CN117239281A - Battery module with improved heat pipe structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a battery module with an improved heat pipe structure, which comprises a plurality of battery cores and a battery fixing frame for accommodating and fixing the battery cores; the improved heat pipe structure comprises a metal pipe body, wherein the metal pipe body is defined with a heat conduction section, a first container section and a first connecting section; the heat conduction section is a vacuumized sealed tube body, the inside of the heat conduction section comprises a capillary structure, and heat is conveyed by utilizing evaporation and condensation of working fluid and is arranged above the battery fixing frame. The first container section is inserted into the interval kept between a plurality of adjacent battery cells and is used for storing heat generated by charging and discharging peripheral battery cells; the first connecting section is in a flat state, one end of the first connecting section is connected with the first container section, and the other end of the first connecting section vertically penetrates through the battery fixing frame and is connected to one end of the heat conducting section. By the invention, the temperature between the battery cells maintains the thermal balance, so that the safety of the battery module in use is increased.

Description

Battery module with improved heat pipe structure

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a battery module, and more particularly, to a battery module that uses an improved heat pipe structure to dissipate heat from a battery cell or balance heat.

Background

In recent years, with the demand of environmental protection and carbon reduction, electric vehicles are increasingly favored. Many factories continue to enter electric vehicle development in an effort to gain business opportunity in the electric vehicle market. The power source of the electric vehicle is a battery, such as a lithium battery. In order to increase the endurance of the electric vehicle, a battery module having a considerable number of battery cells is generally disposed on the electric vehicle so as to provide sufficient power for the electric vehicle.

Referring to fig. 1, 2 and 3, a top cross-sectional view, a front cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view of a battery module according to the prior art are shown. As shown in fig. 1, 2 and 3, the battery module 100 includes a case 11, a plurality of battery cells 12, a first fixing bracket 131 and a second fixing bracket 132. The battery cells 12 are accommodated and fixed between the first fixing frame 131 and the second fixing frame 132, and the first fixing frame 131 and the second fixing frame 132 for arranging the battery cells 12 are arranged in the shell 11, so that the battery cells 12, the first fixing frame 131 and the second fixing frame 132 are protected by the shell 11.

When the battery cells 12 of the battery module 100 are charged and discharged, heat is generated and the temperature rises. In order to dissipate heat generated by charging and discharging the battery cells 12, a blower fan 151 and an exhaust fan 153 are generally provided on both sides of the housing 11. The first and second holders 131 and 132 accommodating the battery cells 12 are disposed between the blowing fan 151 and the suction fan 153. The blowing fan 151 blows external cool air toward the battery cells 12 inside the case 11, and the blown cool air passes through the battery cells 12 that generate heat and becomes hot air. Then, the exhaust fan 153 extracts the hot air to discharge the hot air to the outside, so that the battery 12 charged and discharged with heat can be cooled by blowing the air by the blowing fan 151 and extracting the hot air by the exhaust fan 153.

In addition, since the battery cells 12 are arranged between the first and second fixing frames 131 and 132 in the longitudinal direction, most of the cold air blown by the blower fan 151 is blocked by the front-row battery cells 12 close to the blower fan 151 to cause a high flow resistance, and only a small amount of the cold air can flow to the rear-row battery cells 12 through the gaps between the front-row battery cells 12. In addition, in order to arrange a large number of battery cells 12 within a limited space of the first and second holders 131 and 132, the gaps between the arranged battery cells 12 are generally very small, which also causes a high flow resistance, resulting in very poor circulation efficiency of cool air between the battery cells 12. Accordingly, the cool air blown by the blowing fan 151 tends to flow only at a low flow resistance, for example, the cool air tends to blow to the outer sides of the battery cells 12 and the first and second holders 131 and 132 near the front row of the blowing fan 151, and the rear row of battery cells 12 or the battery cells 12 arranged at the inner side farther from the blowing fan 151 hardly receive the blowing of the cool air.

For example, as shown in fig. 1, when the battery module 100 is operated, the temperatures of four areas, i.e., A, B, C, D, are sensed by the temperature sensor, and the areas a, B, C and D are sequentially arranged from the near to the far with reference to the positions of the blowing fans 151. The temperature around the battery cells 12 in the region a may be T1, the temperature around the battery cells 12 in the region B may be T2, the temperature around the battery cells 12 in the region C may be T3, and the temperature around the battery cells 12 in the region D may be T4 through temperature sensing. The temperature level sensed by these four regions may also be T4> T3> T2> T1. Thus, the rear-row inside area D farther from the blower fan 151 will have a higher ambient temperature T4 than the other areas. Therefore, the battery cells 12 farther from the blowing fan 151 will have a higher temperature than the battery cells 12 closer to the blowing fan 151 at the time of charge and discharge. The battery cells at higher temperatures will have a faster aging rate, which in turn affects the service life of the battery cells 12.

In addition, since cool air flows in from the blowing fan 151, the cool air exchanges heat with each of the passing battery cells 12. The battery cells 12 located at the rear end of the wind direction receive air which is the air in which the front end battery cells 12 perform heat exchange. Therefore, the temperature of each battery cell 12 in the whole battery module 100 becomes higher and higher as the distance from the position of the blowing fan 151 increases, and the aging speed of the battery cell 12 positioned at the rear end of the wind direction is much faster than that of the battery cell 12 positioned at the front end of the wind direction.

Disclosure of Invention

Based on the above-mentioned technical problems in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module, which includes a housing, a battery holder, a plurality of battery cells and an improved heat pipe structure. One side of the inside of the shell is provided with an air blowing port, and the other side is provided with an air suction port. The battery fixing frame is arranged between the air blowing opening and the air exhausting opening of the shell and is used for accommodating and fixing a plurality of battery cores. The improved heat pipe structure includes a metal pipe body defining a heat conduction section, a first container section and a first connection section. The heat conduction section is arranged above the battery fixing frame, and the first container section is inserted into the space kept between a plurality of adjacent battery cores at a position far away from the air blowing opening and is connected with the heat conduction section through the first connecting section. When the battery module operates, the first container section absorbs heat generated by charge and discharge of surrounding battery cells, conducts heat to the heat conduction section by the first connection section, and then repeats the phase change process of evaporation and condensation of the circulating working fluid in the heat conduction section, so that the heat generated by charge and discharge of the battery cells around the first container section can be taken away, and the battery cells around the first container section can be effectively radiated.

Preferably, there is provided a battery module, wherein an evaporation end of the thermal conduction section is connected to the first connection section, and a condensation end is connected to the heat dissipation fins, and heat transferred on the thermal conduction section can be dissipated through the heat dissipation fins; preferably, the heat dissipation fins are arranged beside the blowing device so as to blow through the blowing device, thereby improving the heat dissipation effect of the heat dissipation fins.

Preferably, the metal pipe body of the improved heat pipe structure further defines a second container section and a second connecting section. The second container section is arranged in the space kept between a plurality of adjacent battery cells at the position close to the air blowing opening, and is connected with the condensation end of the heat conduction section through the second connecting section. The heat generated by the charge and discharge of the battery cells around the first container section is transferred to the battery cells around the second container section through the heat conduction of the first container section, the first connecting section, the heat conduction section, the second connecting section and the second container section. Therefore, through the improved heat pipe structure, heat generated by charging and discharging of the battery cells positioned at the rear end of the wind direction and having higher temperature can be transmitted to the battery cells positioned at the front end of the wind direction and having lower temperature, so that the temperature among the battery cells maintains heat balance, the risk of damage or explosion caused by overheat of part of battery cells during charging and discharging is avoided, and the use safety of the battery module is improved.

To achieve the above object, the present invention discloses a battery module having an improved heat pipe structure, comprising: a plurality of battery cells; the battery fixing frame is used for accommodating and fixing a plurality of battery cores; at least one improved heat pipe structure comprises a metal pipe body; wherein the metal pipe body is defined as follows: the heat conduction section is a vacuumized sealed tube body, the interior of the heat conduction section comprises a capillary structure, and heat is conveyed by utilizing evaporation and condensation of working fluid, and the heat conduction section is arranged above the battery fixing frame; the first container section is inserted into the intervals kept among the plurality of adjacent battery cells and is used for storing heat generated by charge and discharge of the peripheral battery cells; and a first connection section which exhibits a flat shape and one end of which is connected to the first container section and the other end of which vertically passes through the battery holder to be connected to one end of the heat conduction section; wherein battery module still includes the casing, and one side of casing inside is equipped with blows the wind gap and the opposite side is equipped with the exhaust vent, and the battery mount sets up between blowing wind gap and exhaust vent, and the one end of thermal conductance section is connected and is established in the position of far away in the wind gap with the one end of first linkage segment, and the other end is established in the position of near in the wind gap.

Preferably, the first container section is provided in a space maintained between a plurality of adjacent battery cells at a distance from the blowing port.

Further, the battery module further comprises radiating fins, and the other end of the thermal conduction section is connected with the radiating fins.

Preferably, the heat radiating fins are arranged beside the air blowing opening.

Preferably, the metal tube body further defines a second container section and a second connection section, the second connection section is inserted in a space maintained between a plurality of adjacent battery cells located closer to the blowing port and is used for storing heat generated by charging and discharging of the peripheral battery cells, one end of the second connection section is connected with the second container section, and the other end of the second connection section vertically penetrates through the battery fixing frame and is connected to the other end of the heat conduction section.

Preferably, the blower opening is provided on the blower device and the suction opening is provided on the suction device.

Preferably, the first container section or the second container section is filled with a phase change material, respectively, and heat generated by charge and discharge of the peripheral battery cells is stored through the phase change material.

Preferably, the first container section or the second container section is provided with foam metal or metal fins in addition to the phase change material inside.

Preferably, the first container section or the second container section is internally provided with a metal rod, respectively, and heat generated by charge and discharge of the peripheral battery cells is stored through the metal rod.

Preferably, the metal tube body of the first container section is provided with a cut, a valve, or a notch.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a top cross-sectional view of a prior art battery module disposed in a housing.

Fig. 2 is a front sectional view of a prior art battery module disposed in a housing.

Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a prior art battery module disposed in a housing.

Fig. 4 is a top cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a battery module of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a front sectional view of an embodiment of a battery module according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a thermally conductive section of the improved heat pipe structure of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a first vessel segment of the improved heat pipe construction of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of yet another embodiment of a first vessel segment of the improved heat pipe construction of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of yet another embodiment of a first vessel segment of the improved heat pipe construction of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a top cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a battery module of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a front sectional view of a further embodiment of a battery module according to the present invention.

Reference numerals illustrate: a 100-cell module; 11-a housing; 12-battery cells; 131-a first fixing frame; 132-a second mount; 151-blowing fans; 153-exhaust fan; 300-battery module; 31-a housing; 32-battery cells; 33-battery holder; 331-a first mount; 332-a second fixing frame; 351-a blowing device; 353-an air extraction device; 37-heat sink fins; 50-a metal tube body; 501-cutting mark; 51-a thermal conduction section; 512-capillary structure; 513—a working fluid; 514-evaporation end; 515-condensing end; 52-a first container section; 521 phase change material; 522-metal foam; 523-metal columns; 53-a first connection section; 54-a second vessel section; 541 phase change material; 55-second connection section.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 4, 5 and 6, there are shown a schematic top view, a cross-sectional front view and a cross-sectional structure of a heat pipe according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the battery module 300 of the present invention includes a housing 31, a plurality of battery cells 32, and a battery holder 33. One side of the interior of the housing 31 is provided with a blower 351 having a blower opening, and the other side is provided with an air extractor 353 having an air extracting opening. During the charge and discharge of the battery module 300, cold air enters the inside of the case 31 from the air blowing port of the air blowing device 351, and hot air is drawn out from the air drawing port of the air drawing device 353.

The battery holder 33 includes a first holder 331 and a second holder 332. The first fixing frame 331 and the second fixing frame 332 respectively include a sleeve (not shown). The upper end of each battery cell 32 is sleeved in the sleeve of the first fixing frame 331, and the lower end is sleeved in the sleeve of the second fixing frame 332, so that each battery cell 32 can be fixed between the first fixing frame 331 and the second fixing frame 332, and each battery cell 32 keeps a space between each other.

The battery module 300 of the present invention has an improved heat pipe structure. Improved heat pipe structure comprising metalA tube 50, such as a copper tube. The metal tube 50 defines a thermal conduction section 51, a first container section 52 and a first connection section 53. As shown in FIG. 6, the thermal conduction section 51 is an evacuated sealed tube body, and the tube body 50 comprises a capillary structure 512 and a working fluid 513, such as water or Dowtherm, sealed in the tube body ^TM -a. One end of the thermally conductive section 51 may also be referred to as an evaporation end (heated end) 514, and the other end may also be referred to as a condensation end (cooled end) 515. The first container section 52 is also a sealed tube with a thermal reservoir disposed within the tube. In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 7, the thermal storage is a phase change material 521 (e.g., water, polyethylene glycol, low density polyethylene, or paraffin); furthermore, if the thermal storage filled inside the first container section 52 is a phase change material 521, a metal foam 522 or metal fins may be further provided to increase the thermal conductivity inside the container section 52. As shown in fig. 8, if the phase change material 521 is water, a scribe 501, a valve or a notch may be added to the metal tube 50, so that the metal tube 50 may be damaged when the battery cells 32 around the first container section 52 are thermally out of control, and the phase change material 521 may be sprayed or flow to the battery cells 32 to reduce the thermal out of control interlock failure. Alternatively, in yet another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 9, the heat storage material may be a metal cylinder 523, so that the metal cylinder 523 is used as a heat collecting device. In addition, the first connecting section 53 is flat, and is made by a pressing process of the metal tube 50.

The thermally conductive section 51 is disposed on the first mount 331 of the battery mount 33. The first container section 52 is disposed in the space maintained between the plurality of adjacent battery cells 32. Furthermore, the battery cells 32 that are farther from the air blowing port are often in a higher temperature state when they are charged and discharged; thus, the first container section 52 will preferably be disposed in the space maintained between the plurality of adjacent battery cells 32 at a distance from the blower port. Furthermore, the thermally conductive section 51 is connected to the first container section 52 by a first connecting section 53. One end of the first connection section 53 is connected to the first container section 52, and the other end is connected to the evaporation end 514 of the heat conduction section 51 vertically through the first fixing frame 331 of the battery fixing frame 33.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 4, 5 and 6, when the battery module 300 is operated, the first container section 52 absorbs heat generated by charging and discharging the surrounding battery cells 32, and stores the energy which is not dissipated in the first container section 52 on the phase change material 521 or the metal pillar 523. The heat absorbed by the first container section 52 is conducted through the first connecting section 53 to the evaporating end 514 of the thermally conductive section 51. Working fluid 513 on vapor end 51 absorbs heat and undergoes a phase change to rapidly transfer heat in a vapor flow manner to condensing end 515. After working fluid 513 has delivered heat in the form of a vapor flow to condensing end 515, the heat will be released at condensing end 515 and working fluid 513 will condense. The condensed working fluid 513 is transported back to the evaporation end 514 in a liquid flow manner by capillary action of the capillary structure 512. Then, the working fluid 513 in the heat conducting section 51 repeatedly performs the phase change of evaporation and condensation, so that the heat generated by the charge and discharge of the battery core 32 far from the air blowing port can be effectively taken away by the improved heat pipe structure to achieve the purpose of cooling.

The battery module 300 further includes heat dissipation fins 37. Condensation end 515 of thermally conductive section 51 is connected to cooling fins 37 such that heat carried on thermally conductive section 51 is dissipated through cooling fins 37. Preferably, the heat dissipation fins 37 are disposed beside the blower 351, and the blower 351 blows air to the heat dissipation fins 37 to improve the heat dissipation effect of the heat dissipation fins 37.

Referring to fig. 10 and 11, a top view and a front view, respectively, of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention are shown, and fig. 6 is also shown. As shown in fig. 10 and 11, the metal tube body 50 of the modified heat pipe structure of the battery module 301 of the present embodiment further defines a second container section 54 and a second connection section 55. The second container section 54 is also a sealed tube and its tube interior is filled with phase change material 521 and foam metal 52241 or provided with a metal cylinder 523. The second connecting section 55 is flat and is made of the metal tube 50 through a pressing process.

In the present embodiment, the second container section 54 is provided in the space maintained between the plurality of adjacent battery cells 32 located closer to the air blowing port. Furthermore, the thermally conductive section 51 is connected to the second container section 54 by a second connecting section 55. One end of the second connection section 55 is connected to the second container section 54, and the other end is connected to the condensation end 515 of the heat conduction section 51 vertically through the first fixing frame 331 of the battery fixing frame 33.

As shown in fig. 6, 10 and 11, when the battery module 301 is operated, the first container section 52 absorbs heat generated by charging and discharging the surrounding battery cells 32, and stores the energy which is not dissipated in the first container section 52 on the phase change material 521 or the metal rod. The heat absorbed by the first container section 52 is conducted through the first connecting section 53 to the evaporating end 514 of the thermally conductive section 51. Working fluid 513 on vapor end 51 absorbs heat and undergoes a phase change to rapidly transfer heat in a vapor flow manner to condensing end 515. After working fluid 513 delivers heat in the form of a vapor flow to condensing end 515, the heat will be conducted through second connecting section 55 to second container section 54 to absorb the heat with second container section 54 and store the heat on phase change material 541 or metal rods. The heat of the working fluid 513 at the condensing end 515 is absorbed by the second container section 54 and condensed to change from a vapor state to a liquid state, and the condensed liquid working fluid 513 is transported back to the evaporating end 514 in a liquid flow manner by capillary action of the capillary structure 512. By the arrangement of the improved heat pipe structure, the heat generated by the battery cells 32 far from the air blowing port can be transferred to the battery cells 32 near to the air blowing port, so that the temperature between the battery cells 32 can reach heat balance.

In this case, by the arrangement of the first container section 52, the first connection section 53, the thermal conduction section 51, the second connection section 55 and the second container section 54, the battery cells 32 located at the rear end in the wind direction and having a higher temperature can transfer heat to the battery cells 32 located at the front end in the wind direction and having a lower temperature through the first container section 52, the first connection section 53, the thermal conduction section 51, the second connection section 55 and the second container section 54, so that the temperature between the battery cells 32 is maintained in thermal equilibrium, and the risk of damage or explosion caused by overheat during charging and discharging of part of the battery cells 32 is avoided, thereby increasing the safety in use of the battery module 301.

The foregoing description is only of the preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, i.e., all changes and modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims (14)

1. A battery module having an improved heat pipe construction, comprising:

a plurality of battery cells;

the battery fixing frame is used for accommodating and fixing the plurality of battery cores; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

At least one improved heat pipe structure comprises a metal pipe body;

wherein the metal pipe body defines:

the heat conduction section is a vacuumized sealed tube body, the interior of the heat conduction section comprises a capillary structure, heat is transmitted by utilizing evaporation and condensation of working fluid, and the heat conduction section is arranged above the battery fixing frame;

the first container section is inserted into the intervals kept among a plurality of adjacent battery cells and is used for storing heat generated by charging and discharging the peripheral battery cells; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

And a first connection section having a flat shape, one end of which is connected to the first container section and the other end of which vertically passes through the battery holder to be connected to one end of the heat conduction section.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein a blowing port is provided on one side of the interior of the housing and an exhaust port is provided on the other side of the interior of the housing, the battery holder is provided between the blowing port and the exhaust port, one end of the heat conduction section is connected to one end of the first connection section and is provided at a position distant from the blowing port, and the other end is provided at a position close to the blowing port.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the first container section is provided in a space maintained between a plurality of adjacent battery cells at a distance from the air blowing port.

4. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink fin, wherein the other end of the thermally conductive section is connected to the heat sink fin.

5. The battery module of claim 4, wherein the heat sink fins are disposed adjacent the air vent.

6. The battery module according to claim 3, wherein the metal pipe body further defines a second container section and a second connection section interposed in a space maintained between a plurality of adjacent battery cells located closer to the blowing port and storing heat generated by charge and discharge of the peripheral battery cells, one end of the second connection section being connected to the second container section and the other end perpendicularly passing through the battery holder and being connected to the other end of the heat conduction section.

7. The battery module of claim 2, wherein the air vent is disposed on an air vent and the air vent is disposed on an air vent.

8. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the interior of the first container section is filled with a phase change material, respectively, and heat generated by charge and discharge of the battery cells is stored around by the phase change material.

9. The battery module of claim 8, wherein the interior of the first container section is further provided with foam metal or metal fins.

10. The battery module of claim 6, wherein the interiors of the first and second container segments are filled with a phase change material, respectively, and heat generated by charge and discharge of the peripheral battery cells is stored by the phase change material.

11. The battery module of claim 10, wherein the interiors of the first and second container segments are further provided with foam metal or metal fins.

12. The battery module of claim 1, wherein a metal rod is disposed inside the first container section, and heat generated by charge and discharge of the battery cells is stored around the metal rod.

13. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein metal rods are provided inside the first and second container sections, respectively, and heat generated by charge and discharge of the battery cells around the periphery is stored by the metal rods.

14. The battery module of claim 8, wherein a cut, valve, or notch is provided in the metal tube of the first container section.