Battery cell, battery, and electrical device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application disclose a battery cell, a battery, and an electrical device. The battery cell comprises: a first wall, the first wall being provided with a pressure relief mechanism; an insulating member, the insulating member being used for covering a partial area of the first wall, the insulating member being provided with a clearance opening, and the clearance opening being used for providing clearance for the pressure relief mechanism. The battery cell, the battery, and the electrical device of the embodiments of the present application can improve battery reliability.

Description

Battery cells, batteries and electrical equipment

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202410361408.5, filed on March 27, 2024, entitled “Battery Cell, Battery and Electrical Equipment,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

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

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

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The embodiments of the present application provide a battery cell, a battery, and an electrical device, which can improve the reliability of the battery.

[0007] In a first aspect, a battery cell is provided, comprising: a first wall provided with a pressure relief mechanism; an insulating member used to cover a portion of the first wall, the insulating member provided with an avoidance opening used to avoid the pressure relief mechanism.

[0008] Therefore, in the battery cell of the embodiment of the present application, the insulating member can cover a portion of the first wall, thereby reducing the risk of insulation failure of the battery cell and improving the reliability and service life of the battery. Furthermore, the insulating member is provided with a clearance opening, which is used to avoid the pressure relief mechanism of the first wall. That is, the insulating member at least does not completely cover the pressure relief mechanism of the first wall, thereby reducing the impact of the insulating member on the pressure relief mechanism. In the event of thermal runaway of the battery cell, the pressure relief mechanism can be activated in a timely manner, thereby quickly discharging emissions, reducing the obstruction of the pressure relief mechanism by the insulating member, improving the reliability of the battery cell, and reducing the risk of heat diffusion within the battery.

[0009] In some embodiments, the insulating member is used to cover multiple walls of the battery cell to improve the reliability of the battery cell and reduce the risk of insulation failure.

[0010] In some embodiments, the positive projection of the avoidance opening toward the first wall completely covers the pressure relief mechanism, so that the avoidance opening does not completely block the pressure relief mechanism, reducing the impact of the insulating member on the pressure relief mechanism, so that the pressure relief mechanism can be actuated in time when the battery cell thermally runs away, and discharge emissions in time, thereby improving the reliability of the battery cell.

[0011] In some embodiments, the minimum distance between the boundary line of the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening toward the first wall and the pressure relief mechanism is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm. Taking into account the process error during processing, the distance between the boundary line of the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening toward the first wall and the pressure relief mechanism should not be too small, so that the avoidance opening can completely not block the pressure relief mechanism, thereby reducing the obstruction of the insulating part to the pressure relief mechanism.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first wall is connected to the adjacent second wall through a first rounded corner, and the insulating member covers the first rounded corner, that is, the edge of the insulating member is not located in the area where the first rounded corner is located, so as to reduce the risk of the insulating member warping at the first rounded corner position, thereby causing insulation failure.

[0013] In some embodiments, the boundary line of the insulating member extends beyond the connecting line of the second wall and the first fillet by greater than or equal to 2 mm, so as to improve the stability of the boundary line of the insulating member, reduce the risk of edge warping of the insulating member, and thereby reduce the risk of insulation failure.

[0014] In some embodiments, the battery cell further comprises an electrode terminal disposed on a third wall of the battery cell, the third wall being different from the first wall. Placing the electrode terminal and the pressure relief mechanism on different walls of the battery cell can reduce the impact of emissions discharged through the pressure relief mechanism on the electrode terminal in the event of thermal runaway of the battery cell, thereby reducing the risk of short circuits and, consequently, the risk of thermal diffusion.

[0015] In some embodiments, the insulating member is used to cover the entire area of ​​the first wall except for the pressure relief mechanism. The insulating member typically does not cover the area where the electrode terminal is located, thereby reducing its impact on the electrode terminal and improving the stability of the electrical connection between the electrode terminal and other components. Therefore, if the first wall is not provided with an electrode terminal, the insulating member can typically cover the entire area of ​​the first wall except for the pressure relief mechanism to facilitate processing.

[0016] In some embodiments, the battery cell includes: a shell, which is a hollow structure with an opening, and the first wall is the side wall of the shell; a cover plate, which is used to cover the opening of the shell, and the cover plate is the wall with the largest area of ​​the battery cell to facilitate processing and assembly.

[0017] In a second aspect, a battery is provided, comprising a plurality of battery cells, wherein the battery cells are the battery cells described in the first aspect or any one embodiment of the first aspect.

[0018] In some embodiments, the battery further comprises: an isolation member attached to the first wall, the isolation member having a pressure relief area opposite the pressure relief mechanism, the pressure relief area being configured to discharge emissions from the battery cell that pass through the pressure relief mechanism. When the battery cell is actuated, the emissions discharged through the pressure relief mechanism can be discharged through the pressure relief area, thereby minimizing the impact on the pressure relief mechanism, promptly releasing the pressure and temperature within the battery cell experiencing thermal runaway, and reducing the risk of thermal diffusion.

[0019] In some embodiments, the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening toward the isolation component is located within the pressure relief area, so as to reduce the risk of insulation failure in the pressure relief area and improve the reliability of the battery cell.

[0020] In some embodiments, the pressure relief area is a through hole, which is easy to process and can quickly and promptly release the exhaust gas discharged through the pressure relief mechanism.

[0021] In some embodiments, the isolation component is a thermal management component, which is used to regulate the temperature of the battery cell; or, the battery includes a box, which is used to accommodate a plurality of the battery cells, and the isolation component is a wall of the box.

[0022] In a third aspect, an electrical device is provided, comprising a battery, wherein the battery is the battery described in the second aspect or any one embodiment of the second aspect, and the battery is used to power the electrical device.

[0023] In some embodiments, the electrical equipment is a vehicle, a ship, or a spacecraft. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a battery according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] FIG4 is another structural schematic diagram of a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a partial structural breakdown of a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] FIG6 is a partial top view of a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] FIG7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] FIG8 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] FIG9 is another partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] FIG10 is a schematic side view of a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery cell according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0035] FIG12 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery cell and an isolation component according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] FIG13 is another structural schematic diagram of a battery cell and an isolation component according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of a side of an isolation component away from a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0038] In the drawings, the drawings are not drawn to scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] In the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals represent the same components, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components in different embodiments are omitted. It should be understood that the thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the various components in the embodiments of this application, as well as the overall thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the integrated device shown in the drawings are merely illustrative and should not constitute any limitation on this application.

[0046] 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).

[0047] In the embodiment of the present application, the battery cell may be a secondary battery. A secondary battery refers to a battery cell that can be continuously used by activating active materials by charging after the battery cell is discharged.

[0048] The battery cells can be lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, sodium-lithium-ion batteries, lithium metal batteries, sodium metal batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, magnesium-ion batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, lead-acid batteries, etc., which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0049] In some implementations, the battery cell in the embodiment of the present application may be a metal battery. Specifically, the metal battery may include a lithium metal secondary battery, a sodium metal battery, or a magnesium metal battery, etc., which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0050] A battery cell typically includes an electrode assembly. This assembly includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. During the charge and discharge process of a battery cell, active ions (such as lithium ions) are inserted and removed between the positive and negative electrodes. The separator, placed between the positive and negative electrodes, prevents short circuits between the positive and negative electrodes while allowing the active ions to pass through.

[0051] In some embodiments, the positive electrode may be a positive electrode sheet, which may include a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material disposed on at least one surface of the positive electrode current collector.

[0052] As an example, the positive electrode current collector has two surfaces facing each other in its thickness direction, and the positive electrode active material is provided on either or both of the two facing surfaces of the positive electrode current collector.

[0053] As an example, the positive electrode current collector can be a metal foil, a foamed metal or a composite current collector. For example, as the metal foil, aluminum or stainless steel with a silver surface treatment, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, nickel, carbon electrode, carbon, nickel or titanium can be used. The foamed metal can be nickel foam, copper foam, aluminum foam, alloy foam, or carbon foam. The composite current collector may include a polymer material base and a metal layer. The composite current collector can be formed by forming a metal material (aluminum, aluminum alloy, nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, silver and silver alloy, etc.) on a polymer material substrate (such as a substrate of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyethylene, etc.).

[0054] As an example, the positive electrode active material may include at least one of the following materials: lithium-containing phosphates, lithium transition metal oxides, and their respective modified compounds. However, the present application is not limited to these materials, and other traditional materials that can be used as positive electrode active materials for batteries may also be used. These positive electrode active materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Examples of lithium-containing phosphates may include, but are not limited to, at least one of lithium iron phosphate (such as LiFePO4 (also referred to as LFP)), a composite material of lithium iron phosphate and carbon, lithium manganese phosphate (such as LiMnPO4), a composite material of lithium manganese phosphate and carbon, lithium iron manganese phosphate, and a composite material of lithium iron manganese phosphate and carbon.

[0055] In some embodiments, the negative electrode may be a negative electrode sheet, which may include a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material disposed on at least one surface of the negative electrode current collector.

[0056] As an example, the negative electrode current collector has two surfaces facing each other in its thickness direction, and the negative electrode active material is provided on either or both of the two facing surfaces of the negative electrode current collector.

[0057] As an example, the negative electrode current collector may be a metal foil, a metal foam, or a composite current collector. For example, as the metal foil, aluminum or stainless steel treated with silver, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, nickel, carbon electrodes, carbon, nickel, or titanium, etc. may be used. The composite current collector may include a polymer material base layer and a metal layer. The metal foam may be nickel foam, copper foam, aluminum foam, alloy foam, or carbon foam, etc. The composite current collector may be formed by forming a metal material (copper, copper alloy, nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, silver, and silver alloy, etc.) on a polymer material substrate (such as a substrate of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyethylene, etc.).

[0058] As an example, the negative electrode active material may be a negative electrode active material known in the art for use in battery cells. As an example, the negative electrode active material may include at least one of the following materials: artificial graphite, natural graphite, soft carbon, hard carbon, silicon-based materials, tin-based materials, and lithium titanate.

[0059] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly further includes a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

[0060] In some embodiments, the separator is a separator. The present application has no particular limitation on the type of separator, and any known separator with a porous structure having good chemical and mechanical stability can be selected.

[0061] As an example, the main material of the isolation membrane can be selected from at least one of glass fiber, non-woven fabric, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, and ceramics.

[0062] In some embodiments, the separator is a solid electrolyte, which is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and serves to transport ions and isolate the positive and negative electrodes.

[0063] In some embodiments, the battery cell also includes an electrolyte, which acts as a conductor of ions between the positive and negative electrodes. This application does not specifically limit the type of electrolyte, and the electrolyte can be selected based on needs. The electrolyte can be liquid, gel, or solid.

[0064] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is a wound structure, wherein the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet are wound into the wound structure.

[0065] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is a laminate structure.

[0066] As an example, multiple positive electrode sheets and multiple negative electrode sheets can be provided respectively, and the multiple positive electrode sheets and the multiple negative electrode sheets can be alternately stacked.

[0067] As an example, a plurality of positive electrode sheets may be provided, and the negative electrode sheet may be folded to form a plurality of stacked folded segments, with a positive electrode sheet being sandwiched between adjacent folded segments.

[0068] As an example, both the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet are folded to form a plurality of stacked folded segments.

[0069] As an example, a plurality of separators may be provided, each of which is disposed between any adjacent positive electrode sheets or negative electrode sheets.

[0070] As an example, the separator may be provided continuously, and may be provided between any adjacent positive electrode sheets or negative electrode sheets by folding or winding.

[0071] In some embodiments, the shape of the electrode assembly can be cylindrical, flat, or polygonal.

[0072] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is provided with tabs that can conduct current from the electrode assembly. The tabs include a positive tab and a negative tab.

[0073] In some embodiments, a battery cell may include a housing. The housing is used to encapsulate components such as the electrode assembly and electrolyte. The housing may be a steel shell, an aluminum shell, a plastic shell (e.g., polypropylene), a composite metal shell (e.g., a copper-aluminum composite shell), or an aluminum-plastic film. The housing includes a shell and a cover plate.

[0074] As an example, the battery cell can be a cylindrical battery cell, a prismatic battery cell, a soft-pack battery cell or a battery cell of other shapes. The prismatic battery cell includes a square-shell battery cell, a blade-shaped battery cell, and a polygonal battery. The polygonal battery is, for example, a hexagonal battery, etc. There is no special limitation in this application.

[0075] The battery mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may include one or more battery cells to provide a single physical module with higher voltage and capacity. When there are multiple battery cells, the multiple battery cells are connected in series, in parallel or in hybrid through a busbar.

[0076] In some embodiments, the battery may be a battery module. When there are multiple battery cells, the multiple battery cells are arranged and fixed to form a battery module.

[0077] In some embodiments, the battery may be a battery pack, which includes a case and battery cells, wherein the battery cells or battery modules are housed in the case.

[0078] In some embodiments, the box body can be used as a part of the chassis structure of the vehicle. For example, part of the box body can become at least a part of the floor of the vehicle, or part of the box body can become at least a part of the cross beam and longitudinal beam of the vehicle.

[0079] The development of battery technology requires simultaneous consideration of multiple design factors, such as performance parameters such as energy density, cycle life, discharge capacity, and charge / discharge rate. Furthermore, battery safety must be considered. A battery housing houses multiple battery cells, typically encased in aluminum or steel. When assembling these cells, consideration must be given to insulation between the cells and between them and other components within the housing to reduce the risk of short circuits.

[0080] Therefore, the embodiments of the present application provide a battery cell, a battery and an electrical device that can solve the above-mentioned problems. The battery cell of the embodiment of the present application includes a first wall, and the first wall is provided with a pressure relief mechanism. The battery cell also includes an insulating member, and the insulating member can be used to cover a portion of the first wall to reduce the risk of insulation failure of the battery cell and improve the reliability and service life of the battery. Furthermore, the insulating member is provided with a avoidance opening, and the avoidance opening is used to avoid the pressure relief mechanism of the first wall, that is, the insulating member at least does not completely cover the pressure relief mechanism of the first wall to reduce the influence of the insulating member on the pressure relief mechanism, so that in the event of thermal runaway of the battery cell, the pressure relief mechanism can be actuated in time, and then the emissions can be quickly discharged, reducing the obstruction of the insulating member to the pressure relief mechanism, improving the reliability of the battery cell, and reducing the risk of heat diffusion in the battery.

[0081] For the convenience of description, the following embodiments are described by taking the electric device as a vehicle as an example.

[0082] For example, as shown in FIG1 , it is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present application. The vehicle 1 may be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle. The new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or an extended-range vehicle, etc. A motor 40, a controller 30 and a battery 10 may be provided inside the vehicle 1. The controller 30 is used to control the battery 10 to supply power to the motor 40. For example, a battery 10 may be provided at the bottom, front or rear of the vehicle 1. The battery 10 may be used to power the vehicle 1. For example, the battery 10 may be used as an operating power source for the vehicle 1, for the circuit system of the vehicle 1, for example, for the working power requirements during the start-up, navigation and operation of the vehicle 1. In another embodiment of the present application, the battery 10 may not only be used as an operating power source for the vehicle 1, but also as a driving power source for the vehicle 1, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1.

[0083] To meet different power requirements, a battery can include multiple battery cells, which can be connected in series, parallel, or in a hybrid configuration. A hybrid configuration refers to a combination of series and parallel connections. A battery can also be referred to as a battery pack. For example, multiple battery cells can be connected in series, parallel, or in a hybrid configuration to form a battery module, which can then be connected in series, parallel, or in a hybrid configuration to form a battery. In other words, multiple battery cells can be directly connected to form a battery, or they can be first connected to form battery modules, which can then be combined to form a battery.

[0084] For example, FIG2 shows a schematic structural diagram of a battery 10 according to an embodiment of the present application. The battery 10 may include a plurality of battery cells 20. The battery 10 may also include a housing 11 having a hollow interior and housing the plurality of battery cells 20. FIG2 shows a possible implementation of the housing 11 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG2 , the housing 11 may include two parts, referred to herein as a first part 111 and a second part 112, which are snap-fitted together. The shapes of the first part 111 and the second part 112 may be determined based on the combined shape of the plurality of battery cells 20. At least one of the first part 111 and the second part 112 may have an opening. For example, as shown in FIG2 , the first part 111 and the second part 112 may each be a hollow cuboid with only one open face. The opening of the first part 111 and the opening of the second part 112 are arranged opposite to each other, and the first part 111 and the second part 112 snap-fit ​​together to form the housing 11 having a closed chamber.

[0085] For another example, unlike that shown in Figure 2, only one of the first portion 111 and the second portion 112 may be a hollow rectangular parallelepiped with an opening, while the other may be a plate-shaped structure to cover the opening. For example, assuming that the second portion 112 is a hollow rectangular parallelepiped with only one open face, and the first portion 111 is a plate-shaped structure, the first portion 111 covers the opening of the second portion 112 to form a case 11 having a closed chamber, which can be used to accommodate multiple battery cells 20. The multiple battery cells 20 are connected in parallel, series, or in a mixed combination and then placed in the case 11 formed by the first portion 111 and the second portion 112 being fastened together.

[0086] In some embodiments, the battery 10 may further include other structures, which are not described in detail here. For example, the battery 10 may further include a busbar component, which is used to achieve electrical connection between multiple battery cells 20, such as parallel connection, series connection, or mixed connection. Specifically, the busbar component can achieve electrical connection between the battery cells 20 by connecting the electrode terminals of the battery cells 20. Furthermore, the busbar component can be fixed to the electrode terminals of the battery cells 20 by welding. The electrical energy of the multiple battery cells 20 can be further led out through the box 11 through a conductive mechanism.

[0087] According to different power requirements, the number of battery cells 20 in the battery 10 can be set to any value. Multiple battery cells 20 can be connected in series, parallel or mixed to achieve a larger capacity or power. Since the number of battery cells 20 included in each battery 10 may be large, in order to facilitate installation, the battery cells 20 can be grouped, and each group of battery cells 20 constitutes a battery module. The number of battery cells 20 included in the battery module is not limited and can be set according to demand. In addition, in order to improve the space occupancy rate of the battery cells 20 in the battery 10, the installation direction of the battery cells 20 can be reasonably set according to the shape of the multiple battery cells 20; and, the installation directions of different battery cells 20 in the battery 10 can be the same or different, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0088] 3 and 4 respectively show schematic structural diagrams of a battery cell 20 according to an embodiment of the present application at different angles. For example, FIG3 and FIG4 may be any battery cell 20 included in the battery 10 shown in FIG2 .

[0089] In an embodiment of the present application, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the battery cell 20 of the embodiment of the present application includes: a first wall 201, which is provided with a pressure relief mechanism 213; the battery cell 20 also includes an insulating member 22, which is used to cover a partial area of ​​the first wall 201, and the insulating member 22 is provided with an avoidance opening 221, which is used to avoid the pressure relief mechanism 213.

[0090] It should be understood that the battery cell 20 of the embodiment of the present application can be a polyhedron structure of any shape, that is, the battery cell 20 can include multiple walls, the first wall 201 is any wall of the battery cell 20, that is, the pressure relief mechanism 213 can be located on any wall of the battery cell 20.

[0091] The first wall 201 of the present embodiment is provided with a pressure relief mechanism 213. This pressure relief mechanism 213 is a component or element that activates to relieve the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 when the internal pressure or temperature reaches a predetermined threshold. This threshold value varies depending on the design requirements. This threshold value may depend on the material of one or more of the positive electrode sheet, negative electrode sheet, electrolyte, and separator in the battery cell 20.

[0092] The "activation" mentioned in this application means that the pressure relief mechanism 213 is in action or activated to a certain state, so that the internal pressure and temperature of the battery cell 20 can be released. The action produced by the pressure relief mechanism 213 may include but is not limited to: at least a part of the pressure relief mechanism 213 is broken, shattered, torn or opened, etc. When the pressure relief mechanism 213 is actuated, the high-temperature and high-pressure substances inside the battery cell 20 will be discharged outward from the actuated part as emissions. In this way, the battery cell 20 can be depressurized and cooled under controllable pressure or temperature, thereby avoiding potential more serious accidents.

[0093] The emissions from the battery cells 20 mentioned in this application include, but are not limited to: electrolyte, dissolved or split positive and negative electrode plates, fragments of the separator, high-temperature and high-pressure gas generated by the reaction, flames, etc.

[0094] In the embodiment of the present application, the insulating member 22 is used to cover a portion of the first wall 201 of the battery cell 20. The escape opening 221 of the insulating member 22 is used to avoid the pressure relief mechanism 213, that is, the insulating member 22 at least does not completely cover the pressure relief mechanism 213. On the one hand, the insulating member 22 can reduce the risk of insulation failure of the battery cell 20, thereby improving the reliability and service life of the battery 10. On the other hand, the escape opening 221 can avoid the pressure relief mechanism 213, so that the insulating member 22 does not completely cover the pressure relief mechanism 213, thereby reducing the impact of the insulating member 22 on the pressure relief mechanism 213. In the event of thermal runaway of the battery cell 20, the pressure relief mechanism 213 can be activated in a timely manner, thereby quickly discharging emissions to release the pressure and temperature within the battery cell 20. This reduces the obstruction of the insulating member 22 on the activation of the pressure relief mechanism 213, improves the reliability of the battery cell 20, and reduces the risk of thermal diffusion among multiple battery cells 20 within the battery 10.

[0095] FIG5 is an exploded schematic diagram of a partial structure of a battery cell 20 according to an embodiment of the present application. For example, FIG5 may be an exploded schematic diagram of the partial structure of the battery cell 20 shown in FIG3 and FIG4 , wherein FIG5 does not show the insulating member 22. As shown in FIG3 to FIG5 , the battery cell 20 according to an embodiment of the present application may further include a housing 21, the interior of which is used to accommodate an electrode assembly 23. The housing 21 may be a polyhedral hollow structure, which may be used to accommodate the electrode assembly 23.

[0096] It should be understood that the electrode assembly 23 of the embodiment of the present application is a component in the battery cell 20 where an electrochemical reaction occurs. Depending on actual usage requirements, the electrode assembly 23 in the battery cell 20 can be provided as one or more. For any electrode assembly 23, the electrode assembly 23 may include a tab 232 and a tab body 231. Specifically, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the electrode assembly 23 may include at least two tabs 232, and the at least two tabs 232 may include at least one positive tab and at least one negative tab. The positive tab may be formed by stacking the portion of the positive electrode sheet that is not coated with the positive active material layer, and the portion of the positive electrode sheet that is coated with the positive active material layer may be formed by winding or stacking to form the tab body 231; the negative tab may be formed by stacking the portion of the negative electrode sheet that is not coated with the negative active material layer, and the portion of the negative electrode sheet that is coated with the negative active material layer may be formed by winding or stacking to form the tab body 231.

[0097] The multiple tabs 232 of the electrode assembly 23 of the embodiment of the present application can be located on the same or different end surfaces of the electrode assembly 23. For example, the electrode assembly 23 can include two tabs 232, and the two tabs 232 can be located on the same end surface, or the two tabs 232 can be arranged on different end surfaces, for example, the two tabs 232 can be located on opposite end surfaces, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto. For ease of explanation, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the embodiment of the present application mainly takes the example of the electrode assembly 23 including two tabs 232, and the two tabs 232 are both arranged on the same end surface of the electrode assembly 23 as an example.

[0098] In some embodiments, an electrode terminal 214 may also be provided on the housing 21 of the battery cell 20 of the embodiment of the present application. The electrode terminal 214 is used to electrically connect to the electrode assembly 23 to output the electrical energy of the battery cell 20. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the battery cell 20 may include at least two electrode terminals 214, and the at least two electrode terminals 214 include at least one positive electrode terminal and at least one negative electrode terminal. Each electrode terminal 214 is used to electrically connect to the corresponding tab 232. For example, each electrode terminal 214 can be electrically connected to the corresponding tab 232 through a connecting member. For example, the positive tab of the electrode assembly 23 can be connected to the positive electrode terminal through one connecting member, and the negative tab of the electrode assembly 23 can be connected to the negative electrode terminal through another connecting member.

[0099] The at least two electrode terminals 214 of the battery cell 20 can be disposed on the same wall or on different walls of the battery cell 20. For example, the positions of the electrode terminals 214 can be set according to the positions of the tabs 232 of the electrode assembly 23. For example, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the embodiments of the present application mainly take the battery cell 20 including two electrode terminals 214, and the two electrode terminals 214 being disposed on two opposite walls of the housing 21 of the battery cell 20 as an example.

[0100] It should be understood that the shape of the battery cell 20 in the embodiments of the present application can be flexibly set according to actual applications, that is, the battery cell 20 can be any polyhedral structure, for example, it can be set as a rectangular parallelepiped or a cylinder. Specifically, the outer shell 21 of the battery cell 20 may include multiple walls so that the battery cell 20 has a polyhedral structure, wherein the first wall 201 is any wall of the outer shell 21. Exemplarily, the outer shell 21 can be a rectangular parallelepiped or a near-rectangular parallelepiped, and the outer shell 21 can include six walls, each of which is rectangular or near-rectangular. For another example, the shape of the exterior of the battery cell 20 can be the same as or different from the shape of the electrode assembly 23. For example, if the electrode assembly 23 has a cylindrical structure, the outer shell 21 of the battery cell 20 can also have a cylindrical structure, or it can also have a rectangular parallelepiped structure; if the electrode assembly 23 has a rectangular parallelepiped structure, the outer shell 21 can generally also have a rectangular parallelepiped structure, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0101] For ease of explanation, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the embodiments of the present application are mainly described by taking the shell 21 as an approximate rectangular structure as an example. The shell 21 may include six walls; wherein the six walls may include one or more walls that are approximately rectangular, for example, the general outline of the wall is rectangular, but there are local areas that are recessed areas or raised areas, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0102] Specifically, for ease of description, the present embodiment defines three reference directions for a rectangular battery cell 20. The thickness direction of the battery cell 20 is direction Y, the height direction of the battery cell 20 is direction Z, and the length direction of the battery cell 20 is direction X. The thickness direction Y, height direction Z, and length direction X of the battery cell 20 are perpendicular to each other, and the thickness direction Y of the battery cell 20 is smaller than the length direction X.

[0103] In the embodiment of the present application, the battery cell 20 may further include a housing 211 and a cover plate 212. For example, the outer shell 21 may include the housing 211 and the cover plate 212. Specifically, the housing 211 is a hollow structure having an opening 2111, and the electrode assembly 23 is accommodated within the housing 211; the cover plate 212 is used to cover the opening 2111 of the housing 211 to isolate the battery from the external environment.

[0104] In some embodiments, the housing 211 may be a hollow structure with an opening 2111 formed at least at one end, and the shape of the cover plate 212 may be adapted to the shape of the housing 211. The cover plate 212 is used to cover the opening 2111 of the housing 211, so that the outer shell 21 isolates the internal environment of the battery cell 20 from the external environment. If the housing 211 is a hollow structure with an opening 2111 formed at one end, a single cover plate 212 may be provided, as shown in Figures 3 to 5. Alternatively, if the housing 211 is a hollow structure with openings 2111 formed at opposite ends, two cover plates 212 may be provided, with the two cover plates 212 respectively covering the openings 2111 at both ends of the housing 211. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0105] The housing 211 of the embodiment of the present application can be made of a variety of materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, steel, aluminum alloy, etc. The cover plate 212 can also be made of a variety of materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, steel, aluminum alloy, etc. The material of the cover plate 212 can be the same as or different from that of the housing 211.

[0106] The shapes of the shell 211 and the cover plate 212 of the embodiment of the present application match each other. For example, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the shell 211 can be an approximately rectangular parallelepiped structure, and the cover plate 212 can be an approximately rectangular plate-shaped structure that matches the shell 211. The cover plate 212 can be any wall of the shell 21. For example, the cover plate 212 can be the wall with the largest area among the multiple walls included in the shell 21, or the wall with the smallest area, or it can also be other walls. The embodiment of the present application is not limited to this. Alternatively, the cover plate 212 can also be other structures. For example, the cover plate 212 can also be a groove structure with an opening, so that the opening of the cover plate 212 covers the opening 2111 of the shell 211. The embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0107] In some embodiments, the cover plate 212 includes the wall with the largest area of ​​the battery cell, that is, the end face where the opening 2111 of the shell 211 is located corresponds to the wall with the largest area of ​​the battery cell 20, so that the electrode assembly 23 can enter the shell 211 through the opening 2111 of the shell 211, thereby improving the installation speed of the battery cell 20.

[0108] In some embodiments, the first wall 201 may be any wall of the housing 211 or the cover plate 212. For example, the first wall 201 may be a side wall of the housing 211, that is, the first wall 201 may be a wall adjacent to the opening 2111. Providing the pressure relief mechanism 213 on the first wall 201 facilitates processing and can improve the processing efficiency of the battery cell 20.

[0109] For ease of explanation, this application mainly takes the shell 21 as an approximate rectangular parallelepiped as shown in Figures 3 to 5 as an example; in addition, the shell 211 is a hollow structure with an open end, and the first wall 201 is the side wall of the shell 211; correspondingly, the cover plate 212 is used to cover the opening 2111 of the shell 211. For example, a sealed connection between the shell 211 and the cover plate 212 can be achieved by welding to form a closed cavity for placing the electrode assembly 23, thereby improving the sealing reliability.

[0110] In some embodiments, the insulating member 22 is used to cover multiple walls of the battery cell 20. That is, the outer surfaces of the multiple walls of the battery cell 20 are wrapped with the insulating member 22 to improve the reliability of the battery cell 20 and reduce the risk of insulation failure. For example, the position of the insulating member 22 can be reasonably set according to the installation scenario of the battery cell 20. For another example, the insulating member 22 can be installed on the first wall 201 of the battery cell 20 and multiple walls adjacent to the first wall 201, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0111] The insulating member 22 disposed on the first wall 201 of the embodiment of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG6 shows a partial structural schematic diagram of the first wall 201 of the embodiment of the present application. For example, the first wall 201 shown in FIG6 may be the first wall 201 of the battery cell 20 shown in FIG3 to FIG5.

[0112] In the embodiment of the present application, the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the first wall 201 completely covers the pressure relief mechanism 213, that is, the area of ​​the avoidance opening 221 is greater than or equal to the area of ​​the pressure relief mechanism 213, so that the avoidance opening 221 does not completely block the pressure relief mechanism 213, reducing the influence of the insulating part 22 on the pressure relief mechanism 213, so that the pressure relief mechanism 213 can be actuated in time when the battery cell 20 thermally runs away, and discharge emissions in time, thereby improving the reliability of the battery cell 20.

[0113] In some embodiments, the size by which the avoidance opening 221 extends beyond the pressure relief mechanism 213 can be set based on practical applications. For example, the minimum distance between the boundary line of the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the first wall 201 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm. Taking into account process errors during manufacturing, the distance between the boundary line of the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the first wall 201 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 should not be too small, so that the avoidance opening 221 does not completely block the pressure relief mechanism 213, thereby reducing obstruction of the pressure relief mechanism 213 by the insulating member 22.

[0114] It should be understood that the minimum distance between the boundary line of the positive projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the first wall 201 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 in the embodiment of the present application refers to: in different directions parallel to the first wall 201, the minimum value of the distance between the boundary line of the positive projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the first wall 201 and different areas of the pressure relief mechanism 213.

[0115] FIG7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery cell 20 according to an embodiment of the present application. The cross-sectional view shown in FIG7 may be the schematic cross-sectional view of the battery cell 20 shown in FIG3 and FIG4 , and the cross-section shown in FIG7 is perpendicular to the length direction X of the battery cell 20. FIG8 shows another schematic cross-sectional view of a battery cell 20 according to an embodiment of the present application. The cross-sectional view shown in FIG8 is a partial enlarged view of area A in the cross-sectional view shown in FIG7 .

[0116] The shape of the pressure relief mechanism 213 in the embodiment of the present application can be set according to the actual application. For example, the pressure relief mechanism 213 can be rectangular, circular or oval-shaped to facilitate processing. The shape of the avoidance opening 221 in the embodiment of the present application can also be set according to the actual application. For example, the shape of the avoidance opening 221 can be set according to the shape of the pressure relief mechanism 213. For another example, the shape of the avoidance opening 221 can be the same as or different from the shape of the pressure relief mechanism 213, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this. For the sake of convenience of explanation, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, the embodiment of the present application mainly takes the example of the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the avoidance opening 221 having the same shape, and both are described using the oval-shaped shape as an example.

[0117] It should be understood that, along different directions parallel to the first wall 201, the distances between the boundary line of the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the first wall 201 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 may be the same or different, that is, the distances between different regions of the boundary line of the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the first wall 201 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 may be equal or different. For example, as shown in Figures 6 to 8 , when the avoidance opening 221 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 have the same shape, if the center point of the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the first wall 201 coincides with the center point of the pressure relief mechanism 213, then, along different directions parallel to the first wall 201, the minimum distances between different points on the boundary line of the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the first wall 201 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 are all equal. Specifically, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, along the width direction Y of the battery cell 20, the distance between the boundary line of the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the first wall 201 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 is L1; along the length direction X of the battery cell 20, the distance between the boundary line of the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the first wall 201 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 is L2, then L1 can be equal to L2, and the minimum distance between the boundary line of the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the first wall 201 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 is L1, for easy processing.

[0118] It should be understood that the insulating member 22 of the embodiment of the present application can be used to cover any wall of the battery cell 20 that requires electrical insulation. For example, the insulating member 22 can be used to cover the first wall 201. For the edge area of ​​the first wall 201 close to other walls, in order to meet the design requirements of electrical insulation, the insulating member 22 is usually set to completely cover the edge area and exceed a certain distance so that the edge of the insulating member 22 is usually fixed to other walls connected to the first wall 201 to improve the insulation effect of the first wall 201.

[0119] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 8, the first wall 201 is adjacent to the cover plate 212 and is connected to the cover plate 212 at a right angle. The insulating member 22 can cover the area where the first wall 201 and the cover plate 212 intersect, and can cover the first wall 201 and the cover plate 212 at the same time to improve the insulation reliability of the battery cell 20.

[0120] In some embodiments, if the first wall 201 is connected to other walls via a rounded corner, the insulating member 22 disposed on the first wall 201 generally needs to cover the rounded corner to reduce the risk of the insulating member 22 warping at the rounded corner. For example, Figure 9 shows another partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of a battery cell 20 according to an embodiment of the present application. The cross-sectional view shown in Figure 9 is a partial enlarged view of area B in the cross-sectional view shown in Figure 9.

[0121] As shown in FIG9 , the first wall 201 is connected to the adjacent second wall 202 via a first fillet 204. The insulating member 22 covers the first fillet 204, i.e., the edge of the insulating member 22 is not located in the area where the first fillet 201 is located, thereby reducing the risk of the insulating member 22 warping at the location of the first fillet 204, thereby causing insulation failure. The second wall 202 in the embodiment of the present application is any wall that intersects with the first wall 201. For ease of description, the embodiment of the present application mainly uses the second wall 202 as the bottom wall of the housing 211 as an example, i.e., the second wall 202 is the wall of the housing 211 opposite the opening 2111, but the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0122] In some embodiments, the first wall 201 and the second wall 202 are connected by a first rounded corner 204. If, according to the design requirements of the battery cell 20, the insulating member 22 needs to cover the first wall 201 and the second wall 202, for example, as shown in Figure 9, the insulating member 22 covers a portion of the first wall 201 while covering the first rounded corner 204 and the second wall 202; or, different from what is shown in Figure 9, if, according to the design requirements of the battery cell 20, the insulating member 22 needs to cover the first wall 201 but does not need to cover the second wall 202, the insulating member 22 covers a portion of the first wall 201 while covering the first rounded corner 204, and is cut off in the area of ​​the second wall 202 close to the first rounded corner 204, so that the edge of the insulating member 22 is not located in the area of ​​the first rounded corner 204, but in the area of ​​the second wall 202.

[0123] In some embodiments, the dimension of the boundary line of the insulating member 22 that exceeds the connection line between the second wall 202 and the first fillet 204 can be set according to the actual application. For example, the dimension of the boundary line of the insulating member 22 that exceeds the connection line between the second wall 202 and the first fillet 204 is greater than or equal to 2 mm, so as to improve the stability of the boundary line of the insulating member 22, reduce the risk of the edge of the insulating member 22 warping, and thus reduce the risk of insulation failure. For example, as shown in Figure 9, since the insulating member 22 covers the first wall 201, the first fillet 204 and the second wall 202, the dimension of the boundary line of the insulating member 22 that exceeds the connection line between the second wall 202 and the first fillet 204 in the embodiment shown in Figure 9 is approximately the height of the battery cell 20, that is, it is greater than or equal to 2 mm.

[0124] FIG10 shows a side view schematic diagram of a battery cell 20 according to an embodiment of the present application. For example, FIG10 may be a schematic diagram of the side wall of the battery cell 20 shown in FIG3 and FIG4 . As shown in FIG10 , the battery cell 20 according to an embodiment of the present application further includes an electrode terminal 214 , which is disposed on a third wall 203 of the battery cell 20 , where the third wall 203 is different from the first wall 201 . By disposing the electrode terminal 214 and the pressure relief mechanism 213 on different walls of the battery cell 20 , when thermal runaway of the battery cell 20 occurs, the effect of emissions discharged through the pressure relief mechanism 213 on the electrode terminal 214 can be reduced, thereby reducing the risk of short circuits and, in turn, the risk of thermal diffusion.

[0125] In an embodiment of the present application, the battery cell 20 may include a plurality of electrode terminals 214, and the plurality of electrode terminals 214 may be located on the same wall or on different walls. For example, if the plurality of electrode terminals 214 of the battery cell 20 are located on the same wall, the battery cell 20 includes a third wall 203. For another example, if the plurality of electrode terminals 214 of the battery cell 20 are located on different walls, the battery cell 20 includes a plurality of third walls. For example, as shown in Figure 10, the battery cell 20 of an embodiment of the present application includes two electrode terminals 214, and the two electrode terminals 214 are respectively located on two third walls arranged opposite to each other, and the first wall 201 is located between the two third walls 203, that is, the first wall 201 is connected to the two third walls 203 respectively.

[0126] In the embodiment of the present application, the insulating member 22 is used to cover the entire area of ​​the first wall 201 except for the pressure relief mechanism 213. Considering that the electrode terminal 214 is used to output electrical energy from the battery cell 20, for example, multiple battery cells 20 can be connected to the electrode terminal 214 via a busbar component to achieve electrical connection between the multiple battery cells 20. Therefore, the insulating member 22 generally does not cover the area where the electrode terminal 214 is located, thereby reducing the impact of the insulating member 22 on the electrode terminal 214 and improving the stability of the electrical connection between the electrode terminal 214 and other components. Therefore, if the first wall 201 is not provided with an electrode terminal 214, the insulating member 22 generally can cover the entire area of ​​the first wall 201 except for the pressure relief mechanism 213 to facilitate processing.

[0127] In some embodiments, the third wall 203 of the embodiment of the present application is also a wall connected to the first wall 201. In this case, the third wall 203 can be another implementation of the second wall 202 of the embodiment of the present application, different from that shown in FIG9 , so as to be applicable to the above description of the second wall 202. Specifically, similar to the first rounded corner 204, the first wall 201 and the third wall 203 are connected by a second rounded corner 205. The insulating member 22 covers the second rounded corner 205, that is, the edge of the insulating member 22 is not located in the area where the second rounded corner 205 is located, thereby reducing the risk of the insulating member 22 warping at the location of the second rounded corner 205, thereby causing insulation failure.

[0128] In the embodiment of the present application, when the third wall 203 is provided with an electrode terminal 214, the insulating member 22 may not cover the entire area of ​​the third wall 203 to facilitate processing. However, the insulating member 22 covers the first wall 201 and also covers the second rounded corner 205 between the first wall 201 and the third wall 203. That is, the edge of the insulating member 22 is not located in the area of ​​the second rounded corner 205, but is located in the area of ​​the third wall 203.

[0129] Specifically, the dimension L4 of the boundary line of the insulating member 22 that exceeds the connection line between the third wall 203 and the second fillet 205 can be set according to the actual application. For example, the dimension L4 of the boundary line of the insulating member 22 that exceeds the connection line between the third wall 203 and the second fillet 205 is generally set to be greater than or equal to 2 mm, so as to improve the stability of the boundary line of the insulating member 22, reduce the risk of the edge of the insulating member 22 warping, and thus reduce the risk of insulation failure. For example, as shown in Figure 10, taking the length direction X of the third wall 203 perpendicular to the battery cell 20 as an example, in the area of ​​the third wall 203 close to the second fillet 205, along the height direction Z of the battery cell 20, the dimension L4 of the boundary line of the insulating member 22 that exceeds the connection line between the third wall 203 and the second fillet 205 is, then L4 can be set to be greater than or equal to 2 mm.

[0130] Similarly, any wall of the battery cell 20 covered with the insulating member 22 may be connected to the connected wall by a rounded corner. For example, the third wall 203 and the bottom wall of the shell 211 may also be set as a rounded corner. Taking the bottom wall of the shell 211 as the second wall 202 as an example, the third wall 203 and the second wall 202 can be connected through the third rounded corner 206. The insulating member 22 covers at least a portion of the second wall 202 and covers the third rounded corner 206, that is, the edge of the insulating member 22 is not located in the area where the third rounded corner 206 is located, so as to reduce the risk of the insulating member 22 warping at the position of the third rounded corner 206, thereby causing insulation failure.

[0131] Specifically, the dimension L5 by which the boundary line of the insulating member 22 extends beyond the connection line between the third wall 203 and the third fillet 206 can be set according to the actual application. For example, the dimension L5 by which the boundary line of the insulating member 22 extends beyond the connection line between the third wall 203 and the third fillet 206 is typically set to be greater than or equal to 2 mm to improve the stability of the boundary line of the insulating member 22, reduce the risk of edge warping of the insulating member 22, and thereby reduce the risk of insulation failure. For example, as shown in Figure 10, taking the second wall 202 perpendicular to the width direction Y of the battery cell 20 and the third wall 203 perpendicular to the length direction X of the battery cell 20 as an example, in the area of ​​the third wall 203 near the third fillet 206, along the width direction Y of the battery cell 20, the dimension L5 by which the boundary line of the insulating member 22 extends beyond the connection line between the third wall 203 and the third fillet 206 is set to be greater than or equal to 2 mm. Furthermore, the dimension L4 and the dimension L5 can be the same or different. For example, L4 and L5 can be set to be different to accommodate different types of battery cells 20 and reduce processing difficulty.

[0132] It should be understood that the above description is mainly based on the example of the insulating part 22 being provided with the avoidance opening 221. Different from this, the insulating part 22 can also have other settings to reduce the obstruction to the pressure relief mechanism 213. Figure 11 shows another structural schematic diagram of the battery cell 20 of an embodiment of the present application. For example, the battery cell 20 shown in Figure 11 can be any battery cell 20 included in the battery 10 shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 11, unlike the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4, the insulating part 22 is provided with a weak area 222 opposite to the pressure relief mechanism 213. The weak area 222 is used to be destroyed when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is actuated to discharge the emissions inside the battery cell 20 out of the battery cell 20.

[0133] When the battery cell 20 is in normal use, the insulating member 22 can cover the pressure relief mechanism 213 of the first wall 201 to protect the pressure relief mechanism 213 and improve the reliability of the pressure relief mechanism 213; when the battery cell 20 suffers from thermal runaway, the pressure relief mechanism 213 is actuated and the weak area 222 can be destroyed to timely release the temperature and pressure inside the battery cell 20, reduce the risk of heat diffusion, and improve the reliability and stability of the battery 10.

[0134] It should be understood that the weak area 222 of the embodiment of the present application can be implemented in a variety of ways. In some embodiments, the weak area 222 can be a notch or groove, so that the thickness of the weak area 222 is smaller than the thickness of other areas of the insulating member 22, and thus can be destroyed when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is actuated.

[0135] In some embodiments, the weak zone 222 may also include a plurality of disconnected through-holes. For example, as shown in FIG11 , a plurality of through-holes spaced relatively close together may be provided at the edge of the insulating member 22 near the pressure relief mechanism 213 to reduce the structural strength of the region and form the weak zone 222. When the pressure relief mechanism 213 is actuated, the connection between the through-holes is weak and prone to fracture, and the weak zone 222 is easily damaged, thereby promptly releasing the temperature and pressure inside the battery cell 20.

[0136] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG11 , the spacing between the multiple non-connected through-holes included in the weak zone 222 can be the same or different. For example, by adjusting the distance between different through-holes, the weak zone 222 can be located at a position where it is most likely to be destroyed, thereby adjusting the direction of discharge from the battery cell 20 to improve the reliability of the battery cell 20. For example, the smaller the distance between the multiple through-holes, the more easily the area containing the multiple through-holes is destroyed.

[0137] Figures 12 and 13 are schematic diagrams of the partial structure of a battery 10 according to an embodiment of the present application, viewed from different angles. For example, Figures 12 and 13 may be schematic diagrams of the partial structure of the battery 10 shown in Figure 2 . As shown in Figures 12 and 13 , the battery 10 includes a plurality of battery cells 20 , which may be housed within a housing 11 of the battery 10 .

[0138] In some embodiments, the battery 10 further comprises an isolation member 12 attached to the first wall 201. The isolation member 12 has a pressure relief region 121 opposite the pressure relief mechanism 213. The pressure relief region 121 is used to discharge exhaust from the battery cells through the pressure relief mechanism 213. Specifically, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the first walls 201 of the plurality of battery cells 20 are positioned toward the isolation member 12, so that the exhaust direction of the pressure relief mechanisms 213 of the plurality of battery cells 20 is consistent, facilitating processing and assembly, and allowing for unified arrangement and handling of exhaust from the pressure relief mechanism 213. The provision of the pressure relief region 121 on the isolation member 12 allows exhaust from the pressure relief mechanism 213 to be discharged through the pressure relief region 121 when the battery cell 20 is actuated. This reduces the impact on the pressure relief mechanism 213, promptly relieves the pressure and temperature within the battery cell 20 experiencing thermal runaway, and reduces the risk of thermal diffusion.

[0139] It should be understood that the isolation component 12 in the embodiments of the present application can be any component within the battery 10 that is attached to the first wall 201. In some embodiments, the battery 10 includes a housing 11 for accommodating a plurality of battery cells 20. The isolation component 12 is a wall of the housing 11. Therefore, the exhaust discharged through the pressure relief mechanism 213 is discharged to the outside of the housing 11 through the pressure relief area 121 to reduce the impact on other components within the housing 11.

[0140] In some embodiments, the isolation component 12 is a thermal management component, which is used to regulate the temperature of the battery cell. Specifically, the isolation component 12 can be used to accommodate a fluid to regulate the temperature of the battery cell 20. In the case of cooling the battery cell 20, the isolation component 12 can accommodate a cooling medium to regulate the temperature of the battery cell 20. In this case, the isolation component 12 can also be called a cooling component, a cooling system, or a cooling plate. In addition, the isolation component 12 can also be used for heating, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Optionally, the fluid in the isolation component 12 can be circulated to achieve a better temperature regulation effect.

[0141] It should be understood that the pressure relief region 121 of the isolation member 12 of the present embodiment can be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, as shown in Figures 12 and 13 , the pressure relief region 121 is a through hole. Specifically, the pressure relief region 121 is a through hole that penetrates the isolation member 12 in the thickness direction Z of the isolation member 12. This through hole facilitates machining and allows for the timely and rapid release of emissions from the pressure relief mechanism 213.

[0142] In some embodiments, the pressure relief area 121 can also be a weak area of ​​the isolation component 12, which can be destroyed when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is actuated to discharge emissions in a timely manner. When the pressure relief mechanism 213 is actuated, the weak area can be destroyed so that emissions from the battery cell 20 equipped with the pressure relief mechanism 213 can be discharged through the weak area. Setting the pressure relief area 121 as a weak area can also make the isolation component 12 in a sealed state when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is not actuated, for example, during normal use of the battery 10, effectively protecting the pressure relief mechanism 213 from being damaged by external forces and failing. It can also be destroyed in time when the battery cell 20 experiences thermal runaway to discharge emissions, reduce the risk of thermal runaway, and improve the safety of the battery 10.

[0143] It should be understood that in the case where the pressure relief area 121 of the embodiment of the present application is a weak area, the weak area can be realized in a variety of ways. For example, a specific material can be set in the weak area so that the melting point of the weak area is low, so that the weak area can be melted when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is actuated. For example, by reasonably selecting the melting point of the material of the weak area, the weak area has sufficient strength during the normal use of the battery cell 20, maintaining the relative sealing of the area where the battery cell 20 is located, and protecting the pressure relief mechanism 213 from being affected by the external environment; on the other hand, when the battery cell 20 has a thermal runaway, the weak area can be destroyed in time, for example, melted in time, so that the emissions of the battery cell 20 can be discharged in time through the destroyed pressure relief area 121, reducing the risk of thermal runaway and improving the safety of the battery 10.

[0144] In some embodiments, the weak area of ​​the embodiment of the present application can also be set in other ways that are easy to be destroyed by the discharge, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this. For example, by setting the thickness of the weak area to be smaller than the thickness of other areas of the isolation component 12 except the weak area, its strength is reduced, so that the discharge can quickly destroy the weak area by melting and breaking through, and discharge the discharge in time. For example, the isolation component 12 is provided with a groove corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the opening is facing the pressure relief mechanism 213, and the weak area is the bottom wall of the groove. In this way, the opening of the groove corresponds to the pressure relief mechanism 213, and the interior of the groove can provide deformation space for the pressure relief mechanism 213; and the bottom wall is set as a weak area for easy processing.

[0145] It should be understood that the shape of the pressure relief region 121 in the embodiment of the present application can be configured based on actual application. For example, the shape of the pressure relief region 121 can be determined based on the shape of the pressure relief mechanism 213 or the avoidance opening 221 of the insulating member 22. For example, the shape of the pressure relief region 121 can be the same as that of the pressure relief mechanism 213 to facilitate processing, but the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0146] It should be understood that the size of the pressure relief area 121 of the embodiment of the present application can be set according to actual application. For example, the size of the pressure relief area 121 can be set according to the size of the pressure relief mechanism 213 or the avoidance opening 221 of the insulating member 22.

[0147] In some embodiments, the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the isolation component 12 is located within the pressure relief area 121, that is, the area of ​​the pressure relief area 121 is larger than the area of ​​the avoidance opening 221. FIG14 shows a side view schematic diagram of the isolation component 12 of an embodiment of the present application on the side away from the battery cell 20. As shown in FIG14 , taking the same shape of the pressure relief mechanism 213, the avoidance opening 221, and the pressure relief area 121 as an example, in the direction parallel to the first wall 201, the size of the pressure relief mechanism 213 is generally smaller than the size of the avoidance opening 221 to reduce the influence of the avoidance opening 221 on the pressure relief mechanism 213; and the size of the avoidance opening 221 can also be set to be smaller than the size of the pressure relief area 121 to reduce the risk of insulation failure in the pressure relief area 121 and improve the reliability of the battery cell 20.

[0148] In some embodiments, the size of the pressure relief area 121 that exceeds the avoidance opening 221 can be set according to actual applications. Specifically, along different directions parallel to the isolation component 12, the minimum distances between different points on the boundary line of the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the isolation component 12 and the boundary line of the pressure relief area 121 can be the same or different. For example, as shown in FIG14 , when the shape of the avoidance opening 221 is consistent with that of the pressure relief area 121, if the center point of the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the isolation component 12 coincides with the center point of the pressure relief area 121, then along different directions parallel to the isolation component 12, the minimum distances between different points on the boundary line of the orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the isolation component 12 and the boundary line of the pressure relief area 121 are the same, for example, they can all be equal to L6, and the size of the size L6 can be set according to actual applications.

[0149] According to some embodiments of the present application, the present application further provides a battery 10 comprising the battery cell 20 described in any of the above solutions.

[0150] According to some embodiments of the present application, the present application further provides an electrical device, comprising the battery described in any of the above schemes, and the battery is used to provide electrical energy to the electrical device.

[0151] The power-consuming device may be any of the aforementioned devices or systems using batteries.

[0152] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to Figures 3 to 10 , a battery cell 20 is provided. The battery cell 20 includes: a first wall 201, the first wall 201 being provided with a pressure relief mechanism 213; an insulating member 22, the insulating member 22 being configured to cover a portion of the first wall 201 and having a relief opening 221, the relief opening 221 being configured to avoid the pressure relief mechanism 213. The relief opening 221, when projected onto the first wall 201, completely covers the pressure relief mechanism 213. The first wall 201 is connected to the adjacent second wall 202 by a first rounded corner 204, which is covered by the insulating member 22. The battery cell 20 also includes an electrode terminal 214, the electrode terminal 214 being provided on a third wall 203 of the battery cell 20, which is distinct from the first wall 201. The insulating member 22 is configured to cover the entire area of ​​the first wall 201, excluding the pressure relief mechanism 213. The battery cell 20 further includes: a shell 211 , which is a hollow structure having an opening 2111 , and the first wall 201 is a side wall of the shell 211 ; a cover plate 212 , which is used to cover the opening 2111 of the shell 211 and is the wall with the largest area of ​​the battery cell 20 .

[0153] The present application also provides a battery 10, which includes a plurality of battery cells 20. The battery 10 also includes: an isolation component 12, the isolation component 12 is attached to the first wall 201, the isolation component 12 has a pressure relief area 121 opposite to the pressure relief mechanism 213, and the pressure relief area 121 is used to discharge the emissions discharged from the battery cells through the pressure relief mechanism 213. The orthographic projection of the avoidance opening 221 toward the isolation component 12 is located within the pressure relief area 121. The pressure relief area 121 is a through hole. The isolation component 12 is a thermal management component, which is used to regulate the temperature of the battery cells 20; or, the battery 10 includes a box 11, the box 11 is used to accommodate a plurality of battery cells 20, and the isolation component 12 is a wall of the box 11.

[0154] 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, characterized in that: include: a first wall (201), wherein the first wall (201) is provided with a pressure relief mechanism (213); An insulating member (22), the insulating member (22) is used to cover a partial area of ​​the first wall (201), the insulating member (22) is provided with an avoidance opening (221), and the avoidance opening (221) is used to avoid the pressure relief mechanism (213).

2. The battery cell according to claim 1, wherein: The insulating member (22) is used to cover a plurality of walls of the battery cell.

3. The battery cell according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The orthographic projection of the avoidance opening (221) toward the first wall (201) completely covers the pressure relief mechanism (213).

4. The battery cell according to claim 3, characterized in that The minimum distance between the boundary line of the positive projection of the avoidance opening (221) toward the first wall (201) and the pressure relief mechanism (213) is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm.

5. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The first wall (201) and the adjacent second wall (202) are connected via a first rounded corner (204), and the insulating member (22) covers the first rounded corner (204).

6. The battery cell according to claim 5, characterized in that The dimension by which the boundary line of the insulating member (22) exceeds the connection line between the second wall (202) and the first rounded corner (204) is greater than or equal to 2 mm.

7. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The battery cell further comprises: An electrode terminal (214), wherein the electrode terminal (214) is provided on a third wall (203) of the battery cell, and the third wall (203) is different from the first wall (201).

8. The battery cell according to claim 7, characterized in that The insulating member (22) is used to cover the entire area of ​​the first wall (201) except the pressure relief mechanism (213).

9. The battery cell according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: The battery cell comprises: A housing (211), wherein the housing (211) is a hollow structure having an opening (2111), and the first wall (201) is a side wall of the housing (211); a cover plate (212), the cover plate (212) being used to cover the opening (2111) of the housing (211), The cover plate (212) is the wall with the largest area of ​​the battery cell.

10. A battery, characterized in that: include: A plurality of battery cells, wherein the battery cells are the battery cells according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The battery according to claim 10, characterized in that The battery further comprises: An isolation component (12) is attached to the first wall (201), and the isolation component (12) has a pressure relief area (121) opposite to the pressure relief mechanism (213), and the pressure relief area (121) is used to discharge the exhaust of the battery cell discharged through the pressure relief mechanism (213).

12. The battery according to claim 11, characterized in that The orthographic projection of the avoidance opening (221) toward the isolation component (12) is located within the pressure relief area (121).

13. The battery according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that The pressure relief area (121) is a through hole.

14. The battery according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that The isolation component (12) is a heat management component, and the heat management component is used to adjust the temperature of the battery cell; or, The battery comprises a box (11), the box (11) is used to accommodate a plurality of battery cells, and the isolation component (12) is a wall of the box (11).

15. An electrical device, characterized in that: include: A battery, wherein the battery is the battery according to any one of claims 10 to 14, and the battery is used to power the electrical device.

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