BATTERY FOR ELECTRIC OR HYBRID VEHICLES COMPRISING MULTIPLE CHANNELS, AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE BATTERY

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid vehicle battery and a method for assembling the battery. The battery comprises a plurality of battery cells (10), a spacer (20, 20'), a chassis (50), and a plate (40, 40'). The plurality of battery cells (10) extends along a first axis (X1) and a second axis and is arranged along a third axis perpendicular to the first axis (X1) and the second axis. The spacer (20, 20') comprises a plurality of channels (30, 30') extending along the third axis. The chassis (50) is configured to receive the plurality of battery cells (10). The plate (40, 40') extends in a plane comprising the second and third axes, the spacer (20, 20') being in contact with the plurality of battery cells (10), the plurality of channels (30, 30') being configured to circulate a heat transfer fluid. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: BATTERY FOR AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID VEHICLE COMPRISING A MULTIPLE CHANNELS, AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE BATTERY

[0001] The invention relates to electric vehicles, that is to say, those equipped with at least one battery for storing electrical energy intended for their propulsion. This includes vehicles with a single means of electric propulsion, as well as hybrid vehicles incorporating at least one mode of electric propulsion.

[0002] French patent application FR3081261 describes a battery comprising a chassis with a plurality of battery cells, the chassis having a heat exchange surface in contact with the plurality of battery cells. A plurality of channels are in contact with the heat exchange surface, the plurality of channels being configured to circulate a heat transfer fluid. In this way, the battery is temperature-regulated.

[0003] However, the heat exchange surface of such a battery introduces additional thermal resistance, limiting the efficiency of temperature regulation. Furthermore, the heat transfer fluid circulating in the plurality of separate channels of the plurality of battery cells hinders the maintenance of a homogeneous temperature in the plurality of battery cells.

[0004] The objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to propose a battery architecture that promotes battery thermoregulation.

[0005] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a battery for electric or hybrid vehicles, comprising: - a plurality of battery cells extending along a first axis and a second axis, a plurality of battery cells being arranged along a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes; - a spacer comprising a plurality of channels extending along the third axis, the spacer being in contact with the plurality of battery cells, the plurality of channels being configured to circulate a heat transfer fluid; - a plate extending in a plane including the second axis and the third axis; - a chassis configured to receive the plurality of battery cells.

[0006] A battery allows the plurality of battery cells to be maintained and the heat transfer fluid to circulate while having a limited size.

[0007] Advantageously, the second axis and the third axis form a first predetermined angle less than or equal to 90°.

[0008] Advantageously, the spacer material is plastic.

[0009] This facilitates the manufacture of the spacer to the existing architecture of the battery.

[0010] Advantageously, the plurality of channels extends along the first axis on a predetermined distance less than or equal to 4mm.

[0011] Advantageously, the plurality of battery cells presents a plurality of interstices extending along the first axis.

[0012] This increases the heat exchange surface area, promoting thermoregulation of the battery.

[0013] Advantageously, the battery comprises: - an additional spacer comprising a plurality of additional channels extending along a fourth axis, the additional spacer being in contact with the plurality of battery cells, the plurality of additional channels being configured to circulate the heat transfer fluid; - an additional plate extending parallel to the plate.

[0014] Advantageously, the fourth axis and the third axis form a second predetermined angle between 0° and 90°.

[0015] The invention also relates to an electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a battery defined as above.

[0016] The invention further relates to a method for assembling a battery as defined above, the method comprising the following steps: - a step of fixing the spacer onto the plate; - a step of fixing the plate to the chassis when the spacer is fixed to the plate; - a step of mounting the plurality of battery cells on the chassis, the plurality of battery cells being in contact with the plurality of channels.

[0017] Advantageously, the battery comprises an additional plate and an additional spacer comprising a plurality of additional channels extending along a fourth axis, the additional plate extending parallel to the plate, the additional spacer being in contact with the plurality of battery cells, the plurality of additional channels being configured to circulate the heat transfer fluid, the method further comprising the following steps: - a step of fixing the additional spacer onto the additional plate; - a step of fixing the additional plate to the chassis when the additional spacer is fixed to the additional plate, the plurality of battery cells being in contact with the plurality of additional channels; - a compression step of the additional plate on the chassis by tightening the fixing of the additional spacer on the additional plate.

[0018] Such a process makes it possible in particular to maintain the position of the plurality of battery cells by compressing them, contributing to the resistance of the fasteners to impacts on the battery.

[0019] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of an electric vehicle battery according to one embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a chassis of the battery illustrated in [Fig.1]; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a plate of the battery illustrated in [Fig.1], the plate being fixed to a spacer having a plurality of channels; - [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a perspective view of the chassis, shown in the [Fig.2], fixed to the plate illustrated in the [Fig.3]; - [Fig. 5] schematically illustrates a top view of the chassis shown in the [Fig.4]; - [Fig. 6] illustrates a flowchart representing the steps of a process battery assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0020] A battery for an electric or hybrid vehicle according to one embodiment is schematically illustrated in [Fig.1].

[0021] The battery comprises a plurality of battery cells 10 extending along a first axis XI and a second axis X2, the plurality of battery cells 10 being arranged along a third axis X3 perpendicular to the first axis XI and the second axis X2.

[0022] The battery also includes a chassis 50 configured to receive the plurality of battery cells 10. In [Fig.2], the chassis 50 has a grating architecture comprising a plurality of load-bearing plates extending along the third axis X3. The plurality of battery cells 10 extends between the spacings, considered along the second axis X2, of the plurality of load-bearing plates.

[0023] The battery includes a spacer 20 illustrated in [Fig. 3]. The spacer 20 comprises a plurality of channels 30 extending along the third axis X3. Generally, the third axis X3 is advantageously arranged so that the second axis X2 and the third axis X3 form a first predetermined angle less than or equal to 90°.

[0024] The battery also includes a plate 40 extending in a plane comprising the second axis X2 and the third axis X3.

[0025] The battery also includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid inlet, considered with respect to the first axis XI, is advantageously closer of plate 40 that the fluid outlet. Preferably, chassis 50 includes the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.

[0026] The plurality of channels 30 is configured to circulate a heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid flows from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. Generally, the fluid inlet, considered with respect to the first axis XI, is closer to the spacer 20 than the fluid outlet.

[0027] The heat transfer fluid is typically a dielectric fluid comprising, for example, polyalphaolefins or ester-based compounds so as to avoid a short circuit in the battery when the heat transfer fluid is in contact with the plurality of battery cells 10 while exhibiting sufficient thermal dissipation to remove the heat generated by the plurality of battery cells 10.

[0028] The plurality of battery cells 10 advantageously comprises a plurality of gaps extending along the first axis XI and the second axis X2. In practice, a gap, considered with respect to the third axis X3, of the plurality of gaps extends on average over a predetermined distance less than that of a battery cell.

[0029] Advantageously, the plurality of channels 30 extends over substantially the entire dimension of the battery along the third axis X3 so as to provide a compact exchange surface for the heat transfer fluid relative to the available volume of the battery.

[0030] According to the invention, a channel, included in the plurality of channels 30, preferably has a U-shaped form comprising a core and a first wing and a second wing, the first wing and the second wing extend along the third axis X3, the channel being configured so that the heat transfer fluid circulates between the first wing and the second wing.

[0031] Furthermore, the plurality of channels 30 advantageously extends along the first axis XI over a predetermined distance. Thus, the first wing and the second wing extend over the predetermined distance along the first axis XL. Preferably, the predetermined distance is less than or equal to 4 mm.

[0032] The spacer 20 is in contact with the plurality of battery cells 10. Thus, the plurality of battery cells 10 is cooled by the heat transfer fluid circulating from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet.

[0033] The material of the spacer 20 is advantageously plastic.

[0034] The battery advantageously includes an additional 20' spacer and an additional 40' plate.

[0035] The additional spacer 20' comprises a plurality of additional channels 30' extending along a fourth axis. The plurality of additional channels 30' is configured to circulate the heat transfer fluid.

[0036] Preferably, the fourth axis and the third axis X3 form a second predetermined angle between 0° and 90°.

[0037] The additional plate 40' extends parallel to the plate 40. The additional spacer 20' is in contact with the plurality of battery cells 10.

[0038] The chassis 50 advantageously includes a sealing gasket on its outer periphery; the plate 40 and / or the additional plate 40' is affixed to the sealing gasket. Thus, the plurality of battery cells 10 is immersed in the heat transfer fluid.

[0039] A flowchart of a battery assembly process is illustrated in [Fig.6], according to one embodiment, the steps of the assembly process being described below.

[0040] In a fixing step El, the spacer 20 is fixed to the plate 40 as illustrated in [Fig.3].

[0041] In a fixing step E2, the plate 40 is fixed to the chassis 50 when the spacer 20 is fixed to the plate 40 as illustrated in [Fig.4].

[0042] In an assembly step E3, the plurality of battery cells 10 is mounted on the chassis 50 as illustrated in [Fig.5], the plurality of battery cells 10 being in contact with the plurality of channels 30.

[0043] The process advantageously includes a fixing step E4, the additional spacer 20' is fixed on the additional plate 40'.

[0044] The method advantageously includes a fixing step E5, the additional plate 40' is fixed on the chassis 50 when the additional spacer 20' is fixed on the additional plate 40', the plurality of battery cells 10 being in contact with the plurality of additional channels 30'.

[0045] The process advantageously includes a compression step E6, the additional plate 40' is compressed on the frame 50 by tightening the fixing of the additional plate 40' on the frame 50.

Claims

Demands

1. Battery for an electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising: - a plurality of battery cells (10) extending along a first axis (XI) and a second axis (X2), the plurality of battery cells (10) being arranged along a third axis (X3) perpendicular to the first axis (XI) and the second axis (X2); - a spacer (20, 20') comprising a plurality of channels (30, 30') extending along the third axis (X3), the spacer (20, 20') being in contact with the plurality of battery cells (10), the plurality of channels (30, 30') being configured to circulate a heat transfer fluid; - a plate (40, 40') extending in a plane comprising the second axis (X2) and the third axis (X3); - a chassis (50) configured to receive the plurality of battery cells (10).

2. Battery according to claim 1, characterized in that the second axis (X2) and the third axis (X3) form a first predetermined angle less than or equal to 90°.

3. Battery according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the material of the spacer (20, 20') is plastic.

4. Battery according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the plurality of channels (30, 30') extends along the first axis (XI) over a predetermined distance less than or equal to 4mm.

5. Battery according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the plurality of battery cells (10) has a plurality of gaps extending along the first axis (XI).

6. Battery according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the battery comprises: - an additional spacer (20') comprising a plurality of additional channels (30') extending along a fourth axis, the additional spacer (20') being in contact with the plurality of battery cells (10), the plurality of additional channels (30') being configured to circulate the heat transfer fluid; - an additional plate (40') extending parallel to the plate (40).

7. Battery according to claim 6, characterized in that the fourth axis and the third axis (X3) form a second predetermined angle between 0° and 90°.

8. Electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A method for assembling a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising the following steps: - a step of fixing the spacer (20) on the plate (40); - a step of fixing the plate (40) on the chassis (50) when the spacer (20) is fixed on the plate (40); - a step of mounting the plurality of battery cells (10) on the chassis (50), the plurality of battery cells (10) being in contact with the plurality of channels (30).

10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the battery comprises an additional plate (40') and an additional spacer (20') comprising a plurality of additional channels (30') extending along a fourth axis and an additional plate (40'), the additional plate (40') extending parallel to the plate (40), the additional spacer (20') being in contact with the plurality of battery cells (10), the plurality of additional channels (30') being configured to circulate the heat transfer fluid, the method further comprising the following steps: - a step of fixing the additional spacer (20') onto the additional plate (40'); - a step of fixing the additional plate (40') on the chassis (50) when the additional spacer (20') is fixed on the additional plate (40'), the plurality of battery cells (10) being in contact with the plurality of additional channels (30');- a compression step of the additional plate (40') on the chassis (50) by tightening the fixing of the additional spacer (20') on the additional plate (40').;

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