Classifications

• • 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
  • H01M50/202—Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• • 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
  • H01M10/64—Heating or cooling; Temperature control characterised by the shape of the cells
  • H01M10/647—Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch 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
  • H01M10/655—Solid structures for heat exchange or heat conduction
  • H01M10/6556—Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of battery packs for electric propulsion vehicles.
• This battery pack also requires a large number of parts for mechanical maintenance and for cooling the electrochemical cells it contains, including at least one spacer, at least one frame as well as at least one cooling plate, all superimposed and held as a block, which has the effect of significantly increasing the size of the battery pack in the direction of stacking of these elements.
• a battery pack is thus made up of a plurality of assemblies described in document EP2840626.
• the present invention proposes a holding frame configured to delimit a channel which conducts a cooling fluid, in order to lower as much as possible the temperature of the electrochemical cells, while requiring significantly reduced space.
• the main object of the present invention is thus a holding frame for at least one electrochemical cell and intended to integrate a battery pack of an electrically powered vehicle, comprising a first half-frame, a second half-frame and an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell being held between the half-frames, characterized in that at least one clearance is formed along at least one of the half-frames, said clearance being intended to be used by a cooling fluid electrochemical cells.
• the assembly of the first half-frame and the second half-frame establishes the architecture of the holding frame for the electrochemical cell.
• At least one of the half-frames includes a recess which promotes the passage of a cooling fluid. said, so as to cool the electrochemical cell.
• the calories generated by this cell are transmitted to the half-frame, then to the cooling fluid which circulates in the clearance. This is how calories are extracted from the electrochemical cell.
• the holding frame according to the invention thus forms a cooling system and it is able to cool the entire electrochemical cell without adding any additional part, in particular by means of the clearance which is formed at its outer periphery.
• the cooling fluid is advantageously air. This air flow enters the clearance and approaches the electrochemical cell. In doing so, it collects its calories and transports them outside the battery pack.
• the material of the frame is advantageously a synthetic material, loaded or not with fibers, advantageously made of recycled and recyclable material.
• This material has the advantage of presenting a certain freedom in their shape due to the ease of molding complex shapes.
• the frame could also be made of metal, particularly aluminum, if it is desired to improve their thermal conductivity and therefore the cooling of the electrochemical cells.
• the holding frame formed by the combination of the first half-frame and the second half-frame, delimits a central zone surrounded by branches of this frame.
• the electrochemical cell is arranged in this central zone of the holding frame.
• the two half-frames comprise two longitudinal branches and two lateral branches arranged between the two longitudinal branches, the half-frames comprising at least a first relief formed on at least one of the longitudinal branches and at least one second clearance formed on at least one of the side branches.
• the half-frames and the frame are generally rectangular in shape. At least two intersecting sides of this shape include a clearance. This promotes the collection of calories by allowing circulation of the flow of cooling fluid on at least two sides of the frame.
• At least one of the clearances is a chamfer formed at an angle of the half-frame.
• a chamfer is the area which results from a reduction of an empty edge of the half-frame.
• the clearance is formed along a first half-frame and another clearance is formed along the second half-frame, the two clearances at least partially delimiting a channel when the two half-frames are attached to each other.
• the coupling of the first half-frame and the second half-frame is thus configured to form a channel in which the cooling fluid circulates to cool the electrochemical cells, such a channel resulting from the combination of at least two clearances.
• the channel is any recess, conduit or space along the wall which can be traversed by a cooling fluid, the cooling fluid advantageously being air.
• the holding frame formed by the association of two half-frames comprises a channel disposed on at least one lateral branch of the frame and a channel disposed on a longitudinal branch of this frame.
• the air can circulate as close as possible to the electrochemical cell which is placed in contact with the holding frame and thus cool the electrochemical cell, on at least two sides thereof.
• this configuration makes it possible to reduce the space to be left between the longitudinal branch of the holding frame and the wall of a housing constituting the battery pack.
• This channel formed by these two contiguous clearances allows the cooling fluid to circulate, which makes it possible to bring the wall of the housing closer to the holding frame and, ultimately, to reduce a dimension of the battery pack, compared to the prior art.
• a space saving in the integration of the battery pack into the vehicle is thus notable.
• At least one clearance comprises cooling fins.
• cooling fins are arranged within the clearance formed in the half-frame. They make it possible to increase the exchange surface between the cooling fluid, here air, and the half-frame. In fact, the air can lick the cooling fins and go as close as possible to the electrochemical cells, and thus lower their temperature.
• cooling fins generate turbulence in the circulation of the cooling fluid, which also increases the heat exchange.
• the fins also reduce the mass of the frames while stiffening them, which allows them to be reinforced while removing material.
• the frame comprises a system for centering the first half-frame with the second half-frame.
• the electrochemical cell is engaged with the centering system.
• the centering system comprises at least one rib arranged along a longitudinal branch of the first half-frame and on a face thereof which faces the second half-frame.
• the centering system also comprises at least one groove arranged along a longitudinal branch of the second half-frame and on a face thereof which is turned towards the first half-frame.
• At least one of the half-frames comprises at least one ear provided with an orifice intended to receive a member for holding a plurality of frames.
• Such a holding member is for example a tie rod whose role is to exert a force on a stack of holding frames.
• the ear, or the plurality of ears, of each half-frame makes it possible to transmit the force of the holding member to the entire half-frame, and thus to guarantee that each electrochemical cell is sandwiched between two half-frames of a holding frame according to the invention.
• This holding member here the tie rod, puts pressure on the stack of holding frames and also on the spacers, when the battery pack includes them.
• a spacer is surrounded by the holding frame and in contact with the electrochemical cell.
• the holding frame prevents the interlayer from moving in order to keep it in contact with the electrochemical cell, this pressure being necessary for the proper functioning of the electrochemical cell with which the interlayer is associated.
• the spacer is configured to deform as a function of a dimensional variation of the electrochemical cell.
• the dimensional variation is a variation in the thickness of the electrochemical cell.
• This interlayer is made of deformable material, advantageously foam or silicone for example, to manage variations in the volume of the electrochemical cells, during the charging or discharging phases of the electrochemical cells, or during the aging of these cells whose volume often tends to increase.
• the electrochemical cell comprises a peripheral edge which surrounds a zone for receiving the electrochemical elements of the electrochemical cell, the peripheral edge being interposed and in contact with the two half-frames.
• the invention also covers a battery pack for power supply of an electrically powered vehicle comprising at least one housing and a plurality of holding frames according to any one of the preceding claims housed inside the housing, characterized in that a cooling fluid circulates at least in the clearance .
• the cooling fluid is for example air.
• the case is an envelope that separates an internal volume of the battery pack from the environment surrounding it.
• the air flow circulates in the housing, along the support frames and in at least one clearance, or a channel formed by two contiguous clearances.
• FIG-1 is a perspective representation of a first half-frame and a second half-frame of the holding frame according to the invention.
• FIG.2 is a sectional representation illustrating the assembly of the half-frames of the
• FIG.3 is an exploded view representation of a stack of several holding frames according to the invention.
• FIG.4 is a representation of a plurality of holding frames according to the invention.
• FIG.5 is a schematic representation of the cooling fluid circuit along the plurality of holding frames according to the invention.
• FIG.6 is a schematic representation of the cooling fluid circuit according to a variant.
• the invention proposes a holding frame 1 intended to equip a battery pack of an electric propulsion vehicle and making it possible in particular to ensure a cooling function for one or more electrochemical cells 2 housed in a housing of the battery pack.
• This holding frame 1 is particular in that it comprises a channel 4 configured to authorize the circulation of a cooling fluid so as to reduce the number of parts usually used to cool the electrochemical cell 2.
• Such a holding frame 1 is formed by the junction of two half-frames 8a, 8b, at least one of which includes a clearance 14 which participates in the formation of channel 4.
• the half-frames 8a, 8b can be structurally identical. In such a case, one of the two half-frames is inverted relative to the other half-frame, so as to form the holding frame according to the invention.
• FIG.1 shows on the left a perspective view of a first half-frame 8a and on the right a perspective view of a second half-frame 8b, the assembly of these half-frames forming the frame for holding the electrochemical cell 2.
• each half-frame 8a, 8b comprises two longitudinal branches 10a, 10b and two lateral branches 12a, 12b.
• the lateral branches 12a, 12b are arranged between the two longitudinal branches 10a, 10b, all of these branches forming a rectangle and delimiting a central zone 11 for receiving the electrochemical cell.
• At least one of the longitudinal branches 10a, 10b and/or the lateral branches 12a, 12b comprises at least one clearance 14, and advantageously several clearances 14 distributed along the branch concerned.
• each of the longitudinal branches 10a, 10b and each of the lateral branches 12a, 12b comprises one or more clearances 14.
• FIG.l also shows the presence of a centering means 13 of the first half-frame 8a with the second half-frame 8b.
• a centering means 13 has the role of ensuring the correct positioning of these half-frames 8a, 8b, so that they stack along a rectilinear stacking direction.
• the centering means 13 comprises at least one rib 16 formed on at least one of the longitudinal branches 10a, 10b of the first half-frame 8a .
• the centering means 13 further comprises at least one groove 18 formed in at least one of the longitudinal branches 10a, 10b of the second half-frame 8b, as is visible in the right-hand diagram of [Fig.l].
• the centering means 13 comprises a total of six ribs 16 and six grooves 18, forming two by two a pair of centerers. This centering means 13 is distributed into three ribs 16 and three grooves 18 arranged on each of the longitudinal branches 10a, 10b of each half-frame 8a, 8b.
• One and/or the other of the half-frames 8a, 8b also includes at least one ear 20 provided with an orifice 22.
• each half-frame 8a, 8b comprises four ears 22 which project two by two from each side branch 12a, 12b of the half-frame .
• the orifice 22 offers a passage to a holding member in order to maintain the stack of the holding frames 1 between them, as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4.
• the first half-frame 8a when attached to the second half-frame 8b forms the holding frame 1 according to the invention, as illustrated by the dotted lines on [Fig.2].
• This combination of half-frames creates a channel 4 for the circulation of the cooling fluid.
• the section of this channel, seen in section, is triangular in shape.
• the holding frame 1 frames the electrochemical cell 2 and a spacer 26 per electrochemical cell.
• the spacer 26 is in contact with one of the large faces of the electrochemical cell 2.
• the electrochemical cell 2 is in contact with the holding frame 1, its peripheral edge being interposed between the two half-frames 8a, 8b.
• the holding frame 1 prevents any movement of the spacer 26, so as to maintain a pressure exerted by the spacer 26 on the electrochemical cell 2.
• the electrochemical cells 2 are each configured to store or restore electrical energy, necessary for the operation of the electrically powered vehicle that they equip.
• the electrochemical cells 2 are lithium-ion battery cells.
• other types of battery cells known to those skilled in the art could be used.
• the electrochemical cell 2 comprises a peripheral edge 32 which surrounds a zone for receiving the electrochemical elements of the electrochemical cell 2, these elements being the components which store and which restore electrical energy.
• the electrochemical cell is a pocket inside which we find these electrochemical elements, such a pocket being joined all around these elements forming the peripheral edge 32.
• the first half-frame 8a and the second half-frame 8b grip a peripheral edge 32 which surrounds the electrochemical cell 2.
• the peripheral edge 32 is defined by fine lateral extensions extending all around the electrochemical cell 2.
• the peripheral edge 32 once interposed and pinched by the half-frames, securely holds the electrochemical cell 2 within the holding frame 1 according to the invention.
• connection member 34 which ensures electrical series or parallel connection of these electrochemical cells 2.
• a connection member takes the form of an electrical strip technically conductive. We could also directly connect two electrical poles of electrochemical cells together, without using a connection member.
• channels 4 are formed on an upper part 36 and on a lower part 38 of the holding frame 1, as well as on two side parts, namely a first side part 40 and a second lateral part 42 arranged on either side of the holding frame 1.
• the upper part 36 and the lower part 38 of the holding frame 1 are each formed by the juxtaposition of the longitudinal branches of the two half-frames 8a, 8b which form the holding frame 1.
• the same goes for the first side part 40 and the second side part 42 which result from the juxtaposition of the side branches of the half-frames 8a, 8b.
• the holding frame 1 according to the invention thus delimits at least partially longitudinal channels 4 and lateral channels 4.
• the upper part 36 is arranged facing an upper wall of a housing constituting the battery pack and the lower part 38 is arranged facing a lower wall of this same housing.
• the cooling fluid represented by arrows in [Fig.4] can thus circulate within these different channels 4 for cooling the electrochemical cells 2.
• the channels 4 comprise cooling fins 44, configured to transfer the thermal energy from the electrochemical cells 2 to the cooling fluid circulating in the clearance 14, along the cooling fin 44.
• a cooling fin 44 takes the form of a flat side which extends within a clearance 14 of at least one of the half-frames 8a, 8b.
• the cooling fin 44, or the plurality of cooling fins 44 disrupts the flow of the cooling fluid. In doing so, the quantity of calories transferred from the holding frame 1 according to the invention to the cooling fluid is greater.
• the fins also help reduce the mass of the holding frames 1 by stiffening them, requiring less material to be used in their manufacture.
• the cooling fluid can thus ensure its function as close as possible to the electrochemical cells 2 with improved cooling efficiency.
• the cooling fluid arrives simultaneously on the two lateral parts 40, 42 of the holding frames 1 ensuring on this occasion the cooling of the electrical connection poles of the electrochemical cells 2, or the connection members 34, firstly.
• This cooling of the electrical poles or the connection members is particularly interesting because of the strong heat emitted by the latter and transmitted to the electrochemical cells 2.
• the cooling fluid arriving on the two lateral parts 40, 42 is the coolest, which prevents these calories from being transmitted to the electrochemical cell, as such.
• the air flow, through its impact generates turbulence, which provides effective cooling.
• the cooling fluid changes direction substantially in the center of the holding frames 1, according to their longitudinal direction. Before this change of direction, the cooling fluid circulates in the channels 4 of the plurality of holding frames 1. In this way, the cooling fluid circulates in the channels 4 then circulates perpendicular to the longitudinal branches 10a, 10b of the holding frames 1 towards an extraction zone 46 of the battery pack.
• cooling fluid arrives on one of the lateral parts 40 of one or more holding frames 1, then travels through the lateral channels 4 , then the longitudinal channels 4 of the holding frame 1. After licking the other lateral part of the holding frame 1 by circulating in the lateral channels 4, the cooling fluid is extracted by an extraction zone 46.
• the invention achieves the goal it set for itself, and makes it possible to propose a holding frame which is optimized and more compact compared to currently holding frames. used to provide a cooling function for electrochemical cells.

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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)
• Secondary Cells (AREA)
• Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=86468838

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2022
  • 2022-12-19 FR FR2213845A patent/FR3143864B1/fr active Active
• 2023
  • 2023-12-14 EP EP23837952.3A patent/EP4639668A1/de active Pending
  • 2023-12-14 WO PCT/EP2023/085878 patent/WO2024132855A1/fr not_active Ceased

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