GB2552731A

GB2552731A - Battery module with natural convection cooling structure

Info

Publication number: GB2552731A
Application number: GB1704551.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lai Chun-Nan; Cheng Sheng-Hao
Original assignee: Darfon Electronics Suzhou Co Ltd
Current assignee: Darfon Electronics Suzhou Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-08-03
Filing date: 2017-03-22
Publication date: 2018-02-07
Also published as: TW201806466A; GB201704551D0; TWI598032B

Abstract

A battery module 1 has a natural convection cooling structure which may achieve heat dissipation without forced airflow generated by a fan. The battery module 1 includes a housing 11 comprising a rear board 111, a left lateral board 112, a right lateral board 114, an upper board 116, a bottom board 117 and a front board 118 which together define an internal space. The left lateral board has left upper hole 1121 and left lower hole 1122. The right lateral board has right upper hole 1141 and right lower hole 1142. The upper board has upper hole 1161 and the bottom board has bottom hole 1171. A guiding board 12 divides the internal space of the housing into an upper space for accommodating an upper battery pack 13 and a lower space for accommodating a lower battery pack 14. The left upper hole, right upper hole and upper hole all communicate with the upper space. The left lower hole, right lower hole and bottom hole all communicate with the lower space. Heat generated from the battery packs induces airflows within the upper and lower spaces which flow out through said holes and as such dissipate heat from the battery packs by natural convection.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Darfon Electronics (Suzhou)Co., Ltd (Incorporated in China)

Zhu Yuan Road, New District, Suzhou 215011, China (56) Documents Cited:

CN 205303565 U (58) Field of Search:

INT CL H01M Other: WPI, EPODOC

JP 2005353557 A (72) Inventor(s):

Chun-Nan Lai Sheng-Hao Cheng (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Marks & Clerk LLP

Fletcher House (2nd Floor), Heatley Road,

The Oxford Science Park, OXFORD, OX4 4GE, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Battery module with natural convection cooling structure Abstract Title: Battery module with natural convection cooling structure (57) A battery module 1 has a natural convection cooling structure which may achieve heat dissipation without forced airflow generated by a fan. The battery module 1 includes a housing 11 comprising a rear board 111, a left lateral board 112, a right lateral board 114, an upper board 116, a bottom board 117 and a front board 118 which together define an internal space. The left lateral board has left upper hole 1121 and left lower hole 1122. The right lateral board has right upper hole 1141 and right lower hole 1142. The upper board has upper hole 1161 and the bottom board has bottom hole 1171. A guiding board 12 divides the internal space of the housing into an upper space for accommodating an upper battery pack 13 and a lower space for accommodating a lower battery pack 14. The left upper hole, right upper hole and upper hole all communicate with the upper space. The left lower hole, right lower hole and bottom hole all communicate with the lower space. Heat generated from the battery packs induces airflows within the upper and lower spaces which flow out through said holes and as such dissipate heat from the battery packs by natural convection.

1181

-185

1/9

FIG. 1

FIG. 1-1

FIG. 1-2

3/9

FIG. 2

4/9

FIG. 3

5/9

14HA1

FIG. 4

6/9

FIG. 5

7/9

FIG. 6

8/9

FIG. 7-1

FIG. 7-2

9/9

FIG. 8

BATTERY MODULE WITH NATURAL CONVECTION COOLING

STRUCTURE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention [0001] The invention generally relates to a battery module. Particularly, the invention relates to a battery module with a natural convection cooling structure to achieve heat dissipation without forced airflow generated by a fan.

2. Description of the Prior Art [0002] Nuclear power generation, thermal power generation, and hydroelectric power generation are most commonly used energy source generation methods. However, nuclear power generation will produce nuclear wastes; thermal power generation will cause serious air pollution; hydroelectric power generation is constrained by geography, which results in very low power generation efficiency. In recent years, as the development of environmental awareness and the influence of global warming, people are urged to discover the possibility of alternative energy, and solar power is one of the important alternative energy sources.

[0003] Solar power generation is the conversion of sunlight into electricity and generally consists of solar panels, inverters, and battery modules. The solar panel converts the sunlight into electricity using photovoltaics, and the inverter converts the electricity into low voltage direct current. In daytime, when the electricity outputted by the solar panel exceeds the household power consumption, the low voltage direct current is stored in the battery module. During nighttime that no power is outputted by the solar panel, the battery module will supply the stored electric power for household use. As such, the electric power outputted by the solar panel can be more effectively used, reducing the power supply from the electricity company.

[0004] In order to increase the capacity of battery module, multiple batteries are disposed in the limited internal space of the battery module. However, these batteries will generate heat when the batteries are under charging or discharging. Due to heat accumulation, temperature difference exists among these batteries. Some batteries in higher temperature environment will have reduced service life, or even resulting in the unbalanced voltage or the loss of current of the battery module.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] In view of the prior arts, it is an object of the present invention to provide a battery module for use in solar energy generation and capable of reducing temperature difference among batteries. In an embodiment, the battery module includes a housing, a guiding board, an upper battery pack, and a lower battery pack. The housing has a rear board, a left lateral board, a right lateral board, an upper board, a bottom board, a front board, and an internal space. The internal space is defined by the rear board, the left lateral board, the right lateral board, the upper board, the bottom board, and the front board. The left lateral board has a left upper hole and a left lower hole. The right lateral board has a right upper hole and a right lower hole. The upper board has an upper hole.

The bottom board has a bottom hole. The guiding board is disposed in the internal space to substantially divide the internal space into an upper space and a lower space. A left end of the guiding board extends and neighbors the left lateral board. A right end of the guiding board extends and neighbors the right lateral board. The left upper hole, the right upper hole, and the upper hole all communicate with the upper space. The left lower hole, the right lower hole, and the bottom hole all communicate with the lower space. The upper battery pack is disposed in the upper space. Heat energy generated from the upper battery pack heats up surrounding air thereof to induce a first airflow. A portion of the first airflow flows out of the upper space through the upper hole and another portion of the first airflow flows into the upper space through the left upper hole and the right upper hole, so that the first airflow dissipates heat from the upper battery pack by natural convection. The lower battery pack is disposed in the lower space. Heat energy generated from the lower battery pack heats up surrounding air thereof to induce a second airflow. A portion of the second airflow guided by the guiding board flows out of the lower space through the left lower hole and the right lower hole and another portion of the second airflow flows into the lower space through the bottom hole, so that the second airflow dissipates heat from the lower battery pack by natural convection.

[0006] Optionally, the battery module further includes a grounding mechanism and a grounding path. The grounding mechanism is disposed on one of a pair of laterally extending boards. The grounding path is located on the housing and electrically couples with the grounding mechanism. The front board has a first coupling surface and a first engaging portion. At least one of the left lateral board, the right lateral board, the upper board, and the bottom board has a second coupling surface and a second engaging portion. The first engaging portion engages with the second engaging portion, so that the front board engages with the at least one of the left lateral board, the right lateral board, the upper board, and the bottom board, and the first coupling surface electrically couples with the second coupling surface to form the grounding path of the housing.

[0007] Optionally, the rear board has a rear hole. The heat energy generated from the upper battery pack heats up surrounding air thereof to induce a third airflow. A portion of the third airflow flows out of the upper space through the upper hole and another portion of the third airflow flows into the upper space through the rear hole, so that the third airflow dissipates heat from the upper battery pack. The heat energy generated from the lower battery pack heats up surrounding air thereof to induce a fourth airflow. A portion of the fourth airflow guided by the guiding board flows out of the lower space through the left lower hole and the right lower hole, and another portion of the fourth airflow flows into the lower space through the rear hole, so that the fourth airflow dissipates heat from the lower battery pack.

[0008] Compared with the prior art, the battery module of the invention can be used in a side-hanging configuration and disposed therein with the guiding board, the upper battery pack, and the lower battery pack. The guiding board can isolate the upper battery pack and the lower battery pack and guide the heat energy generated when the lower battery pack is under charging or discharging to leave from the lateral sides, so as to prevent heat energy generated from the lower battery pack from being accumulated around the upper battery pack. Consequently, the unbalanced voltage or the loss of current of the battery module and the decrease in service life of the battery module can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the battery module of the invention, showing the using status of the battery module.

[0010] FIG. 1-1 is a cross-sectional view along the line AA of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 1-2 is an enlarged view of the area “B” of FIG. 1-1.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of a first embodiment of the battery module of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the first embodiment of the battery module of the invention.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of the first embodiment of the battery module of the invention without the front board.

[0015] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the housing of the first embodiment of the battery module of the invention with the front board separated.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the housing of the battery module of the invention with the front board combined.

[0017] FIG. 7-1 is an enlarged view of the area “D” of FIG. 6.

[0018] FIG. 7-2 is a cross-sectional view along the line BB of FIG. 7-1.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a partially exploded view of a second embodiment of the battery module of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0020] The advantages and spirit of the invention can be further understood in view of the detailed descriptions and the accompanying drawings. The invention can be implemented or applied to other different embodiments. Certain aspects of the invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention will have other modifications and changes. It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and the relative position is merely illustrative, not presenting an actual condition of the embodiments.

[0021] Moreover, in the following embodiments, elements or structures with same or similar function will use same reference numerals, and the descriptions of same or equivalent technical features will be omitted to make the disclosed contents be more concise and easy to understand.

[0022] The invention provides a battery module with a natural convection cooling structure, which can be used in solar power generation and hung on the indoor or outdoor wall to save space. The battery module comprises a secondary battery pack and an airflow guiding structure. The secondary battery pack includes an upper battery pack and a lower battery pack. The upper battery pack is positioned above the lower battery pack.

The airflow guiding structure guides the heat energy generated from the lower battery pack to flow out of the battery module through the lateral sides, so as to prevent heat energy generated from the lower battery pack from being accumulated around the upper battery pack. Accordingly, when the upper battery pack and the lower battery pack of the battery module are under charging or discharging, the temperature difference between the upper battery pack and the lower battery pack can be greatly reduced, so the unbalanced voltage or the loss of current problem caused by the overheat of the upper battery pack is avoided, and the service life of the entire battery module is effectively improved.

[0023] In addition, the conventional battery module generally includes a cooling fan to generate the airflow to dissipate heat from the battery module. However, the conventional battery module with the cooling fan will have the following disadvantages: (1) extra electrical power is required to drive the fan; (2) the fan might be broken down due to longterm operation, and the reliability of the entire battery module is dramatically lowered. In contrast, the battery module of the invention is designed to be operated without any cooling fan. The battery module of the invention utilizes the heat energy generated from the battery pack to naturally induce airflow in the internal space of the housing, so that good heat dissipation effect can be achieved and the problems derived from the installation of cooling fan inside the battery module can be avoided.

[0024] Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8; the technical content of the invention will be explained.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the battery module 1 includes a housing 11, a guiding board 12, an upper battery pack 13, a lower battery pack 14, and a circuit board

15. The housing 11 has an internal space S for accommodating the guiding board 12, the upper battery pack 13, the lower battery pack 14, and the circuit board 15. The housing 11 has a rear board 111, a left lateral board 112, a right lateral board 114, an upper board

116, a bottom board 117, and a front board 118 disposed on six sides of the housing 11, respectively. The internal space S is defined or enclosed by the rear board 111, the left lateral board 112, the right lateral board 114, the upper board 116, the bottom board 117, and the front board 118.

[0026] The rear board 111 is configured to carry the guiding board 12, the upper battery pack 13, the lower battery pack 14, and the circuit board 15, so the battery module can be hung on a wall. The rear board 111 should be made of a first material (e.g. steel) that has sufficient material strength to support the weight of the upper battery pack 13 and the lower battery pack 14. The left lateral board 112, the right lateral board 114, the upper board 116, the bottom board 117, and the front board 118 need not to bear the weight of the upper battery pack 13 and the lower battery pack, so the material strength is not critical and a second material that is lighter, such as aluminum, can be used to form these boards 112, 114, 116, 117, 118. That is, the material strength of the second material can be weaker than that of the first material to reduce the total weight of the battery module 1.

In addition, heavy objects may be disposed on the upper side of the housing 11, so the upper board 116 is generally designed to have a structural strength capable of withstanding a larger external force. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5, a plurality of supporting ribs 1163 are disposed under the upper board 116. Each supporting rib 1163 is engaged with the bottom surface of the upper board 116 and extends between the rear board 111 and the front board 118 to increase the capability of the upper board 116 to withstand the external force.

[0027] As shown in the embodiments of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the rear board 111 has a rear hole 1111 to function as a channel for airflow to pass through the rear board 111. The left lateral board 112 has left upper holes 1121 and left lower holes 1122 to function as channels for airflow to pass through the left lateral board 112. The right lateral board 114 has right upper holes 1141, right lower holes 1142, a power cable socket 1143, and a signal cable socket 1145. The right upper hole 1141 and the right lower hole 1142 function as channels for airflow to pass through the right lateral board 114. The power cable socket

1143 and the signal cable socket 1145 are adjacent to each other and provided for external power cable and network cable to go through therein. In this embodiment, the two sockets 1143 and 1145 are disposed on the upper side of the right lateral board 114 and close to each other to reduce the occupied area in the right lateral board 114, so most of the area of the right lateral board 114 is reserved for disposing the right upper holes 1141 and the right lower holes 1142. In another embodiment, the power cable socket 1143 and the signal cable socket 1145 can be disposed on the left lateral board 112 or at any suitable location. The upper board 116 has upper holes 1161 to function as channels for airflow to pass through the upper board 116. The bottom board 117 has bottom holes

1171 to function as channels for airflow to pass through the bottom board 117.

[0028] In the invention, the guiding board 12 is disposed on the rear board 111 (see

FIG. 2) or on the front board 118 (see FIG. 8). The guiding board 12 is disposed in the internal space S to substantially divide the internal space S into an upper space US and a lower space DS. The left end of the guiding board 12 is neighboring to the left lateral board 112, and the right end of the guiding board 12 is neighboring to the right lateral board 114. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the left upper hole 1121, the right upper hole 1141, and the upper hole 1161 all communicate with the upper space US, so airflow can flow in and out the upper space US. The left lower hole 1122, the right lower hole 1142, and the bottom hole 1171 all communicate with the lower space DS, so airflow can flow in and out the lower space DS.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 8, divided by the center of the guiding board 12, the guiding board 12 has a left portion and a right portion. The left and the right portions are symmetrical with respect to a vertical center plane of the internal space S. With such leftright symmetric design, there should be half amount of the second airflow flowing out of the lower space DS through the left lower hole 1122 and substantially the other half amount of the second airflow flowing out of the lower space DS through the right lower hole 1142. Therefore, the temperature difference between the batteries on the left side and the right side is effectively reduced. In another embodiment, the guiding board 12 can be designed to other types of left-right symmetrical shape. For example, the guiding board can be V shape symmetrical with respect to a vertical center plane of the internal space S.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, the circuit board 15 extends along a direction substantially perpendicular to the ground surface. That is, the circuit board 15 extends along a direction parallel to the rear board 111 and the front board 118 and extends over the guiding board

12, so the upper portion and the lower portion of the circuit board 15 respectively enter the upper space US and the lower space DS to electrically connect the upper battery pack 13 and the lower battery pack 14 and to control the charging and discharging of the upper battery pack 13 and the lower battery pack 14. As shown in FGI. 4 and FIG. 5, if the circuit board 15 is required to extend into the upper space US and the lower space DS to connect both the upper battery pack 13 and the lower battery pack 14, then the guiding board 12 can be formed with an recess 123 to allow the circuit board 15 to extend over the guiding board 12 without increasing the size of the entire battery module. In this case, the guiding board 12 has an L-shaped profile. In another embodiment, if the circuit board 15 is not required to extend into both upper space US and the lower space DS, i.e., the circuit board 15 need not to extend over the guiding board 12, then the guiding board 13 can have a rectangular shape with smooth four lateral sides.

[0031] As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the upper battery pack 13 consists of a plurality of secondary upper battery packs 131. The secondary upper battery packs 131 are disposed on the rear board 111 and located in the upper space US, and adjacent secondary upper battery packs 131 are spaced apart by the air channel 125. In this embodiment, the air channel 125 extends substantially vertically (perpendicularly to the ground surface). The heat energy generated from the secondary upper battery packs 131 will heat up surrounding air thereof. When the temperature of the heated air is increased, the volume of the heated air is expanded and the density of the heated air is reduced.

According to the chimney effect, when the secondary upper battery packs 131 are under charging or discharging, the surrounding air is heated and flows upward through the air channel 125, i.e. flows toward the upper board 116 to form a first airflow WF1 and a third airflow WF3. The more detailed explanation of the formation and function of the first airflow WF1 and the third airflow WF3 is: (a) the heat energy generated from the secondary upper battery packs 131 will heat up the surrounding air in the upper space US, (b) the heated air flows upward toward the upper board 116 through the air channel 125, and then flows out of the upper space US through the upper hole 1161 to dissipate heat accumulated in the upper space US, and (c) the internal air pressure in the upper space

US becomes lower than the external pressure outside the housing 11, resulting in the following two effects: (1) drawing the external air to flow from the left upper hole 1121 and the right upper hole 1141 into the upper space US to form the first airflow WF1; (2) drawing the external air to flow from the rear hole 1111 into the upper space US to form the third airflow WF3. Therefore, the first airflow WF1 and the third airflow WF3 dissipate heat from the upper space US by natural convection, i.e. without the need of forced airflow driven by the fan.

[0032] In addition, as shown in FIGs. 1-2, the upper board 116 further has a fin structure 1162 disposed over the upper hole 1161 to prevent dusts from entering the upper hole 1161 and to guide the first airflow WF1 and the third airflow WF3 flowing out of the upper space US through the upper hole 1161, so as to facilitate the natural convection of the battery module 1.

[0033] As shown in the embodiment of FIG.4, the lower battery pack 14 consists of a plurality of secondary lower battery packs 141. The lower battery pack 14 is disposed on the rear board 111 and located in the lower space DS, and adjacent secondary lower battery packs 141 are spaced apart by the air channel 125. In this embodiment, the air channel 125 extends vertically (substantially perpendicularly to the ground surface). The heat energy generated from the secondary lower battery packs 141 will heat up surrounding air thereof. When the temperature of the heated air is increased, the volume of the heated air is expanded and the density of the heated air is reduced. According to the chimney effect, when the secondary lower battery packs 141 are under charging or discharging, the surrounding air is heated and flows upward through the air channel 125 to form a second airflow WF2 and a fourth airflow WF4. The more detailed explanation of the formation and function of the second airflow WF2 and the fourth airflow WF4 is: (a) the heat energy generated from the secondary lower battery packs 141 when the secondary lower battery packs 141 are under charging or discharging will heat up the surrounding air in the lower space DS, (b) the heated air flows upward toward the guiding board 12 through the air channel 125, and then guided by the guiding board 12, flows out of the lower space DS through the left lower hole 1122 and the right lower hole 1142 to dissipate heat accumulated in the lower space DS, and (c) the internal pressure in the lower space

DS becomes lower than the external pressure outside the housing 11, resulting in the following two possible effects: (1) drawing the external air to flow from the bottom hole

1171 into the lower space DS to form the second airflow WF2; (2) drawing the external air to flow from the rear hole 1111 into the lower space DS to form the fourth airflow WF4.

Therefore, the second airflow WF2 and the fourth airflow WF4 dissipate heat from the lower space DS by natural convection, i.e. without the need of forced airflow driven by the fan.

[0034] Accordingly, the heat energy generated from the lower battery pack 14 when the secondary lower battery packs 141 are under charging or discharging will leave the lower space DS along with the second airflow WF2 and the fourth airflow WF4 and not enter the upper space US, so as to prevent the heat energy of the lower battery pack 14 from being accumulated around the upper battery pack 13 and reduce the temperature difference between the upper battery pack 13 and the lower battery pack 14 during charging or discharging. Therefore, the service life of the battery module 1 can be enhanced, and the unbalanced voltage or the loss of current of the upper battery pack 13 and the lower battery pack 14 in the battery module 1 can be improved.

[0035] In order to be hung on the indoor or outdoor wall, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the battery module 1 has a pair of laterally extending boards 119, a pair of handles 1191, and a pair of hanging holes 1192. The pair of laterally extending boards 119 are disposed on the left side and the right side of the rear board 111 and extend outward from the left and right sides of the rear board 111, respectively, to protrude from left and right sides of the housing 11. The pair of laterally extending boards 119 are provided for disposing the pair of handles 1191 and the pair of hanging holes 1192. The pair of handles 1191 respectively extend from the pair of laterally extending boards 1191 toward the front board

118 to be exposed outside from the left side and the right side of the housing 11, respectively. The pair of hanging holes 1192 are respectively disposed on the pair of laterally extending boards 119. The pair of hanging holes 1192 avoid the handles 1191 on the laterally extending boards 119 to be exposed outside and viewable from the left side and the right side of the housing 11, respectively, so as to facilitate the alignment and hanging of the battery module 1 on the wall.

[0036] Regarding the application of the pair of handles 1191 and the pair of hanging holes 1192, the description is provided below. When two hooks have been disposed on the wall, the worker for mounting the battery module 1 can apply force to the pair of handles 1191 by two hands to lift the battery module 1 and put the rear board 111 close to the wall, making the pair of hanging holes 1192 be aligned with the two hooks. Then, the battery module 1 is pushed toward the wall to make the two hooks be respectively inserted into the pair of hanging holes 1192 and engage with the rear board 111, so that the battery module 1 is hung on the wall, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0037] As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the front board 118 has lateral extending boards 1185 on the left side and the right side to engage with the left lateral board 112 and the right lateral board 114, respectively. For the ground connection of the battery module, the front board 118 has a first coupling surface 1181 and a first engaging portion 1182 on the left and right lateral extending boards 1185. Correspondingly, the left lateral board 112 and the right lateral board 114 have a second coupling surface 161 and a second engaging portion 162. The front board 118, the left lateral board 112, and the right lateral board 114 are coated with insulation materials (e.g. lacquer) on most area to prevent the metal from being exposed and to provide insulation or antirust effects, only small area remains exposed with metal to form the first coupling surface 1181 and the second coupling surface 161.

[0038] As shown in the embodiments of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7-2, the first engaging portion

1182 is a screw seat, and the second engaging portion 162 is a screw hole. As such, when the pair of lateral extending boards 1185 engage with the left lateral board 112 and the right lateral board 114 by screws, one of the lateral extending boards 1185 and the left lateral board 112 as well as the other one of the lateral extending boards 1185 and the right lateral board 114 will come tightly close to each other by force, so the first coupling surface 1181 closely contacts the second coupling surface 161. Accordingly, the two coupling surfaces 1181, 161 are electrically conducted to form the grounding path of the housing 11 and to transfer the grounding signal of the housing 11. Moreover, for the grounding signal of the housing 11, at least one of the pair of laterally extending boards

119 may be disposed with a grounding mechanism 1193 for electrically coupling with the grounding path to transfer the grounding signal of the housing 11 to the external. It is noted that the grounding mechanism 1193 need not to be coated with lacquer.

[0039] In summary, the battery module with a natural convection cooling structure of the invention can achieve a desired heat dissipation effect without forced airflow generated by the fan. The battery module of the invention includes a housing, a guiding board, and a secondary battery pack. The secondary battery pack includes an upper battery pack and a lower battery pack. The guiding board can divide the internal space of the housing into two portions (i.e. the upper space and the lower space). The upper battery pack is disposed in the upper portion of the housing (i.e. the upper space), and the lower battery pack is disposed in the lower portion of the housing (i.e. the lower space).

Heat energy generated from the lower battery pack when the lower battery pack is under charging or discharging will induce airflow in the internal space of the housing, so the airflow induced by the heat energy generated from the lower battery pack can be guided by the guiding board to leave the housing from the lateral sides, so that the airflow induced by the heat energy generated from the lower battery pack flowing into the upper space of the housing is reduced to prevent the heat energy from be accumulated around the upper battery pack. Therefore, the service life and the stability of charging or discharging of the upper battery pack can be greatly improved.

[0040] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. The preferred embodiments disclosed will not limit the scope of the present invention. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A battery module, comprising:

a housing having a rear board, a left lateral board, a right lateral board, an upper board, a bottom board, a front board, and an internal space defined by the rear board, the left lateral board, the right lateral board, the upper board, the bottom board, and the front board, wherein the left lateral board has a left upper hole and a left lower hole; the right lateral board has a right upper hole and a right lower hole; the upper board has an upper hole; the bottom board has a bottom hole;

a guiding board disposed in the internal space to substantially divide the internal space into an upper space and a lower space, a left end of the guiding board extending and neighboring the left lateral board, a right end of the guiding board extending and neighboring the right lateral board, wherein the left upper hole, the right upper hole, and the upper hole all communicate with the upper space; the left lower hole, the right lower hole, and the bottom hole all communicate with the lower space;

an upper battery pack disposed in the upper space, wherein heat energy generated from the upper battery pack heats up surrounding air thereof to induce a first airflow; a portion of the first airflow flows out of the upper space through the upper hole and another portion of the first airflow flows into the upper space through the left upper hole and the right upper hole, so that the first airflow dissipates heat from the upper battery pack by natural convection; and a lower battery pack disposed in the lower space, wherein heat energy generated from the lower battery pack heats up surrounding air thereof to induce a second airflow;

a portion of the second airflow guided by the guiding board flows out of the lower space through the left lower hole and the right lower hole and another portion of the second airflow flows into the lower space through the bottom hole, so that the second airflow dissipates heat from the lower battery pack by natural convection.

2. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the guiding board comprises a left portion and a right portion; the left portion and the right portion of the guiding board have substantially symmetric shape, so that the second airflow has a substantial same air amount flowing out of the lower space respectively through the left lower hole and through the right lower hole.

3. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a pair of laterally extending boards and a pair of handles, wherein the pair of laterally extending boards respectively extend outward from the left and right sides of the rear board and respectively protrude from left and right sides of the housing; the pair of handles respectively extend from the pair of laterally extending boards to be exposed outside from the left side and the right side of the housing, respectively.

4. The battery module of claim 3, further comprising a pair of hanging holes respectively disposed on the pair of laterally extending boards, wherein the pair of hanging holes avoid the handles on the laterally extending boards to be exposed outside and viewable from the left side and the right side of the housing, respectively

5. The battery module of claim 4, further comprising a grounding mechanism and a grounding path, wherein the grounding mechanism is disposed on one of the pair of laterally extending boards; the grounding path is located on the housing and electrically couples with the grounding mechanism.

6. The battery module of claim 5, wherein the front board has a first coupling surface and a first engaging portion; at least one of the left lateral board, the right lateral board, the upper board, and the bottom board has a second coupling surface and a second engaging portion; the first engaging portion engages with the second engaging portion, so that the front board engages with the at least one of the left lateral board, the right lateral board, the upper board, and the bottom board, and the first coupling surface electrically couples with the second coupling surface to form the grounding path of the housing.

7. The battery module of claim 6, wherein the first engaging portion is a screw seat; the second engaging portion is a screw hole; the first engaging portion is secured to the second engaging portion by a screw.

8. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the rear board has a rear hole; the heat energy generated from the upper battery pack heats up surrounding air thereof to induce a third airflow; a portion of the third airflow flows out of the upper space through the upper hole and another portion of the third airflow flows into the upper space through the rear hole, so that the third airflow dissipates heat from the upper battery pack; the heat energy generated from the lower battery pack heats up surrounding air thereof to induce a fourth airflow; a portion of the fourth airflow guided by the guiding board flows out of the lower space through the left lower hole and the right lower hole, and another portion of the fourth airflow flows into the lower space through the rear hole, so that the fourth airflow dissipates heat from the lower battery pack.

9. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a circuit board extending substantially parallel to the extending direction of the rear board or the front board and extending over the guiding board; an upper portion of the circuit board enters the upper space to electrically connect the upper battery pack, and a lower portion of the circuit board enters the lower space to electrically connect the lower battery pack.

10. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the rear board is made of a first material; the left lateral board, the right lateral board, the upper board, the bottom board, and the front board are made of a second material; the first material has a material strength stronger than that of the second material.

11. The battery module of claim 8, wherein the upper board further has a fin structure disposed over the upper hole to prevent dusts from entering the upper hole and to guide the first airflow and the third airflow flowing through the upper hole.

12. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a supporting rib disposed on the upper board; the supporting rib is disposed on inner side of the upper board and extends from one side of the upper board to another side of the upper board to support the upper board.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1704551.9