Battery arrangement with spacer fabric

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery arrangement (10), in particular for use in electric vehicles, comprising two or more battery units (12a, 12b), wherein at least between two adjacent battery units (12a, 12b) a planar separating element (14) is arranged which separates the battery units (12a, 12b) from each other at least section by section, wherein the planar separating element (14) comprises or consists of a spacer textile (16).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a battery arrangement, particularly for use in electric vehicles, and a method for dealing with a malfunction in such a battery arrangement. A vehicle comprising a corresponding battery arrangement is also disclosed.

[0002] As awareness grows for a more sustainable use of fossil resources and the avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions, the improvement of electric vehicles and the development of new concepts for electromobility have increasingly become the focus of many industries in recent years.

[0003] A key component of electric vehicles, which in many cases is largely responsible for the distances achievable with the vehicle, is the battery system used to store electrical energy, and consequently, a great deal of research and development effort is focused on this. Modern battery systems for electric vehicles usually consist of a large number of electrically interconnected battery units, for example, in the form of so-called pouch cells or so-called prismatic cells.

[0004] These battery units contain within them the components of the respective electrochemical cells, which serve for the electrochemical storage and generation of energy.

[0005] The individual battery units, which can be, for example, lithium-ion batteries, represent chemically complex and comparatively failure-prone systems in which at least partially exothermic reactions occur during cycling. Such battery units are susceptible to malfunctions, especially since they often contain flammable substances, particularly electrolytes, and high temperatures can occur during operation. Consequently, in the worst-case scenario, a battery unit can experience thermal runaway. In such a thermal runaway, in addition to a possible pressure buildup within the battery unit, a significant temperature increase and possibly even flame formation occur in most cases.

[0006] Thermal runaway in a battery unit can potentially trigger a chain reaction, in which the temperature increase of a defective battery unit disrupts the fragile equilibrium of neighboring battery units and also triggers thermal runaway in them. For this reason, battery units in appropriate battery configurations are often separated from each other by separating elements, which must ensure the best possible thermal insulation between the battery units in order to prevent or at least slow down a thermal runaway chain reaction in the event of an incident.

[0007] Since thermal runaway can also lead to flame formation, the separating elements must, in most cases, be sufficiently fire-resistant or durable to prevent themselves from acting as combustible material in the event of a malfunction and further accelerating the chain reaction. Accordingly, in the state of the art, the separating elements should generally also provide fire-resistant compartmentation.

[0008] The specific requirements for the separating elements used vary depending on the design of the battery cells.

[0009] One challenge with pouch cells is that they undergo volume changes even during normal operation, which are transmitted to the environment through the typically flexible casing of the battery units. Many commercially available pouch cell batteries undergo such volume changes, particularly during charging and discharging – a process that occurs very frequently over the lifespan of a battery array and, especially during charging, on a relatively short timescale. This places particular demands on the deformability of the separating elements and their ability to undergo reversible volume changes.

[0010] For prismatic cells, the volume change of the battery units due to the cell casings is often a less critical criterion that must be considered when designing separating elements. However, prismatic cells are sometimes more difficult to cool than pouch cells. At the same time, the housing of the prismatic cells already occupies a considerable amount of installation space and is associated with increased weight, which can negatively affect the energy density of the battery unit and can also lead to higher manufacturing costs.Accordingly, the requirements for the separating elements for prismatic cells are primarily that they exhibit the best possible thermal insulation properties in the smallest possible installation space and allow reliable fire protection even with low thickness and low weight, whereby it is desirable that the costs for the production of the separating elements can be kept as low as possible in order not to increase the overall costs too much.

[0011] Regardless of the design of the battery cells, there is a regular requirement that the battery cells of the battery arrangement are sufficiently stabilized and fixed relative to each other by the separating elements used, so that they are protected against mechanical stresses.

[0012] According to the inventor, the separating elements available in the prior art do not meet the diverse requirements in many cases, or not completely.

[0013] Information on the state of the art and the technological background is disclosed in DE 102021000029 A1, DE 102022118738 A1, CN 109103539 A and DE 102018112351 A1.

[0014] The purpose of the present invention was to eliminate or at least mitigate the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0015] In particular, it was an object of the present invention to provide a battery arrangement in which the battery units are efficiently stabilized and fixed relative to each other by a separating element, so that they are protected against mechanical stresses by efficient damping.

[0016] Furthermore, it was an object of the present invention to provide a battery arrangement in which the battery units are separated by a separating element which opposes a volume expansion of the battery units with a resistance that is as optimal and precisely adapted to the respective application requirements as possible, but expands again as much as possible as a result of a subsequent volume decrease of the battery units, so that good cycleability of the battery units in the charging cycle is achieved, whereby a contact of the battery units with the separating element should be ensured as consistently as possible in order to synergistically achieve a mechanical fixation of the battery units as protection against mechanical stresses on the battery arrangement.

[0017] One object of the present invention was to provide a battery arrangement that can be designed with a particularly low weight.

[0018] Furthermore, one objective of the present invention was to enable the battery cells installed therein to be cooled and, if necessary, even temperature-controlled in a particularly efficient manner.

[0019] At the same time, it was a complementary objective of the present invention that the solution to be specified should, in the event of a malfunction, preferably offer a possibility for efficient protection against thermal runaway and the associated dangers.

[0020] Basically, an important objective of the present invention was that the battery arrangement to be specified and the separating element used should be particularly time- and cost-efficient to manufacture.

[0021] A further object of the present invention was to specify a vehicle which includes the battery arrangement to be specified.

[0022] Finally, a secondary objective of the present invention was to provide an advantageous method for dealing with a malfunction in such a battery arrangement.

[0023] The inventor of the present invention has found that the problems described above can surprisingly be solved if a specific separating element is used in a battery arrangement with two or more electrically connected battery units, which is designed as a spacer textile, in particular as a textile spacer fabric, as defined in the claims.

[0024] Surprisingly, the use of a flat spacer fabric as a separating element allows the battery units to be efficiently stabilized and fixed relative to each other, thus providing particularly effective protection against mechanical stress. The high flexibility of these separating elements, which can be precisely adjusted during manufacturing, advantageously allows them to offer optimized resistance to the volume expansion of the battery units, while simultaneously allowing them to expand again as much as possible following a subsequent volume reduction. This ensures good cycleability of the battery units, especially pouch cells, during the charging cycle, while advantageously maintaining very consistent contact between the battery units and the separating element.Due to the low density of suitable spacer textiles and the low required basis weights, very lightweight battery units can be obtained, while also allowing for advantageous air cooling or temperature control.

[0025] In this development, the inventor has overcome the preconceived notion that spacer textiles, especially those made from conventional textile materials, would not be promising candidates for use in battery cells, given the usual requirements for separating materials, as they appear disadvantageous with regard to thermal insulation and fire protection properties. However, the inventor has found that the insulating properties and the advantageous cooling capacity in the event of a malfunction provide at least sufficient time for further measures to be taken.

[0026] Based on the premise that a battery cell cannot be reused after thermal runaway, the inventor developed the concept that the advantageous structure of spacer fabrics, particularly woven spacer fabrics, can be used to compensate for their disadvantages in passive fire suppression with significant advantages in active firefighting measures. The open and accessible structure of the spacer fabrics allows for particularly efficient filling of the spaces between two battery cells with a fire-fighting fluid, such as extinguishing foam, to ensure the necessary containment of thermal runaway in the event of a malfunction.

[0027] Additionally or alternatively, the advantageous structure of spacer textiles can also be used to serve as carrier structures for inorganic insulating materials, especially particulate insulating materials.

[0028] The aforementioned problems are solved accordingly by the subject matter of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0029] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims and the following explanations.

[0030] Such embodiments, which are hereinafter referred to as preferred, are combined in particularly preferred embodiments with features of other embodiments referred to as preferred. Combinations of two or more of the embodiments referred to below as particularly preferred are therefore especially preferred. Also preferred are embodiments in which a feature of one embodiment, referred to as preferred to any extent, is combined with one or more further features of other embodiments, which are referred to as preferred to any extent. Features of preferred vehicles and methods result from the features of preferred battery arrangements.

[0031] Particularly preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the exemplary embodiments. Against this background, particularly preferred embodiments of the invention have two or more, preferably three or more, and most preferably four or more, of the preferred features of the invention disclosed below, which are also implemented in the exemplary embodiments.

[0032] The invention relates to a battery arrangement, in particular for use in electric vehicles, comprising two or more battery units, wherein at least between two adjacent battery units a planar separating element is arranged which separates the battery units at least sectionally from one another, wherein the planar separating element comprises or consists of a spacer textile, wherein the spacer textile comprises a first base made of a first textile surface structure and a second base made of a second textile surface structure spaced apart from it, wherein the first base and the second base are connected to one another and spatially separated from one another by a plurality of pole threads running between the bases.

[0033] Battery arrangements are generally well known to those skilled in the art. The battery arrangement according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in electric vehicles and their battery systems.

[0034] The major advantages of the battery arrangements according to the invention arise in particular from the specific design of the separating element. Accordingly, the battery arrangements according to the invention are not, in principle, limited with regard to the cell chemistry in the battery units, with the use of lithium-ion batteries being preferred due to their high industrial relevance.

[0035] To provide an electric vehicle with the necessary energy, the battery units in corresponding battery arrangements are regularly electrically connected to one another, with the charging and discharging of the resulting cell stack often being controlled by a battery control unit. A typical example is a battery arrangement according to the invention in which the battery units are connected in parallel and / or in series.

[0036] A typical battery arrangement according to the invention is also one in which the battery arrangement is arranged in a housing and / or in which the battery arrangement is surrounded by a protective casing.

[0037] In accordance with the skilled person's understanding, the battery units of the battery arrangement according to the invention can be individual battery cells, each separated by separating elements, or packs of several individual battery cells, which are either not separated from each other or only separated by alternative separating elements, for example, made of silicone foam. However, with regard to the safety of the resulting battery arrangement, the inventor considers it particularly advantageous if individual battery cells or only pairs of battery cells are separated by appropriate separating elements. An exemplary battery arrangement according to the invention is thus one in which the battery units comprise a battery cell or two or more electrically connected battery cells, preferably a single battery cell.

[0038] A battery arrangement according to the invention is particularly relevant, wherein the battery units are pouch cells and / or prismatic cells, or comprise pouch cells and / or prismatic cells, wherein, within the scope of the present invention, prismatic cells also include cylindrical cells. Prismatic cells, in particular, benefit from their good cooling properties. However, very rapid cooling is also advantageous for pouch cells, since in this case, low thermal conductivity is not required to prevent the foil separators in the adjacent cell from melting in the event of thermal runaway. In practice, the specific separating elements of the present invention are particularly suitable for separating pouch cells from one another. Accordingly, a battery arrangement according to the invention is preferred, wherein the battery units are pouch cells or comprise pouch cells.

[0039] In practice, such battery arrangements typically comprise a plurality of battery units and a complementary number of separating elements. A typical battery arrangement according to the invention therefore includes four or more, preferably six or more, electrically interconnected battery units, and / or three or more, preferably five or more, planar separating elements.

[0040] A key aspect of the present invention is the use of a spacer textile as a separating element, which, due to its inherent flexibility and favorable recovery properties at low weight, offers optimal mechanical protection and advantageous reversible compressibility, and also enables very efficient cooling due to its good flowability.

[0041] Spacer fabrics are well-known in the field of textile technology and are commercially available from numerous manufacturers in a wide variety of designs. Knitted spacer fabrics are particularly noteworthy in this regard. These spacer fabrics are usually available in rolls and can be easily cut to the dimensions required for the separating element.

[0042] Spacer textiles are double-layered textile structures in which the woven or knitted, especially warp-knitted, base surfaces, which are also referred to as fabric surfaces, are kept apart by additional spacer threads, which are also referred to by experts as pile threads.

[0043] For essentially all embodiments, a battery arrangement according to the invention is preferred, wherein the spacer textile is a woven textile spacer fabric.

[0044] In contrast to two-dimensional textile surfaces, spacer textiles are three-dimensional products that form a layered structure, whereby the knitted fabric surfaces, spaced apart from each other by the at least partially orthogonally running pile threads, can each be considered as isolated textile surfaces.

[0045] According to the invention, the battery arrangement is based on the invention, wherein the spacer textile comprises a first base made of a first textile surface structure, in particular a woven or knitted fabric, preferably a knitted fabric, and a second base spaced apart from it made of a second textile surface structure, in particular a woven or knitted fabric, preferably a knitted fabric, wherein the first base and the second base are connected to each other and spatially separated from each other by a plurality of pile threads running between the bases.

[0046] Regarding the design of the bases, the inventors consider it particularly preferable, in order to ensure good penetration with a cooling or even a quenching fluid, to design the bases in such a way that the interior space between the bases of the spacer textile is particularly accessible, preferably from both sides.

[0047] A preferred battery arrangement according to the invention is therefore one in which the first base and / or the second base, preferably both the first and second bases, have a grid-like or net-like structure. In other words, a preferred battery arrangement according to the invention is one in which the first base and / or the second base, preferably both the first and second bases, comprise a plurality of holes in the fabric, wherein the holes preferably have a mean diameter of 1 mm or more, more preferably 2 mm or more, most preferably 5 mm or more, and more preferably 10 mm or more, and / or wherein the holes preferably have a mean diameter in the range of 1 to 20 mm, more preferably in the range of 2 to 15 mm.

[0048] The inventor has succeeded in identifying particularly suitable material thicknesses for the spacer fabric in his own experiments, with which particularly efficient battery arrangements according to the invention can be obtained in practice. A preferred battery arrangement according to the invention is one in which the spacer fabric has an average thickness at ambient pressure in the range of 1.0 to 10.0 mm, preferably in the range of 1.5 to 5.0 mm, and most preferably in the range of 2.0 to 3.0 mm.

[0049] Preferably, the corresponding distance is largely generated by the pole threads, so that the bases contribute only minimally to the overall thickness. A battery arrangement according to the invention is therefore preferred, wherein the first base and the second base in the spacer textile have an average distance of 0.8 to 9.8 mm, preferably in the range of 1.3 to 4.8 mm, and particularly preferably in the range of 1.8 to 2.8 mm, at ambient pressure.

[0050] A battery arrangement according to the invention is preferred, either additionally or alternatively, wherein the planar separating element has an area of ​​300 to 1000 cm² on one of its planar sides. 2 preferably in the range of 120 to 650 cm 2 , exhibits.

[0051] The inventor's experiments have already yielded good results with conventional spacer textiles, which can be made of polyester, for example. This design performs particularly well when using fillers or when resorting to emergency flooding. In this case, a battery arrangement according to the invention is preferred, wherein the spacer textile comprises one or more material fibers selected from the group consisting of polyolefins and polyesters, preferably polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate.

[0052] However, particularly when the use of additional heat-insulating fillers is to be avoided, the inventors consider the use of materials that can offer inherent resistance to fire development to be advantageous. A battery arrangement according to the invention is therefore preferred, wherein the spacer textile comprises or consists of one or more material fibers selected from the group consisting of non-combustible and flame-retardant materials.

[0053] Advantageously, the design of the separating element as a spacer textile supports the adjustment of the desired compressibility, while at the same time achieving an advantageous recovery, which prevents excessive permanent deformation of the separating element.

[0054] The specific design of the separating element allows the use of materials for the spacer fabric that, as block material, would not provide the necessary mechanical properties and resilience. This applies in particular to a wide range of non-combustible materials, i.e., materials of classes A1 and A2 according to DIN 4102-1:1985-05, which are especially preferred due to their fire resistance. Excellent results were achieved in the inventor's experiments with these materials, particularly with spacer fabrics made of glass fibers, especially with a flame-retardant plastic coating of the individual fibers incorporated into the existing capillary structure. A battery arrangement according to the invention is preferred, wherein the spacer fabric comprises one or more material fibers selected from the group consisting of non-combustible materials.A battery arrangement according to the invention is particularly preferred, wherein the spacer textile comprises one or more material fibers selected from the group consisting of glass fibers.

[0055] The inventor has recognized that, when designing the separating material as a spacer textile, it is advantageously possible to use only flame-retardant materials, i.e., materials of class B1 according to DIN 4102-1:1985-05, instead of non-combustible materials in order to meet industry-specific safety requirements. The inventor suspects that the specific design of the separating material as a spacer textile contributes synergistically, particularly with regard to advantageous cooling. These flame-retardant materials are often less expensive than non-combustible materials and / or easier to manufacture in the form of spacer textiles. A battery arrangement according to the invention is therefore preferred, wherein the spacer textile comprises one or more material fibers selected from the group consisting of flame-retardant materials.Preferably, or alternatively, a battery arrangement according to the invention is used, wherein the spacer textile comprises or consists of one or more material fibers selected from the group consisting of material fibers with an oxygen index (LOI) according to DIN EN ISO 4589 :2017-11 of 22 or more, preferably of 25 or more.

[0056] Among the conceivable flame-retardant materials, the inventor considers the use of flame-retardant materials to be particularly preferred for essentially all embodiments. Flame-retardant materials are familiar to those skilled in the art based on their expertise and are commercially available in a wide variety, with, for example, DuPont's Nomex being a particularly prominent example of a flame-retardant material. Those skilled in the art understand that the flame-retardant effect of such materials can be based on a variety of mechanisms, such as endothermic degradation of the material, intumescence, or the release of gases that locally reduce the partial pressure of air. Flame-retardant properties can be achieved, for example, by a suitable coating on materials that are otherwise more readily combustible.However, in the inventor's opinion, it is preferable, particularly with regard to aging behavior and the long-term guarantee of flame-retardant properties, to use materials that are inherently flame-retardant. Accordingly, a battery arrangement according to the invention is particularly preferred, wherein the spacer textile comprises or consists of one or more material fibers selected from the group consisting of flame-retardant material fibers, preferably inherently flame-retardant material fibers.

[0057] To improve fire protection, it is particularly preferred to equip the spacer fabric with intumescent properties. A battery arrangement according to the invention is therefore particularly preferred, wherein the spacer fabric comprises or consists of one or more material fibers that are made of and / or coated with an intumescent material.

[0058] The inventor has succeeded in identifying particularly suitable materials for the material fibers, which are especially well-suited to meeting the demanding safety requirements in the automotive sector. A preferred battery arrangement according to the invention comprises one or more material fibers selected from the group consisting of phenolic resin fibers, melamine resin fibers, and polyamide fibers, preferably from the group consisting of phenol-formaldehyde resin fibers and aramid fibers, and particularly preferably from the group consisting of phenol-formaldehyde resin fibers and para-aramid fibers, wherein the respective fibers each consist of a mass fraction of 80% or more, preferably 90% or more, and particularly preferably 95% or more, of the respective plastics.

[0059] The combination of different fibers allows the physicochemical properties of the separating element to be specifically tailored to the requirements of a given application. Therefore, for certain applications, a battery arrangement according to the invention is preferred in which the spacer textile comprises two or more different material fibers.

[0060] Even though this is less preferred from a manufacturing point of view in the inventor's opinion, the textile spacer fabrics in the separating element can potentially be combined with other layers with which further functionalities can potentially be realized, for example with regard to their effect as a diffusion barrier.For certain applications, a battery arrangement according to the invention is preferred in this case, wherein the planar separating element comprises one or more further first functional layers, wherein the first functional layer is preferably selected from the group consisting of elastomeric surface materials, in particular macroscopically structured elastomeric surface materials, plastic foams, in particular silicone foams, and textile surface structures, preferably textile surface structures, in particular felt or nonwovens, and macroscopically structured surface materials made of thermoplastic elastomers, in particular silicone-based thermoplastic elastomers.

[0061] Furthermore, additional layers can be provided, which in particular offer additional flame protection and shield against radiant heat. A battery arrangement according to the invention is preferred in this case, wherein the planar separating element comprises one or more further second functional layers, the second functional layer being selected from the group consisting of inorganic films, preferably metal films and mineral films, which optionally include binders, preferably aluminum foil and layered silicate films, in particular alumina silicate film.

[0062] The open structure of the spacer textiles to be used according to the invention advantageously allows a high-performance hybrid material to be produced particularly efficiently by filling the space between the bases at least partially with a filler material in order to improve the thermal conductivity, whereby, in the inventor's estimation, this should be particularly relevant for applications where a particularly high thermal load is to be expected.Against this background, a battery arrangement according to the invention is particularly preferred for demanding applications, wherein the planar separating element comprises at least one particulate filler, preferably an inorganic filler, and most preferably an inorganic porous filler, wherein the filler is arranged at least partially, preferably to a volume fraction of 50% or more, particularly preferably 70% or more, and most preferably 90% or more, in the cavity between the first base and the second base of the spacer textile.A preferred battery arrangement according to the invention is wherein the filler is an inorganic filler, wherein the filler is preferably selected from the group consisting of inorganic silicon compounds, particularly preferably from the group consisting of precipitated silicon dioxide, pyrogenic silicon dioxide and silicate nanogel. A preferred additional or alternative battery arrangement according to the invention is wherein the combined mass fraction of fillers in the planar separating element is 15% or more, preferably 20% or more, particularly preferably 25% or more, based on the mass of the planar separating element.

[0063] For such configurations, which can be extinguished particularly well with an extinguishing fluid in the event of a malfunction and which are also particularly accessible to a cooling fluid, the inventor proposes choosing the proportion of fillers to be as low as possible, whereby in many cases the best deformation and damping properties can also be achieved. Accordingly, an alternative battery arrangement according to the invention is particularly preferred, wherein the combined mass fraction of fillers in the planar separating element is 10% or less, preferably 5% or less, and particularly preferably 1% or less, based on the mass of the planar separating element, wherein the planar separating element is particularly preferably substantially free of fillers.A battery arrangement according to the invention is also preferred, or alternatively, wherein the planar separating element consists of the spacer textile to a mass fraction of 90% or more, preferably 95% or more, particularly preferably 99% or more.

[0064] A major advantage of the battery arrangements according to the invention is that the deformation and recovery properties of the spacer fabric can be very precisely adjusted via its structure and design, in particular the choice of material and the number of pole threads. This can also be advantageously simulated using simulation software. In this respect, the inventor has succeeded in identifying optimized compression hardness values, measured according to DIN EN ISO 3386-2:2010-09, which yield separating elements that are ideally suited for use in vehicle battery arrangements and are particularly well-suited to the volume changes of typical lithium-ion battery pouch cells. It is advantageous to specify compression hardness values ​​for various compressions in order to define the most desirable parameter range.

[0065] A preferred configuration is, firstly, a battery arrangement according to the invention, wherein the spacer fabric has an effective compression hardness of deformation at 90% of the initial thickness in the range of 1 to 100 kPa, preferably in the range of 5 to 80 kPa, and particularly preferably in the range of 8 to 60 kPa. A preferred configuration is additionally or alternatively a battery arrangement according to the invention, wherein the spacer fabric has an effective compression hardness of deformation at 40% of the initial thickness in the range of 5 to 300 kPa, preferably in the range of 20 to 250 kPa, and particularly preferably in the range of 50 to 200 kPa. A preferred configuration is additionally or alternatively a battery arrangement according to the invention, wherein the spacer fabric has an effective compression hardness of deformation at 20% of the initial thickness in the range of 50 to 350 kPa, preferably in the range of 75 to 300 kPa, and particularly preferably in the range of 100 to 250 kPa.A battery arrangement according to the invention is also preferred, or alternatively, wherein the spacer textile has an effective compression hardness of deformation to 10% of the initial thickness in the range of 200 to 1000 kPa, preferably in the range of 300 to 950 kPa, particularly preferably in the range of 400 to 900 kPa.

[0066] Furthermore, it is possible to control the basis weight and thermal conductivity of the spacer fabric or the entire separating element by means of its structure and design, as well as the choice of material and, if applicable, filling. In this respect, the inventor has also succeeded in identifying particularly suitable areas, which have resulted in advantageous battery arrangements according to the invention through his own experiments. The inventor believes that those skilled in the art should test these settings, at least as a starting point for their own optimization. A preferred battery arrangement according to the invention is one in which the spacer fabric, with a thickness of 2 mm, has an average basis weight in the range of 20 to 450 g / m². 2 , preferably in the range of 50 to 400 g / m³ 2 , particularly preferably in the range of 100 to 320 g / m³ 2, exhibits. Preferably, or alternatively in the case of spacer textiles filled with filler, a battery arrangement according to the invention is used, wherein the planar separating element has an average total thermal conductivity through the planar separating element of 0.08 W / mK or less, preferably of 0.06 W / mK or less, particularly preferably of 0.04 W / mK or less, wherein the total thermal conductivity is preferably determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 22007 from 2018.

[0067] The inventor considers it particularly advantageous when using spacer textiles, especially unfilled spacer textiles, to be able to efficiently flush them with a cooling and / or extinguishing fluid in the event of a malfunction in the battery assembly. This allows for efficient cooling of the battery units, for example with compressed air, and / or extinguishing in the event of fires, particularly with extinguishing fluids suitable for solvent fires, especially extinguishing foams or carbon dioxide, preferably carbon dioxide. Preferably, the battery assembly is configured to trigger such a reaction in the event of a malfunction.A preferred battery arrangement according to the invention further comprises a fluid reservoir for receiving a cooling and / or extinguishing fluid and a fluid guidance system for guiding the cooling and / or extinguishing fluid from the fluid reservoir to the battery units of the battery arrangement, wherein the fluid guidance system preferably comprises a pump unit for conveying the cooling and / or extinguishing fluid from the fluid reservoir and / or wherein the cooling and / or extinguishing fluid is stored in the fluid reservoir under overpressure, wherein the fluid reservoir is particularly preferably a propellant gas-filled compressed air reservoir.

[0068] The extinguishing infrastructure, i.e. the fluid reservoir and the fluid guidance system, is preferably designed, according to the inventor's assessment, such that the battery units, preferably all battery units of the battery arrangement, can be flushed with the cooling and / or extinguishing fluid within 1 s or less, preferably within 0.5 s or less.

[0069] In this context, the inventor proposes that it is advantageous to also provide suitable devices in the battery assembly to detect a malfunction, for example, by registering a thermal runaway in one or more of the battery units. A preferred battery assembly according to the invention further comprises means for detecting a malfunction in the battery assembly, preferably a thermal runaway or a fire, preferably a gas leak detection system or a temperature monitoring unit for monitoring the temperature of the battery units of the battery assembly.

[0070] Against this background, the invention also relates to a method for dealing with a malfunction in a preferred battery arrangement according to the invention, comprising the following method steps: a) Detecting a malfunction in the battery assembly, in particular a thermal runaway, a fire or a gas leak, b) Guiding a cooling and / or extinguishing fluid, in particular a cooling or extinguishing gas, especially air, from the fluid reservoir to the battery units of the battery arrangement, wherein the cooling and / or extinguishing fluid is introduced at least partially into the spacer fabric.

[0071] Finally, in accordance with expert expectations, a vehicle comprising a battery arrangement according to the invention is also disclosed.

[0072] The invention and preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a preferred battery arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 2 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a particularly preferred planar separating element for use in preferred battery arrangements according to the invention; Fig. 3a), Fig. 3b) a schematic representation of the planar separating element of the Fig. 2 in two different particularly preferred embodiments in a perspective view; Fig. 4a), Fig. 4b) a schematic representation of different bases of the planar separating elements of the Fig. 3a) in preferred embodiments; and Fig. 5 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a preferred battery arrangement according to the invention in use in a method according to the invention for dealing with a malfunction.

[0073] Fig. Figure 1 shows a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of a preferred battery arrangement 10 according to the invention. In the example shown, two battery units 12a, 12b are electrically connected to each other, with battery management being carried out via a battery control unit 32, which is located in Fig. 1 is shown schematically.

[0074] The battery arrangement 10 shown also includes a fluid reservoir 26 with a cooling fluid arranged inside and a fluid guidance system 28 for guiding the cooling fluid from the fluid reservoir 26 to the battery units 12a, 12b. In addition, the battery arrangement 10 has means for detecting a fault 30, for example, a thermal runaway or a fire of the battery units 12a, 12b.

[0075] In the example shown, the battery units 12a and 12b are lithium-ion battery cells designed as pouch cells. A planar separating element 14 is arranged between the battery units 12a and 12b, by which the two battery units 12a and 12b are completely separated from each other so that there is no direct contact between them.

[0076] The Fig. Figure 1 shows an example of a section that can be part of a larger battery arrangement 10, which can include, for example, further battery units 12a, 12b separated by planar separating elements 14, which are arranged together in a battery housing.

[0077] In the example shown, the Fig. 1 consists of the planar separating element 14, as also in Fig. Figure 2 shows a spacer fabric 16, which is designed as a spacer knit fabric, with a first base 18 made of a first planar knit fabric, which is connected via a plurality of pile threads 22 to a spatially separated second base 20 made of a second planar knit fabric. In the spacer fabric 16, an inorganic porous filler 24, namely silicate nanogel, is arranged in the cavity between the first base 18 and the second base 20, making the separation element 14 particularly suitable for use with pouch cells. Without a corresponding filling with filler 24, the separation element 14 is in many cases better suited for prismatic cells.

[0078] The spacer fabric 16 shown is Fig. In the example shown, 2 includes inherently flame-retardant material fibers in the planar knitted fabrics of the first basis 18 and the second basis 20.

[0079] The spacer fabric 16 shown is Fig. 2 exhibits an effective compression hardness of deformation at 90% of the initial thickness of approximately 45 kPa and a thickness of approximately 2.8 mm, with an average basis weight of 200 g / m². 2 on.

[0080] As in Fig. 3a) and Fig. 3b) In the perspective view of preferred textile spacer fabrics 16, the first base 18 and the second base 20 each have grid-like or net-like structures, resulting in a multitude of holes in the knitted fabric. The textile spacer fabrics 16 shown each have an average thickness of about 3 mm, with the first base 18 and the second base 20 having an average distance of 2.8 mm. In Fig. 3a) the first basis 18 and the second basis 20 are executed identically, whereas Fig. 3b) shows a preferred embodiment with differently designed first base 18 and second base 20, in which the second base is designed as a significantly tighter mesh fabric.

[0081] In Fig. 4a) and Fig. 4b) Possible first textile fabrics and second textile fabrics with differently pronounced holes for honeycomb-like knitted fabrics are shown schematically. Fig. 4a) the holes have an average diameter of 5 mm and in Fig. 4b) a mean diameter of 10 mm.

[0082] Fig. Figure 5 shows the battery arrangement 10 according to the invention. Fig.1 in use in a method according to the invention for dealing with a malfunction. Expansion of the battery units 12a, 12b due to overheating during thermal runaway is counteracted here by introducing the cooling fluid from the fluid reservoir 26 via the fluid guide system 28 into the spacer textile 16, wherein the fluid reservoir can also be integrated into the battery housing, particularly in stationary batteries, although this is advantageous in electric vehicles. Reference sign 10 Battery arrangement 12a-b battery units 14 flat separating element 16 Spacer fabric 18 first basis 20 second basis 22 pole threads 24 Filler 26 Fluid reservoir 28 Fluid guidance system 30 means of recording an incident 32 Battery control unit

Claims

[1] Battery arrangement (10), especially for use in electric vehicles, comprising two or more battery units (12a, 12b), wherein at least between two adjacent battery units (12a, 12b) a planar separating element (14) is arranged which separates the battery units (12a, 12b) from each other at least section by section, wherein the planar separating element (14) comprises or consists of a spacer textile (16), wherein the spacer textile (16) comprises a first base (18) made of a first textile surface structure and a spaced-apart second base (20) made of a second textile surface structure, wherein the first base (18) and the second base (20) are connected to each other and spatially separated from each other by a plurality of pile threads (22) running between the bases (18, 20). [2] Battery arrangement (10) according to claim 1, wherein the battery units (12a, 12b) are pouch cells or comprise pouch cells. [3] Battery arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the first base (18) and / or the second base (20) have a grid or net-like structure. [4] Battery arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first base (18) and the second base (20) in the spacer fabric (16) have a mean distance in the range of 0.8 to 9.8 mm. [5] Battery arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spacer fabric (16) comprises or consists of one or more material fibers selected from the group consisting of non-combustible materials and flame-retardant materials. [6] Battery arrangement (10) according to claim 5, wherein the spacer fabric (16) comprises or consists of one or more material fibers selected from the group consisting of flame-retardant material fibers, preferably inherently flame-retardant material fibers. [7] Battery arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the spacer fabric (16) has an effective compression hardness of deformation to 40% of the initial thickness in the range of 5 to 300 kPa. [8] Battery arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the planar separating element (14) consists of the spacer fabric (16) to a mass fraction of 90% or more. [9] Battery arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the planar separating element (14) comprises at least one particulate filler (24). [10] Battery arrangement (10) according to claim 9, wherein the combined mass fraction of fillers (24) in the planar separating element (14) is 15% or more, based on the mass of the planar separating element (14). [11] Battery arrangement (10) according to one of claims 9 or 10, wherein the filler (24) is preferably selected from the group consisting of inorganic silicon compounds. [12] Battery arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a fluid reservoir (26) for receiving a cooling and / or extinguishing fluid and a fluid guidance system (28) for guiding the cooling and / or extinguishing fluid from the fluid reservoir (26) to the battery units (12a, 12b) of the battery arrangement (10). [13] Battery arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising means for detecting a fault (30) in the battery arrangement (10). [14] Method for dealing with a malfunction in a battery arrangement (10) according to one of claims 12 or 13, comprising the method steps: a) Detecting a fault in the battery assembly (10), b) Flowing a cooling and / or extinguishing fluid from the fluid reservoir (26) to the battery units (12a, 12b) of the battery arrangement (10), wherein the cooling and / or extinguishing fluid is introduced at least partially into the spacer fabric (16).

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