Cell module for an electrical energy storage system and electrical energy storage

Abstract

The invention relates to a cell module (1) for an electrical energy storage device (2) with a number of electrically interconnected individual cells (4). According to the invention, the cell module (1) is formed by a cell arrangement device (5) with a number of receptacles (A) corresponding to the number of individual cells (4) for arranging the individual cells (4) and at least two fixing pins (6) projecting perpendicularly from a base surface of the cell arrangement device (5) for attaching a cell connector unit (7) for electrically connecting the individual cells (4). The invention further relates to an electrical energy storage device (2) with at least one cell module (1).

Description

The invention relates to a cell module for an electrical energy storage device comprising a number of electrically interconnected individual cells. The invention further relates to an electrical energy storage device. From DE 10 2011 120 511 A1, a battery and a cell block for a battery are known. The cell block comprises a plurality of electrically interconnected electrochemical individual cells, which are designed as flat cells, aligned parallel to each other and arranged one behind the other in the cell block, and clamped together by means of a clamping element. The clamping element is designed as a temperature control plate for temperature control of the individual cells, which is arranged on one longitudinal side of the cell block and thermally coupled to the individual cells. The invention is based on the objective of providing a cell module for an electrical energy storage device and an electrical energy storage device for a vehicle. The problem is solved according to the invention by a cell module which has the features specified in claim 1 and by an electrical energy storage device which has the features specified in claim 8. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. According to the invention, a cell module for an electrical energy storage device with a number of electrically interconnected individual cells comprises a cell arrangement device with a number of receptacles corresponding to the number of individual cells for arranging the individual cells and at least two fixing pins projecting perpendicularly from a base surface of the cell arrangement device for mounting a cell connector unit for electrically interconnecting the individual cells. The cell arrangement device positions the individual cells essentially exactly relative to each other, with the cell connector unit also being precisely aligned with respect to the electrical pole contacts of individual cells to be electrically interconnected by means of the fixing recesses and the fixing pins projecting into them of the cell arrangement device. In one embodiment, at least two fixing pins protrude into a fixing recess of the cell connector unit. By means of these at least two fixing pins and the corresponding fixing recesses, incorrect alignment of the cell connector unit with respect to the electrical pole contacts of individual cells to be electrically interconnected can be largely prevented. This also significantly reduces the risk of electrical short circuits in the cell module production process, thereby optimizing safety, particularly for personnel in the cell module production environment. The cell arrangement device can be dimensioned differently, for example depending on different formats of the individual cells and / or with regard to different materials, etc., and is therefore scalable in comparison. Furthermore, the cell assembly device and its components have a relatively simple design, allowing for the relatively straightforward assembly of the cell module and also of an electrical energy storage system with at least one such cell module. This eliminates the need for complex production equipment and / or processes, while simultaneously reducing the complexity of the cell module. In one embodiment, at least two fixing pins protrude beyond a surface of the cell connector unit by a predetermined or predefinable amount, allowing for an adjustable distance between the surface of the cell connector unit and a housing cover. The fixing pins thus serve as spacers between the cell connector unit and the housing cover, for example, to create a space between the cell connector unit and the housing cover to accommodate any venting gas that may escape from a thermally continuous single cell. The arrangement of the cell connector unit 7, determined by means of the fixing pins and the fixing recesses, ensures that it is positioned exactly in relation to the electrical pole contacts of the individual cells. The at least two fixing pins can, for example, serve as a reference feature during a joining process of the cell connector unit, whereby this can be precisely determined depending on the positions of the electrical pole contacts. In another embodiment, the at least two fixing pins are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other in order to largely prevent incorrect alignment of the cell connector unit on the electrical pole contacts of the individual cells to be electrically interconnected. In particular, the at least two fixing pins projecting into the fixing recesses largely prevent the cell connector unit from shifting and / or rotating relative to the electrical pole contacts of the individual cells. In one possible embodiment, the cell arrangement device is made of an electrically insulating material, so that the risk of an electrical short circuit between individual cells and the cell arrangement device can be essentially eliminated. Another possible design involves making the cell arrangement device from a plastic material. This means the cell arrangement device is made of an electrically insulating material, thus largely eliminating the risk of electrical short circuits. In another embodiment, the cell arrangement device is made of a fiber-reinforced plastic, so that the cell arrangement device is comparatively stable and stiff, thus increasing the stiffness of the cell module as a compact unit. Furthermore, the invention relates to an electrical energy storage device with at least one cell module arranged in a housing. According to the invention, each individual cell is arranged in a receptacle of the cell base surface of the cell arrangement device, and the cell connector unit is placed with its respective fixing recess onto one of the at least two fixing pins projecting perpendicularly from the cell base surface. Since the cell arrangement device eliminates the need for positioning individual cells, the cycle time for producing the electrical energy storage device can be reduced. The electrical energy storage device is intended in particular for installation in a vehicle, and the electrical energy storage device is particularly suitable as a traction battery for installation in an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or a vehicle powered by fuel cells. In one possible embodiment, at least two fixing pins protrude beyond the surface of the cell connector unit to adjust the distance between a surface of the cell connector unit, which is arranged on the individual cells, and a housing cover of the housing by a predetermined or definable amount. This creates space, for example, for arranging electronic and / or electrical components of the electrical energy storage system and / or for accommodating any venting gas that may escape from a thermally continuous individual cell. In another embodiment, the cell arrangement device is materially bonded to a housing base, and the individual cells are arranged materially and / or form-fitted in their respective receptacles. This creates a compact electrical energy storage device in which relative movement between the cell arrangement device and the housing of the electrical energy storage device, as well as between the cell arrangement device and the individual cells, is prevented. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of an exploded view of a cell module for an electrical energy storage device, Figure 2 schematically shows a perspective view of the cell module in the assembled state, Figure 3 schematically shows a perspective view of the cell module when arranged in a housing of the electrical energy storage device, and Figure 4 schematically shows an enlarged section of a sectional view of the electrical energy storage device. Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an exploded view of a cell module 1 for an electrical energy storage device 2 shown in an exemplary and highly simplified form in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, and Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the cell module 1 in its assembled state. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the cell module 1 in an arrangement in a housing 3 of the electrical energy storage device 2 and Fig. 4 shows an enlarged section of a sectional view of the electrical energy storage device 2. The electrical energy storage device 2 is intended for installation in a vehicle, wherein the electrical energy storage device 2 is a traction battery of an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a fuel cell-powered vehicle. The electrical energy storage device 2 is typically located in the area of ​​the vehicle floor. It is generally known that the construction of such an electrical energy storage device 2 with all its different components is relatively complex, so that manufacturing is also very elaborate and therefore also costly due to the exact positioning of the components etc. The following describes a cell module 1 and an electrical energy storage device 2, whose respective production processes are simplified and do not require either elaborate production equipment or elaborate production steps. The cell module 1 comprises a number of electrochemical individual cells 4 which are electrically interconnected, wherein the individual cells 4 in the present embodiment according to Fig. 1 , Fig. 2 , Fig. 3 to Fig. 4 are designed as round cells, i.e. have a circular cylindrical cell housing. An electrical pole contact P1 of the respective individual cell 4 is formed by means of a cell cover, whereas a further electrical pole contact P2 is led out of the cell cover in electrical isolation from the electrical pole contact P1. The cell module 1 has a cell arrangement device 5, which has a number of receptacles A corresponding to the number of individual cells 4, which are ring-shaped and each receptacle A is designed for arranging an individual cell 4. At two predetermined positions on a cell arrangement surface of the cell arrangement device 5, which has the receptacles A, a fixing pin 6 is arranged, which projects perpendicularly from a normal vector of the cell arrangement surface. In particular, in the present embodiment, the respective fixing pin 6 is arranged between four receptacles A of the cell arrangement device 5. The electrical individual cells 4, in particular electrical pole contacts P1, P2 of adjacent individual cells 4, are electrically connected in series and / or in parallel to form the cell module 1 by means of a cell connector unit 7. The cell connector unit 7 has a fixing recess F at each of two positions that correspond to the positions of the fixing pins 6, wherein one fixing recess F is assigned to a fixing pin 6 of the cell arrangement device 5. In the production of the cell module 1, each individual cell 4 is first arranged in a receptacle A of the cell assembly device 5, whereby the individual cells 4 are fixed in the respective receptacle A by means of a material bond and / or a form-fit bond, in particular by means of an adhesive. Once all individual cells 4 are arranged in a receptacle A, the cell connector unit 7 is placed onto the individual cells 4, with the respective fixing pin 6 projecting into or partially through a fixing recess F. The fixing pins 6 are of such a length that each fixing pin 6 projects beyond a surface of the cell connector unit 7 by a predetermined amount. The two fixing pins 6 serve as spacers for setting a distance between the surface of the cell connector unit 7 and a housing cover 8 of the housing 3 of the electrical energy storage device 2, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.For example, a space formed in this way between the cell connector unit 7 and the housing cover 8, as shown in Fig. 4, is provided for arranging electronic and / or electrical components of the electrical energy storage device 2 and / or for receiving venting gas, in particular a thermally continuous single cell 4. In one possible embodiment, the cell arrangement device 5 is formed from an electrically insulating material, in particular from a plastic, in particular from a fiber-reinforced plastic. Alternatively, the cell arrangement device 5 is formed from a metal which, at least in areas of potential electrical contact between the cell arrangement device 5 and individual cells 4, is provided with an electrically insulating material, in particular plastic. Furthermore, a surface of the cell arrangement device 5 facing a housing base 9 is provided with an electrically insulating material. The cell module 1, comprising the cell arrangement device 5 and the cell connector unit 7, and thus forming a compact unit, or several cell modules 1, each forming a compact unit, are inserted into the housing 3 of the electrical energy storage device 2, as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a cell module 1 arranged between the housing cover 8 and the housing base 9. In particular, the housing base 9 and / or the surface of the cell arrangement device 5 facing the housing base 9 are provided with an adhesive for the material-bonded connection of the cell arrangement device 5 and thus of the cell module 1 with the housing base 9. Reference symbol list 1 Cell module 2 Electrical energy storage 3 Housing 4 Single cell 5 Cell arrangement device 6 Fixing pin 7 Cell connector unit 8 Housing cover 9 Housing base A Receptacle F Fixing recess P1, P2 Electrical pole contact QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature DE 10 2011 120 511 A1

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Claims

Cell module (1) for an electrical energy storage device (2) with a number of electrically interconnected individual cells (4), characterized by a cell arrangement device (5) with a number of receptacles (A) corresponding to the number of individual cells (4) for arranging the individual cells (4) and at least two fixing pins (6) projecting perpendicularly from a base surface of the cell arrangement device (5) for mounting a cell connector unit (7) for electrically connecting the individual cells (4). Cell module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two fixing pins (6) project into each fixing recess (F) of the cell connector unit (7). Cell module (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least two fixing pins (6) project beyond a surface side of the cell connector unit (7) by a predetermined or predeterminable amount. Cell module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two fixing pins (6) are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other. Cell module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cell arrangement device (5) is formed from an electrically insulating material. Cell module (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the cell arrangement device (5) is made of a plastic. Cell module (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the cell arrangement device (5) is made of a fiber-reinforced plastic. Electrical energy storage device (2) with at least one cell module (1) arranged in a housing (3), which is designed according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the individual cells (4) are each arranged in a receptacle (A) of the cell base surface of the cell arrangement device (5) and the cell connector unit (7) with its respective fixing recess (F) is placed on each of the at least two fixing pins (6) projecting perpendicularly from the cell base surface. Electrical energy storage device (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least two fixing pins (6) project beyond the surface side of the cell connector unit (7) to adjust a distance between a surface side of the cell connector unit (7) arranged on the individual cells (4) and a housing cover (8) of the housing (3) by a predetermined or predeterminable amount. Electrical energy storage device (2) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the cell arrangement device (5) is materially bonded to a housing base (9) of the housing (3) and the individual cells (4) are materially bonded and / or form-fitting in the respective receptacle (A).

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