Battery Housing, Battery and Method for Manufacturing a Battery

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery housing (1), in particular for a starter battery for a vehicle, having a housing interior (2) for an arrangement of a plurality of battery cells (3), and a housing unit (10) which at least partially surrounds the housing interior (2) and has a duct system (20) with a plurality of channels (21) for guiding a fluid for temperature control of the housing interior (2). Furthermore, the invention relates to a battery (4), as well as a method for manufacturing a battery (4).

Claims

1. A battery housing having a housing interior for an arrangement of a plurality of battery cells, and a housing unit which at least partially surrounds the housing interior and has a duct system with a plurality of channels for guiding a fluid for temperature control of the housing interior, wherein the housing unit comprises at least a first housing side with a first fluid access point for external access to the duct system, wherein, the channels extend at least partially along the first housing side in different directions and the duct system comprises a guide structure for a common fluid communication of the channels with the first fluid access point.

2. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein the guide structure is formed by restriction elements of the channels.

3. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein the guide structure has a distribution point at which the restriction elements converge on the first housing side, in each case two of the restriction elements at the distribution point having an angle with respect to one another which forms a channel opening.

4. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing unit has a middle part which extends from the first housing side and circumferentially surrounds the housing interior, wherein the channels extend along at least one side of the middle part.

5. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing unit has at least a second housing side with a second fluid access point for external access to the duct system, wherein the middle part is arranged between the first housing side and the second housing side.

6. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing unit has a geometrical mid-level extending centrally from the first housing side to the second housing side, the first fluid access point and the second fluid access point being arranged on opposite sides of the mid-level.

7. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein the channels have a kink at least at the transition from the first housing side or the second housing side to the middle part.

8. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing unit comprises at least a first cover element for at least partially covering the channels on the first housing side or a second cover element for at least partially covering the channels on the second housing side.

9. The battery housing according to claim wherein the housing unit has a hood element for closing the housing interior, the hood element at least partially forming at least the first housing side, the second housing side or the middle part.

10. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing unit comprises at least a hybrid component or the hood element is configured as a hybrid component, in which a first material component and a second material component are bonded to one another.

11. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein at least the first material component is a metal and the second material component is a plastic or the first material component forms an inner shell for defining the housing interior and the second material component forms an outer shell for enclosing the inner shell at least in sections.

12. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein the guide structure at least on the first or second housing side is formed at least partially by the second material component.

13. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein at least the housing unit has a core element, wherein the hood element has an opening in which the core element is at least partially accommodated or the core element at least comprises a metal or is configured as a continuous casting.

14. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein each of the channels has at least one channel section which is integrated into a wall of the core element.

15. The battery housing according to claim wherein the first material component of at least the hood element or the core element are of U-shaped configuration.

16. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein the hood element has at least one terminal contact for external connection to the battery cells, a handle unit for transporting the battery housing or a vent valve for venting the housing interior.

17. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein a control unit for battery management is integrated into the housing unit.

18. A battery comprising a plurality of battery cells and a battery housing according to claim 1.

19. A method for producing a battery according to claim 18, having a housing unit of a battery housing, which at least partially surrounds a housing interior and has a duct system with a plurality of channels for guiding a fluid for temperature control of the housing interior, comprising: Providing a base body for defining at least a portion of the housing interior and at least a first housing side of the housing unit, At least partially producing channels of the duct system extending at least partially along the first housing side in different directions, and a guide structure of the duct system for a common fluid communication of the channels with a first fluid access point (11) for external access to the duct system, wherein the at least partial production of the channels and the guide structure is performed on the base body (31), and Completing the battery by arranging a plurality of battery cells in the housing interior, connecting channel sections of the channels, arranging the first fluid access point on the guide structure, and closing the housing interior.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein at least the base body is formed by a first material component and the guide structure is formed by a second material component, which are connected to one another by material bonding during the production of the guide structure or the base body is covered at least sectionally by the second material component during the production of the guide structure.

Description

[0044] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description, in which embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this connection, the features mentioned in the claims and in the description may each be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. It shows schematically:

[0045] FIG. 1 a battery according to the invention in a perspective view in a first embodiment,

[0046] FIG. 2 a first housing side of a housing unit of a battery housing of the battery,

[0047] FIG. 3 a middle part of the battery housing in a top view from the first housing side,

[0048] FIG. 4 the battery housing in a cut side view,

[0049] FIG. 5 a hood element of the battery housing with a first material component and a second material component,

[0050] FIG. 6 the first material component of the hood element, and

[0051] FIG. 7 a core element of a battery housing of the battery according to the invention.

[0052] In the following description of some embodiments of the invention, the identical reference signs are used for the same technical features even in different embodiments.

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a battery 4 according to the invention for a vehicle, in particular in the form of a starter battery for the vehicle in perspective view. The battery 4 has a battery housing 1 according to the invention with a housing interior 2 in which a plurality of battery cells 3 are arranged.

[0054] The battery housing 1 comprises a housing unit 10, which at least partially surrounds the housing interior 2, and a duct system 20 with a plurality of channels 21, which are configured to guide a fluid for temperature control of the housing interior 2. The fluid may be air or water, for example. For temperature control, the fluid can flow through the duct system 20, whereby a heat exchange with the housing interior 2 takes place. As a result, the battery cells 3 can be cooled or heated, in particular indirectly.

[0055] For external access to the duct system 20, the housing unit 10 has at least a first housing side 10.1 with a first fluid access point 11. Via the first fluid access point 11, the duct system 20 can, for example, be connected to a cooling system, in particular a cooling circuit, of the vehicle. Furthermore, the housing unit 10 has at least a second housing side 10.2 with a second fluid access point 12 for external access to the duct system 20. This enables the duct system 20 to be integrated into a line section of the cooling system and flowed through by the fluid. For example, the fluid may enter the duct system 20 at the first fluid access point 11 and exit the duct system 20 at the second fluid access point 12, or vice versa. As shown in FIG. 1, the housing unit 10 comprises a first cover element 14 for at least partially covering the channels 21 at the first housing side 10.1 and a second cover element 15 for at least partially covering the channels 21 at the second housing side 10.2. Preferably, the first fluid access point 11 is integrated into the first cover element 14 and the second fluid access point 12 is integrated into the second cover element 15. For the flow of the fluid through the duct system 20, a drive 24, e.g. in the form of a pump, can be integrated into the duct system 20, the first fluid access point and/or the second fluid access point, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0056] For the flow of the fluid, the housing unit 10 has a middle part 13 which extends between the first housing side 10.1 and the second housing side 10.2 and surrounds the housing interior 2 circumferentially. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3 in the top view of the middle part 13 from the first housing side 10.1, the channels 21 of the duct system 20 extend along at least one side, preferably along at least two opposite sides, of the middle part 13 from the first housing side 10.1 to the second housing side 10.2 and/or vice versa.

[0057] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the channels 21 extend at least partially along the first housing side 10.1 in different directions. As a result, the first fluid access point 11 can, for example, be configured in a tube-like manner, in particular as a nozzle, in order to allow the fluid to enter the duct system 20 in a certain area on the first housing side 10.1. For this purpose, the duct system 20 further comprises a guide structure 22 for a common fluid communication of the channels 21 with the first fluid access point 11. The guide structure 22 is thereby formed by a star-shaped course of restriction elements 21.1. In particular, the restriction elements 21.1 converge at a distribution point 22.1 of the guide structure 22. The distribution point 22.1 may, for example, have an aerodynamic or hydrodynamic shape to further improve the guidance of the fluid flow. At the distribution point 22.1, each two of the restriction elements 21.1 have an angle 21,52 with respect to each other, thereby forming a respective channel opening to the first fluid access point 11. An angular dimension of the angle 21.2 can further be used to generate different flow conditions in the channels 21 and/or to apply different volume flows of the fluid to the channels 21 in each case. For locally different distribution of the fluid flow, the angles 21.2, in particular the angular dimensions, can differ at least partially. Preferably, the first cover element 14 and the second cover element 15 each rest on the restriction elements 21.1 in order to pressurize the channels 21 at the first housing side 10.1 and the second housing side 10.2, in particular outside the first fluid access point 11 and the second fluid access point 12.

[0058] In particular, the channels 21 further extend at least partially along the second housing side 10.2 in different directions. For this purpose, the duct system 20 preferably comprises a further guide structure 22 for a common fluid communication of the channels 21 with the second fluid access point 12. The further guide structure 22 can, for example, be formed analogously to FIG. 2 from the viewpoint of the second housing side 10.2. In this case, the housing unit 10 has, in particular, a geometric mid-level 10.3 which extends centrally from the first housing side 10.1 to the second housing side 10.2. The mid-level 10.3 is shown in FIG. 1 as a mathematical plane in cross-section. When both the guide structure 22 of the first housing side 10.1 and the further guide structure 22 of the second housing side 10.2 are formed according to the top view shown in FIG. 2, the first fluid access point 11 and the second fluid access point 12 are arranged on opposite sides of the mid-level 10.3, This allows the channels 21 from the first fluid access point 11 to the second fluid access point 12 to have the same or substantially the same length, even though the channels 21 on the first housing side 10.1 and on the second housing side 10.2 each run asymmetrically.

[0059] By the course of the channels 21 along the first housing side 10.1 and the second housing side 10.2, an advantageous flow around the housing interior 2 can be achieved. Furthermore, however, this can also enable an advantageous inlet and/or outlet of the fluid between the first fluid access point 11 and/or the second fluid access point 12 and channel sections 21.3 extending along the two sides of the middle part 13. At the transition from the first housing side 10.1 and/or the second housing side 10.2 to the middle part 13, the channels 21 thereby have a kink 23.

[0060] It is further provided that the housing unit 10 comprises a core element 16 as shown in FIG. 7. The core element 16 preferably comprises a metal, in particular aluminum. Additionally or alternatively, the core element 16 may advantageously be in the form of a continuous casting. To form the channels 21 on the sides of the middle part 13, each of the channels 21 has at least one channel section 21.3 which is integrated, in particular integrally, into a wall of the core element 16. In particular, the core element 16 further forms at least one inner surface of the housing interior 2. Due to the metal configuration, the housing unit 10 in the area of the core element can have a high strength. In addition, this can provide a high thermal conductivity, which facilitate heat exchange between the channels 21 and the housing interior 2. It may further be provided that the core element 16 comprises a cooling structure 17, which may be formed separately from the duct system 20. The cooling structure 17 can be formed, for example, on a base plate of the core element 16 for locally improved heat conduction.

[0061] For closing the housing interior 2, which is at least partially defined by the core element 16, the housing unit 10 further comprises a hood element 30, which is shown in FIG. 5. The hood element 30 at least partially forms the first housing side 10.1, the second housing side 10.2 and/or the middle part 13. The hood element 30 is formed as a hybrid component, in which a first material component 31 and a second material component 32 are materially bonded to one another. The first material component 31 forms an inner shell for restricting the housing interior 2 and is shown in FIG. 6. The second material component 32 forms an outer shell for enclosing the inner shell at least sectionally. As shown in FIG. 5, the second material component 32 may surround the first material component 31 on five sides to create a cuboid structure. In this regard, the hood element 30 has an opening 33 in which the core element 16 is at least partially received when the battery housing 1 is assembled. Preferably, the hood element 30 and the core element 16 are fastened to each other during assembly, in particular by screwing. For advantageous assembly and high strength, the first material component 31 of the hood element 30 and the core element 16 are formed in particular in a U-shaped manner, so that the hood element 30 and the core element 16 correspond to each other.

[0062] The first material component 31 is preferably a metal, in particular in the form of aluminum. This can provide high strength and advantageous heat conduction to the housing interior 2, analogously to the core element 16. Preferably, the first housing side 10.1 and the second housing side 10.2 are configured at an inner side of the housing interior 2 through the first material component 31. The second material component 32 is preferably a plastic, in particular one reinforced with glass fibers. For example, the first material component 31 can be overmolded with the plastic for manufacturing the battery 4.

[0063] As a result, the guide structure 22 on the first and/or second housing side 10.2 can also advantageously be formed at least partially by the second material component 32. For example, the restriction elements 21.1 of the channels 21 on the first housing side 10.1 and on the second housing side 10.2 can be produced by injecting the second material component 32 onto the first material component 31, In this way, a curved shape advantageous for fluid flow can be produced in a simple manner.

[0064] For the manufacture of the battery 4 a provision 101 of a base body 31 in the form of the first material component 31 and/or the inner shell for defining at least a section of the housing interior 2 and the first housing side 10.1 and the second housing side 10.2 can be provided in a simple manner. Thereupon, an at least partial production 102 of the channels 21 and the guide structure 22 of the duct system 20 may be performed on the base body 31. Subsequently, a finishing 103 of the battery 4 can be performed by arranging the battery cells 3 in the housing interior 2, for example in the core element 16 or under the hood element 30, connecting channel sections 21.3 of the channels 21, arranging the first fluid access point 11 and the second fluid access point 12 to the guide structure 22 and closing the housing interior 2. For connecting the channel sections 21.3 and simultaneously closing the housing interior 2, for example, a fastening of the hood element 30 to the core element 16 can be carried out. Furthermore, the first fluid access point 11 and the second fluid access point 12 can be connected to the duct system 20 by arranging the first cover element 14 and the second cover element 15 on the first housing side 10.1 and the second housing side 10.2, respectively.

[0065] Furthermore, in order to keep the complexity of as many individual parts of the battery housing 1 as low as possible, different functions can be integrated into the hood element 30. Advantageously, the hood element 30 has at least one terminal contact 34 for an external connection to the battery cells 3, a handle unit 35 for transporting the battery housing 1 and a vent valve 36 for venting the housing interior 2. Furthermore, a control unit 37 for battery management may be integrated into the hood element 30.

[0066] Through the channels 21, which extend over the sides of the middle part 13 as well as the first housing side 10.1 and the second housing side 10.2, a large-area heat exchange can take place between the fluid and the housing interior 2. Furthermore, the battery 4 can be advantageously integrated into the cooling system of the vehicle by the local configuration of the first fluid access point 11 and the second fluid access point 12. Furthermore, the duct system 20 results in advantageous flow characteristics of the fluid. The advantageous flow and heat conduction properties interact in each case with a configuration of the battery 4 that is suitable for production and load, resulting in functional advantages as well as cost advantages for the battery 4.

[0067] The foregoing explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention exclusively in the context of examples. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with each other, provided that this is technically reasonable, without leaving the scope of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0068] 1 Battery housing [0069] 2 Housing interior [0070] 3 Battery cells [0071] 4 Battery [0072] 10 Housing unit [0073] 10.1 First housing side [0074] 10.2 Second housing side [0075] 10.3 Mid-level [0076] 11 First fluid access point [0077] 12 Second fluid access point [0078] 13 Middle part [0079] 14 First cover element [0080] 15 Second cover element [0081] 16 Core element [0082] 17 Cooling structure [0083] 20 Duct system [0084] 21 Channels [0085] 21.1 Restriction elements [0086] 21.2 Angle [0087] 21.3 Channel section [0088] 22 Guide structure [0089] 22.1 Distribution point [0090] 23 Kink [0091] 24 Drive [0092] 30 Hood element [0093] 31 First material component base body [0094] 32 Second material component [0095] 33 Opening [0096] 34 Terminal contact [0097] 35 Handle unit [0098] 36 Vent valve [0099] 37 Control unit [0100] 101 Provide [0101] 102 Produce