ELECTROCHEMICAL ACCUMULATOR AND VEHICLE COMPRISING AN ELECTROCHEMICAL ACCUMULATOR

• US 20110056758A1
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarios Technology and Recycling GmbH
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Hybrid and Recycling GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Birkholz, Joerg, HOH, Markus, Wiegmann, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,100,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6566 Means within the gas flow to guide the flow around one or more cells, e.g. manifolds, baffles or other barriers H01M10/6565 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/107 having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/147 Lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/3425 in the form of rupturable membranes or weakened parts, e.g. pierced with the aid of a sharp member
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electrochemical accumulator includes a plurality of electrochemical cells, each of which has a casing. The accumulator also includes a cover, a housing which is closed by the cover, an electrolyte in the housing, and at least one connecting pole for making electrical contact with the accumulator, where the connecting pole is electrically connected to a group of the electrochemical cells. The accumulator also includes a cooling air area for holding cooling air for cooling the cells and a degassing area for holding a gas which emerges from the cells in the event of a defect. The cooling air area and the degassing area are separated from one another in a gas-tight manner and the cooling air area and the degassing area are passed out of the housing independently of one another. The cooling air area has channels which are guided on the casings of the cells outside the cells.

Claims

1. An electrochemical accumulator comprising:

a plurality of electrochemical cells, each of the electrochemical cells having a casing;

a cover;

a housing which is closed by the cover;

at least one connecting pole for making electrical contact with the accumulator, wherein the connecting pole is electrically connected to a group of the electrochemical cells;

an electrolyte in the housing;

a cooling air area for holding cooling air for cooling the cells; and

a degassing area for holding a gas which emerges from the cells in the event of a defect;

wherein the cooling air area and the degassing area are separated from one another in a gas-tight manner and the cooling air area and the degassing area are passed out of the housing independently of one another; and

wherein the cooling air area has channels which are guided on the casings of the cells outside the cells.

2. The electrochemical accumulator of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cells are cylindrical.

3. The electrochemical accumulator of claim 1, wherein the degassing area comprises cylindrical areas which are arranged outside the cells on base surfaces or covering surfaces of the cells.

4. The electrochemical accumulator of claim 1, wherein the cells have bursting openings via which the internal areas in the cells are connected to the degassing area such that gas can escape from the internal areas in the cells into the degassing area.

5. The electrochemical accumulator of claim 4, wherein the bursting openings are closed by bursting membranes.

6. The electrochemical accumulator of claim 1, further comprising a support in the housing for supporting the cells in the assembled state.

7. The electrochemical accumulator of claim 1, wherein the cells are lithium-ion cells.

8. A vehicle comprising:

an electrochemical accumulator;

a passenger compartment; and

a fan configured to pass cooling air from the passenger compartment into the electrochemical accumulator;

wherein the electrochemical accumulator comprises;

a plurality of electrochemical cells, each of the electrochemical cells having a casing;

a cover;

a housing which is closed by the cover;

at least one connecting pole for making electrical contact with the accumulator, wherein the connecting pole is electrically connected to a group of the electrochemical cells;

an electrolyte in the housing;

a cooling air area for holding cooling air for cooling the cells; and

a degassing area for holding a gas which emerges from the cells in the event of a defect;

wherein the cooling air area and the degassing area are separated from one another in a gas-tight manner and the cooling air area and the degassing area are passed out of the housing independently of one another; and

wherein the cooling air area has channels which are guided on the casings of the cells outside the cells.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the electrochemical cells are cylindrical.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the degassing area comprises cylindrical areas which are arranged outside the cells on base surfaces or covering surfaces of the cells.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the cells have bursting openings via which the internal areas in the cells are connected to the degassing area such that gas can escape from the internal areas in the cells into the degassing area.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the bursting openings are closed by bursting membranes.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a support in the housing for supporting the cells in the assembled state.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the cells are lithium-ion cells.

15. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the fan is arranged between the electrochemical accumulator and the passenger compartment such that the cooling air from the passenger compartment is forced through the electrochemical accumulator.

16. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the fan is arranged behind the electrochemical accumulator such that the cooling air from the passenger compartment is drawn through the electrochemical accumulator.

17. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle or an electrical vehicle.