Battery cell, battery device and electric device

Abstract

Disclosed in the present application are a battery cell, a battery device and an electric device. The battery cell comprises a casing, an electrode assembly, and an explosion-proof valve, wherein an accommodating space is formed in the casing, the casing comprises a wall portion, and the electrode assembly is located in the accommodating space; the explosion-proof valve is arranged on the wall portion; and the casing is provided with a gas flow channel in communication with the accommodating space, and at least one end of the gas flow channel extends to a position close to the wall portion. Therefore, the gas flow channel and the accommodating space, which are in communication with each other, are arranged in the casing, and at least one end of the gas flow channel extends to a position close to the wall portion, such that when a large amount of gas is generated by the electrode assembly in the accommodating space during charging and discharging of the battery cell, the gas is guided through the gas flow channel to the explosion-proof valve on the wall portion, thereby efficiently discharging the gas out of the accommodating space through the explosion-proof valve, and reducing the risk of degradation in terms of the performance of the battery cell caused by excessive gas accumulation inside the casing.

Description

A battery cell, a battery device, and an electrical device.

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202423184798.8, filed on December 23, 2024, entitled "A Battery Cell, Battery Device and Electrical Device", the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. [Technical Field]

[0002] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a battery cell, a battery device, and an electrical device. [Background Technology]

[0003] Energy conservation and emission reduction are key to sustainable development, which in turn promotes the adjustment of the energy structure and drives the development and application of battery technology. The key to the development of battery technology lies in electrochemical energy storage technology. Due to its advantages such as high energy density, good cycle capability, high operating voltage, environmental friendliness, and low self-discharge, it has been widely used in portable electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems.

[0004] A battery consists of one or more individual cells. During multiple charge-discharge cycles, gas is generated inside the individual cells due to side reactions of electrochemical reactions. As the gas content increases, the gas pressure inside the battery casing also increases. If the gas cannot be effectively guided to the outside of the casing, it can easily reduce the lifespan of the individual cells. [Summary of the Invention]

[0005] The main objective of this application is to provide a battery cell, a battery device, and an electrical device, which aims to solve the aforementioned technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0006] To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides a battery cell comprising a casing, electrode assemblies, and an explosion-proof valve. The casing forms an accommodating space and includes a wall portion. The electrode assemblies are located within the accommodating space. The explosion-proof valve is disposed within the wall portion. The casing also includes a gas flow channel, with at least one end extending near the wall portion. This design, with interconnected gas flow channels and the accommodating space, allows the gas generated by the electrode assemblies during the charging and discharging process to be guided through the gas flow channel to the explosion-proof valve on the wall portion. This efficiently discharges the gas from the accommodating space through the explosion-proof valve, mitigating the risk of excessive gas buildup inside the casing damaging the battery cell's performance.

[0007] In some embodiments, the gas flow channel includes a gas sub-flow channel, one end of which extends near the wall and the other end extends to the side of the housing opposite to the wall. Thus, with one end of the gas sub-flow channel extending near the wall and the other end extending to the side of the housing opposite to the wall, at least a portion of the gas on the side of the housing opposite to the wall can be guided through the gas sub-flow channel to the explosion-proof valve, further efficiently discharging the gas from the accommodating space through the explosion-proof valve.

[0008] In some embodiments, the number of gas sub-channels is multiple, and the multiple gas sub-channels are spaced apart. Therefore, simultaneously providing multiple gas sub-channels can improve the efficiency of guiding gas to the explosion-proof valve, and further efficiently discharge the gas through the explosion-proof valve into the containment space.

[0009] In some embodiments, the inner sidewall of the housing is recessed to form the gas sub-channel. Thus, the gas sub-channel can be formed simply by recessing the inner sidewall of the housing, reducing the difficulty of molding the gas sub-channel and improving production efficiency.

[0010] In some embodiments, the inner sidewall of the housing is provided with at least two protrusions, which are spaced apart to form the gas sub-channels. Therefore, having at least two protrusions on the inner sidewall of the housing, spaced apart to form the gas sub-channels, reduces the difficulty of forming the gas sub-channels and improves production efficiency.

[0011] In some embodiments, the width of each gas sub-channel is between 3 mm and 15 mm. This mitigates the risk of stress concentration at the corresponding location of the gas sub-channel due to its small width, and also mitigates the risk of reduced overall structural strength of the housing due to its large width.

[0012] In some embodiments, the depth of the gas sub-channel is 0.5 to 5 times the thickness of the housing wall. This mitigates the risk of low gas guiding efficiency due to a shallow gas sub-channel, and the risk of abnormal damage to the housing due to a deep gas sub-channel.

[0013] In some embodiments, the housing has two first sidewalls and two second sidewalls arranged opposite each other, the surface area of ​​the first sidewalls being larger than the surface area of ​​the second sidewalls, and the gas flow channel being disposed on at least one of the first sidewalls. Therefore, by creating the gas flow channel only on the first sidewall with the larger surface area, the structural strength of the housing can be improved, the molding difficulty of the gas sub-channels can be reduced, and production efficiency can be increased.

[0014] In some embodiments, the outer casing has a protruding structure on its outer side away from the accommodating space, and the protruding structure and the gas flow channel are correspondingly arranged in the thickness direction of the outer casing sidewall. Therefore, the protruding structure on the outer side of the outer casing away from the accommodating space facilitates the installation and fixing of individual battery cells via the protruding structure. Simultaneously, the corresponding arrangement of the protruding structure and the gas flow channel in the thickness direction of the outer casing sidewall allows for the simultaneous molding of the protruding structure and the gas flow channel, improving production efficiency.

[0015] In some embodiments, the inner sidewall of the housing is provided with at least two protrusions, which are spaced apart to form the gas flow channel, and / or the outer side of the housing opposite to the accommodating space is provided with a groove structure, the groove structure and the protrusions being correspondingly arranged in the thickness direction of the housing sidewall. Thus, the corresponding arrangement of the groove structure and the protrusions in the thickness direction of the housing sidewall facilitates the simultaneous forming of the groove structure and the gas sub-flow channel, improving production efficiency.

[0016] In some embodiments, the battery cell includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal, which are spaced apart on the side of the housing away from the wall portion. Therefore, the positive and negative terminals being spaced apart in an area outside the wall portion of the housing can mitigate the impact of the explosion-proof valve on the positive and negative terminals.

[0017] To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides a battery device comprising the battery cells described above.

[0018] To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides an electrical device, which includes the battery device described above. [Attached Image Description]

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle according to one or more embodiments of this application;

[0021] Figure 2 is an exploded structural diagram of a battery device according to one or more embodiments of this application;

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the disassembled structure of a battery cell according to one or more embodiments of this application;

[0023] Figure 4 is a first structural schematic diagram of the shell with the wall portion removed according to one or more embodiments of this application;

[0024] Figure 5 is a top view of the shell structure shown in Figure 4 with the wall portion removed;

[0025] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a second structure of the housing with the wall portion removed according to one or more embodiments of this application;

[0026] Figure 7 is a top view of the shell structure shown in Figure 6 with the wall portion removed;

[0027] Figure 8 is a first top view of the shell structure with the wall portion removed according to one or more embodiments of this application;

[0028] Figure 9 is a second top view of the shell structure with the wall portion removed according to one or more embodiments of this application;

[0029] Figure 10 is a side view of a first structure of a battery cell according to one or more embodiments of this application;

[0030] Figure 11 is a side view of a second structure of a battery cell according to one or more embodiments of this application;

[0031] Figure 12 is a side view of a third structure of a battery cell according to one or more embodiments of this application.

[0032] Reference numerals: Vehicle 1; Battery unit 2; Controller 3; Motor 4; Housing 20; First part 21; Second part 22; Battery cell 10; Shell 100; Wall 101; Accommodation space 110; Gas flow channel 120; Gas sub-flow channel 121; Protrusion 130; First side wall 140; Second side wall 150; Electrode assembly 200; Explosion-proof valve 300; Positioning structure 160; Positioning protrusion 161; Positioning groove 162; Positive electrode post 400; Negative electrode post 500; Width dimension D.

Detailed Implementation Methods

[0033] The embodiments of the technical solution of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application and are therefore merely examples, and should not be used to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0034] 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 application pertains; the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and foregoing description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0035] In the description of the embodiments of this application, 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 and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

[0036] 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 application. 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.

[0037] In the description of the embodiments in this application, 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, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0038] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "multiple" refers to two or more (including two), similarly, "multiple sets" refers to two or more (including two sets), and "multiple pieces" refers to two or more (including two pieces).

[0039] In the description of the embodiments of this application, 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 application 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 application.

[0040] In the description of the embodiments of this application, 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. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0041] Currently, judging from market trends, battery applications are becoming increasingly widespread. Batteries are not only used in energy storage systems such as hydropower, thermal power, wind power, and solar power plants, but also extensively in electric vehicles such as electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric cars, as well as in aerospace and other fields. With the continuous expansion of battery applications, market demand is also constantly increasing.

[0042] Batteries, as discussed in this field, can be categorized into primary batteries and rechargeable batteries based on whether they are rechargeable. Primary batteries, also known as "use-and-discard" batteries or galvanic cells, cannot be recharged after their charge is depleted and must be discarded. Rechargeable batteries, also called secondary batteries or rechargeable batteries, differ from primary batteries in their manufacturing materials and processes. Their advantage lies in their ability to be cycled multiple times after charging, and their output current capacity is higher than most primary batteries. Common types of rechargeable batteries include lead-acid batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are lightweight, have a large capacity (1.5 to 2 times that of a nickel-metal hydride battery of the same weight), no memory effect, and a very low self-discharge rate, thus enjoying widespread use despite their relatively high price. Lithium-ion batteries are also widely used in pure electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. While the capacity of lithium-ion batteries used in these applications is relatively lower, they offer a larger output and charging current, and a longer lifespan, but at a higher cost.

[0043] The batteries described in the embodiments of this application refer to rechargeable batteries or disposable batteries. The embodiments disclosed in this application will be described below primarily using lithium-ion batteries as an example. It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed in this application are applicable to any other suitable type of rechargeable battery. The batteries mentioned in the embodiments disclosed in this application can be directly or indirectly used in suitable devices to power those devices.

[0044] This application provides an electrical device, which may include, but is not limited to, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, electric toys, power tools, electric vehicles, electric cars, ships, spacecraft, etc. Electric toys may include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc. Spacecraft may include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc. The electrical device may include a battery, which can provide electrical power to achieve the corresponding function.

[0045] This application also provides an electric vehicle that may include a battery device.

[0046] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle according to one or more embodiments of this application.

[0047] Vehicle 1 can be a gasoline-powered vehicle, a natural gas-powered vehicle, or a new energy vehicle. New energy vehicles can be pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, or range-extended electric vehicles, etc. A battery device 2 is installed inside vehicle 1, and the battery device 2 can be located at the bottom, front, or rear of vehicle 1. The battery device 2 can be used to power vehicle 1; for example, it can serve as the operating power source for vehicle 1. Vehicle 1 may also include a controller 3 and a motor 4. The controller 3 controls the battery device 2 to supply power to the motor 4, for example, to meet the power needs of vehicle 1 during starting, navigation, and driving.

[0048] In some embodiments of this application, the battery device 2 can not only serve as the operating power source for the vehicle 1, but also as the driving power source for the vehicle 1, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1.

[0049] To improve the performance of electrical devices, this application also provides a battery device, as shown in FIG2, which is an exploded structural diagram of a battery device according to one or more embodiments of this application.

[0050] The shape of the battery device 2 may include, but is not limited to, a square, cylindrical or other arbitrary shapes.

[0051] In some embodiments, the battery device 2 may include a housing 20 and a battery cell 10, with the battery cell 10 housed within the housing 20. The housing 20 provides a receiving space for the battery cell 10, and the housing 20 may employ various structures. In some embodiments, the housing 20 may include a first portion 21 and a second portion 22, which overlap each other, and together define a receiving space for accommodating the battery cell 10. The second portion 22 may be a hollow structure with one open end, and the first portion 21 may be a plate-like structure, with the first portion 21 covering the open side of the second portion 22 so that the first portion 21 and the second portion 22 together define the receiving space; alternatively, the first portion 21 and the second portion 22 may both be hollow structures with one open side, with the open side of the first portion 21 covering the open side of the second portion 22.

[0052] In the battery device 2, there can be multiple battery cells 10, which can be connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner. A mixed connection means that multiple battery cells 10 are connected in both series and parallel configurations. Multiple battery cells 10 can be directly connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner, and then the entire assembly of the multiple battery cells 10 is housed within the housing 20. Alternatively, the battery device 2 can also consist of multiple battery cells 10 first connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner to form battery modules, and then these battery modules are connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner to form a whole, which is also housed within the housing 20. The battery device 2 may also include other structures; for example, it may include a busbar component for electrical connection between the multiple battery cells 10.

[0053] The battery cell 10 is manufactured using two methods: stacking and winding. Stacked cells offer uniform current collection, lower internal resistance, and higher specific power. However, to improve precision, extremely high precision is required for the molds, resulting in high equipment investment, complex processes, and low production efficiency. Winded cells are simpler to manufacture, with less stringent precision requirements for equipment during the sheet fabrication and assembly processes. They offer high production efficiency and lower costs. In terms of performance, wound cells possess excellent high and low temperature performance, very rapid charging, ultra-long lifespan, stable high output voltage, robust structure, and strong shock resistance.

[0054] However, during multiple charge-discharge cycles, gas is generated inside the battery cell due to side reactions of electrochemical reactions. As the gas content increases, the gas pressure inside the battery casing also increases. If the gas cannot be effectively guided to the outside of the casing, it can easily reduce the lifespan of the battery cell.

[0055] To address the technical problems existing in the related technologies, this application provides a battery cell. Referring to Figure 3, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the disassembled structure of a battery cell according to one or more embodiments of this application.

[0056] The battery cell 10 includes a housing 100, an electrode assembly 200, and an explosion-proof valve 300. The housing 100 forms an accommodating space 110 and includes a wall 101. The electrode assembly 200 is located within the accommodating space 110. The explosion-proof valve 300 is disposed on the wall 101. The housing 100 is provided with a gas flow channel 120, at least one end of which extends close to the wall 101.

[0057] The outer casing 100 can be of any shape, including but not limited to square, cylindrical, and prismatic shapes. The wall portion 101 can be any side wall of the outer casing 100. For example, when the outer casing 100 is square, the portions corresponding to the six sides of the square outer casing 100 can all serve as the wall portion 101 in this embodiment. In some embodiments, the outer casing 100 may include an end cap and a housing. The end cap is a component that covers the opening of the housing to isolate the internal environment of the battery cell 10 from the external environment. The shape of the end cap can be adapted to the shape of the housing to fit the housing. Optionally, the end cap can be made of a material with a certain hardness and strength (such as aluminum alloy), so that the end cap is less prone to deformation under pressure and impact, enabling the battery cell 10 to have higher structural strength and improved safety performance. Functional components such as electrode terminals can be provided on the end cap for current output and connection to external circuits. The end cap can also be made of various materials, including but not limited to copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and plastic. In some embodiments, an insulating element may be provided on the inner side of the end cap. The insulating element can be used to isolate the electrical connection components inside the housing from the end cap to reduce the risk of short circuit. For example, the insulating element can be plastic, rubber, etc. The wall portion 101 can be the end cap described above. The housing is an assembly used to cooperate with the end cap to form the accommodating space 110 of the battery cell 10, wherein the accommodating space 110 can be used to accommodate the electrode assembly 200, electrolyte, and other components. The housing and the end cap can be independent components. An opening can be provided on the housing, and the end cap can be used to close the opening to form the accommodating space 110 of the battery cell 10. Alternatively, the end cap and housing can be integrated. Specifically, the end cap and housing can form a common connecting surface before other components are inserted into the housing. When it is necessary to encapsulate the interior of the housing, the end cap closes the housing. The housing can have various shapes and sizes, such as cuboid, cylindrical, hexagonal prism, etc. Specifically, the shape of the housing can be determined according to the specific shape and size of the electrode assembly 200. The casing can be made of various materials, including but not limited to copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and plastic.

[0058] Electrode assembly 200 is the component in the battery cell 10 where electrochemical reactions occur. There can be one or more electrode assemblies 200. Electrode assembly 200 is mainly formed by winding or stacking positive and negative electrode sheets, and typically a separator is provided between the positive and negative electrode sheets. The portions of the positive and negative electrode sheets containing active material constitute the main body of electrode assembly 200, while the portions of the positive and negative electrode sheets without active material each constitute a tab. The positive and negative tabs can be located together at one end of the main body or at opposite ends of the main body. During the charging and discharging process of the battery, the positive and negative active materials react with the electrolyte, and the tabs connect to the electrode terminals to form a current loop. In some embodiments, electrode assembly 200 includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. During the charging and discharging process of the battery cell 10, active ions (e.g., lithium ions) repeatedly insert and extract between the positive and negative electrodes. The separator, located between the positive and negative electrodes, prevents short circuits between the positive and negative electrodes while allowing active ions to pass through.

[0059] The explosion-proof valve 300 is fixedly connected to the wall portion 101. The explosion-proof valve 300 can be in a closed state to isolate the accommodating space from the outside, or in an open state to connect the inside and outside of the accommodating space 110, allowing gas inside the accommodating space 110 to exit through the explosion-proof valve 300. For example, the explosion-proof valve 300 can be used to release internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 10 reaches a threshold. In some embodiments, a pressure relief hole can be provided in the wall portion 101, penetrating both opposite surfaces of the wall portion 101. The explosion-proof valve 300 can block the pressure relief hole so that gas inside the accommodating space 110 can exit through the explosion-proof valve 300 into the housing 100. For example, during multiple charge-discharge cycles of the battery cell 10, gas may be generated in the containment space 110 due to side reactions of the electrochemical reaction. As the gas content increases, the gas pressure inside the containment space 110 also increases. The increased gas pressure inside the casing 100 can easily cause deformation of the casing 100 of the battery cell 10, leading to structural failure of the casing 100. When the internal pressure of the battery cell 10 reaches a threshold, the pressure inside the containment space 110 can be relieved by the explosion-proof valve 300.

[0060] The gas flow channel 120 can be formed on the inner sidewall of the housing 100. The gas flow channel 120 can communicate with the accommodating space 110. The electrode assembly 200 is located in the accommodating space 110, and the electrode assembly 200 will avoid the gas flow channel 120. During multiple charge and discharge cycles of the battery cell 10, the accommodating space 110 may generate gas due to the side reaction of the electrochemical reaction. The gas will enter the gas flow channel 120 and flow in the gas flow channel 120. The shape and size of the gas flow channel 120 can be set according to the actual situation. At least one end of the gas flow channel 120 extends close to the wall 101, so that the gas in the gas flow channel 120 can be guided to the position close to the wall 101, and then exit the accommodating space 110 through the explosion-proof valve 300.

[0061] Through the above embodiments, the housing 100 is provided with a gas flow channel 120 and a accommodating space 110 that are interconnected, and at least one end of the gas flow channel 120 extends close to the wall portion 101. This allows the electrode assembly 200 in the accommodating space 110 to generate a large amount of gas during the charging and discharging process of the battery cell 10. The gas is then guided through the gas flow channel 120 to the explosion-proof valve 300 on the wall portion 101, thereby efficiently discharging the gas through the explosion-proof valve 300 into the accommodating space 110. This reduces the risk of damage to the performance of the battery cell 10 due to excessive gas accumulation inside the housing.

[0062] Referring to Figures 4 to 7, Figure 4 is a first structural schematic diagram of the housing 100 with the wall portion 101 removed according to one or more embodiments of this application. Figure 5 is a top structural schematic diagram of the housing 100 with the wall portion 101 removed shown in Figure 4. Figure 6 is a second structural schematic diagram of the housing 100 with the wall portion 101 removed according to one or more embodiments of this application. Figure 7 is a top structural schematic diagram of the housing 100 with the wall portion 101 removed shown in Figure 6.

[0063] The gas flow channel 120 includes a gas sub-flow channel 121, one end of which extends near the wall portion 101, and the other end extends to the side of the outer casing 100 opposite to the wall portion 101. The shape and size of the gas sub-flow channel 121 can be set according to actual conditions. For example, the gas sub-flow channel 121 can be a straight strip structure, or it can be other curved shapes. For example, the gas sub-flow channel 121 can extend along the height direction of the battery cell 10, that is, the direction in which the gas sub-flow channel 121 extends can be perpendicular to the surface of the wall portion 101 of the battery cell 10. One end of the gas sub-channel 121 extends close to the wall 101, and the other end extends to the side of the housing 100 away from the wall 101. The gas sub-channel 121 can extend continuously from one end to the other end so that at least a portion of the gas on the side of the housing 100 away from the wall 101 can be guided through the gas sub-channel 121 to the explosion-proof valve 300, and the gas can be discharged from the accommodating space 110 through the explosion-proof valve 300 more efficiently.

[0064] Furthermore, there are multiple gas sub-channels 121, which are spaced apart. The number of gas sub-channels 121 can be set according to actual conditions. For example, the number of gas sub-channels 121 can be proportional to the capacity of the battery cell 10. When the capacity of the battery cell 10 is large, the number of gas sub-channels 121 can be more, and when the capacity of the battery cell 10 is small, the number of gas sub-channels 121 can be less. The gas sub-channels 121 can be distributed throughout all or part of the inner sidewalls of the housing 100. By simultaneously opening multiple gas sub-channels 121, the efficiency of guiding gas to the explosion-proof valve 300 can be improved, and the gas can be discharged from the accommodating space 110 through the explosion-proof valve 300 more efficiently.

[0065] Referring specifically to Figures 4 and 5, the inner wall of the housing 100 is provided with at least two protrusions 130, which are spaced apart to form a gas sub-channel 121. The shape and size of the protrusions 130 can be defined according to actual conditions. The shape and size of the at least two protrusions 130 can be the same or different. The at least two protrusions 130 can protrude relative to other inner wall surfaces of the housing 100, thereby forming the gas sub-channel 121 when the at least two protrusions 130 are spaced apart. The electrode assembly 200 is located within the accommodating space 110. The outer wall of the electrode assembly 200 can contact the protrusions 130, so that the electrode assembly 200 avoids the gas sub-channel 121, facilitating the flow of gas within the accommodating space 110 within the gas sub-channel 121.

[0066] Referring specifically to Figures 6 and 7, the inner wall of the housing 100 is recessed to form a gas sub-channel 121. The shape and size of the recess can be defined according to actual conditions; for example, the shape of the recess can be semi-cylindrical. The number of recesses can be set according to actual conditions; when there are multiple recesses, they are spaced apart. The inner wall of the housing 100, corresponding to other positions of the recess, can be a flat surface, which can contact the outer wall of the electrode assembly 200 and restrict the position of the electrode assembly 200, alleviating abnormal shaking of the electrode assembly 200. At the same time, it can also allow the electrode assembly 200 to avoid contact with the gas sub-channel 121, facilitating the flow of gas in the accommodating space 110 within the gas sub-channel 121.

[0067] The outer shell 100 can be formed by stamping with a stamping die, the shape of which can be set according to actual conditions. For example, the stamping die can include a main body portion, the outer surface of which is at least partially protruding. The outer shell 100 can cover the outer side of the stamping die, and the internal structure of the outer shell 100 is formed by stamping with the stamping die. Specifically, the main body portion of the stamping die corresponds to the accommodating space 110 forming the outer shell 100, and the protruding portion of the main body portion corresponds to the recess forming the inner sidewall of the outer shell 100, thereby forming a gas flow channel 120. Alternatively, the stamping die can include a main body portion, the outer surface of which is at least partially recessed. The outer shell 100 can cover the outer side of the stamping die, and the internal structure of the outer shell 100 is formed by stamping with the stamping die. Specifically, the main body portion of the stamping die corresponds to the accommodating space 110 forming the outer shell 100, and the recessed portion of the main body portion corresponds to the protrusion 130 forming the inner sidewall of the outer shell 100, thereby forming a gas flow channel 120.

[0068] In some embodiments, the width dimension D of each gas sub-channel 121 is between 3 mm and 15 mm. Specifically, the width dimension D of each gas sub-channel 121 can be 3 mm, 5 mm, 7 mm, 9 mm, 11 mm, 13 mm, or 15 mm. For example, when the inner wall of the housing 100 is provided with at least two protrusions 130, and the at least two protrusions 130 are spaced apart to form a gas sub-channel 121, the width dimension D of the gas sub-channel 121 can be selected from a larger range, for example, the width dimension D of the gas sub-channel 121 can be selected from a larger range, such as between 10 mm and 15 mm. When the inner wall of the housing 100 is recessed to form the gas sub-channel 121, the width dimension D of the gas sub-channel 121 can be selected from a smaller range, for example, the width dimension D of the gas sub-channel 121 can be selected from a larger range, such as between 3 mm and 5 mm.

[0069] In some embodiments, the depth of the gas sub-channel 121 is 0.5 to 5 times the wall thickness of the housing 100. The depth of the gas sub-channel 121 can be understood as the depth of the gas sub-channel 121 extending along the wall thickness direction of a certain sidewall of the housing 100. The wall thickness of the housing 100 can correspond to the location of the gas sub-channel 121 or to a location where no gas sub-channel 121 is provided. The depth of the gas sub-channel 121 can be 0.5 to 3 times, 1 to 3 times, 1 to 5 times, 2 to 5 times, or 3 to 5 times the wall thickness of the housing 100. Specifically, the depth of the gas sub-channel 121 is 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 times the wall thickness of the housing 100, etc. The depth of the gas sub-channel 121 can be related to the material of the outer casing 100. For example, when the outer casing 100 is mainly made of aluminum, the depth of the gas sub-channel 121 can be 0.5 to 5 times the wall thickness of the outer casing 100. When the outer casing 100 is mainly made of steel, the depth of the gas sub-channel 121 can be 0.5 to 3 times the wall thickness of the outer casing 100. This mitigates the risk of stress concentration at the corresponding location of the gas sub-channel 121 due to a smaller width dimension D, and also mitigates the risk of reduced overall structural strength of the outer casing 100 due to a larger width dimension D of the gas sub-channel 121.

[0070] In some implementations, the housing 100 has two first sidewalls 140 and two second sidewalls 150 disposed opposite to each other. The surface area of ​​the first sidewall 140 is larger than the surface area of ​​the second sidewall 150. The gas flow channel 120 is disposed on at least one first sidewall 140. For example, taking a square battery cell 10 as an example, it has a total of six sidewalls. The wall portion 101 and the sidewall opposite to the wall portion 101 can be the end wall and the bottom wall of the battery cell 10. Four sidewalls are located between the end wall and the bottom wall. The first sidewall 140 connects the end wall, the bottom wall and the two second sidewalls 150. When the electrode assembly 200 is placed in the accommodating space 110, the two sidewalls of the electrode assembly 200 with larger areas are attached to the two first sidewalls 140, and the two sidewalls of the electrode assembly 200 with smaller areas are attached to the two second sidewalls 150. The cross-section of the electrode assembly 200 is usually racetrack-shaped. The position in the accommodating space 110 where the first sidewalls 140 and the second sidewalls 150 are connected is usually not filled by the electrode assembly 200. The part not filled by the electrode assembly 200 can also be used for gas flow. Therefore, the gas flow channel 120 is opened only in the first sidewall 140 with larger surface area, which can improve the structural strength of the outer shell 100 and reduce the molding difficulty of the gas sub-flow channel 121, thereby improving production efficiency.

[0071] Referring to Figures 8 and 9, Figure 8 is a first top view of the housing 100 with the wall portion 101 removed according to one or more embodiments of the present application. Figure 9 is a second top view of the housing 100 with the wall portion 101 removed according to one or more embodiments of the present application.

[0072] A positioning structure 160 is provided on the outer side of the outer casing 100 away from the accommodating space 110. The positioning structure 160 and the gas flow channel 120 are correspondingly arranged in the thickness direction of the side wall of the outer casing 100. The positioning structure 160 can be of any form, and its location on the outer side of the outer casing 100 facilitates mutual fixation between the battery cell 10 and its corresponding positioning structure 160. The corresponding arrangement of the positioning structure 160 and the gas flow channel 120 in the thickness direction of the side wall of the outer casing 100 facilitates the simultaneous molding of the positioning structure 160 and the gas flow channel 120, improving production efficiency.

[0073] Referring specifically to Figure 8, the positioning structure 160 includes a protrusion 161, which is correspondingly disposed with the gas flow channel 120 in the thickness direction of the sidewall of the housing 100. The inner sidewall of the housing 100 corresponding to the protrusion 161 can be recessed to form a gas sub-channel 121 of the gas flow channel 120. The shape and size of the recess can be limited according to actual conditions; for example, the shape of the recess can be semi-cylindrical. The number of recesses can be set according to actual conditions; when there are multiple recesses, they are spaced apart. Other positions of the inner sidewall of the housing 100 corresponding to the recess can be flat surfaces, which can contact the outer sidewall of the electrode assembly 200 and limit the position of the electrode assembly 200, alleviating abnormal shaking of the electrode assembly 200. Simultaneously, it allows the electrode assembly 200 to avoid contact with the gas sub-channel 121, facilitating the flow of gas within the accommodating space 110 within the gas sub-channel 121. The shape and size of the protrusion 161 can be limited according to the actual situation. One protrusion 161 can correspond to a gas sub-channel 121 in a recess, and its forming method is simpler. For example, taking the stamping of the shell 100 by two stamping dies as an example, the inner stamping die can include a main body part, the outer surface of which is at least partially protruding. The shell 100 can cover the outer side of the stamping die. The internal structure of the shell 100 is formed by stamping with the inner stamping die, and the external structure of the shell 100 is formed by stamping with the outer stamping die. Specifically, the main body part of the inner stamping die corresponds to the accommodating space 110 of the shell 100, and the protruding part of the main body part corresponds to the recess of the inner sidewall of the shell 100, thereby forming the gas channel 120. The protrusion height of the main body part is relatively large, and it is then combined with the outer stamping die to form the protrusion 161.

[0074] Referring specifically to Figure 9, the inner wall of the outer casing 100 is provided with at least two protrusions 130, which are spaced apart to form a gas flow channel 120, and / or the outer side of the outer casing 100 away from the accommodating space 110 is provided with a groove structure 162, the groove structure 162 and the protrusions 130 being correspondingly arranged in the thickness direction of the side wall of the outer casing 100. The shape and size of the protrusions 130 can be limited according to actual conditions, and the shape and size of the at least two protrusions 130 can be the same or different. The at least two protrusions 130 can be protruding relative to other inner wall surfaces of the outer casing 100, thereby forming a gas flow channel 120 when the at least two protrusions 130 are spaced apart. The electrode assembly 200 is located within the accommodating space 110, and the outer wall of the electrode assembly 200 can contact the protrusions 130, so that the electrode assembly 200 avoids the gas flow channel 120, facilitating the flow of gas within the accommodating space 110 within the gas flow channel 120. The shape and size of the groove structure 162 can be limited according to the actual situation. One groove structure 162 can correspond to one protrusion 130, and its forming method is simpler. For example, taking the stamping of the outer shell 100 by two stamping dies as an example, the inner stamping die can include a main body part, the outer surface of which is at least partially recessed. The outer shell 100 can cover the outer side of the stamping die. The internal structure of the outer shell 100 is formed by stamping with the inner stamping die, and the external structure of the outer shell 100 is formed by stamping with the cooperation of the outer stamping die. Specifically, the main body part of the inner stamping die corresponds to the accommodating space 110 of the outer shell 100, and the recess of the main body part corresponds to the protrusion 130 forming the inner sidewall of the outer shell 100, thereby forming the gas flow channel 120. The greater the protrusion height of the protrusion 130, the deeper the groove structure 162 can be formed in cooperation with the outer stamping die.

[0075] In other embodiments, at least two protrusions 130 may be provided on the inner sidewall of the housing 100, with the two protrusions 130 spaced apart to form a gas flow channel 120. Then, a protruding structure 161 may be provided on the outer side of the housing 100 away from the accommodating space 110, with the protruding structure 161 and the protrusions 130 correspondingly arranged in the thickness direction of the sidewall of the housing 100. Alternatively, the inner sidewall of the housing 100 may be recessed to form the gas flow channel 120, while a groove structure 162 may be provided on the outer side of the housing 100 away from the accommodating space 110, with the groove structure 162 correspondingly arranged in the thickness direction of the sidewall of the housing 100 to the gas flow channel 120.

[0076] Referring to FIG10, FIG10 is a side view of a first structure of a battery cell 10 according to one or more embodiments of the present application.

[0077] The battery cell 10 includes a positive terminal 400 and a negative terminal 500, which are spaced apart on a wall portion 101. An explosion-proof valve 300 is located between the positive terminal 400 and the negative terminal 500. The wall portion 101 can serve as an end cap for the battery cell 10, and the positive terminal 400, the negative terminal 500, and the explosion-proof valve 300 are all mounted on the end cap. The positive terminal 400 and the negative terminal 500 can be used to connect electrically to an external device, allowing the battery cell 10 to be charged and discharged via the external device. The explosion-proof valve 300, located between the positive terminal 400 and the negative terminal 500, reduces the risk of interference between the positive terminal 400 and the negative terminal 500 when conducting electricity with an external device by increasing the spacing between them. In this embodiment, there can be multiple gas sub-channels 121. One end of each gas sub-channel 121 is located on the side of the housing 100 away from the wall 101 and extends toward the wall 101 along the height direction of the battery cell 10, so that the other end of the gas sub-channel 121 is set close to the wall 101.

[0078] Referring to FIG11, FIG11 is a side view of a second structure of a battery cell 10 according to one or more embodiments of the present application.

[0079] The battery cell 10 includes a positive terminal 400 and a negative terminal 500, which are spaced apart and located outside the upper wall 101 of the housing 100. In this embodiment, the positive terminal 400, the negative terminal 500, and the explosion-proof valve 300 are located on different side walls of the housing 100. For example, the side of the housing 100 away from the wall 101 can be the end cap of the battery cell 10, and the positive terminal 400 and the negative terminal 500 are disposed on the end cap. The positive terminal 400 and the negative terminal 500 can be used to connect together to an external device so that the battery cell 10 can be charged and discharged through the external device. The explosion-proof valve 300 can be located on the wall 101 to enable inverted venting of the battery cell 10. The positive terminal 400, negative terminal 500, and explosion-proof valve 300 are located on different side walls of the housing 100, which can mitigate the impact of the explosion-proof valve 300 on the positive terminal 400 and negative terminal 500. In this embodiment, there can be multiple gas sub-channels 121. One end of each gas sub-channel 121 is located on the side of the housing 100 away from the wall 101 and extends towards the wall 101 along the height direction of the battery cell 10, so that the other end of the gas sub-channel 121 is located close to the wall 101.

[0080] Referring to FIG12, FIG12 is a side view of a third structure of a battery cell 10 according to one or more embodiments of the present application.

[0081] The battery cell 10 includes a positive terminal 400 and a negative terminal 500. One of the positive terminal 400 and the negative terminal 500 is disposed on the wall portion 101, and the other is disposed on the side of the outer casing 100 opposite to the wall portion 101. In this embodiment, the battery cell 10 can be a blade battery, and the wall portion 101 can be an end wall of the outer casing 100 along the length direction of the battery cell 10. The positive terminal 400 and the negative terminal 500 can be located on two end walls of the outer casing 100 along the length direction of the battery cell 10. For example, the positive terminal 400 and the explosion-proof valve 300 can be located on the wall portion 101 of the outer casing 100, and the negative terminal 500 is located on the other end wall of the outer casing 100 along the length direction of the battery cell 10. Alternatively, the negative terminal 500 and the explosion-proof valve 300 can be located on the wall portion 101 of the outer casing 100, and the negative terminal 500 is located on the other end wall of the outer casing 100 along the length direction of the battery cell 10. The positive terminal 400 and the negative terminal 500 can be used to connect together to an external device, allowing the battery cell 10 to be charged and discharged via an external device. The positive terminal 400, the negative terminal 500, and the explosion-proof valve 300 are located on different side walls of the housing 100, which can mitigate the impact of the explosion-proof valve 300 on the positive terminal 400 and the negative terminal 500. In this embodiment, there can be multiple gas sub-channels 121. One end of each gas sub-channel 121 is located on the side of the housing 100 away from the wall 101 and extends along the length of the battery cell 10 toward the wall 101, so that the other end of the gas sub-channel 121 is located close to the wall 101.

[0082] In summary, the housing 100 is provided with interconnected gas flow channels 120 and accommodating spaces 110, and at least one end of the gas flow channel 120 extends close to the wall portion 101. This allows the electrode assembly 200 in the accommodating space 110 to generate a large amount of gas during the charging and discharging process of the battery cell 10. The gas is then guided through the gas flow channel 120 to the explosion-proof valve 300 on the wall portion 101, thereby efficiently discharging the gas through the explosion-proof valve 300 into the accommodating space 110. This reduces the risk of damage to the performance of the battery cell 10 due to excessive gas accumulation inside the housing.

[0083] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not to limit them. Although this application 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 application, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of this application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the embodiments can be combined in any way. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A battery cell, characterized in that, The battery cell includes: An outer casing having an accommodating space, the outer casing including a wall portion; The electrode assembly is located within the accommodating space; An explosion-proof valve is installed in the wall portion; The outer casing is provided with a gas flow channel, at least one end of which extends close to the wall.

2. The battery cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gas flow channel includes a gas sub-flow channel, one end of which extends close to the wall portion, and the other end extends to the side of the housing opposite to the wall portion.

3. The battery cell according to claim 2, characterized in that, The number of gas sub-channels is multiple, and the multiple gas sub-channels are arranged at intervals.

4. The battery cell according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The inner sidewall of the outer casing is recessed to form the gas sub-channel.

5. The battery cell according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The inner wall of the housing is provided with at least two protrusions, and the at least two protrusions are spaced apart to form the gas sub-channels.

6. The battery cell according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that, The width of each gas subchannel is between 3 mm and 15 mm.

7. The battery cell according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that, The depth of the gas subchannel is 0.5 to 5 times the thickness of the outer casing wall.

8. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The housing has two first sidewalls and two second sidewalls arranged opposite to each other, the surface area of ​​the first sidewalls being larger than the surface area of ​​the second sidewalls, and the gas flow channel being disposed on at least one of the first sidewalls.

9. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The outer shell has a protruding structure on the outer side away from the accommodating space, and the protruding structure and the gas flow channel are arranged correspondingly in the thickness direction of the outer shell sidewall.

10. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The inner sidewall of the housing is provided with at least two protrusions, the at least two protrusions are spaced apart to form the gas flow channel, and / or the outer side of the housing away from the accommodating space is provided with a groove structure, the groove structure and the protrusions are correspondingly arranged in the thickness direction of the sidewall of the housing.

11. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The battery cell includes a positive electrode post and a negative electrode post, which are spaced apart in the area outside the wall portion of the outer casing.

12. A battery device, characterized in that, The battery device includes a battery cell as described in any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. An electrical appliance, characterized in that, The electrical device includes the battery device as described in claim 12.

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