Batteries and power consumption devices

Abstract

This application provides a battery and a power consumption device. The battery includes a housing and a battery cell, the housing having an exhaust hole that penetrates the housing along the thickness direction of the housing, and the battery cell is housed in the housing. The battery cell includes a case and a first pressure relief mechanism and two electrodes provided on the case, the first pressure relief mechanism communicating the exhaust hole to the inside of the case when open, and at least one of the two electrodes and the first pressure relief mechanism are provided on the same side of the case. The exhaust hole penetrates the housing along the thickness direction of the housing, the first pressure relief mechanism communicates the exhaust hole to the inside of the case when open, and the gas discharged from the first pressure relief mechanism is discharged into the housing through the exhaust hole, the gas is cooled and depressurized using the space outside the housing, the risk of the gas detonating inside the housing is reduced or eliminated, and is advantageous in improving the safety performance of the battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - reference to related applications) This application claims the priority of a Chinese patent application filed with the National Intellectual Property Administration on December 04, 2023, with an application number of 202311640993.4 and an invention title of "Battery and Power - consuming Device", and all of its content is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This application belongs to the field of new - energy technologies, and more specifically, relates to batteries and power - consuming devices.

Background Art

[0003] Generally, the housing provides a space for accommodating monomer batteries. Cavities are provided on the box walls of the housing. When a monomer battery undergoes thermal runaway, an explosion - proof valve guides the gas inside the monomer battery to the accommodation space or the cavity.

[0004] Whether it is the accommodation space or the cavity, both belong to the internal space of the housing. Since the volume of the internal space is limited and the effect of cooling and reducing pressure on the gas is limited, the risk of short - circuit failure of the battery increases, which is disadvantageous for improving the safety performance of the battery.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The purpose of the embodiments of this application is to provide a battery and a power - consuming device for solving the technical problem that the conventional battery is likely to cause safety concerns by guiding gas into the housing.

[0006] To solve the above - mentioned technical problem, the embodiments of this application adopt the following technical solutions.

[0007] According to a first aspect, a battery is provided. The battery includes a housing and battery cells. An exhaust hole is provided on the housing, penetrating the housing along the thickness direction of the housing. The battery cells are accommodated in the housing. The battery cell includes a case, a first pressure relief mechanism provided on the case, and two electrodes, wherein the first pressure relief mechanism, when open, connects the exhaust hole to the inside of the case, and at least one of the two electrodes and the first pressure relief mechanism are provided on the same side of the case.

[0008] In some embodiments, the battery further includes a separator member, the separator member being connected between the housing and the battery cell, with one side of the separator member and the other side facing away from the first side being isolated from each other, the first pressure relief mechanism and the exhaust hole being provided on the one side, and the electrode located on the same side as the first pressure relief mechanism being provided on the other side.

[0009] The separator member isolates the first pressure relief mechanism from the electrode, isolates the exhaust hole from the electrode, isolates the path through which the gas is discharged from the first pressure relief mechanism to the exhaust hole from the electrode, and prevents the gas from adversely affecting the electrode and its insulation design.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first pressure relief mechanism and the two electrodes are provided on the same side of the case, the first pressure relief mechanism is provided between the two electrodes, the separator member is provided between the first pressure relief mechanism and one of the electrodes, and the separator member is provided between the first pressure relief mechanism and the other electrode.

[0011] When the first pressure relief mechanism and the two electrodes are located on the same side of the case, one separator member is used to isolate one electrode from the first pressure relief mechanism, and another separator member is used to isolate the other electrode from the first pressure relief mechanism. The two electrodes are isolated from each other, and the path through which the gas is discharged from the first pressure relief mechanism to the exhaust hole is isolated from either electrode, preventing the gas from adversely affecting either electrode and its insulation design.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first pressure relief mechanism is located at a central position between the two electrodes.

[0013] The pitch between the first pressure relief mechanism and the two electrodes coincides, the pitch between the first pressure relief mechanism and either one of the electrodes is sufficient, and it is advantageous to install a separator member between the first pressure relief mechanism and either one of the electrodes.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first pressure relief mechanism is positioned close to one electrode and away from another electrode.

[0015] This provides an alternative installation method for the first pressure relief mechanism, applicable when the pitch between one electrode and the first pressure relief mechanism needs to be greater than the arrangement requirement for the pitch between another electrode and the first pressure relief mechanism.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first pressure relief mechanism and the two electrodes are provided on the same side of the case, the first pressure relief mechanism and the two electrodes are installed sequentially, and the separator member is provided between the first pressure relief mechanism and the electrode adjacent thereto.

[0017] This provides yet another installation method for the first pressure relief mechanism, applicable to arrangement requirements where the first pressure relief mechanism is located on the side of the battery cell, but the two electrodes are located on another side or in an intermediate region.

[0018] In some embodiments, the battery includes a plurality of the battery cells arranged in a stack along a first direction, any two adjacent battery cells being oriented opposite each other along a second direction, and the first direction being perpendicular to the second direction.

[0019] By arranging any two adjacent battery cells opposite each other along the second direction, two sets of first pressure relief mechanisms can be formed that are spaced apart along the second direction, and each set containing multiple first pressure relief mechanisms arranged along the first direction is advantageous for laying out and installing the first pressure relief mechanisms based on the internal space of the battery.

[0020] In some embodiments, the battery includes a plurality of battery cells stacked and installed along a first direction, and any two adjacent battery cells are arranged identically along a second direction, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

[0021] By arranging any two adjacent battery cells identically along the second direction, a plurality of first pressure relief mechanisms arranged along the first direction can be formed, which is advantageous for laying out and installing the first pressure relief mechanism based on the internal space of the battery.

[0022] In some embodiments, the battery includes a plurality of battery cells stacked and installed along a first direction, the separator member extends along the first direction, and the separator member is connected to the plurality of battery cells.

[0023] A plurality of battery cells can be isolated from a set of first pressure relief mechanisms, exhaust holes, and electrodes by one separator member, simplifying the internal structure of the battery.

[0024] In some embodiments, the distance between the separator member and the electrode adjacent thereto is 35 mm or more. The size of the separator member in the direction in which the separator member faces the electrode adjacent thereto is 4 mm or more and is less than or equal to the distance between the separator member and the electrode adjacent thereto.

[0025] In the direction in which the separator member faces the electrode adjacent thereto, the size of the separator member is 4 mm or more and is less than the distance between the separator member and the electrode adjacent thereto, realizing the isolation function and at the same time improving the connection strength between the separator member, the housing, and the battery cells.

[0026] In some embodiments, the size of the separator member in the direction in which the housing faces the battery cell is 0.3 mm or more.

[0027] In the direction in which the housing faces the battery cell, the size of the separator member is 0.3 mm or more, which can realize the isolation function and at the same time improve the connection strength between the separator member, the housing, and the battery cell.

[0028] In some embodiments, a passage structure is provided in the housing, and the passage structure and the first pressure relief mechanism are provided on both sides in the axial direction of the exhaust hole, and the exhaust hole communicates with the passage structure.

[0029] By guiding the gas to be discharged directionally to the housing through the passage structure, it is beneficial for the directional control of the gas, reduces the probability of occurrence of safety concerns, reduces the number of paths through which the gas is discharged to the housing, and simplifies the structural design of the housing.

[0030] In some embodiments, a second pressure relief mechanism is provided in the housing, and the second pressure relief mechanism is provided at an end of the passage structure away from the exhaust hole, and the second pressure relief mechanism communicates the passage structure with the outside of the housing in an open state.

[0031] Installing a second pressure relief mechanism at the end of the passage structure is beneficial for the directional discharge of the gas and reduces the probability of occurrence of safety concerns.

[0032] In some embodiments, the battery includes a plurality of battery cells stacked and installed along a first direction, and the housing is provided with a plurality of the exhaust holes arranged along the first direction, and the plurality of exhaust holes respectively communicate with the passage structure, and the first pressure relief mechanism is installed in a one-to-one correspondence with the exhaust holes.

[0033] When the battery includes a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of exhaust holes are installed, and by making the arrangement direction of the plurality of exhaust holes coincide with the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells, the exhaust installation of the plurality of battery cells is realized.

[0034] In some embodiments, the battery includes a plurality of battery cells stacked and arranged along a first direction, the exhaust holes extending along the first direction, and a plurality of the first pressure relief mechanisms of the plurality of the battery cells provided within the projection of the exhaust holes along their axial direction, the first direction being perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0035] When a battery contains multiple battery cells, the exhaust holes are aligned with the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells to enable exhaust installation for all battery cells.

[0036] In some embodiments, the passage structure includes a first passage extending along the first direction, and the exhaust hole communicates with the first passage and the first pressure relief mechanism.

[0037] The first passage is advantageous for controlling the directionality of the gas by merging the gas from the exhaust vent and guiding the gas to be discharged in a directional manner into the enclosure, thereby reducing the probability of safety concerns occurring, decreasing the number of paths through which the gas is discharged into the enclosure, and simplifying the structural design of the enclosure.

[0038] In some embodiments, the battery comprises a plurality of battery packs arranged along a second direction, the battery packs comprising a plurality of the battery cells, the first direction being perpendicular to the second direction, the passage structure comprising a plurality of the first passages, and the first passages and the battery packs being installed in a one-to-one ratio.

[0039] When multiple battery packs are installed, multiple first passages can be provided, and each first passage can collect the gas discharged from multiple valve bodies of multiple battery cells in one battery pack, thereby enabling exhaust installation for multiple battery packs.

[0040] In some embodiments, the passage structure includes a second passage extending along the second direction, and any of the first passages communicate with the second passage.

[0041] The second passage is advantageous for direct gas control by merging gases from multiple first passages and guiding them to be discharged in a directional manner into the enclosure, reducing the probability of safety concerns occurring, decreasing the number of gas discharge paths into the enclosure, and simplifying the structural design of the enclosure.

[0042] In some embodiments, the passage structure includes a third passage whose extension direction coincides with the axial direction of the exhaust hole, a second pressure relief mechanism is provided at the end of the third passage away from the second passage, and the second pressure relief mechanism and the first pressure relief mechanism are provided on the same side of the exhaust hole.

[0043] Since the third passage extends along the axial direction of the exhaust hole, the second pressure relief mechanism and the first pressure relief mechanism can be provided on the same side of the exhaust hole, and the installation of the second pressure relief mechanism does not increase the size of the housing along the axial direction of the exhaust hole, nor does it increase the volume occupied by the housing.

[0044] In some embodiments, the housing includes a main housing and a housing cover, and the housing cover includes a main cover and a sub-cover. The main cover is installed over the main housing, the main cover and the main housing together define a space for housing the battery cells, and the exhaust hole and the third passage are provided on the main cover. The sub-cover is provided on the side of the main cover that is away from the main housing, and the sub-cover and the main cover define both the first passage and the second passage.

[0045] By utilizing the main enclosure and enclosure cover inherent in the enclosure itself, the first, second, and third passages are designed, simplifying the structural design of the enclosure.

[0046] According to a second embodiment, a power consumption device is provided, the power consumption device including the battery described above.

[0047] The beneficial effects of the battery according to the embodiment of this application are as follows: In the battery according to this technology, the exhaust hole penetrates the housing along the thickness direction of the housing, the first pressure relief mechanism communicates with the exhaust hole when open, the gas discharged from the first pressure relief mechanism is discharged into the housing through the exhaust hole, the gas is cooled and depressurized using the space outside the housing, the risk of the gas detonating inside the housing is reduced or eliminated, and is advantageous in improving the safety performance of the battery.

[0048] The beneficial effects of the power consumption device according to the embodiment of this application are as follows: The power consumption device according to this technology employs a battery according to the above technology, in which the exhaust hole penetrates the housing along the thickness direction of the housing, the first pressure relief mechanism communicates with the exhaust hole when open, the gas discharged from the first pressure relief mechanism is discharged into the housing through the exhaust hole, the gas is cooled and depressurized using the space outside the housing, the risk of the gas detonating inside the housing is reduced or eliminated, and is advantageous in improving the safety performance of the power consumption device.

[0049] To more clearly illustrate the technical concepts in the embodiments of this application, the following briefly introduces the drawings that may be used in the embodiments or prior art descriptions. It is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only a few embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these without expending any creative effort. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0050] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a power consumption device according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 3] This is an exploded view of a battery according to some embodiments of this application. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of the battery structure according to some embodiments of this application, with the housing cover removed. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a housing from one viewpoint according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a housing from a different perspective, according to some embodiments of this application. [Figure 8] This is an enlarged view of portion A in Figure 7. [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a housing cover according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 10] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a subcover from one viewpoint according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a subcover from a different perspective, according to some embodiments of this application. [Figure 12] This is an exploded view of a battery according to some other embodiments of this application. [Figure 13] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell according to some other embodiments of this application. [Figure 14] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a housing cover according to some other embodiments of this application. [Figure 15] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a subcover from one viewpoint according to some other embodiments of this application. [Figure 16] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a subcover from a different perspective according to some other embodiments of this application. [Figure 17] This is an exploded view of a battery according to several other embodiments of this application. [Figure 18] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell according to several other embodiments of this application. [Figure 19] This is an exploded view of a battery according to some further embodiments of the present application. [Figure 20] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell according to some further embodiments of this application. [Figure 21] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a housing cover according to several other embodiments of this application. [Figure 22] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a subcover from one viewpoint, according to several other embodiments of this application. [Figure 23]This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a subcover from a different perspective, according to several other embodiments of this application. [Figure 24] This is an exploded view of a battery according to some further embodiments of the present application. [Figure 25] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell according to some further embodiments of this application. [Figure 26] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell according to some further embodiments of this application. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0051] To clarify the technical problem, technical solution, and beneficial effects that this application aims to solve, the application will be described in more detail, linking it with the following drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for interpretation purposes only and do not limit this application.

[0052] It should be explained that when an element is referred to as "fixed to" or "installed on" another element, it may be directly or indirectly positioned on the other element. When one element is referred to as "connected" to another element, it may be directly or indirectly connected to the other element.

[0053] It should be understood that the directions or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "length," "width," "top," "bottom," "front," "back," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inside," and "outside" are directions or positional relationships shown based on the drawings and are merely for the convenience and simplification of the description in this application. They do not indicate or imply that the mentioned device or element has a specific direction or must be configured and operated in a specific direction, and therefore should not be understood as limitations on this application.

[0054] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used solely for descriptive purposes and should not be understood as implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features being referred to. Thus, features designated as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more such features. In the description of this application, unless otherwise specifically limited, "multiple" means two or more.

[0055] Thermal runaway in a battery core is a phenomenon in which the temperature of the battery core increases rapidly due to one or more contributing factors. This thermal runaway causes a rapid rise in the temperature of the battery core, releasing a large amount of heat and harmful gases simultaneously, which poses a risk of detonating the battery.

[0056] As an example, the process of a battery spontaneously igniting or self-destructing due to thermal runaway of the battery core is enumerated: the negative electrode SEI (Solid Electrolyte Interface) inside the battery core decomposes, then the separator separating the negative electrode and the electrolyte decomposes and dissolves, the negative electrode and the electrolyte react, and the positive electrode and electrolyte decompose, causing a large-area short circuit inside the battery core, the electrolyte enters a state of combustion, the battery core undergoes thermal runaway, and the battery spontaneously ignites and detonates.

[0057] During normal charging and discharging of a battery core, an electrolyte fills the space between the positive and negative electrodes. The directional movement of ions within the electrolyte and the directional movement of electrons within the external conductors form a closed circuit, sustaining the chemical reaction between the positive and negative electrodes. This generates an electric current during the orderly electron transition, enabling the conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy. For this to happen, the positive and negative electrodes need to be electrically connected to other electrical components.

[0058] Furthermore, the inside of the casing is generally provided with one or more conductive structures or materials, and to prevent the positive and negative electrodes of the battery core from conducting electricity with these structures or materials and causing safety concerns, insulating structures or materials must be used to isolate them, ensuring effective insulation performance during battery use, and sealing measures must be taken in areas where gases need to be blocked.

[0059] Generally, the battery core is housed in a containment space formed around the enclosure, and a cavity is provided in the enclosure wall. If the battery core experiences thermal runaway, the gas inside the battery core is guided to the containment space or cavity via an explosion-proof valve. Both the containment space and the cavity belong to the internal space of the enclosure, and the volume of this internal space is limited, which limits the pressure-reducing and temperature-reducing effect on the gas. If the gas does not receive sufficient pressure-reducing and temperature-reducing treatment, it is likely to adversely affect the insulation and sealing designs mentioned above, which can easily lead to short-circuit failures in the battery and is detrimental to improving the safety performance of the battery.

[0060] Based on the above, in order to reduce or eliminate the adverse effects of thermal runaway of the battery core on the insulation and sealing design inside the housing 11 and improve the safety performance of the battery 10, a battery 10 is provided, wherein an exhaust hole 1121a is provided on the housing 11 that penetrates the housing 11 along the thickness direction of the housing 11, and a battery cell 120 is housed in the housing 11, and the battery cell 120 includes a case 121, a first pressure relief mechanism 122 provided on the case 121 and two electrodes 123, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 communicating with the exhaust hole 1121a and the inside of the case 121 when open, and at least one of the two electrodes 123 and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 are provided on the same side of the case 121.

[0061] In the battery 10 according to this proposed technology, the exhaust hole 1121a on the housing 11 penetrates the housing 11 along the thickness direction of the housing 11, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 communicates with the exhaust hole 1121a when open, and the gas discharged from the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is discharged into the housing 11 through the exhaust hole 1121a, reducing the temperature and pressure of the gas using the space outside the housing 11, thereby reducing or eliminating the risk of the gas detonating inside the housing 11, which is advantageous in improving the safety performance of the battery 10.

[0062] In some embodiments, the battery 10 is a physical module comprising one or more battery cells 120 to provide voltage and capacitance. For example, it may include battery cells 120, battery modules, battery packs, etc. Generally, the battery comprises battery cells 120 and a housing 11 for housing the battery cells 120, the housing 11 being used to house and package one or more battery cells 120 or battery modules, and the housing 11 being used to protect the battery cells 120 and to prevent liquid or other foreign matter from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells 120.

[0063] The battery cell 120 may include lithium-ion secondary batteries, lithium-ion primary batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, sodium-lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, or magnesium-ion batteries, and the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto. The battery cell 120 may have a cylindrical, flattened, rectangular parallelepiped, or other shape, and the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto. The battery cell 120 can be divided into three types based on the packaging method: cylindrical battery cells, rectangular battery cells, and pouch battery cells, and the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto.

[0064] Referring to Figure 2, the battery cell 120 is the smallest unit that makes up the battery 10. In the battery 10, there may be multiple battery cells 120, and the multiple battery cells 120 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel connection. Series-parallel connection means that among the multiple battery cells 120, there are both series and parallel connections. The multiple battery cells 120 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel connection, and then the entire assembly made up of the multiple battery cells 120 may be housed in the housing 11. Of course, the battery 10 may first consist of multiple battery cells 120 connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel connection to form a battery module, and then the multiple battery modules may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel connection to form a single whole, which may then be housed in the housing 11.

[0065] The housing 11 provides a housing space for the battery cell 120, and the housing 11 can employ various structures. In some embodiments, the housing 11 is provided as an example, which includes a main housing 111 and a housing cover 112, the main housing 111 and the housing cover 112 covering each other, and the main housing 111 and the housing cover 112 together define a housing space for housing the battery cell 120. Here, the housing cover 112 may be a case structure with one side open, or the housing cover 112 may be a plate-like structure, the housing cover 112 is placed over the open side of the main housing 111, and the main housing 111 and the housing cover 112 together define a housing space. The main housing 111 and the housing cover 112 may both be case structures with one side open, and the open side of the main housing 111 is placed over the open side of the housing cover 112. Of course, the enclosure 11, formed by the main enclosure 111 and the enclosure cover 112, may have various shapes, such as a cylinder or a rectangular prism.

[0066] The power consumption device 100 according to the embodiment of this application may be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, tablet, laptop computer, electric toy, power tool, battery car, electric vehicle, steamship, or aerospace vehicle. Here, electric toys may include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric vehicle toys, electric steamship toys and electric airplane toys, and aerospace vehicles may include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles and spacecraft.

[0067] Referring to Figure 1, the power consumption device 100 may be a vehicle, which may be a fuel oil vehicle, a gas vehicle, or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a range extender vehicle. A battery 10 is installed inside the vehicle, and the battery 10 may be installed at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle. The battery 10 may be used to power the vehicle, for example, the battery 10 can be used as the operating power source for the vehicle. The vehicle may further include a controller 101 and a motor 102, the controller 101 is used to control the battery 10 to supply power to the motor 102, for example, to meet the operating power consumption needs of the vehicle during starting, navigation, and driving. In some embodiments, the battery 10 can provide driving power to the vehicle not only as the operating power source for the vehicle, but also as the driving power source for the vehicle, in place of or in part of fuel oil or natural gas.

[0068] Here, the battery 10 and power consumption device 100 according to the embodiment of this application will be described.

[0069] Referring to Figures 3 to 26, the battery 10 according to the embodiment of this application includes a housing 11 and a battery cell 120. The housing 11 is provided with an exhaust hole 1121a that penetrates the housing 11 along the thickness direction of the housing 11, and the battery cell 120 includes a case 121, a first pressure relief mechanism 122 provided on the case 121 and two electrodes 123, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 communicating the exhaust hole 1121a and the inside of the case 121 when open, and at least one of the two electrodes 123 and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 are provided on the same side of the case 121.

[0070] The housing 11 refers to a component capable of housing at least the battery cells 120, and is a component that arranges multiple battery cells 120 in an orderly manner, and plays a role in support, protection, heat dissipation, fire prevention, explosion prevention, etc. The housing 11 can be surrounded from different sides by multiple box walls to form a housing space, and the battery cells 120 are housed in the housing space. Generally, the housing 11 is a metal component, and the box walls include one or more laminated sheet metals, the sheet metal being a plate-like structure of a metal material, the sheet metal having a certain thickness size and extended area, and the ratio of extended area to thickness size being relatively large. The exhaust hole 1121a penetrates the box wall along the thickness direction of the box wall, and connects the space where the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is located with the space outside the box wall.

[0071] A battery cell 120 is a single electrical core containing a positive electrode 1231 and a negative electrode 1232, and as an electrical energy storage unit, the battery cell 120 is the smallest unit of the power battery 10. Taking a single lithium-ion battery 10 as an example, the operating voltage of a single lithium-ion battery 10 is between 3V and 5V. In order to meet the high voltage and large capacity requirements of the power consumption device 100, multiple battery cells 120 are generally connected in series and parallel to form the battery 10, and the battery 10 provides electrical energy to the power consumption device 100.

[0072] The exhaust hole 1121a is formed on the housing 11 and has a structure that penetrates the box wall along the thickness direction of the housing 11's box wall. The purpose of installing the exhaust hole 1121a is to discharge gas from the first pressure relief mechanism 122 when thermal runaway occurs inside the battery cell 120 and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is opened. The first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the exhaust hole 1121a provide a path for the gas to be discharged from inside the battery cell 120 to the outside of the housing 11.

[0073] Case 121 is a structure that forms the outer casing of the battery cell 120 and has an empty cavity, in which an electrolyte is provided. The electrolyte fills the space between the positive electrode 1231 and the negative electrode 1232 of the battery cell 120, and the directional movement of ions in the electrolyte and the directional movement of electrons in the conductor form a closed circuit, thereby continuing the chemical reaction between the positive electrode 1231 and 2, generating an electric current in an orderly manner during the electron transition, and realizing the conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy.

[0074] The first pressure relief mechanism 122 is a valve structure provided on the case wall of the case 121 and which is opened under set conditions. Generally, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 includes a valve body having a passage and a valve core provided in the passage and movable relative to the valve body, the valve body being fixed on the case wall of the case 121, the valve core closing the passage of the valve body under normal conditions, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 being in a closed state, and under set conditions the valve core acting relative to the valve body to open the passage, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 being in an open state. For example, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 may be an explosion-proof valve, a one-way valve, or other valve structure. For example, the set conditions may be a set pressure or a set temperature, and may be determined according to the type of first pressure relief mechanism 122 to which the set conditions are selected.

[0075] Electrodes 123 refer to the positive electrode 1231 and negative electrode 1232 of the battery cell 120. Generally, the positive electrode 1231 and negative electrode 1232 are located on the same side of the battery cell 120. As shown in Figure 5, the battery cell 120 uses a rectangular battery 10, and the positive electrode 1231 and negative electrode 1232 are located on the top surface of the battery cell 120 with a gap between them.

[0076] A first pressure relief mechanism 122 is provided on the side where the electrodes 123 of the battery cell 120 are located, and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 communicates with the exhaust hole 1121a, allowing gas to be discharged into the housing 11. The electrodes 123 and other electrical components and connecting wires located inside the housing 11 do not require any sealing measures to prevent gas from entering the electrical storage.

[0077] In some embodiments, one electrode 123 and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 may be located on the same side of the case 121, while the other electrode 123 and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 may be located on different sides of the case 121. For example, the negative electrode 1232 and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 may be located on opposite sides of the case 121, with the side where the negative electrode 1232 is located and the side where the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is located being separated by the monomer battery 10 itself, further improving the safety performance of the battery 10.

[0078] In the battery 10 according to this proposed technology, the exhaust hole 1121a on the housing 11 penetrates the housing 11 along the thickness direction of the housing 11, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 communicates with the exhaust hole 1121a when open, and the gas discharged from the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is discharged into the housing 11 through the exhaust hole 1121a, reducing the temperature and pressure of the gas using the space outside the housing 11, thereby reducing or eliminating the risk of the gas detonating inside the housing 11, which is advantageous in improving the safety performance of the battery 10.

[0079] In some embodiments, the battery 10 further includes a separator member 13, which is connected between the housing 11 and the battery cell 120, and one side of the separator member 13 is isolated from the other side facing away from the first side, and a first pressure relief mechanism 122 and an exhaust hole 1121a are provided on one side, and an electrode 123 located on the same side as the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is provided on the other side.

[0080] The separator member 13 is connected between the inner wall of the housing 11 and the surface of the battery cell 120, and is capable of isolating the first pressure relief mechanism 122 from the electrode 123, and the exhaust hole 1121a from the electrode 123.

[0081] The separator member 13 may be made of a rigid material with relatively high hardness, such as a ceramic material, or a plastic material with relatively low hardness, such as a plastic or resin material, or a fluid material may be used to fill the space between the inside of the housing 11 and the surface of the battery cell 120, and the separator member 13 may be formed after solidification.

[0082] In some embodiments, the separator member 13 and the inner wall of the housing 11 may be connected by rubber adhesive, and the surfaces of the separator member 13 and the battery cell 120 may be connected by rubber adhesive.

[0083] The separator member 13 isolates the first pressure relief mechanism 122 from the electrode 123, isolates the exhaust hole 1121a from the electrode 123, and isolates the path through which the gas is discharged from the first pressure relief mechanism 122 to the exhaust hole 1121a from the electrode 123, thereby preventing adverse effects of the gas on the electrode 123 and its insulation design.

[0084] In some embodiments, for a single battery cell 120, the separator member 13 can isolate the electrodes 123 on it from the first pressure relief mechanism 122. For example, the separator member 13 is annular in shape, and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the exhaust hole 1121a are located within a circumference defined by the separator member 13, while at least one electrode 123 is located outside the circumference defined by the separator member 13.

[0085] For multiple battery cells 120, the battery includes multiple separator members 13, multiple first pressure relief mechanisms 122 are provided within the circumference of each of the multiple separator members 13, multiple exhaust holes 1121a are provided within the circumference of each of the multiple separator members 13, and multiple electrodes 123 are provided outside the circumference of the multiple separator members 13. Alternatively, the battery includes one separator member 13, multiple first pressure relief mechanisms 122 are provided within the circumference of one separator member 13, multiple exhaust holes 1121a are provided within the circumference of one separator member 13, and multiple electrodes 123 are provided outside the circumference of one separator member 13.

[0086] In some other embodiments, for a single battery cell 120, the separator member 13 can isolate the electrodes 123 on it from the first pressure relief mechanism 122, for example, the separator member 13 is strip-shaped, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and exhaust holes 1121a are provided on one side of the separator member 13, and the electrodes 123 are provided on the other side of the separator member 13.

[0087] For multiple battery cells 120, the battery includes multiple separator members 13, which are sequentially connected to form an integrated structure, and multiple first pressure relief mechanisms 122 and multiple exhaust holes 1121a are provided on the same side of the separator member 13, while multiple electrodes 123 are provided on the other side of the separator member 13.

[0088] As shown in Figures 3 and 12, in some embodiments, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the two electrodes 123 are provided on the same side of the case 121, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is provided between the two electrodes 123, a separator member 13 is provided between the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and one electrode 123, and a separator member 13 is provided between the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the other electrode 123.

[0089] When the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the two electrodes 123 are provided on the same side of the case 121, one separator member 13 is used to isolate one electrode 123 from the first pressure relief mechanism 122, and another separator member 13 is used to isolate the other electrode 123 from the first pressure relief mechanism 122. The two electrodes 123 are isolated from each other, and the path through which the gas is discharged from the first pressure relief mechanism 122 to the exhaust hole 1121a is isolated from either electrode 123, thereby preventing the gas from adversely affecting either electrode 123 and its insulation design.

[0090] As shown in Figure 3, in some embodiments, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is located at the center between the two electrodes 123. The two electrodes 123 are the positive electrode 1231 and the negative electrode 1232.

[0091] The fact that the pitches of the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the two electrodes 123 are the same, and that the pitch between the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and either one of the electrodes 123 is sufficient, is advantageous for installing the separator member 13 between the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and either one of the electrodes 123.

[0092] In some embodiments, the battery 10 includes a plurality of battery packs 12 arranged along a second direction b. Each battery pack 12 includes a plurality of battery cells 120 stacked and arranged along a first direction a. On each battery cell 120, a first pressure relief mechanism 122 is provided at a central position along the second direction b of two electrodes 123. In each battery pack 12, the plurality of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 are arranged along the first direction a to form a set, and the set of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 is provided at a central position along the second direction b of the battery pack 12.

[0093] The housing 11 is provided with a plurality of exhaust holes 1121a arranged along the first direction a, and the exhaust holes 1121a and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 are installed in a one-to-one ratio. Alternatively, the housing 11 is provided with one exhaust hole 1121a, and the single exhaust hole 1121a extends along the first direction a, and the exhaust holes 1121a and the plurality of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 are installed in a one-to-many ratio.

[0094] Taking the example of a housing 11 having multiple exhaust holes 1121a, one separator member 13 extends in a strip shape along a first direction a, this separator member 13 is connected to multiple battery cells 120, multiple first pressure relief mechanisms 122 and multiple exhaust holes 1121a are provided on one side, and multiple positive electrodes 1231 are provided on the other side.

[0095] Another separator member 13 extends in a strip shape along a first direction a, and this separator member 13 is connected to a plurality of battery cells 120, with a plurality of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 and a plurality of exhaust holes 1121a provided on one side, and a plurality of negative electrodes 1232 provided on the other side.

[0096] As shown in Figure 12, in some embodiments, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is located close to one electrode 123 and away from another electrode 123.

[0097] This provides an alternative installation method for the first pressure relief mechanism 122, which applies when the pitch between one electrode 123 and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 needs to be greater than the arrangement requirement for the pitch between another electrode 123 and the first pressure relief mechanism 122.

[0098] In some embodiments, the battery 10 includes a plurality of battery packs 12 arranged along a second direction b. Each battery pack 12 includes a plurality of battery cells 120 stacked and installed along a first direction a. On each battery cell 120, a first pressure relief mechanism 122 is provided adjacent to the negative electrode 1232 along the second direction b of two electrodes 123. In each battery pack 12, any two adjacent battery cells 120 are installed opposite each other along the second direction b, and two sets of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 are arranged along the second direction b, each set including a plurality of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 arranged along the first direction a. Then, one set of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 and the electrode 123 on the adjacent side are separated by one strip-shaped separator member 13, and another set of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 and the electrode 123 on the adjacent side are separated by another strip-shaped separator member 13.

[0099] In some other embodiments, the battery cell 120 includes two types. On the battery cell 120, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is located adjacent to the negative electrode 1232 along the second direction b of the two electrodes 123. On another battery cell 120, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is located adjacent to the positive electrode 1231 along the second direction b of the two electrodes 123.

[0100] The battery 10 includes a plurality of battery packs 12 arranged along a second direction b. Each battery pack 12 includes a plurality of battery cells 120 stacked along a first direction a, and the two batteries are arranged alternately along the first direction a. In each battery pack 12, a pair of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 are arranged along the second direction b, and this pair includes a plurality of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 arranged along the first direction a. This pair of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 and the positive electrode 1231 on the adjacent side are separated by a strip-shaped separator member 13, and this pair of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 and the negative electrode 1232 on the adjacent side are separated by another strip-shaped separator member 13.

[0101] Referring to Figures 17, 19, and 24, in some embodiments, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the two electrodes 123 are provided on the same side of the case 121, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the two electrodes 123 are installed sequentially, and a separator member 13 is provided between the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the adjacent electrode 123.

[0102] This provides yet another installation method for the first pressure relief mechanism 122, applicable to arrangement requirements where the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is located on the side of the battery cell 120, but the two electrodes 123 are located on another side or in an intermediate region.

[0103] As shown in Figure 17, in some embodiments, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the two electrodes 123 are provided on the same side of the case 121, and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the two electrodes 123 are installed sequentially. The two electrodes 123 are installed at a central position along the second direction b of the battery cell 120, that is, the two electrodes 123 may be installed symmetrically with respect to the center along the second direction b of the battery cell 120, but the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is provided on the outer side along the second direction b of one of the electrodes 123, and a separator member 13 is provided between the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the adjacent electrode 123.

[0104] For example, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 may be provided on the outer side of the positive electrode 1231 or the negative electrode 1232 along the second direction b. As shown in Figure 18, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is provided on the outer side of the negative electrode 1232 along the second direction b.

[0105] In some embodiments, the battery 10 includes a plurality of battery packs 12 arranged along a second direction b. Each battery pack 12 includes a plurality of battery cells 120 stacked and arranged along a first direction a. On each battery cell 120, two electrodes 123 are located at the center of the battery cell 120 along the second direction b, and a first pressure relief mechanism 122 is provided on the outer side of the negative electrode 1232 along the second direction b. In each battery pack 12, any two adjacent battery cells 120 are arranged opposite each other along the second direction b, and two sets of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 are arranged along the second direction b, with the two sets of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 located outside the two electrodes 123, and each set includes a plurality of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 arranged along the first direction a. Then, one set of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 located on one outer edge and the adjacent electrode 123 are separated by one strip-shaped separator member 13, and another set of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 located on another outer edge and the adjacent electrode 123 on the edge are separated by another strip-shaped separator member 13.

[0106] As shown in Figure 19, in some embodiments, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the two electrodes 123 are provided on the same side of the case 121, and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the two electrodes 123 are installed sequentially. One of the two electrodes 123 is installed on one side of the battery cell 120 along the second direction b, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is installed on the other side of the battery cell 120 along the second direction b, and the other of the two electrodes 123 is installed in the intermediate region, and this other electrode 123 is closer to the first pressure relief mechanism 122.

[0107] Exemplary, as shown in Figure 20, the positive electrode 1231 is located on one side of the battery cell 120 along the second direction b, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is located on the other side of the battery cell 120 along the second direction b, and the negative electrode 1232 is located in the intermediate region and is closer to the first pressure relief mechanism 122.

[0108] In some embodiments, the battery 10 includes a plurality of battery packs 12 arranged along a second direction b. Each battery pack 12 includes a plurality of battery cells 120 stacked along a first direction a. On each battery cell 120, a positive electrode 1231 is located on one side of the battery cell 120 along the second direction b, a first pressure relief mechanism 122 is located on another side of the battery cell 120 along the second direction b, and a negative electrode 1232 is located in an intermediate region, with the negative electrode 1232 being closer to the first pressure relief mechanism 122. In each battery pack 12, any two adjacent battery cells 120 are located opposite each other along the second direction b, and two sets of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 are arranged along the second direction b, each set including a plurality of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 arranged along the first direction a. In this embodiment, each first pressure relief mechanism may be isolated by employing an annular separator member 13, or the separator member 13 may extend along the outer circumference of the plurality of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 in a first direction a, avoiding adjacent electrodes 123.

[0109] As shown in Figure 24, in some embodiments, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the two electrodes 123 are provided on the same side of the case 121, and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the two electrodes 123 are installed sequentially. The two electrodes 123 are installed on one side of the battery cell 120 along the second direction b, that is, the two electrodes 123 are installed spaced apart and closer to one of the sides, but the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is provided on the other outer side along the second direction b, and a separator member 13 is provided between the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the adjacent electrode 123.

[0110] For example, as shown in Figures 25 and 26, the battery cell 120 may include two types, where in one battery cell 120 the positive electrode 1231 is closer to the first pressure release mechanism 122, and in the other battery cell 120 the negative electrode 1232 is closer to the first pressure release mechanism 122.

[0111] In some embodiments, the battery 10 includes a plurality of battery packs 12 arranged along a second direction b. Each battery pack 12 includes a plurality of battery cells 120 stacked along a first direction a. Two electrodes 123 are located on one side of the battery cell 120 along the second direction b, while the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is located on the other outer side along the second direction b. The battery cells 120 may include two types, in which one battery cell 120 has a positive electrode 1231 closer to the first pressure relief mechanism 122, while in the other battery cell 120 has a negative electrode 1232 closer to the first pressure relief mechanism 122. In each battery pack 12, batteries 10 and other batteries 10 are stacked alternately along the first direction a. Along the second direction b, one set of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 is located, and one set includes a plurality of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 arranged along the first direction a. This pair of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 and the adjacent electrode 123 are separated by a strip-shaped separator member 13.

[0112] In some embodiments, the battery 10 includes a plurality of battery cells 120 that are stacked and installed along a first direction a, any two adjacent battery cells 120 are placed opposite each other along a second direction b, and the first direction a is perpendicular to the second direction b.

[0113] Being placed in the opposite direction means that the positive electrode 1231 and negative electrode 1232 of two adjacent battery cells 120 are opposite each other along the second direction b. For example, the battery 10 shown in Figures 3, 12, 17, and 19 includes battery cells 120, and the multiple battery cells 120 are stacked sequentially along the first direction a, with the positive electrode 1231 and negative electrode 1232 of two adjacent battery cells 120 being opposite each other along the second direction b.

[0114] Any two adjacent battery cells 120 can be positioned opposite each other along a second direction b to form one or two sets of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 spaced apart along the second direction b, each set comprising a plurality of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 arranged along a first direction a, which is advantageous for laying out and installing the first pressure relief mechanisms 122 based on the internal space of the battery 10.

[0115] In some embodiments, the battery 10 includes a plurality of battery cells 120 arranged in a stack along a first direction a, any two adjacent battery cells 120 being identically positioned along a second direction b, and the first direction a is perpendicular to the second direction b.

[0116] To be placed identically means that the first pressure release mechanisms 122 of two adjacent battery cells 120 are located on the same side. For example, to be placed identically may be used for two battery cells 120, in which case the first pressure release mechanisms 122 are located on one side along the second direction b of the battery cell 120, and the positive electrode 1231 and negative electrode 1232 are located on the other side along the second direction b of the battery cell 120. For example, the battery 10 shown in Figure 24 includes two types of battery cells 120 that are stacked alternately along the first direction a, with the two first pressure release mechanisms 122 of two adjacent battery cells 120 located on one side along the second direction b of the battery cell 120, and the positive electrode 1231 and negative electrode 1232 of the two adjacent battery cells 120 located on the other side along the second direction b of the battery cell 120.

[0117] By aligning any two adjacent battery cells 120 identically along the second direction b, a set of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 arranged along the first direction a can be formed, which is advantageous for laying out and installing the first pressure relief mechanisms 122 based on the internal space of the battery 10.

[0118] In some embodiments, the separator member 13 extends along a first direction a, and the separator member 13 is connected to a plurality of battery cells 120.

[0119] Multiple battery cells 120 are separated by a single separator member 13, which isolates a set of first pressure relief mechanisms 122, exhaust holes 1121a, and electrodes 123, thereby simplifying the internal structure of the battery 10.

[0120] In some other embodiments, the separator member 13 is annular in shape, the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and exhaust hole 1121a are located within the circumference defined by the separator member 13, and at least one electrode 123 is located outside the circumference defined by the separator member 13.

[0121] In some embodiments, the distance between the separator member 13 and the adjacent electrode 123 is 35 mm or more, and the size of the separator member 13 in the direction toward the adjacent electrode 123 is 4 mm or more and less than or equal to the distance between the separator member 13 and the adjacent electrode 123.

[0122] In the direction toward the adjacent electrode 123, the size of the separator member 13 is 4 mm or more, and is less than or equal to the distance between the separator member 13 and the adjacent electrode 123, thereby achieving isolation while simultaneously improving the connection strength between the separator member 13, the housing 11, and the battery cell 120.

[0123] In some embodiments, the size of the housing 11 of the separator member 13 in the direction toward the battery cell 120 is 0.3 mm or more.

[0124] In the direction in which the housing 11 faces the battery cell 120, the size of the separator member 13 is 0.3 mm or larger, which achieves isolation while simultaneously improving the connection strength between the separator member 13, the housing 11, and the battery cell 120.

[0125] In some embodiments, the housing 11 is provided with a passage structure, and the passage structure and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 are provided on both sides of the exhaust hole 1121a in the axial direction c, and the exhaust hole 1121a is in communication with the passage structure.

[0126] The passage structure is a passage-type structure provided on the housing 11 and located outside the exhaust hole 1121a, having a certain diameter through which gas can pass, a certain length that allows for directional gas flow, and a relatively large ratio of length to diameter.

[0127] By guiding the gas to be discharged in a directional manner into the housing 11 through the passage structure, it is advantageous for controlling the directionality of the gas, reduces the probability of safety concerns occurring, reduces the number of paths through which the gas is discharged into the housing 11, and simplifies the structural design of the housing 11.

[0128] In some embodiments, the housing 11 is provided with a second pressure relief mechanism 14, which is located at the end of the passage structure away from the exhaust hole 1121a, and the second pressure relief mechanism 14, when open, connects the passage structure with the outside of the housing 11.

[0129] The second pressure relief mechanism 14 is a valve structure mounted on the case wall of case 121 and which is opened under set conditions. Generally, the second pressure relief mechanism 14 includes a valve body having a passage and a valve core provided in the passage and movable relative to the valve body, the valve body being fixed on the case wall of case 121, the valve core closing the passage of the valve body under normal conditions, the second pressure relief mechanism 14 being in a shut-off state, and under set conditions the valve core acting relative to the valve body to open the passage, the second pressure relief mechanism 14 being in an open state. For example, the second pressure relief mechanism 14 may be an explosion-proof valve, a one-way valve, or other valve structure. For example, the set conditions may be a set pressure or a set temperature, and may be determined according to the type of second pressure relief mechanism 14 to which the set conditions are selected.

[0130] By installing a second pressure relief mechanism 14 at the end of the passage structure, it is advantageous for directional gas discharge and reduces the probability of safety concerns arising.

[0131] In some embodiments, the battery 10 includes a plurality of battery cells 120 stacked and installed along a first direction a, the housing 11 is provided with a plurality of exhaust holes 1121a arranged along the first direction a, each exhaust hole 1121a communicating with a passage structure, and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 and the exhaust holes 1121a are installed in a one-to-one ratio.

[0132] When the battery 10 includes multiple battery cells 120, multiple exhaust holes 1121a are installed, and the arrangement direction of the multiple exhaust holes 1121a is aligned with the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells 120 to realize exhaust installation for the multiple battery cells 120.

[0133] For example, the first direction a is the longitudinal direction of the battery 10, the second direction b is the width direction of the battery 10, the axial direction c of the exhaust hole 1121a is the height direction of the battery 10, and the first direction a, the second direction b, and the height direction are perpendicular to each other in pairs.

[0134] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1, the housing 11 has a length along a first direction a, the battery cells 120 have a thickness along the first direction a, both the housing 11 and the battery cells 120 have a height along the axial direction c, the multiple exhaust holes 1121a are arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, the multiple battery cells 120 are installed in sequential stacks along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, the height at which the multiple exhaust holes 1121a are located is higher than the height at which the multiple battery cells 120 are located, and the multiple exhaust holes 1121a and the multiple first pressure relief mechanisms 122 are installed in a one-to-one ratio along the height direction of the housing 11.

[0135] Here, the position of the exhaust hole 1121a on the housing 11 can be selected based on the position of the first pressure relief mechanism 122 on the battery cell 120. For example, if the housing 11 has a width along a second direction b, and the design position of the first pressure relief mechanism 122 relative to the battery cell 120 can be changed along the width direction of the housing 11, then the design position of the exhaust hole 1121a can be changed accordingly, and one exhaust hole 1121a and one first pressure relief mechanism 122 are as flush as possible along the height direction of the housing 11. Here, flush means that the central axis of the exhaust hole 1121a and the central axis of the first pressure relief mechanism 122 should approximately coincide.

[0136] Of course, if the number of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 on a single battery cell 120 is not limited to one, the number of exhaust holes 1121a may be increased by the same number accordingly. The arrangement direction of the multiple first pressure relief mechanisms 122 on a single battery cell 120 may be arbitrarily selected, and the arrangement direction of the exhaust holes 1121a can be set to be the same according to the arrangement direction of the multiple first pressure relief mechanisms 122.

[0137] For example, two first pressure relief mechanisms 122 are provided on the top surface of a single battery cell 120, arranged along the width direction of the housing 11, and correspondingly, the housing 11 is provided with two exhaust holes 1121a arranged along its width direction.

[0138] In multiple battery cells 120, two sets of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 are spaced apart along the width direction of the housing 11, and each set includes multiple first pressure relief mechanisms arranged along the first direction a. Correspondingly, two sets of exhaust holes 1121a are spaced apart along the width direction of the housing 11, and the two sets of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 and the two sets of exhaust holes are installed in a one-to-one ratio.

[0139] In some embodiments, unlike configurations in which the battery cell 120 has thickness along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11 and multiple battery cells 120 are stacked and installed along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, if the battery cell 120 has length along the width direction of the housing 11 and multiple battery cells 120 are arranged sequentially along the width direction of the housing 11, then multiple exhaust holes 1121a may be arranged sequentially along the width direction of the housing 11.

[0140] If the battery contains multiple battery cells 120, multiple exhaust holes 1121a are installed, and the arrangement direction of the multiple exhaust holes 1121a is aligned with the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells 120 to achieve exhaust installation of the multiple battery cells 120.

[0141] In some embodiments, the battery 10 includes a plurality of battery cells 120 arranged in a stack along a first direction a, the exhaust holes 1121a extending along the first direction a, and a plurality of first pressure relief mechanisms 122 of the plurality of battery cells 120 provided within the projection of the exhaust holes 1121a along its axial direction c, where the first direction a is perpendicular to the axial direction c.

[0142] If the battery 10 includes multiple battery cells 120, the exhaust installation of the multiple battery cells 120 is achieved by aligning the extending direction of the exhaust holes 1121a with the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells 120.

[0143] For example, the first direction a is the longitudinal direction of the battery 10, the second direction b is the width direction of the battery 10, the axial direction c of the exhaust hole 1121a is the height direction of the battery 10, and the first direction a, the second direction b, and the height direction are perpendicular to each other in pairs.

[0144] In some embodiments, the housing 11 has a length along a first direction a, the battery cells 120 have a thickness along the first direction a, the exhaust holes 1121a extend along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, the exhaust holes 1121a are strip-shaped, the multiple battery cells 120 are sequentially stacked along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, the height at which the exhaust holes 1121a are located is higher than the height at which the multiple battery cells 120 are located, and one exhaust hole 1121a and multiple first pressure relief mechanisms 122 are installed facing each other along the height direction of the housing 11.

[0145] Here, the position of the exhaust hole 1121a on the housing 11 can be selected based on the position of the first pressure relief mechanism 122 on the battery cell 120. Exemplarily, if the housing 11 has width along a third direction, and the design position of the first pressure relief mechanism 122 relative to the battery cell 120 can be changed along the width direction of the housing 11, the design position of the exhaust hole 1121a can be changed accordingly, and the projection of one exhaust hole 1121a along the height direction of the housing 11 can accommodate as many first pressure relief mechanisms 122 as possible.

[0146] In some embodiments, unlike configurations in which the battery cell 120 has thickness along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11 and multiple battery cells 120 are stacked and installed along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, if the battery cell 120 has length along the width direction of the housing 11 and multiple battery cells 120 are arranged sequentially along the width direction of the housing 11, the exhaust holes 1121a may extend along the width direction of the housing 11.

[0147] When the battery includes multiple battery cells 120, the exhaust installation of the multiple battery cells 120 is achieved by aligning the extending direction of the exhaust holes 1121a with the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells 120.

[0148] In some embodiments, the passage structure includes a first passage 1123 extending along a first direction a, and an exhaust hole 1121a connects the first passage 1123 to a first pressure relief mechanism 122.

[0149] The first passage 1123 is a passage structure provided on the housing 11 and located outside the exhaust holes 1121a. It has a certain diameter through which gas can pass, a certain length that allows for directional gas flow, and a relatively large ratio of length to diameter. The first passage 1123 is used to allow gas to flow from multiple exhaust holes 1121a.

[0150] The first passage 1123 is advantageous for direct gas control by converging the gas from the exhaust hole 1121a and guiding the gas to be discharged in a directional manner into the housing 11, thereby reducing the probability of safety concerns occurring, decreasing the number of paths through which the gas is discharged into the housing 11, and simplifying the structural design of the housing 11.

[0151] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1, the housing 11 has length along a first direction a, and the battery cells 120 have thickness along the first direction a. The first passage 1123 extends along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, and the multiple battery cells 120 are installed stacked along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, and the multiple exhaust holes 1121a are arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, or the exhaust holes 1121a extend along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, and the height at which the exhaust holes 1121a are located is lower than the height at which the first passage 1123 is located, and the multiple exhaust holes 1121a are located in the projection of one first passage 1123 along the height direction of the housing 11, or a single strip-shaped exhaust hole 1121a is located in the projection of one first passage 1123 along the height direction of the housing 11.

[0152] In some embodiments, unlike configurations in which the battery cells 120 have thickness along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11 and multiple battery cells 120 are stacked and installed along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, the battery cells 120 have length along the width direction of the housing 11 and multiple battery cells 120 are arranged sequentially along the width direction of the housing 11, in which case the strip-shaped exhaust holes 1121a may extend along the width direction of the housing 11, or if multiple exhaust holes 1121a are arranged sequentially along the width direction of the housing 11, the first passage 1123 may extend along the width direction of the housing 11.

[0153] The direction of extension of the first passage 1123 and the direction of arrangement of the multiple exhaust holes 1121a coincide, and the multiple exhaust holes 1121a are located within the projection of the first passage 1123 along the second direction b, which simplifies the layout of the first passage 1123 and the multiple exhaust holes 1121a, and is advantageous for simplifying the structural design of the housing 11.

[0154] In some embodiments, the battery 10 includes a plurality of battery packs 12 arranged along a second direction b, each battery pack 12 includes a plurality of battery cells 120, the first direction a is perpendicular to the second direction b, the passage structure includes a plurality of first passages 1123, and the first passages 1123 and the battery packs 12 are installed in a one-to-one ratio.

[0155] The battery pack 12 divides the multiple battery cells 120 contained inside the battery 10 into multiple groups, where the multiple battery cells 120 within each group have the same orientation, and each battery pack 12 contains at least two battery cells 120.

[0156] When multiple battery packs 12 are provided, multiple first passages 1123 are installed, and one first passage 1123 collects the gas discharged from multiple valve bodies of multiple battery cells 120 of one battery pack 12, thereby enabling exhaust installation for multiple battery packs 12.

[0157] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1, the battery cell 120 has thickness along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, and multiple battery cells 120 are stacked and installed along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11 to constitute a single battery pack 12. Then, the strip-shaped exhaust holes 1121a extend along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, or multiple exhaust holes 1121a are arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, the height at which the exhaust holes 1121a are located is lower than the height at which the first passage 1123 is located, and multiple exhaust holes 1121a are provided within the projection of one first passage 1123 along the height direction of the housing 11, or one strip-shaped exhaust hole 1121a is provided within the projection of one first passage 1123 along the height direction of the housing 11.

[0158] Unlike some embodiments in which the battery cell 120 has thickness along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11 and multiple battery cells 120 are stacked and installed along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, the battery cell 120 has length along the width direction of the housing 11 and multiple battery cells 120 are arranged sequentially along the width direction of the housing 11 to constitute a single battery pack 12. Then, the strip-shaped exhaust holes 1121a extend along the width direction of the housing 11, or multiple exhaust holes 1121a are arranged sequentially along the width direction of the housing 11, the height at which the exhaust holes 1121a are located is lower than the height at which the first passage 1123 is located, and multiple exhaust holes 1121a are provided within the projection of one first passage 1123 along the height direction of the housing 11, or one strip-shaped exhaust hole 1121a is provided within the projection of one first passage 1123 along the height direction of the housing 11.

[0159] If the battery includes multiple battery packs 12, multiple first passages 1123 can be installed, and one first passage 1123 can collect the gas discharged from multiple valve bodies of multiple battery cells 120 of one battery pack 12, thereby realizing exhaust installation for multiple battery packs 12.

[0160] In some embodiments, the passage structure includes a second passage 1124 extending along a second direction b, and a plurality of first passages 1123 all communicate with the second passage 1124.

[0161] The second passage 1124 is a passage structure provided on the housing 11 and communicating with the first passage 1123. It has a certain diameter through which gas can pass, a certain length that allows for directional gas flow, and a relatively large ratio of length to diameter. The second passage 1124 is used to allow gas to flow from multiple first passages 1123.

[0162] The second passage 1124 is advantageous for direct gas control by converging gases from multiple first passages 1123 and guiding the gases to be discharged in a directional manner into the housing 11, thereby reducing the probability of safety concerns occurring, decreasing the number of gas discharge paths into the housing 11, and simplifying the structural design of the housing 11.

[0163] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1, when the battery cell 120 has thickness along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11 and multiple battery cells 120 are stacked and installed along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, the first passage 1123 extends along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, and the second passage 1124 extends along the width direction of the housing 11.

[0164] In some embodiments, unlike configurations in which the battery cells 120 have thickness along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11 and multiple battery cells 120 are stacked and installed along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, the battery cells 120 have length along the width direction of the housing 11 and multiple battery cells 120 are arranged sequentially along the width direction of the housing 11, in which case the first passage 1123 extends along the width direction of the housing 11, the second passage 1124 extends along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, the second passage 1124 is provided on the same end along the width direction of the multiple first passages 1123 and communicates with the multiple first passages 1123.

[0165] In some embodiments, the passage structure includes a third passage 1125, the direction of extension of the third passage 1125 coincides with the axial direction c of the exhaust hole 1121a, a second pressure relief mechanism 14 is provided at the end of the third passage 1125 away from the second passage 1124, and the second pressure relief mechanism 14 and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 are provided on the same side of the exhaust hole 1121a.

[0166] The third passage 1125 is a passage structure provided on the housing 11 and communicating with the second passage 1124. It has a certain diameter through which gas can pass, a certain length that allows for directional gas flow, and a length-to-diameter ratio close to 1. The third passage 1125 is used to allow gas from the second passage 1124 to flow.

[0167] Since the third passage 1125 extends along the axial direction c of the exhaust hole 1121a, the second pressure relief mechanism 14 and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 can be provided on the same side of the exhaust hole 1121a, and the installation of the second pressure relief mechanism 14 does not increase the size of the housing 11 along the axial direction c of the exhaust hole 1121a, and does not increase the occupied volume of the housing 11.

[0168] For example, as shown in Figures 1, 7, and 8, the third passage 1125 may employ a recessed groove structure, which is formed by being pulled along the height direction by the second passage 1124, and a second pressure relief mechanism 14 is fitted at the bottom of the recessed groove.

[0169] The other end of the third passage 1125 is separated from the second passage 1124, meaning the position of the second pressure relief mechanism 14 is lower than the second passage 1124. The installation of the second pressure relief mechanism 14 does not increase the size of the housing 11 along the second direction b, nor does it increase the volume occupied by the housing 11. After the first passage 1123 and the second passage 1124 merge, the gas is discharged through one second pressure relief mechanism 14, reducing the number of second pressure relief mechanisms 14 to be installed and lowering the manufacturing cost of the housing 11.

[0170] Of course, in other embodiments, the second pressure relief mechanism 14 may be provided at the extended end of the first passage 1123, or at the extended end of the second passage 1124.

[0171] In some embodiments, the first passage 1123 and the third passage 1125 are provided on either side of the second passage 1124 along the first direction a.

[0172] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1, the first passage 1123 extends along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, the second passage 1124 extends along the width direction of the housing 11, the third passage 1125 is located at the center of the second passage 1124, and the third passage 1125 is located on the side of the second passage 1124 away from the first passage 1123. Alternatively, the third passage 1125 is located at one end of the second passage 1124 in the longitudinal direction.

[0173] In some embodiments, the first passage 1123 extends along the width direction of the housing 11, the second passage 1124 extends along the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, the third passage 1125 is located at the center of the second passage 1124, and the third passage 1125 is located on the side of the second passage 1124 away from the first passage 1123. Alternatively, the third passage 1125 is located at one end of the second passage 1124 in the longitudinal direction.

[0174] The gas enters the first passage 1123 from the exhaust hole 1121a, then the second passage 1124 from the first passage 1123, and then the third passage 1125 from the second passage 1124. The entire gas flows along the first direction a and is discharged to the housing 11 from one side of the first direction a, which is advantageous for directivity control of the gas and reduces the probability of safety concerns arising.

[0175] Referring to Figures 8 to 11, Figures 14 to 16, and Figures 21 to 23, in some embodiments, the housing 11 includes a main housing 111 and a housing cover 112, and the housing cover 112 includes a main cover 1121 and a sub-cover 1122. The main cover 1121 is installed covering the main housing 111, and the main cover 1121 and the main housing 111 together define a space for housing the battery cell 120, and the exhaust hole 1121a and the third passage 1125 are provided on the main cover 1121. The sub-cover 1122 is provided on the side of the main cover 1121 away from the main housing 111, and the sub-cover 1122 and the main cover 1121 together define a first passage 1123 and a second passage 1124.

[0176] Here, the housings shown in Figures 8 to 11 include, but are not limited to, the batteries shown in Figures 3 and 4; the housings shown in Figures 14 to 16 include, but are not limited to, the batteries shown in Figure 13; and the housings shown in Figures 21 to 23 include, but are not limited to, the batteries shown in Figures 17 and 19.

[0177] The main housing 111 refers to a component that has a housing space capable of accommodating at least the battery cells 120, and has an opening that allows the battery cells 120 to enter and exit the housing space. It also refers to a component that arranges multiple battery cells 120 in an orderly manner, and plays roles such as support, protection, heat dissipation, and fire and explosion protection. The main housing 111 can be surrounded from different sides by multiple box walls other than the housing cover 112 to form the housing space, and the battery cells 120 are housed in the housing space.

[0178] The housing cover 112 is a component installed over the opening of the main housing 111, and can be provided with an exhaust hole 1121a, a first passage 1123, a second passage 1124, and a third passage 1125. Generally, the housing cover 112 is made of a plate material, which is a plate-like structure having a certain thickness and extended area, and the ratio of extended area to thickness is relatively large.

[0179] The main cover 1121 is part of the housing cover 112, installed over the opening of the main housing 111, and is a part in which an exhaust hole 1121a and a third passage 1125 can be provided. The exhaust hole 1121a penetrates the main cover 1121 along the thickness direction of the main cover 1121, and connects the space where the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is located with the first passage 1123 located outside the exhaust hole 1121a.

[0180] The sub-cover 1122 is another part of the housing cover 112, and is a part that can form both the main cover 1121, the first passage 1123, and the second passage 1124. A part of the sub-cover 1122, together with the part of the main cover 1121 in which the exhaust hole 1121a is provided, forms the first passage 1123, and another part of the sub-cover 1122, together with the other part on the main cover 1121 that allows the exhaust hole 1121a to escape, forms the second passage 1124.

[0181] Here, the main cover 1121 and the sub-cover 1122 may be integrally molded, or they may be connected by welding or rubber bonding.

[0182] Here, integral molding is a process in which a material is formed into a predetermined shape by deformation or extension, or a predetermined shape is retained by partially removing a material, and includes, but is not limited to, extension of the same material or sequential extension of different materials, and includes, but is not limited to, a process in which a blank material is pressed and deformed using a press machine to finally form a predetermined shape, or a process in which a blank material is forged and deformed using a forging tool to finally form a predetermined shape, or a process in which a portion of the blank material is removed using cutting equipment to retain a portion having a predetermined shape, or a process in which a liquid material is cast into a casting cavity that conforms to the shape of the member, and cooled to obtain a member.

[0183] Here, the process of obtaining a component by casting a liquid material into a casting cavity that conforms to the shape of the component may involve obtaining a complete component in a single cavity, into which one or various materials may be cast. Alternatively, a part of the component may be obtained in one cavity, the part of the component may be transferred to another cavity, and another part of the component may be obtained in the other cavity, and so on. Different parts of a complete component may be formed in different cavities in succession, and the materials of the different parts of the complete component may be the same or different.

[0184] By utilizing the main enclosure 111 and enclosure cover 112 that the enclosure 11 itself possesses, the first passage 1123, the second passage 1124, and the third passage 1125 are designed, thereby simplifying the structural design of the enclosure 11.

[0185] Another object of the embodiments of this application is to provide a power consumption device 100 including the battery 10.

[0186] The power consumption device 100 according to this proposed technology employs the battery 10 according to the above proposed technology. In the battery 10 according to the above proposed technology, the exhaust hole 1121a on the housing 11 penetrates the thickness of the housing 11, and the first pressure relief mechanism 122 communicates with the exhaust hole 1121a when open. The gas discharged from the first pressure relief mechanism 122 is discharged into the housing 11 through the exhaust hole 1121a, and the gas is cooled and depressurized using the space outside the housing 11, thereby reducing or eliminating the risk of the gas detonating inside the housing 11, which is advantageous in improving the safety performance of the power consumption device 100.

[0187] The foregoing describes preferred embodiments of this application and is not intended to limit it. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should all be included within the scope of protection. [Explanation of symbols]

[0188] 10, Battery, 100, Power consumption device, 101, Controller, 102, Motor, 11. Housing, 12. Battery pack, 13. Separator component, 14. Second pressure release mechanism, 120. Battery cell, 111, Main enclosure, 112, Enclosure cover, 1121, Main cover, 1122, Sub-cover, 1123, First passage, 1124, Second passage, 1125, Third passage, 1121a, Exhaust vent, 121, case, 122, first pressure relief mechanism, 123, electrode, 1231, positive electrode, 1232, negative electrode, a, first direction; b, second direction; c, axial direction.

Claims

1. It is a battery, The battery comprises a housing and battery cells, the housing having exhaust holes that penetrate the housing along the thickness direction of the housing, and the battery cells housed in the housing. The battery cell includes a case, a first pressure relief mechanism provided on the case, and two electrodes, wherein the first pressure relief mechanism, when open, connects the exhaust hole to the inside of the case, and at least one of the two electrodes and the first pressure relief mechanism are provided on the same side of the case. The battery further includes a separator member, the separator member being connected between the housing and the battery cell, isolating the first pressure relief mechanism from the electrode, and isolating the exhaust hole from the electrode, the first pressure relief mechanism and the exhaust hole being provided on the same side of the separator member, and the electrode located on the same side as the first pressure relief mechanism being provided on the other side of the separator member. The housing is provided with a passage structure, the passage structure and the first pressure relief mechanism are provided on both sides in the axial direction of the exhaust hole, and the exhaust hole communicates with the passage structure. The passage structure includes a first passage extending along a first direction, and the exhaust hole connects the first passage and the first pressure relief mechanism. The battery includes a plurality of battery packs arranged along a second direction, each battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction, the passage structure includes a plurality of first passages, and the first passages and the battery packs are installed in a one-to-one ratio. The passage structure includes a second passage extending along the second direction, and each of the multiple first passages communicates with the second passage. The battery is characterized in that the passage structure includes a third passage, the direction of extension of the third passage coincides with the axial direction of the exhaust hole, a second pressure relief mechanism is provided at the end of the third passage away from the second passage, and the second pressure relief mechanism and the first pressure relief mechanism are provided on the same side of the exhaust hole.

2. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that the first pressure release mechanism and the two electrodes are provided on the same side of the case, the first pressure release mechanism is provided between the two electrodes, the separator member is provided between the first pressure release mechanism and one of the electrodes, and the separator member is provided between the first pressure release mechanism and the other electrode.

3. The battery according to claim 2, characterized in that the first pressure relief mechanism is provided at a central position between the two electrodes.

4. The battery according to claim 2, characterized in that the first pressure relief mechanism is adjacent to one electrode and away from another electrode.

5. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that the first pressure release mechanism and the two electrodes are provided on the same side of the case, the first pressure release mechanism and the two electrodes are installed sequentially, and the separator member is provided between the first pressure release mechanism and the electrode adjacent thereto.

6. The battery according to claim 4, wherein the battery includes a plurality of the battery cells arranged in a stack along a first direction, any two adjacent battery cells are oriented opposite each other along a second direction, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

7. The battery according to claim 4, wherein the battery includes a plurality of battery cells arranged in a stack along a first direction, any two adjacent battery cells are oriented identically along a second direction, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

8. The battery includes a plurality of the battery cells arranged in a stack along a first direction, The battery according to claim 2, characterized in that the separator member extends along the first direction, and the separator member is connected to a plurality of the battery cells.

9. The distance between the separator member and the electrode adjacent thereto is 35 mm or more. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that the size of the separator member in the direction toward the electrode adjacent to it is 4 mm or more, and is less than or equal to the distance between the separator member and the electrode adjacent to it.

10. The battery according to claim 9, characterized in that the size of the separator member in the direction toward the battery cell when the housing is facing the battery cell is 0.3 mm or more.

11. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with a second pressure relief mechanism, the second pressure relief mechanism is provided at the end of the passage structure away from the exhaust hole, and the second pressure relief mechanism, when open, connects the passage structure with the outside of the housing.

12. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery includes a plurality of battery cells stacked and installed along a first direction, the housing is provided with a plurality of exhaust holes arranged along the first direction, the plurality of exhaust holes each communicate with the passage structure, and the first pressure relief mechanism is installed in a one-to-one ratio with the exhaust holes.

13. The battery according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of battery cells stacked and arranged along a first direction, wherein the exhaust holes extend along the first direction, and a plurality of the first pressure relief mechanisms of the plurality of the battery cells are provided within the projection of the exhaust holes along their axial direction, and the first direction is perpendicular to the axial direction.

14. The enclosure includes a main enclosure and an enclosure cover, and the enclosure cover includes a main cover and a sub-cover. The main cover is installed over the main housing, the main cover and the main housing together define a space for housing the battery cells, and the exhaust hole and the third passage are provided on the main cover. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that the sub-cover is provided on the side of the main cover away from the main housing, and the sub-cover and the main cover both define the first passage and the second passage.

15. A power consumption device, A power consumption device characterized by including a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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