Battery packs and electrical devices

Abstract

To provide a battery pack capable of enhancing energy density, simplifying a structure, and enhancing integration.SOLUTION: A battery pack includes a case 10, a cooling plate 22, and a battery cell module 30, the case is provided with an accommodation space, and the battery cell module is located in the accommodation space and includes a plurality of battery cells regularly arranged on a horizontal plane and provided at equal intervals. The accommodation space is filled with a potting adhesive, and the cooling plate abuts against upper sides and / or lower sides of the battery cell modules and the potting adhesive.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the priority of a Chinese patent application with the application number 202421643057.9, which was filed with the Chinese Patent Office on July 11, 2024, and all the contents of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This application relates to the technical field of batteries, for example, battery packs and electrical devices.

Background Art

[0003] The volume utilization efficiency of a cylindrical battery system is inherently inferior to that of a rectangular battery system.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] For multiple cylindrical battery cells, serpentine tubes or extruded profile pipelines are all adopted as cooling pipelines. Therefore, a large space in the planar direction is occupied by the serpentine tubes, and the volume utilization efficiency of the cylindrical battery system decreases. The battery system with serpentine tubes has a large number of components in the pipeline and high component costs. Moreover, in the battery pack, the heat dissipation uniformity of multiple battery cells is poor.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] This application provides a battery pack, which can increase the energy density of the battery pack, simplify the structure, and increase the integration degree of the battery pack.

[0006] By adopting the battery pack according to this application, this application provides an electrical device with a longer endurance time, fewer components, and faster assembly.

[0007] The battery pack comprises a case from which a housing space is opened; a battery cell module located within the housing space, comprising a plurality of battery cells arranged regularly and at equal intervals in a horizontal plane, and filled with potting adhesive; and a cooling plate abutting against the upper and / or lower sides of the battery cell module and the potting adhesive.

[0008] This application further provides an electrical device equipped with a battery pack according to this application. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The battery pack according to this invention eliminates the need for serpentine plates between battery cells in the horizontal plane by providing cooling plates on the upper and / or lower sides of the battery cell module, thereby increasing the space available for housing battery cells in the horizontal plane and increasing energy density. Similarly, the installation of liquid cooling structures related to serpentine plates can also be omitted, simplifying the arrangement of liquid cooling structures and saving space. Furthermore, because multiple battery cells are provided at equal intervals, the heat conduction from each battery cell to the potting adhesive is more uniform after potting, and the cooling plates contact the adhesive body of the potting adhesive, improving the uniformity of heat dissipation from the battery cell module. By adopting the battery pack according to this invention, electrical devices can achieve longer operating times, fewer parts, and faster assembly. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an exploded view showing the battery cell module of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the module hidden. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the battery cell module hidden. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of location AA in Figure 3. [Figure 5]This is a magnified view of area B in Figure 4. [Figure 6] This is an exploded view of the structure of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is an exploded view of the structure of another battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The present invention provides a battery pack that can increase the energy density of the battery pack, simplify its structure, and improve the integration of the battery pack. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the battery pack comprises a case 10, a cooling plate 22, and a battery cell module 30, the case 10 having a housing space, the battery cell module 30 located within the housing space and comprising a plurality of battery cells 31, the plurality of battery cells 31 arranged regularly and at equal intervals in a horizontal plane, the battery cell module being filled with potting adhesive, and the cooling plate 22 abutting against the upper and / or lower sides of the battery cell module 30 and the potting adhesive. In the battery pack, by providing the cooling plate 22 on the upper and / or lower side of the battery cell module 30, the installation of serpentine plates between the battery cells 31 in the horizontal plane is omitted, allowing for more space to accommodate the battery cells 31 in the horizontal plane, thereby increasing the energy density of the battery pack. Similarly, the installation of liquid cooling structures related to the serpentine plates can also be omitted, simplifying the arrangement of liquid cooling structures, saving space, and because multiple battery cells 31 are provided at equal intervals, the heat conduction from each battery cell 31 to the potting adhesive is consistent after potting, and the cooling plate 22 is in contact with the adhesive body of the potting adhesive, improving the uniformity of heat dissipation of the battery cell module 30.

[0012] The battery cells 31 are columnar in shape, and multiple battery cells 31 are arranged in multiple rows, with adjacent battery cells 31 positioned offset from each other. In this way, it is easy to design equal spacing between adjacent battery cells 31 for the columnar battery cells 31. In other embodiments, the battery cells 31 may be rectangular or polygonal in shape.

[0013] The cooling plate 22 is provided abutting against the underside of the battery cell module 30 and the potting adhesive. The battery pack further comprises an integrated module 20, which is sequentially stacked on the bottom side of the case 10 and includes a supporter 21 and a cooling plate 22 that are integrally fixed together. The battery cell module 30 is located above the integrated module 20. Because the cooling plate 22 is above the supporter 21 and in direct contact with the battery cell 31 on its underside, the heat exchange effect is improved. At the same time, the cooling plate 22 is integrally fixed together with the supporter 21 and plays a role in supporting the battery cell module 30 together with the supporter 21, thereby preventing the cooling plate 22 from being crushed while increasing the support strength.

[0014] In other embodiments, the cooling plate 22 may be provided above the battery cell module 30, as shown in Figure 6, or above and below the battery cell module 30, as shown in Figure 7, but this is not limited to these embodiments.

[0015] The cooling plate 22 and the supporter 21 are connected by brazing or crimping. Brazing is advantageous in ensuring the stability of the external shape of the cooling plate 22 and the supporter 21 because it results in less deformation and a smooth, clean weld. The crimping method is quicker and more convenient.

[0016] The integrated component consisting of the cooling plate 22 and the supporter 21 is also connected to the case 10 by brazing or crimping.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the integrated module 20 further includes a foamed adhesive layer 23 filled between the supporter 21 and the cooling plate 22. The foamed adhesive layer 23 can further strengthen the support strength of the integrated module 20 for the battery cell module 30, and can meet the multiple operating conditions and complex application requirements of the battery pack. For example, when the battery pack is subjected to an external impact, the foamed adhesive layer 23 can play a good buffering role and prevent the cooling plate 22 and the supporter 21 from breaking or deforming.

[0018] A plurality of through holes are provided in both the supporter 21 and the cooling plate 22. A plurality of first through holes in the supporter 21 and a plurality of second through holes in the cooling plate 22 are provided in a one-to-one correspondence. The plurality of battery cells 31 are placed in a one-to-one correspondence above the plurality of second through holes. While the through holes play a role in restricting the position of the battery cell 31, by providing the through holes, stable pressure relief of the thermal runaway of the battery cell 31 can be realized, and through further cooling of the liquid cooling system, the temperature caused by the thermal runaway can be further reduced, and the risk of heat diffusion of the system can be reduced.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the integrated module 20 further includes an insulating layer 24 covered between the battery cell module 30 and the integrated module 20. When the battery cell 31 is not失效, the insulating layer 24 can be covered on the through holes, so that insulation can be achieved and sealing performance can be guaranteed. When the battery cell 31 fails, the impact force caused by the failure of the battery cell 31 can break through the insulating layer 24, and it can also ensure the completion of pressure relief. Among them, the insulating layer 24 may be pasted on the top of the cooling plate 22 or laminated on the cooling plate 22 by a hot pressing method, but it is not limited here.

[0020] Since the filling thickness of the foamed adhesive layer 23 is only a few millimeters, the impact force caused by the failure of the battery cell 31 can similarly break through the foamed adhesive layer 23 to achieve pressure relief.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the installation of the potting adhesive in the case 10 located above the integrated module 20 is advantageous for fixing the battery cells 31 and can also enhance the temperature consistency between the battery cell modules 30.

[0022] The potting adhesive includes a bottom adhesive located between the battery cell module 30 and the integrated module 20 (i.e., the cooling plate 22), and a gap adhesive located above the bottom adhesive and filled in the interior of the battery cell module 30 or in the gap between the battery cell module 30 and the case 10.

[0023] In one embodiment, the bottom adhesive is a thermal conductive adhesive and the gap adhesive is a foaming adhesive. Such an installation can increase the heat conduction rate between the battery cell 31 and the cooling plate 22. At the same time, the foaming adhesive fixes the battery cell 31 and prevents the failure of one battery cell 31 from causing the failure of other battery cells 31.

[0024] In one embodiment, both the bottom adhesive and the gap adhesive are foaming adhesives. Such an installation can make the overall structural strength of the battery pack more uniform and improve the shock resistance performance.

[0025] In one embodiment, both the bottom adhesive and the gap adhesive are thermal conductive adhesives. Such an installation can achieve the best temperature uniformity performance for the plurality of battery cells 31.

[0026] The gaps between adjacent through-holes are consistent, that is, the gaps between battery cells 31 are consistent. The distance between two adjacent battery cells 31 is L, where 0.5 mm < L ≤ 10 mm. To meet the requirements of assembly and the thermal safety of the battery pack, a gap of 0.5 mm is pre-set for the gap, so that the accommodation space in the battery pack can be utilized to the maximum extent. The installation of the serpentine tube in the related art cannot guarantee that the gaps between battery cells 31 are equal. However, in this embodiment, on the premise of omitting the serpentine tube, by making the gaps between battery cells 31 equal, the design difficulty of the components inside the battery pack can be simplified, the integrity of the battery system can be increased, the consistency of the adhesive potted between battery cells 31 can be improved by the equidistant design, and the temperature uniformity performance of the battery cell module 30 can be further enhanced.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a pressure relief space 40 is formed between the integrated module 20 and the bottom plate 12 of the case 10. All of the plurality of first through-holes and the plurality of second through-holes communicate with the pressure relief space 40, and the pressure relief space 40 communicates with the outside of the case 10. When the battery cell 31 fails, the gas can rapidly enter the pressure relief space 40 from the through-hole and then rush out of the case 10, realizing rapid pressure relief and preventing explosion due to gas accumulation in the battery pack. The height of the pressure relief space 40 is between 1 mm and 50 mm, and it can be flexibly adjusted based on the requirements of pressure relief and bottom protection. Among them, a pressure relief passage for communicating the pressure relief space 40 and the outside of the case 10 may be opened on the side wall 11 of the case 10. Since this structure is often provided in the related art, it will not be repeatedly described here.

[0028] As shown in Figure 2, the cooling plate 22 comprises a support plate 221, a flow path plate 222, an inlet pipe 223, and an outlet pipe 224. The battery cell module 30 is placed on the support plate 221, and the flow path plate 222 is fixedly connected to the support plate 221, forming a flow path through which liquid flows. The supporter 21 is located on the side of the flow path plate 222 away from the support plate 221. Both the inlet pipe 223 and the outlet pipe 224 are attached to the support plate 221 and communicate with both ends of the flow path. The cooling liquid enters through the inlet pipe 223, flows through the flow path formed in the flow path plate 222, exchanges heat with the battery cell module 30, and then flows out through the outlet pipe 224, thereby circulating and exchanging heat. Since the support plate 221 and the flow path plate 222 are connected by brazing, the amount of deformation of the cooling plate 22 can be minimized.

[0029] The insulating layer 24 is located on top of the support plate 221, and the foamed adhesive layer 23 is located between the flow path plate 222 and the supporter 21.

[0030] This embodiment further provides an electrical device equipped with a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. By adopting this battery pack, the electrical device has a longer operating range, fewer parts, and faster assembly. For example, the electrical device may be a new energy vehicle or a ship, but is not limited thereto. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0031] 10...Case, 11...Side wall, 12...Bottom plate, 20...Integration module, 21...Supporter, 22...Cooling plate, 221...Support plate, 222...Flow plate, 223...Inlet pipe, 224...Outlet pipe, 23...Foam adhesive layer, 24...Insulation layer, 30...Battery cell module, 31...Battery cell, 40...Pressure relief space.

Claims

1. Cases in which a containment space is established (10), A battery cell module (30) comprising a plurality of battery cells (31) located within the aforementioned containment space and arranged regularly and at equal intervals in a horizontal plane, wherein potting adhesive is filled into the battery cell module (30), The system comprises the aforementioned battery cell module (30) and a cooling plate (22) that abuts against the lower side of the potting adhesive, The battery pack further comprises a supporter (21), and the cooling plate (22) and the supporter (21) are sequentially stacked on the bottom plate (12) of the case (10), the cooling plate (22) is located between the supporter (21) and the battery cell module (30), and the cooling plate (22) and the supporter (21) are integrally fixed and connected to constitute an integrated module (20) in the battery pack. Both the supporter (21) and the cooling plate (22) have a plurality of through holes, and the plurality of first through holes in the supporter (21) and the plurality of second through holes in the cooling plate (22) are provided in a one-to-one correspondence, and the plurality of battery cells (31) are placed above the plurality of second through holes in a one-to-one correspondence. The integrated module (20) further comprises an insulating layer (24) located between the lower surface of the battery cell module (30) and the upper surface of the integrated module (20), wherein the insulating layer (24) is configured to be placed over a plurality of second through-holes in the cooling plate (22). Battery pack.

2. The distance between two adjacent battery cells (31) is L, where 0.5 mm < L ≤ 10 mm. The battery pack according to claim 1.

3. The potting adhesive comprises a bottom layer adhesive located between the battery cell module (30) and the integrated module (20), and a gap adhesive located above the bottom layer adhesive, which fills the inside of the battery cell module (30) or between the battery cell module (30) and the case (10). The bottom layer adhesive is a thermal conductive adhesive, and the gap adhesive is a foaming adhesive. Alternatively, the bottom layer adhesive and the gap adhesive are both foam adhesives. Alternatively, the bottom layer adhesive and the gap adhesive are both thermally conductive adhesives. The battery pack according to claim 1.

4. The cooling plate (22) and the supporter (21) are connected by brazing or crimping. The battery pack according to claim 1.

5. The integrated module (20) further comprises a foamed adhesive layer (23) filled between the supporter (21) and the cooling plate (22). The battery pack according to claim 1.

6. Between the integrated module (20) and the bottom plate (12) of the case (10), a pressure relief space (40) is formed that communicates with all of the plurality of first through holes and the plurality of second through holes, and communicates with the outside of the case (10). The battery pack according to claim 1.

7. The height of the pressure relief space is H, where 1 mm ≤ H ≤ 50 mm. The battery pack according to claim 6.

8. The cooling plate (22) is The support plate (221) on which the battery cell module (30) is placed, A flow path plate (222) is fixedly connected to the support plate (221), has a flow path formed inside through which liquid flows, and the supporter (21) is located on the side away from the support plate (221), Each is attached to the support plate (221) and comprises an inlet pipe (223) and an outlet pipe (224) that communicate with both ends of the flow path, The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The battery cell (31) is columnar in shape, and the plurality of battery cells (31) are arranged in multiple rows, with the battery cells (31) in adjacent rows being offset from each other. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 7, Electrical equipment.

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