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EP-4736260-A1 - BATTERY PACK

EP4736260A1EP 4736260 A1EP4736260 A1EP 4736260A1EP-4736260-A1

Abstract

A battery pack (1), wherein the battery pack (1) comprises at least one battery module (100) as an energy source of an electric power, a power distribution unit (200) connected to the at least one battery module (100) for executing an electric connection, a battery management system (300) connected to the power distribution unit (200) for controlling the power distribution unit (200), a heat transfer liquid (400-A) being in contact with the power distribution unit (200) for balancing heat between the power distribution unit (200) and the heat transfer liquid (400-A), and a protective casing (500) having an inner space (510) for accommodating at least the power distribution unit (200) and the heat transfer liquid (400-A) being in contact with the power distribution unit (200).

Inventors

  • TYYNELÄ, Santtu
  • PIEPPONEN, MIKKO

Assignees

  • Avant Tecno Oy

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240627

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A battery pack (1), wherein the battery pack (1) comprises at least one battery module (100) as an energy source of an electric power, a power distribution unit (200) connected to the at least one battery module (100) for executing an electric connection, a battery management system (300) connected to the power distribution unit (200) for controlling the power distribution unit (200), a heat transfer liquid (400-A) being in contact with the power distribution unit (200) for balancing heat between the power distribution unit (200) and the heat transfer liquid (400-A), and a protective casing (500) having an inner space (510) for accommodating at least the power distribution unit (200) and the heat transfer liquid (400-A) being in contact with the power distribution unit (200).
  2. 2. The battery pack (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power distribution unit (200) comprises a relay (210) configured to allow and prevent the electric connection, and wherein the heat transfer liquid (400-A) extends to the relay (210) of the distribution unit (200) for balancing the heat between the relay (210) and the heat transfer liquid (400-A).
  3. 3. The battery pack (1) as claimed in claim 1, or 2 wherein the power distribution unit (200) comprises a main fuse (220) providing an overcurrent protection during the electric connection, and wherein the heat transfer liquid (400-A) extends to the main fuse (220) of the power distribution unit (200) for balancing the heat between the main fuse (220) and the heat transfer liquid (400-A).
  4. 4. The battery pack (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the power distribution unit (200) comprises a current transformer (230) for safety purposes, and wherein the heat transfer liquid (400-A) extends to the current transformer (230) of the power distribution unit (200) for balancing the heat between the current transformer (230) and the heat transfer liquid (400-A).
  5. 5. The battery pack (1) as claimed in in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner space (510) of the protective casing (500) is further for accommodating the at least one battery module (100).
  6. 6. The battery pack (1) as claimed in in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protective casing [500 has an inner space (520) for accommodating the battery management system (300), which inner space (520) has a cover structure (522) between the battery management system (300) and the heat transfer liquid (400-A) being in contact with power distribution unit (200), wherein the cover structure (522) prevents the heat transfer liquid (400-A) to be in contact with the battery management system (300).
  7. 7. The battery pack (1) as claimed in in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one battery module (100) comprises a plurality of battery cells (110), a busbar assembly (120) configured to electrically couple the battery cells (110), and a housing (130) having an inner space (132) for accommodating at least the plurality of battery cells.
  8. 8. The battery pack (1) as claimed in in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the battery pack (1) comprises a heat transfer liquid (400-B) locating in the at least one battery module (100), which heat transfer liquid (400-B) balances heat between the heat transfer liquid (400-B) and the at least one battery module (100), an input (620) and an output (630) being arranged to the at least one battery module (100) allowing the heat transfer liquid (400-B) to flow through the at least one battery module (100), and a pump (600) for circulating the heat transfer liquid (400-B) through the at least one battery module (100).
  9. 9. The battery pack (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the battery pack (1) comprises a route (610) between the pump (600) and the at least one battery module (100), which route (610) guides the heat transfer liquid (400-B) from the pump (600) into the at least one battery module (100), and which route (610) guides the heat transfer liquid (400-B) from the at least one battery module (100) into the pump (600).
  10. 10. The battery pack (1) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the route (610) locates at least partially in the inner space (510) of the protective casing (500), wherein the route (610) is at least partially surrounded by the heat transfer liquid (400-A) that is in contact with the power distribution unit (200), whereby there is a heat balance between the heat transfer liquid (400-A) locating inside the route (610) and the heat transfer liquid (400-B) surrounding the route (610).
  11. 11. The battery pack (1) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the route (610) comprises openings (640) allowing the heat transfer liquid (400-A) locating inside the route (610) and the heat transfer liquid (400-B) surrounding the route (610) to mix.
  12. 12. The battery pack (1) as claimed in in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the battery management system (300) comprises a monitoring unit (310) comprising current sensors, voltage sensors and heat sensors connected to the power distribution unit (200), wherein the monitoring unit (310) is configured to measure current, voltage and heat from the power distribution unit (200), a calculating unit (320) configured to form a measurement data about measurements of the sensors of the measuring unit (310), and a control unit (330A) for controlling the power distribution unit (200) based on the measurement data.
  13. 13. The battery pack (1) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the monitoring unit (310) comprises current sensors, voltage sensors and heat sensors connected to the at least one battery module (100), wherein the monitoring unit (310) is configured to measure current, voltage and heat from the at least one battery module (100).
  14. 14. The battery pack (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the battery pack (1) comprises a plurality of battery modules (100).
  15. 15. An electric vehicle comprising a battery pack (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
  16. 16. The electric vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein the electric vehicle is a mobile work machine.
  17. 17. A charging station (700) for charging an electric vehicle (EV), the charging station (700) comprising an electrical grid (EG) and/or at least one battery module (100) as an energy source of an electric power, a power distribution unit (200) connected to the electrical grid (EG) and/or to the at least one battery module (100) for executing an electric connection, a charging station interface (710) for electrically coupling the charging station (700) to the electric vehicle (EV), wherein the charging station interface (710) is connected to the power distribution unit (200), a heat transfer liquid (400-A) being in contact with the power distribution unit (200) for balancing heat between the power distribution unit (200) and the heat transfer liquid (400-A), and a protective casing (500) having an inner space (510) for accommodating at least the power distribution unit (200) and the heat transfer liquid (400-A) being in contact with the power distribution unit (200).
  18. 18. The charging station (700) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the charging station (700) further comprises a management system and/or a battery management system (300) connected to the power distribution unit (200) for controlling the power distribution unit (200).
  19. 19. The charging station (700) as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein the power distribution unit (200) comprises a relay (210) configured to allow and prevent the electric connection, and wherein the heat transfer liquid (400-A) extends to the relay (210) of the distribution unit (200) for balancing the heat between the relay (210) and the heat transfer liquid (400-A).
  20. 20. The charging station (700) as claimed in any one of claims 17-19, wherein the power distribution unit (200) comprises a main fuse (220) providing an overcurrent protection during the electric connection, and wherein the heat transfer liquid (400-A) extends to the main fuse (220) of the power distribution unit (200) for balancing the heat between the main fuse (220) and the heat transfer liquid (400-A).

Description

BATTERY PACK FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a field of battery packs. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Different kind of battery packs are widely used in electric vehicles, for example. There is a plurality of modular battery modules available in the market that can be used to form a desired battery pack. A drawback with the battery packs of prior art is that the battery pack and components therein produce a lot of heat, for example. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a novel battery pack. The invention is characterized by the features of the independent claims. The invention is based on the idea of a battery pack, wherein the battery pack comprises at least one battery module as an energy source of an electric power, a power distribution unit connected to the at least one battery module for executing an electric connection, a battery management system connected to the power distribution unit for controlling the power distribution unit, a heat transfer liquid being in contact with the power distribution unit for balancing heat between the power distribution unit and the heat transfer liquid, and a protective casing having an inner space for accommodating at least the power distribution unit and the heat transfer liquid being in contact with the power distribution unit. An advantage of the solution is the power distribution unit is cooled effectively by the heat transfer liquid. Some embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following the invention will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which Figure 1 shows schematically a battery pack as seen in a cross-sectional view from a side of the battery pack, Figure 2 shows schematically a battery pack of Figure 1 as seen from above of the batery pack, Figure 3A shows schematically and partially a batery module of Figure las seen in a cross-sectional view from a side of the battery module, Figure 3B shows schematically a detail of the battery module of Figure 3A as seen from above of the battery module, Figure 3C shows schematically a batery cell of the battery module of Figure 3A as seen obliquely from above the battery cell, Figure 4 shows schematically a section of a lower housing and the battery cells of the battery module of the battery pack of Figure 1 as seen obliquely from above the batery module, Figure 5 shows schematically a section of a lower housing and the battery cells of the battery module of the battery pack of Figure 1 as seen obliquely from above the battery module, Figure 6 shows schematically a charging station, and Figure 7 shows schematically another charging station. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 shows schematically a battery pack as seen in a cross-sectional view from a side of the battery pack. Figure 2 shows schematically a battery pack of Figure 1 as seen from above of the battery pack. Figure 3A shows schematically and partially a battery module of Figure las seen in a cross-sectional view from a side of the battery module. Figure 3B shows schematically a detail of the batery module of Figure 3A as seen from above of the battery module. Figure 3C shows schematically a battery cell of the battery module of Figure 3A as seen obliquely from above the battery cell. Figure 4 shows schematically a section of a lower housing and the battery cells of the battery module of the battery pack of Figure 1 as seen obliquely from above the battery module. Figure 5 shows schematically a section of a lower housing and the battery cells of the battery module of the battery pack of Figure 1 as seen obliquely from above the battery module. The batery pack 1 of the Figures comprises at least one battery module 100 as an energy source of an electric power. The batery pack 1 comprises a power distribution unit 200 connected to the at least one battery module 100 for executing an electric connection. The battery pack 100 comprises a battery management system 300 connected to the power distribution unit 200 for controlling the power distribution unit 200. The batery pack 100 comprises a heat transfer liquid 400-A being in contact with the power distribution unit 200 for balancing heat between the power distribution unit 200 and the heat transfer liquid 400-A. The battery pack 100 comprises a protective casing 500 having an inner space 510 for accommodating at least the power distribution unit 200 and the heat transfer liquid 400- A being in contact with the power distribution unit 200. The battery module 100 of the Figures comprises a plurality of battery cells 110. The battery module 100 is shown in more detail in Figures 3A, 3B and 3C. The battery cells 110 are typically cylindrical, i.e., having a shape of a round bar. Each battery cell 110 has a first end 112, a second end 114, and a central axis 116 between the first end 112 and the seco