FUNCTIONALLY INTEGRATED SEPARATOR, A BATTERY CELL COMPRISING THE SEPARATOR AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING THE SEPARATOR AND THE BATTERY CELL

Abstract

A separator for spatially separating and electrically isolating electrodes in a battery cell. The separator has a receptacle for at least one galvanic cell which includes an anode and a cathode; a structure composed of conductive material for electrically connecting the anode and cathode to one another and for making contact with the at least one galvanic cell from outside; and a duct system for forming a cooling fluid flow in the separator. At least the receptacle and the duct system are integrally formed in the separator.

Claims

1. A separator for spatially separating and electrically isolating electrodes in a battery cell, wherein the separator comprises: a receptacle for at least one galvanic cell which comprises an anode and a cathode; a structure composed of conductive material for electrically connecting the anode and cathode to one another and for making contact with the at least one galvanic cell from outside; and a duct system forming a passageway for delivering a cooling fluid flow within the separator; wherein at least the receptacle and the duct system are integrally formed in the separator.

2. The separator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a material which cures with a time delay is contained in the separator, as a result of which the separator acquires an ultimate strength.

3. The separator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separator has a porosity which permits ion transport.

4. The separator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separator contains an evaporable solvent.

5. The separator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duct system is formed by hollow molds arranged in the separator.

6. A battery cell comprising: the separator of claim 1; the at least one galvanic cell that is embedded in the separator and comprises the anode and the cathode, wherein by means of the structure composed of conductive material, the at least one galvanic cell can be contacted from outside and the anode and the cathode are electrically connected to one another; and a cooling circuit is formed by means of the duct system.

7. A method for producing a separator by an additive method, said method comprising: forming a number of cavities as a receptacle for at least one galvanic cell having an anode and a cathode; forming a structure composed of conductive material for electrically connecting the anode and the cathode to one another and for making contact with the at least one galvanic cell from outside; and forming a duct system defining a passageway for receiving a cooling fluid flow in the separator, wherein the duct system is integrally formed with at least the receptacle.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the duct system is formed by inserting hollow molds into the separator structure.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein a material which cures with a time delay is contained in the conductive material of the separator, as a result of which the separator acquires an ultimate strength.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein an evaporable solvent is contained in the material of the separator.

11. A method for producing a battery cell, comprising executing the method of claim 7 in such a way that, when the separator is formed by the additive method, the material is deposited around the anode and cathode of the at least one galvanic cell which replace the cavities.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE

[0027] Further advantages and refinements of the invention can be gathered from the entirety of the description and the appended drawing.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through an exemplary embodiment of a functionally integrated separator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through an exemplary embodiment of a functionally integrated separator 1. Only a subregion of the separator 1 is shown here, wherein two electrodes 2, 3—an anode 2 and a cathode 3—of a galvanic cell are shown in addition to the separator 1. The FIGURE illustrates the basic principle according to which a corresponding battery cell can be constructed on the basis of the separator 1 according to aspects of the invention. The two electrodes are embedded into the separator 1. The separator material contains materials 4 which cure irreversibly, as a result of which the separator 1 achieves its mechanical strength in the final three-dimensional end form after a predetermined time.

[0030] In addition, lines 5 for liquid cooling of the electrodes 2, 3 are provided in the separator 1. As already described, these can be formed by inserting corresponding single- or double-layer hollow profiles into the structure of the separator during production of the separator. Furthermore, a busbar 6 embedded in the separator 1 is illustrated which. By means of the busbar 6, identical poles of the galvanic cells within the battery cell are interconnected with one another in series or in parallel depending on the desired design, which busbar, on account of its nature, is able to transmit relatively high currents.