DE102022209264A1 - Accumulator arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery arrangement (1) with a housing (3) in which at least two energy storage cells (5) held via a cell carrier (4) are arranged.
According to the invention it is provided
- that the housing (3) can be flowed through at least in part by a dielectric coolant (6) for cooling the energy storage cells (5),
- that each energy storage cell (5) has at least one cell contact tab (7) projecting through the cell carrier (4),
- that at least two cell contact tabs (7) are connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner via a cell connector (8),
- that the cell connector (8) rests in a support area (9) on the cell carrier (4),
- that the cell carrier (4) has at least one groove-like channel (10) in the support area (9), which is covered by the cell connector (8), so that the cell connector (8) can be flowed behind and cooled there with dielectric coolant (6).

Description

The invention relates to a battery arrangement for a hybrid or electric vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a hybrid or electric vehicle with such a battery arrangement.

Accumulator arrangements for hybrid or electric vehicles are already known from the prior art. Several energy storage cells are housed in battery modules and arranged in a housing. The energy storage cells are tempered to maintain their function. Efficient cooling is essential, particularly for accumulator arrangements with a high power density and a required rapid charging capability.

From the DE 10 2013 216 523 A1 is a plate heat exchanger with a plate for transferring thermal energy to a heat transfer medium and a flow channel limited at least on one side by the plate for channeling a flow of the heat transfer medium along the plate in a predetermined flow direction. A large number of knobs projecting from the plate into the flow channel are provided for distributing the heat transfer medium within the flow channel. A more uniform temperature distribution results when at least two adjacent knobs are connected to one another and/or to a channel boundary in such a way that they form a flow barrier that runs essentially transversely to the flow direction to block the flow direction. However, the disadvantage of such a plate heat exchanger for cooling energy storage cells is a comparatively inhomogeneous temperature profile within the battery cells, since usually only one side of the energy storage cell is in direct contact with the plate.

Significantly improved cooling is achieved in so-called immersion-cooled accumulator arrangements, in which the energy storage cells are cooled via direct contact with a dielectric coolant. The energy storage cells are held by cell carriers, whose task is not only to hold and fix the energy storage cells and cell connectors, via which the individual cell contact tabs are electrically connected to one another, but also to conduct the dielectric coolant.

A disadvantage of known immersion-cooled accumulator arrangements is that, in particular, areas with high electrical loads, such as the cell connectors, are difficult to cool, which impairs the performance of such a battery arrangement.

The present invention is therefore concerned with the problem of providing an improved or at least an alternative embodiment for an accumulator arrangement of the generic type, which in particular overcomes the disadvantage known from the prior art.

This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The present invention is based on the general idea of developing a battery arrangement known per se in such a way that cell connectors used there, which are used to electrically connect two cell contact tabs of two energy storage cells, can be cooled better and thereby the performance of the battery arrangement as a whole can be increased. By locally improving the cooling of the cell connectors, a shorter charging time can also be achieved, since the accumulator arrangement can be subjected to higher charging power. The accumulator arrangement according to the invention, which can be used for a hybrid or electric vehicle, for example, has a housing in a known manner in which at least two energy storage cells held via a cell carrier are arranged. Usually, of course, two cell carriers are provided, between which the individual energy storage cells are arranged essentially parallel and the energy storage cells each protrude through the cell carrier with a cell contact tab. The solution can also be implemented without a cell connector for pouch cells and generally also for other cell types that are contacted with a cell connector. For improved temperature control of the accumulator arrangement, at least parts of the housing can be flowed through by a dielectric coolant for cooling the energy storage cells. At least two cell contact tabs are connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner via a cell connector, for example with a plate-like structure. The cell connector lies in a support area between two cell contact tabs on the cell carrier. The energy storage cells are therefore arranged on one side of the cell carrier, while the cell contact tabs and the cell connectors connecting them are arranged on the opposite side. According to the invention, the cell carrier now has at least one groove-like channel in the support area, which is covered by the respective cell connector, so that the cell connector can flow behind there with dielectric coolant through the groove-like channel and can therefore be cooled significantly better. Until now, dielectric coolant could only be applied to the cell connector in the support area from the outside, ie only from one side and be cooled. In the accumulator arrangement according to the invention, the groove-like channel in the cell carrier also allows dielectric coolant to flow behind the cell connector and thus two-sided and significantly better cooling overall. It is of course clear that in the support area not only one such groove-like channel, but generally also an entire channel structure with several such groove-like channels can be provided in the cell carrier, which even creates a flat rear flow and thus a particularly effective action on one of the cell carrier or the The back of the cell connector facing the support area is possible with dielectric coolant. Overall, with the accumulator arrangement according to the invention, it is possible to cool electrically and thus also thermally highly stressed areas, such as the cell connectors, significantly better, whereby higher charging and discharging powers can be achieved.

In an advantageous development of the accumulator arrangement according to the invention, a cooling channel through which dielectric coolant can flow is arranged between the housing and the cell connector. This cooling channel takes over cooling of the front of the respective cell connector, whereby cooling of the cell connector on both sides and thus a reduction in the thermal load in this area can be achieved.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the solution according to the invention, the at least one groove-like channel on the back of the cell connector has a smaller flow cross section than the cooling channel on the front of the cell connector, so that the groove-like channel can act as a throttle. In the area of the groove-like channel, a through opening leading through the cell carrier is provided, through which dielectric coolant can flow from the groove-like channel to the energy storage cells or from these into the groove-like channel. The through opening can of course also be designed as a throttle. Due to the different pressures on the front and back of the respective cell connector, a predefined pressure gradient and thus a predefined flow can be enforced, since the dielectric coolant always flows from the area with higher pressure to the area with lower pressure.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the accumulator arrangement according to the invention, the cell carrier is designed as a plastic injection-molded part. This not only offers the possibility of producing the cell carrier cost-effectively and of high quality, but also the possibility of forming the groove-like channel or channels in the respective cell carrier by changing a plastic injection molding tool once.

The cell contact tabs of the energy storage cells are expediently welded to the cell connector. An electrically conductive connection is required between the cell contact tabs and the associated cell connector, which must also ensure an electrically conductive connection in the long term during operation of the accumulator arrangement. Such a long-term electrically conductive connection can be created via a welded connection of the respective cell contact tab with the associated cell connectors, such welding being automated and therefore not only of high quality but also cost-effective.

In a further sold embodiment, each energy storage cell is fixed at a first end to a cell carrier described in the previous paragraphs and at an opposite second end to a further cell carrier, with a further cooling channel and a further groove-like channel being arranged in the area of the cell connector on the further cell carrier . This enables flow through the accumulator arrangement according to the invention as follows: First, the dielectric coolant flows from the cooling channel behind the cell connector into the groove-like channel formed by the cell connector and the cell carrier and from there through the through opening via the energy storage cells and a further through opening in the further cell carrier to the one there another groove-like channel formed by the further cell carrier and the cell connector. The dielectric coolant then flows from this to the further cooling channel. This enables a backflow and thus cooling on both sides of both the cell connector at the first end of the energy storage cell and the cell connector at the opposite second end of the energy storage cell and thus particularly effective cooling of both cell connectors.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the accumulator arrangement according to the invention, the dielectric coolant has a pressure p ₀ in the area of the cooling channel, while it has a pressure p ₁ in the area of the groove-like channel, the energy storage cells and the further groove-like channel. In the subsequent additional cooling channel, the dielectric coolant has a pressure p ₂ . The following relationship applies with regard to the individual pressures p _0,1,2 : $${\text{p}}_0>{\text{<figure-callout id="1" label="p" filenames="DE102022209264A1\_0004.png" state="{{state}}">p</figure-callout>}}_1>{\text{<figure-callout id="2" label="p" filenames="DE102022209264A1\_0003.png,DE102022209264A1\_0004.png" state="{{state}}">p</figure-callout>}}_2\text{.}$$

The different pressures p ₀ , p ₁ , p ₂ can therefore be used within the accumulator arrangement Pressure gradients are created for the dielectric coolant, whereby it flows through the accumulator arrangement in a predefined manner and is thus cooled. Throttle effects can be created via a respective flow cross section of the groove-like channel or the further groove-like channel in general of the groove-like channels or the further groove-like channels as well as the through opening or the further through opening, which force individual and locally different cooling.

It should be noted that all of the properties and features described above and below for the cell carrier, the cooling channel, the through opening and the groove-like cooling channel can also be transferred in an analogous manner to the further cell carrier, the further cooling channel, the further through opening and the further groove-like cooling channel.

The present invention is further based on the general idea of equipping a hybrid or electric vehicle with a battery arrangement described in the previous paragraphs. This makes it possible to transfer the advantages described with regard to the battery arrangement to the hybrid or electric vehicle. Specifically, the advantages lie in improved performance of the accumulator arrangement, especially when charging it, which means that charging time for the hybrid or electric vehicle can be reduced and its performance can be increased. This is particularly accompanied by an increase in comfort for a user of the hybrid or electric vehicle.

Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The above-mentioned and below-mentioned components of a higher-level unit, such as a device, a device or an arrangement, which are designated separately, can form separate parts or components of this unit or can be integral areas or sections of this unit, even if this shown differently in the drawings.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, with the same reference numbers referring to the same or similar or functionally the same components.

• 1 eine Ansicht auf einen Zellträger mit Zellverbindern und erfindungsgemäßen nutartigen Kanälen einer erfindungsgemäßen Akkumulatoranordnung,
• 2 eine Schnittdarstellung entlang der Schnittebene A - A aus 1,
• 3 eine Ansicht auf einen weiteren Zellträger mit weiteren nutartigen Kanälen unter Zellverbindern,
• 4 eine Schnittdarstellung entlang der Schnittebene B - B aus 3.

Show it schematically

• 1 a view of a cell carrier with cell connectors and groove-like channels according to the invention of an accumulator arrangement according to the invention,
• 2 a sectional view along the section plane A - A 1 ,
• 3 a view of another cell carrier with further groove-like channels under cell connectors,
• 4 a sectional view along the section plane B - B 3 .

According to the 1 to 4 An accumulator arrangement 1 according to the invention for a hybrid or electric vehicle 2, which is otherwise not shown, has a housing 3 in which at least two energy storage cells 5 held via a cell carrier 4 are arranged. The housing 3 can be flowed through at least in part by a dielectric coolant 6 for cooling the energy storage cells 5.

Each energy storage cell 5 has at least one cell contact tab 7 projecting through the cell carrier 4, with at least two cell contact tabs 7 being connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner via a cell connector 8. The cell connector 8 or the cell connectors 8 each rest in a support area 9 between two cell contact tabs 7 on the cell carrier 4. According to the invention, the cell carrier 4 now has at least one groove-like channel 10 in the respective support area 9 (compare the 1 and 2 ), which is covered by the cell connector 8, so that the cell connector 8 can be flowed behind with dielectric coolant 6 and can therefore also be cooled from a back side and therefore on both sides.

A cooling channel 11 through which dielectric coolant 6 can flow is arranged between the housing 3 and the cell connector 8, so that the cell connector 8 in this area can also be acted upon by dielectric coolant 6 from a front side and can therefore be cooled.

The at least one groove-like channel 10 can have a smaller flow cross section than the cooling channel 11 and thereby act as a throttle.

In the area of the groove-like channel 10 there is a through opening 12 leading through the cell carrier 4 (see 2 ) provided by which the dielectric coolant 6 can flow from the groove-like channel 10 to the energy storage cells 5 or from these into the groove-like channel 10.

The groove-like channel 10 is integrated into the shape of the cell carrier 4, whereby the cell carrier 4 can be designed, for example, as a plastic injection molded part, whereby the groove-like channel 10 or all groove-like channels 10 are formed as corresponding recesses in the cell carrier 4 by a one-time adjustment of a plastic injection molding tool can.

The cell carrier 4 is arranged at a first end, in particular at a first longitudinal end, of the respective energy storage cell 5 (compare the 1 and 2 ), while at an opposite second end (compare the 3 and 4 ) each of these energy storage cells 5 is fixed to another cell carrier 4 '. In the area of a cell connector 8, a further cooling channel 11' and a further groove-like channel 10' are arranged on the further cell carrier 4'.

The dielectric coolant 6 flows from the cooling channel 11 at the first end of the energy storage cell 5 into the groove-like channel 10 and there along it to the through opening 12, where it passes through the cell carrier 4, compare 2 ) and gets between the energy storage cells 5. Then the dielectric coolant 6 flows to a further through opening 12 '(compare 4 ) into the further groove-like channel 10' and from there to the further cooling channel 11'.

The dielectric coolant 6 points in the area of the cooling channel 11 (see 2 ) has a pressure p ₀ , while it has a pressure p ₁ in the area of the groove-like channel 10, between the energy storage cells 5 and in the area of the further groove-like channel 10 '. In the area of the further cooling channel 11', the dielectric coolant 6 has a pressure p ₂ , the following relationship applying to the individual pressures p ₀ , p ₁ , p ₂ : $${\text{p}}_0>{\text{<figure-callout id="1" label="p" filenames="DE102022209264A1\_0004.png" state="{{state}}">p</figure-callout>}}_1>{\text{<figure-callout id="2" label="p" filenames="DE102022209264A1\_0003.png,DE102022209264A1\_0004.png" state="{{state}}">p</figure-callout>}}_2\text{.}$$

This allows a predefined flow through the accumulator arrangement 1 to be enforced, with different flow quantities being able to be influenced, for example by means of the size of the through openings 12, 12'.

In order to enable a reliable and long-term electrically conductive connection between the cell connectors 8 and the cell contact tabs 7, they are usually welded together.

It should be noted that all of the properties and features described above for the cell carrier 4, the cooling channel 11, the through opening 12 and the groove-like cooling channel 10 also apply in an analogous manner to the further cell carrier 4 ', the further cooling channel 11', the further through opening 12'. and the further groove-like cooling channel 10 'can be transferred.

All in all, with the accumulator arrangement 1 according to the invention, a particularly locally increased cooling of the cell connectors 8 can be achieved, since these can now also be additionally cooled from a back due to the groove-like channels 10 or the further groove-like channels 10 '. Such two-sided cooling of the cell connectors 8 also enables material and ultimately also cost and weight savings. The groove-like channels 10 or the further groove-like channels 10 'can be integrated in a particularly simple manner into the respective cell carrier 4 or further cell carrier 4'.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was 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 102013216523 A1 [0003]

Claims (10)

Accumulator arrangement (1) for a hybrid or electric vehicle (2), with a housing (3) in which at least two energy storage cells (5) held via a cell carrier (4) are arranged, characterized in that - the housing (3) at least a dielectric coolant (6) can flow through in parts for cooling the energy storage cells (5), - that each energy storage cell (5) has at least one cell contact tab (7) projecting through the cell carrier (4), - that at least two cell contact tabs (7) over a cell connector (8) are connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner, - that the cell connector (8) rests on the cell carrier (4) in a support area (9), - that the cell carrier (4) has at least one groove-like channel ( 10), which is covered by the cell connector (8), so that the cell connector (8) can be flowed behind and cooled there with dielectric coolant (6). Accumulator arrangement according to Claim 1 , characterized in that a cooling channel (11) through which dielectric coolant (6) can flow is arranged between the housing (3) and the cell connector (8). Accumulator arrangement according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the at least one groove-like channel (10) has a smaller flow cross section than the cooling channel (11) and thereby acts as a throttle. Accumulator arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the area of the groove-like channel (10) a through opening (12) leading through the cell carrier (4) is provided, through which dielectric coolant (6) from the groove-like channel (10) to the Energy storage cells (5) or can flow from them into the groove-like channel (10). Accumulator arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cell carrier (4) is designed as a plastic injection-molded part. Accumulator arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cell contact tabs (7) are welded to the cell connector (8). Accumulator arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each energy storage cell (5) is fixed at a first end to a cell carrier (4) and at an opposite second end to a further cell carrier (4 '), wherein in the area of a cell connector (8 ) a further cooling channel (1 1') and a further groove-like channel (10') are arranged on the further cell carrier (4 '). Accumulator arrangement according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the dielectric coolant (6) from the cooling channel (11) via the groove-like channel (10) through the through opening (12) via the energy storage cells (5) and a further through opening (12 ') to the further groove-like channel (10' ) and from there flows to the further cooling channel (11 '). Accumulator arrangement according to Claim 8 , characterized in that - the dielectric coolant (6) has a pressure p ₀ in the area of the cooling channel (11), - that the dielectric coolant (6) in the area of the groove-like channel (10), the energy storage cells (5) and further groove-like channel (10') has a pressure p ₁ , - that the dielectric coolant (6) has a pressure p ₂ in the area of the further cooling channel (11'), - the following relationship applies, p ₀ > p ₁ > p ₂ . Hybrid or electric vehicle (2) with a battery arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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