WO2024041234A1

WO2024041234A1 - Separator, battery, and electrical device

Info

Publication number: WO2024041234A1
Application number: PCT/CN2023/105705
Authority: WO
Inventors: 潘鑫; 陈智明
Original assignee: 宁德时代新能源科技股份有限公司
Priority date: 2022-08-24
Filing date: 2023-07-04
Publication date: 2024-02-29
Also published as: CN218414916U

Abstract

A separator, a battery and an electrical device. The separator comprises a bearing part and a functional part which are connected to each other. The bearing part is used for supporting two adjacent groups of battery cells and being connected to the battery cells, and the functional part is used for providing an expansion space for the two adjacent groups of battery cells in a thickness direction of the separator. When the separators are arranged in the battery casing, each separator can be supported between two adjacent groups of battery cells by the bearing part, and an expansion space is provided for every two adjacent groups of battery cells in the thickness direction by means of the functional parts. Therefore, the separator can enable the battery cells to form a group structure, the battery cells can be directly contained in the battery casing by means of the separator, and the battery cells can work normally in the battery casing, thereby simplifying the overall structure of the battery, improving the space utilization in the battery, and thus increasing the energy density of the battery.

Description

Separators, batteries and electrical devices

cross reference

This application cites Chinese Patent Application No. 202222234141.2 titled "Separators, Batteries and Electrical Devices" submitted on August 24, 2022, which is fully incorporated into this application by reference.

Technical field

The present application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a separator, a battery and an electrical device.

Background technique

As batteries become more and more widely used, people require batteries to have higher energy density so that they can meet more application scenarios.

However, in order to meet various battery performance requirements, the current battery structure is relatively complex and the internal space utilization of the battery is low, which is not conducive to improving the energy density of the battery.

Contents of the invention

Based on this, this application provides a separator, a battery and an electrical device.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a separator for separating two adjacent groups of battery cells in a battery. The separator includes a bearing portion and a functional portion connected to each other. The bearing portion is used to support the adjacent two groups of battery cells. The functional part is used to provide expansion space for two adjacent groups of battery cells along the thickness direction of the separator.

In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, two adjacent groups of battery cells can be connected and fixed through the bearing portion, thereby realizing direct grouping of battery cells and simplifying the grouping structure of battery cells. This improves the utilization rate of the internal space of the battery box and increases the number of battery cells that can be accommodated in the battery box, thereby increasing the energy density of the battery. In addition, the functional part can provide sufficient expansion space for the battery cells, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery cells.

In some embodiments, the hardness of the bearing part is greater than the hardness of the functional part.

In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, the bearing portion can better achieve stable support for two adjacent groups of battery cells and play a bearing role for two adjacent groups of battery cells. The hardness of the functional part is smaller, which can provide sufficient expansion space for two adjacent groups of battery cells to ensure the safety performance of the battery cells during use.

In some embodiments, the functional part includes a buffer sub-part, which is used to provide expansion space for two adjacent groups of battery cells along a thickness direction of the separator.

In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, on the one hand, the buffer sub-section is connected to two adjacent groups of battery cells to avoid gaps between the separator and the two adjacent groups of battery cells, thereby making the battery cells more stable. On the other hand, when the battery cell is deformed due to expansion during use, the buffer sub-section can provide sufficient expansion space for the battery cell.

In some embodiments, the material of the buffer sub-part includes one of silicone, plastic, rubber and spring.

In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, the buffer sub-part is made of the above-mentioned material, which can provide a certain degree of elasticity. Therefore, when the battery cell expands, the buffer sub-part can provide sufficient expansion space, and after the battery cell recovers from expansion, the buffer sub-part The sub-part can provide elastic deformation to achieve a tight connection with the battery cell, avoiding gaps between the separator and the battery cell, thereby making the structure of the battery cell more stable.

In some embodiments, the functional part includes a heat-insulating sub-section, and the heat-insulating sub-section is connected to the buffer sub-section, or the heat-insulating sub-section and the buffer sub-section are integrally provided.

In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, the thermal insulation sub-section can isolate the heat transfer between two adjacent groups of battery cells to avoid affecting other battery cells when thermal runaway occurs in a certain group of battery cells, thereby reducing the size of the battery cells. The range of influence when a battery cell undergoes thermal runaway improves the safety performance of the battery.

In some embodiments, the thickness of the bearing part ranges from 0.1 mm to 20 mm; and/or the thickness of the functional part ranges from 0.1 mm to 20 mm.

In the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the above thickness range can realize that the separator provides sufficient expansion space for two adjacent groups of battery cells, and effectively isolates the heat transfer between the two adjacent groups of battery cells to avoid the occurrence of heat. On the basis of out-of-control, the space occupied by the partitions is reduced as much as possible to provide space utilization.

In some embodiments, the thickness of the bearing part ranges from 0.5 mm to 5 mm; and/or the thickness of the functional part ranges from 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

In the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, within this range, it can be ensured that the bearing portion supports and connects two adjacent groups of battery cells and the functional portion provides sufficient expansion space for the adjacent two groups of battery cells. At the same time, it can Minimize the space occupied by the partitions and improve space utilization.

In some embodiments, the thickness of the functional part is smaller than the thickness of the bearing part.

In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, there is a thickness difference between the bearing part and the functional part. As a result, the bearing portion can better provide stable support for the adjacent two groups of battery cells, and the positions of the functional portion corresponding to the adjacent two groups of battery cells can provide more sufficient expansion space for the battery cells, and more Excellently absorbs the expansion force of battery cells.

In some embodiments, the connection method between the carrying part and the functional part is a heat sealing film connection.

In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, the load-bearing part and the functional part are connected through a heat-sealing film, which can simplify the connection structure between the load-bearing part and the functional part and make the overall structure of the partition more concise.

In some embodiments, the connection between the carrying portion and the adjacent two groups of battery cells is by bonding.

In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, two adjacent groups of battery cells are stably connected to the bearing part without adding a connection structure, thereby simplifying the group structure of the battery cells.

In some embodiments, the carrying part includes a first sub-part and a second sub-part respectively connected to opposite ends of the functional part along the first direction.

In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, when the separator is provided between two adjacent groups of battery cells, the first sub-part and the second The second sub-section is located at the end of the battery cell, so as to better support the battery cell.

In a second aspect, this application provides a battery, including:

battery box;

Dividers as described above; and

At least two sets of battery cells are housed in the battery box;

Wherein, each separator is disposed between each adjacent two groups of battery cells.

In some embodiments, two sides of each separator along its own thickness direction are respectively disposed in close contact with the large surfaces of two adjacent groups of battery cells.

In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, when the large surface of the battery cell expands and deforms, the functional part of the separator can better provide expansion space for the battery cell.

In a third aspect, the present application provides an electrical device, including the battery as described above.

When the above-mentioned partitions, batteries and electrical devices are arranged in the battery box, each partition can be supported between two adjacent groups of battery cells through the bearing portion, and can be adjacent along the thickness direction through the functional portion. The two groups of battery cells provide expansion space. Therefore, the separators can form a group structure of the battery cells. The battery cells can be directly accommodated in the battery box through the separators, and the normal positioning of the battery cells in the battery box can be achieved. work, thus simplifying the overall structure of the battery, improving the space utilization inside the battery, and thereby increasing the energy density of the battery.

The above description is only an overview of the technical solutions of the present application. In order to have a clearer understanding of the technical means of the present application, they can be implemented according to the content of the description, and in order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and understandable. , the specific implementation methods of the present application are specifically listed below.

Description of drawings

Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the embodiments. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating the embodiments and are not to be considered as limitations of the application. Also, the same parts are represented by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings. In the attached picture:

Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle in some embodiments of the present application.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a battery in some embodiments of the present application.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a battery cell in some embodiments of the present application.

Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a partition in an embodiment of the present application.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a separator disposed between two adjacent groups of battery cells in an embodiment of the present application.

Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a partition in another embodiment of the present application.

Figure 7 is a partial enlarged view of position A in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an exploded view of a separator and two adjacent groups of battery cells in some embodiments of the present application.

Figure 9 is a partial enlarged view of B in Figure 8.

1000. Vehicle; 100. Battery; 200. Controller; 300. Motor; 10. Battery box; 20. Battery cell; 30. Separator; 11. First part; 12. Second part; 21. End cover; 22. Housing; 23. Battery core assembly; 21a. Electrode terminal; 31. Bearing part; 32. Function part; 311. First sub-part; 312. Second sub-part; 321. Buffer sub-part; 322. Heat insulation Subpart; a, first direction.

Detailed ways

The embodiments of the technical solution of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following examples are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present application more clearly, and are therefore only used as examples and cannot be used to limit the protection scope of the present application.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field belonging to this application; the terms used herein are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to be used in Limitation of this application; the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the description and claims of this application and the above description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "first", "second", etc. are only used to distinguish different objects, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying the relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity or specificity of the indicated technical features. Sequence or priority relationship. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "plurality" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly and specifically limited.

Reference herein to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearances of this phrase in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Those skilled in the art understand, both explicitly and implicitly, that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "and/or" is only an association relationship describing associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships, such as A and/or B, which can mean: A exists alone, and A exists simultaneously and B, there are three cases of B alone. In addition, the character "/" in this article generally indicates that the related objects are an "or" relationship.

In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "multiple" refers to more than two (including two). Similarly, "multiple groups" refers to two or more groups (including two groups), and "multiple pieces" refers to It is more than two pieces (including two pieces).

In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right" and "vertical" The orientation or positional relationships indicated by "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. are based on those shown in the accompanying drawings. The orientation or positional relationship is only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present application and simplifying the description. It does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the implementation of the present application. Example limitations.

In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise clearly stated and limited, technical terms such as "installation", "connection", "connection" and "fixing" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection or a removable connection. It can be disassembled and connected, or integrated; it can also be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be an internal connection between two elements or an interaction between two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art In other words, the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

At present, judging from the development of the market situation, the application of power batteries is becoming more and more extensive. Power batteries are not only used in energy storage power systems such as hydropower, thermal power, wind power and solar power stations, but are also widely used in electric vehicles such as electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, electric cars and other fields. As the application fields of power batteries continue to expand, their market demand is also constantly expanding.

A battery cell is the smallest unit that makes up a battery. In a battery, there can be multiple battery cells. Multiple battery cells can be connected in series or in parallel or in a mixed connection. Mixed connection means that there are multiple battery cells that are connected in series. There is parallel connection again.

In the process of forming a battery from current battery cells, multiple battery cells must first be connected in series, parallel, or mixed to form a battery module. The battery module is also equipped with various functional structures, such as for absorbing batteries. The buffer structure of the cell expansion force, and the heat insulation structure used to isolate the battery cells and avoid thermal runaway of the battery cells. The above one or more battery modules are accommodated in the battery box to form a complete battery.

However, the setting of the battery module will reduce the space available to accommodate battery cells in the battery box, that is, reduce the number of battery cells that can be accommodated in the battery box, which is not conducive to improving the space utilization rate in the battery box and reduces the Battery energy density.

On this basis, if you simply reduce various functional structures in the battery box, such as buffer structures or heat insulation structures, the safety performance of the battery will be greatly reduced. Therefore, it is particularly important to make the battery structure simpler and improve the energy density of the battery while ensuring that the battery has high safety performance.

Based on the above considerations, in order to solve the current problems of complex battery structure, low battery internal space utilization, and low battery energy density, in one or more embodiments of the present application, a separator is designed, and the separator is located at Between two adjacent groups of battery cells, the adjacent two groups of battery cells are supported by the bearing portion on the separator, and at the same time, the adjacent two groups of battery cells are connected, so that the adjacent two groups of battery cells are connected with each other. The separators together form an overall structure, which can be directly accommodated in the battery box without forming a battery module, so that each battery cell can be independently grouped, simplifying the battery structure.

When the battery cells are independently grouped, since there is no need to form a battery module, various structures used to form the battery module can be reduced, which is conducive to the fixed connection of each battery cell to form a stable battery module structure. pieces etc. This can make the internal structure of the battery box simpler and optimized, eliminate a large number of connection structures and fixed structures, provide more space to accommodate more battery cells, improve the utilization rate of the internal space of the battery box, and thereby improve the battery performance. Energy Density. On this basis, the functional parts on the separator provide expansion space for two adjacent groups of battery cells, thereby ensuring the normal use of the battery cells and improving the safety performance of the battery.

The battery cells disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be used in, but are not limited to, electrical devices such as vehicles, ships, or aircrafts.

Embodiments of the present application provide an electrical device that uses a battery as a power source. The electrical device may be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop, an electric toy, an electric tool, a battery car, an electric vehicle, a ship, a spacecraft, etc. Among them, electric toys can include fixed or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, electric airplane toys, etc., and spacecraft can include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, spaceships, etc.

For the convenience of explanation in the following embodiments, an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present application is a vehicle.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle 1000 provided by some embodiments of the present application. The vehicle 1000 may be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or an extended-range vehicle, etc. The battery 100 is disposed inside the vehicle 1000 , and the battery 100 may be disposed at the bottom, head, or tail of the vehicle 1000 . The battery 100 may be used to power the vehicle 1000 , for example, the battery 100 may serve as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000 . The vehicle 1000 may also include a controller 200 and a motor 300 . The controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to provide power to the motor 300 , for example, for starting, navigating and driving the vehicle 1000 .

In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 100 can not only be used as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000 , but also can be used as a driving power source for the vehicle 1000 , replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1000 .

Please refer to FIG. 2 , which is an exploded view of the battery 100 provided by some embodiments of the present application. The battery 100 includes a battery case 10 and battery cells 20 . The battery cells 20 are accommodated in the battery case 10 . Among them, the battery box 10 is used to provide accommodating space for the battery cells 20, and the battery box 10 can adopt a variety of structures. In some embodiments, the battery box 10 may include a first part 11 and a second part 12. The first part 11 and the second part 12 cover each other. The first part 11 and the second part 12 jointly define a space for accommodating battery cells. 20 accommodation space. The second part 12 may be a hollow structure with one end open, and the first part 11 may be a plate-like structure. The first part 11 covers the open side of the second part 12 so that the first part 11 and the second part 12 jointly define a receiving space. ; The first part 11 and the second part 12 may also be hollow structures with one side open, and the open side of the first part 11 is covered with the open side of the second part 12. Of course, the box 10 formed by the first part 11 and the second part 12 can be in various shapes, such as cylinder, rectangular parallelepiped, etc.

In the battery 100, there may be a plurality of battery cells 20, and the plurality of battery cells 20 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in mixed connection. Mixed connection means that the plurality of battery cells 20 are connected in series and in parallel. The plurality of battery cells 20 can be directly connected in series or in parallel or mixed together, and then the whole composed of the plurality of battery cells 20 can be accommodated in the box 10 ; of course, the battery 100 can also be a plurality of battery cells 20 First, the battery modules are connected in series, parallel, or mixed to form a battery module, and then multiple battery modules are connected in series, parallel, or mixed to form a whole, and are accommodated in the box 10 . The battery 100 may also include other structures. For example, the battery 100 may further include a bus component for realizing electrical connections between multiple battery cells 20 .

Each battery cell 20 may be a secondary battery or a primary battery; it may also be a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-ion battery or a magnesium-ion battery, but is not limited thereto. The battery cell 20 may be in the shape of a cylinder, a flat body, a rectangular parallelepiped or other shapes.

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which is an exploded structural diagram of a battery cell 20 provided in some embodiments of the present application. The battery cell 20 refers to the smallest unit that constitutes the battery. As shown in FIG. 3 , the battery cell 20 includes an end cover 21 , a housing 22 , a cell assembly 23 and other functional components.

The end cap 21 refers to a component that covers the opening of the case 22 to isolate the internal environment of the battery cell 20 from the external environment. Without limitation, the shape of the end cap 21 can be adapted to the shape of the housing 22 to fit the housing 22 . Optionally, the end cap 21 can be made of a material with a certain hardness and strength (such as aluminum alloy). In this way, the end cap 21 is less likely to deform when subjected to extrusion and collision, so that the battery cell 20 can have higher durability. Structural strength and safety performance can also be improved. On end cap 21 Functional components such as the electrode terminal 21a may be provided. The electrode terminal 21a can be used to electrically connect with the battery cell assembly 23 for outputting or inputting electric energy of the battery cell 20 . In some embodiments, the end cap 21 may also be provided with a pressure relief mechanism for releasing the internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 reaches a threshold. The end cap 21 can also be made of various materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., which are not particularly limited in the embodiment of the present application. In some embodiments, an insulating member may also be provided inside the end cover 21 , and the insulating member may be used to isolate the electrical connection components in the housing 22 from the end cover 21 to reduce the risk of short circuit. For example, the insulating member may be plastic, rubber, etc.

The housing 22 is a component used to cooperate with the end cover 21 to form an internal environment of the battery cell 20 , wherein the formed internal environment can be used to accommodate the battery core assembly 23 , electrolyte and other components. The housing 22 and the end cover 21 may be independent components, and an opening may be provided on the housing 22. The end cover 21 covers the opening at the opening to form the internal environment of the battery cell 20. Without limitation, the end cover 21 and the housing 22 can also be integrated. Specifically, the end cover 21 and the housing 22 can form a common connection surface before other components are put into the housing. When it is necessary to encapsulate the inside of the housing 22 At this time, the end cover 21 covers the housing 22 again. The housing 22 can be of various shapes and sizes, such as rectangular parallelepiped, cylinder, hexagonal prism, etc. Specifically, the shape of the housing 22 can be determined according to the specific shape and size of the battery core assembly 23 . The housing 22 may be made of a variety of materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., which are not particularly limited in the embodiments of the present application.

The battery cell assembly 23 is a component in the battery cell 100 where electrochemical reactions occur. One or more battery core assemblies 23 may be contained within the housing 22 . The cell assembly 23 is mainly formed by winding or stacking positive electrode sheets and negative electrode sheets, and a separator is usually provided between the positive electrode sheets and the negative electrode sheets. The portions of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet that contain active material constitute the main body of the cell assembly, and the portions of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet that do not contain active material each constitute the tabs. The positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab can be located together at one end of the main body or respectively located at both ends of the main body. During the charging and discharging process of the battery, the positive active material and negative active material react with the electrolyte, and the tabs are connected to the electrode terminals to form a current loop.

Referring to Figures 2, 4 and 5, one embodiment of the present application provides a separator 30 for separating two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 in a battery. The separator 30 includes a bearing portion 31 and a functional portion 32 connected to each other. The bearing portion 31 is used to support and connect two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 . The functional portion 32 is used to connect two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 along the thickness direction of the separator 30 . The battery cells 20 provide expansion space.

It should be noted that the carrying part 31 and the functional part 32 may be configured as separate structures and connected to form the partition 30 , or may be configured as an integrally formed structure. When the bearing part 31 and the functional part 32 are separate structures, the bearing part 31 and the functional part 32 are respectively provided as a sub-board structure, and are connected to each other through each sub-board structure to form the overall structure of the partition 30 .

When the bearing part 31 and the functional part 32 are integrally formed, the bearing part 31 and the functional part 32 are respectively configured as different areas on the partition 30 , whereby the bearing part 31 and the functional part 32 are respectively connected with the adjacent two sets of batteries. Different positions of the cells 20 are in contact, thereby achieving different effects on two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 .

Specifically, when the separator 30 is disposed between two adjacent groups of battery cells 20, the adjacent two groups of battery cells 20 are respectively supported on the bearing portion 31 of the separator 30 along the thickness direction of the separator 30, so as to realize the battery operation. The load-bearing function of the monomer 20. In addition, two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 are connected to the carrying portion 31 respectively, so that the adjacent two groups of battery cells 20 are connected and fixed to the partition. 30, so that the adjacent two groups of battery cells 20 and the partition 30 located in the middle form a whole. When the battery is assembled, one or more of the above-mentioned units are directly accommodated in the battery box 10 to realize the direct grouping of the battery cells 20, improve the space utilization inside the battery box 10, and effectively increase the energy density of the battery.

Furthermore, while the adjacent two groups of battery cells 20 are supported and connected to the carrying portion 31 , the functional portion 32 provides expansion space for the adjacent two groups of battery cells 20 along the thickness direction of the partition 30 . Therefore, when the battery is in use, the battery cell 20 has sufficient deformation space, which can improve the safety performance of the battery and extend the service life of the battery.

Through the above structure, two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 can be connected and fixed through the carrying portion 31 , thereby realizing direct grouping of the battery cells 20 , simplifying the grouping structure of the battery cells 20 , and increasing the space inside the battery box 10 . accommodate the number of battery cells 20. As a result, the internal space utilization of the battery box 10 is improved, thereby increasing the energy density of the battery. In addition, the functional part 32 can provide sufficient expansion space for the battery cell 20 , thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery cell 20 .

In some embodiments, the hardness of the bearing part 31 is greater than the hardness of the functional part 32 . Therefore, the bearing portion 31 can better stably support the two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 and play a supporting role for the two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 . The hardness of the functional part 32 is relatively small, thereby providing sufficient expansion space for two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 to ensure the safety performance of the battery cells 20 during use.

Specifically, the load-bearing part 31 may be, but is not limited to, a steel plate, an aluminum plate, or a composite pultruded plate. The load-bearing part 31 may also be made of other materials that can satisfy the load-bearing effect of the load-bearing part 31 on two adjacent groups of battery cells 20. Here, No further details will be given.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , in some embodiments, the functional part 32 includes a buffer sub-part 321 , which is used to provide expansion space for two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 along the thickness direction of the separator 30 .

It should be noted that the buffer sub-portion 321 refers to the portion of the functional portion 32 used to provide expansion space for two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 along the thickness direction of the separator 30 . The buffer sub-portion 321 may be a layer structure arranged along the thickness direction of the partition 30 , or may be a sub-plate structure arranged along the width direction or length direction of the partition 30 .

Specifically, in order to better provide expansion space for adjacent two groups of battery cells 20 along the thickness direction of the separator 30 , the buffer sub-part 321 may be configured as a flexible structure. On the one hand, the buffer sub-section 321 is connected to two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 to avoid gaps between the separator 30 and the two adjacent groups of battery cells 20, thereby making the battery cells 20 more stable. On the other hand, when the battery cell 20 is deformed due to expansion during use, the buffer sub-section 321 can provide sufficient expansion space for the battery cell 20 .

In some embodiments, the material of the buffer sub-part 321 includes one of silicone, plastic, rubber and spring. The buffer sub-part 321 is made of the above-mentioned material, which can make the buffer sub-part 321 have good elastic recovery force. Therefore, when the battery cell 20 expands, the buffer sub-part 321 can provide sufficient expansion space. After the battery cell 20 recovers from expansion, , the buffer sub-portion 321 can provide elastic deformation to achieve a tight connection with the battery cell 20, avoiding gaps between the separator 30 and the battery cell 20, thereby making the structure of the battery cell 20 more stable.

Specifically, the buffer sub-part 321 may be configured as a silicone buffer sub-part. In some other embodiments, the buffer sub-part 321 can also be made of elastic materials such as plastic, rubber, or springs, which will not be described again here.

In some embodiments, the functional part 32 includes an insulating sub-part 322 connected to the buffering sub-part 321, or the insulating sub-part 322 and the buffering sub-part 321 are integrally provided. The thermal insulation sub-section 322 refers to a part used to isolate heat transfer between two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 . The thermal insulation sub-portion 322 may be a layer structure provided along the thickness direction of the partition 30 , or may be a sub-plate structure provided along the width direction or length direction of the partition 30 .

The thermal insulation sub-section 322 can isolate the heat transfer between two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 to prevent thermal runaway of a certain group of battery cells 20 from affecting other battery cells 20 , thereby reducing the risk of thermal runaway of the battery cells 20 . The range of influence during thermal runaway improves the safety performance of the battery.

Specifically, the thermal insulation sub-section 322 may be configured as an airgel thermal insulation pad. In some other embodiments, the thermal insulation sub-part 322 can also be made of at least one material among inorganic fiber cotton, mica and its composite materials, thermosetting resin foam, inorganic foam, etc., which will not be described again here.

As shown in FIG. 6 , as a specific embodiment, the buffering sub-section 321 and the heat-insulating sub-section 322 are respectively arranged in a layer structure and are stacked along the thickness direction of the partition 30 to achieve the buffering function and the heat-insulating function respectively. . Of course, in some other embodiments, the stacking order of the buffer sub-parts 321 and the heat-insulating sub-parts 322 can be changed in the thickness direction of the partition 30, or two layers of buffer sub-parts 321 can be provided and the two layers of buffer sub-parts can be A layer of thermal insulation sub-parts 322 is provided between 321, or two layers of thermal insulation sub-parts 322 are provided and a layer of buffer sub-parts 321 is provided between the two layers of thermal insulation sub-parts 322, thereby forming a multi-layer structure. It can be understood that the number of layers and the stacking sequence of the buffering sub-section 321 and the heat-insulating sub-section 322 can be adjusted according to actual needs to achieve better buffering and heat-insulating effects, which will not be described again here.

Please refer to Figure 4 again. In addition, the heat-insulating sub-part and the buffering sub-part can also be provided as an integral structure. For example, when the thermal insulation sub-part is configured as an airgel thermal insulation pad, since the airgel thermal insulation pad has elasticity, it can not only achieve the thermal insulation effect of two adjacent groups of battery cells 20, but also can provide insulation for adjacent groups. The two groups of battery cells 20 provide expansion space. At this time, the airgel thermal insulation pad can be used as an insulating sub-part and a buffer sub-part.

In some embodiments, the thickness of the bearing part 31 ranges from 0.1 mm to 20 mm; and/or the thickness of the functional part 32 ranges from 0.1 mm to 20 mm.

The thickness of the bearing part 31 and the functional part 32 will affect the total thickness of the partition 30 , and the thickness of the partition 30 will affect the space utilization inside the battery box 10 . For example, when the thickness of the bearing part 31 is greater than 20 mm and the thickness of the functional part 32 is greater than 20 mm, when the partition 30 is provided between two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 and is accommodated together in the battery box 10, the separation The space occupied by the component 30 is too large, resulting in low space utilization within the battery cell. When the thickness of the bearing part 31 is less than 0.1 mm and the thickness of the functional part 32 is less than 0.1 mm, on the one hand, sufficient expansion space cannot be provided for two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 . On the other hand, the isolation of heat transfer between two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 cannot be effectively achieved, resulting in the problem of thermal runaway of the battery cells 20 .

Based on this, the thickness range of the bearing part 31 is set to 0.1 mm-20 mm, and the thickness range of the functional part 32 is set to 0.1 mm-20 mm. The above thickness range can realize that the separator 30 provides sufficient expansion space for the two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 and effectively isolates the heat transfer between the two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 to avoid thermal runaway. On the basis of this, the space occupied by the partition 30 is reduced as much as possible to provide space utilization.

In some embodiments, the thickness of the bearing part 31 ranges from 0.5 mm to 5 mm; and/or the thickness of the functional part 32 ranges from 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

As a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the bearing part 31 ranges from 0.5 mm to 5 mm, and the thickness of the functional part 32 ranges from 0.5 mm to 5 mm. When the thickness of the bearing part 31 and the functional part 32 is greater than 5 mm, the space occupied by the separator 30 is too large, resulting in low space utilization within the battery cell. When the thickness of the bearing part 31 and the functional part 32 is less than 0.5 mm, on the one hand, sufficient expansion space cannot be provided for two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 . On the other hand, the isolation of heat transfer between two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 cannot be effectively achieved, resulting in the problem of thermal runaway of the battery cells 20 .

Therefore, within the above thickness range, it can be ensured that the supporting portion 31 supports and connects the adjacent two groups of battery cells 20 and the functional portion 32 provides sufficient expansion space for the adjacent two groups of battery cells 20. At the same time, it is possible to maximize the expansion space. The space occupied by the partition 30 can be reduced as much as possible to improve space utilization.

In some embodiments, the thickness of the functional part 32 is smaller than the thickness of the bearing part 31 . That is, there is a thickness difference between the carrying part 31 and the functional part 32 . As a result, the bearing portion 31 can better provide stable support for the adjacent two groups of battery cells 20 , and the positions of the functional portion 32 corresponding to the adjacent two groups of battery cells 20 can provide more sufficient support for the battery cells 20 . expansion space to better absorb the expansion force of the battery cell 20.

In some embodiments, the connection method between the carrying part 31 and the functional part 32 is a heat sealing film connection.

In specific use, since the thickness of the carrying part 31 and the functional part 32 is relatively thin, in order to improve the connection stability between the carrying part 31 and the functional part 32 , a heat sealing film may be used to connect the two. Specifically, a heat sealing film can be used to cover the position where the carrying part 31 and the functional part 32 are connected, or a heat sealing film can be used to cover the entire carrying part 31 and the functional part 32, and the heat sealing film can be heated to shrink, thereby A stable connection between the carrying part 31 and the functional part 32 is achieved.

By connecting the carrying part 31 and the functional part 32 by using a heat sealing film, the connection structure between the carrying part 31 and the functional part 32 can be simplified, making the overall structure of the partition 30 simpler.

It can be understood that in some other embodiments, the bearing part 31 and the functional part 32 can also be connected through other connection methods, such as bolt connection or bonding, which will not be described again here.

In some embodiments, the connection method between the carrying portion 31 and the adjacent two groups of battery cells 20 is bonding. That is, glue is applied to the carrying part 31, and the carrying part 31 is connected to two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 by gluing. As a result, two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 can be stably connected to the carrying portion 31 without increasing the connection structure, thereby simplifying the group structure of the battery cells 20 .

In some embodiments, the carrying part 31 includes a first sub-part 311 and a second sub-part 312 respectively connected to opposite ends of the functional part 32 along the first direction a. That is, the functional part 32 is sandwiched between the first sub-part 311 and the second sub-part 312 along the first direction a.

Therefore, when the separator 30 is disposed between two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 , the first sub-section 311 and the second sub-section 312 are located at the ends of the battery cells 20 , so that the battery cells can be better protected. 20 for support.

At the same time, the functional part 32 is located between the first sub-part 311 and the second sub-part 312 , that is, the functional part 32 corresponds to the center position of the large surface of the battery cell 20 . Since the expansion and deformation of the large surface of the battery cell 20 is greater, the functional portion 32 is arranged corresponding to the center position of the large surface of the battery cell 20, which can provide a more sufficient expansion space for the battery cell 20 and effectively improve the battery cell quality. Body 20 safety performance.

Based on the same concept as the above-mentioned separator 30 , this application provides a battery, including a battery box 10 , the above-mentioned separator 30 and at least two groups of battery cells 20 . Each battery cell 20 is accommodated in the battery box 10 , and each partition 30 is provided between each two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 . As a result, the energy density of the battery can be improved.

Please refer to FIGS. 8 and 9 . In some embodiments, two sides of each partition 30 along its thickness direction are respectively arranged to fit with the large surfaces of two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 .

Specifically, when the separator 30 is disposed in close contact with the large surfaces of two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 , the first sub-portion 311 and the second sub-portion 312 are respectively located at the height direction of the battery cell 20 along the height direction of the battery cell 20 . At the upper and lower ends, the functional portion 32 is located between the first sub-portion 311 and the second sub-portion 312 , that is, the functional portion 32 is correspondingly disposed at the center of the large surface of the battery cell 20 .

It should be noted that when the battery cell 20 expands and deforms, the expansion deformation amount of the large surface of the battery cell 20 is larger than that of other sides. Therefore, the functional portion 32 is arranged corresponding to the center position of the large surface of the battery cell 20, which can provide a more sufficient expansion space for the battery cell 20 and effectively improve the safety performance of the battery cell 20.

Based on the same concept as the above-mentioned battery, the present application provides an electrical device, including the above-mentioned battery.

When this application is specifically used, multiple battery cells 20 are first arranged to form a group, and a partition 30 is provided between two adjacent groups of battery cells 20 . The battery cells 20 are connected to the bearing portion 31 on the separator 30 and supported on the bearing portion 31 . At the same time, the functional portion 32 of the partition 30 is disposed corresponding to the center position of the large surface of the battery cell 20 to provide expansion space for the battery cell 20 .

Further, a separator 30 is provided between each adjacent two groups of battery cells 20 in the multiple groups of battery cells 20, whereby the multiple groups of battery cells 20 jointly form a group structure, and the group structure is accommodated in In the box body of the battery box 10. Thus, the battery can be assembled.

The battery assembled in the above manner can effectively alleviate the thermal runaway problem of the battery cell 20 during use and provide sufficient expansion space for the battery cell 20 . In addition, it can also effectively improve the space utilization inside the battery and increase the energy density of the battery. As a result, the battery not only has higher safety performance, but also has higher energy density.

Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present application, but not to limit it; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: The technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments can still be modified, or some or all of the technical features can be equivalently replaced; and these modifications or substitutions do not deviate from the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application. The scope shall be covered by the claims and description of this application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any way. The application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

A separator used to separate two adjacent groups of battery cells in a battery. The separator includes a bearing part and a functional part connected to each other. The bearing part is used to support two adjacent groups of battery cells and Connected thereto, the functional part is used to provide expansion space for two adjacent groups of battery cells along the thickness direction of the partition.
The partition according to claim 1, wherein the hardness of the bearing part is greater than the hardness of the functional part.
The separator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the functional part includes a buffer sub-portion for providing expansion for two adjacent groups of battery cells along a thickness direction of the separator. space.
The separator according to claim 3, wherein the material of the buffer sub-part includes one of silicone, plastic, rubber and spring.
The partition according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the functional part includes a heat-insulating sub-section, the heat-insulating sub-section is connected to the buffer sub-section, or the heat-insulating sub-section is connected to the buffer sub-section. Integrated setting.
The separator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the thickness of the bearing part ranges from 0.1 mm to 20 mm; and/or the thickness of the functional part ranges from 0.1 mm to 20 mm.
The separator according to claim 6, wherein the thickness of the bearing part ranges from 0.5 mm to 5 mm; and/or the thickness of the functional part ranges from 0.5 mm to 5 mm.
The partition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the thickness of the functional part is smaller than the thickness of the bearing part.
The separator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the connection between the carrying part and the functional part is a heat sealing film connection.
The separator according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the connection between the carrying portion and the two adjacent groups of battery cells is by adhesion.
The partition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the carrying part includes a first sub-part and a second sub-part respectively connected to opposite ends of the functional part along the first direction.
A battery, including:

battery box;

A partition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11; and

At least two groups of battery cells are housed in the battery box;

Wherein, each of the partitions is provided between each adjacent two groups of battery cells.
The battery according to claim 12, wherein two side surfaces of each separator along its own thickness direction are respectively disposed in contact with the large surfaces of two adjacent groups of battery cells.
An electrical device, comprising the battery according to claim 12 or 13.