KR20130002749A - Battery module of novel structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A battery module is provided to have a compact structure which can be stably mounted into a minimum space in a vehicle and to have efficient a mechanical connection, electric wiring and assembling of a sensing assembly. CONSTITUTION: A battery module(300) comprises: a unit cell assembly(200); a left case(320) which is combined to the left side of the unit cell assembly, has a first coupling groove(321) on left outside for a sensing assembly(310) to be coupled with, and has second coupling grooves(322) formed on both ends; and a right case(330) which is combined to the right side of the unit cell assembly, has an external input and output terminal toward the front side of a battery module, and has a plurality of fixing grooves for coupling and fixing the unit cell assemblies, formed on the right inside.

Description

Battery Module of Novel Structure {Battery Module of Novel Structure}

The present invention relates to a battery module having a novel structure, and more particularly, (a) a unit cell assembly in which a plurality of battery cells are connected in parallel or in series; (b) A first coupling groove is formed on the left outer surface of the unit cell assembly and extends parallel to the length direction of the battery module so that the sensing assembly can be coupled, and second coupling grooves are formed at both ends of the unit cell assembly. A left case each formed in parallel with the height direction of the battery module; And (c) a plurality of fixing grooves coupled to the right side of the unit cell assembly and having an external input / output terminal oriented to the front surface of the battery module and parallel to a length direction of the unit cell assembly so that the unit cell assemblies can be fastened and fixed. A right case formed on the right inner surface; It relates to a battery module having a structure comprising a.

BACKGROUND ART [0002] In recent years, rechargeable secondary batteries have been widely used as energy sources for wireless mobile devices. Secondary batteries are also attracting attention as a power source for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), which are proposed as a way to solve air pollution in conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles that use fossil fuels. .

In a small mobile device, one or two or more battery cells are used per device, while a middle- or large-sized battery module such as an automobile is used as a middle- or large-sized battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are electrically connected due to the necessity of a large-

Since the medium-large battery module is preferably manufactured in a small size and weight, the rectangular battery, the pouch-type battery, etc., which can be charged with high integration and have a small weight to capacity, are mainly used as battery cells of the medium-large battery module. In particular, a pouch-type battery using an aluminum laminate sheet or the like as an exterior member has attracted much attention in recent years due to its advantages such as low weight, low manufacturing cost, and easy deformation.

In order for the medium-large battery module to provide the output and capacity required by a given device or device, it is necessary to electrically connect a plurality of battery cells in series and maintain a stable structure against external force.

Therefore, in the case of constructing a medium-large battery module using a plurality of battery cells, since a large number of members are generally required for their mechanical fastening and electrical connection, the process of assembling these members is very complicated. Moreover, space is required for joining, welding, soldering, etc. a plurality of members for mechanical fastening and electrical connection, thereby increasing the size of the entire system. This increase in size is undesirable in view of the space limitations of the apparatus or device in which the medium-large battery module is mounted. Furthermore, in order to be efficiently mounted in a limited interior space such as a vehicle, a medium to large battery module having a more compact structure is required.

On the other hand, since a battery module is a structure in which a plurality of battery cells are combined, when some battery cells are overvoltage, overcurrent, and overheating, safety and operation efficiency of the battery module are greatly detrimental, and thus a means for detecting and controlling them is required. Therefore, by connecting a voltage sensor, a temperature sensor, and the like to the battery cells to check and control the operation state in real time or at regular time intervals, the installation or connection of such detection means and their control means facilitate the assembly of the battery module. It is very complicated and there is a risk of short circuit due to the large number of wirings for this.

Accordingly, there is a high need for a battery module having a more compact structure, excellent structural stability, and efficient assembly of a sensing assembly while solving the above problems.

The present invention aims to solve the problems of the prior art and the technical problem that has been requested from the past.

Specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module having a compact structure that can be stably mounted to a minimum space in a limited space such as a vehicle, and efficient assembly of the sensing assembly as well as mechanical fastening and electrical wiring.

Battery module according to the present invention for achieving this object,

(a) a unit cell assembly in which a plurality of battery cells or unit modules are connected in parallel or in series;

(b) coupled to the left side of the unit cell assembly, the upper surface is formed with a first fastening groove extending in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the battery module so that the sensing assembly can be fastened, both ends of the second fastening groove A left case which is formed in parallel with the height direction of the battery module, respectively; And

(c) coupled to the right side of the unit cell assembly, the external input and output terminals are oriented to the front surface of the battery module, and a plurality of fixing grooves parallel to the length direction of the unit cell assembly so that the unit cell assemblies can be fastened and fixed. A formed right case;

It may be made of a structure comprising a.

The unit cell assembly has a structure in which a plurality of battery cells or unit modules are connected in series, and the rectangular battery module has a structure in which cases are coupled to left and right sides of the unit cell assembly, respectively, The appearance of the battery module is determined by the appearance of the.

Therefore, for example, the rectangular battery module may be configured by stacking plate-shaped battery cells or stacking unit modules in two or more numbers.

In the present invention, the terms "left" and "right", which are used to express the position or direction of the module case and the unit cell stack, represent positions or directions relative to each other, and may be understood as representing one side and the other side opposite thereto. have. Accordingly, the terms "left" and "right" used may be changed to "right" and "left", respectively, and they should all be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

In one preferred example, the front and rear of the left case may have a structure in which fasteners for coupling the battery modules are formed in the width direction of the battery module, respectively.

Like the left case, fasteners for coupling the battery modules may be formed in the width direction of the battery module on the front and rear of the right case, respectively.

Preferably, a plurality of through holes may be formed on the left side of the left side case and the right side of the right side case so that the refrigerant flows into the unit cell assembly, cools, and is discharged to the outside.

Inserts are formed at both ends of the left case so that one end of the sensing circuit portion electrically connected to the sensing assembly can be coupled to the left case, thereby making it easier to mount the sensing assembly and preventing the overall troublesome wiring. .

In some cases, after the sensing assembly is mounted on the left case, protective covers for protecting the sensing assembly from external shock may be mounted on the upper surface and both ends of the left case.

In one preferred embodiment, the right side case is formed with a fixing portion of the flat structure so that the connector constituting the sensing circuit portion is mounted in parallel to the ground or horizontal plane is fixed to the rear surface that is the orientation surface of the front surface where the input and output terminals of the battery module is formed It may be a structure.

Therefore, even when an external shock is applied to the battery module, the connector maintains a stable coupling state without leaving the correct position by the fixing part, thereby minimizing the possibility of disconnection of the connector.

The battery cells or unit modules may have a structure in which a longitudinal direction and / or a height direction are arranged parallel to the ground or a horizontal plane.

In one specific example, the sensing assembly is a member for detecting the voltage of the battery cells or unit modules constituting the battery module,

(a) a plurality of configurations configured in a shape corresponding to the series connection portion so as to be mounted in a male and female manner on an electrical connection portion of the plurality of battery cells or unit modules at the front and rear surfaces of the battery module in which the input / output terminals are formed; A pair of insulating supports of a hexahedral structure in which fastening portions are formed;

(b) one end of which is connected to the electrical connection portion, the other end of which is electrically connected to a sensing circuit portion, and a linear structure connection portion electrically connecting the fastening portions; And

(c) one end of which is electrically connected to the connection part, the other end of which is connected to the electrical connection part in a state of being coupled within the fastening part;

It may be made of a structure comprising a.

In this structure, the connection may preferably be composed of a plurality of wires.

In addition, the insulating supports of the sensing assembly are mounted on the series connection portions of the rectangular battery modules, thereby simplifying the electrical connection structure and consequently the assembly process, and reducing the length of the electrical connection means to prevent an increase in the internal resistance, The risk of disconnection of the connecting means by an impact or the like can be reduced.

Therefore, the battery module of the present invention including the sensing assembly prevents twisting of the sensing circuits in the assembly process, and thus does not require an additional time for arranging the sensing circuits after the assembly process, which improves the efficiency of the assembly process. It is effective.

Furthermore, the sensing assembly of the structure simplifies the entire structure of the battery module assembly as much as possible due to the large number of circuits for voltage detection, and facilitates the detachment and detachment of the battery module. Can be shortened.

Meanwhile, the structure of the unit module may have various configurations, and preferred examples will be described below.

For example, the unit module is a structure in which the plate-shaped battery cells, the electrode terminals are formed on the top and bottom, respectively, are electrically interconnected, except for two or more battery cells connected in series or in parallel, and the electrode terminal portion It may be configured to include a cell cover coupled to surround the outer surface of the battery cells. Preferably, the number of battery cells constituting the unit module may be 2 or more and 6 or less.

The plate-shaped battery cell is a secondary battery having a thin thickness and a relatively wide width and length so as to minimize the overall size when it is charged for the configuration of the battery module.

A preferable example thereof is a secondary battery having a structure in which an electrode assembly is embedded in a battery case of a laminate sheet including a resin layer and a metal layer, and electrode terminals protrude from both upper and lower ends. More specifically, It may be a structure in which an electrode assembly is built in the case. The secondary battery having such a structure may also be referred to as a pouch-shaped battery cell.

These battery cells comprise a unit module structured in a high-strength cell cover made of synthetic resin or metal in two or more units, and the high-strength cell cover repeatedly protects the battery cells having low mechanical stiffness while charging and discharging. It prevents the sealing part of the battery cell from being separated by suppressing the change of expansion and contraction. Accordingly, it becomes possible to manufacture a middle- or large-sized battery module with superior safety.

The battery cells in the unit module or between the module modules are connected in series and / or parallel manner, and in a preferred embodiment, the electrode terminals are arranged with the battery cells arranged in series in the longitudinal direction such that their electrode terminals are continuously adjacent to each other. After the combination, the plurality of unit modules may be manufactured by folding the battery cells in two or more units so as to overlap each other, and then wrapping the battery cells in a predetermined unit.

In some cases, the battery cells may be manufactured by stacking the battery cells in units of two or more, wrapping the outer surface thereof with a cell cover, and then electrically connecting the electrode terminals.

The coupling of the electrode terminals can be realized in various ways such as welding, soldering, mechanical fastening, etc., and can be achieved preferably by welding.

The plurality of battery cells or unit modules, in which electrode terminals are interconnected and filled with high density, may be vertically mounted in a vertically separated case coupled to a prefabricated fastening structure to form the rectangular battery module.

More specific details of a unit module and a rectangular battery module manufactured using a plurality of such unit modules are disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2006-45443, filed by the present applicant, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In the above structure, the cell cover is a fastening structure of the upper cover and the lower cover, it is preferable that a plurality of protrusions parallel to the height direction of the battery module is formed on the surface of the upper cover and the lower cover, the protrusions They form a flow path so that the refrigerant flows between the unit modules stacked up and down.

The present invention also relates to a plurality of rectangular battery modules in which a plurality of battery cells or unit modules are connected in series are stacked at least two or more in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction) and / or the width direction (lateral direction). A rectangular battery module is provided, and the rectangular battery module provides a battery module assembly having a structure in which its longitudinal direction is arranged parallel to the ground or a horizontal plane.

That is, in the battery module assembly of the present invention, since a plurality of rectangular battery modules are stacked in a length direction and / or a width direction to form a hexahedral stack, a very compact and stable structure can be made as a whole. The size limitation problem can be solved in mounting to a predetermined part such as space.

The present invention also provides a high-capacity battery pack including the battery module assembly.

The battery pack according to the present invention is preferably used as a power source for an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, which has a limited mounting space and is exposed to frequent vibrations and strong shocks in consideration of mounting efficiency, structural stability, and the like. Can be used.

As described above, the battery module according to the present invention has a compact structure that can be stably mounted in a limited space in a limited space such as a vehicle, and the structural stability against external impact is improved, mechanical fastening and electrical Not only the wiring but also the configuration of the voltage sensing wiring is simple, and the efficiency of assembly work can be improved.

1 is an exploded view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 and 3 are perspective views of the battery module of Figure 1;
4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which two battery cells are connected in series;
5 is a perspective view of a battery module assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

1 is an exploded view schematically showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are perspective views of the battery module of FIG.

4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which two battery cells are connected in series.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, in FIG. 1, the unit cell assembly 200 bends the electrode terminals 110a, 110b, 120a, and 120b by connecting two battery cells 100a and 100b in series. It consists of four unit modules 100 of the structure wrapped in a high-strength cell cover 210 in the state. The four unit modules 100 are connected in series in the same manner as in FIG. 4 in which the positive terminal 110a of one battery cell 100a and the negative terminal 120b of the other battery cell 100b are connected in series. It is.

At this time, the positive electrode terminal 110a of the first battery cell 100a is bent downward and the negative electrode terminal 120a is bent upward, and the positive electrode terminal 110b of the second battery cell 100b is bent downward, and the negative electrode Terminal 120b is bent upward.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the battery module 300 includes a unit cell assembly 200 in which the unit modules 100 are electrically connected in series, and a left case 320 coupled to a left side of the unit cell assembly 200. , And a right case 330 coupled to the right side of the unit cell assembly 200.

On the other hand, the battery module 300 is a rectangular parallelepiped having a larger height h than the width w, and is arranged such that its length direction y and height direction z are parallel to the ground.

The left case 320 has a first fastening groove 321 extending parallel to the length direction y of the battery module 300 so that the sensing assembly 310 is fastened, and second ends at both ends thereof. Fastening grooves 322 are formed in parallel to the height direction (x) of the battery module, respectively.

The right case 330 has an external input / output terminal 331 oriented toward the front of the battery module 300, and is disposed in the length direction y of the unit cell assembly 200 so that the unit cell assembly 200 can be fastened and fixed. A plurality of fixing grooves 332 are formed in parallel.

In addition, fasteners 323 for coupling the battery module 300 to the front and rear of the left case 320 are formed in the width direction z of the battery module 300, respectively, Fasteners 333 for coupling the battery module 300 to the front and rear are formed in the width direction (z) of the battery module 300, respectively.

A plurality of through holes 324 are formed on the left side of the left side case 320 and the right side of the right side case 330, and the refrigerant flows into the unit cell assembly 200 to cool the unit modules 100. It is discharged to the outside.

Inserts 325 are formed at both ends of the left case 320 so that one end of the sensing circuit unit 420 electrically connected to the sensing assembly 310 is coupled to the left case 320.

In addition, protective covers 340, 342, and 344 are mounted on the left side and both ends of the left case 320, respectively, to protect the sensing assembly 310 from external impact, and the right case 330 includes a battery module. The fixing part 350 of the flat structure is formed on the rear surface which is the orientation surface of the front surface in which the input / output terminal 331 of 300 is formed, and the connector which comprises the sensing circuit part 420 is mounted and fixed in parallel with the ground. .

The battery cell 100a and the unit modules 100 are arranged such that the height direction x and the length direction y are parallel to the ground.

The sensing assembly 310 is a member for detecting a voltage of the unit modules 100 constituting the battery module 300, and includes a pair of insulating support parts 312 and 314, a linear connection part 316, and It is composed of conductive sensing units (not shown).

The insulating support parts 312 and 314 are mounted on the electrical connection part 130 of the unit modules 100 on the front and rear surfaces of the battery module 300 where the input / output terminal 331 is formed in a male and female manner. It consists of a hexahedral structure in which a plurality of fastening portions 318 having a tong shape formed in a shape corresponding to the electrical connection portion 130 is formed.

One end of the connection part 316 is connected to the electrical connection part 130, and the other end is electrically connected to the sensing circuit part 420 to electrically connect the fastening parts 318. In addition, one end of the conductive sensing unit is electrically connected to the connection unit 316, and the other end is connected to the electrical connection unit 130 in a receptacle manner while being coupled in the fastening unit 318.

Accordingly, after the sensing assembly 310 is coupled to the first fastening groove 321 and the second fastening groove 322 of the left case 320, the left side of the left case 320 to protect the sensing assembly 310 from external impact. The protective cover 340, 342, and 344 are coupled to the surface and both ends, respectively, and the input / output terminal 331 and the bus bar 352 are coupled to the lower case 330. Coupling the protective cover 360 to protect from impact.

The unit module 100 has a structure in which the plate-shaped battery cells 100a and 100b having the electrode terminals 110a and 120a formed at the top and the bottom thereof are electrically connected to each other. The cell cover 210 is coupled to surround the outer surfaces of the battery cells 100a and 100b except for the cells 100a and 100b and the electrode terminal portions 110a, 120a, 110b and 120b.

In addition, the cell cover 210 is a fastening structure of the upper cover and the lower cover, and five protrusions 212 and 214 are formed on the surface of the upper cover and the lower cover in parallel to the height direction of the battery module. The fields 212 and 214 form a flow path so that the refrigerant can flow between the stacked unit modules 100.

5 is a perspective view schematically showing a battery module assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5 together with FIG. 1, the battery module assembly 800 includes nine rectangular battery modules 300a, 300b, 300c, 300d, 300e, 300f, 300g, 300h, and 300i of the battery module assembly 800. Three pieces are laminated in the longitudinal direction y and the width direction z, respectively, to form a hexagonal laminate structure as a whole.

The hexahedral stack includes the first battery module groups 300a, 300b, and 300c and the second battery module groups 300d, 300e, and 300f formed of three battery modules in the length direction y of the battery module assembly 800. Stacked in a structure arranged opposite to each other, each of the battery modules (300a, 300b, 300c, 300d, 300e, 300f) are arranged to be adjacent to each other in the direction in which the input and output terminals are located, forming a rectangular parallelepiped structure as a whole.

That is, the front and rear of the battery modules 300a, 300b, 300c, 300d, 300e, and 300f on which the input / output terminals 331 of FIG. 1 are formed have a structure in which the input / output terminals 331 are arranged to be adjacent to each other. Simplifies the electrical connection length between the battery modules 300a, 300b, 300c, 300d, 300e, and 300f and the mounting structure of the connection member 500.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.

Claims (15)

(a) a unit cell assembly in which a plurality of battery cells or unit modules are connected in parallel or in series;
(b) A first coupling groove is formed on the left outer surface of the unit cell assembly and extends parallel to the length direction of the battery module so that the sensing assembly can be coupled, and second coupling grooves are formed at both ends of the unit cell assembly. A left case each formed in parallel with the height direction of the battery module; And
(c) coupled to the right side of the unit cell assembly, the external input and output terminals are oriented to the front surface of the battery module, and a plurality of fixing grooves parallel to the length direction of the unit cell assembly so that the unit cell assemblies can be fastened and fixed. A right case formed on the right inner surface;
Battery module, characterized in that consisting of a structure comprising a. The seriousness module of claim 1, wherein fasteners for coupling the battery modules are formed in the width direction of the battery module on the front and rear surfaces of the left case, respectively. The seriousness module of claim 1, wherein fasteners for coupling the battery modules are formed in the width direction of the battery module on the front and rear surfaces of the right case, respectively. According to claim 1, wherein the left side of the left case and the right side of the right case is a serious module, characterized in that a plurality of through-holes are formed so that the refrigerant flows into the unit cell assembly to be discharged to the outside. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the left case have insertion holes formed at one end thereof so that one end of the sensing circuit part electrically connected to the sensing assembly is coupled to the left case. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the left side and both ends of the left case are further provided with protective covers for protecting the sensing assembly from external impact. According to claim 1, wherein the right case is formed with a fixing portion of the flat structure so that the connector constituting the sensing circuit portion is mounted in parallel to the ground or horizontal plane is fixed to the rear surface that is the orientation surface of the front surface where the input and output terminals of the battery module is formed Battery module, characterized in that. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the battery cells or unit modules are arranged such that the length direction and / or the height direction are parallel to the ground or the horizontal plane. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensing assembly is a member for detecting the voltage of the battery cells or unit modules constituting the battery module,
(A) a plurality of configurations configured in a shape corresponding to the electrical connection portion to be mounted on the electrical connection portion of the plurality of battery cells or unit modules in the front and rear surfaces of the battery module in which the input and output terminals are formed; A pair of insulating supports of a hexahedral structure in which fastening portions are formed;
(b) one end of which is connected to the electrical connection portion, the other end of which is electrically connected to a sensing circuit portion, and a linear structure connection portion electrically connecting the fastening portions; And
(c) one end of which is electrically connected to the connection part, the other end of which is connected to the electrical connection part in a state of being coupled within the fastening part;
Battery module, characterized in that consisting of a structure comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein the unit module is a structure in which the plate-shaped battery cells, the electrode terminals are formed at the top and bottom, respectively, are electrically interconnected, the two or more battery cells connected in series or in parallel, and the electrode terminal portion Excluding the battery module, characterized in that it comprises a cell cover coupled to surround the outer surface of the battery cells. The method of claim 10, wherein the cell cover is a fastening structure of the upper cover and the lower cover, the battery module, characterized in that the surface of the upper cover and the lower cover is formed with a plurality of projections parallel to the height direction of the battery module . The battery module of claim 11, wherein the protrusions form a flow path such that refrigerant flows between the stacked unit modules. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery modules are laminated at least two or more in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction) and / or the width direction (transverse direction) to form a hexahedral stack structure as a whole,
The rectangular battery module is a battery module assembly, characterized in that its longitudinal direction is arranged parallel to the ground or a horizontal plane. A high output large capacity battery pack comprising a battery module assembly according to claim 13. The battery pack according to claim 14, wherein the battery pack is used as a power source for an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

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