Patent Description:
Energy conservation and emission reduction are the key to the sustainable development of the automotive industry. In this case, electric vehicles have become an important part of the sustainable development of the automotive industry due to their advantages of energy conservation and environmental protection. For the electric vehicles, the battery technology is an important factor for their development.

In the development of the battery technology, in addition to improving performance of batteries, safety is also an issue that cannot be ignored. If the safety of the batteries cannot be ensured, the batteries cannot be used. Therefore, how to enhance the safety of the batteries is an urgent technical problem to be solved in the battery technology.

<CIT> discloses a battery pack. The battery pack includes a box, the box being configured as a cavity structure; an exhaust channel arranged at the bottom of the box; and a plurality of battery cells, the plurality of battery cells being stacked and housed in the cavity structure of the box, and the plurality of battery cells being located on an end face of the exhaust channel facing away from the bottom of the box, and an end face of each of the battery cells facing the exhaust channel being provided with an explosion-proof valve, where a structural layer of the exhaust channel facing the explosion-proof valve is provided with a weakened zone, and when thermal runaway occurs in any battery cell, a gas in the battery cell is capable of being collected into the exhaust channel via the weakened zone and discharged.

<CIT> discloses a battery, an electric device and a method and equipment for preparing the battery, and belongs to the technical field of batteries. The battery includes a single battery provided with an electrode terminal; a fire-fighting pipeline for accommodating a fire-fighting medium; and a fixing piece used for fixing the fire-fighting pipeline and connected with the electrode terminal. According to the embodiment of the invention, the fixing piece connected with the electrode terminal is arranged on the single battery, and the fire-fighting pipeline is fixed through the fixing piece, so that the thermal runaway single battery is controlled in time, and the use safety of the battery is ensured.

<CIT> discloses a battery, an electric device and a method and apparatus for preparing the battery. The battery comprises a single battery; a box body for accommodating the single battery; a pipeline for condensing gas in the box body to form condensate; and a liquid collecting piece arranged between the single battery and the pipeline, wherein the liquid collecting piece is provided with a first accommodating part towards the pipeline, and the first accommodating part is used for collecting condensate.

<CIT> discloses a battery, electric equipment and a method and device for preparing the battery. The battery includes: a battery cell including a pressure relief mechanism for actuating to release an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell when the internal pressure or temperature reaches a threshold value; a fire-fighting pipeline which is used for containing a fire-fighting medium, wherein the fire-fighting pipeline comprises a first area corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism and a second area located on the periphery of the first area, the first area is used for being damaged when the pressure relief mechanism is actuated so that the fire-fighting medium can be discharged, and the second area is used for keeping complete when the pressure relief mechanism is actuated so that the fire-fighting medium can flow from the second area to the first area; and a protection part which is arranged between the fire-fighting pipeline and the single battery and is used for protecting the second area.

<CIT> discloses a battery, an electric device and a method and equipment for preparing the battery. The invention aims to solve the problem that accidents are easily caused due to difficulty in pressure relief of emissions during thermal runaway of a battery. The battery includes a battery cell including a pressure relief mechanism for actuating to release an internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a threshold value. The battery further comprises a fire-fighting cavity, a collecting cavity and an isolating part, wherein the isolating part is used for isolating the fire-fighting cavity from the collecting cavity and can be penetrated by the discharged material when the pressure relief mechanism is actuated, so that the discharged material enters the collecting cavity through the fire-fighting cavity.

The present application provides a battery and a power consumption apparatus as defined in claims <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. Preferred embodiments are defined in dependent claims <NUM>-<NUM>.

In a first aspect, a battery is provided, including: a battery cell including a pressure relief mechanism, the pressure relief mechanism being disposed on a first wall of the battery cell, and the pressure relief mechanism being configured to be actuated when an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a threshold, to relieve the internal pressure; an electrical chamber configured to accommodate the battery cells and a bus component; a collection chamber configured to collect emissions from the battery cell when the pressure relief mechanism is actuated; and a thermal management component configured to isolate the electrical chamber from the collection chamber, and to accommodate a fluid to adjust a temperature of the battery cell, a first surface of the thermal management component being attached to the first wall, and the thermal management component being provided with a pressure relief zone, so that emissions discharged from an inside of the battery cell are capable of being discharged through the pressure relief zone to the collection chamber when the pressure relief mechanism is actuated; where the first wall is provided with a first restraint member, the thermal management component is provided with a second restraint member, and the first restraint member and the second restraint member are arranged to be mated, so that the pressure relief mechanism is arranged opposite to the pressure relief zone; the first restraint member includes a protrusion structure and the second restraint member includes a groove structure, or the first restraint member includes a groove structure and the second restraint member includes a protrusion structure; and the protrusion structure is at least partially accommodated in the groove structure.

Therefore, according to a battery of an embodiment of the present application, a first restraint member is disposed on a first wall where a pressure relief mechanism of a battery cell is located, and a second restraint member is disposed on a thermal management component. In this way, opposite arrangement of the pressure relief mechanism and a pressure relief zone could be accurately achieved through mating arrangement of the first restraint member and the second restraint member, which is convenient for alignment installation of the pressure relief mechanism and the pressure relief zone, so that emissions discharged from the battery cell are capable of being discharged smoothly through the pressure relief zone when the pressure relief mechanism is actuated, and explosion of the battery cell is effectively avoided.

The mating arrangement of the first restraint member and the second restraint member is achieved through a groove structure and a protrusion structure, which is convenient for processing, and could facilitate installation and fixation of the pressure relief mechanism and the pressure relief zone.

In some embodiments, a gap is provided between the pressure relief mechanism and the first surface, and the gap is configured to provide a deformation space for the pressure relief mechanism, so that the pressure relief mechanism deforms toward the thermal management component, and further the emissions discharged from the inside of the battery cell are capable of being discharged quickly and smoothly through the pressure relief mechanism.

In some embodiments, a height of the protrusion structure is greater than a depth of the groove structure, so that there is a gap between the pressure relief mechanism and the first surface.

In some embodiments, the second restraint member includes the groove structure, the second restraint member includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion in sequence around the pressure relief zone in a direction outward from a center of the pressure relief zone, and the groove structure is formed between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

In some embodiments, the first restraint member includes the groove structure, the first restraint member includes a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion in sequence around the pressure relief mechanism in a direction outward from a center of the pressure relief mechanism, and the groove structure is formed between the third protrusion and the fourth protrusion.

Whether the first restraint member or the second restraint member includes a groove structure, the groove structure is formed by providing two protrusions, so that the first restraint member could protrude from a surface of the first wall relative to the pressure relief mechanism, while the second restraint member also protrudes from the first surface of the thermal management component. In this way, when the first restraint member is arranged to be mated with the second restraint member, not only accurate alignment of the pressure relief mechanism and the pressure relief zone can be achieved, installation efficiency is improved, but also a gap is provided between the pressure relief mechanism and the first surface, which could provide a deformation space for the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> when it is actuated.

In some embodiments, two first restraint members are disposed around the pressure relief mechanism, and one of the two first restraint members overlaps with the other first restraint member after rotating <NUM>° about a central point of the pressure relief mechanism on the first wall.

In some embodiments, two second restraint members are disposed around the pressure relief zone, and one of the two second restraint members overlaps with the other second restraint member after rotating <NUM>° about a central point of the pressure relief zone on the first surface.

In some embodiments, the first restraint member is an annular structure surrounding a periphery of the pressure relief mechanism.

In some embodiments, the second restraint member is an annular structure surrounding a periphery of the pressure relief zone.

By evenly and symmetrically arranging the first restraint member and the second restraint member, processing and installation processes can be simplified, so that the first restraint member and the second restraint member are more stable after being installed, and are not easy to be shifted.

In some embodiments, an area of the pressure relief zone is larger than or equal to an area of the pressure relief mechanism.

In some embodiments, the pressure relief zone is a through hole, so that the emissions discharged from the battery cell are capable of being discharged more quickly through the pressure relief zone.

In some embodiments, the thermal management component includes a groove arranged opposite to the pressure relief mechanism, a bottom wall of the groove forms the pressure relief zone, and a thickness of the thermal management component at the bottom wall of the groove is smaller than a thickness of the thermal management component at another region other than the groove.

In some embodiments, a melting point of a material of the pressure relief zone is smaller than a melting point of a material of another region on the thermal management component other than the pressure relief zone.

The pressure relief zone is not provided by way of a through hole, when the pressure relief mechanism is not actuated, the thermal management component keeps an electrical chamber and a collection chamber relatively isolated, which could avoid substances in the collection chamber to enter the electrical chamber, thereby protecting the battery cell in the electrical chamber.

In a second aspect, a power consumption device is provided, including: the battery of the first aspect configured to provide electric energy.

In some embodiments, the power consumption device is a vehicle, a ship or a spacecraft.

In a third aspect not according to the present invention, a method for producing a battery is provided, including: providing a battery cell, the battery cell including a pressure relief mechanism, the pressure relief mechanism being disposed on a first wall of the battery cell, and the pressure relief mechanism being configured to be actuated when an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a threshold, to relieve the internal pressure; providing an electrical chamber, the electrical chamber being configured to accommodate the battery cells and a bus component; providing a collection chamber, the collection chamber being configured to collect emissions from the battery cell when the pressure relief mechanism is actuated; and providing a thermal management component, the thermal management component being configured to isolate the electrical chamber from the collection chamber, and to accommodate a fluid to adjust a temperature of the battery cell, a first surface of the thermal management component being attached to the first wall, and the thermal management component being provided with a pressure relief zone, so that emissions discharged from an inside of the battery cell are capable of being discharged through the pressure relief zone to the collection chamber when the pressure relief mechanism is actuated; where the first wall is provided with a first restraint member, the thermal management component is provided with a second restraint member, and the first restraint member and the second restraint member are arranged to be mated, so that the pressure relief mechanism is arranged opposite to the pressure relief zone; the first restraint member comprises a protrusion structure and the second restraint member comprises a groove structure, or the first restraint member comprises a groove structure and the second restraint member comprises a protrusion structure; and the protrusion structure is at least partially accommodated in the groove structure.

In a fourth aspect not according to the present invention, an apparatus for producing a battery is provided, including a module for carrying out the method of the third aspect described above.

In the accompanying drawings, the accompanying drawings are not drawn to actual scale.

In the present application, a battery cell may include a primary battery, a secondary battery, such as a lithium-ion battery, a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium lithium-ion battery, a sodium-ion battery or a magnesium-ion battery, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. The battery cell may be cylindrical, flat, cuboid or in another shape, which is also not limited in the embodiments of the present application. A battery cell is generally divided into three types according to the way of packaging: a cylindrical battery cell, a prismatic battery cell and a pouch battery cell, which is also not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

The battery mentioned in the embodiments of the present application refers to a single physical module including one or more battery cells to provide a higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery mentioned in the present application may include a battery module, a battery pack, or the like. The battery pack generally includes a box for packaging one or more battery cells. The box can avoid liquid or other foreign matters to affect charging or discharging of the battery cell.

The battery cell includes an electrode assembly and an electrolytic solution, and the electrode assembly includes a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet and a separator. The operation of the battery cell mainly relies on movement of metal ions between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet. The positive electrode sheet includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer. The positive electrode active material layer is coated on a surface of the positive electrode current collector, the current collector not coated with the positive electrode active material layer protrudes from the current collector coated with the positive electrode active material layer, and the current collector not coated with the positive electrode active material layer serves as a positive tab. In an example of a lithium-ion battery, a material of the positive electrode current collector may be aluminum, and a positive electrode active material may be lithium cobalt oxides, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, lithium manganate, or the like. The negative electrode sheet includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer. The negative electrode active material layer is coated on a surface of the negative electrode current collector, the current collector not coated with the negative electrode active material layer protrudes from the current collector coated with the negative electrode active material layer, and the current collector not coated with the negative electrode active material layer serves as a negative tab. A material of the negative electrode current collector may be copper, and a negative electrode active material may be carbon, silicon, or the like. In order to ensure that no fusing occurs when a large current passes, there are a plurality of positive tabs which are stacked together, and there are a plurality of negative tabs which are stacked together. A material of the separator may be PP, PE, or the like. In addition, the electrode assembly may be a winding structure or a laminated structure, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. With the development of the battery technology, it is necessary to consider design factors in multiple aspects simultaneously, such as energy density, cycle life, discharge capacity, C-rate and other performance parameters. In addition, safety of the battery should also be considered.

For a battery, a main safety hazard comes from charging and discharging processes, and in order to improve safety performance of the battery, a battery cell is generally provided with a pressure relief mechanism. The pressure relief mechanism refers to an element or component that is actuated when an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a predetermined threshold, to relieve the internal pressure or temperature. The predetermined threshold may be adjusted according to different design demands. The predetermined threshold may depend on a material of one or more of a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, an electrolytic solution and a separator in the battery cell. The pressure relief mechanism may adopt, for example, a pressure-sensitive or temperature-sensitive element or component. That is, when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches the predetermined threshold, the pressure relief mechanism is actuated, so as to form a channel for relieving the internal pressure or temperature.

The "actuation" mentioned in the present application means that the pressure relief mechanism acts, so that the internal pressure and temperature of the battery cell can be relieved. The action generated by the pressure relief mechanism may include but be not limited to: at least a part of the pressure relief mechanism being fractured, torn or melted, and so on. After the pressure relief mechanism is actuated, high-temperature and high-pressure substances inside the battery cell are discharged outward from the pressure relief mechanism as emissions. In this way, the pressure of the battery cell can be relieved at a controllable pressure or temperature, thereby avoiding potentially more serious accidents.

The emissions from the battery cell mentioned in the present application include but are not limited to: an electrolytic solution, dissolved or split positive and negative electrode sheets, fragments of a separator, high-temperature and high-pressure gas generated by reaction, flame, or the like.

The pressure relief mechanism on the battery cell has an important impact on the safety of the battery. For example, when short circuit, overcharge and other phenomena occur in the battery cell, it may lead to thermal runaway inside the battery cell, resulting in a sudden increase in pressure or temperature. In this case, the internal pressure and temperature can be released outward through the actuation of the pressure relief mechanism, to prevent the battery cell from exploding and catching fire.

In the current design solutions of the pressure relief mechanism, the main concern is to release the high pressure and high heat inside the battery cell, that is, the emissions are discharged to an outside of the battery cell. However, in order to ensure an output voltage or current of the battery, a plurality of battery cells are often required and electrically connected to each other via a bus component. Emissions discharged from an inside of a battery cell may cause short circuit of the other battery cells. For example, when discharged metal scraps electrically connect two bus components, the battery is short-circuited, thereby posing a potential safety hazard. Moreover, the high-temperature and high-pressure emissions are discharged in a direction in which a pressure relief mechanism of the battery cell is provided, and more specifically, may be discharged in a direction of a region where the pressure relief mechanism is actuated. The strength and destructive power of such emissions may be great, or may even be enough to break through one or more structures in this direction, causing further safety problems.

In view of this, according to the embodiments of the present application, an inside of a box of a battery is separated by a thermal management component into an electrical chamber for accommodating battery cells and a collection chamber for collecting emissions. When a pressure relief mechanism is actuated, the emissions from the battery cells enter the collection chamber, and do not enter the electrical chamber or enter the electrical chamber in a small amount, thereby reducing the impact of the emissions on a bus component in the electrical chamber, and safety of the battery could be enhanced. In addition, since the emissions from the battery cells are collected via the collection chamber, the high-temperature and high-pressure emissions are buffered and the pressure and temperature of the emissions are reduced. This reduces the destructive power of the emissions to other structures, thereby further enhancing the safety of the battery.

The thermal management component is configured to accommodate a fluid to adjust the temperature of a plurality of battery cells. The fluid here may be liquid or gas, and the temperature adjustment means heating or cooling the plurality of battery cells. In a case of cooling or lowering the temperature of the battery cells, the thermal management component is configured to accommodate a cooling fluid to lower the temperature of the plurality of battery cells. In this case, the thermal management component may also be called a cooling component, a cooling system, a cooling plate, or the like. The fluid accommodated in it may also be called a cooling medium or a cooling fluid, and more specifically, may be called a cooling liquid or a cooling gas. In addition, the thermal management component may also be configured for heating to raise the temperature of the plurality of battery cells, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Optionally, the fluid may flow in a circulating manner to achieve a better temperature adjustment effect. Optionally, the fluid may be water, a mixture of water and ethylene glycol, air, or the like.

The electrical chamber is configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and the bus component. The electrical chamber may be sealed or unsealed. The electrical chamber provides an installation space for the battery cells and the bus component. In some embodiments, a structure configured to fix the battery cells may also be disposed in the electrical chamber. A shape of the electrical chamber may be determined according to the plurality of battery cells and the bus component which are accommodated therein. In some embodiments, the electrical chamber may be a cube with six walls. Since the battery cells in the electrical chamber are electrically connected to form higher voltage output, the electrical chamber may also be called a "high-voltage chamber".

The bus component is configured to implement the electrical connection between the plurality of battery cells, such as parallel connection, series connection or series-parallel connection. The bus component may implement the electrical connection between the battery cells by connecting electrode terminals of the battery cells. In some embodiments, the bus component may be fixed to the electrode terminals of the battery cells by means of welding. Corresponding to the "high-voltage chamber", the electrical connection formed by the bus component may also be called "high-voltage connection".

The collection chamber is configured to collect emissions, and may be sealed or unsealed. In some embodiments, the collection chamber may contain air or another gas. In the collection chamber there is no electrical connection to the voltage output. Corresponding to the "high-voltage chamber", the collection chamber may also be called a "low-voltage chamber". Optionally, or additionally, the collection chamber may also contain a liquid, such as a cooling medium, or a component for accommodating the liquid is provided therein to further lower the temperature of the emissions entering the collection chamber. Further, optionally, the gas or liquid in the collection chamber flows in a circulating manner.

The technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are all applicable to various apparatuses using batteries, such as mobile phones, portable devices, notebook computers, electromobiles, electric toys, electric tools, electric vehicles, ships and spacecrafts. For example, the spacecrafts include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, spaceships, and the like.

It should be understood that the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are not only applicable to the devices described above, but also applicable to all devices using batteries. However, for brief description, the following embodiments are all described by an example of an electric vehicle.

For example, as shown in <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present application. The vehicle <NUM> may be a fuel-powered vehicle, a gas-powered vehicle or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle may be a battery electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, an extended-range vehicle, or the like. The vehicle <NUM> may be internally provided with a motor <NUM>, a controller <NUM> and a battery <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> is configured to control the battery <NUM> to supply power to the motor <NUM>. For example, the battery <NUM> may be disposed at the bottom, head or tail of the vehicle <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may be used for power supply to the vehicle <NUM>. For example, the battery <NUM> may serve as an operation power source of the vehicle <NUM> for a circuit system of the vehicle <NUM>, for example, for a working power demand of the vehicle <NUM> during startup, navigation and running. In another embodiment of the present application, the battery <NUM> may serve not only as an operation power source of the vehicle <NUM>, but also as a driving power source of the vehicle <NUM>, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle <NUM>.

In order to meet different power demands, the battery <NUM> may include a plurality of battery cells, where the plurality of battery cells may be in series connection, parallel connection or series-parallel connection. The series-parallel connection refers to a combination of series connection and parallel connection. The battery may also be referred to as a battery pack. Optionally, the plurality of battery cells may be first connected in series, in parallel or in series and parallel to constitute a battery module, and then a plurality of battery modules are connected in series, in parallel or in series and parallel to constitute the battery. That is, the plurality of battery cells may directly constitute the battery, or may first constitute a battery module, and then battery modules constitute the battery.

For example, as shown in <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a battery <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present application. The battery <NUM> may include at least one battery module <NUM>. The battery module <NUM> includes a plurality of battery cells <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may further include a box, an inside of the box is a hollow structure, and the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are accommodated in the box. As shown in <FIG>, the box may include two portions, which are referred to as a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>, respectively, and the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> are fastened together. Shapes of the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> may be determined according to a shape of combined battery modules <NUM>, and at least one of the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> has an opening. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> each may be a hollow cuboid and each have only one face as an opening face, and an opening of the first portion <NUM> is arranged opposite to an opening of the second portion <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> are fastened to each other to form a box with a closed chamber. For another example, different from that shown in <FIG>, only one of the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> may be a hollow cuboid with an opening, and the other may be in a plate shape to cover the opening. For example, in an example that the second portion <NUM> is a hollow cuboid and has only one face as an opening face and the first portion <NUM> is in a plate shape, then the opening of the second portion <NUM> is covered by the first portion <NUM> to form a box with a closed chamber, and the chamber may be configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells <NUM>. The plurality of battery cells <NUM> are combined in parallel connection or series connection or series-parallel connection and then placed in the box formed after the first portion <NUM> to the second portion <NUM> are fastened.

Optionally, the battery <NUM> may further include other structures, which will not be repeated redundantly herein. For example, the battery <NUM> further includes a bus component. The bus component is configured to implement electrical connection between the plurality of battery cells <NUM>, such as parallel connection, series connection or series-parallel connection. Specifically, the bus component may implement the electrical connection between the battery cells <NUM> by connecting electrode terminals of the battery cells <NUM>. Further, the bus component may be fixed to the electrode terminals of the battery cells <NUM> by means of welding. Electric energy of the plurality of battery cells <NUM> may be further led out through an electrically conductive mechanism to pass through the box.

According to different power demands, the number of battery cells <NUM> in the battery module <NUM> may be set to any value. The plurality of battery cells <NUM> may be connected in series, in parallel or in series and parallel to implement larger capacity or power. Since there may be many battery cells <NUM> included in each battery <NUM>, the battery cells <NUM> are arranged in groups for convenience of installation, and each group of battery cells <NUM> constitutes a battery module <NUM>. The number of battery cells <NUM> included in the battery module <NUM> is not limited and may be set according to demands. For example, <FIG> is an example of the battery module <NUM>. A battery may include a plurality of battery modules <NUM>, and these battery modules <NUM> may be connected in series, in parallel or in series and parallel.

<FIG> is a schematic structural view of a battery cell <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present application. The battery cell <NUM> includes one or more electrode assemblies <NUM>, a housing <NUM> and a cover plate <NUM>. The housing <NUM> and the cover plate <NUM> form a shell. A wall of the housing <NUM> and the cover plate <NUM> each are referred to as a wall of the battery cell <NUM>. The housing <NUM> is shaped according to a shape of the one or more combined electrode assemblies <NUM>. For example, the housing <NUM> may be a hollow cuboid or cube or cylinder, and one face of the housing <NUM> has an opening, so that the one or more electrode assemblies <NUM> may be placed in the housing <NUM>. For example, when the housing <NUM> is a hollow cuboid or cube, one plane of the housing <NUM> is an opening face, that is, the plane does not have a wall, so that an inside and outside of the housing <NUM> are in communication with each other. When the housing <NUM> may be a hollow cylinder, an end face of the housing <NUM> is an opening face, that is, the end face does not have a wall, so that an inside and outside of the housing <NUM> are in communication with each other. The cover plate <NUM> covers the opening and is connected to the housing <NUM> to form a closed cavity in which the electrode assemblies <NUM> are placed. The housing <NUM> is filled with an electrolyte, such as an electrolytic solution.

The battery cell <NUM> may further include two electrode terminals <NUM>, and the two electrode terminals <NUM> may be disposed on the cover plate <NUM>. The cover plate <NUM> is generally in a shape of a flat plate, and the two electrode terminals <NUM> are fixed on a flat plate face of the cover plate <NUM>. The two electrode terminals <NUM> are a positive electrode terminal 214a and a negative electrode terminal 214b, respectively. Each electrode terminal <NUM> is correspondingly provided with a connecting member <NUM>, which is located between the cover plate <NUM> and the electrode assembly <NUM> and configured to electrically connect the electrode assembly <NUM> to the electrode terminal <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, each electrode assembly <NUM> has a first tab 221a and a second tab 222a. The first tab 221a and the second tab 222a have opposite polarities. For example, when the first tab 221a is a positive tab, the second tab 222a is a negative tab. The first tab 221a of the one or more electrode assemblies <NUM> is connected to one electrode terminal through one connecting member <NUM>, and the second tab 222a of the one or more electrode assemblies <NUM> is connected to the other electrode terminal through the other connecting member <NUM>. For example, the positive electrode terminal 214a is connected to the positive tab through one connecting member <NUM>, and the negative electrode terminal 214b is connected to the negative tab through the other connecting member <NUM>.

In this battery cell <NUM>, according to actual use demands, the electrode assembly <NUM> may be set to be single or multiple in number. As shown in <FIG>, four independent electrode assemblies <NUM> are disposed in the battery cell <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a pressure relief mechanism <NUM> may be disposed on one wall of the battery cell <NUM>, for example, the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is disposed on a first wall 21a of the battery cell <NUM>. The first wall 21a in <FIG> is separated from the housing <NUM>, that is, a bottom side of the housing <NUM> has an opening, the first wall 21a covers the opening at the bottom side and is connected to the housing <NUM>, and the connection manner may be welding, connecting with an adhesive, or the like. Alternatively, the first wall 21a and the housing <NUM> may also be an integral structure. The pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is configured to be actuated when an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell <NUM> reaches a threshold, to relieve the internal pressure or temperature.

The pressure relief mechanism <NUM> may be a part of the first wall 21a, or may be a separate structure from the first wall 21a, and is fixed to the first wall 21a by means of welding, for example. When the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is a part of the first wall 21a, for example, the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> may be formed by providing an indentation on the first wall 21a, and a thickness of the first wall 21a corresponding to the indentation is smaller than that of another region of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> other than the indentation. The indentation is the weakest position of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>. When excessive gas generated by the battery cell <NUM> causes an internal pressure of the housing <NUM> to rise and reach a threshold, or heat generated by an internal reaction of the battery cell <NUM> causes an internal temperature of the battery cell <NUM> to rise and reach a threshold, the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> may be fractured at the indentation, resulting in the communication between the inside and outside of the housing <NUM>. The gas pressure and temperature are released outward through the cracking of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>, thereby avoid explosion of the battery cell <NUM>.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, as shown in <FIG>, in a case where the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is disposed on the first wall 21a of the battery cell <NUM>, a second wall of the battery cell <NUM> is provided with electrode terminals <NUM>, and the second wall is different from the first wall 21a.

Optionally, the second wall is arranged opposite to the first wall 21a. For example, the first wall 21a may be a bottom wall of the battery cell <NUM>, and the second wall may be the cover plate <NUM> of the battery cell <NUM>.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, the battery cell <NUM> may further include a backing plate <NUM>. The backing plate <NUM> is located between the electrode assembly <NUM> and a bottom wall of the housing <NUM>, may play a role of supporting the electrode assembly <NUM>, and may also effectively prevent the electrode assembly <NUM> from interfering with rounded corners of a periphery of the bottom wall of the housing <NUM>. In addition, one or more through holes may be disposed on the backing plate <NUM>. For example, a plurality of through holes evenly arranged may be disposed, or when the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is disposed on the bottom wall of the housing <NUM>, a through hole is disposed at a position corresponding to the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>, so as to guide an electrolytic solution or gas. Specifically, this may cause spaces of an upper surface and a lower surface of the backing plate <NUM> to be in communication, and gas generated inside the battery cell <NUM> and the electrolytic solution can freely pass through the backing plate <NUM>.

The pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and the electrode terminals <NUM> are disposed on different walls of the battery cell <NUM>, so that when the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated, emissions from the battery cell <NUM> may be farther away from the electrode terminals <NUM>, thereby reducing the impact of the emissions on the electrode terminals <NUM> and the bus component, and therefore safety of the battery could be enhanced.

Further, when the electrode terminals <NUM> are disposed on the cover plate <NUM> of the battery cell <NUM>, the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is disposed on a bottom wall of the battery cell <NUM>, so that when the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated, the emissions from the battery cell <NUM> may be are discharged to a bottom of the battery <NUM>. In this way, on one hand, a risk of the emissions may be reduced by using a thermal management component at the bottom of the battery <NUM>, and on the other hand, when the battery <NUM> is disposed in a vehicle, the bottom of the battery <NUM> is usually away from a passenger, thereby reducing harm to the passenger.

The pressure relief mechanism <NUM> may be in various possible pressure relief structures, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. For example, the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> may be a temperature-sensitive pressure relief mechanism, the temperature-sensitive pressure relief mechanism is configured to be capable of being melted when the internal temperature of the battery cell <NUM> provided with the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> reaches a threshold; and/or the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> may be a pressure-sensitive pressure relief mechanism, and the pressure-sensitive pressure relief mechanism is configured to be capable of being fractured when an internal gas pressure of the battery cell <NUM> provided with the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> reaches a threshold.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a box <NUM> of a battery <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in <FIG>, the box <NUM> may include an electrical chamber 11a, a collection chamber 11b, and a thermal management component <NUM>. The thermal management component <NUM> is configured to isolate the electrical chamber 11a from the collection chamber 11b. The so-called "isolation" here refers to separation, which may refer to unsealing.

The electrical chamber 11a is configured to accommodate a plurality of battery cells <NUM> and a bus component <NUM>. The electrical chamber 11a provides an accommodation space for the battery cells <NUM> and the bus component <NUM>, and a shape of the electrical chamber 11a may be determined according to the plurality of battery cells <NUM> and the bus component <NUM>.

The bus component <NUM> is configured to implement electrical connection between the plurality of battery cells <NUM>. The bus component <NUM> may implement the electrical connection between the battery cells <NUM> by connecting electrode terminals <NUM> of the battery cells <NUM>.

At least one of the plurality of battery cells <NUM> includes a pressure relief mechanism <NUM>. The pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is configured to be actuated when an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell <NUM> provided with the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> reaches a threshold, to relieve the internal pressure or temperature.

For convenience of description, a battery cell <NUM> involved in the following related description about the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> refers to a battery cell <NUM> provided with a pressure relief mechanism <NUM>. For example, the battery cell <NUM> may be the battery cell <NUM> in <FIG>.

The thermal management component <NUM> is configured to accommodate a fluid to adjust a temperature of the plurality of battery cells <NUM>. In a case of lowering the temperature of the battery cells <NUM>, the thermal management component <NUM> may accommodate a cooling medium to adjust the temperature of the plurality of battery cells <NUM>. In this case, the thermal management component <NUM> may also be called a cooling component, a cooling system, a cooling plate, or the like. In addition, the thermal management component <NUM> may also be configured for heating, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Optionally, the fluid may flow in a circulating manner to achieve a better temperature adjustment effect.

The collection chamber 11b is configured to collect emissions from the battery cell <NUM> provided with the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> when the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated.

In the embodiment of the present application, the electrical chamber 11a is isolated from the collection chamber 11b using the thermal management component <NUM>. That is, the electrical chamber 11a for accommodating the plurality of battery cells <NUM> and the bus component <NUM> is arranged to be separated from the collection chamber 11b for collecting the emissions. In this way, when the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated, the emissions from the battery cell <NUM> enter the collection chamber 11b, and do not enter the electrical chamber 11a or enter the electrical chamber 11a in a small amount, thereby not affecting the electrical connection in the electrical chamber 11a, and therefore the safety of the battery could be enhanced.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the thermal management component <NUM> has a wall shared by the electrical chamber 11a and the collection chamber 11b. As shown in <FIG>, the thermal management component <NUM> may be both a wall of the electrical chamber 11a and a wall of the collection chamber 11b. That is, the thermal management component <NUM> (or a part thereof) may directly serve as a wall shared by the electrical chamber 11a and the collection chamber 11b. In this way, the emissions from the battery cell <NUM> may enter the collection chamber 11b through the thermal management component <NUM>. Meanwhile, due to the existence of the thermal management component <NUM>, the emissions may be isolated from the electrical chamber 11a as far as possible, thereby reducing the risk of the emissions and enhancing the safety of the battery.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the electrical chamber 11a may be formed from a covering having an opening, and a thermal management component <NUM>. As for the collection chamber 11b, it may be formed from a thermal management component <NUM> and a protective member.

The collection chamber 11b formed from the protective member and the thermal management component <NUM> does not occupy a space that may accommodate the battery cells. Therefore, the collection chamber 11b with a larger space may be provided, so as to effectively collect and buffer the emissions and reduce the risk of the emissions.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, a fluid, such as a cooling medium, or a component for accommodating the fluid may be further disposed in the collection chamber 11b to further lower the temperature of the emissions entering the collection chamber 11b.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the collection chamber 11b may be a sealed chamber. For example, the connection between the protective member and the thermal management component <NUM> may be sealed by a sealing member.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the collection chamber 11b may not be a sealed chamber. For example, the collection chamber 11b may be in communication with outside air, and thus part of the emissions may be further discharged to an outside of the box <NUM>.

When the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated, the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is opened to discharge the emissions in the battery cell <NUM>. The emissions may damage the thermal management component <NUM>, thus pass through the thermal management component <NUM> and enter the collection chamber 11b.

In an embodiment of the present application, in order to facilitate the passage of the emissions through the thermal management component <NUM>, the thermal management component <NUM> is provided with a pressure relief zone. The pressure relief zone is configured to enable the emissions from the battery cell <NUM> provided with the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> to pass through the pressure relief zone and enter the collection chamber 11b when the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated.

The pressure relief zone according to the embodiment of the present application may be arranged opposite to the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>. In this way, when the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated, the emissions may directly impact on the pressure relief zone and be discharged through the pressure relief zone. However, when the battery cell <NUM> is installed, how to align the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> of the battery cell <NUM> with the pressure relief zone of the thermal management component <NUM> is a problem that needs to be solved at present. Otherwise, if the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is not aligned with the pressure relief zone, when the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated, the thermal management component <NUM> may affect the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> to deform, which may cause explosion of the battery cell <NUM>.

Therefore, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery, which could solve the foregoing problem. <FIG> shows another schematic diagram of a partial exploded view of a battery <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present application, where the battery <NUM> may include a battery cell <NUM> and a thermal management component <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Specifically, the battery cell <NUM> may be any one of battery cells <NUM> included in the battery <NUM>. The battery cell <NUM> includes: a pressure relief mechanism <NUM>, the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> being disposed on a first wall 21a of the battery cell <NUM>, and the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> being configured to be actuated when an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell <NUM> reaches a threshold, to relieve the internal pressure. The thermal management component <NUM> is configured to accommodate a fluid to adjust a temperature of the battery cell <NUM>, a first surface <NUM> of the thermal management component <NUM> being attached to the first wall 21a, and the thermal management component <NUM> being provided with a pressure relief zone <NUM>, so that emissions discharged from an inside of the battery cell <NUM> are capable of being discharged through the pressure relief zone <NUM> when the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated.

As shown in <FIG>, the first wall 21a of the battery cell <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present application is provided with a first restraint member <NUM>, the thermal management component <NUM> is provided with a second restraint member <NUM>, and the first restraint member <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM> are arranged to be mated, so that the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is arranged opposite to the pressure relief zone <NUM>.

Therefore, according to a battery <NUM> of an embodiment of the present application, a first restraint member <NUM> is disposed on a first wall 21a where a pressure relief mechanism <NUM> of a battery cell <NUM> is located, and a second restraint member <NUM> is disposed on a thermal management component <NUM>. In this way, opposite arrangement of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and a pressure relief zone <NUM> could be accurately achieved through mating arrangement of the first restraint member <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM>, which is convenient for alignment installation of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and the pressure relief zone <NUM>, so that emissions discharged from the battery cell <NUM> are capable of being discharged smoothly through the pressure relief zone <NUM> when the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated, and explosion of the battery cell <NUM> is effectively avoided.

It should be understood that the battery <NUM> in <FIG> may be the foregoing battery <NUM> in <FIG>, and is applicable to the related description. The battery cell <NUM> may be any one of the foregoing battery cells <NUM> in <FIG>, and is also applicable to the related description, which will not be repeated redundantly herein for brevity.

It should be understood that the attachment of the first surface <NUM> to the first wall 21a according to the embodiment of the present application includes direct contact of the first surface <NUM> with the first wall 21a, and may also include connection of the first surface <NUM> to the first wall 21a through a thermally conductive adhesive or other substances to achieve a heat exchange.

It should be understood that the pressure relief zone <NUM> disposed on the thermal management component <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present application may adopt various arrangements that facilitate the damage by the emissions, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application, and will be illustrated by way of example below.

It should be understood that the thermal management component <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present application may accommodate the fluid. For example, the thermal management component <NUM> may be provided with a flow channel, and the fluid is accommodated in the flow channel, so that the flow channel on the thermal management component <NUM> is capable of being damaged by the emissions discharged from the battery cell <NUM> when the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated, to flow the internal fluid out and perform a temperature lowering process on the emissions. The pressure relief zone <NUM> may be disposed between adjacent flow channels, or may also be disposed on a flow channel, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the pressure relief zone <NUM> may be configured as a through hole. Optionally, a hole wall of the through hole may be a wall of the flow channel. When the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated, on one hand, the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> may be opened toward the through hole to discharge the emissions in the battery cell <NUM>, and the emissions are discharged through the through hole, for example, may enter a collection chamber under the thermal management component <NUM> through the through hold, so as to relieve the pressures and temperatures of the battery cell <NUM> and an electrical chamber where the battery cell <NUM> is located. Meanwhile, when passing through the through hole of the pressure relief zone <NUM>, the high-temperature emissions could melt the hole wall of the through hole, that is, destroying the flow channel, so that the fluid in the flow channel is discharged. In this case, the fluid and the emissions cooled by the fluid could enter a collection chamber 11b together. Since the cooling by the fluid can quickly reduce the temperature of the emissions from the battery cell <NUM>, a risk of the emissions entering the collection chamber 11b is greatly reduced, which does not have a great impact on other parts of the battery <NUM>, such as other battery cells <NUM>, so that destructiveness caused by abnormality of a single battery cell <NUM> could be suppressed as soon as possible, and the possibility of explosion of the battery <NUM> could be reduced.

Optionally, as another embodiment, the pressure relief zone <NUM> may also be configured as a weakened zone. In this way, when the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is not actuated, the thermal management component <NUM> keeps an electrical chamber 11a and the collection chamber 11b relatively isolated, which could avoid substances in the collection chamber 11b to enter the electrical chamber 11a. Specifically, the weakened zone may be a groove, that is, a groove is disposed at a position of the thermal management component <NUM> opposite to the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>. A thickness of the thermal management component <NUM> at a bottom wall of the groove is smaller than a thickness of the thermal management component <NUM> at another region other than the groove, so that the bottom wall of the groove is weaker than another region on the thermal management component <NUM>, and is more easily damaged by the emissions. Then, the bottom wall of the groove may form the pressure relief zone <NUM>, so that the emissions could damage the bottom wall of the groove when the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated, to further enter the collection chamber 11b.

Optionally, an opening of the groove may face the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>, so that there is a gap between the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and the bottom wall of the groove to provide a deformation space for the pressure relief mechanism 213when it is actuated; or an opening of the groove may also face away from the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>, a deformation space for the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is provided in other ways, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

Optionally, the pressure relief zone <NUM> of the thermal management component <NUM> is a weakened zone, which may also be achieved by providing different materials. For example, a melting point of a material of the pressure relief zone <NUM> is set to be smaller than a melting point of a material of another region on the thermal management component <NUM> other than the pressure relief zone <NUM>. In this way, the pressure relief zone <NUM> is more easily damaged by the high-temperature emissions discharged from the battery cell <NUM>, so that the emissions enter the collection chamber 11b through the damaged pressure relief zone <NUM>.

In addition to the foregoing through hole or weakened zone, the pressure relief zone <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present application may also be achieved in other ways, which will not be enumerated herein.

It should be understood that an area, a shape and a material of the pressure relief zone <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present application may be flexibly set according to actual applications. For example, in order to make the pressure relief zone <NUM> not affect the deformation of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> when it is actuated, the shape of the pressure relief zone <NUM> may be consistent with the shape of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>, the area of the pressure relief zone <NUM> may be set to be larger than or equal to an area of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

As shown in <FIG>, in order to make the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> more accurately arranged opposite to the pressure relief zone <NUM>, the first restraint member <NUM> is disposed on the first wall 21a where the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present application is located, the second restraint member <NUM> is disposed on the thermal management component <NUM>, and the first restraint member <NUM> is arranged to be mated with the second restraint member <NUM>, so that the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is arranged opposite to the pressure relief zone <NUM> more accurately.

The first restraint member <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to the present invention, the mating arrangement of the first restraint member <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM> is achieved through a protrusion structure and a groove structure. Specifically, the first restraint member <NUM> includes a protrusion structure and the second restraint member <NUM> includes a groove structure; or the first restraint member <NUM> includes a groove structure and the second restraint member <NUM> includes a protrusion structure; where the protrusion structure is at least partially accommodated in the groove structure, so that the first restraint member <NUM> is mated with the second restraint member <NUM>. The mating arrangement of the first restraint member <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM> is achieved through a groove structure and a protrusion structure, which is convenient for processing, and could facilitate installation and fixation of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and the pressure relief zone <NUM>.

It should be understood that, in consideration of the need of a certain deformation space when the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated, a gap between the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and the first surface <NUM> may be achieved after the battery cell <NUM> and the thermal management component <NUM> are installed by the provided first restraint member <NUM> and second restraint member <NUM>. The gap is configured to provide the deformation space for the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>, so that the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> deforms toward the thermal management component <NUM>. Optionally, the gap may be achieved by setting a height of the protrusion structure to be greater than a depth of the groove structure, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

It should be understood that, in order to achieve accurate positioning of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and the pressure relief zone <NUM>, positions of the first restraint member <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present application are related to those of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and the pressure relief zone <NUM>. Examples will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Optionally, for convenience of illustration, the embodiment of the present application is illustrated by an example that the shapes of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and the pressure relief zone <NUM> are the same, specifically, an example that the shapes of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and the pressure relief zone <NUM> are both racetrack shapes. <FIG> are several bottom views of a battery cell <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present application, respectively, that is, respectively showing possible arrangements of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and the first restraint member <NUM> on the first wall 21a. In other words, <FIG> are several top views of a thermal management component <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present application, respectively, that is, respectively showing possible arrangements of the pressure relief zone <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM> on the first surface <NUM>. Specifically, <FIG> may show the first restraint member <NUM> disposed around the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>, and the first restraint member <NUM> in the drawings may include a protrusion structure, or the first restraint member <NUM> in the drawings may include a groove structure. In addition, <FIG> may also show the second restraint member <NUM> disposed around the pressure relief zone <NUM>, and the second restraint member <NUM> in the drawings may include a protrusion structure, or the second restraint member <NUM> in the drawings may include a groove structure.

Optionally, the numbers of the first restraint members <NUM> and the second restraint members <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present application may be set according to actual applications, and the number of the first restraint members <NUM> may be the same as or different from the number of the second restraint members <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the first restraint member <NUM> may be an annular structure surrounding a periphery of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>; and/or the second restraint member <NUM> may be an annular structure surrounding a periphery of the pressure relief zone <NUM>. For another example, as shown in <FIG>, two first restraint members <NUM> may be disposed around the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>; and/or two second restraint members <NUM> may be disposed around the pressure relief zone <NUM>. For another example, the number of the first restraint members <NUM> and the number of the second restraint members <NUM> may be the same, for example, the first restraint member <NUM> adopts the arrangement as shown in <FIG>, while the second restraint member <NUM> also adopts the arrangement as shown in <FIG>, so as to facilitate processing and installation; or the number of the first restraint members <NUM> and the number of the second restraint members <NUM> may be different, for example, the first restraint member <NUM> adopts the arrangement as shown in <FIG>, while the second restraint member <NUM> adopts the arrangement as shown in <FIG>, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

Optionally, positions and shapes of the first restraint member <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present application may also be set according to actual applications. For example, when the first restraint member <NUM> and/or the second restraint member <NUM> are set as annular structures, they may be set as square annular structures as shown in <FIG>, or may be set in a circular shape, or as other annular structures.

For another example, when at least two first restraint members <NUM> are disposed around the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>, and/or when at least two second restraint members <NUM> are disposed around the pressure relief zone <NUM>, positions of a plurality of first restraint members <NUM> may be set according to actual applications, and shapes of the plurality of first restraint members <NUM> may be the same or different; and positions of a plurality of second restraint members <NUM> may also be set according to actual applications, and shapes of the plurality of second restraint members <NUM> may be the same or different. For convenience of installation and positioning, the plurality of first restraint members <NUM> may be evenly distributed around the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>. Similarly, the plurality of second restraint members <NUM> may also be evenly distributed around the pressure relief zone <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, in an example that two first restraint members <NUM> are provided, one of the two first restraint members <NUM> may be configured to overlap with the other first restraint member <NUM> after rotating <NUM>° about a central point of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> on the first wall 21a. Similarly, in an example that two second restraint members <NUM> are provided, one of the two second restraint members <NUM> may be configured to overlap with the other second restraint member <NUM> after rotating <NUM>° about a central point of the pressure relief zone <NUM> on the first surface <NUM>. Moreover, as shown in <FIG>, the two first restraint members <NUM> and/or the two second restraint members <NUM> may be set in a linear type, or may be set in a right angle shape, or may also be set in another shape, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

Optionally, positions and shapes of the first restraint member <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present application may be the same or different. For example, the mating arrangement of the first restraint member <NUM> and the second restrain member <NUM> may be achieved in any combination of <FIG>. For example, when the first restraint member <NUM> adopts the arrangement as shown in <FIG>, the second restraint member <NUM> may be arranged in any one of the arrangements in <FIG>, which could achieve the mating arrangement of the first restraint member <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM>, so as to achieve accurate alignment of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and the pressure relief zone <NUM>.

For convenience of illustration, the following will be described by an example that the first restraint member <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM> both adopt annular structures, the first restraint member <NUM> includes a protrusion structure, and the second restraint member <NUM> includes a groove structure. Specifically, <FIG> shows an exploded view of a battery cell <NUM> and a thermal management component <NUM> in a battery <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present application, <FIG> shows a sectional view of the battery cell <NUM> and the thermal management component <NUM> in <FIG> after installation, and <FIG> shows an exploded view of a region A in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first restraint member <NUM> includes an annular protrusion structure, and the second restraint member <NUM> includes an annular groove structure. Specifically, a first protrusion <NUM> and a second protrusion <NUM> are arranged in sequence around the pressure relief zone <NUM> in a direction outward from a center of the pressure relief zone <NUM>, the groove structure of the second restraint member <NUM> is formed between the first protrusion <NUM> and the second protrusion <NUM>, and the groove structure is configured to accommodate the protrusion structure of the first restraint member <NUM>, so that the first restraint member <NUM> is arranged to be mated with and the second restraint member <NUM>.

Similarly, if the second restraint member <NUM> includes an annular protrusion structure, and the first restraint member <NUM> includes an annular groove structure, then a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion are arranged in sequence around the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> in a direction outward from a center of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>, the groove structure is formed between the third protrusion and the fourth protrusion, and the groove structure is configured to accommodate the first restraint member <NUM>, so that the first restraint member <NUM> is arranged to be mated with the second restraint member <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, whether the first restraint member <NUM> or the second restraint member <NUM> includes a groove structure, the groove structure is formed by providing two protrusions, so that the first restraint member <NUM> could protrude from a surface of the first wall 21a relative to the pressure relief mechanism <NUM>, while the second restraint member <NUM> also protrudes from the first surface <NUM> of the thermal management component <NUM>. In this way, when the first restraint member <NUM> is arranged to be mated with the second restraint member <NUM>, not only accurate alignment of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and the pressure relief zone <NUM> can be achieved, installation efficiency is improved, but also a gap is provided between the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and the first surface <NUM>, which could provide a deformation space for the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> when it is actuated.

Optionally, the first restraint member <NUM> on the periphery of the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> and/or the second restraint member <NUM> on the periphery of the pressure relief zone <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present application may be selected from plastic or another high polymer fireproof and high-temperature material, such as polycarbonate, so that the first restraint member <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM> could withstand the impact of high temperature gas in a short time. In this way, if the first restraint member <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM> are configured as annular structures, then the first restraint member <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM> also have a sealing effect after being arranged to be mated. When the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is actuated, the first restraint member <NUM> and the second restraint member <NUM> could be kept sealed for a certain period of time, which prevents the emissions discharged from the battery cell <NUM> from entering the electrical chamber, and reduces risks of short circuit and thermal diffusion. It is as far as possible to ensure that the high-temperature emissions are discharged to the collection chamber 11b only through the pressure relief zone <NUM>, to further reduce the risk of explosion of the battery <NUM>.

The battery and the power consumption device according to the embodiments of the present application are described above. A method and apparatus for producing a battery according to the embodiments of the present application will be described below, and for the parts that are not described in detail, reference is made to the foregoing embodiments.

<FIG> shows a schematic flowchart of a method <NUM> for producing a battery according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in <FIG>, the method <NUM> may include: S310, providing a battery cell, the battery cell including a pressure relief mechanism, the pressure relief mechanism being disposed on a first wall of the battery cell, and the pressure relief mechanism being configured to be actuated when an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a threshold, to relieve the internal pressure; and S320, providing a thermal management component, the thermal management component being configured to accommodate a fluid to adjust a temperature of the battery cell, a first surface of the thermal management component being attached to the first wall, and the thermal management component being provided with a pressure relief zone, so that emissions discharged from an inside of the battery cell are capable of being discharged through the pressure relief zone when the pressure relief mechanism is actuated; where the first wall is provided with a first restraint member, the thermal management component is provided with a second restraint member, and the first restraint member and the second restraint member are arranged to be mated, so that the pressure relief mechanism is arranged opposite to the pressure relief zone.

Claim 1:
Battery comprising:
a battery cell (<NUM>) comprising a pressure relief mechanism (<NUM>), the pressure relief mechanism (<NUM>) being disposed on a first wall (21a) of the battery cell (<NUM>), and the pressure relief mechanism (<NUM>) being configured to be actuated when an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell (<NUM>) reaches a threshold, to relieve the internal pressure;
characterized in that:
an electrical chamber (11a) configured to accommodate the battery cells (<NUM>) and a bus component (<NUM>), the bus component (<NUM>) being configured to implement electrical connection between a plurality of battery cells (<NUM>);
a collection chamber (11b) configured to collect emissions from the battery cell (<NUM>) when the pressure relief mechanism (<NUM>) is actuated; and
a thermal management component (<NUM>) configured to separate the electrical chamber (11a) from the collection chamber (11b), and to accommodate a fluid to adjust a temperature of the battery cell (<NUM>), a first surface (<NUM>) of the thermal management component (<NUM>) being attached to the first wall (21a), and the thermal management component (<NUM>) being provided with a pressure relief zone (<NUM>), so that emissions discharged from an inside of the battery cell (<NUM>) are capable of being discharged through the pressure relief zone (<NUM>) to the collection chamber (11b) when the pressure relief mechanism (<NUM>) is actuated;
wherein the first wall (21a) is provided with a first restraint member (<NUM>), the thermal management component (<NUM>) is provided with a second restraint member (<NUM>), and the first restraint member (<NUM>) and the second restraint member (<NUM>) are arranged to be mated, so that the pressure relief mechanism (<NUM>) is arranged opposite to the pressure relief zone (<NUM>);
the first restraint member (<NUM>) comprises a protrusion structure and the second restraint member (<NUM>) comprises a groove structure, or the first restraint member (<NUM>) comprises a groove structure and the second restraint member (<NUM>) comprises a protrusion structure; and
the protrusion structure is at least partially accommodated in the groove structure.