KR20220100424A - Battery module and battery pack including the same and vehicle including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle are disclosed. The battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked; a case in which the battery cell stack is accommodated; and a heat dissipation plate that is interposed between any one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells and another battery cell adjacent to any one battery cell, has a hollow to allow a fluid to flow inside, and has preset rigidity so as not to be deformed even when swelling occurs in the battery cells.

Description

BATTERY MODULE AND BATTERY PACK INCLUDING THE SAME AND VEHICLE INCLUDING THE SAME

The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle, and more particularly, to a battery module capable of maintaining cooling performance, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle.

As technology development and demand for mobile devices increase, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source is rapidly increasing. Conventionally, nickel cadmium batteries or hydrogen ion batteries have been used as secondary batteries, but recently, compared to nickel-based secondary batteries, the memory effect Lithium secondary batteries having a very low self-discharge rate and high energy density have been widely used because they rarely occur, allowing free charging and discharging.

Such a lithium secondary battery mainly uses a lithium-based oxide and a carbon material as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively. A lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate to which the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material are applied, respectively, are disposed with a separator interposed therebetween, and a casing for sealing and housing the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte, that is, a battery case.

A lithium secondary battery consists of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator and an electrolyte interposed therebetween, and depending on which positive electrode active material and negative electrode active material are used, a lithium secondary battery (Lithium Ion Battery, LIB), a lithium polymer battery (Polymer Lithium Ion Battery) , PLIB), etc. In general, the electrodes of these lithium secondary batteries are formed by coating a positive or negative electrode active material on a current collector such as an aluminum or copper sheet, a mesh, a film, or a foil, and then drying. In addition, various types of secondary batteries are provided with a case capable of protecting battery cells, and include a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked and inserted into the case, and a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules.

The battery cells may be electrically connected to each other through a bus bar that is a conductor. In general, an anode electrode lead is made of an aluminum material, a cathode electrode lead is made of a copper material, and the bus bar is also made of a copper material.

A preset space is formed between the battery cells provided in the battery module to allow air to move for air cooling. However, if the space between the battery cells is not constant, and gas is generated inside the battery cell and a swelling phenomenon occurs, the battery cell swells, the space between the battery cells is narrowed and air movement is hindered, so cooling efficiency There is a problem that this is significantly lowered.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0110081 (published date: September 23, 2020)

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle, in which cooling performance can be maintained not only in normal use but also when swelling of battery cells occurs.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked; a case in which the battery cell stack is accommodated; and interposed between one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells and another battery cell adjacent to the one battery cell, and a hollow is formed so that a fluid can flow therein, and swelling in the battery cell Even when this occurs, a battery module including a heat dissipation plate having preset rigidity not to be deformed may be provided.

In addition, the heat dissipation plate may be provided in plurality and disposed between the plurality of battery cells, respectively.

In addition, at least one partition wall may be formed in the hollow inside the heat dissipation plate.

In addition, the plurality of partition walls may be horizontal partition walls arranged horizontally inside the heat dissipation plate, and the plurality of horizontal partition walls may be disposed at equal intervals.

In addition, the partition wall may include a first inclined partition wall formed to be inclined in a preset direction inside the heat dissipation plate.

In addition, the second inclined partition wall formed to be inclined in a direction opposite to the first inclined partition wall and intersecting the first inclined partition wall may be further included.

In addition, the partition wall may include a third inclined partition wall formed to be inclined in only one direction within the heat dissipation plate; and a straight barrier rib connecting the third inclined barrier rib in a straight line.

In addition, the heat dissipation plate may be made of an aluminum material capable of heat conduction.

Meanwhile, according to another aspect of the present invention, a battery pack including the above-described battery module may be provided, and a vehicle including the battery module may be provided.

In embodiments of the present invention, a heat dissipation plate having preset rigidity not to be deformed even when swelling occurs in the battery cell is provided between the battery cells, so that the cooling performance is improved not only in normal use but also when the battery cell is swollen. effect that can be maintained.

1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of FIG. 1 .
Figure 3 (a) is a perspective view of the heat dissipation plate in the battery module according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 (b) is a view taken along the arrow B of Figure 3 (a).
Figure 4 (a) is a perspective view of the heat dissipation plate in the battery module according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 (b) is a view taken along the arrow C of Figure 4 (a).
Figure 5 (a) is a perspective view of the heat dissipation plate in the battery module according to the third embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 (b) is a view taken along the arrow D of Figure 5 (a).
Figure 6 (a) is a perspective view of the heat dissipation plate in the battery module according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 (b) is a view taken along the arrow E of Figure 6 (a).

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be described in detail according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The terms or words used in the present specification and claims are not to be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, and the inventor may properly define the concept of the term in order to best describe his invention. Based on the principle that there is, it should be interpreted as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical spirit of the present invention, so at the time of the present application, various It should be understood that there may be equivalents and variations.

In the drawings, the size of each component or a specific part constituting the component is exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated for convenience and clarity of description. Accordingly, the size of each component does not fully reflect the actual size. If it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, such description will be omitted.

As used herein, the term 'coupled' or 'connected' refers to a case in which one member and another member are directly coupled or directly connected, as well as when one member is indirectly coupled to another member through a joint member, or indirectly. Including cases connected to

1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of FIG. 1 , and FIG. 3(a) is a first embodiment of the present invention A perspective view of the heat dissipation plate in the battery module according to, Figure 3 (b) is a view taken along the arrow B of Figure 3 (a).

1 to 3 , the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery cell stack 100 , a case 200 , and a heat dissipation plate 300 .

In the battery cell stack 100 , a plurality of battery cells 110 provided with electrode leads are provided and stacked. The electrode lead provided in the battery cell 110 is exposed to the outside and a conductive material may be used as a kind of terminal connected to an external device.

The electrode lead may include a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead. The positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead may be disposed in opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 110 , or the positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead may be disposed in the same direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 110 . may be located.

The positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead may be made of various materials, for example, the positive electrode lead may be made of an aluminum material, and the negative electrode lead may be made of a copper material.

The electrode lead may be electrically coupled to a bus bar (not shown). The battery cell 110 is a unit cell arranged in the order of positive plate-separator-negative plate or positive plate-separator-negative-electrode plate-separator-positive plate-separator-negative-electrode plate bi-cell arranged in the order of the cell (Bi-Cell) It may have a structure in which a plurality of layers are stacked according to the capacity.

The battery cell stack 100 may be configured such that a plurality of battery cells 110 are stacked on each other. Here, the battery cells 110 may have various structures, and the plurality of battery cells 110 may be stacked in various ways.

The battery cell stack 100 may include a plurality of cartridges (not shown) accommodating each battery cell 110 . Each cartridge (not shown) may be manufactured by injection molding of plastic, and a plurality of cartridges (not shown) in which an accommodating part capable of accommodating the battery cell 110 is formed may be stacked.

A cartridge assembly in which a plurality of cartridges (not shown) are stacked may be provided with a connector element or a terminal element. The connector element may include, for example, various types of electrical connection parts or connection members for connection to a battery management system (BMS, not shown) that can provide data on the voltage or temperature of the battery cell 110 . have.

In addition, the terminal element includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal as a main terminal connected to the battery cell 110 , and the terminal element is provided with a terminal bolt to be electrically connected to the outside. Meanwhile, the battery cell 110 may have various shapes.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the battery cell stack 100 or the cartridge assembly in which the battery cell stack 100 is accommodated is accommodated in the case 200 . For example, the case 200 may be provided to surround the battery cell stack 100 .

The case 200 surrounds the entire battery cell stack 100 or the plurality of cartridge assemblies, thereby protecting the battery cell stack 100 or the cartridge assembly from external vibration or impact.

The case 200 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the battery cell stack 100 or the cartridge assembly. For example, when the battery cell stack 100 or the cartridge assembly is provided in a hexahedral shape, the case 200 may also be provided in a hexahedral shape to correspond thereto.

The case 200 may be manufactured by, for example, bending a metal plate or may be manufactured by plastic injection molding. And, the case 200 may be manufactured integrally or may be manufactured as a separate type.

A through portion (not shown) through which the aforementioned connector element or terminal element can be exposed to the outside may be formed in the case 200 . That is, the connector element or the terminal element may be electrically connected to a predetermined external component or member, and a through portion may be formed in the case 200 so that the electrical connection is not disturbed by the case 200 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , the heat dissipation plate 300 includes one battery cell 110a among a plurality of battery cells 110 and another battery cell 110b adjacent to any one battery cell 110a. interposed between That is, a plurality of heat dissipation plates 300 may be provided, and the plurality of heat dissipation plates 300 may be respectively disposed between the plurality of battery cells 110 . That is, a plurality of heat dissipation plates 300 are respectively disposed between the plurality of battery cells 110 .

And, referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B , a hollow 310 is formed inside the heat dissipation plate 300 to allow a fluid to flow therein. That is, the air moves along the hollow 310 in the heat dissipation plate 300 to cool the battery cells 110 in contact with the heat dissipation plate 300 . Accordingly, there is an effect of dissipating heat from each of the plurality of battery cells 110 .

In addition, the heat dissipation plate 300 is provided to have a predetermined rigidity so as not to deform even when swelling occurs in the battery cell 110 .

In the battery cell 110 , gas is generated inside the battery cell 110 during charging and discharging, and a swelling phenomenon in which the battery cell 110 swells occurs.

Since the heat dissipation plate 300 is disposed between the plurality of battery cells 110, if the rigidity of the heat dissipation plate 300 is weak, when the battery cells 110 swell by swelling, the heat dissipation plate 300. is deformed while being pressed, the hollow 310 formed inside the heat dissipation plate 300 is narrowed, whereby the passage through which air can move is narrowed, thereby reducing the heat dissipation effect.

Therefore, the heat dissipation plate 300 should have a rigidity within a preset range so that the shape is not deformed even when the swelling phenomenon of the battery cell 110 occurs. Here, the range of rigidity of the heat dissipation plate 300 may be determined experimentally.

On the other hand, even if a swelling phenomenon of the battery cell 110 occurs, the heat dissipation plate 300 is not deformed and the hollow 310 through which air passes can be maintained as it is. At least one barrier rib 320 may be formed there.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B , a plurality of partition walls 320 may be horizontal partition walls 321 arranged horizontally in the heat dissipation plate 300 . In this case, the plurality of horizontal partition walls 321 may be arranged at equal intervals.

In this way, even if the swelling phenomenon of the battery cell 110 occurs due to the horizontal partition walls 321 arranged at equal intervals, the shape of the hollow 310 of the heat dissipation plate 300 can be maintained, thereby the battery cell ( 110) has the effect of maintaining the cooling performance even when the swelling occurs.

Meanwhile, the heat dissipation plate 300 may be made of a metal material capable of heat conduction, for example, an aluminum material having excellent heat conductivity. However, the material of the heat dissipation plate 300 is not limited to aluminum.

Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the battery module 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 , a heat dissipation plate 300 is interposed between the plurality of battery cells 110 to be in contact with the battery cells 110 . Referring to FIG. 3 , the heat dissipation plate 300 is located inside the A hollow 310 is formed so that the fluid can flow. Here, the air moves along the inside of the heat dissipation plate 300 to cool the battery cells 110 in contact with the heat dissipation plate 300 .

Meanwhile, at least one partition wall 320 may be formed in the hollow 310 of the heat dissipation plate 300 . The partition walls 320 may be horizontal partition walls 321 arranged horizontally at equal intervals inside the heat dissipation plate 300 .

In this way, when the partition wall 320 is formed in the heat dissipation plate 300 , the shape of the hollow 310 of the heat dissipation plate 300 may be maintained even if the battery cell 110 is swollen, whereby the battery cell Even when the swelling of (110) occurs, there is an effect that the cooling performance can be maintained.

Figure 4 (a) is a perspective view of the heat dissipation plate in the battery module according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 (b) is a view taken along the arrow C of Figure 4 (a).

Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the battery module 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the description common to the part described in the battery module 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is replaced with the above description.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B , the partition wall 320 includes a first inclined partition wall 322 that is inclined in a preset direction inside the heat dissipation plate 300 .

As such, when the first inclined partition wall 322 is disposed to be inclined inside the heat dissipation plate 300, the area of either side is relatively larger than that of the horizontal partition wall 321 of the first embodiment, so that in a specific part rather than the entire part. When heat is severe, as in the second embodiment, the first inclined partition wall 322 inclinedly formed inside the heat dissipation plate 300 may be provided.

Figure 5 (a) is a perspective view of the heat dissipation plate in the battery module according to the third embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 (b) is a view taken along the arrow D of Figure 5 (a).

Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the battery module 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, descriptions common to those described in the battery module 10 according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention will be replaced with the above description.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B , it is configured to include the first inclined partition wall 322 of the second embodiment, and further include the second inclined partition wall 323 . Here, the second inclined partition wall 323 is inclined in the opposite direction to the first inclined partition wall 322 and is provided to intersect the first inclined partition wall 322 .

As described above, when the first inclined partition wall 322 and the second inclined partition wall 323 formed to cross the first inclined partition wall 322 are provided, even if swelling occurs in the battery cell 110, the heat dissipation plate 300 The shape of the hollow 310 may be better maintained.

Figure 6 (a) is a perspective view of the heat dissipation plate in the battery module according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 (b) is a view taken along the arrow E of Figure 6 (a).

Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the battery module 10 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, descriptions common to those described in the battery module 10 according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention will be replaced with the above description.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B , the partition wall 320 includes a third inclined partition wall 324 and a straight partition wall 325 . The third inclined partition wall 324 is formed to be inclined in only one direction within the heat dissipation plate 300 , and the straight partition wall 325 connects the third inclined partition wall 324 in a straight line. When configured in such a form, even if swelling occurs in the battery cell 110, the shape of the hollow 310 of the heat dissipation plate 300 can be better maintained, and the battery cell 110 can be cooled. there is

Meanwhile, a battery pack (not shown) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery modules 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention as described above. In addition, the battery pack (not shown), in addition to the battery module 10, a housing for accommodating the battery module 10, various devices for controlling the charging and discharging of the battery module 10, such as BMS, current A sensor, a fuse, etc. may be further included.

Meanwhile, a vehicle (not shown) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include the above-described battery module 10 or a battery pack (not shown), and the battery pack (not shown) includes the battery module 10 . this may be included. And, the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to the vehicle (not shown), for example, a predetermined vehicle (not shown) provided to use electricity such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. can

In the above, although the present invention has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto and will be described below with the technical idea of the present invention by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. It goes without saying that various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of equivalents of the claims.

10: battery module 100: battery cell stack
110: battery cell 200: case
300: heat dissipation plate 310: hollow
320: bulkhead 321: horizontal bulkhead
322: first inclined bulkhead 323: second inclined bulkhead
324: third inclined bulkhead 325: straight bulkhead

Claims (10)

a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked;
a case in which the battery cell stack is accommodated; and
It is interposed between any one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells and another battery cell adjacent to the one battery cell, and a hollow is formed so that a fluid can flow therein, and the battery cell has swelling. A battery module including a heat dissipation plate having preset rigidity so as not to deform even when it occurs. According to claim 1,
The heat dissipation plate is provided in plurality and is disposed between the plurality of battery cells, respectively. According to claim 1,
The battery module, characterized in that at least one partition wall is formed in the hollow inside the heat dissipation plate. 4. The method of claim 3,
The partition walls are provided in plurality and are horizontal partition walls arranged horizontally inside the heat dissipation plate,
A plurality of the horizontal barrier ribs are battery module, characterized in that arranged at equal intervals. 4. The method of claim 3,
The partition wall comprises a first inclined partition wall formed to be inclined in a preset direction inside the heat dissipation plate. 6. The method of claim 5,
The battery module further comprising: a second inclined partition wall formed to be inclined in a direction opposite to the first inclined partition wall and provided to intersect the first inclined partition wall. 4. The method of claim 3,
The partition wall,
a third inclined partition wall formed to be inclined in only one direction within the heat dissipation plate; and
and a straight partition wall connecting the third inclined partition wall in a straight line. According to claim 1,
The heat dissipation plate is a battery module, characterized in that provided with an aluminum material capable of heat conduction. A battery pack comprising the battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 8. A vehicle comprising the battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

Images