RU2808234C1 - Battery and related device, method of its manufacture and device for its manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electrical engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a battery and a device related thereto, as well as to a method for its manufacture. Invention can be used in the manufacture of a battery cell, in which a temperature-regulating component located inside the battery, in the event of thermal runaway, ensures effective release of emissions from a battery cell. Improving the safety characteristics and compactness of the battery is a technical result that is achieved due to the fact that the battery cell (20) contains at least the first wall and the second wall that intersect with each other, as well as a pressure relief mechanism (213) located on the first wall that is actuated to relieve internal pressure when a threshold value of pressure or temperature is exceeded, a thermoregulatory component (13) attached to the first wall, wherein the thermoregulatory component (13) is configured to receive a fluid for regulating the temperature of the battery cell (20), and a support component (16) attached to the second wall and configured to support the battery cell (20), wherein the temperature control component (13) is configured such that when the pressure release mechanism (213) is activated, emissions released from the battery cell (20) pass through the thermostatic component (13).

EFFECT: improving the safety characteristics and compactness of the battery.

23 cl, 16 dwg

Description

Technical field

The present application relates to the field of batteries and, in particular, to a battery and related device, a method for its manufacture and an apparatus for its manufacture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A chemical battery, electrochemical battery, electrochemical battery or electrochemical cell is a type of device that converts the chemical energy of the active materials of the positive and negative electrodes into electrical energy through a redox reaction. Unlike a conventional redox reaction, oxidation and reduction reactions are carried out separately, with oxidation at the negative electrode and reduction at the positive electrode, and electron gains and losses are carried out through an external circuit, thus generating a current. This is the main characteristic of all batteries. After a long period of research and development, the chemical battery has opened up a wide field of applications, with the device being large enough to fit in a building and small enough to be measured in millimeters. With the development of modern electronic technology, high demands are placed on the chemical battery. Each breakthrough in chemical battery technology brought revolutionary developments in electronic devices. Many electrochemical scientists around the world are interested in developing chemical batteries to power electric vehicles.

Li-ion battery, as a kind of chemical battery, has the advantages of small volume, high energy density, high power density, large number of cycles of use, long storage time, etc., and is widely used in some electronic devices, electric vehicles , electronic toys and electrical equipment. For example, lithium ion batteries are widely used in mobile phones, laptops, electric cars, electric vehicles, electric airplanes, electric ships, electronic toy vehicles, electronic toy ships, electronic toy airplanes, electric tools, etc.

With the continuous development of lithium-ion battery technology, higher demands are placed on the performance characteristics of lithium-ion batteries. It is desirable that a lithium-ion battery can simultaneously consider multiple design factors, among which the safety characteristics of the lithium-ion battery are particularly important.

The essence of the invention

The present application provides a battery and related apparatus, a manufacturing method thereof, and a manufacturing apparatus therefor, which can improve the safety characteristics and compactness of the battery.

According to a first aspect of the present application, there is provided a battery comprising: a battery cell, wherein the battery cell comprises a pressure release mechanism and at least two walls, wherein the at least two walls include a first wall and a second wall that intersect each other, wherein the mechanism a pressure relief valve is located on the first wall, and the pressure relief mechanism is configured, when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a threshold value, to be activated to relieve the internal pressure; a temperature control component attached to the first wall, the temperature control component configured to receive a fluid for regulating the temperature of the battery cell; and a support component attached to the second wall and configured to support the battery cell; wherein the temperature control component is configured such that when the pressure relief mechanism is activated, emissions discharged from the battery cell pass through the temperature control component.

Due to this arrangement of the pressure relief mechanism of the thermal control component and the support component, regardless of whether the battery cell is located vertically, laterally, horizontally or in an inverted position in the battery, the support component, the thermal control component and the pressure relief mechanism are located on two intersecting surfaces of the battery cell wall cell, which will provide flexibility in the space occupied by the battery, which is not present in the prior art. The space occupied by the pressure relief mechanism, the thermostatic component, and the support component is distributed in two different dimensions or directions. This can help improve, for example, the space utilization ratio of batteries suitable for placement in vehicles, thereby helping to improve the compactness of battery design and improve the energy density of batteries in vehicles. In addition, through the interaction of the temperature control component and the pressure release mechanism, this design also helps to utilize timely release of internal pressure to improve battery safety.

In some embodiments, the battery cell further comprises: a housing, the housing comprising a housing chamber defined by a bottom wall and side walls, and an opening configured to approach the housing chamber; and a cover plate, wherein the cover plate is suitable for closing the opening; wherein the first wall comprises a cover plate or at least one of the side walls, and the second wall is a bottom wall. This design of a battery cell with a housing comprising a housing chamber provided with an opening and a cover plate suitable for closing the opening facilitates installation or disassembly of the battery cell, helps reduce maintenance costs and provides some flexibility in placement of the battery cell.

In some embodiments, the battery further comprises a housing comprising a cover member and a housing shell, wherein the housing shell and the housing shell together define an electrical chamber for enclosing the battery cell, wherein the support component is part of the housing shell or located on an interior side of the housing shell. The housing shell and the cover member can provide space for housing a plurality of battery cells and provide reliable protection for the battery cells.

In some embodiments, the housing further includes a strip extending between the cover member and the housing shell, which are positioned opposite each other, and the temperature control component is located between the strip and the first wall. This arrangement can completely improve the space utilization ratio, thereby making the battery design more compact.

In some embodiments, the temperature control component and the support component form a single structure. The support component and the temperature control component, which are formed as a single unit, can help improve the structural strength of the battery.

In some embodiments, the temperature control component is provided with a through hole, and the through hole is configured to allow emissions discharged from the battery cell to pass through the temperature control component. It can be ensured that through the through hole formed in the temperature control component, in the event of thermal runaway inside the battery, the emissions from the battery cell can be released outside through the through hole as soon as possible to pass through the temperature control component, and the risk caused by the unsmooth release of emissions may be reduced. In addition, by using the through-hole, the emissions from the battery cell can be released from the battery faster through the through-hole, thereby reducing the risk of secondary high voltage caused by blocked discharge and improving the safety performance of the battery.

In some embodiments, the thermal control component is configured to be damaged by emissions released from the battery cell, such that emissions released from the battery cell can pass through the temperature control component. Due to the design of the thermal control component, in the event of thermal runaway inside the battery, emissions are effectively released from the battery cell, so that the risk caused by unsmooth release of emissions is reduced and the safety of the battery is improved in the event of thermal runaway inside the battery.

In some embodiments, the temperature control component is configured to be damaged by emissions released from the battery cell, causing fluid to leak from the interior of the temperature control component. Thanks to this arrangement, the high temperature and high pressure emissions from the battery cell can be effectively cooled or subjected to temperature control by other appropriate means as early as possible, thereby helping to improve the safety performance of the battery.

In some embodiments, the thermal control component further comprises a bypass structure, wherein the bypass structure is configured to provide a space allowing operation of the pressure relief mechanism, wherein the thermal control component is attached to the battery cell to form a bypass chamber between the bypass structure and the pressure relief mechanism. Providing a bypass structure can ensure effective actuation of the pressure relief mechanism. In addition, the bypass chamber can provide a buffer space for emissions from the battery cell, thereby reducing the impact force of emissions from the battery cell to the outside and further improving the safety performance of the battery.

In some embodiments, the bypass structure includes a bottom bypass wall and a side bypass wall surrounding the bypass chamber, and the bottom bypass wall is configured to be damaged when the pressure relief mechanism is activated to allow emissions to pass through the temperature control component. This arrangement allows emissions to pass through the temperature control component in a simple and cost-effective manner when the pressure relief mechanism is activated.

In some embodiments, the bottom bypass wall includes a partial relief mechanism, and the partial relief mechanism is configured, when the pressure relief mechanism is activated, to be actuated to cause at least emissions from the battery cell to be released through the temperature control component. With this arrangement, the purpose of passing emissions through the temperature control component when actuating the pressure relief mechanism is achieved in a simple and cost-effective manner, and the interior of the battery cell is sealed to a certain extent under normal operating conditions (eg, when the battery cell does not experience thermal runaway).

In some embodiments, the side wall of the bypass forms a predetermined angle relative to the bottom wall of the bypass, and the predetermined angle is from 105° to 175°. The bypass structure so arranged is easy to manufacture and also helps the bypass side wall to be damaged by emissions from the battery cell so that fluid can quickly flow out to help cool the emissions, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery.

In some embodiments, the side wall of the bypass is configured to be damaged when the pressure relief mechanism is activated such that fluid flows out. This arrangement allows the fluid to flow out at a low cost and in a simple manner, so that the battery cell emission temperature can be adjusted or changed over time using the battery fluid itself, for example, the battery cell emission temperature can be quickly reduced, thereby further improving battery safety characteristics.

In some embodiments, the battery further includes a collection chamber, wherein the collection chamber is located on a different side of the temperature control component from the pressure relief mechanism and is configured to collect emissions when the pressure relief mechanism is activated. The location of the collection chamber can provide additional interim storage of emissions to further reduce the impact of emissions. In addition, the collection chamber also helps reduce the risk of secondary damage that emissions can cause to external components or external structures.

In some embodiments, the bar has a hollow space, and the hollow space defines a collection chamber. This arrangement can further increase the use of space.

In some embodiments, the support component further includes an additional collection chamber, and the additional collection chamber and the collection chamber are operatively connected to each other at the bottom or bottom of the collection chamber. The location of the additional collection chamber can provide additional interim storage of emissions to further reduce the impact of emissions and provide more space for temporary storage of emissions before emissions are released from the battery.

In some embodiments, the deflector structure is located in the collection chamber, and the deflector structure is configured to help direct the emissions to a predetermined position. This arrangement helps to more efficiently direct emissions into the secondary collection chamber as quickly as possible or to more safely release emissions from the battery through the secondary collection chamber to avoid other safety risks caused by emissions accumulated in the collection chamber.

In some embodiments, the fluid is a cooling medium, and the temperature control component is configured to accommodate the cooling fluid to cool the battery cell. The battery cell is cooled by the cooling medium so that the battery cell can be at a lower temperature and in a safer operating condition, which helps improve the safety characteristics of the battery.

According to a second aspect of the present application, a device is provided. The device includes a battery described in the first aspect above, wherein the battery is configured to supply electrical power to the device.

According to a third aspect of the present application, there is further provided a method of manufacturing a battery, the method comprising: providing a plurality of battery cells, wherein at least one of the plurality of battery cells comprises: at least two walls, wherein the at least two walls include a first wall and a second wall, which intersect with each other; and a pressure relief mechanism, wherein the pressure relief mechanism is located on the first wall, and the pressure relief mechanism is configured, when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a threshold value, to be actuated to relieve the internal pressure; and providing a temperature control component, and attaching the temperature control component to the first wall, wherein the temperature control component is configured to receive a fluid for regulating the temperature of the battery cell and is configured such that when the pressure relief mechanism is activated, emissions released from the battery cell pass through the temperature control component component; and providing a support component, and attaching the support component to the second wall for supporting the battery cell.

In some embodiments, the method further includes: providing a housing comprising a cover member and a housing shell, wherein the housing shell and the cover member together define an electrical chamber for enclosing a battery cell; and providing a support component on the inside of the casing shell or using a portion of the casing shell as a support component.

In some embodiments, the housing further includes a strip extending between the closure member and the housing shell, which are positioned opposite each other. In addition, providing the thermal control component includes placing the thermal control component between the strip and the first wall.

According to a fourth aspect of the present application, there is provided a battery manufacturing apparatus, comprising: a battery cell manufacturing module configured to manufacture a plurality of battery cells, wherein at least one of the plurality of battery cells comprises a pressure release mechanism and at least two walls, wherein at least the two walls include a first wall and a second wall that intersect with each other, wherein a pressure relief mechanism is located on the first wall, and the pressure relief mechanism is configured, when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a threshold value, to be actuated to relieve the internal pressure ; a thermoregulating component manufacturing module configured to manufacture a thermoregulating component, wherein the thermoregulating component is configured to receive a fluid for regulating the temperature of the battery cell and is configured such that upon activation of the pressure release mechanism, emissions released from the battery cell pass through the thermoregulating component ; a support component manufacturing module configured to manufacture a support component, wherein the support component is configured to support a battery cell; and an assembly module configured to attach the temperature control component to the first wall and attach the support component to the second wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF GRAPHIC MATERIALS

The accompanying drawings described herein are intended to provide further understanding of this application and constitute a part of this application. The illustrative embodiments of the present application and the description thereof are intended to illustrate the present application and do not constitute an undue limitation of the present application. On graphic materials:

in fig. 1 is a schematic structural representation of some embodiments of a vehicle in which a battery of the present application is used;

in fig. 2 is an exploded view of a battery cell positioned vertically in accordance with some embodiments of the present application;

in fig. 3 is a perspective view of a battery cell positioned horizontally in accordance with certain embodiments of the present application;

in fig. 4 is a perspective view of the horizontally arranged battery cell shown in FIG. 3, when viewed from a different angle;

in fig. 5 is an exploded view of the battery cell shown in FIG. 4;

in fig. 6 is an exploded view of a battery in accordance with some embodiments of the present application;

in fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the battery shown in FIG. 6;

in fig. 8 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of part A of FIG. 7 illustrating an example of a bypass structure formed on a temperature control component;

in fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of a battery casing shell in accordance with some embodiments of the present application;

in fig. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a battery casing shell in accordance with certain other embodiments of the present application;

in fig. 11 is a top view of a temperature control component in accordance with some embodiments of the present application;

in fig. 12 is a bottom view of the temperature control component shown in FIG. eleven;

in fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view A-A of the temperature control component shown in FIG. eleven;

in fig. 14 is an exploded view of the temperature control component shown in FIG. eleven;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of some embodiments of a method for manufacturing a battery according to the present application; FIG. And

in fig. 16 is a schematic structural representation of some embodiments of a battery manufacturing apparatus according to the present application.

Description of Embodiments

To make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and fully described below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing various embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that the described embodiments represent only some, and not all, embodiments of the present application. All other embodiments obtained without creative effort by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments disclosed in this application shall be within the scope of protection of this application.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as terms commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application pertains. The terms used in the description of this application are solely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application. The terms “comprise”, “include”, “have”, “with”, “involve”, “contain” and the like in the description and claims of the present application, as well as in the description of the above graphics, are open terms. Therefore, a method or device “comprising,” “comprising,” or “having,” for example, one or more steps or elements, has one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to having only one or more elements. The words “first”, “second”, etc. in the description and claims of this application, as well as in the accompanying drawings above, are intended to distinguish different objects and not to describe a specific order or primary-minor relationship. In addition, the terms “first” and “second” are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying the relative importance or indirectly indicating the number of technical features specified. Thus, the features defined by the terms “first” and “second” may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features. As used herein, unless otherwise indicated, “multiple” means two or more than two.

As used herein, it is to be understood that the orientation or relative positions indicated by words such as "center", "transverse", "length", "width", "top", "bottom", "front"; “rear”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “axial direction”, “radial direction”, “circumferential direction” ", etc., are based on the orientation or relative position shown in the accompanying graphics, and are intended only to facilitate the description of this application and to simplify the description, and not to indicate or imply that the device or element must have a particular orientation or be designed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore will not be interpreted as limiting this application.

It should be understood that in the specification of this application, unless expressly defined or indicated otherwise, the words "installation", "connecting", "connection" and "attachment" are to be understood in a broad sense: for example, they may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection or integrated connection; and they may be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate element, and they may be a connection between the internal parts of two elements. One skilled in the art may understand the specific meanings of the above words in this application according to specific circumstances.

The expression “embodiments” as used herein means that descriptions of specific features, structures and characteristics, in combination with embodiments, are included in at least one embodiment of this application. This expression in different places in the description does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or to a separate or alternative embodiment that is exclusive of another embodiment. Those skilled in the art will appreciate, both explicitly and implicitly, that the embodiment described herein may be combined with another embodiment.

As mentioned above, it should be emphasized that when the term "comprise/include" is used in the present description, it is used to clearly indicate the presence of the specified features, integers, steps or nodes, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers numbers, steps, components or groups thereof. As used herein, the singular forms also include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

The singular forms used herein can mean one, but can also mean “at least one” or “one or more.” The word “about” generally means plus or minus 10%, or more specifically plus or minus 5% of the stated value. The conjunction “or” used in the claims means “and/or” unless it is clearly stated that it only refers to an alternative solution.

In this application, the term “and/or” refers only to a relationship describing related objects, which means that three relationships can exist, for example, “A and/or B” can mean that there are three situations: only A exists; there is both A and B; and only B exists. In addition, the symbol "/" in this application generally indicates that the related objects before and after the symbol are in an "or" relationship.

The battery known in the art can be divided into a primary battery and a rechargeable battery depending on whether it is rechargeable. The primary battery is commonly known as a "disposable" battery and voltaic cell because it cannot be recharged and can only be discarded once its charge is depleted. A rechargeable battery is also called a secondary battery, secondary cell or rechargeable battery. The material and process used to produce a rechargeable battery are different from those used to produce a primary battery. The advantages of a rechargeable battery are that once charged, it can be reused many times, and the output current capacity of a rechargeable battery is higher than most primary batteries. Currently, the most common types of rechargeable batteries are: lead-acid battery, nickel-metal hydride battery and lithium-ion battery. The lithium-ion battery has the advantages of light weight, large capacity (1.5-2 times that of a nickel-metal hydride battery of the same weight), no memory effect, etc., and has a very low self-discharge rate , so even if its price is relatively high, it is still widely used. Lithium-ion battery is also used in battery electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle. The capacity of the lithium-ion battery used for this purpose is relatively low, but the lithium-ion battery has a higher output and charging current, and a longer service life, but also a higher cost.

The battery described in the embodiments of the present application refers to a rechargeable battery. In the following, a lithium-ion battery will be taken as an example to describe the embodiments disclosed in the present application. It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are applicable to any other suitable types of rechargeable batteries. A battery referred to in embodiments of the present application refers to a single physical module containing one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery mentioned in the present application may include a battery module or a battery pack, etc. The battery mentioned in the embodiments disclosed herein can be directly or indirectly applied to a corresponding device to power the device. The battery cell can generally be classified into three types depending on the arrangement method: cylindrical battery cell, prismatic battery cell and stacked battery cell. The following description will mainly refer to the prismatic battery cell. It should be understood that the embodiments described below are also applicable to a cylindrical battery cell or a stacked battery cell in at least some aspects.

In some high-power application scenarios, such as electric vehicles, the battery application has three tiers: battery cell, battery module, and battery pack. A battery module is formed by electrically connecting a number of battery cells and placing them in a frame to protect the battery cells from external shock, heat, vibration, etc. A battery pack is the final state of a battery system installed in an electric vehicle. Most current battery packs are manufactured by assembling various control and protection systems, such as a battery management system (BMS), and a thermal management component onto one or more battery modules. With the advancement of battery technology, the battery module level can be skipped. That is, the battery pack can be made directly from battery cells. This improvement allows the battery system to increase mass energy density and volumetric energy density while significantly reducing the number of parts. The battery specified in this application includes a battery module or a battery pack.

The operation of a lithium-ion battery cell is generally based on the movement of lithium ions between a positive sheet electrode and a negative sheet electrode. The lithium-ion battery cell uses an integrated lithium compound as the electrode material. Currently, the main common positive electrode materials used for lithium-ion battery are: lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), lithium manganate (LiMn2O4), lithium nickelate (LiNiO2) and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4). An insulating film is placed between the positive sheet electrode and the negative sheet electrode to form a thin film structure with three layers of materials. The thin film structure as a whole is built into the electrode assembly in the desired shape by rolling or overlapping. For example, the thin film structure of three layers of material in a cylindrical battery cell is folded into a cylindrical electrode assembly, while the thin film structure in a prismatic battery cell is folded or stacked into an electrode assembly having a substantially cuboidal shape.

For the battery cell, the main safety hazards come from the charging and discharging processes, and a design suitable for the ambient temperature is required. To effectively prevent unnecessary losses, at least threefold protection measures for the battery cell are generally taken. In particular, the protective measures include at least a switching element, an appropriately selected insulating film material and a pressure relief mechanism. A switching element refers to an element that can stop charging or discharging a battery when the temperature or resistance in the battery cell reaches a certain threshold value. The insulation film is designed to isolate the positive sheet electrode from the negative sheet electrode, and can automatically eliminate micron-scale (or even nano-scale) micropores attached to the insulation film when the temperature reaches a certain value, which prevents lithium ions from passing through the insulation film, and the internal reaction of the battery element is terminated.

A pressure relief mechanism refers to an element or component that can be activated when the internal pressure or internal temperature of a battery cell reaches a predetermined threshold value to relieve internal pressure and/or internals. The pressure relief mechanism may be particularly embodied as an anti-explosion valve, an air valve, a pressure relief valve, a safety valve, or the like. and in particular may use a pressure-responsive or temperature-responsive element or structure. That is, when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a predetermined threshold value, the pressure relief mechanism operates, or the weakened structure provided in the pressure relief mechanism is damaged to form an opening or passage for releasing the internal pressure. The threshold value specified herein may be a pressure threshold value or a temperature threshold value, and the value of the threshold value varies according to different design requirements. For example, the threshold may be based on or determined in accordance with the internal pressure or internal temperature of the battery cell that is considered to be at risk or at risk of going out of control. In addition, the threshold value may, for example, depend on the material of one or more of the positive sheet electrode, the negative sheet electrode, the electrolyte solution, and the insulating film in the battery cell.

“Actuating” as used herein means that the pressure relief mechanism operates or is activated to relieve internal pressure or substances of the battery cell. The caused action may include, but is not limited to, breaking, breaking, tearing, opening, etc. at least parts of the pressure relief mechanism. When the pressure release mechanism is activated, the high temperature and high pressure substances inside the battery cell are released outward from the activated position as emissions. Thus, as long as the pressure or temperature is controlled, the battery cell pressure or emissions can be relieved while avoiding potential more serious emergency situations. Emissions from a battery cell referred to herein include, but are not limited to: electrolyte solution, dissolved or fractured positive and negative electrode sheets, insulating film fragments, high temperature and high pressure reaction gas, and/or flame and etc. Typically, high temperature and high pressure emissions are released towards the pressure relief mechanism provided in the battery cell, are very forceful and destructive, and may even penetrate one or more structures, such as a closure element, located in that direction.

A conventional pressure relief mechanism is typically located on the cover plate at or above the top of the battery cell, i.e. on the same side as the electrode clamp on the cover plate, while the support component is typically located on one side opposite the cover plate, that is, the support component is usually attached to the bottom wall or bottom of the housing. The support component referred to herein can be understood as a component for providing a support function or a gravity resistance function, so the support component can generally be understood as a component attached to a bottom wall or bottom portion of a housing for supporting or fixing a battery cell thereto.

In addition, this method of arranging the pressure relief mechanism and the support component on two mutually opposite surfaces/walls/parts of the battery cell has been used in the field of batteries for many years and has its own rationality. Particularly with respect to the battery cell box, the cover plate, which has a flat plate structure, is processed separately, and the pressure release mechanism can be firmly mounted or formed on the cover plate by a simple and suitable process. In contrast, by placing the pressure relief mechanism separately on the battery cell body, more complex processes can be used, resulting in higher costs. In addition, supporting the battery cell from below is also an embodiment with relatively low manufacturing complexity.

In addition, the conventional pressure relief mechanism requires a certain amount of bypass space during actuation. The bypass space refers to the space inside or outside the pressure relief mechanism in the actuation direction (ie, in the rupture direction) when the pressure relief mechanism is actuated (for example, when at least a portion of the pressure relief mechanism is ruptured). In other words, the bypass space is the space that allows the pressure relief mechanism to operate. Since the cover plate is thicker than the body, it is easier to form a bypass space when a pressure relief mechanism is provided on the cover plate, thereby facilitating the design and manufacture of battery cells. Specifically, the battery cell body is formed by stamping an aluminum sheet. Compared to the cover plate, the wall thickness of the stamped housing is very thin. On the one hand, the relatively thin wall thickness of the housing makes it difficult to provide a pressure relief mechanism, which requires a bypass space on the housing. On the other hand, the one-piece concave housing design makes it difficult to install the pressure relief mechanism on the housing, which also increases the cost of the battery cell.

In addition, placing the pressure relief mechanism at a location other than the cover plate at the top or above the battery cell also has the serious problem that the pressure relief mechanism is more easily destroyed by the electrolyte solution in the housing. Nowadays, when the rechargeable battery industry is booming, battery manufacturers have comprehensively considered costs and various other factors, and the pressure release mechanism of a battery cell, especially a battery cell, is mainly located on the cover plate above the battery cell. That is, the pressure release mechanism and the electrode clamp of the battery cell are located on the same side. It has also become a design concept that battery designers have long adhered to when designing batteries.

However, this design concept, which has long been followed by battery designers, also has some disadvantages. For example, if the pressure relief mechanism is located on the cover plate of the battery cell, and the support structure is located at the bottom of the battery cell opposite the cover plate, this structure will inevitably cause the space required for the design of the pressure relief mechanism and the support structure to be mainly located in the same dimension or direction. Typically, space is occupied in a substantially vertical or vertical direction. Since this space occupancy in this direction is unavoidable and difficult to reduce, it greatly limits the design space of a vehicle structure using a battery or battery pack of this type. In addition, this design may also have the problem that the discharge from the battery cell will burn through all structures above the battery cell, thereby compromising the safety of the occupants in the cabin.

In general, it is necessary to change the design concept in which the pressure relief mechanism is located on the cover plate and the support component is located at the bottom opposite the cover plate, so that the pressure release mechanism and the support component are located depending on the two opposite walls of the battery cell. This requires researchers and experts in the art to solve various technical problems and overcome certain technical prejudices or design concepts that have long characterized the industry, which cannot be accomplished in one action.

To solve or at least partially solve the above problems and other possible problems of batteries known in the prior art, the inventors of the present invention took a different route and proposed a new battery after conducting a lot of research and experimentation.

For example, devices to which the batteries described in the embodiments of this application are applicable include, but are not limited to: mobile phones, portable devices, laptops, electric vehicles, electric vehicles, ships, spacecraft, electronic toys, power tools, etc. d. For example, spacecraft include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, spacecraft, etc. Electronic toys include fixed or movable electronic toys such as game consoles, electric toy cars, electric toy ships and electric toy planes, etc. Electric tools include electric metal cutting tools, electric abrasive tools, electric assembly tools and electric railway tools such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, electric impact drills, concrete vibrators and electric planes.

The battery described in the embodiments of the present application is applicable not only to the above devices, but also to all devices that use batteries. However, for the sake of brevity, the following embodiments use electric vehicles as an example for description.

For example, in FIG. 1 is a simple schematic diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present application. The vehicle 1 may be a fuel-powered vehicle, a gas-powered vehicle, or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle may be a battery-electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or a vehicle with an extended range or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, a battery 10 may be provided within the vehicle 1. For example, the battery 10 may be located at the bottom, or at the front, or at the rear of the vehicle 1. The battery 10 may be configured to supply power to the vehicle 1. For example, the battery 10 may be used as an operating power source for the vehicle 1. In addition, the vehicle 1 may also include a controller 30 and a motor 40. The controller 30 is used to control the battery 10 to provide power to the motor 40, for example, to meet the demand for operating power of vehicle 1 during starting, navigation and driving. In another embodiment of the present application, the battery 10 may be used not only as an operating power source for the vehicle 1, but also as a drive power source for the vehicle 1, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power to the vehicle 1. Battery 10 mentioned below can also be understood as a battery pack containing a plurality of battery cells 20.

As shown in FIG. 2-5, battery cell 20 includes a box 21, an electrode assembly 22, and an electrolyte solution. The electrode assembly 22 is housed in a box 21 of the battery cell 20, and the electrode assembly 22 includes a positive sheet electrode, a negative sheet electrode and an insulating film. The insulating film material may be polypropylene or polyethylene, etc. The electrode assembly 22 may have a helical structure or a multilayer structure. The box 21 may include a housing 211 and a cover plate 212. The housing 211 includes a housing chamber 211a formed by a plurality of walls and an opening 211b. A cover plate 212 is disposed on the opening 211b to close the accommodating chamber 211a. In addition to the electrode assembly 22, an electrolyte solution is also housed in the accommodating chamber 211a. The positive sheet electrode and the negative sheet electrode in the electrode assembly 22 are generally provided with electrode terminals, and the electrode terminal generally includes a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal. The positive sheet electrode includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer. The positive electrode active material layer forms a coating on the surface of the positive electrode susceptor, and the positive electrode susceptor not covered with the positive electrode active material layer protrudes from the susceptor coated with the positive electrode active material layer and is used as a positive electrode terminal. The positive electrode current collector material may be aluminum, and the positive electrode active material may be lithium cobalt oxides, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium or lithium manganate, etc. The negative sheet electrode contains a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer. The negative electrode active material layer forms a coating on the surface of the negative electrode susceptor, and the negative electrode susceptor not covered by the negative electrode active material layer protrudes from the susceptor coated with the negative electrode active material layer and is used as a negative electrode terminal. The current collector material of the negative electrode may be copper, and the active material of the negative electrode may be carbon or silicon, etc. To prevent melting when a large current is passed through, there are a plurality of positive electrode terminals assembled together, and there are a plurality of negative electrode terminals assembled together. The positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal may be electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal 214a and the negative electrode terminal 214b located outside the battery cell 20, respectively, through the connecting members 23. As for the prismatic battery cell, the positive electrode terminal 214a and the negative electrode terminal 214b may be generally located on the cover plate 212. A plurality of battery cells 20 are connected to each other in series and/or parallel via positive electrode terminals 214a and negative electrode terminals 214b for various application scenarios.

It should be understood that although in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2-5, the housing 211 has one opening 211b, in other embodiments, the housing 211 may also have two openings 211b located on opposite sides, and cover plates 212 located on the two openings 211b, respectively, to close the accommodating chamber 211a.

In fig. 6 is an exploded view of a battery 10 including a plurality of battery cells 20; and in fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the battery 10 shown in FIG. 6. It should be understood that, for convenience of description, the above positive electrode clamp 214a and negative electrode clamp 214b may be collectively referred to as electrode clamp 214, and the electrode clamp 214 is shown in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 6-7, a battery 10 in accordance with some embodiments of the present application includes a plurality of battery cells 20 and a busbar component 12, wherein the busbar component 12 is configured to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells 20 in series and/or in parallel by connecting electrode clamps 214. At least one battery cell 20 of the battery cells 20 includes a pressure relief mechanism 213. In some embodiments, the pressure relief mechanism 213 may be provided on a battery cell, which may be more susceptible to thermal runaway due to its position in the battery 10, among a plurality of battery cells 20. Of course, it is also possible that each battery cell 20 in the battery 10 is provided with a pressure release mechanism 213.

The pressure relief mechanism 213 is configured to, when the internal pressure or temperature of at least one battery cell 20 in which the pressure relief mechanism is located reaches a threshold value, be actuated to relieve the internal pressure of the battery cell 20 to avoid more dangerous accidents. As mentioned above, the pressure relief mechanism 213 may also be called an anti-explosion valve, an air valve, a pressure relief valve or a safety valve, or the like. The bus component 12 is also called a busbar or busbar, etc., and is a component that electrically connects a plurality of battery cells 20 in series and/or parallel. After the plurality of battery cells 20 are connected in series and parallel via the busbar component 12, they have a higher voltage, so the side with the busbar component 12 is sometimes called the high-voltage side.

In fig. 8 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a pressure relief mechanism 213 included in the battery 10 shown in FIG. 7, and a temperature control component 13 associated with a pressure relief mechanism 213. As shown in FIG. 6-8, the temperature control component 13 is configured such that when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated, emissions discharged from the battery cell 20 pass through the temperature control component 13. It should be understood that the temperature control component 13 in this application refers to a component capable of controlling or control the temperature of the battery cell 20, and controlling or adjusting the temperature here refers to heating or cooling the battery cell 20. Specifically, the temperature control component 13 may include at least one of a cooling component and a heating component. For example, in some cold winter locations, heating the battery 10 before starting the electric vehicle may improve battery performance. During use of the battery 10, the battery cell 20 will generate heat, causing the temperature to rise. Therefore, the temperature control component 13 may also be configured to receive a cooling fluid for the plurality of battery cells 20. To achieve effective cooling, the temperature control component 13 is typically attached to the battery cells 20 using thermally conductive silicone, etc. It should be understood that the temperature control component may also be attached to the battery cell 20 by other means, such as using other adhesives.

In the description of embodiments of the present application, circumstances will mainly be described in which the temperature control component 13 is configured to cool or reduce the temperature of the battery cell 20. In these circumstances, the temperature control component 13 can accommodate a cooling fluid to achieve the purpose of cooling. Therefore, the temperature control component 13 may also be called a cooling component, a cooling system, or a cooling plate, etc. The fluid housed in the temperature control component 13 may also be called a refrigerant or a cooling fluid, or more specifically may be called a coolant or a coolant gas. Optionally, the fluid housed in the temperature control component 13 may flow in a circulating manner to achieve a better temperature control effect. Optionally, the fluid may be water, a mixture of water and ethylene glycol, or air, etc.

As shown in FIG. 6, the battery 10 typically includes a casing 11 for packaging one or more battery cells 20. The casing 11 may prevent liquid or other foreign matter from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cell. The housing 11 may typically consist of a cover member 111 and a housing shell 112. The structure of the casing 11, especially the shell 112 of the casing 11, will be described in more detail below.

As shown in FIG. 6-8, unlike a conventional battery, an important feature of the battery 10 in accordance with embodiments of the present application is that the temperature control component 13 associated with the pressure release mechanism 213 is attached to the same side (or the same wall) of the battery cell, provided with a pressure release mechanism 213, while a support member for supporting the battery cell 20 is attached to the other side (or other wall) intersecting therewith. For convenience of description, hereinafter, one side of the battery cell 20 supported by the support component is referred to as a second wall (in some preferred embodiments, the second wall may be particularly understood as a bottom wall, or may be referred to as a bottom portion). It should be understood that regardless of how the battery cell 20 is placed in the battery or battery pack, for example, placed vertically, laterally, horizontally (stowed), or in an inverted position in the housing 11, one side supported by the support component is called second wall. Accordingly, one side of the battery cell 20 to which the temperature control component 13 is attached and which is provided with a pressure relief mechanism 213 is referred to as a first wall (in some preferred embodiments, the first wall may also be specifically understood as a side wall or may be referred to as a side portion ).

It should be understood that "vertically disposed" as used herein means that the battery cell 20 is mounted in the housing 11 such that the cover plate 212 is adjacent to and approximately parallel to the cover member 111, as shown in FIG. 2 and 6. Likewise, "horizontally disposed" or "transversely disposed" means that the battery cell 20 is mounted in the housing 11 such that the cover plate 212 is approximately perpendicular to the cover member 111, as shown in FIG. 3-5. “Inverted” means that the battery cell 20 is mounted in the housing 11 such that the cover plate 212 is adjacent to and approximately parallel to the bottom portion 112a of the housing shell 112.

It should also be understood that the first wall and the second wall referred to herein can be any suitable wall of the battery cell 20, including a side wall, a bottom wall, and a cover plate 212, as long as they can intersect with each other. A support component refers to a component used to support the battery cell 20, for example, it may be a thermal control component 13 or a portion thereof, or any suitable portion of the shell 112 of the battery case 10, as shown in FIG. 6-8, or a protective member or protective plate 115 of the battery 10 as shown in FIG. 7, etc. Of course, the support component may also be a component located only on the inner side of the housing shell 112 to support the battery cell 20. For ease of understanding, FIG. 9-10 schematically illustrate an embodiment in which the lower portion of the housing shell 112 is configured as a support component 16, or the support component 16 constitutes the lower portion of the housing shell 112 or a portion thereof, with the battery cell 20 removed to more clearly display the characteristics of the side portion 112b and the lower part of the casing shell 112.

Regardless of whether the battery cell 20 is placed vertically, laterally, horizontally, or in an inverted position, in the battery 10 according to an embodiment of the present application, the support component 16, the temperature control component 13, and the pressure relief mechanism 213 are located on two intersecting surfaces of the battery cell wall. element 20, which will provide flexibility in the space occupied by the battery that is not present in the prior art. That is, in the embodiment of the present application, the space occupied by the structure of the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the support component 16 is distributed in two different dimensions or directions.

Generally, for the generally prismatic battery 10 and battery cell 20, the structure of the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the support component 16 will mainly occupy a space in the lateral direction and a space in the height of the vehicle, respectively. This not only helps enable vehicle designs that may not be compatible or usable with batteries in the prior art, but also helps improve the utilization rate of the space available to accommodate battery devices on a vehicle in some cases, thereby improving the energy density of battery devices , which may be located in the vehicle. Particularly, with the development of battery technology to date, as long as safety is ensured, it is very difficult to reduce by 1 mm the size occupied by all structures and components of the battery 10 except the space for accommodating the battery cell 20. Thus, the space occupied by the structure of the mechanism 213 pressure relief and support component 16 are distributed in two different dimensions or directions so that the compactness of the battery design can be significantly improved for at least a portion of the vehicle structure, thereby improving the energy density of the battery.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG. 6-8, the pressure release mechanism 213 may be located on the first wall of the battery cell 20, and the temperature control component 13 is attached to the first wall. In some embodiments, the pressure relief mechanism 213 may be positioned such that its outer surface is flush with the outer surface of the first wall. This flush arrangement is more conducive to attachment between the first wall and the temperature control component 13. In some alternative embodiments, the outer surface of the pressure relief mechanism 213 may also be configured to recess into the outer surface of the first wall. This recessed structure may provide a portion of the bypass space, thereby reducing or even eliminating, for example, the bypass structure 134 in the thermal control component 13. The bypass structure 134 will be explained in detail below.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG. 9-10, a support component 16 is attached to the second wall to support the battery cell 20 in a direction opposite to the direction of gravity. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6-8, the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the temperature control component 13 may be located on the first wall of the battery cell 20 parallel to the direction of gravity, regardless of how the battery cell 20 is placed in the housing 11. For example, the first wall is a side wall of the battery cell itself. 20 when the battery cell 20 is positioned vertically or in an inverted position in the housing 11, and the first wall may be a cover plate 212 or a wall opposite the cover plate 212 when the battery cell 20 is positioned horizontally in the housing 11.

For convenience of description, certain embodiments in which the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the temperature control component 13 are located on the side or side wall of the battery cell 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6-8, wherein the specific design and construction of the housing 11 configured to package one or more battery cells 20 into the battery 10 described above will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 9-10.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6-7 and fig. 9-10, the housing 11 may include a cover member 111 and a housing shell 112. The cover member 111 and the housing shell 112 are sealed with each other to jointly form an electrical chamber 11a for enclosing a plurality of battery cells 20. In some embodiments, the thermal control component 13 may be part of a housing 11 for housing a plurality of battery cells. For example, the temperature control component 13 may constitute a side portion 112b of the shell 112 of the housing 11 or form part of a side portion 112b. In addition to the side portion 112b, the casing shell 112 also includes a bottom portion 112a. As shown in FIG. 6-7, in some embodiments, the side portion 112b is configured as a frame structure and can be assembled with a temperature control component 13. Thus, the structure of the battery 10 can be made more compact and the efficient use of space can be improved, thereby promoting improved density energy.

In some embodiments, the support component 16 may form part of the housing shell 112, or, for example, the lower portion 112a of the housing shell 112 or a partial structure thereof forms the support component 16. Or, in accordance with some alternative embodiments, the support component 16 may also be located inside the shell 112 of the casing.

In some embodiments, the thermal control component 13 may be integrally formed with the support component 16. It will be understood that due to the design in which the thermal control component 13 and the support component 16 are located on a first wall and a second wall that intersect, the thermal control component 13 and the support component 16 can also be configured to intersect or connect, and on this basis they can be further combined. For example, the temperature control component 13 and the support component 16 may form a one-piece structure in an L-shape, an inverted T-shape, or a U-shape, etc. In this way, the structural strength of the battery can be improved. In some alternative embodiments, the support component 16 and the temperature control component 13 may be suitably bonded together to facilitate the manufacture of the support component 16 and the temperature control component 13 and thereby reduce manufacturing costs.

In some alternative embodiments, the thermal control component 13 may also be integrally formed with the side portion 112b or the lower portion 112a of the housing shell 112, such that the shell 112 of the housing 11 may be integrally formed. This forming method can make the housing shell 112 stronger and less prone to leakage.

In other words, there may be a different relationship between the thermal control component 13 and the housing 11. For example, in some alternative embodiments, the thermal control component 13 may not be part of the shell 112 of the housing 11, but rather a component assembled on one side of the housing shell 112. This method would be advantageous for maintaining the seal of the housing 11. In other alternative embodiments, the thermal control component 13 may also be suitably incorporated into the housing shell 112, which is also advantageous for maintaining the seal of the housing 11.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6-9, the battery 10 further includes a collection chamber 11b formed by at least a portion of the side portion 112b of the casing shell 112. The collection chamber 11b herein refers to a cavity that collects emissions from the battery cell 20 and the temperature control component 13 when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated. For example, the side portion 112b or a portion of the side portion 112b may be formed as a hollow structure, and the hollow structure forms a collection chamber 11b, whereby the battery 10 can be lightweight, and the battery 10 can be more compact. The temperature control component 13 may be located between the side portion 112b and the battery cell 20. Specifically, the temperature control component 13 may be located between the side portion 112b and the first wall of the battery cell 20.

Additionally or alternatively, the collection chamber 11b may also be formed by a strip 114 positioned to extend between the cover member 111 and the casing shell 112. A strip 114 extends from the bottom portion 112a of the housing shell 112 to the cover member 111 in a direction perpendicular to the bottom portion 112a. Thermal control component 13 may be located between the strap 114 and the battery cell 20. Specifically, the thermal control component 13 may be located between the strap 114 and the first wall of the battery cell 20. In some embodiments, the strap 114 may have a hollow structure, and the hollow space of the strap 114 may constitute the collection chamber 11b.

In some embodiments, the side portion 112b of the housing shell 112 and the strap 114 may be the same component.

The collection chamber 11b is configured to collect emissions and may be sealed or non-sealed. In some embodiments, collection chamber 11b may contain air or other gas. Optionally, the collection chamber 11b may also contain a liquid, such as a coolant, or a liquid receiving component is positioned to further cool the emissions entering the collection chamber 11b. In addition, optionally, the gas or liquid in the collection chamber 11b flows in a circulating manner.

In some embodiments, the support component 16 may further include an additional collection chamber (not shown in the figures), and the additional collection chamber may be operably communicated with the collection chamber 11b at the bottom or bottom of the collection chamber 11b to accommodate emissions from the battery cell 20. The additional collection chamber may also provide a larger cooling area for the emissions so that the emissions can be effectively cooled in the battery 10 before being released, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery 10. A deflection structure may also be provided in the collection chamber 11b. The deflecting structure may help direct emissions to a predetermined position in the collection chamber 11b through a structure such as a deflection recess, and the predetermined position may be located near a position at which the additional collection chamber communicates with the collection chamber 11b. This helps to more efficiently direct emissions to the secondary collection chamber as quickly as possible or to safely release emissions from the battery 10 through the secondary collection chamber.

In an embodiment in which the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the temperature control component 13 are located on the first wall of the battery cell 20, as described above with reference to FIG. 6-10, temperature control component 13 may be further configured to have any one or more of the design features and attributes set forth below.

In fig. 11-14 respectively show different angle views, a cross-sectional view, and an exploded view of the temperature control component 13 in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 11-14 and figs. 8 mentioned above, in some embodiments, the temperature control component 13 may include a pair of thermal conductive plates and a flow path 133 formed between the pair of thermal conductive plates. For convenience in the following description, a pair of thermal conduction plates will be referred to as a first thermal conductive plate 131 attached to a plurality of battery cells 20 and a second thermal conductive plate 132 located on a side of the first thermal conductive plate 131 remote from the battery cell 20. A flow path 133 is used to flow into no fluid. In some embodiments, the thermal control component 13 comprising the first thermal conduction plate 131, the second thermal conductive plate 132, and the flow path 133 may be formed as a unit through a suitable process such as blow molding. In some alternative embodiments, the first thermal conductive plate 131 and the second thermal conductive plate 132 are assembled together by welding (eg, brazing). In some alternative embodiments, the first thermal conduction plate 131, the second thermal conductive plate 132, and the flow path 133 may also be separately formed and assembled together to form the temperature control component 13.

For example, in some embodiments, a semi-recessed structure corresponding to the flow path 133 may be formed on the first thermal conduction plate 131 and the second thermal conductive plate 132, respectively, with the semi-recessed structures of the first thermal conductive plate 131 and the second thermal conductive plate 132 aligned with each other. By assembling the first thermal conduction plate 131 and the second thermal conductive plate 132 together, the semi-recessed structures of the first thermal conductive plate 131 and the second thermal conductive plate 132 are combined into a flow channel 133, and finally form a temperature control component 13.

Of course, it should be understood that the specific design of the temperature control component 13 described above is illustrative only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. Any other suitable design or arrangement is also possible. For example, in some alternative embodiments, at least one of the first thermal conduction plate 131, the second thermal conductive plate 132, and the flow path 133 may be omitted. For example, the second thermal conductive plate 132 may be omitted. In other words, in some embodiments, the thermal control component 13 may include only the first thermal conductive plate 131 and a flow path 133 located on or integrated into one side thereof. For convenience of description, the improvement associated with the thermal control component 13 in the present application will be described by taking as an example the thermal control component 13 comprising a first thermal conduction plate 131, a second thermal conductive plate 132, and a flow path 133.

As mentioned above, when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is actuated, it is necessary to provide the bypass structure 134 on the outside of the battery cell 20 in a position corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism 213, so that the pressure relief mechanism 213 can be smoothly actuated to perform its function. In some embodiments, the bypass structure 134 may be located on the thermal control component 13 such that, when the temperature control component 13 is attached to the plurality of battery cells 20, a bypass chamber 134a may be formed between the bypass structure 134 and the pressure relief mechanism 213. In other words, the bypass chamber 134a referred to herein refers to a closed cavity formed jointly by the bypass structure 134 and the pressure relief mechanism 213. In this solution for releasing emissions from the battery cell 20, the inlet side surface of the bypass chamber 134a can be opened by operating the pressure release mechanism 213, and the outlet side surface opposite the inlet side surface can be partially damaged by the high temperature and high pressure emissions. thereby forming a discharge channel for emissions. In accordance with some other embodiments, the bypass chamber 134a may be, for example, an open cavity formed jointly by the bypass structure 134 and the pressure relief mechanism 213. The outlet side surface of the unclosed cavity may initially be provided with a channel for emissions to flow out of it.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8 and 13, in some embodiments, the bypass structure 134 formed on the temperature control component 13 may include a bottom bypass wall 134b and a side bypass wall 134c surrounding the bypass chamber 134a. The bypass bottom wall 134b and bypass side wall 134c in the present application are described with respect to the bypass chamber 134a. Specifically, the bottom bypass wall 134b refers to the wall of the bypass chamber 134a opposite the pressure relief mechanism 213, and the side bypass wall 134c is a wall adjacent to the bottom bypass wall 134b and positioned at a predetermined angle to surround the bypass chamber 134a. In some embodiments, the bypass bottom wall 134b may be part of the second thermal conduction plate 132 and the bypass side wall 134c may be part of the first thermal conduction plate 131.

For example, in some embodiments, the bypass structure 134 may be formed by recessing a portion of the first thermal conduction plate 131 toward the second thermal conduction plate 132 and forming an opening, and fixing the edge of the opening and the second thermal conductive plate 132 together using an appropriate locking method. When the pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated, emissions from the battery cell 20 will first flow into the bypass chamber 134a. As shown by arrows in bypass chamber 134a in FIG. 8, the emissions will be released outward in approximately sector-shaped directions.

Unlike a conventional thermal control component, the thermal control component 13 according to an embodiment of the present application may be damaged when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated so that emissions from the battery cell 20 pass through the thermal control component 13. An advantage of this arrangement is that The high temperature and high pressure emissions from the battery cell 20 can pass through the temperature control component 13 smoothly, thereby preventing secondary accidents caused by untimely release of emissions and thereby improving the safety performance of the battery 10.

To allow emissions to pass smoothly through the temperature control component 13, a through hole or partial relief mechanism may be provided at a position of the temperature control component 13 opposite the pressure relief mechanism 213. In some embodiments, for example, a partial relief mechanism may be provided on the bottom bypass wall 134b, namely the second thermal conductive plate 132. A partial relief mechanism herein refers to a mechanism that can be actuated when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is actuated. operating in such a manner as to allow at least the release of the emissions from the battery cell 20 through the temperature control component 13. In some embodiments, the partial release mechanism may also have the same configuration as the pressure release mechanism 213 on the battery cell 20. In other words, in some In embodiments, the partial release mechanism may be a mechanism located on the second thermal conductive plate 132 and having the same configuration as the pressure release mechanism 213. In some alternative embodiments, the partial relief mechanism may also be configured differently from the pressure relief mechanism 213, but only be a weakened structure provided on the bottom bypass wall 134b. For example, the weakened structure may include, but is not limited to, the following: a section of reduced thickness integrated with the bottom bypass wall 134b, a recess (such as the transverse recess 134d shown in FIGS. 11 and 14), or a frangible section made of a frangible material such as like plastic, and mounted on the bottom wall of the bypass 134b, etc.

In some embodiments, to ensure smooth passage of emissions through the thermal control component 13, the bypass structure 134 may also be a through hole that penetrates the thermal control component 13. In other words, the bypass structure 134 may only have a bypass side wall 134c, where the bypass side wall 134c is wall with a through hole. In this case, when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated, emissions from the battery cell 20 can be released directly through the bypass structure 134. In this way, generation of secondary high voltage can be more effectively avoided, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery 10.

In some embodiments, as described above and shown in FIGS. 6-9, the battery 10 includes a collection chamber 11b formed by at least a portion of the side portion 112b of the housing shell 112, and the collection chamber 11b is configured when the pressure release mechanism 213 is driven into operation, collecting emissions from the battery cell 20 and/or the thermal control component 13. In such an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the outlet 114a may be provided at a position or on a wall surface of the side portion 112b of the housing shell 112 corresponding to the thermal control component 13 or pressure relief mechanism 213. In this case, after passing through the temperature control component 13, the emissions enter through the outlet 114a into the collection chamber 11b formed by the side portion 112b.

It should be understood that, as mentioned above, in some alternative embodiments, the collection chamber 11b may also be comprised of a strip 114 positioned to extend between the cover member 111 and the housing shell 112. In this case, the above-mentioned outlet 114a may be suitably provided at the position or on the wall surface of the bar 114 corresponding to the temperature control component 13 or the pressure relief mechanism 213, so that emissions from the battery cell 20 and/or the temperature control component 13 enter through the outlet 114a into the chamber 11b collection formed by the strip 114.

In some embodiments, the temperature control component 13 may further be configured to be damaged when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is activated, causing fluid to leak out. The flow of fluid can quickly reduce the temperature of the high temperature and high pressure emissions from the battery cell 20 and extinguish the fire, thereby preventing further damage to other battery cells 20 and the battery 10 leading to more serious accidents. For example, in some embodiments, bypass side wall 134c may also be configured to be easily damaged by emissions from battery cell 20.

Since the internal pressure of the battery cell 20 is relatively high, the emissions from the battery cell 20 will be discharged outward in an approximately conical shape. In this case, if the contact area between the bypass side wall 134c and the emissions can be increased, then the probability of damage to the bypass side wall 134c can be increased. For example, in some embodiments, the bypass side wall 134c forms a predetermined angle with respect to the bypass bottom wall 134b, and the predetermined angle is from 105° to 175°. By judiciously setting the angle, the bypass side wall 134c can be more easily damaged when the pressure relief mechanism 213 is operated to further allow the fluid to flow out and come into contact with the emissions. The fluid (such as coolant) is evaporated by the high temperature of the emissions at the moment of flow, thereby absorbing a large amount of heat from the emissions and achieving the effect of cooling the emissions over time.

In addition, this arrangement of the bypass side wall 134c can also be applied to the above situation where the bypass chamber 134a is provided and the situation where the bypass structure 134 is a through hole. For example, if the bypass structure 134 is a through hole, the diameter of the through hole may gradually decrease in the direction of the pressure relief mechanism 213 to the temperature control component 13, and the angle formed by the wall of the through hole hole with respect to the direction of the pressure relief mechanism 213 to the temperature control component 13 may be for example from 15° to 85°.

In some other embodiments, any type of weakened structure may also be provided on the bypass sidewall 134c such that when the pressure release mechanism 213 is activated, the bypass sidewall 134c is damaged by the surges to allow fluid to flow out.

The above embodiments describe the case where the temperature control component 13 has a bypass structure 134. However, in some alternative embodiments, the thermal control component 13 may not include a bypass structure 134. In this case, the bypass chamber 134 may be formed, for example, by a protruding portion formed around the pressure relief mechanism 213 and the temperature control component 13. In addition, a partial relief mechanism or weakened structure may be located on the temperature control component 13 in a position opposite to the pressure relief mechanism 213 , so that emissions from the battery cell can pass through the temperature control component 13 and/or break through the temperature control component 13, whereby fluid flows out.

In some other alternative embodiments, the pressure relief mechanism 213 may be designed such that it can be activated when bypass space is not required. Such a pressure relief mechanism 213 may be located adjacent to the temperature control component 13, and the temperature control component 13 may not have a bypass structure 134 and need not form a bypass chamber 134a. This is also possible.

In the embodiment described above in which there is a bypass chamber 134a, the bypass chamber 134a may be configured to be isolated from the collection chamber 11b by means of a temperature control component 13. So-called "isolation" herein refers to a separation that may not be airtight . This may be more conducive to the emissions breaking through the bypass side wall 134c, causing fluid to flow out to further reduce the temperature of the emissions and extinguish the fire, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery. Moreover, in the case where the bypass structure 134 is a through hole as described above, the bypass chamber 134a and the collection chamber 11b may communicate with each other. This approach is more conducive to the release of emissions in order to avoid potential safety hazards caused by secondary high pressure.

The battery according to embodiments of the present application has been described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14, and a method and apparatus for manufacturing a battery according to embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, where for details not described in detail, reference may be made to the above embodiments.

In particular, in FIG. 15 is a flow diagram of a method 300 for manufacturing a battery in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 15, method 300 includes: 301, providing a plurality of battery cells, wherein at least one of the plurality of battery cells comprises a pressure release mechanism and at least two walls, wherein the at least two walls include a first wall and a second wall that intersect with each other. another, wherein the pressure relief mechanism is located on the first wall, and the pressure relief mechanism is configured, when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a threshold value, to be actuated to relieve the internal pressure; 302, providing a temperature control component and attaching the temperature control component to the first wall, wherein the temperature control component is configured to receive a fluid for regulating the temperature of the battery cell and is configured such that when the pressure release mechanism is activated, emissions released from the battery cell pass through thermoregulatory component; and 303, providing a support component and attaching the support component to the second wall for supporting the battery cell.

In some embodiments, the method further includes: 304, providing a housing, the housing comprising a cover member and a housing shell, wherein the housing shell and the cover member together define an electrical chamber for enclosing a battery cell; and providing a support component on an interior side of the casing shell. Or, in accordance with some alternative embodiments, a portion of the housing shell may be used as a support component.

In some embodiments, the casing further comprises a strip extending between the closure member and the shell of the casing, which are positioned opposite each other, and providing the thermal control component includes placing the thermal control component between the strip and the first wall.

In fig. 16 is a block diagram of a battery manufacturing apparatus 400 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 16, the apparatus 400 in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes: a battery cell manufacturing module 401 configured to manufacture a plurality of battery cells, wherein at least one of the plurality of battery cells includes: at least two walls and a pressure release mechanism, wherein at least two walls include a first wall and a second wall that intersect with each other, wherein a pressure relief mechanism is located on the first wall, and the pressure relief mechanism is configured, when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a threshold value, to be actuated to release internal pressure; a temperature control component manufacturing module 402, configured to manufacture a temperature control component, wherein the temperature control component is configured to receive a fluid for regulating the temperature of the battery cell, and the temperature control component is configured such that when the pressure release mechanism is activated, emissions released from the battery cell, pass through a thermostatic component; a support component manufacturing unit 403, configured to manufacture a support component, wherein the support component is configured to support a battery cell; and an assembly module 404 configured to attach the temperature control component to the first wall and attach the support component to the second wall.

Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are used only to illustrate and not limit the technical solutions of the present application. Although the present application is illustrated in detail with reference to the above embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that they may still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features described herein. but these changes or substitutions may be made to the corresponding technical solutions without departing from the essence and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims (51)

1. Battery (10) containing: battery cell (20), wherein battery cell (20) contains: at least two walls, wherein the at least two walls include a first wall and a second wall that intersect each other; And a pressure relief mechanism (213), wherein the pressure relief mechanism (213) is located on the first wall, and the pressure relief mechanism (213) is configured, when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell (20) reaches a threshold value, to be actuated to relieve the internal pressure; a temperature control component (13) attached to the first wall, the temperature control component (13) being configured to receive a fluid for regulating the temperature of the battery cell (20); And a support component (16) attached to the second wall and configured to support the battery cell (20); wherein the temperature control component (13) is configured such that when the pressure release mechanism (213) is activated, emissions discharged from the battery cell (20) pass through the temperature control component (13). 2. Battery (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the battery cell (20) additionally contains: a housing (211), the housing (211) comprising a housing chamber (211a) formed by a bottom wall and side walls, and an opening (211b) configured to approach the housing chamber (211a); And a closing plate (212), wherein the closing plate (212) is suitable for closing the opening (211b); wherein the first wall comprises a cover plate (212) or at least one of the side walls, and the second wall is a bottom wall. 3. Battery (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the battery (10) additionally contains: a casing (11), wherein the casing (11) contains a closing element (111) and a casing shell (112), wherein the casing shell (112) and the closing element (111) together form an electrical chamber (11a) for housing a battery cell (20) with the possibility of coverage, wherein the support component (16) is part of the casing shell (112) or is located on the inner side of the casing shell (112). 4. Battery (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the casing (11) additionally contains a strip (114) extending between the closing element (111) and the shell (112) of the casing, which are located opposite each other, and a thermostatic component ( 13) is located between the bar (114) and the first wall. 5. Battery (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature control component (13) and the support component (16) form a single structure. 6. The battery (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature control component (13) is provided with a through hole and the through hole is configured to allow emissions discharged from the battery cell to pass through the temperature control component (13). 7. The battery (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature control component (13) is configured to be damaged by emissions released from the battery cell (20), so that emissions released from the battery cell (20) can pass through the temperature control component component (13). 8. The battery (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature control component (13) is configured to be damaged by emissions released from the battery cell (20), causing fluid to flow out of the interior of the temperature control component (13). 9. Battery (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the thermostatic component (13) additionally contains: bypass structure (134), wherein the bypass structure (134) is configured to provide a space allowing the pressure relief mechanism (213) to be activated, and wherein the temperature control component (13) is attached to the battery element (20) to form a bypass chamber (134a) between the bypass structure (134) and the pressure relief mechanism (213). 10. Battery (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that the bypass structure (134) includes a lower bypass wall (134b) and a side bypass wall (134c) surrounding the bypass chamber (134a), and the lower bypass wall (134b) is made with the possibility of damage when actuating the pressure relief mechanism (213) to allow emissions to pass through the temperature control component (13). 11. The battery (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the lower bypass wall (134b) includes a partial relief mechanism and the partial relief mechanism is configured, when the pressure relief mechanism (213) is actuated, to be actuated to provide releasing at least emissions from the battery cell (20) through a temperature control component (13). 12. Battery (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the side wall (134c) of the bypass forms a predetermined angle relative to the bottom wall (134b) of the bypass and the predetermined angle is from 105 to 175°. 13. The battery (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the side wall (134c) of the bypass is designed to be damaged when the pressure release mechanism (213) is activated, resulting in fluid flowing out. 14. Battery (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the battery (10) additionally contains: a collection chamber (11b), wherein the collection chamber (11b) is located on the other side of the temperature control component (13) relative to the pressure relief mechanism (213) and is configured to collect emissions when the pressure relief mechanism (213) is activated. 15. Battery (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that the bar (114) has a hollow space and the hollow space forms a collection chamber (11b). 16. Battery (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that the support component (16) further comprises an additional collection chamber and the additional collection chamber and the collection chamber (11b) are functionally connected to each other at the bottom or bottom of the chamber (11b) collection 17. Battery (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that the deflecting structure is located in the collection chamber (11b) and the deflecting structure is configured to help direct the emissions to a predetermined position. 18. The battery (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluid is a cooling medium and the temperature control component (13) is configured to receive a cooling medium for cooling the battery cell (20). 19. A vehicle containing a battery according to any one of paragraphs. 1-18, wherein the battery is configured to provide electrical energy. 20. A method for manufacturing a battery according to any one of paragraphs. 1-18, including: providing a plurality of battery cells (20), wherein at least one battery cell (20) of the plurality of battery cells (20) comprises: at least two walls, wherein said at least two walls include a first wall and a second wall that intersect each other; And a pressure relief mechanism (213), wherein the pressure relief mechanism (213) is located on the first wall, and the pressure relief mechanism (213) is configured, when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell (20) reaches a threshold value, to be actuated to relieve the internal pressure; providing a temperature control component (13) and attaching a temperature control component (13) to the first wall, wherein the temperature control component (13) is configured to receive a fluid for regulating the temperature of the battery cell (20) and is configured such that when the mechanism (213) is activated ) Pressure release, emissions released from the battery cell pass through the temperature control component (13); And providing a support component (16) and attaching the support component (16) to the second wall to support the battery cell (20). 21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the method additionally includes: providing a casing (11), wherein the casing (11) contains a closing element (111) and a casing shell (112), wherein the casing shell (112) and the closing element (111) together form an electrical chamber (11a) for housing a battery cell (20 ) with the possibility of coverage; And providing a support component (16) on the inside of the housing shell (112), or using a portion of the housing shell (112) as the support component (16). 22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the casing (11) further comprises a strip (114) extending between the closing element (111) and the casing shell (112), which are located opposite each other; And providing the temperature control component (13) includes placing the temperature control component (13) between the bar (114) and the first wall. 23. A device for producing a battery according to any one of paragraphs. 1-18, containing: a battery cell manufacturing module configured to produce a plurality of battery cells (20), wherein at least one battery cell (20) of the plurality of battery cells (20) comprises: at least two walls, wherein the at least two walls include a first wall and a second wall that intersect each other; And a pressure relief mechanism (213), wherein the pressure relief mechanism (213) is located on the first wall, and the pressure relief mechanism (213) is configured, when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell (20) reaches a threshold value, to be actuated to relieve the internal pressure; a temperature control component manufacturing module configured to produce a temperature control component (13), wherein the temperature control component (13) is configured to receive a fluid for regulating the temperature of the battery cell (20) and is configured such that when the reset mechanism (213) is activated pressure emissions released from the battery cell pass through the thermostatic component (13); a support component manufacturing module configured to manufacture a support component (16), wherein the support component (16) is configured to support a battery cell (20); And an assembly module configured to attach a temperature control component (13) to the first wall and attach a support component (16) to the second wall.