Patent Application
20230012363
This application claims priority to German Application No. DE 10 2021 207 252.6 filed on Jul. 8, 2021, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates to a battery device and to a use thereof in a motor vehicle.
Structural solutions for battery devices are well known. With increasing demands on the accident safety thereof, however, there is the need for being able to offer structurally improved solutions for battery devices.
The object of the invention lies in specifying an improved or at least another embodiment of a battery device. An attempt is to in particular be made to make a battery device more resistant against external force loads.
In the case of the present invention, this object is solved in particular by means of the subject matters of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are subject matter of the dependent claims and of the description.
The basic idea of the invention lies in combining the function of a cooling system and that of a housing reinforcement for absorbing force effects in a housing base of a battery housing of a battery device.
For this purpose, it is provided that the battery device according to the invention, which can be used in particular in a motor vehicle, has a battery housing, in which at least one cell stack of rechargeable individual battery cells, which are stacked one on top of the other with contact along a stack center axis in a stack direction, is arranged and/or encased. The battery housing thereby has a, advantageously one-piece or multi-piece housing base, on which the cell stack is arranged in a flat manner with contact or is arranged and held indirectly, in particular by interconnecting a contact means. In the case of the first alternative, the cell stack can, for example, be fixed and positioned on a large surface of the housing base so that it abuts in a flat and/or gap-free manner against this large surface. In the case of the second alterative, it can advantageously be provided, in particular when a flat and/or gap-free abutment of the cell stack against a large surface of the housing base cannot be attained, for example due to manufacturing tolerances, which are unavoidable during the production of the battery device and the components thereof, and/or in order to improve a thermal connection of the cell stack to the housing base, that a contact means, in particular a heat conducting compound or a heat conducting mat, which connects the cell stack to the housing base, in particular in a gap-free manner, is arranged between the cell stack and the housing base. To be able to control the temperature of the cell stack, which can heat up during operation, and optionally other components of the battery device, which are arranged in the battery housing, it is provided that the housing base has a heat exchanger section, through which fluid flows or can flow, for controlling the temperature of the cell stack. In a heating operation, the heat exchanger section can thereby either serve as heat source, wherein the cell stack is heated up, or, in a cooling operation, it can be operated as heat sink, whereby the cell stack is cooled. Depending on the mode of operation, in which the heat exchanger section is operated, the fluid flowing through it either provides the heat energy required for the heat-up, or discharges resulting heat energy. In particular, the temperature of the cell stack can thereby be maintained within a specified or specifiable operating temperature window.
In order to simultaneously provide a relatively high resistance of the battery device against elastic and plastic deformations as a result of an application of force or force effect, respectively, in addition to the temperature control function, it is provided that the housing base is reinforced by means of a profile structure, in particular transversely and/or longitudinally with respect to the stack center axis. The profile structure has the positive effect that, on the one hand, the housing base is relatively resistant against elastic and plastic deformations as a result of an application of force to the battery housing, whereby the cell stack and optionally other components of the battery device, which are arranged in the battery housing, are protected against damage. On the other hand, the profile structure can serve as energy absorber and/or impact absorber, at least to a certain degree, thus define a type of crash structure, in that it absorbs and/or dissipates the energy converted during an application of force by means of elastic and/or plastic deformation and/or heat-up. In other words, the battery device can thus withstand relatively high force effects.
In the context of the present invention, the term of the stiffness is advantageously understood as the resistance of a body against an elastic and plastic deformation as a result of an application of force. In this context, it is also important to explain that said application of force to the battery housing or to the housing base, respectively, can be the result of an accident, during which an external force acts on the battery housing from below and/or laterally and/or from the font.
The profile structure advantageously has housing base-integral struts and duct cavities, which extend over the entire housing base and/or which can be formed by the latter. When looking at the profile structure in the cross section, the struts and duct cavities can define a type of buttress or truss pattern, which is preferably designed with a view to an optimal energy absorption capacity, i.e. to a maximum reinforcement of the housing base. The duct cavity cross sectional surfaces of the duct cavities are in particular designed to be triangular, quadrangular, polygonal, or circular. It is conceivable that the profile structure is integrated in the heat exchanger section or is formed by the latter.
Further advantageously, however, it can be provided that, in addition to the heat exchanger section, the housing base has a profile structure section, which is functionally and/or spatially separate with respect to the heat exchanger section, wherein said profile structure is formed by the heat exchanger section and/or the profile structure section. This means that even though the profile structure section and the heat exchanger section can be functionally and/or spatially separated elements, said profile structure is formed by the heat exchanger section and/or the profile structure section. The housing base can thus be designed to be relatively stiff.
The profile structure section can have several hollow profile ducts, which are aligned parallel to one another and which are oriented in parallel or transversely in particular to the stack center axis, and which are advantageously designed to have a constant cross sectional surface with respect to their main expansion. In their main expansion, the hollow profile ducts advantageously in each case define a profile duct center axis. The profile duct center axes can lie in a common plane or can span such a common plane, wherein this plane is preferably oriented in parallel with respect to one or all large surfaces of the housing base. The hollow profile ducts can furthermore in each case have a clear hollow profile cross sectional surface, which is constant in terms of surface area with respect to the main expansion of a respective hollow profile duct. The hollow profile cross sectional surfaces of the hollow profile ducts are advantageously framed completely all around by hollow profile duct walls of the respective hollow profile duct. Two directly adjacent hollow profile ducts optionally share a hollow profile duct wall.
Further advantageously, said hollow profile cross sectional surfaces of the hollow profile ducts can have a triangular, quadrangular, polygonal, or circular surface shape and can be designed to be constant in terms of surface area over the entire length of a respective hollow profile duct. Here, the specification “over the entire length” advantageously also refers to the respective main expansion of the hollow profile duct. Corresponding hollow profile ducts can thus be produced cost-efficiently and in large quantities.
It is furthermore advantageous when a reinforcing element, which is formed separately with respect to the housing base, is inserted in at least a single one or in at least 10% or maximally 90% of said hollow profile ducts of the profile structure section. The reinforcing elements can in each case be realized by means of a thermally insulating and/or energy-absorbing material, this can be PU foam, for example. The reinforcing elements can furthermore be formed by means of a shock-absorbing material or can have such a shock-absorbing material. The battery housing as a whole can be insulated thermally by means of the profile structure section, which is equipped with such reinforcing elements and/or an improved absorption and/or an improved stiffness can be attained.
At least one such reinforcing element can in particular extend in the direction of a profile duct center axis of a hollow profile duct, in which the reinforcing element is inserted, over at least 10% and/or over maximally 90% or the entire length of the respective hollow profile duct. In the alternative or in addition, at least one such reinforcing element can fill a clear hollow profile cross sectional surface of the respective hollow profile duct by at least 10% and/or over maximally 90% or completely in the inserted state, and/or can support itself with contact on a hollow profile duct wall of the respective hollow profile duct, which frames the respective clear hollow profile cross sectional surface all around. It can in particular be provided that when inserted in a hollow profile duct, each reinforcing element is fixed to a hollow profile duct wall of the respective hollow profile duct, wherein a substance-to-substance bond, for example an adhesion or welding, or a non-positive and/or positive connection, for example a clamping or screw-connection, can advantageously be realized. The respective reinforcing elements are thus captively, but optionally releasably connected to the housing base.
The heat exchanger section can further in particular have several fluid ducts, which are aligned parallel to one another and which are oriented in parallel or transversely in particular to the stack center axis, and which are designed to have a constant cross sectional surface and through which fluid flows or can flow. The fluid ducts are advantageously connected to one another so as to communicate fluidically, so that a fluid path for fluid, along which the heat exchanger section can be flushed by fluid, can extend through said fluid ducts. The fluid ducts of the heat exchanger section advantageously in each case define a fluid duct center axis, wherein they can lie in a common further plane or span such a plane, respectively. This further plane can be oriented in parallel with respect to one or all large surfaces of the housing base as well as with respect to the above-described plane of the profile structure section. The fluid ducts can furthermore in each case have a clear flow cross sectional surface, through which fluid can flow or flows and which is constant in terms of surface area over the entire length, i.e. in the main expansion direction thereof. The flow cross sectional surfaces of the fluid ducts are advantageously framed completely all around by fluid duct walls of the respective fluid duct. Two directly adjacent fluid ducts optionally share a fluid duct wall.
It can further be provided that said clear flow cross sectional surfaces of the fluid ducts have a triangular, quadrangular, polygonal, or circular surface shape and are constant in terms of surface area over the entire length of a respective fluid duct. Corresponding fluid ducts can thus be produced cost-efficiently and in large quantities.
Said fluid path can furthermore be designed in a meander-shaped manner and can extend transversely or parallel with respect to the stack center axis, so that the heat exchanger section can be flown through in the stack direction or transversely thereto in the direction of a stack center transverse axis. Different temperature control images can thus be realized on the cell stack.
It is further advantageous when the housing base is formed by a single or several base bodies, which are in each case monolithically cohesive assemblies. In the alternative or in addition, the base body or the base bodies can in each case have a heat exchanger section and a profile structure section. When it is formed from a single base body, the housing base thus forms a one-piece assembly, which can in particular have said heat exchanger section and the profile structure section. Otherwise, when the housing base consists of multiple pieces, several, in each case one-piece base bodies are present, which, when assembled, form the housing base. In this case, each base body has a separate heat exchanger section and/or a profile structure section, wherein it is at least conceivable that the several heat exchanger sections are connected to one another so as to communicate fluidically.
It is furthermore advantageous when the housing base is realized by means of an extrusion profile, in particular an aluminum extrusion profile, and/or when the base body or the base bodies are realized by means of an extrusion profile, in particular an aluminum extrusion profile. It is thus possible to produce a one-piece housing base or base body, respectively, which has a heat exchanger section and profile structure section, relatively cost-efficiently. Advantageously, an extrusion profile optionally corresponds to an extruded section. It goes without saying that, in addition to aluminum or aluminum alloys, other materials can be used for the production of such an extrusion profile, in particular known non-ferrous alloys, but also extrudable synthetic, natural, and composite materials are also possible.
The cell stack can furthermore have a stack center transverse axis, which stands vertically on the stack center axis and which, together with the stack center axis, spans a cell plane, wherein the profile structure section has hollow profile ducts, which are parallel to one another and which in each case define a profile duct center axis, wherein they span a common plane and wherein the heat exchanger section has fluid ducts, which are parallel to one another and which in each case define a fluid duct center axis, wherein they span a common further plane. To now attain an optimal temperature control of the cell stack, either the further plane can be arranged in a sandwich-like manner between the plane and the cell plane, or the plane can be arranged in a sandwich-like manner between the further plane and the cell plane. The plane, the further plane, and the cell plane are thereby advantageously aligned parallel to one another. The profile structure section or the heat exchanger section is thus quasi arranged directly on the cell stack. It is preferred when the heat exchanger section lies directly on the cell stack, so that the further plane is arranged in a sandwich-like manner between the plane and the cell plane. This has the advantage that the temperature of the cell stack can be controlled optimally by means of the heat exchanger section.
According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, it is possible that the housing base is realized by means of a one-piece aluminum extrusion profile. Said housing base has, in an integral manner, the heat exchanger section and a profile structure section, which, together, form said profile structure, in that the profile structure section has several hollow profile ducts, which are aligned parallel to one another and which are oriented in parallel with respect to the stack center axis and which have a constant cross sectional surface and which open out on two flat or essentially flat front surfaces of the housing base, which are oriented oppositely to one another, in each case by forming triangular, quadrangular, polygonal, or circular profile duct mouth openings, and furthermore in that the heat exchanger section has several fluid ducts, which are parallel to one another and which are oriented in parallel with respect to the stack center axis, and which have a constant cross sectional surface and through which fluid flows or can flow, and which open out on said two front surfaces of the housing base, which are oriented oppositely to one another, in each case by forming triangular, quadrangular, polygonal, or circular profile duct mouth openings. A fluid deflecting plate, which covers the profile duct mouth openings and the fluid duct mouth openings in a fluid-tight manner, can thereby be arranged on the one front surface of the housing base, and a fluid supply plate, which covers the profile duct mouth openings and fluid duct mouth openings in a fluid-tight manner there, can be arranged on the other front surface of the housing base. To attain that fluid can flow from the one into the next fluid duct, it is provided that fluid duct walls between the adjacent fluid ducts return in particular by a few centimeters or millimeters with respect to the fluid deflecting plate in the region of their fluid duct mouth openings, which are covered by the fluid deflecting plate, so that an overflow region, through which fluid can flow from the one fluid duct into the other fluid duct, is defined between two adjacent fluid ducts. It is likewise provided that fluid duct walls between the adjacent fluid ducts return with respect to the fluid supply plate in the region of their fluid duct mouth openings, which are covered by the fluid supply plate, so that a further overflow region, through which fluid can flow from the one fluid duct into the other fluid duct, is defined between two adjacent fluid ducts. With the help of said overflow regions, the fluid ducts can form a meander-shaped fluid path for fluids, which extends parallel with respect to the stack center axis and along which the heat exchanger section can be flushed by fluid in the stack direction. The fluid supply plate can furthermore have two supply connections, through which fluid can flow into and flow out of the fluid ducts.
Advantageously, the one supply connection is an inlet, and the other one is an outlet. Inlet and outlet in each case form a cylinder sleeve, the cylinder sleeve axes of which stand vertically on the fluid supply plate. The battery housing can furthermore have an, in particular one-piece, cover, which completely or at least partially spans the cell stack, and which, with its cover edge, which is oriented towards the housing base, is fixed thereto. A relatively cost-efficient and relatively stiff battery device is thus specified.
The invention furthermore comprises a use of a battery device according to the preceding description in an electrically driven motor vehicle, wherein the battery device can be integrated in said motor vehicle and is connected or can be connected to a drive train and/or an on-board system of the motor vehicle.
In summary, it can be stated: The present invention preferably relates to a battery device, comprising a battery housing, in which a cell stack of rechargeable individual battery cells, which are stacked one on top of the other with contact along a stack center axis in a stack direction, is arranged and/or encased, wherein the battery housing has a housing base, on which the cell stack is arranged and held in a flat manner with contact, wherein, for controlling the temperature of the cell stack, the housing base has a heat exchanger section, through which fluid flows or can flow, and which is reinforced against deformation by means of a profile structure.
Further important features and advantages of the invention follow from the subclaims, from the drawings, and from the corresponding figure description on the basis of the drawings.
It goes without saying that the above-mentioned features and the features, which will be described below, cannot only be used in the respective specified combination, but also in other combinations, or alone, without leaving the scope of the present invention.
Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail in the following description, whereby identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.
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In an exemplary manner, the remaining portion of the battery housing 3 is a housing base 11 formed of multiple pieces, which has two oppositely oriented large surfaces 12 as well as at least two oppositely oriented front surfaces 13, 14. The cell stack 5 is arranged in a flat manner with contact on one of the identified large surfaces 12 of the housing base 11 and is held and positioned by means of non-illustrated fixing means.
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| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2021 207 252.6 | Jul 2021 | DE | national |
