KR20200068234A - Battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a battery module. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the battery module comprises: a plurality of battery cells including an accommodation unit accommodating an electrode assembly and an electrolyte and a sealing unit provided outside the accommodation unit; a cooling fin touching one surface of the battery cell and transferring heat of the battery cell; a heat sink dissipating heat transferred from the cooling fins; and a heat dissipation unit disposed on one portion of the cooling fin and increasing a cross-sectional area. Heat of the battery cell can be stably transferred to the heat sink.

Description

Battery module {BATTERY MODULE}

The present invention relates to a battery module, and more particularly, to a battery module having improved cooling efficiency.

Recently, secondary batteries are widely used not only in small devices such as portable electronic devices, but also in medium and large devices such as automobiles and power storage devices. In medium and large devices, a large number of secondary cells are electrically connected to increase capacity and output. In particular, the pouch type secondary battery using an aluminum laminate sheet or the like as an exterior material has attracted much attention recently due to advantages such as small weight, low manufacturing cost, and ease of shape modification.

When a battery module is configured by stacking a plurality of pouch-type secondary cells, cooling of the battery module is a very important problem. The secondary battery may be used in a high temperature environment such as summer, and the secondary battery itself may generate a lot of heat. At this time, when a plurality of secondary batteries are stacked on each other, the temperature of the secondary battery may be further increased.

If the heat of the battery module is not effectively removed, heat accumulation occurs and consequently promotes deterioration of the battery module, and in some cases may cause ignition or explosion. Therefore, a high-output large-capacity battery module requires a cooling system that cools battery cells embedded therein.

Korea Patent Publication 10-2011-0013270

An embodiment of the present invention provides a battery module capable of maximizing cooling efficiency by achieving high thermal conductivity by a specific structure of a cooling fin.

The object of the present invention is not limited to the above, and other objects and advantages of the present invention not mentioned can be understood by the following description.

A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of battery cells including an electrode assembly and a storage unit in which electrolyte is stored, and a sealing unit provided outside the storage unit; A cooling fin contacting one surface of the battery cell and transferring heat of the battery cell; A heat sink dissipating heat transferred from the cooling fins; It may be disposed on a portion of the cooling fins to increase the cross-sectional area; may include.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling fin may include a first heat transfer unit that is in surface contact with the battery cell, and a second heat transfer unit that is bent at one end of the first heat transfer unit and is in surface contact with the heat sink.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the heat dissipation portion is bent from an end of the second heat transfer portion and is bent from an end portion of the first cross-sectional area increase portion and the first heat-transfer portion being disposed parallel to the second heat transfer portion and the first heat transfer portion It may include a second cross-sectional area increase portion disposed in parallel with. The first cross-sectional area increase portion may be closely fixed to the second heat transfer portion, and the second cross-sectional area increase portion may be closely fixed to the first heat transfer portion.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an additional cooling fin provided between the battery cells may be further included. The additional cooling fin includes a third heat transfer part which is in surface contact with the battery cell, and a fourth heat transfer part which is provided at one end of the third heat transfer part and which is in surface contact with the heat sink, wherein the fourth heat transfer part is made of the heat sink. A first bent portion disposed in one direction and a second bent portion disposed in a different direction from the first bent portion may be included.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the battery cell may include a sealing portion at a position close to the heat sink, and the heat dissipation portion may be provided at a position corresponding to the sealing portion.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the heat dissipation unit may be fixed in close contact with a cooling fin at a position corresponding to the sealing unit. The cooling fin at the position where the heat dissipation unit is disposed may be recessed in the concave toward the battery cell. The heat dissipation unit may include a graphite sheet.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when heat generated from a battery cell is transferred to a heat sink through a cooling fin, a battery cell is provided with a heat dissipation part in a section where heat resistance may occur, for example, a section facing the sealing portion of the battery cell It can improve the cooling efficiency. That is, by providing a heat dissipation unit with an increased cross-sectional area in a portion of the cooling fin corresponding to the sealing portion of the battery cell, heat resistance can be minimized on a path through which heat is transferred, and accordingly, heat of the battery cell is stable as a heat sink Can be delivered to

It should be understood that the effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described effects, and include all effects that can be deduced from the configuration of the invention described in the detailed description or claims of the present invention.

The following drawings attached to the present specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and serve to further understand the technical idea of the present invention together with the detailed description of the invention described below. Therefore, the present invention is limited to only those described in these drawings and need not be interpreted.
1 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view showing a battery cell applied to a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery cell applied to a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view showing a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a view showing a battery module according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a view showing a battery module according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a view showing a battery module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

In order to clearly describe the present invention, parts irrelevant to the essence of the present invention may be omitted, and the same reference numerals may be assigned to the same or similar elements throughout the specification.

Also, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, this means that other components may be further included rather than excluding other components, unless otherwise stated. The terminology used herein is only for referring to a specific embodiment and is not intended to limit the present invention, and is a concept understood by a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains unless otherwise defined herein. Can be interpreted.

1 is a view schematically showing a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the battery module is configured by receiving a plurality of battery cells 200 in the module housing 100.

The module housing 100 forms the exterior of the battery module, and protects the battery cell 200 stored therein from external shock or vibration. The module housing 100 may be formed of a metal material to secure rigidity and shield electromagnetic noise therein. A non-conductive material such as epoxy may be coated on the outer surface of the module housing 100 to protect the exterior and prevent corrosion.

The module housing 100 may include an upper housing 110 opened in a downward direction and a lower housing 120 opened in an upward direction and correspondingly coupled to a lower side of the upper housing 110. The upper housing 110 and the lower housing 120 are provided in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and at least one of them may have a storage space therein.

A plurality of battery cells 200 are provided in the module housing 100. The plurality of battery cells 200 may be stacked vertically inside the module housing 100 or may be horizontally arranged in parallel. Each battery cell 200 may be disposed in contact with adjacent battery cells 200 or may be spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals.

Cooling fins 300 are disposed on at least one side of the battery cells 200 to discharge heat of the battery cells 200 to the outside. A heat sink may be provided under the battery module. The cooling fin 300 may be connected to a heat sink. Accordingly, heat generated in the battery cell 200 may be cooled by heat transfer to the heat sink through the cooling fin 300.

2 and 3 are views schematically showing the configuration of a battery cell applied to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the battery cell 200 may be configured in a form in which the electrode assembly 210 and the electrolyte are housed in an exterior material. For example, the battery cell 200 may be a pouch type battery cell. Further, the battery cell 200 may be a secondary battery that performs charging and discharging operations.

The electrode assembly 210 includes an anode plate, a cathode plate, and a separator. That is, the electrode assembly 210 may be configured to have one or more positive electrode plates and one or more negative electrode plates disposed with a separator interposed therebetween. Each electrode plate may be provided with an electrode tab (not shown) in a form protruding to the outside. The electrode tab may be configured in a form in which a metal plate is separately attached to each electrode plate. Alternatively, the electrode tab may be configured such that a portion of each electrode plate is cut and left.

An electrode lead 220 may be connected to one end of the electrode tab. The electrode lead 220 may function as an electrode terminal of the battery cell 200 by having one end connected to the electrode tab and the other end exposed outside the pouch case 230. The electrode leads 220 may be provided in a pair, and the pair of electrode leads 220 may be made of a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead, respectively. The electrode lead 220 may be electrically connected to the electrode assembly 210 by being connected to the electrode tab. The electrode lead 220 may be welded to the end of the electrode tab to be fixed with the electrode tab. The electrode assembly 210 includes a plurality of anode plates and a plurality of cathode plates, and an electrode tab may be separately provided for each anode plate and each cathode plate. In this case, a plurality of electrode tabs may be connected to one electrode lead 220.

The pouch exterior material 230 is for packaging the electrode assembly 210, and may be made of a laminate sheet including an outer insulating layer, a metal layer, and an inner adhesive layer. The outer insulating layer can prevent moisture, gas, and the like from entering the inside. The metal layer may improve the mechanical strength of the pouch exterior material 230. The metal layer can be made of aluminum. Alternatively, the metal layer may be provided with any one selected from iron, carbon, chromium, manganese alloys, iron nickel and nickel alloys, aluminum, or equivalents thereof. When the metal layer is used as an aluminum material, ductility may be good. When the metal layer uses a material containing iron, the mechanical strength may be strong. The outer insulating layer and the inner adhesive layer may be made of a polymer material.

The electrode assembly 210 and the electrolyte are stored in the pouch exterior material 230, and a sealing portion 234 may be formed on the rim. The pouch exterior material 230 may include a first pouch 231 and a second pouch 232. A storage unit 233 may be formed on at least one of the first pouch 231 and the second pouch 232. The electrode assembly 210 and the electrolyte may be stored in the storage unit 233. Sealing portions 234 may be formed on the rims of the first pouch 231 and the second pouch 232, respectively, in a form surrounding the receiving portion 233. The sealing portion 234 of the first pouch 231 and the sealing portion 234 of the second pouch 232 may be provided in a form in which respective inner adhesive layers face each other. The sealing portion 234 of the first pouch 231 and the sealing portion 234 of the second pouch 232 are adhered to each other in a manner such as heat fusion, so that the electrode assembly 210 and the electrolyte solution are stored in the storage portion (233) can be sealed.

4 is a view showing a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the battery module according to the first embodiment may include a plurality of battery cells 200 vertically disposed and cooling fins 300 disposed on one side of the battery cells 200.

The battery cell 200 may be configured as a pouch type battery cell. The battery cell 200 may be arranged such that any one of the sealing portions 234 formed on the rim faces the lower side.

One or more battery cells 200 may be included in the battery module. In particular, a plurality of battery cells 200 may be included in the battery module to improve output or capacity. The plurality of battery cells 200 may be configured to be stacked in one direction. For example, the plurality of battery cells 200 may be arranged side by side in a direction in which the respective faces face each other. That is, the plurality of battery cells 200 may be positioned to face each other.

The cooling fin 300 discharges heat generated from the battery cell 200 to the outside. Cooling fin 300 may be made of a thermally conductive material. In particular, the cooling fin 300 may be made of a metal material having excellent thermal conductivity. For example, the cooling fin 300 may be made of aluminum or copper material. Accordingly, when heat is generated from the battery cell 200, the cooling fin 300 may absorb heat from the battery cell 200 and discharge it to an external heat sink 500, for example. The cooling fins 300 may be formed in a rectangular plate shape.

The cooling fin 300 may be configured to have one surface facing the surface of the battery cell 200. The cooling fin 300 may be located between the plurality of battery cells 200. For example, the battery module according to the first embodiment forms one set in the order of the cooling fins 300, the battery cells 200, the battery cells 200, and the cooling fins 300, and a plurality of such sets may be arranged. Can be. The plurality of cooling fins 300 may all be provided with the same shape and size.

The cooling fin 300 may include a first heat transfer unit 310 in surface contact with the battery cell 200. The first heat transfer unit 310 is disposed to contact the storage unit 233 of the battery cell to transfer heat generated from the battery cell 200 to the heat sink 500. The first heat transfer unit 310 may be configured to have a length equal to or greater than the length of the storage unit 233 and the sealing unit 234 of the battery cell 200. That is, the cooling fin 300 not only faces one surface of the storage unit 233, but also extends to the sealing unit 234 after passing through the storage unit 233 and faces at least a portion of the sealing unit 234. It can be configured as possible.

A second heat transfer unit 320 may be provided at one end of the first heat transfer unit 310. The second heat transfer unit 320 may be configured to be bent in a direction parallel to the top surface of the heat sink 500 at the bottom of the first heat transfer unit 310. The second heat transfer part 320 may be in surface contact with the heat sink 500. The second heat transfer part 320 in surface contact with the heat sink 500 becomes a main heat transfer path between the cooling fin 300 and the heat sink 500.

A portion of the first heat transfer part 310 and the second heat transfer part 320 may be provided with a first heat dissipation part 330. The first heat dissipation unit 330 may be integrally formed with the cooling fin 300. For example, the first heat dissipation part 330 increases the second cross-sectional area bent from the end of the first cross-sectional area increase part 331 and the first cross-sectional area increase part 331 that are bent from the end of the second heat transfer part 320. A portion 332 may be included. The first cross-sectional area increasing part 331 may be disposed parallel to the second heat transfer part 320. The first cross-sectional area increasing part 331 may be closely fixed to the second heat transfer part 310 by welding, brazing, pressing, or the like. The second cross-sectional area increase part 332 may be disposed in parallel with the first heat transfer part 310. The second cross-sectional area increasing part 332 may be fixed to the first heat transfer part 310 by welding, brazing, pressing, or the like.

The heat sink 500 may release heat transferred from the cooling fin 300 to the outside by exchanging heat with the cooling fin 300. The heat sink 500 may be located under the cooling fin 300 and the battery cell 200. A flow path may be formed inside the heat sink 500. Cooling fluid may flow in the flow path. The cooling fluid may absorb heat transferred from the top surface of the heat sink 500 and release it to the outside. For example, cooling water may be provided as a cooling fluid. Alternatively, air may be provided as the cooling fluid. Optionally, the cooling fluid may be provided as a gas having a large heat capacity.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when heat generated from the battery cell 200 is transferred to the heat sink 500 through the cooling fin 300, a portion of the cooling fin 300 where heat resistance may occur, such as , The first heat dissipation unit 330 may be provided in a section facing the sealing unit 234 of the battery cell 200 to improve the cooling efficiency of the battery cell 200. That is, by providing the first heat dissipation unit 330 in which the cross-sectional area increases in a certain section of the cooling fin 300 corresponding to the sealing portion 234 of the battery cell 200, heat on the path through which heat is transferred Resistance can be minimized, and accordingly, heat of the battery cell 200 can be stably transferred to the heat sink 500.

5 is a view showing a battery module according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the battery module according to the second embodiment may be arranged in the order of cooling fins 300, battery cells 200, additional cooling fins 400, battery cells 200, and cooling fins 300 Can be. That is, an additional cooling fin 400 may be disposed between the battery cell 200 in which the cooling fin 300 is not disposed and the battery cell 200.

The additional cooling fins 400 may include third heat transfer units 410 that are in surface contact with each other between the battery cells 200. The third heat transfer unit 410 is disposed to contact the storage unit 233 of the battery cells 200 to transfer heat generated from the battery cells 200 to the heat sink 500. The third heat transfer unit 410 may be configured to have a length equal to or greater than the length of the storage unit 233 and the sealing unit 234 of the battery cell 200.

A fourth heat transfer unit 420 may be provided at one end of the third heat transfer unit 410. The fourth heat transfer unit 420 may be configured to be bent in a direction parallel to the top surface of the heat sink 500 at the lower end of the third heat transfer unit 410 to be in surface contact with the heat sink 500. The fourth heat transfer unit 420 includes a first bending unit 421 that is bent toward one of the battery cells 200 and a second bending unit 422 that is bent toward a side opposite to the first bending unit 421. Can be.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, heat generated from the battery cells 200 may be more efficiently transferred to the heat sink 500 by adding an additional cooling fin 400 in addition to the cooling fin 300.

6 is a view showing a battery module according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the battery module according to the third embodiment includes a plurality of battery cells 200 vertically disposed, cooling fins 300 disposed on one side of the battery cells 200, and a portion of the cooling fins 300 A second heat dissipation unit 340 that is separately disposed in the section may be included.

The cooling fin 300 may include a first heat transfer unit 310 in surface contact with the battery cell 200. The first heat transfer unit 310 is disposed to contact the storage unit 233 of the battery cell to transfer heat generated from the battery cell 200 to the heat sink 500. The first heat transfer unit 310 may be configured to have a length equal to or greater than the length of the storage unit 233 and the sealing unit 234 of the battery cell 200. That is, the cooling fin 300 not only faces one surface of the storage unit 233, but also extends to the sealing unit 234 after passing through the storage unit 233 and faces at least a portion of the sealing unit 234. It can be configured as possible.

A second heat transfer unit 320 may be provided at one end of the first heat transfer unit 310. The second heat transfer unit 320 may be configured to be bent in a direction parallel to the top surface of the heat sink 500 at the bottom of the first heat transfer unit 310. The second heat transfer part 320 may be in surface contact with the heat sink 500. The second heat transfer part 320 in surface contact with the heat sink 500 becomes a main heat transfer path between the cooling fin 300 and the heat sink 500.

The second heat dissipation unit 340 may be disposed in at least a portion of the first heat transfer unit 310. A portion of the first heat transfer part 310 in which the second heat dissipation part 340 is disposed may be a position corresponding to the sealing part 234 of the battery cell 200. The second heat dissipation unit 340 may be disposed on one side surface of the first heat transfer unit 310. For example, the second heat dissipation unit 340 may be disposed between the first heat transfer unit 310 and the sealing unit 234. In addition, the second heat dissipation unit 340 may be disposed on both sides of the first heat transfer unit 310 to further increase the effect of increasing the cross-sectional area of the cooling fin 300.

The second heat dissipation unit 340 may be made of a material having a high thermal conductivity and a small weight. For example, the second heat dissipation unit 340 may be formed of a heat dissipation sheet. As a heat dissipation sheet, a graphite sheet may be applied.

The section of the cooling fin 300 in which the second heat dissipation unit 340 is disposed has an increased cross-sectional area compared to other sections. That is, the cooling fin 300 in a position corresponding to the sealing portion 234 increases in cross-sectional area. Therefore, heat conduction performance may be improved in a section having an increased cross-sectional area.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, by providing a separate second heat dissipation part 340 on a portion of the cooling fin 300, it is possible to reduce the heat resistance by increasing the cross-sectional area in a portion having high local heat resistance. Therefore, the heat transfer efficiency by the second heat dissipation unit 340 can be further improved.

As the length and thickness of the graphite sheet increase, the effect of reducing the thermal resistance also increases, but it is necessary to consider cost and space constraints. Therefore, the graphite sheet is preferably provided at a position corresponding to the sealing portion 234 of the battery cell 200, that is, a section of the first heat transfer part 310 of the cooling fin 300.

According to the test results, when the graphite sheet is not added and only the cooling fin 300 is used, a heat resistance of approximately 5.4 cmK/W occurs, but the graphite sheet is added to the first heat transfer unit 310 of the cooling fin 300. When it did, a heat resistance of about 4.64 cmK/W was generated. That is, when the graphite sheet is applied to the cooling fin 300, a thermal resistance reduction effect of about 14% can be obtained.

On the other hand, the battery module forms a first heat dissipation unit 330 integrally by bending one end of the cooling fin 300 several times as in the first embodiment, and at the same time, a partial section of the cooling fin 300 as in the third embodiment. It is also possible to additionally configure a separate second heat dissipation unit 340.

7 is a view showing a battery module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the battery module according to the fourth embodiment includes a plurality of battery cells 200 vertically arranged, cooling fins 300 disposed on one side of the battery cells 200, and a portion of the cooling fins 300 A second heat dissipation unit 340 disposed in the section may be included.

The cooling fin 300 may include a first heat transfer part 310 and a second heat transfer part 320. In some sections of the first heat transfer unit 310, a recess 311 may be formed to be concave toward the surface-contacted battery cell 200. A second heat dissipation unit 340 may be disposed in the depression 311. That is, the recess 311 is formed to be recessed toward the battery cell 200 in a portion of the cooling fin 300 in which the second heat sink 340 is provided so that the second heat sink 340 does not protrude outward. Can be.

For example, a set of cooling fins 300, a battery cell 200, a battery cell 200, and a cooling fins 300 are formed in this order. Cooling fins and cooling fins may be adjacent between adjacent sets. In this case, when heat dissipation portions are provided on both sides of the first heat transfer portion of adjacent cooling fins, a gap may occur between adjacent cooling fins by the thickness of the heat dissipation portion. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, a depression 311 may be formed to prevent separation between adjacent cooling fins 300.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, a separate second heat dissipation part 340 is provided on a part of the cooling fins 300, and a battery is provided in a part of the cooling fins 300 where the second heat dissipation part 340 is disposed. By forming the recessed portion 311 concavely toward the cell 200, it is possible to simultaneously increase cooling efficiency and space utilization.

Since those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention, the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and should be understood as non-limiting. Only.

The scope of the present invention is indicated by the following claims rather than the detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and equivalent concepts should be interpreted to be included in the scope of the present invention. .

100; Module housing 110; Upper housing
120; Lower housing 200; Battery cell
210; Electrode assembly 220; Electrode lead
230; Pouch exterior material 231; 1st pouch
232; Second pouch 233; Storage
234; Sealing portion 300; Cooling fins
310; A first heat transfer part 311; Depression
320; A second heat transfer part 330; 1st heat radiating part
331; A first cross-sectional area increasing portion 332; 2nd section area increase part
340; A second heat dissipation unit 400; Additional cooling fins
410; A third heat transfer part 420; 4th heat transfer part
421; A first bent portion 422; 2nd bending part
500; Heat sink

Claims (12)

A plurality of battery cells including an electrode assembly and a storage portion in which the electrolyte is stored, and a sealing portion provided outside the storage portion;
A cooling fin contacting one surface of the battery cell and transferring heat of the battery cell;
A heat sink dissipating heat transferred from the cooling fins;
A heat dissipation unit disposed on a part of the cooling fin to increase a cross-sectional area;
Battery module comprising a.
According to claim 1,
The cooling fin is a battery module including a first heat transfer unit which is in surface contact with the battery cell, and a second heat transfer unit which is bent at one end of the first heat transfer unit and which is in surface contact with the heat sink.
According to claim 2,
The heat dissipation unit is a first end surface area increasing portion that is bent from the end of the second heat transfer portion and disposed parallel to the second heat transfer portion, and a second part that is bent from an end of the first end area increase portion and disposed parallel to the first heat transfer portion. Battery module including a cross-sectional area increase.
According to claim 3,
The first cross-sectional area increase portion is fixed to the second heat transfer portion in close contact, the second cross-sectional area increase portion is fixed to the first heat transfer battery module.
According to claim 1,
The battery cell is provided with a sealing portion at a position close to the heat sink, and the heat dissipation portion is a battery module provided at a position corresponding to the sealing portion.
According to claim 1,
The battery module is arranged in the order of a cooling pin, a battery cell, a battery cell, and a cooling pin, and an additional cooling pin is provided between the battery cells.
The method of claim 6,
The additional cooling fin includes a third heat transfer unit which is in surface contact with the battery cell, and a fourth heat transfer unit which is provided at one end of the third heat transfer unit and which is in surface contact with the heat sink.
The fourth heat transfer unit is a battery module including a first bent portion disposed in a first direction on the heat sink, and a second bent portion disposed in a direction different from the first direction in which the first bent portion is disposed.
According to claim 1,
The heat dissipation unit is a battery module that is fixed in close contact with at least one surface of the cooling fin in a position corresponding to the sealing unit.
The method of claim 8,
A battery module in which a recess is recessed toward the battery cell in a cooling fin at a position where the heat dissipation unit is disposed.
The method of claim 8,
The heat dissipation unit is a battery module including a graphite sheet (Graphite sheet).
A battery pack manufactured by using the battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 10 as a unit.
A device comprising the battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 10 as a power source.

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