CN117977098A

CN117977098A - Battery pack for vehicle and vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN117977098A
Application number: CN202410157631.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 刘冠伟; 李先强; 杨阳
Original assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2024-02-04
Filing date: 2024-02-04
Publication date: 2024-05-03

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of power batteries, in particular to a battery pack (2) for a vehicle (1), in particular an electric vehicle (1), the battery pack (2) comprising a housing (21); an electronic module (22) arranged centrally in the housing (21); and a battery cell (23) that is arranged in the housing (21) in such a manner as to surround the electronic module (22) in the circumferential direction; wherein at least one venting device (24) is provided on each of the four sides of the housing (21) in the circumferential direction, the venting device (24) being configured to be adapted to vent gas from the battery pack (2). The invention also relates to a corresponding vehicle (1). The invention makes it possible to discharge fluids, for example hot gases, from the battery pack into the environment in a particularly efficient and reliable manner, thereby increasing the safety of the battery pack and the vehicle. In addition, the integration of the battery pack can be improved and the space can be saved by the arrangement mode.

Description

Battery pack for vehicle and vehicle

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of vehicles, and in particular to a battery pack for a vehicle, especially an electric vehicle. The invention further relates to a vehicle comprising such a battery pack.

Background

With the development of electric vehicles, power battery packs have been continuously developed and improved as an important component in electric vehicles and are widely used.

The power battery pack typically includes a large number of electronic and electrical components (e.g., a high voltage distribution box BDU, a relay, an ac-dc converter, BMS hardware, etc.). These electronic and electrical components are arranged in the power cell pack and occupy a certain space, which in turn affects the structural design of the power cell pack.

In one solution of the prior art, the electrical and electronic components are arranged in a dispersed manner in the battery pack, even with a part of them being arranged at various points (at least two or even more) in the vehicle. For arranging electronic and electric components at a plurality of locations, the system integration and space utilization efficiency thereof are low.

In the case of the alternative prior art, however, in which the electronic components are integrated into one electronic component box, the existing design methods are almost always to arrange the electronic component box in a battery pack or outside the battery pack on one side of the battery cells. This arrangement may result in the battery pack not being provided with venting means on the side immediately adjacent to the electronics enclosure, which reduces the flexibility of the overall power battery system in handling thermal runaway-thermal diffusion events and may not meet the overall safety requirements for the power battery pack.

Accordingly, there remains a need for improvements in the art for at least some of the above-mentioned problems.

Disclosure of Invention

Based on the above, the invention provides a high-efficiency scheme, which not only can overcome the defects in the prior art scheme, but also can simplify the arrangement of the battery pack, improve the space utilization rate and improve the safety of the battery pack and the corresponding vehicle.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery pack for a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, wherein the battery pack comprises:

a housing;

an electronics module centrally disposed in the housing; and

A battery cell arranged in the housing in a manner surrounding the electronic module in a circumferential direction;

Wherein at least one venting device configured to be adapted to vent gas in the battery pack is provided on each of four sides of the housing in the circumferential direction.

The basic idea of the invention is that in the solution according to the invention the electronic module is arranged centrally in the housing and the battery cells are arranged around the periphery of the electronic module. By providing at least one venting device on each of the four sides of the housing of the battery pack, it is ensured that outward venting of gas can be achieved on each side of the battery pack and that hot gases in the battery pack can be discharged particularly efficiently and reliably into the surroundings in the event of a rise in pressure and temperature inside the battery pack, which can lead to ignition or even explosion of the battery pack, whereby the safety of the battery pack and the entire vehicle is increased. In addition, the integration of the battery pack can be improved and the space can be saved by the arrangement mode.

In the present invention, a battery cell (cell) may be understood synonymously with a cell.

Advantageous configurations of the solution according to the invention can be obtained from the following alternative embodiments.

According to an alternative embodiment of the battery pack according to the invention, the battery cells each comprise a respective cell exhaust, which is arranged on the end of the corresponding battery cell and is oriented towards the corresponding side of the housing. By means of this embodiment, a two-stage integration scheme (Cell To Pack, CTP) of the battery Cell-battery Pack is achieved and the Cell exhaust can be arranged particularly close To the venting means of the battery Pack, so that the flow path of the gas discharged by the Cell exhaust To the venting means of the battery Pack is shortened.

According to another alternative embodiment of the battery pack of the invention, a plurality of battery cells form a battery module comprising respective module vents arranged on the ends of the respective battery modules and oriented towards the respective sides of the housing. By means of this embodiment, a three-stage integration of the battery cell-battery module-battery pack is achieved and the module exhaust can be arranged in particular close to the venting means of the battery pack, so that the flow path of the gas discharged by the module exhaust to the venting means of the battery pack is shortened.

According to an alternative embodiment of the battery pack according to the invention, the battery cells are arranged symmetrically with respect to the electronic module. This embodiment simplifies the arrangement of the battery cells, saves space, and improves integration.

According to another alternative embodiment of the battery pack of the present invention, the battery modules are arranged symmetrically with respect to the electronic module. This embodiment simplifies the arrangement of the battery module, saves space, and improves integration.

An alternative embodiment of the battery pack according to the invention provides that the battery pack comprises four battery modules each comprising a module vent, wherein the module vents are each oriented towards venting means on a corresponding side of the housing. This embodiment significantly shortens the gas flow path from the module exhaust to the venting device, improves the exhaust efficiency and thus improves the safety of the battery pack.

An alternative embodiment of the battery pack according to the invention provides that the battery cells are identically constructed and output identical voltages. By the embodiment, the structure of the battery pack can be simplified, and the performance of the battery pack can be improved.

According to an alternative embodiment of the battery pack of the present invention, the battery modules are identically constructed and output the same voltage. By the embodiment, the structure of the battery pack can be simplified, and the performance of the battery pack can be improved.

According to an alternative embodiment of the battery pack according to the invention, the venting means and/or the cell venting means and/or the module venting means are configured to open in dependence on pressure and/or temperature. By the embodiment, the pressure and/or the temperature in the battery pack can be ensured to be always in a safe range, and the gas in the battery pack is ensured to be rapidly discharged, so that the safety of the battery pack is improved.

An alternative embodiment of the battery pack according to the invention provides that the battery pack further comprises a vent channel configured to guide gas discharged from the battery cell or the battery module to the venting means. Therefore, local overpressure in the battery pack can be avoided, gas is specifically guided to be discharged towards the gas leakage device, and the gas discharge efficiency is further improved.

An alternative embodiment of the battery pack according to the invention provides that the electronic module comprises at least a high-voltage distribution box and hardware components of the battery management system.

An alternative embodiment of the battery pack according to the invention provides that the battery cells are configured as pouch-type battery cells or prismatic battery cells or cylindrical battery cells. In this embodiment, different types of battery cells can be applied to the battery pack of the present invention, thereby improving versatility and suitability of the battery pack.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, comprising a battery pack according to one of the above embodiments of the present invention.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the drawings, and the description of the drawings. The features and feature combinations mentioned in the above description and those mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown only in the figures can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following are also considered to be encompassed and disclosed by the present invention: these are not explicitly shown in the figures and are not explicitly explained, but are derived from and result from a combination of separate features from the explained content. The following and combinations of features are also considered disclosed: which does not have all of the features of the original written independent claim. Furthermore, the following and combinations of features are considered to be disclosed, inter alia, by the foregoing: which exceeds or deviates from the combination of features defined in the reference relationships of the claims.

Drawings

The principles, features and advantages of the present invention may be better understood by describing the present invention in more detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a vehicle of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of the battery pack of the present invention;

fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the battery pack of the present invention; and

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment of the battery pack of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and advantageous technical effects to be solved by the present invention more apparent, the present invention will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and a plurality of exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

In the present specification, for convenience, words such as "middle", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", and the like, which indicate an azimuth or a positional relationship, are used to describe positional relationships of constituent elements with reference to the drawings, only for convenience of description and simplification of the description, and not to indicate or imply that the apparatus or elements referred to have a specific azimuth, construct and operate in a specific azimuth, and thus should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The positional relationship of the constituent elements is appropriately changed according to the direction in which each constituent element is described. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the words described in the specification, and may be appropriately replaced according to circumstances.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a vehicle 1 of the invention. In this embodiment, the vehicle 1 is illustratively configured as an electric vehicle and is a passenger vehicle.

As shown in fig. 1, a battery pack 2 is arranged in the chassis below the seat of the vehicle 1. The battery pack 2 is plate-shaped and is used to supply the vehicle 1 with electrical energy. Further, in fig. 1, an XYZ coordinate system is shown, in which the X direction represents the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1, the Y direction represents the lateral direction of the vehicle 1, and the Z direction represents the vertical direction of the vehicle 1.

Next, various embodiments of the battery pack 2 of the present invention are described in detail with reference to fig. 2 to 4.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of the battery pack 2 of the present invention. In this first embodiment, the battery pack 2 includes a housing 21. The housing 21 is illustratively rectangular in shape and is made of, for example, foamed aluminum or hot-formed steel.

Further, the battery pack 2 includes an electronic module 22. According to this first embodiment, the electronic module 22 includes at least the high-voltage distribution box BDU and hardware components of the battery management system BMS. As shown in fig. 2, the electronic module 22 is centrally arranged in the housing 21.

Furthermore, the battery pack 2 also has battery cells 23, and the battery cells 23 are arranged in the housing 21 in such a manner as to surround the electronic module 22 in the circumferential direction. These battery cells 23 are identically constructed and can output the same voltage. In the present invention, "identically constructed" may be understood as having the same manufacturing process, structure, and function. This enables mass and standardized manufacturing.

In this first embodiment, the battery cell 23 is illustratively a ternary lithium battery cell and is configured as a prismatic battery cell 23. Of course, in other not shown embodiments, the battery cells 23 may also be configured as pouch-type battery cells 23 or cylindrical battery cells 23 and made of other materials, such as lithium iron phosphate.

In the present invention, "circumferential direction" is understood as a direction around the Z-axis.

In this first embodiment, the battery pack 2 employs a two-stage system integration scheme of battery cell-battery pack. Therefore, the process and construction of the integration of the battery cell 23 into the battery module are omitted.

Since gas is generated in the battery cell 23 due to electrochemical factors, the pressure and/or temperature in the battery cell 23 increases. If these gases cannot be vented from the cell 23, the pressure and/or temperature in the cell 23 rises and exceeds a threshold, which may cause the cell 23 to fire or even explode. Thus, each cell 23 includes its own cell exhaust 25. The cell exhaust 25 opens and discharges the gas generated in the battery cell 23 into the battery pack 2 depending on the pressure and/or temperature. In this embodiment, the unit exhaust 25 is configured as an exhaust valve.

According to this first embodiment, one venting device 24 is also provided on each of the four sides of the housing 21 in the circumferential direction, the venting device 24 being configured to be adapted to open to the outside of the battery pack 2 depending on the pressure and/or temperature for venting the gas inside the battery pack 2. The venting device 24 is here configured as a venting valve.

If the pressure and/or temperature of the gas accumulated in the battery pack 2 exceeds a threshold value, the gas escape means 24 on the four sides are opened and the gas discharged into the battery pack 2 via the cell discharge means 25 is discharged out of the battery pack 2, thereby ensuring that the battery pack 2 does not cause ignition or even explosion of the battery pack 2 due to the excessively high gas pressure and temperature.

In fig. 2, 28 battery cells 23 are shown (only one battery cell is labeled with 23 in fig. 2), however, the number of battery cells 23 is merely exemplary and is not to be construed as limiting the number of battery cells 23 of the inventive battery pack 2.

The battery cells 23 are arranged around the electronic module 22, and the cell vents 25 of the battery cells 23 are each oriented toward a corresponding side of the housing 21. In this first embodiment, the battery cells 23 are symmetrically arranged about the electronic module 22. In the view plane of fig. 2, 10 battery cells 23 are arranged in the X direction and form a row of battery cells in the Y direction. Their cell exhaust devices 25 are each oriented in the positive X direction (rightward in the drawing plane), which corresponds to the orientation toward the front side of the housing 21 in the case where the battery pack 2 is arranged in the vehicle 1 (see also fig. 1). The other 10 battery cells 23 are arranged in the X direction and form another column of battery cells in the Y direction. Their individual exhaust devices 25 are each oriented in the negative X direction (to the left in the plane of the drawing), i.e. towards the rear side of the housing 21. Further, 4 battery cells 23 are arranged in the Y direction and form a row of battery cells in the X direction. Their cell vents 25 are each oriented in the positive Y direction (upward in the plane of the drawing), i.e. toward the left side of the housing 21, and correspondingly, the other 4 cells 23 are arranged in the Y direction and form another row of cells in the X direction. Their individual exhaust devices 25 are each oriented in the negative Y direction (downward in the plane of the drawing), i.e. toward the right side of the housing 21.

Thus, the cell vents 25 of all the battery cells 23 are oriented toward the sides of the housing 21. This significantly reduces the gas flow path between the monomer vent 25 to the bleed 24.

Further, the battery pack 2 further includes a gas discharge passage 28. In fig. 2, only one exhaust passage 28 is labeled with reference numeral 28. In this first embodiment, the exhaust passage 28 fluidly communicates the cell exhaust 25 with the venting device 24 and is capable of directing the gas discharged from the battery cell 23 to the venting device 24. In this embodiment, 4 exhaust passages 28 are arranged, wherein two exhaust passages 28 respectively fluidly communicate the cell exhausts 25 of 2 rows (10 each) of battery cells 23 arranged in the X-direction with the air exhausts 24 on the corresponding side of the housing 21, and wherein the other two exhaust passages 28 respectively fluidly communicate the cell exhausts 25 of 2 rows (4 each) of battery cells 23 arranged in the Y-direction with the air exhausts 24 on the corresponding side of the housing 21. Thereby simplifying and shortening the flow path of the gas discharged from the unit exhaust device 25 and efficiently guiding the gas to the gas discharge device 24.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the battery pack 2 of the present invention. Similar to the first embodiment, the battery pack 2 includes a housing 21 and an electronic module 22. The housing 21 is also illustratively rectangular in shape and is made of, for example, foamed aluminum or hot-formed steel. On each of the four sides of the housing 21, a venting device 24 is arranged, the venting device 24 being configured to be adapted to open towards the outside of the battery pack 2 depending on pressure and/or temperature for venting the gas inside the battery pack 2. The electronic module 22 includes at least the high-voltage distribution box BDU and hardware components of the battery management system BMS and is centrally arranged in the housing 21.

Unlike the first embodiment, in this second embodiment, the battery module 26 is constituted by a plurality of battery cells 23 and the battery pack 2 is constituted again by the battery module 26. Thereby forming a three-level integration scheme of the battery cell-module-battery pack. The battery modules 26 are constructed in a rectangular shape, and they are identically constructed and output identical voltages. As shown in fig. 3, the battery modules 26 are arranged around the electronic module 22 in the circumferential direction.

Each battery module 26 includes an own module exhaust 27. The module exhaust devices 27 are disposed on the ends of the corresponding battery modules 26 and oriented toward the corresponding sides of the case 21. The module exhaust device 27 is opened to the outside depending on the pressure and/or temperature and discharges the gas in the battery module 26 into the battery pack 2 in the same manner as the opening of the gas release device 24.

In this second embodiment, the module exhaust device 27 of the battery module 26 is configured as an exhaust valve and is oriented opposite the air release device 24 on the corresponding side of the housing 21. Thereby achieving a minimal flow path of the gas discharged by the module exhaust 27 from the module exhaust 27 to the corresponding venting device 24.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment of the battery pack 2 of the present invention. Similarly to the second embodiment, in this third embodiment, the battery pack 2 is also constructed in a three-stage integrated manner of battery cell-module-battery pack and includes 9 battery modules 26, each of which is composed of a plurality of battery cells 23.

These battery modules 26 are arranged around the electronic module 22 in the circumferential direction and are symmetrical with respect to the electronic module 22. Each battery module 26 includes an own module exhaust 27. The module exhaust devices 27 are disposed on the ends of the corresponding battery modules 26 and are oriented toward the corresponding sides of the case 21.

As shown in fig. 4, the 3 battery modules 26 are arranged in a row in the Y direction and their module exhaust devices 27 are each oriented in the positive X direction, which corresponds to the orientation toward the front side of the case 21 in the case where the battery pack 2 is arranged in the vehicle 1 (see also fig. 1). The other 3 battery modules 26 are arranged in another row in the Y direction and their module exhaust devices 27 are all oriented in the negative X direction, i.e., toward the rear side of the case 21. Furthermore, one battery module 26 is arranged above the electronic module 22 in the Y direction in the drawing plane (corresponding to being arranged on the left side of the electronic module 22 in fig. 1) and its module exhaust 27 is oriented in the positive Y direction, i.e. towards the left side of the housing 21, and correspondingly, the other battery module 26 is arranged below the electronic module 22 in the Y direction in the drawing plane (corresponding to being arranged on the right side of the electronic module 22 in fig. 1) and its module exhaust 27 is oriented in the negative Y direction, i.e. towards the right side of the housing 21.

Thereby, the module exhaust devices 27 of all the battery modules 26 are oriented toward the corresponding sides of the case 21. This significantly reduces the gas flow path between module exhaust 27 to venting device 24.

In another embodiment, not shown, similar to the first embodiment, the battery pack 2 may further include a gas discharge passage 28 configured to be adapted to guide the gas discharged from the battery module 26 to the gas leakage device 24. Thereby, the guiding of the gas to the air leakage means 24 is simplified, so that the exhaust efficiency can be improved.

Other advantages and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, the representative structures, and illustrative examples shown and described. Rather, various modifications and substitutions may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the basic spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A battery pack (2) for a vehicle (1), in particular an electric vehicle (1), wherein the battery pack (2) comprises:

A housing (21);

-an electronic module (22), said electronic module (22) being centrally arranged in said housing (21); and

-A battery cell (23), the battery cell (23) being arranged in the housing (21) in a manner surrounding the electronic module (22) in a circumferential direction;

wherein at least one venting device (24) is provided on each of four sides of the housing (21) in the circumferential direction, the venting device (24) being configured to be adapted to vent gas within the battery pack (2).

2. The battery pack (2) according to claim 1, wherein,

The battery cells (23) each comprise a respective cell exhaust (25), the cell exhaust (25) being arranged on the end of the corresponding battery cell (23) and oriented towards the corresponding side of the housing (21); or alternatively

A plurality of battery cells (23) form a battery module (26), the battery module (26) comprising respective module vents (27), the module vents (27) being arranged on the ends of the respective battery modules (26) and oriented towards the respective sides of the housing (21).

3. The battery pack (2) according to claim 2, wherein,

The battery cells (23) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the electronic module (22); or alternatively

The battery modules (26) are symmetrically arranged about the electronic module (22).

4. A battery pack (2) according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the battery pack (2) comprises four battery modules (26), the battery modules (26) each comprising one module vent (27), wherein the module vents (27) are each oriented towards venting means (24) on a corresponding side of the housing (21).

5. The battery pack (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, the battery cells (23) being identically constructed and outputting identical voltages; or alternatively

The battery modules (26) are identically constructed and output identical voltages.

6. Battery pack (2) according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the venting means (24) and/or the cell venting means (25) and/or the module venting means (27) are configured to open depending on pressure and/or temperature.

7. The battery pack (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the battery pack (2) further comprises a vent channel (28), the vent channel (28) being configured to be adapted to direct gas discharged from the battery cell (23) or the battery module (26) to the venting device (24).

8. The battery pack (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein,

The electronic module (22) includes at least a high voltage distribution box and hardware components of a battery management system.

9. The battery pack (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the battery cells (23) are configured as pouch-type battery cells (23) or prismatic battery cells (23) or cylindrical battery cells (23).

10. Vehicle (1), in particular an electric vehicle (1), wherein the vehicle (1) comprises a battery pack (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.