BATTERY PACK CHARGING SYSTEM AND CHARGING APPARATUS

A battery pack charging system includes a charging base disposed at a charging station and electrically connected to a battery pack to charge the battery pack when the battery pack is placed on the charging base; and a cooling structure disposed on the charging base and configured to cool the battery pack.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of battery technologies, and more particularly, to a battery pack charging system and a charging apparatus.

BACKGROUND

With the development of the society, in order to save energy and reduce the emission of environmental harmful substances, a growing number of fuel vehicles/gasoline vehicles are replaced by electric vehicles, and the quantity of electric vehicles continues to increase. At present, most of the new-energy electric vehicles use fixed charging piles for charging. Charging at existing charging piles may be either alternating-current charging or direct-current charging, but regardless of which manner is used, the charged vehicle can only be driven after the charging is completed. When the vehicle requires fast charging, the electric vehicle needs to use a cooling system with a greater heat dissipation power. On one hand, the cost of the entire vehicle is increased, and the space of the entire vehicle is occupied. On the other hand, the heat dissipation structure of the battery system becomes more complex. At low temperatures, in order to meet the fast charging requirement of the electric vehicle, electric power needs to be increased to meet the heating rate of the battery system, resulting in risks of increased energy consumption and reduced travelable mileage of the electric vehicle.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure resolves one of technical problems in the related art at least to some extent.

Therefore, a first aspect of the present disclosure provides a battery pack charging system. The battery pack charging system can charge a battery pack without requiring a vehicle to wait for a long time.

A second aspect of the present disclosure further provides a charging apparatus.

The battery pack charging system according to the first aspect of the present disclosure includes: a charging base disposed at a charging station and electrically connected to a battery pack to charge the battery pack when the battery pack is placed on the charging base; and a cooling structure disposed on the charging base and configured to cool the battery pack.

In the battery pack charging system in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the battery pack is separated from a vehicle, and by arranging a charging apparatus and charging system that can carry the charging base for the battery pack and charge the battery pack at the charging station, the battery pack is charged without requiring the vehicle to wait for a long time, and the vehicle can be driven freely when the battery pack is charged. Further, when a battery system requires fast charging, the charging base quickly meets the battery system's fast charging and heat dissipation requirements by controlling the heat dissipation power of a cooling system. And similarly, at low temperatures, relatively great heating power is provided to meet the battery system's heating requirement.

The charging apparatus according to the present disclosure is adapted to charge a battery pack, and includes a charging base disposed at a charging station, and the charging base including a charging interface for charging a battery pack, the charging interface being electrically connected to the battery pack to charge the battery pack when the battery pack is placed on the charging base, wherein the battery pack includes a cooling structure disposed on the charging base and configured to cool the battery pack.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be given in the following description, some of which will become apparent from the following description or may be learned from practices of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in accompanying drawings, where the same or similar elements or the elements having same or similar functions are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals throughout the description. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are examples and are to explain the present disclosure, and do not construe a limitation on the present disclosure.

A battery pack charging system of the present disclosure is described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The battery pack charging system provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure includes a battery pack4, a charging base1, and a cooling structure. The battery pack4includes a housing41and a battery unit (e.g., a battery cell), and the battery unit is placed in the housing41. The charging base1is arranged/disposed at a charging station, and the charging base1is adapted to be electrically connected to the battery pack4, so that the battery pack4is charged when the battery pack4is placed on the charging base1. The cooling structure is arranged/disposed on the charging base1, and the cooling structure is configured to cool the battery pack4.

In the battery pack charging system in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the battery pack4is separated from a vehicle, and by arranging/configuring a charging apparatus and charging system that can carry the charging base1of the battery pack4and charge the battery pack4at the charging station, the battery pack4is charged without requiring the vehicle to wait, and the vehicle can be driven freely with another fully-charged battery pack when the battery pack4is charged. In addition, the cooling structure is arranged to dissipate the heat of the battery pack4to ensure charging safety.

The cooling structure in this embodiment of the present disclosure may be directly mounted on the charging base, and the cooling structure is connected to the housing through thermal conductive glue or a thermal conductive pad, thereby cooling or heating the battery housing. A flow channel plate may be directly formed on the charging base, which is connected to a flat plate of the battery housing through structural sealant, to form a flow channel cavity, thereby cooling or heating the battery system. For example, a groove21of a cooling flow channel is provided on the charging base1.

When the charging base is arranged at the charging station and the flow channel plate is arranged on the charging base, in the charging process of the battery pack, a cooling system simultaneously acts on the battery pack to cool the battery pack. That is, no cooling system is arranged on the battery pack or the battery pack is cooled on one side.

In an embodiment, a groove21may be formed by stamping on the surface of the charging base1. A bottom portion of the battery pack4may be a flat plate or be provided with a protrusion. In this way, the bottom portion of the battery pack4may cooperate or couple with the groove21to form a flow channel, thereby heating or cooling the battery pack4through the flow channel.

In addition, the charging base1may be arranged separately from the cooling structure. For example, the battery pack charging system further includes a cold plate2as a cooling structure, and the cold plate2is connected to the charging base1. In this case, a cooling flow channel may be provided on the cold plate2. For example, the cooling structure includes a protrusion, and the bottom portion of the battery pack4is a flat plate. In this way, the bottom portion of the battery pack4cooperates with the protrusion to form a flow channel, thereby heating or cooling the battery pack4through the flow channel.

The cooling system may include two configurations. The first configuration is that the cooling system is a post-mounted structure, and is formed by a battery pack4, a cold plate2, and a charging base1. The second configuration is that a structural plate on the battery pack4uses one substrate in cooling plates (including a stamping substrate and a flow channel substrate), another substrate is arranged on the charging base1, and a flow channel is formed through cooperation of the two substrates (that is, the stamping substrate and the flow channel substrate).

The cooling structure in this embodiment of the present disclosure and the charging base1may be integrally formed, or may be arranged separately. This is not limited in the present disclosure, provided that the arrangement of the cooling structure can cool the battery pack4. When the cooling structure and the charging base1are integrally formed, the cooling structure is arranged at the charging station. The battery pack4may not have a cooling structure. Cooling and heat dissipation of the battery pack4on the vehicle may be achieved through the structural design of the battery pack4. When the cooling structure is arranged separately from the charging base1, the cooling structure may be a part of the battery pack4mounted on the vehicle, or may be a part of the cold plate2mounted on the charging base1. The arrangement of the cooling structure in this embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited, and designs that can achieve the purpose of cooling all fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure. For example, the cooling structure may be formed through a design of a groove21or a protrusion.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling structure on the charging base1may be a liquid cooling, direct cooling, a semiconductor refrigeration system, or the like, and the cooling power and heat exchange capability may be changed according to needs, to meet different heat dissipation requirements of the housing41of the battery pack4. For example, a heat exchange area of the battery pack4may be changed by adjusting flows of a water inlet and a water outlet or changing the quantity of spliced cold plates2.

In order to achieve better fixation between the charging base1and the battery pack4, mounting portions that cooperate with each other may be arranged on the battery pack4and the charging base1, for example, providing threaded holes for screw-fixed connection. The housing41of the battery pack4in this embodiment of the present disclosure may not be provided with a cooling plate. When the battery pack4needs to be charged, the battery pack4may be disassembled from the vehicle and placed on the charging base1or mounted on the charging base1, and charging and cooling are started, thereby achieving cooling when the battery pack4is charged.

The battery pack charging system in this embodiment of the present disclosure may not only include a cooling structure, but also include a heating or protective structure for heating or protecting the battery pack4, for example, a heating plate3or a protective plate5. In an embodiment, the heating plate3and the protective plate5may be integrally formed with the battery pack4, or the components may be designed separately to achieve fixed connection. For example, the battery pack charging system further includes at least one of a heating plate3or a protective plate5. In order to fully heat or protect the battery pack4, the following settings may be made: a size of the heating plate3is larger than or equal to a size of the battery pack4, and a size of the protective plate5is larger than or equal to the size of the battery pack4.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, in order to fully dissipate heat of the battery pack4, a heating plate may further be arranged between the housing41of the battery pack4and the charging base1. The heating plate may be in contact with the battery housing through thermal gel or a thermal conductive pad. The protective plate5, the heating plate3, and the cold plate2may all exist and be arranged on one or two sides of the battery pack4, or may be selectively arranged. This is not limited in the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.3, the cold plate2, the heating plate3, and the protective plate5may be arranged on one side of the charging base1at which the battery pack4is located, or on another side of the battery pack4opposite to the charging base1; or the heating plate3may be arranged on one side of the battery pack4and the protective plate5may be arranged on the other side; or heating plates3may be provided on two sides of the battery pack4as shown inFIG.5.

Arranging a protective plate on one side of the battery pack can prevent damage to the battery pack during encountering of irritants or faults in the driving process when the battery pack is mounted on the vehicle, to protect the battery pack.

For working conditions in which the battery pack4needs to be heated, the existing cold plate2may be used to heat the battery pack4by a liquid. The heating plate3may heat the battery pack4by using thermal conductive gel, a thermal conductive pad, or other high-temperature-resistant thermal conductive interface materials, or the battery pack4may be heated by replacing the heating plate3with other materials such as a heating film, a direct heating plate, or positive temperature coefficient (PTC).

In order to achieve effective charging, a size of the charging base1is larger than or equal to the size of the battery pack4.

The size of the cold plate2in this embodiment of the present disclosure is larger than or equal to the size of the battery pack4, so that the battery pack4can be fully cooled and the charging and heat dissipation of battery packs4of different sizes can be achieved. The cold plate2may be mounted on the charging base1, and the distance between the cold plate2and an edge of the charging base1is greater than or equal to 2 mm, so that sufficient cooling and heat dissipation of the rechargeable battery pack4can be achieved.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the battery unit includes at least one battery core assembly42, and each of the at least one battery core assembly42includes at least one electrode core string. Based on the electrode core string used in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the existing fixed structures of the battery module such as the battery casing, end plates, side plates, and fasteners are omitted, thereby improving the space utilization of the battery pack4, reducing the weight of the battery pack4, and increasing the energy density of the battery pack4. The battery pack4in this embodiment of the present disclosure has a simple structure and helps to reduce production costs.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing41includes a housing body, the housing body includes a top plate and a bottom plate43that are oppositely arranged in a first direction, and the first direction is a height direction of the housing41. Multiple structural beams are arranged between the top plate and the bottom plate43, and each of the multiple structural beams connects the top plate and the bottom plate43. The multiple structural beams divide the interior of the housing41into multiple accommodating cavities, and each of the multiple accommodating cavities is configured to accommodate one battery core assembly42. With such a design, an “I”-shaped structure between the structural beams, the top plate, and the bottom plate43can be formed. This structure has relatively high lightness and rigidity, so as to meet performance requirements such as load-bearing, anti-collision, and anti-extrusion of the housing41of the battery pack.

The single module of the housing41of the battery pack may be designed as a square-shaped groove structure, to form a placing-type cavity for the battery core assembly42. The single module of the housing41of the battery pack is integrally formed through extrusion by using an aluminum profile, and several structural beams are designed inside, to form a square-shaped groove cavity. The quantity of cavities may be adjusted according to the design requirements of the battery core assembly42in the battery pack. With such a design, structures such as the tray and side plates of the battery pack4can be omitted, and the housing41can be directly divided. The structure of the housing41is a square-shaped cavity, and the heat transfer paths from each cavity to the cooling structure are basically the same, so that the cooling structure can have a uniform heat exchange capability for all battery cores of the entire battery pack4.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing body is integrally formed, or the housing body and the structural beams are integrally formed. Integral formation can ensure the uniformity of heat dissipation and heating of the battery pack, that is, the battery heat is quickly and uniformly dissipated through the metal structure.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a wall thickness of the housing41is greater than or equal to 2 mm, and the housing41is made of a metal material. For example, the housing body41may be made of an aluminum material. On the one hand, the wall thickness of the housing can ensure the structural strength, and on the other hand, the wall thickness can also play a role in ensuring a uniform temperature.

The size of the charging base1may be larger than the size of multiple battery packs4. Electrical connection interfaces and multiple cooling structures that match the charging of the multiple battery packs4may be arranged in series or in parallel on the charging base1, so that one charging base1can simultaneously charge the multiple battery packs4. In other words, a manner of connection in series or in parallel may be used for charging bases1, and the charging bases1and the battery packs4are in one-to-one correspondence. For example, the manner in which five charging bases1are connected in series inFIG.4. Such a design of the charging bases1can save space for the charging station.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a charging apparatus10. The charging apparatus10is adapted to charge a battery pack, and the charging apparatus10includes a charging base1. The charging base1is arranged at a charging station, and the charging base1is provided with a charging interface for charging the battery pack4. The charging interface is adapted to be electrically connected to the battery pack4, so that the battery pack4is charged through the charging interface when the battery pack4is placed on the charging base1. The charging base1in the charging apparatus10in this embodiment of the present disclosure may be the charging base1in the battery pack charging system in the foregoing embodiment. For the specific solution of the charging base1, reference may be made to the foregoing description, and details are not described herein again.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that, orientation or position relationships indicated by terms such as “center”, “longitudinal”, “transverse”, “length”, “width”, “thickness”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inner”, “outer”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, “axial”, “radial”, and “circumferential” are orientation or position relationship shown based on the accompanying drawings, and are merely used for describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the mentioned apparatus or element should have a particular orientation or be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore, should not be construed as a limitation to the present disclosure.

In addition, the terms “first” and “second” are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature limited by “first” or “second” may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present disclosure, “a plurality of” means two or more unless it is defined otherwise.

In the present disclosure, unless expressly stated and defined otherwise, the terms such as “mounting”, “connected”, “connection”, and “fixed” are to be construed broadly, for example, as fixed connection, detachable connection or integral connection, as mechanical connection or electrical connection, and as direct connection or indirect connection via an intermediary or communication inside two elements or interaction between two elements. A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand the specific meanings of the foregoing terms in the present disclosure according to specific situations.

In the present disclosure, unless explicitly specified or limited otherwise, a first feature “on” or “under” a second feature may be the first feature in direct contact with the second feature, or the first feature in indirect contact with the second feature by using an intermediate medium. In addition, that the first feature is “above”, “over”, or “on” the second feature may indicate that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or may merely indicate that a horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. That the first feature is “below”, “under”, and “beneath” the second feature may indicate that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or may merely indicate that the horizontal height of the first feature is lower than that of the second feature.

In the description of this specification, the description of the reference terms such as “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “example”, “specific example”, or “some examples” means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described with reference to the embodiment or example are contained in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. In this specification, exemplary description of the foregoing terms does not necessarily refer to a same embodiment or example. Besides, the specific features, the structures, the materials, or the characteristics that are described may be combined in proper manners in any one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, a person skilled in the art may integrate or combine different embodiments or examples described in the specification and features of the different embodiments or examples provided that they are not contradictory to each other.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described above, it may be understood that the foregoing embodiments are examples, and cannot be understood as limitations to the present disclosure. A person of ordinary skill in the art may make changes, modifications, replacements, and variations to the foregoing embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.