Electrochemical accumulator and vehicle comprising an electrochemical accumulator

• US 8,100,211 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• 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, Wiegmann, Martin, Hoh, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hau
• Application Number:
  US12/875,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20110056758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 429/61, 429/164, 429/148, 429/120, 429/181, 429/99, 429/94, 429/83, 429/204, 180/68.5
• 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 provided in a housing that includes;

a cooling air area for routing cooling air around an exterior surface of at least one of the cells; and

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

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

wherein the cooling air area comprises individual channels provided about the exterior surface of each of the cells;

wherein the individual channels are formed between webs.

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 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. The electrochemical accumulator of claim 1, wherein the cooling air flows in a helical shape along the channels.

9. The electrochemical accumulator of claim 1, wherein the cooling air emerges from the channels via outlet slots.

10. The electrochemical accumulator of claim 9, wherein the outlet slots are provided around a top portion of each of the cells.

11. An electrochemical accumulator comprising:

a plurality of electrochemical cells provided within a housing, each of the electrochemical cells having a casing;

a cooling air area comprising individual channels for passing cooling air around the casing of each of the cells; and

a degassing area for holding a gas which emerges from at least one of the cells;

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

wherein the channels are formed by webs extending from a top portion of each of the cells to a bottom portion of each of the cells.

12. The electrochemical accumulator of claim 11, wherein the cooling air flows in a helical shape along the channels.

13. The electrochemical accumulator of claim 11, wherein the cooling air exits the channels via outlet slots provided around the top portion of each of the cells.

14. The electrochemical accumulator of claim 11, further comprising air inlets provided in a base located adjacent a bottom portion of the cells.

15. An electrochemical accumulator comprising:

a plurality of electrochemical cells provided within a housing;

a cooling air area comprising individual channels for routing cooling air about an exterior surface of each of the cells; and

a degassing area for receiving a gas which escapes from at least one of the cells;

wherein the cooling air area is physically separated from the degassing area such that the cooling air and the gas may be passed out of the housing independently of one another;

wherein the channels are formed by webs extending from a top portion of each of the cells to a bottom portion of each of the cells.

16. The electrochemical accumulator of claim 15, wherein the cooling air flows in a helical shape along the channels.

17. The electrochemical accumulator of claim 15, wherein the cooling air exits the channels via outlet slots provided around a top portion of each of the cells.