Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
  • H01M10/65—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells
  • H01M10/655—Solid structures for heat exchange or heat conduction
  • H01M10/6556—Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange
  • H01M10/6557—Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange arranged between the cells
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
  • H01M10/61—Types of temperature control
  • H01M10/613—Cooling or keeping cold
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
  • H01M10/62—Heating or cooling; Temperature control specially adapted for specific applications
  • H01M10/625—Vehicles
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
  • H01M10/65—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells
  • H01M10/655—Solid structures for heat exchange or heat conduction
  • H01M10/6554—Rods or plates
  • H01M10/6555—Rods or plates arranged between the cells
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
  • H01M10/65—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells
  • H01M10/656—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells characterised by the type of heat-exchange fluid
  • H01M10/6567—Liquids
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
  • H01M10/65—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells
  • H01M10/656—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells characterised by the type of heat-exchange fluid
  • H01M10/6567—Liquids
  • H01M10/6568—Liquids characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
  • H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
  • H01M50/204—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
  • H01M50/207—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells characterised by their shape
  • H01M50/209—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells characterised by their shape adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
  • H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
  • H01M50/204—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
  • H01M50/207—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells characterised by their shape
  • H01M50/211—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells characterised by their shape adapted for pouch cells
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
  • H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
  • H01M50/249—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
  • H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
  • H01M50/262—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders with fastening means, e.g. locks
  • H01M50/264—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders with fastening means, e.g. locks for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/05—Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte
  • H01M10/052—Li-accumulators
  • H01M10/0525—Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M2220/00—Batteries for particular applications
  • H01M2220/20—Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a battery module comprising:
• a housing defining an interior volume
• Such a module is intended to be used in particular in electrical power supply applications in the automotive, space, and/or energy storage fields. Such a module is particularly suitable for high electrical power applications.
• the ecological transition requires having batteries in which the electrical powers involved are increasingly high, both when supplying a current and a voltage to a consuming system, or when recharging the battery module. battery.
• a battery module of the aforementioned type generally undergoes significant overheating which requires efficient evacuation of the calories produced by the Joule effect.
• the battery module comprises cells, in particular lithium-ion cells, consisting of flexible envelopes (called pockets or pouches, "pouch” in English) or rigid envelopes of prismatic format, these tend to inflate, especially when recharging the battery module. It is therefore necessary to ensure adequate mechanical strength of the battery module and electrochemical cells during use.
• US 2016/0164061 proposes a solution in which electrochemical cells are stacked on top of each other with the interposition, between each pair of adjacent cells, of a heat dissipation plate.
• the plate has lateral fins, which protrude transversely from the stack. It transfers the heat produced in the cells to the fins by thermal conduction. In addition, the fins are traversed by a duct in which a cooling liquid circulates. Thus, the calories present in the fins are transferred outside the battery module via the coolant.
• Such a battery module does not, however, give complete satisfaction.
• the module fitted with the dissipation plates is heavy and bulky, in particular due to the presence of the fins, which is a major drawback for on-board applications such as in the automobile, space or aeronautical sector.
• An object of the invention is therefore to provide a battery module in which the calories generated during the delivery of electrical power, or during the recharging of the module, are evacuated very efficiently, the module remaining compact and mechanically integrating , and adaptable to various connectors.
• the subject of the invention is a battery module of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the dielectric liquid fills the interior volume, the stack being completely immersed in the dielectric liquid, the or each intermediate piece defining at least one open channel for the circulation of the dielectric liquid, the open channel for the circulation of the dielectric liquid opening at the periphery of the stack to allow the circulation of the dielectric liquid in the stack and opening facing a main face of at least one electrochemical cell applied to the spacer, to bring the main face of the electrochemical cell into contact with the dielectric liquid.
• the battery module according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in any technically possible combination(s):
• the at least one intermediate piece defines a plurality of open channels for the circulation of the dielectric liquid separated from each other;
• the or each intermediate piece defines at least a first open channel for circulation of the dielectric liquid opening towards a first main face of a first electrochemical cell adjacent to the intermediate piece, and closed towards a second main face of a second cell electrochemical adjacent to the part spacer, located opposite the first electrochemical cell with respect to the spacer, the spacer comprising at least one second open channel for circulation of the dielectric liquid opening towards the second main face of the second electrochemical cell, and closed towards the first main face of the first electrochemical cell;
• a bottom of the first open channel for the circulation of the dielectric liquid is applied to the second main face of the second electrochemical cell, a bottom of the second open channel for the circulation of the dielectric liquid being applied to the first main face of the first electrochemical cell;
• the area of the cross section of each open channel for circulation of the dielectric liquid is less than 2 mm 2 , and in particular between 0.5 mm 2 and 2 mm 2 ;
• the housing defines an inlet for supplying dielectric liquid into the interior volume and an outlet for discharging dielectric liquid outside the interior volume, the supply inlet and the evacuation outlet being intended to be connected to a circuit for cooling the dielectric liquid advantageously comprising a pump;
• the holding mechanism comprises two end plates, arranged on either side of the stack, and at least one tie rod connecting the two end plates;
• At least one of the end plates has an internal face intended to be placed facing an electrochemical cell of the stack, the internal face being curved before the stack is clamped using the tie rod and flattening out on a main face of an electrochemical cell after clamping the stack using the tie rod;
• the housing comprises a side access opening and an opposite internal face located opposite the side access opening, the holding mechanism comprising at least one hatch for closing the side access opening capable of compressing the stack between the hatch and the opposite face;
• each electrochemical cell defines at least one electrical connection tab projecting relative to the stack, the electrical connection tabs being immersed in the dielectric liquid;
• the battery module comprises at least one connection system and/or at least one electronic system for managing the battery module connected to each electrical connection tab, the connection system and/or the electronic management system being immersed in the dielectric liquid;
• each electrochemical cell comprises a pocket, in particular is a pocket-sized lithium ion electrochemical cell or in which each electrochemical cell comprises an element of prismatic shape, the dielectric liquid present in the or each open channel for circulation of the dielectric liquid being in contact with the pocket or the prismatic element.
• the invention also relates to a battery comprising at least one battery module as defined above, in particular several battery modules as defined above.
• the battery advantageously comprises a circuit for cooling the dielectric liquid, connected to the battery module, supplying the or each open channel for circulation of the dielectric liquid.
• the invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, space vehicle or an aircraft, comprising a battery as defined above.
• the invention also relates to a method for generating electrical power from a battery module or for recharging a battery module, comprising the following steps:
• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first battery module according to the invention
• Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a stack of the battery module of Figure 1, comprising two electrochemical cells, separated by a spacer defining open channels;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal axial plane, of a detail of the stack contained in the module of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the stack contained in the battery module of Figure 1;
• Figure 5 is a view taken in section along a horizontal plane of the end flanges of the stack of Figure 4, (a) before tightening the clamping mechanism and (b) after tightening the mechanism maintenance;
• Figure 6 is a view illustrating a spacer of a second battery module according to the invention, and next to the spacer, the schematic representation of the flow of liquid flowing through the spacer;
• Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, for a third battery module according to the invention.
• Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 for a fourth battery module according to the invention.
• Figure 9 is a schematic side view of a fifth battery module according to the invention.
• a first battery module 10 according to the invention is illustrated schematically in FIGS. 1 to 5.
• the battery module 10 is intended to be integrated into a battery system (not shown) comprising one or more identical battery modules 10.
• the battery module 10 comprises a casing 12, defining an interior volume 14. It further comprises a stack 16 received in the interior volume 14, the stack 16 comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells 18, spacers 20 separating each pair of adjacent electrochemical cells 18, and a mechanism 22 for holding the electrochemical cells 18 and the spacers 20.
• the battery module 10 further comprises a connection system 24 intended to connect the electrochemical cells 18 to terminals 26 and an electronic system 28 for managing the battery, the connection system 24 and the electronic management system 28 also being arranged in the interior volume 14.
• the interior volume 14 of the box 12 is also filled with a dielectric liquid 30, in which the stack 16, the connection system 24, the terminals 26, and the electronic management system 28 are immersed.
• the battery module 10 is connected to a cooling circuit 32 ensuring the circulation of the dielectric liquid in the interior volume 14 and the evacuation of the calories which it contains, outside the battery module 10.
• the housing 12 has a bottom 40, and side walls 42 projecting from the bottom 40.
• the case 12 comprises four side walls 42 perpendicular in pairs defining between them and with the bottom 40, the interior volume 14.
• the side walls 42 further define an upper opening 44 for access to the interior volume 14.
• the box 12 further comprises a lid 46 capable of closing the access opening 44 in a removable manner in order to allow the loading of the stack 16 in the interior volume 14 and its possible unloading.
• the housing 12 further delimits an inlet 48 for supplying dielectric liquid into the interior volume 14 and an outlet 50 for discharging the dielectric liquid from the interior volume 14.
• the supply inlet 48 and the outlet of the evacuation 50 are each connected to the cooling circuit 32.
• the supply inlet 48 is located near the bottom 40, on a side wall 42.
• the evacuation outlet 50 is located near the access opening 44, on a side wall 42 opposite that where the supply inlet 48 is located.
• the stack 16 extends along an axis A-A' parallel to the bottom 40 of the interior volume 14 of the box 12 when the stack 16 is received in the interior volume 14.
• the stack 16 comprises more than five electrochemical cells 18, preferably between 5 and 20 electrochemical cells 18 stacked against each other with the interposition of an intermediate piece 20 between each pair of adjacent electrochemical cells 18.
• each electrochemical cell 18 comprises an outer casing or pocket 60 containing a plurality of electrodes (not shown) of opposite polarities, placed in the pocket 60 and separated from one another by an internal separator (not shown).
• the flexible envelope or pocket 60 is advantageously formed after welding the edges of two multi-layer films, each multi-layer film comprising a metal layer, generally aluminum, sandwiched between two layers of plastic material.
• the envelope thus formed is filled with electrodes of opposite polarities separated by an internal separator, with an electrolyte, then is closed in a sealed manner.
• the pocket 60 is advantageously deformable to the touch.
• the electrochemical cell 18 comprises an envelope of prismatic format which contains the electrodes of opposite polarities.
• the prismatic element is non-deformable to the touch.
• the electrochemical cell 18 is a lithium-ion electrochemical cell.
• Each electrochemical cell 18 further comprises at least one tab 62 for electrical connection to the electrodes of positive polarity, and at least one tab 64 for electrical connection to the electrodes of negative polarity.
• the electrochemical cell 18 further comprises a support frame 68 defining electrical connection plates 70 located between the pocket 60 and the tabs 62, 64.
• Frame 68 further includes side uprights defining side edges 72A, 72B of electrochemical cell 18.
• Each flexible outer pocket 60 has a first main face 74, and a second main face 76 located opposite the face 74.
• the main faces 74, 76 extend perpendicular to the axis A-A, and perpendicular to the bottom 40 of the housing 12, when the stack 16 is received in the interior volume.
• the main faces 74, 76 extend as far as the side edges 72A, 72B of the electrochemical cell 18. They extend between a lower edge 72C of the electrochemical cell 18 and the stiffening plates 70 under the tabs 62, 64.
• Each spacer 20 is interposed between a pair of adjacent electrochemical cells 18.
• Each spacer 20 comprises in this example a lower region 80 provided with open channels 82A, 82B and, between the channels 82A, 82B, areas 83A, 83B of support of the spacer 20 on a respective face 74, 76 of an electrochemical cell 18.
• Each spacer 20 here further comprises an upper region 84 for separating the tongues 62, 64 of the successive cells 18.
• Each spacer 20 also advantageously comprises side tabs 86, projecting laterally on either side of the spacer 20, beyond the side edges 72A, 72B of the electrochemical cells 18 for guiding the holding mechanism 22.
• the spacers 20 are preferably made of plastic, for example of polyamide (in particular PA66, PA12, PA12GF30).
• each channel 82A, 82B and the support zones 83A, 83B are defined by a plurality of adjacent hollow ribs.
• Each hollow rib internally delimits an open channel 82A opening towards a first main face 74 of a first electrochemical battery cell 18.
• the adjacent ribs delimit between them second channels 82B opening opposite a second face 76 of a second electrochemical cell 18 adjacent to the first electrochemical cell 18.
• each channel 82A opening opposite a first main face 74 is delimited laterally (here horizontally upwards and downwards) by two side walls 90C, 90D which are common with channels 82B adjacent.
• Each channel 82A is further delimited by a bottom 92A which defines a support zone 83A on the second main face 76.
• the bottom 92A of the channel 82A connects the side partitions 90C, 90D.
• each channel 82B opening opposite a second main face 76 is delimited laterally (here horizontally upwards and downwards) by two side partitions 90C, 90D which are common with adjacent channels 82A.
• Each channel 82B is further delimited by a bottom 92B which defines a support zone 83B on the first main face 74.
• the bottom 92B of the channel 82B connects the side partitions 90C, 90D.
• Each channel 82A, 82B opens respectively opposite a respective face 74, 76 of a respective cell 18 through a longitudinal opening 87A, 87B extending over the entire length of the channel 82A, 82B.
• each channel 82A, 82B further opens at its ends by at least a first side opening 88C and a second side opening 88D which open in this example into opposite side faces of the stack 16 , on either side of the axis A-A'.
• Each longitudinal opening 87A, 87B of a channel 82A, 82B is located opposite the respective bottom 92A, 92B of the channel 82A, 82B facing a respective main face 74, 76 of an electrochemical cell 18.
• the channels 82A, 82B are all separate. Thus, no channel 82A, 82B opens into another channel 82A, 82B, or communicates with another channel 82A, 82B.
• the channels 82A, 82B thus define separate paths for the circulation of the dielectric liquid.
• the channels 82A, 82B are all parallel to each other, and parallel to the bottom 40 of the housing 12. Other examples of configuration of the channels 82A, 82B will be described below.
• Each channel 82A, 82B preferably has a cross section intended for the circulation of the dielectric liquid 30, with an area greater than 0.5 mm 2 , and preferably less than 5 mm 2 .
• This section is in particular between 1 mm 2 and 2 mm 2 .
• each channel 82A, 82B, taken along the axis A-A' between the bottom 92A, 92B and the longitudinal opening 87A, 87B is preferably between 0.5 and 2 times the thickness of the bottom 92A, 92B.
• the number of channels 82A, 82B on each face of the insert 20 is for example greater than 5, in particular greater than 10. It depends on the size of the electrochemical cell 18.
• the side partitions 90C, 90D have a thickness generally between 0.5 mm and 1 mm.
• the thickness of the spacer 20, taken along the axis A-A', remains less than the thickness of each adjacent electrochemical cell 18.
• the ratio of the total area of the support zones 83A, 83B to the total area of the longitudinal openings 87A, 87B of the channels 82A, 82B on each face 74, 76 is generally between 20% and 80%, especially between 40% and 60%. This guarantees both a large exposure of the main faces 74, 76 to direct contact with the dielectric liquid 30 and a structural robustness of the spacer 20 to oppose deformation, in particular the swelling of the electrochemical cells 18.
• Upper region 84 is devoid of channels 82A, 82B. It extends opposite the connection tongues 62, 64, and the stiffening plates 70.
• each channel 82A, 82B taken linearly between the side openings 88C, 88D is greater than its width, in particular 10 times its width, the width being taken at the level of the longitudinal opening 87A, 87B,
• the holding mechanism 22 comprises two end plates 100A, 100B arranged on either side of the stack 16 of electrochemical cells 18 and spacers 20.
• the holding mechanism 22 further comprises tie rods 102, intended to grip the stack 16 of electrochemical cells 18 and spacers 20 between the end plates 100A, 100B.
• the flanges 100A, 100B are arranged facing two electrochemical cells 18 located at the axial ends of the stack 16 of electrochemical cells 18 and spacers 20 along the axis A-A.
• Each flange 100A, 100B has an inner face 104 intended to be placed opposite a main face 74, 76 of an electrochemical cell 18A, 18B and an outer face 106, intended to cooperate with the tie rods 102. It further comprises guide lugs 108 of the tie rods 102, which project laterally with respect to the outer face 106.
• each end flange 100A, 100B defines open channels 82A, 82B intended to open opposite the main face 74, 76 opposite which the flange 100A, 100B is place.
• the channels 82A, 82B each have a structure identical to those described above for each spacer 20.
• each end flange 100A, 100B has at rest an inner contour curved towards the main face 74, 76, before installing the tie rods 102.
• the flanges 100A, 100B are deformable, so that in section in the horizontal plane parallel to the bottom 40 of the case 12, the inner face 104 is flat and bears against the main face 74, 76 of the electrochemical cell 18A, 18B. This ensures uniform contact between each end plate 100A, 100B and the electrochemical cell 18A, 18B opposite which it is placed.
• each flange 100A, 100B is provided with horizontal locking grooves 110, in which each tie rod 102 is inserted.
• each tie rod 102 here comprises a first stirrup 112A intended to be placed on one side of the stack 16, facing the first flange 100A, and a second stirrup 112B intended to be placed on the other side of the stack 16, facing the second flange 100B.
• the stirrups 112A, 112B each have a C shape with free ends 114A, 114B. They are provided with a means of fixing the ends 114A, 114B together, for example a screw mechanism which makes it possible to adjust the distance between the flanges 100A, 100B, and therefore the grip of the stack 16.
• the tie rods 102 are straight and not U-shaped.
• connection system 24 is intended to electrically connect the tabs 62, 64 to the terminals 26, through the electronic management system 28, when the latter is present.
• the connection system 24 and the electronic management system 28 are placed above the stack 16 under the cover 46, in the interior volume 14.
• the connection system 24 includes electrical connections. In the example represented in FIG. 1, it comprises an insulating part which covers the electrical connections and incorporates a connection part for measuring the individual voltages of each electrochemical cell.
• the electronic management system 28 comprises electronic components intended to control the voltage and/or the current delivered by the battery module 10 during its discharge, and the voltage and/or the current received by the battery module 10 during its discharge. recharge.
• the entire stack 16, including the electrochemical cells 18, the intermediate pieces 20 and the holding mechanism 22 is immersed in the dielectric liquid 30.
• the connection system 24 and the electronic management system 28 are also advantageously completely immersed in the dielectric liquid 30.
• the dielectric liquid 30 in particular fills the channels 82A, 82B located between the electrochemical cells 18, and comes into direct contact with the main faces 74, 76 of the electrochemical cells 18 through the longitudinal openings 87A, 87B.
• the dielectric liquid 30 is circulated in the interior volume 14 via a pump of the cooling circuit 32.
• Dielectric liquid 30 intended to be heated is conveyed into the interior volume 14 through the supply inlet 48, to circulate from bottom to top and laterally from the supply inlet 48 towards the evacuation outlet 50 through channels 82A, 82B.
• the dielectric liquid 30 thus enters each channel 82A, 82B through a first end opening 88C, sweeps a main face 74, 76 along the longitudinal opening 87A, 87B where it heats up, and comes out of the stack 16 through a second end opening 88D, before joining the evacuation outlet 50.
• the dielectric liquid 30 advantageously has a resistivity greater than 50 G ⁇ and a breakdown voltage greater than 40 kV for an air gap of 2.5 mm, preferably between 45 kV and 55 kV for an air gap of 2.5 mm.
• the dielectric liquid 30 also has a density of less than 1, for example between 0.7 and 0.9, and a low viscosity, for example less than 3.3 mPa.s at 25° C., as measured by the Standard ASTM D7042.
• Mounting the battery module 10 is particularly simple to perform.
• the electrochemical cells 18 and the spacers 20 are provided, and are mounted alternately against each other, each spacer 20 being inserted between two adjacent electrochemical cells 18. Then, end plates 100A, 100B are placed at the ends of the stack 16. The stirrups 112A, 112B are then inserted into the grooves 110 in contact with the outer face 106 of each end flange 100A, 100B.
• stirrups 112A, 112B are inserted into the lugs 86, 108 on either side of the spacers 20 and the flanges 100A, 100B.
• connection system 24 and the electronic management system 28 are then mounted on the stack 16.
• the stack 16 is introduced into the interior volume 14 of the box 12 through the upper opening 44.
• the cover 46 is then put in place to close the upper opening 44.
• the interior volume 14 of the battery module 10 is then filled with cooling liquid 30 and is connected to the cooling circuit 32.
• a current and a voltage are delivered by the terminals 26 of the battery module 10.
• a current and a voltage are applied to terminals 26 of battery module 10.
• the heat generated in the electrochemical cells 18 is evacuated by the circulation of the dielectric liquid 30 from the supply inlet 48, in the interior volume 14 around the stack 16, through the first end openings 88C of the channels 82A, 82B then along the channels 82A, 82B in contact with the main faces 74, 76 of the electrochemical cells 18.
• the dielectric liquid 30 then heats up by convection, and is evacuated through the second end openings 88D, then through the liquid evacuation outlet before being cooled in the circuit 32.
• the shape of the channels 82A, 82B delimited by the spacers 20 ensures an appropriate flow of dielectric liquid 30 in contact with the faces 74, 76 of the electrochemical cells 18, while allowing the spacers 20 to maintain excellent mechanical contact with the electrochemical cells 18 .
• the presence of support zones 83A, 83B prevents swelling of the electrochemical cells 18 and maintains the integrity of the stack 16, even if the power delivered is high, and/or during a recharge.
• the reduced dimensions of the channels 82A, 82B compared to the volume present outside the channels 82A, 82B further ensures an effect of acceleration of the flow of dielectric liquid 30 within the channels 82A, 82B, which increases the heat exchanged at the channels 82A, 82B and therefore the cooling capacity within the battery module 10.
• the circulation of a dielectric liquid 30 as defined above further guarantees that the battery module 10 is reliable and safe, while offering high performance in terms of cooling. This performance is due in particular to the direct convection from the electrochemical cells 18 to the dielectric liquid 30.
• the dielectric liquid 30 filling the entire interior volume 14, it cools the various tongues 62 and 64 of connections of each electrochemical cell 18 and the electronic management system 28 which are immersed.
• the stack 16 being completely immersed in the interior volume 14, it is not necessary to provide a dielectric liquid storage capacity 30, the interior volume 14 constituting this storage capacity.
• the gain in mass and volume compared to a conventional battery module can therefore be of the order of 30% to 50%, in particular when the spacers 20 are made of plastic.
• the configuration of the channels 82A, 82B can be modified to adapt to various positions of the supply inlets 48 and the evacuation outlets 50.
• liquid supply inlet 48 is located at the bottom of the housing 12.
• the liquid discharge outlet 50 is located in the cover 46.
• the channels 82A, 82B extend vertically, perpendicular to the axis A-A' and to the bottom 40.
• the first openings 88C open in an underside of the stack 16, while the second openings 88D open into an upper face of the stack 16.
• the intermediate pieces 20 of FIG. 6 also differ from those of FIG. 2 in that the upper region 84 is also provided with channels 82A, 82B.
• the liquid supply inlet 48 and the liquid discharge outlet 50 are located on the same side wall 42, on the same side of the housing 12.
• the first openings 88C and the openings 88D open into the same side face of the stack 16.
• Each channel then has a II shape with a half-turn opposite the openings 88C, 88D.
• the channels 82A, 82B further adopt a nested configuration with an outermost channel 82A, 82B having the most distant openings 88C, 88D and a shape of II of width maximum.
• the outermost channel 82A, 82B contains all of the channels 82A, 82B having a U-shape of smaller width, each channel 82A, 82B having a U-shape of smaller width being nested in a channel 82A, 82B having a U-shape of greater width.
• each channel 82A, 82B all open into a lower face of the stack 16.
• Each channel 82A, 82B also has a U-shape, the channels 82A, 82B advantageously being in a pull-out configuration, as described above.
• the housing 12 is provided with an upper wall 42A fixed relative to the side walls 42.
• the side walls 42 define a side access opening 44 to the interior volume in a side face of the housing 12.
• the holding mechanism 22 has no tie rod 102.
• the first flange 100A is formed by the inner face of a side wall 42.
• the second flange 100B is formed by a hatch 120, suitable for closing the opening of access 44, by compressing the electrochemical cells 18 and the spacers 20 against each other to keep them supported on the flange 100A.
• This variant further reduces the number of parts needed to make the stack 16, increases the compactness, while retaining the advantageous properties described above.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Electrochemistry (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Secondary Cells (AREA)
• Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)

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• 2021
  • 2021-10-22 FR FR2111243A patent/FR3128583B1/fr active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-09-28 WO PCT/FR2022/051832 patent/WO2023067259A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2022-09-28 EP EP22797408.6A patent/EP4420185A1/de active Pending
  • 2022-09-28 US US18/700,068 patent/US20240347811A1/en active Pending

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