Battery cell, battery, and electrical apparatus

Abstract

A battery cell (20), a battery (100), and an electrical apparatus (1000). The battery cell (20) comprises a housing, an electrode assembly (23), and an insulating protection member (30). The housing has a first wall (201) and a pressure relief structure (212), provided on the first wall (201). The electrode assembly (23) is disposed in the housing. The insulating protection member (30) is disposed at a side of the first wall (201) facing the electrode assembly (23), and the insulating protection member (30) has a gas release structure (32) corresponding to the position of the pressure relief structure (212). The gas release structure (32) comprises multiple layers of flow guide plates (323). Each layer of flow guide plate (323) being provided with a flow guide hole (322), the multiple layers of flow guide plates (323) being disposed at intervals along a first direction (X), projections of the flow guide holes (322) of at least two layers of flow guide plates (323) along the first direction (X) being at least partially staggered, and the first direction (X) being a direction of the first wall facing the electrode assembly (23). By means of disposing the flow guide holes (322) of any two adjacent layers of flow guide plates (323) in a staggered manner along the first direction (X), the effect of stopping a molten substance or other high-temperature particles of the pressure relief structure (212) can be improved, and the possibility of thermal runaway of the current battery cell (20) is reduced.

Description

Battery cells, batteries and electrical devices

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202420287894.6, filed on February 7, 2024, entitled “Battery Cell, Battery and Electrical Device,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

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

[0004] This section merely provides background information related to the present application and is not necessarily prior art.

[0005] Batteries can store electrical energy and can be widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, electric vehicles, electric aircraft, electric boats, electric toy cars, electric toy boats, electric toy airplanes and power tools.

[0006] Batteries are prone to thermal runaway when exposed to external short circuits, overcharging, needle punctures, or impacts. Severe thermal runaway can even lead to explosion. Reducing the spread of thermal runaway is a crucial issue in the development of battery technology. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of the above problems, the present application provides a battery cell, a battery and an electrical device to reduce the risk of thermal runaway of adjacent battery cells when thermal runaway occurs in a battery cell, thereby reducing the possibility of thermal runaway spreading.

[0008] The first aspect of the present application proposes a battery cell, including a shell, an electrode assembly and an insulating protective member, the shell including a first wall, a pressure relief structure being provided on the first wall, the electrode assembly being arranged in the shell, and the insulating protective member being arranged on the side of the first wall facing the electrode assembly, the insulating protective member having an exhaust structure corresponding to the position of the pressure relief structure, the exhaust structure including a plurality of layers of guide plates, each layer of the guide plates being provided with guide holes, the plurality of layers of the guide plates being arranged at intervals along a first direction, the guide holes of at least two layers of the guide plates being at least partially staggered in their projections along the first direction, and the first direction being the arrangement direction of the first wall and the electrode assembly.

[0009] In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, the exhaust structure includes multiple layers of guide plates arranged at intervals, and each layer of guide plates is provided with guide holes. When the current battery cell suffers thermal runaway, the guide holes play a conductive role, allowing the high-temperature flue gas and particulate matter and other emissions in the current battery cell to reach the pressure relief structure more smoothly, and be discharged to the outside of the battery cell through the pressure relief structure, so that the battery cell can be depressurized more promptly, reducing the risk caused by thermal runaway of the current battery cell. When other battery cells adjacent to the current battery cell experience thermal runaway, the emissions ejected by the battery cell experiencing thermal runaway may affect the pressure relief structure of the current battery cell and cause the pressure relief structure of the current battery cell to be melted. In this case, since the guide holes of at least two layers of guide plates in the multi-layer guide plates are at least partially staggered along the projection of the first direction, the molten material or other high-temperature particulate matter of the pressure relief structure will be stopped by the guide plate of the lower layer after passing through the guide holes of the upper guide plate, thereby reducing the possibility that the molten material or other high-temperature particulate matter of the pressure relief structure will directly pass through the exhaust structure and fall onto the electrode assembly, causing the current battery cell to short-circuit, and further causing the current battery cell to experience thermal runaway, thereby reducing the possibility of further spread of thermal runaway and reducing the possibility of greater danger caused by thermal runaway.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present application, the projections of the guide holes of any two adjacent layers of guide plates along the first direction are at least partially staggered. By staggering the guide holes of any two adjacent layers of guide plates along the first direction, this embodiment can improve the blocking effect of molten material or other high-temperature particulate matter on the pressure relief structure, reduce the possibility that molten material or other high-temperature particulate matter from the pressure relief structure directly passes through the exhaust structure and falls onto the electrode assembly, causing a short circuit in the current battery cell and further causing thermal runaway in the current battery cell, thereby reducing the possibility of thermal runaway further spreading and reducing the possibility of thermal runaway causing greater danger.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present application, the projections of the guide holes of any two layers of the guide plates in the first direction are at least partially staggered. In this embodiment, by staggering the guide holes of all the guide plates, the molten material or other high-temperature particulate matter of the pressure relief structure can be stopped by the guide plates below through multiple levels after falling through the guide holes of the top layer. After the guide plates adjacent to the top layer of the guide plates are melted, the guide plates on the lower layers still have a good stopping effect, thereby improving the stopping effect of the molten material or other high-temperature particulate matter of the pressure relief structure and reducing the possibility that the molten material or other high-temperature particulate matter of the pressure relief structure directly passes through the exhaust structure and falls onto the electrode assembly, causing a short circuit in the current battery cell, and further causing thermal runaway in the current battery cell.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present application, at least one layer of the guide plate is provided with a plurality of guide holes at intervals. The plurality of guide holes provided at intervals on the guide plate can meet the overall flow area of ​​the guide plate, which is beneficial for the discharge of the emissions in the battery cell through the guide holes when thermal runaway occurs in the battery cell. At the same time, the plurality of guide holes is provided. Compared with a single larger guide hole, the flow area of ​​a single guide hole is smaller, which can stop large-diameter high-temperature particles, thereby improving the blocking effect of the molten material or other high-temperature particles in the pressure relief structure, and reducing the possibility that the molten material or other high-temperature particles in the pressure relief structure directly pass through the exhaust structure and fall onto the electrode assembly, causing a short circuit in the current battery cell, and further causing thermal runaway in the current battery cell.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present application, the plurality of guide holes on the guide plates on the same layer are arranged in rows, with each row comprising a plurality of guide holes spaced apart along a second direction, where the second direction intersects the first direction. Arranging the plurality of guide holes in rows allows for staggering the guide holes on guide plates on different layers by simply staggering the guide holes in each row of adjacent guide plates, making the design of multi-layer guide plates more convenient.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present application, the plurality of guide holes on the guide plates on the same layer are arranged in multiple rows along the third direction, with adjacent pairs of guide holes in adjacent rows aligned in the third direction, and the third direction, the second direction, and the first direction intersecting in pairs. Providing multiple rows of guide holes on each layer of guide plates facilitates the rational use of the area of ​​the guide plates, balancing the flow area and support strength of the exhaust structure.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present application, the insulating protector further comprises a body, the body being provided with an exhaust port, the pressure relief structure and the exhaust structure being both provided corresponding to the position of the exhaust port, and the exhaust structure being provided on a side of the body facing away from the pressure relief structure. The pressure relief structure and the exhaust structure are opposed to each other through the exhaust port, so that the exhaust structure and the pressure relief structure are spaced apart. In this way, smoke and other emissions within the battery cell can flow more smoothly to the pressure relief structure after passing through the exhaust structure, thereby improving the timeliness of the opening of the pressure relief structure and reducing the possibility of a more serious risk of thermal runaway caused by the failure of the battery cell to release pressure in a timely manner.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present application, the exhaust structure further includes a support wall, one end of the support wall being connected to the body, the other end of the support wall protruding toward a side of the body facing away from the first wall, and the guide plate being connected to the support wall. By providing the support wall and protruding relative to the body, space is provided along the first direction for the arrangement of multiple layers of guide plates, facilitating the spacing of the multiple layers of guide plates. Furthermore, this also facilitates the abutment of the guide plates on the bottom layer with the electrode assembly, thereby improving the support capability of the insulating protective member for the electrode assembly, reducing the possibility of vibration or shaking of the electrode assembly within the housing, and ensuring better stability of the electrode assembly within the housing.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present application, the exhaust structure and the body are an integral structure.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present application, the housing includes a shell body and an end cover, the shell body has an opening, the end cover covers the opening, and the first wall is the end cover.

[0019] In some embodiments of the present application, the insulating protection component is a plastic component.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present application, the guide plate closest to the pressure relief structure along the first direction is spaced apart from the first wall; and / or, the guide plate farthest from the first wall along the first direction abuts the electrode assembly. The guide plate closest to the first wall is spaced apart from the first wall, so that a gap exists between the pressure relief structure and the exhaust structure. When the pressure relief structure melts, it is not easy to block the guide holes of the guide plate closest to the first wall, so that the smoke and other emissions in the battery cell can flow out more smoothly through the exhaust structure, thereby improving the timeliness of the pressure relief of the battery cell and reducing the possibility of the battery cell causing more serious thermal runaway risk. The guide plate farthest from the first wall abuts against the top surface of the main body of the electrode assembly, which can limit the movement of the electrode assembly along the first direction, improve the support capacity of the insulating protective member for the electrode assembly, reduce the possibility of vibration or shaking of the electrode assembly in the housing, and ensure good stability of the electrode assembly in the housing.

[0021] In some embodiments of the present application, a protective member is provided on the side of the first wall facing away from the battery cell, and the protective member has a shielding portion corresponding to the position of the pressure relief structure, and the shielding portion covers the pressure relief structure. The protective member can play a protective role from the outside of the first wall. When other battery cells adjacent to the current battery cell experience thermal runaway, the emissions ejected by the battery cell experiencing thermal runaway can be stopped by the protective member, reducing the impact of the emissions from other battery cells on the pressure relief structure, making it less likely that thermal runaway will spread further, and reducing the possibility of thermal runaway causing greater danger. In this embodiment, a protective member can be further provided on the basis of the exhaust structure provided in the present application or any embodiment of the present application, so that the exhaust structure on the inside of the first wall and the protective member on the outside of the first wall form a multi-level protection inside and outside the battery cell, further reducing the possibility of thermal runaway spreading and reducing the possibility of thermal runaway causing greater danger.

[0022] In some embodiments of the present application, the total flow area of ​​all the guide holes on each layer of the guide plates is 0.5 to 1.2 times the pressure relief area of ​​the pressure relief structure. Setting the total flow area of ​​the guide holes on each layer of the guide plates can balance the strength and flow area of ​​the guide plates, allowing the insulating protective member to better support the battery cells and allowing the exhaust from the battery cells to flow to the pressure relief structure in a more timely manner.

[0023] A second aspect of the present application provides a battery, comprising a battery cell provided in the present application or any embodiment of the present application.

[0024] A third aspect of the present application provides an electrical device, comprising a battery provided in the present application or any embodiment of the present application, wherein the battery is used to provide electrical energy.

[0025] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present application. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present application, it can be implemented in accordance with the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present application are listed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment below. The accompanying drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be considered as limiting the present application. The same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to denote the same components. In the drawings:

[0027] FIG1 schematically shows a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0028] FIG2 schematically shows an exploded structural diagram of a battery provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0029] FIG3 schematically shows an exploded structural diagram of a battery cell provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0030] FIG4 schematically shows a schematic diagram of an insulating protection member according to some embodiments of the present application from one viewing angle;

[0031] FIG5 schematically shows a schematic diagram of an insulating protection member according to some embodiments of the present application from another perspective;

[0032] FIG6 schematically shows a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG5 ;

[0033] FIG7 schematically shows a BB cross-sectional view of FIG5 ;

[0034] FIG8 schematically shows a schematic diagram of an insulating protection member according to some embodiments of the present application from one viewing angle;

[0035] FIG9 schematically shows a schematic diagram of an insulating protection member according to some embodiments of the present application from another perspective;

[0036] FIG10 schematically shows a CC cross-sectional view of FIG9 ;

[0037] FIG11 schematically shows a DD cross-sectional view of FIG9 ;

[0038] FIG12 schematically shows a schematic diagram of the separation of the end cover and the protective member in some embodiments of the present application.

[0039] The reference numerals in the specific embodiments are as follows: 1000, vehicle; 100, battery; 10, housing; 11, first portion; 12, second portion; 20, battery cell; 201, first wall; 21, end cap; 211, electrode terminal; 212, pressure relief structure; 213, pressure relief area; 22, housing; 23, electrode assembly; 231, tab; 232, main body; 24, connecting piece; 25, insulating sheet; 30, insulating protective member; 31, body; 311, exhaust port; 32, exhaust structure; 321, supporting wall; 322, guide hole; 323, guide plate; 324, first guide plate; 325, second guide plate; 33, protrusion; 40, protective member; 41, shielding portion; 42, connecting portion; 43, weak portion; 200, controller; 300, motor; X, first direction; Y, second direction; Z, third direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The following embodiments of the technical solution of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present application and are therefore only examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0041] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs; the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments 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 figure descriptions are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0042] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the quantity, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, the meaning of "plurality" is more than two, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0043] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present 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 herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0044] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" is simply a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the following three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0045] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "multiple" refers to more than two (including two). Similarly, "multiple groups" refers to more than two groups (including two groups), and "multiple pieces" refers to more than two pieces (including two pieces).

[0046] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0047] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, technical terms such as "installed," "connected," "connected," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integration; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; internal connections between two components or interactions between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application based on specific circumstances.

[0048] With the booming development of the new energy industry, battery capacity is increasing, and performance requirements are also becoming increasingly stringent. Batteries typically consist of one or more cells. Thermal runaway can easily occur when a cell experiences external short circuits, overcharging, punctures, or impacts. Battery cell end caps can be equipped with pressure relief structures to promptly discharge high-temperature flue gas, high-temperature particulate matter, and other emissions when thermal runaway occurs.

[0049] Specifically, in some technologies, an insulating protective part is provided between the end cover of the battery cell and the electrode assembly. The insulating protective part is provided with an opening corresponding to the pressure relief structure. When the battery cell thermally runs away, the opening allows the emissions to smoothly reach the pressure relief structure from the electrode assembly, thereby actuating the pressure relief structure (the actuation of the pressure relief structure means that the pressure relief structure is opened and a discharge channel is formed) to relieve pressure, thereby reducing the extreme situation of explosion of the battery cell.

[0050] The pressure relief structure is a weak point in the battery cell. If one of the battery cells experiences thermal runaway, the emitted high-temperature gases and high-temperature particulate matter will rebound and impact the pressure relief structure of the adjacent battery cells, causing damage to the pressure relief structure of the adjacent battery cells. In severe cases, the pressure relief structure of the adjacent battery cells will melt through, allowing the high-temperature particulate matter to enter. Once the pressure relief structure is melted through by external high-temperature emissions, the high-temperature particulate matter can directly fall through the openings in the insulation protection and onto the electrode assembly, causing the diaphragm to melt through and an internal short circuit in the battery cell, which in turn triggers heat spread.

[0051] In response to the above problems, the present application proposes a battery cell, the insulating protective part of the battery cell has an exhaust structure corresponding to the pressure relief structure, the exhaust structure includes multiple layers of guide plates, each layer of guide plates is provided with guide holes, and along the direction of the end cover toward the electrode assembly, the guide holes of at least two layers of guide plates are staggered.

[0052] When a battery cell experiences thermal runaway, the guide holes of the multi-layer guide plates act as a conductor, allowing high-temperature flue gas, particulate matter, and other emissions within the current battery cell to reach the pressure relief structure more smoothly and be discharged outside the battery cell through the pressure relief structure. This allows the battery cell to release pressure more promptly, reducing the risk of thermal runaway. If other battery cells adjacent to the current battery cell experience thermal runaway, and the emissions ejected by the thermally runaway battery cell reach the pressure relief structure of the current battery cell, causing it to melt, the guide holes of at least two layers of the multi-layer guide plates are staggered. After passing through the guide holes of the upper layer of guide plates, the molten material or other high-temperature particulate matter in the pressure relief structure is stopped by the lower layer of guide plates. This reduces the possibility that the molten material or other high-temperature particulate matter in the pressure relief structure will directly pass through the exhaust structure and fall onto the electrode assembly, causing a short circuit in the current battery cell and subsequently triggering thermal runaway in the current battery cell. This reduces the likelihood of thermal runaway spreading further and the potential for greater danger from thermal runaway.

[0053] For the convenience of description, the following embodiments are described by taking a vehicle 1000 as an example of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0054] Please refer to Figure 1, which schematically shows a schematic diagram of the structure of the vehicle provided in some embodiments of the present application. The vehicle 1000 can be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle. The new energy vehicle can be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or an extended-range vehicle, etc. A battery 100 is provided inside the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100 can be provided at the bottom, head or tail of the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 can be used to power the vehicle 1000. For example, the battery 100 can serve as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 may also include a controller 200 and a motor 300. The controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to power the motor 300, for example, for starting, navigating and driving the vehicle 1000.

[0055] In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 100 can serve not only as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but also as a driving power source for the vehicle 1000, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1000.

[0056] Please refer to Figure 2, which schematically illustrates an exploded view of a battery provided in some embodiments of the present application. Battery 100 includes a housing 10 and battery cells 20, with battery cells 20 housed within housing 10. Housing 10 provides storage space for battery cells 20 and can have various structures. In some embodiments, housing 10 can include a first portion 11 and a second portion 12, which overlap each other and together define a storage space for battery cells 20. Second portion 12 can be a hollow structure with one end open. First portion 11 can be a plate-like structure, overlapping the open side of second portion 12, so that the first and second portions 11 and 12 together define a storage space. Alternatively, first portion 11 and second portion 12 can each be a hollow structure with one end open, with the open side of first portion 11 overlapping the open side of second portion 12. Housing 10 formed by first portion 11 and second portion 12 can have various shapes, such as a cylinder or a rectangular parallelepiped.

[0057] In the battery 100, there may be multiple battery cells 20, and the multiple battery cells 20 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection. A hybrid connection refers to a combination of series and parallel connections among the multiple battery cells 20. The multiple battery cells 20 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection, and then the entire battery cell 20 may be housed within the housing 10. Alternatively, the battery 100 may be constructed by first connecting multiple battery cells 20 in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection to form a battery module, which is then connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection to form a complete battery module, and then housed within the housing 10. The battery 100 may also include other structures, such as a busbar assembly for electrically connecting the multiple battery cells 20.

[0058] Each battery cell 20 may be a secondary battery or a primary battery, and may also be a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery, but is not limited thereto. The battery cell 20 may be cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or in other shapes.

[0059] Please refer to Figure 3, which schematically illustrates the exploded structure of a battery cell provided in some embodiments of the present application. A battery cell 20 is the smallest unit that makes up a battery. As shown in Figure 3, a battery cell 20 includes a housing, an insulating protective member 30, an electrode assembly 23, and other functional components.

[0060] The outer shell may include an end cover 21 and a shell body 22. The end cover 21 refers to a component that covers the opening of the shell body 22 to isolate the internal environment of the battery cell 20 from the external environment. Without limitation, the shape of the end cover 21 can be adapted to the shape of the shell body 22 to match the shell body 22. Optionally, the end cover 21 can be made of a material with a certain hardness and strength (such as aluminum alloy), so that the end cover 21 is not easily deformed when squeezed or collided, so that the battery cell 20 can have a higher structural strength and the safety performance can also be improved. Functional components such as electrode terminals 211 can be provided on the end cover 21. The electrode terminal 211 can be used to electrically connect to the electrode assembly 23 through the connecting piece 24 for outputting or inputting electrical energy of the battery cell 20. In some embodiments, the end cap 21 may also be provided with a pressure relief structure 212 for releasing the internal pressure of the battery cell 20 when the internal pressure or temperature reaches a threshold. The pressure relief structure 212 may specifically take the form of an explosion-proof valve, an air valve, a pressure relief valve, or a safety valve, and may specifically employ a pressure-sensitive or temperature-sensitive element or structure. That is, when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 reaches a predetermined threshold, the pressure relief structure 212 actuates or a weak structure provided in the pressure relief structure 212 is destroyed, thereby forming an opening or channel for releasing the internal pressure of the battery cell 20. The end cap 21 may also be made of a variety of materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and the present embodiment does not impose any particular limitation on this.

[0061] The shell body 22 is a component that cooperates with the end cap 21 to form the internal environment of the battery cell 20. This internal environment can accommodate the electrode assembly 23, electrolyte, and other components. The shell body 22 and the end cap 21 can be separate components. An opening can be provided in the shell body 22, and the end cap 21 is placed over the opening to form the internal environment of the battery cell 20. Alternatively, the end cap 21 and the shell body 22 can be integrated. Specifically, the end cap 21 and the shell body 22 can form a common connection surface before other components are inserted into the shell. When the interior of the shell body 22 is to be enclosed, the end cap 21 is placed over the shell body 22. The shell body 22 can have a variety of shapes and sizes, such as a rectangular parallelepiped, a cylindrical shape, or a hexagonal prism. Specifically, the shape of the shell body 22 can be determined based on the specific shape and size of the electrode assembly 23. The shell body 22 can be made of a variety of materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and plastic, and this embodiment of the present application does not impose any particular limitations on this. An insulating sheet 25 may be further provided in the shell body 22 . The insulating sheet 25 may be wrapped around the outside of the electrode assembly 23 to isolate the electrode assembly 23 from the shell body 22 .

[0062] The electrode assembly 23 is a component in the battery cell 20 where electrochemical reactions occur. One or more electrode assemblies 23 may be contained in the housing. The electrode assembly 23 is mainly formed by winding or stacking a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet, and a separator is usually provided between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet. The electrode assembly 23 includes a main body 232 and a tab 231, wherein the main body 232 mainly includes the portion of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet with active materials, and the portion of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet without active materials each constitutes a tab 231. The positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab may be located together at one end of the main body 232 or respectively at both ends of the main body 232. During the charge and discharge process of the battery, the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material react with the electrolyte, and the tab 231 may be connected to the electrode terminal 211 through the connecting piece 24 to form a current loop.

[0063] The insulating protective part 30 is a component located between the end cap 21 and the electrode assembly 23. The insulating protective part 30 can be a plastic part. The insulating protective part can be prefabricated from plastic or assembled from various plastic parts. The material is an insulating material. The insulating protective part can also be a component of other materials, such as a rubber part. The insulating protective part 30 has two main functions. First, it can be used to isolate the electrical connection components in the shell from the end cap 21 to reduce the risk of short circuit. Second, it can effectively support the end face of the electrode assembly 23. After the electrode assembly 23 is assembled into the shell and the end cap 21 is welded, the internal winding core of the electrode assembly 23 is in a state of slight pressure. Moreover, the electrode assembly 23 will also be in a vibrating environment during the process of loading and use. If the electrode assembly 23 is not restrained enough, it will easily affect the life of the winding core or cause a short circuit. Therefore, the insulating protective part needs to effectively support the end face of the winding core to reduce the possibility of the electrode assembly 23 moving up and down.

[0064] According to some embodiments of the present application, with reference to FIG3, and further in combination with FIG4 to FIG7, FIG4 schematically shows a schematic diagram of an insulating protective member of some embodiments of the present application from one perspective, FIG5 schematically shows a schematic diagram of an insulating protective member of some embodiments of the present application from another perspective, FIG6 schematically shows an AA cross-sectional view of FIG5, and FIG7 schematically shows a BB cross-sectional view of FIG5. This embodiment provides a battery cell 20, including a shell, an electrode assembly 23 and an insulating protective member 30, the shell having a first wall 201, and a pressure relief member 201 provided on the first wall Structure 212, the electrode assembly 23 is arranged in the shell, the insulating protective part 30 is arranged on the side of the first wall 201 facing the electrode assembly 23, the insulating protective part 30 has an exhaust structure 32 corresponding to the position of the pressure relief structure 212, the exhaust structure 32 includes a multi-layer guide plate 323, each layer of the guide plate 323 is provided with a guide hole 322, along the first direction X, the multi-layer guide plates 323 are arranged at intervals, and the guide holes 322 of at least two layers of guide plates 323 are at least partially staggered along the projection of the first direction X. The first direction X is the arrangement direction of the first wall 201 and the electrode assembly 23.

[0065] The first wall 201 may be the end cover 21 or another side wall of the housing.

[0066] The insulating protector 30 can be fixed to the first wall 201 (the first wall 201 in this embodiment can be understood with reference to the end cap 21) and is located on the side of the first wall 201 closest to the electrode assembly 23. The side of the first wall 201 closest to the electrode assembly 23 is the inner side of the first wall 201. When the battery cell 20 is placed in the upright position (as shown in Figure 3, the end cap 21 is placed on top and the shell body 22 is placed on the bottom), it is also the lower side of the first wall 201. For ease of description, the following description of the corresponding components is based on the battery cell 20 being placed in the upright position.

[0067] The exhaust structure 32 is a part of the insulating protective part 30. The position of the exhaust structure 32 corresponds to that of the pressure relief structure 212. It can be understood that the exhaust structure 32 and the pressure relief structure 212 are arranged opposite to each other. Specifically, the exhaust structure 32 can be located directly below the pressure relief structure 212. Along the direction of the first wall 201 toward the electrode assembly 23, the positive projection of the pressure relief structure 212 onto the insulating protective part 30 can be located within the exhaust structure 32.

[0068] The first direction X can also be understood as the direction from the first wall 201 toward the electrode assembly 23. Specifically, in this embodiment, this can be understood with reference to the height direction of the battery cell 20. The guide plates 323 can be connected to the main body of the insulating protector 30. The multiple layers of guide plates 323 are spaced apart along the first direction X. This means that the multiple layers of guide plates 323 are sequentially stacked and spaced apart along the height direction of the battery cell 20. The multiple layers of guide plates 323 can be spaced evenly or unevenly. The gaps between the multiple layers of guide plates 323 allow for the passage of exhaust gases such as flue gas.

[0069] The diversion holes 322 allow high-temperature flue gas and other gases generated within the battery cells 20 to flow toward the pressure relief structure 212. The diversion holes 322 may be structures that penetrate the top and bottom surfaces of the diversion plates 323 in which they are located. The top surface of the diversion plates 323 faces the side surface of the first wall 201, and the bottom surface of the diversion plates 323 faces away from the first wall 201. The diversion holes 322 communicate with the gaps between corresponding adjacent diversion plates 323. The diversion holes 322 on the multiple layers of diversion plates 323 and the gaps between adjacent diversion plates 323 allow the exhaust structure 32 to penetrate the top and bottom surfaces of the insulating protective member 30. When a battery cell 20 experiences thermal runaway, flue gas and other emissions can flow toward the pressure relief structure 212 through the diversion holes 322 and the gaps between adjacent diversion plates 323.

[0070] The multi-layer guide plates 323 refer to two layers of guide plates 323 or more than two layers of guide plates 323. The multi-layer guide plates 323 mentioned in this embodiment may be all layers of guide plates 323. For example, at least two layers of guide plates 323 may be at least two layers of all layers of guide plates 323. For another example, the multi-layer guide plates 323 spaced apart along the first direction X may be all layers of guide plates 323 spaced apart along the first direction X. The projections of the multi-layer guide plates 323 along the first direction X may be substantially overlapping, that is, the multi-layer guide plates 323 may be plate-like or sheet-like structures of substantially the same shape and size, and the multi-layer guide plates 323 may be substantially overlapping along the first direction X.

[0071] The projection of the multi-layer guide plate 323 along the first direction X can be understood as the orthographic projection of the multi-layer guide plate 323 along the first direction X onto the same plane, which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction X.

[0072] The projections of the guide holes 322 of at least two layers of guide plates 323 along the first direction X can be understood as the orthographic projections of the guide holes 322 of at least two layers of guide plates 323 along the first direction X onto the same plane, which is approximately perpendicular to the first direction X. The projections of the guide holes 322 of at least two layers of guide plates 323 along the first direction X are at least partially staggered, which can be understood as the guide holes 322 of at least two layers of guide plates 323 among all the layers of guide plates 323 being staggered along the first direction X. The staggering can be partial or complete. In other words, among at least two layers of guide plates 323, the projections of the guide holes 322 of one layer along the first direction X onto the other layer are staggered or partially overlap with the guide holes 322 of the other layer. In other words, the guide holes 322 of at least two layers of guide plates 323 do not completely overlap in the height direction, and the projection of the guide holes 322 of one layer along the first direction X is at least partially located outside the projection of the guide holes 322 of the other layer along the first direction X. Furthermore, the staggered projections of the guide holes 322 of at least two layers of guide plates 323 along the first direction X refer to complete staggering, that is, the projection of the guide holes 322 of one layer onto the other layer along the first direction X is located outside the guide holes 322 of the other layer. Specifically, the edges of the projections of the guide holes 322 of one layer onto the other layer along the first direction X may be connected to the edges of the guide holes 322 of the other layer, or the projections of the guide holes 322 of one layer onto the other layer along the first direction X may be spaced apart from the guide holes 322 of the other layer.

[0073] It should also be explained that, if at least one guide hole 322 in one of the two layers of guide plates 323 does not completely overlap with all the guide holes 322 in the other layer, it can be considered that the projections of the guide holes 322 in the two layers of guide plates 323 along the first direction X are at least partially staggered. For example, if one or both layers of guide plates 323 have multiple guide holes 322, and the projection of one of the multiple guide holes 322 in one layer onto the other layer is at least partially located outside all the guide holes 322 in the other layer, it can be considered that the projections of the guide holes 322 in the two layers of guide plates 323 along the first direction X are at least partially staggered.

[0074] It can be understood that when the guide holes 322 of at least two layers of guide plates 323 are staggered in their projections along the first direction X, in the height direction of the battery cell 20 (i.e., the first direction X), the guide holes 322 of one layer of guide plates 323 will be blocked by another layer of guide plates 323, so that the material falling from the upper guide holes 322 will be stopped by the lower layer of guide plates 323, reducing the possibility of the molten material or other high-temperature particulate matter of the pressure relief structure 212 falling from above contacting the electrode assembly 23. When the projections of the guide holes 322 of at least two layers of guide plates 323 along the first direction X are partially overlapped (i.e., partially misaligned), in the height direction of the battery cell 20 (i.e., the first direction X), the guide holes 322 of one layer of guide plates 323 will be partially blocked by the other layer of guide plates 323, so that the material falling from the upper guide holes 322 will not easily pass through the lower guide holes 322. For example, larger materials falling from the upper guide holes 322 can be stopped by the lower guide plates 323. For another example, materials falling from the area of ​​the upper guide holes 322 blocked by the lower guide plates 323 can also be stopped by the lower guide plates 323, thereby reducing the possibility of the molten material or other high-temperature particulate matter of the pressure relief structure 212 falling from above contacting the electrode assembly 23.

[0075] In the battery cell 20 of this embodiment, the exhaust structure 32 includes multiple layers of guide plates 323 arranged at intervals, and each layer of guide plates 323 is provided with a guide hole 322. When the current battery cell 20 experiences thermal runaway, the guide hole 322 plays a conductive role, allowing the high-temperature flue gas and particulate matter and other emissions in the current battery cell 20 to reach the pressure relief structure 212 more smoothly, and be discharged to the outside of the battery cell 20 through the pressure relief structure 212, so that the battery cell 20 can be depressurized more promptly, reducing the risk caused by thermal runaway of the current battery cell 20. When thermal runaway occurs in other battery cells 20 adjacent to the current battery cell 20, the emissions ejected from the battery cell 20 experiencing thermal runaway may affect the pressure relief structure 212 of the current battery cell 20 and cause the pressure relief structure 212 of the current battery cell 20 to be melted. In this case, since the guide holes 322 of at least two layers of guide plates 323 in the multi-layer guide plates 323 are at least partially staggered along the projection of the first direction X, the molten material of the pressure relief structure 212 will be stopped by the guide plates 323 of the lower layer after passing through the guide holes 322 of the upper layer of guide plates 323, thereby reducing the possibility that the molten material or other high-temperature particulate matter of the pressure relief structure 212 directly passes through the exhaust structure 32 and falls onto the electrode assembly 23, causing the current battery cell 20 to short-circuit, thereby causing the current battery cell 20 to experience thermal runaway, thereby reducing the possibility of further spread of thermal runaway and reducing the possibility of greater danger caused by thermal runaway.

[0076] In some technologies, a protective member 40 (such as a mica sheet) can be added to the pressure relief structure 212 outside the first wall 201 of the battery cell 20. In this way, the high-temperature, high-speed airflow after a runaway battery cell 20 may carry away the protective members 40 of surrounding battery cells 20, causing protection failure and heat spread. However, in this embodiment, the battery cell 20 can protect the electrode assembly 23 at the corresponding position of the pressure relief structure 212 within the battery cell 20, reducing the problem of protection failure of adjacent battery cells 20 due to the high-temperature, high-speed airflow after a runaway battery cell 20.

[0077] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, as shown in Figures 4 to 7, and further in combination with Figures 8 to 11, Figure 8 schematically shows a schematic diagram of an insulating protective member of some embodiments of the present application from one perspective, Figure 9 schematically shows a schematic diagram of an insulating protective member of some embodiments of the present application from another perspective, Figure 10 schematically shows a CC sectional view of Figure 9, and Figure 11 schematically shows a DD sectional view of Figure 9; the projections of the guide holes 322 of any two adjacent layers of guide plates 323 in the multi-layer guide plates 323 along the first direction X are at least partially staggered.

[0078] In this embodiment, the multi-layer guide plates 323 may comprise three or more layers. It is understood that any two adjacent layers of guide plates 323 are adjacent guide plates 323 along the first direction X. The guide holes 322 of the multi-layer guide plates 323 may be staggered along the first direction X, such that the projections of the guide holes 322 of any two adjacent layers of guide plates 323 along the first direction X are at least partially staggered. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 8 to 11 , the guide holes 322 of multiple guide plates 323 may be staggered in alternating cycles along the first direction X. For example, as shown in Figures 8 to 11, the guide plate 323 can have three layers, namely, a first layer of guide plates, a second layer of guide plates, and a third layer of guide plates. The guide holes 322 of the first layer of guide plates and the guide holes 322 of the third layer of guide plates are overlapped, while the guide holes 322 of the first layer of guide plates and the guide holes 322 of the second layer of guide plates are at least partially staggered. In this way, the guide holes 322 of the second layer of guide plates are also at least partially staggered with the guide holes 322 of the third layer of guide plates. For another example, the guide plate 323 has four layers, which are the first layer of guide plates, the second layer of guide plates, the third layer of guide plates and the fourth layer of guide plates along the first direction X. The guide holes 322 of the first layer of guide plates and the guide holes 322 of the third layer of guide plates are arranged to overlap, the guide holes 322 of the second layer of guide plates and the guide holes 322 of the fourth layer of guide plates are arranged to overlap, and the guide holes 322 of the first layer of guide plates are at least partially staggered with the guide holes 322 of the second layer of guide plates. In this way, the guide holes 322 of the third layer of guide plates are also at least partially staggered with the guide holes 322 of the fourth layer of guide plates, and the guide holes 322 of the second layer of guide plates are also at least partially staggered with the guide holes 322 of the third layer of guide plates.

[0079] This embodiment can improve the blocking effect of the molten material or other high-temperature particulate matter of the pressure relief structure 212 by staggering the guide holes 322 of any two adjacent layers of guide plates 323 along the first direction X, and reduce the possibility that the molten material or other high-temperature particulate matter of the pressure relief structure 212 directly passes through the exhaust structure 32 and falls onto the electrode assembly 23, causing the current battery cell 20 to short-circuit, and further causing the current battery cell 20 to have thermal runaway, thereby reducing the possibility of further spread of thermal runaway and reducing the possibility of greater danger caused by thermal runaway.

[0080] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, projections of the guide holes 322 of any two layers of guide plates 323 in the multi-layer guide plates 323 along the first direction X are at least partially staggered.

[0081] In this embodiment, the multi-layered guide plates 323 may comprise three or more layers. The projections of the guide holes 322 of any two layers of guide plates 323 along the first direction X are at least partially staggered. That is, the guide holes 322 of all guide plates 323 are staggered along the first direction X. In other words, the projections of the guide holes 322 of all guide plates 323 onto the same plane along the first direction X are staggered or only partially overlap.

[0082] In this embodiment, the guide holes 322 of all the guide plates 323 are staggered. After the molten material or other high-temperature particles of the pressure relief structure 212 fall through the guide holes 322 of the top layer, they can be stopped by the guide plates 323 below through multiple levels. After the guide plates 323 adjacent to the top guide plates 323 are melted, the guide plates 323 on the lower layer still have a good stopping effect, thereby improving the stopping effect on the molten material or other high-temperature particles of the pressure relief structure 212, and reducing the possibility that the molten material or other high-temperature particles of the pressure relief structure 212 directly pass through the exhaust structure 32 and fall onto the electrode assembly 23, causing the current battery cell 20 to short-circuit, and further causing the current battery cell 20 to have a thermal runaway.

[0083] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, a plurality of guide holes 322 are arranged at intervals on at least one layer of guide plates 323 .

[0084] The plurality of guide holes 322 refers to two or more guide holes 322. The guide holes 322 can be square holes, circular holes, or holes of other shapes. The plurality of guide holes 322 can all be holes of the same shape, or can include holes of multiple shapes, such as both circular holes and square holes.

[0085] Multiple guide holes 322 may be provided on some of the layers of the guide plates 323 in the multi-layer guide plate 323. For example, in a three-layer guide plate 323, one or two layers of the guide plates 323 may have multiple guide holes. Multiple guide holes 322 may also be provided on each layer of the guide plates 323 in the multi-layer guide plate 323. When multiple guide holes 322 are provided on the guide plates 323, and the projections of the guide holes 322 of the two layers of guide plates 323 along the first direction X are staggered, the projections of all the guide holes 322 of one guide plate 323 along the first direction X may be spaced apart from the projections of all the guide holes 322 of the other guide plate 323 along the first direction X. When the projections of the guide holes 322 of the two layers of guide plates 323 along the first direction X partially overlap, it can be that the projection of any guide hole 322 of one of the guide plates 323 along the first direction X partially overlaps with the projection of one or more guide holes 322 of the other guide plate 323 along the first direction X; it can also be that the projection of a part of the guide holes 322 of one of the guide plates 323 along the first direction X does not overlap or partially overlaps with the projection of some of the guide holes 322 of the other guide plate 323 along the first direction X, and the remaining number of guide holes 322 of one of the guide plates 323 completely overlaps with the other number of guide holes 322 of the other guide plate 323.

[0086] In this embodiment, the multiple guide holes 322 arranged at intervals on the guide plate 323 can meet the overall flow area of ​​the guide plate 323, which is beneficial for the discharge of emissions in the battery cell 20 through the guide holes 322 when thermal runaway occurs in the battery cell 20. At the same time, the guide holes 322 are set to be multiple. Compared with the form of a larger guide hole 322, the flow area of ​​a single guide hole 322 is smaller, which can stop high-temperature particles with large particle size, which is beneficial for improving the stopping effect of the molten material or other high-temperature particles of the pressure relief structure 212, and reducing the possibility that the molten material or other high-temperature particles of the pressure relief structure 212 directly pass through the exhaust structure 32 and fall onto the electrode assembly 23, causing the current battery cell 20 to short-circuit, and then causing the current battery cell 20 to thermal runaway.

[0087] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, as shown in Figures 4 to 11, multiple guide holes 322 located on the same layer of guide plates 323 are arranged in rows, and each row includes multiple guide holes 322 arranged at intervals along the second direction Y, and the second direction Y intersects with the first direction X.

[0088] The plurality of guide holes 322 located on the same layer of guide plates 323 are also the plurality of guide holes 322 provided on the same guide plate 323. The second direction Y can be a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction X, and specifically can be the width direction or the length direction of the insulating protection member 30. This embodiment is described by taking the second direction Y as the length direction of the insulating protection member 30 as an example.

[0089] The plurality of guide holes 322 in the same row can be arranged at equal intervals or at unequal intervals. The plurality of guide holes 322 in the same row can be arranged to have the same size and shape.

[0090] In this embodiment, multiple guide holes 322 are arranged in rows. In this way, when the guide holes 322 of different layers of guide plates 323 are staggered, it is only necessary to stagger the guide holes 322 of each row of adjacent guide plates 323. The design of multiple layers of guide plates 323 is more convenient.

[0091] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, as shown in Figures 4 to 11, the plurality of guide holes 322 on the guide plate 323 located on the same layer are arranged in multiple rows along the third direction Z, and two adjacent guide holes 322 in adjacent rows are aligned in the third direction Z, and the third direction Z, the second direction Y and the first direction X intersect each other.

[0092] The third direction Z may be substantially perpendicular to both the first direction X and the second direction Y. In this embodiment, the second direction Y may be understood with reference to the width direction of the insulating protection member 30. Adjacent rows refer to adjacent rows on the same layer of guide plates 323.

[0093] In one specific implementation, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 7, each layer of guide plates 323 may be provided with two rows of air guide holes. In another specific implementation, as shown in Figures 8, 9, and 11, each layer of guide plates 323 may be provided with three rows of air guide holes. Along the third direction Z, the spacing between the multiple rows of guide holes 322 on the same guide plate 323 may be the same or different.

[0094] In this embodiment, multiple rows of guide holes 322 are provided on each layer of the guide plates 323 , which is conducive to rationally utilizing the area of ​​the guide plates 323 and taking into account both the flow area and the support strength of the exhaust structure 32 .

[0095] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, as shown in Figures 4 to 11, the insulating protector 30 further includes a body 31, which is provided with an exhaust port 311. The pressure relief structure 212 and the exhaust structure 32 are both provided corresponding to the position of the exhaust port 311, and the exhaust structure 32 is located on the side of the body 31 away from the pressure relief structure 212.

[0096] The body 31 and the exhaust structure 32 of the insulating protector 30 can be an integral structure, specifically an injection-molded integral structure, or a structure connected as one by gluing, etc. The body 31 and the exhaust structure 32 can be made of the same material, both of which can be insulating materials, specifically plastic parts.

[0097] The side of the main body 31 facing the first wall 201 (in this embodiment, it can be understood with reference to the top surface of the end cover 21) can be connected to the first wall 201, and the exhaust port 311 on the main body 31 can pass through the side of the main body 31 facing the first wall 201 and the side of the main body 31 away from the first wall 201, that is, the exhaust port 311 can pass through the top and bottom surfaces of the main body 31. The exhaust structure 32 and the pressure relief structure 212 are respectively arranged corresponding to the position of the exhaust port 311, and are respectively arranged on both sides of the exhaust port 311, and are opposite to each other through the exhaust port 311. Since the first wall 201 is arranged on the top surface side of the insulating protective member 30, the pressure relief structure 212 on the first wall 201 is arranged on the top surface side of the main body 31 (the side facing the end cover 21), and the corresponding exhaust structure 32 is arranged on the bottom surface side of the main body 31 (the side away from the end cover 21). Specifically, the exhaust structure 32 may be disposed directly below the exhaust port 311 , and the pressure relief structure 212 may cover directly above the exhaust port 311 .

[0098] It can be understood that the pressure relief structure 212 and the exhaust structure 32 are arranged relative to each other through the exhaust port 311, so that the exhaust structure 32 and the pressure relief structure 212 are spaced apart. In this way, the smoke and other emissions in the battery cell 20 can flow more smoothly to the pressure relief structure 212 after passing through the exhaust structure 32, thereby improving the timeliness of opening the pressure relief structure 212 and reducing the possibility that the battery cell 20 cannot release pressure in time, thereby causing a more serious risk of thermal runaway.

[0099] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, continuing to refer to Figures 4 to 11, the exhaust structure 32 also includes a support wall 321, one end of the support wall 321 is connected to the main body 31, and the other end of the support wall 321 protrudes toward the side of the main body 31 away from the first wall 201, and the guide plate 323 is connected to the support wall 321.

[0100] The support wall 321 can be connected to the body 31 at its upper end, and can be an integral structure between the support wall 321 and the body 31, and between the support wall 321 and the guide plate 323. The support wall 321, the guide plate 323, and the body 31 can be made of the same material, for example, plastic parts of the same material.

[0101] The support wall 321 can be disposed around the circumference of the guide plate 323 and connected to the circumferential edge of the guide plate 323. In other words, the support wall 321 is disposed in an annular shape, and the guide plate 323 is connected to the inner wall of the support wall 321. The support wall 321 can also be disposed around a portion of the circumference of the guide plate 323. For example, the support wall 321 can be disposed only at opposite ends of the guide plate 323. It should be noted that the bottommost guide plate 323 (i.e., the guide plate 323 closest to the first wall 201, which can be understood with reference to the second guide plate 325) can be connected to the bottom end of the support wall 321, and the topmost guide plate 323 (i.e., the guide plate 323 farthest from the first wall 201, which can also abut the electrode assembly 23, which can be understood with reference to the first guide plate 324) can be connected to the top end of the support wall 321.

[0102] In this embodiment, a support wall 321 is provided, and the support wall 321 protrudes relative to the main body 31, thereby providing space along the first direction X for the arrangement of the multi-layer guide plates 323, facilitating the spacing of the multi-layer guide plates 323. At the same time, it is also beneficial for the bottom layer of the guide plates 323 to abut against the electrode assembly 23, which is beneficial to improving the supporting capacity of the insulating protective part 30 for the electrode assembly 23, reducing the possibility of vibration or shaking of the electrode assembly 23 in the outer shell, and making the electrode assembly 23 have better stability in the outer shell.

[0103] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the exhaust structure 32 and the body 31 are an integral structure.

[0104] The body 31 and the exhaust structure 32 can be integrally formed by injection molding, or can be connected as one by bonding, welding, etc. Specifically, the body 31 and the support wall 321 as well as the support wall 321 and the guide plate 323 can be an integral structure.

[0105] By configuring the exhaust structure 32 and the body 31 as an integral structure, the exhaust structure 32 and the body 31 have better connection stability.

[0106] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the insulating protection component 30 is a plastic component.

[0107] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, as shown in FIG3 , the housing includes a shell body 22 and an end cover 21 , the shell body 22 has an opening, the end cover 21 covers the opening, and the first wall 201 is the end cover 21 .

[0108] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, along the first direction X, the guide plate 323 closest to the pressure relief structure 212 is spaced apart from the first wall 201; and / or, along the first direction X, the guide plate 323 farthest from the first wall 201 abuts against the electrode assembly 23.

[0109] The deflector plate 323 closest to the first wall 201, i.e., the topmost deflector plate 323 among all the deflector plates 323, is defined as the first deflector plate 324 for ease of description. The first deflector plate 324 is spaced apart from the first wall 201, creating a gap between the pressure relief structure 212 and the exhaust structure 32. When the pressure relief structure 212 melts, it is less likely to block the guide holes 322 in the first deflector plate 324. This allows flue gas and other emissions from the battery cells 20 to flow out more smoothly through the exhaust structure 32, improving the timeliness of the pressure relief of the battery cells 20 and reducing the risk of more severe thermal runaway from the battery cells 20.

[0110] The guide plate 323 farthest from the first wall 201, that is, the guide plate 323 at the bottom of all the guide plates 323, is defined as a second guide plate 325 for ease of description. The second guide plate 325 can abut against the top surface of the main body 232 of the electrode assembly 23 to limit the movement of the electrode assembly 23 along the first direction X, thereby improving the support capacity of the insulating protection member 30 for the electrode assembly 23, reducing the possibility of vibration or shaking of the electrode assembly 23 within the housing, and ensuring better stability of the electrode assembly 23 within the housing.

[0111] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, as shown in Figure 12, Figure 12 schematically shows a split schematic diagram of the end cover and the protective member of some embodiments of the present application, and a protective member 40 is provided on the side of the first wall (which can be understood by referring to the end cover 21) away from the battery cell 20, and the protective member 40 has a shielding portion 41 corresponding to the position of the pressure relief structure 212, and the shielding portion 41 covers the pressure relief structure 212.

[0112] Among them, the protective member 40 can be an insulating and high-temperature resistant protective member 40 such as a mica sheet. The setting of the shielding portion 41 should not affect the normal opening and pressure relief of the pressure relief structure 212 when the battery cell 20 has thermal runaway. Specifically, in one implementation, the protective member 40 can also include a connecting portion 42, a weak portion 43 and a shielding portion 41. The connecting portion 42 is connected to the first wall 201, specifically by bonding with an adhesive. The weak portion 43 is connected between the connecting portion 42 and the shielding portion 41. The strength of the weak portion 43 is less than the strength of the shielding portion 41 and the strength of the connecting portion 42. In this way, when the pressure relief structure 212 is opened, the weak portion 43 can be broken to disconnect the connection between the connecting portion 42 and the shielding portion 41. The protective member 40 can reduce the strength of the weak portion 43 by setting structures such as openings, grooves, and notches. Of course, the weak portion 43 can also be made of a low-strength material.

[0113] The protective member 40 can provide protection from the outside of the first wall 201, i.e., the end cap 21. When other battery cells 20 adjacent to the current battery cell 20 experience thermal runaway, the emissions ejected by the battery cell 20 experiencing thermal runaway can be blocked by the protective member 40, reducing the impact of the emissions from other battery cells 20 on the pressure relief structure 212, thereby reducing the possibility of further spread of thermal runaway and the possibility of thermal runaway causing greater danger. In this embodiment, the protective member 40 can be further provided on top of the exhaust structure 32 of this application or any embodiment of this application. In this way, the exhaust structure 32 on the inside of the first wall 201 and the protective member 40 on the outside of the first wall 201 form a multi-level external and internal protection for the battery cells 20, further reducing the possibility of thermal runaway spreading and reducing the possibility of thermal runaway causing greater danger.

[0114] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the total flow area of ​​all the guide holes 322 on each layer of the guide plate 323 is 0.5 times to 1.2 times the pressure relief area of ​​the pressure relief structure 212 .

[0115] The pressure relief area of ​​the pressure relief structure 212 is the area of ​​the pressure relief zone 213 that can be formed when the pressure relief structure 212 is opened, for the exhaust gas in the battery cell 20 to flow out. The pressure relief zone 213 is the area of ​​the first wall 201 corresponding to the pressure relief structure 212, that is, the area of ​​the first wall 201 that can be opened by the pressure relief structure 212 and connected to the outside of the shell. The pressure relief structure 212 is arranged in the pressure relief zone 213. In the natural state, the pressure relief structure 212 seals the pressure relief zone 213. When the battery cell 20 has a thermal runaway, the pressure relief structure 212 can open the pressure relief zone 213. The area of ​​the pressure relief zone 213 is the area of ​​the pressure relief zone 213 in the plane where the first wall 201 is located, and does not involve the size of the pressure relief zone 213 in the thickness direction of the first wall 201.

[0116] The total flow area of ​​all the guide holes 322 on each layer of guide plates 323 is the sum of the flow areas of all the guide holes 322 on a layer of guide plates 323. The flow area of ​​a guide hole 322 can be understood with reference to the area of ​​the flow cross section of the guide hole 322. The flow cross section of a guide hole 322 is a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the guide hole 322, that is, a cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the discharge within the guide hole 322. Specifically, it can be understood with reference to a cross section perpendicular to the first direction X.

[0117] Specifically, the total flow area of ​​all the guide holes 322 on each layer of the guide plate 323 can be 0.5 times, 0.6 times, 0.7 times, 0.8 times, 0.9 times, 1 times, 1.2 times, etc., of the pressure relief area of ​​the pressure relief structure 212 .

[0118] It should be noted that the shape of the exhaust structure 32 can be similar to or the same as the pressure relief area 213 of the pressure relief structure 212. For example, the pressure relief area 213 can be a runway-shaped structure with a rectangular middle and semicircular ends connected to the rectangle. The pressure relief structure 212 is also set to a roughly runway-shaped structure, and the guide plate 323 of the exhaust structure 32 can also be set to a runway-shaped structure.

[0119] The setting of the total flow area of ​​the guide holes 322 of each layer of the guide plate 323 in this embodiment can take into account the strength and flow area of ​​the guide plate 323, so that the insulating protection part 30 can better support the battery cell 20 and can make the emissions in the battery cell 20 flow to the pressure relief structure 212 more promptly.

[0120] Some embodiments of the present application further provide a battery 100 including the battery cell 20 proposed in the present application or any embodiment of the present application.

[0121] Some embodiments of the present application further provide an electrical device, comprising the battery 100 of any of the above solutions, and the battery 100 is used to provide electrical energy to the electrical device.

[0122] The power-consuming device may be any of the aforementioned devices or systems using the battery 100 .

[0123] According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown in Figures 3 to 11, this embodiment provides a battery cell 20, including a shell body 22, an end cover 21, an electrode assembly 23 and an insulating protective member 30, the shell body 22 has an opening, the end cover 21 covers the opening, a pressure relief structure 212 is provided on the end cover 21, the electrode assembly 23 is arranged in the shell body 22, the insulating protective member 30 is arranged on the side of the end cover 21 facing the electrode assembly 23, the insulating protective member 30 has an exhaust structure 32 corresponding to the position of the pressure relief structure 212, the exhaust structure 32 includes a multi-layer guide plate 323, each layer of the guide plate 323 is provided with a guide hole 322, along the first direction X, the multi-layer guide plates 323 are arranged at intervals, and the guide holes 322 of any two layers of the guide plates 323 in the multi-layer guide plates 323 are staggered or partially overlapped in projection along the first direction X, and the first direction X is the direction of the end cover 21 toward the electrode assembly 23. Each layer of guide plates 323 is provided with a plurality of guide holes 322. The guide holes 322 on each layer of guide plates 323 are arranged in multiple rows along the first direction X. Each row includes a plurality of guide holes 322 spaced apart along the second direction Y. The third direction Z, the second direction Y, and the first direction X are perpendicular to each other. The insulating protector 30 also includes a body 31, which is provided with an exhaust port 311. The pressure relief structure 212 and the exhaust structure 32 are arranged opposite each other through the exhaust port 311 and can be located on opposite sides of the body 31. The exhaust structure 32 also includes a support wall 321, one end of which is connected to the body 31, and the other end of which protrudes toward the side of the body 31 away from the end cap 21. The guide plates 323 are connected to the support wall 321. The support wall 321, the body 31, and the multi-layer guide plates 323 are integrally structured and are all made of plastic. Along the first direction X, the guide plate 323 (first guide plate 324 ) closest to the pressure relief structure 212 is spaced apart from the end cover 21 ; along the first direction X, the guide plate 323 (second guide plate 325 ) farthest from the end cover 21 abuts against the electrode assembly 23 .

[0124] Among them, the opposite ends of the body 31 may also be provided with a protrusion 33, the protrusion 33 is located on the side connected to the body 31 facing the electrode assembly 23, that is, the lower side of the body 31, the protrusion 33 abuts the electrode assembly 23, and the protrusion 33 is spaced apart from the exhaust structure 32. The protrusion 33 can be provided at both ends of the body 31 along the length direction (refer to the second direction Y of the present application) and extend along the width direction of the body 31. The protrusion 33 can support the body 31 and can abut against the electrode assembly 23 to increase the fixing effect on the electrode assembly 23 and reduce the possibility of vibration or shaking of the electrode assembly 23 in the shell. The protrusion 33 can be set as a hollow structure with an opening on the top surface. The material of the protrusion 33 and the body 31 can be the same, and can be an integral structure with the body 31.

[0125] The above description of the various embodiments tends to emphasize the differences between the various embodiments. The same or similar aspects can be referenced with each other and will not be repeated herein for the sake of brevity.

[0126] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and they should all be included in the scope of the claims and specification of the present application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any way. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions that fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A battery cell, wherein: include: The housing comprises a first wall, wherein the first wall is provided with a pressure relief structure; an electrode assembly, disposed in the housing; An insulating protective member is provided on the side of the first wall facing the electrode assembly, and the insulating protective member has an exhaust structure corresponding to the position of the pressure relief structure. The exhaust structure includes a plurality of layers of guide plates, and each layer of the guide plates is provided with guide holes. Along the first direction, the plurality of layers of the guide plates are spaced apart, and the guide holes of at least two layers of the guide plates are at least partially staggered in their projections along the first direction. The first direction is the arrangement direction of the first wall and the electrode assembly.

2. The battery cell according to claim 1, wherein: The projections of the guide holes of any two adjacent layers of the guide plates in the multi-layer guide plates along the first direction are at least partially staggered.

3. The battery cell according to claim 2, wherein: Projections of the guide holes of any two layers of the guide plates in the multi-layer guide plates along the first direction are at least partially staggered.

4. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: A plurality of guide holes are arranged at intervals on at least one layer of the guide plates.

5. The battery cell according to claim 4, wherein: The plurality of guide holes on the guide plates at the same layer are arranged in rows, and each row includes a plurality of guide holes spaced apart along a second direction, and the second direction intersects the first direction. The battery cell according to claim 5 , wherein: The plurality of guide holes on the guide plates on the same layer are arranged in multiple rows along the third direction, and two adjacent guide holes in adjacent rows are aligned in the third direction. The third direction, the second direction and the first direction intersect each other.

7. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The insulating protector further includes a body, which is provided with an exhaust port. The pressure relief structure and the exhaust structure are both provided corresponding to the positions of the exhaust port, and the exhaust structure is provided on a side of the body away from the pressure relief structure.

8. The battery cell according to claim 7, wherein: The exhaust structure further includes a support wall, one end of which is connected to the body, and the other end of which protrudes toward a side of the body away from the first wall, and the guide plate is connected to the support wall.

9. The battery cell according to claim 7 or 8, wherein: The exhaust structure and the body are an integrated structure.

10. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: The shell includes a shell body and an end cover. The shell body has an opening. The end cover covers the opening. The first wall serves as the end cover.

11. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: Along the first direction, the guide plate closest to the pressure relief structure is spaced apart from the first wall; And / or, along the first direction, the guide plate farthest from the first wall abuts against the electrode assembly.

12. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein: A protective member is provided on a side of the first wall facing away from the battery cell. The protective member has a shielding portion corresponding to the position of the pressure relief structure, and the shielding portion covers the pressure relief structure.

13. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein: The total flow area of all the guide holes on each layer of the guide plate is 0.5 times to 1.2 times the pressure relief area of the pressure relief structure.

14. A battery, wherein: A battery cell comprising the battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. An electrical device, wherein: The battery according to claim 14 is used to provide electrical energy.

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