Battery cell

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery cell comprising a cell housing (3) and a cell terminal, preferably an external contact element (11). According to the invention, at least one heat-conducting means is arranged between the cell terminal, preferably the external contact element (11), and the cell housing (3). Preferably, the external contact element (11) is connected to the cell housing (3) via the heat-conducting means in a heat-conducting and preferably electrically insulating manner.

Description

The invention relates to a battery cell according to the preamble of claim 1.A battery cell of the generic type heats up during charging and discharging, namely mainly in the region of a cell core of the battery cell. In particular in the case of higher current loading and due to ohmic losses in a cell terminal of the battery cell, however, the battery cell can also heat up strongly in the region of the cell terminal, namely even more strongly in the individual case than in the cell core. Since the cell terminal is thermally connected to the cell nucleus, the heat can be transferred from the cell terminal to the cell nucleus. As a result, the region of the cell core close to the terminal-just like the cell terminal-heats up strongly and a so-called hot spot is formed, which extends the required charging duration for the complete charging of the battery cell. The battery cell thus has the disadvantage that the hot spot that forms reduces the charging performance of the battery cell.A cell module is known from DE 10 2016 223 063 A1.An object of the invention is to provide a battery cell having a higher charging performance compared to a known battery cell.This object is achieved by the features of the independent claim. Preferred developments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.According to the invention, a battery cell having a cell housing and a cell terminal, preferably an external contact element, is proposed. According to the invention, at least one heat conducting means is arranged between the cell terminal, preferably the outer contact element, and the cell housing, wherein it is preferably provided that the outer contact element is connected to the cell housing in a heat conducting and preferably electrically insulating manner via the heat conducting means. This has the advantage that heat is transferred from the cell terminal, preferably from the outer contact element, via the heat-conducting means to the cell housing. Thus, the formation of a hot spot in the region of a cell core of the battery cell close to the terminal can be prevented. As a result, the charging performance of the battery cell is increased in a structurally simple manner. From the cell housing, the heat is then transferred to cooling plates of a cooling system for the battery cell, wherein the cooling plates are in thermally conductive connection with the cell housing.In order to obtain a battery cell which is simple to produce from a manufacturing standpoint, it can be provided, for example, that the outer contact element and / or an insulating element of the battery cell is and / or are parts of a cell terminal of the battery cell, and / or that the outer contact element is connected via a connecting element, preferably a connecting bolt, preferably electrically, to the cell core of the battery cell, preferably an electrode of the battery cell, preferably of the cell core.In order to reliably protect a cell core of the battery cell, preferably electrodes of the cell core, from mechanical influences, it may preferably be provided that the cell housing delimits a housing interior space toward the outside, wherein it is preferably provided that the cell core, preferably one or more electrodes of the battery cell, is arranged in the housing interior space, are preferred.For reliable electrical insulation, simplified assembly of the battery cell and for no electrical current to flow between the cell housing and the insulating element, it can be provided in an exemplary embodiment that the battery cell has an insulating element, and that the insulating element, preferably for insulation against electrical current flow, is arranged between the cell housing and the outer contact element, and that a first opening and / or a second opening is assigned to the insulating element.In order to promote the mechanical stability of the insulating element, it can preferably be provided that the first aperture and / or the second aperture is and / or are each outwardly bounded by the insulating element. By way of example, it can be provided that the first aperture and / or the second aperture each have the geometry of a circular cylinder or a cuboid.In order that the cell terminal takes up as little installation space as possible, it can be provided by way of example that the insulating element is substantially U-shaped in cross section and / or that the insulating element is substantially trough-shaped.In order to make a defined heat transfer possible in a structurally simple manner between the outer contact element and the cell housing, it can be provided in a concrete embodiment that the heat-conducting means is formed at least partially by a first breakthrough heat-conducting material and / or by a second breakthrough heat-conducting means, wherein it is provided that the first breakthrough heat-conducting material is arranged in the first breakthrough, and / or wherein it is provided that the second breakthrough heat-conducting material is arranged in the second breakthrough.For the most effective and efficient possible heat transfer, it can be provided in an exemplary embodiment that the outer contact element is preferably directly in contact and / or, preferably directly, thermally conductive and / or, preferably directly, electrically insulating with the first breakthrough thermally conductive means and / or the second breakthrough thermally conductive means, and / or that the cell housing, preferably a cover of the cell housing, is preferably directly in contact and / or, preferably directly, thermally conductive and / or, preferably directly, electrically insulating with the first breakthrough thermally conductive means and / or the second breakthrough thermally conductive means.In order that the battery cell can be incorporated in a simple manner into a cell stack or into a composite of battery cells, it can be provided in an exemplary embodiment that the battery cell has a cell connector, wherein it is provided that the cell connector is electrically connected, preferably directly, to the cell terminal, preferably to the outer contact element, and / or wherein it is provided that the cell connector is electrically connected, preferably directly, to a connecting element of the battery cell.In order to enable not only a heat transfer between the cell terminal and the cell housing, but also a heat transfer from the cell connector to the cell housing in a structurally simple manner, it can be provided in a concrete embodiment that the heat conducting means is formed at least partially by a first connector heat conducting means and / or by a second connector heat conducting means, wherein it is provided that the first connector heat conducting means and / or the second connector heat conducting means is arranged between the cell connector and the cell housing, preferably a cover of the cell housing, wherein it is preferably provided that the cell connector is connected to the cell housing, preferably a cover of the cell housing, in a heat-transferring and preferably electrically insulating manner via the first connector heat conducting means and / or via the second connector heat conducting means.In order that the cell connector can be produced particularly easily, it can be provided in a preferred embodiment that the cell connector has a base section and a first leg and / or a second leg, wherein it is preferably provided that the base section bears flat against the outer contact element, and / or wherein it is preferably provided that the first leg and / or the second leg protrudes and / or protrudes from the base section, preferably at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the connecting element of the battery cell, in the direction of the cell housing, preferably a cover of the cell housing.In order that the heat transfer from the cell connector to the cell housing is achieved in a constructionally particularly simple manner, it can be provided in an exemplary embodiment that the first leg has a front surface which faces the cell housing, preferably a cover of the cell housing, and that the first connector heat-conducting means is arranged between the front surface of the first leg and the cell housing, preferably a cover of the cell housing, and / or that the second leg has a front surface which faces the cell housing, preferably a cover of the cell housing, and that the second connector heat-conducting means is arranged between the front surface of the second leg and the cell housing, preferably a cover of the cell housing.In order to reliably prevent the connector heat-conducting means from slipping relative to the cell connector, it can be provided in an exemplary embodiment that a first collar of the first leg adjoins the front surface of the first leg in the direction of the cell housing, preferably a cover of the cell housing, wherein it is provided that an inner side of the first collar of the first leg together with the front surface of the first leg delimits a first receiving pocket outwards, in which the first connector heat-conducting means is at least partially arranged, and / or that a second collar of the second leg adjoins the front surface of the second leg in the direction of the cell housing, preferably a cover of the cell housing, wherein it is provided that, an inner side of the second collar of the second limb together with the front surface of the second limb delimits a second receiving pocket outwards, in which the second connector heat-conducting means is at least partially arranged.In order to achieve a particularly effective, efficient heat transfer at low costs, it can be provided in a concrete embodiment that the heat conducting means is formed by a heat conducting mat and / or by a preferably curable and / or cured heat conducting paste, and / or the first breakthrough heat conducting means and / or the second breakthrough heat conducting means and / or the first connector heat conducting means and / or the second connector heat conducting means, preferably each, is and / or are formed by a heat conducting mat and / or by a preferably curable and / or cured heat conducting paste.Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the attached figures.The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a side sectional view of a detail of a battery cell, wherein an outer contact element of the battery cell is connected to a cell housing of the battery cell in a heat-conducting manner via breakthrough heat-conducting means; FIG. 2 shows a side sectional view according to FIG. 1 of the battery cell, wherein additionally a cell connector of the battery cell is connected to a cell housing of the battery cell in a heat-conducting manner via connector heat-conducting means; FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the battery cell according to FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of one half of the cell connector.FIG. 1 shows a battery cell 1 for a traction battery of a vehicle operated by battery electricity (not shown). The battery cell 1 has a cell housing 3 with a cover 5 which bears against housing top walls of the cell housing 3. The cell housing 3 delimits a housing interior space towards the outside. In addition, the battery cell 1 has a cell core 7, which is formed at least partially by electrodes (not shown) of the battery cell 1. The cell core 7 is arranged in the housing interior.In addition, the battery cell 1 has a cell terminal. The cell terminal has an outer contact element 11 which, here merely by way of example, has a plate-shaped geometry. The outer contact element 11 is electrically, mechanically and thermally connected to the cell core 7 via a connecting element 13. The connecting element 13 is formed, here merely by way of example, by a connecting element.Between the outer contact element 11 and the cover 5, a trough-shaped insulating element 15 is arranged, here merely by way of example. The insulating element 15 is designed and / or suitable for the purpose of not flowing any electrical current between the outer contact element 11 and the cover 5. The insulating element 15 is assigned a first aperture 21 and a second aperture 23, each of which is bounded on the full circumference outwards by the insulating element 15.Quite generally, a heat-conducting means is arranged between the cell terminal, specifically the outer contact element 11 and the cell housing 3, specifically the cover 5, wherein the outer contact element 11 is connected to the cover 5 in a heat-conducting and electrically insulating manner via the heat-conducting means. Heat is thus transferred from the outer contact element 11 directly via the heat-conducting means to the cover 5.In the embodiment of the battery cell 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the heat conducting means is formed partly by a first breakthrough heat conducting means 31 and partly by a second breakthrough heat conducting means 33. The first breakthrough heat conducting means 31 is arranged in the first breakthrough 21 and has both direct contact with the outer contact element 11 and direct contact with the cover 5.As shown in FIG. 2, the battery cell 1 additionally has a substantially C-shaped cell connector 41. The cell connector 41 has a base portion 42 and a first leg 43 and a second leg 45. The first leg 43 and the second leg 45 each project at right angles from the base section 42 in the direction of the cover 5. The cell connector 41 rests with the base section 42 flat on the outer contact element 11 and is directly electrically connected, here merely by way of example, to the cell terminal, specifically the outer contact element 11. In addition, the cell connector 41, here merely by way of example, is directly electrically connected to the connecting bolt 13.The heat conducting means is formed partly by a first connector heat conducting means 47 and partly by a second connector heat conducting means 49. The first connector heat conducting means 47 is arranged between the cell connector 41, specifically the first leg 43, more specifically a front surface of the first leg 43, and the lid 5. The first leg 43, specifically the front surface of the first leg 43, is directly connected to the first connector heat-conducting means 47 in a heat-conducting and electrically insulating manner, and the first connector heat-conducting means 47 is directly connected to the cover 5 in a heat-conducting and electrically insulating manner. The second connector heat conducting means 49 is arranged between the cell connector 41, specifically the second leg 45, more specifically a front surface of the second leg 45, and the lid 5. The second leg 45, specifically the front surface of the second leg 45, is directly connected to the second connector heat-conducting means 49 in a heat-conducting and electrically insulating manner, and the second connector heat-conducting means 49 is directly connected to the cover 5 in a heat-conducting and electrically insulating manner.As is shown in particular in FIG. 2, the front surface of the first leg 43 is adjoined in the direction of the cover 5 by a first collar 51 of the first leg 43, which collar is visible in particular in FIG. 4. An inner side of the first collar 51 of the first leg 43 delimits, together with the front surface of the first leg 43, a first receiving pocket outwards, in which the first connector heat-conducting means 47 is at least partially arranged. The front surface of the second leg 45 is adjoined in the direction of the cover 5 by a second collar 53 of the second leg 45. An inner side of the second collar 53 of the second leg 45 delimits, together with the front surface of the second leg 45, a second receiving pocket outwards, in which the second connector heat-conducting means 49 is at least partially arranged.FIG. 3 likewise shows a detail of the battery cell 1, specifically in a perspective view. The cell connector 41, the insulating element 15, the cover 5 as well as the first connector heat-conducting means 47 and the second connector heat-conducting means 49 can be seen in FIG. 4 among other things.It is hereby expressly pointed out that in this or another embodiment of the battery cell 1, the outer contact element 11 is connected to the cover 5 in a heat-conducting manner by way of example only via one or both breakthrough heat-conducting means 31 and 33 or also only, preferably with the cell connector 41 interposed, via one or both of the connector heat-conducting means 47 and 49. In addition, it is also conceivable that in this or another embodiment of the battery cell 1, the outer contact element 11 is also connected to the cover 5 in a heat-conducting manner by way of example only via one of the breakthrough heat-conducting means 31 or 33 and only via one of the connector heat-conducting means 47 or 49.In the battery cell 1, the first breakthrough heat conducting means 31 and the second breakthrough heat conducting means 33 and the first connector heat conducting means 47 and the second connector heat conducting means 49 are each formed by a heat conducting mat. In this or another embodiment of the battery cell 1, however, the first breakthrough heat conducting means 31 and / or the second breakthrough heat conducting means 33 and / or the first connector heat conducting means 47 and / or the second connector heat conducting means 49 can preferably each be formed by a heat conducting mat and / or by a preferably curable and / or cured heat conducting paste and / or by a preferably curable and / or cured heat conducting adhesive.List of reference characters1 Battery cell 3 Cell housing 5 Cover 7 Cell core 11 External contact element 13 Connecting element 15 Insulating element 21 First aperture 23 Second aperture 31 First aperture heat-conducting means 33 Second aperture heat-conducting means 41 Cell connector 42 Base section 43 First limb 45 Second limb 47 First connector heat-conducting means 49 Second connector heat-conducting means 51 First collar 53 Second collarReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2016 223 063 A1

[0003]

Claims

Battery cell having: a cell housing (3) and a cell terminal, preferably an outer contact element (11), characterized in that at least one heat-conducting means is arranged between the cell terminal, preferably the outer contact element (11), and the cell housing (3), and in that preferably the outer contact element (11) is connected to the cell housing (3) in a heat-conducting and preferably electrically insulating manner via the heat-conducting means.Battery cell according to Claim 1, characterized in that the battery cell (1) has an insulating element (15), and in that the insulating element (15) is arranged between the cell housing (3) and the outer contact element (11), preferably for insulation with respect to electrical current flow, and in that a first aperture (21) and / or a second aperture (23) is assigned to the insulating element (15).Battery cell according to Claim 2, characterized in that the heat-conducting means is formed at least partially by a first breakthrough heat-conducting material (31) and / or by a second breakthrough heat-conducting means (33), wherein it is provided that the first breakthrough heat-conducting material (31) is arranged in the first breakthrough (21), and / or wherein it is provided that the second breakthrough heat-conducting material (33) is arranged in the second breakthrough (23).Battery cell according to Claim 3, characterized in that the outer contact element (11) is preferably directly in contact and / or, preferably directly, heat-conducting and / or, preferably directly, electrically insulating with the first breakthrough heat-conducting means (31) and / or the second breakthrough heat-conducting means (33), and / or in that the cell housing (3), preferably a cover (5) of the cell housing (3), is preferably directly in contact and / or, preferably directly, heat-conducting and / or, preferably directly, electrically insulating with the first breakthrough heat-conducting means (31) and / or the second breakthrough heat-conducting means (33).Battery cell according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the battery cell (1) has a cell connector (41), wherein provision is made for the cell connector (41) to be electrically connected, preferably directly, to the cell terminal, preferably to the outer contact element (11), and / or wherein provision is made for the cell connector (41) to be electrically connected, preferably directly, to a connecting element (13) of the battery cell (1).Battery cell according to Claim 5, characterized in that the heat-conducting means is formed at least partially by a first connector heat-conducting means (47) and / or by a second connector heat-conducting means (49), it being provided that the first connector heat-conducting means (47) and / or the second connector heat-conducting means (49) is arranged between the cell connector (41) and the cell housing (3), preferably a cover (5) of the cell housing (3), it being preferably provided that the cell connector (41) is connected to the cell housing (3), preferably a cover (5) of the cell housing (3), in a heat-transferring and preferably electrically insulating manner via the first connector heat-conducting means (47) and / or via the second connector heat-conducting means (49).Battery cell according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the cell connector (41) has a base section (42) and a first leg (43) and / or a second leg (45), wherein it is preferably provided that the base section (42) bears flat against the outer contact element (11), and / or wherein it is preferably provided that the first leg (43) and / or the second leg (45) projects and / or project from the base section (42), preferably at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the connecting element (13) of the battery cell (1), in the direction of the cell housing (3), preferably of a cover (5) of the cell housing (3).Battery cell according to Claim 7, characterized in that the first limb (43) has a front surface which faces the cell housing (3), preferably a cover (5) of the cell housing (3), and in that the first connector heat-conducting means (47) is arranged between the front surface of the first limb (43) and the cell housing (3), preferably a cover (5) of the cell housing (3), and / or in that the second limb (45) has a front surface which faces the cell housing (3), preferably a cover (5) of the cell housing (3), and in that the second connector heat-conducting means (49) is arranged between the front surface of the second limb (45) and the cell housing (3), preferably a cover (5) of the cell housing (3).Battery cell according to Claim 8, characterized in that the front surface of the first limb (43) adjoins a first collar (51) of the first limb (43) in the direction of the cell housing (3), preferably of a lid (5) of the cell housing (3), wherein provision is made for an inner side of the first collar (51) of the first limb (43), together with the front surface of the first limb (43), to delimit outwards a first receiving pocket in which the first connector heat-conducting means (47) is at least partially arranged, and / or in that the front surface of the second limb (45) adjoins a second collar (53) of the second limb (45) in the direction of the cell housing (3), preferably of a lid (5) of the cell housing (3), wherein provision is made for, an inner side of the second collar (53) of the second limb (45) together with the front surface of the second limb (45) outwardly delimits a second receiving pocket in which the second connector heat-conducting means (49) is at least partially arranged.Battery cell according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat-conducting means is formed by a heat-conducting mat and / or by a preferably curable and / or cured heat-conducting paste, and / or the first breakthrough heat-conducting means (31) and / or the second breakthrough heat-conducting means (33) and / or the first connector heat-conducting means (47) and / or the second connector heat-conducting means (49) is and / or are preferably each formed by a heat-conducting mat and / or by a preferably curable and / or cured heat-conducting paste.

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