Battery, power consumption device, and battery manufacturing method and device

Abstract

A battery (10), a power consuming device, a manufacturing method (600) for the battery (10), and an apparatus (700) for manufacturing the battery (10), the battery (10) comprising a plurality of battery cells (20) including a first battery cell (20a) and a second battery cell (20b), the plurality of battery cells (20) having a pressure relief mechanism (213) provided on a first wall (201a) of the first battery cell (20a) and a second wall (202b) of the second battery cell (20b), and a pressure relief mechanism (213) provided on a first wall (201a) of the first battery cell (20a) and a second wall (202b) of the second battery cell (20b), the plurality of battery cells (20) containing a fluid, and a heat management member (30) for regulating the temperature of the battery cell (20), the heat management member (30) being attached to a first wall (201a) of the first battery cell (20a) and a first wall (201b) of the second battery cell (20b), the heat management member (30) having a pressure relief area (301) provided at a position corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism (213) of the first battery cell (20a) for discharging waste from the first battery cell (20a) when the pressure relief mechanism (213) of the first battery cell (20a) is operating.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of batteries, and more particularly to batteries, power consuming devices, and methods and apparatus for manufacturing batteries. [Background technology]

[0002] Energy conservation and reduced pollutant emissions are key to the sustainable development of the automotive industry. In this context, electric vehicles have become an important component of the sustainable development of the automotive industry due to their advantages in energy conservation and environmental protection. However, battery technology is a key factor in the development of electric vehicles.

[0003] In the development of battery technology, in addition to improving battery performance, safety issues cannot be ignored. If the safety of a battery cannot be ensured, the battery cannot be used. Therefore, how to improve battery safety is one of the technical issues in battery technology that must be resolved as soon as possible. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present application provides a battery, a power consumption device, a method for manufacturing a battery, and an apparatus for manufacturing a battery, which can enhance the safety of the battery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to a first aspect, a battery is provided, the battery including a plurality of battery cells including a first battery cell and a second battery cell, wherein a pressure relief mechanism is provided on a first wall of the first battery cell and a second wall of the second battery cell, the pressure relief mechanism being activated to release the internal pressure when an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell in which the pressure relief mechanism is provided reaches a threshold, and a thermal management member for containing a fluid and regulating the temperature of the plurality of battery cells, the thermal management member being attached to the first wall of the first battery cell and the first wall of the second battery cell, the first wall of the second battery cell being different from the second wall of the second battery cell, and the thermal management member having a pressure relief region provided at a position corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell for discharging waste from the first battery cell when the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell is activated.

[0006] According to the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, in a battery, a pressure relief mechanism of a first battery cell is installed on a first wall of the first battery cell, and a pressure relief mechanism of a second battery cell is installed on a second wall of the second battery cell. A thermal management element is attached to the first wall of the first battery cell where the pressure relief mechanism is located and to the first wall of the second battery cell where the pressure relief mechanism is not located. Therefore, in the second battery cell, the first wall attached to the thermal management element may all be designed as a heat dissipation surface. This technical solution effectively increases the heat dissipation area of ​​the entire battery, improves the safety performance of the battery, and contributes to the development of battery fast charging technology. Furthermore, since the thermal management member is attached to the first wall where the pressure relief mechanism is located in the first battery cell and to the first wall where the pressure relief mechanism is not located in the second battery cell, the thermal management member needs to set up a pressure relief area at a position corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell to discharge the waste from the first battery cell, but the area corresponding to the second battery cell still contains fluid, which can regulate the temperature of the second battery cell and further improve the performance of the entire battery.

[0007] In some possible embodiments, the thermal management member includes a flow passage for containing the fluid, wherein the pressure relief region is free of the flow passage.

[0008] According to the technical solution of this embodiment, the area of ​​the thermal management element corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell is set as a pressure relief area, and no flow path or fluid is set in this pressure relief area to prevent the flow path in the thermal management element from being impacted when the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell is operating, resulting in the fluid in the thermal management element being wasted and affecting the temperature regulation effect of the thermal management element on the multiple battery cells.

[0009] In some possible embodiments, the thermal management member has the flow passage located at a location corresponding to the first wall of the second battery cell.

[0010] According to the technical solution of this embodiment, the flow path in the thermal management member may be installed to correspond to and completely cover the first wall of the second battery cell, and this completely covered flow path can have a good temperature regulation effect on the second battery cell and improve the performance of the entire battery.

[0011] In some possible embodiments, electrode terminals are provided on the second wall of the first battery cell and the second wall of the second battery cell, the second wall of the first battery cell being a wall opposite to the first wall of the first battery cell, and the second wall of the second battery cell being a wall opposite to the first wall of the second battery cell.

[0012] According to the technical solution of this embodiment, the second wall of the first battery cell on which the electrode terminals are installed faces the first wall on which the pressure relief mechanism is installed, maximizing the distance between the first battery cell's exhaust released by the pressure relief mechanism and the electrode terminals of the first battery cell, ensuring battery safety. At the same time, the second wall of the second battery cell on which the pressure relief mechanism is installed faces the first wall attached to the thermal management member, minimizing the impact of the second battery cell's exhaust released by the pressure relief mechanism on the thermal management member. Furthermore, the electrode terminals and pressure relief mechanism of the second battery cell are both installed on the second wall, facilitating the processing and installation of the electrode terminals and pressure relief mechanism of the second battery cell and improving battery production efficiency.

[0013] In some possible embodiments, the first battery cell and the second battery cell satisfy at least one of the following conditions: the specific capacity of the cathode material of the first battery cell is greater than the specific capacity of the cathode material of the second battery cell; the energy density of the first battery cell is greater than the energy density of the second battery cell; or the temperature of the exhaust gas discharged from the first battery cell when its pressure release mechanism is activated is higher than the temperature of the exhaust gas discharged from the second battery cell when its pressure release mechanism is activated.

[0014] The technical solution of this embodiment makes it possible to reduce the probability of thermal runaway occurring in the second battery cell compared to the first battery cell, or to reduce the temperature of the exhaust gas emitted by the second battery cell when its pressure relief mechanism is activated even if thermal runaway occurs in the second battery cell. This reduces the impact on the second battery cell of emissions released by the second battery cell through its pressure relief mechanism, improving the safety of the battery. Furthermore, the first battery cell can release a larger amount of power per unit mass and / or store a larger amount of power per unit mass compared to the second battery cell, which is advantageous for improving the overall performance of the battery.

[0015] In some possible embodiments, the first battery cell and the second battery cell satisfy at least one of the following conditions: the mass-specific capacity of the cathode material of the first battery cell is 180 mAh / g or more, and the mass-specific capacity of the cathode material of the second battery cell is 170 mAh / g or less; the mass energy density of the first battery cell is 230 Wh / kg or more, and the mass energy density of the second battery cell is 220 Wh / kg or less; or the temperature of the exhaust gas discharged from the first battery cell when its pressure release mechanism is activated is 600°C or more, and the temperature of the exhaust gas discharged from the second battery cell when its pressure release mechanism is activated is 500°C or less.

[0016] In some possible embodiments, the plurality of battery cells includes at least one of the second battery cells, and the ratio of the number of the at least one second battery cell to the number of the plurality of battery cells ranges from 20% to 50%.

[0017] According to the technical solution of this embodiment, the ratio of the number of the at least one second battery cell to the number of the plurality of battery cells is 50% or less, and the number of the first battery cells accounts for more than half of the total number of battery cells in the entire battery, thereby ensuring better electrical performance of the entire battery, such as a relatively high energy density.Furthermore, the ratio of the number of the at least one second battery cell to the number of the plurality of battery cells is 20% or more, and ensuring the effect of the thermal management member in regulating the temperature of the second battery cell and its surrounding first battery cells, thereby improving the performance of the entire battery.

[0018] In some possible embodiments, the plurality of battery cells includes a row of battery cells arranged along a first direction, and in the row of battery cells, one second battery cell is provided for every N first battery cells, where N is a positive integer and N≦4.

[0019] According to the technical solution of this embodiment, the ratio of the number of second battery cells in a row to the total number of battery cells in a row can be in the range of 20% to 50%, so that the thermal management element can have a relatively good temperature regulation effect on the row of battery cells and the row of battery cells can simultaneously have a relatively high energy density. In addition, one second battery cell is spaced apart from every N first battery cells in a row of battery cells, so that the second battery cells can be evenly distributed among the row of battery cells, thereby allowing the thermal management element to uniformly regulate the temperature of the row of battery cells and further improving the temperature regulation effect of the thermal management element on the row of battery cells.

[0020] In some possible embodiments, the second battery cell is located in an edge region of the plurality of battery cells.

[0021] Because the thermal management member has a good temperature regulation effect on the second battery cell, in the technical solution of this embodiment, by installing the second battery cell in the edge region of the multiple battery cells, the thermal management member can regulate the temperature of the second battery cell located in the edge region of the multiple battery cells, thereby reducing the impact of the external environment on this second battery cell and improving the performance of the entire battery.

[0022] In some possible embodiments, the battery further includes a collection cavity for collecting discharged matter from the first battery cell when the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell is activated, and a buffer material disposed in the collection cavity for improving the crush strength of the collection cavity.

[0023] According to the technical solution of this embodiment, a buffer material is further installed in the collection cavity for collecting waste from the first battery cell. Compared to a hollow structure, the buffer material can provide buffering and energy absorption in the collection cavity, thereby improving the crushing strength of the collection cavity where the buffer material is installed. In other words, when external pressure acts on the battery, the collection cavity where the buffer material is installed can absorb most or all of the external pressure, thereby reducing or eliminating the impact of the external pressure on the thermal management component and electrical components such as the battery cells in the electrical cavity, thereby improving the crushing performance and safety of the battery. In some application scenarios, the battery can be mounted on the chassis of an electric vehicle and provide power for the electric vehicle to run. Specifically, the collection cavity of the battery faces the chassis of the electric vehicle relative to the electrical cavity. Therefore, the electric vehicle may shake during operation, resulting in damage such as stone chipping, which may cause impact and bottoming out of the electric vehicle chassis or the battery mounted on the chassis. According to the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the buffer material in the collection cavity can provide good impact prevention and bottoming out prevention functions, reduce or eliminate the impact on the battery caused by defects encountered by the electric vehicle while driving, and enhance the impact resistance ability and safety performance of the battery, thereby further improving the safety performance of the electric vehicle.

[0024] In some possible embodiments, the thermal management member is one wall of the collection cavity, and the buffer material is attached to a surface of the thermal management member remote from the plurality of battery cells.

[0025] According to the technical solution of this embodiment, a buffer material is attached to the thermal management element to improve the collapse ability of the thermal management element, thereby reducing or eliminating damage to the thermal management element caused by external pressure. In addition to providing collapse buffering, the buffer material also provides heat retention, keeping the fluid in the thermal management element warm and preventing temperature changes in the fluid in the thermal management element, thereby ensuring the temperature regulation effect of the thermal management element and improving battery performance.

[0026] In some possible embodiments, the cushioning material has an opening disposed opposite the pressure relief area in the thermal management member, the opening being used to allow the exhaust of the first battery cell to pass through the pressure relief area.

[0027] According to the technical solution of this embodiment, the buffer material also needs to have an opening installed at a position corresponding to the pressure relief area, allowing the discharged matter to pass through and preventing the buffer material from blocking the discharge path of the discharged matter, thereby preventing the discharged matter from affecting the first battery cell and ensuring the safety of the battery.

[0028] In some possible embodiments, the buffer material is provided with an air passageway for directing exhaust from the first battery cell out of the buffer material.

[0029] According to the technical solution of this embodiment, an air guide passage is provided in the buffer material to guide the exhaust from the first battery cell, especially the high-temperature gas and / or liquid in the exhaust, preventing the high-temperature exhaust from being confined to the space where the buffer material is located, thereby preventing potential safety concerns caused by the high-temperature exhaust. Furthermore, the exhaust can also dissipate heat while flowing through the air guide passage. The air guide passage can also be used to extend the path of the exhaust in the collection cavity. When the exhaust is discharged to the outside of the battery through the collection cavity, the temperature of the exhaust is relatively low after traveling a relatively long path, thereby reducing the impact of the exhaust on the external environment of the battery and further enhancing the safety of the battery.

[0030] In some possible embodiments, a buffer material is installed in the collection cavity at a position corresponding to the second battery cell to protect the second battery cell and enhance the performance of the entire battery.

[0031] In some possible embodiments, the cushioning material is a porous energy absorbing and / or thermal insulating material.

[0032] When the buffer material is a porous energy absorbing material, if external pressure acts on the battery, the buffer material of this porous energy absorbing material can absorb the external pressure and thereby receive most or all of the external pressure, thereby reducing or eliminating the impact of the external pressure on the thermal management member and the battery cell.When the buffer material is a thermal insulation material, the buffer material keeps the fluid in the thermal management member warm, preventing changes in the fluid temperature in the thermal management member, and further ensuring the temperature regulating effect of the thermal management member, thereby improving battery performance.

[0033] According to a second aspect, there is provided an electrical power consuming device comprising a battery according to the first aspect or any one of the possible embodiments of the first aspect, the battery being for providing electrical energy.

[0034] According to a third aspect, a method for manufacturing a battery is provided, the method including: providing a plurality of battery cells including a first battery cell and a second battery cell, wherein a pressure relief mechanism is provided in a first wall of the first battery cell and a second wall of the second battery cell, the pressure relief mechanism being activated to release internal pressure when an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell provided with the pressure relief mechanism reaches a threshold; providing a thermal management member for containing a fluid and regulating temperature of the plurality of battery cells; and attaching the thermal management member to the first wall of the first battery cell and the first wall of the second battery cell, wherein the first wall of the second battery cell is different from the second wall of the second battery cell, and the thermal management member is provided with a pressure relief region at a position corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell, for discharging waste from the first battery cell when the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell is activated.

[0035] According to a fourth aspect, a battery manufacturing apparatus is provided, the apparatus including a providing module and an attachment module, the providing module for providing a plurality of battery cells including a first battery cell and a second battery cell, a pressure relief mechanism provided on a first wall of the first battery cell and a second wall of the second battery cell, the pressure relief mechanism being activated to release internal pressure when an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell provided with the pressure relief mechanism reaches a threshold, the providing module providing a thermal management member for containing a fluid to regulate temperature of the plurality of battery cells, the attachment module for attaching the thermal management member to the first wall of the first battery cell and the first wall of the second battery cell, the first wall of the second battery cell being different from the second wall of the second battery cell, and the thermal management member being provided with a pressure relief region at a position corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell for discharging waste from the first battery cell when the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell is activated.

[0036] According to the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, in a battery, a pressure relief mechanism of a first battery cell is installed on a first wall of the first battery cell, and a pressure relief mechanism of a second battery cell is installed on a second wall of the second battery cell. A thermal management element is attached to the first wall of the first battery cell where the pressure relief mechanism is located and to the first wall of the second battery cell where the pressure relief mechanism is not located. Therefore, in the second battery cell, the first wall attached to the thermal management element may all be designed as a heat dissipation surface. This technical solution effectively increases the heat dissipation area of ​​the entire battery, improves the safety performance of the battery, and contributes to the development of battery fast charging technology. Furthermore, since the thermal management member is attached to the first wall where the pressure relief mechanism is located in the first battery cell and to the first wall where the pressure relief mechanism is not located in the second battery cell, the thermal management member only needs to set up a pressure relief area at a position corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell to discharge the exhaust of the first battery cell, but the area corresponding to the second battery cell still contains fluid, which can regulate the temperature of the second battery cell and further improve the performance of the entire battery. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0037] In order to more clearly explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings that need to be used in the embodiments of the present application. It is obvious that the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on the drawings without exerting any creative efforts. [Figure 1] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle disclosed in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery disclosed in one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 3] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery cell disclosed in an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 4] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery cell disclosed in an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 5] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery disclosed in one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a local enlarged schematic view of part A in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a local enlarged schematic view of part B in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery disclosed in one embodiment of the present application; [Figure 9] 1 is a perspective structural schematic diagram of a battery disclosed in one embodiment of the present application; [Figure 10] 9 is a perspective structural schematic diagram of the thermal management element in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8. FIG. [Figure 11] 9 is a schematic diagram of another perspective exploded view of the thermal management member in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 12] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery cell disclosed in an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 13] 1 is a perspective schematic view of a cushioning material disclosed in one embodiment of the present application; [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view of the cushioning material in FIG. [Figure 15] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a method for manufacturing a battery disclosed in one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 16] 1 is a schematic block diagram of a battery manufacturing apparatus disclosed in one embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The following detailed description of the embodiments of the present application will be provided in conjunction with the drawings and examples. The detailed description of the embodiments and the drawings below are used to exemplify the principles of the present application, but are not used to limit the scope of the present application, i.e., the present application is not limited to the described embodiments.

[0039] In the description of this application, it should be explained that unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more, and the orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," and "outer" are merely for the convenience and simplification of the description of this application and do not indicate or imply that the referenced devices or elements must have a specific orientation or be configured and operated in a specific orientation, and should not be understood as limitations on this application. Furthermore, terms such as "first," "second," and "third" are merely for descriptive purposes and should not be understood as indicating or suggesting relative importance. "Perpendicular" does not mean perpendicular in the strict sense, but has a margin of error. "Parallel" does not mean parallel in the strict sense, but has a margin of error.

[0040] Any direction terms appearing in the following description refer to the directions shown in the drawings and do not limit the specific structure of the present application. It should be further explained that in the description of the present application, unless otherwise clearly defined or limited, the terms "attached," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, and may refer to, for example, a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection, or may be a direct connection or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application according to the specific circumstances.

[0041] The term "and / or" in this application merely describes the relationship between related objects and indicates that three relationships may exist, for example, A and / or B may represent three cases: A alone, a combination of A and B, and B alone. Also, the character " / " in this application generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0042] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art of this application, and the terms used in the specification of this application are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application, and the terms "comprises," "has," and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above drawings are intended to cover a non-exclusive "comprise." The terms "first," "second," etc. in the specification and claims of this application or the above drawings are not intended to describe a specific order or a hierarchical relationship, but are intended to distinguish different objects.

[0043] The term "embodiment" as used herein means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Appearances of this phrase in various locations throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor are they mutually exclusive, independent, or alternative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand, both explicitly and implicitly, that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0044] In this application, a battery is a physical module that includes one or more battery cells and provides electrical energy. For example, the battery referred to in this application may include a battery module or a battery pack. A battery generally includes a housing for packaging one or more battery cells. The housing can prevent liquids or other foreign objects from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

[0045] Alternatively, the battery cell may include a lithium ion secondary battery, a lithium ion primary battery, a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-lithium ion battery, a sodium ion battery, or a magnesium ion battery, etc., but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. The battery cell may have a cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or other shape, etc., but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. Battery cells are generally classified into three types based on packaging type: prismatic battery cells, rectangular battery cells, and pouch battery cells, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0046] The battery cell includes an electrode assembly and an electrolyte, and the electrode assembly is composed of a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. The battery cell operates mainly by the movement of metal ions between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate. The positive electrode plate includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer. The positive electrode active material layer is applied to the surface of the positive electrode current collector. The current collector not coated with the positive electrode active material layer protrudes beyond the current collector already coated with the positive electrode active material layer, and the current collector not coated with the positive electrode active material layer is called a positive electrode tab. Taking a lithium-ion battery as an example, the material of the positive electrode current collector may be aluminum, and the positive electrode active material may be lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, lithium manganese oxide, etc. The negative electrode plate includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer. The negative electrode active material layer is applied to the surface of the negative electrode current collector. The current collector not coated with the negative electrode active material layer protrudes beyond the current collector already coated with the negative electrode active material layer, and the current collector not coated with the negative electrode active material layer is called a negative electrode tab. The material of the negative electrode current collector may be copper, and the negative electrode active material may be carbon or silicon, etc. To ensure that melting does not occur even when a large current flows, the positive electrode tabs are multiple and stacked, and the negative electrode tabs are multiple and stacked. The material of the separator may be polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), etc. The electrode assembly may have a wound structure or a stacked structure, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0047] The development of battery technology requires simultaneous consideration of a wide range of design factors, including performance parameters such as energy density, cycle life, discharge capacity, and charge / discharge ratio, as well as battery safety.

[0048] The main security risk for batteries comes from the charging and discharging processes. To improve the safety performance of batteries, a pressure relief mechanism is generally installed in battery cells. The pressure relief mechanism is an element or component that is activated to release the internal pressure or temperature when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a predetermined threshold. This predetermined threshold can be adjusted according to different design needs. The predetermined threshold may depend on one or more materials of the positive electrode plate, negative electrode plate, electrolyte, and separator in the battery cell. The pressure relief mechanism may employ a pressure-sensitive or temperature-sensitive element or component, i.e., when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a predetermined threshold, the pressure relief mechanism is activated to form a path for releasing the internal pressure or temperature.

[0049] The term "operation" as used herein refers to the pressure relief mechanism operating to release the internal pressure and temperature of the battery cell. The operation of the pressure relief mechanism may include, but is not limited to, at least a portion of the pressure relief mechanism breaking, tearing, or melting. After the pressure relief mechanism operates, the high-temperature and high-pressure material inside the battery cell is discharged as waste from the pressure relief mechanism. When the pressure or temperature can be controlled in this manner, the battery cell can release pressure, thereby avoiding the occurrence of potentially more serious accidents.

[0050] The discharges from the battery cells referred to in this application include, but are not limited to, electrolyte, melted or split positive and negative electrodes, separator fragments, high temperature and pressure gases generated by reactions, flames, etc.

[0051] The pressure relief mechanism on the battery cell has an important impact on battery safety. For example, if a battery cell is short-circuited or overcharged, thermal runaway may occur inside the battery cell, causing a sudden rise in pressure or temperature. In such cases, the pressure relief mechanism can be activated to release the internal pressure and temperature to prevent the battery cell from exploding or catching fire.

[0052] In addition to providing a pressure relief mechanism for the battery cells to ensure battery safety, a thermal management member may also be provided in the housing for accommodating the battery cells. The thermal management member may contain a fluid to regulate the temperature of the battery cells. The fluid may be a liquid or a gas, and regulating the temperature refers to heating or cooling the battery cells. When cooling or lowering the temperature of the battery cells, the thermal management member may contain a cooling fluid to lower the temperature of the battery cells. In this case, the thermal management member may be referred to as a cooling member, cooling system, or cooling plate, and the contained fluid may be referred to as a cooling medium or cooling fluid, more specifically, as a coolant or cooling gas. The thermal management member may also be used to heat the battery cells, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. Optionally, the fluid may circulate to achieve better temperature regulation. Optionally, the fluid may be water, a mixture of water and ethylene glycol, air, or the like.

[0053] In some embodiments, the thermal management member can be used to separate the interior of the battery housing into an electrical cavity that houses the battery cells and a collection cavity that collects the exhaust. When the pressure relief mechanism is activated, the exhaust from the battery cells passes through the thermal management member and enters the collection cavity, but does not enter the electrical cavity, or only a small amount enters the electrical cavity, thereby reducing the impact of the exhaust on the busbar members in the electrical cavity and enhancing the safety of the battery.

[0054] Here, the electrical cavity is used to accommodate a plurality of battery cells and busbar members. The electrical cavity may be sealed or unsealed. The electrical cavity provides an installation space for the battery cells and busbar members. In some embodiments, the electrical cavity may further include a structure for fixing the battery cells. The shape of the electrical cavity may be determined depending on the number of battery cells and busbar members to be accommodated. In some embodiments, the electrical cavity may be rectangular with six walls. Because the battery cells in the electrical cavity form a relatively high voltage output through electrical connection, the electrical cavity may be referred to as a "high-voltage cavity."

[0055] The busbar members are used to realize electrical connections between multiple battery cells, such as parallel connections, series connections, or series-parallel connections. The busbar members can realize electrical connections between the battery cells by connecting the electrode terminals of the battery cells. In some embodiments, the busbar members may be fixed to the electrode terminals of the battery cells by welding. The electrical connections formed by the busbar members, corresponding to the "high-voltage cavities," may be referred to as "high-voltage connections."

[0056] The collection cavity is used to collect the effluent and may or may not be sealed. In some embodiments, the collection cavity may contain air or other gas. The collection cavity may have no electrical connection to a voltage output and correspond to a "high-pressure cavity," and may be referred to as a "low-pressure cavity." Optionally, the collection cavity may contain a liquid, such as a cooling medium, or a member containing this liquid may be provided to further reduce the temperature of the effluent entering the collection cavity. Optionally, the gas or liquid in the collection cavity may flow circulatingly.

[0057] However, in this embodiment, the pressure relief mechanism of the battery cell is installed facing the thermal management member, which has a relatively poor heat dissipation effect, and the area of ​​the thermal management member corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism of the battery cell needs to be used to discharge the exhaust of the battery cell, so it cannot accommodate fluid and regulate the temperature of the battery cell, thereby reducing the area of ​​the thermal management member for regulating the temperature of the battery cell. With the development of battery charging and discharging technology, the heat of the battery cell increases significantly during fast charging of the battery, resulting in a relatively small temperature regulation area of ​​the thermal management member or a relatively high temperature rise of the battery cell, which is unfavorable to the progress of fast charging of the battery and poses certain safety concerns.

[0058] Therefore, this application provides a technical solution. Among multiple battery cells of a battery, only the pressure relief mechanism of a first battery cell is installed facing the thermal management element, while the pressure relief mechanism of a second battery cell is not installed facing the thermal management element. Therefore, the entire surface of the second battery cell facing the thermal management element can serve as a heat dissipation surface. This technical solution increases the heat dissipation area of ​​the entire battery, further improving the safety performance of the battery and contributing to the development of battery fast charging technology. Furthermore, a pressure relief area is installed in the thermal management element at a position corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell to discharge waste from the first battery cell, while the area corresponding to the second battery cell still contains fluid to regulate the temperature of the second battery cell. This technical solution increases the temperature regulation area of ​​the thermal management element for regulating the temperature of multiple battery cells and further improving the safety performance of the battery.

[0059] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application may be used in various battery-powered devices, such as mobile phones, portable devices, laptops, battery-powered vehicles, electric toys, electric tools, electric vehicles, ships, and spacecraft, including, for example, airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spaceships.

[0060] It should be understood that the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are not limited to the application of the above-described devices, but may also be applied to all devices that use batteries. For convenience of description, the following embodiments will all be described using electric vehicles as examples.

[0061] For example, FIG. 1 shows a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle 1 according to one embodiment of the present application. The vehicle 1 may be a fuel oil vehicle, a gas vehicle, or a new energy vehicle. The new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a range-extender vehicle. A motor 11, a controller 12, and a battery 10 may be installed inside the vehicle 1. The controller 12 controls the battery 10 to supply power to the motor 11. For example, the battery 10 may be installed at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle 1. The battery 10 may be used to supply power to the vehicle 1. For example, the battery 10 may be used as an operating power source for the vehicle 1 and for the circuit system of the vehicle 1, for example, to meet the operating power consumption needs of the vehicle 1 during starting, navigation, and operation. In another embodiment of the present application, the battery 10 may be used not only as an operating power source for the vehicle 1 but also as a driving power source for the vehicle 1, providing driving power to the vehicle 1 instead of, or partially replacing, fuel oil or natural gas.

[0062] To meet different power consumption needs, a battery may include multiple battery cells, where the multiple battery cells may be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel, where series-parallel refers to a combination of series and parallel connections. The battery may also be called a battery pack. Alternatively, multiple battery cells may first be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel to form a battery module, and multiple battery modules may then be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel to form a battery. That is, multiple battery cells may directly form a battery, or may first form a battery module, which then forms a battery.

[0063] For example, FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery 10 according to one embodiment of the present application. The battery 10 may include a plurality of battery cells 20. The battery 10 may further include a housing (also called a cover). The interior of the housing is hollow, and the plurality of battery cells 20 are housed within the housing. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing may include two parts, here called a first part 111 and a second part 112, respectively. The first part 111 is engaged with the second part 112. The shapes of the first part 111 and the second part 112 may be determined according to the combined shape of the plurality of battery cells 20. Each of the first part 111 and the second part 112 may have an opening. For example, the first part 111 and the second part 112 may both be hollow rectangular parallelepipeds, and only one side of each may be open. The opening of the first part 111 is positioned opposite the opening of the second part 112, and the first part 111 and the second part 112 are engaged with each other to form a housing having a sealed chamber. The multiple battery cells 20 are combined in parallel, series, or series-parallel connections with each other and then placed in the housing formed after the first part 111 and the second part 112 are engaged with each other.

[0064] Optionally, the battery 10 may further include other structures, the description of which will be omitted here. For example, the battery 10 may further include busbar members for realizing electrical connection between the plurality of battery cells 20, such as parallel connection, series connection, or series-parallel connection. Specifically, the busbar members can be connected to electrode terminals of the battery cells 20 to realize electrical connection between the battery cells 20. Furthermore, the busbar members may be fixed to the electrode terminals of the battery cells 20 by welding. Electrical energy of the plurality of battery cells 20 may further be conducted through the housing by a conductive mechanism. Optionally, the conductive mechanism may belong to the busbar members.

[0065] According to different power demands, the number of battery cells 20 may be set to any value. Multiple battery cells 20 may be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel to achieve a relatively large capacity or power. Since each battery 10 may include a relatively large number of battery cells 20, the battery cells 20 may be installed in groups for ease of installation, and each group of battery cells 20 may constitute a battery module. The number of battery cells 20 included in a battery module is not limited and may be installed as needed.

[0066] 3 and 4 are structural schematic diagrams of two battery cells 20 according to an embodiment of the present application. The battery cell 20 includes one or more electrode assemblies 22, a housing 211, and a cover plate 212. The walls of the housing 211 and the cover plate 212 are collectively referred to as the walls of the battery cell 20. The shape of the housing 211 is determined according to the shape of the battery cell 20 after assembling one or more electrode assemblies 22. For example, the housing 211 may be a hollow rectangular parallelepiped, cube, or cylinder, and one surface of the housing 211 may have an opening so that one or more electrode assemblies 22 can be placed inside the housing 211. For example, if the housing 211 is a hollow rectangular parallelepiped or cube, one plane of the housing 211 is an open plane, i.e., this plane does not have a wall that allows communication between the inside and outside of the housing 211. When the housing 211 may be a hollow cylinder, the end surface of the housing 211 is an open surface, i.e., the end surface does not have a wall that communicates between the inside and the outside of the housing 211. The cover plate 212 covers the opening and is connected to the housing 211 to form a sealed cavity in which the electrode assembly 22 is placed. The housing 211 is filled with an electrolyte, for example, an electrolyte solution.

[0067] The battery cell 20 may further include two electrode terminals 214, and a cover plate 212 may be installed on the two electrode terminals 214. The cover plate 212 is generally flat, and the two electrode terminals 214 are fixed to the flat surface of the cover plate 212, and the two electrode terminals 214 are a positive electrode terminal 214a and a negative electrode terminal 214b, respectively. Each electrode terminal 214 is installed corresponding to a connecting part 23, which may also be called a current collecting part 23, and is located between the cover plate 212 and the electrode assembly 22 to establish an electrical connection between the electrode assembly 22 and the electrode terminals 214.

[0068] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , each electrode assembly 22 has a first tab 221a and a second tab 222a. The polarities of the first tab 221a and the second tab 222a are opposite. For example, if the first tab 221a is a positive electrode tab, the second tab 222a is a negative electrode tab. The first tab 221a of one or more electrode assemblies 22 is connected to one electrode terminal by one connection part 23, and the second tab 222a of one or more electrode assemblies 22 is connected to another electrode terminal by another connection part 23. For example, the positive electrode terminal 214a is connected to the positive electrode tab by one connection part 23, and the negative electrode terminal 214b is connected to the negative electrode tab by another connection part 23.

[0069] In this battery cell 20, one or more electrode assemblies 22 may be installed depending on actual usage needs. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, four independent electrode assemblies 22 are installed in the battery cell 20.

[0070] For example, one wall of the battery cell 20 may further be provided with a pressure relief mechanism 213 that is activated to release the internal pressure or temperature when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 reaches a threshold value.

[0071] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present application, the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the electrode terminal 214 are installed on different walls of the battery cell 20. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the electrode terminal 214 of the battery cell 20 may be installed on the top wall, i.e., the cover plate 212, of the battery cell 20. The pressure relief mechanism 213 is installed on another wall of the battery cell 20, different from the top wall, for example, the pressure relief mechanism 213 is installed on the bottom wall 215 opposite the top wall. For convenience of illustration, the bottom wall 215 is separated from the housing 211 in Fig. 3, but this does not limit the bottom side of the housing 211 to having an opening.

[0072] In the embodiment of the present application, the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the electrode terminal 214 are installed on different walls of the battery cell 20. When the pressure relief mechanism 213 is operating, the discharged matter from the battery cell 20 is moved away from the electrode terminal 214, thereby reducing the impact of the discharged matter on the electrode terminal 214 and the busbar members, thereby enhancing the safety of the battery.

[0073] Furthermore, when the electrode terminal 214 is installed on the cover plate 212 of the battery cell 20, the pressure relief mechanism 213 can be installed on the bottom wall 215 of the battery cell 20, so that when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated, waste from the battery cell 20 can be discharged to the bottom of the battery 10. In this way, the risk of waste can be reduced by using a thermal management member or the like at the bottom of the battery 10, while the bottom of the battery 10 is generally away from the user, thereby reducing the risk of harm to the user.

[0074] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present application, the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the electrode terminal 214 are installed on the same wall of the battery cell 20. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 , the electrode terminal 214 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 may both be installed on the top wall of the battery cell 20, i.e., the cover plate 212.

[0075] By installing the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the electrode terminal 214 on the same wall of the battery cell 20, for example, on the cover plate 212 of the battery cell 20, it becomes easier to process and install the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the electrode terminal 214, which can contribute to improving the production efficiency of the battery 10.

[0076] The pressure relief mechanism 213 may be a part of the wall where it is located, or may be a separate structure from the wall where it is located, and may be fixed to the wall where it is located by, for example, welding. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , if the pressure relief mechanism 213 is a part of the bottom wall 215, the pressure relief mechanism 213 may be formed by installing a notch in the bottom wall 215, and the thickness of the bottom wall 215 corresponding to the notch is smaller than the thickness of the pressure relief mechanism 213 in the area other than the notch. The notch is the most vulnerable part of the pressure relief mechanism 213. When excessive gas is generated in the battery cell 20, the internal pressure of the housing 211 increases and reaches a threshold value, or when the internal temperature of the battery cell 20 increases and reaches a threshold value due to heat generated by a reaction inside the battery cell 20, the pressure relief mechanism 213 ruptures at the notch, thereby connecting the inside and outside of the housing 211. The gas pressure and temperature are released to the outside by the rupture of the pressure relief mechanism 213, and explosion of the battery cell 20 is prevented.

[0077] Furthermore, the pressure relief mechanism 213 may be various possible pressure relief mechanisms, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. For example, the pressure relief mechanism 213 may be a temperature-sensitive pressure relief mechanism configured to melt when the internal temperature of the battery cell 20 in which the pressure relief mechanism 213 is provided reaches a threshold, and / or the pressure relief mechanism 213 may be a pressure-sensitive pressure relief mechanism configured to rupture when the internal air pressure of the battery cell 20 in which the pressure relief mechanism 213 is provided reaches a threshold.

[0078] FIG. 5 shows another schematic structural diagram of a battery 10 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 5, the battery 10 includes a plurality of battery cells 20, including a first battery cell 20a and a second battery cell 20b. A pressure relief mechanism 213 is installed on a first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a and a second wall 202b of the second battery cell 20b. The pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated to release the internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 in which the pressure relief mechanism 213 is installed reaches a threshold value.

[0080] The thermal management member 30 is used to contain a fluid and regulate the temperature of the multiple battery cells 20, and the thermal management member 30 is attached to a first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a and a first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b, and the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b is different from the second wall 202b of the second battery cell 20b. The thermal management member 30 has a pressure relief area 301 at a position corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a for discharging waste from the first battery cell 20a when the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a is operating.

[0081] In some embodiments of the present application, the first battery cell 20a and the second battery cell 20b of the multiple battery cells 20 may have the same shape, which makes them easier to attach to the battery 10 housing. As an example, the first battery cell 20a and the second battery cell 20b may both have a rectangular parallelepiped structure. Here, the first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a and the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b may be understood as walls facing the same direction in the rectangular parallelepiped structure. Similarly, the second wall 202a of the first battery cell 20a and the second wall 202b of the second battery cell 20b may be understood as other walls facing the same direction in the rectangular parallelepiped structure.

[0082] As another example, the first battery cell 20a and the second battery cell 20b may both have a cylindrical structure or another three-dimensional structure. Here, the first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a and the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b may be understood as walls facing the same direction in the three-dimensional structure. Similarly, the second wall 202a of the first battery cell 20a and the second wall 202b of the second battery cell 20b may be understood as other walls facing the same direction in the three-dimensional structure.

[0083] With the first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a and the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b facing in the same direction, the thermal management member 30 is easily attached to the first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a and the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b.

[0084] Optionally, in a specific form, the thermal management member 30 may be a plate-like member, a tubular member, or another type of member. The thermal management member 30 may contain a fluid to regulate the temperature of the plurality of battery cells 20. In a specific mounting manner, the thermal management member 30 may be attached to the plurality of battery cells 20 by fasteners so that it is attached to the first wall 201 a of the first battery cell 20 a and the first wall 201 b of the second battery cell 20 b. Alternatively, the thermal management member 30 may be attached to another structural member of the battery 10, such as the housing, by fasteners so that it is attached to the first wall 201 a of the first battery cell 20 a and the first wall 201 b of the second battery cell 20 b.

[0085] For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , the thermal management member 30 may be a plate-shaped member, which can cover the first wall 201 a of the first battery cell 20 a and the first wall 201 b of the second battery cell 20 b over a wide area, thereby improving the temperature regulation capability of the thermal management member 30 and enhancing the safety of the battery 10; meanwhile, the plate-shaped thermal management member 30 can be further used to isolate the space where the first battery cell 20 a and the second battery cell 20 b are located from the space where the exhaust of the first battery cell 20 a is located, in order to prevent the exhaust from affecting the first battery cell 20 a and the second battery cell 20 b.

[0086] A pressure relief mechanism 213 is provided on the first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a, and this pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated when the internal pressure or temperature of the first battery cell 20a reaches a threshold value, thereby releasing the internal pressure of the first battery cell 20a. Therefore, the thermal management member 30 attached to the first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a is provided with a pressure relief area 301 corresponding to the location of the pressure relief mechanism 213, for releasing waste from the first battery cell 20a when the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a is activated. Through the mutual cooperation between the thermal management member 30 and the first battery cell 20a, the first battery cell 20a releases the internal pressure through the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the pressure relief area 301 of the thermal management member 30, preventing explosion of the first battery cell 20a and improving the safety performance of the battery 10. Alternatively, the pressure relief area 301 may be a through hole through the thermal management member 30, or may be a weak area, e.g., an area of ​​relatively little thickness or strength, that is susceptible to being destroyed by emissions when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated.

[0087] At the same time, the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the second battery cell 20b is not installed on the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b, but on a second wall 202b different from the first wall 201b. In this second battery cell 20b, the first wall 201b attached to the thermal management member 30 is entirely designed as a heat dissipation surface, thereby increasing the heat dissipation area of ​​the entire battery 10. Therefore, the second battery cell 20b releases internal pressure using the pressure relief mechanism 213, preventing explosion and improving the safety performance of the battery 10. In this second battery cell 20b, the first wall 201b attached to the thermal management member 30 may entirely be a heat dissipation surface, thereby increasing the heat dissipation area of ​​the entire battery 10 and further improving the safety performance of the battery 10.

[0088] To summarize, according to the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, among the battery cells 20 of the battery 10, the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a is installed on the first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a, and the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the second battery cell 20b is installed on the second wall 202b of the second battery cell 20b. The thermal management element 30 is attached to the first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a where the pressure relief mechanism 213 is located, and to the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b where the pressure relief mechanism 213 is not located. Therefore, in the second battery cell 20b, the first wall 201b attached to the thermal management element 30 may all be designed as a heat dissipation surface. This technical solution effectively increases the heat dissipation area of ​​the entire battery 10, further improving the safety performance of the battery and contributing to the development of rapid battery charging technology.

[0089] Furthermore, because the thermal management element 30 is attached to the first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a where the pressure relief mechanism 213 is located, and to the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b where the pressure relief mechanism 213 is not located, the thermal management element 30 has a pressure relief area 301 located at the position corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a to discharge the exhaust from the first battery cell 20a, but the area corresponding to the second battery cell 20b still contains fluid to regulate the temperature of the second battery cell 20b. This technical solution enables both the first battery cell 20a and the second battery cell 20b to release their internal pressures through their pressure relief mechanisms 213, increases the heat dissipation area of ​​the entire battery 10, and further improves the safety performance of the battery 10.

[0090] Optionally, in the first battery cell 20, the electrode terminal 214 is not installed on the first wall 201a where the pressure relief mechanism 213 is installed; in other words, the electrode terminal 214 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 are installed on different walls of the first battery cell 20a.

[0091] With this technical solution, in the first battery cell 20a, the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the electrode terminal 214 are installed on different walls. When the pressure relief mechanism 213 is operating, the discharged material from the first battery cell 20a is moved away from the electrode terminal 214, thereby reducing the impact of the discharged material on the electrode terminal 214 and its related components, thereby further enhancing the safety of the battery 10.

[0092] 5, in the first battery cell 20a, the electrode terminal 214 may be installed on the second wall 202a of the first battery cell 20a. Optionally, the second wall 202a is a wall opposite to the first wall 201a. This technical solution can maximize the distance that the waste from the first battery cell 20a is away from the electrode terminal 214, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery 10.

[0093] As an alternative embodiment, the specific structure of the first battery cell 20a shown in FIG. 5 may refer to the related art solution of the embodiment shown in FIG.

[0094] Specifically, in the second battery cell 20b, the first wall 201b attached to the thermal management member 30 does not have electrode terminals 214 installed so that all areas of the first wall 201b are heat dissipation surfaces and the thermal management member 30 can regulate the temperature of all areas of this first wall 201b.

[0095] For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the second wall 202b on which the pressure relief mechanism 213 is installed in the second battery cell 20b is installed opposite the first wall 201b attached to the thermal management member 30, thereby minimizing the impact on the thermal management member 30 of the exhaust from the second battery cell 20b discharged by the pressure relief mechanism 213.

[0096] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, in the second battery cell 20b, the electrode terminal 214 may be installed on the same wall as the pressure relief mechanism 213, i.e., both the electrode terminal 214 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 are installed on the second wall 202b, which facilitates the processing and installation of the electrode terminal 214 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 in the second battery cell 20b and improves the production efficiency of the battery 10.

[0097] As an alternative embodiment, the second battery cell 20b shown in FIG. 5 may refer to the related art solution of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 for its specific structure.

[0098] As can be seen from the above explanation, because the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a is installed on the first wall 201a attached to the thermal management member 30 and the exhaust of the first battery cell 20a is discharged through the pressure relief area 301 of the thermal management member 30, the thermal management member 30 can isolate the exhaust of the first battery cell 20a from the first battery cell 20a, and the impact of the exhaust of the first battery cell 20a on the first battery cell 20a is relatively small. However, because the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the second battery cell 20b is not installed on the first wall 201b attached to the thermal management member 30, the thermal management member 30 cannot isolate the exhaust of the second battery cell 20b, and the impact of the exhaust of the second battery cell 20b on the second battery cell 20b is relatively large.

[0099] Therefore, in order to reduce the impact of the discharged matter of the second battery cell 20b on the second battery cell 20b and to comprehensively improve the overall performance of the battery 10, the first battery cell 20a and the second battery cell 20b are (1) The specific capacity of the cathode material of the first battery cell 20a is greater than the specific capacity of the cathode material of the second battery cell 20b; (2) The energy density of the first battery cell 20a is greater than the energy density of the second battery cell 20b, or (3) At least one of the following conditions may be satisfied: the temperature of the exhaust smoke discharged from the first battery cell 20a when its pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated is higher than the temperature of the exhaust smoke discharged from the second battery cell 20b when its pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated.

[0100] When the first battery cell 20a and the second battery cell 20b satisfy the above condition (1) and / or condition (2), the second battery cell 20b is less likely to experience thermal runaway than the first battery cell 20a, and therefore the probability that the internal pressure or temperature in the second battery cell 20b will reach a threshold value is relatively low. In other words, the probability that the second battery cell 20b will release exhaust gases through its pressure relief mechanism 213 is relatively low, which reduces the impact on the second battery cell 20b of exhaust gases released by the second battery cell 20b through its pressure relief mechanism 213 and improves the safety of the battery 10.

[0101] By way of example and not limitation, the cathode material of the first battery cell 20a includes, but is not limited to, a nickel-cobalt-manganese (NiCoMn, NCM) ternary material, such as NCM 811, NCM 622, NCM 523, etc. The cathode material of the second battery cell 20b includes, but is not limited to, a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO, LFP) material, a lithium titanate (LiTiO) material, or NCM 111, etc.

[0102] Furthermore, compared to the second battery cell 20b, the specific capacity of the cathode material of the first battery cell 20a is relatively large, and this specific capacity may be mass specific capacity (or gram capacity) or volume specific capacity, so the amount of power that can be released by the first battery cell 20a per unit mass / unit volume is relatively large, and / or the energy density of the first battery cell 20a is relatively high, and this energy density may be mass energy density or volume energy density, so the amount of power that can be stored in the first battery cell 20a per unit mass / unit volume is relatively large, which is advantageous for improving the electrical performance of the battery 10.

[0103] If the first battery cell 20a and the second battery cell 20b satisfy the above condition (3), even if thermal runaway occurs in the second battery cell 20b, the temperature of the exhaust gas discharged from the second battery cell 20b is relatively lower than that of the first battery cell 20a when its pressure release mechanism 213 is operating. Therefore, the impact on the second battery cell 20b of the exhaust gas released by the second battery cell 20b through its pressure release mechanism 213 is similarly reduced, thereby improving the safety of the battery 10.

[0104] Further, by way of example and not limitation, the first battery cell 20a and the second battery cell 20b may be: (1a) The mass specific capacity of the cathode material of the first battery cell 20a is 180 mAh / g or more, and the mass specific capacity of the cathode material of the second battery cell 20b is 170 mAh / g or less; (2a) The mass energy density of the first battery cell 20a is 230 Wh / kg or more, and the mass energy density of the second battery cell 20b is 220 Wh / kg or less, or (3a) At least one of the following conditions may be satisfied: the temperature of the exhaust gas discharged from the first battery cell 20a when its pressure release mechanism 213 is activated is 600°C or higher; and the temperature of the exhaust gas discharged from the second battery cell 20b when its pressure release mechanism 213 is activated is 500°C or lower.

[0105] Optionally, under the above condition (3a), the exhaust smoke emitted by the first battery cell 20a and the second battery cell 20b can satisfy not only the temperature threshold but also the time threshold, for example, the temperature of the exhaust smoke emitted by the first battery cell 20a when its pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated is 600°C or higher, and the duration is 3 seconds or longer.

[0106] In some embodiments of the present application, the thermal management member 30 may include a flow passage 330 for containing a fluid, where the pressure relief region 301 is free of fluid.

[0107] FIG. 6 shows a local enlarged schematic view of part A in FIG.

[0108] 6, the thermal management member 30 may include a first thermal conduction plate 310 and a second thermal conduction plate 320. The first thermal conduction plate 310 and the second thermal conduction plate 320 form a flow path 330 for containing a fluid. The first thermal conduction plate 310 is located between the first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a and the second thermal conduction plate 320, and is attached to the first wall 201a.

[0109] In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the pressure relief area 301 in the thermal management member 30 corresponds to the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a, and since no flow path 330 is installed in this pressure relief area 301, no fluid is installed in the pressure relief area 301.

[0110] According to this technical solution, the area of ​​the thermal management element 30 corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a is set up as a pressure relief area 301, and this pressure relief area 301 is not provided with a flow path 330 or fluid. This prevents an impact on the flow path 330 in the thermal management element 30 when the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20 is operating, which would result in the fluid in the thermal management element 30 being wasted and would affect the temperature regulation effect of the thermal management element 30 on the multiple battery cells 20.

[0111] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 6 , on the first heat conduction plate 310, the area corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20 a is a first pressure relief area 311, and on the second heat conduction plate 320, the area corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20 a is a second pressure relief area 321, and the first pressure relief area 311 and the second pressure relief area 321 together form the pressure relief area 301 in the embodiment of the present application.

[0112] For example, the first pressure relief area 311 and / or the second pressure relief area 321 may be weakened areas. The strength of the first pressure relief area 311 may be weaker than the strength of other areas of the first thermal conduction plate 310, and / or the strength of the second pressure relief area 321 may be weaker than the strength of other areas of the second thermal conduction plate 320.

[0113] Optionally, a groove is provided in the first pressure relief area 311 and / or the second pressure relief area 321, facing the pressure relief mechanism 213, and the bottom wall of the groove forms a weakened area, so that when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated, the discharged matter from the first battery cell 20a can be released by breaking the bottom wall of the groove.

[0114] Alternatively, the weakened areas may be formed in the first heat conduction plate 310 and / or the second heat conduction plate 320 as the first pressure relief area 311 and / or the second pressure relief area 321 in other ways, for example, by installing a notch in the first heat conduction plate 310 to form the weakened area as the first pressure relief area 311, and the present application is not specifically limited thereto.

[0115] As another example, the first pressure relief area 311 and / or the second pressure relief area 321 may be a through-hole. When the pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated, the discharged matter of the first battery cell 20a can be directly released by the first pressure relief area 311 and / or the second pressure relief area 321 in the form of a through-hole.

[0116] Of course, in other examples, one of the first pressure relief area 311 and the second pressure relief area 321 may be a through hole, and the other may be designed as a weak area, where the through hole facilitates the passage of waste matter from the first battery cell 20a, and the weak area can block external influences on the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the first battery cell 20a, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the battery 10.

[0117] FIG. 7 is a schematic enlarged view of part B in FIG.

[0118] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 7, the thermal management member 30 has a flow passage 330 disposed at a position corresponding to the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b.

[0119] The first thermal conduction plate 310 is located between the first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a and the second thermal conduction plate 320 and is attached to this first wall 201a, and the first thermal conduction plate 310 is located between the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b and the second thermal conduction plate 320 and is attached to this first wall 201b.

[0120] Alternatively, since the pressure relief mechanism 213 is not installed on the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b, the flow path 330 may be installed to completely cover the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b, and this completely covered flow path 330 can provide good temperature regulation for the second battery cell 20b.

[0121] Optionally, the second battery cell 20b of the plurality of battery cells 20 of the battery 10 is located in an edge region of the plurality of battery cells 20.

[0122] The battery cells 20 located in the edge regions of the plurality of battery cells 20 are subjected to relatively large interference from the external environment, while the battery cells 20 located in the central region of the plurality of battery cells 20 are subjected to relatively small interference from the external environment. Therefore, the battery cells 20 located in the edge regions of the plurality of battery cells 20 need to be temperature-regulated by the thermal management member 30 in particular to keep them within an appropriate temperature range and ensure good operating and safety performance.

[0123] As described above, the thermal management member 30 can easily achieve a good temperature regulation effect on the second battery cell 20b. Therefore, in the technical proposal of the embodiment of the present application, the second battery cell 20b is installed in the edge region of the plurality of battery cells 20, so that the thermal management member 30 can regulate the temperature of the second battery cell 20b located in the edge region of the plurality of battery cells 20, thereby reducing the impact of the external environment on these plurality of second battery cells 20b and improving the performance of the entire battery 10.

[0124] Furthermore, the energy density of the first battery cell 20a may be higher than the energy density of the second battery cell 20b, and the temperature of the exhaust from the first battery cell 20a may be higher than the temperature of the second battery cell 20b. Therefore, to prevent a safety concern caused by the relatively high-temperature exhaust from the first battery cell 20a being directly discharged outside the battery 10, in some possible embodiments, the second battery cell 20b is installed close to the exhaust valve of the battery 10, but the first battery cell 20a may be installed away from the exhaust valve of the battery 10, and the exhaust valve of the battery 10 may be installed in the housing of the battery 10 and used to discharge the exhaust from the first battery cell 20a and the exhaust from the second battery cell 20b to the outside of the battery 10.

[0125] With this technical solution, the distance between the first battery cell 20a and the exhaust valve of the battery 10 is relatively long, and the exhaust from the first battery cell 20a is discharged outside the battery 10 through a fixed exhaust path in the battery 10, thereby reducing the external impact of the high-temperature exhaust from the first battery cell 20a and improving the safety performance of the battery 10.

[0126] Optionally, the plurality of battery cells 20 of the battery 10 may include at least one first battery cell 20a and at least one second battery cell 20b.

[0127] As described above, the thermal management member 30 has a good temperature regulation effect on the second battery cell 20b, while the first battery cell 20a has relatively superior electrical performance, such as a relatively high energy density. By controlling the number of first battery cells 20a and second battery cells 20b in the battery 10 within a predetermined ratio range, the temperature regulation effect of the thermal management member 30 and the energy density of the battery 10 can be balanced to optimize the overall performance of the battery 10.

[0128] By way of example and not limitation, in some possible embodiments, the ratio of the number of at least one second battery cell 20b among the plurality of battery cells 20 to the number of the plurality of battery cells 20 ranges from 20% to 50%.

[0129] Specifically, the ratio of the number of the at least one second battery cell 20b to the number of the plurality of battery cells 20 is 50% or less, ensuring that the number of first battery cells 20a accounts for more than half of all the battery cells 20 in the entire battery 10, thereby ensuring a relatively high energy density of the battery 10. Furthermore, the ratio of the number of the at least one second battery cell 20b to the number of the plurality of battery cells 20 is 20% or more, ensuring the temperature regulation effect of the thermal management member 30 on the second battery cell 20b and the surrounding first battery cell 20a, thereby improving the safety performance of the entire battery 10.

[0130] Optionally, in some embodiments, the plurality of battery cells 20 includes a row of battery cells 20 arranged along a first direction, and among the row of battery cells 20, one second battery cell 20b is spaced apart for every N first battery cells 20a, where N is a positive integer and N≦4.

[0131] 8 and 9 show two perspective structural schematic diagrams of a battery 10 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0132] For example, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , in an embodiment of the present application, the battery 10 may include two rows of battery cells 20, and a plurality of the battery cells 20 in each row are arranged along a first direction x, and the two rows of battery cells 20 are arranged along a second direction y.

[0133] 8, one second battery cell 20b is installed for every one first battery cell 20a in one row of battery cells 20. In other words, the first battery cells 20a and the second battery cells 20b are installed sequentially with a gap between them in one row of battery cells 20. In this row of battery cells 20, the ratio of the number of first battery cells 20a to the number of second battery cells 20b is 1:1.

[0134] 9, one second battery cell 20b is installed for every two first battery cells 20a in one row of battery cells 20. In this row of battery cells 20, the ratio of the number of first battery cells 20a to the number of second battery cells 20b is 2:1.

[0135] 8 and 9, one second battery cell 20b may be installed for every three or four first battery cells 20a in one row of battery cells 20. In this case, the ratio of the number of first battery cells 20a to the number of second battery cells 20b may be 3:1 or 4:1.

[0136] According to this technical solution, by setting the ratio of the number of second battery cells 20b in one row of battery cells 20 to the total number of battery cells 20 in the row to be in the range of 20% to 50%, the thermal management element 30 can have a relatively good temperature regulation effect on the one row of battery cells 20, and at the same time, the one row of battery cells 20 can have a relatively high energy density. In addition, by installing one second battery cell 20b at intervals for every N first battery cells 20a in one row of battery cells 20, the second battery cells 20b can be evenly distributed among the one row of battery cells 20, so that the thermal management element 30 can uniformly regulate the temperature of the one row of battery cells 20, and further improve the temperature regulation effect of the thermal management element 30 on the one row of battery cells 20.

[0137] Optionally, in some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the arrangement of the battery cells 20 in each of the two rows of the battery cells 20 is the same, and two adjacent battery cells 20 in the second direction y are the same battery cell, that is, both adjacent battery cells 20 are the first battery cell 20a or both adjacent battery cells 20b.

[0138] Of course, in other embodiments, two adjacent battery cells 20 in the second direction y may be different types of battery cells. For example, one second battery cell 20b is spaced apart from every N first battery cells 20a in the second direction y. In this way, by evenly distributing the second battery cells 20b among the rows of battery cells 20 in the second direction y, the temperature regulation effect of the thermal management member 30 on the rows of battery cells 20 can be further improved.

[0139] 8 and 9 are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. The present application does not specifically limit the number and arrangement of the battery cells 20.

[0140] 8 and 9, the first walls 201a of the plurality of first battery cells 20a and the first walls 201b of the plurality of second battery cells 20b are located on the same plane, and the first walls 201a of the plurality of first battery cells 20a and the first walls 201b of the plurality of second battery cells 20b may be collectively referred to as the first walls 201 of the plurality of battery cells 20. Similarly, the second walls 202a of the plurality of first battery cells 20a and the second walls 202b of the plurality of second battery cells 20b are also located on the same plane, and the second walls 202a of the plurality of first battery cells 20a and the second walls 202b of the plurality of second battery cells 20b may be collectively referred to as the second walls 202 of the plurality of battery cells 20.

[0141] Here, the first wall 201 of the plurality of battery cells 20 is a wall of the plurality of battery cells 20 facing the thermal management member 30 side, and the second wall 202 of the plurality of battery cells 20 is a wall of the plurality of battery cells 20 facing away from the thermal management member 30 side.

[0142] 8 and 9, corresponding to the plurality of pressure relief mechanisms 213 (not shown) of the plurality of first battery cells 20a installed on the first wall 201, the heat management member 30 is provided with a plurality of pressure relief areas 301, which correspond one-to-one to the plurality of pressure relief mechanisms 213 of the plurality of first battery cells 20a and are installed at intervals on the heat management member 30.

[0143] For example, FIGS. 10 and 11 show two perspective structural schematic diagrams of thermal management member 30 in the embodiment shown in FIG.

[0144] 10 and 11 , the thermal management member 30 includes a first thermal conduction plate 310 and a second thermal conduction plate 320 that are disposed opposite each other. Optionally, as an example, the first thermal conduction plate 310 may have a flat plate structure, and the second thermal conduction plate 320 may have a recess that recesses in a direction away from the first thermal conduction plate 310 to form a flow path 330 between the first thermal conduction plate 310 and the second thermal conduction plate 320. Alternatively, as another example, the second thermal conduction plate 320 may have a flat plate structure, and the first thermal conduction plate 310 may have a recess that recesses in a direction away from the second thermal conduction plate 320 to form a flow path 330 between the first thermal conduction plate 310 and the second thermal conduction plate 320. Alternatively, in another example, the first heat conduction plate 310 and the second heat conduction plate 320 may both have recesses formed therein, so as to form a flow path 330 between the first heat conduction plate 310 and the second heat conduction plate 320. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to a specific manner for forming the flow path 330.

[0145] 10 and 11, the first pressure relief area 311 in the first heat conduction plate 310 may be a through-hole structure, and the dimensions of the through-hole structure may be designed according to the dimensions of the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a. Also, the second pressure relief area 321 in the second heat conduction plate 320 may be a weakened area structure, and the dimensions of the weakened area structure may be designed according to the dimensions of the through-hole structure.

[0146] In other embodiments, the related design of the first pressure relief area 311 on the first heat conduction plate 310 and the second pressure relief area 321 on the second heat conduction plate 320 may refer to the related description in the embodiment shown in Figure 6 above, and will not be further described here. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to the specific shapes of the first pressure relief area 311 and the second pressure relief area 321.

[0147] Optionally, as shown in Fig. 10, in this example, the channels 330 are stripe-shaped channels 330. Referring to Figs. 8 and 10, corresponding to one row of battery cells 20, the thermal management member 30 is provided with one row of pressure relief regions 301 and two stripe-shaped channels 330, and the two stripe-shaped channels 330 and the row of pressure relief regions 301 all extend along the first direction x, and the two stripe-shaped channels 330 are located on both sides of the row of pressure relief regions 301 in the second direction y.

[0148] In this embodiment, the flow path 330 in the thermal management member 30 is easy to process, but because it does not perfectly correspond to the first wall 201b covering the second battery cell 20b, the temperature regulation effect of the thermal management member 30 is not optimal.

[0149] In order to further improve the temperature regulation effect of the thermal management member 30, in addition to the striped channels shown in FIG. 10 , as shown in FIG. 11 , the channels 330 further include a connecting portion 331, which is used to connect two striped channels corresponding to one row of battery cells 20, and which is located between two adjacent pressure relief regions 301 and is installed corresponding to the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b.

[0150] According to the technical solution of this embodiment, in the region of the plurality of battery cells 20 corresponding to the thermal management member 30, in addition to the pressure relief region 301 being installed in the region corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a, flow paths may also be installed in other regions, so as to adequately regulate the temperature of the plurality of battery cells 20, optimize the temperature regulation effect of the thermal management member 30, and ensure the safety performance of the battery 10.

[0151] FIG. 12 shows another schematic structural diagram of a battery 10 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0152] As shown in FIG. 12, in the embodiment of the present application, the battery 10 further includes a collection cavity 11b for collecting discharged matter from the first battery cell 20a when the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a is operating, and a buffer material 40 installed in the collection cavity 11b for improving the crushing strength of the collection cavity 11b.

[0153] Specifically, in the embodiment of the present application, the battery 10 may further include an electrical cavity 11 a and a collection cavity 11 b. The thermal management member 30 is used to isolate the electrical cavity 11 a from the collection cavity 11 b. Here, the electrical cavity 11 a is used to accommodate the plurality of battery cells 20, and the collection cavity 11 b is used to collect the exhaust of the first battery cell 20 a when the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20 a is activated.

[0154] In the embodiment of the present application, the thermal management member 30 is used to separate the electrical cavity 11a and the collection cavity 11b. That is, the electrical cavity 11a, which accommodates the plurality of battery cells 20, is separated from the collection cavity 11b, which collects the waste. In this way, when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated, the waste from the first battery cell 20a enters the collection cavity 11b and does not enter the electrical cavity 11a, or only a small amount enters the electrical cavity 11a, thereby not affecting the electrical connection in the electrical cavity 11a, thereby enhancing the safety of the battery 10.

[0155] Furthermore, a buffer material 40 is further installed in the collection cavity 11b. Compared to a hollow structure, the buffer material 40 can provide buffering and energy absorption functions to the collection cavity 11b, so the collection cavity 11b with the buffer material 40 installed has better crush strength. In other words, when external pressure acts on the battery 10, the collection cavity 11b with the buffer material 40 installed absorbs most or all of the external pressure, thereby reducing or eliminating the impact of the external pressure on the thermal management member 30 and electrical components such as the battery cells 20 in the electrical cavity 11a, and improving the crush resistance and safety performance of the battery 10.

[0156] In some application scenarios, the battery 10 can be mounted on the chassis of an electric vehicle and provide power for the electric vehicle to run. Specifically, the battery's collection cavity 11b faces the electric vehicle chassis relative to the electric cavity 11a. Because the electric vehicle may shake or be hit by stones or other obstacles while running, this can cause impact and bottoming out of the electric vehicle chassis or the battery mounted on the chassis. According to the technical solution of the embodiments of the present application, the buffer material 40 in the collection cavity 11b provides excellent impact and bottoming out protection, reducing or eliminating the impact on the battery caused by obstacles encountered while the electric vehicle is running. This enhances the impact resistance and safety performance of the battery 10, thereby further improving the safety performance of the electric vehicle.

[0157] Optionally, in order to improve the cushioning effect of the cushioning material 40, the cushioning material 40 in the embodiment of the present application may have a layered structure, and in the collection cavity 11b, this layered cushioning material 40 is installed corresponding to the positions of the multiple battery cells 20.

[0158] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present application, the thermal management member 30 serves as a common wall between the electrical cavity 11a and the collection cavity 11b. As shown in FIG. 12, the thermal management member 30 may simultaneously serve as one wall of the electrical cavity 11a and one wall of the collection cavity 11b. That is, the thermal management member 30 (or a portion thereof) may directly serve as the common wall between the electrical cavity 11a and the collection cavity 11b. In this manner, the effluent from the first battery cell 20a can pass through the thermal management member 30 into the collection cavity 11b, and the presence of the thermal management member 30 isolates the effluent from the electrical cavity 11a as much as possible, thereby reducing the risk of the effluent and enhancing the safety performance of the battery 10.

[0159] Optionally, in some embodiments, the buffer material 40 may be attached to a surface of the thermal management member 30 that faces away from the plurality of battery cells 20 and installed in the collection cavity 11b.

[0160] In this embodiment, the cushioning material 40 is installed in the collection cavity 11b, thereby improving the crushing ability of the collection cavity 11b; furthermore, the cushioning material 40 is attached to the thermal management element 30, thereby improving the crushing ability of the thermal management element 30, reducing or eliminating damage to the thermal management element 30 caused by external pressure, and ensuring that the fluid in the thermal management element 30 does not leak out, thereby achieving good temperature regulation.

[0161] Alternatively, the buffer material 40 may be a thermal insulating material. The buffer material 40 may have a relatively large area and be attached to the thermal management element 30, particularly to the flow path 330 in the thermal management element 30. Therefore, the buffer material 40 can not only provide a collapse buffering function, but also provide a thermal insulation function, keeping the fluid in the thermal management element 30 warm and preventing changes in the fluid temperature in the thermal management element 30, thereby ensuring the temperature regulation effect of the thermal management element 30 and improving the performance of the battery 10.

[0162] Alternatively, the buffer material 40 may be a porous energy absorbing material. When external pressure acts on the battery 10, the buffer material 40 made of this porous energy absorbing material can absorb the external pressure, thereby receiving most or all of the external pressure and reducing or eliminating the influence of the external pressure on the thermal management member 30 and electrical components such as the battery cells 20 in the electrical cavity 11 a.

[0163] For illustrative purposes only and not for limitation, the material of the cushioning material 40 may be foam cotton, such as microcellular polypropylene (MPP) foam cotton, silica gel foam cotton, etc., which may have both energy absorption properties and heat retention properties and can be suitably used in the embodiments of the present application.

[0164] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present application, the collection cavity 11b may be formed with the thermal management member 30 and the protective member 50. For example, as shown in Fig. 12, the housing further includes the protective member 50. The protective member 50 is attached to the protective thermal management member 30, and the protective member 50 and the thermal management member 30 form the collection cavity 11b.

[0165] Since the collection cavity 11b formed by the protective component 50 and the thermal management member 30 does not occupy the space in the housing that accommodates the battery cells 20, the collection cavity 11b can be provided with a relatively large space, thereby effectively collecting and buffering the emissions and reducing the risk of them.

[0166] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the collection cavity 11b may be a sealed chamber, for example, the connection point between the protective component 50 and the thermal management member 30 may be sealed by a sealing component.

[0167] Optionally, in some other embodiments of the present application, the collection cavity 11b may not be a sealed chamber. For example, the collection cavity 11b may be in communication with the air outside the battery 10, and thus some of the effluent may be further discharged to the outside of the battery 10. Optionally, a discharge valve may be installed in the protective component 50, and the collection cavity 11b may be in communication with the air outside the battery 10 through the discharge valve.

[0168] Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, the buffer material 40 in the collection cavity 11b may be attached to and installed on the protective component 50 and / or the thermal management member 30. For example, it may be fixedly attached to the protective component 50 and / or the thermal management member 30 by a fastener.

[0169] For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the cushioning material 40 is attached to the protective component 50 and the thermal management member 30 at the same time, the thickness of the cushioning material 40 is relatively thick, which can improve the rigidity and further improve the impact resistance of the battery 10.

[0170] 13 shows a schematic perspective view of a cushioning material 40 according to an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 14 shows a schematic plan view of the cushioning material 40 in FIG.

[0171] In the embodiment of the present application, the related design of the buffer material 40 may be related to the position where the pressure relief area 301 is located in the thermal management member 30, i.e., the related design of the buffer material 40 may be related to the position where the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a is located.

[0172] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, an opening 401 is provided in the cushioning material 40, and this opening 401 is located opposite the pressure relief area 301 in the thermal management member 30, and this opening 401 is used to pass the exhaust of the first battery cell 20a through the pressure relief area 301.

[0173] The pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a is activated, and the first battery cell 20a releases its internal pressure and discharges the waste. discharge In this case, since the discharged material has a relatively large impact resistance and a relatively high temperature, a pressure relief area 301 is provided in the thermal management member 30 to facilitate the passage of the discharged material, and an opening 401 is provided in the buffer material 40 at a position corresponding to the pressure relief area 301 to allow the discharged material to pass through and prevent the buffer material 40 from blocking the discharge path of the discharged material, thereby preventing the discharged material from affecting the first battery cell 20a and ensuring the safety of the battery 10.

[0174] Optionally, in addition to providing openings 401 in the buffer material 40 as described above to allow the exhaust of the first battery cell 20a to pass through, in other embodiments, the buffer material 40 may not be attached to the thermal management member 30, and a gap may exist between the buffer material 40 and the thermal management member 30, which allows the exhaust of the first battery cell 20a to pass through without blocking the exhaust path.

[0175] Optionally, a buffer material 40 is installed in the collecting cavity 11b at a position corresponding to the second battery cell 20b to protect the second battery cell 20b.

[0176] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, corresponding to the plurality of pressure relief areas 301 arranged along the first direction x, the plurality of openings 401 are also arranged along the first direction x, and a solid buffer portion 403 of the buffer material 40 is formed between two adjacent openings 401, and this solid buffer portion 403 corresponds to the position of the second battery cell 20b among the plurality of battery cells 20 and protects the second battery cell 20b.

[0177] Of course, in the collection cavity 11b, in addition to the position corresponding to the second battery cell 20b, the buffer portion 403 of the buffer material 40 may also be installed at the position corresponding to the first battery cell 20a, and this buffer portion is located around the opening 401.

[0178] Optionally, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, in the embodiment of the present application, the buffer material 40 is provided with an air guide passage 402 for guiding the exhaust gas of the first battery cell 20a out of the buffer material 40.

[0179] After the discharged material of the first battery cell 20a is discharged through the pressure relief area 301 of the thermal management member 30 into the collection cavity 11b, the buffer material 40 in the collection cavity 11b occupies some space, which is unfavorable for the flow of the high-temperature gas and / or high-temperature liquid in the discharged material in the collection cavity 11b, and therefore unfavorable for the cooling of the discharged material, which brings about certain safety concerns for the battery 10.

[0180] Therefore, according to the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, an air guide passage 402 is provided in the buffer 40 to guide the exhaust from the first battery cell 20a, particularly the high-temperature gas and / or liquid in the exhaust, preventing the high-temperature exhaust from being confined to the space where the buffer 40 is located, thereby preventing potential safety concerns caused by the high-temperature exhaust. Furthermore, heat can be dissipated while the exhaust flows through the air guide passage 402, and the air guide passage 402 can be used to extend the path of the exhaust in the collection cavity 11b. When the exhaust is discharged to the outside of the battery 10 via the collection cavity, the temperature of the exhaust is relatively low after traveling a relatively long path, thereby reducing the impact of the exhaust on the external environment of the battery 10 and further enhancing the safety of the battery 10.

[0181] 13 and 14, the air guide passage 402 may be located between two adjacent rows of battery cells 20. Optionally, the air guide passage 402 may be connected to the opening 401 so that the discharged matter passes through the opening 401 and then passes through the air guide passage 402 and is led to the buffer material 40. The mutual cooperation of the opening 401 and the air guide passage 402 allows the discharged matter to flow more smoothly through the buffer material 40, thereby further contributing to lowering the temperature of the discharged matter.

[0182] 14 , in an embodiment of the present application, the buffer 40 may be designed according to the flow path 330. In addition to the opening 401 and the air guide passage 402, other buffering components in the buffer 40 are also arranged corresponding to the flow path 330. That is, while ensuring that the exhaust from the first battery cell 20a can flow and be discharged, the buffer 40 can maximize the ability of the thermal management member 30 to protect the flow path 330 and keep the fluid in the flow path 330 warm.

[0183] An embodiment of the present application further provides a power consuming device, which may include the battery 10 in each of the above embodiments, and the battery 10 is used to provide electrical energy to the power consuming device.

[0184] Alternatively, the power consumer may be a vehicle 1, a watercraft or a spacecraft.

[0185] The above describes the battery 10 and the power consumption device according to the embodiment of the present application. The following describes the battery manufacturing method and device according to the embodiment of the present application. For parts not described in detail, please refer to the above embodiments.

[0186] 15 shows a schematic flow chart of a battery manufacturing method 600 according to one embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 15, the method 600 may include the following steps:

[0187] 601: Provide a plurality of battery cells 20 including a first battery cell 20a and a second battery cell 20b, and a pressure relief mechanism 213 is provided on a first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a and a second wall 202b of the second battery cell 20b, and the pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated to release the internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 to which the pressure relief mechanism 213 is provided reaches a threshold value.

[0188] 602: Providing a thermal management member 30 for containing a fluid and regulating the temperature of a plurality of battery cells 20.

[0189] 603: Attach the thermal management member 30 to the first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a and the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b.

[0190] Here, the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b is different from the second wall 202b of the second battery cell 20b, and the thermal management member 30 has a pressure relief area 301 installed at a position corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a for discharging waste from the first battery cell 20a when the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a is operating.

[0191] 16 shows a schematic block diagram of a battery manufacturing apparatus 700 according to one embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 16, the battery manufacturing apparatus 700 may include a providing module 701 and an attaching module 702.

[0192] The providing module 701 is used to provide a plurality of battery cells 20, including a first battery cell 20a and a second battery cell 20b, and a pressure relief mechanism 213 is installed on a first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a and a second wall 202b of the second battery cell 20b, and the pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated to release the internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 to which the pressure relief mechanism 213 is installed reaches a threshold value.

[0193] The providing module 701 is further used to provide a thermal management element 30 for containing a fluid and regulating the temperature of the plurality of battery cells 20 .

[0194] The mounting module 702 is used to attach the thermal management member 30 to the first wall 201a of the first battery cell 20a and the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b.

[0195] Here, the first wall 201b of the second battery cell 20b is different from the second wall 202b of the second battery cell 20b, and the thermal management member 30 has a pressure relief area 301 installed at a position corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a for discharging waste from the first battery cell 20a when the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first battery cell 20a is operating.

[0196] Although the present application has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications may be made thereto and equivalents may be substituted for components without departing from the scope of the present application. In particular, unless there is a structural conflict, the technical features recited in each embodiment may be combined in any manner. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0197] 1: Vehicle 10:Battery 11: Motor 11a: Electrical cavity 11b: Collection cavity 12: Controller 20: Battery cell 20a: First battery cell 20b: Second battery cell 22: Electrode assembly 23: Connection parts, current collecting parts 30: Thermal management component 40: Cushioning material 50: Protective parts 111: First part 112: Second part 201: The first wall of battery cells 201a: First wall of first battery cell 201b: First wall of second battery cell 202: The second wall of battery cells 202a: second wall of first battery cell 202b: Second wall of second battery cell 211: Housing 212: Cover plate 213: Pressure relief mechanism 214: Electrode terminal 214a: Positive electrode terminal 214b: Negative electrode terminal 215: Bottom wall 221a: First tab 222a: Second tab 301: Pressure relief area 310: First heat conductive plate 311: First pressure relief area 320: Second heat conducting plate 321: Second pressure relief area 330: Flow path 331: Connection part 401:Aperture 402: Air passage 403: Entity Buffer 600: Manufacturing method 700: Manufacturing equipment 701: Provided module 702: Mounting module x: first direction y: second direction

Claims

1. A battery, a plurality of battery cells including a first battery cell and a second battery cell, wherein a pressure relief mechanism is installed on a first wall of the first battery cell and a second wall of the second battery cell, and the pressure relief mechanism is activated to release the internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell on which the pressure relief mechanism is installed reaches a threshold; a thermal management member for containing a fluid and adjusting a temperature of the plurality of battery cells, the thermal management member being attached to a first wall of the first battery cell and a first wall of the second battery cell, the first wall of the second battery cell being different from the second wall of the second battery cell, the thermal management member having a pressure relief area provided at a position corresponding to a pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell for discharging waste from the first battery cell when the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell is operating; The battery, wherein the thermal management member includes a flow path for containing the fluid, and the pressure relief region does not have the flow path located therein.

2. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the thermal management member has the flow path disposed at a position corresponding to a first wall of the second battery cell.

3. an electrode terminal is provided on the second wall of the first battery cell and the second wall of the second battery cell; 3. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the second wall of the first battery cell is a wall opposite to the first wall of the first battery cell, and the second wall of the second battery cell is a wall opposite to the first wall of the second battery cell.

4. The first battery cell and the second battery cell the specific capacity of the cathode material of the first battery cell is greater than the specific capacity of the cathode material of the second battery cell; The energy density of the first battery cell is greater than the energy density of the second battery cell; or 4. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the exhaust smoke discharged from the first battery cell when the pressure release mechanism is activated is higher than the temperature of the exhaust smoke discharged from the second battery cell when the pressure release mechanism is activated.

5. The first battery cell and the second battery cell the mass specific capacity of the cathode material of the first battery cell is 180 mAh / g or more, and the mass specific capacity of the cathode material of the second battery cell is 170 mAh / g or less; The mass energy density of the first battery cell is 230 Wh / kg or more, and the mass energy density of the second battery cell is 220 Wh / kg or less, or 5. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the exhaust gas discharged from the first battery cell when the pressure release mechanism is activated is 600°C or higher, and the temperature of the exhaust gas discharged from the second battery cell when the pressure release mechanism is activated is 500°C or lower.

6. 6. The battery of claim 4 or 5, wherein the plurality of battery cells includes at least one second battery cell, and a ratio of the number of the at least one second battery cell to the number of the plurality of battery cells is in the range of 20% to 50%.

7. 7. The battery of claim 6, wherein the plurality of battery cells includes a row of battery cells arranged along a first direction, and one second battery cell is provided for every N first battery cells in the row of battery cells, where N is a positive integer and N≦4.

8. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein the second battery cell is disposed in an edge region of the plurality of battery cells.

9. The battery comprises: a collection cavity for collecting exhaust from the first battery cell when the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell is activated; The battery according to claim 1 , further comprising a buffer material disposed in the collecting cavity to improve the crush strength of the collecting cavity.

10. 10. The battery of claim 9, wherein the thermal management member is one wall of the collection cavity, and the buffer material is attached to a surface of the thermal management member that faces away from the plurality of battery cells.

11. 11. The battery of claim 9 or 10, wherein the buffer material has an opening formed therein, the opening being located opposite a pressure relief area in the thermal management member, and the opening being used to allow exhaust from the first battery cell to pass through the pressure relief area.

12. The battery according to claim 9 , wherein the buffer material is provided with an air passage for guiding exhaust gas from the first battery cell out of the buffer material.

13. The battery according to claim 9 , wherein the buffer material is provided in the collecting cavity at a position corresponding to the second battery cell.

14. The battery according to claim 9 , wherein the buffer material is a porous energy absorbing material and / or a heat insulating material.

15. 15. A power consuming device comprising a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 14, said battery being for providing electrical energy.

16. A method for manufacturing a battery, comprising: providing a plurality of battery cells including a first battery cell and a second battery cell, wherein a pressure relief mechanism is installed on a first wall of the first battery cell and a second wall of the second battery cell, and the pressure relief mechanism is activated to release the internal pressure when an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell to which the pressure relief mechanism is installed reaches a threshold value; providing a thermal management member for containing a fluid and regulating the temperature of the plurality of battery cells; attaching the thermal management member to a first wall of the first battery cell and a first wall of the second battery cell; the first wall of the second battery cell is different from the second wall of the second battery cell, and the thermal management member has a pressure relief area at a position corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell, for discharging waste from the first battery cell when the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell is activated; The method for manufacturing a battery, wherein the thermal management member includes a flow path for containing the fluid, and the flow path is not provided in the pressure relief region.

17. A battery manufacturing apparatus, a providing module and a mounting module; the providing module is for providing a plurality of battery cells including a first battery cell and a second battery cell, and a pressure relief mechanism is installed on a first wall of the first battery cell and a second wall of the second battery cell, and the pressure relief mechanism is activated to release the internal pressure when an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell to which the pressure relief mechanism is installed reaches a threshold; the provision module is for containing a fluid and providing a thermal management member for regulating the temperature of the plurality of battery cells; the mounting module is for attaching the thermal management member to a first wall of the first battery cell and a first wall of the second battery cell, the first wall of the second battery cell being different from the second wall of the second battery cell, and the thermal management member is provided with a pressure relief area at a position corresponding to a pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell for discharging waste from the first battery cell when the pressure relief mechanism of the first battery cell is activated; The battery manufacturing apparatus, wherein the thermal management member includes a flow path for containing the fluid, and the flow path is not provided in the pressure relief region.

Images