DE102013018415A1 - Battery with a large number of individual battery cells - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery comprising a stack (1) of a multiplicity of stacked battery individual cells (2) which are connected electrically in series or in parallel by each individual battery cell (2) having at least two outgoing conductors (3) and the arresters ( 3) of different battery individual cells (2) are electrically contacted with each other, further comprising a tempering device with at least one heat exchanger plate (6) for cooling and / or heating the battery individual cells (2) in thermally conductive and electrically insulated connection with the arresters (3) Single battery cells (2) and is placed on at least one side of the stack (1) on this directly or with the interposition of at least one further component. The battery according to the invention is characterized in that at least some of the arresters (3) at one end have a projection projecting laterally from the area covered by the heat exchanger plate (6) on the stack (1) and a low-voltage contact (5) for battery electronics (16) trains.

Description

The present invention relates to a battery comprising a stack of a plurality of stacked individual battery cells according to the type defined in the preamble of claim 1 or in the preamble of claim 2.

Batteries of the generic type are used for example as a high-voltage battery (HV battery) for alternative drives in motor vehicles. The individual battery cells are often prismatic, in particular flat and rectangular and designed, for example, as so-called pouch or Coffeebag cells. In such cells, the electrochemically active content is surrounded by a film-like packaging, are guided by the electrical connections, the so-called arrester, often made of sheet metal. To form the battery now a certain number of Pouch cells is electrically connected in series and / or parallel and housed in particular with cooling and electronics in a housing. By single battery cell in the sense of the present invention is meant any electrochemical storage element of the presently described design.

The mechanical fixation of the sensitive and less dimensionally stable cells to form a cell block is generally particularly space-saving by frames that are either arranged between the cells or enclose each of these, in the latter case, the frames are also referred to as half frame. Frames and cells can then be pressed against each other via continuous clamping means (tie rods, threaded rods, straps, etc.), which run at the edge of the cells. The introduction of the clamping forces in the cell stack is generally done by pressure gauges located at the ends thereof. The frame or half frame press on the peripheral sealing edge of the cell packaging, wherein in the pressing area an elastic support made of rubber or elastomer can be arranged. The mechanical fixation of the cells is thus essentially non-positively by friction between frame / elastomers and cells. However, it is also conceivable the bonding of frame and cell.

At the axial ends of the stack of battery cells are the contacts for the current drain, also referred to as HV contacts (high full contacts) and in the present case as a battery connection, which because of the high currents usually made of solid metal, for example copper and / or aluminum, are made.

It is known that the arresters of the individual individual battery cells are used not only for the transmission of the electrical current, but also for the temperature control (cooling and / or heating) of the battery individual cells. Since the arresters are thermally well connected to the cell interior, it is possible, in particular by means of a thermally conductive but electrically insulating connection of the arresters with a heat exchanger plate, to achieve exact and uniform cooling of the individual battery cells.

The electrical and in particular mechanical contacting of the arresters of different, in particular immediately adjacent to each other positioned battery single cells can be done directly or via so-called cell connectors. Accordingly, in the first case, the arresters themselves and in the second case, the cell connectors form a heat-conducting surface for producing the thermally conductive connection with the at least one heat exchanger plate, which then a heat exchanger plate directly or with the interposition of at least one further component, in particular a heat conducting foil which electrically isolated, is hung up. The printed prior art is on the DE 10 2008 034 867 A1 directed. The heat exchanger plate is usually pulled by clamping elements (screws, clips, springs, rivets, etc.) on the frame of the stack, at the same time the heat conducting foil is pressed to produce the thermal contact between the battery cells and the heat exchanger plate.

For detecting and monitoring the cell voltages as well as to balance the charge between the different individual battery cells, the battery individual cells can furthermore each be connected to a battery electronics, wherein the connection takes place via a so-called low-voltage contacting (LV contacting). Since in the known embodiments with battery cells cooled by heat exchanger plates, the low-voltage contacts at the various individual battery cells, via which the contact with corresponding low-voltage connections to the battery electronics, are positioned below the heat exchanger plates, the contacting is complex and requires the use of additional parts, for example cables or busbars that connect the low-voltage contacts on the battery individual cells with the low-voltage terminals on the battery electronics.

The present invention is therefore an object of the invention to improve a battery of the type mentioned, in particular with the above-described structural structures such that a simple, secure and cost-effective contacting of the battery electronics can be done with low-voltage contacts of the battery cells.

The object of the invention is achieved in each case by a battery having the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments and refinements emerge from the dependent claims.

A battery according to the invention, in particular for use as a traction battery in an at least partially electrically powered vehicle, comprises a plurality of stacked single battery cells electrically connected in series or parallel to one another by each battery cell having at least two arresters and electrically contacting the traps of different battery cells are. The electrical contacting and in particular at the same time a mechanical contacting of two arresters of different individual battery cells can be done directly or through a connected to two arresters cell connector.

The battery further comprises a tempering device with at least one heat exchanger plate, which stands for cooling and / or heating the battery individual cells in thermally conductive and electrically insulated connection with the cell connectors and / or the arresters of the battery individual cells. The at least one heat exchanger plate, in particular two heat exchanger plates, is / are placed on at least one side of the stack on the arresters of the battery individual cells and / or on the cell connectors directly or with the interposition of at least one further component, for example a heat conducting foil.

According to the invention, at least some of the arresters are now provided at one end with a supernatant, in particular on direct contact with the arresters, protruding laterally from the area covered by the at least one heat exchanger plate on the stack of battery cells and forming a low-voltage contact for battery electronics. The end projecting laterally out of this region is, in particular, an axial end of an arrester, the longitudinal axis of the arresters generally running perpendicular to the stacking direction of the stack and in the direction of the plane of the at least one heat exchanger plate placed on the corresponding arrester.

When contacting the arresters of different individual battery cells by cell connectors with each other can also at least some of the arrester - or as in the previously illustrated embodiment according to a variant all arresters or one arrester per battery cell - have at one end a corresponding projection on the side of the stack protrudes from the area covered by the heat exchanger plate and forms a low-voltage contact for the battery electronics. However, in this case, additionally or alternatively, it is also possible for at least some of the cell connectors or all cell connectors to have a projection at one end which projects laterally from the area covered by the heat exchanger plate on the stack of battery cells and forms a low-voltage contact for battery electronics. Thus, in this case, in particular in each case a cell connector instead of the arrester, the formation of the low-voltage contact, which can be contacted with a corresponding low-voltage connection to the battery electronics.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the supernatants on the arresters or the cell connectors, which each form the low-voltage contact, are each separated by a recess from the remaining part of the arrester or cell connector, which extends only over a portion of a cross section of the corresponding arrester or cell connector , This means that the supernatant is not completely separated from the remaining part of the arrester or cell connector, but that this supernatant is advantageously formed as a remote flag. By suitable dimensioning of the size of the recess in the axial direction of the arrester, a reliable electrical insulation of the low-voltage contact with respect to the heat exchanger plate can be achieved.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the battery cells are held by stacked frames. For example, the frames may be positioned between the battery cells or, to form a frame, there are two half frames each enclosing a single battery cell along the outer circumference therebetween. As explained in the introduction, the frames and cells can advantageously be pressed against one another via tensioning means, in particular continuous tensioning means, for example tie rods, threaded rods, tensioning straps, etc., which run along the edge of the cells. The introduction of the clamping forces in the stack of individual cells can be done by positioned at the ends of the stack pressure goggles. The frame or half frame can press on the peripheral edge of the cell packaging (area of the welding of the packaging film), so that the mechanical fixing of the individual cells takes place substantially non-positively.

The at least one heat exchanger plate can now be placed on the stacked frame and connected to this, in particular a projection on the respective frame for connection of the heat exchanger plate in the recess described above in addition to the low-voltage contact into or protrudes through it. In this case, the heat exchanger plate directly or indirectly on the projections of the frame rest, wherein the heat exchanger plate is in particular electrically connected to the ground of the battery. Characterized in that the support of the heat exchanger plate in the region of the projections in each case correspondingly smaller than the recesses is executed and / or by providing an electrical insulation between the heat exchanger plate and the support electrical insulation against the low-voltage contact and / or the arrester can be achieved.

Particularly advantageously, at least two heat exchanger plates are provided, which are placed on a common side of the stack with a gap forming a gap to each other on arresters, in particular two groups of arresters of the battery cells or according to the cell connectors, the supernatants with the low-voltage contacts in this space between the protrude two heat exchanger plates. As a rule, the supernatants are on the frame.

The supernatants are advantageously in pairs aligned with each other or in the stacking direction of the stack mutually offset under the two heat exchanger plates excellent opposite.

In the interspace can now be arranged a battery electronics or a circuit board for connecting a battery electronics having a plurality of low-voltage terminals, which are contacted directly or indirectly with the low-voltage contacts of the arrester or cell connectors. For example, the contact is made by means of material bond (welding), wherein, if possible, the same welding method is used as for contacting the different battery cells, that is, the arrester with each other. However, it is also conceivable to make contact by means of adhesion (compression), wherein a spring element or spring contact is preferably used to compensate for thermal expansion, tolerances and settling, which is formed by a low-voltage contact and / or an associated low-voltage terminal or positioned between these two.

The low-voltage connections to the battery electronics or the circuit board are advantageously designed in the form of contact lugs which rest directly or indirectly on the low-voltage contacts of the arresters or cell connectors.

The low-voltage connections and / or the low-voltage contacts can be made elastic and / or elastically connected to each other, for example by a meander-shaped design, in which a high elastic deformability is set by a defined weakening.

In the stacking direction of the battery individual cells, the low-voltage connections are preferably made narrower in their width than the associated low-voltage contacts of the arresters or cell connectors in order to compensate for tolerances over the complete stack and to ensure overlapping of the low-voltage connections with the low-voltage contacts, in particular for the welding together.

Depending on the polarity, the arresters are advantageously made of aluminum (in particular in the case of a positive pole design) or copper (in particular in the case of a negative pole design). Cell connectors and the low-voltage terminals of the battery electronics are preferably also made of these two materials.

The inventive solution can be a direct contacting of the low-voltage terminals with the low-voltage contacts without the interposition of an additional component, outside the contact area of the heat exchanger plate (s), in particular laterally next to the / the heat exchanger plate (s) seen in the stacking, produce, what space and saves costs and allows easy replacement of the battery electronics or the board without disassembly of the heat exchanger plate (s).

The invention will be described below by way of example with reference to two embodiments and the figures.

Show it:

1 in an exploded view two to be contacted individual battery cells of a stack with interposed frame in a first embodiment of the invention;

2 the battery cells from the 1 in contacted condition;

3 a stack out according to the 1 and 2 contacted individual battery cells with heat exchanger plates to be placed on;

4 the stack from the 3 with connected heat exchanger plates and battery electronics to be connected;

5 a section of the 4 before mounting the battery electronics;

6 the excerpt from the 5 after mounting and connecting the battery electronics and contacting the low-voltage connections with the low-voltage contacts;

7 a representation according to the 1 a second embodiment of the invention;

8th a representation of the second embodiment of the invention according to the 3 ;

9 the second embodiment of the invention as shown in the 4 that is, before putting on the battery electronics;

10 a representation according to the 5 the second embodiment of the invention; and

11 a representation according to the 6 the second embodiment of the invention, that is after connecting and contacting the battery electronics.

In the 1 to 6 a first embodiment of a battery according to the invention is shown. The battery includes a stack 1 from single battery cells 2 which are electrically connected in series. Each single battery cell 2 has two arresters 3 on, with the arresters 3 two on both sides of each frame 10 positioned battery cells 2 by bending over the arresters 3 towards each other and are contacted with each other. Before or after bending the arrester 3 These are trimmed in such a way that on each one of the two arresters 3 a single battery cell 2 at an axial end of the arrester 3 a low voltage contact 5 is formed, which has a recess 8th from the remaining part of the arrester 3 is disconnected. As you can see, the recess is 8th so in the arrester 3 introduced that low-voltage contact 5 is designed as a remote flag.

How special from the 3 it can be seen, the frames 10 with the individual battery cells positioned in between 2 (see the 1 ) to a pile 1 assembled, in the stacking direction at its two axial ends by a half-frame 10 with pressure gauges placed on it from the outside 11 is completed. The two end goggles 11 are over tie rods 12 clamped together and thus compress the variety of frames 10 or half frame 10 ' with the battery individual cells positioned between them 2 , The arresters 3 are by their positioning on a common side of the stack 1 in the bent and contacted state in two in the axial direction of the stack 1 seen juxtaposed groups arranged. On each group of arresters 3 each is a heat exchanger plate 6 with the interposition of a thermally conductive electrically insulated layer (Wärmeleitfolie 7 ).

How to be especially in the 2 can recognize, assign the frame 10 for mounting the heat exchanger plates 6 a variety of protrusions 9 on, in which the heat exchanger plates 6 by screws 13 (see the 3 ) are bolted. In the embodiment shown are per frame 10 four projections 9 intended. Especially from the 1 and 2 it follows that each one recess 8th an arrester 3 a lead 9 encloses.

There, like in the 4 to 6 is shown, the heat exchanger plates 6 with its outer peripheral area on the projections 9 put on and bolted there, point the arrester 3 at their axial ends with respect to the longitudinal direction (stacking direction) of the stack 1 lateral projection on the side of the from the heat exchanger plates 6 covered area protrudes. In these supernatants are the low-voltage contacts 5 the arrester 3 positioned.

In the 2 is a possible direct cohesive contacting of two overlapping arresters 3 represented by welding, in particular laser welding, see the indicated weld 14 , Of course, another cohesive or nichtstoffschlüssige contacting comes into consideration.

In the 3 are also in the region of the axial ends of the stack 1 the electrical battery connections 15 shown, via which power can be fed into and removed from the battery. The electrical battery connections 15 are suitable with the series-connected arresters 3 contacted.

In the 4 to 6 is now shown as a battery electronics 16 in the longitudinal direction of the stack 1 running gap 17 between the two heat exchanger plates 6 introduced and with the low-voltage contacts 5 the battery cells 2 or the arrester 3 can be contacted. The battery electronics 16 has in its longitudinal direction, that is in the stacking direction of the stack 1 , on both sides outstanding low-voltage connections 18 in tongues or flags on the introduction of the battery electronics 16 in the gap 17 and when mounting the battery electronics 16 on the frame 10 , And especially when screwing with the pressure goggles 11 in contact with the low-voltage contacts 5 reach. But this Aufeinanderaufsetzen, especially if the low-voltage contacts 5 and / or the low voltage connections 18 are designed resilient or elastic, may be sufficient for contacting. Like in the 6 is indicated, the low-voltage contacts 5 but also with the low-voltage connections 18 cohesively connected, see the welds 14 , Further it can be seen that, in the embodiment shown, the width of the low-voltage contacts extending in the stacking direction 15 greater than the corresponding width of the low-voltage connections 18 is.

In the in the 7 to 11 illustrated second embodiment, in which corresponding components are designated by corresponding reference numerals, do not have the arrester 3 even the low-voltage contacts 5 on, but cell connectors 4 , by means of which the respective two arresters to be contacted with each other 3 different battery cells 2 are connected. In this embodiment also form the cell connectors 4 the heat transfer surfaces for heat input from the battery individual cells 2 (over the arresters 3 ) in the heat exchanger plates 6 or out of these, whereas in the first embodiment, the surfaces on the bent portions of the arresters 3 even for this purpose were used.

According to the second embodiment of the invention, the cell connectors accordingly 4 the recess 8th on to each low-voltage contact 5 from the remaining area of the cell connector 4 discontinued. The cell connectors 4 are accordingly with a supernatant laterally from that of the heat exchanger plates 6 Covered area outstanding positioned that the low-voltage contacts 5 with the low voltage connections 18 the battery electronics 16 in the space 17 can be contacted

The arresters 3 For example, with the cell connectors 4 be welded, in particular by ultrasonic welding. A connection of the low-voltage contacts 5 with the low voltage connections 18 can be done according to the explanations to the first embodiment. In both embodiments also comes in place of welding with a weld 14 in the overlap area of the low-voltage contacts 5 and the low voltage connections 18 a one-sided spot welding into consideration.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102008034867 A1 [0006]

Claims (10)

Battery comprising a stack ( 1 ) of a plurality of stacked battery cells ( 2 ), which are electrically connected in series or in parallel to each other by each battery cell ( 2 ) at least two arresters ( 3 ) and the arresters ( 3 ) of different battery cells ( 2 ) are electrically contacted with each other, further comprising a tempering device with at least one heat exchanger plate ( 6 ) used to cool and / or heat the battery cells ( 2 ) in thermally conductive and electrically isolated connection with the arresters ( 3 ) of the battery individual cells ( 2 ) and on at least one side of the stack ( 1 ) is placed on this directly or with the interposition of at least one further component, characterized in that at least some of the arresters ( 3 ) have at one end a protrusion on the stack ( 1 ) laterally from that of the heat exchanger plate ( 6 ) and a low-voltage contact ( 5 ) for a battery electronics ( 16 ) trains. Battery comprising a stack ( 1 ) of a plurality of stacked battery cells ( 2 ), which are electrically connected in series or in parallel to each other by each battery cell ( 2 ) at least two arresters ( 3 ) and the arresters ( 3 ) of different battery cells ( 2 ) in each case by one with the two arresters ( 3 ) connected cell connectors ( 4 ) are electrically contacted with each other, further comprising a tempering device with at least one heat exchanger plate ( 6 ) used to cool and / or heat the battery cells ( 2 ) in thermally conductive and electrically isolated connection with the cell connectors ( 4 ) and on at least one side of the stack ( 1 ) is placed on this directly or with the interposition of at least one component, characterized in that at least some of the cell connectors ( 4 ) have at one end a protrusion on the stack ( 1 ) laterally from that of the heat exchanger plate ( 6 ) and a low-voltage contact ( 5 ) for a battery electronics ( 16 ) trains. Battery according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the projections on the arresters ( 3 ) or cell connectors ( 4 ) each through a recess ( 8th ) from the remaining part of the arresters ( 3 ) or cell connectors ( 4 ) which are distributed over only a portion of a cross section of the arresters ( 3 ) or cell connectors ( 4 ) enough. Battery according to claim 3, characterized in that the battery cells ( 2 ) by stacked frames ( 10 ), to which the at least one heat exchanger plate ( 6 ) and connected to it, whereby a projection ( 9 ) on the respective frame ( 10 ) for connecting the heat exchanger plate ( 6 ) in the recess ( 8th ) into or through it. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least two heat exchanger plates ( 6 ) provided on a common side of the stack ( 1 ) with a gap ( 17 ) forming distance to each other on arresters ( 3 ) of the battery individual cells ( 2 ) or the cell connectors ( 4 ) are placed, and the supernatants with the low-voltage contacts ( 5 ) into the space ( 17 protrude). Battery according to claim 5, characterized in that the supernatants in pairs mutually aligned or mutually offset in the stacking direction under both heat exchanger plates ( 6 ) are excellent. Battery according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that in the intermediate space ( 17 ) a battery electronics ( 16 ) having a plurality of low-voltage terminals ( 18 ) which is connected to the low-voltage contacts ( 5 ) of arresters ( 3 ) or the cell connector ( 4 ) are contacted directly or indirectly. Battery according to claim 7, characterized in that the low-voltage connections ( 18 ) are formed in the form of contact lugs, which on the low-voltage contacts ( 5 ) of arresters ( 3 ) or cell connectors ( 4 ) directly or indirectly. Battery according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the low-voltage connections ( 18 ) and / or the low-voltage contacts ( 5 ) are elastically executed and / or elastically connected to each other. Battery according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that in the stacking direction of the battery individual cells ( 2 ) the low-voltage connections ( 18 ) each have a smaller width than the low-voltage contacts ( 5 ) exhibit.

Images