KR20060086122A - Secondary battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention includes a plurality of unit cells and an insertion case which is installed by inserting the unit cells and connected to form a plurality of unit cells to form a cooling medium flow path so as to maximize cooling efficiency in a battery module composed of a plurality of unit cells. It provides a secondary battery module.

Insert case, channel, recess, iron part, heat dissipation rib

Description

Secondary Battery Module {SECONDARY BATTERY MODULE}

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

2 is a plan view illustrating a rechargeable battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a perspective view illustrating a rechargeable battery module according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a plan view illustrating an assembled state of a rechargeable battery module according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

5 and 6 are plan views illustrating an assembled state of a secondary battery module according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a secondary battery, and more particularly, to a secondary battery module that improves the cooling efficiency of a unit battery when the unit battery is connected to form a battery module.

A secondary battery is a battery that can be charged and discharged unlike a primary battery that cannot be charged. A low battery is used for small portable electronic devices such as a phone, a notebook computer, a camcorder, and a hybrid battery for a large battery. It is widely used as a power source for driving a motor such as a car.

The secondary battery may be manufactured in various shapes, and typical shapes include cylindrical and rectangular shapes. The secondary battery may include the high output secondary battery so that the secondary battery may be used for driving a motor such as an electric vehicle. A plurality of secondary batteries are connected in series to form a large capacity secondary battery.

As described above, one large capacity secondary battery (hereinafter, referred to as a battery module for convenience of description throughout) is made of a plurality of secondary batteries (hereinafter, referred to as unit cells for convenience of explanation throughout the specification), which are each connected in series. The unit cell of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate with a separator interposed therebetween, a case having a space portion in which the electrode assembly is built, a cap assembly coupled to the case to seal it, protrudes into the cap assembly and the And a positive and negative electrode terminal electrically connected to the current collector of the positive and negative electrode plates provided in the electrode assembly.

In addition, each unit cell is usually arranged at a plurality of intervals are connected in series or parallel between each terminal to form a battery module.

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

If the heat is not released properly, temperature variation occurs between the unit cells, which decreases the charge / discharge efficiency.The heat generated from the unit cell increases the temperature inside the battery, resulting in a decrease in battery performance. It creates the risk of explosion.

In particular, when the battery module is applied as a large-capacity secondary battery for driving an electric vacuum cleaner, an electric scooter, or a motor vehicle (electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle), the battery module is charged and discharged with a large current. 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 in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a secondary battery module capable of maximizing cooling efficiency in a battery module composed of a plurality of unit cells.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a secondary battery module capable of minimizing temperature variation between unit cells by allowing each unit battery constituting the battery module to be evenly cooled.

In order to achieve the above object, the battery module of the present invention includes a plurality of unit cells and a battery insertion case into which the unit cells are installed, and the plurality of insertion cases form a closed circuit to form a cooling medium flow path. It is structured.

Accordingly, the plurality of unit cells are arranged at regular intervals by the insertion case, and the cooling medium is uniformly distributed through the distribution path made by the insertion case to uniformly cool each unit cell.

Here, the flow path may be formed by enclosing three insertion cases in a triangular shape, or by forming four quadrilateral shapes by four insertion cases or through five or more insertion cases, and inserting one flow path. The number of cases is not particularly limited as long as it is three or more.

In addition, the insertion case may be made of a cylindrical cross-sectional structure so that the cylindrical unit cells can be fitted, or may be made of a rectangular cross-sectional structure so that the rectangular unit cells can be fitted.

Here, the insertion case has a size corresponding to that of the unit battery so as to be in close contact with the unit battery.

In addition, the insertion case is preferably made of a material having high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or copper, and, if made of a material that is electrically conductive, the insulation is made between the insertion case and the unit cell.

In addition, any gas or fluid, such as cooling air or cooling water, may be applied to the cooling medium that is distributed to the distribution path formed by the insertion case, and is not particularly limited.

On the other hand, the present invention may be a structure in which the adjacent insertion case can be attached and fixed to each other, detachably coupled to each other.

When the insertion case is fixed to be attached, it is preferable to fix by welding.

In addition, the present invention includes a recessed portion and a convex portion formed on the contact surface of each insert case in contact with each other so that the insertion case is detachable from each other.

Preferably, the recessed portion and the convex portion are elastically coupled to each other to maintain a combined state. For this purpose, the convex portion is formed of a fastening rod having a circular cross-section structure installed along the longitudinal direction of the insertion case, and the recessed portion is inserted. It is installed in the longitudinal direction of the case and both side ends may be made of a clip that the fastening rod is sandwiched between the two end ends by lifting in an arc shape of a size corresponding to the fastening rod.

The recessed portion and the convex portion are preferably formed at positions facing each other of the insertion case.

On the other hand, the present invention may be formed on the outer surface of the insertion case to the heat dissipation ribs for dissipating heat generated in the unit cell at intervals.

The battery module may be used as an energy source for driving a motor of the device in a device operated using a motor such as a HEV (hybrid electric vehicle), an electric vehicle (EV), a wireless cleaner, an electric bicycle, an electric scooter, and the like. Can be.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description, a case of using air as a cooling method of the battery module will be described as an example. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the cooling method by air, and cooling water or other fluid may be used as the cooling medium.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a rechargeable battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the battery module 10 with reference to the drawings, the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate having an electrode assembly positioned between the separator between the power generation unit cell 11 and the unit cell 11 is fitted It includes a battery insertion case 20, the plurality of insertion cases 20 is connected to the adjacent insertion case 20 is configured to form a flow path 40 for cooling air.

According to the present embodiment, the insertion case 20 has four insertion cases 20 arranged in a lattice form to form one closed space. Thus, the closed space made by the four insertion cases 20 is a cooling air. Distribution channel 40 is achieved.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the structure that the four insertion case 20 is a distribution channel 40 as described above, three or more insertion cases 20 can be gathered to form a single distribution channel (40). have.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the unit cell 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the insertion case 20 is formed in a cylindrical cross-sectional structure having an inner diameter and a length corresponding to that of the unit cell 11.

Accordingly, when the unit battery 11 is inserted into the insertion case 20, the outer circumferential surface of the unit battery 11 is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the insertion case 20.

In addition, both ends of the insertion case 20 are open so that when the unit cell 11 is inserted into the insertion case 20, the positive terminal of the unit cell 11 is exposed at one end and the unit battery is connected to the other end. It has a structure in which the negative electrode terminal of (11) is exposed.

Therefore, a plurality of unit cells 11 that are stacked according to the fastening of the insertion case 20 to form a module may be easily connected in series or in parallel via each exposed terminal.

Here, the coupling between the neighboring insertion case 20 is made through welding.

In addition, the insertion case 20 is made of aluminum or copper having high thermal conductivity, and an insulating member (not shown) is provided between the unit cell 11 and the insertion case 20 to cut off current. do.

The battery module has the above-described structure, in which the insertion case 20 fixed to be arranged in a lattice form supports the unit cells 11 at regular intervals, and the flow passage 40 formed by the insertion case 20. By smoothly flowing through the cooling air through it is to be able to cool the heat generated from the unit cell 11 quickly and uniformly.

3 and 4 show yet another embodiment of the battery module.

According to the above-described drawings, the battery module 10 includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate are positioned with a separator interposed therebetween to generate electric power, and the unit cell 11 is installed. Including a battery insertion case 20, the plurality of insertion case 20 is connected to the adjacent insertion case 20 is formed to form a flow path 40 for cooling air, the insertion case of the The outer surface has a structure in which the fastening bar 30 which is a recess and the clip 31 which is a convex part are installed so that a neighboring insertion case 20 may be attached or detached.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of insertion cases 20 are arranged in a grid so that four insertion cases 20 are connected to form a distribution channel 40.

In addition, the unit cell 11 is made of a cylindrical shape and the insertion case 20 is made of a cylindrical cross-sectional structure of a size corresponding to the unit cell (11).

Wherein the fastening rod 30 which is the main portion has a circular cross-sectional structure is installed along the longitudinal direction of the insertion case 20 and the iron clip 31 is installed along the longitudinal direction of the insertion case 20 and the inside Both side ends are retracted inwardly so that a space having a size corresponding to the fastening bar 30 is formed so that the fastening bars 30 can be fitted through the gap between the both ends as the side ends are elastically bent. It is.

The cylindrical insert case 20 has a structure in which recesses and convex portions are alternately installed at intervals of 90 degrees along the outer circumferential surface so that the four insert cases 20 may be connected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fastening rods 30 are installed at intervals of 180 degrees on the outer surface of the insertion case 20, and the clip 31, which is a convex portion, is installed at intervals of 180 degrees.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3, the fastening rods of each of the insertion cases 20 are set on the fastening rods 30 of the insertion case 20 so that the clips 31 of the neighboring insertion cases 20 are positioned. By inserting the 30 into the clip 31 of the neighboring insertion case 20, each insertion case 20 can be fastened.

In this way, when each insertion case 20 is coupled through the fastening rod 30 and the clip 31, the insertion case 20 supports the unit cell 11 and the flow path 40 by the insertion case 20. The cooling air is uniformly and smoothly distributed through the flow passage 40 so that each unit cell 11 can be efficiently cooled.

That is, the cooling air can be uniformly distributed throughout the battery module through the flow passage 40 made by the insertion case 20, so that the unit cells 11 can dissipate heat evenly. This is because each of the unit cells 11 evenly abuts the insertion case 20, and is arranged at even intervals between the insertion case 20, passing through the flow path 40 between the insertion case 20 It is possible to achieve heat exchange under the same conditions from the cooling air.

That is, each unit cell 11 has the same area in contact with the flow passage 40 through the insertion case 20. In addition, the cooling air passing through the distribution channel 40 can apply cold air evenly to the insertion case 20 forming the distribution channel 40 without biasing to either side.

Therefore, the heat dissipation conditions of the unit cells 11 are the same, so that uniform cooling can be achieved.

On the other hand, unlike the structure described above, in the case where the rectangular unit cell 11 is used in the battery module, the insertion case 20 has a rectangular shape corresponding to the rectangular unit cell 11 as shown in FIG. 5. It is made of, and the front and rear and both sides of the insertion case 20 has a structure in which the fastening rod 30 and the clip 31 is a recess portion is installed.

In this embodiment, the fastening rod 30 is installed in the center of the front and rear in the longitudinal direction and the clip 31 is installed in both sides in the longitudinal direction.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, the side of the insertion case 20 adjacent to the front or rear side of the one side insertion case 20 is disposed in the vertical direction so that the fastening rods 30 formed on the one side insertion case 20 are adjacent to each other. The insertion case 20 is coupled to the clip 31 formed on the side of the insertion case 20.

Even in the case of the battery module 10 of the rectangular unit cell 11 described above, the insertion case 20 supports one unit cell 11 and is distributed by four insertion cases 20 arranged at right angles. The furnace 40 is to be made through which the air for cooling can be smoothly flow through the flow passage (40).

On the other hand, Figure 6 is another embodiment of the battery module, the heat dissipation rib 50 for dissipating the heat of the unit cell 11 to the outside on the outer surface of the insertion case 20 is formed.

The heat dissipation rib 50 is preferably formed integrally with the insertion case 20, and more preferably is formed of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the insertion case 20.

In addition, the heat dissipation rib 50 protrudes at least one or more between the fastening rod 30 and the clip 31 installed on the outer surface of the insertion case 20 to be distributed along the flow path 40. It is preferably formed in the advancing direction of.

Accordingly, the heat generated from the unit cell 11 inserted into the insertion case 20 is transferred to the insertion case 20 and is cooled by the air for cooling that passes through the flow passage 40 made by the insertion case 20. The heat dissipation, the heat dissipation rib 50 located on the flow path 40 will further increase the heat dissipation area will be able to further increase the heat dissipation efficiency.

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 present exemplary embodiment, an arrangement structure of the cooling medium flow path and the unit cells of the battery module may be improved to obtain a more efficient unit cell cooling effect.

In addition, since the cooling medium is evenly distributed between the unit cells, it is possible to eliminate local thermal imbalance in the entire battery module.

Claims (14)

With a plurality of unit cells, An insertion case in which the unit cells are inserted and installed, and a plurality of the unit cells are connected to form a cooling medium flow path. Secondary battery module comprising a. The rechargeable battery module of claim 1, wherein the insertion case has an outer surface attached to and fixed between neighboring insertion cases. The secondary battery module of claim 1, wherein at least three insertion cases are enclosed in a polygonal shape. The secondary battery module of claim 1, wherein the insertion case has a cylindrical cross-sectional structure to accommodate the cylindrical unit battery. The secondary battery module of claim 1, wherein the insertion case has a rectangular cross-sectional structure so that the rectangular unit cells can be inserted therein. The secondary battery module of claim 1, wherein the insertion case is in close contact with the unit battery in correspondence with the size of the unit battery. The secondary battery module of claim 1, wherein the insertion case is made of a material having high thermal conductivity such as aluminum or copper. The secondary battery module of claim 1, wherein an insulation member is interposed between the insertion case and the unit battery. The method of claim 1, wherein the insertion case is installed detachably with the neighboring insertion case. According to claim 1, wherein the insertion case is formed on the mutual contact surface and includes a recess and the convex portion fitted to each other The method of claim 10, wherein the convex portion includes a fastening rod having a circular cross-sectional structure which is installed along the longitudinal direction of the insertion case, and the recessed portion is installed in the longitudinal direction of the insertion case and both sides of the size corresponding to the fastening rod Containing the clip in the form of an arc of the fastening rod is inserted between the both ends The method of claim 10, wherein the insertion case is arranged in a grid form and the recessed portion and the iron portion are alternately installed at intervals of 90 degrees According to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation ribs formed on the outer surface of the insertion case at intervals The secondary battery module of claim 1, wherein the battery module is for driving a motor.

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