Batteries and power consuming devices

Abstract

An embodiment of the present application provides a battery and power consumption device, in which a battery (100) includes a housing assembly (1) having a first cavity (A) and an exhaust passage (B) communicating with each other therein, the housing assembly (1) being provided with a first pressure relief member (3), a battery cell (2) provided within the housing assembly (1) and located outside the first cavity (A), the battery cell (2) having a second pressure relief member (21) configured to release an exhaust from the battery cell (2) to the exhaust passage (B), and a first stopper member (4) provided within the first cavity (A), the first stopper member (4) configured to extend a path for the exhaust from the first cavity (A) to reach the first pressure relief member (3).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly to batteries and power consuming devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Batteries such as lithium-ion batteries have advantages such as high energy density, high power density, many cycles, and long storage life, and are therefore commonly used in electric vehicles.

[0003] However, improving the in-use safety of batteries in electric vehicles has become one of the challenges within the industry. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The objective of this application is to improve the safety of batteries during use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present application, there is provided a battery, the battery comprising: A housing assembly having a first cavity and an exhaust passage communicating with each other therein, the housing assembly having a first pressure relief member provided on a cavity wall of the first cavity; a battery cell provided in the housing assembly and positioned outside the first cavity, the battery cell having a second pressure relief member configured to release exhaust from the battery cell to an exhaust passage, thereby causing the exhaust to enter the first cavity and be discharged to the outside of the battery via the first pressure relief member; and a first stopper member disposed within the first cavity, the first stopper member configured to extend a path for discharge material within the first cavity to reach the first pressure relief member.

[0006] In this embodiment, the first cavity is independently installed in the housing assembly, so that the exhaust discharged from the battery cell during thermal runaway is once collected in the first cavity through the exhaust passage, and the first stopper member installed in the first cavity extends the flow path through which the exhaust reaches the first pressure release member, so that the temperature of the exhaust can be gradually reduced during the flow process, and the temperature reduction effect can be improved even for the exhaust discharged from the battery cell close to the first pressure release member, and the maximum temperature of the exhaust discharged from the thermal runaway of different battery cells is reduced after the exhaust enters the first cavity and mixes. Thus, such a battery is advantageous in improving the safety of the operation of the battery by reducing the temperature of the exhaust below the ignition point of flammable smoke and preventing the occurrence of external ignition after the exhaust is discharged through the first pressure release member.

[0007] In some embodiments, a second cavity is further provided in the housing assembly, and the battery cell is provided in the second cavity, and the second cavity is in communication with the exhaust passage or the second cavity is in communication with the exhaust passage when the battery cell emits emissions.

[0008] In this embodiment, by providing a first cavity and a second cavity independent of each other within the housing assembly and providing a battery cell within the second cavity, it is possible to reduce emissions that enter the exhaust passage from the second cavity and then further exhausted into the first cavity, and then enter the area where the battery cell is located from the first cavity, thereby reducing the risk of a short circuit occurring on the electrical connection side of the battery cell, thereby further improving the safety of the battery operation.

[0009] In some embodiments, the exhaust passage and the second cavity are separate from each other.

[0010] In this embodiment, the exhaust passage and the second cavity are designed as cavities independent of each other, so that when a battery cell experiences thermal runaway, it releases exhaust through the second pressure relief member and passes through the first partition member into the exhaust passage, and then the exhaust in the exhaust passage returns to the second cavity as much as possible, thereby reducing the temperature in the second cavity and preventing it from affecting other battery cells that are not experiencing thermal runaway, and preventing the high-temperature exhaust from affecting the electrical connections of the battery cells.

[0011] In some embodiments, the housing assembly includes a first partition member that separates the exhaust passage and the second cavity along the height direction of the battery.

[0012] In this embodiment, by installing a first partition member to form an exhaust passage and a second cavity, when a battery cell experiences thermal runaway, exhaust material flows into the exhaust passage along a predetermined path, preventing the exhaust material from collecting in the second cavity in which the battery cell is located. This reduces the risk of a short circuit occurring on the electrical connection side of the battery cell, thereby improving the safety of the battery operation.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first cavity and the second cavity are juxtaposed along a first direction, the first direction being perpendicular to the height of the cell.

[0014] In this embodiment, the first cavity can be installed without increasing the height of the battery. For example, when used in a vehicle, an increase in the installation space for the battery in the height direction of the vehicle can be avoided. With this installation method, the exhaust gas that enters the first cavity can easily reach the first pressure relief member. When the battery experiences thermal runaway, the exhaust gas in the first cavity can be smoothly discharged from the first pressure relief member after the flow path is extended by the first stopper member to lower its temperature, thereby allowing the pressure to be relieved in a timely manner. Since the temperature of the exhaust gas has been reduced to a certain extent, the possibility of fire outside the battery can be reduced and the safety of the battery operation can be improved. Furthermore, with this installation method, the majority of the battery cells can be kept away from the first cavity. The exhaust gas discharged from the second pressure relief member flows a long distance through the exhaust passage, further reducing the temperature when it enters the first cavity.

[0015] In certain embodiments, the housing assembly includes a second partition member that separates the first cavity and the second cavity along the first direction.

[0016] In this embodiment, a first cavity and a second cavity are formed by installing the second partition member, and after the exhaust is discharged through the exhaust passage and enters the first cavity, the amount of exhaust entering the second cavity in which the battery cell is located from the first cavity is reduced as much as possible, thereby reducing the risk of a short circuit occurring on the electrical connection side of the battery cell, thereby further improving the safety of the battery operation.

[0017] In some embodiments, along the height direction of the battery, a wall surface of the housing assembly away from the exhaust passage protrudes outward in an area where the first cavity is located to form a first protrusion, and protrudes outward in an area where the second cavity is located to form a second protrusion, and a portion of the housing assembly located between the first protrusion and the second protrusion is fixed to a second partition member.

[0018] In this embodiment, the first protrusion provides a space for installing an electrical connection structure on the electrode terminal side of the battery cell and installing a temperature acquisition member on the end cap body, and the second protrusion maintains the entire wall surface of the housing assembly on which the first protrusion is installed in a planar structure, and increases the volume of the first cavity, allowing more waste to be accommodated in the first cavity, which is advantageous in reducing the pressure in the first cavity, reducing the potential safety risk caused by excessive pressure during thermal runaway, and reducing the temperature of the waste. In addition, such a structure can improve the rigidity of the entire cap and prevent deformation from occurring, and by fixing the portion between the first protrusion and the second protrusion to the second partition member, the structural rigidity of the entire battery can be increased and the robustness of the installation can be improved, and further, the waste in the first cavity can be prevented from entering the second cavity and affecting the reliability of the electrical connection of the battery cell.

[0019] In some embodiments, a wall surface of the housing assembly away from the exhaust passage along the height direction of the battery protrudes outward in a region where the first cavity is located to form a first protrusion.

[0020] In this embodiment, the provision of the first protrusion provides a space for providing an electrical connection structure on the electrode terminal side of the battery cell and for providing a temperature acquisition member on the end cap body.

[0021] In some embodiments, a wall surface of the housing assembly away from the exhaust passage along the height direction of the battery protrudes outwardly in a region where the second cavity is located to form a second protrusion.

[0022] In this embodiment, the installation of the second protrusion increases the volume of the first cavity, accommodates more discharged material in the first cavity, reduces the pressure in the first cavity, and reduces potential safety risks due to excessive pressure during thermal runaway, which is advantageous in reducing the temperature of the discharged material.

[0023] In certain embodiments, the exhaust passage is disposed within the second cavity.

[0024] In this embodiment, by locating the exhaust passage within the second cavity, there is no need to separate it with the first partition member, and the internal structure of the battery can be simplified. The exhaust released from the second pressure relief member of the battery cell enters directly into the exhaust passage and then directly enters the first cavity from the exhaust passage. This installation structure can make the process of the exhaust entering the exhaust passage from the second pressure relief member smoother, reduce the pressure of the exhaust after it is released from the second pressure relief member, prevent the generation of instantaneous high pressure, and improve the safety of the battery after thermal runaway.

[0025] In some embodiments, the housing assembly includes a second partition member configured to divide the space within the housing assembly into a first cavity and a second cavity, and a pre-established gap is provided between a first end of the second partition member that is adjacent to the exhaust passage along the height direction of the battery and a first end that is located on the same side of the housing assembly.

[0026] In this embodiment, by providing a pre-established gap between a first end of the second partition member along the height direction of the battery and a first end of the housing assembly located on the same side, when the battery cell experiences thermal runaway, the exhaust material can smoothly enter the first cavity from the second cavity through the pre-established gap, thereby preventing the pressure in the second cavity from becoming too high and improving safety in the event of thermal runaway.

[0027] In some embodiments, the second pressure relief member is disposed toward the first end of the housing assembly, and an exhaust passage is formed between the battery cell and the first end of the housing assembly.

[0028] In this embodiment, the exhaust passage is located within the second cavity, and the exhaust passage and the second cavity are not separated. Therefore, when the battery cell experiences thermal runaway, exhaust materials are quickly diffused from the second cavity into the exhaust passage, instantaneously reducing the pressure within the second cavity and improving safety in the event of thermal runaway.

[0029] In some embodiments, the first stop member includes a baffle plate configured to direct airflow around an edge of the baffle plate before reaching the first pressure relief member.

[0030] In this embodiment, the baffle plate is set as a stopper member, so that the airflow will bypass the edge when passing through the baffle plate, forming a bypass flow path, and cannot reach the first pressure release member directly, which is advantageous to extend the flow path of the airflow to the first pressure release member, reduce the temperature of the exhaust material below the ignition point of the flammable smoke, and prevent the occurrence of external ignition after the exhaust material is discharged through the first pressure release member. And, in addition to performing a blocking function, the baffle plate can reduce the space it occupies and maximize the exhaust material storage space in the first cavity, thereby reducing the pressure in the first cavity when the battery cell experiences thermal runaway, thereby improving the safety of the battery operation.

[0031] In some embodiments, the housing assembly includes a plurality of side walls, and the first stop member includes a baffle plate, one end of the baffle plate being connected to one of the side walls and the other end of the baffle plate being a free end.

[0032] In this embodiment, by connecting one end of the baffle plate to the side wall, the attachment of the baffle plate can be made more solid, and the connection with the side wall blocks the flow of the exhaust on that side, so that the exhaust can reach the first pressure relief member only by bypassing the free end of the baffle plate, thereby guiding the exhaust to flow along a predetermined path to achieve the purpose of extending the flow path.

[0033] In some embodiments, the first cavity and the area in which the battery cell is located are aligned along a first direction, the first stopper member includes at least two baffle plates spaced apart along the first direction, and two adjacent baffle plates are staggered along a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.

[0034] In this embodiment, at least two baffle plates are installed on the exhaust flow path, and two adjacent baffle plates are installed in a staggered manner, so that the exhaust can be guided to form a bypass flow path, which further extends the path of the exhaust in the first cavity to reach the first pressure release member, reduces the amount of exhaust that directly reaches the first pressure release member, gradually reduces the temperature of the exhaust as it flows, and reduces the temperature of the exhaust below the ignition point of flammable smoke, thereby preventing external ignition after the exhaust is discharged through the first pressure release member, which is advantageous to improving the safety of the battery operation.

[0035] In some embodiments, there are at least two first pressure relief members.

[0036] In this embodiment, by installing at least two first pressure release members, even if one of the first pressure release members is not reliably opened, the other first pressure release members can release the exhaust material outside the housing assembly, thereby improving the reliability of pressure release; when all of the multiple first pressure release members are reliably opened, the multiple first pressure release members can simultaneously release the exhaust material, thereby instantly reducing the air pressure inside the housing assembly, preventing the housing assembly from expanding, and slowing down the discharge speed of the exhaust material to prevent it from causing a significant impact on other components outside the battery.

[0037] In some embodiments, the first pressure relief member is disposed on a cavity wall of the first cavity away from the battery cell.

[0038] In this embodiment, by locating the first pressure relief member at a position far away from the area in which the battery cells are arranged, if the battery cells experience thermal runaway, the exhaust material enters the first cavity through the exhaust passage and then flows away from the battery cells to reach the first pressure relief member, thereby minimizing the impact of the high-temperature exhaust material on the battery cells.

[0039] In some embodiments, the housing assembly includes a plurality of side walls, and the first pressure relief member is disposed on a side wall of the first cavity opposite an area in which the battery cells are located.

[0040] In this embodiment, by installing the first pressure relief member on the side wall away from the area where the battery cell is located, if the battery cell experiences thermal runaway, the exhaust can enter the first cavity through the exhaust passage and then flow away from the battery cell to reach the first pressure relief member, thereby reducing the impact of high-temperature exhaust on the battery cell as much as possible, and the side wall has greater strength and also has sufficient space to install the first pressure relief member.

[0041] In some embodiments, there are at least two first pressure relief members, and the at least two first pressure relief members are spaced apart along a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the height direction of the battery.

[0042] In this embodiment, at least two first pressure relief members are installed at intervals along the second direction, and when the pressure inside the housing assembly is too large, the exhaust gas can be simultaneously released outside the battery through the at least two first pressure relief members, so as to quickly reduce the temperature and pressure inside the battery and improve the safety of the battery; and each pressure relief member can correspond to a battery cell in a different region, and by reducing the pressure of the exhaust gas released by each pressure relief member, the impact and damage caused by the released exhaust gas to other components outside the battery can be reduced.

[0043] In some embodiments, the first stopper member includes at least two baffle plate sets respectively corresponding to the at least two first pressure relief members, and each baffle plate set includes: a first plate having a first end connected to a region of the side wall located between two adjacent first pressure relief members and a second end being a free end; a second plate provided on a side of the first plate away from the first pressure relief member along the first direction, the first end of the second plate being connected to the side wall and the second end of the second plate being a free end; Here, the first plate and the second plate are arranged to be offset in the second direction and have an overlapping portion.

[0044] The baffle plate set of this embodiment can form a bypass flow path and guide the exhaust to flow to the corresponding first pressure relief member, so that the exhaust entering the first cavity can be distributed to flow toward at least two first pressure relief members, which can prevent the local pressure in the first cavity from becoming too high, reduce the temperature of the exhaust, and prevent the occurrence of external ignition after the exhaust is discharged through the first pressure relief member, which is advantageous to improving the operating safety of the battery.

[0045] In some embodiments, the second edge of the first plate extends beyond the corresponding first pressure relief member along the second direction and / or the second edge of the second plate extends beyond the corresponding first pressure relief member along the second direction.

[0046] In this embodiment, the projection of the first plate and / or the second plate onto the wall on which the first pressure relief member is installed covers the first pressure relief member, thereby reliably preventing the discharge in the first cavity from reaching the first pressure relief member directly, so that the discharge has to bypass the free ends of the first plate and the second plate to reach the first pressure relief member, forming a bypass flow path and extending the flow path of the discharge, thereby reducing the temperature of the discharge.

[0047] In some embodiments, the first end of the first plate and the first end of the second plate are connected on adjacent sidewalls, respectively.

[0048] In this embodiment, the first plate can provide a blocking effect between two adjacent first pressure relief members, and the second plate can be easily attached, simplifying the structure of the second plate.

[0049] In some embodiments, the first plates are L-shaped, and two adjacent first plates are spaced apart or in contact along the second direction.

[0050] The first plate in this embodiment may be easily connected to the sidewall and may cooperate with the second plate to define an exhaust flow path.

[0051] In some embodiments, at least one end of the first stopper member along the height direction of the battery abuts against the housing assembly.

[0052] This embodiment can prevent some of the discharged material from directly reaching the first pressure release member from the end of the first stopper member along the height direction of the battery, and allow the majority of the discharged material in the first cavity to flow to the first pressure release member under guidance by the first stopper member, ensure an extension of the flow path through which the discharged material in the first cavity reaches the first pressure release member, and gradually reduce the temperature of the discharged material during the flow process, thereby reducing the temperature of the discharged material below the ignition point of flammable smoke, and preventing the occurrence of external ignition after the discharged material is discharged through the first pressure release member, which is advantageous in improving the safety of the battery operation.

[0053] In some embodiments, the cell further includes a second stopper member disposed within the exhaust passage, the second stopper member configured to extend a flow path of the exhaust material within the exhaust passage.

[0054] In this embodiment, by installing a second stopper member in the exhaust passage, the flow path of the exhaust material in the exhaust passage can be extended, and the temperature of the exhaust material can be further reduced, which is advantageous in improving the safety of the battery operation by reducing the temperature of the exhaust material below the ignition point of flammable smoke and preventing the occurrence of external ignition after the exhaust material is discharged through the first pressure release member.

[0055] In some embodiments, the housing assembly includes a first partition member that separates the exhaust passage and the second cavity along a height direction of the battery, and the battery further includes a support member disposed within the exhaust passage, the support member configured to support the first partition member.

[0056] In this embodiment, the support member installed in the exhaust passage can cooperate with the first partition member to provide good support, prevent the first partition member from being deformed, and provide good support for the battery cells arranged on the first partition member. The support member can also function as a second stopper member, and can lower the temperature of the exhaust gas as it flows through the exhaust passage.

[0057] In certain embodiments, the battery further includes a cooling member disposed within the housing assembly, the cooling member configured to absorb heat within the housing assembly.

[0058] In this embodiment, the installation of the cooling member can actively absorb heat within the housing assembly, thereby reducing the temperature during the flow of the exhaust in the event of thermal runaway of the battery cell, and preventing the occurrence of external ignition after the exhaust is discharged through the first pressure relief member, thereby improving the safety of the battery operation.

[0059] In certain embodiments, a cooling member is provided within at least one of the exhaust passage and the first cavity.

[0060] In this embodiment, by providing a cooling member in the exhaust passage, in the event of thermal runaway of a battery cell, the temperature of the exhaust material can be reduced immediately after it enters the exhaust passage, thereby reducing the impact of high-temperature exhaust material on other battery cells that are not experiencing thermal runaway; by providing a cooling member in the first cavity, in the event of thermal runaway of a battery cell, the temperature of the exhaust material can be reduced by extending the flow path after it collects in the first cavity, and the temperature of the exhaust material can be reduced quickly within the first cavity.

[0061] In certain embodiments, the cooling member includes a sealing member and a cooling medium disposed within the sealing member, the cooling medium configured to absorb heat by a phase change.

[0062] In this embodiment, the cooling medium changes phase and absorbs heat to lower its temperature, thereby enabling the temperature inside the battery to be lowered quickly, and the cooling medium is provided within the sealing member, thereby avoiding affecting the operation of the battery cells.

[0063] In some embodiments, the battery further includes a filtering member disposed within the housing assembly at a location corresponding to the first pressure relief member, the filtering member configured to filter discharged matter before it is discharged through the first pressure relief member.

[0064] In this embodiment, if a battery cell experiences thermal runaway, the solid particles in the discharge are filtered by the filtering member before the discharge reaches the first pressure release member, thereby preventing the solid particles in the discharge from clogging the first pressure release member, thereby improving the safety of the battery operation.

[0065] In some embodiments, the filtering member includes a receiving member attached to the housing assembly, the receiving member having a cavity and a wall surface with a plurality of through holes configured to filter the exhaust gas and then pass the filtered exhaust gas into the cavity.

[0066] In this embodiment, solid particles in the discharged material that are larger than the through holes can be filtered out and left outside the containing member, and the safety of the battery operation can be improved by preventing large solid particles from clogging the first pressure release member.

[0067] In certain embodiments, the filtration member further includes an adsorbent member disposed within the cavity, the adsorbent member configured to adsorb solid particles in the effluent within the cavity.

[0068] In this embodiment, after the discharged material enters the cavity through the through-hole on the accommodating member, solid particles larger in size than the through-hole are filtered out and left outside the accommodating member, while solid particles smaller in size than the through-hole are adsorbed by the adsorption member, thereby preventing the high-temperature solid particles from blocking the first pressure release member as much as possible, thereby improving the safety of the battery operation.

[0069] According to a second aspect of the present application, there is provided a power consuming device, the power consuming device comprising a battery of any of the above embodiments, the battery being for providing electrical energy to the power consuming device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0070] In order to more clearly describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly describe the drawings that need to be used in the embodiments of the present application. It is obvious that the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on the drawings without exerting creative efforts.

[0071] [Figure 1] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of some embodiments of the present application for installing a battery in a vehicle. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a battery of the present application. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a battery of the present application. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a battery of the present application cut along a plane perpendicular to the second direction y. [Diagram 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a battery of the present application cut along a plane perpendicular to the second direction y. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a battery cell according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the case in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of a battery of the present application. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a battery of the present application cut along a plane perpendicular to the second direction y. [Figure 10] 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a battery of the present application cut along a plane perpendicular to the second direction y. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a third embodiment of a battery of the present application. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a battery of the present application cut along a plane perpendicular to the second direction y. [Figure 13] 4 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a battery of the present application cut along a plane perpendicular to the second direction y. FIG. [Figure 14A] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one of four types of support members. [Figure 14B] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of one of the four types of support members. [Figure 14C] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of one of the four types of support members. [Figure 14D] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of one of the four types of support members. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a fourth embodiment of the battery of the present application. [Figure 16] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a battery of the present application cut along a plane perpendicular to a first direction x. [Figure 17] 11A to 11C are structural schematic diagrams of some embodiments in which a second stopper member is installed in the exhaust passage. [Figure 18] 3A-3C are structural schematic diagrams of some embodiments of the filtering member in the battery of the present application. [Figure 19]19A to 19C are structural schematic diagrams of some embodiments of the adsorption member in FIG. 18.

[0072] In the drawings, the drawings are not drawn to scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0073] The embodiments of the present application are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings and examples. The detailed description of the following examples and the drawings are intended to illustratively explain the principles of the present application, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present application, i.e., the present application is not limited to the described examples.

[0074] In describing the embodiments of the present application, the term "plurality" refers to two or more (including two); similarly, "multiple sets" refers to two or more sets (including two sets); and "multiple sheets" refers to two or more sheets (including two sheets).

[0075] This application uses descriptions of orientations or positional relationships such as "up", "down", "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", "inside" and "outside" to indicate, but this is merely for ease of explanation of this application and does not indicate or imply that the indicated devices must have a particular orientation or be configured and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the scope of protection of this application.

[0076] In addition, terms such as "first", "second", "third", etc. are merely for explanatory purposes and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. "Vertical" does not mean vertical in the strict sense, but has a margin of error. "Parallel" does not mean parallel in the strict sense, but has a margin of error. All directional terms appearing in the following description are directions shown in the drawings, and do not limit the specific structure of this application.

[0077] In the description of this application, it should be further explained that unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "attached", "connected" and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected, and may be directly connected or indirectly connected via an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application according to the specific circumstances.

[0078] When referring to an "embodiment" in this specification, it means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described with reference to the embodiment may be included in at least some of the embodiments of the present application. The appearance of the phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to all the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. Those skilled in the art can explicitly and implicitly understand that the embodiment described in this specification can be combined with other embodiments.

[0079] The battery cell may include a lithium ion secondary battery, a lithium ion primary battery, a lithium sulfur battery, a sodium lithium ion battery, a sodium ion battery, or a magnesium ion battery, etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. The battery cell may be a cylinder, a flat body, a rectangular parallelepiped, or other shape, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. Depending on the packaging manner, the battery cell is generally divided into three types: a cylindrical battery cell, a prismatic battery cell, and a pouch battery cell, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0080] Current battery cells typically include a case and an electrode assembly housed in the case, with the case filled with an electrolyte. The electrode assembly is typically formed by stacking or winding a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate of opposite polarity, and typically includes an insulating member, such as a separator, between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate. The portions of the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate that are coated with the active material constitute the main body of the electrode assembly, and the portions of the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate that are not coated with the active material constitute the first tab and the second tab, respectively. In the lithium-ion battery, the first plate may be a positive plate, including a positive current collector and a positive active material layer provided on both sides of the positive current collector, the material of the positive current collector may be, for example, aluminum, the positive active material may be, for example, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium or lithium manganate, etc., and the second plate may be a negative plate, including a negative current collector and a negative active material layer provided on both sides of the negative current collector, the material of the negative current collector may be, for example, copper, the negative active material may be, for example, graphite or silicon, etc. Optionally, the first plate may be a negative plate, and the second plate is a positive plate accordingly. The first tab and the second tab may both be located at one end of the body part, or may be located at both ends of the body part, respectively. In the charging and discharging process of the battery cell, the positive active material and the negative active material react with the electrolyte, and the tabs are connected to the terminals to form a current circuit.

[0081] The pressure relief member of the battery cell refers to an element or member that operates to release the internal pressure or temperature when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a preset threshold. The design of this threshold varies according to design needs. The threshold may depend on one or more of the materials of the positive electrode plate, the negative electrode plate, the electrolyte, and the separator in the battery cell. The pressure relief member may take the form of an explosion-proof valve, an air valve, a pressure relief valve, a safety valve, etc., and may specifically take the form of a pressure-sensitive or temperature-sensitive element or structure, that is, when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a preset threshold, the pressure relief member performs an operation or a fragile structure provided in the pressure relief member is broken, thereby forming an opening or passage for releasing the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell.

[0082] The term "operation" as used herein refers to the pressure relief member operating or being activated to a certain state, thereby releasing the pressure and temperature inside the battery cell. The operation by the pressure relief member may include, but is not limited to, bursting, crushing, tearing or opening at least a portion of the pressure relief member. When the pressure relief member is operated, the internal exhaust of the battery cell is discharged to the outside from the operating portion. In this manner, the occurrence of a potential more serious accident can be avoided by generating pressure and temperature relief in the battery cell under a controllable pressure or temperature.

[0083] The discharged materials from the battery cell referred to herein include, but are not limited to, electrolyte, dissolved or split positive and negative plates, separator fragments, high-temperature and high-pressure gases generated by the reaction (e.g., flammable gases such as CH4 and CO), flames, etc.

[0084] The pressure relief member of the battery refers to an element or member that operates to release the pressure or temperature inside the battery housing assembly when the pressure or temperature inside the battery housing assembly reaches a preset threshold. The design of this threshold varies according to design needs. The threshold may depend on the pressure or temperature of the exhaust released by the battery cell. The pressure relief member may take the form of an explosion-proof valve, an air valve, a pressure relief valve, a safety valve, etc., and may specifically take the form of a pressure-sensitive or temperature-sensitive element or structure, that is, when the pressure or temperature inside the battery housing assembly reaches a preset threshold, the pressure relief member performs an operation or a fragile structure provided in the pressure relief member is broken, thereby forming an opening or passage for releasing the pressure or temperature inside the housing assembly.

[0085] The term "operation" as used herein refers to the pressure relief member operating or being activated to a certain state, thereby relieving the pressure and temperature inside the battery housing assembly. The operation by the pressure relief member may include, but is not limited to, rupturing, crushing, tearing or opening at least a portion of the pressure relief member. When the pressure relief member is operated, the internal exhaust of the battery housing assembly is discharged outside from the operating portion. In this manner, the occurrence of a potential more serious accident can be avoided by generating pressure and temperature relief for the battery under controllable pressure or temperature.

[0086] Current batteries have a problem of low safety during use, and according to the inventors' research, the main reason for the low safety of batteries is that for batteries with high specific energy, after thermal runaway occurs, the temperature of the thermal runaway smoke is high after pressure is released from the pressure release member of the battery cell, usually higher than 1000°C, and a large amount of high-temperature active material is discharged from the pressure release member. These high-temperature smoke and high-temperature active material are first discharged from the pressure release member of the battery cell and enter the inside of the battery, and for battery cells close to the pressure release member of the battery, the temperature of the high-temperature smoke is still high after it is discharged from the pressure release member of the battery, and reaches the ignition point of the flammable smoke, which causes the battery to go into thermal runaway and then ignite from outside the battery.

[0087] Based on the above analysis, the inventors realized that in order to solve the battery safety problem caused by external ignition, it is important to reduce the temperature of the hot smoke and active materials inside the battery below the ignition point of the flammable smoke, and in particular to reduce the temperature of the exhaust material from the battery cell close to the pressure relief member of the battery.

[0088] Based on such an improvement idea, the present application provides an improved battery, the battery including: a housing assembly having a first cavity and an exhaust passage communicating with each other therein, the housing assembly having a first pressure relief member on a cavity wall of the first cavity; a battery cell provided within the housing assembly and located outside the first cavity, the battery cell having a second pressure relief member configured to release exhaust from the battery cell to the exhaust passage, thereby causing the exhaust to enter the first cavity and be discharged to the outside of the battery via the first pressure relief member; and a first stopper member provided within the first cavity, the first stopper member configured to extend a path for the exhaust in the first cavity to reach the first pressure relief member.

[0089] In this embodiment, by installing the first cavity alone within the housing assembly, the emissions released when the battery cell experiences thermal runaway are first collected in the first cavity through an exhaust passage, and the first stopper member provided within the first cavity extends the flow path through which the emissions reach the first pressure release member, gradually lowering the temperature of the emissions as they flow. This improves the temperature reduction effect even for emissions released from battery cells close to the first pressure release member.

[0090] The battery of the embodiment of the present application can be used in power consuming devices, which may be electric bikes, electric cars, steamships or spacecraft, for example, spacecraft includes airplanes, rockets, space shuttles and spaceships.

[0091] As shown in Fig. 1, the power consumption device may be a vehicle 200, for example, a new energy vehicle, which may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a range extender vehicle, etc., or the power consumption device may be a drone or a steamship, etc. Specifically, the vehicle 200 may include an axle 201, wheels 202 connected to the axle 201, a motor 203, a controller 204, and a battery 100, where the motor 203 is for driving the axle 201 to rotate, the controller 204 is for controlling the operation of the motor 203, and the battery 100 may be installed at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle 200, and is for providing electrical energy for the operation of the motor 203 and other members in the vehicle.

[0092] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the present application provides a battery 100, which includes: a housing assembly 1 having a first cavity A and an exhaust passage B communicating with each other therein, the housing assembly 1 having a first pressure relief member 3 on a cavity wall of the first cavity A; a battery cell 2 provided in the housing assembly 1 and located outside the first cavity A, the battery cell 2 having a second pressure relief member 21 configured to discharge an exhaust of the battery cell 2 to the exhaust passage B, thereby causing the exhaust to enter the first cavity A and to be discharged to the outside of the battery 100 through the first pressure relief member 3; and a first stopper member 4 provided in the first cavity A, the first stopper member 4 configured to extend a path for the exhaust in the first cavity A to reach the first pressure relief member 3.

[0093] Here, the housing assembly 1 is hollow and is for housing one or more battery cells 2. The housing assembly 1 may have different shapes and sizes according to the shape, number, combination method and other requirements of the battery cells 2 to be housed. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing assembly 1 may include a housing portion 11, a first cap 12 and a second cap 13. The housing portion 11 has openings at both ends facing each other, and the first cap 12 and the second cap 13 are for closing the openings at both ends of the housing portion 11, respectively. In FIG. 2, the housing portion 11 has a rectangular cylindrical structure according to the arrangement of the multiple battery cells 2. Optionally, the housing portion 11 and the first cap 12 form an integral structure as a housing. The first cap 12 may be a bottom cap and may have a bottom wall 12A, and the second cap 13 may be a top cap and may have a top wall 13A.

[0094] The battery cell 100 may be one or more. When there are more than one battery cell 100, the battery cells 100 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel. A series-parallel connection means that some of the battery cells 100 are connected in series and others are connected in parallel. The battery module 2' may be formed by first connecting the battery cells 100 in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and then the battery modules 2' may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to be integrated and housed in the housing assembly 1. All the battery cells 2 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to each other, and the whole consisting of all the battery cells 2 may be housed in the housing assembly 1.

[0095] 3, when multiple battery modules 2' are provided in the housing assembly 1, the housing assembly 1 includes a third partition member 16, which is provided in the housing portion 11 and serves to divide the arrangement area of ​​the battery cells 2 in the housing assembly 1 into multiple housing cavities, and the multiple battery modules 2' are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the multiple housing cavities. For example, two third partition members 16 form a cross-shaped intersecting structure, and a total of four battery modules 2' are installed. For example, the third partition member 16 may be a solid beam or a hollow beam.

[0096] A first cavity A and an exhaust passage B communicating with each other are provided in the housing assembly 1, and at least one first pressure relief member 3 is provided on a wall of the housing assembly 1 corresponding to the first cavity A. For example, the first pressure relief member 3 may be provided on a side wall of the accommodating portion 11 corresponding to the first cavity A, the first cavity A is an independent cavity, and the battery cell 2 is located outside the first cavity A. When the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway, the exhaust released in the battery cell 2 through the second pressure relief member 21 enters the exhaust passage B and reaches the first cavity A from the exhaust passage B, and the first stopper member 4 can extend the path of the exhaust flowing from the exhaust passage B into the first cavity A until it reaches the first pressure relief member 3. For example, the first stopper member 4 may be a guide member such as a baffle plate 4A or a baffle post provided in the first cavity A, which guides the discharged material to flow along a bypass path and prevents the discharged material from reaching the first pressure relief member 3 along a short path, such as a straight line.

[0097] In this embodiment, the first cavity A is installed separately in the housing assembly 1, so that the exhaust discharged from the battery cell 2 during thermal runaway is once collected in the first cavity A through the exhaust passage B, and the first stopper member 4 installed in the first cavity A extends the flow path through which the exhaust reaches the first pressure release member 3, so that the temperature of the exhaust can be gradually reduced during the flow process, and the temperature reduction effect can be improved even for the exhaust discharged from the battery cell 2 close to the first pressure release member 3, and the maximum temperature of the exhaust discharged from the different battery cells 2 during thermal runaway is reduced after the exhaust enters the first cavity A and mixes. As a result, such a battery 100 is advantageous in improving the safety of the operation of the battery 100 by reducing the temperature of the exhaust below the ignition point of flammable smoke and preventing the occurrence of external ignition after the exhaust is discharged through the first pressure release member 3.

[0098] Furthermore, by locating the battery cell 2 in an area other than the first cavity A, the amount of exhaust entering the area where the battery cell 2 is located from the first cavity A after the exhaust is discharged through the exhaust passage B and enters the first cavity A can be reduced as much as possible, and the risk of a short circuit occurring on the electrical connection side of the battery cell 2 can be reduced, thereby further improving the safety of the operation of the battery 100.

[0099] Furthermore, by providing the first pressure release member 3 on the cavity wall of the first cavity A, the discharged material in the first cavity A can be discharged directly from the first pressure release member 3 after passing through the first stopper member 4, eliminating the need to install an additional guide passage between the first pressure release member 3 and the first cavity A. This simplifies the internal structure of the battery 100, leaving a larger space in the second cavity C for installing the battery cell 2, and making the internal structure of the battery 100 more compact.

[0100] In some embodiments, a second cavity C is further provided in the housing assembly 1, the battery cell 2 is provided in the second cavity C, and the second cavity C is in communication with the exhaust passage B, or the second cavity C is in communication with the exhaust passage B when the battery cell 2 emits emissions.

[0101] Here, the first cavity A and the second cavity C are two independent cavities, and can reduce the exhaust in the first cavity A from entering the second cavity C. The second pressure relief member 21 may be installed toward the exhaust passage B.

[0102] 2 to 7, in one structural form, the second pressure release member 21 is located at the bottom of the battery cell 2, the exhaust passage B is located at the bottom of the battery cell 2, and a first partition member 14 for supporting the battery cell 2 may be installed between the second cavity C and the exhaust passage B, and a first exhaust section 141 for allowing exhaust discharged through the second pressure release member 21 to enter the exhaust passage B may be installed on the first partition member 14 in correspondence with the second pressure release member 21 of the battery cell 2. For example, a plurality of battery cells 2 are provided, and a plurality of first exhaust sections 141 are also provided, and the plurality of first exhaust sections 141 and the plurality of battery cells 2 are installed in one-to-one correspondence.

[0103] Optionally, if the first exhaust portion 141 is a through hole, the second cavity C and the exhaust passage B are in communication with each other. Alternatively, the first exhaust portion 141 is a fragile portion that can be destroyed by high temperature or high pressure, and when the battery cell 2 operates normally, the second cavity C and the exhaust passage B are not in communication with each other and are partitioned by the first partition member 14. When the battery cell 2 goes into thermal runaway and releases exhaust, the fragile portion can be destroyed by the high-temperature exhaust to form a through hole, and the second cavity C and the exhaust passage B are in communication with each other when the battery cell 2 releases exhaust. For example, the first exhaust portion 141 may be circular, elliptical, oval, polygonal, or the like. In another embodiment, as shown in Figures 8 to 10, the second pressure relief member 21 is located above the battery cell 2, and the exhaust passage B is located above the battery cell 2, and the second cavity C and the exhaust passage B may be directly connected to each other with a first partition member 14 installed therebetween, or may be directly connected to each other without installing the first partition member 14.

[0104] For example, the first partition member 14 may be a plate-like structure, which may be a solid or hollow plate, or the plate-like structure may be a thermal management member having a flow path through which a gas or liquid medium flows, thereby realizing heat exchange between the heat exchange medium and the space within the housing assembly 1 to cool or heat the battery cells 2.

[0105] In one structural embodiment, as shown in Figures 8 to 10, the second pressure release member 21 is located above the battery cell 2, the exhaust passage B is located above the battery cell 2, and the second cavity C and the exhaust passage B are always in communication.

[0106] In this embodiment, a first cavity A and a second cavity C that are independent of each other are provided within the housing assembly 1, and the battery cell 2 is provided within the second cavity C. This reduces the amount of emissions that enter the area where the battery cell 2 is located from the first cavity A after the emissions enter the exhaust passage B from the second cavity C and are further discharged and enter the first cavity A, thereby reducing the risk of a short circuit occurring on the electrical connection side of the battery cell 2, and thereby further improving the operational safety of the battery 100.

[0107] In some embodiments, the exhaust passage B and the second cavity C are independent of each other.

[0108] Here, "being independent of each other" means that the exhaust passage B and the second cavity C are entirely separated by the first partition member 14. The exhaust passage B and the second cavity C may be completely separated, or a through hole may be provided on the first partition member 14, and the exhaust passage B and the second cavity C may be entirely separated and then locally communicated with each other. For example, the exhaust passage B and the second cavity C are arranged side by side along the height direction z of the battery 100.

[0109] In this embodiment, the exhaust passage B and the second cavity C are designed as cavities independent of each other, so that after the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway and releases exhaust material through the second pressure relief member 21 and passes through the first partition member 14 into the exhaust passage B, the exhaust material in the exhaust passage B returning to the second cavity C can be reduced as much as possible, thereby lowering the temperature in the second cavity C and preventing it from affecting other battery cells 2 that are not experiencing thermal runaway, and preventing the high-temperature exhaust material from affecting the electrical connections of the battery cell 2.

[0110] In some embodiments, the housing assembly 1 includes a first partition member 14 that separates the exhaust passage B from the second cavity C along the height direction z of the battery 100.

[0111] Here, the first partition member 14 may be perpendicular to the height direction z and connected onto the side wall 11A of the housing assembly 1. For example, the first partition member 14 may be a plate-like structure, which may be a solid plate or a hollow plate, or the plate-like structure may be a thermal management member having a flow path, in which a gaseous or liquid medium flows, thereby realizing heat exchange between the heat exchange medium and the space in the housing assembly 1 to cool or heat the battery cell 2. The "partition" in this embodiment does not completely block the communication relationship between the exhaust passage B and the second cavity C, but allows local communication.

[0112] In this embodiment, by installing the first partition member 14 to form the exhaust passage B and the second cavity C, when the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway, the exhaust material flows into the exhaust passage B along a predetermined path, preventing the exhaust material from collecting in the second cavity C in which the battery cell 2 is located. This reduces the risk of a short circuit occurring on the electrical connection side of the battery cell 2, and improves the safety of the operation of the battery 100.

[0113] In some embodiments, the first cavity A and the second cavity C are arranged side by side along a first direction x, which is perpendicular to a height direction z of the battery 100. Here, the first direction x may be the length direction or width direction of the battery 100.

[0114] Optionally, the first cavity A and the second cavity C may also be spaced apart along the height direction z of the battery 100, and the exhaust passage B is located between the first cavity A and the second cavity C.

[0115] In this embodiment, the first cavity A can be installed without increasing the height of the battery 100. For example, when the battery 100 is used in the vehicle 200, an increase in the installation space of the battery 100 in the height direction of the vehicle 200 can be avoided. Furthermore, with this installation method, the exhaust gas entering the first cavity A can easily reach the first pressure release member 3. When the battery 100 experiences thermal runaway, the exhaust gas in the first cavity A can be smoothly discharged from the first pressure release member 3 after the flow path is extended by the first stopper member 4 to lower the temperature, thereby allowing the pressure to be released in a timely manner. Since the temperature of the exhaust gas has been reduced to a certain extent, the possibility of the gas ignition outside the battery 100 can be reduced, and the safety of the operation of the battery 100 can be improved. Furthermore, with this installation method, the majority of the battery cells 2 can be kept away from the first cavity A. The exhaust gas discharged from the second pressure release member 21 flows a long distance through the exhaust passage B, and the temperature of the exhaust gas entering the first cavity A is further reduced.

[0116] In some embodiments, the housing assembly 1 includes a second partition member 15 that separates the first cavity A and the second cavity C along the first direction x.

[0117] For example, the second partition member 15 may be a solid beam or a hollow beam, and may be installed perpendicular to the first direction x. The second partition member 15 may be connected to two opposing side walls 11A of the housing assembly 1, and may further be connected to the first partition member 14. The "partition" in this embodiment does not completely block the communication relationship between the first cavity A and the second cavity C, but allows local communication.

[0118] Specifically, as shown in Figures 2 to 5, the housing assembly 1 includes a first partition member 14 and a second partition member 15. The second partition member 15 divides the space within the housing assembly 1 into two cavities along a first direction x by the plane on which it is located, one of the cavities being a first cavity A, and the first partition member 14 divides the other cavity along the height direction z of the battery 100 into a second cavity C and a cavity in which the exhaust passage B is installed, and the second pressure relief member 21 is provided on the side of the battery cell 2 facing the exhaust passage B.

[0119] For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the housing assembly 1 includes a bottom wall 12A, a top wall 13A, and a plurality of side walls 11A, and the bottom wall 12A and the top wall 13A are respectively connected to both ends of the plurality of side walls 11A along the height direction z of the battery 100. The first partition member 14 is perpendicular to the height direction z of the battery 100 and may have a rectangular structure, and in the first direction x, the first partition member 14 has a first end connected to the side wall 11A and a second end connected to the second partition member 15, i.e., there is a preset distance between the second edge and the side wall 11A, and both ends of the first partition member 14 along the second direction y are connected to the two opposing side walls 11A, and the second direction y is perpendicular to the first direction x. The second partition member 15 is installed perpendicular to the first direction x, there is a preset distance between the second partition member 15 and the side wall 11A away from the battery cell 2, a first end of the second partition member 15 can extend until it abuts against the top wall 13A, and a second end of the second partition member 15 is connected to a second end of the first partition member 14 along the first direction x. For example, the above-mentioned members can be connected to each other by a method such as welding, adhesive bonding, or fasteners.

[0120] Here, the first partition member 14, the second partition member 15, the top wall 13A, and the three side walls 11A surround the second cavity C, the first partition member 14, the bottom wall 12A, and the three side walls 11A surround the cavity in which the exhaust passage B is provided, and the second partition member 15, the bottom wall 12A, the top wall 13A, and the three side walls 11A surround the first cavity A. By providing the first partition member 14 and the second partition member 15 to form the first cavity A, the exhaust passage B, and the second cavity C, it is possible to partition a plurality of independent cavities to realize different functions, and when the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway, it is possible to cause exhaust to flow through a predetermined path, thereby improving the safety of the operation of the battery 100.

[0121] In this embodiment, by installing the second partition member 15 to form the first cavity A and the second cavity C, after the exhaust is discharged through the exhaust passage B and enters the first cavity A, the amount of exhaust entering the second cavity C in which the battery cell 2 is located from the first cavity A can be reduced as much as possible, and the risk of a short circuit occurring on the electrical connection side of the battery cell 2 can be reduced, thereby further improving the safety of the operation of the battery 100.

[0122] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2 , along the height direction z of the battery 100, the wall surface of the housing assembly 1 away from the exhaust passage B protrudes outward in the area where the first cavity A is located to form a first protrusion 131, and protrudes outward in the area where the second cavity C is located to form a second protrusion 132, and the portion of the housing assembly 1 located between the first protrusion 131 and the second protrusion 132 is fixed to the second partition member 15.

[0123] Here, the wall surface in this embodiment may be the top wall 13A, and the first protrusion 131 and the second protrusion 132 are both protruding outward from both the inner and outer surfaces of the top wall 13A to form a cavity on the inner surface of the wall. The part of the housing assembly 1 located between the first protrusion 131 and the second protrusion 132 may be fastened to the second partition member 15 by a fastener such as a bolt, a screw, or a rivet. Optionally, the first protrusion 131 and the second protrusion 132 may be installed as separate bodies and fixed to the second partition member 15.

[0124] In this embodiment, the installation of the first protrusion 131 installs an electrical connection structure on the electrode terminal 242 side of the battery cell 2 and provides space for installing a temperature acquisition member on the end cap body 241, and the installation of the second protrusion 132 can maintain the entire wall surface on which the first protrusion 131 of the housing assembly 1 is installed in a planar structure, and can increase the volume of the first cavity A and accommodate more discharged material in the first cavity A, which is advantageous in reducing the pressure in the first cavity A, reducing potential safety risks caused by excessive pressure during thermal runaway, and reducing the temperature of the discharged material. Furthermore, such a structure can improve the rigidity of the entire cap and prevent deformation. By fixing the portion between the first protrusion 131 and the second protrusion 132 to the second partition member 15, the structural rigidity of the entire battery 100 can be increased and the robustness of the installation can be improved, and further, it is possible to prevent waste materials in the first cavity A from entering the second cavity C and affecting the reliability of the electrical connection of the battery cell 2.

[0125] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2 , along the height direction z of the battery 100, the wall surface of the housing assembly 1 away from the exhaust passage B protrudes outward in the area where the first cavity A is located to form a first protrusion 131.

[0126] In this embodiment, the provision of the first protrusion 131 provides a space for providing an electrical connection structure on the electrode terminal 242 side of the battery cell 2 and for providing a space on the end cap body 241 for providing a temperature acquisition member.

[0127] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2 , along the height direction z of the battery 100, the wall surface of the housing assembly 1 away from the exhaust passage B protrudes outward in the area where the second cavity C is located to form a second protrusion 132.

[0128] In this embodiment, the installation of the second protrusion 132 increases the volume of the first cavity A, thereby accommodating more discharged material in the first cavity A, reducing the pressure in the first cavity A, and reducing the potential safety risk due to excessive pressure during thermal runaway, which is advantageous in reducing the temperature of the discharged material.

[0129] In some embodiments, the exhaust passage B is provided within the second cavity C, as shown in FIGS.

[0130] Here, the exhaust passage B is located within the second cavity C, which corresponds to the exhaust passage B occupying a portion of the space within the second cavity C, and the exhaust passage B and the second cavity C are entirely connected to each other, with no first partition member 14 being installed between them.

[0131] In this embodiment, the exhaust passage B is located within the second cavity C, and there is no need to separate it with the first partition member 14, which simplifies the internal structure of the battery 100. The exhaust released from the second pressure release member 21 of the battery cell 2 directly enters the exhaust passage B, and then directly enters the first cavity A from the exhaust passage B. This installation structure can make the process of the exhaust entering the exhaust passage B from the second pressure release member 21 smoother, reduce the pressure of the exhaust after it is released from the second pressure release member 21, prevent the generation of instantaneous high pressure, and improve the safety of the battery 100 after thermal runaway.

[0132] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 8 to 10, the housing assembly 1 includes a second partition member 15 configured to divide the space within the housing assembly 1 into a first cavity A and a second cavity C, and there is a pre-established gap L between a first end of the second partition member 15 that is close to the exhaust passage B along the height direction z of the battery 100 and a first end of the housing assembly 1 that is located on the same side.

[0133] Here, the second partition member 15 may be installed perpendicular to the first direction x to divide the space within the housing assembly 1 into a first cavity A and a second cavity C along the first direction x, and the battery cell 2 is arranged in the second cavity C, for example, the second pressure relief member 21 and the electrode terminal 242 of the battery cell 2 are arranged on the same side and both are installed facing upward.

[0134] In this embodiment, a pre-established gap L is provided between a first end of the second partition member 15 along the height direction z of the battery 100 and a first end located on the same side of the housing assembly 1. This allows exhaust material to smoothly enter the first cavity A from the second cavity C through the pre-established gap L when the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway, thereby preventing the pressure in the second cavity C from becoming too high and improving safety in the event of thermal runaway.

[0135] In some embodiments, the second pressure relief member 21 is disposed toward the first end of the housing assembly 1 , and an exhaust passage B is formed between the battery cell 2 and the first end of the housing assembly 1 .

[0136] Here, the space formed between the top of the battery cell 2 and the top wall 13A can function as an exhaust passage B, and emissions from thermal runaway of the battery cell 2 can enter the exhaust passage B directly and then enter the second cavity C through a pre-established gap L between the second partition member 15 and the housing assembly 1.

[0137] In this embodiment, the exhaust passage B is provided within the second cavity C, and the exhaust passage B and the second cavity C are not separated. Therefore, when the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway, the exhaust material quickly diffuses from the second cavity C into the exhaust passage B, instantly reducing the pressure within the second cavity C and improving safety in the event of thermal runaway.

[0138] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the first stopper member 4 includes a baffle plate 4A that is configured to direct the airflow around the edge of the baffle plate 4A before reaching the first pressure relief member 3.

[0139] Here, the baffle plate 4A may be installed in one or more and connected to the housing assembly 1. The baffle plate 4A may be a single flat plate or a single curved plate, or may be a connection of at least two flat plates, at least two curved plates, or a connection of a flat plate and a curved plate, for example, two flat plates can be connected to form an L-shaped plate, a T-shaped plate, etc. The baffle plate 4A may be installed facing the first pressure relief member 3, and at least a part of the baffle plate 4A projection on the wall surface where the first pressure relief member 3 is located covers the first pressure relief member 3, in order to prevent the discharged matter from directly reaching the first pressure relief member 3.

[0140] Specifically, the first cavity A and the second cavity C are arranged side by side along a first direction x, the first pressure relief member 3 is provided on a side wall 11A of the first cavity A away from the second cavity B, and the baffle plate 4A may be installed vertically or inclined relative to the first direction x.

[0141] In this embodiment, the baffle plate 4A is set as a stopper member, so that when passing through the baffle plate 4A, the airflow will detour from the edge, forming a detoured flow path, and cannot directly reach the first pressure release member 3, which is advantageous in extending the flow path through which the airflow reaches the first pressure release member 3, reducing the temperature of the exhaust material below the ignition point of flammable smoke, and preventing the occurrence of external ignition after the exhaust material is discharged through the first pressure release member 3. And, in addition to performing a blocking function, the baffle plate 4A can reduce the space it occupies and increase the exhaust material storage space in the first cavity A as much as possible, thereby reducing the pressure in the first cavity A when the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway, thereby improving the safety of the operation of the battery 100.

[0142] In some embodiments, the housing assembly 1 includes a plurality of side walls 11A, and the first stop member 4 includes a baffle plate 4A, one end of the baffle plate 4A is connected to one of the side walls 11A, and the other end of the baffle plate 4A is a free end.

[0143] In this embodiment, by connecting one end of the baffle plate 4A to the side wall 11A, the attachment of the baffle plate 4A can be made more solid, and the connection with the side wall 11A blocks the flow of the exhaust on that side, so that the exhaust can reach the first pressure relief member 3 only by bypassing the free end of the baffle plate 4A, and the purpose of guiding the exhaust to flow along a predetermined path can be achieved.

[0144] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3 , the first cavity A and the area in which the battery cell 2 is located are arranged side by side along a first direction x, the first stopper member 4 includes at least two baffle plates 4A spaced apart along the first direction x, and two adjacent baffle plates 4A are staggered along a second direction y, and the second direction y is perpendicular to the first direction x.

[0145] Here, staggered installation refers to the fact that at least two baffle plates 4A arranged along the first direction x are not installed directly opposite each other, and a passage for the exhaust material to enter is formed between the free ends of two adjacent baffle plates 4A along the first direction x, and in order to extend the path of the exhaust material to reach the first pressure relief member 3 and prevent the exhaust material from flowing directly to the first pressure relief member 3, the two free ends may have an overlapping portion, or the two free ends may be installed with a gap between them along the second direction y, and in such a structure, the baffle plate 4A needs to extend beyond the first pressure relief member 3 in the second direction y.

[0146] In this embodiment, at least two baffle plates 4A are installed on the exhaust flow path, and two adjacent baffle plates 4A are installed in a staggered manner, thereby guiding the exhaust to form a bypass flow path, further extending the path of the exhaust in the first cavity A to reach the first pressure release member 3, reducing the amount of exhaust that directly reaches the first pressure release member 3, and gradually reducing the temperature of the exhaust during the flow process, thereby reducing the temperature of the exhaust below the ignition point of flammable smoke, and preventing the occurrence of external ignition after the exhaust is discharged through the first pressure release member 3, which is advantageous to improving the operating safety of the battery 100.

[0147] In some embodiments, at least two first pressure relief members 3 are provided.

[0148] Here, the at least two first pressure release members 3 may be provided on the same wall of the housing assembly 1, or on different walls.

[0149] In this embodiment, by installing at least two first pressure release members 3, even if one of the first pressure release members 3 is not reliably opened, the other first pressure release members 3 can release the exhaust material outside the housing assembly 1, thereby improving the reliability of pressure release; when all of the multiple first pressure release members 3 are reliably opened, the multiple first pressure release members 3 can simultaneously release the exhaust material, thereby instantly reducing the air pressure inside the housing assembly 1, preventing the expansion of the housing assembly 1, and slowing down the discharge speed of the exhaust material to prevent the exhaust material from causing a significant impact on other components outside the battery 100.

[0150] In some embodiments, the first pressure relief member 3 is disposed on a cavity wall of the first cavity A away from the battery cell 2 .

[0151] Here, the cavity wall of the first cavity A that is away from the battery cell 2 may be the side wall 11A of the housing assembly 1, or it may be the bottom wall 12A or the top wall 13A.

[0152] In this embodiment, by arranging the first pressure relief member 3 at a position far away from the arrangement area of ​​the battery cell 2, if the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway, the exhaust material enters the first cavity A through the exhaust passage B, and then flows in a direction away from the battery cell 2 to reach the first pressure relief member 3, thereby reducing the impact of the high-temperature exhaust material on the battery cell 2 as much as possible.

[0153] In some embodiments, the housing assembly 1 includes a plurality of side walls 11A, and the first pressure relief member 3 is disposed on the side wall 11A facing the area of ​​the first cavity A where the battery cell 2 is located.

[0154] Specifically, the first cavity A and the second cavity C are arranged side by side along the first direction x, and the first pressure relief member 3 is installed on a side wall 11A of the first cavity A that is away from the second cavity C along the first direction x.

[0155] In this embodiment, by installing the first pressure relief member 3 on the side wall 11A away from the area where the battery cell 2 is located, if the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway, the exhaust material can enter the first cavity A through the exhaust passage B, and then flow in a direction away from the battery cell 2 to reach the first pressure relief member 3, thereby reducing the impact of the high-temperature exhaust material on the battery cell 2 as much as possible, and the side wall 11A has higher strength and also has sufficient space to install the first pressure relief member 3.

[0156] In some embodiments, at least two first pressure relief members 3 are provided, and the at least two first pressure relief members 3 are spaced apart along a second direction y, and the second direction y is perpendicular to the height direction z of the battery 100.

[0157] As shown in FIG. 3, the second partition member 15 divides the space within the housing assembly 1 into a first cavity A and a second cavity B arranged side by side along the first direction x, and at least two first pressure relief members 3 are provided on a side wall 11A away from the second cavity C and are installed at intervals along the second direction y.

[0158] For example, at least one third partition member 16 is provided along the second direction y within the housing assembly 1, and the third partition member 16 extends along the first direction x, thereby dividing the cavity within the housing assembly 1 along the second direction y into at least two accommodating areas for arranging the battery modules 2', in each accommodating area, at least one battery module 2' may be installed along the first direction x, and at least two first pressure relief members 3 are installed corresponding to the at least two accommodating areas.

[0159] In this embodiment, at least two first pressure relief members 3 are spaced apart along the second direction y. When the pressure inside the housing assembly 1 is too large, the exhaust gas can be simultaneously released outside the battery through the at least two first pressure relief members 3, so as to quickly reduce the temperature and pressure inside the battery 100 and improve the safety of the battery 100. Each pressure relief member 3 can correspond to a battery cell 2 in a different region, and by reducing the pressure of the exhaust gas released by each pressure relief member 3, the impact and damage caused by the released exhaust gas to other components outside the battery 100 can be reduced.

[0160] In some embodiments, the first stopper member 4 includes at least two baffle plate sets 4B each corresponding to at least two first pressure relief members 3, and each baffle plate set 4B includes a first plate 41 having a first end connected to an area of ​​the side wall 11A located between two adjacent first pressure relief members 3 and a second end which is a free end, and a second plate 42 provided on a side of the first plate 41 away from the first pressure relief member 3 along the first direction x, wherein a first end of the second plate 42 is connected to the side wall 11A and a second end of the second plate 42 is a free end, wherein the first plate 41 and the second plate 42 are offset in the second direction y and have overlapping portions.

[0161] Here, the baffle plate sets 4B corresponding to at least two first pressure relief members 3 are installed at intervals along the second direction y. In each baffle plate set 4B, the first plate 41 is located in the area between two adjacent first pressure relief members 3, so that the discharged material flows toward the corresponding first pressure relief member 3, and the first ends of the first plate 41 and the second plate 42 are connected to the side wall 11A, so that the discharged material can be prevented from flowing from the first ends of the first plate 41 and the second plate 42, so that the discharged material can reach the first pressure relief member 3 after bypassing the second end of the second plate 42 and the second end of the first plate 41. Because the first plate 41 and the second plate 42 have overlapping portions in the second direction y, the discharge material can reach the first pressure relief member 3 through a circuitous route, and because the first plate 41 and the second plate 42 are installed with a shift in the second direction y, the discharge material can reach the first pressure relief member 3 smoothly.

[0162] The baffle plate set 4B in this embodiment can form a bypass flow path and guide the exhaust to flow to the corresponding first pressure relief member 3, so that the exhaust entering the first cavity A can be distributed to flow toward at least two first pressure relief members 3, which can prevent the local pressure in the first cavity A from becoming too high, reduce the temperature of the exhaust, and prevent the occurrence of external ignition after the exhaust is discharged through the first pressure relief member 3, which is advantageous to improving the operating safety of the battery 100.

[0163] In some embodiments, the second end of the first plate 41 extends beyond the corresponding first pressure relief member 3 along the second direction y and / or the second end of the second plate 42 extends beyond the corresponding first pressure relief member 3 along the second direction y.

[0164] In this embodiment, the projection of the first plate 41 and / or the second plate 42 onto the wall on which the first pressure relief member 3 is installed covers the first pressure relief member 3, thereby reliably preventing the discharge in the first cavity A from reaching the first pressure relief member 3 directly, so that the discharge has to bypass the free ends of the first plate 41 and the second plate 42 to reach the first pressure relief member 3, forming a bypass flow path and extending the flow path of the discharge, thereby reducing the temperature of the discharge.

[0165] In some embodiments, a first end of the first plate 41 and a first end of the second plate 42 are connected on adjacent sidewalls 11A, respectively.

[0166] Here, in order to realize such a connection form, the first plate 41 and / or the second plate 42 may be installed as a curved or bent structure so as to be connected to the side wall 11A and act as an airflow blocking member.

[0167] In this embodiment, the first plate 41 can provide a blocking effect between two adjacent first pressure relief members 3, and the second plate 42 can be easily attached, simplifying the structure of the second plate 42.

[0168] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the first plates 41 are L-shaped, and two adjacent first plates 41 are spaced apart or in contact along the second direction y.

[0169] Here, in any of the baffle plate sets 4B, the vertical portion of the L-shaped first plate 41 extends along the first direction x, a first end of the vertical portion is connected to a region of the side wall 11A located between two adjacent first pressure relief members 3, and the horizontal portion of the L-shaped first plate 41 extends along the second direction y, a first end of the horizontal portion is connected to the second end of the vertical portion, and the second end of the horizontal portion extends to maintain a preset distance from the side wall 11A. The second plate 42 is located between the second cavity C and the first plate 41 along the first direction x, a first end of the second plate 42 is connected to the side wall 11A adjacent to the first pressure relief member 3, and the second plate 42 extends along the second direction y without protruding beyond the vertical portion of the first plate 41, and the second end of the second plate 42 and the second end of the horizontal portion of the first plate 41 have an overlapping portion.

[0170] When two adjacent first plates 41 contact along the second direction y, the two first plates 41 form a T-shaped structure.

[0171] The first plate 41 in this embodiment can be easily connected to the side wall 11A and can cooperate with the second plate 42 to define a flow path for the exhaust.

[0172] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, at least one end of the first stopper member 4 along the height direction z of the battery 100 abuts against the housing assembly 1.

[0173] Here, the first stopper member 4 may have one end abutting against the top wall 13A or the other end abutting against the bottom wall 12A, or both ends abut against the top wall 13A and the bottom wall 12A, respectively. Specifically, at least one end of each baffle plate 4A along the height direction z of the battery 100 abuts against the housing assembly 1. Specifically, both ends of the first plate 41 and the second plate 42 along the height direction z of the battery 100 abut against the housing assembly 1.

[0174] This embodiment can prevent some of the discharged material from directly reaching the first pressure release member 3 from the end of the first stopper member 4 along the height direction z of the battery 100, and allow the majority of the discharged material in the first cavity A to flow to the first pressure release member 3 under the guidance of the first stopper member 4, ensure the extension of the flow path through which the discharged material in the first cavity A reaches the first pressure release member 3, and gradually reduce the temperature of the discharged material during the flow process, thereby reducing the temperature of the discharged material below the ignition point of flammable smoke, and preventing the occurrence of external ignition after the discharged material is discharged through the first pressure release member 3, which is advantageous in improving the operational safety of the battery 100.

[0175] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 17, the battery 100 further includes a second stopper member 51 disposed in the exhaust passage B and configured to extend a flow path of the exhaust gas in the exhaust passage B.

[0176] Here, the second stopper member 51 may include at least one baffle plate provided in the exhaust passage B, and for example, when multiple baffle plates are provided, the multiple baffle plates may be provided in a staggered pattern. Optionally, as shown in FIG. 5 , an area surrounded by the first partition member 14 and the housing assembly 1 as a whole forms the exhaust passage B, and the baffle plate is provided directly in the exhaust passage B.

[0177] In this embodiment, by installing the second stopper member 51 in the exhaust passage B, the flow path of the exhaust material in the exhaust passage B can be extended, and the temperature of the exhaust material can be further reduced, which is advantageous in improving the operational safety of the battery 100 by reducing the temperature of the exhaust material below the ignition point of flammable smoke and preventing the occurrence of external ignition after the exhaust material is discharged through the first pressure release member 3.

[0178] In some embodiments, the housing assembly 1 includes a first partition member 14 that separates the exhaust passage B and the second cavity C along the height direction z of the battery 100, and the battery 100 further includes a support member 5 provided within the exhaust passage B, the support member 5 being configured to support the first partition member 14.

[0179] Here, as shown in FIG. 11 , a plurality of support members 5 are provided within an enclosed area between the partition member 14 and the housing assembly 1, and the plurality of support members 5 are installed at intervals along the second direction y, and are intended to collectively support the first partition member 14.

[0180] The support member 5 is a hollow tubular structure and extends along a first direction x. A space between two adjacent support members 5 forms an exhaust passage B, and each support member 5 corresponds to a row of battery cells 2. For example, the cross section of the support member 5 may be circular, elliptical, polygonal, etc. A plurality of second exhaust parts 52 are installed on the support member 5 at intervals along the first direction x. Optionally, the second exhaust parts 52 may be through holes or weak parts that can be destroyed by high temperature or high pressure, and when the battery cell 2 goes into thermal runaway and releases exhaust, the high-temperature exhaust can destroy the weak parts to form through holes. For example, the second exhaust parts 52 may be circular, elliptical, oval, polygonal, etc. When the battery cell 2 goes into thermal runaway, the exhaust released from the battery cell 2 can enter the cavity of the support member 5 through the second exhaust part 52 toward the battery cell 2, and enter the exhaust passage B through the second exhaust part 52 located on the side.

[0181] In this embodiment, by installing the support member 5 in the exhaust passage B, it is possible to perform an excellent supporting function in cooperation with the first partition member 14, prevent deformation of the first partition member 14, and perform an excellent supporting effect on the battery cells 2 arranged on the first partition member 14. The support member 5 can also function as a second stopper member 51, and can lower the temperature of the exhaust material as it flows through the exhaust passage B.

[0182] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, the battery 100 further includes a cooling member 6 disposed within the housing assembly 1, the cooling member 6 being configured to absorb heat within the housing assembly 1.

[0183] In this embodiment, the installation of the cooling member 6 can actively absorb heat within the housing assembly 1, thereby reducing the temperature during the flow of the exhaust material in the event of thermal runaway of the battery cell 2, and preventing external ignition after the exhaust material is discharged through the first pressure relief member 3, thereby improving the operational safety of the battery 100.

[0184] In some embodiments, the cooling member 6 is provided inside at least one of the exhaust passage B and the first cavity A.

[0185] In this embodiment, by providing the cooling member 6 in the exhaust passage B, in the event of thermal runaway of a battery cell 2, the temperature of the exhaust material can be reduced immediately after it enters the exhaust passage B, thereby reducing the impact of the high-temperature exhaust material on other battery cells 2 that are not experiencing thermal runaway. By providing the cooling member 6 in the first cavity A, in the event of thermal runaway of a battery cell 2, the flow path can be extended after the exhaust material has collected in the first cavity A, and the temperature can be reduced by the cooling member 6, thereby enabling the temperature of the exhaust material to be reduced quickly within the first cavity A.

[0186] In some embodiments, the cooling member 6 includes a sealing member and a cooling medium disposed within the sealing member, the cooling medium being configured to absorb heat by a phase change of the cooling medium.

[0187] Here, the cooling medium may be a liquid cooling medium, such as water, which undergoes a phase change to become a gas after absorbing heat, or the cooling medium may be a solid cooling medium which undergoes a phase change to become a liquid or a gas after absorbing heat.

[0188] In this embodiment, the cooling medium changes phase and absorbs heat to lower its temperature, thereby enabling the temperature inside the battery 100 to be lowered quickly, and the cooling medium is provided within the sealing member, thereby avoiding affecting the operation of the battery cell 2.

[0189] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 18 and 19, the battery 100 further includes a filtering member 7 disposed in the housing assembly 1 at a position corresponding to the first pressure relief member 3, and the filtering member 7 is configured to filter the discharged matter before it is discharged through the first pressure relief member 3.

[0190] Here, the filter member 7 may be provided on the inner wall of the housing assembly 1 at a position corresponding to the first pressure relief member 3. The emissions may include sparks, smoke, or other solid particles.

[0191] In this embodiment, if the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway, the solid particles in the discharge are filtered by the filtering member 7 before the discharge reaches the first pressure release member 3, thereby preventing the solid particles in the discharge from clogging the first pressure release member 3, thereby improving the safety of the operation of the battery 100.

[0192] In some embodiments, the filtering member 7 includes a housing member 71 attached to the housing assembly 1, the housing member 71 having a cavity and a plurality of through holes 711 in a wall surface, the plurality of through holes 711 being configured to allow the exhaust gas to enter the cavity after filtering.

[0193] Here, the accommodating member 71 may be a box-like structure, for example a rectangular structure, with one end open, and the end with the opening is installed toward the first pressure relief member 3, and both sides of the accommodating member 71 are provided with mounting portions 73 for fixing the accommodating member 71 onto the housing assembly 1, and the through holes 711 may be distributed over the entire wall surface of the accommodating member 71 so that the discharged matter can smoothly enter the cavity and solid particles whose size is larger than the through holes 711 are left outside the accommodating member 71.

[0194] In this embodiment, solid particles in the discharged material that are larger than the through hole 711 can be filtered out and left outside the accommodating member 71, thereby preventing large solid particles from clogging the first pressure release member 3, thereby improving the operational safety of the battery 100.

[0195] In some embodiments, the filter member 7 further includes an adsorbent member 72 disposed within the cavity, the adsorbent member 72 configured to adsorb solid particles in the effluent within the cavity.

[0196] Here, the adsorption member 72 may be a porous adsorption material, such as a sponge, etc. After the waste enters the cavity of the containing member 71, the solid particles whose size is smaller than the through-holes 711 can be adsorbed by the adsorption member 72.

[0197] In this embodiment, after the discharged material enters the cavity through the through-hole 711 on the accommodating member 71, solid particles larger in size than the through-hole 711 are filtered out and left outside the accommodating member 71, while solid particles smaller in size than the through-hole 711 are adsorbed by the adsorption member 72, thereby preventing high-temperature solid particles from clogging the first pressure release member 3 as much as possible, thereby improving the operational safety of the battery 100.

[0198] Four embodiments of the battery 100 of the present application are described below.

[0199] 2 to 7, the housing assembly 1 includes a storage section 11, a first cap 12, and a second cap 13, and a plurality of side walls 11A of the storage section 11, for example, four side walls 11A are formed by surrounding a rectangular structure, and the first cap 12 and the second cap 13 are for closing the openings at both ends of the storage section 11, respectively, the first cap 12 has a bottom wall 12A, and the second cap 13 has a top wall 13A. Both the first cap 12 and the second cap 13 can be designed with a flange structure for fixing to the storage section 11, and can be fixed by a method such as a fastener, welding, or adhesion.

[0200] The housing assembly 1 further includes a first partition member 14, a second partition member 15, and a third partition member 16, the first partition member 14 being perpendicular to the height direction z of the battery 100, and in the first direction x, the first partition member 14 has a first end connected to the side wall 11A and a second end connected to the second partition member 15, i.e., there is a preset distance between the second edge and the side wall 11A, and the first partition member 14 has both ends along the second direction y connected to the two opposing side walls 11A. The first partition member 14 may be connected to the first cap 12 at a position connected to the housing portion 11. The second partition member 15 is installed perpendicular to the first direction x, and there is a preset distance between the second partition member 15 and the side wall 11A away from the battery cell 2, and a first end of the second partition member 15 can extend until it abuts against the top wall 13A, and a second end of the second partition member 15 is connected to a second end of the first partition member 14 along the first direction x. The second partition member 15 partitions a first cavity A and a second cavity C along the first direction x, and the cavities formed by being enclosed between the first partition member 14 and the first cap 12 form an exhaust passage B as a whole.

[0201] A plurality of battery cells 2 are provided in the second cavity C, and a third partition member 16 may be provided in the second cavity C to divide the second cavity C into a plurality of receiving cavities, and a plurality of battery modules 2' are provided in the plurality of receiving cavities in a one-to-one correspondence. For example, two third partition members 16 form a cross-shaped cross structure, and a total of four battery modules 2' are provided. The plurality of battery cells 2 in each battery module 2' may be electrically connected in a series connection, parallel connection, or series-parallel connection manner. The first partition member 14 supports the plurality of battery cells 2, and the second pressure relief member 21 of the battery cells 2 is provided toward the first partition member 14, i.e., the second pressure relief member 21 is provided facing downward.

[0202] A first exhaust portion 141 is provided in each of the positions of the first partition member 14 corresponding to the second pressure release member 21 of each battery cell 2. For example, the first exhaust portion 141 is a through hole. In the second cap 13, a first protrusion 131 is provided in a region corresponding to the first cavity A, and a second protrusion 132 is provided in a region corresponding to the second cavity B. In the second cap 13, a region located between the first protrusion 131 and the second protrusion 132 is connected to the tip of the second partition member 15.

[0203] Two first pressure release members 3 are provided on a side wall 11A of the housing assembly 1 that is away from the second cavity C along the first direction x, and the two first pressure release members 3 are installed at an interval along the second direction y. A first stopper member 4 is provided in the first cavity A, and the first stopper member 4 includes two baffle plate sets 4B that are installed corresponding to the two first pressure release members 3, and each baffle plate set 4B includes a first plate 41 and a second plate 42, and both ends of the first stopper member 4 along the height direction z of the battery 100 abut against the top wall 13A and the bottom wall 12A.

[0204] As shown in FIG. 6, the battery cell 2 includes a case 20, an electrode assembly 22, two adapters 23, and an end cap assembly 24. Here, an opening is provided at one end of the case 20, the electrode assembly 22 is provided in the case 20, and the end cap assembly 24 is for closing the opening of the case 20. The electrode assembly 22 may be provided singly or in a stacked manner along the first direction x, and the electrode assembly 22 includes a first tab 221 and a second tab 222. The end cap assembly 24 includes an end cap body 241 and two electrode terminals 242 of opposite polarity provided on the end cap body 241, and the first tab 221 and the second tab 222 are electrically connected to the electrode terminals 242 of the same polarity through the adapters 23, respectively. As shown in FIG. 7, a second pressure relief member 21 is provided on an end face of the case 20 away from the end cap assembly 24.

[0205] If the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway, the internal high-temperature material is discharged through the second pressure relief member 21, enters the exhaust passage B through the first exhaust section 141, and then enters the first cavity A through an opening in the exhaust passage B adjacent to the first cavity A. The guiding action of the first stopper member 4 extends the flow path of the exhaust material in the first cavity A, thereby lowering the temperature of the exhaust material.

[0206] 8 to 10, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the second pressure release member 21 of the battery cell 2 is disposed toward the second cap 13, that is, disposed facing upward. In the first cap 12, a third protrusion 121 is provided in an area corresponding to the first cavity A, and a fourth protrusion 122 is provided in an area corresponding to the second cavity B. The portion of the first cap 12 located between the third protrusion 121 and the fourth protrusion 122 is connected to the bottom end of the second partition member 15, and the four edges of the first partition member 14 are respectively connected to the four edges of the fourth protrusion 122. The first partition member 14 is for supporting the multiple battery cells 2 without affecting the height of the first cavity A. There is a pre-established gap between the tip of the second partition member 15 and the second cap 13, the second partition member 15 divides a first cavity A and a second cavity C along the first direction x, the battery cell 2 is installed in the second cavity C and supported by the first partition member 14, and the area located between the battery cell 2 and the second cap 13 in the second cavity C forms an exhaust passage B as a whole.

[0207] If the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway, the internal high-temperature material is discharged through the second pressure relief member 21, enters directly into the exhaust passage B, and then enters the first cavity A through the pre-established gap between the second partition member 15 and the second cap 13. The guiding action of the first stopper member 4 extends the flow path of the discharged material in the first cavity A, thereby lowering the temperature of the discharged material.

[0208] In the third embodiment, as shown in Figs. 11 to 13, the difference from the first embodiment is that a plurality of support members 5 are provided in a cavity formed between the first partition member 14 and the first cap 12, the plurality of support members 5 are installed at intervals along the second direction y, each support member 5 extends along the first direction x, the length of the support member 5 is the same as the size of the first partition member 14 along the first direction x, and the internal space of the support member 5 functions as an exhaust passage B. A plurality of second exhaust parts 52 are installed at intervals along the first direction x on the support member 5, and the second exhaust part 52 installed on the wall of the support member 5 facing the first partition member 14 is positioned to coincide with the first exhaust part 141 on the first partition member 14. The second exhaust part 52 may be installed on each of the different side walls in the circumferential direction of the support member 5. The ends of each support member 5 facing the first cavity A are all connected to the first cavity A.

[0209] The support member 5 may take various structural forms.

[0210] 14A, the cross section of the support member 5 is hexagonal, the top and bottom surfaces of the hexagon are set horizontally, and the second exhaust portion 52 may be designed as a weak portion that is broken by the high-temperature exhaust material to form a through hole only when the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway. A plurality of cooling members 6 may be installed at intervals within the cavity of the support member 5 along its longitudinal direction, thereby lowering the temperature of the exhaust material as it flows through the exhaust passage B.

[0211] 14B, the cross section of the support member 5 is hexagonal, the top and bottom surfaces of the hexagon are horizontally disposed, and the second exhaust portion 52 may be designed as a through groove, which is provided in the top wall of the support member and extends to two side walls adjacent to the top wall, so that the exhaust can smoothly enter the exhaust passage B. A plurality of cooling members 6 may be disposed at intervals in the cavity of the support member 5 along its longitudinal direction, so as to cool the exhaust as it flows through the support member 5.

[0212] 14C, the cross section of the support member 5 is rectangular, and the second exhaust section 52 may be installed on at least one side wall of the support member 5, for example, the second exhaust section 52 may be installed on any of the four side walls. The second exhaust section 52 may be designed as a through hole, for example, the through hole may be an oblong hole, a round hole, a polygonal hole, etc., so that the exhaust can smoothly enter the exhaust passage B. A plurality of cooling members 6 may be installed at intervals in the cavity of the support member 5 along its longitudinal direction, so as to cool the exhaust as it flows through the support member 5.

[0213] 14D, the cross section of the support member 5 is a hexagon, for example a regular hexagon, with the top and bottom surfaces of the hexagon set horizontally, and the second exhaust section 52 may be provided on at least one side wall of the support member 5, and the second exhaust section 52 must be set on the top wall, and may be selectively set on the other side wall, so that the exhaust can smoothly enter the exhaust passage B. A plurality of cooling members 6 may be installed at intervals within the cavity of the support member 5 along its longitudinal direction, so as to lower the temperature of the exhaust as it flows through the support member 5.

[0214] If the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway, the internal high-temperature material is discharged through the second pressure relief member 21, passes through the first exhaust section 141 and the second exhaust section 52, enters the exhaust passage B of the corresponding support member 5, and then enters the first cavity A through an opening in the exhaust passage B adjacent to the first cavity A. The guiding action of the first stopper member 4 extends the flow path of the exhaust material in the first cavity A, thereby lowering the temperature of the exhaust material.

[0215] 15-16, the fourth embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that a plurality of support members 5 are provided in a cavity formed between the first partition member 14 and the first cap 12, the plurality of support members 5 are installed at intervals along the second direction y, each support member 5 extends along the first direction x, the length of the support member 5 is the same as the size of the first partition member 14 along the first direction x, and the internal space of the support member 5 functions as an exhaust passage B. A plurality of second exhaust sections 52 are installed at intervals along the first direction x on the support member 5, the second exhaust sections 52 installed on the wall of the support member 5 facing the first partition member 14 are aligned in position with the first exhaust sections 141 on the first partition member 14, and the second exhaust sections 52 are fragile sections that are closed when the battery cell 2 is operating normally and are destroyed only when the battery cell 2 experiences thermal runaway. The ends of each support member 5 facing the first cavity A communicate with the first cavity A. Within each exhaust passage B, two cooling members 6 are installed at an interval along the second direction y.

[0216] In any of the above embodiments, in order to achieve an excellent effect of reducing the exhaust temperature when the battery 100 experiences thermal runaway, in addition to installing the first stopper member 4, a second stopper member 51 may be installed in the exhaust passage B and / or a filter member 7 may be installed at a position corresponding to the first pressure release member 3.

[0217] The applicants have conducted a large amount of tests and found that for batteries 100 with different energy densities, the temperatures of the exhaust released from the second pressure release member 21 are different, and after optimizing the flow path of the exhaust through the solution of the present application, the temperatures of the exhaust released from the first pressure release member 3 are all below 450°C (the ignition point of methane, one of the main components of thermal runaway gas, is about 500°C), thereby preventing the occurrence of external ignition after the exhaust is discharged through the first pressure release member 3, thereby improving the operating safety of the battery 100.

[0218] Although the present application has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, various modifications may be made thereto and the elements therein may be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope of the present application. In particular, as long as there is no structural contradiction, each technical feature mentioned in each embodiment may be combined in any manner. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions included in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0219] 100 batteries 1 Housing Assembly 11 Storage section 11A side wall 12 First Cap 12A Bottom wall 121 Third protrusion 122 Fourth protrusion 13 Second Cap 13A Top wall 131 First protrusion 132 Second protrusion 14 First partition member 141 First exhaust section 15 Second partition member 16 Third partition member 2' Battery module 2 Battery Cells 20 cases 21 Second pressure relief member 22 Electrode Assembly 221 First Tab 222 Second Tab 23 Adapter 24 End Cap Assembly 241 End cap body 242 Electrode terminal 3. First pressure relief member 4 First stopper member 4A Baffle plate 4B Baffle plate set 41 First Board 42 Second Board 5 Supporting member 51 Second stopper member 52 Second exhaust section 6 Cooling material 7 Filter material 71 Storage material 711 Through hole 72 Adsorption material 200 vehicles 201 Axle 202 Wheels 203 Motor 204 Controller A First Cavity B Exhaust passage C Second Cavity x first direction y second direction z Height direction

Claims

1. A battery (100), A housing assembly (1) having a first cavity (A) and an exhaust passage (B) communicating with each other therein, the housing assembly (1) having a first pressure relief member (3) provided on a cavity wall of the first cavity (A); a battery cell (2) provided in the housing assembly (1) and located outside a first cavity (A), the battery cell (2) having a second pressure relief member (21), the second pressure relief member (21) being configured to release an exhaust from the battery cell (2) into the exhaust passage (B) so that the exhaust enters the first cavity (A) and is then discharged outside the battery (100) via the first pressure relief member (3); The battery (100) includes a first stopper member (4) provided in the first cavity (A), the first stopper member (4) being configured to extend a path through which the discharged material in the first cavity (A) reaches the first pressure relief member (3).

2. The battery (100) of claim 1, further comprising a second cavity (C) in the housing assembly (1), the battery cell (2) being disposed in the second cavity (C), the second cavity (C) communicating with the exhaust passage (B), or the second cavity (C) communicating with the exhaust passage (B) when the battery cell (2) releases the exhaust.

3. The battery (100) of claim 2, wherein the vent passage (B) and the second cavity (C) are independent of each other.

4. The battery (100) of claim 3, wherein the housing assembly (1) includes a first partition member (14) that separates the exhaust passage (B) and a second cavity (C) along a height direction (z) of the battery (100).

5. The battery (100) of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the first cavity (A) and the second cavity (C) are arranged side by side along a first direction (x), and the first direction (x) is perpendicular to a height direction (z) of the battery (100).

6. The battery (100) of claim 5, wherein the housing assembly (1) includes a second partition member (15) that separates the first cavity (A) and the second cavity (C) along the first direction (x).

7. 7. The battery (100) of claim 6, wherein along the height direction (z) of the battery (100), a wall surface of the housing assembly (1) away from the exhaust passage (B) protrudes outward in the region where the first cavity (A) is located to form a first protrusion (131), and protrudes outward in the region where the second cavity (C) is located to form a second protrusion (132), and a portion of the housing assembly (1) located between the first protrusion (131) and the second protrusion (132) is fixed to the second partition member (15).

8. The battery (100) of claim 1, wherein along a height direction (z) of the battery (100), a wall surface of the housing assembly (1) away from the exhaust passage (B) protrudes outward in an area where the first cavity (A) is located to form a first protrusion (131).

9. The battery (100) of claim 2, wherein along a height direction (z) of the battery (100), a wall surface of the housing assembly (1) away from the exhaust passage (B) protrudes outward in an area where the second cavity (C) is located to form a second protrusion (132).

10. The battery (100) of claim 2, wherein the exhaust passage (B) is disposed within the second cavity (C).

11. The battery (100) of claim 10, wherein the housing assembly (1) includes a second partition member (15) configured to divide the space within the housing assembly (1) into the first cavity (A) and the second cavity (C), and a gap (L) is provided between a first end of the second partition member (15) adjacent to the exhaust passage (B) along the height direction (z) of the battery (100) and a first end located on the same side of the housing assembly (1).

12. The battery (100) of claim 11, wherein the second pressure relief member (21) is installed toward the first end of the housing assembly (1), and the exhaust passage (B) is formed between the battery cell (2) and the first end of the housing assembly (1).

13. The battery (100) of claim 1, wherein the first stopper member (4) includes a baffle plate (4A) configured such that the airflow bypasses an edge of the baffle plate (4A) to reach the first pressure relief member (3).

14. 2. The battery (100) of claim 1, wherein the housing assembly (1) includes a plurality of side walls (11A), the first stop member (4) includes a baffle plate (4A), one end of the baffle plate (4A) is connected to one of the side walls (11A), and the other end of the baffle plate (4A) is a free end.

15. The battery (100) of claim 1, wherein the first cavity (A) and the region in which the battery cell (2) is located are arranged side by side along a first direction (x), the first stopper member (4) includes at least two baffle plates (4A) arranged at a distance along the first direction (x), and two adjacent baffle plates (4A) are staggered along a second direction (y), and the second direction (y) is perpendicular to the first direction (x).

16. The battery (100) according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the first pressure relief members (3) are provided.

17. The battery (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first pressure relief member (3) is installed on a cavity wall of the first cavity (A) remote from the battery cell (2).

18. The battery (100) of claim 1, wherein the housing assembly (1) includes a plurality of side walls (11A), and the first pressure relief member (3) is installed on the side wall (11A) that faces the area of ​​the first cavity (A) in which the battery cell (2) is located.

19. The battery (100) of claim 18, wherein at least two of the first pressure relief members (3) are provided, and the at least two first pressure relief members (3) are spaced apart along a second direction (y), and the second direction (y) is perpendicular to a height direction (z) of the battery (100).

20. The first stopper member (4) includes at least two baffle plate sets (4B) respectively corresponding to at least two of the first pressure relief members (3), and each of the baffle plate sets (4B) is a first plate (41) having a first end connected to a region of the side wall (11A) located between two adjacent first pressure relief members (3) and a second end being a free end; a second plate (42) provided on a side of the first plate (41) away from the first pressure relief member (3) along a first direction (x), the first end of the second plate (42) being connected to the side wall (11A) and the second end of the second plate (42) being a free end; 20. The battery (100) of claim 19, wherein the first plate (41) and the second plate (42) are offset in the second direction (y) and have overlapping portions.

21. a second end of the first plate (41) extends beyond the corresponding first pressure relief member (3) along the second direction (y); and / or 21. The battery (100) of claim 20, wherein a second end of the second plate (42) extends beyond the corresponding first pressure relief member (3) along the second direction (y).

22. 21. The battery (100) of claim 20, wherein a first end of the first plate (41) and a first end of the second plate (42) are connected on adjacent side walls (11A), respectively.

23. 21. The battery (100) of claim 20, wherein the first plates (41) are L-shaped and two adjacent first plates (41) are spaced apart or in contact along the second direction (y).

24. The battery (100) according to claim 1, wherein at least one end of the first stopper member (4) along the height direction (z) of the battery (100) abuts against the housing assembly (1).

25. 2. The battery (100) of claim 1, further comprising a second stopper member (51) provided in the exhaust passage (B), the second stopper member (51) configured to extend a flow path of the exhaust within the exhaust passage (B).

26. The battery (100) of claim 1, wherein the housing assembly (1) includes a first partition member (14) that separates the exhaust passage (B) and a second cavity (C) along a height direction (z) of the battery (100), and the battery (100) further includes a support member (5) provided within the exhaust passage (B), the support member (5) being configured to support the first partition member (14).

27. 2. The battery (100) of claim 1, further comprising a cooling member (6) provided within the housing assembly (1), the cooling member (6) configured to absorb heat within the housing assembly (1).

28. 28. The battery (100) of claim 27, wherein the cooling member (6) is provided inside at least one of the exhaust passage (B) and the first cavity (A).

29. 30. The battery (100) of claim 27 or 28, wherein the cooling member (6) includes a sealing member and a cooling medium disposed within the sealing member, the cooling medium being configured to absorb heat by a phase change.

30. 2. The battery (100) of claim 1, further comprising a filtering member (7) provided in the housing assembly (1) at a position corresponding to the first pressure relief member (3), the filtering member (7) being configured to filter the discharged matter before it is discharged through the first pressure relief member (3).

31. The battery (100) of claim 30, wherein the filtering member (7) includes a housing member (71) attached to the housing assembly (1), the housing member (71) having a cavity and a plurality of through holes (711) provided in a wall surface, the plurality of through holes (711) being configured to allow the discharged matter to enter the cavity after filtering it.

32. 32. The battery (100) of claim 31, wherein the filtering member (7) further includes an adsorption member (72) disposed within the cavity, the adsorption member (72) configured to adsorb solid particles in the effluent within the cavity.

33. 13. A power consuming device, comprising a battery (100) according to claim 1, said battery (100) for providing electrical energy to said power consuming device.

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