Cooling system for a battery, battery pack, and vehicle

Abstract

Cooling system (100) for a battery, battery pack (200), and vehicle (300). The cooling system (100) for a battery includes a main cooling plate (1) and a connection piece cooling plate (2). A first cooling channel is provided in the main cooling plate (1), and the main cooling plate (1) is used to cool the battery cells (4). The connection piece cooling plate (2) is provided on the main cooling plate (1), and a second cooling channel is provided in each connection piece cooling plate (2). The connection piece cooling plate (2) is used to cool the connection pieces (5).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This disclosure claims the priority and benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 202222024670.X, filed on August 2, 2022, and entitled "COOLING SYSTEM FOR BATTERY, BATTERY PACK, AND VEHICLE". The entire content of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly, to a cooling system for a battery, a battery pack, and a vehicle.

Background Art

[0003] In the prior art, the connection sheet in the battery pack is only passively and naturally cooled by a small amount of air in the battery pack. However, this mode has limited heat dissipation ability and poor heat dissipation effect.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The object of this disclosure is to provide a cooling system for a battery, a battery pack, and a vehicle. Thus, efficient heat dissipation of the connection sheet can be implemented.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To achieve the above object, this disclosure provides a cooling system for a battery, including a main cooling plate and a connection - sheet cooling plate. A first cooling channel is provided in the main cooling plate. The main cooling plate is configured to cool the battery cells. The connection - sheet cooling plate is disposed on the main cooling plate. A second cooling channel is provided in the connection - sheet cooling plate. The connection - sheet cooling plate is configured to cool the connection sheet.

[0006] Optionally, the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel are independent of each other and do not communicate with each other.

[0007] Optionally, the first cooling channel communicates with the second cooling channel.

[0008] Optionally, a first connector is disposed at each of the inlet and outlet of the second cooling channel, a plurality of second connectors are disposed on the main cooling plate, the second connectors and the first connectors are in one-to-one correspondence, and communicate with each other.

[0009] Optionally, at the joint between the first connector and the second connector, a sealing hose has a sleeve mounted thereon.

[0010] Based on the above technical solution, the present disclosure further provides a battery pack including a cooling system for a battery.

[0011] Optionally, the battery pack further includes a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of connection sheets, the battery cells are fixedly disposed on the main cooling plate, the connection sheets are connected to the terminals of the battery cells, and the connection sheet cooling plate is fixedly connected to the connection sheets.

[0012] Optionally, the battery cells are fixedly connected to the main cooling plate through a thermally conductive adhesive.

[0013] Optionally, the connection sheet cooling plate is fixedly connected to the connection sheets through a thermally conductive adhesive.

[0014] Optionally, the battery pack further includes a battery tray, the main cooling plate includes a first cooling plate, and the first cooling plate is integrated on the battery tray.

[0015] Optionally, the battery tray includes an outer frame and a bottom plate, and the first cooling plate is integrated on the bottom plate.

[0016] Optionally, the battery pack further includes a sealed cover, the main cooling plate further includes a second cooling plate, and the second cooling plate is integrated on the sealed cover.

[0017] Based on the above technical solution, the present disclosure further provides a vehicle including a cooling system for a battery or a battery pack.

[0018] Through the above technical solution, the cooling system for a battery provided in the present disclosure includes a main cooling plate and a connection sheet cooling plate. The first cooling channel is provided in the main cooling plate. A cooling medium (for example, a coolant) is introduced into the first cooling channel in the main cooling plate to perform heat dissipation and cooling of the battery cells. Further, the second cooling channel is provided in the connection sheet cooling plate. A cooling medium (for example, a coolant) is introduced into the second cooling channel in the connection sheet cooling plate to perform heat dissipation and cooling of the connection sheet. Efficient and timely heat dissipation can be performed on the connection sheet in the battery pack through the added connection sheet cooling plate, and as a result, the influence on the performance and lifespan of the battery caused by overheating of the connection sheet is reduced.

[0019] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be described in detail in the part of the embodiments for carrying out the following invention.

[0020] The accompanying drawings are provided for a further understanding of the present disclosure, constitute a part of this specification, and together with the following specific embodiments, explain the present disclosure, but do not constitute a limitation of the present disclosure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely used to illustrate and explain the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0023] In the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, orientation terms such as "inside and outside" are for the contour of the corresponding component. Further, when the following description relates to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise specified, the same numbers in different accompanying drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present disclosure. Instead, those embodiments are merely examples of devices and methods that are consistent with some aspects related to the present disclosure as recited in the appended claims.

[0024] In an electric vehicle's battery pack, a connection sheet is generally disposed. The connection sheet is firmly connected to the terminals of battery cells (cells) in a welding manner or another connection manner to implement series and parallel connections between the battery cells. During rapid charging, the battery, the connection sheet, and another electrical connection structure are all exposed to a continuous large current. The resistance of the connection sheet and another electrical connection structure, as well as the resistance increased by welding, all generate a large amount of heat. If the heat generated by the connection sheet and another electrical connection structure cannot be dissipated within a period of time, the temperature of the battery rises. As a result, the performance, lifespan, etc. of the battery are affected.

[0025] According to a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, a cooling system 100 for a battery is provided, which includes a main cooling plate 1 and a connection sheet cooling plate 2. A first cooling channel is provided in the main cooling plate 1. The main cooling plate 1 is configured to cool the battery cells 4. The connection sheet cooling plate 2 is disposed on the main cooling plate 1. A second cooling channel is provided in the connection sheet cooling plate 2. The connection sheet cooling plate 2 is configured to cool the connection sheet 5.

[0026] Through the above technical solution, the cooling system 100 for a battery provided in the present disclosure includes the main cooling plate 1 and the connection sheet cooling plate 2. The first cooling channel is provided in the main cooling plate 1. A cooling medium (e.g., coolant) is introduced into the first cooling channel in the main cooling plate 1 to implement heat dissipation and cooling of the battery cells 4. Further, the second cooling channel is provided in the connection sheet cooling plate 2. In the cooling system 100 for a battery provided in the present disclosure, a cooling medium (e.g., coolant) is introduced into the second cooling channel in the connection sheet cooling plate 2 to implement heat dissipation and cooling of the connection sheet 5. Further, efficient and timely heat dissipation can be performed on the connection sheet 5 in the battery pack through the added connection sheet cooling plate 2, and as a result, the influence on the performance and lifespan of the battery caused by overheating of the connection sheet 5 is reduced.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, the main cooling plate 1 may be a complete liquid cooling plate, or may be spliced by a plurality of liquid cooling plates. The main cooling plate 1 includes an inlet connector 11 and an outlet connector 12. Both the inlet connector 11 and the outlet connector 12 communicate with the first cooling channel. When the main cooling plate 1 is a complete liquid cooling plate, the connection sheet cooling plate 2 is disposed above the main cooling plate 1. The connection sheet cooling plate 2 may be a metal extruded harmonica tube, a serpentine tube, or a stamped brazing plate. The specific position of the connection sheet cooling plate 2 on the main cooling plate 1 may be determined based on the position of the connection sheet 5. This is not particularly limited in the present disclosure. When the main cooling plate 1 is spliced by a plurality of liquid cooling plates, the connection sheet cooling plate 2 may be disposed on each liquid cooling plate. Alternatively, the same connection sheet cooling plate 2 may be disposed across at least two liquid cooling plates. This is not particularly limited in the present disclosure.

[0028] In one embodiment provided in the present disclosure, the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel may be independent of each other and not communicate with each other for implementing independent cooling of the main cooling plate 1 and the connection sheet cooling plate 2. When the main cooling plate 1 and the connection sheet cooling plate 2 are independent of each other and do not communicate with each other, the substance introduced into the second cooling channel may be a coolant.

[0029] In another embodiment provided in the present disclosure, referring to FIG. 1, the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel may communicate with each other such that channels configured for a cooling medium (e.g., coolant) to flow into the entire cooling system 100 for the battery form a path. After the coolant is introduced into the main cooling plate 1, it can flow into the first cooling channel of the main cooling plate 1 and the second cooling channel of the connection sheet cooling plate 2, and there is no need to connect each connection sheet cooling plate 2 to a coolant transfer device. In other words, the main cooling plate 1 and the connection sheet cooling plate 2 share the same coolant transfer device. In this way, the arrangement of a plurality of coolant transfer devices can be avoided, and as a result, the internal space of the battery pack can be saved, and the cost of the battery pack can also be reduced.

[0030] When the first cooling channel communicates with the second cooling channel, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first connector 21 may be disposed at the inlet and the outlet of the second cooling channel respectively, and a plurality of second connectors 13 are disposed on the main cooling plate 1. The second connector 13 and the first connector 21 are in one-to-one correspondence and communicate with each other. In the above design, both the first connector 21 and the second connector 13 are extension connector structures, and the second connector 13 and the first connector 21 are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence manner to facilitate the communication between the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel. The connection sheet cooling plate 2 has a certain length. Two first connectors 21 are respectively disposed at two ends of the connection sheet cooling plate 2 along the length direction. Both the first connector 21 and the second connector 13 may be metal connectors, and each first connector 21 and the corresponding second connector 13 extend towards each other.

[0031] In order to reduce the possibility of coolant leakage at the joint between the first connector 21 and the second connector 13, in one embodiment provided in the present disclosure, referring to FIG. 2, the sealing hose 3 is mounted at the joint between the first connector 21 and the second connector 13 with a sleeve. The sealing hose 3 is configured to seal the joint between the first connector 21 and the second connector 13 so that the coolant does not easily flow out from the cooling system 100 for the battery, and the possibility that the coolant affects another structure such as the battery cell 4 in the battery pack is reduced. The inner wall of the sealing hose 3 is disposed close to the peripheral walls of the first connector 21 and the second connector 13.

[0032] Based on the above technical solution, the present disclosure further provides a battery pack 200. Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, the battery pack 200 includes the above-described cooling system 100 for the battery. Through this design, the connection sheet cooling plate 2 that performs cooling and heat dissipation on the connection sheet 5 is disposed within the battery pack 200 to avoid affecting the use of the battery pack 200 due to overheating of the connection sheet 5. The battery pack 200 provided in the present disclosure also has the above characteristics. To avoid repetition, details are not described again herein.

[0033] In one embodiment provided in the present disclosure, referring to FIG. 3, the battery pack 200 further includes a plurality of battery cells 4 and a plurality of connection sheets 5. The battery cells 4 are fixedly disposed on the main cooling plate 1, the connection sheets 5 are connected to the terminals of the battery cells 4, and the connection sheet cooling plate 2 is fixedly connected to the connection sheet 5. In the above design, the battery cells 4 are disposed on the main cooling plate 1 that promotes heat dissipation and cooling of the battery cells 4. Similarly, the connection sheet cooling plate 2 and the connection sheet 5 are fixedly disposed so that the connection sheet cooling plate 2 can better perform heat dissipation and cooling on the heated connection sheet 5.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of battery cells 4 are arranged along a first direction and form a battery cell row (including the battery cells 4 and a row of other structures connected or arranged on the battery cells 4) through fixed fulcrums 41. An aerogel 42 is arranged between adjacent battery cells 4. The aerogel 42 can implement thermal insulation between the battery cells 4 and absorb the expansion of the battery cells 4. The fixed fulcrums 41 extend along the first direction. A plurality of connection sheets 5 arranged at intervals along the first direction are arranged on each of the two opposite sides of each battery cell row, and the connection sheets 5 are configured to communicate with a plurality of battery cells 4 in the battery cell row to form a battery module. It should be noted that one connection sheet cooling plate 2 may be fixed outside the connection sheet 5 installed on the same side of the battery cell row, or a plurality of connection sheet cooling plates 2 arranged along the first direction may be fixed outside the connection sheet 5 installed on the same side of the battery cell row.

[0035] In an embodiment provided in the present disclosure, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the battery pack 200 further includes a flexible circuit board 6 and a protective housing 7. Both the flexible circuit board 6 and the protective housing 7 extend along the first direction. The connection sheet cooling plate 2 is installed between the flexible circuit board 6 and the connection sheet 5. The flexible circuit board 6 is configured to monitor and measure the voltage and temperature of the battery module and communicate with a total battery management system (battery management system, BMS). The protective housing 7 covers the outside of the flexible circuit board 6, the connection sheet cooling plate 2, and the connection sheet 5. The protective housing 7 is engaged with the fixed fulcrum 41 to protect the above structure.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, in one embodiment provided in the present disclosure, in order to ensure that the battery cell 4 is firmly connected to the main cooling plate 1 without affecting heat conduction, the battery cell 4 can be fixedly connected to the main cooling plate 1 through a thermally conductive adhesive. The thermally conductive adhesive between the battery cell 4 and the main cooling plate 1 may be a first thermally conductive adhesive 43. Further, in one embodiment provided in the present disclosure, in order to ensure that the connection sheet 5 is firmly connected to the connection sheet cooling plate 2 without affecting heat conduction, the connection sheet cooling plate 2 can be fixedly connected to the connection sheet 5 through a thermally conductive adhesive. The thermally conductive adhesive between the connection sheet 5 and the connection sheet cooling plate 2 may be a second thermally conductive adhesive 51. In other embodiments, the connection sheet cooling plate 2 and the connection sheet 5 may be connected and fixed through a thermally conductive structural adhesive, or the battery cell 4 and the main cooling plate 1 may be connected and fixed through a thermally conductive structural adhesive. This is not particularly limited in the present disclosure.

[0037] In one embodiment provided in the present disclosure, referring to FIGS. 5 and 7, the battery pack 200 may further include a battery tray 201, and the main cooling plate 1 may include a first cooling plate 14, and the first cooling plate 14 may be integrated on the battery tray 201. In the above design embodiment, the battery module is placed on the battery tray 201, and heat dissipation is directly performed through the first cooling plate 14 integrated on the battery tray 201. As a result, the integration degree of the combined first cooling plate 14 and the battery pack 200 is higher, and heat dissipation is easily performed on the battery cell 4 in the battery module. Further, the first cooling plate 14 and the battery tray 201 may instead be two independent structures fixed to each other, or the first cooling plate 14 and the battery tray 201 may instead be integrated into the same structure (i.e., a battery tray 201 with a liquid cooling function is formed).

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the battery tray 201 includes a bottom plate 9 and an outer frame 8. The outer frame 8 is a frame structure formed by welding extruded materials. The outer frame 8 surrounds the outside of the battery module. The first cooling plate 14 is integrated on the bottom plate 9, and the integrated bottom plate 9 and the first cooling plate 14 are fixed to the bottom of the outer frame 8 by friction stir welding or in another form. The battery module is fixed to the first cooling plate 14 integrated with the bottom plate through a thermally conductive adhesive or an adhesive for thermally conductive structures. One or more battery modules may be arranged within the outer frame 8. This is not particularly limited to the present disclosure.

[0039] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, four battery modules are arranged within the outer frame 8. The extension beam 81 and the intermediate longitudinal beam 82 are fixed to the inner wall of the outer frame 8, and the extension beam 81 and the intermediate longitudinal beam 82 are cross-connected in a "cross" shape within the outer frame 8. As a result, the inside of the outer frame 8 is divided into four regions, and one battery module can be arranged in each region. In two battery modules dispersed along the first direction, only one connection sheet cooling plate 2 can be arranged on the connection sheet 5 installed on the same side of the two battery modules. The height of the extension beam 81 can avoid the connection sheet cooling plate 2 and the first cooling plate 14 from being bonded to the lower surface of the battery cells 4 of all the battery modules within the outer frame 8 through a thermally conductive adhesive or an adhesive for thermally conductive structures.

[0040] In certain embodiments provided in the present disclosure, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the battery pack 200 further includes a sealed cover, the main cooling plate 1 further includes a second cooling plate 15, and the second cooling plate 15 may be integrated on the sealed cover. In the above design, the sealed cover can also have the effect of cooling the battery cells in order to efficiently perform cooling and heat dissipation on the battery cells. The second cooling plate 15 and the sealed cover may be two independent structures fixed to each other, or alternatively, the second cooling plate 15 and the sealed cover may be integrated into the same structure so that the battery pack 200 of the present disclosure has a higher degree of integration (i.e., a sealed cover with a cooling function is formed). The second cooling plate 15 integrated with the sealed cover may be fixedly connected to the upper surfaces of the battery cells 4 of all battery modules in the outer frame 8 through a thermally conductive adhesive or an adhesive for thermally conductive structures. The connection sheet cooling plate 2 may communicate with the first cooling plate 14, or may communicate with the second cooling plate 15, or may communicate with both the first cooling plate 14 and the second cooling plate 15. This is not particularly limited in the present disclosure. In other embodiments, the main cooling plate 1 may only include the first cooling plate 14, the sealed cover may be a cover plate made of plastic or metal, and is disposed on the battery tray 201.

[0041] Based on the above technical solution, the present disclosure further provides a vehicle 300. Referring to FIG. 8, the vehicle 300 includes the above cooling system 100 for the battery or the above battery pack 200. In the above design, the vehicle 300 in which the cooling system 100 for the battery or the battery pack 200 of the present disclosure is disposed is not affected by the overheating of the connection sheet 5. As a result, the performance of the vehicle 300 is more stable during operation, and the failure rate of the vehicle 300 is reduced. The battery pack 200 may be mounted on the vehicle 300 or may be disposed in the form of an integrated battery vehicle body.

[0042] The implementation principle of this embodiment of the present disclosure is as follows. The main cooling plate 1 is fixedly arranged on the battery cell 4. The connection sheet cooling plate 2 is fixedly arranged on the outside of the connection sheet 5, and a coolant or refrigerant is introduced into the main cooling plate 1 and the connection sheet cooling plate 2. When heat dissipation occurs on the battery cell 4, heat dissipation also occurs on the connection sheet 5. As a result, the connection sheet 5 is no longer only passively cooled by air. Further, the connection sheet cooling plate 2 is arranged to directly and actively cool the connection sheet 5 in order to implement efficient cooling of the connection sheet 5 and reduce the influence of overheating of the connection sheet 5 on the performance and lifespan of the battery.

[0043] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present disclosure is not limited to the specific details in the above embodiments. Within the scope of the technical concept of the present disclosure, various simple modifications may be made to the technical solution of the present disclosure, and such simple modifications shall all be included in the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0044] It should be further noted that the specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments may be combined in any appropriate manner without conflict. To avoid unnecessary repetition, various possible combinations are not further described in the present disclosure.

[0045] Furthermore, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined without departing from the concept of the present disclosure, and such combinations shall also be included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0046] 1 Main cooling plate 11 Inlet connector 12 Outlet connector 13 Second connector 14 First cooling plate 15 Second cooling plate 2 Connection sheet cooling plate 21 First connector 3 Sealed hose 4 battery cells 41 fixed fulcrum 42 aerogel 43 first thermally conductive adhesive 5 connection sheet 51 second thermally conductive adhesive 6 flexible circuit board 7 protective housing 8 outer frame 81 extension beam 82 intermediate longitudinal beam 9 bottom plate 100 cooling system for the battery 200 battery pack 201 battery tray 300 vehicle

Claims

1. A main cooling plate (1) provided with a first cooling channel and configured to cool a battery cell (4); A connection sheet cooling plate (2) disposed on the main cooling plate (1), provided with a second cooling channel, and configured to cool a connection sheet (5); A cooling system (100) for a battery, comprising the above.

2. The cooling system (100) for a battery according to Claim 1, wherein the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel are independent of each other and do not communicate with each other.

3. The cooling system (100) for a battery according to Claim 1, wherein the first cooling channel communicates with the second cooling channel.

4. A first connector (21) is disposed at each of an inlet and an outlet of the second cooling channel, a plurality of second connectors (13) are disposed on the main cooling plate (1), and the second connectors (13) and the first connector (21) are in one-to-one correspondence and communicate with each other. The cooling system (100) for a battery according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

5. The cooling system (100) for a battery according to Claim 4, wherein at a joint between the first connector (21) and the second connector (13), a sealing hose (3) has a sleeve mounted thereon.

6. A battery pack (200) comprising the cooling system (100) for a battery according to any one of Claims 1 to 5.

7. Further comprising a plurality of battery cells (4) and a plurality of connection sheets (5), wherein the battery cells (4) are fixedly disposed on the main cooling plate (1), the connection sheets (5) are connected to terminals of the battery cells (4), and the connection sheet cooling plate (2) is fixedly connected to the connection sheet (5). The battery pack (200) according to Claim 6.

8. The battery pack (200) according to Claim 7, wherein the battery cells (4) are fixedly connected to the main cooling plate (1) through a thermally conductive adhesive.

9. The battery pack (200) according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the connection sheet cooling plate (2) is fixedly connected to the connection sheet (5) through a thermally conductive adhesive.

10. The battery pack (200) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, further comprising a battery tray (201), wherein the main cooling plate (1) comprises a first cooling plate (14), and the first cooling plate (14) is integrated on the battery tray (201).

11. The battery pack (200) according to claim 10, wherein the battery tray (201) comprises an outer frame (8) and a bottom plate (9), and the first cooling plate (14) is integrated on the bottom plate (9).

12. The battery pack (200) according to claim 10, further comprising a sealed cover, wherein the main cooling plate (1) further comprises a second cooling plate (15), and the second cooling plate (15) is integrated on the sealed cover.

13. A vehicle (300) comprising the cooling system (100) for a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 5, or the battery pack (200) according to any one of claims 6 to 12.

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