Battery Pack

Abstract

A battery pack is provided. The battery pack includes: a plurality of battery cells arranged in a row in a first direction, the plurality of battery cells being arranged obliquely relative to the first direction; a first retainer plate and a second retainer plate arranged to face each other and support the plurality of battery cells therebetween, the first retainer plate including a plurality of first steps repeatedly arranged to surround and support first vertical protruding edges of the plurality of battery cells, the second retainer plate including a plurality of second steps repeatedly arranged to surround and support second vertical protruding edges of the plurality of battery cells; and at least one cooling channel located in the first step.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments relate to a battery pack. Background Art

[0002] Unlike primary batteries that cannot be recharged, secondary batteries are batteries that can be charged and discharged. Secondary batteries can be used as energy sources for mobile devices, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, electric bicycles, and uninterruptible power supplies, and can be used in the form of a single battery according to the type of external device applied, and can also be used in the form of a module in which a plurality of batteries are connected and grouped into one unit.

[0003] Small mobile devices such as mobile phones can operate for a predetermined period of time using the power and capacity of a single battery, whereas in cases where electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles with high power consumption require long-term and high-power driving, modular secondary batteries including a large number of cells are preferred due to output and capacity issues, and the output voltage or output current can be increased according to the number of built-in batteries. Summary of the invention

[0004] An embodiment can be achieved by providing a battery pack, the battery pack comprising: a plurality of battery cells arranged in a row in a first direction, the plurality of battery cells being arranged obliquely relative to the first direction; a first retaining plate and a second retaining plate arranged to face each other and support a plurality of battery cells located therebetween, the first retaining plate comprising a plurality of first steps repeatedly arranged to surround and support first vertical protruding edges of the plurality of battery cells, the second retaining plate comprising a plurality of second steps repeatedly arranged to surround and support second vertical protruding edges of the plurality of battery cells; and at least one cooling channel located in the first step.

[0005] Each battery cell may include: a terminal surface including a terminal; a bottom surface opposite to the terminal surface; a first main surface and a second main surface, the first main surface and the second main surface connecting the terminal surface and the bottom surface and each having a first area; and a pair of side surfaces connecting the terminal surface and the bottom surface, the side surfaces each having a second area smaller than the first area.

[0006] The first holder plate may support the bottom surface and the first major surface around corresponding ones of the first vertical protruding edges where the bottom surface and the first major surface of the battery cell meet.

[0007] The first steps may each include: a first portion supporting a bottom surface of one battery cell; and a second portion supporting a first major surface of another adjacent battery cell.

[0008] At least one cooling channel may be located between the first portion and the second portion of the first step.

[0009] The first steps may each include a first hollow portion having a hollow inner portion at a position adjacent to the at least one cooling channel.

[0010] The at least one cooling channel may include a plurality of cooling channels respectively located in the plurality of first steps.

[0011] A plurality of cooling channels may be connected in parallel such that inlets and outlets of the respective cooling channels are fluidly connected to one another.

[0012] The inlets of the plurality of cooling channels may be connected to the cooling medium supply pipe via a distributor.

[0013] The cooling medium supply pipe may form a flow path that guides the cooling medium in a direction opposite to a flow direction of the cooling medium in the plurality of cooling channels, and the cooling medium supplied from the cooling medium supply pipe may be distributed to each cooling channel while changing a flow direction in the distributor.

[0014] The first holder plate may further include a cooling medium supply pipe and a second hollow portion surrounding the cooling medium supply pipe.

[0015] The outlets of the plurality of cooling channels may be connected to a main outlet through a collector connected to the outlets of the plurality of cooling channels, and the cooling medium is discharged through the main outlet.

[0016] Each battery cell may further include a vent for relieving internal pressure of the battery cell, and the second holder plate may further include a vent hole in the second step at a position corresponding to the vent of the battery cell.

[0017] Each battery cell may include: a terminal surface including a terminal; a bottom surface opposite to the terminal surface; a first main surface and a second main surface, the first main surface and the second main surface connecting the terminal surface and the bottom surface, and each having a first area; and a pair of side surfaces connecting the terminal surface and the bottom surface, the side surfaces each having a second area smaller than the first area, and the second steps may each include: a first portion supporting the terminal surface of one battery cell; and a second portion supporting the second main surface of another adjacent battery cell.

[0018] The vent hole may be located in the first portion of the second step.

[0019] The second steps may each further include an accommodation space for receiving exhaust gas discharged through the vent hole, the accommodation space being an inner space of the second step.

[0020] The battery pack may further include at least one exhaust channel that is fluidly connected to the accommodation space and provides a discharge path for exhaust gas, the at least one exhaust channel extending across the plurality of accommodation spaces.

[0021] The at least one exhaust passage may include a first exhaust passage and a second exhaust passage located at opposite sides of the plurality of accommodation spaces.

[0022] The plurality of accommodation spaces may include first accommodation spaces and second accommodation spaces alternately arranged in a horizontal direction, the first accommodation spaces may be fluidly connected to the first exhaust passage, and the second accommodation spaces may be fluidly connected to the second exhaust passage.

[0023] The battery pack may further include a partition wall located between the first accommodation space and the second accommodation space and partitioning the first accommodation space and the second accommodation space from each other.

[0024] The partition wall may be located at a side of the first portion of the second step, but not at a side of the first portion including the vent hole.

[0025] The partition wall may be a hollow structure having a hollow inner portion.

[0026] In the partition wall, a wall body located at a side opposite to a connection hole connecting the accommodation space and the exhaust passage may include a rounded portion.

[0027] The first holder plate and the second holder plate may be coupled to each other with the plurality of battery cells located therebetween using a fastener configured to fasten the first holder plate and the second holder plate in a direction facing each other.

[0028] The fasteners may be fastened to the first and second holder plates at positions corresponding to the first and second vertical protruding edges of the plurality of battery cells.

[0029] The first vertical protruding edges and the second vertical protruding edges of the plurality of battery cells may be aligned along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0030] The battery cells can be arranged in multiple rows so that the battery cell rows, each including multiple battery cells, are separated in parallel from each other. The first retaining plate and the second retaining plate can also include multiple step portions and fastening portions. The multiple step portions extend in parallel in a horizontal direction to be spaced apart from each other corresponding to the multiple battery cell rows. The fastening portions are flatly formed between adjacent step portions, and the fasteners can be fastened to the fastening portions.

[0031] Each of the step portions of the first and second holder plates may include a plurality of first steps and a plurality of second steps that are repeatedly arranged. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Features will be apparent to those skilled in the art by describing exemplary embodiments in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] Figure 1 A battery pack according to an embodiment is shown;

[0034] Figure 2 shows a battery pack according to a comparative example for comparison with the present disclosure;

[0035] Figure 3A and Figure 3B Different views showing the structure of the first cage plate and the second cage plate;

[0036] Figure 4 A view showing a fixing structure of a battery cell according to an embodiment;

[0037] Figure 5 A diagram showing a thermal runaway prevention mechanism in a battery pack according to an embodiment;

[0038] Figure 6 and Figure 7 shows different views of a cooling structure according to an embodiment;

[0039] Figure 8 and Fig. 9 shows different views of a ventilation structure according to an embodiment;

[0040] Fig.10 shows a ventilation structure according to a comparative example for comparison with the present disclosure; and

[0041] Fig.11 and Fig.12 Various views are shown of a mechanism for suppressing volume expansion due to swelling of battery cells in a battery pack according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, example embodiments may be implemented in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey exemplary implementations to those skilled in the art.

[0043] In the accompanying drawings, the sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. It will also be understood that when a layer or element is referred to as being "on" another layer or element, it can be directly on the other layer or element, or there may be intervening layers or elements. In addition, it will be understood that when a layer is referred to as being "below" another layer, it can be directly below the other layer, and there may also be one or more intervening layers. In addition, it will be understood that when a layer is referred to as being "between" two layers, it can be the only layer between the two layers, or there may also be one or more intervening layers. The same reference numerals represent the same elements throughout.

[0044] As used herein, the terms "or" and "and / or" are not exclusive terms and include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as "at least one of..." when following a list of elements modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements listed.

[0045] Hereinafter, a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0046] Figure 1 A battery pack according to an embodiment is shown. Figure 2 A battery pack according to a comparative example for comparison with the present disclosure is shown.

[0047] Reference Figure 1 , a battery pack according to an embodiment may include: a battery cell 10 (e.g., a plurality of battery cells 10); a first holder plate 100 supporting or holding both a bottom surface 14 and a first main surface 11 of the battery cell 10; and a second holder plate 200 supporting or holding a terminal surface 15 and a second main surface 12 of the battery cell 10. As will be described below, the first holder plate 100 and the second holder plate 200 may be coupled to each other by a fastener 300 in a state where the battery cell 10 is located between the first holder plate 100 and the second holder plate 200, and the fastener 300 is used to fasten the first holder plate and the second holder plate to each other in a direction facing each other.

[0048] The battery cell 10 may include: a terminal surface 15 (provided with a terminal); a bottom surface 14 facing the terminal surface 15 (e.g., opposite to the terminal surface 15); relatively large-area main surfaces 11 and 12 connecting the terminal surface 15 and the bottom surface 14; and a relatively small-area side surface 18 connecting the terminal surface 15 and the bottom surface 14. The terminal surface 15 may be provided with a first terminal and a second terminal having opposite polarities to each other. The main surfaces 11 and 12 may include a first main surface 11 and a second main surface 12 facing each other. Each of the main surfaces 11 and 12 may have an area relatively larger than that of each of the terminal surface 15, the bottom surface 14, and the side surface 18 of the battery cell 10, for example, each of the main surfaces 11 and 12 may have the largest area among the surfaces of the battery cell 10.

[0049] The battery cells 10 may be arranged obliquely. In an embodiment, the oblique arrangement of the battery cells 10 means that when the battery cells 10 adjacent to each other face each other, these battery cells 10 face each other only through a portion of each of the main surfaces 11 and 12, rather than through each of the entire main surfaces 11 and 12. In an embodiment, a portion of each of the main surfaces 11 and 12 facing each other of the adjacent battery cells 10 may not correspond to or align with one end and the other end of each of the main surfaces 11 and 12 of the battery cells 10, but may correspond to the middle area between the one end and the other end. In an embodiment, the battery cells 10 adjacent to each other may face each other through the middle area of ​​the main surfaces 11 and 12. In this case, the area where the main surfaces 11 and 12 of the adjacent battery cells 10 overlap (e.g., contact) each other may be smaller than the total area of ​​the corresponding main surfaces 11 and 12. In an embodiment, the battery cell 10 may be tilted or inclined at a certain angle so that the main surfaces 11 and 12 of the adjacent battery cells 10 are not completely aligned or overlapped with each other.

[0050] In an embodiment, the tilted arrangement of the battery cell 10 may mean that the terminal surface 15, the bottom surface 14, and the main surfaces 11 and 12 of the battery cell 10 have a certain inclination (e.g., tilted at a certain angle) relative to the horizontal direction Z1, for example, the horizontal direction Z1 corresponds to the column or arrangement direction of the battery cells 10 (a line passing through the aligned battery cells 10). In an embodiment, when the main surfaces 11 and 12 may have a certain inclination relative to the horizontal direction Z1, the battery cell 10 may be arranged tilted. In an embodiment, in the tilted battery cell 10, the first edge P1 (formed by the bottom surface 14 and the first main surface 11 or where the bottom surface 14 and the first main surface 11 meet) and the second edge P2 (formed by the terminal surface 15 and the second main surface 12 or where the terminal surface 15 and the second main surface 12 meet) may form the lowermost and uppermost parts of the battery cell 10 respectively along the vertical direction Z2. For reference, as used herein, the horizontal direction Z1 may refer to a direction in which a plurality of battery cells 10 are arranged or a column direction of the battery cells 10, and the vertical direction Z2 may refer to a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction Z1. In an embodiment, the vertical direction Z2 may refer to an extending direction (e.g., a length direction) of a fastener 300 that fastens the first retainer plate 100 and the second retainer plate 200 in a direction opposite to each other.

[0051] In the inclined arrangement structure of the battery cell 10 according to the embodiment, the height of the entire battery pack (e.g., in the vertical direction Z2) can be reduced (e.g., can be smaller than the distance between the bottom surface 14 and the terminal surface 15 of the battery cell 10), thereby providing a battery pack that is conducive to being thinner in height. In an embodiment, the height of the battery pack may depend on the height of the battery cell 10, in which case the height of the battery cell 10 may correspond to the height or distance between the first edge P1 and the second edge P2 (in the vertical direction Z2) forming the lowermost and uppermost parts of the battery cell 10. Figure 2 As shown in , in the upright arrangement structure of the battery cell 10' according to the comparative example for comparison with the present disclosure, the height of the battery pack may correspond to the height or distance between the terminal surface 15' and the bottom surface 14' of the battery cell 10'. The height of the upright battery cell 10' may be higher than the height of the battery cell 10 in the inclined arrangement structure (e.g., between the first edge P1 and the second edge P2), thereby increasing the total height of the entire battery pack.

[0052] Reference Figure 1, the first edge P1 may protrude in the vertical direction Z2 to form the lowermost portion of the battery cell 10 and may be surrounded and pressed by the first holder plate 100, and the bottom surface 14 and the first main surface 11 may be supported by the first holder plate 100 based on or around the first edge P1. In an embodiment, the second edge P2 may protrude in the vertical direction Z2 to form the uppermost portion of the battery cell 10 and may be surrounded and pressed by the second holder plate 200, and the terminal surface 15 and the second main surface 12 may be supported by the second holder plate 200 based on or around the second edge P2. The support structure of the battery cell 10 caused by the first holder plate 100 and the second holder plate 200 will be described in detail below.

[0053] The first holder plate 100 may support both the bottom surface 14 and the first main surface 11 (e.g., a portion of the first main surface 11) of the battery cell 10. In an embodiment, the first holder plate 100 may support the bottom surface 14 and the first main surface 11 of the battery cell 10 based on or around a first edge P1 formed by the bottom surface 14 and the first main surface 11 of the battery cell 10. In this case, the first holder plate 100 may support the entire bottom surface 14 and a portion of the first main surface 11 based on or along the first edge P1. The first holder plate 100 may be formed in a stepped shape (e.g., may be formed in a repeated stepped shape) to form a zigzag shape.

[0054] In an embodiment, the first holder plate 100 may include a plurality of first steps 100u formed in a wedge shape, and may be formed in a pattern in which the plurality of first steps 100u are repeated. The first step 100u may support the bottom surface 14 of one battery cell 10 and the first main surface 11 of another adjacent battery cell 10. In an embodiment, the first step 100u may include a first portion 101 supporting the bottom surface 14 of one battery cell 10 and a second portion 102 supporting the first main surface 11 of another adjacent battery cell 10.

[0055] In an embodiment, the first retaining frame plate 100 may be formed in a zigzag bent plate shape to follow a stepped shape that is stepped along a sawtooth shape. In an embodiment, the inner surface of the first retaining frame plate 100 (e.g., facing the battery cell 10) and its outer surface (e.g., facing away from the battery cell 10 or away from the battery cell 10) may be formed in substantially the same sawtooth shape. In an embodiment, the inner surface and the outer surface of the first retaining frame plate 100 may be formed in shapes that are not aligned or corresponding to each other. In an embodiment, the inner surface of the first retaining frame plate 100 may be formed in a stepped shape that is stepped along a sawtooth shape, and the outer surface of the first retaining frame plate 100 may be formed in a flat shape.

[0056] In an embodiment, if Figure 6 As shown in , the inner surface of the first retainer plate 300 may be formed in a stepped shape that is stepped along a sawtooth shape, and the outer surface of the first retainer plate 300 may be formed in a flat shape. In an embodiment, the first retainer plate 300 may provide an assembly surface or a mounting surface of a battery pack for an electric vehicle on which a battery pack is mounted, and in order to stably support the battery pack, at least a portion of the outer surface of the first retainer plate 300 may be formed in a flat shape, rather than in a stepped shape. In an embodiment, a flat leg structure for supporting the entire battery pack may be formed at at least some positions along the outer surface of the first retainer plate 300.

[0057] Reference Figure 1 , the second holder plate 200 may support both the terminal surface 15 and the second main surface 12 of the battery cell 10. In an embodiment, the second holder plate 200 may support the terminal surface 15 and the second main surface 12 of the battery cell 10 based on or around a second edge P2 formed by the terminal surface 15 and the second main surface 12 of the battery cell 10. In an embodiment, the second holder plate 200 may support a portion of the entire terminal surface 15 and the second main surface 12 based on or around the second edge P2. The second holder plate 200 may be formed in a stepped shape, for example, may be formed in a stepped shape along a sawtooth shape.

[0058] In an embodiment, the second holder plate 200 may include a plurality of second steps 200u formed in a wedge shape, and may be formed in a pattern in which the plurality of second steps 200u are repeated. The second step 200u may support the terminal surface 15 of one battery cell 10 and the second main surface 12 of another adjacent battery cell 10. In an embodiment, the second step 200u may include a first portion 201 supporting the terminal surface 15 of one battery cell 10 and a second portion 202 supporting the second main surface 12 of another adjacent battery cell 10.

[0059] In an embodiment, the second holder plate 200 may be formed in a zigzag bent plate shape to follow a stepped shape that is stepped along a sawtooth shape. In an embodiment, the inner surface (facing the battery cell 10) of the second holder plate 200 and the outer surface (facing away from the battery cell 10 or away from the battery cell 10) thereof may be formed in substantially the same sawtooth shape. In an embodiment, the inner surface and the outer surface of the second holder plate 200 may be formed in shapes that are not aligned or correspond to each other.

[0060] In an embodiment, if Figure 8 and Fig. 9As shown in , the second holder plate 400 may be provided with vent holes H, an accommodating space G, and an exhaust channel D forming a discharge path of exhaust gas ejected from the battery cells 10, and at least a portion of the second holder plate 400 may be formed in a flat shape by a cover 500 covering these components.

[0061] Reference Figure 1 , the first holder plate 100 and the second holder plate 200 may squeeze the battery cell 10 in the vertical direction Z2 (e.g., inwardly) based on the first edge P1 and the second edge P2 forming the lowermost and uppermost portions of the battery cell 10 to fix the position of the battery cell 10. In an embodiment, the first edge P1 and the second edge P2 may correspond to the fastening positions into which the fasteners 300 of the first holder plate and the second holder plate are assembled along the vertical direction Z2. In this case, the first edge P1 and the second edge P2 may form a center point squeezed by the first holder plate 100 and the second holder plate 200, and in order to stably support the battery cell 10, the first edge P1 and the second edge P2 may be formed at positions facing or aligned with each other along the vertical direction Z2.

[0062] In an embodiment, if the first edge P1 and the second edge P2 corresponding to the fastening position of the first retaining plate and the fastening position of the second retaining plate are to be in positions that are deviated or offset from each other instead of being in positions that are facing or aligned with each other along the vertical direction Z2, then when a moment arm corresponding to the distance between the fastening position of the first retaining plate 100 and the fastening position of the second retaining plate 200 that are deviated from each other is formed, a torque tending to flip the battery cell 10 is formed, and the support structure of the battery cell 10 caused by the first retaining plate 100 and the second retaining plate 200 becomes unstable.

[0063] In an embodiment, the fastener 300 may include a bolt assembled to the first and second retainer plates 100 and 200 to penetrate the first and second retainer plates 100 and 200. The fastening positions of the first and second retainer plates 100 and 200 (through which the bolts pass) may be formed at positions facing or aligned with each other along the vertical direction Z2. The first edge P1 and the second edge P2 corresponding to the fastening position of the first and second retainer plates 100 and 200 may also be formed at positions aligned with each other along the vertical direction Z2.

[0064] In an embodiment, the fastening positions (in which the fasteners 300 may be assembled) of the first holder plate 100 and the second holder plate 200 may be formed at positions facing each other along the vertical direction Z2, but, unlike other fastening positions of the first holder plate 100 and other fastening positions of the second holder plate 200, the first edge P1 and the second edge P2 may be formed at deviated positions not facing each other along the vertical direction Z2. In an embodiment, the fastening positions (in which the fasteners 300 may be assembled) of the first holder plate 100 and the second holder plate 200 and the first edge P1 and the second edge P2 may be formed at positions deviated from each other. In this case, the fastening positions of the first holder plate 100 and the second holder plate 200 may be formed at positions facing each other along the vertical direction Z2, while the first edge P1 and the second edge P2 may be formed at deviated positions not facing each other along the vertical direction Z2.

[0065] Figure 3A and Figure 3B The different views show the structures of the first cage plate 100 and the second cage plate 200 .

[0066] Reference Figure 3A and Figure 3B , the first retaining frame plate 100 and the second retaining frame plate 200 may extend in a direction intersecting the plurality of battery cells 10 to fix the plurality of battery cells 10 in place. In an embodiment, the first retaining frame plate 100 and the second retaining frame plate 200 may respectively support a plurality of rows of battery cells 10 arranged in rows. In this case, the first retaining frame plate 100 and the second retaining frame plate 200 may be provided with a step portion SP that is stepped along a sawtooth shape corresponding to each row of battery cells 10 along the horizontal direction Z1, and may be provided with a plurality of step portions SP that are spaced apart from each other to correspond to the plurality of rows of battery cells 10. Each of the step portions SP may include a plurality of steps corresponding to the number of battery cells 10 forming each row of battery cells 10. In an embodiment, each step portion SP may include a plurality of first steps 100u and a plurality of second steps 200u (refer to FIG. 1 ) that are repeatedly arranged along the horizontal direction (Z1 direction). Figure 1 In an embodiment, the fastening portion FP may be formed between adjacent step portions SP, and the fastening portion FP may be formed in a flat shape to provide a stable fastening position of the fastener 300 .

[0067] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 3A and Figure 3B, the first cage plate 100 and the second cage plate 200 may be equipped with a fastener 300 that fastens the first cage plate 100 and the second cage plate 200 to each other in a direction facing each other. In an embodiment, the fastener 300 may fasten the first cage plate 100 and the second cage plate 200 in a direction facing each other while penetrating the first cage plate 100 and the second cage plate 200. The fastener 300 may include a bolt assembled to the first cage plate 100 and the second cage plate 200 to penetrate the first cage plate 100 and the second cage plate 200, and a nut 301 may be assembled at one end of the bolt. One of the first cage plate 100 and the second cage plate 200 may be pressed in a direction facing the mating cage plate by the head of the fastener 300 (bolt), and the other of the first cage plate 100 and the second cage plate 200 may be pressed in a direction facing the mating cage plate by the nut 301. The fastener 300 may be assembled into the fastening portion FP of the first holder plate 100 and the fastening portion FP of the second holder plate 200. In this case, the fastener 300 may be fastened at a position corresponding to the first edge P1 and the second edge P2 of the battery cell 10 with respect to the fastening position of the fastener 300. In an embodiment, the fastener 300 may be assembled into the fastening portion FP of the first holder plate 100 and the fastening portion FP of the second holder plate 200, the battery cell 10 may be fixed to the step portion SP of the first holder plate 100 and the step portion SP of the second holder plate 200, and no physical interference may occur between the battery cell 10 located at different positions of the first holder plate 100 and the second holder plate 200 and the fastener 300.

[0068] Figure 4 A view illustrating a fixing structure of a battery cell according to an embodiment.

[0069] In an embodiment, if Figure 4 As shown in , the first retainer plate 100 and the second retainer plate 200 may be located on both sides of the battery cell 10 along the vertical direction Z2, and the plurality of battery cells 10 between the first retainer plate 100 and the second retainer plate 200 may be fixed in place. In an embodiment, the first end plate 51 and the second end plate 52 may be located on both sides of the battery cell 10 (e.g., a row of battery cells 10) along the horizontal direction Z1, and the plurality of battery cells 10 between the first end plate 51 and the second end plate 52 may be fixed in place. As described above, according to an embodiment, the positions of the plurality of battery cells 10 may be securely fixed by surrounding the components of the plurality of battery cells 10 (e.g., the first end plate 51 and the second end plate 52 and the first retainer plate 100 and the second retainer plate 200) in the horizontal direction Z1 along the column direction of the battery cells 10 and the vertical direction Z2 perpendicular to the horizontal direction Z1.

[0070] Reference Figure 4 , an approximately triangular vacant space VS may be formed between the first end plate 51 and the adjacent battery cells 10, and the vacant space VS may provide a space for avoiding physical interference with the first holder plate 100 while assembling the battery cells 10 that are tilted and aligned toward the first holder plate 100 along the vertical direction Z2. In an embodiment, the vacant space VS between the first end plate 51 and the adjacent battery cells 10 may provide a space to avoid physical interference when assembling the battery cells 10, and the vacant space VS may be filled with a filling member or a filling material after completing the assembly of the battery cells 10.

[0071] Figure 5 A view showing a thermal runaway prevention mechanism in a battery pack according to an embodiment.

[0072] In accordance with Figure 5 In the inclined arrangement structure of the battery cells 10 of the embodiment shown in , adjacent battery cells 10 can face (e.g., contact) each other through portions of the main surfaces 11 and 12, so that thermal interference (e.g., thermal communication) between adjacent battery cells 10 can be reduced, and thermal runaway can be suppressed. Figure 2 In the upright arrangement structure of the battery cells 10' of the comparative example shown in , adjacent battery cells 10' may face (e.g., contact) each other through all main surfaces 11' and 12', so that thermal interference (e.g., thermal connectivity) between adjacent battery cells 10' may increase, and adjacent battery cells 10' may be more susceptible to thermal runaway.

[0073] In the inclined arrangement structure of the battery cells 10 according to the embodiment, the portions of the main surfaces 11 and 12 facing each other between adjacent battery cells 10 may correspond to the middle or central areas of the main surfaces 11 and 12, and the terminal surfaces 15 of adjacent battery cells 10 may be arranged to deviate or offset from each other. The terminal 1, where the charging current and the discharging current are concentrated, may be on the terminal surface 15 of the battery cell 10, and relatively greater heat generation may occur there. In the inclined arrangement structure, the terminal surfaces 15 may be offset from each other, which may prevent the direct transfer of a large amount of heat between adjacent battery cells 10. In an embodiment, adjacent terminal surfaces 15 may be offset from each other, a portion of the second main surface 12 may be between adjacent terminal surfaces 15, and the heat dissipation path HT between adjacent terminal surfaces 15 may be very long, thereby increasing thermal resistance (e.g., reducing thermal connectivity). At the same time, in the embodiment according to Figure 2In the upright arrangement structure of the battery cells 10' of the comparative example shown in , the terminal surfaces 15' between adjacent battery cells 10' may be directly adjacent to or in contact with each other, and thermal interference between adjacent battery cells 10' may be increased through the terminal surfaces 15', resulting in relatively greater heat generation or transfer.

[0074] In an embodiment, if Figure 5 As shown in , the first holder plate 100 may be provided with a cooling channel C1 providing a flow path for a cooling medium. The cooling channel C1 may be formed in a bent or curved shape to correspond to the first step 100u of the first holder plate 100, and may cool the bottom surface 14 of one battery cell 10 and the first main surface 11 of an adjacent battery cell 10 (e.g., a portion of the first main surface 11 of the adjacent battery cell 10) together.

[0075] Figure 6 and Figure 7 Different views of a cooling structure according to an embodiment are shown.

[0076] In an embodiment, if Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , a cooling channel C may be formed in at least one of the first holder plate 300 and the second holder plate. A cooling medium may flow through the cooling channel C and cool the battery cells 10 supported by the first holder plate 300. In an embodiment, the cooling channel C may be selectively formed in the first holder plate 300 of the first holder plate 300 and the second holder plate.

[0077] In an embodiment, a cooling channel C may be formed in the first step 300u of the first holder plate 300. One cooling channel C may be formed for each first step 300u, and the plurality of battery cells 10 supported by the first holder plate 300 may be uniformly cooled through the plurality of cooling channels C. Each cooling channel C may be formed between a first portion 301 (supporting the bottom surface 14 of one battery cell 10) and a second portion 302 (supporting the first main surface 11 of another adjacent battery cell 10), thereby cooling the adjacent battery cells together.

[0078] In the inclined arrangement structure of the battery cell 10 according to the embodiment, the first edge P1 (where the bottom surface 14 and the first main surface 11 of the battery cell 10 intersect) can form the lowermost part of the battery cell 10, and the first step 300u (corresponding to an additional (for example, another unused) area located between adjacent first edges P1 along the horizontal direction (Z1 direction)) can be used to form the cooling channel C, so that it is not necessary to allocate a separate area or space for forming the cooling channel C.

[0079] In an embodiment, the cooling medium flowing through the cooling channel C may include a liquid cooling medium having a relatively large heat capacity. In an embodiment, the cooling medium flowing through the cooling channel C may include a gaseous cooling medium such as air. In an embodiment, as the cooling medium, an insulating coolant having an electrical insulating property or a conductive coolant having a conductive property may be used. In an embodiment, a gaseous cooling medium such as air or a refrigerant gas may be used as the cooling medium.

[0080] In addition to the cooling channel C, the first step 300u may also be provided with a first hollow portion A1. The first hollow portion A1 may be formed in a state in which the interior thereof is empty (for example, it may be a hole in the first retaining frame plate 300), and may provide a first retaining frame plate 300 with advantageous weight reduction. In an embodiment, the first hollow portion A1 may be filled with air, and the air filled into the first hollow portion A1 in a static state in which the flow rate is close to zero may provide thermal insulation for the cooling channel C, so that the temperature of the cooling medium flowing through the cooling channel C does not increase according to the ambient temperature, thereby preventing the cooling effect from deteriorating. In an embodiment, the air filled into the first hollow portion A1 may help prevent heat transfer from the ground or structure on which the battery pack is supported, and may prevent an undesirable increase in the temperature of the cooling medium flowing through the cooling channel C (for example, due to external heat).

[0081] Regarding the position of the first hollow portion A1 formed in the first step 300u, the first hollow portion A1 may be formed at one side of the first portion 301 of the first step 300u, and may be formed closer to the ground on which the battery pack is supported (e.g., the lower end of the battery pack) rather than the cooling channel C. In an embodiment, the first hollow portion A1 may be formed at a lower position inclined relative to or deviated from the cooling channel C, which is formed between the first portion 301 and the second portion 302 of the first step 300u. The position closer to the lower end of the battery pack may correspond to an area most susceptible to heat transfer from the ground, and the first hollow portion A1 may be formed at a position close to the ground (e.g., a lower position below the cooling channel C).

[0082] In an embodiment, if Figure 6 As shown in , the bottom of the first holder plate 300 may be formed in a flat shape to support the battery pack. In an embodiment, the bottom of the first holder plate 300 may have various shapes that are partially concave instead of a flat shape, and may promote direct contact between the cooling channel C and the outside.

[0083] One cooling channel C may be provided for each first step 300u, and a plurality of cooling channels C may be provided corresponding to the plurality of first steps 300u. Figure 7, multiple cooling channels C may be connected in parallel to each other on the cooling circuit, the inlet CI and the outlet CO of each cooling channel C may be connected to each other, and the cooling medium introduced through the inlet CI fluidly connected to each other may be simultaneously distributed to the multiple cooling channels (C), and the cooling medium discharged through the outlet CO fluidly connected to each other may be simultaneously collected from the multiple cooling channels C. In an embodiment, the multiple cooling channels C may be connected in a parallel structure in which the inlet CI and the outlet CO are fluidly connected to each other, so that the multiple battery cells 10 may be uniformly cooled by the multiple cooling channels C. If the multiple cooling channels are connected in series on the cooling circuit, then in the cooling channels closer to the inlet side on the cooling circuit, the temperature of the cooling medium may be kept low, and a higher cooling effect may be obtained, while in the cooling channels closer to the outlet side on the cooling circuit, the temperature of the cooling medium increases, and the cooling effect may be reduced. Depending on the position of the battery cells, an imbalance in the cooling effect may result.

[0084] The inlets CI of the plurality of cooling channels C may be fluidly connected to each other through the first groove portion or the distributor T1, and may be connected to the cooling medium supply pipe S through the distributor T1 connected to the inlets CI of the plurality of cooling channels C. The cooling medium supply pipe S may be connected to the inlet I (through which the cooling medium is introduced), and may supply the cooling medium in a direction opposite to the flow direction in the cooling channel C. The cooling medium introduced into the distributor T1 through the cooling medium supply pipe S may be distributed to each cooling channel C while changing the flow direction in the distributor T1. In an embodiment, the distributor T1 may have a multi-branch structure that distributes the cooling medium supplied through the cooling medium supply pipe S to each cooling channel C, or may have a diaphragm structure that blocks the rear side of the inlet CI of the cooling channel C so that the cooling medium supplied through the cooling medium supply pipe S makes a U-turn toward the inlet CI of the cooling channel C.

[0085] The outlets CO of the plurality of cooling channels C may be fluidly connected to each other, and may be connected to an outlet O through which the cooling medium flows, through a second tank or collector T2 connected to the outlets CO of the plurality of cooling channels C. The cooling medium discharged from each cooling channel C may be collected into the collector T2 through the outlet CO of the cooling channel C, and may be discharged to the outside through the outlet O connected to the collector T2.

[0086] Reference Figure 6, the cooling medium supply pipe S may be formed in the first holder plate 300. In an embodiment, in the first holder plate 300, the cooling medium supply pipe S may be outside the region in which a plurality of battery cells 10 are disposed, or outside the region in which a plurality of cooling channels for cooling the corresponding battery cells 10 are formed, for example, may be disposed at the edge of the battery pack. In an embodiment, the first holder plate 300 may further include a second hollow portion A2 formed around the cooling medium supply pipe S. The second hollow portion A2 may be used for a purpose substantially similar to that of the first hollow portion A1 formed around the cooling channel C. In an embodiment, the second hollow portion A2 may be formed in a state in which the interior thereof is empty, and thus a structure that is conducive to weight reduction of the first holder plate 300 may be provided. The air filled into the second hollow portion A2 in a static state in which the flow velocity is close to zero may provide thermal insulation for the cooling medium supply pipe S, so that the temperature of the cooling medium flowing through the cooling medium supply pipe S does not increase according to the ambient temperature, thereby preventing the cooling effect from being deteriorated. The second hollow portion A2 surrounding the cooling medium supply pipe S may be used for a purpose similar to that of the first hollow portion A1 surrounding the cooling channel C, and may be formed to have an area larger than that of the first hollow portion A1 surrounding the cooling channel C. In an embodiment, the cooling medium supply pipe S may be disposed outside a region in which a plurality of battery cells are arranged, and may be formed at an edge of the battery pack where no space is required to accommodate a plurality of battery cells 10 and may have a relatively large additional area (e.g., an unused space or an invalid space), and a second hollow portion A2 having a relatively large area may be formed (e.g., without unnecessarily increasing the size of the battery pack). In an embodiment, the second hollow portion A2 surrounding the cooling medium supply pipe S may surround (enclose) the cooling medium supply pipe S.

[0087] Figure 8 and Fig. 9 Different views of a ventilation structure according to embodiments are shown.

[0088] In an embodiment, if Figure 8 As shown in , each of the battery cells 10 of the battery pack may be provided with a vent portion for alleviating excessive internal pressure that may occur when a portion of the battery cell 10 is ruptured when the internal pressure of the battery cell 10 increases to a predetermined threshold pressure or more. The vent portion V may be formed on the terminal surface 15 or the bottom surface 14 of the battery cell 10. In an embodiment, the vent portion V may be formed on the terminal surface 15 of the battery cell 10.

[0089] The exhaust gas exhausted through the ventilation portion V on the terminal surface 15 may be introduced or guided into the accommodation space G through the ventilation hole H of the second holder plate 400. In an embodiment, the ventilation hole H may be formed in the first portion 401 (which supports the terminal surface 15 of the battery cell 10 in the second step 400u of the second holder plate 400), and may be formed at a position facing the ventilation portion V (which is formed on the terminal surface 15 of the battery cell 10), so that the exhaust gas exhausted through the ventilation portion V may be exhausted or directly guided into the accommodation space G through the ventilation hole H of the second step 400u.

[0090] The accommodation space G may be an inner space of the second step 400u, for example, the accommodation space G may be an inner space of the second step 400u defined by the first and second portions 401 and 402 (which support the terminal surfaces 15 and the second main surfaces 12 of the battery cells 10 adjacent to each other) and the cover 500 (which covers the upper portion of the first portion 401 and the upper portion of the second portion 402). In an embodiment, the second step 400u may be provided with a partition wall B, and the accommodation space G may correspond to the inner space of the second step 400u (which is defined by the first and second portions 401 and 402 of the second step 400u and the cover 500), and the accommodation space G does not include the partition wall B. In an embodiment, the partition wall B may be formed at one side of the second portion 402 of the second step 400u, instead of the first portion 401 of the second step 400u provided with the ventilation portion V, and the accommodation space G may correspond to the inner space of the second step 400u located between the partition wall B and the first portion 401 and covered by the cover 500.

[0091] The accommodating space G can temporarily accommodate the high-pressure exhaust gas ejected through the ventilation part V of the battery cell 10, can reduce the pressure of the exhaust gas by the volume expansion of the exhaust gas, can change the direction of the exhaust gas or guide the exhaust gas toward the exhaust channel D, and can provide a buffer area between the ventilation part V of the battery cell 10 (or the vent H connected to the ventilation part V) and the exhaust channel D.

[0092] In the inclined arrangement structure of the battery cell 10 according to the embodiment, the second edge P2 where the terminal surface 15 and the second main surface 12 of the battery cell 10 contact each other can form the uppermost part of the battery cell 10, and the second step 400u can be used to correspond to the additional area (for example, additional unused space or invalid space) located between adjacent second edges P2 along the horizontal direction Z1 to form the accommodating space G, so that there is no need to allocate a separate area or additional space to form the accommodating space G.

[0093] Reference Fig. 9, the exhaust channel D may include a first exhaust channel D1 and a second exhaust channel D2 extending in parallel along the horizontal direction Z1, and the battery cells 10 are arranged at both sides of the accommodation space G in the horizontal direction Z1. The exhaust channel D may be fluidly connected to a plurality of accommodation spaces G arranged along the horizontal direction Z1, and may provide a path for discharging exhaust gas from the plurality of accommodation spaces G to the outside of the battery pack. In an embodiment, the accommodation space G may include a first accommodation space G1 and a second accommodation space G2 alternately arranged along the horizontal direction Z1. In an embodiment, the first accommodation space G1 may be fluidly connected to the first exhaust channel D1, and the second accommodation space G2 may be fluidly connected to the second exhaust channel D2. In an embodiment, not all of the plurality of accommodation spaces G arranged along the horizontal direction Z1 may be connected to one (e.g., the same (same)) exhaust channel D. In an embodiment, the first accommodating space G1 and the second accommodating space G2 are alternately arranged along the horizontal direction Z1, the first accommodating space G1 can be connected to the first exhaust channel D1, the second accommodating space G2 can be connected to the second exhaust channel D2, the exhaust gas discharged from the multiple accommodating spaces G can be effectively dispersed through the first exhaust channel D1 and the second exhaust channel D2, and the exhaust gas can be quickly discharged to the outside of the battery pack through the first exhaust channel D1 and the second exhaust channel D2.

[0094] Each of the first exhaust channel D1 and the second exhaust channel D2 may include an inner wall WI relatively close to the accommodating space G and an outer wall WO relatively far from the accommodating space G, and may include a channel-shaped space defined between the inner wall WI and the outer wall WO. A connection hole CH connecting the accommodating space G and the first exhaust channel D1 and the second exhaust channel D2 to each other may be formed in the inner wall WI. The inner wall WI may extend along the horizontal direction Z1 along which the battery cells 10 are arranged, and may include first connection holes CH1 and second connection holes CH2 alternately formed along the horizontal direction Z1. In an embodiment, the inner wall WI of the first exhaust channel D1 may include a first connection hole CH1 formed for each position corresponding to the first accommodating space G1 in the first accommodating space G1 and the second accommodating space G2 alternately arranged along the horizontal direction Z1. In an embodiment, the inner wall WI of the second exhaust channel D2 may include a second connection hole CH2 formed for each position corresponding to the second accommodating space G2 in the first accommodating space G1 and the second accommodating space G2 alternately arranged along the horizontal direction Z1.

[0095] The exhaust channel D is fluidly connected to the plurality of accommodation spaces G along the horizontal direction Z1 may mean that the exhaust channel D is fluidly connected to the plurality of vents H along the horizontal direction Z1. In an embodiment, the vents H formed in the second retainer plate 400 may include first vents H1 and second vents H2 alternately arranged in the horizontal direction Z1 along which the battery cells 10 are arranged, the first vents H1 may be fluidly connected to the first exhaust channel D1, and the second vents H2 may be fluidly connected to the second exhaust channel D2. In an embodiment, the first vents H1 and the second vents H2 may be fluidly connected to the first accommodation space G1 and the second accommodation space G2, respectively, and may be fluidly connected to the first exhaust channel D1 and the second exhaust channel D2 through the first accommodation space G1 and the second accommodation space G2, respectively.

[0096] The exhaust passage D may extend across the plurality of second steps 400u arranged along the horizontal direction Z1. The exhaust passage D may be formed by the first portion 401 and the second portion 402 of the second step 400u and a cover 500 (see Figure 8 ) is defined. The accommodating space G and the exhaust passage D may be provided as a space covered by the cover 500 between the first portion 401 and the second portion 402 of the second step 400u, and in this case, the accommodating space G and the exhaust passage D may be partitioned by the inner wall WI. The accommodating space G and the exhaust passage D may be provided as a space covered by the cover 500 between the first portion 401 and the second portion 402 of the second step 400u, and may include a case where the range or size of the accommodating space G is limited by the partition wall B, for example, a case where the accommodating space G is limited to a portion covered by the cover 500 between the partition wall B and the first portion 401.

[0097] Reference Figure 8 and Fig. 9 , a partition wall B for separating the first storage space G1 and the second storage space G2 from each other may be located between the first storage space G1 and the second storage space G2. In an embodiment, the partition wall B may be located between the first storage space G1 and the second storage space G2 along the horizontal direction (Z1 direction) along which the battery cells 10 are arranged. In an embodiment, the partition wall B may be formed at one side of the second step 400u. In an embodiment, the partition wall B may be formed at one side of the second portion 402 of the second step 400u, rather than at the first portion 401 of the second step 400u in which the vent H is formed. The first storage space G1 and the second storage space G2 adjacent to each other may be separated from each other by the partition wall B, so that, for example, exhaust gas from the first storage space G1 can be prevented from flowing into the second storage space G2, or conversely, exhaust gas from the second storage space G2 can be prevented from flowing into the first storage space G1. In an embodiment, as Fig. 9 As shown in , the partition wall B may be provided in the form of a hollow member or space having an empty inner portion. In an embodiment, the partition wall B may include a plurality of ribs extending across the interior of the hollow member to enhance strength. At least some of the wall bodies of the partition wall B may include a rounded portion R (which may change the direction of the exhaust gas ejected from the vent hole H through the rounded portion R or guide the exhaust gas ejected from the vent hole H through the rounded portion R), and may facilitate a smooth transition of the direction of the exhaust gas toward the exhaust passage D. Referring to Fig. 9 The rounded portion R may be formed at a wall body of the partition wall B that faces the connection hole CH connected to the exhaust passage D, for example, at a wall body that is formed opposite to the connection hole CH.

[0098] In the inclined arrangement structure of the battery cell 10 according to the embodiment, the second edge P2 where the terminal surface 15 and the second main surface 12 of the battery cell 10 contact each other can form the uppermost part of the battery cell 10, and the second step 400u can be used to correspond to the additional area between adjacent second edges P2 along the horizontal direction Z1 to form an accommodating space G, so that the accommodating space G can accommodate the high-pressure exhaust gas ejected through the ventilation part of the battery cell 10, and the pressure of the exhaust gas can be reduced by the volume expansion of the exhaust gas.

[0099] Fig.10 A vent structure according to a comparative example for comparison with the present disclosure is shown.

[0100] In accordance with Fig.10 In the upright arrangement structure of the battery cell 10' of the comparative example shown in , the exhaust gas discharged through the ventilation portion V of the battery cell 10' may be ejected to the outside without passing through a buffer area such as the accommodation space G while maintaining high pressure (for example, the exhaust gas may be ejected to the outside through the rupture portion 501 of the cover 500'), resulting in risk factors for the external environment. In a battery pack used as a driving power source for a vehicle, there is a risk that high-pressure exhaust gas is ejected into the interior of the vehicle.

[0101] Hereinafter, in the inclined arrangement structure of the battery cell 10 according to the embodiment and the upright arrangement structure of the battery cell 10 ′ according to a comparative example for comparison with the present disclosure, different behaviors in response to expansion of the battery cells 10 and 10 ′ will be described.

[0102] Fig.11 and Fig.12 Various views are shown of a mechanism for suppressing volume expansion due to swelling of battery cells in a battery pack according to an embodiment.

[0103] exist Fig.11In the embodiment shown in , a plurality of battery cells 10 forming a battery pack may be arranged obliquely. In an embodiment, adjacent battery cells 10 may face each other, adjacent battery cells may face each other only through portions of main surfaces 11 and 12, and may not face each other through all or the entirety of main surfaces 11 and 12. In such an oblique arrangement structure of the battery cells 10, volume expansion of the battery cells 10 due to expansion of the battery cells 10 may be effectively suppressed.

[0104] In the battery cell 10, expansion may occur together with or during the charging and discharging operations. In an embodiment, in the expansion of the battery cell 10, as the volume of the battery cell 10 expands, the main surfaces 11 and 12 of the battery cell 10 expand, the electrical characteristics of the battery cell 10 change according to the volume expansion of the battery cell 10, and the charge-discharge characteristics of the battery cell 10 deteriorate. In the inclined arrangement structure of the battery cell 10 according to the embodiment, the volume expansion of the battery cell 10 can be effectively suppressed, and the degradation of the charging and discharging characteristics due to the volume expansion of the battery cell 10 can be reduced or prevented. In the inclined arrangement structure of the battery cells 10, when the first battery cell 10a and the second battery cell 10b adjacent to each other face or contact each other only through parts of the main surfaces 11 and 12, and the main surface 12 of the first battery cell 10a contacts or is adjacent to the terminal surface 15 of the adjacent second battery cell 10b, the main surface 12 of the first battery cell 10a may be pressed by the terminal surface 15 of the second battery cell 10b, and the convex expansion of the main surface 12 of the first battery cell 10a may be effectively suppressed. In an embodiment, the main surface 11 of the second battery cell 10b may contact or be adjacent to the bottom surface 14 of the first battery cell 10a, and the main surface 11 of the second battery cell 10b may be pressed by the bottom surface 14 of the first battery cell 10a, and the convex expansion of the main surface 11 of the second battery cell 10b may be effectively suppressed. In an embodiment, in the inclined arrangement structure of the battery cells 10, the terminal surfaces 15 or the bottom surfaces 14 of the first and second battery cells 10a and 10b may squeeze the main surfaces 11 and 12 of the adjacent second and first battery cells 10b, 10a, respectively, in which case the middle area or the center area between the two ends of the main surfaces 11 and 12 may be squeezed instead of the outer ends thereof, thereby effectively reducing or preventing the center position CP of the main surfaces 11 and 12 from convexly expanding. In the expansion of the battery cells 10, the center position CP of the main surfaces 11 and 12 may convexly expand. In the inclined arrangement structure, the squeezing points F1 and F2 may be formed by the terminal surfaces 15 or the bottom surfaces 14 of the adjacent battery cells 10 in the middle area adjacent to the center position CP, thereby effectively preventing the center position CP from convexly expanding. The first battery cell 10a and the second battery cell 10b can be fixed in position between the first retaining frame plate 100 and the second retaining frame plate 200 and can maintain their positions regardless of the expansion of the second battery cell 10b and the first battery cell 10a adjacent to each other, and compression points F1 and F2 capable of suppressing expansion can be formed between the first battery cell 10a and the second battery cell 10b adjacent to each other.

[0105] like Figure 2As shown in , in the upright arrangement structure of the battery cell 10' according to the comparative example for comparison with the present disclosure, the first battery cell 10a' and the second battery cell 10b' adjacent to each other face each other through the entire main surfaces 11' and 12', in which case the terminal surfaces 15' and the bottom surfaces 14' of the first battery cell 10a' and the second battery cell 10b' squeeze the two ends of the main surfaces 11' and 12' of the adjacent second battery cell 10b' and the first battery cell 10a' to form squeezing points F1' and F2'. That is, when Figure 2 and Fig.11 When compared with each other, in the inclined arrangement structure according to the embodiment, the squeeze points F1 and F2 between the adjacent first battery cells 10a and the second battery cells 10b are formed in the middle region between the two ends of the main surfaces 11 and 12, so that the squeeze points F1 and F2 are formed at a region (middle region) relatively closer to the center position CP of the main surfaces 11 and 12. In contrast, in the upright arrangement structure according to the comparative example for comparison with the present disclosure, the squeeze points F1' and F2' between the adjacent first battery cells 10a' and the second battery cells 10b' are formed at both outer ends of the main surfaces 11' and 12', so that the squeeze points F1' and F2' are located at positions (both ends) relatively far from the center position CP' of the main surfaces 11' and 12' (the squeeze points F1' and F2' are located at both end positions relatively far from the center position CP' of the main surfaces 11' and 12'). Therefore, in the inclined arrangement structure according to the embodiment, expansion (in which the center position CP of the main surfaces 11 and 12 convexly expands) can be effectively suppressed. In contrast, in the upright arrangement structure according to the comparative example, it is difficult to effectively suppress expansion in which the center position CP' of the main surfaces 11' and 12' convexly expands (for example, because the extrusion point is relatively far from the center position of the expansion, it is difficult to effectively suppress expansion in which the center position CP' of the main surfaces 11' and 12' convexly expands).

[0106] In accordance with Fig.12 In the inclined arrangement structure of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the expansion force F acting along the main surface direction of the battery cell 10 (the direction perpendicular to the main surfaces 11 and 12) can be decomposed or separated into the vertical direction Z2 and the horizontal direction Z1. Therefore, with respect to the first retaining plate 100 and the second retaining plate 200 (refer to FIG. 1 ) in the vertical direction Z2, the expansion force F acting along the main surface direction of the battery cell 10 (the direction perpendicular to the main surfaces 11 and 12) can be decomposed or separated into the vertical direction Z2 and the horizontal direction Z1. Figure 4 ) and the first end plate 51 and the second end plate 52 in the horizontal direction Z1 (refer to Figure 4 ), the vertical decomposition component FY and the horizontal decomposition component FX of the expansion force F can act separately, and not the entire expansion force F but only the part of the expansion force F decomposed into the vertical decomposition component FY and the horizontal decomposition component FX can act, so that the first retainer plate 100 and the second retainer plate 200 (refer to Figure 4 ) or the first end plate 51 and the second end plate 52 (refer to Figure 4 ) and even if the first retainer plate 100 and the second retainer plate 200 (refer to Figure 4 ) or between the first end plate 51 and the second end plate 52 (refer to Figure 4 ) is reduced in strength against expansion, and the expansion of the battery cell 10 can also be effectively suppressed. As described above, in the inclined arrangement structure according to the embodiment, the strength against expansion between the first holder plate 100 and the second holder plate 200 or between the first end plate 51 and the second end plate 52 can be reduced, while in the inclined arrangement structure according to the embodiment, the strength against expansion between the first holder plate 100 and the second holder plate 200 or between the first end plate 51 and the second end plate 52 can be reduced. Figure 2 In the upright arrangement structure of the battery cells 10' of the comparative example shown in FIG, a pair of end plates 50' having a plurality of battery cells 10' therebetween may be pressed toward each other, thus being similar to the arrangement structure according to FIG. Figure 2 Compared with the upright arrangement structure of the battery cells 10 ′ of the comparative example shown in , the pressing process of pressing the plurality of battery cells 10 ′ between the pair of end plates 50 ′ at a high pressure may be omitted in the inclined arrangement structure according to the embodiment.

[0107] In accordance with Figure 2 In the upright arrangement structure of the battery cell 10' of the comparative example shown in , the entire expansion force acting along the main surface direction of the battery cell 10' (the direction perpendicular to the main surfaces 11' and 12') can act in the horizontal direction Z1, and can act on a pair of end plates 50' arranged on both sides of the plurality of battery cells 10' along the horizontal direction Z1, so that the load burden on the end plates 50' increases. Therefore, in the case of Figure 2 In the upright arrangement structure of the battery cells 10' shown in FIG, a pair of end plates 50' on both sides of the plurality of battery cells 10' are pressed toward each other, and a pressing process of pressing the plurality of battery cells 10' between the pair of end plates 50' at a high pressure is required.

[0108] According to the present disclosure, the inclined arrangement structure of the battery cells may be applied, thereby providing a battery pack that is advantageous in reducing or suppressing thermal runaway and expansion phenomena of the battery cells while thinning the height of the battery pack and reducing the overall size.

[0109] According to the present disclosure, in an inclined arrangement structure of battery cells, remaining or otherwise unused areas between first edges of battery cells adjacent to each other can be used to form cooling channels, thereby providing a battery pack having improved cooling efficiency of the battery cells without allocating a separate area or space for forming a cooling channel (for example, thereby reducing the overall size of the battery pack).

[0110] According to the present disclosure, in the inclined arrangement structure of battery cells, the remaining area between the first edges of adjacent battery cells can be used to form an exhaust structure, thereby providing a battery pack that can eliminate the risk of safety accidents caused by high exhaust gas ejection pressure without allocating a separate area to form a accommodating space for accommodating high-pressure exhaust gas (for example, thereby reducing the overall size of the battery pack).

[0111] One or more embodiments may provide a battery pack that helps reduce or suppress thermal runaway and expansion phenomena of a battery cell while minimizing the height of the battery pack.

[0112] One or more embodiments may provide a battery pack having improved cooling efficiency of battery cells without allocating a separate area for a cooling channel.

[0113] One or more embodiments may provide a battery pack capable of reducing or eliminating the risk of a safety accident caused by a high exhaust gas ejection pressure without allocating a separate area for an accommodation space for accommodating high-pressure exhaust gas.

[0114] Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and interpreted in a general and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. In some cases, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the time of filing this application, unless otherwise specifically indicated, features, characteristics, and / or elements described in conjunction with a particular embodiment may be used alone or in combination with features, characteristics, and / or elements described in conjunction with other embodiments. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A battery pack, comprising: A plurality of battery cells are arranged in a row in a first direction, and the plurality of battery cells are arranged obliquely relative to the first direction; a first holder plate and a second holder plate, arranged to face each other and supporting the plurality of battery cells located between the first holder plate and the second holder plate, the first holder plate comprising a plurality of first steps repeatedly arranged to surround and support first vertical protruding edges of the plurality of battery cells, and the second holder plate comprising a plurality of second steps repeatedly arranged to surround and support second vertical protruding edges of the plurality of battery cells; as well as at least one cooling channel located in each of the first steps, The first steps each include a first hollow portion having a hollow inner portion at a position adjacent to the at least one cooling channel, and the first hollow portion is isolated from the at least one cooling channel.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: Each battery cell includes: Terminal surfaces, including terminals; a bottom surface, opposite the terminal surface; a first main surface and a second main surface connecting the terminal surface and the bottom surface and each having a first area; and A pair of side surfaces connects the terminal surface and the bottom surface, and each of the side surfaces has a second area smaller than the first area.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein: The first retainer plate supports the bottom surface and the first major surface around corresponding ones of the first vertical protruding edges where the bottom surface and the first major surface of the battery cell meet.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein: The first steps include: A first portion supporting a bottom surface of a battery cell; and The second portion supports the first major surface of another adjacent battery cell.

5. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein: The at least one cooling channel is located between the first portion and the second portion of the first step.

6. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one cooling channel includes a plurality of cooling channels respectively located in the plurality of first steps.

7. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein: The plurality of cooling channels are connected in parallel such that inlets and outlets of the respective cooling channels are fluidly connected to each other.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein: The inlets of the plurality of cooling channels are connected to a cooling medium supply pipe through a distributor.

9. The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein: The cooling medium supply pipe forms a flow path that guides the cooling medium in a direction opposite to a flow direction of the cooling medium in the plurality of cooling channels, and The cooling medium supplied from the cooling medium supply pipe is distributed to each cooling channel while changing the flow direction in the distributor.

10. The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein: The first holder plate further includes a cooling medium supply pipe and a second hollow portion surrounding the cooling medium supply pipe.

11. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein: The outlets of the plurality of cooling channels are connected to a main outlet through a collector connected to the outlets of the plurality of cooling channels, and the cooling medium is discharged through the main outlet.

12. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: Each battery cell also includes a vent for relieving internal pressure of the battery cell, and The second holder plate also includes a vent hole located in the second step at a position corresponding to the vent of the battery cell.

13. The battery pack according to claim 12, wherein: Each battery cell includes: a terminal surface including a terminal; a bottom surface opposite to the terminal surface; a first main surface and a second main surface, the first main surface and the second main surface connecting the terminal surface and the bottom surface, and each having a first area; and a pair of side surfaces connecting the terminal surface and the bottom surface, the side surfaces each having a second area smaller than the first area, and The second steps each include: a first portion supporting a terminal surface of one battery cell; and a second portion supporting a second major surface of another adjacent battery cell.

14. The battery pack according to claim 13, wherein: The vent hole is located in the first portion of the second step.

15. The battery pack according to claim 13, wherein: The second steps each further include an accommodation space for receiving exhaust gas discharged through the vent hole, the accommodation space being an inner space of the second step. 16 . The battery pack according to claim 15 , further comprising at least one exhaust channel fluidly connected to the accommodation space and providing an exhaust path for exhaust gas, the at least one exhaust channel extending across the plurality of accommodation spaces.

17. The battery pack according to claim 16, wherein: The at least one exhaust passage includes a first exhaust passage and a second exhaust passage located at opposite sides of the plurality of accommodation spaces.

18. The battery pack according to claim 17, wherein: The plurality of accommodation spaces include first accommodation spaces and second accommodation spaces alternately arranged along a horizontal direction, The first accommodation space is fluidly connected to the first exhaust passage, and The second accommodation space is fluidly connected to the second exhaust passage. 19 . The battery pack according to claim 18 , further comprising a partition wall located between the first accommodation space and the second accommodation space and partitioning the first accommodation space and the second accommodation space from each other.

20. The battery pack according to claim 19, wherein: The partition wall is located at a side of the first portion of the second step, but is not located at a side of the first portion including the vent hole.

21. The battery pack according to claim 19, wherein: The partition wall is a hollow structure having a hollow interior portion.

22. The battery pack according to claim 19, wherein: In the partition wall, a wall body located at a side opposite to a connection hole connecting the accommodation space and the exhaust passage includes a rounded portion.

23. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The first holder plate and the second holder plate are coupled to each other with the plurality of battery cells located therebetween using a fastener configured to fasten the first holder plate and the second holder plate in a direction facing each other.

24. The battery pack according to claim 23, wherein: Fasteners are fastened to the first and second holder plates at positions corresponding to the first and second vertical protruding edges of the plurality of battery cells.

25. The battery pack according to claim 24, wherein: The first vertical protruding edges and the second vertical protruding edges of the plurality of battery cells are aligned along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

26. The battery pack according to claim 23, wherein: The battery cells are arranged in a plurality of rows such that the battery cell rows, each including a plurality of battery cells, are separated in parallel from each other, The first holder plate and the second holder plate further include a plurality of step portions extending in parallel in a horizontal direction to be spaced apart from each other corresponding to the plurality of battery cell rows, and a fastening portion flatly formed between adjacent step portions, and The fastener is fastened to the fastening portion.

27. The battery pack according to claim 26, wherein: Each of the step portions of the first holder plate and the second holder plate includes a plurality of first steps and a plurality of second steps which are repeatedly arranged.

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