Description:BATTERY MODULE FOR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure generally relates to battery modules. The present disclosure specifically relates to a battery module for energy storage system. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to an energy storage system with at least one improved battery module. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a method of assembling a battery module.
BACKGROUND
Recently, there have been a rapid development in energy storage system for various uses ranging from domestic use to transportation use. The energy storage system comprises a set of any number of identical batteries, battery modules or individual battery cells. The battery cells are assembled as cell arrays and multiple cell arrays are combined to form the battery module.
In conventional energy storage systems, a large number of battery cells are electrically connected to form a cell array and multiple cell arrays are connected and used as a single unit due to the necessity of high voltage and current output and large capacity. In such systems, the individual battery cells are electrically connected by welding busbars on the terminals of the cells. The welding of the busbars on the terminals of the battery cells helps in securing the battery cells in place and enables maximum electrical conductivity.
However, connecting busbars to the terminals of the cells poses a challenge as the busbars with high electrical resistance are easy to weld but increases the energy loss in the form of heat. Conversely, busbars with low electrical resistance does not increase the energy loss in the form of heat but are difficult to weld on the terminals of the battery cells as the there is insufficient resistance to generate enough heat for welding. Furthermore, once welded, battery cells cannot be removed from the cell array for replacement or maintenance. In condition, when one battery cell is damaged in the cell array, the whole cell array or battery module is required to be replaced resulting into significant cost increase.
Thus, there exists a need for a battery module that at least partially overcomes the above-mentioned problems.
SUMMARY
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery module with non-permanent fixing of busbars and can be disassembled for maintenance and repairs.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an energy storage solution comprising at least one battery module with non-permanent fixing of busbars and can be disassembled for maintenance and repairs.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of assembling a battery module with non-permanent fixing of busbars and can be disassembled for maintenance and repairs.
In accordance with first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided battery module comprising a plurality of battery cells, a pair of cell holders to vertically hold the plurality of battery cells, a pair of busbar plates comprising C-clip connectors to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells, and a pair of busbar plate holders to mechanically hold the pair of busbar plates.
The present disclosure provides a battery module for energy storage system. The battery module, as disclosed in the present disclosure, is advantageous in terms of eliminating the need of welding busbar plates with the terminals of the battery cells for forming electrical connection. Furthermore, the battery module eliminates all the limitations and complications associated with the welding of busbars on the terminals of the battery cells. Furthermore, the battery module of the present disclosure can be disassembled for maintenance and repairs.
In accordance with second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an energy storage system comprising at least one battery module, as disclosed in the first aspect.
In accordance with third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of assembling a battery module. The method comprises assembling a pair of busbar plates by fixing C-clip connectors on each of the busbar plate, arranging a plurality of battery cells vertically in between a pair of cell holders, arranging the pair of busbar plates on the pair of cell holders to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells, arranging a pair of busbar plate holders on the pair of busbar plates to mechanically hold the pair of busbar plates.
Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the present disclosure would be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments constructed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow.
It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of a battery module, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.
Figure 2 illustrates a reference view of a cell holder of the battery module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 3 illustrates a front reference view of the battery module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 4a illustrates a top perspective view of a busbar plate of the battery module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 4b illustrates a bottom perspective view of a busbar plate of the battery module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 5a illustrates a top view of a C-clip connector of the busbar plate, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 5b illustrates a perspective view of a C-clip connector of the busbar plate, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 5c illustrates a side view of a C-clip connector of the busbar plate, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 6 illustrates a flow chart of a method of assembling a battery module, in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure.
In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure and ways in which they can be implemented. Although some modes of carrying out the present disclosure have been disclosed, those skilled in the art would recognise that other embodiments for carrying out or practising the present disclosure are also possible.
The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of certain embodiments of a battery module of an energy storage system and is not intended to represent the only forms that may be developed or utilised. The description sets forth the various structures and/or functions in connection with the illustrated embodiments; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimised to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.
The terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “include(s)”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, system that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or system. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises... a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.
In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
The present disclosure will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the description with unnecessary detail.
As used herein, the terms “energy storage system” and “energy storage solution” are used interchangeably and refer to multiple individual battery modules connected together to provide a higher combined voltage or capacity than what a single module can offer. The energy storage system is designed to store electrical energy and supply it as needed to various devices or systems. Energy storage system, as referred herein may be used for various purposes such as powering electric vehicles, powering home appliances (domestic use), powering industrial systems (commercial use) and other energy storage applications. Furthermore, the energy storage system may include additional circuitry, such as a battery management system (BMS), to ensure the safe and efficient charging and discharging of the battery cells. The energy storage system comprises a plurality of battery modules which in turn comprises a plurality of battery cells.
As used herein, the term “battery module” refers to an assembled unit of a plurality of cylindrical battery cells that are connected together physically and electrically to form a larger unit. Each cell within the battery module is typically a discrete unit capable of storing electrical energy. The battery modules can be arranged in series or parallel configuration depending on the desired voltage and capacity requirements. It is understood that connecting battery modules in series increases the overall voltage of the energy storage system, while connecting them in parallel increases the capacity. The electrical connections in the battery module are formed by creating contact the terminals of the battery cells with busbars. Furthermore, in addition to the individual cells, an energy storage system may also include circuitry for balancing the charge levels of the cells, managing the charging and discharging processes, and providing safety features such as overcharge and over-discharge protection, and cooling systems. The battery module, along with the associated electronics, packaging and auxiliary systems, forms the core component of an energy storage system, enabling the efficient and reliable storage and delivery of electrical energy.
As used herein, the terms “plurality of battery cells”, “battery cell”, “cells” and “battery-cell” are used interchangeably and refer to basic unit that generates and stores electrical energy. A battery is typically composed of one or more individual cells connected together. The cells may be comprised of different chemistry including lithium-ion cells, solid state cells, zinc-carbon and alkaline cells, nickel metal hydride, nickel cadmium and so forth. Furthermore, the battery cells may include various types of cells including cylindrical cells, prismatic cells, pouch cells, coin cells or any customised shape cells.
As used herein, the terms “pair of cell holders”, “cell holder” and “holder” are used interchangeably and refer to a component used to securely hold and position individual battery cells within the battery module. The primary purpose of a cell holder is to provide mechanical support and protection for the battery cells. It helps maintain the structural integrity of the battery module, preventing battery cells from shifting or coming into contact with each other, which could cause damage or pose safety hazards. It would be appreciated that the cell holders are crucial in ensuring the proper assembly, alignment, and electrical connectivity of battery cells within the battery module. The cell holders contribute to the overall reliability, safety, and performance of the energy storage system by preventing cell damage, maintaining consistent contact, and facilitating efficient power transfer.
As used herein, the terms “pair of busbar plates”, “busbar” and “busbar plates” are used interchangeably and refer to a conductive metal strip or plate used to facilitate the distribution of electrical power or signals within the cell array. The bus bar plate serves as a common electrical connection point for multiple battery cells.
As used herein, the terms “C-clip connectors”, “C-clips”, “busbar connectors”, and “connectors” are used interchangeably and refer to curved clip shaped mechanical interface between the battery cell terminal and the conductive busbars. The C-clip connectors establishes electrical connection between the busbar plate and the terminal of the battery cell.
As used herein, the term “busbar plate holder” refers to a device or component used to secure and hold busbar plates in place within the battery module. The busbar plate holder provides mechanical support and stability to the busbars, ensuring that they are securely fixed in position. The busbar plate holders are specifically designed to accommodate the size and shape of the busbar plates used in the battery module.
As used herein, the term “wiring manager” refers to a grooves and paths that helps organize and manage the wiring or electrical connections within the cell holder. The wiring manager is designed to facilitate the proper routing, positioning, and securing of wires or cables associated with the electrical connections inside the battery module. The manager ensures proper cable management, facilitates efficient installation and maintenance, prevents damage and promotes safety.
As used herein, the term “guiding well” refers to grooves in the cell holder that is designed to guide and properly position the busbar plates and busbar plate holders. The guiding wells ensures that the busbar plates and busbar plate holders are aligned properly and secured in place without any movement.
As used herein, the terms “circular stopper steps”, “stopper steps”, and “steps” are used interchangeably and refers to an inward extension in the guiding well with a lesser diameter compared to diameter of the guiding well. The circular stopper steps create surface to stop further insertion of the guiding protrusions of the busbar plate holder.
As used herein, the term “connector holes” refers to holes in the busbar plates through which the connector clips are inserted into the cell holder.
As used herein, the term “guiding holes” refers to holes in the busbar plates through which the guiding protrusions of the busbar plate holder are inserted into the guiding wells of the cell holder.
As used herein, the term “guiding protrusions” refers to the protruded extensions in the busbar plate holder that are inserted into the guiding wells through the busbar plates to securely hold the busbar plates at correct position.
As used herein, the term “thermal cooling plate” and “cooling plate” are used interchangeably and refers to a structure that is used to dissipate heat generated during the operation of the battery cells in the battery module. It would be understood that the cooling plate is designed to maintain optimal temperature levels within the battery module, preventing excessive heat build-up that can affect the performance, lifespan, and safety of the battery cells. The cooling plate may include metal heat spreader, liquid cooling plate, finned cooling plate and so forth.
Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment describes an exploded view of a battery module 100 for an energy storage system. The battery module 100 comprises a plurality of cylindrical battery-cells 102, a pair of cell holders 104 to vertically hold the plurality of battery cells 102, a pair of busbar plates 106 comprising C-clip connectors 108 to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells 102, and a pair of busbar plate holders 110 to mechanically hold the pair of busbar plates 106.
The battery module 100, as disclosed, is advantageous in terms of eliminating the need of welding busbar plates 106 with the terminals of the battery cells 102 for creating electrical connection. Furthermore, the battery module 100 eliminates all the limitations and complications associated with the welding of busbars plates 106 on the terminals of the battery cells 102. Furthermore, the battery module 100 of the present disclosure can be disassembled for maintenance and repairs. Advantageously, the battery module 100 may be disassembled for replacing a malfunctioning battery cell of the plurality of battery cells 102 rather than discarding the battery module 100. Advantageously, such replacement of malfunctioning battery cell in the battery module 100 would decrease the overall cost of ownership and maintenance of the battery module 100.
In an embodiment, the plurality of battery cells 102 are cylindrical battery cells. Alternatively, the plurality of battery cells 102 may be in other form factors feasible for energy storage applications, electric vehicle applications and so forth.
In an embodiment, each of the busbar plate holder 110 comprises a plurality of guiding protrusions 122 that are inserted into the plurality of guiding wells 114 of the cell holder 104 through the plurality of guiding holes 120 of the busbar plates 106.
In an embodiment, the busbar plate holders 110 are made up of electrically insulating and thermally conducting material. In an embodiment, the battery module 100 comprises thermal cooling plates mounted on top of the busbar plate holders 110. Beneficially, the thermal cooling plates ensure regular and uniform cooling of the battery cells 102 inside the battery module 100.
Figure 2, in accordance with an embodiment describes a reference view of the cell holder 104 of the battery module 100. It is to be understood that the battery module 100 would comprise a pair of cell holders 104, wherein one cell holder is placed at each of the opposite ends (lengthwise) of the plurality of battery cells 102.
In an embodiment, each of the cell holder 104 comprises an integrated wiring manager 112. Advantageously, the integrated wiring manager 112 provides space and restraints for wiring and cabling associated with the battery module 100. The integrated wiring manager 112 eliminates the need of any additional wiring manager. Such integrated wiring manager 112 would be beneficial in terms of providing compact construction to the battery module 100.
In an embodiment, each of the cell holder 104 comprises the plurality of guiding wells 114 to prevent the sliding movement of each of the busbar plate 106. In a specific embodiment, each of the guiding well 114 comprises a circular stopper step 116. It is to be understood that the guiding wells 114 would receive the guiding protrusion 122 of the busbar plate holder 110. The guiding protrusion 122 of the busbar plate holder 110 are inserted into the guiding holes 120 of the busbar plate 106 and then inserted into the guiding wells 114. Such arrangement would restrict the horizontal or sliding movement of the busbar plates 106 during the operation of the battery module 100. Beneficially, the guiding protrusion 122 tightly fits into the guiding wells 114. It is to be understood that the busbar plates 106 are completely restricted and confined due to above arrangement and provides maximum electrical contact. Such confinement would also restrict any motion in the busbar plates 106 due to occasional or continuous vibrations in the battery module 100, when in operation. Advantageously, the cell holders 104 and the busbar plate holders 110 prevent the vertical motion of the busbar plates 106 and combination of the guiding wells 114, the guiding holes 120 and the guiding protrusions 122 prevents the horizontal motion of the busbar plates 106.
Beneficially, the cell holders 104 securely hold and protect the individual battery cells 102 within the battery module 100. Furthermore, the cell holders 104 provides a rigid structure that prevents the battery cells 102 from moving or vibrating excessively, protecting them from physical damage and minimizing the risk of short circuits. In an embodiment, the cell holders 104 comprises extended outer boundaries. The extended outer boundaries may slide fit into each other along the length of the plurality of battery cells 102 to form a casing of the battery module 100. Such arrangement would eliminate the need of any external casing of the battery module for its use in the energy storage systems.
In an embodiment, the cell holders 104 comprises filling of foam in the space between the plurality of battery cells 102 in the cell holders 104. Beneficially, such filling would reduce vibrations inside the cell holders 104 and would prevent movement of any cell in the battery module 100.
Figure 3, in accordance with an embodiment describes that the circular stopper step 116 creates a uniform gap between the cell holder 104 and the busbar plate 106. Advantageously, the circular stopper step 116 ensures that the guiding protrusions 122 are not inserted beyond a defined extent into the guiding wells 114. Beneficially, such fixed insertion would prevent the deformation of the C-clip connectors 108. Moreover, the uniform gap between the cell holder 104 and the busbar plate 106 provides a venting space for the plurality of battery cells 102 to vent out any gases in case of malfunction of any cell.
Figure 4a and 4b, in accordance with an embodiment describes a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view of the busbar plate 106 of the battery module 100 respectively. In an embodiment, each of the busbar plates 106 comprises a plurality of connector holes 118, wherein the plurality of connector holes 118 are aligned with the plurality of battery cells 102. In an embodiment, the C-clip connectors 108 are inserted through the plurality of connector holes 118 and fixed on a surface of each of the busbar plate 106. In a specific embodiment, the C-clip connectors 108 are fixed on the surface of each of the busbar plate 106 by laser welding. In another embodiment, the C-clip connectors 108 are fixed on the surface of each of the busbar plate 106 by any suitable technique including electric arc welding, metal fusion and so forth.
In an embodiment, each of the busbar plate 106 comprises a plurality of guiding holes 120 aligned with the plurality of guiding wells 114. Beneficially, the guiding holes 120 are sized in such a manner that the guiding protrusion 122 tightly fits in the guiding holes 120 and prevents any movement of the busbar plates 106.
Figure 5a, 5b and 5c in accordance with an embodiment describes a top view, a perspective view, and a side view of the C-clip connector 108 of the busbar plate 106, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, each of the C-clip connector 108 comprises a pair of flat fixing surfaces 502, a curved terminal contact surface 504, and a pair of fuse-neck 506 between the pair of flat fixing surfaces 502 and curved terminal contact surface 504. Beneficially, the pair of flat fixing surfaces 502 is fixed on the surface of the busbar plate 106 by laser welding. Beneficially, the curved terminal contact surface 504 protrudes from the connector holes 118 to create contact with the terminals of the plurality of battery cells 102. It would be appreciated that the curved terminal contact surface 504, when pressed against the terminal of the battery cell 102, becomes flat to maximize the contact surface area with the terminal of the battery cell 102. Such formation of flat surface would maximize the electrical conductivity between the terminal of the battery cell 102 and the busbar plate 106.
In an embodiment, the pair of fuse-neck 506 is configured to melt when a current exceeding a predefined threshold passes through the C-clip connector 108. It would be appreciated that the pair of fuse-neck 506 have a smaller surface area compared to the pair of flat fixing surfaces 502 and the curved terminal contact surface 504. The lesser surface area would enable the fuse-neck 506 to melt and act like a fuse in case the current flowing through the fuse-neck 506 exceeds a predefined threshold value due to malfunctioning or short circuit of the battery cells 102. Beneficially, the fuse neck 506 would electrically isolate the malfunctioning cell and prevent the failure of battery module 100. Such malfunctioned cell can be replaced by disassembling the battery module 100. Beneficially, such replacement of malfunctioning cells in the battery module 100 would eliminate the need of replacing the whole battery module 100. It is to be understood the threshold limit of the current can be defined according to the safety rating requirement of the battery module 100.
In another aspect, an energy storage system (not shown in figures) is disclosed, wherein the energy storage system comprises at least one battery module 100, as described in the first aspect.
Figure 6, in accordance with yet another aspect, describes a method 600 of assembling a battery module 100. The method 600 starts at step 602 and finishes at step 608. At step 602, the method 600 comprises assembling a pair of busbar plates 106 by fixing C-clip connectors 108 on each of the busbar plate 106. At step 604, the method 600 comprises arranging a plurality of battery cells 102 vertically in between a pair of cell holders 104. At step 606, the method 600 comprises arranging the pair of busbar plates 106 on the pair of cell holders 104 to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells 102. At step 608, the method 600 comprises arranging a pair of busbar plate holders 110 on the pair of busbar plates 106 to mechanically hold the pair of busbar plates 106.
It would be appreciated that all the explanations and embodiments of the battery module 100 also applies mutatis-mutandis to the method 600.
In the description of the present invention, it is also to be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms “disposed,” “mounted,” and “connected” are to be construed broadly, and may for example be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected, either mechanically or electrically. They may be connected directly or indirectly through intervening media, or they may be interconnected between two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention can be understood in specific cases to those skilled in the art.
Modifications to embodiments and combination of different embodiments of the present disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non- exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural where appropriate.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the present disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

WE CLAIM:
1. A battery module (100) comprising:
- a plurality of battery cells (102);
- a pair of cell holders (104) to vertically hold the plurality of battery cells (102);
- a pair of busbar plates (106) comprising C-clip connectors (108) to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells (102); and
- a pair of busbar plate holders (110) to mechanically hold the pair of busbar plates (106).
2. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells (102) are cylindrical battery cells.
3. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 and 2, wherein each of the cell holder (104) comprises an integrated wiring manager (112).
4. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 3, wherein each of the cell holder (104) comprises a plurality of guiding wells (114) to prevent the sliding movement of each of the busbar plate (106).
5. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 4, wherein each of the guiding well (114) comprises a circular stopper step (116).
6. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 5, wherein the circular stopper step (116) creates a uniform gap between the cell holder (104) and the busbar plate (106).
7. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 6, wherein each of the busbar plates (106) comprises a plurality of connector holes (118), wherein the plurality of connector holes (118) are aligned with the plurality of battery cells (102).
8. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 7, wherein the C-clip connectors (108) are inserted through the plurality of connector holes (118) and fixed on a surface of each of the busbar plate (106).
9. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 8, wherein each of the busbar plate (106) comprises a plurality of guiding holes (120) aligned with the plurality of guiding wells (114).
10. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 9, wherein each of the busbar plate holder (110) comprises a plurality of guiding protrusions (122) that are inserted into the plurality of guiding wells (114) of the cell holder (104) through the plurality of guiding holes (120) of the busbar plates (106).
11. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 10, wherein each of the C-clip connector (108) comprises:
- a pair of flat fixing surfaces (502);
- a curved terminal contact surface (504); and
- a pair of fuse-neck (506) between the pair of flat fixing surfaces (502) and curved terminal contact surface (504).
12. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 11, wherein the pair of fuse-neck (506) is configured to melt when a current exceeding a predefined threshold passes through the C-clip connector (108).
13. An energy storage system, comprising at least one battery module (100) of claim 1.
14. A method (600) of assembling a battery module (100), wherein the method comprises:
- assembling a pair of busbar plates (106) by fixing C-clip connectors (108) on each of the busbar plate (106);
- arranging a plurality of battery cells (102) vertically in between a pair of cell holders (104);
- arranging the pair of busbar plates (106) on the pair of cell holders (104) to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells (102);
- arranging a pair of busbar plate holders (110) on the pair of busbar plates (106) to mechanically hold the pair of busbar plates (106).

ABSTRACT
BATTERY MODULE FOR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM
The present disclosure describes a battery module (100). The battery module comprises a plurality of battery cells (102), a pair of cell holders (104) to vertically hold the plurality of battery cells (102), a pair of busbar plates (106) comprising C-clip connectors (108) to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells (102), and a pair of busbar plate holders (110) to mechanically hold the pair of busbar plates (106). The disclosed battery module (100) enables modular assembly and can be easily disassembled for maintenance and repairs.
Figure 1 , Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A battery module (100) comprising:
- a plurality of battery cells (102);
- a pair of cell holders (104) to vertically hold the plurality of battery cells (102);
- a pair of busbar plates (106) comprising C-clip connectors (108) to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells (102); and
- a pair of busbar plate holders (110) to mechanically hold the pair of busbar plates (106).
2. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells (102) are cylindrical battery cells.
3. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 and 2, wherein each of the cell holder (104) comprises an integrated wiring manager (112).
4. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 3, wherein each of the cell holder (104) comprises a plurality of guiding wells (114) to prevent the sliding movement of each of the busbar plate (106).
5. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 4, wherein each of the guiding well (114) comprises a circular stopper step (116).
6. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 5, wherein the circular stopper step (116) creates a uniform gap between the cell holder (104) and the busbar plate (106).
7. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 6, wherein each of the busbar plates (106) comprises a plurality of connector holes (118), wherein the plurality of connector holes (118) are aligned with the plurality of battery cells (102).
8. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 7, wherein the C-clip connectors (108) are inserted through the plurality of connector holes (118) and fixed on a surface of each of the busbar plate (106).
9. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 8, wherein each of the busbar plate (106) comprises a plurality of guiding holes (120) aligned with the plurality of guiding wells (114).
10. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 9, wherein each of the busbar plate holder (110) comprises a plurality of guiding protrusions (122) that are inserted into the plurality of guiding wells (114) of the cell holder (104) through the plurality of guiding holes (120) of the busbar plates (106).
11. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 10, wherein each of the C-clip connector (108) comprises:
- a pair of flat fixing surfaces (502);
- a curved terminal contact surface (504); and
- a pair of fuse-neck (506) between the pair of flat fixing surfaces (502) and curved terminal contact surface (504).
12. The battery module (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 11, wherein the pair of fuse-neck (506) is configured to melt when a current exceeding a predefined threshold passes through the C-clip connector (108).
13. An energy storage system, comprising at least one battery module (100) of claim 1.
14. A method (600) of assembling a battery module (100), wherein the method comprises:
- assembling a pair of busbar plates (106) by fixing C-clip connectors (108) on each of the busbar plate (106);
- arranging a plurality of battery cells (102) vertically in between a pair of cell holders (104);
- arranging the pair of busbar plates (106) on the pair of cell holders (104) to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells (102);
- arranging a pair of busbar plate holders (110) on the pair of busbar plates (106) to mechanically hold the pair of busbar plates (106).