KR102117318B1 - Battery Module Comprising Battery Cell Stack of Step-formed Structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery module including a battery cell stack having a stepped structure, and more specifically, two or more stacked arrays of side surfaces of a plurality of battery cells adjacent to each other and forming a stepped portion at one end. Battery cell stack; Terminal plates for electrically connecting the electrode terminals of the battery cells; A first pack frame and a second pack frame having a structure that surrounds both electrode terminals of the battery cell stack and are mutually coupled; And a battery management system (BMS) mounted on the stepped portion of the battery cell stack to control the operation of the battery module. It provides a battery module comprising a.

Description

Battery module containing a stepped battery cell stack {Battery Module Comprising Battery Cell Stack of Step-formed Structure}

The present invention relates to a battery module comprising a battery cell stack of stepped structure.

Recently, rechargeable secondary batteries have been widely used as an energy source for wireless mobile devices. In addition, the secondary battery is also attracting attention as an energy source for electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and the like, which have been proposed as solutions for air pollution, such as existing gasoline vehicles and diesel vehicles using fossil fuels. Therefore, the types of applications using secondary batteries are very diversified due to the advantages of secondary batteries, and it is expected that secondary batteries will be applied to more fields and products than now.

These secondary batteries may be classified into lithium ion batteries, lithium ion polymer batteries, and lithium polymer batteries depending on the configuration of the electrode and electrolyte, among which the possibility of leakage of the electrolyte is small, and the usage of lithium ion polymer batteries that are easy to manufacture is Is increasing.

In general, the secondary battery, depending on the shape of the battery case, the electrode assembly is a cylindrical battery or a square battery in which a cylindrical or square metal can is embedded, and the electrode assembly is a pouch-type battery in which the electrode assembly is embedded in a pouch-shaped case of an aluminum laminate sheet It is classified as.

Such a secondary battery is widely used as an energy source for various mobile devices as well as various electronic products, but since various combustible materials are embedded, there is a risk of heat generation and explosion due to overcharge, overcurrent, and other physical external shocks.

A protection circuit that blocks current during overcharge, overdischarge, and overcurrent, a PTC element (Positive Temperature Coefficient Element) that blocks current due to a large increase in resistance when the temperature rises, and blocks current or exhausts gas when pressure increases due to gas generation A safety system such as a safety vent is provided, and a multi-cell structure of a multi-cell structure composed of a structure in which a plurality of battery modules are combined has a fuse, bimetal, BMS (to protect the battery cell from overdischarge, overcharge, and overcurrent). Battery Management System).

1 is a schematic diagram of a battery module equipped with a conventional BMS.

1, a part of the battery module 10 is illustrated. The battery cells 20 constituting the battery module 10 are fixed by the frames 31 and 32, and the BMS 50 is mounted at one end of the battery cells 20.

In such a structure, since the BMS is attached to a battery cell stack of symmetrical shape, which is a hexahedron, a separate BMS space is required. As shown by the dotted line, when the BMS is mounted, it is difficult to have a uniform appearance like a cube, or the volume is increased by mounting a separate BMS case.

Therefore, when the BMS is mounted, since the symmetrical shape is not achieved, it is difficult to achieve capacity optimization, and there is a problem that the process efficiency is not high because it is attached to the side of the battery cell stack.

The present invention aims to solve the problems of the prior art as described above and the technical problems requested from the past.

Specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module having a compact structure in a symmetrical shape by forming a stepped portion by varying the number of layers of battery cells in each layer of the battery cell stack and mounting a BMS on the stepped portion.

The battery module including the battery cell stack of the stepped structure according to the present invention for achieving this object,

A battery cell stacked body in which two or more stages are stacked in a state in which the side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells are adjacent to each other and a step is formed at one end;

Terminal plates for electrically connecting the electrode terminals of the battery cells;

A first pack frame and a second pack frame having a structure that surrounds both electrode terminals of the battery cell stack and are mutually coupled; And

A battery management system (BMS) mounted on the stepped portion of the battery cell stack to control the operation of the battery module;

It is composed of a structure containing a.

That is, the battery module including the battery cell stack of the stepped structure according to the present invention, the BMS is mounted on the stepped portion of the battery cell stack to optimize the appearance and capacity of the battery module, the compact structure of the symmetrical shape It is possible to provide a battery module.

According to the present invention, the battery cell may be a cylindrical battery cell.

In one specific example, the battery cell stack may have a structure in which the number of battery cells arranged in the bottom row is relatively larger than the number of battery cells arranged in the top row of the bottom row.

In this case, the step portion is located at one end of the upper end of the battery cell stack, the structure of the battery module in the state where the BMS is mounted on the step portion may have a hexahedral shape.

According to the present invention, the terminal plate may be composed of two or more terminal plates having different structures to connect battery cells.

In one specific example, the terminal plates may have a structure including a first terminal plate connecting two or more battery cells at the bottom.

In another example, the terminal plates may have a structure including a second terminal plate connecting two or more battery cells arranged in a lower row and an upper row of the lower row.

In this structure, the terminal plates may connect at least two or more of the battery cells in series or in series and parallel.

At this time, the terminal plate may be a straight, 'T'-shaped,' b'-shaped or hollow square shape.

In this case, the terminal plates may be mounted on outer surfaces of the first pack frame and the second pack frame, while being connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cells.

In one specific example, the terminal plate,

A terminal connecting portion formed in a rectangular shape in contact with the electrode terminals of the battery cells; And

A voltage sensing terminal extending from one side of the terminal plate to an upper surface of the pack frame to sense the voltage of the battery cells;

It may be a structure consisting of.

In this case, in the terminal connection portion, slits for welding the terminal connection portion and the electrode terminals may be formed in each portion corresponding to the electrode terminals of the battery cells.

In one specific example, the BMS may be a structure disposed in the center of the stepped portion.

In another example, the BMS may be a structure that is biased and arranged on one side of the step.

In such a structure, one or both sides of the BMS may further include BMS protection members that protect the BMS.

In one specific example, the first pack frame and the second pack frame may have a structure in which battery cell stacks arranged in a stack are accommodated therein.

According to the present invention, the first pack frame and the second pack frame may be formed with holes corresponding to the shape of a terminal plate that electrically connects battery cells to positions corresponding to electrode terminals.

In this case, a flowable through path for cooling the battery cells may be formed in the first pack frame and the second pack frame.

In this structure, the first pack frame and the second pack frame may be mutually coupled by a fastening member.

In addition, reinforcing members for reinforcing the coupling force may be mounted outside the first pack frame and the second pack frame, and the reinforcing members may reinforce the coupling force by a hook structure or elasticity.

According to the present invention, voltage sensing wires are arranged on the battery cell stack between the first pack frame and the second pack frame, and one end is connected to voltage sensing terminals extending from an upper side of the terminal plate, The other end may be a structure connected to the BMS.

In one specific example, ribs for fixing voltage sensing wires may be formed at the upper ends of the first pack frame and the second pack frame, respectively, in an alternating manner.

In this case, the ribs are

A first rib formed in a bar shape protruding in the coupling direction of the module cover to fix the voltage sensing wire to the spaces formed between the battery cells; And

A second rib formed in a groove shape corresponding to the outer diameter of the voltage sensing wire on the upper surface of the module cover to fix the voltage sensing wire in a fitting structure from the top;

It may be a structure comprising a.

In one specific example, a detachable BMS case may be mounted on the upper portion of the BMS to protect the BMS from external impact and penetration of the bed member.

Bend frames having a length corresponding to the height of the step portion may be mounted at corners of the BMS case.

The present invention provides a battery pack including the battery module.

The present invention also provides a device including the battery pack.

The device is selected from the group consisting of computers, mobile phones, wearable electronic devices, wireless cleaners, power tools, unmanned aerial vehicles, electric bicycles, electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles, and power storage devices. Can be.

Since the structure and manufacturing method of such a device are known in the art, detailed description thereof is omitted in this specification.

As described above, the battery module including the battery cell stack of the stepped structure according to the present invention can be mounted on the stepped portion of the battery cell stacked body to achieve optimization of appearance and capacity.

In addition, according to the present invention, since the BMS is mounted on the stepped portion formed on the top of the battery cell stack, it provides an effect of improving process efficiency.

1 is a schematic view of a battery module equipped with a conventional BMS;
2 is a schematic view of a battery module including a battery cell stack having a stepped structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a schematic view of the battery module of FIG. 2 when viewed from the side;
Figure 4 is a schematic diagram equipped with a BMS protection member for protecting the BMS of Figure 2;
5 is a schematic diagram of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings according to an embodiment of the present invention, this is for easier understanding of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

2 is a schematic diagram of a battery module including a battery cell stack having a stepped structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the battery module of FIG. 2 as viewed from the side.

2 and 3 together, the battery module 100 is a first pack frame that combines the battery cell stack 110 and the battery cell stack 110 of a plurality of battery cells 101 while mutually coupling them. It comprises a 121 and the second pack frame 122, the terminal plates 130 for connecting the battery cells 101, and the BMS 140 for controlling the operation of the battery module 100.

The battery cell stack 110 is stacked and arranged with the side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells 101 adjacent. The battery cell stack 110 forms a step 123 because the number of battery cells 101 arranged in the bottom row 110a is greater than the top row 110b of the bottom row. The step portion 123 is located at one end of the upper end of the battery cell stack 110.

The battery cell stack 110 is a structure accommodated in the first pack frame 121 and the second pack frame 122. BMS 140 is mounted on the stepped portion 123 of the battery cell stack 110, and a detachable BMS case is provided on the upper portion of the BMS 140 to protect the BMS 140 from external impact and penetration of the bed member ( 141).

In order to control the operation of the battery module 100, the BMS 140 is mounted in the center of the stepped portion 123 of the battery cell stack 110, and the BMS case 141 is mounted to protect the BMS 140. When the battery module 100 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

The voltage sensing wires 150 are aligned on the battery cell stack 110, one end of which is connected to the voltage sensing terminals 131 formed on a part of the terminal plate 130, and the other end of the battery It is connected to the BMS 140 that controls the operation of the module 100. The voltage sensing wires 150 are connected to the voltage sensing terminals 131 and the BMS 140 and are fixed by the ribs 161 and 162 formed in the pack frames 121 and 122.

The power lines 153 and 154 are connected to the BMS 140 to provide electric power, and the BMS lead line 155 for charging is connected, and an LED board connection line indicating information such as a charging state by connecting to an external LED board ( 156) is connected.

The first pack frame 121 and the second pack frame 122 are mutually coupled by a fastening member 127. The first pack frame 121 and the second pack frame 122 are provided with reinforcing members 125 that reinforce the bonding force.

The first pack frame 121 and the second pack frame 122 have terminal plates to store the battery cell stack 110 therein and to electrically connect the battery cells 101 at positions corresponding to the electrode terminals. Holes 128 corresponding to the shape of 130 are formed.

The coolant flows into the spaces between the holes 128 and the battery cells 101 formed in the first pack frame 121 and the second pack frame 122 to cool the battery cells 101.

The terminal plates 130 include a first terminal plate connecting two or more battery cells 101 at the bottom, and a second terminal plate connecting two or more battery cells arranged in the bottom row and the top row of the bottom row. Consists of.

The terminal plates 130 are straight, 'T' shaped, 'b' shaped, or hollow square shaped, and two battery cells 101 or four battery cells 101 are connected in series or in series and parallel do.

The terminal plates 130 are composed of two or more terminal plates 130 having different structures to connect the battery cells 101, and electrically connect the electrode terminals of the battery cells 101.

The terminal plates 130 are connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cells 101 and are mounted on the outer surfaces of the first pack frame 121 and the second pack frame 122 and exposed to the outside.

The terminal plate 130 is composed of a terminal connection portion 132 and a voltage sensing terminal 131.

The terminal connection part 132 contacts the electrode terminals to electrically connect the battery cells 101, and the voltage sensing terminal 131 is provided on the terminal plate 130 to sense the voltage of the battery cells 101. It extends from one side to the upper surface of the pack frames (121, 122). The voltage sensing terminals 131 are respectively connected to the wires 150 by soldering.

In the terminal connection portion 132, slits 135 for welding the terminal connection portion 132 and the electrode terminals are formed at respective portions corresponding to the electrode terminals of the battery cells 101, respectively.

The ribs 161 and 162 are respectively formed in an alternating manner to fix the voltage sensing wires 150 on top of the first pack frame 121 and the second pack frame 122.

The ribs 161 and 162 are composed of a first rib 161 in a bar shape and a second rib 162 in a fitting structure.

The first ribs 161 are formed in a bar shape protruding in the coupling direction (Y-axis direction) of the pack frames 121 and 122, and thus spaces in which the voltage sensing wire 150 is formed between the battery cells 101 Fix it on. The first ribs 161 protrude from the inner ends of the pack frames 121 and 122 in the coupling direction (Y-axis direction).

The second rib 162 is formed in a shape protruding upward from the upper surfaces of the pack frames 121 and 122. The second rib 162 has a groove structure that is recessed downward in the protruding protrusion.

The second rib 162 is formed in a groove shape corresponding to the outer diameter of the voltage sensing wire 150 on the upper surfaces of the pack frames 121 and 122 to fix the voltage sensing wire 150 in a fitting structure from the top. And connected to the voltage sensing terminals 131.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a BMS protection member for protecting the BMS of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 4, a BMS (FIG. 2: 140) is mounted at the center of the stepped portion 123 of the battery cell stack 110 in which the battery cells 101 are aligned. BMS protection members 143 are mounted on both sides of the BMS (FIG. 2: 140) to protect the BMS (FIG. 2; 140) from impact from the side or intrusion of the bed member. The battery module 100 includes a BMS (FIG. 2; 140), a BMS case 141, and BMS protection members 143 and maintains a hexahedral shape.

The voltage sensing wires 150 have one end connected to the voltage sensing terminals 131 formed on a part of the terminal plate (FIG. 2: 130), and ribs formed on the pack frames 121 and 122 It is fixed by (161, 162), the other end is connected to the BMS 140 to control the operation of the battery module 100.

Except that the BMS protection members 143 are arranged in the stepped portion 123, the structure is the same, so a redundant description is omitted.

5 is a schematic diagram of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the battery cell stack 210 constituting the battery module 200 is accommodated in the pack frames 221 and 222, and the side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells 201 are adjacent to each other. They are stacked.

The stepped portion 223 is located at one end of the upper end of the battery cell stack 210, and the BMS is mounted on the stepped portion 223, and detachable to protect the BMS from external impact and penetration of the needle member. The BMS case 241 is mounted.

BMS protection members 243 are attached to both sides of the BMS case 241 to improve safety. Except that the BMS is deflected on one side of the stepped portion 223, the structure is the same, so duplicate description is omitted.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to make various applications and modifications within the scope of the present invention based on the above.

Claims (22)

A battery cell stacked body in which two or more stages are stacked in a state in which the side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells are adjacent to each other and a step portion is formed at one end;
Terminal plates for electrically connecting the electrode terminals of the battery cells;
A first pack frame and a second pack frame having a structure that surrounds both electrode terminals of the battery cell stack and are coupled to each other; And
Included in; BMS (Battery management System) to be attached to the step portion of the battery cell stack to control the operation of the battery module,
First ribs and second ribs for fixing voltage sensing wires are formed at the tops of the first pack frame and the second pack frame, respectively.
The first rib is formed in a bar shape protruding in the coupling direction of the first pack frame and the second pack frame to fix the voltage sensing wires to the spaces formed between the battery cells,
The second rib has protrusions protruding upward from the top faces of the first pack frame and the second pack frame and extending on the voltage sensing wire, and the lower surface of the protrusion is recessed in a groove shape so that the voltage sensing wires are connected from the top. Fixed with a fitting structure,
The terminal plate,
A terminal connection portion formed in a rectangular shape in contact with the electrode terminals of the battery cells; And
Includes a voltage sensing terminal that is formed extending from one side of the terminal plate to the upper surface of the pack frame to sense the voltage of the battery cells, includes,
The voltage sensing wires are arranged and fixed on the battery cell stack between the first pack frame and the second pack frame by the first rib and the second rib, one end connected to the voltage sensing terminal, and the other end Connected to the BMS,
The first rib and the second rib are alternately arranged, and the battery module is fixed by alternately supporting the voltage sensing wires from the top and bottom along the longitudinal direction. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the battery cell is a cylindrical battery cell. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the number of battery cells arranged in the lowest row is relatively greater than the number of battery cells arranged in the upper row of the bottom row of the battery cell stack. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the step portion is located at one end of the upper end of the battery cell stack, and the structure of the battery module has a hexahedral shape while the BMS is mounted on the step portion. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the terminal plate is composed of two or more terminal plates having different structures to connect battery cells. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein the terminal plates include a first terminal plate connecting two or more battery cells at the bottom. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein the terminal plates include a second terminal plate connecting two or more battery cells arranged in a lower row and an upper row of the lower row. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein the terminal plates are mounted on outer surfaces of the first pack frame and the second pack frame while being connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cells. delete The battery module according to claim 1, wherein in the terminal connection portion, slits for welding the terminal connection portion and the electrode terminals are formed at respective portions corresponding to the electrode terminals of the battery cells. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the BMS is disposed at the center of the stepped portion. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the BMS is arranged on one side of the step portion. The battery module according to claim 11, further comprising BMS protection members protecting the BMS on one side or both sides of the BMS. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the first pack frame and the second pack frame have a structure for storing a stacked battery cell stack therein. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the first pack frame and the second pack frame are formed with holes corresponding to the shape of a terminal plate that electrically connects battery cells to positions corresponding to electrode terminals. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the first pack frame and the second pack frame are mutually coupled by a fastening member. delete delete The battery module according to claim 1, wherein a detachable BMS case is mounted on the upper portion of the BMS to protect the BMS from external impact and penetration of the bed member. The battery module according to claim 19, wherein the corners of the BMS case are equipped with bent frames of a length corresponding to the height of the step portion. A battery pack comprising the battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 8, 10 to 16, 19 and 20. Device comprising a battery pack according to claim 21.

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