CN112331984B

CN112331984B - Battery device, vehicle or stationary installation and method for producing a battery device

Info

Publication number: CN112331984B
Application number: CN202010533771.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P.吉尔
Original assignee: Volkswagen AG
Current assignee: Volkswagen AG
Priority date: 2019-06-13
Filing date: 2020-06-12
Publication date: 2023-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2040-06-12
Also published as: DE102019208570A1; CN112331984A

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery device (3) having a battery housing (4), wherein the battery housing (4) has a hollow profile tube (4 a) and at least one end-side loading opening (14), wherein the hollow profile tube (4 a) has a tubular inner space (7), wherein a plurality of electrochemical cells (8) are arranged in the inner space (7). It is advantageously provided that the plurality of electrochemical cells (8) each have a plate-shaped cell housing (9), that the cell housing (9) has an end face (10, 11) and a circumferential housing edge (12), and that the plurality of electrochemical cells (8) form a cell stack (15) by being inserted with the end face (10, 11) forward into the interior (7) of the battery housing (4) via the loading opening (14).

Description

Battery device, vehicle or stationary installation and method for producing a battery device

Technical Field

The invention relates to a battery device having a battery housing with a hollow profile tube having a tubular interior, wherein a plurality of electrochemical cells are arranged in the interior, and at least one end-side loading opening. The invention also relates to a vehicle or a stationary installation having the aforementioned accumulator arrangement. The invention also relates to a method for producing the aforementioned battery device.

Background

DE 2011 104 499 A1 discloses a battery for a vehicle, which has a plurality of cells, which form a stack. Between each two units, a partition made of a waterproof material is arranged, which electrically isolates the units from each other. A watertight or moisture-proof housing for the stack of battery cells can be formed by a plurality of separators.

A battery, in particular a vehicle battery with a battery pack, having a plurality of individual cells stacked on one another is known from DE 10 2013 021 400 A1. The individual battery cells have an orientation structure adapted to the holding element, so that the individual battery cells are mechanically fixed in the battery pack. The holding element is either arranged between two individual battery cells or surrounds an individual battery cell. In the battery pack, the holding element presses on the sealing seam of the individual battery cells, wherein the holding element has an elastic element in this region. The elastic element serves to introduce force uniformly into the sealing seam of the individual battery cells. The battery pack further comprises a pressure plate and a tensioning device which penetrates the holding element and the pressure plate on each end face in order to press the holding element and the pressure plate axially.

From WO 20157113858 A2 a battery module is known with preferably a plurality of battery cells, which are essentially designed in plate-like form and are surrounded by a foam structure, wherein the foam structure has at least two foam layers with identical or different mechanical, physical and/or chemical properties.

DE 10 2017 354 A1, which is the closest to the subject matter of the present application, discloses a battery assembly, in particular for a vehicle, having a prismatic battery housing, in the likewise prismatic interior of which at least one elongate prismatic battery having a plurality of battery cells (individual cells) arranged next to one another and one after the other and electrically connected to one another is arranged. The battery cells also have a square shape and thus constitute the square battery pack described above. The battery cells are surrounded by a separating material, preferably made of plastic, which surrounds them and which, as it were, forms a housing. The battery housing itself is formed by a hollow profile tube with a closed profile cross section (tube cross section), which is provided at both ends with at least one housing cover element for closing the hollow profile tube. The hollow profile tube is preferably an extruded profile or an extruded profile.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a battery device which is further improved over the prior art, in particular the closest patent document DE 10 2017 354 A1, and which can be produced simply and inexpensively while retaining the advantages of the prior art, and which ensures that the electrochemical cells are reliably supported in the battery housing of the battery device. The present invention also provides a vehicle having such a battery device. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing such a battery device.

The object is achieved in that the plurality of electrochemical cells each have a plate-shaped cell housing which has an end face and a circumferential housing edge and which forms a cell stack by being inserted with the end face facing forward into the interior of the battery housing via the loading opening.

The battery device advantageously differs from the prior art in that the individual electrochemical cells are mounted directly in the battery housing and no additional fastening material is used for the mounting, as a result of which material and costs can be saved, in particular with regard to production and assembly, and weight can be reduced.

The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments and embodiments of the invention.

It is hereby preferably provided that the cell housing of each electrochemical cell is supported on the inner circumferential surface of the tubular inner space by means of at least one elastic compensation profile arranged on the circumferential housing edge, whereby a reliable and low-vibration mounting of the electrochemical cell is advantageously ensured.

The invention further provides that the inner space is designed with an interference with respect to the cell housing of each electrochemical cell, so that the cell housing is supported on the inner circumferential surface of the tubular inner space under prestress by means of an elastic compensation profile. In other words, the cross-sectional contour of the electrochemical cell is adapted to the cross-section of the interior within a defined tolerance range by means of at least one elastic compensation profile, and the electrochemical cell is mounted in the battery housing in a compressed manner, viewed transversely to the longitudinal extent of the interior of the battery housing.

According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one elastic compensation profile is arranged over the entire circumference of the housing edge. Alternatively, the at least one elastic compensation profile can also be arranged on a partial section of the housing edge. The measures described hereinafter result in particular in a minimized insertion force for positioning the relevant electrochemical cell in the interior of the battery housing.

The at least one elastic compensating profile is preferably designed as a hollow profile with an open or closed profile cross section or as a solid profile and can have any suitable profile cross section here, but in particular a polygonal, circular, at least in sections circular or comb-shaped profile cross section. Any combination of such profile cross-sections is of course also covered by the present invention.

In a further development of the invention, the at least one elastic compensation profile has a profile cross section which, viewed in the insertion direction of the electrochemical unit into the interior of the battery housing, is designed to be reduced at least in sections. Advantageously, this results in a centering of the electrochemical cell in the region of the loading opening of the battery housing and/or a reduced insertion force when initially inserting the electrochemical cell into the interior of the battery housing. The reduction can be designed here continuously or discontinuously or in stages.

In order to further improve the joining connection between the electrochemical cell and the battery housing and to ensure a reliable assembly of the electrochemical cell in the battery housing, the at least one compensation profile and the battery housing have form-fitting elements adapted to one another.

In order to simplify the electrical contacting of the electrochemical cells in the cell stack, the cell housing has at least one cell electrode in the region of the respective end face, which is intended to be in electrical contact with a cell electrode of an adjacent cell housing. Preferably, the relevant cells in the cell stack are thereby electrically connected in series.

The invention also relates to a vehicle or stationary installation, such as an electrochemical storage installation, having a battery device of the aforementioned type.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a battery device of the aforementioned type. The method is mainly characterized by comprising the following steps:

a) Providing a battery housing having a hollow profile tube with a tubular interior and at least one end-side loading opening;

b) Providing a plurality of electrochemical cells, each of which has a plate-shaped cell housing having an end face and a circumferential housing edge;

c1 Loading the battery casing with the electrochemical cells in such a way that each cell is inserted with one end facing forward into the interior space of the battery casing via the loading opening and the totality of these cells constitutes a cell stack, or

c2 A cell stack is constructed by first stacking a plurality of electrochemical cells in the region of their end faces and inserting the cell stack with the end face of its first electrochemical cell facing forward into the interior of the battery housing; and

d) The battery housing is optionally closed at the end by at least one housing cover element.

Due to this method, the production of such a battery device is particularly simple, since no additional fastening material is required.

Drawings

The invention is explained in detail below on the basis of embodiments which are schematically shown in the drawing. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, however, but encompasses all designs defined by the claims. In this description, a normal traveling direction of the motor vehicle is denoted by "" x "(" negative x "), a direction opposite to the normal traveling direction is denoted by" + x "(" positive x "), a horizontal line transverse to the x direction is denoted by" + y "based on the normal traveling direction (-x), a horizontal line transverse to the x direction is denoted by" + y "to the left based on the normal traveling direction (-x), a vertical line transverse to the x direction is denoted by" + z "to the upward, and a vertical line transverse to the x direction is denoted by" — z ". This representation of the spatial orientation in a rectangular coordinate system corresponds to the coordinate system generally used in the motor vehicle industry. In addition, terms such as "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", and terms with similar meanings, including "right" and "left", are used in the same manner as they are commonly used with respect to directional representations on motor vehicles. In the drawings:

figure 1 very schematically shows a vehicle equipped with a battery device according to the invention,

fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a battery device, which comprises a cell stack of a plurality of electrochemical cells and a battery housing accommodating the cell stack,

figure 3 shows an enlarged view according to figure 2,

figure 4 shows an isolated perspective view of an electrochemical cell,

FIG. 5 shows a side view according to FIG. 4, an

Fig. 6 shows an advantageous further embodiment of a battery housing equipped with electrochemical cells.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 1, in this case a motor vehicle, the vehicle 1 having an electric motor 2 as a drive motor and a battery device 3 forming a traction battery, in particular a high-voltage battery. The exemplary embodiment therefore relates to a purely electric vehicle 1. Of course, the invention also covers so-called hybrid vehicles which have an internal combustion engine (not shown in the figures) in addition to one or more electric motors 2 and any other vehicle 1 which has or can have a battery device 3 described below.

According to fig. 2, the battery device 3 first has a battery housing 4, the battery housing 4 being formed by a hollow profile tube 4a having a closed profile cross section, which hollow profile tube 4a can be cut to length as desired depending on the currently required energy requirement and the available installation space. The hollow profile tube 4a is formed from an extruded or pultruded profile that can be produced simply and inexpensively. Extruded profiles are used in particular for producing metal battery cases 4, for example battery cases 4 made of aluminum or aluminum alloys, while extruded profiles are used in particular for producing battery cases 4 made of plastic or composite materials, in particular fiber-reinforced plastic. The end-side profile openings 5 of the battery housing 4 or of the hollow profile tube 4a are preferably each provided at both ends with a housing cover element, not shown in the figures.

According to this embodiment, the battery case 4 is held between two side members 6 of the vehicle 1 and extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x direction). The invention is not limited to the longitudinal beams 6, but encompasses any suitable load-bearing structure of the vehicle 1, for example a transverse beam, which is not shown in the figures. Alternatively, the battery case 4 may also extend in the vehicle transverse direction (y direction), which is also covered by the present invention (not shown in the drawings).

The battery case 4 has a square shape. The battery housing 4, viewed in its longitudinal direction, is only formed by way of example with two tubular inner spaces 7 arranged parallel next to one another, each for accommodating a plurality of electrochemical cells 8. The battery housing 4 can also be provided with only one interior space 7 or more than two interior spaces 7 arranged parallel next to one another and/or one above the other (not shown in the figures).

According to the square shape of the electrochemical cell 8 visible in fig. 2 to 6, the inner space 7 has a square cross section. That is to say that the inner contour of the inner space 7 in question is therefore designed to complement the outer contour of the electrochemical cell 8 as closely as possible.

The electrochemical cells 8 each have a plate-shaped cell case 9 having the above-described square shape and are made of, for example, metal or plastic. The plate-shaped unit case 9 basically means a unit case 9 whose depth is selected to be much smaller than its width and height.

The cell housing 9 has two end faces 10, 11 and a circumferential housing edge 12. The end faces 10, 11 of the cell housing 9 of each electrochemical cell 8 have at least one cell electrode not shown in the figures or form a cell electrode for electrical contact with the end faces 10, 11 of the cell housing 9 of an adjacent electrochemical cell 8.

According to fig. 2 and 3, a plurality of electrochemical cells 8 are inserted with one of their end faces 10, 11 forward into the associated interior space 7 of the battery housing 4 via one of the end-side profile openings 5 according to the directional arrow 13 in fig. 3, the profile openings 5 simultaneously being the loading openings 14, and the plurality of electrochemical cells 8 are preferably stacked on top of one another in series connection, thereby forming a cell stack 15. The interior 7 can be loaded with the electrochemical cells 8 either by inserting the electrochemical cells 8 individually into the interior 7 and only forming the cell stack 15 in the interior 7, or by stacking the electrochemical cells 8 on top of one another in the region of their end faces 10, 11 and then inserting the cell stack 15 with the

end face

10 or 11 of the first electrochemical cell 8 of the cell stack 15 facing forward into the interior 7 of the battery housing 4. In order to close the battery housing 4 equipped with the electrochemical cells 8, a housing cover element, which is not shown in the drawing, can be provided.

As is also apparent from fig. 2 to 6, the cell housing 9 of each electrochemical cell 8 is supported on an inner circumferential surface 17 (see fig. 6 in particular) of the tubular inner space 7 by means of at least one elastic compensation profile 16 arranged on the circumferential housing edge 12. The compensating profile can be made of rubber or elastomer plastic, for example. The inner space 7 is designed with an interference with respect to the cell housing 9 of each electrochemical cell 8, but only so that the cell housing 9 is supported under prestress on the inner circumferential surface 17 of the tubular inner space 7 by means of the elastic compensation profile 16. As can also be seen from fig. 2 to 6, the elastic compensation profile 16 is arranged over the entire circumference of the housing edge 12.

Alternatively, the elastic compensation profile 16 can also be arranged on a partial section of the housing edge 12 (not shown in the figures). That is, the cell housing 9 is supported on the inner circumferential surface 17 of the tubular inner space 7 of the battery housing 4 only in predetermined sections of the housing edge 12. This results in particular in a minimized pressing-in force for positioning the relevant electrochemical cell 8 in the interior 7 of the battery housing 4.

The elastic compensating profile 16 can be designed as a hollow profile with an open or closed profile cross section or as a solid profile and can have any suitable profile cross section here, but in particular a polygonal, circular, at least in sections circular or comb-shaped profile cross section. Any combination of such profile cross-sections is of course also covered by the present invention. Fig. 5 therefore shows only by way of example a compensation profile 16 with the above-described comb-shaped profile cross section. According to this exemplary embodiment, the compensating profile 16 has five profile lips 16a which run around the housing edge 12 of the cell housing 9, which five profile lips 16a are arranged at a distance from one another, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the interior 7 of the battery housing 4, and are supported in the region of their outer periphery on the inner circumferential surface 17 of the interior 7 of the battery housing 4. The design of the compensating profile 16 with a separate profile lip 16a of the type described above also results in a particularly minimized insertion force for positioning the relevant electrochemical cell 8 in the interior 7 of the battery housing 4.

The minimization of the pressing-in force can also be brought about in particular at the beginning of the loading process by the compensation profile 16 having, according to fig. 5, a profile cross section which is designed to be reduced at least in sections, as viewed in the insertion direction 13 of the electrochemical cells 8 into the interior 7 of the battery housing 4. It is thereby also advantageously achieved that, when the electrochemical cells 8 are initially inserted into the interior 7 of the battery housing 4, the electrochemical cells 8 are centered in the region of the loading opening 14 of the battery housing 4. The reduction in the cross section of the profile can be designed continuously or discontinuously or in stages. This reduction in the cross section of the profile is shown very schematically in fig. 3 by a dashed line. In the present exemplary embodiment, therefore, the partial profile lips 16a, i.e. the two front profile lips 16a, as viewed in the insertion direction, are designed to be reduced in their extent away from the unit housing 9.

In order to further improve the joining connection between the electrochemical cells 8 and the battery housing 4 and to ensure a reliable, in particular automated, assembly of the electrochemical cells 8 in the battery housing 4, the at least one compensation profile 16 and the battery housing 4 have form-locking

elements

18, 19 adapted to one another. Fig. 6 shows a compensation profile 16, which compensation profile 16, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the interior 7 of the battery housing 4, has a first form-fit element 18 in the form of a recess, which first form-fit element 18 receives a second form-fit element 19 in the form of a projection on the inner circumferential surface 17 of the tubular interior 7 in a form-fitting manner when the electrochemical unit 8 and the battery housing 4 are fitted together. In this case, all the electrochemical cells 8 of the cell stack 15 preferably together form an elongated groove which is received in a form-fitting manner on the inner circumferential surface 17 of the tubular interior 7 in a second form-fitting element 19 in the form of an elongated tab-like projection.

The above embodiment is adapted to the battery device 3 of the vehicle 1. The invention is not limited to this application, but is also suitable for a battery device 3 as a component of a stationary installation, such as an electrochemical storage installation not shown, for example for the intermediate storage of electrical energy obtained from wind and/or solar installations.

List of reference numerals

1. Vehicle with a steering wheel

2. Electric motor

3. Accumulator device

4. Accumulator casing

4a hollow section bar pipe

5. Section bar opening

6. Longitudinal beam

7. Inner space

8. Unit

9. Unit shell

10. End face

11. End face

12. Edge of the shell

13. Direction arrow of the insertion direction

14. Loading opening

15. Unit stack

16. Compensation section bar

16a profile lip

17. Inner peripheral surface

18. Shape fastener

19. Form-fitting element

Claims

1. A battery device (3) having a battery housing (4), the battery housing (4) having a hollow profile tube (4 a) and at least one end-side loading opening (14), the hollow profile tube (4 a) having a tubular inner space (7), wherein a plurality of electrochemical cells (8) are arranged in the inner space (7), characterized in that the plurality of electrochemical cells (8) each have a plate-shaped cell housing (9), the cell housing (9) having an end face (10, 11) and a surrounding housing edge (12), and the plurality of electrochemical cells (8) form a cell stack (15) by being inserted into the inner space (7) of the battery housing (4) with the end face (10, 11) facing forward via the loading opening (14), wherein the at least one elastic compensation profile (16) has a profile cross section which, as viewed in an insertion direction (13) of the electrochemical cells (8) into the inner space (7) of the battery housing (4), is designed at least in sections which are reduced in sections.

2. Accumulator device (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cell housing (9) of each electrochemical cell (8) is supported on the inner circumferential surface (17) of the tubular inner space (7) by means of at least one elastic compensation profile (16) arranged on the circumferential housing edge (12).

3. Accumulator apparatus (3) according to claim 2, characterized in that the inner space (7) is designed with an interference with respect to the cell housing (9) of each electrochemical cell (8) such that the cell housing (9) is supported with prestress on the inner circumferential surface (17) of the tubular inner space (7) by means of an elastic compensation profile (16).

4. Accumulator device (3) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the at least one elastic compensation profile (16) is arranged over the housing edge (12) over the entire circumference or in partial sections.

5. Accumulator means (3) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said at least one elastic compensating profile (16) is a hollow profile or a solid profile.

6. Accumulator arrangement (3) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the at least one compensation profile (16) and the accumulator housing (4) have form-fit joints (18, 19) adapted to each other.

7. Accumulator device (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cell housing (9) has at least one cell electrode in the region of the respective end face (10, 11) for electrical contact with a cell electrode of an adjacent cell housing (9).

8. Vehicle (1) or stationary installation having a battery device (3) according to one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Method for manufacturing an accumulator unit (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

a) Providing a battery housing (4) having a hollow profile tube (4 a) and at least one end-side loading opening (14), the hollow profile tube (4 a) having a tubular interior (7),

b) Providing a plurality of electrochemical cells (8), each of the plurality of electrochemical cells (8) having a plate-shaped cell housing (9), the cell housing (9) having an end face (10, 11) and a circumferential housing edge (12),

c1 Loading the battery housing (4) with the electrochemical cells (8) in such a way that each electrochemical cell (8) is inserted with one end face (10, 11) forward into the interior (7) of the battery housing (4) via the loading opening (14) and all the electrochemical cells (8) together form a cell stack (15), or

c2 The cell stack (15) is constructed in that a plurality of electrochemical cells (8) are first stacked in the region of the end faces (10, 11) thereof, and the cell stack (15) is inserted with the end face (10, 11) of the first electrochemical cell (8) thereof into the interior (7) of the battery housing (4) towards the front, and

d) The battery housing (4) is closed at the end by at least one housing cover element.