ELECTRIC FACILITY OPERATING ACCORDING TO GALVANIC PRINCIPLES

• US 20100136403A1
• Filed: 07/08/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Li-Tec Battery GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Li-Tech Battery GmbH
• Inventors: Gutsch, Andreas, Brasse, Claudia, Schafer, Tim
• Application Number:
  US12/499,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20100136403A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/617 for achieving uniformity or desired distribution of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6553 Terminals or leads
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6554 Rods or plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/51 Connection only in series
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/512 Connection only in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/531 Electrode connections inside a battery casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/543 Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The invention relates to a facility (10, 20) operating according to galvanic principles such as particularly a battery, respectively an accumulator, in particular a lithium-ion battery, and assemblies thereof. The facility comprises a housing (12), at least one first current conductor (14), which protrudes from the housing (12), and at least one first heat conducting facility (24), which is connected to the first current conductor (14) in heat flow communication, and which is developed such to conduct thermal energy from the first current conductor (14).

A first facility (110) and a second facility (120) are arranged in a flat basis module such that a first housing (112) of the first facility (110) shares a plane with a second housing (113) of the second facility (120), and that the housing surface of the first housing from which the second current conductor protrudes faces the housing surface of the second facility from which the first current conductor of the second facility protrudes, wherein the second current conductor (116) of the first facility (110) may be connected in electric contact to the first current conductor (115) of the second facility. A heat conducting facility (124) is connected in heat flow communication to the second current conductor (116) of the first facility (110), or with the first current conductor (115) of the second facility (120) for conducting thermal energy.

Several facilities and/or flat basis modules may be spatially compactedly assembled in stacks in electric serial connection or parallel connection, respectively parallel stacks, wherein heat by means of heat conducting facilities may be dissipated from the current conductors.

Claims

1. Facility (10, 20) operating according to galvanic principles such as a battery, an accumulator, and a lithium-ion battery, comprising

a housing (12), at least one first current conductor (14), which protrudes from the housing and at least one first heat conducting facility (24), which is connected to the first current conductor (14) in heat flow communication, and which is developed such to conduct thermal energy from the first current conductor (14).

2. Facility (10, 20) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one second current conductor (16), which protrudes from the housing (12), and at least one second heat conducting facility (26), which is connected to the second current conductor (16) in heat flow communication, and which is developed such to conduct thermal energy from the second current conductor (16).

3. Facility (10, 20) according to claim 2, wherein the first current conductor (14) protrudes from a first housing surface (32) of the housing (12), the second current conductor (16) protrudes from a second housing surface (34) of the housing (12), and that the second housing surface (34) is arranged to oppose the first housing surface (32).

4. Facility (10, 20) according to claim 2, wherein the first, and second heat conducting facility is connected to the first, and second current conductor in one of a positive and a non-positive manner.

5. Facility (10, 20) according to claim 1, wherein at least the portion of the first current conductor (14), which protrudes from the housing (12) has an elongated form.

6. Facility (20) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (12) has an essentially cuboid-shaped form, and wherein portion of the first current conductor (14), which protrudes from the housing (12), extends along a longest edge (40) of housing (12).

7. Facility (20) according to claim 3, wherein the housing (12) has an essentially cuboid-shaped form, and wherein a portion of the first current conductor (14), which protrudes from the housing (12), extends in parallel to a longest edge (40) of the housing on a first housing surface (32), which is bordered by a longest edge (40) and a shortest edge (44) of the housing, and wherein a portion of a second current conductor (16), which protrudes from the housing (12) extends on a second housing surface (34), which opposes the first housing surface (32).

8. Facility according to claim 2, wherein the first current conductor (14) is connected to a cathode of the facility, and the second current conductor (16) is connected to an anode of the facility.

9. Facility according to claim 2, wherein the first current conductor (14) forms a negative terminal of the facility, and the second current conductor (16) forms a positive terminal of the facility.

10. Facility according to claim 1, wherein the housing (12) has an essentially cuboid-shaped form comprising two largest housing surfaces (46) opposing each other, which are termed as upper and lower housing surface, and two second largest housing surfaces (48) opposing each other, which are termed as first and second lateral surface, and which share with the upper and the lower housing surface one edge from the group of longest edges (40) of the housing (12), respectively, wherein the distance between the upper and the lower housing surface (46) is not greater than 30%, in particular not greater than 20%, and still more preferred not greater than 10% of the length of one edge from the group of the longest edges (40).

11. Facility (20) according to claim 10, wherein the first current conductor (14) protrudes from one of the two lateral surfaces (48) of the housing, and the second current conductor (16) protrudes from one of the two other lateral surfaces (48) of the housing opposing said one lateral surface, and extends in parallel to one edge from the group of the longest edges (40).

12. Facility (20) according to claim 10, wherein the housing (12) further comprises two smallest housing surfaces (50) opposing each other, which are termed as first and second end surfaces, and that the first current conductor (14) protrudes from one of the two end surfaces (50) and the second current conductor (16) protrudes from the other one of the two end surfaces (50).

13. Facility (10, 20) according to claim 1, wherein the first heat conducting facility (24) has an elongated form having a longitudinal direction, essentially completely covers the first current conductor (14), and protrudes in longitudinal direction at least into one direction over the respective extension of the current conductor (14).

14. Facility (20) according to claim 13, wherein the first heat conducting facility (24) extends in its longitudinal direction over the extension of the housing surface from which the first current conductor (14) protrudes.

15. Facility (10, 20) according to claim 4, wherein the facility (10, 20) is developed such that it may be coupled to at least a second facility (22), which essentially has the same construction, to a two-fold module, wherein the facility (10, 20) and at least the second facility (22) may be arranged in a shared plane such that the second current conductor (16) of facility (10, 20) may be laterally arranged and connected to the first current conductor (14) of the second facility (22) in electric contact.

16. Facility according to claim 2, wherein a receiving facility for thermal energy, which is coupled to one or several heat conducting facilities (24, 26) in heat flow communication for receiving thermal energy, which is dissipated by the one or the several heat conducting facilities (24, 26).

17. Flat basis module (100) of a facility operating according to galvanic principles, comprising:

a first facility (110) operating according to galvanic principles, which comprises a first housing (112) having an essentially cuboid-shaped form, a first current conductor (114), which protrudes from a first lateral surface or first end surface of the first housing (112), and a second current conductor (116), which protrudes from a second lateral surface or second end surface of the first housing (112), which opposes the first lateral surface, and

a second facility (120) operating according to galvanic principles, which comprises a second housing (113) having an essentially cuboid-shaped form, a first current conductor (115), which protrudes from a first lateral surface or first end surface of the second housing (113), and a second current conductor (117), which protrudes from a second lateral surface or second end surface of the second housing (113), which opposes the first lateral surface,

wherein the first and second facility (110, 120) are arranged such that the first housing (112) of the first facility (110) is arranged with the second housing (113) of the second facility (120) in a shared plane such that the housing of the first facility is arranged in a shared plane with the housing of the second device such that the housing surface of the first facility from which the second current conductor of the first facility protrudes, faces the housing surface of the second facility from which the first current conductor of the second facility protrudes,

wherein preferably the second current conductor (116) of the first facility (110) is connected to the first current conductor (115) of the second facility (120) in electrical contact, characterized by a heat conducting facility (124), which is connected to the second current conductor (116) of the first facility (110) in heat flow communication, or to the first current conductor (115) of the second facility (120), for conducting thermal energy.

18. Flat basis module (100) according to claim 17, wherein the second facility (120) essentially has the same construction as the first facility (110).

19. Flat basis module (100) according to claim 17, wherein the second current conductor (116) of the first facility (110), and the first current conductor (115) of the second facility (120) are connected to each other preferably in laminar, electric contact, preferably in a positive or non-positive manner.

20. Flat basis module (100) according to claim 17, wherein the heat conducing facility (124) is connected to one of the second current conductor (116) of the first facility (110) and to the first current conductor (115) of the second facility (120) in one of a positive and a non-positive manner.

21. Flat basis module (100) according to claim 17, wherein the first current conductor (114) of the first facility (110) is connected to a cathode of the first facility, and the second current conductor (117) of the second facility (120) is connected to an anode of the second facility.

22. Flat basis module (100) according to claim 17, wherein the first current conductor (114) of the first facility (110) forms a negative terminal of the flat basis module (100), and the second current conductor (117) of the second facility (120) forms a positive terminal of the flat basis module.

23. Device (200) operating according to galvanic principles, comprising:

a first flat basis module (101), and a second flat basis module (102) according to claim 17, wherein the second flat basis module (102) is arranged above the first flat basis module (101), and wherein the first current conductor (114) of the first facility (110) of the second flat basis module (102) is arranged above the first current conductor (114) of the first facility (110) of the first flat basis module (101), and the second current conductor (117) of the second facility (120) of the second flat basis module (102) is arranged above the second current conductor (117) of the second facility (120) of the first flat basis module (110).

24. Device according to claim 23, wherein the device is developed such that by making an electric connection by means of a suitable electric connecting system (160) between the first current conductor (114) of the first facility (110) of the second flat basis module (102) and the first current conductor (114) of the first facility (110) of the first flat basis module (101) as well as an electric connection by means of a suitable electric connecting system (160) between the second current conductor (117) of the second facility (120) of the second flat basis module (102) and the second current conductor (117) of the second facility (120) of the first flat basis module (101), a parallel connection of the flat basis modules (101, 102) may be formed.

25. Device according to claim 23, wherein the second current conductor (117) of the second facility (120) of the second flat basis module (102) is connected to the second current conductor (117) of the second facility (120) of the first flat basis module (101) by means of an electric connecting system (160).

26. Device (200) according to claim 23, wherein at least one further flat basis module or a multitude of further flat basis modules according to are arranged one upon the other such that for adjoining flat basis modules, respectively, the first current conductor of the first facility of the top flat basis module is arranged above the first current conductor of the first facility of the flat basis module, which is adjoinedly arranged below, and the second current conductor of the second facility of the top flat basis module is arranged above the second current conductor of the second facility of the flat basis module, which is adjoinedly arranged below.

27. Device (200) according to claim 23, wherein the first current conductor of the first facility of a respective flat basis module is connected to the first current conductor of the first facility of an adjoining flat basis module, respectively, by means of an electric connecting system, and that the second current conductor of the second facility of a respective flat basis module is connected to the second current conductor of the second facility of an adjoining flat basis module, respectively, by means of an electric connecting system such that a parallel connection of the flat basis modules is formed.

40. Device (200, 300) according to claim 23, wherein the device (200, 300) comprises two or more stacks of flat basis modules (101, 102) being arranged one upon the other.

51. Device according to claim 40, wherein the stacks are arranged side by side in a linear, bi-linear or multi-linear arrangement.

52. Device (200, 300, 400, 500) according to claim 51, wherein at least two or more linear, bi-linear or multi-linear arrangements are arranged side by side and/or one upon the other.

28. Device (300) operating according to galvanic principles comprising:

a first flat basis module (101) and

a second flat basis module (102)

wherein the second flat basis module (101) is arranged above the first flat basis module (101), and wherein the first current conductor (114) of the first facility (110) of the second flat basis module (102) is arranged above the second current conductor (117) of the second facility (120) of the first flat basis module (102), and the second current conductor (117) of the second facility (120) of the second flat basis module (102) is arranged above the first current conductor (114) of the first facility (110) of the first flat basis module (101).

29. Device (300) according to claim 28, wherein the device is developed such that by making an electric connection by means of a suitable electric connecting system (160) between the first current conductor (114) of the first facility (110) of the second flat basis module (102) and the second current conductor (117) of the second facility (120) of the first flat basis module (101) as well as an electric connection by means of a suitable electric connecting system (160) between the second current conductor (117) of the second facility (120) of the second flat basis module (102) and the first current conductor (114) of the first facility (110) of the first flat basis module (201), a serial connection of the flat basis modules (101, 102) may be formed.

30. Device (300) according to claim 28, wherein the first current conductor (114) of the first facility (110) of the second flat basis module (102) is connected to the second current conductor (117) of the second facility (120) of the first flat basis module (101) by means of an electric connecting system (160).

31. Device according to claim 28, further comprising one of at least one flat basis module

wherein the flat basis modules of the device are arranged one upon the other such that for a respective flat basis module the first current conductor of the first facility of the respective flat basis module is arranged above the second current conductor of the second facility of the flat basis module, which is adjoinedly arranged below, and the second current conductor of the second facility of the respective flat basis module is arranged below the first current conductor of the first facility of the flat basis module, which is adjoinedly arranged above.

32. Device according to claim 31, wherein the first current conductor of the first facility of a respective medium flat basis module is connected to the second current conductor of the second facility of a flat basis module, which is adjoinedly arranged below by means of an electric connecting system, and that the second current conductor of the second facility of the respective medium flat basis module is connected to the first current conductor of the first facility of a flat basis module, which is adjoinedly arranged above by means of an electric connecting system such that a serial connection of the flat basis modules is formed.

33. Device according to claim 28, wherein the respective adjoining flat basis modules (101, 102) are stacked one upon the other.

34. Device according to claim 29, wherein at least one rigid electric connecting system (160), which connects current conductors being arranged one upon the other in an electrically conductible manner to each other, respectively.

35. Device according to claim 29, wherein at least one flexible electric connecting system (160), which connects current conductors being arranged one upon the other in an electrically conductible manner to each other, respectively.

36. Device according to claim 28, further comprising a pair of adjoining current conductors, which are connected by means of an electric connecting system, and at least one current conductor a heat conducting facility connected to said current conductor in heat flow communication.

37. Device according to claim 28, wherein at each current conductor (114, 115, 116, 117) a heat conducting facility (124) is connected to said current conductor in heat flow communication.

38. Device according to claim 28, wherein a respective heat conducting facility (124) has an elongated form having a longitudinal direction, essentially completely covers the respective current conductor (114, 115, 116, 117), and protrudes in longitudinal direction in at least one direction over the respective extension of the current conductor.

39. Device according to claim 38, heat conducting facility (124) extends in its longitudinal direction over the extension of the housing surface from which the respective current conductor (114, 115, 116, 117) protrudes.

41. Device (400) operating according to galvanic principles, comprising:

a first facility (21) and

a second facility (22)

wherein the second facility (22) is arranged above the first facility (21), and wherein the first current conductor (114) of the second facility (22) is arranged above the first current conductor (114) of the first facility (21), and the second current conductor (116) of the second facility (22) is arranged above the second current conductor (116) of the first facility (21).

42. Device (400) according to claim 41, wherein the device (400) is developed such that by making a first electric connection by means of a suitable first electric connecting system (160) between the first current conductor (114) of the second facility (22) and the first current conductor (114) of the first facility (21) as well as a second electric connection by means of a suitable second electric connecting system (160) between the second current conductor (116) of the second facility (22) and the second current conductor (116) of the first facility (21), a parallel connection of the facilities (21, 22) may be formed.

43. Device (400) according to claim 41, further comprising at least one facility wherein the facilities are arranged one upon the other such that the respective first current conductors of the facilities and the respective second current conductors of the facilities are arranged one upon the other, respectively.

44. Device according to claim 41, wherein the first current conductors (114) of the respective facilities (21, 22, . . . ) are connected to each other by means of an electric connecting system (160), and that the second current conductors (116) of the respective facilities (21, 22, . . . ) are connected to each other by means of an electric connecting system (160) such that a parallel connection of the facilities (21, 22, . . . ) is formed.

45. Device (400) according to claim 41, wherein the device (400) comprises two or more stacks of facilities (21, 22, . . . ) being arranged one upon the other.

46. Device (500) operating according to galvanic principles, comprising:

a first facility (21) and

a second facility (22) wherein the second facility (22) is arranged above the first facility (21), and wherein the first current conductor (114) of the second facility (22) is arranged above the second current conductor (116) of the first facility (21), and the second current conductor (116) of the second facility (22) is arranged above the first current conductor (114) of the first facility (21).

47. Device (500) according to claim 46, wherein the device (500) is developed such that by making an electric connection by means of a suitable electric connecting system (160) between the first current conductor (114) of the second facility (22) and the second current conductor (116) of the first facility (21), a serial connection of the facilities (21, 22) may be formed.

48. Device (500) according to claim 46, further comprising at least one facility wherein the facilities are arranged one upon the other such that the first current conductor of an adjoining facility, which is arranged above a respective facility, is arranged above a respective second current conductor of the respective facility.

49. Device (500) according to claim 46, wherein the first current conductor of an adjoining facility, which is arranged above a respective facility, is connected by means of an electric connecting system (160) to a respective second current conductor of the respective facility such that a serial connection of the facilities being arranged one upon the other is formed.

50. Device (400, 500) according to claim 46, wherein the device (400, 500) comprises two or several stacks of facilities (21, 22) being arranged one upon the other.

53. Device (200, 300, 400, 500) according to claim 46, in the stacking, respectively in the arrangement of stacks side by side, between the respective facilities, which are arranged one upon the other, respectively side by side, one or several, in particular thin, preferably electrically isolating, preferably vibration-reducing, preferably flexible, foil or layer is arranged.

54. Device (200, 300, 400, 500) according to claim 46, by a receiving facility for thermal energy, which is coupled in heat flow communication to one or more heat conducting facilities (124) for receiving thermal energy, which is dissipated from the one or from the several heat conducting facilities (124).