KR20070014662A - Secondary battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a secondary battery module which is improved in the temperature control efficiency of unit battery by modifying the circulation structure of cooling medium and is minimized in the temperature deviation of unit batteries. The secondary battery module(10) comprises at least one battery assembly(11) which comprises a layered unit batteries(12); a housing(20) which accommodates the battery assembly and circulates the cooling medium for the control of temperature; and an inducing member(30) which is installed on the propagation passage(23,24) of the cooling medium formed along the housing and is toward the inlet(21) of cooling medium at the end part of the passage. Preferably the front end toward the inlet of cooling medium of the inducing member has a wedge form.

Description

Secondary Battery Module {SECONDARY BATTERY MODULE}

1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a configuration of a secondary battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a rechargeable battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a rechargeable battery module according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a secondary battery. In more detail, the present invention relates to a secondary battery module in which the cooling efficiency of a unit cell is increased in forming a battery module by connecting a plurality of secondary batteries.

A secondary battery is a battery that can be charged and discharged unlike a primary battery that is not rechargeable. Low-capacity secondary batteries are used in portable electronic devices such as phones, notebook computers, and camcorders, and large-capacity secondary batteries are widely used as power sources for driving motors in hybrid vehicles.

The secondary battery is manufactured in various shapes. Typical shapes include cylindrical and rectangular shapes. In order to be used for driving a motor such as an electric vehicle, which requires a large power, the high-output secondary battery described above is configured with a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series.

As described above, one large capacity secondary battery (hereinafter, referred to as a battery module for convenience of description throughout) is composed of a plurality of secondary batteries (hereinafter, referred to as unit cells for convenience of explanation throughout) in series.

Each unit cell includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate interposed therebetween, a case having a space portion in which the electrode assembly is embedded, a cap assembly coupled to the case and sealing the protruding portion. And positive and negative terminals electrically connected to the positive and negative current collectors provided in the electrode assembly.

In the case of the rectangular battery, each of the unit cells cross-aligns each of the unit cells such that the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal protruding from the top of the cap assembly alternate with the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of the neighboring unit cell, and the threaded negative electrode terminal A battery module is constructed by connecting and installing a conductor between nuts between terminals.

In this case, the battery module is configured to connect one to many dozens of unit cells to form one battery module, so that the heat generated from each unit battery can be easily discharged. The temperature difference between the installation positions of 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 cells 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 necessity, and an object thereof is to improve a distribution structure of a cooling medium, thereby improving a temperature control effect of a unit cell and minimizing a temperature variation between unit cells. In providing.

The secondary battery module according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises at least one battery assembly formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells, and a housing in which the battery assembly is embedded and a cooling medium for temperature control is circulated. .

The battery assembly is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the housing, and a guide member having a thickness in the cooling medium traveling passage formed along the longitudinal direction of the housing is installed toward the cooling medium inlet at the end of the passage.

Here, the guide member may have a structure in which the end forms a wedge shape.

In addition, the induction member is preferably installed on the passage through which the cooling medium flows.

The thickness of the guide member is preferably in the range of 25 to 35% of the cross-sectional width of the passage.

Therefore, the cooling medium is sufficiently guided between the unit cells of the battery assembly located at the inlet side due to the reduction in the cross-sectional width of the passageway by the induction member, thereby further lowering the temperature of the inlet unit cell.

In the secondary battery module according to the present invention, the battery assembly may have a structure in which two pairs are disposed to face each other. In this case, each of the battery assemblies may be disposed on the same plane inside the housing and share a cooling medium traveling passage provided at the center.

In the secondary battery module according to the present invention, the battery assembly is provided with a battery partition wall between the unit cell and the unit cell. In this case, it is preferable that each said unit battery consists of squares.

Here, the secondary battery module may be a blower type for forcibly supplying a cooling medium to the inside through an inlet of the housing.

When the secondary battery module has a blower type structure, the induction member is preferably installed on the cooling medium inlet passage of the housing.

In the secondary battery module according to the present invention, the housing is formed at both ends of the inlet port through which the cooling medium is introduced and the discharge port through which the cooling medium passing through each unit cell is discharged. The communicating medium inlet and outlet passages may be formed.

The cooling medium flowing into the inlet proceeds along the inlet passage, passes through the battery assembly, and then exits to the outlet through the outlet passage.

Here, the positions of forming the inlets and outlets that determine the inflow direction and the outflow direction of the cooling medium are not limited thereto and may be formed in the same direction.

As mentioned, when a pair of battery assemblies are disposed in the housing, an inlet is formed at the center of one end of the housing to allow the cooling medium to flow into the center of the opposite battery assemblies, and the outlets are provided at both ends of the other ends of the housing. It is preferable to form at.

In this case, the inlet and the outlet may have different functions depending on the cooling medium distribution method of the secondary battery module.

Here, the induction member is preferably installed on the inflow passage of the housing.

On the other hand, the induction member is a plate structure formed in a predetermined length along the longitudinal direction of the passage through which the cooling medium flows, the plate portion having a flat form and extending to the plate portion toward the end toward the inflow direction of the cooling medium It consists of a wedge that forms a sharp wedge.

Accordingly, the cooling medium is inductively distributed to each unit cell by the induction member so that each unit cell constituting the battery assembly can dissipate heat evenly regardless of the installation position of the battery assembly.

Preferably, the flat plate portion constituting the induction member may extend from the end of the battery assembly disposed in the longitudinal direction of the housing to about an intermediate point.

The wedge portion may extend from the middle point of the battery assembly to the end or a point slightly short of the end.

In addition, in the secondary battery module of the present invention, the induction member is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the passage through which the cooling medium flows, and has a structure in which the side is inclined so as to point gradually toward the end to form a wedge shape.

Here, the secondary battery module is a device for operating by using a motor such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), an electric vehicle (EV), a wireless cleaner, an electric bicycle, an electric scooter, and the like to drive energy for driving the motor of the device. Can be used as a circle.

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 may easily implement 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.

In the following description, a case where air is used as a cooling medium 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 perspective view illustrating a configuration of a rechargeable battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the secondary battery module 10 according to the present embodiment with reference to the drawings, the battery module 10 is a large-capacity battery module, a plurality of unit cells 12 are formed in a continuous sequence at a predetermined interval The battery assembly 11 and the housing 20 for enclosing the battery assembly 11 and distributing air for temperature control to the unit cells 12 are included.

Here, each of the unit cells 12 has an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate are disposed on both sides thereof with a separator interposed therebetween, and is configured as a secondary battery having a conventional structure for charging and discharging a predetermined amount of power.

As mentioned above, the battery assembly 11 is defined as meaning a structure in which a plurality of unit cells 12 are arranged at regular intervals to form one row.

According to the present embodiment, the battery assembly 11 is arranged so that the unit cells 12 having an approximately rectangular shape (in this embodiment, a wide width rectangle having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides) are upright. It is preferable to be laminated | stacked.

Specifically, the battery assembly 11 is provided with at least one, in this embodiment, as shown in the drawing, two are arranged in a pair to be spaced apart from each other on the same plane in the housing 20.

The reason for disposing the battery assembly 11 on the same plane inside the housing 20 is to minimize the overall height of the battery module 10.

In such a battery assembly 11, battery partition walls 13 are provided between each unit cell 12 and on the outermost unit cell 12. The battery partition wall 13 has a function of circulating air for temperature control while supporting the side surface of each unit cell 12 while maintaining a constant interval of each unit cell 12.

To this end, each of the cell partitions 13 forms a channel 14 for distributing temperature control air, that is, cooling air at a relatively low temperature for controlling the temperature of the unit cell 12, between the unit cells 12. have.

In the present embodiment, the channel 14 has a structure that penetrates the battery partition 13, as shown by a virtual line in FIG. There is no particular limitation.

In such a battery module 10, the housing 20 mentioned above is equipped with the above-mentioned battery assembly 11 as well as the channel 14 between each unit cell 12 of this battery assembly 11 to the temperature. The control air is circulated to cool the heat generated in each unit cell 12.

To this end, the housing 20 of the present embodiment has a battery assembly 11 based on a fixing unit 25 for fixing the battery assembly 11 and a pair of battery assemblies 11 arranged side by side inside the housing 20. Passages 23 and 24 through which air for temperature control flows, respectively, in the center of the housing 20 between the housings 11 and on both sides of the housing 20 that is outside of each battery assembly 11 (the passage is a secondary battery module ( 10) may be an inflow passage through which the cooling medium is introduced or a discharge passage through which temperature control air is discharged, depending on whether the blower type or the suction type is used or the direction in which the cooling medium proceeds. Inlets 21 or outlets 22 are formed to be connected to the passages 23 and 24 to introduce or discharge air for temperature control.

In the following description, the air for temperature control flows into the center of the housing 20 so that the center of the housing is used as the inflow passage 23 and the discharge passage 24 and the outlet 22 are located at both sides of the housing 20. , A blower type for blowing air through the inlet port 21 connected to the central inlet passage 23 will be described as an example.

The fixing unit 25 accommodates the battery assembly 11 and forms an accommodating space for fixing the battery assembly 11. The accommodating spaces are disposed on both sides of the inflow passage 23 at the center of the housing. A pair of battery assemblies 11 are mounted to each fixing unit 25 along the longitudinal direction of the housing 20.

The inflow passage 23 is disposed in the center of the housing 20 so that the battery assembly 11 is positioned at both sides of the inflow passage 23 and communicates with the inflow port 21 installed in the housing 20. In addition, the discharge passage 24 is in communication with the discharge port 22 which is located outside the respective battery assembly 11 on both sides of the housing 20 and disposed along the traveling direction of the temperature control air.

Accordingly, the air for temperature control enters the inflow passage 23 formed in the center of the housing 20 through the inflow port 21 and partitions between the unit cells 12 of the battery assemblies 11 arranged along the inflow passage 23. It is moved to the discharge passage 24 through (13) is discharged through the discharge port (22).

Here, the housing 20 is installed along the inflow path 23 in the inflow path 23 is provided with an induction member 30 extending from the end of the inflow path 23 to the inlet 21 in the longitudinal direction. It is a structure which guides the flow direction of advancing cooling air.

The induction member 30 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2 as follows.

The guide member 30 is a plate structure which is installed in the center of the inflow passage 23 along the longitudinal direction, and is formed integrally with the flat plate portion 31 having a flat plate shape and the flat plate portion 31. The tip toward the inlet 21 toward the end is made of a wedge portion 32 to form a wedge sharply toward the end.

Accordingly, the flat plate portion 31 constituting the guide member 30 is in close contact with the inner end of the inflow passage 23 and the wedge portion 32 extending to the flat plate portion 31 forms a structure facing the inlet port 21. .

In other words, the section in which the induction member 30 is installed on the inflow passage 23 is reduced in cross-sectional area of the inflow passage compared to the section in which the induction member is not installed, and furthermore, the section in which the wedge portion 32 of the induction member is formed. In the cross-sectional area of the inlet passage 23 is gradually reduced along the direction of the cooling air.

Therefore, the air for cooling introduced through the inlet 21 is divided into the pointed wedges 32 and flows in between the unit cells 12 of the battery assembly 11 positioned on both sides of the inlet passage 23. And, it is forcibly guided to the inlet unit cell 12 while passing through the wedge portion 32 forming an inclined surface with respect to the inflow passage (23).

Accordingly, the inlet unit cell 12 is sufficiently cooled by the cooling air guided by the induction member 30, thereby minimizing the temperature variation and the local temperature rise between the unit cells of the battery assembly.

Herein, the thickness of the flat plate 31 of the induction member 30 is not particularly limited, and preferably, 25 to 35% of the cross section width of the inflow passage 23.

When the thickness of the flat plate 31 is 25% or less with respect to the cross-sectional width of the inflow passage 23, it is difficult to induce cooling air to the unit cell 12 located at the inlet side, and when larger than 35%, cooling air is It is difficult to guide the unit cell 12 located inside the inflow passage 23.

In addition, the inner tip thickness of the wedge portion 32 is equal to the flat plate portion 31 so that the flat plate portion 31 and the wedge portion 32 is smoothly connected.

In addition, the section in which the flat plate portion 31 of the induction member 30 is located is set to approximately an intermediate section of the battery assembly 11 at the inner end of the inflow passage 23.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the number of unit cells 12 stacked to form one side battery assembly 11 is 20, the section D1 in which the flat plate part 31 is located is directed toward the inlet side. It is a section from the inner end of the inflow passage 23 to the seventh to tenth unit cell 12.

In addition, the section D2 in which the wedge portion 32 extending from the flat plate portion 31 is located starts at the end of the section D1 in which the flat plate portion 31 is located and faces toward the inlet side. It is a section from the inner end of the inflow passage 23 to the 17th to 20th unit cell 12.

Accordingly, the section D3 in which the pointed tip of the wedge portion 32 is located is within the section from the inner end of the inflow passage 23 to the 17th to 20th unit cells 12.

Referring to the operation of the secondary battery module configured as described above in detail as follows.

The temperature control air introduced into the housing 20 through the inlet 21 according to the driving of the pump connected to the inlet 21 passes through each battery assembly 11 along the inlet passage 23, and then discharge passage 24. Pass through the outlet 22.

At this time, the cooling air is separated by the induction member 30 at the inlet side of the inlet passage 23 connected to the inlet port 21, and part of it proceeds toward one battery assembly 11 and the other proceeds toward the other battery assembly. do.

As such, the cooling air introduced into each of the battery assemblies 11 may not be rapidly introduced into the inner end of the inflow passage 23 as the cross-sectional area of the inflow passage 23 is reduced by the induction member 30, and thus the inflow port Even for the unit cell of the battery assembly 11 located on the side, air for cooling can be sufficiently distributed.

In addition, the flow of cooling air is induced by the wedge portion 32 inclined toward the battery assembly 11 while passing through the wedge portion 32 of the induction member 30 having a surface inclined with respect to the inflow passage 23. As a result, the quantity is sufficiently supplied between the unit cells located at the inlet side.

Therefore, the cooling air is evenly distributed along the inflow passage 23 to the inlet port, which is inward as well as outward, and is evenly distributed to each unit cell 12 constituting the battery assembly. Accordingly, the cooling air is evenly discharged to each battery partition wall 13 along the longitudinal direction of the battery assembly 11, so that the temperature control air is evenly distributed throughout the battery assembly 11, so that the unit of the battery assembly 11 as a whole. The temperature distribution of the battery 12 can be made even.

On the other hand, Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the secondary battery module.

In the present embodiment, the same parts as those described above will be described with the same reference numerals.

First, referring to FIG. 3, the rechargeable battery module 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment is a blower type in which an inlet 21 and an inlet passage 23 are disposed at the center of the housing 20, and the outlet 22 is disposed at both sides. And a discharge passage 24 is formed, on the inlet passage 23 of the housing 20 is installed along the longitudinal direction in the center of the inlet passage 23 and both sides toward the inlet from the inner end of the inlet passage The tip is sharply inclined to form a wedge-shaped guide member 40 is installed.

The induction member 40 is formed on both sides facing the battery assembly 11 to form a wedge shape inclined surfaces of the same angle.

In addition, the guide member 40 has a length such that the pointed tip reaches to the inlet 21 or is slightly less than the inlet 21.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the number of unit cells 12 stacked to form one battery assembly 11 is 20, the induction member 40 may be formed in the inflow path 23 in the direction toward the inlet. Located in the section (D4) from the inner end to the 17th to 20th unit cell (12).

And the pointed tip of the wedge portion 32 is located in the section (D5) from the inner end of the inflow passage 23 to the 17th to 20th unit cell 12.

Similarly, the air introduced into the housing 20 through the inlet 21 is formed by the inclined side of the induction member 40 which is inclined toward the battery assembly 11 in the course of being carried out along the inflow passage 22. The direction is directed towards the cell assembly.

Therefore, the cooling air is sufficiently introduced into the unit cell 12 of the battery assembly 11 located at the inlet side, and the cooling air passes through the battery partition wall 13 between the unit cells. It is possible to evenly dissipate the unit cell in the interval and to show an even heat distribution.

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

Thus, according to this embodiment, the cooling efficiency of the battery module can be improved by improving the flow structure of the temperature control air, and since the temperature control air is evenly distributed between the unit cells, local thermal imbalance can be eliminated in the entire battery module. Will be.

Claims (15)

At least one battery assembly formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells; A housing which houses the battery assembly and distributes a cooling medium for temperature control; Induction member installed toward the cooling medium inlet at the end of the passage in the cooling medium running passage formed along the housing Secondary battery module comprising a. According to claim 1, The induction member is a secondary battery module having a wedge shape of the front end toward the cooling medium inlet. According to claim 1, The induction member is a secondary battery module installed on the passage in which the cooling medium flows. According to claim 1, The thickness of the guide member is a secondary battery module in the range of 25 to 30% of the cross-sectional width of the passage. According to claim 1, The battery assembly is a secondary battery module in which two are arranged in pairs to face each other. The method of claim 5, Secondary battery module is the battery assembly is disposed on the same plane inside the housing. According to claim 1, The battery assembly is a secondary battery module is provided with a battery partition between the unit cell and the unit cell. According to claim 1, The housing has an inlet through which cooling medium is introduced at both ends and an outlet through which cooling medium through each unit cell is discharged. A cooling medium inlet passage and an outlet passage are formed at both sides of the battery assembly to communicate with the inlet and the outlet. Secondary battery module. According to claim 1, The battery assembly has a pair of battery cells facing each other, the inlet and the inlet passage is formed in the center of the housing, the discharge passage and the outlet are formed on both sides of the housing. According to claim 1, The guide member is provided along a longitudinal direction of the passageway through which the cooling medium flows, and has a flat plate portion, and a wedge extending in the flat portion to form a wedge sharply toward the tip toward the side into which the cooling medium flows. Secondary battery module comprising a portion. The method of claim 10, The flat plate portion of the induction member is a secondary battery module extending from the end of the battery assembly arranged in the longitudinal direction of the housing toward the midpoint toward the inflow of the cooling medium. The method of claim 10, Secondary battery module of the wedge portion of the induction member extends from the middle point of the battery assembly to the end or to a point slightly less than the end toward the inflow of the cooling medium. According to claim 1, The induction member is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the passage through which the cooling medium flows, and the side surface is inclined toward the end toward the end toward the side in which the cooling medium is inclined to form a wedge shape. The method of claim 13, The induction member is a secondary battery module extends from one end of the battery assembly to the end of the cooling medium flows to the end or slightly less than the end. According to claim 1, The battery module is a secondary battery module for driving a motor.

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