Battery system for a motor vehicle that is at least partially electrically powered

Abstract

Battery assembly (1) for a motor vehicle with at least partial electric drive, comprising battery cells (3) and battery electronics (2) with a printed circuit board (4) having mounting locations (14) for electronic components (12). A protective wall (5) prevents venting gases, which may occur during thermal runaway of the battery cells (3), from reaching an electronic component (12) located on the printed circuit board (4). The protective wall (5) is designed as a dummy (15) of an electronic component (12) that can be mounted on the printed circuit board (4), so that the protective wall (5) can be attached to a mounting location (14) on the printed circuit board (4).

Description

The present invention relates to a battery device for at least partially electrically driven motor vehicle having a plurality of battery cells and a battery electronics having at least one printed circuit board with receiving spaces for electronic components.If high-voltage batteries are damaged, for example, in the event of an accident, the battery cells may be strongly heated (so-called thermal runaway). Owing to the heat development, a strongly exothermic reaction can occur (thermal propagation or battery burn; thermal propagation), in which so-called vent gases flow out of the battery cells.The vent gases sometimes contain conductive constituents (electrolytes, metal particles, etc.). Therefore, an arc can be formed and the gases can ignite if the gases strike components of the battery electronics, at which a high-voltage potential is applied.WO 2016 053 404 A1 therefore proposes a battery module, the electronics compartment of which is shielded from the gases by a baffle plate (baffle). The baffle plate is fastened to a cover, which delimits the electronics chamber and at the same time provides a flow channel for the gases.DE 10 2011 109 249 A1 discloses a high-voltage battery for vehicles with a collecting channel for vent gases. The collecting channel is formed by the battery cells and a printed circuit board of the battery electronics. The printed circuit board is formed three-dimensionally, so that webs are formed which delimit the collecting channel. Such a solution requires the development and production of electronics units with correspondingly three-dimensionally shaped printed circuit boards.DE 10 2012 219 784 A1 and DE 10 2019 219 593 A1 disclose high-voltage batteries for vehicles, in which the printed circuit board in each case forms a wall of a flow duct for the vent gases. This generally requires a special arrangement of the printed circuit boards in the overall battery. As a result, the integration into the battery becomes more complicated overall or sometimes even requires a new development of the printed circuit board and other battery components.A battery device of the generic type is known from U.S. Pat. No. 2016 / 0 036 023 A1.DE 10 2020 215 341 A1 discloses a battery for an electrically driven motor vehicle in which an electrical contact of a battery cell is guided through a wall with a degassing opening. A printed circuit board of a battery management system is arranged at a distance from the wall. A busbar is electrically conductively connected to the contact. In this case, the busbar is arranged between the wall and the printed circuit board at a distance from the degassing opening, such that it completely protrudes beyond the degassing opening.DE 10 2021 201 737 A1 discloses a traction battery device with stacked individual battery cells. The individual battery cells are braced against one another in the stacking direction by means of at least one armature board equipped with electronic components.US 2013 / 0 330 579 A1 shows a battery having a battery block with battery cells which are divided into a plurality of sections by section plates. The battery pack is disposed between two end plates. The end plates and the section plates are bolted together via a plurality of rods. The battery cells each comprise a degassing valve which is connected to a common venting channel.In contrast, it is the object of the present invention to create a possibility that is space-saving and simple in terms of construction, in order to avoid the ignition of the vent gases at the battery electronics. In particular, the solution should offer a high degree of flexibility, so that no or only slight adaptations to different battery models or construction patterns are necessary. Preferably, a particularly quick and inexpensive assembly of the battery device should also be possible.This object is achieved by a battery device having the features of claim 1. Further advantages and features of the present invention are evident from the general description and the description of the exemplary embodiment.The battery device according to the invention is provided for an at least partially electrically driven motor vehicle. The battery device comprises a plurality of battery cells and a battery electronics system having at least one printed circuit board with receiving locations for electronic components. In particular, the battery device comprises at least one electronic component arranged on the printed circuit board. The battery device comprises at least one protective wall. The protective wall is suitable and designed in particular for keeping at least some of the vent gases occurring during a thermal passage of at least one of the battery cells away from or diverting them from at least one electronic component arranged on the printed circuit board. The protective wall is at least partially formed as an dummy (so-called dummy) of an electronic component that can be arranged on the printed circuit board. As a result, the protective wall can be fastened or fastened on the printed circuit board, in particular, at at least one (unoccupied or free) receiving location.The present invention offers many advantages. A considerable advantage is offered by the protective wall designed as a dummy electronic component. As a result, the protective wall can be arranged particularly easily and saving installation space where an electronic component could otherwise be arranged on the printed circuit board. This enables an effective and structurally very inexpensive protective wall which can be mounted particularly rapidly at the same time. A considerable advantage is that the invention can also be implemented in very many different construction patterns or models of battery devices, without further structural adaptations or even new developments of the battery electronics or of the remaining components of the battery device being necessary.Preferably, the protective wall comprises at least one wall section. In particular, the wall section protrudes from a main extension plane of the printed circuit board. In particular, the wall section runs transversely to the main extension plane of the printed circuit board. In particular, the wall section extends with a longitudinal side along the printed circuit board. The length of the longitudinal side is in particular greater than a height of the wall section. The height of the wall section is in particular the dimension by which the wall section extends beyond the main extension plane of the printed circuit board transversely to the main extension plane.It is preferred and advantageous that the wall section is formed as a rib or comprises at least one rib. The rib can also be referred to as a web. Such a rib offers a particularly effective and targeted shielding of the electronic component from the vent gases.In an advantageous embodiment, the protective wall is arranged in front of the electronic component with respect to a main flow direction (to be expected in the case of thermal propagation) of the vent gases in such a way that the protective wall bypasses the hot gases and / or bypasses the electronic component. In particular, the vent gases are diverted from the protective wall in such a way that they cannot flow (directly) onto the electronic component. In particular, the protective wall is located directly in front of the electronic component. It is possible and advantageous here for the protective wall to be at (somewhat) spaced apart from the electronic component. It is possible for the protective wall to guide the vent gases past the electronic component in a labyrinthine manner.The electronic component is in particular an electronic component which has a high-voltage potential. For example, the electronic component comprises two (exposed) contacts, between which a high-voltage potential is present. In such an electronic component, the shielding by the protective wall is particularly important.It is preferred and advantageous that the protective wall (in relation to its attachment to the printed circuit board or to the receiving location of the printed circuit board) is formed in a manner that simulates an electronic component that can be arranged on the printed circuit board. The protective wall can preferably be fastened to the printed circuit board in a manner analogous to an electronic component. In particular, the fastening of the protective wall to the printed circuit board takes place analogously to an electronic component. The applicant reserves the right to claim such a configuration in combination with the preamble of claim 1.It is also possible and advantageous for the protective wall to be simulated with respect to its basic geometry and in particular with respect to the basic geometry of its wall section of an electronic component which can be arranged on the printed circuit board. The basic geometry can relate, for example, to the length and / or width or depth and / or height and / or at least one other spatial property. It can be provided that the protective wall is simulated by an electronic component arranged on the printed circuit board in front of it in the main flow direction of the vent gases. In other words, the protective wall then forms a dummy of the electronic component lying in front of it. It is also possible to mimic another electronic component. The applicant reserves the right to claim such a configuration in combination with the preamble of claim 1.In a particularly preferred and advantageous refinement, the protective wall is designed as a dummy of a high-voltage plug (which can be fastened as an electronic component on the printed circuit board). Such a protective wall can also be referred to as a dummy high-voltage plug. As a result, the protective wall can be fastened to the printed circuit board in particular in a manner analogous to a high-voltage plug. In particular, the dummy of the high-voltage plug does not have any electrical contact with the printed circuit board. However, it is also possible for an electrical contacting to be provided. In particular, the protective wall is simulated to the high-voltage plug with respect to its attachment to the printed circuit board or to the receiving location of the printed circuit board and / or with respect to its basic geometry (its wall section).The protective wall is preferably arranged (directly) in front of the high-voltage plug in the main flow direction of the vent gases. In particular, the high-voltage plug is thereby shielded from the hot gases by means of the protective wall. As a result, ignition of the gases by an arc at the high-voltage plug can be counteracted particularly effectively.It is possible and advantageous for the protective wall to have at least one connection section. In particular, the connection section can be coupled to at least one receiving location of the printed circuit board and can in particular be fastened thereto. In particular, the protective wall is fastened to the printed circuit board at least in that the connection section is coupled to the receiving location. However, it is also possible for the connection section coupled to the receiving location to be fastened by at least one (alternative or further) connecting means, for example an adhesive connection and / or latching connection and / or plug connection and / or screw connection and / or soldered connection or the like. The connection section is in particular designed analogously to a possibility for fastening an electronic component.In particular, the connection section of the protective wall is formed analogously to a connection section of an electronic component at least with respect to the fastening to the printed circuit board. An electrical contact is in particular not provided or simulated on the connection section of the protective wall. However, it is also possible for the connection section to have an electrical contact. In addition or as an alternative to the connection section, the protective wall can also be fastened in another suitable manner to the receiving location. Force-fit and / or form-fit and / or material-fit connections are possible.It is possible and advantageous for at least the receiving location, at which the protective wall is fastened on the printed circuit board, to be designed as a plug-in location. The connection section can preferably be connected to the slot, so that the protective wall can be fastened to the printed circuit board like a pluggable electronic component. In particular, the protective wall is then fastened to or into the printed circuit board by being plugged on or inserted. The slot for the protective wall may be a real (functional) slot or an dummy slot.In an advantageous development, the printed circuit board comprises at least two receiving spaces for high-voltage connectors. In this case, preferably at least one receiving location is occupied by the protective wall and at least one receiving location is occupied by the high-voltage plug. The receiving location for the protective wall can be a real or functional receiving location or an dummy receiving location. In particular, the at least two receiving spaces are situated directly one behind the other in the main flow direction of the vent gases.In all embodiments, it is preferred that the protective wall is manufactured at least in sections from a fiber-reinforced material and preferably plastic material. The material preferably comprises heat-resistant or non-combustible fibers. Glass fibers are preferably provided. Other suitable fibers are also possible. The heat resistance or the noncombustible properties relate in particular to the temperatures to be expected in the case of thermal propagation in the context of the present invention.The battery device is designed in particular as a traction battery for an electric traction drive. The battery device is in particular a high-voltage battery. The battery device comprises in particular at least one battery module or is designed as such. The applicant reserves the right to claim a motor vehicle with a battery device according to the invention. The motor vehicle comprises in particular at least one electric traction drive which can be supplied with energy by the battery device.In particular, the receiving location for the dummy is provided by at least one (real or functional) receiving location for an electronic component. However, it is also possible for the receiving location for the dummy to be designed as a dummy receiving location. In particular, the dummy receiving location has no connection to an electrical connection of the printed circuit board and, for example, to conductor tracks or the like. The printed circuit board may also be referred to as a PCB (Printed Circuit Board).In particular, the protective wall simulates a fastening section of an electronic component that can be arranged on the printed circuit board. Additionally or alternatively, the protective wall can also mimic a basic geometry of an electronic component that can be arranged on the printed circuit board. In particular, the protective wall is fastened to at least one (unoccupied or free) receiving location on the printed circuit board.Further advantages and features of the present invention result from the exemplary embodiments which are explained below with reference to the attached figures.The figures show: FIG. 1 shows a purely schematic illustration of a battery device according to the invention in a perspective view; and FIG. 2 shows a purely schematic detailed illustration of a battery device according to the invention in a front view.FIG. 1 shows a battery device according to the invention, of which only some of the battery cells 3 and the battery electronics 2 are shown here by way of example for the sake of better clarity. The battery electronics 2 comprises a printed circuit board 4 with a plurality of electronics components 12. In order to connect the electronic components 12 electrically to the printed circuit board 4, the printed circuit board 4 is equipped with a plurality of receiving locations 14. For example, the receiving spaces 14 are at least partially designed as plug-in spaces 24.The vent gases, which can occur during a thermal runaway or during a thermal propagation of the battery cells 3, have a main flow direction 6, which is shown here by a block arrow. If the vent gases flow past those electronic components 12 which have a high-voltage potential, an arc and ignition of the gases can occur. Therefore, the high-voltage plug 22 and its adjacent battery components 12 are protected from the vent gases here by means of a protective wall 5. The protective wall 5 is designed here as an dummy 15 of an electronic component 12 which can be arranged on the printed circuit board 4. As a result, the protective wall 5 can be fastened to a free receiving location 14 on the printed circuit board 4.The protective wall 5 here consists partly or completely of a fiber-reinforced plastic material 7. glass fibers are used here for the fiber reinforcement. This has the advantage that the glass fibre selet remains stationary and continues to have a shielding effect even after the protective wall 5 has melted.FIG. 2 shows the protective wall 5 and its connection to the printed circuit board 4 by way of example. The protective wall 5 is formed here as a rib 35. It comprises a wall section 25 which redirects the vent gases such that they cannot ignite at the electronic components 12. The rib 35 thus forms a barrier for protecting the battery electronics 2.The protective wall 5 also has a connection section 45 which can be coupled to a receiving location 14. As a result, the protective wall 5 can be fastened to the printed circuit board 4 in a manner analogous to an electronic component 12. For example, the connection section 45 is equipped for connection to a receiving location 14 designed as a slot 24. The protective wall 5 is designed here as an dummy 15 of a plug or high-voltage plug 22 or of another electronic component 12, which can be fastened to a receiving location 14.The invention presented here provides an effective barrier for protecting the battery electronics 2. It is therefore possible to dispense with a complicated adaptation of the circuit board layout or of the component to be protected (for example of the high-voltage plug).List of reference numbers:1 Battery device 2 Battery electronics 3 Battery cell 4 Printed circuit board 5 Protective wall 6 Main flow direction 7 Plastic material 12 Electronics component 14 Receiving location 15 Dummy 22 High-voltage plug 24 Plug location 25 Wall section 35 Rib 45 Connection section

Claims

Battery device (1) for an at least partially electrically driven motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of battery cells (3) and battery electronics (2) having at least one printed circuit board (4) with receiving locations (14) for electronic components (12) and a protective wall (5), by means of which vent gases, which can occur during a thermal passage of at least one of the battery cells (3), are at least partially kept away from at least one electronic component (12) arranged on the printed circuit board (4), characterized in that the protective wall (5) is at least partially formed as an dummy (15) of an electronic component (12) which can be arranged on the printed circuit board (4), such that the protective wall (5) can be fastened to the printed circuit board (4) at least one receiving location (14).Battery device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the protective wall (5) comprises at least one wall section (25) protruding from a main extension plane of the printed circuit board (4) and wherein the wall section (25) is formed as a rib (35).Battery device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the protective wall (5) is arranged in front of the electronic component (12) with respect to a main flow direction (6) of the vent gases in such a way that it bypasses the vent gases or bypasses the electronic component (12).Battery device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the protective wall (5) is simulated with respect to its attachment to the printed circuit board (4) and / or with respect to its basic geometry of an electronic component (12) which can be arranged on the printed circuit board (4) and preferably of an electronic component (12) arranged in front of it on the printed circuit board (4) in the main flow direction (6) of the vent gases.Battery device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the protective wall (5) is designed as an dummy (15) of a high-voltage plug (22).Battery device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the protective wall (5) comprises at least one connection section (45) which can be coupled to a receiving location (14), such that the protective wall (5) can be fastened to the printed circuit board (4) in a manner analogous to an electronic component (12).Battery device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least the receiving location (14), at which the protective wall (5) is fastened on the printed circuit board (4), is designed as a slot (24), and wherein the connection section (45) can be connected to the slot (24), such that the protective wall (5) can be fastened on the printed circuit board (4) like a pluggable electronic component (12).Battery device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the protective wall (5) is manufactured at least in sections from a fibre-reinforced plastic material (7) with heat-resistant fibres, preferably glass fibres.

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