阅读说明：本技术 电池系统和车辆 (Battery system and vehicle ) 是由 商光路 S·莱纳特 于 2020-03-24 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供用于车辆的电池系统和车辆。电池系统包括壳体、多个电池单体及多个热管。壳体具有内腔且具有相对设置的第一壳体端部和第二壳体端部。电池单体沿着从第一壳体端部到第二壳体端部的排列方向设置在内腔中。热管设置在电池单体的下方,热管与电池单体及所述壳体热接触。热管具有最靠近第一壳体端部的第一热管端部和最靠近第二壳体端部的第二热管端部,其中,在每一个电池单体的下方均设置有第一热管端部和不同热管的第二热管端部。根据本发明的方案,当壳体朝向第一壳体端部或第二壳体端部倾斜时,每一个电池单体的下方均能保留一定量的液态相变材料,使得当任何一个电池单体的温度较高时,热量可快速传递至壳体外部和/或其他电池单体。(The invention provides a battery system for a vehicle and the vehicle. The battery system comprises a shell, a plurality of battery monomers and a plurality of heat pipes. The housing has an interior cavity and has oppositely disposed first and second housing ends. The battery cells are disposed in the internal cavity along an arrangement direction from the first case end to the second case end. The heat pipe is arranged below the battery monomer and is in thermal contact with the battery monomer and the shell. The heat pipe has a first heat pipe end closest to the first case end and a second heat pipe end closest to the second case end, wherein the first heat pipe end and the second heat pipe end of a different heat pipe are disposed below each battery cell. According to the scheme of the invention, when the shell is inclined towards the first shell end or the second shell end, a certain amount of liquid phase change material can be reserved below each battery unit, so that when the temperature of any one battery unit is higher, heat can be rapidly transferred to the outside of the shell and/or other battery units.)

1. A battery system for a vehicle, the battery system comprising:

a housing having an interior cavity and having oppositely disposed first and second housing ends;

a plurality of battery cells disposed in the internal cavity along an alignment direction from the first housing end to the second housing end; and

a plurality of heat pipes disposed below the battery cells, the heat pipes in thermal contact with the battery cells and the case, the heat pipes having a first heat pipe end closest to the first case end and a second heat pipe end closest to the second case end, wherein the first heat pipe end and the second heat pipe end of a different heat pipe are disposed below each of the battery cells.

2. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the heat pipe is parallel to a bottom surface of the battery cell.

3. The battery system according to claim 2, wherein a projection of the heat pipe in a horizontal plane in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction is located within a projection of the bottom of the battery cell in the horizontal plane.

4. The battery system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of battery cells are arranged in a plurality of battery stacks, the battery system further comprising a stack holder disposed at a longitudinal end of each of the battery stacks and connected to the housing.

5. The battery system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the heat pipes are provided independently of each other and connected to the housing.

6. The battery system according to claim 5, wherein one of the first heat pipe end and the second heat pipe end of the heat pipe protrudes from the battery cell and is connected to the case, and the other of the first heat pipe end and the second heat pipe end of the heat pipe is located below the battery cell.

7. The battery system of any of claims 1-4, further comprising a heat transfer panel connected to the housing, the heat pipe being disposed in the heat transfer panel.

8. The battery system of claim 7, wherein the heat pipe is formed inside and integrally with the heat transfer plate.

9. A vehicle characterized in that the vehicle includes the battery system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the housing is connected to and in thermal contact with a body of the vehicle or the vehicle further comprises a heat sink disposed on the body of the vehicle, the housing being connected to and in thermal contact with the heat sink.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of vehicle technology, and more particularly, to a battery system for a vehicle and a vehicle having the same.

Background

With the development of vehicle technology, the demand for the safety performance of a battery system of a vehicle is also increasing. If the temperature of some battery cells in the battery system is high, the battery cells with high temperature are easy to generate thermal runaway, and further fire and explosion are caused. The applicant is aware of a battery system, in which a heat pipe filled with a liquid phase change material is disposed below a battery cell to rapidly transfer heat of the battery cell with a higher temperature to the outside of a housing and other battery cells, so as to avoid thermal runaway of the battery cell with a higher temperature.

However, when the vehicle is inclined in the arrangement direction of the battery cells due to a collision, a bump, or the like, the housing of the battery system and the heat pipe in the housing will also be inclined in the arrangement direction of the battery cells. In this case, the liquid phase change material in the heat pipe tends to flow toward the lowest point of the heat pipe under the action of gravity, so that the interior of the heat pipe below some of the battery cells cannot retain the liquid phase change material. When the temperature of the battery cells is high, the heat of the battery cells cannot be rapidly transferred to the outside of the case and other battery cells, so that the battery cells are easily subjected to thermal runaway.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a battery system for a vehicle and a vehicle having the same to at least partially solve the problems in the prior art.

Disclosure of Invention

To solve the above technical problems, according to an aspect of the present invention, a battery system for a vehicle is provided. The battery system comprises a shell, a plurality of battery monomers and a plurality of heat pipes. The housing has an interior cavity and has oppositely disposed first and second housing ends. The battery cells are disposed in the internal cavity along an arrangement direction from the first case end to the second case end. The heat pipe is arranged below the battery cell, and the heat pipe is in thermal contact with the battery cell and the shell. The heat pipe has a first heat pipe end closest to the first case end and a second heat pipe end closest to the second case end, wherein the first heat pipe end and the second heat pipe end of a different heat pipe are disposed below each of the battery cells.

Preferably, the heat pipe is parallel to a bottom surface of the battery cell.

Preferably, in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction, a projection of the heat pipe in a horizontal plane is located within a projection of the bottom of the battery cell in the horizontal plane.

Preferably, the plurality of battery cells are arranged in a plurality of battery stacks, and the battery system further includes a stack holder disposed at a longitudinal end of each of the battery stacks and connected to the case.

Preferably, a plurality of the heat pipes are provided independently of each other and connected to the case.

Preferably, one of the first heat pipe end and the second heat pipe end of the heat pipe protrudes from the battery cell and is connected to the case, and the other of the first heat pipe end and the second heat pipe end of the heat pipe is located below the battery cell.

Preferably, the battery system further includes a heat transfer plate connected to the case, the heat pipe being disposed in the heat transfer plate.

Preferably, the heat pipe is formed inside the heat transfer plate and is integrally formed with the heat transfer plate.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes any one of the battery systems described above.

Preferably, the housing is connected to and in thermal contact with the body of the vehicle or the vehicle further comprises a heat sink disposed on the body of the vehicle, the housing being connected to and in thermal contact with the heat sink.

According to the aspect of the invention, when the vehicle is inclined in the arrangement direction of the battery cells due to a collision, a bump, or the like, the housing of the battery system and the heat pipe in the housing will also be inclined in the arrangement direction of the battery cells. In this case, the liquid phase change material in the heat pipe tends to flow towards the lowest point of the heat pipe under the influence of gravity and remains at the first heat pipe end or at the second heat pipe end. Since the first heat pipe end and the second heat pipe end of a different heat pipe are disposed below each battery cell, the first heat pipe end or the second heat pipe end below each battery cell can retain a certain amount of liquid phase change material when the case is tilted toward either of the first case end and the second case end. When the temperature of any battery monomer is higher, the liquid phase-change material retained below the battery monomer with the higher temperature can quickly absorb the heat of the battery monomer with the higher temperature, so that the heat of the battery monomer with the higher temperature is quickly transmitted to the outside of the shell and/or other battery monomers through the heat pipe, and the possibility that a certain battery monomer is out of control due to the fact that the temperature is too high is reduced.

Drawings

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described by way of example with reference to the following drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 2 is a schematic view of a plurality of heat pipes provided in the heat transfer plate member shown in fig. 1, in which the correspondence of the battery cells with the first and second heat pipe ends of the heat pipes is schematically shown.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more apparent, the present invention is described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

In a first aspect of the present invention, a battery system for a vehicle is provided. Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery system 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the plurality of heat pipes 160 provided in the heat transfer plate member 170 shown in fig. 1, in which the correspondence of the battery cells 121 with the first and second heat pipe ends 160A and 160B of the heat pipes 160 is schematically shown. The battery system 100 provided by the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 1 and 2.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the battery system 100 includes a case 110, a plurality of battery cells 121 disposed in the case 110, and a plurality of heat pipes 160.

As shown in fig. 1, the housing 110 has an interior cavity 111 and has first and second oppositely disposed housing ends 110A, 110B. The inner cavity 111 may form a receiving space to receive a plurality of battery cells 121 of the battery system 100. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the housing 110 has a substantially box-like shape. The housing 110 includes a bottom wall 112 and a side wall 113 extending upward from a peripheral edge of the bottom wall 112. The bottom wall 112 and the side wall 113 together enclose an inner cavity 111 having an open top. In addition, the housing 110 includes a top wall 114 covering the top opening of the inner cavity 111. The bottom wall 112 and the side wall 113 may be integrally formed, and the top wall 114 may be detachably coupled to the side wall 113 to facilitate disposing of the plurality of battery cells 121, etc. of the battery system 100 within the interior cavity 111. Of course, in other embodiments of the invention not shown, the housing 110 may also be any other suitable shape.

At least a portion of the housing 110 may be made of a metallic material (e.g., iron, copper, aluminum, steel, etc.) having good thermal conductivity. For example, in the present embodiment, at least the bottom wall 112 of the housing 110 may be made of a metal material having good thermal conductivity. At least a portion of the housing 110 may also be made of a thermally conductive material with good thermal conductivity and other mechanically superior (e.g., carbon fiber material) materials encased within the thermally conductive material. On the one hand, good thermal conductivity and, on the other hand, the mechanical strength required to support the various components inside the housing 110.

As shown in fig. 1, the battery system 100 includes a plurality of battery cells 121, and the plurality of battery cells 121 are disposed in the inner cavity 111 along an arrangement direction from the first case end 110A to the second case end 110B. A plurality of battery cells 121 may be connected in series to provide sufficient battery power to the vehicle. The plurality of battery cells 121 may be arranged in a plurality of cell stacks. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the plurality of battery cells 121 are arranged to form twelve battery stacks, wherein each battery stack includes the same or different number of the plurality of battery cells 121.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the battery system 100 further includes a plurality of heat pipes 160. The heat pipe 160 is disposed under the battery cell 121. The heat pipe 160 is in thermal contact with the battery cell 121 and the case 110. Specifically, the heat pipe 160 is disposed between the battery cells 121 and the bottom wall 112 of the case 110, and is in thermal contact with each of the battery cells 121 and the bottom wall 112 of the case 110. It should be noted that the term "thermal contact" as used herein means that heat can be transferred between two objects that are in thermal contact with each other. Two objects that are in thermal contact with each other may or may not be in physical direct contact, but other heat transfer elements may be provided between the two objects that are in thermal contact with each other, as long as heat can be transferred from one of the objects to the other.

The interior of the heat pipe 160 is filled with a liquid phase change material. The heat pipe 160 has a case that is generally made of a metal material. The interior of the tube shell is pumped into a negative pressure state and is filled with liquid phase-change materials. Liquid phase change materials are typically low boiling, volatile working fluids. The tube wall of the tube shell is provided with a liquid absorption core which is made of capillary porous materials. The heat pipe 160 can combine heat conduction with vapor-liquid phase change heat transfer of working medium, and has very low heat resistance, so that the heat pipe has very high heat transfer capability and can rapidly transfer heat. When the temperature of any one of the battery cells 121 in the battery stack is high (e.g., 65 ℃ or higher and 120 ℃ or higher), the heat of the high-temperature battery cell 121 can be rapidly transferred to the heat pipe 160. On one hand, the heat pipe 160 can rapidly transfer a part of heat to the housing 110 and further to the outside of the housing 110 through thermal contact with the housing 110, so that the possibility of thermal runaway of one of the battery cells 121 due to over-high temperature is greatly reduced. On the other hand, if the heat pipe 160 is in thermal contact with other battery cells 121, another part of heat can be rapidly transferred to the other battery cells 121, and the possibility of thermal runaway of one of the battery cells 121 due to over-high temperature is further reduced.

As shown in fig. 2, the heat pipe 160 has a first heat pipe end 160A closest to the first case end 110A and a second heat pipe end 160B closest to the second case end 110A, wherein the first heat pipe end 160A and the second heat pipe end 160B of a different heat pipe are disposed below each of the battery cells 121. The heat pipe 160 may extend under the plurality of battery cells 121. The "end portion of the heat pipe" referred to herein is referred to with respect to the arrangement direction of the battery cells 121. The first heat pipe end 160A is a portion of the heat pipe 160 closest to the first case end 110A in the arrangement direction of the battery cells 121, and the second heat pipe end 160B is a portion of the heat pipe 160 closest to the second case end 110B in the arrangement direction of the battery cells 121. The heat pipe 160 may be a straight pipe or may have a curved portion. In the present embodiment, the heat pipe 160 is a straight pipe, and the extending direction thereof is parallel to the arrangement direction of the battery cells 121. The number of the heat pipes 160 is twice the number of the battery cells 121, and one first heat pipe end 160A and one second heat pipe end 160B of a different heat pipe are provided under each battery cell 121. Of course, in other embodiments not shown in the present disclosure, the number of the heat pipes 160 may be flexibly set, and it is only necessary to ensure that at least one first heat pipe end 160A and at least one second heat pipe end 160B of different heat pipes are disposed below each battery cell 121.

When the housing 110 is tilted toward the first housing end 110A in the arrangement direction of the battery cells 121, the heat pipe 160 in the housing 110 is also tilted toward the first heat pipe end 160A accordingly, so that the liquid phase change material in the heat pipe 160 tends to flow toward the first heat pipe end 160A under the action of gravity and is retained at the first heat pipe end 160A. Likewise, when the housing 110 is tilted toward the second housing end 110B, the heat pipe 160 in the housing 110 is also correspondingly tilted toward the second heat pipe end 160B, such that the liquid phase change material in the heat pipe 160 tends to flow toward the second heat pipe end 160B under the influence of gravity and is retained at the second heat pipe end 160B. Since the first heat pipe end 160A and the second heat pipe end 160B of a different heat pipe are disposed below each of the battery cells 121, the first heat pipe end 160A or the second heat pipe end 160B located below each of the battery cells 121 can retain a certain amount of liquid phase change material when the case 110 is tilted toward either one of the first case end 110A and the second case end 110B. When the temperature of any battery cell 121 is high, the liquid phase change material remaining below the battery cell 121 with the high temperature can quickly absorb the heat of the battery cell 121 with the high temperature, so that the heat of the battery cell 121 with the high temperature is quickly transferred to the casing 110 and/or other battery cells 121 through the heat pipe 160, and the possibility that one of the battery cells 121 is thermally out of control due to the high temperature is reduced.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the heat pipe 160 is parallel to the bottom surface of the battery cell 121. Designed in this way, on the one hand, each cell 121 is able to make good thermal contact with the heat pipe 160. On the other hand, when the housing 110 is in a horizontal state, the liquid phase change material can be uniformly distributed inside the heat pipe 160 in the extending direction of the heat pipe 160. In this way, when the temperature of any one of the battery cells 121 is high, the liquid phase change material below the battery cell 121 can quickly absorb the heat of the battery cell 121 with the high temperature, so that the heat of the battery cell 121 with the high temperature is quickly transferred to the housing 110 and/or other battery cells 121 through the heat pipe 160.

Preferably, in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the battery cells 121, a projection of the heat pipe 160 in a horizontal plane is located within a projection of the bottom of the battery cell 121 in the horizontal plane. It should be noted that the projection relationship between the heat pipe 160 and the battery cell 121 in the horizontal plane is referred to as an assembly state in which the battery system 100 is assembled to a vehicle. That is, in the assembled state, each heat pipe 160 can be covered by the bottom of the battery cell 121 in the lateral direction of the battery cell 121 (i.e., the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the battery cells 121). Designed in this way, when the housing 110 is inclined in the lateral direction of the battery cells 121, even if the liquid phase change material in the heat pipe 160 is inclined toward the lowest point of the heat pipe 160 by gravity, a certain amount of the liquid phase change material can remain below each battery cell 121. When the temperature of any one of the battery cells 121 is high, the liquid phase change material remaining below the battery cell 121 with the high temperature can quickly absorb the heat of the battery cell 121 with the high temperature, so that the heat of the battery cell 121 with the high temperature is quickly transferred to the housing 110 and/or other battery cells 121 through the heat pipe 160.

As shown in fig. 1, in the present embodiment, the battery system 100 further includes a stack holder 150, the stack holder 150 being disposed at a longitudinal end of each cell stack and connected to the case 110. It should be noted that the "longitudinal direction" of the stack referred to herein refers to the arrangement direction of the unit cells 121 in the stack. Specifically, the stack holder 150 is attached to the side wall 113 of the case 110. Preferably, the battery cells 121 at the longitudinal ends of each cell stack may be connected together with the stack holder 150 by an adhesive such as foam and glue to restrict the movement of the battery cells 121 with respect to the case 110, thereby enabling the battery cells 121 to be aligned with the first and second heat pipe ends 160A and 160B disposed therebelow in a more stable manner.

Alternatively, the plurality of heat pipes 160 are provided independently of each other. Alternatively, the plurality of heat pipes 160 may also be integrated together. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, a plurality of heat pipes 160 are integrally provided in a heat transfer plate member 170, which will be described in detail later.

When the plurality of heat pipes 160 are disposed independently of each other, the heat pipes 160 are coupled to the case 110 to restrict movement of the heat pipes 160 relative to the case 110, thereby enabling the heat pipes 160 to be fixedly disposed relative to the battery cells 121, and thus enabling the battery cells 121 to be aligned with the first and second heat pipe ends 160A and 160B disposed therebelow in a more stable manner.

Preferably, one of the first and second heat pipe ends 160A and 160B of the heat pipe 160 protrudes from the battery cell 121 and is connected to the case 110. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, one of the first and second heat pipe ends 160A, 160B of the heat pipe 160 is connected to the bottom wall 112 of the housing 110. The other of the first and second heat pipe ends 160A and 160B of the heat pipe 160 is located below the corresponding battery cell 121. By designing in this way, the connection of the heat pipe 160 and the housing 110 and the thermal contact of the heat pipe 160 and the battery cell 121 can be made to be not interfered with each other, so that the connection of the heat pipe 160 and the housing 110 and the thermal contact of the heat pipe 160 and the battery cell 121 are both more reliable. Of course, both the first and second heat pipe ends 160A and 160B of the heat pipe 160 may not protrude from the battery cell 121 but be located below different battery cells 121. Each heat pipe 160 may be connected to the housing 110 by a welded connection or a threaded fastener connection. The manner of the welded connection or the threaded fastener connection hardly affects the heat transfer effect between the heat pipe 160 and the case 110.

Optionally, when the plurality of heat pipes 160 are integrated together, the battery system 100 further includes a heat transfer plate 170, the heat transfer plate 170 being connected to the case 110, the heat pipes 160 being disposed in the heat transfer plate 170. Specifically, as shown in fig. 1, the heat transfer plate 170 is disposed below the battery cell 121, i.e., the heat transfer plate 170 is disposed between the battery cell 121 and the bottom wall 112 of the case 110. By arranging the heat pipe 160 in the heat transfer plate member 170, on the one hand, it is possible to facilitate fixing the heat pipe 160; on the other hand, the installation of the battery system 100 may be facilitated; on the other hand, in the case where the heat transfer plate 170 is provided, the thermal contact area of the heat transfer plate 170 with the battery cell 121 is larger than the thermal contact area of the heat pipe 160 with the battery cell 121, as compared to the case where the heat transfer plate 170 is not provided, and thus, by disposing the heat pipe 160 in the heat transfer plate 170, it is advantageous for the heat of the battery cell 121 having a higher temperature to be transferred to the plurality of other battery cells 121 through the heat pipe 160 and the heat transfer plate 170.

The heat transfer plate member 170 may be made of a material having good thermal conductivity. For example, the heat transfer plate member 170 may be made of a metal material (e.g., iron, copper, aluminum, steel, etc.) having good thermal conductivity. The heat transfer plate member 170 may also be made of a flexible material such as heat conductive silicone rubber, heat conductive foam rubber, or the like. The heat pipe 160 may be formed inside the heat transfer plate 170 and integrally formed with the heat transfer plate 170. The heat pipe 160 may also be disposed in a groove on the heat transfer plate member 170 that matches the shape of the heat pipe 160.

Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the heat transfer plate member 170 is provided in a rectangular shape, and a plurality of heat pipes 160 are disposed therein. Alternatively, the four right-angled portions of the heat transfer plate 170 may be connected to the housing 110 by way of a welded connection or a threaded fastener connection to limit movement of the heat transfer plate 170 relative to the housing 110. Of course, in other embodiments of the invention not shown, the heat transfer plates 170 may also be any other suitable shape.

Preferably, a temperature detection device may be disposed on the heat pipe 160 to detect a temperature change in the battery cell 121. The temperature detection device may be connected to a battery management system to output a detection signal through the battery management system.

Optionally, a thermal insulator (not shown) is disposed between adjacent battery cells 121. The insulation may be made of an insulating material. The insulation may also be vacuum insulation. The thermal insulation member may prevent heat transfer between the adjacent battery cells 121 by direct thermal conduction, particularly in a case where the temperature of one of the battery cells 121 is high. Generally, the heat distribution is unbalanced easily caused by the heat transfer between the adjacent battery cells 121 through direct heat conduction. When a certain battery cell 121 is at an excessively high temperature and is about to generate thermal runaway or has already generated thermal runaway, if direct heat conduction can occur between adjacent battery cells 121, most of heat of the battery cell 121 at the higher temperature is transferred to the adjacent battery cell 121 close to the battery cell 121 at the higher temperature through the direct heat conduction, and the heat obtained by other battery cells 121 far away from the battery cell 121 at the higher temperature is less, so that the temperature of the adjacent battery cell 121 is easily higher, and the possibility of thermal runaway occurring in the adjacent battery cell 121 is higher.

Optionally, a bus bar (not shown) is further provided on the top of each battery cell 121. The bus bar is generally made of a metal material. On the one hand, the busbars may carry current to achieve a series connection or a parallel connection between the battery cells 121; on the other hand, the bus bar is in heat soaking contact with each battery cell 121, so that the temperature of each battery cell 121 tends to be consistent, and the possibility that thermal runaway occurs due to the fact that the temperature of one battery cell 121 is too high is greatly reduced.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is also provided a vehicle provided with any one of the battery systems described above. For brevity, further description is omitted here.

Optionally, the housing 110 of the battery system 100 is connected to and in thermal contact with the body of the vehicle. Specifically, the housing 110 may be connected to and in thermal contact with the body of the vehicle by way of a welded connection or a threaded fastener connection. The manner of the welded connection or the threaded fastener connection hardly affects the heat transfer effect between the housing 110 and the body of the vehicle. Designed in this way, on the one hand, it is possible to limit the movement of the housing 110 relative to the body of the vehicle, so that the housing 110 is arranged fixedly relative to the vehicle; on the other hand, the housing 110 can form good thermal contact with the vehicle body, so that when the temperature of any one of the battery cells 121 is high, the heat of the battery cell 121 with the high temperature can be rapidly transferred to the housing 110 through the heat pipe 160 as described above, and further transferred to the vehicle body of the vehicle through the housing 110 and diffused to the outside of the vehicle body, and the possibility that one of the battery cells 121 is thermally out of control due to the over-high temperature is reduced.

Optionally, the vehicle further includes a heat sink disposed on the body of the vehicle, the housing 110 of the battery system 100 being connected to and in thermal contact with the heat sink. Likewise, the housing 110 may be connected to and in thermal contact with the heat sink by way of a welded connection or a threaded fastener connection. Designed in this way, on the one hand, the movement of the housing 110 relative to the heat-dissipating component can be limited, so that the housing 110 is fixedly arranged relative to the vehicle; on the other hand, the casing 110 can form good thermal contact with the heat dissipation member, so that when the temperature of any one of the battery cells 121 is high, the heat of the battery cell 121 with the high temperature can be rapidly transferred to the casing 110 through the heat pipe 160 as described above, and further transferred to the heat dissipation member through the casing 110, and then rapidly dissipated through the heat dissipation member, thereby greatly increasing the heat dissipation efficiency, and further reducing the possibility that thermal runaway occurs due to the high temperature of one of the battery cells 121.

Preferably, at least one of the bottom wall 112, the side wall 113 and the top wall 114 of the housing 110 is connected to and in thermal contact with the body of the vehicle or a heat sink provided on the body. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom wall 112 of the housing 110 is connected to and in thermal contact with the body of the vehicle or a heat sink member provided on the body. When the temperature of any one of the battery cells 121 is high, when the heat of the battery cell 121 at the high temperature is rapidly transferred to the case 110 by the heat pipe 160 as described above, the heat is first transferred to the bottom wall 112 of the case 110. Therefore, by attaching the bottom wall 112 of the housing 110 to the body of the vehicle or a heat radiating member provided on the body, it is more advantageous for heat to be diffused out through the body of the vehicle or the heat radiating member provided on the body.

The technical features of the above embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and for the sake of brevity, all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are not described, but should be considered as the scope of the present specification as long as there is no contradiction between the combinations of the technical features.

While the present invention has been described in connection with the embodiments, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description and drawings are merely illustrative and not restrictive of the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.