KR20230152577A - Battery module, battery pack and vehicle including same - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are battery modules, battery packs, and vehicles including them that are configured to ensure structural stability even when a thermal event occurs.
A battery module according to one aspect of the present invention includes a cell assembly including at least one battery cell and a module frame configured to accommodate the battery cell in a cell accommodating portion and to have a portion of the cell accommodating portion open.

Description

Battery module, battery pack, and vehicle including the same {BATTERY MODULE, BATTERY PACK AND VEHICLE INCLUDING SAME}

The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack, and a vehicle including the same. More specifically, it relates to a battery module, a battery pack, and a vehicle including the same that are configured to ensure structural stability even when a thermal event occurs.

Recently, as the demand for portable electronic products such as laptops, video cameras, and portable phones has rapidly increased, and as the development of electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, robots, and satellites has begun, high-performance secondary batteries capable of repeated charging and discharging have been developed. Research is actively underway.

Currently commercialized secondary batteries include nickel cadmium batteries, nickel hydrogen batteries, nickel zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Among these, lithium secondary batteries are in the spotlight for their advantages of free charging and discharging, very low self-discharge rate, and high energy density as they have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries.

These lithium secondary batteries mainly use lithium-based oxide and carbon material as positive and negative electrode active materials, respectively. In addition, the lithium secondary battery includes a positive and negative electrode plate coated with the positive and negative electrode active materials, an electrode assembly in which the positive and negative electrode plates are disposed with a separator in between, and an exterior material that seals and stores the electrode assembly with an electrolyte.

Meanwhile, lithium secondary batteries can be classified into can-type secondary batteries in which the electrode assembly is built into a metal can and pouch-type secondary batteries in which the electrode assembly is built in a pouch of an aluminum laminate sheet, depending on the shape of the battery case. Also, can-type secondary batteries can be further classified into cylindrical batteries and prismatic batteries depending on the shape of the metal can.

Here, the pouch of the pouch-type secondary battery can be broadly divided into a lower sheet and an upper sheet covering it. At this time, the pouch accommodates an electrode assembly formed by laminating and winding a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. Then, after storing the electrode assembly, the edges of the upper and lower sheets are sealed by heat fusion or the like. Additionally, the electrode tab drawn out from each electrode is coupled to an electrode lead, and an insulating film may be added to the electrode lead in contact with the sealing portion.

In this way, the pouch-type secondary battery can have the flexibility to be configured in various forms. In addition, the pouch-type secondary battery has the advantage of being able to implement a secondary battery of the same capacity with a smaller volume and mass.

The lithium secondary battery is made into a dense structure by overlapping or stacking multiple battery cells mounted on themselves or in a cartridge to provide high voltage and current, and then electrically connecting them into a battery module or battery pack. It is being used.

In this battery pack configuration, one of the most important issues is safety. In particular, when a thermal event occurs in one of the plurality of battery cells included in the battery pack, propagation of this event to other battery cells needs to be suppressed. If thermal propagation between battery cells is not properly suppressed, this may lead to thermal events in other battery cells included in the battery pack, causing larger problems such as ignition or explosion of the battery pack. Furthermore, ignition or explosion occurring in the battery pack can cause significant damage to people or property in the surrounding area. Accordingly, in the case of such battery packs, a configuration capable of appropriately controlling the above-mentioned thermal events is required.

The present invention was conceived to solve the above-described problems, and its purpose is to provide a battery module, a battery pack, and a vehicle including the same that are configured to ensure structural stability even when a thermal event occurs.

However, the technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below.

A battery module according to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a cell assembly including at least one battery cell, the battery cell being accommodated in a cell accommodating portion, and a portion of the cell accommodating portion being configured to be open. Includes module frame.

In one embodiment, the cell accommodating part may be configured such that a portion located above or below the accommodating battery cell is open.

In one embodiment, the battery cells are provided in plural numbers, the cell accommodating parts are provided in plural numbers, the battery cells are each accommodated in the plurality of cell accommodating parts, and the plurality of cell accommodating parts are provided in a plurality of the battery cells. When viewed from the stacking direction, the portion located above the accommodated battery cell and the portion located below the accommodated battery cell may be configured to be alternately open.

In one embodiment, the plurality of cell accommodating parts may be configured to be separated from each other by a partition when viewed from the stacking direction of the battery cells.

In one embodiment, the partition wall may be formed in a multi-folded structure when viewed from the stacking direction of the battery cells.

In one embodiment, the battery cell includes a cell case that has an accommodating space for accommodating the electrode assembly therein and protrudes an electrode lead electrically connected to the electrode assembly to the outside, wherein the cell case includes the battery cell. It may be configured to adhere closely to the inside of the cell receiving portion in the stacking direction.

In one embodiment, the cell accommodating portion may be formed to be longer than the cell case in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell.

In one embodiment, the cell accommodating part may be configured so that portions located on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the accommodating battery cell are open.

In one embodiment, the battery module may further include a cell fixing member configured to surround the cell assembly and the module frame.

In one embodiment, the battery module may further include a heat shield disposed on at least one side of both sides of the cell case, inside the cell accommodating portion, when viewed from the stacking direction of the battery cells. .

In one embodiment, the battery module may further include a guide portion provided on at least one side of the longitudinal direction of the cell accommodating portion and formed by bending in the stacking direction of the battery cells.

In one embodiment, the battery module further includes a bus bar frame supporting a bus bar electrically connected to an electrode lead of a battery cell accommodated in a cell receiving portion of the module frame, and the bus bar frame includes the module. The end of the frame may be provided with a fixing groove into which a predetermined length is inserted and fixed.

In one embodiment, the bus bar frame includes: a first bus bar frame having a first fixing groove into which one end of the module frame is inserted and fixed; And it may include a second bus bar frame having a second fixing groove into which the other end of the module frame is inserted and fixed.

A battery pack according to another aspect of the present invention includes one or two or more of the above-described battery modules.

Additionally, a vehicle according to another aspect of the present invention includes one or two or more battery packs.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, by inducing venting gas and/or flame to be discharged to a certain area of the cell receiving portion, ignition factors within the battery module can be suppressed and structural stability of the battery module can be strengthened.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, simultaneous ignition of adjacent battery cells can be prevented.

In addition, various other additional effects can be achieved by various embodiments of the present invention. These various effects of the present invention will be described in detail in each embodiment, or descriptions of effects that can be easily understood by those skilled in the art will be omitted.

The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate 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 later. Therefore, the present invention is limited to the matters described in such drawings. It should not be interpreted as limited.
1 is a diagram showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of Figure 1.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cell assembly provided in the battery module of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a module frame provided in the battery module of FIG. 1.
Figure 5 is an enlarged view of portion A of Figure 1.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a cell fixing member provided in the battery module of FIG. 1.
Figures 7 to 12 are diagrams showing the assembly process of the battery module of Figure 1.
Figure 13 is a diagram showing a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 14 is a diagram showing a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 15 is a diagram showing a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a state in which the module frame of the battery module shown in FIG. 15 is fixed by a bus bar frame.
Figure 17 is a diagram showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, the terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, and the inventor must appropriately use the concept of terms to explain his or her invention in the best way. It must be interpreted as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention based on the principle of definability.

Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not entirely represent the technical idea of the present invention, so at the time of filing the present application, various options that can replace them are available. It should be understood that equivalents and variations may exist.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing a battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module 10 of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is provided in the battery module 10 of Figure 1. This is a diagram showing the cell assembly 100, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the module frame 200 provided in the battery module 10 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 1.

In detail, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the module frame 200 guides the discharge of venting gas and/or flame due to thermal runaway of the cell assembly 100 within the battery module 10 of the present invention. At this time, in Figure 5, the venting gas is denoted by the reference symbol 'V', and the flame is denoted by the reference symbol 'F'.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the X-axis direction shown in the drawing is the longitudinal direction of the battery cells 110, which will be described later, and the Y-axis direction is the stacking direction, The axial direction may refer to an upward and downward direction perpendicular to both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 , the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a cell assembly 100 and a module frame 200.

The cell assembly 100 may include at least one battery cell 110. Here, the battery cell 110 may refer to a secondary battery. The battery cell 110 may be provided as a pouch-shaped battery cell, a cylindrical battery cell, or a prismatic battery cell. As an example, the battery cell 110 may be a pouch-type battery cell.

In one embodiment, the cell assembly 100 may include a plurality of battery cells 110, and the plurality of battery cells 110 may be stacked on one another in one direction (Y-axis direction) and arranged side by side. .

The module frame 200 may be configured to accommodate the battery cell 110. To this end, the module frame 200 has an empty space and may include a cell accommodating portion (S) that accommodates the battery cell 110 in the empty space. The empty space of the cell accommodating portion S may have a shape corresponding to the shape and size of the battery cell 110 so that the battery cell 110 can be accommodated. And, the battery cell 110 can be accommodated in the cell receiving portion (S) provided in this way.

At this time, the cell receiving portion (S) may be configured to be partially open. That is, the cell accommodating portion S may be configured to have an empty space formed inside it, and a portion of this empty space may be open. In particular, the open portion of the cell accommodating part (S) may be formed so that the battery cell 110 can be inserted into the cell accommodating part (S). Accordingly, the open portion of the cell receiving portion S may have a size or shape into which the battery cell 110 can be inserted.

Additionally, the module frame 200 may include a material with high heat resistance and rigidity.

In a typical battery module, an event such as thermal runaway may occur in a specific battery cell among the battery cells constituting the cell assembly. In this case, high-temperature and high-pressure venting gas may be generated inside a specific battery cell, and when this venting gas meets oxygen, a flame may be generated inside or outside the battery cell.

At this time, there is a high risk that such flames will spread to other battery cells adjacent to a specific battery cell, and as a result, simultaneous ignition of multiple battery cells may occur. Meanwhile, the conventional battery module has a structure in which a large number of battery cells are arranged within a sealed module case, so it is vulnerable to the above-mentioned simultaneous ignition.

In order to solve this problem, the module frame 200 of the present invention accommodates the battery cell 110 inside a cell accommodating portion (S) configured to be partially open, thereby preventing heat generated from the battery cell 110 when a thermal runaway phenomenon occurs. Venting gas and/or flame may be induced to be discharged through the open portion of the cell receiving portion (S).

According to this implementation configuration of the present invention, venting gas and/or flame can be induced to be discharged into a certain area of the cell accommodating part S (open portion of the cell accommodating part S). Accordingly, the structural stability of the battery module 10 can be strengthened by suppressing ignition factors within the battery module 10.

In particular, the cell accommodating part (S) may be configured so that a portion of the cell accommodating part (S) located above or below the battery cell 110 accommodated in the cell accommodating part (S) is open. The battery cell 110 may be inserted into the cell accommodating portion (S) through the open portion of the cell accommodating portion (S). Accordingly, the battery cell 110 can be easily inserted into the module frame 200. In this way, the open portion of the cell accommodating part S so that the battery cell 110 can be inserted into the cell accommodating part S will be referred to as a cell inserting part O in the embodiments of the present invention. That is, the cell insertion portion O may be formed in a portion of the cell receiving portion S located above or below the battery cell 110 accommodated in the cell receiving portion S.

In one embodiment, the battery cell 110 may be formed so that the length extending along the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) is longer than the length of the portion including the electrode lead 114, which will be described later. Additionally, the cell insertion portion O may be formed in a portion of the cell receiving portion S located on the upper or lower side of the battery cell 110 based on the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the battery cell 110. Accordingly, the cell insertion portion O may be formed with a larger area than the portion of the cell receiving portion S corresponding to the portion including the electrode lead 114 of the battery cell 110, which will be described later.

In this way, venting gas and/or flame is more quickly transmitted through the cell insertion portion 0, which is formed wider than the portion of the cell receiving portion S corresponding to the portion including the electrode lead 114 of the battery cell 110. It can be induced to be discharged outside the cell receiving part (S). Accordingly, Ignition factors within the battery module 10 can be suppressed more reliably.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the battery cells 110 may be provided in plural numbers, and the cell receiving portions (S) may be provided in plural numbers corresponding thereto. At this time, the plurality of cell receiving portions (S) may be configured independently.

Specifically, a plurality of battery cells 110 may each be accommodated in a plurality of cell receiving portions (S).

In addition, the plurality of cell accommodating parts S includes a portion of the first cell accommodating part located above the battery cell accommodated in the first cell accommodating part when viewed from the stacking direction of the battery cells 110, and the first cell accommodating part S. The portion of the second cell accommodating portion located below the battery cell accommodated in the second cell accommodating portion adjacent to the accommodating portion may be configured to be opened alternately. That is, the cell insertion portion (O) is located on the upper side of the battery cell 110 accommodated in one cell accommodating portion (S) and on the lower side of the battery cell 110 accommodated in another adjacent cell accommodating portion (S). It may be formed alternately in the positioned portion. In this case, the cell insertion portions of the plurality of cell receiving portions S may be configured to have the same shape and size.

With this configuration, venting gas and/or flame between adjacent battery cells 110 may be induced to be discharged in opposite directions (towards the top or bottom of the battery module 10). Accordingly, simultaneous ignition of adjacent battery cells 110 can be prevented.

Hereinafter, we will look at the detailed structure of the module frame 200 described above in more detail.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the module frame 200 may include a first frame 220 and a second frame 240.

The first frame 220 may form a side surface of the cell accommodation unit S in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110 .

The second frame 240 is connected to the first frame 220 and may form the upper or lower side of the cell receiving portion (S). This second frame 240 may be configured in a flat shape.

Exemplarily, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, 4 and 5, two first frames 220 and one second frame 240 may constitute the cell receiving unit (S). . At this time, the second frame 240 may connect the upper ends of the two first frames 220 or the lower ends of the two first frames 220.

More specifically, the second frame 240 has two When connecting the upper ends of the first frame 220, the cell insertion portion O may be formed in a portion located below the battery cell 110 accommodated in the cell receiving portion S. In addition, when the second frame 240 connects the lower ends of the two first frames 220, the cell insertion portion O is located on the upper side of the battery cell 110 accommodated in the cell receiving portion S. It can be formed in part.

Additionally, the first frame 220 and the second frame 240 may be assembled into a partition wall. These partition walls may refer to the side of the cell accommodating part (S) in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110 and the upper or lower side of the cell accommodating part (S). As an example, the first frame 220 and the second frame 240 may be joined to each other by welding or may be formed by injection molding, but the manufacturing method is not limited to this.

Meanwhile, the first frame 220 and the second frame 240 may be provided in plural numbers in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. At this time, the second frame 240 may be connected to the first frame 220 to alternately form the upper or lower side of the cell receiving portion (S) when viewed from the stacking direction of the battery cells 110.

The plurality of cell receiving portions S described above may be configured to be separated from each other by a partition formed by the first frame 220 and the second frame 240 when viewed from the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. .

With this configuration, simultaneous ignition of adjacent battery cells 110 in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110 can be prevented.

In particular, these partition walls may be formed in a structure that is folded multiple times when viewed from the stacking direction of the battery cells 110.

Specifically, the partition wall composed of the assembly of the first frame 220 and the second frame 240 has an overall shape when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 110 or the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the module frame 200. It may be composed of a repeating 'Z'-shaped or 'ㄹ'-shaped structure.

And, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the battery cells 110 may be accommodated in the cell accommodating portion S, which is a folded portion of the partition wall. Accordingly, the size of the module frame 200 can be configured to be more compact compared to a non-folded frame structure.

In addition, without providing a separate structure to prevent flame transfer between adjacent battery cells 110, The module frame 200 with a multiple folded structure can be easily constructed. And simply by inserting the battery cell 110 into the cell receiving portion (S) through the open portion (cell inserting portion (0)) of the cell receiving portion (S) formed in the module frame 200. Simultaneous ignition of adjacent battery cells 110 can be effectively suppressed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 , the battery cell 110 may include a cell case 112 .

The cell case 112 has an accommodating space for accommodating an electrode assembly (not shown) inside, and an electrode lead 114 electrically connected to the electrode assembly may protrude to the outside. At this time, the electrode assembly may include a first electrode plate with a first polarity, a second electrode plate with a second polarity, and a separator interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate.

This cell case 112 may be configured to be in close contact with the interior of the cell receiving portion S in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. Specifically, the cell case 112 may be in close contact with the first frame 220 constituting the side surface of the cell accommodating portion S in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110.

In this way, since the cell case 112 is in close contact with the inside of the cell receiving portion (S) in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110, venting gas and/or flame are blocked by the first frame 220 constituting the partition wall. It can be. Accordingly, venting gas and/or flame can be induced to be discharged more effectively through the open portion (cell insertion portion O) of the cell receiving portion S.

In particular, the cell accommodating portion S may be formed to be longer than the cell case 112 in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 110. Specifically, the first frame 220 is the length of the battery cell 110. It may be formed to be longer than the cell case 112 in direction.

Accordingly, the venting gas and/or flame generated on both sides of the battery cell 110 in the longitudinal direction hits the longitudinal ends of the two first frames 220 arranged to face each other in the stacking direction of the battery cell 110. It can be discharged toward the cell insertion part (O) while hitting. In addition, the venting gas and/or flame generated on both sides of one battery cell 110 in the longitudinal direction hits the longitudinal end of the first frame 220 and touches other battery cells adjacent to the stacking direction of the battery cell 110. Transition to (110) can be suppressed.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to more quickly induce venting gas and/or flame to be discharged outside the cell receiving portion (S), as well as to connect the battery cells 110 adjacent to the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. ) can minimize simultaneous ignition.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the cell accommodating portion (S) is configured so that portions located on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 110 accommodated in the cell accommodating portion (S) are open. It can be.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cell accommodating portion (S) may be configured to open only the portion (cell insertion portion (0)) located above or below the battery cell 110 accommodated in the cell accommodating portion (S). . Alternatively, the cell accommodating portion S may be configured to open only portions located on both sides of the battery cell 110 accommodated in the cell accommodating portion S in the longitudinal direction. Additionally, the cell accommodating portion S may be configured so that both a portion located above or below the battery cell 110 accommodated in the cell accommodating portion S and a portion located on both sides in the longitudinal direction are open.

In this way, when the portions located on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 110 accommodated in the cell accommodating portion (S) in the cell accommodating portion (S) are also opened, venting gas and/or flame are more quickly released into the cell accommodating portion ( S) It can be induced to be discharged to the outside.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the cell fixing member 300 provided in the battery module 10 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, the battery module 10 may further include a cell fixing member 300.

The cell fixing member 300 may be configured to surround the cell assembly 100 and the module frame 200. As an example, the cell fixing member 300 may include a material with high heat resistance and rigidity. Additionally, the cell fixing member 300 may be provided as one piece, or may be provided in multiple numbers in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 110.

In this way, the cell assembly 100 can be fixed to the module frame 200 having a multiple folded structure through the cell fixing member 300, so that the battery module 10 can be formed as a collection of multiple battery modules without a separate case structure. It can be stably accommodated in a battery pack composed of.

Figures 7 to 12 are diagrams showing the assembly process of the battery module 10 of Figure 1.

The assembly process of the battery module 10 of the present invention described above will be briefly described as follows.

First, as shown in FIG. 7, prepare a module frame 200 formed in a multiple folded structure.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the battery cells 110 are initially inserted into some of the plurality of cell receiving portions (S) of the module frame 200. At this time, each battery cell 110 is It can be inserted into the corresponding cell receiving portion (S) through the cell insertion portion (0) of the corresponding cell receiving portion (S).

When insertion of the battery cells 110 into some of the plurality of cell receiving portions S is completed, the module frame 200 is rotated 180 degrees, as shown in FIG. 9 .

Next, as shown in FIG. 10 , the battery cell 110 is secondarily inserted into the remaining cell accommodating portions (S) in which the battery cell 110 is not inserted among the plurality of cell accommodating portions (S). At this time, each battery cell 110 is It can be inserted into the corresponding cell receiving portion (S) through the cell insertion portion (0) of the corresponding cell receiving portion (S).

In this way, when the insertion of the battery cell 110 into the remaining cell receiving portion S is completed, the module frame 200 is rotated again by 180 degrees, as shown in FIG. 11.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 12, the cell assembly 100 is fixed to the module frame 200 through the cell fixing member 300. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, the battery module 10 may be configured as an assembly.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the battery cells 110 are sequentially inserted into the module frame 200 through the open portion of the module frame 200 having a plurality of folded structures, and these battery cells 110 and the module frame ( The battery module 10 can be constructed simply by fixing 200 through the cell fixing member 300. Accordingly, the battery module 10 can be easily assembled, and simultaneous ignition of adjacent battery cells 110 can be suppressed with a simpler structure.

In addition, as described above, since the second frame 240 of the module frame 200 is configured in a flat shape, the module frame 200 into which the battery cell 110 is inserted is rotated during the assembly process of the battery module 10. Even during this time, the battery cell 110 can be stably seated within the module frame 200.

Figure 13 is a diagram showing a battery module 12 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Since the battery module 12 according to the present embodiment is similar to the battery module 10 of the previous embodiment, redundant description of components that are substantially the same or similar to the previous embodiment will be omitted, and hereinafter, the previous embodiment will be described. Let's look at the differences between .

The battery module 12 shown in FIG. 13 may further include a heat shielding member (T).

The heat shielding member (T) may be disposed inside the cell receiving portion (S) on at least one side of both sides of the cell case 112 when viewed from the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. Specifically, the heat blocking member T may be disposed between the cell case 112 and the above-described first frame 220 in the front-back direction of the battery cell 110.

This thermal blocking member (T) may be configured to block flames caused by thermal runaway of the battery cell 110. As an example, the thermal barrier member T may be provided in the form of a thermal barrier coating. In particular, a heat blocking coating agent may be applied or attached to the heat blocking member (T).

In the case of the battery module 12 according to the present embodiment, the flame spreads primarily to other adjacent battery cells 110 through the heat blocking member (T) to block the flame caused by thermal runaway of the battery cell 110. It is possible to delay the flame and suppress the spread of the flame to other secondary battery cells 110 adjacent to the partition wall. Accordingly, the structural stability of the battery module 12 can be maintained more stably.

Figure 14 is a diagram showing a battery module 14 according to another embodiment of the present invention. At this time, in Figure 14, the venting gas is denoted by the reference symbol 'G', and the flame is denoted by the reference symbol 'F'.

Since the battery module 14 according to the present embodiment is similar to the battery module 10 of the previous embodiment, redundant description of components that are substantially the same or similar to the previous embodiment will be omitted, and hereinafter, the previous embodiment will be described. Let's look at the differences between .

The battery module 14 shown in FIG. 14 may further include a guide portion (G).

The guide portion (G) is provided on at least one side of the cell receiving portion (S) in the longitudinal direction, and may be formed by bending in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110.

Specifically, the guide unit G may be provided at both ends of the first frame 220 in the longitudinal direction, or may be provided only at one end of the first frame 220 in the longitudinal direction.

This guide part (G) can more easily guide the discharge of venting gas and/or flame generated on both sides of the battery cell 110 in the longitudinal direction to the cell insertion part (O). in other words, As shown in Figure 14, Venting gas and/or flame generated on both sides of the battery cell 110 in the longitudinal direction may be discharged toward the cell insertion portion (O) while hitting the guide portion (G) bent in the stacking direction of the battery cell 110. In addition, the venting gas and/or flame generated on both sides of one battery cell 110 in the longitudinal direction is connected to another adjacent battery cell 110 by the guide portion G bent in the stacking direction of the battery cell 110. Metastasis to can be inhibited.

In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 14, the guide portion (G), A pair may be provided at the longitudinal ends of the two first frames 220 arranged to face each other in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. At this time, the pair of guide parts G may be formed by bending to face each other in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110.

In this case, not only can venting gas and/or flame be induced to be discharged outside the cell receiving portion (S) more quickly, but also simultaneous ignition of adjacent battery cells 110 in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110 can be minimized.

Figure 15 is a diagram showing a battery module 16 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Since the battery module 16 according to this embodiment is similar to the battery module 10 described above, redundant description of components that are substantially the same or similar to the previous embodiments will be omitted, and hereinafter, the previous embodiments will be described. Let's look at the differences between .

As shown in FIG. 15, the battery module 16 may further include a bus bar frame 400 compared to the battery module 10 described above. This bus bar frame 400 is coupled with a bus bar 410 that is electrically connected to the electrode lead 114 of the battery cell 110 accommodated in the cell receiving portion (S) of the module frame 200, It may be configured to support the bar 410.

Additionally, the bus bar frame 400 may be provided with a slot 402 into which the electrode lead 114 of the battery cell 110 accommodated in the cell receiving portion S of the module frame 200 is inserted. The end of the electrode lead 114 that is inserted into the slot 402 and passes through the slot 402 may be connected to the bus bar 410.

In particular, the bus bar frame 400 may be provided with a fixing groove 404 into which an end in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the module frame 200 in which the battery cells are accommodated is inserted and fixed by a predetermined length. This fixing groove 404 may be configured to mate with the end of the corresponding module frame 200.

In one embodiment, the bus bar frame 400 may include a first bus bar frame 400A and a second bus bar frame 400B.

The first bus bar frame 400A may be coupled to one end of the module frame 200 based on the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the module frame 200. Additionally, the second bus bar frame 400B may be coupled to the other end of the module frame 200 located opposite to the one end with respect to the longitudinal direction of the module frame 200.

In this case, the first bus bar frame 400A may be provided with a first fixing groove into which one end of the module frame 200 is inserted and fixed. Additionally, the second bus bar frame 400B may be provided with a second fixing groove into which the other end of the module frame 200 is inserted and fixed.

In this way, the fixing groove 404 into which the end of the module frame 200 is inserted and fixed is provided in the bus bar frame 400, thereby deforming the module frame 200 due to the load or external force of the battery cell 110 ( For example, deformation of the cell receiving portion (S) can be prevented, and the number of cell fixing members 300 that surround and secure the module frame 200 can be reduced or the cell fixing members 300 can be omitted. there is.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a state in which the module frame of the battery module shown in FIG. 15 is fixed by a bus bar frame.

As shown in FIG. 16, both longitudinal ends of the module frame 200 in which the battery cells are accommodated are inserted and fixed into the first bus bar frame 400A and the second bus bar frame 400B, respectively, so that the battery cells ( It is possible to prevent deformation of the module frame 200 (for example, deformation of the cell receiving portion S) due to the load or external force 110).

15 and 16, the battery module 16 is shown as including a cell fixing member 300, but when the above-described bus bar frame 400 is applied to the battery module 16, the cell fixing member ( 300) may be omitted from the corresponding battery module 16.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, ignition factors within the battery modules 10, 12, 14, and 16 are prevented by inducing venting gas and/or flame to be discharged to a certain area of the cell receiving portion (S). By suppressing this, the structural stability of the battery modules 10, 12, 14, and 16 can be strengthened.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, simultaneous ignition of adjacent battery cells 110 can be prevented.

Figure 17 is a diagram showing the battery pack 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 17, the battery pack 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or two or more battery modules 10, 12, 14, and 16 according to the present invention.

In this case, the battery pack 2 may include various devices for controlling charging and discharging of the battery modules 10, 12, 14, and 16, such as a battery management system (BMS), a current sensor, and a fuse. there is.

Additionally, the battery pack 2 may include pack cases 2A and 2B accommodating one or two or more battery modules 100.

The pack cases 2A, 2B include a pack tray 2A having a receiving space S1 for accommodating a plurality of battery modules, and a pack lid covering the upper opening of the pack tray 2A. lid)(2B).

In addition, the battery pack 2 can be used to charge battery modules 10, 12, 14, 16 accommodated in pack cases 2A, 2B or battery cells included in the battery modules 10, 12, 14, 16. It may include various electrical components (not shown) that control discharge operations or monitor SOC (State Of Charge), SOH (State Of Health), etc. These electronic components can be accommodated in the pack cases 2A and 2B together with the battery modules 10, 12, 14 and 16.

In this way, the battery pack 2 according to the present invention is manufactured using a cell-to-pack method, thereby reducing the overall weight and volume of the battery pack and improving energy density.

This battery pack 2 can be applied to automobiles such as electric vehicles. That is, the automobile according to the present invention may include one or two or more battery packs 2 according to the present invention.

As described above, although the present invention has been described with limited examples and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the technical idea of the present invention and the following will be understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Of course, various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of equivalence of the patent claims to be described.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used, but these terms are only for convenience of explanation and may vary depending on the location of the target object or the location of the observer. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that this can be done.

10, 12, 14, 16: Battery module
100: Cell assembly
110: battery cell
112: cell case
114: electrode lead
200: module frame
S: cell receptor
300: Cell fixing member
400: Busbar frame
T: Heat shielding member
G: Guide section

Claims (15)

A cell assembly including at least one battery cell; and
A battery module comprising a module frame configured to accommodate the battery cells in a cell accommodating portion and to open a portion of the cell accommodating portion. According to clause 1,
The cell receiving part,
A battery module, characterized in that the portion located above or below the accommodated battery cell is configured to be open. According to clause 2,
The battery cells are provided in plural numbers, and the cell receiving portions are provided in plural numbers,
The battery cell is,
Each is accommodated within the plurality of cell receiving portions,
The plurality of cell receiving units,
A battery module, characterized in that when viewed from the stacking direction of the battery cells, the portion located above the accommodated battery cell and the portion located below the accommodated battery cell are alternately open. According to clause 3,
The plurality of cell receiving units,
A battery module configured to be separated from each other by a partition wall when viewed from the stacking direction of the battery cells. According to clause 4,
The bulkhead is,
A battery module, characterized in that it is formed in a multiple folded structure when viewed from the stacking direction of the battery cells. According to clause 1,
The battery cell is,
It includes a cell case having a receiving space for accommodating the electrode assembly therein, and protruding an electrode lead electrically connected to the electrode assembly to the outside,
The cell case is,
A battery module, characterized in that it is configured to be in close contact with the inside of the cell accommodating part in the stacking direction of the battery cells. According to clause 6,
The cell receiving part,
A battery module, characterized in that the battery cell is formed to be longer than the cell case in the longitudinal direction. According to clause 1,
The cell receiving part,
A battery module, characterized in that the portions located on both sides of the accommodated battery cell in the longitudinal direction are configured to be open. According to clause 1,
A battery module further comprising a cell fixing member configured to surround the cell assembly and the module frame. According to clause 6,
The battery module further includes a heat shielding member disposed inside the cell accommodating portion on at least one side of both sides of the cell case when viewed from the stacking direction of the battery cells. According to clause 1,
The battery module is provided on at least one side of the cell receiving portion in the longitudinal direction and further includes a guide portion bent in the stacking direction of the battery cells. According to clause 1,
It further includes a bus bar frame supporting a bus bar electrically connected to an electrode lead of a battery cell accommodated in a cell receiving portion of the module frame,
The bus bar frame is a battery module characterized in that it has a fixing groove into which an end of the module frame is inserted and fixed by a predetermined length. According to clause 12,
The bus bar frame is,
a first bus bar frame having a first fixing groove into which one end of the module frame is inserted and fixed; and
A battery module comprising a second bus bar frame having a second fixing groove into which the other end of the module frame is inserted and fixed. A battery pack comprising one or two or more battery modules according to any one of claims 1 to 13. A vehicle comprising one or two or more battery packs according to claim 14.

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