DE102017210259A1 - battery cell - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery cell comprising an electrode assembly having at least one arrester (26) for contacting active material and a collector (28) for externally contacting the electrode assembly, the battery cell further comprising at least one rivet (10), and wherein the collector ( 28) and the arrester (26) each have at least one opening (27, 29), wherein the opening (27) of the collector (28) and the opening (29) of the arrester (26) are at least partially aligned with each other, and wherein through the opening (29) of the arrester (26) and the opening (27) of the collector (28) of the rivet (10) which fixes the arrester (26) with the collector (28).

Description

The present invention relates to a battery cell with improved manufacturability.

State of the art

It is becoming increasingly apparent that both in stationary applications, such as in wind power plants, in mobile applications, such as in vehicles, for example hybrid or electric vehicles, and in the consumer sector, such as laptops and mobile telephones, there are more and more new ones Battery systems are used, which must meet very high requirements. Such requirements include, for example, high reliability, performance and lifetime. An important parameter for performance is the specific energy. It is measured in watt-hours per kilogram (Wh / kg) and indicates how much energy can be stored in one kilogram of battery. It is therefore an effort to reduce the weight of the batteries to increase this value.

Traction batteries in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles are usually modular in design. In this case, modules are formed from at least two individual cells, which are connected in series or in parallel, which in turn are combined to form larger subunits, the so-called subunits. Such subunits often share a common cooling device. The battery is then made up of two or more of these subunits. The subunits can be arranged one above the other depending on the installation space in several levels.

KR 101327767 describes a battery in which the terminal portions of a positive electrode plate is connected to the terminal portions of a negative electrode plate by a rivet.

Disclosure of the invention

The present invention relates to a battery cell comprising an electrode assembly having at least one arrester for contacting active material and a collector for externally contacting the electrode assembly, wherein the battery cell further comprises at least one rivet, and wherein the collector and the arrester each having at least one opening the opening of the collector and the opening of the arrester are at least partially aligned with each other, and extending through the opening of the arrester and the opening of the collector of the rivet, which fixes the arrester to the collector.

A battery cell described above allows a particularly advantageous contacting of the at least one arrester with a collector and also allows in a simple manner an interconnection of a plurality of battery cells of a battery module.

Such a battery cell thus has at least one electrode arrangement with a surge arrester for contacting active material. In particular, the battery cell has a plurality of electrode arrangements, each having an arrester, which is contacted with one layer or more layers of active material. Thus, the battery cell in particular has a plurality of electrode arrangements, also referred to as electrode ensembles, and thus a plurality of arresters.

The electrode arrangements can in principle be designed as they are basically known. In particular, active materials may be present, as are known for the production of lithium-ion battery cells.

Furthermore, the electrode arrangement comprises a collector for external contacting of the at least one electrode arrangement. The collector thus serves to make the arrester or in particular the arrester accessible for an external contact and furthermore, in particular when there are a plurality of arresters, to connect the plurality of arresters electrically to one another.

In the case of the battery cell described above, it is further provided that the collector and the arrester or the plurality of arresters have at least one opening, wherein the opening of the collector and the opening of the arrester or the arrester are at least partially aligned with one another. Thus, the collector and the arrester or collectors have a common passageway formed through the openings.

It is provided that this passageway or the openings are used to a rivet passes through the openings or through the passageway. The rivet serves to mechanically fix the arrester or, in particular, the multiplicity of arresters to the connector and also, if appropriate, to at least partially electrically connect the arresters.

A rivet may be provided or a plurality of rivets may be provided to connect the arrester (s) to the collector. The number of rivets may depend on the size of the battery cell. For example, two to six rivets can be used.

Such a connection of the arrester or, preferably, the arrester to the collector using a rivet can offer significant advantages over the solutions of the prior art.

Because by the use of a rivet can be dispensed with the provision of a welded joint for connecting the arrester or the arrester to the collector. This has advantages with respect to the manufacturing process, since the periphery, which is necessary for the formation of a welded connection, can be dispensed with.

In addition, so no splashes that can often not be completely prevented during a welding process. As a result, the risk of damage resulting from this can be reduced or eliminated.

Schließich can be on a heat application, as this is basically necessary in a welding process, waived. As a result, a particularly gentle production process can be made possible.

Finally, a rivet can provide a secure connection between the connector and the arrester or arresters, which can have a positive effect on the long-term stability.

Particularly preferably, it can be provided that the arrester is designed like a film and that the collector is designed to be rigid. In particular, in this embodiment, a particularly high performance of the battery can be made possible, since a folded electrode configuration can be made possible. In addition, the arrester may have a comparatively small thickness, so that a plurality of arresters have a small thickness and thus can enable high performance at low weight. In addition, the fact that the collector is rigid, a mechanically stable electrical external connection of the electrode assemblies can be made possible.

The difference between a film-like configuration and a rigid configuration can be seen in the fact that in fixing a film of only one area, a non-fixed area tends to be bent by gravity, which is not the case in a rigid embodiment.

For example, the collector may be designed as a metal sheet in order to combine a good electrical conductivity with a high stability.

The arrester such as the arrester foil can be chosen depending on the polarity in the battery cell. For example, the arrester or the arrester may be made of copper, when the arrester or the electrode assembly is connected as an anode. Alternatively, the arrester or the arrester may be made of aluminum, when the arrester or the electrode arrangement is connected as a cathode.

It may further be provided that one or a plurality of arresters are respectively provided on opposite sides of the collector or on the opening of the collector and thus connected to the collector.

It may also be preferred that the rivet has at least one head part with a roughened fixing surface. In this case, a fixing surface may, in particular, be understood as meaning an area of this type which acts or presses on the components to be fixed. In particular, a fixing surface is such a surface, which is present at a head of the rivet and is directed towards the components to be connected. In this case, a roughened surface can be understood in particular to mean that the fixing surface has a greater roughness than at least one further surface of the rivet, in particular as all other surfaces of the rivet. For example, the fixing surface may be wavy or serrated.

This embodiment can form a mechanically particularly stable connection, so that a high long-term stability is given. In addition, there can be a safe and effective electrical contact, which is an advantage for effective and efficient work of the battery cell. Furthermore, this can be advantageous for an interconnection of the electrode arrangements, as will be described below.

It may also be provided that the collector is roughened, that is, in particular at the position of the rivet or around the opening, has a roughened surface. As a result, a particularly secure mechanical connection can be formed.

Both the collector and the rivet can be roughened using a laser.

It may further be preferred that the rivet is a Bimetallniet. In the context of the present invention, a bimetallic rivet can be understood in particular as meaning a rivet which is constructed from two metals. In particular, a Bimetallniet may be a particularly preferred fixation of one or more arresters to a connector, such as as described above, combine with a simple and effective interconnection of different electrode arrangements. In particular, one or a plurality of, for example, parallel-connected electrode arrangements of positive polarity can be connected in series with one or a plurality of approximately parallel connected electrode arrangements of negative polarity.

In particular, but not limited to such an application, provision may be made for the rivet, in particular the bimetallic rivet, to have a first head part, a second head part and a shaft connecting the first head part and the second head part, the first head part being made of a first metal part Material is formed and wherein the second head part is formed from a second metallic material. It may be provided that a boundary region between the first metallic material and the second metallic material is present in the shaft, for example runs centrally between the first head part and the second head part and / or extends in the radial direction.

In this embodiment, for example, the first head part can fix anodic arresters to an anode collector, and the second head part can fix cathodic arresters to a cathode collector. For this purpose, for example, two collectors may be parallel to each other and touching each other. Alternatively, the collector may be formed by a bimetallic collector. As a result of the different materials of the bimetallic rivet and optionally of the bimetallic collector or of the different collectors, these can each have the same material, for example the arresters. As a result, a serial connection can be particularly effective and have no or only negligible line losses. This can thus support or enable high performance.

It can thus be provided that the first head part fixes at least one anode conductor to an anode collector and that the second head part fixes at least one cathode conductor to a cathode collector, in particular wherein the anode collector and the cathode collector are designed as a common bimetallic collector

It may further be preferred that the first metallic material comprises aluminum and that the second metallic material is selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel-plated copper and hilumin. Aluminum may be advantageous for a cathode, whereas copper, nickel-plated copper and hilumin may be advantageous for an anode. In particular, in this embodiment, an advantageous interconnection of the electrode arrangements can be advantageously made possible, since they have a good electrical conductivity and are stable for the corresponding poles. Furthermore, these metallic compounds have a high mechanical stability, so that the Bimetallniet can enable a mechanically stable fixation.

Under Hilumin can be understood in particular nickel-coated steel. In particular, nickel-plated steel can allow high corrosion resistance and low contact resistance.

Thus, for example, there may be a bimetal rivet having a first head portion made of aluminum in contact with one or more aluminum conductors and pressing against a collector made of aluminum, such as a bimetallic collector, on the opposite side of which is a second head portion of e.g. Copper or another anode material as described above, which is in contact with one or more arresters of the anode material and presses against a collector made of the anode material, such as bimetallic collector. Thus, the collector or the corresponding region can be made about the same material as a bimetallic collector, as the corresponding arrester and the area of the Bimetallniets.

It may further be preferred that the boundary region between the first metallic material and the second metallic material is surrounded by a cladding. In particular, in this embodiment, corrosion of the less noble of the two metallic compounds can be prevented, for which the danger may otherwise exist in principle in a border area. For example, the envelope may be configured from an electrically insulating material. As a non-limiting example, the envelope may be made of rubber.

Furthermore, it may be advantageous that the battery cell further comprises a cooling element which is fixed by the rivet with the at least one arrester and the collector. In this embodiment, a particularly effective cooling can be made possible by a close thermal contact by a close thermal contact of the cooling element, which can be configured for example as a cooling plate, and the arrester or the arresters and the collector. Moreover, in this embodiment, a mechanical fixation of the electrode arrangements to the cooling element can be realized in a simple manner. For this purpose, the cooling element may have an opening for the rivet, which is in coincidence with the openings of the collector and the arrester or the arrester.

The battery cells thus provided can be connected in parallel and / or in series with one another to one or more battery modules. The number of battery cells and the corresponding interconnection can be selected in particular depending on the desired specification of the battery module or the battery modules.

The type of the provided battery cells is not limited in the present invention. For example, the same or different battery cells can be provided. As exemplary battery cells may be mentioned here lithium-ion cells.

Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one battery cell of the battery module is a pouch cell and thus at least one arrester is part of a pouch cell. The corresponding benefits may be particularly effective in providing one or more pouch cells. This may be due, in particular, to the fact that pouch cells have flexible arresters due to their structure and have a comparatively flat housing compared with so-called hard-cell cells. These geometric properties can be optimally used in the structure and method proposed here.

list of figures

• 1 eine schematische Schnittansicht durch eine Ausgestaltung eines Niets für eine Batteriezelle;
• 2 eine schematische Schnittansicht durch eine weitere Ausgestaltung eines Niets für eine Batteriezelle;
• 3 eine schematische Schnittansicht durch eine Ausgestaltung einer Batteriezelle;
• 4 eine schematische Schnittansicht durch eine weitere Ausgestaltung einer Batteriezelle; und
• 5 eine schematische Schnittansicht durch eine weitere Ausgestaltung einer Batteriezelle.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the objects according to the invention are illustrated by the drawings and explained in the following description, wherein the features described individually or in any combination may be an object of the present invention, as far as the context does not clearly indicate the opposite. It should be noted that the drawings have only descriptive character and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. Show it

• 1 a schematic sectional view through an embodiment of a rivet for a battery cell;
• 2 a schematic sectional view through a further embodiment of a rivet for a battery cell;
• 3 a schematic sectional view through an embodiment of a battery cell;
• 4 a schematic sectional view through a further embodiment of a battery cell; and
• 5 a schematic sectional view through a further embodiment of a battery cell.

In the 1 is part of a rivet 10 shown, which is suitable for a battery cell. In particular, the rivet serves 10 to one or a plurality of arresters 26 an electrode assembly on a collector 28 to fix. The rivet 10 may be formed from a uniform material.

The rivet 10 includes a first header 16 on a shaft 18 is fastened or enteilig designed with this. Not shown is a second header 20 , which is at the first headboard 16 opposite side of the shaft 18 is arranged.

It is further shown that the rivet 10 at least at its first headboard 16 a roughened fixing surface 22 having.

In the 2 is another embodiment of a rivet 10 shown. It is shown that the rivet 10 a bimetal rivet is and that the rivet 10 at his first headboard 16 is formed from a first metallic material and at its second head part 20 is formed from a second metallic material. It is further shown that the limit 24 between the first metallic material and the second metallic material in the shaft 18 runs. In principle, the different materials can be welded, for example by friction welding.

On the border 24 may also be a wrapper 25 be provided, which covers the boundary area, so as to prevent corrosion.

The 3 shows a first embodiment of a battery cell. It is shown that a plurality of arresters 26 through a rivet 10 with a collector 28 is fixed. For this it is provided that the collector 28 and the arresters 26 each openings 27 . 29 have, wherein the opening 27 of the collector 28 and the opening 29 the arrester 26 are positioned with each other in cover, and wherein through the openings 27 . 29 the rivet 10 runs, which the arrester 26 with the collector 28 fixed.

In particular, arresters can 26 the same polarity with the collector 28 get connected. It is further shown that not only the rivet has a roughened fixing surface but also the collector 28 roughened, so in particular at the position of the rivet 10 a roughened surface 30 having.

4 shows a further embodiment of a battery cell. In particular, a bimetal rivet is used as a rivet 10 used to realize that the first head part 16 at least one anodic arrester 26 ' of copper, for example, on an anode collector 28 ' , also made of copper, fixed and that the second headboard 20 at least one cathodic arrester 26 " made of aluminum, on a cathode collector 28 " , also made of aluminum, fixed. In this case, the collector 28 as Bimetallkollektor comprising an aluminum layer as a cathode collector 28 " and a copper layer as an anode collector 28 ' be designed. It is further shown that the rivet 10 against the collector 28 but not against the arresters 26 , by the serving 25 is isolated. This serving 25 For example, in the collector 28 are led, whereupon the particular film-like arrester 26 positioned and through the rivet 10 be fixed.

5 shows a further embodiment of a battery cell. It is provided that the battery cell further comprises a cooling element 32 that passes through the rivet 10 with the at least one arrester 26 and the collector 28 is fixed. In particular, it may be advantageous for the cooling element 32 with at least one arrester 26 comes into contact, since they are exposed to a comparatively large heat development in the case of a short circuit, so that a cooling is particularly effective here. Opposite the collector 28 can the cooling element 32 , For example, cooling plate, but by an electrical insulator 34 be isolated.

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

• KR 101327767 [0004]

Claims (10)

A battery cell comprising an electrode assembly having at least one conductor (26) for contacting active material and a collector (28) for externally contacting the electrode assembly, characterized in that the battery cell further comprises at least one rivet (10) and that the collector (28) and the arrester (26) each having at least one opening (27, 29), wherein the opening (27) of the collector (28) and the opening (29) of the arrester (26) are at least partially aligned with each other, and wherein the opening (29) of the arrester (26) and the opening (27) of the collector (28) of the rivet (10) extends, which fixes the arrester (26) with the collector (28). Battery cell after Claim 1 , characterized in that the arrester (26) is designed like a film and that the collector (28) is designed to be rigid. Battery cell after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the rivet (10) has at least one head part (16, 20) with a roughened fixing surface (22). Battery cell after one of Claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the rivet (10) is a Bimetallniet. Battery cell after Claim 4 characterized in that the rivet (10) comprises a first head part (16), a second head part (20) and a shaft (18) connecting the first head part (16) and the second head part (20), the first head part (16) 16) is formed of a first metallic material and wherein the second header (20) is formed of a second metallic material. Battery cell after Claim 5 characterized in that the boundary (24) between the first metallic material and the second metallic material extends in the shaft (18). Battery cell after one of Claims 4 to 6 characterized in that the first metallic material comprises aluminum and that the second metallic material is selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel-plated copper and hilumin. Battery cell after one of Claims 4 to 7 , characterized in that the boundary (24) between the first metallic material and the second metallic material is surrounded by a sheath (25). Battery cell after one of Claims 4 to 8th , characterized in that the first head part (16) fixes at least one anode conductor (26 ') to an anode collector (28') and the second head part fixes at least one cathode conductor (26 ") to a cathode collector (28"), in particular wherein Anode collector (28 ') and the cathode collector (28 ") are designed as a common bimetallic collector. Battery cell after one of Claims 1 to 9 , characterized in that the battery cell further comprises a cooling element (32) fixed by the rivet (10) to the at least one arrester (26) and the collector (28).

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