Battery module and battery case

Abstract

To provide an immersion-cooled battery module which may include one or more battery cases that are easily assembled (for example, during the manufacturing process).SOLUTION: There is provided a battery module including a front lid having a fluid inlet for flowing a fluid into the battery module, and a battery case coupled to the front lid and having an accommodation region for accommodating a plurality of battery cells. The battery case further includes a case frame, one or more inlet channels, and one or more outlet channels. Each of the one or more inlet channels receives the fluid from the fluid inlet and penetrates through the case frame for flowing the fluid through the battery case, each inlet channel including one or more inlet slits for flowing the fluid into the accommodation region for cooling the battery cells. The one or more outlet channels penetrate through the case frame for flowing the fluid through the battery case, each outlet channel being coupled to the accommodation region for flowing the fluid out of a fluid outlet of the battery module.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery case and a battery module, and more particularly to an immersion-cooled battery module. [Background technology]

[0002] The development of electric devices such as electric vehicles is progressing rapidly. To improve the fast charge and slow discharge capabilities of batteries, it is important to manage the heat generated during the charge and discharge processes. Cooling battery packs have been developed to manage this heat. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Currently, there are two types of known cooled battery packs: modularized and non-modularized. Non-modularized cooled battery packs may have several cell assemblies sealed in a large liquid tank, making the battery pack bulky and heavy. Therefore, non-modularized cooled battery packs may be difficult to adopt for vehicle platforms of various sizes. Modularized cooled battery packs can solve the above problems of non-modularized cooled battery packs by using liquid tank modularization (e.g., by sealing each cell assembly in its own independent liquid container). However, specific parameters (e.g., overall size, shape, voltage, and current) of modules in conventional modularized cooled battery packs (also referred to as cooled battery modules or battery modules in the overall disclosure) may not be adjustable. Therefore, it is difficult for a single conventional cooled battery module to simultaneously adapt to various battery application fields. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, an immersion-cooled battery module may include one or more battery cases that are easily assembled (e.g., during a manufacturing process). The immersion-cooled battery module may be simultaneously applied to various elements of a product line for various applications, allowing for the assembly of various numbers of battery cases.

[0005] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a battery module includes a front cover including a fluid inlet to allow fluid to flow into the battery module, and a battery case coupled to the front cover and having a storage area for accommodating a plurality of battery cells, the battery case further including a case frame and one or more inlet passages penetrating the case frame to receive fluid from the fluid inlet and allow the fluid to flow through the battery case, each of the inlet passages including one or more inlet slits to allow the fluid to flow into the storage area and cool the plurality of battery cells, and one or more outlet passages penetrating the case frame to allow the fluid to flow through the battery case, the storage area being coupled to the one or more outlet passages to allow the fluid to flow out of a fluid outlet of the battery module.

[0006] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the front cover further includes a fluid outlet, one or more cover inlets, and one or more cover outlets, each of the one or more inlet passages correspondingly coupled to one of the one or more cover outlets for fluid to flow from the front cover to the battery case, each of the one or more cover outlet passages including one or more outlet slits for fluid to flow from the storage area to at least a corresponding one of the one or more cover outlet passages, and each of the one or more cover outlet passages correspondingly coupled to one of the one or more cover inlets for fluid to flow from the battery case back to the front cover.

[0007] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the battery module further includes a rear cover including a fluid outlet and one or more cover inlets for allowing fluid to flow out of the battery module, each of the one or more cover passages including one or more outlet slits for allowing fluid to flow from the storage area to at least one corresponding one of the one or more cover passages, each of the one or more cover passages correspondingly coupled to one of the one or more cover inlets for allowing fluid to flow from the battery case to the rear cover, and each of the one or more cover inlets correspondingly coupled to one of the one or more cover outlets on the front cover for allowing fluid to flow from the front cover to the battery case.

[0008] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the one or more lid outlets are different sizes from one another.

[0009] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the size of the one or more lid outlets is varied by varying the distance between the fluid inlet and the one or more lid outlets.

[0010] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the one or more outlet slits include at least one side slit, and an angle between a lateral edge of the case frame and a flow direction of the fluid through the at least one side slit is an acute angle.

[0011] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the direction of flow of the fluid through the one or more inlet passages is perpendicular to the direction of flow of the fluid through the one or more inlet slits.

[0012] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the one or more inlet slits include at least one side slit, and an angle between a lateral edge of the case frame and a flow direction of the fluid through the at least one side slit is an acute angle.

[0013] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the battery further includes a cell holder coupled to the case frame and configured to receive a plurality of battery cells, the cell holder including a plurality of extension columns, and when fluid flows through the at least one side slit, the plurality of extension columns guide the fluid to flow along the side direction.

[0014] In another embodiment of the first aspect, some of the plurality of expansion columns are adjacent to one or more inlet passages and other portions of the plurality of expansion columns are adjacent to one or more outlet passages.

[0015] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the battery further includes a cell support for supporting the plurality of battery cells together with the cell holder, wherein a distance between the cell support and the plurality of expansion columns is less than a distance threshold to prevent fluid from flowing through the plurality of expansion columns.

[0016] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a battery case attached to a battery module for accommodating a plurality of battery cells, the battery case including a case frame, a cell holder coupled to the case frame for accommodating the plurality of battery cells in an accommodating area, one or more inlet passages penetrating the case frame for fluid to flow through the battery case, each of the inlet passages including one or more inlet slits for allowing fluid to flow into the accommodating area to cool the plurality of battery cells, and one or more outlet passages penetrating the case frame for fluid to flow through the battery case, the fluid flowing from the accommodating area to the one or more outlet passages and flowing out of a fluid outlet of the battery module.

[0017] In another embodiment of the second aspect, each of the one or more outlet passages further includes one or more outlet slits so that fluid flows from the storage area into a corresponding one of the one or more outlet passages and out of a fluid outlet of the battery module, and the one or more outlet slits include at least one side slit, and an angle between a lateral edge of the case frame and a flow direction of the fluid through the at least one side slit is an acute angle.

[0018] In another embodiment of the second aspect, the one or more inlet slits include at least one side slit, and an angle between a lateral edge of the case frame and a flow direction of the fluid through the at least one side slit is an acute angle.

[0019] In another embodiment of the second aspect, the cell holder includes a plurality of extended columns extending from the inner surface of the cell holder, and when fluid flows through the at least one side slit, the plurality of extended columns guide the fluid to flow along the side.

[0020] In another embodiment of the second aspect, some of the plurality of expansion columns are adjacent to one or more inlet passages and other portions of the plurality of expansion columns are adjacent to one or more outlet passages.

[0021] In another embodiment of the second aspect, the battery further includes a cell support for supporting the plurality of battery cells together with the cell holder, wherein the distance between the cell support and the plurality of expansion columns is less than a distance threshold to prevent fluid from flowing through the plurality of expansion columns.

[0022] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, a battery module includes a battery case that houses a plurality of case electrodes and has a storage area for housing a plurality of battery cells, the battery case further including: a case frame; one or more inlet passages that pass through the case frame to allow a fluid to flow through the battery case, each of the inlet passages including one or more inlet slits for allowing the fluid to flow into the storage area and cool the plurality of battery cells; one or more outlet passages that pass through the case frame to allow the fluid to flow out of the storage area, each of the outlet passages that pass through the case frame to allow the fluid to flow through the battery case; a first circuit attached to the case frame and electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of case electrodes; and a second circuit attached to the case frame and electrically coupled to the first circuit for controlling the temperature of the first circuit to control the temperature of the fluid.

[0023] In another embodiment of the third aspect, the second circuit includes one or more electrical connectors exposed on the case frame for coupling to electrical connectors of other second circuits.

[0024] In another embodiment of the third aspect, the second circuit is immersed in the fluid, and power stored in at least one of the plurality of battery cells is converted into heat by the first circuit, and the second circuit controls the temperature of the first circuit, thereby increasing the temperature of the fluid.

[0025] An embodiment of the third aspect further includes all of the embodiments of the first aspect described above. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] The present disclosure will be better understood from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2A] 2 is a schematic diagram (part 1) of another configuration of the battery module shown in FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2B] 2 is a schematic diagram (part 2) of another configuration of the battery module shown in FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 2C] 3 is a schematic diagram (part 3) of another configuration of the battery module shown in FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 3A] 1 is a schematic diagram of a fluid flow structure of a battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure (part 1). FIG. [Figure 3B] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a fluid flow structure of a battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure (part 2). [Figure 4A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure (part 1). [Figure 4B] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure (part 2). [Figure 5] FIG. 4C is a partial exploded view of the battery module shown in FIG. 4B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6A] 4B is a front view and a rear view (part 1) of the front cover shown in FIG. 4A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6B]4B is a front view and a back view (part 2) of the front cover shown in FIG. 4A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6C] FIG. 6C is a rear view of the front cover without the first flow control member shown in FIG. 6B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6D] FIG. 6C is a perspective view of the first flow control member shown in FIG. 6B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7A] 4C is a front view and a rear view (part 1) of the back cover shown in FIG. 4B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7B] 4C is a front view and a rear view (part 2) of the back cover shown in FIG. 4B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7C] FIG. 7C is a rear view of the back cover without the second flow control member shown in FIG. 7B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8A] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the battery case shown in FIG. 5 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8B] FIG. 6 is a front view of the battery case shown in FIG. 5 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9A] FIG. 8B is a partial enlarged view of the upper left corner of the battery case shown in FIG. 8A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9B] FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view of the battery case taken along line AA of FIG. 8B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9C] FIG. 8C is an enlarged view of region B shown in FIG. 8B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a partial enlarged view of the upper left corner of a battery case according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cell support according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11B] FIG. 11B is a perspective view of a combination of the battery case shown in FIG. 8A and the cell support shown in FIG. 11A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12A] FIG. 11C is a front view of the battery case and cell support combination shown in FIG. 11B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12B]12B is a cross-sectional view of the battery case and cell support combination shown in FIG. 12A taken along line CC in FIG. 12A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13A] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the battery module shown in FIG. 4B without the case frame shown in FIG. 5 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13B] FIG. 13B is a perspective view of an electrical connection structure of the management circuit shown in FIG. 13A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] FIG. 13C is a circuit diagram of the battery cell, management circuit, and connection circuit shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The following disclosure includes specific information related to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The drawings and detailed disclosure thereof are directed to exemplary embodiments only. However, the present disclosure is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. Other variations and embodiments of the present disclosure will occur to those skilled in the art. Unless otherwise stated, like or corresponding elements in the drawings may be indicated by like or corresponding reference numerals. Additionally, the drawings and illustrations in the present disclosure are generally not to scale and do not necessarily correspond to actual relative sizes.

[0028] For consistency and ease of understanding, like features are designated by numerals in the exemplary drawings (although in some instances they are not so designated), but should not be narrowly limited to what is shown in the drawings, as features in different embodiments may differ in other respects.

[0029] As used in this disclosure, the terms "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," and the like can each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. The terms "coupled" and "connected" are defined as connected directly or indirectly through intervening components, and are not necessarily limited to a physical connection. The terms "coupled" and "connected" can also refer to a "fluid connection," meaning that one or more passageways share a contiguous space such that fluid may flow from one of the passageways to another of the one or more passageways. The term "comprises" means "including, but not limited to," and specifically denotes an open-ended inclusion or membership of the above combinations, groups, series, and the like.

[0030] Also, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details of functional entities, techniques, protocols, standards, etc. are set forth to provide an understanding of the described technology. In other instances, detailed disclosure of well-known methods, techniques, systems, architectures, etc. is omitted so as not to obscure the disclosure with unnecessary detail.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery module 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The battery module 10 may include a front cover 110, multiple battery cases 121-123, and a back cover 130. The front cover 110 may be coupled to the battery case 121, and the back cover 130 may be coupled to the battery case 123. In some embodiments, the number of battery cases in the battery module 10 may be two or more. For example, the number of battery cases in the battery module 10 may be two, three, or any other positive number greater than three. In some embodiments, when the number of battery cases in the battery module 10 is two or more, the front cover 110 may be coupled to the first battery case, and the back cover 130 may be coupled to the last battery case. In some embodiments, the battery module 10 may include only one battery case (e.g., only battery case 121), and thus the front cover 110 may be coupled to one side of the battery case 121, and the back cover 130 may be coupled to the other side of the battery case 121.

[0032] In some embodiments, the front cover 110 may include a fluid inlet 111 and a first battery interface 112, and the back cover 130 may include a fluid outlet 133 and a second battery interface 134. The fluid inlet 111 may be included in the front cover 110 to allow fluid to flow into the battery module 10, and the fluid outlet 133 may be included in the back cover 130 to allow fluid to flow out of the battery module 10. Thus, fluid may flow through the battery cases 121-123 by flowing into the battery module 10 through the fluid inlet 111 of the front cover 110 and out of the battery module 10 through the fluid outlet 133 of the back cover 130. In some embodiments, the first battery interface 112 may be one of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery module 10, and the second battery interface 134 may be the other of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery module 10.

[0033] In some embodiments, each of the battery cases 121-123 may further include a plurality of battery cells (not shown) and a plurality of case electrodes (not shown). In some embodiments, each of the case electrodes may be an electrode plate. Each of the case electrodes may be coupled to some of the battery cells of a corresponding battery case. In some embodiments, when the number of battery cases in the battery module 10 is two or more, one case electrode of the first battery case may be electrically coupled to the first battery interface 112, and one case electrode of the last battery case may be electrically coupled to the second battery interface 134. Furthermore, the other case electrode of the first battery case may be electrically coupled to the other case electrode of the second battery case (e.g., adjacent to the first battery case), and one case electrode of the last battery case may be electrically coupled to one case electrode of, for example, the penultimate battery case. In some embodiments, for example, when the number of battery cases in battery module 10 is equal to 1, a case electrode of one of the battery cases may be electrically coupled to first battery interface 112, and a case electrode of the other of the battery cases may be electrically coupled to second battery interface 134.

[0034] 2A-2C are schematic diagrams of other configurations of the battery module 10 shown in FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 2A, the front cover 110 may further include a fluid inlet 111, a first battery interface 112, a fluid outlet 113, and a second battery interface 114. Thus, in FIG. 2A, the first battery interface 112 may be one of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery module 10, and the second battery interface 114 may be the other of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery module 10. In FIG. 2B, the front cover 110 may further include the fluid inlet 111, the first battery interface 112, and the fluid outlet 113, and the back cover 130 may further include a second battery interface 134. 2B , the first battery interface 112 may be one of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery module 10, and the second battery interface 134 may be the other of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery module 10. In FIG. 2C , the front cover 110 may further include a fluid inlet 111, the first battery interface 112, and the second battery interface 114, and the back cover 130 may further include a fluid outlet 133. In FIG. 2C , the first battery interface 112 may be one of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery module 10, and the second battery interface 114 may be the other of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery module 10.

[0035] In some embodiments, the positions of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery module 10 can be adjusted based on the distribution of the case electrodes and the orientation of the battery cells. In some embodiments, the positions of the fluid inlet 111 and the fluid outlet 133 of the battery module 10 can be adjusted based on the fluid flow structure of the battery module 10.

[0036] 3A-3B are schematic diagrams of fluid flow structures of battery modules according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. To clearly show the fluid flow structures of the battery modules, the first and second battery interfaces (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A-2C) are omitted in FIGS. 3A-3B, but each of the battery modules in FIGS. 3A-3B may still include the first and second battery interfaces.

[0037] 3A , the front cover 110 may further include one or more cover outlets 1110. Each of the one or more cover outlets 1110 may be coupled to a fluid inlet 111 such that fluid may flow from the front cover 110 to the battery cases 121-123. In some embodiments, the back cover 130 may further include one or more cover inlets 1330. Each of the one or more cover inlets 1330 may be coupled to a fluid outlet 133 such that fluid may flow from the battery cases 121-123 out of the battery module 10.

[0038] In some embodiments, battery case 121 can include a case frame 1211, one or more inlet passages 1212, one or more outlet passages 1213, and a storage area 1214. Battery case 122 can include a case frame 1221, one or more inlet passages 1222, one or more outlet passages 1223, and a storage area 1224, and battery case 123 can include a case frame 1231, one or more inlet passages 1232, one or more outlet passages 1233, and a storage area 1234.

[0039] In some embodiments, each of the one or more inlet passages 1212-1232 may be a through-hole penetrating a corresponding one of the case frames 1211-1231 so that fluid can flow through the corresponding one of the case frames 1211-1231. Thus, each of the one or more inlet passages 1212 may be coupled to corresponding at least one of the one or more cover outlets 1110 so that fluid can flow from the front cover 110 to the battery case 121, each of the one or more inlet passages 1222 may be coupled to corresponding at least one of the one or more inlet passages 1212 so that fluid can flow from the battery case 121 to the battery case 122, and each of the one or more inlet passages 1232 may be coupled to corresponding at least one of the one or more inlet passages 1222 so that fluid can flow from the battery case 122 to the battery case 123. In some embodiments, each of the one or more inlet passages 1212-1232 may further include one or more inlet slits (not shown) to allow fluid to flow into the corresponding one of the accommodating areas 1214-1234 to cool the battery cells in the corresponding one of the accommodating areas 1214-1234.

[0040] In some embodiments, each of the containing regions 1214-1234 may be coupled to one or more inlet passages in a corresponding one of the battery cases 121-123 such that fluid flows into the containing region 1214-1234 through one or more inlet slits in the corresponding one of the battery cases 121-123. In some embodiments, each of the containing regions 1214-1234 may also be coupled to one or more outlet passages in a corresponding one of the battery cases 121-123 such that fluid flows out of the containing region 1214-1234 through one or more outlet slits (not shown) in the corresponding one of the battery cases 121-123 and out of the battery module 10 through the fluid outlet 133.

[0041] In some embodiments, each of the outlet passages 1213-1233 may include one or more outlet slits such that fluid flows from a corresponding one of the containing regions 1214-1234 to a corresponding one of the outlet passages 1213-1233. In some embodiments, each of the inlet passages 1213-1233 may be a through-hole that penetrates a corresponding one of the case frames 1211-1231 such that fluid flows through the corresponding one of the case frames 1211-1231. Therefore, each of the one or more outlet passages 1213 can be correspondingly coupled to at least one of the one or more outlet passages 1223 so that fluid flows from battery case 121 to battery case 122, each of the one or more outlet passages 1223 can be correspondingly coupled to at least one of the one or more outlet passages 1233 so that fluid flows from battery case 122 to battery case 123, and each of the one or more outlet passages 1233 can be correspondingly coupled to at least one of the one or more lid inlets 1330 so that fluid flows from battery case 123 to rear lid 130 and out of battery module 10 via fluid outlet 133.

[0042] 3B , the battery module 20 may include a front cover 210, multiple battery cases 221-226, and a back cover 230. The front cover 210 may include a fluid inlet 211, a fluid outlet 213, one or more cover outlets 2110, and one or more cover inlets 2130. Each of the battery cases 221-226 in the battery module 20 may be substantially similar to or identical to the battery cases 121-123 in the battery module 10. Thus, the battery case 221 may include a case frame 2211, one or more inlet passages 2212, one or more outlet passages 2213, and a storage area 2214. The battery case 222 may include a case frame 2221, one or more inlet passages 2222, one or more outlet passages 2223, and a storage area 2224, and the battery case 226 may include a case frame 2261, one or more inlet passages 2262, one or more outlet passages 2263, and a storage area 2264. In some embodiments, each of the one or more inlet passages 2212-2262 may be a through-hole that penetrates a corresponding one of the case frames 2211-2261 so that fluid can flow through the corresponding one of the case frames 2211-2261. In some embodiments, each of the one or more inlet passages 2213-2263 may be a through-hole that penetrates a corresponding one of the case frames 2211-2261 so that fluid can flow through the corresponding one of the case frames 2211-2261.

[0043] In some embodiments, the process and method for mounting the battery cases 121-123 in the battery module 10 may be substantially similar to or the same as the process and method for mounting the battery cases 221-223 in the battery module 20 and the process and method for mounting the battery cases 224-226 in the battery module 20. Furthermore, the positional relationship between the battery cases 121-123 in the battery module 10 may be substantially similar to or the same as the positional relationship between the battery cases 221-223 in the battery module 20 and the positional relationship between the battery cases 224-226 in the battery module 20. However, the mounting direction of the battery cases 121-123 in the battery module 10 may be substantially similar to or the same as one of the mounting direction of the battery cases 221-223 and the mounting direction of the battery cases 224-226, and may be opposite to the other of the mounting direction of the battery cases 221-223 and the mounting direction of the battery cases 224-226. 3B , the mounting orientation of battery cases 121-123 in battery module 10 may be substantially similar to or the same as the mounting orientation of battery cases 221-223, and may be opposite to the mounting orientation of battery cases 224-226. As such, back cover 230 may include a middle passage 2330 for coupling one or more outlet passages 2233 to one or more inlet passages 2242 for fluid flow from battery case 223 to battery case 224. Also, one or more cover inlets 2130 and fluid outlets 213 may be included in front cover 210 for fluid flow from battery case 226 out of battery module 20.

[0044] In some embodiments, each of the one or more inlet passages 2212 may be coupled to corresponding one of the one or more lid outlets 2110 so that fluid can flow from the front lid 210 to the battery case 221. In some embodiments, each of the one or more inlet passages 2242 may be coupled to the middle passage 2330 so that fluid can flow from the back lid 230 to the battery case 224. In some embodiments, each of the one or more inlet passages 2222, 2232, 2252, and 2262 may be coupled to corresponding one of the one or more inlet passages 2212, 2222, 2242, and 2252 so that fluid can flow from a corresponding front one of the battery cases 221-226 to a corresponding one of the battery cases 221-226. In some embodiments, each of the one or more inlet passages 2212-2262 may include one or more inlet slits (not shown) for allowing fluid to flow into a corresponding one of the containing areas 2214-2264 to cool the multiple battery cells in the battery cases 221-226.

[0045] In some embodiments, each of the one or more outlet passages 2213-2263 may include one or more outlet slits (not shown) to allow fluid to flow from a corresponding one of the containing regions 2214-2264 to a corresponding one of the one or more outlet passages 2213-2263. In some embodiments, each of the one or more outlet passages 2263 may be coupled to a corresponding at least one of the one or more lid inlets 2130 to allow fluid to flow from the battery case 226 back to the front lid 210. In some embodiments, each of the one or more outlet passages 2233 may be coupled to a middle passage 2330 to allow fluid to flow from the battery case 223 to the back lid 230. In some embodiments, each of one or more outlet passages 2213, 2223, 2243, and 2253 may be coupled to a corresponding one of one or more outlet passages 2223, 2233, 2253, and 2263 so that fluid flows from a corresponding one of battery cases 221-226 to a corresponding next one of battery cases 221-226.

[0046] In some embodiments, the size of the battery module 20 may be (substantially) larger than the size of the battery module 10. For example, in some embodiments, the battery module 20 may be twice the size of the battery module 10. In some other embodiments, the battery module 20 may be more or less than twice the size of the battery module 10. In some embodiments, the front cover 110 may further include a fluid outlet 113 (as shown in FIG. 2A ), and the battery module 10 may further include a pipeline for connecting one or more lid inlets 1330 of the back cover 130 (as shown in FIG. 3A ) to one or more lid inlets (not shown) of the front cover 110, for connecting the fluid outlet 113 to one or more lid inlets 1330. Therefore, even if both the fluid inlet 111 and the fluid outlet 113 are included in the front cover 110, the number of battery cases in the battery module 10 may remain constant, and the size of the battery module 10 may also remain (approximately) constant.

[0047] 4A-4B are perspective views of a battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The battery module 30 may include a front cover 310, a plurality of battery cases 321-322, and a rear cover 330. The front cover 310 may be coupled to the battery case 321, and the rear cover 330 may be coupled to the battery case 322. In some embodiments, the front cover 310, the battery cases 321-322, and the rear cover 330 may be sealed together to prevent fluid from leaking from the battery module 30.

[0048] In some embodiments, the front cover 310 may include a fluid inlet 311 and a first battery interface 312, and the back cover 330 may include a fluid outlet 333 and a second battery interface 334. In some embodiments, the fluid inlet 311 may be included in the front cover 310 to allow fluid to flow into the battery module 30. In some embodiments, the fluid outlet 333 may be included in the back cover 330 to allow fluid to flow out of the battery module 30. Thus, fluid may flow into the battery cases 321-322 through the fluid inlet 311 in the front cover 310 and out of the battery cases 321-322 through the fluid outlet 333 in the back cover 330. In some embodiments, the fluid inlet 311 may move to the back cover 330 to allow fluid to flow into the battery module 30. In some embodiments, the fluid outlet 333 may be included in the front cover 310 (e.g., fluid outlet 113 in FIG. 2B ) to allow fluid to flow out of the battery module 30. As such, the fluid inlet 311 and the fluid outlet 333 may be included in the same lid or may be included in different lids.

[0049] In some embodiments, the first battery interface 312 may be the negative electrode of the battery module 30, and the second battery interface 334 may be the positive electrode of the battery module 30. In some embodiments, the first battery interface 312 may be the positive electrode of the battery module 30, and the second battery interface 334 may be the negative electrode of the battery module 30.

[0050] In some embodiments, the number of battery cases may be 2, equal to 3, or other positive number greater than 3. In some embodiments, only one battery case may be included in the battery module 30.

[0051] In some embodiments, the front cover 310 may further include a first fluid hole 315, and the back cover 330 may further include a second fluid hole (not shown). In some embodiments, the first fluid hole 315 and the second fluid hole may have the same function as the fluid inlet 311 and the fluid outlet 333, respectively. For example, fluid may flow into the battery module 30 through the second fluid hole and flow out of the battery module 30 through the first fluid hole 315. Thus, the battery module 30 may have two sets of fluid inlets and outlets. In some embodiments, the battery module 30 does not necessarily have to include the first fluid hole and the second fluid hole, and may therefore have only one set of fluid inlets and outlets.

[0052] 5 is a partially exploded view of the battery module 30 shown in FIG. 4B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The battery module 30 may include a front cover 310, battery cases 321-322, and a rear cover 330. The front cover 310 may be coupled to the battery case 321, and the rear cover 330 may be coupled to the battery case 322.

[0053] 4A and 5, in some embodiments, the front cover 310 may further include a fluid inlet 311, one or more lid outlets 3110, and a first flow control member 316. The first flow control member 316 may have one or more first member openings 3160. In some embodiments, the one or more lid outlets 3110 may be coupled to the fluid inlet 311 such that fluid flows out of the front cover 311 through the one or more lid outlets 3110. In some embodiments, the first flow control member 316 may cover one or more outlet holes (not shown) to form the one or more lid outlets 3110. In some embodiments, the front cover 310 may further include one or more first lid holes 3151. In some embodiments, the size and shape of the one or more outlet holes may be the same as (or substantially similar to) or different from the size and shape of the one or more first lid holes 3151. In some embodiments, when fluid flows through the first fluid hole 315, the flow control member may cover one or more first lid holes 3151 to form one or more first lid openings (not shown).

[0054] In some embodiments, the battery case 321 may further include a case frame 3211, one or more inlet passages 3212, and one or more outlet passages 3213. In some embodiments, each of the one or more inlet passages 3212 and the one or more outlet passages 3213 may be a through-hole that penetrates the case frame 3211 to allow fluid to flow through the battery case 321. Thus, when the battery case 321 is coupled to the front cover 310, each of the one or more inlet passages 3212 may be coupled to a corresponding one of at least one of the one or more cover outlets 3110 to receive fluid into the battery case 321 via the fluid inlet 311 of the front cover 310. In some embodiments, when the battery case 321 is coupled to the front cover 310, each of the one or more inlet passages 3212 may be aligned with one of the one or more lid outlets 3110 such that fluid can flow from the one or more lid outlets 3110 into the one or more inlet passages 3212 and exit the battery case 321 through the one or more outlet passages 3213. In some embodiments, each of the one or more inlet passages 3212 may be located in a wall of one portion of the case frame 3211, and each of the one or more outlet passages 3213 may be located in a wall of another portion of the case frame 3211.

[0055] In some embodiments, the battery case 322 may further include a case frame 3221, one or more inlet passages 3222, and one or more outlet passages 3223. In some embodiments, each of the one or more inlet passages 3222 and the one or more outlet passages 3223 may be a through-hole that penetrates the case frame 3221. As such, when the battery case 322 is coupled to the battery case 321, each of the one or more inlet passages 3222 may be correspondingly coupled to at least one of the one or more inlet passages 3212. In some embodiments, when the battery case 322 is coupled to the battery case 321, each of the one or more inlet passages 3222 may be aligned with one of the one or more inlet passages 3212 such that fluid flows from the one or more inlet passages 3212 to the one or more inlet passages 3222 and then exits the battery case 322 from the one or more inlet passages 3222. Additionally, when battery case 322 is coupled to battery case 321, each of the one or more outlet passages 3223 can be correspondingly coupled to at least one of the one or more outlet passages 3213. In some embodiments, when battery case 322 is coupled to battery case 321, each of the one or more outlet passages 3223 can be aligned with one of the one or more outlet passages 3213 such that fluid can flow from the one or more outlet passages 3213 to the one or more outlet passages 3223 and then exit battery case 322 from the one or more outlet passages 3223.

[0056] 4B and 5 , in some embodiments, the back cover 330 may further include a fluid outlet 333, one or more lid inlets (not shown), and a second flow control member (not shown), and the second flow control member may also have one or more second member openings (not shown). In some embodiments, the one or more lid inlets may be coupled to the fluid outlet 333 such that fluid flows into the back cover 330 through the one or more lid inlets and out of the battery module 30. Furthermore, when the back cover 330 is coupled to the battery case 322, each of the one or more lid inlets may be coupled to a corresponding one of the one or more outlet passages 3223 such that fluid flows from the battery case 322 to the back cover 330. In some embodiments, when the rear cover 330 is coupled to the battery case 322, each of the one or more cover inlets can be aligned with one of the one or more outlet passages 3223 so that fluid flows from the one or more outlet passages 3223 to the one or more cover inlets and then out the rear cover 330 of the battery module 30 through the fluid outlet 333.

[0057] In some embodiments, the second flow control member may cover one or more inlet holes (not shown) to form one or more lid inlets. In some embodiments, the back lid 330 may further include one or more second lid holes (not shown). In some embodiments, the size and shape of the one or more inlet holes may be the same as or different from the size and shape of the one or more second lid holes. In some embodiments, when fluid flows through the second fluid holes on the back lid 330, the flow control member may cover the one or more second lid holes to form one or more second lid openings (not shown).

[0058] In some embodiments, when the battery case 321 is coupled to the front cover 310, each of the one or more outlet passages 3213 can be correspondingly coupled to at least one of the one or more first cover openings. In some embodiments, when the battery case 321 is coupled to the front cover 310, each of the one or more outlet passages 3213 can be aligned with one of the one or more first cover openings such that fluid can flow between the one or more outlet passages 3213 and the one or more first cover openings.

[0059] In some embodiments, when the back cover 330 is coupled to the battery case 322, each of the one or more second cover openings can be correspondingly coupled to at least one of the one or more inlet passages 3222. In some embodiments, when the back cover 330 is coupled to the battery case 322, each of the one or more second cover openings can be aligned with one of the one or more inlet passages 3222 such that fluid can flow between the one or more second cover openings and the one or more inlet passages 3222.

[0060] 6A-6B are front and back views of the front cover 310 shown in FIG. 4A in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the exterior surface of the front cover 310 may include a fluid inlet 311, a first battery interface 312, and a first fluid hole 315. The interior surface of the front cover 310 may also include one or more cover outlets 3110, one or more first cover holes 3151, and a first flow control member 316.

[0061] In some embodiments, the inlet hole of the fluid inlet 311 may be a through-hole that passes through the front cover 310. As such, the inner surface of the front cover 310 may also include the inlet hole of the fluid inlet 311. In some embodiments, the inlet hole of the fluid inlet 311 may be coupled to one or more cover outlets 3110. As such, when fluid flows into the front cover 310 through the fluid inlet 311, the fluid may exit the front cover 310 through one or more cover outlets 3110. In some embodiments, the inlet hole of the fluid inlet 311 may not be aligned with one or more cover outlets 3110.

[0062] In some embodiments, the central hole of first fluid hole 315 may be a through-hole that penetrates front cover 310. As such, the inner surface of front cover 310 may include the central hole of first fluid hole 315. In some embodiments, the central hole of first fluid hole 315 may be coupled to one or more first cover holes 3151. As such, when fluid flows into front cover 310 through first fluid hole 315, the fluid may exit front cover 310 through one or more first cover holes 3151. In some embodiments, when fluid exits front cover 310 through first fluid hole 315, the fluid may flow into front cover 310 through one or more first cover holes 3151.

[0063] Figure 6C is a rear view of the front cover 310 without the first flow control member 316 shown in Figure 6B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 6D is a perspective view of the first flow control member 316 shown in Figure 6B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0064] In some embodiments, when the first flow control member 316 is removed from the front cover 310, the one or more outlet holes 3111 and the inlet hole of the fluid inlet 311 may be exposed to the inner surface of the front cover 310. As shown in FIG. 6C , compared to FIG. 6B , in some embodiments, the inlet hole of the fluid inlet 311 may not be aligned with the one or more cover outlets 3110.

[0065] In some embodiments, the first flow control member 316 can have one or more first member openings 3160. In some embodiments, the one or more first member openings 3160 can be different from one another. In some embodiments, the shapes of the one or more first member openings 3160 can be the same as one another, but the sizes of the one or more first member openings 3160 can be different from one another. In some embodiments, the shapes and sizes of the one or more first member openings 3160 can be different from one another.

[0066] In some embodiments, when the front lid 310 includes a first flow control member 316, the one or more first member openings 3160 may be considered one or more lid outlets 3110. As such, in some embodiments, each of the one or more lid outlets 3110 may be different from the other ones of the lid outlets 3110. In some embodiments, the shapes of the one or more lid outlets 3110 may be the same as one another, but the sizes of the one or more lid outlets 3110 may be different from one another. In some embodiments, the shapes and sizes of the one or more lid outlets 3110 may be different from one another.

[0067] In some embodiments, the first flow control member 316 may be integrally molded with the front cover 310 to form a single element. As such, the front cover 310 may include one or more first fluid chambers (not shown). In some embodiments, the one or more first fluid chambers may be coupled to one another to allow fluid to flow between them, and may each be coupled to at least one of one or more cover outlets 3110 to allow fluid to exit the front cover 310. Additionally, the inlet hole of the fluid inlet 311 may be directly coupled to one of the one or more first fluid chambers to allow fluid to flow into the front cover 310.

[0068] 5 and 6B , in some embodiments, each of the one or more lid outlets 3110 is correspondingly coupled to one of the one or more inlet passages 3212, such that the number of the one or more lid outlets 3110 may be equal to the number of the one or more inlet passages 3212. In some embodiments, the number of the one or more lid outlets 3110 may be equal to 1, and the number of the one or more inlet passages 3212 may also be equal to 1. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6B , the number of the one or more lid outlets 3110 may be equal to 3, and the number of the one or more inlet passages 3212 may also be equal to 3. In other words, the front lid 310 may include multiple lid outlets 3110, and the battery case 321 may include the same number of inlet passages 3212. In some embodiments, each of the one or more lid outlets 3110 is correspondingly coupled to at least one of the one or more inlet passages 3212, so that the number of the one or more lid outlets 3110 may or may not be equal to the number of the one or more inlet passages 3212.

[0069] 5 and 6B , in some embodiments, when the number of one or more lid outlets 3110 is greater than one, those of the one or more lid outlets 3110 adjacent to the inlet hole of the fluid inlet 311 may be smaller than those of the one or more lid outlets 3110 away from the inlet hole of the fluid inlet 311. In some embodiments, the size of the one or more lid outlets 3110 may be related to the distance between the inlet hole of the fluid inlet 311 and the one or more lid outlets 3110. In some embodiments, the size of the one or more lid outlets 3110 may be determined based on the distance between the inlet hole of the fluid inlet 311 and the one or more lid outlets 3110. In some embodiments, the size of the one or more lid outlets 3110 may increase as the distance between the inlet hole of the fluid inlet 311 and the one or more lid outlets 3110 increases. Therefore, as shown in Figure 6B, the leftmost lid outlet among the lid outlets 3110 may be the smallest lid outlet 3110, and the rightmost lid outlet among the lid outlets 3110 may be the largest lid outlet 3110.

[0070] 7A-7B are front and back views, respectively, of the back cover 330 shown in FIG. 4B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the exterior surface of the back cover 330 may include a fluid outlet 333, a second battery interface 334, and a second fluid hole 337. The interior surface of the back cover 330 may further include one or more cover inlets 3330, one or more second cover holes 3371, and a second flow control member 338.

[0071] In some embodiments, the outlet hole of the fluid outlet 333 may be a through-hole that penetrates the back cover 330. As such, the inner surface of the back cover 330 may also include the outlet hole of the fluid outlet 333. In some embodiments, the outlet hole of the fluid outlet 333 may be coupled to one or more lid inlets 3330. As such, fluid may first flow into the back cover 330 through one or more lid inlets 3330 and then exit the back cover 330 through the fluid outlet 333. In some embodiments, the outlet hole of the fluid outlet 333 may not be aligned with one or more lid inlets 3330.

[0072] In some embodiments, the central hole of second fluid hole 337 may be a through-hole that penetrates back cover 330. As such, the inner surface of back cover 330 may also include the central hole of second fluid hole 337. In some embodiments, the central hole of second fluid hole 337 may be coupled to one or more second cover holes 3371. As such, when fluid flows into back cover 330 through second fluid hole 337, the fluid may exit back cover 330 through one or more second cover holes 3371. In some embodiments, when fluid exits back cover 330 through second fluid hole 337, the fluid may enter back cover 330 through one or more second cover holes 3371.

[0073] 7C is a rear view of the back cap 330 without the second flow control member 338 shown in FIG. 7B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, when the second flow control member 338 is removed from the back cap 330, the one or more inlet holes 3331 and the outlet hole of the fluid outlet 333 may be exposed to the inner surface of the back cap 330. As shown in FIG. 7C, compared to FIG. 7B, in some embodiments, the outlet hole of the fluid outlet 333 may not be aligned with the one or more lid inlets 3330.

[0074] In some embodiments, the second flow control member 338 can have one or more second member openings. In some embodiments, the one or more second member openings can be different from one another. In some embodiments, the shape of the one or more second member openings can be the same as one another, but the size of the one or more second member openings can be different from one another. In some embodiments, the shape and size of the one or more second member openings can be different from one another.

[0075] In some embodiments, when the back lid 330 includes a second flow control member 338, one or more second member openings may be considered one or more lid inlets 3330. As such, in some embodiments, the one or more lid inlets 3330 may be different from one another. In some embodiments, the shape of the one or more lid inlets 3330 may be the same as one another, but the size of the one or more lid inlets 3330 may be different from one another. In some embodiments, the shape and size of the one or more lid inlets 3330 may be different from one another.

[0076] In some embodiments, the second flow control member 338 may be integrally molded with the back cover 330 to form a single element. As such, the back cover 330 may include one or more second fluid chambers (not shown). In some embodiments, the one or more second fluid chambers may be coupled to one another to allow fluid to flow between them and to at least one of the one or more lid inlets 3330 to allow fluid to flow into the back cover 330. Additionally, the outlet hole of the fluid outlet 333 may be directly coupled to one of the one or more second fluid chambers to allow fluid to flow out of the back cover 330.

[0077] 5 and 7B , in some embodiments, the number of the one or more lid inlets 3330 may be equal to the number of the one or more outlet passages 3223, such that each of the one or more lid inlets 3330 is correspondingly coupled to one of the one or more outlet passages 3223. In some embodiments, the number of the one or more lid inlets 3330 may be equal to 1, and the number of the one or more outlet passages 3223 may also be equal to 1. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 7B , the number of the one or more lid inlets 3330 may be equal to 3, and the number of the one or more outlet passages 3223 may also be equal to 3. In other words, the back lid 330 may include multiple lid inlets 3330, and the battery case 322 may include the same number of outlet passages 3223. In some embodiments, each of the one or more lid inlets 3330 is correspondingly coupled to at least one of the one or more outlet passages 3223, so that the number of the one or more lid inlets 3330 may or may not be equal to the number of the one or more outlet passages 3223.

[0078] 5 and 7B , in some embodiments, when the number of one or more lid inlets 3330 is greater than one, the one or more lid inlets 3330 adjacent to the exit hole of the fluid outlet 333 may be smaller than the one or more lid inlets away from the exit hole of the fluid outlet 333. In some embodiments, the size of the one or more lid inlets 3330 may be determined based on the distance between the exit hole of the fluid outlet 333 and the one or more lid inlets 3330. In some embodiments, the size of the one or more lid inlets 3330 may increase as the distance between the exit hole of the fluid outlet 333 and the one or more lid inlets 3330 increases. Thus, in FIG. 6B , the leftmost one of the lid inlets 3330 may be the smallest lid inlet 3330, and the rightmost one of the lid inlets 3330 may be the largest lid inlet 3330.

[0079] Figure 8A is a perspective view of the battery case 321 shown in Figure 5 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 8B is a front view of the battery case 321 shown in Figure 5 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0080] In some embodiments, the battery case 321 may further include a case frame 3211, one or more inlet passages 3212, one or more outlet passages 3213, and a storage area 3214. In some embodiments, each of the one or more inlet passages 3212 and the one or more outlet passages 3213 may be a through-hole that penetrates the case frame 3211. Therefore, referring to FIGS. 5 and 8A , when the battery case 321 is coupled to the front cover 310, each of the one or more inlet passages 3212 may be coupled to a corresponding one of at least one of the one or more cover outlets 3110. In some embodiments, when the battery case 321 is coupled to the front cover 310, each of the one or more inlet passages 3212 can be aligned with one of the one or more cover outlets 3110 so that fluid can flow from the one or more cover outlets 3110 into the one or more inlet passages 3212 and then out of the battery case 321 through the one or more inlet passages 3212.

[0081] In some embodiments, when battery case 322 is coupled to battery case 321, each of the one or more outlet passages 3223 can be correspondingly coupled to at least one of the one or more outlet passages 3213. In some embodiments, when battery case 322 is coupled to battery case 321, each of the one or more outlet passages 3223 can be aligned with one of the one or more outlet passages 3213 such that fluid flows from the one or more outlet passages 3213 to the one or more outlet passages 3223 and out of the one or more outlet passages 3223 and out of battery case 322.

[0082] Figure 9A is a partial enlarged view of the upper left corner of the battery case 321 shown in Figure 8A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 9B is a cross-sectional view of the battery case 321 taken along line AA in Figure 8B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 9C is an enlarged view of region B shown in Figure 8B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the battery case 321 may further include a cell holder 3215.

[0083] In some embodiments, the case frame 3211 may further include two lateral edges 32111, two longitudinal edges 32112, a plurality of upper support surfaces 32113 extending from the two lateral edges 32111 and the two longitudinal edges 32112, and a lower support surface 32114 extending from the two lateral edges 32111 and the two longitudinal edges 32112. In some embodiments, the upper support surfaces 32113 and the lower support surfaces 32114 may be used to support a cell support (not shown). In some embodiments, the cell support and the cell holder 3215 may be used to receive and support a plurality of battery cells (not shown). For example, the cell holder 3215 may receive one of the two sides of a battery cell, and the cell support may receive the other side of the battery cell.

[0084] In some embodiments, each of the one or more outlet passages 3213 may further include one or more outlet slits 32131 to allow fluid to flow from the accommodation region 3214 to a corresponding one of the one or more outlet passages 3213 to cool the battery cells in the accommodation region 3214. As such, the accommodation region 3214 may be coupled to the one or more outlet passages 3213 to allow fluid to flow from the accommodation region 3214 to the one or more outlet passages 3213 and exit through a fluid outlet 333 of the battery module 30. In some embodiments, the one or more outlet slits 32131 may include at least one side slit. An angle between one of the two side edges 32111 and the flow direction Dfs through one of the at least one side slits may be acute. In some embodiments, the at least one side slit may be used to provide a level component in the flow direction Dfs to guide the fluid flow toward a corner of the accommodation region 3214. Therefore, the fluid can flow completely through the battery case 321, and the temperature of the fluid within the battery case 321 can be reduced more uniformly.

[0085] In some embodiments, the plurality of cell holes 32141 included in the accommodating region 3214 may be formed by a cell holder 3215 coupled to the case frame 3211. Each of the cell holes 32141 formed by the cell holder 3215 may be used to receive one of the two sides of a battery cell. In some embodiments, the cell holder 3215 may include a plurality of extension columns 32151 extending from an inner surface 32152 of the cell holder 3215. In some embodiments, the extension columns 32151 may be provided along two lateral edges 32111. Therefore, referring to FIGS. 8A and 9A , some of the extension columns 32151 may be adjacent to one of the two lateral edges 32111 having one or more inlet passages 3212, and other of the extension columns 32151 may be adjacent to the other of the two lateral edges 32111 having one or more outlet passages 3213. In other words, some of the expansion columns 32151 may be adjacent to one or more inlet passages 3212 and other of the expansion columns 32151 may be adjacent to one or more outlet passages 3213 .

[0086] In some embodiments, each of the extension columns 32151 may extend between three adjacent cell holes 32141 from the cell holder 3215. In some embodiments, the extension columns 32151 may be provided adjacent to one of the two lateral edges 32111. In some embodiments, the distance between the extension column 32151 and one of the two lateral edges 32111 may be close to the diameter of the cell hole 32141. In some embodiments, the distance between the extension column 32151 and one of the two lateral edges 32111 may be equal to or less than the diameter of the cell hole 32141. In some embodiments, the minimum distance d between the extension column 32151 and one of the two lateral edges 32111 is 0.05. m may be smaller than the diameter of the cell hole 32141. In some embodiments, the longitudinal direction D between the center of the extension column 32151 and the curved wall of the battery case 321 may be LO The longitudinal distance d along l may be smaller than the diameter of the cell hole 32141.

[0087] In some embodiments, the distance Ds between the lower support surface 32114 and the outer surface of the case frame may be slightly shorter than the distance Dc between the extension column 32151 and the outer surface of the case frame. Therefore, when the cell support covers the receiving area 3214, the distance between the cell support and the extension column 32151 may be equal to the difference between the distances Ds and Dc. Also, the distance between the cell support and the extension column 32151 may be shorter than a distance threshold to prevent fluid from flowing through the extension column 32151. When the distance is shorter than the distance threshold, the distance between the cell support and the plurality of extension columns 32151 is not sufficient to allow fluid to flow through the plurality of extension columns 32151 due to factors such as surface tension. In other words, when fluid flows through at least one side slit, the fluid may not flow through the extension column 32151, and therefore the extension column prevents fluid from flowing in the lateral direction D LA The fluid may be guided along the opening toward the corners of the containing area 3214. As a result, the fluid may flow completely through the battery case 321, and the temperature of the fluid within the battery case 321 may be reduced more uniformly.

[0088] 8A and 9A , in some embodiments, each of the inlet passages 3212 may further include one or more inlet slits to allow fluid to flow from the inlet passage 3212 to the accommodation area 3214 and cool the battery cells in the accommodation area 3214. In some embodiments, the one or more inlet slits may include at least one side slit. An angle between one of the two lateral edges 32111 and the flow direction Dfs in which the fluid flows through one of the at least one side slits of the one or more inlet slits may be acute. In some embodiments, the at least one side slit of the one or more inlet slits may be used to provide a level component in the flow direction Dfs to guide the fluid flow toward the corners of the accommodation area 3214. As a result, the fluid may flow completely through the battery case 321, and the temperature of the fluid in the battery case 321 may be reduced more uniformly.

[0089] In some embodiments, the flow direction of the fluid through the one or more inlet passages 3212 may be parallel to the assembly direction between the battery case 321 and the front cover 310 and may be perpendicular to the flow direction Dfs of the fluid through the one or more inlet slits. In some embodiments, the flow direction of the fluid through the one or more outlet passages 3213 may be parallel to the assembly direction and perpendicular to the flow direction Dfs of the fluid through the one or more outlet slits 32131.

[0090] FIG. 10 is a partial enlarged view of the upper left corner of a battery case 321 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0091] In some embodiments, the multiple cell holes 32141 may be formed by a cell holder 3215 coupled to the case frame 3211 to accommodate the battery cells in the accommodation area 3214. Each of the cell holes 32141 formed by the cell holder 3215 may be used to accommodate one of the two sides of a battery cell. In some embodiments, the cell holder 3215 may further include multiple extension columns 32151 and multiple extension walls 32153 extending from an inner surface 32152 of the cell holder 3215. In some embodiments, the extension column 32151 in FIG. 10 may be the same as the extension column 32151 in FIG. 9A. In some embodiments, the extension walls 32153 may be provided adjacent to the four corners of the cell holder 3215. In some embodiments, each of the extension walls 32153 may extend from the cell holder 3215 and be sandwiched between two adjacent cell holes 32141.

[0092] 9B and 10 , in some embodiments, the distance Ds between the lower support surface 32114 and the outer surface of the case frame may be slightly smaller than the distance Dc between the extension column 32151 and the outer surface of the case frame, which distance Dc is the same as the distance between the extension wall 32153 and the outer surface of the case frame. Therefore, when the cell support covers the storage area 3214, the distance between the cell support and each extension wall 32153 may be equal to the difference between the distances Ds and Dc. Also, the distance between the cell support and each extension wall 32153 may be shorter than a distance threshold to prevent fluid from flowing through the extension wall 32153. In other words, because fluid does not have to flow through the extension wall 32153, the extension wall 32153 prevents fluid from flowing in the lateral direction D LA The fluid may be guided along the opening toward the corners of the containing area 3214. As a result, the fluid may flow completely through the battery case 321, and the temperature of the fluid within the battery case 321 may be reduced more uniformly.

[0093] Figure 11A is a perspective view of a cell support 3216 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 11B is a perspective view of the combination of the battery case shown in Figure 8A and the cell support 3216 shown in Figure 11A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0094] 9A and 11A , the cell hole 32141 formed by the cell holder 3215 can receive one of the two sides of a battery cell, and the support hole 32161 of the cell support 3216 can receive the other side of the battery cell. In some embodiments, when the cell support 3216 is accommodated in the case frame 3211, the side surface 32162 can be coupled to the upper support surface 32113, and the lower surface 32163 can be coupled to the lower support surface 32114.

[0095] Figure 12A is a front view of the battery case and cell support 3216 combination shown in Figure 11B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 12B is a cross-sectional view of the battery case and cell support 3216 combination shown in Figure 12A taken along line CC in Figure 12A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0096] In some embodiments, each of the cell holes 32141 formed by the cell holder 3215 may be aligned with a support hole 32161 in the cell support 3216. Referring to FIGS. 9B and 12, the cell support 3216 may be supported by a lower support surface 32114 of the case frame 3211. In some embodiments, because the cell support 3216 is housed in the case frame 3211, a portion of each outlet slit 32131 may be blocked by the cell support 3216. As such, fluid may flow from the containment region 3214 to one or more outlet passages 3213 through the unblocked portion of each outlet slit 32131. Similarly, referring to FIGS. 8B and 12A, in some embodiments, because the cell support 3216 is housed in the case frame 3211, a portion of each inlet slit of the inlet passage 3212 may be blocked by the cell support 3216. As such, fluid may flow from one or more inlet passages 3212 to the receiving area 3214 through the unobstructed portion of each inlet slit of the inlet passages 3212 .

[0097] 9A and 12B , in some embodiments, the distance Df between the inner surface 32152 of the cell holder 3215 and the outer surface of the case frame 3211 may be substantially longer than the distance Da between the inner surface 32152 of the cell holder 3215 and the lower surface 32163 of the cell support 3216. In some embodiments, the length of the unobstructed portion of each outlet slit 32131 may be equal to the difference between the distance Df and the distance Da. Therefore, the length of the unobstructed portion of each outlet slit 32131 is long enough to allow fluid to easily flow into the outlet passage 3213, so that when fluid flows into the outlet passage 3213, the fluid can flow into the outlet passage 3213 through the unobstructed portion of each outlet slit 32131.

[0098] 8B and 12A, in some embodiments, the length of the unobstructed portion of each inlet slit may be equal to the difference between distances Df and Da. Thus, when fluid flows from inlet passage 3212 to receiving area 3214, the length of the unobstructed portion of each inlet slit is long enough to allow fluid to flow to receiving area 3214, so that the fluid may flow from inlet passage 3212 to receiving area 3214 via the unobstructed portion of each inlet slit.

[0099] In some embodiments, the distance Ds between the lower support surface 32114 and the outer surface of the case frame may be slightly shorter than the distance Dc between the extension column 32151 and the outer surface of the case frame. Therefore, when the cell support 3216 covers the receiving area 3214, the distance between the cell support 3216 and the extension column 32151 may be equal to the difference between the distances Ds and Dc. Also, the distance between the cell support 3216 and the extension column 32151 may be shorter than a distance threshold to prevent fluid from flowing through the extension column 32151. When the distance is shorter than the distance threshold, the distance between the cell support and the plurality of extension columns 32151 is not sufficient to allow fluid to flow through the plurality of extension columns 32151 due to factors such as surface tension. In other words, the fluid may not flow through the extension column 32151, and therefore the extension column may prevent fluid from flowing in the lateral direction D in FIG. 9C . LA The fluid may be guided along the opening toward the corners of the containing area 3214. As a result, the fluid may flow completely through the battery case 321, and the temperature of the fluid within the battery case 321 may be reduced more uniformly.

[0100] Fig. 13A is a perspective view of the battery module 30 shown in Fig. 4B without the case frames 3211 and 3221 shown in Fig. 5 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 13B is a perspective view of the electrical connection structure of the management circuits 3217 and 3227 shown in Fig. 13A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0101] 4B and 13A , in some embodiments, each of battery cases 321 and 322 may include a corresponding one of management circuits 3217 and 3227 attached to a corresponding one of case frames 3211 and 3221. In some embodiments, management circuit 3217 may be coupled to management circuit 3227. In some embodiments, an electrical connector of management circuit 3217 may be attached to battery case 321 and exposed to case frame 3211. An electrical connector of management circuit 3227 may be attached to battery case 322 and exposed to case frame 3221. When battery cases 321 and 322 are coupled to each other, the electrical connector of management circuit 3217 may also be directly or electrically coupled to the electrical connector of management circuit 3227. Therefore, when the battery cases 321 and 322 are coupled to each other, the electrical connectors of the management circuit 3217 and the management circuit 3227 do not need to be exposed to the outside of the battery cases 321 and 322.

[0102] In some embodiments, each of battery cases 321 and 322 may also include a plurality of battery cells 3218 and 3228. In some embodiments, battery case 321 may further include a plurality of case electrodes 32181 and 32182, and each of battery cells 3218 may be coupled to one of case electrodes 32181 and one of case electrodes 32182. In some embodiments, battery case 322 may further include a plurality of case electrodes 32181 and 32182, and each of battery cells 3218 may be coupled to one of case electrodes 32181 and one of case electrodes 32182. In some embodiments, the plurality of case electrodes 32181, 32182, 32281, and 32282 may be used to connect battery cells 3218 and 3228 to each other. Furthermore, the battery cells 3218 and 3228 may be coupled to each other in series or parallel by the plurality of case electrodes 32181, 32182, 32281, and 32282. Referring to FIGS. 4A to 4B and 13A , in some embodiments, one of the plurality of case electrodes 32181 may be electrically coupled to the first battery interface 334, and one of the plurality of case electrodes 32282 may be electrically coupled to the second battery interface 334. Furthermore, one of the plurality of case electrodes 32182 may be electrically coupled to one of the plurality of case electrodes 32281. Thus, power may be output from or stored in the battery cells 3218 and 3228 via the first battery interface 312 and the second battery interface 334.

[0103] In some embodiments, the management circuit 3217 may be electrically coupled to the case electrodes 32181 and 32182 and the plurality of connection circuits 32171. The connection circuit 32171 may be electrically coupled to at least one of the case electrodes 32181 and 32182. In some embodiments, the case electrodes 32181 and 32182 and the connection circuit 32171 may be housed in the housing region 3214 of the battery case 321, such that the case electrodes 32181 and 32182 and the connection circuit 32171 may be immersed in the fluid contained in the battery case 321. In some embodiments, the management circuit 3227 may be coupled to the case electrodes 32281 and 32282 via the plurality of connection circuits 32271. The plurality of connection circuits 32271 may be coupled to the case electrodes 32281 and 32282. In some embodiments, the case electrodes 32281 and 32282 and the connection circuit 32271 can be immersed in the fluid contained in the battery case 322. In some embodiments, the connection circuit 32171 and 32271 can be a flexible printed circuit (FPC).

[0104] In some embodiments, the connection circuits 32171 and 32271 may be used to measure the voltage and temperature of the case electrodes 32181, 32182, 32281 and 32282 to provide the measurement results to the management circuits 3217 and 3227. In some embodiments, the management circuits 3217 and 3227 may control the temperature and voltage of the battery cells 3218 and 3228 and the connection circuits 32171 and 32271 based on the measurement results to control the temperature of the fluid. For example, the management circuit 3217 may control and use the connection circuit 32171 to convert the power of the battery cells 3218 coupled to the case electrodes 32181 and 32182, respectively, into heat to control the voltage and temperature of the battery cells 3218.

[0105] In some embodiments, the management circuit 3227 may control and use the connection circuit 32271 to convert the power of the battery cells 3228 into heat and control the voltage and temperature of the battery cells 3228. Therefore, when the management circuits 3217 and 3227 control the temperature of the connection circuits 32171 and 32271, the power of the battery cells 3218 and 3228 may be used to directly heat the fluid and the battery cells 3218 and 3228, thereby increasing the temperature of the fluid. Therefore, the voltage control and temperature control functions of the management circuits 3217 and 3227 eliminate the need for additional heating equipment attached to the battery module 30. Furthermore, the management circuits 3217 and 3227 and the connection circuits 32171 and 32271 may be attached to the battery cases 321 and 322 rather than being exposed to the outside of the battery module 30, thereby reducing the possibility of element damage and improving element durability.

[0106] FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram of the battery cell 3218, the management circuit 3217, and the connection circuit 32171 shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0107] 13B and 14 , in some embodiments, the connection circuit 32171 may further include one or more switches 32171a and a circuit heater 32171b. In some embodiments, the one or more switches 32171a may be coupled to the battery cells 3218, the management circuit 3217, and the circuit heater 32171b. In some embodiments, the management circuit 32171 may control the on or off of the one or more switches 32171a. In some embodiments, when the one or more switches 32171a are turned off by the management circuit 3217, the current of the battery cells 3218 may not flow through the circuit heater 32171b. Therefore, the circuit heater 32171b may not convert the power of the battery cells 3218 into heat. In some embodiments, when one or more switches 32171a are turned on by the management circuit 3217, the current of the battery cells 3218 may flow through the circuit heater 32171b. As such, the circuit heater 32171b may convert the power of the battery cells 3218 into heat to heat the battery cells 3218 and the fluid contained in the battery case 321. In some embodiments, the circuit heater 32171b may be a heated copper wire.

[0108] In some embodiments, the connection circuit 32171 may further include an electrical safety device 32171c coupled to the one or more switches 32171a and the circuit heater 32171b. In some embodiments, the electrical safety device 32171c may be included in a fusible metal wire or strip that melts or interrupts the circuit when the current exceeds a current threshold. Thus, when the current in the circuit heater 32171b exceeds a current threshold, the electrical safety device 32171c can interrupt the current to stop heating of the fluid and battery cells 3218.

[0109] In some embodiments, the connection circuit 32171 may further include a temperature sensor 32171d coupled to the management circuit 3217. The management circuit 3217 may control the temperature sensor 32171d to monitor the temperature of the fluid and the battery cells 3218.

[0110] Therefore, the power of the battery cells 3218 can be directly used to heat the fluid and the battery cells 3218. The voltage control and temperature control functions of the management circuit 3217 eliminate the need to install additional heating equipment in the battery module 30. Furthermore, the one or more switches 32171a and circuit heater 32171b of the management circuit 3217 and the connection circuit 32171 are not exposed to the outside of the battery module 30 but are attached to the battery case 321, which reduces the possibility of damage to the management circuit 3217 and the connection circuit 32171 and improves the durability of the management circuit 3217 and the connection circuit 32171.

[0111] The embodiments shown and described above are merely examples. Many details are often found in the art. Therefore, many of these details have not been shown or described. Although many features and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the above description, along with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is merely exemplary and modifications in detail are possible. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments can be modified within the scope of the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 10: Battery module 20: Battery module 30: Battery module 110: Front lid 111: Fluid inlet 1110: Lid outlet 112: First battery interface 113:Fluid outlet 114: Second battery interface 121, 122, 123: Battery case 1211: Case frame 1212: Entrance passage 1213:Exit passage 1214:Containment Area 1221: Case frame 1222: Entrance passage 1223:Exit passage 1224:Containment Area 1231: Case frame 1232: Entrance passage 1233:Exit passage 1234:Containment Area 130: Rear lid 133:Fluid outlet 1330: Lid entrance 134: Second battery interface 210: Front lid 211: Fluid inlet 213:Fluid outlet 2130: Lid entrance 2110: Lid outlet 221~226: Battery case 2211: Case frame 2212: Entrance passage 2213:Exit passage 2214: Containment Area 2221: Case frame 2222: Entrance passage 2223:Exit passage 2224:Containment Area 2231: Case frame 2232: Entrance passage 2233:Exit passage 2234:Containment Area 2241: Case frame 2242: Entrance passage 2243:Exit passage 2244:Containment Area 2251: Case frame 2252: Entrance passage 2253:Exit passage 2254:Containment Area 2261: Case frame 2262: Entrance passage 2263:Exit passage 2264:Containment Area 230: Rear lid 2330: Middle Passage 310: Front lid 311: Fluid inlet 3110: Lid outlet 3111:Exit hole 312: First battery interface 315: First fluid hole 3151: First operculum 316: First flow control member 3160: First member opening 321: Battery case 3211: Case frame 3212: Entrance passage 3213:Exit passage 3214: Containment Area 322: Battery case 3221: Case frame 3222: Entrance passage 3223:Exit passage 330: Rear lid 333:Fluid outlet 3330: Lid entrance 3331: Entrance hole 334: Second battery interface 337: Second fluid hole 3371: Second operculum 338: Second flow control member 32111: Lateral edge 32112: Longitudinal edge 32113: Upper support surface 32114: Lower support surface 32131: Exit slit 32141: Cell Hall 3215: Cell holder 32151: Extension column 32152:Inside 32153: Expansion wall 3216: Cell support 32161: Support hole 32162: Side 32163: Bottom surface 3217: Management circuit 32171: Connection circuit 32171a:switch 32171b:Circuit heater 32171c: Electrical safety devices 32171d:Temperature sensor 3218: Battery cell 32181: Case electrode 32182: Case electrode 3227: Management circuit 32271: Connection circuit 3228: Battery cell 32281: Case electrode 32282: Case electrode

Claims

1. a front cover including a fluid inlet for allowing fluid to flow to the battery module; a battery case coupled to the front cover and having an accommodation area for accommodating a plurality of battery cells, The battery case is The case frame and one or more inlet passages through the case frame for receiving the fluid from the fluid inlet and for allowing the fluid to flow through the battery case, each of the inlet passages including one or more inlet slits for allowing the fluid to flow into the receiving area and cool the plurality of battery cells; and one or more outlet passages through the case frame for allowing the fluid to flow through the battery case; The containment area is coupled to the one or more outlet passages such that the fluid flows out of a fluid outlet of the battery module. Battery module.

2. the front cover further includes the fluid outlet, one or more cover inlets, and one or more cover outlets; each of the one or more inlet passages is correspondingly coupled to one of the one or more lid outlets such that the fluid flows from the front lid to the battery case; each of the one or more exit passages includes one or more exit slits such that the fluid flows from the containment area to at least a corresponding one of the one or more exit passages; Each of the one or more outlet passages is correspondingly coupled to one of the one or more lid inlets for returning the fluid from the battery case to the front lid. The battery module according to claim 1 .

3. a rear cover including the fluid outlet and one or more cover inlets for allowing the fluid to flow out of the battery module; each of the one or more exit passages includes one or more exit slits such that the fluid flows from the containment area to at least a corresponding one of the one or more exit passages; each of the one or more outlet passages is correspondingly coupled to one of the one or more lid inlets such that the fluid flows from the battery case to the back lid; Each of the one or more inlet passages is correspondingly coupled to one of the one or more lid outlets of the front lid such that the fluid flows from the front lid to the battery case. The battery module according to claim 1 .

4. The one or more lid outlets are of different sizes. The battery module according to claim 3 .

5. The size of the one or more lid outlets varies with the change in distance between the fluid inlet and the one or more lid outlets. The battery module according to claim 3 .

6. the one or more exit slits include at least one side slit; The angle between the lateral edge of the case frame and the flow direction of the fluid through the at least one lateral slit is an acute angle. The battery module according to claim 3 .

7. A flow direction of the fluid through the one or more inlet passages is perpendicular to a flow direction of the fluid through the one or more inlet slits. The battery module according to claim 1 .

8. the one or more entrance slits include at least one side slit; The angle between the lateral edge of the case frame and the flow direction of the fluid through the at least one lateral slit is an acute angle. The battery module according to claim 1 .

9. a cell holder coupled to the case frame and configured to receive the plurality of battery cells; the cell holder includes a plurality of expansion columns; When the fluid flows through the at least one side slit, the plurality of extension columns guide the fluid to flow along a lateral direction. The battery module according to claim 8 .

10. Some of the plurality of expansion columns are adjacent to the one or more inlet passages and other portions of the plurality of expansion columns are adjacent to the one or more outlet passages. The battery module according to claim 9 .

11. a cell support for supporting the plurality of battery cells together with the cell holder; The distance between the cell support and the plurality of expansion columns is less than a distance threshold to prevent the fluid from flowing through the plurality of expansion columns. The battery module according to claim 9 .

12. A battery case attached to a battery module for housing a plurality of battery cells, The case frame and a cell holder coupled to the case frame for accommodating the plurality of battery cells in an accommodating region; one or more inlet passages through the case frame for fluid to flow through the battery case, each of the inlet passages including one or more inlet slits for allowing the fluid to flow into the receiving area and cool the plurality of battery cells; one or more outlet passages through the case frame for allowing the fluid to flow through the battery case; The fluid flows from the receiving area to the one or more outlet passages and out a fluid outlet of the battery module. Battery case.

13. each of the one or more outlet passages further includes one or more outlet slits such that the fluid flows from the receiving area to a corresponding one of the one or more outlet passages and out of the fluid outlet of the battery module; the one or more exit slits include at least one side slit; The angle between the lateral edge of the case frame and the flow direction of the fluid through the at least one lateral slit is an acute angle. The battery case according to claim 12.

14. the one or more entrance slits include at least one side slit; The angle between the lateral edge of the case frame and the flow direction of the fluid through the at least one lateral slit is an acute angle. The battery case according to claim 12.

15. the cell holder includes a plurality of extension columns extending from an inner surface of the cell holder; When the fluid flows through the at least one side slit, the plurality of extension columns guide the fluid to flow along a lateral direction. The battery case according to claim 14.

16. Some of the plurality of expansion columns are adjacent to the one or more inlet passages and other portions of the plurality of expansion columns are adjacent to the one or more outlet passages. The battery case according to claim 15.

17. a cell support for supporting the plurality of battery cells together with the cell holder; The distance between the cell support and the plurality of expansion columns is less than a distance threshold to prevent the fluid from flowing through the plurality of expansion columns. The battery case according to claim 15.

18. A battery module including a battery case that houses a plurality of case electrodes and has a housing area for housing a plurality of battery cells, The battery case is The case frame and one or more inlet passages through the case frame for fluid to flow through the battery case, each of the inlet passages including one or more inlet slits for allowing the fluid to flow into the receiving area and cool the plurality of battery cells; one or more outlet passages for allowing the fluid to exit the receiving area, each of the outlet passages extending through the case frame to allow the fluid to flow through the battery case; a first circuit attached to the case frame and electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of case electrodes; a second circuit attached to the case frame and electrically coupled to the first circuit, the second circuit controlling a temperature of the first circuit to control a temperature of the fluid. Battery module.

19. The second circuit includes one or more electrical connectors exposed on the case frame for coupling to electrical connectors of other second circuits. The battery module according to claim 18.

20. the second circuit is immersed in the fluid; The power stored in at least one of the plurality of battery cells is converted into heat by the first circuit, and the temperature of the fluid is increased by controlling the temperature of the first circuit by the second circuit. The battery module according to claim 18.

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