KR20190120154A - Secondary battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a secondary battery module. The present invention provides a secondary battery module, comprising: a plurality of stacked battery cells; and a first structure accommodating and cooling the battery cells. The first structure comprises: a housing accommodating the battery cells; and a cooling plate fastened to one surface of the housing and disposed between at least two battery cells disposed in the housing to fix the battery cells and to dissipate heat generated from the battery cells.

Description

Secondary Battery Module {SECONDARY BATTERY MODULE}

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a secondary battery module.

Secondary batteries that can be charged and discharged are being actively researched due to the development of high-tech fields such as digital cameras, cell phones, laptops, and hybrid cars. Examples of secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Among these, lithium secondary batteries are used as power sources for portable electronic devices with an operating voltage of 3.6 V or more, or in high-power hybrid vehicles connected in series, and used in nickel-cadmium batteries or nickel-metal hydride batteries. Compared with the three times higher operating voltage and excellent energy density per unit weight, it is being used rapidly.

The conventional secondary battery module is provided with protective structures for protecting and fixing the secondary battery such as the battery cell 1, the cooling plate 2 and the partition 3 and the cover. As shown in FIG. 1, in the conventional secondary battery module, a cooling plate 2 is disposed between adjacent battery cells 1, and a partition 3 for fixing each battery cell 1 is disposed. These structures are repeated to form a secondary battery module. Since the partitions 3 and the like are disposed in each battery cell 1, the volume of the module increases and the number of parts increases. In the conventional secondary battery module, there are many configurations such as a fixed structure and a protective structure, thereby increasing the number of assembly and volume. Therefore, the weight and volume density of the secondary battery module tend to be increased.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-1355961 (2014. 01. 21)

Embodiments of the present invention are to provide a secondary battery module that can minimize the number of parts by integrating the cooling plate of the secondary battery module in the housing.

In addition, it is to provide a secondary battery module that can reduce the cost by reducing the number of assembly processes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a secondary battery module capable of fixing a battery cell position by removing a partition for fixing a battery cell and having a support portion located on an inner surface of a bus bar.

  In addition, to provide a secondary battery module that can integrate the bus bar and the support for fixing the battery cell, to reduce the number of parts and assembly process by removing a separate partition for fixing the battery cell.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of stacked battery cells; And a first structure accommodating and cooling the battery cell. The first structure includes: a housing accommodating the battery cell; And a cooling plate fastened to one surface of the housing and disposed between at least two battery cells disposed in the housing to fix the battery cell and dissipate heat generated from the battery cell. Provide a module.

The housing and the cooling plate may be integrated to form the first structure.

One of the housing and the cooling plate may have a convex portion, and the other may have a concave portion, and the convex portion and the concave portion may be assembled to fasten the housing and the cooling plate.

The cooling plate may be formed of a thermally conductive material that radiates heat generated from the battery cell.

The housing may be formed of a thermally conductive material that radiates heat generated from the battery cell.

The cooling plate may be disposed between two battery cells of the plurality of stacked battery cells, and may be in contact with each side of each of the adjacent battery cells.

The cooling plate may be disposed every three battery cells of the plurality of battery cells.

The housing may surround at least three of the surfaces in which the electrode tabs are not drawn out from the stacked plurality of battery cells.

The housing may include side surfaces of the battery cells positioned at both ends of the plurality of stacked battery cells; And one surface of an upper surface or a lower surface of the plurality of stacked battery cells.

It may include a second structure for connecting the electrode tabs of the plurality of battery cells, the fixing of the battery cells.

The second structure may include: a bus bar disposed between the electrode tabs of two adjacent battery cells among the plurality of battery cells, the bus bars being in contact with the electrode tabs of the two adjacent battery cells; And a support part which is in contact with the bus bar and fixes the positions of the two adjacent battery cells.

The bus bars may be formed in a 'c' shape, and outer surfaces of the bus bars that face each other may be in contact with the electrode tabs of the adjacent battery cells.

The support may be located between adjacent electrode tabs and in contact with an inner surface of the bus bar.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing for receiving a plurality of battery cells; And a cooling plate assembled on one surface of the housing and disposed between at least two battery cells disposed in the housing to fix the battery cells and to dissipate heat generated from the battery cells. And a convex portion is formed on one of the cooling plates, a concave portion is formed on the other, and the housing and the cooling plate are fastened by assembling the convex portion and the concave portion to accommodate and cool the plurality of stacked battery cells. And a secondary battery cooling structure.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing for receiving a plurality of battery cells; And a cooling plate integrated with one surface of the housing and disposed between at least two battery cells to fix the battery cells and dissipate heat generated from the battery cells. .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a secondary battery module capable of minimizing the number of parts by integrating a cooling plate of a secondary battery module in a housing may be provided.

In addition, a secondary battery module capable of reducing costs by reducing the number of assembly processes may be provided.

In addition, a secondary battery module capable of fixing a battery cell position by removing a partition for fixing a battery cell and having a support portion positioned on an inner surface of a bus bar can be provided.

  In addition, by integrating the support for fixing the bus bar and the battery cell, it is possible to provide a secondary battery module that can reduce the number of parts and assembly process by removing a separate partition for fixing the battery cell.

1 is a view showing a conventional secondary battery.
2 illustrates a first structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing a first structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing that the secondary battery is disposed in the first structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a cross-sectional view of a second structure disposed on a rechargeable battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
6 illustrates a rechargeable battery module including a first structure and a second structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 illustrates a rechargeable battery module including a first structure and a second structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, this is only an example and the present invention is not limited thereto.

In describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, terms to be described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary according to the intention or custom of a user or an operator. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

The technical spirit of the present invention is determined by the claims, and the following embodiments are merely means for efficiently explaining the technical spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

2 and 3 are views showing a first structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a view showing that the housing 11 and the cooling plate 12 are formed in a prefabricated manner, and the housing 11 and the cooling fin 12 are fastened by assembly, and FIG. 3 is a view of the housing 11 and the cooling plate 12. It is a figure which shows that 12 was formed integrally.

Referring to FIG. 2, a secondary battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first structure 10 capable of receiving and cooling a secondary battery 20 including a battery cell 21 and an electrode tab 22. It may include. The first structure 10 may include a housing 11 and a cooling plate 12. The housing 11 and the cooling plate 12 may be assembled to form the first structure 10. However, the present invention is not limited to being assembled. As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 11 and the cooling plate 12 may be integrated to form the first structure 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the cooling plate 12 is assembled to the housing 11, the convex portion 111 and the concave portion 121 may be formed to be assembled and fastened to each other. As shown in FIG. 3, when the housing 11 and the cooling plate 12 are integrally formed, they may be injected and formed. From the process step, the housing 11 and the cooling plate 12 may be integrally manufactured.

The housing 11 may accommodate the battery cell 21. In the housing 11, a plurality of battery cells 21 may be stacked and disposed. The housing 11 may serve as a cover for supporting and protecting the plurality of stacked battery cells 21.

The housing 11 may surround at least three surfaces of the battery cell 21 in which the electrode tabs 22 are not drawn out. For example, the housing 11 may include a lower side of the plurality of stacked battery cells 21 (that is, one of two sides perpendicular to the direction in which the stacked battery cells 21 are stacked) and both sides (that is, a plurality of the plurality of stacked battery cells 21). The outer side of each battery cell 21 located at both ends of the stacked battery cells 21 can be wrapped. In the following description, the lower and both sides of the stacked battery cells 21 are described, but not limited to the lower side, and the housing 11 may cover the upper side and both sides. The housing 11 is formed in a structure surrounding three sides of the stacked battery cells 21, and may support and protect the stacked battery cells 21.

In addition, the housing 11 may be formed of a cooling plate. The housing 11 formed of the cooling plate may radiate heat generated from the battery cell 21. Thus, the housing 11 can support and cool the stacked battery cells 21. When the housing 11 is a cooling plate, the housing 11 may be formed of a thermally conductive material that generates heat generated from the battery cell 21. For example, the housing 11 may be made of aluminum.

In the housing 11, a plurality of cooling plates 12 may be fastened to one surface of the inner side in which the battery cell 21 is accommodated.

The cooling plate 12 may be assembled or integrated on one surface of the inner side in which the battery cell 21 of the housing 11 is accommodated. The cooling plate 12 may be disposed between side surfaces of the adjacent battery cells 21 along the direction in which the battery cells 21 are stacked. The cooling plate 12 may be positioned between at least two battery cells 21 of the plurality of stacked battery cells 21 and may be in contact with one side surface of the adjacent battery cells 21.

The cooling plate 12 may be formed of a thermally conductive material that generates heat generated from the battery cell 21. For example, it may be formed of aluminum.

The length of the cooling plate 12 is shorter than both side lengths of the housing 11, so that the electrode tabs 22 of the plurality of battery cells 21 disposed in the housing 11 may be connected to each other.

In the secondary battery module according to the embodiment of the present invention, the housing 11 and the cooling plate 12, which are assembled and fastened or integrated in a process step, may fix or support the battery cell 21. (21) can be cooled. When the housing 11 is formed of a cooling plate, the housing 11 cools the battery cell 21 below or above the battery cell 21, and the cooling plate 12 is provided at the side of the battery cell 21. Can be cooled.

Although not shown in the drawings, at least one of the housing 11 and the cooling plate 12 may include a cooling passage through which cooling water flows, or may include a heat sink for air cooling.

4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a secondary battery disposed in a first structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, a plurality of battery cells 21 may be stacked and disposed in the housing 11, and a cooling plate 12 may be positioned between the stacked battery cells 21. The cooling plate 12 positioned between the battery cells 21 may be fastened to the housing 11.

The plurality of cooling plates 12 may be fastened to the housing 11 at predetermined intervals. The battery cells 12 may be disposed between the predetermined intervals. Therefore, the predetermined interval may be determined according to the number of battery cells 12. For example, the cooling plate 12 may be disposed for at least two battery cells 21 of the plurality of stacked battery cells 21. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the cooling plate 121 may be disposed every three battery cells 21.

According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, when the housing 11 and the cooling plate 12 are fastened by assembly, in order to assemble the cooling plate 12 in the housing 11, the housing 11 and the cooling plate 12 are assembled. One of the convex portions 111 may be formed in one of the concave portions 111, and the concave portion 121 may be formed in the other portion of the convex portions 121. For example, the housing 11 may include a convex portion 111, and the cooling plate 121 may include a concave portion 121. The enlarged view of FIG. 4 shows the convex part 111 and the recessed part 121. As shown in FIG. The convex portion 111 and the concave portion 121 may be formed to correspond to each other. Therefore, the concave portion 121 may be fastened and fixed to the convex portion 111. However, the housing 11 is not limited to include the convex portion 111 and the cooling plate 12 includes the concave portion 121, and the concave portion 121 is formed in the housing 11, and the cooling plate is formed. The convex part 111 may be formed in (12). The convex portion 111 may be formed at a position corresponding to the position of the cooling plate 121 in the housing 11. The housing 11 and the cooling plate 12 may be assembled and fastened by the convex portion 111 and the recessed portion 121.

The cooling plate 12 fastened to the housing 11 may cool and fix the battery cell 21 at the same time. Therefore, even if a separate partition is not provided, the battery cell 21 can be fixed by the housing 11 and the cooling plate 12.

The first structure 10 in which the cooling plate 12 is fastened to the housing 11 or the housing 11 and the cooling plate 12 are integrated may fix and cool the battery cell 21. Since the first structure 10 can simultaneously function to fix and cool the battery cells 21, there is an effect of reducing the number of parts and processes. This may lead to a cost reduction effect for secondary battery manufacturing.

5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure in which a second structure is disposed in a rechargeable battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, adjacent battery cells 21 among the plurality of stacked battery cells 21 may be electrically connected by the second structure 30. The second structure 30 may electrically connect the adjacent battery cells 21 and fix the battery cells 21. The second structure 30 may include a bus bar 31 and a support 32.

The bus bar 31 may contact the electrode tabs 22 of the adjacent battery cells 21 to electrically connect the adjacent battery cells 21. The bus bar 31 may be disposed between the electrode tabs 22 of the adjacent battery cells 21 among the plurality of battery cells 21, and may contact the adjacent electrode tabs 22, respectively. The bus bar 31 may be formed in a bent plate shape. In order to contact and electrically connect the adjacent electrode tabs 22, the bus bars 31 may be formed in a '-' shape. The electrode tabs 22 of the adjacent battery cells 21 may be in contact with the outer surfaces of the side portions of the bus bars 31 facing each other.

A support part 32 for fixing the battery cell 21 may be inserted into an inner surface of the bus bar 31.

The support part 32 is inserted into the bus bar 31 and fixed, and may fix the position of the battery cell 21. The support part 32 may be positioned between the adjacent electrode tabs 22 and may contact the inner surface of the bus bar 31. The support part 32 may be formed to a thickness that can be inserted into and fixed to the inner surface of the bus bar 31. The battery cell 21 may be fixed by being in contact with the battery cell 21 while being inserted and fixed inside the bus bar 31.

The second structure 30 combines a bus bar 31 for electrically connecting adjacent battery cells 21 and a support 32 for fixing the battery cells 21. The support part 32 capable of fixing the battery cell 21 is coupled to the bus bar 31 that electrically connects the cells 21 to the second structure 30. Therefore, by removing the separate partition parts for fixing the battery cell, it is possible to minimize the number of parts and reduce the number of assembly processes. Therefore, the cost for manufacturing the secondary battery can be reduced.

In addition, the second structure 30 may be further provided with a protective member on the opposite side of the side in contact with the electrode tab 22. Therefore, the second structure 30 may serve as a protective member for protecting the secondary battery module.

6 illustrates a rechargeable battery module including a first structure and a second structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the plurality of stacked battery cells 21 may be disposed in the housing 11, and the cooling plate 12 may be positioned between the three battery cells 21. The first structure 10 including the housing 11 and the cooling plate 12 may fix and cool the battery cell 21.

In addition, the second structures 30 may be disposed on both sides of the battery cell 21 from which the electrode tabs 22 are drawn. The bus bar 31 is disposed between the electrode tabs 22 of the adjacent battery cells 21, and the support part 32, which is inserted into and fixed to the inner side of the bus bar, contacts the battery cell 21 to open the battery cell 21. Can be fixed At this time, the electrode tabs 22 positioned on the same side of both sides of the battery cell 21 may be the same pole ((+) pole or (−) pole). Therefore, each battery cell 21 may be connected in parallel by the bus bar 31.

The first structure 10 may fix the battery cells 21 at positions in the stacking direction, and the second structure 30 may be fixed at both sides from which the electrode tabs 22 of the battery cells 21 are drawn out. Can be. Therefore, the battery cell 21 can be fixed to the first structure 10 and the second structure 30 via a separate partition component.

When the secondary battery 20, the first structure 10, and the second structure 30 are coupled, the cooling plate 12 may be fixed to the support part 32. Accordingly, the support 32 corresponding to where the cooling plate 12 is disposed may have a groove (not shown) corresponding to the thickness of the cooling plate 12 so that the cooling plate 12 may be fixed. The cooling plate 12 may be inserted into the groove formed in the support part 32 to fix the cooling plate 12 additionally.

7 is an exploded view of a rechargeable battery module including a first structure and a second structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, a plurality of secondary batteries 20 may be stacked on the first structure 10 including the cooling plate 12 in the housing 11.

After the secondary battery 20 is disposed in the first structure 10, the second structure 30 may be coupled. The first structure 10 may surround both sides of the lower side of the secondary battery 20 and from which the electrode tab 22 is not drawn out. The second structure 30 may be disposed on the side from which the electrode tab 22 of the secondary battery 20 is drawn out. The second structure 30 may electrically connect the battery cells 21 and fix the position of the battery cells 21.

After the second structure 20 is coupled, the cover part 13 may be disposed on the upper side of the secondary battery 20. In addition, an additional protective member is disposed on an outer surface of the second structure 20 to protect the secondary battery module according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The secondary battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the first structure 10, the secondary battery 20, and the second structure 30, and may include other additional components.

While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. . Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

10: first structure
11: housing
111: convex portion
12: cooling plate
121: recess
13 cover part
20: secondary battery
21: battery cell
22: electrode tab
30: second structure
31: busbar
32: support part

Claims (14)

A plurality of battery cells; And
A first structure accommodating the plurality of battery cells;
And a second structure for electrically connecting the plurality of battery cells housed in the first structure.
The first structure,
A housing forming a space for accommodating the plurality of battery cells, and provided to surround both side surfaces positioned at both ends of the plurality of battery cells and one surface of the stacked plurality of battery cells positioned between the two side surfaces. It includes a housing;
The second structure,
And a bus bar disposed between the electrode tabs of two adjacent battery cells among the plurality of battery cells, the bus bars being in contact with the electrode tabs of the two adjacent battery cells, respectively. The method according to claim 1,
And the housing includes a thermally conductive material for radiating heat generated from the battery cell. The method according to claim 1,
The one side,
A secondary battery module comprising; a lower surface of the stacked plurality of battery cells. The method according to claim 1,
The second structure,
And a support part in contact with the bus bar to fix the position of the two adjacent battery cells. The method according to claim 1,
The bus bar is formed in a bent plate shape,
Secondary battery modules, wherein outer sides of the busbars facing each other are in contact with the electrode tabs of the adjacent battery cells, respectively. The method according to claim 1,
The bus bar is formed in a 'c' shape, a secondary battery module. The method according to claim 4,
The support part is positioned between adjacent electrode tabs and in contact with an inner surface of the bus bar. The method according to claim 1,
A plate disposed in every two or more battery cells of the plurality of battery cells accommodated in the space and fixed to the plurality of battery cells and in contact with the plurality of battery cells, the plate partitioning the space into at least two; Secondary battery module further comprising. The method according to claim 8,
The secondary battery module of the housing and the plate are integrated to form the first structure. The method according to claim 8,
One of the housing and the plate has a convex portion, the other has a concave portion,
The convex portion and the concave portion are assembled to the secondary battery module, the housing and the plate is fastened. The method according to claim 8,
And the plate includes a thermally conductive material that radiates heat generated from the battery cell. The method according to claim 8,
The plate is disposed between two battery cells of the plurality of stacked battery cells, the secondary battery module in contact with each side of the battery cells adjacent to both sides. The method according to claim 8,
And the plate is disposed every three battery cells of the plurality of battery cells. The method according to claim 8,
The plate,
The secondary battery module disposed on every two or more battery cells of the plurality of battery cells on the surface facing the one surface in the housing.

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