Battery modules and battery packs
The battery module design with dual liquid cooling assemblies and connected channels ensures uniform cooling of battery cells and CCS assemblies, addressing inefficiencies in existing cooling methods and reducing costs by uniformly distributing coolant flow.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-03
AI Technical Summary
Current bilateral liquid cooling methods for batteries are inefficient in uniformly cooling battery cells and CCS assemblies, leading to non-uniform temperature distribution and increased costs due to longer serpentine tubes and limited contact with the battery cell surfaces, which affects stable operation.
A battery module design with a housing containing a liquid cooling chamber and dual liquid cooling assemblies on opposite sides, connected via cooling channels, allowing coolant flow to uniformly cool battery cells and CCS assemblies from all directions, ensuring uniform temperature distribution.
The solution achieves uniform cooling of battery cells and CCS assemblies, maintaining stable operation by effectively removing heat from both peripheries and ends, optimizing temperature uniformity and reducing costs through efficient coolant distribution.
Smart Images
Figure 2026058342000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application claims the priority of a Chinese patent application with an application date of September 24, 2024, and an application number of 2024223391954, and all the contents of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and particularly to battery modules and battery packs.
Background Art
[0003] With the rapid development of the era, people's requirements for the charging speed of batteries are increasing. While the charging speed of the battery increases, the charging current also increases, and the accompanying heat generation of the battery has become an important issue that people have to pay attention to. Currently, in order to improve the cooling efficiency, it is common to adopt a bilateral liquid cooling form to increase the cooling area of the battery cells.
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] As the number of battery cells connected in series increases, the length of the serpentine tube used for bilateral liquid cooling also needs to increase correspondingly. As a result, the cost of the battery pack becomes higher and higher, which is disadvantageous in the market competition. In addition, in the form of bilateral liquid cooling, it can only contact the side surface of the battery cell, so the bottom surface and side surface of the battery cell cannot be cooled uniformly. At the same time, during rapid charging, in addition to the heat generated from the charge and discharge of the battery cell itself, the aluminum busbar in the CCS (Cells Contact System) also generates a certain amount of heat. Here, the heat generated from the aluminum busbar also affects the battery cell, resulting in an obvious temperature difference inside the battery module. Therefore, the current form of bilateral liquid cooling cannot guarantee the uniform temperature of the battery module. As a result, it is difficult for the battery module to maintain stable operation.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a battery module comprising: a housing having a liquid cooling chamber; two liquid cooling assemblies provided on opposite sides of the liquid cooling chamber and having cooling channels communicating with the liquid cooling chamber; a battery cell group having a plurality of battery cells provided in the liquid cooling chamber; and a CCS assembly provided between the battery cell group and one of the liquid cooling assemblies.
[0006] In a second embodiment, the present invention provides a battery pack comprising the battery module described above. [Effects of the Invention]
[0007] By connecting the liquid cooling chamber and the cooling channel, and allowing the coolant to flow between the liquid cooling chamber and the cooling channel, the coolant removes heat from the battery cells and CCS assembly during the flow process, ensuring that good cooling is achieved on both the periphery and ends of the battery cells and CCS assembly. This enables uniform cooling of the battery cell group and the CCS assembly from all directions, guaranteeing uniform temperature of the battery module and ensuring stable operation of the battery module. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view in the direction AA of Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged schematic diagram of region B in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is an enlarged schematic diagram of region C in Figure 4. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0009] Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 4, the present application discloses a battery module. The battery module comprises a housing 1, two liquid cooling assemblies 2, a battery cell group 3, and a CCS assembly 4. In some embodiments, the housing 1 has a liquid cooling chamber 11, the two liquid cooling assemblies 2 are provided on opposite sides of the liquid cooling chamber 11, and the liquid cooling assemblies 2 have cooling channels 21 that communicate with the liquid cooling chamber 11, the battery cell group 3 has a plurality of battery cells 31 provided in the liquid cooling chamber 11, and the CCS assembly 4 is provided between the battery cell group 3 and one of the liquid cooling assemblies 2. In some embodiments, the liquid cooling chamber 11 and the cooling channel 21 are connected, allowing the coolant to flow between the liquid cooling chamber 11 and the cooling channel 21. This ensures that the coolant removes heat from the battery cells 31 and the CCS assembly 4 during the flow process, guaranteeing a good cooling effect on both the periphery and ends of the battery cells 31 and the CCS assembly 4. This enables uniform cooling of the battery cell group 3 and the CCS assembly 4 from all directions, ensuring temperature uniformity of the battery module and ensuring stable operation of the battery module.
[0010] In some embodiments, one end of the battery cell 31 is fixed to one of the liquid cooling assemblies 2, and one end of the CCS assembly 4 is fixed to the other liquid cooling assembly 2. This fixes both the battery cell group 3 and the CCS assembly 4 within the liquid cooling chamber 11, ensuring that the coolant in the liquid cooling chamber 11 is in sufficient contact with the side and other end of the battery cell 31 and the other end and side of the CCS assembly 4 that are immersed therein. Furthermore, the coolant can flow between the liquid cooling chamber 11 and the cooling channel 21. As a result, the cooling effect of the liquid cooling chamber 11 and the liquid cooling assembly 2 is the same. Therefore, the ends of the battery cell 31 and the CCS assembly 4 connected to the liquid cooling assembly 2 receive the same cooling effect as the parts immersed in the coolant. This ensures uniform cooling of the battery cell group 3 and the CCS assembly 4 from all directions, guaranteeing temperature uniformity of the battery module and ensuring stable operation of the battery module.
[0011] Referring to Figures 1 and 4, in some embodiments, the liquid cooling assembly 2 comprises a liquid cooling plate 22, and the cooling passage 21 is provided on the liquid cooling plate 22. In some embodiments, the liquid cooling plate 22 is connected to the housing 1 by means of bolts, snaps, welding, etc., thereby locking the two liquid cooling plates 22 to opposing sides of the liquid cooling chamber 11.
[0012] The specific form of the cooling channel 21 may vary. In some embodiments, the cooling channel 21 is formed inside the first liquid cooling plate 22, that is, a cavity structure may be formed inside the liquid cooling plate 22, and the cavity structure may be used as the cooling channel 21. In some embodiments, the liquid cooling plate 22 is formed by combining a sealing plate and a flow channel plate, the flow channel plate is provided with at least one recessed groove that is recessed away from the sealing plate, the sealing plate is locked to the housing 1 by bolts, snaps, welding, etc., and the flow channel plate is welded to the side of the sealing plate away from the liquid cooling chamber 11, thereby forming the liquid cooling plate 22 having the cooling channel 21. Or it may be in other forms, and the innovation of this application lies not in the specific form of the cooling channel 21, which will not be listed individually here.
[0013] In this embodiment, the cooling channel 21 and the liquid cooling chamber 11 are connected, allowing the coolant to flow between the liquid cooling chamber 11 and the cooling channel 21. As the coolant flows, it removes heat from the battery cells 31 and the CCS assembly 4, ensuring that a good cooling effect is obtained on both the periphery and the ends of the battery cells 31 and the CCS assembly 4. This enables uniform cooling of the battery cell group 3 and the CCS assembly 4 from all directions, guaranteeing uniform temperature of the battery module and ensuring stable operation of the battery module.
[0014] Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, in some embodiments, the liquid cooling plate 22 is provided with a plurality of guide holes 23 distributed therein, which connect the cooling channel 21 and the liquid cooling chamber 11. In this way, the cooling channel 21 within the liquid cooling plate 22 is connected to the liquid cooling chamber 11 via the guide holes 23, and the coolant flows between the cooling channel 21 and the liquid cooling chamber 11 via the guide holes 23.
[0015] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, in some embodiments, a flow guide gap 32 is formed between adjacent battery cells 31, facing the flow guide hole 23. In this way, the coolant in the cooling channel 21 can flow directly through the flow guide gap 32, reducing obstruction of the coolant flow by the battery cells 31, and thereby allowing the coolant to flow smoothly between the liquid cooling chamber 11 and the cooling channel 21. In some embodiments, the flow guide gap 32 is formed surrounded by at least two adjacent battery cells 31, and in some embodiments, the battery cells 31 are cylindrical in structure, and the flow guide gap 32 is formed surrounded by three adjacent battery cells 31, that is, the flow guide gap 32 is provided in a triangular region between three adjacent cylindrical battery cells 31, thereby making full use of the gaps between the battery cells 31 and optimizing the use of space within the battery module, so that the coolant flowing along the flow guide gap 32 comes into full contact with the surface of the battery cells 31 and can rapidly lower the temperature of the battery cells 31.
[0016] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, in some embodiments, the liquid cooling assembly 2 further comprises a guide pipe 41 drilled in the CCS assembly 4, one end of which communicates with the liquid cooling chamber 11, and the other end of which enters into the guide hole 23. In this way, the coolant in the liquid cooling chamber 11 can flow into the cooling channel 21 of the liquid cooling plate 22 via the guide pipe 41, and at the same time, because the guide pipe 41 is drilled in the CCS assembly 4, the coolant can absorb heat from inside the CCS assembly 4 as it flows through the guide pipe 41, thereby achieving heat dissipation and temperature reduction inside the CCS assembly 4, and the cooling effect on the CCS assembly 4 is sufficiently optimized.
[0017] In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the guide hole 23 is larger than the outer diameter of the guide pipe 41. By making the inner diameter of the guide hole 23 larger than the outer diameter of the guide pipe 41, the guide pipe 41 can fit into the guide hole 23, eliminating the tolerance between the CCS assembly 4 and the liquid cooling plate 22, and making it easier to install the guide pipe 41 and the guide hole 23. In some embodiments, the diameter of the guide hole 23 is 13 mm, the outer diameter of the guide pipe 41 is 9 mm, and the inner diameter is 6 mm. At the same time, it is possible to ensure that the guide hole 23 on the other liquid cooling plate 22 is provided facing the guide pipe 41, thereby allowing the coolant to flow smoothly between the two liquid cooling plates 22 via the guide pipe 41.
[0018] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, in some embodiments, the CCS assembly 4 comprises a plastic holder 42 and an aluminum busbar 43, the aluminum busbar 43 being provided between the plastic holder 42 and the liquid cooling assembly 2, and the aluminum busbar 43 being in close contact with the liquid cooling assembly 2. In some embodiments, an adhesive material such as a structural adhesive or a thermally conductive adhesive is provided on the surface of the aluminum busbar 43, thereby allowing the aluminum busbar 43 to adhere to the liquid cooling plate 22, and by allowing the aluminum busbar 43 to adhere to the liquid cooling plate 22, the liquid cooling plate 22 can make sufficient contact with the aluminum busbar 43, optimizing the cooling effect of the liquid cooling plate 22 on the aluminum busbar 43. In some embodiments, wire holes for pulling out a collection wire harness may be further provided in the liquid cooling plate 22. Furthermore, the guide pipe 41 is an independent component, with one end of the guide pipe 41 exposed to the liquid cooling chamber 11 and the other end of the guide pipe 41 passing through the plastic holder 42 and the aluminum busbar 43 and entering the guide hole 23. Alternatively, the guide pipe 41 may be integrally molded with the plastic holder 42, with one end of the guide pipe 41 away from the battery cell 31 exposed to the liquid cooling chamber 11 and the other end of the guide pipe 41 passing through the aluminum busbar 43 and entering the guide hole 23. This allows the cooling liquid in the liquid cooling chamber 11 to absorb heat from the aluminum busbar 43 as it flows through the guide pipe 41 into the cooling channel 21, thereby optimizing the cooling effect on the aluminum busbar 43.
[0019] Referring to Figures 1 and 4, in some embodiments, the two liquid cooling assemblies 2 are provided on the upper and lower sides of the liquid cooling chamber 11, the CCS assembly 4 is provided between the battery cell group 3 and the upper liquid cooling assembly 2, a drain port 25 is connected to the upper liquid cooling assembly 2, and a supply port 24 is connected to the lower liquid cooling assembly 2. Thus, the coolant flows in from the supply port 24 and out from the drain port 25. In some embodiments, the supply port 24 is connected to the lower cooling channel 21, and the drain port 25 is connected to the upper cooling channel 21. In this way, the coolant first enters the lower cooling channel 21 and then enters the liquid cooling chamber 11 through the lower guide hole 23. The coolant can then enter the upper cooling channel 21 via the guide pipe 41 only when the liquid cooling chamber 11 is full, and then flow out to the outside via the drain port 25 from the upper cooling channel 21. In other words, the coolant needs to immerse the battery cell 31 and the CCS assembly 4 in the liquid cooling chamber 11, and only in this case can it enter the upper cooling channel 21, effectively ensuring a cooling effect on the battery cell 31 and the CCS assembly 4. Furthermore, by determining whether or not coolant is flowing out of the drain port 25, it is possible to intuitively reflect whether or not the coolant is cooling the battery cell 31 and the CCS assembly 4 from all directions. Specifically, the flow path of the coolant within the battery module is as follows.By supplying coolant to the lower cooling channel 21 via the liquid supply port 24, the coolant flows through the lower cooling channel 21, cooling the bottom end of the battery cell 31. Simultaneously, the coolant in the cooling channel 21 enters and fills the liquid cooling chamber 11 via the guide hole 23, so that the coolant in the liquid cooling chamber 11 cools the sides and top end of the battery cell 31 and the bottom end and sides of the CCS assembly 4 immersed therein. Subsequently, the coolant in the liquid cooling chamber 11 enters the upper cooling channel 21 via the guide pipe 41, and the upper liquid... The top end of the CCS assembly 4, which is in close contact with the cold plate 22, is cooled and cooled down, and then flows out to the outside through the drain port 25. As can be seen from this, the flow path of the coolant within the battery module covers the bottom, sides, and top of the battery cell 31 and the bottom, sides, and top of the CCS assembly 4. Therefore, when the coolant flows out of the drain port 25, it means that the coolant has flowed along the periphery and edges of the battery cell 31 and the CCS assembly 4, which intuitively reflects that the coolant is cooling the battery cell 31 and the CCS assembly 4 from all directions.
[0020] Referring to Figure 4, in some embodiments, openings 12 are provided on either of the opposing sides of the housing 1, a sealing groove 13 is provided on the circumferential side of the opening 12, a sealing material 14 is fitted into the sealing groove 13, and the liquid cooling assembly 2 is sealed and connected to the sealing material 14. In some embodiments, the sealing material 14 is an adhesive, sealing tape, sealant, or gasket, but in some embodiments, the sealing material 14 is placed in the sealing groove 13 to restrict its position, and the liquid cooling plate 22 is adhered to or in contact with the sealing material 14 to seal the liquid cooling plate 22 and the housing 1, thereby preventing leakage of the coolant in the liquid cooling chamber 11. Furthermore, the liquid cooling plate 22 may be secured to the housing 1 with fasteners such as bolts, screws, or rivets to form a strong and sealed whole between the liquid cooling plate 22 and the housing 1, while simultaneously ensuring a tight connection between the liquid cooling plate 22 and the sealing material 14 and improving the sealing effect.
[0021] In some embodiments, it is a battery pack including the above-described battery module.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, in some embodiments, the bottom end of the battery cell 31 is fixed to the lower liquid cooling plate 22, and the top end of the CCS assembly 4 is fixed to the upper liquid cooling plate 22. Thus, both the battery cell group 3 and the CCS assembly 4 are fixed within the liquid cooling chamber 11. By feeding the coolant into the lower cooling flow path 21 through the liquid supply port 24, the coolant flows through the lower cooling flow path 21 to cool down the bottom end of the battery cell 31. At the same time, the coolant in the cooling flow path 21 enters and fills the liquid cooling chamber 11 through the fluid conduction hole 23, so that the coolant in the liquid cooling chamber 11 cools down the side surface, top end of the battery cell 31 immersed therein, and the bottom end and side surface of the CCS assembly 4. Then, the coolant in the liquid cooling chamber 11 enters the upper cooling flow path 21 through the diversion pipe 41 to cool down the top end of the CCS assembly 4 in close contact with the upper liquid cooling plate 22, and flows out to the outside through the liquid discharge port 25, realizing the flow of the coolant between the liquid cooling chamber 11 and the two cooling flow paths 21. Thereby, the coolant takes away the heat of the battery cell 31 and the CCS assembly 4 during the flowing process, ensuring that good cooling effects can be obtained on both the peripheral side and the end of the battery cell 31 and the CCS assembly 4, realizing the uniform cooling of the battery cell group 3 and the CCS assembly 4 from all directions, ensuring the temperature uniformity of the battery module, and ensuring the stable operation of the battery module.
Description of Reference Numerals
[0023] 1...Housing, 11...Liquid cooling chamber, 12...Opening, 13...Sealing groove, 14...Sealing material, 2...Liquid cooling assembly, 21...Cooling channel, 22...Liquid cooling plate, 23...Guiding hole, 24...Liquid supply port, 25...Drainage port, 3...Battery cell group, 31...Battery cell, 32...Guiding gap, 4...CCS assembly, 41...Guiding tube, 42...Plastic holder, 43...Aluminum bus bar.
Claims
1. A housing (1) having a liquid cooling chamber (11), Two liquid cooling assemblies (2) are provided on opposite sides of the liquid cooling chamber (11) and each has a cooling channel (21) that communicates with the liquid cooling chamber (11), A group of battery cells (3) having a plurality of battery cells (31) provided in the liquid-cooled chamber (11), The system comprises a cell contact system assembly (4) provided between the battery cell group (3) and one of the liquid cooling assemblies (2), Battery module.
2. The liquid cooling assembly (2) comprises a liquid cooling plate (22), and the cooling channel (21) is provided on the liquid cooling plate (22). The battery module according to claim 1.
3. The liquid cooling plate (22) is provided with a plurality of guide holes (23) distributed therein, which connect the cooling channel (21) and the liquid cooling chamber (11). The battery module according to claim 2.
4. Between adjacent battery cells (31), a flow guide gap (32) is formed, which is provided opposite the flow guide hole (23). The battery module according to claim 3.
5. The liquid cooling assembly (2) further comprises a guide pipe (41) drilled in the cell contact system assembly (4), one end of the guide pipe (41) is in communication with the liquid cooling chamber (11), and the other end of the guide pipe (41) enters into the guide hole (23). The battery module according to claim 3.
6. The inner diameter of the guide hole (23) is larger than the outer diameter of the guide pipe (41). The battery module according to claim 5.
7. The cell contact system assembly (4) comprises a plastic holder (42) and an aluminum busbar (43), the aluminum busbar (43) being provided between the plastic holder (42) and the liquid cooling assembly (2), and the aluminum busbar (43) being in close contact with the liquid cooling assembly (2). A battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
8. The two liquid cooling assemblies (2) are provided on the upper and lower sides of the liquid cooling chamber (11), and the cell contact system assembly (4) is provided between the battery cell group (3) and the upper liquid cooling assembly (2), and a drain port (25) is connected to the upper liquid cooling assembly (2), and a supply port (24) is connected to the lower liquid cooling assembly (2). A battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
9. An opening (12) is provided on either of the opposing sides of the housing (1), a sealing groove (13) is provided around the opening (12), a sealing material (14) is fitted into the sealing groove (13), and the liquid cooling assembly (2) is sealed and connected to the sealing material (14). A battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
10. A battery module comprising the battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, Battery pack.