Battery module for starting a power equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018123187-A1
Application number	US-201615338456-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 31, 2016
Priority date	Oct 31, 2016
Publication date	May 3, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided herein is a battery module for starting the engines of outdoor power equipment such as automobiles, boats, trucks and tractors. The battery module disclosed herein has high performance at low temperature and has a maximum pulse discharging current measured at −30° C. of not less than 15% of the maximum pulse discharging current measured at 25° C. over a pulse discharge period of about 5 seconds. In addition, the battery module disclosed herein has a low self-discharging rate at both room temperature and high temperature. The capacity retention of the battery module is not less than 85% of its initial capacity after 7 months of room temperature storage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A battery module comprising:
an outer housing; a plurality of interconnected battery cells enclosed in the outer housing; and a voltage regulating device coupled to each battery cell for regulating the charging and/or discharging voltage of each battery cell, wherein the battery module has a maximum pulse discharging current measured at −30° C. of not less than 15% of the maximum pulse discharging current measured at 25° C. over a pulse discharge period of about 5 seconds.

2 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the battery cells are lithium-ion battery cells comprising at least one anode, at least one cathode and at least one separator interposed between the at least one anode and at least one cathode, and wherein the at least one anode comprises an anode current collector and an anode electrode layer comprising an anode material, a binder material and a conductive agent, and the at least one cathode comprises a cathode current collector and a cathode electrode layer comprising a cathode material, a binder material and a conductive agent.

3 . The battery module of claim 2 , wherein the cathode material is selected from the group consisting of LiCO 2 , LiNiO 2 , LiNi x Mn y O 2 , Li 1+z Ni x Mn y Co 1−x−y O 2 , LiNi x Co y Al z O 2 , LiV 2 O 5 , LiTiS 2 , LiMoS 2 , LiMnO 2 , LiCrO 2 , LiMn 2 O 4 , composites thereof, and combinations thereof, wherein each x is independently from 0.3 to 0.8; each y is independently from 0 to 0.45; and each z is independently from 0 to 0.2.

4 . The battery module of claim 2 , wherein the cathode material is lithium manganese oxide having a Li/Mn ratio equal to or greater than 0.5.

5 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the battery module has a nominal operation voltage of about 12 V, about 24 V, about 36 V, or about 48 V, and a maximum charging rate greater than 2 C, greater than 3 C, greater than 4 C, or greater than 5 C at 25° C.

6 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the battery module is capable of discharging continuously at a rate greater than 5 C, greater than 7.5 C, greater than 10 C, or greater than 15 C at 25° C., and has a volumetric power density greater than or equal to 250 W/L, greater than or equal to 350 W/L, greater than or equal to 480 W/L, or greater than or equal to 950 W/L at 25° C.

7 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the battery module has a maximum discharging rate greater than or equal to 10 C, greater than or equal to 15 C, greater than or equal to 30 C, or greater than or equal to 45 C for a pulse discharge period of about 5 seconds at 25° C., and wherein the capacity retention of the battery module is not less than 80%, not less than 85%, or not less than 90% of its initial capacity after 7 months of room temperature storage.

8 . The battery module of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of interconnected battery cells comprises a negative electrical terminal comprising a first portion in electrical contact with the at least one anode of the plurality of interconnected battery cells and a second portion extending beyond the periphery of the outer housing and a positive electrical terminal comprising a first portion in electrical contact with the at least one cathode of the plurality of interconnected battery cells and a second portion extending beyond the periphery of the outer housing, wherein each of the negative and positive electrical terminals independently has a minimum cross-sectional area greater than or equal to 1 cm 2 .

9 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the battery module comprises a safety module comprising a temperature sensor connected to each battery cell.

10 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the battery cells are pouch battery cells, and wherein each battery cell has a capacity of not less than 8 Ah.

11 . A battery module comprising:
an outer housing and; a plurality of interconnected battery cells enclosed in the outer housing; and a voltage regulating device coupled to each battery cell for regulating the charging and/or discharging voltage of each battery cell, wherein the capacity retention of the battery module is not less than 50% of its initial capacity after storage for 7 days at 55° C.

12 . The battery module of claim 11 , wherein the battery cells are lithium-ion battery cells comprising at least one anode, at least one cathode and at least one separator interposed between the at least one anode and at least one cathode, and wherein the at least one anode comprises an anode current collector and an anode electrode layer comprising an anode material, a binder material and a conductive agent, and the at least one cathode comprises a cathode current collector and a cathode electrode layer comprising a cathode material, a binder material and a conductive agent.

13 . The battery module of claim 12 , wherein the cathode material is selected from the group consisting of LiCO 2 , LiNiO 2 , LiNi x Mn y O 2 , Li 1+z Ni x Mn y Co 1−x−y O 2 , LiNi x Co y Al z O 2 , LiV 2 O 5 , LiTiS 2 , LiMoS 2 , LiMnO 2 , LiCrO 2 , LiMn 2 O 4 , composites thereof, and combinations thereof, wherein each x is independently from 0.3 to 0.8; each y is independently from 0 to 0.45; and each z is independently from 0 to 0.2.

14 . The battery module of claim 12 , wherein the cathode material is lithium manganese oxide having a Li/Mn ratio equal to or greater than 0.5.

15 . The battery module of claim 11 , wherein the battery module has a nominal operation voltage of about 12 V, about 24 V, about 36 V, or about 48 V, and a maximum charging rate greater than 2 C, greater than 3 C, greater than 4 C, or greater than 5 C at 25° C.

16 . The battery module of claim 11 , wherein the battery module is capable of discharging continuously at a rate greater than 5 C, greater than 7.5 C, greater than 10 C, or greater than 15 C at 25° C., and has a volumetric power density greater than or equal to 250 W/L, greater than or equal to 350 W/L, greater than or equal to 480 W/L, or greater than or equal to 950 W/L at 25° C.

17 . The battery module of claim 11 , wherein the battery module has a maximum discharging rate greater than or equal to 10 C, greater than or equal to 15 C, greater than or equal to 20 C, or greater than or equal to 30 C for a pulse discharge period of about 5 seconds at 25° C., and wherein the capacity retention of the plurality of interconnected battery cells is not less than 80%, not less than 85%, or not less than 90% of its initial capacity after 7 months of room temperature storage.

18 . The battery module of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of interconnected battery cells comprises a negative electrical terminal comprising a first portion in electrical contact with the at least one anode of the plurality of interconnected battery cells and a second portion extending beyond the periphery of the outer housing and a positive electrical terminal comprising a first portion in electrical contact with the at least one cathode of the plurality of interconnected battery cells and a second portion extending beyond the periphery of the outer housing, wherein each of the negative and positive electrical terminals independently has a minimum cross-sectional area greater than or equal to 1 cm 2 .

19 . The battery module of claim 11 , wherein the battery module comprises a safety module comprising a temperature sensor connected to each battery cell.

20 . The battery module of claim 11 , wherein the battery cells are pouch battery cells, and wherein each battery cell has a capacity of not le

Assignees

• Grst Int Ltd

Inventors

• Ho Kam Piu
• Wang Ranshi
• Shen Peihua

Classifications

• H01M4/366

  as layered products · CPC title

• H01M10/0567

  characterised by the additives · CPC title

• H02J7/80

  including monitoring or indicating arrangements · CPC title

• H02J7/65

  against overtemperature · CPC title

• H02J7/50

  acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title