EP3747066A1

EP3747066A1 - Electric storage cell module, and battery comprising a plurality of modules

Info

Publication number: EP3747066A1
Application number: EP19710024.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matthieu Desbois-Renaudin; Jean-Noël CARMINATI
Original assignee: Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA; Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
Current assignee: Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
Priority date: 2018-01-29
Filing date: 2019-01-25
Publication date: 2020-12-09
Also published as: WO2019145653A1; JP2021511642A; US12040465B2; CN111656560A; JP7481258B2; FR3077430A1; US20210098845A1; FR3077430B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery module (10) comprising storage cells (20), a first flange (22A) having first through-holes in which the storage cells are secured, first electrically conductive plates (24A), each of which is connected to the storage cells of a first storage cell assembly, a second flange (22B) having second through-holes in which the storage cells are secured, second electrically conductive plates (24B), each of which is connected to the storage cells of a second storage cell assembly, and first, second and third chambers which are delimited in part by the first and second flanges and contain a dielectric liquid, the first flange having first passages for the dielectric liquid between the first and second chambers, and the second flange having second passages for the dielectric liquid between the second and third chambers.

Description

ELECTRIC STORAGE AND BATTERY MODULE COMPRISING

MULTIPLE MODULES

The present patent application claims the priority of the French patent application FR18 / 50673 which will be considered as an integral part of the present description.

Field

The present invention generally relates to batteries of energy storage elements, also called accumulators, connected in series and / or in parallel.

Presentation of the prior art

A battery includes one or more battery modules connected to each other. Each battery module comprises an assembly of electric accumulators connected together by electrical connection elements.

The battery may include a thermal battery storage system that can cool or heat the electric accumulators to improve battery performance and life. There are thermal conditioning systems by air, water or brine, or by dielectric liquid.

A disadvantage of a thermal air conditioning system is the poor cooling performance. A disadvantage of a thermal water conditioning system is that the water and the brine have a low dielectric strength. The coolant must then be physically separated from all electrical conductors in the battery. The structure of the battery can then be complex and the cooling performance may not be sufficient. In addition, in case of shock, a water leak within the battery can generate a current leak or a short circuit.

A dielectric liquid thermal conditioning system has the advantage that the coolant can be directly in contact with the electrical conductors and the accumulators. US patent application 2017/0005384 describes a battery comprising a thermal conditioning system that can use a dielectric liquid. A disadvantage of the battery described in US patent application 2017/0005384 is that it has a complex structure. In addition, the method of manufacturing the battery may include gluing steps of the electric accumulators, which can make difficult disassembly operations and / or maintenance.

A battery module may comprise several stages of electric accumulators, the stages being connected in series, each stage comprising several electric accumulators connected in parallel. The number of stages and the number of electric accumulators per stage depends on the intended application for the battery. It would be desirable that the modification of the number of stages and the number of electric accumulators per stage can be carried out in a simple way by modifying the least possible parts of the battery. It would further be desirable that the change in the number of stages and the number of electric accumulators per stage can be achieved by modifying a reduced number of steps in the battery manufacturing process.

summary

Thus, an object of an embodiment is to overcome at least in part the disadvantages of the batteries described above. One embodiment is directed to a battery comprising a thermal conditioning system of the electric accumulators using a dielectric liquid.

An embodiment is directed to a battery having a simple structure.

An embodiment is directed to a method of assembling a battery that does not include a bonding step.

One embodiment is directed to a battery adapted to lithium-ion accumulators.

One embodiment relates to a battery for which disassembly and / or maintenance operations are simple.

One embodiment is directed to a battery module comprising a plurality of electric accumulator stages for which the number of stages and the number of electric accumulators per stage can be modified in a simple manner, in particular by modifying a small number of pieces of the battery. .

One embodiment is directed to a battery module comprising a plurality of electric battery stages for which the number of stages and the number of electric accumulators per stage can be modified by changing a reduced number of steps of the battery manufacturing process. .

One embodiment provides a battery module comprising:

accumulators, each accumulator having first and second ends and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second ends;

a first flange comprising first through openings, the first ends of the accumulators being fixed in the first openings;

first electrically conductive plates, each first plate being connected to the first ends of the accumulators of a first set of accumulators among first accumulator assemblies; a second flange comprising second through openings, the second ends of the accumulators being fixed in the second openings;

second electrically conductive plates, each second plate being connected to the second ends of the accumulators of a second set of accumulators among second sets of accumulators, all first and second plates having the same structure; and

first, second and third chambers delimited in part by the first and second flanges and intended to contain a dielectric liquid, the first flange separating the first and second chambers and the second flange separating the second and third chambers, the first flange comprising first passages for the dielectric liquid between the first and second chambers and the second flange comprising second passages for the dielectric liquid between the second and third chambers.

According to one embodiment, each first plate comprises first holes, each first hole being opposite one of the first passages, and each second plate comprises second holes, each second hole being facing one another. screw of one of the second passages.

According to one embodiment, the first flange comprises lugs projecting into the first chamber, the first holes being traversed by said lugs.

According to one embodiment, the first flange comprises third openings, distinct from the first openings, for the passage of the cooling liquid between the first and second chambers and the second flange comprises fourth openings, distinct from the second openings, for the passage of the coolant between the second and third chambers.

According to one embodiment, each first plate and each second plate comprises a stack of at least first and second electrically conductive layers in different materials, the first layer being in mechanical contact with at least two of the accumulators and the second layer being open vis-à-vis said at least two accumulators.

According to one embodiment, the total number of electric accumulators is between 100 and 500 and corresponds to a multiple of 24.

According to one embodiment, the total number of electric accumulators is equal to 144 or 168.

An embodiment also provides a battery comprising a plurality of modules (10) as defined above.

One embodiment also provides a method of manufacturing a battery module as defined above, wherein the manufacture of the first and second electrically conductive plates comprises the following steps:

forming first and second preforms by stamping;

cutting the first electrically conductive plates in the first preform; and

cutting the second conductive plates electrically into the second preform.

According to one embodiment, the first and second preforms are identical or symmetrical.

According to one embodiment, the cutting steps are laser cutting, machining cutting or electro-erosion cutting steps.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other features and advantages will be set forth in detail in the following description of particular embodiments in a non-limiting manner with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a perspective view and a sectional view, partial and schematic, of an embodiment of an electric storage module; Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a perspective view and a top view, partial and schematic, of a flange of the module shown in Figure 1;

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views, partial and schematic, of embodiments of a battery comprising a plurality of electric storage modules as shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method of manufacturing the module connection plates;

Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method of mounting a module of a battery; and

Figures 9 to 20 are top views of preforms showing cutting lines in which will be cut the connection plates for different configurations of battery connections of a module.

detailed description

The same elements have been designated with the same references in the various figures. For the sake of clarity, only the elements that are useful for understanding the described embodiments have been shown and are detailed. In addition, the figures are not drawn to scale.

In the following description, when reference is made to absolute or relative position qualifiers, such as the term "upper", "lower", "lateral" or "top", reference is made to the orientation of the figures. or a battery in a normal use position. Unless otherwise specified, the expressions "approximately", "approximately", "substantially" and "of the order of" mean within 10%, preferably within 5%.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively a perspective view and a sectional view of an embodiment of an electric storage module 10. An orthogonal reference is called (Ox, Oy, Oz). Figure 2 comprises a sectional view in a half plane parallel to the plane Oxz. According to one embodiment, the module 10 is inscribed in a rectangular parallelepiped whose dimension in the Ox direction is between 200 mm and 400 mm, for example about 300 mm, whose dimension in the Oy direction is between 140 mm and 250 mm, for example about 200 mm, and whose dimension in the direction Oz is between 70 mm and 110 mm, for example about 90 mm.

Some elements of the module 10 are symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry parallel to the plane Oxy. In the remainder of the description, to denote elements of the module 10 at least partially symmetrical with respect to this plane of symmetry, the same number is used as reference, followed by the suffix A to designate the element located on one side of the plane. of symmetry and followed by the suffix B to designate the element located on the other side of the plane of symmetry.

Module 10 contains:

electric accumulators 20;

an upper flange 22A and a lower flange 22B for holding accumulators 20; and

upper connection plates 24A resting on the upper flange 22A and electrically connecting the accumulators 20 and lower connection plates 24B resting on the lower flange 22B and electrically connecting the accumulators 20.

The module 10 can comprise from 2 to 500 accumulators 20, preferably between 50 and 500, more preferably between 100 and 500, even more preferably 144 accumulators or 168 accumulators. As shown in FIG. 2, each accumulator 20 comprises first and second ends 26A, 26B and an intermediate portion 28 extending between the two ends 26A, 26B. The accumulators 20 have, for example, a generally cylindrical shape, in particular with a circular base, or a prismatic shape with an Oz axis. The accumulators 20 are, for example, lithium-ion accumulators, in particular lithium-ion batteries of the lithium iron accumulator type. phosphate, or LFP accumulator, lithium-ion accumulators of the Nickel Manganese Cobalt type, or NMC accumulator, lithium-ion lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide type accumulators, or NCA accumulators, lithium-ion lithium-ion batteries manganese, or LMO accumulator. The length of the accumulators 20 along the axis Oz can vary from 30 mm to 110 mm, for example approximately 65 mm. In the case of circular cylindrical accumulators, the diameter of each accumulator 20 may be between 10 mm and 27 mm, for example about 18 mm. Each accumulator 20 further comprises first and second electrical terminals 30A, 30B. For each accumulator 20, the first terminal 30A is preferably located on the first end 26A and the second terminal 30B is preferably located on the second end 26B.

The dimension of each flange 22A, 22B in the Ox direction is substantially equal to the dimension of the module 10 in the Ox direction. The dimension of each flange 22A, 22B in the direction Oy is substantially equal to the dimension in the direction Oy of the module 10. The flanges 22A, 22B can be made of any electrical insulating material and having a good mechanical strength such as polyoxymethylene (POM), polyamide (PA, especially PA66), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) but also wood-based materials.

Each flange 22A, 22B comprises through openings 32A, 32B, visible in Figure 2, in which are housed the ends 26A, 26B accumulators 20. More specifically, for each accumulator 20, the end 26A of the accumulator 20 is housed in one of the openings 32A of the upper flange 22A and the end 26B of the accumulator 20 is housed in one of the openings 32B of the lower flange 22B. According to one embodiment, the openings 32B are oriented in the direction Oz and have a shape complementary to that of the ends 26A, 26B of the accumulators 20. According to the desired connection of the accumulators 20, for each accumulator 20, the positive terminal of the accumulator 20 can be located at the level of upper flange 22A or the lower flange 22B. The accumulators 20 may be arranged in staggered rows. The distance between the axes of two adjacent accumulators may be between 18.5 mm and 22 mm, for example about 20 mm. The minimum distance between two adjacent accumulators 20 may be between 0.5 mm and 4 mm, for example about 2 mm.

According to one embodiment, each accumulator 20 is mounted tightly in the associated openings 32A, 32B. Preferably, there is no glue used for fixing the accumulators 20 to the flanges 22A, 22B.

The upper flange 22A delimits an upper chamber 34A, for example with a housing member 12 shown only in Figure 2 or with another module as described in more detail below. The lower flange 22B delimits a lower chamber 34B with the housing element 12. The flanges 22A, 22B delimit between them an intermediate chamber 36. The chambers 34A, 34B and 36 are visible in FIG. 2. The upper chamber 34A comprises an orifice 40 and the lower chamber 34B comprises a port 42 for discharging coolant. The orifices 40 and 42 are located at opposite ends of the chambers 34A and 34B in the Ox direction.

Each connection plate 24A, 24B connects the positive or negative terminals of a first set of accumulators 20 with the negative or positive terminals of a second set of accumulators 20. The set of accumulators 20 and connection plates 24A , 24B form an electrical circuit in which the accumulators 20 are connected in series and / or in parallel between first and second access nodes, each access node corresponding to one of the connection plates 24A or 24B. The orientation of the accumulators 20 and the arrangement and the dimensions of the connection plates 24A, 24B make it possible to obtain the desired serial / parallel connection of the accumulators 20. According to one embodiment, the number of accumulators 20 connected to each connection plate 24A, 24B varies from 2 to 500 accumulators 20. According to one embodiment, each connection plate 24A, 24B is connected to the positive terminal from 1 to 500 accumulators 20 and to the negative terminal from 1 to 500 accumulators 20. Two adjacent connecting plates 24A or 24B are spaced apart by a distance which depends in particular on the voltage supplied by the module 10, for example preferably at least two millimeters for a voltage supplied by the module of 60 V and preferably at least 6 mm for a voltage supplied by the 400 V module.

Each flange 22A, 22B comprises lugs 37A, 37B oriented towards the connecting plates 24A, 24B. Each flange 22A, 22B comprises additional through openings 38A, 38B oriented in the direction Oz. The additional through openings 38A, 38B can pass through the flanges 22A, 22B substantially in the center of the lugs 37A, 37B. According to one embodiment, each additional through opening 38A, 38B is cylindrical, of axis Oz, with a circular base. The diameter of each additional through opening 38A, 38B is between 0.5 mm and 5 mm.

The connecting plates 24A, 24B comprise through holes 39A, 39B. Some lugs 37A, 37B extend through the holes 39A, 39B of the connecting plates 24A, 24B. The lugs 37A, 37B make it possible to facilitate the positioning of the connection plates 24A, 24B, in particular before they are fixed to the accumulators 20.

According to another embodiment, the lugs 37A, 37B are not present. The through holes 39A, 39B can then be located in the extension of the additional openings 38A, 38B.

Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a perspective view and a top view, partial and schematic, of the upper flange 22A of the module 10 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 4, with the exception of the pins 37A located on the edges of the flange 22A, each pin 37A has, according to one embodiment, in plan view, a cross section written in an equilateral triangle. In addition, each lug 37A overhangs at least one of the through openings 32A, 32B. The lugs 37A thus play the role of stops in the direction Oz when placing the accumulator 20 on the puddles 22A, 22B. In addition, there is shown in Figures 3 and 4 additional openings 44, not shown in Figures 1 and 2, which can be used for fixing side walls, not shown, the flanges.

The intermediate chamber 36 communicates with the upper chamber 34A only through through openings 38A and holes 39A and the intermediate chamber 36 communicates with lower chamber 34B only through openings 38B and holes 39B. According to one embodiment, each through hole 39A, 39B is cylindrical, axis Oz, circular base. The diameter of each through hole 39A, 39B may be substantially equal to that of the additional through openings 38A, 38B.

According to one embodiment, the connection plates 24A, 24B can be cut in the same preform.

The orifices 40 and 42 may have an elongate shape. The elongate shape of the orifices 40, 42 makes it possible to obtain a more homogeneous distribution of the cooling liquid in the chambers 34A, 34B. Alternatively, the elongated orifice 40, 42 may be replaced by a point orifice. The elongated orifice 40, 42 extends for example in the direction Oy.

In operation, a dielectric coolant is intended to circulate in the module 10. The dielectric cooling liquid may be chosen from the group comprising a synthetic oil and a poly-alpha-olefin oil, a natural or synthetic ester, a mineral oil electric transformer or other fluid with a dielectric strength to isolate cells between them under any circumstances of use of the system. By way of nonlimiting example, the dielectric cooling liquid is chosen from the group comprising perfluorohexane, perfluoromethylcyclohexane, perfluoro-1,3-dimethylcyclohexane, perfluorodecalin, perfluoromethyldecalin, trichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, methanol and ethanol. As shown in Fig. 2, the coolant enters the upper chamber 34A through the elongate port 40 (arrows A). From the upper chamber 34A, the coolant then enters the intermediate chamber 36 through the openings 38A. The coolant then circulates in the intermediate chamber 36 in contact with the accumulators 20 (arrows B). In the intermediate chamber 36, the coolant preferably circulates in the direction Oz. From the intermediate chamber 36, the coolant then enters the lower chamber 34B through the openings 38B. From the lower chamber 34B, the coolant is discharged through the orifice 42 (arrows C). The flow of the coolant in contact with the accumulators 20 provides optimum cooling performance. The dimensions and the distribution of the openings 38A, 38B are preferably chosen so that the flow of the cooling liquid is substantially homogeneous in the intermediate chamber 36.

The module 10 may comprise a first electrical conductor, not shown, for example a cable or a plate, which is electrically connected to the connection plate 24A or 24B corresponding to the first access node of the electric circuit formed by the accumulators 20, and which can be screwed on the connection plate 24A or 24B corresponding to the first access node of the electric circuit formed by the accumulators 20, and a second electrical conductor, not shown, for example a cable or a plate, which is electrically connected to the connection plate 24A or 24B corresponding to the second access node of the electric circuit formed by the accumulators 20, and which can be screwed onto the connection plate 24A or 24B corresponding to the second access node of the electric circuit formed by the accumulators 20. The first and / or second conductors are intended to connect the module to electrical terminals or to another module.

The module 10 may further comprise sensors, not shown, adapted to measure different signals during operation of the module 10. For example, the sensors may comprise at least one temperature sensor for measuring the temperature in the vicinity of the accumulators 20 Preferably, the module 10 comprises a plurality of temperature sensors. By way of example, the sensors may comprise sensors for the voltages at the terminals of the accumulators 20. The module 10 may further comprise at least one heating element used to heat the accumulators 20.

According to one embodiment, the module 10 may comprise a printed circuit, for example a flexible printed circuit, not shown, on which the sensors and / or the heating elements are provided. The flexible printed circuit then comprises electrically conducting tracks, for example copper, on a support film and electronic components or electronic circuits are attached to the conductive tracks. For example, when the flexible printed circuit comprises a heating element used to heat the accumulators 20, it may correspond to a resistive track or a copper track section and length adapted to produce heat when it is crossed by a current. According to one embodiment, the flexible printed circuit may comprise an RFID (Radio-frequency identification) tag. The flexible printed circuit can be connected to the accumulators 20 of the battery. The printed circuit may be connected to a processing module located outside or inside the module 10 for example by electrical conductors, in particular a flexible sheet.

According to one embodiment, the structure of the connection plates 24A, 24B is chosen to satisfy several criteria: the connection plates 24A, 24B may be soldered to the accumulators 20;

the connection plates 24A, 24B are good electrical conductors;

the manufacturing cost of the connection plates 24A, 24B is reduced;

the connecting plates 24A, 24B all have the same structure, but possibly different shapes, including the connection plates acting as access nodes and intended to be connected to electrical conductors; and the fixing of the electrical conductors to the connecting plates acting as access nodes can be achieved by mechanical support, in particular by screwing.

The maximum thickness of each connection plate 24A, 24B is between 0.2 mm and 2 mm. In the present embodiment as shown in Figure 2, each connection plate 24A, 24B comprises a stack of at least a first electrically conductive layer 50A, 50B and a second electrically conductive layer 52A, 52B, visible in Figure 2. The first layer 50A, 50B is in mechanical contact with the accumulators 20. The second layer 52A, 52B comprises apertures 54A, 54B located opposite the accumulators 20 so that only the first layer 50A, 50B is 20. Slots 56A, visible in FIG. 1, may be provided in the exposed portion of the first layer 50A at the apertures 54A.

According to one embodiment, the first layer 50A, 50B is made of a material chosen from the group comprising nickel-plated steel, nickel, nickel-plated copper and any material allowing easy welding on the accumulators 20. The thickness of the first layer 50A, 50B is between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm. According to one embodiment, the second layer 52A, 52B is made of a material chosen from the group comprising copper, aluminum, beryllium copper and any material with good electrical conductivity. The thickness of the second layer 52A, 52B is between 0.2 mm and 2 mm. The electrical conductivity properties of the connection plate 24A, 24B are essentially provided by the second layer 52A, 52B while the material constituting the first layer 50A, 50B is chosen in particular to obtain a good quality electrical connection with the accumulators 20, in particular to facilitate the welding of the first layer 50A, 50B with the accumulators 20. In addition, the material constituting the second layer 52A, 52B is chosen to allow electrical connection with an electrical conductor, in particular by mechanical support and in particular by screwing, between the second layer 52A, 52B and the electrical conductor. The connection plates 24A, 24B which act as the first and second access nodes thus have the same structure as the other connection plates, which would not be possible if the connection plates 24A, 24B were made of aluminum because unavoidable formation in the absence of treatment of an electrically insulating layer on the surface of the aluminum.

A battery may comprise several modules 10 as described previously connected in series and / or in parallel.

Figure 5 is a perspective view, partial and schematic, of an embodiment of a battery 60 comprising several modules 10 stacked in the direction Oz. In this embodiment, for some modules, the upper chamber 34A and / or the lower chamber 34B of the module may be delimited by the flanges 22A, 22B of two adjacent modules. In this embodiment, for the modules located at the ends of the module stack, the upper chamber 34A and / or the lower chamber 34B of the module 10 may be delimited by a housing, not shown, containing the stack of modules 10 .

Figure 6 is a perspective view, partial and schematic, of an embodiment of a battery 62 comprising a plurality of modules 10 arranged next to each other in the plane (Oxy). In this embodiment, the upper chamber 34A and / or the lower chamber 34B of each module 10 can be delimited by a housing, not shown, containing the modules

10.

The circulation of the coolant in the modules 10 is carried out by a pump. The coolant then feeds each module 10. After passing through each module 10, as described above, the coolant is recovered.

In the case where each module 10 comprises sensors, all the sensors of the modules can be connected to a processing module. The processing module may correspond to a dedicated circuit or may comprise a processor, for example a microprocessor or a microcontroller, adapted to execute instructions of a computer program stored in a memory. The processor module may act as a battery monitoring system adapted, for example, to monitor the accumulator voltages to remain within an allowable operating range, to monitor the charge level of the accumulators and possibly to balancing these charges, regulating the charge current in the charging periods, regulating the discharge current, monitoring the temperature of the accumulators 20, controlling the circulation of the coolant, etc.

For example, the number of accumulators 20 connected in series of the battery can vary from four, in particular for a battery providing a voltage of the order of 12 V, to more than one hundred, in particular for a battery providing a voltage greater than 700 V or 1000 V. The battery is, for example, intended to be used for powering a laptop or a cordless screwdriver, for example with four accumulators in series, an assistance bicycle electric car, electric car or other electric vehicle.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method for manufacturing the connection plates 24A, 24B of the module 10.

Step 70 comprises the manufacture of a strip in which will be formed the connection plates 24A, 24B. According to one embodiment, in the case where the connection plates 24A, 24B have a multilayer structure, the step 70 may comprise the formation of a strip comprising said stack of layers. According to one embodiment, in the case where the connecting plates 24A, 24B comprise the previously described stack of the first layer 50A, 50B and the second layer 52A, 52B, the step 70 may comprise the separate cutting of the first layer 50A, 50B and second layer 52A, 52B, in particular the formation of the openings 54A, 54B in the second layer 52A, 52B and the attachment, for example by laser welding, of the second layer 52A, 52B to the first layer; 50A, 50B.

Step 72 comprises forming, in the strip obtained in step 70, preforms in which the connecting plates 24A, 24B will be cut. For each module 10, a first preform is formed in which the connecting plates 24A will be cut and a second preform is formed in which the connecting plates 24B will be cut. According to one embodiment, each preform is obtained by stamping the strip formed in step 70. The periphery of the first preform corresponds to the envelope of the connecting plates 24A and the periphery of the second preform corresponds to the envelope connection plates 24B. In addition, during the stamping operation, the openings 39A, 39B are also formed in the first and second layers 50A, 50B, 52A, 52B and the slots 56A are also formed in the first layer 50A, 50B. The stamping step advantageously makes it possible to simultaneously produce a large number of openings, the machining of which would be expensive. According to one embodiment, the preforms are identical regardless of the forms of the connection plates 24A, 24B. This makes it possible to use in step 72 the same stamping die regardless of the shapes of the connection plates 24A, 24B.

Step 74 comprises cutting the connection plates 24A in the first preform and cutting the connection plates 24B in the second preform. Cutting can be a laser cutting, cutting by machining or cutting by electroerosion, in particular by wire EDM.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method of manufacturing a module 10.

Step 80 includes placing the accumulators 20 on one of the flanges 22A.

Step 82 includes adding the other flange 22B to the accumulators.

Step 84 comprises placing each connection plate 24A on the upper flange 22A and fixing each connection plate 24A to the accumulators, for example by electric welding.

Step 86 comprises placing each connection plate 24B on the lower flange 22B and fixing each connection plate 24B to the accumulators 20, for example by electric welding.

The mechanical links between the flanges 22A, 22B and the housing 12, between the flanges 22A, 22B and the accumulators 20 and between the connection plates 24A, 24B and the accumulators 20 ensure the rigidity of the assembly and the maintenance of the accumulators 12 .

One embodiment of a method of manufacturing a battery comprises stacking a plurality of modules and electrically connecting the modules together.

The accumulators 20 are divided into S accumulator stages, each stage comprising P accumulators 20, the S accumulator stages being connected in series and, for each stage, the P accumulators of the stage are connected in parallel. The connection of the accumulators 20 is carried out by the connection plates 24A, 24B. The electric circuit formed by the accumulators 20 can easily be modified by changing the arrangement and the dimensions of the connection plates 24A, 24B and / or by changing the orientation of the accumulators 20 without modifying the housing 12 or the flanges 22A, 22B. Module 10 can so easily be modified to fit different applications.

Advantageously, the total number of accumulators 20 constituting the module 10 is chosen so as to allow the production of a large number of configurations in which the number S of stages and the number P of accumulators 20 per stage are different. . According to one embodiment, the total number of accumulators 20 constituting the module 10 is a multiple of eight. According to one embodiment, the total number of accumulators 20 constituting the module 10 is a multiple of twenty-four.

According to one embodiment, the total number of accumulators makes it possible to arrange the accumulators so that, seen in the direction (Oz), the accumulators are inscribed in a rectangle for which the ratio between the short side and the long side is between 1/3 and 2/3. This allows the realization of a compact module. According to one embodiment, the total number of accumulators 20 constituting the module 10 is equal to 144 or to 168. Advantageously, when the total number of accumulators 20 constituting the module 10 is equal to 144, the accumulators can be arranged so that, seen in the direction (Oz), the accumulators are inscribed in a rectangle for which the ratio between the short side and the long side is approximately equal to 2/3. Advantageously, when the total number of accumulators 20 constituting the module 10 is equal to 168, the accumulators can be arranged in such a way that, seen in the direction (Oz), the accumulators are inscribed in a rectangle for which the ratio between the short side and the long side is about 2/3.

Table I below includes the various possible configurations in the case where the total number of accumulators 20 of the module is equal to 144. For each configuration, it is indicated the minimum voltage Umin supplied by the module 10, the average voltage Umoy provided by the module 10, and the maximum voltage Umax provided by the module 10 in the in which case each accumulator 20 is of the lithium iron phosphate accumulator type, or LFP accumulator, and in the case where each accumulator 20 is of the Cobalt Nickel Manganese type, or NMC accumulator.

Board

Table II below and a table similar to Table I in the case where the total number of accumulators 20 of the module is equal to 168.

Board

FIGS. 9 to 20 are top views of preforms 90 showing cutting lines 92 according to which the connection plates will be cut for different configurations of battery connections of a module comprising 144 accumulators distributed in S stages each comprising P accumulators . In these figures, the symbol is placed next to the connection plate which acts as the first access node and which is intended to be electrically connected to an electrical terminal of the battery or to an access node. another module by an electrical conductor and the symbol 0 has been placed next to the connection plate which acts as the second access node and which is intended to be electrically connected to an electrical terminal of the battery or to a access node of another module by an electrical conductor. Each connecting plate 24A or 24B acting as an access node is connected to P accumulators while each other connecting plate 24A and 24B is connected to the positive terminals of P accumulators and to the negative terminals of P accumulators. In FIGS. 9 to 20, the slits 56A made in the layer 50A at each opening 54A provided in the layer 52A are, by way of example, in the form of an H.

Figures 9 and 10 correspond to the configuration comprising 12 stages of 12 accumulators. FIG. 9 shows the cutting lines 92 for the 7 connection plates 24A and Figure 10 shows the cutting lines 92 for the 6 connecting plates 24B.

Figures 11 and 12 correspond to the configuration comprising 9 stages of 16 accumulators. Figure 11 shows the cutting lines 92 for the connecting plates 24A and Figure 12 shows the cutting lines 92 for the connecting plates 24B.

Figures 13 and 14 correspond to the configuration comprising 8 stages of 18 accumulators. Figure 13 shows the cutting lines 92 for the connecting plates 24A and Figure 14 shows the cutting lines 92 for the 4 connecting plates 24B.

Figures 15 and 16 correspond to the configuration comprising 6 stages of 24 accumulators. Figure 15 shows the cutting lines 92 for the 4 connecting plates 24A and Figure 16 shows the cutting lines 92 for the 3 connecting plates 24B.

Figures 17 and 18 correspond to the configuration comprising 4 stages of 36 accumulators. Figure 17 shows the cutting lines 92 for the 3 connecting plates 24A and Figure 18 shows the cutting lines 92 for the two connecting plates 24B.

Figures 19 and 20 correspond to the configuration comprising two stages of 72 accumulators. Figure 19 shows the cutting lines 92 for the two connecting plates 24A and Figure 20 the single connecting plate 24B.

Various embodiments have been described. Various variations and modifications occur to those skilled in the art. Various embodiments with various variants have been described above. It is noted that one skilled in the art can combine various elements of these various embodiments and variants without being creative.

Claims

A battery module (10) comprising:

accumulators (20), each accumulator having first and second ends (26A, 26B) and an intermediate portion (28) connecting the first and second ends;

a first flange (22A) including first through openings (32A), the first ends of the accumulators being fixed in the first openings;

first electrically conductive plates (24A), each first plate being connected to the first ends of the accumulators of a first set of accumulators among first accumulator assemblies;

a second flange (22B) comprising second through openings (32B), the second ends of the accumulators being fixed in the second openings;

second electrically conductive plates

(24B), each second plate being connected to the second ends of the accumulators of a second set of accumulators among second sets of accumulators, all the first and second plates having the same structure; and

first, second and third chambers (34A, 36, 34B) delimited in part by the first and second flanges and intended to contain a dielectric liquid, the first flange separating the first and second chambers and the second flange separating the second and third chambers; the first flange comprising first passages (38A) for the dielectric liquid between the first and second chambers (34A, 36) and the second flange including second passages (38B) for the dielectric liquid between the second and third chambers (34B, 36).

2. Module according to claim 1, wherein each first plate (24A) comprises first holes (39A), each first hole being vis-à-vis one of the first passages (38A), and wherein each second plate (24B) includes second holes (39B), each second hole being opposite one of the second passages (38A).

3. Module according to claim 2, wherein the first flange (22A) comprises lugs (37A) projecting into the first chamber (34A), the first holes (39A) being traversed by said lugs.

4. Module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first flange (22A) comprises third openings (38A), distinct from the first openings (32A), for the passage of coolant between the first and second chambers (34A, 36) and wherein the second flange (22B) comprises fourth openings (38B), distinct from the second openings (32B), for passage of coolant between the second and third chambers (36, 34B).

5. Module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each first plate (24A) and each second plate (24B) comprises a stack (72) of at least first and second electrically conductive layers (60A, 60B). , 62A, 62B) made of different materials, the first layer being in mechanical contact with at least two of the accumulators (20) and the second layer being open facing said at least two accumulators (20).

6. Module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the total number of accumulators (20) is between 100 and 500 and corresponds to a multiple of 24.

7. Module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the total number of electric accumulators (20) is equal to 144 or 168.

8. Battery comprising several modules (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A method of manufacturing a battery module (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the manufacture of the first and second plates electrically conductive conductors (24A, 24B) comprises the following steps:

forming first and second preforms (90) by stamping;

cutting the first electrically conductive plates (24A) into the first preform; and

cutting the second electrically conductive plates (24A) into the second preform.

The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second preforms are identical or symmetrical.

11. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the cutting steps are laser cutting steps, cutting by machining or cutting by electroerosion.