Battery module

Abstract

A battery module having a plurality of battery cells (2), in particular lithium-ion battery cells (20) which in a longitudinal direction (3) of the battery module (1) are disposed so as to be mutually adjacent, and the plurality of battery cells (2) are mutually braced by means of a tensioning element (4), wherein a thermal compensation element (5) is disposed between a battery cell (2) and the tensioning element (4), and the tensioning element (4), on a side of the tensioning element (4) that faces away from the battery cell (2), is connected to a heating element (100).

Claims

1. A battery module having a plurality of battery cells (2), which in a longitudinal direction (3) of the battery module (1) are disposed so as to be mutually adjacent, and the plurality of battery cells (2) are mutually braced by means of a tensioning element (4), characterized in that a thermal compensation element (5) is disposed between a battery cell (2) and the tensioning element (4), and in that the tensioning element (4), on a side of the tensioning element (4) that faces away from the battery cell (2), is connected to a heating element (100).

2. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of battery cells (2) are in each case configured as prismatic battery cells (200).

3. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that the battery cells (2) are disposed so as to be thermally insulating and mutually spaced apart in such a manner that a thermal conduction between two battery cells (21, 22) which are disposed so as to be directly mutually adjacent is reduced.

4. The battery module according to claim 3, characterized in that the thermal insulation is configured by a separating element (6) from a phase-transformation material or a material having a thermal transmittance coefficient of more than 0.1 W/(m.sup.2K), or is configured by an air gap.

5. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that the tensioning element (4) is configured from a metallic material (40).

6. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of battery cells (2) are disposed between two end plates (7) and the tensioning element (4) is disposed so as to encircle the two end plates (7), or the tensioning element (4) is in each case connected in a materially integral manner to the two end plates (7).

7. The battery module according to claim 6, characterized in that a thermal insulation (51) or a further thermal compensation element is disposed between a battery cell (23) which is disposed so as to be proximal to an end of the battery module, and an end plate (71) which is disposed so as to be directly adjacent to said end-proximal battery cell (23).

8. The battery module according to claim 7, characterized in that the thermal compensation element (5) and/or the further thermal compensation element (51) are configured as a thermally conductive adhesive (55) or as a gap filler or as a gap pad.

9. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the endplates (7) are configured from a metallic material (70).

10. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the tensioning element (4) is welded to the two end plates (7).

11. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that the tensioning element (4) is disposed so as to completely encircle the plurality of battery cells (2).

12. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that the tensioning element (4) is configured as a tensioning strap (41).

13. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that the tensioning element (4) has an electrical insulation (8).

14. The battery module according to claim 13, wherein the electrical insulation (8) is configured as a coating which is configured to be electrically insulating, or as an insulation film.

15. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the battery cells are lithium-ion battery cells (20).

16. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the heating element (100) is an active heating mat and the active heating mat includes a conductor and a carrier material.

17. The battery module according to claim 16, wherein the conductor is a flexible foil.

18. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the heating element (100) is an active heating mat constructed from a heated woven fabric.

19. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the heating element (100) is configured to generate heat by electrical resistance.

20. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the heating element (100) covers the tensioning element (4) in a planar manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the description hereunder.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a battery module according to the invention in a partially exploded illustration; and

(4) FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a battery module according to the invention in a perspective illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a battery module 1 according to the invention in a partially exploded illustration, and FIG. 2 shows this battery module 1 in a perspective view. The embodiments according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are to be conjointly described hereunder.

(6) The battery module 1 has a plurality of battery cells 2 which are in particular configured as lithium-ion battery cells 20. According to the battery module 1 according to the invention which can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 the battery cells 2 are in each case configured as prismatic battery cells 200.

(7) These battery cells 2 in a longitudinal direction 3 of the battery module 1 herein are disposed so as to be mutually adjacent. It is in particular to be noted at this point that the prismatic battery cells 200 are in each case disposed so as to be mutually adjacent by way of the respective largest lateral faces 24 thereof.

(8) The battery cells 2 are furthermore disposed so as to be thermally insulating, for example mutually spaced apart. The spacing herein is configured in such a manner that thermal conduction between two battery cells 2 which are disposed so as to be directly mutually adjacent is reduced. In an exemplary manner it is to be noted that a first battery cell 21 and a second battery cell 22 are disposed so as to be mutually spaced apart. According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the thermal insulation can be configured by a separating element 6. For example, such a separating element 6 is disposed between two battery cells 2 which are disposed so as to be directly mutually adjacent, such as in an exemplary manner between the first battery cell 21 and the second battery cell 22. The separating element 6 herein can be configured from a phase-transformation material or a material having a transmittance coefficient of more than 0.1 W/(m.sup.2K). It is to be noted at this point that the thermal insulation can also be configured by an air gap.

(9) It can furthermore be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 that a tensioning element 4 mutually braces the plurality of battery cells 2. The tensioning element 4 herein can be configured from a metallic material 40.

(10) The tensioning element 4 is preferably embodied as a tensioning strap 41.

(11) The tensioning element 4 can furthermore have an electrical insulation.

(12) A thermal compensation element 5 herein is disposed between one of the battery cells 2 and the tensioning element 4.

(13) The thermal compensation element 5 herein can be configured as a gap pad or as a gap filler, for example, or as can be seen, in particular, in FIG. 1 as a thermally conductive adhesive 55. It is to be noted at this point that the thermal compensation element 5, or the thermally conductive adhesive 55, respectively, is disposed on an external face of the battery module 2 that is configured conjointly by respective lateral faces 25 of the battery cells 2. On account thereof, the thermal compensation element 5, or the thermally conductive adhesive 55, respectively, is disposed so as to be in direct mechanical contact with the battery cells 2, or the lateral faces 25, respectively, and the tensioning element 4.

(14) The plurality of battery cells 2 is preferably disposed between two end plates 7 which can preferably likewise be configured from a metallic material 70. A thermal insulation 51 can furthermore be disposed between a battery cell 23 which is disposed so as to be proximal to the end and an end plate 71 which is disposed so as to be directly adjacent to said end-proximal battery cell 23.

(15) It can be derived in particular from FIG. 2 that the tensioning element 4 is in each case connected in a materially integral manner, such as preferably welded, to the two end plates 7. The tensioning element 4 could furthermore also be disposed so as to encircle the two end plates 7.

(16) The tensioning element 4 furthermore has a heating element 100. The heating element 100 herein is disposed by way of a side 26 of the tensioning element 4 that faces away from the battery cell 2.

(17) It is to be noted at this point that the heating element 100 can completely cover the tensioning element 4. The tensioning element 4 can in particular be disposed on the two largest external sides of the battery module 1 that are disposed opposite one another, and the heating element 100 can correspondingly be disposed on the respective tensioning element 4. The heating elements 100 herein can be configured as two heating elements 100, or as one contiguous seating element 100.

(18) The heating element 100, in terms of control technology, can furthermore be connected to a battery cell 2 such as, for example, an end-proximal battery cell in order to detect the temperature of the latter and to adapt the heating behavior thereto.