阅读说明：本技术 电池系统和车辆 (Battery system and vehicle ) 是由 商光路 于 2019-11-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种用于车辆的电池系统和具有该电池系统的车辆。电池系统包括壳体、电池模组以及传热组件。壳体具有内腔。电池模组设置在内腔中,电池模组包括至少一个电池单体。传热组件设置在电池模组与壳体之间,传热组件与每一个电池单体以及壳体热接触。根据本发明的方案,当电池模组中任何一个电池单体的温度较高时,该温度较高的电池单体的热量可以被传递至传热组件。传热组件一方面可以通过与壳体之间的热接触将热量传递至壳体并进而传递至壳体的外部,另一方面又可以通过与其他电池单体之间的热接触而将热量传递至其他电池单体,使得整个电池模组中的每个电池单体的温度趋于一致,以避免其中某一个电池单体的温度过高而发生热失控。(The invention provides a battery system for a vehicle and a vehicle having the same. The battery system comprises a shell, a battery module and a heat transfer component. The housing has an interior cavity. The battery module sets up in the inner chamber, and the battery module includes at least one battery monomer. The heat transfer component is arranged between the battery module and the shell, and the heat transfer component is in thermal contact with each battery monomer and the shell. According to the scheme of the invention, when the temperature of any battery cell in the battery module is higher, the heat of the battery cell with the higher temperature can be transferred to the heat transfer component. The heat transfer assembly can transfer heat to the shell through thermal contact with the shell and then to the outside of the shell, and on the other hand can transfer heat to other battery monomers through thermal contact with other battery monomers, so that the temperature of each battery monomer in the whole battery module tends to be consistent, and thermal runaway caused by overhigh temperature of one battery monomer is avoided.)

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

a housing having an interior cavity;

the battery module is arranged in the inner cavity and comprises at least one battery monomer; and

the heat transfer component is arranged between the battery module and the shell and is in thermal contact with each battery cell and the shell.

2. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer assembly comprises a heat pipe in thermal contact with each of the battery cells and the housing.

3. The battery system according to claim 2, wherein the heat pipe includes a connection end and an opposite end opposite to the connection end, the heat pipe is connected to the case only at the connection end, and a thermal contact area of the heat pipe with the battery cell becomes gradually larger from the connection end to the opposite end.

4. The battery system of claim 3, wherein the heat transfer assembly comprises a first thermal shield disposed between the battery module and the heat pipe, the first thermal shield having a first end corresponding to the connection end and a second end corresponding to the opposite end, the first thermal shield having a width that tapers from the first end to the second end.

5. The battery system according to claim 4, wherein the heat transfer assembly includes a heat transfer pad disposed between the first thermal insulation member and the battery module, the heat transfer pad being made of a flexible material.

6. The battery system according to claim 5, wherein a size of the heat transfer pad is greater than or equal to a size of the heat pipe in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction and/or a width direction of the heat pipe.

7. The battery system according to claim 6, wherein the connection end of the heat pipe protrudes from the battery module.

8. The battery system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a second thermal insulator is provided between adjacent battery cells.

9. The battery system of any of claims 1-7, wherein the battery module comprises a buss bar disposed on top of and in thermal contact with each of the battery cells.

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

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 abnormal thermal runaway occurs inside the battery system, a large amount of high-temperature and high-pressure gas is generated. These high-temperature and high-pressure gases are accumulated in the case of the battery system, and are liable to cause fire and explosion.

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 battery module and a heat transfer component. The housing has an interior cavity. The battery module sets up in the inner chamber, the battery module includes at least one battery monomer. The heat transfer assembly is disposed between the battery module and the case, and the heat transfer assembly is in thermal contact with each of the battery cells and the case.

Since the heat transfer assembly is in thermal contact with each battery cell, when the temperature of any one battery cell in the battery module is high, the heat of the battery cell with the high temperature can be transferred to the heat transfer assembly. The heat transfer component can transfer heat to the shell through thermal contact with the shell and then to the outside of the shell, and can transfer heat to other battery monomers through thermal contact with other battery monomers, so that the temperature of each battery monomer in the whole battery module tends to be consistent, and thermal runaway caused by overhigh temperature of one battery monomer is avoided.

Preferably, the heat transfer assembly includes a heat pipe in thermal contact with each of the battery cells and the housing.

The heat pipe can combine heat conduction and vapor-liquid phase change heat transfer of the working medium, and has low heat resistance, thereby having high heat transfer capacity and being capable of rapidly transferring heat. Therefore, even if one of the battery cells in the battery module is high in temperature, the heat of the high-temperature battery cell can be quickly transferred to the heat pipe of the heat transfer assembly. The heat pipe may transfer a portion of the heat to the housing and thus to the outside of the housing. Moreover, the heat pipe can quickly equalize the temperature, so that the other part of heat can be transferred to other battery cells in a mode that the temperature of the battery cells tends to be consistent as much as possible, and thermal runaway caused by overhigh temperature of one battery cell is avoided.

Preferably, the heat pipe includes a connection end and an opposite end opposite to the connection end, the heat pipe is connected to the case only at the connection end, and a thermal contact area of the heat pipe with the battery cell becomes gradually larger from the connection end to the opposite end. In this way, the heat pipe may be made to have substantially the same thermal resistance with respect to each battery cell. No matter which battery monomer is higher in temperature, the heat of the battery monomer with higher temperature can be quickly transferred to the heat pipe and transferred to the outside of the shell or other battery monomers through the heat pipe, and thermal runaway is prevented.

Preferably, the heat transfer assembly includes a first heat insulating member disposed between the battery module and the heat pipe, the first heat insulating member having a first end corresponding to the connection end and a second end corresponding to the opposite end, the first heat insulating member having a width gradually decreasing from the first end to the second end. In this way, the heat pipe can be made to have substantially the same thermal resistance with respect to each battery cell, and the heat pipe does not need to be designed in a complicated manner.

Preferably, the heat transfer assembly includes a heat transfer pad disposed between the first thermal insulation member and the battery module, the heat transfer pad being made of a flexible material. In this way, thermal contact between the battery cells of the battery module and the heat pipe may be facilitated by the heat transfer pad made of a flexible material.

Preferably, the size of the heat transfer pad is greater than or equal to the size of the heat pipe in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction and/or the width direction of the heat pipe. In this way, each cell can be brought into good thermal contact with the heat pipe.

Preferably, the connection end of the heat pipe protrudes from the battery module. In this way, the connection between the heat pipe and the shell and the thermal contact between the heat pipe and the battery cells in the battery module are not interfered with each other, so that the connection between the heat pipe and the shell and the thermal contact between the heat pipe and the battery cells in the battery module are both more reliable.

Preferably, a second thermal insulation member is disposed between the adjacent battery cells. In this way, when a certain battery cell in the battery module is higher in temperature and is about to generate thermal runaway or has already generated thermal runaway, the adjacent battery cell is prevented from being overhigh in temperature and being subjected to thermal runaway.

Preferably, the battery module includes a bus bar disposed on top of and in thermal contact with each of the battery cells. On the one hand, the bus bars can carry current to realize series connection or parallel connection between the battery cells; on the other hand, because the bus bar is in soaking contact with each battery monomer, the temperature of each battery monomer can tend to be consistent, thereby avoiding thermal runaway caused by overhigh temperature of one battery monomer.

In another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided that includes any of the battery systems described above.

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 a perspective view of a battery system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with a top wall of a housing removed to more clearly show other components within the housing of the battery system;

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of the battery system shown in FIG. 1; and

fig. 3 is a schematic view of the case and the heat transfer assembly of the battery system shown in fig. 1 after the battery module is removed.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more apparent, the present application 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 present application and are not intended to limit the present application.

In a first aspect of the present invention, a battery system for a vehicle is provided. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a battery system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein a top wall of a housing 110 of the battery system 100 is removed in order to more clearly show other components within the housing 110. Fig. 2 is an exploded schematic view of the battery system 100 shown in fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the case 110 and the heat transfer assembly 130 of the battery system 100 shown in fig. 1 after the battery module 120 is removed. The battery system 100 provided by the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 1 to 3.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the battery system 100 includes a case 110, a battery module 120 disposed in the case 110, and a heat transfer assembly 130.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the housing 110 has an inner cavity 111, and the inner cavity 111 may form an accommodating space to accommodate components such as the battery module 120 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 further includes a top wall (not shown) 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 may be detachably coupled to the side wall 113 so as to dispose the battery module 120 and the like of the battery system 100 in the inner cavity 111.

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. 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. 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.

As shown in fig. 1, at least one battery module 120 is disposed in the inner cavity 111 of the case 110. In the present embodiment, three battery modules 120 are schematically shown. However, it is understood that any other suitable number of battery modules 120, such as one, two, four, or more, may be disposed in the inner cavity 111 of the housing 110. When a plurality of battery modules 120 are disposed in the inner cavity 111 of the case 110, the plurality of battery modules 120 may be connected in series to be able to provide sufficient battery power to the vehicle.

As shown in fig. 2, each battery module 120 includes at least one battery cell 121. Preferably, the battery module 120 may include a plurality of battery cells 121, and the plurality of battery cells 121 are connected together in series to be able to provide sufficient battery energy to the vehicle.

As shown in fig. 2, the battery cells 121 of the battery module 120 are received in a module inner cavity (not shown) of a module case of the battery module 120. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the module housing is of a generally box-shaped structure. The module housing includes an enclosure 122 and a top plate 123 without a bottom plate. A shroud 122 is disposed around the plurality of cells 121 and is in thermal contact with each cell 121. The top plate 123 covers the upper side of the battery cell 121. The surrounding plate 122 is made of a metal material (e.g., iron, copper, aluminum, steel, etc.) with good thermal conductivity, so as to transfer heat of the battery cell 121 with a high temperature to other battery cells 121 in thermal contact with the surrounding plate 122, thereby preventing thermal runaway caused by an excessively high temperature of one of the battery cells 121.

It should be noted that "thermal contact" as referred to herein means that heat can be transferred between two objects that are in thermal contact with each other. Two objects in thermal contact with each other may be in direct physical contact. Two objects that are in thermal contact with each other may not be in direct physical 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.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the heat transfer member 130 is disposed between the battery module 120 and the case 110. For example, in the present embodiment, the heat transfer member 130 is disposed at the bottom of the battery module 120, that is, the heat transfer member 130 is disposed between the battery module 120 and the bottom wall 112 of the housing 110. The heat transfer member 130 is in thermal contact with each battery cell 121 and the case 110. Since the heat transfer member 130 is in thermal contact with each battery cell 121, when the temperature of any one battery cell 121 in the battery module is high, the heat of the battery cell 121 with the high temperature can be transferred to the heat transfer member 130. The heat transfer assembly 130 can transfer heat to the casing 110 and then to the outside of the casing 110 through thermal contact with the casing 110, and can transfer heat to other battery cells 121 through thermal contact with other battery cells 121, so that the temperature of each battery cell 121 in the entire battery module 120 tends to be consistent, and thermal runaway caused by overhigh temperature of one of the battery cells 121 is avoided.

Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the heat transfer assembly 130 includes a heat pipe 131 disposed between the battery module 120 and the case 110. More specifically, the heat pipe 131 is disposed between the battery module 120 and the bottom wall 112 of the case 110. The heat pipe 131 is in thermal contact with each of the battery cells 121 in the battery module 120 and the case 110. The heat pipe 131 is a heat transfer element having a rapid temperature equalization characteristic. The heat pipe 131 has a case generally made of a metal material. The interior of the pipe shell is pumped into a negative pressure state and is filled with liquid working medium. The liquid working medium is usually a low-boiling point, volatile working medium. The tube wall of the tube shell is provided with a liquid absorption core which is made of capillary porous materials. The heat pipe 131 can transfer heat by combining heat conduction and vapor-liquid phase change heat transfer of the working medium, and has very low thermal resistance, so that the heat pipe has very high heat transfer capacity and can transfer heat quickly. Therefore, even when a temperature of one of the battery cells 121 in the battery module 120 is high (e.g., greater than or equal to 65 ℃ to 120 ℃), the heat of the high-temperature battery cell 121 can be quickly transferred to the heat pipe 131 of the heat transfer assembly 130. The heat pipe 131 may transfer a portion of the heat to the housing 110 and then to the outside of the housing 110. In addition, since the heat pipe 131 can rapidly equalize the temperature, another part of the heat can be transferred to other battery cells 121 in a manner that the temperatures of the battery cells 121 tend to be consistent as much as possible, so that thermal runaway caused by an excessively high temperature of one battery cell 121 is avoided.

As shown in fig. 2, the heat pipe 131 includes a connection end 131A and an opposite end 131B opposite to the connection end 131A, and the heat pipe 131 is connected to the case 110 only at the connection end 131A, so that installation of the heat pipe 131 is simplified. Preferably, the connection end 131A and the opposite end 131B of the heat pipe 131 are disposed opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction of the heat pipe 131. The "longitudinal direction" referred to herein means a direction parallel to the heat transfer direction of the heat pipe 131. Accordingly, the "width direction" referred to hereinafter refers to a direction perpendicular to the heat transfer direction of the heat pipe 131 within the plane of the heat pipe 131. In the present embodiment, the heat pipe 131 is connected to the bottom wall 112 of the case 110 at the connection end 131A. Preferably, the heat pipe 131 is connected to the housing 110 at the connection end 131A by means 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 heat pipe 131 and the case 110. Also preferably, the connection end 131A of the heat pipe 131 protrudes out of the battery module 120, so that the connection of the heat pipe 131 to the housing 110 and the thermal contact of the heat pipe 131 to the battery cells 121 in the battery module 120 do not interfere with each other, and the connection of the heat pipe 131 to the housing 110 and the thermal contact of the heat pipe 131 to the battery cells 121 in the battery module 120 are both more reliable.

In the present invention, the thermal contact area of the heat pipe 131 with the battery cell 121 becomes gradually larger from the connection end 131A of the heat pipe 131 to the opposite end 131B of the heat pipe 131. That is, as the distance from the connection terminal 131A increases, the thermal contact area of the heat pipe 131 with the corresponding battery cell 121 becomes gradually larger. The heat pipe 131 has the largest thermal contact area with the cell 121 farthest from the connection terminal 131A and the smallest thermal contact area with the cell 121 closest to the connection terminal 131A. As such, the heat pipe 131 may be made to have substantially the same thermal resistance with respect to each of the battery cells 121. No matter which battery cell 121 is at a higher temperature, the heat of the battery cell 121 at the higher temperature can be quickly transferred to the heat pipe 131 and transferred to the outside of the housing 110 or other battery cells 121 through the heat pipe 131, thereby preventing thermal runaway.

The structure of the heat pipe 131 may be designed accordingly such that the thermal contact area of the heat pipe 131 with the battery cell 121 becomes gradually larger from the connection end 131A of the heat pipe 131 to the opposite end 131B of the heat pipe 131.

In order to simplify the structure of the heat pipe 131, in the present embodiment, the first thermal insulation member 132 is provided such that the thermal contact area of the heat pipe 131 with the battery cell 121 becomes gradually larger from the connection end 131A of the heat pipe 131 to the opposite end 131B of the heat pipe 131.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the heat transfer assembly 130 includes a first thermal insulator 132 disposed between the battery module 120 and the heat pipe 131. The first thermal insulation member 132 may be made of a thermal insulation material. The first thermal shield 132 may also be a vacuum thermal shield. The first thermal insulation member 132 has a first end 132A corresponding to the connection end 131A of the heat pipe 131 and a second end 132B corresponding to the opposite end 131B of the heat pipe 131. The projection of the second end 132B of the first thermal shield 132 onto the heat pipe 131 may coincide with the opposite end 131B of the heat pipe 131. The projection of the first end 132A of the first thermal shield 132 on the heat pipe 131 may coincide with the connection end 131A of the heat pipe 131. Of course, in an embodiment in which the connection end 131A of the heat pipe 131 protrudes from the battery module 120, the projection of the first end 132A of the first thermal insulation member 132 on the heat pipe 131 may be closer to the opposite end 131B of the heat pipe 131 than the connection end 131A of the heat pipe 131. The width (i.e., the dimension in a direction parallel to the width direction of the heat pipe 131) of the first thermal insulation member 132 gradually becomes smaller from the first end 132A to the second end 132B. Since the width of the first thermal insulator 132 is gradually decreased from the first end 132A to the second end 132B, the thermal contact area of the heat pipe 131 with the battery cell 121 is gradually increased from the connection end 131A of the heat pipe 131 to the opposite end 131B of the heat pipe 131, so that the heat pipe 131 has substantially the same thermal resistance with respect to each battery cell 121.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the heat transfer assembly 130 further includes a heat transfer pad 133 made of a flexible material. The flexible material is, for example, heat conductive silicone rubber, heat conductive foam rubber, or the like. The heat transfer pad 133 is disposed between the first thermal insulation member 132 and the battery module 120. In the assembled state, the bottoms of the battery cells 121 of the battery module 120 may not be flat. In the present embodiment, a first heat insulator 132 having a non-uniform width dimension is further provided between the battery module 120 and the heat pipe 131. Both of these cases may adversely affect the thermal contact between the battery cell 121 and the heat pipe 131. Thermal contact between the battery module 120 (more specifically, the battery cells 121) and the heat pipe 131 may be facilitated by the heat transfer pad 133 made of a flexible material.

Preferably, the size of the heat transfer pad 133 is greater than or equal to the size of the heat pipe 131 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction and/or the width direction of the heat pipe 131, so that each battery cell 121 can make good thermal contact with the heat pipe 131.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 2, in the battery module 120, a second thermal insulator 124 is disposed between the adjacent battery cells 121. The second thermal shield 124 may be made of a thermal insulating material, similar to the first thermal shield 132. The second thermal shield 124 may also be a vacuum thermal shield. The second thermal insulation member 124 may prevent heat transfer between the adjacent battery cells 121 by means of direct thermal conduction, particularly in the case where the temperature of one of the battery cells 121 is excessively 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 in the battery module 120 is at a higher 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 can be transferred to the adjacent battery cell 121 close to the battery cell 121 at the higher temperature through the direct heat conduction, and 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 also higher, and the possibility that the adjacent battery cell 121 generates thermal runaway is higher.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 2, the battery module 120 further includes a bus bar 125 disposed on the top of each battery cell 121. The bus bar 125 is generally made of a metal material. On the one hand, the bus bar 125 may carry current to achieve a series connection or a parallel connection between the battery cells 121; on the other hand, since the bus bar 125 is in soaking contact with each battery cell 121, the temperature of each battery cell 121 can be consistent, so that thermal runaway caused by over-high temperature of one of the battery cells 121 is avoided.

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.

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.