Battery pack and electric vehicle

Abstract

The present application relates to a battery pack and an electric vehicle. The battery pack comprises: a liquid cooling plate; a case covering the liquid cooling plate, the case and the liquid cooling plate together defining a first accommodating cavity; a fuse located in the first accommodating cavity and insulated from the liquid cooling plate; and a thermally conductive member provided between the fuse and the liquid cooling plate, wherein the fuse and the liquid cooling plate perform heat exchange by means of the thermally conductive member.

Description

Battery packs and electric vehicles

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202421847993.1, filed with the Chinese Patent Office on July 31, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of battery pack technology, specifically to a battery pack and an electric vehicle. Background Technology

[0003] In related technologies, battery pack heat dissipation is mainly achieved through liquid cooling, with the base plate of the battery pack serving as the liquid cooling plate. The battery pack contains fuses, also known as circuit breakers. When a short circuit occurs within the battery pack, the fuse melts, breaking the circuit. Because multiple batteries within the pack are connected in series and parallel to form a large energy source, the location of the fuse concentrates the current of the entire battery pack, resulting in significant heat generation and a high temperature rise at this point. Invention Overview

[0004] Currently, fuses are mainly placed inside the battery pack for natural cooling. However, the internal space of the battery pack is limited, and multiple components are arranged close together. For example, the fuse is close to the BMU (Battery Monitor Unit), communication harness, and explosion-proof valve. When the temperature rise of the fuse is high, it will affect the normal operation of other components.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need to design a battery pack and an electric vehicle to address the technical risks.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a battery pack, which includes: a liquid cooling plate; a housing covering the liquid cooling plate, wherein the housing and the liquid cooling plate together form a first receiving cavity; a fuse located in the first receiving cavity; and a heat-conducting element disposed between the fuse and the liquid cooling plate, wherein the fuse and the liquid cooling plate exchange heat through the heat-conducting element.

[0007] Secondly, this application provides an electric vehicle that includes the aforementioned battery pack. Beneficial effects

[0008] The battery pack provided in this application insulates the fuse from the liquid cooling plate and places a heat-conducting component between the fuse and the liquid cooling plate. With this configuration, when the temperature rise at the fuse is high, the heat-conducting component can promptly exchange heat between the fuse and the liquid cooling plate, thereby reducing the temperature at the fuse and keeping it at its normal operating temperature. This not only ensures the normal operation of the fuse but also prevents the high temperature rise of the fuse from affecting the normal operation of the surrounding components.

[0009] The electric vehicle provided in this application, using the aforementioned battery pack, can ensure stable operation of the electric vehicle. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the battery pack provided in the embodiment;

[0011] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the battery pack provided in the embodiment;

[0012] Figure 3 is an assembly diagram of the fuse, heat-conducting component, insulating component, connector, fixing component and connecting bar provided in the embodiment;

[0013] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the fuse, heat-conducting component, insulating component, connector, fixing component and connecting bar provided in the embodiment;

[0014] Figure 5 is an exploded view of the fuse, heat-conducting component, insulating component, connector, fixing component, and connecting bus provided in the embodiment;

[0015] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the insulating component provided in the embodiment;

[0016] Figure 7 is a structural schematic diagram of the fastener provided in the embodiment;

[0017] Figure 8 is a partial structural schematic diagram of the liquid cooling plate provided in the embodiment;

[0018] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0019] 10. Liquid cooling plate; 11. Third fixing hole;

[0020] 20. Shell; 21. First receiving cavity; 22. Cover plate; 23. Side plate;

[0021] 30. Fuse; 31. Connecting part;

[0022] 40. Thermal conductive components;

[0023] 50. Insulating component; 51. Second receiving cavity; 511. First chamber; 512. Second chamber; 513. Third chamber; 52. Reinforcing structure; 53. First fixing hole;

[0024] 60. Connectors;

[0025] 70. Fastener; 71. Second fixing hole;

[0026] 80. Connecting strip;

[0027] X, the height direction of the insulating component. Embodiments of the present invention

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 to 8, in a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a battery pack, which includes: a liquid cooling plate 10; a housing 20 covering the liquid cooling plate 10, wherein the housing 20 and the liquid cooling plate 10 together form a first receiving cavity 21; a fuse 30 located within the first receiving cavity 21; and a heat-conducting element 40 disposed between the fuse 30 and the liquid cooling plate 10, wherein the fuse 30 and the liquid cooling plate 10 exchange heat through the heat-conducting element 40.

[0029] By applying the technical solution of this application, the fuse 30 is insulated from the liquid cooling plate 10, and a heat-conducting element 40 is provided between the fuse 30 and the liquid cooling plate 10. With this arrangement, when the temperature rise at the fuse 30 is high, the heat-conducting element 40 can promptly exchange the heat at the fuse 30 with the liquid cooling plate 10, thereby reducing the temperature at the fuse 30 and keeping the fuse 30 at its normal operating temperature. This not only ensures the normal operation of the fuse 30, but also prevents the high temperature rise of the fuse 30 from affecting the normal operation of the components around the fuse 30.

[0030] In one embodiment, the thermally conductive component 40 includes a thermally conductive gel. The thermally conductive gel is a gel-like silicone-based thermally conductive material, which is formed by stirring, mixing, encapsulating, and curing silicone resin, crosslinking agent, thermally conductive filler, etc.

[0031] Because of its soft texture and strong surface affinity, the thermally conductive gel can be compressed into various thin shapes, making it easy to place between the fuse 30 and the liquid cooling plate 10. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of the gel is far superior to that of traditional air, effectively facilitating heat transfer between the fuse 30 and the liquid cooling plate 10, thereby reducing the operating temperature of the fuse 30 and improving its stability and reliability during use. Simultaneously, the high thermal conductivity of the gel allows for rapid heat transfer from the fuse 30 to the liquid cooling plate 10, ensuring that the fuse 30 maintains a low temperature even under high load operation.

[0032] Furthermore, the thermally conductive gel possesses excellent plasticity, easily adapting to various irregular or uneven spaces to ensure good thermal contact between the fuse 30 and the liquid cooling plate 10. Simultaneously, the thermally conductive gel exhibits excellent electrical insulation properties, preventing electrical short circuits and leakage while ensuring effective heat conduction, thus improving the stability of the fuse 30 during use. Moreover, the thermally conductive gel maintains stable performance even under harsh environments such as high temperature and high humidity, and will not fail due to environmental changes, thereby guaranteeing its operational stability.

[0033] Specifically, compared to traditional thermal grease, thermal conductive gel does not leach silicone oil after prolonged use, avoiding corrosion and contamination of the fuse 30 by silicone oil, thus extending the fuse 30's service life. Furthermore, thermal conductive gel is typically in gel form, making it easy to apply, clean, and apply. In addition, thermal conductive gel does not contain harmful substances and is environmentally friendly. Moreover, thermal conductive gel has high recyclability, meeting the requirements of sustainable development.

[0034] In one embodiment, the thermal conductivity of the heat-conducting element 40 is λ, where 1.2 W / m·K ≤ λ ≤ 3 W / m·K. When λ > 3 W / m·K, the thermal conductivity of the heat-conducting element 40 is too high, which will cause the temperature of the fuse 30 to be in a low state, thus hindering the normal operation of the fuse 30. When λ < 1.2 W / m·K, the thermal conductivity of the heat-conducting element 40 is too low, and the rate of heat conduction in the heat-conducting element 40 is slow, which may cause heat to concentrate in a local area of ​​the fuse 30, forming a local high temperature. This situation is particularly evident when exposed to external heat sources, as heat cannot be rapidly exchanged with the liquid cooling plate 10. This can lead to localized high temperatures, potentially affecting the normal operation of the fuse 30. Therefore, setting 1.2 W / m·K ≤ λ ≤ 3 W / m·K not only facilitates the normal operation of the fuse 30 but also increases the rate of heat conduction within the heat-conducting element 40, preventing heat concentration in localized areas of the fuse 30 and thus avoiding localized high temperatures. This promotes timely heat exchange between the fuse 30 and the liquid cooling plate 10. Optionally, λ can be set to 1.2 W / m·K, 2 W / m·K, or 3 W / m·K, etc. The specific setting should be selected based on the operating environment of the heat-conducting element 40, thereby expanding its applicability.

[0035] In one embodiment, the battery pack further includes an insulating member 50 disposed within a first receiving cavity 21 and connected to a liquid cooling plate 10. The insulating member 50 has a second receiving cavity 51. The fuse 30 has a connecting portion 31 fixed within the second receiving cavity 51. At least the space between the connecting portion 31 and the bottom wall of the second receiving cavity 51 is filled with a heat-conducting element 40. By placing the connecting portion 31 within the insulating member 50, electrical isolation is provided to the fuse 30, isolating different parts of the electrical system and preventing current from flowing along unwanted paths, thus reducing the risk of equipment damage. Simultaneously, the insulating member 50 can prevent current from flowing to the human body through unintended paths, thereby preventing electric shock accidents and contributing to the safety of the fuse 30.

[0036] Furthermore, the insulating component 50 can also protect the fuse 30 from the influence of the external environment, such as moisture, dust, chemical corrosion, etc. The insulating component 50 can resist the above-mentioned adverse factors, ensure the normal operation of the fuse 30, and improve the reliability of the fuse 30 during use.

[0037] In one embodiment, the insulating member 50 further includes a reinforcing structure 52, which is disposed within the second receiving cavity 51 and extends along the height direction of the insulating member 50. The reinforcing structure 52 divides the second receiving cavity 51 into a first chamber 511, a second chamber 512, and a third chamber 513. A connecting portion 31 is disposed within the first chamber 511 and / or the third chamber 513. This arrangement not only improves the overall structural strength of the insulating member 50 but also prevents the heat-conducting element 40 in the first chamber 511 and / or the third chamber 513 from flowing into the second chamber 512, thus avoiding waste of the heat-conducting element 40. Therefore, it can reduce the usage cost of the heat-conducting element 40 to a certain extent.

[0038] In this application, the reinforcing structure 52 is spaced apart from the bottom of the fuse 30. Optionally, the reinforcing structure 52 may contact the bottom of the fuse 30 to support the fuse 30 and ensure the stability of the fuse 30 after it is installed in the second receiving cavity 51.

[0039] In one embodiment, the battery pack further includes a connector 60 disposed between the connecting portion 31 and the bottom wall of the second receiving cavity 51. One end of the connector 60 is connected to the bottom wall of the second receiving cavity 51, and the other end of the connector 60 is connected to the connecting portion 31, so that the connecting portion 31 and the bottom wall of the second receiving cavity 51 are spaced apart. The heat-conducting element 40 at least fills the gap between the connecting portion 31 and the bottom wall of the second receiving cavity 51. In this application, the connector 60 is specifically an insulating post. This arrangement not only further improves the insulation effect between the insulating element 50 and the fuse 30, but also reserves a certain space for filling the heat-conducting element 40, thereby facilitating the filling of a sufficient number of heat-conducting elements 40 and improving the heat conduction effect.

[0040] In one embodiment, the battery pack further includes a fixing member 70, which is disposed between the insulating member 50 and the liquid cooling plate 10. A first fixing hole 53 is provided on the bottom wall of the second chamber 512. The fixing member 70 has a second fixing hole 71 corresponding to the first fixing hole 53, and the liquid cooling plate 10 has a third fixing hole 11 corresponding to the first fixing hole 53. Fasteners are sequentially inserted into the first fixing hole 53, the second fixing hole 71, and the third fixing hole 11 to fix the insulating member 50, the fixing member 70, and the liquid cooling plate 10 together. In this application, the fixing member 70 is specifically a sheet metal part. This configuration allows for easy heat exchange between the insulating member 50 and the liquid cooling plate 10 when the heat-conducting member 40 transfers heat from the fuse 30 to the bottom of the insulating member 50, as the sheet metal part is made of metal. This maximizes the efficiency of heat exchange between the fuse 30 and the liquid cooling plate 10.

[0041] Furthermore, the fastener is an insulated fixing bolt, which has excellent insulation properties, effectively preventing short circuits or leakage and ensuring the safe operation of the fuse 30. At the same time, the insulated fixing bolt has good corrosion resistance, making it suitable for various working environments.

[0042] In one embodiment, the battery pack further includes a connecting strip 80, one end of which is connected to the other end of the connector 60, and one end of the connecting strip 80 is electrically connected to the connecting portion 31. The other end of the connecting strip 80 is electrically connected to the components within the first receiving cavity 21. In this application, the left side of the connecting strip 80 is electrically connected to the negative output copper busbar, and the right side of the connecting strip 80 is electrically connected to the MSD (Manual Service Disconnect) connecting copper busbar. This ensures stable operation of the internal circuitry of the battery pack to meet user requirements.

[0043] In one embodiment, the heat-conducting element 40 covers the connecting portion 31. This arrangement ensures that the heat of the fuse 30 can be exchanged with the liquid cooling plate 10 as much as possible, thereby ensuring the stable operation of the fuse 30.

[0044] In one embodiment, the housing 20 includes a cover plate 22 and a plurality of side plates 23. The plurality of side plates 23 are arranged around the periphery of the cover plate 22 in the circumferential direction. The liquid cooling plate 10, the plurality of side plates 23 and the cover plate 22 together form a first receiving cavity 21.

[0045] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an electric vehicle that includes the aforementioned battery pack.

[0046] By applying the technical solution of this application, the fuse 30 is insulated from the liquid cooling plate 10, and a heat-conducting element 40 is provided between the fuse 30 and the liquid cooling plate 10. With this arrangement, when the temperature rise at the fuse 30 is high, the heat-conducting element 40 can promptly exchange the heat at the fuse 30 with the liquid cooling plate 10, thereby reducing the temperature at the fuse 30 and keeping the fuse 30 at its normal operating temperature. This not only ensures the normal operation of the fuse 30, but also prevents the high temperature rise of the fuse 30 from affecting the normal operation of the components around the fuse 30.

[0047] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

Claims

1. A battery pack, the battery pack comprising: Liquid cooling plate; A housing is provided on the liquid cooling plate, and the housing and the liquid cooling plate together form a first receiving cavity; The fuse is located within the first receiving cavity; A heat-conducting component is disposed between the fuse and the liquid cooling plate, through which the fuse and the liquid cooling plate exchange heat.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein, The thermally conductive component includes a thermally conductive gel.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein, The thermal conductivity of the heat-conducting component is λ, 1.2W / m·K≤λ≤3W / m·K.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein, The battery pack also includes an insulating component disposed within the first receiving cavity and connected to the liquid cooling plate. The insulating component has a second receiving cavity. The fuse has a connecting portion fixed within the second receiving cavity. The heat-conducting component is filled between at least the connecting portion and the bottom wall of the second receiving cavity.

5. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein, The insulating member further includes a reinforcing structure disposed within the second receiving cavity and extending along the height direction of the insulating member. The reinforcing structure divides the second receiving cavity into a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber. The connecting portion is disposed within the first chamber and / or the third chamber.

6. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein, The battery pack further includes a connector disposed between the connecting portion and the bottom wall of the second receiving cavity. One end of the connector is connected to the bottom wall of the second receiving cavity, and the other end of the connector is connected to the connecting portion, so that the connecting portion and the bottom wall of the second receiving cavity are spaced apart. The heat-conducting element at least fills the gap between the connecting portion and the bottom wall of the second receiving cavity.

7. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein, The battery pack also includes a fixing member disposed between the insulating member and the liquid cooling plate. A first fixing hole is provided on the bottom wall of the second chamber. The fixing member has a second fixing hole corresponding to the first fixing hole. The liquid cooling plate has a third fixing hole corresponding to the first fixing hole. Fasteners are sequentially inserted through the first fixing hole, the second fixing hole, and the third fixing hole to fix the insulating member, the fixing member, and the liquid cooling plate together.

8. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein, The battery pack also includes a connecting strip, one end of which is connected to the other end of the connector, and one end of which is electrically connected to the connecting portion, and the other end of which is electrically connected to the components in the first accommodating cavity.

9. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein, The heat-conducting component covers the connecting portion.

10. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein, The housing includes a cover plate and multiple side plates, which are arranged around the periphery of the cover plate. The liquid cooling plate, the multiple side plates, and the cover plate together form the first receiving cavity.

11. The battery pack according to any one of claims 5-9, wherein, The reinforcing structure is spaced apart from the bottom of the fuse.

12. The battery pack according to any one of claims 6-9, wherein, The connector is specifically an insulating post.

13. The battery pack according to any one of claims 7-9, wherein, The fastener is specifically a sheet metal part.

14. The battery pack according to any one of claims 7-9, wherein, The fastener is an insulated fixing bolt.

15. An electric vehicle comprising a battery pack as described in any one of claims 1-14.

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