Battery cell assembly, battery module, battery pack, and electrical device

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of batteries, and provides a battery cell assembly, a battery module, a battery pack, and an electrical device. The battery cell assembly comprises: a battery cell, having two side planes opposite to each other along a first direction and two main planes opposite to each other along a second direction; support structural members, disposed on the two side planes of the battery cell, wherein the support structural members respectively extend outward beyond edges of the side planes on both sides along the second direction; and a fixing structural member, disposed around outer sides of the battery cell and the support structural members, such that the fixing structural member, the two main planes of the battery cell, and the support structural members together enclose and define an expansion space, the expansion space being used to buffer expansion generated by the battery cell during a charging process. The technical problem to be solved is how to avoid damage to the battery cell while suppressing expansion of the battery cell. The technical effect is that the battery cell can undergo appropriate expansion without being subjected to compression.

Description

Battery cell assembly, battery module, battery pack and electrical device Cross-reference to related applications

[0001] This application incorporates Chinese Patent Application No. 202423254530.7, filed on December 25, 2024, entitled “Battery Cell Assembly, Battery Module, Battery Pack and Electrical Device”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a cell assembly, battery module, battery pack and power device. Background Technology

[0003] Battery modules typically consist of one or more battery cells. During the charging process, cell expansion is a common phenomenon. This not only affects the structural stability of the battery module but can also adversely impact cell performance and lifespan. To suppress cell expansion during charging, current methods commonly use metallic materials such as aluminum alloys and steel as the cell's outer shell or constraint structure to limit expansion, or use materials with a certain tensile strength to wrap and bind the cell to restrict its expansion.

[0004] However, using metal materials to restrict cell expansion can reduce cell assembly efficiency, while using other materials for winding and binding can easily damage the cells.

[0005] Therefore, the problem that this disclosure aims to solve is: how to suppress cell expansion while avoiding damage to the cell. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the above problems, this disclosure provides a cell assembly, a battery module, a battery pack, and an electrical device.

[0007] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a battery cell assembly is provided, comprising: a battery cell having two side planes opposite each other along a first direction and two main planes opposite each other along a second direction; a support structure disposed on the two side planes of the battery cell, the support structure extending outwards along the second direction beyond the edges of the side planes; and a fixing structure disposed around the outside of the battery cell and the support structure, such that the fixing structure, the two main planes of the battery cell, and the support structure enclose an expansion space, the expansion space being used to buffer the expansion of the battery cell during charging.

[0008] In the technical solution of this embodiment, the supporting structure is configured to extend beyond the battery cell in the second direction, forming an eaves-like protective structure. Therefore, the battery cell is only clamped and fixed by the supporting structure at two side planes, and can expand to a limited extent without pressure at the two main planes. This design allows for reasonable expansion space for the battery cell, reducing the compressive force on the expanding battery cell. The fixing structure wraps around from the outside and encloses the two main planes of the battery cell and the supporting structure to form an expansion space. This not only prevents excessive expansion of the battery cell but also allows the supporting structure to "clamp" the battery cell, ensuring the structural stability of the battery cell assembly.

[0009] In some embodiments, the fixing structure has a first gap with one of the two main planes along a second direction, and the fixing structure has a second gap with the other of the two main planes along a second direction, wherein the first gap is equal to the second gap.

[0010] In some embodiments, the fixing structure has a first gap with one of the two main planes along a second direction, and the fixing structure has a second gap with the other of the two main planes along a second direction, wherein the first gap is different from the second gap.

[0011] In some embodiments, the fixing structure includes a wire or strip that is tensioned and wound around the outside of the battery cell and the support structure, such that the support structure presses down on and holds the battery cell in place.

[0012] In some embodiments, an adhesive is applied to the fixing structure before it is wrapped around the outside of the battery cell and the support structure, so that the fixing structure is kept under tension after the adhesive cures, so that the support structure is tightly attached to the battery cell.

[0013] In some embodiments, the support structure is bonded to the side plane of the battery cell using double-sided adhesive.

[0014] In some embodiments, the battery cell assembly further includes: elastic members disposed on the two main planes of the battery cell, for further buffering the expansion of the battery cell during charging.

[0015] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a battery module is provided, including a housing and at least one cell assembly as described in the above embodiments. Such a battery module can provide the advantages described above regarding the cell assembly, which will not be repeated for the sake of brevity.

[0016] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, a battery pack is provided, including the battery modules described in the above embodiments. One or more battery modules can be integrated within the battery pack. Such a battery pack can provide the advantages described above regarding the cell assembly, which will not be repeated for the sake of brevity.

[0017] According to a fourth aspect of this disclosure, an electrical device is provided, including the battery pack described in the above embodiments, the battery pack being used to provide electrical energy. Such an electrical device can provide the advantages described above regarding the battery cell assembly, which will not be repeated for the sake of brevity.

[0018] It should be understood that the above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this disclosure. In order to better understand the technical means of this disclosure and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and in order to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure more obvious and understandable, specific embodiments of this disclosure are given below. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. It should be noted that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the dimensions of some features may be exaggerated for clarity. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same parts. In the drawings:

[0020] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell assembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a cell assembly according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The embodiments of the technical solutions disclosed herein will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical solutions disclosed herein and are therefore intended to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0023] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs; the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure; the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims and foregoing description of the drawings of this disclosure are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0024] In the description of the embodiments of this disclosure, technical terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number, specific order, or primary or secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this disclosure, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

[0025] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this disclosure. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0026] In the description of the embodiments of this disclosure, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0027] In the description of the embodiments of this disclosure, the term "multiple" refers to two or more (including two), similarly, "multiple groups" refers to two or more (including two groups), and "multiple pieces" refers to two or more (including two pieces).

[0028] In the description of the embodiments of this disclosure, the technical terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this disclosure and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0029] In the description of the embodiments of this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, technical terms such as "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0030] Existing battery cell structures typically include a housing space that matches the shape of the battery cell, such as a socket, slot, or a shell formed by multiple side / end plates, to secure the battery cell and provide support and protection. This method of limiting battery cell expansion by compressing the cell poses a risk, potentially leading to cell damage or even explosion.

[0031] This disclosure relates to a cell assembly that can suppress cell expansion while avoiding damage to the cell. The cell assembly disclosed in this disclosure can be used in batteries.

[0032] Referring to FIG1, FIG1 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell assembly 10 according to some embodiments of the present application. The battery cell assembly 10 includes: a battery cell 20, supporting structural members 30a and 30b, and a fixing structural member 40. The battery cell 20 has two side planes 22a and 22b opposite to each other along a first direction and two main planes 21a and 21b opposite to each other along a second direction. The supporting structural members 30a and 30b are disposed on the two side planes 22a and 22b of the battery cell 20. The supporting structural members 30a and 30b extend to both sides along the second direction beyond the edges of the side planes 22a and 22b, respectively. The fixing structural member 40 is disposed around the outside of the battery cell 20 and the supporting structural members 30a and 30b, such that the fixing structural member 40, the two main planes 21a and 21b of the battery cell 20, and the supporting structural members 30a and 30b enclose an expansion space 50. The expansion space 50 is used to buffer the expansion of the battery cell 20 during charging.

[0033] In embodiments of this disclosure, the battery cell is approximately cubic in shape, having two opposing main planes, two side planes, and two end faces. Specifically, the main planes and side planes are two surfaces of the battery cell with relatively large surface areas, and the end faces are the surfaces of the battery cell used for external electrical connections, wherein one of the two end faces has an electrode.

[0034] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the main planes 21a and 21b are the upper and lower surfaces of the battery cell 20, the first direction is the length direction of the battery cell 20, and the second direction is the height direction of the battery cell 20. During the charging process of the battery cell 20, the main planes 21a and 21b have a large expansion range. Supporting structures 30a and 30b are respectively disposed at the side planes 22a and 22b to protect the battery cell 20 and provide support or fixation for the battery cell 20's encapsulation. The height of the supporting structures 30a and 30b is greater than the height of the battery cell 20, and the supporting structures 30a and 30b extend to both sides along the second direction beyond the edges of the side planes 22a and 22b, forming an eaves-like protective structure. The fixing structure 40 is disposed around the outside of the battery cell 20 and the supporting structures 30a and 30b. The fixing structure 40 only contacts the supporting structures 30a and 30b, not the battery cell 20. That is, the battery cell 20 is constrained in the first direction by the supporting structures 30a and 30b, which are further constrained from the outside by the fixing structure 40. Furthermore, the fixing structure 40, the two main planes 21a and 21b of the battery cell 20, and the supporting structures 30a and 30b enclose two opposing expansion spaces 50 along the second direction. These expansion spaces 50 can be air-filled gaps. This design provides a buffer for the expansion of the battery cell 20, and most importantly, the main planes 21a and 21b are not compressed during normal expansion.

[0035] The "normal expansion" mentioned above refers to the normal expansion phenomenon that occurs during the use of the battery cell, and will not cause damage or other adverse effects to the battery cell. It should be understood that restricting the battery cell through external structures during expansion may lead to excessive internal pressure in certain areas of the battery cell, causing internal damage, surface breakage, or even explosion. The embodiments of this disclosure, by providing an expansion space 50, offer the following advantages compared to prior art battery cell assemblies: providing reasonable expansion for the battery cell and reducing pressure on the battery cell.

[0036] Optionally, the two ends of the support structures 30a and 30b in the second direction may be chamfered to reduce the pressure of the edges of the support structures on the fixing structure 40. In some embodiments, the support structures 30a and 30b may have a locking portion on the side facing the battery cell 20. This portion is configured to substantially match the shape of the two side planes 22a and 22b of the battery cell 20. By locking the battery cell 20 into the locking portion, the movement of the battery cell 20 in the second direction is restricted. In some embodiments, the support structures 30a and 30b may have a surface area with high resistance on the side facing the battery cell 20 to restrict the movement of the battery cell 20 in the second direction through friction. In some embodiments, the support structures 30a and 30b may have a buffer portion on the side facing the battery cell 20 with a lower hardness than the material forming the support structures 30a and 30b to reduce the pressure of the support structures 30a and 30b on the battery cell 20.

[0037] Referring again to Figure 1, the fixing structure 40 has a first gap J1 with one of the two main planes 21a and 21b along the second direction, and a second gap J2 with the other main plane 21b along the second direction, wherein the first gap J1 is equal to the second gap J2. In this design, the battery cell 20 can be centrally abutted against the supporting structures 30a and 30b along the second direction. The first gap J1 and the second gap J2 depend on the height difference between the supporting structures 30a and 30b and the battery cell 20. Optionally, the supporting structures 30a and 30b are set slightly higher than the battery cell 20 to provide some expansion space while protecting the battery cell 20.

[0038] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the first gap J1 may be set differently from the second gap J2. The first gap J1 and the second gap J2 may be set according to factors such as the shape, expansion range, or surface material of the battery cell 20.

[0039] Referring again to Figure 1, the fixing structure 40 includes a wire or strip that is tightly wound around the outside of the battery cell 20 and the support structures 30a and 30b, such that the support structures 30a and 30b press and hold the battery cell 20. Such winding can be applied to battery cells of different sizes or shapes.

[0040] It should be understood that tensioned winding refers to providing a predetermined tension force to the filament or strip 40, and the filament or strip 40 maintaining tension for a predetermined time after winding. In some embodiments, the predetermined time may be, for example, the service life specified by the battery cell manufacturer. By tensioning the filament or strip 40 around the outside of the battery cell 20 and the supporting structures 30a and 30b, on the one hand, the volume can be reduced, making the structure of the battery cell assembly 10 more compact and increasing the energy density of the battery cell assembly 10; on the other hand, the fixing structure 40 can maintain a certain shear strength and stiffness, thereby helping to protect the internal structure of the battery cell assembly 10. For example, the filament or strip 40 can be composed of carbon fiber filaments or glass fiber. Carbon fiber or glass fiber materials have the characteristics of high tensile strength, light weight, high temperature resistance and wear resistance, which allows for the application of greater tension force during winding, significantly improving the structural strength and stability of the battery cell assembly 10 without significantly increasing the overall weight.

[0041] Referring again to Figure 1, the fixing structure 40 is coated with adhesive before being wrapped around the outside of the battery cell 20 and the support structures 30a and 30b, so that the fixing structure 40 maintains tension when the adhesive cures, so that the support structures 30a and 30b are tightly attached to the battery cell 20.

[0042] It should be understood that the adhesive used to apply the fixing structure 40 is a curable adhesive. The adhesive used is a fluid with a certain degree of fluidity before curing and forms a rigid structure after curing. After application, the adhesive wets the fixing structure 40 and covers all parts of the fixing structure 40. Through this application method, the adhesive bonds tightly to the fixing structure 40 after curing, forming an inseparable integral structure similar to a "hardened shell." This integral structure has shear resistance and deformation resistance, which helps protect the internal structure of the battery cell assembly 10 from damage by the external environment and limits excessive expansion of the battery cell 20.

[0043] Referring again to Figure 1, the support structures 30a and 30b can be bonded to the side planes 22a and 22b of the battery cell 20 using double-sided adhesive. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the battery cell 20 can also be bonded to the support structures 30a and 30b using other suitable bonding methods.

[0044] Please refer to Figure 2 below, which shows a schematic diagram of the structure of the battery cell assembly 10 according to some other embodiments of this application. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the battery cell assembly 10 further includes: elastic members 60, which are respectively disposed on the two main planes 21a and 21b of the battery cell 20, for further buffering the expansion of the battery cell 20 during charging.

[0045] Compared to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the elastic element 60 in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 is positioned at the expansion space 50, providing better cushioning. The elastic element 60 is a material with a certain deformation capacity; in other words, it is compressible and resilient. During charging, when the cell 20 expands, the elastic element 60 can be compressed by the cell 20 to offset the volume change caused by the expansion. After charging, when the volume of the cell 20 recovers, the elastic element 60 can rebound in accordance with the volume reduction of the cell 20. In this design, the elastic element 60 always fills the space formed by the fixed structure 40, the two main planes 21a and 21b of the cell, and the supporting structures 30a and 30b. Therefore, the elastic element 60 can not only better absorb the expansion of the cell but also provide support for the fixed structure 40. Furthermore, the elastic element 60 can be made of a thermally conductive material to optimize heat dissipation of the cell 20.

[0046] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the battery module may include a housing and at least one cell assembly 10 according to the embodiments described above. The housing serves to support and secure the cell assembly 10 and to provide encapsulation for the cell assembly 10. In some embodiments, multiple cell assemblies 10 may be arranged in the housing in parallel or in series. The number and connection method of the cell assemblies 10 can be configured according to desired voltage, current, or other output parameters.

[0047] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the battery pack includes the battery modules described in the above embodiments. Multiple battery modules can be integrated within the battery pack to provide greater energy storage capacity and output power. For example, the battery pack may also include a battery management system (BMS), a cooling system, a housing, and connectors to monitor the normal operation of the battery modules and provide the desired energy output. It should be understood that the battery pack is a highly integrated battery system capable of providing or storing electrical energy as needed. In other embodiments of this disclosure, the battery pack may be configured with connectors, switches, or other electrical components for external electrical connections as required.

[0048] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the power-consuming device includes the battery pack described in the above embodiments, the battery pack being used to provide electrical power. The power-consuming device may be, for example, a car, a large work platform, a portable digital product, or other electronic equipment.

[0049] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this disclosure, and not to limit them. Although this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of this disclosure. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any way. This disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

[0050] The reference numerals in the detailed embodiments are as follows:

[0051] 10. Battery Cell Assembly

[0052] 20 cells

[0053] 21a, 21b Main Plane

[0054] 22a, 22b Lateral planes

[0055] 30a, 30b Supporting structural components

[0056] 40 Fixed structural components

[0057] 50 Expansion Space

[0058] 60 Elastic element

[0059] J1 First Gap

[0060] J2 Second Gap.

Claims

1. A battery cell assembly, characterized in that, The battery cell assembly includes: The battery cell has two side planes opposite each other along a first direction and two main planes opposite each other along a second direction; Supporting structural members are disposed on two side planes of the battery cell, the supporting structural members extending beyond the edges of the side planes along the second direction; and A fixed structural member is arranged around the outside of the battery cell and the supporting structural member, such that the fixed structural member, the two main planes of the battery cell, and the supporting structural member enclose an expansion space, which is used to buffer the expansion of the battery cell during charging.

2. The battery cell assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed structural member has a first gap with one of the two main planes along the second direction, and the fixed structural member has a second gap with the other of the two main planes along the second direction, wherein the first gap is equal to the second gap.

3. The battery cell assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed structural member has a first gap with one of the two main planes along the second direction, and the fixed structural member has a second gap with the other of the two main planes along the second direction, wherein the first gap is different from the second gap.

4. The cell assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixing structure includes a wire or strip that is tightly wound around the outside of the battery cell and the supporting structure, such that the supporting structure presses down on and holds the battery cell.

5. The cell assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, Before being wrapped around the outside of the battery cell and the support structure, the fixing structure is coated with adhesive to maintain tension in the fixing structure as the adhesive cures, so that the support structure is tightly attached to the battery cell.

6. The cell assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The supporting structure is bonded to the side plane of the battery cell using double-sided adhesive.

7. The cell assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The battery cell assembly also includes: Elastic elements are respectively disposed on the two main planes of the battery cell to further buffer the expansion of the battery cell during charging.

8. A battery module comprising a housing and at least one cell assembly according to any one of claims 1-7.

9. A battery pack comprising the battery module according to claim 8.

10. An electrical device comprising a battery pack according to claim 9, the battery pack being used to provide electrical energy.

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