DE102021006202B3 - Battery module with a module housing - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery module (2) with a module housing (6) made of a first electrically insulating material for accommodating cylindrical individual battery cells (10) with an accommodating opening (9) for one of the individual battery cells (10), which is located between a first side and a second opposite side of the module housing (6).The invention is characterized in that at least one insert (12) made of a second electrically conductive material is provided in the module housing (6) between the first and the second side (7, 8). , which electrically connects at least one of the individual battery cells (10) in a contacting manner. A battery (1) with such battery modules (2) is also specified.

Description

The invention relates to a battery module with a module housing according to the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1.

Battery modules or batteries with module housings for accommodating the individual battery cells are known from the prior art. For example, the DE 102 23 782 B4 a structure of a battery with receiving openings into which cylindrical single battery cells can be inserted. The battery housing or module housing can be cooled, the individual rows or columns of the receiving openings for the individual battery cells are arranged offset by half a cell diameter in order to arrange the cylindrical individual battery cells as space-saving as possible.

A generic battery module is through the US 2021/0 167 467 A1 described. More battery modules are from the US 2021/0 344 064 A1 as well as the WO 2020/ 094 218 A1 famous.

Batteries from battery modules show the DE 10 2020 107 727 A1 and the DE 10 2019 211 190 A1 .

For further prior art can also on the EP 3 096 372 B2 be pointed out, which shows a battery storage module in which the battery cells are all connected to the battery cells of another module via welded contact springs, the contact springs being simultaneously welded to an intermediate plate which permanently connects the individual battery cells electrically in parallel.

The object of the present invention is now to specify an improved battery module with a module housing made of a first electrically insulating material for accommodating cylindrical individual battery cells in accommodating openings.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a battery module having the features of claim 1, and here in particular in the characterizing part of claim 1. In addition, a battery with at least two such battery modules according to claim 10 solves the problem. An advantageous embodiment of the battery is specified in claim 11.

The battery module according to the invention has a module housing which extends between two opposite sides and, in particular, sides which are arranged parallel to one another. A cylindrical single battery cell can be inserted into this receiving opening, the housing of which is typically divided into a cup, which forms the negative pole, and a cover that is insulated from this cup and forms the positive pole. It is now the case that in the module housing between the first and the second side, i.e. in the interior of the module housing and here in particular in a plane parallel to the sides, at least one insert made of an electrically conductive material is provided, which in the an electrically insulating material produced module housing is inserted. This insert makes contact with at least some of the individual battery cells, in particular in the area of their housing, and connects them electrically. The insert thus serves to connect the individual battery cells connected to it in parallel, in particular a group of individual battery cells within the battery module.

This internal parallel connection of the group of individual battery cells allows them to be leveled in terms of their voltage and allows a higher power output. The insert also allows measurement data to be accessed, which can be used, for example, to control the individual battery cells within the battery module. This can include, for example, charge equalization between the individual battery cells or groups of individual battery cells or the like.

In the battery module according to the invention, it is accordingly provided that at least the lateral surface of the individual battery cell forms one of the poles, with the insert having at least one contact surface protruding into the receiving opening of the individual electrical battery cell to be contacted. Preferably, three contact surfaces of the insert can protrude into the respective receiving opening, which contact the lateral surface of the individual battery cell, ie in particular the cup of its housing, and thus connect the negative pole of the individual battery cells involved to one another. The contact surface itself can make electrical contact with the individual battery cell or its housing by pressing on it; in particular, the structural design of the contact surface can be designed in such a way that it is designed to be resilient within the framework of the elasticity of its material in order to ensure safe and reliable contact regardless of to guarantee the component tolerances of the respective battery cell. The individual battery cells can thus be easily contacted without welding or the like. They can therefore also be easily replaced in the event of a repair.

Within the battery module according to the invention, the receiving openings in the can now Module housing can be arranged in individual rows. Similar to the state of the art mentioned at the outset, these rows can be offset in the direction in which they are arranged by half the diameter of the receiving opening in relation to the next adjacent row, in order to achieve the densest possible arrangement of the receiving openings and thus ultimately of the individual battery cells in the battery module.

An extraordinarily favorable further development of this configuration provides that the individual battery cells are placed in a row of the receiving openings with identical polarity, with the polarity in the adjacent row being reversed in each case. Each row has a different arrangement of the individual battery cells, so that, for example, in a first row all the covers with the positive poles point to the left, in the next row to the right and so on.

According to an extraordinarily favorable embodiment, it can now be provided that an insert is provided for each of these rows, which insert contacts the individual battery cells of the row. All of the individual battery cells in the respective row are thus connected to one another in parallel, and the individual rows can then be further connected in the desired manner, in particular outside of the respective battery module, for example with an electrical series circuit.

According to a further very advantageous embodiment of the battery module according to the invention, it can then also be provided that the inserts of adjacent rows are arranged on different levels. This makes it possible to position the individual receiving openings, and thus ultimately the individual battery cells that are inserted into them, very close together. An insert designed with a sufficient cross-section could then contact the batteries in one row with the other row, which, however, is undesirable in order to maintain the flexibility of the wiring outside of the battery module. Different levels can therefore be provided for the depositors of the adjacent rows, for example in a first level the depositors for all odd-numbered rows and in a second level all depositors for the even-numbered rows are provided. On the one hand, this enables sufficiently large inserts that do not touch one another with justifiable effort and, on the other hand, allows the receiving openings and thus ultimately the individual battery cells of the battery module to be packed very tightly.

According to a further very advantageous embodiment of the battery module according to the invention, at least one measurement tap can be led out of the module housing for each of the inserts. This makes it possible, for example, to query the voltage in the area of the insert and the average voltage value of the individual battery cells connected in parallel by it in order to achieve efficient control based on the respective voltages of the individual rows of the individual battery cells. Depending on the size of the inserts and the number of individual battery cells per row, a measurement tap can be implemented that comes close to monitoring the voltage of an individual cell, for example if one of the rows only has 3 to 8 individual battery cells.

Another very favorable embodiment of the battery module according to the invention can be compared to the one mentioned at the outset EP 3 096 372 B2 provide that one of the poles, for example the positive pole, of each of the individual battery cells is provided with a contact spring which is designed to contact the respective other pole of an individual battery cell of an adjacent battery module. Thus, for each row, these contact springs form the end of the module in the longitudinal direction of the respective individual battery cells, for the adjacent row, the undersides of the cups that preferably protrude beyond the module. If the individual modules are then plugged together, electrical contact is made between the individual rows of battery cells in the manner of a series connection, with the parallel connection of the individual battery cells arranged in a row being realized within the respective module.

A further very favorable embodiment of the battery module according to the invention can also provide that the module housing has internal cavities which are connected to coolant connections. Such cavities can then be used to guide cooling medium through the respective module housing and to efficiently temperature-control the individual battery cells located in it.

According to an extremely favorable embodiment of the battery module according to the invention, the module housing itself can be produced from the first material, a plastic, by injection molding, with the second material, which forms the inserts, being inserted into the injection mold as a metal insert and thus during injection molding into the Module housing is integrated and fixed in this. A structure can be achieved with minimal production effort which, simply by plugging in the cylindrical individual battery cells, achieves their parallel connection via the respective inserts and, in addition, already includes measurement taps for the respective group or row of individual battery cells. When designing with the Kon With a clock spring on one of the poles, such modules can then be connected together to form a battery extremely efficiently and can be easily removed at any time.

A battery according to the invention accordingly provides that at least two such battery modules are present according to one or more of the preceding configurations, which are clamped between two end plates via tie rods and electrically connected via contacting elements in the end plates. The battery modules can be electrically interconnected, especially when stacked, and can then be provided with end plates adjacent to the last module at both ends of this stack, which in turn provide the electrical interconnection of the individual rows of individual battery cells in the modules. The entire structure is stabilized via tie rods, and cooling media can be supplied and discharged in parallel via a central supply and discharge line for the battery constructed in this way for all battery modules provided.

According to an extraordinarily favorable development of this battery, it is provided that sockets for the tie rods are introduced into each module housing, for example when the battery housing is manufactured by injection molding in the injection mold, and are longer than the module housing in the same direction. When braced via the tie rods, the force is transmitted via these sockets, so that each module housing and thus the individual battery cells located in it are accommodated between the end plates in a substantially floating manner.

Further advantageous configurations of the battery module according to the invention and of the battery from such a battery module also result from the exemplary embodiment, which is described in more detail below with reference to the figures.

• 1 eine schematische Ansicht einer Batterie in einer möglichen Ausführungsform gemäß der Erfindung;
• 2 ein Modulgehäuse eines erfindungsgemäßen Batteriemoduls in einer möglichen Ausführungsform; und
• 3 einen Ausschnitt durch das Batteriemodul gemäß der Linie III-III in 2.

show:

• 1 a schematic view of a battery in a possible embodiment according to the invention;
• 2 a module housing of a battery module according to the invention in one possible embodiment; and
• 3 a section through the battery module according to line III-III in 2 .

In the representation of 1 1 shows a battery labeled 1 in its entirety, which is made up of a plurality of battery modules 2, only some of which are provided with a reference number here. These battery modules 2 are braced between two end plates 4 via tie rods 3 and are also electrically connected in the desired manner via these end plates 4 or contacting elements introduced into them. Connections for supplying and discharging power to the battery 1 can be arranged in the area of these end plates 4 . In the schematic representation of 1 a coolant channel 5 for supplying and removing a liquid coolant, which can be conducted through each of the battery modules 2, is also indicated.

In the representation of 2 a module housing 6 of a battery module 2 is now shown. The structure of this module housing 6 is essentially designed in a prismatic manner. Between a first side 7 lying in the plane of the drawing and a side 8 arranged parallel thereto, opposite this side, there are receiving openings 9, into which cylindrical individual battery cells 10, which are shown in FIG 3 can be seen, can be inserted. The receiving openings 9, of which in the representation of 2 only some are provided with a reference number, are in the example of 2 arranged in six horizontal rows R1 to R6. In each of the rows R1 to R6, one of the receiving openings 9 is shifted by half the diameter in the direction of the row relative to the respective adjacent row, so that a very dense packing of the receiving openings 9 within the essentially rectangular area of the sides 7, 8 is possible is. To accommodate the tie rods 3 6 sockets 11 are provided in the module housing. These sockets 11 for receiving the tie rods 3 can be designed, for example, as inserts in an injection mold, so that they are injected as metallic sockets 11 in the module housing 6, which is otherwise injection-molded from plastic. The exact functionality of these tie rod bushings 11 is shown below in the sectional view of the 3 received again.

For at least some of the individual battery cells 10 later introduced into the receiving openings 9, it is now provided that these inside the module housing 6 made of the electrically non-conductive first material, in particular a plastic, a fiber-reinforced plastic or the like, via an insert 12 made of a metallic, electrically conductive material are connected to each other. The insert 12 can in particular be made of a copper alloy, an aluminum alloy or the like. It is also inserted into the injection mold for the module housing 6 in a manner analogous to the tie rod bushings 11 when produced by injection molding.

It can preferably be the case that there is one insert 12 for each of the rows R1 to R6. In the representation of 2 is shown by a partial sectional view in the region of the row R4 of these inserts 12. It is arranged within the material of the module housing 6 and has inner openings 13 which correspond to the receiving openings 9 and which are punched out, for example. Contact elements 14 are arranged in each of these openings 13 , for example three contact surfaces per opening 13 . The individual battery cells 10 are typically designed in such a way that they have a cup-shaped housing 15 which forms the negative pole of the individual battery cell 10 . A in the representation of 3 recognizable and labeled 16 cover is isolated from the cup-shaped housing 15 and forms the positive pole. Here it is welded to a contact spring 17, as can be seen from the illustration in 3 results.

All cup-shaped housings 15 and thus all negative poles of the individual battery cells 10 arranged in a row R1 to R6 are now contacted with one another via the contact elements 14 and connected in parallel by the insert 12 within the module housing 6 . In addition, a measuring tap 18 is led out of the module housing 6 for each of the inserts 12 and can be electrically connected there directly or indirectly via a cable to a measuring sensor system, for example to record the average voltage of the individual battery cells 10 installed in the respective row R1 to R6.

As already mentioned, a liquid cooling medium can also be guided in the module housing 6 . It can be supplied through the supply connection piece 19 indicated here as an example and removed again through the discharge connection piece 20 . The cooling medium can then flow through internal cavities within the module housing 6 and cool the individual battery cells. In the schematic sectional view of 3 such cavities are indicated and partially provided with the reference number 21 .

The sectional view of 3 , which has already been mentioned several times, shows a section according to line III-III in 2 . A detail from the module housing 6 with inserted individual battery cells 10 can be seen here, so that a detail of the battery module 2 is present here. The battery module 2 itself is designed in such a way that it is essentially implemented as a prism. Inside are the already mentioned cavities 21 for the cooling medium. In the area of the individual battery cells 10, the respective side 7, 8 is set back slightly, so that the individual battery cells 10 protrude slightly with one end of their cup on one side and with their contact spring 17 on the other side. As a result, when several of the battery modules 2 are assembled to form the battery 1, electrical contact can be made in that the contact spring 17 encompasses the bottom of the housing cup 15 of a single battery cell 10 in the adjacent module 2 and thus the single battery cells 10 arranged at the same position within the module housing 6 between all adjacent modules 2 connected in series. It is the case that the individual battery cells 10 within the rows R1 to R6 are each inserted into the module housing 6 with the same polarity as, for example, in the representation of FIG 3 in row R3 all in such a way that the positive pole is on the right and the negative pole is on the left. In the adjacent row, the individual battery cells 10 are then preferably inserted upside down, so that, as is indicated here for example in row R4, the negative pole is on the right and the positive pole is on the left. In the fifth row R5, the structure then again corresponds to that in row R3, etc. This makes it possible to connect the individual rows, which are connected in series from battery module 2 to battery module 2, to one another in parallel via insert 12 within module housing 6 interconnect.

In the representation of 3 It can now be seen that the individual battery cells 10 of the rows R3 are electrically contacted via the insert 12 shown above, as is indicated by the contact elements 14 of the insert 12. The same applies to the insert 12 indicated in the lower row R5.

So that the individual battery cells 10 or the receiving openings 9 for the individual battery cells 10 can be positioned close together without the inserts 12 in adjacent rows R1 to R6 touching one another, the inserts 12 in the rows are odd-numbered, in the representation of 3 ie the inserts 12 of the rows R3 and R5 are arranged in a first plane, designated E1, between the two sides 7, 8 and the inserts 12 or in the representation of the 3 the only insert shown here in the rows with even numbering, here the row R4, is arranged in a second plane E2 spaced parallel thereto. This reliably prevents electrical contacting of the inserts with one another and these can nevertheless provide a relatively large material cross section in order to connect the individual battery cells 10 of the respective row R1 to R6 to one another in parallel.

Finally, only the tie rod bushing 11 should be discussed. This is arranged in an area of the module housing 6, which the outer abutting sides 7, 8 from forms, so that when assembling and bracing the individual battery modules 2 in 1 indicated structure of the battery 1 arises. In order to prevent the individual battery cells 10 from being subjected to too much pressure, the length of the tie rod bushings 11 is designed to be slightly greater than the distance between the sides 7, 8 of the module housing 6 in the area of the tie rod bushings 11 the tie rod bushings 11 of the battery modules 2 to each other, so that the forces are transmitted exclusively here and not via the plastic of the module housing 6. The distance occurring between the individual module housings 6 of the battery modules 2 within the battery 1 is very small and can be sealed off by an elastic seal if required, without disturbing the floating mounting of the individual battery cells 10 .

Claims (11)

Battery module (2) with a module housing (6) made of a first electrically insulating material for accommodating cylindrical individual battery cells (10) with a receiving opening (9) for one of the individual battery cells (10), which is located between a first side and a second opposite side of the module housing (6), at least one insert (12) made of a second electrically conductive material being provided in the module housing (6) between the first and the second side (7, 8), which insert makes contact with at least one of the individual battery cells (10). electrically connected, characterized in that at least the lateral surface of the individual battery cells (10) forms one of the battery poles, the insert (12) having at least one contact surface (14) projecting into the receiving openings (9) of the individual battery cell (10) to be contacted. Battery module (2) after claim 1 , characterized in that the receiving openings (9) in the module housing (6) are arranged in rows (R1 to R6). Battery module (2) after claim 2 , characterized in that the individual battery cells (10) in a row (R1 to R6) of the receiving openings (9) are introduced with identical polarity, the polarity in the respective adjacent rows (R1 to R6) being reversed. Battery module (2) after claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that for each of the rows (R1 to R6) an insert (12) is provided which contacts the individual battery cells (10) of the row (R1 to R6). Battery module (2) after claim 2 , 3 or 4 , characterized in that the inserts (12) of adjacent rows (R1 to R6) are arranged in different levels (E1, E2). Battery module (2) according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that for each of the inserts (12) at least one measuring tap (18) is led out of the module housing (6). Battery module (2) according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that one of the battery poles of each of the individual battery cells (10) is provided with a contact spring (17) which is designed to contact the respective other battery pole of an individual battery cell (10) of an adjacent battery module (2). Battery module (2) according to one of Claims 1 until 7 , characterized in that the module housing (6) has internal cavities (21) which are connected to coolant connections (19). Battery module (2) according to one of Claims 1 until 8th , characterized in that the module housing (6) is made from the first material by injection molding, the second material being overmolded as a metallic insert (12). Battery (1) with at least two battery modules (2) according to one of Claims 1 until 9 which are clamped between two end plates (4) via tie rods (3) and electrically connected via contact elements in the end plates (4). battery (1) after claim 10 , characterized in that tie rod bushings (11) for the tie rods (3) are provided in each module housing (6), which have a greater length than the dimension of the module housing (6) in the same direction.

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