Battery module with fireproof and fire-extinguishing components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11705604-B2
Application number	US-201916507318-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2019
Priority date	Mar 7, 2019
Publication date	Jul 18, 2023
Grant date	Jul 18, 2023

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a battery module including at least one battery unit array structure, an upper cover, a lower cover and a fireproof component disposed vertically. Each battery unit array structure includes a plurality of battery units and a plurality of busbars electrically connected to the plurality of battery units. The battery unit array structure is disposed between the upper cover and the lower cover. Each battery unit of each battery unit array structure is provided with a vent facing towards the fireproof component. Different from the related art, when thermal runaway occurs in a battery unit according to the present disclosure, flame and high-temperature particles ejected from a vent of a battery unit are blocked by the fireproof component from burning adjacent battery units, thereby preventing the thermal runaway in the other battery units from being triggered by the existing thermal runaway.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery module, comprising:
at least one battery unit array structure ( 10 ), each of the at least one battery unit array structure ( 10 ) comprising a plurality of battery units ( 11 ) and a plurality of busbars ( 12 ) electrically connected to the plurality of battery units ( 11 );
an upper cover ( 13 );
a lower cover ( 14 ), the at least one battery unit array structure ( 10 ) being disposed between the upper cover ( 13 ) and the lower cover ( 14 ); and
a fireproof component ( 17 ) disposed vertically and configured to block flame and high-temperature particles ejected from the vent ( 116 ),
wherein each of the plurality of battery units ( 11 ) in each of the at least one battery unit array structure ( 10 ) is provided with a vent ( 116 ) facing towards the fireproof component ( 17 );
wherein the at least one battery unit array structure ( 10 ) comprises two or more battery unit array structures ( 10 ) comprising a first battery unit array structure ( 101 ) and a second battery unit array structure ( 102 ) adjacent to the first battery unit array structure ( 101 );
wherein the fireproof component ( 17 ) comprises a fireproof main body ( 171 ) extending along a substantially vertical direction, and a first extension portion ( 172 ) connected to an upper end of the fireproof main body ( 171 ) and extending towards the first battery unit array structure ( 101 ), the fireproof component ( 17 ) further comprises a second extension portion ( 173 ) connected to the upper end of the fireproof main body ( 171 ) and extending towards the second battery unit array structure ( 102 ); and the first extension portion ( 172 ) and the second extension portion ( 173 ) are configured to prevent flame and high-temperature particles ejected from the vent ( 116 ) from ejecting upwards in a substantially vertical direction;
wherein the vent ( 116 ) of each of the plurality of battery units ( 11 ) of the first battery unit array structure ( 101 ) and the vent ( 116 ) of each of the plurality of battery units ( 11 ) of the second battery unit array structure ( 102 ) both face towards the fireproof main body ( 171 ), and the fireproof main body ( 171 ) is disposed between the vent ( 116 ) of each of the plurality of battery units ( 11 ) of the first battery unit array structure ( 101 ) and the vent ( 116 ) of each of the plurality of battery units ( 11 ) of the second battery unit array structure ( 102 );
wherein the battery module further comprises a fire-extinguishing component ( 18 ), wherein the fire-extinguishing component ( 18 ) is provided below the lower cover ( 14 ), and the fire-extinguishing component ( 18 ) is provided with a fluid passageway for storing a fire-extinguishing liquid for extinguishing the flame and cool the high-temperature particles blocked by the fireproof component ( 17 ).

2. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the fireproof component ( 17 ) comprises a third extension portion ( 174 ) connected to an upper end of the fireproof main body ( 171 ) and extending towards the plurality of battery units ( 11 ) in a predetermined direction; and/or
the fireproof component ( 17 ) comprises a fourth extension portion ( 175 ) connected to a lower end of the fireproof main body ( 171 ) and extending towards the plurality of battery units ( 11 ) in the predetermined direction.

3. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein one battery unit array structure ( 10 ) of the at least one battery unit array structure ( 10 ) further comprises a collecting plate ( 15 ), and the collecting plate ( 15 ) is disposed at a side of the one battery unit array structure ( 10 ) and connected to the plurality of battery units ( 11 ) of the one battery unit array structure ( 10 ).

4. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the fireproof component ( 17 ) has a melting point higher than or equal to 500° C.

5. The battery module according to claim 4 , wherein the fireproof component ( 17 ) is made of a mica plate.

6. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein each of the two or more battery unit array structures ( 10 ) has a lower surface fixed to the lower cover ( 14 ) through a structural adhesive and an upper surface fixed to the upper cover ( 13 ) through a structural adhesive.

7. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the fireproof main body ( 171 ), the first extension portion ( 172 ) and the second extension portion ( 173 ) are formed into one piece.

8. A battery pack, comprising
an accommodating box; and
a plurality of battery modules ( 1 ) accommodated in the accommodating box, wherein the plurality of battery modules ( 1 ) each comprising:
at least one battery unit array structure ( 10 ), each of the at least one battery unit array structure ( 10 ) comprising a plurality of battery units ( 11 ) and a plurality of busbars ( 12 ) electrically connected to the plurality of battery units ( 11 );
an upper cover ( 13 );
a lower cover ( 14 ), the at least one battery unit array structure ( 10 ) being disposed between the upper cover ( 13 ) and the lower cover ( 14 ); and
a fireproof component ( 17 ) disposed vertically and configured to block flame and high-temperature particles ejected from the vent ( 116 ),
wherein each of the plurality of battery units ( 11 ) in each of the at least one battery unit array structure ( 10 ) is provided with a vent ( 116 ) facing towards the fireproof component ( 17 );
wherein the at least one battery unit array structure ( 10 ) comprises two or more battery unit array structures ( 10 ) comprising a first battery unit array structure ( 101 ) and a second battery unit array structure ( 102 ) adjacent to the first battery unit array structure ( 101 );
wherein the fireproof component ( 17 ) comprises a fireproof main body ( 171 ) extending along a substantially vertical direction, and a first extension portion ( 172 ) connected to an upper end of the fireproof main body ( 171 ) and extending towards the first battery unit array structure ( 101 ), the fireproof component ( 17 ) further comprises a second extension portion ( 173 ) connected to the upper end of the fireproof main body ( 171 ) and extending towards the second battery unit array structure ( 102 ); and the first extension portion ( 172 ) and the second extension portion ( 173 ) are configured to prevent flame and high-temperature particles ejected from the vent ( 116 ) from ejecting upwards in a substantially vertical direction;
wherein the vent ( 116 ) of each of the plurality of battery units ( 11 ) of the first battery unit array structure ( 101 ) and the vent ( 116 ) of each of the plurality of battery units ( 11 ) of the second battery unit array structure ( 102 ) both face towards the fireproof main body ( 171 ), and the fireproof main body ( 171 ) is disposed between the vent ( 116 ) of each of the plurality of battery units ( 11 ) of the first battery unit array structure ( 101 ) and the vent ( 116 ) of each of the plurality of battery units ( 11 ) of the second battery unit array structure ( 102 );
wherein the battery module further comprises a fire-extinguishing component ( 18 ), wherein the fire-extinguishing component ( 18 ) is provided below the lower cover ( 14 ), and the fire-extinguishing component ( 18 ) is provided with a fluid passageway for storing a fire-extinguishing liquid for extinguishing the flame and cool the high-temperature particles blocked by the fireproof component ( 17 ).

Assignees

• Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Xingdi
• You Kaijie
• Lin Weilong
• Ma Jun
• Hou Yuepan
• Li Ziyuan

Classifications

• H01M50/383 Primary

  Flame arresting or ignition-preventing means · CPC title

• H01M50/271

  Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings · CPC title

• H01M50/507

  comprising an arrangement of two or more busbars within a container structure, e.g. busbar modules · CPC title

• H01M50/209

  adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M50/224

  Metals · CPC title