CN219658948U - Battery module, battery and electric equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a battery module (100), a battery (10) and electrical equipment. The battery (10) includes: a battery module (100) and a box (11). The battery module (100) is accommodated in the box (11); the battery module (100) includes: N rows of battery cells (20), N Each column of battery cells (20) in the column of battery cells (20) is arranged along the first direction, and N columns of battery cells (20) are arranged along the second direction, where N is an integer greater than 1; the insulating strip (103), The insulating strip (103) extends along the first direction and is disposed between the first walls of the battery cells (20), wherein the size of the insulating strip (103) in the third direction is smaller than the size of the first wall, and the insulating strip (103) The connection includes part of the first wall weld area. The technical solution of the embodiment of the present application can suppress the expansion space of the battery cell welding area and improve the safety performance of the battery.

Description

Battery modules, batteries and electrical equipment

Priority claims and cross-references to related applications

This patent document claims the rights and priorities of the PCT patent application number PCT/CN2022/071720 submitted on January 13, 2022, and the invention name is "battery modules, batteries, electrical equipment, methods and equipment for preparing batteries". The entire contents of the above patent applications are incorporated by reference as part of the disclosure of this patent document.

Technical field

This application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a battery module, battery and electrical equipment.

Background technique

With the increasing environmental pollution, the new energy industry has attracted more and more attention. In the new energy industry, battery technology is an important factor related to its development.

In the development of battery technology, safety issues are also an issue that cannot be ignored. How to improve the safety performance of batteries is an urgent technical issue in battery technology that needs to be solved.

Application content

This application provides a battery module, battery and electrical equipment that can limit the expansion space of the welding area when the battery cell expands, avoid failure of the welding area, and thereby improve the safety performance of the battery.

In a first aspect, a battery module is provided, including: N columns of battery cells, each column of battery cells in the N columns including a plurality of battery cells arranged along a first direction, the N columns The battery cells are arranged along the second direction, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction, and N is an integer greater than 1; the insulating strip extends along the first direction, and the insulating strip is used for The first wall is connected to the battery cell, and the first wall is the wall with the largest surface area among the battery cells. In the third direction, the size of the insulating strip is smaller than the size of the first wall, and the The third direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and the connection area between the insulating strip and the first wall includes a welding area of the first wall.

In the embodiment of the present application, the insulating strip is connected to the first wall with the largest surface area of the battery cell, and the connection area between the insulating strip and the first wall includes the welding area of the first wall of the battery cell. In this way, when the battery cell expands during operation, the insulating strip connected to the first wall can act as a stress-bearing member of the welding area of the first wall, limiting the expansion space of the welding area, so that the welding area will not have a large impact. deformation to avoid failure in the welding area, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery.

In a possible implementation, in the third direction, the size of the insulating strip may be within 10 mm. The use of insulating strips of this size can not only serve as stress-bearing parts, but also reduce the space occupied in the battery module and ensure expansion space in non-welded areas.

In a possible implementation, the battery cell in the battery module includes a housing with an opening; an end cover for closing the opening to accommodate the battery assembly; the first wall is the largest surface area in the housing wall, and the end cap is welded and fixed to the shell at the opening to form the welding area.

The end cover covers the case to form a closed space to accommodate the battery components. The welding area of the first wall of the battery cell is the area where the end cover is welded to the case at the opening. When a battery cell is working, the wall with the largest surface area in the casing expands the most. Setting the insulating strip in the welding area on this wall can effectively protect the welding area between the end cover and the casing from major deformation.

In some possible implementations, the insulating strip covers the weld between the first wall and the end cap.

The insulating strip covers the weld between the first wall and the end cover, that is, the insulating strip covers the weld between the shell of the battery cell and the opening of the end cover, which can further strengthen the protection of the weld by the insulating strip and prevent the weld from being damaged by the battery. The monomer expands and fails.

In some possible implementations, the insulating strip protrudes from the end cover in the third direction.

In the third direction, the insulating strip protrudes from the end cover, that is, the insulating strip protrudes from the welding area of the end cover and the housing, which can better limit the expansion of the welding area.

In some possible ways, the insulating strip includes a first connection part and a second connection part. The first connection part is used to connect to the first wall, and the second connection part is connected to the first wall. The connecting portion is away from the end of the battery cell and extends along the second direction, and the second connecting portion is used to cover at least part of the end cap.

The first connection part is connected to the first wall of the battery cell, the second connection part covers at least part of the end cover, and the first connection part and the second connection part are connected, so that the insulating strip can completely cover the welding of the first wall and the end cover. area. For example, the insulating strips can be L-shaped or T-shaped, and can meet different assembly requirements in production according to process grouping and design space requirements.

In some possible ways, the second connecting part is snugly connected to the end cover.

The second connecting part is closely connected to the end cover, which can further enhance the protective effect of the insulating strip on the welding area.

In some possible implementations, the insulating strip is connected to the first wall of the battery cell located at the outermost side in the second direction.

During operation, the cumulative expansion of the outermost battery cell in the second direction is the most serious. Setting an insulating strip on the first wall of this battery cell can better suppress the expansion of the welding area here and prevent welding. There is greater deformation in the area, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery.

In some possible implementations, the battery module further includes N-1 separators extending along the first direction and disposed between two adjacent columns of battery cells. The separators Fixedly connected to each battery cell in two adjacent rows of battery cells; wherein the end of the separator in the first direction is provided with a fixed structure, and the separator is fixed by the fixed structure For the box used to accommodate the battery module.

A separator is provided between two adjacent rows of battery cells in the battery module. The separator is fixedly connected to each battery cell in the two rows of battery cells. A fixed structure is provided at the end of the separator. The separator Fixed in the box through a fixed structure. In this way, each battery cell in the battery is fixed to the box by the partition and the fixed structure, because each battery cell can transfer its load to the box, ensuring the structural strength of the battery; in this case, There is no need to install side panels on the outside of the battery module, and there is no need to install beams and other structures in the box, which can maximize the space utilization inside the battery and thereby increase the energy density of the battery.

In some possible implementations, the fixing structure includes a fixing plate, the fixing plate is fixedly connected to the end of the separator, and is fixed to the battery cell located at the end of the separator. connect.

In the above solution, the fixing plate is connected to the box and the partition and is also fixedly connected to the battery cells located at the ends of the partitions, which can enhance the fixing effect of the battery cells.

In a second aspect, a battery is provided, including: the battery module of the first aspect and a box for accommodating the battery module.

In some possible implementations, the battery modules are provided in plurality, the plurality of battery modules are arranged along the second direction, there is a gap between two adjacent battery modules, and at least part of the insulating strip is provided on within the gap.

When there are multiple battery modules, there is a corresponding expansion gap between each battery module. Insulating strips are arranged in the module gaps to protect the welding areas of the battery cells on both sides of the gap, thereby ensuring the safety of the battery.

In some possible implementations, the insulating strip includes two first connection parts and a third connection part. The two first connection parts are arranged oppositely along the second direction. The two first connection parts are respectively used. On the first wall connecting the battery cells of two adjacent battery modules; a third connecting portion is located between the two first connecting portions and is used to connect the first connecting portions.

Two oppositely arranged first connecting parts and a second connecting part form an insulating strip, wherein the two first connecting parts are arranged along the second direction, and the third connecting part is between the two first connecting parts and connects the two third connecting parts. A connecting part can eliminate the need to install thicker insulation strips when the module gap is large. For example, the insulating strips can be U-shaped or H-shaped, which can meet different assembly requirements in production according to process grouping and design space requirements.

In some possible implementations, the third connecting portion is located within the gap.

The two first connection parts are respectively connected to the first walls of the battery cells of the two adjacent battery modules, and the third connection part is located in the gap between the two first connection parts, so that the two adjacent battery modules can be connected. The battery cells are connected together, so that the insulating strip can simultaneously suppress the expansion of the first wall welding area of the two battery cells and improve the overall safety performance of the battery.

In a third aspect, an electrical device is provided, including the battery in any possible implementation of the first and second aspects, where the battery is used to provide electrical energy.

In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, the insulating strip is connected to the first wall with the largest surface area of the battery cell, and the connection area between the insulating strip and the first wall includes the welding area of the first wall of the battery cell. In this way, when the battery cell expands during operation, the insulating strip connected to the first wall can act as a stress-bearing member of the welding area of the first wall, limiting the expansion space of the welding area. Therefore, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application prevents the welding area from being greatly deformed and avoids failure of the welding area, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery.

Description of the drawings

In order to explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application more clearly, the drawings required to be used in the embodiments of the present application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. Those of ordinary skill in the art can also obtain other drawings based on the drawings without exerting creative efforts.

Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a battery according to an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a battery according to an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view along the A-A direction in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 8 is a schematic flow chart of a method for preparing a battery according to an embodiment of the present application.

In the drawings, the drawings are not drawn to actual scale.

Detailed ways

The embodiments of the present application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The detailed description of the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings are used to illustrate the principles of the present application, but cannot be used to limit the scope of the present application, that is, the present application is not limited to the described embodiments.

In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise stated, all technical and scientific terms used have the same meanings as commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field of this application; the terms used are only for describing specific The purpose of the embodiments is not intended to limit the application; the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the description and claims of the application and the above description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; "Multiple" means more than two; the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer", etc. indicate the orientation or positional relationship only for the convenience of describing the present application and The simplified description is not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the present application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. "Vertical" is not vertical in the strict sense, but within the allowable error range. "Parallel" is not parallel in the strict sense, but within the allowable error range.

Reference in this application to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearances of this phrase in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

The directional words appearing in the following description are the directions shown in the figures and do not limit the specific structure of the present application. In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise clearly stated and limited, the terms "installation", "connection" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection or a removable connection. Detachable connection, or integral connection; it can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be an internal connection between two components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

The term "and/or" in this application is just an association relationship describing related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships, for example, A and/or B, which can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, alone There are three situations B. In addition, the character "/" in this application generally indicates that the related objects are an "or" relationship.

In this application, the battery cells may include lithium ion secondary batteries, lithium ion primary batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, sodium lithium ion batteries, sodium ion batteries or magnesium ion batteries, etc., which are not limited in the embodiments of this application. The battery cell may be in the shape of a cylinder, a flat body, a rectangular parallelepiped or other shapes, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this. Battery cells are generally divided into three types according to packaging methods: cylindrical battery cells, rectangular battery cells and soft-pack battery cells, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

The battery mentioned in the embodiments of this application refers to a single physical module including one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery mentioned in this application may include a battery pack and the like. Batteries generally include a box for packaging one or more battery cells. The box can prevent liquid or other foreign matter from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

The battery cell includes battery components and electrolyte. The battery components are composed of positive electrode sheets, negative electrode sheets and separators. Battery cells mainly rely on the movement of metal ions between the positive and negative electrodes to work. The positive electrode sheet includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer. The positive electrode active material layer is coated on the surface of the positive electrode current collector. The current collector that is not coated with the positive electrode active material layer protrudes from the current collector that is coated with the positive electrode active material layer. The current collector coated with the positive electrode active material layer serves as the positive electrode tab. Taking lithium-ion batteries as an example, the material of the positive electrode current collector can be aluminum, and the positive electrode active material can be lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium or lithium manganate, etc. The negative electrode sheet includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer. The negative electrode active material layer is coated on the surface of the negative electrode current collector. The current collector that is not coated with the negative electrode active material layer protrudes from the current collector that is coated with the negative electrode active material layer. The current collector coated with the negative active material layer serves as the negative electrode tab. The material of the negative electrode current collector can be copper, and the negative electrode active material can be carbon or silicon. In order to ensure that large currents can pass through without melting, the number of positive electrode tabs is multiple and stacked together, and the number of negative electrode tabs is multiple and stacked together. The material of the isolation film can be polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE). In addition, the battery component may have a wound structure or a laminated structure, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

In order to meet different power requirements, the battery may include multiple battery cells, wherein the multiple battery cells may be connected in series, in parallel, or in mixed connection. Hybrid connection refers to a mixture of series and parallel connection. Optionally, multiple battery cells can be first connected in series, parallel, or mixed to form a battery module, and then multiple battery modules can be connected in series, parallel, or mixed to form a battery. In other words, multiple battery cells can directly form a battery, or they can first form a battery module, and then the battery module can form a battery. The battery is further installed in the electrical equipment to provide electrical energy to the electrical equipment.

With the development of battery technology, while pursuing high energy density and discharge capacity as well as long cycle life and charge and discharge rates, the consideration of battery safety performance cannot be ignored. Among them, when the battery cell expands during operation, its welding area may undergo large deformation, causing the welding area to fail and bringing great safety risks to the battery.

In view of this, embodiments of the present application provide a technical solution that uses an insulating strip to connect to the first wall with the largest surface area of the battery cell. The connection area between the insulating strip and the first wall includes the welding area of the first wall of the battery cell. In this way, when the battery cell expands during operation, the insulating strip connected to the first wall can act as a stress-bearing member of the welding area of the first wall, limiting the expansion space of the welding area, so that the welding area will not have a large impact. deformation to avoid failure in the welding area, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery.

The technical solutions described in the embodiments of this application are applicable to various devices using batteries, such as mobile phones, portable devices, laptops, battery cars, electric toys, electric tools, electric vehicles, ships and spacecraft, etc., for example, spacecraft include Airplanes, rockets, space shuttles and spacecraft, etc.

It should be understood that the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are not limited to the devices described above, but can also be applied to all devices using batteries. However, for the sake of simplicity, the following embodiments take electric vehicles as examples for description.

For example, as shown in Figure 1, it is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present application. The vehicle 1 can be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle. The new energy vehicle can be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or a new energy vehicle. Extended range vehicles, etc. A motor 40 , a controller 30 and a battery 10 may be disposed inside the vehicle 1 . The controller 30 is used to control the battery 10 to provide power to the motor 40 . For example, the battery 10 may be disposed at the bottom, front or rear of the vehicle 1 . The battery 10 can be used to supply power to the vehicle 1 . For example, the battery 10 can be used as an operating power source of the vehicle 1 and used in the circuit system of the vehicle 1 , for example, to meet the power requirements for starting, navigation, and operation of the vehicle 1 . In another embodiment of the present application, the battery 10 can not only be used as an operating power source of the vehicle 1 , but also can be used as a driving power source of the vehicle 1 , replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1 .

In order to meet different power usage requirements, the battery 10 may include multiple battery cells. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , it is a schematic structural diagram of a battery 10 according to an embodiment of the present application. The battery 10 may include a plurality of battery cells 20 . The battery 10 may also include a box 11. The inside of the box 11 is a hollow structure, and a plurality of battery cells 20 are accommodated in the box 11. For example, a plurality of battery cells 20 are connected in parallel or in series or in a mixed combination and then placed in the box 11 .

Optionally, the battery 10 may also include other structures, which will not be described in detail here. For example, the battery 10 may further include a bus component, which is used to realize electrical connection between multiple battery cells 20 , such as parallel connection, series connection, or mixed connection. Specifically, the bus component can realize electrical connection between the battery cells 20 by connecting the electrode terminals of the battery cells 20 . Furthermore, the bus part may be fixed to the electrode terminal of the battery cell 20 by welding. The electric energy of the plurality of battery cells 20 can be further drawn out through the box through the conductive mechanism. Alternatively, the electrically conductive means can also be part of the busbar.

According to different power requirements, the number of battery cells 20 can be set to any value. Multiple battery cells 20 can be connected in series, parallel or mixed connection to achieve larger capacity or power. Since the number of battery cells 20 included in each battery 10 may be large, in order to facilitate installation, the battery cells 20 may be arranged in groups, and each group of battery cells 20 forms a battery module. The number of battery cells 20 included in the battery module is not limited and can be set according to requirements. The battery may include multiple battery modules, which may be connected in series, parallel or mixed connection.

As shown in FIG. 3 , it is a schematic structural diagram of a battery cell 20 according to an embodiment of the present application. The battery cell 20 includes one or more battery components 22 , a casing 211 and an end cover 212 . Housing 211 and end cap 212 form housing or battery case 21 . The wall of the casing 211 and the end cover 212 are both called the wall of the battery cell 20 . For the rectangular parallelepiped battery cell 20 , the wall of the casing 211 includes a bottom wall and four side walls. The housing 211 is determined according to the combined shape of one or more battery components 22. For example, the housing 211 can be a hollow rectangular parallelepiped, a cube, or a cylinder, and one surface of the housing 211 has an opening to accommodate one or more batteries. Component 22 may be placed within housing 211. For example, when the housing 211 is a hollow rectangular parallelepiped or a cube, one of the planes of the housing 211 is an opening surface, that is, the plane does not have a wall so that the inside and outside of the housing 211 are connected. When the housing 211 can be a hollow cylinder, the end surface of the housing 211 is an open surface, that is, the end surface does not have a wall so that the inside and outside of the housing 211 are connected. The end cap 212 covers the opening and is connected to the housing 211 to form a closed cavity in which the battery assembly 22 is placed. The housing 211 is filled with electrolyte, such as electrolyte solution.

The battery cell 20 may further include two electrode terminals 214 , and the two electrode terminals 214 may be disposed on the end cap 212 . The end cap 212 is generally in the shape of a flat plate, and two electrode terminals 214 are fixed on the flat surface of the end cap 212. The two electrode terminals 214 are respectively a positive electrode terminal 214a and a negative electrode terminal 214b. Each electrode terminal 214 is provided with a corresponding connecting member 23 , which may also be called a current collecting member 23 . It is located between the end cover 212 and the battery assembly 22 and is used to electrically connect the battery assembly 22 and the electrode terminal 214 .

As shown in FIG. 3 , each battery assembly 22 has a first tab 221a and a second tab 222a. The first tab 221a and the second tab 222a have opposite polarities. For example, when the first tab 221a is a positive tab, the second tab 222a is a negative tab. The first tab 221a of one or more battery assemblies 22 is connected to one electrode terminal through one connecting member 23, and the second tab 222a of one or more battery assemblies 22 is connected to another electrode terminal through another connecting member 23. For example, the positive electrode terminal 214a is connected to the positive electrode tab through one connecting member 23, and the negative electrode terminal 214b is connected to the negative electrode tab through another connecting member 23.

In the battery cell 20 , the battery component 22 can be provided as a single or multiple batteries according to actual usage requirements. As shown in FIG. 3 , the battery cell 20 is provided with four independent battery components 22 .

A pressure relief mechanism 213 may also be provided on the battery cell 20 . The pressure relief mechanism 213 is used to be activated to relieve the internal pressure or temperature when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 reaches a threshold.

The pressure relief mechanism 213 can be various possible pressure relief structures, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application. For example, the pressure relief mechanism 213 may be a temperature-sensitive pressure relief mechanism configured to melt when the internal temperature of the battery cell 20 provided with the pressure relief mechanism 213 reaches a threshold; and/or the pressure relief mechanism 213 may be a pressure-sensitive pressure relief mechanism configured to rupture when the internal air pressure of the battery cell 20 provided with the pressure relief mechanism 213 reaches a threshold value.

Figure 4 shows a schematic structural diagram of a battery module 100 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 4 , the battery module 100 includes N columns of battery cells 20 and insulating strips 103 , where N is an integer greater than 1. Each column of battery cells 20 in the N columns of battery cells 20 includes a plurality of battery cells 20 arranged along a first direction, and the N columns of battery cells 20 are arranged along a second direction, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

In the drawings of this application, N is 2 as an example, that is, the battery module 100 includes two rows of battery cells 20 and insulating strips 103. However, the embodiment of this application is not limited to this. For example, the battery module 100 may also include 3 rows of battery cells 20 and insulating strips 103. There are even more rows of 20 battery cells.

Each column of battery cells 20 in the N columns 20 has multiple battery cells 20 arranged along a first direction, for example, the x direction in FIG. 4 . N columns of battery cells 20 are arranged along a second direction, for example, the y direction in FIG. 4 , and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. In other words, the first direction is the direction in which the battery cells 20 in each row of battery cells 20 are arranged, and the second direction is the direction in which the N rows of battery cells 20 are arranged.

The insulating strip 103 extends along the first direction. The insulating strip 103 is used to connect the first wall of the battery cell 20 . The first wall is the wall with the largest surface area in the battery cell 20 . In the third direction, the size of the insulating strip 103 is smaller than the first wall. The size of the wall, the third direction is perpendicular to the first and second directions. The insulating strip 103 includes the welding area of the first wall in the connection area of the first wall.

For example, the third direction is the z direction in Figure 4. In the z direction in Figure 4, the size of the insulating strip 103 is smaller than the size of the first wall, that is, the connection area between the insulating strip 103 and the first wall is not the first wall. The entire area, but a part of the welding area including the first wall.

The insulating strip 103 is connected to the first wall of the battery cell 20 with the largest surface area, and the connection area between the insulating strip 103 and the first wall includes the welding area of the first wall of the battery cell 20 . In this way, when the battery cell 20 expands during operation, the insulating strip 103 connected to the first wall can act as a force-bearing member of the welding area of the first wall, limiting the expansion space of the welding area, so that the welding area will not undergo greater changes. Large deformation can avoid failure in the welding area, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery 10.

Optionally, adjacent battery cells 20 in the N rows of battery cells 20 may be adhered to each other, but this is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. The fixing effect of the battery cells 20 can be enhanced through the fixation between adjacent battery cells 20 .

Optionally, the size of the insulating strip 103 in the third direction may be within 10 mm. For example, in one embodiment of the present application, the size of the insulating strip 103 in the third direction may be 2-8 mm. The insulating strip 103 of this size can not only serve as a stress-bearing member in the welding area, but also reduce the space occupied in the battery module 100 and ensure expansion space in the non-welding area.

In some embodiments of the present application, the battery cell 20 in the battery module 100 further includes a housing 211 with an opening and an end cover 212. The end cover 212 closes the opening of the housing 211 to form a space to accommodate the battery assembly 22. Here, the wall with the largest surface area in the housing 211 is defined as the first wall, and the welding position of the end cover 212 and the housing 211 at the opening is defined as the welding area.

The casing 211 and the end cover 212 form a space to accommodate the battery assembly 22. Therefore, the wall with the largest surface area of the casing 211 is also the wall with the largest surface area of the battery cell 20. The insulating strip 103 is fixed on the wall with the largest surface area of the casing 211, which is equivalent to Yu is fixed on the wall of the battery cell 20 with the largest surface area. During the use of the battery cell 20, the side wall with the largest surface area is often the part with the most serious expansion phenomenon and the largest expansion force compared with other walls. The insulating strip 103 is arranged in the welding area on this wall to strengthen the The insulating strip 103 protects the welding area.

By arranging the insulating strip 103 on the wall with the largest surface area of the housing 211, the welding area of the end cover 212 and the housing 211 can be effectively protected from major deformation.

Alternatively, the battery cell 20 may be a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped battery cell 20 . The rectangular parallelepiped battery cell 20 includes two opposite first side walls and two opposite second side walls. The area of the first side wall is larger than the area of the second side wall, that is, the first side wall is a wide side wall. , the second side wall is a narrow side wall. In this embodiment, the first side wall with a larger surface area is used as the first wall, that is, the insulating strip 103 is disposed on the first side wall with a larger surface area.

In some embodiments of the present application, the insulating strip 103 covers the weld between the first wall and the end cap 212 .

The insulating strip 103 covers the welding seam between the first wall and the end cover 212, that is, the insulating strip 103 covers the welding seam at the opening of the casing 211 of the battery cell 20 and the end cover 212, which can further strengthen the welding seam of the insulating strip 103. Protection to prevent the weld from failing due to expansion of the battery cells 20.

Alternatively, the insulating strip 103 and the battery cell 20 may be fixedly connected by adhesion. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

Optionally, the insulating strip 103 can be made of any insulating material, such as rubber or polycarbonate, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

In some embodiments of the present application, the insulating strip 103 protrudes from the end cap 212 in the third direction.

In the third direction, the insulating strip 103 protrudes from the end cover 212 , that is, the insulating strip 103 protrudes from the welding area of the end cover 212 and the housing 211 . By making the insulating strip 103 protrude from the end cover 212 in the third direction, it can better function as a force-bearing member and better limit the expansion of the welding area.

In some embodiments of the present application, the insulating strip 103 includes a first connection part 1031 and a second connection part 1032. The first connection part 1031 is used to connect with the first wall, and the second connection part 1032 is connected to the first connection part 1031 Far away from the end of the battery cell 20 and extending along the second direction, the second connecting portion 1032 is used to cover at least part of the end cap 212 .

Optionally, the first connecting part 1031 and the second connecting part 1032 form a T-shaped insulating strip 103 .

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 4 , the first connecting part 1031 and the second connecting part 1032 form an L-shaped insulating strip 103 .

As long as the insulating strip 103 can function as a force-bearing member, it can be used in a variety of parts to meet different assembly requirements under different process grouping requirements and design space requirements. For example, when the insulating strip 103 is L-shaped In this case, the battery module 100 can be installed after it is assembled, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

The first connection part 1031 is connected to the first wall of the battery cell 20, the second connection part 1032 covers at least part of the end cover 212, the first connection part 1031 and the second connection part 1032 are connected, so that the insulating strip 103 can completely cover the end cover 212. The welding area between one wall and the end cap 212.

In some embodiments of the present application, the second connecting portion 1032 in the insulating strip 103 is snugly connected to the end cap 212 of the battery cell 20 .

As shown in Figure 4, the first connection part 1031 of the insulating strip 103 is connected to the first wall of the battery cell 20, and the second connection part 1032 is closely connected to the end cover 212 of the battery cell 20, so that the second connection part 1032 can serve as a force-bearing member in the welding area of the casing 211 and the end cover 212 in the battery cell 20 .

By connecting the first connecting portion 1031 of the insulating strip 103 to the first wall of the battery cell 20 and the second connecting portion 1032 to the end cover 212, the protective effect of the insulating strip 103 on the welding area can be further enhanced.

In some embodiments of the present application, the insulating strip 103 is connected to the first wall of the outermost battery cell 20 in the second direction.

In the battery module 100, the battery cells 20 undergo different expansion forces due to different positions. The cumulative expansion of the outermost battery cells 20 in the second direction is the most serious. By connecting the insulating strip 103 to the first wall of the outermost battery cell 20 in the second direction, the expansion of the welding area here can be better suppressed, preventing large deformation of the welding area here, thereby improving the performance of the battery 10 Safety performance.

In some embodiments of the present application, the battery module 100 further includes N-1 columns of separators 101, and the N-1 separators are disposed between N columns of battery cells 20. That is to say, the separator 101 is disposed inside the battery module 100 , and the separator 101 is no longer disposed outside the battery module 100 . For example, one separator 101 is disposed between two rows of battery cells 20 , two separators 101 are disposed between three rows of battery cells 20 , and so on. Through such an arrangement, fewer separators can be used so that each battery cell 20 in the battery module 100 can be fixedly connected by the separator 101 .

The end of the partition 101 in the first direction is provided with a fixing structure 102, and the partition is fixed to the box 11 through the fixing structure 102. Please continue to refer to FIG. 4 , the fixed structures 102 are provided at both ends of the partition 101 in the x direction. The partition 101 is fixed to the box 11 through the fixing structure 102, thereby fixing the battery module 100 to the box 11. As mentioned above, each battery cell 20 in the battery module 100 is fixedly connected by the partition 101 , and each battery cell 20 is fixedly connected to the box 11 through the fixed structure 102 .

In the above solution, a separator 101 is provided between two adjacent columns of battery cells 20 in the battery module 100. The separator 101 is fixedly connected to each battery cell 20 in the two columns of battery cells 20. A fixing structure 102 is provided at the end of the partition 101 , and the partition 101 is fixed to the box 11 through the fixing structure 102 . In this way, each battery cell 20 in the battery module 100 is fixed to the box 11 by the partition 101 and the fixing structure 102. Therefore, each battery cell 20 can transfer its load to the box 11, ensuring the safety of the battery 10. Structural strength; in this case, the side panels no longer need to be provided on the outside of the battery module 100, and there is no need to provide beams and other structures in the middle of the box 11, which can maximize the space utilization inside the battery module 100, thereby improving The energy density of the battery module 100. Therefore, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application can improve the energy density of the battery module 100 while ensuring the safety performance of the battery module 100, thereby improving the performance of the battery.

Optionally, the separator 101 and each battery cell 20 in two adjacent columns of battery cells 20 may be fixedly connected by adhesive. For example, in one embodiment of the present application, as shown in FIG. 6 , the separator 101 and each battery cell 20 in two adjacent rows of battery cells 20 can be bonded through structural glue 110 , but in this embodiment of the present application There is no limit to this.

Optionally, the partition 101 can be a metal plate, for example, it can be a steel plate, an aluminum plate, or a plastic plate. The material of the partition 101 can also be a composite material, for example, other materials are coated on the surface of the metal plate. This application The examples are not limiting.

In some embodiments of the present application, the securing structure 102 may include a securing plate 104 . The fixed plate 104 is fixedly connected to the end of the separator 101 and is fixedly connected to the battery cell 20 located at the end of the separator 101 . For example, for the rectangular parallelepiped battery cell 20, the fixing plate 104 can be vertically connected to the separator 101, and connect the two adjacent side walls of the rectangular parallelepiped battery cell 20 with the separator 101 respectively, thereby further strengthening the protection of the battery cell. Fixed effect of 20.

Optionally, the fixed plate 104 can be made of the same material as the partition plate 101, for example, metal, plastic or composite material. The thickness of the fixing plate 104 may also be the same as that of the partition plate 101 . The material or thickness of the fixed plate 104 may also be different from that of the partition 101. For example, the fixed plate 104 may be configured with higher strength or thickness, but this is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

Optionally, the connection method between the partition plate 101 and the fixed plate 104 can be resistance welding, resistance riveting, locking bolts or snap-in connection; the fixed plate 104 can also be connected through resistance welding, resistance riveting, locking bolts or snap-in connection. It is fixed on the box body by other connection methods, but the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

Alternatively, the fixed plate 104 and the battery cell 20 may be fixedly connected by bonding, for example, by structural adhesive, but the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a battery 10 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 5 , the battery 10 includes a battery module 100 and a case 11 . The box 11 is used to accommodate the battery module 100 .

In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , multiple battery modules 100 are arranged along the second direction in the battery 10 , there is a gap between two adjacent battery modules 100 , and the insulating strip 103 is at least partially provided. in the gap between the two battery modules 100 .

The battery 10 includes multiple battery modules 100, and each battery module 100 has a corresponding expansion area. Therefore, the welds between the casing 211 and the end cover 212 of each battery cell 20 may be affected by the expansion of the battery cell 20. And deformed. By arranging insulating strips 103 in the gaps between different battery modules 100, the welding areas of the battery cells 20 in multiple battery modules 100 can be protected, further improving the overall safety performance of the battery.

In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG. 7 , the insulating strip 103 includes two first connection parts 1031 , and the two first connection parts 1031 are arranged opposite to the battery cells 20 in the battery module 100 along the second direction. The first wall also includes a third connecting part 1033. The third connecting part 1033 is located between the two first connecting parts 1031 and connects the two first connecting parts 1031.

The insulating strip 103 composed of two first connecting parts 1031 and one third connecting part 1033 may be H-shaped or U-shaped, or may be in other shapes, as long as the insulating strip 103 can function as a force-bearing member to protect the battery cells. The welding seam between the end cover 212 of the body 20 and the housing 211 will not undergo excessive deformation, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. In this way, when the module gap is large, there is no need to provide thicker insulating strips 103 .

Under different process grouping requirements and design requirements, different battery 10 assembly requirements can be achieved through a variety of parts forms.

In some embodiments of the present application, the third connection portion 1033 is disposed in the gap between the two battery modules 100 .

The two first connecting parts 1031 are respectively connected to the first walls of the battery cells 20 of two adjacent battery modules 100, and the third connecting part 1033 is located in the gap between the two first connecting parts 1031, so that the two first connecting parts 1031 can be connected. The battery cells 20 of adjacent battery modules 100 are connected together, so that the insulating strip 103 can simultaneously suppress the expansion of the first wall welding area of the two battery cells 20 and improve the overall safety performance of the battery 10 .

It should be understood that relevant parts in the various embodiments of this application may be referred to each other and will not be described again for the sake of brevity.

The embodiment of the present application also provides an electrical device, which may include the battery 10 in the previous embodiment. Optionally, the electrical equipment may be a vehicle 1, a ship, a spacecraft, etc., but the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

The battery 10 and electrical equipment according to the embodiment of the present application are described above. The method and equipment for preparing a battery according to the embodiment of the present application will be described below. For parts not described in detail, please refer to the foregoing embodiments.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic flow chart of a method 300 for preparing a battery according to an embodiment of the present application.

As shown in Figure 8, the method 300 may include:

310. Provide multiple battery modules 100. The battery modules 100 include: N columns of battery cells 20. Each column of battery cells 20 in the N columns of battery cells 20 includes a plurality of battery cells arranged along the first direction. The N columns are The battery cells are arranged along the second direction, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction, and N is an integer greater than 1; the insulating strip 103 extends along the first direction, and the insulating strip 103 is used to connect the surface areas of the battery cells 20 The largest wall, in the third direction, the size of the insulating strip 103 is smaller than the size of the first wall. The third direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The connection area between the insulating strip 103 and the first wall includes the welding of the first wall. area.

320, providing 11 boxes;

330. Receive the battery module 100 in the box 11, where the partition 101 is fixed to the box 11 through the fixing structure 102.

While the present application has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications may be made and equivalents may be substituted for components thereof without departing from the scope of the application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any way. The application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims (14)

1. A battery module (100), characterized by comprising: N columns of battery cells (20). Each column of battery cells (20) in the N columns of battery cells (20) includes a plurality of battery cells (20) arranged along a first direction. The N columns of batteries The monomers (20) are arranged along a second direction, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction, and N is an integer greater than 1; Insulating strip (103), the insulating strip (103) extends along the first direction, the insulating strip (103) is used to connect the first wall of the battery cell (20), the first wall is The wall with the largest surface area in the battery cell (20), in a third direction, the size of the insulating strip (103) is smaller than the size of the first wall, the third direction is perpendicular to the first direction and In the second direction, the connection area between the insulating strip (103) and the first wall includes the welding area of the first wall. 2. The battery module (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the battery cell (20) includes: Housing (211) with an opening; An end cap (212) for closing the opening to accommodate the battery assembly (22); The first wall is the wall with the largest surface area in the housing (211), and the end cover (212) is welded and fixed with the housing (211) at the opening to form the welding area. 3. The battery module (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the insulating strip (103) covers the welding seam between the first wall and the end cover (212). 4. The battery module (100) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the insulating strip (103) protrudes from the end cover (212) in the third direction. 5. The battery module (100) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the insulating strip (103) includes a first connection part (1031) and a second connection part (1032), and the first connection part The second connection part (1031) is used to connect to the first wall, and the second connection part (1032) is connected to the end of the first connection part (1031) away from the battery cell (20) and along the Extending in the second direction, the second connecting portion is used to cover at least part of the end cap (212). 6. The battery module (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the second connection part (1032) is snugly connected to the end cover (212). 7. The battery module (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the insulating strip (103) and the battery cell (20) located at the outermost side in the second direction of the first wall connection. 8. The battery module (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the battery module (100) further includes: N-1 separators (101). The separators (101) extend along the first direction and are arranged between two adjacent columns of battery cells (20). The separators (101) are connected to the adjacent rows of battery cells (20). Each battery cell (20) in two adjacent columns of battery cells (20) is fixedly connected; Wherein, the end of the separator (101) in the first direction is provided with a fixing structure (102), and the separator (101) is fixed to the battery for accommodating the battery through the fixing structure (102). The box (11) of the module (100). 9. The battery module (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that the fixing structure (102) includes a fixing plate (104), and all connections between the fixing plate (104) and the partition (101) The end portion is fixedly connected and fixedly connected to the battery cell (20) located at the end portion of the separator (101). 10. A battery (10), characterized by comprising: The battery module (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9; The box (11) is used to accommodate the battery module (100). 11. The battery (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the battery modules (100) are provided in plurality, and the plurality of battery modules (100) are arranged along the second direction, and two adjacent battery modules (100) are arranged in the second direction. There is a gap between each of the battery modules (100), and at least part of the insulating strip (103) is disposed in the gap. 12. The battery (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the insulating strip (103) includes: Two first connection parts (1031) are arranged oppositely along the second direction. The two first connection parts (1031) are respectively used to connect the battery cells of two adjacent battery modules (100). said first wall of the body (20); The third connecting part (1033) is located between the two first connecting parts (1031) and is used to connect the two first connecting parts (1031). 13. The battery (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that the third connection part (1033) is located in the gap. 14. An electrical device, characterized by comprising the battery (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, the battery (10) being used to provide electrical energy.