Energy storage unit

Abstract

An energy storage unit for storing electrical energy comprises a plurality of stacked flat cells, each having protruding electrodes. A cooling body of the energy storage unit is heat-conductively connected, at least in sections, to the flat cells. The cooling body at least partially consists of a plastic material and has openings through which the electrodes extend.

1 . An energy storage unit ( 10 ,  10 ′) for storing electrical energy comprising a plurality of stacked flat cells ( 12 ), each having protruding electrodes ( 14   a ,  14 ),
 wherein the energy storage unit ( 10 ,  10 ′) further comprises at least one cooling body ( 20 ) which is heat-conductively connected, at least in sections, to the stacked flat cells ( 12 ), wherein the cooling body ( 20 ) at least partially consists of a plastic material and has openings ( 24 ) through which the electrodes ( 14   a ,  14   b ) extend. 
 
     
     
         2 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cooling body ( 20 ) is comprised at least partially of an electrically insulating material.   
     
     
         3 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the energy storage unit ( 10 ,  10 ′) comprises a connection unit ( 18 ) interconnecting the flat cells ( 12 ) at least electrically, wherein the cooling body ( 20 ) is heat-conductively connected, at least in sections, to the connection unit ( 18 ).   
     
     
         4 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the cooling body ( 20 ) is arranged between the flat cells ( 12 ) and the connection unit ( 18 ).   
     
     
         5 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the connection unit ( 18 ) and/or the cooling body ( 20 ) are embodied in a plate-like shape and extend in a plane which is perpendicular to the respective extension plane of the flat cells ( 12 ).   
     
     
         6 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 3 , wherein the connection unit ( 18 ) and the cooling body ( 20 ), at least in sections, with their surfaces abut on one another. 
     
     
         7 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 3 , wherein the cooling body ( 20 ) is embodied as a carrier element for the connection unit ( 18 ) and/or for a cover element of the energy storage unit ( 10 ,  10 ′). 
     
     
         8 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the cooling body ( 20 ) comprises fixing elements for fixing the connection unit ( 18 ) and/or a cover element of the energy storage unit ( 10 ,  10 ′). 
     
     
         9 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 8 , wherein the connection unit ( 18 ) has openings ( 22 ), particularly slots, which are in alignment with the openings ( 24 ) of the cooling body ( 20 ) and through which the electrodes ( 14   a ,  14   b ) extend, wherein the electrodes ( 14   a ,  14   b ) are connected to the connection unit ( 18 ) particularly at the side of the connection unit ( 18 ) facing away from the flat cells ( 12 ). 
     
     
         10 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 1 , wherein cooling elements ( 46 ) are arranged between the flat cells ( 12 ), which cooling elements ( 46 ) are heat-conductively connected to the flat cells ( 12 ) and the cooling body ( 20 ). 
     
     
         11 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the cooling elements ( 46 ) are configured in a plate-like shape and one cooling element ( 46 ) is arranged between each pair of adjacent flat cells ( 12 ).   
     
     
         12 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the flat cells ( 12 ) are glued to the cooling elements ( 46 ).   
     
     
         13 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the cooling elements ( 46 ) are inserted in recesses ( 32 ) of the cooling body ( 20 ) and glued to the cooling body ( 20 ). 
     
     
         14 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the cooling elements ( 46 ) has at least one depression extending essentially in parallel to an extension plane of the cooling body ( 20 ). 
     
     
         15 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one hollow space ( 34 ), which is formed in the cooling body ( 20 ) and through which a coolant is able to flow, is associated with each of the cooling elements ( 46 ), wherein the hollow space ( 34 ) extends in parallel to the flat cells ( 12 ). 
     
     
         16 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the hollow space ( 34 ) has a U-shaped cross section having two leg portions ( 36   a ,  36   b ) directed towards the associated cooling element ( 46 ), wherein the cooling element ( 46 ) extends into the area between the leg portions ( 36   a ,  36   b ).   
     
     
         17 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the energy storage unit ( 10 ,  10 ′) has at least one coolant duct ( 37 ) for supplying the hollow spaces ( 34 ) with coolant, wherein the coolant duct ( 37 ) opens into a coolant inlet ( 38 ) at a first end face of the energy storage unit ( 10 ,  10 ′) and into a coolant outlet ( 39 ) at a second end face of the energy storage unit ( 10 ,  10 ′).   
     
     
         18 . The energy storage unit according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein the coolant inlet/outlet ( 38 ,  39 ) is configured for connection to a coolant outlet/inlet ( 39 ,  38 ) of another energy storage unit ( 10 ,  10 ′).