EP-4740259-A1 - COMPRESSION PAD FOR THE SPACED-APART ARRANGEMENT OF BATTERY CELLS IN A BATTERY PACK, BATTERY CELL, BATTERY PACK, AND VEHICLE HAVING A BATTERY PACK

EP4740259A1EP 4740259 A1EP4740259 A1EP 4740259A1EP-4740259-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a compression pad 1 for the spaced-apart arrangement of battery cells in a battery pack, comprising a first planar spacer layer 2 and a second planar spacer layer 3, wherein the spacer layers 2, 3 each have a first side face 5 and a second side face 6, wherein the second spacer layer 3 is arranged on the first spacer layer 2. The invention is distinguished in that both the first spacer layer 2 and the second spacer layer 3 have at least one cutout 7, each of which extends from the first side face 5 to the second side face 6, and wherein the first spacer layer 2 is arranged on the second spacer layer 3 and/or the cutouts 7 are arranged on the spacer layers 2, 3 in such a way that the cutouts 7 in the first and in the second spacer layer 2, 3 partially overlap, so that in each case at least one of the cutouts 7 in the first spacer layer 2 and at least one of the cutouts 7 in the second spacer layer 3 form at least one continuous flow duct 4 through the compression pad 1 for the purpose of transporting fluid.

Inventors

SCHNEIDER, CHRISTIAN
LENTJES, Christoph
Terhorst, Michael
BARTH, Dominik

Assignees

Carcoustics TechConsult GmbH

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20240619

Claims (20)

1. Compression pad (1) for the spaced arrangement of battery cells in a battery pack, comprising a first planar spacer layer (2) and a second planar spacer layer (3), each with a length (L), a width (B) and a thickness (D), the length (L) and the width (B) each being a multiple of the thickness (D), the spacer layers (2, 3) each having a first side surface (5) and a second side surface (6), which are each spanned by the length (L) and the width (B), the second spacer layer (3) being arranged on the first spacer layer (2) in such a way that a side surface (5, 6) of the first spacer layer (2) and a side surface (5, 6) of the second spacer layer (3) coincide and form a contact surface (8) between the two spacer layers (2, 3), characterized in that both the first spacer layer (2) and the second spacer layer (3) have at least one Recesses (7) which each extend from the first side surface (5) to the second side surface (6), and wherein the first spacer layer (2) is arranged on the second spacer layer (3) and/or the recesses (7) are arranged on the spacer layers (2, 3) in such a way that the recesses (7) of the first and second spacer layers (2, 3) partially overlap, so that at least one of the recesses (7) of the first spacer layer (2) and at least one of the recesses (7) of the second spacer layer (3) form at least one continuous flow channel (4) through the compression pad (1) for fluid transport.
2. Compression pad (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one of the spacer layers (2, 3) is designed as an elastic compression layer which is adapted to support expansion and contraction of the battery cells.
3. Compression pad (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that both spacer layers (2, 3) are each designed as an elastic compression layer.
4. Compression pad (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the compression layers is formed from a foam, preferably from a PO foam, more preferably from a cross-linked PO foam.
5. Compression pad (1) according to one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the compression layers comprises PUR foam, preferably compressed PUR foam.
6. Compression pad (1) according to one of the four preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the compression layers comprises high-temperature foam, preferably melamine resin foam.
7. Compression pad (1) according to one of the five preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the compression layers comprises a non-foamed material, preferably an elastomer rubber.
8. Compression pad (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacer layers (2, 3) each have a plurality of recesses (7), and the plurality of recesses (7) of the first spacer layer (2) and the plurality of recesses (7) of the second spacer layer (3) are arranged such that a recess (7) of the first spacer layer (2) and a recess (7) of the second spacer layer (3) alternately form a part of the flow channel (4) along a flow direction through the flow channel (4).
9. Compression pad (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one flow channel (4) runs from a first longitudinal side (LSI) of the compression pad (1) to an opposite second longitudinal side (LS2) of the compression pad (1), and/or from a first broad side (BS1) of the compression pad (1) to an opposite second broad side (BS2) of the compression pad (1), so that the fluid transport can take place from the first longitudinal side (LSI) to the opposite second longitudinal side (LS2) and/or from the first broad side (BS1) to the opposite second broad side (BS2).
10. Compression pad (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compression pad (1) has a plurality of flow channels (4) which are arranged in the compression pad (1) in such a way that the individual flow channels (4) are fluidically connected to one another via the recesses (7).
11. Compression pad (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compression pad (1) has a plurality of flow channels (4), and the flow channels (4) are arranged in the compression pad (1) evenly distributed over the contact surface (8).
12. Compression pad (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the flow channels (4) run in a meandering manner through the compression pad (1).
13. Compression pad (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compression pad (1) has a plurality of flow channels (4), and the flow channels (4) are interconnected by recesses (7), wherein the flow channels (4) and recesses (7) are arranged in such a way that a flow-through network structure is formed via at least part of the contact surface (8).
14. Compression pad (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compression pad (1) has a plurality of flow channels (4), and the flow channels (4) are arranged crossing one another, so that a flow-through network structure is formed over at least part of the contact surface (8).
15. Compression pad (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, 11, or 12, characterized in that the compression pad (1) has a plurality of flow channels (4) which are arranged in the compression pad (1) in such a way that the individual flow channels (1) are fluidically separated from one another.
16. Compression pad (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compression pad (1) has at least one flame-retardant and/or thermally insulating protective layer, which is arranged on a side surface (5, 6) of the spacer layers (2, 3) facing away from the contact surface (8).
17. Compression pad (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the compression pad (1) has two protective layers which are arranged on the two side surfaces (5, 6) of the spacer layers (2, 3) facing away from the contact surface (8).
18. Compression pad (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the respective protective layers comprise a layer of a mineral-based material, preferably mica.
19. Compression pad (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one spacer layer (2, 3) has a plurality of macroscopic regions with different compressive stiffnesses extending on the first and/or second side surface (5, 6), wherein the compressive stiffnesses are preferably measured in the orthogonal direction to the first and/or second side surface (5, 6), and the at least one spacer layer (2, 3) has, in particular, recesses (7) in different numbers and/or recesses (7) of different sizes in the different regions to create the regions with different compressive stiffnesses.
20. Battery cell with a compression pad (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compression pad (1) is arranged on an outer surface of the battery cell and is designed for the spaced arrangement of the battery cell from another battery cell in a battery pack.

Description

Compression pad for spaced arrangement of battery cells in a battery pack, battery cell, battery pack and vehicle with battery pack The invention relates to a compression pad for the spaced arrangement of battery cells in a battery pack. The present invention further relates to a battery cell, a battery pack, and a vehicle, each with a compression pad according to the invention. In the technical field of vehicle technology, battery packs are increasingly being used that are made up of a large number of individual battery cells. The individual battery cells are usually assembled in a housing to form a battery pack. It is important that the battery cells are securely positioned in the housing. In this technical field, the term battery is used synonymously with the term accumulator or rechargeable battery, so that a battery is also understood to mean a rechargeable accumulator. During use, battery cells are subject to temperature fluctuations that lead to temperature expansion. Depending on the type of battery used, the battery cells also tend to "breathe" during charging and discharging, i.e. to expand and contract again, or to expand or not to contract back to their original shape due to aging processes and/or improper handling. This expansion behavior is particularly pronounced in lithium-based batteries. A certain amount of mechanical compression of the battery cells can assist the battery cells in this expansion and contraction, thereby increasing the efficiency of the battery cells and improving the performance or capacity towards the end of their life cycle. This can increase the service life of the battery cells. Therefore, in the prior art, compression pads are used in the battery packs, which are arranged between the battery cells and between the battery cells and the housing. These compression pads have a certain compressive stiffness or, in other words, a certain flexibility, which allows the battery cells to be pre-tensioned against each other and against the housing with a certain compressive stress and thus in particular to support the battery cells during expansion and contraction. In contrast to a rigid arrangement, the flexibility of the compression pads enables the battery cells to expand - in particular against the elastic force of the compression pads - and to contract again - in particular supported by the elastic force of the compression pads. The occurrence of excessive compressive stresses between the battery cells or the housing can also be avoided. In order to improve the service life and/or performance of the battery cells, the battery cells are often cooled. This can be done using heat sinks, which are usually arranged at the top ends of the battery cells and are connected to the battery cells using thermal paste, for example. A battery pack housing can also serve as a heat sink. However, there are also solutions in which the battery cells are cooled by a fluid flow. For example, a water- or oil-based coolant is used for this. The coolant must be passed over the surfaces of the battery cells. The top ends of the battery cells are ideal for this, as the coolant is passed over them. The top ends of the battery cells are ideal because they are usually easily accessible in a battery pack. As with a liquid, a gas such as air can also be used as a fluid flow for cooling. The side surfaces of the battery cells are also suitable for cooling in principle, but are usually not so easily accessible, since the battery cells are arranged close together on compression pads on the side surfaces. A compression pad between the battery cells therefore usually impairs the flow of coolant, since the compression pad, depending on the design, acts as a liquid-tight separating layer, or at least has such a high flow resistance such that the compression pad cannot be effectively flowed through by a coolant flow. The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing an improved compression pad which promotes the cooling of the battery cells by a fluid flow or even enables it in the first place. The object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments of the present invention result from the features mentioned in the subclaims and also from the present disclosure as a whole. A first aspect of the invention relates to a compression pad for the spaced arrangement of battery cells in a battery pack, comprising a first and a second flat spacer layer, each with a length, a width and a thickness, wherein the length and the width are each a multiple of the thickness. The spacer layers each have a first side surface and a second side surface, which are each spanned by the length and the width of the spacer layer: The second spacer layer in the compression pad is arranged on the first spacer layer in such a way that a side surface of the first spacer layer and a side surface of the second spacer layer coincide and form a contact surface between the two space