Reply what is a battery module：For the mechanical and structural components of the battery system, we first discuss the different types of modules that are emerging at this stage. Lithium-ion battery modules generally assemble cells into a single electromechanical unit. Modules include batteries, buses, voltage and temperature control circuit boards, thermal management units and mechanical structure frames.
Reply how to design the battery module：Module design needs to consider some things. The cell type determines the final module configuration. For example, soft-pack batteries need a series of plastic or metal frames to provide protection, and a certain pressure needs to be applied to the modules. For larger square cells, since each cell is a whole frame, the internal connection board (Interconnect Board, ICB) can provide a suitable fixed structure, and no additional mechanical protection is required.
In some cases, lashing is used in order to assemble the complete modular design. However, when using binding modules, there are two long-term issues that need to be evaluated. If you are using plastic-based strapping, the problem boils down to the level of elasticity in the life of the material. If the ribbon material stretches sufficiently over time, the battery cells may no longer obtain the stacking pressure they need. If a steel belt is used, it may have the opposite effect because it will not stretch over time, but the size of the cell will gradually become larger. Therefore, the amount of pressure provided by the metal belt will increase over time.
Another important issue that needs to be considered in module design is the convenience of subsequent maintenance. Some battery manufacturers use mechanical parts, bolts or nuts to connect the cells in the module design. This design allows the battery cell to be replaced, and the module can be repaired throughout its life. However, this kind of mechanical connection is easy to loosen during use, which will increase the contact resistance and may also cause the battery to fail. Some battery manufacturers weld the cells directly to improve the stability of the connection. This method is relatively economical (no fasteners are needed) and has high reliability (not loose). However, in this design, the cells cannot be replaced individually. The failure of one cell in the module means that the entire group of cells can no longer be used.
For most battery manufacturers, modules are the foundation of all battery systems, and a stable and reliable module assembly method is a strong guarantee for subsequent multi-system applications.