WO2014114544A1

WO2014114544A1 - Battery module comprising a thermal element

Info

Publication number: WO2014114544A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/050745
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Benz; Markus Kohlberger
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh; Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2013-01-24
Filing date: 2014-01-16
Publication date: 2014-07-31
Also published as: CN105027349B; CN105027349A; DE102013201129A1

Abstract

What is described is: a battery module (60), which comprises a battery module housing (50), at least one battery cell (40), which is arranged in the battery module housing (50), and at least one thermal element (30), through which a fluid (2) can flow. The thermal element (30) is designed to keep the at least one battery cell (40) within a predefined temperature range. In accordance with the invention, the thermal element (30) has at least one channel (20), through which the fluid (2) can flow, wherein the channel (20) extends outside the battery module housing (50).

Description

Description title

Battery module with a thermal element

The present invention relates to a battery module, which a

Battery module housing and a thermal element, wherein the thermal element has at least one channel which extends outside of the battery module housing.

State of the art

In hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles come electric

Energy storage used to provide the necessary energy for the operation of the

Electric motor, which supports the drive of the vehicle to save. In the vehicles of the newest generation come here so-called

Lithium-ion batteries are used. The lithium-ion battery cells within such batteries are characterized among other things by a high energy density and an extremely low self-discharge. They each have at least one positive and one negative electrode, which lithium ions can reversibly store (intercalation) or re-outsource (deintercalation).

The battery cells have a predefined temperature range in which they work optimally. To the battery cells during operation in this

Temperature range to hold, they are at a so-called

Thermal management system connected. This heats the battery cells, for example, after starting on cold days or cools the battery cells, for example, during operation, as needed. Currently, the individual battery cells are bundled in battery modules or electrically interconnected and combined as such with the thermal management system. For example, six battery cells are electrically connected to each other and then clamped with their underside firmly on a cooling plate or a hot plate. This Construction makes it possible to temper the battery cells and thus to create an optimal working environment for selbige. The related cooling or

Heating plates are usually flowed through by a fluid, for example by a mixture of water and glycol.

In addition to the battery cells and other components in electric and hybrid vehicles by a as described above

Thermal management system cooled or heated. These include, for example, the power electronics, voltage converters, air conditioning compressors or the electric motor. One of the risks in an accident of a vehicle with such thermal management systems is a resulting leakage thereof. In many prior art thermal management systems, the fluid contained therein is electrically conductive. If the fluid comes into contact with the battery cells of the battery module, for example as a result of an accident, it can therefore lead to short circuits or the formation of hydrogen gas. Especially with battery packs in which several battery modules are stacked, it is structurally difficult to ensure that in an accident no fluid, for example coolant, runs on the lower battery modules.

Battery modules or batteries having the above-described thermal management systems are widely known in the art. Often, measures or means are also provided in such battery modules, which are those described above

To counteract accident problems.

For example, from US 2010/0136402 A1 a sealed

Battery housing with an active internal cooling system is known, which is connected to an external lead through a sealed connection. Furthermore, the battery housing has a desiccant in one or more containers, which is the protection of a battery within the

Battery housing is used.

Furthermore, WO 03/092088 A2 discloses a battery arrangement with inner, absorbent layers which can absorb leaking battery fluid. In particular, a high-absorbency fleece is provided as the second layer, which works according to the principle of the superabsorber. Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention, a battery module is provided which has a battery module housing, at least one battery cell, which in the

Battery module housing is arranged, as well as at least one thermal element, which is traversed by a fluid comprises. The thermal element is designed to hold the at least one battery cell in a predefined temperature range. According to the invention, the thermal element has at least one channel through which the fluid can flow, the channel extending outside the battery module housing.

Such a battery module is better protected from the occurrence of leaks in the thermal element inside the battery module than in the prior art, for example when the battery module is involved in an accident, for example when used in a motor vehicle. Since the channels of the thermal element, which can be embodied, for example, as a cooling system, are guided outside the battery module housing, for example, a crack or other leakage in the same can not lead to the channeled in the fluid, for example, an electrically conductive coolant, with the in the battery module housing containing

Battery cells, circuits and other components comes into contact. It can thereby, unlike the battery modules of the prior art, do not come to shorts or electrolysis, in which

Hydrogen gas is generated.

Preferably, the at least one channel runs along at least part of an outer wall of the battery module housing. As a result, cooling of the battery cells within the battery module housing is improved, for example, in the case of realization of the thermal element as a cooling system.

In a preferred embodiment, the thermal element comprises a plate through which a fluid can flow, which plate is arranged at least partially within the battery module housing and with which the at least one channel can be connected. The fluid is particularly preferred as the coolant or designed as a cooling liquid. Further preferably, the plate is designed as a cooling plate. As a result, the temperature of the battery cells within the battery module is again optimized. Preferably, the thermal element has at least one connection, which is led out of the battery module housing and which is connectable to the at least one channel. By such a connection, the outer parts of the thermal element can be connected to the inner parts of the thermal element in an advantageous manner.

Preferably, the at least one connection is insulated against the battery module housing. In such an embodiment of the battery module, it is ensured that, in the event of leaks, escaping fluid does not penetrate into the battery module housing.

In a preferred embodiment, the connection comprises a hollow mold open on one side, through which a fluid can flow. Thereby, the fluid from the inner part of the thermal element in outer, connected to the terminal parts of the thermal element to flow and

vice versa. The inner part may in this case mean a part of the thermal element arranged at least partially within the battery module housing, while with outer parts, for example, a channel connected to the connection may be meant. Preferably, the hollow mold is designed as a hollow tube, which is a

Having external thread on which a, an internal thread exhibiting counter-element is screwed. In such an embodiment, the terminal and thereby the thermal element with a part of

Battery module housing clamped, whereby the position of the thermal element is fixable relative to the battery module housing.

In a preferred embodiment, a part of the battery module housing is fixable between the plate and the counter element, wherein the fixation via a tension of the part of the battery module housing between the

Counter element and the plate is effected. In this way, the thermal Element easily and reversibly connectable to the battery module or with the battery module housing.

Preferably, a seal is further arranged between the plate and the counter element, via which the terminal is sealed relative to the battery module housing. By using such a seal, the terminal is advantageously isolated from the battery module housing.

Preferably, the hollow tube has on its open side at least one retaining lug, with which the connection with the at least one channel is connectable. Such retaining lugs offer a simple and practical way of reversible connection of port and channel.

Furthermore, a battery is provided with a battery module according to the invention, wherein the battery particularly preferably as a

Lithium-ion battery is running. Advantages of such batteries include their comparatively high energy density and their high thermal stability. Another advantage of lithium-ion batteries is that they are not subject to memory effect.

Furthermore, a motor vehicle is provided with a battery having a battery module according to the invention, wherein the battery is connected to a drive system of the motor vehicle.

Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and described in the description.

drawings

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings and the description below. Show it:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a battery module according to the invention, and

2 shows an exemplary connection of a thermal element of an embodiment of a battery module according to the invention in cross section. Embodiments of the invention

In the figure 1 is an embodiment of an inventive

Battery module 60 shown. This battery module 60 includes

Battery module housing 50 and in this embodiment purely by way of example a plurality of battery cells 40, which are arranged in the battery module housing 50 and of which a first in Figure 1 is indicated. The indicated in Figure 1 battery cell 40 is not visible to a viewer from the outside. Furthermore, the battery module 60 in this exemplary embodiment comprises a thermal element 30, which in this exemplary embodiment purely by way of example forms a cooling system or is designed as a cooling element. However, it is also possible to carry out battery modules 60 according to the invention, in which the thermal element 30 does not form a cooling system but, for example, forms a heating system or is designed as a heating element. The thermal element 30 can be flowed through by a fluid 2 and in this exemplary embodiment is designed to hold the multiplicity of battery cells 40 in a predefined temperature range. In this embodiment, therefore, the thermal element 30 comprises a fluid 2, which in this

Exemplary embodiment purely as a coolant or as

Coolant is carried out and which is able to flow through the components of the thermal element 30. The thermal element 30 has in this embodiment, purely by way of example two channels 20, which are flowed through by the fluid 2, so in this embodiment of the cooling liquid and which extend outside of the battery module housing 50. The number of two extending outside of the battery module housing 50 channels 20 as parts of the thermal element 30 is chosen purely by way of example in this embodiment. It can too

Battery modules 60 according to the invention can be realized with thermal elements 30 which have only one channel 20 or even more than two channels 20. Furthermore, it is also possible to realize battery modules 60 according to the invention which have only one battery cell 40.

In this embodiment, the two channels 20 extend purely by way of example along parts of different outer walls 51 of the battery module housing

50. In this embodiment, purely by way of example, a first of the channels runs 20 at right angles along a direction orthogonal to a base 52 of the battery module housing 50 and along a direction parallel to this base 52 of the battery module housing 50 aligned direction and along three outer walls 51 of

Battery module housing 50. Further, the thermal element 30 comprises a flowable through of a fluid 2 plate 1 1, which partially within the

Battery module housing 50 is arranged and with which the two channels 20 are connected. In this embodiment, the plate 1 1 is designed purely by way of example as a cooling plate, which forms the bottom of the battery module housing 50 purely by way of example in this embodiment. However, in other embodiments of the battery modules 60 according to the invention, the plate 11 may also be designed as a heating plate and / or be arranged elsewhere in or outside the battery module housing 50. Also, the thermal element 30 more or more plates 1 1 with

include different functions.

In this embodiment, the thermal element 30, more precisely, the plate 1 1, purely by way of example four terminals 5, which from the

Battery module housing 50 are led out and which are each connected to one end of a respective channel 20. In this embodiment, therefore, the two channels 20 are connected purely by way of example via a total of four connections 5 to the cooling plate. In this exemplary embodiment, the four terminals 5 are insulated from the battery module housing 50 by way of example only. In other words, the four terminals 5 in this embodiment are insulated from the battery module housing 50 by way of example only.

In this embodiment, the thermal element 30 further comprises, by way of example only, a coolant distributor (not shown), via which the fluid 2 can be distributed within the components of the thermal element 30. In other words, the coolant distributor is able to move the cooling liquid out of the plate 1 1 via the connection 5 or the mold 5 forming the connection 5 into the channel 20 and vice versa.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary connection 5 of a thermal element 30 of an exemplary embodiment of a battery module 60 according to the invention in FIG

Cross-section. In this embodiment, it is purely by way of example 1, the FIG. 2 shows one of the four connections 5 of the embodiment of a battery module 60 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 in cross-section. The port 5 shown in Figure 2 comprises in this embodiment, purely by way of example a hollow mold open on one side, which of a fluid 2, in this

Embodiment of the aforementioned cooling liquid, can flow.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the hollow mold is purely by way of example designed as a hollow tube having an external thread 3, on which a, a

Inner thread exhibiting counter element 6 can be screwed. In this embodiment, the counter-element 6 is designed purely by way of example as a mother. However, it is also possible for connections 5 to be made without an external thread 3, without a counter element 6 or with another counter element 6. Also, the terminal 5 may have an external thread 3 and another counter element 6 as a nut on the external thread. 3

be screwed. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a part 4 of the battery module housing 50 between the thermal element 30, more precisely the plate 1 1 and the counter-element 6 fixable, the fixation via a tension of the part 4 of the battery module housing 50 between the

Counter element 6 and the thermal element 30, so the plate 1 1 is effected. In other words, in this embodiment, purely by way of example, a part of the battery module housing 50 which is in this

Embodiment purely by way of example has a curvature between the counter-element 6 and the thermal element 30, more precisely the

Plate 1 1, on the application of a tightening torque on the counter element 6, so the mother, clamped. In this embodiment, a seal 12 is further arranged between the plate 1 1 and the counter element 6, via which the terminal 5 is sealed relative to the battery module housing 50. Such a seal 12 is for the execution of an inventive

Battery module 60 purely optional.

Further, the hollow tube in this embodiment, on its open side purely by way of example two retaining lugs 7, with which the terminal 5 with one end of one of the channels 20 is connectable. In other words, the connection has at its open end two retaining lugs 7, which in within a tail of one of the channels 20 arranged retaining grooves (not shown) can be engaged. However, it is also possible for terminals 5 to be realized within battery modules 60 according to the invention which have only one, none or more than two retaining lugs 7.

Claims

claims

1 . Battery module (60) comprising

a battery module housing (50),

- At least one battery cell (40), which in the battery module housing

(50) is arranged

at least one thermal element (30) through which a fluid (2) can flow and is designed to keep the at least one battery cell (40) within a predefined temperature range,

characterized in that

the thermal element (30) has at least one channel (20) through which the fluid (2) can flow, the channel (20) extending outside the battery module housing (50). 2. Battery module (60) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one channel (20) along at least part of an outer wall (51) of the

Battery module housing (50) runs.

Battery module (60) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermal element (30) of a fluid (2) by ström bare plate (1 1) which is at least partially disposed within the battery module housing (50) and with which of the at least a channel (20) is connectable.

Battery module (60) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermal element (30) has at least one terminal (5) which is led out of the battery module housing (50) and which is connectable to the at least one channel (20). 5. The battery module (60) of claim 4, wherein the at least one terminal (5) is insulated from the battery module housing (50).

6. battery module (60) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the connection (5) comprises a hollow mold open on one side, which by a fluid (2) can be flowed through. 7. battery module (60) according to claim 6, wherein the hollow mold is designed as a hollow tube having an external thread (3) on which a, an internal thread exhibiting counter element (6) can be screwed.

8. Battery module (60) according to claim 3 and 7, wherein a part (4) of the

Battery module housing (50) between the plate (1 1) and the

Counter-element (6) is fixable, wherein the fixation via a tension of the part (4) of the battery module housing (50) between the counter-element (6) and the plate (1 1) is effected. 9. battery module (60) according to claim 8, wherein between the plate (1 1) and the counter-element (6) further comprises a seal (12) is arranged, via which the terminal (5) relative to the battery module housing (50) is sealed. 10. Battery module (60) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the hollow tube at its open side at least one retaining lug (7), with which the terminal (5) with the at least one channel (20) is connectable.

1 1. Battery with a battery module (60) according to one of claims 1 to 10.

12. Motor vehicle with a battery according to claim 1 1, wherein the battery is connected to a drive system of the motor vehicle.