Patent Application
20230086598
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of lithium ion batteries, and specifically, to a lithium ion battery, a battery pack, an electric vehicle and an energy storage device.
Lithium ion batteries, due to their unique characteristics, have found use in more and more fields. Particularly, power batteries are being developed rapidly. When lithium batteries are used as a main energy supply source for electric vehicles, and especially with the wide use of ternary batteries in recent years, accidents such as fire and explosion occurs from time to time due to thermal runaway of lithium-ion power batteries (overheating, fire, and explosion of the battery due to rapidly changed temperature rise rate caused by the exothermic chain reaction in the battery). In a battery pack, once a battery experiences thermal runaway, the thermal runaway of the adjacent batteries in the battery pack or system, that is, thermal diffusion, is often triggered. As a result, the entire battery pack is out of control, and serious consequences such as fire and explosion may occur. At present, the safety of lithium ion batteries during use is challenged.
The present disclosure is intended to resolve at least one of the technical problems in the related art to some extent. In view of this, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a lithium ion battery with effectively improved thermal runaway and improved safety during use.
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a lithium ion battery. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the lithium ion battery includes a casing and an electrode core packaged in the casing. The electrode core includes a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, and a separator located between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet. The positive electrode sheet includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode material layer on the positive electrode current collector. Among the positive electrode current collector, the positive electrode material layer, the negative electrode sheet, and the separator, the one with the lowest melting point is defined as an effective component. The effective component meets:
where n is the layer number of the effective component; L is the dimension of the effective component in a first direction, unit: m; W is the dimension of the effective component in a second direction, unit: m; d2 is the thickness of the effective component, unit: m; ρ is the density of the effective component, unit: kg/m3; and Cp is the specific heat capacity of the effective component (heat capacity, specific heat capacity and specific heat are used interchangeably herein), unit: J/(Kg·° C.) (that is, J/(Kg·K), and J/(Kg·° C.) and J/(Kg·K) are used interchangeably herein). The first direction is parallel to the direction in which the current in the effective component is output, and the second direction intersects the first direction. In the lithium ion battery, by rational optimization and design of the layer number, different dimensions and other parameters of the electrode core component, the battery safety is greatly improved. Lithium ion batteries that meet the above conditions effectively reduce the probability of thermal runaway or thermal diffusion of the battery, thus avoiding the damage to adjacent batteries or the exterior caused by heat generation of the battery.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a lithium ion battery. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the lithium ion battery includes a casing and an electrode core packaged in the casing. The electrode core includes a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, and a separator located between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet. The positive electrode sheet includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode material layer on the positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode current collector meets:
where n is the layer number of the positive electrode current collector, L is the dimension of the positive electrode current collector in a first direction, unit: m; W is the dimension of the positive electrode current collector in a second direction, unit: m; d2 is the thickness of the positive electrode current collector, unit: m, ρ is the density of the positive electrode current collector, unit: kg/m3; and Cp is the specific heat capacity of the positive electrode current collector, unit: J/(Kg·° C.). The first direction is parallel to the current direction in the positive electrode current collector, and the second direction intersects the first direction. In the lithium ion battery, by rational optimization and design of the layer number, dimensions in different directions and other parameters of the positive electrode current collector, the battery safety is greatly improved. Lithium ion batteries that meet the above conditions effectively reduce the probability of thermal runaway or thermal diffusion of the battery, thus avoiding the damage to adjacent batteries or the exterior caused by heat generation of the battery.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides a battery pack. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the battery pack includes at least one lithium ion battery as described above. The possibility of thermal runaway and thermal diffusion of the battery pack is significantly reduced, and the safety during use is significantly improved.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides an electric vehicle or an energy storage device. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electric vehicle or energy storage device includes the battery pack as described above. The electric vehicle has excellent safety and long service life.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below. The embodiments described below are exemplary and used only for explaining the present disclosure, and should not be construed as a limitation on this application. The embodiments in which the specific technique or condition is not specified are implemented according to the technique or condition described in the literature in the art or according to the product specification. The reagents or instruments used do not indicate the manufacturer and are conventional products commercially available.
In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a lithium ion battery. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the lithium ion battery includes a casing and an electrode core packaged in the casing. The electrode core includes a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, and a separator located between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet. The positive electrode sheet includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode material layer on the positive electrode current collector. Among the positive electrode current collector, the positive electrode material layer, the negative electrode sheet, and the separator, the one with the lowest melting point is defined as an effective component. The effective component meets:
where n is the layer number of the effective component; L is the dimension of the effective component in a first direction, unit: m; W is the dimension of the effective component in a second direction, unit: m; d2 is the thickness of the effective component, unit: m; ρ is the density of the effective component, unit: kg/m3; and Cp is the specific heat capacity of the effective component, unit: J/(Kg·° C.). The first direction is parallel to the direction in which the current in the effective component is output, and the second direction intersects the first direction. In the lithium ion battery, by rational optimization and design of the layer number, dimensions in different directions and other parameters of the electrode core component, the battery safety is greatly improved. Lithium ion batteries that meet the above conditions effectively reduce the probability of thermal runaway or thermal diffusion of the battery, without newly adding any parts, changing the battery system design, and increasing the cost. Further, in the lithium ion battery of the present disclosure, as the A value increases, the safety of the battery decreases relatively. When the value is greater than 500, the heat generated cannot be discharged in time due to the internal structure design of the battery, lowering the battery safety. As the A value decreases, the space in the battery is seriously wasted and the shape of the battery is not conducive to the arrangement of the battery inside the electric vehicle.
In some embodiments, the effective component meets:
Therefore, the safety of the lithium ion battery is further improved, and the probability of thermal runaway and thermal diffusion is further reduced.
In present disclosure, according to the general heat balance equation:
the boundary condition is:
where ρ represents the density of a predetermined component in the system, T represents the temperature at which the system reaches heat balance, t represents the time, Cp represents the specific heat of a predetermined component, k represents the coefficient of thermal conductivity, Q represents the heat generated, h represents the thermal coefficient of the casing and air, E represents the electromotive force, U represents the terminal voltage, I represents the charging and discharging current, Tsurface represents the surface temperature of the system, and Troom represents room temperature.
The one-dimensional heat diffusion model is:
where Q is a heat given at x=0 at the moment t=0, ΔT is the increment of the temperature at a distance x=R from the zero point relative to the room temperature, ρ is the density of the heat conductor, c is the specific heat capacity of the heat conductor, δ is the thickness of the heat conductor, α is the coefficient of thermal conductivity α=k/(ρc), k is the coefficient of thermal conductivity of the heat conductor, m2=2 h/(kδ).
Based on the above equations and models, combined with the practical research experience of the present inventor, the present disclosure is proposed by the present inventor following the principles below. Thermal runaway is mostly caused by short circuit inside the battery. Once short circuit occurs, the temperature at the short-circuit point rises rapidly, resulting in thermal runaway of the battery, and easily causing fire or explosion. In the lithium ion battery of the present disclosure, by controlling the number, size, and thermodynamic parameters of the effective component in the battery, the short-circuit point is fused quickly when the battery is short-circuited, to cut off the short-circuit point, prevent further heat generation, and ensure that the material does not reach the out-of-control point. This can greatly ensure the safety of the battery, avoid the occurrence of thermal runaway, and greatly improve the safety of the battery.
The lithium ion battery of the present disclosure can be a liquid battery, a solid state battery or a polymer battery. The liquid battery and polymer battery can include a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, and a separation film (i.e., separator) between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet. The electrode core also includes an electrolyte solution. The solid-state battery includes a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, and a solid electrolyte layer (i.e. separator) between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet.
In some embodiments, the negative electrode sheet may include a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode material layer on the negative electrode current collector. In such embodiments, among the positive electrode current collector, the positive electrode material layer, the negative electrode current collector, the negative electrode material layer and the separator, the one with the lowest melting point is defined as an effective component.
In some other embodiments, the negative electrode sheet may be a lithium foil, or a lithium strip. In such embodiments, among the positive electrode current collector, the positive electrode material layer, the lithium foil (or lithium strip), and the separator, the one with the lowest melting point is defined as an effective component.
In some embodiments, the negative electrode sheet can include a porous current collector and a negative electrode active material deposited in the porous structure. In such embodiments, among the positive electrode current collector, the positive electrode material layer, the porous current collector and the separator, the one with the lowest melting point is defined as an effective component.
Further, the positive electrode sheet and negative electrode sheet are respectively provided with a positive electrode tab and a negative electrode tab for current output. Specifically, the positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab are respectively led out from one side of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet, and the positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab may be arranged at the same side (as shown in
It should be noted that referring to
Referring to
Further, it should also be noted that, the second direction intersecting the first direction described herein is that the angle between the first direction and the second direction can be greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 90 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle between the first direction and the second direction can be 90 degrees, that is, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.
In some embodiments, according to the materials commonly used in various components of the lithium ion battery, the melting point of the positive electrode current collector is generally lower. When the positive electrode current collector is fused upon thermal runaway, the electrode material is not out of control, thus greatly ensuring the safety of the battery. Among the various forms of short circuits inside the battery that lead to thermal runaway, for example, the short circuit between the positive and negative materials, the short circuit between the positive electrode current collector and the negative electrode sheet, and the short circuit between the negative electrode current collector and the positive electrode sheet. The heat generated is the maximum, when the positive electrode current collector is in contact and short-circuited with the negative electrode material. It is found that once short circuit occurs, the temperature at the short-circuit point can rise rapidly to 200° C., causing the material to be of control, and easily causing the fire or explosion. In the lithium ion battery of the present disclosure, to achieve the fundamental purpose that the material does not reach the out-of-control point when the short-circuit point is fused, the positive electrode current collector is used as the effective component, to effectively avoid thermal runaway and thermal diffusion, and greatly improve the safety of the battery.
Hereinafter, the solution of the present disclosure is described in further detail with the positive electrode current collector as the effective component.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, referring to
In some embodiments, the positive electrode tab can be welded to the positive electrode current collector, or cut from the positive electrode current collector (that is, the positive electrode tab is integrally formed with the positive electrode current collector). It should be noted that no matter how the positive electrode tab is led out from the positive electrode current collector, the dimension of the positive electrode current collector in the first direction does not include the dimension of the positive electrode tab in the first direction. It can be understood that the condition of the negative electrode tab can be the same as that of the positive tab, and will not be detailed here again.
Further, the second direction can be selected according to the actual situation. In some embodiments, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. Therefore, a higher degree of matching the above conditions is attained, so the probability of thermal runaway and thermal diffusion is lower, and the safety of the battery is higher.
In some embodiments, referring to
In some other embodiments, the electrode core in the lithium ion battery can be a wound electrode core. Referring to
In some embodiments, the material of the positive electrode current collector includes aluminum, such as aluminum foil, and the negative electrode current collector is a copper foil. With rational designs of the battery parameters (the layer number, dimensions in different directions, thickness, specific heat capacity and others of the effective component), in combination with the low melting point of aluminum, it can be effectively ensured that when the short-circuit point is fused, the material is not out of control, thus avoiding the thermal runaway and thermal diffusion, and greatly guaranteeing the safety of the lithium ion battery.
In some embodiments, the thickness d2 of the positive electrode current collector can range from 6 μm to 15 μm (for example, 6 μm, 7 μm, 8 μm, 9 μm, 10 μm, 11 μm, 12 μm, 13 μm, 14 μm, or 15 μm). The density ρ of the positive electrode current collector ranges from 2000 kg·m−3 to 3000 kg·m−3 (for example, 2000 kg·m−3, 2100 kg·m−3, 2200 kg·m−3, 2300 kg·m−3, 2400 kg·m−3, 2500 kg·m−3, 2600 kg·m−3, 2700 kg·m−3, 2800 kg·m−3, 2900 kg·m−3, or 3000 kg·m−3). The specific heat capacity Cp of the positive electrode current collector ranges from 800 J·kg−1·K−1 to 900 J·kg−1·K−1 (for example, 800 J·kg−1·K−1, 810 J·kg−1·K−1, 820 J·kg−1·K−1, 830 J·kg−1K−1, 840 J·kg−1·K−1, 850 J·kg−1·K−1, 860 J·kg−1·K−1, 870 J·kg−1·K−1, 880 J·kg−1·K−1, 890 J·kg−1·K−1, or 900 J·kg−1·K−1). According to this disclosure, d2, ρ, and Cp is the thermal characteristic attributes of the positive electrode current collector. As the product of the three increases, the short-circuit point is more difficult to be fused, the risk of becoming out of control is greater. In the ranges defined above, it can be effectively ensured that when the short-circuit point is fused, the material is not out of control, thus well guaranteeing the safety of the battery.
In some embodiments, the layer number n of the positive electrode current collector ranges from 1 to 150 (for example, 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, or 150). n is the total layer number of the positive electrode current collector. As the value of n increases, the heat released upon short circuit increases, and the risk of becoming out of control is greater. In the ranges defined above, the energy density of the battery is guaranteed while the risk of becoming out of control is low.
In some embodiments, the ratio L/w of the dimension L of the positive electrode current collector in the first direction to the dimension W of the positive electrode current collector in the second direction is in the range of 0-30 (for example, 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 28, or 30). L/w determines the internal ohmic resistance of the battery. The larger the L/w is, the higher the ohmic resistance will be, and the more the heat generated by the battery will be. Also, L/w determines the impedance of the positive electrode current collector. The larger the value is, the greater the total heat generated by the electrode core before the electrode core is fused at the short-circuit point will be, and the high the risk of becoming out of control will be. In the ranges defined above, the battery is ensured to operate normally, the risk of becoming out of control is low, and the heat generation can be controlled within a certain range, so as to avoid the damage of the heat generation of the battery to adjacent batteries or the exterior.
In some embodiments, in the lithium ion battery of the present disclosure, types of the positive electrode material layer and the negative electrode active material are not particularly limited, and can be flexibly selected and adjusted by those skilled in the art according to actual needs. In some embodiments, the positive electrode material layer may include a lithium iron phosphate material. In some embodiments, the negative electrode sheet includes a negative electrode active material, including at least one of graphite, soft carbon, hard carbon, carbon fibers, mesocarbon microspheres, a silicon based material, a tin-based material and lithium titanate. Therefore, a higher degree of matching the above thermal runaway conditions is attained, and the risk of thermal runaway of the lithium ion battery is lower.
In some embodiments, the lithium ion battery can be a rectangular battery. Further, the length of the lithium ion battery can be 500 mm-2500 mm (for example, 500 mm, 800 mm, 1000 mm, 1500 mm, 1800 mm, 2000 mm, 2200 mm, or 2500 mm). In some embodiments, it can be a lithium ion battery having a casing of a certain strength (for example, a metal casing). The lithium ion batteries with a shape and size in this range can well match the above thermal runaway conditions. Through the above thermal runaway conditions, the lithium ion battery can be controlled more accurately to have a lower risk of thermal runaway.
It can be understood that in addition to the previously described components, the lithium ion battery can also have necessary structures and components of a conventional lithium ion battery, for example, an electrolyte solution or a solid electrolyte, necessary connection wires, and others may be included. The specific arrangement can be made reference to conventional techniques, and will not be detailed here again.
In some embodiments, multiple electrode cores are packaged in the casing, and the multiple electrode cores are assigned to several electrode core assemblies connected in series. For example, 15 electrode cores are packaged in the casing, and each 5 electrode cores are assigned to one electrode core assembly. Then 3 electrode core assemblies are included in the casing, and the 3 electrode core assemblies are connected in series.
In some embodiments, an encapsulation film is further provided between the casing and the electrode core, where the electrode core is packaged in the encapsulation film. Therefore, the electrode core can be well protected, to avoid the problem of damage, improve the safety of the battery, and extend the service life of the battery.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a lithium ion battery. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the lithium ion battery includes a casing and an electrode core accommodated in the casing. The electrode core includes a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, and a separator located between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet. The positive electrode sheet includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode material layer on the positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode current collector meets:
where n is the layer number of the positive electrode current collector, L is the dimension of the positive electrode current collector in a first direction, unit: m; W is the dimension of the positive electrode current collector in a second direction, unit: m; d2 is the thickness of the positive electrode current collector, unit: m; ρ is the density of the positive electrode current collector, unit: kg/m3; and Cp is the specific heat capacity of the positive electrode current collector, unit: J/(Kg·° C.). The first direction is parallel to the current output direction in the positive electrode current collector, and the second direction intersects the first direction.
It can be understood that the casing, the positive electrode sheet, the negative electrode sheet, and the separator of the lithium ion battery are as described above, and will not be detailed here again.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides a power battery module. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the power battery module includes at least one lithium ion battery as described above. The possibility of thermal runaway and thermal diffusion of the power battery module is significantly reduced, and the safety during use is significantly improved.
In the power battery module, multiple lithium ion batteries can be connected in series, in parallel or in a hybrid pattern; or some lithium ion batteries are connected to form an assembly, and then multiple assemblies are further connected to form a power battery module. Definitely, it can be designed and selected according to actual needs, and will not be detailed here again.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides a battery pack. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the battery pack includes at least one lithium ion battery or battery module as described above. The battery pack has high safety and long service life during use.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides an electric vehicle. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electric vehicle includes the battery module or the battery pack as described above. The electric vehicle has high safety and long service life.
It can be understood that in addition to the power battery module described earlier, the electric vehicle may further include necessary structures and components for a conventional electric vehicle, for example, the vehicle body, tire, motor, frame, interiors, and so on. The specific arrangement can be made reference to conventional techniques, and will not be detailed here again.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an energy storage device. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the energy storage device includes the power battery module or the battery pack as described above. The energy storage device has obviously reduced probability of thermal runaway and thermal diffusion, and thus has excellent safety and long service life.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below.
In the following examples and comparative examples, a power battery module is used, which is formed by connecting multiple lithium ion batteries in series. Each lithium ion battery is a stacked battery, in which the positive electrode current collector is an aluminum foil, the positive electrode material is a lithium iron phosphate material, the negative electrode current collector is a copper foil, the negative electrode material is graphite, the separator is a polyolefin separator, the electrolyte solution is an organic electrolyte solution of lithium hexafluorophosphate, the lithium ion battery is a rectangular battery, and the length is 1000 mm.
Performance Test
The nail penetration test was carried out following the method as described in “GB/T 31485-2015 Safety requirements and test methods for traction battery of electric vehicle”. The nail penetration was as follows:
The parameters and test results of each example and comparative example are shown in the following table:
From the test results, it can be seen that when A is greater than 500, the battery cannot pass the nail penetration test, and thermal runaway occurs. When A is less than 500 and greater than 1, the battery passes the nail penetration test, and no thermal runaway occurs. It shows that the lithium ion battery that meets the conditions of the present disclosure has lower risk of thermal runaway and higher safety.
In the descriptions of this specification, a description of a reference term such as “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “an example”, “a specific example”, or “some examples” means that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic that is described with reference to the embodiment or the example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. In this specification, schematic descriptions of the foregoing terms are not necessarily directed at the same embodiment or example. Besides, the specific features, the structures, the materials or the characteristics that are described may be combined in proper manners in any one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, a person skilled in the art may integrate or combine different embodiments or examples described in the specification and features of the different embodiments or examples as long as they are not contradictory to each other.
Although the embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described above, it can be understood that, the foregoing embodiments are exemplary, and cannot be construed as a limitation to the present disclosure. Within the scope of this application, a person of ordinary skill in the art may make changes, modifications, replacement, and variations to the foregoing embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202010478307.8 | May 2020 | CN | national |
The application is a continuation application of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2021/095497 filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) on May 24, 2021, which is based on and claims priority to and benefits of Chinese Patent Application No. 202010478307.8, filed on May 29, 2020. The above-referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/CN2021/095497 | May 2021 | US |
| Child | 18070876 | US |
