KR20230064108A - Battery module and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: at least one battery cell; a cell frame provided with a seating space in which at least one battery cell is seated; a cell support unit that penetrates at least one battery cell, is installed at a predetermined distance from the bottom of the cell frame, and supports at least one battery cell; and a cell fixing unit that fixes each battery cell exposed to one side of the cell support unit to the cell support unit and the cell frame.

Description

Battery module and its manufacturing method {BATTERY MODULE AND METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a battery module and a method for manufacturing the same, and in detail, as battery cells are bonded to a cell frame in a side adhesion method, in a conventional battery module, a battery module is installed at the lower end of the cell frame to fix the battery cell to the cell frame. A battery module capable of improving heat dissipation performance of the battery module by removing a fixing plate and a manufacturing method thereof.

Battery cells can be repeatedly charged and discharged by electrochemical reactions between components including positive and negative current collectors, separators, active materials, electrolytes, and the like. Since the battery module is manufactured in such a way that these battery cells are concentrated in a narrow space, it is important to easily dissipate heat generated from each battery cell.

Since the process of charging or discharging a battery cell is performed by an electrochemical reaction, if the heat of the battery module generated during the charging/discharging process is not effectively removed, heat accumulation occurs and as a result, the deterioration of the battery module is accelerated. In some cases, Ignition or explosion may occur.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a conventional battery module 10 includes a cell frame 11, at least one battery cell 12, and a fixing plate 13. At least one battery cell 12 is spaced apart from each other at regular intervals in the cell frame 11 .

Next, at least one battery cell 12 is fixed to the cell frame 11 by the fixing plate 13 .

The fixing plate 13 is coupled to the cell frame 11 to cover the lower surface of the cell frame 11 while the adhesive 14 is applied to the bottom surface of the battery cell 12 and the lower surface of the cell frame 11. do. Here, the fixing plate 13 is a plate made of aluminum. The fixing plate 13 is powder coated to prevent corrosion of aluminum. The fixing plate 13 is a plate in which a powder coating surface 13b is provided on an aluminum plate 13a.

Referring to FIG. 2, looking at the cross section of the battery cell 12 and the fixing plate 13, the battery cell 12, the adhesive 14, the powder coating surface 13b and the aluminum plate 13a are sequentially laminated. has a structure

The conventional battery module 10 requires the installation of a fixing plate 13 to fix at least one battery cell 12 to the cell frame 11 . However, due to the fixing plate 13, there is a problem in that the volume of the battery module 10 increases and the thermal resistance increases.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-2258178 discloses a battery module with a simplified cooling and assembly structure to which a novel assembly structure capable of simultaneously satisfying cooling efficiency and simplification of assembly structure for secondary batteries and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed.

The present invention changes the coupling structure of the battery cell to the cell frame to a side adhesion method, omits the fixing plate that was conventionally used to fix the battery cell to the cell frame, and eliminates the heat resistance caused by the conventional fixing plate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery module capable of improving heat dissipation performance of the battery module and a manufacturing method thereof.

A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least one battery cell; a cell frame provided with a seating space in which at least one battery cell is seated; a cell support that penetrates at least one battery cell, is installed at a predetermined interval from the lower end of the cell frame, and supports at least one battery cell; and a cell fixing part fixing each of the battery cells exposed to one surface of the cell support part to the cell support part and the cell frame.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in the cell fixing part, the adhesive is injected and cured into a stepped space between one surface of the cell support part and the lower end of the cell frame, and supports at least one battery cell in a lateral direction while supporting the cell support part and the cell frame. characterized in that it is fixed to.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cell support portion is a plate having greater rigidity than the cell fixing portion, and is characterized in that it supports at least one battery cell in a lateral direction.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cell support portion is characterized in that at least one cell opening penetrating each battery cell is provided.

Here, the at least one cell opening is characterized in that they are spaced apart at regular intervals on the same plane of the cell support.

For example, the cell opening is characterized in that it has a shape surrounding the outer surface of the battery cell.

Specifically, the cell opening has a diameter larger than that of the battery cell, and the inner circumferential surface of the cell opening is provided to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the battery cell.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cell support is characterized in that at least one cell opening is provided on the same plane, and an arrangement pattern of the at least one cell opening corresponds to the arrangement of at least one battery cell.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cell frame is characterized in that a locking step on which the cell support is seated is provided on the inner surface, and the locking step is provided to protrude from the inner surface of the cell frame toward the seating space.

In one embodiment of the present invention, it is characterized in that the locking jaw is provided stepwise with respect to the lower end of the cell frame, and the cell support portion can be inserted into the seating space, but is provided to be seated on the locking jaw.

Here, the cell support is characterized in that it has a thickness smaller than the distance between the locking jaw and the lower end of the cell frame.

In one embodiment of the present invention, when the cell support passes through each battery cell and is seated on the locking step, the cell frame is characterized in that a stepped space is provided between the lower end of the cell frame and one surface of the cell support.

For example, in a stepped space, the distance between one surface of the cell support and the lower end of the cell frame is 1 mm or more.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cell fixing part is stacked under the cell support part, and fixing it to the cell frame while supporting at least one battery cell in the lateral direction while surrounding the outer circumferential surface of each battery cell together with the cell support part. to be characterized

Meanwhile, a method of manufacturing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes (S1) preparing the cell frame of claim 1, at least one battery cell, and a cell support; (S2) spaced apart at least one battery cell from each other and inserted into the seating space of the cell frame; (S3) installing the cell support part through at least one battery cell and stepping through the lower end of the cell frame to the cell frame; (S4) injecting the adhesive into the stepped space between the cell support and the lower end of the cell frame and spreading it to cover at least one battery cell exposed on one side of the cell support; (S5) installing a hardening sheet on the cell frame so as to cover the portion where the adhesive is applied; and (S6) removing the hardening sheet from the cell frame when the adhesive is cured.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the curing treatment sheet is characterized in that it has an adhesive and a separable material.

For example, the hardening treatment sheet is characterized in that it is a film-type sheet made of a PC material or a PET material.

In the present invention, at least one battery cell is spaced apart at regular intervals using a cell support, and an adhesive is injected and cured into a stepped space between the cell support and the battery cell while supporting the side of the battery cell while attaching the battery cell to the cell frame. In the coupling method, by changing the coupling structure of the battery cell to the cell frame, it is possible to remove the fixing plate from the conventional battery module.

According to the present invention, by removing the fixing plate from the battery module, heat resistance due to the fixing plate blocking the lower portion of the cell frame in the conventional battery module can be eliminated, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance of the battery module.

In addition, the present invention can reduce the manufacturing cost of the battery module by reducing the cost of parts corresponding to the fixing plate.

In addition, the present invention has a structure in which the fixing plate is omitted from the battery module, and the battery module can be slimmed down.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional battery module,
FIG. 2 schematically shows an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 1 .
3 is a diagram for explaining a method of manufacturing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 to 6 are views for explaining a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of xx in Figure 3 (d),
Figure 5 schematically shows an enlarged view of B in Figure 4,
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of C in FIG. 4 , and is a view for explaining a state in which the fixing plate is removed from the conventional battery module compared to the conventional battery module of FIG. 2 .
Figure 7 (a) is for explaining the thermal resistance value of the conventional battery module, Figure 7 (b) is a diagram for explaining the thermal resistance value of the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Since the present invention can make various changes and have various embodiments, specific embodiments are illustrated and described in the drawings.

However, this is not intended to limit the present application to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present application. In describing the present application, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known technologies may obscure the gist of the present application, the detailed description will be omitted.

Terms such as first and second may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. Terms are only used to distinguish one component from another.

Terms used in this application are only used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present application. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In this application, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to designate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but one or more other features It should be understood that the presence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof is not precluded.

Therefore, since the configurations shown in the embodiments described in this specification are only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present application and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present application, various equivalents that can replace them at the time of the present application and variations may exist.

In addition, it should be understood that the accompanying drawings in this application are enlarged or reduced for convenience of description.

● Manufacturing method of battery module

First, referring to FIG. 3 , a method of manufacturing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Referring to FIG. 3 (a), the cell frame 110 constituting the battery module 100, at least one battery cell 120, and the cell support 130 are prepared (S1). Structures of the cell frame 110, the battery cell 120, and the cell support 130 will be described later.

At least one battery cell 120 is inserted into the seating space 111 of the cell frame 110 at regular intervals (S2). Subsequently, the cell support part 130 penetrates at least one battery cell 120 and is installed on the cell frame 110 stepwise with respect to the lower end 110a of the cell frame (S3).

Referring to FIG. 3(b), the adhesive 141 is injected into the stepped space between the cell support 130 and the lower end 110a of the cell frame, and at least one battery cell exposed to one side of the cell support 130. Spread to cover (120) (S4).

Referring to FIG. 3(c), a hardening treatment sheet 150 is installed on the cell frame 110 to cover the portion where the adhesive 141 is applied (S5). The adhesive 141 is cured when a predetermined time elapses in a state where the curing treatment sheet 150 covers the adhesive 141 .

The hardening treatment sheet 150 has a material that can be separated from the adhesive 141. For example, a film-type sheet made of a PC material or a PET material may be used as the hardening treatment sheet 150 .

Referring to FIG. 3(d), when the adhesive 141 is cured, the hardening sheet 150 is removed from the cell frame 110 (S6). When the hardening treatment sheet 150 is removed, manufacturing of the battery module is completed.

● Battery module

Next, the battery module 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 .

The battery module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least one battery cell 120 , a cell frame 110 , a cell support part 130 and a cell fixing part 140 .

A seating space 111 in which at least one battery cell 120 is seated is provided in the cell frame 110 . In addition, the cell frame 110 is provided with a locking step 112 on which the cell support 130 is seated on the inner surface. In this embodiment, for convenience of description, the distance between the locking step 112 and the lower end 110a of the cell frame is referred to as a "first distance D1".

Here, the locking jaw 112 is provided to protrude toward the seating space 111 from the inner surface of the cell frame 110 . The locking jaw 112 is provided stepwise with respect to the lower end 110a of the cell frame. The locking jaw 112 is a component that supports the cell support 130 at a predetermined position.

The cell support part 130 penetrates at least one battery cell 120 and is installed on the cell frame 110 with a step relative to the lower end 110a of the cell frame. The cell support part 130 supports each battery cell 120 in a lateral direction.

The cell support part 130 has greater rigidity than the rigidity of the cell fixing part 140 . The cell support 130 has insulating properties. The cell support 130 can be inserted into the seating space 111 and has a size to be seated on the locking jaw 112 .

The cell support part 130 is provided with at least one cell opening 131 penetrating each battery cell 120 . Here, the at least one cell opening 131 is spaced at regular intervals on the same plane of the cell support 130 . The arrangement pattern of the at least one cell opening 131 is prepared to correspond to the arrangement of the at least one battery cell 120 .

For example, the cell opening 131 has a shape surrounding the outer surface of the battery cell 120 . Specifically, the cell opening 131 has a diameter larger than that of the battery cell 120 , and the inner circumferential surface of the cell opening 131 is provided to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the battery cell 120 .

Here, the cell support 130 has a thickness smaller than the first distance D1 between the locking protrusion 112 and the lower end 110a of the cell frame. In the present embodiment, when the cell support 130 penetrates each battery cell 120 and is seated on the locking jaw 112, the cell frame 110 includes the lower end 110a of the cell frame and the cell support 130. A stepped space is provided between the surfaces.

In this embodiment, for convenience of description, the distance between one side of the cell frame 110 and the lower end 110a of the cell frame in a stepped space is referred to as a "second distance D2". Here, the second interval D2 is preferably 1 mm or more.

The cell fixing part 140 fixes each of the battery cells 120 exposed to one surface of the cell support part 130 to the cell support part 130 and the cell frame 110 . The cell fixing part 140 is prepared by injecting and curing the adhesive 141 into a stepped space between one surface of the cell support part 130 and the lower end 110a of the cell frame.

The cell fixing part 140 is stacked under the cell support part 130, and supports at least one battery cell 120 laterally while surrounding the outer circumferential surface of each battery cell 120 together with the cell support part 130. while fixing to the cell frame 110.

In the present invention, at least one battery cell 120 is spaced apart at regular intervals using the cell support 130, and the adhesive 141 is injected into a stepped space between the cell support 130 and the battery cell 120. By changing the coupling structure of the battery cell 120 to the cell frame 110 in a way of coupling the battery cell 120 to the cell frame 110 while supporting the side of the battery cell 120 while curing, the conventional The fixing plate 13 (see FIG. 1 ) may be removed from the battery module 10 .

In addition, the present invention can reduce the manufacturing cost of the battery module by reducing the cost of parts corresponding to the fixing plate 13 (see FIG. 1). In addition, the present invention has a structure in which the fixing plate 13 (see FIG. 1) is omitted from the battery module, and the battery module can be slimmed down.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 7 , a thermal resistance value of a conventional battery module 10 and a thermal resistance value of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention are compared as follows. The experimental data shown in FIG. 7 assumes that all components except for the fixing plate 13 (refer to FIG. 1) of the conventional battery module 10 and the battery module of the present invention are the same.

Here, FIG. 7 (a) is a diagram for explaining the thermal resistance value of the conventional battery module 10, and FIG. 7 (b) is a diagram for explaining the thermal resistance value of the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. it is a drawing The battery module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a structure in which the powder-coated fixing plate 13 in the conventional battery module 10 is omitted.

Referring to FIG. 7 , it can be seen that the thermal resistance value of the conventional battery module 10 is 11K/W, whereas the thermal resistance value of the battery module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is 10.24K/W. . Accordingly, the present invention removes the fixing plate 13 (see FIG. 1) from the battery module to eliminate the thermal resistance caused by the fixing plate 13 (see FIG. 1) blocking the lower portion of the cell frame 110, The heat dissipation performance of the module can be improved.

The present invention will be described in detail through the following examples. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the following examples. Preferred embodiments of the present invention described above have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, and those skilled in the art having ordinary knowledge of the present invention will be able to make various modifications, changes, and additions within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and such modifications and changes and additions should be viewed as falling within the scope of the following claims.

100: battery module
110: cell frame 120: battery cell
130: cell support part 140: cell fixing part
150: sheet for hardening treatment

Claims (18)

at least one battery cell;
a cell frame provided with a seating space in which the at least one battery cell is seated;
a cell support portion passing through the at least one battery cell, installed at a predetermined distance from the lower end of the cell frame, and supporting the at least one battery cell; and
A battery module comprising a cell fixing part for fixing each of the battery cells exposed to one surface of the cell support part to the cell support part and the cell frame. According to claim 1,
The cell fixing part fixes the cell support part and the cell frame while supporting the at least one battery cell in a lateral direction by injecting and curing the adhesive into the stepped space between one surface of the cell support part and the lower end of the cell frame. Battery module, characterized in that. According to claim 1,
The cell support portion is a plate having a stiffness greater than that of the cell fixing portion,
Battery module, characterized in that for supporting the at least one battery cell in the lateral direction. According to claim 1,
The battery module, characterized in that the cell support portion is provided with at least one cell opening penetrating each of the battery cells. According to claim 4,
The battery module, characterized in that the at least one cell opening is spaced apart at regular intervals on the same plane of the cell support. According to claim 4,
The battery module, characterized in that the cell opening has a shape surrounding the outer surface of the battery cell. According to claim 4,
The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the cell opening has a diameter greater than that of the battery cell, and an inner circumferential surface of the cell opening is provided to be in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the battery cell. According to claim 1,
At least one cell opening is provided on the same plane in the cell support part,
The battery module, characterized in that the arrangement pattern of the at least one cell opening is prepared to correspond to the arrangement of the at least one battery cell. According to claim 1,
The cell frame is provided with a locking step on the inner surface on which the cell support is seated,
The battery module, characterized in that the locking jaw is provided to protrude from the inner surface of the cell frame toward the seating space. According to claim 9,
The locking jaw is provided stepwise with respect to the lower end of the cell frame,
The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the cell support portion is insertable into the seating space and provided to be seated on the locking jaw. According to claim 10,
The battery module, characterized in that the cell support portion has a thickness smaller than the distance between the locking jaw and the lower end of the cell frame. According to claim 11,
When the cell support part passes through each of the battery cells and is seated on the locking step, a stepped space is provided in the cell frame between a lower end of the cell frame and one surface of the cell support part. According to claim 12,
The battery module, characterized in that in the stepped space, a distance between one surface of the cell support part and the lower end of the cell frame is 1 mm or more. According to claim 1,
The cell fixing part is stacked under the cell support part, and fixing the at least one battery cell to the cell frame while supporting the at least one battery cell in a lateral direction while surrounding the outer circumferential surface of each of the battery cells together with the cell support part. battery module. (S1) preparing a cell frame, at least one battery cell, and a cell support;
(S2) spacing the at least one battery cell apart from each other and inserting them into the seating space of the cell frame;
(S3) installing the cell support part to the cell frame so as to pass through the at least one battery cell and have a step with respect to the lower end of the cell frame;
(S4) injecting an adhesive into the stepped space between the cell support part and the lower end of the cell frame and spreading it to cover the at least one battery cell exposed on one surface of the cell support part;
(S5) installing a hardening sheet on the cell frame so as to cover the portion where the adhesive is applied; and
(S6) when the adhesive is hardened, the hardening treatment sheet is removed from the cell frame. According to claim 15,
The method of manufacturing a battery module, characterized in that the hardening treatment sheet has a material separable from the adhesive. According to claim 15,
The method of manufacturing a battery module, characterized in that the hardening sheet is a film-type sheet made of PC material or PET material. A battery module, characterized in that manufactured according to claim 15.

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