TWM633699U - Battery module with improved heat pipe structure - Google Patents

Abstract

This creation proposes a battery module with an improved heat pipe structure. The battery module includes a plurality of battery cells and a battery holder for accommodating and fixing the battery cells; the improved heat pipe structure includes a metal tube body, a metal The pipe body defines a heat conduction section, a first container section and a first connection section; the heat conduction section is a vacuumized sealed pipe body, which includes a capillary structure inside and uses the evaporation and condensation of a working fluid to transport heat , and is arranged above the battery holder; the first container section is inserted in the interval maintained between a plurality of adjacent battery cells and is used to store the heat generated by the charging and discharging of the surrounding battery cells; the first connecting section presents One end is connected to the first container section and the other end vertically passes through the battery fixing frame and is connected to one end of the heat conduction section.

Description

Battery module with improved heat pipe construction

The present invention relates to a battery module, in particular to a battery module using an improved heat pipe structure for heat dissipation or heat balance of battery cores.

In recent years, with the demand for environmental protection and carbon reduction, electric vehicles have gradually been favored by people. Many automakers have entered into the development of electric vehicles one after another in order to seize business opportunities in the electric vehicle market. The power source of electric vehicles is batteries, such as lithium batteries. In order to increase the battery life of the electric vehicle, a battery module with a considerable number of battery cells is usually installed on the electric vehicle to provide enough power for the electric vehicle to use.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , which are top sectional views, front sectional views and side sectional views of conventional battery modules. As shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the battery module 100 includes a casing 11 , a plurality of battery cells 12 , a first fixing frame 131 and a second fixing frame 132 . These battery cells 12 will be accommodated and fixed between the first fixing frame 131 and a second fixing frame 132, and the first fixing frame 131 and the second fixing frame 132 for arranging these battery cells 12 will be placed in the housing In FIG. 11 , the battery core 12 and the first fixing frame 131 and the second fixing frame 132 are protected by the casing 11 .

When the battery core 12 of the battery module 100 is charged and discharged, it will generate heat and heat up. In order to dissipate the heat generated by the charging and discharging of the battery core 12 , usually a blowing fan 151 and an exhausting fan 153 are respectively provided on two sides of the housing 11 . The first fixing frame 131 and the second fixing frame 132 containing the battery cells 12 are placed between the blowing fan 151 and the exhausting fan 153 . The blowing fan 151 blows the external cold air toward the location of the battery core 12 inside the casing 11 , and the blown cold air passes through the heated battery core 12 and becomes hot air. Next, draw The fan 153 extracts hot air to discharge the hot air to the outside. Then, through the blowing of the blowing fan 151 and the extraction of the hot air by the exhaust fan 153, the temperature of the battery core 12 that generates heat during charging and discharging can be cooled.

Furthermore, in the past, these battery cells 12 were horizontally arranged at the same height between the elongated first fixing frame 131 and the second fixing frame 132. Therefore, most of the wind force of the cold air blown by the blowing fan 151 will be blown. The front row of battery cells 12 closer to the blower fan 151 blocks the phenomenon of high flow resistance, and only a small amount of wind can flow to the rear row of battery cells 12 through the gap between the front row of battery cells 12 . In addition, in order to arrange a large number of battery cells 12 within the limited space of the first fixing frame 131 and the second fixing frame 132, the gaps between the arranged battery cells 12 are usually very small, which will also cause high The situation of the flow resistance causes the circulation efficiency of the cold air between the battery cells 12 to be very poor. Therefore, the cold air blown by the blower fan 151 can only flow in places with low flow resistance, for example, the cold air is often blown to the battery cells 12 and the first fixed frame 131 and the second fixed frame near the front row of the blower fan 151 132, the farther the rear battery cells 12 from the blowing fan 151 or the battery cells 12 arranged on the inner side can hardly receive the blowing of cold air.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , when the battery module 100 is in operation, a temperature detector is used to detect the temperatures of four areas such as A, B, C, D, etc., and refer to the position of the blowing fan 151 from near to far. The order of arrangement is area A, area B, area C and area D. Through temperature detection, the temperature around the battery core 12 in area A can also be T1, the temperature around the battery core 12 in area B can also be T2, the temperature around the battery core 12 in area C can also be T3, and the temperature around the battery core 12 in area D can also be T3. The temperature around the battery core 12 can also be T4. The temperature levels detected by these four areas can also be T4>T3>T2>T1. Thus, the ambient temperature T4 of the rear inner region D farther from the blower fan 151 will be higher than the ambient temperature of other regions. Therefore, when charging and discharging, the battery core 12 that is farther away from the blowing fan 151 will have a higher temperature than the battery core 12 that is closer to the blowing fan 151. Spend. The battery core at a higher temperature will have a faster aging rate, thereby affecting the service life of the battery core 12 .

In addition, since the cold air flows in from the blowing fan 151 , the cold air will exchange heat with each passing battery cell 12 . Therefore, the air received by the battery core 12 at the rear end of the wind direction is the air that has been heat-exchanged by the battery core 12 at the front end. Therefore, the temperature of each battery cell 12 inside the entire battery module 100 presents a higher and higher temperature gradient according to the distance from the position of the blower fan 151, and then the aging speed of the battery cells 12 positioned at the rear end of the wind direction is much faster than that of the cells positioned at the wind direction. The battery cell 12 at the front end is even faster.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide a battery module, which includes a casing, a battery fixing frame, a plurality of battery cells and an improved heat pipe structure. One side of the casing is provided with an air outlet and the other side is provided with an air outlet. The battery fixing frame is arranged between the air outlet and the air outlet of the casing and is used for accommodating and fixing a plurality of battery cells. The improved heat pipe structure includes a metal pipe body, and the metal pipe body defines a heat conduction section, a first container section and a first connection section. The heat conduction section is arranged above the battery fixing frame, and the first container section is inserted in the gap between a plurality of adjacent battery cells far away from the air outlet, and is connected to the heat conductor through a first connecting section. guide section. Then, when the battery module is in operation, the first container section absorbs the heat generated by the charging and discharging of the surrounding battery cores, and uses the first connecting section to conduct heat to the heat conduction section, and then repeatedly circulates the evaporation of the working fluid through the heat conduction section. The phase change process of condensation, so that the heat generated by the charging and discharging of the battery cells around the first container section can be taken away so that the battery cells around the first container section can be effectively dissipated.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a battery module, wherein the evaporation end of the heat conduction section is connected to the first connection section, and the condensation end is connected to a heat dissipation fin, so that the heat transported by the heat conduction section can be transmitted through the The cooling fins are used to dissipate heat; preferably, the cooling fins are arranged beside a blowing device, so as to blow the air through the blowing device, so as to improve the cooling effect of the cooling fins.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a battery module, wherein the metal pipe body of the improved heat pipe structure further defines a second container section and a second connection section. The second container section is arranged in the interval maintained between a plurality of adjacent battery cells near the air outlet, and is connected to the condensation end of the heat conduction section through the second connection section. The heat generated by charging and discharging the battery cells around the first container section will be transported to the surroundings of the second container section through the first container section, the first connecting section, the heat conduction section, the second connecting section and the heat conduction of the second container section on the battery cell. Therefore, through the improved heat pipe structure, the heat generated by the charging and discharging of the higher temperature battery cores at the rear end of the wind direction can be transferred to the lower temperature battery cores at the front end of the wind direction, so that the gap between those battery cores The temperature maintains thermal balance, avoiding the risk of damage or explosion caused by overheating of some battery cells during charging and discharging, which increases the safety of the battery module in use.

To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides a battery module with an improved heat pipe structure, including: a plurality of battery cells; a battery fixing frame for accommodating and fixing the plurality of battery cells; and at least one improved heat pipe The structure includes a metal pipe body; the metal pipe body is defined as: a heat conduction section, which is a vacuumized sealed pipe body, and contains a capillary structure inside and uses the evaporation and condensation of a working fluid to transport heat. The heat conduction section is set On the top of the battery holder; a first container section, inserted in the space between a plurality of adjacent battery cells, and used to store the heat generated by the charge and discharge of the surrounding battery cells; and; a first connection segment, which presents a flat shape, and one end of which is connected to the first container segment and the other end vertically passes through the battery holder and is connected to one end of the heat conduction segment; wherein the battery module further includes a casing, and the inside of the casing One side is provided with an air outlet and the other side is provided with an air outlet, and the battery holder is set on Between the air outlet and the air outlet, one end of the heat conduction section is connected to one end of the first connecting section and is located farther from the air outlet, while the other end is located nearer to the air outlet.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first container segment is arranged in the interval maintained between a plurality of adjacent battery cells that are farther away from the air outlet.

In an embodiment of the invention, a heat dissipation fin is further included, and the other end of the heat conduction section is connected to the heat dissipation fin.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling fins are arranged beside the air outlet.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the metal pipe body further defines a second container segment and a second connecting segment, and the second connecting segment is inserted between a plurality of adjacent battery cells near the air outlet to maintain One end of the second connection segment is connected to the second container segment and the other end passes through the battery holder vertically and is connected to the other end of the thermal conduction segment.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the air outlet is arranged on a blowing device, and the air outlet is arranged on an air drawing device.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the interior of the first container section or the second container section is filled with a phase change material respectively, and the heat generated by charging and discharging the surrounding battery cells is stored through the phase change material.

In an embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the phase change material, a metal foam or a metal fin is further provided inside the first container segment or the second container segment.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a metal rod is respectively arranged inside the first container section or the second container section, and the heat generated by charging and discharging the surrounding battery cells is stored through the metal rod.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a cut, a valve, or a notch is set on the metal pipe body of the first container segment.

100: battery module

11: shell

12: battery cell

131: the first fixed frame

132: the second fixed frame

151: Blowing fan

153: exhaust fan

300: battery module

31: Shell

32: battery cell

33: battery holder

331: the first fixed frame

332: the second fixed frame

351: Blowing device

353: ventilation device

37: cooling fins

50: metal pipe body

501: cut marks

51: thermal conduction section

512: capillary structure

513: working fluid

514: Evaporation end

515: condensation end

52: The first container segment

521: phase change material

522: metal foam

523: metal cylinder

53: The first connection segment

54: Second container segment

541: phase change material

55: The second connection segment

FIG. 1 is a top sectional view of a conventional battery module set in a housing.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of a conventional battery module set in a housing.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a conventional battery module disposed in a housing.

FIG. 4 is a top sectional view of an embodiment of the battery module of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of an embodiment of the battery module of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional structure diagram of the heat conduction section of the improved heat pipe structure of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a structural view of an embodiment of the first container section of the improved heat pipe structure of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a structural view of another embodiment of the first container section of the improved heat pipe structure of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a structural view of another embodiment of the first container section of the improved heat pipe structure of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a top sectional view of another embodiment of the battery module of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a front sectional view of another embodiment of the battery module of the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 4 , FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , which are respectively a schematic top view, a front sectional view and a sectional structural view of the heat pipe of the present invention according to an embodiment of the battery module of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , the battery module 300 of the present invention includes a casing 31 , a plurality of battery cells 32 and a battery fixing frame 33 . One side of housing 31 inside is provided with a blowing device 351 with air outlet, and the other side is provided with a draft device with air outlet. 353. During charging and discharging of the battery module 300 , cold air enters the interior of the casing 31 from the air outlet of the air blowing device 351 , and hot air is drawn out from the air outlet of the air exhausting device 353 .

The battery fixing frame 33 includes a first fixing frame 331 and a second fixing frame 332 . The first fixing frame 331 and the second fixing frame 332 respectively include a sleeve (not shown). The upper end of each battery cell 32 is sleeved in the sleeve of the first fixing bracket 331, and the lower end is sleeved in the sleeve of the second fixing bracket 332, so that each battery core 32 can be fixed on the first fixing bracket 331 and the second fixing bracket 331. The distance between the two fixing frames 332 and between the battery cells 32 is maintained.

The inventive battery module 300 has an improved heat pipe structure. The improved heat pipe structure includes a metal tube body 50, such as a copper tube. A heat conduction section 51 , a first container section 52 and a first connection section 53 are defined on the metal pipe body 50 . As shown in FIG. 6 , the heat conduction section 51 is a vacuumized sealed tube body, and the inside of the tube body 50 includes a capillary structure 512 and a working fluid 513 sealed in the tube body, such as water or Dowtherm ^™ -a. One end of the heat conduction section 51 can also be called the evaporation end (heat receiving end) 514 , and the other end can also be called the condensation end (cooling end) 515 . The first container segment 52 is also a sealed tube body, and a thermal storage is arranged inside the tube body. As shown in Figure 7, in an embodiment of the present invention, the thermal storage is a phase change material 521 (such as water, polyethylene glycol, low density polyethylene, polyethylene or paraffin); moreover, if the first container section 52 When the heat storage material filled inside is a phase change material 521 , metal foam 522 or metal fins can be further provided to increase the thermal conductivity inside the container section 52 . As shown in Figure 8, if the phase change material 521 is water, a cut 501, a valve or a gap can be added on the metal pipe body 50, so that the metal pipe body 50 can It will be damaged so that the phase change material 521 can spray or flow to the battery core 32 to reduce the cascading failure of thermal runaway. Alternatively, in another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9 , the heat storage object can also be a metal cylinder 523, so that the metal cylinder 523 can be used as a heat collecting device. In addition, the first connecting section 53 presents a flat shape, which is manufactured by the metal pipe body 50 through a pressing process.

The heat conducting section 51 is disposed on the first fixing frame 331 of the battery fixing frame 33 . The first container segment 52 is disposed in the space maintained between a plurality of adjacent battery cells 32 . Moreover, the farther the battery core 32 from the air outlet is usually in a state of higher temperature during charging and discharging; In the space maintained between the battery cells 32 . In addition, the heat conducting section 51 is connected to the first container section 52 through the first connecting section 53 . One end of the first connection section 53 is connected to the first container section 52 , and the other end is vertically passed through the first fixing frame 331 of the battery fixing frame 33 and connected to the evaporation end 514 of the heat conducting section 51 .

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, when the battery module 300 is in operation, the first container segment 52 absorbs the heat generated by the charging and discharging of the surrounding battery cells 32, and stores the energy that is too late to dissipate in the first container section 52. On the phase change material 521 or the metal pillar 523 inside the container segment 52 . The heat absorbed by the first container section 52 is conducted to the evaporation end 514 of the heat conducting section 51 through the first connecting section 53 . The working fluid 513 on the evaporating end 514 undergoes a phase change after absorbing heat, and rapidly transports heat to the condensing end 515 in the form of vapor flow. After the working fluid 513 transfers heat to the condensing end 515 in the form of steam flow, the heat will be released on the condensing end 515 and the working fluid 513 will be condensed. The condensed working fluid 513 passes through the capillary action of the capillary structure 512 and is transported back to the evaporation end 514 in the form of liquid flow. Then, through the internal working fluid 513 of the heat conduction section 51, the phase transition of evaporation and condensation is repeatedly performed, and the heat generated by the charging and discharging of the battery core 32 that is far away from the air outlet can be effectively taken away by the improved heat pipe structure. To achieve the purpose of cooling.

The battery module 300 further includes a cooling fin 37 . The condensing end 515 of the heat conduction section 51 is connected to the heat dissipation fin 37 so that the heat transferred from the heat conduction section 51 is dissipated through the heat dissipation fin 37 . better, The cooling fins 37 are arranged beside the blowing device 351 , and blow air to the cooling fins 37 through the blowing device 351 to enhance the cooling effect of the cooling fins 37 .

Please refer to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 , which are respectively a schematic top view and a front sectional view of another embodiment of the inventive battery module, and also refer to FIG. 6 . As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 , the metal pipe body 50 of the improved heat pipe structure of the battery module 301 of this embodiment further defines a second container section 54 and a second connection section 55 . The second container section 54 is also a sealed tube, and the inside of the tube is filled with phase change material 521 and metal foam 522 or a metal column 523 is provided. The second connecting section 55 presents a flat shape, which is manufactured by the metal pipe body 50 through a pressing process.

In the present embodiment, the second container segment 54 is arranged in the interval maintained between a plurality of adjacent battery cells 32 that are closer to the air outlet. Moreover, the heat conducting section 51 is connected to the second container section 54 through the second connecting section 55 . One end of the second connection section 55 is connected to the second container section 54 , and the other end is vertically passed through the first fixing frame 331 of the battery fixing frame 33 and connected to the condensation end 515 of the heat conducting section 51 .

As shown in Fig. 6, Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, when the battery module 301 is in operation, the first container section 52 absorbs the heat generated by the charging and discharging of the surrounding battery cells 32, and stores the energy that is too late to dissipate in the first container section 52. phase change material 521 or metal rods. The heat absorbed by the first container section 52 is conducted to the evaporation end 514 of the heat conducting section 51 through the first connecting section 53 . The working fluid 513 on the evaporating end 514 undergoes a phase change after absorbing heat, and rapidly transports heat to the condensing end 515 in the form of vapor flow. After the working fluid 513 transports heat to the condensing end 515 in the form of vapor flow, the heat will be conducted to the second container section 54 through the second connecting section 55, so that the second container section 54 can absorb heat and store the heat in the phase change material 541 or metal rod. The heat of the working fluid 513 on the condensing end 515 is absorbed by the second container section 54 and will be condensed to change from a vapor state to a liquid state. After condensation, the liquid working fluid 513 passes through the capillary structure 512. Fine action, re-transported back to the evaporation end 514 in the form of liquid flow. Then, through the configuration of the improved heat pipe structure, the heat generated by the battery core 32 that is farther from the air outlet can be transferred to the battery core 32 that is closer to the air outlet, so that the temperature between these battery cores 32 able to reach thermal equilibrium.

Here, through the arrangement of the first container section 52, the first connecting section 53, the heat conduction section 51, the second connecting section 55, and the second container section 54, the battery core 32 located at the rear end of the wind direction and having a higher temperature can pass through The first container section 52, the first connection section 53, the heat conduction section 51, the second connection section 55, and the second container section 54 transport heat to the battery core 32 at the front end of the wind direction and at a lower temperature, so that these battery cores The temperature between 32 maintains thermal balance, avoiding the risk of damage or explosion caused by overheating of some battery cells 32 during charging and discharging, thus increasing the safety of the battery module 301 in use.

The above is only one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of implementation of the present invention, that is, any equal changes and changes made according to the shape, structure, characteristics and spirit described in the patent scope of the present application. Modifications should be included in the scope of the patent application for the present model.

300: battery module

31: shell

32: battery cell

33: battery holder

331: the first fixed frame

332: the second fixed frame

351: Blowing device

353: ventilation device

37: cooling fins

50: metal pipe body

51: thermal conduction section

514: Evaporation end

515: condensation end

52: The first container segment

53: The first connection segment

Claims (14)

A battery module with an improved heat pipe structure, comprising: a plurality of battery cells; a battery holder for accommodating and fixing the plurality of battery cells; and at least one of the improved heat pipe structures includes a metal pipe body ; Wherein the metal pipe body is defined as follows: a heat conduction section, which is a vacuumized sealed pipe body, which includes a capillary structure inside and uses the evaporation and condensation of a working fluid to transport heat, and the heat conduction section is arranged on the battery fixed above the frame; a first container section, inserted in the gap between a plurality of adjacent battery cells, and used to store the heat generated by charging and discharging the surrounding battery cells; and a first connecting section, It presents a flat shape, and one end thereof is connected to the first container segment, and the other end is vertically passed through the battery fixing frame and connected to one end of the heat conduction segment. The battery module as described in Claim 1, wherein the battery module further includes a housing, one side of the housing is provided with an air outlet and the other side is provided with an air outlet, and the battery holder is arranged on the air outlet Between the outlet and the air outlet, one end of the heat conduction section is connected to one end of the first connecting section and is arranged at a position farther away from the air outlet, while the other end is arranged at a position closer to the air outlet. Location. The battery module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first container section is disposed in the interval maintained between a plurality of adjacent battery cells that are far away from the air outlet. The battery module as claimed in claim 2 further includes a heat dissipation fin, and the other end of the heat conduction section is connected to the heat dissipation fin. The battery module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cooling fins are arranged beside the air outlet. As for the battery module described in claim 3, the metal pipe body further defines a second container segment and a second connecting segment, and the second connecting segment is inserted in a plurality of adjacent The space between the battery cells is used to store the heat generated by charging and discharging the surrounding battery cells. One end of the second connection section is connected to the second container section and the other end passes through the battery holder vertically. Connect to the other end of the thermal lead. The battery module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the air outlet is arranged on a blowing device, and the air outlet is arranged on an air exhausting device. The battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interiors of the first container sections are respectively filled with a phase change material, and the heat generated by charging and discharging the surrounding battery cells is stored through the phase change material. The battery module as claimed in claim 8, wherein a metal foam or a metal fin is further disposed inside the first container segment. The battery module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first container segment and the second container segment are respectively filled with a phase change material, and heat generated by charging and discharging the surrounding battery cells is stored through the phase change material. The battery module as claimed in claim 10, wherein a metal foam or a metal fin is further disposed inside the first container segment and the second container segment. The battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a metal rod is disposed inside the first container segment, and the heat generated by charging and discharging the surrounding battery cells is stored through the metal rod. The battery module as claimed in claim 6, wherein a metal rod is disposed inside the first container section and the second container section respectively, and the heat generated by charging and discharging the surrounding battery cells is stored through the metal rod. The battery module as claimed in claim 8, wherein a cut, a valve, or a notch is provided on the metal tube of the first container section.

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