CELL HEATING ASSEMBLY, BATTERY MODULE AND VEHICLE

A cell heating assembly includes a substrate and an electric heating circuit. The substrate is provided with Q first supporting parts and P second supporting parts, and each first supporting part is used for supporting one cell. The electric heating circuit includes P electric heaters and a conducting circuit, and the conducting circuit is electrically connected with the P electric heaters. The P electric heaters and the conducting circuit are arranged on the substrate. Each second supporting part is used for supporting one electric heater. At least one electric heater and at least one second supporting part are arranged around each first supporting part.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to the technical field of batteries, in particular to a cell heating assembly, a battery module and a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

The working temperature of the battery has a great influence on the working performance of the battery. For example, for lithium batteries and other types of batteries, when they are in a low temperature working environment, using a heating device to heat the batteries is helpful to improve the energy utilization rate and service life of the batteries.

However, in related technologies, the battery heating device is often an overall structure specially designed for a specific battery, and its shape should be adapted to the arrangement of all cells in the battery, which has the problems of poor universality, complex overall structure and high processing difficulty.

SUMMARY

The present application provides a cell heating assembly, a battery module and a vehicle, to solve the problems of complex structure, poor universality and high processing difficulty of the cell heating device in the related art.

In the first aspect, the present application provides a cell heating assembly, which includes:a substrate provided with Q first supporting parts and P second supporting parts, each first supporting part being used for supporting one cell;an electric heating circuit including P electric heaters and a conducting circuit, and the conducting circuit being electrically connected with the P electric heaters; the P electric heaters and the conducting circuit are arranged on the substrate; each second supporting part is used for supporting one electric heater; and at least one electric heater and second supporting part are arranged around each first supporting part; andP and Q are integers greater than 1.

Embodiments of the present application provide a cell heating assembly, which includes a substrate and an electric heating circuit, the substrate is provided with Q first supporting parts and P second supporting parts, each first supporting part is used for supporting one cell; the electric heating circuit includes P electric heaters and a conducting circuit, each second supporting part is used for supporting one electric heater, and respective electric heaters can be separately mounted on each second supporting part and electrically connected with each other via the conducting circuit provided on the substrate. In this way, the overall complex design of the electric heater according to the construction of the substrate can be avoided, thus simplifying the structure of the electric heater, reducing the difficulty of processing the electric heater and improving the versatility of the electric heater. At the same time, at least one electric heater and second supporting part are arranged around each first supporting part, so that the cells arranged on each first supporting part can be heated by the surrounding electric heaters, and the arrangement position of the electric heaters can be flexibly adjusted according to the arrangement of the cells, and the heating efficiency of the cells can be ensured.

In some embodiments, the conducting circuit is embedded in the substrate, and the conducting circuit passes through the second supporting parts and is electrically connected with the electric heaters.

The conducting circuit is embedded in the substrate, which is helpful to improve the connection reliability between the conducting circuit and the substrate, and at the same time, it also avoids the excessive exposure of the conducting circuit to the outside of the substrate to affect the assembly of the cells and other structures.

In some embodiments, the conducting circuit is a printed circuit board circuit.

The conducting circuit is a printed circuit board circuit, which can improve the strength of the conducting circuit and effectively avoid the damage of the conducting circuit. At the same time, when the conducting circuit is electrically connected with the electric heater by contact, the hard conducting circuit also helps to keep the two in reliable contact.

In some embodiments, the second supporting parts are arc-shaped openings;the first supporting parts are circular openings; andthe second supporting parts arranged around the first supporting parts are arranged concentrically with the first supporting parts.

The arc-shaped openings can be used to accommodate the electric heaters, and the electric heaters can be arranged opposite to the cell located in the circular openings along with the arc-shaped openings, and the heat generated by the electric heaters can be transferred to the peripheral side of the cell to heat the cell at a high efficiency.

In some embodiments, the circuit includes a first main circuit, a second main circuit and N heating branches, where N is an integer greater than 1; andthe P electric heaters are distributed in the N heating branches, and the N heating branches are connected in parallel between the first main circuit and the second main circuit.

The P electric heaters are distributed in the N heating branches, and the N heating branches can be connected in parallel with the first main circuit and the second main circuit, so that when part of the N heating branches are damaged, heating can be carried out through electric heaters connected in other heating branches, thus improving the working reliability of the cell heating assembly. At the same time, providing the N heating branches connected in parallel is also helpful to improve the overall heating efficiency of the cell heating assembly.

In some embodiments, Q first supporting parts are arranged in an array in the substrate with a first gap between any two adjacent first supporting parts, and at least part of P electric heaters are arranged at the first gap.

At least part of the P electric heaters are arranged at the first gap between two adjacent first supporting parts, which is helpful to distribute the electric heaters on the substrate evenly, thereby uniformly heating the cells on each first supporting part and improving the heating effect of the cells.

In some embodiments, at least one heating branch extends in a wavy line.

The heating branches of a wave-line shape can meander and extend in each first gap, and the heating branches can be relatively close to the first supporting part as a whole, so that the electric heaters distributed on the heating branches can also be relatively close to the first supporting part, thereby contributing to improving the heating efficiency of the cells.

In some embodiments, the substrate is further provided with at least one air guide hole.

The air guide hole can release the stress of the cell acting on the substrate and ensure the safety of the cell. At the same time, the providing of the air guide hole can also reduce the overall weight of the substrate.

In the second aspect, the present application provides a battery module, which includes: a cell assembly and the cell heating assembly as described in the first aspect, the cell assembly includes Q cells, and the Q cells are arranged on Q first supporting parts of the cell heating assembly.

The battery module provided by this embodiment includes a cell assembly and the above cell heating assembly, the cell assembly includes Q cells, and the Q cells are arranged on Q first supporting parts of the cell heating assembly, so that the cells can be synchronously heated by the surrounding electric heaters, which is helpful to improve the heating efficiency of the cell assembly.

In some embodiments, the cell assembly further includes a bus member for electrically connecting electrodes of the Q cells.

The bus member is provided such that the Q cells can be connected in parallel and/or in series, which is helpful to meet the parameter requirements of power devices for battery modules in various application scenarios.

In some embodiments, the battery module further includes an end cap fixedly connected with the substrate; and

Q first through holes penetrating a first end face and a second end face are provided in the end cap, the electrodes of the Q cells penetrate into the Q first through holes from the first end face and are electrically connected with the bus member fixedly connected to the second end face.

The end cap provides an attachment surface for the bus member, which helps to reduce the difficulty of arranging the bus member. At the same time, the end cap is fixedly connected with the substrate, which is helpful to limit each cell in the corresponding opening and improve the assembly reliability among the cell assembly, the substrate and the end cap.

In some embodiments, P second through holes penetrating the first end face and the second end face are provided in the end cap, and P electric heaters in the cell heating assembly penetrate the P second through holes.

This embodiment enlarges the relative facing surface between the electric heater and the cell, the electric heater can fully heat the peripheral side of the cell, and the heating efficiency of the cell is improved.

In some embodiments, the electric heating circuit of the cell heating assembly is electrically connected at a position between a positive electrode of the cell assembly and a negative electrode of the cell assembly.

In some low temperature applications, the cell assembly in the battery module can heat itself through the electric heating circuit, so that the battery module can work at a more suitable temperature, and the working performance of the battery module can be improved.

In some embodiments, the battery module further includes a case provided with an accommodating cavity, and a cover provided covering the case.

The cell heating assembly and the cell assembly are arranged in the accommodating cavity.

The cover is provided covering the case, which allows the accommodating cavity to become a relatively closed space in order to effectively protect the cell heating assembly and the cell assembly.

In the third aspect, the present application provides a vehicle including: a generator, a starter, and the battery module as described in the second aspect; and the generator, the starter and an electric heating circuit are connected in parallel between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a cell assembly of the battery module.

The vehicle provided in this embodiment includes a generator, a starter and a battery module. The generator, the starter and an electric heating circuit are connected in parallel between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the cell assembly of the battery module. The cell assembly can discharge to the starter to start the vehicle, and when the vehicle is started, the generator can supply power to the cell assembly or heat the cell assembly through the electric heater, so that the cell assembly can work at a suitable temperature, and the working performance of the cell assembly is improved.

In some embodiments, the vehicle further includes a first switch assembly and a second switch assembly, the positive electrode of the cell assembly and a first terminal of the first switch assembly are connected to a first node, the second switch assembly and the electric heating circuit are connected in series at a position between the first node and the negative electrode of the cell assembly, and the generator and the starter are connected in parallel at a position between a second terminal of the first switch assembly and the negative electrode of the cell assembly.

In this embodiment, by providing the first switch assembly and the second switch assembly, it is possible to meet the heating requirements of the cell assembly at different ambient temperatures.

In some embodiments, the vehicle further includes a battery management system electrically connected to the first switch assembly and the second switch assembly.

In the present embodiment, by electrically connecting the BMS to the above-mentioned first and second switch assemblies in order to control the switching status of these switch assemblies, the introduction of additional control modules in the vehicle can be avoided, thereby reducing the cost of vehicle configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the technical solution of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the present application and are therefore intended as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as are commonly understood by those skilled in the art of the present application. Terms used herein are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present application. The terms “comprising” and “having” and any variations thereof in the description and claims of the present application and the above description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

In the description of embodiments of the present application, the technical terms “first,” “second” and the like are used only to distinguish different objects and are not understood to indicate or imply relative importance or to imply the number, specific order or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of embodiments of the present application, “plurality” means more than two, unless expressly specified otherwise.

“Embodiments” referred to in the present application means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with embodiments is included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The presence of the phrase in various places in the description does not necessarily mean the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It is explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term “and/or” herein is simply a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist, for example, A and/or B may indicate that there are three cases: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character “/” herein generally means that the associated objects before and after it are in an “or” relationship.

In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term “multiple” refers to more than two (including two). Likewise, “multiple groups” refers to more than two (including two) groups, and “multiple pieces” refers to more than two (including two) pieces.

In the description of the embodiments of the present application, it should be understood that orientation or positional relationships indicated by terms such as “center”, “longitudinal”, “transverse”, “length”, “width”, “thickness”, “up”, “down”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inner”, “outer”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, “axial”, “radial”, “circumferential”, etc. are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the drawings, for ease of description of the embodiments of the present application and simplification of the description only, these terms do not indicate or imply that the apparatus or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be construed as limitations to the embodiments of the present application.

In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise explicitly provided and limited, technical terms such as “mount,” “connected,” “connect,” and “fix” should be understood broadly, which, for example, may refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; which may refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; or the connection can be a directly connection or an indirect connection by intermediate media, and it can be the internal communication of two elements or the interaction between two elements. To a person of ordinary skill in the art, specific meanings of the above terms in the present application may be construed as dependent on specific situations.

Generally speaking, for lithium batteries and other types of batteries, the working environment has a great influence on their working performance. In the case of application of the lithium battery in electric vehicles, when the electric vehicle starts in low temperature environment, if the lithium battery is not preheated, it will probably cause the electric vehicle to fail to start.

Of course, in practical applications, not only lithium batteries, but also other types of batteries, such as sodium ion batteries or magnesium ion batteries, may have heating requirements. In order to simplify the description, the following will mainly be illustrated with the example of a lithium battery.

From the development of market situation, lithium batteries are more and more widely used. Power batteries are not only used in electric vehicles such as electric vehicles, electric bicycles and electric motorcycles, but also widely used in energy storage power systems such as hydraulic power, firepower, wind power and solar power stations, as well as military equipment and aerospace and other fields.

In various application fields, there may be a demand for lithium cell heating. In the research and development, the inventor found that there are certain differences in heating structure and heating efficiency among different forms of lithium batteries.

In the case of cylindrical lithium batteries, for example, a battery module such as a storage battery or power battery may include a plurality of cylindrical lithium batteries connected in parallel and/or in series, each of which may be referred to as a cell.

A commonly used structure for heating the cell in the battery module is that a heating structure is arranged on the axial side of the cell, for example, a heating sheet is pasted on the electrode plate of the cell, etc. However, due to the poor thermal conductivity and large axial length of the cell, the overall heating rate of the cell is low, which makes it difficult to meet the requirements of efficient heating of the cell.

Another commonly used heating structure is to provide a hydrothermal loop in the battery module, which conducts heat to the cell by heating the liquid, so as to realize the heating of the cell. However, due to the setting of hydrothermal loop, the overall structure of battery module is complicated.

In related art, a solution of arranging heating sheets with integral structure on the peripheral side of cylindrical batteries is also put forward. However, these heating sheets with integral structure need to be designed according to the array arrangement mode and arrangement size of batteries, which has poor universality, complex structure and high processing difficulty.

In order to solve the problems existing in the related art, the embodiments of the present application provide a cell heating assembly, a battery module and a vehicle.

The cell heating assembly can be applied to the battery module to heat the cells in the battery module.

The battery module can be applied to electrical devices using batteries as power supply, and the electrical devices can be but are not limited to mobile phones, tablets, notebook computers, electric toys, electric tools, battery cars, electric vehicles, ships, spacecraft and the like. The electric toys may include fixed or mobile electric toys, for example, game machines, electric car toys, electric ship toys, electric plane toys and the like, and the spacecraft may include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles and spaceships and the like.

In the embodiments of the present application, the vehicle may be an electric vehicle to which the above battery module is applied, in particular, the vehicle can be an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or other types of vehicles to which the above battery module is applied, which is not limited hereto.

The cell heating assembly provided by the embodiments of the present application will first be described below.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, a cell heating assembly100provided by the embodiments of the present application includes a substrate110and an electric heating circuit120.

The substrate110is provided with Q first supporting parts111and P second supporting parts112, and each first supporting part111is used for supporting one cell211. The electric heating circuit120includes P electric heaters121and a conducting circuit122, and the conducting circuit122is electrically connected with the P electric heaters121. The P electric heaters121and the conducting circuit122are arranged on the substrate110. Each second supporting part112is used for supporting one electric heater121. At least one electric heater121and second supporting part112are provided around each of the first supporting parts111.

P and Q are integers greater than 1.

The substrate110may be a structure for supporting the cell211and the electric heating circuit120. For example, the substrate110may have a certain stiffness so as to support and fix the cell211and the electric heating circuit120, and at the same time, the substrate110may have a good ability to resist deformation when being pressed and impacted.

In some examples, the substrate110may be made of an insulating material and have certain thermal conductivity, and the substrate110may conduct heat generated on the electric heater121to the cell211during the operation of the electric heating circuit120. Of course, in other examples, the substrate110may also include a conductive material to avoid interference with the operation of the cell211.

The substrate110is provided with Q first supporting parts111and P second supporting parts112, where the first supporting parts111and the second supporting parts112may be at least one of the structures such as openings, slots and supports. In other words, the number of the first supporting parts111is plural, and the configurations of the first supporting parts111may be the same or different. Similarly, the number of the second supporting parts112is plural, and the configurations of the second supporting parts112may be the same or different. The specific configuration between the first supporting part111and the second supporting part112may be the same or different.

Each of the first supporting parts111is used to support one cell211. In some examples, the cell211may be a lithium ion battery, a lithium sulfur battery, a sodium ion battery, a magnesium ion battery and the like and is not specifically limited herein. As for the shape of the cell211, it can be cylindrical, rectangular or other shapes, etc.

In order to simplify the description, the following will mainly be illustrated with the example that the cell211is in a cylindrical shape.

As described above, the first supporting part111may be an opening or a slot, and the support form of the first supporting part111to the cell211may be embodied in the fact that the cells211are fixed in these openings or slots, and the specific fixing modes may be embedding, bonding or other modes.

When the first supporting part111is a support, the support form of the first supporting part111to the cell211may be embodied in fixing the cell211to the support by clamping, bonding or other means.

The electric heating circuit120may be an electric circuit for heating the cell211. The electric heater121in the electric heating circuit120may be a conductive element having a high resistance, and when the conductive element is connected to a power supply, the electric energy can be converted into heat energy, thereby heating the cell211. The power supply may be the cell211supported by the first supporting part111or an external power source, which is not specifically limited here.

The electric heating circuit120may include P electric heaters121, that is, the number of electric heaters121may be plural. The conducting circuit122can be used to electrically connect different electric heaters121or to electrically connect the electric heaters121with the above-mentioned power supply.

The above-mentioned P electric heaters121may be connected in parallel and/or in series through guide lines, and the specific connection modes may be arranged as required, and examples will not be given here.

In some examples, the conducting circuit122may be a flexible wire or a hard conductive structure.

Both the conducting circuit122and the electric heaters121are provided on the substrate110. The electric heater121may be provided on the second supporting part112, and the connection mode between the electric heater121and the second supporting part112may be similar to the connection mode between the cell211and the first supporting part111, which will not be described here.

In some examples, the conducting circuit122may be bonded to the substrate110, for example, if the conducting circuit122is a flexible wire, it may be bonded to the surface of the substrate110.

In other examples, the conducting circuit122may be provided in the substrate110, for example, the second supporting part112described above may be an opening, the conducting circuit122may be injection molded in the substrate110, and may be electrically connected with the electric heater121inserted into the second supporting part112.

Of course, the above is an example of the connection mode between the conducting circuit122and the substrate110. In practical applications, the connection mode between the conducting circuit and the substrate can be selected according to the need, and no specific limitation is required here.

At least one electric heater121and second supporting part112are provided around each of the first supporting parts111.

The P electric heaters121may be disposed on the P second supporting parts112, and at least one electric heater121is disposed around one first supporting part111, and it may be considered that at least one second supporting part112is correspondingly disposed around the first supporting part111.

Combined with some examples, the first supporting parts111and the second supporting parts112may be supports, a plurality of second supporting parts112are arranged around one first supporting part111, and the plurality of second supporting parts112are arranged around the first supporting part111, then a plurality of electric heaters121arranged on the plurality of second supporting parts112may surround the cell211arranged on the first supporting part111and heat the cell211at different angular positions in the circumferential direction of the cell211.

In other examples, the first supporting parts111and the second supporting parts112may also be openings, one second supporting part112may be disposed on a radial side of the first supporting part111, or a plurality of second supporting parts112may be disposed around the first supporting part111.

In a practical application, when the electric heaters121are turned on to generate heat, the heat can be transferred to the cells211provided on the surrounding first supporting parts111by heat conduction or heat convection.

The cell heating assembly100provided by the embodiments of the present application includes a substrate110and an electric heating circuit120, the substrate110is provided with Q first supporting parts111and P second supporting parts112, each first supporting part111is used for supporting one cell211, the electric heating circuit120includes P heaters and a conducting circuit122, each second supporting part112is used for supporting one electric heater121, respective electric heaters121can be separately installed on each second supporting part112and electrically connected with each other through the conducting circuit122arranged on the substrate110. In this way, the overall complex design of the electric heater121according to the construction of the substrate110can be avoided, thus simplifying the structure of the electric heater121, reducing the difficulty of processing the electric heater121and improving the versatility of the electric heater121. At the same time, at least one electric heater121and second supporting part112are arranged around each first supporting part111, so that the cells211arranged on each first supporting part111can be heated by the surrounding electric heater121, so that the arrangement position of the electric heaters121can be flexibly adjusted according to the arrangement mode of the cells211, and the heating efficiency of the cells211can be ensured.

According to some embodiments of the present application, the conducting circuit122is embedded in the substrate110, and the conducting circuit122passes through the second supporting parts112and is electrically connected to the electric heaters121.

The conducting circuit122is embedded in the substrate110and may be fixed in an opening formed in advance in the substrate110. Alternatively, the substrate110described above may be cast or injection molded, and the conducting circuit122may be fixed in the substrate110when the substrate110is molded.

The conducting circuit122may pass through the second supporting part112, for example, the second supporting part112may be an opening provided on the substrate110, and the conducting circuit122may penetrate the inner wall of the opening. For another example, the second supporting part112may be a support, and the conducting circuit122may penetrate through the support.

The conducting circuit122is electrically connected to the electric heater121through the second supporting part112, and the electric connection between the conducting circuit and the electric heater may be in contact connection or through various forms of interface connection or the like.

In this embodiment, the conducting circuit122is embedded in the substrate110, which helps to improve the reliability of the connection between the conducting circuit122and the substrate110, and also prevents the conducting circuit122from being excessively exposed to the outside of the substrate110and affecting the assembly of the cells211and other structures.

According to some embodiments of the present application, the conducting circuit122is a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) circuit.

PCB can be considered as a hard conductive structure. For example, the PCB may include an insulating backplane and conducting circuit fixed in the hard insulating backplane, and the conducting circuit penetrates at least one surface of the insulating backplane and form a plurality of contacts that can be used for electrical connection.

For example, when two electric heaters121are respectively in contact with two contacts on one PCB, the PCB may electrically connect the two electric heaters121. Of course, in practical applications, the PCB may also be used to connect the electric heaters121to a power supply and the like, and examples will not be given here.

In this embodiment, the conducting circuit122is a PCB, which can improve the strength of the conducting circuit122and effectively avoid damage to the conducting circuit122. At the same time, when the conducting circuit122is electrically connected to the electric heaters121by means of contact or welding, the hard conducting circuit122also helps to keep the two in reliable contact.

According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown inFIGS.1and2, the second supporting parts112are arc-shaped openings. The first supporting parts111are circular openings. The second supporting parts112arranged around the first supporting parts111are arranged concentrically with the first supporting parts111.

In some examples, the second supporting parts112and the first supporting parts111described above may be openings provided on the end face of the substrate110, and these openings may be blind holes, through holes, or both.

In other examples, the first supporting parts111and the second supporting parts112may be provided on the same end face. Alternatively, the first supporting parts111may be provided on one end face, and the second supporting parts112may be provided on another end face opposite to the end face.

The first supporting parts111are circular openings and can be used to accommodate the cells211of a cylindrical shape. In some examples, the cells211may be embedded in the circular openings or bonded to the inner wall of the circular openings or the like.

The second supporting parts112are arc-shaped openings provided around one circular opening and may be arranged concentrically with the circular opening.

The arc-shaped opening may be used to accommodate the electric heater121, and the electric heater121may be arranged opposite to the cell211located in the circular opening along with the arc-shaped opening, and heat generated by the electric heater121may be transferred to the peripheral side of the cell211to heat the cell211at a high efficiency.

In some examples, the first supporting part111and the second supporting part112surrounding it may be isolated from each other or may be in communication with each other. When the first supporting part111and the second supporting part112are isolated from each other, the heat generated by the electric heater121can be conducted to the cell211through the substrate110. When the first supporting part111and the second supporting part112communicate with each other, the heat generated by the electric heater121can be transferred to the cell211by direct conduction or heat convection.

The shapes and relative positions of the first supporting part111and the second supporting part112in this embodiment is designed such that the electric heater121and the cell211can also have a relatively large opposite face, thereby enabling the heat generated on the electric heater121to be efficiently transferred to the cell211.

The conducting circuit122includes a first main circuit1221, a second main circuit1222and N heating branches1223, where N is an integer greater than 1.

P electric heaters121are distributed in N heating branches1223. The N heating branches1223are connected in parallel at a position between the first main circuit1221and the second main circuit1222.

The first main circuit1221and the second main circuit1222may be regarded as the main circuits connected to the power supply. In conjunction with the above examples, in practical application, the power supply may be a cell211provided on the first supporting part111or an external power supply, which is not specifically limited here.

The conducting circuit122includes N heating branches1223, and the P electric heaters121are distributed in the N heating branches1223.

As described above, both the conducting circuit122and the electric heaters121may be provided on the substrate110, and the electric heaters121are electrically connected to the conducting circuit122. In this embodiment, the heating branches1223may be a wire or a PCB provided on the substrate110.

For example, one heating branch1223may include a plurality of PCBs so as to electrically connect the electric heater121allocated in the heating branch1223to the first main circuit1221and the second main circuit1222.

In other words, the P electric heaters121are distributed on the N heating branches1223, and it can be considered that at least one electric heater121may be electrically connected to each heating branch1223.

In some examples, when a plurality of electric heaters121are distributed on one heating branch1223, the electric heaters121may be connected in series. Of course, in other examples, when a plurality of electric heaters121are distributed on one heating branch1223, the plurality of electric heaters121may be connected in series and in parallel at the same time.

In this embodiment, the P electric heaters are distributed in the N heating branches1223, and the N heating branches1223can be connected in parallel with the first main circuit1221and the second main circuit1222, so that when part of the N heating branches1223are damaged, heating can be carried out through electric heaters121connected in other heating branches1223, thus improving the working reliability of the cell heating assembly100. At the same time, the arrangement of the N parallel heating branches1223is also helpful to improve the overall heating efficiency of the cell heating assembly100.

According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown inFIG.1, the Q first supporting parts111are arranged in an array in the substrate110with a first gap between any two adjacent first supporting parts111, and at least part of P electric heaters121are arranged at the first gap.

The Q first supporting parts111are arranged in an array in the substrate110, and in some examples, the Q first supporting parts111may be arranged in a rectangular array. Alternatively, the first supporting parts can be arranged along a circular array on a plurality of concentric circles with different radii. Alternatively, the first supporting parts may be arranged in a hexagonal array, etc., which is not specifically limited here.

The first gap may exist between any two adjacent first supporting parts111of the Q first supporting parts111. For example, when the first supporting parts111are openings, the first gap may be a part of the substrate110. When the first supporting parts111are supports, the first gap may exist in the form of a channel.

At least part of the P electric heaters121are disposed at the first gap, in other words, all or part of the P electric heaters121may be disposed at the first gap.

As shown inFIG.2, in one example, the electric heater121may generally be disposed at the first gap, but around the first supporting part111outermost of the array, some of the electric heaters121may also be located outside the array of the first supporting part111, that is, these electric heaters121are not located in the first gaps.

In practical use, all of the P electric heaters121may be located at the first gaps on the premise that the cells211in the respective first supporting parts111can be heated.

In this embodiment, at least part of the P electric heaters121are arranged at the first gap between the two adjacent first supporting parts111, which is helpful to distribute the electric heaters121on the substrate evenly, thereby uniformly heating the cells211on each first supporting part111and improving the heating effect of the cells211.

In some embodiments, the electric heaters121located in the first gap can avoid the narrowest portion of the first gap, so that increase in the spacing between the first supporting parts111due to the arrangement of the electric heaters121can be effectively avoided, thereby contributing to reducing the overall size of the cell heating assembly100.

According to some embodiments of the present application, at least one heating branch1223extends in a wavy line.

The heating branch1223extends in a wavy line, which may refer to the shape of the heating branches1223changing periodically in the length direction.

As shown inFIG.2, the heating branch1223may include a plurality of arc-shaped wires12231. These arc-shaped wires12231are sequentially disposed on the substrate110and may be in a discontinuous wavy line shape in the length direction. Here, the arc-shaped wire12231may be a flexible wire or a hard PCB embedded in the substrate110.

In some examples, if the second supporting parts112are arc-shaped openings, an arc-shaped wire12231in one heating branch1223and the second supporting part112are connected to each other and may have a continuous wavy line shape in the length direction.

The extension direction of the heating branch1223in the wavy line shape can be set as needed. For example, the heating branches1223in the wavy line shape may extend along the length direction or the width direction of the substrate110.

For another example, as shown inFIGS.1and2, the heating branch1223in the wavy line shape may extend obliquely on the substrate110. Specifically, if the first supporting part111in the i-th row and the j-th column is designated as (i, j), the heating branch1223extending obliquely may pass through the gap between (i, j) and (i, j+1), the gap between (i, j+1) and (i+1, j+1), and the gap between (i+1, j+1) and (i+1, j+2) sequentially. In the heating branch1223extending obliquely, the curvature change near the inflection point can be relatively gentle, and accordingly, the heating branches1223and the electric heaters121can be easily machined. Where i and j are positive integers.

When the Q first supporting parts111are arranged in an array on the substrate110, heating branches1223in the wavy line shape can meander in each first gap, and the heating branches1223can be relatively close to the first supporting parts111as a whole, so that the electric heaters121distributed on the heating branches1223can also be relatively close to the first supporting parts111, thereby contributing to improving the heating efficiency of the cells211.

In addition, the shape of the heating branches1223periodically changes in the length direction, so that the shape of the electric heaters121distributed in each of the heating branches1223also periodically changes, and the shapes of respective electric heaters121can be consistent, which is helpful for modular production of the electric heaters121and reduces the difficulty of designing and machining the electric heaters121.

According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown inFIG.1, the substrate110is also provided with at least one air guide hole130.

The air guide hole130may be a blind hole or a through hole, and its cross-sectional shape may be a circular, rectangular opening or in an arc shape and the like, which is not specifically limited herein.

In some examples, the first supporting parts111may be openings, and the air guide hole130and the first supporting parts111may be disposed on the same surface or different surfaces of the substrate110.

In other examples, when the P first supporting parts111are arranged in an array on the substrate110, the air guide hole130may be provided in the gap between the P first supporting parts111.

When the volume of the cells211located in the first supporting parts111changes due to a temperature change, the air guide hole130can release the stress of the cells211acting on the substrate110, thereby ensuring the safety of the cells211. At the same time, the arrangement of the air guide hole130can also reduce the overall weight of the substrate110.

As shown inFIGS.3to5, the embodiment of the present application also provides a battery module200, which includes a cell assembly210and the above-mentioned cell heating assembly100.

The cell assembly210includes Q cells211, and the Q cells211are provided on Q first supporting parts111of the cell heating assembly100.

The cell211may be a lithium battery, a sodium ion battery, a magnesium ion battery or the like, and is not specifically limited here.

The cell heating assembly100includes a substrate110, and the Q first supporting parts111are provided on the substrate110. The first supporting parts111may be openings, slots, supports, etc., which are not specifically limited here.

In the fact that the first supporting parts111are openings, for example, the cells211are provided on the first supporting parts111, and the cells211may be embedded in the openings.

In the fact that the first supporting parts111are supports, for example, the cells211are arranged on the first supporting parts111, and the cells211can be fixed on the supports in other directions by means of snap fit and bonding.

The battery module200includes Q cells211, and each of the cells211may be disposed on one first supporting part111.

The battery module200provided in this embodiment includes a cell assembly210and the above-mentioned cell heating assembly100. The cell assembly210includes Q cells211, the Q cells211are arranged on Q first supporting parts111of the cell heating assembly100. Thus, respective cells211can be synchronously heated by the surrounding electric heaters121, which is helpful to improve the heating efficiency of the cell assembly210.

In addition, the battery module200is a battery module200including the above-mentioned cell heating assembly100, and the related embodiments of the cell heating assembly100are also applicable to the embodiments of the battery module200and can achieve the same beneficial effect, which will not be repeated here.

According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown inFIGS.3and5, the cell assembly210further includes a bus member230, and the bus member230is used for electrically connecting the electrodes of the Q cells211.

The bus member230may be a conductive structure of materials such as copper, iron, aluminum or other types of materials, and may be used to electrically connect electrodes between different cells211.

The configuration of the bus member230may also be selected as required, for example, it may be a sheet-shaped bar or a configuration of wires and joints or the like.

The bus member230may also be fixed in the substrate110in advance, for example, it may be embedded or injection molded in the substrate110. Alternatively, the bus member230may exist alone and may be electrically connected to the cell assembly210, and assembled to the substrate110insynchronization with the cell assembly210.

The bus member230is provided such that the Q cells211can be connected in parallel and/or in series, which is helpful to meet the parameter requirements of power devices for battery module200in various application scenarios.

According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown inFIGS.3and4, the battery module200further includes an end cap220, and the end cap220is fixedly connected to the substrate110.

The end cap220is provided with Q first through holes221penetrating a first end face and a second end face, the electrodes of the Q cells211penetrate into the Q first through holes221from the first end face and are electrically connected with the bus member230fixedly connected to the second end face.

The end cap220may be made from an insulating material or the end cap220may be composed mainly of iron, copper, aluminum or other rigid conductive materials, but the conductive material in the end cap220may be connected to the bus member230through an insulating layer.

The fixing mode of the end cap220to the substrate110and the fixing mode of the bus member230to the end cap220may be fastener connection, snap connection, bonding, nested connection or the like, which are not specifically limited here.

The Q cells211are provided on the Q first supporting parts111of the substrate, and the Q cells211may have protrusions relative to the outer surface of the substrate, and the protruded portions may penetrate into the Q first through holes221of the end cap220.

For example, the first supporting parts111may be openings, and the height of the cell211may be greater than the depth of the first supporting part111such that a portion of the cell211is higher than the outer end face of the substrate110. When the end cap220is fixedly connected to the substrate110, a portion of the cell211that is higher than the outer end face of the substrate110may extend into the first through hole221from the first end face of the end cap220and be electrically connected to the bus member230provided on the second end face of the end cap220.

Of course, the first supporting parts111may be supports or the like, and when the cells211are provided on the supports, the cells may protrude relative to the outer surface of the substrate, so as to protrude into a through hole in the end cap220and be electrically connected to the bus member230.

In this embodiment, the end cap220provides an attachment surface for the bus member230, which helps to reduce the difficulty of arranging the bus member230. At the same time, the end cap211is fixedly connected with the substrate110, which is helpful to limit respective cells220in the corresponding openings and improve the assembly reliability among the cell assembly210, the substrate110and the end cap220.

According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown inFIG.4, P second through holes222penetrating the first and second end faces are provided in the end cap220, and P electric heaters121in the cell heating assembly100penetrate P second through holes222.

In the present embodiment, in a case where the cell211is partially penetrated into the first through hole221of the end cap220, a second through hole222is provided in the end cap220, and the electric heater121is partially penetrated into the second through hole. Thus, the relative facing surface between the electric heater121and the cell211can be enlarged, the electric heater121can sufficiently heat the peripheral side of the cell211, and the heating efficiency of the cell211can be improved.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.4, an opening corresponding to the air guide hole130may also be provided in the end cap220, for example, the opening may be a third through hole223as shown inFIG.4. The third through hole223is provided to help release stress generated in the end cap220and reduce the overall weight of the end cap220.

According to some embodiments of the present application, the electrical heating loop120of the cell heating assembly100is electrically connected at a position between a positive electrode of the cell assembly210and a negative electrode of the cell assembly210.

The cell assembly210includes Q cells211, and the positive electrode of the cell assembly210may be the total positive electrode after the Q cells211are electrically connected, or the positive electrode of some of the cells211which are electrically connected. Similarly, the negative electrode of the cell assembly210may be the total negative electrode after the Q cells211are electrically connected or the negative electrode of some of the cells211which are electrically connected.

The electric heating circuit120of the cell heating assembly100may include an electric heater121and a conducting circuit122described above, and the electric heater121may be connected at a position between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the cell assembly210through a guide line. Thus, in some low temperature applications, the cell assembly in the battery module200can heat itself through the electric heating circuit120, so that the battery module can work at a more suitable temperature, and the working performance of the battery module can be improved.

According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown inFIGS.5to7, the battery module200further includes a case240and a cover250, the case240is provided with an accommodating cavity, and the cover250is provided covering the case240.

The cell heating assembly100and the cell assembly210are both disposed in the accommodating cavity.

The case240is provided with an accommodating cavity which can be used to accommodate the cell heating assembly100and the cell assembly210. Accordingly, the shape of the case240or the shape of the accommodating cavity may be matched with the assembled configuration of the cell heating assembly100and the cell assembly210.

For example, the case240may be rectangular in shape, and the accommodating cavity is formed by providing a rectangular opening on one end face of the case240. Of course, in practical applications, the case240may also be cylindrical or in other shapes as a whole, and which is not specifically limited here.

The case240and the cover250may be of a structure having a certain strength.

The cover250covers over the case240so that the accommodating cavity can be a relatively closed space so as to effectively protect the cell heating assembly100and the cell assembly210.

The cover250and the case240may be connected by a fastener or by means of clamping, bonding, welding or the like, which is not specifically limited here.

The embodiments of the present application also provide a vehicle. As shown inFIG.8, the vehicle includes: a generator310, a starter320and the battery module200described above.

The generator310, the starter320and the electric heating circuit120are connected in parallel at a position between the positive and negative electrodes of the cell assembly210of the battery module200.

The vehicle may be an electric vehicle, an oil-electric hybrid vehicle or other vehicle that can be started based on the battery module200, which is not specifically limited here.

The starter320may be used to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and may be used to start the engine. Specifically, the starter320may be connected at a position between the positive and negative electrodes of the cell assembly210to convert electrical energy from the cell assembly210into mechanical energy while conducting with the cell assembly210.

The generator310may be used to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy and charge the cell assembly210.

Of course, a loop may be formed between the generator310and the electric heating circuit120, and the electric energy generated by the generator310may also be used to further heat the cell assembly210.

The vehicle provided in this embodiment includes the generator310, the starter320, and the battery module200. The generator310, the starter320, and the electric heating circuit120are connected in parallel at a position between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the cell assembly210of the battery module200. The battery assembly210may discharge to the starter320to start the vehicle, and in case the vehicle is started, the generator310may supply power to the battery assembly210or heat the battery assembly210through the electric heating circuit120to enable the battery assembly210to operate at a suitable temperature and improve the operational performance of the battery assembly210.

In addition, the vehicle includes the above-mentioned battery module200, and the related embodiment of the battery module200is also applicable to the embodiment of the vehicle and can achieve the same beneficial effect, which will not be repeated here.

Combined with an application scenario, when the user starts the whole vehicle, the cell assembly210discharges to the starter320, and the starter320works to drive the engine to work, thus driving the generator310to work. At this time, the generator310discharges the whole vehicle, and the current can flow to the electric heating circuit120. Thus, when the engine preheats in a low temperature environment, the cell assembly210is heated synchronously, so that the cell assembly210is at a suitable working temperature.

According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown inFIG.9, the vehicle further includes a first switch assembly331and a second switch assembly332, the positive electrode of the cell assembly210and a first terminal of the first switch assembly331are both connected to a first node S1, the second switch assembly332and the electric heating circuit120are connected in series at a position between the first node S1and the negative electrode of the cell assembly210, and the generator310and the starter320are connected in parallel at a position between a second terminal of the first switch assembly331and the negative electrode of the cell assembly210.

The first switch assembly331may include one or more switches, and the switches may be at least one of relays, transistors, or other types of switches, that is, the number and type of switches in the first switch assembly331may be combined as desired.

Similarly, the number and type of switches in the second switch assembly332may be combined as desired.

The first switch assembly331may be thought to be disposed on the main circuit after the generator310and the starter320are connected in parallel. When the first switch assembly331is turned on, the cell assembly210may supply power to the starter320to start the vehicle. At the same time, the generator310may charge the cell assembly210after the vehicle is started.

The second switch assembly332is connected in series with the electric heating circuit120. When the second switch assembly332is turned on, the electric heating circuit120may be powered by the cell assembly210or the generator310, thereby heating the cell assembly210.

In one application example, when the ambient temperature is lower than a first preset value, the second switch assembly332may be turned on and the first switch assembly331may be kept off, and the cell assembly210may supply power to the electric heating circuit120to heat itself. When the temperature of the cell assembly210rises to the first preset value, the first switch assembly331may be turned on, the vehicle may be started by the starter320, and the cell assembly210may be subsequently charged by the generator310, while the generator310supplies power to the electric heating circuit120to continue heating the cell assembly210.

In another application example, when the ambient temperature is higher than the first preset value, but lower than a second preset value, the first switch assembly331and the second switch assembly332can be turned on synchronously, and after the vehicle is started, the electric heating circuit120is supplied with power through the generator310to continue heating the cell assembly210.

In yet another application example, when the temperature of the cell assembly210is heated above the second preset value, the second switch assembly332may be controlled to be turned off to stop heating the cell assembly210.

In yet another application example, when the ambient temperature is higher than the second preset value, the first switch assembly331may be turned on, and the second switch assembly332may be kept off without heating the cell assembly210.

It can be seen that in this embodiment, the heating requirements of the cell assembly210under different ambient temperatures can be met by arranging the first switch assembly331and the second switch assembly332.

According to some embodiments of the present application, when the ambient temperature is lower than the first preset value or the second preset value, the internal impedance of the cell211may be used for preheating in addition to heating the cell assembly210by the electric heating circuit120.

In other words, in this embodiment, heating can be performed simultaneously inside and outside the cell211, which effectively improves the heating efficiency of the cell assembly210.

According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown inFIG.9, the vehicle further includes a Battery Management System (BMS)340, and the BMS electrically connects the first switch assembly331and the second switch assembly332.

Generally, the BMS may be used to manage batteries in a vehicle such as monitoring the output voltage, state of charge and the like of the cell assembly210described above, which is not specifically described here.

In the present embodiment, the BMS is electrically connected with the first switch assembly331and the second switch assembly332to control the switching states of these switch assemblies, thereby avoiding the introduction of additional control modules in the vehicle and further reducing the vehicle configuration cost.

According to some embodiments of the present application, as shown inFIG.9, the present application provides a vehicle including the cell assembly210, the electrical heating circuit120, the BMS, the generator310, and the starter320. The cell assembly210, the electric heating circuit120and the BMS may all be components of the battery module200. The electric heating circuit120, the generator310, and the starter320are connected in parallel with each other.

A FUSE is provided between the positive electrode of the cell assembly210and the first node S1. A shunt resistor SHUNT and a fourth switch K4are connected in series at a position between the negative electrode of the cell assembly210and the second node S2. The electric heating circuit120is connected in series with a second switch K2between the first Node S1and the second node S2, where the second switch K2corresponds to the second switch assembly332described above.

The battery module200may have a positive interface (+) and a negative interface (−), the first switch assembly331may be provided between the first node S1and the positive interface, and the second node S2may be directly connected to the negative interface.

The first switch assembly331may include a first switch K1and a switch transistor MOSFET in parallel, and the first switch K1may be a switch structure such as a relay. In other words, the first switch assembly331may be obtained by a plurality of types of switch configurations in parallel and the operational reliability of the battery module200is enhanced by a redundant configuration.

In one example, the on-off of the first switch assembly331, the second switch K2and the fourth switch K4may all be controlled by the BMS.

The generator310and the starter320may be connected in parallel between the positive interface and the negative interface. A third switch K3connected in series with the starter320is arranged on the branch where the starter320is located. When the vehicle is started, the third switch K3may be closed, and after the vehicle is started, the third switch K3may be disconnected.

Finally, it should be explained that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present application, not to limit it. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the technical solution described in the foregoing embodiments can still be modified or some or all of the technical features thereof can be equivalently substituted. However, these modifications or substitutions do not depart the essence of the corresponding technical solution from the scope of the technical solution of each embodiment of the present application, and should be covered in the scope of the claims and descriptions of the present application. In particular, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments may be combined in any manner so long as there is no structural conflict. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.