Search

EP-4266455-B1 - BATTERY MODULE HAVING A HOUSING WITH COOLANT JACKETS

EP4266455B1EP 4266455 B1EP4266455 B1EP 4266455B1EP-4266455-B1

Inventors

  • Hadler, Bernhard

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20220422

Claims (14)

  1. A battery module (1) comprising: a base portion (10, 100), a base cover (20), a plurality of groups of battery cells (81, 82, 83), wherein the base portion (10, 100) extends along a first virtual plane being perpendicular to a first direction (x); wherein the base portion (10, 100) comprises a plurality of indentations (40) protruding against the first direction (x); wherein each of the indentations forms a compartment (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49) configured to accommodate a group of battery cells; wherein each of the groups of battery cells (81, 82, 83) is accommodated in one of the compartments (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49); wherein for any two neighbored indentations, an interstice (32a, 32b, 34a, 34b) is formed between these indentations, each of the interstices being configured for being filled with a coolant; wherein the base cover (20) extends along a second virtual plane being parallel to the first virtual plane and arranged in front of the first virtual plane, when viewing into the first direction (x); and wherein the base cover (20) is spaced apart from each of the indentations; wherein a space (30) is formed between the base cover (20) and the indentations, the space being configured for being filled with a coolant; wherein the space (30) and the interstices (32a, 32b, 34a, 34b) are connected to each other; wherein each of the indentations comprises a base area (410, 420, 430, 440, 450, 460); wherein the side of base cover (20) facing the base portion (10, 100) comprises an elevated structure forming one or more streaming beds or semi-tubes-like structures configured for guiding a coolant across the side along a predefined way; and/or wherein the sides of at least some of the base areas (410, 420, 430, 440, 450, 460) facing the base cover (20) comprise an elevated structure (61, 62) forming one or more streaming beds or semi-tubes-like structures configured for guiding a coolant across the side along a predefined way.
  2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the base portion (10, 100) is formed, as one piece, by injection molding or die casting.
  3. The battery module according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the edge of the base portion (10, 100) is continuously connected with the base cover (20) in a sealed manner.
  4. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the base cover (20) and the base portion (10, 100) are formed together, as one piece, by injection molding or die casting.
  5. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the base area is the area of the indentation having a maximal distance to the first virtual plane.
  6. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein for each or at least for one of the indentations, the base area (410, 420, 430, 440, 450, 460) extending parallel to the first virtual plane.
  7. The battery module according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the base areas (410, 420, 430, 440, 450, 460) of each indentations have the same distance to the first virtual plane.
  8. The battery module according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein each or some of the base areas (410, 420, 430, 440, 450, 460) have an oval or circular shape or a rectangular shape.
  9. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each or some of the indentations have side walls (401a, 402a, 402b) extending parallel to the first direction (x).
  10. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the indentations are shaped identically.
  11. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the indentations are arranged, with regard to the first virtual plane, in a 2-dimensional periodic pattern.
  12. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein in all or at least some of the groups of battery cells (81, 82, 83), the battery cells are stacked along the first direction (x); and/or wherein in all or at least some of the groups of battery cells (81, 82, 83), the battery cells are stacked in a direction perpendicular to the first direction (x).
  13. A battery pack comprising one or more of the battery modules (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.
  14. A vehicle comprising at least one battery module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and/or at least one battery pack according to claim 13.

Description

Field of the Disclosure The present disclosure relates to a battery module having a housing with coolant jackets that allows for an efficient cooling of battery stacks arranged within the housing from different sides. The disclosure further relates to a battery pack comprising the afore-mentioned battery module and a vehicle comprising one or more of the afore-mentioned battery modules and/or one or more of the afore-mentioned battery packs. Technological Background In the recent years, vehicles for transportation of goods and peoples have been developed using electric power as a source for motion. Such an electric vehicle is an automobile that is propelled by an electric motor, using energy stored in rechargeable batteries. An electric vehicle may be solely powered by batteries or may be a form of hybrid vehicle additionally powered by for example a gasoline generator or a hydrogen fuel power cell. Furthermore, the vehicle may include a combination of electric motor and conventional combustion engine. In general, an electric-vehicle battery, EVB, or traction battery is a battery used to power the propulsion of battery electric vehicles, BEVs. Electric-vehicle batteries differ from starting, lighting, and ignition batteries because they are designed to give power over sustained periods of time. A rechargeable or secondary battery differs from a primary battery in that it can be repeatedly charged and discharged, while the latter provides only an irreversible conversion of chemical to electrical energy. Low-capacity rechargeable batteries are used as power supply for small electronic devices, such as cellular phones, notebook computers and camcorders, while high-capacity rechargeable batteries are used as the power supply for electric and hybrid vehicles and the like. In general, rechargeable batteries include an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, a case receiving the electrode assembly, and an electrode terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly. An electrolyte solution is injected into the case in order to enable charging and discharging of the battery via an electrochemical reaction of the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the electrolyte solution. The shape of the case, e. g. cylindrical or prismatic, depends on the battery's intended purpose. Lithium-ion (and similar lithium polymer) batteries, widely known via their use in laptops and consumer electronics, dominate the most recent group of electric vehicles in development. Rechargeable batteries may be used as a battery module formed of a plurality of unit battery cells coupled in series and/or in parallel so as to provide a high energy content, in particular for motor driving of a hybrid or fully electric vehicle. That is, the battery module is formed by interconnecting the electrode terminals of the plurality of unit battery cells depending on a required amount of power and in order to realize a high-power rechargeable battery. Battery modules can be constructed either in block design or in modular design. In block designs each battery is coupled to a common current collector structure and a common battery management system and the unit thereof is arranged in a housing. In modular designs, pluralities of battery cells are connected to form submodules and several submodules are connected to form the battery module. In automotive applications, battery systems often consist of a plurality of battery modules connected in series for providing a desired voltage. Therein, the battery modules may comprise submodules with a plurality of stacked battery cells, each stack comprising cells connected in parallel that are connected in series (XpYs) or multiple cells connected in series that are connected in parallel (XsYp). A battery pack is a set of any number of (preferably identical) battery modules. They may be configured in a series, parallel or a mixture of both to deliver the desired voltage, capacity, or power density. Components of battery packs include the individual battery modules, and the interconnects, which provide electrical conductivity between them. A battery system further includes a battery management system (BMS), which is any electronic system that manages the rechargeable battery, battery module and battery pack, such as by protecting the batteries from operating outside their safe operating area, monitoring their states, calculating secondary data, reporting that data, controlling its environment, authenticating it and/or balancing it. For example, the BMS may monitor the state of the battery as represented by voltage (such as total voltage of the battery pack or battery modules, voltages of individual cells), temperature (such as average temperature of the battery pack or battery modules, coolant intake temperature, coolant output temperature, or temperatures of individual cells), coolant flow (such as