Thermal management apparatus, battery module, and electric device

Abstract

The present application provides a thermal management apparatus, a battery module, and an electric device. The thermal management apparatus comprises: a heat conductor, applied to fill a gap among a plurality of batteries; and a heater, comprising a heating portion, wherein the heating portion is embedded into the heat conductor.

Description

Heat management device, battery module and electric equipment

[0001] The present application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202421834667.7, filed on July 30, 2024, the whole content of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of battery, in particular to a heat management device, a battery module and an electric equipment. BACKGROUND

[0003] Lithium battery is very sensitive to ambient temperature, high temperature, low temperature or temperature imbalance will bring fatal impact on lithium battery, therefore, a heat management system is generally provided in lithium battery system to manage the temperature of lithium battery.

[0004] In the related art, the heat management mode commonly used for battery is to use a serpentine water cooling plate for cooling, heating and temperature equalization, and this type of heat management mode has remarkable effect. SUMMARY

[0005] However, this heat management mode requires more space and has larger weight, which is difficult to apply to some lithium batteries with limited space and weight restrictions (such as some electric tools, electric two-wheelers, etc.).

[0006] The present application provides a heat management device, comprising: a heat conductor configured to be filled in a gap between a plurality of batteries; and a heater comprising a heating part embedded in the heat conductor.

[0007] The present application also provides a battery module, comprising: a plurality of batteries; and the heat management device as described above, configured to be filled in a gap formed between the plurality of batteries.

[0008] The present application also provides an electric equipment comprising the battery module as described above. ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

[0009] The heat management device provided by the present application can improve the space utilization by arranging the cylindrical batteries in a triangular array, thereby reducing the volume of the battery module; and the heat conductor with three arc surfaces can make full use of the space between the cylindrical batteries, thereby improving the heat management effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] FIGS. 1-3 are structural schematic diagrams of a heat management device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application (part of the first fixing member is shown);

[0012] FIGS. 5-7 are a top view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application (the first fixing member and the thermal management device are not shown).

[0013] Legend:

[0014] heater-1; heating part-11; output harness-12; heat conductor-2; camber-21; battery-3; negative electrode-31; positive electrode-32; busbar-4; first fixing member-5; second fixing member-6; wire outlet hole-61. Embodiments of the present application

[0015] In the description of the present application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected", "connected", "fixed" should be understood broadly, for example, it can be fixedly connected, or it can be detachably connected, or it can be integrated; it can be mechanically connected, or it can be electrically connected; it can be directly connected, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium; it can be the internal communication of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0016] In the description of the present embodiment, the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "back" and the like orientation or position relationship are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, which is for the convenience of description and simplification of operation, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, therefore it cannot be understood as a limitation of the present application. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used to distinguish the description, and do not have special meanings.

[0017] Please refer to FIGS. 1-3, in the first aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a thermal management device, comprising:

[0018] The heat conductor 2 is configured to fill the gap between the plurality of batteries 3;

[0019] The heater 1 comprises a heating part 11, and the heating part 11 is embedded in the heat conductor 2.

[0020] It can be understood that by arranging the heater 1 in the heat conductor 2, the heating heat source can be in direct contact with the heat conductor 2, improving the heat conduction effect. By arranging the heat conductor 2 in the gap between the batteries 3, the space between the batteries 3 can be fully utilized, which is convenient for saving the overall space occupied by the battery module, and also helps to improve the heat management effect. The battery 3 can be a cylindrical battery, a square battery, or other shaped batteries. The batteries 3 arranged in an array can be in contact with each other or at a certain distance from each other. In order to make the overall structure of the battery module more compact, in the embodiment, the batteries 3 arranged in an array are arranged close to each other. The heat conductor 2 is made of a material with heat conduction effect. The shape of the heat conductor 2 can be arranged as needed. The heat conductor 2 can fill the entire gap or partially fill the gap, which can be arranged according to the heat management needs. It should be noted that the filling and partial filling here are in the axial direction of the battery 3. The heat conductor 2 fills the entire gap, which means that the size of the heat conductor 2 along the axial direction of the battery 3 is consistent with the axial length of the battery 3. Correspondingly, the heat conductor 2 partially fills the gap, which means that the size of the heat conductor 2 along the axial direction of the battery 3 is smaller than the axial length of the battery 3. The axial length of the heat conductor 2 along the battery 3 can be arranged according to the heat management needs. For the radial direction of the heat conductor 2, the heat conductor 2 is in contact with the surrounding batteries 3, or even the shape of the heat conductor 2 and the surrounding batteries 3 is adapted. The heat conductor 2 can be fixed by being clamped between the surrounding batteries 3, thereby facilitating installation. The heater 1 is a device with heating function, and the heating part 11 is the heating component of the heater 1. The heating part 11 can be embedded in the heat conductor 2, and then the heater 1 can be fixed by being embedded in the heat conductor 2. Of course, the heat conductor 2 can be provided with a mounting hole along its axial direction, and the heating part 11 can be inserted into the mounting hole. The mounting hole can be a through hole or a blind hole. When the external environment of the battery module is in a low temperature environment, heating conditions need to be provided. At this time, the heater 1 is turned on, and the heat is transferred to the battery 3 through the heat conductor 2 and heats the battery 3.

[0021] In an embodiment, the heater 1 is a PTC heating rod, and the heating part 11 of the heating rod extends along the axial direction of the battery 3. Since the axial size of the battery 3 is usually larger than its radial size, by extending the heating part 11 along the axial direction of the battery 3, the heating efficiency can be improved. In order to improve the heating efficiency, the heating part 11 can extend from one end of the heat conductor 2 to the other end of the heat conductor 2.

[0022] It can be understood that the PTC heating rod has a constant temperature heating characteristic. Its principle is that the PTC thermistor self-heats after being powered on to make the resistance enter the jump region, and the surface temperature of the PTC thermistor is kept constant by constant temperature heating. The temperature is only related to the Curie temperature of the PTC thermistor and the applied voltage, and is basically independent of the environment temperature, thereby improving the heat management effect. The specific values of the diameter and length of the heating rod can be set according to the size of the heat conductor 2, the size of the gap and the heat management needs.

[0023] In an embodiment, the heat generating part 11 is arranged on the central axis of the gap. By arranging the heat generating part 11 on the central axis of the gap, the heat generating part 11 can uniformly heat the batteries around it, thereby improving the temperature uniformity.

[0024] It can be understood that by arranging the heat generating part 11 on the central axis of the gap, the uniformity of heat conduction of the heat conducting body 2 to the surrounding can be improved, thereby improving the heat management effect.

[0025] In an embodiment, the surface of the heat conducting body 2 away from the heat generating part 11 is respectively attached to the peripheral surface of the battery 3 around it.

[0026] It can be understood that by making the surface of the heat conducting body 2 away from the heat generating part 11 respectively attached to the peripheral surface of the battery 3 around it, the space between the batteries 3 can be fully utilized, and at the same time, the heat conduction of the heat conducting body 2 can be facilitated. In some embodiments, the surface of each heat conducting body 2 away from the heat generating part 11 is respectively attached to part of the peripheral surface of each battery 3 around it. The three adjacent heat conducting bodies 2 can wrap the peripheral surface of the battery 3 therebetween.

[0027] In an embodiment, the heat conducting body 2 is a phase change material layer.

[0028] It can be understood that by arranging the heat conducting body 2 as a phase change material layer, the heat conducting body 2 can absorb and release a large amount of latent heat through the phase change process to maintain a substantially constant temperature. When the battery 3 needs to be cooled due to high temperature, the phase change material can well absorb heat and have a significant temperature uniformity effect, thereby making full use of the heat and improving the heat management effect. The phase change material refers to a substance that changes state without changing temperature and can provide latent heat, including inorganic phase change materials and organic phase change materials, which can be selected as needed.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1-7, in a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a battery module, comprising:

[0030] a plurality of batteries 3;

[0031] The heat management device described above is configured to be filled in the gap formed between the plurality of batteries 3.

[0032] It can be understood that the heat management device can be arranged in all gaps formed between the batteries 3, or can be arranged in part of the gaps formed between the batteries 3. The number and position of the heat management device can be arranged according to the heat management requirement. When the heat management device is arranged in part of the gaps formed between the batteries 3, the plurality of heat management devices can be uniformly distributed to ensure the temperature uniformity of the battery module.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, in an embodiment, the battery 3 is a cylindrical battery, a plurality of batteries 3 are arranged in a triangular array, two adjacent rows of batteries 3 are staggered, and the heat conduction body 2 includes three arc surfaces 21 facing away from the heat generating part 11 and matching the peripheral surfaces of the three batteries 3 around the heat conduction body 2.

[0034] It can be understood that by arranging the cylindrical batteries in a triangular array, the space utilization can be improved, thereby reducing the volume of the battery module. By arranging the heat conduction body 2 to have three arc surfaces 21, the heat conduction body 2 can make full use of the space between the cylindrical batteries and improve the heat management effect. The three arc surfaces 21 of the heat conduction body 2 are in close contact with the peripheral surfaces of the batteries 3 around the heat conduction body 2, which can achieve stable fixation of the heat conduction body 2 and improve the heat conduction effect.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, in an embodiment, the battery 3 is a cylindrical battery, a plurality of batteries 3 are arranged in a linear array, and the heat conduction body 2 includes two arc surfaces 21 facing away from the heat generating part 11 and matching the peripheral surfaces of the two batteries 3 around the heat conduction body 2.

[0036] It can be understood that by arranging the heat conduction body 2 to have two arc surfaces 21, the heat conduction body 2 can match the linearly arranged cylindrical batteries, and make full use of the space between the cylindrical batteries and improve the heat management effect. The two arc surfaces 21 of the heat conduction body 2 are in close contact with the peripheral surfaces of the batteries 3 around the heat conduction body 2, which can achieve stable fixation of the heat conduction body 2 and improve the heat conduction effect.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 7, in an embodiment, the battery 3 is a cylindrical battery, a plurality of batteries 3 are arranged in a checkered array, and the heat conduction body 2 includes four arc surfaces 21 facing away from the heat generating part 11 and matching the peripheral surfaces of the four batteries 3 around the heat conduction body 2.

[0038] It can be understood that by arranging the heat conduction body 2 to have four arc surfaces 21, the heat conduction body 2 can match the checkeredly arranged cylindrical batteries, and make full use of the space between the cylindrical batteries and improve the heat management effect. The four arc surfaces 21 of the heat conduction body 2 are in close contact with the peripheral surfaces of the batteries 3 around the heat conduction body 2, which can achieve stable fixation of the heat conduction body 2 and improve the heat conduction effect.

[0039] In an embodiment, a plurality of batteries 3 define a plurality of gaps, and a heat management device is arranged in each gap.

[0040] It can be understood that by arranging a heat management device in each gap, the heat management effect can be improved. By arranging a heat management device in each gap, the peripheral surface of the battery 3 located in the middle can be fully surrounded by the plurality of heat conduction bodies 2 around it, which is conducive to full heat exchange.

[0041] In an embodiment, the battery module further comprises a busbar, the heater 1 further comprises an output wire harness 12 electrically connected with the heating part 11, the busbar and the output wire harness 12 are respectively arranged at two axial ends of the battery 3, and the positive electrode 32 and the negative electrode 31 of the battery 3 are arranged at the same axial end of the battery 3 as the busbar.

[0042] It can be understood that, by arranging the busbar and the output wire harness at two axial ends of the battery respectively, the contact between the busbar and the output wire harness can be avoided, the output wire harness can be prevented from being cut by the busbar to cause short circuit, and meanwhile, the electrical heating separation can be facilitated. Arranging the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery at the same side can also facilitate the electrical heating separation. The output wire harness 12 can transmit electric energy to the heater 1, so that the heating function of the heater 1 can be realized.

[0043] In an embodiment, the battery module further comprises a first fixing member 5 and a second fixing member 6 arranged oppositely, the battery 3 is fixedly arranged between the first fixing member 5 and the second fixing member 6, the busbar is fixedly arranged on the first fixing member 5, the second fixing member 6 is provided with a wire outlet hole 61, and the output wire harness 12 passes through the wire outlet hole 61 to be led out from the second fixing member 6.

[0044] It can be understood that, by arranging the wire outlet hole 61 on the second fixing member 6, the fixing and leading out of the output wire harness 12 can be realized.

[0045] In an embodiment, the first fixing member 5 can be an upper fixing clamping plate, and the second fixing member 6 can be a lower fixing clamping plate.

[0046] It can be understood that the upper fixing clamping plate can be a plastic plate with insulation performance, and the lower fixing clamping plate can be a plastic plate with insulation performance or a metal plate after spraying.

[0047] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a power utilization device, comprising the above battery module.

Claims

1. A thermal management device, comprising: a heat-conductive body configured to fill a gap between a plurality of batteries; a heater comprising a heating portion embedded in the heat-conductive body.

2. The thermal management device of claim 1, wherein, the heater is a PTC heating rod, and the heating portion of the heating rod extends along an axial direction of the batteries; and / or the heating portion is disposed on a central axis of the gap.

3. The thermal management device of claim 2, wherein, surfaces of the heat-conductive body facing away from the heating portion respectively match circumferential surfaces of the batteries around the heat-conductive body.

4. The thermal management device of any of claims 1-3, wherein, the heat-conductive body is a layer of phase change material. 5.A battery module, comprising: a plurality of batteries; a thermal management device according to any one of claims 1-4, configured to fill a gap formed between the plurality of batteries.

6. The battery module of claim 5, wherein, the batteries are cylindrical batteries, and the plurality of batteries are arranged in a triangular array, and the heat-conductive body comprises three arc surfaces facing away from the heating portion and matching circumferential surfaces of three batteries around the heat-conductive body.

7. The battery module of claim 5, wherein, the batteries are cylindrical batteries, and the plurality of batteries are arranged in a linear array, and the heat-conductive body comprises two arc surfaces facing away from the heating portion and matching circumferential surfaces of two batteries around the heat-conductive body.

8. The battery module of claim 5, wherein, the batteries are cylindrical batteries, and the plurality of batteries are arranged in a cross-shaped array, and the heat-conductive body comprises four arc surfaces facing away from the heating portion and matching circumferential surfaces of four batteries around the heat-conductive body.

9. The battery module of claim 5, wherein, the plurality of batteries define a plurality of gaps, and the thermal management device is arranged in each of the gaps.

10. The battery module of claim 5, wherein, the battery module further comprises a busbar, and the heater further comprises an output harness electrically connected to the heating portion, the busbar and the output harness are respectively arranged at two ends of the batteries in the axial direction, and the positive and negative electrodes of the batteries and the busbar are arranged at the same end of the batteries in the axial direction.

11. The battery module of claim 10, wherein, the battery module further comprises a first fixing member and a second fixing member arranged oppositely, the batteries are fixed between the first fixing member and the second fixing member, the busbar is fixed on the first fixing member, the second fixing member is provided with a wire outlet hole, and the output harness passes through the wire outlet hole to lead out from the second fixing member. 12.A power consuming device, comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 5-11.

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