Battery module with improved safety

The battery module design with a vent unit and integrated cooling system effectively manages thermal runaway by absorbing heat and containing gas emissions, ensuring safe operation and preventing chain reactions.

JP7765490B2Active Publication Date: 2025-11-06LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023559806
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2021-10-18
Filing Date
2022-10-17
Publication Date
2025-11-06
Estimated Expiration
2042-10-17

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Battery modules in battery packs are vulnerable to thermal runaway, which can lead to chain reactions and potential explosions or fires if heat and gas emissions from one module are not properly managed and controlled.

Method used

A battery module design featuring a vent unit with a cooling unit integrated into the vent gas flow path to absorb and release heat, including a rupturable cooling pipe that can spray cooling fluid to manage and contain thermal events.

Benefits of technology

The design ensures efficient cooling and safe venting, preventing the propagation of thermal runaway to other modules by managing heat and gas emissions effectively, enhancing safety and assembly ease.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The present invention discloses a battery module having an improved structure for appropriately managing heat, gas, etc. discharged from the battery module. A battery module according to an aspect of the present invention includes a cell assembly having one or more battery cells, a module case that houses the cell assembly in an internal space and has a vent hole formed therein to allow vent gas generated from the cell assembly to be discharged, a vent unit that is provided on the outside of the module case and configured to allow the vent gas discharged from the vent hole to flow in and flow out to the outside, and a cooling unit at least a portion of which is provided on a path through which the vent gas flows and configured to absorb heat and release it to the outside.
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0138849, filed on October 18, 2021, and the entire contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of that application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery, and more particularly to a battery module with improved safety, a battery pack including the same, and an automobile. [Background technology]

[0003] As the demand for portable electronic products such as laptops, video cameras, and mobile phones has increased dramatically and robots, electric vehicles, and other products have become commercially available, active research is being conducted into high-performance secondary batteries that can be repeatedly charged and discharged.

[0004] Currently commercially available secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Of these, lithium secondary batteries are attracting attention due to their advantages of being free to charge and discharge, having a very low self-discharge rate, and having a high energy density, as they have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries.

[0005] Such lithium secondary batteries mainly use lithium-based oxides and carbon materials as the positive and negative electrode active materials, respectively, and include an electrode assembly in which a separator is sandwiched between positive and negative electrode plates coated with the positive and negative electrode active materials, and an exterior housing, i.e., a battery case, that seals and houses the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte.

[0006] Generally, lithium secondary batteries can be classified into can-type secondary batteries, in which the electrode assembly is incorporated into a metal can, and pouch-type secondary batteries, in which the electrode assembly is incorporated into a pouch made of an aluminum laminate sheet, depending on the shape of the exterior material.

[0007] Recently, secondary batteries have been widely used for driving and storing energy not only in small devices such as portable electronic devices but also in medium- to large-sized devices such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS). A battery module can be formed by electrically connecting a plurality of secondary batteries and storing them together inside a module case. A battery pack can also be formed by connecting a plurality of such battery modules.

[0008] However, when multiple battery modules are included in a battery pack, the battery pack may be vulnerable to thermal chain reactions between the battery modules. For example, if an event such as thermal runaway occurs in one battery module, it is necessary to prevent the propagation of such thermal runaway to other battery modules. If the propagation of thermal runaway between battery modules is not properly prevented, an event occurring in a specific battery module may trigger a chain reaction among many battery modules, potentially resulting in major problems such as explosions or fires.

[0009] In particular, if an event such as thermal runaway occurs in one battery module, heat, gas, etc. may be emitted to the outside. If the emission of heat, gas, etc. cannot be properly controlled, the heat, gas, etc. may be transferred to other battery modules, causing a thermal chain reaction in the other battery modules. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a battery module having an improved structure that can properly manage heat, gas, etc. emitted from the battery module, a battery pack including the same, and an automobile, etc.

[0011] However, the technical problems that the present invention aims to solve 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 following description of the invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] To achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the present invention provides a battery module including a cell assembly having one or more battery cells; a module case that houses the cell assembly in an internal space and has a vent hole formed therein so that vent gas generated from the cell assembly can be discharged; a vent unit that is provided on the outside of the module case and is configured to allow the vent gas discharged from the vent hole to flow in and then flow out to the outside; and a cooling unit, at least a portion of which is provided on the path of the vent gas flow and is configured to absorb heat and release it to the outside.

[0013] Here, at least a portion of the cooling unit may be provided inside the vent unit.

[0014] The vent unit may be configured as a plate with at least one side end bent, and the bent end may be attached to the outside of the module case.

[0015] Also, at least a portion of the cooling unit may be interposed between the outer surface of the module case and the inner surface of the vent unit.

[0016] Also, at least a portion of the cooling unit can be in contact with the outer surface of the module case.

[0017] The cooling unit may also include a cooling pipe that is hollow and allows a cooling fluid to flow therethrough.

[0018] Also, at least a portion of the cooling pipe may be bent in the interior space of the vent unit.

[0019] The cooling unit may also be configured to be rupturable by the vent gas.

[0020] The cooling unit may also have a rupturable portion formed in advance at a predetermined position, the rupturable portion being configured to be rupturable at a preset temperature and / or pressure.

[0021] The vent unit may be located on a side surface of the module case, and the rupture portion may be located on an upper side in the internal space of the vent unit.

[0022] In order to achieve the above object, a battery pack according to another aspect of the present invention includes a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] In addition, to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to another aspect of the present invention, a battery pack includes one or more battery modules, a pack housing that stores the one or more battery modules in an internal space and has a pack hole formed therein, a vent unit attached to the pack housing and configured to allow vent gas discharged from the pack hole to flow in and be discharged to the outside, and a cooling unit, at least a portion of which is provided on the path of the vent gas flow and configured to absorb heat and release it to the outside.

[0024] In order to achieve the above object, according to still another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle includes a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to ensure efficient cooling performance and safe venting performance of the battery module.

[0026] Furthermore, in one aspect of the present invention, even if an event such as thermal runaway occurs in a specific battery module, the propagation of the thermal runaway condition to other battery modules can be effectively suppressed.

[0027] In particular, according to one aspect of the present invention, a single cooling configuration can lower the temperature of the battery module under normal circumstances, and in an emergency, can lower the temperature of the vent gas or block the discharge of flames, sparks, etc. contained therein to the outside.

[0028] Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, a battery module with excellent safety can be realized.

[0029] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, a battery module that is easy to assemble and advantageous for miniaturization can be realized.

[0030] In addition, the present invention may have various other effects, which will be described in each embodiment, or the description of effects that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art will be omitted.

[0031] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to further understand the technical concepts of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to only the matters described in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 is an assembled perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 1 with a part of the configuration separated. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a vent unit included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view schematically showing a configuration in which the vent unit of FIG. 3 is coupled to a module case. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram showing a partial configuration of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the side. [Figure 6] 1 is a side view schematically illustrating a configuration of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state where a portion of a cooling unit is ruptured. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating a configuration of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a cross-sectional configuration taken along line A6-A6′ in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a partial configuration of a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above; [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a top view of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary and dictionary meanings, but should be construed as meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical ideas of the present invention, based on the principle that the inventors themselves can appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best describe the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the configurations shown in the embodiments described in this specification are merely the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical ideas of the present invention, and therefore various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted therefor may exist at the time of filing this application.

[0034] FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view that schematically shows the configuration of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 1 in a state where some of the configuration is separated.

[0035] 1 and 2, a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cell assembly 100, a module case 200, a vent unit 300, and a cooling unit 400.

[0036] The cell assembly 100 may include one or more battery cells. Here, each battery cell may refer to a secondary battery. The secondary battery may include an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a battery case. In particular, the battery cell included in the cell assembly 100 may be a pouch-type secondary battery. However, other types of secondary batteries, such as cylindrical batteries and prismatic batteries, may also be used in the cell assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] A plurality of secondary batteries may be stacked on one another to form a cell assembly 100. For example, a plurality of secondary batteries may be stacked in a horizontal arrangement (x-axis direction) with each battery cell standing vertically (z-axis direction in the drawing). Each battery cell may have an electrode lead, which may be located at both ends or one end of each battery cell. A secondary battery with electrode leads protruding in both directions is called a bidirectional cell, and a secondary battery with electrode leads protruding in one direction is called a unidirectional cell. The present invention is not limited by the specific type or shape of such secondary batteries, and various types of secondary batteries known at the time of filing of the present invention may be used in the cell assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] The modular case 200 may be configured to have an empty space formed therein and to accommodate the cell assembly 100 therein. For example, the modular case 200 may be configured to include an upper plate, a lower plate, a left plate, a right plate, a front plate, and a rear plate to define the interior space. At least two of the upper plate, the lower plate, the left plate, the right plate, the front plate, and the rear plate may be configured as an integrated unit. For example, the upper plate, the lower plate, the left plate, and the right plate may be configured as an integrated unit. In this case, the integrated case may have a tubular shape and may be referred to as a monoframe. As another example, the left plate, the right plate, and the lower plate may be configured as an integrated unit. In this case, the integrated case may be referred to as a U-frame depending on its shape. The modular case 200 may also be configured in various other shapes.

[0039] The module case 200 may have a vent hole formed on at least one side, as indicated by H1 in FIG. 2 . For example, a vent hole H1 may be formed on each of the left and right side plates of the module case 200. The vent hole H1 may be configured to allow vent gas generated and ejected from the cell assemblies 100 housed in the interior space to be discharged to the exterior of the module case 200. For example, the module case 200 may be sealed except for the vent hole H1. The vent hole H1 may be formed in a completely open state so as to penetrate the module case 200 from the inside to the outside. However, the vent hole H1 may not be completely open, but may be configured to be normally closed and openable in response to changes in pressure, temperature, etc. The vent hole H1 may also be formed to extend elongated in one direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , the vent hole H1 may be formed to extend elongated in the vertical direction. Also, the vent hole H1 may be formed on the side surfaces, particularly the left and right surfaces, of the module case 200. However, such a vent hole H1 may also be formed on other parts of the module case 200, such as the top surface, bottom surface, front surface, and / or rear surface. In addition to the above-described configuration, the configuration of the vent hole H1 formed on the module case 200 may be configured in various other forms.

[0040] The vent unit 300 may be provided on the outside of the module case 200. In particular, the vent unit 300 may be attached to a portion of the module case 200 where the vent hole H1 is formed. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the vent hole H1 may be formed on the left side of the module case 200. Although not shown in the drawing, the vent hole H1 may also be formed on the right side of the module case 200. In this case, the vent unit 300 may be attached to the outside of each of the left and right sides of the module case 200.

[0041] The vent unit 300 may be configured to define an empty space within the vent unit 300, and the vent gas discharged from the vent hole H1 may flow through the defined space. That is, the vent unit 300 may be configured so that the vent gas discharged from the vent hole H1 flows into the internal space. The vent unit 300 may be configured so that the vent gas flowing through the internal space is discharged to the outside through an outlet such as O1 in FIG. 2. Here, the internal space of the vent unit 300 may be referred to as a vent channel in that it is a space that guides the vent gas. That is, the vent unit 300 may be configured to have a vent channel formed therein so that the vent gas can flow therethrough.

[0042] The cooling unit 400 may be configured so that at least a portion thereof is located on a path through which vent gas flows. That is, when vent gas is discharged from the cell assembly 100, the vent gas may flow in a space inside or outside the module case 200. In this case, the cooling unit 400 may be located in the space through which the vent gas moves in the module case 200. The cooling unit 400 may also be configured to absorb surrounding heat and release it to the outside. In particular, the cooling unit 400 may absorb heat from the module case 200 and release it to the outside of the module case 200.

[0043] The cell assembly 100 may generate heat not only in an abnormal situation such as a thermal runaway situation but also during normal charging and discharging. In this case, the cooling unit 400 may be configured to absorb the heat generated from the cell assembly 100 and release it to the outside. In particular, the cooling unit 400 may absorb the heat generated from the cell assembly 100 and transferred to the module case 200 and release it to the outside of the module case 200.

[0044] Therefore, according to this aspect of the present invention, the performance of the battery module can be stably maintained through appropriate cooling during normal use of the battery module. Furthermore, according to this aspect of the present invention, if an abnormal situation such as thermal runaway occurs in the battery module, the heat can be released. Furthermore, according to this aspect of the present invention, the cooling unit 400 provided inside or outside the module case 200, for example, on the left and / or right side, can prevent heat from being transferred to other battery modules. This effectively prevents the propagation of thermal runaway between battery modules. In this embodiment, the cooling unit 400 can also lower the temperature of the vent gas.

[0045] Therefore, according to this aspect of the present invention, problems such as the occurrence and spread of fire due to vent gas or flame, and the propagation of thermal runaway can be prevented.

[0046] The cooling unit 400 may be configured so that at least a portion thereof is provided in the interior space of the vent unit 300. That is, the cooling unit 400 may be configured so that at least a portion thereof is located in a vent channel, which is the interior space of the vent unit 300. The cooling unit 400 may be configured to absorb heat from vent gas flowing inside the vent channel and release the heat to the outside.

[0047] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the cooling performance of the vent gas and the suppression of thermal runaway and fire spread can be further improved. In particular, the cooling unit 400 can reduce the temperature of the vent gas before it is discharged to the outside of the vent unit 300. Furthermore, the vent gas discharged in the event of an event such as thermal runaway may contain flames, sparks, high-temperature active material particles, etc. In this case, the cooling unit 400 can prevent the movement of the flames, sparks, active material particles, etc. while reducing their temperature.

[0048] The vent unit 300 may be configured in the shape of a plate with at least one side end bent, and the bent end of the vent unit 300 may be attached to the outside of the module case 200. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0049] Fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of a vent unit 300 included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a front view schematically illustrating the configuration in which the vent unit 300 of Fig. 3 is coupled to the module case 200. For example, Fig. 4 is a front view of a portion A1 of Fig. 1.

[0050] 3 and 4, the vent unit 300 may include a main body 310 and a bending portion 320. The main body 310 may be formed in a plate shape, and the bending portion 320 may be formed at a corner of the main body 310. In particular, the bending portion 320 may be formed integrally with the main body 310. Thus, the bending portion 320 may be formed by bending a corner of the main body 310 inward. Here, the inward direction may be a direction toward the module case 200. In this specification, unless otherwise specified, the inward direction of each component may mean a direction toward the center of the battery module, and the outward direction may mean a direction toward the outside of the battery module.

[0051] In the vent unit 300, the main body 310 is configured in the shape of a square plate, and the bent portions 320 may be formed at three of the four corners of the main body 310. For example, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the bent portions 320 may be formed at the upper corner, the lower corner, and the rear corner of the main body 310. Furthermore, since the bent portions 320 are not formed at the front corner of the main body 310, an outlet O1 for discharging vent gas may be formed therein.

[0052] In this embodiment, the vent channel may be defined by the main body portion 310 and the bent portion 320 of the vent unit 300. That is, referring to the configuration shown in Fig. 4, the vent channel V may have its right side defined by the main body portion 310, and its upper and lower sides defined by the upper and lower bent portions 320 and 320. The vent channel V may also have its rear side defined by the rear bent portion 320 of the vent unit 300.

[0053] Meanwhile, the left side of the vent channel V is configured in a completely open form, and the module case 200 may be located in this left portion. In particular, the outer ends of the upper and lower bent portions 320 of the vent unit 300 may be attached to the outer surface of the module case 200, as shown by A2 and A2' in FIG. 4 . The rear bent portion 320 of the vent unit 300 may also be attached to the outer surface of the module case 200. Here, the attachment portion between each bent portion 320 of the vent unit 300 and the module case 200 may be sealed to prevent vent gas leakage. For example, the ends of each bent portion 320 of the vent unit 300 may be laser welded to the outer surface of the module case 200. The vent unit 300 and the module case 200 may also be connected to each other in various other ways.

[0054] In this case, it can be said that the vent channel V is formed by the vent unit 300 and the outer surface of the module case 200. Furthermore, the vent gas discharged from the vent hole H1 can flow inside the vent channel V and be discharged to the outlet O1 as shown by the arrow in FIG.

[0055] According to this configuration of the present invention, the structure for guiding vent gas in the battery module has a simple structure and can be easily assembled. In particular, according to this embodiment of the present invention, only the vent hole H1 needs to be formed in the module case 200, and most of the structure of a conventional battery module can be used as is. Therefore, there is no need to significantly change or complicate the design or manufacturing method of the module case 200 or its internal structure. This makes it easy to manufacture a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] At least a portion of the cooling unit 400 may be interposed between the outer surface of the module case 200 and the inner surface of the vent unit 300. For example, referring to the configuration of Fig. 4, the cooling unit 400 may be interposed between the right surface of the module case 200 and the left surface of the main body 310 of the vent unit 300. The cooling unit 400 may also be located in a space between the bent portions 320 formed at the upper and lower ends of the vent unit 300. The cooling unit 400 may also be interposed between the rear bent portion 320 of the vent unit 300 and the front exhaust port O1.

[0057] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the assembly and manufacturing of a battery module is facilitated. For example, a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention can be manufactured by arranging a cooling unit 400 on the outside of a module case 200 in a state in which a cell assembly 100 is housed inside the module case 200, and then covering the outside of the cooling unit 400 with a vent unit 300. Alternatively, a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention can be manufactured by attaching a vent unit 300 to the outside of the module case 200, and then inserting the cooling unit 400 into a space between the module case 200 and the vent unit 300.

[0058] At least a portion of the cooling unit 400 may be configured to contact the outer surface of the module case 200. For example, referring to Fig. 4, the left portion of the cooling unit 400 may be configured to contact the right surface of the module case 200. In particular, the entire portion of the cooling unit 400 located inside the vent channel V may be in contact with the module case 200.

[0059] According to this configuration of the present invention, heat from the module case 200 can be smoothly transferred to the cooling unit 400. Therefore, heat generated on the cell assembly 100 side can be efficiently released to the outside of the module case 200 via the cooling unit 400. This further improves the cooling performance for the cell assembly 100.

[0060] The cooling unit 400 may include a cooling pipe as shown in FIG. 2. The cooling pipe may be configured to allow a cooling fluid to flow through a hollow space. That is, the cooling pipe may have an inlet at one end as shown by I2 in FIG. 2 and an outlet at the other end as shown by O2 in FIG. 2. The cooling fluid, e.g., cooling water, may flow in through the inlet I2. The cooling fluid, i.e., cooling water, may absorb surrounding heat while flowing along the hollow space of the cooling pipe. The cooling water may then be discharged together with heat to the outside of the vent unit 300 through the outlet O2, thereby performing a heat dissipation function.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the inlet 12 and outlet 02 of the cooling pipe may be located on the outlet 01 side of the vent unit 300, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In particular, the inlet 12 and outlet 02 of the cooling pipe may be located outside the outlet 01 of the vent unit 300. Also, in the cooling unit 400, a part or all of the pipe section between the inlet 12 and the outlet 02 may be inserted into the interior space of the vent unit 300.

[0062] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the assembly process of the battery module can be performed more easily. Also, according to the above embodiment, the vent gas inside the vent unit 300 can be discharged to the outlet O1 side, and the cooling performance of the cooling unit 400 can be further improved.

[0063] The cooling pipe may be configured in a bent shape in the internal space of the vent unit 300. This will be further described with reference to FIG.

[0064] Fig. 5 is a side view of a partial configuration of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention. However, for ease of explanation, Fig. 5 does not show the vent unit 300, and only the position where the vent unit 300 is attached is indicated as A3. Furthermore, Fig. 5 shows one embodiment of a configuration in which the battery module is viewed from left to right (+X-axis direction) with the left vent unit 300 removed from the battery module configuration of Fig. 1.

[0065] 5, the cooling pipe may be bent at least once in the section between the inlet 12 and the outlet 02. More specifically, considering the configuration of FIG. 5, the cooling unit 400, i.e., the cooling pipe, may have bent portions such as those indicated by B1, B2, and B3 in the section between the inlet 12 and the outlet 02.

[0066] In particular, with this bending configuration, multiple pipes may be provided inside the vent unit 300 in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the vent gas, although they may be connected to one another. For example, referring to the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the flow direction of the vent gas inside the vent unit 300 is the horizontal -Y axis direction, as indicated by the arrow. However, the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the vent gas is the vertical direction, i.e., the Z axis direction, and four pipes exist in this vertical direction.

[0067] Therefore, according to this embodiment of the present invention, the vent gas comes into contact with a larger number of cooling pipes, thereby further improving the cooling efficiency of the vent gas.

[0068] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the present invention, the vent gas may hit the cooling pipe due to the bent portion that exists in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the vent gas. For example, the bent portions shown in B1 to B3 in FIG. 5 typically have portions that extend vertically, so the vent gas may hit the bent portion that is formed in a shape that is approximately perpendicular to the flow direction. This can have the effect of preventing the release of flames and active material contained in the vent gas during this process. In addition, in this case, the contact area of ​​the vent gas with the cooling pipe is further increased, which can further reduce the temperature of the vent gas.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the maximum width of the cooling unit 400 may be greater than or equal to the maximum width of the vent hole H1. Here, the width refers to the length in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the vent gas. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the flow direction of the vent gas is horizontal (-Y axis direction), so the vertical direction (Z axis direction) perpendicular to this flow direction can be considered the width direction. Therefore, the maximum width of the cooling unit 400 can be the distance between the lowest and highest cooling pipes, as indicated by C2. Furthermore, the maximum width of the vent hole H1 can be considered the distance between the upper and lower ends of the vent hole H1, as indicated by C1. In this case, the following relationship can be established between C2 and C1:

[0070] C2 ≥ C1

[0071] Furthermore, the outermost portion of the cooling unit 400 may be located more outward than the outermost portion of the vent hole H1. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the bottom end of the cooling unit 400 may be located lower than the bottom end of the vent hole H1, and the top end of the cooling unit 400 may be located higher than the top end of the vent hole H1.

[0072] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the cooling unit 400 can entirely cover the vent gas discharged from the vent hole H1. That is, according to the above embodiment, when the vent gas is discharged from the vent hole H1, the vent gas can entirely come into contact with the cooling unit 400. Therefore, the cooling effect of the cooling unit 400 and the effect of blocking flames or sparks can be more reliably achieved.

[0073] Meanwhile, in the above embodiment, the width direction can be the up-down direction because the cooling unit 400 and the vent unit 300 are attached to the side of the module case 200. However, if the cooling unit 400 and the vent unit 300 are attached to the top or bottom of the module case 200, the width direction can be the horizontal direction, for example, the left-right direction.

[0074] The cooling unit 400 may be configured so that at least a portion thereof can be burst by vent gas, as will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

[0075] FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of the battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention in a state where a part of the cooling unit 400 has exploded.

[0076] 6, when vent gas is ejected from the cell assembly 100 and flows into the interior space of the vent unit 300, the cooling unit 400 located in the interior space of the vent unit 300 may be at least partially ruptured by the vent gas. More specifically, the cooling pipe may rupture at the portion indicated by D1 in FIG. 6. Furthermore, the cooling fluid inside the cooling pipe may be sprayed into the interior space of the vent unit 300, i.e., the vent channel V, through the ruptured portion.

[0077] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the cooling unit 400 functions to lower the temperature of the cell assembly 100 under normal conditions, and in an emergency, it can function to suppress a fire by lowering the temperature of the vent gas discharged from the cell assembly 100. Furthermore, the cooling fluid may be sprayed in a direction different from the discharge direction of the vent gas, in which case it is possible to prevent the discharge of sparks, foreign matter, fire, etc. contained in the vent gas. Furthermore, this effect can be further improved when the cooling fluid is in a liquid form such as cooling water.

[0078] The cooling unit 400, particularly the cooling pipe, may be made of a material or shape that can burst due to the temperature and pressure of the vent gas. For example, the cooling pipe may be made of aluminum or a heat-deformable resin material with a thickness of less than a predetermined value, e.g., less than 1 mm.

[0079] In particular, the cooling unit 400 may have a rupture portion pre-formed at a predetermined position. For example, the cooling unit 400 may have a rupture portion pre-formed at a portion indicated by D1 in FIG. 6 . Here, the rupture portion may be configured to rupture the cooling unit 400, particularly the cooling pipe, at a predetermined temperature or pressure. For example, the cooling pipe may be made of an aluminum material approximately 2 mm thick, with a thinner aluminum material at a specific portion indicated by D1, such as 0.5 mm thick. Alternatively, the cooling pipe may be made of a general metal material, with a plastic material having a lower melting point at the specific portion indicated by D1. Alternatively, the cooling pipe may have an opening pre-formed at the portion indicated by D1, and may include a cap for sealing the opening, which may be configured to open the opening due to the heat or pressure of the vent gas. In this embodiment, the portion indicated by D1 may be considered a rupture portion because the vent gas exposes the hollow portion of the cooling pipe to the outside, allowing the cooling fluid to leak.

[0080] According to this embodiment of the present invention, when vent gas flows inside the vent unit 300, the vent gas can quickly discharge the cooling fluid from the cooling unit 400. In particular, in the case of the above embodiment, since the position from which the cooling fluid is discharged is predetermined by the rupture portion, the cooling fluid, such as cooling water, can be sprayed to an appropriate space inside the vent unit 300.

[0081] Furthermore, a plurality of rupture portions may be formed in the cooling unit 400. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, a plurality of rupture portions D1 may be arranged in the cooling pipe in the discharge direction of the vent gas, and each rupture portion D1 may be formed at a position spaced apart from each other.

[0082] In this case, the cooling fluid is injected through the multiple rupture portions D1, and the vent gas can come into contact with the cooling fluid several times when it is discharged to the outside through the vent channel V. This can further improve the cooling effect of the vent gas and the blocking effect of flames or sparks.

[0083] In particular, as shown in many drawings, the vent unit 300 may be attached to the side surfaces, for example, the left and right sides, of the module case 200. In this case, the rupture portion D1 may be configured to be located at the upper side in the internal space of the vent unit 300.

[0084] For example, referring to the embodiment of Figure 6, the vertical center line of the portion A3 where the vent unit 300 is attached can be referred to as the A4-A4' line. Also, the cooling unit 400, i.e., the cooling pipe, can be located above and below this center line (A4-A4' line). In this case, the rupture portion can be configured to be located at least above the center line (A4-A4' line), as shown by D1.

[0085] In particular, the cooling pipe may be configured such that a single pipe is bent vertically in the interior space of the vent unit 300, forming multiple layers from bottom to top. For example, in the case of Fig. 6, the cooling pipe may have a total of four layers in the vertical direction. In this case, the rupture portion may be formed in the uppermost layer in the interior space of the vent unit 300, for example, the fourth layer portion in Fig. 6.

[0086] According to this embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to bring the vent gas into contact with as much cooling fluid as possible in the internal space of the vent unit 300. That is, as shown in Fig. 6, when the cooling fluid is injected downward from the upper side of the vent channel V, the cooling fluid can be injected vertically throughout the entire space in the vent channel V. This can more reliably ensure the cooling of the vent gas and the prevention of flames and sparks due to the injection of the cooling fluid.

[0087] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the cooling fluid may be configured to flow from the lower layer to the upper layer. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, if the interior space of the vent unit 300 has four cooling pipes, from layer 1 to layer 4, the cooling fluid may flow into layer 1, which is the lowest layer, and flow out into layer 4, which is the highest layer. That is, the inlet 12 may be located in layer 1, which is the lowest layer, and the outlet 02 may be located in layer 4, which is the highest layer.

[0088] According to this configuration of the present invention, when cooling fluid is sprayed from the fourth layer, which is the topmost layer, the cooling fluid can flow through the first to third layers of the cooling pipe. Therefore, the cooling fluid sprayed from the fourth layer ensures the cooling of vent gas and the prevention of flames, while the cooling fluid flowing through the cooling pipes from the first to third layers can also achieve the cooling effect of the vent unit 300. Furthermore, the cooling fluid flowing through the cooling pipes from the first to third layers can still absorb heat from the cell assemblies 100 inside the module case 200.

[0089] 7 is a side view schematically illustrating the configuration of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. For ease of explanation, the vent unit 300 has also been removed from FIG. 7. Meanwhile, in various embodiments included in this specification, including this embodiment, detailed descriptions of parts that can be described as the same or similar to other embodiments will be omitted, and differences will be mainly described.

[0090] 7, the cooling unit 400 may be configured as a bent pipe in the internal space of the vent unit 300 and may include an inclined portion, as indicated by E1, that is not perpendicular to the flow direction of the vent gas but is inclined at a predetermined angle, for example, an acute angle. In particular, the inclined portion may include an upper inclined portion (first inclined portion) indicated by S1 and a lower inclined portion (second inclined portion) indicated by S2. In this case, the upper inclined portion S1 may be configured to be inclined toward the exhaust port as it goes downward, and the lower inclined portion S2 may be configured to be inclined toward the exhaust port as it goes upward. In addition, the lower end of the upper inclined portion S1 and the upper end of the lower inclined portion S2 may be configured to be connected to each other as indicated by E2.

[0091] According to this embodiment of the present invention, vent gas can be concentrated at a specific portion. For example, in the configuration of FIG. 7, vent gas discharged from vent hole H1 into vent channel V can flow along upper inclined portion S1 and lower inclined portion S2, as shown by the arrows. Furthermore, the vent gas flowing along the inclined portions can be concentrated at vertex portion E2 where upper inclined portion S1 and lower inclined portion S2 intersect. Therefore, portion E2 can be more easily ruptured than other portions of the entire section of the cooling pipe.

[0092] 7, the cooling pipe, i.e., the cooling unit 400, may have protrusions that protrude in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the vent gas, as shown by F1 and F2. Furthermore, these protrusions F1 and F2 may be realized by bending the cooling pipe.

[0093] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the protrusions F1 and F2 can extend vertically perpendicular to the horizontal flow direction of the vent gas, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the vent gas. Furthermore, in this case, the discharge of flames and particles contained in the vent gas to the outside can be suppressed.

[0094] In particular, the protrusions F1 and F2 may be located further rearward in the flow direction of the vent gas than the inclined portion of the cooling pipe indicated by E1 and the rupture position indicated by E2. In this case, the cooling fluid sprayed from the rupture position E2 can be prevented from flowing toward the outlet of the vent unit 300. In particular, in the configuration shown in FIG. 7, the cooling fluid may flow in the -Y-axis direction due to the shape of the cooling pipe and the location of the rupture point E2. In this case, the protrusions F1 and F2 prevent the cooling fluid from flowing in the -Y-axis direction, thereby preventing the cooling fluid from easily escaping toward the outlet O1 and allowing it to remain as much as possible within the vent channel V. This further improves the cooling effect of the cooling fluid and the blocking effect of flames, etc.

[0095] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. For example, Fig. 8 illustrates one form of a cross-sectional configuration along line A5-A5' in a state in which vent unit 300 is attached to the battery module configuration of Fig. 7.

[0096] 8, when the cooling unit 400 is interposed in the space between the outer surface of the module case 200 and the inner surface of the vent unit 300, a portion of the cooling unit 400 may be configured to be located close to the outer surface of the module case 200 and another portion of the cooling unit 400 may be located close to the inner surface of the vent unit 300. For example, in FIG. 8, as different portions of the same cooling pipe, the portion indicated by F1 may be in contact with the outer surface of the module case 200, and the portion indicated by F2 may be in contact with the inner surface of the vent unit 300.

[0097] According to this configuration of the present invention, by making the size (diameter) of the cooling pipe smaller than the width of the vent channel V, the cooling pipe is prevented from completely blocking the flow of vent gas, and the cooling and flame blocking effects of the cooling pipe can be further improved. For example, in the configuration of FIG. 8, the cooling pipes can be said to be formed crosswise in the left and right directions. In this case, the vent gas generally flows in the front-to-back direction (Y-axis direction) inside the vent channel V, but can be partially bent in the left-to-right direction (X-axis direction) by the cooling pipe. Therefore, in this case, the cooling efficiency of the vent gas can be improved, and the effect of blocking the movement of sparks, flames, etc. contained in the vent gas can be further improved.

[0098] Fig. 9 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 10 is a view illustrating an example of a cross-sectional configuration taken along line A6-A6' in Fig. 9. The present embodiment will also be described focusing on differences from the above-described embodiment.

[0099] 9 and 10 , the vent unit 300 may be coupled to the upper part of the module case 200. In this case, at least a portion of the cooling unit 400 may be provided in the internal space of the vent unit 300. In particular, when the vent hole H1 is located on the upper surface of the module case 200, the vent unit 300 may be attached to the upper part of the module case 200 to correspond to the position of the vent hole H1. The cooling unit 400 may also be located on the upper side of the module case 200. For example, at least a portion of the cooling unit 400 may be disposed in the space between the outer surface of the upper side of the module case 200 and the inner surface of the vent unit 300.

[0100] Furthermore, when the vent holes H1 are formed on the left and right sides of the upper surface of the module case 200, the vent units 300 may be attached to the left and right sides of the upper part of the module case 200, as shown in Fig. 9. In this case, when the vent gas is discharged from the vent holes H1, the vent gas can move forward (in the -Y-axis direction) in Fig. 9 and be discharged to the outside.

[0101] According to this embodiment of the present invention, since the vent hole H1 is formed in the upper part of the module case 200, high-temperature vent gas can be discharged more quickly. Also, in this case, when a cooling fluid such as water is discharged from the cooling unit 400, the discharged cooling fluid can easily flow into the module case 200 as shown by the arrows in Fig. 10. Therefore, a fire inside the module case 200 can be more reliably suppressed.

[0102] 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating a partial configuration of a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present invention, particularly illustrating another example of the cross-sectional configuration taken along line A6-A6' in FIG.

[0103] 11, a case slope portion, indicated by CS, may be formed on the outside of module case 200. In particular, such case slope portion CS may be formed in a shape in which the height gradually decreases along the vent hole H1 on the outside of the module case. Furthermore, vent hole H1 may be located at the lowest part of the outer surface of the upper part of module case 200.

[0104] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the cooling fluid discharged from the cooling unit 400 can be more smoothly and quickly introduced into the interior of the module case 200 through the vent hole H1, as shown by the arrow in Figure 11. This may make this embodiment more effective in suppressing a fire inside the module case 200.

[0105] 12 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment will also be described, focusing on the differences from the above-described embodiment.

[0106] 12, two vent units 300 are coupled to the left and right sides of the upper surface of the modular case 200, and the vent directions of the vent units 300 may be configured to be opposite to each other. That is, the vent direction of the vent unit 300 provided on the left side of the upper surface of the modular case 200 may be configured to face rearward (+Y-axis direction), and the vent direction of the vent unit 300 provided on the right side of the upper surface of the modular case 200 may be configured to face forward (-Y-axis direction). In this embodiment, the protruding ends of the cooling units 400 may be configured to face in opposite directions between the vent unit 300 on the left side of the upper surface and the vent unit 300 on the right side of the upper surface.

[0107] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the venting directions of the plurality of vent units 300 are different, so that the vent gas can be dispersed and prevented from concentrating in a specific area, thereby preventing overheating of a specific area due to the concentration of the vent gas.

[0108] Also, at least a portion of the cooling unit 400 may be located in the internal space of the module case 200. For example, a portion of the cooling unit 400 may be inserted into the internal space of the module case 200 through the vent hole H1. In particular, a ruptured portion of the cooling unit 400 may be located in the internal space of the module case 200.

[0109] This embodiment may be more advantageous in suppressing a fire in the battery module. In particular, if the cooling unit 400 ruptures in the internal space of the module case 200, the cooling fluid can be directly injected into the internal space of the module case 200. This allows for more effective and rapid fire extinguishing using the cooling fluid.

[0110] 13 is a diagram showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. In this embodiment, detailed descriptions of parts that are the same as or similar to those described in the various embodiments above will be omitted.

[0111] 13, a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery modules M according to the embodiment of the present invention described above. In particular, to increase capacity and / or output, a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of battery modules M according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this case, many of the above-described configurations may be applied to each battery module M. For example, each battery module M may include a cell assembly 100, a module case 200, a vent unit 300, and a cooling unit 400. Furthermore, such a plurality of battery modules M may be accommodated inside a pack housing PH.

[0112] In a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, even if a thermal event occurs in a specific battery module, a certain level of safety can be ensured. In particular, a battery module M included in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a vent unit 300, through which vent gas may be discharged as indicated by the arrows. In particular, a cooling unit 400 may be disposed in the discharge path of the vent gas. This reduces the temperature of the vent gas discharged to the outside, thereby minimizing the inclusion of ignition factors such as sparks, electrode ejection, and carbide in the vent gas. This prevents ignition and thermal runaway propagation not only in the vicinity of the battery module M but also in other battery modules M.

[0113] Furthermore, in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, the vent direction can be controlled via the vent unit 300 included in each battery module, thereby preventing vent gas from being sprayed directly toward other battery modules. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, when a plurality of battery modules M are arranged in two rows, a left row and a right row, in the pack housing, the spray direction of the vent unit 300 can be directed leftward for the battery modules M in the left row, and the spray direction of the vent unit 300 can be directed rightward for the battery modules M in the right row. In this case, when vent gas is discharged from a specific battery module, for example, M4, the vent gas can be prevented from being directed toward other battery modules, thereby more effectively preventing a thermal event from spreading to other battery modules due to the vent gas.

[0114] Furthermore, although not shown, a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include, in addition to the battery module M and pack housing PH, various other components, for example, battery pack components known at the time of filing of the present invention, such as a BMS, bus bars, relays, current sensors, etc., in the internal space of the pack housing PH.

[0115] Meanwhile, the vent unit 300 and the cooling unit 400 applied to the battery module in the various embodiments described above can be applied to a battery pack, which will be further described with reference to FIG.

[0116] Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention as seen from above. For example, Fig. 14 shows the internal configuration of a battery pack according to one example of the present invention with the upper side of the pack housing PH removed, similar to Fig. 13. This embodiment will also be described focusing on the differences from the above-described embodiment.

[0117] 14, a hole indicated by H2 may be formed on at least one side of the pack housing PH accommodating a plurality of battery modules M. The pack hole H2 may be formed in a form that connects the internal space of the pack housing PH with the external space. In particular, the pack hole H2 may function as a passage through which gas present in the internal space of the pack housing PH is discharged to the outside.

[0118] In this configuration, the pack housing PH may be fitted with the vent unit 300 and the cooling unit 400 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above. In particular, when the pack housing PH has a pack hole H2 formed therein as shown in Fig. 14, the vent unit 300 may be fitted to the outside of the pack housing PH at the portion where the pack hole H2 is formed. The cooling unit 400 may also be provided in the interior space of the vent unit 300, i.e., between the outer surface of the pack housing PH and the inner surface of the vent unit 300.

[0119] That is, the battery pack according to this embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery modules M, a pack housing PH that accommodates the one or more battery modules M in its internal space and has a pack hole H2 formed therein, a vent unit 300 that is attached to the pack housing PH and configured to allow vent gas discharged from the pack hole H2 to flow in and be discharged to the outside, and a cooling unit 400 that is at least partially provided on the path through which the vent gas flows and is configured to absorb heat and release it to the outside.

[0120] In this case, vent gas generated from any battery module M can pass through pack hole H2 and flow into vent unit 300 located outside pack housing PH, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 14. This allows the vent gas to be cooled by cooling unit 400 as described above, and can prevent sparks, electrode ejection, carbides, and other substances contained therein from being discharged to the outside.

[0121] In an embodiment in which the vent unit 300 and the cooling unit 400 are attached to the pack housing PH, as in this embodiment, the various embodiments of the vent unit 300 and the cooling unit 400 described above as being attached to the module case 200 can be applied to the vent unit 300 and the cooling unit 400 in the same or similar manner.

[0122] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 14, each battery module M may not include the vent unit 300 and the cooling unit 400. However, it goes without saying that the vent unit 300 and the cooling unit 400 may also be separately attached to each battery module M as shown in Fig. 13.

[0123] 14, the cell assemblies 100 are housed in the module case 200 and provided in the pack housing PH in a modularized form. However, in a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention, the cell assemblies 100 may not be housed in the module case 200 but may be directly attached to the pack housing PH in a cell-to-pack form. In this case, the battery module M described above may include only the cell assemblies 100, without including the module case 200. Meanwhile, a control device such as a BMS (Battery Management System) and electrical components such as a relay and a current sensor may be housed in the internal space of the pack housing PH.

[0124] A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention or a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention may be applied to automobiles such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. That is, an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention or a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include various other components included in an automobile in addition to the battery module or battery pack. For example, an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a vehicle body, a motor, a control device such as an ECU (electronic control unit), etc. in addition to the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0125] Furthermore, the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention may be applied to an energy storage system (ESS), that is, the energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention or the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0126] Meanwhile, although terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear are used in this specification, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such terms are used for convenience of explanation and may change depending on the position of the target object, the position of the observer, etc.

[0127] As described above, the present invention has been described using limited embodiments and drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that various modifications and variations can be made by a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains within the technical spirit of the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims described below. [Explanation of symbols]

[0128] 100 Cell Assembly 200 Module Case 300 Vent Unit 310 Main body 320 Bend section 400 Cooling Unit H1 vent hole O1 outlet V-Vent Channel I2 inlet O2 outlet D1 Rupture area S1 Upper slope S2 lower slope CS Case Inclined Part M Battery Module PH Pack Housing H2 Pack Hall

Claims

1. a cell assembly comprising one or more battery cells; a module case that houses the cell assembly in an internal space and has a vent hole formed therein so that vent gas generated from the cell assembly can be discharged; a vent unit provided on the outside of the module case, configured to allow vent gas discharged from the vent hole to flow in and then flow out to the outside; a cooling unit, at least a portion of which is provided on a path through which the vent gas flows and configured to absorb heat and release it to the outside; Including, The vent unit is attached to the outer surface of the module case so that the vent unit and the outer surface of the module case form a vent channel through which the vent gas flows, and at least a portion of the cooling unit is positioned in the vent channel.

2. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the cooling unit is provided inside the vent unit.

3. a cell assembly comprising one or more battery cells; a module case that houses the cell assembly in an internal space and has a vent hole formed therein so that vent gas generated from the cell assembly can be discharged; a vent unit provided on the outside of the module case, configured to allow vent gas discharged from the vent hole to flow in and then flow out to the outside; a cooling unit, at least a portion of which is provided on a path through which the vent gas flows and configured to absorb heat and release it to the outside; Including, The battery module, wherein the vent unit is configured in a plate shape with at least one side end bent, and the bent end is attached to the outside of the module case.

4. 3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the cooling unit is interposed between an outer surface of the module case and an inner surface of the vent unit.

5. 3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the cooling unit is in contact with an outer surface of the module case.

6. 3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit includes a cooling pipe having a hollow shape so that a cooling fluid flows through the cooling pipe.

7. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the cooling pipe is bent in the inner space of the vent unit.

8. a cell assembly comprising one or more battery cells; a module case that houses the cell assembly in an internal space and has a vent hole formed therein so that vent gas generated from the cell assembly can be discharged; a vent unit provided on the outside of the module case, configured to allow vent gas discharged from the vent hole to flow in and then flow out to the outside; a cooling unit, at least a portion of which is provided on a path through which the vent gas flows and configured to absorb heat and release it to the outside; Including, The battery module, wherein the cooling unit is configured to be rupturable by the vent gas.

9. 3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit has a rupture portion formed in advance at a predetermined position so as to be rupturable at a preset temperature and / or pressure.

10. a cell assembly comprising one or more battery cells; a module case that houses the cell assembly in an internal space and has a vent hole formed therein so that vent gas generated from the cell assembly can be discharged; a vent unit provided on the outside of the module case, configured to allow vent gas discharged from the vent hole to flow in and then flow out to the outside; a cooling unit, at least a portion of which is provided on a path through which the vent gas flows and configured to absorb heat and release it to the outside; Including, The cooling unit has a rupture portion formed in advance at a predetermined position, the rupture portion being configured to be rupturable at a preset temperature and / or pressure; the vent unit is located on a side surface of the module case, The battery module, wherein the rupture portion is located on an upper side in the internal space of the vent unit.

11. A battery pack comprising the battery module according to claim 1 or 2.

12. one or more battery modules; a pack housing that houses the one or more battery modules in an internal space and has a pack hole formed therein for discharging vent gas from the internal space; a vent unit attached to the pack housing, configured to allow vent gas discharged from the pack hole to flow in and be discharged to the outside; a cooling unit, at least a portion of which is provided on a path through which the vent gas flows and configured to absorb heat and release it to the outside; Including, The vent unit is attached to the outer surface of the pack housing so that the vent unit and the outer surface of the pack housing form a vent channel through which the vent gas flows, and at least a portion of the cooling unit is located in the vent channel.

13. A motor vehicle comprising the battery module according to claim 1 or 2.

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