Patent Application
20220013822
This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2020 118 002.0, filed Jul. 8, 2020, the content of such application being incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The invention relates to a battery module with a battery cell stack which is formed from a plurality of battery cells, with deformable foam plates which are arranged between in each case adjacent battery cells for the compensation of deformations of the battery cells during their charging and discharging or on account of their aging, and with a cooling medium which is conducted through between respective adjacent battery cells in order to cool the battery cells.
US 2013/0071718 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a battery module of this type. In the case of said battery module, a deformable foam plate is arranged between in each case two battery cells which are arranged adjacently, which foam plate bears directly against said two battery cells. The deformable foam plate has passages which penetrate it for conducting through cooling medium, said cooling medium being cooling air. The passages are positioned parallel to the contact faces of the deformable foam plate with the two battery cells. Said battery cell is used in the case of electric vehicles, for example, passenger motor cars, buses and trucks.
US 2017/0194681 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a battery module with a battery stack which is formed from a plurality of battery cells and with cooling structures which are arranged between respective adjacent battery cells. The respective cooling structure is configured as a closed structure with an inflow and outflow for a cooling liquid. The cooling structure which is arranged between respective adjacent battery cells makes contact with said battery cells directly. In the region of one stack end of the battery cell stack, the battery module has an insulating plate made from a foamed material for impact absorption of the battery cell stack.
It would be desirable to develop a battery module of the type mentioned in the Background in such a way that an optimum compensation of deformations of the battery cells during their charging and discharging or on account of their aging and optimum cooling of the battery cells are ensured.
In the case of the battery module according to aspects of the invention, it is provided that the cooling medium is a cooling liquid which makes direct contact with the battery cells, a cooling structure for conducting the cooling liquid to the battery cell and along the latter being arranged between the respective battery cell and the foam plate which faces it, said foam plate making contact with said cooling structure, and the cooling structure making contact with said battery cell.
The battery cells can therefore expand, for example, during charging of the battery cells, whereby the battery cells act on the cooling structures and the latter act in turn on the foam plates. Since the foam plates are deformable, they can change their shape in accordance with the space which is required as a result of the expansion of the battery cells, and are therefore compressed to a greater extent. If, in contrast, the battery cells are deformed in another operating state in the sense of a thickness reduction of the battery cells, the foam plates are relieved again to a more pronounced extent, and deformed back into their starting state.
The cooling liquid can particularly advantageously cool the battery cells because the cooling liquid makes direct contact with the battery cells. On account of the arrangement of the cooling structure between the foam plate and the associated battery cell, the foam plate cannot be locked, in particular in that region of the cooling structure which faces the battery cells. This danger would exist in the case of direct contact of the foam plate and the battery cell.
It is provided, in particular, that the respective battery cell is a pouch cell. This is distinguished by a relatively small thickness in the case of relatively great width and length, in the case of a substantially rectangular configuration of the surface which is formed by way of the width and the length, moreover, in particular, by electric connectors in the region of a narrow side of the pouch cell.
The respective cooling structure preferably has a plate at least on its side which faces the battery cell, which plate bears against said battery cell, said plate having passages for the cooling liquid. This design ensures an advantageous support of the cooling structure in the battery cell with simultaneous favorable throughflow of the plate with cooling liquid. One advantageous development provides that said cooling structure has a plate on its side which faces away from said battery cell, which plate bears against the foam plate which faces said battery cell on said side of the battery cell. As a result of this design of the cooling structure, forces can be transmitted over a great area from the foam plate which is as a rule softer into the usually rigid cooling structure, in the case of the deformation of the battery cells, and can be forwarded from said cooling structure into the battery cell. The plate which passes into contact with the foam plate is, in particular, of closed configuration, and therefore has no passages because it is not necessary to convey the cooling liquid in the region of the foam plate.
The respective plate is preferably configured as a metal sheet. In this way, it can particularly satisfactorily transport the heat from the associated battery cell into the cooling structure and therefore the cooling liquid.
The respective plate is preferably configured as a profiled plate. The profiling allows the cooling structure to be positioned, in particular, with regard to the associated battery cell in such a way that the plate bears against the battery cell only in projecting profile regions of the plate. Therefore, the cooling liquid can be conducted through between the plate and the battery cell between the projecting regions of the plate.
It is provided, in particular, that the plates of the cooling structure are connected to one another and form a stable unit. In particular, the plates are of corrugated configuration and are connected to one another directly.
Fundamentally, in accordance with an alternative design, the cooling structure can also have only a single profiled plate, in particular a single profiled sheet metal plate. Said profiled plate is supported both on the battery cell and on the foam plate. In this case, the cooling liquid makes contact both with the battery cell and with the foam plate. The profiled plate of the cooling structure prevents locking of the cooling structure toward the battery cell, whereby long-term conducting of the cooling liquid between the cooling structure and the battery cell is ensured.
The foam plate is preferably formed from a microcellular polyurethane. The latter is available commercially, for example, under the brand “PORON” (Rogers Corporation, AZ 85224 Chandler, USA).
Further features of the invention result from the appended drawing and the description of the exemplary embodiment which is reproduced in the drawing, without being restricted thereto.
In the drawing:
The battery module 1 which is shown in
The battery module 1 has a battery cell stack 3 which is formed from a plurality of battery cells 2. The battery cells 2 are configured as pouch cells. Deformable foam plates 4 are arranged between respective adjacent battery cells 2 of the battery cell stack 3 for the compensation of deformations of the battery cells 2 during their charging and discharging or on account of their aging. A cooling medium which is a cooling liquid 5 is conducted through between respective adjacent battery cells 2 in order to cool the battery cells 2.
The respective plates 7, 8 are configured as a metal sheet and moreover, are of profiled design. The cooling structure 6 which is arranged in each case between a battery cell 2 and the foam plate 4 is designed in such a way that its plates 7, 8 are connected to one another and form a stable unit. Here, the plates 7, 8 are of corrugated configuration and are connected to one another directly. This ensures that the cooling structure 6 bears against the associated battery cell 2 and the associated foam plate 4, and a throughflow of the cooling structure 6 with cooling liquid 5 takes place here.
The foam plate 4 is formed from a microcellular polyurethane.
The described arrangement of the battery cells 2, the foam plates 4 and the cooling structures 6 of the battery module 1 allow an optimum compensation of deformations of the battery cells 2 during their charging and discharging or on account of their aging and, furthermore, an optimum cooling of the battery cells 2.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2020 118 002.0 | Jul 2020 | DE | national |
