METHOD FOR PRODUCING A BATTERY MODULE AND BATTERY MODULE

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a battery module having a plurality of prismatic battery cells (2, 20) which are arranged next to one another in a longitudinal direction (4) of the battery module (1) and in particular are additionally braced with one another, wherein the plurality of battery cells (2) are furthermore received in an interior (30) of a housing (3) of the battery module (1), wherein the plurality of battery cells (2, 20) are positioned in the housing (3) prior to the curing of an adhesive which is positioned in each case between a bottom surface (31) of the housing (3) of the battery module (1) and a bottom surface (21) of the battery cells (2), and in particular is fixed until the adhesive cures.

Claims

1. A method for producing a battery module having a plurality of prismatic battery cells (2, 20), which are arranged next to one another in a longitudinal direction (4) of the battery module (1) wherein the plurality of battery cells (2) are furthermore received in an interior (30) of a housing (3) of the battery module (1), wherein the plurality of battery cells (2, 20) are positioned in the housing (3) prior to the curing of an adhesive which is positioned in each case between a bottom surface (31) of the housing (3) of the battery module (1) and a bottom surface (21) of the battery cells (2).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a compressing element (11) is arranged in the longitudinal direction (4) of the battery module (1) between the housing (3) and the plurality of battery cells (2), said compressing element (11) tapering perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (4) of the battery module (1) in a direction of the bottom surface (31) of the housing (3).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the compressing element (11) is received in a form-fitting manner in a receptacle (153) of the housing (3) of the battery module (1).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a supporting element (12) is arranged between the housing (3) of the battery module (1) and the plurality of battery cells (2) opposite the compressing element (11) in the longitudinal direction (4) of the battery module (1).

5. The method according to the preceding claim 4, wherein the supporting element (12) comprises an opening (123) and contact surfaces (121, 122).

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein two compressing elements (11) are arranged in the longitudinal direction (4) of the battery module (1) between the housing (3) and the plurality of battery cells (2).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the housing (3) comprises a temperature-control element (13) directly adjacent to the bottom surfaces (21) of the battery cells (2).

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells (2) are arranged between two end plates (5) which are braced with one another by way of at least one clamping element (6).

9. The method according to the preceding claim 8, wherein an adhesive (8) is arranged between a side surface (23) of a battery cell (2) and the clamping element (6).

10. The method according to claim 4, wherein the supporting element (12) is connected in a form-fitting or cohesive manner to an end plate (5) or to the housing (3).

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein the compressing element (11) is formed from a polymeric material.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein a respective spacer element (9) is arranged between two battery cells (2) arranged adjacent to one another.

13. (canceled)

14. The method according to claim 4, wherein the supporting element (12) is formed from a polymeric material.

15. A method for producing a battery module having a plurality of prismatic lithium-ion battery cells (200), which are arranged next to one another in a longitudinal direction (4) of the battery module (1) and are additionally braced with one another, wherein the plurality of battery cells (2) are furthermore received in an interior (30) of a housing (3) of the battery module (1), wherein the plurality of battery cells (2, 20) are positioned in the housing (3) prior to the curing of an adhesive which is positioned in each case between a bottom surface (31) of the housing (3) of the battery module (1) and a bottom surface (21) of the battery cells (2), and is fixed until the adhesive cures.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a compressing element (11) is arranged in the longitudinal direction (4) of the battery module (1) between the housing (3) and the plurality of battery cells (2), said compressing element (11) tapering perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (4) of the battery module (1) in a direction of the bottom surface (31) of the housing (3) and having two contact surfaces (111, 112) which are arranged at an angle (113) of at least four degrees with respect to one another.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the compressing element (11) is received in a form-fitting manner in a receptacle (153) of the housing (3) of the battery module (1), wherein the receptacle (153) forms an angle (154) of at least four degrees with respect to a vertical direction (41) of the battery module (1) arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (4).

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein a supporting element (12) is arranged between the housing (3) of the battery module (1) and the plurality of battery cells (2) opposite the compressing element (11) in the longitudinal direction (4) of the battery module (1).

19. The method according to the preceding claim 18, wherein the supporting element (12) comprises an opening (123) and contact surfaces (121, 122).

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein two compressing elements (11) are arranged in the longitudinal direction (4) of the battery module (1) between the housing (3) and the plurality of battery cells (2).

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein the housing (3) comprises a temperature-control element (13) which is directly adjacent to the bottom surfaces (21) of the battery cells (2) and which is in the form of a temperature-control chamber through which temperature-control fluid can flow.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of battery cells (2) are arranged between two end plates (5) which are braced with one another by way of at least one clamping band (60), wherein the at least one clamping band (60) is cohesively connected to the end plates (5) in a welded manner.

23. The method according to the preceding claim 22, wherein an adhesive (8) is arranged between a side surface (23) of a battery cell (2) and the clamping element (6), wherein the adhesive (8) furthermore has thermally conductive additives.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and described in greater detail in the following description.

[0036] In the drawings:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows an exploded illustration of a plurality of battery cells braced with one another,

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the plurality of battery cells braced with one another in accordance with FIG. 1,

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a battery module according to the invention from the side,

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the embodiment of the battery module according to the invention in accordance with FIG. 3 from above,

[0041] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a supporting element,

[0042] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a compressing element, and

[0043] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a housing of the battery module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows an exploded illustration of a plurality of battery cells 2 braced with one another, which are each in the form of prismatic battery cells 20. In particular, the battery cells 2 are preferably in the form of lithium-ion battery cells 200.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the plurality of battery cells 2 braced with one another in accordance with FIG. 1. Therefore, FIGS. 1 and 2 should be described together in the text which follows.

[0046] In said figures, the battery cells 2 are arranged next to one another in a longitudinal direction 4 of the battery module 1. In addition, the battery cells 2 are braced with one another.

[0047] Furthermore, said figure shows that the plurality of battery cells 2 are arranged between two end plates 5. Here, the two end plates 5 and the plurality of battery cells 2 are braced with one another by way of clamping elements 6. In particular, the clamping elements 6 are each in the form of a clamping band 60 here. In particular, FIG. 2 shows that the clamping element 6 is cohesively connected to the end plates 5, such as in particular in a welded manner by means of a welded connection 7.

[0048] An adhesive 8, which particularly preferably has thermally conductive additives, is arranged between the clamping element 6 and a side surface 23 of a battery cell 2.

[0049] In addition, a respective spacer element 9 is arranged between two battery cells 2 arranged adjacent to one another. A spacer element 9 is also arranged between an end plate 5 and a battery cell 2 arranged at an end.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a battery module 1 according to the invention from the side.

[0051] Said figure shows that the plurality of battery cells 2 are received in an interior 30 of a housing 3 of the battery module 1.

[0052] Furthermore, a bottom surface 31 of the housing 3 of the battery module 1 and a bottom surface 21 of the battery cells 2 are respectively cohesively connected to one another. In particular, this connection can be formed by means of an adhesive 81.

[0053] Here, the housing 3 of the battery module 1 comprises a temperature-control element 13 directly adjacent to the bottom surfaces 41 of the battery cells 2.

[0054] A compressing element 11 is arranged between the housing 3 of the battery module 1 and the plurality of battery cells 2 in the longitudinal direction 4 of the battery module 1. Here, the compressing element 11 tapers perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction 4 of the battery module 1 in the direction of the bottom surface 31 of the housing 3 of the battery module 1. In particular, this taper is formed in a vertical direction 41, which is arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction 4.

[0055] Furthermore, said figure shows that a supporting element 12 is arranged between the housing 3 of the battery module 1 and the plurality of battery cells 2 opposite the compressing element 11 in the longitudinal direction 4 of the battery module 1.

[0056] Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows the above-described primary mechanical load path, in the case of which, at the bottom of the housing 3 of the battery module 1, a mechanical load is transferred from the plurality of battery cells 2 via the adhesive bond to the bottom surface 31 of the housing 3 of the battery module 1 during operation. Furthermore, a force is transferred to the housing 3 of the battery module 1 via the supporting element 12 and the compressing element 11.

[0057] To produce the battery module 1, the plurality of battery cells 2 are first of all positioned. In particular, to this end, the battery cells 2 are displaced in the longitudinal direction 4 in the direction of the supporting element 12 or the left-hand housing wall until in particular the end plate 5 comes to rest on the supporting element 12 and the supporting element 12 comes to rest on the left-hand housing wall. Subsequently, the compressing element 11 is introduced in the vertical direction 41 in the direction of the bottom surface 31 of the housing 3 of the battery module until a defined compression as formed.

[0058] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the embodiment of the battery module 1 according to the invention in accordance with FIG. 3 from above.

[0059] It is apparent from FIG. 4 that preferably two compressing elements 11 are arranged.

[0060] Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows the above-described secondary mechanical load path, in the case of which, during operation, a mechanical load is transferred from the plurality of battery cells 2 to the clamping element 6 via the cohesive connection formed in an adhesively bonded manner. Furthermore, a force is transferred to the housing 3 of the battery module 1 via the supporting element 12 and the compressing element 11.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a supporting element 12.

[0062] The left-hand-side illustration in said figure shows a first view with contact surfaces 121, which are formed to make mechanical contact with the end plates 5. Furthermore, the right-hand-side illustration shows a second view with contact surfaces 122, which are formed to make mechanical contact with the housing 3 of the battery module 1.

[0063] Furthermore, the supporting element 12 has an opening 123. Said opening 123 serves to ensure thermal decoupling.

[0064] Such a supporting element 12 is particularly preferably formed from a polymeric material.

[0065] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a compressing element 11.

[0066] The left-hand-side illustration of said figure shows a first view with a first contact surface 111 which is formed to make mechanical contact with the end plates 5. Furthermore, the right-hand side illustration shows a second view with a second contact surface 112 which is formed to make mechanical contact with the housing 3 of the battery module 1. In particular, the second contact surface 112 is in the form of a linear contact here.

[0067] Said figure shows that the first contact surface 111 and the second contact surface 112 are arranged at an angle 113 with respect to one another, wherein the angle has, in particular, a value of at least four degrees.

[0068] Such a compressing element 11 is particularly preferably formed from a polymeric material.

[0069] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a housing 3 of the battery module 1.

[0070] The left-hand-side illustration in said figure shows the inner side 151 of the housing 3 of the battery module 1, on which inner side the supporting element 12 is arranged.

[0071] The right-hand-side illustration in said figure shows the inner side 152 of the housing 3 of the battery module 1, on which inner side the compressing element 11 is arranged or the compressing elements 11 are arranged.

[0072] Said figure shows that the housing 3 of the battery module 1 comprises receptacles 153 in which a respective compressing element 11 can be received in a form-fitting manner. In particular, the receptacles 153 in this case are in the form of guide grooves in which the linear contact of the compressing element 11 can preferably be received. That is to say, linear or in other words very narrow contact is formed between the receptacle 153 and the compressing element 11.

[0073] Furthermore, a receptacle 153 can also form an angle 154 which is formed with respect to a vertical direction 41 of the battery module 1 arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction 4 of the battery module 1 and has a value of at least four degrees.