Patent Description:
With rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry, because a battery serves as one of the most important parts in an entire new energy vehicle, security of the battery is extremely important. Currently, in a process of assembling a new energy vehicle, the battery is extremely safe due to protection of a vehicle manufacturer. However, cases such as a short circuit, a heavy stroke of external force, and an excessively high ambient temperature inevitably occur in the battery. As a result, the battery is damaged and a danger is caused. Existing batteries such as a lithium battery and a NiMH battery are used as examples. If cases such as a short circuit, a heavy stroke of external force, and an excessively high ambient temperature occur in the batteries, each of the batteries generates a large amount of high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas. If the battery cannot exhaust, to the outside in time, the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas generated inside, the battery may have a risk of explosion. This not only causes an economic loss to a user, but also even endangers the user's life safety.

<CIT> discloses a rack-type power supply device which includes a plurality of battery modules each of which accommodates a plurality of secondary battery cells, a rack main body that vertically accommodates battery modules in a horizontal posture like a plurality of steps with gaps between the battery modules, and a plurality of cooling fans that are arranged on a front surface side of the rack main body and blow cooling air into the gaps between battery modules. The rack main body also includes a back-side duct in which cooling air having passed through the gaps flows upward on a back surface side of the battery modules. In addition, rack main body includes an air outlet for discharging cooling air having passed through the back-side duct on a top surface side. The cooling fan is disposed to be shifted from the gap between the battery modules in front view of the rack main body.

<CIT> discloses a modular battery box with cooling provision. A battery box <NUM> comprises a plate like first member <NUM> disposed on one side of a storage chamber <NUM> and a plate-like second member <NUM> disposed on the other side of the storage chamber <NUM> for supporting a plurality of battery modules <NUM> between the first member <NUM>, wherein the first member <NUM> has feed ports <NUM> in airtight communication with inlets <NUM> opening at one end of battery modules <NUM> for introducing air therein, the second member <NUM> has discharge ports <NUM> for discharging the air introduced through the feed ports <NUM> into the interior of the battery modules <NUM> to the exterior, and at least one of the first member <NUM> or the second member <NUM> is attached in a detachable manner to one side or the other side of the storage chamber <NUM>. Dust sensitive features such as electrical connections (19b, <FIG>) are separated from the cooling air flow. The battery box may be used in a hybrid railway vehicle.

<CIT> discloses a battery module which includes a housing that defines an inner volume and includes an airflow path from an aperture formed in a first end member of the housing, through the inner volume, and to an aperture formed in a second end member of the housing; a plurality of power cells mounted in the inner volume of the housing, each of the power cells including a vent member at an end of the power cell; and a flame arrestor mounted across the airflow path and between the plurality of power cells and the aperture formed in the second end member of the housing. The flame arrestor includes a screen that includes a plurality of fluid pathways sized to allow an airflow from the airflow path through the fluid pathways and sized to impede a combusted fluid to pass therethrough.

To resolve the foregoing problem, embodiments of this application provide a battery apparatus, and a method for controlling a battery apparatus to exhaust gas. An isolation baffle is disposed inside a protection housing, to isolate the inside of the protection housing into two interconnected regions. Exhaust assemblies are disposed outside the protection housing and respectively communicate with the two regions. When parts such as a temperature sensor and a gas sensor detect that a battery module exhausts high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas to the outside, the exhaust assembly in one region may be controlled to inhale gas, and the exhaust assembly in the other region may be controlled to exhaust gas, so that an air flow is formed in the two regions. Therefore, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas exhausted by the battery module is exhausted, and heat inside the protection housing is taken away, thereby reducing a risk of explosion of the battery module.

Therefore, the following technical solutions are used in the embodiments of this application.

According to a first aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a battery apparatus, including: a protection housing, where at least one battery module is disposed in the protection housing; at least one first exhaust assembly disposed on the protection housing; at least one second exhaust assembly disposed on the protection housing; and a control unit, configured to control the at least one first exhaust assembly to be in a first state and the at least one second exhaust assembly to be in a second state, or control the at least one first exhaust assembly to be in the second state and the at least one second exhaust assembly to be in the first state. The first state is that gas outside the protection housing is inhaled into the protection housing, and the second state is that gas inside the protection housing is exhausted to the outside of the protection housing, to exhaust, out of the battery apparatus, a high-temperature and high-pressure gas generated by the at least one battery module, and take away heat inside the protection housing.

In this implementation, two types of exhaust assemblies are disposed on the protection housing in the battery apparatus. One type of exhaust assembly is controlled to inhale gas, and the other type of exhaust assembly is controlled to exhaust gas, so that an air flow is formed in two regions. Therefore, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas exhausted by the battery module inside the protection housing is taken out of the protection housing, and heat inside the protection housing is taken away, thereby reducing a risk of explosion of the battery module.

According to the invention, the apparatus further includes an isolation baffle, where the isolation baffle is fastened inside the protection housing, and divides the protection housing into a first region and a second region. The first region communicates with the second region. The at least one first exhaust assembly communicates with the second region, and the at least one second exhaust assembly communicates with the first region.

In this implementation, the isolation baffle is added to the inside of the protection housing to divide the inside of the protection housing into two regions. One region communicates with one type of exhaust assembly, and the other region communicates with the other type of exhaust assembly. Therefore, a flow path of gas becomes longer. This helps the exhaust assembly rapidly reduce an amount of gas inside the battery apparatus and rapidly reduce a concentration of the flammable gas exhausted by the battery module.

According to the invention, each battery module passes through and is fastened to the isolation baffle. One part of each battery module is in the first region, and the other part of each battery module is in the second region.

In this implementation, each battery module is enabled to pass through and to be fastened to the isolation baffle. One part of each battery module is enabled to be in one region, and the other part is enabled to be in the other region, so that heat in the battery module is dissipated based on a region. This helps the exhaust assembly rapidly reduces an amount of gas inside the battery apparatus.

In an implementation, the apparatus further includes: at least one temperature sensor that is disposed inside the protection housing and/or inside the at least one battery module and that is configured to detect a temperature inside the protection housing and a temperature inside the battery module. The control unit is specifically configured to receive a temperature value detected by the at least one temperature sensor, determine whether the temperature value is greater than a specified threshold, and when the temperature value is greater than the specified threshold, control the at least one first exhaust assembly to be in the first state and the at least one second exhaust assembly to be in the second state, or control the at least one first exhaust assembly to be in the second state and the at least one second exhaust assembly to be in the first state.

In this implementation, the temperature sensor is disposed inside the protection housing. The temperature inside the protection housing is detected to monitor whether the battery module generates high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas. If it is detected that the temperature exceeds the specified temperature, it is considered that the battery module generates the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas. The first exhaust assembly and the second exhaust assembly may be controlled to operate, to exhaust, to the outside of the rotection housing, the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas generated by the battery module. This avoids a risk of explosion caused by an excessively high temperature, excessively high pressure, or flammable gas with an excessively high concentration inside the battery apparatus.

In an implementation, the apparatus further includes: at least one gas sensor that is disposed inside the protection housing and that is configured to detect gas composition inside the protection housing. The control unit is specifically configured to receive a detection result sent by the at least one gas sensor, determine whether the detection result has a specified gas, and when the detection result includes the specified gas, control the at least one first exhaust assembly to be in the first state and the at least one second exhaust assembly to be in the second state, or control the at least one first exhaust assembly to be in the second state and the at least one second exhaust assembly to be in the first state.

In this implementation, the temperature sensor is disposed inside the protection housing. Whether flammable gas composition exists inside the protection housing is detected to monitor whether the battery module generates high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas. If a detection result includes the flammable gas composition, it is considered that the battery module generates the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas. The first exhaust assembly and the second exhaust assembly may be controlled to operate, to exhaust, to the outside of the protection housing, the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas generated by the battery module. This avoids a risk of explosion caused by an excessively high temperature, excessively high pressure, or flammable gas with an excessively high concentration inside the battery apparatus.

In an implementation, when the at least one first exhaust assembly is not in the first state and the second state, the second region is isolated from the outside of the protection housing; and when the at least one second exhaust assembly is not in the first state and the second state, the first region is isolated from the outside of the protection housing.

In this implementation, when the first exhaust assembly and the second exhaust assembly are not in an operation state, the first exhaust assembly and the second exhaust assembly are in an off state, so that the inside of the protection housing is isolated from the outside, to prevent contaminants such as outside rain and impurities from entering the protection housing and contaminating the inside of the battery apparatus.

In an implementation, the at least one first exhaust assembly and the at least one second exhaust assembly are respectively disposed on surfaces of different side faces of the protection housing.

In this implementation, the first exhaust assembly and the second exhaust assembly are respectively disposed on different side faces of the protection housing, to prevent the first exhaust assembly (or the second exhaust assembly) from inhaling again, into the protection housing, gas exhausted by the second exhaust assembly (or the first exhaust assembly) to the outside of the protection housing, which reduces a cooling effect of the battery apparatus.

In an implementation, the apparatus further includes a heat dissipation channel. One port of the heat dissipation channel communicates with the first region, and the other port of the heat dissipation channel communicates with the second region, so that gas in the first region flows into the second region, or gas in the second region flows into the first region.

In an implementation, the heat dissipation channel is disposed on the control unit, and a part of the heat dissipation channel includes a housing of the control unit.

In this implementation, the control unit is usually a BMS. Generally, there are heat emitting parts such as a transformer and a frequency converter inside the BMS. In addition, after the battery module generates high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas, a temperature of the BMS also increases. To better take away heat in the BMS, the heat dissipation channel may be disposed on a surface that is of the BMS and that is close to the protection housing. The heat in the BMS can be taken away by gas passing through the heat dissipation channel, so that the temperature in the control unit is reduced.

In an implementation, the apparatus further includes at least one first exhaust fan disposed in the heat dissipation channel, so that gas in the first region flows into the second region, or gas in the second region flows into the first region.

In this implementation, the at least one first exhaust fan is added in the heat dissipation channel, to enhance an air flow generated by the first exhaust assembly and the second exhaust assembly inside the protection housing, thereby improving a speed at which the battery apparatus exhausts high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas to the outside.

In an implementation, the apparatus further includes at least one second exhaust fan that is respectively disposed at an exhaust port of the at least one battery module, so that gas in the first region flows into the second region through the battery module, or gas in the second region flows into the first region through the battery module.

In this implementation, the second exhaust fan is disposed at the exhaust port of each battery module. This not only can improve a speed at which the battery module exhausts high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas into the protection housing, but also can rapidly diffuse the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas in the second region into the entire second region, thereby reducing a concentration of a local flammable gas and improving efficiency of heat exchange between the inside and the outside.

If the battery module is a conductive structure, a part of gas is enabled to flow into the second region through the battery module, so that heat in the battery module can be taken away, thereby greatly reducing a temperature of the battery module.

In an implementation, the exhaust port of the at least one battery module is located in the second region.

In this implementation, the battery module is installed in the protection housing. Generally, an electrode terminal and the exhaust port are disposed close to a side of the control unit, to better manage the battery module and efficiently exhaust gas to the outside of the protection housing.

In an implementation, the apparatus further includes at least one third exhaust fan disposed on the isolation baffle, so that gas in the first region flows into the second region, or gas in the second region flows into the first region.

In this implementation, the at least one third exhaust fan is disposed on the isolation baffle, so that the gas in the first region flows into the second region, or the gas in the second region flows into the first region. Therefore, heat generated by the battery module in the first region is taken out of the protection housing, thereby further reducing a temperature of the battery module.

According to a second aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a method for controlling a battery apparatus to exhaust gas, including: receiving detection data of a detection unit, where the detection data is a temperature value and/or gas composition; and when the detection data is greater than a specified threshold and/or includes a specified gas, controlling at least one first exhaust assembly to be in a first state and at least one second exhaust assembly to be in a second state, or controlling the at least one first exhaust assembly to be in the second state and the at least one second exhaust assembly to be in the first state. The first state is that gas outside the protection housing is inhaled into the protection housing, and the second state is that gas inside the protection housing is exhausted to the outside of the protection housing. The at least one first exhaust assembly and the at least one second exhaust assembly are separately disposed on the protection housing, and at least one battery module is embedded in an isolation baffle.

According to the invention, when the isolation baffle is disposed inside the protection housing, the isolation baffle divides the inside of the protection housing into a first region and a second region, and the first region communicates with the second region. The at least one first exhaust assembly communicates with the second region, and the at least one second exhaust assembly communicates with the first region. The method further includes: controlling the at least one first exhaust assembly to successively exhaust gas outside the protection housing into the second region and the first region, and then enabling the gas to be exhausted to the outside of the protection housing from the at least one second exhaust assembly; or controlling the at least one second exhaust assembly to successively exhaust gas outside the protection housing into the first region and the second region, and then enabling the gas to be exhausted to the outside of the protection housing from the at least one first exhaust assembly.

In an implementation, when a heat dissipation channel is disposed in the protection housing, and at least one first exhaust fan is disposed in the heat dissipation channel, the method further includes: controlling the at least one first exhaust fan to exhaust gas in the first region into the second region, or exhaust gas in the second region into the first region.

In an implementation, when a second exhaust fan is disposed at an exhaust port of the at least one battery module, the method further includes: controlling the at least one second exhaust fan to exhaust gas in the first region into the second region through the battery module, or exhaust gas in the second region into the first region through the battery module.

In an implementation, when at least one third exhaust fan is disposed in the first region, the method further includes: controlling the at least one third exhaust fan to exhaust gas in the first region into the second region, or exhaust gas in the second region into the first region.

The following briefly describes the accompanying drawings required in description of the embodiments or the conventional technology.

The following describes technical solutions in embodiments of this application with reference to the accompanying drawings in embodiments of this application.

In the description of this application, direction or position relationships indicated by the terms "center", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" are based on direction or position relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. This is merely intended to facilitate description of this application and simplify description, and is not intended to indicate or imply that the referred apparatus or element needs to have a specific direction, and be constructed and operated in the specific direction. Therefore, this should not be understood as a limitation of this application.

In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, terms "install", "connection", and "connect" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, may be a fixed connection, may be a detachable connection, or may be pressing against or an integral connection. A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand specific meanings of the foregoing terms in this application based on a specific situation.

In the descriptions of this specification, the described specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in a proper manner in any one or more of embodiments or examples.

A battery apparatus protected in this application is usually assembled in an energy storage device or an energy storage system for use, for example, devices such as a solar power generation system, an outdoor energy storage cabinet, a base station, and an electric vehicle in different fields. In this application, the battery apparatus protected in this application is described below by using the solar power generation system as an example. As shown in <FIG>, the solar power generation system usually includes a photovoltaic panel <NUM>, a battery apparatus, a direct current-direct current (direct current-direct current, DC-DC) converter <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>. The photovoltaic panel <NUM> is configured to convert solar energy into direct-current electric energy, and then input the direct-current electric energy into the battery apparatus <NUM> by using the DC-DC converter <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is usually a system on chip (system on chip, SoC), and is configured to control whether the photovoltaic panel <NUM> operates, and control whether the DC-DC converter <NUM> operates.

In this application, in a charging process of the battery apparatus <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may control the photovoltaic panel <NUM> and the DC-DC converter <NUM> to operate. Because power of electric energy that is output by the photovoltaic panel <NUM> is affected by sunlight, the power of the output electric energy is unstable. The DC-DC converter <NUM> may convert a direct current of any power into a direct current of specified power, to charge the battery apparatus <NUM>. In a discharging process of the battery apparatus <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may control the photovoltaic panel <NUM> and the DC-DC converter <NUM> not to operate, and then the battery apparatus <NUM> provides electric energy for an external mains system and various loads.

In a battery apparatus in the conventional technology, as shown in <FIG>, the battery apparatus includes at least a protection housing, a battery management system (battery management system, BMS), and a plurality of battery modules. The protection housing is of a groove structure, the plurality of battery modules are installed inside the protection housing, and the BMS is disposed at a port of the protection housing, and is fastened to the protection housing. Each battery module is electrically connected to the BMS, and implements functions of charging and providing electric energy by using the port on the BMS.

Generally, to prevent outside rain from leaking into the protection housing to cause cases such as corrosion to an outer surface of the battery module and a short circuit of a circuit on the battery module, the BMS and the protection housing usually form a closed structure. However, if the protection housing has a sealed structure, a large amount of high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas generated inside the battery module is exhausted into the closed structure formed by the BMS and the protection housing. When pressure inside the battery module is the same as pressure inside the protection housing, the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas generated inside the battery module cannot be exhausted to the outside, and only the pressure inside the battery module and a concentration of the flammable gas are slightly reduced. Therefore, the battery module still has a risk of explosion.

<FIG> and <FIG> are three-dimensional schematic diagrams obtained after a battery apparatus is sectioned according to an embodiment of this application.

To resolve the problem existing in the existing battery apparatus, a new battery apparatus is designed in this application. The battery apparatus <NUM> includes a protection housing <NUM>, a plurality of battery modules <NUM>, a control unit <NUM>, an isolation baffle <NUM>, at least one first exhaust assembly <NUM>, and at least one second exhaust assembly <NUM>. Structures of the parts and a connection relationship between the parts are specifically as follows.

The protection housing <NUM> usually has a groove structure, and the inside of the protection housing <NUM> is configured to place the battery module <NUM>. In this application, before the battery module <NUM> is placed in the protection housing <NUM>, each battery module <NUM> needs to pass through the isolation baffle <NUM>, and all the battery modules <NUM> are isolated from each other, so that when each battery module <NUM> is placed inside the protection housing, the isolation baffle isolates the inside of the protection housing <NUM> into two regions: a first region <NUM> and a second region <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The isolation baffle <NUM> is configured to isolate the inside of the protection housing <NUM> into two regions. In this application, a shape of the isolation baffle <NUM> is usually similar to a cross section of a front sectional view of the protection housing <NUM>, and an area of the isolation baffle <NUM> is slightly less than an area of the front sectional view of the protection housing <NUM>. When the isolation baffle <NUM> is placed inside the protection housing <NUM>, three sides of the isolation baffle <NUM> are in close contact with a surface inside the protection housing <NUM>, and the rest side of the isolation baffle <NUM> is not in contact with the surface inside the protection housing <NUM>. Therefore, a channel is formed between the rest side of the isolation baffle <NUM> and the surface inside the protection housing <NUM>, so that the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> communicate with each other. In this way, gas in the first region <NUM> may flow into the second region <NUM> through the channel, and gas in the second region <NUM> may flow into the first region <NUM> through the channel.

A plurality of through-holes are disposed at a middle position of the isolation baffle <NUM>, so that the battery modules <NUM> are embedded in the through-holes, and the battery modules <NUM> are fastened to the isolation baffle <NUM>. In this application, a shape of the through-hole in the isolation baffle <NUM> is the same as a shape of a cross section in a direction in which the battery module <NUM> is embedded in the through-hole, so that each battery module <NUM> is relatively closed to the isolation baffle <NUM> after being embedded in the isolation baffle <NUM>. If the battery modules <NUM> are embedded in the through-holes on the isolation baffle <NUM>, and there is a gap between the battery module <NUM> and the isolation baffle <NUM>, gas in the first region <NUM> enters the second region <NUM> through the gap, or gas in the second region <NUM> enters the first region <NUM> through the gap. This reduces a heat dissipation effect of the battery apparatus <NUM>.

An arrangement manner of the through-holes on the isolation baffle <NUM> is associated with an arrangement manner in which the battery modules <NUM> are disposed inside the protection housing <NUM>. For example, with reference to <FIG>, when the battery modules <NUM> are disposed inside the protection housing <NUM> in an arrangement manner of "<NUM> × <NUM>", nine through-holes in the arrangement manner of "<NUM> × <NUM>" are constructed at corresponding positions in the isolation baffle <NUM>. A distance between adjacent through-holes in a transverse direction is the same as a distance between adjacent battery modules <NUM> in a transverse direction, and a distance between adjacent through-holes in a longitudinal direction is the same as a distance between adjacent battery modules <NUM> in a longitudinal direction.

In this application, the isolation baffle <NUM> may have an overall structure shown in <FIG>, or may be formed by splicing a plurality of sub-isolation baffles. For example, as shown in <FIG>, if the battery modules <NUM> are tightly bonded to each other, and a channel is formed in the middle, two isolation baffles are required because the middle channel cannot communicate with the outside. An isolation baffle <NUM>-<NUM> is sleeved on a structure formed by the battery modules <NUM>, and an isolation baffle <NUM>-<NUM> is embedded in a through-hole in the middle of the structure formed by the battery modules <NUM>.

A ventilation valve for exhausting gas to the outside is usually disposed in the battery module <NUM>, so that when high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas is generated inside the battery module <NUM>, the gas is exhausted to the outside of the battery module <NUM>. In this application, all ventilation valves disposed in the battery module <NUM> are located in the second region <NUM>, to better manage the battery module <NUM> and efficiently exhaust gas to the outside of the protection housing <NUM>.

At least one first exhaust assembly <NUM> is fastened to the protection housing <NUM> and communicates with the second region <NUM> and the outside of the protection housing <NUM>. At least one second exhaust assembly <NUM> is fastened to the protection housing <NUM> and communicates with the first region <NUM> and the outside of the protection housing <NUM>. In this way, gas inside the protection housing <NUM> is exhausted to the outside of the protection housing <NUM>, or gas outside the protection housing <NUM> is inhaled into the protection housing <NUM>. In this application, if the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> are exhaust ports, the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> are respectively two through-holes on the protection housing, and the two through-holes are respectively located on surfaces of the protection housing <NUM> in which the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> are formed. If the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> are exhaust parts such as fans or air pumps, through-holes are respectively disposed at positions at which the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> are fastened to the protection housing <NUM>. Therefore, the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> can exhaust gas inside the protection housing <NUM> to the outside of the protection housing <NUM>, and inhale gas outside the protection housing <NUM> into the protection housing <NUM>.

Generally, when the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> operate, the first exhaust assembly <NUM> (or the second exhaust assembly <NUM>) exhausts the gas inside the protection housing <NUM> to the outside of the protection housing <NUM>, and then the second exhaust assembly <NUM> (or the first exhaust assembly <NUM>) inhales the gas outside the protection housing <NUM> into the protection housing <NUM>, to form an air flow flowing from the first region <NUM> to the second region <NUM> or an air flow flowing from the second region <NUM> to the first region <NUM> is formed inside the protection housing <NUM>. In this application, to prevent the second exhaust assembly <NUM> from inhaling again, into the protection housing <NUM>, gas exhausted to the outside of the protection housing <NUM> by the first exhaust assembly <NUM>, the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> are respectively fastened to two different side faces of the protection housing <NUM>.

Preferably, with reference to <FIG>, the at least one first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the at least one second exhaust assembly <NUM> are respectively fastened to two opposite side faces of the protection housing <NUM>. Certainly, positions at which the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> are fastened are not limited to the foregoing preferred positions. If an installation position of the battery apparatus <NUM> is limited, the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> may alternatively be installed on a surface on a same side of the protection housing <NUM>. This is not limited in this application.

In this application, the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> are unidirectional circulation apparatuses. To be specific, when the exhaust assembly operates, gas inside the protection housing <NUM> is exhausted to the outside of the protection housing <NUM>, and no air flow in which gas outside the protection housing <NUM> flows into the protection housing <NUM> is generated; or gas outside the protection housing <NUM> is exhausted to the inside of the protection housing <NUM>, and no air flow in which gas inside the protection housing <NUM> flows to the outside of the protection housing <NUM> is generated. This avoids gas backflow, so that an exhausted high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas is prevented from flowing back to a region in which the exhaust assembly is located, and flammable gas with a high concentration is prevented from converging in the region. When the exhaust assembly does not operate, no air flow in which gas outside the protection housing <NUM> flows into the protection housing <NUM> is generated, and no air flow in which gas inside the protection housing <NUM> flows to the outside of the protection housing <NUM> is generated, so that the battery apparatus <NUM> has a sealed structure in a normal case. Preferably, the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> may use a structure of "fan + labyrinth channel", a shutter-type structure, or another structure. This is not limited in this application.

Preferably, with reference to <FIG>, the exhaust assembly may include a fan <NUM>-<NUM> and a labyrinth channel <NUM>-<NUM>. When the fan <NUM>-<NUM> does not operate, there is no air flow inside and outside the protection housing <NUM>, so that an outside gas cannot enter the inside of the protection housing <NUM> through the labyrinth channel <NUM>-<NUM>, and an inside gas cannot enter the outside of the protection housing <NUM> through the labyrinth channel <NUM>-<NUM>. When the fan <NUM>-<NUM> operates, a generated air flow can enter the inside of the protection housing <NUM> through the labyrinth channel <NUM>-<NUM> or flow out of the outside of the protection housing <NUM> through the labyrinth channel <NUM>-<NUM>.

Preferably, with reference to <FIG>, the exhaust assembly may be a shutter fan including a fan <NUM>-<NUM> and a movable channel <NUM>-<NUM>. A movable baffle in the movable channel <NUM>-<NUM> may be fastened in the channel by using a movable assembly. When the fan <NUM>-<NUM> does not operate, there is no air flow inside and outside the protection housing <NUM>. Therefore, the movable baffle is in contact with the channel under action of gravity, so that the movable channel is in a plugged state, and the inside and outside of the protection housing <NUM> are isolated from each other, as shown in <FIG>. When the fan <NUM>-<NUM> operates, a generated air flow can blow the movable baffle, so that the movable baffle is disconnected from the channel, and the air flow can enter the inside of the protection housing <NUM> through the movable channel <NUM>-<NUM>, or flow out of the outside of the protection housing <NUM> through the movable channel <NUM>-<NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

The first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> may be electrically connected to the control unit <NUM>, and then the control unit <NUM> controls whether the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> operate. In this application, the control unit <NUM> is usually a BMS, and may establish communication with detection units such as a temperature sensor and a gas sensor. When detecting that the battery module <NUM> exhausts high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas to the outside, the detection unit (not shown in the figure) may send a detection result to the control unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> controls the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> to operate, to exhaust, out of the battery apparatus <NUM>, the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas generated by the battery module <NUM>. This avoids a risk of explosion caused by an excessively high temperature, excessively high pressure, or flammable gas with an excessively high concentration inside the battery apparatus <NUM>.

For example, if the detection unit is the temperature sensor, the temperature sensor may be disposed in the battery module <NUM>, or may be disposed in the control unit <NUM>, and is configured to detect a temperature inside the battery apparatus <NUM>, and send a detection result to the control unit <NUM>. After receiving the detection result, the control unit <NUM> discards the detection result if it is detected that the temperature is not greater than a specified temperature, and does not perform another operation. If it is detected that the temperature is greater than the specified temperature, the control unit <NUM> starts the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> to operate.

If the detection unit is the gas sensor, the gas sensor is usually disposed inside the protection housing <NUM>, and is configured to detect air pressure inside the protection housing <NUM>, and send a detection result to the control unit <NUM>. After receiving the detection result, the control unit <NUM> discards the detection result if it is detected that the pressure is not greater than specified pressure, and does not perform another operation. If it is detected that the pressure is greater than the specified pressure, the control unit <NUM> starts the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> to operate.

In this application, the foregoing operation process is usually performed by the control unit such as a microprocessor (microprocessor, MCU) in the BMS or a system-on-a-chip (system-on-a-chip, SoC). An implementation process is shown in <FIG>, and is specifically as follows.

Step S801: Receive detection data of a detection unit. The detection unit may be at least one of a temperature sensor and a gas sensor, and therefore a detection result is at least one of temperature data, gas pressure data, and gas composition data.

Step S802: Determine whether a detection result is greater than a specified threshold or whether a specified gas is included; and perform step S804 if the detection result is not greater than the specified threshold or the specified gas is not included; or perform step S803 if the detection result is greater than the specified threshold or the specified gas is included.

Step S803: Control the at least one first exhaust assembly <NUM> to be in a first state and the at least one second exhaust assembly <NUM> to be in a second state, or control the at least one first exhaust assembly <NUM> to be in the second state and at least one second exhaust assembly <NUM> to be in the first state. The first state is that gas outside the protection housing <NUM> is inhaled into the protection housing <NUM>, and the second state is that gas inside the protection housing <NUM> is exhausted to the outside of the protection housing <NUM>.

Step S804: Control the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> not to operate.

With reference to <FIG>, if the detection result received by the control unit indicates that the temperature sensor detects that a temperature inside the protection housing <NUM> is excessively high, and/or the gas sensor detects that air pressure inside the protection housing <NUM> is relatively high, and/or the gas sensor detects that the protection housing <NUM> includes a specified gas, for example, flammable gas such as carbon monoxide (CO) or methane (CH<NUM>), the control unit controls the first exhaust assembly <NUM> to inhale gas into the protection housing <NUM>, and controls the second exhaust assembly <NUM> to exhaust gas to the outside of the protection housing <NUM>. The gas inhaled by the first exhaust assembly <NUM> flows into the second region <NUM>, forms convection at each battery module <NUM>, and then flows into the first region <NUM> together with high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas exhausted by the battery module <NUM>, and is exhausted to the outside of the protection housing <NUM> through the first exhaust assembly <NUM>, so that the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas exhausted by the battery module <NUM> is exhausted from the inside of the battery apparatus <NUM>. In addition, this further reduces a temperature inside the battery apparatus <NUM>, and improves security of the battery apparatus <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, if the detection result received by the control unit indicates that the temperature sensor detects that a temperature inside the protection housing <NUM> is excessively high, and/or the gas sensor detects that air pressure inside the protection housing <NUM> is relatively high, and/or the gas sensor detects that the protection housing <NUM> includes a specified gas, the control unit controls the second exhaust assembly <NUM> to inhale gas into the protection housing <NUM>, and controls the first exhaust assembly <NUM> to exhaust gas to the outside of the protection housing <NUM>. The gas inhaled by the second exhaust assembly <NUM> flows into the first region <NUM>, forms convection inside the first region <NUM> to take away heat in the first region <NUM>, then flows into the second region <NUM>, and is further exhausted to the outside of the protection housing <NUM> through the first exhaust assembly <NUM> together with high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas exhausted by the battery module <NUM>, so that the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas exhausted by the battery module <NUM> is exhausted from the inside of the battery apparatus <NUM>. In addition, this further reduces a temperature inside the battery apparatus <NUM>, and improves security of the battery apparatus <NUM>.

It should be noted that, an example in which the first exhaust assembly <NUM> inhales gas and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> exhausts gas is used. Because the gas exhausted by the second exhaust assembly <NUM> includes not only the gas inhaled by the first exhaust assembly <NUM> but also high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas exhausted by the battery module <NUM>, the control unit controls the second exhaust assembly <NUM> to have higher power than the first exhaust assembly <NUM>, so that an amount of exhausted air of the second exhaust assembly <NUM> is greater than an amount of exhausted air of the first exhaust assembly <NUM>, to ensure that the second exhaust assembly <NUM> exhausts the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas in time.

In this embodiment of this application, the isolation baffle <NUM> is disposed inside the protection housing <NUM>, to isolate the inside of the protection housing <NUM> into two interconnected regions. Exhaust assemblies are disposed outside the protection housing and respectively communicate with the two regions. One exhaust assembly is controlled to inhale gas and the other exhaust assembly is controlled to exhaust gas, to form an air flow in the two regions, so that a high-temperature and high-pressure gas exhausted by the battery module is exhausted. In addition, heat inside the protection housing is taken away, thereby reducing a risk of explosion of the battery module.

If the control unit <NUM> is a BMS, generally, there are heat emitting parts such as a transformer and a frequency converter inside the BMS. In addition, after the battery module <NUM> generates high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas, a temperature of the BMS also increases. To better take away heat in the BMS, the BMS may be designed as a structure shown in <FIG>, to be specific, a heat dissipation channel <NUM> is disposed on a surface that is of the BMS and that is close to the inside of the protection housing <NUM>. An air outlet at one end of the heat dissipation channel <NUM> communicates with the first region <NUM>, and an air outlet at the other end of the heat dissipation channel <NUM> communicates with the second region <NUM>. Optionally, a part of a structure of the heat dissipation channel <NUM> may be a housing of the BMS.

With reference to <FIG>, an example in which the first exhaust assembly <NUM> inhales gas and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> exhausts gas is used. After the first exhaust assembly <NUM> inhales the gas, the gas enters the first region <NUM> through the heat dissipation channel <NUM> together with high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas exhausted by the battery module <NUM> in the second region <NUM>, and then is exhausted to the outside of the protection housing <NUM> through the second exhaust assembly <NUM>. With reference to <FIG>, an example in which the second exhaust assembly <NUM> inhales gas and the first exhaust assembly <NUM> exhausts gas is used. After the second exhaust assembly <NUM> inhales the gas, the gas enters the second region <NUM> through the heat dissipation channel <NUM>, and then is exhausted to the outside of the protection housing <NUM> through the first exhaust assembly <NUM> together with high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas exhausted by the battery module <NUM> in the second region <NUM>.

In this embodiment of this application, the heat dissipation channel <NUM> is disposed on the surface that is of the BMS and that is close to the inside of the protection housing <NUM>, so that in a process in which the two exhaust assemblies form an air flow inside the protection housing to exhaust high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas to the outside of the protection housing <NUM>, heat generated in the BMS can also be taken away. This avoids an excessively high temperature in the BMS, which causes burnout of an internal element.

With reference to <FIG> again, at least one first exhaust fan <NUM> may be disposed in the heat dissipation channel <NUM>, to improve a flowing speed of an air flow in the heat dissipation channel <NUM>. The first exhaust fan <NUM> may be electrically connected to the control unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> controls whether the first exhaust fan <NUM> operates.

As shown in <FIG>, an example in which the control unit <NUM> controls the first exhaust assembly <NUM> to inhale gas and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> to exhaust gas is used. The control unit <NUM> controls the first exhaust fan <NUM> to rotate clockwise (or counterclockwise), so that an air flow generated by the first exhaust fan <NUM> is the same as an air flow generated by the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> inside the protection housing <NUM>. Therefore, the first exhaust fan <NUM> improves a flowing speed of gas in the heat dissipation channel <NUM>, thereby improving a speed at which the battery apparatus <NUM> exhausts high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas to the outside. Optionally, in this case, the control unit <NUM> may control the first exhaust assembly <NUM> not to operate, so that the second exhaust assembly <NUM> directly exhausts the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas, thereby improving a speed at which the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas is exhausted.

As shown in <FIG>, an example in which the control unit <NUM> controls the first exhaust assembly <NUM> to exhaust gas and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> to inhale gas is used. The control unit <NUM> controls the first exhaust fan <NUM> to rotate counterclockwise (or clockwise), so that an air flow generated by the first exhaust fan <NUM> is the same as an air flow generated by the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> inside the protection housing <NUM>. Therefore, the first exhaust fan <NUM> improves a flowing speed of gas in the heat dissipation channel <NUM>, thereby improving a speed at which the battery apparatus <NUM> exhausts high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas to the outside. Optionally, in this case, the control unit <NUM> may control the second exhaust assembly <NUM> not to operate, so that the first exhaust fan <NUM> and the first exhaust assembly <NUM> can quickly exhaust the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas.

In this embodiment of this application, the at least one first exhaust fan <NUM> is added in the heat dissipation channel <NUM>, to enhance the air flow generated by the first exhaust assembly <NUM> and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> inside the protection housing <NUM>, thereby improving a speed at which the battery apparatus <NUM> exhausts high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas to the outside.

A second exhaust fan <NUM> may be disposed at an exhaust port of each battery module <NUM>, to improve a speed at which the battery module <NUM> exhausts high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas to the protection housing, and rapidly diffuse the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas in the second region <NUM> into the entire second region <NUM>, thereby reducing a concentration of the local flammable gas and improving efficiency of heat exchange between the inside and the outside. The high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas exhausted by the battery module usually includes flammable gas such as carbon monoxide (CO) or methane (CH<NUM>). If the battery module <NUM> exhausts the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas to the outside, the gas may converge in a local region. This causes a relatively high concentration of the flammable gas in the region, which easily causes explosion. Therefore, the second exhaust fan <NUM> needs to be disposed at the exhaust port of each battery module <NUM>, to blow the exhausted high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas into the second region <NUM>, and diffuse the gas into the entire second region <NUM>, thereby reducing a concentration of the flammable gas in a local region.

As shown in <FIG>, an example in which the control unit <NUM> controls the first exhaust assembly <NUM> to exhaust gas and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> to inhale gas is used. The gas inhaled by the second exhaust assembly <NUM> enters the second region <NUM> through the heat dissipation channel <NUM>, then flows into the first exhaust assembly <NUM> together with high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas exhausted by each second exhaust fan <NUM>, and is exhausted to the outside of the protection housing <NUM> through the first exhaust assembly <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, an example in which the control unit <NUM> controls the first exhaust assembly <NUM> to inhale gas and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> to exhaust gas is used. The gas inhaled by the first exhaust assembly <NUM> flows into the heat dissipation channel <NUM> together with high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas exhausted by each second exhaust fans <NUM>, then enters the first region <NUM>, and is finally exhausted to the outside of the protection housing <NUM> through the second exhaust assembly <NUM>.

Optionally, the second exhaust fan <NUM> may be electrically connected to the battery module <NUM>. When a ventilation valve of the battery module <NUM> exhausts high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas to the outside, the second exhaust fan <NUM> is directly triggered to operate. The second exhaust fan <NUM> may alternatively be electrically connected to the control unit <NUM>. When detecting that the battery module <NUM> exhausts high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas to the outside, the control unit <NUM> controls the second exhaust fan <NUM> to operate. Another manner may be used. This is not limited in this application.

If a structure of the battery module <NUM> is conductive, that is, gas in the first region <NUM> may enter the second region <NUM> through the battery module <NUM>, and air flow circulation may be formed inside the protection housing <NUM>, an effect of heat dissipation is further improved. With reference to <FIG>, an example in which the control unit <NUM> controls the first exhaust assembly <NUM> to exhaust gas and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> to inhale gas is used. After the second exhaust assembly <NUM> inhales the gas, one part of the gas enters the second region <NUM> through the heat dissipation channel <NUM>, and the other part of the gas enters the battery modules <NUM> through the first region <NUM>. In a process of exhausting the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas in the battery module <NUM>, the second exhaust fan <NUM> exhausts the gas entering the battery module <NUM> into the second region <NUM>, and the first exhaust assembly <NUM> exhausts all gas to the outside of the protection housing <NUM>. In this solution, a part of gas is enabled to flow into the second region <NUM> through the battery module <NUM>, so that heat in the battery module <NUM> can be taken away, thereby greatly reducing a temperature of the battery module <NUM>.

In this embodiment of this application, the second exhaust fan <NUM> is disposed at the exhaust port of each battery module <NUM>. This not only can improve a speed at which the battery module <NUM> exhausts high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas into the protection housing <NUM>, but also can rapidly diffuse the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas in the second region <NUM> into the entire second region <NUM>, thereby reducing a concentration of the local flammable gas and improving efficiency of heat exchange between the inside and the outside. If the battery module <NUM> is a conductive structure, a part of gas is enabled to flow into the second region <NUM> through the battery module <NUM>, so that heat in the battery module <NUM> can be taken away, thereby greatly reducing a temperature of the battery module <NUM>.

At least one third exhaust fan <NUM> may be disposed on the isolation baffle <NUM>, so that gas in the first region <NUM> flows into the second region <NUM>, or gas in the second region <NUM> flows into the first region <NUM>. With reference to <FIG>, an example in which the control unit <NUM> controls the first exhaust assembly <NUM> to exhaust gas and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> to inhale gas is used. In this case, the control unit <NUM> controls the third exhaust fan <NUM> to exhaust the gas in the first region <NUM> into the second region <NUM>. After the second exhaust assembly <NUM> inhales the gas, one part of the gas enters the second region <NUM> through the heat dissipation channel <NUM>, and the other part of the gas enters the second region <NUM> through the third exhaust fan <NUM>. Finally, the first exhaust assembly <NUM> exhausts, to the outside of the protection housing <NUM>, the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas exhausted by the battery module and the gas passing through the heat dissipation channel <NUM> and the third exhaust fan <NUM> together. In the solution, the at least one third exhaust fan <NUM> is disposed on the isolation baffle <NUM>, so that heat in the first region <NUM> may be brought into the second region <NUM>, and is taken out of the protection housing <NUM> through the first exhaust assembly <NUM>, thereby improving efficiency of reducing a temperature of the battery module <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, an example in which the control unit <NUM> controls the first exhaust assembly <NUM> to inhale gas and the second exhaust assembly <NUM> to exhaust gas is used. In this case, the control unit <NUM> controls the third exhaust fan <NUM> to exhaust the gas in the second region <NUM> into the first region <NUM>. After the first exhaust assembly <NUM> inhales the gas, the gas converges with the high-temperature and high-pressure flammable gas exhausted by each battery module <NUM>, to directly reduce a temperature of the gas and reduce a concentration of flammable gas in the gas. Then, one part of the gas enters the first region <NUM> through the heat dissipation channel <NUM>, and the other part of the gas is exhausted into the first region <NUM> through the third exhaust fan <NUM>. Finally, the gas is exhausted to the outside of the protection housing <NUM> through the second exhaust assembly <NUM>. In this solution, the at least one third exhaust fan <NUM> is disposed on the isolation baffle <NUM>, so that the gas in the second region <NUM> can be exhausted into the first region, to take away heat in the first region <NUM>, and improve efficiency of reducing a temperature of the battery module <NUM>.

In this embodiment of this application, the at least one third exhaust fan <NUM> is disposed on the isolation baffle <NUM>, so that the gas in the first region <NUM> flows into the second region <NUM>, or the gas in the second region <NUM> flows into the first region <NUM>. Therefore, heat generated by the battery module <NUM> in the first region <NUM> is taken out of the protection housing <NUM>, thereby further reducing a temperature of the battery module <NUM>.

An embodiment of this application provides an energy storage device, where the energy storage device includes at least one battery apparatus described in <FIG> and the foregoing corresponding protection solutions. The battery apparatus may be electrically connected to at least one device using electric energy to provide electric energy, or may be electrically connected to a power supply device to store energy. Because the energy storage device includes the battery apparatus, the energy storage device has all or at least some of advantages of the battery apparatus. The energy storage device may be an electric vehicle, an outdoor cabinet, a base station, a solar power generation system, or the like.

Claim 1:
A battery apparatus, comprising:
a protection housing (<NUM>);
at least one battery module (<NUM>), disposed in the protection housing;
at least one first exhaust assembly (<NUM>), disposed on the protection housing;
at least one second exhaust assembly (<NUM>), disposed on the protection housing; and
a control unit (<NUM>), configured to control the at least one first exhaust assembly to be in a first state and the at least one second exhaust assembly to be in a second state, or control the at least one first exhaust assembly to be in the second state and the at least one second exhaust assembly to be in the first state, wherein the first state is that gas outside the protection housing is inhaled into the protection housing, and the second state is that gas inside the protection housing is exhausted to the outside of the protection housing, to exhaust, out of the battery apparatus, a high-temperature and high-pressure gas generated by the at least one battery module, and take away heat inside the protection housing;
further comprising: an isolation baffle (<NUM>), wherein the isolation baffle is fastened inside the protection housing, and divides the protection housing into a first region (<NUM>) and a second region (<NUM>), and the first region communicates with the second region; and
the at least one first exhaust assembly communicates with the second region, and the at least one second exhaust assembly communicates with the first region;
wherein each battery module passes through and is fastened to the isolation baffle, one part of each battery module is in the first region, and the other part of each battery module is in the second region.