Battery storage device with ventilation system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery storage device (100), wherein the cell storage section (12) of the housing (10) is partitioned by chamber partitions (16) in a gas-impermeable state and has a plurality of storage chambers (21) that house a single battery cell or a group of a plurality of battery cells (20), and the gas discharge section (13) of the housing (10) comprises a plurality of storage channels (31) which are at least partially partitioned by channel partitions (18) in a gas-impermeable state and form flow paths that are fluidly connected to each assigned storage chamber (21) and separated into at least sections.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery housing device having a gas discharge path defined for the exhaust of gas emissions from a thermally overloaded battery cell.

Background Art

[0002] Battery housing devices are used as modular-structured battery housing systems composed of storage modules, such as those used for mobile applications such as traction batteries in vehicles.

[0003] Modular battery housing systems have a high energy density and require special safety functions to maximize the avoidance of the spread of a chain reaction between battery cells, i.e., thermal runaway, which may occur with some flammable active materials in lithium-ion batteries. These safety functions include a ventilation system that enables the hot exhaust gas and its heat load to be discharged to the outside in a controlled manner as much as possible.

[0004] When the battery housing system is arranged inside a vehicle, particularly close to the passenger compartment, there are further safety regulations regarding the allowable heat load discharged to a limited extent by the exhaust gas in the area surrounding the vehicle system, such as, in particular, the maximum temperature, or the avoidance of flying sparks caused by incandescent particles that may cause gas ignition.

[0005] On the other hand, in vehicle structures, optimization of space, weight, and cost is always required, which limits the design freedom of structural solutions related to the above-described safety-related processing of gas emissions and waste heat in the event of a thermally serious accident. Therefore, a design for improving the thermal behavior of the battery housing system is fundamentally required.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] One objective of the present invention is to suppress, as much as possible, the diffusion of critical temperature to adjacent battery cells and the thermal chain reaction between battery cells within a battery housing system by utilizing its structural features.

[0007] In the application of battery storage systems in vehicles, a further higher objective of the present invention is to improve passenger safety when exhausting gaseous emissions from thermally overloaded battery cells within the battery storage system.

[0008] The above objective is achieved by a battery housing device having the features of claim 1 of the claims. Further features and details of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, specification and drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The battery housing according to the present invention includes a housing, the housing comprising a cell housing for housing a plurality of battery cells, a gas discharge section for discharging gaseous emissions from the battery cells through a predetermined flow path, and a gas outlet that is guided outward through the housing and discharges gaseous emissions from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing. According to the present invention, the cell housing of the housing has a plurality of housing chambers, each housing a single battery cell or a group of battery cells, partitioned by at least one chamber partition in a gas-impermeable state; the gas discharge section of the housing has a plurality of discharge channels, each partitioned at least partially by at least one channel partition in a gas-impermeable state, and forming flow paths that are fluidly connected to each assigned housing chamber and separated into at least sections. Advantageously, exactly one housing chamber is fluidly connected to one discharge channel, thereby preventing heat from one housing chamber from being transferred to another housing chamber through the discharge channel.

[0010] Accordingly, the present invention provides for the first time a receptacle for individual battery cells or groups of individual battery cells within a housing chamber, combined with separately allocated exhaust channels for the individual exhaust of the volumes of each housing section, which are separated from each other.

[0011] The main advantage of the present invention is that the heat load contained in the exhaust gas from a single battery cell, or at least a limited number of battery cells within a group, is discharged in a directional manner, separate from the volume or ventilation interface of adjacent housings or the housing chambers that house the closest battery cells.

[0012] Therefore, in both the cell receptacle region and the surrounding ventilation and discharge point region, it is possible to prevent the heat load of the exhaust gas from being diffused to adjacent battery cells via fluid connections between adjacent battery cells.

[0013] According to one advantageous aspect of the present invention, at least one chamber partition and / or at least one channel partition extends perpendicular to the section partition, forming a compartment of the housing between the cell housing and the gas exhaust, which is gas-permeable by a gas passage opening. This allows a uniform and regular channel structure having the same flow behavior as duplicated components to be used for exhaust across the entire surface area of ​​the modular battery housing system and distributed to all battery modules.

[0014] According to one advantageous aspect of the present invention, a section partition between the cell housing and the gas discharge section, having a gas passage opening for a gas-permeable compartment, may extend substantially horizontally within the housing, and the at least one chamber partition and / or at least one channel partition may extend substantially vertically within the housing. This further simplifies the design of the housing in relation to a uniform and regular channel structure having the same discharge flow behavior as redundantly manufactured components.

[0015] According to one aspect of the present invention based thereon, the cell housing may be located above a section partition having a gas passage opening for a gas permeable compartment, and the gas discharge section may be located below the section partition having a gas passage opening for a gas permeable compartment.

[0016] This relative arrangement of the housings offers application-related advantages in relation to the placement of the battery housing in the system's surrounding area, particularly on the vehicle floor. This means that the battery cells are less exposed to potential harmful effects on the vehicle's underbody, and the ventilation system for high-temperature gases is located further away from the passenger compartment above it.

[0017] According to one advantageous aspect of the present invention, the gas passage openings within the section partition can each form separate fluid connections between the containment chamber and the discharge channel. This provides a structurally simple method for housing battery cells by forming a structural boundary within the housing without separating the containment volume.

[0018] According to one advantageous aspect of the present invention, between the housing chambers of the cell housing, the chamber partitions for gas-impermeable compartments may extend parallel to the longitudinal extensions of the battery cells. This provides a structurally simple method for housing battery cells by forming a structural boundary within the housing while separating adjacent housing volumes.

[0019] According to one advantageous aspect of the present invention, channel partitions for at least partially gas-impermeable compartments between the exhaust channels of a gas exhaust section are located at the same distance as the chamber partitions between the containment chambers, and may in particular extend parallel thereto in at least one direction. This provides a structurally simple way to form structural boundaries between adjacent exhaust channels within the housing, which are allocated for individual exhausts at distances between adjacent containment volumes.

[0020] According to one advantageous aspect of the present invention, multiple adjacent channel partitions may be integrally formed between discharge channels by a common surface element having a meander-shaped cross-section. This makes it easier and more cost-effective to establish structural boundaries between adjacent discharge channels within the housing.

[0021] According to one advantageous aspect of the present invention, the surface elements of the channel partition can have openings corresponding to the gas passage openings of the section partition in a serpentine cross-sectional portion adjacent to, i.e., located in the immediate vicinity of, the section partition between the cell housing and the gas discharge section. This ensures uniform fluid connection between the housing chamber and the assigned discharge channel in all discharge channels.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of adjacent channel partitions may be integrally formed between the discharge channels by a common surface element having a trapezoidal cross-section. This provides advantages related to manufacturing.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present invention based thereon, two adjacent discharge channels may be fluidly connected by passage openings in channel partitions positioned between them, and each may be assigned to a fluid connection to a single containment chamber. This channel structure simplifies the design by eliminating the need to create additional openings in the surface elements of the channel partitions, particularly in the roof surfaces between the channel partitions.

[0024] According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the discharge channel can form at least a section with a discharge chamber restricted by at least one pressure-sensing boundary element in the flow cross-section of the discharge channel, and this boundary element is opened in the discharge flow direction when a predetermined pressure is exceeded. Thereby, on the one hand, a further restriction is provided for separating the fluid connection between adjacent discharge channels. Furthermore, on the other hand, conditions are structurally configured with respect to the pressure-based critical value that must be exceeded in order for the ventilation system to be actually opened by the corresponding gas release as a result of thermal overload, for example in the form of a plate that irreversibly ruptures.

[0025] According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the pressure-sensing boundary element can open a flow path to the gas outlet through a bypass portion of the housing that bypasses the vertical protrusions of all the accommodation chambers. By appropriately configuring the directional exhaust gas system, within the meaning of the present invention, the thermal load of the exhaust gas from one battery cell can be more effectively prevented from affecting other battery cells in adjacent accommodation chambers or any other accommodation chamber on the path to the gas outlet.

[0026] According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, at least two spark separation elements having a separation surface protruding into the flow cross-section of the flow path to the gas outlet may be arranged in the discharge portion of the housing, particularly in the spark separation segment. In addition to the various directional deflections of the individually directed flow paths that already achieve the particle separation effect based on the mass inertia of the particles, this feature helps to more effectively prevent the incandescent particles contained in the exhaust gas from being discharged from the housing of the battery device to the outside.

[0027] According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention based on this, the separation surface of the spark separation element may be inclined at an angle less than 90° with respect to the flow direction of the flow path to the gas outlet. Thereby, the effect of the spark separation segment, particularly the particle retention effect, is optimized.

[0028] Further advantages, features, and details of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, which details exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In this case, the features described in the claims and the specification may be essential to the present invention either alone or in any combination. These are schematically shown below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029] [Figure 1a] It is a schematic diagram showing a side cross-section of a battery housing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1b] It is a detailed diagram showing the discharge part in the schematic diagram according to FIG. 1a. [Figure 2] It is a schematic diagram showing the upper plane of the discharge part of the housing of a battery housing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a schematic perspective view showing the external area of the discharge part of the housing of a battery housing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a schematic perspective view showing the internal area of the discharge part of the housing of a battery housing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a schematic diagram showing a side cross-section of the discharge part of the housing of a battery housing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a schematic diagram showing a side cross-section of a battery housing device having a trapezoidal channel formation structure according to a further embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a schematic diagram showing a part of the side cross-section of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] It is a schematic exploded view showing a part of a metal plate forming a discharge channel. [Figure 9] It is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 8 from another perspective.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0030] Figure 1a schematically shows a side cross-section of the housing 10 of the battery storage device 100. The dotted horizontal line X indicates a functional compartment in which the housing 10 is divided into a cell housing section 12 in which the battery cells 20 are housed and an exhaust section 13 through which an exhaust channel 31 extends for exhaust. A section partition wall 14 having a gas passage opening 15 is positioned to define the boundary between the cell housing section 12 and the exhaust section 13, forming a separation section that is gas permeable through the gas passage opening 15 along the dotted horizontal line X, but otherwise gas impermeable.

[0031] The cell housing section 12 includes a plurality of housing chambers 21. Each of these housing chambers houses a small group of battery cells. In the illustrated embodiment, each housing chamber houses a group of three battery cells 20 in the form of pouch cells. In an alternative embodiment, each housing chamber 21 may house one or a different number of battery cells 20 of prismatic, cylindrical, or other shapes. Further wiring (not shown) shows that the battery cells 20 in the housing chambers 21 are electrically connected in parallel to one another and electrically connected in series from one housing chamber 21 to the next.

[0032] Chamber partitions 16 are positioned between each containment chamber 21, dividing the volumes of the containment chambers 21 from one another. The chamber partitions 16 form a gas-impermeable boundary between each containment chamber 21, preventing high-temperature gas from diffusing from one containment chamber 21 to the next. The chamber partitions 16 extend along the longitudinal extension of the battery cell 20.

[0033] The discharge section 13 includes a plurality of discharge channels 31, each located below the containment chamber 21, and is further positioned equidistant from the containment chamber or configured to have the same width and length dimensions as the containment chamber 21 below the section partition 14. Each discharge channel 31 is assigned to exactly one containment chamber 21 and is fluidly connected to the volume of the assigned containment chamber 21 via a plurality of gas passage openings 15 within the section partition 14.

[0034] In other words, each discharge channel 31 is assigned to and fluid-connected to one containment chamber 21. Alternatively, for example, two discharge channels 31 may each be assigned to and fluid-connected to one containment chamber 21.

[0035] A channel partition wall 18 is placed between each exhaust channel 31 to divide the volume of each exhaust channel 31 from one another. The channel partition wall 18 forms a gas-impermeable compartment between adjacent exhaust channels 31, preventing high-temperature gas from diffusing from one exhaust channel 31 to the adjacent exhaust channel 31.

[0036] Figure 1b is a detailed view showing the discharge section 13 in the schematic diagram of Figure 1a, represented by a dotted circle. Figure 1b shows the section partition wall 14 through which the gas passage opening 15 passes. The gas flow A flowing through the gas passage opening 15 is schematically indicated by an arrow.

[0037] Gas flow A penetrates the section partition wall 14 through the gas passage opening 15 and is distributed along each discharge channel 31. A channel partition wall 18, positioned between two discharge channels 31, impermeably separates adjacent discharge channels 31 from each other, and is advantageously formed of a meandering corrugated sheet metal. Gas flow A, diffusing along each discharge channel 31, merges at the end of each discharge channel 31 with a pressure-sensing boundary element 33, which may be designed as a so-called flap. This boundary element 33 sets the boundary of the discharge channel 31 in the direction of the bypass path 11 and is opened only at a predetermined pressure difference between the discharge channel 31 and the bypass path 11. The size of the boundary element 33 is advantageously approximately the same as the cross-sectional area of ​​the discharge channel 31 in order to ensure a large flow cross-sectional area when the boundary element 33 is open.

[0038] Figure 2 shows a top view of the discharge section 13 of the housing 10 as seen from the housing section 12 located above it, i.e., the housing structure located below the section partition wall 14, where meandering surface elements form the channel partition wall 18. In this case, the meandering surface elements alternately form the upper boundary (adjacent to the section partition wall 14, not shown) and the lower boundary of the discharge channel 31. The upper boundary formed by the meandering surface elements has an opening 15a corresponding to the gas passage opening 15 of the section partition wall 14, not shown. The discharge channel 31 is arranged in two adjacent blocks. Between the two blocks and outside the two blocks, the end faces of the discharge channel 31 are each open to the bypass section 11.

[0039] The bypass section 11 is a collection channel that combines and deflects gas flows A, indicated by arrows, from the individual discharge channels 31, and also directs them to the spark separation segment 36 via the spark separation segment inlet 37, and to the common gas outlet 30 of the discharge section 13. The gas flows A, schematically indicated by arrows, are merely illustrative snapshots in the figure and will vary depending on the pressure conditions within the housing 10. The gas outlet 30 is either an opening within the housing 10 or an outlet from the housing 10, which is isolated from external influences and also opened to a limited extent, such as a pressure valve. The bypass section 11 directs the exhaust gas from the discharge channels 31 to pass through the base surface, i.e., the vertical projections of all containment chambers 21 located between or outside the blocks. This prevents undamaged battery cells 20 in a containment chamber 21 from passing beneath them and being directly heated by the hot exhaust gas discharged from thermally overloaded battery cells 20 in another containment chamber 21. Furthermore, at least one spark separation element 34 is arranged in the spark separation segment 36 upstream of the gas outlet 30 of the housing 10, and its operation method will be described later.

[0040] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the discharge section 13 of the housing 10, which is formed by a meandering surface element and then the channel partition wall 18 that forms the discharge channel 31 in Figure 2. This alternates between discharge channels 31 having an integrated bottom surface and discharge channels 31 having an integrated roof surface next to them. As described above, in this type of roof surface, the meandering surface element that forms the channel partition wall 18 of all second discharge channels 31 is located above it and has an opening 15a corresponding to the gas passage opening 15 of a section partition wall 14 (not shown). In all second discharge channels 31, the gas passage opening 15 of the section partition wall 14 (not shown) establishes a connection to the containment chamber 21 located above it.

[0041] As can be seen in Figure 3, the end face of the discharge channel 31 is viewed from the outer region of the bypass section 11, which is closed by a pressure-sensing boundary element 33 (not shown). Thus, the boundary element 33 functionally forms a discharge chamber at the end of each discharge channel 31, whose volume is initially partitioned from the adjacent bypass section 11, but is fluidly connected via the gas passage opening 15, and the volume of the containment chamber 21 is allocated above it. As a result, unless at least two boundary elements 33 are opened by overpressure, there is no fluid connection between the volumes of the different containment chambers 21 via bypassing the bypass section 11.

[0042] In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure-sensing boundary element 33 is a flap that can be opened in only one direction to exhaust at a predetermined pressure, but prevents backflow into the discharge channel 31. When the thermally limited internal pressure of the containment chamber 21 and the discharge chamber formed between the two boundary elements 33 of the discharge channel 31 rises and exceeds a predetermined pressure, the boundary element 33 opens, and the exhaust gas is discharged to the bypass section 11.

[0043] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a partial cross-section of the discharge section 13 of the housing 10, where the end face of the discharge channel 31 of the bypass section 11 formed in the central region and the spark separation segment 36 between the two discharge channel 31 blocks can be seen. In the illustrated embodiment, a pressure-sensing boundary element 33 is positioned on such an end face, thereby forming an initially limited discharge chamber. Furthermore, a spark separation element 34 that deflects the gas flow A is shown in the spark separation segment 36.

[0044] Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a portion of the spark separation segment 36 where the spark separation element 34 is located. Gas flow A flows from the spark separation segment inlet 37 into the spark separation segment 36 where the spark separation element 34 is located.

[0045] The spark separation element 34 has separation surfaces that protrude from different sides within the flow cross-section of the spark separation segment 36. As the direction of the gas flow A changes, particles, such as red-hot particles, are transported outward at each deflection due to their greater inertia compared to the gas molecules. The acute angles of the separation surfaces, which are inclined to less than 90° with respect to the gas flow A, form pockets where particles are collected and held. In principle, deflections of the gas flow with a similar separation effect have already occurred in the region of the discharge channel 31, for example, at the bottom or channel partition 18, and at the point of transition to the bypass section 11.

[0046] However, the spark separation element 34 increases the number of deflections and improves the particle retention performance, specifically in the short segment of the spark separation segment 36, before the particles are discharged through the gas outlet 30.

[0047] Figures 6 to 9 show further embodiments of the battery storage device 100 according to the present invention. As a further development form, it has a modified geometry of the trapezoidal discharge channel 31. While the function is the same in other respects, manufacturing is greatly simplified and functionality is further improved. The gas flow A is particularly easy to track in Figures 6 and 7. The gas flow A reaches a first partial section of the trapezoidal discharge channel 31 through the gas passage opening 15. The gas is guided further through the passage opening 35 of the side trapezoidal channel partition wall 18 and can travel along the path already described in Figures 1 to 4. In this case, only two adjacent discharge channels 31 are always connected through the passage opening 35 of the channel partition wall 18 and are separated from further adjacent discharge channels 31 by the channel partition wall 18 without the passage opening 35. This prevents the hot gas from diffusing below the undamaged battery cells 20 in another storage chamber 21. Thus, two discharge channels 31 are each assigned to and fluidly connected to one storage chamber 21.

[0048] The above description of embodiments is for illustrative purposes only. Needless to say, where technically possible, the individual features of each embodiment can be freely combined without departing from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 10: Housing 11: Bypass section 12: Containment Unit 13: Discharge section 14: Sectional bulkhead 15: Gas passage opening 15a: Opening 16: Chamber partition 18: Channel partition 20: Battery cell 21: Containment Chamber 30: Gas outlet 31: Emission Channels 33: Pressure-sensing boundary element 34: Spark separation element 35: Passage opening 36: Spark separation segment 37: Spark separation segment inlet 100: Battery storage device A: Gas flow X: Functional partition

Claims

1. In a battery storage device equipped with a housing, the housing is: A cell housing section that accommodates multiple battery cells; A gas discharge unit that discharges gaseous material from the battery cell through a predetermined flow path; and A gas outlet that guides the gas outward through the housing and discharges the gas from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing; It is equipped with, The cell housing portion of the housing is partitioned by at least one chamber partition in a gas-impermeable state and has a plurality of housing chambers that house a single battery cell or a cell group of multiple battery cells. A battery housing device characterized in that the gas discharge section of the housing is at least partially partitioned by at least one channel partition in a gas-impermeable state and has a plurality of discharge channels that form flow paths separated into at least sections by fluid connection to each assigned housing chamber.

2. The battery housing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one chamber partition and / or the at least one channel partition extends perpendicular to the section partition, forming a compartment of the housing between the cell housing and the gas discharge section, which is gas permeable by a gas passage opening.

3. The battery housing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a section partition wall having a gas passage opening for a gas permeable compartment extends substantially horizontally within the housing between the cell housing and the gas discharge section, and the at least one chamber partition wall and / or the at least one channel partition wall extends substantially vertically within the housing.

4. The battery housing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cell housing section is located above the section partition wall, and the gas discharge section is located below the section partition wall.

5. The battery housing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each gas passage opening in the section partition wall forms a separate fluid connection between the housing chamber and the discharge channel.

6. The battery housing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the chamber partition for a gas-impermeable compartment between the housing chambers of the cell housing portion extends parallel to the longitudinal extension of the battery cell.

7. The battery housing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the channel partitions for at least partially gas-impermeable compartments between the discharge channels of the gas discharge section are located at the same distance as the chamber partitions between the housing chambers and extend in particular parallel thereto in at least one direction.

8. The battery housing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of adjacent channel partitions are integrally formed between the discharge channels by a common surface element having a meandering cross-section.

9. The battery housing device according to claim 8, characterized in that the surface element of the channel partition wall has a gas passage opening corresponding to the gas passage opening of the section partition wall in a serpentine cross-sectional portion that is arranged adjacent to the section partition wall between the cell housing portion and the gas discharge portion.

10. The battery storage device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of adjacent channel partitions are integrally formed between the discharge channels by a common surface element having a trapezoidal cross-section.

11. The battery housing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that two adjacent discharge channels are fluidly connected by passage openings in channel partitions positioned between them, and are assigned to a fluid connection to a single housing chamber.

12. The battery housing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the discharge channel has a discharge chamber formed in at least one section in the flow cross-section of the discharge channel, which is restricted by at least one pressure-sensing boundary element, and the boundary element is opened in the discharge flow direction when a predetermined pressure is exceeded.

13. The battery housing device according to claim 12, characterized in that the pressure-sensing boundary element opens a flow path to the gas outlet via a bypass portion of the housing that bypasses the vertical protrusions of all housing chambers.

14. The battery housing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the gas discharge portion of the housing, particularly the spark separation segment, is provided with at least two spark separation elements having separation surfaces that protrude into the flow cross-section of the flow path to the gas outlet.

15. The battery housing device according to claim 14, characterized in that the separation surface of the spark separation element is inclined at an angle of less than 90° with respect to the flow direction of the flow path to the gas outlet.

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