DE102019208570A1 - Battery arrangement, vehicle or stationary system with such as well as a method for producing said battery arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

Is suggested. i.a. a battery arrangement (3), with a battery housing (4), which has a hollow profile strand (4a) with a tubular interior (7) and at least one front loading opening (14), wherein in said interior (7) a plurality of electrochemical cells ( 8) are arranged. It is advantageously provided that the electrochemical cells (8) each have a plate-shaped cell housing (9) with end faces (10, 11) as well as a circumferential housing edge (12) and with one end face (10, 11) leading over said loading opening (14) in the interior (7) of the battery housing (4) when pushed in to form a cell stack (15).

Description

The invention relates to a battery arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 of the invention. According to claim 9 of the invention, the same also relates to a vehicle or a stationary system with such a battery arrangement. According to claim 10 of the invention, the same also relates to a method for manufacturing said battery assembly.

From the DE 10 2011 104 499 A1 a battery for a vehicle having a plurality of battery cells forming a stack is known. A separator made of a waterproof material is arranged between each two battery cells and electrically isolates the battery cells from one another. The separators can form a housing for the stack of battery cells which is impervious to water or moisture.

From the DE 10 2013 021 400 A1 a battery, in particular a vehicle battery, is known with a cell block which has a plurality of individual cells stacked on top of one another. The individual cells have an alignment structure that corresponds to holding elements, whereby the individual cells are mechanically fixed in the cell block. The holding elements are either arranged between two individual cells or enclose the individual cells. Inside the cell block, the holding elements press on a sealed seam of the individual cell, the holding elements having an elastic element in this area. The elastic element is used to uniformly introduce force into the sealing seam of the individual cell. Furthermore, the cell block comprises a pressure plate on each end face, as well as tie rods penetrating the holding elements and pressure plates in order to press them axially.

From the WO 20157113858 A2 a battery module is known with preferably a plurality of battery cells, which are essentially plate-like and are surrounded by a foam structure, this having at least two foam layers with the same or different mechanical, physical and / or chemical properties.

From the publication closest to the subject of the application DE 10 2017 201 354 A1 a battery assembly, in particular for a vehicle, with a cuboid battery housing is known, in whose likewise cuboid interior at least one elongated cuboid cell pack with a plurality of battery cells (individual cells) arranged next to one another and one behind the other as well as one below the other is arranged. The battery cells also have a cuboid shape and thus form said cuboid cell pack. The battery cells are surrounded by insulation that surrounds them, preferably a plastic, which insulation forms a housing, so to speak. The battery housing itself is formed by a hollow profile strand with a closed profile cross section (pipe cross section), to which at least one housing cover element for closing the hollow profile strand is assigned at both ends. The hollow profile strand is preferably an extruded profile or a pultrusion profile.

The object of the invention is to create a battery arrangement which, with regard to the prior art, in particular the closest publication DE 10 2017 201 354 A1 is further improved and, while maintaining the advantages of the prior art, can be produced simply and inexpensively, and secure storage of the electrochemical cells in the battery housing of the battery arrangement is ensured. Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle with such a battery arrangement. It is also an object of the invention to provide a method for producing such a battery arrangement.

Starting from a battery arrangement, with a battery housing, which has a hollow profile strand with a tubular interior and at least one front loading opening, with a plurality of electrochemical cells being arranged in said interior, the object is achieved in that the electrochemical cells each have a plate-shaped Have cell housings with end faces and a circumferential housing edge and form a cell stack with one end face pushed into the interior of the battery housing via said loading opening.

This battery arrangement differs from the prior art advantageously in that the individual electrochemical cells are installed or are installed directly in the battery housing and without additional fastening material, which in particular results in material, weight and cost savings with regard to production and assembly.

The subclaims describe preferred developments or embodiments of the invention.

According to this, it is preferably provided that the cell housing of each electrochemical cell is supported on the inner jacket surface of the tubular interior with the mediation of at least one elastic compensation profile arranged on the circumferential edge of the housing, whereby advantageously a safe and low-vibration mounting of the electrochemical cells is guaranteed.

As the invention further provides, for this purpose the interior space is oversized with regard to the cell housing of each electrochemical cell such that the cell housing is supported under prestress on the inner surface of the tubular interior through the intermediary of the elastic compensation profile. That is, the electrochemical cell is adapted with its cross-sectional contour in a defined tolerance range via the at least one elastic compensation profile to the cross-section of the interior space and, viewed transversely to the longitudinal extent of the interior space of the battery housing, is held pressed in it.

According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one elastic compensation profile is arranged completely circumferentially on said housing edge. Alternatively, the at least one elastic compensation profile can also be arranged in sections on the said housing edge. The last-described measure in particular results in minimized press-in forces for positioning the relevant electrochemical cell in the interior of the battery housing.

The at least one elastic compensation profile is preferably designed as a hollow profile with an open or closed profile cross-section or as a solid profile and can have any suitable profile cross-section, but in particular a polygonal, round, at least partially rounded or comb-like profile cross-section. Any combination of such profile cross-sections is of course also covered by the invention.

In a further development of the invention, it is further provided that the at least one elastic compensation profile has a profile cross-section which, viewed in the direction of insertion of the electrochemical cell into said interior of the battery housing, is at least partially reduced in size. As a result, at the beginning of the insertion of the electrochemical cell into the interior of the battery housing, a centering of the cell in the area of the charging opening of the battery housing and / or a reduced insertion force is / are advantageously effected. The reduction in size can be continuous or discontinuous or stepped.

In order to improve the joint between the electrochemical cells and the battery housing even further and to ensure safe assembly of the electrochemical cells in the battery housing, the at least one compensation profile and the battery housing have positive locking means that correspond to one another.

In order to simplify the electrical contacting of the electrochemical cells in the cell stack, the cell housings have at least one cell pole in the region of the respective end faces for electrical contacting of a cell pole of an adjacent cell housing. This preferably results in an electrical series connection of the relevant cells in the cell stack.

The invention also relates to a vehicle or a stationary system, such as an electrochemical storage system, with a battery arrangement of the type described above.

• a) Bereitstellung eines Batteriegehäuse, welches einen Hohl-Profilstrang mit einem rohrförmigen Innenraum und zumindest einer stirnseitigen Beschicköffnung aufweist,
• b) Bereitstellung einer Mehrzahl elektrochemischer Zellen, welche jeweils ein plattenförmiges Zellengehäuse mit Stirnflächen und einem umlaufenden Gehäuserand aufweisen,
• c1) Bestückung des Batteriegehäuses mit den elektrochemischen Zellen, indem eine jede Zelle mit einer Stirnfläche voran über besagte Beschicköffnung in den Innenraum des Batteriegehäuses eingeschoben wird und in ihrer Gesamtheit einen Zellenstapel ausbilden, oder alternativ
• c2) Ausbildung eines Zellenstapels, indem zunächst eine Mehrzahl elektrochemischer Zellen im Bereich ihrer Stirnflächen aufeinander gestapelt werden, und Einschieben des Zellenstapels mit einer Stirnfläche einer ersten elektrochemischen Zelle desselben voran in den Innenraum des Batteriegehäuses, und
• d) gegebenenfalls stirnseitiges Verschließen des Batteriegehäuses mittels wenigstens eines Gehäuse-Deckelelements.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a battery arrangement of the type described above. This is essentially characterized by the following steps:

• a) Provision of a battery housing which has a hollow profile strand with a tubular interior and at least one front loading opening,
• b) Provision of a plurality of electrochemical cells, each of which has a plate-shaped cell housing with end faces and a circumferential housing edge,
• c1) Equipping the battery housing with the electrochemical cells by pushing each cell with one end face first into the interior of the battery housing via said loading opening and forming a cell stack in its entirety, or alternatively
• c2) Forming a cell stack by first stacking a plurality of electrochemical cells on top of one another in the area of their end faces, and inserting the cell stack with one end face of a first electrochemical cell of the same into the interior of the battery housing, and
• d) optionally closing the battery housing at the end by means of at least one housing cover element.

As a result of this measure, the production of a battery arrangement of the generic type is particularly simplified, since additional fastening material is unnecessary.

• 1 äußerst schematisch ein mit einer erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten Batteriebaugruppe ausgestattetes Fahrzeug,
• 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Batteriebaugruppe samt eines aus mehreren elektrochemischen Zellen zusammengesetztes Zellenstapels sowie eines denselben aufnehmenden Batteriegehäuses,
• 3 eine vergrößerte Darstellung nach 2,
• 4 eine perspektivische Einzeldarstellung einer elektrochemischen Zelle,
• 5 eine Seitenansicht nach 5, und
• 6 das mit elektrochemischen Zellen bestückte Batteriegehäuse in einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung desselben.

The invention is explained in more detail below using the exemplary embodiments shown schematically in the drawings. However, it is not restricted to these, but rather covers all of the configurations defined by the patent claims. For the purposes of this description, the usual direction of travel of a motor vehicle should be marked with "-x"("minusx"), the direction opposite to its usual direction of travel with "+ x"("plusx"), based on the usual direction of travel (-x ) the direction in the Horizontal across the x direction to the right with “+ y”, starting from the usual direction of travel (-x) the direction in the horizontal across the x direction seen to the left with “-y”, the direction in the vertical across the x-direction seen upwards with “+ z”, and the vertical direction across the x-direction seen downwards with “-z”. This way of designating the spatial directions in Cartesian coordinates corresponds to the coordinate system generally used in the motor vehicle industry. In addition, terms such as “front”, “rear”, “top”, “bottom” and terms with a similar meaning, including the terms “right” and “left”, are used in the way they are usually used to indicate direction on a motor vehicle. Show it:

• 1 extremely schematically a vehicle equipped with a battery assembly designed according to the invention,
• 2 a perspective view of the battery assembly including a cell stack composed of several electrochemical cells and a battery housing accommodating the same,
• 3 an enlarged view after 2 ,
• 4th a perspective individual representation of an electrochemical cell,
• 5 a side view according to 5 , and
• 6th the battery housing equipped with electrochemical cells in an advantageous further development of the same.

1 first shows a vehicle 1 , in the present case a motor vehicle with an electric motor 2 as a drive motor and a battery arrangement forming a traction battery, in particular a high-voltage battery 3 . According to this exemplary embodiment, it is therefore a purely electrically operated vehicle 1 . The invention also includes a so-called hybrid vehicle, which in addition to one or more electric motors 2 also has an internal combustion engine, or any other vehicle 1 , which is a battery assembly 3 of the type described below has or can have (not shown in the drawing).

According to 2 instructs the battery assembly 3 first a battery case 4th which can be cut to length by a hollow profile strand that can be cut to any length depending on the currently required energy requirement and the available installation space 4a is formed with a closed profile cross-section. The hollow profile strand 4a is formed by an extruded profile that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture or a pultrusion profile or an extruded profile. The former is used in particular for the formation of metallic battery housings 4th such as battery cases 4th made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, whereas the latter is used in particular to form a battery housing 4th made of a plastic or a composite material, in particular a fiber-reinforced plastic, is used. The battery case 4th respectively the end profile openings 5 of the hollow profile strand 4a is preferably assigned a housing cover element (not shown in the drawing) at both ends.

The battery case 4th is according to this embodiment between two longitudinal members 6th of the vehicle 1 held and extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x-direction). However, the invention is not limited to said longitudinal members 6th , but includes any suitable supporting structure of the vehicle 1 , for example, not shown in the drawing cross member. Alternatively, the battery case 4th also extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle (y-direction), which is also covered by the invention (not shown in the drawing).

The battery case 4th has a cuboid shape. Seen in the longitudinal direction of the same, it forms two tubular interior spaces arranged parallel next to one another by way of example only 7th to accommodate a plurality of electrochemical cells each 8th out. There can also be battery cases 4th be provided that only has an interior 7th or more than two interiors arranged parallel next to and / or one above the other 7th train (not shown in the drawing).

Based on one in the 2 to 6th visible cuboid shape of the electrochemical cells 8th show the interiors 7th a cuboid cross-section. That is, the inner contour of the relevant interior 7th is therefore largely complementary in shape to the outer contour of the electrochemical cells 8th educated.

The electrochemical cells 8th each have a plate-shaped cell housing 9 with said cuboid shape and are formed for example from a metal or a plastic. Under a plate-shaped cell housing 9 becomes essentially a cell housing 9 understood, the depth of which is chosen to be far less the width and height. The cell housing 9 has two end faces 10 , 11 as well as a circumferential edge of the housing 12 on. The end faces 10 , 11 of the cell housing 9 of every electrochemical cell 8th have at least one cell pole, not shown in the drawing, or form one for making electrical contact with an end face 10 , 11 of the cell housing 9 an adjacent electrochemical cell 8th out.

According to the 2 and 3 are according to the direction arrow 13th in 3 the majority of electrochemical cells 8th with one of their end faces 10 , 11 ahead over one of the end profile openings 5 , which also has a loading opening 14th is, in the interior concerned 7th of the battery case 4th inserted and preferably stacked in series, creating a cell stack 15th is formed. The loading of the said interior 7th with the electrochemical cells 8th can be done in such a way that either the electrochemical cells 8th each individually in the interior 7th be inserted and only inside the interior 7th the cell stack 15th train, or that the electrochemical cells 8th in advance in the area of their end faces 10 , 11 are stacked on top of each other and then as a cell stack 15th with an end face 10 or 11 a first electrochemical cell 8th of the cell stack 15th moving forward into the interior 7th of the battery case 4th be inserted. To close the with the electrochemical cells 8th equipped battery housing 4th Housing cover elements not shown in the drawing can be provided.

Like that 2 to 6th can be seen further, is the cell housing 9 of every electrochemical cell 8th with the mediation of one on the circumferential edge of the housing 12 arranged elastic compensation profile 16 on the inner surface 17th (see esp. 6th ) of the tubular interior 7th supported. The compensation profile can for example consist of a rubber or an elastomeric plastic. The interior 7th is in terms of the cell housing 9 of every electrochemical cell 8th although designed with oversize, but only in such a way that the cell housing 9 mediating the elastic compensation profile 16 under pretension on the inner surface 17th of the tubular interior 7th is supported. Like that 2 to 6th can still be seen, is the elastic compensation profile 16 at the said edge of the housing 12 arranged completely circumferentially.

Alternatively, the elastic compensation profile 16 at the said edge of the housing 12 also be arranged in sections (not shown in the drawing). That is, the cell housing 9 is only supported in predetermined sections of the edge of the housing 12 on the inner surface 17th tubular interior 7th of the battery case 4th from. This results in particular minimized press-in forces for positioning the electrochemical cell in question 8th in the interior 7th of the battery case 4th .

The elastic compensation profile 16 can be designed as a hollow profile with an open or closed profile cross-section or as a solid profile and thereby have any suitable profile cross-section, but in particular a polygonal, round, at least partially rounded or comb-like profile cross-section. Any combination of such profile cross-sections is of course also covered by the invention. 5 shows a compensation profile as an example 16 with said comb-like profile cross-section. The compensation profile 16 according to this embodiment has five on the edge of the housing 12 of the cell housing 9 circumferential profile lips 16a , which in the longitudinal direction of the interior 7th of the battery case 4th viewed at a distance from one another and located in the region of their outer circumference on the inner lateral surface 17th of the interior 7th of the battery case 4th prop up. Also through this design of the compensation profile 16 with individual profile lips 16a the type described above results in particular in minimized press-in forces for positioning the electrochemical cell in question 8th in the interior 7th of the battery case 4th .

Another possibility of minimizing the press-in forces, especially at the beginning of the loading process, results from the fact that according to FIG 5 the compensation profile 16 has a profile cross-section that extends in the direction of insertion 13th the electrochemical cell 8th in said interior 7th of the battery case 4th seen at least partially reduced. This is also advantageous at the beginning of the insertion of the electrochemical cell 8th in the interior 7th of the battery case 4th a centering of the cell 8th in the area of the loading opening 14th of the battery case 4th causes. The reduction in the profile cross section can be continuous or discontinuous or stepped. In 3 Such a reduction in the profile cross-section is indicated extremely schematically by means of a dot-dash line. In the present case, therefore, are part of the profile lips 16a , namely the two front profile lips seen in the direction of insertion 16a , in their extension from the cell housing 9 to train downsized away.

About the joint between the electrochemical cells 8th and the battery case 4th To improve even further and a safe, in particular automated assembly of the electrochemical cells 8th in the battery case 4th to ensure that have at least one compensation profile 16 and the battery case 4th interlocking means corresponding to one another 18th , 19th on. So shows 6th a compensation profile 16 , which is in the longitudinal direction of the interior 7th of the battery case 4th seen a first positive locking means 18th in the form of a recess, which in the assembly between the electrochemical cell 8th and battery case 4th a second form-fit means 19th in the form of a projection on the inner lateral surface 17th of the tubular interior 7th positively receives. All of the electrochemical cells preferably form 8th of a cell stack 15th in their overall unit from an elongated groove, which a second form-locking means 19th in the form of an elongated web-shaped projection on the inner lateral surface 17th of the tubular interior 7th positively receives.

The embodiment described above is based on a battery arrangement 3 of a vehicle 1 from. However, the invention is not limited to such an application, but also includes a battery arrangement 3 , which is part of a stationary system, such as an electrochemical storage system not shown in the drawing, which is used, for example, for the intermediate storage of electrical power generated by means of wind power and / or solar power systems.

List of reference symbols

1

vehicle

2

Electric motor

3

Battery arrangement

4th

Battery case

4a

Hollow profile strand

5

Profile opening

6th

Side member

7th

inner space

8th

cell

9

Cell housing

10

Face

11

Face

12

Casing edge

13

Direction arrow insertion direction

14th

Loading opening

15th

Cell stack

16

Compensation profile

16a

Profile lips

17th

Inner jacket surface

18th

Form fit

19th

Form fit

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102011104499 A1 [0002]
• DE 102013021400 A1 [0003]
• WO 20157113858 A2 [0004]
• DE 102017201354 A1 [0005, 0006]

Claims (10)

Battery arrangement (3), with a battery housing (4) which has a hollow profile strand (4a) with a tubular interior (7) and at least one front loading opening (14), a plurality of electrochemical cells (8) in said interior (7) ), characterized in that the electrochemical cells (8) each have a plate-shaped cell housing (9) with end faces (10, 11) as well as a circumferential housing edge (12) and with one end face (10, 11) in front of said loading opening ( 14) pushed into the interior (7) of the battery housing (4) to form a cell stack (15). Battery arrangement (3) Claim 1 , characterized in that the cell housing (9) of each electrochemical cell (8) is supported on the inner circumferential surface (17) of the tubular interior space (7) by means of at least one elastic compensation profile (16) arranged on the circumferential edge of the housing (12). Battery arrangement (3) Claim 2 , characterized in that the interior (7) with regard to the cell housing (9) of each electrochemical cell (8) is oversized in such a way that the cell housing (9) is pretensioned on the inner circumferential surface by means of the elastic compensation profile (16) (17) of the tubular interior (7) is supported. Battery arrangement (3) Claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that the at least one elastic compensation profile (16) on said housing edge (12) is arranged completely circumferentially or in sections. Battery arrangement (3) according to one of the Claims 2 to 4th , characterized in that the at least one elastic compensation profile (16) is a hollow or solid profile. Battery arrangement (3) according to one of the Claims 2 to 5 , characterized in that the at least one elastic compensating profile (16) has a profile cross-section which, viewed in the direction of insertion (13) of the electrochemical cell (8) in said interior (7) of the battery housing (4), is at least partially reduced. Battery arrangement (3) according to one of the Claims 2 to 6th , characterized in that the at least one compensation profile (16) and the battery housing (4) have mutually corresponding positive locking means (18, 19). Battery arrangement (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cell housings (9) in the region of the respective end faces (10, 11) have at least one cell pole for electrical contacting of a cell pole of an adjacent cell housing (9). Vehicle (1) or stationary system, with a battery arrangement (3) according to one of the preceding claims. Method for producing a battery arrangement (3) according to one of the Claims 1 to 9 , characterized by the following steps: a) providing a battery housing (4) which has a hollow profile strand (4a) with a tubular interior (7) and at least one front loading opening (14), b) providing a plurality of electrochemical cells (8) each having a plate-shaped cell housing (9) with end faces (10, 11) and a circumferential housing edge (12), c1) equipping the battery housing (4) with the electrochemical cells (8) by placing each cell (8) with a End face (10, 11) is pushed in front via said loading opening (14) into the interior (7) of the battery housing (4) and in its entirety form a cell stack (15), or c2) formation of a cell stack (15) by initially adding a A plurality of electrochemical cells (8) are stacked on top of one another in the region of their end faces (10, 11), and the cell stack (15) is inserted with one end face (10, 11) of a first electrochemical cell (8) the same first in the interior (7) of the battery housing (4), and d) optionally closing the end of the battery housing (4) by means of at least one housing cover element.

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