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
  • H01M50/30—Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
  • H01M50/342—Non-re-sealable arrangements
  • H01M50/3425—Non-re-sealable arrangements in the form of rupturable membranes or weakened parts, e.g. pierced with the aid of a sharp member
• • 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
  • H01M50/249—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
  • H01M50/289—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs
• • 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
  • H01M50/30—Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
  • H01M50/35—Gas exhaust passages comprising elongated, tortuous or labyrinth-shaped exhaust passages
  • H01M50/358—External gas exhaust passages located on the battery cover or case
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M2200/00—Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
  • H01M2200/20—Pressure-sensitive devices
• • 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 the field of electric accumulators for vehicles and more particularly to the field of electric accumulators capable of managing an abnormal increase in interior pressure.
• the electric accumulators are produced in the form of a set of individual electrochemical cells united inside a module forming an electric accumulator. These different cells are thus connected to each other via respective terminals to allow the storage and restitution of electrical energy by the electrical accumulator.
• the present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a device for housing the cells of an accumulator which allows management of the risks of thermal runaway and explosion of a battery while providing a solution facilitating access to battery module components that may be necessary as part of an improved recycling process.
• the invention thus relates to an accumulator module comprising a housing box inside which a plurality of electrochemical cells are juxtaposed so that the connection terminals of the cells are connected with an electrical connection interface carried by the housing box, the housing box comprising a box and an associated cover of dimensions complementary to those of the box and fixed to the box by a waterproof connection on the periphery of the cover, characterized in that the accumulator module comprises means for managing 'an overpressure in its interior volume comprising a line of weakness in the thickness of one of the faces of the housing box, this line of weakness running along at least part of the edge of one face of the housing box, so that at least a portion of the line of weakness is weakened to rupture in a localized and circumscribed manner in the event of overpressure inside the housing box beyond a threshold value.
• the invention also relates to a battery box for housing a plurality of accumulator modules according to the invention, the accumulator modules being juxtaposed to be positioned at individual locations respectively dedicated, characterized in that that the box comprises, in its interior volume, at least one conduit comprising, on the one hand, a first orifice open at an external surface of the box and, on the other hand, at least one second orifice which surrounds at least the largest portion weakened of the line of weakness of the face of an accumulator module, so that, in the event of overpressure in the box of the accumulator module, the rupture of the line of weakness leads to a guided evacuation towards the outside of the box from heat and any fumes from gases under pressure.
• the invention also relates to a method for opening the cover of a battery module capable of being implemented as part of a recycling operation for the components of this battery module.
• FIG. 1 represents a schematic illustration of an example of assembly of elements participating in the production of part of an accumulator module according to the invention
• FIG. 2 represents a schematic illustration of an example of a cover for producing an accumulator module according to the invention
• FIG. 3 represents a schematic illustration of an example of a completed cover for the production of an accumulator module according to the invention
• FIG. 4 represents a schematic illustration of an example of conduit intended to be associated with several accumulator modules for the production of a battery box according to the invention
• FIG. 5 represents a schematic illustration of an example of assembly of conduits with different accumulator modules for the production of a battery box according to the invention
• FIG. 6 represents a schematic illustration in section of an example of conduit assembled to an accumulator module inside a battery box according to the invention before tearing of one face at the level of a line of weakness
• FIG. 7 represents a schematic illustration in section of an example of conduit assembled to an accumulator module inside a battery box according to the invention after tearing of one face at the level of a line of weakness
• FIG. 8 represents a schematic illustration of an example of cooperation of a tool with a hooking interface for opening a face of an accumulator module according to the invention.
• FIG. 9 represents a schematic illustration of an example of opening one face of a battery module according to the invention by a tool.
• the invention relates to an accumulator module 1 comprising a housing box 11 inside which a plurality of electrochemical cells 12 are juxtaposed so that the cell connection terminals are connected with an electrical connection interface 13 carried by the housing box 11, the housing box 11 comprising a box 111 and an associated cover 112 of dimensions complementary to those of the box 111 and fixed to the box 111 by a waterproof connection on the periphery of the cover 112, characterized in that the module of accumulators 1 comprises means for managing an overpressure in its interior volume comprising a line of weakness 21 in the thickness of one of the faces 2 of the housing box 11, this line of weakness 21 running along at least part of the edge of a face 2 of the housing box 11, so that at least one portion 22 of the line of weakness 21 is weakened to break in a localized and circumscribed manner in the event of overpressure inside the housing box 11 beyond of a threshold value.
• the accumulator module 1 of the invention is thus arranged to allow controlled opening of the housing box 11 in the event of overpressure, that is to say an opening of the housing box 11 strictly limited to a very specific zone of one of its faces 2, so as to allow release, on the one hand, of the gases under pressure inside the housing box 11 and, on the other hand, of the heat released by the chemical reaction of the components cells.
• the opening made at one of the faces 2 of the housing box 11 is made by a controlled tearing of the face 2 under the effect of the pressure exerted by the gas release inside the housing box 11.
• the force exerted by the gas under pressure against the interior face of the housing box 11 causes deformation of this face 2 and its tearing.
• the tearing of the face 2 of the housing box 11 is controlled by creating a zone of weakness 21 strategically positioned on one of the faces 2 of the housing box 11.
• the zone of weakness 21 corresponds to a zone of the face 2 at the level of which the resistance to pressure is less important so as to circumscribe the deformation and the tearing of the face 2 at the level of this one and only zone 21.
• this zone of weakness 21 is likely to be formed by a portion of face 2 of the housing box 11 made of a material which has a lower hardness or resistance than the rest of the face 2 of the housing box 11 .
• this zone of weakness 21 is produced in the form of a portion of face 2 whose thickness is reduced or thinned compared to the rest of the face 2 of the housing box 11. Also, pressure exerted at this weak zone 21 makes it possible to obtain a tear in face 2 of the housing box 11 while preventing, thanks to the difference in resistance, this tear from extending to other portions. of face 2 of the housing box 11.
• This zone of weakness 21 has the shape of at least one line so as to allow obtaining a tear in the face 2 which forms a substantially clear and strictly delimited break, or even similar to a cutting line of the face 2
• This line of weakness 21 is capable of adopting a rectilinear and/or curved arrangement. Likewise, this line of weakness 21 is likely to present a distribution in the form of a network of ramifications in which different portions of lines are attached by one or more of their ends.
• the line of weakness 21 is carried by the cover 112 and positioned along at least part of the junction of the cover 112 with the box 111. According to this example of construction, the integration of the line of weakness 21 with the cover 112 of the housing box 11 makes it possible to open the housing box
• the face 2 carrying the line of weakness 21 comprises a hooking interface 3 accessible at the level of its exterior surface, this attachment interface 3 being positioned near the line of weakness 21, between the line of weakness 21 and the central part of the face 2 which carries this line of weakness 21.
• This hooking interface 3 presents an arrangement for cooperation, direct or indirect, with a tool so as to allow traction on the hooking interface and the opening of the face 2 along the line of weakness 21.
• the hooking interface 3 forms a gripping element on the face 2 which carries the line of weakness 21 to carry out controlled opening of the housing box 11 from the outside.
• this attachment interface 3 also allows, in addition to the opening of the housing box 11, to operate a removal of a part of the face 2 surrounded by the line of weakness 21 and which carries the attachment interface 3. Also, as part of a recycling operation of all or part of the accumulator module 1, the The opening and/or removal of at least part of the face 2 which carries the line of weakness 21 and the hooking interface 3 allows effective access to the contents of the housing box 11 without this opening/removal degrades the elements housed in the housing box 11.
• the attachment interface 3 is positioned near an angle of the face 2 which carries the line of weakness 21.
• This particular positioning makes it possible to have an eccentric attachment interface 3 on the face 2 to be removed , that is to say near the line of weakness 21.
• the traction force exerted via this attachment interface 3 near the line of weakness 21 makes it possible to carry out an opening and a tearing step by step which is facilitated.
• the positioning of the attachment interface 3 at an angle of the line of weakness 21 makes it possible to carry out a simultaneous tear along the two portions of the line of weakness 21 which form this angle.
• the positioning of the attachment interface 3 near an angle allows a direction of traction which facilitates the tearing of the face 2 which carries the line of weakness 21 with a break along the line of weakness 21 , in particular a direction substantially oriented along a bisector of the angle near which the attachment interface 3 is positioned.
• the hooking interface 3 comprises an orifice 31 passing through the thickness of the face 2 coaxial with the tapping d a blind nut 32 fixed watertight against the interior surface of the housing box 11, the tapping of the nut 32 being able to cooperate with a threaded connection interface 331 of a traction device 33 to effect a tear on the face 2 of the housing box 11 which carries the line of weakness 21 along this line of weakness 21, or even a separation of part of the face 2 relative to the rest of the housing box 11 of the accumulator module 1.
• the positioning of the nut 32 against the interior surface of the housing box 11 makes it possible to obtain a hooking interface 3 which does not produce any projection on the exterior face 2 which carries the line of weakness 21 and therefore avoids additional bulk of the module of accumulators 1 which would complicate its installation. On the contrary, this positioning of the nut 32 against the interior surface of the housing box 11 makes it possible to take advantage of a restricted volume available inside the housing box 11.
• the threaded connection interface 331 of the device traction 33 corresponds to an arrangement capable of being carried directly by a tool 332 making it possible to exert traction on the connection interface 331 or, alternatively, by an intermediate part, such as a screw, a part of which such as a hooking means 333 carried by one end is capable of cooperating with a dedicated interface of a tool 332, such as an element similar to a crowbar carrying a “V” arrangement capable of receiving and cooperating with the hooking means 333 produced by the head of a screw inserted in the thread of the nut 32.
• the line of weakness 21 is produced by a groove in the thickness of one of the faces 2 of the housing box 11, the weakening being proportional to the reduction in the thickness of the face 2 brought by the groove of the line of weakness 21.
• the weakening along a line of weakness thus makes it possible to guide the tearing of the face 2 of the housing box 11 by restricting the rupture of the face 2 to this single line of weakness 21.
• the line of weakness 21 has a groove which has different depth levels.
• the most weakened portion 211 of the line of weakness 21 is positioned near an angle or a curvature of the line of weakness 21, that is to say at a junction between two portions of the line of weakness 21 arranged in different orientations.
• Such positioning of the most weakened portion 211 of the line of weakness 21 makes it possible to obtain, at an equivalent length of line of weakness 21 torn, an opening for the evacuation of suppressed gases which is greater than at the level d 'a strictly rectilinear portion of the line of weakness 21.
• the evacuation of the excess pressure of gas and heat will be able to be carried out more efficiently, once a threshold pressure value leading to the rupture of face 2 which carries the line of weakness 21 is reached.
• the line of weakness 21 also comprises at least one portion 212 whose weakening is less significant, that is to say a portion 212 corresponding to a groove whose depth in the thickness of face 2 which bears the line of weakness 21 is less important than that of the most weakened portion 211.
• This weakening is thus intended to facilitate the tearing of face 2 of the housing box 11 without corresponding to a priority rupture zone or portion of the line of weakness 21.
• the tearing of the face 2 is able to be carried out effectively along the entire line of weakness 21, independently of the level of weakening specific to each portions of line of weakness 21.
• the invention also relates to a battery box 4 for housing a plurality of accumulator modules 1 according to the invention, the accumulator modules 1 being juxtaposed to be positioned at individual locations respectively dedicated , characterized in that the box 4 comprises, in its interior volume 41, at least one conduit 5 comprising, on the one hand, a first orifice 51 open at an external surface of the box 4 and, on the other hand, at least a second orifice 52 which surrounds at least the most weakened portion of the line of weakness 21 of the face 2 of an accumulator module 1, so that, in the event of overpressure in the housing box 11 of the module d accumulators 1, the rupture of the line of weakness 21 leads to a guided evacuation towards the outside of the box 4 of the heat and any fumes of the gases under pressure.
• the evacuation of the gases under pressure and the heat extracted from the accumulator module 1 must also continue outside the battery box 4.
• This evacuation thus takes place via a dedicated conduit 5 specifically arranged to open, thanks to an orifice 51, at one of the exterior surfaces of the battery box 4.
• This conduit 5 is thus arranged inside the battery box 4 so as to surround in a substantially hermetic manner or seals at least the most weakened portion 211 of the line of weakness 21 carried by the face 2 of at least one accumulator module 1 housed in the battery box 4.
• the conduit 5 preferentially surrounds the portion of face 2 of the module of accumulators 1 at which the opening is likely to occur, namely for example the portion 211 of the line of weakness 21 which presents the most significant weakening.
• the orifice 52 of the conduit 5 which surrounds this portion of the face 2 of the accumulator module 1 is thus structurally arranged to be adapted to the three-dimensional construction of the portion concerned of the accumulator module 1.
• the periphery of the orifice 52 of the conduit 5 is thus arranged to match the different surfaces and convolutions of the accumulator module 1 which surround the area of the face 2 and the line of weakness 21 at the level of which the opening is likely to occur under the effect of an increase in pressure in the housing box 11 of the accumulator module 1.
• the opening which forms through the housing box 11 of the accumulator module 1 provides communication between, on the one hand, the interior of the housing box 11 and, on the other hand, the interior of the conduit 5, thanks to the positioning of the orifice 52 of the conduit 5 around the priority zone of tearing and formation of opening of the face 2 of the housing box 11.
• the contact between, on the one hand, the periphery of the orifice 52 of the conduit 5 and, on the other hand, the housing box 11 of the accumulator module 1 is made by simple complementarity of shape and contact, possibly under stress, of the orifice 52 of the conduit 5 with the housing box 11, without perfect sealing being necessarily sought.
• the conduit 5 thus provides a means of evacuating and guiding the heat and gas fumes out of the battery box 4 so as to prevent these gases, smoke and heat from remaining in the interior volume 41 of the box 4 and from causing an incendiary and uncontrolled chain reaction by thermal and/or chemical activation close to the cells 12 housed in the different modules of juxtaposed accumulators 1.
• the conduit 5 is made of a material selected to be sufficiently resistant to heat without deformation.
• a example of a material among others likely to be selected would be acrylonitrile butadiene styrene also called ABS.
• the conduit 5 comprises an additional orifice 53 which surrounds at least the most weakened portion 211 of the line of weakness 21 of the face 2 of a second juxtaposed accumulator module 1.
• the conduit 5 is arranged to carry out an evacuation of gas and heat coming from several juxtaposed accumulator modules 1.
• the conduit 5 comprises an additional orifice 54 also open at an external surface of the box 4.
• the orifices 51, 54 of the conduit 5 open towards the outside of the box 4 are arranged at the level of opposite side surfaces of the box 4. This arrangement allows, thanks to the presence of at least two openings 51, 54 towards the the exterior atmosphere of the box 4, to allow the creation of a pressure differential inside the conduit 5, between the two orifices 51, 54, and thus facilitate the formation of an air flow through this conduit 5 for the evacuation of gases, smoke and heat.
• the conduit 5 is made in the form of a substantially rectilinear tubular arrangement mounted across the battery box 4, so that each of the two orifices 51, 54 is positioned at opposite faces of the box 4. Between these two orifices 51, 54, the central portion of the tubular conduit 5 comprises one or more orifices arranged to cooperate with the respective most weakened portions of the lines of weakness 21 specific to each of several accumulator modules 1 juxtaposed to the inside the battery box 4.
• the invention also relates to a method of opening a face 2 carrying a line of weakness 21 of an accumulator module 1 according to at least one of the specific variants of the invention detailed previously, characterized in that that the process comprises: - a step of inserting a threaded end of the connection interface 331 of a traction device 33 inside the thread of the nut 32, through the through hole 31 of the face 2 of the accumulator module 1 which carries the line of weakness 21,
• connection interface 331 inserted at the level of the through hole 31 associated with the nut 32 to tear off the face 2 of the accumulator module 1 of the rest of the housing box 11.
• the traction device 33 comprises at least, on the one hand, an intermediate part which carries the interface of connection 331 at a first threaded end and a hooking means 333 at a second end and, on the other hand, a tool 332 comprising a cooperation interface with the hooking means 333 of the intermediate part .

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Electrochemistry (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Sealing Battery Cases Or Jackets (AREA)
• Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)
• Gas Exhaust Devices For Batteries (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=85937364

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2022
  • 2022-12-20 FR FR2213926A patent/FR3143876B1/fr active Active
• 2023
  • 2023-12-04 WO PCT/EP2023/084167 patent/WO2024132481A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2023-12-04 EP EP23817749.7A patent/EP4639679A1/de active Pending
  • 2023-12-04 KR KR1020257023708A patent/KR20250123885A/ko active Pending
  • 2023-12-04 CN CN202380090975.5A patent/CN120500774A/zh active Pending

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