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EP-4738562-A1 - A BATTERY PACK AND A VEHICLE

EP4738562A1EP 4738562 A1EP4738562 A1EP 4738562A1EP-4738562-A1

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a battery pack (4), the battery pack (4) comprising a plurality of battery layers (6) stacked on top of each other, wherein a respective battery layer of at least a first and a second adjacently stacked battery layer (61, 62) of the plurality of battery layers (6) comprises: - a plurality of cell stacks (8), each comprising a plurality of battery cells (9) stacked together, - a base plate (10), wherein the plurality of cell stacks (8) are arranged on the base plate (10), - a frame arrangement (12), mechanically connected to the base plate (10), and enclosing the plurality of cell stacks (8). The disclosure also relates to a vehicle (2).

Inventors

  • ROUT, Dhirendra
  • IRANNEZHAD, Mike
  • Jonsson, Kasper

Assignees

  • Volvo Truck Corporation

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241105

Claims (15)

  1. A battery pack (4), having a first extension along a first axis (x), a second extension along a second axis (y), and a third extension along a third axis (z), wherein the first, second, and third axes (x,y,z) are perpendicular, the battery pack (4) comprising a plurality of battery layers (6) stacked on top of each other along the third axis (z), wherein a respective battery layer of at least a first and a second adjacently stacked battery layer (61, 62) of the plurality of battery layers (6) comprises: - a plurality of cell stacks (8), each comprising a plurality of battery cells (9) stacked together, - a base plate (10), wherein the plurality of cell stacks (8) are arranged on the base plate (10), - a frame arrangement (12), mechanically connected to the base plate (10), and enclosing the plurality of cell stacks (8), as seen in a sectional plane which is perpendicular to the third axis (z), wherein the frame arrangement (12) comprises: - a pair of side walls (14) extending along the first axis (x), wherein the cell stacks (8) are located between the pair of side walls (14) along the second axis (y), - a pair of end members (16), extending along the second axis (y), and mechanically connecting the pair of side walls (14), and wherein the plurality of cell stacks (8) are located between the pair of end members (16), wherein the first and second battery layers (61, 62) are connected via a sealed connection interface (CI), wherein the base plate (10) of one of the first and second battery layers (61, 62) is arranged at the sealed connection interface (CI), and wherein the sealed connection interface (CI) is configured such that: the first and second battery layers (61, 62) are mechanically connected to one another via their frame arrangements (12), and the sealed connection interface (CI) is completely enclosing the base plate (10) which is arranged at the sealed connection interface (CI), as seen in a sectional plane which is perpendicular to the third axis (z).
  2. The battery pack (4) of claim 1, wherein, for at least one battery layer (6) of the first and second battery layers, the plurality of battery cells (9) of the respective cell stack are stacked along the second axis (y), and wherein the plurality of cell stacks (8) are arranged along the first axis (x).
  3. The battery pack (4) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame arrangements (12) of the first and second battery layers (6) are mechanically connected to one another by one or more first fasteners (F 1).
  4. The battery pack (4) according to claim 3, wherein at least one first fastener (F1) of the one or more first fasteners (F1) is provided in complementary holes (181, 182) of the frame arrangements (12), wherein one of the complementary holes (181) in one of the frame arrangements has a fastener opening (1811) which is accessible from a side face (121) of the frame arrangement (12) which is directed away from the frame arrangement (12) in a direction along the first axis (x) or in a direction along the second axis (y).
  5. The battery pack (4) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the base plate (10) which is arranged at the sealed connection interface (CI) is provided with respect to its frame arrangement (12) such that the base plate (10) extends along the third axis (z) inside the frame arrangement (12).
  6. The battery pack (4) according to claim 5, wherein the base plate (10) which is arranged at the sealed connection interface (CI) is provided with respect to its frame arrangement (12) such that the base plate (10) is completely inside the frame arrangement (12), as seen along the third axis (z).
  7. The battery pack (4) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the base plate (10) which is arranged at the sealed connection interface (CI) is mechanically connected to its frame arrangement (12) via one or more second fasteners (F2).
  8. The battery pack (4) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the base plate (10) which is arranged at the sealed connection interface (CI) comprises one or more attachment flanges (101) provided at an outer perimeter (P1) of the base plate (10), as seen in a sectional plane which is perpendicular to the third axis (z), wherein the base plate (10) is mechanically connected to its frame arrangement via the one or more attachment flanges (101), and wherein the one or more attachment flanges extends at least partly in-between the frame arrangements (12) of the first and second battery layers (6).
  9. The battery pack (4) of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one battery layer (6) of the first and second battery layers comprises a crossbeam member (13) extending along the second axis (y) and mechanically connecting the pair of side walls (14), and wherein the crossbeam member (13) is located between adjacent cell stacks (8).
  10. The battery pack (4) of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one battery layer of the first and second battery layers (6) comprises a clamping member (22, 131) configured to clamp at least one battery cell (9) towards the base plate (10) the at least one battery cell (9) is arranged on.
  11. The battery pack according to claims 9 and 10, wherein the clamping member (131) is attached to the crossbeam member (13).
  12. The battery pack according to claim 11, wherein the clamping member (131) extends along the first axis (x) such that the clamping member (131) and the crossbeam member (13) form a T-shape, as seen in a sectional plane which is perpendicular to the second axis (y), wherein at least one of the battery cells (9) in each of adjacent cell stacks (8) with respect to the crossbeam member (13) are clamped between the clamping member (13) and the base plate (10).
  13. The battery pack (4) of any of the preceding claims, wherein, for at least one battery layer (6) of the first and second battery layers, the at least one battery layer comprises an outer spacer (32), wherein the outer spacer (32) is located between one of the side walls (14) and one of the cell stacks (8), and wherein the outer spacer (32) is configured to deform upon swelling of the cell stack (8).
  14. The battery pack (4) according to claim 13, wherein the cell stack (8) is compressed in-between the pair of side walls (14) of the frame arrangement (12) via the outer spacer (32).
  15. A vehicle comprising the battery pack according to any of claims 1-14.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure relates generally to energy storage systems. In particular aspects, the disclosure relates to a battery pack and a vehicle. The disclosure can be applied to heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks, buses, and construction equipment, among other vehicle types. Although the disclosure may be described with respect to a particular vehicle, the disclosure is not restricted to any particular vehicle. BACKGROUND A battery pack typically comprises a plurality of battery cells, i.e., electrochemical battery cells, which are electrically connected in series and/or in parallel. The battery pack may comprise one or more separate battery cell stacks. The battery cells may be prismatic battery cells or cylindrical battery cells. Due to the electrification trend, such as for vehicles, there is an ongoing strive to develop improved technology relating to battery packs, such as to provide cost-effective configurations which are reliable, robust and/or space efficient. SUMMARY According to a first aspect of the disclosure, a battery pack is provided. The battery pack has a first extension along a first axis, a second extension along a second axis, and a third extension along a third axis, wherein the first, second, and third axes are perpendicular. The battery pack comprises a plurality of battery layers stacked on top of each other along the third axis, wherein a respective battery layer of at least a first and a second adjacently stacked battery layer of the plurality of battery layers comprises: a plurality of cell stacks, each comprising a plurality of battery cells stacked together,a base plate, wherein the plurality of cell stacks are arranged on the base plate,a frame arrangement, mechanically connected to the base plate, and enclosing the plurality of cell stacks, as seen in a sectional plane which is perpendicular to the third axis, wherein the frame arrangement comprises:a pair of side walls extending along the first axis, wherein the cell stacks are located between the pair of side walls along the second axis,a pair of end members, extending along the second axis, and mechanically connecting the pair of side walls, and wherein the plurality of cell stacks are located between the pair of end members. The first aspect of the disclosure may seek to provide a cost-effective battery pack configuration which is reliable, robust and/or space efficient. A technical benefit may include that the frame arrangements as disclosed herein provide an efficient protection for the battery cells, such as the frame arrangements of the plurality of battery layers may together at least partly form an outer cover of the battery pack which is sealed from an external environment. Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the first and second battery layers are connected via a sealed connection interface, wherein the base plate of one of the first and second battery layers is arranged at the sealed connection interface, andwherein the sealed connection interface is configured such that: the first and second battery layers are mechanically connected to one another via their frame arrangements, andthe sealed connection interface is completely enclosing the base plate which is arranged at the sealed connection interface, as seen in a sectional plane which is perpendicular to the third axis. A technical benefit may include that a cell to pack configuration is achieved wherein a risk of leakage into the battery pack at the intersection between the battery layers is mitigated. By way of example, by arranging the base plate which is arranged at the sealed connection interface so that it is completely provided inside the battery pack, i.e., also inside the sealed connection interface, a more reliable cell to pack configuration may be achieved. Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, for at least one battery layer of the first and second battery layers, the plurality of battery cells of the respective cell stack are stacked along the second axis, and wherein the plurality of cell stacks are arranged along the first axis. A technical benefit may include that an efficient packaging of the battery cells is achieved, e.g., resulting in high energy density. Additionally, or alternatively, a technical benefit may include that any swelling forces from the respective battery cell stack may be accommodated by the same structural component(s) for each battery cell stack, i.e. by the pair of side walls. This may imply a more rigid battery pack configuration, e.g., allowing the battery pack to be longer along the first axis without negatively affecting the rigidity of the battery pack too much. Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the battery cells may comprise prismatic battery cells. Additionally, or alternatively, the battery cells may comprise cylindrical battery cells. The prismatic battery cell may comprise a top surface, a b