Battery module and battery pack

Abstract

The present application relates to a battery module and a battery pack. The battery module comprises: a plurality of battery cell groups arranged at intervals in a first direction; a plurality of cold plates arranged at intervals in the first direction, a cold plate being arranged between every two adjacent battery cell groups; and a plurality of connectors arranged at one end of the cold plates, the connectors being arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the cold plates, adjacent cold plates being communicated with each other by means of the connectors, the connector on the cold plate farthest from the most downstream side being provided with a diversion port, and the diversion port being used for discharging a cooling liquid in the cold plates.

Description

Battery modules and battery packs

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411898143.9, filed with the Chinese Patent Office on December 20, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

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

[0003] Among related technologies, cylindrical batteries are characterized by high energy density and high power, making them one of the mainstream choices for battery packs today. Compared to traditional prismatic batteries, cylindrical batteries primarily employ a cooling method that involves attaching the side of a liquid cooling plate to the cell. Invention Overview

[0004] However, in the side liquid cooling method, when the coolant enters the main channel and flows towards the end, it still maintains inertial motion, which causes the coolant flow rate in the liquid cooling plate near the end to be greater than that in the liquid cooling plate near the beginning. This results in uneven coolant flow between branches, leading to excessive temperature difference between the cells.

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

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a battery module, which includes: a plurality of battery cell groups spaced apart along a first direction; a plurality of coolant radiators spaced apart along the first direction, with a coolant radiator provided between two adjacent battery cell groups; and a plurality of connection terminals disposed at one end of the coolant radiator, wherein the connection terminals are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the coolant radiators, and adjacent coolant radiators are interconnected through the connection terminals. The connection terminal on the coolant radiator furthest downstream is provided with a diversion port for discharging coolant from the coolant radiator.

[0007] Secondly, this application also provides a battery pack, which includes the aforementioned battery module. Beneficial effects

[0008] The battery module provided in this application has a diversion port on the connection terminal of the radiator near the middle. With this configuration, when the coolant flows from the connection terminal of the radiator near the beginning to the diversion port, some of the coolant can be diverted to the outside in advance, thereby reducing the coolant flow rate in the liquid cooling plate near the end. This makes the coolant flow rate in the liquid cooling plate near the end the same as the coolant flow rate in the liquid cooling plate near the beginning, thus making the coolant flow rate between branches uniform and avoiding the problem of excessive temperature difference between the cells.

[0009] The battery pack provided in this application, using the aforementioned battery module, is beneficial for maintaining the stable operation of the battery pack. Attached Figure Description

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

[0011] Figure 2 is a front view of the connection terminal provided in the embodiment;

[0012] Figure 3 is a side view of the connection terminal provided in the embodiment;

[0013] Figure 4 is a rear view of the connection terminal provided in the embodiment;

[0014] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the connection terminal provided in the embodiment;

[0015] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the connection terminal provided in the embodiment;

[0016] Figure 7 is a pressure diagram of the liquid cooling plate of the battery module provided in the embodiment (the color diagram can be found in Chinese patent application No. 202411898143.9).

[0017] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the flow rate ratio of different liquid cooling plates in the battery module provided in the embodiment.

[0018] The above figures include the following reference numerals:

[0019] Battery cell assembly 10, radiator 20, connecting terminal 30, shunt port 31, first flow port 32, second flow port 33, connecting groove 34, partition structure 35, first direction X, second direction Y. Embodiments of the present invention

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 to 8, in a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a battery module, which includes: a plurality of cell groups 10 spaced apart along a first direction; a plurality of radiators 20 spaced apart along the first direction, with a radiator 20 provided between two adjacent cell groups 10; and a plurality of connection terminals 30 disposed at one end of the radiator 20, wherein the connection terminals 30 are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the radiators 20, and adjacent radiators 20 are interconnected through the connection terminals 30. The connection terminal 30 on the radiator 20 furthest downstream is provided with a diversion port 31 for discharging coolant from the radiator 20.

[0021] By applying the technical solution of this application, a diversion port 31 is provided on the connection terminal 30 of the radiator 20 near the middle position. With this configuration, when the coolant flows from the connection terminal 30 of the radiator 20 near the beginning to the diversion port 31, part of the coolant can be diverted to the outside in advance to reduce the coolant flow rate in the liquid cooling plate near the end. This makes the coolant flow rate in the liquid cooling plate near the end the same as the coolant flow rate in the liquid cooling plate near the beginning, thereby making the coolant flow rate between branches uniform and avoiding the problem of excessive temperature difference between the cells.

[0022] In this application, the battery cell pack 10 includes multiple cylindrical batteries, and the heat sink 20 is S-shaped and curved. The S-shaped curved heat sink 20 can increase the contact area between the coolant and the heat dissipation fins, thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency. This design helps to quickly conduct the heat generated by the battery cell pack 10 to the heat sink 20, and remove the heat through the circulation of coolant, thus maintaining the temperature stability of the battery cell pack 10.

[0023] Meanwhile, the S-shaped curved radiator 20 makes full use of space, making the overall structure of the cell pack 10 more compact. This helps save internal space and improve space utilization. Furthermore, compared to other shapes of radiators 20, the S-shaped curved radiator 20 may generate less noise during coolant flow. This helps improve the device's quietness and creates a more comfortable user environment. The combination of cylindrical batteries and the S-shaped radiator 20 significantly improves the heat dissipation efficiency of the battery pack. The coolant makes full contact with the battery surface through the S-shaped radiator 20, quickly removing the heat generated by the battery and ensuring that the battery operates within its optimal operating temperature range. At the same time, the efficient heat dissipation system maintains temperature consistency within the battery pack, reducing the impact of temperature fluctuations on battery performance. This helps extend battery life and improve the reliability and stability of the battery pack.

[0024] Furthermore, the material used for the radiator 20 is typically chosen for its high thermal conductivity and other excellent physical properties, such as aluminum or copper. Using aluminum as the material for the radiator 20 offers several significant advantages. Because aluminum has excellent thermal conductivity, it can quickly conduct heat from the heat source to the surface of the radiator 20, and then dissipate the heat into the air through a cooling fan or natural convection. This efficient thermal conductivity allows the aluminum radiator 20 to effectively dissipate heat in a short time, maintaining stable equipment operation.

[0025] Meanwhile, aluminum's low density allows the aluminum radiator 20 to achieve a lightweight design while maintaining excellent heat dissipation performance. Lightweight design helps reduce the overall weight of the equipment, improving energy efficiency and portability. This is especially important for equipment that needs to be moved or frequently relocated. Furthermore, aluminum has excellent corrosion resistance in natural environments, resisting the erosion of various chemicals. This makes the aluminum radiator 20 less susceptible to corrosion and oxidation during use, thus extending its service life. Additionally, surface treatment processes for the aluminum radiator 20 (such as anodizing and spraying) can further enhance its corrosion resistance.

[0026] Aluminum possesses excellent processing properties, allowing it to be manufactured into various shapes and sizes of radiators 20 through casting, forging, extrusion, and stretching. This enables aluminum radiators 20 to meet the heat dissipation needs of different equipment and applications. Furthermore, aluminum exhibits good cold working properties, allowing for improvements in the strength and hardness of the radiator 20 without compromising thermal conductivity. Compared to other metals like copper, aluminum is relatively inexpensive, giving aluminum radiators 20 a cost advantage. Simultaneously, aluminum radiators 20 offer excellent heat dissipation performance, meeting the cooling requirements of most equipment, thus providing a high cost-performance ratio. Moreover, aluminum is a recyclable metal, complying with environmental protection requirements. Using aluminum as the material for radiators 20 helps reduce resource consumption and environmental pollution, contributing to sustainable development.

[0027] Alternatively, copper, a metal with excellent thermal conductivity, has a thermal conductivity far exceeding that of many other common metals, such as aluminum and iron. This means that copper can more quickly and efficiently conduct heat from heat sources (such as batteries or the interior of electronic devices) to the surface of the radiator 20, and then dissipate it through a cooling fan or liquid cooling system. This superior thermal conductivity allows the copper radiator 20 to maintain excellent heat dissipation under high load and high temperature environments, ensuring stable operation of the equipment. At the same time, copper has good machinability and can be processed into radiators 20 of various shapes and sizes through casting, forging, extrusion, stretching, and other processes. This allows the copper radiator 20 to meet the heat dissipation requirements of different equipment and application scenarios.

[0028] Meanwhile, copper also has good cold working properties, allowing the strength and hardness of the radiator 20 to be improved through cold working without reducing its thermal conductivity. Furthermore, copper has excellent corrosion resistance in natural environments, resisting the erosion of various chemical substances. This makes the copper radiator 20 less susceptible to corrosion, oxidation, and other damage during use, thus extending its service life. In addition, copper's corrosion resistance can be further improved through surface treatments (such as nickel plating and chromium plating).

[0029] Furthermore, copper possesses high mechanical strength, enabling it to withstand significant pressure and tension. This makes the copper radiator 20 less prone to deformation and damage during installation and use, thus ensuring the stability and reliability of the heat dissipation system.

[0030] Meanwhile, the higher mechanical strength also means that the copper radiator 20 can better withstand vibrations and impacts from inside the equipment, improving the durability of the entire heat dissipation system. Copper has good ductility and plasticity, and can be easily made into heat dissipation fins, water channels, and other structures of various shapes and sizes. This allows the copper radiator 20 to more flexibly adapt to the heat dissipation needs of different equipment, improving the overall performance of the heat dissipation system. In summary, copper, as the material for the radiator 20, has advantages such as excellent thermal conductivity, good processing performance, excellent corrosion resistance, high mechanical strength, and good ductility and plasticity.

[0031] In one embodiment, the connecting terminal 30 further includes a first flow port 32 and a second flow port 33. The first flow ports 32 between adjacent connecting terminals 30 are interconnected, and the second flow ports 33 between adjacent connecting terminals 30 are interconnected. The branch port 31 is connected to the first flow port 32, and the second flow port 33 is isolated from the first flow port 32 and the branch port 31. This arrangement allows fluid to flow smoothly between adjacent connecting terminals 30, avoiding fluid accumulation and blockage within a single connecting terminal 30, thereby improving fluid flow efficiency. Because the first flow ports 32 are interconnected, the fluid maintains low resistance during flow, reducing pressure loss and enabling the fluid to be delivered to the target area more efficiently. The interconnection between the branch port 31 and the first flow port 32 allows the system to flexibly distribute fluid according to actual needs. At the same time, the isolation of the second flow port 33 from the first flow port 32 and the branch port 31 provides the system with additional fluid channel options, enhancing the system's flexibility.

[0032] Meanwhile, this design allows the connection terminal 30 to be applicable to various fluid transfer scenarios, meeting the requirements of different applications for fluid transfer efficiency, stability, and flexibility. The isolation design between the second flow port 33 and the first flow port 32 and the branch port 31 reduces the risk of fluid leakage. This design enables the system to maintain high sealing performance during operation, avoiding system failure or performance degradation due to leakage. Furthermore, because the fluid can flow smoothly between adjacent connection terminals 30, the system's stability is enhanced. This helps reduce system vibration, noise, and other problems caused by poor fluid flow, improving the overall performance of the system.

[0033] Furthermore, the design of the connection terminal 30 simplifies the installation process. Standardized interfaces and connection methods allow for quick installation and commissioning of the connection terminal 30. Simultaneously, the well-designed flow ports between the connection terminals 30 facilitate easier inspection and maintenance during system upkeep. This helps reduce maintenance costs and improve system availability and reliability.

[0034] In one embodiment, the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the diversion port 31 is greater than or equal to the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow port 32. The inner diameter of the diversion port 31 is D1, and the inner diameter of the first flow port 32 is D2, where D1 ≥ D2. When designing the connection terminal 30, when the inner diameter D1 of the diversion port 31 is greater than or equal to the inner diameter D2 of the first flow port 32 (D1 ≥ D2), the fluid encounters relatively less resistance when passing through the diversion port 31 due to the larger inner diameter D1. This helps reduce energy loss during fluid transmission and improves fluid transmission efficiency. Simultaneously, when D1 ≥ D2, the diversion port 31 can more effectively distribute fluid to each of the first flow ports 32. This design ensures uniform fluid distribution in the system and avoids system performance degradation caused by uneven flow distribution.

[0035] Furthermore, the larger inner diameter of the diversion port 31 helps reduce pressure fluctuations during fluid transmission. This helps maintain stable system operation and avoids system failures or performance degradation caused by pressure fluctuations. Also, because of the larger inner diameter of the diversion port 31, even if a part of the system fails or becomes blocked, the fluid can still continue to be transmitted to other parts through the diversion port 31. This improves the system's fault tolerance and ensures overall system reliability.

[0036] When the inner diameter of the diversion port 31 is greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the first flow port 32, the designer can configure the fluid transmission path of the system more flexibly. This helps simplify the design complexity of the system and reduce design costs. A larger inner diameter of the diversion port 31 makes the system easier to clean and inspect during maintenance. This helps reduce maintenance costs and improve the availability and reliability of the system. By rationally setting the ratio of the inner diameters of the diversion port 31 and the first flow port 32, the amount of material used can be optimized. This helps reduce production costs while ensuring that the system performance meets requirements. A larger inner diameter of the diversion port 31 helps reduce the scouring and wear of the connecting terminal 30 by the fluid. This helps extend the service life of the connecting terminal 30 and improve the overall economy of the system.

[0037] In one embodiment, the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the diversion port 31 is greater than or equal to the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow port 33. The inner diameter of the second flow port 33 is D3, where D1 ≥ D3. When designing the connection terminal 30, when the inner diameter D1 of the diversion port 31 is greater than or equal to the inner diameter D3 of the second flow port 33 (D1 ≥ D3), the fluid encounters relatively less resistance when passing through the diversion port 31 due to the larger inner diameter D1. This helps reduce energy loss during fluid transmission and improves fluid transmission efficiency. Simultaneously, when D1 ≥ D3, the radiator 20 can more effectively distribute the fluid to each of the second flow ports 33. This design ensures uniform fluid distribution in the system and avoids system performance degradation caused by uneven flow distribution.

[0038] Furthermore, the larger inner diameter of the diversion port 31 helps reduce pressure fluctuations during fluid transmission. This helps maintain stable system operation and avoids system failures or performance degradation caused by pressure fluctuations. Also, because of the larger inner diameter of the diversion port 31, even if a part of the system fails or becomes blocked, the fluid can still continue to be transmitted to other parts through the diversion port 31. This improves the system's fault tolerance and ensures overall system reliability.

[0039] When the inner diameter of the diversion port 31 is greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the second flow port 33, the fluid transmission path of the system can be configured more flexibly. This helps simplify the design complexity of the system and reduce design costs. A larger inner diameter of the diversion port 31 makes the system easier to clean and inspect during maintenance. This helps reduce maintenance costs and improve the availability and reliability of the system. By rationally setting the ratio of the inner diameters of the diversion port 31 and the second flow port 33, the amount of material used can be optimized. This helps reduce production costs while ensuring that the system performance meets requirements. A larger inner diameter of the diversion port 31 helps reduce the scouring and wear of the connecting terminal 30 by the fluid. This helps extend the service life of the connecting terminal 30 and improve the overall economy of the system.

[0040] In one embodiment, the ratio of the inner diameter of the diversion port 31 to the inner diameter of the first flow port 32 is between 1 and 1.5. This configuration ensures more uniform fluid distribution during the diversion process. Furthermore, the aforementioned inner diameter ratio reduces the resistance encountered by the fluid during diversion, thereby reducing pressure loss. This helps reduce energy consumption, improve the overall efficiency of the system, and contributes to maintaining the stability of the system's internal pressure.

[0041] In one embodiment, the inner diameter of the diversion port 31 is D1, where 10mm ≤ D1 ≤ 18mm. The inner diameter of the diversion port 31 is set between 10mm and 18mm (10mm ≤ D1 ≤ 18mm). Within this range, the resistance to fluid flow through the diversion port 31 is moderate, neither too high leading to significant energy loss nor too low limiting flow rate. This design helps maintain smooth fluid transmission and improves overall transmission efficiency. An appropriate inner diameter of the diversion port 31 ensures uniform fluid distribution during the diversion process, preventing excessively high or low flow rates from adversely affecting system performance. Simultaneously, the design range of the inner diameter of the diversion port 31 helps reduce pressure fluctuations during fluid transmission, maintaining stable system pressure and thus enhancing system stability.

[0042] Furthermore, within this inner diameter range, even if a part of the system malfunctions or becomes blocked, the diversion port 31 can still maintain a certain flow transmission capacity, improving the system's fault tolerance. Within this inner diameter range, materials can be used more rationally, avoiding waste, while ensuring the performance and reliability of the connection terminal 30. An appropriate inner diameter design for the diversion port 31 helps reduce production costs.

[0043] Simultaneously, maintaining system performance and reliability maximizes cost-effectiveness. The design range of the inner diameter of the diverter port 31 allows the connection terminal 30 to be applicable to various fluid transfer scenarios, such as cooling systems, lubrication systems, and fuel systems, meeting the needs of different application scenarios. The appropriate inner diameter range enables the system to respond more flexibly to changes in flow rate, improving the system's adaptability and flexibility.

[0044] In this application, D1 can be set to 10mm, 12mm or 18mm, etc.

[0045] In one embodiment, the connecting terminal 30 further includes a connecting groove 34, into which one end of the radiator 20 is inserted to communicate with the branch port 31, the first flow port 32, and the second flow port 33. The radiator 20 is connected to the various flow ports inside the connecting terminal 30 via the connecting groove 34, allowing heat to be efficiently transferred to the radiator 20. This design helps optimize the heat exchange process and improve heat dissipation efficiency. Simultaneously, the design of the connecting groove 34 allows the radiator 20 to be easily inserted without complex installation steps and tools. This design reduces installation difficulty and cost, and improves installation efficiency. Furthermore, the tight fit between the connecting groove 34 and the radiator 20 ensures a reliable connection between the connecting terminal 30 and the radiator 20. This design avoids performance degradation or malfunctions caused by poor connections.

[0046] In one embodiment, the extension length of the connecting groove 34 along the first direction is L1, where 1mm ≤ L1 ≤ 5mm. By setting L1 within this range, the compatibility between the connecting groove 34 and the radiator 20 or other connecting components can be ensured. This precise dimensional control helps avoid loosening or overtightening during the connection process, ensuring the stability and reliability of the connection. A smaller L1 range helps reduce errors during installation. Due to the limited length of the connecting groove 34, the installer can more easily ensure that the radiator 20 or other connecting components are correctly inserted into the connecting groove 34, thereby improving installation accuracy.

[0047] Meanwhile, the appropriate length of the connecting slot 34 helps optimize the heat conduction path. By ensuring close contact between the radiator 20 and the connecting slot 34, heat can be transferred more effectively from the connecting terminal 30 to the radiator 20, thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency. A shorter connecting slot 34 helps reduce thermal resistance. Thermal resistance is an obstacle in the heat transfer process; a shorter connecting slot 34 reduces heat loss during transfer, thus improving the overall heat dissipation performance of the system. A shorter connecting slot 34 helps enhance the structural strength of the connecting terminal 30. By reducing the length of the connecting slot 34, the connecting terminal 30 becomes more stable under stress, less prone to deformation or damage, and also helps resist external impacts. When subjected to external forces, a shorter connecting slot 34 reduces the impact on the connecting terminal 30, thereby protecting the integrity of the connecting components and the entire system.

[0048] In this application, L1 can be set to 1mm, 3mm or 5mm, etc.

[0049] In one embodiment, the connecting terminal 30 further includes a partition structure 35 disposed within the connecting groove 34. The partition structure 35 extends along a second direction to isolate the second flow port 33 from the first flow port 32 and the branch port 31. The first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. This arrangement isolates the second flow port 33 from the first flow port 32 and the branch port 31, facilitating the flow of coolant between the multiple radiators 20 while preventing crossflow of coolant between the second flow port 33 and the first flow port 32 and the branch port 31, thus ensuring the normal operation of the device.

[0050] In one embodiment, the extension length of the partition structure 35 along the second direction is L2, where 10mm ≤ L2 ≤ 26mm.

[0051] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a battery pack, which includes the battery module described above.

[0052] By applying the technical solution of this application, a diversion port 31 is provided on the connection terminal 30 of the radiator 20 near the middle position. With this configuration, when the coolant flows from the connection terminal 30 of the radiator 20 near the beginning to the diversion port 31, part of the coolant can be diverted to the outside in advance to reduce the coolant flow rate in the liquid cooling plate near the end. This makes the coolant flow rate in the liquid cooling plate near the end the same as the coolant flow rate in the liquid cooling plate near the beginning, thereby making the coolant flow rate between branches uniform and avoiding the problem of excessive temperature difference between the cells.

Claims

1. A battery module, the battery module comprising: Multiple groups of battery cells spaced apart along a first direction; Multiple cooling radiators are spaced apart along a first direction, and the cooling radiators are provided between two adjacent battery cell groups; Multiple connection terminals are provided at one end of the radiator, and each connection terminal corresponds to a radiator. Adjacent radiators are interconnected through the connection terminals. The connection terminal on the radiator furthest downstream is provided with a diversion port for discharging coolant from the radiator.

2. The battery module of claim 1, wherein, The connection terminal further includes a first flow port and a second flow port. The first flow ports between adjacent connection terminals are interconnected, and the second flow ports between adjacent connection terminals are interconnected. The shunt port is connected to the first flow port, and the second flow port is isolated from the first flow port and the shunt port.

3. The battery module of claim 2, wherein, The flow cross-sectional area of ​​the diversion port is greater than or equal to the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow port.

4. The battery module of claim 3, wherein, The flow cross-sectional area of ​​the diversion port is greater than or equal to the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow port.

5. The battery module of claim 3, wherein, The ratio of the inner diameter of the diversion port to the inner diameter of the first flow port is between 1 and 1.

5.

6. The battery module of claim 3, wherein, The inner diameter of the diversion port is D1, where 10mm ≤ D1 ≤ 18mm.

7. The battery module of any one of claims 2-6, wherein, The connection terminal also includes a connection groove, and one end of the radiator is inserted into the connection groove to communicate with the diversion port, the first flow port, and the second flow port.

8. The battery module of any one of claims 1-7, wherein, The extension length of the connecting groove along the first direction is L1, where 1mm ≤ L1 ≤ 5mm.

9. The battery module of any one of claims 1-7, wherein, The connection terminal also includes a partition structure disposed in the connection groove. The partition structure extends along a second direction to isolate the second flow port from the first flow port and the diversion port. The first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

10. The battery module of any one of claims 1-7, wherein, The extension length of the partition structure along the second direction is L2, where 10mm ≤ L2 ≤ 26mm.

11. The battery module of any one of claims 1-10, wherein, The radiator can be made of aluminum or copper.

12. A battery pack, the battery pack comprising a battery module as claimed in any one of claims 1-11.

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