Battery pack and energy storage cabinet

Abstract

A battery pack (20) and an energy storage cabinet (10). A housing of the battery pack (20) is a high-case structure. The battery pack (20) comprises a top cover (21), a bottom cover (22) and a plurality of side frames (231) that enclose an accommodating space; a plurality of battery cells (25) are provided in the accommodating space. The plurality of side frames (231) include a first side frame (231a). The first side frame (231a) comprises a top plate and a bottom plate that are arranged opposite each other, and an outer side plate and an inner side plate that are located between the top plate and the bottom plate and arranged opposite each other. The top plate, the bottom plate, the outer side plate, and the inner side plate enclose an internal space. Part of the top plate is fixed to the top cover (21); in the direction in which the top cover (21) and the bottom cover (22) are arranged opposite each other, the height of the first side frame (231a) is greater than the distance between the upper surface of the top cover (21) and the top plate of the first side frame (231a). An exhaust vent is provided at the area of the top plate located within the accommodating space. The exhaust vent communicates the accommodating space with the internal space of the first side frame (231a). The outer side plate is farther away from the accommodating space relative to the inner side plate. The outer side plate is provided with an explosion-proofing valve (24), the explosion-proofing valve (24) being in communication with the internal space of the first side frame (231a). The housing of the battery pack (20) can achieve the pressure relief and exhaust functions while improving energy density.

Description

A battery pack and energy storage cabinet

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411638973.8, filed on November 14, 2024, entitled "A Battery Pack and Energy Storage Cabinet", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of energy storage technology, and in particular to a battery pack and an energy storage cabinet. Background Technology

[0004] With the increasing demands for volumetric energy density in energy storage, especially in large-scale applications such as industrial, commercial, and power plant energy storage, the main design approach to improving the volumetric utilization of battery packs is to reduce the number of interfaces and components within the pack, thereby maximizing the space available for the battery cells. Common designs include eliminating components such as metal end plates, side plates, steel cable ties, and bolts from the battery module, relying instead on the battery pack housing to hold the cells, thus significantly improving the volumetric utilization of the battery pack.

[0005] Considering the increasing safety risks associated with energy storage systems, the battery pack also requires an explosion-proof valve. Specifically, the battery pack casing adopts a high-box structure, which includes a top cover, a bottom plate, and a casing frame. The top cover and bottom plate respectively cover both sides of the casing frame. In the high-box structure battery pack, the casing frame holds the battery cells. The explosion-proof valve is located on the top cover.

[0006] However, in energy storage cabinets, multiple battery packs are typically stacked along the height of the cabinet. When a battery pack experiences thermal runaway, the explosion-proof valve on the top cover opens, and high-temperature gases and liquids inside the battery pack are ejected onto the battery pack above, causing damage. When considering designing a smoke extraction system within the energy storage cabinet, sufficient space must be left between adjacent battery packs to accommodate the system, as it needs to be sealed to the explosion-proof valves of the battery packs. This reduces the space occupied by the battery packs within the cabinet and lowers the volumetric energy density of a standard-sized cabinet. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This application provides a battery pack and an energy storage cabinet to achieve pressure relief and venting functions while increasing the energy density of the battery pack.

[0008] In a first aspect, this application provides a battery pack. Specifically, the battery pack may include a top cover and a bottom cover disposed opposite to each other, and a plurality of side frames located between the top cover and the bottom cover. The aforementioned plurality of side frames, together with the top cover and the bottom cover, enclose a receiving space for accommodating a plurality of battery cells. The aforementioned plurality of side frames includes a first side frame. The first side frame includes a top plate and a bottom plate disposed opposite to each other, and an outer side plate and an inner side plate disposed opposite to each other between the top plate and the bottom plate. The top plate, the bottom plate, the outer side plate, and the inner side plate enclose an internal space. A portion of the top plate is fixed to the top cover, and in the direction in which the top cover and the bottom cover are disposed opposite to each other, the height of the first side frame is greater than the distance between the upper surface of the top cover and the top plate of the first side frame. An exhaust port is provided in the area of ​​the top plate within the receiving space. The exhaust port communicates with the receiving space and the internal space of the first side frame. The outer side plate is located away from the receiving space relative to the inner side plate. The outer side plate is provided with an explosion-proof valve, which communicates with the internal space of the first side frame.

[0009] In this application, the battery pack casing adopts a high-box structure, wherein multiple side frames of the casing form a frame structure. When a battery cell is placed into the housing space of the casing, the frame structure can fit tightly against the outer periphery of the battery cell and clamp it, thus fixing the battery cell inside the casing. This eliminates the need for additional metal end plates, steel cable ties, bolts, or other components to secure the battery cell, improving the space utilization of the battery pack and allowing for the stacking of more battery cells. In the first side frame, the exhaust port of the top plate is located within the housing space. An explosion-proof valve can communicate with the housing space through the internal space of the first side frame and the exhaust port. Thus, when a battery cell experiences thermal runaway, the fumes generated by the cell can sequentially pass through the exhaust port, the internal space of the first side frame, and the explosion-proof valve, and be released to the outside of the battery pack, thereby achieving pressure relief and venting. Therefore, this high-box structure of the battery pack can meet both pressure relief and venting requirements and the need for high energy density. In addition, since the battery cells and the frame structure can fit tightly together, the generated fumes are located in the space between the battery cells and the top cover and are directly discharged through the exhaust port. There is no need to set up an additional flue structure in the battery pack. This not only reduces manufacturing costs but also further improves the space utilization of the battery pack.

[0010] The aforementioned inner side plate is provided with an exhaust port, which connects the receiving space of the first side frame with the internal space of the first side frame. In this way, exhaust ports are provided on both surfaces of the first side frame, which can increase the exhaust area of ​​the first side frame and thus improve exhaust efficiency.

[0011] The height of the first side frame is greater than or equal to the height of the battery cell. Therefore, the top cover can be configured as a plate-shaped top cover, which simplifies the structure of the battery pack. Furthermore, the inner side plate is positioned higher than the battery cell to prevent the battery cell from blocking the vent of the inner side plate due to expansion.

[0012] The first side frame is provided with multiple exhaust ports in the area within the accommodating space. These multiple exhaust ports can be arranged sequentially along a direction parallel to the inner side plate to increase the exhaust area without affecting the structural strength of the top plate, thereby improving exhaust efficiency.

[0013] The aforementioned multiple side frames may further include a second side frame and a third side frame disposed opposite to each other along the width direction of the battery pack. The first side frame is located between the second and third side frames. The first, second, and third side frames each have internal spaces, and these internal spaces are interconnected. In this technical solution, the internal spaces of three adjacent side frames in the frame structure are interconnected, allowing the flue gas generated by thermal runaway of the battery cells to enter the internal spaces of the first, second, and third side frames from the exhaust port of the first side frame. This reduces the pressure of the internal gas pressure on the top cover during battery pack thermal runaway.

[0014] Both the top plates of the second and third side frames are equipped with exhaust vents. The exhaust vent of the second side frame connects the receiving space with the internal space of the second side frame, and the exhaust vent of the third side frame connects the receiving space with the internal space of the third side frame. In this technical solution, exhaust vents are provided around the periphery of multiple battery cells. The fumes generated by thermal runaway of the battery cells can enter the interior of the frame structure through the exhaust vents of any side frame and diffuse to the vicinity of the explosion-proof valve through the interconnected internal spaces, thereby improving exhaust efficiency. This technical solution is suitable for scenarios with large internal gas generation in the battery pack, to prevent excessive internal gas pressure from damaging the frame structure or top cover and causing thermal runaway fumes to leak from other locations.

[0015] The aforementioned multiple side frames also include a fourth side frame. The first and fourth side frames are arranged opposite each other along the length of the battery pack. The outer edge of the fourth side frame is provided with positive and negative terminals. When the energy storage cabinet accommodates multiple stacked battery packs, the aforementioned first side frame is located at the rear of the battery pack. This allows the explosion-proof valve to be directly inserted into and connected to the flue at the back of the energy storage cabinet when the battery pack is inserted, achieving sealed venting and directional smoke exhaust of the energy storage cabinet. The aforementioned first side frame is located at the front of the battery pack, with the positive and negative terminals facing the operator for easy operation.

[0016] In addition to considering sealing and venting, the thickness of the side frame also needs to account for the frame's deformation throughout the battery pack's lifespan. At the end of the battery pack's life, the frame must be deformed in a way that prevents it from compressing the explosion-proof valve. Specifically, the sum of the length of the explosion-proof valve extending into the internal space of the first side frame and the maximum deformation of the first side frame is less than the thickness of the first side frame along the direction perpendicular to the outer side panel.

[0017] The internal space of the first side frame can also be provided with multiple reinforcing ribs, which can connect the outer side plate and the inner side plate, thereby increasing the structural strength of the side frame.

[0018] In this application, the frame structure formed by multiple side frames needs to resist the expansion force of the battery module. Therefore, the size and number of vents must be designed to ensure that the frame structure will not collapse or be crushed due to the expansion of the battery module throughout the entire life cycle of the battery pack. Therefore, when the top plate of the first side frame is provided with multiple vents, the spacing between two adjacent vents can be designed to be greater than or equal to 80 mm and less than or equal to 120 mm.

[0019] In addition, the portion of the top plate of the first side frame that contacts the top cover has a dimension greater than or equal to 18 mm and less than or equal to 30 mm in the direction perpendicular to the outer side plate, in order to ensure that the top plate can achieve a seal with the top cover.

[0020] To ensure smooth venting of the battery pack, the vent on the first side frame has a dimension of 10 mm or more and 15 mm or less in the direction perpendicular to the outer side plate.

[0021] To ensure smooth venting of the battery pack, the total area of ​​the vents on the first side frame is greater than or equal to 1.5 times the venting area of ​​the explosion-proof valve.

[0022] Secondly, this application also provides an energy storage cabinet. The energy storage cabinet includes a cabinet and multiple battery packs as described in the first aspect. The aforementioned multiple battery packs are stacked inside the cabinet. In this application, the battery packs of the energy storage cabinet adopt a tall box structure, which can meet the requirements of pressure relief and high volumetric energy density, thus facilitating the realization of high energy density energy storage.

[0023] The aforementioned cabinet may be equipped with a flue extending along the height of the cabinet, and the explosion-proof valves of the multiple battery packs stacked along the height of the cabinet are all connected to the flue. Inside the energy storage cabinet, the explosion-proof valves of the battery packs are sealed in conjunction with the flue of the energy storage cabinet, which can improve the energy density of the energy storage cabinet while achieving directional exhaust function. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an energy storage cabinet provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 3 is an exploded schematic diagram of the battery pack casing in Figure 2;

[0027] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the energy storage cabinet provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the frame structure provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the frame structure provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 18 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first top plate provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0042] Figure reference numerals: 10-Energy storage cabinet; 11-Rack; 12-Rack door; 13-Fluorite; 20-Battery pack; 21-Top cover; 22-Bottom cover; 23-Frame structure; 24-Explosion-proof valve; 25-Battery cell; 26-Positive terminal; 27-Negative terminal; 231-Side frame; 232-First exhaust port; 233-Second exhaust port; 234-Third exhaust port; 235-Fourth exhaust port; 231a-First side frame; 231b-Fourth side frame; 231c-Second side frame; 231d-Third side frame; 2311-First top plate; 2312-First bottom plate; 2313-First outer side plate; 2314-First inner side plate; 2315-Reinforcing rib Detailed Implementation

[0043] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] To facilitate understanding of the battery pack and energy storage cabinet provided in this application embodiment, their application scenarios are described below. With the continuous development of energy storage technology, various devices are available for energy storage, such as energy storage cabinets or energy storage containers. Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an energy storage cabinet provided in this application embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, taking energy storage cabinet 10 as an example, energy storage cabinet 10 includes a cabinet 11 and multiple battery packs 20 stacked within the cabinet 11 along the height direction of the cabinet 11 (vertical direction H in Figure 1).

[0045] With the increasing demand for high energy density, improving the volumetric energy density of battery packs within the limited space of standard cabinets has become a solution to achieve high energy density. To achieve high energy density in energy storage cabinets, one approach is to shorten the distance between adjacent battery packs to accommodate more packs within a limited space; another is to increase the internal energy density of the battery packs. Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application, and Figure 3 is an exploded view of the battery pack casing in Figure 2. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, specifically, the casing of the battery pack 20 adopts a high-box structure. The battery pack 20 includes a top cover 21, a bottom cover 22, and a frame structure 23. The frame structure 23 includes multiple side frames connected in sequence, with the top cover 21 and the bottom cover 22 covering the sides of the frame structure 23. Using this high-box structure, components such as metal end plates, side plates, steel straps, and bolts within the battery pack can be eliminated, with multiple battery cells held by the frame structure 23. After multiple battery cells are placed into the housing, the frame structure 23 can fit tightly against the outer periphery of the multiple battery cells and clamp the cells, thereby fixing the cells inside the housing. In this way, within the limited space of the housing, the space for placing the battery cells can be maximized, thereby increasing the energy density of a single battery pack 20.

[0046] During operation, battery packs may experience thermal runaway, posing a risk of combustion and explosion. A battery pack explosion within the energy storage cabinet can cause the cabinet to disintegrate. The shockwave, heat radiation, and flying debris from the cabinet's disintegration can threaten people or property near the cabinet. Therefore, battery packs are typically equipped with explosion-proof valves on their tops. When thermal runaway occurs, the high-temperature fumes generated inside the battery pack increase the internal pressure, causing the explosion-proof valve to open and release the high-temperature gas and liquid from the top of the battery pack, thus depressurizing it and preventing an explosion.

[0047] However, in high-energy-density energy storage cabinets, due to the small spacing between adjacent battery packs, when the lower battery pack experiences thermal runaway, its explosion-proof valve opens, causing high-temperature gas and liquid inside to spray out from the top of the battery pack and potentially splash onto the bottom of the upper battery pack, causing damage. Furthermore, the gas and liquid ejected from the battery packs may remain in the space where they are housed, potentially affecting the cabinet's safety.

[0048] In view of this, this application provides a battery pack and an energy storage cabinet to achieve pressure relief and venting functions while improving the energy density of the battery pack.

[0049] It should be noted that the terminology used in the following embodiments is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to be a limitation of this application. As used in the specification and appended claims of this application, the singular expressions “a,” “an,” “the,” “the,” “the,” and “this” are intended to also include expressions such as “one or more,” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0050] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" as described in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0051] In this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.

[0052] Furthermore, in this article, directional terms such as "top," "bottom," "upper," "lower," "front," and "back" are defined relative to the orientation of the structure as shown in the attached drawings. It should be understood that these directional terms are relative concepts, used for relative description and clarification, and can change accordingly depending on the orientation of the structure.

[0053] As shown in Figure 1, the cabinet 11 includes a top plate and a bottom plate arranged opposite each other, and four side plates located between the top plate and the bottom plate. These four side plates are connected sequentially, and together with the top and bottom plates, they form the outer shell of the cabinet 11. In practical applications, the energy storage cabinet is placed at the installation location, with its bottom plate in contact with the installation ground and its top plate facing upwards. The four side plates include a front panel and a back panel arranged opposite each other. The front panel has a cabinet door 12, allowing operators to perform installation, disassembly, control, and maintenance operations from the front of the energy storage cabinet 10. In some scenarios, the back panel may also have an inspection door, allowing operators to perform wiring installation and disconnection operations from the back of the energy storage cabinet 10.

[0054] As shown in Figure 2, the battery pack 20 of this application is equipped with an explosion-proof valve 24, which is located at the rear of the battery pack 20. It should be noted that when the energy storage cabinet 10 is placed in the designated position, the battery pack 20 is inserted horizontally into the cabinet 11. The end of the battery pack 20 facing the operator is the front (or front panel), and the end opposite the front is the rear (or back panel). That is, the front of the battery pack 20 faces the cabinet door 12, and the rear of the battery pack 20 faces the back panel of the cabinet 11. When thermal runaway occurs in the battery pack 20 inside the energy storage cabinet 10, the explosion-proof valve 24 at the rear of the battery pack 20 opens and depressurizes, thereby discharging the high-temperature gas and liquid inside the battery pack 20 from the rear of the battery pack 20 to prevent the discharged high-temperature gas and liquid from affecting adjacent battery packs 20.

[0055] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the energy storage cabinet provided in this application embodiment. As shown in Figure 4, in some embodiments, the energy storage cabinet 10 is provided with a flue 13. The flue 13 is located on the back panel of the cabinet 11 and extends along the height direction of the cabinet 11 (vertical direction H in Figure 4). Corresponding to each battery pack 20, the flue 13 may have an opening facing the battery pack 20. When the battery pack 20 is placed in the cabinet 11, the explosion-proof valve 24 at the tail of the battery pack 20 can be sealed to the opening, so that when the explosion-proof valve 24 is opened, the high-temperature gas and liquid of the battery pack 20 are directly released into the flue 13, so as to avoid the spread of thermal runaway gas and liquid into the cabinet 11 and avoid safety hazards. This embodiment can realize that the shell of the battery pack 20 can be sealed with the exhaust of the energy storage cabinet 10, and the energy storage cabinet 10 has a directional smoke exhaust function.

[0056] The structure of battery pack 20 is described in detail below.

[0057] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the battery pack 20 specifically includes a housing and a plurality of battery cells 25 located within the housing. As described above, the housing includes a top cover 21, a bottom cover 22, and a frame structure 23. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of one structure of the frame structure provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 6, the frame structure 23 includes a plurality of side frames 231. The plurality of side frames 231 are connected in sequence to form a U-shaped structure. The plurality of side frames 231, the top cover 21, and the bottom cover 22 enclose a receiving space, within which the plurality of battery cells 25 are received. Each of the aforementioned plurality of side frames 231 includes a top plate and a bottom plate disposed opposite to each other, and an outer side plate and an inner side plate disposed opposite to each other between the top plate and the bottom plate. The outer side plate, the inner side plate, the top plate, and the bottom plate enclose an internal space, that is, the side frame 231 is hollow. A portion of the top plate is fixedly connected to the top cover 21. The battery pack 20 adopts a high-box structure, meaning that the height of the side frames along the height direction of the battery pack 20 (i.e., the direction in which the top cover 21 and the bottom cover 22 are positioned opposite each other) is greater than the distance between the upper surface of the top cover 21 and the top plate of the side frame. When the battery cells 25 are placed into the housing, the aforementioned multiple side frames 231 can closely adhere to and clamp the outer periphery of the multiple battery cells 25, thus fixing the battery cells 25 within the housing. This improves the space utilization of the battery pack 20, allowing for the stacking of high-energy-density battery cells 25.

[0058] As shown in Figure 6, the plurality of side frames 231 include a first side frame 231a and a fourth side frame 231b arranged opposite to each other, and a second side frame 231c and a third side frame 231d arranged opposite to each other. The plurality of side frames 231 are connected sequentially in the order of first side frame 231a, second side frame 231c, fourth side frame 231b, and third side frame 231d. The frame structure 23 of the above embodiment can be made of high-strength aluminum or steel profiles to ensure the flatness of the outer side surface of the frame structure 23 as a shell.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the first side frame 231a can serve as the tail of the battery pack 20, and the fourth side frame 231b can serve as the front of the battery pack 20. The outer side plate of the fourth side frame 231b is provided with a positive terminal 26 and a negative terminal 27. When the battery pack 20 is applied to the energy storage cabinet 10, the first side frame 231a is located at the tail of the battery pack 20, so that when the battery pack 20 is inserted into the energy storage cabinet 10, the explosion-proof valve 24 can be directly inserted into and connected to the flue 13 on the back of the energy storage cabinet 10, achieving sealed exhaust and directional smoke exhaust of the energy storage cabinet 10. The fourth side frame 231b is located at the front of the battery pack 20, and the positive terminal 26 and negative terminal 27 can face the operator for easy operation.

[0060] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of one structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application; and Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figures 7, 8, and 9, the first side frame 231a includes a first top plate 2311 and a first bottom plate 2312 disposed opposite to each other, and a first outer side plate 2313 and a first inner side plate 2314 disposed opposite to each other between the first top plate 2311 and the first bottom plate 2312, wherein the first inner side plate 2314 is located on the side of the first outer side plate 2313 facing the battery cell 25. In this first side frame 231a, an explosion-proof valve 24 is disposed on the first outer side plate 2313, thereby enabling the explosion-proof valve 24 to communicate with the internal space of the first side frame 231a. The first outer side plate 2313 has a high flatness and a large space for sealing with the flue 13 of the energy storage cabinet 10. The first top plate 2311 is disposed opposite to the top cover 21, and the top cover 21 is connected to the end of the first top plate 2311 near the first outer side plate 2313, such that the area of ​​the first top plate 2311 near the first outer side plate 2313 is connected to the top cover 21, and the area of ​​the first top plate 2311 near the first inner side plate 2314 is located within the receiving space. At least one first exhaust port 232 is provided in the area of ​​the first top plate 2311 located within the receiving space. Thus, the aforementioned at least one first exhaust port 232 is located within the receiving space and can communicate with the receiving space of the housing and the internal space of the first side frame 231a.

[0061] When cell 25 experiences thermal runaway, the fumes generated by cell 25 can sequentially pass through the first exhaust port 232, the internal space of the first side frame 231a, and the explosion-proof valve 24, and be released to the outside of the battery pack 20, thereby achieving the pressure relief and venting function. Therefore, the structure of the battery pack 20 can meet both the requirements of high energy density and the pressure relief and venting function. In addition, since cell 25 and frame structure 23 can be tightly fitted, the generated fumes are located in the space between cell 25 and top cover 21 and are directly discharged through the first exhaust port 232, without the need for an additional flue structure. This not only reduces manufacturing costs but also further improves the space utilization of battery pack 20. Furthermore, since the area of ​​the first outer side plate 2313 is relatively large, the placement of the explosion-proof valve 24 is flexible and can be designed according to the specific location of the flue 13 inside the cabinet 11.

[0062] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 10, the first inner side plate 2314 may also be provided with at least one second exhaust port 233, and the second exhaust port 233 of the first inner side plate 2314 may communicate with the first exhaust port 232 of the first top plate 2311. In this way, both surfaces of the first side frame 231a are provided with exhaust ports, which can increase the exhaust area of ​​the first side frame 231a and thus improve the exhaust efficiency. Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 11, in one embodiment, the first exhaust port 232 and the second exhaust port 233 may penetrate the first side frame 231a along the connecting line between the first top plate 2311 and the first inner side plate 2314. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 12, in another embodiment, the first exhaust port 232 and the second exhaust port 233 may not penetrate the first side frame 231a.

[0063] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 13, the height of the first side frame 231a is greater than or equal to the height of the battery cell 25. At least one vent of the inner side plate is located between the battery cell 25 and the top cover 21. That is, no vent is provided on the surface of the inner side plate opposite to the battery cell 25, so as to avoid the battery cell 25 blocking part of the vent due to expansion.

[0064] As shown in Figure 10, at least one first exhaust port 232 of the first top plate 2311 may include multiple first exhaust ports 232, and at least one second exhaust port 233 of the first inner side plate 2314 may include multiple second exhaust ports 233. The number of the aforementioned multiple first exhaust ports 232 and the number of the aforementioned multiple second exhaust ports 233 are equal and they are connected in a one-to-one correspondence. The aforementioned multiple second exhaust ports 233 are arranged sequentially along the direction parallel to the first outer side plate 2313 of the first side frame 231a, so as to increase the exhaust area without affecting the structural strength of the first top plate 2311, thereby improving the exhaust efficiency.

[0065] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the frame structure provided in this application embodiment. As shown in Figure 14, among the above-mentioned multiple side frames 231, the second side frame 231c and the third side frame 231d are connected to both sides of the first side frame 231a, and the internal spaces of the second side frame 231c and the third side frame 231d are respectively connected to the internal space of the first side frame 231a. In this embodiment, the internal spaces of the three adjacent side frames 231 in the frame structure 23 are connected, so that the smoke generated by the thermal runaway of the battery cell 25 can enter the internal space of the three side frames 231 from the exhaust port of the first side frame 231a, which can reduce the pressure of the internal gas pressure on the top cover 21 when the battery pack 20 undergoes thermal runaway. Specifically, the inner side plate of the second side frame 231c, the inner side plate of the first side frame 231a and the inner side plate of the third side frame 231d are connected in sequence, and the inner side plate of the second side frame 231c, the inner side plate of the first side frame 231a and the outer side wall of the third side frame 231d are connected in sequence.

[0066] Furthermore, the internal spaces of the fourth side frame 231b, the second side frame 231c, the first side frame 231a, and the third side frame 231d are all interconnected. That is, the inner panels of the fourth side frame 231b, the second side frame 231c, the first side frame 231a, and the third side frame 231d are all interconnected.

[0067] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of another frame structure provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 15, the second side frame 231c is provided with at least one third exhaust port 234, and the top plate of the third side frame 231d is provided with at least one fourth exhaust port 235. The third exhaust port 234 and the fourth exhaust port 235 are located within the receiving space and connect the receiving space, the internal space of the second side frame 231c, and the internal space of the third side frame 231d. In this embodiment, multiple peripheries of the battery cell 25 can be provided with exhaust ports. The smoke generated by the battery cell 25 can enter the interior of the frame structure 23 through any exhaust port and diffuse to the vicinity of the explosion-proof valve 24 through the interconnected internal spaces, thereby improving exhaust efficiency. This embodiment is suitable for scenarios where the internal gas production of the battery pack 20 is large, so as to avoid the problem of excessive internal gas pressure of the battery pack 20 damaging the frame structure 23 or the top cover 21, and causing the smoke generated by thermal runaway to leak from other parts of the shell.

[0068] In addition to considering sealing and venting, the thickness of the side frame 231 also needs to take into account the deformation of the frame throughout the entire lifespan of the battery pack 20. Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 16, at the end of the battery pack 20's lifespan, after the first side frame 231a deforms, it is necessary to ensure that the explosion-proof valve 24 is not compressed. Specifically, the sum of the length X of the explosion-proof valve 24 extending into the internal space of the first side frame 231a and the maximum deformation Y of the first side frame 231a is less than the thickness Z of the first side frame 231a along the direction perpendicular to the first outer side plate 2313.

[0069] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the first side frame provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 17, in order to strengthen the structural strength of the first side frame 231a, the internal space of the first side frame 231a may also be provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 2315. The plurality of side plates of the first side frame 231a include two side plates arranged opposite each other, and the aforementioned plurality of reinforcing ribs 2315 can connect the two side plates, thereby increasing the structural strength of the two side plates. In one embodiment, the two side plates can be the first outer side plate 2313 and the first inner side plate 2314 of the first side frame 231a. Alternatively, in another embodiment, when the internal space of the first side frame 231a is not connected to the second side frame 231c and the third side frame 231d, the first side frame 231a may also include a first side plate and a second side plate arranged opposite each other, the first outer side plate 2313, the first side plate, the first inner side plate 2314 and the second side plate are connected in sequence, and together with the first top plate 2311 and the first bottom plate 2312, they enclose the first side frame 231a. The aforementioned two side plates may also be the first side plate and the second side plate. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the two side plates may also be a first top plate 2311 and a first bottom plate 2312. The embodiments of this application do not limit the distribution and number of reinforcing ribs 2315 within the first side frame 231a; the position and number of reinforcing ribs 2315 can be specifically designed according to the structural strength requirements of the first side frame 231a.

[0070] In this application, the frame structure 23 formed by multiple side frames 231 needs to resist the expansion force of the battery cell 25. Therefore, the size and number of exhaust ports must be designed to ensure that the frame structure 23 will not collapse or be crushed due to the expansion of the battery cell 25 throughout the entire life cycle of the battery pack 20. Figure 18 is another structural schematic diagram of the first top plate provided in the embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 18, when the first top plate 2311 of the first side frame 231a is provided with multiple first exhaust ports 232, the spacing a between two adjacent first exhaust ports 232 can be designed to be greater than or equal to 80 mm and less than or equal to 120 mm.

[0071] In addition, the portion of the top plate of the first side frame 231a that contacts the top cover 21 has a dimension b in the direction perpendicular to the first outer side plate 2313 that is greater than or equal to 18 mm and less than or equal to 30 mm, so as to ensure that the top plate can achieve a seal with the top cover 21.

[0072] To ensure smooth venting of the battery pack 20, the dimension c of the first vent 232 of the first side frame 231a along the direction perpendicular to the outer side plate of the first side frame 231a is greater than or equal to 10 mm and less than or equal to 15 mm.

[0073] To ensure smooth venting of the battery pack 20, the total area of ​​the first vent 232 of the first side frame 231a is greater than or equal to 1.5 times the venting area of ​​the explosion-proof valve 24.

[0074] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A battery pack, characterized by, It includes a top cover and a bottom cover arranged opposite to each other, and a plurality of side frames located between the top cover and the bottom cover, the plurality of side frames and the top cover and the bottom cover enclosing a space for accommodating a plurality of battery cells; The plurality of side frames include a first side frame, which includes a top plate and a bottom plate disposed opposite to each other, and an outer side plate and an inner side plate disposed opposite to each other between the top plate and the bottom plate. The top plate, the bottom plate, the outer side plate and the inner side plate enclose an internal space. A portion of the top plate is fixed to the top cover. In the direction in which the top cover and the bottom cover are disposed opposite to each other, the height of the first side frame is greater than the distance between the upper surface of the top cover and the top plate of the first side frame. The top plate has an exhaust port in the area within the accommodating space, and the exhaust port connects the accommodating space with the internal space of the first side frame; the outer side plate is located away from the accommodating space relative to the inner side plate, and the outer side plate is provided with an explosion-proof valve, which is connected to the internal space of the first side frame.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The inner side plate is provided with an exhaust port, which connects the accommodating space with the internal space of the first side frame.

3. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The height of the first side frame is greater than or equal to the height of the battery cell.

4. The battery pack of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The top plate is provided with multiple exhaust ports in the area within the accommodating space, and the multiple exhaust ports are arranged sequentially in a direction parallel to the inner side plate.

5. The battery pack of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The plurality of side frames also include a second side frame and a third side frame disposed opposite to each other along the width direction of the battery pack, wherein the first side frame is located between the second side frame and the third side frame; The first side frame, the second side frame, and the third side frame all have internal spaces, and the internal spaces of the first side frame, the second side frame, and the third side frame are connected.

6. The battery pack of claim 5, wherein, The top plates of both the second side frame and the third side frame are provided with exhaust vents. The exhaust vent of the second side frame connects the receiving space with the internal space of the second side frame, and the exhaust vent of the third side frame connects the receiving space with the internal space of the third side frame.

7. The battery pack of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The plurality of side frames also includes a fourth side frame, wherein the first side frame and the fourth side frame are arranged opposite to each other along the length direction of the battery pack, and the outer side plate of the fourth side frame is provided with a positive terminal and a negative terminal.

8. The battery pack of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The inner space of the first side frame is provided with multiple reinforcing ribs, which connect the outer side plate and the inner side plate.

9. An energy storage cabinet characterized by, It includes a cabinet and a plurality of battery packs as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, the plurality of battery packs being stacked within the cabinet.

10. The energy storage cabinet of claim 9, wherein, The cabinet is provided with a flue extending along the height direction of the cabinet, and the explosion-proof valves of the multiple battery packs stacked along the height direction of the cabinet are all connected to the flue.

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