a cuboid module housing 4, of which only the module housing cover surface 6 and the module housing base surface 8 are shown here. Furthermore, the cell module 2 has a cell connector unit (not shown in detail) for electrically connecting individual battery cells 10, 12. In the present exemplary embodiment, the battery cells 10, 12 are designed as cuboid battery cells 10, 12, each having a cell cover surface 14, a cell base surface 16, a cell front surface 18, two cell side surfaces 20, 22, and a cell rear surface (not shown here).

[0015] They are arranged next to each other with cell side surfaces 20, 22 facing each other. In the present embodiment, a cooling surface 24 is located on each cell side surface 20, 22, i.e. between each two battery cells 10, 12, which is part of a cooling arrangement 26. The cooling arrangement 26, of which Fig. 1, a coolant pipe section 28, consisting of an outer pipe section 30 and an inner pipe section 32, is additionally shown, through which coolant flows in a known manner. The coolant pipe section 28 is an integral component of the cooling surfaces 24.

[0016] The battery cells 10, 12 and the cooling surfaces 24 are fixed in the module housing 4 by fastening means 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46. For this purpose, the fastening means 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 initially have clamping means 34, which in the present embodiment are designed as spring elements 34, and act on the module housing cover surface 6 and the corresponding cell cover surface 14. In the present embodiment, a sliding block 36 is provided on the cell base surface 16 opposite the spring element 34, whereby the assembly is simplified in that the battery cells 10, 12 (see Fig. 3) can be easily pushed into the module housing 4 in the direction of the cell side surface 22 of an already mounted battery cell 10. To increase safety, in the present embodiment, the clamping means 34 and the sliding blocks 36 are made of an insulating material.

[0017] To simplify the fixing of the battery cells 10, 12, the module housing cover surface 6 and the module housing base surface 8 have groove elements 38, 40, between which the spring elements 34 and the sliding blocks 36 are arranged. According to the invention, an insulating clamping element 42, 44 is clamped on one side between each spring element 34 and a sliding block 36 and the corresponding groove element 38, 40. This insulating clamping element 42, 44 engages around a circumferential folded area 46 of the cooling surfaces 24 and thus additionally fixes the cooling surfaces 24 (see Figures 3 and 4) and thermally decouples them from the module housing 4. The insulating clamping elements 42, 44 are also made of a thermally insulating, damping plastic, which further increases the fixing in the module housing 4 and prevents possible movement noises from the cooling surfaces 24 and the battery cells 10, 12.The respective insulating clamping element 42, 44, and the folding area 46 thus also belong to the fastening means 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46. In this way, a very compact cell module 2 is created, wherein the installed battery cells 10, 12 are cooled and fixed in an optimal manner.

[0018] Fig. Figure 2 now shows, in a perspective view, the assembly of an additional cooling surface 24, which is applied to the side surface 22 of the battery cell 10. Also clearly visible here is the coolant pipe section 26 integrated into the cooling surface 24, which is sealed onto the existing coolant pipe section 26 in a known manner.

[0019] Fig. Figure 3 now shows, in a broken side view, the already mounted second cooling surface 24 as well as the second mounted spring element 34 and the second mounted sliding block 36. Both the spring element 34 and the sliding block 36 come into contact with the insulating clamping element 42, 44 on the one hand and with the groove elements 38, 40 on the other. Both the spring element 34 and the sliding block 36 each have an extension piece 48, 50 which engages over the respective groove element 38, 40. This is intended to ensure smooth insertion of the battery cell 12. It can be clearly seen how, when the battery cell 12 is inserted, the spring 34 is compressed and the cell base surface 16 slides over the sliding block 36.

[0020] Fig.Figure 4 now shows a detailed view of the insulating clamping members 42, 44, which are clamped between the groove members 38, 40 and the respective clamping means 34 or sliding block 36. In the present embodiment, the insulating clamping members 42, 44 have an extension 52 that extends into the corresponding groove members 38, 40.

Claims

[1] Cell module for a high-voltage battery with a cuboid module housing (4) with a cell connector unit, which has a module housing cover (6), a module housing base (8), a module housing front, a module housing rear and two module housing side surfaces, in which a number of cuboid battery cells (10, 12) arranged next to one another, each having a cell cover (14), a cell base (16), a cell front (18), a cell rear and two cell side surfaces (20, 22), are provided, wherein each battery cell (10, 12) bears with at least one side surface (20, 22) against a cooling surface (24), wherein the cooling surface (24) is part of a cooling arrangement (26) through which coolant can flow, and wherein the battery cells (10, 12) and the cooling surfaces (24) are connected by fastening means (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46) in Module housing (4) are fixed, wherein the fastening means (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46) have insulating clamping elements (42, 44) such thatthat the cooling surfaces (24) are clamped in the module housing (4) in a thermally insulated manner, , characterized by that the cooling surfaces (24) have a circumferential folded area (46) on which the insulating clamping members (42, 44) are arranged. [2] Cell module according to claim 1, characterized by that the insulating clamping elements (42,44) are made of a thermally insulating plastic with damping properties. [3] Cell module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the fastening means (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46) have clamping means (34) which engage between the module housing cover and / or module housing base surface (6, 8) and the corresponding cell cover and / or cell base surface (14, 16) of the battery cells (10, 12), such that the respective battery cell (10, 12) is fixed in the module housing (4). [4] Cell module according to claim 3, characterized by that the clamping means (34) is designed as a spring member (34). [5] Cell module according to claim 4 characterized by that the fastening means (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46) have a sliding block (36) on the cell cover or cell base surface (14, 16) opposite the spring member (34). [6] Cell module according to one of claims 3-5, characterized by that the clamping means (34) and / or the sliding blocks (36) are made of an insulating material. [7] Cell module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the module housing cover and module housing base surfaces (6, 8) have groove members (38, 40). [8] Cell module according to claim 7, characterized by that the insulating clamping members (42, 44) are clamped between the clamping means (34) and / or sliding block (36) and groove member (38, 40). [9] Cell module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat a coolant pipe part (26) is a component of the cooling surfaces (24), wherein an outer pipe part and an inner pipe part (30, 32) are provided for the supply and removal of the coolant. [10] High-voltage battery with at least one cell module (2) according to one of the preceding claims.

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