KR100805108B1 - Battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

The battery module according to the present invention includes a housing in which a plurality of unit cells and the unit cells are built so that the unit cells can be efficiently cooled, and a cooling medium inlet through which the cooling medium is introduced and a cooling medium outlet through which the cooling medium is discharged. And a blower installed in the housing to supply the cooling medium toward the unit cells, wherein the unit cells are disposed along a circumference of the blower.

Battery Module, Housing, Blower, Cooling Media

Description

Battery module {BATTERY MODULE}

1 is a perspective view illustrating a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a perspective view illustrating a unit cell and a conductor of the battery module according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing a battery module according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a battery module, and more particularly, to a battery module having an improved structure for electrically connecting electrode terminals of neighboring secondary batteries.

A rechargeable battery is a battery that can be charged and discharged unlike a primary battery that is not rechargeable. Low-capacity secondary batteries consisting of one cell are used in portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, and camcorders. A large capacity secondary battery in which a plurality of cells are connected in a pack form is widely used as a motor driving power source for a hybrid electric vehicle.

Such secondary batteries are manufactured in various shapes, and typical shapes include cylindrical and rectangular shapes.

In addition, the secondary battery is connected in series to form a large capacity battery module so that the secondary battery can be used to drive a motor such as an electric vehicle requiring a large power.

The battery module usually includes a plurality of secondary batteries (hereinafter, referred to as unit cells for convenience of description throughout the specification).

Each unit cell includes a case having an electrode group in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are disposed with a separator interposed therebetween, and a case having a space in which the electrode group is built, and a cap assembly sealing the case.

In the case of a cylindrical battery, the cathode of the electrode group is electrically connected to the case, and the anode of the electrode group is electrically connected to the cap assembly to induce current to the outside.

The unit cells are embedded in a housing in a state in which the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of neighboring unit cells are electrically connected to constitute a battery module.

Here, the battery module must be able to easily dissipate heat generated in each unit cell by configuring one battery module by connecting several to many dozen unit cells. The heat dissipation characteristics of the battery module are very important to determine the performance of the battery.

When heat is not released properly, temperature deviation occurs between each unit cell, and charging and discharging efficiency is lowered, and the temperature inside the cell is increased by heat generated from the unit cell. As a result, battery performance is deteriorated. It creates the risk of explosion.

In particular, when the battery module is applied as a high-capacity secondary battery for driving a motor of an electric vacuum cleaner, an electric scooter, or an automobile (electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle), since the battery module is charged and discharged with a large current, it may be caused by an internal reaction of the secondary battery according to the use state. Heat is generated and rises to a significant temperature, which affects battery characteristics and degrades the inherent performance of the battery. Therefore, heat dissipation is most important.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, to provide a battery module configured to easily discharge the heat generated in the unit cell.

In addition, the present invention is to provide a battery module that can minimize the temperature variation between each unit cell constituting the battery module evenly cooled.

In order to achieve the above object, a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of unit cells and the unit cells therein, and a cooling medium inlet through which a cooling medium is introduced, and a cooling medium outlet through which the cooling medium is discharged. And a blower installed in the housing and supplying the cooling medium toward the unit cells, wherein the unit cells may be disposed along a circumference of the blower.

The blower may be disposed in the center of the housing.

The housing may include a container having an inner space in which the unit cells are installed and a cover coupled to an opening of the container, and the cooling medium inlet may be formed in the cover.

The cooling medium outlet may be formed in the container.

A partition wall having an outlet through which the cooling medium is distributed may be installed between the blower and the unit cell.

The unit cell may be arranged in a plurality of rows along the circumference of the blower.

A partition wall having an outlet through which the cooling medium flows may be installed between the unit cells arranged in a plurality of rows.

A seating plate may be formed in the separation wall or / and the container to contact the unit cells to support the unit cells.

At least one of the plurality of unit cells installed in the outer column of the plurality of rows may be arranged to be staggered with the unit cells installed in the inner column.

The unit cells may be arranged along concentric circles around the blower.

The unit cells may be disposed radially.

The blower may include a centrifugal fan.

The battery module may be for driving a motor.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily practice the present invention. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The battery module 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a housing 20 in which the plurality of unit cells 10, 10 ′ and the unit cells 10, 10 ′ are accommodated, and in the center of the housing 20. It is installed includes a blower 30 for supplying a cooling medium toward the unit cells (10, 10 ').

In the present embodiment, a unit cell 10 (10 ') is described as an example of the cylindrical structure. Of course, the present invention is not limited to a cylindrical unit cell, and it is possible to apply a unit cell having various shapes such as a rectangular unit cell.

The housing 20 includes a container 26 having a space in which the unit cells 10, 10 ′ are accommodated, and a cover 21 installed to be detachable from the opening of the container 26.

The cover 21 has a cooling medium inlet 28 through which the cooling medium flows. The cooling medium inlet 28 is formed of a plurality of through holes, and is formed in the center of the cover 21 so that the cooling medium can be efficiently supplied to the blower 30 installed in the center of the housing 20.

The container 26 of the housing 30 is provided with a cooling medium outlet 26a through which the cooling medium is discharged. The plurality of cooling medium outlets 26a are spaced at predetermined intervals and are evenly disposed along the circumference of the container 26, and each unit is based on a state in which the unit cells 10, 10 ′ are embedded in the container 26. At least one cooling medium outlet 26a is disposed between the cells 10.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a structure in which one cooling medium outlet 26a is formed between each unit cell 10 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and two or more cooling medium outlets may be provided between each unit cell 10. 26a may be formed.

In the container 26, the unit cells 10 and 10 ′ are arranged at predetermined intervals along a virtual closed curve formed around the blower 30 with the blower 30 as a center.

In this case, the unit cells 10 and 10 ′ may be arranged in a plurality of rows. In the present embodiment, the unit cells 10 and 10 ′ and the blower 30 may be arranged in different rows. It is placed in different spaces.

To this end, a plurality of separation walls 23 and 24 are formed in the container 26. These partition walls 23 and 24 are formed in the present embodiment, as the container 26 is formed as a cylindrical container. Accordingly, the partition walls 23 and 24 correspond to concentric circles and have different diameters. ). Here, the cooling medium outlets 23a and 24a, such as the cooling medium outlet 26a of the container 26, are formed in the first and second separation walls 23 and 24, respectively. Three spaces are formed in the container 26 by the separation walls 23 and 24, and a blower 30 is disposed in the space formed by the first separation wall 23, and the first separation wall ( The unit cells 10 ′ of the first row are disposed in the space formed by the second separation wall 24 and the second partition wall 24, and the second rows of the unit cells 10 ′ are disposed in the space formed by the side wall of the container 26. The unit cells 10 are disposed.

At this time, the unit cells 10, 10 'are disposed radially around the blower 30, and when disposed in each of the spaces, the mounting table 15 in consideration of stable fixing and efficient cooling It is supported by 15 'and arrange | positioned.

Each seating stand 15, 15 ′ has a housing 20 corresponding to the shape of the unit cells 10, 10 ′ so that the unit cells 10, 10 ′ may be tightly supported. Based on the cross section perpendicular to the central axis (Z) direction of the contact surface of the unit cells 10, 10 'has an arc shape.

In the present embodiment, each seat 15 and 15 ′ are disposed to face each unit cell 10 and 10 ′ and are coupled to the unit cells 10 and 10 ′.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the seating pads 15 and 15 ′ are the inner circumferential surface of the container 26, the outer circumferential surface of the second separating wall 24, and the inner circumferential surface of the second separating wall 24 and the first separating wall 23. Are arranged on the outer circumferential surface of

Substantially, the interiors of the unit cells 10 and 10 'in the container 26 are inserted into the space where the unit cells 10 and 10' are formed by the seating zones 15 and 15 '. It consists of being fixed by the binding force of (15) (15 ') (refer FIG. 1).

According to this fixed state, the unit cells 10 and 10 ′ may have a result of being brought into contact with the first and second separation walls 23 and 24 as well as the container 26.

These separation walls 23 and 24 are made of a material that is thermally conductive and electrically insulated. As a result, heat generated in the unit cells 10 and 10 ′ can be easily transferred to the separation walls 23 and 24, and is cooled by the cooling medium provided through the blower 30 to the housing 20. It can be released to the outside.

In addition, the separating walls 23 and 24 are integrally formed so that the unit cells 10 are thermally connected to each other. Therefore, the unit cell 10 having a high internal temperature transmits a large amount of heat to the separating walls 23 and 24, and the unit cell having a low internal temperature transmits a small amount of heat to the separating walls 23 and 24. Each unit cell 10 may be uniformly cooled.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the unit cells 10 and 10 'are formed in a cylindrical shape as described above, the positive electrode terminals 11 and 11' are protruded at one end thereof, and the unit cells 10 and 10 'are formed. The case 12, 12 'of the serves as the negative terminal.

The unit cells 10 and 10 ′ are disposed such that the positive electrode terminals 11 and 11 ′ formed in the neighboring unit cells 10 and 10 ′ face different directions. That is, in the state where one unit cell 10, 10 ′ is disposed so as to face the positive terminal 11, 11 ′, the other unit cell 10, 10 ′ adjacent thereto is a positive terminal 11. 11 'is disposed to face downward.

In this state, the unit cells 10 and 10 ′ are provided with conductors 40 and 40 ′ that are electrically connected to neighboring unit cells 10 and 10 ′. The case 40 'is a case in which the cathode terminals 11 and 11' of the neighboring unit cells 10 and 10 'are connected to the neighboring unit cells 10 and 10' in series. (12) It is installed so as to be in contact with 12 '. As shown in FIG. 3, the conductors 40 and 40 'have a structure in which protrusions 42 and 42' contacting the unit cell 10 are formed in the plate-shaped bases 41 and 41 '. Is done.

Here, the conductors 40 and 40 'are unit cells 10 and 10' arranged in a different column than the first conductor 40 connecting the unit cells 10 and 10 'arranged in the same row. ) Is separated by a second conductor 40 '.

The battery module is applied to a device such as a hybrid electric vehicle and used as a power source for driving a motor thereof, and the air provided through the cooling medium inlet 28 is blown through the blower 30 to the unit cells 10 and 10 '. ) To cool the heat dissipated in the unit cells 10, 10 ′.

At this time, the unit cells 10, 10 'are arranged radially with respect to the blower 30, wherein each component of the housing 20 is made of a material that can transfer heat smoothly Of course, the unit cells 10, 10 ′ are tightly fixed to the housing separation walls 23, 24 and the container 26, so that the unit cells 10 and 10 ′ may receive cold air by the cooling air provided through the blower 30. Can enhance its cooling efficiency.

On the other hand, the blower 30 installed in the center of the housing 20 includes a cooling fan 34 and a motor 32 for driving the cooling fan 34. The cooling fan 34 is composed of a centrifugal fan to push the cooling medium radially through the cooling medium inlet 28 to supply the unit cells 10 and 10 '.

5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a battery module according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the battery module according to the present exemplary embodiment has a structure in which a plurality of unit cells 51 and 51 ′ are arranged in a circle inside the housing 63 having a cylindrical shape. In the center of the housing 63, a blower 70 for supplying a cooling medium toward the unit cells 51 and 51 ′ is installed.

Meanwhile, the unit cells 51 and 51 ′ are arranged in a plurality of rows along the circumference of the blower 70, and the rows of the unit cells 51 and 51 ′ are concentric circles around the blower 70. It is arranged along the way.

The separating walls 61 and 62 supporting the unit cells 51 and 51 ′ are formed between the unit cells 51 ′ arranged in the inner row and the unit cells 51 arranged in the outer row. Through-holes 61a, 62a and 65a are formed in the containers 61 and 62 and the container 65 of the housing 63 to allow the cooling medium to flow therethrough.

Meanwhile, the unit cells 51 and 51 ′ are disposed to be spaced apart from the unit cells 51 and 51 ′ disposed at a side by a predetermined interval. The unit cells 51 and 51 ′ are disposed outside the unit cells 51 ′ arranged inside. The unit cells 51 disposed are not arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with each other, and a larger number of unit cells are disposed outside than the inside of the unit cells 51.

For this reason, in the second embodiment, the unit cells 51 are disposed radially around the blower 70 in a one-to-one correspondence with the unit cells 51 'disposed inside, and the unit cells 51 The unit cells 51 are arranged in the back structure.

That is, the unit cells 51 arranged in the outer column may be alternately arranged with the unit cells 51 ′ arranged in the inner column.

As described above, the unit cells arranged in a plurality of rows in the housing may be variously arranged to be optimized and used as a power source of an application device without being limited to the arrangement of the illustrated embodiments.

The battery module of the present invention is an energy source for driving a motor of the device in a device that operates by using a motor such as a HEV (hybrid electric vehicle), an EV (electric vehicle), a wireless cleaner, an electric bicycle, an electric scooter, or the like. Can be used.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the claims and the detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. Naturally, it belongs to the range of.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, unit cells may be disposed along a circumference of the blower to improve cooling efficiency of the unit cell.

In addition, it is possible to supply a uniform amount of the cooling medium toward the unit cells to uniformly cool the unit cells.

Claims (13)

A plurality of unit cells; A housing having the unit cells installed therein and having a cooling medium inlet through which a cooling medium is introduced and a cooling medium outlet through which the cooling medium is discharged; A blower installed in the housing to supply the cooling medium toward the unit cells; Including, The unit cells are disposed along the circumference of the blower, The housing includes a container having an inner space in which the unit cells are installed and a cover coupled to an opening of the container and having a cooling medium inlet formed therein. According to claim 1, The blower is a battery module disposed in the center of the housing. delete According to claim 1, The battery medium outlet is formed in the container. According to claim 1, And a separation wall having an outlet through which the cooling medium flows between the blower and the unit cell. According to claim 1, The unit cell is a battery module arranged in a plurality of rows along the circumference of the blower. The method of claim 6, And a separation wall having an outlet through which the cooling medium flows between unit cells arranged in a plurality of rows. The method according to claim 5 or 7, A battery module in which the separation wall or the container is formed in contact with the unit cells to support the unit cells. The method of claim 6, At least one unit cell of the plurality of rows, the one or more unit cells installed in the outer column is arranged to be staggered with the unit cells installed in the inner column. The method of claim 6, The unit cells are arranged along a concentric circle around the blower. The method of claim 6, The unit cell is a battery module disposed radially. According to claim 1, The blower device comprises a centrifugal fan (Centrifugal Fan). According to claim 1, The battery module is a battery module for driving a motor.

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