Battery and electric device

Abstract

A battery and an electric device. The battery comprises: a case, battery cells, and collection mechanisms. A first cavity and a second cavity are formed in the case; the case is provided with a pressure relief mechanism which enables the second cavity to be communicated with the outside; the battery cells are accommodated in the first cavity; the collection mechanisms are mounted in the second cavity; and the collection mechanisms are configured to: when smoke is generated due to thermal runaway of the battery cells, undergo expansion to collect the smoke and discharge at least part of air from the second cavity by means of the pressure relief mechanism.

Description

Batteries and electrical devices

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application is based on the Chinese patent application with application number: 202420446312.4 and application date of March 7, 2024, and claims the priority of the Chinese patent application. The entire content of the Chinese patent application is hereby introduced into this application as a reference. Technical Field

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

[0004] In typical power batteries, multiple battery cells are typically stacked within a battery housing to ensure sufficient power. However, the constant charging and discharging of these cells generates significant heat, which can cause the battery's internal temperature to rise. Stacking multiple cells exacerbates this phenomenon.

[0005] When the internal temperature of the battery is abnormal, thermal runaway will occur and a large amount of high-temperature smoke will be generated. Usually, the solution to battery thermal runaway is to discharge the thermal runaway smoke directly out of the battery to reduce the pressure inside the battery. However, the high-temperature smoke caused by thermal runaway is prone to explosion or secondary damage due to external ignition materials, and needs to be improved.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides a battery and an electrical device to reduce the hazards of thermal runaway smoke and improve the safety of the battery.

[0008] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery, comprising: a case, a battery cell and a collection mechanism, wherein the case forms a first cavity and a second cavity, and the case is provided with a pressure relief mechanism connecting the second cavity and the outside; the battery cell is accommodated in the first cavity; the collection mechanism is installed in the second cavity, and the collection mechanism is used to expand to collect the smoke and discharge at least part of the air in the second cavity through the pressure relief mechanism when the battery cell generates smoke due to thermal runaway.

[0009] In the above technical solution, on the one hand, by providing a collection mechanism in the second cavity of the battery, the thermal runaway flue gas can be collected, reducing or avoiding the discharge of high-temperature flue gas caused by thermal runaway into the outside atmosphere, reducing the hazards of the thermal runaway flue gas, and improving the safety of the battery; on the other hand, by providing a pressure relief mechanism, at least part of the squeezed air in the second cavity can be discharged through the pressure relief mechanism after the collection mechanism expands, so as to stabilize the pressure in the battery, thereby further improving the safety of the battery and reducing the risk of explosion.

[0010] In some embodiments, a control valve is provided at the inlet of the collecting mechanism. When the control valve is open, the collecting mechanism is connected to the first cavity. When the control valve is closed, the collecting mechanism is isolated from the first cavity.

[0011] In some embodiments, the control valve is configured to open upon detecting that the pressure in the first chamber reaches a target pressure;

[0012] And / or, the control valve is configured to open when it is detected that the temperature in the first cavity reaches a target temperature.

[0013] In some embodiments, the inlet of the collection mechanism is provided with a one-way valve for one-way conduction from the first cavity to the collection mechanism.

[0014] In some embodiments, at least one of a cooling mechanism and a filtering mechanism is provided between the inlet of the collecting mechanism and the first cavity. The cooling mechanism is used to reduce the temperature of the flue gas, and the filtering mechanism is used to filter at least some solid particles in the flue gas.

[0015] In some embodiments, the battery further comprises a flue gas processor, which is arranged in the collection mechanism and is used to absorb combustible gases in the flue gas.

[0016] In some embodiments, the box body includes a hollow beam, and the second cavity is formed in the beam.

[0017] In some embodiments, an exhaust bin and an air guide mechanism are provided in the box body, the exhaust bin forms the second cavity located outside the air guide mechanism, the air guide mechanism forms an exhaust channel toward the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell, and the inlet of the collecting mechanism is connected to the exhaust channel.

[0018] In some embodiments, the air guide mechanism is provided with an isolator, which divides the exhaust channel into a first channel facing the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell and a second channel connected to the inlet of the collection mechanism, and the isolator includes at least one of a cooling mechanism and a filtering mechanism.

[0019] In some embodiments, the separator comprises a plurality of porous plates spaced apart from each other.

[0020] In some embodiments, the collecting mechanism is provided on both sides of the gas guide mechanism.

[0021] In some embodiments, the collection mechanism comprises a thin film bladder or air bag.

[0022] In some embodiments, the pressure relief mechanism includes a through hole provided in the box body;

[0023] Alternatively, the pressure relief mechanism includes a through hole provided in the box body and a filter installed in the through hole;

[0024] Alternatively, the pressure relief mechanism includes a through hole provided in the box body and a pressure relief valve installed in the through hole, and the pressure relief valve is used to open or close the through hole.

[0025] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electrical device, comprising: a battery as described in any one of the above, wherein the battery is used to provide electrical energy to the electrical device.

[0026] The battery described in any of the above items has a collection mechanism that can collect thermal runaway flue gas, reduce or avoid the emission of high-temperature flue gas caused by thermal runaway into the outside atmosphere, reduce the hazards of thermal runaway flue gas, and improve the safety of the battery. Therefore, the safety of the electrical device equipped with this battery is higher. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the present application and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other relevant drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0028] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0029] FIG2 is one of the structural exploded views of a battery provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0030] FIG3 is a second exploded view of the structure of a battery provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0031] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a collection mechanism according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0032] FIG5 is a second structural diagram of a collection mechanism provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0033] FIG6 is a third structural diagram of a collection mechanism provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0034] FIG7 is a fourth structural diagram of a collection mechanism provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0035] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of an isolation member provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0036] FIG9 is a third exploded view of the structure of a battery provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0037] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a battery provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0038] FIG11 is a partial enlarged view of point A in FIG10 .

[0039] Reference numerals:

[0040] Vehicle 1, battery 10, box 11, first box body 111, second box body 112, beam 113, air guide mechanism 114, exhaust channel 1141, first cavity 115, exhaust chamber 116, battery cell 12;

[0041] Collection mechanism 13, air bag 131, control valve 132, isolation member 14, porous plate 141, pressure relief mechanism 15;

[0042] Motor 20 and controller 30. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "connected," and "attached" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they may refer to direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediate medium, or internal connections between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.

[0047] The term "and / or" in this application simply describes an association between related objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this application generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0048] The term "multiple" in this application 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).

[0049] The battery cells mentioned in the embodiments of this application may include lithium-ion secondary batteries, lithium-ion primary batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, sodium-lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, or magnesium-ion batteries, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit this. The battery cells may be cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or other shapes, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit this. Battery cells are generally divided into three types according to the packaging method: cylindrical battery cells, square battery cells, and soft-pack battery cells, and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0050] The battery referred to in the embodiments of this application refers to a single physical module that includes one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery referred to in this application may include a battery module or battery pack. A battery generally includes a casing that encloses one or more battery cells or multiple battery modules. The casing prevents liquids or other foreign matter from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

[0051] A battery cell includes a casing, an electrode assembly, and an electrolyte. The casing is used to hold the electrode assembly and the electrolyte. The electrode assembly consists of a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, and a separator. The battery cell mainly relies on the movement of metal ions between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet to work. The positive electrode sheet includes a positive electrode collector and a positive electrode active material layer. The positive electrode active material layer is coated on the surface of the positive electrode collector. The positive electrode collector not coated with the positive electrode active material layer protrudes from the positive electrode collector coated with the positive electrode active material layer. The positive electrode collector not coated with the positive electrode active material layer serves as the positive electrode tab. Taking lithium-ion batteries as an example, the material of the positive electrode collector can be aluminum, and the positive electrode active material can be lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, or lithium manganese oxide, etc. The negative electrode sheet consists of 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 negative current collector uncoated with the negative active material layer protrudes from the negative current collector coated with the negative active material layer. The negative 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, silicon, or other materials. To ensure that high currents can pass without melting, multiple positive electrode tabs are stacked together, and multiple negative electrode tabs are stacked together.

[0052] The material of the isolation film may be PP (polypropylene) or PE (polyethylene), etc. In addition, the electrode assembly may be a wound structure or a laminated structure, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0053] New energy vehicles have experienced rapid growth in recent years. Within the electric vehicle sector, power batteries, as the power source, play an irreplaceable and important role. A battery consists of a housing and multiple cells housed within it. As a core component in new energy vehicles, batteries have high requirements for both safety and cycle life.

[0054] In general power batteries, in order to obtain sufficient power for the battery, multiple battery cells are usually arranged and stacked in an arrangement within the battery housing. However, the battery cells will generate a large amount of heat during the continuous charging and discharging process, which will cause the internal temperature of the battery to rise, and the structure of multiple battery cells stacked will aggravate this phenomenon. The inventors have found that thermal runaway will occur when the internal temperature of the battery is abnormal. Thermal runaway of the battery will produce a large amount of high-temperature smoke. Usually, the solution to thermal runaway of the battery is to discharge the thermal runaway smoke directly out of the battery to reduce the pressure inside the battery. However, the high-temperature smoke caused by thermal runaway is easy to cause explosions or secondary injuries due to external igniters, such as personal injury, combustion of external combustible materials, or damage to adjacent vehicles, which can easily cause panic among people and make firefighting operations very difficult.

[0055] Based on the above considerations, in order to better deal with the large amount of high-temperature flue gas generated when the battery thermal runaway occurs, the inventors have designed a battery and an electrical device after in-depth research. The battery includes a box body, a battery cell and a collection mechanism. The box body forms a first cavity and a second cavity. The box body is provided with a pressure relief mechanism connecting the second cavity and the outside world; the battery cell is accommodated in the first cavity; the collection mechanism is installed in the second cavity, and the collection mechanism is used to expand to collect the flue gas and discharge at least part of the air in the second cavity through the pressure relief mechanism when the battery cell thermal runaway generates flue gas.

[0056] In a battery of this structure, on the one hand, by providing a collection mechanism in the second cavity of the battery, the thermal runaway flue gas can be collected, reducing or preventing the discharge of high-temperature flue gas caused by thermal runaway into the outside atmosphere, reducing the hazards of the thermal runaway flue gas, and improving the safety of the battery; on the other hand, by providing a pressure relief mechanism, at least part of the squeezed air in the second cavity can be discharged through the pressure relief mechanism after the collection mechanism expands, so as to stabilize the pressure in the battery, thereby further improving the safety of the battery and reducing the risk of explosion.

[0057] The battery disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be used, but is not limited to, in electrical devices such as vehicles, ships, or aircraft. A power supply system comprising the battery disclosed in the present application can be used to form the electrical device.

[0058] The present invention provides an electrical device that uses a battery as a power source. The electrical device may include, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, an electric toy, an electric tool, a battery-powered vehicle, an electric car, a ship, and a spacecraft. The electric toy may include a fixed or mobile electric toy, such as a game console, an electric car toy, an electric ship toy, and an electric airplane toy. The spacecraft may include an airplane, a rocket, a space shuttle, and a spacecraft.

[0059] For the convenience of description, the following embodiments are described by taking a vehicle as an example of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0060] As shown in Figure 1, it is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present application. The vehicle 1 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 motor 20, a controller 30 and a battery 10 can be provided inside the vehicle 1. The controller 30 is used to control the battery 10 to supply power to the motor 20. For example, a battery 10 can be provided at the bottom, front or rear of the vehicle 1. The battery 10 can be used to power the vehicle 1. For example, the battery 10 can 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 of the vehicle 1 during startup, navigation and operation. In another embodiment of the present application, the battery 10 can not only serve 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.

[0061] In order to meet different power requirements, the battery 10 may include a plurality of battery cells 12 , wherein the plurality of battery cells 12 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in hybrid connection, where hybrid connection refers to a mixture of series and parallel connection.

[0062] FIG2 is an exploded view of the structure of a battery 10 according to an embodiment of the present application. The battery 10 includes a housing 11 and a plurality of battery cells 12, which are intended to be housed within the housing 11. The housing 11 is configured to provide assembly space for the battery cells 12, and the housing 11 can have a variety of structures. In some embodiments, the housing 11 can include a first housing body 111 and a second housing body 112, which overlap each other and together define an assembly space for accommodating the battery cells 12. The second housing body 112 can be a hollow structure with one end open. The first housing body 111 can be a plate-like structure, with the first housing body 111 overlapping the open side of the second housing body 112, so that the first housing body 111 and the second housing body 112 jointly define an assembly space. Alternatively, the first housing body 111 and the second housing body 112 can each be a hollow structure with one end open, with the open side of the first housing body 111 overlapping the open side of the second housing body 112. Of course, the box body 11 formed by the first box body 111 and the second box body 112 can be in various shapes, such as a cylinder, a cuboid, etc.

[0063] In the battery 10, the multiple battery cells 12 can 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 12. The multiple battery cells 12 can be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection, and then the entire battery 12 structure is housed within the housing 11. Alternatively, the battery 10 can be constructed by first connecting multiple battery cells 12 in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection to form a battery 10 module. The multiple battery modules 10 are then connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection to form a single unit, which is then housed within the housing 11. The battery 10 may also include other structures, such as a busbar assembly for electrically connecting the multiple battery cells 12.

[0064] Each battery cell 12 can be a secondary battery or a primary battery, or a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery, but is not limited thereto. The battery cell 12 can be cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or in other shapes.

[0065] According to some embodiments of the present application, with reference to FIG3 and further to FIG4, FIG4 is a second exploded view of the structure of a battery 10 provided in some embodiments of the present application. The present application provides a battery 10, comprising a housing 11, battery cells 12, and a collection mechanism 13. The housing 11 forms a first cavity 115 and a second cavity, and the housing 11 is provided with a pressure relief mechanism 15 connecting the second cavity and the outside. The battery cells 12 are accommodated in the first cavity 115. The collection mechanism 13 is installed in the second cavity. The collection mechanism 13 is configured to expand to collect the smoke generated by thermal runaway of the battery cells 12 and discharge at least part of the compressed air in the second cavity through the pressure relief mechanism 15 when smoke is generated by thermal runaway of the battery cells 12.

[0066] Among them, the box body 11 is used to provide storage space for the battery cells 12 and the collection mechanism 13. The box body 11 includes cross beams, longitudinal beams and side beams. The cross beams, longitudinal beams and side beams cooperate to divide the storage space of the box body 11 into multiple first cavities 115, and the battery cells 12 are placed in the first cavities 115.

[0067] The pressure relief mechanism 15 connects the second cavity with the outside world. When the battery 10 thermally runs away and generates smoke, causing the collecting mechanism 13 to expand, the collecting mechanism 13 squeezes at least part of the air in the second cavity. The squeezed air is discharged through the pressure relief mechanism 15 to stabilize the pressure in the battery 10 and provide more expansion space for the collecting mechanism 13, thereby improving the collection effect.

[0068] The second cavity may be located in the first cavity 115 , in the beam 113 of the box body 11 , or in the exhaust cavity of the box body 11 , and may be specifically arranged according to the actual structure of the box body 11 .

[0069] The collecting mechanism 13 is arranged in the exhaust path of the flue gas or integrated at the end of the exhaust path. When the battery 10 is operating normally, the collecting mechanism 13 is in a contracted state, see Figures 4 and 6; when the battery 10 thermally runs away and generates flue gas, the collecting mechanism 13 expands from time to time to provide storage space for the collected flue gas, see Figures 5 and 7. This can reduce or eliminate visible flue gas and flammable gas leaking from the battery 10, reduce or eliminate the possibility of secondary harm to the outside world caused by high-temperature flue gas caused by thermal runaway, and improve the safety of the battery 10.

[0070] In the battery 10 of this structure, on the one hand, by providing a collection mechanism 13 in the second cavity of the battery 10, the thermal runaway smoke can be collected, reducing or preventing the discharge of high-temperature smoke from thermal runaway into the outside atmosphere, reducing the hazards of the thermal runaway smoke, and improving the safety of the battery 10; on the other hand, by providing a pressure relief mechanism 15, at least part of the air squeezed in the second cavity can be discharged through the pressure relief mechanism 15 after the collection mechanism 13 expands, so as to stabilize the pressure in the battery 10, thereby further improving the safety of the battery 10 and reducing the risk of explosion.

[0071] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG5 and FIG7 , the collecting mechanism 13 includes a thin film airbag or airbag 131 , which expands when the battery 10 thermally runs away to provide a space for accommodating smoke.

[0072] The film airbag or airbag 131 can be designed to be composed of one or more materials such as nylon, plastic, metal, aluminum-plastic film and kraft paper.

[0073] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 5 and 7, a control valve 132 is provided at the inlet of the collecting mechanism 13. When the control valve 132 is opened, the collecting mechanism 13 is connected to the first cavity 115. When the control valve 132 is closed, the collecting mechanism 13 is separated from the first cavity 115.

[0074] The control valve 132 is used to control the opening or closing of the collecting mechanism 13. The control valve 132 can control the collecting mechanism 13 to not operate when the battery 10 is normal, and control the collecting mechanism 13 to open to collect uncontrolled smoke when the battery 10 is abnormal.

[0075] In some embodiments, the control valve 132 is configured to open when the pressure in the first cavity 115 reaches a target pressure. When the pressure in the first cavity 115 reaches the target pressure, it indicates that an abnormality has occurred in the battery 10. The collecting mechanism 13 expands to collect the gas in the first cavity 115, thereby reducing the pressure in the first cavity 115, stabilizing the pressure inside the battery 10, preventing the battery 10 from exploding, and improving the safety of the battery 10.

[0076] In some embodiments, the control valve 132 is turned on when it is detected that the temperature reaches the target temperature. When the temperature inside the battery 10 reaches the target temperature, it indicates that the battery 10 has thermal runaway. The control valve 132 controls the collection mechanism 13 to be connected with the first cavity 115 to collect the thermal runaway flue gas in the first cavity 115, thereby reducing the emission of high-temperature flue gas caused by thermal runaway into the outside atmosphere, reducing the hazards of thermal runaway flue gas, and improving the safety of the battery 10. At the same time, the pressure in the first cavity 115 is reduced, the pressure inside the battery 10 is stabilized, and the possibility of explosion of the battery 10 is reduced.

[0077] In some embodiments, the control valve 132 is configured to open when the pressure of the first chamber 115 reaches a target pressure and the temperature of the first chamber 115 reaches a target temperature.

[0078] In this embodiment, the control valve 132 uses the dual indicators of pressure and temperature of the environment inside the battery 10 as opening instructions, which can improve the accuracy of monitoring thermal runaway of the battery 10, reduce false opening, and increase the service life of the collection mechanism 13.

[0079] In some embodiments, the inlet of the collecting mechanism 13 is provided with a one-way valve that conducts one-way traffic from the first cavity 115 to the collecting mechanism 13, so that the smoke can only flow from the first cavity 115 to the collecting mechanism 13, thereby reducing the thermal runaway gas from escaping again after entering the collecting mechanism 13, and improving the reliability of the collecting mechanism 13.

[0080] In some embodiments, a one-way valve and a control valve 132 are provided at the inlet of the collecting mechanism 13 to improve the reliability of the collecting mechanism 13 .

[0081] In some embodiments, at least one of a cooling mechanism and a filtering mechanism is provided between the inlet of the collecting mechanism 13 and the first cavity 115 . The cooling mechanism is used to reduce the temperature of the flue gas, and the filtering mechanism is used to filter at least some solid particles in the flue gas.

[0082] Among them, the cooling mechanism is used to lower the temperature of the flue gas so that the temperature of the thermal runaway flue gas is reduced to a temperature threshold that the collection mechanism 13 can withstand, thereby protecting the collection mechanism 13 and extending the life of the collection mechanism 13; at the same time, it can reduce the temperature of the flue gas and shrink the volume of the flue gas, thereby increasing the collection amount of the flue gas by the collection mechanism 13 and improving the collection effect.

[0083] Among them, the filtering mechanism can filter solid particles in the thermal runaway flue gas to reduce the damage of high-temperature particulate matter to the collection mechanism 13. Referring to Figure 8, the filtering mechanism is provided with multiple filter holes, and the diameter of the filter holes is set according to the particle size of the solid particles in the flue gas.

[0084] In some embodiments, the battery 10 further includes a flue gas processor, which is disposed within the collection mechanism 13 and is configured to absorb combustible gases in the flue gas.

[0085] It should be noted that the main components of the thermal runaway flue gas are high-temperature particulate matter and combustible gas. After a long period of static treatment by the collection mechanism 13, the particulate matter in the thermal runaway flue gas settles smoothly, the electrolyte and water vapor condense, and only a part of the combustible gas remains.

[0086] The flue gas processor is mainly used to treat the combustible components in the combustible gas. The flue gas processor is equipped with an absorbent material that can physically adsorb and / or chemically absorb the combustible gas.

[0087] The absorbent material may be at least one of the following three materials:

[0088] First, the adsorbent includes microporous adsorbent.

[0089] In this embodiment, the adsorption module physically absorbs the flue gas, the microporous adsorption material may be a material with a microporous structure, such as activated carbon, silica gel or alumina balls, etc., and the adsorption object is particulate matter in the combustible gas.

[0090] Second, adsorbents include chemical adsorbents.

[0091] In this embodiment, the adsorption module chemically absorbs the combustible gas. The chemical adsorption substance can chemically react with certain substances in the combustible gas or promote chemical reactions of the treatment object, such as anhydrous calcium chloride, anhydrous magnesium sulfate, calcium oxide or precious metal catalysts, to reduce the combustible gas components in the combustible gas.

[0092] Third, adsorbents include microporous adsorbents and chemical adsorbents.

[0093] In this embodiment, the adsorption module performs physical and chemical absorption on the flue gas, and the absorption object is the electrolyte vapor, water vapor or volatile organic compound gas in the combustible gas, so as to further reduce the visible mist and combustible gas components in the combustible gas.

[0094] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3 , the box body 11 includes a hollow beam 113 , and a second cavity is formed in the beam 113 .

[0095] The hollow beam 113 may be a transverse beam, a longitudinal beam or a side beam. The transverse beam, the longitudinal beam and the side beam cooperate to divide the storage space of the box body 11 into a plurality of first cavities 115 , and the battery cells 12 are placed in the first cavities 115 .

[0096] By setting the beam 113 as a hollow structure, the collecting mechanism 13 can be installed in the beam 113 to form a second cavity, thereby reducing the encroachment of the collecting mechanism 13 on the space of the box 11 and reducing the impact of the collecting mechanism 13 on the energy density of the battery 10.

[0097] In some embodiments, to ensure smooth filling of the beam 113 after the collection mechanism 13 is opened and to avoid structural obstruction during the expansion of the collection mechanism 13, the collection mechanism 13 may be designed as a conformable film airbag, which can more smoothly inflate and fill the beam 113 after the collection mechanism 13 is opened.

[0098] In some embodiments, the collecting mechanism 13 is placed inside the crossbeam so that the film airbag can be inflated smoothly and fill the crossbeam.

[0099] In some embodiments, for a battery 10 structure with an explosion-proof valve facing downward, as shown in FIG9 , an exhaust chamber 116 and an air guide mechanism 114 are provided in the housing 11. The exhaust chamber 116 forms a second cavity located outside the air guide mechanism 114. The air guide mechanism 114 forms an exhaust channel 1141 toward the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell 12. The inlet of the collection mechanism 13 is connected to the exhaust channel 1141.

[0100] By installing the collecting mechanism 13 in the gas guide mechanism 114 , the space of the gas guide mechanism 114 can be reasonably utilized, the encroachment of the collecting mechanism 13 on the space of the box 11 can be reduced, and the influence of the collecting mechanism 13 on the energy density of the battery 10 can be reduced.

[0101] The exhaust chamber 116 is provided with a pressure relief mechanism 15 , and the pressure relief mechanism 15 is used to relieve pressure on the exhaust chamber 116 during the expansion process of the collecting mechanism 13 .

[0102] The air guide mechanism 114 is used to ensure the braking space for the explosion-proof valve to open normally, and has the function of restricting the exhaust channel 1141 for the thermal runaway gas.

[0103] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the air guide mechanism 114 is provided with an isolation member 14, which divides the exhaust channel 1141 into a first channel facing the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell 12 and a second channel connected to the inlet of the collection mechanism 13. The isolation member 14 includes at least one of a cooling mechanism and a filtering mechanism.

[0104] Among them, the cooling mechanism is used to lower the temperature of the flue gas so that the temperature of the thermal runaway flue gas is reduced to a temperature threshold that the collection mechanism 13 can withstand, thereby protecting the collection mechanism 13 and extending the life of the collection mechanism 13; at the same time, lowering the temperature of the flue gas can shrink the volume of the flue gas, thereby increasing the collection amount of the flue gas by the collection mechanism 13 and improving the collection effect.

[0105] Among them, the filtering mechanism can filter solid particles in the thermal runaway flue gas to reduce the damage of high-temperature particulate matter to the collection mechanism 13. Referring to Figure 11, the filtering mechanism is provided with multiple filter holes, and the diameter of the filter holes is set according to the particle size of the solid particles in the flue gas.

[0106] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG11 , the spacer 14 includes a plurality of porous plates 141 spaced apart from each other. The porous plates 141 can have filtering and / or cooling functions. When the porous plates 141 contain a cooling medium such as water or ethanol, the porous plates 141 can have filtering and cooling functions; when the porous plates 141 are solid filter plates, the porous plates 141 can also have filtering functions.

[0107] Among them, the porous plates 141 include multiple ones, which can improve the cooling and temperature reduction effect on the high-temperature flue gas in thermal runaway, play a certain protective role on the collection mechanism 13, increase the amount of flue gas collected by the collection mechanism 13, and improve the collection efficiency.

[0108] In some embodiments, the porous plate 141 may be a metal sheet. By providing the porous plate 141 , the flue gas temperature can be lowered through rapid heat exchange between the metal sheet and the flue gas while isolating high-temperature particulate matter in thermal runaway.

[0109] In some embodiments, a material capable of phase change and heat absorption, such as a water bag, can be added between the porous plates 141. When the smoke touches the water bag film, the water bag ruptures, and the water phase changes and absorbs heat; or the porous plates 141 are phase change composite materials that are compatible with the functions of phase change heat absorption and interception filtration.

[0110] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG11 , there are collecting mechanisms 13 on both sides of the gas guide mechanism 114 to further increase the amount of flue gas collected by the collecting mechanism 13 , reduce or avoid the discharge of high-temperature flue gas caused by thermal runaway into the outside atmosphere, reduce the hazards of the thermal runaway flue gas, and improve the safety of the battery 10 .

[0111] In some embodiments, the pressure relief mechanism 15 includes a through hole provided in the box body 11. When the collecting mechanism 13 expands, at least part of the squeezed air in the second cavity can be discharged from the through hole to stabilize the pressure of the environment in the battery 10. The structure is simple.

[0112] In some embodiments, the pressure relief mechanism 15 includes a through hole provided in the box body 11 and a filter element installed in the through hole. When the collecting mechanism 13 expands, at least part of the squeezed air in the second cavity can be discharged from the through hole. The filter element can filter and isolate the internal and external environments of the battery 10 to protect the internal environment of the battery 10.

[0113] In some embodiments, the pressure relief mechanism 15 includes a through hole provided in the housing 11 and a pressure relief valve mounted in the through hole. The pressure relief valve is used to open or close the through hole. The pressure relief valve can be set to be pressure-driven and / or temperature-driven, so that the through hole is closed when the pressure and / or temperature of the battery 10 is normal, and the through hole is opened when the pressure and / or temperature of the battery 10 is abnormal. This not only provides pressure relief, but also acts as a seal when the battery 10 is operating normally, thereby protecting the internal environment of the battery 10.

[0114] According to some embodiments of the present application, the present application further provides an electrical device, comprising any one of the above-mentioned batteries 10, wherein the battery 10 is used to provide electrical energy to the electrical device.

[0115] The battery 10 of any of the above items has a collection mechanism 13, which can collect thermal runaway flue gas, reduce or avoid the emission of high-temperature flue gas caused by thermal runaway into the outside atmosphere, reduce the hazards of thermal runaway flue gas, and improve the safety of the battery 10. Therefore, the safety of the electrical device with the battery 10 is higher.

[0116] It should be noted that, unless there is any conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other.

[0117] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and variations are possible. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included within the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A battery, characterized in that: include: A box body, wherein the box body forms a first cavity and a second cavity, and the box body is provided with a pressure relief mechanism connecting the second cavity and the outside; a battery cell, the battery cell being housed in the first cavity; A collecting mechanism is installed in the second cavity, and is used to expand to collect the smoke and discharge at least part of the air in the second cavity through the pressure relief mechanism when the battery cell generates smoke due to thermal runaway.

2. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that A control valve is provided at the inlet of the collecting mechanism. When the control valve is opened, the collecting mechanism is communicated with the first cavity. When the control valve is closed, the collecting mechanism is isolated from the first cavity.

3. The battery according to claim 2, characterized in that The control valve is configured to open when it is detected that the pressure in the first chamber reaches a target pressure; And / or, the control valve is configured to open when it is detected that the temperature in the first cavity reaches a target temperature.

4. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The inlet of the collecting mechanism is provided with a one-way valve for one-way conduction from the first cavity to the inside of the collecting mechanism.

5. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that At least one of a cooling mechanism and a filtering mechanism is provided between the inlet of the collecting mechanism and the first cavity. The cooling mechanism is used to reduce the temperature of the flue gas, and the filtering mechanism is used to filter at least part of the solid particles in the flue gas.

6. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that Also includes: A flue gas processor is arranged in the collection mechanism and is used to absorb combustible gases in the flue gas.

7. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The box body includes a hollow beam, and the second cavity is formed in the beam.

8. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that An exhaust chamber and an air guide mechanism are provided in the box body. The exhaust chamber forms the second cavity located outside the air guide mechanism. The air guide mechanism forms an exhaust channel toward the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell. The inlet of the collecting mechanism is connected to the exhaust channel.

9. The battery according to claim 8, characterized in that The air guide mechanism is provided with an isolator, which divides the exhaust channel into a first channel facing the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell and a second channel connected to the inlet of the collecting mechanism. The isolator includes at least one of a cooling mechanism and a filtering mechanism.

10. The battery according to claim 9, characterized in that The separator includes a plurality of porous plates spaced apart from each other.

11. The battery according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that The collecting mechanisms are provided on both sides of the air guide mechanism.

12. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that The collecting mechanism comprises a film airbag or an air bag.

13. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that The pressure relief mechanism includes a through hole provided in the box body; Alternatively, the pressure relief mechanism includes a through hole provided in the box body and a filter installed in the through hole; Alternatively, the pressure relief mechanism includes a through hole provided in the box body and a pressure relief valve installed in the through hole, and the pressure relief valve is used to open or close the through hole.

14. An electrical device, characterized in that: include: The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the battery is used to provide electrical energy to the electrical device.

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