Cooling housing for a battery and a battery module containing it

Abstract

Cooling housing (100) for one battery, comprising: a first housing (110) containing a first body (113) and a plurality of first coupling parts (111) projecting from the first body (113); and a second housing (120) coupled to the first housing (110) by the first coupling parts (111), which includes a second body (123) and a plurality of second coupling parts (121) projecting from the second body (123) and arranged at positions corresponding to the first coupling parts (111), wherein battery cells (200) are housed in the cooling housing (100) formed by coupling the first housing (110) and the second housing (120) together, wherein the first body (113) and the second body (123) each have a first opening part (112) and a second opening part (122) formed therein, through which the battery cells (200) are exposed to the outside, and the battery cells (200) are cooled by a cooling element (20) arranged on an outside of the cooling housing (100).

Description

[Cross-reference to related application]

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0074234, filed on June 13, 2017, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0041658, filed on April 10, 2018, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. [BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a cooling housing for a battery and a battery module containing the same. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0003] Generally, a pouch-type battery has a thin plate-like structure and is used as a module by combining a plurality of cells into a single unit. The modules are connected in series to form a pack. When charging or discharging a battery module pack comprising the series-connected modules, there is a phenomenon in which the battery cells generate heat. The temperature of each battery cell may vary for each unit cell depending on the cooling characteristics, and the charging and discharging performance may vary depending on the temperature of the battery cells. However, the battery cells should be operated at an appropriate operating temperature, for example, in a range of 25 to 40°C.In a battery pack, only battery cells located on a side closer to a cooling medium exhibit a temperature distribution close to the minimum temperature of the previously described range, while battery cells located farther from the cooling medium exhibit a temperature distribution above the previously described range, resulting in a reduction in cooling performance. This tendency can be particularly severe in the case where the cooling device is a fan.

[0004] To improve this problem, gradients are typically applied to an angle of incidence or a top cover of an inlet channel to achieve a uniform cooling flow distribution across the entire battery cells. However, if the number of battery cells is increased or a position of the inlet channel is changed in the previously described process, a temperature deviation may be further increased, posing a problem that requires reconsideration of the original battery cell design.

[0005] For example, KR 10 2013 0 011 370 A discloses a cooling housing for a battery pack, but still lacks an improvement in the temperature distribution of the battery cells. Other exemplary structures or designs of housings for batteries are disclosed in further patent applications, such as DE 10 2018 217 102 A1, DE 10 2018 210 690 A1, DE 10 2015 013 508 A1, DE 10 2015 010 664 A1, DE 10 2013 020 862 A1, DE 10 2011 089 298 A1, and DE 10 2011 013 618 A1. [SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION]

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling case for a battery that enables heat exchange by convection or conduction by exposing one or more sides of stacked battery cells.

[0007] Furthermore, it is another object of the present invention to provide a battery module having a cooling housing for a battery that enables heat exchange by convection or conduction by exposing one or more sides of stacked battery cells.

[0008] Furthermore, it is another object of the present invention to provide a cooling case for a battery in which stacked battery cells are formed to correspond to a cooling member, so that an outwardly exposed portion thereof can be arranged to contact the cooling member or to be spaced apart therefrom at a predetermined distance.

[0009] Furthermore, it is another object of the present invention to provide a battery module having a cooling case for a battery, in which stacked battery cells are formed to correspond to a cooling member so that an outwardly exposed portion thereof can be arranged to contact the cooling member or to be spaced apart therefrom at a predetermined distance.

[0010] Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling case for a battery, in which a height of a surface of a case in which the battery cells are mounted is determined by the battery cells accommodated therein, so that a distance between the heat-generating battery cells and the cooling element can be determined.

[0011] Furthermore, it is another object of the present invention to provide a battery module with a cooling case for a battery, in which a height of a surface of a case in which the battery cells are mounted is determined by the battery cells accommodated therein, so that a distance between the heat-generating battery cells and the cooling element can be determined.

[0012] In order to achieve a solution to the above-described objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling case for a battery including a first case and a second case and a space in which one or more battery cells are accommodated, wherein the first case includes: a first coupling part configured to be coupled to the second case; and a first opening part opened therein such that one side of battery cells accommodated in the cooling case is exposed to the outside, so as to cool the battery cells by a cooling member.

[0013] In addition, the second case may include: a second coupling part configured to be coupled to the first case; and a second opening part opened therein so that one side of the battery cells housed in the cooling case is exposed to the outside, thereby cooling the battery cells by the cooling member.

[0014] Furthermore, the second housing may be formed to be symmetrical to the first housing in order to be coupled together.

[0015] Furthermore, the battery cells can be cooled by the cooling element in any of cooling methods in which the battery cells are cooled by convection while being spaced from the cooling element and cooling methods in which the battery cells are cooled by conduction while being in contact with the cooling element.

[0016] Furthermore, the opening parts including the first opening part and the second opening part can be arranged between a plurality of coupling parts including the first coupling part and the second coupling part.

[0017] Furthermore, mounting surfaces on which the battery cells are mounted in the cases are respectively arranged inside the coupling parts and are formed so that the battery cells are exposed to the outside in a portion having a protrusion length or less in which the coupling parts protrude from the bodies.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery module including: at least one of the battery cells; and a cooling case that accommodates the battery cells and includes a first case and a second case, wherein the first case includes: a first coupling part configured to be coupled to the second case; and a first opening part opened therein such that one side of battery cells is exposed to an outside of the case, so as to cool the battery cells by a cooling member.

[0019] Additionally, the second housing may include: a second coupling part configured to be coupled to the first housing; and a second opening part opened therein such that one side of the battery cells is exposed to the outside of the housing, thereby cooling the battery cells by the cooling member.

[0020] Furthermore, the battery cell may have sealing parts and an adhesion part formed on outer peripheries thereof by an outer material, wherein the sealing parts may be formed on three sides of four outer peripheries of the battery cell, and wherein the adhesion part may be formed on the remaining one side of the battery cell.

[0021] Further, the adhesion part may be exposed to an outside of the housings through the opening parts including the first opening part and the second opening part.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a cooling case for a battery that allows heat exchange by convection or conduction by exposing one or more sides of stacked battery cells.

[0023] In addition, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery module including a cooling case for a battery that enables heat exchange by convection or conduction by exposing one or more sides of stacked battery cells.

[0024] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a cooling case for a battery in which stacked battery cells are formed to correspond to a cooling member, so that a portion thereof exposed to the outside can be arranged to contact the cooling member or to be spaced apart therefrom by a predetermined distance.

[0025] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery module including a cooling case for a battery in which stacked battery cells are formed to correspond to a cooling member, so that a portion thereof exposed to the outside can be arranged to contact the cooling member or to be spaced apart therefrom by a predetermined distance.

[0026] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a cooling case for a battery in which a height of a surface of a case in which the battery cells are mounted is determined by the battery cells housed therein, so that a distance between the battery cells that generate heat and the cooling member can be determined.

[0027] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery module including a cooling case for a battery, in which a height of a surface of a case in which the battery cells are mounted is determined by the battery cells housed therein, so that a distance between the battery cells that generate heat and the cooling member can be determined. [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]

[0028] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the battery module according to the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the battery module according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to a cooling member; Fig. 4A is a diagram illustrating a first step formed in a casing and illustrating mounting positions of a battery cell according to the embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4B is a diagram illustrating the cooling member configured to correspond to the battery module according to the embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 5A is a view showing a specific shape of the battery cell included in the battery module according to the embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view along line AA' of Fig. 5A is. [DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION]

[0029] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention without particular limitation thereto.

[0030] In the description of the present invention, publicly known functions and configurations that are considered to be capable of unnecessarily obscuring the purpose of the present invention are not described in detail. Furthermore, terms or words used in the description and claims should not be considered limited to a lexical meaning, and should be understood as suitable terms by the inventor based on his / her ability to define terms to best describe his / her invention to be viewed by others.

[0031] However, those skilled in the art will recognize that such embodiments are provided for illustrative purposes and do not limit the subject matter to be protected as disclosed in the detailed description and the appended claims. Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications to the embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the present invention and fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

[0032] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Referring to Fig. 1, the battery module 10 may include: housings 110 and 120 (hereinafter also collectively referred to as "cooling housing 100" or "housing 100 (110 and 120)"); and first and second battery cells 210 and 220 (hereinafter also collectively referred to as "battery cell 200" or "battery cells 200 (210 and 220)").

[0034] The cooling housing 100 may include a first housing 110 and a second housing 120. As shown in Fig. 1, the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be formed in a symmetrical shape to each other, but these housings may be formed in any shape, regardless of whether certain shapes are identical to each other or not, as long as they can accommodate the battery cells 200 (210 and 220). However, this corresponds to a case where each housing 100 (110 or 120) has the coupling parts 111 and 121 of Fig. 2, and the opening parts 112 and 122 of Fig. 2, which will be described below. In addition, for the purpose of explaining the present invention, an example will be described in which the housings 100 (110 and 120) are symmetrical to each other.

[0035] In the Fig. 1, the cases 100 (110 and 120) may include four coupling parts 111 and 121 formed in each case (110 or 120), and first and second opening parts 112 and 122 formed therein on one side of the battery cells 200 (210 and 220) to expose electrode strips and the sides of the battery cells 200 (210 and 220) to the outside. Accordingly, when the respective coupling parts 111 and 121 are coupled to each other, an interior of the cooling case 100 is exposed to the outside while the respective opening parts 112 and 122 face each other. In other words, the battery cell 200 housed in the cooling case 100 can be exposed to the outside due to the opening parts 112 and 122.Specifically, the previously described housings 100 (110 and 120) may include: the first housing 110 having a first body 113 and a plurality of first coupling parts 111 protruding from the first body 113; and the second housing 120 having a second body 123 and a plurality of second coupling parts 121 protruding from the second body 123.

[0036] Fig. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the battery module 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Referring to Fig. 2, the assembled battery module 10 may have an exposed surface C defined by exposing the battery cells 200 (210 and 220) arranged in the housings 100 (110 and 120) to the outside. To prevent the battery cell 200 from expanding or exploding due to heat generated therein, the exposed surface C is defined in a region capable of directly cooling the battery cell 200 by convection or conduction, which may reduce a temperature of the battery cell 200.

[0038] For example, the battery cells 200 (210 and 220) can be heated by directly contacting a cooling element 20 ( Fig. 3) or by air cooling by a fan (not shown), which will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 3 is described.

[0039] Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the battery module 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the cooling member 20.

[0040] Referring to Fig. 3, the battery module 10 can directly contact the cooling element 20 through the exposed surface C defined by the opening parts 112 and 122 formed therein, so as to be cooled. A shape of the cooling element 20 is not limited to the Fig. 3. However, there may be a shape in which the cooling element is formed to correspond to the housings 100 (110 and 120) of the battery module 10.

[0041] According to the present embodiment, the cooling member 20 may include protrusion portions 21 and a support surface 22. Here, the protrusion portions 21 may be formed to correspond to the opening portions 112 and 122 formed in the housings 100 (110 and 120). For example, in a case of a multi-end type in which the opening portions 112 and 122 are formed within the coupling portions 111 and 121, a protrusion length of the protrusion portion 21 may be determined to correspond to a height difference of the multi-ends. Of course, the protrusion portion 21 may have a width corresponding to a length of the opening portions 112 and 122 formed in the housings 110 and 120 (hereinafter also referred to as "formed length"), but may be formed in the formed length of the opening portions 112 and 122 or less.

[0042] For example, if the protrusion portion 21 of the cooling member 20 has a width shorter than the length of the opening portions 112 and 122, a portion of the battery cell 200 that contacts the protrusion portion 21 of the cooling member 20 can be cooled by conduction through the exposed surface C defined by the opening portions 112 and 122 over the length of the protrusion portion 21, while the other portions of the battery cell 200 that do not contact the protrusion portion 21 of the cooling member 20 can be cooled by air cooling through the exposed surface C. Accordingly, a type and shape of the cooling member 20 can be selected depending on the characteristics of the opening portions 112 and 122.

[0043] Fig. Fig. 4 shows diagrams illustrating a mounting surface of the battery module 10 and the cooling member 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention, wherein Fig. 4A is a diagram illustrating a first step d1 formed in the casings 100 (110 and 120) and first to third mounting positions A1, A2 and A3 of the battery cell 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4B is a diagram illustrating the cooling member 20 configured to correspond to the battery module 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Referring to Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B, the first step d1 may be formed between the coupling parts 111 and 121 and the opening parts 112 and 122 in the housings 100 (110 and 120), representing a distance difference therebetween. The battery module 10 may contact the cooling element 20 through a space provided by the first step d1 at the time of its installation. The first step d1 may also serve as a structure configured to increase a coupling force with the cooling element 20 during coupling of the battery module 10.

[0045] Of course, as described above, the opening portions 112 and 122 may be configured for cooling to reduce the temperature of the battery cell 200 that generates heat. In this case, it is advantageous that the protrusion portion 21 of the cooling member 20 and the exposed surface C of the battery cell 200 are arranged closer to each other. For example, the battery cell 200 may contact the protrusion portion 21 through the exposed surface C to facilitate heat exchange therebetween by conduction, thereby reducing the temperature of the battery cell 200.

[0046] However, if the protrusion portion 21 and the exposed surface C are spaced apart at a constant distance, the battery cell 200 can be cooled by convection by providing a fan or the like. If the battery cell 200 does not include the cooling member 20, the same cooling method as the above can be used.

[0047] Meanwhile, the housings 100 (110 and 120) may have mounting surfaces 115 and 125 for mounting the battery cell 200 formed within the coupling parts 111 and 121. The formation positions (heights) of the mounting surfaces 115 and 125 may be selectively determined. For example, the mounting positions where the mounting surfaces 115 and 125 are formed may be the third and first mounting positions A1 and A3, respectively located outside or inside the cooling case 100 based on the opening parts 112 and 122, and may also be the second mounting position A2, which is located at a height on the same line as the opening parts 112 and 122.

[0048] When the first mounting position A1 is formed in the housings 100 (110 and 120), the battery cell 200 cannot contact the protrusion part 21 of the cooling member 20. To cool the battery cell 200 by conduction, the cooling member 20 may have a shape in which the protrusion part 21 thereof is inserted into the opening parts 112 and 122 to contact the exposed surface C.

[0049] In addition, when the second mounting position A2 is formed in the cases 100 (110 and 120), the battery cell 200 can contact the protrusion part 21 of the cooling member 20 to be cooled by conduction.

[0050] Furthermore, when the third mounting position A3 is formed in the casings 100 (110 and 120), the battery cell 200 can contact the protrusion part 21 of the cooling member 20. However, in this case, if a second step d2, which represents a height difference between the support surface 22 and the protrusion part 21 formed in the cooling member 20, is lower than the first step d1, direct contact between the battery cell 200 and the protrusion part 21 of the cooling member 20 cannot be achieved. Accordingly, in order to cool the battery cell 200 by conduction when the third mounting position A3 is determined as a mounting position, a state in which the second step d2 is formed at a vertical distance between the coupling parts 111 and 121 and the third mounting position A3 or more may be required.

[0051] Fig. 5A is a view showing a specific shape of the battery cell 200 included in the battery module 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view along line AA' of Fig. 5A.

[0052] Referring to Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B, one side of the battery cell 200 is accommodated in the battery module 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, that is, one side except for sealing parts 231 on three sides formed by adhering an outer material 230 to outer peripheries of the battery cell 200 in a longitudinal direction a1 may be an adhesion part 232 formed by adhering the outer material 230 to an electrode assembly 240.

[0053] Specifically, one side of the above-described battery cell 200 may be formed as the adhesion part 232 in contact with the electrode assembly 240 in a state where the outer material 230 is not sealed, and the side of the adhesion part 232 of the battery cell 200 may be exposed to the outside through the opening parts 112 and 122 of the cases 100 (110 and 120) to define the exposed surface C.

[0054] Therefore, when the adhesion part 232 of the battery cell 200 contacts the protrusion part 21 of the cooling member 20, these parts are in surface contact with each other, so that a contact area between the cooling member 20 and the battery cell 200 can be increased, thereby greatly increasing the heat transfer efficiency.

[0055] Although the representative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be understood by those having a general knowledge of the technical field to which the present invention belongs that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, but should be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. [Description of reference symbols] 10 Battery module 20 cooling element 21 Projection part 22 Support surface 100 cooling housings 110 first housing 111 first coupling part 112 first opening part 113 first body 115 mounting surface 120 second housing 121 second coupling part 122 second opening part 123 second body 125 mounting area 200 battery cells 210 first battery cell 220 second battery cell 230 outer material 231 Sealing part 232 Attachment part 240 electrode arrangement a1 Longitudinal direction of the battery cell C exposed surface d1 first step d2 second step A1 first mounting position A2 second mounting position A3 third mounting position

Claims

[1] Cooling housing (100) for a battery, comprising: a first housing (110) including a first body (113) and a plurality of first coupling parts (111) projecting from the first body (113); and a second housing (120) coupled to the first housing (110) by the first coupling parts (111), including a second body (123) and a plurality of second coupling parts (121) projecting from the second body (123) and arranged at positions corresponding to the first coupling parts (111), wherein battery cells (200) are housed in the cooling case (100) formed by coupling the first case (110) and the second case (120) together, wherein the first body (113) and the second body (123) each have a first opening part (112) and a second opening part (122) formed therein through which the battery cells (200) are exposed to the outside, and the battery cells (200) are cooled by a cooling member (20) arranged on an outer side of the cooling case (100). [2] A cooling case (100) for a battery according to claim 1, wherein the second case (120) and the first case (110) are formed to be symmetrical to each other. [3] A cooling case (100) for a battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery cells (200) are cooled by the cooling element (20) in any one of a cooling method in which the battery cells (200) are cooled by convection while being spaced from the cooling element (20) and a cooling method in which the battery cells (200) are cooled by conduction while being in contact with the cooling element (20). [4] The cooling case (100) for a battery according to claim 1, wherein the opening parts (112, 122) including the first opening part (112) and the second opening part (122) are arranged between a plurality of coupling parts (111, 121) including the first coupling part (111) and the second coupling part (121). [5] The cooling case (100) for a battery according to claim 4, wherein mounting surfaces (115, 125) on which the battery cells (200) in the cases (110, 120) are mounted are respectively disposed inside the coupling parts (111, 121) and are formed such that the battery cells (200) are exposed to the outside in a portion having a projection length or less in which the coupling parts (111, 121) protrude from the bodies (113, 123). [6] Battery module (10), comprising: at least one of the battery cells (200); and a first housing (110) including a first body (113) and a plurality of first coupling parts (111) protruding from the first body (113), a second housing (120) coupled to the first housing (110) by the first coupling parts (111), and including a second body (123) and a plurality of second coupling parts (121) protruding from the second body (123) and arranged at positions corresponding to the first coupling parts (111), wherein the battery cells (200) are housed in a cooling case (100) formed by coupling the first case (110) and the second case (120) together, wherein the first body (113) and the second body (123) each have a first opening part (112) and a second opening part (122) formed therein through which the battery cells (200) are exposed to the outside, and the battery cells (200) are cooled by a cooling element (20) arranged on an outer side of the cooling case (100). [7] The battery module (10) according to claim 6, wherein the battery cell (200) includes sealing parts (231) and an adhesion part (232) formed on outer peripheries thereof by an outer material (230), the sealing parts (231) being formed on three sides of four outer peripheries of the battery cell (200), and the adhesion part (232) being formed on the remaining side of the battery cell (200). [8] The battery module (10) according to claim 7, wherein the adhesion part (232) is exposed to an outside of the housings (110, 120) through the opening parts (112, 122) including the first opening part (112) and the second opening part (122).

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