Battery and electrical apparatus

Abstract

A battery (10) and an electrical apparatus. Specifically, the battery (10) comprises a battery cell (20), a support part (30), a first plate (40) and a protective part (50); the battery cell (20) comprises a pressure relief mechanism (213), the pressure relief mechanism (213) being arranged on a first wall (2001) of the battery cell (20); the support part (30) abuts against the first wall (2001) to support the battery cell (20), the support part (30) being arranged between the battery cell (20) and the first plate (40); the support part (30) and the first plate (40) are spaced apart from each other to form an accommodating space (60), the accommodating space (60) being used for, when the pressure relief mechanism (213) is actuated, accommodating a discharge from the battery cell (20); the protective part (50) is arranged between the support part (30) and the first plate (40) and opposite to the pressure relief mechanism (213), and is used for bearing the impact force of the discharge. Providing the protective part (50) can lower the probability of the discharge penetrating through the first plate (40), thereby reducing the probability of thermal runaway propagation.

Description

Batteries and electrical devices

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202323248256.8, filed on November 28, 2023, entitled “Battery and Electrical Device,” the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of battery technology, and more specifically, to a battery and an electrical device. Background Art

[0004] Energy conservation and emission reduction are key to the sustainable development of the automotive industry. In this context, electric vehicles, due to their energy-saving and environmentally friendly advantages, have become a crucial component of the industry's sustainable development. Battery technology, in turn, is a crucial factor in the development of electric vehicles.

[0005] Thermal runaway is a critical issue in battery technology. If a battery is susceptible to thermal runaway, it becomes unusable. Therefore, reducing the probability of thermal runaway is a pressing issue in battery technology.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The embodiments of the present application provide a battery and an electrical device that can reduce the probability of discharge from the battery spraying through the battery, thereby reducing the probability of thermal runaway diffusion.

[0008] In a first aspect, a battery is provided, comprising a battery cell, a supporting component, a first plate and a protective component; the battery cell comprises a pressure relief mechanism, which is arranged on the first wall of the battery cell; the supporting component abuts against the first wall to support the battery cell, and is arranged between the battery cell and the first plate, the supporting component and the first plate are spaced apart to form a accommodating space, and the accommodating space is used to accommodate discharge from the battery cell when the pressure relief mechanism is actuated; the protective component is arranged between the supporting component and the first plate, and is arranged opposite to the pressure relief mechanism, and is used to withstand the impact force of the discharge.

[0009] In the embodiment of the present application, a protective component opposite to the pressure relief mechanism is provided between the support component and the first plate inside the battery to withstand the impact of the exhaust discharged from the inside of the battery cell in the event of thermal runaway, thereby reducing the probability of the exhaust spraying through the first plate, and further reducing the probability of thermal runaway spreading.

[0010] In some embodiments, the protective component is disposed on the surface of the first plate close to the support component and is connected to the first plate.

[0011] In the embodiments of the present application, by disposing the protective component on the surface of the first plate and connecting it to the first plate, a certain space is provided between the protective component and the pressure relief mechanism, so as to provide a flow space for the discharged material when the discharged material is ejected, reducing the probability of the battery being penetrated by the ejected material.

[0012] In some embodiments, the protective component is adhesively bonded to the first plate.

[0013] In the embodiments of the present application, by adhesively bonding the protective component to the first plate, no additional components are required for connection, the connection method is simple, and the connection strength between the protective component and the first plate can be improved, reducing the probability of the protective component moving, and further reducing the probability of the discharged material inside the battery penetrating the battery.

[0014] In some embodiments, the battery includes a plurality of the pressure relief mechanisms and a plurality of the protective components, and the plurality of pressure relief mechanisms and the plurality of protective components correspond to each other one by one.

[0015] In the embodiments of the present application, by setting the plurality of protective components to correspond to the plurality of pressure relief mechanisms one by one, the protective components can be flexibly set for different pressure relief mechanisms, which is beneficial to reducing the probability of the discharged material penetrating the first plate, and further reducing the probability of thermal runaway spread.

[0016] In some embodiments, the battery includes a plurality of the pressure relief mechanisms and at least one of the protective components, and at least two of the pressure relief mechanisms correspond to one of the protective components.

[0017] In the embodiments of the present application, by setting one protective component to correspond to at least two pressure relief mechanisms, the protective components with different layout methods can be set for different batteries, which is beneficial to reducing the probability of the discharged material penetrating the first plate, and further reducing the probability of thermal runaway spread.

[0018] In some embodiments, the distance between the support component and the first plate is H, the thickness of the protective component is h, and the volume energy density of the battery cell is E. H, h, and E satisfy the condition: 0.002 ≤ (H * h) / E ≤ 0.6, where h < H, and the units are all mm, and the unit of E is Wh / L.

[0019] In the embodiments of the present application, by restricting the value range of (H * h) / E to 0.002 - 0.6, while obtaining a higher battery packing efficiency, the probability of the battery being penetrated can be reduced, and the probability of thermal runaway spread can also be reduced.

[0020] In some embodiments, H, h, and E satisfy the condition: 0.004≤(H*h) / E≤0.3.

[0021] In the embodiment of the present application, by further limiting the value range of (H*h) / E to 0.004-0.3, while achieving a higher battery group efficiency, the probability of battery spraying is reduced, and the probability of thermal runaway diffusion can also be reduced.

[0022] In some embodiments, the value range of H is: 2mm≤H≤20mm, and the value range of h is: 0.2mm≤h≤5mm.

[0023] In the embodiment of the present application, by setting the values ​​of H and h within a certain range, the battery grouping efficiency can be improved while reducing the probability of battery penetration.

[0024] In some embodiments, on a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction of the protective component, an overlapping area S1 of the projection of the pressure relief mechanism and the projection of the protective component and a projection area S2 of the pressure relief mechanism satisfy the condition: 50%≤S1 / S2≤100%.

[0025] In the embodiment of the present application, when S1 / S2 meets the above conditions, the protective component can cover at least half of the projected area of ​​the pressure relief mechanism to withstand the impact force of the discharge ejected from the pressure relief mechanism, thereby reducing the probability of the first plate being sprayed through, and further reducing the probability of thermal diffusion of the battery.

[0026] In some embodiments, the material of the protective component includes at least one of mica, ceramic, carbon fiber, and aerogel.

[0027] In the embodiment of the present application, by setting the material of the protective component, the protective component can play a better protective role, reduce the probability of the battery being sprayed through, and further reduce the probability of thermal runaway spreading.

[0028] In a second aspect, an electrical device is provided, comprising the battery according to the first aspect or any embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the battery is used to provide electrical energy to the electrical device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG1 shows a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0030] FIG2 shows a schematic structural diagram of a battery according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0031] FIG3 shows a schematic structural diagram of a battery cell provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0032] FIG4 shows a schematic structural diagram of a battery provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0033] FIG5 shows a schematic structural diagram of another battery provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0034] FIG6 shows a schematic structural diagram of another battery provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0035] FIG7 shows a schematic structural diagram of another battery provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The implementation methods of the present application will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples. The detailed descriptions and drawings of the following embodiments are used to illustrate the principles of the present application, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present application, that is, the present application is not limited to the described embodiments.

[0037] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means more than two; the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating directions or positional relationships, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on this application. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. "Vertical" is not strictly perpendicular, but is within the allowable error range. "Parallel" is not strictly parallel, but is within the allowable error range.

[0038] The directional words appearing in the following description are all directions shown in the figures, and do not limit the specific structure of this application. In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0039] The term "and / or" in this application simply describes an association relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists. In addition, the character " / " in this application generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0040] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meanings as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used in the specification of this application are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit this application. The terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. The terms "first" and "second" in the specification and claims of this application or the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order or a primary-secondary relationship.

[0041] References to "embodiments" in this application mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application may be combined with other embodiments.

[0042] In this application, a battery refers to a physical module that includes one or more battery cells to provide 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 that encloses one or more battery cells. The housing reduces the possibility of liquids or other foreign matter affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

[0043] Optionally, 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., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. The battery cell may be cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or in other shapes, etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Battery cells are generally divided into three types based on the packaging method: cylindrical battery cells, prismatic battery cells, and soft-pack battery cells, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0044] A battery cell includes an electrode assembly and an electrolyte. The electrode assembly consists of a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, and a separator. A battery cell primarily operates by the movement of metal ions between the positive and negative electrode sheets. The positive electrode sheet comprises a positive current collector and a positive active material layer. The positive active material layer is coated on the surface of the positive current collector. The current collector uncoated with the positive active material layer protrudes from the current collector coated with the positive active material layer, and the current collector uncoated with the positive active material layer serves as the positive electrode tab. For lithium-ion batteries, for example, the positive current collector can be made of aluminum, and the positive active material can be lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, or lithium manganese oxide. The negative electrode sheet comprises a negative current collector and a negative active material layer. The negative active material layer is coated on the surface of the negative current collector. The current collector uncoated with the negative active material layer protrudes from the current collector coated with the negative active material layer, and the current collector uncoated with the negative active material layer serves as the negative electrode tab. The negative current collector can be made of copper, and the negative active material can be carbon or silicon, among others. To allow high current to pass without fusing, multiple positive electrode tabs are stacked together, and multiple negative electrode tabs are stacked together. The separator can be made of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE). In addition, the electrode assembly can be a wound structure or a laminated structure, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0045] The development of battery technology must take into account multiple design factors at the same time, such as energy density, cycle life, discharge capacity, charge and discharge rate and other performance parameters. In addition, the safety, stability and other performance of the battery must also be considered.

[0046] For battery cells, the main safety hazards come from the charging and discharging process, as well as the appropriate ambient temperature design. In order to effectively avoid unnecessary losses, there are generally at least three protection measures for battery cells. Specifically, the protection measures include at least switching elements, selection of appropriate isolation membrane materials, and pressure relief mechanisms. The switching element refers to the element that can stop the battery from charging or discharging when the temperature or resistance inside the battery cell reaches a certain threshold. The isolation membrane is used to isolate the positive and negative electrodes. When the temperature rises to a certain value, it can automatically dissolve the micron-level (or even nano-level) micropores attached to it, so that metal ions cannot pass through the isolation membrane, terminating the internal reaction of the battery cell.

[0047] A pressure relief mechanism refers to an element or component that is activated to release the internal pressure or temperature of a battery cell when the internal pressure or temperature reaches a predetermined threshold. The threshold design varies according to different design requirements. The threshold may depend on the material of one or more of the positive electrode plate, negative electrode plate, electrolyte and separator in the battery cell. The pressure relief mechanism can take the form of an explosion-proof valve, an air valve, a pressure relief valve or a safety valve, and can specifically adopt a pressure-sensitive or temperature-sensitive element or structure, that is, when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a predetermined threshold, the pressure relief mechanism executes an action or the weak structure provided in the pressure relief mechanism is destroyed, thereby forming an opening or channel for the internal pressure or temperature to be released.

[0048] The "activation" mentioned in this application refers to the action of the pressure relief mechanism or its activation to a certain state, thereby allowing the internal pressure and temperature of the battery cell to be released. The action produced by the pressure relief mechanism may include, but is not limited to: at least a portion of the pressure relief mechanism is ruptured, broken, torn or opened, etc. When the pressure relief mechanism is actuated, the high-temperature and high-pressure substances inside the battery cell will be discharged outward from the actuated part as emissions. In this way, the battery cell can be depressurized under controllable pressure or temperature, thereby avoiding potential more serious accidents.

[0049] The emissions from battery cells mentioned in this application include but are not limited to: electrolyte, dissolved or split positive and negative electrode plates, fragments of separators, high-temperature and high-pressure gases generated by the reaction, flames, etc.

[0050] The pressure relief mechanism on a battery cell has a significant impact on battery safety. For example, short circuits or overcharging can cause thermal runaway within the cell, leading to a sudden increase in pressure or temperature. In these situations, the pressure relief mechanism activates to release internal pressure and temperature, preventing explosion or fire.

[0051] However, when thermal runaway occurs inside a battery cell, the high-temperature, high-pressure fluid ejected from the pressure relief mechanism may damage the battery casing, such as penetrating the bottom plate of the battery case, thereby affecting the overall performance of the battery.

[0052] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery comprising a battery cell, a support component, a first plate, and a protective component. The battery cell includes a pressure relief mechanism disposed on the first wall of the battery cell. The support component abuts the first wall of the battery cell to support the battery cell and is disposed between the battery cell and the first plate. The support component and the first plate are spaced apart to form a storage space for accommodating discharge from the battery cell when the pressure relief mechanism is activated. The protective component is disposed between the support component and the first plate, opposite the pressure relief mechanism, and is configured to withstand the impact of the discharge. By disposing the protective component between the support component and the first plate within the battery, opposite the pressure relief mechanism, the battery cell can withstand the impact of discharge from the battery cell in the event of thermal runaway, thereby reducing the probability of the discharge penetrating the first plate and, in turn, reducing the probability of thermal runaway spreading.

[0053] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to various battery-using devices, such as mobile phones, portable devices, laptop computers, electric vehicles, electric toys, electric tools, electric vehicles, ships and spacecraft, etc. For example, spacecraft include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles and spacecraft, etc.

[0054] It should be understood that the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are not limited to the devices described above, but can also be applied to all devices using batteries. However, for the sake of simplicity, the following embodiments are described using electric vehicles as an example.

[0055] For example, as shown in FIG1 , it is a structural diagram of a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present application. The vehicle 1 may be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle. The new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or an extended-range vehicle, etc. A motor 11, a controller 12 and a battery 10 may be provided inside the vehicle 1. The controller 12 is used to control the battery 10 to supply power to the motor 11. For example, a battery 10 may be provided at the bottom, front or rear of the vehicle 1. The battery 10 may be used to power the vehicle 1. For example, the battery 10 may be used as an operating power source for the vehicle 1, for the circuit system of the vehicle 1, for example, for the working power requirements during the start-up, navigation and operation of the vehicle 1. In another embodiment of the present application, the battery 10 may not only be used as an operating power source for the vehicle 1, but also as a driving power source for the vehicle 1, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1.

[0056] To meet different power requirements, a battery can include multiple battery cells, which can be connected in series, parallel, or in a hybrid configuration. A hybrid configuration refers to a combination of series and parallel connections. A battery can also be referred to as a battery pack. Alternatively, multiple battery cells can be connected in series, parallel, or in a hybrid configuration to form a battery module, which can then be connected in series, parallel, or in a hybrid configuration to form a battery. In other words, multiple battery cells can be directly connected to form a battery, or they can be first connected to form battery modules, which can then be connected to form a battery.

[0057] For example, as shown in FIG2 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a battery 10 according to an embodiment of the present application, the battery 10 may include a plurality of battery cells 20. The battery 10 may also include a housing (or housing), the interior of which is a hollow structure, and the plurality of battery cells 20 are housed within the housing. As shown in FIG2 , the housing may include two parts, referred to herein as a first housing 110 and a second housing 120, which are snap-fitted together. The shapes of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be determined based on the shape of the plurality of battery cells 20. The first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may each have an opening. For example, the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may each be a hollow rectangular parallelepiped, each having only one open face. The opening of the first housing 110 and the opening of the second housing 120 are arranged opposite to each other, and the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 snap-fit ​​together to form a housing with a closed chamber. The plurality of battery cells 20 are connected in parallel, in series or in a mixed combination and are placed in a box body formed by buckling the first part of the box body 110 and the second part of the box body 120 .

[0058] Optionally, the battery 10 may also include other structures, which will not be described in detail here. For example, the battery 10 may also include a busbar component, which is used to achieve electrical connection between multiple battery cells 20, such as parallel connection, series connection, or mixed connection. Specifically, the busbar component can achieve electrical connection between the battery cells 20 by connecting the electrode terminals of the battery cells 20. Furthermore, the busbar component can be fixed to the electrode terminals of the battery cells 20 by welding. The electrical energy of the multiple battery cells 20 can be further led out through the box through a conductive mechanism. Optionally, the conductive mechanism may also belong to the busbar component.

[0059] The number of battery cells 20 can be set to any value based on different power requirements. Multiple battery cells 20 can be connected in series, parallel, or in a hybrid manner to achieve higher capacity or power. Since each battery 10 may include a large number of battery cells 20, for ease of installation, the battery cells 20 can be arranged in groups, with each group of battery cells 20 forming a battery module. The number of battery cells 20 included in each group of battery cells 20 is not limited and can be set according to requirements.

[0060] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery cell 20 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0061] As shown in FIG3 , 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 housing 211 is shaped according to the shape of the one or more electrode assemblies 22 after assembly. For example, the housing 211 may be a hollow rectangular parallelepiped, a cube, or a cylinder, and one of the faces of the housing 211 may have an opening so that the one or more electrode assemblies 22 can be placed within the housing 211. For example, when the housing 211 is a hollow rectangular parallelepiped or a cube, one of the planes of the housing 211 is an open face, i.e., the plane has no walls, allowing the inside and outside of the housing 211 to communicate. When the housing 211 is a hollow cylinder, the end faces of the housing 211 are open faces, i.e., the end faces have no walls, allowing the inside and outside of the housing 211 to communicate. The cover plate 212 covers the opening and is connected to the housing 211 to form a closed cavity for placing the electrode assemblies 22. The housing 211 is filled with an electrolyte, such as an electrolyte solution.

[0062] The battery cell 20 may also include two electrode terminals 214, which may be disposed on the cover plate 212. The cover plate 212 is typically flat, with the two electrode terminals 214 secured to the flat surface of the cover plate 212. The two electrode terminals 214 are respectively a positive electrode terminal 214a and a negative electrode terminal 214b. Each electrode terminal 214 is provided with a corresponding connecting member 23, also known as a current collecting member 23, which is located between the cover plate 212 and the electrode assembly 22 and electrically connects the electrode assembly 22 to the electrode terminals 214.

[0063] As shown in FIG3 , each electrode assembly 22 has a first electrode tab 221a and a second electrode tab 222a. The polarity of the first electrode tab 221a and the second electrode tab 222a are opposite. For example, when the first electrode tab 221a is a positive electrode tab, the second electrode tab 222a is a negative electrode tab. The first electrode tab 221a of one or more electrode assemblies 22 is connected to one electrode terminal via a connecting member 23, and the second electrode tab 222a of one or more electrode assemblies 22 is connected to another electrode terminal via another connecting member 23. For example, the positive electrode terminal 214a is connected to the positive electrode tab via one connecting member 23, and the negative electrode terminal 214b is connected to the negative electrode tab via another connecting member 23.

[0064] In the battery cell 20 , the electrode assembly 22 can be provided as a single one or multiple ones according to actual use requirements. As shown in FIG3 , four independent electrode assemblies 22 are provided in the battery cell 20 .

[0065] As an example, a pressure relief mechanism 213 may be further provided on one wall of the battery cell 20. The pressure relief mechanism 213 is configured to be activated to release the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 when the internal pressure or temperature reaches a threshold.

[0066] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present application, the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the electrode terminal 214 are disposed on different walls of the battery cell 20. As an example, as shown in FIG3 , the electrode terminal 214 of the battery cell 20 may be disposed on the top wall of the battery cell 20, i.e., the cover plate 212. The pressure relief mechanism 213 is disposed on another wall of the battery cell 20 that is different from the top wall. For example, the pressure relief mechanism 213 is disposed on the bottom wall 215 opposite the top wall. For ease of illustration, the bottom wall 215 is separated from the housing 211 in FIG3 , but this does not limit the bottom side of the housing 211 to having an opening.

[0067] Alternatively, in another embodiment of the present application, the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the electrode terminal 214 are disposed on the same wall of the battery cell 20. For example, the electrode terminal 214 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 can both be disposed on the top wall of the battery cell 20, i.e., the cover plate 212.

[0068] The pressure relief mechanism 213 can be part of the wall in which it is located, or it can be a separate structure from the wall in which it is located, and fixed to the wall in which it is located by, for example, welding. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is part of the bottom wall 215, the pressure relief mechanism 213 can be formed by providing a notch in the bottom wall 215, and the thickness of the bottom wall 215 corresponding to the notch is less than the thickness of the pressure relief mechanism 213 in other areas except the notch. The notch is the weakest point of the pressure relief mechanism 213. When the battery cell 20 generates too much gas, causing the pressure inside the shell 211 to rise and reach a threshold, or when the internal reaction of the battery cell 20 generates heat, causing the internal temperature of the battery cell 20 to rise and reach a threshold, the pressure relief mechanism 213 can rupture at the notch, causing the inside and outside of the shell 211 to communicate with each other. The gas pressure and temperature are released outward through the rupture of the pressure relief mechanism 213, thereby reducing the probability of explosion of the battery cell 20.

[0069] In addition, the pressure relief mechanism 213 may be any of various possible pressure relief mechanisms, which are not limited in the present embodiment. 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 on 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 pressure of the battery cell 20 on which the pressure relief mechanism 213 is provided reaches a threshold.

[0070] The above description is based on Figure 3 to illustrate a schematic structural diagram of a battery cell 20 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The following description is based on Figures 4-7 to illustrate the structure of a battery provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0071] As shown in Figure 4, the battery 10 provided in the embodiment of the present application includes a battery cell 20, a support component 30, a first plate 40 and a protective component 50; the battery cell 20 includes a pressure relief mechanism 213, and the pressure relief mechanism 213 is arranged on the first wall 2001 of the battery cell 20; the support component 30 abuts against the first wall 2001 of the battery cell 20 to support the battery cell 20, and is arranged between the battery cell 20 and the first plate 40, and the support component 30 and the first plate 40 are spaced apart to form a accommodating space 60, which is used to accommodate discharge from the battery cell when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is actuated; the protective component 50 is arranged between the support component 30 and the first plate 40, and is arranged opposite to the pressure relief mechanism 213, for bearing the impact force of the discharge.

[0072] The basic structure of the battery cell 20 may refer to the battery cell 20 in the above-mentioned Figures 2 and 3 , and the specific description of the pressure relief mechanism 213 may also refer to the description of the above-mentioned pressure relief mechanism 213 , which will not be repeated here.

[0073] The number of battery cells 20 included in the battery 10 may be one or more, which is not limited in this application.

[0074] The first plate 40 may be a portion of the battery 10 housing, i.e., used to form the battery 10 housing, such as the partial structure of the housing shown in FIG. 2 . Alternatively, the first plate 40 may be an internal structure of the battery 10, rather than forming part of the battery 10 housing. Alternatively, the first plate 40 may be referred to as the bottom plate 40. The bottom plate 40 may be understood as the bottom portion of the battery 10 in the direction of gravity.

[0075] When the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 reaches a threshold, the pressure relief mechanism 213 is actuated, and the discharged matter may sequentially pass through the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the support member 30 and reach between the support member 30 and the first plate 40 .

[0076] The support member 30 can provide support for the battery cell 20, and a receiving space 60 can be formed between the support member 30 and the first plate 40. The receiving space 60 is used to receive exhaust from the battery cell 20. It should be understood that when the pressure or temperature inside the battery cell 20 reaches a threshold, the pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated to discharge the exhaust.

[0077] Optionally, the support component 30 can also isolate the electrical chamber and exhaust chamber of the battery 10. The electrical chamber can be understood as the space that accommodates the battery cells 20, and the exhaust chamber can be understood as the space that accommodates exhaust, namely, the accommodation space 60 between the support component 30 and the first plate 40. Furthermore, the support component 30 can be a temperature control device for the battery 10, such as a cold plate, or a device that performs other functions, which is not limited in this application.

[0078] The protective member 50 is disposed between the support member 30 and the first plate 40. When positioned opposite the pressure relief mechanism 213, it can withstand the impact of the discharge, thereby reducing the probability of the discharge damaging the battery 10. It is understood that the protective member 50 has certain strength, high temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance.

[0079] By providing a protective component 50 opposite to the pressure relief mechanism 213 between the support component 30 and the first plate 40 inside the battery 10, the impact of the exhaust discharged from the battery cell 20 in the case of thermal runaway can be withstood, thereby reducing the probability of the exhaust spraying through the first plate 40, thereby reducing the probability of thermal runaway spreading.

[0080] In the embodiment of the present application, the protective component 50 can be disposed on a surface of the first plate 40 close to the supporting component 30 and connected to the first plate 40 .

[0081] For example, the connection method between the protective component 50 and the first plate 40 may include bonding, clamping, welding, mortise and tenon connection, bolt connection, etc., which is not limited in this application.

[0082] By setting the protective component 50 on the surface of the first plate 40 and connecting it to the first plate 40, a certain space is provided between the protective component 50 and the pressure relief mechanism 213, thereby providing flow space for the exhaust when the exhaust is ejected, reducing the probability of the battery 10 being sprayed through.

[0083] In the embodiment of the present application, the protective component 50 is bonded to the first plate 40 .

[0084] The protective component 50 is adhesively connected to the first plate 40, and no additional components are required for connection. The connection method is simple, and can improve the connection strength between the protective component 50 and the first plate 40, reduce the probability of the protective component 50 moving, and further reduce the probability of the discharge inside the battery spraying through the battery.

[0085] Optionally, the protective component 50 may also have a gap with both the first plate 40 and the support component 30, that is, the protective component 50 may not be provided on the surface of the first plate 40. For example, it may be provided between the first plate 40 and the support component 30 by a bracket or other device.

[0086] In an embodiment of the present application, the battery 10 includes a plurality of pressure relief mechanisms 213 and a plurality of protection components 50, and the plurality of pressure relief mechanisms 213 correspond to the plurality of protection components 50 one by one.

[0087] Specifically, the plurality of pressure relief mechanisms 213 correspond to the plurality of protection components 50 one by one. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, at this time, the plurality of protection components 50 are dispersedly arranged.

[0088] By setting the plurality of protection components 50 to correspond to the plurality of pressure relief mechanisms 213 one by one, the protection components 50 can be flexibly set for different pressure relief mechanisms 213, which is beneficial to reducing the probability that the discharge will penetrate the first plate 40, and further reducing the probability of thermal runaway spread.

[0089] In an embodiment of the present application, the battery 10 includes a plurality of pressure relief mechanisms 213 and at least one protection component 50, and at least two pressure relief mechanisms 213 correspond to one protection component 50.

[0090] Specifically, when at least two pressure relief mechanisms 213 are oppositely arranged with one protection component 50, it can be understood that the protection component 50 is a sheet-like structure, such as a whole piece. The structure of the whole piece corresponds to the plurality of pressure relief mechanisms, as shown in FIG. 5 for example. Or it can be understood that the plurality of pressure relief mechanisms 213 do not correspond to the plurality of protection components 50 one by one. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a row of pressure relief mechanisms 213 corresponds to a long strip-shaped protection component 50. Or, the plurality of pressure relief mechanisms 213 can also be divided into multiple groups, and each group corresponds to one protection component 50. The number of pressure relief mechanisms 213 in multiple groups can be the same or different, and the present application does not limit this.

[0091] By setting one protection component 50 to correspond to at least two pressure relief mechanisms 213, the protection components 50 with different arrangement methods can be set for different batteries, which is beneficial to reducing the probability that the discharge will penetrate the first plate 40, and further reducing the probability of thermal runaway spread.

[0092] In an embodiment of the present application, as shown in FIG. 4, the distance between the support component 30 and the first plate 40 is H, the thickness of the protection component 50 is h, and the volume energy density of the battery cell 20 is E. H, h, and E satisfy the condition: 0.002 ≤ (H * h) / E ≤ 0.6, where h < H, and the units are all mm, and the unit of E is watt-hour per liter (Wh / L).

[0093] Optionally, H, h, and E satisfy the condition: 0.004 ≤ (H * h) / E ≤ 0.3.

[0094] Specifically, the distance H between the support member 30 and the first plate 40 may be the shortest distance between the support member 30 and the first plate 40, that is, the distance between the surface of the support member 30 close to the first plate 40 and the surface of the first plate 40 close to the support member 30. Alternatively, the distance H between the support member 30 and the first plate 40 may be the average value of multiple sets of distance data measured between the support member 30 and the first plate 40. This application is not limited to this.

[0095] It should be noted that the values ​​of H and h are related to the volumetric energy density of the battery cell. It can be understood that the higher the volumetric energy density E of the battery cell 20, the faster the discharge of high-temperature gases and particles in the event of thermal runaway, requiring a larger space (i.e., the value of H) and a stronger and thicker protective component 50 (i.e., the value of h). Conversely, the lower the volumetric energy density E of the battery cell 20, the smaller the values ​​of H and h are to ensure grouping efficiency.

[0096] The following details the effect of the (H*h) / E value on the test results in the examples of this application using Comparative Examples 1-5 and Examples 1-18. It should be noted that, except for the different values ​​of H, h, and E, the test conditions for battery 10 in the comparative examples and examples were identical. For example, the test temperature was the same in the comparative examples and examples. In Table 1, H and h are both in mm, and E is in Wh / L.

[0097] Table 1

[0098] The test results show that when H, h, and E meet the above conditions, the probability of battery penetration is significantly reduced. When the value range of (H*h) / E is 0.002-0.6, the battery group efficiency exceeds 65%, and the first plate 40 of the battery 10 is not penetrated. Therefore, by limiting the value range of (H*h) / E to 0.002-0.6, while achieving higher battery group efficiency, the probability of battery penetration can be reduced, thereby reducing the probability of thermal runaway propagation.

[0099] When the value range of (H*h) / E is 0.004-0.3, the battery group efficiency is higher than 70%, and the first plate 40 of the battery 10 is not sprayed through. Therefore, by limiting the value range of (H*h) / E to 0.004-0.3, while further improving the battery group efficiency, the probability of the battery being sprayed through can be reduced, thereby reducing the probability of thermal runaway diffusion.

[0100] In the embodiment of the present application, the value range of H is: 2mm≤H≤20mm, and the value range of h is: 0.2mm≤h≤5mm.

[0101] By setting the values ​​of H and h within a certain range, the battery grouping efficiency can be improved while reducing the probability of battery penetration.

[0102] Optionally, H can be 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 16mm, 17mm, 18mm, 19mm or 20mm, and h can be 0.2mm, 0.3mm, 0.4mm, 0.5mm, 0.6mm, 0.7mm, 0.8mm, 0.9mm, 1mm, 1.1mm, 1.2mm, 1.3mm, 1.4mm, 1.5mm, 1.6mm, 1.7mm, 1.8mm, 1.9mm, 2.0mm, 2.6mm, 2.8mm, 3.0mm, 3.5mm , 3.8mm, 3.9mm, 4.0mm, 4.1mm, 4.2mm, 4.3mm, 4.4mm, 4.5mm, 4.6mm, 4.7mm, 4.8mm, 4.9mm or 5mm.

[0103] In the embodiment of the present application, on a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction of the protective component 50, the overlapping area S1 of the projection of the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the projection of the protective component 50 and the projection area S2 of the pressure relief mechanism 213 meet the condition: 50%≤S1 / S2≤100%.

[0104] Optionally, S1 / S2 may be 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 100%.

[0105] The pressure relief mechanism 213 may have a pressure relief hole. The projection of the pressure relief mechanism 213 may be the projection of the pressure relief hole, or the cross-sectional area of ​​the pressure relief hole. When the above conditions are met, the protective component 50 can cover at least half of the projected area of ​​the pressure relief mechanism 213, thereby withstanding the impact of the discharge ejected from the pressure relief mechanism 213, reducing the probability of the first plate 40 being penetrated by the discharge, and thereby reducing the probability of thermal diffusion in the battery.

[0106] It should be noted that the overlapping area between the projections of the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the protective component 50 is S1. The larger the overlapping area S1, the better the protective effect achieved by the protective component 50. However, due to system assembly tolerances, the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the protective component 50 may not completely overlap. The above S1 / S2=100% means that the value of S1 / S2 is approximately 100%, and some error is allowed.

[0107] The following details the impact of the S1 / S2 ratio on the test results using Comparative Examples 1-4 and Examples 1-6 in Table 2. It should be noted that, except for the S1 / S2 ratio, the other test conditions in Table 2 are identical for the Comparative Examples and Examples. The volumetric energy density (E), H, and h of the battery cells in the Comparative Examples and Examples are identical, with E = 180 Wh / L, H = 3 mm, and h = 0.5 mm.

[0108] Table 2

[0109] In the embodiment of the present application, the material of the protective component 50 may include at least one of mica, ceramics, carbon fiber, and aerogel.

[0110] Specifically, the protective component 50 may include a mica board, mica paper, a ceramic board, a carbon fiber board, aerogel, or the like.

[0111] By setting the material of the protective component 50 , the protective component 50 can play a better protective role, thereby reducing the probability of the battery 10 being sprayed through, and further reducing the probability of thermal runaway spreading.

[0112] Referring again to Figures 4-7, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery 10 comprising a battery cell 20, a support member 30, a first plate 40, and a protective member 50. The battery cell 20 includes a pressure relief mechanism 213 disposed on a first wall 2001 of the battery cell 20. The support member 30 abuts against the first wall 2001 of the battery cell 20 to support the battery cell 20 and is disposed between the battery cell 20 and the first plate 40. The support member 30 and the first plate 40 are spaced apart to form a receiving space 60, which is used to accommodate discharge from the battery cell 20 when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is actuated. The protective member 50 is disposed on a surface of the first plate 40 adjacent to the support member 30, is connected to the first plate 40, and is disposed opposite the pressure relief mechanism 213 to withstand the impact of the discharge. The protective member 50 can be a monolithic structure, as shown in Figure 5; a long strip structure, as shown in Figure 6; or a dispersed structure, corresponding one-to-one with the pressure relief mechanism 213, as shown in Figure 7.

[0113] Although the present application has been described with reference to the above-described embodiments, various modifications may be made thereto and components may be substituted with equivalents without departing from the scope of the present application. In particular, the various technical features described in the various embodiments may be combined in any manner as long as there are no structural conflicts. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but encompasses all technical solutions within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A battery, characterized in that: The battery (10) includes battery cells (20), a support member (30), a first plate (40), and a protection member (50); The battery cell (20) includes a pressure relief mechanism (213), and the pressure relief mechanism (213) is disposed on a first wall (2001) of the battery cell (20); The support member (30) abuts against the first wall (2001) to support the battery cell (20), and the support member (30) is disposed between the battery cell (20) and the first plate (40). The support member (30) is spaced apart from the first plate (40) to form an accommodation space (60), and the accommodation space (60) is configured to accommodate discharges from the battery cell (20) when the pressure relief mechanism (213) is actuated; The protection member (50) is disposed between the support member (30) and the first plate (40), and is disposed opposite to the pressure relief mechanism (213) to withstand the impact force of the discharges.

2. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that The protection member (50) is disposed on a surface of the first plate (40) close to the support member (30) and is connected to the first plate (40).

3. The battery according to claim 2, characterized in that The protection member (50) is adhesively bonded to the first plate (40).

4. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that The battery (10) includes a plurality of the pressure relief mechanisms (213) and a plurality of the protection members (50), and the plurality of pressure relief mechanisms (213) correspond to the plurality of protection members (50) one by one.

5. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that The battery (10) includes a plurality of the pressure relief mechanisms (213) and at least one protection member (50), and at least two of the pressure relief mechanisms (213) correspond to one protection member (50).

6. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The distance between the support member (30) and the first plate (40) is H, the thickness of the protection member (50) is h, and the volumetric energy density of the battery cell (20) is E. H, h, and E satisfy the condition: 0.002 ≤ (H * h) / E ≤ 0.6, where h < H, and the units are all mm, and the unit of E is Wh / L.

7. The battery according to claim 6, characterized in that H, h, and E satisfy the condition: 0.004 ≤ (H * h) / E ≤ 0.

3.

8. The battery according to claim 6, characterized in that The value range of H is: 2 mm ≤ H ≤ 20 mm, and the value range of h is: 0.2 mm ≤ h ≤ 5 mm.

9. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that On a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction of the protection member (50), the overlapping area S1 of the projection of the pressure relief mechanism (213) and the projection of the protection member (50) and the projection area S2 of the pressure relief mechanism satisfy the condition: 50% ≤ S1 / S2 ≤ 100%.

10. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The material of the protection member (50) includes at least one of mica, ceramic, carbon fiber, and aerogel.

11. An electrical device, characterized in that: Including the battery (10) according to any one of claims 1-10, the battery (10) is configured to supply electrical energy to the electrical device.

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